New York Books

From LONDON FIELDS [1989] by Martin Amis: "Features include fool-the-eye dent-marks, a removable toupee of rust on the hood, and adhesive key-scratches all over the paintwork. An English strategy: envy-preemption."

From SHOW AND TELL [2001] by John Lahr: "In fact, [Wallace] Shawn, who admits he's actually 'a very arrogant and vain person', preempts envy by constantly spoiling any picture of his own distinction."

In these days when performers are celebrated -- and demeaned -- for being famous, every little tidbit of information is up for grabs by the media. I say this as someone who was a journalist for nearly 20 years (and is now an entertainer). What's missing on the market: candid performers' profiles that still convey WHY great performers are GREAT performers and -- sometimes -- great people or great creeps. Show and Tell contains 15 of John Lahr's BEST New Yorker show biz profiles. The zest and verve of these creative folk and Lahr's excitement writing about them is all here. The subjects: Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Schreiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and his parents Bert and Mildred Lahr. You don't have to even know who these celebrities are (you'll enjoy this book if you're in your early 20s) to love these profiles: each chapter tells you how they got from point A (childhood) to point B (becoming great entertainers, playwrights etc) -- and about all the joys and obstacles along the way. Don't expect simplistic tabloid journalism but more detailed interviews. The Bob Hope profile was controversial when it was first published since it not only hinted at adultery but etched a portrait of a man who created a corporate comedy machine -- and even needed cue cards when performing at a private party. But there's tons of info amid these revelations. My other favorite profiles and tidbits include: Woody Allen (his casting method for movies sometimes boils down to him looking at someone for a few seconds), Bert Lahr (his frustration at not having made many movies, unlike some of his vaudeville colleagues), Roseanne (her rage-based comedy; how she wrested control of her t.v. show from what would have been sit-com mediocrity),Irving Berlin (the 20th century's most prolific and perhaps great composer adapting to all kinds of music from the century's beginning UNTIL rock...which finally did him in). There are many others but the point is: these are unlike any other profile's you'll read. They celebrate the joy, creative "juice" flow, toil, and heartbreak of show biz and performing arts creativity -- and you'll want to read them again and again.

As a lifelong subscriber to The New Yorker, I have especially enjoyed reading Lahr's various "Profiles." Fifteen of his best are anthologized in this volume. The subjects are Woody Allen, David Mamet, Frank Sinatra, Arthur Miller, Liev Screiber, Roseanne, Irving Berlin, Wallace Shawn, Eddie Izzard, Neil Labute, Bob Hope, Ingmar Bergman, Mike Nichols, and the author's parents, Mildred and Bert Lahr. My personal favorites are those which discuss Sinatra, Miller, Roseanne, Hope, Bergman, and Nichols but I was pleased to re-read all of the others also. Lahr has a somewhat specialized form of genius for crafting what are indeed "profiles" rather than portraits, much less in-depth character analyses. Even when fondly discussing his own parents, he seems to have no limiting biases, "baggage" or predilections. It is high praise to note that the reader feels as if she or he is a "fly on the wall" during Lahr's conversations with his subjects...and at other times, as if the reader can hear him thinking aloud while alone and in reflection. Lahr's is a naturally casual style (so sophisticated that it seems effortless), perhaps most evident when discussing Bob Hope. According to Lahr, Hope's wife Dolores and the children were "extras" in his life. "It was hard for anyone in the family to get much of Bob Hope." Lahr shares this without judgment, suggesting implications without manipulating inferences.. With Hope as with each of the 14 others, Lahr's objective is to capture the essence of his subject, the esential qualities and characteristics which are revealed in "defining moments" of inimitable behavior or utterance. Lahr's reader (at least this one) is left to wonder what he would have to say about so many others such as Saul Bellow, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Joe DiMaggio, Bob Fosse, Jackie Gleason, Sam Peckinpah, Jackson Pollock, Martha Stewart, and Oprah Winfrey.

Celebrities are fair game it seems for every hack, two bit journalist, and paparazzi. Their names are money and their pictures, weight loss, ageing, personal crises, and habits appear to be of endless fascination to the reading public or a fair proportion of it. What about Sinatra's links to the mob? What about Woody Allen's prediliction for young women? What about Mike Nichol's anger? What about Igmar Bergman's womanizing and tax evasion? Give me a break! There is much tosh, pap and babble written by those not fit enough to sharpen the pencils of the subjects of these profiles by Mr Lahr, but you will not find it in SHOW AND TELL. Mr Lahr is a writer worthy of these legends and that, dear reader, is indeed saying something. Revealing, interesting, incisive, entertaining and gripping, Mr Lahr and his editor at The New Yorker, have done a brilliant job. Perhaps the best short pieces I have ever read on the subjects contained therein. Brilliant.

The New Yorker is famous for its witty prose, "casuals," and most of all---its Profiles of famous and not-so-famous people. The New Yorker is also famous for unbelievably long pieces (sometimes taking up the entire magazine) and occasionally being so "in" that the readers are left "out."

John Lahr has all of the virtues: elegant, thoughtful writing, and he leaves you wishing for more. Mr. Lahr specializes in Entertainment Profiles, a difficult undertaking. He avoids the landmines of sound-bytes, scurrility, fawning and trivia. He delivers fifteen gleaming, sharp-edged Profiles on disparate personalities.

I feel the best are the ones that are not contemporaries and/or friends of the author with the exception of the lovely word portraits of his parents, father Bert, and mother Millie (who might or might not have had an affair with Joseph Cotton!) Mr. Lahr needs a certain amount of distance to do his best work. He is clearly an admirer of Woody Allen, and it shows. I felt we were seeing the brushed up and shiny side of this highly complex entertainer. Bob Hope is given the finest dispassionate treatment; Lahr steps back and allows Mr. Hope produce his own cause and effect. The reader can judge for himself. I was left thinking, as my grandmother would say, "this is NOT a very nice man." To me, Roseanne was frightening with her rage and skewed perspectives. It wasn't what Mr. Lahr said about her; it was Roseanne being herself. The Profile on Frank Sinatra left me with a emotion I would never, ever thought possible in conjunction with Ole Blue Eyes: pity.

I read this book straight through, almost at one sitting. I found it that fascinating. But it can be read at leisure. Just start anywhere; there's not a loser to be found!

This is a real page-turner, and absolutely fascinating. The author tells the stories of five immigrants to the U.S. and New York City around 1900, but what's amazing is the power of the voices here, plus the photos. The focus is on young people, but my adult book group read this and loved it. Everyone has seen photos of the crowded Lower East Side, but this book makes you think of the individuals and their families who lived there.

I hope by the time you read this review that you will be able to "take a look inside" this book on this website. Then you could really appreciate how beautifully illustrated and crafted this outstanding book is. For the time being, you'll have to take my (and other reviewers') word for it.

There are many books geared toward young readers on the subject of the immigrant/tenement experience in New York City at the turn of the last century, and many of them are quite good. But Deborah Hopkinson's "Shutting Out the Sky: Life in the Tenements of New York, 1880-1924" is far and above the best in recent times. The photographs are exquisite and exquisitely moving. The text is engaging, and, unlike other books aimed for this age group, Ms. Hopkinson's book doesn't dumb things down toward her audience. This is an admirable book that I would recommend to parents and teachers!

Rocco Dormarunno, author of "The Five Points"

I finished this book in a spell. Hopkinson weaves the stories of young immigrants and the story of the growing city into a rich experience for the reader. Her choice of detail, her gift for story telling, and the wonderful and often poignant photographs make this (beautifully designed book) irresistible. In the end you believe-as Hopkinson clearly does-that the past has meaning because of the individuals that lived it, and that their stories must continue to reverberate. It isn't "just" the past; it's what we're made of.

If you've ever heard family stories about grandparents or greatparents who came through Ellis Island, this book is a must. Hopkinson follows the true stories of five young immigrants. She tells the story of life on the Lower East Side at the turn of the 20th century using excerpts from oral histories and memoirs. Somehow the stories of the young Russian Jewish and Italian immigrants tie in seamlessly with information on coming to America, what it was like to live in a tenement, work (including conditions in the sweatshops and the Triangle factory fire), going to school, and what the future held for these young men and women. The historic photos are so evocative and powerful. Highly recommended.

My son loves history and when he brought home this book I immediately got hooked on the photos. Then I began reading the stories of the immigrants and I couldn't put it down -- I couldn't wait to find out what happened to the five young people whose stories are recounted here. Somehow the combination of the photos, the quotes and the personal stories all works together to let us into a world gone by. A wonderful book!

Tony Cavalucci is a cop for the NYPD, who used to live life hard and fast. After his new partner, Joe Fiore, introduces him to Christianity, Tony sees his life through new eyes and tries to get things back on track. Now engaged to a Christian woman with a son he loves, Tony is a new man and sees his job differently than he used to as he works to keep the streets safe for everybody--including the lowest inhabitants, the skells. Once treating them with distaste and disdain, he now attempts to be kind and help them solve their problems.

F. P. Lione, a husband and wife writing team, depicts the day-to-day real-life drama of police work realistically in this third offering in the Midtown Blue series, titled SKELLS. Murder and mayhem invade New York City, and this cop and his partner, Tony Cavalucci and Joe Fiore, are doing their best to make the streets a little less dangerous for everybody, including the homeless, the prostitutes, and the druggies--better known on the streets as `skells'.

The message of SKELLS is this: Everybody needs God, and God provides hope for everyone, even those people others consider hopeless. Climb in the back seat of Tony and Joe's cruiser and ride along with some of New York's finest; you just might learn a thing or two about hope and compassion yourself.

In their third installment of the Midtown Blue series and their best book to date, the husband and wife team of F. P. Lione (Frank and Pam) offer an absorbing look at the New York Police Department while continuing the story of Tony Cavalucci and his new walk of faith.

Cavalucci, a recovering alcoholic, is still on the wagon, although his dysfunctional family and the party-hard group of cops he works with make it difficult. He and his fiancée, Michele, are building a new house together and trying to work out the snags in their relationship before the wedding. Michele and Tony are waiting to have sex until they tie the knot, but Tony is impatient and turns on the pressure. However, Michele is a single mother who knows the price of impatience. Their relationship is well-developed by the Liones in this installment.

But most of the book is devoted to Tony's life on the job. His time with his partner, the scripture-quoting Joe Fiore, is slowly changing Tony for the better, and he's on a more even keel --- spiritually, emotionally and physically. (When he first met Joe, Tony had been "flirting with the idea of eating my gun.") But Cavalucci's hard-drinking Italian family sees Joe as a threat; he's the reason Tony is going to a different church, is marrying a woman they don't approve of (a single mom with a young son), and has quit drinking. His father's venomous second wife seems poised to wreak new havoc on the family, and Tony is concerned about his sister Denise dating a police officer Tony knows only too well.

As Tony tries to get along with his family and seeks to understand what his father's problems are, he discovers a secret from his father's past that helps him understand what has made him the difficult man he is today. He also battles his grandmother's superstitions, which the Liones flesh out with some nice details.

The "skells" of New York City --- the drug addicts, bag ladies, prostitutes, the homeless --- keep Tony and his department busy in this installment. Cavalucci used to look at them as the dregs of society, but recently "they just look lost and wounded to me." Part of this is Joe's influence; Joe tells him, "If you get down deeper into a person, you'll see there's a reason...Nobody wants to be a drunk or a crackhead --- they're struggling, just like you were struggling."

There are some memorable encounters, including a fairly violent rape scene and a domestic abuse situation, as well as some unusual offbeat calls that are by turns funny and sad. The Liones show how police officers are always just a step away from a lawsuit, even when they are only trying to come to the assistance of someone in trouble.

If you haven't read the first and second books in the series, THE DEUCE and THE CROSSROADS, you'll want to go back and read them in order. Although the first two are highly enjoyable, SKELLS is the Liones at their best. They've smoothed out some of the rough spots in the first two novels and strike just the right balance of faith and the gritty work of Manhattan's finest police officers. There's plenty of character development, mouth-watering food details, and interesting inside information on law enforcement to keep the pages turning. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at phrelanzer@aol.com.

It wasn't too long ago that NYPD patrolman Tony Cavalucci was dumped by his girlfriend and spent his off duty hours drinking. If it was not for his fellow officer Joe Fiore, a born again Christian, he would have become an alcoholic. His life has settled down and he plans to marry Michele, a single mom whose son Tony adores.

His new outlook on life leads him to look at the skells, those people who live on the fringe, the homeless, the mentally impaired, and the alkies and druggies with compassion, not scorn. He is now a good neighbor who prevents someone from beating up their wife. His only problem is with his father who broke up their family to marry Marie and won't believe him that his new wife is stepping out on him. His sister has proof, but dad refuses to see it. Tony must learn to accept his father's love for a cheating spouse.

This is not a police procedural but a deep and fine tale that is a character study of a how a cop lives as he thrives to do his best on the job, in his personal relationships and with God. He knows that the Lord is with him every step of the way. Readers will like the protagonist who sees like much differently since he became sober leading to an enlightened tolerance of other people's peculiarities.

Harriet Klausner

"Skells" is the third book in the Midtown Blues series written by husband and wife team F.P. Lione. It continues the story of Tony Cavalucci, 11 year veteran of the NYPD and recent convert to Christ.

The title comes from the term NYPD cops use for the addicts, homeless, prostitutes and others who live on the streets and cause them problems. It's easy for Tony and the other officer's hearts to become hardened to them. But now Tony, through the example of his partner, Joe Fiore, is learning to see each person through the eyes of Christ as the lost and wounded souls they really are.

Tony and Joe run into some colorful characters, as well as tragic situations, during their patrols. But what makes the series so compelling is not the external conflict they face as police officers. Instead, it is the internal conflict Tony faces as a new believer in Christ. He is finding every belief he previously took for granted challenged by his new faith. Many writers might gloss over these challenges by using clichés or having Tony become an "instant" Christian, but not the Lione's. They have handled every aspect of Tony's walk of faith--from the path that led to his decision to follow Christ in "The Deuce" through the gradual changes God has made in Tony's thoughts and actions through "The Crossroads" and "Skells"--with authenticity and realism.

I am hoping there will be additional books in the Midtown Blues series. "Skells" ends in May 2001, just a few months before the tragic events of September 11. There seems to be some foreshadowing (such as rookie cop Nick Romano, whom Tony and Joe had befriended, transferring to the fire department) that suggests we might get to see how the events at the World Trade Center affect Tony and Joe. I, for one, certainly hope so.

Most NYPD cops think skells are the scum of the earth. They're the crackheads, homeless, prostitutes, and other lowlifes who can make an officer's job a nightmare. Eleven-year veteran Tony Cavalucci's midnight tour is full of skells. He used to consider them discarded trash worth no one's time. But lately the skells seem different to Tony--they look lost and wounded.

But the beat goes on. Trouble is always brewing in Midtown Manhattan, and Tony and his partner Joe Fiore confront it all. From the man who accidentally blows himself off the toilet (yes, you read that right), to the discovery of a loft packed with hundreds of marijuana plants, this ain't no nine-to-five desk job. Sure, there are days nothing happens. Those will be the days Tony's dysfunctional Italian family will provide enough drama to match what the streets throw his way. Has his family always been like this, or is he seeing them differently too? Tony's definitely changed in the last few months. He's stopped drinking, goes to church, and is engaged to a nice Christian girl.

There are some days Tony still longs to head on down to his old bar haunts and pound down a few cold ones. But he always stops short. What God thinks matters to him now. Yet whether on patrol or visiting his family, temptations abound. Is it really possible to be a good cop and a Christian?

Skells is not necessarily a plot-driven story. In many ways, reading it is more like reading the memoirs of a cop than reading a novel (think Blue Blood by Edward Conlon without all the family history). This speaks volumes for the realism Frank and Pam Lione (writing as F.P.) manage to convey through its pages. It's like you're tagging along in the backseat of Tony's cruiser. You can almost feel the dirt grinding under your shoes, the adrenaline pulsing through your veins. As Book #3 in the "Midtown Blue" series, Skells was preceded by The Deuce and The Crossroads. It isn't required to read them first, but they cover Tony's life consecutively and will bring a deeper understanding of the characters.

This isn't your grandma's Christian fiction (unless she happens to be an ex-cop). There's definitely some real-life grittiness here. People get drunk. People die. Tony and his partner stop a rape in progress. But through it all there's always hope. The Lione's don't drag you through the dirt of a cop's life without picking you up, dusting you off, and sharing the truth: Everyone needs God. The skells and the cops.

Fiction needs more of what F.P. Lione offers. Refreshingly honest, Skells is the raw portrayal of a NYPD cop's struggle to live out his faith through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze magazine

Ellen Pall is a wonderfully fluent writer. Her interiors are vivid, her dialogue is real and she has a sharp but warm eye for humans and their weaknesses. Juliet Bodine is an attractive, imperfect, urbane writer who heads off in search of a killer while being honest enough to explain some of the machinations of fiction writing, or not writing, as the case may be, and what it's really like to be single in the city. She would translate very well onto the screen. But in the meantime, cozy up with "Slightly Abridged." You'll find interwoven some old London history delightfully come back to life in New York, and a clever mystery unraveled.

Juliet Bodine is stuck, blocked in writing her latest regency romance, so she welcomes the appearance of a fan. Ada Caffney is an energetic 84-year old who has lived life to the fullest, and who has discovered a segment of manuscript that might, possibly, be worth thousands. Ada drops into Juliet's life like a bombshell dragging Juliet away from her writing to poetry slams, Broadway shows, and tours of the Empire State Building (anything to get away from writing that dreadful romance). When Ada is found dead, the manuscript missing, Juliet becomes a suspect. With the help of illusive love interest and police detective Murray Landis, Juliet sets out to investigate.

Author Ellen Pall has written a fun mystery interweaving Juliet's love interests, the painful plotting of Juliet's book (which starts out sounding like a stinker but begins to pick up when Juliet's attraction toward Murray takes on new fire), and the unveiling of more and more motives to see Ada dead all work to keep the reader glued to the novel. Pall uses author intrusion to set the stage for later developments and as chapter hooks, teasing the reader with promises of more to come. It's a little disconcerting at first, but Pall uses it lightly enough to make it an enjoyable style choice.

SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED did start a little slowly and the story really gathers steam when Ada goes missing, Murray comes back into the scene, and Juliet is able to escape her morose plotting and turn her energies toward detecting. You'll end up rooting for Juliet to dump the too-perfect book dealer, hook up with Murray, and overcome the killer that only a writer can find.

Very nice.

Juliet Bodine is stuck, blocked in writing her latest regency romance, so she welcomes the appearance of a fan. Ada Caffney is an energetic 84-year old who has lived life to the fullest, and who has discovered a segment of manuscript that might, possibly, be worth thousands. Ada drops into Juliet's life like a bombshell dragging Juliet away from her writing to poetry slams, Broadway shows, and tours of the Empire State Building (anything to get away from writing that dreadful romance). When Ada is found dead, the manuscript missing, Juliet becomes a suspect. With the help of illusive love interest and police detective Murray Landis, Juliet sets out to investigate.

Author Ellen Pall has written a fun mystery interweaving Juliet's love interests, the painful plotting of Juliet's book (which starts out sounding like a stinker but begins to pick up when Juliet's attraction toward Murray takes on new fire), and the unveiling of more and more motives to see Ada dead all work to keep the reader glued to the novel. Pall uses author intrusion to set the stage for later developments and as chapter hooks, teasing the reader with promises of more to come. It's a little disconcerting at first, but Pall uses it lightly enough to make it an enjoyable style choice.

SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED did start a little slowly and the story really gathers steam when Ada goes missing, Murray comes back into the scene, and Juliet is able to escape her morose plotting and turn her energies toward detecting. You'll end up rooting for Juliet to dump the too-perfect book dealer, hook up with Murray, and overcome the killer that only a writer can find.

Very nice.

Author Juliet Bodine writes Regency romances under the pseudonym Angelica Kestrel-Haven. Juliet is having trouble with her latest work because the hero is not the rake she usually uses. So when an octogenarian fan Ada Case Caffrey asks to meet over tea in Manhattan, Juliet, who normally says no, agrees as they have exchanged letters for several years. Ada has more energy that a teenager on a sugar high and gets Juliet and others to escort her all over the big city.

Ada also shows Juliet pieces of letters of the apparent memoirs of Harriette Wilson, perhaps the most infamous of the Regency courtesans. Juliet arranges for Ada to meet with Dennis Daigrault, owner of Rara Avis, a store that deals in antiques. However, Ada storms out feeling Dennis is short changing her, but also fails to return to her bed and breakfast while a blizzard socks the city. Not long after she is reported Ada missing, NYPD Detective Murray Landis has Juliet identify an elderly homicide victim who is Ada. Feeling guilty for failing as a host, Juliet begins making inquiries even as Murray searches for a killer and a lost manuscript.

This engaging Manhattan amateur sleuth story with some of police procedural elements adds realism to this fun tale due to Hurricane Ada. The key characters are a delightful grouping, but each feels the impact of Ada taking over the city and their lives even after she is murdered. SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED is a fine cozy that leaves the audience waiting for book three of the Muses mysteries.

Harriet Klausner

Ellen Pall's greatest asset as a writer is her edgy, witty prose - it's what makes this book a pleasure to read. The dialogue is sharp, the insights make you identify with Juliet, and the latent wit is always ready to surprise you.

Juliet is a writer of Regency romances and her difficulties with her current novel are overcome only when her own love-life sparks up. This love life is nicely handled with much left to the imagination and (Praise be!) the careful avoidance of a happy ending. How refreshing to not be landed with an existing amore in the next novel where the reader is stuck watching the relationship toil its way to the next level or, perhaps, fizzle out.

The writer really worked with this novel - she finds parallels to her plot in both the real Regency period and the imaginary Regency world of her novel. It's clever, but it's just a bit contrived. She divides her story between two contemporary settings - the semi-sophisticated of New York City and the truly unsophisticated of a tiny village in upstate New York. If I lived in upstate New York I'd be feeling a bit patronized.

But it's a good story, with the advent of the bright and beautifully-flawed Ada making mincemeat of the New Yorkers careful lives. As long as the writer maintains her sharp prose and dialogue, keeps the characters clearly focussed and doesn't try to get too clever with her Muses this will be a series worth reading.

I read this book when it first was first published.
Over the years I have made reference to it a number of times to students and colleagues. I just mentioned it recently, and decided to contribute here reviewing it.
Amazingly, the same book that I read, is still available on the stacks...
and if I remember correctly, is as timeless as when it was first written. Right after this book "came out", there was a television movie where a child spoke into a reel-to-reel taperecorder, and accidently someone put it on a different speed and the specialists then were able to witness that the child was speaking extremely FAST, and when the speed was changed, they were able to know what the child was saying.

I highly recommend, without reservation -- SONrise!

This book has helped me with my feelings about my twin boys who have autism. It also confirmed a lot of my feelings and intuitions as a parent. I really felt like I had an inside look on this family's life, their feelings, their concerns, and ultimately their actions that turned their child's life around. Incredibly inspiring and I would recommend it to anyone who cares for someone living with autism.

When I was in college I wrote a term paper on autism. It was in my research for that paper that I had the unbelievable luck to read this book. The story had a profound effect on my life. The admiration I have for Barry and Suzy Kaufman to this day has guided my life. A couple of years ago, while surfing the internet, I came upon the Option Institute's website. I was so thrilled to get a return email from them telling me how wonderful Raun is doing. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who is questioning the power of love and determination. This is an incredible book of hope.

I'd like to weigh in on the "I don't have an autistic child" vote...

I read the original "Son, Rise" back in 1982 or '83. There was an interview with Barry Neil Kaufman on the radio one night, it caught my interest, and I bought the book and read it. Even though I had no direct connection to anyone who were autistic, it was an outstanding read.

I don't read a lot of "true life" stories, but this is probably the one book I remember the best of ANY BOOKS I have read. Period. As another reviewer states - this book had a profound impact on my life. And 23 years later, I still remember not just the book, the story, and Barry Neil Kaufman's name, but the way it affected my view of interpersonal relationships. Heck, I recall the radio interview...

For some reason, other reviewers seem to have missed what I found to be a key point in the story, one that I find valid in all dealings with others: Expectations are a source of much frustration.

We all have "expectations" - all the time, in every situation in life, and whether we realize it or not. When those expectations are met, the effects *usually* range from neutral to mildly satisfied. After all, we *expect* it, so there's not much of a positive upside when the expectations are met. But there's a huge downside when they're not. Because most expectations are not communicated and often not even fully understood by ourselves, those expectations tend to become unfulfilled and thus the source of frustrations. And when positive things happen, they don't *seem* positive - because they're not what we "expected".

Learning to recognize expectations - and either expressing them or deciding to let them go - is a big step towards removing many everyday frustrations.

But I can't describe in analytical terms what the original book so unbelievably well conveys - and how this real life story is simply riveting. I just can't think of a better way to describe it.

The book is a must-read for anyone - or at least the original was. I find it to most likely be unfortunate that the book has been modified, but I haven't read the "...miracle continues" so I can't say. But I'm sure the original message is intact, so if you can't find the original - a rewrite is sure to be at least the next best thing...

Does the book cure cancer, depression, or other physical, mental, or emotional issues? I wouldn't *expect* it to...

Does the book provide a cure for autism? To me, that is a moot question. Would it help someone deal with an autistic child? I can't see how it wouldn't! Any positive effect on the autistic child would be gravy!

At the same time, beware of your expectations! If you *expect* a result of attempting to use the book's approach to "curing" an autistic child - you are walking straight into the expectation trap. Can anyone or everyone rid themselves of their expectations and thereby achieve a maximum result? Probably not. Should someone who isn't able to "cure" their autistic child feel bad about it? Come on - you have completely missed the "no expectations" criteria! If you feel bad about the result, it is because you expected a certain result.

This isn't about results - which are ultimately about expectations - it is about love and acceptance. If or when that leads to an improved situation - that *should* be an unexpected side effect which would be the source of endless joy. If you follow their principles will it happen to you? If you build it will they come? All I can say is - if you DON'T build it - I'm pretty sure they WON'T come. Just don't plan on a sell out every night. Plan on enjoying having a place where you can always get a great seat...

Is Kaufman's personality an ingredient somehow? I'm sure it is - not everyone is capable of letting go of all expectations. But don't get confused by those who claim the book is cultist. Sure - Barry has a certain way of looking at things - or he wouldn't be Barry, and maybe there are some "flower-power" influences in his "love" approach. But is love a bad thing? I would think not. Is unconditional love a bad thing? I, for one, would love to be loved unconditionally!

If you have a dog, you may know what "unconditional love" means. Just think how awesome it would be to have another PERSON love you like that!!! Please - if you are a woman between the ages of ... just kidding ... :->

This is the most beautiful book about autism in creation.Barry Neil Kauffman, his wife Sumitra (then Suzy) and their daughters have shown just how strong and potent love really is.

The Kauffman's third child is a bright, beautiful little boy named Raun. Raun develops an ear infection early in infancy and from that point on develops autistic behaviors. He does not talk, he rocks and spins objects and only rarely looks at people or responds to his name.

Refusing to give up on this child, the Kauffmans devise a one on one program with Raun. They choose the bathroom as their classroom because that is the one room that "has the least amount of distractors." Raun's parents and sisters all participate with him in whatever he is doing, all the while talking to him about the activities. They turn Raun's solitary stimulation into a group activity and little by little Raun emerges from the shadows of autism.

This is truly an outstanding book. You will not only come to dearly love the Kauffmans, you will come to see that they have provided a gift to all -- the gift of a healthy child.

Farris is the master of the subtle plot. He is also a master of genuine horror - horror that is not necessarily caused by supernatural monsters or aliens or bogeymen. It is the horror that is immanent in human nature - more or less trammeled by the civilization and the rules of society. When they come into the open it is either due to mental or social sickness. In this book you can study persons that when they have the feeling of being almighty may exercise their dehumanized urges on innocent people. Man is the only being that kills for pleasure and personal satisfaction. Farris shows this in a novel full of breathteaking suspense. The Trevellians may be exaggerated and slightly unreal as characters but they represent a tendency in humans to play God and to feel like God. Hubris is punished in the classical Greek tragedy. But is this mortal sin always punished in our modern times?

John Farris, master of psycho books, has amazed me once again. I have read all of his novels to date and this is by far his best work. After finishing the book, I have not been able to keep my mind off it...too bad there's no chance of a sequel.

You won't be able to put this one down; get ready for a VERY late night! "Soon She Will Be Gone", will have you breathless in anticipation of what will happen next! Just when I thought I had "figured it all out" I was surprised by another twist, another turn, all the way up to the unpredictable ending.You won't regret buying this book, it's one heck of a roller coaster ride!

Six beautiful women have mysteriously vanished over the past few years with the only common links besides their gender being they were physically impaired and that they were involved in some manner with visionary architect Dix Trevallian. Their absence might have gone unnoticed except that the last victim happened to be the sister of U.S. Deputy Attorney general Dane Coleman, who believes that the six females are all dead and Dix is the culprit. He plans to bring the wealthy architect down either by legal or other means. ..... Sharon Norbeth falls into Dane's clutches when she cops a plea bargain with him. She will abet him in his efforts to get at Dix if he drops all criminal charges filed against her. Sharon gains entrance into the rarefied Trevallian inner sanction through Dane's Machiavellian maneuvers and her own artistic talent. She quickly discovers that the entire Trevallian family is twisted in ways so horrible that it is difficult to accept. Anyone of them could have caused the disappearance of the women and Sharon plans to uncover who the culprit is before she becomes the next missing number. ..... John Farris has written his usual nail biting thriller that draws upon the beasts that reside inside every human. SOON SHE WILL BE GONE is an example of horror at its most horrible brilliance. The characters (both good and evil) are compelling and the story line rapidly moves forward, turning this book into a must read for fans who enjoy reading about the surfacing of the Jekyll in all of us. .....Harriet Klausner

A serial killer may be at large. Six talented women with various handicaps have disappeared without a trace. The only link between them seems to be the Trevellian family. Sharan Norbeth , a disfigured artist, goes undercover to discover the truth, but comes close to being victim number 7. Just when you think you have figured out who the villain is, the plot takes a twist and turn. The story keeps you on edge and is a very satisfying read for fans of mystery and psychosexual thrillers.

I bought this book for my daughter who is a Sound of Music affectionado. She loved the book and all the background materials provided.

The Sound of Music Companion by Laurence Malson, Andrew Lloyd Webber should be owned by all who enjoyed the movie.


Thanks

This is a wonderful book for THE SOUND OF MUSIC enthusiast. Lots of great background information and photographs. Thank you.

Lawrence Maslon should be thanked and congratulated for offering a concise and informative Sound of Music book. Although there have been a few Sound of Music books written in the past, this book is probably the first of its kind to tell the story in a concise manner. The Hirsch book on the film and the reissued Max Wilk book on the stage show were great books in their own right, but I think this book tops them all.

Although the numerous photos are the draw of this coffee-table book, a coffee-table book should offer much more than pretty photographs. For this it certainly delivers. His meticulously researched, well-written text tells us the whole Sound of Music story from Maria's birth to the first Austrian stage production in 2005. This book covers all important stops in the history of SOM up till now, and does not dwell too long on any one time period. An added treat is the inclusion of song lyrics and commentaries on the songs, explaining how they were written and what role they played in the musical. I admit there are a few typo errors in the text, but this well-researched book is jam-packed with facts of the musical. You could literally dip your teeth into it and come out a Sound of Music junkie. I do wish there were also lyrics and commentaries for I Have Confidence, So Long, Farewell and also The Lonely Goatherd.

In short, a really great Sound of Music book that makes a splendidd addition to any Sound of Music collection, except that the print tends to be a little too small for the size of the book. Otherwise, a really wonderful book from cover to cover, and a seminal work in the entire world of this well-loved musical. I think this is a book that deserves to be in print forever.

Wonderful! Very complete compilation of many sources regarding the Sound of Music. Covers not only the movie, but also the stageplay, the history behind the script and music, and the history of the Von Trapps themselves. The pictures are absolutely beatiful! There are stills from the movie, from the original Broadway cast, from many Broadway revivals, as well as many behind the scenes shots. This is a must have for anybody who loves the story of the Sound of Music.

If, like me, you think "South Pacific" is the greatest musical of all time, or even if you're only interested in musicals in general, then you'll find this a wonderful book. The other reviewers here have already told you why. I'll add one caveat, though: the brief introduction by a character named Adam Guettel (whom I'd never heard of) is so over-the-top in its florid pomposity and baroque overkill that I seriously wonder if he even knows how to speak English. If you're a connoisseur of gibberish, however, you'll enjoy it. Fortunately, the author of the book itself, Laurence Maslon, has a firm command of both his subject and the English language. As well as a sly sense of humor....

In this beautiful coffee-table book, Laurence Maslon gives us the complete history of the musical theatre masterpiece "South Pacific." As in his previous book "The Sound Of Music Companion", Maslon is well-researched and always entertaining. The photographs, both color and black and white-- printed on glossy stock; many of them taking up a full page-- illustrate the emotional power of the original 1949 Broadway production starring Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza; as well as subsequent, though infrequent, productions.
Maslon puts particular emphasis on the historical importance of this musical, beginning with the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He gives a thorough, detailed history of World War II, and describes the various fates and events that brought author James Michener, Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and director Joshua Logan together to create "South Pacific" in 1949. Just as Michener's original book "Tales Of The South Pacific" won a Putlitzer Prize for literature, so to did "South Pacific" win the Putlizer Prize for drama; one of the few times that honor was bestowed upon a musical; "Of Thee I Sing" from 193l being the only other.
Rodgers and Hammerstein made no concessions to conventions. "South Pacific," which confronts racism and prejudice head on, was ground-breaking and still is controversial. The song "Carefully Taught," the point of the ENTIRE show, makes plenty of people nervous and uncomfortable to this day. Rodgers & Hammerstein were pressured, at various times during various productions, to remove the song from the show. They steadfastly refused to do so.
The disasterous 1958 movie version, with those wretched color filters that nearly ruin every song, nearly ruined "South Pacific's" reputation. Maslon is much too kind to the movie version. Rodgers, Hammerstein, and Logan all HATED the movie version. Yes, Logan directed the Broadway, National Tour, and London Productions AND the movie version-- and he HATED the movie version. Ironically, London critics hated the stage production, but went MAD over the movie version, which played uninterrupted there for several years. Equally appalling, both the 1958 movie version and the 2001 TV adaptation (with Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr.) violate the carefully crafted structure of Logan's and Hammerstein's original stage libretto. The 2001 TV adaptation is not as painful to watch as the 1958 film version, but it is equally misguided.
Thankfully, the 2005 "South Pacific In Concert At Carnegie Hall" (starring Brian Stokes Mitchell and Reba McEntire) returned to the original structure and libretto. The success of the Carnegie Hall "Concert Version" undoubtedly led to the 2008 Broadway revival. Directed by Bartlett Sher and starring Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, the revial (which swept the 2008 Tony Awards; exactly like the Original Broadway Production had done in 1949) reaffirms that "South Pacific" is an important, historical and musical theatre, masterpiece. Maslon concludes: "Almost sixty years after its premiere, nearly a decade into a new century, there is still much to be carefully taught by that most eloquent and rhapsodic of "Teachers"--"SOUTH PACIFIC."

My favorite musical is South Pacific. The 1958 movie version introduced me to the beautiful scenery of warm Pacific islands, a compelling story, and above of all, to some of the most memorable songs I have ever heard. How this magnificent motion picture came to be is told in this book. But the movie is only part of the fascinating story that unfolds on the richly illustrated pages. First there was the Second World War and a naval officer named James Michener. The South Pacific Companion tells the story of how this former book editor's observations of the men and women stationed in the South Pacific led to his Pulitzer Prize winning novel, a sweeping novel full of characters and places. How Hammerstein and company pulled the plot and storyline from that novel provides another interesting part of this book. Rogers composed the music, seemingly without effort. Then the cast had to be chosen. Soon the reader is a witness to how it was done on Broadway, and also gets to see how that hit production was translated into the celebrated film. A person can learn a lot about how Rogers and Hammerstein worked their magic in this wonderful book.

This book delivers on its promise to guide you through the development and success of Rogers and Hammerstein's musical SOUTH PACIFIC. Filled with anecdotes and insights into the major productions, it adds to the enjoyment of this musical theater masterpiece. A more thorough and detailed look at the current Broadway revival at Lincoln Center (a PERFECT show, go see it!) is all that is lacking. (You will find a couple of pages on the revival all the same.)

Laurence Maslon has given us an indispensable treasure of a book in this South Pacific companion.

One might have thought there might not be much to be said about this wonderful Rodgers & Hammerstein Musical, but Prof Maslon has created a wonderful book worthy of the show. Like his earlier Sound of Music book, Maslon begins by relating the background of the show, and recounts how the Second World War inspired James Michener's creative juices to flow in writing his book. Prof Maslon did a really wonderful job in telling of how the war influenced everyone involved in the creative team so that they could bring their unique talents to the making of the musical. After reading it I felt sure that R&H were able to write the show with the background of the war that influenced the creative team, and so they didn't write the show off their own bat. Prof Maslon's narrative is compelling and readable, just like his earlier Sound of Music book, and it was wonderful of him to tell us how the theme of racism was there from the moment when Michener penned his book. Though I would have liked there to be more coverage of the impact of this R&H musical, it was still an enjoyable book, with the photos and the song commentaries an added bonus. A minor quibble is that I wish there was more coverage on what influenced the writing of each song, such as the mention of Hammerstein's desire to write a "verb lyric" when he wrote Some Enchanted Evening. Also a new feature in this book is Prof Maslon's analysis of how language plays a part in the musical, and it does make me wish that this commentary on the show had been included in the Sound of Music book too.

In short, this book is such a wonderful follow-up to the Sound of Music book, and it's an indispensable part of any R&H fan's collection. I really think these books deserve to be in print forever. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to similar companions for The King and I and Cats, and I wish Prof Maslon every success in his future books on R&H musicals.

This plays reveals a common theme at the time, the enslavement of young people in Germany within their boarding schools. Törless is the most famous victim of this environment. But here we are dealing with Moritz and Melchior, proving that M&M's is not the best of medicine in life. This total control of the young people's life that has only one objective, to study, to learn Latin and translate Greek, goes along with an absolute desexualization of their psyche in the name of an extreme puritan vision of ethics and life. This causes a depressive existential vision in these teenagers who look for some satisfaction anyway they can, some erotic information and literature, some friendship among themselves as a surrogate of the love they need and are deprived of, even banging up the first girl they find on their road and who knows nothing about love or rather intercourse. This produces a drama, of course. One fourteen year old boy, Moritz, commits suicide in his boarding school that expels his best friend, Melchior, who had passed some information about the physical activities they are all dreaming of, and had impregnated a certain Wendla who will die of an overdose of an abortive drug given to her by her own mother. This sexual information is considered as the unethical trigger of the suicide. Melchior's family then decides to send him to a house of correction where he discovers real evil and convinces himself he is the most guilty human being in the world. He is then tempted by crime or, because of some remnant of ethics, by suicide to put away his good for nothing person. This dilemma is set up on the stage after Melchior's escape from the house of correction in the last scenes in the graveyard where the suicidee Moritz is buried. Melchior is thus, then and there tempted to join his departed friend Moritz who is reaching out for him. But life is stronger and it comes embodied in an unidentified man who steps in and explains to Melchior that life is a long road that can provide all kinds of surprises that death cannot. This play is the matrix of many other plays and films, the most famous film being the Dead Poets' Society. But this play recently found in France its perfect illustration and re-enactment in French teenagers' prisons with several suicides resulting from total negligence if not unethical mistakes from the personnel who considered - and probably still considers - speaking of suicide was some kind of blackmail from the kids, even if they were depressive which was another way of blackmailing the personnel, wasn't it, and some kind of humorous joke to be used as a torturing device by the personnel to satisfy their sadistic and revengeful perversion onto the kids they are supposed to educate to some fair social life. Nothing has changed under the sun, or under the moon as for that. Not even the fate of young people when their society forgets they are human, forgets it takes a whole village to educate one young child, forgets they have to love people if they want to really educate and reform them. But love is the only thing thatis not available in the pedagogical and "professional" minds of these people who are called prison wardens and other personnel.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine, University of Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University of Versailles Saint Quentin en Yvelines.

I heard Franzen speak about how unfaithful the recent NY production was to Wedekind's anarchistic perspective. This is a brash and funny send up of modern society's sexual hypocrisy. Fast read, too.

Spring awakening explores the sexual awakening of teenage boys and girls in Germany in the late 1800's. It was shocking in its day, and still is somewhat today, despite the openness of our society.
The Frank Wedekind play has been updated, set to music, and will open as a major Broadway Musical in Spring, 2003. Watch for it, you will be blown away! And be sure to read the play first. You'll be amazed at how true the production is to Frank Wedekind's fine work.

as an actor I have just performed this play I was Mechior one of the lead roles this book has a mixture of teenage experiences, a must read for all directors and actors if you ever get a chance to perform it then make sure you do

Hughes' translation seems as rich, exciting & electric to modern readers as the original text must have been to audiences a century ago. It avoids the stiff awkwardness that former English translations have been known for, while still remaining true to Wedekind's dark symbolism and expressionistic overtones. A must-read for theater-lovers and practictioners alike.

Beautiful illustrations and a good story that younger students can follow. The story is Non-fiction and does not have any factual information about vanGogh.

This is a fantastic book. Its the story of an African American child in NY city who falls in love with the paintings of Van Gough. The illustration and story are wonderful - my kid can't get enough of it, he's started drawing, and he actually asked me to go to a museum with him! This book is part of a good cause too: For every ten copies bought, the publisher gives one copy to inner city school kids in NY city! My kid adores this book, and its openned up his world. He's interested in art now, not just Pokemon and video games.

Young Bernard comes across an old and frail looking artist painting in New York's Central Park, and is entranced. He sits in the grass and watches the man as the canvas is transformed into the dazzling reflecting pool and surrounding area. "The Big Apple never looked better!" As the painter packs his things, Bernard introduces himself. "Where are you going?" Bernard asked. "To find another place that asks to be painted." And so Bernard joins him and takes Vincent all over New York City, to Harlem, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, Times Square, and Fifth Avenue... "Everywhere they went, Bernard watched as Vincent painted New York in bright and beautiful colors." Finally it is time for Vincent to leave New York and move on. But before he goes, he takes Bernard to see something very special on the second floor of the Museum Of Modern Art..... Neil Waldman has written a marvelous and inspiring fantasy that takes youngsters on a "Van Gogh" adventure through New York City. Mr Waldman's simple and gentle text takes a back seat to both his charming pen and ink story illustrations, and ingenious Van Gogh-styled, bold and bright New York scenes. Together word and art transports the reader on an evocative and entertaining journey with one of the great masters. Perfect for budding artists 4-8, The Starry Night is an engaging feast for the eyes; a portrait of the artist, his work and his unique style.

In his childhood the author was excited by the color and power of Van Gogh's paintings.In this book his painterly yearnings are poured into the character of a young New York boy. In Central Park Bernard encounters Van Gogh at his easel. He offers to show the painter some other 'amazing places'. Many paintings later Van Gogh has a farewell surprise for his young friend. They visit the MOMA gallery on 53rd Street and see "THE STARRY NIGHT" hung there.

When the artist disappears, Bernard determines to paint his own copy. The end papers of the book include some of the copies of the famous painting as imagined by the author-artist's own students.

The fantasy goes full circle as Neil Waldman's striking paintings are shared in tnis book to benefit the Children's Aid Society & N.Y.school children. Imaginations -- not all young! -- are fired up. Be sure to check all titles of Waldman, illustrator, and also read Joan Shaddox Isom's "The FIRST Starry Night."

What a wonderful book! I have shared this book with many children. Their reaction is always the same: entranced by the stunning paintings of New York, curious about Vincent Van Gogh and eager to begin to draw and paint. I think this book will help kids to discover their creative potential. (And big kids - to age 90 - love it too!)