August 29, 2013

Franz Lehar was a composer who couldn’t help but write hummable and singable tunes. If you haven’t attended a performance of “The Merry Widow” or watched a recording then you have a real musical treat in store. One of the best versions I’ve seen stars Jane Thorngren in a New York Opera production that was broadcast on PBS. 

With great foresight Jane converted the film version to DVD and she has it for sale.

The interviews and the explanation of how various stage effects were achieved are bonuses included on the DVD.

Jane has just released a new CD of unusual soprano pieces and if you want to listen to some excerpts of her singing talent go to http:www.janethorngren.com. She also has pics of her various stage roles.

If this sounds like a commercial for her it should because she deserves it.

The Name of the Rose

The translator starts Umberto Eco’s novel with a found manuscript that is so fascinating that the man who found it and who is traveling with his soon to be romantic partner has to make a translation of the 14^th century manuscript.

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

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Tallgrass

Sandra Dallas loves almost everything that farm life has to offer, except drudgery, rapid physical deterioration and impoverishment. Both those negative aspects and the positive ones of peacefulness, closeness and emotional satisfaction make up the background for this book.

The internment of Japanese-Americans was both a necessity and a disgrace. Dallas revives both aspects in her fictitious internment camp named “Tallgrass.”

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

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For Whom the Bell Tolls

Hemingway knew Spain. And he knew war, having served in WW1, so it was no surprise that he would write something big about Spain’s Civil War.

Initially the characters are nameless and there is only the central theme that a bridge must be destroyed.

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Shiloh, A Guide to the Battlefield

The Civil War was fought in many places, some of which are more familiar than others. But one stands out as more strategic and bloody than many of the better known battles.

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Goonie’s Ghost

Carl Steadman joined the 82^nd Airborne because of a firm belief that the United States had to stop Communism in Southeast Asia.

His memories of time “in country” continued to nag at him as he returned home. In a very deep and very dark place in his mind was a secret that he had to scrub out before The Nam would go away.

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller

Taj Mahal

What the authors did in the Epilog provides a very good way to get involved in the essence of the mausoleum dedicated to Mumtaz Mahal and should have been an introduction rather than an epilog.

If you wish to read  my complete comments on this book, as well as comments on 64 other books then you can find all of them in "Book Blogs," available on Amazon in either softcover or digital:

https://www.amazon.com/Book-Blogs-William-Behr-Mueller/dp/1479375446/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479445121&sr=1-25&keywords=william+behr+mueller