5 comments about Storyteller's Daughter.

1. The Storyteller's Daughter is a tale of high adventure--a tough-minded, fearless and obviously incredibly fit woman travels with the mujahaddin in Afghanistan as they fight the Soviet army. What is even more compelling about this book is the insight we get into the growth of radical Islam and the woeful lack of understanding by western participants/observers as this struggle was going on--with enormous consequences for today, of course.



2. An absolutely delicious story! Afghanistan's lore and legend come to life in the author's own accounts of her bold adventures as a woman on the fronts of danger in Afghanistan. It being true made it all the more fun. I really could not put this book down; it is a fascinating tale that includes intrigue, suspense, and a uniquely satire sense of humor sprinkled throughout. Saira Shah transports the reader to a foreign land, a foreign way of life, a foreign way of thought. Yet, the tales echo familiar as she gives a spectacular presentation of the clash between mystical historical lore, modern day realities, and the blend of these two realms on humanity's culture, mind, and heart.



3. I am currently in Kabul, and have read almost every English-language book on Afghanistan that is popularly available. I have also lived in Kabul and traveled to Feyzbad, Kandahar,Mazar-e-Sharif, Jalalabad, Kunduz and along the Uzbek Border. I speak mediocre Dari. Among the books that I enjoyed were those by Saira Shah's grandmother (try "My Khyber Life") and her father, Idris Shah. The same cannot be said for Saira Shah's. Shah' work, however. Part of my complaint was that the book isn't about anything much - its just a list of what she claims were her experiences in and near Afghanistan. I would compare them to a series of interesting letters detailing what I did on my afghan vacation. What they don't provide is insight into what was happening in Afghanistan or Peshawar, why, or what is going on now, or much cultural or historical information.
   
   My other, more serious complaint, is that I think most of the book is not true, and that Ms. Shah either made it up entirely, seriously exaggerated or "borrowed" the story from someone else's experience. The issue is not that the book was not entertaining, because it was, but that I strongly suspect that it is entertaining only because she changed (or created) the facts to make it so.
   
   Too much of what she claims were her experiences in Afghanistan are general stories one hears here (such as the time she met a Mullah who spoke Arabic while claiming to be an Arab man. She says that he started faking speaking Arabic, and she pretended to understand him, so he declared them Arabs to keep his lie of Arabic proficiency and prestige that went with it. This story of two language frauds is heard in many incarnations. I even heard one in a German-language book I read 10 years ago in Austria. Also, some mountain mullahs do speak some Arabic. They may not be fluent, but they know a little bit and would spot someone who didn't, the same way you would if the only Spanish you knew was "what is your name?" and when you asked someone who claimed to be a Spaniard they didn't understand. She might have also been expected to talk to her companions and pray in Arabic - it would seem strange if she did neither, and if there is any Arabic people know here, its prayers).
   
   Another example of an improbable event is when she tells of a Buzgashi game during which the players rode their horses into the tent holding "the Great and the Good" and collapsed the tent on them. I'm guessing all of the spectators weren't the "Great and the Good," but it makes a better story if they were. Also, although Buzgashi is compared to polo, but it is really a lot more violent. All of the horses are stallions, and taught to kick and bite each other. The only rule for the players is no eye gouging. The game set-up is sort of like a race, as the player holding the goat as to ride around certain points before he can make a goal, and the others ride alongside trying to stop him. I play horse polo and have watched Buzgashi, and although a horse might run away, the whole group of players could avoid running into a spectator's tent (I've also never seen a tent for spectators, but maybe they really had that in Pakistan). If they were out of control, horses by instinct would head for open space or for home, not into an unknown tent full of people. If by some fluke a horse or horses did run into the tent, it would not have been funny. People would have been hurt, and probably killed - the same goes for the horses. If the horses just took out the tent supports, they still would have tripped, fallen and seriously injured themselves and their riders.
   
   
   Other stories just don't make sense - Dari is an older version of Farsi, it's true, but it''s not so ancient that people say "entomb thyself' instead of "take cover" as Ms Shah claims Afghans do. If Ms Shah met an Afghan who wanted her to take cover he would say "Hide!" "Get Down!" or "Cover!" He would only tell her to entomb herself if he wanted to her bury herself. It makes a quaint story about ancient languages and confusions cased by language, but it isn't true (I asked one of guards who work her at my office in Kabul, and who was previously a soldier for15 years and he agreed). By Ms. Shah's own admission her Dari wasn't so great, which makes me question if she would have understood an archaic command such as "entomb thyself," even if someone had spoken it. I also doubt that Ms.Shah spent so much time in men's clothes without anyone noticing - if she didn't have a beard, or stubble, or know how to pray with the men, they would eventually notice. From a distance I'm sure she blended in, and it would work short-term, but if she kept up for too long her secret would be out. I'm sure she did travel in men's gear, but I'm also sure it wasn't for as long as she implied, or as successfully. I used to "cross dress" in Saudi and it took abut 20 minutes before the strangers around me in the junk souk were certain I wasn't a man. There are may other such instances I doubt Ms. Shah truthfulness and stories that are too good to be true. (I was so angry when I was reading the book that I kept a list), but in the interest of a somewhat shorter review I'll stop at those examples. More generally, I find it unlikely that Ms. Shah's experience always fit so neatly into a "story,"or that her stock character friends (the rebellious Afghan girl who wants to be free, the prescient professor who sees the dangers ahead but is ignored by leaders etc.) always had the "inside scoop" and told it to her in short sound bites capturing the entire situation, or that she so frequently found herself in a situation so perfectly primed for maximum effect.
   
   
   The only part of the book that is not like this is near the end, when Ms. Shah brings a television crew to film two girls (she included them in an earlier news piece after their mother was raped and killed in front of them, and the resulting interest in their fate from paying news agencies promoted a return trip to try and help them and tape said efforts for a TV channel), by providing schooling for them, only to find them afraid to leave home and their father reluctant to let them go. This was messy, morally compromising and a without a real resolution, which makes me think it is the most true section of the book. The rest is neat, pat, a little funny sometimes tragic, and, in my opinion, almost always "enhanced," if not completely fabricated.
   
   In short read one of the many, many good books out there by the many, many truthful writer based in fact. They might not be quite so perfect and their writers not quite so in the middle of thing, but they are also more likely to be true, and you will therefore get more out of them.



4. Part memoir, part reportage, this beautifully written book is also an inquiry into the nature of myth, identity, and the limits of human endurance. Born in England and raised on the memories of her Afghan father's homeland, the author journeys as a young journalist to Afghanistan during the Soviet Occupation in the 1980s, traveling with the mujahidin rebels, who with massive infusions of weapons from the CIA eventually drive out the Russians and then quickly succumb again to an equally destructive civil war and the inevitable tyranny of the Taliban. A witness to these struggles and the widespread human misery they caused, Shah is present again in 2002 as the Americans retaliate in response to the 9/11 attacks.
   
   Through it all, she ponders her deep identification with the people of this war-torn land, fired by the cultural myths that have sustained them through millenia of invasions, occupations, and civil strife, where fierce tribal allegiances and a fatalistic fearlessness make death, brutality, and suffering a common experience. Over a period of 15 years, her belief in the myths is tested, and she begins to fully comprehend not only the immensity of the human cost of the war but the extreme difficulty of making a difference for those of its casualties most in need of help.
   
   Writing with a skilled reporter's powers of acute observation and an ability to convey images of people, places, and events in vivid and compelling prose, Shah interweaves stories, Afghan poems and sayings, and even humor, with accounts of her work as a journalist behind the lines. Readers unfamiliar with the last 50 years of Afghan history may be disoriented as Shah tells her own story, skipping as it does from one point in time to another. But read along with books like Christina Lamb's "The Sewing Circles of Herat" and Jason Eliot's "An Unexpected Light," she provides insights into her subject that are revealing, moving, and often riveting. Definitely recommended.



5. This book is one of the best books I have read. It was touching and made me realise what an amazing life Saira Shah has led. After I closed the book, I could not pick up annother book for a couple of days - I did not want to spoil the feeling it had left me with. This book will move you, make you think and touch you.
   I loved it!

2 comments about James Mason: Odd Man Out.

1. This is a reasonably good, though dry, effort at examining the life of the mellifluous-voiced British actor, James Mason. The book is paced well and there is a fair amount of information on most of his movies. However, there is a lack of information on Mason's personal life, especially regarding his unusual first marriage to the ascerbic Pamela Mason.

   Though Pamela Mason was a loud-mouthed and shrewish adulteress, she was also extremely witty and interesting in her own right. Anyone who recalls her appearences on L.A. TV shows from the 60's and 70's will still chuckle at her endless tirades, usually ending with the predictable sentence, "James was so dull."

   This book actually provides convincing evidence that James *was* boring. Mason comes off as depressed, rigid, indecisive and inrodinately unhappy. He makes many poor choices and instead of getting over them and getting on with his life, he broods about the negative consequences of his actions. For example, he moves to Hollywood and instantly detests California and American life, yet he inexplicably continues to live in the States for another 15 years. Hello, James... what was the problem?

   It is never explained why James stayed with Pamela for so many years, even when he was miserable in her presence and unhappy living in America. When he finally does divorce her, he ends up shilling out millions in alimony and making a succession of wretched movies in order to pay off Pamela.

   Ultimately, the real tragedy is that a man as intelligent, urbane and handsome as James Mason (not to mention his stupendous voice!) handled his career in such a haphazard way. He was a marvelous screen actor, but wasted his talent in many potboilers. This book doesn't really explain these poor choices and doesn't reveal enough about Mason's private life.




2. I really enjoyed this biography by Sheridan Morley on James Mason. It is really good, and tells much about his life, but more about his career. It's a very good read though, and you will learn about him from it. It's well written and really is an interesting read for any fan of James Mason.

5 comments about The Prisoner's Wife.

1. This book was excellent. I never thought that poetry and prose could flow together so fluidly. This book was chosen for my book club some time ago. Asha was vulnerable and real. She was figuritively and literally the wife of a prisoner. Rashid was her husband as well as her bondage. As a high school student perusing the life of this complete stranger I was empathetic to her pain. If you have ever searched for completion in your life or been held hostage by your heart this is a book that you can follow and a life you can relate to.



2. The most powerful thing about this book is the author's honesty and bravery. She reveals intimate details about herself, and the experience of her marriage, which could not have been easy. I think those that will get the most out of her memoirs are those who are in this situation, or who know someone that is. It's for those who have felt the affect of a system that works to rip out the roses in the weeds, when roses are so, so needed in this world. How those injustices add to the overwhelming inequities involved in every aspect of our broken system and affects people so distasterously. So unnecessarily.
   
   In spite of her poetic explanations, there are parts of this book that I was not able to understand or identify with (such as the privilege of conjugals, seeking out other men outside your marriage). However, I do respect her attempt to speak out about most of the issues involved with a very large group of women out there that have a very small voice. Bravo.



3. I have read the prisoner's wife, and it breaks my heart to think that a educated woman such as asha could believe that being with a man in prison is a love story. I too am the wife of a prisoner, my son's father have been in prison for over 20 years. We have been married for over 12 years, the experience for me is anything but pleasant. Often times I am lonely and frustrated. And sometimes I have to pretend to be "alright", just to protect him, when really deep inside I am hurting, and need to be understood. Alot of people do not know that I am married.For me, saying that my husband is an inmate, is not anything to proud of. I think it is a shame for a woman, such as Asha, to put out in words that marrying someone in prison is ideal. Alot of men in prison our very selfish. They're in no position to be a husband.



4. I loved this book. Certain audiences may be more receptive then others. It takes an open mind to read, I saw one reviewer who felt prisoners should live isolated lives. Until you have a family member go through the judicial system, you would be ignorant and unable to speak on this real life ordeal.
   Asha has a poet's voice. The way she describes her feelings, her surroundings and her love is beautiful. I cried several times while reading this book. It was all too real. Their love was the same, genuine, deep, heart wrenching.
   The ending was shocking to me. I couldnt put it down. I would recommend it to say the least!



5. Although the title of my review is a bit cliche this book made me cry. It's a true love story. You can feel the pain and triumph in this realtionship and it is a genuine portrait of love in the worst of circumstances.

3 comments about Kitchen Privileges: Memoirs of a Bronx Girlhood.

1. In Kitchen Privileges, suspense writer Mary Higgins Clark writes about her formative years and the first half of her adult life. She does through through a series of vignettes and stories, showing the places, people and experiences that influenced her.
   
   Her tone is honest, but modest, and often funny. Sometimes it assumes the tone of someone recollecting their favorite scenes from life, scenes which have a lot of meaning to the teller, but not so much to the listener. But Clark's spirit dances throughout the memoir, a spirit that gave her the persistence to continue writing despite years of rejections, to write, work and raise five children, to pursue her interests and values in an era where women were not given much freedom, and to continue to find joy even after the deaths of her parents, husband, brother-in-law, and all siblings.
   
   The audio CDs are read by Clark herself, making her story very personal. Kitchen Privileges is worthwhile listening (or reading) for Clark fans or for those interested in a woman's life in mid-twentieth century America. For younger listeners, it's an interesting personal account of an era so different from today.



2. Does any reader have to be told who Mary Higgins Clark is? I think not. But, now with this remarkably candid and affecting memoir the author of 27 bestselling novels tells her personal story. Not only that, this recollection is related in her own voice, making it all the more meaningful. Rather than through a fictional protagonist she speaks directly to us with words of encouragement and hope.

   Beginning with a childhood in the Bronx during the Depression Ms. Clark had dreams - she dreamed of becoming a writer, and her mother encouraged her even though the older woman struggled to make ends meet by renting out rooms. A sign was placed by the front door reading, "Furnished Rooms. Kitchen Privileges."

   Ms. Clark's days as a student at an exclusive girl's school came to an end; she lost an older brother whom she deeply loved during World War II. She tells with affection and sensitivity of her marriage to Warren Clark, and the birth of their children. A devastating blow occurred when he died unexpectedly leaving her widowed with five young children.

   Nonetheless, she soldiered on, writing at a kitchen table. For her labors? Forty rejections. Determined to reach her goal and support her family she wrote radio scripts and began work on a novel.

   The rest is literary history. Ms. Clark generously shares her life experiences, reminding us that dreams can come true when someone is willing to persist and fight mightily for them.

   - Gail Cooke




3. A surprising glimpse into the world of Mary Higgins Clark from her childhood which took a sad turn with the early death of her father. Her mother then was forced to rent out rooms (with kitchen privileges)in order to try to make ends meet. Some of their tenants were interesting to say the least.

   Before marrying, Ms. Clark was an airline stewardess and she has a few interesting stories about that. She married the man she had had a crush on and was blissfully happy until he suffered a fatal heart attack leaving her with 5 children.

   She writes about her struggles to become published and also of her fantastic life since.

   The only thing wrong with the book is that it is so brief. Like I said at the beginning, we only get a glimpse into the life of this fascinating woman.

5 comments about Kiss and Make-Up.

1. I took off a star from Mr. Simmons' book due to his tale being distracted by women and his patronizing of other members and self-aggrandizing tone. I highly reccomend this book to people who are planning to become self-starting business moguls, because in the end, that's all Kiss is: an enterprise. Music doesn't fit much in the picture here; Simmons isn't known for his prowess in that respect, and doesn't deny it.
   
   I highly respect Gene because like many self starters, he is very clear from beginning to end concerning his goals in life: this is crucial to becoming an enterprising individual who leads the pack. No one can question Mr. Simmons' drive and work ethic; it takes a lot of work to make a business last over thirty years, let alone one. Gene kept Kiss together, and was very skilled at keeping difficult cats and spacepeople satisfied (smile).
   You have to give him credit for his unbelievable ego, and extremely positive outlook on his life.
   
   As I mentioned earlier, this book would have been a classic if Gene didn't ramble on so much about women, and his band members' difficulties; these distractions made the book boring in my opinion. What makes this book an essential read is that Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley are undoubtedly KISS; Gene made the band legendary, not just because of his Demon image, but his determination and insight. Classic American capitalism!



2. KISS started out with a ton of fans who bought their albums and each person buying one record a year lifted the band out of debt and poverty. From 1977 onward, the marketing machine took over. As the fan base has continued to shrink, Gene's approach has been to continue to make money not by selling to more people, but rather by continuing to release more product to a shrinking fan base. In order to keep churning out unique product to the same group of fans, he's had to greatly diversify the junk he offers (from coffins to condoms). This book is another in his series of mediocre items that are mainly meant to keep feeding the small audience that is still hungry to collect all things KISS. The book, like many of KISS's merchandise, doesn't have to be good. It just has to be KISS.
   
   The main problem is Gene is so insincere or evasive on those points the fans may most want to know about that the book becomes boring. He's more a politician than an author as he protects the relationships that matter by withholding any information that may alienate the involved parties (Paul Stanley, Shannon Tweed, Cher, Diana Ross) by either glossing over them or failing to offer any depth. He's fine to criticize those who no longer serve his needs (Peter Criss, Ace Frehley). In most cases where the reader might perceive he's "revealing" something, it's a case of "been there, done that" as most of that information has already been talked about in interviews before.
   
   All in all, if you're a fan and have some cash leftover after buying your KISS coffee mugs, T-shirts, and toothbrushes, you'll want to add this to your junk heap. Otherwise, you'll probably want to give it a miss.



3. I bought this book for my son-in-law as he is a big fan of KISS. He said the book was very informative and very entertaining.



4. This book is well written and will hold your interest til the end. Gene fairly tells everything from his side about Kiss and there is alot of interesting bits on Ace and Peter.



5. YES! Gene Simmons book is boring. I was expecting more detail when telling of past relationships. I know Gene lived with Cher and Diana, but that's it?!? I know Gene has had sex with thousands of women, but that's it?!? I know Shannon is the love of Genes' life, but that's it?!? I was expecting a book I couldn't put down. Instead I bought I book I had trouble finishing.

5 comments about Been There, Done That.

1. Tawdry, icky, and weirdly self-aggrandizing while being self-degrading at the same time (he was bigger than Elvis, and he was a terrible father who also let his career go to hell). The book is rather compelling up through the end of his marriage to Elizabeth, and the rest comes off mainly as a tell-all (and I do mean 'tell all,' with a 'more than I really wanted to know' quality) concerning all the women he's been involved with from one-offs to longer romances. He has little good to say about almost anyone, and Debbie Reynolds gets the worst of it. One thing the book is seriously lacking in is photos. The one photo section has very few pages, although there are some other pictures included at the beginning of each chapter.



2. I enjoyed the book. I may not have agreed with some of his statements but...it's his book. A bit self-serving.
   However, I did want to read it and Amazon filled my order quickly and I was reading within a few days. I've never had any problems with Amazon and look forward buying my books from them.



3. I have never been interested in Eddie Fisher for any reason. All i know of him is that Elizabeth Taylor says he is the only husband she ever hated, that he was Married to connie stevens ( who i had even LESS interest in) that he was Carrie Fishers father and Debbie Reynolds husband and He sang, and he was Jewish. That was about it. This book was a breath of fresh air. It was candid, funny, witty, had enough insight to be interesting and enough regret to make this man highly likable.
   So what if he exaggerated? at one time he WAS a big star, and say what you will, he obviously DID get many of these women to fall in love with him, and he probably did it with that tremendous ego and charm. How else did this Little Jewish boy from Philly end up as one of the biggest players of Hollywood for Decades? The only bitter note of the whole book is His feelings about Debbie Reynolds, and even that i believe is honest and from his perspective understandable. I do believe most of what he has written. It has the ring of truth throughout the entire book. If you find it outrageous its because most autobiographies are completely edited and even bio's are edited for salacious content. These people really did live that way and the more i read about old hollywood, the more astounded i am.
   So eddie fisher bragged about himself, so what? Why would anyone read about Eddie Fisher's life and then complain that he lacked morals? Did you NOT know this going into it? Did you think you were reading Eleanor Roosevelt's Bio? Frankly he has quite the life story even if HALF of what he says was true. Wish he'd write another.



4. yes, Eddie Fisher is full of himself. yes, Eddie Fisher is a has been(since the 1960's). yes, much of the book was tmi(too much info). i get it.
   
   don't hate the playa, hate the game. lol
   
   it is good trash. enjoyable, light, something to do instead of watching "I Love Lucy" reruns.



5. I liked this book. There is a lot in it. Not just gossip from one side but how life was during that time period for people in Hollywood. It was not a boring book. A real page turner and well written. While I might not agree that everything in the book happened exactly as accounted... it is Eddie Fishers story and his perception of how it occured and how he felt about it.

No comments about JFK: Reckless Youth Part 1.

3 comments about If I Live to be 100.

1. I have decided which of these beautiful people I want to be when I turn 100.



2. If you are an NPR fan you probably recall the Neenah Ellis series on centenarians, and if you liked that then you'll love this audio book. (You can listen to samples at NPR or the "If I Live to Be 100" website.) You won't find many tips on how to cope with aging except for possibly the most important clue - there are no 100-year-old pessimists. This is mostly a "slice of life" study of several people at or above 100 years old, with intriguing glimpses into the author's own life and interview process. The parts that really came alive for me were the centenarians speaking of how life was different "in the old days". I listened to this in the car over several days, and often sat at my destination with the car running because I didn't want to stop listening. After enjoying this audio version, check out the book's website for photos of the people interviewed.



3. Though Ellis intended to write about the centenarians' memories of the past, she found that these insightful and wise men and women preferred to talk about the present and the future. Their words contain the formula for living well. This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to live fully or wishes to become a better journalist.

2 comments about Jules Verne: An Exploratory Biography.

1. Several books on Jules Verne (1828-1905) have been translated from French into English, including biographies by Verne's cousin (1928) and grandson (1976), and a study of the political themes in Verne's novels by Jean Chesneaux (1972). Now, for the first time, the reverse has occurred: a book on Jules Verne originally written in English has been translated into his native language. Sadly, Herbert R. Lottman's new biography of Verne, also published in France (in a translation by Marianne Véron), is not worthy of holding such a distinctive position in Verne studies. Although described by St. Martin's Press on the dust jacket as the first "modern biography" of Verne ever written, there is a long tradition of writing about the author, not only in French, but in English as well.
   Lottman offers little literary analysis of Verne's works, and that which is present is cursory and often ill-considered. While the details of Verne's life are more developed, they are frequently marred by the author's determination to indulge in amateur Freudian analysis and to draw often highly questionable conclusions from his biographical data.
   Generally, Lottman's discussion of Verne's writing is shallow, seldom extending beyond simple plot analysis. There is little evidence that Lottman has personally studied Verne's more than sixty novels and many additional short stories, plays, non-fiction, speeches, and poems. Approaching Verne's books in chronological order, Lottman makes little effort to examine the links between the works or the broader themes and narrative formulae which characterize Verne's oeuvre as a whole. Important issues such as narrative structure, 19th-century ideology, and stylistic innovation in Verne's works discussed over the past few decades by writers and scholars on both sides of the Atlantic are almost totally ignored (despite the fact that the author cites many of these critical works in his endnotes).
   Lottman does not elucidate the cultural conditions that have played such a large role in determining Verne's literary reputation, nor does he attempt to explain how Verne still remains a best-selling author in this context. His observations on Verne's influence on science, culture, and literature are perfunctory.
   Lottman does occasionally raise tantalizing questions about Verne's personal life, but despite his subtitle, An Exploratory Biography, many of these points are then never investigated. For instance, Verne wrote to his brother in 1893: "You and I both committed an enormous and irreparable blunder; you know which one, without having to be specific. Tear up this letter. But what a life we'd have had, without that blunder." Despite Lottman's dwelling on Verne's anti-semitism, he fails to examine the impact of Jules and his son Michel's different reactions to the Dreyfuss Affair; Lottman is typically content merely to say, "it was not the only time a family split over Dreyfuss".
   Instead of using such material as a key to exploring Verne's creative psyche, Lottman chooses to classify him according to a preformulated psychological profile. He sprinkles the book with bits of Freudian analysis, but never fully develops this methodology so that it might lead to a full portrait of Verne the man or writer. Lottman labels Verne an "anal" personality, which
   is used as a catch-all justification to explain such diverse matters as Verne's worries about income and the spendthrift proclivities of his son Michel.
   With this book, Lottman lives up to his reputation for meticulous attention to detail, although at times he seems to dwell on minutiae. For a nonacademic, commercial writer, Lottman has done an impressive quantity of research, taking advantage of the Verne libraries in Amiens and Nantes. He has thoroughly perused the well-indexed Bulletin de la Société Jules Verne, a quarterly which, since the 1960s, has published scholarly articles and primary texts about Verne. Extensive endnotes cover twenty-three pages in the English edition, and thirty pages in the French edition.
   To Lottman's credit, he does follow in the footsteps of many French Verne scholars to correct a number of factual errors that have appeared in earlier Verne biographies, and incorporates much of what has been discovered in the two decades since Jean Jules-Verne's biography. Lottman is much interested in the business details of Verne's life, as might be expected from one also who
   makes his living by his pen, and these financial matters receive a full airing. He provides the first thorough account in any English-language biography of Verne's collaborations with Adolphe d'Ennery on turning his novels into plays. On the other hand, Lottman offers little discussion of Verne's occasional collaboration on novels with Paschal Grousset (André Laurie), or of
   the role played by Verne's son Michel in the composition of the posthumous Voyages Extraordinaires. In the last decade, the original manuscripts have appeared in print, revealing that the first versions published in the decade after Verne's death were extensively rewritten by, and in some cases originated with, Michel.
   Lottman's prose is generally highly readable and engaging. He has labored to produce what he clearly intends to be the definitive biography of Verne. He has accumulated a wide array of data, but has been unable to synthesize this mass of information in a meaningful way. Lottman's book is especially disappointing because the time is so ripe for an account that would fuse the new biographical discoveries about Verne with the many insights of recent Vernian literary criticism. By analyzing the strictly material side of Verne's life, Lottman has neglected the creative talents and the well-springs of imagination that produced the fiction for which Verne is remembered. Those readers seeking to understand the reasons why Verne is one of the most widely translated and enduringly popular authors of all time will find little explanation in this biography.



2. Jules Verne has been one of my favorites authors since I first read his "Journey to the center of the earth". Combining the prophetic scientifical ideas and the masterly skill of a storyteller, Verne never fails to astound and fascinates his readers.

   Although not an "juvenile" any more, I still from time to time grabbed one of his books from my bookshelf and regaled myself with his captivating voyages. I always wonder how can a man have all those great ideas; are they derived from his imagination or his industrious study on science?

   Now Lottman's book partly answers the question and solves the mystery of Jules Verne, whose public image is often out of accord with his real life. Lottman's research, including a lot of Verne and his family and his friends' correspondences, is detailed and authoritive.

   Many anecdotes are interesting. For example: the idea of "Twenty thousands leagues under the sea" was first suggested by George Sand! In his youth, Verne exceled in Greek and literature but his scores on physics and chemistry were often poor. And, many books of Verne are influenced by Hetzel, Verne's book publisher, whose opinion often changed the plot of the whole story; captain Nemo, whose identity had been originally a Pole sworn to revenging the russia, but due to Hetzel, was finally changed into a Indian prince.

   However, this book does not make one truly "understand" the character of the founding father of SF. Intending to be objective, Lottman does not judge Verne but only lists all relating facts that, after a lot of exhausting descriptions, we sometimes still do not know the true character of Jules Verne and many strange incidents about him: why should a cousin(Gaston Verne) shoot his uncle(Jules Verne) and make him lame for the rest of his life? What's really wrong with Jules Verne's son, Michel Verne? We read a lot of scathing reprimands about the latter from the former's letters but still don't know the reason. Was Michel Verne really a prodigal or had he commited some horrible crime, which must be kept a secret?

   In spite of the weaknesses mentioned above, Lottman's biography still deserves reading, especilly for those longtime Verne's Fans. Though the master's life is still an enigma, this book at least shed some light on it.

2 comments about Thalberg: Life and Legend.

1. "Why is it that the great ones always go first, while the schmiels live to be 100?" - Groucho Marx said when hearing of Thalberg's early death.
   
   Irving Thalberg was born with a weak heart. Doctors said he wouldn't live past the age of 30. He lived 7 years beyond that, and his extreme sense of urgency made him accomplish quality work with more regularity than any producer in film history.
   
   Able to read letters, and hold meetings in his office simultaneously, with no loss of comprehension - and often mistaken as an office assistant by newcomers, Thalberg earned the nickname "The Boy Wonder."
   
   Bob Thomas' biography (originally published in the 1960's) remains the 'definitive' biography on Thalberg. This dubious honor comes from the fact that there aren't many publications available about Thalberg to begin with. Thomas has the market cornered.
   
   Thalberg's motto: "Credit you give yourself is not worth having" illustrates his modesty. He rarely wrote letters, made sure to stay away from the press, and never placed his name in the credits of his own pictures. This lack of material makes biography-writing difficult.
   
   The most insightful passages of this book are from Thalberg himself: a section of a speech he gave to a group of UCLA college students on "The Art of the Photoplay", and an article titled "Why Films Cost So Much" printed in a trade magazine.
   
   Four-fifths of the book is good. Filled with many anecdotes about the making of Ben-Hur (silent version), Grand Hotel, Freaks, Mutiny On The Bounty, etc. And also the 'making' of certain stars: Greta Garbo, Norma Shearer, and Clark Gable to name a few. Studios held all the power in those days, concerning publicity. And they (i.e. Thalberg, and Mayer) decided how to market their actors and actresses. More than once, stories are told about Thalberg deftly handling newspapermen when they smelled a possible scandal in the air.
   
   One complaint: The book's editor should've pulled a Thalberg, and cut Part 1 of this book, dumping it on the floor faster than footage from an unwieldy von Stroheim project. Three chapters are spent on F. Scott Fitzgerald writing his final (and incomplete) novel, "The Last Tycoon." Granted, "The Last Tycoon" is an excellent book, and the character Monroe Stahr is largely based on Irving Thalberg...but spending 3 chapters on this? Cut it! It rambles on pointlessly like some college thesis on the demise of Fitzgerald and the loss of the American Dream.
   
   Good book overall. But, then again, with so little material 'out there' on Thalberg, ANY information on The Boy Wonder is welcome.
   
   Also recommend:
   *The film MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES (1957) - biopic on Lon Chaney (James Cagney). Features a few scenes between Chaney and Thalberg (played by Robert J. Evans - selected personally by Thalberg's widow to play the part.)
   
   *The book MEMO FROM DAVID O. SELZNICK, a first-person account of producing films during Hollywood's 'Golden Age.'



2. I enjoyed reading this biography about one of my favorite movie people, Irving Thalberg, the boy genius of MGM. I was able to learn about his relationship with Lois B. Mayer, how he worked his way up in the business and how he shaped the careers of many Hollywood stars.
   Bob Thomas gives us an insight into the Hollywood of the 20s and 30s. The pictures of Irving Thalberg with, among others, Norma Shearer, are really good. I liked being able to take a look at Thalberg's office, since I had often wondered what that looked like.
   Most people thought very well of Irving Thalberg and were sad when he died young, at the age of 37. This, I think, is a rarity in Hollywood. The man deserved a longer life.