Joan See, a classically trained actor (Sanford Meisner, Wynn Handman), explodes numerous myths about acting in commercials, such as:

o Commercial acting is easy

o Commercial acting requires no craft or skill

o Commercial acting is selling

On the contrary, says See: the actor's job is not to sell. Actors "must bring little stories to life in a way that makes other people believe them. If you believe that your job is selling, you will feel that something other than acting is required. But don't forget what the advertisers hired you for - your acting skills. They want your ability to communicate ideas and feelings in such a way that their audience believes you." In other words, actors in commercials need to remain grounded in their foundation skills of acting.

The challenge for actors with a background in theater, says See, is that they don't understand the differing requirements of acting in front of a camera, and the challenge for all actors unfamiliar with the commercial genre is the need to turn in masterful performances in mere seconds in the somewhat bewildering formats and styles found in commercials. This book provides detailed help on both fronts.

The author begins by reviewing acting fundamentals that apply to the naturalistic stories actors are most often asked to bring to life in commercials, including the basic skills of relaxation, concentration, listening and responding, and physicalization. She then discusses the mechanics of acting before a camera, both in the audition and on the set, and lays out strategies for overcoming the most common traps in those settings.

Finally, in the meat of the book, See identifies the three most common forms that Madison Avenue tends to use in commercials -- slice-of-life, spokesperson, and MOS -- and the three most common styles in which those forms are expressed -- film-style, sitcom-style, and "Honeymooners" -- and lays out extensive strategies for practicing, auditioning, and performing in these forms and styles.

This is valuable information indeed: "Analyzing commercial scripts by pinpointing their form and style gives an actor the first chance to control the material. With this information, you suddenly have guidelines for your performance. You have something to work with. The directors and casting directors in the commercial advertising field know what results they want. They are not always skilled at helping actors obtain that result. Actors must be able to function as their own director and bring their performance into the audition with them."

This book provides an excellent set of tools for navigating these challenging but lucrative waters. It is full of practical information, example scripts, and helpful guidance, almost all of which is firmly rooted in classic acting. Practicing and using the techniques in this book, an actor should no longer be like a deer in the headlights at an audition or on the set. Highly recommended.

I have had the pleasure of reading several books for actors aspiring to make commercials a part of their livelihood. This is an easily understood exposition of the many facets of commercial work and the transition from stage acting to camera. Many superb examples of eye-opening scenarios give the book life and energy. Anyone aspiring to make commercials should give this book thorough study. Ms. See offers several other sources for self study in the pages toward the end and examples of commercial copy and the mind set to make a performance count.

My own two boys and numerous classes of my kindergarten children have truly enjoyed this book! It is the wonderful tale of a new friendship that starts out with a very bumpy beginning. This book lends itself quite easily to dramatic readings which my kinderkids thoroughly enjoy. I am delighted to find that there are two more books about Addie!

Addie and Max is a great book for all the little ones that you have around your house. This book show that you cant judge someone (and their dog) before you get to know them you never know they could turn out to be one of your best firneds. I rated this book a 5.

A Must to read by every orthodontist and their patients. A Humorous and funny experience about wearing braces for an adult.

Book offers a humorous look into adult orthodontics a specialty in itself. DJT., DDS St.Petersburg FL; Added so much excitement to having braces. CRM, Ortho Assis

Well then, settle in and read The Affair of the Bloodstained Egg Cosy....What fun....what good writing..this is the classic British mystery at its best....an Agatha Christie look-a-like. It was packed with so much...clues, characters, satire, etc. that I needed a pencil and paper next to me to keep tract of everything and everyone....The characters are delightful and the ending is a hugh surprise......I double dare you to try to guess the murderer..... Lawscotch@aol.com

The Affair of the Blood-Stained Egg Cosy is one of many mysteries whose plot centers around a house party. However, Affair is unusually creative, funny, and clever. Affair was written in 1975, and takes place in the 1930s, but its humor and wit is timeless. Walter Satterthwait's Escapade would seem to owe a debt to Affair, as there are several similar elements and plot points. However, Affair succeeds in all the areas in which Escapade failed. James Anderson's plot is complex but never feels ridiculously contrived, and does not base plot points around ignorant, mistaken assumptions about ballistics, as Satterthwait does. Anderson also does a much better job with his characterizations, and is better able to make key characters charming rather than unintentionally obnoxious.

You'll have fun guessing what surprises Anderson may be hinting at, and all your guesses will probably be wrong! But you won't feel cheated or disappointed, as Affair remains pleasing and loads of fun throughout.

If you have a problem with alcohol and has been unsuccessful with conventional programs or know someone who has. DON'T GIVE UP BEFORE YOUR READ THIS BOOK. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE OR THE LIFE OF A LOVE ONE. This program can help millions who suffer from alcoholism. It explains why so many alcoholics are unsuccessful at abstaining from alcohol. It contradicts the general perception of alcohol abuse and that alcoholics can't be helped until they want to. It proves (if you will) that alcoholism is indeed a disease and not only mental but mostly physical. I found answers and reasons for why alcoholics behave the way they do and how it is genetic and hereditary. This book is based on scientific and medical research and the findings are absolutely amazing. It also shows that like any other physical disease or illness, if after diagnosing the problem, there is not a physical treatment to prepare the damage, recovery is almost impossible. The program described is extraordinary to say the least. Frankly it disturbed me that our government has had this evidence for over 40 years that this program can triple the success rate of recovering alcoholics as well as make it easier and less painful for persons trying to get help. Reading this book could probably greatly increase the amount of people who seek help.

I found this book facinating! It not only explains why some people crave alcohol but it also gives a roadmap out of the horrible maze of addiction. It is facinating and gives real help to those people that haven't found their solution to their problem.

I have to agree with the reviewer below who did such a great job in outling the story. Although this is an old story, there is still so much in it to like upon a re-read. It is a story of a couple brought together by duty and love - on his part, the duty to his estates and tenants, to his family, and to his Name and Title, and on hers, to her father. In agreeing to marry, they discover firstly that they get along surprisingly well, and secondly that they love each other - but not without several hiccups. One of Tracy's problems is her post-natal depression (the baby blues) which combine with a general feeling of insecurity both as a very young wife and mother and as a foreigner and outside. Her attempts to do what she thinks her husband wants from her - to be a political hostess - only serve to create a rift between the two. This is made worse when a former suitor arrives in London and completely misread's Tracy's feelings about her marriage and about himself. But everything ends happily (this is a romance!), and the young duke and duchess realize that they are in love, and that Tracy does not in fact have to play the part of political hostess.

Add to all this some delightful vignettes into the way in which American heiresses were received in British high society (well before the 1880s and 1890s when many more American heiresses arrived to win titles), and the ways in which a young Republican heroine adjusts to life at the top of the aristocratic ladder. Tracy's political beliefs are not taken seriously by the statesmen who listen to her, but then fortunately she is no firebrand, either.

At least one of the love scenes were curiously reminiscent of a similar scene in THE GAMBLE (one of my favorite Joan Wolf books). This scene and other scenes are slightly more explicit than the norm for this period (early 1980s), but most of the sensuality is conveyed by such scenes as the couple fishing together, riding together, the duke lifting a heavy branch off the road, and so forth.

If you like Joan Wolf, this book is a must-read. It is also a favorite choice for most Regency readers. There is no explicit adventure, but the story of a couple learning about each other and the sacrifices they have made for others.

I read this one ages ago and still read it again occasionally. William Bodmin is dying and like many self made Americans he wished to sell his fortune for a title. Eyeing the crop of eligibles he finds the poor but impressive Duke of Hastings. Tracey Bodmin, realizing that her marrying an aristocrat is her father's dying wish, is willing to do the inevitable.

Adrian (the Duke) has a family to care for and an estate to finance so he looks to the current crop of heiresses. Quickly discarding most of the crop, his eye lands on Tracey Bodmin who in addition to having money is lovely and personable boot. So Tracey and Adrian do their duty. . .

Duty never felt so good.

Tracey, Adrian, and Tracey's father find themselves quite pleased with the results and prepare for a happily ever after. . .only reality intrudes.

Tracey's democratic tendencies leave her feeling ill suited for a ton marriage--especially with someone as truly aristocratic as Adrian. Add in a difficult pregnancy and a long lost suitor determined to free her from the strict rules of English society, and Tracey's marriage is poised to fall apart.

It's a tale of a totally unsuited couple that find that not only do opposites attract, they can even survive once the honeymoon is over.

Morrison and Zabusky have outdone themselves by gathering stories in immigrants own words and compiling them in this delightful book. It has been a long time since I've read any nonfiction, but because of this book and how well it captivated me, nonfiction is what I crave most. The stories are so detailed and I can honestly say that at times I actually felt the story-tellers pain. This should be required reading for all high school students. I am so glad I stumbled on to this gem!

This is a great resource and a priceless record of the immigrant experience in America. Morrison and Zabusky collected stories in people's own words and sets them down here, so we can all see first-hand just how the USA came to be such a melting pot. Stories of hardship and pride leap off the page. A terrific book to wave in the face of people who don't seem to remember that we were all immigrants at one point or another

This is a book about a girl whose name is Ann and she's 9 years old. She lives in Colonial Williamsburg and she wishes she could be a doctor but she can't because she's a girl. Matthew Davenport is Ann's best friend's brother. He likes to tease the younger children about anything that would scare them. When the Capital burns, Matthew frightens Ann by telling her she will have to move to a swamp to a house with a dirt floor and poisonous snakes. Soon people start coming down with smallpox, so Ann can't go to crowded places anymore.

One time, after church, Matthew tells her there's going to be a really crowded festival where Native Americans are dancing to drums, which is illegal. Matthew thinks it would be so cool to see it because he wants some adventure. He says she'll be too scared to go. Ann decides she'll prove him wrong.

I really like this book because it has a lot of adventure and Ann is always getting into mischief. If you read this book I think you'll really like it.

Sarah Tiedemann

This is a great book, and I'd reccommend it to anyone who loves reading about history and learning more about Colonial Williamsburg. I think it's a great book about a girl named Ann who's living in Colonial Williamsburg, and dreams of helping her father in the apothacary instead of becoming a gentlewomen. Read this book now! You'll enjoy it! I did!

Excerpts from a longer review by Judith Fein in HADASSAH Magazine August/September 2000: The book is sprinkled with Spanish, Hebrew, Ladino, and Yiddish. It is puctuated with love, questioning, humility, bravado, honesty, longing and anger.... At first the words seem tender and nostalgic and clever, but they begin to gain power as the diverse voices proliferate.... Of all the poems in the book, the Converso section elicits the most excitement. "I think this is because the phenomenon works both historically and metaphorically," Logghe says. "I ask,'What in your life have you kept hidden?' We all have hidden aspects of ourselves. The book is a vehicle for opening up dialoge with Jewsand non-Jews so we should find some common ground and hearts." Read the whole two page review and you will know why this book is a treasure to share.

In this diverse and masterly compilation, New Mexican Jewishpoets explore their Judaic identities as set against a backdrop ofarroyos, chili plants, and arid turquoise skies. Many of the poets are relatively recent transplants from elsewhere in the country, while a few have long made their homes in the Land of Enchantment. One of the Spanish-writing contributors is descended from the first Jews to arrive in New Mexico, fleeing persecution from the Spanish Inquisition in 1598. The theme of exile and searching permeates many of the works, with several poems inspired by the painful past-the Holocaust, the Inquisition. Other writers probe the wonder and strangeness of newly embracing their faith in this unlikely land. There are also numerous reflections on ancestors, family and religious holidays-one poem describes casting bread into the Rio Grande on Rosh Hashanah morning. Libraries serving communities with sizeable Jewish populations should consider this anthology a must purchase. Also recommended anywhere where interest is high in Western or Jewish culture, or just fine poetry.

When I was in fourth grade, my teacher gave me a copy of this book for Christmas. I read it over and over, and my copy is well-worn and loved. No matter what your age (and I'm now 27) it is a funny and witty book. When I was 10, I didn't get the whole Raven "Nevermore" thing, but that makes it all the funnier!

I am 19 years old, and first came across this book at a thrift store. The cover depicted a small girl with a pan on her head holding the handle of a red wagon in which was perched a raven wearing a dishtowel. I was immediately intrigued. The story of Arabel and Mortimer is one that I have read over and over and over, and I still laugh aloud each time I read it. This book is absolutely marvellous, and I was constantly telling friends to read it. Unfortunately, I lost my copy, and lo and behold! It's out of print...but this is a book I'll be buying again as soon as possible. It is hilarious, weird, crazy, and just great. It should be read by everyone.