This is a fascinating book about one of the best (relatively)young directors working. As usual, Mr. Parish has done his homework. The background material is great and helps give a really vivid picture of the person. I really feel I got to know Mr. Van Sandt from reading this book, not only him, but his family and associates growing up. The descriptions of his early works are especially interesting. Mr. Parish is one of the most thorough writers when it comes to work credits of his subjects. I also enjoy this section of his books. I definitely recommend this book.

Parish does it again.
I've been a big fan of Jim Parish's cinematic oeuvre of literature for 20 years. He has tackled film genres, biographies and anything with his name on it I will buy. His "Van Sant" bio is terrific and covers a career that hasn't had much coverage to date.
If you can find Mr. Parish's incredible "The Swashbucklers" you have a great weekend read in store. After 100 books, you would think Parish would be tired but his two recent works proves he is as fresh as ever and on the top of his game.

James Robert Parish is one of the most prolific and knowledgeable film historians and writers around today, and his book on Van Sant lives up to his high standards of writing and research. Van Sant is an interesting character, going from art house (Mala Noche) to mainstream favorites (Good Will Hunting). This is definately a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about Van Sant and the movie making business of today.

As if to honor the Hollywood community's off-screen attitude toward love and marriage, James Robert Parish's "The Hollywood Book of Love" operates on the belief that romance is something that lasts about as long as it takes to watch the movie itself. Here are over 150 films whose view of love ranges from lush to lousy and tempestuous to twisted. Each concise summary is burnished by Parish's skillful writing and ends with a zinger for our cynical times. Numerous sidebars enliven the text with sample dialogue, behind-the-scenes gossip, and historical perspective. Useful as a video guide as well as a survey course of movie mores since talkies, this book is something of a change of pace for Parish in that his commentary is more playful than he usually allows. The expected titles are here -- "Now, Voyager," "Gone with the Wind," and "Camille," for example -- but Parish also finds love in such unlikely places as "The Sea Wolf," "The Big Broadcast of 1938" and even "Kiss of the Dragon"! "The Hollywood Book of Love" -- which, if you believe the publisher and the movies, is heterosexual only -- emerges as a snazzy, year-round Valentine...with its fingers crossed. I only wish I'd thought of it first.

James Robert Parish continues providing informative and entertaining accounts of different facets of Hollywood history. Peppered with off-screen anecdotes and details, he invites us to explore the differences between reel and real romance. And he succeeds admirably, because the book is fun to read and leads one to watch the films we're unfamiliar with. Highly recommended.

From "Young Love" to "Marriage on the Rocks," James Robert Parish covers all types of Hollywood love in the 20 chapters of his latest tome. As a bonus, the reader is able to enjoy Parish's insights on the contrasts between reel love and real love. We all know that movies and life are not quite the same, but Parish's witty and flowing prose make the subject seem fresh. This is a light -- but highly informative -- fun read.

The Hollywood Book of Death is heavily padded with excruciating background that seems lifted from allmovie.com. Strangely, many of the dead actor's best work or more interesting aspects of their life are left out. Author James Robert Parish slummed writing this book. Half the book is dedicated to death by natural causes (yawn), while the Murdered, Drugs, Accidents and Suicide sections are stunningly short. I could name another dozen actors to add to each of those categories.

Hollywood Book of Death is okay if you are a novice to such trivia.

This book is a very large collection of the deaths of TV and Movie stars. Although I can't agree with the categories the author puts some of the deaths in, it is very entertaining and a quick read.

I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT IS A FASCINATING LOOK AT HOLLYWOOD OLD AND NEW. IT PROVIDES A LOOK AT MANY WHO DIED BEFORE THEIR TIMES. EVEN PEOPLE I WAS ONLY BARELY FAMILIAR WITH MADE FOR INTERESTING READING. IT SEEMS TO BE VERY WELL RESEARCHED. I ESPECIALLY LIKED THE SECTION WHICH LISTS MANY CEMETARIES AND THOSE WHO ARE BURIED THERE. IT IS WELL ILLUSTRATED AND COMPLETELY READABLE.

The striking title evokes a powerful image of the destructive forces at work when churches are overcome by conflict. Susek, who has first hand experience of the lasting effects of church controversy, traces the stages of conflict and provides practical suggestions for dealing with each phase. The book also includes a detailed plan of action. Susek incorporates a dimension that is missing from many materials on church conflict, that of the spiritual forces of evil that are often at work. The book begins by explaining the six phases of a firestorm and how to recognize the symptoms. Next it presents four pillars of strength that are crucial for healthy churches to have spiritual power, and helps church leaders evaluate themselves in light of those strengths. Special attention is given to how church leaders' family and psycho-social needs may be affecting them too deeply, either helping to create conflicts or hindering effective resolution. The book also helps leaders to assess the presence of a number of other factors that contribute to conflict, such as cultural resistance to authority, rapid church growth, etc. Susek also includes very helpful sections on church discipline, bold spiritual leadership, the use of consultants, care for badly burned church leaders and their families, and the role of interim ministers.

The book Firestorm has not only the essential information to equip Christians in the midst of a firestorm, but pertinent data for identifying an approaching firestorm. So much of the material laid out can be applied to other areas of conflict in our lives. Having been very active in my church for so many years I found it devastating to walk through a 'firestorm' and have spoken with so many others from different churches who have experienced the same things. Wish we'd had this book several years ago! Firestorm is an instrument of help and hope for the Christian worker in these days filled with turmoil and crisis.

This book tackles the hard questions which come up in church conflicts. The author speaks with authority and makes practical application from scriptural principles. He does an outstanding job of describing the 6 stages of a church conflict and contrasts the natural response to the Biblical response in each stage. It is practical and it is pertinent.

If this book were required reading in every church in America, church splits would become almost extinct. Read the book now and prevent problems in the future!

To those who have read Parish's long list of publications it is obvious he didn't write "The Unofficial Murder, She Wrote Casebook" as a bonafide fan of the series. He wrote it as an addition to his list of conquests as a writer on things Hollywood. I like watching the "Murder, She Wrote" reruns on A & E myself. In comparing what Parish writes in the episode descriptions with what goes on in the corresponding episode being aired on TV it is becomming increasingly apparent there are more mistakes in the book than perhaps Mr. Parish would like to admit to. This isn't to say the book is totally useless -- it just means beware of the pitfalls and proceed accordingly. Mr. Parish has done mystery lovers a disservice by not being more careful with his subject matter.

I rented this book from the library, and I absolutly love it. I watch the Murder, She Wrote reruns on A&E and I always look up the episode I'm watching in the book. The Highlights and Trivia sections are great. I also enjoy the biographies of Angela Lansbury and other cast regulars. I highly recomend this book.

This book is a reminder of what MURDER, SHE WROTE was. Let it remind all that Murder, She Wrote was one of the most successful dramas with a female leading role ever. And this book also tells some of the unknown secrets, like who Jessica Fletcher was really ment to be, it wasn't Angela Lansbury. However, more importantly, this book lights the way for new Jessica Fletcher fans that are just discovering the wonder of the female writer from Cabot Cove. I personally recomend that all Murder, She Wrote fans get this book. A collection is incomplete with out it.

A short book, consisting basically of overviews of workshops done in the early 1980s by the CLSA on canon law in practical pastoral situations. Dated by now, of course, but still worth a quick read. Does not contain text of canons nor significant research commentary. Is actually better as a "vocabularly builder", i.e., something to help one figure out what kinds of canonical topics might be involved in a pastoral situation.

This lexica-typ book covers 293 prison films including cast, technical listings, story and comments. As it is a softcover reprint of the 1991 publication all prison-films of the last 10 years are missing ("The Green Mile", "Shawshank Redemption" etc.) which is a kind of sad. Unfortunately european prison-films are missing at all. Trash-Cultmovies from the in europe so popular WIP-Film-Genre (Women in Prison)like "Women in Cellblock 9", "Barbed Wire Dolls" aka "Frauengefängnis" or the "Greta" and "Ilsa"-Films ("Ilsa, She Wolf of the S.S.") feat. Dyanne Thorne are not mentioned at all - but very important for this genre. Most of the european exploitation-directors like Jess Franco, Bruno Mattei, Joe D'Amato or Erwin C. Dietrich have made one or more contributions to this subgenre.
Further most of the POW-Films (Prisoner of War) are missing ("Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence" or "Camp On Blood Island")
In order to obtain 5 * this films should have been included in this reference book.
If you want to read more see: "Captured on Film - the Prison Movie" by Bruce Crowther (ISBN 07134 61152)

My grandmother was one of the authors of this book, but that isn't the reason I like this book. The book has a lot on my ancestors, and it is so cool to learn where I cam from. I definatly think that if you live in the low country, it is worth reading.

When our church added a new front sign on which to list church events and/or quaint sayings, I purchased a couple of books with such sayings. 701 Sentence Sermons was one of the books I purchased. The sentence sermons are fine as far as content goes, but they are just a little too long for us. So, if you have limited space on your sign, or a limited number of letters to use, this may not be the book for you. Our church has found the book "Forbidden Fruit Creates Many Jams" to be a much more useful book. Even still, 701 Sentence Sermons does offer a nice collection.

The author has provided a book of 701 short, inspriational messages for church or business signs or bulletins. This book would be a nice addition for these libraries and for a personal library also! Congratulations to the author!

The author provides his readers with new, fresh, concise church sign messages not found in most other sign books or sources. A very useful book. Many messages quote actual scriptures. Wish it had more than 701 messages, but understand Volume 2 is in the works! A welcome addition to any sign changer's library!

If you watch her show then this book is waste of time and money. Mostly the book focuses on Rosie's experience of losing her mother, her rocky road to stardom and her hush hush love life. Just by tuning into her show, and seeing/reading a few of her interviews, anybody could write this biography of Rosie with great ease. If you are looking for the juicy tabloid stuff, this book isn't for you. If you enjoy endless jiberish about Tom Cruise, I believe there are a few chapters devoted to this tired old topic. Happy reading

In this unauthorized bio, seasoned Hollywood journalist and author James Robert Parish (The Liza Minelli Story etc.) has reserched O'Donnell's climb to fame drawing on print and TV interviews, critical reviews and press releases, as well as interviews with her colleagues. O'Donnell's comic career, feature films and Broadway show are well detailed here and her story is an inspiring one. Until O'Donnell writes her autobiography this bio may be the most thorough we'll get. Publishers' Weekly March 17, 199