This book is excellent for die-hard long-time Neil Young fans such as myself. It is essentially a chronological outline of Neil Young's musical career, with some narrative and many photographs interspersed with the outline. It starts at the begining of his musical career and ends at 1994, when the book was published. It also includes a discography. It is printed on high-quality glossy paper. The majority of the photos are black and white, but with a significant minority of the photos in color. It's fascinating to follow the twists and turns of Neil Young's career and his music. The outline tells when Neil Young recorded each of his songs, and it lists every concert he ever played by city and date. The narrative helps to expand on the outline and to move the story along. Highly recommended for serious Neil Young fans.

ok kids...this book is out of print..but if you are lucky enough to get you hands on it, buy it...its really funny read and only has 5 grams of fat....it makes a great companion to your cliff richards biography. so if your a dirty hippie yourself, or just an angry young man with a love of 80's british comedy, then this books for you! >insert reading rainbow music here<

When one picks up this book, a momentary confusion sets in. The reader shifts the book in her hand, wondering whether she is seeing a mistake, for the book appears to be made backwards! What is usually the front bears no title, picture or author's name. In their place are a scan code and the words "Like a Yiddish book, this book begins on the other side." Accompanying this sentence are two short book comments by authors Jane Yolen and Maurice Sendak. Well, this reviewer thought, if Yolen and Sendak like the book, it must be a winner!

And a winner it is, beautifully written and telling a warm story of the relationship of Aaron, a young Jewish boy, and his zayde (Yiddish for "grandfather"). Zayde and his many books come to live with Aaron's family after his wife dies. All the books are in Yiddish, which Aaron would love to learn in order to read them, but Zayde says Aaron is too young.

Many years later Zayde throws away his library of books because his eyesight fails him, and he thinks "in America the soup has lost its flavor. Everyone mixes too well; no one remembers anymore where they came from." Aaron rescues the books, and convinces Zayde to teach him Yiddish. Their already loving relationship strengthens as together they share Zayde's life story and the traditions of the Yiddish language and way of life.

Neil Waldman's pen and watercolor illustrations are beautifully touching and evoke a nostalgic feeling. The sepia tones of the warm palette tie scenes of the past to those of the present and future. Yiddish words in the background also serve to give the reader an idea of what the language looks like.

In the text, Yiddish words are used liberally and appear in italics. A glossary at the end (front) of the book further explains what the words mean. Another section gives more information about the Yiddish language, and an afterward adds even more. Information about the National Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, MA which houses Yiddish books numbering over a million was started by Aaron Lansky who noticed the number of Jewish people discarding their books written in Yiddish.

There was no distraction in reading a book back to front for this reviewer. In fact, it was difficult not to take notes in the same manner! This reviewer found the story touching and enlightening in a way altogether different than other books about aspects of Jewish life. This is an exceptionally unique look at the importance of the Yiddish language and its connection to the Jewish culture.

Reviewing Shakespeare is a hard thing to do. They are already popular. That is why they lasted so long. I would have to say that Twelth Night (or what you will) is one of the best Shakespeare comedies ever. In my opinion, I think it even better than Macbeth or Romeo and Juliet, which is one of the best tragedies of all time. The charactors Shakespeare creates in Twelth Night are unforgetable; the sexually frustrated Viola, who dresses as Ceserio, a replica of her assumed dead brother Sebastian, the sexually oppressed Duke Orsino, the prudent Oliva, her inebriated uncle Sir Toby Belch, and his comrades Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a waiting maid Maria, and the misunderstood Malvolio. The high points of the show are the scenes in which Toby and his friends have some fun. If you have ever seen the play before, I have just two words for you, "Yellow Stockings." Another high point is the final scene. Shakespeare has the incredible knack of making the unreal, real. In point, the charactor of Feste, the court fool, is much more wise than any other charactor in the play. If you ever hear of a good production in your area, I would strongly suggest you go see it.

If anyone has never been to the Scottish Highland's and would like to read how it looks and canjure up the smell the sights&the lifestyle almost gone forever then read this..i've lived in the highlands and this is like taking a walk in the hills every time you pick it up, it's also a great study of an old and wise man passing on his way's to his younger admirer. Neil Gunn is the most ignored and virtually undiscovered Scottish version of John Steinbeck...Educate and enlighted yourself..or stay in the dark......

Lost in Yonkers is a play by Neil Simon. I gave it four stars because it's and easy to read, easy to understand, interesting book. It's a story about two young boys, Artie and Jay and their father Eddie. The boys mother dies of cancer and the family is left without any money and very much in debt. Eddie had spent all of their money trying to keep their mother alive. He owed money and didn't have a job. He only had one option. To leave his children with their strict, and non-affectionate grandmother, and their challenged aunt, while he leaves in search for a job. The children beg their father not to leave them, but he feels he has no other choice. So Eddie leaves for 10 months and the children struggle to get along with their grandmother. They think of running away with their uncle who is trying to escape from the mob. The only way they have contact with their father is through letters. Some of their obstacles include having to work in their grandmothers store so that they can eat dinner. Having to get up and eat bad soup when they're sick. To help their uncle in not letting the mob know where he is. They have to deal with two very strange aunts. They also have to suffer when they make mistakes. They are not allowed to cry. These children hardly get a normal childhood. Throughout the many challenges in this story, you are bound to get hooked.
I am very interested in seeing this as a play. I was very impressed with the liveliness of each of the characters. They were so easy to visualize, I almost felt as if I was them while I was reading this story. I think that seeing this as a play would be interesting because I have my idea on how the characters look and act, I wonder what they will look like in a play. And for the animation this story holds I give it four out of five stars. Go find out for yourself.

One of Neil Simon's classic dramas, Lost In Yonkers is set in 1942 Yonkers, New York and centers on Jay and Arty, two boys (ages 13 and 16) who must spend one year with their rather austere and quite demanding grandmother while war rages in Europe. Here is a family of memorable and eccentric characters that can be identified within most families and assortments of kinfolk. The Los Angles Theatre Works cast under the direction of John Rubinstein does full justice in this radio play adaptation of Neil Simon's Pultizer Prize and Tony Award-winning play. This superbly recorded audiobook edition of Lost In Yonkers is very highly recommended to the legions of Neil Simon enthusiasts and fans.

I was pleasantly surprised by Lost in Yonkers. The story touched my heart without being pretentious. Neil Simon is one of the best modern playwrights who has the heart of Miller and the inventiveness of Mamet.

The Killing Joke is, without a doubt, the finest work that involves Batman.

The story goes like this - The Joker, in a desperate attempt to get someone to see things from his point of view, shoots Barbara Gordon (daughter of police Commissioner Gordon), paralyzing her. Then, he takes the Commisstioner and tries to turn him insane. And, as usual, it's up to the Batman to stop him.

Maybe the most entertaining aspect of the book is the backstory it weaves. It shows the Joker, pre-accident, as a stuggling comedian unwittingly brought into a robbery. Using elements from the famous 1950's Joker origin story, 'The Man behind the Red Hood', Moore and Bolland make the Joker seem tragic, in a maniacal sort of way.

The dark story Moore writes meshes well with Brian Bolland's detailed, linear artwork. Bolland makes every character look remarkable, and his rendition of the Joker on the cover has become one of the most famous Joker images in history.

You can't call yourself a Batman fan if you don't own this. Heck, you aren't much of a comics fan at all if you haven't at least read the story. This is ESSENTIAL for EVERYONE'S collection.

Comic books are often dismissed by many people as having no real value. They are usually looked upon as a hobby for boys and nostalgiac entertainment for men who have never really grown up. However, comic books can be and are often much more. At their best, comics can become a moving work of art and a powerful piece of literature all in one piece. Such is the case with BATMAN: THE KILLING JOKE.

THE KILLING JOKE has become a comic classic for a variety of reasons. The book's illustrations have influenced a generation of Batman artists. The book offered insight into the Joker's personality. It changed the Batman universe (by what the Joker does to Barbara Gordon). It illustrated the strong bond between Batman and Joker and displayed the differences in world view that make the men who they are. It helped inspire a major motion picture.

However, the comic is much more than a story about the possible origins of the Joker and how he and Batman are so strongly bonded together. The story is a reflection of two very distinct views of life: the tragic and the comic. The Joker, ironically, views life tragically believing that all it takes is "one bad day" to transform the most normal person in the world into a psychotic maniac. His is the world of chaos and injustice. He holds onto this belief even though he knows (as the last pages of the comic show) it is false. On the other hand, there is the world view of Batman. Batman's life was changed too, by "one bad day". However, Batman's view is comic. He had one bad day, too, but it turned him into a hero. His is the world of order and justice. In the end, good triumphs over evil and the tragedians are forced to laugh at all the comedy. Life truly is beautiful. I bet you believed a comic could never be so thought-provoking.

Batman: The Killing Joke is simply the finest superhero story ever told. Although the concept looks traditional (Joker escaping and Batman trying to capture him), it focuses very little on action and more on the tortured psychological profile of this famous villain. The Joker here is perhaps in his vilest appearance, but later on, as the story unfolds, the reader almost feels pity for him, as his tragic origin is revealled. The book also contains some very controversial aspects that make it have a really very adult feel. And the art is equally brilliant with the story. This guy (sorry I don't remember his name) drew one of the best Batmans I have seen in comic form. All in all, I strongly believe that this book should be listed in the top-10 of the best comics of all time.

Neil Gaiman is amazing. The ease with which he moves from on genre to another makes you wonder if there is any style he can't write. While everything he does has somewhat the same feel, it seems each work is completely independent from another.

The first thing I read by Gaiman was the Sandam series and then his novel, Neverwhere. Stardust in no way disappointed me. Gaiman is a true storyteller. The world he creates is so complete that it seems like the places described could be right outside of any city. This book takes on even more of a fantasy twist than Neverwhere. The story centers around Tristran, a boy from the city of Wall. He sets off on a journey to find a jewell that would surely win the heart of the one he wants, but along the way his journey takes on added dimensions he never imagined and quickly changes his life.

I think that even for people who are not huge fans of fantasy, the adept manner in which Gaiman spins this tale will win anyone over. I can't say enough how talented Gaiman is at telling a story.

Assuming that you're versed in the Sandman series, Stardust will be best appreciated by those who hold the "A Game of You" story arc and Sandman 17 (A Midsummer Night's Dream) in high regard. Like those, Stardust allows Gaiman to play in the world of faerie... that's faerie, not fairies -- Gaiman has no use for the happy little winged pests that haunt English gardens. This book is populated with the type of faerie who are more likely to play a horrible prank on you or outright kill you. Or maybe they'll treat you like a king. Who knows. Anyway, Stardust is fantasy of the highest order. It's not the longest book [it was written in longhand because Gaiman wanted to write a tale that wasn't bloated (his word, not mine, during an interview with him) by 60 wpm typing skills] but it is filled with Gaiman's usual unparalleled imagination (A flying boat that fishes for lighting bolts in storm clouds!) and is a charming love story. If possible buy the DC hardcover version with Charles Vess' beautiful watercolor paintings and ribbon bookmark. Truly a treasure.

Stardust is a playful yarn that soars through the fantastic world of witches, spells and mythical creatures most believably. Young Tristran Thorne lives in the town of Wall, England, which is separated by a wall from a meadow which leads to the land of Faerie. The only time humans can pass through the six-foot wide opening in the wall is every nine years during the three days of the Faerie Market, where humans can trade with other-worldly merchants not only for goods but for spells and miracles. Tristran falls in love with the beautiful Victoria Forrester, who makes an flippant promise to marry him if he can retrieve a star that fell in the land of Faerie and bring it to her.

Gaiman spins the plot with details that weave together expertly as the book progresses. The characters are colorful and some of the deadpan humor may provoke outbursts of laughter. Even in the most unimaginative reader, the fires of childhood faith in goodness and magic are pleasantly revived.

Even though Stardust is a fairy tale, it is not for children. There are sexual scenes that I found unnecessary even in a book for adults.

A girl shows her cousin a Tarot Deck. Then her mother walks in and freaks out. By the time we figure out what the panic's all about, it might be too late. The ending feels fake (to me).

Will Cade Merrill ever find out what happened to his cousin and her assistants during their filming of THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT?

In the summer of 1974, sixteen-year-old Sharon Webster is sent away to camp at Deep Creek Lake in Western Maryland. Here she meets Gavin Burns, a boy who wears a "Plague" T-shirt in honour of his favourite band, and is obsessed with the occult, tarot cards and everything to do with the Blair Witch. Gavin is infatuated with Sharon and sets about trying to prove the Witch's existence to impress her. The plot goes tragically wrong and results in Sharon witnessing the horrifying death of Gavin in the swamps near to Deep Creek Lake.

Now forty two years old, and with a sixteen year old daughter of her own, Sharon has done her best to forget that the events at Deep Creek Lake ever happened. But for her daughter, Kayla, it isn't so easy. Her mother has never spoken of the events that went on, yet Kayla finds herself dreaming of a boy in a "Plague" T-shirt holding a Tarot Card to symbolise death. He tells her his name is Gavin and begs for help as she watches him drown in the swamp. Kayla is frightened by these dreams but her mother refuses to tell her what happened. Together with her cousin Erin and boyfriend Jon, Kayla resolves to seek the truth about the secret her mother is keeping from her. As in the Blair Witch Project movie itself, the three venture into the forest, armed with a video camera and determined to find answers. But is history about to repeat itself, and who will be the next victim of the Blair Witch?

This is the scariest book in the Blair Witch Files so far. The action is fast-paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. This book was more about being scary than having an interesting or complicated plot. I really recommend "The Death Card" and the remaining books in this series to all teen readers and horror fans.

In 1974, teenager Sharon Webster witnessed the horrifying death of Gavin Burns at the hands of the Blair Witch. Refusing the face the truth, she reported that Gavin had been killed by a bear, and from that day on, she has lived in denial. Twenty-six years later, Sharon has a sixteen-year-old daughter of her own, Kayla, and a fifteen-year-old niece named Erin. When Kayla begins to have nightmares about the events her mother witnessed, she is determined to find out the truth her mother has been hiding. So Kayla and Erin, along with Kayla's boyfriend, Jon, hike to the woods Kayla saw in her dreams. But the three teens are making a big mistake. Because although Gavin is dead, the evil that destroyed him lives on. And now it's after Kayla, Erin, and Jon. This was a terrifying addition to the Blair Witch Files series.

We fellow the adventures of Coraline, a young girl wise beyond her years in the Other House. Gaiman builds an entire world (albeit a small one) that is deliciously creepy and strange. The attention he pays to small details - an eerie theme song guaranteed to give you the shivers, the 'doughy' texture of the Other Father's face, the malicious expression in the Other Picture - are touches that make 'Coraline' a gem and a wicked scare.
However, if I could give 3.5 stars, I would. 'Coraline' is really an excellent one-off read but not worth the price (I own the paperback novel) I felt that without the suspense, much effect is lost upon re-reading the book. It's still an enjoyable read the second time around, but falls short when compared to Gaiman's other works. Coraline as a character lacks emotional depth. While I rooted for her, she's easily forgettable. More interesting characters are the cat and the Other Mother, but they are under-developed (forgivable within the constraints of length of a Children's book)
For children, 'Coraline' is highly recommened. For older readers, I do recommend the book as a light read, but Gaiman has written better.

I don't know what is, but every author these days seems to think the larger your book is the better it has to be. This trend has gotten especially out of hand in the fantasy department and now even books for younger audiences are starting to conform (Thank you *very* much, J. K. Rowling). What these people seem oblivious to is that no matter how long a novel is, a bore is a bore which is why I find myself increasingly eyeing the young adult shelves for a good, otherworldy read.

Thankfully, Neil Gaiman has written for every audience under the sun and knows how to spin a good tale of any length. In a relatively scant amount of pages he manages to conjure up a funny and frightening fairy story for the modern reader.

Coraline- most definitely *not* Caroline- is an unflappably English little girl who treats all her bizarre neighbors with a polite smile and a nod and behaves much the same way when she finds herself in a realm of button-eyed parents and crawling hands. But it's not all scares, there's the sarcastic and aloof Cat and a pack of terriers who love stage shows and chocolate in all its forms- except for toffee, which makes them dribble- to keep things from getting too dark.

All in all, a fun but all-to-brief story that's bound to amuse all ages.

But better too short than double the length and half the heart.

So far, I haven't read anything by Neil Gaiman that I didn't enjoy, and Coraline is no different. This is one of the most charming books I've read recently, and like everything else written by Gaiman, it is witty and funny, yet creepy and disturbing at the same time. And while Coraline was written for children, I haven't yet heard any adult complain about it. I haven't asked any kids what they thought about it, but I'm sure kids would have just as much fun as your average adult, if not even more (though maybe not as a bedtime story...).

Coraline is the story of a young girl. A bored, polite, smart little girl, who goes exploring on a rainy day, and obviously runs into trouble. A lot of trouble. But there's more to "Coraline" than that. Gaiman has a wonderful way with words, which never ceases to amaze me (and of course, causes me to ask myself how come I can't write like that), and his dark sense of humor and witty simplicity makes reading "Coraline" a treat for anyone (for example: "She might want something to love... Something that isn't her. She might want something to eat as well. Its hard to tell with creatures like her.").

You simply can't help but to fall in love with Coraline, and the entire book. And obviously, Dave McKean's artwork makes this book even more fun to read.