Bruno Books

Dr. Bruno Walter (1876-1962) was born to an upper middle class home in Berlin. He was a child prodigy composing and conducting with such ensembles as the Berlin Symphony. Walter became the assistant to the genius Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) winning the admiration of the prickly man of music.
Walter's music room was all of Europe and the great concert halls and recording studios heard his majestic music making in operas, symphonies and chamber music. He composed until 1910
forsaking creative compositon to become a peerless conductor of
works by Mahler; Beethoven;Brahms; Bruckner; Wagner; Verdi and
the other gods in music's pantheon.
Walter had seen and experienced tragedy. His younger daughter
Greta was murdered by her husband; he lost his homeland as the
Nazis conquered Austria and expelled him and other Jewish geniuses from the Reich; he had extramarital affairs but was a
decent, honorable and serious man. Walter loved literature becoming friendly with Thomas Mann the great novelists; he enjoyed reading, writing on music and was a strong but understanding conductor. He and Toscanini were friends.
This is a book for those who are familiar with classical music .
The book is very detailed and one almost feels like he/she
has seen a review of every concert conducted by Walter!
While this can become tedious to the general reader the overall
effect is one of respect for Walter.
In a time when classical music is a minority taste
the co-authors have done their homework producing a well written
and researched biograpy of Dr. Walter.

To say that the book "Bruno Walter: A World Elsewhere" is both a godsend and a delight would be an understatement-I cannot say enough good about this work. "A World Elsewhere" is a detailed and concise look at the conductors' life and career from birth until death-and in English.(My definite language of choice) It offers a style that is smooth and a pleasure to read and obviously involved alot of meticulous research. I have been an admirer of Bruno Walter for many years, and this biography is the perfect companion to my collection of Walters'recordings.It is an even-handed, multi-faceted depiction of the conductors' experiences. In reading "A World Elsewhere", I have learned much about the man that has enabled me to understand his life better; although the book does not go into alot of detail about Bruno Walters' connection with Anthroposophy, it has still inspired me to investigate this movement further. "A World Elsewhere" is a definite "must read" for anyone who admired Bruno Walter- a great conductor whose involvement with music touched and enriched many people's lives, and still does today.

Doug Rea

Finally, a full-length biography of Bruno Walter in English that devotees of his work can savor. Walter was widely recognized in his time as one of the master conductors, but his lack of flashiness, and sometimes fake air of saintliness, are off-putting to our star-obsessed age, so he hasn't received the recognition he deserves. SONY is sitting on a large back-catalog of important mono recordings by him that may never see the light of digital distribution -- or perhaps the imminent changes in music distribution wrought by the internet will eventually make it all available. Meanwhile, this very well-done, comprehensive biography will have to do. My biggest complaint is the lack of a complete discography as an appendix to the book - referring people to websites won't cut it yet, as too many folks still don't have regular internet access. Apart from that failing, this is a model of what an arts biography should be, a well-researched life, a serious consideration of issues of personal performing style, and decent pictures.

I probably qualify as a representative of the tribe of general readers, being mostly an interested amateur in what this book covers. As such, I found "Bruno Walter: a World Elsewhere" a very satisfying window into an era of music (and my childhood) that I was heretofore only vaguely aware of. In other words, it helped me fit together and fill out a picture of the musical and political and social history of the twentieth century, and that alone made it worthwhile.

But aside from that, it was simply great fun to read personal vignettes about so many eminent musicians, composers, conductors, and others. I found the book entertaining reading too, I mean to say--a dandy thing, in the summer (or any other time as well)!

While I may be an amateur as far as the contents of the biography go, I am also a professor and teacher of writing, and it was gratifying to find a biography written so smoothly that reading it was a pleasure, which is by no means the rule in scholarly biographies. There are notes and indeces aplenty for the scholars, but these should not dissuade the general reader--they do not get in the way in the least.

Add to this the fact that the volume is a handsomely designed one, with splendid pictures and an attractive typeface, and you have a book truly worth owning--or giving, for that matter.

This was my second Tarot deck I purchased 'way back in 1986. 1st was Rider-Waite. The major Arcana are done in perfect "art nouveau" style. All of the cards have upright and reversed meanings printed on them. This is very significant in the history of the Tarot! The actual meanings date from 1783 from Etiella himself. Roughly translated, of course. No other deck printed in 1981 carried these associations, making it a breakthrough for readers of any time! The minors are not illustrated and possibly come from an earlier Italian deck.

The backs have always intrigued me: colored red and gold with a zodiac wheel, a running deer, and the word "Modiano" printed on it. I like the astrological references on the majors and each minor has a time frame on them. Perfect for a "Fortune teller" at any level. I never use the deck for readings. In fact, a came across one in celophane and keep like new. This is a serious collector deck, and it shall forever remain near and dear to my heart!

The Major Arcana of 22 cards appear Egyptianized with different meanings from RWS standard. The 56 Minor Arcana appear as a playing card deck such as king, queen,knight, and page with pips' suits as clubs/wands; hearts/cups; spades/swords; diamonds/coins. Keywords appear on face of each card top and bottom as upright/reversed meanings. This deck is for the seasoned pro and recommeded as so.... Blessings...

I love this deck !! I have been doing professional readings for over 20 years with this deck. It is advanced for a beginner but, the cards just open up my channel and I can see the entire picture. I have used a few other decks and I have the greatest accuracy with this deck.

The Cagliostro deck really can be a mysterious deck, mirroring its namesake...I've read, studied and written about and collected the tarot for 13 years now, and it's one of my curious favorites, although not a favored one for divination...The power of this deck is unmistakable, yet it can be confusing and is not recommended for a beginner. The Major Arcana features paintings of an alchemical nature, and the Minor Arcana is represented by flat "playing-card" like drawings and symbols, not unlike very early Tarot decks (the layouts of the staves and coins are reminiscent of the Visconti-Sforza deck). The Cagliostro Tarot uses a combination of numerology, astrology, Qabalah and worded representations on each card, hence the somewhat confusing plethora of symbolism. What I am so drawn to in this deck is the downright curiosity of it - when using it in readings (rarely for others, I use this deck mainly when reading for myself) I find readings becoming much more deliberate and forthright, whereas other readings are more open to interpretation. A curiosity well worth it for collectors, while beginners might find it a bit too overwhelmingly full of symbolism.

Chef Bruno Ellmer is a Certified Master Chef (CMC). At the time this book was written there were less than 30 CMC's the world over. In fact Chef Ellmer helped to design the test for the master chef program at the Culinary Institute of America.

Chef Ellmer traveled the world and worked as a professional chef all throughout Europe the Middle East and the United States. His knowledge of food is unmatched, even by other master chefs.

In this book you will not find the typical red sauce cookery associated with Italian food which is actually American Italian food. You will find authentic Italian recipes from some of the finest Italian kitchens. Not home style, rather 5 star style. It's also written for professionals so the home cook is advised in advance. The quantities here are for large food service operations mainly hotels. However the home cook can get some really great ideas and learn what cooking on a professional level is like.

Again don't expect spaghetti and meatballs, but be prepared for a culinary delight of sophisticated authentic Italian food.

I found this book from a suggestion of an Italy friend.I read it and i thing that it is a good guide, for someone who want to learn something more about Italian kitchen.For me it was very good.

I found this book from a suggestion of an Italy friend.I read it and i thing that it is a good guide, for someone who want to learn something more about Italian kitchen.For me it was very good.

This is a great set of professional Italian recipes. The range is magnificent and utilizes the ingrediants to the fullest. I must warn the home cook these recipes are not designed for the casual cook,Most recipies require a solid knowledge of classical culinary technique . This book is great for expierenced home cooks to create dishes that are elevated above the ordinary italian fair. I ,as a professional Chef, found this a great resource in designing my own menu .

New Jersey parole officer Loretta Kovacs is in the dumps. Her career is spiraling downward as fast as her personal life has collapsed. Her seemingly last opportunity to jump-start her career is with the "Jump Squad", a law enforcement group that goes after parole violators. Her partner is Frank Marvelli, a veteran of the squad. Their first case is to locate Martha Lee Spooner, an embezzler, working a scam at a Florida fat farm. This seems to be a simple collar. However, in Loretta's current world, there is no such word as simple. A hit man and the IRS become involved in the case. Loretta goes undercover, enjoying the sauna as much as anyone can who knows their job is on the line. If she and her partner fail to bring in Martha Lee, they may find themselves seeking employment elsewhere. DEVIL'S FOOD is an exciting ride full of several twists and turns that Disney might want to consider adopting it for his amusement parks. Loretta is a great character because her problems are our problems. The story line is fast paced and the dialogue is classic Joisey. Do we hear the clamor of a continual series? Fans will plead with Anthony Bruno to start one starring Frank and Loretta. Harriet Klausner

Though I can see how some readers may feel uncomfortable about reading the passages about Frank's sorrow over his dying wife, I'll have to say that Tony Bruno is a warm kind human to be abel to deal with this issue of dying family members with taste and heart. The rest of the novel is just too good to describe, without at least doing it severe injustice. Just grab yourself a copy of this baby and enjoy! Mamma Mia!

Two things especially work to make Devil's Food standout in the genre mastered by Elmore Leonard and Carl Hiassen. They are the novel's food oriented humor and its food obsessed heroine. No chapter is complete without food references, which range from catalogs of high cholesterol munchies to satirical jabs at the tiny, tasteless portions served to the hungry dieters at a fat farm. Anthony Bruno, the author, is especially good at caricature. He manages the difficult feat of making believable and hilarious such characters as the hunted, calculating parole violator, her sidekick motorcycle hit man, and her unctious, hypocrital boss, the head of the fat farm. This book would be a ten were it not for the teary, dreary sub-plot stuff about the heroine's partner and his dying wife

It's wacky! It's wild! It makes you hungry! It makes you laugh out loud! And it even tugs at your heart strings!

Join in the fun as chunky Loretta(one tough mama with 'tude) and greaseball Frankie(sexy, sensitive, vulnerable, and Italian!) race to a fat farm to bring back a parole violating gal.

What makes this such a great hilarious book is the characters. All oddballs.

And kudos to the author for dealing straightforwardly with such issues as obesity and dying.

It's a fast read and romp. Pick it up. You won't be disappointed. After all, who can not break into squeals of laughter when the the female lead refers to her partner as a "slaphappy chipmunk."

well, what is to happen when the "ultimate player", who has arranged an impossible game of snakes and ladders by which to try the worth of the object of his seduction is the first one to commit the mistake that gives it all away???
naturally enough, in such a case, she has no option but to call for all cards to be now put on the table - signs and gestures cannot continue to be after this unexpected turn of events: that the creator of the trap has been the first one to go and call the King when the roof was just "not" falling. so what is he to do after this has happened? was the posibility of "his" failing in his books?
as to her, she is only sure that nothing can continue to be quite as it was and also it is somehow a shame that now there is just nothing more to hope for, nothing more to upset the monotony of life all of a sudden. she knew that she would not have failed, but she had simply not expected that he would just rush to do wrong at the very first trial of trust...!!

This is the most famous depiction of the ancient legend of Don Juan, the unrepentant and bold sinner from Spain. A masterwork of Romanticism, "Don Juan" tells the story of Juan Tenorio, a worldly man whose only interest in life is to seduce as many women as he can. He makes a bet with his friend Luis Mejía, to see who is more fortunate with women. Don Juan wins, but his father writes him off from his testament. After that, Don Juan rapes Luis' fiancée. All this gives him, of course, a bad reputation, so the father of his beloved Ines forbids him to marry her. Events unfold then at a rapid pace, amidst duels, murders, illegitimate seductions and tragedy, including the apparition of ghosts. But more than just a cloak-and-dagger play, this work is a fascinating elaboration on the central myths of sin and repentance; of trespassing and divine forgiving; of the redeeming possibilities of true love, as distinguished from the sins of the flesh which lead to hell. In the Spanish world, it is the play that is staged every year, by the beginning of November when Day of the Dead is celebrated. It is a sum-up of the Romantic myth and, as all classical works, it admits different interpretations, from the literal to the philosophical. And it's a lot of fun too.

This book tells of the fascinating story of Don Juan Tenorio, the ultimate player. Don Juan is to players what William Shakespear is to poets. This story is told with a masterful wit, and has an incredibly exciting plot. This book, like so many others, is one of those that many people know, but few have read. This book is well worth the money spent on it.

Don Juan Tenorio is the ultimate player. He is to players what William Shakespear is to poets. This is a fascinating story which talk about Don Juan, a young man that is out to seduce as many women as he can. Not only that, but he is probably the most succesful player ever known to man! find out what happens to him in this classic story full to the brim of adventure and excitement.

Recently my best friend and inspiration Alexander Chang (Rocco) recently went to Los Angeles to do a photo session for photographer Justin Monroe's next book. Getting to see the photos and hear a little about Alexander's experience with Justin made me curious about him. He was getting ready for his first released book of photography "DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE" which is a collection of amazing models including Jessica Rabbit, Amanda Lepore, Gizelle, Ethan Reynolds, and Janice Dickeson. His website has some amazing previews of this book (www.justinmonroe.com) and I pre-ordered it here on Amazon.com

Yesterday afternoon I recieved this book...........this MASSIVE book "Down the Rabbit Hole" and it was everything I imagined and more!!! It was like going into your darkest fantasy and taking it further than you could imagine! This book is the most amazing thing I've ever seen, each photo, each page, each flash gives you so much that you have to study the page to ensure you don't miss anything. The way he can bring an image to life is what is going to make him the #1 most requested photographer in the world. Using religious, fairytale, and disturbing imagery he gives you photos you could never imagine, and will never forget!!

This book is absolutely amazing and if you're a fan of art, make up, photography, hot men, sexy women, the unusual, the visually appealing this book is for YOU!!!! I urge each of you to check out Justin's website and get a copy of "Down the Rabbit Hole" which is the best investment ever! As I told Alexander last night; "This book should replace the bible in hotel rooms everywhere!!"
Thank you for sharing your brilliance Justin, it is beyond amazing!

Well I cant top that one, but i can give it an AMEN! I bought Justin Monroe's 'Down The Rabbit Hole' last week and I cant put it down. This guy is freaking dope! and this book is bound to be a classic! I would highly recomend it to anyone. It def left me wanting to see more from This Photographer! So yes two thumbs up! jesse

Justin Monroe really takes his art to a new level! His use of color and theme are extraordinary! It's like waking up in a dream. Honestly, this is one of the best photography books out there! This book is BOLD and unapologetic in the most fantastic sense of the word! Do yourself a favor ... BUY THIS BOOK!!!

Sizzling colors and figures of rare masculinity. There are art books and then there is this PHOTO ART EXTRAVAGANZA of A BOOK ! A surreal adventure in color/ content /and forms. Monroe pushes the edge of the envelope of virile exotic photography and then opens the lens even wider on it to show the world. This is a true pioneer of imagery .
Best of the Best. I am proud to own several of these books.

This is a great book. The photographs are well taken and the subject matter is, well, amazing.

These photographs were taken by Frank DiLeo between 1970 & 1980, and as stated in the book, there's a cultural-historical feel to these dated images. They remind me of Von Gloeden, but in black & white. These young long haired well-endowed, dark, Mediterranean type models he photographed are beautiful to look at. They seem very happy posing for the camera, and most are smiling. I think photographs from this period show much more sexual attitude & emotion than current photographer's works. Or maybe it's just that we have been more over-exposed over the last two decades to so many male nude photography books they have lost their spark of originality and excitement.

I like Frank's photography images & enjoyed this collection. My only complaint again, as in other Euros Series books, is that there is no real biography of this photographer, just a few words about his style. We're left with a lot of questions about him & his life's work. Recommended.

Another excellent photobook in the Euros series. Black and white photography of young men taken during the period of 1970-1980 in both Sicily and Puerto Rico, wonderful photos of real people instead of self-conscious models. The end notes by Don H. Mader help to put the photos in perspective and will give you a deeper appreciation of them. Nothing hardcore here, just superb photography. If you are a serious collector of male photography and feel like your drowning in a sea of the pornographic and the pretentious, DiLeo is a breath of fresh air. Highly recommended.

Mediterranean and Latino young men aboud in this collection of plates actually taken in the '70s and '80s but seen here for the first time.

So useful for boys who have no father figure in their lives. Almost a guide to identify willing candidates and make sure you have that vital male role model in your life! Even though I have a real, live father, (thanks Dad!) this still tugged at my heartstrings no end, especially the initial scenes when Sweeney's father is dying and he describes his sister's grief about not kissing him goodbye on the fateful day - incredible.

This account of a young man's search for someone to teach him the lessons and values that his dead father could not is a beautifully written, thoughtful book. His style of writing is straightforward and candid, as the struggles of his large, financially-strapped family are detailed. Especially well-drawn are the three men he chooses as father figures, and his strong yet vulnerable mother. It would make a good book to give to a man who may have served this function in your life, or someone in need of a father figure.

Following the devastation of September 11, 2001, the author of the remarkable new memoir, "Father Figures," wrote an online essay to remind Americans of one of the grim realities of that day: the thousands of children who were suddenly left without a parent, and what others could do to help these kids as they made their way from grief to growing up. The response felt by many to that first essay led to the writing of "Father Figures."

Kevin Sweeney knows an unfair amount about this sad subect. His own father passed away when he was three, leaving a loving but now nearly destitute mother to raise six children alone.

The Sweeneys, without a father, husband, provider, faced a grim challenge, but the young boy named Kevin was determined to work his way through the loss.

Each child who loses a parent must inevitably come to terms in his own way, but Sweeney, by some quirky inspiration that only an innocent youth could summon, came up with a novel solution. He would adopt a father; in fact, three. Secretly. Without their knowing it.

His plan was simple: without a father of his own to guide him, he knew something was missing, so to fill in the chasm he would select the best, the wisest men in his small world, watch them, learn from them, but never tell. And bask in their glow when he was brought into their gentle orbits.

His powers of observation as a child serve him well as an adult. Sweeney has rendered wonderfully a world that is so quaintly American, so hopeful, that one wishes to step back into it, if only for a sweet neighborhood picnic, or a summer pick-up baseball game with the kids. A time when an entire suburban block came out to cheer the neighbor girls on their way to the prom. That was all in the outdoor world of youth. Inside was a different story.

They were tough times growing up, and Sweeney brings alive an almost Dickensian tale of the private sacrifices his family endured for years after his father died. Nor does he pull punches when, growing up, he begins to discover some of the flaws of hiw own beloved dad. Refreshingly, Sweeney tells this story without a hint of bitterness. The optimism of a boy who is determined to survive and flourish is alive and well in the grown-up who set out to record his past.

Sweeney has done a remarkable job in showing us how a child navigates, poorly at times, the shifting tides of growing up, the yearnings and fears and disappointments. But also the joys and thrills of the little victories, like learning to hit a curve ball. He is funny, honest and blunt and does not spare even himself from his critical eye, not even when it comes to reliving those inexorably dumb decisions adolescent boys seem driven to make.

Above all, he is a gracious and grateful memoirist, and that spirit rubs off on his readers. He is grateful for these three remarkable men and how they, chosen secretly by a bright, fatherless boy, helped him steer his way. It is a wonderful tribute to them, surrogate fathers who deserve a pat on the back from all of us who read Sweeney's memoir.

Kevin Sweeney has created a whole world in Father Figures, giving us not only a strong portrait of what it is like to grow up without a father, but also of a modern Catholic childhood. His writing and insights are strong and often simply beautiful. He's a wonderful story teller and will keep any reader turning pages long into the night.

This is Howard Roffman's eighth book, and a beautiful display of youth it is! All 176 pages of this book showcase seven young men who are on the verge of adulthood in natural settings in and out of doors. What is intriguing about these photos is the playfulness of these very young, handsome men, who are naturally photogenic as they get naked and have fun in bed, in the woods, and in the bath. These images will someday be a beautiful history and reminder to these young men of the time when they were at perfection in their youthful beauty. Roffman knew two of these young men who introduced him to others, who were friends and some of them lovers. Roffman is a wonderful photographer and each book he publishes seems to get better and bigger. He certainly knows how to capture and freeze the beauty of youth, and his fans are thrilled that he does. This book should be in every serious collector's library. Touching and Tender, and beautifully designed!

Joe Hanssen

What a wonderfully executed collection of male photography! The men are stunning, the artistic value is self-evident, and the settings are idyllic. What more could one ask for? SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL AND SENSUAL.

Howard Roffman is an excellent photographer. The fact that he takes pictures of men nude is even better. His photos are not just to stir the senesual side of you. He takes his photos in a way to see depth of the model, the individual in the picture. Many posses are sexual but classie. He is showing the male form is ways that you see more than a nake man in the photo. Every book of his buy I am inspired by what I see. Takes a man with talent to pose a man to show more than his body.

Friends & Lovers is a major new work from acclaimed photographer Howard Roffman. Friends & Lovers is Roffman's 8th photo book and at 176 pages is the largest book ever published by Bruno Gmünder.
With his signature photo-narrative style, Roffman documents the real-life relationships of 7 attractive young men in the transition between the innocence of youth and a more worldly perspective of adulthood.
The book chronicles Roffman's own journey as much as it chronicles that of the 7 young men. The journey began for Roffman in 1999 with a chance encounter between himself and a young man named Jeremy. The encounter began a sequence of introductions as each model brought a new member to the group. Inspired by the strong bonds and passionate relationships within the group, Roffman photographed these young men over a three-year period, culminating in the book.
Friends and Lovers goes far beyond Romanesque posed images of muscled men and instead creates a world of real characters not afraid to expose their true relationships or give us insights into their most intimate moments. Commenting on the book, noted photographer Tom Bianchi has stated, "Older gay men might wish that they had this kind of erotic and playful start on their romantic life journeys. Roffman's book celebrates the fact that this kind of youth . . . is real for those who choose it now. He captures many elegant tender moments that suggest that this is always how we should have been."

I bought this book for my niece and found myself engrossed in the fascinating tales. I don't know how Ms. Bruno found so many animals, bugs, fish, and plants to describe. From barking ducks to astronaut fish, each is described as if the creature were speaking to you. Readers can learn more about them on related websites.

Weird and Wacky! That could describe your house or mine if kids are rampant. But this time it's the title for Bonnie Bruno's daily jumpstart for families. In 60 different bites, Bruno pulls in youngsters and oldsters alike with weird and wacky creatures that roam God's earth. What is the Alcon Blue Butterfly's weird friendship? Which wacky wasp is a little cuckoo? To find out, read together, spark learning, hone in on a spiritual tidbit and then lift your hearts with a prayer. Sometimes the reading is just a day -starter for our three boys ranging in age from 15 to 7. Other days it may drive us to the the provided link giving "More on the Web." Whenever you decide to use it, just be ready for fun. Remember, Weird and Wacky!

If you ever spent any time watching Animal Planet TV, you know there are many strange creatures wandering the earth. In a thought-provoking style, bestselling author Bonnie Bruno carefully combines engaging animal facts with devotional thoughts and Bible verses. This combination allows preteen readers to celebrate the creator God and his creativity with animals and plants

The reader climbs into the mind of the animal or the plant such as the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider which begins, "You won't find me tiptoeing daintily across a web, because...I'm bigger than a dinner plate! If you guessed that I am the world's biggest spider, you're right! I'm covered in blondish-brown hair, and I'm related to a tarantula. My home is a burrow in the damp, marshy area of a South American jungle."

Each of these 60 devotions contains a spiritual lesson. From the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider, Bonnie Bruno writes, "The Goliath bird-eating spider is known for its quick attack. Words are sometimes like that, too-which and hurtful. God provides self-control at just the right moment, though, when we call on him."

Each page of this remarkable book includes fascinating illustrations from Kevin Brown which will engage the reader and keep them turning the pages. Now young 8-12 year old readers can connect their physical world with spiritual lessons. Parents who want to have these values instilled in their pre-teens should be eager for this book. It combines excellent writing with thoughtful educational lessons about the world and God. I highly recommend this resource.

W. Terry Whalin (www.terrywhalin.com)

This is a good book for kids who may have a difficult time doing devotionals. It is about unique animals, but there is also good life application for each type of animal. There is a verse included too. A few things are repeated, but it's all good. I read it to some kids (3rd - 5th grade) and they were nuts about it. It's not too deep, but I think it is definately good for kids in the agfe group suggested.