ENTERTAINMENT
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DARLINGS OF DRESS – Norma Shephard
This is not what I would consider a ‘typical’ book for me (though I’m not sure I have such a thing as a ‘typical’ book), but there was a reason that I was interested enough to request this book … theatre. Because I write and direct for the theatre I do sometimes look for books Continue reading
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BOURBON JUSTICE – Brian F. Haara
Although I’ve been drinking bourbon for a few decades (as the primary alcohol in my Manhattans) I admit to knowing very little about it other than I prefer bourbon to most other whiskeys. Brian F. Haara’s Bourbon Justice shares not just a little history of bourbon, but shows us how this distinctly American alcohol laid Continue reading
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THE SPECTACULAR SISTERHOOD OF SUPERWOMEN – Hope Nicholson
GRAPHIC NOVEL WEEK Of course this isn’t, technically speaking, a graphic novel, so why should I include a review during my Graphic Novel Week? As the subtitle boasts: “Awesome female characters from comic book history.” Every character mentioned here comes from comics, whether strips or books, print or digital, and comics of course, are the Continue reading
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DIARY OF A BEATLEMANIAC – Patricia Gallo-Stenman
Fandom … of any sort, really … looks pretty much the same, no matter what the generation or what the object of a fan’s interest might be. Patricia Gallo-Stenman, now an adult, spent her teenage years keeping a diary which chronicled her fanaticism for all things Beatles, as well as the typical teen-girl musings on Continue reading
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LOOTED BEAUTY – Anthony Amore and Karl Stevens
Like its counterpart, Stolen Beauty, which I reviewed back on March 19, 2018, this book has artist Karl Stevens recreating particular works of art in simple line art form, suitable (sort of) for coloring. Anthony Amore has done some fine research and has collected the information on a number of works of art that was Continue reading
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MY LUCKY LIFE – Dick Van Dyke
There aren’t very many performers/actors that I admire as much as I do Dick Van Dyke. I grew up watching this man. On television it was The Dick Van Dyke Show and then The New Dick Van Dyke Show. On the big screen it was Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. His talent, to Continue reading
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LIFE IS LIKE A MUSICAL – Tim Federle
Tim Federle’s Life is Like a Musical appears to be targeted toward the audience for his Young Adult books, but the advice he offers up is pertinent to everyone. Although many who read this book will know Federle as the author of popular books such as Tequila Mockingbird: Cocktails with a Literary Twist and the Continue reading
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SCENARIOS – Werner Herzog
If you don’t know Werner Herzog’s films you should correct that right away. You’ll be in for a treat, but don’t expect to see your average blockbuster type movie. Herzog is an artist and his films tend to be powerful stories of ordinary people attempting something extraordinary. This book contains the texts for four of Continue reading
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SHORT NIGHTS OF THE SHADOW CATCHER – Timothy Egan
My only regret with this book is that it took me so long to read it. Edward Curtis was a photographer in the very early days of photography. Apprenticed as a photographer in St. Paul, Minnesota, he later moved to Seattle and became interested in photographing Native Americans. He was often and long supported by Continue reading
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LEAR – Harold Bloom
Anyone who’s read much Shakespeare apologia has certainly encountered the works of Harold Bloom. Lear: The Great Image of Authority is the third book in Bloom’s “Shakespeare’s Personalities” series. I had quite enjoyed the second volume on Cleopatra and looked forward to this volume. Unfortunately this one did not work quite so well for me. Continue reading
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EYE SEE YOU – Angelo Madrigale
I grew up in the 1960’s and remember quite well the psychedelic posters of Peter Blake and Victor Moscoso and Wes Wilson and Peter Max and others. I haven’t stayed interested in the psychedelic pop at scene over the past fifty years, but when I saw the style of art that Oliver Hibert was doing, Continue reading
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STOLEN BEAUTY – coloring book
I love almost everything about this book. I have been fascinated (and horrified) by the crime of art theft ever since I came across an article about one of the big art gallery thefts a number of years back. Since then I’ve learned that there have been a fair number of large-scale heists, but if Continue reading

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