Witty in the classic Goldberg mold, but most of this is common-sense stuff that can be found in a variety of popular...
Goldberg (Whoopi Goldberg Book, 1997, etc.) offers unvarnished advice on relationships.
Based on her years of experience in a variety of relationships, the author, currently the moderator of The View, suggests ideas on interpersonal bonds that she wishes someone had suggested to her years ago. Her hope is that readers won't make the same mistakes she did or have to learn the hard way why a relationship is not working. Her manner is frank and mostly funny, and Goldberg rarely holds back. Popular culture, she writes, consistently portrays an unrealistic picture of what a "normal" bond between two people should be, which sets up everyone for major disappointment. That sweet Cinderella dream of Prince Charming sweeping you off your feet to a life of happily ever after—it's not going to happen. No one can complete you, writes Goldberg, if you're not already solid and complete in yourself. The author offers advice for those stuck in dead-end situations, for those who just want no-strings-attached sex (as well as what to do when the sex has stopped but the relationship is worth saving), and for those whose partners have strayed into affairs or have been unfaithful all along. Through occasionally profane humor, Goldberg reminds readers that you can't change the person you're with and should never get into a relationship thinking that you can, that you should be aware of any red flags before you say “I do,” that the kids always come first, and that any major lies usually come back around in the end. Goldberg's writing will appeal to women the most, but her counsel is geared toward both genders, all races, and all sexual orientations. Though the author is honest and usually spot-on, the narrative isn’t much different from most standard self-help material.
Witty in the classic Goldberg mold, but most of this is common-sense stuff that can be found in a variety of popular magazines.Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-316-30201-2
Page Count: 240
Publisher: Hachette
Review Posted Online: Sept. 21, 2015
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s...
Music journalist and musician Wald (Talking 'Bout Your Mama: The Dozens, Snaps, and the Deep Roots of Rap, 2014, etc.) focuses on one evening in music history to explain the evolution of contemporary music, especially folk, blues, and rock.
The date of that evening is July 25, 1965, at the Newport Folk Festival, where there was an unbelievably unexpected occurrence: singer/songwriter Bob Dylan, already a living legend in his early 20s, overriding the acoustic music that made him famous in favor of electronically based music, causing reactions ranging from adoration to intense resentment among other musicians, DJs, and record buyers. Dylan has told his own stories (those stories vary because that’s Dylan’s character), and plenty of other music journalists have explored the Dylan phenomenon. What sets Wald's book apart is his laser focus on that one date. The detailed recounting of what did and did not occur on stage and in the audience that night contains contradictory evidence sorted skillfully by the author. He offers a wealth of context; in fact, his account of Dylan's stage appearance does not arrive until 250 pages in. The author cites dozens of sources, well-known and otherwise, but the key storylines, other than Dylan, involve acoustic folk music guru Pete Seeger and the rich history of the Newport festival, a history that had created expectations smashed by Dylan. Furthermore, the appearances on the pages by other musicians—e.g., Joan Baez, the Weaver, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Dave Van Ronk, and Gordon Lightfoot—give the book enough of an expansive feel. Wald's personal knowledge seems encyclopedic, and his endnotes show how he ranged far beyond personal knowledge to produce the book.
An enjoyable slice of 20th-century music journalism almost certain to provide something for most readers, no matter one’s personal feelings about Dylan's music or persona.Pub Date: July 25, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-06-236668-9
Page Count: 368
Publisher: Dey Street/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 15, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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