Entertainment Books

After reading the first four books in the Robot series, I was eager to get my hands on the fifth. The books carry a wide variety of art, all of which is impressive and unique. The fifth book carrys these traits on perfectly. All of the reoccuring stories, such as Pez, Wasteland, and even the bizarre Suzume Robo, are entertaining and feature amazing art. This is definitly a good buy, if you are a fan of the series, or just enjoy artbooks.

Too bad Wood's story-book career is overshadowed by the many unanswered questions surrounding her death. How ironic, I suppose, that the high-profile, high-pressure industry she so excelled at also had a lot to do with many of those questions going unanswered. The sorry fact is that LA's biggest industry has long influenced police investigation when scandal threatens the Hollywood image, all the way back to the murder of William Desmond Taylor.

In fact, the book's best part is what I take to be the author's no-punches-pulled, eye-witness testimony surrounding that fateful November night. Two particularly damaging aspects of the investigation emerge-- no sheriff's effort at putting together a time-line surrounding Wood's sudden disappearance (p.441), and the sheriff's refusal to even contact credible witnesses overhearing cries for help during that time frame (pps. 431- 432). Couple that with Frank Sinatra's effort to get respected county coroner Thomas Noguchi removed from the case (p.435), and a classic instance of industry string-pulling takes shape.

This is not to insinuate that criminal behavior was necessarily involved in the drowning. Neither the book nor I am implying that. However, there is a clear implication of botched procedures that remained remarkably incurious about conflicting accounts and details surrounding the death. Efforts to spare family feelings are understandable. But such factors should not impede justice from being done. Then too, I wonder if family feelings would be such a factor were the deceased from poverty-ridden East LA. In my view, this is another instance of investigation being boxed-in by big money, big reputations, and big industry. After all, as the fan mags liked to brag, Natalie and RJ were Hollywood "royalty". Nonetheless, the little girl many of us grew up with deserved better, royalty or not.

Natalie Wood had what amounts to an amazing Hollywood career. Unlike the great majority of child stars, her career remained uninterrupted from childhood through mature adulthood. This was a testament both to her talent and her ability to stay employed through life's inevitable changes. Author Finstad pinpoints the central conflict in her life-- the tension between the person herself (Natasha) and her carefully crafted show-biz persona ("Natalie Wood"). After all, she was a professional actress from age six, so it's not surprising that the real person had little chance to develop and that what there was remained submerged under the movie star creation. Mom comes across as the real culprit behind this split and something of a dark Rasputin-like force in Wood's life.

Curiously, little mention is made of the turbulent Vietnam period when old Hollywood was eclipsed by the new, so-called counter-culture. A glance at Wood's movie credits shows a sharp drop-off after 1966, the first big year of the war. Yet, there's not a single mention of Vietnam nor (I believe) of the war itself. This seems odd given the cultural and commercial impact on the movie industry of social and political forces then on the march. It would be interesting to know her reaction since the movement rejected the whole glamor factory concept. I don't know if the absence of material means Natalie and her circle simply floated above the national trauma or what. Anyway, I find this a curious silence in what is otherwise a pretty exhaustive text.

All in all, Finstad's biography is a close account of Wood's personal life. I wish there had been more on the business side, but probably sources there were hard to find since insiders play the business dealings pretty close to the vest. Also, the text could have used tighter editing since the detail at times gets somewhat repetitious. Nonetheless, the book is an insightful look into America's great game of celebrity worship and the ups and the downs of a fairy-tale life. I'm just sorry that if a body had to be pulled from the water, it wasn't Natasha's-- it was Natalie Wood's. And from that moment on the interests of the Hollywood glamor factory took over. Even in death, Natasha was suppressed.

Natasha: The biography of Natalie Wood was written by Suzanne Finstad. She claims to be a die-hard fan of Wood and that part is probably true but the way she writes about her favorite star is calculated and contrived. We know Natalie drowned, which was her biggest phobia and she married three times, twice to the same man. This book is a real page turner but you can't help but wonder what is fiction and what is real, even Wood's eldest daughter called this book trash, decide for yourself.

If you are over the age of 25 in America, you have heard of Natalie Wood. The tragically deceased movie star is akin to an icon in our nation's past. This thoroughly researched biography gives insight into her early life and behind the scenes information about her movies. With quotes from original sources, such as Wood's family members and staff, and second hand sources, such as magazine articles, the details of Natalie's life are spread before us.
I was only semi-knowledgeable about this actress prior to reading the book. I had only ever seen her three most famous movies, Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Miracle on 34th Street. Since this book, I have been compelled to familiarize myself with more of her work.
The author is, I believe, I first-time biographer, and although I haven't read terribly many biographies, I found her style somewhat heavy-handed. She also needs to familiarize herself better with the concepts of "foreshadowing" and "irony." One thing I found very annoying about the writing was that the author felt the need to remind us, over and over, of who people were. For example, she introduces us to Debbie Reynolds "who was originally considered for the part of Judy." Then, a paragraph later, she quotes Reynolds again, identifying her as "the actress who almost got [Natalie's] part." Scarcely a paragraph later, Reynolds "who almost played Judy" is quoted again. I did not need these reminders, as I (and I would imagine most other reasonably intelligent readers) can remember what was written from paragraph to paragraph. Also, I am quite unfamiliar with movie stars and directors from this period, so I would imagine people who were alive during this time or more well-versed on in this subject might be even more frustrated than I was.
Finstad also kept pushing the idea that "Natalie Wood" was a "composite" of Natalie herself and her mother, Maria. I was willing to accept the assertion at first, as Maria pushed Natalie into stardom, but later, as Natalie grew up, it seemed Finstad was massaging the facts to support her claim.
In conclusion, I learned a lot from Finstad's thorough research and interviews with close friends and family members of Ms. Wood, but I would not read a book by her again. I have wish-listed another biography of Natalie Wood, and would be interested to see whether this concept of the "composite" Natalie Wood is more pervasive.

This book read more like fiction than fact.I was horrified at the things Natalie went through to become and remain a star. I was thrilled by her ability to overcome all and become one of the most respected actors of her time.I wanted to lash out at someone about the way she died and I wanted someone charged with a crime.With that said, I thought too much time was spent describing her early years and her background but that is a minor complaint.Natalie was a favorite of mine so I enjoyed the book.Natalie: A Memoir by Her Sister

This is one of the very few biographies where i was left feeling i knew the subject intimately and deeply. I have always felt that Natalie Woods life was a highly fascinating and karmically complex one.
The author certainly confirmed that and i didnt find the prose to be overly dramatic at all.
She is a talented writer as well as a biographer and for me, that makes a huge difference.
I like depth, insight, and good writing,
a wonderful subject is of course important and this book had it all.

When "No One Here Gets Out Alive" (the first of what by now are at least half a dozen biographies of Doors poet and singer Jim Morrison) was first published in 1980, it was a huge best-seller and very popular amongst my crowd of friends. I was urged to read the book by many of them, but, despite being a Doors fan then and to this day, I suppose my head was somewhere else back then, and I never did. Flash forward 28 years, and I am replacing all six of my weathered Doors studio LPs with 40th anniversary deluxe CDs (and it really is remarkable how well those old albums hold up today!) and getting very much into a Morrison frame of mind. So I just picked up and finally read Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman's biography, and can now see what my buddies and buddyettes were raving about almost three decades ago. This is indeed a very well written, impeccably researched and compulsively readable look at the life of the so-called Lizard King. Though only 27 when he died, Morrison's short life was jam packed with truly remarkable incidents, providing the book's authors with more than ample material for their biography. Impressively, according to the book, Hopkins interviewed almost 200 of Jim's friends, relatives and associates before writing began, and Sugerman worked in the Doors' office.

The book takes us from Morrison's childhood as a "Navy brat," being shuttled by his family from homes in Florida to Virginia and California, to his student days at the UCLA film school, and on to his first meetings with Ray Manzarek and the rest of his band members. We learn of the Doors' meteoric ascent into rock superstardom, and then of the crash and burn following arrests in New Haven, Arizona and Miami. One of my favorite tales in the book, which I'd never heard before, concerns how Morrison, tripping on 10,000 "mikes" (!) of LSD, performed the so-called "Oedipal section" of "The End" in public for the first time, thus getting the nascent band banned from the Whiskey A Go Go for perpetuity! Readers of this biography will probably be struck with the thought that it is incredible that Morrison managed to last until the age of 27. The life he lived was truly--and sometimes literally--on the edge; besides the massive quantities of drugs and booze he consumed, a favorite hobby of his was, apparently, hanging off of hotel balconies by his fingertips! And while one of my fellow reviewers has accused this book of being mere "hagiography," the Morrison presented here is anything but a saint. The authors do take pains to show what an "alcohol-soaked, self-indulgent jerk" he could be, as well as his other, better side; that of a highly intelligent, sensitive, questing, and extremely ambitious poet, musician and filmmaker. Mixed in with the remarkable stories are a few that made me really laugh out loud, such as the one where Morrison tries to do a PSA against speed, and the one in which Jim goes to the Fillmore East to see Jefferson Airplane (another of my favorite bands) and proclaims them "the most boring band I have ever heard in my whole life." I also got a good chuckle from the authors referring to Morrison as a "sexual philanthropist"! Startling--for me, anyway--was the realization that "Mr. Mojo Risin'" is not just a nickname for Jim Morrison, but an anagram! Somehow, I'd never realized that before. The book is full of interesting tidbits like that, and to its credit, when the authors come to an area that is unclear to them (oh, such as the events surrounding their subject's death), they give us what is known or suspected and let it stand at that. The authors clearly think the world of Morrison, but still take the trouble to show the less savory side of his character (as when the young Jim makes fun of a paraplegic in a wheelchair) and to tell us what areas remain cloaked in mystery.

Having said all that, I must also report some small problems that a close reading of the book reveals. There appear hundreds of quoted conversations between Morrison and others that have to be approximated, at best, from much later interviews. There are also some statements that would seem to be factual errors. Nico is said to have appeared in the 1958 Fellini film "La Dolce Vita," whereas any film buff could tell you that the film dates from 1960. Two "midgets" are said to appear on the front cover of "Strange Days," when a close look will reveal only one. The authors tell us that the Doors appeared at the Fillmore West in early January '67, and that is true, but then go on to say that the band played at the theatre again three weeks later. In actuality, the Doors were at the Fillmore West on January 6-8, 1967 and then a mere ONE week later, from January 13-15. Other factual glitches that crop up may be due to typographical errors: Clark boots are referred to as "Clarke boots"; the date of the band's New Haven bust is given as "December 9, 1968" instead of December 9, 1967 (that's a BAD typo!); Morrison's wife, Patricia Kennealy, is repeatedly and consistently referred to as "Patricia Kennely"; and the Pere La Chaise Cimetiere, where Morrison was buried, is referred to as the "Pere La Chaise Cemetiere." Still, these are mere quibbles. "No One Here Gets Out Alive" is a fine tribute to a great artist, and I predict that once any reader turns open that by-now-classic front cover, he/she will feel compelled to "break on through to the other side." Yes, indeed, this is a book that will keep you reading till the "end of the night"....

I loved this book! To me Jim Morrison was a great poet ahead of his time. This book shared great stories of his drug and alcohol induced debaucheries.

I'm no expert on The Doors or Jim Morrison, but this was an engaging read that tried to show a softer side of a man who lived to life's extremes.

I also realize that I am reading this biography 20 years after the fact and that the book was written 15+ years after his death, but to gain a general understanding of who Jim Morrison was this book did the job.

I wouldn't have paid more than the $5.00 I did for it, but if you can find it cheap, pick it up.

This book helped fuel a serious revival of interest in the music of the Doors and the late Jim Morrison, the band's lead singer. One of the coauthors, the late Danny Sugerman, was a long time employee of the band.

Almost simultaneous with the release of this biography in paperback, director Francis Ford Coppola made extensive use of the Doors' song "The End" for the soundtrack of the Viet Nam war film "Apocalypse Now." Rolling Stone magazine took notice of the trend and putting Morrison on the cover of an issue with a reminder to its readers that he was dead. In a few years time, director Oliver Stone adapted the same story for his feature film "The Doors." It should be noted that Stone's screenplay credited drummer John Densmore's book, "Riders on the Storm," as his source material rather than this title.

Morrison and his band mates, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger and John Densmore, made some interesting music that combined lyrics adapted from the poetry of William Blake, the classic Greek tragedy of Oedipus Rex and, seemingly, from the labels of countless empty bottles of whisky.

For myself, it was a heady time, playing Doors records on a college radio station, watching "Apocalypse Now" in its original theatrical release, and hearing Manzarek's keyboard synthezier and Krieger's guitar in the dormitories. The title of the book is, of course, taken from the song "Five to One." This is an extraordinary account of a significant band and the decline and fall of their lead singer.

If you like the doors, if you are interested in Jim Morrison , this is the definitive biography. Heavily researched, readable, a little sick, its a rock and roll reading classic. Get it.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1EAF40UW01Z2U Take a look into the fabulous piece of work and art by Eurythmics' Dave Stewart called "The Dave Stewart Songbook Vol. 1 - The Stories Behind The Songs". Get an impression what a precious, interesting and entertaining high quality item you get to watch, read ... and listen!!! Enjoy all.

We've all seen Spinal Tap, Almost Famous, and the other "rock star" movies. This is REAL account of the the same kind of crazy stories those movies try to fabricate. What an entertaining read and the music tucked in the back of the book is a nice surprise too!

If you're a fan of Dave Stewart and Eurythmics, this is a must have. Even if you're among the uninitiated, the stories are very entertaining, and the photos of artists Dave's worked with (Mick Jagger, Sinead O'Connor, Tom Petty, No Doubt, Jon Bon Jovi, etc.) make this book very worth owning. The fact that it also contains 21 songs on two discs plus all of the sheet music is a huge bonus.

I've got to say, the pictures in this book are amazing. The book is a little bigger than a notebook, and the pictures are just about full size, making them about 8x10. Which is great if you want to put them on your wall.

My only complaint about the pictures are: although there are about 2 or 3 pictures of her on the beach with the white bathing suit on, that's it. Why not put more of them, they are some of Marilyn's best pictures. Also, the pictures of her in the field in the blue dress, why not more? As is with the pictures of her in the field with the white dress. I don't understand.

I love all of the pictures of her at home in a relaxed state.

But the one thing that sensitive Marilyn Monroe fans might not like is the Foreword. David Thompson almost seems not to like her. But no one knows the exact truth about Marilyn's life, so the stuff he says may be true. If so, I feel sorry for her.

I don't know what to think of her, since I've read so much about her from different people. But it seems like she was a very complex person. Like myself, people don't know what to think about her. That's what I think draws me to her even more. I used to just love her for her wonderful pictures, but now it's fun learning more about her.

Although Mr. Thompson's foreword kind of irked me a little, this book is well worth it to a Marilyn fan or fan of beautiful pictures.

I hope this review helped someone. It's my first review, thanks for reading.

In the book possible to find amazing pictures, some of them I have never chance to seen before. Good quality of the pictures and a lot to find inside.

A must have for any Marilyn Monroe fan.
This book is full of rare and beautiful photos!
I own several Marilyn books and this is one of
the best photographic books I have seen.
The amazon price for this book can't be beat.
Recomended for the collector looking for
stunning Marilyn photos.

I purchased this book as a Christmas present for my sister who is a big Marilyn fan, and I think she is going to be ecstatic when she opens this present. The book is just full of wonderful pictures that bring to life Marilyn! This is a coffee table book that any fan of Monroe would be glad to have on their coffee table. The images span her life and career and include the many of the iconic glamour shot, but what is really cool are the many candid snap shots that help bring into focus the real person behind the image. Once I started paging through this beautiful book I could not stop! I have to be careful or I am going to have to buy another copy! I also just finished reading the soon to be released Misfits Country a fictional behind the scenes look at the Making of The Misfits Marilyn is the central character...must have for Marilyn fans!

This gorgeous, classy book encompasses the lifespan of the young Norma Jeane Baker/Mortenson, from lonely little girl to unknown young model, and through her metamorphosis into luminous superstar Marilyn Monroe, as well as into the last days of her life. The story is told through photographs.

It is full of beautiful b&w and color photos, both portraits and unposed snapshots, many of which I haven't seen before. There are also many quotes included, both by MM and about her, and there is a brief timeline at the end of the book that gives an overview of many of the important events in her life. The very short biography at the beginning of the book is a bit drab, but the main story here is, of course, the pictures, which encompass so many of the moments of her life.

If you never got the chance to own Spada's "Monroe: Her Life in Pictures," this would make a nice replacement. This is a wonderful and eclectic gathering of photos, and would be an attractive addition to any MM library.

Good book, I enjoyed it. Jerry Lewis wrote of alot of personal experiences that I had never heard of before. I read it in a few days, was very interesting.

I have the Audible version and have to say it again...WOW.

This is one one heck of a memoir/bio delivered by the only person that could deliver it in such great detail and depth...Jerry Lewis himself.

I am way too young to have known or viewed their comedy "act", but this book brings it all to life so vividly that I am on my second listen just so I didn't miss anything on the first listen and also it was really just a great story.

I went ahead right away and purchased "DINO" by Nick Tosces so I can continue to learn about everything that occured in that era including the Rat Pack.

I was very surprised that the book was so well written. To be honest, I only bought the audio because I had a credit towards a book and I figured "what the heck". Now I'm wondering what took me so long.

Amazing book. I love Dean and Jerry, and couldn't put this down. I literally laughed and cried. This was a very enjoyable book.

This was an excellent book. I learned so much about Martin & Lewis. Having grown up watching Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin movies I loved being able to find out more about my favorite actors. But I can't help but walk away from this book feeling a sense of sadness and heartbreak. They had such an awesome partnership, and like Jerry says, "all good things must come to an end". Sometimes it's harder for the fans to deal with the reality than the ones who are involved. They are what I would consider TRUE ENTERTAINERS. I never knew how much Jerry loved Dean...he really did so much for him just to see him happy.

With candid portrayal of his start and 10 year "gig" with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis captivates us and we can't put the book down. This is no white wash flowery story; he tells the imperfections of both of them. You know it's love, even after their breakup of the team because Jerry reveals allot about his partner Dean Martin that we never knew of.

In short the Jew did good. Jerry always wanted to mix comedy with tears. Dean didn't like the sad mixing stuff; just make 'em laugh. However Jerry got his last wish with Dean, 'cause in the end of the book the clown made a full grown man cry. Jerry instead of making me laugh, at the end, warmed my heart about his love for his partner and made me grab a tissue. That was low pool Jerry.

As a Christian business person and long-time fan of Phil Vischer, I had high hopes for this book. It did not disappoint. Part business book, part autobiography, and part spiritual reflection, this book has helped me to better articulate a philosophy of a God-driven business. Some of Vischer's thoughts have influenced the direction of our company, by pointing us toward the Henry Blackaby approach of waiting for God and joining Him in the work He's already doing.

This was a quick read, and very inspiring. I highly recommend it.

This was a fascinating read. The story of the building and collapse of a Christian business giant was intriguing, but I think what was more important was what Mr. Vischer learned about his own walk with God, and what he's attempting to share with others.

As a Veggie fan since the inception of VeggieTales, I found this book riveting. The story of the spectacular rise of the Veggie kingdom and the lessons Phil V. learned along the way was interesting because I knew only parts of the whole story. The leadership lessons at the end were something I can apply to my specific situation. When some authors attempt to pass on wisdom they have gleaned, the book gets dry and boring. That didn't happen with this book, it was well-written all the way to the end. I can't wait to see what Phil Vischer comes up with next!

I just got finished reading this and was totally blown away. I really appreciated his honesty and openness about what happened to Big Idea and this reaffirmed my feelings about the other so-called business books out there: it's easy to look like a genius when you study successful companies and draw contrasts, but the same methods don't work for every company.

Phil is a great storyteller, and I'm pleased to have been let into his world for a few hours.

I was handed this book to read as I have made many people aware of my long train ride and constant need for new things to read. I love veggie tales but had no understanding of the company or its history, other than my sister taking a tour after winning a contest years ago. So I didn't know what to expect or why it would be worth publishing.

What a pleasant surprise!!! This has become one of my favorite books and I have since purchased many copies for gifts and lent my own copy out multiple times. Phil's writing style is easy to read and he is fantastically funny no matter how good/bad/normal/technical the content is.

There are many lessons to be learned through the roller coaster ride that the author and his company, Big Idea, went on. This is a must-read for anyone considering joining or starting a full time ministry, or for anyone about to embark in a leadership role of any kind. For the rest of us who grew up mesmerized by CGI, its a great and funny book.

Dunne is a fantastic and fun writer. This collection gets bogged down however. Many of the stories are dated and the updates are not recent. Many of the stories are reprinted in the far superior colleciton, Justice. Still, parts of this book, particularly the Gloria Vanderbilt story, stand out. If you like Dunne, I would start with Justice and move backwards. It is fun to read many of his stories do have something of a timeless quality. I was frustrated with parts of book which seemed dated and dull. Ahh..what do I know. Dunne is still great.

When I picked up Mr. Dunne's novel for my book collection of his amazing works, it was another week of neglecting my duties as a Mother to my starving children. Thank goodness for the microwave! I am a Vanity Fair subscriber and always will be due to Mr. Dunne's genius writing. Mrs. Litras.

It's had been quite some time since I'd picked-up a book I couldn't put down, but this one ended the drought! It made me an instant Dominick Dunne fan and wishing that he'd continue the saga for the Bradley family in future novels. If you have ever been intrigued by the lifestyles of the rich and infamous, or the larger than life experiences of the Kennedy's, then click on the order button and prepare to curl up with this unforgettable story!

I have enjoyed Dominick Dunne's novels (novels in disguise!), but this book has left me wishing I had been a Vanity Fair subscriber. I never realized what I had been missing, although I might have not read anything else in that magazine. I almost didn't order it, because I was disappointed with his previous work-The Way We Lived Then-which was exactly what he said it was, the recollections of a well-known name dropper, all names and not much content. However-this book is wonderful-and probably more so the recollections of a name dropper. Incredible true stories of the rich and famous, and maybe some not so famous, all intensely interesting. A number of the essays involve crime-beginning with his description of the trial of the man who killed his daughter, and including pieces on the Mendez brothers, O.J. Simpson, Claus Von Bulow, and more, told as only an "insider" could. Yet not all of the tales are crime related, so if you're looking for tabloid-style, tell all stories, this probably isn't the book for you. He tells the tales of high society with a touch of class, and I can't imagine that he has made many enemies, and probably remains in good favor with most of the people he has included in these pages. I finished the book wanting to go back and re-read several of my favorite stories, and wishing there was a sequel I could now continue with. Enjoy-I read it in 2 days.