Book Description
DON'T STOP THE CARNIVAL is Herman Wouk's comedy about living out your fantasies on an exotic Caribbean island.Norman Paperman, a successful Broadway publicity agent, has long dreamed of escaping his high-pressure Manhattan life.In a fit of bravado, he chucks it all and buys an old hotel on tiny, primitive, lush Amerigo island.
Customer Reviews:
A delightful splash of reality.......2007-07-27
This is the book for anyone who has considered throwing it all in and running away to the Caribbean. Wouk paints a hilarious picture of a mainlander trying to make it as a resort operator in "paradise." We soon learn that swaying palms and stunning sunsets aren't always what they're cracked up to be. Although "Don't Stop the Carnival" is fiction (right down to the name of island where it takes place) it's a wonderful behind the scenes look at what could be going on while you're basking on the beach sipping your rum punch on vacation. I highly recommend this book.
More suspenseful than I'd expected.......2007-03-02
I finally got around to reading this after years of listening to the Jimmy Buffett musical (which, contrary to what some earlier reviewers seem to think, already exists). I therefore already knew how the story ended, but with a hundred or so pages left to go I was involved enough to hope they'd changed it from the book. No dice, unfortunately, but it's still a far more engaging story than I was expecting.
If you're wondering - as I was - how a story of a guy who buys a hotel could possibly be entertaining, don't worry. I don't know quite how Wouk did it, but he did. The sequence of events sometimes does seem a bit Hollywood-ish, in the sense that you think things can't possibly get any worse for Norman Paperman and friends, but oh look, they just did. For that matter, they sometimes also get better faster than you'd ever expect in real life. Still, the story does draw you in and make you root for Norman to tough it out regardless of what the island and its cast of loony characters throw at him next. Speaking of which, Wouk is a genius when it comes to original yet strangely convincing characters. Even if the action dragged (which it doesn't), the book would be a fun read for them alone.
Through it all, you just might find yourself wanting to run off to the tropics and start life over again too. Perhaps unintentionally on Wouk's part, the Papermans' lifestyle back in New York comes across as so dreary that it's easy to believe Norman would rather cope with disaster after disaster than go home! It is, of course, easier to say that when we're only reading about the big adventure rather than living it. But it does make for a fun read.
It's a 'Fawlty Towers' in the West Indies.......2007-02-11
A very funny and entertaining novel. It slightly recalls the above British TV comedy, but with a self-exiled NYC Jewish Theatre man dealing with a new world for him- a fish out of water. He finds himself among other exiles from America and Europe but who seem to float through their lives there while he is buffeted by constant ups and downs. The story has the feel of the late 50s, and does reference 'the new year' of 1960 at one point. One of the charaters, Iris Tramm, is a failed Californian movie star who, it is implied, may have been a casualty of the blacklisting craze of the early 50s. If they had ever made a movie of this, she could have been played at one time by Sally Kellerman. The comedy turns to tragedy by the end of the story.
Mostly fun - suspend disbelief.......2007-02-02
I just read this after a trip to the US Virgin Islands and it certainly helped prolong the vacation for me. Anyone who has ever unsuccessfully tried to superimpose our northern sense of urgency into any minor crisis in the tropics, such as lost luggage, missing captains, etc., can relate to this book. Set in 1959 (and written in '65 I believe), the book treats such hot topics as inter-racial romances, non-traditional families and ethnic stereotypes with a respect that our society has yet to catch up to, in my opinion.
My only two beefs are 1) at times it was too over-the-top in comic misery - like one of those action scenes that goes on longer than you can even pretend possible, and 2) the very ending is simply out of place and almost a cruel trick - I can't say any more without revealing it.
Fans of Jimmy Buffett's novels will see a likely source of inspiration for Jimmy's writing style in this book.
Entertaining escape from your everyday life.......2007-01-05
If you are looking for an easy, fun quick read this is your book. There were some serious moments, but a great escape book for the beach. I have to admit that I cannot see it as a musical, but with Jimmy Buffett anything can happen.
Book Description
Book three in the Anthony Award-winning mystery series featuring Amanda Pepper, the resourceful English teacher at Philly Prep.
Amanda is sorting books for a school fundraiser, when she comes across a book for battered women that contains a special and frightening message from its original, anonymous owner. Desperate to learn who donated the books, Amanda's search leads her to deliberate brutality and its cold-blooded consequences.
Gillian Roberts is "the Dorothy Parker of mystery writers, laughing when--especially when--it hurts, and giving more wit per page than most writers give per book."
Nancy Pickard
Customer Reviews:
Philly mystery.......2006-11-10
Amanda Pepper is an appealing heroine I can relate to. She is literate,
concerned about her relationship with her police detective boyfriend and inquisitive enough to get herself deep into mystery solving.
I definitely want to read the other titles in the series.Lots of local color, historical and literary asides.Good character development and intriguing mystery.
I'm a big Amanda Pepper fan but this is probably my least .......2005-01-17
favorite book that I've read so far in the series (and I've read most of them). Roberts typically uses as a theme (like a muscial theme) a piece of classic literature that schoolteacher/detective Amanda Pepper is teaching to her students. In this book, the literary work is "The Taming of the Shrew" and the theme is spousal abuse. I realize how important the issue is, but she was preaching to the choir.
And the book does get preachy, although in a literary novel dialogue way. Amanda is sorting books for a used book sale at her school, Philly Prep, when she comes across a book on spousal abuse. Since the subject has come up with a student in a discussion of the Shrew, she thinks she'll set it aside for the student -- but then notices someone has written notes in it and that whoever wrote the notes believes her husband will kill her. Amanda sets out to try to find the woman to see if she can help. In the meantime, she's trying to get a job moonlighting as a tutor with an organization kind of like Sylvan -- but a fellow teacher is having trouble in his relationship with the franchisers, and he warns her against it. Needless to say, these seemingly separate plot lines come together in the book.
This is well written, but more serious than many of the books in the series, and a bit too earnest for the kind of mystery I expect from Ms. Roberts. I might also add that like most of the series, I was way ahead of Mandy Pepper in the detecting of the spousal abuse victim and of the killer.
The Real Villain Is In Plain Sight.......2002-07-14
There are several likely suspects in this case such as the victim's first wife and the two children from that marriage who are seeking recognition and financial rewards. An abused son from the second marriage and a disgruntled franchisee from the victim's business have strong motives for revenge. If the reader looks close enough the real villain is in plain sight.
One of the strengths of an Amanda Pepper story is the author's familiarity with Philadelphia. The action in this book takes place mostly in the Society Hill and Center City areas.
A Great Book!!.......1999-03-11
This is a really good book and one of the best in the series. Amanda Pepper is a well developed, funny character. She gets a little help from her policeman boyfriend and family. I recommend the entire Pepper series.
Customer Reviews:
A new Holiday!.......2006-11-14
Day of the Daemon by Aaron Rosenberg is a fantastic trip into the humongous world of Warhammer. Book one of the Daemon gates trilogy starts out with Alaric and Dietz returning home to Middenhelm only to find everything is in chaos. People are pointing fingers and its not long before our two adventurers are accused of being witches. In an attempt to clear their names they reluctantly agree to a quest to destroy 3 statues which are really daemon gates. Unfortunately for them they also have to take along guards of a sort sent not only to watch them but to help destroy the statues. As always in worlds of darkness things cannot be taken at face value and friends arent always friends. Alaric and Dietz have a long perilous journey ahead and at the end... well lets just say the end is only a new beginning after all.
Book 1.......2006-06-22
Alaric is a young noble-turned-explorer. His extremely intelligent pet is Glouste, a tree-cat that resembles a ferret, and she is often found upon Alaric's shoulders, curled around his neck. By his side is Dietz, his best friend and companion. They return to the city of Middenheim to find it shattered following the great war against Chaos. It is not long until they are accused of being heretics. To prove their innocence they take on the task of hunting down and destroying three statues of Chaos.
A representative from each guild goes with them. Thus the group also contains a witch hunter, a trader, a cartographer, a scout, a Count's Guard sergeant, and a full unit of soldiers. But destroying the sculptures will not be easy. They must battle tribes of beastmen, dangerous gypsies, a full warband of orcs, and cult members. If even one statue remains the world is doomed. Blood sacrifices will cause a portal to open and the Blood God's champion will emerge.
**** This is the first novel in the Daemon Gates trilogy and definitely not to be missed. Each book also seems to be a stand alone tale, with hints as to what the following story will be about. If this first story is anything to go by, then a trilogy will not be long enough for me to be satisfied. From the action filled beginning to the climactic ending, I found myself enthralled. Excellent story! ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Amazon.com
According to published research, one in three people are prone to panic or anxiety attacks. As the authors explain, panic and anxiety attacks differ from fear in that they usually occur without any obvious cause or triggering event. (They can even occur during sleep.) Once underway, they are often accompanied by a wide range of physical sensations, as well as emotional overwhelm.
In this book, Antony and McCabe provide easy-to-follow guidelines that will help sufferers of panic attacks better understand their condition and, more importantly, gain control over it using the same strategies that the authors have successfully employed with their clients in their own psychology practices. Of particular interest is their discussion of anxious thinking and realistic thinking. They maintain that it is often the beliefs that one has about their panic attacks that are the problem, not the panic attacks themselves. They provide a number of exercises readers can use to start thinking more realistically, thus reducing anxiety. They also offer a variety of empowering suggestions for dealing with the situations that can cause panic attacks, provide self-care tools for setting and achieving short- and long-term goals, and review medications that might also be helpful. What gives their book authority is the scientific evidence that their solutions are based upon.--Larry Trivieri Jr.
Book Description
We all get scared sometimes. Our hearts race, our breath gets shallow, and our hands and feet turn icy cold--these physical expressions of fear are our normal responses to things that threaten us.
But moments of panic can cause you to experience these feelings with no apparent cause, robbing you of confidence and composure unexpectedly throughout your day. You deserve to be free from these troublesome moments, and the ten easy and effective techniques you'll find in this book make it not only possible but also easy. Learn how to monitor your episodes of panic, and find out how to replace your anxious, racing inner monologue with calm, realistic thinking. Discover safe and comfortable ways to face fearful situations. Breathing exercises, stress reduction techniques round out this approach to overcoming panic that promises to restore your security and peace of mind.
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Callaway Diet, The
C. Wayne Callaway
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Weight Maintenance
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Diet Therapy
| Alternative & Holistic
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
Diet Therapy
| Alternative Medicine
| Medical
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0553287087
Release Date: 1991-02-01 |
Average customer rating:
- The Callaway Diet:successful Permanent Weight Control
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The Callaway Diet
C. Wayne Callaway
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Cooking, Food & Wine
| Subjects
| Books
Weight Loss
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Weight Maintenance
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
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| Books
General
| Medicine
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Accessories:
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor
ASIN: 0553053906
Release Date: 1990-04-01 |
Customer Reviews:
The Callaway Diet:successful Permanent Weight Control.......2002-03-03
After being and still am a very active person and living in Washington D.C. at the time before the book was compiled I had started to gain weight. After trying all of the options and stuck with the skipping I read about Dr. Callaway in the Washington Post. I HAD to see him I knew he could help me.He did, exactly like in the book as one of those people am I. I did the TV book review with him as a standing example. READ IT and learn. You'll never skip,stuff or starve as the theories are right on. I still follow them and still have the weight off. Do the personel inventory and have the answers to the how come I can't lose weight answered. Use the recipes, they actually taste good. You will not fall victim to all the diet pills,shakes and electronic machines and get your health on the right track. Its never to late to repair your "engine" You need patience as I did gain weight to get the metabolizm back to normal levels and then the weight came off because i believed. SO stick with it, Dr. CAllaway is great!
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Clinical Nutrition for the House Officer (House Officer Series)
Michael B. Albert , and
C. Wayne Callaway
Manufacturer: Williams & Wilkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Nutrition
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
Pharmacology
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
| Drug Guides
| General
| Pain Medicine
| Pharmacy
| Toxicology
General
| Medicine
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0683000667 |
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Surviving With AIDS: A Comprehensive Program of Nutritional Co-Therapy
C. Wayne Callaway ,
Catherine Whitney , and
Kristine Mehring
Manufacturer: Little Brown & Co (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Diets
| Diets & Weight Loss
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Nutrition
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
AIDS
| Disorders & Diseases
| Health, Mind & Body
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General
| Health, Mind & Body
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AIDS & HIV
| Diseases
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| Books
Internal Medicine
| Medicine
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| Books
| Cardiology
| Critical Care
| Endocrinology & Metabolism
| Gastroenterology
| General
| Hematology
| Hepatology
| Infectious Disease
| Nephrology
| Neurology
| Oncology
| Pulmonary
| Rheumatology
| Urology
ASIN: 0316124672 |
Book Description
Vintage Fabrics is an identification and pictorial guide to common vintage fabrics of all fibers from 1880 to 1959, with emphasis on history and origins of fabrics, construction, and how fabrics were used for home and fashion. Including vintage advertisements and more than 450 photographs, this handbook fills a void in fabric information. Charts, glossaries, and photos are extended to include a wider range of cotton, silks, and wools, plus early rayons and nylons, with their specific names, which are not featured in most general books on old fabrics. Further identification covers weave construction, with enlarged surface views of most fabrics, burn tests, microscope views of fibers including rayon and nylon, and information on distinguishing certain look-alike fabrics from dotted Swiss. Secondary history includes cross sections and synopses of mill histories, brand names, and finishes, plus a photo story of the textile process. Also included is a price guide, possibly the first time in print, for yardage of old fabrics. This quick reference handbook will benefit textile collectors in all fields, appraisers, dealers, costumers and re-enactors, textile and fashion students, and seamstresses.
Customer Reviews:
Not A Book For Beginners.......2006-03-08
This book has been painstakingly researched and offers an unbelievable amount of information but if you are a fabric beginner this book is very hard to use. There is no glossery of terms and if you are not familiar with the vocabulary of fabric it is hard to decipher the information. I have read the book through once and as a beginner I am frustrated because I do not know enough about the subject to understand what is being presented.
I am sure that this is book has a lot of information to offer but not to a person who is new to the subject.
Packed with information.......2005-09-13
The authors set their book apart from other vintage fabric reference books by the use of catalog ads, labels, and close-up photos of fabric weave to further enable vintage fabric identification. The underlying theme of the book is to help dealers, collectors, quilters, appraisers and textile historians identify and name vintage fabrics.
Much of what is found in unused vintage fabric remnants, quilts, and clothing have an unknown origin due to lack of manufacturers names printed on selvages, labels, or receipts, as the authors note. We need to dig deep for accurate dating information, because unlike other antiques, collectibles and dolls, vintage fabrics often times don't have a manufacturers mark. The authors certainly dug deep, the amount of information, ads, labels, and extensive color photos of vintage fabrics would take any collector or historian years to accumulate and do accurate research on. Fortunately for the reader, the logical layout of this information packed book will not lend to a feeling of being overwhelmed, but rather eager to read the next fabric description, view the rich color photos, and look at each ad as it relates to the fabric.
Common marketplace cotton, silk, and wool fabrics dating from 1880 - 1959 are covered. Fabrics are described by weaves, the fabric relative, appearance, when the fabric showed up on the scene, weight, and what the fabric was used for, accompanied by ads and labels of that time period. For further correct identification, the authors also inform of the names that fabrics are commonly mistaken for, as well as handy information of look-alike fabrics. The close-up photos of weave appearance are the next best things to having the actual fabric in front of you.
Especially interesting are the ads that show the date of the ad and the original price per yard of a fabric. For example, on page 13, an ad from a 1939 - 1940 Montgomery catalog shows a Hi Ho Lone Ranger broadcloth cotton fabric for 19 cents per yard.
This greatly benefits the collector that may have for example, a printed cotton remnant with an original but undated department store price sticker.
A novel approach the authors took in regards to the study of vintage fabrics is bias tapes, noted as an "often overlooked" fabric field, and labeled as the "narrow fabrics field" in the book. From the book you'll learn the 1920's - 1940's were the height of popularity of bias tape. This is another clue to help with the identification of vintage fabrics.
Lastly but not least, and something new to the marketplace, is a price guide, and selvage width guide. The width chart is of importance, because fabric width is clue number one to identify the age of a vintage fabric. A comprehensive list of brand names and mills further helps with dating. This is a must have book for any vintage fabric reference library.
for textile collectors, costumers, and 20th century fabric history.......2005-09-03
This is a terrific book to guide us in correctly identifying a fabric by its weave structure and other characteristics that do not include the dyes or prints. The swatches are dated. This book fills a big gap in the books most quilt and quilt historians read. Of course it will appeal to all types of textile addicts, but what sets this book apart from the usual textile and fiber ID books is its plethora of vintage illustrations and advertisements, catalogue and newspaper photos, textile selvedge and paper labels, and fashion plates. It is colorful, quaint, cozy, fun to look at, and filled with information that is fascinating, useful and much of it will be new to many readers from the quilt world. Joan, an expert in fabric weave identification, compiled the information from her many years of collecting and studying a period of time in textile history she loves so dearly.
Also, there are many other useful charts in the book: thread count per inch by fiber type, grade and quality; burn tests with drawings of the fiber close-up; drawings of common weave patterns; names of manufacturers with their various products by date, and textile mills history are briefly described and some vintage photos taken inside the mills and outside are included. There is some info about synthetic fabrics, when certain types came on the market and under what name.
Fabric collectors and student costumers would find this book useful for the many advertisements of clothes that are dated. Re-enactors and stage costumers can easily see what fabrics were used for which clothing and when. This book could help a novice clothes collector or small museum, date and identify the items in their collections.
Book Description
Foolproof origami--now in paperback!
* Includes ten sheets of preprinted origami paper and ten sheets of plain origami paper
* Color photos and clear three-step method make anyone into a foldin' fool
Love origami, but frightened off by those strange dotted lines and shaded areas that make it seem like a bizarre geometry exercise? Absolute Beginner's Origami calms those fears, using a remarkable three-step system and step-by-step full-color photos to guide readers into the basics of folding, through intermediate steps, and on to putting it all together to make real origami. Twenty enchanting designs are presented in three easy-to-follow stages: first, bases and folds. Next, combining bases and folds and learning to interpret those line drawings. Finally, learning to fold origami paper into real, elegant origami animals and objects: butterflies, swans, dogs, and more! Ten sheets of practice paper are printed with folding lines; ten more sheets are blank for solo work. By the end of the book, readers will understand how to read those line drawings and explore the wonderful world of origami with excitement and confidence.
Customer Reviews:
Fun & simple.......2007-07-03
This book has excellent instructions & pictures.
Unfortunately, I have ordered this book twice- the first time it did not come with the paper as described, & the second time (after I had requested help from Amazon so they said they would send the book again with the paper) it still arrived without the sheets of origami paper! I had purchased this one over the others for the convenience of the paper coming with it- so if that is your intention, don't bother!
Great instructions with good pictures.......2007-05-07
My 7 year old son recently became interested in origami. This book was just right for him. I had to help with some of the more complicated designs, but he was able to do most of them. The instructions are simple and easy to follow. Some of the folds can be used for more complex shapes which you encounter in other books.
Thorough.......2007-05-06
I have really enjoyed this book. I find it easy to understand and fun!
Best Teaching Guide I have Seen.......2005-01-07
This book gives the best, eastiest to understand instructions as compared to any other origami book I have seen. Most books have only black and white diagrams with and hard to follow written instructions that include vocabulary many beginners are not yet familiar with. Not so with this book!! It has color photos of the folding instructions with great written direction. I got this book at the library about 2 hours ago and already had to buy a copy of my own. I am sure it will be a great reference tool even as I build my skill level.
Way Too Easy!.......2001-10-11
These Are Soooo Easy, I Sold My Book Because I Wanted To Purchace something Harder Like Master Origami or Origami Zoo, These Models Are Good For Beginners
Average customer rating:
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Freestyle: The New Architecture and Design from Los Angeles
Tim Street-Porter
Manufacturer: Stewart Tabori & Chang
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
Residential
| Building Types & Styles
| Architecture
| Professional & Technical
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Crafts & Hobbies
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Home Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Interior Design
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0941434915 |
Average customer rating:
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Edgar Degas: Waiting (Getty Museum Studies on Art)
Richard Thomson
Manufacturer: Getty Trust Publications: J. Paul Getty Museum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Impressionism
| Schools, Periods & Styles
| Arts & Photography
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Post-Impressionism
| Schools, Periods & Styles
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European
| Regional
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
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Degas, Edgar
| ( D-F )
| Artists, A-Z
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General
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General
| Instructional & How-To
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Drawing
| Instructional & How-To
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General
| Drawing
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Painting
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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Similar Items:
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Jan Brueghel the Elder: The Entry of the Animals into Noah's Ark (Getty Museum Studies on Art)
ASIN: 0892362855 |
Book Description
Degas's pastel Waiting (L'Attente) is an extraordinary object in its craftsmanship and color, as well as in the emotional pull it exerts upon the viewer. But in addition to these, which we expect from a great work of art, Waiting also has an aura of ambiguity and even mystery. This study
look at both its aesthetic qualities and the deeper questions that it arouses. Part of the Getty Museum Studies on Art series, the book offers a detailed discussion of Degas's pastel as well as an analysis of the broader context in which the work was created.
Average customer rating:
- The Mind of a Toy
- An engrossing, dishy page-turner - Dig the Now Crowd!
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Blitzed!: The Autobiography of Steve Strange
Steve Strange
Manufacturer: Not Avail
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Composers & Musicians
| Arts & Literature
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Rock
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Entertainers
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Look Inside Entertainment Books
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ASIN: 0752849360 |
Book Description
Steve Strange was head boy of the New Romantic movement. He ran the best clubs in London - Billy's, Blitz and Camden Palace - which defined the glitzy banality of the era; places where Spandau Ballet and Boy George came to life. He formed, with Midge Ure, Visage, which became one of the biggest bands of the time, selling millions of records and gaining tabloid notoriety. BLITZED! recounts the rise and fall of the Blitz Kid from the excess of the early eighties - the clubs, the people, the music, the money - to his time spent recovering in Ibiza and India, the subsequent steady decline into cocaine and heroin abuse and his rise back to sanity. Steve recounts how he lost all his possessions in a house fire and days later learned of the death of his close friend Michael Hutchence. Within a couple of years Paula Yates had also committed suicide and Strange had ended up back in South Wales, homeless, mentally unstable and facing a court order for shoplifting. He recounts how he pulled himself back from the brink. He now manages a band, is clean, is re-recording Visage tracks and is ready to tell his amazing story.
Customer Reviews:
The Mind of a Toy.......2006-03-20
Steve Strange is a man who never grew up. In this book he takes very little responsibility for anything that went wrong in his life. There was always somethng or someone to blame for "making" him do heroin or steal. And he hasn't an OUNCE of self-deprication, so I am unclear where in this book the reviewer 'G Mitchell' finds that. Steve Strange was GREAT in Visage and visually creative, but we must be honest, in that his success was very limited. Few people outside of the UK or Germany ever knew he ever had a song outside of Fade to Grey! And even they might not be so sure! But if we are to believe the extreme boasts of Mr. Strange (and there are hundreds), we would suspect he wrote the Bible! He takes credit for the discovery of EVERYthing, from the entire New Romantic scene, to Sade and even for "bringning London alive again." He completely side-steps Boy George's world-wide fame, and only mentions George before his fame and then during his downfall in 1986!
I live here in hollywood, and I notice the shorter and less important the fame, the bigger the ego is! The boastfulness can get so extreme, one cringes, and soon questions the reliability of these claims. Like Steve Strange saying "Prince was still following me everywhere." Yea right...we believe that. I was STUNNED when Strange attempts to say at one time, that his schedule was 'so busy' and he had become 'so famous' that he went to France, Germany and back to England to do interviews and television spots...all in a matter of hours! That is ludicrous and not how show business works. DAYS are inbetween such publicity tour dates.
By page 155, one starts to realize Steve Strange was more a club promoter and door man, than he ever was a musician in Visage. By books end, the reader feels a bit of sadness for this clown performing LONG AFTER the circus has left town. His arrogance is long gone by that time, but this late in the game, no one cares. It appears the days when he turned "hopeful scenesters" away at the door of his Blitz club (for he held a mirror in front of their faces and asked, "Would YOU let yourself in looking like that?") came back to bite him in the ass.
I AM a big Visage fan, and for that reason, wish I had not read this book. It will be hard now, to separate the great music from the delusional character behind it.
I give it 3 stars, only because his incessant name dropping is actually somewhat interesting, in that it gives insight into how interesting OTHER people were at the time.
You will not get that "nostalgiac" 80's feeling from this book, like you would reading Boy George's book. Mind you, George's book has 300 more pages in it, if that tells you anything!
An engrossing, dishy page-turner - Dig the Now Crowd!.......2005-09-27
If you're a fan of the early 80s London scene - especially the New Romantic movement, i.e. Blitz, Club for Heroes, Visage, Boy George, Bowie, glam, punk, Vivienne Westwood, etc - this is for you - Strange is actually a fairly good writer - he comes off a bit arrogant and self-absorbed at tinmes, but as the leader who gave birth to a new youth/culture/fashion movement, who wouldn't be?! He balances his bravado and ego with moments that are often revealing, self-deprecating, and just plain honest. At turns cheeky, shocking, funny, tart, sweet, and sad, BLITZED takes its ranks alongside Boy George's TAKE IT LIKE A MAN and his recent STRAIGHT as a well-crafted insider's look at a now rather innocent era in pop history - though I am sure Strange himself would bristle at the comparison. Great photos, too! And Strange still has it - rockin' Westwood and a magnolia on the cover jacket!
Books:
- Draw Real Animals! (Discover Drawing Series)
- Dream of Scipio
- Embroidered Truths (Needlecraft Mysteries)
- Even cowgirls get the blues
- Extreme Denial
- Fishermen's Sweaters: Twenty Exclusive Knitwear Designs for All Generations
- Flashman and the Dragon (Flashman)
- Flashman and the Mountain of Light (Flashman)
- Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution
- Foul Lines: A Pro Basketball Novel
Books Index
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