Big Books

This is a great book. It is extremely accessible. I am using it with great success for an Introduction to Ethnomusicology course that I am teaching at a Liberal Arts College. The students like the book very much. It stimulates a good deal of in-class discussion. I would highly recommend this work for anyone interested in music, dance, ethnomusicology, urban studies, popular culture, popular music, American studies, and more... It is the kind of book that affords multiple points of entry. Bravo Kai Fikentscher

If you're looking for a book that's an excellent reference for Underground Dance Music in New York City, then "You Better Work!" by Kai Fikentscher is great reading!

Kai Fikentscher's evolutionary study and rounded presentation of New York's underground dance music and culture is a lonely triumph for a subject matter that desperately requires equal exploration of peer contributing U.S. cities such as Chicago, Detroit and Washington D.C.

"You Better Work!" is a straight edge to which much of what has been said about underground dance music culture should be realligned.

It's evident through well-crafted and intricately expressed text that the author has really done his homework. His book shines, especially when compared to similar historical efforts that clearly lack the consistent impact found in "You Better Work!".

Not only should those familiar with underground dance music absorb this essential reading, but the effort should be required academically, with particular regard to music, culture and art.

In addition to explaining fundamental concepts and techniques, Fikentscher details an often ill-reported but critical importance of UDM - the DNA of African, African American, Latino, Gay and a dejected segment of American society which defines the fabric of underground dance music culture.

Kai's work is a rarity in ethnomusicology; it's accessible, entertaining, and enjoyable to read. His inclusion of 12 inch singles, top UDM charts, DJ and equipment photographs, in addition to his on personal exposes in relationship to the house scene in NYC make this study a rarity within a discipline full of bickerings over authenticity, theoretical concepts and musical hierarchies. "You Better Work!" is a rallying cry for aspiring musicologists and music fans alike. If you danced during this period, it'll bring back those sweet memories of Mr. Fingers, Frankie Knuckles, Ru Paul, Acid and the like.

This text is the unrivaled standard for anyone truly seeking insights into the rich culture of Underground Dance Music. No long is house music an urban legend, but this book invites debate, theory, and growth based on a solid foundation of research, interaction, and presentation. From the halls of academia to the dark places where the underground lurks; each and every reader benefits from Kai's research.

If your a fan of techno... read this book.

Classics? Read.

Soulful... get to know this text.

... then Work!

-Byron

This book is a well-written, exhaustively researched biography of a musical legend. It takes 586 pages to do justice to the 101-year-old icon, and will take a while to finish, however, AS THOUSANDS CHEER gives an honest, objective history of arguably the greatest American songwriter ever.

Have you ever wondered why "White Christmas", one of the best selling songs of all time was written by a Jewish man? "Easter Parade" was also written by the same man. He came to be known as the king of ragtime because of his first published song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band". Musically the songs could not have been different which makes Irving Berlin's career so impressive.
This book not only talks about Berlin's seemingly unending catalogue but also talks about the man. His contemporaries included George M. Cohan, Florence Zeigfield and George Gershwin. Berlin was not only the most prolific of all time but was a true gentleman. Even though he was never accepted by his father-in-law, he ended up supporting him in his final days.
At the end of this book I was more in love with his music and completely impressed with the man. This is a important look at a true American treasure.

This is a terrific show-biz bio that focuses on Berlin's career and tells enough about his personal life to satisfy those of us who remember how complex he was. There are many details of his projects on Broadway and in Hollywood, his publishing company, his early career as a singing waiter, and his tormented retirement. Anyone who likes the kind of anecdotes Moss Hart recounts in "Act One," anyone who is interested in the process of putting on shows and developing movies, will be fascinated by this. The book overflows with the larger-than-life personalities you expect from show business, and there are choice revelations (to me, at least), like his first encounter with George Gershwin, who as a very young man wanted to be Berlin's musical secretary but was rejected for being too talented (i.e., threatening).

The psychology (or psychosis?) of Berlin's genius is presented in a straightforward, non-babbling way. His complexity comes through in his ambivalence towards colleagues, with examples of generosity (an anecdote about the young Burton Lane), avuncularity (Harold Arlen), and rivalry (Richard Rodgers), all contrasted with the almost comical hostility he showed towards some "civilians," especially the scholarly types ("f***ing longhairs") who wanted to dissect him late in his career. His most famous paradox -- the fact that without being able to read music or play an instrument well or even sing decently, he was able to create works of matchless intricacy and depth -- is discussed thoroughly, although it will forever remain mysterious.

There are two dimensions I would like to have seen more fully explored. First, his relations with his original family are almost non-existent after his childhood. While this must be a reflection of reality, I was left curious about what went on between him and his sisters, nephews, and nieces. It's obvious that a major part of his assimilation was to reject all vestiges of his childhood, but it would have been nice to have more detail about encounters with those inconvenient relations. One of the few stories Bergreen includes -- about a sister dying of cancer -- is so painful that maybe he couldn't bring himself to pile on more.

Another aspect that could have been more developed was Berlin's technique. Although no one will ever be able to explain exactly why he's the greatest American songwriter, I would have liked more analysis about how he was able to achieve his unique combination of simplicity and sophistication. There is a total absence of musical examples, which might have two reasons: that publishers of musical bios tell their authors to leave notation out the same way authors of popular science books are prohibited from using equations, or that Berlin's estate forbids the quoting of even the smallest snippets of his songs. Or maybe the author isn't as much of a "longhair" as he seems to be from the precision and insight of his observations.

But even though I would have enjoyed reading more of the above, the book is totally splendid as is. The best compliment I can think of is that it does justice to one of the great artists of the 20th century.

I enjoyed Bergreen's book about Irving Berlin as I did his book on Al Capone. To think that all these great songs came from one man simply boggles the mind.

LAURENCE BERGREEN has done a terrific job in all departments. When you finish the book, you have a good idea of who IRVING BERLIN was, and what a life he had from singing waiter to AMERICAN's first great composer with JEROME KERN. Anyone interested in the story of AMERICAN music should read that book.

I was amazingly impressed with Ultimate Fighting Champion Bas Rutten's, "Big Books Of Combat". These books are loaded with hundreds of excellent fighting and training techniques geared for the real world of combat. The mammoth volumes give a fascinating insight into how brutal yet intelligent and sophisticated the art of NHB combat really is. It will take days just to look through the hundreds of techniques Rutten has to offer. The books have helped my understanding of combat and how well rounded a fighter must be to compete in NHB competition. If you think your a tough guy and know how to fight think again after you see what Bas Rutten has to say about combat. These books are a must have addition to every martial artist fight library.

While I didn't think that this book was the best I'd ever read, it was certainly very good. Long on pictures and short on text, it is nonetheless very complete for those looking to learn MMA striking. The basic boxing punches are taught, as well as palm-heel blows and spinning backfist. As well, some (though not all) elbow strikes are covered, as well as Muay Thai style kicks and knee/clinch techniques. Also included are a few karate-style sidekicks and spin kicks, though Bas says he's not fond of using either for MMA. He also cover defense against the different strikes (well, punches, kicks, and knees), and includes counter-strikes and combinations. Also included are various drills for speed and reflex, and mit and Thai pad work. He also covers striking on the ground, in just about every possition imaginable (including IN the mount!), and that alone, to me, makes the book valuable, and certainly different from other books out there. Following the chapters on striking is one on takedowns and takedown defense, with only non-gi throws and takedowns shown. Most of the takedowns are lower-body shots, but also included are throws vs. kicks and takedowns involving a wall or cage. Also included in this volume are several conditioning excercises, which run the gammut from weight training to tumbling to water training. My complaints about this book are minimal: I don't think there's enough detail on the striking techniques, and many of the combinations are redundant and/or unimaginitive. As well, I can't touch any of the pages without getting my fingers covered in black ink powder. Still and all, it is a very good (and thorough) book, and the chapters on striking on the ground, as written by one who knows, may well be worth the price of the book, and are certainly worth a look by everyone.

I've just got my copy of these books - and, I can say, without a doubt in my mind - That these books are totally usefull in everyday training and, in preparation for lessons in mma! They are Extremely complete - the variations and honesty of the techniques - simply amazes, even a pro fighter like myself!!
If i were to get only 2 books on MMA, these would be the ones to recommend - beyond any shadow of a doubt!!
Bas knows what he teaches - as he's tried it all!! And these books stay by my side during training, as an ever usefull guide to MMA!!
indeed - a Must-BUY!!

Very Sincerly, Lars "Bad Boy" Besand - of Skagen Fight Gym .dk

I recently completed Bas Rutten's, "Big Books Of Combat" Volumes 1 and 2. Published by Master Fighter, these monster books consists of over a thousand pages, with over five thousand detailed step by step pictures. Inside I was stunned by the precise tips and tricks for effective No-Holds-Barred mixed martial arts training and fighting techniques.

In Volume 1, Bas breaks down his own weight and conditioning training regine and shows you how to do each and every exercise on your own. As if that wasn't enough, Bas then goes step by step with every striking technique possible. Jabs, straights, hooks, upper cuts, knees, kicks, elbows and even his world famous palm strikes. He then explains some bag drills as well and speed and reflex drills, and not to mention his thai and focus pad routines.

From there the book moves into basic ground and pound techniques and explains the most effective ways to strike a downed opponent. It covers mount, guard, side mount, and back and even striking from the ground when you are caught on the bottom. Bas then demonstrates takedowns and how to pull them off effectively without being hurt, as well as the proper defense and sprawl to takedowns. Bas Big Book Volume 1 finishes up with explaining on how to take a hit while in combat.

Bas "Big Book Of Combat" Volume 2 is great to use with a sparring partner. Inside are details on the PROPER (And I do stress proper) ways to execute submissions on your opponenet. First you get ran through chokes and neck cranks in all variations and situations possible. After that Bas breaks down arm and wrist locks. Then he moves into leg, foot and ankle locks. After that he moves into some of the most effective reversals and escapes I have ever seen. Showing you how exactly to escape all sorts of perlious situations.

Then as if the striking in Volume 1 wasn't enough, Bas shows you proper thai banana bag training. Which shows you how to hit a bag and an abundance of appropriate professional boxing and muay thai combinations. Bas wraps up Volume 2 by explaining the correct way to physically and mentally prepare for a fight.

Bas Rutten was dubbed "The World's Greatest Martial Artist" by Black Belt Magazine, and by reading his "Big Books Of Combat" Volumes 1 and 2 you'll know why. His intense training and copious knowledge of martial arts and fighting in general is unblemished. I highly recommend them to any aspiring or accomplished mixed martial artist. I rate the Bas Rutten, "Big Books Of Combat" Volumes 1 and 2 with 5 STARS out of 5. Keep a look out for Bas'next project, Volume 3, which is effective and deadly street fighting techniques.

In short, there isn't a more comprehensive set of books on Mixed Martial Arts training. Bas' credentials are impeccable and he's a charismatic guy. That charisma shows through in the books.

One can quickly see where Bas's game evolved from. He's a stand up and duke it out guy but he can handle himself on the ground. In both areas, there are different ways of playing the game and Bas has his own.

He believes in having great conditioning and rightly so. His technique is largely based on conditioning, as well. He covers stand up in the full-contact karate and kickboxing vein. His ground game is very much rooted in the Japanese submission wrestling style and he covers the "Ground 'n' Pound" in good detail.

I think there are better books on stand up, ground and conditioning, but none that can bring it all together.

OK, so the game's evolved since Bas competed. So what?! This is still the best book on the MMA game.

Simply the best book on the golden years of R&B - the '40s and the '50s. Don't miss this one. Over 200 titles per year listed in order of relative popularitya and a year-by-year chronicle on the amazing story of R&B.

As an R&B record collector,fanatic, and student of the roots of R&B and Rock 'n Roll, I was astounded when Ipicked up a copy of Big Al'sR&B book in a local bookstore recently. Even though I have been at it for 30 years, I couldn't believe the depth and thorough jobPavlow has done to fully document rhythm & blues music and records. The book clearly documents thousands of the very important 45 rpm and 78 rpm records that form the foundation not only of r&b, but is also invaluable in its documenting of the roots of Rock 'n Roll. This book has filled the enormous gap that existed in documenting this most essential aspect of popular music for the past 80 years, and as such is a "must buy" for anyone interested in the music. I constantly use the text as an invaluable source book to find great r&b music, and as an irreplaceable learning tool to further my understanding of both r&b an r&r. Thanks Al! And job well done! You've done music lovers all over the world a great service. (P.S.: the book would be a steal at twice the listed price.)

Reading Big Al's fine R&B book changed my life! No, really, prior to reading this book and coming from a "blues-purist" background, my sense of musical history was skewed to my preferences. After reading this book,where Al puts things in perspective, I came away with a totally new understanding of how each artist and song fit into the big picture of pre-1959 R&B history.Definitely a must-have for any good reference library that has anything to do with musical history. Not only that, but after reading it, my hair grew back and my sex life improved dramatically(-).Recommended!

Big Al Pavlaw owned a record store in downtown Providence R.I. for many years. I purchased this book shortly after it's release in 1983. Extremely well done and as others have pointed out it fills a huge gap in the history of American popular music. This books not only covers doo-wop and R n B in the 1950's but also does a great job covering the black music of the 1940's. The only negative aspect is that the type is extremely small. But buy a magnifying glass and enjoy!

Simply the best book on the golden years of R&B - the '40s and the '50s. Don't miss this one. Over 200 titles per year listed in order of relative popularitya and a year-by-year chronicle on the amazing story of R&B.

We love Alfie, Rosie and all their family and friends. Bondi especially.

All the Alfie and Annie Rose books are excellent! My son and I read them over and over, without getting bored. Gentle little stories about everyday life, with likeable characters and lovely illustrations. Often humorous. My favorite children's author.

We raised all 3 of our children on Shirley Hughes's books ("Dogger" was the all-time favorite) and now I'm giving them to my first grandchild. Absolutely first-rate stories with the most exquisite, fascinating illustrations. Do your children/grandchildren a favor and get them hooked on this series!

This book was an all-time favorite with my sons when they were ages 3-7. From unexpected adventures to everyday routine, Alfie meets life with good-natured friendliness, honesty, and quick thinking. The stories emphasize the multi-dimensioned personality of every human, no matter his/her age! I wish there were more books like Hughes writes.

My son, 3, loves this book. The stories have humor, tenderness, and the children are always treated with dignity. I love Shirley Hughes!

Its not only readable but funny at the thought the wrestlers become crime fighting geniuses! Mr McMahons amazing touch is all over this!!! a definite buy for fans and critics alike!

I too was surprised at how good this book is. The story is actually well crafted and it moves along pretty quickly. I look forward to future installments!

In my life as an English Professor, I have had the joy of reading any of a lare selection of classic books, brilliant treatises on the human condition, and some of the most brilliantly revolutionary prose that hallmarked the great movements in human history. I feel, though, that my faith in literature has been increased to a level I truly did not feel possible after reading this book.

It is truly rare when a book changes your life in a fundamental way. For some, the Bible was their path to a new and better life. Others feel that Paine's Common Sense is a truly great piece of political propaganda that tries to raise humanity to a higher level. Others, on the other hand, are partial to Karl Marx's Communist Manifesto.

I say "A pox on ALL of these houses".

Like a very special episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger", WWE's "Big Apple Takedown" manages to simultaneously make one weep at the emotionally taut imagery, laugh at the rapier-sharp wit, and contemplate the deep, inner discussions of the soul that are the hallmark of sweaty guys with questionable drug habits.

And, honestly, the book is a little infuriating. Why IS the government wasting its money paying for a military with many nuclear missiles when ALL that is needed to save the world from evil and chaos are the occasional errant chair shot, a knee to the groinal region, followed by an overly elaborate finishing sequence?

The decision to use WWE superstars --- "wrestlers" does not remotely do legends like HHH justice, let's be frank --- to sniff out a drug cartel is the kind of inspired genius that makes lesser authors like Poe weep in their beer. You didn't see George Orwell use imagery as subtle as a glistening body of pure, pent-up, moderately eroticized squashing drug kingpins in 1984, did you?

I tell you, next to this book, Madame Bovary has as much plot as a 3rd grader's book of Mad Libs.

I, personally, enjoyed the discrete reference to another classic of American literature --- "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", with a plot that, bluntly, ripped off this book's plot in the most diabolical and sinical of manners.

Kudos to you, WWE. You have clearly demonstrated that the dramatic masterpiece that is the average episode of RAW is not an accident. This is the book that makes one appreciate the subtlety of a good fart joke or an unexpected "puppies" reference. I can only hope they keep Mr. Josephs on the payroll to produce storyline that can even approach this level of inspiration.

I bought this book the other day with absolutely no expectations. I actually bought it hoping to find humor in how bad it would be. I wound up reading it cover to cover in 24 hours because that's how hooked I was. The book is absolutely full of suspense and I honestly would love to see a movie. Maybe if WWE had gone this route instead of the ill-fated "See No Evil" movie, they wouldn't be the laughing stock of the film industry. This book was surprisingly very gripping and for the price, I totally have to recommend it. If you are one of the many people who would have to be skeptical of the the WWE's forray into fictional novels, then check this out and be proven wrong. I must admit that I couldn't believe it, but the book is an addictive thrill ride, very well written.

I HAVENT FINISHED READING THIS BOOK YET BUT I AM CLOSE TO FINISHING IT. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT 6 WWE WRESTLERS(BATISTA,CHAVO GURREO,TORRE WILLSON,JOHN CENA,HHH,AND THE OWNER OF THE WWE VINCE MCMHAON) JOIN A SECRET AGENCY CALLED THE NSA. THERE MISSION IS TO TAKE DOWN A BIG DRUG RING AND THEY ALL GO UNDER COVER TO GET ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO ARREST THE PEOPLE IN THE DRUG RING AND THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE DRUG RING. THE BOOK IS GREAT AND IT HAS LOADS OF SUPENSE. AND I HEARD THE ENDING WILL SUPRISE YOU. IF YOUR A WWE FAN(LIKE ME) BUY IT. OR IF YOU ARE NOT A WWE FAN YOU SHOUD STILL BUY BECAUSE YOU WILL LOVE IT.

A fascinating urban tale of love, sex, struggle, ambition, and dreams. The main character, Eduardo, embodies qualities that most Honduran bring with them on their journey north.

As a Honduran, to me it was surprising to find this book, I find it witty and well thought, and with an original approach to problems faced by immigrants. Also, I found a really interesting statement concerning the prototypes we usually face as Hondurans. There's more to us that meets the eye, this book sure is an example.

But why is Honduran literature so sparse when Nicaragua and Guatemala have writers of international reputation, and the Popol Vul is a classic of world literature? Discrimination? The realistic New York scenes were best. In the Honduran scenes he veers off into fantasy, which seems influenced by other Latin American writers. Mirian is a character out of Vargas Llosa. Perhaps he intends a satire on magic realism but anyway the loss of contact with reality tended to stop me turning the pages. Funny, touching, and original, in spite of these reservations.

Teonilda Madera Nueva York, 28 de agosto de 1999

The Big Banana, a novel that breaks ethnic and sexual stereotypes

Among my summer readings was The Big Banana whose title reveals, on one hand the effervescent eroticism that it contains, and on the other hand it insinuates a hyperbolic comparison between The Big Apple (New York) and The Big Banana (Hondura) in order to reaffirm the pride that one feels for the dear earth. The literary maturity and the richness of the prose, dressed of poetry, of the author, Roberto Quesada, seduces and hypnotizes the reader from the very beginning. The metaphors, well achieved, are plentiful. The sensorial images help us to live and to recreate the told episodes. The narrations and dialogues are, from time to time, sprinkled, with a refreshing humor, that delights readers. But mainly, in the prose of Roberto Quesada prevails a philosophical depth that invites to reevaluate the fundamental concepts of life, such as: love, sex, distress, determination and tenacity, indispensable for the success or the individual failure of people. The Big Banana is a kaleidoscope of themes that allows an analytical approach from different planes and perspectives. The lofty translation of Mr. Walter Krochmal enables the author to jump the linguistic barriers to occupy a space in the Anglo-Saxon world to share visions such as: 1) an optimistic outlook of the Hispanic Community; 2) the recognition of Hispanic talents; 3) the necessity to emerge in a different environment; 4) and the importance of avoiding the mutilation of our dreams. The main characters: Eduardo, Casagrande, Mirian and Javier function in the novel like acts of a gigantic play, performing daily in the huge stage of life, (as Hamlet once said). There is a symbiosis between Eduardo and Casagrande. The second is a futuristic vision of the first one. Eduardo breaks, through Casagrande, with the sexual conventions of society and puts us in front of a philosophical fiction entity, sensible, and solicitous with people. The name of this character contains a symbolism that agrees with his persona. Cirlot, in his Dictionary of Symbols gives a symbolic definition of the word House (Casa) that fits Casagrande perfectly: " Mystics have always traditionally considered the feminine aspect of the universe as a chest, a house or a wall, as well as an enclosed garden. Another symbolic association is that which equates the house] (and the above, related forms) with the repository of all wisdom, that is, tradition itself." Indeed, Casagrande's homosexual preference represents a feminine aspect of the universe. His knowledge as well as his philosophical point of view link him with Eduardo. There is also a metaphysical understanding that brings them closely, but at the same time allows them to be the architects of their destiny. The determination and the tenacity that they both have remind us of Santiago, the main character of The Old man and the Sea , Ernest Hemingway's master piece. Neither Eduardo nor Casagrande are complaining. They face obstacles that seek to hinder their goals, however, they don't give up, In that way they complete their "personal story." like the Alchemist of Paulo Coelho In this piece of writing the author of The Big Banana brakes the stereotyped image of Hispanics living in the United States by presenting an optimistic Eduardo that comes in search of a goal and reaches it. Eduardo is firmly convinced that the geographical spaces help, but what he considers to be crucial for success is the intrinsic desire of triumphing that one takes inside, and the genuine talent that one might possess to act out masterfully our role in the stage of life. The narrative voice corroborates with the previous statement by saying: "It wasn't that hard to come by success because he had the essential ingredient: talent." The Eduardo of The Big Banana is a knowledgeable and sagacious man, who doesn't fear anyone or anything. He is the vivid image of the Hispanics that come to the United States to contribute with their intellect, their labor force, their culture, and their language to strengthen the economy and the cultural background of this nation. He feels a fascination for the city of New York and discovers a very significant silence within it that allows him to better understand the complexity of the human conduct, the cruelty, and the indifference of people that don't change when they face the cataclysms of life. The purity and the harmonic beauty of snow touches and shakes him deeply. Eduardo is not the resentful, bitter emigrant that corners himself and allows the metropolis to silence him. Instead, he explores, and enjoys the new environment making it his own. He takes advantage of New York's cultural richness and uses it to reach his goal: obtaining a main character role in a play in a famous Broadway theater. Marcel Proust's main character in the novel In search of the lost time, says:" Es, pues, menester que el artista- y eso hizo Vinteuil-, si quiere que su obra pueda seguir su camino, la lance donde haya bastante profundidad, en pleno y remoto porvenir" which in English means (Its important, then for an artist - and Vinteuil did it too-, if he/she wants his / her work to continue its road, throw it where there is enough depth, in the middle of a remote future." Eduardo, comes to New York because he certainly knows that the depth he needs for his success is here. His determination and tenacity gained him an audition with non other than Steven Spielberg. He went to the audition, perplexed the teacher, and passed the test victoriously. Eduardo demonstrated that what is really fundamental is the talent and ability to perform the role in the giant theater of life flawlessly. Eduardo, like Don Quijote also has his Dulcinea: Mirian. She represents the ideal woman a man wants. Mirian worries about the problems that trouble humanity, like wars, violence, racism, and ethnical discrimination, but her preoccupation falls within the normal range because one must recognize that women have always worried about these types of problems. Mirian is a film lover obsessed with James Bond. She is sagacious, like her Quijote. She transgresses the closed spaces and crosses the abyss of borders to encounter love. She challenges everything and makes fun of the archaic moral principles of society the same as Eduardo and Casagrande. Mirian has a masculine image in the novel, this occurs because she is just an extension of Eduardo. She is in a cense the chance for Eduardo to project and perpetuate himself in the feminine world, in fact she is the one who at the end is going to write the novel that Steven Spielberg requested Eduardo to write. Mirian seems to be a super woman that doesn't exist in reality. That's why she lives an absurd fantasy with James Bond. It turns out however that some credit must be taken away from the writer, he presents women as objects, and strictly sexual in this literary work of his. He doesn't allow them to justify their wild sexual conduct to the reader. But on the other hand we would have to return the credit because at least he allowed Rosa, Jose's wife, to liberate herself from the claws of submission and from her marital subordination. The Big Banana is a novel that one could use for educational purposes. Youngsters as well as adults face one of the most feared monster: drugs. The tragedy of Javier, one of the characters, comes from a loving deception. Through him we begin to think about crude realities: drug addicts, the homeless, and unbroken power. The tearful image of the abandoned Javier, diluted between the multitude and speed of a train in a hurry to arrive somewhere reminds us of Vallejo when he says:" Hay golpes en la vida ... yo no se, In English (There are blows in life... I don't know." Society should educate people better so that they learn how to combat self-destruction when difficult moments present them selves. Javier remains heedless due to his lost love (his dear woman) he tried the worst of the remedies: the escape offered by drugs. Society should provide special training through academic education, teach people to look for more intelligent alternatives in order to manage their emotional failures and the blows of life. The writer of The Big Banana, Roberto Quesada, demonstrates a great concern, you see, the troubled humanity nowadays experiences: wars, racism, drugs, violence, and social prejudices. For that reason he wrote a novel like this. In this literary work, the author challenges humanity to find solutions to correct wrong statements and to recover the ability to laugh that has almost totally abandoned us. !Very daring Mister Quesada, and congratulations for this fine art work of yours!

This is a very good book that enables the reader to experience what the new emmigrant feels and how he/she makes a world of their own wherever they are, always with the goal of belonging and being successful. It is well written, funny and enjoyable.

My 6 and 8 year old boys absolutely love Tashi! They can't get enough! I just order big, big book #2 for them. Keep the Tashi adventures coming!

My boys 8 and 5 were captivated and couldn't wait to find out what adventure came next! I hightly reccommend this series!

This is a great book with lots of fun adventure stories. The stories are similar to Lord of the Rings......but for kids. :-) My kids beg for this book every night.

We think Tashi is a excellent book for all ages. Katie is nine and her younger sister is four, and they both liked the book a lot, as did their parents. The stories are not too spooky but exciting. We liked the charming "old country" that Tashi was from, created mostly by the pictures. Tashi has pointy hair and earings and wears a really cool jacket and boots. The houses in the "old country" look Japanese? Chinese? It's hard to say. It looked like a really nice place to live except for the warlords, baron, giants, flying houses, pirates and demons. We got swept up in the magical ride of "The Big Big Big Book of Tashi". We definetly plan to read "Tashi and the Dancing Shoes".

I bought this book to read to my 4 year old son, who is ready for stories with more meat on the bones (a higher word-to-picture ratio and stronger plot) than most picture books. He loved it -- he was so sad the last night when he said "Dad, you forgot to put the bookmark in!" and my husband told him they had read the last story. We'll read it again and again, if his 6 year old sister (who reads at a 3rd grade level) hasn't run off with it -- again! It is great for kids ready for stories with real plot, but not for too-mature themes. Particularly good for boys, just because there are so few for them at this stage; a lot of the other stories in this niche are kind of princessy -- which my daughter loved, but which wasn't right for my son.

Love this book. David is so talented, so creative and so over the top. I love how he shares his details, the how-tos. The photos are amazing. I want a party like these!

Really fun Birthday ideas. I especially liked the African safari party for the retired man going on an African safari. He had really creative ideas for making an African theme that didn't really have anything to do with Africa but still came together to form this perfect ambiance.

This year my grandmother ceebrated her 80th birthday, and with that, I wanted to surprise her with an elgant dinner party for some of her closest family and friends. Having never embarked on such a thing before, I set out to Amazon to find a book that would help me from beginning to end. David Tutera's latest book, Big Birthdays, gave me many great ideas. I immediately fell in love with the sophisticated White-On-White dinner party. The instructions and focus on details allowed me to easily recreate the atmosphere and ultimately throw a spectacular party!! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to host such an event and will definately look to David Tutera in the future for inspiration for another great get together!

Having a summer birthday has never been much fun, it somehow always goes uncelebrated. This year I was inspired to throw my own festivities. What was supposed to be a quick search for party ideas turned into a total body experience after delving into David Tutera's book Big Birthdays. In his book he executed and fabulously captured five birthday parties exploring the five senses (look, scent, texture, sound and taste) through each event. His tips ('Tutera Tips') were the most helpful; it was almost as if he could hear my questions and answer my thoughts concerning each party scenario. After my celebration they will have to reprint the book, Tutera's ideas were truly an inspiration. This book is a must-have for any status of event planner.

BIG BIRTHDAYS: THE PARTY PLANNER CELEBRATES LIFE'S MILESTONES isn't just another birthday book for parents: it's a focus on 'milestone' birthdays from one to one hundred and provides a party planner's experience gained from planning such for famous stars and personalities. You may recognize him from his TV appearances: a fair for elegance, humor, and design lend to a party planner that pairs delicious food recipes with decorating tips. Color photos throughout capture the finished products and excitement of his approach.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Bought this for our 5 year old and he loves it. It has plenty of beautiful color pictures. We found it great because the pictures are so clear and sharp, my son loves to look at all the airplane details. If your child is a airplane fan, this is a great book. It's a larger (height) book, so doesn't fit on a book shelf that's not sized larger. The only complaint that I have is that I wish it had more pages with even more pictures! My son didn't want the book to end!

My 2 year old son is already heavy into airplanes and he LOVES this book. (This is the only non-board book I let him handle and he is so careful with this prized possession!) It's nice that there are snipets of information about each plane on the page so we learn a lot without having to read through paragraphs of text. It's great because as he gets older we can delve even deeper into the details of each plane. We both know so much more about planes than before picking up this book. Highly recommend!

My 2-1/2 year old son loves to "read" this book, and I enjoy reading it to him.

The text is definitely written to an older child (I would say that a child would have to be in at least second grade before reading it on his or her own). Fortunately, there are enough snippets of information that an adult can tailor the words to fit the child as she or he reads aloud.

The photos, though, are what make this book so attractive. Each type of aircraft (to include experimental aircraft, Chinook helicopters, and future space-shuttle-like craft)has a two-page spread of photos in this oversized book. Most types feature at least three photos: one from the side, one from directly in front (the SR-71 Blackbird and the jumbo jet are particularly striking!) and one from the rear. Every type of aircraft has a photo taken while flying.

My young son is learning that jet planes don't have propellers and that rocket engines look different from jet engines. Of course, at first, he was more interested in the striking colors of the aircraft chosen for the photos, but this book allows him to grow. He has a while yet before he learns "it all", unlike some of the other airplane books for young children.

An enthusiastic thumbs up!

This book is such a great treat to read with my 4-year old plane-crazy son. The photos are so clean and uncluttered. There's a ton of information, so this book would be great for older kids as well. From this book alone, my son has learned so much. We recently visited the Air museum in Chantilly, VA, and he ran around naming the different planes. As soon as we walked in, he said "A Blackbird!". Super book!

As a 70 year old, I was so fascinated with this Big Book of Airplanes while at the dentist's office that I have since sent one to my grandson for Christmas and recently purchased a second one for a neighbor boy and a third one for myself.