Singer Reviews

Just so that people don't get the idea from the other review that the book is about Jesus: This is one of THE essential works in the movement known as Jewish renewal, by one of the most profound and original Jewish thinkers of our time. Follow "Reb Zalman" on his lifelong spiritual journey as he explores interfaith relations (beyond the "I love you, you love me" banalities that often pass for dialogue), previous instances of the reconstruction of Judaism, exciting old and new prayer and meditation techniques, and visions of Judaism's and humanity's future.

The Paradigm Shift is a fascinating book. Extremely well presented arguement that would appear to confirm the information in the incredible novel "THE Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. Patton's book goes into detail about Jesus' training BEFORE he appeared on the political scene of first century Palestine. Shalomi's book goes behind the evident historical perspective to explain WHY we live in the present turbulent times and how they relate to the taumatic events of Jesus' times. Highly recommended.

If you can't read French and are interested in learning more about Serge Gainsbourg, by all means pick this up instead of Alan Clayson's "View From The Exterior". The simple reason being, Clayson can't write. "Exterior" is an unbearable read due to Clayson's self-satasfied pretentiousness. Simmons offers nothing of the kind. If anything, it's like reading an elaborate magazine article. No surprize, Simmons is a rock journalist. But where Clayson was more concerned with voicing his far-from-humble opinions, Simmons gets down to the business of Serge Gainsbourg. The good, the bad & the ugly.

Though only a 139 pages in length, FISTFUL OF GIGANTES is an honest, concise and informative document of a very complex personality. Interviews with the likes of Jane Birkin and those in the know, neither demonize nor deify. Simmons' style is informal to say the least, but she never let's it get in the way of her subject. In fact, it's far more intimate than many biographies I've read. What makes this so readable is the author's obvious curiousty for her subject. Her bare bones approach allows Gainsborg, rather than the author to be the sensationalist. So, if you failed all your French classes or never had the oppurtunity of being an exchange student, let FISTFUL OF GITANTES's act as your interpreter. She even translates the song titles for you. My only reservation is that it was over far too soon. As they say, "time flies"...

Must-read biography of one of the most fascinating men in 20th century music. I've not read the Clayson biography, but after reading A Fistful of Gitanes, I don't have any need to read another Gainsbourg biography (in English at least)! The writing is interesting and draws you in. Also many insights from interviews with Jane Birkin (Gainsbourg's ex-wife).

Also recommended are Evgenie Sokolov and Gilles Verlant's biography of Gainsbourg (in French).

*thumbs way way up!*

I am a music student in college, and this book was a Godsend for me when I found a Rachmaninoff song I wanted to sing. Not many musicians in the US know Russian and this book made pronounciation very easy. The word for word translation was also very important. I think all college music libraries should have this book.

I had no idea where to begin when I began working on my Rachmaninoff song. Then, I found this book and it did wonders for me. It is clearly the most complete and best organized guide to pronouncing Russian. I recommend it for anyone who is interested in singing in Russian. It is a little costly if you are only doing a few songs, but the trouble, frustration and anguish it will save you is well worth it.

The original title of this anthology was _Bardic Voices One_, which can be confusing since Lackey's Free Bard stories are unrelated to her two contributions to this collection, which are set in a world that to date appears unrelated either to her Velgarth (the world containing Valdemar) or the Free Bards' world.

A word of warning: while Bradley's two contributions herein are both Lythande stories, neither appears in the collection _Lythande_, and both immediately reveal the Pilgrim Adept's great Secret (all the previous Lythande stories keep the reader guessing for at least a little while). Consider yourself warned against possible spoilers if you haven't yet read the previous Lythande stories, particularly "The Secret of the Blue Star". The lute-playing Adept is also a professional-class musician; otherwise there isn't much music in this collection.

Bradley, Marion Zimmer: "The Walker Behind" The title is drawn from a few unattributed lines of verse given at the beginning of the story; they're from Coleridge's _The Ancient Mariner_. As implied by the poem, Lythande walks into the story on a lonesome road, sensing "a frightful fiend doth close behind him tread", in Coleridge's words. Quickly taking shelter at the nearest inn, Lythande may well have left the fire for the frying pan: the old woman who runs the place is a *very* suspicious character, and the inn's servant girl is worryingly perceptive, for an Adept who must forever hide at least one secret.

Bradley, Marion Zimmer: "B****" [The title is a canine reference rather than a curse in this context.] Mostly the Pilgrim Adepts are loners, who are only required to work together at the end of the world, when the Temple of the Blue Star - their training ground, the heart of their order - falls under assault by the forces of Chaos. As it happens, the previous encounters we've seen between our enigmatic Pilgrim Adept and the brethren have not been a pretty sight, but for once a fellow Adept has turned up who not only isn't a personal enemy, but is even something of a friend. Unfortunately, the two of them pick the *wrong* old woman to put them up for the night - someone who not only changes them into dogs out of spite, but lands Lythande with the body of a *female* dog, which has the potential to *seriously* complicate life if the now voiceless, handless Adepts can't escape the spell pretty quickly.

Emerson, Ru: "Two-edged Choice" centers upon a long-retired, now married female mercenary who for various high-sounding, necessary reasons sneaks away from her present life to resume her old skills, only to be torn on realizing how much she's missed her old calling, despite some of the prices she must pay (which may be a bit startling to the reader).

Lackey, Mercedes: "Balance" and "The Dragon's Teeth" have since appeared in Lackey's collection _Fiddler Fair_, and should be read back-to-back, as they feature successive incidents in the life of Martis, who as a Masterclass mage, only works directly for the Mage-Guild. Consequently, when she's sent out on assignment, it's always something *very* dangerous, and when a new guardsman presents himself at the opening of the first story looking like a dancer tricked out in silks, we get some character development in the form of the chief guardsman stalking up to her quarters to exercise his privilege, as an old friend, to yell about her implied insult to his competence (and incidentally, to point out that she complains about *everybody*, in one case because the guy *snored*; the new guy, once one looks past the surface, appears to be an ideal partner for her, starting with how quiet he is). Lyran, as it happens, is *very* good at his job - he has to be, to have survived with his looks and unusual customs. His Way of Balance makes for interesting paired contradictions in his behaviour. The actual assignment in "Balance" is pretty standard; Lyran is the interesting point. The assignment in the second story emphasizes the nature of the magic system and the prices it exacts from magic-users, starting with sterility. The 'dragon's teeth' refer to a Greek myth (part of the golden fleece cycle) about sowing a dragon's teeth to produce a crop of warriors - a metaphor for the unusual problems mages run into in training the next generation.

Roberson, Jennifer: "Of Honor and the Lion" is one of only two Cheysuli short stories I know of, and is a prequel to the entire Chronicles of the Cheysuli storyline, featuring Alix's mother, who abandoned her life as a Homanan princess to run away with her father's Cheysuli liegeman. *She* thought that for once she was acting of her own free will, but Cheysuli, of course, generally believe very strongly in fate. (The other Cheysuli short story appeared in _Sword and Sorceress 1_, and served as a kind of extract of what would later become _Daughter of the Lion_.)

Readers, This book makes for wonderful reading... Each story is a thrill in itself... Some can be read together, for they involve the same characters (Ex: Balance & Dragon's Teeth; Bitch{hopefully this will not be sencored, the title referrs to the female dog} & The Walker Behind)... The editor, Alan Bard Newcomer, gathered together the works from some of the best, if not the very best, fiction/fantasy writers I have ever read... Mercedes Lackey, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Jennifer Roberson, and Ru Emerson are extrordinary authors... I only wish I could write as well... Perhaps one day I might be able to reach thier superior skills... Probably my favorate set of stories in 'Spell Singers' were the ones by Mercedes Lackey. Balance and Dragon's Teeth were superb stories which got me entirely indulged in the book. I have realized, by reading the section which referrs to other books writen by these authors, that Jennifer Roberson's story can be linked to her series 'The Chronicles of the Cheysuli'. I do not know about the other author's stories, though... This book is yet another MUST-HAVE on my list!... I would suggest that fantasy/fiction lovers read it as soon as possible... ~Storm~

I am usually very disappointed with a lot of music books but this one was just great. Apart from including songs that I couldn't find anywhere else (Guess who I saw today? and Mad About the Boy) I found the keys perfect. Although I am a soprano and can easily reach high B, far too many songs these days are published in high key which just doesn't suit the style at all. I have been told that most songs today are written in the male tenor range, I don't know how true this is. I like to sing torch and jazz in my lower register and this book allows for that. I also bought The Best Jazz Standards Ever and am very happy with that too. On another point I really like being able to view the list of contents and excerpt pages before ordering. One small complaint is your shipping costs to Australia - the shipping actually cost me more than both books!

This book has all those favorites from the great smokey voiced singers like Anita O'Day, June Christy, and Chris Connor to jazz immortals like Sarah Vaughn and Ella Fitzgerald. Hard to find gems such as the little known classic Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most and the beautiful and haunting Summertime. It truly is a must have for anyone who loves the great american standards.

I am already a great fan of E. Lynn Harris's work since INVISIBLE LIFE and as usual, just like his previous novels, I found ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS a lot of fun to read. When I read that this book was coming out, I couldn't wait to read about the latest antics of playboy, John Basil Henderson and Hollywood diva, Yancey Braxton. His characters are unforgettable and story lines are interesting and fun that I couldn't wait to find out what happened next. I also liked how the lives of all three of the major characters were intertwined and you see the return of some characters from previous novels. I think E. Lynn Harris's books have an addictive quality that once I start, I can't put it down and this was no exception. He knows how to keep his readers turning the pages. His writing is smooth, well-written, funny and engaging. Overall, I found it a completely enjoyable read and can't wait for his next one.

Bravo! Bravo! E lynn Harris certainly did again! I'd been waiting on the release of another book by this author which seemed like eternity. I must say that Harris never ceases to amaze me. The infamous Mr Basil Henderson is back! still up to his old tricks, I wonder if he'll ever change (you ask yourself?. Only this time he is paired with what seemed like the forever evil, wicked, Yancey Braxton, who, suprisingly in this novel, receives a wake up call!!!. She meets a wonderful person by the name of Windsor, who, irrespective of Yancey;'s nature, see the soul within this apparent demon. I believe in giving people the benefit of my doubt, so I kept my mind open to the probability of change in terms of Yancy ways!! I had hoped though, that her scheming and manipulative character would of continued, as it added spice! to his books. The so together, so orderely Raymond Tyler Junior rears his head once again, this time in the role as Basil's advisor/confidant and attorney. Bizarre I know! I do think that Raymond has a story to tell about his relationship with Kevin (you really need to read between the lines for this one) as the focus is on Basil. The author leaves this interpretation to our own minds and ways of thinking. Sorry! I don't want to give the whole plot away so i'll cease here! This is a "MUST READ NOVEL", and if you have no other E Lynn Harris novels, this will tell you a little about his excellent ability to take us on his wonderful, magical journey into the world of him.

This book is E. Lynn Harris's best to date. I read this book in two sittings. It's funny to see how Yancey transformed into the diva see is now from Abide With Me to this one. I love the way Harris weaves his different books together in a way that if you haven't read a single one of his books, you'll still know what he's talking about. This book is a definite must have.

As an animal rights advocate for about 8 years, I figured that it was finally time to read "Animal Liberation", hailed as the "Bible" of the modern animal rights movement. Altogether, the book was somewhat disappointing - it's a philosophy book without much philosophical discussion!

Singer does an excellent job of detailing the evils and follies of animal experimentation and animal agriculture. Though the first edition was released before I was even born (in 1978), he does thoroughly update the information for the newest edition (however, it was revised way back in '91, so the information is once again out of date). That's really about all "Animal Liberation" is useful for, though - gathering evidence and formulating arguments against the two largest forms of animal exploitation. As a philosophy book, "Animal Liberation" fails miserably.

I've learned about Singer's philosophy by reading works by other AR philosophers (most notably, Gary Francione), so I had some background before picking up "AL". Good thing, because Singer only devotes one chapter (out of six) to his animal liberation philosophy. He never really elaborates on or fully explains his principles, leaving the reader to fill in the gaps. After reading "AL", I knew little more about Singer's beliefs than I did before picking it up. Furthermore, while Singer does rely on commonsensical logic, he never makes use of more advanced logic (as most philosophers do). "AL" is a philosophy book, written by a philosopher, but you'd never know this just by reading it!

"AL" is a decent introduction to factory farming and vivisection, but it flounders at its primary task - presenting a comprehensive AR philosophy. What's especially ironic is that, though he's hailed as the godfather of the AR movement, Singer doesn't even endorse animal rights per se - rather, he's a proponent of a more ethical approach to animals. Also of note is the fact that Singer is a defender of infanticide and bestiality - which (in my opinion) does not make him the best representative of the AR movement.

On a positive note, though, "AL" is a very easy read, since there's no cumbersome philosophy to slow the reader down! I would recommend that all animal rights advocates read "AL", if only because it's one of the most popular and commonly cited animal rights philosophy books. However, I would also urge anyone who's interested in the humane and ethical treatment of animals to also read works by Gary Francione and Tom Regan.

I cannot stress enough what an amazing book Animal Liberation is. I had always known the way we treat animals in our society is wrong, but nothing gave me the concrete and clear arguments I needed like this book to explain why animals do indeed have rights. I have heard many people, a few of whom have read this book, say that rights are a human-only attribute because only we have a moral or ethical structure, but obviously they did not read closely enough in order to see the very convincing argument Peter Singer lays out: there are mentally disabled individuals in our society who may not even be able to communicate at all, but who among us would say they did not have equal human rights, or at least the basic right to be free from pain? People who think "I will give animals rights when they ask for them" are missing the point entirely: it is up to us. Please, even if you don't agree with this viewpoint, read this book. It will give you an awakening into the world of animal rights in a clear and easy to read (but sometimes not easy to stomach) format. It also has an excellent bibliography and list of organizations at the end. If you don't think I've stressed it enough, AN EXCELLENT BOOK!

I used to think that animal rights was so clearly wrong-headed that I didn't understand what its supporters could be thinking, but reading this book has totally changed my worldview, as it has to many others to whom I've recommended it. The case for animals rights is generally misunderstood, and this book is eye-opening. It is very easy to read, very lucid, and extremely informative. More than that, it's logic is so simple and compelling, it leaves you amazed that you never thought of this yourself, and wondering why you'd never heard it before. I recommend it as strongly as possible. It is nothing less than a triumph of reason, and a step forward for humanity.

Considering that I too am a Daddy's girl, I know what Tina Sinatra feels, when she talks about the first man she ever loved; her father.

In my opinion, I didn't think that Tina wrote this book to exploit her father's memory, or the family name. I also don't believe that she wrote this as a ploy for money, because of you really read it, you'll notice that neither did she glamorize the life her father led, nor did she paint herself out to be the perfect daughter, but told the story the way she saw things. The only time this books goes into mud-sliging is when the mention of stepmom #3, Barbara comes up. Being that the last Mrs. Sinatra didn't have that great of a rep with those who knew her, it wouldn't be too hard to believe a lot of what was said about her. Considering there were nothing but nice comments made about the other Mrs. Sinatras, you wonder what it was about Barbara that made his children drift away. And think about this, a child will always see things differently than those on the outside looking in, because of the bond that is shared with the parent; especially the bond between a father and his daughter. Of course the Sinatra children had very privileged lives, but reading this book, will make you realize that even money doesn't make up for time spent with parents; Tina makes that very clear here.

If you are a Daddy's girl, or a Daddy with a little girl, read this book. Reflected here is a daughter who pained, and longed for the father who was always away. The bond between a father and daughter will always remain, even in death, and this book is a reminder and reflection of that.

Good Read!!!

I have read several other books about Frank Sinatra which chronicle his childhood, the bobbysox years, the Rat Pack years, the Mia years, etc. However, this is the first book I have come across that goes into detail regarding his years of marriage to Barbara Marx & the last years of his life. That alone makes the book fascinating as it fills in missing gaps.

Furthermore, the fact that the book is written from an insider's perspective helps in making it a riveting read. The book flows smoothly and quickly and I don't feel like Tina tries to sugarcoat her father' life (which is how I felt when I read a book written by Nancy Sinatra Jr.). Tina mentions both his good and bad sides and she is very candid in her feelings and emotions regarding her family and father.

The only thing I really wonder is why did Frank stay married to a money-grubbing, social climber for so long? He could have had his pick of beautiful woman, so why her? I would love to know what was really going on in his mind regarding his last marriage, but as he is dead and gone we may never know.

The reason I enjoyed reading this book so much is that I appreciate the expression of Tina's honest and true feelings, even if sometimes painful. I applaud her courage in telling her story as she saw it. Being her "Father's Daughter", she had a definite vantage view as an insider who could shed some light on her beloved father's life. This book was difficult to put down once I picked it up. I enjoyed learning more about Frank Sinatra as the world famous Icon as well as a family man and by the time that I finished the book, I felt he was also a remarkedly loving, passionate and generous man during his best times. This book also was truthful enough to point out the temptations of living in the spotlight as a celebrity and the pitfalls that exist for anyone living that type of lifestyle. Thank you Tina! This was definitely an enlightening book worth reading!

Let me start by saying that I loved the first 180 pages of Good in Bed; Weiners' first effort. The conclusion however, left something to be desired. So I had great expectations for "In Her Shoes", a second novel by a "matured" writer. I found this sophmore effort to be absolutely disturbing. The manner in which the main character Rose(aka Jennifer Weiner, I'm assuming) holds herself upon some sort of self-rightous pedestal of judgement is downright transparent and creepy. The depiction of the younger sister Maggie, is awful. It's not so much what Maggie does or says, it's Roses' bizarre interpretation of these things that is deeply disturbing. I sincerely hope that Weiner has drawn a finer line in the sand with this novel than with good in bed; when it comes to fact and fiction. This book was more of a literary assault on the character of Maggie, than a good read. I suppose obese women with healthy younger sisters everywhere will enjoy the bashing of Maggie. A free spirited fox who struggles (like all of us) to find her place in the world, or as Weiner might see it, a call girl with a thirst for blood. After I forced my way through this book, I returned it, claiming I had gotten two for my birthday. Good riddance, I have a distinct feeling that somewhere out there, Philadelphia or wherever, Jennifer Weiner has a sister who has been defamed and betrayed. Shame on Jennifer Weiner, This novel is nothing more than a bitter attack on someone from her personal life, and it's amazing that she is trying to mask this as fiction. She would be better off settling her scores with the help of a good therapist, and not waste our time putting it in print.

Having read Good In Bed, I couldn't wait to read Jennifer Weiner's second novel. I wondered if it would be as good as her debut effort. The answer is a resounding YES!

In Her Shoes is a story about two sisters who have nothing in common, save for their size feet. Rose Feller is a successful Princeton-educated attorney who loves food and romance novels. Her younger sister, Maggie Feller, is a drop-dead gorgeous fashionista whose only ambition is to become a big Hollywood star. But instead of crashing cast parties with A-list celebrities, Maggie is often unemployed and in trouble -- and Rose has to constantly bail her out.

When a family secret and a wayward grandmother resurface, these two women are forced to reassess their lives and learn what it's like to be in the other person's shoes. There are some interesting twists in the novel.

Jennifer Weiner has again delved into human relationships with refreshing clarity and wit to boot. In Her Shoes is not quite as gripping as Good In Bed, but it is wonderful and poignant nonetheless. Weiner, like Marian Keyes and Anna Maxtet, touches on real issues that affect today's woman. Her novels are above today's run-of-the-mill, must-find-a-potential-husband-before-I-turn-thirty chick lit. And so I urge you to pick up this gem!

This was a great read! It's about two sisters, Rose and Maggie, who are nothing alike except for their eye color and blood lines. Rose is the responsible sister. Maggie is the care-free, jobless, party girl with a learning disability. They lost their mother as children and equally hate their step-mother. Once Maggie ruins both her and Rose's life, they are able to grow and become new women... women they didn't expect to become. Throughout the story, you learn about their long, lost maternal grandmother. It's great how all three of thier lives become so interwoven!

As a book seriously trying to sell itself as a piece of literature rather than a potboiler you can munch through on holiday while most of your mental energy is being taken up listening to the sound of waves, this is a first-grade attempt. Why, why, why base a book on a piece of history which, in itself was fascinating and gripping, and then strip it of factual integrity and relevance and make a romantic slush of it all?

From the very beginning the nasty term "the host country" tried to put us off the scent that Patchett was basing her story in Peru 1996-97. Fine if she was going to create her own set where these relationships blossom against all odds. But then she seemed determined to conjure tropical appeal into the text (I won't call it prose) with stereotypical descriptions of Peruvian jungle life, and the garua fogs that are inextricably linked to Lima and no other city.

The obvious reason for the desire to distance herself from the nail-biting siege at the Japanese embassy is to clear the way to delve into siege mentality. But linking the surroundings so obviously to Peru distracts from that. Sprinkle in the factually wrong details that jolt you out of what little suspension of disbelief you'd managed to achieve and the whole structure of this book is self-defeating.

Which brings us to the characters. The fact that Gen is supposed to be able to speak quite so many languages is remarkable but once the tally nudges over five distinct language groups, it frankly erodes the verisimilitude one can only presume patchett was aiming for. He is the lynchpin of this book without which there would be no communication but he was stretched too far. That said, he comes across as a sympathetic character in the widest sense of the word and has a certain emotional appeal until the last few pages. If this sharp mind is so blunted because of the siege's end then that is potentially fascinating psychology and needs to be examined. Not to do so just jars.

There were some nice touches in this book and the middle section ran with some ease but those positives were outweighed by irritations and silly stereotypes.

This was a book idea that had potential but having read to the end on a long train journey, I was left wondering if patchett had ever been to Peru. Had she read a wide range of accounts of the embassy siege? Had she talked to any survivors of a hostage crisis? Had she spoken to any psychologists? Or was this just a romantic dream she found a home for?

(Post Scriptum -- fellow critics of this book, Bel Canto does NOT fit into magical realism. Magical realism is a serious literary genre where your suspension of disbelief is wooed into a higher realm of irreality where people can float into the sky at a moment's notice without it seeming strange, where libraries can stretch to eternity, where modern lives can be subsumed into myth. Bel Canto is not magical realism. It is mundane fiction.)

There were two main reasons why I purchased this book: 1) the title of the book is the same as the company my cousin works for, so right away it grabbed my attention. The second reason was the cover art. I purchased the book in Europe, and the cover, being orange, stood out from all the other books on the display. I picked it up and started reading the synoposis.
Even though it doesn't seem like the plot or the characters are feasible, it doesn't matter. Pachett's gift is for weaving the two elements together in a wonderful storyline, rich with dialogue and description. So what if it's not 'reality'? This is fiction after all. I found the entire book to be very well-written, and while I was shocked by the ending, in a way it didn't suprise me. For when I went back and re-read the book, there's all sorts of forshadowing that Pachett enters in that you probably don't pick up on the first time.
This book is a love story on so many levels--human relationships, musical relationships, etc. It's truly a bel canto.

What a great book. I just love Patchett's writing. She meets and exceeds all expectations with this one. Plus you don't have to have read her other writing to enjoy. This is great all on its own. "My Fractured Life" and "Atonement" also worth reading, but love Patchett.