Oscar Books

This is a most amazing book. One would almost believe that, like his beloved William Blake, Ackroyd has the ability to rendevouz with the spirits and have Wilde dictate this marvelous account of his exile in Paris. A cunning pastiche of Wilde's wit and wisdom, this book charts the decent into the human condition. Littered with irony and humour, this book will leave the reader hungry for more insights into the genius of Oscar Wilde and I would reccomend it to everybody, even the few that may not be aware of the subject matter. From the dens of sin to the oppressive beauty of Paris society, the reader is on the journey with Wilde all the way.

There is humour and pathos here as Peter Ackroyd presents the voice of Oscar Wilde during Wilde's last days in Paris near the turn of the century. Though he was living in exile and was very poor, Wilde's observations are sharp and he bravely steps back from self-pity. He is able to assess his own life as an aesthete and writer. He spends his time in cafes, with English friends and with French acquaintances. As he becomes more ill the tone of the voice of Wilde becomes more poignant but till the end he is full of wit. At the very end he dies in his hotel room. This is an immensely satisfying book. All who are interested in Wilde will be drawn into Peter Ackroyd's poetic prose as he recreates from his own study and imagination the last days of the Irish wit and writer, with his degradation and dignity. In the end Wildes's literary wit triumphs and remains while his detractors and persecutors are forgotten

I received this book as a birthday gift. I thought @ first it would be another overly dramafied story of a gay man's contraction of AIDS and his long painful death. This book doesn't celebrate his life. It's a graphic, dark novel on a young man's adventure through the an underworld that eventually infected him with HIV. It's honestly graphic, powerful, sexually charged and visceral. It takes your attention. I'm nearly finished and I would recomend this book.

Theoretically, this is not the sort of "AIDS novel" I would care to read, following as it does a pattern that has become far too predictable: the chronicle of a gay man's sexual adventures followed by his (inevitable?) contraction of HIV. But this book grabbed me anyway: its clean, straightforward, sometimes graphic style -- espeically in a time when too many gay American novelists have succumbed to fussy literary affectation. It's odd and ironic to find a British author who writes more like an American noir novelist, while his American counterparts are too often trying to write (in the 1990s!) like Henry James. This novel was truly a case of bracing candor and honesty overriding the downbeat subject matter. It deserves to be read as a model as well -- for other writers who want to say what they mean, instead of flit around the edges in some mistaken notion that such flitting is what constitues art. I was saddened to read of Moore's death a few months ago, from AIDS complications -- and to realize that the novel was much more autobiographical than I wanted it to be. His voice was brave and pure. These loses cannot properly be measured. But I for one will miss the other books Moore might have written had he lived. James Robert Bake

Ken libo has shown an excellent ability to convey jewish history time and time again.. This book is no exception.. It's very readable, and will not let you down. If you want to concieve the struggles and successes of jews and others in the early twentieth century; buy this book.

This is a great book. It's chock full of history told in an easy-to-read style. Leon Harris reveals the struggles and successes of 12 of the earliest Jewish retailers of America including Levi Strauss, Sears, Roebuck, Neiman, Marcus etc. It appeals to readers on many levels. First it is an historic account of the people whose names have become so familiar as store-names that we have forgotten there were ever people with those names. "Merchant Princes" includes many personal anecdotes about the founders of the stores and their families, retailing practices of yester-year and what these merchants did with their incredible wealth. Told by a Jew, about Jews, it reveals in surprisingly candid ways the ostracism of Jews in this country addressing how this all began. It's a book you can put down and pick up at any point without losing the flow. Jews will love it. Gentiles will be impressed. I was!

Dr. Farmer proves himself to be an expert on his subject matter. He developes his themes superbly and keeps his reader interested and involved. An excellent display of talent and knowledge!

He makes the argument that the Old South, its finest intellectual hour seen in Thornwell, was much superior intellectually than the North. By the way, this is published by the scholarly Mercer University Press, so it ain't no hick from the sticks writing.

Thornwell also warned of the coming religious crisis, that which we call the Civil War. While criticizing unbiblical aspects of Southern slavery, he primarily warned against the rising humanistic and unitarian tide from the North which would overwhelm the South, not only militarily, but also--and more deadly--spiritually.

If I can restate the thesis in different terms: with the fall of the Confederacy, we saw the last bastion of a thoroughly Christian civilization destroyed. America would move from a decentralized republic to a consolidated Empire (which subsequent decades proved chillingly).

will change your mind about propagand

Additional biographical information on the author is available from the web site at http://wlu.edu/~owr

Of Rats And Men: Oscar Goodman's Life From Mob Mouthpiece To Mayor Of Las Vegas is the inherently fascinating biography of Oscar Goodman, a man who deliberately became a pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters for 35 years. Accused but never proven of being more than a mouthpiece and defense attorney for organized crime, Oscar Goodman somehow managed to successfully defend his clients without becoming part of organized crime itself -- at least according to the voters of Las Vegas who eventually elected him as their mayor twice. Of Rats And Men is very highly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the history of organized crime in America or who wish to avail themselves of a unique insight into the life and philosophy of an accomplished trial lawyer who specialized in defending members of established crime families.

The copious notes and eight pages of bibliography supporting John L. Smith's meticulously researched biographical look at Oscar Goodman, former mob attorney - presently the two-term mayor of Las Vegas, impressed me.

Talk about "insider" information! Smith has long been quoted as a preeminent authority on mob history and "wise guy" relationships. In his book, "Of Rats and Men: Oscar Goodman's Life from Mob Mouthpiece to Mayor of Las Vegas," Smith names a Who's Who of notorious clients, alleged criminal activities, and egregious political innuendoes surrounding the controversial bonds between Goodman and friends. Scared me! While it is obvious the attention-seeking mayor was generous in his interviews with the author, Smith kept me up nights as he interpreted what Goodman would have us believe with his [author's] own extensive background knowledge and investigative prowess. John L. has balls of brass to write as honestly as he does.

Don't let an easy read fool you. This book is a gem for all who follow gaming history, or the Las Vegas / mob connection - to say nothing of government ineptitude (now, that was a hoot!).

My 3 and 1/2 year old grandson has asked for this book to be read every night except one since it arrived. He has also taken it to Show and Tell at preschool. He identifies with the boy and loves the adventure of the cat. I think he is reassured by the ending.

Well written and love the illustrations. Not at all hard for an adult to read repeatedly.

This book is wonderfully imaginative and contains very vivid artwork. Enjoyable and an easy read. Definetly a bedside tale that will be loved in my family for many many years to come.

Completely advanced. After you finish with HANON , buy this one. You won't get through it easily, and If you do, I invite you to play with me ;)

This classic is one of the best piano exercise books you can buy. It covers all the major techical problems of the piano. To name a few: finger independence, chord and scale passages, hands crossing, extensions, wrist vs finger action, etc.

Please note, however, this is not an easy book. That happens very much because (but that is one of the book's great advantages) the exercises are made to be practised in all the scales, contrary to a book like "Hanon", so I would recomend it to any pianist who has a two-three years experience and has made the first part of "Hanon" exercises.

Many exercises are the most boring you can get, but belive me, it is worth the effort. Just try this book for a week and you will certantly see a difference.

This is also a great work for correcting hand problems like bent fingers or streched out ones, bad wrist position, etc.

A beautiful tale of perseverance and belief. Hysterically funny at points - tragically sad at others. This is truly one of my favourite books. It is certainly a good book for anyone seeking to learn French. The vocabulary is limited and the story is quite capable of capturing your imagination - encouraging you on.
For those who speak French fluently already, it is a wonderful quick-read. Well worth the few hours it takes to read!

Oscar est un petit garçon de 10 ans atteint de leucémie. Chaque jour, sur les conseils de Madame rose, une femme qui rend visite aux enfants malades, il écrit des lettres à Dieu. Dans ses lettres, avec la lucidité d'un enfant qui va mourir, il parle de la vie, de la mort, de l'amour, de la foi, de la lâcheté des adultes face à la maladie, du silence du médecin de l'hôpital face à la mort...Par un jeu instauré entre lui et Madame rose (chaque jour vécu sera compté pour 10 ans), il va confier à Dieu cette vie qu'il n'aura jamais mais qu'il va construire avec la complicité et l'amitié de cette femme: ainsi chacune de ses lettres sera une tranche de vie et tout en restant un enfant il décrit son adolescence, sa vie d'adulte ( ses problèmes de couple, son mariage... avec une autre petite fille malade de l'hôpital) et sa vieillesse et c'est alors que ses derniers jours d'existence prennent un sens... cette Madame rose, conteuse qui se fait passer pour une ancienne catcheuse professionnelle est la seule a avoir compris qu'on ne peut pas mentir à un enfant qui sait qu'il va mourir : avec des mots simples et justes elle partage ce qu'éprouve Oscar : "que les hôpitaux sont aussi faits pour mourir" et elle lui explique que nous oublions que la vie est "fragile, friable, ephémère". Madame rose va transformer les derniers jours de la vie d'Oscar: grâce à elle, il va se réconcilier avec lui- même, se réconcilier avec ses parents qui fuyaient la maladie de leur fils, et réconcilier son médecin dans son impuissance à le sauver et Oscar va lui aussi transformer Madame rose : elle a su rire et a connu la joie avec Oscar.
Un livre magnifique. Merci à l'auteur de nous faire partager sa dimension (philosophique et spirituelle) avec des mots si simples et si justes.

This is a great reference work for movie buffs. Every winner and nominee in the four major acting categories is listed in alphabetical order with a thumbnail bio of his or her career and an occasional pithy quote. An index in the back lists winners chronologically and includes movies and directors as well as stars.

As a long time movie fan, I, like most, am aware of those actors who have been the "winners" of the major categories given at the Academy Awards. However, I did not realize the superb list of "losers" who did not collect the coveted statues. This fine reference work by Roy Pickard provides an excellent assessment of the distinguished recipients and the "also-rans." It is chocked full of amusing profiles and anecdotes about actors and film. The true movie fan who remembers such film stalwarts as Thelma Ritter, Broderick Crawford, Eve Arden, and Beah Richards will enjoy reading this book for they-and many others receive their just due.