The late, great Anthony Newley and his writing partner Leslie Bricusse gave us some superb standards from their shows over the years. All the greats such as "What Kind of Fool Am I" and "Once In A Lifetime" from "Stop the World" are included as well as songs from the TV "Peter Pan" that they wrote in the seventies and "Candy Man" from the film "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory". Along with photographs on stage and off, as well as personal memories from Bricusse, this is a great way to remember Tony Newley. This kind of music will never die! Paul Goodhead/President of the Anthony Newley Appreciation Society.

An immensely interesting collection of essays on a topic that is often neglected from the pulpit. The first few chapters are devoted to the history of both Christian and secular thought on the subject of angels. The next few deal with our concepts of heaven. Then, several more treat the topic of daimons (demons), and the last essay attempts to tie them all together into a cohesive doctrine.

The section that was by far the most interesting to me was Peter G. Bolt's essay on "Jesus, the Daimons, and the Dead." The writer argues that unlike today, where almost none of us would think of interpreting the word "daimon" to mean the spirit of a deceased person, to a first century audience, this would have almost automatically have been interpreted to mean just that.

Mr. Bolt cites numerous examples of this concept in Greco-Roman literature from before, during and after the New Testament period. He also shows how the view fits well when interpreting passages involving daimons throughout scripture. The exorcisms in the book of Mark are then analyzed from this point of view to show us what the implications would have been if the audience had indeed viewed daimons as the spirits of deceased humans. The ramifications of course would be far-ranging to say the least if Mr. Bolt's thesis is indeed correct. A lot of thought provoking reading here.

Anthony Lane is the reason I subscribe to the New Yorker, and I regularly tell anyone who'll listen that he's a god, but until this book, I didn't even realize the breadth of his talent and knowledge. The amount of entertainment minutiae he can store, and his ability to choose that perfect tidbit every time, is both endearing and awe-inspiring. His one-liners (often self-deprecating) stay with me like delicious little gifts. A couple of people in these Amazon reviews have called him sneaky, smart-alecky, and the like, and I must say how strongly I disagree with these statements. Anthony Lane gives us his close to flawless taste with generosity and warmth, without regard to whether a movie is "supposed" to be good, or important, or arty, or whatever it is we're supposed to like. To people who feel he won't review blockbuster movies, I'd like to point out that two reviews caused me to begin following Anthony Lane: an approving, positive review of "Halloween" and a pan of a French art film.

If you love movies, you will love this book. Simply put, Lane shares his love of movies with open eyes, well-trained, observant, and critical eyes. He looks at mostly American movies but throws in some foreign ones too. When a particular aspect of a film is achingly bad, he lets you know. When another aspect is delicious, he cooks up the casserole, and celebrates its smell, appearance, and taste.

There are also some essays on people and places, but the positive emotions I feel when reading are the right ones, the ones we all feel because we are human, and fortunate to be living in the right place at the right time. I intend to get myself to my nearby Hollywood Video and rent the ones that Mr. Lane blesses with his incredible insight. And, oh, yeah, I'm getting over to the "alternative" video store to find those gems that the "Young Adult Male, 18-25" would never appreciate, because those are the gems that make life worth living.

Thank you Mr. Lane.

I can't remember when I have read such a delightful fun book. Anthony Lane writes with such wit, insight and playfulness I had a hard time putting it down.

His range of subject matter is extensive and well researched. From Movies to authors and profiles his observation are wonderfuly writen.

Mr. Lane understands the importance of real helicopters in Apocalypse Now, that Nabokov and W.G. Sebald are remarkable writers, that cookbooks are full of great things besides cooking, That Best-sellers and their list are full of bad writing, that we should know about John Ruskin, Evelyn Waugh,Andre Gide,and Matthew Arnold. He also understands what an incredible Movie The English Patient is.

My favorite book of the year.