5 comments about Edie: American Girl.

1. This book is interesting. It is a little hard to follow because of the way it is written and some of the pictures are a little vulgar but I guess that sums up Edie. It is worth a read for anyone interested in this poor girl. There is something so so sad but so fabulous about her.



2. Great photos, great commentary from those who knew Edie on the most personal levels. Great and eye opening accounts of what it was like to live in the sixties, the drug use, the sex, the music, the scene. Really great book that I'm thrilled to add to my library.



3. When the movie "Factory Girl" (god-awful by the way) came out, it renewed my interest in this book and Edie Sedgwick. My interest in her dates back to when I first bought this book, way back in 1982. The test of a great book is that is grows richer and deeper upon re-reading. And this one does.
   
   At first, this was simply the story of a notorious party girl. Upon re-reading (I've read this countless times), "Edie" becomes the story of how the thread of mental illness traveled through generations. This book is truly unforgettable and haunting. And I'm sure, while suffering another bout of boredom, I'll read it again. - Siouxie
   P.S. Someone should give this book to Britney Spears. She's traveling the same path at age 25; Edie was dead at 28.



4. Book came very quickily (within 2 days) in excellent condition. I would buy from this resource again.



5. 
   yikes. what a tragic tale. incredible book. incredibly sad.

5 comments about The Sound of Music Companion.

1. I bought this book for my daughter who is a Sound of Music affectionado. She loved the book and all the background materials provided.



2. The Sound of Music Companion by Laurence Malson, Andrew Lloyd Webber should be owned by all who enjoyed the movie.
   
   
   Thanks



3. This is a wonderful book for THE SOUND OF MUSIC enthusiast. Lots of great background information and photographs. Thank you.



4. Wonderful! Very complete compilation of many sources regarding the Sound of Music. Covers not only the movie, but also the stageplay, the history behind the script and music, and the history of the Von Trapps themselves. The pictures are absolutely beatiful! There are stills from the movie, from the original Broadway cast, from many Broadway revivals, as well as many behind the scenes shots. This is a must have for anybody who loves the story of the Sound of Music.



5. Lawrence Maslon should be thanked and congratulated for offering a concise and informative Sound of Music book. Although there have been a few Sound of Music books written in the past, this book is probably the first of its kind to tell the story in a concise manner. The Hirsch book on the film and the reissued Max Wilk book on the stage show were great books in their own right, but I think this book tops them all.
   
   Although the numerous photos are the draw of this coffee-table book, a coffee-table book should offer much more than pretty photographs. For this it certainly delivers. His meticulously researched, well-written text tells us the whole Sound of Music story from Maria's birth to the first Austrian stage production in 2005. This book covers all important stops in the history of SOM up till now, and does not dwell too long on any one time period. An added treat is the inclusion of song lyrics and commentaries on the songs, explaining how they were written and what role they played in the musical. I admit there are a few typo errors in the text, but this well-researched book is jam-packed with facts of the musical. You could literally dip your teeth into it and come out a Sound of Music junkie. I do wish there were also lyrics and commentaries for I Have Confidence, So Long, Farewell and also The Lonely Goatherd.
   
   In short, a really great Sound of Music book that makes a splendidd addition to any Sound of Music collection, except that the print tends to be a little too small for the size of the book. Otherwise, a really wonderful book from cover to cover, and a seminal work in the entire world of this well-loved musical. I think this is a book that deserves to be in print forever.

5 comments about Stella Adler - The Art of Acting: preface by Marlon Brando compiled and edited by Howard Kissel (Applause Acting Series).

1. i got this book to help me in my acting classes. I started reading it and i had a highlighter whith which i was planning to underline all the important stuff. Well i ccould not stop highlighting; every single paragraph in this book is pure genius. I already started developing as an actress more efficiently and faster than i used to, i wish i met her before she died...
   
   the only criticism...she is too abrupt. She is harsh with you. even if she does not kknow you personally, she stil attacks the young actor. this can be rude, but her directions are always right. If u are an actor, you NEED this book. Acting teachers should read it too. I had some horrible teachers in my life



2. This is one of the best books I read in 2006. It was recommended to me by a professional speaker who promised that the insights in the book were useful to not just professional actors, but rang true for any profession. He was right, this is a must read for business professionals, as well as the actors.
   
   I read it with vigor and was thrilled to see the wisdom in each paragraph. I have recommended this book to friends who have thanked me for linking them up with this amazing publication.
   
   If you are considering reading this book, just do it.



3. This is going to the top of the "books my kids must read" when they are going off to college or leaving home. This book is a supposedly a series of Stella Adler's lectures about acting, but it is also very inspirational as a series of lectures about how to live.
   
   Addler says that "The whole thing about acting is to give. The actor must above everything be generous. He doesn't hoard his riches...But before you can be giving and magnanimous, you must have something to give. Ideas don't come from your legs. They don't come from your voice. They come from your mind. The theatre is built on developing your mind. It's an education for your mind."
   
   She works on critical seeing, self-awareness, discipline, self-control - skills that are important to everyone, not just actors. She discusses the importance of developing your imagination, "Eventually your imaginative reach will extend to other things, until you can say, I know how it feels to be in mourning, how it feels to be isolated, what it means to be abandoned, what it's like to be engaged or to be married." She means this in the context of acting on stage, but for the non-actor, it translates into becoming truly empathetic, to being able to truly understand and communicate with others.
   
   Every page is full of memorable comments:
   
   "You must be aware that even a subject of profound importance can be trivialized and degraded if you haven't the energy and interest to match it."
   
   "Sometimes, when a husband and a wife go on a trip together, he might say, "My God! Do you know what that is? Why that's Notre Dame!" and she replies, "Yes I know. I can see it." They are seeing in Notre Dame something entirely different. As actors you must make everything you see come alive."
   
   "You will fail. That's great. Here's a secret for you - that's the only way you can learn. Learning has to cost you something."
   
   And on and on and on! She must have been such a strong, amazing woman, so completely different from anyone in my own solidly suburban middle class life. It is profoundly uplifting to hear her voice through the pages of this book. I highly, highly recommend this book.



4. This book was recommended to me by my mentor and coach Bob Proctor (watch DVD "The Secret"!!!) as an inspiring read for living the life I want.
   Receiving the book and spending an hour disappearing in it, leaning with my partner (it was her birthday gift) over the kitchen counter forgetting time while being totally absorbed by the Truth these pages contain.
   A must have in every serious library!
   Acting? Yeah, learn to ACT! Right action is what propels us forward in life. Why not learn from a pro?!!



5. Stella Adler was considered one of the best (perhaps the best) acting teachers of all time. This books give concrete ways to become a better actor and, I believe, at the same time become a more fully developed human being. It is an inspiring book full of wisdom and thought provoking ideas. Definitely worthwhile.

4 comments about The Chicago World's Fair of 1893: A Photographic Record (Dover Architectural Series).

1. this book by far is my favorite book on the worlds fair the detail and quality of the book is amazing. this is a great buy



2. Beautiful photos and thoughtful text. This book does a nice job of condensing the story and mood of the fair into a quick and easy to read format. I own several books about the fair and while some have more photos, this is still my favorite. A must have for those interested in the Columbian Exposition, Chicago history and architecture. The vastness of the White City is something I can scarcely imagine. I especially appreciated that the author details the fates of many of the fair's artistic treasures as well as discussing the changed landscape of the geographical site of the fair.



3. A beautiful collection of images, showing the wonders of the 1893 fair. A great look back.



4. One book leads to another. After reading The Devil in the White City, I wanted to see the Exposition described in the book. It definitely was an amazing sight to see and this book satisfied most of that curiosity. To go one better, I might look for a book that goes even further into that time in life. The city is every bit the accomplishment as described in the afore mentioned book. Where is the America of that artful integrity, that is, to do the best that can be accomplished? Gone to disposable products including much of architecture.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ballroom Dancing, DVD Edition (Complete Idiot's Guide to).

1. This book uses a lot of words, but fails to make clear how to master a dance step. Disappointing. It makes a good coffee table book (one leg was shorter than the rest.)



2. I had high hopes when I bought this book. I have never danced before so perhaps that is why after reading it, I did not think this book was entirely for dummies who did not know how to dance. The book had much advice about dancing and the preparatory stages before dancing, but when it came down to the actual explanations of dancing it was difficult for me to follow the sequences especially looking at a book while trying to copy what it said. I felt it focused to much on the wedding day event, which is old news for someone who has been married for a while- perhaps including a section about how to animate a reluctant spouse to dance would have been more appropriate! The book wasn't the main disappointment. It was the DVD. I had hoped for more explicit instruction when viewing the DVD and there was none. He spoke some advice during the clips but did not explain what was going on. It was like watching a performance which although beautiful to behold was still mysterious. Not having had any prior dancing experience but lots of desire to want to teach myself, I suppose I expected too much from this book and it left me naturally let down. Those who have some dancing experience will find this book much more enjoyable and will benefit from it more fully.



3. This book will take you through the basic patterns of popular social dances and does a fairly adept job of doing so. This is purely a footwork book, as there is little mention of styling, but for the absolute novice it will get you out on the dance floor.
   
   I particularly enjoyed the section on rhythm and the emphasis that dancing is about doing the same motion, the exact same way every time, so you don't really have to have rhythm to dance, you just need to perform the same motion the same way consistently. I have a friend struggling with this same issue in his dancing and recommended this book to him, with the practice exercises included, to help him improve.
   
   All in all, a well written book for the novice dancer and one I recommend.



4. If you are taking lessons and are serious about putting some hard work into learning how to dance then this book is a great resource. As a 50-ish beginner, I loved the background information but did skip ahead to the "lessons", only to come back later and see how important the background and foundations were! Like anything else, there are no shortcuts if you want a quality result. You're not going to pick this book up and be dancing in a week, any more than you could learn to paint a landscape or play the piano in a week. Dancing is music, art and body control. Idiots, - It takes practice!
   One suggestion: I would like to have seen some footwork diagrams as many "Idiots", like myself, need a visual diagram in addition to photos and the lengthy "Step" descriptions.



5. To bo honest I have not read much of the book, I started dance classes (ballroom and latin)about 2months ago and I am able to pick up the moves pretty fast cause I love it. So I focussed more on the CD here which I was very impressed with. It was more than I expected to find, covering a few basics two or three patterns per dance, having a little knowledge of dance already it was a nice review and practise. However to thos of you that are interested in the book you will find explanations for both the man and woman's steps and also pictures as guidelines covering waltz, foxtrot,tango, viennese waltz, rumba, merengue, samba, cha-cha, mambo, east coast swing...that's a good spread for your money, of course the Cd is necessary to also help explain.

5 comments about Hollywood Babylon: The Legendary Underground Classic of Hollywood's Darkest and Best Kept Secrets.

1. Kenneth Anger paints a sinister, evil picture of a Hollywood that chews its "stars" up and spits them out. How can you not feel sorry for Frances Farmer and Fatty Arbuckle? I believe you judge a tree by its fruits, from the mindwashing destructive propaganda that Hollywood spews out to the many screwed up people that work in the business as performers, some of whom deserve to be scorned, some deserve your pity. Either way its a poisonous fruit that this tree bares. Hollywood covers a time period from the 1920s to the 1950s so don't think that human catastrophes like Britney Spears or Anna Nicole Smith are anything but different versions of the same song.



2. Well I must admit the 55 year old gossiping church lady came out in this 21 year old male while reading this entire book in one sitting. Very VERY insightful and just down right juicy stories, the only problem that i have is that the author takes certain things as facts that are either wildly contested or outright discredited. The bulk of my problems stem from the Roscoe Arbuckle story, it seems that the author is completely on this "lynch fatty" tirade acting like poor Virginia didn't know what hit her. When almost every expert agrees today that he was done very wrong and his life was ruined because some people wanted to make a quick buck off of a woman's death. Other than that though these are very insightful tales and lets face it we love tales of sex, suicide, murder, and all other forms of debauchery so do yourself a favor and read this book.



3. Kenneth Anger's hollywood babylon is the kind of book you can pick up and put down at any time.. I find it interesting to page through before or after I watch one of the older movies of hollywood's golden age.. I can't get enough of this sort of look into the dumpster of tinseltown.. the scandals and episodes that have been brushed under the carpet or just are no longer known about.. The list of characters that populate these pages are as colorful as they were glamorous.. and also at times hideous..
   This is not very heavy reading but it is endlessly fascinating..



4. What saves the sensationalistic - not to say trashy and in many places inaccurate - _Hollywood Babylon_ from being a total failure is the huge number of pictures, many shocking and some downright grisly (as in the picture of poor Thelma Todd lying done to death in her car), but mostly fascinating if sometimes nauseating (I'll talk about one of the worst offenders shortly). Which is a good thing, because frankly I want to take a bath every time I read the text to wash off the grime. We all know that Hollywood in its "Golden Age" was a long way removed from the image of saintly morality painted by its self-appointed guardians, the studio moguls - very many of whom had guilty secrets among them - chief among them, but Kenneth Anger seems to take a little too much delight in the sordidity and scandal for my own taste. What makes it worse is that he passes on a number of urban legends rather than do the boring work of get at the truth.
   
   One of the most objectionable myths he fosters in this book, in my view, is the story that Jayne Mansfield was decapitated in the auto accident that took her life in 1967. This is simply not true. There is a ghastly photo in circulation on the web - I won't link to it but those who really want to know can Google for it - that makes it clear that her injuries, while fatal, did not result in the removal of her head. What you see on the car's crumpled hood in that photo (that Anger claims was Mansfield's noggin) is actually her wig. (And did we really need to see that photo of her dead Chihuahua? Ugh.)
   
   If people want a really good book on Hollywood scandals, I strongly suggest they go find James Robert Parish's well-researched, evenhanded, brightly-written _The Hollywood Book of Scandal_ instead. (And that book doesn't contain any photos likely to make you lose your lunch, either!)



5. If you think today's stars are misbehaved, wait til you read this! I couldn't put it down and read it in few days. Anger's style of writing is witty, sarcastic, and will compltely put you back into another era. The book focuses mainly on early, pre-code Hollywood up until Jayne Mansfield's death in 1967. There are so many juicy stories and even morbid details in this book, and tons of awesome pictures. (Although be warned- picture of Jayne Mansfield's car crash and dead dog are depressing and bloody). Includes everyone who was ever anyone- Clara Bow, Carole Landis, Carole Lombard, Marilyn Monroe, Valentino, Novarro, Judy Garland (who died on the toilet), Gary Cooper, William Randolph Hurst, Jayne Mansfield, Charlie Chaplin, etc. etc. etc. All the old legends are in here. Completely worth the price. I just wish there was a newer version.

No comments about The Actor's Art and Craft: William Esper Teaches the Meisner Technique.

3 comments about The Seafarer.

1. I bought this because the Irish brogues were sometimes a little hard to understand on-stage, plus I wanted to relive that delicious second-act card game again (the only way to do that with a play is to read the script). It's great seeing how the actors brought scenes and words to life. I've already loaned this book to others who saw the play before it closed on Broadway this month.



2. The living rooms in "The Homecoming" by Harold Pinter, "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" by Martin McDonagh, and in this play, "The Seafarer" by Conor McPherson are as scroungy, grotty, and disreputable as the males who inhabit these dumpy premises. The house is north of Dublin. Some plays can be read and enjoyed as a partial substitute for seeing a live performance, but after reading this one, I realize it is essential to see a live presentation to get the full import of this play. It is an actor's dream for the current five man ensemble on Broadway because the stage business is as powerful as the lines.
   There is a Faustian pact element to the story. The central focus is on Sharky, a loser, who lives with his blind brother. Two visitors and a mysterious fifth man, Mr. Lockhart, gather together Christmas Eve day and night and get extremely drunk. They play cards, money is lost, and the story opens up to the audience. Some of this is familiar territory, and the plot is not too complicated. Lockhart probably has the best lines, but the other characters would be a joy to watch. There is great comedy here along with the more serious stuff. The characters are beautifully crafted, and they are a decidedly odd bunch. Each one a piece of work in his own peculiar way.
   As in most plays, secrets from the past are unearthed and become grist for the dramatist's mill. When Lockhart and Sharky are alone, Lockhart reminds him of a card game they had in the past. For these two and the audience the game of cards becomes a transforming experience. The play is well worth a read but try to see it on stage if at all possible. It would make a great movie or television play, but, I think, the audience would be limited.
   Nine Lives Too Many
   The Daemon in Our Dreams
   The Rice Queen Spy
   Clawed Back from the Dead



3. Sharky lives with his older brother Richard and a crony named Ivan in a coastal village north of Dublin. Richard and Ivan are constantly drunk; Sharky is uneasily sober. On Christmas Eve, they are visited by beer-swilling Nicky and his guest, Mr. Lockhart. Mr. Lockhart is the Devil. We know he is the Devil because he tells us so. ("I'm the son of the morning. I'm the snake in the garden."). Twenty-five years ago he helped Sharky escape a manslaughter charge. Now he has come to collect his payment: Sharky's soul. Sharky can avoid damnation only by beating Mr. Lockhart in a poker game.
   
   If you thought that Ingmar Bergman's conceit of a man playing chess with Death was self-conscious, portentous and middlebrow (and you were right), you may not be much more receptive to a man playing poker with Satan. This marriage of Faust and Friel doesn't work, not least because the author is more interested in the crapulous antics of Richard, Nicky and Ivan than in the state of Sharky's soul. Sharky's character and history are so sketchy that one wonders why the Devil should covet such a nebulous figure, or why we in the audience should care about his fate. As for the supposedly hilarious drunkards, they become tiresome after three minutes.

5 comments about Practices of Looking: An Introduction to Visual Culture.

1. This was a painfully written book for an actually quite interesting topic. Bought this book for a class and enjoyed the class, just not the reading assignments as the book went on and on seemingly talking about nothing. When it would finally get to a point, it was unclear on if this was the point the author was intending or just another side remark.



2. The authors of this book very clearly articulate the considerable factors of the visual culture in mass media and visual art. Not only the pictures cited in the texts are also quite helpful to better understand the details of description, but also more importantly this book provides knowledgeable contents and information enabling readers to be aware of the significant roles of visual culture and how it is embedded in our lives, influencing the whole culture, society, industry and other many impacts of social forces.



3. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in media studies. The language is simple and articulate. The authors provide plenty of visual evidence in each chapter. If you enjoy reading about popular culture, even advertising strategies- this is the book for you.



4. I actually returned this book after leafing through it. It was a little disappointing and did not have much information other than common sense kind of info. Where was the meat?



5. As a class assignment, I closely studied chapter nine of Practices of Looking, and researched several of the listed source materials. This chapter is entitled "The Global Flow of Visual Culture" and deals with the globalization of Western media, primarily in the form of television and the internet. The authors explore such topics as the history of media globalization, its effects on non-western cultures, pros and cons of the internet, and possibilities that new global technologies afford us.
   This chapter was well-presented, persuasive, and useful. It offered a cohesive and informative discussion of a broad variety of topics, dealing with each one in satisfactory depth and detail. After researching a few of the listed sources, I found that while some of them seemed to be surplus to the actual chapter content, those that were used were, on the whole, represented accurately and fairly.
   I recommend this book to anyone studying visual culture, due to its detailed and informative treatment of this broad and varied topic.

5 comments about Independent Feature Film Production: A Complete Guide from Concept Through Distribution.

1. I'm still reading this book. It is a slow read and you must take your time to really let the info. seep in. From what I read so far, I like it. It is a professional, not too much though (which is a great thing) book, gives the reader alot of numbers to compare and to show how the business works these numbers. I would recommend this book, definately. Hope this helps. Enjoy.



2. I have the 1998 version, and this is a very informative book. But be sure to verify the copyright of the book you are ordering. There are 3 editions: 1982, 1998, and 2003. Per an unconfirmed review at google, the 2003 is not completely updated but merely the 1982 version with a new cover. In this ever-changing industry of independent film, I hope that Mr. Goodell will soon release an even more current version that is as up-to-date as possible. Still highly recommend the 1998 version.



3. This book goes into fairly extensive detail on almost all aspects of film production. Production is a grey area to most and this book illuminates it quite well. It is a bit dry and long winded but is more than made up for by its excellent index and organization. It doesn't have to be a page turner if you can find the page you need. Buy it and use it as you need it (and you will need it)



4. I'm a writer-producer currently prepping my first independent film where I'm in the driver's seat. This book has been an invaluable resource for me along the way in terms of educating me on the industry and laying out all of the steps I need to take in order to pull off this project. I've read a number of other books on producing lately, and so far nothing else comes even close to this one. Completely comprehensive, from development to distribution.



5. If "From Reel to Deal, by Dov Simens, is Hollywood's top rated film how-to book then this book surely will take a close second.