March 2006 Non-Fiction and Biography Book Reviews

California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Moder
by David L. Durham, David Durham

Word Dancer Press

ISBN# 1-8849-9514-4
Suggested Retail Price: $195.00 or as low as $150.00 from Amazon.com!

Being a Californian myself, I requested this book from the publisher so that I could write a review. I had no idea that the book was so big and heavy. Still, I love it because there are more than 50,000 entries and they are segregated into regions. I can find both the historic and the modern names of many and any place. The information is very complete with a description of the water and cultural feathers.

Yes it's big, but I consider it a treasure to keep on the shelf and use for any information about my state I want to know or for anywhere I travel… or just to page through at leisure. There is a wealth of information here and the inveterate researcher in many of us will enjoy it all.

Tango Fandango In The Cafe
by Robustiano Alvarez

AIIA ltd.
Book

This is a beautiful book that is filled with starling art and poetry. We don’t ordinarily try to review poetry because it’s not in our repartees so I cannot comment of the verse and it’s quality. But it seems to me that this coffee table sized book is delightful to look at. It also amazingly takes the poetic word beyond English. It is poetry in Spanish and also in Japanese. This is attractive even if it is only the English parts that I understand. Also you get a smashing CD with the book.

I don't know where this is available, so I will just send you to the email address for this author so if you are interested you can get some details. Try aiatangotodos@yahoo.com.

Mayan Folktales: Folklore from Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
by James D. Sexton

University of New Mexico Press

ISBN# 0-8263-2104-6
Suggested Retail Price: $18.95 or as low as $11.20 from Amazon.com!

This is the folklore from the area of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala that will give you insight into a civilization that we only know from bits of history. For those of us who have always enjoy reading about other cultures and their stories this is a delightful find.

There are tales of village life and stories about the Shamans and stories about Shift Changers who can turn into animals at will. The Mayan tales explain their natural world and teach values.

Getting Your Book Published for Dummies
by Sarah Parsons Zackheim, Adrian Zackheim

For Dummies
Paperback
ISBN# 0764552570
Suggested Retail Price: $19.99 or as low as $6.95 from Amazon.com!

This was my first "For Dummies" book and I was hoping for something that would help me get my own book published. You know the old saying - "scratch a book reviewer and you'll find an aspiring author." I wanted to know if the advice here would be better than the famous annual collection of information from "The Writers Guide."

The first thing the authors ask me is if I really want to be a professional writer?

After a loud yes I went to thew sections that would show me how to choose an idea for my book. One section is supposed to inspire me to write but I have always wanted to do this so I moved on to the sections that list publishers and marketing my own book. Finding an agent or being your own agent and maybe even you own attorney when it comes to your contract. That is, if you can sell your book to someone.

The facts are that this Dummy found out all sorts of information I would need to know. I found it in simple words and advice that any writer would welcome. The upshot is that I was delighted with my first Dummies book and look forward to seeing more.

The Art of Ray Harryhausen
by Peter Jackson, Ray Harryhausen, Tony Dalton

Billboard Books

ISBN# 0-8230-8400-0
Suggested Retail Price: $50.00 or as low as $43.77 from Amazon.com!

This is a magnificent biography of Ray Harryhausen, a cinematic genius who is considered the original master of action movie special effects who worked long before the digital era. The first time I was able to read about this artist was his the book called "An Aninated Life." It was with enormous pleasure that I browsed the pages of this beautiful coffee table book. The creator of animated dinosaurs and skeletons who first became famous for films such as "The Boyage of Sin" which is still worth watching. This book is filled with Hollywood history and superb color photogophy of the massive artwork of this man. Any fan will welcome this collection that focuses more on the artwork itself rather than the Hollywood aspect of the films.

At the Controls: The Smithsonian National Air And Space Museum B
by Tom Alison, Dana Bell, Eric F. Long, Mark A. Avino

Boston Mills Press
Paperback
ISBN# 1550464825
Suggested Retail Price: $24.95 or as low as $16.71 from Amazon.com!

Ever get a look at the cockpit of a jet airliner? Not much of a chance these days, but if they are gracious about allowing you a peek, what you see is way too much to take in and understand. This unique book brings you the information explaining what you see and includes the history of flight and its romance. Included famous planes are the Wright Flyer, Lindburgh's the spirit of St. Louis, plus many of the most notorious and well known famous.

Cockpits are shown and detailed along with explanations of their various functions. The history of aviation is brought up to date and even includes a couple of helicopters and exciting views inside a few of the most famous spacecraft. Any fan will value this outstanding book from the museum that knows the right stuff when it sees it.

Hershey : Milton S. Hershey's Extraordinary Life of Wealth, Empi
by Michael DAntonio

Simon & Schuster
Hardcover
Suggested Retail Price: $25.00 or as low as $15.86 from Amazon.com!

There is a notice on the front cover of this book stating that it is "neither authorized nor sponsored by the Hershey Company." Too bad. If the candy kings don't recognize that this is a really good biography of their founder, I certainly do.

The life of Milton Hershey is narrated in colorful and very readable style by this author. You get not only the life of the Milton family but insight into his inefficient "do-good" father. You will learn to admire his hardworking mother and Aunt. In fact the support of his mother’s family was a major factor in the success of the candy’s fame. Along with getting to know the characters responsible for the growth and success of the company you can feel the history of the times. You feel it because the author is an entertaining non-fiction writer, and his words draw you into the times with so much information that you have a good feel for the era he speaks of.

The whole book is most enjoyable, and if I were you I would buy a few Hershey bars to nibble on while you enjoy the tale.

The Billboard Illustrated Encyclopedia of Jazz & Blues
by Howard Mandel, Ted Drozdowski, John Scofield

Billboard Books
Book
ISBN# 0823082660
Suggested Retail Price: $45.00 or as low as $25.95 from Amazon.com!

Put this handsome book on your coffee table and your guests will enjoy the music you play and every page of the encyclopedia. The origins of popular music can often be traced back through the many artists and influences of African American music. Toward the end of the ninetieth century, a new style of jazz emerged from New Orleans. The Blues came from the desolate landscapes of Texas and the Mississippi Delta. Combine these elements with the culture of America to become two quite distinct genres.

This wonderfully illustrated book will take you through an in-depth look at the music and the influences. There is a lot of information on the artists that shaped jazz and blues as the styles developed. The book is organized by decade with an introductory test to each chapter that is filled with essential background information. Key artists of each decade are listed and their story and music is detailed. This is an A-Z of musicians and it includes a comprehensive reference section that has information on jazz and blues instruments, a full artist list, and a glossary to help the reader.

Collecting Vintage Children's Greeting Cards: Identification & V
by Linda McPherson

Collector Books
Book
ISBN# 1574324659
Suggested Retail Price: $24.95 or as low as $15.00 from Amazon.com!

Did you save any of the greeting cards you received when you were young? Maybe your mother kept them in scrapbooks and family photo albums. Today collectors will pay you a pretty penny for some of these charming collectibles. Even if you don’t collect greeting cards, this book is fun to page through. Children's cards were always delightfully light and pretty. You could buy cards with the Campbell Kids wishing your friends and family A Happy something. There were lots of Disney cards and, of course, seeing some of the early charming greeting cards for children from Hallmark is a visual delight. There were always kittens and puppies and familiar cartoon characters to choose from. You might even start collecting now because it is fun to go to garage sales and collectors' shows and search for your own special collectibles.

Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy Letters
by Brian Froud, Ari Berk

Abrams
Book
Suggested Retail Price: $19.95 or as low as $11.49 from Amazon.com!

Oh happy day! This is a new collection and it contains letters that were only recently discovered. You may remember Lady Cottington from an earlier encounter. She saw and collected and pressed the lovely fairies into books to save them. Here we are given a collection of letters that were sent to her from famous people. There are letters from Oscar Wilde, Wendy Darling of Peter Pan fame and Queen Victoria. Every page of this delightful book is fun to open. You get a picture of a startled fairy, the envelope and the exact letter that was sent to the lady.

Is this book for children? I don’t think so. Pressing fairies is not a pleasant thought to encounter. Adults however will enjoy the amazed expressions of each of the fairies at being collected.

I loved all the information about Lady Cottlington and her marvelous collection in the earlier books about her. This is a great addition to my collection,