THIS BOOK! Mr. McDougall has written the most exemplary and indelible book on Modern Dance History I have ever!! read. I applaud him on his brilliantlTHIS BOOK! Mr. McDougall has written the most exemplary and indelible book on Modern Dance History I have ever!! read. I applaud him on his brilliantly historical and very current perspective! He starts at the very beginning of Modern Dance with the teachings of Francois Delsarte and Emile Jacques Delcroze, then on to Denishawn and its disciples Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman, and thank you for mentioning Louis Horst. I always believed that he was the guiding light behind Graham, as Gwen Verdon was to Bob Fosse. Nonstop Bodies covers it all so clearly that one can actually see the lineage as Mr. McDougall takes the reader through the timelines. I loved every word that he wrote and I'm so happy to gain new information that I was not aware of. We have so many heroes in the modern dance world and this book brought them all to life for me. I was so thrilled to see my friend Gregory Huffman and one of my Graham teachers, Tim Wengerd mentioned....sadly, but nevertheless seeing both their names in print made me so happy. This book is a must read for any dance aficionado or anyone who simply loves history. It is so current that the sad state of the Kennedy Center in today's news is mentioned. One more thought....we go from the very beginnings of Modern Dance all the way to the world on voguing and hip hop and RuPaul!
I recommend it with the absolutely highest recommendation I can possibly give. Thank you to Rennie McDougall and Abrams Books publishing....more
A beautiful tribute to an incredible performer. I have always loved her and to read this book was a true joy! Recommended in the most spectacular sensA beautiful tribute to an incredible performer. I have always loved her and to read this book was a true joy! Recommended in the most spectacular sense as befitting to her!...more
This Book !!! When I read a book of this magnitude and excellence, I cannot put in down; I devour it and continue to think about it for weeks on end. This Book !!! When I read a book of this magnitude and excellence, I cannot put in down; I devour it and continue to think about it for weeks on end. This is when I wish I was part of a book club. THIS BOOK! First of all, I was enthralled with Elsie/Lena and the direction her life was taking...who doesn't love a story about a woman, coming of age, who becomes stronger, traveling to Europe..and as the underdog, gets to study at a well known school and ends up in Europe on her way to becoming a famous Hollywood costume designer. And the friends she meets along the way....Julia! a communist, a Russian and eventually a true friend. Now mind you, the time era of GLAMOROUS NOTIONS: A NOVEL takes place during McCarthyism in America, the blacklisting of any subversives in Los Angeles and in America. MEGAN CHANCE, the author, has written an incredibly outstanding book. I see a huge best seller here!!! Yet, one of the best parts of the novel is the Afterword. !! I had no idea that it was based on a true story the entire time I was reading this. She states it is a work of fiction. Consider me newly educated!!! This is a must read for every person on the planet! Ms. Chance should receive an award of some kind, certainly for at least bringing back the things that happened during that horrible time in the United States. This book ...I highly recommend it! A best seller for sure and simply stated...damn good! @brilliancepublishing ...more
This has got to be the most thorough and complete book of films written since they were invented! Mr. Hischak covers and describes, in incredible detaThis has got to be the most thorough and complete book of films written since they were invented! Mr. Hischak covers and describes, in incredible detail, every single MUSICAL film, silent and not, made within the late 1800's to the 1980's. This list details the director, choreographer, cast, song and every other descriptive measure of every musical film covered from this time period with films directed by Lloyd Bacon to Raoul Walsh and Charles Walters. For me, the appendix was the best part of the book, where all that information was listed so precisely. We are talking Jeanette MacDonald, James Cagney, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Jimmy Durante, Dick Powell, Eleanor Powell, Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire. (only naming some) There are choreographers' names that I had never heard of, so for me this information, is fantastic! Of course Busby Berkeley, Michael Kidd and Gower Champion and Gene Kelly are mentioned, but I had never heard of Dave Gould, Jack Donahue, Seymour Felix, Val Rasset, or Charles Walters. I was glad to see Albertina Rasch's name under choreographers. Who is Dorothy Jarnasc? So, thank you to Mr. Hischak for writing about artists that many of us do not know. For me, this book was informative and was a lesson in the creatives behind the scenes in filmwork. Highly recommended! and should be read by anyone who is a choreographer!...more
Anyone who grew up listening to Joni Mitchell or who has just discovered her, will love this book! The author’s attention to Joni’s musical changes ovAnyone who grew up listening to Joni Mitchell or who has just discovered her, will love this book! The author’s attention to Joni’s musical changes over the years is well documented! One would have had to live in a cave to have not listened to her many musical changes. Her song writing output is tremendous. Her dedication to her craft is wonderfully expressed in this charming book. Highly recommended!...more
Simply put a frightening story, well written and smartly written. It's LA now, and we meet the oddest most frightening people, people I would never waSimply put a frightening story, well written and smartly written. It's LA now, and we meet the oddest most frightening people, people I would never want to meet in an alley. And it just gets scarier from there. It all begins with the arrest of a Hollywood pedophile! Jordan Harper has written a gritty story of fright and fear!! Highly recommended!...more
I usually love every book I've read by Ms. Quinlan, but perhaps it's the state of the world or the heaviness on the planet right now, but at 50%, I thI usually love every book I've read by Ms. Quinlan, but perhaps it's the state of the world or the heaviness on the planet right now, but at 50%, I thought enough, I can't read this any more. Life is rough in this story, t0o much sadness, sickness and the like. I am opting for a lighter topic so I'm turning to The Elementals by Michael McDowell, a good old horror story!!...more
What a book! Nick Drake was an amazing artist, a life too quickly lived. He suffered from depression and died at an early age, but left us with some wWhat a book! Nick Drake was an amazing artist, a life too quickly lived. He suffered from depression and died at an early age, but left us with some wonderful music. I wonder if he survived a bit longer would he then have been able to help his disease with any of the new medications out today. Very very sad!...more
I’ve always loved Clara Bow…what a look! This story that she gave to the writer is insightful and interesting. All I could think of is why is it that I’ve always loved Clara Bow…what a look! This story that she gave to the writer is insightful and interesting. All I could think of is why is it that everyone I know who grew up in the 1950’s in Brooklyn had the same kind of life. I do have my thoughts on why. Anyway, I glad she was eventually a huge success in films in the 1920’s. She made a very large amount of films and this tiny and very short book names them all....more
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Mr. Fulmer’s new book, The Two Prophets. This short story takes place during Lawler’s first terI really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Mr. Fulmer’s new book, The Two Prophets. This short story takes place during Lawler’s first term, which is sounding more and more like the current man in the White House during 2025. Peter is a prophet and has dreams, dreams that are political and that do come true. Definitely a book for us liberals and I loved it…oh how I wish dreams would come true!...more
I never bought a Cars record until last weekend! The Cars were all over the radio in the 1980’s. You couldn’t get into your car without listening to CI never bought a Cars record until last weekend! The Cars were all over the radio in the 1980’s. You couldn’t get into your car without listening to Cars songs. The is a great book about 5 guys who made their own music just for the joy of it. What a terrific book. RIck might have been the leader but the foundation of the band was the four other guys….what a great group. The author does a wonderful job of bringing this story to life! ...more
I’m almost shocked at how much I loved! this story!! I do not believe in the trad wife life choices! Not ever not any way….but this story was really gI’m almost shocked at how much I loved! this story!! I do not believe in the trad wife life choices! Not ever not any way….but this story was really great and fun to read. The premise was interesting even though it got somewhat confusing to me…it all became clear at the end..what I walked away with was, men can be bullies and monsters and women need to be smart…smarter. Highly recommended reading!...more
Stuart Maconie has written one of the best books I’ve ever read on The Beatles! Saw them on Ed Sullivan, bought all their records growing up in high sStuart Maconie has written one of the best books I’ve ever read on The Beatles! Saw them on Ed Sullivan, bought all their records growing up in high school, and was blue when they broke up. The Beatles changed popular culture and Stuart has put together a marvelous cast of characters who help shaped the phenomena! His attention to detail and nuance is remarkable! Who knew all these various people helped enrich the story of The Beatles. Better yet, he provides wonderful insight into British history. Highly recommended! What a book!...more
