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Fifty issues--collected into 15 volumes that total 2,000 pages--the Hernandez brothers' Love and Rockets is an enormous achievement that helped to create a new audience for comics. Notable for their strong female characters and their focus on relationships, rather than on traditional comic-book 'action', the stories collected in this volume, and the rest of the series, show how the comic format can be used to create characters and situations as detailed and compelling as in any novel.
Reviewers have compared GilbertHernandez's work--set in the fictional Latin American town of Palomar-- with that of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Robert Altman. Reading his brother Jaime's work--most of which focuses on a group of Southern California Mexican American women--is like reading Tolstoy, if only Tolstoy had written about twenty-something punk girls. Love and Rockets has certainly earned its legendary reputation among the comic-book cognoscenti, and deserves to be read by an even wider audience. Welcome to the world of Los Bros Hernandez.
Customer Reviews:
Pure wacky, graphic novel bliss..........2006-08-19
I got out - way out - of comic books several years before the debut of the Hernandez Bros. Love and Rockets books, but a friend of mine kept shoving the series under my nose, time after time. His persistence finally paid off; eventually, after a stategic, last-ditch attempt with a Christmas gift (thanks Brett!), I finally took notice.
I'm dang glad that I did. L&R couldn't rekindle my love affair with comics and draw me back into wanting to work in the medium, like I think my friend hoped, but the series did impress me. The Hernandez Bros. took the comic book in an entirely different direction than the medium had ever gone (even in the independents and graphic novels), and the Bros. and their work just got better with time. Music for Mechanics (Complete Love and Rockets, Book 1) Vol. 1 is the must see starting point for those just experiencing Los Bros. Hernandez' work.
Although I liked Gilbert's stuff well enough, my personal favorites here are the Mechanics stories by Jaime. I still dig his Dan DeCarlo/Archie's comics inspired drawing and the punk-rock madness of Maggie and her sci-fi exploits. Gilbert's artwork got a little too bizarre for my tastes. Or maybe it was due to my fond memories of Betty and Veronica... I don't know.
Hard to believe it's been more than two decades since I opened that Christmas gift, and I'm glad to say that, so far, Love and Rockets has weathered time's test. If you're new to the crew, I hope you enjoy your introduction. Have fun - the ride just gets better from here.
Brilliant.......2006-08-18
Jaime and Gilbert drew and wrote their hearts out from the beginning of this series and onward. The characters will draw you in, befriend you, make fun of you, and keep you wanting more. THis series is still a rarity amongst "alternative" comics, in its smartly told and...expertly drawn tales. Much of what passes for alternative in either comics or music is either pure rubbish or promising ideas tapped by sophmoric artists. Love and Rockets were a real gem from the start, and continue to be so because of the craftmanship demonstrated time and time again, as well as the uninhibited vision of its creators.
'Love & Rockets' when it still HAD rockets..........2006-04-30
This volume of the L&R collection is, obviously, the beginning. This was Los Bros Hernandez finding their voices and experimenting with concepts and genres. A large part of these stories are sci-fi, a genre the authors essentially abandoned later in the run, in favor of more character-driven "realistic" stories (with some exceptions, such as the later 'Penny Century' material). This volume introduces Maggie, Hopey and Luba, three characters who form the nucleus of the Hernandez universe all the way up until today (in fact, Maggie is the star of a new strip being published weekly in the New York Times Magazine starting in April 2006).
There are two main storylines in this volume, Mechanics (by Jaime)and BEM (by Gilbert). In Mechanics, Maggie leaves Hopey at home in Hoppers, their LA-area neighborhood/barrio, and goes off to work as a prosolar mechanic in the fictional country of Zhato, fixing robots, spaceships and other high-tech stuff. During her trip she falls for fellow mechanic Rand Race, gets involved in a civil war and gets lost in the jungle with former world champion wrestler Queen Rena Titanon. In BEM, Luba is shown as an ambitious would-be dictator, attempting to harness the power of the giant monster BEM, who has been released from his underground prison by greedy land developers trying to use it as the cheapest possible labor.
In my personal opinion these stories are absurd, funny and beautiful, and while they don't necessarily reflect the characters' eventual 'reality', they are excellent nonetheless. In fact, the included short story Locas Tambien is a much better example of what the stories are like in the future run; no ray guns or creatures, just friends hanging out, going to clubs and worrying about getting beat up. So to sum up, I'll say that if you want to see what Love & Rockets is all about, this is a great place to start. If you're looking for the Hernandez Brothers at their very best, I would suggest their collections 'Locas' (by Jaime) and 'Palomar' (by Gilbert).
Overrated.......2004-06-09
I'm writing just to warn people not to buy this book!
I don't know, people say that Love & Rockets get better after this one... But, in my humble opinion, it does never get any better. And I also bought that Palomar book and I can say this for sure. Sorry guys...
I really tried hard to read this book (and it was a great effort from my part) and I still gave up just 8 pages to the end...
What's is this? Read something because some "critic" guys told this is the supposed beginning of one of the "best works in the comics medium"? No, no, I gave up, and I should have given up earlier... I really couldn't feel attracted to read, I used to read before sleep, and I used to read only 3 pages a night and get tired... (it's a good medicine for insomnia... and a good torture technique too...).
One of the problems with these stories and others in L&R is because there's some deliberate (or maybe no... but let us believe that these artists are good enough to make things deliberate) crudeness everywhere!
The crudeness begins with the art! It's hard to get engaged with the visual in these stories and the page style. And the lettering? It isn't well arranged, there's lot of text sometimes (sometimes no text at all), and you feel uncomfortable to read. It's funny also the fact that the guys think that everybody knows spanish expressions!! Or the stories are so interesting that someone would bother to look for them in a dictionary!!!
Besides, now I arrived in one of the main problems in L&R... The Brothers Hernandes are supposing every time that people love what they are producing... I mean, when you play with the patience of you reader, or make some non-linear tricks in your stories, or you throw something in the air without further explanation (since it will be clear later - or not... - or there will be some implicit reflective meaning that will be noticed later) you have to make sure that your reader is attracted to your material, that things are very engaging, that your reader will really want to follow the stories to understand things...
On the other hand... Who said them that I'm interested? I mean, I begin to read a story because someone said it's interesting... But I didn't even begin to read and I'm not feeling attracted by the visual... then, I don't feel attracted by the beginning of the stories, then I begin to get tired to read, then I begin to hate things... Then, I wouldn't feel any interest to proceed just to see if in the end things get straight in my head, and I begin to see the lights of the story! And I'm sorry...
I still really don't know how I achieved the end of that Ben story!
It's like to go up a tibetan mountain, just because someone said that you will get 100 dollars!! Well, there are many easy, interesting, attractive, and personal enriching ways to get 100 dollars... I hope you get my meaning. The truth is that there are a lot of more satisfying comic book stories than L&R out there, and the truth is that L&R have been very overrated by "comic book critics".
Los Bros: the early days..........2000-09-13
Okay, first of all: by giving this only 3 stars, I am in no way dismissing Los Bros Hernandez or their remarkable overall achievement. (I hope to eventually get around to reviewing the other 14 volumes in the L&R collection.)
It's completely subjective on my part. I got into L&R when Jaime and Gilbert were well into their Hoppers and Palomar worlds, respectively. To me, that's L&R. This first volume, collecting the first two issues, shows the brothers finding their way into their signature themes and styles. There's also a lot of semi-readable sci-fi stuff, mostly from Gilbert, in the form of "BEM." (I should probably go back and re-read that more carefully, just to give it another day in court.) It wasn't long before Los Bros discovered that, yes, Gary Groth was going to support their vision even if it didn't include machines and monsters. As soon as they dropped the pulpy stuff and started hanging out with their thousands (seemingly) of real-world characters, L&R truly became L&R as critics and readers knew and loved it.
Still, if you're just getting into L&R, you do have to start here. If only for completeness' sake. If nothing else, it's a trip to see Los Bros' early drawing styles, especially Jaime's (he got a lot slicker as the years went on; Gilbert had a looser style to begin with and got even looser and more expressive; I enjoy both their styles equally). Plus, you do get to meet fan favorites Maggie and Hopey (Jaime) and Luba (Gilbert) here for the first time. I'm just not all that interested in the "Mechanics" stuff (Rand Race was probably the least interesting character Jaime ever put to paper) or Gilbert's "Heavy Metal"-influenced stuff, and I'm definitely one of those readers who thought Maggie got about 1,000 times cooler when she put on weight in the later comics. But that's just my opinion...I could be wrong.
Book Description
It's no secret that Beethoven went deaf, that Mozart had constant money problems, and that Gilbert and Sullivan wrote musicals. But what were these people--and other famous musicians--really like? What did they eat? What did they wear? How did they spend their time? And--possibly most interesting of all--what did their neighbors think?
Discover the fascinating and often humorous stories of twenty famous musicians--people of all shapes, sizes, temperaments, and lifestyles, from various countries and historical periods. Beginning with Vivaldi and ending with Woodie Guthrie, Lives of the Musicians brings musical history to life!
Customer Reviews:
Musicians, Musicians' Lives.......2007-04-14
A pleasure to read this book. I listen to a classical music station which includes interesting facts about the musicians' private lives. One day a guest mentioned that she knew where the host was obtaining these interesting facts. So it is a secret no longer; it's this book. Lives of the Musicians is light reading with approx. 2 pages of facts per musician, so it is not an in-depth look at their private lives; however put it on your "Fun" reading list. It is a highly amusing book and a great source of dinner conversation. Also Check out Lives of the Artists:Good Times, Bad Times (and What the Neigbors Thought)
Great musical resource!.......2007-03-12
My daughter has been studying piano for two years and she is fascinated by the people who score the compositions she learns to play. In school she learns about a different composer each month and always wants to know more when she comes home. She also has a love for anything historical. This book was a great addition to our reference collection because it reaches her on several levels. We happened to come across it at the library and, after reading a few entries, we decided we'd like to buy it. Lots of bookstores stocked the paperback edition, but only Amazon had the hardcover in stock. This is the kind of book you really want in hardcover so that young children can more easily flip through the pages and study the humorous illustrations.
The book includes entries on 20 musicians from a wide range of styles, backgrounds, and historical periods. The entries are engaging for adult readers, yet accessible for a younger audience. My daughter is six and was totally engrossed in the stories of Chopin, Mozart, Clara Schumann and others. I know we will come back to this book again and again.
Great Book!.......2007-02-11
This is a great book! My piano teacher checked it out from the library and loved it so much I had to buy her a copy! The illustrations are adorable and the bio's are so interesting. A lot of interesting stories that really give the great masters a very human quality! I love reading about the musicians that I'm currently playing! If you are into music and want to know just how human they really were this is a great book!
GREAT for kids - first exposure to composers tough for little ones.......2006-09-06
My daughter's piano teacher gave her the assignment to read about Mozart as she started her first Mozart Minuet. My daughter was 7 at the time, and although she was reading at above 3rd grade level, I was shocked to find that there was NOTHING available on the internet or in her school library that give her information on composers at HER level. I finally found "Lives of the Musicians" and have actually purchased the book. It's just that good. She is able to read about each composer (for the most part the language is about her level, although she DOES need help with some of the words), and each section is engaging enough to keep her attention.
This book is a must for anyone with a child that wants or is assigned to learn about the great composers.
Gift.......2006-06-28
I got this book for my daughter who is a music teacher. I thought it would be a good reference and teaching tool for her.
Customer Reviews:
Take a trip down memory lane.......2006-06-01
If you loved Hanna-Barbera, then you'll love this book. It contains all kinds of data about Mr.Hanna and Mr.Barbera, how they started their business and their cartoons. Kids will love this book!
The Best Hanna and Barbera Book Ever!.......2000-09-02
If you are a Hanna and Barbera fan then you simple MUST have this book. All the info on The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Scooby Doo and more from the oldest to the newest cartoons. I just loved this book from cover to cover including all the artwork that is available. You will feel just like a kid again when you open this book. Enjoy.
A great guide for cartoonophiles!.......2000-03-26
This book is cool! Tons of information about the background of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons! Episode guides of The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, Top Cat, and Jonny Quest! A must-have for all Hanna-Barbera fans!
Book Description
Based on interviews with Stan Lee and dozens of his colleagues and contemporaries, as well as extensive archival research, this book provides a professional history, an appreciation, and a critical exploration of the face of Marvel Comics. Recognized as a dazzling writer, a skilled editor, a relentless self-promoter, a credit hog, and a huckster, Stan Lee rose from his humble beginnings to ride the wave of the 1940s comics books boom and witness the current motion picture madness and comic industry woes. Included is a complete examination of the rise of Marvel Comics, Lee's work in the years of postwar prosperity, and his efforts in the 1960s to revitalize the medium after it had grown stale.
Customer Reviews:
A Great, Concise Comix History BUT..........2006-06-24
This book has some pluses and minuses. It DOES desperately need illustrations; however it's well-written and a fascinating read. Raphael and Spurgeon do a great job of overviewing the history of comic books, describing the business side of the industry, and explaining the importance of Stan Lee's contribution. However the authors' finale is, IMHO, unfairly negative. Lee gets needled here, not I think out of bias, but as a bit of fudging the truth for entertainment purposes...
Comic books were invented in 1934 and the first superhero, Superman, debuted in 1938. Stan Lee entered the field shortly afterwards as a go-fer at the publishing house of his cousin, Martin Goodman. Lee soldiered on for Goodman as the boom times gave way to bust, and essentially single-handedly kept Marvel going during the mediums' '50s decline. If Lee hadn't been Goodman's cousin, or if Lee had just given up on the medium and looked for other work, the history of comic books would have been VERY different. Instead Lee created the environment in which superheroes were reinvented in the '60s, reinvigorating the mainstream. He then became essentially a PR person for Marvel in Hollywood.
Lee is an engaging and relentless promoter of the medium in general and Marvel in particular, and in the cynical '80s he was castigated for taking too much credit for his role in creating characters produced by the collaborative model he invented for comic-book production. Raphael and Spurgeon give a qualified defense of Lee against these charges but are not, IMHO, entirely fair in evaluating Lee, particularly in the terms of the complex circumstances surrounding Jack Kirby's claims on the "Marvel Universe." Ultimately the authors condemn Lee as a phoney and almost a hack, a conclusion I think is very unfair.
As someone who was reading comics from the late '60s into the '70s, I don't remember fans of the MEDIUM under-appreciating the contributions of Kirby or Ditko. On the contrary, those interested in comics as an art form tended to give FAR more credit to the artists of the mainstream than to Lee and his fellow editor-writers at DC etc. Fans of the Marvel LINE undoubtedly did worship Lee - and therefore bought the comix, which was really the whole point of the Lee persona! As for Lee not giving credit to his collaborators, Marvel was THE comix publisher that trumpeted who the artists were: try reading a '60s Dell, Gold Key, Tower, or even DC comic and try to figure out who the penciller, inker, writer, or colorist were!!! Lee, editor, writer, office manager, chief-cook-and-bottle-washer, put that info on page one, in BIG letters: step one to getting the artists the credit and remuneration that even Bill Gaines never gave away. Kudos to Stan Lee!
Not just for true believers.......2006-06-05
An awful lot of fun to read. Moves quickly without leaving major gaps. It's a balanced telling of Lee's growth and influence within the comic book industry while addressing the changes the industry also went through. The book doesn't lay the story down in black and white. We hear of wise choices and poor choices made by most parties involved through Stan's years. If you have grievances with the man, you may feel it falls a little short; if you are a fan, you'll feel twinges of regret when some thoughts, actions, and motives are revealed. In either case, it's hard to dismiss the infectious spirit and nature Stan Lee carries with his work and you have to admit his influence continues to be felt in the comicbook/storytelling world.
Great overview of Lee and Marvel.......2005-08-18
This book gives an excellent overview of Stan Lee and his contribution to Marvel and the history of comics. It came across as a balanced view, praising Lee's strengths as well as showing his weaknesses (and we all have them.)
As I read, though, I wanted more detailed information on the 1960s glory years of Marvel; instead, this decade had the same amount of information as the rest and sometimes not as specific. I would've liked some interviews with others as to what they thought of Lee's working relationship with Kirby and Ditko, for example. Overall, though, highly recommended!
Comprehensive and balanced account of a controverisal figure.......2005-04-13
Stan Lee has been the center of debate in the comic book world for years as to his being an innovative genius or a credit-stealing hack. As this book ably demonstrates the truth is closer to the middle. The authors use extensive research and in-depth interviews to make their case that despite Lee's grabbing of other credit that belonged to other artists, Lee's legitimate contributions to comic books should establish him as true innovator. The book asserts that Lee was able to create unique personalities and dialogue for his characters that distinguished them from other comic books as well as each other. This approach made Marvel's characters different from the cookie cutter personalities that DC had to offer at this time. However, Lee failed to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of other artists to his "Marvel Method," and this has hurt his reputation significantly. This book is balanced in its treatment of both Lee and his critics.
Stan is his own man, and has taken lumps to prove it........2005-01-16
In comicdom, there are a few creators (Stan Lee, Jim Shooter, various editors at DC Comics, et al) who are seen as bad guys for one reason or another.
Here we have what I think is a balanced account of Stan Lee, who has been seen as everything as a genius to a thief to a visionary to a hack.
Did Stan lie about his creator status of the Marvel Universe. Yes. Did he overstate his role in the creation of Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Iron Man, Doctor Doom, etc.? Yes, and he has sometimes stated as much (with an uncomfortable squirm, I bet).
Is he a bad guy for doing so? Well....if honest is the best policy, Stan is one for bad policies, I guess.
Love him or hate him, he IS one of the great figures in comic books and it is easily argued that without Stan Lee's contributions, comic books would not have been the social force and just plain fun that they were in the 1960's and certainly Marvel would not be, to this day, on top of the heap of comic book companies.
This book is well-written and holds back only in the slightest. Stan gets the black eye he deserves. But he also gets the pat on the back he deserves, too.
I'll now go on to read his own "Excellsior" with one eye on this book to remind me of the hype that Stan is famous for pulling.
This is a fast read and very entertaining. It offers super pictures (which Ronin Ro's biography of Jack Kirby sadly lacks) of Stan at various stages of his life. ALL Marvel fans and fans of the Silver Age of comics should read it!
Nuff Said!
Book Description
'The Rolling Stones' burst on to the scene in 1963 the only way the media could respond was to attempt to lampoon them through cartoons. Bill Wyman gives his own unique take on life with 'The Rolling Stones' and we are treated to a comprehensive collection of the funniest cartoons ever created about the pop scene. The Stones: A History in Cartoons is not just a history of the band. It's also a demonstration of the changing attitudes towards a generation that believed hair should be long and skirts should be short.
Customer Reviews:
The History of the Stones Through Cartoons--Five Stars.......2007-07-13
If you are a fan of the Rolling Stones, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Bill Wyman was the historian of the group, clipping and saving everything, including, I assume, many of these cartoons.
The cartoons are laid out in chronological order from the beginnings of the Stones career through the present. The gags have changed over the years, of course. First, it was the hair-length. Next, the sexual escapades. Still later, the geriatric nature of the boys in the band.
The cartoons run the gamut and are hilarious, with text to put them in context.
A great quote that sums up the controversial boys from a British newspaper of the early sixties: "Perverted, outrageous, violent, repulsive, ugly, tasteful, incoherent. A travesty. That's what's good about them." Like any great artists, full of contradictions.
Highly recommended. Five stars.
Customer Reviews:
grateful dead Comix.......2001-12-27
this book is great! i have had a copy since i was a kid. it includes 16 Grateful Dead classics, that have been turned into comics. if you can get your hands on a copy, i suggest getting it as fast a you can.
Book Description
This classic history of Walt Disney's life and works asks penetrating questions about Disney's achievements and shortcomings, and the enormous popularity of the Disney version. One of the best studies ever done on American popular culture...unfailingly, consistently intelligent, and eminently readable. --Stephen J. Whitfield, Brandeis University. This may be the single most illuminating work on America and the movies. --Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
Customer Reviews:
There's a Better Bio on Disney.......2007-03-16
I recently read both this and Neal Gabler's "Walt Disney, Triumph of the American Imagination," and Gabler's book (recently released) is an extroardinarily well-written (and detailed) attempt to give a balanced version of Uncle Walt. This book, unfortunately, has a point of view that is unwilling to take note of contrary evidence (although there is an interesting story here about the Disneyfication of American Culture, this book is simply too one sided.
Stream-of-Consciousness writing.......2005-05-02
Taking into account the fact that this book is almost 40 years old, I found it extremely hard to follow. The author makes many pop-culture references pertinent to the time that I cannot relate to (as if he expects the reader to be a Hollywood-insider/contemporary of Disney's). The book skips around to different time periods and is very dry. This is NOT a biography, as I thought, more of a commentary on Disney's impact on American culture and entertainment, as it quickly summarizes Disney's formative experiences as if the reader is expected to be familiar with them.
Excellent read, but how credible is the information?.......2003-06-12
Schickel does a good research and puts facts down as they are, but he analyzes those facts from his own point of view. He thinks Disney works have manipulated masses who were of an inferior intellect and the company made fortune out of it.
While this may be true, the book could have been more balanced, with an unbiased view, mentioning many favorable things the Company created.
Good, but not great.......2002-12-29
The book is definitly an in depth coverage of what happened in the early years of the Disney company, but it's definitly more of a history of the company than a biography of Walt.
Are you sure this is a biography?.......2002-03-09
More of a social history of cartoons and the movies and the common man, than that of an unbiased look at Walt Disney.
I felt that the author believed himself above us common Midwest, small town folks, and felt pity on us that we didn't know that we were stupid and liked such low brow things like Mary Poppins, Snow White and Silly Symphonies. I think he equates pop culture with trash. I guess the millions and millions of people around the world that just want decent entertainment, and not some hidden meaning that needs interpretation, are fools. Or is he just jealous?
Book Description
The popularity of cartoon music, from Carl Stalling’s work for Warner Bros. to Disney sound tracks and The Simpsons’ song parodies, has never been greater. This lively and fascinating look at cartoon music’s past and present collects contributions from well-known music critics and cartoonists, and interviews with the principal cartoon composers. Here Mark Mothersbaugh talks about his music for Rugrats, Alf Clausen about composing for The Simpsons, Carl Stalling about his work for Walt Disney and Warner Bros., Irwin Chusid about Raymond Scott’s work, Will Friedwald about Casper the Friendly Ghost, Richard Stone about his music for Animaniacs, Joseph Lanza about Ren and Stimpy, and much, much more.
Customer Reviews:
Bravo!.......2002-10-18
Finally...a book on the GREAT cartoon music composers! AND it includes the way under-rated MAURY LAWS of RANKIN/BASS fame! Greg Ehrbar did a wonderful job on this chapter and his DISCOGRAPHY in the back of the book! They are all here....from CARL STALLING to HOYT CURTIN and even the modern cartoon music writers! This book was a LONG time coming! THANKS!
Customer Reviews:
A History that Under-stands History as Rhetoric.......2001-04-15
It's funny. It also takes the subject by the horn(s). The passion of this music needs a voice that understands that you cannot build the house of jazz history with the master's tools...so it takes a different approach to the history, one that uses the "for beginners" form as a way of talking politics. That makes this volume essential for a basic understanding for what is at stake in the history of jazz. This is what Ken Burns (and my old friend Wynton) need as a corrective. No, I don't agree with all of it...but that outcome should always make one suspicious...
Very personal account of jazz........2000-01-07
As much as I would like to rate this book more positvely I really can't. Not only do I find the author's tone very arrogant at times but because the book is supposed to be an introduction for new jazz lovers the highly personal tone and comments the author makes about certain jazz styles and musicians is very innapropriate. How can someone who turns to this book for help in understanding jazz, sort through the biases the author has towards certain artists if this is their first jazz reading? I'm also sorry to say that the book also appears to have not gone through a proof-reading...there are several (10+) spelling mistakes in the first chapter alone. I suggest you browse through it at your library rather than buy it.
Interesting, but spotty........1997-04-25
Another in the seemingly endless series of "...for Beginners" books that began with a few Marxist tomes but later expanded into other areas. There are some useful bits and pieces here, but overall it's a rather narrow selection that spends too much time on the politics and history and not nearly enough on the music. Mingus is given a number of pages, and rightly so, given his stature as a composer and bassist- but there's not much about his music or why it's worth listening to. But where's Scott LaFaro? He was possibly even more influential than Mingus in redefining moden jazz bass playing, but there's nary a mention of him. There are too many omissions of this sort. Not one of the better books from this group, and not a good choice for someone interested in exploring jazz
Customer Reviews:
Great for beginners.......2005-10-22
I'm new to opera, and this book was recommended by a family member as a good introduction. It's very thorough, and written in an accesible tone. The best thing about this book is that David, while clearly expressing which operas are his favorites, gives details on all different kinds of Opera so that the reader may decide where to start. I appreciated the descriptions of different voices (although a more thorough description of current singers would have been appreciated) and the discography was very helpful. David also provides the story lines of several operas at the end of the book, with comments on famous arias. I appreciated the descriptions of how opera styles have evolved, and the comparisons between them. David is good at providing short, humorous anecdotes about singers, performances and composers. My favorite anecdote is the one that tells of Toscanini at a performance of Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. In the middle of a very long duet, Toscanini turned to the person next to him and said "If they were Italian, they'd have seven children by now." These types of quips are not only a humorous addition to David's book, but he places them well as to accentuate the points that he is trying to make (in this case, the difference between Italian and German opera.) If you are looking for a quick, informative introduction to opera, this book is for you. I give it four stars instead of five, because I feel that some of the cartoonish side-comments are superfluous, and became a little annoying after awhile.
NOT Just for Beginners.......2000-07-29
This is an absolutely delightful little book. Much is covered in a highly readable and enjoyable style. Those who know nothing about opera, but would like to learn, will find this a fun and interesting introduction. Those, like myself, who love opera with a passion will also find Ron David's book to be a fun and interesting read -- not to mention "reference". I find that I turn to it often just to check on something. Mr. David's irreverent style is refreshing since I, too, believe that opera is for everyone. True soul music.
An extremely irreverent introduction to opera........1996-05-19
Opera for Beginners is, as the title says, for people who know nothing
about the subject. But the book is really for folks who want to learn one guy's opinion of it
(Ron David). Mr. David gives a concise and entertaining
history of the form, a review of 20th century opera singers,
and synopses of his 30 favorite operas. The book is about half
text, half cartoons. Always amusing, Mr. David tries to link
opera to gospel, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. You may
not agree with his view that Mozart is an "overrated" composer
--I happen to think his operas are among the finest ever
written. But, he gives you something to think about. And,
a fine place to begin your exploration of opera. Just don't
think you're getting an exhaustive tome here--you can read
Opera for Beginners in an hour or two.
Books:
- Off The Rails
- Physics of Sound, The (3rd Edition)
- Reinventing Your Life: The Breakthough Program to End Negative Behavior...and Feel Great Again
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- Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead
- Sex - Madonna
- Shut Up & Sing: How Elites from Hollywood, Politics, and the U.N. are Subverting America
- SIGN with your BABY Complete Learning Kit: US DVD Version, Book, Training Video (DVD), Quick Reference Guide
- Simple Chinese Cooking
- Singing: The Mechanism and the Technic
Books Index
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General
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Chelo's Burden (Love and Rockets (Graphic Novels))
Love and Rockets, Book 4: Tears from Heaven (Love and Rockets (Graphic Novels))
Love and Rockets, Vol 3: Los Bros Hernandez Las Mujeres Perdidas
Love and Rockets Vol. 5: House of Raging Women (Love and Rockets (Graphic Novels))
Blood of Palomar (Love and Rockets (Graphic Novels))
