Music Books

When I first sat down to listen to his audio of this book, my mind was filled with the business of the season. I was bored with listening to a story when so many other things were expected of me. Later I decided to stop buzzing around and relax and try listening again, and I am so glad that I did. It is truely a story of hope, a story of love and it brings Christmas Day so much closer to the reality of the season. This will truely touch your heart. Charleen Crenshaw.

This is a wonderful holiday tale. It's right up there with Miracle on 34th Street and the movie version of White Christmas. The premise is totally original. this story will touch your heart and make you ponder the magic of Christmas!

This is truly a Christmas classic!

Another Christmas classic: Christmas Gifts, Christmas Voices--this story shows the miracles that occur as a result of simply thinking of others.

It's not only a beautiful story but the book itself is the highest quality. I wanted to share the "Christmas spirit" with my children and friends.

A Christmas tradition to be read every year. I must point out that this edition does not include the CD (which you definitely need to have!) but if you like to play the songs yourself, it includes the score. Nice print, comfortable to read... Just great.

I got tired of our son borrowing ours and not returning it until after Christmas so we got him his own...finally. We love this story.

Medium to hard-core music fans will love it. Casual fans will enjoy it. If you are into the music of the FREE, BAD COMPANY, and/or Paul Rodgers - you owe it to yourself to get this book. This is a great read, real life story, with loads of interesting details behind this moderately popular (but outstanding) rock band. This book is NOT a "kiss-up-hero-worshiping-everything-they-did-was-wonderful-critical-review" thing. Just the facts. Some ugly stuff. Some sad. Always interesting. I was amazed to discover how serious & determined these "kids" where to produce the music THEY wanted play. Find out what happened to Andy Fraser (bass). Who/What was SHARK? TOBY? Dates, Names, Places. It even includes a complete sessionography listing obscure unreleased sessions by Paul Rodgers band named PEACE (who?!). Even as a hard-core fan, I was completely unaware of 90% of the information I discovered in this book. Be forewarned that that this book will probably cost you more money down the road - as you scramble to complete your collection of FREE related music. Read the book. Listen to the music. You will not regret it.

this great book at second edition try the reader in a dimension as end '60 never forget and reach light on the hard times of the group.very fine photos but only black and white ,i think perhaps not could be a difficult thing to buyer for this splendid book.
i hope in a third edition with more accurate pages,photos colours and in a book only dedicated to my great guitar player and always inspiration source PAUL KOSSOFF.
peter from italy.

what a great and in depth biography. if you like Free or any of its members, this is a must for your book shelf or coffee table. can't say enough good things about it

David Clayton has done a great job in assembling the stories of the individual players in the early days, how they came together, early struggles, eventual success etc. The reminicences of those who knew them and extracts from music magazines of the time make for interesting reading.

It is a sobering and sometimes depressing read about a band who should have been much larger, but instead were corrupted by eventual success after years of struggle and poverty.

Young up and coming bands would do well to read about, and try to avoid, the mistakes this band made regarding management, drugs, egos, song selection, and group parasites which all got in the way of the music.

Way back in the early eighties, intrigued by the components that made "All Right Now" such a great song, I went on a quest to find any and every recording of the late, great, lamented band, Free. I thought I was the only person on the planet who still listened to them. Thank God I was not. If you dig their music then you will want the book, and you'll love it. If you don't know about the music so well, then this book will definitely wet your appetite for it. They created their own oevre and instantly recognizable sound. The minimalism is addictive. Listen carefully. You will be moved.

I wish I had been able to use this book as a music major. It is interesting, thorough, and creative. It will challenge music undergrads and even those, like me, who have been out of school quite a while. Using this book as a basis for an intensive summer course, I believe that I have improved my musicianship and I am definitely convinced that FROM SOUND TO SYMBOL is the correct approach for teaching Music Theory.

This textbook provides a much easier approach to theory and ear training than other music textbooks. This is a perfect textbook for undergrads. The "sound to symbol" idea helps to make sense of musical elements. I wish I had been taught this way in college!

From Sound to Symbol provides a unique perspective for music educators of the 21st century. Taking a `sound to symbol' approach, the authors have provided a means for taking the aural tradition of jazz, folk and pop music and merging it with the classical notation/score-driven tradition.

More than a sight-singing/ear-training manual, this text allows for experiential learning and critical thinking to guide the musical growth process. The traditional system of teaching a symbol before hearing its sound leaves the student devoid of any meaning or musicality. This new learning theory model takes a more natural form of immersing students in the language of music before learning the rules of how to speak and write.

Although I had incredible theory professors during my undergraduate studies, I have been more successful at sight-singing in three weeks (one summer term, daily) using this sound to symbol approach than I was in four years (eight semesters, daily) using a notation-driven method. I wish the same success for all those students struggling to connect with the exercises and drills contingent of the traditional system.

If a music program (elementary, high school, undergraduate and graduate alike) truly desires great musicality out of its students, they need to adopt the learning theory model presented in the text, From Sound to Symbol.

First of all, let me provide a bit of background information about myself before I get into my review. I am an experienced music educator with a BM and an MA in music education, both from noted schools. While I have a very solid musical and educational background, it wasn't until I was enrolled in a Kodaly Certification course that I realized how much I was lacking in certain areas of music fundamentals.

From Sound to Symbol is the first music fundamentals text that I have ever read and used where the student is able to experience and internalize the concept before a label (or symbol) is presented. Unfortunately, many undergraduate and graduate musicianship classes use a symbol to sound approach which leaves the majority of students in a state of disconnect from the musical concepts being studied. Nothing is ever truly internalized.

In From Sound to Symbol students first experience the new musical concept kinesthetically, aurally, and visually. Once the student is competent in those areas of understanding, it is then that the `sound' is given its `symbol'. This results in an understanding of the relationships between pitches, rhythms, etc., and gives students the tools to be better at sight singing and dictation.

It would be my wish that all schools of music adopt the approach presented in From Sound to Symbol. Houlahan and Tacka have laid out a thoughtful and deliberate sequence that is applicable to beginners and professionals alike (Chapter 1 deals with simple rhythms, and chapter 12 deals with harmonic progressions). I can honestly say that in a matter of a few weeks of study my musicianship skills have improved more than they did during my 6 semesters of music theory as an undergraduate (especially sight singing), and that is wholly due to the approach used in From Sound to Symbol.

This is a thorough, easy to read and understand text on music theory starting from sound and then moving to musical symbols. The Music CD and Technology CD are both very helpful in reinforcing the various concepts. If you are looking for a Praxis review, review before entering your basic graduate school admissions theory exams - written, sightreading, and listening, or a middle school or high school music text for use in general music, chorus or band, you should certainly take a serious look at this text.

Richard Barone's Frontman is a great inside look at what is takes to be a surviver - as a musician in the music industry. And a well respected on at that.
It is mostly the industry 'from within' as well as Richard's personal experiences and a few tips on how it works and how to work it.
Nice! And did I say well written?

Frontman: Surviving the Rock Star Myth

"Frontman" is a uniquely honest and refreshing story that works on several levels at the same time. What makes a frontman? Why do they do it? Few books, if any, have explored the phenomenon from the point of view of the subject so brilliantly. B-52's Frontman Fred Schneider says it best on the back cover: "BUY THIS BOOK"!!!

What a surprise to find that the frontman, Richard Barone, is a poet, a musician and singer, a philosopher and mystic. I was skeptical when a friend gave me the book exclaiming, "you'll love it." I love music, but wasn't interested in knowing the ins and outs of the music business (which is accomplished with humor, intelligence and punches). So, I read the first page and was convinced he could write, and then read the last two pages, which reeled me into the reality that this book was much more than black and white words. I've thanked my friend for turning me on to The Frontman. I've given copies to several of my friends, who have thanked me. And, so it goes, there are numerous ways to be inspired, appreciate creativity, notice serendipity, and be compelled to consider the grand unanswerable questions of life. Thank you Richard Barone!

Richard's book is an extremely enjoyable, involving look at a business that eats its own without blinking, but he's come out of everything he's encountered with an amazingly uncynical, positive view. I can't recommend Frontman highly enough... a wonderful way to spend your weekend!

With 'Frontman' Richard Barone adds another remarkable achievement to his already impressive portfolio. Most books I've read by or about musicians have disappointed and/or caused me to like a performer less. 'Frontman' only helps me further appreciate one of my favorite artists! Richard offers a fascinating "travelogue" of his career and music. As in his songs, his writing is eloquent but never pretentious or cloying, and honest but never self-indulgent or gossipy. And as intended, his stories of the music biz are enlightening, engaging and educational for any aspiring frontmen. Richard has truly experienced the wild rollercoaster ride of the entertainment industry and still remains modest, upbeat, and astonishingly un-jaded. Whether or not you're already a fan of Richard's work, this is a great read... and if you're not, you will be by the time you finish this book!

I got the item on time and in perfect conditions. The book aria selection is much more interesting than the first volume of the collection. Well done!

My order arrived within the 2 to 14 business days, probably around 6 or 7 days, and was in perfect condition, no marks or folds and it was safely packaged.

This book has a wonderful selection of soprano arias from common to somewhat lesser known pieces.

A little something for everyone in here. All the arias you've been looking for in one album. YAY.

I've had this book since I was 17 when I first started studying voice. It's a great resource, especially for beginners who have not yet mastered Italian, French or German. It provides literal translations of every aria which is so important. It is also lightweight but sturdy. My copy is still in great shape. The only bone I have to pick is that the fach varies quite a bit from repertore suited to light lyric sopranos all the way to the dramatic. One singer obviously would not sing all of these arias. However, if your voice grows and matures I guess it's possible to start with a Handel aria in this book and progress to the heavier Puccini, depending on how your career goes. In any event, it's a nice collection of arias and you'll probably find 2 or 3 at least that you'll need at some point which is much better than shelling out cash for the complete scores.

Some of our most successful performers and groups in pop music culture began their careers in garage bands. Thanks to professional musician Andrew Thomas and his instruction manual "Garage To Gigs: A Musician's Guide", aspiring musicians are now provided with a step-by-step, comprehensive, reality-based guide to every aspect of becoming a successful professional in this highly competitive and volatile field. "Garage To Gigs" provides a wealth of practical information and insights ranging from how to determine the kind of band best suited to particular interests and talents, to building a fan base and securing representation. Beginning with the necessity of an accurate appraisal of the local music scene, "Garage To Gigs" goes on to cover auditioning musicians for a band; recording options and budgeting; band and performance publicity; bookings, how bands are paid; preparing for and playing at a gig. Definitively informed and informative, "Garage To Gigs" is strongly recommended reading for all aspiring musicians, and has a great deal to offer anyone considering composing and performing original music whether solo or as part of their own band.

Absolutely essential for the beginner and intermediate musician. The pros could probably learn a thing or 2 as well. Andrew Thomas gives us so many vital bits of knowledge and is able to write in a way that anyone could understand. This is a must have for anyone who would like to have a career in music.

This book is a must for anyone starting out in the music industry. Andrew Thomas will show you, step by step, what to do and what not to do as you navigate your way up the ladder to success. You are going to be referring back to this encyclopedia of knowledge time and time again. It is a good, easy read chocked full of useful information. I highly recommend it to anyone who ever dreamed of playing in a band but didn't know how to get started, or anyone who feels they have gone as far as they can. Mr. Thomas will get you even further! Very well done!!!

The author of this book is a friend of mine, but, being an honest person, if I did not think it was great, I would not write any review at all. This book is extremely well organized, and full of up-to-date information. It is a well-written step-by-step guide to getting your band off the ground. I've been playing in bands most of my life, and I can attest to the fact that the author's recommendations are very on target. I highly recommend this book to any musician starting out. It is also very easy to read and enjoyable.

This book is a great read for someone who wants to jumpstart their music career from someone who has jumpstarted his career. Mr. Thomas' accounts from his own experiences help add background to a step-by-step guide on how to begin a music career, what to buy, what not to do and how to market yourself in a competitive industry. This is a must buy for the beginner or even for the musician who needs to increase his/her exposure.

As w/ all Pouge books, this one has lots of good info that's easy to access, presented in an easy to understand form, & while it's written for an earlier version, most of it applies to the latest version of GarageBand (v4.2) as well.

David Pogue's, "GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual" is much more than a Manual for GarageBand 2. It is a treasure-trove of tips and tricks, a detailed-yet-comprehensible resource, and it is the best non-periodical Computer publication I have had the joy to read.

Whether you are a weekend Musician with little more experience than "chopsticks" on your Aunt's piano, or you are a Conservatory-Educated Musician with a degree in Music Performance, "GarageBand 2: The Missing Manual" has something for you.

David Pogue writes with a level-headed voice, presenting the information slowly while always giving the reader a sense of excitement. I found myself putting down the book for several days, just after reading something new from Mr. Pogue.

My, "I just gotta try that!" excitement is balanced by the "Wow!" factor of learning a keystroke that I did not know existed, or finally learning in plain terms, or most importantly how to double the speed of GarageBand 2.

If you are using GarageBand 2 and looking for "The" Manual to purchase, this is it.

Thank you, David Pogue!

I'm surprised that full color pictures can do so much for a computer manual. But maybe it's because it's put together the playful, hand-holding prose that makes this such a joy to read.
This book has absolutely everything from the most relevent keyboard tip to describing workflow to diving down into every tool, pallet and menu.
I can read it at my bedside and the stuff still sticks. Wonderful book for a wonderful program.

GarageBand is not aimed at professional musicians. Instead it is intended to help amateurs produce music easily. The application comes with 1,000 pre-recorded sampled loops, plus 50 sampled or synthesized instruments which can be played using a MIDI keyboard connected to the computer, or using an on-screen keyboard. This is a complex piece of software, thus enters David Pogue and his "Missing Manual" series to explain it all.
The book has three parts. Part 1 deals with how to construct and edit a song or composition in GarageBand. Pogue explains how to use GarageBand loops (repeated musical patterns) and how to create original material. The most helpful feature in this section is the tutorial that takes the reader through the construction of a composition using loops. Pogue offers a couple of ideas about constructing music for those new to the process.
The pluses and minuses of using the onscreen digital piano, the Mac keyboard as a piano, and using a MIDI keyboard are discussed. Pogue supplies information needed about additional equipment and software to enhance GarageBand. Websites are listed where equipment and software additions can be purchased and downloaded. Pogue lists prices and states what can be expected from each purchase. He also lists many sites where information, tutorials and software are available free.
Part 2 tells you how to mix tracks and export music to post it on a website, how to export it to iTunes, how to burn it to a CD, or how to use it as background music in iMovie, iPhoto, or iDVD. The problem with GarageBand is overcoming the amount of memory and power it requires, so there is troubleshooting information as well as recommendations about shareware add-ons and Web sites to visit for additional help.
The Appendices round out the book with invaluable information about all of the menus, keyboard shortcuts, and a section on musical concepts for the non-musician.
Pogue is an entertaining writer who is very capable at explaining difficult concepts to novices without boring veterans. GarageBand was designed to enable the writing of music with little or no musical training, and Pogue writes so that the music theory involved in the program can be grasped by the inexperienced. I'm a person whose limited knowledge of music and music theory is self-taught, and I found this book very accessible and enjoyable. I guess the best judge of this book's quality is how much my stepson, who is a musician, has been enjoying it and GarageBand. He's never been one for the books, but he's practically joined at the hip with this one.
I notice Amazon does not show the table of contents, so I do that here for the purpose of completeness:
PART 1: BUILDING A HIT
1. Setting Up the Garage
Equipment Requirements; Installing GarageBand; Opening GarageBand; Playback; Cycling; Navigating the Music; Two Kinds of Music; Tracks; Muting and Soloing Tracks
2. Loops
Starting a New GarageBand Project; The Loop Browser; Placing a Loop; More Loops
3. Regions
Selecting Regions; Renaming Regions; Dragging Regions; The Grid; Looping Regions; Shortening Regions I; Shortening Regions II; Lengthening Regions; Splitting Regions; Joining Regions; Copy and Paste; Option Drag; Delete; Tutorial for Non-Musicians
4. Software Instruments (MIDI)
How To Feed a Hungry GarageBand; Your Free On-Screen Digital Piano; The Mac Keyboard as Piano; MIDI Synths and Controllers; Recording a MIDI Track; Retakes; Spot Recording; Cumulative Recording; Mod Wheels and Other MIDI Fun
5. Editing Software Instruments
The Track Editor; Notation Editing; The Encyclopedia of MIDI Editing; Transposing Notes or Regions; Quantizing; Velocity, Pedaling, and Other MIDI Data
6. Recording and Editing Live Audio
The Setup; Recording a Live Audio Track; Editing Real Instrument Regions; Enhance Timing, Enhance Tuning
7. Effects, Guitar Amps, and Instrument Modules
Instrument-Named Presets; Save Instrument, Deleted Instrument; Effect Modules
PART 2: BEYOND THE GARAGE
8. Mixing and Publishing
Mixing Tracks; The Master Track; Publishing the Song; Your Music in iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD
9. Adding On, Moving Up
Making Your Own Apple Loops; Moving Your Loops to Another Drive;
Importing MIDI Files; Import iTunes Music Store Files (SoundFlower); More Free Software Instruments (SoundFonts); The iSight as Microphone; Save as Archive; The Instrument Tuner; Re-Wire; Build Your Own Instrument Loops (iDrum); Add an E-Z Chords Feature (ReMIDI); Beyond GarageBand; GarageBand Online
10. The Speed Chapter
Set the Stage; Mute Some Tracks; Lock Some Tracks; Temporarily Squelch the Effects; Combine Tracks; Enlarge Your Buffer; Lose Some Software Instrument Voices; Reduce the Track Overhead; Convert Software Instrument Loops; Turn Monitoring Off; Bounce Down Many Tracks into One; Install More Memory
11. Troubleshooting
Trouble with Loops; Recording and Editing Problems; Mixing and Publishing Glitches;
APPENDIXES
A. The GarageBand Music Course
B. GarageBand, Menu by Menu
C. GarageBand 2 Keyboard Shortcuts

Would you like to be able to create professional sounding musical recordings? If you would, you're in luck! Author David Pogue, has done an outstanding job of writing a book that will guide you through a long list of enhancements, large and small, that make GarageBand a better musical tool than ever before.

Pogue, begins by introducing you to GarageBand. Then, he discusses Loops. The author continues by showing you how to manipulate regions in general--but these techniques are especially useful for manipulating loops. Next, he explores software instruments (MIDI). Then, the author shows you how to edit the software instrument parts. He continues by showing you how to record and edit live audio. Next, he deals with effects, guitar amps, and instrument modules. The author continues by describing how to wrap up your workflow in GarageBand and present it to a wider audience. Then, he introduces a few of the coolest ways to enhance GarageBand's repertoire, suggests where you might go when you decide it's time to graduate to more powerful (and expensive) music software, and points out some Web sites where you can learn more about GarageBand. Next, he presents the accumulated wisdom of thousands of online GarageBand fans sharing their workarounds, plus Apple's own suggestions. Finally, he shows you how to troubleshoot GarageBand.

Don't let the rumors fool you. This most excellent book may be simple, but it isn't simplistic.

The story behind the music... Marshall Chapman can write, sing, play guitar, and keep a person thoroughly entertained.

Not sure how I've lived in the same region all these years and been a fan of underground country, but hadn't heard of Marshall Chapman! Now I'll be on the look-out! I definitely enjoyed the book and think it's great that she has been able to share all these stories with us. She's lived a very colorful life and it's interesting enough to be enjoyable to others. She gets a little side-tracked at times, but I don't think we expect her to be an award-winning author. Great read!

Marhall Chapman's account of her song by song journey to becoming one of the most innovative and thrilling country rock songwriter-singers is as funny and poignant a book as I've read in some time. From the trouble she got into in grade school for channeling Elvis in the hall to her defiance of Nashville songwriting formulae she kept raising the question, "Why Can't I Be Like Other Girls?" Thank the lord that was the only thing she couldn't do because she sure did everything else. Each chapter of this memoir tells the story of the experience underlying one of her songs so the songs record her life in more ways than one. And some life it is, sometimes on the edge, sometimes ecstatic (when these were not one and the same), never boring. A reader who does not live through it with Marshall is missing something about the South, something about country rock music and something about life.

Marshall Chapman's book is like her music: funny, tough, poignant, real, alive and searingly honest. For those of us who grew up in the south in the 50's and 60's, it's a fond reminder of all that we experienced; for everyone else it's just a darn good read.

Marshall has written a fantastic account of how songs come to be, framing the incredible cast of characters which has surrounded her for all her years in Nashville. The photos of Andy Warhol, Arnold Schwarznegger et al really bring everything to life even more. on the must-have list for anyone interested in the triupmph of rock and roll over good breeding!

Gordon's despriptions vividly depict emotion, and she writes like no one else.

Her narrator, Willie, is burdened with the weight of parental expectations. "You would be so good at the violin if you practiced," his mother says. "Your teacher says you have potential."

Willie is the kind of kid who hides in the outfield, hoping no one hits the ball his way. His own expectation: I will screw up.

I loved this book. It's full of big ideas -- how families fall apart and come together again, how art and music are essential, even a touch of political activism. This book also holds a quiet wisdom. You find your passion, then let's see about potential. In the end, it shows children they can be important, too.

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

This story is about a boy who has a boring life, and he has nothing to do this summer. His Aunt Bridget calls and wants him to come stay the summer with her in the city of Gloria. He goes and meets a lot of new friends, and plays on a baseball team at the Gill park. Willy the boy really likes the park. After a few days of being there Otto Pettingill says hes going to sell the park. Willy helps save the park and otto dies a few days later.
HE leaves the park to willy.

The Gorillas of Gill Park was a really good book. It was about a boy named Willy, who over the summer went to visit his Aunt Bridget in Gloria. His parents were reluctant, but Willy had nothing better to do, so they let him go. Willy's aunt makes costumes for people, and her current assisgnment is to make 30 gorilla costumes. Aunt Bridget's apartment is across the street from Gill Park. In the park there is a mysterious music maker. Willy can hear this music in his room. The next day, Willy goes to the park and meets some kids who play baseball. Well, these kids need one more player,so Willy agrees to play. Willy has a great adventure with baseball, those 30 gorilla suits,and finding out who the mysterious music maker is. So come along for the ride!!

Ah, eccentric old millionaires. Where would children's literature be without their kindly loopy presence? Why we wouldn't have brilliant books like, "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin or "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler", by E.L. Konigsburg, that's for sure. If children's books have taught us anything, it's that millionaires are often kindly (unless they're villainous developers) and that they like to set up elaborate games and clues for their child friends. "The Gorillas of Gill Park" features a slightly different kind of millionaire. He has all the usual characteristics: A home full of objects he collects, odd habits, a love of art, etc. He doesn't set up an elaborate game in this particular book (though its sequel is another matter entirely). Instead, it is through his kindly intervention that our hero is able to do a public service to the community and learn how to be his own separate person. There are many things to love about "The Gorillas of Gill Park". I just wish there had been more gorillas.

Willy Wilson doesn't think he has much of a personality. But getting shipped off to spend the summer with his eccentric costume-making Aunt Bridget might change all of that. When he comes to live with her in the large city of Gloria and right across the street from the fabulous Gill Park, Willy finds all kinds of new and exciting things about this home away from home. The park constantly pumps out wonderful music via its eccentric millionaire musician owner Otto Pettingill. It's filled with alternative baseball player kids, one of whom recruits Willy to be a first baseman right off the bat. There's Lisle, the odd little orphan who belongs to Otto and constantly does her own thing. There's also the fact that Aunt Bridget is now making gorilla costumes this summer, so the apartment is full of black fluff. Unfortunately, just as Willy starts getting comfortable with his new home, tragedy strikes. Otto Pettingill is going to sell off the park to a man who wants to turn it into a shopping mall. Lisle is being adopted by parents who don't fit her personality in the least. And Otto Pettingill himself has disappeared entirely. It's up to Willy now to save the park, save Lisle, and find the mysterious Mr. P before it's all too too late.

The writing in this book starts out a little slow, but eventually you get into it. What Ms. Gordon does particularly well is conjure up rather disgusting but effective descriptions. Lisle is reported to wear a cap of a particular color. "It might have been red once, or orange, it was hard to tell - now it was sort of the color of tonsils". It's almost a pity that a color picture of that same cap appears on the book's cover. Kids will undoubtedly check and double check it for an idea of tonsil colorations. It would have been nice if that could have been left entirely to their own imaginations. The story plays out at a fast clip, balancing the big story (the imminent destruction of the park) with the subplots (most centering around Willy's work on the baseball team). When the park plot wraps up a good 50+ pages before the end of the book, the story stalls out a little. You feel like you've experienced the climax and that the end should be a lot sooner than it is.

And look, if the word "Gorillas" appears in your book's title and you sport a picture of one on your cover, title page, and bookflaps, people are gonna want gorillas. Lots of `em. And unfortunately Amy Gordon is skimpy with the gorillaness of it all. Towards the end of the tale the gorillas finally play a little more into the plot, but not enough to justify their absence beforehand. There were other small problems with the story as well. For one thing, the book is entirely reliant on the reader wanting Lisle not to return to the uptight guardians millionaire Otto Pettingill inadvertently placed her with. The problem is that while our hero, Willy Wilson, is enamored of the wild child, the reader can't see her good points. She's the kind of child hero who when she's been repeatedly saved and helped by kind-hearted Willy, still hasn't the slightest problem with calling him a coward when he doesn't want to play his violin for her. She's charmless, is the problem. A nasty, mean, runty little thing without a speck of manners or pleasantness in her body. She's smart, sure, but not the kind of person you particularly feel like rooting for. She's been kidnapped by Pettingill's representative? Hooray! Throw away the key, so say I.

Of course, there's a lot to enjoy about this book. Each chapter begins with a picture of a person who appears in that chapter with a quote or sentence from that person that explains something especially important about their personality. The drawings of each character are credited in tiny tiny type to one Mr. Matthew Cordell. They're simple little pictures, rather sweet and simplistic. Mr. Cordell has done a nice little job (and I'm not just saying that because he's married to a school librarian). The characters in the tale aren't exactly three-dimensional (the plant guy speaks entirely in plant-like metaphors, the French woman with a Miss Piggyesque accent, etc.) but there are some surprising moments. I liked the bad-guy vegan or the fact that a little old lady could be a xenophobic moron. There's not a whole lotta depth to the book, but at least it's still a lot of fun.

It needs more gorillas though. A lot more. One can only pray that the sequel, "The Return to Gill Park" will contain some increased primate appearances. Altogether this is a good book for kids already into baseball in some way, shape, or form. It requires a knowledge of the game but still has enough action and adventure (not to mention a very realistic conjuring up of a truly fictional town) to justify its existence on bookshelves everywhere. Not the first book I'd think to recommend, but a nice read all the same.

I picked up this book not expecting to finish it due to the fact that I never have the time to read. I soon found myself caught among the memorable characters and the storyline. I could not put this book down!

From Willy first going around Gill Park to the teary ending....

this book is fantastic!

I needed a book to quickly look up chords when learning new songs. this book does exactly that, and only that. but that what I needed.

I wanted a comprehensive reference for finding different forms of the "weird" chords, and this book seems to fill the bill. I don't know where they come up with some of the chord forms that are used in song books or online tab, but it's great to have a reference that shows you the alternatives.

This book is really helpful. I really like the way it's set up. Nothing but happy customers here.

This book is a good reference for all the basic voicings of every chord. If you want jazz chords (or any other genre of music) this book won't give it. If you don't have a chord reference book, or are unhappy with the one you have, this is the book you want.

The only drawback I found was I thought I was buying the spiral bound edition (for ease of use). This was not the case. I was under this false impression because there is a review on this book that remarked on the ease of use because of the spiral binding. So, if binding matters to you, you may want to confirm the binding before purchasing.

Caveat Emptor -- The spiral bound though smaller in size, has fewer pages (I would expect more pages to compensate for the size). It might not contain all the chords the regular edition does. Be sure to check this out if it matters to you.

This is the best guitar chord encyclopedia I know of. It is comprehensive and portable, the spiral binding allows for easy hands free reference, and the price is right. Multiple voicings for chords are provided in chord diagram formmat. The introduction to chord theory is an added bonus as is the fingerboard chart on the back cover. Fits perfectly into a guitar case.