Princess Mononoke

Amazon.com

Director Hayao Miyazaki ranks among the most interesting and original figures currently working in world animation. His charming children's films My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service enjoy a rapidly growing audience in the U.S., and his brilliant Princess Mononoke, which broke box-office records in Japan, was released theatrically in the U.S. in November of 1999. Although storybook adaptations and a few Japanese volumes about individual films have appeared in the U.S., a major study of his work in English is long overdue. Miyazaki's many fans will enjoy Helen McCarthy's Hiyao Miyazaki and Mark Schilling's Princess Mononoke: The Art and Making of Japan's Most Popular Film of All Time, but neither is fully satisfactory.

Schilling's Mononoke is a translated and expanded version of The Art of Princess Mononoke, published in Japan in 1997. A respected journalist based in Tokyo, Schilling is a much more polished writer than McCarthy. His summary of Miyazaki's career is concise but informative. Scores of handsomely printed backgrounds, cel setups, and frame blowups trace the story of the film, but the reproductions of Miyazaki's own pencil-and-water color drawings are even more interesting. The layouts, landscapes, inspirational sketches, and early studies of the characters reveal the mind of a great artist at work.

Like McCarthy's Hiyao Miyazaki, Schilling's Princess Mononoke would have benefited from more careful proofreading; in a discussion of the use of computer animation techniques, for example, Schilling turns "morphing" into "morfing." --Charles Solomon

Book Description

This gorgeously animated film is the brainchild of Hayao Miyazaki, one of Japans most acclaimed directors, and is Japans most successful film ever, breaking the attendance records previously set by E.T. This lavishly illustrated volume tells the story behind the making of the film, and reveals the secrets behind anim, the popular Japanese animation technique. Set in the remote forests of northern Japan, The Princess Mononoke is an eco-fable of medieval times in which industry and civilization struggle against nature and humanity. Hailed as one of the best animated features ever made, The Princess Mononoke is certain to enthrall audiences across the country.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Hardcover Edition..........2003-06-10

A nice hardcover edition of this book with lots of explanations about the making and good full color illustrations. I liked the section on the CG. It's definately worth the price and could be used as a good coffee table book or such.

Lovely and Informative.......2001-07-25

This book is a wonderful little look into the world of not only Mononoke Hime, but Hayao Miyazaki's world as well. It contains high quality screen captures, pencil boards, original movie posters, and original character designs. It is a hardbound keepsake for all those who loved the movie and/or any of Hayao Miyazaki's other works. The book is also highly informative about the storyline and the creators views about the story and characters. It is a good thing to have in your collection.

A coffee table book that isn't trite?.......2001-06-12

I've given this a high rating, not because it is flawless but because it is an awesome companion to the film and a wonderful keepsake for that time in your life when you get a coffee table to put it on. If you own the film, you probably won't need this--and honestly, I purchased it as a way to show my support of the US distribution of this film. The book is a US translation of the Japanese edition, and as you can expect was lovingly put together. The last section does seem to perhaps be filler, but with such wonderful reproductions from the film along with in-depth background information, what more could you want out of it. On the other hand, it isn't really cheap either, but given it is probably one of the 10 best animated films ever, it makes a very nice addition to your over-sized film book collections.

Lastly, if you can recall the boring titles your grandparents kept on their coffee table, I think you can start to seel the appeal of things like this. Why settle for pretty national geographic titles (or whatever) when you can have this or big godzilla coffee table books (as do I)? Let your future grand-kids know that you were plenty weird in your former years.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK!.......2000-12-12

I loved this book, the drawings are excelent, the writing also, this one was the only one that i reed with a smile.

Beautiful........2000-10-06

I saw this movie when the dubbed version came out in theatres. I had never been a fan of Japanese animation beofre, but after I saw this movie, all my misconceptions were blown away. Unfortunately, it took a long time to come out on video, so to pass the time, I bought this book. It is a great coffee table and conversation piece, and the pictures chosen are beautiful. My only problem with this book was the captions that described the pictures. Since they were based on the original Japanese and not the dub, there were a few small facts that were differing and served to confuse me. Yet that is a very small problem. All in all, a good book.

Average customer rating:

OH MY OH MY OH MY
Awesome Book for my little princess
Hours of portable imaginative play!

My Fairy Princess Palace
Maggie Bateson
Manufacturer: Macmillan Children's Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pop-Up

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1405020768

Customer Reviews:

OH MY OH MY OH MY.......2007-04-28

It starts out nice enough with a nice story and then you see the cardboard fairies and then you open the book wide open and

YOU HAVE A DOLL HOUSE

It is amazing

My 4 year old loves it. Her parents are very impressed.

You do need to improvise a way to make the fairies stand up - some playdoh or something. Otherwise - BEYOND PERFECT for my princess and fairy loving girl

Awesome Book for my little princess.......2006-07-18

My daughter got this book for Christmas last year. She had just turned 3 and was heavy into the princess phase. This book has provided hours of imaginative play and provided her with many an hour of enjoyment. The book holds up surprisingly well to the beating a 3 year old gives it. I am going to buy a few more copies to give as gifts.

Hours of portable imaginative play! .......2005-10-24

My daughter received this shortly before she turned 3 years old. It is a delightfully detailed pop-up book that turns into a free-standing fairy palace, with many paper fairies to play in the four intricately decorated rooms. There are doorways and secret passageways inbetween the rooms, and all sorts of delightful suprises, including a pie baking in the oven -- open the oven door and peek in! It folds up easily to transport to a friends or just to put away.
Of course, if you or your child are a "ripper," this is not the toy for you. But if you can hang with the fragility, it will span many developmental stages.

Average customer rating:

Great, as always, from Rachel Cohn
Pop Fusion
Pop Princess
A new pop star is born!
Just What a Girl Needs!

Pop Princess
Rachel Cohn
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416902635

Amazon.com

Pop Princess, Rachel Cohn's third novel, will no doubt please some American Idol fans, but it is bound to leave fans of her cutting edge debut, Gingerbread, cold.

Wonder Blake is a fifteen year old frustrated chanteuse, stuck dreaming her pop star dreams in a small sleepy Cape Cod town while mopping the floor of the local Dairy Queen. Enter Gerald Tiggs, or "Tig", as he is known in the biz, the former manager of Wonder's older sister Lucky, who died tragically in a car accident two years earlier. Tig overhears Wonder wailing away on her Walkman at the DQ, and offers her a record deal on the spot. And the rest, as they say, is pure pop fantasy. Wonder vaults to insta-fame on the strength of her single, the appropriately titled "Bubble Gum Pop." In typical Britney/Christina fashion, she is tempted by drugs and alcohol, dissed by a famous diva, and caught between the boy next door and a mysterious stranger she meets on tour. All the while, Wonder longs for a return to the quiet life she used to have and the wise counsel of her beloved deceased sister.

Sound familiar? It should: Wonder's story could have been lifted wholesale from just about any episode of VH1's Behind the Music. What happened to the sly, sarcastic, hipper-than-thou-voice Rachel Cohn penned in her breakout hit Gingerbread? With Pop Princess, Cohn is in danger of losing her individual voice as much as her bubblegum snapping protagonist. Rather than breathing new life into a tired genre, Cohn's conventional, lighter-than-air read will surprise no teen, and provide about as much escapism as a night in front of the tube with Randy, Paula and Simon.--Jennifer Hubert

Book Description

"This is not a school musical, this is millions of people seeing you, recognizing you, criticizing you. This is it. Public person -- the good, the bad, and the ugly. Are you ready?"

When fifteen-year-old Wonder Blake is plucked from her job at the Dairy Queen and given the chance to become a teen idol, it seems like a dream come true -- even if it wasn't her dream, but her older sister Lucky's. Lucky was on her way to becoming a pop star when she died, and Wonder and her family are still trying to recover from their loss. Offered a recording contract, Wonder jumps at the chance to escape from a dead-end town, her fractured family, and worst of all, high school. Suddenly she has it all: a hot new look, a chart-busting hit single, a tour opening for superstar Kayla. But stardom isn't all glamour -- it's also lots of work. And maybe what Wonder really wants is as simple as a guy who likes her for herself.

With spark and humor Rachel Cohn captures the struggles and glories of an ordinary teenage girl's climb to celebrity. As Wonder rises through the pop-princess star-making machine, she also learns the price -- and that maybe being an ordinary teenage girl isn't so bad after all.

Customer Reviews:

Great, as always, from Rachel Cohn.......2007-03-30

Wonder Blake tragically lost her sister, Lucky, in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Her family is falling apart from their loss. Lucky, who had just been signed as a pop star, is an inspiration to her sister. Wonder follows in her footsteps, making decisions good and bad along the way, as she makes her way from high school reject to Pop Princess, and from childhood to adulthood. I loved this book. Wonder's dialogue is realistic, peppered with references to pop culture, and cutely incorporates accents and slang. She is mark-on in her descriptions and interpretations of others, and is a nice mix of sweet and sassy. This is a great read for a young adult, but be warned that it does allude to a sex scene, even though she regrets if afterward. The trouble is that Wonder seems to feel hormonally compelled to "hook up" with guys, and it would take a mature teen reader to understand what's really going on.

Pop Fusion.......2007-01-18

Pretty young thing Lucky strikes it big as a pop singer. She becomes America's little darling, and the eyes of the world watch her star rise. One day, she is accidentally killed by a car while crossing the street. A freak accident. A fallen star.

Two years later, her manager hears Lucky's younger sister Wonder singing while slaving away at a Dairy Queen and offers her a record deal. The novel follows Wonder's ride up and down the fame rollercoaster. At first, Wonder does not particularly want to be famous, but she goes along for the ride. When Wonder's Pop Princess tiara becomes too heavy to wear, she realize what she does (and doesn't) want to do with her life and her talent. No matter what she decides to do, even if she doesn't fill her sister's shoes, she can be herself.

I enjoyed Pop Princess as much as I enjoyed Rachel Cohn's previous novels. She crafts characters with just the right mix of sincerity and snarkiness. Wonder is right there, sounding like the girl next door from start to finish, even at the height of her fame. She never loses her true voice.

Pop Princess.......2006-09-24

Wonder lives a life where everything is always being compared to when her big sister and best friend, Lucky (the pop singer), was still alive. And ever since she died, she and her family have become depressed and tired.
At least until Wonder is "discovered" by and old acquaintance and he helps her become a pop princess!
It's what Lucky would want, Wonder thinks. But is it really?
This was an interesting perspective of someone average (kind of) becoming a pop star, and also someone growing up and learning one of life's many lessons.
But that's probably pretty deep for this book. Basically, it's a fun teen read that will leave every teenage girl wishing she was a SUPERSTAR!

A new pop star is born!.......2006-06-16

When Wonder's best friend /sister dies she feels like she can't go on. To make matters worse her family moves to a little town called Cape Cod. Wonder's sister Lucky was a pop star in the making, right before the accident she was in the making of her first CD. One day when Wonder was working in Dairy Queen (her summer job) she start's singing to the radio while cleaning up, right then Tig walked in. Tig was Lucky's manger, when he heard Wonder singing he knew a star was born. Right on the spot he ask's Wonder if she want's to become a singer. And of coarse she says yes. A little bit after that Wonder is every girls roll model. Now Wonder is sporting a hot new body, a number one single and cute new love life. You might think it's a dream come true but for Wonder but she just wishes she was a normal teenager again. Just when she starts to become a big shot things go wrong. For some strange reason Wonder is happy about it.

This book has really changed my mind about celebrities. They turn out just to be normal people with lives just like us. My thoughts when reading this book were why would Wonder give up something she has worked so hard for? I recommend this book for anyone 13 or older. I give this book a 4 because it's really inspirational and a real page turner as corny as that sounds.

Just What a Girl Needs!.......2006-06-14

After the death of Wonder's older sister Lucky, Wonder and her family moved to a little town called Cape Cod, a place where Wonder couldn't wait to get out of... or so she thought. Lucky was a pop star in-training. She was about to sign a record deal right before the terrible car accident that took her life. Trying their best to put the death of Lucky behind them, Wonder and her family started their new life in Cape Cod. Wonder hated going to her highschool and would do almost anything to get out of it. One day, she was working at the local DQ when Lucky's former agent Tig walked in. Wonder, being totally unaware of what was happening, was singing quite loudly while listening to music with head phones on. Right away Tig saw a great talent and a good business plan. He asked Wonder if she wanted to become a singer. Although afraid of not being able to live up to her sister's past, she decided to go ahead and work with Tig. Really, all that was on Wonder's mind was to get out of Cape Cod!

After a few weeks of hard work, Wonder has a hot new image, a number one hit, and a sizziling love life. Every girls dream right? Wronge. Wonder finds out that being with her crazy family, boy next door, everyday girl's life isn't so bad afterwards. A few months after her hit single, her record label drops her, and she couldn't be more then happy. Everyday life isn't so bad after all.

This book is so good! It is a down to earth, uses modern laguaged, and is a teenage focused book and its an amazing read. I would recommend this book to just about anyone and I think that everyone should give it a try!

Average customer rating:

Only covers the first few seasons...
Great Book With Awsome Photos! :)
A must-have for sword-broad fans!
Speaking for myself, in terms of guilty pleasures...
A Must Have If You're A Xena Fan

Xena: Warrior Princess
Rob Weisbrot
Manufacturer: Main Street Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Xena Warrior Princess: Slave

ASIN: 0385491360
Release Date: 1998-01-20

Book Description

In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero.  She was Xena, a mighty princess, forged in the heat of battle...Her courage will change the world.

The millions of fans who watch  Xena: Warrior PrincessTM every week already know that it is the hottest and hippest show on television.  But for inside information that is available nowhere else, The Official Guide to the Xenaverse is the place to turn, offering:

Over one hundred photographs in color and black and white
A complete and detailed episode guide to the first two seasons, featuring Lucy Lawless's own take on every episode
A look behind the scenes that reveals the inner workings of the show, including writers' meetings, casting sessions, filming, special-effects secrets, and much more
The intriguing story of the origin of Xena: Warrior PrincessTM
Biographies of cast and crew
Fascinating trivia and little-known facts about life in the Xenaverse

Xena: Warrior Princess (r) & (c) Universal Television Enterprises, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc.  Copyright (c) 1998 by Universal Studios Publishing Rights, a division of Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews:

Only covers the first few seasons..........2007-04-24

This coverage of the making and cast of the show Xena: Warrior Princess is downright hilarious. Granted, I have an odd sense of humor, but you can tell that the author went out of his way to make this as entertaining as possible. There are lots of spiffy pictures, and two sections of large, full-color photos. The cast bios are particularly interesting, in my opinion; many things you might not know about these crazy actors/actresses (ie. apparently, Ted Raimi is a fantastic swing dancer; who'd have guessed, oh, wait, I always have...never mind). There are little mini-interviews and comments scattered throughout the pages, along with amusing production anecdotes, and episode synopses in the back (paired with commentary by Lucy Lawless/Xena). My only complaint is that this book only covers the first couple seasons. Perhaps there's an upgrade version that I missed, and if not, there should be. I highly recommend this book for even the casual Xena: WP fan, and particularly the rabid ones, though if you're a rabid fan, you probably already own this...

Great Book With Awsome Photos! :).......2003-07-05

This book is great. I have the Warrior Princess Costume all ready! Lucy Lawless Looks sharp on the front cover of this book and I got this with my staff at the Joyce Warner House... I really have to say is that it has great pictures! :) <3Cheeeeeyyyyaaa!Young Xena Warrior Princess

A must-have for sword-broad fans!.......2002-04-20

What can I say? If you love Xena, you gotta have this!

Speaking for myself, in terms of guilty pleasures..........2002-04-16

....being a hardcore nutball Xena fan ranked for me - but only for a short while - among the highest!But then,now that I've embraced this pleasure wholehartedly, let's put things like this: if anyone wants to understand the ideological linings of postmodernity, understanding the Xena phenomenon provides one of the shortest roads, and if anyone wants to study XWP one has to begin gathering extra information here. I would recommend, however to order this book with Ariele Dorfman's & Armand Mattelart's _How to Read Donald Duck_, if the purpose is scholarly; if you just like Xena, order the two neverthless.

A Must Have If You're A Xena Fan.......2001-03-05

This book is basically the Bible for Xenites. With tons of color and balck and white pictures, you can't miss. There is a in-depth look at the making of the show, including the step by step process of editing, directing, prop making, costume designing, and the music that goes with the show. One littlle tibet I found particularly interesting was that they included the lyrics to the Xena theme song, both the Bulgarian words and their English counterpart. This book also includes detailed plot synoposes of each and every episode of the first through second seasons. This section has a special "Lucy's Take" with her outlook on every episode, which is neat. This book is pack full of Xena goodness (and badness, if you like the evil Xena, with tons of backround on her appreance on Hercules). This book is a must have and essential to any fans collection.

All I Need To Know I Learned From Xena: Warrior Princess

Average customer rating:

If I was a bard, this would be my bible!
pretty good
Gabrielle's scrolls......
Gabrielle's life line story in one book!
This book will not let any Xena fan put it down!

All I Need To Know I Learned From Xena: Warrior Princess
Josepha Sherman
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Xena Warrior Princess: The Warrior Way of Death

ASIN: 0671023896

Book Description

In a time of ancient gods,
warlords and kings,
a Land in turmoil
cried out for a hero.
She was XENA,
a mighty princess
forged in the heat of battle.

Xena: Warrior Princess. Gabrielle: Bard of Poteidaia. Theirs was a life of adventure. A life of romance. A life of great deeds and great battles against the forces of evil. A life of good and bad gods, of deep and lasting friendships.

In their travels, Gabrielle, Xena's bosom companion, learned much from the princess. When to keep your sword sharp and your wit sharper. When the size of Your staff does make a difference. In return, Gabrielle taught Xena the secrets of warmth, kindness, and joy.

Now, in her own recently discovered words, the Bard of Poteidaia talks of what she got from Xena and what Xena gave her, lessons about life that will ease the path for those of us battling on through the modern world.

Customer Reviews:

If I was a bard, this would be my bible!.......2003-05-20

A great edition for any true Xena fan. Read through the list of things Gabrielle has learned from her friend Xena as well as the ins and outs of living life on the road, (or the dirt track as they would say) A great read, full of good laughs and informative too.

pretty good.......2001-09-27

This was a real cute book..a must for any "hardcore nutball" Xena fan. I like the pictures and Renee O'Connor's small top ten list in the front was a big bonus...It was not a real introduction, but good nonetheless. I wouldn't spend a huge amount of money on it..but good for the price here.

Gabrielle's scrolls.............2000-01-19

Hmmmm, this book is quite good - but I believe that there are better ones out there. If you're a complete xena freak like me then, then you'll want to have it - it is amusing, especially as it is from gabby's point of view, and sometimes the author manages to nail it and you can hear gabby's voice saying the words. It's not for someone who doesn't know the programme too well. It often makes brief references to episodes and I'm not really sure how much sense it would make if you hadn't seen them. It is quite a short book, but you'll not want to put it down until you've read it. Don't buy this if you're looking for something really informative about the show. This book is a bit of fun and nothing more - like I said before - something for the die-hard fans rather than anyone else....

Gabrielle's life line story in one book!.......1999-07-29

If you want to learn everything about Gabrielle's life this is the book for you! Her stories and journeys with Xena will thrill and take you beyond the pages of her book. Every chapter has something new, and you learn many things about the way she lives with Xena, and Joxer too. Pick this book to learn more then even Xena knows about Gabrielle's life.

This book will not let any Xena fan put it down!.......1999-07-23

This book is a creative way of putting any xena fan on the journeys. It comes from Gabrielle's perspective of lessons, discoveries, friendship,and many things well taught, that she's learned on the journeys. As a Xena fan I recommend it. Though it's fairly short, It will keep you turning the pages all night long! Complete with a Introduction by Renee 'O Connor, I find it a very believable book.

The Princess and the Package: Exploring the Love-Hate Relationship Between Diana and the Media

Average customer rating:

Clear-eyed and honest examination of an icon
Excellent
this is a magnificent book -- explains media hype very well
This is a very disappointing book.
Too much speculation; not enough fact

The Princess and the Package: Exploring the Love-Hate Relationship Between Diana and the Media
Michael Levine
Manufacturer: Renaissance Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1580630286

Customer Reviews:

Clear-eyed and honest examination of an icon.......2003-09-19

First of all, this book is NOT a biography of Diana, nor does it pretend to be. The cover states clearly that it is about "the love-hate relationship between Diana and the Media." Therefore anyone demeaning it because the cover isn't "pretty" or because it may be factually inaccurate by moments about incidents surrounding her death and funeral are completely missing the point. This book is not, strictly speaking, about the events of Diana's life but about how they were interpreted. And Mr. Levine shares some very unconventional, intelligent opinions on that subject. Some of it I disagree with (the life and continuing media fascination in Jacqueline Onassis disputes his assertion that the public loves celebrities for their accessibility; Jackie O was the most remote of celebrities and in her case it was her very unknowability that still intrigues us). But on one very important point, I agree with Mr. Levine whole-heartedly. In purely feminist terms, Diana was a heroine, not a victim. She was NOT a victim of the media or, ultimately, the Royal Family. She used the media and survived the Royal Family. And the reason the public adored her is that she went through the same stages every woman does, just on a grander scale and with better clothes. Diana was disappointed by love, longed for direction and meaning in life, loved her children, and was insecure about her looks. And before our eyes, she grew up to be a symbol of grace and generosity. She was transformed by her pain and hardship and she was victorious against the power elite -- and she used the press to win. Diana's memory deserves to be celebrated, not tsk-tsked over as though she had been some poor, helpless little thing. Diana accomplished so much with her own charm, energy and ingenuity. Ultimately, she was the victim of a drunk driver, and that could happen to any of us.

Excellent.......1999-09-03

An excellent book. Complements Claridge's "Blair'sBritain" as a description of The Great Madness that overtook England in September 1997.

this is a magnificent book -- explains media hype very well.......1999-04-07

This is one of the best books I have ever read about the relationship between the media and a celebrity..I believe the critics of the book have missed the point entirely. The book is not about Diana as much as it is about her relationship with the media. You can take Diana's name out of the book and insert another celebrity's name. You would come up with a similiar tome. This is such a good book I have recommended it to my former professors at Wake Forest University in the communications department. Good job, Mr. Levine!

This is a very disappointing book........1999-03-28

I would never have purchased this book except for the fact that I collect books on Diana. As I look through my collection, I believe, this book possesses the ugliest cover of all my books on Diana which is enough to turn one off.

As I compare some of the facts mentioned to the same facts in my other books on Diana, there appears to be many inconsistencies in dates, times, and places. The inaccurarcies makes one wonder if there is any truth in Diana's symbiosis with the media.

This is a book one needs to purchase only if one collects books on Diana; ...

Too much speculation; not enough fact.......1998-12-31

I had high hopes for this book, but it was ultimately disappointing. And no, I do not worship at the altar of Diana. As a matter of fact, I found the book to be more sympathetic to her than I thought it would be. Most of this 350 page snoozer is the author's own speculation and theory about why the media and the public were so enamoured of Diana. He manages to get some facts wrong, notably that Queen Elizabeth bowed her head 'when Diana's cortege drove away from Westminster Abbey'. Everyone knows that the queen bowed her head as the cortege was approaching Westminster Abbey. The author literally doesn't know if Diana was coming or going! I realize this sounds petty, but if Levine can't even get this detail correct, how much can I buy into anything else he says? ...

Xena Warrior Princess: Complete Illustrated Companion

Average customer rating:

Great book,but could have been more extensive
Great Book!
Depends on how picky you are...

Xena Warrior Princess: Complete Illustrated Companion
K. Stoddard Hayes
Manufacturer: Titan Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1840236221
Release Date: 2003-06-01

Book Description

Xena: Warrior Princess chronicles the life and death (and afterlife) adventures of the fierce and fearless Xena as she travels through ancient imaginary lands. Leaping onto our screens in 1995 with the now-familiar battle-cry "Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi-Yi!", the show ran for six series, and its blend of drama, humour, hard-hitting (literally!) action and a knowing modern-day sensibility helped it to achieve mainstream cultdom.

Xena: Warrior Princess: The Complete Illustrated Companion is the only comprehensive, fully-authorised guide to all six series of the groundbreaking action-adventure show, and contains a complete episode guide, plus character and behind-the-scenes information, and details of Xena fandom, all illustrated with over 150 photos, including an 8-page colour section.

Customer Reviews:

Great book,but could have been more extensive.......2007-05-19

Being that I own the Xena guide written by Robert Weisbrot,I wasn't sure what to expect from this one. What I got was a book that was not as extensive as it should have been. The individual episode summaries should have been more detailed than they were. If Weisbrot had written this one,no doubt they would have been. However,I did enjoy reading about the final four seasons,and for that I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Great Book!.......2004-01-12

Hello All,
I GOT THIS BOOK TODAY AND IT'S GREAT U KNOW...
YOUNG XENA

Depends on how picky you are..........2003-08-10

It's been two years since the series came to a close and ended it's shooting, and we finally have a complete illustrated companion to go along with it all.
With all the time we spent anticipating this book, I believe that it left a bit to be desired. The author of the book either did not do his or her homework very well or did not pay too much attention to detail when the episode guide was written. Each episode review was only three or four lines long, and there were a few mistakes on the episodes scattered throughout. IE-In One Against an Army, Gabrielle was shot by an arrow BEFORE Xena took refuge in the armory. This was actually a rather large point in the plot of the story, but the book states that Xena went to the armory and then Gabrielle was shot. For the episode "Many Happy Returns" the book explains that Xena and Gabrielle enlisted Aphrodite's help to help Genia "enjoy worldly pleasures." Weren't they trying to teach her to live her own life? You may like the episode guide better than I did if you aren't so picky, but I definitely recommend online fan written episode guides over the one in this book. They are usually more in depth and more accurate.
The rest of the book was alright. It has the genesis of Xena, a production history, an episode guide (both for the series and when Xena would guest star on Hercules), character reviews, a behind the scenes look at costumes, makeup, stunts and special effects, Xena's journeys across the globe, a Greek Mythology encyclopedia to help you keep the characters straight, and even a chapter just for the fans of the show. I've been a very avid Xena fan and collector since Xena was first on Hercules in 1994, and if you're like me then you've seen and read all of this before (not to mention having already known all of the information from having memorized every detail of every episode of the show *big grin*). It's nice to have all this in one book, but it's not anything new or exciting to those that have been fans all along. BUT it is one of those things that every xenite should have. I recommend it to all Xena fans, but with the warning of not to have your expectations set too high and the advice that almost everything (if not everything) from this book can be found online.

Average customer rating:

Popping Princesses Particularly Pleasing
really pretty
Great book
Your princess has to have this book!

Disney's Pop-Up Princesses
T/K
Manufacturer: Disney Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Disney Princess Ultimate Sticker Book (Ultimate Sticker Books)
Disney Princess: Dress-Up (Princesses)
Disney Princess: Pretty Puzzles (Princesses)
Disney Princess Music Player Storybook (Disney Princess)
Enchanting Treasures (Reusable Sticker Book)

ASIN: 0786833904

Book Description

Dance with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, glide high over Agrabah with Jasmine and Aladdin, splash in the ocean with Ariel and Flounder, and more!

Customer Reviews:

Popping Princesses Particularly Pleasing.......2006-11-03

Being almost 4, my daughter is currently a huge princess fan. She loved this book, although it isn't one that she picks up time after time. The pop ups intrigued her. She kept trying to figure out when the princess' eyes actually closed. Now she is working on the refrigerator light! As with all pop-up books, this one is semi-delicate, so it would do better with slightly older kids, or as a parental read-along.

really pretty.......2006-03-16

This book is well made and any little princess will love to look at it over and over again.

Great book.......2005-07-21

There are bright, colorful pop-ups that are sturdy on every page of this book. The pops perform an 'action' on most pages to by moving a tab or moving the cover. My preschooler loves this book and the stories are appropriate length and vocabulary for the under 8 set.

Your princess has to have this book!.......2003-02-22

My 3 year old loves this book. It has very pretty pix & nice, easy pull-ups. Not for little ones, like most pop-ups-they tear easily but worth the money for your princess.

How Xena Changed Our Lives: True Stories by Fans for Fans

Average customer rating:

Mildly entertaining for the non-Xenite, but probably great for hardcore fans
Touching, funny and a great Xenite adventure
Greatest Xena Book
A Treasure for the True Xena fans

How Xena Changed Our Lives: True Stories by Fans for Fans

Manufacturer: ECW Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

All I Need To Know I Learned From Xena: Warrior Princess
Xena Warrior Princess: Complete Illustrated Companion
Double Dare
Xena: Warrior Princess - Lyre, Lyre, Hearts on Fire: Original Television Soundtrack
Battle On!: An Unauthorized, Irreverant Look at Zena: Warrior Princess (Xena, Warrior Princess)

ASIN: 1550225006

Book Description

Xena, the warrior princess, and her loyal companion, Gabrielle, have battled the airwaves for love, peace, and forgiveness and become modern icons for fervent devotees. These stories, written by fans, describe the impact the show has had on their lives, from people they've met, relationships cultivated with other viewers, and special encounters with the stars of the show in times of need. Other stories illustrate lessons learned and achievements gained, inspired by Xena's physical strength or Gabrielle's intellect.

Customer Reviews:

Mildly entertaining for the non-Xenite, but probably great for hardcore fans.......2007-08-16

I am not now nor have I ever been a hardcore XENA fan. I enjoy the show and appreciate how important the characters of Xena and Gabrielle were -- along with Dana Scully and Buffy -- for ushering in the modern era of heroic women on television. Although XENA was never as popular as THE X-FILES nor as critically acclaimed as BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, for a host of people Xena and her constant companion Gabrielle were the archetypes of the heroic female, a character amazingly absent in the first fifty years of television. But XENA did not change my life nor the life of anyone I know. I do know that she, along with Buffy, Max Guevara, and other heroic female characters provided my daughter with examples of strong women at a time when strong women were being presented on television for the first time.

Interestingly, this was the second of two books that I have read in the past week on television fandom. I've read a fair amount about fandom, but I've never been much a part of it. I post on a couple of boards, but I'm not a great community member. None of my social life revolves around celebrating a television show, even though I'm a fairly serious student of television and much of my writing and research centers on specific series in particular or the medium as a whole in general. But I've never been to a convention for any show or to any event (apart from a TV Guide sponsored preview of an episode of BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) connected to a TV series and probably am never likely to do so. I have published essays on specific TV series and plan to write additional pieces in the future. So while I'm completely familiar with the series the fans in this book talk about, I'm really not a participant in their world.

Unfortunately, nothing in the book really makes me want to go to conventions. Much of the activity described in this book simply doesn't appeal to me. Out of sheer curiosity I have read a tiny bit of fanfic (BUFFY and BSG) but quickly quit. I found the writing to be of pretty low quality and, to be honest, a tad embarrassing. Most fanfic seems to me to be pretty bald fantasy projection and the examples I experienced fell into the category of "too much information." Nor do conventions interest me. I can't understand standing in line to get someone's autograph or wanting to exchange three or four lines of conversation with someone. I've seen a fair number of celebrities in my life, but apart from a long conversation I had once with Charlton Heston (initiated by him -- I would never have started a chat with someone just to talk with someone famous -- he was, his silly politics aside, an incredibly nice man) and a briefer one with jazz great Sonny Rollins, who asked me where he could get some decent carry out, I've never exchanged words with any celebrity. So I don't "get" why someone would get so excited because they met and talked with Renee O'Connor's mother or exchanged words with Hudson Leick in an autograph line. It is behavior that I neither admire nor envy. It is, in fact, behavior that generates a certain "ick" reaction in me. I personally like my stars exactly where they ought to be: onscreen. This not to say that I wouldn't talk to someone famous out of principle. It is to say that I'd only talk with someone I encountered during the normal course of my life (which happened with Charlton Heston), not because I sought them out at a fan convention or pestered them on a sidewalk or saw them eating in a restaurant. I just don't understand wanting to luxuriate in the presence of someone you don't know, just because you've seen them on TV.

But this is why we read books, to understand and to be exposed to things that are not a normal part of our lives. I'm not a celebrity chaser, but perhaps it is good to read the remarks of people who are in order to understand why they do. Most of us don't read fanfic, so it can be good to read about people who do or people who write it. Most of us don't go to conventions, but reading about the experiences of people who do will expand our horizons a bit. In short, you can learn about the behavior of others by reading this.

The people who will most enjoy this are, however, those who are a part of the XENA fandom. This book truly is created with them in mind.

I did find it interesting to read that the opinions of many others meshed with many of my own to the series. For instance, I found both the second musical episode of XENA and the absolutely horrendous "Married with Fishsticks," which might be the single worst episode that I have seen of any show ever made (it makes the notoriously awful "Beer Bad" of BUFFY look like CITIZEN KANE). I did get a kick out of reading the "subtext" opinions. Here is the truth about the "subtext": the show wanted to tease the fans with the possibility without making it an actuality. They could easily have made it definitive in one direction or another, but they deliberately chose not to. But there is no question that it is the most passionate friendship between two women that we've ever seen on TV. And whether they were physically intimate (I suspect they were not, given Xena's closing line in the episode where Michael Hurst's reporter character bluntly asked them whether they were lovers -- Xena starts to answer but gets out only the one "Technically . . . " before technical difficulties cut off her reply, but the only thing that makes sense would be something like, "Technically no, but we love each other." But even that could be a tease. Truth is, they didn't want to tell us.) or not, they obviously and truly loved one another. I've never quite understood (along with other things that I don't understand) why we had to nail down the kind of physical relationship they had.

So, I'm not sure what kind of recommendation to make here. Casual fans of the show should probably pass. Rabid fans will enjoy it. 'Tweeners like me could either take it or leave it. I needed to read it for something I'm writing, but not many can claim that need. The only other consideration is that there are shockingly few decent books on XENA. There are virtually no serious guides to the show and no critical discussions in book form apart from essays in a couple of books. Speaking objectively, I think XENA was almost as important in creating the new heroic woman on TV as BUFFY (Buffy came first in movie form, but Xena was first on TV, but most subsequent female heroes were based more on Buffy), but the number of critical works on BUFFY is staggering, while next to nothing has been released on XENA. Among TV critics and historians of TV and scholars, XENA has yet to get its due. So, in the absence of other books on XENA, this is one of the few books with which we are left.

Touching, funny and a great Xenite adventure.......2004-03-25

Now, first, I promise I'm not just giving this book 5 stars because Nikki is a good pal of mine, nor because I have a segment in it (Forget Eden, Give Me Adrienne).
Nikki Stafford has passion for the books she writes/edits. From her first book "Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena" to this one, Nikki never fails to grasp the fandom. "Warrior Stars" to this day is the best compainion book for "Xena." "How Xena Changed Our Lives" was created when Nikki had trouble getting fans to write for "Trekkers: True Stories by Fans for Fans" and it was suggested to her to make a "Xena" book. Though the "Trekker" book has some great stories, "How Xena Changed Our Lives" has all the passion. People can finally read WHY a tv series can change a person's life. Whether it helps you out of a rut, is the cause for meeting new people or inspires you to volunteer, this book captures the heart of Xenites. There are stories that will make you laugh, ones that will make you jealous, and ones that will truly make you cry. An Xenite will love this book, and I recommend it for non-Xenites as well (especially if you know a Xenite) as an invation into our world.

Greatest Xena Book.......2002-12-07

Read it if you love TV.

Sarah

A Treasure for the True Xena fans.......2002-11-27

I perchased this book, and was pleasantly surpised by how much I enjoyed it. Of course this book isn't stricktly for fans of the Xenaverse. It has some wonderful stories from the fans on how the show changed thier lives. Some are funny, some are very touching and personal. Xena was a show that transcended it's cheezy mythology setting, and introduced the world to two characters (brilliantly played by Lucy Lawless & Renee O'Connor) that broke so many new grounds with the journey they took us on. This book celebrates the effect it had on the fans, and does so wonderfully.

Anime from Akira To Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation

Average customer rating:

Scholarly approach
Save yourself the money...
interesting anime
Are we reviewing the same book?
Finally, someone gives anime the attention it deserves

Anime from Akira To Princess Mononoke: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation
Susan J. Napier
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312238622

Amazon.com

Although packaged as a book for general readers, Anime: From Akira to Princess Mononoke is a dreary academic study that showcases the clichés of "higher" criticism but tells the reader little about the art form. The potentially interesting points that Susan Napier raises (e.g., Are characters with blond, pink, or purple hair really perceived as Japanese?) are ignominiously buried in arcane jargon. And she too often discusses other authors' theories instead of anime itself. In a section on Ranma 1/2, she refers to various books, but in a footnote she cites only a single published interview with series creator Rumiko Takahashi. If Napier regards the Ranma series as significant, why didn't she interview the artist?

The text is riddled with errors, which suggests that the author hasn't watched the films carefully. For example, she cites a "brilliant" essay referring to the loss of all electrical power in Japan (a symbol of "modernization under the patriarchal system") in episode 3 of Neon Genesis Evangelion. No blackout occurs in this episode. In episode 6, however, all the electricity in Japan is requisitioned to power a superweapon. From Akira to Princess Mononoke is the sort of book churned out by professors to satisfy publish-or-perish rules. --Charles Solomon

Book Description

With the popularity of Pokémon still far from waning, Japanese animation, known as anime to its fans, has a firm hold on American pop culture. However, anime is much more than children's cartoons. It runs the gamut from historical epics to sci-fi sexual thrillers. Often dismissed as fanciful entertainment, anime is actually quite adept at portraying important social and cultural issues such as alienation, gender inequality, and teenage angst. This book investigates the ways that anime presents these issues in an in-depth and sophisticated manner, uncovering the identity conflicts, fears over rapid technological advancement, and other key themes present in much of Japanese animation.

Customer Reviews:

Scholarly approach.......2005-12-01

This book takes a fairly scholarly approach to anime and is probably not for the casual reader or the hyper fan. In particular the author looks at the sociological subtexts of anime in fairly grood detail. While this is only one approach to the subject she generally does a fairly good, and interesting, job. I will say that if she used the word "priviledged" one more time I would scream.

This would not be my choice for a first book on the subject, for which I would recommend "Anime Explosion". If you're interested in the cultural references, including the Japanese and Buddhist mythology underlying many of the stories, check of "Samurai from Outer Space", a much better book that the title implies.

Save yourself the money..........2005-11-30

Save yourself the money on this book. The author seems to read some anime reviews, "The Anime Companion", and some cultural anime books, and slop them together as though she's got original information. Some of which she STILL gets wrong. Incorrect pictures for some of the anime, too, only futher lowering the quality of this book...which is hard to do with pictures, you'd think.

interesting anime.......2005-09-10

I bought this book for a friend that is very interested in anime.
He tells me that it is very interesting and informative. He has been taking it to work to read during breaks so I guess he really likes it.

Are we reviewing the same book?.......2005-06-21

I am a huge fan of anime and also of the Japanese culture and history. I figured that this book would be interesting. I heard good things about it and bad things about it but wanted to judge it myself.
First - it was first published in 2000 which means that the anime scene has already changed greatly. In fact, many of the points made in the book would have been outdated by the time it was printed.
Second - she seems to focus a lot of sex. Now that may be because much of her information, and the anime she selected to view, came from University students or stores who supplied students. The idea that pornography is a _major current_ within the world of anime is a interesting but flawed statement. Erotic anime makes up a small corner of the anime produced in Japan and it has greater sales abroad than in its homeland. In fact, I would go as far as to say that Non-Japanese would be the main target for this type of anime - which means trying to understand the Japanese male-female relationship via adult anime is also flawed. But it might tell us alot about American and European college students.
She has tons of interesting points to make but the foundations she builds to hold them up seem weak and shaky. For example, she talks about men's insecurity and their need for Mecha using sci-fi shows where most of the pilots are female. She uses sources about American Superheros to talk about Japanese characters.
Also, while she did mention a Tenchi movie, she seems to skip the Tenchi Muyo! TV shows. What about Dominion Tank Police, Gall Force, Martian Successor Nadesico, Wings of Honneamise, any of the Gundam shows or even Dirty Pair? I don't think she even once writes about CLAMP!
In other words, while she does get into detail about a few areas of anime, she is far from covering it all. So buyer beware and buy it used.
I would also suggest _The Erotic Anime Movie Guide_ by Helen McCarthy and Jonathan Clements for the history and true understanding of erotic anime. For understanding mainstream anime I would suggest _Anime Explosion_ by Patrick Drazen, _Samurai From Outer Space_ by Antonia Levi and _The Anime Companion_ by Gulles Poitras. ^_^

Finally, someone gives anime the attention it deserves.......2005-01-04

Here it is, one of the most serious, well thought out books on anime written by a single author (rare if you have tried to look for scholarly books in this area). Instead of writing to a bunch of fans in order to expound on the glories of anime, Napier writes critically and intelligently, and while I do not always agree with her reading of certain texts, she does explain her position well, articulating that position in well structured theory. I am thrilled to see that other people are doing this very important work, as anime has become a serious cultural phenomenon to consider--taking the West by storm. It is time, I think, to actually critically engage these texts and think through what we are watching and the effects that it this media has on our culture.

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