No comments about Forgeries of Memory and Meaning: Blacks and the Regimes of Race in American Theater and Film before World War II.

2 comments about What They Don't Want You to Know About Television and Videos.

1. This wonderful little book is a chapter in the book "To Kindle a Soul". It is full of reference to the actual studies that have been done (thousands!). It doesn't just share opinions, but the actual results of studies that have been done over the years. There is much food for thought here. It is clear and easy to understand. It helped us to commit to not letting our baby watch TV and now we have banned the TV to the garage since we haven't now watched it in over a year. I feel like a differnet person. I feel like TV made me tense and now I am a more relaxed, more gentle person. I'm not sure if was the content or the medium, but I'm so glad we made this change in our lives and I'm not sure it would have happened if we hadn't read this book. Read it. You don't have to agree with it, but it will change the way you view television forever.



2. This book is a quick read and very powerful. In a very interesting fashion the book teaches how television affects us. I showed it to my older children (ages 14 and 16), and they devoured it. It's written so that kids will want to read it, and there's enough information in there to be impressive to us parents too. I have to admit, some of the studies are a little scary, but I guess that's the point. I'm certainly going to watch less TV now.

5 comments about Hyacinth Bucket's Hectic Social Calendar.

1. This adorable little book is ostensibly a copy of Hyacinth Bucket's one-year diary (a gift from Richard). As with any diary, the entries are (of course) handwritten. Also, there are copies of newspaper clippings, invitations, a few annotated photographs, and so on, throughout. The first page, as one might expect, is a list of important phone numbers (all filled in and suitably annotated by Hyacinth with comments such as "dirty hands--must NOT touch wallpaper" next to the electrician's number, for example).

   Though the diary makes reference to people and places that were introduced in the series--like Marston Hall (Hyacinth's rural retreat) and C.P. Benedict (the Garden Centre king), it is not a script-based book as is her Book of Etiquette. In fact, it includes incidents that never appeared in the series at all, such as a visit to the Antiques Roadshow. Also, from various comments included in the diary, the reader begins to wonder fairly early on whether or not Richard is seeing another woman (which adds quite an interesting twist!).

   In short, this is a light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining (not to mention insightful) book, and it is a must-have addition to the series for all who love this priceless British comedy and that precious Bucket woman. Highly recommended!




2. I ordered this book on Feb 14, 1999 and have not yet recived this book! 3-5 weeks has turned into 3 months!



3. What a great time I had reading this book. As a fan of the TV series and Hyacinth herself, I was delighted to read the daily account of one year in her life. Very very funny and entertaining. A definite must for anyone who's a fan and a must for anyone who enjoys a great laugh!!!



4. The book is pure Hyacinth. It's like reading her mind!



5. This book is so well written, it really makes you question the type of babble that we sell for books here in this country. The comedic content is wonderful - it's all there - timing and everything!!

No comments about Images of Beckett.

No comments about Sarah Bernhardt: The Art of High Drama (Published in Association with the Jewish Museum, New York).

5 comments about Me: Stories of My Life.

1. I first became curious about the life of Katherine Hepburn after seeing how she was portrayed in the wonderful film, The Aviator, starring Leonardo DeCaprio. So, when I found her autobiography, ME, available on CD read by Katherine, herself, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it. Anyone who has respect and admiration for Katherine Hepburn should treasure this recording. Particularly endearing were the chuckles in her sweet voice as she read; her childhood memories of tree climbing; her memories Howard Hughes landing a plane on a golf course and finishing out a round of golf wth her; and her undying love for Spencer Tracy. The CD ended beautifully with one of the most touching descriptions of love this 52 year old man has ever heard. Her admiration for "Spence" has provoked me to explore his movies. Boom Town starring Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, and Heddy Lamar came on TV the other night and I would have never thought to care for it had it not been for this CD. The movie was a delight! I am now a Spencer Tracy fan thanks to Ms. Hepburn.
   
   I highly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys reflecting on the fascinating people who made their mark in society and helped to make our lives more enjoyable. In my opinion, Katherine Hepburn should be regarded as a national treasure.



2. Wow, how disappointing. The opening of this book leads you to believe you'll learn the true Katharine Hepburn, but it's all about how great, how loved she is, from her point of view. "oh they loved me", "Oh they thought I was beautiful", everything "was such fun" It's painful, very painful to listen to her chatter like a teenager who's so full of themself.
   Her brother commits suicide and even that was unemotional... pretend it didn't happen, that's Hollywood. She never exposes who she is, she acts throughout this book.



3. Listening to Ms. Hepburn's audiobiography now, what a witty and charming lady she was! We always knew she was so talented, and now we get to hear from her, herself, in her own words. She's a true star -- in every sense of the word!



4. Her life and her stories are so interesting and the way she tells them makes you almost hear her voice while reading the words. Her phrasing is almost like stream of consciousness (not like Virginia Woolf-stream of consciousness, just very fragment-y, incorrect grammar, etc.) I got the feeling that what she allows the reader to learn about is only a small fraction of what she really knows and has experienced in her life, not to mention that the stories are more than likely a little one-sided at times, as if the other person in the story, if you could talk to them, would have a completely different version of the same event. But that's part of the attraction of the book for me.
   Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot on Spencer Tracy, and leaves a bunch to the reader's imagination in that department (Spencer was married to someone else the entire time they were a "couple" and she alludes to the fact that they spent time living together; how did this work?). But you definitely pick up on her absolute reverence for the man and their relationship, which is why she doesn't reveal much.
   Overall it's a fascinating glimpse inside the workings of one of America's most famous, most talented, most enigmatic actresses with SO many quirks and interesting ideas and beliefs about life.



5. Katharine Hepburn was an amazing American actress and icon. Although you wouldn't think so reading this book, Kate doesn't think of what she does as anything to be ashamed of or boast about. I could still see her in the documentary after this book came out. She said Oscars are nice but they won't garden for you or something like that. She was a remarkable human being. I just have one criticism. She left out the Golden Pond but she also left a very nice page to her devoted platonic secretary, personal assistant and companion, Phyllis. I thought it was so touching that she wrote something so nice about her. It can kind of gives you goosebumps to the amazing person that she was. Sadly, she discovered her brother's dead body from a suicide. Her struggles as an actress and her relationship with the love of her life, Spencer Tracy, is also there for the audience. She clearly loved him so much and yet, they could teach today's celebrities a thing or two about being discreet but they were truly movie stars and gifted actors beyond my comprehension. Katharine, we miss you and this book provides us some of your voice.

5 comments about The Truman Show: The Shooting Script.

1. This film is a Masterpiece of history of the contemporary cinema,wonderful book and wonderful screenplay. Andrew Niccol is a genius..!



2. The Truman Show written by Andrew Niccol in 1998 shows the last few days of a reality show. Truman Burbank is the main character. He is the only person in this show who is no actor. Everything around him is fake. Even his hometown Seahaven is only a film studio but Truman doesn't know this. Christof is the director who controls everything. He gives the directions to his parents, his wife and his friend. In these last few days a lot of strange things happen so that Truman may soon find out everything.
   Andrew Niccol wants to show the impertinence of the media which do not respect the rights of human beings.
   In my opinion the subject of the book is very interesting and it is worth dealing with it. But in this case it is easier to watch the movie because the book is difficult to read because of all the stage directions.



3. The Truman Show is about Truman Burbank, the main character, and his fake life. He lives in Seahaven an artificial world that has only built for him. When he finds out that he is part of a reality show he wants to escape. Everybody betrayed him even his wife Meryl and his best friend Marlon who are actors like everybody in his world Seahaven.
   The author wants to warn people of the danger of the modern media
   culture and high technology.
   We must be mor critical of the invented world of the television and think about its effect on us.
   I like the book because it includes everything: lovestory, friendship, tension... It is dramatic but from time to time also funny.



4. The Truman Show is a drama with a lot of funny aspects. It deals with a young man whose whole life is documented in a reality show. The reviewers can watch him all day in the whole world.
   The duration of the show was for 29 years without bigger problems but one day, Truman, the main character, seems to find out the truth about his life. He notices that everything is artificial and that his whole world is made fake only for him. Christof, the director of the show loses the control over Truman when the latter tries to escape. Christof does everything to stop him and keep him in the town where the Truman Show takes place- Seehaven. The message of the Truman Show is that our society is losing control more and more and that we let ourselves be influenced by the media and TV. We think the book is good, because it shows the problems of our society and what the manipulation of the media could result in. It is represented in a very funny way.



5. The book "The Truman Show" by Andrew Niccol was written in the 20th century. The story is about a 29 year old man who has been televised every moment of every day. The book is mostly dramatic but sometimes funny. Truman Burbank lives in a small artificall town named "Seaheaven". This world was created by Chrsitof, the director of the reality-show. In this show everyone of his frinds is an actor. The only genuine person is Lauren. He has fallen in love with her.
   
   Imagine you find out that nothing in your life is genuine, you are controlled by others and everythin is filmed by cammeras so that millions can watch you. This is the message of the book. And it should make you think about how the media control our lives.
   
   I like the story because we can identify with Truman and his situation. I recommend the film and the book because sometimes it is quite funny.
   
   YOUR RICHI

3 comments about Conversations with Brando.

1. I could not put the book, "Conversations With Brando," down once I began reading it. As a Marlon Brando devotee, I was so very pleased to open the book and find that the largest part of the book is composed of Marlon Brando's own words. I could have listened to this man talk all day long, every day of every week. And, in this book, he is at his incredible best -interesting, intelligent, witty, sensitive, idealistic, real, wise, inspirational, poignant, reflective, philosophical, poetic; humanitarian. I love his eccentric ways and I respect his principles of character - standing up for the causes of the voiceless in the world. I appreciate that he bowed to no one when the convictions of his heart and his conscience were at stake.
   
   Most of all, when Marlon's children were in trouble, he made the kinds of sacrifices and suffered in ways that only a father whose children are his whole heart would have done.
   
   What a beautiful man Marlon was and what an exemplary, praiseworthy piece of work Lawrence Grobel has done with "Conversations With Brando."



2. This expanded on the PLAYBOY interview it's adapted from. Brando is a good storyteller, and tells some good stories in here. Grobel does preface the interview with phone call transcripts of him talking to Brando, and his secretary. And I know someone close to Brando, and some in the Brando camp felt some annoyance that Grobel taped the phone conversations without saying they were being taped. A bit presumptuous. But an interesting interview nonetheless.



3. The interview that this book is based on was conducted before Brando filmed "Superman" but I can't imagine that Brando has changed much since. Grobel shows his skills as an interviewer by originally agreeing to only talk about the Native American cause with Brando but eventually teasing out anecdotes about acting, sex, stalkers, Brando's upbringing and much more. Grobel does not try to outsmart Brando, even while he is trying to sneak in forbidden acting/movie questions. He faces his subject head-on and when Brando chooses to speak about his hated profession, he is extremely entertaining. He shows Brando as a very complicated man who is hard to dislike - even if you don't agree with his politics, you come away from the book thinking that Brando is a charming, intelligent, thoughtful and super-talented individual who deserves all the praise for his acting skills. This interview could be considered his greatest performance - it comes from the same honesty that he invested his early screen and stage characters with.

3 comments about Mime Time.

1. It is better to invent your own routines, there is no technique, no history of mime, not much of value.



2. This book is ok. It has alot of routines, but not much help on how to teach mime.



3. This is the mime book for someone who learns by seeing and doing. Through 45 detailed scripts, the future mime learns the vocabulary and scope of the art. From a child eating ice cream to a sports fan, the reader sees examples of mime in the mind's eye. There is almost no theory in this book, just good, practical scripts for one, two, or more actors.

5 comments about 50 Great Monologs for Student Actors: A Workbook of Comedy Characterizations for Students.

1. I bought this book thinking that I could use these pieces in auditions, but because most of them are for males, they don't work for me. A couple are decently funny, but I found it strange that in a few of them, they listed things. For instance, dates... It's very hard to pull an audition piece of any comedic measure from a list of things you are supposed to say. So, I definetely would not reccomend this book.



2. Though the book does have many interesting monologs for students, they are mainly for males. If you are female, I would suggest you look elsewhere for good material. Almost 3/4 of this book was for male actors.



3. I thought that the monologues were both genuine and interesting, it captivated my audience and I could have gone on for hours, thanks.



4. taste varies, but some of the humour used here is way off line - certainly by european standards. sorry - but i was really dissapointed.



5. There are 50 great reasons to buy this book. Buy if you want to know them. This focuses on young students like me. I highly suggest it.