Louise Brooks: Lulu Forever

Book Description

Louise Brooks has become one of the most spectacular icons of early cinema. Her distinctive "bob" haircut looks as modern as they did when she first appeared in films in 1925. Louise Brooks was born on November 14, 1906 in Cherryvale, Kansas, and by eighteen had established herself as a dancer with the Ziegfeld Follies, and was receiving film offers from both MGM and Paramount. In 1928, she starred in William Wellman's Beggars of Life. Meanwhile she was mingling with the high and mighty of Hollywood, having a passionate affair with Charlie Chaplin, spending weekends at William Randolph Hearst's castle and captivating such men as William S. Paley, the founder of CBS. Her brief, yet spectacular role in Howard Hawks' A Girl in Every Port impressed G.W. Pabst, the German maestro who was seeking an actress for his upcoming production, Pandora's Box. He rejected Marlene Dietrich in favor of Brooks, who went to Berlin and made not only Pandora's Box but also Diary of a Lost Girl, forever ensuring her status as a screen icon.This exquisitely produced album celebrates Lulu with rare film footage stills, private photos, letters, interviews, and text by renowned film critic Peter Cowie, exploring this influential cult figure and abiding symbol of the Jazz Age.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-08-10

I too rate this book five stars. Louise Brooks fans are so hungry for new information about her they will rate practically anything new about her five stars - but this one deserves it. More photo than text, many of the photos are movie stills, but there are some candid shots of her, including some that I have not seen before, a few of which alone make the book worth the price.

There appear to be a few minor errors of fact, such as page 144, where the author makes reference to Buck Rogers, but he obviously means Buck Jones. None of the several such errors are significant and do not detract from the quality of this work.

One interesting line in this book, pages 209-210 quotes Miss Brooks as saying she had not seen Charlie Chaplin since 1928. If correct, that differs from the biography which implies they did not see each other after their affair in 1925. If this author is correct (and it is plausible, since Miss Brooks was in Hollywood in 1928 and presumably so was Chaplin), how many times did they see each other after 1925, and what, if anything did they do together?

I marvel at how much we don't know about Miss Brooks. I'm waiting for some one to publish her diaries, although I am a firm believer that diaries are private and should not be published without the permission of the writer (which is not possible in this case), but I think such a publication would give us a fascinating and insightful look at this extraordinary legend.

Finally, I am most grateful to this author for sharing his knowledge and experiences about Louise Brooks with the rest of us. It's great reading!

This book is worth the money.......2007-03-14

I love this book. The text is fascinating and the pictures are great. I love the big books with nice pictures they have out on some stars now, and this one is just great. If you like the "coffee table" sort of books about the stars another good one is Century Girl by Lauren Redniss, about the life of Doris Eaton Travis. The whole thing is like a beautiful collage!

Large Format Lulu!!.......2007-02-23

Louise Brooks finally gets the beautifully produced book she deserves.
Great selection of photos.....large format book.....
Five stars from me!

lulu lives on.......2007-02-19

This is an excellent book for those of us that enjoy silent movies. It is filled with wonderful photographs of this too little appreciated (in her day) actress. I highly recommend it.

I can't believe I am the first to review!?.......2007-02-11

far more qualified people can comment on the contents of this book. All I can say is this is the definitive collection of images of Brooks. This with Barry Paris' biography and you have it all.

Average customer rating:

sharp but rambling
A beauty unparalleled in film history
Musings Of A Rebel.
BROOKS AND TYNAN ARE EXTRAORDINARY
Brooks back in print

Lulu in Hollywood: Expanded Edition
Louise Brooks
Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0816637318

Book Description

Film

Introduction by Kenneth Tynan

The collected writings of this icon of the silent era, in a new, more complete edition.

Louise Brooks (1906-1985) is one of the most famous actresses of the silent era, renowned as much for her rebellion against the Hollywood system as for her performances in such influential films as Pandora's Box and Diary of a Lost Girl. Eight autobiographical essays by Brooks, on topics ranging from her childhood in Kansas and her early days as a Denishawn and Ziegfeld Follies dancer to her friendships with Martha Graham, Charles Chaplin, W. C. Fields, Humphrey Bogart, William Paley, G. W. Pabst, and others are collected here. New to this edition is the revelatory "Why I Will Never Write My Memoirs" by Brooks and "The Girl in the Black Helmet" by Kenneth Tynan, which brought about the revival of interest in her work and was the best discussion of Brooks's film work to appear in her lifetime.

"The writing is assured, graceful, and magnetic; the life the dancer-actress-author describes makes most fiction trivial by comparison. . . . This is no ordinary collection of gossipy memoirs. It is a tour de force, as history and as a searching study of human nature." Publishers Weekly

"Brooks is brilliantly perceptive and articulate on everything from the art of film directing to the comedy of W. C. Fields." New York Times

"A minor classic." Film Quarterly

Translation Inquiries: Alfred A. Knopf

Customer Reviews:

sharp but rambling.......2007-06-25

This book will be helpful for anyone interested in silent film. Brooks' insights about certain aspects of Hollywood are original. She has no fear of revealing some of the ugliest secrets of the past, and also has valuable things to say about why she believes certain directors and players created works of art. However, in my opinion she could have been a better writer if she'd had more education and/or editorial experience. Some of her essays are rambling and disorganized, and a number of her claims are unsupported. (e.g., that many actresses were pulled from the screen not because of the arrival of sound, but because they couldn't live up to Garbo, p.88.) She also tends to make bold generalizations (e.g., "Every actor has a natural animosity toward every other actor"), which, depending on whether you agree with them, are either smart and charming or arrogant and imprecise.

Some of Brooks' cleverest comments are reported in the introduction by Kenneth Tynan, not in her own writings. My favorite was her joking suggestion that she and Marlene Dietrich write each other's memoirs: "'Lulu' by Lola, and 'Lola' by Lulu".

Note: this is a collection of essays, which don't necessarily follow a sequence. The brief history of her family and childhood given in the first chapter fooled me into thinking this book would be an autobiography, but Brooks leaves much of her own story untold. (In fact, the epilogue is titled, "Why I Will Never Write My Memoirs.") Tynan's introduction fleshes out a little more of Louise Brooks' history, but fans will probably want to keep looking for other writings and biographies after they've read this one.

A beauty unparalleled in film history.......2005-07-10

This book is a collection of Brooks's autobiographical essays together with an interview by Kenneth Tynan.

It shows a Louise Brooks as a fiercely independent character, as well as her failure as a social creature, because of her open critic of people's false faces.
But at what price? She survives as a kept woman by three lovers and ends in poverty, rejected and lonely.

She characterizes her work in Hollywood's film factory as slavery and throws a shrill light on Hollywood's morals (the casting couch) and cynicism: the end of the silent period served as an excuse to terminate all contracts.

The all important feature of her life was sex, not love: 'I have never been in love.' But, 'A person's sexual loves and hates and conflicts ... It is the only way the reader can make sense out of innumerable apparently senseless actions.'
She considers that 'the most fateful encounter in my life' was a sexual one with George Preston Marshall.
Nevertheless, she had some regrets: 'How often do we change the whole course of our lives in pursuit of a love that we will have forgotten within a few months.'

She never wrote her biography because 'I am unwilling to write the sexual truth that would make up my life worth reading.'

Barry PARIS did it for her, admirably. His book contains also a few corrections on Louise Brooks's statements in her book.

A moving text with admirable pictures.

Musings Of A Rebel........2004-09-30

I remember when this book came out, but, unfortunately, it took me over twenty years to read it. Though Louise Brooks is far from a household name, in film scholar circles, she is an icon. Her rememberances here of certain individuals and events from her years in the "Dream Factory" are brilliant. Aside from the fact that these are names that most are familiar with, Bogart, Hearst, Pabst...it is her writing style and unique observations that make these recollections interesting. Where as someone as, say, Adela Rogers St. John, a famous reporter and contemporary of Brooks, wrote accurately of that long ago time, her dusty rememberances would only interest the most devoted of film student or fan. But Brooks writings are so fresh and witty and humourous, often at her own expense. She is not only unimpressed with most of silly society, but, she was equally unimpressed with her status as film icon. In those pre Hepburn-Davis times, she was a true rebel, who was more than willing to saboutage her career rather than do anything she didn't want to do. There is no remorse detectable in her memories of her fall from status. Though it would be unfair to imply that most film stars would not be expected to be good writers, it was surprising, then and now, to find that Miss Brooks was such a highly intelligent and captivating writer. In my review of her most famous film, "Pandora's Box", which isn't so much a review of that film as it is a homage to our Miss Brooks, I recounted my having met her more than once, when I delivered her prescriptions to her in my hometown and her final, adopted city of Rochester, New York. I was very young at the time, and though I had been told that she had once been a famous actress, which fascinated me, I am sorry to have to honestly admit that my memory of her is only of a shadowy figure who I remember with intimidation. How I would have loved to have been a little older, to possibly converse with this great lady, though she may have found what undoubtedly would have been my reverence to her "legend" as film icon to be obnoxious at the least, silly at best. Well, never mind. She was and is wonderful. And, as this book attests, a scathingly intelligent lady. Celebrities of her league are no more, now we have tarts, thugs, and arrogant, illiterate self-important jerks showing off their bling-bling. How sad. If you want to hear the entertainingly clever views of this great lady who, though she went from brilliant star to near- pauper obscurity, yet never lost her class, intellect, nor pride, then read "Lulu In Hollywood." One wishes she had written much more, and, left behind more films where her inate brilliance reaches out from the screen eighty years later. But, if all we have is this book and "Pandora's Box", that's legacy enough.

BROOKS AND TYNAN ARE EXTRAORDINARY.......2001-01-27

I am unimpressed by Emily from Seattle's harsh words, which are both snotty and inaccurate. Tynan was the finest theatre critic of his time--and not bad on film, either. His profiles of stage and screen actors, recently collected in one volume, are masterpieces of the genre. In particular, his profile of Brooks was an indelible portrait of a brilliant and beautiful woman. Brooks herself, though not a great actress, was indeed a great star--exquisitely beautiful, highly charismatic, and powerfully erotic. To the best of my memory, Tynan describes her only in these terms, never as the creator of naturalistic film acting. (Incidentally, none of the women named by Emily--Crawford, Davies, Bow, and the insufferable Shearer--could properly be described as an actress. They were merely stars--and distinctly inferior to Brooks in talent, intelligence, and beauty.) Finally, as everyone here (including Emily) acknowledges, Brooks was a first-rate writer herself, and the essays in this book are required reading for anyone interested in silent film.

Brooks back in print.......2000-09-06

Great to have this irreplaceable book back in print. Even better that it now includes the New Yorker article by Kenneth Tynan, "The Girl in the Black Helmet," that helped touch off the 80's Brooks revival, and an additional piece by Brooks entitled "Why I Will Never Write My Memoirs." Still, one can't help coming away from this book wishing there were more material, just as one wishes there were more Brooks films.

$Can I Get An Amen Again: Brown-Eyed Handsome Man\The Real Thing\My Promise To You\A Change Is Gonna Come (Arabesque)$
Average customer rating:

A Revival, A Little Faith and a Lotta Love
Amazing Read!

Can I Get An Amen Again: Brown-Eyed Handsome Man\The Real Thing\My Promise To You\A Change Is Gonna Come (Arabesque)
Janice Sims , Kim Louise , Natalie Dunbar , and Nathasha Brooks-Harris
Manufacturer: Kimani Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 037383067X

Book Description

In JANICE SIMS's "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man," recently widowed Gena Boudreau has just about given up on motherhood, until a precocious teenager tries to set Gena up with her single father, Nathan Lincoln.

The star of a reality dating show cooked up by creative director Justine Graves turns out to be a hit. The only thing that can stop the show is the reluctant bachelor Markos Raineau and the growing attraction Justine feels for him. "The Real Thing" by KIM LOUISE reveals what can happen when fate and faith run their course.

Will money come between Charlimae Watson and her estranged husband, Sam, in NATALIE DUNBAR's "My Promise To You"? Sometimes divine intervention is the only thing that can save a marriage, and Red Oaks' Mother Maybelle just may have the answer to Sam and Charlimae's prayers.

When Dr. Gabrielle Talbot arrives in Red Oaks, Georgia, the last thing she has on her mind is romance—that is until she meets Marcus Danforth. But will he break her heart like her ex-fiancé, or will he find a way to win her trust in "A Change Is Gonna Come" by NATHASHA BROOKS-HARRIS?

Customer Reviews:

A Revival, A Little Faith and a Lotta Love.......2007-06-26

Romance authors Janice Sims, Kim Louise, Natalie Dunbar and Nathasha Brooks-Harris follow-up their 2005 anthology, Can I Get An Amen, with a sequel aptly titled Can I Get an Amen Again. In this follow-up, while the protagonists are new, the town of Red Oaks, Georgia, the Red Oaks Christian Fellowship Church and Mother Maybelle remain constant.

In veteran author Janice Sims story, "Brown-eyed Handsome Man", widow Gena Boudreau keeps herself busy in community service, afraid to allow herself to become involved again after her husband's untimely death. She has a hard time reconciling her faith and therefore her church attendance is almost nonexistence. Lily Lincoln is a young lady who thinks Gina would be the ideal woman for her father, Nate, and would also serve to keep him out of her teenage business. Gina and Nate finally meet at the tent revival held by Red Oaks Christian Fellowship. Can the rich widow on the hill overcome the idea that she is a jinx and fall in love with the handsome carpenter? In steps Mother Maybelle who wants to see these two together. Energetic characters and a humorous storyline will delight fans of Sims.

Kim Louis created a unique storyline in "The Real Thing", involving a store executive turned reality show star. Markos Raineau wants to increase sales for Value-Mart and reluctantly agrees to go along with marketing director Justine Graves' scheme. A different woman will accompany Markos on each of the seven nights of the revival. Which beautiful woman of the Marrying Markos Show will be the next Mrs. Raineau? Has Justine made a mistake by throwing a hottie like Markos before a group of desperate and gorgeous hoochies? And furthermore, just how far is she willing to go to keep them from Markos? This was a fun, out-of-the-box story of well-developed, flawed characters with a current theme.

In "My Promise To You" by Natalie Dunbar, a young married couple's marriage is sorely tested by economics and family interference. Sam Watson shows up at the revival seeking his wife, Charlimae, after several months of abandonment. His explanation of having to go to another city several hundred miles away to obtain employment is not a good enough explanation for Charlimae. Her father insists she get a divorce but she is willing to give her marriage another try. The couple attempt to work through their financial problems and their marital woes with a little help from the formidable Mother Maybelle. This was a low-key story that emphasized how the principles of faith and prayer are the key to seeking solutions to a troubled marriage.

Dr. Gabrielle Talbot, seeking a change in her life, takes a position as a head physician at Red Oaks Hospital in "A Change is Gonna Come" by Nathasha Brooks- Harris. After she is deceived by her fiancée', Gabrielle decides to forgo relationships and concentrate on practicing medicine. When she treats the assistant pastor of Red Oaks Fellowship, she meets his brother, contractor Marcus Danforth. Marcus is immediately attracted to Gabrielle and she to him but both struggle with painful memories and past mistakes. Count on Mother Maybelle and a revival to put the couple on the right path. Marcus' thirteen year-old nephew, Kevon, was a delightful treat but the story left me with a few questions in regards to the story's stance on forgiveness.

When Can I Get An Amen came out, it was besieged by controversy over what genre it represented. Was it Christian romance fiction or was it contemporary fiction in a church theme/setting? Some readers voiced concern about the sexin' while others thought it was appropriate and in line with the reality of church going folks. Can I Get An Amen Again will undoubtedly draw similar debate-- and that is a good thing, despite the proliferation of church-themed contemporary fiction that includes sexy storylines. Nevertheless, these stories will have you both smiling and saying "Amen."

Dera R. Williams
APOOOO BookClub

Amazing Read!.......2007-05-13

Everyone of these stories were amazing and spiritual! A must read for all!

Average customer rating:

A jam packed book about Louise Brooks
An exemplary biography worthy of its subject
An excellent biography.
Singhandedly brought the Cult of Brooks afront
Understanding Louise Brooks

Louise Brooks: A Biography
Barry Paris
Manufacturer: University of Minnesota Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0816637814

Book Description

Film

The long-awaited republication of this captivating account of the star's life.

Louise Brooks left Wichita, Kansas, for New York City at age fifteen and lived the kind of life of which legends are made. From her beginnings as a dancer to her years in Hollywood, Berlin, and beyond, she was hailed and reviled as a new type of woman: independent, intellectually daring, and sexually free. In this widely acclaimed, first and only comprehensive biography, Barry Paris traces Brooks's trajectory from her childhood through her fall into obscurity and subsequent "resurrection" as a brilliant writer and enduring film icon.

"Star biographies don't get any better than Barry Paris's Louise Brooks." USA Today

"This account has the aphrodisiac gloss of Brooks herself: you meet the stare of a modern icon, a picture that taunts your inability to touch the real thing. A necessary and stimulating book, it is itself an important part of Brooks's life after death." The New Republic

"Absorbing, wonderfully well researched and, all in all, an exemplar of its kind." London Spectator

"Louise Brooks is not simply a summary of her movie plots and love affairs but a serious work of film and social history." New York Magazine

Barry Paris is an award-winning biographer, film and music critic, and contributor to the New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and other publications. He lives in Pittsburgh.

Translation Inquiries: Alfred A. Knopf

Customer Reviews:

A jam packed book about Louise Brooks.......2007-07-17

Several books have been written about Louise Brooks, but this book is probably the most concise and most thorough of them all. The book starts off with Louise's birth and it describes all the people that helped to make Louise so interesting and famous. There are many black-and-white photos of Louise, from the time she started in show-biz (at age 4) to Louise in her later years, just before her death.

Since Louise Brooks had such a fascinating life, it is not a surprise that this book is so long. Each Chapter basically covers a chunk of her life, and each Chapter describes (in detail) the characters that encountered & shaped Louise, and also all the Theatre and Movie productions that Louise was involved in.

An exemplary biography worthy of its subject.......2007-05-09

This is what a biography should be: insightful, understanding, offering a measured & complex view of its beloved subject. And what a subject Barry Paris has in Louise Brooks! Her beauty, her intelligence, her compelling charisma all shine in these pages, giving us a multi-faceted view of this ravishing star. For someone who had never heard of Louise Brooks, this biography will send him or her in eager pursuit of her all-too-few films & her own writing -- and both are of the very highest standard.

It's clear that Brooks never did anything without wanting to give her all, to make true art out of it, a work of beauty & meaning that would stand the test of time. And the same could be said of this superb biography. While Paris clearly adores Brooks (and with good reason), he never succumbs to blind hagiography. Nor does he stumble in the opposite direction of pathography. His purpose is to explore the life of a fascinating woman, and to present it to the reader as thoroughly & lucidly as possible. He succeeds on every level. Louise Brooks emerges from these pages as both a flesh & blood woman, and as the dazzling, mysterious icon she became to countless admirers.

In short, the best book on Louise Brooks you'll ever find, most highly recommended!

An excellent biography........2007-02-19

I have not yet read this entire book, but just glancing through it when it arrived I would find that I have just read twenty pages or so whenever I openned it up. I can't wait until I read it cover to cover.

Singhandedly brought the Cult of Brooks afront.......2007-02-11

Barry Paris's bio is a wonderful read and in my opinion did more for the recent increase of interest in Brooks than anything other book.

At the time of it's publishing in the mid 90's the internet was a mere flicker of info, photos bios and trivia about obscure stars like Louise Brooks were very hard to come by. After this book was published, I was one of several people who started fledgling web sites in Brooks' honour. While I gave up, one of those websites carried on to become the Louise Brooks Society, the definitive website on her life. Paris' book is essential reading for anyone who is facinated by this beautiful starlet.

Understanding Louise Brooks.......2007-01-18

Superb biography of a simply fascinating personality. Here was a women who literally and figuratively had everything: stunning beauty; talent; training; desire; intelligence; in the right place at the right time, and knew the right people, to achieve both stage and screen immortality and who, multiple times--not just once -- multiple times, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. What a story!

$Can I Get An Amen: A Love Supreme\Love And Happiness\A Love Like That\Love Under New Management (Arabesque)$
Average customer rating:

BEWARE - Not A Christian Book - Strong Sexual Theme
Too predictable
Modest affirmations in the Amen Corner
You've Got My Amen!
Now This Is A Powerful Pairing

Can I Get An Amen: A Love Supreme\Love And Happiness\A Love Like That\Love Under New Management (Arabesque)
Janice Sims , Kim Louise , Natalie Dunbar , and Nathasha Brooks-Harris
Manufacturer: Kimani Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0373830661

Book Description

'A Love Supreme' by Janice Sims Landscaper Alexandra Cartwright has no time for men, until she meets sexy construction company owner Jared Kyles. When he joins her for worship at Red Oaks, Alex knows sh's falling for him—but is it lust or a lasting love?

'Love and Happiness' by Kim Louise Renata Connor has dedicated her life to Success Unlimited, helping at-risk youth. Devin McKenna is thinking of leaving Red Oaks, until he hears of Renata's program. But when Devin's protágé is accused of stealing, can they find a way to clear his name—and find love in the process?

'A Love Like That' by Natalie Dunbar Wealthy, elegant Dominique Winston has sworn off men since learning of her ex-husband's infidelity. Then at the Red Oaks' Men's Day picnic she meets gorgeous Blair Thomas, who is leaving town in a few weeks. Is their relationship a passing fling, or does love have more in store for them?

'Love Under New Management' by Nathasha Brooks-Harris Gifted singer Valerie Freeman gave up on love—and music—after a shady producer stole her heart and her songs. But when she hears the gospel choir at Red Oaks, she can't stop herself from joining. Choir director Norman Grant knows Valerie's his dream woman—but can he approach this fragile songbird without scaring her off?

Customer Reviews:

BEWARE - Not A Christian Book - Strong Sexual Theme.......2006-12-27

If you are into african-american romance novels like myself then this is the book for you. It is a great romance novel which I love to read along with a little sexiness, But.......the cover and title is very deceiving. This is NOT for the Christian reader looking for a little romance within the church. This book has a LOT of sexual content, values of a TRUE Christian are questioned and you will most likely be offended with this book. There is NOTHING Godly about this book so please beware.

Too predictable.......2006-06-06

The group discussed the book and felt that the storylines throughout the novellas needed a bit more substance. There were no real issues associated with each short story. Following the discussion with the author, the group learned that the standard format for most romance novels is always the same where there is a featured hero, heroine, at least one love scene along with a happy ending (wedding). But those members who have read other romance novels did not remember a similar format. Within "Can I Gen an Amen," each novella introduced a male and female character and it became very obvious after reading the first novella that these two characters would not only fall in love (rather quickly) but get married by the end of the story. Therefore, each novella became very repetitive and predictable for the reader.

The group also had a perception that there would be some connection between the various characters in each novella. But at the completion of the book, the reader realized that Mother Maybelle and Red Oaks Christian Church were the only link between each story

Modest affirmations in the Amen Corner .......2005-12-05

Capturing the spirit of one church and the antics of a certain matriarch is told in four different vignettes through the eyes of these authors displaying wit, charm and imagery. Every one looks forward to anthologies because they exemplify changes of pace and usually embody stories told from unique perspectives, which gives them flavor. We collectively visit Red Oaks, GA as the setting for this collection of traditional romance stories using the church as a supporting prop. Can these stories stand up individually and collectively to give this book a sense of belonging? The title notwithstanding, the gist of what the authors wanted to convey included the type of romance that you may be accustomed to: unpredictable characters reveling in love scenes with enough drama to make the cast par for this course. Central to all of the stories is Maybelle Carmichael, charismatic and recalcitrant in approach and delivery, who manages to be the catalyst fueling meddlesome mischief. Reverend Avery, is the Pastor is a common denominator to his sermons. Each story boasts the type of women that men gravitate toward, while lacing the stories reciprocally with handsome men women swoon over, all amid small town gossip and jilting jealousy.

Each of these authors are well-adept at how formulaic romance writing is, and they all color their writing acumen with vestiges of it as scenarios are set up with the normal boy meets girl syndrome with a hurdle someone has to overcome to garner the prize. We have four distinct stories with Janice Sims' A Love Supreme setting the stage where the immovable object meets the irresistible urge. Jared Kyles gives all the reasons why he eschews marriage until Alexandra Cartwright comes along to persuade him to change his mind. Usual, you root for the male to get his girl and vice versa. I would have liked more significant drama and more work put into the relationships.

A Love Supreme by Janice Sims pits landscape artist Alexandra Cartwright against businessman Jared Kyles, who is totally against commitment and marriage based on what he perceives as a biological gene. Love and Happiness by Kim Louise hosts Renata Connor as an entrepreneur providing job placement and skill training services to at-risk young men. Mother Maybelle makes it her to recommend Red Oaks Church as a possible sponsor to cure Renata's ailing business. Renata is paired with Devin McKenna, the outreach ministry and entrepreneurial ministry's coordinator. A Love Like That by Natalie Dunbar showcases Dominique Winston, a divorcee who struck out in the marriage game and became the talk of the town and the church. She is the apple of Blair Thomas' eye, a race car driver and engine designer who is in town for six weeks visiting an old college buddy who happens to be a deacon at Red Oaks Church. And finally Love Under New Management by Nathasha Brooks-Harris highlights Valerie Freeman as a woman with a secret as she finds her way to Red Oaks Church to listen to their award-winning choir. There she is in awe of the choir director, and the church is in awe of her voice.

Each story has the proven stamp of Mother Maybelle and her instigating ways. Though there are the usual Christian influences that are prevalent in the book, readers should be wary of labeling the fare Christian inspirational fiction. These stories are pure fiction using the church as a backdrop to tell stories that might be happening in any church in America.

You've Got My Amen!.......2005-04-28

This was a very nice anthology. Being the Janice Sims fan that I am, I enjoyed her installment the most. Ms. Sims' Love Supreme is beautifully written and it features an adorable couple - Jared and Alexandra. When the two of them explore their feelings for each other, it's obvious that they'll soon be strutting down the aisle of Red Oaks Church. Obvious to everyone except the two of them that is. But with a strong supportive cast of characters pulling for them and the ever-present Mother Maybelle putting her two cents in, these two find blessed love. Great job Ms. Sims!

Now This Is A Powerful Pairing.......2005-04-20

To understand my review, one must first understand that I was most hesitant at first to even read the book. Author Janice Sims I was familiar with, however, she was the only one of the four that I could say this about. Aside from having only read the works of one of the others, the entire concept of "Can I Get An Amen," made me a little hesitant. I wasn't quite sure if the authors would be able to pull off this concept of centering all their stories around this fictitious town and church.

Though I admit, the concept was daring, Arabesque knew their stuff when they assembled Janice Sims, Kim Louise, Natalie Dunbar and Natasha Brooks-Harris together for this anthology. What was indeed a Mission Impossible, became a Mission Fulfilled as the writers penned stories filled with love, laughter, tests, trials and religion.

Readers are bound to cheer as Jared Kyles overcomes his commitment fears to build something special with the lovely, Alexandra Cartwright, in a Love Supreme.

They'll cheer again in Love and Happiness, but not just for the main characters, Renata Connor and Devn McKenna, but also for the troubled teen, Malcolm Goodwin. Malcomlm's story is representative of so many troubled males. And to show a couple's love blossoming while helping out one of the often forgotten ones, was nothing short of genius on Kim Louise's part.

If the novel had stopped with the above two, I would have honestly been able to say readers had gotten their money's worth. But added to the above, were sizzling and humorous romance stories by Natalie Dunbar and Natasha Brooks-Harris. Dunbar's story pulled at your heart strings, while Brooks-Harris' story tugged at your funny bone. And none of this would have been possible without the absolutely, delightful Mother Maybelle. Now if that isn't worthy of an Amen, I don't know what is!

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Highly readable biography of Louise Brooks
Highly overlooked actress starring in 'Excellent Bio'.
A Great Biography
A brilliant summation of an extraordinary life
One of the best biographies

Louise Brooks
Barry Paris
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0394559231
Release Date: 1989-10-14

Customer Reviews:

Highly readable biography of Louise Brooks.......2000-08-02

I am one of those who became entranced by Louise Brooks after seeing her in "Pandora's Box". She appeared to be highly sexual, intelligent, and to be marching to the sound of a drummer that she alone heard within herself. It turns out that she was all of this. This is an excellent biography and a lesson about what happens to those who despise the opportunities that life presents to us and to those whose lives are driven by sex rather than common sense. Louise Brooks was a very modern woman despite having been a star of the silent screen. She made only a few films but her performances in those films stand up with the great performances of today and their naturalism makes the acting of most silent screen starlets seem idiotic. While other actresses were concerned with nothing but their looks, Brooks was reading Shaw and Proust. While others did all they could to ingratiate themselves with the movie studios, Brooks had nothing but indifference for them. She turned her back on fame, fortune, and power. She could have had a brilliant career but always sabotaged her chances. She had beauty and incredible sex appeal. She had Chaplin as a lover. She wrote. She lives on today as an image of a woman ahead of her time and also as a tragic waste. Her own difficult personality drove everyone away. Her lack of discipline was childish. She fascinates. This is the best biography we will ever get of her. Recommended.

Highly overlooked actress starring in 'Excellent Bio'........2000-02-26

This Bio does not look upon Louise Brooks as sympathetically as other's Bio's do. Here we feel that we are being told the truth - as not everything in her life was perfect, or admirable, or even sympathetic. Louise Brooks was still a person who did things her way. And this books tells us what her was. A wonderful look at a wonderful Actress, Dancer and Writer.

A Great Biography.......1998-12-24

An all-emcompassing book for fans of Louise Brooks. It has interesting stories and beautiful photos.

A brilliant summation of an extraordinary life.......1998-12-23

This is a great biography of an obscure, but fascinating silent film star. Barry Paris has done a great job researching the life and times of Louise Brooks. A must-read for any Brooks fan.

One of the best biographies.......1997-09-15

This book was wonderful, before I read it I had no idea in the world who Louise Brooks was or what an impression she had on the motion picture industry. While this book is full of information and well written there are some slow points. A wonderful book for anyone interested in films.

400 Rush Hour Recipes: Recipes, Tips And Wisdom For Every Day Of The Year! (Rush Hour Cook) (Rush Hour Cook)

Average customer rating:

Brook has done it again!
All ingredients are common, easily obtained in any supermarket, and come attached to recipes simple to duplicate

400 Rush Hour Recipes: Recipes, Tips And Wisdom For Every Day Of The Year! (Rush Hour Cook) (Rush Hour Cook)
Brook Noel , and Wendy Louise
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1891400673
Release Date: 2006-09-01

Book Description

It's 5:00 Do you know where your dinner is?

Now you can add over 400 of the best recipes to your collection.

Easy and simple mealtime solutions are within reach of every busy family with the Rush Hour Cook's latest collection. Each day of the year features a new recipe along with a personal challenge, kitchen tip, or words of wisdom.

For those who want to reduce their grocery bills, save time and enjoy incredibily delicious recipes with simple ingredients, the Rush Hour Cook will become a one-stop solution. Like all of the books in the Rush Hour Series, this ultimate collection follows the five Rush Hour Rules:

-All ingredients are pronounceable through the phonetic use of the English language.
-Each ingredient can be found in the market without engaging in a full scale scavenger hunt.
-No list of ingredients shall be longer than the instructions
-Each recipe has to be durable enough to survive the "Queen-of-Incapable-Cooking."
-The Rush Hour Cook's finicky child will eat it-or some portion of it.

Customer Reviews:

Brook has done it again!.......2006-10-07

I originally purchased Brook Noel's "The Rush Hour Cook's Weekly Wonders: 19 Weekly Dinner Menus Complete with Grocery Lists for Today's Busy Family" last year.

That book changed my life by giving me the grocery lists and menus to coast through weekly cooking. I was cooking every day like normal people do, and I LIKED it!

Coming back as a more developed cook, I purchased 400 Rush Hour Recipes recently and I have to say, I LOVE IT. The recipes are good, easy to prepare with normal ingredients, which is Brook's promise. Another thing that I find helpful is the kid-friendlyness of the menus and the fact that it is an economical way to feed the family with food made at home. The tips and wisdom are also fun and helpful bonuses that add to the book.

If you are looking for more complex, adult oriented foods, I would recommend Leanne Ely's "Saving Dinner" books. Same concepts, different style. Those books along with Brook's Rush Hour books are really great additions to any every day cooking library.

Overall, I highly recommend this book, especially for domestically challenged or new cooks, with children and/or on a budget. GREAT JOB Brook, THANK YOU!!

All ingredients are common, easily obtained in any supermarket, and come attached to recipes simple to duplicate.......2006-06-26

Brook Noel has written fifteen books and has appeared on headline news shows, so if her name sounds familiar, it should...she's a busy CEO with nary a domestic gene to her name, so if she can easily prepare the dishes she features in 400 RUSH HOUR RECIPES, anyone should be able to. All ingredients are common, easily obtained in any supermarket, and come attached to recipes simple to duplicate. They are appealing dishes even finicky kids will eat - and they're main dishes so don't worry about breads and rice filling up half the book.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Average customer rating:

Lulu (Nick Hern Books Drama Classics)
Frank Wedekind , Nicholas Wright , and Wes Williams
Manufacturer: Nick Hern Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1854594532

Book Description

Lulu is a walking, talking object of sexual desire. Each of the first four acts of the play sees her married to a different man, each of whom dies at the end. In the fifth act, Lulu has become a prostitute in late-Victorian London where she encounters Jack the Ripper, who she deliberately leads on. This is Nicholas Wright's new version of Wedekind's early 20th century erotic drama.

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Rico and Stineli
Johanna Spyri
Manufacturer: Aegypan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1598188739

Book Description

Rico was almost nine years old, and had been to school for two winters. Up there in the mountains there was no school in the summertime; for then the teacher had his field to cultivate, and his hay and wood to cut, like everybody else, and nobody had time to think of going to school. This was not a great sorrow for Rico, -- he knew how to amuse himself. When he had once taken his place in the morning on the threshold, he would stand there for hours without moving, gazing into the far distance with dreamy eyes, if the door of the house over the way did not open, and a little girl make her appearance and look over at him laughingly. Then Rico ran over to her in a trice, and the children were busy enough in telling each other what had happened since the evening before, and talked incessantly, until Stineli was called into the house. The girl's name was Stineli, and she and Rico were of exactly the same age. They began to go to school at the same time, were in the same classes, and from that time forward were always together; for there was only a narrow path between their cottages, and they were the dearest of friends. . . .

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How Wiseli Was Provided For
Johanna Spyri
Manufacturer: Aegypan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1598184733

Book Description

Johanna Spyri's first book -- entitled A Leaf on Vrony's Grave -- was published in 1871. A year later she published a great pile of tales for both adults and children, among them the tale of Heidi that became an instant and enduring success. Heidi, the story of an orphan girl who lives with her grandfather in the Alps, is not only famous for its vivid portrayal of the landscape but also for its understanding of how children see life and their feelings.

This book, How Wiseli Was Provided For, is yet another in Spyri's library of tales. Like all others, it's a story not to be missed.

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