Hollywood Divas : The Good, The Bad, and The Fabulous

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ANOTHER INTERESTING BOOK FROM JAMES ROBERT PARISH

Good, bad, rarely fabulous

It was okay...

Another great book from James Robert Parish

"Hollywood Divas" is Divine!

Hollywood Divas : The Good, The Bad, and The Fabulous
James Robert Parish
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Actors & Actresses | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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The Hollywood Book of Scandals : The Shocking, Often Disgraceful Deeds and Affairs of Over 100 American Movie and TV Idols

The Hollywood Book of Love : From True Romance and Blushing Brides to Tawdry Trysts and Femme Fatales

Hollywood Bad Boys : Loud, Fast, and Out of Control

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ASIN: 0071408193

Book Description

A tantalizing peek behind Hollywood's most hard-tohandle leading ladies

From the birth of the silver screen, "It Girls" laid down a sequined trail of self-indulgence and scandalous bad behavior. The stars in this exclusive sorority are both loved and loathed by the press, the fans, and even by each other. Bette Davis once said of Joan Crawford, "I wouldn't sit on her toilet!" Crawford and Davis raised the bar for the women who followed them into Diva-dom. Hollywood Divas traces that glittering pathfrom legendary icons to today's most high-maintenance celebrities of film and TV.

Includes such stars as:

Gloria Swanson
Joan Crawford
Judy Garland
Marilyn Monroe
Cher
Madonna
Julia Roberts
Jennifer Lopez
Britney Spears

Bestselling showbiz author James Robert Parish delivers an eye-popping behind-thescenes peek into the wild private lives of 70 rampaging bad girls of Hollywood.

Customer Reviews:

ANOTHER INTERESTING BOOK FROM JAMES ROBERT PARISH.......2007-03-11

THIS IS ABOUT SOME OF THE ALL CONTROLLING, SELF ABSORBED, EGO TRIP WOMEN OF HOLLYWOOD. AMONG THEM ARE SHARON STONE, LIZ TAYLOR AND JLO. THIS IS QUITE ENTERTAINING MOST OF THE TIME AND HELD MY INTEREST. I HAVE READ OTHER BOOKS BY PARRISH AND ALL ARE WORTH READING. IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO BE A BITCH AND BE THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE THEN THE ACTRESSES FEATURED IN THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR DOCTRINE IN BEING SELF IMPORTANT AND A LEGEND IN YOUR OWN MIND. RECOMMENDED.

Good, bad, rarely fabulous.......2007-01-11

Tallulah Bankhead described a diva as an entertainer who "brings the public into the theater or opera house... by sheer force of her unique and individual self." And James Robert Parish tries to cram a lot of the best into "Hollywood Divas: The Good, The Bad, and the Fabulous"... with mixed results.

In alphabetical order, Paris describes the various classic divas -- Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Dorothy Dandridge, Bankhead, Grace Kelly, Norma Shearer, Ava Gardner, Paulette Goddard, Marilyn Monroe, Ethel Barrymore, Loretta Young, and even the original ones like Theda Bara, Clara Bow, and Veronica Lake.

But he also tackles the newer ones -- good, bad and horribly untalented -- Cher, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Drew Barrymore, Liza Minelli, Demi Moore, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Meg Ryan, and Sharon Stone. These bios tend to be a wee bit out of date by now.

"Hollywood Divas" does its best as a tabloidy expose of these ladies' awful behavior, raunchy secret lives, and everything from drugs'n'booze to suicide to public scandal to secret love children. There's enough scandal here for a dozen heavy tomes.

In that respect, this book is fairly fun -- Parish crams a lot of naughtiness, sour marriages and lovers, along with some scattered information on the films they made. He also covers divas -- like Dandridge -- who are often neglected in such studies.

He has a nice, brisk style, and rarely plays favorites with the various divas here, however they end up (one exception is the unsoftened contempt for an ice skater who was pro-Hitler). And he tries to mention how they ended up -- sometimes married, or happy, or tragically dead, or working as housekeeper for a priest.

The problem is that Parish sometimes seems to confuse simple bad behavior and/or stupidity with divadom. I mean, Joan Rivers as a diva? Really. Roseanne? Nuh-uh. Demi? Not no Moore. And the walking train wreck known as Britney Spears? How about someone with a showbiz shelf life of more than three or four years?

"Hollywood Divas" suffers from some questionable entries, but there's enough fun scandal here to make it worth a car-ride read.

It was okay..........2006-07-09

I think I own all of Parish's books and I usually rave about them but this one was a little ho hum for me. I think I was put off by the fact that Parish has included contemporary "celebrities" such as "Jennifer Lopez" and "Britney Spears" along with the classic stars that he usually writes so well about. No need to mix it up like that.

For the price it's worth a look and the cover art is beautiful. A nice coffee table book.

Another great book from James Robert Parish.......2005-06-04

James Robert Parish is one of my favorite authors. His books are always a lot of fun to read and filled with juicy stories. This one has profiles of many great classic actresses including Paulette Goddard, Betty Hutton, Jayne Mansfield, Lana Turner, Jeanette MacDonald, and Norma Shearer. My one complaint is that there are too many current stars featured in the book.

"Hollywood Divas" is Divine!.......2003-10-21

Chock full of snappy anecdotes and delicious details, this book is a great companion to "Hollywood Bad Boys." Read them side by side to see which ones you'd pair off in an alternate universe. Great fun!

Book Description

Courtney Love: "I rely a lot on sexual metaphors-food as sex, music as sex, fucked-up weird insane sexual vistas that haunt me and make me feel as though I were going insane sometimes."

Bjork: "I have always had a certain song in my head, a certain chemistry of sounds."

Kim Gordon: "I always wanted to rebel."

Customer Reviews:

For those interested in feminism in rock n'roll.......2004-06-17

This book was pretty good. I bought it based on the fact that three of my favorite artists were interviewed in this book (Hole, Veruca Salt, Liz Phair). The Hole interview was disappointing but I really enjoyed the one on Veruca Salt (I'm glad they finally got some recognition). Other interesting interviews were the ones with Bjork, Ellyott Dragon (Sister George), and Tanya Donnelly (Belly). In response to the reviewer below me, no they really did talk about Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, L7, Babes In Toyland, etc they just didn't interview them personally. Which would have been cool though. Buy it if you are interested in women in rock.

Good, but what it's missing really annoys me........2002-04-03

This book is very good, worth the money and time reading it. But I do wish the author included more bands and solo artists. Amy Raphael went all the way back to The Raincoats and Sonic Youth but LEAVES OUT Patti Smith. PJ Harvey is nowhere to be found in this book. (!!!???) Neither are L7, Babes In Toyland......you get the picture. It's missing a lot of important "rock divas".

Oh no.. Courtney Love.......1999-09-08

My admiring words for this book are going to be cut short by the fact that the Courtney Love/Hole chapter focuses more on a self absorbed look at music rather than the larger. However, this peep into women in rock will leave you wanting more. You'll want to go listen to Liz Phair and change your world.

A MuSt ReAd.......1999-07-25

This is a must read book, It is all about what its like to be a woman in the music industry and grrrl power. The Courtney love interview is great and the book also covers from Bjork to Kim Gordon. It is a must read for teenage girls.

Deb Harry is the bomb!.......1999-06-23

Deb Harry's introduction to the book is the best thing about it: short, sharp, sexy. The Courtney Love chapter is more of the same self-indulgent, ego-maniacal drivel you've come to expect. The Bjork chapter is a must read! She's original, & her happy-go-lucky attitude is so refreshing.

Average customer rating:

GRRRLS Viva Rock Divas
Amy Raphael
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTEIHI

Book Description

20th Century Icons is a stylish, quirky and instantly collectable series of little books created to celebrate the last hundred years. Famous names in the arenas of fashion, film, rock and pop, design, kitsch and camp have all chosen their own personal icons, recorded with interesting and amusing and sometimes controversial results. In Gay outrageous British comedian, chat show host, actor and TV presenter Graham Norton celebrates the divine, the glamorous, the camp and the tragic in this glorious collection of his favourite gay icons.

Customer Reviews:

Norton's Favorites!.......2001-06-04

Irish-born comedian Graham Norton in this very small book gives us his pick of his favorite gay icons. Each little biography includes a picture of the favorite star, drag queen, singer, actor or performer. I enjoyed several of his picks like k.d.lang, Divine, Grace Jones, Alain Delon, Madonna, etc. I highly disagreed with his picks of Jeffrey Dahmer, Francis Farmer, Roger Moore, and Liberace. Some of his picks are meant to be controversial, and they are. This is just one of a series of books put out about 20th Century Icons. Graham's royalties from this book go the Terrance Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and AIDS Charity. A good cause. I found this book enjoyable, especially the gay icons that I personally chose. An interesting little book!

Book Description

Australian cinema has taken the international film world by storm in recent years, winning awards and garnering attention. The faces and talents behind these films have been brought together to discuss the popularity of Australian film in these thought-provoking essays. Heartfelt, eclectic, and imaginative, these essays allow the filmmakers to become active participants in the discussions of an Australian aesthetic usually reserved for journalists and critics. Contributions include an interview with Jane Campion, a dissection of apocalyptic mythology from George Miller (of Mad Max fame), and the journal Scott Hicks kept as Shine found its way from Sundance to the Oscars.

Customer Reviews:

Much needed, greatly appreciated.......2000-09-06

I read this book almost a year ago, but I was prompted to write this review when I discovered (with horror)during a search for books dealing with contemporary Australian film that there was no customer feedback yet for this title! This book is a real treasure, even for those not remotely associated with Australian film. In fact, even divorced from film interests at all, this book is filled with interesting and engaging narrative from fascinating and colourful characters. As a film resource, it is unparralled. There is unfortunately a real poverty of material dealing with current Australian filmmaking that is this absorbing and entertaining. As a recently graduated film student, I would suggest this book as a great resource for film students in all nations, not just Australia. Australian cinema is unique, diverse, and booming on the local and global scene. This book is the most up to date resource that I could find, and by far the most enjoyable, it's just a really good read on so many levels. I really can't reccommend it enough, and I hope someone writes someting as good dealing with Australian film sometime soon.....

Australian Television: A Genealogy of Great Moments

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One of Dr McKee's old students

Australian Television: A Genealogy of Great Moments
Alan McKee
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Australia | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0195512251

Book Description

This is the first book to present a history of Australian television in which the programs themselves are the main focus of attention. In addition to providing an invaluable and comprehensive archive of information for anybody interested in the history of the medium, the book raises important
questions about the ways in which we think about television.

Customer Reviews:

One of Dr McKee's old students.......2002-10-09

This author has a talent for cutting through the rubbish that usually surrounds theoretical arguements and honing them to precise and comprehensible points. Each chapter is an informative and well researched arguement. This is the book for anyone who is interested in looking at today's cultural practices without traditional mantras like "tv is crap, its bad for you".
Alan is a lecturer in Media Studies at the University of Queensland, and if you get the chance to attend one of his lectures, take it. He manages to be fun (OH MY GOD...fun in academics!!!) without sacrificing academic credibility by concentrating on the important points and arranging them in an entertaining and informative way. Funnily enough his students tend to remember most of what he teaches them.

Framing Culture: Criticism and Policy in Australia (Australian Cultural Studies)

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Framing Culture: Criticism and Policy in Australia (Australian Cultural Studies)
Stuart Cunningham
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin Academic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

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General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1863731725

Book Description

How is contemporary culture “framed”—understood, promoted, dissected and defended— in the new approaches being employed in university education today? How do these approaches compare with those seen in the public policy process? What are the implications of these differences for future directions in theory, education, activism and policy? Framing Culture looks at cultural and media studies, which are rapidly growing fields through which students are introduced to contemporary cultural industries such as television, film and video. It compares these approaches with those used to frame public policy and finds a striking lack of correspondence between them. Issues such as Australian content on commercial television and in advertising, new technologies and new media, and violence in the media all highlight the gap between contemporary cultural theories and the way culture and communications are debated in public policy. The reasons for this gap must be investigated before closer relations can be established. Framing Culture brings together cultural studies and policy studies in a lively and innovative way. It suggests avenues for cultural activism that have been neglected in cultural theory and practice, and it will provoke debates which are long overdue.

Average customer rating:

Cosi - brilliant
Cosi not entirely true...
Madness of this book.
a learning journey
Reality is Deceiving

Cosi the Screenplay (Screenplays)
Louis Nowra
Manufacturer: Currency Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Screenplays | Movies | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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General | Drama | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0868194751

Book Description

Lewis, a young first-time director, is hired by a state-run psychiatric institution to direct a variety show as part of a therapeutic program. As Vietnam War protesters rage outside and the production lurches toward its uncertain conclusion, Lewis and the cast find companionship and empowerment in ideals, as the real world appears rife with confusion. Adapted by the author from his popular play.

Customer Reviews:

Cosi - brilliant.......1999-11-22

Having both studied this text and performed it on stage I am very familiar with it, and can honestly give it a 5/5 rating. Nowra has written a riotous comedy set in a mad house, obviously exaggerating his characters, but in such a colourful play this is essential to the comic value. Although essentially a comedy the deeper themes of love, fidelity, sanity and compassion are poignant but not overbearing, so although the readers/audience has a hell of a fun ride, one still comes away with a changed perspective. The warning from the reviewer above misses the point of this play somewhat - Nowra's purpose is not to make fun of or mock the patients, or to highlight their dangerousness; rather it is to show the extent of Lewis' compassionate involvement and 'journey' throughout. Cosi is a extremely funny yet very relevant script which gets my 100% seal of approval. Get it!

Cosi not entirely true..........1999-11-09

I had to read this book as part of my Senior English course, and knowing more than one mentally ill person - one of whom is currently living in a mental health clinic - I found that Nowra's portrayal of mental illness is not quite true. Only very rarely does someone suffer so badly from mental illness that they appear similar to the characters in "Cosi". Nowra's portayal of these patient's has been greatly exaggerated for theatrical purposes, and I just want people to be aware of that as many people I know who have read this book have simply assumed that all mentally ill people deserve to be locked away for fear of them hurting others. This is an incorrect assumption.

Madness of this book........1999-07-20

this book is ok, and banned in one country, guess

a learning journey.......1999-06-15

Cosi offers an opportunity to view life through the eyes of someone different. Lewis is on a journey of discovery; learning about himself his lover and the people around him. Cosi says something to us about the way we treat others, lies and deception hurt. Love is a universal theme.

Reality is Deceiving.......1998-07-25

In Cosi, mental patients teach Lewis a lot about life in and out of the walls of the institution, a major theme being that of reality and deception. Lewis is directing a play for the inmates.

Australian Television and International Mediascapes

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Australian Television and International Mediascapes
Stuart Cunningham , and Elizabeth Jacka
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 052147003X

Book Description

This book addresses current debates about globalization and culture by tracing the emergence of Australia as a significant exporter of television to the world market. The authors investigate why Australian programs have found international popularity. The book describes the Australian industry and the international television marketplace. It also examines the impact of Australian programs on the television cultures of the importing countries. The authors outline policy implications and speculate on future directions of Australian television.

Australian Television Culture (Australian cultural studies)

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Australian Television Culture (Australian cultural studies)
Tom O'Regan
Manufacturer: Allen & Unwin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1863735275

Australian Television: Programs, Pleasures, and Politics (Australian Cultural Studies)

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Australian Television: Programs, Pleasures, and Politics (Australian Cultural Studies)
John Tulloch
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Performing Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0043800300

Contemporary Australian Television (Communication and Culture)

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Contemporary Australian Television (Communication and Culture)
Stuart Cunningham , Toby Miller , and David Rowe
Manufacturer: New South Wales University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0868403970

Average customer rating:

survivor - palau: country tie-ins
Slick and pretty, but not very interesting
Not at all like the first book (BEWARE)
Very informative; a must for survivor fans
Don't Waste Your Time, Survivor Fans

Survivor II: The Field Guide
Mark Burnett
Manufacturer: TV Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Television | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1575001918

Book Description

Survivor II: The Field Guide

The Survivor credo "outwit, outplay. outlast" will stretch to new limits in the Outback. The castaways will be more strategic. the challenges more epic, the locate a deadly, baking wasteland that will make the original Survivor island seem like a luxury spa. Prepare to be thrust out of your comfort zone into a land where danger lurks around every corner and your best friend is, secretly, your avowed nemesis.

Executive Producer Mark Burnett takes readers on a virtual tour of Survivor 11, with an in-depth look at the Survivor phenomenon, the Australian locale. and the new contestants who will match wits and wills to become the ultimate Outback Survivor.

Customer Reviews:

survivor - palau: country tie-ins.......2004-12-26

It seems as if Survivor will be airing yet another show in 2005 as Survivor-10 or Survivor-Palau.

I wonder how much these show actually help the host country? For example, the country domain is .pw and www.survivor.pw could be used as a fan site for Survivor-Palau. Have the show's producers considered this?

Slick and pretty, but not very interesting.......2002-01-23

As if Burnett needed more marketing for his piece d'resistance, hit TV series Survivor, here comes a pretty picture book to make you feel bad for having missed the first series. Except... Burnett should feel bad for missing the strengths of the first series' BOOK. Unlike the "Field Guide" to Survivor I, there's little interesting in the way of additional material or structural insight. If you're a Survivor fanatic, you may enjoy some banter about Australia's surivalist history and environment. If you need some toilet reading, you may enjoy the study cover and pretty pictures. If you're looking for something intelligent, exciting, and revealing, this ain't it.

Not at all like the first book (BEWARE).......2001-09-15

If you are looking for a book like the first one detailing the original Survivor, do not buy this one. The book is informative and should of came out during the airing of the Survivor II. It does take you back to Borneo, gives you insight to why they picked Australia (and especially the Queenlands area), and some history of Australia. The next chapters tell about the personality of the survivors and their strategy to win. Where as the last chapter talks about survivor and how to become a contestant.

Very informative; a must for survivor fans.......2001-07-19

Not only does it gives the reader in-depth information about the castaways, their motives and their demeanor, but also gives useful facts about the Australian Outback in which the 2nd installation was set and filmed. It's useful both as a resource book and information (especially if you wanna know more about the castaways and things they had to put up through during their stay in the Outback.) Even though the show is over, still it is a survivor fan's must-have or must-keep collection. So if you wanna have a piece of the second season of survivor, or looking for more information on the show and the land they filmed it.. I say you check this one out.

Don't Waste Your Time, Survivor Fans.......2001-07-11

I made the mistake of reading Field Guide after Survivor II aired, but -- even if I had done so beforehand -- it likely would have been just as boring. Unlike Mark Burnett's first book, which was almost as exciting as the t.v. show, Field Guide contained 150 pages of pure filler. From its "strategy sessions" to its extremely generic contestant profiles to its plethora of full page photographs, this book was a waste of time, plain and simple.

Voices in the Wilderness: Images of Aboriginal People in the Australian Media (Contributions to the Study of Mass Media and Communications)

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Voices in the Wilderness: Images of Aboriginal People in the Australian Media (Contributions to the Study of Mass Media and Communications)
Michael Meadows
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Australia | Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0313315663

Book Description

This book examines race relations in Australia through various media representations over the past 200 years. The early colonial press perpetuated the image of aboriginal people as framed by early explorers, and stereotypes and assumptions still prevail. Print and television news accounts of several key events in recent Australian history are compared and reveal how indigenous sources are excluded from stories about their affairs. Journalists wield extraordinary power in shaping the images of cultures and people, so indigenous people, like those in North America, have turned away from mainstream media and have acquired their own means of cultural production through radio, television, and multimedia. This study concludes with suggestions for addressing media practices to reconcile indigenous and non-indigenous people. This study will appeal to students and scholars studying mass media, particularly journalism and public relations, Australian history, and sociology.

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