What a terrific group of people to "meet" and easily get to know. This story takes place in the row houses in Little Itlay in NY. The author does a great job of making the reader feel like part of the "family" of neighbors and tight-knit family. Reading this book was like sitting on the front stoop with these characters catching up on the neighborhood gossip. There are the old world Italians that are actually from Italy and this particular group stick with old customs and beliefs and don't wander to far from Little Italy. Then there are the young, new Italians born in Little Italy but tend to wander out of the neighborhood and meet new friends not from Little Italy or even Italian. We get to meet the overbearing, Italian mother of a son who has a hard time being independent or even wanting to be independent. This story made me laugh at times. I wouldn't call this a comedy, I'd call this a look at a different ethnic culture but also being able to recognize someone familiar. This was an excellent book and story with a lot of people to enjoy. A fun education of "the old ways".

I loved this book. I read it during a 20-hour bus ride, keeping my above-the-seat light on well into the night. Not so much to see what would happen (although you really don't know that until the last pages); more because I just wasn't ready to say good-night to the characters. This is the best part: Unlike many books I read, the ending was just as good as the beginning. I'll read more of her books.

"The Black Madonna" is loaded with stereotypes -- the overbearing Italian mama, the rich Jewish family; however, this book is so hysterical that political correctness must, thank God, go by the wayside. Filled with scenes of life in tenement housing in "the old neighborhood," Louisa Ermelino has written great atmosphere with colorful, memorable characters. There is no deep plot, just a delightful splash of life, love, religion, friendship, and aging.

E.T. Ellison's creativity in language invention, character development, plot and everything else that goes into this incredible story solidifies its future as an ultimate classic. In a genre of its own, this book pushes the boundaries of sci-fi and fantasy to make it a very sophisticated, yet fun read. Not only are readers taken into a new and incredible world, but we are left satisfied yet anxious for the sequal by the end. Although some have said that the Genesis is misplaced, I think that it is best when used as a reference and is well placed at the beginning. I started with the first chapter and just looked to the Genesis when I was curious about any of the many events that occured in the history of old St. Coriander and it worked beautifully. Personally I thought that it was more fun to learn about the history of St.C while following "Glenny Honey" on her incredible journey. I can't wait to see what comes next and hope that myself and the author have the luck of Madonna 13.

This book has got it all! I enjoyed this book from start to finish, although I would have put the start at the finish, just a minor rearranging. This new author has an incredible imagination and his facility with the details of history is almost overwhelming as a starting point. But once the actual story begins, there is no need for any rearranging or changing of characterizations, plot lines, or context. The author has produced a beautiful book, a set of characters I can't wait to learn more about, and a history of the future which is wonderfully satisfying. A great book! An amazing accomplishment! I highly recommend this book and I strongly encourage the author to continue sharing his talents with his ever-growing audience!!

It took me a while to get through the opening section. But it was worth the wait!

This story was rich with character development and technical detail. I can't wait for the next installment.

If there is someone out there who is not familar with Eggplant,introduce yourself to this wonderful vegtable via this Fabulous Recipe. For many years I have cooked it the traditional way. Margo certainly has made it so simple to make and the result is rewarding,. I served it to a group in Los Angeles and should have tripled the recipe. I gave the credit to Mama Lena and know that her recipes will soon be used in California. Many thanks Margo and Sal for sharing her recipes with all people. Ciao

This cookbook is so filled with heart and joy and great food it gets my strongest recommendation. Based on the recipes from the fabled Chicago restaurant of the 1970s, Mama Lena's Italian Kitchen, this is the best Italian food you'll ever have. Period. My wife and I made the Sausage with Brown Sugar Peppers and it was a heavenly delight! Best of all, it was amazingly easy to prepare. Margo Madonna has done a wonderful job of writing these recipes down so that anyone can make them. But what really makes this book special is the love and affection that went into every word on the page. Salvino and Margo Madonna have done the memory of Mama Lena proud. What a great book!

Reviewing "This Book" is not difficult, because of the fact That you can actually "sense" The Love and The Patience that These Authors had while putting This Treasure together. We can honestly say that we have never owned a Cookbook that was So Easy-To-Follow. Usually, we feel like the author has just abandoned us, and all efforts at a so-called cooking creation turns into an absolute disaster. However, that's not the case with This Cookbook. This Book made us feel as though These Authors were in Our Kitchen every step of the way - In fact, we set Our Table for Four, when there was only my wife and myself. Also, The Stories remind me of when I was young. I must admit that I did see a Twinkle in My Wife's Eye, as she moved around our kitchen, knowing without any doubt, that the outcome of this meal would be successful by the ease of the instructions. And, because of this, it was amazing how we were able to work together in perfect harmony, without any conflicts of direction. Then, the real payoff came when we felt just as though we were dining at Mama Lena's Italian Kitchen again. We were really sorry that Mama Lena's closed in the early 80's, but we are So Very Thankful that Salvino and Margo Madonna decided to bless the world with Their Treasured Recipes. This Story-Cookbook will be treasured in My Family for generations to come. Words cannot express the feelings we felt while reading The Stories throughout This Wonderful Book. Thank You Again, Salvino adn Margo, and Most of All, Thank You To Mama Lena - This Book is Just Great!

If you are considering getting this book, I would recommend the hardbound edition. The paperback edition of this book, due to the size and dimensions of the book, has a clumsy feel to it.

The pictures in this book are stunning. This is a beautiful production. The only "gripe" I have with this book is that it shows certain cultural biases by the writers (they refer to Argentina as "uncivilized" in some areas), and the other being the same complaint I have about the movie this book is about: the slippery interpretation of Argentine history. That is where this book faulters most, in its attempts to describe Peronist politics and what they mean to Argentina.

But would most people who buy this book buy it for the sake of shedding light on Argentine politics? Not likely. They would buy it for the beautiful photographs, most likely of Madonna and Antonio Banderas. And there are plenty of those in this book.

This book was awesome. It had wonderful photography, and a very good and understandable explanation of the movie. I could no put it down. I think that he pictures, though, made the book. Both Antonio, and Madonna looked great!

I loved the movie Evita, starring Antonio Banderas and Madonna. I read this book and couldn't believe it. It told me all I ever wanted to know about the movie, and more.

Adventure, cyberpunk, romance, humor, social commentary, originality, plain old sense-of-wonder...whatever you're looking for, you'll find it here. And it isn't the same-old cookie-cutter formula -- DANCE FOR THE IVORY MADONNA offers a fresh take on hoary sf tropes from artificial intelligence and virtual reality to psionics and space colonization. I'll be the first to say it: this novel is a sure dark-horse contender for the year's big sf awards. Do yourself a favor, and give it a try!

There is so much going on in this book that its hard to pick out what i like best. The conceptions of cyberspace however are really different there are three distinct levels of cyberspace all accessible thru RCspex (which are a slimmed down version of vr goggles.) Virtua is an enchanced rendering of the real world. Cyberbia is an imaginary space that the user can enhance as much as he wants like the web on vr. And my favorite El Juego is a multilevel d&d type game where just about everyone has their own character or characters. And its all run by the AIs who have their own reasons and motivations. Definately recommended!

It is a relief to read a book in which a woman of size is presented as strong and dynamic. One of the main characters, Miranda Maris (AKA "The Ivory Madonna"), is built like the "fat lady" who has to sing before the opera is over. She's also a member of Congress, head of a major fashion company, and a leader in an international underground espionage organization. Miranda is intelligent, warm, witty, and powerful. And by the end of the book, she rises to...no, I won't spoil it.

Hooray for a book that isn't afraid to have a large woman as an attractive and sympathetic character!

Like so many, I find Madonna interesting. And I agree with the positive reviews of this book -- I really like it. The unique contribution here is the way the author discusses Madonna in ways that make "postmodern" an interesting, understandable, ans useful concept. And believe me, I am no fan of academic writing of or about the posrmodern. But this book can be highly and widely recommended.

Madonna:alot can be said about Her but Boring isn't one of them.thsi Book Explores the Many things that relate too the Artist&personna that is Madonna.this Book is Challenging&also puts Madonna into a Complete Perspective from start too finish.just like the Woman Herself it will keep you wondering more&what lays around the Corner.

In this book GC Guilbert shows how absolutely everything Madonna has ever done is packed with clever references. He doesn't mean that she's a plagiarist, far from it: she just uses her vast knowledge of (popular) culture, in a "postmodern" way. A fascinating read.

This is a fascinating journey of a woman trying to combine her past and present. We see a lot of spiritual journey's that men take but not the female side. This really opened my eyes!

This book by China Galland has opened my mind to various questions about my own spirituality and about the sources of iconic and archetypal figures in religions. I've become thirsty for more knowledge due to this book, and I don't know whether to be thankful, or not.

However, it is deeply involving, dragging one into this journey, this search for self or deeper understanding, under the guise of searching for the Black Madonna archetype in different cultures around the world. As always, the answer is within oneself, but sometimes you can't find that answer without dragging yourself all over heck and creation, as does China Galland. I still don't know if she really has "found" anything, or not, but I think she's gaining a great deal of other kinds of knowledge trying.

Chna Galland's account of her spiritual odyssey, Longing For Darkness, is absolutely riveting. Her journey from her disappointment in her male-centered Roman Catholic tradition through Buddhism with its strong female Deity,Tara,only to find that feminine spirit inspiring the Black Madonnas of her own faith.By blending the two traditions, Ms.Galland found a spirituality that satisfied her longing for a feminine aspect of God. Her complete honesty about her inner being makes this book unique. Wherever she wanders, she connects with people of deep faith and learns from every tradition. This book is worth your effort.It may start you on your own spiritual journey, as it did for me.

Fantastic photography in another large book from Versace. This book captures the 'rock chic' glamourama which the late Versace excelled at creating. The association between 'Rock and Roll', and art is full indulged here creating a empirical illusion to the Versace dynasty. The glossy presentation of the images also adds to an overall feeling of luxury. The only reason I have not given this book the top rating is for its inclusion of Elton John - who makes me sick. So what if its expensive, luxuries like this don't come cheap. ciao,

Maureen Farquhar (maureenfarquhar@yahoo.com)

Gianni Versace was a designer who loved to push the envelope. His clothes were a mixture of extremes: sexy, sleazy, colorful, tacky, and elegant. One adjective you'd never find in a sentence with the word Versace is "boring." His clothes commanded--and often got--attention, which is why he was such a favorite among celebrities such as Madonna, Elton John, Liz Hurley, Courtney Love, Prince, Jon Bon Jovi and even Princess Diana. This book is a fabulous, eye-opening collection of vivid photographs of models and rock stars in Versace: from Prince to the members of British boy band Take That. Some outfits are more releaving than others, but they're all unmistakably Versace. Diana herself is also included in the book, along with a few words of praise for the designer. Tragically, Versace was murdered in the summer of 1997, but his spirit and influence live on. This book comes highly recommended. Drop it on your coffeetable, and your guests won't want to put it down.

A must have book for all Versace fans.

Great book! Covers not only the Catholicism of Italian Americans, but also a great deal about their home and family lives. Neither PC nor arrogant, this book depicts the Italian American world better than anything I have read! I kept nodding in agreement and underlining passages while reading. Forget the movie stereotypes and sentimental recollections; this is the real thing. It helped me understand my own culture a great deal.

The only letdown was the part about a "Theology of the Streets." That section struck me as a tad unrealistic.

In this lucid and eloquently written book, Orsi places the Madonna of 115th Street into the full context of the Italian Harlem community. I found the most interesting part of this extrememly insightful book to be Orsi's examination of the Italian-American domus, and how the complexities of the domus are played out in the festival itself. The book is a brilliant examination of the role of women in Italian Harlem; Orsi shows how the Madonna embodies both the power and restrictions of Italian-American women in this time. Orsi also effectively demonstrates how the Italian immigrants, with their annual festival, carved out an identity "niche" for themselves, apart from but no less legitimate than other immigrant groups and other, more church-oriented forms of Catholicism. For the Italian immigrants, the festival provided both an essential link to Italy and a way to define their particular community. This book is easily accessible to scholars, students, and the general public, and includes many interviews so the reader gets a vivid sense of the period and the people of Italian Harlem. Highly recommended.

In The Madonna Of 115th Street, Robert A. Orsi (Charles Warren Professor of American Religious History, Harvard University) offers a seminal and ground breaking study of faith and community in New York City's Italian Harlem. The focus of this treatise is the annual Catholic festival called "Madonna of 115th Street" and how it has both influenced and reflects the lives of the men and women of the neighborhood. The Madonna Of 115th Street reveals a compelling perspective on how religion plays out in the everyday lives and experiences of American Catholics and the formation of a distinctive immigrant community. This Yale "Nota Bene" paperback edition is highly recommended reading and enhanced with a new introduction by Orsi outlining the changes that Italian Harlem has undergone in recent years and the significant shifts that have occurred in the field of American religious history.

The book isn't very long and contains very few pages with actual words on it, but I didn't buy it for a story, I bought it for pictures of Madonna. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because it was made near the end of 1987, so it only has pictures and information on Madonna from 1982-87. In the back portion of the book it does however have a short year by year biography on her. The pictures are black and white or colored. Many of them are from her different concerts. The book also includes some information on the earlier movies Madonna starred in such as Who's That Girl? and Shanghi Surprise. There are alot better books on Madonna that you could get, but for the price this is a great book. The pictures are beautiful and it is a welcome addition to my Madonna collection.

I bought this book when it first came out in the very early 90's. Madonna looks gorgeous in the photos. All of the photos are beautifully shot and Madonna looks fabulous! I was the biggest Madonna fan back then and loved this book to death. now, pushing 30, I am still in love with this book because the photos are so amazing!

You won't be disappointed! I think the best photo is the one where she's kissing the mirror. Great photographic techniques!

The photographs in this book capture the "glamour" Madonna perfectly. The pictures have a very crisp feel to them, at times verging on remote; Madonna's glamour shots, though largely reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe in this book, do not have the same "inviting" allure that Marilyn had. I suppose this is because it is unmistakable that Madonna is a powerful woman who must always be "in charge" and is in complete control of her career and her image, whereas Marilyn Monroe projected an air of vulnerability for which Madonna is probably without the capacity. But Madonna is still a beautiful and at times "exotic" creature.

Several pictures in this book had previously been published in magazines, the cover shot, for example, was once the cover for Life magazine. Many pictures from that same photo shoot are reproduced here, with the most touching being the "group hug" between Madonna and about seven siblings. A few out-takes from the "Like a Virgin" album cover photo shoot are included in this book as well.

The era of Madonna's career that is covered in this book is somewhat small, considering that she has now been in the public eye for nearly 20 years. All these pictures seem to be from the the years 1984 to 1987.