RaveLibrary JournalA perfect blend of dry wit, sparkling prose, and a dash of self-deprecating humor ... The book includes delightful tales.
Nick Davis
RaveLibrary JournalThe brothers had a complex relationship, fraught with jealousy and competition but also love, and Davis recounts it with feeling, drawing on fastidious research ... Movie fans and viewers of the recent Netflix film Mank will give two thumbs up to this carefully crafted, fascinating account of two legendary Hollywood figures.
Chloe Angyal
PositiveLibrary JournalAngyal’s reporting is thorough and compelling, and some of the stories she relates are heartbreaking. A filmography and a bibliography will aid those who wish to delve deeper ... Required reading for anyone who loves ballet and cares about its future.
Amit Chaudhuri
PositiveLibrary Journal[Chaudhuri] improvises on a number of themes, among them autobiography, writing, and his relationship with music, deftly weaving them all together in crisp and compelling prose. His analysis of the concepts and experience of listening to music is illuminating, and his exploration of music’s place in cultures and in the world is enlightening. To the Western ear, Indian music can be an unfamiliar challenge, and Chaudhuri’s insights will motivate readers to expand their musical horizons. Musicians and listeners of all kinds will recognize a kindred spirit here ... Readers familiar with Indian music will find much to appreciate, and those unfamiliar with it need only go to YouTube for examples of Chaudhuri’s work as a performer and composer.
Paul Morley
PositiveLibrary JournalThis is a thoughtful work full of fresh observations and strong opinions. Two of its 10 chapters are particularly illuminating and offer unique approaches. His writing strikes just the right note: erudite but edgy, entertaining but enlightening ... An excellent guide for anyone interested in expanding their musical horizons.
David Byrne
PositiveLibrary JournalThis selection of Byrne’s lyrics accompanied by Kalman’s illustrations captures the spirit of the show. As readers page through the book and savor the words, the pictures fairly leap off the page ... Whether or not readers are fans of Byrne, they’ll enjoy this colorful and playful presentation.
Christoph Wolff
PositiveLibrary JournalFor readers wishing to explore the universe that is the music of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), there’s no better guide than scholar Wolff ... Helpfully, the volume also offers a chronology, extensive notes, and a concise bibliography ... Students, musicians, and serious aficionados of Bach will be the most appreciative audience for this artfully composed work.
Jeanine Basinger
RaveLibrary JournalBasinger takes an in-depth look at the Hollywood musical in this lively and informative study of the quintessential American film art form. There is a lot of ground to cover, and the author is the perfect guide, taking readers back to the movies’ early days and the advent of sound, the uncharted waters of early productions, the jungle that was the studio system, and beyond. A selection of gorgeous photographs, including stills and studio shots, enhances the work. This is more than a sentimental journey, however. Perceptive portraits explore the roles of movie icons and iconoclastic filmmakers in the development of the genre, and Basinger’s enthusiastic, knowledgeable text is topped off with a carefully compiled bibliography. All that is lacking is a soundtrack, but the writing is so vivid that those beloved tunes will pop into your head once you start to read ... Movie buffs and film students alike will applaud this delightful and insightful work.
Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
PositiveLibrary Journal... [a] jewel of a novel ... A sparkling tale that will delight Francophiles and fans of historical fiction alike. These characters are engaging and expertly drawn, and their story is as evocative as the lingering traces of a fine eau de parfum.
