Entertainment Books

You've got to be kidding me. The stories were remotely entertaining. There were so many typos and grammatical errors that it was very distracting. The book was very thin and not written very well. Run on sentences galore. Capitalization where it is not needed. Should I go on?

A novel about striptease at a brothel in Haiti is Naked in Haiti: A sexy morality tale about tourists, prostitutes & politicians. Readers of A Stripper's Tail might also enjoy that story.

If you value your reading time at all don't bother with this book. If not for the subject matter I could very well imagine this being written by a seventh grader. There are numerous typos and the language is simple at best. If you must hear bare bones stories about the industry then have at it. But there are better books out there.

I purchased this book to get some idea of what happens to a stripper, because my own sister-in-law (a Muslim, no less) decided to pursue this trade in America. From the many clubs I frequented while assisting her, and listening to many stories from her as well as her dancer-friends, I would say that most of the accounts which the book describes are fairly accurate and are representative of most clubs across the USA -- not just in Las Vegas. It's a hard life for most women involved -- primarily because they do not save their money to pursue more noble endeavors and become career-strippers instead. It is also a hard job for the male-customers who pay an inordinate amount of money for the dances and even more, in some cases, for the hope of having sex with one of these women who often create tales of affection for the men and GFE (girl friend experience) myths. Ultimately, everyone is happy -- and losers, as well. The women make alot of money but are unable to escape the lifestyle, while the men get their fantasies (which rarely come true) but lose alot of their money. The author makes a good accounting, I think, of this type of life. Some of the book suffers from misspellings and poor grammer, but it tends to fit the overall image of a typical stripper and therfore contributes to the general context.

**Edit: One of the most annoying aspects of this book is that the majority of stories the writer tells are NOT her own stories!! So she's making bank by stealing other peoples' experiences. This is made even more annoying because she pairs these stories with her own judgmental remarks on other dancers'/customers' actions.**

I bought this book thinking that I could stomach the grammatical errors (mentioned by other reviewers), since the stories would hopefully be interesting/shocking/humorous enough to make up for the errors.

I was wrong. I'm easily entertained, but also educated, and this book failed to be entertaining or even merely educational about 'behind the scenes' stripping. I was not shocked by any of Diamond's stories (come on people, you probably know what goes on in Vegas by now...use your imaginations!) Diamond basically reiterates what you already think of Vegas strip clubs (for the right price, everything can happen), and doesn't even provide a unique perspective, or any insightful comments about her job. She seems VERY snooty, extremely cynical about men in general, undereducated (ironic, since one of her stories is about how a random customer complimented her on her intelligence), and unable to harness any forms of rhetoric to make her stories more interesting.

She seems to fail to realize that what goes on in Vegas ALSO goes on in clubs across America. Just because Las Vegas has a large collection of clubs in one place does NOT mean it's the only place where girls provide sexual favors in the back rooms.

If you want a good book that will provide you with entertaining anecdotes coupled with smart reflections/insights, buy the book "Callgirl: Confessions of an Ivy League Lady of Pleasure."

I'm also currently reading "Flesh for Fantasy" (women's studies, sex positive perspectives + customer perspectives + dancer perspectives).

And I just finished "Sex Work: Writings by Women in the Sex Industry," which was edited phenomenally and provides numerous perspectives from many different kinds of sex workers.

Similar to this book is "Jane Sexes It Up" which provides sex-positive, convincing, interesting arguments for marginalized, but normal, sexual practices (along with first-person accounts of such practices).

DO NOT BUY "A Stripper's Tail."

The interviews collected by Bert Cardullo in "Akira Kurosawa Interviews" give us various lenses and filters through which the great director's works were seen, over a fairly decent period of time. We have Japanese filmmaker interviewers, American critics, A Latin American novelist interviewer, and Bert Cardullo himself. We have the very respectful, the respectful but inquisitive, the annoyingly self-absorbed (you'll know it when you read it...a tipoff is that, after the most pompously convoluted question Kurosawa laughs...)and the one mind that provokes a real emotional response from Kurosawa.

That's a nice survey! You will hear many stories repeated (I begin to think that Kurosawa relied heavily on some basic themes drawn from his experience, and reiterated in his work with Audie Bock:"Something Like an Autobiography" and nearly word-for-word in Cardullo's final interview in the book) but, despite the repetition, new stuff is intermixed, and quite fascinating for Kurosawa fans and scholars.

Goes on the Kurosawa bookshelf.

Akira Kurosawa: Interviews.

I recommend this book unreservedly to anybody interested in film. In conversation with knowledgeable and distinguished interviewers Kurosawa gives detailed insights into how he works: how every stage of a film is exhaustively discussed beforehand by all its participants and the Director himself; how unplanned factors such as the weather can contribute to episodes of unforgettable beauty and mystery in the finished film; his refusal to be regarded as a philosopher, let alone a preacher ('I look at life as an ordinary man. I simply put my feelings into the film'); his passionate interest in, and extraordinary knowledge of Japanese history, of the social and military life of the given period; of how his early training as a painter has informed his perceptions and his methods.
Apart from all that we learn about Kurosawa's work, the book is full of insights into recent Japanese history and contemporary society, including, of course, Japanese cinema.
Kurosawa's speech is engagingly fresh and energetic, and despite his great fame he seems to be utterly without self-importance.

'A Life in Pictures' is a bit misleading as the title. Yes, there are several photos spanning McQueen's acting career, but it is hardly comprehensive. For every rare photo (or color version), there is a familiar one (some published a few years ago in the excellent book of McQueen photos by William Claxton). For some reason, the photos are not in chronological order which can be a bit jarring when jumping from the family pictures of McQueen from the 1960s to the longer haired McQueen of the 1970s. This book is filled with quality photos of Steve McQueen. Most are large, and several are in color. This is a book for someone who is a devoted fan or just wants nice pictures of McQueen in one book.

I was so happy when I got my hands on the latest volume and I can say that I wasn't disappointed, though there was almost no romance in it. I didn't like that Sou and Mashiro have drifted apart but it seems that things will start to heat up again between the two in the upcoming volumes.

What I like about this series is that we can't predict what's gonna happen, though I would like to believe that my two favorite characters will end up together.

Nothing much really in this volume except for knowing more about Sou and his sister's past and how their incestous relationship started. The main thing is Mashiro and how he finally came to term with his sexuality and his true feelings toward Sou. I can't wait for the next volume. I truly LOVE this title.

After a long wait, things are finally starting to happen again in the world of After School Nightmare! Mashiro is finally starting to come to terms with his/her double gender & starts to make tentative moves towards the person of her choice. Meanwhile, Kureha also starts trying to make progress with her past as well as trying to move forward with... Sou?

I tried to put down as much as I could without spoiling anything, since half of the fun of this series is seeing what the author can throw in our path to confuse the heck out of us readers. While there are one or two points where I've gotten frustrated that things move slowly or aren't yet fully explained, I've never had a volume that dissapointed me... and this one hasn't let me down either! With only 3 move volumes to go, the pace has started to pick up & more secrets are starting to be revealed. Some are truly surprising while others were ones that could sort of be guessed at (as far as some of the particulars of Sou's relationship with his sister). The most surprising part has to be the spoiler page for the next volume where the knight is shown with the mask off... and I have to say I was shocked! A few new characters are shown in the dreaming world, one of which is a mystery & one of which is plainly visible.

Would I recommend this to a friend? Only if they've been following the series (which I definately recommend). This strange series will definately appeal to the fans of series such as Evangelion or FLCL.

If it's going to take 1 to 2 months to ship it, then the release date is not April 1st. It's always with this product.

this book didn't tell me anything i didn't already know. i guess i was hoping it would go more into friendships and events these two had been involved with but it seemed to just skim over their life with the bare minimum of details. i wasted my money.

The simple introduction here would be, "Liked him but didn't like her." Of course, he has that warm, winning smile that makes him both attractive and seemingly approachable--while she favors a frowny pout that is very off-putting. (The book contains 16 pages of photographs, most of them in color.) But more importantly, he has real talent that he has worked all his life to cultivate, while her skills might be charitably described as modest and haphazardly developed. Morton makes the point that Posh has always pursued success rather than proficiency: "Victoria's supreme ambition, the goal she had had since childhood, was to be famous and admired . . . [and her] success was achieved quickly and in spite of, rather than because of, any real talent she could demonstrate." I am also not keen on promoting anorexic role models for today's youth, and there are many pages in this tome devoted to her slenderizing habits.

For a change of pace (although not a sports buff), I took the time while reading this book to watch clips of David's action on the soccer field. I was amazed at what I saw, both in terms of skill but also, and unexpectedly, in terms of joy--this man loves to play! Yet he is described as "nice but dim," and his wife is a high school dropout.

Morton provides his own analysis of this couple: "He seems content to be who he is, secure in his skin, a talented footballer doing what he has always wanted. On the other hand, Victoria is driven by the demons within; a woman who is at once dauntless, intrepid, and dynamic, and yet insecure, vulnerable, and needy." But they have found each other, they love their kids, and they have been successful at promoting "Brand Beckham." Maybe it will all work out in the end . . .

I have read many books this is the second time and last time I ever read a book from this author. I happen to like the Beckhams, and feel that every single public personality deserves a key word privacy. When you cannot trust your nannies, cleaning people that is really sad, especially since they are a normal couple with children that fight and have their difficulties like everyone else in the world, they are the upper 3% of the world with money, they worked hard for it and deserve every single penny if we buy into them and their branding..and strong family values.
I am sad if David did have affairs on his wife because that is a lack of respect for her and his boys and if they even have an agreement to an open marriage it is still no ones business but their own. there is a saying men like blueberry pie, once in awhile they like a little apple but than they return to the bluebuerry pie men love history they never leave their wives!
To Victoria if you want your fashion sense to soar like an eagle think globally not locally to size 0.,go larger bring your books sell it all and than use some of it for charity or a training school for homeless teenagers to get them off the streets.
I would go QVC or Shopping channel with your fragrances and clothing and sunglasses the more units you sell the more you make it is simple math. Do Jewlery too and anything you can brand your name on because Beckham sells because everyone wants a piece of you it represents wealth and abundance.
You go Beckhams and when the press hate you it is because you are doing well. No one wants your sucess it is a famous saying. Andrew Morton can you never write a book that is pleasant I challenge you to do it my gosh man you are a negative and jealous writter and no better than the thousands of papparazzi that chase these people daily for their fix!

Andrew Morton is presented as the something between the devil incarnate and the Brit version of Kitty Kelley but this book, Posh and Becks isn't that bad actually. In fact, it's pretty fair. He makes it clear that the whole Girl Power thing that the Spice Girls had going was actually crap. They were invented by two busnessmen and their careers were guided by their male manager. They were a business venture first and musicians second. But hey, they entertained a whole lot of people and they all got rich so who can complain?

Morton says that the Adams/Beckham wedding was tacky. Well, that's a mater of opinion but the pictures of the wedding did provoke more derisive laughter than envy in most people who commented publicly.

Morton presents Beckham as a nice guy who let's his wife make the decisions... that could said for most happily married men. Morton also brings up a few alleged affairs but he makes it clear that the women involved all told their stories to the media so their actions have to be suspect.

As for Victoria Beckham herself, Morton spent less time talking about her relationships before Beckham than she did in her own book. She complains bitterly about Morton in her book but all in all, Posh and Becks isn't a hatchet job and seemed rather mild to me. Pity about Beckham's soccer career though.

Morton must receive his praise for putting together all the dirt there was on Posh and Becks. Is it morally wrong? By no means. Instead of digging through old glossy magazines you can check one book with a glossy cover.
One question which this book fails to answer is how a player who is apparently past his prime and a girl who never was a good singer could become and continue to be such celebrities world-wide. But this is not a question which has anything to do with this charming couple but with us.

This is a great book that shows the life of 50 (Curtis Jackson). It was written in a manner that was easy to read and kept you waiting to see what happened next. I highly recommend this book even if you are not a big fan of his music because it shows the story of how someone can make it big even when the odds are stacked against him.

From Pieces To Weight was a great book and I gave it five stars because of the writer's vivid descriptions of the harsh things that he experienced in his life. 50 Cent had to go through a really rough life. His mom died when he was a kid and he never new who his father was. 50 Cent knew he was going to be a drug dealer because everyone in his family sold drugs. I'm not going to give away the rest of the book but I suggest you read this book, it is really good.

I recently purchased this book for my fiance, who, obviously, loves 50 Cent. He read the first 50 pages the day it arrived, and I must tell you, he is NOT the type of person to sit down and read a book. It's about 50's life in Southside Queens and his experiences as a child up until his fame. While my fiance finds this book inspirational and exciting, I find the writing style to be fairly simple with 50 reiterating well-known facts (ex. You can't have life without death) and also presenting himself as an arrogant, almost martyr-type of character. Why do I say that? He talks about himself and his experiences in life (which may or may not be exaggerated) and repeatedly states that what he has gone through should be used as an example to others. He blames the media for his portrayal as a "bullet riddled rapper" but obviously, 50 uses it to his advantage without much complaint. He tries to come off as a mentor and inspiration, but I really did find him irritating at times. I think their are better role models for others to look up to. I'd rather read Sidney Poitier's memoirs than idolize 50 Cent. But that's just my view. For 50 Cent lovers, they'll be inspired and amazed.

I read the book From Pieces to Weights, by 50 cent. This book showed me how the streets are a hard place. There are a lot of people that think the streets are a horrible place and that there dangerous. Well they are dangerous, but there not horrible and many people think that there are horrible people that live in the area. This book showed me that many people on the streets hustling are really trying to find themselves. This book also showed me not to judge the people that are selling the drugs.

This book really touched me with what 50 cent was going though. His mom was killed for selling drugs and then he went and started to sell drugs. I really think he didn't have a choice because it's what he saw everyday. He watched his aunts and uncles and everyone else on the streets, and he probably thought that it was the right thing to do. This book was very well writing and I got hooked to it. I think 50 cent did a great job at telling his story.

I would recommend this book to anyone, I think mostly people who don't really know about the streets because it tells you a lot. I wouldn't recommend this book to people that do not like bad language used a lot. This book was very entertaining. I suggest you read it.

when I read his book he had some facts that I didn't know about. his book should reach the #1 spot on the book list.

Walt Disney's last dying gasp was to call Maureen the B word. Uh-huh. Riiight. That's all he had on his mind. That's what consumed his soul as he bid this world goodbye, his venom for Maureen O'Hara. Walt couldn't stand Maureen because Walt had wanted to give Hayley Mills top billing for The Parent Trap. Not (mind you) because little Hayley deserved it and ought to have been recognized. Oh no. Rather Walt the Schemer, Walt the Destroyer was intent upon keeping Maureen down by listing her name after Hayley's. Maureen had to stand up for herself. Maureen had to stand strong. Maureen insisted her name be listed first and Walt never, ever forgave her for gaining the upper hand in that situation. So, on his dying bed, his last concern was to call her a nasty word. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. This lady hates a whole lot of people.

I've always liked Maureen O'Hara, especially in 'The Quiet Man', and it was great fun to read about her personal life, and her thoughts about what was going on behind the scenes in the different movies I have watched so many times. The chapter on her comments about the making of 'The Quiet Man' and about her friendship with John Wayne were my favorite part. Her writing showed her weaknesses and mistakes made in her life in a balanced way that made me like her all the more. If you like Maureen O'Hara at all, you will not be disappointed in this book!

The content of the book is not unusual. The same things happened to many female movie stars. They married husbands who were drunks, who physically beat them, psychologically tortured them, stole all their money, whored around, and refused to work. Movie queens were preyed upon by a certain type of man. You can read the same stories over and over again in the lives of Lana Turner (whose abusive lover was stabbed to death by her teenage daughter in her bedroom), Judy Garland whose husband used to slap her across the face in restaurants, Hedy Lamarr whose husband wanted to tie her up and burn her with cigarettes, Lucille Ball whose husband was an alcoholic addicted to sex with other women, Bette Davis who was beaten "many many times" by 4 husbands. Many of these actresses stayed for considerable amounts of time with these abusive husbands, putting up with it, and hoping for change, just as millions of women do who are not actresses.

What happened to Maureen is nothing compared to what Doris Day reveals in her autobiography.

From the way Maureen has written this book I take it that she used this autobiography to release all the resentment and anger at people who she feels betreayed her or abused her over her lifetime. Near the begining of the book, she writes "Allow me just a smidgeon of lattitude here. I've waited seventy years for this!" And then POW! A lifetime of rage comes pouring out. It's powerful stuff, and not easy to read.

Repeatedly Maureen writes that what she was doing, and what was being done to her, was confusing. Her life was full of contradictions, some of which she has no answer or explaination for. The book is certainly thought provoking.

'Tis Herself - is a wonderful read for anyone interested in Miss O'Hara or in the "Old" Hollywood when stars were STARS.

Having watched the Quiet Man again recently, I was interested in learning more about Maureen O'Hara. As I read this book I was rather surprised at the contradictions in her life.

The woman who fought her own battles, some of which are legend, had difficulty in her earlier career saying no to men, and ends up marrying one man she had no interest in. He calls her to his apartment, and unbeknownst to her has a preacher there to marry them. Shocked, she felt her intellect was sitting in a couch on the corner watching her make a dreadful mistake. She boarded a ship to America several hours later, and never sees the man again.

She later makes a similar ill fated and disastrous mistake with her second marriage. Ten years is a long time to put up with that kind of BS. Finally, with Charlie Blair she finds true love, but will fate intervene?

Most surprising is the relationship with John Ford, the brilliant director who won five academy awards for best director. At times, she was his muse, and at times he was her tormentor, sometimes using her in his movies, sometimes interfering in her life, and getting her fired off one movie, and also directing her most memorable role. He would not hesitate to use his influence in a negative self serving way. A complicated relationship. His presence haunts this book.

Less surprising is the friendship with John Wayne, and the book gets quite emotional towards the end, as you can imagine. This book is very readable and flows quickly, and has plenty of drama to keep it moving along. If you were hoping for any insight into her craft, as I was, you will not find it here. Nevertheless, this is an interesting read.

I hope you find this review helpful, and if you do, please click yes.

One Day She'll Darken: The Mysterious Beginnings of Fauna Hodel

Audrey Hepburn loved her children and all the children of the world...Sean honors his mother...we all honor his mother...a mother to so many...indeed...an elegant spirit...

The photos here are lovingly chosen by her son, and the entire book is an absolute joy.

This book was pleasant and thoughtful, as is its subject. Though admittedly the writing was far less enchanting than I would have expected; I like to think it was kept simple to further emphasize the simplicity and sincerity of Audrey herself. This book did not add any revelation for the reader about her life; but instead, allowed for a glance at Audrey Hepburn's everyday existence. I was constantly amazed at how strong and genuine her character when faced with life's sometimes complicated decisions. This book shows Audrey as a person who effortlessly put others before herself, and seemed to never question her sense of what is right.

Even the idea of such simplicity has become a fairytale in our lives, and it is so refreshing to read about someone who was capable of remaining so solidly pure, that I cannot help but read a little more. One need only look to her work with UNICEF to know how first-rate she truly was.

She has allways been one of my favorite stars.The book has a beautifull
lay-out and is a pleasure to read.Lots of photographs never seen before
and beautifull passages about her work for Unicef and what a wonderful mother she was.I can highly recommend this book.

Bought this as a gift for my daughter as she is a fan and thought that the personal insights were revealing and poignant.

While this is the best of the "Tales" books, it suffers from the same problems that plague other stories in the SW Universe...canon. What stories are "true", recognized tales of these characters and what is out-of-continuity schlock? Take them for what they are (stories) and have fun learning about characters that existed for mere seconds on film. It is a funny note, that for years when Empire was only available for view on TV (HBO etc) and shown in "full screen" mode that IG-88 isn't even in the film. He is cut out since he is standing at the end of the line. It is also amusing that his tale is one of the best.

This is such a good book. Takes me back to my childhood when I first read it. My favorite story is "The Last One Standing". Also, Tales From Jabba's Palace and Tales from Mos Eisley are both equally superb.

Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (Full Screen) In/famous scene on the bridge where Lord Darth Vader is interviewing the bounty hunters. Book is about the bounty hunters Darth Vader enlisted in The Empire Strikes back. There are stories about IG-88, Dengar, Bossk, Zuckuss and 4-LOM (who share a single story), and Boba Fett. Explains why Vader says "and NO disintegrations!"

I bought this book as a break from continuity books, and that was my first mistake. This book is completely inconsistent with facts from the Star Wars Saga.
I'm not going to go into detail of all the errors in the books, but I will name off a few.
-How can Bespin have mountains when it is a gas giant? Woops
-Boba Fett was retreived by Jawas, not Dengar.
Dengar's story is just bad writing period. IG-88's story about hacking into the Death Star's super computer is completely inconsistent with the Star Wars saga. If I had to choose which was best, I'd choose Dave Wolverton's story about Dengar--Not because it made the most sense, but because it was good writing. I was dissapointed in the lack of writing some authors displayed in this book.
Overal opinion--BAD

Tales of the Bounty Hunters is a collection of five stories by different authors concerning bounty hunters who captured our attention in Star Wars - IG-88, Dengar, Bossk. Zuckuss and 4-LOM, and, last but certainly not least, Boba Fett. The stories are well written and generally very entertaining. The common ground for the tales is that all of the bounty hunters have been given the opportunity by Lord Vader to find Han Solo and bring him in. Their approaches vary widely. Of course, we know already which of the hunters actually gets Solo and what happens after that, but that advance knowledge does not spoil the stories.

The first story is about IG-88 and his plan to claim the galaxy as his own domain. As a sideline to his more important goals, he also participates in the search for Han Solo under the orders of Darth Vader. I found the story to be completely absorbing. It shows a side to IG-88 that I had never expected. He is designed and built as an assassin droid and appears to be virtually unstoppable, especially when he develops three exact clones of himself. Basically, his plan is to deal no longer with the frailties of biological beings and simply to have droids take over the entire universe. He even snickers to himself at some of the efforts of Emperor Palpatine. (Question to readers: Can droids snicker?) Eventually he runs into serious problems when trying to deal with Boba Fett and even more serious problems when he inserts his intelligence into the second Death Star shortly before the Rebels take care of it. Never underestimate the power of the Rebel Alliance.

The second story stars Dengar and was the weakest tale in the book to me. Dengar is a cybernetically enhanced Imperial assassin who has been surgically stripped of all superfluous emotion. This makes him a highly effective bounty hunter, but also means that he experiences almost none of the normal emotions that humans take for granted. So the main plotline for the story is Dengar's reacquisition of emotions and his surprising realization that he can fall in love. A bounty hunter's love story was just not what I was expecting with these tales.

Bossk is the main character in Tale #3. He is a lizardlike Trandoshan hunter who has been slaughtering Wookies for their pelts. He agrees to a joint venture with two competitors in the search for Solo. His unlikely companions are Chenlambec, a silvertip Wookie, and Tinian L'att, a small human female. The partnership does not go smoothly as double crosses are frequent, plus Chenlambec's sole motive in joining forces was to stop Boskk's career and obtain a measure of revenge for the Wookie slaughtering that had happened in the past. Things do not go well for Bossk.

The fourth tale is that of Zuckuss and 4-LOM, a Gand intuitive and his logic-driven droid partner. Their hopes for being the ones to nab Solo are based primarily on the intuitive powers of Zuckuss who always seems to be able to discern whatever they need to know. 4-LOM is great fun to listen to as he has a quick statistical analysis for any question that arises.

The last tale in the book lets us travel through the years with Boba Fett. As we all know, he is the one who succeeds in grabbing Han Solo, albeit with a major assist from Darth Vader and the Imperial forces. As many of us did not know, he survived his fall into the Great Pit of Carkoon and the digestive system of the Sarlacc. This tale focuses on Fett in his later years as he is hampered by injuries suffered from years of bounty hunting and as he comes to grips with the realization that his best days are behind him. He does manage to collect a huge bounty offered for the capture of the Butcher of Montellian Serat. That is followed by a chance that he never expected to have again, i.e., another shot at killing Han Solo. This chance is primarily the result of Han's boredom at living on Coruscant and not being involved in smuggling and fighting bad guys any more. He takes off in the Millennium Falcon in search of adventure and finds it the form of a face-to-face encounter with Boba Fett at the end of the tale. Good stuff.