A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Folger Library Shakespeare)

Book Description

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early

printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Catherine Belsey

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.

Customer Reviews:

What we needed.......2007-08-29

My daughter needed this for a school assignment. It worked out well for her, good price.

"The course of love never did run smooth.".......2007-06-26

I recently re-read A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM prior to attending The Colorado Shakespeare Festival's performance of this play under the summer stars here in Boulder. Shakespeare (1552-1616) produced this romantic comedy between 1595 or 1596 and published it in the First Folio in 1623. It follows the adventures of four young Athenian lovers and a group of amateur actors under the influence of fairies who inhabit a moonlit forest. The play is Shakespeare's most popular and is widely performed across the world.

It play tells three stories connected by the wedding celebration of Duke Theseus of Athens and the Amazonian queen Hippolyta. In the opening scene, Hermia rejects her father Egeus's request that she marry Demetrius. Rather than facing death or lifelong chastity as a nun, Hermia and her lover Lysander decide to elope. Hermia tells her best friend Helena of her plan. Helena, who has been recently rejected by Demetrius, tells him of Hermia's plan to elope. Hermia, Lysander, Helena, and Demetrius all escape into the forest where they become romantically entangled under the influence of fairies.

Oberon (King of the Fairies), and his queen, Titania, arrive in the same forest. Oberon enlists the mischievous Puck (aka "Hobgoblin" and "Robin Goodfellow") to apply the magical juice from a flower to Titania's eyes while she is sleeping. The juice makes the victim fall in love with the first living thing he or she sees upon awakening. Oberon also instructs Puck to spread some juice on Demetrius's eyes. Instead, Puck puts the juice on Lysander's eyes, causing him to fall in love with Helena. To correct the error, Oberon then orders Puck to apply the juice to Demetrius's eyes, causing him to also fall in love with Helena, much to her confusion (now having two suitors).

Meanwhile, in a subplot, a band of "rude mechanicals" have been preparing a play in the forest about Pyramus and Thisbe for Theseus' wedding. Puck transforms the head of one actor, Nick Bottom, into that of an ass. When Titania is awakened by Bottom's singing, she immediately falls in love with him. Puck eventually restores Bottom's head, and lifts the spell from Lysander, but leaves Demetrius in love with Helena. The lovers conclude the night's events must have been a dream. Puck ends the play with a soliloquy.

G. Merritt

The dream of romance is lighthearted laughter .......2006-01-24

The spirit of one of Shakespeare's richest plays is lighthearted laughter. The great impressario of the proceedings is Puck who in giving the 'love potion' to the wrong person, sets up the chaos of both Demetrius and Lysander loving Helena. There are numerous networks of parallel and contrast through the work , between the worlds of the royal humans, the fairies, and the craftsmen. The motif of dreaming and imagination play a strong part in the play. And the resolution in all the couples finding themselves in love and harmony at last is a supreme happy ending.
This is one of Shakespeare's most delightful and amusing works, one of the richest comically in all the world of theater.

Ill met by moonlight, proud reader?.......2005-12-29

I must say that until I saw a simple, highschool play of this particular work, I was deathly afraid of SHakespeare, thinking it boring and only something for people over fifty to discuss and teach. WEll, i was wrong.
This particular story brings in classical characters from Greek Mythology, such as Theseus and Hyppolita (sorry if I butcher her name...lol) as well as the regal Titania and Oberon, and of course, the humorous and jovial puck and bottom.
Books like this are presented in the media to be boring but they truly are intersting and worthwhile reads. Without titles such as this, I highly doubt many writers of fantasy and romance would be the same today.
Very highly recommend as a start to Shakespeares works, though seeing it is even better!

Shakespeare at his absolute best.......2005-09-07

Midsummer Night's Dream is the bards most fantasical play in the true sense of the word. The language is absolutely beautiful and the plot is so creative and wonderful. This is a play that can be enjoyed over and over again for a lifetime. In some respects this is the perfect play to introduce young people to Shakespeare and hopefully inspire a lifelong love of his work.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Chinese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Irish | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Japanese | Ethnic & National | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Doctors & Medicine | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Lawyers & Criminals | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Love, Sex & Marriage | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Early Civilization | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Historiography | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

French | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Victorian | Erotica | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

German | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Russian | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Spanish | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Chinese | Classics | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Conspiracy Theories | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

War on Drugs | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

English (All) | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Science | Dictionaries & Thesauruses | Reference | Subjects | Books

Online Research | Genealogy | Reference | Subjects | Books

Native American | Earth-Based Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

History of Science | History & Philosophy | Science | Subjects | Books

Magic & Wizards | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Sailor Moon | Popular Characters | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Pilates | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

History | Fashion | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter Boxed Set, No. 1: Night Embrace / Dance with the Devil / Night Pleasures

Average customer rating:

Love Dark Hunters
Good fun
Great Series
Loved, loved, loved them

The Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter Boxed Set, No. 1: Night Embrace / Dance with the Devil / Night Pleasures
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Romance | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books

Science Fiction & Fantasy | Boxed Sets | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0312942214
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Book Description

Kenyon's bestselling backlist heats up the night and is now available in a sizzling boxed set. The Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark-Hunter Boxed Set #1 contains one copy each of Night Embrace, Dance with the Devil and Night Pleasures.

Customer Reviews:

Love Dark Hunters.......2007-10-04

Love those Dark Hunters! She (Kenyan) is one of the best paranormal romance writers ever... right up there with Christine Feehan!

Good fun.......2007-07-28

This set was my introduction to the Dark-Hunter series and I have to say that I am hooked. The story-lines and the character development were far superior to what I was expecting. And heck, they are a fun read.

Great Series.......2007-04-04

A fantastic fictional series. This boxed set inspired me to order several other books from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter Series. I am very pleased with this purchase.

Loved, loved, loved them.......2007-03-09

This was my first taste of Sherrilyn Kenyon and her Dark-Hunter series and now I am waiting with baited breath for my next shipment to get here so I can continue reading her series. I have been an avid Laurell K Hamilton reader and after reading all the current books in both of her series was left desperate and depressed with nothing to read.... THEN I found the Dark-Hunter series!!! I love how each book is devoted to a Dark-Hunter. Getting to know each of them "intimately" and then seeing them make little guest appearances in the next book makes for an awesome read. These are the kind of books you find hard to put down once you start reading. I would recommend this series to anyone who loves the paranormal, adventure, romance-erotica genre. A+, 5 stars, 2 thumbs up!

Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live

Average customer rating:

Awesome
Decent overview in a sea of SNL tributes, choppy reading, excellent bathroom book, nice gift for the fan.
Where to buy this cheap
This is a great book!
Blows the lid off the mystique of SNL...

Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live
Tom Shales , and James Andrew Miller
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Comedy | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0316781460

Book Description

With unprecedented access, Tom Shales and James Miller, with authorization from Lorne Michaels, have interviewed the stars, writers, crews, and guests who have made Saturday Night Live the greatest long-running comedy of all time. Out of these backstage stories they have woven an oral history that will be the definitive account of the shows 25-year history. The story is bursting with creative frenzies, clashing egos, actors who went on to mega stardom in film and those who disappeared; the origins of famous routines, censorship battles, and humour so toxic it never got on the air; the love affairs, feudsall the unique insanity involved in producing the show that changed North America forever. Includes great backstage stories from Bill Murray decking Chevy Chase to Norm MacDonalds campaign to infuriate NBC brass. Everyone from Cameron Diaz to Ralph Nader to Robert Downey Jr. to George Bush has appeared on the show, and they all share their fondest, wildest memories with us. Tom Shales is the Pulitzer Prize-winning TV critic of The Washington Post, and a movie reviewer for NPRs Morning Edition. His books include On the Air and Legends, and he has written for many major magazines.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome.......2007-07-09

I loved the book. Living in the mid west, you're not privy to rumors and stories in the local paper about SNL. I loved reading inside stories and such. The only bad thing I could say was that the book should have put some thumbnail pictures up of those quoted. It was hard with the lesser known cast members that were quoted, and trying to remember who they were.

Decent overview in a sea of SNL tributes, choppy reading, excellent bathroom book, nice gift for the fan........2007-07-07

Purchased as a gift for my SNL-loving spouse, it's a great bathroom book, because of the short excerpt format. If you are looking for a flowing chronology of the history of Saturday Night, it might be hard to stick with it. It's very broken up, the voices change with every page or two, making it feel disjointed. Because our memories and someone else's memory of the same event aren't always the same, you get amusing perspectives from different egomaniacs claiming to have the same great ideas. Nice background of behind-the-scenes as promised, lots of dirt on the sex and drugs, as expected. Not something I would have purchased for myself, even though I'm a fan, but compared to the other offerings out there, this one really is the most authoritative, closest to the source, and most accurate.

Where to buy this cheap.......2007-01-26

I have only read part of this book so far (and loved it), but the reason I am writing this, is to let people know that it is $2.99 at The Christmas Tree Store. I bought 4, so if my family is reading this, you'll have a good idea of what you are getting next year.

This is a great book!.......2006-08-30

Dear Everyone.
I did not order this book from Amazon. I bought it at my local "Dollar Tree" store for just one dollar. If you are interested in owning this book, stop by your local "Dollar Tree", or similar dollar store, and check to see if it might be there before shelling out the big money.
Pretty good review huh?
The book looks back at the early days of SNL, the drugs, the sex, the rock and roll. You probably won't learn anything from this book you didn't already know, if you are an SNL buff.
It is a good book to have in your bathroom, in my weird opinion.
Love,
Joel

Blows the lid off the mystique of SNL..........2006-08-25

This books shows very well that SNL was not the mystical, magical place it was purported to be. I've only really liked the original cast, and the mid 1980's cast with Murphy, Piscopo, Guest, Short, etc., etc.. In this book, you really get the feel of SNL, and how really difficult a place it was/is. No one romanticises the experience, and most people seem to have a only a few good memories and a lot of bad ones. The show is not necessarily a spring board to greater success. Only a handful of people from SNL have gone on to the big time. Most of them vanish into obscurity (Jan Hooks, Kevin Nealon, Tim Meadows), or end up doing horrible work (Rob Schneider and David Spade, anyone). Chevy Chase comes across the worst here. By all accounts, he's a real piece of garbage. Janeane Garofalo, surprisingly, gets raked over the coals here. She was only on the show for 6 months, so you would think she wouldn't have made much of an impression. But she managed to alienate nearly everyone on the show during her brief tenure, including calling members of the press and complaining to them on the record about the show, which is not the brightest thing in the world to do. Personally, I've never found her funny in a comic/comedian type of way. I think she has a lot more depth than most people give her credit for, but no one at SNL thought that, and she comes across as extremely insecure. Not to mention Ms. Garofalo shares a little too much information with the authors. I could have easily done without hearing about Janeane's bouts with irritable bowel syndrome during her time with the show. The thought of Janeane having the runs is not particulary attractive. Anyway, after reading this book, you realise it's a miracle that SNL comes up with a show at all, considering all the backstabbing, back biting, tension, stress, drugs, etc., etc. that permeates the scene. If you're a really big fan, you may not want to read this book, because it's not all roses and peaches here. The show is almost unwatchable these days, which is a shame, considering how well it started. Kind of sad...

Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 : Arcadia, The Real Thing, Night & Day, Indian Ink, Hapgood

Average customer rating:

A real gem
A Master Playwright
A Fantastic Collection
A magnificent collection

Tom Stoppard: Plays 5 : Arcadia, The Real Thing, Night & Day, Indian Ink, Hapgood
Tom Stoppard
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0571197515

Book Description

Plays Five:
Arcadia
The Real Thing
Night & Day;
Indian Ink;
Hapgood

This fifth collection of Tom Stoppard's plays brings together five classic plays by one of the most celebrated dramatists writing in the English language.

Arcadia received the Evening Standard, the Oliver, and the Critics Awards and
The Real Thing won a Tony Award.

Customer Reviews:

A real gem.......2004-09-02

Tom Stoppard is arguably one of the greatest playwrights of all time (and I do say arguably), and this collection only proves it. I am currently away at college while I write this review, and have pitifully forgotten my battered, dog-eared copy of this book at home, and so I'm pining away because it really is such a staple in my life - I cannot count the amount of times I've pulled out the book and read "The Real Thing", but I'm nearly sure it runs toward the hundred mark. All the plays are exceptional, although the aforementioned "The Real Thing" stands out, along with "Aracadia" and the wonderfully underrated "Indian Ink."

A Master Playwright.......2002-08-30

Every time I pick up this collection, I find myself sitting and reading for hours. Something about Stoppard's command of the language, his own personal calling card, is undeniably riveting.

And though there are times (especially in Day & Night) where it seems that characters are too clever for their own good, his sense of timing and his love for delivering a smart, believable group of people amazes me.

This collection is wonderful in its scope, including everything from the frequently produced "Hapgood" to the more recent treasure "Indian Ink." It's a must-have.

A Fantastic Collection.......2001-09-28

This is a great collection of Tom Stoppard plays, and includes some of his best works.

Arcadia is one of Stoppard's greatest plays - a bizarre combination of physics, mathematics, poetry, a good old-fashioned academic stoush and romance (or lust) to boot. A fantastic play to see, but very good to read also.

The Real Thing, Hapgood and Indian Ink are also among Stoppard's more mature and better plays, and nicely round out this collection. These are some of Stoppard's better known plays (and you can read reviews of them on their own pages) but I'll just summarise by saying that I think they are fantastic.

Night and Day is an earlier Stoppard play and maybe not quite as good - it is concerned with journalism in war-torn Africa and does take a deep look at issues faced by a journalist in that situation. However, in comparison to the other plays in this volume, it just doesn't seem quite as good - however it is still a fine play in its own right and does make for interesting reading nonetheless.

Overall, I definitely reccomend this volume, particularly since it's cheaper than buying each of the plays individually.

A magnificent collection.......2000-12-21

After seeing Stoppard's "The Real Thing" in London, I was blown away. I purchased this collection to have "The Real Thing," and was blown away but all 5 of Stoppard's masterpieces. He writes convincingly of love, redemption and what it means to exist and to live. I cannot recommend this collection (or anything by Stoppard) enough.

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey

Average customer rating:

Great History, Writing Talent Lacking
Thoroughly researched, well-written history of the dance/club DJ
Written With Passion
Read The Real History Of Disco
Must Read for DJ's, Dancers, Music Heads

Last Night a DJ Saved My Life: The History of the Disc Jockey
Bill Brewster , and Frank Broughton
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0802136885

Book Description

From the first time a record was played over the airwaves in 1906, to a modern club economy that totals $3 billion annually in New York City alone, the DJ has been at the center of popular music. Starting as little more than a talking jukebox, the DJ is now a premier entertainer, producer, businessman, and musician in his own right. Superstar DJs, from Junior Vasquez to Sasha and Digweed, command worship and adoration from millions, flying around the globe to earn tens of thousands of dollars for one night's work. Increasingly, they are replacing live musicians as the central figures of the music industry. In Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, music journalists Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton have written the first comprehensive history of the mysterious and charismatic figure behind the turntables -- part obsessive record collector, part mad scientist, part intuitive psychologist of the party groove. From England's rabid Northern Soul scene to the birth of disco in New York, from the sound systems of Jamaica to the scratch wars of early hip-hop in the Bronx, from Chicago house to Detroit techno to London rave, DJs are responsible for most of the significant changes in music over the past forty years. Drawing on in-depth interviews with DJs, critics, musicians, record executives, and the revelers at some of the century's most legendary parties, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life is nothing less than the life story of dance music.

Customer Reviews:

Great History, Writing Talent Lacking.......2007-08-18

The only thing that kept me reading this book was that it contained information I didn't know. I found that skimming helped reduce the groaning and eye-rolling caused by poor organization of the material. Much of it was just fine, but parts of the book are difficult to read because the authors couldn't devise a smooth transition from one chapter to another. Other than that minor complaint, this is a great book!

Thoroughly researched, well-written history of the dance/club DJ.......2007-07-17

Written by two former editors of Mixmag (the magazine bible of club culture and dance music), this 400-page book provides a deep, well-researched history of the club DJ. It follows the evolution of the live performance DJ from a human record changer, to a macro mixer of individual platters, to a micro mixer of record segments and sounds, to a full-fledged music producer. In doing so the authors document the impact that DJs had on the music itself, first in selecting what they played, later in demanding what they needed, and lastly in creating what they wanted.

Although the book opens with a short chapter on radio DJs (all of twenty-one pages), this story is about the club DJ's rise to musicianship. The book charts the live DJ's beginnings as a record spinner in large halls, follows the DJ-fueled Northern Soul scene in the UK, threads in the revolutionary work of Jamaican DJ sound systems, and returns to the US for a lengthy exposition on disco, hip-hop, house and beyond.

The disco chapters, though at times devolving into discussion that's more of the music than the DJs, are among the book's most interesting. They explore the movement's organic New York roots, contrasting them sharply to the genre's publicly refuted commercial apogee. One might argue with their contention that the "disco sucks" backlash was a homophobic reaction (particularly when they do such a good job of describing the commercial overexposure that led to disco's mainstream repudiation), but their descriptions of the era's seminal underground clubs and DJs bring context to disco that was completely lost in its mainstream incarnation.

Two chapters on hip hop show both its evolutionary and revolutionary forward steps, with the DJ becoming a producer and musician. Fresh interviews with the major players are skillfully woven into a compelling narrative of the genre's birth and growth. Club music's transitions between house, techno, garage and other variants are layered with reporting on the stage-setting cultural environments and geographic movements of key players. These latter chapters read more as anthropological catalogs than the you-are-there accounts of disco, so while they're informative, they're a bit dry.

A good deal of the text devolves into a history of the music, leaving the DJs temporarily on the sideline. But given the intimate intertwining of DJs and music, and the reciprocal impact they had on each other, this is probably unavoidable. Unless you're an avid dance music fan, some of the authors' points, hinged upon references to specific songs, will fail to resonate.

The authors make a compelling argument for the DJ at the center of the vortex that created disco and morphed it into house, techno, acid house and more. Unlike music that was a product of artists, record companies and radio, dance music is a product of dancers, clubs, DJs and producers, with the latter two categories merging more and more over time. The added element of geographical isolation is shown to have had a major impact on numerous scenes (northern UK, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Europe) and the development of their respective musics, and the commercial needs for starless music created a vacuum into which DJs could step.

Though this is very well written, though there are nits to pick. Their anti-academic disclaimer is unnecessarily reactionary, and not even particularly true given the amount of original research they conducted. Their text on drug influences ignores numerous earlier drug/music interactions, such as in jazz and rock. Their lack of detail on radio DJs is a reasonable choice, but one not explained by the book's title or subhead. Their geography is UK/US-centric, and limited in the US mostly to New York, Chicago and Detroit. Whether or not those three cities were host to the only innovations worth reporting upon is questionable.

Structurally the book follows a linear timelines through the disco era, but later chapters have timelines that overlap. For the unschooled, it's difficult to really see how innovations in different places were influencing each other. The book's appendices include priceless club charts that provide useful guidance in assembling a soundtrack but it's unclear where these charts came from.

Quibbles aside, this is a great read for anyone who wants to learn about the DJ's critical role in the development of dance music. For disco, in particular, the DJ booth point provides an excellent view into the scene's true history. Brewster and Broughton write lively, engaging copy and have based it on thorough original research. Highly recommended! [©2007 redtunictroll at hotmail dot com]

Written With Passion.......2007-05-16

Covering a subject as broad as this is difficult and most readers will take exception somewhere since the author deals with such a subjective subject. However, I enjoyed both the exhaustive research and obvious passion that went into this work. It's a must, not only for DJs, but for any fan of music made for the dancefloor.

Read The Real History Of Disco.......2006-10-25

This book is pure magic and brought back some happy memories.

Wannabe Club DJs please read this and understand how it all really started.

Mobile DJs? Give up and let iPod reign...

Must Read for DJ's, Dancers, Music Heads.......2006-04-05

It is pretty well know that this book is a must read for DJ's, Makers, and Fans of all forms of electronic and dance music.

Excelent histories of Dub, Hip Hop, Disco, House etc. While many of the adherents of these sub-cultures don't necessarily appreciate the others, the histories outlined in this book show how they are all inherently connected.

My only issue with this book is that the West Coast is totally ignored up until the turntablist revolution of the late 90's which the authors regard as mostly mastabatory as the writers' bias is toward DJs as providers of a dance environment.

No matter ...
There are vital histories here.

READ THIS BOOK!

Average customer rating:

It must have been the shoe bill...
Poke me in the eye! It would be less painful than reading this book!
Wonderful concept, poor execution
liked it
Two worlds entwined...

The Night Dance (Once Upon a Time)
Suzanne Weyn
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Adventure & Thrillers | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416905790

Book Description

Under the stars, in a secret world...

Rowena, the youngest of twelve sisters, loves to slip out of the castle at night and dance in a magical forest. Soon she convinces her sisters to join her. When Sir Ethan notices that his daughters' slippers look tattered every morning, he is certain they've been sneaking out. So he posts a challenge to all the suitors in the kingdom: The first man to discover where his daughters have been is free to marry the one he chooses.

Meanwhile a handsome young knight named Bedivere is involved in a challenge of his own: to return the powerful sword, Excalibur, to a mysterious lake. While looking for the lake, Bedivere meets the beautiful Rowena and falls for her. Bedivere knows that accepting Sir Ethan's challenge is the only opportunity for him to be with Rowena forever. But this puts both Bedivere and Rowena in a dangerous situation...one in which they risk their lives for a chance at love.

Customer Reviews:

It must have been the shoe bill..........2007-03-11

Lately, I've been exploring the world of rewritten and revised children's stories, most of which are the fairy tales that most of us grew up with. One of my favorites is by Hans Christian Anderson, about the twelve princesses who drove their father mad by appearing every morning with their slippers in tatters -- after being locked in their bedroom every night.

Sir Ethan finds himself chasing a boar in the middle of a dense forest when the boar rolls on the ground, creating a lake and transforming into a beautiful woman. She is Vivienne, a sorceress from Avalon, and both she and Sir Ethan fall in love with one another. Sir Ethan settles down with her, and builds a home of peace, while Vivienne quickly drops a litter of twins every year, each one a girl, until six years have passed, and there are twelve little girls about the place, that she calls her 'princesses.'

But when the youngest pair are toddlers, Vivienne is wandering in the woods near her home, when she is attacked by her sister, the wicked Morgan La Fay. Morgan imprisons Vivienne in the lake, creating a barrier that prevents her from either returning to the mortal world, or going on to Avalon. And heartbroken Sir Ethan finds himself with twelve motherless daughters to raise.

Thinking that Vivienne has willingly abandoned him and his daughters, he decides to imprison his children in his manor house, by enclosing them in high walls, and never letting them enter the outside world. And the youngest, Rowena, grows up filled with a hunger to break out of the walls that surround her.

When she finds a crack in the wall, she steathily chips away at it until she can escape into the woods. There she meets the one survivor of King Arthur's Round Table -- Bedivere, wounded in mind and spirit, and seeking to return the sword Excalibur to the Lady of the Lake.

How it all ties into the twelve princesses who slip away at night to dance their slippers to shreds is the second half of this short novel. There's not a lot of humor -- save for some antics by Morgan trying to disguise herself as a mouse to discover how to imprison Vivienne and her daughters for good -- and due to the fact that the novel is under two hundred pages in length does not leave a lot of room for character development.

That's one of the major flaws of the novel. While it does have a strong start to the story, by the end, it has all fallen apart. The imagry isn't that vivid, and the entire narrative is forced. The princesses are little more than cyphers, with only the eldest, Eleanore, and the youngest, Rowena, having any sort of things to do besides looking pretty and being rather simple. Even Morgan and Vivienne are rather lifeless, and Bedivere isn't much more than a handsome stud for Rowena to fall instantly in love with, but there isn't any underlaying passion to explain why they fall for one another.

Marketed for young adults in a series called "Once Upon a Time...," I found this one to be a grave disappointment. There's some magic, and the bare bones of the story, but author Suzanne Weyn seems to be having a hard time deciding if she is writing a novel set in the Arthurian mythos, or reworking a classic fairy tale. Robin McKinley in her anthology The Door in the Hedge did a far finer retelling of the story, with far more mystery and magic to it, and in far fewer pages as well.

Summing up, I would only recommend this if you have a teenage reader who is entertained by fairy tales, but otherwise, stay with the original story. It's far more entertaining.

Poke me in the eye! It would be less painful than reading this book!.......2007-03-03

I had high hopes for this book, I really enjoyed the books written by Dokey, so I figured I would like this book as well. I was wrong...sadly...The first paragraph of the book killed me...usually I don't even pick up books that I would even suspect would annoying me from the beginning like that. Could you get anymore....I don't know...the whole thing stunk of cheap romance novels...was I expecting too much in the first place? The author tries to stuff each paragraph with so many adjectives etc...it's frustrating. I felt like screaming "I CAN WRITE BETTER THAN THIS!" to the book....
Plus the whole bit about the main girl liking the armored guy before she knew/saw what he looked like...it's a bit much...I'm not being shallow...but how can you fall instantly in love with someone you don't know/can't see...and then they start going at it the second they meet for real...geez...
I couldn't bring myself to read the rest...It is a poorly written book, that I would not reccomend...
However, if you like fairy tales (complete obsession would probably be the only way to get through it), and if you like romance novels, and you do not mind bad writing...go for it...I suggest you check it out through the library...(Thank goodness that's what I did...)
-Good Luck!

Wonderful concept, poor execution.......2006-10-03

The concept of this book is brilliant: a melding of the fairy tale `The twelve dancing princesses' with some of the legends about the death of King Arthur. Unfortunately, Ms. Weyn's writing skills were not up to the task she set herself. Her prose is consistently stilted and overly ornate with such sentences as: "Rowena still sympathized with the trapped restlessness she knew her sister felt." and "There was a murmur of approval as this seemed like a fun enterprise."

Once I started reading, the story was compelling enough to pull me through. So, if you are willing to endure less than perfect writing for a good story, by all means read this book. If, however, you are like me and would be pained every time you read a sentence like the above, I advise you to skip this one and read `The twelve dancing princesses' by Robin McKinley.

liked it.......2006-07-09

This book was a pleasant, light read. However, I was dismayed that the author left the plot slightly undeveloped. Also, it seems as if the antagonist is thwarted too easily.
None-the-less, i enjoyed it and it is quite a satisfying read.

Two worlds entwined..........2006-06-03

Almost magically, Sir Ethan of Colchester finds himself pulled to Vivienne and is shortly living in a small cottage with his wife and six pairs of daughters beside an enchanting lake. Dismissing claims of his wife being a witch, he cannot altogether ignore her disappearances into the night, until one evening she does not return.

Sir Ethan eventually searches his wife's bearings, finding jewels of all kinds, and sells them to make the beginnings of his fortune. The house is renovated and a wall is built to prevent anything from entering or exiting. But no one can forget the lake, or what was until Vivienne's sudden leaving causes the strange lake to disappear.

As the story unravels itself, the role of Camelot becomes clear. Not only is this a retelling of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, but is a tale of Morgan le Fey, Mordred, Merlin, Arthur, Bedivere, and the Lady of the Lake. It is told in the points of Sir Ethan of Colchester (the father), Lady Vivienne of the Lake (the mother), Sir Bedivere (gorgeous Knight of the Round Table), Eleanore (the oldest), Rowena (the youngest), and Morgan le Fey (the wicked witch). They each tie in their own part to the story, and make it interesting to read. As your learning grows of the dealings in Avalon and the fate of Vivienne, so does your intrigue for the characters and the adventures of Excalibur. And what would a classic fairy tale be without a little romance?

The problem I found is that the culture portrayed was nothing like that in the Arthurian era. The people seemed to hold no respect for someone so great as Bedivere, nor did they seem to care about Arthur and his endeavors. But, nonetheless, it was an appealing story, and my favorite in the Once Upon a Time Series...

A Night at the Opera: An Irreverent Guide to The Plots, The Singers, The Composers, The Recordings (Modern Library Paperbacks)

Average customer rating:

A Difficult Read for Americans
Sound bites about opera
Indispensible and entertaining opera guide
Entertaining
A Perfect Gift!

A Night at the Opera: An Irreverent Guide to The Plots, The Singers, The Composers, The Recordings (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Denis Sir Forman
Manufacturer: Modern Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0375751769
Release Date: 1998-09-01

Amazon.com

As a nuts-and-bolts operagoer's guide, Denis Forman's book is richly incisive. It's equally satisfying as a tart, effervescent take on the solemn world of opera.

The author--a British television executive and former deputy chairman of the Royal Opera House--covers most of the likely offerings of your local repertory company, with a few questionable omissions (Peter Grimes) and inclusions (The Threepenny Opera). For each he provides a synopsis, musical highlights, critical remarks, and historical information (the premiere of Il Trovatore: "stupendous"; that of Norma: "a flop"). Another section offers comments on everything from the craze for authenticity to the practice of booing.

Forman's opinions sometimes run athwart of convention. Falstaff "has no sex appeal and no heart, and opera demands both these qualities"; Tristan und Isolde is the creation of "the Wagner that liked to spend time stroking velvet." His tone, especially in the synopses, is often evocative of Anna Russell's opera parodies: "It really is too bad of you Tristan to die on me like this. She passes out."

The prose can be cute, but that fits Forman's approach of puncturing the inflated atmosphere of opera while glorying in it. Though he is most entertaining when he's daring to shout in church, his enthusiasms are as illuminating as his barbs. "Traviata is the first grown-up opera about contemporary life," he says, adroitly locating that work in operatic history. In Don Giovanni, "Mozart brought terror to the opera stage for the first time." It's the book's greatest pleasure that Forman's passion is matched by his knowledge. --David Olivenbaum

Book Description

With an encyclopedic knowledge of opera and a delightful dash of irreverence, Sir Denis Forman throws open the world of opera--its structure, composers, conductors, and artists--in this hugely informative guide. A Night at the Opera dissects the eighty-three most popular operas recorded on compact disc, from Cilea's Adriana Lecouvreur to Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. For each opera, Sir Denis details the plot and cast of characters, awarding stars to parts that are "worth looking out for," "really good," or, occasionally, "stunning." He goes on to tell the history of each opera and its early reception. Finally, each work is graded from alpha to gamma (although the Ring cycle gets an "X"), and Sir Denis has no qualms about voicing his opinion: the first act of Fidelio is "a bit of a mess," while the last scene of Don Giovanni "towers above the comic finales of Figaro and Così and whether or not [it] is Mozart's greatest opera, it is certainly his most powerful finale."
The guide also presents brief biographies of the great composers, conductors, and singers. A glossary of musical terms is included, as well as Operatica, or the essential elements of opera, from the proper place and style of the audience's applause (and boos) to the use of surtitles.
A Night at the Opera is for connoisseurs and neophytes alike. It will entertain and inform, delight and (perhaps) infuriate, providing a subject for lively debate and ready reference for years to come.

Customer Reviews:

A Difficult Read for Americans.......2007-10-09

A decent, reasonably broad overall review of major operas intended for a lay audience. Forman's style, however, is a highly colloquial British English, which does not travel well across the Atlantic. I am American, but lived in the UK for a year in the 90s; I found the book's deliberately cute style difficult to follow, and I quickly became annoyed at what I perceived as the author's excessive efforts to convey his irreverance. Overall, a useful work that focusses on the author's impression of each opera's entertainment value; historical context and academic aspects of music and dance take a back seat.

Sound bites about opera.......2007-02-06

The author seemed to want to be cute and quotable rather than offer a reasoned perspective on opera. At times I felt he even became condescending in his attitude. This could have been a misguided attempt to counter the widely held opinion that opera is only for snobs, but people with that opinion wouldn't read his book anyway.

Indispensible and entertaining opera guide.......2007-01-09

An excellent source for budding opera buffs. Enjoyable, pithy, informative.

Entertaining.......2006-12-12

I see no reason to bore you with a longish disquisition on the merits of this entertaining book. (The reviewer 'Starmoth' has selected some nice bon mots from Forman's work, and he's reviewed it in a long review that outlines its strengths and weaknesses, such as they are, without inducing boredom.) Forman is both witty and insightful. He gives the reader useful information, as well as less useful information (e.g., when he tells us what to listen for, according to his tastes). But most of what he says is conveyed with humour and commonsense. Keep in mind that it is far too huge to serve as a guide; it requires a briefcase or backpack and not a pocket.

Are there problems? Well, sometimes he's pretty flippant. And there are a considerable number of great operas -- not just ones I like but ones in the repetoire of all major opera houses -- that don't get treated. Perhaps these are not fair complaints. For one thing, Forman's flippant remarks are often entertaining and interesting. And for another, it IS his book, so who am I to complain about omissions, or about an author who states in his subtitle that it is an irreverent work?

A Perfect Gift!.......2006-11-10

This book is the perfect gift for a new opera fan. It does a great job of describing each opera, including history and reviews, but in a language anyone can understand. Seasoned opera buffs will enjoy the light-hearted overviews and insights. Fabulous.

Here's Johnny: Thirty Years of Americas Favorite Late Night Entertainer

Average customer rating:

What a treat!
Here's Johnny: Thirty Years of Americas Favorite Late Night Entertainer
carson book
Johnny Has Left the Building, but Not our Hearts
Here's Johnny is a must have book!

Here's Johnny: Thirty Years of Americas Favorite Late Night Entertainer
Stephen Cox
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Comedy | Humor | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1581822650

Book Description

On May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson emerged from his rainbow-hued curtain, mimed the famous golf swing for the last time, and said good-night to a nation that had stayed up with him for the previous three decades. Long acknowledged as the king of late-night television, he was stepping down from his throne on The Tonight Show and back into private life.

Based on interviews with Carson—the only one he's ever granted for a book—and more than fifty major celebrities, including David Letterman, Jimmy Stewart, Bob Hope, Jonathan Winters, Betty White, Jack Paar, Phyllis Diller, and Louie Anderson, this book provides a behind-the-scenes look at the longest-running late-night television show of all time and at the man who made it all happen. It is a revision and expansion of a 1992 book that celebrated Carson's years on the show.

More than 200 photographs, most previously unpublished, commemorate the most popular features and most memorable moments from The Tonight Show in the Carson era. Included are The Mighty Carson Art Players, Carnac the Magnificent, Stump the Band, Tiny Tim's wedding, the infamous interview with Arnold Palmer's wife, Ed Ames's notorious tomahawk throw, and much more.

Chapters cover the history and evolution of The Tonight Show. In addition, featured sidebars on celebrities and common folk who appeared on the show, on Carson's infamous feud with Joan Rivers, on Doc Severinsen (including a selected discography), and the many “Public Service Announcements” are among the many elements that complement the lively text. MORE THAN 150 B&W ILLUSTRATIONS 16-PAGE COLOR INSERT 8” X 10”, 224 PAGES PAPERBACK

Customer Reviews:

What a treat!.......2007-06-10

For those of us who grew up with Johnny Carson it's hard to believe that it has been fifteen years since Johnny last came out from behind "The Tonight Show" curtain and even harder to accept the fact that he is no longer with us. But we're in luck in one way....this wonderful book, compiled by Stephen Cox, brings Johnny back to life in the most comprehensive and nostalgic way. It's a walk down Memory Lane and it is nothing short of wonderful.

From the inception of "The Tonight Show" and its early years before Johnny, Cox takes us through every segment of the thirty-year run we all enjoyed. There are comedians, of course, memorable moments, the monologue and my favorite...Joan Embery and her wildlife companions from the San Diego Zoo. Who of my generation can forget the wedding of Tiny Tim and "Miss Vicki" or the Ed Ames tomahawk throw? (the latter being a perennial favorite of the Carson annual retrospectives)

What is such an added bonus to the book are the dozens of photos that grace its pages. "Here's Johnny!" is a terrific look back at a man who made the nation laugh for three decades and who will always be remembered as the best at what he did. Thank you, Johnny!

Here's Johnny: Thirty Years of Americas Favorite Late Night Entertainer.......2007-04-11

If you want to know about Johnny Carson and the things that went on behind the scenes at the Tonight Show, you need to get this book!!! It was great and the photos were wonderful.

carson book.......2006-03-11

Excellent read. For any fan of Johnny Carson and the glory days of the Tonight Show, this is the book for you. It makes you feel like you're actually watching the show again. Enjoyed it thoroughly!

Johnny Has Left the Building, but Not our Hearts.......2006-02-21

Johnny Carson was the late night entertainer of my youth and there will never be anyone to compare - although Conan is great in his own right(that will be another review sometime). This book really takes you back. While I do not know all the "for-sure details"(and some things could be slightly off in this book since I don't keep track of that so much), there is enough substance here to take you right back to watching Johnny in your parents' living room! Like the "Clapper Caper" with Jack Webb. LOVED IT!

Here's Johnny is a must have book!.......2005-07-20

With the passing of this legend, this book is a must-have for all Johnny Carson fans, as well as The Tonight Show fans. You'll feel as though you're sitting in the seat next to Johnny, drinking out of a white mug and elbowing Ed McMahon. Author Stephen Cox really shines with this book! Here's the best Tonight Show book you'll ever read!

Jukebox Saturday Night: More Memories of the Big Band Ear and Beyond

Average customer rating:

an interesting interlude
More great stories of the Big Band Era
ANN JILLIAN'S INTRO. SAYS IT ALL!

Jukebox Saturday Night: More Memories of the Big Band Ear and Beyond
Richard Grudens
Manufacturer: Celebrity Profiles Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

The Song Stars: The Ladies Who Sang With the Bands and Beyond (Song Stars)

ASIN: 1575791420

Book Description

Up close and personal interviews with the great bandleaders and singers of the Big Band Era

Customer Reviews:

an interesting interlude.......2002-01-30

I enjoyed this book and found some of the detail fascinating although at other times I felt it was skimming the surface and not going deep enough. There are slight errors eg Fletcher Henderson did not write King Porter Stomp he only arranged it and I was surprised to see Bubber Miley's picture included in a set of fifties Ellington men - he must have smelt pretty bad!

On the whole a worthwhile read for anyone interested in the big bands

More great stories of the Big Band Era.......2001-09-01

Like the Best Damn Trumpet Player, Grudens writes with feeling about all his heroes. Reading the interview with band leader Artie Shaw proves his respect for the musicians. Grudens is not a critic. He loves the music of his life and proves to all of us that the music of the era was the best music ever recorded. Where else have you ever read about people like Red Norvo, The Dorsey's the family of Duke Ellington, the great Stan Kenton, with help from Audree Kenton, Les Paul, the great Les Brown etc. You will love this book if you love that music. There is a feature about all the bands of Europe like Syd Lawrence and Ted Heath. The book is just great.There is even a section about the great songwriters, Ervin Drake ( I Believe and It Was a Very Good Year)and Jack Lawrence ( Linda, Tenderly) and others.

ANN JILLIAN'S INTRO. SAYS IT ALL!.......2000-08-21

Richard, you did a terrfic job, your book is for all music lovers but especially those of us who love big bands and great singers. And you know I love ANN JILLIAN'S SINGING! Count me in man. Best of luck Richard. Andy

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books