A SERIES OF LESSONS IN RAJA YOGA

A SERIES OF LESSONS IN RAJA YOGA Review

I found this book years ago by an accident, in an antiquity store in Zagreb. More than just worthy of the five stars- I found the lessons extremely useful. However, I would advise any beginner to be careful with the "trap door" and similar techniques, since they can easily lead one to putting too many things into the subconscious realm, instead of the opposite. Things like noticing the details on things, instead of the whole - for instance, counting each scale on a fish - are extremely precious and can help you build concentration and focus. Even the apparently simple things, like focusing your eyes and mind on a dot on the wall, or visualizing your pen, or matching footsteps with imagined music, will strengthen the mind enormously, even with very little practice. Seeing it as a manual for strengthening the mind, it is an excellent book and I recommend it to everybody. However, I would advise a beginner to start with something more general, such as Yogananda's 'Autobiography' or my 'Approach' - even if it means advertising myself :), before getting into specific exercises, because it's important to have a wide spiritual perspective before starting to bother with details.

A SERIES OF LESSONS IN RAJA YOGA Overview

The lessons which compose this volume, originally appeared in the shape of monthly lessons, the first of which was issued in October, 1905, and the twelfth in September, 1906. These lessons met with a hearty and generous response from the public, and the present volume is issued in response to the demand for the lessons in a permanent and durable form. There have been no changes made in the text.

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Piano Adventures Theory Book, Level 2A (Faber Piano Adventures®)

Piano Adventures Theory Book, Level 2A (Faber Piano Adventures®) Review

Piano Adventures Theory Book, Level 2A (Faber Piano Adventures®) Overview

This book provides instruction, reinforcement and creative application of theory concepts through writing, sightreading, and eartraining activities - all within a fun-filled context.

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This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection Review

Carol Burnett has written a beautiful memoir of her rise in show business and the people she's met along the way. With her wonderful sense of humour she tells us of her most hilarious moments to her most heartbreaking moments.

Carol was fortunate enough to work with the best of the best from the comedy world such as: Lucille Ball, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, and Carol Channing. She worked with the best of actors like: Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Marlon Brando. Carol even worked with the hugely popular Beverly Sills, the great soprano opera singer who had a lot of tragedy in her personal life.

Sharing her feelings about her daughter Carrie's death at a very young age from lung cancer is heartbreaking. We aren't supposed to bury our children but Carol was forced to do just that.

This was a truly insightful and inspiring memoir that I will read again and again.

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection Feature

• ISBN13: 9780307461186
• Condition: New
• Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection Overview

THIS TIME TOGETHER is 100 percent Carol Burnett – funny, irreverent, and irresistible.
 
Carol Burnett is one of the most beloved and revered actresses and performers in America. The Carol Burnett Show was seen each week by millions of adoring fans and won twenty-five Emmys in its remarkable eleven-year run. Now, in This Time Together, Carol really lets her hair down and tells one funny or touching or memorable story after another – reading it feels like sitting down with an old friend who has wonderful tales to tell.
 
In engaging anecdotes, Carol discusses her remarkable friendships with stars such at Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, and Julie Andrews; the background behind famous scenes, like the moment she swept down the stairs in her curtain-rod dress in the legendary “Went With the Wind” skit; and things that would happen only to Carol – the prank with Julie Andrews that went wrong in front of the First Lady; the famous Tarzan Yell that saved her during a mugging; and the time she faked a wooden leg to get served in a famous ice cream emporium. This poignant look back allows us to cry with the actress during her sorrows, rejoice in her successes, and finally, always, to laugh.

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Ran - Original Screenplay & Storyboards of the Academy Award-Winning Film

Ran - Original Screenplay & Storyboards of the Academy Award-Winning Film Review

If there is one word I would use to describe "Ran", it would be 'UNFORGETTABLE'. I shall do my best to describe what a powerful impact this film had on me, but as with some of the true classics in cinema, such efforts can be futile.

"Ran", directed by Akira Kurosawa, is a faithful but reimagined telling of Shakespeare's 'King Lear', using feudal Japan as the backdrop. Before I begin, I will give you a brief character list, since I personally have a tendency to confuse foreign-language names when I read reviews:

Lord Hidetora Ichiimonji --- The warlord who intends to give up his power

The Three Sons:
Taro --- oldest, married to Lady Kaede
Jiro --- the middle
Saburo --- the youngest, most loyal and loving of his father

Lady Kaede --- married to Taro, her family & lands were conquered by Hidetora


The opening shots of the beautiful mountains leave the viewer uneasy as the brooding music plays over the credits. Our tension is justified, because we suddenly see Lord Hidetora aim his bow at a hunted boar. His fierce gaze is as intimidating as his precise aim.

The story begins with Lord Hidetora (played by Kurosawa regular Tatsuya Nakadai) announcing to his family & court that he will divide his kingdom among his three sons. Saburo (the youngest) objects, because he believes that the division will lead to jealously and corruption, possibly war. But Hidetora knows no compromise, and bans his youngest from his lands.

It turns out that Saburo was right, as older sons Taro & Jiro begin to plot against each other for the lands. Meanwhile, Hidetora begins to go mad. He has turned away his most loving son. The sons he chose to reward have abandoned him. He is too proud to acknowledge his errors. His jester fails to amuse him during his sorrows. And when the ensuing battles leave Hidetora's castles in ruins, he descends into madness while wandering the lands he conquered. The destruction only deepens his descent.

Sadly, only through more bloodshed and chaos do the lessons and appreciation of life come to the men who survive the story. Only when that which matters most is lost, does life seem precious.

I can't really say if "Ran" is well-cast, because I don't speak Japanese, and I also understand that Kurosawa's dramatic style tends to overexaggerate the dialogue and emotions. In other words, Kurosawa's dramas love to have the characters use grand gestures when a simple facial expression would suffice. However, I think anyone will agree that Tatsuya Nakadai deserves high compliments for his lead role. His body language does the story a great service as he aimlessly wanders his ruined country. His face is weary from battle, and is in a constant trance for most of the picture.

Mieko Harada gives a fascinating performance as Lady Kaede, the woman who has been wronged by the Ichiimonji clan, and yet is bound to them through marriage. In Kurosawa's interpretation of 'King Lear', Kaede is closer to Lady Macbeth. Her role is to be loyal to Taro, but yet she possesses the power, confidence, and manipulative presence he lacks. Kurosawa's films don't often have strong female roles, but Lady Kaede is easily one of the best.

As powerful as "Ran" was for me, I can't say it's perfect. I've long admired Kurosawa's work, but "Ran" has scenes that go on for way too long. There are many scenes where characters just sit and talk, with very little movement. This wouldn't be a problem if the camera had more closeups or cuts, but instead some viewers may become restless during some conversations. The opening banishment of Saburo is one of the toughest to sit through.

In fairness, the unmoving distanced camera fits the story of "Ran". As I learned from Stephen Prince's DVD commentary track, the distanced camera is to imply how the gods of the earth have abandoned the corrupt creatures who inhabit it. I guess the best way to sum this complaint of mine is that Kurosawa's direction fits thematically, but occasionally falters theatrically.

Sometimes Kurosawa demands that we go to his pictures, rather than have them come to us. But when the dark, deceptive web of "Ran" gets spun, it tangles you up and rarely lets go. As these characters plot to control the lands, it becomes a gripping story of despair. There isn't a ton of violence in "Ran", but when it's there, it hits you hard. There is an unforgettable sequence where Hidetora's Castle is raided and burned. It concludes with a mournful music score and no sound effects, and I promise if for nothing else you won't forget it.

My appreciation for "Ran" has been cemented by its unforgettable ending. Simply put, in the hundreds of movies I've watched in lifetime, I don't think one has haunted me and impacted me as much as "Ran" has. I refuse to give it away. If you are patient and willing to descend into this desparate tale, then you will have earned the privilege to see the tragic ending under the blood-red skies.

"Ran" is not a perfect film, but it is exactly the way Akira Kurosawa intended it to be. Every single camera shot & scene --- for better or worse --- fits the dramatic flow of the story. I warn you that this film requires YOU to enter IT, and not the other way around. It will not be fed to you the way you expect. But then again, great art requires our horizons to be challenged. Once you break the boundaries that American movies have cemented in our minds, you experience a sensation that no other film can provide.

"Ran" is a one-of-a-kind experience. Go to it. It will not come to you.

DVD NOTES
---I've read countless reviews that this 2-disc set is the only way to experience "Ran". I haven't seen the other releases, such as the Masterworks disc or the Blu-Ray set. However, I can vouch for this Criterion set's superb quality. The video colorfully & richly maintains the cinematographers' work. I'm no sound expert, but I could hear everything from the most intimate conversations to the most hushed sounds of nature.

The great rewards are in the bonus features. Stephen Prince's commentary was probably my favorite of his tracks for Kurosawa DVDs. Sidney Lumet gives a great introduction on Disc 1, pretty much summarizing how Kurosawa impacted him, and what "Ran" is probably about at its core. Finally, Disc 2 has a 75-minute documentary detailing how "Ran" came into production. Like the other Kurosawa featurettes in the Criterion Collection, this one is a great watch.

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Casino

Casino Review

The book has some writing problems like you can't tell who's speaking to you at the time. The book is written by a variety of different voices. I loved the movie, Casino. The book fills in a lot of background details of the real-life characters and the movie starring Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Sharon Stone. DeNiro plays the lead character, Frank Lefty Rosenthal. In the movie, he's Ace Rothstein. Pesci plays Tony Spilotero as Nick who will remind you of Goodfellas role. Stone plays Ginger rather than Geri.
I still find the book interesting especially about how thorough it is in regards to understanding the backgrounds of the mob, Las Vegas, Chicago, and the neighborhoods of Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal and Tony Spilotero's character. I always watching the movie but I like watching it from the beginning. I can't stand watching it in the middle but Scorsese did an excellent job in maintaining the voices that inspired the movie.

Casino Overview

With the intensity of a Jacobean tragedy, Casino unfolds its tale of a love triangle between a gambler, his wife, and his henchman amid the glittering, festering Babylon of Las Vegas. The film makes daring use of voice-over and rapidly shifting points of view and time frame, leaving conventional film language far behind.

Casino Specifications

The author of the best-selling Wiseguy gives us this true and brilliantly-told story of love, marriage, adultery, murder, revenge, and how it led to the Mafia's finally losing its stranglehold on the Las Vegas casinos.

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The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Review

The four Penderwick sisters (Rosalind, Skye, Jane, and Batty) are excited to be staying at an estate called Arundel for their summer vacation. Arundel is like nothing they've ever seen before - it is large and beautiful. They quickly make friends with Jeffrey, the son of the owner of Arundel, but his mother is less enchanted with the girls and how Jeffrey reacts to their friendship. The Penderwick girls will forever change Jeffrey's relationship with his mother - but for the good or the bad?

"The Penderwicks" is a delightful book aimed at children ages 9 to 12. Author Jeanne Birdsall has created a book that manages to combine modern elements to capture children's attention (their father has a computer) yet old-fashioned elements that will remind adults of beloved books they read as children (Rosalind writes letters to her best friend rather than e-mails). The book is told alternately from each child's point of view and each is a memorable character: Rosalind, trying to be a mother to each child and suffering her first crush; tomboy Skye; dreamer Jane who is always writing a novel; and young Batty, a nervous, shy child who loves wearing her beloved butterfly wings. The story is a simple one - children being children - that vaguely reminded me of "Little Women" (without the tragedy). There is a wonderful sense of humor throughout the book that children will love and adults will enjoy looking back to the innocent days of childhood. If there is a flaw in this book, it is the portrayal of the adults. Mr. Penderwick is a typical absent-minded professor, who unknowingly neglects his children and relies far too much on Rosalind. Jeffrey's mother is a stereotypical villain, whose character could use some fleshing out. Still, the book is really about the Penderwick sisters and Jeffrey and their story is a delight to read.

Readers of all ages will enjoy "The Penderwicks".

The Penderwicks: A Summer Tale Of Four Sisters, Two Rabbits, And A Very Interesting Boy (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) Overview

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. The four sisters of this nostalgic novel delight in a summer of adventure and discovery at a beautiful Massachusetts estate named Arundel. Jeffrey, the son of Arundel's owner, becomes the perfect companion to their exploits.

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Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire

Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire Review

This book covers Stevie Ray from childhood, all the way up through his death in 1990, and even after his death, up through about 1992. Stevie Ray was killed in a helecopter crash. Stevie Ray was born & raised in Dallas, Texas. He first started playing his older brother's guitar at their home. His older brother is Jimmy Vaughan, founding member of the "Fabulus Thunderbirds" band. Stevie grew up in the same neighborhood with another Texas Guitar Great, Doyle Bramhall (who is the father of current Texas Guitar Great Doyle Bramhall II). Also Stevie had some interaction with Texas Guitar Great Charlie Sexton,who was younger than Steive. Doyle II & Charlie along with Double Trouble currently have a band called "ArcAngels". They have a great new concert dvd and live cds of this concert available from their website, and they are highly SRV influenced.

This book covers the Texas Music scene, and especially the Austin, Texas Music scene also, because this environment influenced Stevie's life. It covers that Willie Nelson was instrumental in getting the Austin, Texas Music scene going, back in the early 1970's. It covers some other Texas musicians that somehow had interacted with Stevie, such as ZZ Top, Johnny Winter, Doug Sham, & especially Albert Collins, and others. It covers a little of the "Cosmic American Music" explosion of Gram Parsons, even though he was not a native Texan.

On page 163 it covers the "Southern Rock Music Scene", including the Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wet Willie, and others.

This book covers how Stevie Ray gained fame by playing in huge, Texas Honky Tonks, how he met Chris Layton & Tommy Shannon (Double Trouble) and the formation of their band. During this time they started working on their first album "Texas Flood". They were interrupted, by getting an opportunity to play in the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switerland. So they went & performed. This was during 1982, and they were booed off the stage. However, David Bowie was in the audience & he was very impressed with Stevie's guitar playing, and invited him & Double Trouble over for a talk. The result, Stevie Ray played the lead guitar on David Bowie's famous studio album of 1982/83, "Let's Dance". So, when you listen to the music on that album to songs like "Let's Dance" & "Little China Girl", the fantastic guitar playing you are hearing is that of Stevie Ray's. Bowie wanted Stevie to go on a World Tour with Bowie, but after agonizing over it, Stevie declined the offer to tour with Bowie. He instead wanted to finish his 1st ablum "Texas Flood", with Double Trouble, and they did in 1983. It won a Grammy for best Blues Album or something like that.

Stevie Ray & Double Trouble returned to the Montreaux Jazz Festival again, during 1985, and this time they received standing ovations, plus there were people in the audience waving Rebel flags, this was sometime around the performance of "Look at Little Sister". Anyway, there is a DVD of both Montreaux performances, in one package, available from Amazon. I have one, and it is fantastic, especially the 1985 performance, because it includes Reese Wymans on keyboards, and Texan, Johnny Copeland on electric guitar for a couple of songs. This book mentions that Stevie had Texas black bluesman Johnny Copeland to join him on stage for a few songs in the 1985 concert. The crowd loved them, this time around. They actually did 2 encores!!!

Stevie Ray won 2 awards at the 5th annual W.C.Handy National Blues Awards Convention in Memphis. Stevie was named "Entertainer of the Year & Blues Instrumentalist of the Year." It was the 1st time in the history of the event that a white person had won either category. (P.180). Stevie Ray was heavily influenced by black bluesmen, especially Albert Collins & Jimi Hendrix.

This book covers Stevie's drug & alcohol addiction & how he totally recovered from it.

It covers the addition of Reese Wymans to Double Trouble. Stevie spotted him playing keyboards in a Texas Honky Tonk.

Anyway, this book covers Stevie's marriage & divorce to Lenny, and his new girlfriend who he was living with, when he was killed. Her name was Janna Lapidua, and she was from New Zealand. It covers Stevie's & Double Trouble's career up through Stevie's death in a helecopter crash, 20 years ago, in 1990.

This book covers Stevie's funeral, and it is very touching, you had all these great blues musicians there, paying respect & tribute to Stevie.

Then the book covers the next few years after Stevie's death, up until about 1992.
It has a discogrophy from "Texas Flood" in 1983, & releases on up through about 1992. This book has an index, making it easy to locate specific things in the book.

This book has been praised by "Entertainment Weekly" and The "Austin Chronicle".

The book was published/copyrighted in 1993, the author is Joe Nick Patoski, who at the time was a senior editor at "Texas Monthly", & columist for the "Austin American-Statesman". He also had contributed articles to "Rolling Stone" and other music magazines.

This is a great book about a great man, and I highly recommend it. Thanks!!!

Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire Overview

Now available in paperback, here is the bestselling biography of America's last guitar legend, Texas firebrand Stevie Ray Vaughan. Hailed the greatest guitarist since Hendrix, Vaughan emerged from the hotbed of Texas blues to develop a blistering, unforgettable style all his own. "A rich, complete, and loving portrait."--Detroit Free Press.

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