Entertainment Books

The book is readable in as much as trash pop and pulp fiction is watchable and readable.No matter what is said,at the end of the day,this producer is yet another example of someone grandfathered into the industry ,with a production loan to get her started.A lump sum equvalent of about USD 100 000 today.There were a handful of active indie female producers operating in those times(most without that financial leg up.)Vachon is but one story.For that reason this is an ill researched book.
A few other women may not have stood on others toes as much as Vachon is capable of, nor claimed as much public or industry credit for themselves, but this book is but one story from the nineties,and it is in that context only it is best read.There were a small handful of extremely strident indie and studio women in Hollywood at the time,who broke significant paths for other women,not just themselves- in the choosing of projects they developed and the actions they took.The book is readable but indulgent insider name dropping. In one aspect a shallow take on a very political hollywood film business at the time.

This book is riveting reading for the fan or the filmmaker. Vachon has a talent for balancing intensive amounts of details with storytelling skills. You really will want to know how a distribution is made before the first frame is filmed. Her personality -- tough, passionate, centered -- also makes the book a compelling read. Even when her foes are completes a-hats, Vachon does not descend into bitterness, but rather, makes another compelling lesson.

...which kind of gets me wondering--why the heck don't *even more* aspiring producers and D-boy and D-girl wannabes get their hands on this amazing compendium of production experiences, take them to heart, and learn themselves a whole lot about the global film game in the process. If you've got the answer to that question, let me know. I'm still scratching my noodle.

Okay, so you're going to totally dig this book. Christine Vachon and her Killer Films outfit in N-Y-C, using that well-known convention of theirs--break the bounds of traditional (read: boring) publishing with a rather unconventional approach to bookwriting. Prepare for a wild wooly ride of a read...Christine's deft collaborators (egs. directors, financiers, and studio consigliatores) have chimed in here in various sections, offering up sage advice on the pit- and prat-falls of the indie and studio sides of the filmmaking biz, and what it's generally like working with Christine and her able band of brothers and sisters. That, for this here reviewer, was a right privilege...live recordings of Christine's conversations with her colleagues wouldn't have been richer. And like I tell you in my title...you couldn't pay Vachon enough to give this course. For a couple of Lincolns, this was a gold mine.

By the way, I think I've tattooed my entire Netflix wish list with every single Killer title known to Movieland. As luck would have it, ONE HOUR PHOTO was one of the better films of 2002, and little did I know that Christine was even responsible for getting this one made. Small world, baby.

It's an unsung job, the producing game can sometimes be, but mark it--without Christine's valuable input at various stages of the process, many of these so-called little pictures mightn't have been made, languishing in that purgatory of "development hell" (or turnaround) like 98% of the projects out there are in (according to every single statistic known to the filmmaking poobahs). One of the most inspiring statements from the entire book which I triple underlined, dogeared, and highlighted in tri-colour was her frank admission that producers must maintain "eternal optimism." They are the ones who are enthusiastic at all times, oftentimes when there's no reason to be, and oftentimes when there's no production necessarily to speak of. The equivalent to selling short on the stock market. If your sources' predictions are bang on, chances are you're going to make a "buchta" of cash.

Such boundless enthusiasm the mark of a truly gifted deal-maker, and in the trenches which is the modern-day studio system (read: the business of making movies), and the relatively recent advent of the "mini-majors" (or classics divisions of the major Hollywood studios), this brand of relentlessness has become all the more critical. Remove one element from the positivity puzzle, strip away a single grain of that much-needed goodness which is a key ingredient of the all-encompassing feelgood--by definition, a must towards smooth functioning on the film set--and off your high film concept goes into the grey ether.

Just for the rekkid, listening to podcasts helps, kids! I'd heard about this title after listening to Claude Brodesser Ackner's THE BUSINESS on NPR (goo-search it). I was so intrigued by Christine's outspokenness, that I simply couldn't curb my enthusiasm to hop on over to my favourite online book purveyor and pick up the nearest copy of her A KILLER LIFE.

Where is that extra star when I need it? Five estrellas, kids. Count 'em. Cinco.

--ADM in Prague

As an aspiring producer, I have long looked up to the indie queen Christine Vachon, and I was interested to read this book after having read her excellent SHOOTING TO KILL. I read that book when I was back in college, but this book is better. It's definitely more personal - in a way it reads like a memoir.

You feel like you are going through all the trials and tribulations with her. There's a lot of exciting stuff here - she battles the MPAA over Boys Don't Cry -- the bond company takes control of Far From Heaven-- she has interactions with big stars like Jude Law and Julia Roberts.
I have never been to Sundance, but Vachon's Sundance diary takes you through that festival with her.

All this makes for a book that's immensely readable; I couldn't put it down. I really liked the spotlights from other industry figures, agents, studio heads and directors like John Cameron Mitchell (who did my favorite film, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH!) If you are in the industry, want to learn about the industry or are just plain curious about how movies get made, go out and get this book now!

Are you at all interested in the idea of a giant coffee table book about the Rolling Stones? If the answer is no, then this book probably won't convince you otherwise.

BUT if your answer is even a mild yes, then you should definitely get this book -- it's available at some good prices (as a used book), at least when I bought it. It's huge, sprawling, great photographs, fantastic tid-bits, and all about the band's epic journey. I can't imagine anything competing with it, frankly, and you'll be sucked in for hours. Well worth it!

A great, marvelous book, written by someone who KNOWS, as opposesed to tomes libeling Brian Jones or (this one is almost funny, were it not so pathetic) Sanchez' "I Was Keef's Dealer," (a-huh-huh-huh). One has to but just glance at how the Stones are visibly disintegrating to understand Bill Wyman's decision to leave while the group had a shred of integrity.

For a first purchase, this book exceeded expectations both for content and value for money. Bill Wyman has included many items of interest relating to happenings of the time. Very readable and an excellent archivist. The ease of purchasing such a bargain will ensure that I will certainly make purchases from Amazon in the future. I purchased the book as a present, but will keep an eye out for a copy for myself as this was the only one left in stock at the time ordering.

Great Book, Nicely made, Great rare pic, and Bill Wymans story is a great detailed and true one.
Must have for the Stones fan.

Bill Wyman's book about the Rolling Stones is a superior effort. The book is similar in layout to the Beatles Anthology or the 'According to the Stones' book which followed Wyman's and was written by the remaining members of the group. Here are the reasons I believe this is the best Stones picture history on the market.

1. Wyman has attempted to be fair to all members, past and present. His treatment of Brian Jones is sympathetic without pulling punches. He acknowledges Jones as the founder and driving force behind the band, and he laments his loss.

2. Wyman has a prodigious collection of Stones ephemera, which he began saving almost from day one, so that he could show his kids that he had been in a rock and roll band for the two or three years he expected the ride to last. There are literally hundreds of color photos of Stones stuff in this book. It's like going back in time or going to the world's best Rolling Stones museum. And it is put together with love and fits Wyman's narrative perfectly. Wyman also has a lot of items dealing with other bands from the period that traveled with them, influenced them, or just existed at the same time and are of interest to the history of rock and roll.

3. The writing is superb. There is very little "I" in this book. Wyman has carefully made it a history of the band, rarely mentioning his own personal experiences except where they are historically significant. This modesty is refreshing and makes the book more credible than 'According to the Rolling Stones'.

4. The book is well-thought-out and well put together. It is a delight to read from cover to cover and will be a book you will return to and re-read to find out more about the background and historical context of the songs. It is also very reasonably priced. I got mine from Amazon used for around five dollars and it was the best five bucks I've spent in a long time on a book.

Buy it, treasure it. And thank you, Bill, for giving readers such a fun and informative look inside the life of one of the world's greatest rock and roll bands.

Well, I guess their lives will still remain a secret because this book has nothing new to offer! As former employees who claim to have had a long and close relationship with S and R, they really don't have much to say about their OWN on the job experiences. The book simply rehashes old tabloid and magazine stories about S and R--not much about their own accounts on anything! The rest of the book is simply 'filler' material about the history of Las Vegas, Liberace's sexual preferences, etc...--not much to do with S and R. There are a couple of chapters that are copied almost exactly from S and R's own autobiography as well. If you have followed the careers of S and R, believe me when I say that this book has absolutely NOTHING new to offer! Don't waste your time nor your money!

This book is easy to read. I was done with it in no time. It is full of fascinating information that, far from marring Siegfried and Roy's names, only paints them as fallible human beings like many of the other of us "mere mortals". Blind-loyalty fans will have a difficult time accepting the possibility of these "hidden" personality traits and incidents as being true.
The tone of the book is hardly mean-spirited; in fact, the writers sound very much on Siegfried and Roy's "side". The content includes histories of such Las Vegas icons as Liberace and Steve Wynn, as well as a history of Las Vegas itself.

My main complaints about the book are as follows: Siegfried's birthdate is written as being June 12th instead of 13th, the lions in a few of the pictures are mistakenly called tigers in the captions, Mastering the Impossible is quoted rather a lot in a few areas, and some of the information from it seems to have been changed slightly.

You don't want to admit it but you're kinda curious about what goes on behind the scenes with S&R. This is a perfect little page-turning, guilty pleasure of a tome. The stories might be from bitter ex-employees, but who else is going to have the best stories? Well put together, fast, fun read- perfect for the Summer.

I loved author's cool and wit way of telling the story.
Not trashing The Maestros, but an interesting story written with a great sens of humor.
A+ for summer reading!

I was lucky enough to see Siegfried and Roy's show at the Mirage, from a seat right in front of the stage. It was totally awesome, one of the most memorable shows I've ever seen. Curious about the duo, I purchased this book. Well...The first thing that must be said, is that it was written by former employees, who would seem to have an axe to grind. The second thing that must be said, is that former employees know where all the bodies are buried; in this case, literally. So how much of this book is true? Hard to say. What can be said is that it is almost as fascinating as their show. Lots of "dirt" about lots of people, everyone from Steve Wynn to Liberace. Eccentric behavior in full measure (and beyond). And what really did happen the night Montecore attacked Roy? It's all a bit creepy at times, but it's sure a page-turner. Take it to the beach, this summer.

Reviewed by Brianne Plach (age 10) for Reader Views (2/08)

Do you know who Miley Cyrus is? Maybe you don't know her by that name, she is better known as Hannah Montana. Would you like to know more about her? If so, Lauren Alexander has just the answer for you.

Lauren Alexander has written "Mad for Miley" just for all you Hannah Montana fans. She tells of Miley's humble start, singing artist dad, Billy Ray, and rise to stardom. Did you know she actually was born in Nashville, Tennessee? There are 4 pages of color photos included in this book. Lauren even tells about Miley's experience backstage. There is quiz to see how you paid attention when you were reading.

Miley has style like blond wigs, mini-dresses and cowboy boots and much, much more! There is a list of her popular songs. "Mad for Miley" is a must have for all Hannah Montana fans out there!

My daughter LOVES this book. She was so excited when she opened it on Christmas day! She has already read it twice & her sister has read it once. Great purchase!

We bought this book for our daughter who is a fan of Hannah Montanna. It was definitely a hit and she has had a lot of enjoyment from it.

When I purchased this book, I expected to learn something about Miley that I didn't know, but it just borrowed everything from magazines I've previously read, and talked about the history of Miley's hometown, which was a waste of space. A lot of the information is not even correct. For example, it says that her mom is dead, which has been disproved by Miley herself on numerous accounts. So all I really got from this book was the history of Franklin, Tenessee, Billy Ray Cyrus's life story, and 20 pages of astrological junk.

This is a good book for Miley fans, although most of information in book most fans may already know from reading teen magazines which is loaded with Miley info. And this book sometimes quote directly from the magazines that had stories or interview before. Could use more photos, but again, all those teen mags have alot of photos. Most Miley fans read the teen mags, and this book is for those kids.

This book was great. The writing made me feel like I was watching an actual episode. It takes place in the third season before "Bad Girls" so Faith is involved. I loved everything about the book except that Faith say "B" like every other sentence :) But I can live with that.

TIMING: It's set in the third season, between "The Zeppo" and "Bad Girls." Big, big plus that the book itself mentions that.

STORY: Writer Keith R. A. DeCandido is obviously passionate about two things: Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Russian mythology. In this clearly well-thought out book, DeCandido has Buffy and co. cross paths with mythological figures such as Baba Yaga and Koscheiv (the eponymous "Deathless"), demonstrating deep knowledge of both of his topics. That makes this one of the most inventive Buffy novels, as well as one of the best written. Something I've seen other Buffy novelists do that DeCandido (for the most part) avoids is tediously describing backstory when a character gives a nod to an event. That's annoying to Buffy fans, because we're usually so passionate that we already know what a character is talking about when they reference past events so we don't need a two-page debriefing, and DeCandido seems to be the only novelization-writer that recognizes that. From the way the characters interact (and the way that interaction is written), it just feels like another episode out of Season Three. Which is the highest compliment I can give.

CHARACTERS: The characterization is the best I've read in a novelization. From the opening scene, which features Buffy and Faith on their nightly patrol, this book sets itself apart from your average BtVS book by completely nailing the characters. From their little idiosyncrasies, the way they interact with each other, and their speech patterns, Keith R. A. DeCandido captures these characters very well. Out of all the BtVS novels I've read, this is the best--and that is chiefly because of characterization.

CONTINUITY: I didn't notice any flaws at all. An interesting note is that DeCandido didn't avoid continuity, he wrapped the past and future continuity around this book, foreshadowing events (particularly Willow's turn towards the darker side of magic in Season Six) with offhand comments made by some of the characters. It gives the book a very rich feeling, in that it feels as if it fits in within the context of the actual series, which is, in my opinion, the ideal.

COVER: It's boring. I wish this book had a better cover, because it deserved one. The cover is basically a close up of Buffy's face with a blurry picture of a shadow in the background. Basically, it could be about anything. I'd prefer a cover that paid homage to the actual topic of the book.

OVERALL: It flows very well, seems thoroughly researched, and DeCandido communicates how much he loves both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Roman mythology through his writing, which makes their coming together in this book seem very organic instead of forced. It's a book that every Buffy fan should scoop up, because it's the best one I've read so far.

8/10

I enjoyed this novel. It begins in Sunnydale but moves around a lot, giving us the characters we're used to as well as some new ones. The plot was good; it held my interest throughout. I felt that it retained the spirit of the Russian tales and characters it referenced while letting the Scobbies do their thing as well.

The book is a little better then some of the recently published buffy books, in the young adult serious. It could have been a little better, and it seemed to end a little to fast but over all, it was an enjoyable read.

This story is set right after the episode The Zeppo so much of the cast is pretty beaten up. One night on patrol Buffy sees a vampire wig out near a strange house. The last time she saw such a reaction the house held a giant mantis posing as a teacher. Is there another mantis present? Further research shows that the house should be a vacant lot. To top it off, Giles is on edge as the conditions are right for the resurrection of a powerful sorcerer. Then the Scooby gang discovers who is in the strange house. They say they are here to stop the resurrection. But another figure of legend arrives and says the other is not to be trusted.

One thing is for sure, if the sorcerer is resurrected it will not be good. But who can be trusted regarding how to stop the resurrection? The new sorceress? The ageless knight? For the resurrection to occur, much blood will have to be spilled. The Scooby gang thinks they can just try and prevent that until the proper time has passed but another spell looks like it will ensure the presence of enough victims. To stop the evil, the Slayer is going to have to figure out just who can be trusted before it is too late.

This was a fun story and brings the reader back to the fun years of Buffy in high school. Many of the plot elements can be found in other episodes but Keith R. A. DeCandido brings in some strong Russian folklore and imagery to make the story unique. If you liked the third season of Buffy this story fits in as well as if it were one of the seasons episodes. A must for Buffy fans. Check it out.

This book is an absolute must-read for horror film fans of any stripe. It covers everything from silent classics to more modern films in a series of conversational essays written by knowledgeable genre fans from all over the world and from a wide variety of backgrounds. It is, in short, kind of like hanging out with a ton of horror fans talking about their favorite movies. There are (as to be expected) spoilers throughout the discussions, so anyone who hasn't seen any of the films is advised to watch them before reading those films' particular chapters. As a guidebook and listing of horror movie essentials, it's hard to beat, giving the novice horror fan a solid foundation of classic films. As a book *by* horror fans *for* horror fans, there's simply no better book out there.

What makes "Horror 101" so good, for me being a huge fan of the genre, is that it doesn't leave out much of the favorites and even much of the classic unknown films that so often happens with books written about this subject. Here, we jump right into the mix of such classics as "Halloween", "The Shining", and "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre", etc. It even includes such obscure films as "Deathdream" and "Them."

The author gives a thorough review of each the films listed and politely doesn't give away much of the twists. It is a must read for us horror fans...and people researching the horror.

Buy this book!

Anyone who considers himself a serious fan of the horror genre would do well to pick up this book. It contains in-depth reviews of 101 of the most essential horror films and monster movies of all time, spanning the Silent Era up until the 1990's. Probably the best book of this type I've read in a long time!

Horror 101 is the ideal book for the lonely horror fan. We poor, misunderstood wretches who have no one close by with whom we can share our love of malevolent spirits, monsters run amok, and the undead in their manifold forms, hungering for living human flesh and blood! (Sorry, I got a little carried away there.) The articles in the book, ruminations on over a hundred of the greatest horror films, are written by horror fans from all walks of life, and are both entertaining and informative. It's like having a great group of knowledgeable friends always available to talk scary cinema. Bravo to all of the contributors and likewise to Dr. AC for compiling a terrific and unique collection. I highly recommend it to all horror and film enthusiasts, and can't wait for volume 2.

Much like another reviewer, I, too, purchased this at a horror event. It hit upon two of my loves, those being reference books and horror. The cover didn't hurt either. As I started flipping through this book, the first thing I noticed was how many fun stills were shown. As I read the forward by Tom Savini, my insides were slightly sad that, being a horror fan, I didn't get the opportunity to be a part of this fun collection ...and as I went on to read the reviews of my favourites, I was wondering if I could. The reviewers that were chosen all seem quite educated in the genre and reading each piece was like a mini class...each telling answering a different version of the greater unasked question: why do I love horror? Horror 101 get an A+ and a shiny blood red apple from this student!

You know, I didn't think I would really like the fact that they had Dymond step aside and had Ab take over. But as the story went along I began to realize that it was actually kinda cool. I mean you heard the story with the girls and now it was time for the boys side to tell it like it is. It was as if... you were to combine the two stories and it made it easier to understand.

The only thing that will make it better is when they came out with the fourth one that lets Porsha tell her side. Just to let yall know, I'm really not feelin' her. But in this story, it's just so easy to connect with the characters and become them as you read the story of this part in their lives. Next they need to get Kyle to tell his story, Manny to tell his, and maybe even throw in what's really goin' on with Big Tone and Auntie Rhythm, ya feelz me?!

THE AB-SOLUTE TRUTH is the second book in the Platinum Teen Series and focuses on the life of Christopher Abdul Parker. Abdul, as he likes to be called, is a good student, a star basketball player, and is the boyfriend of Porsha, a character from the previous book in the series. Despite Abdul's good qualities, one bad choice is his decision to sell drugs. Without the drug money, he and his brother would be unable to wear the hot designer gear because their parents have a limited income. About the time the drug game blows up in Abdul's face, a sexual encounter with Porsha ends with a broken condom. The chain of events that follows is wrought with drama, unexpected twists, and valuable lessons.

As with other Platinum Teen Series Books, THE AB-SOLUTE TRUTH highlights the consequences of decisions made by the characters. Abdul, is an interesting character whose flaws are not immediately evident, which adds texture to the story. Readers of Dymond in the Rough, the first book in the series, will see lots of familiar faces; however, the story can easily be enjoyed without having read the earlier book. The plot involves some mature themes, so parents should take that into account before deciding when this would be an appropriate read for their child. Additional proofreading and minor editing would be helpful, but overall THE AB-SOLUTE TRUTH is an enjoyable read that focuses on real-life teen issues.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

THE AB-SOLUTE TRUTH picks up with Christopher (Abdul) Parker, Porsha's boyfriend from DYMOND IN THE ROUGH. AB is 17, in his senior year, a nerd about his grades and plays on the basketball team. To be more accurate, he's the man!

Although AB pulls it like he's mature and focused, he is also naïve about the risks he's taking as he's trying to maintain his appearance and impress the spectators. While playing "grown up" AB comes under attack and has to learn to deal with his problems lawfully. Given a second chance, will AB remember to utilize the voice of reason?

Juwell & Precious have not only entertained in this PLATINUM TEEN SERIES, but they educate as well. Despite a few flaws in the editing department I enjoyed reading about the REAL issues, peer pressure and drama, although unfortunate, many teens are faced with.

So many people are willingly tossing in the towel, "Your mistakes don't define who you are, how you bounce back does!"

HOLLA AT CHA GIRL!!!!

In book number two, girls step a side, it's the boys' turn. Christopher "Abdul" Parker comes from a loving two-parent home. His family owns a store. He's a high school senior and star of the varsity b-ball team. He's a pretty boy that all the girls love; yet his heart belongs to one. Despite having more than many, Abdul wants more; more that could cost him a great deal. Is it worth it?

The Ab-solute Truth addresses unwise decisions and their consequences. Another enjoyable read from the Platinum Teen Series with powerful messages/lessons cleverly disguised in a good story. Recommended reading along with Dymond in the Rough.

So I can admit it now, I am definitely hooked on reading! The AB-Solute Truth deals with AB. He's dating Porsha and they have an ideal high school relationship.

I really liked how The AB-Solute Truth went a step further and showed the consequences of the choices made by the characters. A teen looking for books dealing with the things we go through, the decisions we make and the consequences should read this series.

Reviewed by: Lauren
OOSA's Teen Reviewer

This great little cookbook is entertaining at the least, yet filled with delicious recipes. The sense of humor is refreshing. I've tried several recipes and the family enjoyed all. My only suggestion is that the authors could have included solar cooking as another alternative without bothering with fuel. The sun does eventually come back out. Simple Solar Ovens can easily be made by any kid in elementary school. We do it in my 5th grade classroom. Of course the recipes are vegetarian. What, you think that package of hamburger meat will keep for days when the electricity goes out? If you like to eat light, you'll enjoy sampling the recipes. Be sure to read the anecdote about the squirrel family. It's a riot!

Confession: I don't live in a disaster zone, nor have I faced any situations that demanded this book.
That being said, I bought this book because I hate cooking. Really hate cooking. So when I heard about these recipes that used canned vegetables and took less time than those 30 minute meals, I went to my nearest bookstore and bought it.
The recipes are tasty (albeit high in sodium due to the use of canned foods) and extremely easy to make. Even with my limited cooking skills, I'm able to get out a meal in less than 30 minutes (including prep time). My favorite is the "Garlicky Chickpeas with potatoes and tomatoes".
If you haven't figured this out by now, all these recipes are vegetarian/vegan. As a vegan, this is not a problem for me. As someone who's been forced to adapt recipes, I can tell you it's a lot easier to adapt a vegan recipe for omnivore usage than vice versa.
For those without common sense, foods with animal products go bad much more quickly than vegetable-based items. When it comes to stocking your disaster box, items with long-term storage usefulness is a good thing.

This book is actually useful if you have a major power outage or possibly even if you have to leave your house (with butane powered stove and five day box). However, if the Bush administration futzes things up and starts a nuclear war with another country . . . you need another book.

This is a great book for areas that are subject to natural disasters or electrical blackouts where you might have to rely on one-burner cooking. If you like cooking and eating good food, this is a great book even if the lights do stay on. I gave my sister this book along with the Storm Gourmet and she liked Apocalypse Chow the best.

I admit, I bought this book because of the funny title! I haven't tried any recipes yet. The recipes, though vegetarian, look delicious and simple; and I admire the author's approach--why spend 2 weeks living on Spam and cold baked beans, when, with a little forethought, you can be the envy of your block (though I don't think I'd let 'em know we were chowing down in this fashion! Could get ugly!)? You could add canne dmeats to many of the recipes, as well. I particulary enjoyed the author's sense of humor--I've read many disaster prep books, and never encountered humor in any of them. Fave quotes: (regarding "astronaut"/freeze-dried meals)"If your kids are very young, or simply just not too bright, you could tell them you're ordering take-out from Mars" and, "...spending all day slaving over a hot butane stove." Also, the entries on dealing with insurance companies, and the waiting game they play are fun, as well. Most books don't touch upon this, and the crushing boredom and friction that occur when the power has been off for a week.

This book is for the new age, chi-chi. I am a fairly literate man, many of the items mentioned in the book are foreign to me. What is a mandoline?
A mezzaluna? A sudare? Does one need a zester in a calamity? What are basmati pilafs, panchrattan, guanabana and giardiniera? Why would I need to stock several versions of artichoke parts? And of course being closer to a carnivore than anything else, where's the beef? Vegetarian cooking is not something I'd ordinarily do while my faculties are intact. I should have been given that option.
This book was represented to be a help for the average person to smooth over the trauma of adverse conditions through cooking. My take on it is that the this book will be fuel. One of the few good tips gleaned from this book.

This is a wonderful summary of privacy, slander and related law. Even fiction writers should own it because it will keep you from being sued when you base a character in your novel on Aunt Maude. You'll know how to avoid an embarrassing (and suable) public relevation of private facts.