If you think your life sucks, read POE FOR YOUR PROBLEMS and be forever grateful that Catherine Baab-Muguira has gotten that idea out of your head. PoIf you think your life sucks, read POE FOR YOUR PROBLEMS and be forever grateful that Catherine Baab-Muguira has gotten that idea out of your head. Poe would have loved this book and written a witty complimentary review. However, he might also have written a trashy review under his nome de controverse, Outis. Just trying to help the author get press with some hullabaloo.
As Baab-Muguira takes a reader through the sad, unlucky life of Poe, she turns Poe’s ill luck into advice to help a reader turn that frown upside down.
Just listing some of the chapter sub-titles will give one an idea of what’s on offer: “Lose Early, Lose Often,” “Chip on Your Shoulder? Good,” “Dealing with Rejection (and Vowing your Revenge,)” “Trolling as Fine Art.” The book is unique in its self-help, which is no surprise because one would be hard-pressed to find anyone as matchless as Poe.
While the author holds back no punches in discussing Poe’s terrible decisions, lack of sobriety, and life-long penury, the book is also funny, and sad, and very respectful, and admiring of Poe. This is nowhere more evident than in her “Coda.’ “Poe,” Baab-Mugurira writes, “is famous for horror, but this time around I think it may be the hope that stays with you—or so I hope. . . . and you can win by losing. Poe did.”
So too will a reader who picks up this beautifully written and funny look at the train wreck that was Poe’s life....more
Mata Hari was a late bloomer. She married a brute who abused her and gave her syphilis, which in turn was passed on to her in utero baby who dies younMata Hari was a late bloomer. She married a brute who abused her and gave her syphilis, which in turn was passed on to her in utero baby who dies young. She is in Sumatra at this time and divorces her horrid husband and moves to Paris where she becomes, apparently, something of a sensation as a dancer and courtesan. During the first World War, she is recruited by the Germans, the French and even the Russians. What Mary W. Craig provides the reader is context for Mata Hari's poor decisions during the War while she also untangles some of the webs of deceit that have surrounded her for years....more
Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder made some of the greatest movies of the 50s. This book is a collection of previously unpublished writings from BrackCharles Brackett and Billy Wilder made some of the greatest movies of the 50s. This book is a collection of previously unpublished writings from Brackett's diaries about his work with Wilder on such films as Ball of Fire and Sunset Boulevard. Any true fan of Hollywood should read this book....more
Although this purports to be a book about Elizabeth Taylor and Montogomery Clift, I came away remembering only Elizabeth Taylor. I am a Montgomery CliAlthough this purports to be a book about Elizabeth Taylor and Montogomery Clift, I came away remembering only Elizabeth Taylor. I am a Montgomery Clift fan, but the author, I think did not do him justice. Taylor comes off as a great friend and a diva--but she is Elizabeth Taylor....more
Post-war Italy was ready for a party. With Mussolini and Hitler defeated, glamour returned to Europe. The 1950s and 1960s would find Rome prospering aPost-war Italy was ready for a party. With Mussolini and Hitler defeated, glamour returned to Europe. The 1950s and 1960s would find Rome prospering after years of hunger, terror, and fear. The personality of these post-war times is on display in the movies of the era: Three Coins in the Fountain, The Barefoot Contessa, La Dolce Vita, Cleopatra, and Roman Holiday, to name just a few. Two of the book's major players, refugees from the war turn out to be the glamorous Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. But many stars flock to Italy, particularly Rome. There was Ava Gardner, Gina Lollobrigida, Elizabeth Taylor, and Brigitte Bardot to name a few. Each chapter looks closely at one of the actresses, Richard Burton, the lone man to make an appearance. If you are a fan of these actors or want a hint of what was Rome in a heady decade, this book is for you....more
The true story of trapeze artist Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century,or so says the book, anThe true story of trapeze artist Leitzel, Queen of the Air, the most famous woman in the world at the turn of the 20th century,or so says the book, and her star-crossed love affair with Alfredo Codona, of the famous Flying Codona Brothers.
It's a good evocation of the times. I had never heard of Leitzel before this book. A fascinating read....more
This reads like a compilation of blog posts. There is nothing new here and nothing you can't find on the Internet.If you like to read self help books,This reads like a compilation of blog posts. There is nothing new here and nothing you can't find on the Internet.If you like to read self help books, this certainly won't hurt....more
This might be better titled Revenge on the Vogue Factor. Kirstie Clements, longtime editor of Vogue Australia was unceremoniously ousted from her posiThis might be better titled Revenge on the Vogue Factor. Kirstie Clements, longtime editor of Vogue Australia was unceremoniously ousted from her position in 2012. This book is her revenge. What's missing is anything about Vogue. She worked her way up from receptionist to editor, yet this reader gets no sense of the inner workings of the magazine. How does one get produced? What choices are made? And why aren't there any pictures?
Clements does seem gaga over celebrities--She loves Cate Blanchett and has nothing kind to say about Nicole Kidman. She is over the moon about Karl Lagerfeld, and when she gets to interview the Princess of Denmark (former citizen of Australia) she acts as though she's died and gone to heaven.
She mentions having married a man in France and siring twins--and that's all we ever hear about them.
We don't get the inner workings of Vogue, or how the editor juggled motherhood and her job, or much of anything except rants about corporations not understanding that in firing her, they've doomed Australia to the dark ages of a magazine on the Internet....more
A collection of O'Connor's writings (other than her fiction) and some of her lectures. The chapters are short and very readable. This is the kind of bA collection of O'Connor's writings (other than her fiction) and some of her lectures. The chapters are short and very readable. This is the kind of book you can pick up and read in a few hours or enjoy over weeks, picking it up whenever you'd like something brief and to the point. Many insights into her work....more
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