Arts and Entertainment Books

A poignant, yet unsentimental self portrait of a life created solely through a passion for movies, puppetry and the entertainment industry. A good read, especially for those who feel they might otherwise have gone further in life but for different parentage or role models. Jacoby's childhood background appears to be a modern-day Dickensian one; but to him, apparently, motivational and testament to the phrase "the child is father of the man". His story also includes some interesting, personal and amusing vignettes of some entertainment industry luminaries. Read in one sitting.

This book shows how imagination and the human spirit can overcome a tragic, mixed-up childhood. Joe Jacoby took a few early images and turned them into a successful and fascinating career. It's a good lesson for today's whiny and privileged kids who don't get the concept of paying dues.

Joe Jacoby has survived an incredible life. It's hard to believe that someone could become an orphan at seven, go through the revolving-door of foster homes and institutions, and somehow come out a normal human being. He brought tears to my eyes -- and also made me laugh a lot, especially about Joseph E. Levine and Match Game. An uplifting book.

The literary and mountaineering worlds beware. Bernadette McDonald has found her muse with the new Mountaineers Books `Legend and Lore' series. It seems as if I just shelved "I'll Call you in Kathmandu" when, to my amazement, Bernadette McDonald releases yet another great biography "Brotherhood of the Rope."
What an adventure. What a man. Charles Houston's life is a life that has truly been lived, a life full of adventure, scholarship, compassion, and deep friendships. What I most admire about Mr. Houston is his dedication and unrelenting passion for all of his many pursuits. I felt goose bumps when I read of his early expeditions to Alaska, deep sortie's and climbs in the Himalaya, his medical practice, and naturally his unforgettable K2 epic.
And, I must admit, a real sense of jealousy when reading of his treks across Afghanistan and the Middle East. I'm half tempted to jump on a plane this very minute to sit at Charles Houston's side and listen to his endless supply of yarns. I can only imagine what he has done, seen, and felt in his long and well lived life. He is a living legend in my mind. And...Bernadette McDonald captures his extraordinary life so well in her writing; it is obvious that she truly understands Charles Houston's importance in the mountaineering and medical world. Also, she has the unique ability to "open up" her subject matters, a rare gift that serves her well and allows for a story authentically told.
Bravo Bernadette McDonald!!! I await your next book with palpitating anticipation.

- Rob Torkildson

In 1953 Charles Houston participated in what may be the most famous--and most admired--failed attempt on a mountain, when he and his fellow expedition members turned back on K2. Their decision to try to save the life of their climbing partner, Art Gilkey, by lowering him progressively down the mountain--despite the altitude, despite the storm and the danger of avalanches, despite their complete exhaustion and despite the ensuing accident that nearly killed them all--reflects a heroism whose scope may be nearly unimaginable today.
Bernadette McDonald's book, Brotherhood of the Rope, takes the premise that Houston's "entire life had prepared him for this moment [the rescue attempt], and the choice he made was the culmination of the values instilled in him by his family, his traditions, his friends and his experience." As she retells the stories of his childhood, climbing and medical practice, she builds up, layer by layer, the rich experiences of what created the potential for Houston's selfless courage. Despite her clear admiration for her subject, the end result is not a hagiography, but a humorous, lyrical and compassionate record of a climber, a time and a genuine human being.
In the process McDonald does a great service to the climbing world, to historians and to the larger public by preserving the memory of an era and its values that go against today's talk-show-style focus on "personal journeys"--on summits and self-fulfillment at all costs--and by reminding us that the greatest accomplishments take place within the web of connections and responsibilities that form our human community.
Her book is also a great read. McDonald's richly textured prose recreates a time before crowded base camps and normal routes when the highest peaks were still unclimbed and seemed just at the edge of possibility, when any expedition represented an exploration of lands that, to many Westerners, were still largely unknown. The book gives us more than just the external details of a life, it reveals the inner world of someone who has always looked at his surroundings--whether the Himalaya or Exeter or Aspen--with unceasing wonder.
The author's extensive use of Charles Houston's own spoken words makes the book serve as an oral as well as a written history. By the end, we feel as though we've taken part in a long, deeply affectionate and honest conversation between friends, who, like all good storytellers create a world that somehow seems richer--both brighter and darker--than our everyday life.

Katie Ives

Charles Houston is best known for his failed attempts to summit K2 in 1938 and again in 1953. The latter climb involved a dramatic rescue attempt of climber Art Gilkey and featured probably the most famous belay in history when Pete Schoening single-handedly kept the entire team from sliding off the mountain. Climbing was an important part of Houston's life and McDonald's biography of him does an excellent job covering his career. Beginning with his discovery of the French Alps and the confidence climbing gave him in his awkward teenage years and continuing to his Alaskan and Himalayan expeditions, Houston's mountaineering life makes for great outdoor reading.

But what makes this biography so enthralling is the attention it devotes to the rest of Houston's life, in particular his medical career. Houston was a pioneer in high altitude medicine working first for the Navy and then later with the High Altitude Physiology Study (HAPS) on Mt. Logan in Canada. In between, he had organized the Peace Corps in India, founded the doctors unit of the Peace Corps, researched artificial hearts, taught at universities, and was one of the founders of group medical practices in the United States. In all it was an outstanding career and one that deserves recognition far beyond what he has received for his climbing adventures.

But Houston's life also saw many setbacks. Ever an idealist and a visionary, he could be difficult to work with. He certainly never mastered the political skills needed to be successful in Washington. Indeed, towards the end of his remarkable career, a college friend suggested he make a graduation speech. His perseverance in the face of a lifetime of failures, a friend suggested, would make a good message for contemporary graduates. Grudgingly, Houston agreed, and accepted the commencement address offer.

This volume includes a DVD with footage from some of Houston's more dramatic climbs. It adds a nice touch to the book. I would recommend the book for climbers and armchair afficiandos of the sport. (I am in the latter category). But I think the book also summarizes a significant contribution to the history of American medicine and deserves a wide academic audience for those interested in that field.

Great Book. Very informative. A thorough body of research was completed in order to have this book published. I thought I knew all about Chuck Berry until I read this book. I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Chuck's. The book is balanced and pulls no punches. No wonder the biography is unauthorized. It contains information that is both provoctive and endearing.

I've been reading this book for the last few months (it's been my reading material on the train on the weekends hehe) and it's been an enertaining read of the life and hard times of Chuck Berry.
Previous to reading this book, I had only heard Chuck Berry's music and loved it, but did not know much about the man himself.
Bruce Pegg has done a good job of detailing Chuck's life, from the early days in The Ville, his begginings in music, Racism in the USA in the 50's, Chuck's relationship with Chess Records, concerts, all his court appearances (the Mann Act Trial, the Southern Aire Restuarant Video Tape Scandal (which I first heard about on E! News!) plus much more.
There are some great photos in the book which i'm not sure have been seen before.
Pegg also has also rounded up all the important people in Chuck's life and they all give interesting comments.
I haven't read Chuck Berry's offical Autobiography, but upon reading this, i'm sure this gives a much better view into his life.

As a long time fan of Chuck Berry, I have tried to read everything I could find about him, from enclyclopedia's to Rolling Stone Magazine. Over the past 20 years, I have tried to piece together the various differing messages about him, from musical genius to "difficult to work with" entertainer. This book puts it all together in an extremely well written and well documented manner. Pegg ties together all of the pieces with a lot of information and insight otherwise unknown, with interviews of principle persons in Chuck's musical and professional life. He is obviously a fan of Chuck's, but the book is very honest with the facts and never sensational.

If you are a fan of Chuck Berry, please do yourself a favor and get this book. You will not be able to stop reading it! I think it also would be helpful for anyone interested in the social/historical milieu of this time period in relationship to black entertainers in general as well.

In what is apparently the first of four books with the scripts from Season Two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the one-liners come fast and furious with a liberal dose of drama.

The book begins with "When She Was Bad." At the end of Season One, Buffy was killed by the evil vampire known as the Master (albeit just for a minute) and this episode deals with the aftermath of that trauma. Buffy's friends try to find out why she's being such a...er, witch...to them while a group of vampires tries to revive the Master.

The second episode is "Some Assembly Required." Although well-written, it's probably one of the less impressive episodes in the book. It features Buffy and gang trying to find the secret behind grave robbers who now have their sights set on a living person...acerbic queen Cordelia.

"School Hard" introduces Spike and Drusilla, two of the series' mainstay villains (and sometimes hero, in Spike's case). Parent-Teacher Night at Sunnydale High happens to correspond with the Night of St. Vigeous, the day when vampires' power is at its peak. Needless to say, things get a little hairy in what is probably the best episode of the bunch.

Regular guy Xander gets a showcase in "Inca Mummy Girl". He's finally found a girl he likes (who isn't a giant praying mantis). Unfortunately, she's an ancient mummy who must survive by draining people's life force. Is it any surprise that it doesn't end well?

"Reptile Boy" is probably the worst episode in the book. It's still good, but not up to par with the other five. In it, evil frat boys are planning to sacrifice Buffy and Cordelia to a gigantic snake.

And finally, in "Halloween" one of Giles' old friends comes to town, and as a result everyone turns into their costumes - Willow becomes a ghost, Xander becomes a military private, and Buffy becomes a helpless aristocrat from the eighteenth century. It drops hints of Giles' past, which will come back to haunt him later in the season.

Without a doubt, a good buy for anyone who enjoys Buffy or wants to see what the fuss is all about (although newcomers might want to start with the Season One scripts).

As fine as Season One of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER had been, it was nonetheless at the start of Season Two merely a very good show. During the second season, however, Joss Whedon and his stable of crack writers would transform the show into something truly great. Nonetheless, it took some time for Season Two to achieve the greatness that it ended up being. So, in a sense, the scripts in this volume represent the last shows where Buffy was struggling to realize its enormous potential. Not that they aren't very good, or even in a couple of instances quite exceptional; they simply aren't as stellar as what immediately followed.

"Lie to Me" is, like many season openers, the product of Joss Whedon. As fine as other writers on the show are, I don't think anyone would question that Whedon always remained the King of the Hill. This script provides a marvelous transition from "Prophecy Girl," the Season One finale. Buffy returns to Sunnydale after spending the summer in L.A., and she is obviously reexperiences the trauma of her encounter with and death by the Master. She completely supplants Cordelia as the Queen [word that rhymes with "witch"] of Sunnydale high. Not only is she indifferent to almost everything, she is positively nasty to Cordelia, and engages in an over-the-top sexy dance with Xander that both unmercifully steams him up only to dash him with cold water, and cruelly makes Angel jealous. As Xander and Willow agree, Buffy has always been different, but she had never been mean before. But when vampires kidnap Willow, Giles, Jenny, and Cordelia to perform a ritual to resurrect the Master, Buffy not only saves her friends, but as Xander puts it "works out her issues" by killing all the vampires.

"Some Assembly Required" is one of the weakest episodes in the entire run of the show. When fans are polled on the worst episodes ever, it usually garners one of the highest vote totals. As a rule, Buffy is a highly nonderivative show, but this episode is a fairly lame updating of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. It does contain one of my all time favorite exchanges. Upon seeing Giles, who is trying to work up the nerve to ask out Jenny Calendar, Xander says: XANDER: And speaking of love . . . WILLOW: We were talking about the reanimation of dead tissue. XANDER: Do I deconstruct your segues?

"School Hard," written by David Greenwalt, is a very good episode, with several memorable moments. I don't think it is quite up to the level of the better scripts later in the year, but it is still extremely fine. Two things make it especially memorable. First, we meet Spike and Druscilla for the first time. Spike's part is especially well written, but reading the script demonstrates just how much James Marster's brings to the role. All the performers bring a great deal, but I believe he adds more to his part than any other performer. The second great thing in the episode is Spike's killing "the Annoying One" near the end of the episode. The episode is also crucial for reemphasizing the nontraditional nature of our heroine. Most heroes are loners, bereft of friends and family, but Buffy is great because of her friends and family. As Spike remarks, "A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure."

"Inca Mummy Girl," written by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer, continues the pattern of the first season and a half of Buffy, of one very strong script followed by a fairly weak one. This episode isn't as bad as "Some Assembly Required," but it is one of the weakest of the season.

David Greenwalt's "Reptile Boy" is an odd bird: unpleasant story with a bevy of absolutely great lines. If you focus on the story, this isn't a very good episode, but if you focus on the lines, it is great. The opening bit with Buff, Will, and Xander watching TV is a stitch. The episode contains one of the greatest of all Angel/Buffy exchanges: ANGEL: This isn't some Fairy Tale: when I kiss you you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after. BUFFY: No. When you kiss me, I want to die.

"Halloween" was the only script that Carl Ellsworth wrote for Buffy, and while it isn't an especially great one, it is definitely a lot of fun. The idea of people becoming who or what they dress up as on Halloween seems a tad familiar, but it is all done in fun fashion. One of the great things about the show is the continuity from one episode to another. On several occasions in the future, Xander's having been a soldier briefly plays a crucial role in plotlines.

So, overall, not nearly as strong a group of scripts as we would see later in the season. Season Two is unquestionably great, but it is on the basis of what came after what we find here. In fact, the greatness would start with the very next script that follows these: "Lie to Me."

The writing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Television series is much celebrated by fans and critics alike. This book is a collection of the original shooting scripts for the first 6 episodes of season two. Included are When She Was Bad, Some Assembly Required, School Hard, Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy and Halloween. Some of these scripts contain dialogue or scenes which were cut due to time or other concerns. This volume is a must for the Buffy collector and wonderful for anyone that appreciates quality television.

Thats how I would sum up this book. The OJ robbery is really inconsequential to the true story of this book. It's only a backdrop to a life that was lived to the fullest (sometimes foolishly) straight from the man who lived it. Truly an amazing tale of love, luck, money, and greed. Its a terrific book from someone that lived a life that Hollywood probably wouldn't be able to create in any movie. Good Luck with the rest of it Tom!

Yes OJ's an interesting character, and you learn plenty about the Las Vegas robbery here. But the back story is just as interesting, especially for card collectors or memorabilia people. The busting out of jail parts are crazy (you gotta read it to believe it) and so is Tom's lotto/gambling tales. Luck is a funny thing and Tom Ricico has had plenty of it on his side. A controversial guy who's lived a wild life--it's all in the book.

If a bland life story "Catch Me If You Can" can be made into a movie, this book should be too. Riccio's life story would be unbelieveable if it wasn't true: escaping from jail, winning the lottery, beating Vegas, successful entrepenuer and a life filled with being in the middle of breaking news events from OJ Simpson to Anna Nicole Smith. Truly a one-of-a-kind story. This book is a page turner and an easy read and better entertainment then the 10 bucks you would pay to see any of the lousy movies that are out now.

John Ardoin's recent death is a real loss for opera buffs everywhere, as it means that there will be no more updated editions, at least by him, of this exhaustively researched guide to the recordings of arguably the greatest, certainly the most famous opera singer of the twentieth century.

At the time of its publication this incarnation had the most complete data about the diva's recordings on compact disc then available, including newly discovered complete performances of Aida and La Traviata. Even when the information goes out of date, as it inevitably will (new incarnations of live performances will appear, and perhaps rumored unpublished material will surface), Ardoin's gracefully written, knowledgeable and balanced commentaries on Callas' work will remain an endless source of pleasure. May _The Callas Legacy_ come back into print, and soon!

If you are a Callas fan or are planning to become one, this book is indispensable. One is faced with so many Callas recordings, both studio and live, that it is very hard to choose which ones to get without a good guide. And this book is the best you can find around. Ardoin leads you through every recording that Callas made, and he offers an objective and detailed analysis of her accomplishments. So if you are trying to decide which one out of her dozen or so Normas should be joined to your collection, you can read all about the pros and contras of every single recording. For the ones who already own an older edition of this book that dealt with Callas on records, this volume won't offer much new, there are new reviews on recently-surfaced Aida and Traviata, as well as a few concert arias, but the bulk of the book is the same as in older editions.

This is not just an invaluable introduction to the greatest opera singer of the century. It is also a guide through those works, so that the more you know about Callas, the better this book gets.

Cary Grant was such a gentleman, so gay, charming and debonair. The pictures show him at his homoerotic best, to the delight of all his hardcore fans. This book is great, with nice writing and not a juicy detail left out (and were they ever juicy...*slurp*) Cary Grant is the man! Giddy-up, dah-ling! Ride 'em cowboy!

This is a great chronological account of CG's movies and his life in between and during each one as he made them. There are lot of common pictures, and some you rarely see. All the same, though, it's a wonderful biography, one of the best I've read.

I found this book to be a wonderful insight into the glorious life of Cary Grant....many have said it before ,however the combination of wonderful photographs and truthful respectful
wording makes this a must for Cary Grant Fans ....just great!!!

After reviewing the Cash Family Scrapbook, I must say I enjoyed it!!! Seeing the old photos of Johnny, his boyhood growing up, his children and grandchildren...my only regret is that I wish I could have met him in person! He is and will always be my hero!!! I highly recommend this scrapbook to all those Johnny Cash fans. I only wish it was not so expensive!!

I used this book, for research during the pre-production on 'Walk The Line'. Having grown up in a southern family, the Carters and the Cash family music and lore were know and spoken of quite frequently.
The photos of the family and the insight into this unique and loving family will be of great interest to fans and serious students of the southern music tradition.

I must also HIGHLY reccomend Cash by Johnny Cash with Patrick Carr. Because of my parents and grandparents, I grew up with a knowledge of the Carter family and Johnny Cash. After reading Cash, I really felt like I really understood some of the journey that Johnny had been through. If you're really interested in what forces drove the man with the man with the venerable voice, read this book! Cash: The Autobiography

This is an excellent buy for any Cash fan. The photos are great, the poetry is beautiful, and the family history is more than adequate for getting a good feeling of where the man in black came from. The early promotional photos from Sun Records are just awesome and from reading the poetry it seems as though everyone in the Cash family has a knack for words. This book really has it all, insight into the lives of each Cash family member, poems written for mothers, fathers, grandfathers, a family tree, and even photos of former spouse's children! Just a great book to have.

As a degree level theatre studies student, this was an invaluable text which gave a welcome insight into the Forced Entertainment theatre phenomenen. Not only does it offer analysis of their working process, it also offers an amusing collection of experiences and feelings that make the book thoroughly readable. A gem.

I use this book throughout the graduate program with MFA and PhD students in theatre and dance. They find in it things that they have been trying to articulate for themselves and are intellectually challenged and enriched as well as given encouragement for trying to express their own ideas about their practices. Has lots of other good things about it. Great combination of theory and practice and accessibility.

Forced Entertainment and Tim Etchells have been for the past decade or so, chewing on the edges of performance and theatre. This book is an excellent collection of texts that open up and demystify the experimental devising process. Etchells writes his theory much in the same way has he creates performance. A must for anyone into the fuzzy gaps between the various performance disciplines

CHANGE IN THE WEATHER: LIFE AFTER STROKE tells of a news anchorman at the peak of his life - and enjoying it - when he suffered a stroke. Mistreatment and misdiagnosis nearly cost him his life - and this memoir documents these issues, also following his rehabilitation from a massive stroke in which he lost some of his greatest gifts. A powerful account of triumph over harrowing physical issues evolves.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

MarkMcEwen has written an excellent book for those who have had a stroke or are caring for someone who has had one. His positive message is one of hope for all.

I found Mark's book very informative. I am living with a father that had a stroke last year and it was interesting to compare the stroke and recovery process. The major differences between the stories is that my father is 81 and I found him within five minutes of the stroke so he was able to benefit from the clot busting medication. Many of the rehab exercises for my father are similar to Mark's. Until I read this book I had not been able to get this information from someone that had experienced stroke or was caregiver for a stroke patient. All too often when I spoke to someone that had a loved one suffer a stroke their story usually ended with a death shortly after the stroke. I'm thankful I found him so quickly and that he survived the clot busting medicine. They let you know when you sign the consent that your loved one might not survive it. That is an awesome responsibility for anyone. I've encouraged everyone I know to talk to their loved ones so they will know how you feel should they every have to make that decision for you.