Entertainment Books

This is the 4th in a series of very clever & FUNNY romps through KeyWest & Florida. I love TacoBob & his crazy visions... Can I SEE a Chacmool now?

As other reviewers have said, this book is fascinating in depth and breadth and extremely well-written. The book recreates the mood and times of Havana, Cuba, and often of the US across several decades. The author exhibits tremendous balance in spite of the author's genuine affection for many of the primary players in the central drama.

This is a great book written by two outstanding ladies who are the experts on the subject matter. First Rosa Lowinger did an outstanding job with her research, and Ofelia Fox Fox (widow of Martin Fox, former owner of Tropicana Night Club) with all the details that she provided. I believe that every Cuban should be very proud of these two ladies, who invested so much time to make this book, and did an excellent job too, about their Country, and the Havana night clubs. The Tropicana ranks above them all. In this book the reader will know how the night club was made, and all the people involved in making it happen. And credit must be given to Martin Fox former owner of the club. It became his obsession in making his dream come true; although I reside in Morocco I can only imagine what Cuba was like in those days. I left my country at the age of eight, and never had the chance to go near the Tropicana, I always remember the stories of the great experience it was to visit the club. Some people would associate the club with the Mafia, and corruption. Well, if the club had any connection with the Jewish and Italian Mafia, they were better off than what the current backward government has to offer today. Corruption exists everywhere in the world, and Cuba was booming with with success in those days. After all, the Jews and Italians owned most of the Hotels and other casinos in Havana, they also invested great amount of money to assist the Cuban people in making Cuba the best tourist attraction in the world! General Batista was the best president that Cuba had. In those days you did not have the poverty that you find today in the Island. We Cubans are proud of our culture and are happy people, we like the best that life has to offer.This book is a must for all the Cubans and other nationalities who do not know how Cuba was; Cuba was known as the Pearl of the Antilles. The book is also very educative, for those who want to improve their knowledge and overcome their ignorance, for example, Ofelia Fox explains the true meaning of the word guajiro, "When Roosevelt's men came to fight in our war of Independence, and they began calling the Mambises `war heroes'. Well, you can imagine that no Cuban could pronounce that, so it simply became guajiro."Excerpt from the book: Tropicana Nights, The Life and Times of the Legendary Cuban Night Club, Chapter 17, Cabaret in the Sky, page: 269.by Rosa Lowinger & Ofelia. Buy it!

Tropicana Nights brings to life the second most famous nightclub of the 20th century, and the events of the Castro revolution. Rosa Lowinger weaves into the story just enough personal history to give context to all the larger events. Details are included when they are relevant to the story told, but the story is allowed to move along quickly, and this book is entertaining and illuminating. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to get an idea of what pre-revolutionary Havana was like, whether or not they are interested in nightclubs. My parents, who often went to Tropicana, said that the book tells it like it was. The book also includes wonderful vintage photos.

Tropicana Nights gives the reader a sense of what life was like in Havana during the 1940s and 1950s. The Tropicana nightclub embodied the creativity and glamour of that era.

Tropicana still exists in Havana today. In the 1940s and 50s, it was a nightclub, cabaret and casino. It hosted performers such as Nat "King" Cole, Ginger Rogers and Liberace. Its audience was composed of the rich and famous, politicians and people wanting a special night out. Tropicana consistently met and raised people's expectations. The shows were legendary due to the imaginative choreography, live animals and beautiful Tropicana models.

This book is a collaboration of two women who are brought together to tell Tropicana's story. Ofelia Fox is the widow of Martin Fox who owned the Tropicana from 1950-1962. Rosa Lowinger was born in Havana but raised in Miami. As they work together on the book, some issues are raised.

Rosa and Ofelia have different views on Cuban politics. Ofelia claims that both Batista and Castro are dictators. Rosa must be sensitive about what she writes about Castro or risk being denied entry back into Cuba.

Rosa is curious about the possible Mob involvement at Tropicana. Ofelia and Martin went to Trafficante's daughter's wedding and were personally entertained by Frankie Carbo (a hit man for Bugsy Siegel in the 1930s) when they visited New York. Ofelia maintains that this was just a good business relationship. but Rosa isn't so sure. It is up to the reader to decide who is right.

There are also questions about Ofelia's relationship with her roommate (Rosa Sanchez). They have been together for more than 30 years yet when asked, Ofelia states that Rosa is a close friend but they are not a couple.

Lowinger has written a book that reads like a juicy novel. She has a great writing style, I kept turning the pages to find out what happened next. After reading the personal anecdotes and seeing the photos, I felt like I knew the various characters (the showgirls, the dancers and roulette dealers). I also enjoyed finding out what happened to everyone in recent years.

Armchair Interviews says: Come spend some time at the Tropicana and find out why it was paradise under the stars.

Rosita Lowinger brings Cuba in the '40s and '50s to vibrant life in this excellent book. Anybody interested in learning about the island of Cuba should read it, because it's chock-full of historical facts. In addition, you learn all about the politics, the music, the cabaret circuit, the culture, even the Mafia connections! Rosita is an excellent writer who puts lots of "sabor" in her prose. I hope she's working on the screeplay right now. You cannot put the damn book down! It's easily the best I've read all year.

Ellen Burstyn has always been one of my favorite actresses. Her warmth and sensitivity has always illuminated her performances, and her bravery in tackling difficult material such as Requiem for a Dream has been impressive. This book tells why she is able to let herself go in roles that other actors would soft pedal.

In these times when our culture is focusing on so many lost souls in Hollywood, Ellen Burstyn's book emerges with honesty, insight and lessons for all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her life and how she overcame an extremely unloving and abusive childhood to emerge as a strong and powerful woman and incredible actress. As a 45 year old woman it is people like Ellen Burstyn that inspire me on this journey of life. She is an incredibly wise soul and I am very grateful she shared her life with us in such a frank and open way.

"Thank you" Ellen Burstyn for writing with such honest, open, brave and detail oriented language. I was able to fully visualize every amazing episode of your life. And what a life!!! I'm exhausted from all the incredible experiences you had! I am truly dumbfounded how you survived it all??? You are a wonderful example of "living life to the fullest" and being a teacher/student all thru one's life.

I've always admired your work as an actress. THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS, THE EXORCIST and ALICE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE have always been at the top of my "favorite films" list. And your performances in these films are sincere, emotional and real. But, to read about what you were going thru behind the scenes is what makes you a truly unique person and humanitarian.

I believe we learn so much about life thru the art of storytelling. You are a gifted storyteller and by passing on the stories of your life you have enhanced mine with a reawakened "spiritual" curiosity about the mystery/meaning of life. Your willingness to share your thoughts concerning your spiritual journey was life-affirming!

"Thank you" Ellen Burstyn for taking this reader on a journey filled with laughter, pain, strength, determination and a desire to connect with all human-beings/animals that came into your life. Your words moved me and your book will hold an honored place on my shelf of "favorite" biographies!

This book spans a vast period of Ellen Burstyn's life. We learn about the ups and downs of her acting career, her travels and delving into the supernatural and metaphysical, her violent mother and absent father, her relationships and marriages - the longest of which was that troubled marriage to Neil. In an open and honest way she writes of her promiscuity and abortion. "I was a rabbit in the wild woods, food for all the denizens of the forest, but my only concern seems to have been how to become a more delicious morsel" (105).
Many, many people were mentioned in this book. The author speaks of Jackie Gleason and his psychic powers and the genius of Lee Strasberg. There were also many, many stories. Her visit to Cambodia where she learns of the unspeakable evil of the Khmer Rouge was shocking. Also that retreat in which she becomes a homeless person sleeping on the streets was both revealing and touching. But it shows the author as someone willing to go to great lengths to learn the lessons of life.

Down in the basement of my house, there is a room where I store my archives: every script I've ever worked on, photos taken of me and photos I've taken, diaries, journals, appointment books, calendars, and notebooks from all the way back to my beginnings. (p. 3)

So begins the life story of Ellen Burstyn, as told by Ellen Burstyn in free-flowing narrative. The reader is given a glimpse into the most private parts of Burstyn's life, starting with her earliest memories. Burstyn actually began what became this book in 1980. As her opening remarks tell us, she had a lot of documentation with which to work. Just as important as her physical records, though, are those she finds in her "inner archive."

When I need to access a particular emotion for a role, I imagine taking an elevator down to my inner archive, where I quietly flip through the files until some memory rises up and offers itself. Then I move into that event and it comes alive in me. (p. 3)

Burstyn also has a remarkable memory for conversations and many of these find their way into her writing. She claims to have trained her memory--a good trait for an actress and also for a memoirist.

This is a searching, self-introspective account. One might liken it to reading someone's journal or diary, so intimate are the glimpses into her most private experiences. She "speaks" to her audience (her readers), but just as often seems to be addressing herself, questioning a choice she made, second-guessing her reaction to an event, or wondering aloud why some things have been so hard to learn. She gives a great deal of attention to presenting and explaining the various faith beliefs and credos which she encountered and studied throughout her life. She identified herself as a Sufi, a searcher for truth in its purest form. "I learn from all traditions without being restricted to just one way," she says. "Truth has no boundaries." (p. 403) Burstyn has little use for organized religion, whose dogma and rules she finds confining.

Having seen Ellen Burstyn in a wide variety of movie roles, I would have thought she was a confident, secure, strong woman. Now in her seventy-seventh year, she may be strong, but that was not always the case. Becoming herself has been a life-long process, and often a grueling journey.

It would be impossible in a short time to present all of the life issues Burstyn addresses in her memoir. However, there is one which I believe played a huge part in not only who she became, but also how she got there. From her earliest days, she identified truth, or the lack of it, as a major issue with her mother, Coriene. Dishonesty was a huge factor for young Edna Rae Gillooly/Ellen. While demanding absolute honesty from her children, Coriene then perversely demanded that they lie for her. Coriene also lied about them, even denying their existence if it seemed expedient, going so far as to introduce Edna to a gentleman friend as her "neighbor down the street." Coriene thought that acknowledging her children might adversely affect her chances of getting a marriage proposal. Of these practices, Ellen said, "Her deceit did so much harm. It created a negative atmosphere of anger, resentment and hostility that pervaded our home and had abiding repercussions for all of us." (pg. 18)

Indeed, much of Burstyn's searching throughout her life centered on finding truth in many manifestations. She attributes the early and constant honesty issues with her mother as one of the main reasons she chose to be a Sufi.

Burstyn does not glamorize her life. She shares her failures as well as her fame. She is open about the abuses she suffered both as a child and as an adult. On one hand, she knew how destructive it was, but on the other, she couldn't seem to break away from it. It's a continuing theme of her life story. At one point, she acknowledged, "it would take many years before I stopped seeking out the pattern of relating to men that I learned at home...we just keep repeating it because that's what we know." Her relationship with Neil Burstyn caused trauma for years; she actually feared for her life at times. She admitted to being in denial over the severity of his condition.

Another recurrent theme is that of learning from mistakes. Burstyn freely admits to many of hers. She struggled with giving up to men what she perceived rightly as her power, simply because they were men. "We learn from our mistakes" she says. "This was one of mine that I repeated over and over until I got it right. I've heard it said that when you make a mistake and don't learn from it, the next time you have to repeat that lesson, it will be even harder." (p.295) Later she asks "Who knows what mistakes we need to make in order to learn the lessons we came here to learn?" Who among us cannot relate to that? Likewise, she sees the people in her life as teachers. Her mother may have been harsh and unloving, but she gave young Edna the impetus to leave home and make something of herself. A homeless person teaches her how vital it is that we are seen, that we are acknowledged as fellow humans. The book's dedication simply thanks "all my teachers."

Lessons in Becoming Myself is a good read presented by a woman who has finally come to know herself. The pace of the book is steady and she maintains the reader's interest by being so transparent and open. Few of us, I believe, could read this book and not find some commonality with this icon of film and stage.

She ends this account of her life thus far with these words "I know that becoming conscious is a never-ending process. My prayer is that by the actual end of this life, I will exit wearing my own true face and be completely unmasked. Authenticity has been my aspiration." A fitting and yet ironic commentary on the life of a consummate actress, a woman who has worn many masks so successfully in her chosen profession.

by Susan Ideus
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

This book states that the Blair Witch was an actual legend here in Maryland.....when it most certainly was not, and is pure fiction. Do your research before you actually write a book and spread false information. There are many ghosts and legends in this region of the state, but there are no 'witch' legends of any sort in Burkittsville.

Anyone in the media and entertainment industry should study this book. Should be required reading for students of these fields as well. I also think it took some guts to write it!

ANYONE IN ANY FORM OF MEDIA AND THE ENTERTAINMENT FIELD SHOULD STUDY THIS BRILLIANTLY PRESENTED BOOK. SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR STUDENTS OF THOSE FIELDS AS WELL. I also think it took some guts to write it!

sikov's writing style is clear and very focused, which helps because there are many signs that he adores his subject slavishly. and he particularly adores the film 'dark victory' because it's his go-to bette davis and sums up many things regarding her mystique, her stylized and highly effective performances in her best films and her place in the warner brothers pantheon.

but because the heart of the book is this film, it climaxes a bit early. and sikov seems disdainful of davis' later work, not to mention the other films that were released in 1939 and 1940 starring davis.

it does, however regain credibility because he tries to elucidate the pained relationships davis had with immediate family and her oldest daughter, bd hyman. hyman, as everyone knows, wrote a tough-to-take bio of life with her mother called 'my mother's keeper'. i don't remember the book that well. but hyman's self-serving sanctimonious attitude has scored her some well-deserved derision from historians and fans of miss davis.

but the anecdotes that drive davis' life, like the court battle in england, the abusive third husband, her high sex drive and many partners and the wonderful work she did on building characters are very well recounted--just like (pun intended) a boy's favorite fairy story.

Although I enjoyed the book, there was little new material presented. I read "The Lonely Life" many years ago and found that Mr. Sikov used this autobiography frequently as a resource. [He rightly referenced this throughout his book.] I consider many of Ed Sikov's statements and opinions questionable and uninformed. For example, he dismisses Eddie Cantor as "hard-to-take" with stale comedy routines. Some of this documents the way Mr. Cantor is intentionally presented on film but other negative statements appear to be opinions of Sikov. I have a different opinion. I've seen many Cantor musicals from the early 1930s and find him quite funny and very talented. This too, is a personal opinion but, in contrast, clearly cited as such as opposed to being presented as a universally accepted fact.

Another and more troubling instance involves the photograph Mr. Sikov uses to illustrate the physical beauty of Bette Davis despite the many opinions to the contrary stated and implied throughout her career. I agree that Bette Davis was beautiful but, unfortunately, I do not believe the photo of the lovely woman at a window used by Sikov is an image of Bette Davis. It may well be an early portrait of Patricia Neal.

The issues I've raised may be of minor importance but they caused me to question the veracity of other assertions in the book. All in all, though, an enjoyable read!

Ed Sikov's masterful biography accomplishes something I thought to be nearly impossible; it is a book that is as entertaining as the legend it captures so beautifully. Cinema buffs will love the way he disects and analyzes her movies ( minor complaint, I would have liked to have seen more deconstruction of the performances in Now Voyager ). I've read the odd criticism here and there that he spends too much time on the movies themselves at the cost of details regarding the actress, but that criticism falls flat, in that the subtle point being made is that Miss Davis, to a large extent, WAS the movies she made. It is also to the author's credit that he takes to task previous biographers at certain points, as well as those contemporaries who were unfair in certain criticisms of the actress.

Where Sikov really triumphs is in allowing his marvelous...no FABULOUS! sense of humor to scream through on nearly every page. This is an author I want to have dinner with!

A great read, a thorough biography, and a book that captures the texture of the one and only Miss D.

This is the only bio I've read on Bette Davis so I can't compare it to any others.

Most of the book is about the 1930's and 1940's when Bette did many pictures under contract to Warner Bros. She was constantly making movies, most of them not particularly memorable. Her personal life is lived in and around her movie making schedule. There's a lot of details about the movies that I will enjoy rereading the next time I see the movie on tv and via a rental. Bette has a lot of affairs during this period of her life, many of which are men who are her directors, costars, etc. It doesn't matter that she is married to various others during this period as well.

Once she leaves Warner Bros., her career life is more varied and spread out as she has more control over it. The author also starts to spend more time on just Bette's personal life as a consequence.

This is a lengthy book that appears to be the result of a lot of research and pulling together a lot of resource material judging from the credits. There were a few times I got a bit impatient and bored but really only a tiny bit. Overall I recommend the book but you have to be interested in the subject.

The Davis that emerges at the end in retrospect is the culmination of all the stories and details the author has presented. I really think the author let others tell Bette's story including Bette herself as he used her own memoir as part of his source material along with many of her print/tv interviews.

I spent most of the time in the back of my mind as I read the book wondering if I could've been a friend of hers as she is really tough on people - at times loyal and at other times rude and angry and very unpredictable.

One of the aspects of the book I really liked was detailing her mannerisms and how she used body language to add nuance and meaning to her acting. Much of this knowledge is tied to specific movies and I am interested to rewatch certain films now because of this.

There's really too much in this book to go into without making this review excessively long. Other reviewers have said a lot already. If you enjoy reading about complex people, want to know more about Bette Davis specifically, want to better appreciate her talent and be able to enjoy her movies based on knowing more of the backstories, this is definitely the book to do it.

I read the Kindle version of the book and need to warn that none of the illustrations are included. The cover page is some generic design so you don't even get the head shot shown on Amazon. There is also a subject index at the back of the book that is inactive - there's no page numbers listed even.

"Dark Victory" is not only another biography about Bette Davis, but also a culmination of previous biographical work on the cinema star. Sikov filters the pre-existing material, looking for consistency then uses this, as well as hundreds of items from the Davis archives, as a basis for the chronology used in his work.

The chronicling of Davis' reign at Warner Brothers is the highlight of the book, although more information about her relationships with and observations of other stars might have made this a more interesting work. Instead, Sikov focuses on proving that the stereotype of Davis as a driven indomitable actress is absolutely true. Although this seems a natural angle, it flatly leads the reader to this conclusion by tireless psychiatric observations (of Davis, her mother, or especially her father) through the narrative, rather than allowing this revelation to discreetly prove true through example.

There are very few photos used in this book. Instead "famous shots" of the actress referred to in the text are described, rather than provided.

Another bothersome element in the text is the scattered non-sequitur-like celebration of gays in cinema (either stars or crew). Though this is a fascinating area of study, it seems well out of place in a Davis biography, given that this particular actress did not have homosexual tendencies, unlike her peers Crawford or Hepburn. It also seems strange that, in the mentioning of Davis as a pop-culture icon, that no mention of her importance to women occurs. However, it is well-known that Davis brought a new dimension to female roles by not portraying the sex goddess or ingenue, but instead the independent head-strong woman - which only served as a precursor to the more raw, gritty depictions of women in the 50's and 60's.

I have enjoyed this biography, and can say it is a good read. Its flip chatty tone keeps the text moving. However, it isn't exactly the glorious rendition parlayed by other reviewers, and it left me wanting to know more, rather that feeling sated with information about the great star, as well as tired of reading dissections of Davis' perceived neuroses.

Read it in an afternoon and enjoyed it a lot! If you're a fan of K. Smith you'll appreciate it. Kevin puts out a lot of great material. Also, check out his podcast "Smodcast". Type SMODCAST into iTunes for a FREE, yes FREE, audio show with Scott Mosier. It's some classic stuff and you'll bust a gut laughing.

Kevin Smith proves himself as a very good writer once again with this collection of his blogs. There is a lot of behind the scenes information given as well as his likes and dislikes when it comes to movies and celebrities. The stories range from funny to serious, but all keep the interest of the reader the entire time. If you are a fan of the "Evening with Kevin Smith" DVD series, this is basically the same kind of thing but in book form. The stories are different than on the DVDs, so I didn't mean that the same stories are told that you have heard a thousand times.

So basically, if you are a fan of Smith, this book is a must have that you won't be able to put down. If you're not a fan, why bother with this in the first place? Fans will find enjoyment, but I doubt those Clerks haters will have their opinions changed. This is for the fans, and fans...I can't say it enough, you will like this book.

What does it mean to have a cult following? When one speaks of directors like Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, Martin Scorcese or Steven Spielberg, the reference is to a director that appeals to a broad audience, as opposed to one who appeals to a smaller group. This limited appeal director can be said to have a cult following, and like with regular cults, the followers are often more avid (or deluded, depending on your viewpoint) than their mainstream counterparts. It's the different between Christians and Movementarians (Simpson fans will understand).

Kevin Smith has a cult following and I am one of the cult. He will never have the broad popularity of Eastwood, et al, because that isn't his goal. His movies are crammed with dialogue and limited in action and often the items discussed could be considered offensive. Clerks, Smith's first movie, was almost given an NC-17 rating for the dialogue alone. But to those who don't offend easily, Smith's movies are often really funny. Smith himself is both a funny writer and speaker; as DVDs of his college tours show, he has a definite following and he can be hilarious in person.

Silent Bob Speaks is a collection of essays he has written, primarily for Arena magazine. For those familiar with Smith from other things (his movies, etc.), this fits right in with the Smith they know. If you don't know Smith, this is not the place to start (for example, if you don't know who Silent Bob is, you probably need to rent one of his DVDs first (but not the atypical (although good) Jersey Girl).

Much of the book deals with behind-the-scenes happenings for his movies Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and Jersey Girl, with plenty of wonderful asides, such as why he doesn't like Reese Witherspoon but does like David Duchovny. For the most part, he is kind to the celebrities he discusses, and his interviews with Ben Affleck and Tom Cruise will give you some insights into those actors with very little negative material. And, most importantly, the book is really funny.

One reason Smith has his cult following is that he successfully seems like one of the guys. You might like Steven Spielberg, but it's hard to imagine that he'd just like to hang out with you. On the other hand, Smith seems a lot less aloof; his movies are filled with friends of his and his view of himself is nicely self-deprecating. This book is more of what makes a Smith fan a Smith fan.

I am a Kevin Smith fan. I love most of his work and by that I mean I wasn't big on the sequel to "An Evening With Kevin Smith" and I wasn't big on "Chasing Amy" or the animated series of Clerks. The rest of his movies I liked a lot or loved. Never read his comics though.

I was expecting a lot from this book. And I didn't get it. This book takes place basically telling the story kind of like production journals of him working on "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back". But while he is doing that he goes off on stories about other topics. Don't get me wrong, I typically enjoy that stuff from him a lot. But this book hasn't made me laugh once and I am a tad over 100 pages into it.

I bought this book for my husband who is a huge Kevin Smith fan. If you are a fan, you won't be disappointed. If you are easily offended by language, the occasional potty humor and thinking out of the main stream its probably not the book for you. He is a brilliant writer who can write about everything from being obese to meeting Tom Cruise. It's a good (and quick) read.

I've enjoyed other variations of Sudoku, but this is definitely the hardest. If you're looking for something other than the usual 1 - 9, you'll definitely find them here - but don't expect them to be easy! As the title warns you, this is a challenge. If you want a more gentle introduction I'd suggest Will Shortz's Favorite Sudoku Variations: 100 Kakuro, Killer Sudoku, and More Brain-Twisting Puzzles and 100 Samurai Sudoku Puzzles to get your feet wet and then try to stay afloat in this book!

This is the King Kong of Sudoku books.
I might buy another copy just so I can work them again.

Can't improve much on what above 2 reviewers say. Appealing presentation, good variety of sudoku types, nice big puzzles allow penciling in of possible answers in squares. Similar to Jumbo Sudoku Fusion but eschews the "gentle" category and starts out at intermediate, going to advanced. A hardcore puzzle addict, I keep the Jumbo Sudoku Challenge in the car and Jumbo Sudoku Fusion at home (or vice versa) and am assured of having a fun puzzle at hand all the time. On trips I used to have to take several books with different puzzle types but now this is the only book I need. Highly recommend both this and Jumbo Sudoku Fusion and am hoping Jumbo Sudoku Explosion is built along the same lines.

What makes this sudoku collection really special is its fascinating variety! Omitting the Easy and Medium sudoku, the collection begins with regular "Hard" puzzles (88 of them, not too hard), and then moves to Fiendish, seventy-seven of them. (Tom Sheldon's Master Class has more difficult "fiendish" puzzles, but the ones here are fun, too.)

Then I discovered variations that I'd never tried, each of which provided hours of new fun! Samurai Sudoku was my first variation--five connected sudoku with a center puzzle sharing its corners with four additional, interdependent puzzles. (See cover photo for example.) It is necessary to use patterns in the additional puzzles to fill in the center puzzle and, most importantly, its shared corners, so that the other puzzles can all be completed. Fortunately, author Michael Mepham rates these from Easy to Fiendish, as I found these puzzles initially to be quite challenging.

The Jigsaw Samurai Sudoku have become my favorites. Similar to regular samurai sudoku, the center puzzle has square corners, requiring 9 numbers, but except for these corner squares in the center puzzle, there are no other squares. Where the squares would be are irregular shapes, some of them in crosses (using one column and one row), some looking like stair steps through the puzzle, and some looking like the NYC skyline. The challenge is to give each irregular shape each of the numbers from 1-9, while, at the same time, putting 1-9 into each vertical column and each horizontal row. These range from "easy" to "fiendish."

Twelve by twelve and sixteen by sixteen square puzzles, which require numbers from 1-9, in addition to letters--A-C for the 12x12, and A-G for the 16x16 are all ranked "hard." The last variation, "Killer" sudoku, shows irregularly shaped "cages" within the regularly-shaped squares, each cage containing the mathematical totals for 2, 3, 4, or 5 numbers within the boxes they enclose. Only a few numbers are shown in the boxes(usually two or three, on average) and one "fiendish" killer puzzle, offers no given numbers at all, only the totals in the cages. Varying from "easy" to "fiendish," these require simple math.

My minor problem with the book is its binding--a spiral binding would help right-handers do the puzzles on the left side, especially at the beginning of the book. (I ended up Xeroxing some of these left side puzzles because it was hard to write along the tight binding.) The pages are 8" x 10 1/2", however, and offer large boxes and plenty of room to write. The paper quality is very high, allowing for numerous erasures. A great collection offering weeks of fun and many new puzzle experiences! n Mary Whipple

This book is misleading and I am extremely unhappy with it. I searched Amazon for Samurai Sudoku and this book came up. The cover displays a Samurai Sudoku so I naturally assumed that the book was a Samurai Sudoku book. But it aint! Out of 275 puzzles, only 50 are Samurai Sudoku - a total waste of money if you are looking for Samurai Sudoku.