5 comments about Creature Comforts: Cozy Knits for Wee Ones.

1. This book contains so many patterns that you will want to knit you will have a diffiicult time selecting the one to do first. Each is unique with some enhancement on each. I want to knit them all even though I have no one in mind (at the present) to give them to.



2. absolutely love this book. i have made several of the sweaters and plan and plan on making more. they make wonderful presents at showers and baby gifts after. i am waiting for her next book.



3. This book is wonderful. It offers very basic patterns for sweaters, hats, booties, then offers the variations in design and color patterns. I now have knitted many of the patterns in this book (even adding my own variations) and the patterns are amazingly accurate, well written, and explained simply and understandably. Anyone who is looking for a book that gives simple pattern instructions, suitable for an ambitious beginner, with memorable designs that make you look like an expert, should pick this one.



4. I was expecting each knit to be a different pattern and was surprised to see only 2 types of patterns for tops. At the beginning of the book, there is 1 pattern for a cardigan, a pull-over and a hat/mittens (6,12 and 18mth sizes). You are basically directed to knit the particular pattern and add the mofifs as you go. So, for example, if you don't like the pullover pattern a significant proportion of the book is not useable, or you need to adapt the motifs to a pattern from another book. Adapting the motifs to a design you do like (or know that fits) is probably not a difficult task and the motifs and colours are sweet.
   There is a nice range of mofif styles, with the cover picture a good indication of the types of designs in the book.



5. At last! Knits for "Wee Ones" without "wee" needles! I have never liked to use size 2 or 3 needles which most baby and toddler patterns call for. This book has great designs but it gives you the basic patterns first, and colors to please everyones taste.

3 comments about Quick, Before the Music Stops: How Ballroom Dancing Saved My Life.

1. I loved this book! Janet Carlson's indepth understanding of Ballroom Dancing and how she relates dance partnership with everyday family relationships is brilliant! I think men AND women will get something out of her book. I found that i couldn't put it down once i started reading it.



2. Because my hubby and I took up, by a twist of fate, ballroom dancing about 5 years ago, my daughter and family sent me this book for my birthday. Ballroom dancing becomes a love. One could be at the studio each day. The instruction never ceases and as you move from one instructor to the other, each better than before. Building blocks are erected. I actually picked up some very valuable pointers, as one does constantly, in my own technique reading thru Janet's story. The reality of putting dance either first or second in one's life can be disturbing. It is a very expensive pursuit when one competes. And, it is more than true, as I have first hand witnessed, that marriages suffer, and break up, because one partner is so dazzled by the artistic thrill of becoming a better dancer. I somehow believe that Janet could have saved her marriage. But, I also believe she did not want to; and her husband didn't have a clue. One needs to remember, even Janet, that it is the very few who reach the stars, and it is a short time up in the clouds as one of the best. It is a female's ballroom dancing experience for sure.



3. It's as if Ms. Carlson is throwing a lifeline to those of us whose marriages are in need of rescue, even though she acknowledges she learned her lessons too late to save her own. Having followed her columns in Town & Country over the years, I've found this author has always been really forthright about her own issues in order to help other women. The same compassion and surprising insights are in this book. I've already applied some of her wisdom...with good results. Not only that, for the first time, I'm beginning to understand America's fascination with Dancing With The Stars. Something that's always puzzled me! Now I'm on the lookout for dancing classes near my home...but will make sure my husband comes along! Thanks Janet!

3 comments about Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter, Vol. 1.

1. ALL OF YOU, ALLEZ-VOUS-EN GO AWAY, AS ON THROUGH THE SEASONS WE SAIL, AT LONG LAST LOVE, BEGIN THE BEGUINE, BETWEEN YOU AND ME, BUT IN THE MORNING NO, CA C'EST L'AMOUR, C'EST MAGNIFIQUE, COULD IT BE YOU, DO I LOVE YOU, DOWN IN THE DEPTHS, EASY TO LOVE, EV'RY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE, EV'RYTHING I LOVE, FAR AWAY, FARMING, FRIENDSHIP, FROM ALPHA TO OMEGA, FROM THIS MOMENT ON, GET OUT OF TOWN, GOODBYE LITTLE DREAM GOODBYE, I AM LOVED, I CONCENTRATE ON YOU, I GET A KICK OUT OF YOU, I HATE YOU DARLING, I LOVE PARIS, I LOVE YOU, IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT, IT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME, IT'S DE-LOVELY, I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN, I'VE STILL GOT MY HEALTH, JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS, KATIE WENT TO HAITI, LET'S BE BUDDIES, LET'S DO IT, LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT LOVE, LOVE FOR SALE, MAKE IT ANOTHER OLD FASHIONED PLEASE, MIND IF I MAKE LOVE TO YOU, MOST GENTLEMEN DON'T LIKE LOVE, MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY, NIGHT AND DAY, OURS, RIDIN' HIGH, SO NEAR AND YET SO FAR, STEREOPHONIC SOUND, TRUE LOVE, USE YOUR IMAGINATION, WELL DID YOU EVAH, WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE, WHERE OH WHERE, WOULDN'T IT BE FUN, YOU DON'T REMIND ME, YOU'D BE SO NICE TO COME HOME TO, YOU'RE SENSATIONAL, YOU'RE THE TOP, a short biography with pictures and a show-film chronology.



2. The songs are written for an intermediate level pianist and they are arranged nicely. I am only giving this four stars because many of Cole Porter's best-loved songs are not included. For example, there is nothing from "Anything Goes" and "Kiss Me Kate". It is disappointing that so many gems were left out. On the plus side, the biography is nice and there are some nice photos.



3. Aside from the fact that this book does not contain several great songs, it does not open properly on the piano making it difficult to turn the pages and keep the book open.

1 comments about Multimedia Companion CD-ROM 5.0 t/a Music: An Appreciation, Brief Edition.

1. My college computer lab has copies of a number of CD-ROMs that go with music appreciation textbooks. I really like this one the best. The activities are so much more interactive and fun too. The software makes it a lot easier for students like me who have no previous music background.

5 comments about Writing the Broadway Musical.

1. Many of today's top talents in musicals on and off Broadway have studied with Aaron Frankel. Now anyone can learn the ropes from this honored director and instructor in a step-by-step guide that makes for good reading whether you are a writer, composer, or simply an avid theatergoer. I enjoyed the previous edition and found this revised and updated one an even more interesting read.



2. In only 192 pages, Frankel presents writing for the musical theatre from the perspective of the book writer, lyricist and composer -- and how each contributes to the whole. Enough specifics for each to gain a better appreciation of the others' unique contributions. The book would be an excellent introductory text for a musical theate workshop. Most examples from My Fair Lady are illustrative and excellent; other examples from Company were less helpful (as that show was less successful). Highly recommended for those working on musical to keep near at hand.



3. Frankel's concise, clear volume on writing large-scale musicals is a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone who wants to understand how this peculiar theatrical genre works-- when it does. By focusing on two artistically successful, well-known pieces in the canon-- "My Fair Lady" as a well-executed classic musical with linear plot, "Company" (my personal favorite) as a well-executed plotless musical whose songs move character forward--, Frankel can support his intelligent teaching points with concrete yet familiar examples. I'm very happy to see this book back in print.



4. This book gives a good foundation for basic elements of a musical script. I bought this wanting to write a musical script but not necessarily the lyrics/musical score and am a complete novice - was a bit lost on the different musicals it quoted. However another book that is quite "meaty" in terms of how to write a compelling gripping story/script for theatre is "The Writers Journey" surname is Vogler. What Frankel says is that the book or story needs to be written first before appropriate lyrics/musical score can be created. So I would have gone straight to this book first. Good as reference but can borrow from library, not a must have.



5. Aaron Frankel, who has directed more than 100 plays, loves the stage, especially musicals. He brings his genius to Writing the Broadway Musical by formulating an organized book, which is easy to use both as a reference and as a guide.
   
   He fills the text with pertinent examples -- plenty of them --like chocolate chips in cookies. Frankel's book is full of encouragement for the dreamers, while it outlines the practical aspects of taking a musical play from a dream to a full-fledged production.

2 comments about Acting in Musical Theatre.

1. Excellent book for the actor whether you're a beginner, starting a career or established in the field. Also a great read. I highly recommend it.



2. I am a first-time actor, performing in a community theatre production of Annie Get Your Gun (as Tommy Keeler). I have no acting experience or education, and no idea how to act, though I can sing and dance. I find this book a marvelous help in learning principles and concepts of acting, and I'm sure I'll learn alot from it as I learn the art!

5 comments about Angels Dance And Angels Die: The Tragic Romance of Pamela and Jim Morrison.

1. This book took me about 2 days to finish. I enjoyed reading about their life together, it was very well written.



2. After "No One Here Gets Out Alive" laid bare the hedonistic and troubled history of Jim Morrison and the Doors, it seemed all available information had been served up for the public appetite and there was nothing left to say. Numerous volumes on the topic followed but most only echoed what had already been said. For nearly three decades, "No One Here" has remained the ultimate guide to the enigmatic singer and his long-suffering band.
   It feels vaguely traitorous to say so but I'm going to do it anyway: "Angels Dance and Angels Die" may be the most gripping and insightful book yet on the subject of Morrison and his screaming shaman's dance through rock and roll history. Where the earlier work provided a chronicle of the band's rise to the top and more than a few glimpses behind the stage curtains, "Angels Dance" achieves something more significant. It studies the motivations, flaws and personal history that made Jim Morrison the kind of man and artist whose popularity continues to mushroom nearly four decades after his death.
   Much of Patricia Butler's beautifully written book focuses on the stormy relationship between Jim and his cosmic mate Pamela Courson. But it is more than a blow-by-blow photo album of dish hurling fights and lurid infidelities. Butler writes with unflagging objectivity and offers up her views only when those views are supported by sources who knew Jim or Pam or both as intimately as anyone alive. The result is a book that's both illuminating and powerful, a rock and roll love story like none ever told.
   My wife is a mild Doors fan who mostly tolerates my own tenacious adoration of the group. She has no interest in "No One Here Gets Out Alive" or any of the numerous rockographies that followed it. "Angels Dance" appeals to her though, because it is a story of genuine love that exists in spite of the many pitfalls of the rock and roll universe, which is not a place that has proven friendly to enduring romance. With that kind of broader audience, Butler's book may prove to be durable as well, and deservedly so. She reports and writes with the flair of a seasoned journalist yet there is no shortage of drama and poetry here. "Angels Dance and Angels Die" should be regarded as essential reading for anyone who remains fascinated by the Morrison legend. From the first page to the last, this one is as intriguing, mysterious and brilliant as the notes from Ray Manzarek's keyboard.



3. Patricia Butler takes an intriguing twist on the much wrote about rock legend Jim Morrison exploring his true love Pamela Courson. So many books, movies, and documentaries have really not touched on his actual long term relationship with Courson. Other biographers have explored his many flings, groupies, and sexual notoriety. Yes, he had an open relationship but his one constant companion and soul mate was Courson. This book is a definate buy for any Jim Morrison fan to explore his personal side in a deeper more compelling manner.



4. Jim Morrison was a Sagittarus and Pam Courson was a Capricorn. Soulmate love can happen between these two signs. And it did with Pam and Jim. This book examines their lives from childhood until their deaths very thoroughly. I have read of the excesses of Jim, but until this book there has not been anything written about the side of Jim when he was with Pam. It seems she was his true love and he hers. The saddest of all is that these two beautiful people died so young. I highly recommend this book if you want to know their love story as I did.



5. Jim adored Pamela. She was his muse, lover, confidante, 'cosmic mate' and the only person that seemed to stand up to Jim.
   
   Although he was with her right up until his tragic (yet not entirely surprising)death nothing substantial has been written about her - until now.
   
   Patricia Butler has done a beautiful job at finally telling the story of the woman behind the legend, Jim Morrison. The book is incredibly well researched and interviews included in this book are people that were close to both Jim & Pam.
   
   This is by no means your typical warm and fuzzy love story. Their love for each other was as sweet & loving as it was volatile & turbulent.
   
   The book gives accounts of their many plate hurling fights, and infidelities on both sides.
   
   There was no denying Jim was a sexual predator. He had many lovers he would string along, some foolishly believing Jim would eventually leave Pam for them. This of course never happened which resulted in Pam incurring the scorn & hatred of his conquest, none more so than that of Patricia Keneally who to this day remains full of scorn & hatred for Pam. Her accusations that Pam murdered Jim are as ludicrous as her claims Jim was about to leave Pam for her. Im sure Jim would be rolling his eyes at her claims from beyond the grave..
   
   Pamelas reactions to Jims many infidelities were quite intriguing. It seems she felt more threatened by Jims platonic relationships with women than his many lovers. Her infidelities seemed nothing more than 'tit for tat' revenge for Jims many indiscretions which is quite sad really..
   
   It also provided some interesting info on her life after Jim. I was interested to read she was not the 'heroin junkie' many portrayed her as at the time of her death.
   
   All in all a great book. To be fair there is not really any new info on Jim so if thats what you are looking for you may be disappointed. It is definitely a story that needed to be told & Patricia Butler has done a fantastic, well researched, unbiased job of it.

5 comments about Doctrine That Dances: Bringing Doctrinal Preaching and Teaching to Life.

1. Smith has introduced a work that will encourage, inspire, and educate preachers today who desire to be true to God's Word. Today, many pastor's preach to a crowd that is biblically illiterate. Smith explain how it is our responsibility to escort these listeners into God's presence through both the emotion and the mind. Doctrine that dances will help you see the Christ-centered need in your message and the need to preach hope in his second coming. Must read for any preacher today seeking to be both relevant and biblical.



2. Every now and then you need to be made to feel uncomfortable. Perhaps there are few ways to make people fee more uncomfortable than to talk to them about them public speaking or dancing. Robert Smith attempts to combine both of these uncomfortable realities into a helpful metaphor for biblical preaching.
   
   Robert Smith is professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. Prior to this, he was a professor at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
   
   Right off the bat you have got to respect Smith's gutsy-ness to link the sacred act of preaching to a metaphor such as dancing. Remember, Smith is from a Baptist institution. I can't wait for his next book, perhaps Fermenting Truth: A Pastor's Guide to a Gloriously Intoxicating Ministry
   
   Doctrine that Dances is primarily a book for preachers. Smith employs two main metaphors throughout.
   
   The first is that the preacher is to be a `doxological dancer'. That is to say he is to be not just mentally engaged with the passage but also emotionally engaged. Smith warns against pastors spending time in the study of the word but neglecting their due time under the knife, in surgery, so to speak.
   
   The second metaphor is that the preacher is to be an `exegetical escort'. He is to use the text to bring people into the presence of God. Here is a definition from Smith of such doctrinal preaching:
   
   ********
   
   My definition of doctrinal preaching emphasizes its underlying aim: transformation through Christ. I state that doctrinal preaching is the escorting of the hearers into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation. I contend that the task of the doctrinal preacher is to serve as an escort who ushers the hearer into the presence of God through the proper and precise expounding of the Word of God. When this is done, the efforts of the doctrinal preachers have reached their limits because they cannot transform the hearer. The hearer is left in the presence of the only One who can transform a human soul--Christ.
   
   ********
   
   Some may think that Smith is just being too cute with these metaphors and it is overkill. I'll be honest, I thought the same thing for the first 30 or so pages. But Smith pulls it off. He keeps emphasizing the metaphors and developing them within the context of pastoral ministry. When you finish the book I trust you'll agree that you have been served well by a man who wants to see God glorified and people transformed (including the preacher) by the faithful study and proclamation of the Word of God.
   
   The book is written in a very engaging style. Smith is very culturally relevant (a good model for preachers) and writes with an eye toward the end goal (transformation). He also recognizes the negative stigma of doctrinal preaching, that it is boring. However, he doesn't flinch; his charge is for men to not make the glorious truth of Scripture boring but rather to be affected by this truth and then preach as a man who has been so affected.
   
   I think Smith does a great job balancing the oft distorted poles of emotion and content. Too often men compromise one for the other and sadly the casualties are in the pews.
   
   ********
   Smith writes:
   
   The preachers are simultaneously exegetical escorts and doxological dancers as they respond respectively to the substance of the Word of God within a style that is unique to their own personality yet reflective of an enthusiastic and passionate delivery. Doctrinal preaching includes both the exegetical escorting of the hearer and the doxological dancing of the preacher as the preacher ushers the hearer into the presence of God for the purpose of transformation. The preacher, who prior to the preaching moment has been transformed and who dances in the delivery of the message, expects the hearers also to be doxologically responsive to the Word of God because to the transformative moment. The doxological response in the preaching and hearing of the Word of God does not enter the sermon in its conclusion; rather, it begins the sermon in its introduction and resounds throughout the message.
   ********
   
   Throughout the book Smith quotes from people that I did not expect. I wonder as to why he would repeatedly quote Harry Emerson Fosdick, as well as Karl Barth, and St. Francis of Assisi. I did not find their quotes to add significant value to the point he was making and without a disclaimer would be concerned about folks embracing the rest of their teachings within such a context. This however, would not cause me to not recommend this book to preachers.
   
   Finally, there is a continued reference to American slavery, African American preaching and the development of Christianity within the early African-American community. I had found this curious throughout the first 2/3 of the book until I realized the Smith himself was an African-American. This disclosure by Smith was helpful.
   
   Smith has a wide potential readership, the Baptist community (both Reformed and Arminian), the African-American Community, and the rest of evangelicalism. Each area needs to be reminded of the call to preach the word faithfully and passionately for the glory of God and the transformation of people. May God be pleased to use it to this end.



3. This book is intriguing and a good reference for anyone who speaks or teaches as part of a Christian ministry. Thumbs up!!



4. While a sermon is NOT supposed to be an entertainment, it IS supposed to rouse the listeners to faith, action, and hope. If your preaching is lacking, Dr. Smith has a LOT of help for you.
   
   He is one of my favorite preachers, by a LONG shot. I listen to EVERY sermon he preaches that I can find. His sermons are absolutely LOADED with good theology (and I don't mean "purpose driven drivel")--- it is loaded with theology put to work!
   
   Smith has a magical way with analogies, metaphors, and imagination that most of us don't quite get. I am convinced that PROPER creativity is CAUGHT as much as it is TAUGHT--- read this book and let Smith's logic and ingenuity sink in.



5. This book explains or attempt to explain what happens between the preacher and the pulpit!

5 comments about Auditioning for the Musical Theatre.

1. Fred Silver is a man who's been around the auditioning block a few times... and this experience is captured in this book for every aspiring musical theatre actor/actress. He spells everything out in terms that even the most naive actors can understand. Not only does Silver explain how to look at an audition, but he also goes into great detail about how to emphasize, breathe, stand, walk, and... well, EVERYTHING! He even talks about the use of your eyes and posture to win those directors over. Another great aspect of this book is that he provides a list of "not-overdone" songs that have worked for his students in the past. What a valuable resource for any musical actor or actress!

   I, too, have been around the block when it comes to auditioning for the musical theatre. And I must say, Fred Silver's book points out many of the lessons I have learned through the process. If you want the part, read this book.




2. While this book is, of course, geared torwards musical theater, there are many tips in here that can be used for any kind of audition.

   The other review for this book was so good, I almost don't want to write a review, but I want to so, here I am. :D

   I decided to find books on acting last year and I stumbled across this one.

   At the time I wasn't auditioning for any musicals, but I started reading it anyways. I didn't think much of it though, I mean I thought it was helpful, but I wasn't able to see its true practicallity until I was actually in the middle of the audition process.

   I found this book extremely useful because it told me how and when to move during a song. And it taught me how to stand out from the "pack" of other singers/actors and make an impact. It also helped me gain some much needed confidence in my own performance abilities.

   Also, if you don't sing, but you act, it gives you some pretty good reasons to think about, as to why you may want to consider learning to sing as well. :)

   I would reccomend this book to any actor along with "Audition". These too books alone will teach you enough to get through auditions. But I also suggest reading some books about finding your own technique as well. One book I have been reading recently that is quite helpful is "The Actor Speaks". It is a book that has around 20 different actors talking about their own personal technique, and will help you discover or at least really think about your own.

   So, what are you waiting for? Get this book, and start improving your abilities today!!!

   God Bless ~Amy




3. The moment I read the introduction I was hooked. Silver uses humor and wit to bring to life these practical and useful methods he shows you to give a flawless performance. He teaches you everything from how to relax before an audition to how to become the part. I can not describe to you all how much I am in debt to this man for teaching me the way to a auditioners heart. Mr. Silver will not let you down.



4. This book really helped me understand every aspect in auditioning for musical theatre. Honest to God, with this book I feel I have much a better understanding of what I'm auditioning with and that I will have a better chance among the rest of the auditioners.
   
   It's worth every penny :)



5. Ever since i read Frank Sliver's book- it have given me confadense to sing at hospitals, nursing homes and bus stations. I learned alot. God BleSs yoU Frank Slivrer.
   LAretta Rose

4 comments about The Complete Voice and Speech Workout: 74 Exercises for Classroom and Studio Use.

1. This is an good book to use to practice intonation, pronunciation and articulation. I actually use this book when teaching phonetics in my speech courses.



2. A great book with practical exercises useful for singers, as well as actors. Concisely and well described, and fun, too!



3. I'm a PT and got this book for ideas for breath support activities. It has a lot of good ideas for older children that are high functioning (I would say cog. level of about 4yrs+.



4. This book is standard nothing special and aimed at children who need to learn to speak properly that's all. Like most books in this genre you don't leave feeling that you and tackle any songs as the exercises are weak or usually lack of them. Its nothing but poetry and rhymes What I would recommend is `an introduction to singing with style' I came across this book quite by accident on amazon.co.uk and it has helped me a lot. It goes into great depth about how to develop a great singing voice, vocal projection, vocal clarity and this book even tells you what diet to avoid and what food is good for healthy living it's amazing! If you're looking for vocal stamina then this book has it! `An introduction to singing with style' covers most styles and the emphasis is on vocal tone scales and breathes control you won't need a singing teacher either as you are left in control over your own progress