5 comments about Greta Garbage's Outrageous Bathroom Book.

1. Like everyone else here that gave it excellent reviews, it is an excellent read. They're right. You all encouraged me to get the book with your great reviews and you all are right!
   
   Great great read! It's filled with fun & interesting facts about anyone that's been on tv or movies. It's the kind of book you can pick up and have only a minute or two to read, (maybe that's why it's called bathroom book, you can read it in the bathroom lol) then put it down and read later, or read it all in one setting.
   
   Greta Garbage also wrote another book, "That's Disgusting" which I also bought as well. I haven't read it yet but it's just like this book with many many disgusting facts.
   
   This book in fact is the only book that has been given 5 stars over other books like it!



2. This book is so much better than Uncle John's -- most of it is about sex and celebrities and a lot of the small stuff you find on each page is very funny. It's also cheaper than John's and there's a lot more to read -- I wish Greta (woman? secretly a man?) would write one every year like Uncle John does but I looked it up and only found that she (he) has written one other book titled "That's Disgusting"



3. All throughout reading this book I was entertained and fascinated at the same time. The first few chapters (on celebrities and sex) has some of the most interesting facts and trivial bits I've ever read. It's also quite funny in how the bits are presented, as Greta Garbage has a wicked sense of humor.

   The only problem was that the book needed a better editor; there were a lot of typos, some more glaring than others (in one instance, Melissa Joan Hart is identified as the daughter of Joan Rivers). That's my only real problem; I really think of the book as deserving four and a half stars.




4. This book is so chock full of interesting and funny things I couldn't put it down. I kept turning to different pages and finding more that I wanted to read. This could be the most fascinating book out there! I read the author's other book "That's Disgusting" so I picked this one up when I saw it. I loved the other but there's much more to read here (althouugh most of it is less disgusting) about celebrities and sex and sports and TV and movies and lots of other things. My only objection is that I don't think it has to be a "bathroom" book. Maybe it should just have been a trivia and humor book.



5. I just read a great new book, "Greta Garbage's Outrageous Bathroom Book." This is one bathroom book that you can read in any room in the house. Full of fascinating facts, shocking stories, terrific trivia, and hilarious humor. If you are looking for a gift for someone that they will enjoy for sometime to come, you have found your answer.
   Be sure to read "Small penis Rule, and check out what is so unique about Preparation "H". Guaranteed to make you top dog around the water cooler.

5 comments about The Musical: A Look at the American Musical Theater.

1. A plain vanilla introductory text suitable for students who find themselves taking a musical theater course to fill an elective. Because young people are less familiar with the history and art of musical drama than film, the highly accessible prose and tabloid formatting of this text would make it useful in a college as well as high school course. Readers who already count themselves as students of the theater, on the other hand, can not afford to miss Gerald Mast's comprehensive and savvy history, "Can't Help Singin'."



2. But most of us don't. I bought this book expecting a history of the musical, and there are some interesting chapters on historical antecedents of the modern musical. But when it hits the 20th century, it bogs down in technical details of interest only to aspiring professionals: how to write good lyrics, how to structure the plot, even what's wrong with the NY theater district. Deadly dull stuff. No discussion of great performers, no analyses of individual musicals, nothing.



3. This is good introductory reading for high school students who are seriously interested in theater. A wonderful yet solid history of the American theater occupies the front half of the book, but historical threads are found throughout. There is an insightful chapter on Sondheim and his creative processes. The section entitled "Elements of Musical Theater" is at times tedious reading, but informative. Kislan's "Problems and Issues"(what's wrong with the present Broadway scene)is an eye-opener. Some drawbacks: Much has happened to the theater since this 1995 edition. I would love an updated third edition. Many of the musical examples mentioned are in every theater-lover's listening library, but a new edition should include an accompanying recording(or at the very least a CD and/or video guide). This would be particularly helpful with regard to very early 20th century musical theater. Also, there are many wonderful musicals, composers & lyricists, and librettists who are not even referenced(Loesser,{Guys & Dolls is mentioned}Comden/Green, Schwartz{Pippin's there, too} to name a few). Surely their contributions are significant. My students have enough savvy to catch these omissions. They'll want to know why. Still in all, this is a good textbook for our youth.



4. Richard Kislan shows care and concern in his research on the subject, and the facts he reports seem accurate. He is at his best on his chapters about the elements of musical theater, including the book, lyrics, the score, dance and design. Here he provides some nice insights, and the objective character of these topics compliments his writing skills. Unfortunately, his more subjective chapters on the history of the American musical reveal a turgid, laborious writing style that mitigates the effectiveness of his good research and organization of information. The paucity of information about musicals after 1980 (despite the 1995 revision) is an additional liability. The reasonable price of the book makes it still a good value despite the shortcomings.



5. I have used this book as the text for a high school course on the broadway musical and found it to be excellent. It is not overly technical but has a nice user friendly feel for the novice. The historical thread it establishes from Kern to Hammerstein to Sondheim is crucial to understanding where we are and how we got here. Obviously there are other important influences, but it is a fine text to focus a very broad topic on the seminal developers of the form. Michael P. Smith, Hamden Hall Country Day School

5 comments about The Winter's Tale (Folger Shakespeare Library).

1. "A Winter's Tale" is two romances in a single play. The tragic but open romance of Leontes and Hermione, and the ultimately joyful but initially clandestine romance of Florizel and Perdita. The tale spans more than a decade and can serve as a cautionary tale about mistrust and jealousy.
   
   My favorite character was Autolycos. Rogue, thief, impersonator of nobility, but the linkage that pulled some of the threads together in the end.
   
   This one feels long, even by Shakespearian standards. On the other hand it was easier to follow than other Shakespeare plays. A great story with the capacity to present well on stage or screen. I'm just sorry folks don't hear about this one more.
   
   E.M. Van Court



2. I'm from England and I'm studying this play for A level (as a mature student - normally taken when aged 17) but although the UK is the home of 'The Bard' this item is not available in the UK! I'm very impressed with Amazon.com who delivered it quickly and cheaply!
   
   The CD itself is great. It really helps to hear the play, as the intonation is correct, which is sometimes difficult to do when reading it yourself.
   
   The actors' voices are clear and suit their parts perfectly. I'd definitely recommend it - and I will look out for more titles in this series when I've finished studying this one!



3. Although this play is not one of Shakespeare's better known plays, it is one of his very best. It is a tragicomedy suffused by gentle melancholy. Unreasonable and cruel jealousy are also portrayed. We also have two endearing young lovers to liven up the story. These characters are very well-drawn, and the story is quite beautiful.



4. I have always favoured the Oxford Shakespeare series over others (Folger, etc), and the Winter's Tale is no exception. It's translation notes and lexigraphical assistance makes reading a joy and brings out the true heart and soul of one of Shakespeare's commonly overlooked tragi-comedies.



5. As usual in Shakespearean plays, the language here is very prettily written. As usual in Shakespearean comedies, there are plot holes that one could easily drive a tank squadron through. But since this is not just a comedy, but a tragicomedy, in which the first part is a tragedy and the second a comedy, not everything comes out well in the end: some worthy characters die. Also, as is usual for Shakespeare, we have a morality play on the evils of jealousy and closed-mindedness. Really, though, other than the pretty Shakespearean turns of phrase, there isn't much to recommend this book.

5 comments about Questions For The Movie Answer Man.

1. This is not a general book about movies, but a reprint of selected "Answer Man" columns. As such, though there is some useful information about film and production techniques and quite a lot on the furor over letterboxing, the most interesting parts of the book allow us to relieve specific moments in recent movie history, for instance, getting glimpses into the thought patterns of fans before, during, and after "Water World."

   I would have liked a little more context to some of the columns; after all, some of the hot topics of 1996 are all but forgotten today. Also, I always thought of Ebert as an extreme political conservative, in opposition to his late partner, the liberal Gene Siskel. So how come he reprints hate letters from political conservatives?




2. A terrific book, both for Roger Ebert's crisp and witty writing, his knowledge of the subject, and the information about films and filmmaking. Drawn from Ebert's must-read "Ask the Movie Man" section of his annual Film Guide series and his newspaper/internet column. Highly recommended.



3. Quite informative and not at all simply a "bathroom read" as one reviewer here has opined. The book covers topics from A to Z (E.g. "Actors", "Fireballs", "Talking in the Movies"). However, if your particular interest is "Goofs", the basics are covered (E.g "Bloopers", "Boom mikes") but you'll find much more for specific movies at the Internet Movie Database (imdb.com). Another reviewer here states the index could be better. I agree. The index seems to be inconsistent, listing only some of the book's topics, but lots of movie titles and actors. For example, a question on the book jackets asks" Why don't movie actors wear seatbelts?". Good luck finding the answer easily. A handful of the movies chosen for inclusion may seem obscure, but this is still an entertaining book. And you'll also find out a little more about Ebert's way of thinking.



4. I tore through this quick reader the same day it arrived (while staying home sick from work.) It put a smile on my face, and made me want to see or re-see a bunch of movies.
   
   The book is pulled together bits of a newspaper Q&A style column, and therefore comes off overall a bit disjointed. I don't care for the somewhat arbitrary organization of the excerpts, but of course, I can't come up with a better way -- related Q&A's are grouped together under general categories (ie "Minnesotans and Mississippians" and "Injuries") and then the categories are alphabetized.
   
   Dispite these problems, I enjoyed the book.



5. I have always enjoyed Ebert's lucid and engaging writing. He answers questions on a wide range of topics of interest to movie buffs. As he freely admits, however, some of the questions were fabricated where he felt "the need comes upon me to answer a question I have not been asked." There seem to be a lot of questions from the same few characters, too, especially one Andy Ihnatko of Westwood, Mass. And as much as I like the book, I have some doubts about Mr. Ebert's scholarship. On page 61, he says that Japanese term for the bittersweet awareness of transient things is "nolo con aware," when in fact it is "mono no aware" (the Japanese don't even use "L" their language). Whenever I find I one factual error in a book, I start to wonder how many more are in it.

5 comments about Letters of the Dragon (Bruce Lee Library).

1. Bruce Lee books or papers about him and his success are the best basis for every serious training martial artist. BL & his JKD are open minded, only truth development we can join this world.



2. This collection of correspondence gives the reader a chance to peek into the mind and life of Bruce Lee. We get to tag along on his first trip to the US since his birth, his friendships, his marriage, his children, what he thought of the jet set, how the dog was eating, father-son bonding, etc. His heart went into every word, as his hand interpreted the flow of his mind.

   Bruce's widow, Linda Emery Lee Cadwell, mentions in one of the forwards that until the last year of his life, Bruce didn't have enough money to make excessive long distance phone calls. I'd hate to sound selfish, but, lucky for us.




3. I thought this book offered a completely different perspective of Bruce Lee and offered quality reading into the personal life of a famous martial artist. His letters were very honest, thought-provoking, and genuine from beginning to end. There was one very short and disturbing letter towards the end of the book which, in my opinion, was a significant clue as to why he passed so early and I hope other readers can understand this clue as well.

   John Little did an extraordinary job of presenting the letters in order and importance as with all of his books on Bruce Lee. Highly recommended!




4. Great book. I liked reading about Bruce Lee's thoughts and ideas



5. This book provides another view of the legendary Bruce Lee. I really enjoyed reading his thoughts on the martial arts, his work (film and books) and his family. The letters to Linda showed how much he loved his wife and children. I know this is part of her life too and she may want to keep it private, but I would have liked to see some of the letters she wrote back to Bruce.

No comments about Young Women's Monologues from Contemporary Plays 2: Professional auditions for aspiring actresses.

5 comments about Miss America.

1. What a great book. Funny, interesting and a real page turner. It really gives an insight into Howard. Even more than the show does. I loved It.



2. As a huge Howard Stern fan, I bought this book with my expectations set very high. All of my expectations were completely fulfilled and I would recommend this book to anyone, whether you are a Stern fan or not. It is an amazing look into an amazing and prolific man's life. I think this book is even better than Private Parts.



3. as private parts, if not better. i can't say enough about the two howard stern books. the man puts out perfect art!



4. It's next to the worse book I've read yet, "Private Parts," is the worse. My gosh, you'd think with all his money he could write something worth reading except about his ham life; this guy has got to figure out what a plot and theme is, there is none. And just run on sentences going nowhere. He must sell them to his followers, becasue there is nothing of interest in it just talking and talking and talking of the FCC, and how he did this and that, where ever he ends up, he does. It was not a disappointment in that, I figured it would be something along that order, especially after I read the dirty mouth garbage and seen the pictures in "Private Parts."



5. It would be far too easy to dismiss this book as "just more of the same from the author of Private Parts" because by and large it is just that. But if you do write off (no pun intended) Howard's second novel, then you will truly miss out on discovering the real Howard Stern.

   What Howard does in Miss America that he did not in Private Parts, is take his time to think. In his second novel he does not seem in such a mad rush to blurt out every intimate detail of his existence and of those around him. This time we discover a slightly older and more thoughtful Howard Stern. Don't get me wrong he has not seen any error in his ways, nor does he intend to change them. But he does stop to consider why and it makes the whole reading experience far more enjoyable.

   Howard has still not lost his rapier wit and it is still delivered with a sledgehammer. Nor has he lost his love of naked females and that is sort of reassuring, for if he were to change at this point, we would know he was a phoney.

   In Miss America Howard does go back over some old territory, but this time gives us another perspective. For Example we see the World of Howard, from Robin's eyes and it is an eye opener. Howard also has fun exploring and analysing his friendship with Fred Norris and this all makes for great reading. But the fun really begins when he gives us full chapter and verse on how he totally destroys a rival DJ and it is then that book becomes (to use a cliché) a real page turner.

   Miss America is not as funny as Private parts, but a more thoughtful and enjoyable read as once again we are get another look at the world through Howard's small and very dark glasses.

5 comments about The Art of Pole Dancing: A Spin-by-Spin Guide.

1. I bought this from Barnes and Noble for the same price ($10) as a gag gift for my friend's birthday. We take an actual pole dance fitness class that utilizes difficult tricks and spins, so I wasn't expecting any real instruction out of this book. We spent a good 20 minutes going through it laughing at the way they describe some of the moves. It also gives you "ideas" on how to dress/dance/and music selections for different roles you may want to play that are based on colors (again hilarious).
   
   I would not suggest this book for actual pole dancing instruction, the moves entailed are pretty much common sense things to do with a pole and don't really require much instruction. However, it is definitely worth the $10 for a good laugh or as something risque to leave out on your coffee table when people (especially family) come to visit ;)



2. well i don't have a pole nor do i plan to buy one so i didn't buy this book but i read the entire thing in the bookstore. the pictures (sketches really) and arrows helped me know what i should be doing. there were a LOT of variations. if i was going to buy a pole i'd want the book. you probably should have some dance experience to really appreciate this book. i think it would be a neat little gag gift or maybe bachelorette party gift...if you're looking for something to seriously learn how to pole dance then you might be disappointed but if you're looking for light fun and some giggles then this is probably worth it...



3. This book is sooooo misleading about pole dancing. Nothing new or even a spin. Absolutely ridiculous. Save your money and take a class.



4. I bought this book because it was written by the makers of my boyfriend's pole. What a WASTE! I should have just skipped buying the book and taught myself how to walk around the pole! I would suggest you buy this book if you...heck I can't even think of why I would suggest it at all!!



5. i agree with the previous reviewer that the guide is misleading because it doesn't show any spinning around the pole at all. i heard from others that the peekaboo pole does not support weight and if this book was meant to complement it, it makes sense because it just teaches you moves and poses around the pole and not any moves that makes the pole carry your weight.
   
   the poses/moves in this book are very show-girly or typical sexy girly bar moves. it doesn't teach you tricks that i was looking for. whilst the book is cute to look at, the pictures are rather crass for my taste.
   
   i got the idiot's guide book to poledancing and i thought that was much better. it comes with a DVD and it is more useful should you actually want to spin around the pole.

5 comments about Fuddy Meers.

1. I was extremely pleased when i saw the package come. I was not expecting it so soon. It was a definite plus! :)



2. More beautiful, whimsical, touching, absurdist fare from David Lindsay-Abaire--in the vein of another terrific young playwright, Napoleon Ellsworth. It seems as though these two writers (along w/ perhaps Padriac Duffy) are spearheading a revolt against the dead, naturalistic world of theater. And it couldn't've happened a moment too soon! BRAVO!



3. I hadn't read anything else by this author and I wasn't sure what to make of the descriptions I read but after receiving the play and giving it a read I knew I was going to want to direct or be in this show. It does read a little clunky at times and it feels as though the speaking traits of a couple of the characters may wear thin but that doesn't happen. I'd suggest getting some friends together and having a read through. That's what we did and we had a blast. The story is complex but not very deep. I can't say that this is a show that will answer any questions of the universe for you but I bet you will enjoy the ride.



4. This is a fun play, with several very creative and funny components that keep this from being a standard series of "ah ha's". Definitely a fun night at the theatre and also a fun read. Without giving anything away, this is about a woman whose life is skewed and the necessary occurances that bring it back into perspective for her, and us too. Featuring an imposter-brother, a foul-mouthed pot-smoking kid, an almost-schizophrenic husband, a tongue-tied stroke-victim grandma, and a not-too-bright schizophrenic puppeteer-kidnapper. Yes, all of them and more make Fuddy Meers a good, creative, enjoyable time.



5. This script keeps you on the edge of your seat--each line is a new discovery. The characters are touching, well-defined, and certainly amusing, and through them Lindsay-Abaire explores humanity with much insight. After reading, I can't help but imagine all the potential this script has to become a great production.

No comments about Brahms - A Listener's Guide: Unlocking the Masters Series (Unlocking the Masters).