The African Dichapetalaceae IX: A taxonomical revision (Agricultural University Wageningen papers)

Book Description

Includes suggested itineraries and adventure activities, planning and preparation, including health and safety as well as where to stay, where to eat and what to see. It lists wildife and national parks, Inca and pre-Inca sites, from Machu Picchu to Samaipata, voluntary work and language schools, 95 maps, town plans and site plans.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Start.......2000-05-07

I just came back from a trip to Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador and this book was a very good way to prepare myself to it before going. Its sugestions for equipment and what you really need to carry or not with you were great. But once I got there, some problems start to happen: like incorrect or missing info about remote parts of Ecuador, cordillera Blanca in Peru or cordillera Real in Bolivia.It gave me the impression that they are really at the beggining of their explorations, but I am sure that the following updated editions are going to be really good, since they have some nice background information about the history, culture and tourist sights of each country. Although they are not 100% either, you can trust in Peru and Bolivia: Backpacking and Trekking or Climbing and Hiking in Ecuador, both from Bradt Books. But your best choice is really to buy the Lonely Planet guides for each of these countries, since they are the most reliable in the market today.

An Odd Odyssey: California to Colombia by bus and boat, through Mexico and Central America

Average customer rating:

Interesting and different
THIS is the way to travel!

An Odd Odyssey: California to Colombia by bus and boat, through Mexico and Central America
Glen David Short
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Travel | Writing | Reference | Subjects | Books

Essays & Travelogues | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1552126021
Release Date: 2006-07-06

Product Description

This book is about the author\'s five and a half month journey through Mexico and Central America. It describes the places he visited, people he met, and his experiences through ten different countries during the time that Hurricane Mitch struck the region.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting and different.......2002-07-13

This book is several books in one. In addition to his varied personal experiences on the road, it includes some well researched history of the countries he visits, both ancient and contemporary. He talks about the big people in history, like Cortes, Clinton, Subcomandante Marcos, Leon Trotsky, Frida Kahlo and Manuel Noriega. He then gives equal attention to the little people he meets along the way, like the Mexican museum curator whose family had been guarding an ancient relic for several generations. He even travels to Paul Gauguin's house with a Playboy Bunny he met in a youth hostel. But he also engrosses the reader with his thoughts about his personal life, most interestingly, his romance with a Nicaraguan girl. Hurricane Mitch, which strikes when he is Guatemala and devastates the region, adds a sinister backdrop to his odd holiday, but in the end he achieves his goals despite numerous setbacks. It is a little bit like a collection of short stories, since it is written in diary form, so each day represents a new thought, and a new mini adventure. The stories about the crocodile and the monkey I almost wouldn't have believed except that he included photos in the book. I especially liked his description of his climbing of the volcano... and was left feeling it is much more enjoyable - and safer - to read his description of it than to attempt such a feat in real life.

THIS is the way to travel!.......2002-05-18

Some years past, a colleague suggested a year of travel instead of my intended return to school. It took thirty years to fulfill that suggestion. David Short didn't require any more prompting than a dull, dirty and dangerous job. His destination, prompted by a world-traveling grandfather, became Central America, specifically, the Panama Canal. The journey lasted just short of six months and resulted in this account of his adventures. A spirited read, An Odd Odyssey should inspire anyone of nearly any age to pull up stakes at least once in a lifetime and venture somewhere distant. Short's account shows how richly rewarding travel can be to those willing to make the effort.

There are two kinds of travel books - the "guidebook" with sights, prices, accommodation ideally suited for those seeking comfort instead of adventure. Glossy photos, usually portraying conditions found on movie sets, detailed maps, prices listed. The other type is the personal journal, which, properly done, imparts a far better sense of "being there" than does the guidebook. Short's chronicle is the second type, a vivid sharing of his thoughts, experiences, disasters, even love. The means of travel was by bus. Just finding one was fraught with hazards - timing, crowding or even just running. Once boarded, there was the issue of finding the proper seat: "Sit in the rear. Bandits will shoot through the front window." On a limited budget the "guidebook" hotels were out of the question for Short. Many havens he found for a night's rest became adventures in their own right. Weather, ever a primary topic for travellers, added its own quirks - a major Caribbean hurricane being the most spectacular.

These minor discomforts aside, Short's recital of his travels points up the many benefits of journeying solo. One of these is that you don't remain alone for long. Not every acquaintance is a welcome companion, but none are dull. They bring their lives into his view, and to ours. Short meets former convicts, travellers from Europe, Canada and Australia. Not limiting himself to fellow "gringos" he deals well with the local residents. Although a few are not as friendly as he - he's robbed twice and has the usual tangles with bureaucrats, cheating taxi drivers and sullen hoteliers. Still, he maintains his equanimity, exhibiting strength in adverse circumstances. In this modern age he can turn to internet cafes, at one point spending more on email and 'net surfing than on accommodation and food.

Book Description

Guide to Michigan's backpacking trails

Backpacking in Mexico & Central America (Backpacker's guide series)

Average customer rating:

Backpacking in Mexico & Central America (Backpacker's guide series)
Hilary Bradt
Manufacturer: Bradt Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0950579734

Adventure Travel in Latin America: Where to Backpack, Camp and Find Adventure in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America

Average customer rating:

Adventure Travel in Latin America: Where to Backpack, Camp and Find Adventure in Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America
Scott Graham
Manufacturer: Wilderness Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

South America | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0899971059

Backpacking in Central America (Bradt Guides)

Average customer rating:

Backpacking in Central America (Bradt Guides)
Tim Burford
Manufacturer: Bradt Travel Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Walking | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1564408175

Backpacking in Mexico and Central America

Average customer rating:

Backpacking in Mexico and Central America
Hilary Bradt
Manufacturer: Bradt Enterprises
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0950579785

Appalachian Trail Guide to Central Virginia (Appalachian Trail Guides)

Average customer rating:

Worthy of a space in my pack

Appalachian Trail Guide to Central Virginia (Appalachian Trail Guides)

Manufacturer: Appalachian Trail Conference
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0917953649

Book Description

Official guidebook and maps for the Appalachian Trail in central Virginia, from the southern end of Shenandoah National Park to the New River at Pearisburg—225 miles covered with detailed trail descriptions and six five-color, waterproof topographical maps on three sheets, with elevation profiles.

Customer Reviews:

Worthy of a space in my pack.......2001-05-21

Appalachian Trail Guide to Central Virginia is a good general guide which consist of a 4 X 6 inches packable book and three maps in a waterproof bag. The maps are double-sided and give adequate detail of the covered areas. The book starts out with general information which I found fairly basic. Most of this info was of little value to me, but a green hiker might find it useful.The actual meat of the trail descriptions is very good, giving mile by mile directions as to what to expect and where to turn. An interesting feature of this book is the small horizon sketches which show different mountain peaks and valley with their names. I don't think I have every seen this done before, but I can't wait to see if it will actual help me locate and identify the surrounding landscape. This is a series of books so the complete collection (11 books)would weigh down a thru hiker. For the weekend ender or week long hiker, this book and maps should be worth it's weight in his pack.

Book Description

"The author's upbeat, positive tone is refreshing and his enthusiasm about his topic is contagious." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

Pssst! Do you know the difference between a code and a cipher? Can you tell a St. Cyr slide from a Cardano grille? Did you know that the discovery of a substitution cipher caused Mary Queen of Scots to lose her head? Don't look now, but packed into this practical field guide is everything a young person needs to know about the art of concealment - making and breaking codes, mastering cipher systems, and experimenting with secret writing. Offering plenty of hands-on practice sessions, tips for creating a code-making kit, sidebars on secret codes in history, and an amusing pair of spies to illustrate techniques, Paul B. Janeczko's tantalizing TOP SECRET won't stay a secret for long.

Customer Reviews:

It's No Secret, This Book is Great.......2007-06-27

Last summer my son decided he wanted to have spy club, so we looked through every book we could searching for information on how to be a spy. This book had the most thorough treatment of codes, ciphers and the like. It had plenty of activities that I felt like I could set up for the kids and that they could work on their own. This summer we bought the book because we want to reference it so much. Even Mom and Dad like this book.

My son loves this book!.......2007-06-02

My son has carried this book around and travels with it. He loves writing codes and making us decipher them. Excellent book! Codes are described well.

Onderfulay!.......2006-10-22

Wonderful! I like the way this book tells you (in understandable English) how secret codes were invented and how to write with them. The codes go through commonly heard codes and codes you have probably never heard of and can probably not find. No problems withe the book and the sneaky cover and title make kids like me want to read it!

isthay ookbay asway eatgray.......2005-10-26

I bought this book for my 11-year-old brother for his birthday. The youngest of five, he's an understandably secretive kid; so I thought he'd enjoy this sneaky book. Of course, I had to read it first, because I'm one of those dastardly people who reads books before giving them to people. It's a great book; it gives a quick overview of the history of cyphers, but keeps it upbeat and snappy. It includes a dozen or more codes to learn and use, and encourages kids to be imaginative and modify them or create their own. A great, hands-on read. It made me wish I was a kid again with lots of time on my hands so I could write secret messages to my friends.

Fun, well-written book for middle-school students........2005-07-08

The book is well written and well illustrated. I think it would work best for kids from about 12 to 14. It starts with basic codes, and moves to more complicated ones, but always makes how they function quite clear. I list the ages to give a sensibility of the book; it is not "dumbed down". The book could be used by younger kids with some adult help, or for kids who are really interested. It would also be a good starting point for high school students.

It tries hard to be as interactive as possible, always posing questions. It is a "practical" book, focusing on codes that students can use, as opposed to trying to be say a history book, that would delve deeply into say the WW II Enigma code. From the rating, you can tell I enjoyed it.

Book Description

An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet is the series to turn to when you want a basic reference that's reliable, up-to-date, and complete.

These guides feature:

Expert authors, plus renowned guest contributors on specialized topics
Full-color photos throughout
Basic information on the breed, species, or topic
Complete coverage of care, health, grooming, training, and more
Tips and techniques to make life with a pet more rewarding

Customer Reviews:

A good Beginners Guide.......2002-12-20

I picked up a copy of The Jack Russell Terrier: An Owner's Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet this last summer after bringing home my third Jack Russell puppy. The book is informative and a perfect beginners guide for anyone knew to JRTs. The series basically consists of breed specific info for the first half of the book and general health, training, and care tips for all dogs for the rest. I found most of the info to be helpful and I still go back to it every once in awhile for tips on certain things. The history section was well researched and interesting in regard to how the breed was developed. I would recommend this book to anyone who has just picked up his or her puppy and are looking for a little help or just general info on their new dog.

Good book for beginners ..nothing more.......2000-06-10

This is a good book--for starters that is. It has plenty of in depth information on the JRT history, training, housebreaking, grooming, first-aid, diseases, outdoor activities, diet, and information as to how this breed interacts with other family members and the community. The only drawback about this book is that a few of the chapters were taken from other books. For instance, Chapter 8 on Basic Training is the same chapter that is in Ian Dunbar's "The Essential Jack Russell Terrier" I unknowingly bought these 2 books at the same time. I was very upset when I found out that this book used a chapter from Dr Dunbar's book on training. Chapter 9 and 10 is also taken from another book by Bardi McLennan so beware. Alone this book is very useful and insightful. The only problem is it is repetitive information that is found in other books--literally!

Good Book for Beginners.......2000-06-07

First section of book dedicated to discussion of Jack Russells; very informative. Biggest drawback was last half, consisting of cookie-cutter info dealing with dogs in general. After buying a JRT and discussing dog with others, wonder if author ever owned one, or collected material through interviews/word of mouth. Will give you an overview of the breed, but not much else.

A very informative starter book..........1998-05-12

Ms. Brown has a nice beginner book for a very "special" breed of dog. The JRT isn't for everyone and it is unfortunate that their popularity is such that they are purchased first and "dealt with" later. This book goes a long way to help diffuse possible tense situations that previous pet owners might now have encountered. These dogs are not you average Muffy and Skippy dogs. I recommend it!

Book Description

The perfect guide for all collectors of Western film, television, radio and comics memorabilia, this book contains everything you need to know about getting your old Lone Ranger comic book signed by Clayton Moore or tracking down that Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox. Festivals and conventions in your area, the best museums (from art to Native American history to toys), which newsletters and magazines to subscribe to, which websites to check. The section on reference books includes biographies, genre histories (radio drama, mysteries, comedies), studios, music reference, serials and cliffhangers, locations and movie ranches, episode guides, cast listings, film listings, price and collectible guides, and a list of publishers. Each entry shows the author(s), publisher, format, length, and a brief summary.

This book has it all: commemorative artwork, posters, production stills, lobby cards, autographs, books, costumes, newspaper strips, comic books, cups, plates, and utensils, commemorative weapons and play sets, toys, games, models, lunchboxes, Christmas ornaments, magazines, movie and TV props and memorabilia, scripts, press packets, audio and video recordings, and cereal box premiums. The book tells how best to preserve your treasures and how to get in touch with other fans, whether buying, selling, or swapping. A survival guide to auctions, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores follows. Systems of ranking item quality, cataloguing guides, and format diagrams for listing and insurance purposes are included, as is a list of collector clubs.

Customer Reviews:

It's a Dandy!.......2005-02-08

Tim Lasiuta's book, "Collecting Western Memorabilia" (published by McFarland) is a dandy and highly recommended. It's user friendly and loaded with relevant material.
With a foreword is by George Coan, "Collecting Western Memorabilia" runs 183 pages and boasts 91 black and white photographs, a bibliography, an index and comes in soft cover. It serves as a guide for collectors of Western film, television, radio and comics memorabilia. Lasiuta, an established author and B-Western aficionado, has documented regional Western festivals and conventions, the best museums, which newsletters and magazines to subscribe to, a list of collector clubs, even which Web sites to check.
"Collecting Western Memorabilia" covers lots of ground: commemorative artwork, posters, production stills, lobby cards, autographs, books, costumes, newspaper strips, comic books, commemorative weapons and play sets, toys, games, models, lunch boxes, Christmas ornaments, magazines, movie and TV memorabilia, scripts, press packets, audio and video recordings, and cereal box premiums. Lasiuta even discusses how best to preserve one's treasures and how to get in touch with other fans, whether buying, selling, or swapping. He presents a survival guide to auctions, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores. As if that were not enough, "Collecting Western Memorabilia" boasts systems for ranking item quality, cataloguing guides, and format diagrams for listing and insurance purposes.
Needless to say, it would be impossible to produce a book of this scope without some omissions and a tiny bit of editorializing that might raise an eyebrow or two. Take for example the section on books. Still, Lasiuta put together a diverse list. I'm elated Lasiuta mentioned some obscure and out of print titles ("They Went Thataway" and "Stuntman").
I commend Lasiuta for acknowledging Allan G. Barbour's work ("Days of Thrills and Adventures" among others), "we lovers of movie serials, B-Westerns, or anything Republic owe an eternal debt." And thank you for listing Robert W. Phillips definitive "Roy Rogers" book.
I was surprised by the $35 price tag ($39 with postage). It would be a shame if this puts off prospective buyers because "Collecting Western Memorabilia" is a great resource. Lasiuta managed a large and diverse agenda within a modest number of pages. Lasiuta even got personal with a heartfelt introduction that demonstrates his passion for his subject. "Collecting Western Memorabilia" is a professional job all around, well organized and expertly researched. It's a great addition to a library of related B-Western books. Good job cowboy, ya done yourself proud! Leo Pando

Average customer rating:
Caribbean Gardens: Gardens Open to the Public
J.; Bowe, Patrick Collett
Manufacturer: Macmillan Caribbean
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OUQT8S

Book Description

Since his death in 1989, John Cassavettes has become increasingly renowned as a cinematic hero--a renegade loner who fought the Hollywood system, steering his own creative course in a career spanning thirty years. Having already established himself as an actor, he struck out as a filmmaker in 1959 with Shadows, and proceeded to build a formidable body of work, including such classics as Faces, Woman Under the Influence, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Gloria. In Cassavettes on Cassavettes, Ray Carney presents the great director in his own words--frank, uncompromising, humane, and passionate about life and art.

Customer Reviews:

As brilliant as it gets!.......2006-03-14

Absolutely necessary reading for those interested in American alternative cinema and not only. The book gives a brilliant picture of USA's one of the best directors ever.
Highly recommended for everyone. No other book shows Cassavetes in this light. Packed with interesting material, as good as Cassavetas' cinema itself.

Truly inspirational!.......2004-08-17

Ray Carney's "Cassavetes on Cassavetes" is a wonderful introduction to Cassavetes' work. I found it to be a great read - amazingly free of academic jargon or fancy terminology. It was hard to put down! And with incredible photos of the wild-man at work. A must for every fan of indie film as well as aspiring directors and artists - and also for students of life! If you want to know even more, I'd also recommend Ray Carney's massive web site devoted to Cassavetes and indie film. Any search engine will take you there. It has wonderful behind-the-scenes information about the making of Cassavetes' work. If you want a volume to provide ongoing daily inspiration and encouragement regarding the artistic process, buy this book. It is a book you will go back to again and again and again...

My Way.......2002-11-07

Ray Carney's done a great service to film fans by bringing Cassavetes' scattered talks and interviews together into a coherent statement on art. Carney shows how Cassavetes' whole process of filmmaking was tied to his outlook on life. Combative, spontaneous and deliberately amateur, he aimed for situations where writer, actor and viewer are all left without direction, forced to respond to the story as individuals rather than reach for pre-approved 'social codes'. He savagely edited his films to defy audience expectations, usually rejecting versions that the studios, his collaborators and even his wife liked best. Some of Cassavetes' statements made me wonder if he did this to edit some part of himself--the Greek immigrant son made good, with the blonde wife and kids and Hollywood home. In some ways he was an insider desperate to stay on the outside. Conflict was fun for him, he thought America needed more of it, and the messy collaborative 'families' he built around each film were his alternative to the button-down corporate society he fought against all his life.

As Carney presents him, Cassavetes wasn't out for the money, the glory, the ego or ultimately maybe even the art. He wanted fun, he wanted friends and he wanted people to really live as individuals. Are there folks like this around anymore? We need them more than ever.

Possibly the best book about any director........2002-07-06

My half-hearted browser's interest in Cassavetes needed a kick in the seat of the pants, I now realize, and reading this book shows me how much I failed to appreciate him while we were lucky enough to have him around. The format is eye-opening. Cassavetes speaks, and then the author. The constantly shifting P.O.V., and the frisson between the truth Cassavetes himself presented, and the unvarnished truth as discovered by the author, makes this book constantly stimulating and endlessly arguable.

Cassavetes life and films are worth a serious look-see -- and this book is an EXCELLENT place to begin that-- if only because he is that rare individual who absolutely refused to accept mediocrity in himself and others, both as an artist and a committed liver of life. He went for the burn every time out, and could often be an ornery s.o.b. when he detected that people were simply going through the motions in their life or art. (The book is rife with anecdotes that literally make you wince and leave you wondering "Could I have long tolerated this behavior in a friend or family member?") He seems never to have thought "I'd better not burn my bridges here", or practiced any of the other forms of incremental, over-thought cowardice that most of us do.

Cassavetes was driven like no one else; he never made a lazy, easy commercial film. He let his life and films commingle, letting the cameras roll for hours, shooting thousands of feet more film than he could use, afterward sculpting it into a shape that could be released. (He said film stock was the one part of his film making on which he would never scrimp.) His films were, probably more than any other director's, explorations of life.

Cassavetes lived life so completely that it might be truthful to say he did something the average person would call foolhardy nearly every day of his life, in some way or other. But in spite of this, or because of it, it's impossible to come away from this book without an awakened admiration for him.

Great Interview Book.......2002-01-11

If you're intrigued at all by the work of John Cassavetes, this book is well worth your time. The book itself is a collection of interviews Cassavetes gave through his entire life, edited into chapters that correspond to the movies he talked about. The excerpts themselves are pretty interesting, but it is author Ray Carney's commentary in between quotes that really makes this book worthwhile. Carney gives us the back story, and fills in the missing parts, but he also sets things straight when John rambles into fiction. It's easy to see that Cassavetes liked to talk about his work. There are over 500 pages on roughly a dozen films.

If you are new to Cassavetes and read this book, you'll want to view his films. I have only seen a handful myself, but his total commitment to getting them made is so impressive that I feel ashamed to have not seen more. I saw my first Cassavetes film in college and felt that it was interesting, but a little over the top in places. As I get older, I think that real-life might be more over the top than I first realized.

John Cassavetes passion for making movies shines through in this volume. Ray Carney's insight tells the rest of the story. If you are interested in independent film making, this book is a must.

Average customer rating:
Shadows
Ray Carney
Manufacturer: British Film Institute
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cassavetes on Cassavetes

The Films of John Cassavetes: Pragmatism, Modernism, and the Movies (Cambridge Film Classics)

John Cassavetes: The Adventure of Insecurity (Studies in Contemporary Film)

Rebel Without a Cause: Approaches to a Maverick Masterwork (Suny Series, Horizons of Cinema)

POPism: The Warhol Sixties

ASIN: 0851708358

Book Description

John Cassavetes' Shadows is generally regarded as the start of the independent feature movement in America. Made for $40,000 with a nonprofessional cast and crew and borrowed equipment, the film caused a sensation on its London release in 1960.
The film traces the lives of three siblings in an African-American family: Hugh, a struggling jazz singer, attempting to obtain a job and hold onto his dignity; Ben, a Beat drifter who goes from one fight and girlfriend to another; and Lelia, who has a brief love affair with a white boy who turns on her when he discovers her race. In a delicate, semi-comic drama of self-discovery, the main characters are forced to explore who they are and what really matters in their lives.
Shadows ends with the title card 'The film you have just seen was an improvisation,' and for decades was hailed as a masterpiece of spontaneity, but shortly before Cassavetes' death, he confessed to Ray Carney something he had never before revealed--that much of the film was scripted. He told him that it was shot twice and that the scenes in the second version were written by him and Robert Alan Aurthur, a professional Hollywood screenwriter. For Carney, it was Cassavetes' Rosebud. He spent ten years tracking down the surviving members of the cast and crew, and piecing together the true story of the making of the film.
Carney takes the reader behind the scenes to follow every step in the making of the movie--chronicling the hopes and dreams, the struggles and frustrations, and the ultimate triumph of the collaboration that resulted in one of the seminal masterworks of American independent filmmaking.
Highlights of the presentation are more than 30 illustrations (including the only existing photographs of the dramatic workshop Cassavetes ran in the late fifties and of the stage on which much of Shadows was shot, and a still showing a scene from the 'lost' first version of the film); and statements by many of the film's actors and crew members detailing previously unknown events during its creation.
One of the most interesting and original aspects of the book is an nine-page Appendix that 'reconstructs' much of the lost first version of the film for the first time. The Appendix points out more than 100 previously unrecognized differences between the 1957 and 1959 shoots, all of which are identified in detail both by the scene and the time at which they occur in the current print of the movie (so that they may be easily located on videotape or DVD by anyone viewing the film).
By comparing the two versions, the Appendix allows the reader to eavesdrop on Cassavetes' process of revision and watch his mind at work as he re-thought, re-shot, re-edited his movie. None of this information, which Carney spent more than five years compiling, has ever appeared in print before (and, as the presentation reveals, the few studies that have attempted to deal with this issue prior to this are proved to have been completely mistaken in their assumptions). The comparison of the versions and the treatment of Cassavetes' revisionary process is definitive and final, for all time.

Average customer rating:

AAAART CARNEY!!!!!
Dull book about a comic genius
An interesting, absorbing book about a show business giant

Art Carney: A Biography
Michael Seth Starr
Manufacturer: Applause Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Great One: The Life and Legend of Jackie Gleason

ASIN: 1557835659

Amazon.com

Capering into fame as Jackie Gleason's sidekick in The Honeymooners, Art Carney proved later that he was no mere television personality but a real actor. He originated the part of neurotic Felix in Neil Simon's 1965 Broadway smash The Odd Couple, and his dual role in Brian Friel's Lovers garnered a 1968 Tony nomination; he won an Academy Award in 1974 for his poignant performance in Harry and Tonto. Michael Seth Starr traces this varied career with perception and empathy, revealing a hard-drinking, introverted, extremely private man totally unlike the blithely goofy Ed Norton.

Book Description

"A clear and well-written portrait of a superb performer and a wonderful human being, with emphasis on the word 'human.'" - The New York Times Book Review He was one of the most beloved stars of television's golden age. Together with his legendary partner Jackie Gleason, Art Carney helped create some of the most dazzling and unforgettable comedy ever presented on the small screen. Carney was an agile, rubber-limbed dancer and comedian whose sweetness and unassuming nature concealed the passion and power of a brilliant, often underappreciated, actor. The partnership formed by Carney and Gleason, as Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden and his dim-witted pal, sewer worker Norton, remains to this day the most powerful and memoriable comedic union ever conceived for television. How this song-and-dance man and show business recluse began his career, as well as the detours, lucky breaks, triumphs and heartbreaks Carney encountered along the way, is the subject of this fascinating, in-depth biography by author and New York Post editor Michael Seth Starr. ART CARNEY tells the story of a complex man and an enduring television legend who gave the world the most extraordinary gift of all: the gift of laughter.

Customer Reviews:

AAAART CARNEY!!!!!.......2007-06-03

Any fan of the Honeymooners (I was tempted to write "even casual" but with that show, you've got to be a huge fan from day one)) will love this book; or anyone who got see Art on Broadway, in the movies....or even on Laugh-In).
This is the very valuable, of course long-awaited book on one of the most versatile (and likeable) actors in history. Consider that he was a band singer, live TV character actor, dramatic actor in that medium and others - oh, and by the way, basically *created* one of the greatest sketch/sit-com characters: E. L. Norton.
This book is loaded with facts and touching anecdotes about this still-mysterious figure. In fact, for those who kind of "grew up" with AC, the career resume at the end (and the many rare photos, beautfully reproduced!) would be worth the cost of the book! You could read this work cover-to-cover on a NY to FLA flight - then want to look for the theatre in which Art re-joined Jackie in 1966 for new and reworked Honeymooners' sketches.
It seems to me that Art Carney is the most successful *established* TV actor to amke a seamless transition to Broadway and the movies. How many can you name have done that?
You will not find the kind of depth another writer provided in a book on Jerry Lewis, "The King Of Comedy", but this remains a highly recommended literary opus.
[correction: Art returned to the Gleason show in September of '62 for a sketch reminscent of "Be Big", a Laurel and Hardy short, which did involve Ralph-Ed-Alice-Trixie. The sketch Starr mentions came about a month later].

Dull book about a comic genius.......2000-03-22

It's hard to believe that someone could write a boring book about somebody as funny as Art Carney,but Michael Starr did it.I had to struggle to finish the book.You get almost no sense of what made Carney a comic genius.Starr instead prefers to write at length about Carney's drinking problem and depression.Frankly,it got tedious after awhile.You'll noyice that there's been only one other review of this book in the 3 years that it's been out.Other reader's must have followed the old maxim"If you can't say something nice,don't say anything at all."

An interesting, absorbing book about a show business giant.......1999-03-15

A pleasure to read! Starr's account of the life of this incredibly talented actor deserves great recognition! One has a true compassion for the trials of Art's life and how he has overcome adversity so completely. The casual observer will be surprised to learn of Carney's range as an actor(it could have been titled "There's More Than Norton"!). The only mild criticism is the jumbling of the storyline sequencing in both "Harry and Tonto" and "Going in Style". This book was a delight and I appreciate Mr. Starr taking the initiative to put this great chronicle together! Steve Schockow Brighton, NY

Average customer rating:

Carney Pitchman Indian Chief
Carl Herron
Manufacturer: Leaping Lizards
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 193208679X

Who's There?: The Life and Career of William Hartnell (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))

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Loving and detailed bio of the very first Time Lord
A biography that strives for honesty
Very informative.

Who's There?: The Life and Career of William Hartnell (Doctor Who (BBC Hardcover))
Jessica Carney
Manufacturer: Virgin Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1852275146

Customer Reviews:

Loving and detailed bio of the very first Time Lord.......2002-12-26

"My grandfather was a Time Lord..." Jessica Carney says on the back of her biography of William Hartnell. Yes, he was the very first Time Lord, but more than that, as readers will find out.
The book that Jessica Carney mentioned being in the process of writing in the More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS documentary was Who's There-The Life and Career of William Hartnell, who was both the first Doctor Who and one of Jessica's grandfathers.

However, after reading about his early life and career, his years in Doctor Who might as well be a postscript. Carney painstakingly traces her grandfather's life from his hard childhood in Devon, trying to overcome the shame of his illegitimacy, going on a stage career, meeting his future wife Heather McIntyre, making the string of B-movies in the 1930's, (quota quickies they were called), moving up the ladder with films such as The Way Ahead, Brighton Rock, Carry On Sergeant, and This Sporting Life, doing The Army Game TV series, a crisis of sorts as parts dried up, and his glorious finish in Doctor Who. It's indeed ironic that the movie that started the entire Carry On series is not on video. I've seen Brighton Rock and he played the character of Dallow very well. Another irony is that both of Jessica Carney's grandfathers appeared in Brighton Rock, the other being George Carney, although the latter died before the Hartnells and Carneys became united with the marriage of Anne Hartnell to Terry Carney.

William Hartnell emerges as someone who could be hot-tempered, but also good-humoured, kindly, and overgenerous. One example was his rivalry between Bob Monkhouse when making Carry On Sergeant. Hartnell only warmed up to him when Monkhouse was affected with the death of his father. He also valued security, hating change, and was upset to see the various TARDIS crew and even producer Verity Lambert leave in his Doctor Who years.

His early journal details his various capers, such as "bunking", basically trying to get free admission without paying, be it the tube or a movie theatre. He even got drunk on his uncle's cider and even snuck out at night from his grandparents. That this document itself survived is a miracle, considering how much of a throw-away society we've become.

Carney presents Hartnell as a grandfather, her "barmy sampa" as she states quite early on in her book, but as a human being as well. Like all humans, he did have his faults, i.e. gambling, womanizing, this which hurt his wife very much, and his going to the pub and getting very slashed. Sometimes, the womanizing accompanied that. However, he took his departure from Doctor Who hard, as his wife noticed how much he went pubbing.

His arteriosclerosis that hit him during his Doctor Who years and untimely, I might add, (I say untimely because he died aged 65, and given 1974, that's not even life expectancy) showed up in his dialogue troubles in the show which I've noticed upon seeing later stories.

This book is a treasure due to the available source material, be they personal diaries of William and Heather Hartnell, photo stills, and playbills from the plays they starred in during their early period. The tail end of the book has a list, cast, and brief synopses of his films and plays.

A biography that strives for honesty.......2000-10-27

William Hartnell is generally remembered as the first actor to take the title role in Doctor Who.

This biography, written by Hartnell's granddaughter Jessica Carney, tells the bigger story: the difficult childhood, his career (Doctor Who coming at the end of it), his family and private life, and all those things that, together, make someone human.

Ms. Carney writes with affection for her grandfather while striving to produce a biography that is much more than a series of fond reminisces. That she succeeds is a tribute to her skills as a writer.

If you read this book simply for Hartnell's time playing the Doctor, you will miss out on a fascinating life. You'll still get something, but take my word that the rest of the book is worth your while, too.

Very informative........1998-07-09

The biography of William Hartnell, written by his granddaughter Jessica Carney, is very informative and very interesting. I was really only familiar with William Hartnell's work on Doctor Who and was fascinated reading about his childhood and how unhappy he was growing up. I never knew about his personal life, and I'm sure not many other people did, and was amazed at what William Hartnell did. I think Jessica Carney did a real nice job writing about his life and tied everything together in a way that was enjoyable to read. I learned quite a lot about William Hartnell and would recommend this book to any fan of Doctor Who or anyone who is familiar with William Hartnell.

Customer Reviews:

the origins of irish foreign policy.......1999-10-16

This biography of John Chartres is not only a facinating insight into the events surrounding the signing of the Anglo-Irish treaty, but it also provides a rare glimse of the direction in foreign policy that Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith had envisoned. It clearly indicates the preferance of the then department of external affairs for the Berlin mission over the Paris one, with Chartres as its main proponent. A fascinating read for anyone interested in the Irish revolutionary period.

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