Arts and Entertainment Books

This book is an expansive overview of the life of Louise Brooks and also of the early days of the movie industry. Very throughly researched, it gives a nuanced look and the beautiful, brilliant and maddeningly self-destructive icon. It also is a wonderful history of the entertainment world in the 1920's and the personalities who populated that world. A must-read from fans of Louise Brooks.

Several books have been written about Louise Brooks, but this book is probably the most concise and most thorough of them all. The book starts off with Louise's birth and it describes all the people that helped to make Louise so interesting and famous. There are many black-and-white photos of Louise, from the time she started in show-biz (at age 4) to Louise in her later years, just before her death.

Since Louise Brooks had such a fascinating life, it is not a surprise that this book is so long. Each Chapter basically covers a chunk of her life, and each Chapter describes (in detail) the characters that encountered & shaped Louise, and also all the Theatre and Movie productions that Louise was involved in.

This is what a biography should be: insightful, understanding, offering a measured & complex view of its beloved subject. And what a subject Barry Paris has in Louise Brooks! Her beauty, her intelligence, her compelling charisma all shine in these pages, giving us a multi-faceted view of this ravishing star. For someone who had never heard of Louise Brooks, this biography will send him or her in eager pursuit of her all-too-few films & her own writing -- and both are of the very highest standard.

It's clear that Brooks never did anything without wanting to give her all, to make true art out of it, a work of beauty & meaning that would stand the test of time. And the same could be said of this superb biography. While Paris clearly adores Brooks (and with good reason), he never succumbs to blind hagiography. Nor does he stumble in the opposite direction of pathography. His purpose is to explore the life of a fascinating woman, and to present it to the reader as thoroughly & lucidly as possible. He succeeds on every level. Louise Brooks emerges from these pages as both a flesh & blood woman, and as the dazzling, mysterious icon she became to countless admirers.

In short, the best book on Louise Brooks you'll ever find, most highly recommended!

I have not yet read this entire book, but just glancing through it when it arrived I would find that I have just read twenty pages or so whenever I openned it up. I can't wait until I read it cover to cover.

Barry Paris's bio is a wonderful read and in my opinion did more for the recent increase of interest in Brooks than anything other book.

At the time of it's publishing in the mid 90's the internet was a mere flicker of info, photos bios and trivia about obscure stars like Louise Brooks were very hard to come by. After this book was published, I was one of several people who started fledgling web sites in Brooks' honour. While I gave up, one of those websites carried on to become the Louise Brooks Society, the definitive website on her life. Paris' book is essential reading for anyone who is facinated by this beautiful starlet.

This was purchased for my daughter who happens to be a huge Lucy fan. She thoroughly enjoyed it as it is chock full of reproduced letters, articles and other memorabilia. It makes a wonderful gift.

What a wonderful gift Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. have given to the fans of their parents. This book will warm your heart, make you smile, and bring tears to your eyes. It will make you feel like you snuck into Lucy's closet and found her scrapbook sitting on the shelf. I got goosebumps when I saw the enevelope written by Desi that said 'To my darling'. I almost felt like an intruder when I pulled out the Valentine for Lucy that was inside. There are photos, letters, clippings, and side notes, all beautifully assembled. This is a must have have for anyone who has ever loved Lucy, Desi, Vivian, and William.

When I received this book in the post I did not put it down for a least an hour. It was so thoughtfully put together and showed all of Desi and Lucy's fans just how much they loved and cared for each other thoughtout their lives.
My most memorable areas are the little pieces written by the couple describing their thoughts and how they felt about each other. Lucy's words about Desi's death really struck me as although she had been married for 25 years she still felt his death hard.
My daughter who is only aged 15 years also could not put it down and was especially interested in the reproductions of the important letters and documents.
We both love it and it is certainly a must for the bookshelf of any Lucy and Desi fan.

If you are a Lucy Fan then you simply must buy this book! I just received mine and sat mesmorized by it, it is now my favorite Lucy item I have. I have an enormous collection of everything to do with Lucy or I LOVE LUCY you can imagine and this Scrapbook is so incredible.....it's honestly as if you are looking at the original scrapbook and you are even able to pull out inserts on several pages.....passport, letters, etc. I am not joking, if you are a collector of Lucy things and you do not have this Scrapbook then you are missing an incredible addition to your collection. The price is really great considering all you get. Words truly are not enough....I'll never ever get tired of looking at this!!!! Don't just think about buying it, buy it this minute!!!

The scrapebook was execellent. I enjoyed every little thing about it. It was great of all the document that were in there. This is a great book.

THIS BOOK IS GREAT, REALLY GOOD AND FUN TO READ IF YOU ARE AN X-FILES OR GILLIAN ANDERSON FAN. I HIGHLY RECOMAND THIS BOOK

Straight from the cutesy title that X-Philes know and love as one of Scully's trademark phrases, Mulder, it's Me really hits the spot. Gil Adamson and Dawn Connolly's biography about the amazing Gillian Anderson is extremely informative without being invasive of Ms. Anderson's privacy. The well-written fourteen-chapter biography is only the beginning of this stunning masterpiece - the book also includes candid interviews, a comprehensive episode guide of the first four seasons of The X-Files, a section on the 1996 Burbank convention by the renowned Autumn Tysko, a listing of internet resources, and 16 pages of color photos. Whether you are a newbie or a veteran fan, Mulder, it's Me: The Gillian Anderson Files is the must-have biography.

This is the best Gillian Anderson biography on shelves today. But this isn't just a biography, this book also includes television and radio interviews with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. You get to find out what people did when Gillian Anderson appeared at the X-Files convention and what questions her fans asked. It also includes the speech she made in Washington D.C. for public awareness about Neurofibromatosis, the disease her younger brother has been diagnosed with. This book also includes great Gillian Anderson Internet sources and an X-File episode guide with all the shows from season one to the end of season four. But best of all, this book includes a great section of full page color photographs of Gillian. If you are a Gillian Anderson fan, you have to get this book!

This book is great for people who want t get all the facts and want awesome color Photos .I think Gillian is agreat person and Actress and this book helps you realize that.AS well as info there is a great X-files episode guide section.Many thanks to the athur and gillian for being the great actress she is.

This book has, well, everything you wanted to know about Gillian Anderson (Agent Dana Scully on the X-Files) and more! The colour photo's are excellent, as well as the black and white ones. Each chapter has a unique title, and very good detail into herself, her daughter, and her work. A must have for any Gillian Anderson fan.

This is definately a winner! Great little gems from Walt Disney's family, closest friends and colleagues. The pictures are equally wonderful. Great candid shots and personal family photos. This man had more character than Mickey Mouse himself!

The pictures were nice. I'm a big Dinsey fan so I pretty much enjoyed this book. It told what people who worked with him thought about him. I gave the book four stars because there were some bad words.

This book is exactly as one would expect by reading the title. It's just quote after quote from people who knew Walt Disney best. I liked that many of his former employees were interviewed. Since I was familiar with some of the animators, imagineers, and actors it made it a more personal thing for me when reading this book. There are also many pictures that show Walt during all the different periods of his life, though the majority of them are during his successful years heading the Disney corporation. I share the sympathy of another reviewer who said that after reading this book they wished they had known Walt Disney. I think a person who really admires the Disney empire will share the same sentiments about the man who dared to dream.

This lavishly illustrated tribute --- first published in 1999 and now released as an oversized trade paperback --- is a must for diehard Disneyites. (Dig the vintage, time-worn color
cover photo of Uncle Walt, with Cousin Oscar clearly in view.) Amy Boothe Green and Howard Green's text is nothing more than quote after quote from Walt's pals, peers, co-stars, family and friends, all of whom (surprise!) praise The Man Who Would Be King. But it's the vast array of black-and-white and color photographs --- many rare and many never-before-seen, all of which are stuffed into the pages --- that make this a winner. Walt as a young boy. Walt as a young man. Walt at play. Walt at work. Walt with family. Walt with friends. Walt with Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. Walt with Hayley Mills. Walt with Shirley Temple. Walt with Annette Funicello, who provides the book's most poignant quote: "When I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis ... I thought,. "If Mr. Disney were here, I could ask him what I should do. He would know." And, of course, Walt with the Mouse and the Mouseketeers. Noting goofy here. Except Goofy.

I was very happy while reading this book. I found all the things Walt's aquaintances had to say about him very interesting and credible. Very little seemed sugar coated (as Disney personel seem to be sometimes). I would make the assumption that Walt's personality was portrayed correctly by the many people that knew him. Throughout the course of reading this book I kept thinking about the quote that one amazon reviewer said that made me buy this book in the first place, "makes me wish I knew that man."

When you watch the Olympics, remember that Chill that goes down your spine when you see someone do the impossible? I had that feeling repeatedly reading this book. You follow the Mighty Atom through his childhood, learning valuable life lessons with him, that serve you both well. You picture in your mind's eye what it must take to bend steel in your bare hands, break chains across your chest, and other impossible feats. This tiny man who performed feats of strength into his eighties, through sheer willpower and determination....

I've never read a more inspirational book. I can see why copies are almost impossible to find.

If I could own only two books, one would be my Bible and the other Ed Spielman's remarkable biography of Joe Greenstein, a.k.a. The Mighty Atom.

Here was a man who exalted in life, exuded life and understood life far, far better than most.

Do you have problems in life? Who doesn't? After you read this book you will be able to take to heart the words of the Atom's protege, Slim Farman: "I never had to prove to him that I was somebody. He told me I was."

And the words of Joe Greenstein himself: "There is no such thing as a little man, and nothing is impossible."

Whatever it takes, GET A COPY OF THIS BOOK!

I simply can't say enough good things about this incredible story. If you love weight-training and strength sports, if you want a snapshot of a nearly forgotten part of early 20th Century American life, if you wish to be inspired, read this. You will not be disappointed.

In his prime, Joseph Greenstein was the world's "strongest man" physically and billed as 'The Modern Hercules,' 'The Young Sandow," and 'The Ancient Samson' all in one -- The Mighty Atom, though he never did fly out of a canon. He rose from the ghettos of Poland, in Eastern Europe, to become the most famous of the weightlifter-strongmen ever.

He was a slim 5'4" body builder, weighing in at 145 pounds; the photo shows him as a young man showing off his becepts. In vaudeville at the Apollo Theatre he was billed as Joseph Green. He looked like a freak in bushy hair and Tarzan outfits complete with matching headband and funny looling shoes which strapped up his leg to the knee. That must have been the style in 1909. In his act, he straightened out hourshoes, crushed spikes in his hands, even had strong teeth -- bit through iron bars.

He used Asian techniques of concentration, Jewish mystical writings, and a natural begetarian diet. Who said it akes eating meat to make one strong? He later developed a more balanced body physique. Joseph appeared on Coney Island, the playground of the world, as shown in the movie, 'Inside Daisy Clover.' At Madison Square Garden he put on a martial arts show.

We all have an inner strength with the potential of a brick-wall. It doesn't take meditation to surpass hurdles, but a strong-as-iron determination to prove you're right. When I started out in PTA as a young mother, 5'l", 97 lbs., as a local unit president, I was given the honor and silver platter from the female school principal who called me a "brick-wall." Unlike those who preceded me, I did not acquiese to her rein over fund-raising profits. We paid for necessary items such as a paved area and playgfround at the school but would not finance building repairs -- that was the responsibility of the school board. I learned my speaking ability by appearing before them (and getting my way through friendly persuasion) on occasion, and conducting the PTA Meetings. As Regional Director, I visited and informed units throughout thirteen counties, which included the famous Tullahoma, Tennessee -- near Lynchburg.

Joseph was such a sensation that articles about him appeared in 'The Sun,' 'New York Journal,' 'New York American,' 'New York Telegram,' and 'New York Post,' as well as 'Buffalo Evening Times.' He proved that sometimes little is big and here's great strength in small packages.

Finally acknowledging his Jewish heritage, in 1978, he appeared with his protege, Slim Farman (who towered over him), in a black tunic with a Star of David over the chest. He was an old man, age 85, with white hair, beard, and mustache. He had achieved "the impossible."

Ever heard of man bite through tempered iron with his teeth...or hang from an airplane by his hair? Just because you may not have heard of Joseph "Mighty Atom" Greenstein or his accomplishments it does not mean you should ignore this book, quite the opposite in fact. I got this book as a young child in the 1980's and have read it many times. A riveting and inspirational read. Anyone interested in sports, martial arts, nutrition, spirituality or just looking for a self help guide would be wise to read this. A fascinating life with lessons for all of us...not just philosophical but practical too. Joseph Greenstein was not only the strongest man in the world, he was a giant of a character...raising a large family and much money for charity, providing health lectures and products for thousands of poor Americans. If I had just ten books on a desert island this would be one of them.

Necessity for the Dean Martin fan to read. Lots of personal pictures and a view of personal family life.

This is certainly a book for Dean Martin fans. I have read memories are made of this by Deana and although this book is nowhere near the quality or caliber as her book, I would recommend this book. This book was pretty much just info. He didn't delve into much emotions as Deana did but it makes me wish some of the other kids would put their thoughts to paper as well! Enjoy this good book!

RICCI MARTIN SEEMS LIKE A REAL NICE GUY , BUT THIS BOOK ON HIS DAD IS ONLY OK..IT SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR HIS DAD AND MOM AND THATS GREAT, BUT ITS WRITTEN LIKE AN EIGHT YEAR OLD TYPED IT UP. I GUESS HIS WRITER WAS UNTALENTED.THE ONE THING THAT BOTHERS ME OF THESE BOOKS IS THAT THE OFF SPRING DONT KNOW ANYTHING OF THEIR DADS CAREER.JUST LIKE THE CASH KIDS AND THE CROSBY KIDS AND THE SINATRA BROOD THEY DONT KNOW THEIR DADS CAREER SO THEY MAKE IT UP.IN THIS BOOK HE WRITES HIS DADS BEST BUD MACK GRAY WHO ALWAYS CARRIED A LARGE MANILA ENVELOPE HAD CIGARS INSIDE.THIS IS LUDICROUS!!! EVERYONE KNOWS AND HIS SISTER KNOWS THAT MACK GRAY CARRIED PERCODAN AND PERCOSET AND OTHER BARBITUTES THAT SADLY DEAN NEEDED THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.IF YOU ARE GOING TO WRITE A BOOK TELL THE TRUTH.STILL I WOULD RECCOMEND THE BOOK.

This book was a great read. Ricci Martin worte a great book on a beloved man, his DAD, and I am sure Dean is very happy with this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I felt that it was honestly written and I could actually get a sense of what it was like to be one of Dean Martin's children. I always knew that Dean Martin was a loving, nurturing and caring father and this book just reaffirmed that for me. Thanks to Ricci for doing a WONDERFUL job with allowing his readers to share in his memories with his famous Dad. After reading this book, it is very apparent to me that Dean Martin was the complete package: a GREAT entertainer, singer and movie star, and above all else a wonderful person and loving and caring father. He really was the type of person that he depicted and the person that we welcomed into our living rooms every Thursday night and with every opportunity we had to watch him on TV. Thanks Ricci for writing this book and making it one in which WE ALL REMEMBER.

Susan D. Fong - A Faithful Dean Martin Fan For Life

I love this book. It is funny, touching, memorable, humble, inspiring and all together delightful. I don't like Della's singing, don't know much about her acting. What captured me is her marvelous personality, her smile, her uncommon commonness. There are parts of this book I will carry with me to my grave.

Della Reese is like a streetcar to ecstatic experience. She knows the way to abundance consciousness and she will stop at whatever stop you need to get you there, because it's on her route. This is no airy fairy lady. She tells it totally like it is in this earthy, raw, absolutely beautiful and hilarious tale of her life adventure from Detroit's "Black Bottom" slums to the hills of Bel Air.

If you have ever felt excluded or ridiculed, had a jones for the wrong person or the wrong lifestyle, suffered a broken heart or known there was something great in you, no matter what anyone had to say about it, her words will pick you up and put you right on the trolley!

Like her early mentor, Mahalia Jackson, she fills herself with God-Essence and breathes it out sweetly and powerfully, right to your center, taking you on a trip to exactly the place she wants for you, which is home. Where you are comfortable in your own body and where you know that you are loved.

So, I guess that makes her an "angel", her loving word for people who appear with exactly what you need when you need it, like Nat King Cole, Ed Sullivan and many others did for her. In reading her account, it naturally makes you more aware of how people in your life serve as angels, even when you aren't aware of it at the time.

I first Della's voice when I was a hurtin' little kid, hanging on for dear life, literally, seeking solace in in art and music.
Her jazz voice got me and got me good. Her author's voice, like her voice in gospel, blues, "pop", TV and ministry, it is a voice that tells you of the WHOLE journey from despair to full-out happiness. And that telling causes resonance, so you can feel it, remember it and find your own way to it.

Read this juicy, juicy book! "Period. The end."

This book is wonderful! I love Touched by an Angel, and am a big fan of Della's (Have to buy some of her music someday!) This book really captures Della's effervescent, full-of-life, no-nonsense style. It reads just as if Della was sitting right there in your living room talking right to you. It is full of amazing stories and straight talk about her ups and downs professionally and personally, and the one thing that shines through so very clearly is her powerful and strong faith in God and how He and the human "angels" in her life have brought her through. You really feel you get to know her--her personality sparkles in every chapter. I loved this book.

Having been exposed to Ms. Reese's multi talents throughout my growing up years, I just now finished reading her book which covers the time period from her birth until 1997. And I am glad I did!
Ms. Reese is what I consider a "real" person as she is so wonderfully candid in everything she says and does. The story she tells in her book is no different as she recollects even the details in great honesty.
Her story is very inspiring and uplifting as she teaches her life's lessons in the tribulations she forged through.
If you've ever wanted to sit down and have a chat with Ms. Reese (And who wouldn't?) but couldn't, reading through these pages is the next best thing. It's almost as good as hearing her voice right beside you with her words, smooth and flowing.
I highly recommend this flawlessly written book. It is everything that Della Reese is - interesting, witty, inspiring, intelligent, gutsy, full of love and hope and just like her, it teaches straight from the heart.
BRAVO!!!...THANK YOU!!!... and...ENCORE!!!

This is a very interesting book, that makes you want to keep reading and reading. It focuses mainly on her early years and how she started in the music business, then onto her role as an actor, teacher and preacher. The stories of her life make you feel as though you know her on a more personal level. She speaks in very plain language so it is easy to understand what she is saying. Many people can relate to different parts of her life. You would have never expected some of the things that she has gone though. She has been though many ups and downs in her life and is not afraid to discuss them. She is very open and honest and I applaud her for that. This was very informative. This has made me want to read more biographies of other famous people.

as a fan of lou costello all my life i never really new much about the real lou till i read this book by his daughter chris.This is a must read for any of lou"s fans as it will make you feel all his highs and lows.

Like every kid in America, afternoons after school meant watching television and who better to watch than Abbott and Costello?

This book took me by surprise. For years I heard stories about the tragic events that happened in Lou Costello's personal life but somehow images of him in HOLD THAT GHOST or bothering the Andrews Sisters didn't jive with those images.

Lou's daughter, Chris, wrote a loving tribute to her father that is accurate, on point but never gets syrupy sweet. Nor is it a "Daddy Dearest" where she portrays anyone as a monster.

Although she was not born at the time, Chris traces her father's roots from New Jersey all the way through vaudeveille and finally Hollywood. In a sesntive way, she recounts the tragic loss of Lou's son, Butch and with just as much delicacy she handles the problems of her mother's drinking.

Although I would have liked to have had a better insight into what went on as the team created some memorable movie scenes, Chris concentrates solely on the man. You put down the book and wonder how Lou Costello - plaqued with IRS problems as well as health issues - could be so funny and so giving all the time.

Even if you are not an A&C fan, this book will show you the side of a professional comedian who gave the gift of laughter to others despite his own problems.

I found out from a local bookstore that this particular edition of Lou Costello's life was out of print and that their supplier unable to procure. The bookstore reminded me to check with Amazon and there it was. You had one copy which I quickly scooped up. Delivery was even a day earlier than stated. Very pleased as always with Amazon website, products and delivery

Starts with his early years.
The beginning of Abbott & Costello.
21 years later , the break-up of Abbott & Costello.
They were two opposites.
One didn't drink, one drank heavily.
Offstage: one loud jokster, one quiet & reserved.
Both gambled heavily.
Lou's long illness.
Death of Lou's son. Plus More.

It seems as though a lot of bios written by the children of famous parents run to the two extremes of villifying the parent or sugarcoating the parent. This book does neither, and fits nicely in between. Though Ms. Costello was only eleven years old when her dad passed on, and therefore didn't know or remember him in the same way as if he had passed on when she was an adult, she does still manage to be both loving and honest in her treatment of him. The Lou Costello who comes to life in these pages is largely a really nice generous guy, who was absolutely devoted to his parents, children, siblings, wife (even if he didn't show much physical affection around others, since that wasn't part of his upbringing), and friends, and who was also very generous and kind to the other performers he worked with, particularly the ones who were just getting started in the business and needed someone to look out for them and show them the ropes. And while it is true that some people really are so uniformly good, Ms. Costello does not paint her father as an utter saint either. There's not a lot of dirt to dig up, but not everything about him was perfect. Among the character/personal flaws she discusses are his habit of stealing stuff from Universal's movie sets, how he was quite the McCarthyist, and his bad gambling habits.

The book seems like much more of a personal bio than a career bio. It focuses on Lou and his family and friends, instead of rehashing a lot of stories most fans have heard already. Most of his movies aren't discussed in any detail at all, many of them just mentioned in passing, and while this might frustrate people who are looking for more in-depth information on that rather important side of his life, you can always find more thorough discussions of the movies in another book. This book is to tell the personal side of his life, as remembered and researched through the eyes of a daughter who loved him. I really enjoyed reading about things such as his early family life, the beautiful lavish mansion he had in Sherman Oaks, his family's life on the ranch they moved to after his problems with the IRS, his relationship with his parents, siblings, wife, and children, and his solo acting at the end of his career. With obvious notable exceptions such as the tragic loss of his only son days before his first birthday, the start of his movie career, and the version of "Who's on First" that he and Bud Abbott used on their debut radio performance of it, most of the stories and anecdotes in this book aren't to be found anywhere else. It goes beyond and doesn't dwell on oft-repeated statements such as "He was never the same after the loss of his son" and "He and Bud Abbott didn't get along off-camera." The truth is so much more interesting. Overall, it's the complete and personal picture of a very talented, funny, giving, sweet man, delving beyond simplistic stereotypes and myths.

Okay, so you like Blondie, which by the way is a group. Making tracks reflects the band in ways that the fans and the public do not often see. Mostly Debbie is doing the writing here expressing her thoughts on everything from Peter Leeds to touring throughout the world. It is quite a tale especailly in the early days when the group was struggling. The book itself is what I would deem to be a work of art, it describes more than just the rock and roll business it describes on how Debbie and the band actually felt throughout. I as a huge Blondie fan would suggest that you add this gem to your collection.

Debbie's writing style (as ingested and regurgitated by Victor Bockris) is attractrively candid, humorously intimate, and appealingly self-effacing. Debbie tells her story simply and with no frills and no excuses. She lovingly describes details of the CBGB's music scene of the late '70's down to the last detail, with a touching respect for her peers and nary a bad word to say about anyone. includes exerpts from diaries Debbie wrote on the road as well as reformatted material from various obscure magazine interviews circa 1977-1981, but editor Bockris blends it all so well it reads like one coherent monologue. In actuality, Bockris has morfed Harry and Stein's voice into one here, so it's impossible in some areas to know who is speaking. In interviews, Debbie has made reference to a "third" person that she and Stein create when they're together. You might say that person is the true author of "Making Tracks". Travelogue-style photos by Stein skimp on glamour-Debbie but compensate by invoking the environment from which she and the band sprung!

This book consists of photos by Chris Stein-a fair to good amateur photographer-and text by Victor Bockris (a somewhat pedantic writer) of Deborah Harry's ongoing commentary, essentially, of her and her band's history from her childhood to the current state of the band when it was first published circa 1982. I can remember buying a copy when it was first introduced at a mall bookstore which is now a storefront church: I can even remember that the counter clerk's name was Lillian, the name of Debbie's character in the fine film "Union City". (She was less than impressed, commenting that Blondie was a terrible band and that no woman except for Janis Joplin should be allowed in the rock section in record stores. They were very much _record_ stores in those days-I had at that point never seen a CD.)

It's remarkable in that Debbie was as close to a major league rock star as she was ever to be in the United States at that point, and her observations-recorded when Madonna had yet to achieve any success-on fame and media attention are even more notable for the timeframe in which they were written.

The photos are the reason most fans, particularly males, bought the book. Debbie shows off her pert, teenlike assets (at well over 30 she had the body of a high school cheerleader, boyish compared to Jayne, Marilyn or Brigitte but very desirable nonetheless and far more feminine than, say, Jamie Lee Curtis, who was appearing in the altogether in films in that timeframe) brazenly, investigates the world (particularly Europe and the Far East) with curiosity and is shown with many of the rock and film icons of the past and then-present, including Chuck Berry (whom, Deb told this writer, attempted to finger her then), Robert Fripp, Ellie Greenwich, and others. Chris is with Pierre Salinger, Debbie-who never did get to meet her own primary idol Marilyn Monroe-wears a MM dress from "Some Like It Hot", which she bought at the time she and Chris lived in penury. (Sadly it was involved in a fire, it would now likely be worth tens of thousands of dollars-the gown Marilyn wore to serenade JFK sold for a seven figure (US$) sum.)

This book in short is a delightful piece of fluff from the era which still will fascinate fans of Blondie and the New York scene in those years. It's not a serious work and won't change anyone's life but anyone who likes the tasty rock music of Blondie, the underrated vocal and acting talents of Deborah Harry, or is fascinated by that place and time for edgy popular culture will enjoy this.

I purchased this book when it first came out in 1982 and am glad to see it's still in print. It was very hard to find back then. "The Rise of Blondie" gives an fascinating history of Debbie Harry-her childhood, what her high school years were like, how she moved to NY and began her music career, then meeting Chris Stein and getting together with the other band members. There are many unknown, humorous and interesting facts about the group's early years. The pictures are great, also. If you are a diehard fan, like me, this will become one of your favorite books. I highly recommend it!

"Making Tracks: The Rise of Blondie" is a unique book -- part road diary, part band memoir. Rock biographer Victor Bockris teamed with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein to produce this book, a quirky and enlightening view of Blondie's rise to fame. Good anecdotes, wonderful pictures, and an intimate look into what it was like.

Stein and Harry first give us a glimpse of their early lives and childhoods, and then the events that propelled them to the music biz, including early band stuff (like the Stillettoes). They lived in cold apartments run by very strange people (sometimes smoking even weirder stuff), were saved by the cats, performed in the legendary CBGB's, and swirled around the music scene with the Ramones, Television, the Kinks, and now-extinct punk journalists. Then they hit the big time, jetting across the world and clinging to their rough edges.

Harry and Stein have not a single bad thing to say about their musical peers, only pleasant camaraderie. Harry's quirky wit is an easily-acquired taste; she's straightforward and dryly humorous. The parts that are more clearly Stein are a little less vivid to read. At times it's easy to get lost in the prose and forget which is which, however. What's more, the stories are less focused on the perks of fame than on the day-to-day life in a band.

The only problem is that at times, it's necessary to skip back to figure out who the heck so-and-so is, and what connection he had to Stein and Harry. However, Bockris does an excellent job of slipping in articles and written anecdotes by Harry. While the result gets a little bumpy at times, it's overall a smooth ride through the years.

The pictures are a mix of stylized publicity shots (like the pouty "Punkmate" picture) and candids. The candids are wonderful, ranging from Harry wielding a hammer in Japan to a window riddled with bullet holes to makeup for a Giger-inspired music video (truly eerie). The pictures seem spontaneous and natural, and the grubbiness of some of them gives a better idea of what it was like to live there. (Not to mention posing with the Ramones, Nancy Spungeon, Bill Murray, Joan Jett and others)

"Making Tracks: The Rise of Blondie" is not merely for Blondie fans, but for fans of now-classic rock and good music. Witty and humorous, with dozens of great photographs, this is a treasure.

This is a great book, and for the price, you can't go wrong, but the genuine article is the first edition from 1999. Much nicer covers, beautiful color prints. If you only buy one, the first edition is a MUST for any Marilyn Monroe fan!

I absolutely loved this book! It was fantastic. Marilyn Monroe was such a beautiful, talented person and this book definitely shows it. The pictures are sharp and bright and the captions are wonderful. The variety is nothing short of impressive. I highly recommend this "coffee table book" to any Monroe fan!

Now in a revised second edition, Marilyn Monroe: Cover To Cover by Clark Kidder is a unique collection for the fans one of Hollywood's best known personalities, as it features full-color illustrations of numerous magazine covers that showcased this talented actress and American heartthrob. Each picture offers a brief caption or memorable quote (often by Marilyn herself) about the picture, as well as the average selling price for good condition copies of the magazine. Marilyn Monroe: Cover To Cover is a very highly recommended resource for celebrity memorability collectors in general, and Marilyn Monroe fans in particular.

This is an unusual outstanding picture book.

Marilyn in unforgetable pictures.

Thank you!

This thoroughly unique and enjoyable approach to the documentation of Marilyn's career is a comprehensive collection of magazine covers from all around the world, featuring her throughout her career. The whole is an eclectic gathering of photos highlighting her metamorphosis from unknown young model to luminous superstar.

Although many of the more well known American covers are absent, there is plenty here to satisfy! The variety and sheer number of colorful covers is impressive. The memorable quotes that accompany so many of the covers capture the essence of her endearing personality without being an actual biography, and the timeline is a good but brief overview of many of the important events in her life.

Although I am not an avid collector of MM memorabilia, I'm sure the pricing information would be valuable to those who are. I found comparing the various values to be very interesting reading. I can only imagine the painstaking work that went into identifying each of these photos and determining the worth of each cover.

This would be a welcome and unique addition to any MM library - highly recommended!