Genres Books

A must read for all fans of the Boss, Bruce Springsteen. I especially enjoyed the interview sections. They were the highlight of this book. They offered rare insight into Springsteen's thinking. I enjoyed the review of his earlier works. It does get a bit tedious at times, but overall, it is a very good and enjoyable read. It would make a welcome addition to any Springsteen Fan's collection.

Gerard Zemek
husband of author of "My Funny Dad, Harry"

I really enjoyed the majority of the pieces in June Skinner Sawyers' Racing In The Street: The Bruce Springsteen Reader. Highlights for me include Martin Scorese's (brief) foreward (always figured he was a fan) and, of all things, the excerpts from one Kevin Major's young adult novel Dear Bruce Springsteen, in which my favorite passage in the collection occurs:

"I knew he [the young narrator's father] was into your music a lot. He never listened to it much in the house, mostly when he was driving the old van we used to have. Mostly then by himself. The four of us were in the van once and he put on Nebraska. Mom made him take it off because, she said, it sounded too depressing. He sort of grunted something about she didn't know what good music was and popped out the tape. She said if you're going to spend money we can't afford on music, then you might as well spend it on something that'll cheer you up. He ignored her."

Now tell me - is there a Bruce fan alive that can't relate to that?

Though I would have liked to have seen Tama Janowitz' "You And The Boss" and Richard Meltzer's "The Meaning of Bruce" (both collected in Clinton Heylin's Penguin Book Of Rock & Roll Writing, if you're interested) included for balance, this is a solid anthology of writings on Bruce, and recommended if you're a fan.

PS Also recommended if you're a fan of great music writing (or great writing, period): Lester Bangs' Psychotic Reactions And Carburetor Dung and Mainlines, Blood Feasts, And Bad Taste.

Racing in the Street is a great book and a must for every Springsteen fan.

Racing In The Street is not so much a great biography about Bruce.
It goes much deeper.
It is a series of very insightful articles pinpointing the appeal Bruce has for so many of his fans.

He is a mega star but it is his struggle to remain normal and humble that is at the heart of this book.

For the casual fan, If you truly want to know why his fans are so intense, this is the book to read.
For his fans that have always tried to figure out why we are so intense, this book puts all that into perspective better than any other.

Highly recommended.

This book provides wonderful, informative articles that offer various perceptions of the Boss and his 30+ year career!!! I learned so much about how other people see Bruce, and gained knowledge about his life and work, which was very enjoyable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the Boss and wants to gain more insight into his long and amazing career. The maps, discography, timeline, and other extras were also brilliant additions to the collection!

This is an excellent book. I really enjoyed the way she described the angels. She is such a talented writer and I have had a chance to meet her in person and God has truly given her an excellent gift.

I've had this book for a while so yesterday I took it to the beauty salon with me so I'd have something to read while under the dyer. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. It's certainly a page turner. I hadn't even completed the book and I was telling everyone how good it was. So like I told them, "BUY THE BOOK". It's wonderful Christian fiction. I give this book two thumbs up, a diet coke with a cherry on top. Take a bow Ms. Miller. You got it goin' on!

This book is wonderfully written, totally captivating and it really gives you a realistic look into the heart of God. I had to stop several times throughout just to reflect on His love and ask forgiveness for the times I've strayed and He kept right on loving me and bringing me back to Him.
Even if you know the story of Hosea, this book will give you a more in depth view of what Hosea went through and what God goes through continually with His children.

I love Christian fiction and tend to devour several books in a week. This book stands out because not only was it an entertaining read, it caused me to reflect and pray and strive to be a better Christian.

Absolutely wonderful!

This was a very touching story. At parts I could feel the tears forming in my eyes. It was definitely a page turner and I stayed up late just so I could see how God worked things out.

God is good and Vanessa shows it in her books. If you haven't read the rest of the "Rain" series books, you need to.

Vanessa's stories have me feeling God's love and has me wanting to share it with the world.

Thank you Vanessa for another dynamic book.

In book four of Vanessa Miller's Rain Series, drug addicted Cynda Stephens is prostituting her body to make ends meet. Cynda leaves her daughter Iona in the care of her pimp and his wife. Meanwhile, Keith Williams, a born-again Christian, feels the Lord has chosen Cynda as the woman he is supposed to marry. When her pimp threatens to put Iona to work, Cynda does something unthinkable and finds herself in big trouble. Keith comes to her rescue and the two eventually marry. However, because of the hatred she feels for her deceased mother and the hand she's been dealt, Cynda no longer believes in God and is unable to love Keith back. Keith finds himself questioning the Lord because of the trials and tribulations he goes through while trying to reach Cynda. Will Keith go against God's will and just give up and suffer the consequences of his actions? Will Cynda realize the Lord will never leave her or forsake her and learn to love Keith with all her heart and soul?

RAIN STORM is Christian fiction at its best. Vanessa Miller has done a wonderful job creating a story to be enjoyed by all readers. Cynda and Keith both have endured a lot of pain and strife in their lives, and only by the grace of God will they find the strength to carry on. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to collecting the other books in this series.

Reviewed by Pamela Bolden
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

While most of the plot deals with the Rennes-le-Château mystery, deep inside this book is about friendship. It is also quite funny.

This book is awesome! I've read it three times already...It just doesn't get old. I originally got it because I'm a fan of The Damned. Any fan of The Damned, the DaVinci Code, the esoteric, or anybody who just wants a laugh-out-loud read should buy this!

Funny as hell, interesting, mysterious, spooky, and, oh yeah, funny as hell!! Great book!!

If you've read/see the Da Vinci Code this is a must read book. The same basic idea, just a little more tongue in cheek.

What happens when a journolist and a punk rock legend go off to find the Holy Grail? Well read this to find out. An hilarious account of adventuring in the misty world that most people have only heard of due to The DaVinci Code. A good travel book and mystery book. Highly recommended.

"Holy Blood Holy Grail" - and this one.

The first because - despite the fact that other books on the subject preceeded it - it's the one that really put the subject on the map. And Dawes' book because it's the only one I've read that really seems to pick up where the first one leaves off, with a very entertaining and comical, yet touchingly personal, spin. Is there anything to the mystery after all? Who knows? But with a book like this, the quest is just as beguiling a read as any blockbuster revelation could be.

I don't like to compare books, but I'm reading an advance copy of "The Last Embrace" from Scribner, and I have to say that this book, "Ready for the Defense," is sharper, better plotted and psychologically more satisfying. I love the contemporary D.C. angle. Langan, himself, was a former Washington litigator. And there's even an "I The Jury" ending (with a Hardy Boys twist). The author also taught English classes (as I have); and you have to know how to get students directly involved with the material to do that well, just as a good detective tale must involve the reader in unraveling its mystery.

The hero, Hank Fisher, is a first-year criminal defense lawyer whose boss is killed soon after their two-person firm is hired by a female, U.S. Senator on a Congressional terrorism committee who is being blackmailed. We discover there are three rules of defense: "Get paid up front, never give the money back, and if someone has to go to jail don't let it be you." But there are other things we learn too, such as how moderate Muslims view the Jihad as an internal war while extremist Muslims see the Jihad as a reason to kill anyone who isn't Muslim, how biochemicals are part of today's military arsenals and even something about how lobby organizations work. I have to admit it's refreshing to read a noir story dealing with contemporary issues and referring to people like John Wayne Bobbitt and Valerie Plame. And the writing itself is as appealing as the somewhat hapless narrator: "I pressed my lips against her soft skin, losing myself in her perfume. By the time I opened my eyes, she was half-way up the steps to her townhouse."

As a teenager Fisher's older brother was killed while teaching him to drive. That loss reverberates with the current one and provides motivation for the narrator to stay with a situation in which he has little experience. We want him to succeed, just as we all need to succeed at those issues that define who we are. One of my favorite little touches is when an angry opponent (a jerk who is beating up the office cleaning woman) trashes Fisher's apartment. The ultimate indignity is that the intruder rips out the last chapter of Raymond Chandler's "The Long Goodbye" which the young lawyer had by his bedside and was anxious to finish. Now that, as any fan of the genre will testify, is criminal.

This is the author's second novel. I look forward to more in the series. Do yourself a favor and buy this book; you'll love it. Mike Langan is not only ready for the defense, he's ready for the big time.

Hank Fisher is thrust into the middle of a case that most wannabe defense attorneys (and long-time defense attorneys) only dream about. Hank and his boss get a call from a new client-a Senator is the target of an IRS investigation that could ruin her career.

Terrorist connections could take the investigation to a whole other level. This client could mean big bucks for him and the law firm and a great experience for a new attorney. Then a political assassination attempt flips Hank's world upside down and he must delve into the world of politics and the IRS to find out who is at the heart of the conspiracy. Dealing with attempts on his own life, keeping his law firm afloat, and nurturing a budding relationship, Hank must get to the bad guys before they cause any more irreparable damage.

This is a good legal thriller. It offers a good mystery with a suitable amount of twists and turns. Some of the turns are road sign predictable, but the exciting storytelling makes up for any predictability. The characters are interesting and detailed enough that it is very easy to bond with them. Hank is a charismatic and tenacious investigator and he even admits, probably a better investigator then lawyer. This helps balance any exaggeration of a lawyer's life and times and makes it a believable and interesting read, even for readers in the legal field. The author's experience as a lawyer allows for interesting and real-life touches to the story.

Ready for the Defense offers an entertaining story and is a very quick and easy to read. It is a perfect weekend read to curl up on the couch with.

Armchair Interviews agrees.

Mike Langan
WhoooDoo Mysteries, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-932695-70-0
Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for ReviewYourBook.com
4 Stars
Ripped from the headlines...
The plot for this book could have been ripped from the headlines. Political scandal, campaign smears, and attempted murder. What more could a diehard legal thriller fan want? In the tradition of our favorite old time TV lawyers, Hank Fisher is known for solving his cases in court. Mike Langan has character development down to a fine art. His writing style is flamboyant and over the top, which makes for exciting reading. Langan's expertise adds to the legitimacy of this novel. This is the beginning of a new series; I suspect Hank Fisher to be around for a long time.

I like Ready for the Defense even better than the author's first novel, Dark Horse. This one features Hank Fisher--a very likeable and complex character struggling with the effects of two deaths (one recent and the other in the distant past) while trying to catch a killer. With every setback Hank experiences, you find yourself identifying with him, and rooting for him. I love the ending, and look forward to the author's next novel.

Ready for the Defense
Hank Fisher can never say his life is dull. After all, there is the time when he was assaulted in court. Then there is his mother who is pressuring him to get married. She was starting to wonder if he was gay.

Hank's boss is known as Big Mac. Hank served as his law clerk and three years later became his associate. Hank always considered himself Mac's student. He always felt like there was something to learn from Mac.

Mac informed Hank that their new client is Senator Victoria Serling. She sent a limo to pick up Hank and Mac, along with an unmarked envelope. This type of thing always got Mac's attention. The Senator wanted to see Mac because she felt someone was framing her. The interesting thing is Senator Serling is on a short list to become Director of the CIA. As the senator was explaining why she asked them to meet her, a car came out of nowhere and headed right for the senator hitting her and Mac. Without thinking, Hank jumped into the limo to pursue the driver but ended up crashing the car and was taken to the hospital. The senator was unconscious and Mac had to undergo surgery. He did not survive. Hank escaped with a concussion. He must now handle the case by himself.

Detective Mills believes there is a connection between the hit and run and the Senator's involvement in the Select Committee on Terrorism. One of the activities of this committee is tracking the proliferation of biowarfare agents. This means they will have to examine her affairs and will eventually find out about a tax violation. The media just can't wait to find out what is going on!

As Hank continues with this case, he discovers that he was not told the whole story about Vicky because she unknowingly received an illegal contribution PEACE. What else wasn't he told?

Is Hank successful at finding out the truth?

This book contains all the ingredients needed to make it a thriller - a senator who receives an illegal contribution and something even more intriguing - germ warfare. Then we have Hank who is determined to protect his client - but more importantly - by being involved in this case, he knows he can help find out who was responsible for Mac's death.

One thing, in my opinion, that makes a good book stand out from the others, is descriptive writing. Mike Langan has done an outstanding job as he paints a picture for the readers. His descriptions, from what the person is wearing to a particular scene, really create an image for the reader. As a result, he does an awesome job of creating the atmosphere for the story that is about to follow. In fact, I feel Mike Langan is one of the best in this area.

What I enjoyed most about this book is that the reader will feel like they personally know Hank. You will always know what he is thinking because he comes across as a straightforward, honest person who is able to laugh at himself at times. Credit for this has to be given to the author's writing style because he is able to bring these points to the attention of the reader.

Ready for the Defense is fast paced and has short chapters that will make one want to continue reading late into the night. Characters are well developed with a storyline and dialogue that draws the reader into the novel and keeps them there right to the very end.

The author has been a lawyer and the reader will feel his background and expertise come through as they keep turning the pages of this well-written novel.

Another point I would like to make is I loved the size of the print for this book. It is a little larger than the normal size one usually finds in books and this makes it very easy on your eyes.

I hope there will be more Hank Fisher books in the future. Ready for the Defense is an intriguing and thoroughly enjoyable read and I look forward to more books by this very talented writer.

Fauré's Requiem is one of the most beautiful pieces of music that has ever been written. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to sing in performance of the piece. Ever since, I have been in love with it. Sadly, I was not allowed to keep the score. Finding the full score online was an answer to prayer (figuratively speaking). I now can follow along as I listen to recordings and even sing my part.

The score itself is in wonderful condition. The printing is clear and easy to read. I was, at first, concerned that I would end up with a huge conductor's style score, but it's of normal size without compromising on readability.

Highly recommended.

This is a great deal for a well-printed score. Beware that there are a couple of different orchestrations for this piece. This is the small orchestra version and there is also a chamber group version. People tend to use the John Rutter edition of the chamber version and that has different rehearsal letters than this one.

Other than that, this is a bargain.

Gabriel Faure's REQUIEM still remains the only piece of music that has ever given me goosebumps. The music can go from bone-chilling to heart warming in the matter of a few bars. My choir that I perform with sang the piece in the spring of this year. To date, I have never sung a piece of music that was more masterfully crafted for the voices of a boy choir than I have this one. Faure's music is as inspireing as it is beautiful. I would highly suggest it to anyone eager to create beautiful music.

This is a beautifully presented score. The type-setting of the music leaves nothing to be desired. The paper it is printed on even has a sensual quality, which matches the music portrayed.
I have already used the score to arrange parts for my wind quintet, and have found the job much easier because of the clear manuscript of the score.

Este Requiem es magnifico, siento como que si estuviera en el Cielo

Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" is excellent, but even if it weren't, this score would still be wonderful.

Major positive points:
1) The score stays open and flat on a table or conductor's stand. Dover seems to take great care with this in their full scores, and it really makes score reading/studying much simpler.

2) The paper is thin enough to keep the size of the score small, but it's thick enough that markings/highlighting don't bleed through, which is wonderful.

3) Every system has either instrument names or understandable abbreviations.

4) MEASURE NUMBERS!

5) The music is dark and easy to read. There are no faded or missing barlines, which is a problem I seem to encounter with Kalmus and Lucks scores, as well as Dover miniature editions.

6) Attractive layout and engraving. This doesn't just look like a Finale print, unlike some other new scores.

I've always been proved with Dover's orchestral scores, and this is no exception. I worked from the Boosey's score last semester, and I definitely prefer this one.

Can anyone actually imagine playing this difficult piece for 33 minutes? If you look inside, you can see the many complexities that are within the score. Time signatures change almost constantly, brass play twenty random notes in one measure, tubas play much higher notes than usual, strings do a lot of plucking, and the woodwinds go all over the place in many scenes )including the Introduction to the "Adoration of the Earth" sequence). This just shows you how much of a genius Stavinsky really was. Fantastic!

Oh, and I never performed this piece, so that's why I was asking in the first place...............

If you are enthralled with the Rite's rhythm, harmony, or whatever... this is the perfect opportunity to see the orchestration and metric usage. As someone who loves the Rite, and analyzing music, this was a no brainer. Cheap and easy to read. Absolutely fantastic.

"The Rite of Spring In Full Score" contains the complete unabridged score of composer Igor Stravinsky's timeless classic "The Rite Of Spring". Besides presenting the full musical notation for the entire piece, this book also contains a brief but detailed history on the work. Looking at the score is an astounding revelation into Stravinsky's creative genius. What often sounds like pure noise on recordings and in performance is in reality carefully notated and fully realized. In other words, Stravinsky knew exactly what he was after when he composed "The Rite of Spring" and the score proves it in all its glory. Even if you can't read music, if you're a fan of Igor Stravinsky and "The Rite Of Spring", this score is an essential guide and study tool to this revolutionary work. It also offers an insight into the composer's fascinating creative mind.

From Jordan in Minnesota
In 1998 I bought the original score of Le Sacre du Printemps from Kalmus for 65.00 dollars!! Although the Kalmus version in cited from numerous musicians and stravinsky himself, this version of dovers is well worth the 10 dollars!! It is pretty much the same as Kalmus' but it has no chief editor, and since its a reprint it will have the same concept as the Kalmus score, only it is 55.00 dollars cheaper. If anyone wants the 4 extra pages of the kalmus version that compares the scores, I would be happy to copy it and send them, as long as people realize that the Kalmus version as of January 16 2006 is almost 100.00. So stick with this dover version it will definately save you the money!!
cojo0502@stcloudstate.edu

A very detailed book about the Stones. So many pictures. They don't come any better than this!I recommend it for all Rolling Stones Fans

I'm so happy with the great deal that I got on this book from Amazon.I also own the companion book on The Beatles which I purchased used,but this book was brand new and sealed in plastic and there were no remainder marks.Enough about the deal,now about the book itself-it is very thick and there are many fascinating photos,many of them in black & white just like The Beatles book.The Stones book definitely portrays them as being much darker than The Beatles,as it focusses on the more lurid aspects of their career and that's a shame because in spite of the drugs and the sex there really were a lot of bright moments in their career.Some of the photos of Mick Jagger are definitely not flattering and one wonders why they were published at all.I know that he's often not considered to be very attractive,but he obviously does have a sex appeal and thankfully there are better photos of him throughout the book.I didn't buy the book just to look at pictures of Mick Jagger.I bought it because I'm a huge fan of the group and I'm so glad that there was accompanying text and not just pictures.Two of the photos that stand out are The Stones on the same stage in Britain with none other than Tony Bennett(he was the compere at an awards ceremony and he also presented awards to The Beatles and a similar photo is shown in The Beatles:365 Days)and the very lovely Marianne Faithfull in lingerie.She was to The Stones(particularly Mick Jagger)what Patti Boyd was to The Beatles(likewise,George Harrison).The Beatles book features a nice photo of beautiful Patti,but unfortunately,it's not as provocative as Marianne's.Despite the book's focus on sensationalism,it really is an entertaining read and a worthwhile purchase.I recommend purchasing it with The Beatles:365 Days if,like me,you love both bands.Some people are fans of one group and not the other(it usually seems that more people prefer The Beatles),but they were both great and it's nice to see their careers commemorated in this way.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RA4RLLN7E0LRI This very thick picture book is much larger than I had expected for this low,low price.
It's packed with photos, lots that aren't that common .Some color,but mostly in black and white.
I am very happy with this purchase and it will take some time to go over all the pictures and the information about them.
Recommended for fans.

This is a fantastic book for fans and, at this bargain price, it is a steal. There are 365 mostly black and white photos from the beginning up to last year and many of them I have never seen, and I have plenty of Stones' coffee table books already. The text describes the photo and gives a bit of a plot line about the time the photo was shot and there are plenty of quotes from the fellows and others to underscore things nicely. My one request would've been some Exile recording session shots, but that's simply being greedy and I won't let my greed drop a star off of this otherwise excellent purchase. If you don't own it, do yourself or a loved one who is into the band a favor and buy it.

Need a present for that Rolling Stones fan in your life? Then look no further as this book should fill the bill quite nicely. With about 460 pictures, this collection will satisfy even the most jaded Stones fanatic. Why? Because the bulk of these photos are from the 1963-1969 era (1-203) with the 1970-1979 decade (204-296) being fairly represented and the 1980-2006 years (297-365) breezed through at the end. With the majority of these shots never having been seen before, you'll get more enjoyment out of this book then those other ones that are filled with rehashed stories and sprinkled with stock concert and album pictures. Add to this a quick note about each photo and a pertinent quote and you've got yourself a gift that's sure to please. Of course, you could just do what I did and buy it for yourself. While the Rolling Stones still haven't gathered any moss, they certainly are gathering more shelf space.

Long ago, at the beginning of my dance career (age 4), I received a copy of "The Royal Book of Ballet" with Tasha Tudor's exquisite illustrations of the classical repertoire. But Macmillan had barely choreographed R&J when it was released, and so it wasn't included in that book. Now Nancy Ellison's beautiful book repairs that omission.
The immediacy of photos, versus a painting, is further enhanced by placing the dancers in natural realistic settings; in this case, Verona itself. "Day for Night" technique (always noticeable in films) is used to exquisite effect in the Balcony scene. And elsewhere, the use of natural light (or very subtle lighting)throughout, only serves to make the dance even more real. For that is the intent of this book: To take an "ephemeral art" and translate it into a realistic depiction of events, thereby communicating that ballet too can tell the story. The inclusion and juxtaposition of the pertinent excerpts from Shakespeare's play, only serves to show how perfectly the dancers and choreography illustrate the language.
And what dancers! Both Angel Corella and Paloma Herrera were not much older than the characters they depicted when this was shot. Romeo has become a signature role for Corella; a perfect allignment of looks, temperament, and technique. And though his acting abilities are a little more apparent here than Paloma's, she too acquits herself well through beautiful technique and appropriate youth.
This is an inspired book and Ms. Ellison should receive all commendations for beautifully capturing the abilities of Macmillan's choreograpy, Angel Corella, and Paloma Herrera to interpret and illustrate a timeless story.
My only caveat is that some of the "bedroom scene" choreography was displaced to the "balcony scene" in some of the photos. And beware of price gouging: I have seen prices for this book fluctuate by $30, and condition not match that overpricing.

Fans of American Ballet Theatre will want to know about the new book ROMEO & JULIET: The Love Story in Dance. The photographer Nancy Ellison had the inspired idea of giving us in a picture book a photo narrative of the Romeo and Juliet story in Verona where it originally took place. The Romeo and Juliet are Angel Corella and Paloma Herrera who have appreared in the Macmillan Ballet about the tragic lovers. The photos are accompanied by Shakespeare's words. I never imagined it would be possible to find in Verona a balcony like Juliet's and other places that in these marvelous photographs frame the action of the tragedy. Looking at the great Staircase of Reason in Verona's public square where so much of the struggle between the Capulets and the Montagues took place, and seeing Romeo and Juliet dancing on a terrace in a real garden bring home the tragedy. For lovers of the ballet this Christmas, particularly young lovers of the ballet, there couldn't be a better book.

This book is so beautiful and I am so fortunate to have found a copy of it! Ms. Ellison has captured the true feelings of Romeo and Juliet with her pictures! From the very tips of the dancers fingers to their eyelashes you truly believe that they ARE Romeo and Juliet, from their first meeting to the scene in the tomb. By the time you finish reading you are completely swept away to a world where true love is so beautiful and so inviting, you cry. Ms. Herrera and Mr. Corella are two of my favorite dancers and they fit the part perfectly! Ms. Ellison used the natural light given to illuminate the dancers and give an extra sense of feeling to the story. To everyone who buys this book take it to your heart and believe that anything is possible.

I love this book, the whole idea of it - from the wonderful photographs to the amazing ballet dancers. I have looked at it many times and every time at a different level. First, the photos and the wonderful shots of Verona, second for the ballet dancers and then third for the writing. When books seem to be priced into the stratosphere, this little gem is a bargain and a great gift for the holidays for young and old.

I have been a ballet dancer all my life and I feel Nancy Ellison's book is a tribute to all dancers. This book truly captures and celebrates the beauty and essence of the art of ballet. I envy Paloma's talent and with this book it's not hard to see why. The photos show her graceful pirouttes and impressive turnouts. The scenery is breathtaking, but what is more captivating is the way Ms. Ellison managed to capture the dancers' attitude in the photos. With every dancer's leap, you can really feel the movement of dance. It's almost as if the dancers are about to jump off the pages. This book is stunning and delightful for all.

Even after all these years, this book is an essential for world music lovers, from novices interested in learning more about something they just heard off the radio to seasoned music lovers interested in rounding out their collections. This encylopedic work (the first volume in the series) gives a brief survey of the different music traditions of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, divided by country, region, style or ethnicity. Each article was written by different authors, so obviously there is some variation, but they include very thorough details on the history, culture, background and style of the music, along with a sample discography at the end. Most articles include one or two profiles of famous artists from that country.

The first section, Europe, covers almost every country in Europe, as well as giving articles on the Saami people of Scandinavia, Gypsy music, regional cultures from Spain (like the Basques and Galacians), and Bhangra, the festive dance music of Britain's Punjabi diaspora! Everything you would expect is here, like Spanish flamenco, Portuguese fado, Greek rembetika, Norwegian fiddles, Scottish bagpipes, Celtic music from Ireland, Swiss alp horns, the haunting vocal music of Bulgaria and so forth. There are also quite a few surprises hidden in here too. Much of this section tends towards the folk, for obvious reasons.

The Middle Eastern chapter covers the music of Turkey, Iran, Israel, Armenia, Georgia and the Arab states (except for parts of North Africa), as well as Kurdistan and the Sephardic Jews. Theres alot of variety here, from the classical Arabic pop music of Oum Kalthoum, Fairouz and Abdel Halim Hafez, to modern Egyptian pop like Amr Diab, Natacha Atlas, and Hakim. Along the way, theres also the haunting sound of the Armenian duduk, Nubian music, Persian and Turkish classical traditions, Lebanese dabke, dervish rituals, Georgian polyphonic singing, Sephardic romances, Iranian-American pop music and Palestinean folk songs (which is great to see them acknowledge that Palestine DOES have a unique culture). This section is very good, with a very rich mix of traditions and cultures.

The biggest part of the book deals with Africa, with a very strong emphasis on regional pop music. Some countries (like Libya, Somalia and Namibia) are sadly overlooked, but all the powerhouses of African music are hero... Ethio-jazz, Algerian rai, high life from Ghana, Congolese soukous, Malagasy pop from Madagascar, Kenyan benga, South African gospel, Nigerian afrobeat, Senegalese mbalax, Moroccan gnawa, mbira music from Zimbabwe, Kabylie Berber music, east African taraab, recordings of the Pygmy people of Central Africa, Mande music of Mali... so much gets covered here, including numerous lesser known traditions (like the music of Zambia, Sierra Leone, or the Indian Ocean). Its by far the most exhaustive part of the book, full of great information, important artists and numerous CD recommendations.

Over all, its a wonderful introduction to the vast (and sometimes confusing) world music scene. The book was written in the late '90s, so some of the information is a little dated and a few REALLY great new artists or CDs aren't mentioned, but thats a minor detail. In fact, many of the CDs mentioned in the suggested listening section remain best sellers today! Theres also the occaisonal trend of focusing in on pop music or CDs more readily available in the west, but again, theres nothing wrong with this. Think of this book more as an introduction or a guide book and you'll be fine. Once you get into world music, or even just a particular culture or region, you'll be good. So check this book out and see what you like (or don't like).

I love having both volume one and two. They have much useful information. But speaking about the Netherlands where I lived for 35 years as a professional Surinam musician: I didn't like the part about Surinam music because it was very uncomplete. The writers didn't mention the two best known Surinam bands Fra Fra sound and the Ronald Snijders band. They only mentioned traditional style groups like Carlo Jones band pretending that the others are jazz, which is ridiculous.
Every other country mentions it's musicians and bands who fusion their worldmusic with jazz, like Cuba's Irakere, Brazil's Milton Nascimento, Argentina's Piazola, South Africa's Dollard Brand and so on. But in case of Suriname they simple cut that important part away. This also happened in part two. Sad and incomplete, because the mayor part of the innovation, promotion, touring and study comes from these new style bands.

Ronald Snijders (flutist-composer, writer, drs ethnomusicolgy)

Although I wish that there was even more room to fit in all that's needed. I do notice that, for instance, there has since this volume a separate pocket-size one for Irish music, and no doubt others. I studied the areas I was most familiar with to see if any surprises emerged. A couple each time; unfortunately, these were impossible to find on cd (cassette even out-of-print in more than one instance) if you lived more than a few miles from the musician, I reckon!

This inevitable let down between supply and demand for those outside of the countries who want to hear the music does frustrate armchair listeners like me. Go to the Egyptian chapter, for example, and you'll find that most of the genre's picks are bootlegged as tapes in the market stands. Since 1999, I gather that this tendency keeps growing given filesharing and cd-burners, so I'm not quite sure how one would find much of the music on smaller regional labels today even from reputable importers.

This evolution aside and perhaps beyond RG's survey, this does whet your appetite for music. But be forewarned that much of it comes at quite a price from the net or a music store, if you're lucky enough to find what you want. The illustrations in the text, the sidebar profiles, the list of merchants appended: all these represent a labor of love and a fine reference source.

I do wish, finally, that RG had kept their guides on the Net (as it had at least with the Rock Guide in the later 1990s) so they could be updated as CDs go in and out of print.

I love this book - it would be utterly useful to everyone except the MOST savvy World Music person with a big ol' advanced degree.

I do a radio show of Arab music (WHPK 88.5 FM in Chicago!) and consider myself an educated aficionado, and I refer to it CONSTANTLY. This is truly the current ultimate guide to World music - just great. They are righ when they say "your CD collection will GROW" It will!

Walk inside the universe of World Music is not easy. You have the feeling to moove in a jungle of names, titles and unknown instruments. A Guide is necessary to understand and help you for orientation. This book is good for primers and experts, speaking about generes, origins, musicians and their best records. From the 1994's first edition the new release is more rich and reflects the high number of World Music records released in the last five years. I think you are in presence of the best guide you can buy today on the matter.

What an audio delight this album is! Most enchanting is the subtle interweaving of sacred vocal chant underlying the beautiful and often mesmerizing musical journey created by this artist. I do intuitive healing work and find this music provides a soothing tonal landscape to help a client release pain and tension and experience peace. I will most certainly explore more from Manesh DeMoor.

I have a large collection of meditation and relaxation CD's. This one is about the best. Not too much of the groove music that is popular and not too much music on prosac. Just right.

This cd is sheer bliss. There are so many different sounds occuring at once that it takes you on a mystical journey. It really invokes your spirit to move and dance. I love the womans voice in "Raindance" and several other tracks. Also the use of the digeridoo and drums combined with the chanting and electronic affects make it very interesting. The flow is unbelieveable even though every track is quite different. I have listened to many "trance like" CD's and this is by far the best one I've heard. I do a form of Bodywork I call Trance Movement Massage and this will be one of my first picks to use for my practice.

An interesting experience of meditative and somber tones, easy to wander into another world of inner peace. The last three tracks are easily the most suitable for meditation.

I bought this music on an impulse, wanting something for my lady in America....as a suprise......all I had to go on was the text on the Amazon web site.....well it arrived very quickly and she is thrilled with it....she has a spiritualistic side to here character and this music absolutely fitted .......great !!..Thank you