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Actor and comedian Billy Crystal has forged a highly successful career by portraying other people in movies like When Harry Met Sally… and City Slickers. But in 700 Sundays, a memoir based on his one-man Broadway play of the same name, Crystal tells his own story, dissecting an often complex relationship with his father and how that relationship resonated in other aspects of his life. His father, Jack Crystal was an influential jazz concert promoter and operated an influential jazz record label, affording his son an opportunity to tell stories of being taken to his first movie by Billie Holliday and seeing his grandmother suggest that Louis Armstrong simply "try coughing it up." But Jack died when his son was fifteen years old, soon after a forever-unresolved argument between the two, leaving Billy to cope with crushing grief while simultaneously and perhaps ironically trying to launch a career in comedy. This lends 700 Sundays much needed gravity in a volume that is packed with zingy one-liners and whimsical observations that serve to illustrate the comedy career Crystal forged, while also providing some decent laughs. Interestingly, there is very little reference to the better known accomplishments of Crystal's Hollywood career as the author chooses to focus instead on the seemingly mundane but highly entertaining aspects of his Long Island roots. Though 700 Sundays (the name comes from Crystal's estimation of how many Sundays he got to spend with his father) is packaged here in book form, it reads like a piece of theater and, more specifically, like a selection of memories about a father, lovingly and touchingly re-told by his loving son. --John Moe
Book Description
Actor and comedian Billy Crystal has forged a highly successful career by portraying other people in movies like When Harry Met Sally#133;and City Slickers. But in 700 Sundays, a memoir based on his one-man Broadway play of the same name, Crystal tells his own story, dissecting an often complex relationship with his father and how that relationship resonated in other aspects of his life. His father, Jack Crystal was an influential jazz concert promoter and operated an influential jazz record label, affording his son an opportunity to tell stories of being taken to his first movie by Billie Holliday and seeing his grandmother suggest that Louis Armstrong simply "try coughing it up." But Jack died when his son was fifteen years old, soon after a forever-unresolved argument between the two, leavingBilly to cope with crushing grief while simultaneously and perhaps ironically trying to launch a career in comedy. This lends 700 Sundays much needed gravity in a volume that is packed with zingy one-liners and whimsical observations that serve to illustrate the comedy career Crystal forged, while also providing some decent laughs. Interestingly, there is very little reference to the better known accomplishments of Crystal's Hollywood career as the author chooses to focus instead on the seemingly mundane but highly entertaining aspects of his Long Island roots. Though 700 Sundays (the name comes from Crystal's estimation of how many Sundays he got to spend with his father) is packaged here in book form, it reads like a piece of theater and, more specifically, like a selection of memories about a father, lovingly and touchingly re-told by his loving son. --John Moe
Customer Reviews:
As good as it gets.......2007-08-29
Imagine sitting down with the exceptional Billy Crystal for an evening and listening to him talk about his growing-up years in Long Beach, Long Island. This book sparkles with the man's gift for transforming the mundane and the seemingly normal into fodder for wonderfully engaging anecdotes. I loved it, all the more so given that I am of the same generation as Mr. Crystal and spent time in Long Beach myself (my grandparents lived in Long Beach and my mother and uncles were born there). A funnier and more touching memoire would be hard to come by. Highly recommended.
Very Enjoyable.......2007-07-24
This book brought me to the depth of emotions. I laughed (a lot) and cried a bit. Excellent and quick read for baby boomers.
You float with Crystal.......2007-05-18
I often find Crystal's live show much funnier 'cos it is more of his real personality/charisma, so, when I read his book, I felt that I was watching his live show in my own room. Just like I was in a boat with Crystal along his life river. Not only it was funny, but also I felt that I knew much more the way Billy grew up and the reasons why he looked at his life.
I Get It, He's A Jew!!!.......2007-05-01
That's not supposed to be anti-Semitic by the way.... I absolutely hated this book. I bought it thinking it would make me laugh, unfortunately only one part made me laugh (punching a guy in the balls during a basketball game - good stuff) other then that it was a pretty boring book in my opinion. While some of the stories were neat, a lot of it just got plain annoying. There seemed to be too many parts where Crystal tried to throw in some random stand-up material that had nothing to do with anything.
As far as the "I get it, he's a Jew" statement I had above... I've got no problem with Billy Crystal, and I've got no problem that he's Jewish but dear God does he need to mention it on every page!? That was almost as annoying as the random tangents!
Touching, Funny, True.......2007-03-16
The tough thing about reading books by comedians is that they seem to be missing something - the words need to be read aloud, not read silently in one's head. There is an element of that flatness in 700 Sundays, a memoir of Crystal's early years, but there's more than just a transcript of his monologues. Read between the jokes and you'll see the story of a family, from the great Uncle Berns to the sassy Aunt Sylvia, but most of all Crystal's nuclear family - his mom, dad, and the three sons.
From Yankee Stadium to Long Beach, New York, Crystal tells the tales that shaped him as a child and young adult. Early comedy performances for the extended families, hanging out with jazz greats like Billie Holliday, and plenty of brisket and noodle kugel.
Throughout it all is the poignancy of the early death of Crystal's father, and the hole he left behind.
Part Patricia Volk, part Neil Simon, 100 percent Crystal.
Average customer rating:
- Episode #### "Ginger Grant : Author" ....
- Uninteresting and BLAH
- BEAUTIFULLY TOUCHING! written by someone i cherish and adore
- Come on Ginger get over it life is short.
- this was a great book.
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Sunday: A Memoir
Tina Louise
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Customer Reviews:
Episode #### "Ginger Grant : Author" ...........2006-02-27
I dissagree with the dramaQ reviewer below who states "Stop calling her Ginger" .. Sadly Tina Louise will ALWAYS be Ginger Grant. Just as are the fates of Barbara Eden and Elizabeth Montgomery. It is sad but a fact. However the character of Ginger that is Tina's own should be applauded and she should be proud of her. Ginger is beloved by millions of people all over the world. Ginger Grant is Tina Louise's claim to fame. A few B movies, some cheescake photo's,an album or two, she was one of the girls in the origional "Stepford Wives" but not one of the main characters. Tina's mark is Ginger Grant. She is/was beautiful and talented but you can't make more out of it than it is. This book is the same, a bit of a dissapointment. You can tell she is trying to talk and write like a little girl of that era would, but still some adult thoughts and words come out and at times it just doesn't work. It is dissapointing and sadly, though Tina meant well, the book really makes no sence.
Uninteresting and BLAH.......2001-10-17
This is what you call a book? Not only was it boring, it was self absorbed. Many people go through life with "not so perfect" childhoods. If you're going to write about it, at least keep the reader interested.
BEAUTIFULLY TOUCHING! written by someone i cherish and adore.......2001-06-24
This book shows just one of the many talents of Tina Louise! being an actress/artist/mother/singer ETC and now author, she has proven that she can do just about anything!!!! I adore her to death, and when i read this tragic and touching story of what it was like to be Tina growing up, it truely touched my heart, just like everything else Tina has done. this book is for anyone who has a heart. it's as simple as that. it makes me realise my life isnt as bad as i thought it was...this book has changed me completely and has a special place in my heart always! along with Tina herself:):):) DO READ THIS BOOK!!!! *TINA* TinaLouise4ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Ginger get over it life is short........2000-12-29
I thought the book was poorly written. I think tina is a sadly self involved narcissist who had limited talent. she reminds me of people i know who go thru there life holding on to the past and blame everyone around them for there lack guts to move on.
this was a great book........1998-11-14
I thought this was a great book.I just wish the author went into more detail, also the book was much to short.Tina is one of my favorite artist and this was just a tease.hopefully one day she will write her auto- bio more indepth.
Average customer rating:
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Those Winter Sundays: Female Academics and Their Working-Class Parents
Kathleen A. Welsch
Manufacturer: University Press of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0761829792 |
Book Description
This collection of memoirs examines the relationship between daughters with academic degrees and their working-class parents. Each contributor explores the influence that higher education has had on her relationship with her parent(s), as well as their influence on her academic work.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent.......2007-04-02
These stories are not only engaging and well-crafted, but highly thought-provoking. The writers, all professional women from working class backgrounds, take us back into their formative years at home, and show us both the obvious and the subtle aspects of growing up in blue collar backgrounds, which in some cases included abject poverty. In particular, the writers let us see the world through the eyes of their blue-collar fathers (and sometimes, mothers).
Book Description
Billy Sunday (1862-1935) was the best-known evangelist in America in the first half of the 20th century. Impoverished midwestern farm kid, professional baseball player, showman extraordinaire, unabashed patriot, and foe of the demon rum, this self-styled muscular Christian brought his brand of manly gospel to millions of Americans nationwide. Sunday connected with his fans through a combination of theatrics, conservative theology, and fervent patriotism; the circumstances of his life and work were consistent with a Horatio Alger-like myth of success that resonated with the millions of Americans of his time who had been transplanted from the farm to the city. Published serially in the Ladies' Home Journal in 1932 and 1933 and now in book form for the first time, The Sawdust Trail is the only autobiography that this hugely popular and hugely controversial preacher ever wrote. From his childhood days in Iowa to the early days of his conversion in Illinois, from his baseball career with the National League teams in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia to the challenges of preaching in New York City during his heyday, the sections of Sunday's autobiography roll out like so many exuberant sermons, yet the sympathetic reader can hear echoes of the loneliness and misery of his early years. In The Sawdust Trail the sometimes appalling but always appealing Billy Sunday creates a usable past for himself, notable for what he omits as well as for what he includes, which gives us insight not just into his own life and career but also into the peculiar history of evangelism in America.
Average customer rating:
- Billy Sunday Was An Evangelical Folk Hero
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Billy Sunday, Home Run to Heaven (Sowers) (Sowers)
Robert A. Allen
Manufacturer: Mott Media (MI)
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ASIN: 0880621257
Release Date: 1985-11-01 |
Product Description
A professional baseball player, Sunday's enthusiasm for sports carried through to his religion.
Customer Reviews:
Billy Sunday Was An Evangelical Folk Hero.......2005-09-26
My neighbor gave this book to me to read when I was about fourteen and just happened to tell her I had never heard of Billy Sunday, an evangelist she'd just mentioned. It's true I had never heard of Billy Sunday before that but every time I hear a reference to him now, I immediately think of this book and that sunny afternoon in 1993.
"Sunday" was a man who began life as a baseball player and remembered his days in that sport and the lessons it taught him about how to work a crowd. This backwoods Hellfire preacher was one of the most famous of all living Americans in his day and he headed open-air revivals the faithful would drive for days on end to reach. His charisma, forcefulness and dyed-in-the-wool sense of conviction gave him a powerful energy that sparked the interest of millions. One thing that I most remember about this brief biography of the first of the great broadcast media evangelists is the tone of respect it has for its subject. In fact it had so much reverence for Billy Sunday that I felt like maybe its lack of impartiality somewhat hamstrung its impartial reporting of the facts. So if anyone wants a celebration of Billy Sunday, this is the book, but for a warts and all portrait, I'd investigate what else is out there.
(Thanks, Mrs. Glenn!)
Book Description
Anyone who has known-or been-a little girl dreaming of becoming a skater, ballerina, or professional athlete will love this comic, heartfelt memoir about what happens after those dreams come true. After years of intensive training, Bertine finally becomes a professional figure skater-and finds herself traveling through South America with 'Hollywood on Ice,' a portable ice rink and an international cast of odd characters in tow. At show time, the costume trailer is transformed into a bizarre half-Disney, half-Penthouse maelstrom of activity as the skaters apply false eyelashes the size of caterpillars and wriggle into ever more revealing costumes-from The Little Mermaid to Flashdance. Some performers dress as farm animals and others are the real thing: an actual cow, duck, and chicken take the ice in their very own skates. But the real show-stopper is the Michael Jackson number, starring a blond, middle-aged Canadian whose beer belly barely fits into his flashy spandex costume. When Bertine realizes that going pro means betraying all her athletic ideals, she plots a daring escape straight out of Mission Impossible-breaking into a safe to steal back her passport between the Barbie scene and the Flintstones on Ice number! A vivid and entertaining account of the darker side of showbiz, ALL THE SUNDAYS YET TO COME is also a poignant and utterly winning story of a female athlete's spirit and perseverance.
Customer Reviews:
Bertine nails it! Fascinating view of sport as self-transcendence.......2007-10-08
Confession: I wouldn't know the difference between a triple axel or a greased axle and wouldn't know a lutz from a klutz, a salchow from a mad cow. Regardless of whether or not you are a skater or a spazz like me, you may find "All The Sundays Yet to Come" an absorbing first-person account of Kathryn Bertine's skating career and its unusual twists and turns.
"All the Sundays .." is a sparking gem on many levels, including:
* The dream of professional figure skating versus the squalid reality of "Hollywood on Ice"
* The costs of chasing one's dream
* Athletic obsession with physical appearance and the descent into anorexia
* Growing up in a dysfunctional family
* Rechanneling athletic dreams from one endeavor to another coping with major life setbacks
I ordered the book after reading one of Bertine's blogs on ESPN.com on "So You Want to be an Olympian?" It was so well- written that I bought her book. The lady can fat-out write. "All the Sundays ..." is densely written, which I mean as a compliment. Her wry sense of humor will make you laugh and her struggle to find herself might make you cry. The book is a palette of strong emotions as Bertine morphs herself from figure skater to elite triathlete, coming to terms with her body, psyche and self-image.
One can only hope that Bertine will train her keen eye and skills on future endeavors. Enjoy this book and all her as yet unwritten books to come!
Muscles and strength DO equal beauty and grace!.......2007-06-18
I stumbled across Ms. Bertine's writing through espn.com's e-ticket series. I found her articles about attempting to become an Olympian through lesser known channels and events to be extraordinarily entertaining - to the point where I read five articles in one setting (Of course I was not at work when I was doing this... please!). I saw that she had authored a book prior to these espn articles and was able to obtain a copy through my university's library.
All the Sundays Yet to Come is as entertaining to read as her espn columns, if not more so. There is a tremendous sense of author's voice in her writing, which constantly shines through. The novel itself is part cautionary tale of the life of a professional figure skater, and part a memoir of growing up in the late 70's and early 80's. Anyone who went through childhood during this time will enjoy Ms. Bertine's recollections of her youth.
The bulk of the book deals with her experiences as a professional figure skater in the post Ice Capades era. This book is a must read for any parent whose child is chasing a dream of professional figure skating, or for anyone interested in coaching female athletes. The stories told could serve as a guide of what not to do with a female athlete. As a former athletic trainer and someone who has coached high school girls basketball, I literally cringed when I read some of the remarks made to Kathryn and by some of the policies of the coaches and choreographers of the organizations with which she skated and tried out for.
All the Sundays Yet to Come is a triumph of the human spirit through a female athlete's realization that muscles and strength are indeed beautiful.
Easy to relate to..........2006-12-14
As a skater for 22 yrs who has seen her share of ups and downs, I thought this book was excellent. It was great to read the story of someone who was "another skater"...not necessarially one of the "greats" whose name everyone would know, but someone whose experiences I felt were easy to relate to (so many times it was as if she were reading my or any skater's mind). The book was honest, insightful, funny, sad, and reminds me why we keep going in a sport that behind all the sequins and smiles can be so brutal.
The Grime Beneath the Glamour.......2006-11-22
Talented figure skater Kathryn Bertine lands her dream job as a professional skater, but bares the secrets that this glorious sport tries so hard to hide: the pressure, the sometimes-demeaning demands of a pro career, and the really dirty little secret - eating disorders.
Ms. Bertine is now pursuing an athletic career in the triathlon, and I wish her well. She's see the highs and lows, the stars and shadows, and takes the reader with her on a moving retrospective through this book.
Every parent of an athletic hopeful should read this book as a lesson in what NOT to do. I also recommend Christine Brennan's "Inside Edge" and "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes."
Not just another skating book but one filled with life experience and more..........2006-09-27
I heard of this book called All the Sundays Yet to Come written by a figure skater about her skating experiences. From what little I heard, I assumed a middle-aged skater wrote about her experiences as an adult skater. Quite the contrary. This eye-opening memoir accurately depicts life as a figure skater right down to the snot flying out of the nose. Yet that is only where Kathryn Bertine's story begins. Humor and honesty just begin to describe the details Kathryn shares of her life--not just the figure skating-related parts, but also her figure skating dream that not only unraveled, but was turned inside out. She shares challenges faced by many, as well as personal struggles that are often left untold. All the Sundays Yet to Come is not just another figure skating book, but rather a story filled with life lessons and a journey--what a little girl wanted to be, to the woman she became as a result of her life experiences. It takes guts to write with such honesty and that makes her story all the more interesting. There is something for everyone in this book and I highly recommend it!
Book Description
Growing up in a small Protestant church in a typical small town may sound quite dull to some folks, but most churches of this sort have plenty of character - and characters! - to give them some excitement. If you've ever attended a church like this, you have probably encountered some people and situations just like the ones Don Reid describes in his humorous, sentimental, and very nostalgic book, Sunday Morning Memories. Don Reid, in his wonderfully witty and down-to-earth way: ò Runs the gamut of subjects from covered dish suppers to family pews to revivals to Vacation Bible School. ò Reminisces about stray radio signals coming through the PA system, using Sunday school money for purposes other than the collection plate, and skipping church on Sunday night to go to the movies. ò Reflects on candlelight services on Christmas Eve, Easter Sunrise services, weddings, and funerals. ò Reminds us to appreciate our church family, our different denominations, our church traditions, and our Lord.
Customer Reviews:
Reid reveals a wealth of life lessons.......2004-05-19
Sunday Morning Memories is a collection of reminences by Don Reid of growing up attending church services and church-sponsored events in his community. In looking back down the years, Reid reveals a wealth of life lessons learned from and shared with family and friends. It was in those Sunday meetings and services that habits and attitudes were formed and reinforced to last a lifetime. Sunday Morning Memories is very highly recommended reading for any and all members of the Christian community -- and might well inspire some readers to rejoin their church community in their church service celebrations, their Sunday School classes, vacation Bible schools and camps, Christmas and Easter pageants, pot-luck suppers, and more!
So that's why I've never seen Don at a covered dish supper!.......2004-03-10
I should first mention that I am a regular member of the church Don Reid writes about in Sunday Morning Memories. That's one reason I was eager to read the book. Another reason is he included a great story about my father as a kid. (See the chapter titled "Money." I'm proud to say that Bobby, the entrepreneur candy salesman is my Dad. He still carries candy to church each Sunday morning- but now he gives it away free, thank you Skippy!) Each story Don tells about his church life reminds me of one of my own. Being able to entertain you with his personal stories, but also helping you remember your own is what makes Don a great writer and this a great book. You don't need to have the "Habit" (of going to church) to enjoy these anecdotes, there's a story for everyone in Sunday Morning Memories. My only complaint is that it left me wanting more. Maybe that's not such a bad thing. Thanks, Don.
Product Description
2 from BILLY CRYSTAL: 1- 700 Sundays, (Hardcover) / 2) - Don't Get Me Started (Stand Up COMEDY Routine on VHS Video Tape), Shipped in one
package to save on shipping costs.
Average customer rating:
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An Angel at Sunday School
Tim White
Manufacturer: Tate Outloud
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD
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ASIN: 1602476055 |
Book Description
If you've ever been to Vacation Bible School in the absence of air conditioning and didn't know any better, you can relate to An Angel at Sunday School. If you've ever owned a good dog, been clueless at a wedding, or remember eight track players, you can appreciate this book. In An Angel at Sunday School, author Tim White brings it all back to you in this lighthearted look at young love and life in the Deep South. There are also insights into the wonderful world of agriculture and commentaries on other mysteries and myths.
Books:
- A Life in Letters (Penguin Classics)
- AMA Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors
- Andy Warhol Portraits
- Art History, Revised Second Edition, Volume II
- Astral Travel For Beginners: Transcend Time and Space with Out-of-Body Experiences (For Beginners)
- Barbara Stanwyck: A Biography
- BARBRA STREISAND IN NEW YORK CITY: A Self Guided Tour of Landmark Locations in The Career of Barbra Streisand
- Bordeaux and its Wines: Classified in Order of Merit within Each Commune (Under the direction of Bruno Boidron)
- Business Communication: Process and Product (with InfoTrac®)
- Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
Books Index
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