Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 10: Hollywood

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-04

This is easily the lamest of these trades so far. In the comic, they are making a Spider-Man movie. Just a pathetic plot, pretty much. So, he isn't happy, neither is Dr Octopus, whose wife has sold rights to her story to the producers.

He breaks out, wants to get even, ends up fighting Spider-Man in a plane to Brazil.

Gwen Stacy finds out who he is by breaking into stuff in his room. The rest is rubbish.

spidey rules.......2007-02-02

ultimate spider-man by bendis and bagley is one of the best series out there. not as much action and non-stop bad guy fighting, but a good mix of that and a lot of peter parker being a teenager with problems (girls, bullies, being grounded, etc.) along with his spidey life.
the series is great great great. only a few minor things that could be better:
1. i don't like how nick fury comes in and tells spider-man he's going to work his whole life for him and shield. the idea of peter being...trapped in a web? haha...well it isn't too cool. superheroes need to fight the good fight because they want to, not because shield will go and take away their superpowers (as fury has threatened) if they don't comply. plus the issues where the ultimates come in aren't that great, the whole series gets hijacked by them and not a lot of spidey. imo, the ultimates are easily the worst part of the ultimate universe. beyond ultimate spider-man and the ultimate fantastic four the ultimate universe isn't too great.
2. bendis needs to cut down on the tuchas talk. seriously if parker grew up in nyc today he'd more likely speak spanglish than yanglish.
3. geldoff.

Ultimate Spider-Man Vol. 10: Hollywood.......2004-10-04

More great work from Bendis and Bagley! This storyline is filled with many comic moments, as well as serious knock-down, drag-out fights between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. The Ultimate version of Doc Ock is no pushover, and he has left quite the body count in his wake since the time of his origin and subsequent appearances in this title. Doctor Otto Octavius considers his life to be completely and utterly ruined and blames everything on Spider-Man. So, he murderous madman has only one goal in life now: a dead or suffering Spider-Man. Spider-Man has always known Doc Ock is dangerous, but by the end of the book, he's taking the guy completely serious. No time for witty banter, as he's fighting for his life and is hurting bad. What makes this story even more realistic, though, is how Peter worries that he won't make it home to his Aunt May. Not only will he probably not be home "on time," but he wonders if he'll make it home at all. Very good writing, in my opinion.

This story also features a major revelation for one of the supporting characters at the end of the book, as well as some closure on the problem of Doc Ock. This book sets the stage well for more development between Peter and Gwen Stacy, which I look forward to. Well worth the time and money, I found this TPB to be very enjoyable!

Spider-Man is not crazy about the new "Spider-Man" movie.......2004-09-09

In anticipation of the summer release of the "Spider-Man 2" movie it seemed like every one of the Spider-Man titles put out by Marvel comics did a Doctor Octopus storyline, with a few Doc Ock mini-series thrown into the mix as well. For "Ultimate Spider-Man," the series that has updated the wall crawler for the 21st century by going back to the beginning and focusing on a 16-year-old Peter Parker living next door to Mary Jane Watson, that mean the six-issues of the "Hollywood" story arc (issues #54-59).

This is the one Doc Ock storyline Marvel offered that up in the summer of 2004 that tackled the idea of Hollywood making a movie about Spider-Man. It is not that Spider-Man ends up in Hollywood, but rather than Hollywood brings the magic of movie making to New York City and Spider-Man's home turf. Aunt May is out of town leaving Peter and Gwen Stacy alone and there is a story on the news about a Spider-Man film about to be made in Hollywood, starring Tobey Maguire and telling the story of a nobody/loser who grabs the world's imagination when he puts on a mask. The kids at school are all excited about trying to get parts as extras in the film while Peter can only tell MJ "I live in Hell." Spider-Man goes down to the movie set in NYC to chastise the actor and director for doing this (although he admits "Evil Dead 2" was cool, in a nod to Sam Rammi). Then Doctor Octopus breaks out of jail; it seems he has heard about the movie as well.

Brian Michael Bendis (story), Mark Bagley (pencils), and Art Thibert (inks) have more going on behind the cameras than they do in front in this six-part story. At school Kong is excited to get a part in the movie but Gwen cannot get past the fact that as far as she is concerned Spider-Man killed her father and Peter is unable to tell her anything different. When Doctor Octopus attacks the movie set Spider-Man has to deal with the insult added to injury because he has to save the actors and crews from the super villain. But the attack was just a reason to bring out Doc Ock's true target, which is Spider-Man himself, and our hero gets to go someplace he has never been before.

Ultimately, the most important thing here is that Spider-Man defeat Doctor Octopus and get home before Aunt May comes back from her trip, because our hero is more worried about being grounded by his aunt than being pounded to pulp by a super villain (which is quite reasonable given what we know about Aunt May's disciplinary inclinations). But there is something even worse in store for our hero beyond that point and the best part of "Hollywood" is the last part, which is pretty much a coda to the big fight. While this one does not end with a bang and the whimper definitely belongs to Doctor Octopus (the Nick Fury of the Ultimate universe is a pretty smart guy who does what needs to be done), it is strongly grounded in the characters. Granted, the action takes a back seat to the character dynamics, but I did not mind it this time around.

"Ultimate Spider-Man: Hollywood" has a nice mix of comic moments (e.g., Mysterio) with more personal ones, especially given the horrible thing that is going to happen in the next volume of the series, "Ultimate Spider-Man: Carnage." Reading these stories again known what lies ahead made several of the scenes especially poignant. I think it is clear that Bendis et al. have a clear view of the big picture and the long term with this particular comic book, which is why the "Ultimate Spider-Man" experiment has worked so well. You can appreciate it on its own terms or you can enjoy the way they work in twists and turns on the original Spider-Man stories. I am happily ensconced in the latter camp and will be for some time to come.

The First Assistant: A Continuing Tale from Behind the Hollywood Curtain

Average customer rating:

Nothing spectacular, but entertaining.
Great read!
Naylor needs a new editor
amusing chick lit
A good book for the airplane

The First Assistant: A Continuing Tale from Behind the Hollywood Curtain
Clare Naylor , and Mimi Hare
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670034975

Book Description

The further adventures of talent agency assistant Lizzie Miller as she finally gets some traction on the slippery Hollywood slope

In The Second Assistant, readers across the country found a heroine they loved to love in Lizzie Miller, the smart and witty East Coast girl clinging for dear life to the bottom rung of the Hollywood ladder. But no more coffee runs and sorting thumbtacks by color for Lizzie; she's been promoted. As first assistant to Scott Wagner, now president of The Agency and one of Hollywood's premiere movers and shakers, she's making decisions and learning the ins and outs of the business. But unlike the other airhead assistants, she's not being wooed by the glamour and mystique of Lala Land. At least, that's what she tells herself. But with a fabulous boyfriend and visions of Harry Winston diamonds and a black AmEx dancing in her head, it is getting harder for Lizzie to keep her pumps firmly on the ground.

In The First Assistant, Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare have again joined forces to take a wry and hilarious look at the wheeling, dealing, schmoozing, and snubbing that make Hollywood the cutthroat capital of the world. Readers are hungry for more—and The First Assistant is just the romp into the red-carpet world that they crave.

Customer Reviews:

Nothing spectacular, but entertaining........2007-08-18

This was a quick and easy read, which I welcomed after reading some heavier and more serious books this summer. While this wasn't a groundbreaking novel by any means, it was entertaining and light--perfect for the beach or to occupy some time while traveling.

As others mentioned, some of the plot didn't make any sense (the scene with the Swedish mafia, the boyfriend cat's, etc) or add anything to the novel. I did enjoy the gossipy vibe of the novel and loved the part that obviously poked fun at the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes marriage. It had been a while since I'd read The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder and it seemed to draw a little bit of the storyline from the first novel without much explanation.

In the end, it was the literary equivalent of Cheetos--it's yummy and satisfying, but you don't receive any nutrients from it and you don't feel especially full when you're done with it.

Great read!.......2007-06-08

I had read the second assistant when it came it out and thought it was okay but not oustanding. This newest additional far outweighs the first book. Once I started reading it I could barely put it down. If you liked Clare Naylor's Dog Handling then you will like this!

Naylor needs a new editor.......2007-05-30

To me, "The First Assistant" was amusing but irritating in equal measure due to the utterly predictable plot, the unfleshed-out character, Luke, and annoying basic grammar errors such as "Who's phone is this?" Not nearly as good as "The Second Assistant."

amusing chick lit.......2007-05-17

A the Agency, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Miller feels euphoric over her promotion from Second Assistant to First Assistant at The Agency although she does not have to work. Her fiancé is wealthy movie superstar Luke Lloyd, who would gladly let Lizzie spend his money. However, she feels she must make it on her own even though that means at times living below the poverty line.

Currently Luke is on location in the Czech Republic filming a movie with his ex-girlfriend Emanuelle Saix as his costar. Amber Bingham Fox, the person who replaced Lizzie as Second Assistant when she was promoted, is a nasty SOB who plans to do anything to replace the FIRST ASSISTANT ASAP. Finally, Scott Wagner, her boss at the Agency, sends Lizzie to Thailand for three months to work with star teen Emerald Everhart, who has allowed fame to get into her head and turned her into a party hardy child. Worse for her, Luke's housekeeper found her sleeping with a man. Work for Lizzie as THE FIRST ASSISTANT gets just as crazy as when she was THE SECOND ASSISTANT; only this time her personal life has fizzled out while the adventures keep on coming.

This is a fun look "behind the Hollywood curtain" at those who hope to one day walk on a red rug instead of rolling it out for others. Lizzie is at her frazzled best struggling with work and the collapse of her personal life. Although there is little that has not been used before in books including THE SECOND ASSISTANT, fans will enjoy this amusing chick lit continues to go Hollywood (and Thailand).

Harriet Klausner

A good book for the airplane.......2007-05-10

This book is the sequel to The Second Assistant and is equally silly. It was a quick fun read with many Hollywood honchos parodied as over the top characters. It's not a thought provoking or stimulating read, but was great for a few good laughs!

Average customer rating:

Great Book!
Krazy About Kaitlyn
GREAT BOOK!!!!
Love Kait, but flat writing
Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce

Secrets of My Hollywood Life
Jen Calonita
Manufacturer: Little, Brown Young Readers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316154423

Book Description

DESCRIPTION: What if... Your picture was taped inside lockers across America, your closets were bursting with designer clothing, and the tabloids constantly asked whether you were losing your "good girl" status? It's a glamorous life, but Kaitlin Burke, co-star of one of the hottest shows on TV, is exhausted from the pressures of her fame. So she decides to spend a few months undercover as an ordinary high school student. But could it be that real-life high school is just as harsh as cutthroat Hollywood...? Combining the vicarious star-studded glamour of the bestselling A-List series with the innocence of The Princess Diaries, this is an engrossing look behind the velvet curtains of stardom.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book!.......2007-09-07

This is a great book! I hope to see more from Jen in the future! This is a story about a girl who just wants to fit in with regular teens, which she can't do, because she's famous. She and her best friend hatch up a plan to get her to go to a regular high school. I would recommend this book, espically to young girls or even young adults.

Krazy About Kaitlyn.......2007-08-21

What a refreshing change of pace in the world of "tween" novels!
The author is wonderfully descriptive and the characters come alive, making you feel as if you've jumped right into the pages and have become part of the story yourself. This book is difficult to put down and always keeps you wondering what will happen to Kaitlyn next. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series! For those parents that are leery of the content, I can assure you this book is good clean fun! You will thoroughly enjoy it from beginning to end!

GREAT BOOK!!!!.......2007-08-12

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS BOOK! Kaitlin is a great character in the Hollywood lifestyle! An awesome read for anyone! I coud not put this book down! I recomend this book with a big thumbs up! A definately intresting story and page turner! Jen Calonita did a great job with this book and I loved Kaitlins journey!

Love Kait, but flat writing.......2007-05-05

After reading an excerpt of the book - the first chapter, I had high hopes. Kaitlyn seemed like a real person, not some stereotypical, contrived "it girl" that fills so many other YA books nowadays. (And I'm not just talking about the 'Gossip Girls')

I was dissapointed.
Not with Kait's character, which was awesome, but with the writing. It seemed flat. Good enough to hold my interest for a short story, but relying heavily on suspended belief for an entire novel. In short, the writing was dry. Flat.

But I can overlook almost anything if I love the character(s) enough, and Kaitlyn is awesome.

Reviewed by Jocelyn Pearce.......2007-01-26

Kaitlin Burke is a star. In Jen Calonita's novel Secrets of My Hollywood Life, everyone in America knows Kaitlin's name; she's been playing the character of Sam on the soap Family Affairs since she was four years old. But while her picture is on the walls of teenagers' bedrooms across America, when does she get to just be Kaitlin? After brainstorming with her best friend, Liz, at their favorite pizza place, she comes up with a plan. She wants to be ordinary and inconspicuous for awhile ,and what better way to do it than live her best friend's life? Or at least go to her school.

For Kaitlin's break from the life of a starlet, she enrolls at Clark Hall as Rachel Rogers, a mousy British girl visiting America for a few months. It's the perfect disguise--between the accent, the short brown hair, the brown contacts, the glasses, and the very un-superstar clothes, nobody will ever recognize Kaitlin for the Hollywood star she is. She's thrilled to have new friends and a cute guy who like her for who she is, and being free of her jealous Family Affairs co-star (at least during school hours), Skye, is definitely a bonus.

When her two lives begin to collide, however, and the possibility of being found out and exposed (the tabloids aren't helping with that one), Kaitlin has to figure her life out, fast.

Jen Calonita's novel is a quick, entertaining read that will have the attention of readers from the beginning to the end, eager to find out what will happen to Kaitlin. Kaitlin's voice, which certainly echoes that of a real teenager, is fresh and funny, and helps to make Secrets of My Hollywood Life a fun page-turner.

The characters are all very realistic, especially Kaitlin, who, despite the very extraordinary life she leads (when she's not playing Rachel Rogers), is a very grounded and ordinary teenage girl. The colorful characters in Kaitlin's life seem just as real, from her overbearing publicist Laney to her cocky thirteen-year-old brother, Matt. Jen Calonita really brings them all to life!

The whole idea of Secrets Of My Hollywood Life is a good one as well. Every girl likes to imagine herself as famous, and Kaitlin really is--but it's not all it's cracked up to be. The inside look at the life of a celebrity will hook readers, and Kaitlin's desire to be more ordinary will only keep them interested! It's an entertaining idea, but also one that teenagers will be able to relate to--who hasn't wanted to be something they're not? Perhaps for most people, they are ordinary (like Rachel Rogers) wanting to be a star (like Kaitlin Burke), and Kaitlin is the opposite, but it's still a feeling people will be able to relate to while reading this novel.

Jen Calonita's novel is one that teenage girls will love. Kaitlin is a celebrity who regular teenagers will still be able to relate to, which makes her a great main character. An insider's look at Hollywood is something that people are always looking for in the magazines, and here it is, with a fabulous story to go with it! Secrets Of My Hollywood Life is an entertaining debut novel from Jen Calonita, and readers will be eagerly awaiting her second book about Kaitlin!

The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder

Average customer rating:

Hollywood fun
A book for the beach bag!
A less memorable version of "The Devil Wears Prada"
I loved this book
About Average

The Second Assistant: A Tale from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder
Clare Naylor , and Mimi Hare
Manufacturer: Viking Adult
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670033073
Release Date: 2004-05-03

Amazon.com

If contemporary fiction has one thing to teach us, it's that working for the rich and glamorous is a living hell. This simple truth has already been revealed by such books as The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, but for those who feel that the message bears repeating, Clare Naylor and Mimi Hare's The Second Assistant: Tales from the Bottom of the Hollywood Ladder offers yet another enjoyable (though fairly forgettable) lesson.

The heroine of this gossipy tale is Elizabeth Miller, a young, former campaign worker for a US congressman who finds herself between employment opportunities. Unable to obtain any more socially responsible work, Lizzie is lured into the job of second assistant to an executive at a glitzy Hollywood agency. Once there, she's hit with all the "pick-up my dry cleaning," "walk my dog," "hire strippers for my party" torment that the higher-ups can dish out. At first Elizabeth is isolated, out-of-place, and underdressed in her new world, but she makes friends, builds her wardrobe, and eventually grows to care for her menial job, her Ritalin-snorting boss, and the entertainment industry in general. Finally, she reaches the conclusion that thousands of other Californians have before her: what she really wants to do is produce. At times, Lizzie seems far too naïve to survive long in the shark-infested waters that the authors describe, but there can be only one kind of ending to such a light-hearted book, so we know she will somehow muddle through. Hare (who was once a Hollywood executive herself) and Naylor throw in a dreamy guy and a few plot twists that most readers could see coming from space, stir, and serve. Of course, a little frivolity is not a bad thing, and The Second Assistant is certainly an entertaining addition the new underling subgenre of modern fiction. --Leah Weathersby

Book Description

No political science degree could ever prepare Elizabeth Miller for her new job as second assistant at The Agency, whose clients include everyone you've never met—but you know who they're sleeping with. A former congressional intern in Washington, Lizzie makes a bid for a life change that lands her a job a world away, where ethics and First Amendment debates take a backseat to pleading the Fifth for ritalin-snorting boss Scott Wagner, the hottest young agent in Hollywood who devotes his days to playing online poker—that is, when he's not closing a $30 million deal for one of his AAA-list clients. And while getting six hundred dollar highlights from Cameron D's colorist or organizing the strippers for George C's party come close to causing heart failure for this East Coast girl, the real dangers lurk elsewhere. But Lizzie is a survivor, and no Machiavellian assistant, lecherous producer, or power struggle at The Agency can douse her nascent dreams of climbing up the Hollywood ladder. But first she has to run down to the Coffee Bean to pick up that triple espresso, or Scott is going to throw something....

For anyone who loved The Nanny Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, The Second Assistant is a compulsively readable novel and a gleeful skewering of Tinsel Town packed with outrageous, thinly veiled stories about the deranged, the dastardly, and the unspeakably glamorous that will have tongues wagging from coast to coast.

Download Description

"No political science degree could ever prepare Elizabeth Miller for her new job as second assistant at The Agency, whose clients include everyone you've never met-but you know who they're sleeping with. A former congressional intern in Washington, Lizzie makes a bid for a life change that lands her a job a world away, where ethics and First Amendment debates take a backseat to pleading the Fifth for ritalin-snorting boss Scott Wagner, the hottest young agent in Hollywood who devotes his days to playing online poker-that is, when he's not closing a $30 million deal for one of his AAA-list clients. And while getting six hundred dollar highlights from Cameron D's colorist or organizing the strippers for George C's party come close to causing heart failure for this East Coast girl, the real dangers lurk elsewhere. But Lizzie is a survivor, and no Machiavellian assistant, lecherous producer, or power struggle at The Agency can douse her nascent dreams of climbing up the Hollywood ladder. But first she has to run down to the Coffee Bean to pick up that triple espresso, or Scott is going to throw something.... For anyone who loved The Nanny Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, The Second Assistant is a compulsively readable novel and a gleeful skewering of Tinsel Town packed with outrageous, thinly veiled stories about the deranged, the dastardly, and the unspeakably glamorous that will have tongues wagging from coast to coast."

Customer Reviews:

Hollywood fun.......2007-08-15

It is so great to get lost in a book. I enjoyed this book. It is very entertaining - doesn't take much to read. It was an easy book to enjoy.

A book for the beach bag!.......2007-04-26

If you are looking for fun, entertaining chick-lit, then this is definitely the book for you. I liked this book and the ending much more than the Nanny Diaries, which is a good comparison. The main character Elizabeth Miller was a bit one dimensional, but the Hollywood characters she meets along the way help to add flavor and spice to the story. The author, Mimi Hare, got her start in Hollywood at a very young age, probably much the same way Elizabeth did, so I felt like she based her "fictional" story line on actual experiences that she may have had. I would recommend this book for your beach bag this summer. I am definitely going to read the sequel on my vacation!

A less memorable version of "The Devil Wears Prada".......2007-03-22

Twenty-something Elizabeth Miller's just transplanted herself to LA, eager to embark on a new life as the second assistant for a big-time Hollywood agent.

Very quickly, Lizzie learns her job encompasses anything and everything -- she's less than nothing in the eyes of her superiors -- and her only consolation is seeing how many other Hollywood hopefuls are in similar straits. You see, Lizzie's determined to become a producer (aren't they all?) and she just *knows* that if she hangs in long enough to meet the right people, her dream will become a reality.

While on a coffee run for her co-workers, Lizzie meets barista Jason, an aspiring scriptwriter. The two collaborate on his project, and she's determined to use her fledgling connections to make things happen for both of them.

Of course, nothing is ever what it seems...nor are even the people Lizzie's come to consider her new friends...

This isn't a fantastic book, even for its genre; in my opinion, both "The Devil Wears Prada" and "The Nanny Diaries" did a much better job of covering the "slavedriving boss, poor aspiring twenty-something" circuit. Still, it was entertaining enough; if you want a quick, trashy read, this is just the thing.

I loved this book.......2006-11-15

I can't remember the last time I've had so much fun reading a book. I laughed a lot, loved the characters and since I worked in the entertainment industry for years I could relate to the characters. If you're a fan of The Devil Wears Prada or any of those type of books I think you'll enjoy this chick-lit book. I rarely read this kind of book but something told me to buy it when I went to Target for some book browsing and I'm so glad that I did. No this is not some literary masterpiece that will win Nobel prizes but it wasn't intended to be anything but fun. Everytime I had to put the book down, I couldn't wait to get a chance to pick it right up and find out what was going to happen next to Lizzie. The ending has some interesting twists that I didn't see coming and although it was a typical "wrap-a-bow-around" the ending type of Hollywood ending I still enjoyed it. It's a great summer read and I look forward to reading more from these authors -- Jeff Rivera [...]

About Average.......2006-11-09

This book has me a bit confused on how I feel. It started off very quickly, dumping you right into the life of Elizabeth Miller, second assistant to a huge Hollywood agent. There really wasn't much set up or character building, but after a few chapters, I really began to get into Elizabeth's life. She met celebrities daily and planned huge Hollywood parties, attended premiers and was asked out by some of the most powerful men in the world. It turns out her ambition, after giving up a life in politics, is to become a producer on an indie script she feels passionate about.

She learns her way through the industry and makes some excellent contacts, some a little more personal than others. The story has a great plot but comes to such a quick and abrupt ending, which is a little disappointing. But it implies there will be a sequel - which I will most likely be reading as well. :)

Average customer rating:

Hollywood

Eloise in Hollywood (Eloise)
Kay Thompson , Hilary Knight , J. David Stem , and David N. Weiss
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689842899

Book Description

In 1957 on the set of Funny Face Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight first thought Eloise might go to Hollywood

Now forty-nine years later she'll finally have her silver screen debut

It's rawther extraordinary really

with apes and biplanes and thrills

and starring of course ELOISE

Here's the thing of it dahlings

Buy your popcorn now

and do find a seat quickly

The show is about to start

And you absolutely

cawn't miss it!

Customer Reviews:

Hollywood.......2007-01-10

Since my granddaughter loves Eloise and actually lives in Hollywood..this was a very appropriate gift to add to her library...very enjoyable!

The King of the Sunset Strip: Hangin' With Mickey Cohen And the Hollywood Mob

Average customer rating:

A Great Read !!!
Hollywood in the Fifties Gangster Style
Young actor meets Uncle Mickey
One story you shouldn't miss!
steves' scenario

The King of the Sunset Strip: Hangin' With Mickey Cohen And the Hollywood Mob
Steve Stevens , and Craig Lockwood
Manufacturer: Cumberland House Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1581825072

Book Description

Who would have thought that an acting career that began as a teenage star in the "Annette" series on The Mickey Mouse Club, Walt Disney's Zorro, The Roy Rogers Show, and That's My Mom would lead to the role of confidante and assistant to Southern California crime-boss Mickey Cohen?

King of the Sunset Strip is a pistol-to-the-side-of-your-head Hollywood story. Beginning with the parties, boozing, and sex and the "good-time" macho whoring and gambling of the mob, the story covers the action in Sunset Boulevard penthouses, Beverly Hills mansions, Brentwood estates, and across state lines to Las Vegas. Steve Stevens takes his readers down the palm-lined streets of Hollywood to meet film and entertainment giants like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Louis Prima, Robert Mitchum, and many more.

Stevens's relationship with Cohen began as a friendship and deteriorated into witnessing bloody beatings by Cohen, crime-scene drive-bys, and much more. Peppered with familiar celebrity names and faces from film, TV, and organized crime, this classic Hollywood tale reads like a box-office script.

After Mickey Cohen was arrested on charges of income-tax evasion, gangsters hustled Stevens out of California to a remote ranch in Nevada and ordered him to stay in hiding. During Cohen's trial, Stevens remained quiet while Cohen was eventually sentenced to Alcatraz.

Beginning with the casting call that resulted in Stevens's association with Cohen, King of the Sunset Strip takes readers through the exciting story to the curtain call that eventually led him out of the life of crime.

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read !!!.......2007-09-23

A story worth hearing , this book gives the reader an oppertunity to jump in the back seat of a mofia owned convertable and get invitation into the social scenes , and political scandals surrounding old hollywood. I had the honor to meet both authors. The book is writen in true gonzo style , and puts you in the fast running shoes of Steve Stevens.

Steve , a mousekateer , and teen idol for that generation , finds easy money and VIP friends in the shadiest parts of mob run Southern California before realizing that "the mob life" wasnt worth it.

Finding bills to pay , parts to audition for , the most bueatiful starlets in the business in his bed , and a mysterious invitation to an ice cream parlor , Steve unknowingly stumbles into FBI's Public Enemy Number One : Mickey Cohen , kingpin of the west coast mafia. Cohen recognizes the actor and invites Stevens to roll , eat , drink , and take part in the whole racket he and his mobster crew owned and opperated over Hollywood. Garenteed Work , Bills Paid , Hotel Rooms , and power were now all within Steve's reach. The reader gets to see Cohen , the true scarface of godfather mobsters at home, at work, and interacting with friends , enimies, and the public. Steve and Craig remain to be a pair of clowns , and classic hollywood teen rebels ! A MUST READ FOR ANY FAN OF CINEMA , MUSIC , CRIME , HISTORY , or MOBSTER.

Hollywood in the Fifties Gangster Style.......2007-04-02

Steve Stevens was a young teen in the fifties trying to be a movie star. Mickey Cohen was a famous gangster at the time and befriended Steve because he was a teen actor and because he knew Annette Funiciello. It seems that everyone wanted a signed photo of Annette and Steve was accommodating Mickey's gang members with these requests. Steve called him his Uncle Mickey. However, you would not want an Uncle like this. Steve became involved in the crime part of Mickey's life in an almost too innocent way and barely escaped with his life. Steve was John Ashley's roommate for a time and both were lucky that they did not get killed. This is a great fifties story and the best part is that it is a true and scary inside look at just what kind of sociopath Mickey Cohan really was.

Young actor meets Uncle Mickey.......2006-09-21

This book is an account of a young actor who through a fleeting encounter with the tough, violent criminal known as Mickey Cohen decides he would like to pursue a friendship with his new Uncle Mickey and gradually finds himself drawn into a dark, violent and unpredictable world with unexpected and unpleasant consequences.

At first the life and power of Uncle Mickey is attractive as the author meets all kinds of celebrities and enjoys glamorous restaurants and clubs as he beomes Uncle Mickey's errand boy and earns plenty of easy dollars. Then reality sets in as old friends steer clear of him and some try to warn him. A young hooker is viciously used and bashed as a sexual plaything by an out of town mobster whom Stevens is driving around town at the request of Uncle Mickey. Stevens is also on the receiving end of two nasty beatings first by Uncle Mickey then by the LAPD. Finally when the police bring down the heat on Cohen and are able to have him put away in jail for a long time, Stevens breaks free from the criminal world fringes and puts his life back together in his normal world and makes a great career for himself. Uncle Mickey however, after release from prison dies a broken, poor old man.

The author does a great job in his descriptions of LA, Hollywood and the acting world of the 1950's as this period of time comes alive for the reader. Overall well worth the read

One story you shouldn't miss!.......2006-08-24

Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/06)

Steve Stevens was raised in Hollywood and had a promising acting career when he was still a teen. Mobster Mickey Cohen, also known as, "The King of Sunset Strip," took an interest in Stevens when he was in his late teens. Having a rich, famous gangster take a liking to you while you are still struggling is a very easy way to fall in with the wrong crowd. Initially, Stevens enjoyed the notoriety of being associated with this famous gangster, but after a time he saw a lot of things that he didn't want to see and realized that it wasn't helping his career or friendships. He was also asked to do things that stepped outside of the law. Stevens began to feel trapped in this situation and needed to find a way out without facing the consequences of offending Mickey.

"The King of the Sunset Strip" is a great story. It flows well in its style and is definitely not another dry autobiography. I got caught up in Stevens' life and adventures, and really enjoyed reading about glamorous, old Hollywood and the stars back in the day. It was unsettling to read about the things Mickey did, and know that it was true. Mickey's notoriety made his lifestyle seem glamorous, but really he was not a very nice person. He did things for others, especially Stevens, with the expectation that he would be getting things done for him in return. Cohen would buy people's loyalty. When he thought he was betrayed, he was brutal. When Cohen began to be brought down, Stevens was able to make his escape. He was not able to get all of his friends back, but he did manage to succeed in Hollywood and he managed to live to tell his story.

This is a great book for people who are interested in the Hollywood stories during its heyday. You will read about interactions with famous people such as Frank Sinatra, Annette Funicello, Rick Nelson, Don Rickles and Red Skelton. Pictures are interspersed throughout the book, so you can see the people that you are reading about. I like how this was done, because usually the pictures are all lumped into the middle section of a book. It isn't just the people that are interesting to read about, you also learn about Hollywood in the 1950's. You get to visit places like, "The Brown Derby," and to journey down Sunset Strip. This is one story that you shouldn't miss!

steves' scenario.......2006-07-26

I have known Steve for 10 years and after reading, "The King of the Sunset Strip," I realize I never knew him until now. This is an in-depth look into the rise of a young actor, who tasted the fruits, of stardom,and through it, came close to celebrating an early demise,in both his film career and his association, with the living. He is a survivor, of the "Old Hollywood,' and a sentinel, for the up and coming young actors, of today.
A must read!

The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization

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Great Reading, Wonderfully Imaginative
turtles all the way down
Part school story, part adventure, part fantasy and all hilarious
Best Pinkwater in Quite Some Time
Neddies all the way down?

The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
Daniel Manus Pinkwater
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618594442

Book Description

The old powers try to come back, and the planet is plunged into chaos, and civilization is destroyed, and it gets all violent and evil… the old legends tell that a hero… with the sacred turtle, always … Los Angeles, California. Neddie Wentworthstein is the guy with the turtle. Sandor Eucalyptus is the guy with the jellybean. Sholmos Bunyip wants the turtle . . . and he’ll stop at nothing to get it. This is the story of how Neddie, three good friends, a shaman, a ghost, and a little maneuver known as the French substitution determine the fate of the world.

Customer Reviews:

Great Reading, Wonderfully Imaginative.......2007-08-20

I've been a fan of Pinkwater's works for over 25 years, ever since I first bought a copy of Lizard Music as a child. I was delighted when my wife brought the audio tape version of The Neddiad for our family to listen to while on a road trip to the East Coast.

"The Neddiad" is classic Pinkwater and is delightful, easily ranking among his best. Mr. Pinkwater uses his unique style to bring these characters to life, and I could clearly envision the characters as the story unfolded. Better than anyone else I know, Mr. Pinkwater is able to view the world through the eyes of an 11-year-old (is that Neddie's age?) and to express his observations from that perspective.

The story seamlessly weaves together many subplots and concepts and kept our entire vanload engaged, (frequently) surprised, and laughing. My oldest son (entering 5th grade) complained every time we turned it off, even if only for a moment to pay tolls. After having listened to Pinkwater's own telling of the story, I will be buying this book and reading it for myself. Like Lizard Music (which is obliquely referred to in this book), it's an adventure that gets better with each re-reading.

turtles all the way down.......2007-06-13

I loved this book. I think I get what it is about, not worrying about things, resting in God (or on the great turtle). It reminds me of an essay by an Episcopalian minister, Barbara Brown Taylor (The Luminous Web, The Limits of Knowledge) She recounts this in the book: p. 87

"According to one Native American creation myth , the earth rests on the back of a giant turtle. When an ethnologist who was trying to get the story down on paper asked an elder what was underneath that turtle, the elder said "Another turtle."
"And under that?" the ethnologist asked.
"Oh, it's turtles all the way down".

I took this to mean to trust more because there are some things that just can't be pinned down. How can you not love a book whose hero saves the world by singing? WOW. I mean WOW! And I live in Albuquerque where an important part of the story takes place so it gets points for that. Also, the wonderfully quirky illustrations are by Calef Brown who wrote a great childrens book "Polkabats and Octupus Slacks." (Read his poem "Funky Snowman" for an optimists view of life.)

I'm giving this book to my nephew for his baptism. Not an obvious choice but I find this book to be deeply spiritual, as well as funny, charming, and tender.

Part school story, part adventure, part fantasy and all hilarious.......2007-06-05

Most of the world (or at least the segment that listens to public radio) knows Daniel Pinkwater primarily as that funny guy who talks about children's books on Saturday morning's "Weekend Edition" program. Pinkwater has been around for much longer than that, though, coming up with a string of consistently hilarious --- and consistently off-the-wall --- novels and picture books for as long as I can remember. From 1977's THE HOBOKEN CHICKEN EMERGENCY (about a 266-pound pet chicken) to 2005's irreverent take on school in THE EDUCATION OF ROBERT NIFKIN, Pinkwater has time and again proven himself as one of the funniest writers for young people.

Pinkwater's latest, THE NEDDIAD, is no exception. Part of Pinkwater's style is a certain playfulness, a wide-ranging imagination that relies on comic situations, one-liners and images as much as on plot. On the face of it, the concept of THE NEDDIAD might seem absurd; after all, its subtitle is "How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization." But Pinkwater manages to make it all make sense --- or at least, to make his readers laugh too hard to care whether it does or not.

Neddie Wentworthstein lives in Chicago a few years after World War II. When Neddie idly mentions that he'd love to eat at the Brown Derby restaurant in Los Angeles, Neddie's enthusiastic father (who'd made a fortune selling shoelaces to the military) suggests that the whole family move to California to see the landmark for themselves. Neddie loves adventure --- and the movies --- so he's eager to have an adventure of his own. "I expected, we all expected, to do exciting things," he writes, "This is why going away on a big adventure all the way across the country seemed normal to me."

Neddie's trip probably won't seem normal to just about anyone else, though. Starting with Neddie's mysterious encounter with a Navajo shaman named Melvin, continuing with his acquisition of a highly desirable turtle figurine and his separation from his parents, and from there following Neddie all the way to Los Angeles, where he gains new friends, a new school and a whole slew of enemies, THE NEDDIAD is truly an epic journey.

Part road trip adventure, part school story, part adventure, part fantasy and all hilarious, THE NEDDIAD is outrageously unique and undeniably the work of Daniel Pinkwater's comic genius.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl

Best Pinkwater in Quite Some Time.......2007-05-30

Let me get this out of the way: I'm a solid Pinkwater fan and have been one since I was 8 or 9, and begged my parents for $1 to buy a copy of "Wingman." Having read a big chunk of his catalogue, I'd say that "The Neddiad" is one of my top five Pinkwater books...this from a guy who's written hundreds of books. It's got that classic Pinkwater deadpan humor, a great mystery that stretches back over eons, a quest, and turtles, turtles, turtles! Also, you learn about lots of cool stuff; don't let that turn you off the book, though. Wonderful! Keep writing, Daniel, and thanks.

Neddies all the way down?.......2007-05-10

from my blog:

Two parts Holes, three parts Guy Noir, one part Pinkwater. This book makes me feel like I just walked out of an old Nickelodeon after a Saturday afternoon marathon surrounded by rowdy kids and spitballs. I slowly rise/unstick from my seat still mentally replaying the final episode of "The Neddiad", which, interestingly, is how this book was born - in installments. Daniel Pinkwater, NPR commentator and children's book reviewer extraordinaire, gave us weekly chapters of Neddie Wentworthstein and his amazing adventures on trains, planes and automobiles starting back in the summer of 2006. As I started reading this book I vaguely remembered an NPR interview back in October about a train and a boy hanging out with his movie star idol D'Artagnan (aka Dart-Onion, aka Aaron Finn). I listened in and out and couldn't help but be reminded of another NPR staple A Prairie Home Companion's Guy Noir; I could almost hear the sound effects of the rattling rails and stomping feet. This is that book.

The gumshoe, Captain Billy's Whizbang feeling settles in by chapter 17 (very short chapters, remember? weekly installments?). By this time we've met the shoelace mogul Mr. Wentworthstein (a more happy-go-lucky version of Stanley Yelnats's splooge-inventing father), Mrs. Wentworthstein, the sister Eloise (one of two stellar and highly underrated young female characters), Aaron Finn, his son and Neddie's bud Seamus Finn, the turtle-gifting Melvin/Irving/Sheldon/whoever, Billy the Phantom Bellboy (who wins my never-before-bestowed award of going from the character I thought most unbelievable to my favorite) and of course, the bad guys - Sandor Eucalyptus and Sholmos Bunyip (you can almost hear the twisting handlebar moustaches). These are our players, running around Los Angeles in the 1940s trying to save the world with a turtle.

This is such a great book not only in its own right but as a safe, gratifying recommendation to ANYONE. I am always appreciative of a book about which I can get excited to read and to share without adding a disclaimer (another such treat is The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick). Give The Neddiad to upper elementary- to middle-schoolers and any other student with a sense of humor.

Fun fact about Bryn: I love surprises and to be really scared (this will relate to the book eventually, I promise). I'm a sucker for Stephen King and thriller movies. Not the gore, just the rush. I like them because it's rare that I actually get surprised or scared and appreciate it moreso when it happens. So, of course one of my favorite aspects of The Neddiad is that I counted at least a handful of moments where I actually gasped out loud, not because it was scary, but because I was completely taken by surprise. So many twists and turns. Pinkwater totally got me and I enjoyed every minute of it.

I could go on and on about the cool train lingo I learned, when Chief Crazy Wig chants about "walla walla bing bang" and "no child left behind", the shout-out to Dad's Old Fashioned Root Beer (a can of which my dad is sporting in a photo taken hours before I was born!) and Eloise and Iggy (two rockin' gals, necessarily overshadowed by the male characters).

Decide for yourself if it's an overactive imagination or Neddies all the way down!

Average customer rating:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Hollywood Hills
Aimee Friedman
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439792827

Book Description

California, here they come! With one week to go before graduation, BFFs Alexa St. Laurent and Holly Jacobson take off on a whirlwind trip to the West Coast. The shopping, the beaches, the clubs, the boys . . . Glamour, glitz, sunshine, romance -- and more than a few surprises -- await!

Customer Reviews:

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2006-12-31

Jersey girls Alexa St. Laurent and Holly Jacobson head to Hollywood to attend celebrity Margaux Eklundstrom's wedding. They are overjoyed to find that they will be staying in Margaux's hot brother's guest house and that they will be able to get out of a family camping trip a week before graduation.

Once in paradise, things don't go so smoothly. Holly struggles to find a college that she and her boyfriend can both attend, but will this end their relationship for good? Meanwhile, Alexa seems to be having the time of her life with Margaux's brother, Jonah. Soon, though, she realizes that she may not really be in love with Jonah Eklundstrom, but will she regret her decision?

When the girls miss their flight back to New Jersey, they are forced to take a later flight--but will they make it back in time? Or will they miss their high school graduation?

I think you should read this book because once you pick it up, you can't put it down! I give it 5 stars!

Reviewed by: Audrey

I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!.......2006-12-21

Aimee Friedman did an excellent job with this book.
Once again, we see the close bond with Holly and Alexa and as much as they try to be different, they are the same. They know they cannot stay away from each other. Aimee mentioned in one of her posts, that she she cannot past a bookstore without going in and neither can i. I am OBSESSED...just today i was in borders and saw the hollywood hills book and i grabbed it immediately. This book makes you want to anticipate what else is going to happen in the next book.
GREAT JOB AIMEE

Magnificent Monologues for Teens: The Teens' Monologue Source for Every Occasion (Hollywood 101, 4)

Average customer rating:

An indispensable resource
Kwel monologues!
Magnificent Monologues for Teens
Best Monologue Book I've Ever Read!!
This Is The One

Magnificent Monologues for Teens: The Teens' Monologue Source for Every Occasion (Hollywood 101, 4)
Chambers Stevens
Manufacturer: Sandcastle Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1883995116

Customer Reviews:

An indispensable resource.......2006-08-18

Want to make a lasting impression at an audition? Then buy this book! It is written in a format that is accessible to all ages and the material is easy to memorize, which will help your performance be more relaxed and natural. The monologues in this book are also structured in a way that allow young actors to put their unique stamp into their performance. Now go and break a leg at your next audition ... that is if you have the book!

Kwel monologues!.......2006-02-16

I am always asked at auditions where I got that monologue from! Most books for teens and kids are just comedic, yours have comedic and dramatic so I can be prepared for any audition.

Magnificent Monologues for Teens.......2006-02-15

Excellent!! Great collection of monologues that helped me get an LA agent. Would recommend it to someone if they could only buy one monologue book.

Best Monologue Book I've Ever Read!!.......2006-01-16

Chamber's monologues are so realistic and the characters come to life with minimal effort and it has a lot to do with the talented writing he puts forth in this.

This Is The One.......2006-01-13

My son always had a tough time finding the right monologue until Magnificent Monologues for Teens. There are so many good ones - you will definitely find the right one for you. This book has been excellent for sharpening audition skills - I highly recommend it!

Average customer rating:

Confessions = Gossip
Courtesy of Teens Read Too
Best of Both Worlds
Another chapter in the crazy life of a Hollywood starlet

More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet
Lola Douglas
Manufacturer: Razorbill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1595140514

Book Description

Just when Morgan Carter was falling in love with the simple life she'd built in Fort Wayne, Indiana, her true identity as an infamous Hollywood starlet was exposed. Now Morgan has a choice to make: return to her glamorous movie star existence—or stick with the wholesome life, and the new love, she's found in the Midwest.

In this sequel to True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet, Lola Douglas's heartfelt prose and headstrong heroine return to delight readers.

Customer Reviews:

Confessions = Gossip.......2007-06-28

Lola Douglas put all of the elements together and made the journal look more like a book. Overall, it's not a bad book, but it might be a little more interesting if I've read the previous book: "Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet". Also, this book is really meant for teenage girls who enjoy gossiping and so forth...

Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-03-15

Yes, it does follow the trend of books starring celebrities, but it does so wonderfully, even for those of us who haven't read the prequel (True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet).

In MORE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET, Morgan Carter's average life in Fort Wayne, Indiana, has once more become the life in the spotlight she went to Fort Wayne to escape. Now, Morgan's life is getting to be a bit too much to handle: her boyfriend's mother doesn't want Morgan, a recovering addict, dating her son; Morgan's mother wants her back in LA and the spotlight; and sorting out the parts of her life that would be complicated enough if she were just an ordinary teenage girl, like school and friendships.

This novel is emotional and honest--Morgan is surprisingly real. Engaging prose and likeable characters make this book more than just fun (which is what much of the premise is), but actually serious and really good. I'll certainly be looking for the first book, and hoping for another!

Reviewed by: Jocelyn Pearce

Best of Both Worlds.......2007-01-18

Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet introduced readers to Morgan, a famous actress who was famous before she was old enough to drive. After overdosing at the Viper Room then going to rehab, she was sent to live with her mother's best friend in Indiana. She had to hide her true identity and get a "makeunder" on her famous face, adopting the name Claudia Miller and being forced to attend - gasp! - public school.

If you liked the first book, you'll like the sequel, More Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet. Morgan's story picks up right where it left off. Everyone knows who she is now, but just where does she belong? Morgan struggles with her identity, her sobriety, and her secrets.

This series isn't sugar-coated, to say the least. Morgan is bold. She has more of a presence than many of her contemporaries (meaning other teen novel protagonists who tell their stories in diary format) and she is stronger than she knows.

I recommend picking up both books in one fell swoop. Believe me, as soon as you finish the first book, you'll pick up the second. I hope there are more books in this series, because I think Morgan can only get stronger, wiser, maybe even get that redemption she's searching for, and make herself proud.

Another chapter in the crazy life of a Hollywood starlet.......2007-01-05

Claudia Miller returns to life in Fort Wayne, Indiana, though now she has been outed as famous starlet Morgan Carter. Readers met Morgan in TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A HOLLYWOOD STARLET as she went into hiding in Fort Wayne after almost overdosing to death and a stint in rehab. She was supposed to lay low, be a normal teen and not miss any of her Narcotics Anonymous meetings. That did happen for a while, until one of her classmates figured out who she really was and sold her to the tabloids.

Now, Morgan is trying just to attend class and find private time with her new boyfriend Eli. But he gets a little freaked out when a makeout session in his car leads to paparazzi on the roof of his vehicle. His mother, who loved Claudia, wants Morgan out of the lives of Eli and his twin sister Emily as fast as possible. As a therapist for drug users, she doesn't trust Morgan.

Meanwhile, Morgan's mother wants her back in LA for Thanksgiving, scheduling Morgan for voice lessons and personal training simply because Morgan mentioned that she may want to audition for the lead in her high school production of Oklahoma. Her mother thinks it will help her eventual comeback to Hollywood. She was nominated for an Academy Award, so how hard can a high school audition be?

Things get worse when Hollywood heartthrob Harlan Darly begins telling the press that he never got over Morgan. The reality is that he raped Morgan when she was drunk and very young, and she has not seen him since. She has only told a few people about what happened and isn't sure what to do when the press asks about her relationship with him. Her agent and new stepfather, Sam, doesn't know and is eager to represent Harlan, so Morgan goes along --- up to a point. When she is forced to see Harlan at an A-list party in Hollywood, she knows she has to stand up for other women who have gone through similar ordeals.

Morgan is funny and sincere as she sorts out who she is. While readers may envy her Hollywood connections and designer Marc Jacobs clothes, they will cheer her spirit as she fights to stay sober and sane in two crazy locations.

--- Reviewed by Amy Alessio

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