Richards Books

Somewhere in Time is a timeless love story by unconventional means. It really takes you back to another time. I can't say enough about What Dreams May Come. This book changed the way I look at Life and Death. A truly moving experience. I have read them both twice. They will remain favorites of mine.

This book has no equal. "What Dreams May Come" will consume you, and take you to a place that you have ONLY "dreamed" of. It touches so many issues that many find so dear to their souls (love, compassion, God, and the power of the spirit). If you read one book this year, make this the one. You will never think the same way about death. A person who is beyond hope because of some dreaded disease or in major depression should "read" and "re-read" this book. You will never look at life or death the same way again. Just like Jewel's song says "Only kindness matters". The movie is also good, but the book has more detailing. Take a look into your soul and find a new piece of mind and a new perspective of yourself! Make every day count towards a new goal and make your life what 'you' want it to be.

20 years ago when this book was first out in print a friend recommended it. It changed my way of thought forever. It intreged me to search and study this and similar avenues of soul searching. The author changed my life and for this I will always be so very greatful

I read this book for the first time 21 years ago. I was 14 and I was enthralled. It changed my teenage fear of death into hope and beauty. I, too, read it in a rainy afternoon at the library and when I went to buy it, I could not. A movie? Awesome! A re-release of the book?! Incredible! I recommend to ANYONE who has even the slightest interest in life after death to READ THIS BOOK!

I have gone so far as to highlight passages and paragraphs that are of significance to me in my life. I have an almost biblical reverence for this book and find it hard to believe that it is NOT true, the introduction by Richard Matheson, captured my imagination, the book captured my soul. I have recomended and urged all my friends who have lost a loved one to read this book and many have expressed to me a deep appreciation, which I can take no credit for. For me, this book has answered so many questions and eased so many of my worries. If the movie can convey half as much as the book did, I predict a bigger box office success than Ghost. (Which by the was I was convinced Richard Matheson wrote!)

I have a 16 year old son whom I thought hated reading. Couldn't for the life of me, get him to pick up a book, UNTIL.... "Spanking Shakespeare". What a surprise! (I had him promise to read one book this summer, so he acquiesced). What a surprise1! He could not stop reading this book. He absolutely loved it! His comments were that it was funny, well written and addressed teen issues so it was very relatable. Now he wats the whole family to read it so we could have a book discusion. ALSO,he wants to find other books that have the same parameters, so he could continue to READ!! Thank you Jake Wizner for inspiring my teen to read!!

Shakespeare Shapiro is in his senior year of high school. His best friend keeps a journal of his bowel movements, and Shakespeare has to spend his senior year writing his memoir when what he'd really like to do is just get a girlfriend. This book follows Shakespeare through his senior year and the writing of his memoir.

I really liked this book. It was funny and also contained some serious parts. It reminded me a bit of Gordon Korman's writing, but for a slightly more mature audience. Highly recommended.

this is an extremely creative and fun young adult book about a 17 year-old guy who is very gifted at writing, but not much else. he's struggling through his senior year in a creative writing program where he has to write a memoir about his life. so the chapters in the book jump back and forth between his actual memoir chapters and his reflections about them and life.

that said, it's another one of the YA (young adult) books that are a good read, but would be difficult for me to recommend to actual teenagers, due to its obsession with masturbation, sex, drug-use and alcohol, and other (very real) stuff. not that i'm a prude who thinks kids should only read christianized (read: sanitized) fiction with falsely scrubbed kids having bible studies.

seeing the author's bio, and that he teaches 8th grade english as his day job, i was instantly a fan. but i kept thinking, as i read, that his book would be somewhat over-the-line for the kids he teaches (let alone the parents of those kids!).

Shakespeare Shapiro hates his name. It is one in a long line of things that his parents have done to make his life miserable. The rest of his life isn't going very well either. Shakespeare actually describes his life as a series of catastrophes. Now he is beginning his senior in high school, has never kissed a girl, and has only made two friends. His younger brother, Gandhi, is popular and has a girlfriend. And his parents, well, they are a unique force to be reckoned with.

Now that he is in the twelfth grade, Shakespeare has to do his school's senior project; write a memoir about his life so far. The good news is that Shakespeare is a skillful writer. The bad? How truthful would you want to be if your life was made up of mortifying, embarrassing moments?

In addition to his memoir, Shakespeare is also dealing with the usual high school issues: girls (or a lack of them), sex (or a lack of it), popularity (again--a lack of it), and family. And now his two best friends, Neil and Katie, are hooking up.

SPANKING SHAKESPEARE is a hilariously funny look at the life of a very unique teenage boy. It is written in a dual style; a narrative of Shakespeare's everyday life combined with chapters from his memoir. Author Jake Wizner takes readers through the life of one of the smartest and funniest characters in young adult fiction today. SPANKING
SHAKESPEARE will have you laughing out loud.

Reviewed by: JodiG.

Our 16- and 14-year-olds, who are very big readers, loved this book. These readers, who between them read over 150 books per year, called this "one of the best books" they've read.

If you are a squirrel fan,you will go nuts with this book! Good info.! Very thorough, and helpful, not to mention interesting! A must for your nature library.

I expected to see more photos in this book, however for fun or studying its really great book.

Very informative, but not dry. Never knew I needed an ultimate resource and go to book on squirrels, but bought it on the recommendation of a friend-- boy am I glad I did!

If you have an interest in any of the squirrels in North America, you'll like this book. I am enjoying it immensely, and I have read most of the really good squirrel literature available. This new book is excellent.

Somewhere in the advertising literature, it says that the book is in question and answer form. This nearly put me off and caused me not to order the book. Don't allow that to happen to you. It is simply that the titles to each short section of the book are in the form of questions. The text that follows these headings is excellent. I'm glad I bought it.

For readers seeking knowledge of tree squirrels, I would also recommend The Natural History of Squrrels by Steele and Arizona's Tree Squirrels by David Brown. That would be in addition to, not in place of, Squrrels: The Animal Answer Book.

This book is packaged a bit like a children's book, as an "animal answer guide" with lots of pictures. It is written as a series of questions and answers, though the "answers" may go for several pages and read like regular text. The Q&A format is really more of an affectation.

While much of the book could be enjoyed by pre-teens who really love squirrels, the information is probably too detailed for them. High schoolers writing a report on squirrels - - for whatever reason - - would find it very helpful. However, it's really written for a general audience.

What then will you find in this book, gentle reader? In short: everything you ever wanted to know about squirrels, and then some. You'll learn not only about the fox squirrel in your backyard but other North American squirrels such as woodchucks and marmots. You'll also learn a bit about squirrels around the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia.

The book is full of black-and-white pictures on many pages, and has two collections of color plates in the middle of the book. The black-and-white pictures tend to aim to be informative, while the color pictures are often beautiful art shots. So, if you think squirrels can be a subject of High Art, this is your book.

Actually, it's a remarkably good book on an unexpected subject. It's not quite as good as some other animals books I've reviewed (on wolves, bison and locusts - - see my reviews), and it's not really a "classic" book for anyone. so I'll only give it 4 stars. But it really deserves 4.5. It's hard to imagine a better book on squirrels.

You can always count on any book written by Cherry Hill to be full of great information, however this book covers areas a horse owner doesn't always think about. I must admit that I have ALL of Cherry Hill's books and refer to them often, along with her website, since I have recently returned to horse ownership after 20 years. The best part of this book is the emphasis on the safety of your horse. I would highly recommend this book to beginning horsemen, people like me who are returning horsemen, or any horseman who wants a solid review in good "horse sense". Amy

I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn how to set up and organize proper, clean, safe and efficient care for horses. The pictures are great, and make it a lot easier for the beginner to visually see what works. It's an excellent resource!

This is an easy read. A Picture is worth a thousand words and there are a lot of photo examples. A great resource.

I have 1 indoor arena, 1 covered arena, and can stall up to 100 horses. Cherry Hill writes in an easy to understand and very articulate manner information that anyone owning from one to One Hundred horses should read.

She has a keen and very healthy insight with a common sense approach to horses. I was lucky enough to meet her at "Road To The Horse" where she was one of the prestigious judges, and very impressed with her down to earth and friendly attitude. She has a true passion for horses and what is in their best interest.

I have at least 6 of her books and plan on purchasing the rest as time & money allow. You will get your moneys worth from her.

Leslie

everything you need to know to get started in owning,stabling,caring,and feeding your first horse. great pictures,charts,and building plans

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

The first two weeks, the section on video surveillance and terms and equipment saved us a few hours of research, cleared up some confusion and saved us ordering some things for a job that just wouldn't have worked. At that point, we would have been happy if that was all we ever got from this book.

But we're finding a WHOLE lot more. Probably what I like best is it's written like a book and not a technical manual, so it's enjoyable to read. Also, unlike most security things I read, it goes way beyond "what to do and why." It does a great job with the most important part: "Exactly HOW to do."

Great Example: The author claimed that someone with no experience could follow directions in the book to hook up a VCR, TV, mini-camera, plus cable and power sources and have it all up and recording in just two minutes. Our part-time secretary is a Culinary student. She followed the directions and actually had it recording with a few seconds to spare. THAT was pretty neat.

I got more information out of Rich's book than any of the criminal justice texts I've read over the years. Having worked for companies with good loss prevention programs as well as companies with poor programs I can relate to the "Policy B" stores talked about in the book.

Rich- Any tips for dealing with companies that pay lip service to LP but balk at using anything other than 1950's technology that you can include in the next revision?

Those are the tenets of the corporation I work for, and this book is a perfect addition to a library for anyone who wants those results.

Rich has communicated effectively the steps and tools necessary to reduce loss in your retail location and NOT GET SUED.

Many self help books can be dry reading. Not this one. Every point made is followed up by a story or anecdote that assists the reader in visualizing the problem and how solutions can be applied.

Whether you are a loss prevention professional, a private investigator, or a store owner/operator this is a must read if you want to reduce your losses.

We have just begun to read the text book for my Master's in Edu. course, but as of the first chapter, I am impressed with the depth of knowledge that the book imparts. It is also very interesting reading, which keeps me actually wanting to read it.

This text book was requested by my professor. I have begun reading it and it is very interesting. It has a wealth of information concerning assessing students effectively. Anyone in education should find this book very insightful.

This is a great book that truly opens one's eyes to the world of assessment. Stiggins does a great job of breaking different types of assessment down into his chapters. I would definitely recommend this book to any educator!

Considering this book is about assessment, I should probably give it a grade, right? This order got an A! It was in great condition and arrived on time! Now I am giving out better grades!

This text could be helpful to novice and highly experienced teachers. The assessments types are outlined and discussed in good detail and actual examples are illustrated. The first few chapters define and discuss the nature of assessment and how this will relate to the teacher and their students. Both the teacher and student will benefit from assessment that is well planned in advance. The next few chapters discuss how to plan and develop your assessment plan. The school of thought here seems to be in the variations in difficulty and type of assessment. If teachers are able to change up their assessment routines students will have more ways to demonstrate their knowledge, reasoning skills, performance skills, formative and summative products, and dispositions in the subject material. Four different types of assessment are featured: Selected response, essay, performance, and personal communication. All of these assessment methods can be used as both formal and informal assessments depending on the purpose of assessing a specific skill or set of skills being taught. Overall, I think this is an excellent assessment text for teachers who want to assess their students FOR learning rather than OF learning as discussed in the text.

As a child of the 50's and 60's, I grew up just outside of Queens NY. My parents found a truly magical hamlet on the east end of Long Island, near Sag Harbor and we spent 14 summers there - encompassing some of the best times of my life.

Imagine my surprise when I picked up Summer At Sea Shell Harbor and started to read about my boyhood summers. I was transported back in time - to malt shakes at the malt shack; hanging out at night by the 'general store' or "The Sugar Shack"; convertible cruising; spending the days at the beach or one of our speed boats; and discovering new girls from other than my home town and trying to learn how to deal with them. I literally could not put the book down until the end. This book truly captured the emotions and feelings of those times.

But you don't have to have lived the story to enjoy it. This is a great read for anyone of any age. While depicting a magical time, there is a plot and character development and relationships that literally draw you from one chapter to the next.

I truly hope that someone has the sense to make a movie from this great book. I think it would be a huge success if true to the book.

This would be fantastic as a film. When will Hollywood realize we baby-boomers are movie watchers? What a great film it would make.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a fast and easy read. The writing reminded me of my teenage (other) life. Memories of summer vacations in The Hamptons, partying with friends and young love. Great!

You don't have to have grown up in New York or spent summers in the Hamptons to remember the experiences and feelings that come back so vividly reading "Summer in Sea Shell Harbor". Wherever your're from, growing up takes you on an emotional roller coaster that drags you on at around age 13 or 14 and drops you off sometime later, maybe 19 or 20, somewhat beat-up and bruised, but relieved to still be standing. Whatever else adolescence is, it is a time of intense feelings and fragile egos; friends are at the center of our lives; good times and bad times; trying to sort through it all and figure things out. Richard Dunne has done a great job nudging our memories, taking us along with these very real characters who are a lot like our friends growing up; and their predicaments are similar to ones we can recall. A great read on a universal theme and one that we don't really ever forget. A book for all ages! An excellent, enjoyable read.

"Summer at Sea Shell Harbor" deserves a place on every bookshelf in America. The first, and most important reason for purposes of this review, is that it's a great read. Richard Dunne's beautiful story, set in the summer of 1959, is as much an ode to teenage angst and coming-of-age as it is a revealing look at how our country's own innocence has disappeared over the years.

The novel's strength lies in Dunne's portrayal of late 1950's America in an honest way, through the eyes of seventeen year-old Richie Donnelly, without the pretense that today's youth is somehow living in a bleaker, more paranoid world (the truth may be that today's youth ARE living in a bleaker, more paranoid world, but Dunne shrewdly lets the story progress without so much as a hint that he's seen America unfold over the last half-century). This approach is what makes the story great for all ages. Whereas a film like "Stand By Me," which also captures the spirit of that era, relied on an adult narrator to tell its story in flashback - thereby attaching a certain level of nostalgia to its main character during the film - that is not the approach here. We are treated to a story set in the summer of '59 that effectively captures the period without asking the reader to remember it (which is perfect for me since I wasn't born until '67), and it succeeds wonderfully in educating and enlightening us along the way.

The characters are strong and well-developed, and the story itself engaging and entertaining. I can't remember reading a book that so often made me long for the days of my own youth and at the same time allowed me a deeper appreciation for the youth of my parents. I enjoyed it despite not being from Brooklyn or Long Island and despite being too young to appreciate the nuances of the time. I even bought a copy for my Mom.

Personally, I think with the right people involved this would make an outstanding film.

This is what a Lovcraftian collection should be. Almost all the stories are spot on good. While one or two stories in the collection fell flat for me, most were excellent. I will not go into each story in the collection, as others have done that justice already; but "The Insider" was so good that it still gives me a shiver thinking about it.

Any fan of the "mythos" needs to have this collection. While dovetailing closely with HPL's writing, it has originality and freshness that made it a joy (or horror) to read. And you have to love the cover.

These days one of the hardest problems facing Cthulhu Mythos authors is to be able to write exciting tales within Lovecraft's framework, and yet tell these tales in a new and exciting voice. A fresh approach unfortunately seems to be something that numerous authors who've recently contributed to the cannon have been unable to do. So it is refreshing when an author such as Stanley C. Sargent succeeds to do just that, bringing a new perspective to the worlds of cosmic nihilism.

The Taint of Lovecraft is Sargent's second collection of Mythos tales, the first was , also published by Mythos Books LLC. This later collection contains nine tales, nine poems, two essays and numerous illustrations, including interiors and a cover illustration by the author of H.P. Lovecraft dressed up as a Pharaoh.

The standout tale in this collection would have to be "Nyarlatophis, A Fable of Ancient Egypt" which draws us back to the life of Pharaoh Amenemhat I, founder of the Twelfth Dynasty, and his encounter with Nyarlathotep (in the form of Nyarlatophis). The Outer God once more attempts to destroy humanity as we would expect, but this time in a land and culture nearly three thousand years distance from the time when Lovecraft penned his first tale. It is evident that Sargent knows his subject, both Cthulhu Mythos and Egyptian history, and so is able to take us lovingly back to this splendid age so often referred to, but rarely visited by other cannon authors.

One of Stanley C. Sargent's great strengths as a storyteller is his ability to adapt Lovecraft's style, yet make it his own. Stories such as "Live Bait" and "Double Screetcher" incorporate those horrific twists readers expect at conclusion, a trait Lovecraft used so well. But these stories also allow us to see the comic side of the mythos, and to see that our perceptions of what is right and wrong is based purely on our `humanness', and that sometimes we are no better than the horrors we ourselves fight against. Sargent's favourite of his own work, "The Black Brat of Dunwich" likewise has a similar theme. This story tells "The Dunwich Horror" from a completely different perspective, in this case from the viewpoint of Wilbur Whateley, and makes for interesting reading, especially if we consider that Lovecraft's protagonist Armitage is seen as the antagonist here.

The end of the collection contains two essays, the latter of which provides an interesting analysis of "The Dunwich Horror" offering a rarely discussed insight into what self-inflicted and societal-inflicted demons Lovecraft might have been fighting against all his life, but demons that also allowed his fevered artistic expression to flourish. Lastly, each story is introduced by steadfast scholar Robert M. Price (I can see this guy on his own Mythos Collectable Card), who provides his own special touch to the collection providing insights on each story for those who like to know how and where such tales originate.

In summary The Taint of Lovecraft doesn't take the Cthulhu Mythos into new places and new times, rather the reader is drawn back to Lovecraft Country - be that Arkham, Dunwich, Innsmouth or Ancient Egypt - and once arriving there, Sargent turns everything on its head. Nothing it seems, is what it seems, but isn't that what the Mythos is all about?

The Taint of Lovecraft is a joy on many levels. Stanley C. Sargent writes with wit and insight that are equally incisive in crafting the tales collected here. These brilliantly original takes on the Mythos fiction created by H.P. Lovecraft will undoubtedly please fans of horror fiction in general and Mythos readers especially. Sargent labors over the historical research that forms the backbone of many of his tales, and the results show in the authenticity and accuracy of his work.

This mix of stories, poems, and two highly entertaining essays is an important contribution to Mythos fiction. More importantly, though, it is a highly satisfying read.

The centerpiece of the book, "Nyarlatophis, A Fable of Ancient Egypt" is one of the most impressive Mythos-inspired stories I've ever read, and achieves the almost unheard of feat of rivaling the work of HPL in its sense of dread and eerieness, even though it is set in time period far removed from that in which HPL wrote.

What may stand out most about Sargent's tales in this collection, though, is their unerring capacity for nurturing the humor and sense of irony that is native to HPL's work but is often lost or overlooked among other Mythos fiction efforts, and bringing it to the forefront.

In short, this is a beautifully written, fantastic book.

A devoted student of the Lovecraftian writing, Stanley Sargent has brought fresh and exciting blood to this art form in his book TAINT OF LOVECRAFT. His stories grab you at the beginning and hold you spellbound to the final words, often those that are unexpected and surprising.

You need not be a student of ancient history to understand Mr. Sargent's stories. He brings everything to life for you, keeping you on an exciting journey through words that are alive and ready to leap out at you as you turn each page. If you are ready to be shocked, surprised, thrilled, and mystified, this book is for you.

In this, his second collection of tales inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writing, Stanley C. Sargent firmly establishes himself as a master of his craft--a compelling storyteller in his own right and an important torchbearer for the legacy of Lovecraft's Mythos. The best tale in this collection is "The Black Brat of Dunwich," an insightful reinterpretation of Lovecraft's "The Dunwich Horror" that meshes so well with the original one cannot help but think Sargent found the key for cracking a sinister code Lovecraft intentionally wrote as a hidden subtext. It almost begins to feel that one needs Sargent's later work in order to appreciate the antecedent text on all of its multi-faceted levels. I don't want to overstate the point, but I wish future collections reprinting Lovecraft's original tale could all include "Black Brat" side-by-side with it. That being said, Sargent's story may lose some of its relevance for the uninitiated.

Most good Mythos fiction is not only steeped in a sense of otherworldly terror and the macabre, but is also solidly grounded in real-world history. "Nyarlatophis" is no exception; Sargent's knowledge of ancient Egyptian history and mythology appears exhaustive, and this tale--the longest in the collection--was obviously well researched. In some ways, it may actually have been too well researched, as the first third of the story is rather ponderous as the reader wades through what often feels more like an historical essay than a novella. But again, readers who stick with this tale will be glad they did, as the pace picks up significantly half-way through, and the dark, cataclysmic ending is all the more powerful for the grounding in history Sargent provided earlier on.

As for the remainder of this collection, it is a varied mix: an effectively disturbing science fiction tale that brings the Mythos to the stars, a prequel and a sequel to two other Lovecraft classics that also stand on their own as powerfully creepy narratives, a handful of comic takes on HPL themes (fun but probably my own least favorite pieces in this bunch), and one or two twilight-zone style horror pieces with only very loose connections to the Mythos per se. These stories are handsomely illustrated throughout, including a drawing or two by Sargent himself. The author also throws in nine of his whimsical poems, written in a style that blends Edward Gorey with Shel Silversetein. Two of Sargent's non-fiction essays complete this set, one that is really little more than a collection of anecdotes about the possible influences of Lovecraft on the EVIL DEAD films, and the other of which provides some fascinating insights into Lovecraft's biographical self by finding clues in his stories.

For all those enthusiastic minions of things Lovecraftian out there (among whom I count myself one), THE TAINT OF LVOECRAFT is a book that should have a prominent place on your shelf. For the rest of you, TAINT might well serve as a good introduction to the expanded Mythos, but if nothing else, it offers a handful of diverting tales.

Tasha Tudor just passed away in the last month or so, and this is one tribute to her way of life. Wait until you read the chapter on how she dyes her own wool for her crafts- done the old fashioned way, but it's sort of gross how she gets the shade of blue. I really recommend it. We shall not see her like again.

As a Tasha Tudor fan.... all I can say is that I loved the book. The photos are beautiful, and it takes us back to where we all should go... back to nature.

If you want a peaceful interlude at the end of a hectic day...if you want to step back into a simpler time (just for a while)....this is the book for you.
Tasha Tudor lives in the world she wants to live in, the world she has created & kept. This book lets you get to know her & all about the arts & crafts that she loves & wants to keep alive. As a crafter of some of the dying arts, I love this book. Not only does the reading hold your interest, the photography is excellent. A very good read!

When I was very young, my first book was "The Tasha Tudor Book of Fairy Tales". I loved the sweet watercolor illustrations of the classic fairy tale stories. It was obvious that Mrs. Tudor loved dogs and foxes and Puss in Boots, and the flower illustrations that surround the text are so perfect and true-to-life! As an older child, I was surprised to find that Tasha Tudor had also illustrated my editions of "The Secret Garden" and "A Little Princess". When, as an adult, I received the book "Tasha Tudor's Garden" as a gift from my mother, I realized that the illustrator lives just as wonderful a life as what she portrays in her illustrations. Now, in "Tasha Tudor's Heirloom Crafts" the reader can find out more about Mrs. Tudor's unique life, a re-creation of the simple and beautiful way of life of the 1800s. There are beautiful photos of Mrs. Tudor carding and weaving and making her own cosmecuticals from the products of her own plants and animals. This is not a how-to book, but a book of inspiration for those of us who love the idea of doing for ourselves and living closer to the land.

As with all of the books about Tasha Tudor this one is beautiful. The scenery and written text are enriching in their content. Once again I was inspired by her life and her creative abilities. The only flaw I could see was the fact that there was little explanation of HOW she did any of the things she mentioned. I'm not suggesting she give detailed instructions on spinning and weaving, woodworking and all the other things she is so wonderfully gifted with. But a few more details on how some of the simpler projects would have been fun.

Antonin Artaud's forward thinking and innovatiove views on the theatre are an essential read for any practisioner of the theatrical arts. Wade through the madness and see the light.

I have read this at least once a year for the past four years and it changes my life every time. As I get older and more mature, so does my theatre theory. This is a theatre theory book that all collaborators should read.. from actors to designers, to dramaturgs and directors to Stage mangers and so on.

This is definitely required reading for theatre students. It will help you better understand the shift in modern and experimental theatre that has transpired over the course of the last century. It will also help you better understand the basis for a lot of horrible theatre concepts staged by overzealous students and professors, the world over.... Be wary of people throwing around the Theatre of Cruetly catchphrase as if they know what it means....

I'll admit that this is the first time I've read Artaud. And I'll admit that when I began reading the first section, The Theater and the Plague, I thought on numerous occasions, "Where is this guy going with this?" Upon concluding this section, and after picking myself up off the floor, I returned to the beginning for a another read through, and again, afterward, found myself floored. Artaud presents a take on theatre like none other. A take that many may disagree with, but few can deny the illuminating profundity of his analogies, correlations, and general theatrical philosophizing. But don't think Artaud is without a sense of humor. With a blurt like, "I saw some sort of human snakes, otherwise known as playwrights, explain how to worm a play into the good graces of a director...", whose not going to let out a chuckle? (Especially if you're guilty). In addition, this book boasts some of the best writing that I've ever read. His writing is crisp, unmasked, and intellectually and visually stimulating. And as an added bonus, nine "I'm an ugly man smoking a cigarette" black and white photos precede the text. At $10, "The Theater And Its Double" won't disappoint.

Antonin Artaud's obsession -- and I don't think that's too strong a word in this context -- lay in building a new philosophical framework for live theater, one that would give audiences unmediated access to powerful metaphysical truths. This book is keystone text that illuminates the rest of his life's work. Ultimately, it's not a satisfying one because of its repetitive and mystical nature and because, placed in historical context, Artaud's conception of what should constitute living theater seems somewhat constricted to later, media-saturated generations.

Let there be no mistake, however. The theatre francais of Artaud's day was hidebound by convention, a convention that surrealism took as somewhat of a challenge to overturn. Artaud's plea for a theater that would de-emphasize the spoken text and accord more emphasis on light, sound, movement and elaborate combinations of anything non-verbal that could be brought to bear on audiences is part and parcel of the surrealist rejection of theatrical convention. It is striking that Artaud, himself a marvelous film actor, dismissed out of hand the notion that motion pictures as an art form could do what live theater could not. In this respect lies the most obvious example of his limited vision. Film would eventually provide the director with all the tools that Artaud dreamed of for his Theatre of Cruelty. Bergman, Fellini, Kurosawa and Tarkovsky would all draw heavily on the notion of subordinating conventional dialogue to image and sound. Artaud's notion of theater is further undercut by the rise of television, its ubiquity and, in the age of digital electronics and computers, its raw immediacy. Television gives us unmediated images of real violence and conflict, of death on a horrendous scale, but many of us would rightly question whether being directly confronted by the unreasoning cruelty of the world we live in is especially ennobling or enlightening. In fact, many of us might argue the opposite, that it coarsens us, that it hardens the soul against outrage.

So, why give Artaud three stars for this book? Because there are some very crucial things that he gets right in this collection of essays. Most importantly, Artaud draws repeated attention to the flaws of complacency in theatrical production. It took an Artaud to remind Western civilization that theater's roots lay in public spectacle and religious rite and that its estrangement from those roots was killing theater as a living form of art. It took an Artaud to take theater off the stage and put it into the public space surrounding the audience, breaking the plane of conformity that separated actors from audience. Artaud, perhaps most ironically, reminds us that we call theatrical performers "actors" for a very good, but forgotten, reason -- their art at its peak acts upon the audience with a transformative power.

This very dense and, at times, mystifying collection is worth the effort required to read through it and come to grips with intellectually. I would especially encourage anyone interested in film as an art form to read Artaud and ponder how his insistence that a wide range of sense data can reconnect an audience with vital truths could be adapted to the cinema. For here, in a new art form that is still willing to tap into daring innovation, is where Antonin Artaud's passion is most likely to find a permanent home.