Arts Books

Bruce is my hero. This book is about his road and rise to a "b" movie actor. Very enjoyable. Not just for Bruce Campbell fans.

On this paperback edition, the first review quoted is from the magazine Fangoria. This tells you all you need to know about the subject of this book (if you've never heard of Fangoria - there's nothing in this book for you....). I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Bruce Campbell - when in the theatre to watch Congo, I couldn't help but exclaim "It's Bruce!" when he appeared on the screen (the highlight of that movie, unfortunately).

Bruce has had a varied and interesting Hollywood career - growing up with former ham-meister director Sam Raimi, moving from movies to TV, directing and even producing shows, etc. This entertaining and informative biography traces his life through childhood in the 'burbs up to Raimi's breakthrough with Spider-man. Perhaps the most entertaining part of the book is the last chapter - added since the original hardcover edition - documenting his book-signing tour, which straddled the Sept. 11 attacks. He brings a genuineness and even warmth to the subject matter, telling his stories in conversational ways.

Those that are looking for inside dirt on Sam Raimi, the Cohn brothers, or other Hollywood big-wigs will be disappointed. Instead, we are treated to affectionate and amusing stories about co-stars and others in the business. That's not to say that the book is dull or syrupy .... no, there is ample inside information on how to make fake blood (and how it solidifies if left on your clothes), near-death experiences on the set, and even an undercurrent of bitterness that Briscoe County Jr. never got the ratings he thought it deserved. What`s missing for me is his information on his later starring vehicle - Jack of All Trades, which I liked but which was largely panned by critics and viewers alike. But no matter. It`s a thoroughly enjoyable read with lots of illustrations and pictures sprinkled throughout (including some good `blackmail` pictures with a cheesy teenager `stache.

Great background info on the making of everything up to and including Evil Dead (well, and many subsequent flicks and tv shows). Campbell, silly to the core with serious on the side, celebrates the B movie world in all of its glory. Lots of fun facts about Sam Raimi included. I'm guessing, though, that a reader's enjoyment of this material is directly proportional to his/her appreciation level of Campbell's ouvre (i.e., not for everyone, but if you get a kick out of Cambpell, it's a must-read).

Such a great read, I mustve recommended it to at least 100 people who have all enjoyed it. Such a fun time to be had making your way through this one. I love the emails from fans he has included too. Also the paperback has a bonus chapter updating you on his book tour from when the hardback came out.

I gave this as a gift to a friend who is a HUGE Bruce Campbell fan.
She loved it! Definitely worth checking out for anyone who enjoys his work. Hilarious guy, Awesome book!

I could not put this book down once I got into it. It has enabled me to understand the true nature of God and I have become involved in a Church that has many stories that echo the story of Ron, Deborah, and Denver.

Wow. This was a powerful story on so many levels. It challenged me in my perceptions of people. It also convicted me about "catch and release" friendships. In ministry it is easy to view relationships as a means to share the gospel rather than a lifelong committment to a person. I don't think this is always wrong per-say, you can't be all things to everyone, but maybe God wants to do something more in both my life and the life of someone else. It is a powerful idea to start of thinking of truly loving and learning to trust to the point of becoming "family" with someone who is so much "the same kind of different" as me. I would highly recommend this book!

What a beautiful true story that transcends two worlds and brings us to the place where we are all the same - people made in the image of God. I was moved to tears more than once, I smiled, laughed and cringed as I read through this amazing tale. In one way it was shocking to see that in my lifetime there have been people living in the conditions of one man while others are living in the "lap of luxury". But not only did God have to bring them from two extremes and bring them together, but then a sad event unites them. This is a touching story that has pearls of wisdom and spiritual insight wrapped in a covering of a story that will keep you turning the pages for more. Highly recommended!

Ron's wife, Debbie Hall was a woman called of God to step outside the boundaries of $1000 per plate charity dinners and high society to take follow in Christ's steps and take His love to "the least of these". Devoting herself to working with the homeless community of Forth Worth, Texas, she related to those she met as individuals and people with a purpose, loving them for who they were.

This flowing, authentic love was much more difficult for her husband Ron Hall to grasp hold of. Coerced into joining his wife's ministering efforts, his initial attempts were stilted. Focused more upon assuaging guilt and generating a warm, fuzzy sense of do-gooding, it was only when his friendship with Denver Moore blossomed that he experienced the depths of true compassion.

Raised in informal, modern-day slavery, Moore worked hard growing and picking cotton until some time in his late twenties when he left the only life he knew in search of a better one. The new life he found resulted in thirty years on the streets, homeless and without work. Over these years he became angry, his heart hardened and he slipped into darkness.

When God placed the Halls in his life he resisted their tapping at his heart. Survival skills learned from years on the streets launched his automatic defense system. Through prayer, persistence and love the lives of these three individuals would weave a new story that would inspire and touch the lives of thousands.

While God's importance in this work is never minimized, no clear presentation of the gospel is present. There are also some experiences related that some readers might feel uncomfortable with; spirit visitations and visions are clearly a part of who Denver Moore is and his understanding of God. While these may appear as superstitious to many, it's likely that these beliefs are common to those with Denver's upbringing.

That being said, books like these aren't read to inform your theological position. Read it to see the joy and fruit of being Jesus' hands and feet in this world. Read it to learn about striving to serve Him with love and spreading that love to those who have fallen through the cracks. Read it to experience the deep love between a husband and wife, the power of God to soften and change hearts and His ability to take grief and use it as a seed that will grow, flower and touch the lives of many. A beautiful story that warms and wrenches the heart; you'll want tissues on hand for this one.

When asked if they had any additional thoughts on the book the authors responded:

"Ron: Most of our thoughts were included and the book was never meant to be a self-help or instructional book. Ours is merely a story about how a Godly woman with a dream followed it to the point where a city was changed. Denver and I are not preachers or teachers, but sinners with a story to tell.

Denver: I didn't have any thoughts for this book, I just told my story. I just want to encourage folks to be more like Miss Debbie."

I'd say that about sums it up.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is a different kind of love story. Two men, who couldn't be more different, are brought together by their love for one woman who has a powerful love for God. Ron Hall is a successful art dealer in Dallas, Texas when his wife, Deborah, hears a message from God to serve the homeless in a dilapidated shelter. He goes along with his wife, only for love of her. But when Deborah tells him that she has seen a vision of a man who will change the city with his wisdom, and that the man is Denver, one of the biggest, most frightening men in the shelter, Ron struggles to believe as well. Through Deborah, the two men become friends, of the forever kind, and God will use that friendship to change the city. This nonfiction tale of friendship is wonderfully written in alternately chapters in Ron and Denver's voices. Denver, who was a sharecropper in Louisiana, never learned to read or write, but has a deep sense of right and wrong, and he manages to teach Ron and Deborah both what true Christianity means. This is the kind of book that makes you long to have a deeper relationship with God so that you can see miracles the way these two men have. Denver says, "I'm just a nobody tryin' to tell everybody about the Somebody who can save everybody." Amen!

How much do you love movies?

If you are anything like me, the answer is simply, "a lot". As lovers of film we've all sat around and thought about making our own films. Invariably though, the discussions and daydreams of movie glory fall to the way side. You see the truth of the matter is none of us love film as much as Lloyd Kaufman, head of Troma. Lloyd never let those dreams of filmmaking go. How do I know this?...

Because I read Lloyd's book, "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger". In this funny, inspiring, and often times touching how-to/autobiography Lloyd goes over his early years of making films like " Squeeze Play" all the way up to recent cult films such as "Tromeo and Juliet". The book covers all the ups and downs of his filmmaking career as well as having many helpful tidbits for aspiring filmmakers.

The one thing that I always find myself thinking about when I reflect back on reading the book is how amazed I am by how much Lloyd Kaufman loves the art and spirit of film.

If you feel the same way about film or are just simply looking for an extremely fun read about fighting for your dreams, please pick up "All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger".


You'll be glad you did.

...and so will Lloyd.

This book is great. I know, a pretty simple statement, but it's true. Nothing else needs to be said. It's fun, hilarious, entertaining and it also give you a sense of how independent film, REAL independent film, works.

It's great for anyone too, even if you've never heard of Troma or the Toxic Avenger or anything like that. You feel more like Lloyd is talking directly to you vs. just reading some garbage he claims he wrote.

Buy this book, than read it, than come back here and write a similar review because you'll love it so much.

In this book, Lloyd Kaufman, president of the impossibly quirky Troma Studios, shares insights and practical advice about making low-budget (or no-budget) feature films. Lloyd's writing style is just as unusual as the movies he directs, as he meanders aimlessly from self-deprecating autobiography to detailed, spur-of-the-moment instructions on how to fake an onscreen head crushing or make actors appear to vomit green foam. There's also plenty of out-of-place crude and scatological humor peppered heavily throughout. I wouldn't have expected anything else from Kaufman, whose unfathomably eccentric (but amiable) personality and genuine love for the art of do-it-yourself filmmaking shine through on every page. Fans of Troma, young and old, owe it to themselves to read this book. It really is an inspiring read for all of us who have the filmmaking bug but often become too easily defeated by lack of funds or crew members. Long live Troma!

if your a fan of troma or just a fan of movies this is the book for you.it tells the story of how Lloyd started the greatest ( and longest running )independent movie studio in the world ( or any other world for that matter)not bad considering they started off in a broom closet.there movies rock Lloyd is the man just buy the book

[...]I got this book as a birthday present in Christmas of '05, back when I was entertaining ideas of becoming a filmmaker in addition to just being a critic. While the need for actually putting something up on the big (or little) screen has passed for the time being, I am forever grateful for the spell due to the fact that it put this book (and Lloyd's equally engaging MAKE YOUR OWN DAMN MOVIE) in my possession. When I was done reading it, I knew two things: Lloyd is an amazing human being, and the only limits for success are those we put upon ourselves.

No matter what your passion is, Lloyd Kaufman gives you the inspiration to go out and damn well do it. Don't have the money to do it? Find a way to make it happen regardless. You'll never have all the money you want/need to do things the way you want to, unless you sell your soul to the godless corporations, so just kick that imagination of yours into high gear and get the job done. I recently edited a horror film reference book - a lifelong dream - and much of that inspiration came from meeting Mr. K on and off the page.

I have met Lloyd several times since at various conventions and am always impressed by his passion and his accessibility to his fans. He is constantly surrounded by adoring admirers, but he takes the time to acknowledge each one of them and everyone who comes in contact with him feels that they have had a "real" moment with Lloyd. That is a true gift. But if you want to spend some quality time with the great man himself, pick this book up. You'll have a new best friend and a new hero to look up to.

I am taking an Artisan Bread baking course and this book is a great beginning for any novice bread baker. Peter Reinhart explains clearly about the how-to of bread making. The recipes and instructions are easy to understand and follow. Anyone using this book will never buy bread in a store or bakery again. There is nothing like the smell of freshly mixed yeast dough and the aromas in your kitchen once the bread comes out of the oven. There are also simple and delicious recipes for foccacia and pizza. So, get your kids involved as well.

This is a really good book makes it easy to create a great loaf and explains the methods really well

I'm not going to make you read a tome just to find out what i think. This book has such a wealth of knowledge to help you improve your bread baking skills. The formula instructions are clear and easy to understand. The only drawbacks that this book brings are in it's quality of publishing. The book was published in China, it is hardcover but, the cover stock used is very weak and flexes under the weight of the book.

Just wanted to let you know that the quality of the information surpasses the quality of the book itself.

It would be nice if there were some points on what to do next time if your bread doesn't turn out as planned. All of my breads turned out much heavier than illustrated in diagrams. My Italian & Ciabatta breads were better but nothing like shown in the pictures (Those use 100% bread flour). The Ciabatta bread did not require a window pane test so I was hoping that would come out better, in case I wasn't really passing it, even though I thought I was.

The Lavash Crackers show different shades and textures. Mind came kind of the same except were the thinner parts were somewhat over done. In general it was too thick, bread like. I thought I rolled it out to more than 15" x 12" he called for but adjusted for the fact I held back more than half to try to make a pita, not sure what he mean't by "paper thin".

It is inspirational, if only my breads actually turned out better. I have cooked for awhile, but this is my first attempt at bread.

First off, that scathing one star review..throw it away. The poster sounds like a person who failed baking school and works in a low quality/mass producing corporate bakery.

Now..for a review.

This book is a MUST HAVE for anyone who wishes to learn to make great bread. The author explains the process from start to finish with many great tips he learned from years of professional experience. He will show you the way to create bread so good, you will have people ask you what bakery you got it at.

I will say, however, that if you are looking for a book that is "bread making made easy!!", this is not it. The formulas take some time, attention and effort to accomplish; you have to put your time in. You will also have to learn the basics of bread making science-nothing too heavy but there will be a few concepts you have to learn.

If you like baking, get the book, hop in, and go for it!

When I read this book I laughed, I cried, and reflected to my own experiences. Clay Aiken has so much wit and is a wonderful story teller.
I would recommend this book for anyone but especially kids that get picked on at school, as Clay was. His childhood was filled with pain but he chose to rise above it all. From his biological father to his step-father,
he had always gotten the short end of the stick and wondered what it would take to be loved. Wonderful, inspirational reading.

I recently finished his book in just a few hours. Excellent! The book reveals his life as a child, facts about his biological dad and his step dad, and his lovely mother. Many chapters actually moved me to tears. This man is humble, extremely talented and gifted.
A definite Must Read! You will enjoy the trip down memory lane with Clay.

Clay Aiken is one of the few celebrities I look up to. He has devoted fans because people see him as a friend or a brother. He is a very kind, humorous, and generous man. I am glad I read this book.

This book is truly a masterpiece! I read this book because I am a Clay Aiken fan, and I thought, 'Hey, a book by Clay Aiken, this should be cool.' I would recommend this book for anyone! Even if you aren't a fan of Clay, this is still an inspiring book. Let's just say: I laughed, I cried, it moved me!" I'm ordering the book and the audio cds. This is one of those books that you read front to back, then open it right back up and read it again!

I don't really like to write reviews, but I couldn't resist this one. Let me just start by saying I wasn't a fan of Clay when he was on Idol. I guess I was a bit young to really appreciate his talent. Well I've rediscovered him and have become a HUGE FAN. I can call myself a claymate.

Anyway, this book is great. I finished it in a day. I couldn't put the book down, not even for a minute. From the very beginning Clay opened himself up and showed that he's vulnerable. He says that he wants people to realize what you see is what you get when it pertains to him. You can't help but cry when things are rough, and smile when he sees the light at the end of the tunnel.

This may be a spoiler, but one of the many things that really stood out for me was when he was talking about his stepdad. When his stepdad died, you can tell at that time, Clay felt incomplete, not knowing whether he was loved by him or not. Then he remembered a story his mom told him; his mom said, a friend of his dad had visited him and he was talking about his brother Brett and how he knew he would turn out to be a great man. Then his stepdad said, "my other son is going to be a famous singer one day because he has the most beautiful voice."

That part of the book really touched me bc I felt like he got his closure and he knows his stepdad really loved him.

Anyway, I don't mean to go on and on, but this is a great book and is a page turner. You can't help but love Clay more and I'm sure people who read this book can relate to him in so many levels.

I find the writing Of Mr James Norton quite inspiring. Since reading this masterpeice I've made at least 7 people puke by making them smell my belly button. Bravo *Himmmy* and Happy Birthday!!!

I confess I didn't even know who Jim Norton was when I bought this on referral. The self-loathing bit gets old, but his wit is unbelievably funny at times, the stories are told with great observation humor and descriptions of hilarious uncomfortable situations. Highly recommended.

I laughed while reading this book front to back. I had heard some of the stories during his appearances on The Opie and Anthony Show but still laughed ever single moment. A must read for anyone with a sick sense of humor.

Lil' Jimmys book doesn't disappoint. He's definitely one of the best comedians going today. Hopefully his next book isn't too far away.

Absolutely hilarious. If you have heard him on Opie and Anthony and/or saw his stand up, this is a must. He holds nothing back. His tails of childhood are brutally honest showing his true colors. He takes everything on: race, handicapped, fat women, pooping, not bathing and even masterbation - several times. I honestly could not put it down. Every part is great. Quick read and very well written.

A classic after many years, and deservedly so. Harold creates an adventure--plot, setting, and characters--armed with nothing but the purple crayon with which he draws it, page after page. Simple and enchanting, Harold and the Purple Crayon will be among the most requested in your child's library.

My three-year-old daughter is the third generation in our family to have enjoyed this imaginative book.

My son loves to read about Harold's adventures over and over and over again. After Harold, it's Cyrano, a caterpillar failing in school in Life's Little Lessons: An Inch-By-Inch Tale of Successand then Nate the piglet that turns a school upside down when he visits in The Big Squeal: A Wild, True, and Twisted Tail. These books are so wonderful for kid's imagination...and you know what ..I enjoy them too.

My sister resently bought this book for my 3 year old son & once we started to read it I remoembered it from when I was a little girl. My son absolutly LOVES IT & I do as well. To be able to create different things with just a crayon & your imagination is wonderful. It's the perfect book for young as well as old

I recommend this book. It portrays how all that we create in the world comes from our imagination, in which the possibilities are limitless.

I love this story so I bought it for my son. When we got it there were at least 10 blank pages in the book fragmenting the story so badly that it didnt make any sence. My beef is not with the story its with Amazon for selling it to me in that condition and with the publisher for their quality control issues. I only paid 6.99 for it so I didnt mess with returning it. Im going to try it again and see if we can get the whole story this time. If the book is not right this time I will return it and not purchase books from Amazon again. Hopefully we will get a full story and we can enjoy it like my parents and I did when I was a kid.

I've got to admit, I was quite impressed with this book and I also found it to be very interesting reading... in fact, I find it so interesting that I end up reading it over and over again. Heck, I might even start reading it again tonight. This book has all interesting facts about Nick Carter (even if some of it is outdated). It has everything about from how his parents decided to name Nick as well as who they named him after, and where he stands in the music business today as a Backstreet Boy. Like I said, this book goes back to 1998 but that is ok, because I like books that go back in time (history, biographies, etc). Anyway, I highly recommend this book (who figure?). KTBSPA

You shouldn't buy it i've had it for four years and ive only read the first ten pages I'm selling it because it is pointless!

If you thought you knew all there is to know about Nick Carter, think again! Jane Carter tells us some stuff about her son that only she and the rest of Nick's family know about. This is a very nice book, beautifully written by Jane. It is full of secrets and anecdotes about Nick's childhood and rise to superstardom. However, the information about Nick's career may seem kind of old, now, since this book was published in 1998. Perhaps Jane should have waited a couple of years before writing a book about her son, because God knows she would have plenty of things to say : she could give her opinion on Nick's arrest, his solo career, the trials and tribulations that the Backstreet Boys have been through, Nick's relationship with Willa Ford (yeah right, like Nick would let her write about that!!), etc. Nick's been through a lot of things since 1998, and I believe that if Jane decided to write another book about Nick, it would have a lot more substance and depth than this one. But don't get me wrong! It's a great read, as pleasant as a fairytale. Because, in many ways, that's what Nick's life is! And seeing it through his mother's eyes really gives it a whole new dimension.

I have got the book and I like the writing style and to know the facts as a BSB fan. I kinda think it's wrong to get money out of someone else his succes, but on the other hand it ain't lies and Nick knew of and agreed with it, so as not such a big fan anymore (NO I didn't become a hater) I would suggest it, but not too much.

I'll be completely honest:

If I weren't such an obsessed Backstreet Boys fan, I would consider this book (bad).

It's not well-written, it wanders and meanders to the point it doesn't make sense, and it's very self-serving.

However, being an obsessed Backstreet Boys/Nick Carter fan, I love the book.

The first few chapters are the best, because they read more like a story than a biography. Plus, they told me the most about Nick that I didn't already know.

Near the end, however, it turns into a "How to Turn Your Kid Into a Star" how-to manual. BORING!

BOTTOM LINE: LOVE Nick Carter? Buy the book. LIKE Nick Carter? Borrow it from a friend or the library. COULDN'T CARE LESS about Nick Carter? Avoid this book like the plague.

My 2-year old daughter *loves* this book, especially finding Goldbug. Although now she's done it so many times, she remembers where he is on each page, so even though it's still fun for her, it's lost a little of the mystery. Can anyone recommend any similar proto-'where's waldo'-type books for toddlers?

My grandson loves the book. He's into trucks, etc., and the abundance and variety of moving vehicles is fascinating to him.

Wonderful book. Lots to look at and discuss. My son cannot get enough of this book. It has been his favorite for at least three months so far! We wore out a yard sale copy and bought a new one! It is a great distraction in the car and at restaurants. Excellent at bedtime. Richard Scarry is great.

I bought this book for my 2-year-old son and he loves it. He is into trucks and cars and wouldn't put this down. He now knows about all kinds of trucks. There isn't much of a story. He just likes looking at and saying all of the different trucks (such as a flatbed trailer).

My son loves Richard Scarry books and construction equipment so this book is a good match. He pores over the pictures looking for Goldbug and pointing out funny things like Hilda Hippo driving a loader.

Not every author invites readers into the intimacy of his own most personal and profound loss. But not every confirmed bachelor and university professor marries for immigration rather than for love, and later realizes that his heart belongs to the person to whom he is already married, only to formally take her as a real wife during her hospitalization and treatment for a form of cancer that will eventually end her life. But C.S. Lewis is special, and so are his readers.

This personal diary, originally published under a psedonym, offers reassurance that knowing God is good does not preclude feelings of deep sorrow, fear, and uncertainty in the loss of a loved one. Lewis explores the social, emotional, and spiritual earthquakes that are caused by the death of his wife. Losing his intellectual sparring partner, his bedfellow, his friend, and his lover shakes him to the core, yet he clings to Christ as the only source of eteral hope for himself and for his wife Joy.

During a season of grief, I read this book every few weeks. It's a classic and not to be missed, not because it's entertaining, but because it acknowleges deep longings and desires that are intended by our Creator to lead us to Truth.

Lost a child. C. S. asks me to work very hard. I can't do it. Kushner gets to the heart of grief.

This book obviously already has plenty of praising views, but I read this book and found it so great that I can't live with myself if I don't write a review. Coming from a kid who grieved a traumatic death, this book *IS* the book to buy if you're grieving, want to understand death, or want to find a book to help out a confused friend (no matter what age) who's grieving. It's worth the price.

I am new to the genius of CS Lewis. I read the Narnia series as a kid, but have not read books for years, until recently. This book was deep, and full of the genius Lewis is known for. He expresses the pain of losing his wife, and the questions that those who mourn often work through, but are too guilty to express publically. The work is awesome, and may help some who are going through similar feelings of greif. Skip the aknowlegement at the beginning by Madeline Engle, I am not familiar with her writing, but have heard the name. I am surprised she was chosen to write the aknowlegement, but it is an amusing contrast to Lewis' intellect and spiritual understanding. The aknowlegement exudes an attitude of confidence in spiritual issues, yet reveals a cluelessness and spiritual blindess found largely in todays new age books. It does not belong in a CS Lewis book.

CS Lewis looks death into the face; he does not flinch and does not console himself with platitudes. He had lost the love of his life and his pain is palpable to the reader. This is a raw and honest book but it is not at all depressing: At the end of the book, Lewis begins to recover: his wish is simply that, on his own death bed, his lover will come back to him and give him the consolation of seeing her face again.

Rather surpisingly, I was diagnosed with terminal cancer myself three weeks after doing this review. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord! If you read this, say a prayer for me that I may die with courage and joy!