Orlando: A Biography

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In 1928, way before everyone else was talking about gender-bending and way, way before the terrific movie with Tilda Swinton, Virginia Woolf wrote her comic masterpiece, a fantastic, fanciful love letter disguised as a biography, to Vita Sackville-West. Orlando enters the book as an Elizabethan nobleman and leaves the book three centuries and one change of gender later as a liberated woman of the 1920s. Along the way this most rambunctious of Woolf's characters engages in sword fights, trades barbs with 18th century wits, has a baby, and drives a car. This is a deliriously written, breathless-making book and a classic both of lesbian literature and the Western canon.

Book Description

In her most exuberant, most fanciful novel, Woolf has created a character liberated from the restraints of time and sex. Born in the Elizabethan Age to wealth and position, Orlando is a young nobleman at the beginning of the story-and a modern woman three centuries later. “A poetic masterpiece of the first rank” (Rebecca West). The source of a critically acclaimed 1993 feature film directed by Sally Potter. Index; illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

This Book is Still Hip -- Hard to Believe Written and Published in 1928 Edwardian England [63].......2007-08-28

Written in 1928, this book clearly sought to shock the reading public. For every repression delivered by Victorian authorities which surely hampered Wolff's freedoms, this book delivers a defiant rebuke to the same.

Orlando - it states in the beginning - is a man for whom "there can be no doubt of his sex." He is rich, handsome and lives a life even Hugh Hefner may be jealous of. But, scandals lead him to isolation, to public ridicule or upbraiding, which led him to sequester himself to his 200-bedroom hermitage-castle. In his hermit's existence, he does not pass time philandering, but instead pulls books off the library's shelves and romanticizes with fiction.

Eventually tedium compels Orlando to ask his friendly king to deliver him overseas where he can perform the duties of ambassador. He ends up in then Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey. While living there, he ends one exhaustingly long night of debauchery and partying with a seven day sleep - and awakes a woman.

This was a "good thing." As a man, he could not appreciate Tennyson, Shakespeare, Byron and the like. As a woman, their written word touched her greatly. She could be red eyed, she could be lachrymose. As a man, he never loved. Wollf says, ". . . love - as the male novelists define it . . . has nothing whatever to do with kindness, fidelity, generosity or poetry. . ." Orlando the man had no love? Maybe, with Sasha (a Russian seductress) - but maybe Sasha ruined him so that he could never love again.

As a woman, Orlando knows love. Wolff explains, "Love is slipping off one's petticoat and - "
Can you imagine the Victorians reading that?!

Orlando's life continues not for decades, but centuries. And, some other characters do as well. "The true length of a person's life . . . is always a matter of dispute. Indeed, it is a difficult business - this time-keeping thing. . . " Indeed, it was for Wolff who quite intentionally delivers this novel as a time-challenged writer.

More obscurities arise - androgynous lovers, angels' visits, children born from or for Orlando - and splendor with these very biologically-defying events.

This is not written in the weaving masterful language which Woolf delivers in "To the Lighthouse" or "Mrs.Dalloway." Instead, here the schizophrenia lies with the main character, not the writing style. Probably, a better story than "Lighthouse" or "Dalloway", but I am partial to the writing style of those masterpieces.

In any event, anyone wondering just how throttled Woolf felt in the stifling moral norms of her country, read this book. If anyone wants a bizarre tale about a bizarre man/woman, this is a must read.

As Only Virginia Woolf Could Write.......2007-08-14

I like to think myself a very well-rounded reader (I have my degree in English), but I don't know if the genius of Virginia Woolf was just beyond me in Orlando. I enjoyed the story and the various historical characters that made appearances throughout, but something about it went a bit over my head. It was a strange tale of adventure and romance, with Orlando seeking the beauties of life and poetry throughout the centuries.

A zany tour through English history based on a house.......2007-05-06

I read Orlando because someone told me that a central theme was Knole, the massive great house of the Sackvilles in Sevenoaks, in Kent south west of London. (I also liked Mrs Dalloway--See my Amazon review.) When we lived in London my family and I spent a day at Knole. It is supposedly the largest private house in England. Much of it now belongs to the National Trust. Knole beggars description--it is a vast mansion, brooding, and dark, but also eminent; it is a castle, a factory, mills, breweries, a village, and menagerie. I remember the deer as being especially numerous and friendly. Orlando the novel is dedicated to Vita Sackville-West who sadly was unable to inherit Knole although she grew up there. Only males could inherit.

The novel Orlando is a tour through English history from the mid-15 hundreds to 1928 always from odd perspectives. It is also a subtle and searching exploration of gender roles, social roles, and artistic and creative efforts. Themes interweave with lightning speed. It's crazy, funny, satirical, wild, and moody. I found parts to be incoherent, post-modern stream-of-consciousness, but most is entertaining and illuminating.

But this novel always comes back to Knole just as Orlando does. He/she (there is a sex change mid-novel) tours her house, thinks about it, ponders it, worries about it, and is always focused on it. Orlando lives for hundreds of years, but somehow I think he/she is a metaphor for the great house. Knole is not mentioned by name in the novel, but that's it. Knole is also the setting for The Edwardians by Vita Sackville-West. Knole is very worth a visit if you get to London or Kent. On the web at the National Trust website.

A visit in person however would help bring the novel Orlando to life. The novel is titled Orlando: A Biography. I think it is the biography of Knole.

One other odd feature: My edition (Signet Classics) has in index. This is the first novel I've read with an index. This suggests to me that Orlando is more than a novel, it is also a history of sorts.

Telescopic time........2006-12-20

This is a review among many reviews and will leave out the tale of the story assuming it has already been read here. This tremendous novel is one of my two favorites. "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez also luxuriously takes the reader through a lifetime that lasts many lifetimes in length. The reader becomes a traveler through a society, culture and location while watching time fly by at a rate 2-5 times that of the lives we actually live. Both stories give the reader a sense that judgement about experience can extend to generations of experience and not just to one's single, private, say, 80 year period. The benefit of reading these books, to young readers who are trying to stretch their own personal horizons, is beyond belief.

Each story is a gift from it's author on a level seen almost no where else. With all modesty I'll say that they are imaginative, funny and compelling.

Another text that transcends the perspective of one lifetime in one person's viewfinder is "Foundation and it's Trilogy" although that work of science fiction is simply not in the class of literature of the other two.

Search for Meaning in Society's Norms.......2006-09-06

What is perhaps most telling about Virginia Woolf's book Orlando is the way it forces the reader to take stock of what society tells us our lives are supposed to be like. There are certain societal norms, accepted lifestyles and beliefs, and when the individual steps outside of those norms, he or she is treated differently. Based on Orlando's identity, the society she lives in expects specific behaviors from her in the areas of business, society, and love, "that each man and each woman has another allotted to it for life." Her search for meaning amidst those expectations is what ends up being Orlando's pursuit for meaning in life.

Reviewed by Jonathan Stephens

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Lord of the Ring
David, you made me CRY!
An awesome book !! God has a plan and purpose for us all!!
If you have ever wanted to be more or do more, read this!!

Just As I Am: The Life of David Ring
David Ring
Manufacturer: Moody Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802417337

Book Description

David Ring was born dead. For eighteen minutes after his delivery, his brain was deprived of oxygen, leaving him with cerebral palsy, a malady that affects his motor skills and speech.He lived the first fourteen years of his life totally dependent on the love and self-sacrifice of his mother. She was his motivation. His cheer-leader. But when she died, he was passed from family member to family member, his confidence shattered and his hopes for the future, dismal. That was, until he met Jesus and his life became a dynamic challenge for all who call themselves followers of Jesus Christ. Just As I Am tells the story of this enthusiastic man. He has overcome gigantic obstacles, achieved things no one ever deemed possible - all through the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. His life was changed, and yours can be too. People throw away broken things, but God uses them. Don't ask why, ask what can I become. When you ask why, you question God's authority, you become bitter. God loves you, and nothing happens that He does not ordain. At the burning bush God told Moses to put down his stick, but Moses wouldn't put it down. What is your stick?

Customer Reviews:

Lord of the Ring.......2005-05-09

Ever heard of David Ring? Well, he's a Christian evangelist who also has cerebral palsy. Listen to him sometime. He'll make you feel very uncomfortable at first, but he'll leave you encouraged and pumped to serve Christ.

His autobiography JUST AS I AM (same title Billy Graham used for his) is a fascinating read. It's very difficult to put down even for the slow, undisciplined readers like myself. His motto is: "I have cerebral palsy. What's your problem?" In other words, I have cerebral palsy, therefore I don't fit into normal American society. But I'm not letting it hold me back. I still working and fighting as hard as I can to serve the Lord. So, what's your excuse?

This message which is the focal point of David Ring's ministry initially makes the life-long church-goer very uncomfortable. But if you listen, and act, this is a message which will change your life.

I highly recommend this book. It's not one you'll easily forget.

David, you made me CRY!.......2003-01-01

Reading this book a year ago didn't keep my eyes dry, but kept them wet - all the time. I LOVED the stories about how his life was, how he found love in God, made a GREAT, LOVING FAMILY .... and how he didn't give up on his dreams.
For those who haven't read this - SHOULD, and DON'T FORGET TO GRAB A BOX OF TISSUES WITH YOU!
(I'm going to go tell my FRIENDS about this book and have THEM read this book!)

An awesome book !! God has a plan and purpose for us all!!.......1998-08-24

If you have ever heard David Ring speak, you must read this book. It is a powerful demonstration how God has a specific plan for each of us! I read it in one day...could not put it down.

If you have ever wanted to be more or do more, read this!!.......1997-01-30

The life of David Ring is a phenomenal one. This book will make you laugh, cry, smile, and frown. It will inspire you. You will understand what it means when people say that God accepts us just the way we are. David is an inspiration to everyone who meets him and gets to know this incredible man of God

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Orlando (Annotated): A Biography
Virginia Woolf
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156031515

Book Description

Begun as a "joke," Orlando is Virginia Woolf's fantastical biography of a poet who first appears as a sixteen-year-old boy at the court of Elizabeth I, and is left at the novel's end a married woman in the year 1928. Part love letter to Vita Sackville-West, part exploration of the art of biography, Orlando is one of Woolf's most popular and entertaining works. This new annotated edition will deepen readers' understanding of Woolf's brilliant creation.

Annotated and with an introduction by Maria DiBattista

Infinite Variety: The Life & Legend of the Marchesa Casati, The Definitive Edition

Average customer rating:

An Excellent Biography of an Amazing Woman!
Elegance Supreme!
The Original Goth Girl!
Clearly Fabulous!
Casati Raves On!

Infinite Variety: The Life & Legend of the Marchesa Casati, The Definitive Edition
Scot D. Ryersson , and Michael Orlando Yaccarino
Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0816645205

Book Description

The updated biography of the most spectacular fashion and artistic muse of the twentieth century.

Customer Reviews:

An Excellent Biography of an Amazing Woman!.......2005-11-21

"I loved 'Infinite Variety' for the way the authors brought the Marchesa Casati vividly to life."--Robert Fulford, author of 'The Triumph of Narrative: Storytelling in the Age of Mass Culture'

Elegance Supreme!.......2005-04-14

'This book about the Marchesa Casati (1881-1957) is called "The Definitive Edition" about a lady of extravagant leisures. It is an excellent book reviving the roaring twenties in Europe and gives you a fairly good insight of the lifestyle of the truly rich and famous through to the 1940s. Part of this set was the Marchesa Casati, who is a source of inspiration to this very day for fashion designers, artists and wealthy heirs. So if you squander your vast inheritance, at least do it in style!' (review from Elegant Lifestyle)

The Original Goth Girl!.......2005-01-04

"'Infinite Variety' is a thoroughly unbiased and well-researched biography. The 'Definitive Edition' includes a plethora of new information as well as artwork and photos. Thanks to the efforts of Ryersson and Yaccarino, the story of the Marchesa Casati, with all its splendor, will continue to astonish.--Jonathan Williams, Gothic Beauty Magazine

Clearly Fabulous!.......2004-11-30

"Mesmerizing and revealing, 'Infinite Variety' is the definitive account of the Italian femme scandaleuse. A great glimpse, and more, into the life of a larger-than-life individual."-Mar Yvette (Clear Magazine)

Casati Raves On!.......2004-10-27

"'Infinite Variety: The Definitive Edition' provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the bizarre and spectacular life that Casati led...All you fashion-conscious history buffs will love the in-depth exploration the authors take into Casati's stylish life."-Denise Dandeneau (Zink Magazine)

Book Description

Singer Tony Orlando is recognized everywhere for his 1970s heyday with Dawn, but his career didn't begin with a variety show and a string of #1 pop hits. In the early '60s, Tony was a teen idol, with top-selling songs like 'Halfway to Paradise.' He worked with songwriters like Carole King and Gerry Goffin, and was part of the creative ferment symbolized by the Brill Building in New York and fronted by flamboyant showmen like Murray the K and Don Kirschner. In a rare transition, Tony became a successful music executive before he was lured back onstage in the early '70s. His life as a pop icon was full of contradictions: he was the reliable, squeaky-clean performer who always pleased the crowd, but offstage he was plagued by depression and cocaine addiction. His highs were high-and very public-while his lows were low and private: from the constant care required by his beloved sister Rhonda, born with cerebal palsy, to the death of his dearest friend Freddie Prinze.

Customer Reviews:

Tony Bares His Soul.......2007-01-18

Tony Orlando has provided us with a look at his life from growing up near Hell's Kitchen in New York City where he began as a doo wop singer until he settled down in the Ozarks of Missouri during the 21st century. In between Tony relates stories of those who helped to get him started in music such as Don Kirshner located at 1650 Broadway where several music publishers and record companies had their headquarters. His heyday as a performer, of course, was during the mid 1970's when his television show with Dawn was a weekly favorite. Interesting stories regarding guests such as Jackie Gleason, Danny Thomas, George Burns, and others are related in this part of the book. It is also a story of infidelity and heartbreak. The downward spiral began with his introduction to cocaine thanks to the lovable Fred Sanford, Redd Foxx, and the death of close friend Freddie Prinze to a suicide. His experiences at a Massachusetts mental hospital are included along with his assistance to the suffering Murray the K during his final days. However, the story of Tony Orlando has a happy ending to date with his marriage to his present wife and move to Missouri. Each of us are a part of all that we have met and Tony Orlando gives ample credit to those who helped him along the way throughout his life. This is an easy to read book and anyone who enjoyed his television show during the 1970's will enjoy this book. By the way, purchase the DVD set available at Amazon and relive those enjoyable times as well.

Another Show Biz Life.......2006-04-25

I suppose what makes this autobiography of a celebrity different is that is has pretty much a happy ending--Orlando gets over his drug use, gets into a satisfying marriage and seems to be living a happy existence. His popularity doesn't sound to be too much these days, but everyone has to wind down at some point. He's had a moderately successful career and he was very candid and open and so there was nothing really to "read into" his story here. What you read is what it is. It's all true. Just keep the weight off Tony.

Great read!.......2004-11-30

I must admit that my knowledge of Tony Orlando wasn't much more than watching him on TV in the 70's with Dawn. My husband and I recently went to a concert of his in Connecticut. We loved the concert and were mesmerized by his charismatic showmanship and his energetic style. He is a truly unselfish performer that gives credit and the spotlight to his backups. One young man did a Led Zeppelin number that knocked our socks off. When someone in the audience wanted him to sign their book, I knew it was a book I wanted to read. There was obviously more to him than just "Tying a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree."

I found this book to be a real page-turner. Anyone that has an interest in the nostalgic days of music will find themselves engrossed in this honest, well told autobiography. Mr. Orlando's association with the top names in the music industry is a virtual Who's Who. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I found it to be a painfully honest look back at a young man's rise to fame, fall from grace, and his ultimate journey back up the ladder.

Nobody's Perfect.......2003-10-07

When they say, "My life is an open book" they are talking about Tony Orlando. His honesty is refreshing and gives insight to the kind of person he is. One has to remember that although he is a performer, he is a human being first and is therefore given the right of privacy. He did not have to write this book but I am more than happy he did. He has been my hero since I was eight. At thirty-nine, this book has given me a new respect for the person he is. He is as star-struck as anyone of us which lends to his understanding of his fans - fans he calls friends.

Just a little too glossy.......2003-01-06

I too have been a Tony Orlando fan for MANY years. I went to Vegas in the 1970s specifically to see his show. I even patted him on the butt! I was rather disappointed that he did not go into more detail about his relationship with the girls from Dawn, he mentioned at one time that they were not speaking but gave no info as to why not. I would also have liked to know more about the drug use and dark days with Freddie Prinze. It just seemed that the book put a positive spin on all aspects of his life and did not delve into the problem areas that we all have. This all helps to make a person what he/she is today and I felt this was missing in the book. I did enjoy it but thought more details could have been included to round out the picture of his life.

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Nice large format
Even by the first 5 pages

Orlando Bloom: The Biography
A.C. Parfitt
Manufacturer: John Blake Publishing, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1844540618

Book Description

The Lord of the Rings. Pirates of the Caribbean. Troy. These movies have two things in common. They are three of the biggest hits in recent cinema history. And they showcase the talents of one of the most charismatic young actors of this generation—Orlando Bloom.

Customer Reviews:

Nice large format.......2005-07-17

I would recommend this book for Orlando fans. It has very large pictures and seems to be well researched. There are three reasons that it fell short of five stars. It tends to veer off of the subject of Orlando quite a bit. There is a lot of information about Harry Bloom, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the Black Hawk Down incident. Also, it lists Gabriel Byrne as Fritz in Haven. That is incorrect, Gabriel Byrne dropped out of the project. Fritz was played by Victor Rasuk. And finally, it reuses a picture of Orlando smiling and winking at the Hollywood Film Festival awards. They flipped it and used it, then flipped it back and cropped it and used it again.

But overall, it's pretty good.

Even by the first 5 pages.......2005-07-06

i have always loved orlando bloom - i'll admit it's the reason i watched the Lord of the Rings series in the first place. but, then, i grew to find he was more than just cute - the magazines, books, Internet stories, and biographies revealed him to be a very admirable person. the first five pages of this great biography have turned my view around - obviously there is a whole other side to this star. i can't wait to finish reading it!

Camelot at Dawn: Jacqueline and John Kennedy in Georgetown, May 1954

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Camelot at Dawn: Jacqueline and John Kennedy in Georgetown, May 1954
A sweet and special trip back in time
A typical week in the young couple's life
Photographs that today are stunning in their meaning
in the crowd of Kennedy books published, this is a STANDOUT!

Camelot at Dawn: Jacqueline and John Kennedy in Georgetown, May 1954
Anne Garside
Manufacturer: The Johns Hopkins University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0801882079

Book Description

"I have just seen McCall's and so has Jack and we are so happy... They are the only pictures I've ever seen of me where I don't look like something out of a horror movie. If I'd realized what a wonderful photographer you were... I never would have been the jittery subject I was. Poor Orlando! Remember I wouldn't even eat a Good Humor. I was so lens-shy."--Jacqueline Kennedy, in a letter to Orlando Suero

In January 1954, the handsome junior senator from Massachusetts and his glamorous wife moved into a three-story townhouse at 3321 Dent Place in Georgetown. Although they would live here for only five months, the house was their first home after their wedding-- the society event of the decade--and a place from which they could begin to prepare for the next step in their lives, one that would take John and Jacqueline Kennedy to the White House. In May of that year, Orlando Suero, a photographer with the Three Lions Picture Agency on his first major assignment, spent five days with the Kennedys. He enjoyed their full cooperation and the intimate access that would later, as Jacqueline became more anxious about her family's privacy, be denied to all but a few.

In more than twenty photo sessions, Suero documented a typical week in the young couple's life: Jack at his Senate office, catching up on work at home, and painting in the back garden; Jackie attending classes at Georgetown, gardening, and preparing for an evening of dinner and dancing; and the couple reading the morning papers around the breakfast table, looking through their wedding photos, hosting both casual and formal dinner parties, and tossing the football around with neighbors Bobby and Ethel Kennedy.

Suero's photographs capture the idyllic quality of the young couple's lives during their months in Georgetown. Not yet hounded by the media, John and Jacqueline in these images seem happier and more at ease than they would ever be again. Surprisingly, no magazine ever published Suero's complete photo essay. McCall's ran a few of his photographs that fall, but most of them have not been seen until now. In 1989, Three Lions Picture Agency owner Max Lowenherz donated the photographs to the Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Institute. For Camelot at Dawn, the Peabody Institute's Anne Garside has selected nearly one hundred of the most evocative and affecting pictures Suero took during his week in Georgetown. This remarkable document of John and Jacqueline Kennedy's first year of marriage recalls the romance and the promise embodied by their life together in America's last age of innocence.

Customer Reviews:

Camelot at Dawn: Jacqueline and John Kennedy in Georgetown, May 1954.......2007-03-09

It is hard to believe that there was a time when you could have passed Jack or Jackie on the street and not known them. This book has made them into "real people". I really enjoyed reading it.

A sweet and special trip back in time.......2007-01-31

To borrow from the movie HELP!, "Here's how they was before they was." Unguarded and completely charming photos of newlyweds, before international fame overtook them and they perfected their public faces. As one who has read extensively about the Kennedys, I am always happy to find books that can still show me something I haven't seen before. This book does that, and I enjoyed it and recommend it.

A typical week in the young couple's life .......2005-06-07

Camelot At Dawn: Jacqueline & John Kennedy In Georgetown, May 1954 is the collaborative work of photographer Orlando Suero and author Anne Garside. As his first major photography assignment, Suero spent five days with the Kennedys in May of 1954. He enjoyed their full cooperation and the intimate access that produced more than twenty photo sessions as Suero documented a typical week in the young couple's life including Jack at his Senate office, Jackie attending classes at Georgetown, and the couple playing touch football in the park. Camelot At Dawn is a "must" for all of those whose lives and imaginations where touched by one of America's most idealized couples before tragedy would shattered both their personal lives and those all too brief days of an American "Camelot" for the rest of us.

Photographs that today are stunning in their meaning.......2003-09-03

As someone who grew up in the Kennedy era, these images had a profound effect on me. They are images that shortly after they were made, could never have been made again. Can you imagine seeing Jack and Jackie Kennedy strolling alone down the streets of Georgetown (in DC), her wearing shorts and him wearing sneakers and a plain t-shirt? Or playing football in a public park with absolutely NO gawkers hanging around? The great impact of these pictures comes from their innocence and irony, because of what came after and what we now know. If you remember the Kennedy era, you might stare at some of the images in this book for many minutes in wonder, about the people in the picture, about yourself, and about how we were then and are now. I gave this book to my brother-in-law--a recognized expert on the Kennedy assination--and he said he almost cried. It's that good.

in the crowd of Kennedy books published, this is a STANDOUT!.......2001-11-26

Can the Kennedys ever have a bad photograph taken of them? It is appears not, as this book illustrates. CAMELOT AT DAWN is kind of an artsy photojournalism feast for the eyes, and although at first glance the text will seem to have general information that we all know about, it too is a treat.

Orlando Suero had his first big assignment taking pictures of Jacqueline Kennedy for McCall's magazine for an article. It would turn out that most of his shots would not be used because the press felt that the Kennedys had been overexposed in the media due to their wedding--so it is only now in this book that most of the pictures taken for that assignment have been published.
Suero says that JFK manages to sneek himself into most pictures, and so the final result became as much as about him as Jackie...but we also see the Bobby Kennedys as well as the former President Trumans.

Some of these pictures have been published in other books, so not all of them are seen here for the first time, but seeing them within the context that they were shot makes the photos that have been seen before all the more interesting. However, it is only a few--most of these are just being seen for the first time.

As for the text, some of it is "well duh" text because it is known by everybody:"Jackie was a silver-and-Sevres kind of girl, whereas Jack was a milkshake-and-hamburger kind of guy." (I am not cutting on Anne Garside's writing--because the book is actually quite good, I am just trying to point out that some of the information that she writes everyone knows in their sleep...as that is how famous Jack and Jackie have become.) Now don't take this sentence of Garside's alone--you have to read the whole book before you dare judge her writing, and in my estimation she has succeded in the overall scheme in making two well known sujects seem like new again. How does she do this?
For example, there is information about the renting of Dent Place--where these photographs are taken as well the Kennedys first home--which is interesting because we get to see excerpts from Jackie's letters to the Childs (the people who the Kennedys were renting the house from.)
Also information about Evelyn Lincoln's calender is given as to what the Kennedy's were doing the week the photos were taken, as well as little details spread out throughout the text that make the book an interesting read.

I believe that this is a standout book published on the Kennedys. It is informative and orginal in text, and the pictures easily give Lowe, Avedon, and Shaw a run for their money. You can and will enjoy this book if you give it a chance--don't get stuck on the information about the JFKs that we all know or the pictures that we have all seen--read the entire book and appreciate the entire book!

Average customer rating:

Amazing story

The view from the trenches

Why Palermo was a pleasant surprize

A gripping story

menza menza

Fighting the Mafia and Renewing Sicilian Culture
Leoluca Orlando
Manufacturer: Encounter Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic

Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia

ASIN: 1893554813

Book Description

Fighting the Mafia is his dramatic tale of witness and survival, of his effort to expose Mafia infiltration of the highest levels of Italy's national politics, and of the movement he helped build-in the schools and churches, and at the ballot box-to recapture Sicilian culture and inspire a renaissance of democracy.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing story.......2002-11-28

This book tells an amazing story and has been a true inspiration for many people. Other groups/institutions/governments have tried to duplicate the methodology that was used in Sicily to improve their own cultures - moving from crime and corruption to a "culture of lawfulness." To see how a society has been able to move forward is great - it takes courage to be an optimist and obviously Leoluca Orlando and the people who worked with him were very courageous!

The view from the trenches.......2002-02-12

Fighting The Mafia and Renewing Sicilian Culture by Leoluca Orlando is an authentic chronicle of the incredible travails of the Sicilian people as they struggled to overthrow the yoke of the Mafia and the corrupted politicians with whom they were allied.

Orlando recounts the story as only one who was in the midst of the battle can do it. If you know anything at all about the history of the Mafia in Sicily and the US you realize that the story is authentic and understated. Enough detail is provided to support the narrative but there is no sensationalism, as incredible as that may sound.

The book ends on a chilling note. Much remains to be done.

Why Palermo was a pleasant surprize.......2001-08-22

My first visit to Sicily - and I hope not my last - took place this May. Our group had planned just a short visit to Palermo. Everything I had read said the city was chaotic - evidence of Mafia contamination all over; dirty, inadequate services, horrible traffic and somewhat dangerous. But some of the jewels were still there and worth the visit, we concluded. What a lovely surprize - We found a different Palermo from the one described in "Midnight in Sicily, and "On Persephone's Island." Renovation all over; the Teatro Massima newly re-opened and a city with a bright, good feel to it....After reading this book, I feel I had an insight into some of the ways this was done. If Stille's "Excellent Cadavers" takes you through the legal battles, this book talks about political and cultural changes as seen by its mayor. At first I was a little concerned with self-aggrandizement and Stille doesn't seem to be too great a fan, but I came to respect Orlando's story....I am very curious and would like to find out more about Orlando and also want to go back to Palermo, with more open eyes this time....By the way, the traffic was still terrible.

A gripping story.......2001-08-11

This is a remarkable book. It is both a suspenseful story of the attempt to root the Mafia out of the Sicilian bone marrow and also the story of making the culture free and autonomous. Leoluca Orlando is central to both of these narratives. Indeed, he embodies them in the courageous and dangerous life he has led. It would seem impossible to bring off a combination of The Godfather, The Leopard, and the Book of Virtues, but he has done it here. This story is unforgettable. It is a great read and would be a great movie.

menza menza.......2001-07-31

Overall an interesting read, but it was a little wordy. Mr. Orlando is a politician not a professional writer, and that was obvious.

Lovin' Bloom: The Unauthorized Story of Orlando Bloom

Average customer rating:

great
WOW ORLI!!!!
stupid book
great book
Great Book

Lovin' Bloom: The Unauthorized Story of Orlando Bloom
Heather Kranenburg
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0345479203
Release Date: 2004-06-29

Book Description

With his stunning good looks and dreamy brown eyes, British heartthrob Orlando Bloom has captured Hollywood’s spotlight—and the adoration of girls everywhere. After his award-winning performance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Orlando made audiences swoon as a swashbuckling hero in The Pirates of the Caribbean. What lies ahead for this handsome Brit? With lead roles in the upcoming films Troy and Kingdom of Heaven, Orlando is poised to bloom big-time.
Yet how did this charming young man make it from the stages of London to movie screens around the world? Lovin’ Bloom traces Orlando’s path to superstardom. Along the way you’ll discover everything you’ve ever wanted to know—including his favorite sports, the music he craves, his Hollywood crushes, and behind-the-scenes info from his films. There’s little doubt why his legion of fans voted Orlando Bloom one of Teen People’s twenty-five hottest stars of 2002—and the best is yet to come!

Customer Reviews:

great.......2006-11-10

well all i can say is my daughter has read that book like 20 times already so it must be good HAHAHA

WOW ORLI!!!!.......2005-02-15

This book captures EVERYTHING about the hot Orlando Bloom. This is THE book to buy.

stupid book.......2004-12-22

I got this book bc i totally love orlando bloom....like he is my faaaaav actor!! but this book was a total, and i mean total dissapointment. i guess this first time author has no clue what they are doing. they should take a few more writing classes before writing another book.

great book.......2004-07-17

very good read for an unauthorized. the author does a good job with finding unknown facts about the actor. great sidebars and photos too. a must have for any Bloom fan

Great Book.......2004-07-03

A great read for any Orlando Fan. Interesting facts and stories that i did not know before reading. If you are a fan of Bloom, you should deffinately give it a look

Forgotten Valor: The Memoirs, Journals, & Civil War Letters of Orlando B. Willcox (History Book Club Selection)

Average customer rating:

Willcox-Not Forgotten Anymore
Forgotten No More

Forgotten Valor: The Memoirs, Journals, & Civil War Letters of Orlando B. Willcox (History Book Club Selection)
Orlando B. Willcox
Manufacturer: Kent State University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0873386280

Book Description

The papers of Major General Orland B. Willcox, one of the most prominent division commanders in the Union army, were recently discovered locked in a trunk in a Washington, D.C. attic. Editor Robert G. Scott has sifted through what is arguably the largest collection of Civil War-related material to surface in 50 years. From Willcoxs childhood in Detroit through his cadet years at West Point and his service in the Mexican, Seminole, and Civil Wars, his story is published here for the first time.

Customer Reviews:

Willcox-Not Forgotten Anymore.......2000-04-22

This is truly an enjoyable book. I certainly got a "kick" from his letters. I read two or three of the chapters several times. One thing I noticed about him from his writings was the hidden and totally unintentional secrets he exposed regarding his personality. I think the man was a "saint," because he revealed absolutely no vices or bad habits, as well as he was the ultimate possessor of Victorian manners. I spoke with a friend of mine, who also read the book, and he had the same impression of Willcox that I got. This book will make you appreciate the man once you get to know him more personally. I have quoted Willcox before, in my own writings, gleaned from other books, and from the Official Records, but until I read his personal letters, I never knew who he was. Mr. Scott should be commended for all of his hard work bringing these letters to life.

Forgotten No More.......1999-12-04

Orlando Willcox's voluminous memoirs, letters, and correspondence are an important, valuable contribution to our understanding of the Civil War. Covering his life in the army from his days at West Point in the 1840's through divisional command in both theaters of the Civil War, this magesterial compilation will interest specialists and buffs alike. Willcox's keen observations and trenchant comments on persons and events are reminiscent of the classic recollections of Charles Wainwright, E.P. Alexander, and Robert McAllister. Robert Garth Scott's judicious editing (footnotes are blessedly placed at the bottom of pages rather than the end of the book) greatly enhances what will instantly become a standard source for anyone seeking a greater knowledge of the American conflict. The price may seem hefty, but it is well worth the cost.

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