5 comments about Movie Star Homes: The Famous to the Forgotten.

1. This is a very good book. I enjoyed all of the photos and interesting information about many different movie stars throughout different time periods. Overall this is a great book that is very fun to read.



2. If you love Hollywood, architecture or are just curious about what kind of homes the movie stars live in, you will find this book fascinating. It includes over 350 entries - from silent greats (Garbo, Valentino) to modern day stars (Brad Pitt & Jennifer Anniston) - although the majority of the entries are the classic stars of yester-year. Each entry includes the address, a brief sentence or two about their career and fame followed by a paragraph about the house itself and a black and white photo. The photos are usually good although there are some that are very small and others in which you can only see a fence or a driveway. The captions note that some of the stars only lived in the houses for a few years. You might be surprised at how modest a lot of the homes are! An appendix gives "movie star homes by region" and "theme tours." If you are taking a trip to Hollywood, you will definately want to take this book with you, and it is a fun book to browse even if you are not going there.



3. This book is a guilty pleasure, really a fun read. I appreciated that every entry came with a requisite image. Granted most of the entries are star's from yesteryear, many of which i dont have a clue about, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book nonetheless. If you have any interest in this sort of thing, then I highly recommend it.



4. The images in this book are very poor quality and often VERY small. I was very disappointed, photos are in black and white only, and they look as though they were merely scanned, and not well scanned. Often all that passes for a picture of a "movie star" home is a picture of a bunch of trees (hiding the home completely). If the authors cannot provide a glimpse of a home beyond just the dense vegitation in front of it, then they have failed in their effort.



5. Very interesting although the pictures are small and in most cases you only get a photo of the 'front gate'. I learned a lot. Overall, very good.

No comments about Bicycling Los Angeles County: A Guide to the Great Road Bike Rides (Bicycling).

5 comments about Hollywood Then and Now (Then & Now).

1. I was given this book by a friend because he knows I was raised in Hollywood and love the history of the area. The archival photographs are quite nicely reproduced, however, the current photographs are very poor. I enjoy digital photography and was in Hollywood a few weeks ago and visited the same historic scenes from this book. I quite easily found the angle of the original shots found in this book.. why this book showed those same shots but taken from different angles than the original photos is beyond me. The modern photos in this book are also very unflattering, out of focus and even amateur in appearance... not much more than snapshots.

   The worst thing about this book are the many obvious mistakes in locations and historic details. What a shame.




2. I had been so impressed with the quality and accuracy of Rosemary Lord's book LOS ANGELES THEN AND NOW that I was delighted to find this new book HOLLYWOOD THEN AND NOW. It is brilliant and fascinating. This is an impressive, informative history of Hollywood. I worked in the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry during much of this time and Lord has captured the world I remember so well. I was pleased to see this book on the L.A. Times Bestseller List in January when it first came out and have bought several copies as they make great gifts. I look forward to her next book.



3. I had been so impressed with the quality and accuracy of Rosemary Lord's book LOS ANGELES THEN AND NOW that I was delighted to find her new book HOLLYWOOD THEN AND NOW. It is brilliant and fascinating. This is an impressive, informative history of Hollywood. I worked in the Hollywood Motion Picture Industry during much of this time and Lord has captured the world I remember so well. I was pleased to see this book on the L.A. Times Bestseller List in January when it first came out and have bought several copies as they make wonderful classy gifts. I look forward to her next book.



4. Great book if you have ever been to Hollywood. Bought this after visiting Hollywood and enjoyed relating the sites I saw to how they looked originally



5. 
   As my title said, (in 50 words or less) this book is a "photographic display of HOLLYWOOD, -- then and in the early 2000's".
   
   I found the book highly informative and enjoyable. Yes, the photos are in black and white, however, I believe the author did this to show continuum.
   
   The book is filled with (mostly) large photos of Hollywood, before and after time had changed the topography and architectural styles of the area.

3 comments about Michelin 2008 Los Angeles (Michelin Guide Los Angeles).

1. Littered with errors, this book does not meet my expectations. With a poor selection of Chinese restaurants, incorrect city names (i.e. somehow the City of West Hollywood became Hollywood, community in the City of Los Angeles) and poor reviews containing no substance. I would stay clear of this in favor of Zagats.
   
   It is clear this book was rushed and the product shows.



2. Tried 5 restaurants from different categories and they are all good in general. I think most of the restaurants on the guide worth a try and the 1 star Japanese restaurant was the best out of the five.
   However, I wouldn't rely on this guide to find authentic Chinese food. I personally think there are couple really good Chinese restaurants in San Gabriel and Alhambra areas that were not covered in this LA guide.



3. I have bought the guides for SF, NY, Vegas, and LA. While the ones for most of the cities are very good, I think the LA one disappoints. I know that LA has many more restaurants that could have made the guide. Perhaps not starred, but better than many of the non-starred selections in the guide. I realize that a big portion of the problem is that the scale of LA makes it hard to cover, but some effort should have been made to be more comprehensive prior to publication.

No comments about Los Angeles Mini.

2 comments about The Dog Lover's Companion to Los Angeles: Including Ventura, L.A., Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties (Dog Lover's Companion Guides).

1. Wow -- in planning a vacation to Big Bear Lake, I found a great dog-friendly lodge thanks to this lively written guidebook. What a resource: It lists so many parks that I didn't know allowed dogs, plus lots of hikes for great views of the Pacific. We're looking forward to going to the dog-friendly stores listed for Beverly Hills and taking the ferry to Catalina Island.
   Our dog adooooores this book! She's no longer cooped up at home.



2. Look, you got a dog or two? Living or traveling in southern California? Then you need this book! Seriously, to find out which beaches, parks, restaurants, hotels, etc. will accept your pooch in LA or OC, this is it. Lots of little-known dog-friendly places and tips on travel make this book worth its price.

5 comments about Daughters of the Moon: The Prophecy - Book #11 (Daughters of the Moon).

1. I think we should try to make it happen, i think these books are so good that they deserve to make a tv series off of this, if we love it so much we should get out there and say something, i personaly think they could make this series a Teen TV series..Girls think about it....And i have to say Jimena is my favorite, i like her with her gangster self....;)



2. The secret scroll has become an attraction at the art museum. Catty has to steal it before people start dying from the curse on the secret scroll. She almost has it but Kyle stops her. Kyle has his reason for wanting the secret scroll. The book is good but what you think is going to happen doesn't happen so the ending is sad. Catty gets to find out more about who she is, too.



3. I picked this book up last night at the local library, and i finished half of it in 2 hours! This was so much better than THE TALISMEN (sorry maggie)
   
   The Secret Scroll has been sold to the musuem, and everyone visiting it is getting a little sick. Catty and the rest of the Daughters then try to steal it back, to save mankind (of course!) The scene where the girls try to steal the Manuscript back is quite comical, almost a 3 stooges movie.
   
   AND we have another love interest. and he's a bad boy. literally. This book is quite a rollercoaster between one emotion of betrayal and hate to loving that person and wanting to jump down his jeans! i can relate to Catty, feeling a little insecure about herself because all her friends have boyfriends and she doesnt.
   
   The scene w/ Chris and Catty is extremely sad. She meets her father, some powerful Inner-Circle Atrox dude.
   
   I finsihed this whole book in one sitting. it was great. i cant wait to read the 12th book, and she better stop writing her male counterpart series and finish this one. I NEED TO KNOW EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!



4. This book is awesome. I loved everything about it. Since reading book #5, i've been reading like crazy, trying to find other books. When I got this book, I read it in 5 days. It has every factor that makes it a great book. It has drama, love story, friendship, and family values.
   
   Catty and Kyle are my favorite couple, next to Vannessa and Michael. I think it's great when Catty realizes that someday, she has to face the Atrox alone. I hope Kyle could help her. I idolize the way Lynne Ewing wrote all of the Daughters of the Moon books because it makes me visualize what is actually happening in the story. i can't wait to read book 12!



5. This book is awesome even though I haven't finished it. Kyle sounds so cool but her dad is so mean. So far it is like he dosen't even love Catty.

5 comments about Picturing Los Angeles.

1. Jon and Nancy Wilkman have achieved an amazing feat. They have taken the history of Los Angeles as their canvas, and illustrated its past in a voluminous display of images from the beginning to the present, with a focus on each decade of the twentieth century. There is something for everyone in this book, and we see the city's history unfold through early photographs of downtown, the creation of such cultural venues as the Hollywood Bowl and the Coliseum, and the development of the San Fernando Valley. Movie stars, famous musicians, and other entertainers who made their mark are here, as are leading politicians, religious personalities, and sports figures. The vast ethnic diversity of the region is not something recent, as the authors make clear, but has long represented an essential aspect of the city's past. The sheer dynamism of the city thus comes through clearly, and the very nature of Los Angeles as one of the most photographed cities in the world makes this book, unique of its kind, a special addition to one's library. For not only are the pictures often startling in their originality and detail, but the accompanying text is clear, concise, and filled with insights that only long-time observers can bring to their subject. Significantly, the authors do not flinch from the uglier side of the city's history, with all its sordid details of crime, gangsters, and urban mayhem. That's a wise choice, since the purpose is not to glorify the city but to bring its history alive through both image and text. The approach works, and the reader is entertained, enervated, and ultimately enlightened.



2. Photos we hadn't seen before...insights we hadn't considered before.
   "Picturing Los Angeles" is a show-and-tell book of the highest order.
   If you're looking for the perfect gift to give newcomers to the LA area, a gift that will help them make sense of this unique community--this is it. Congratulations to the Wilkmans for delivering a history book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. [Review by Albert Greenstein]



3. This looks like a coffee table book, but it's really an incisive narrative accompanied by fascinating pictures. The authors give us a whirlwind tour of the explosive pattern of growth and change that is the true history of Los Angeles. Propelled by a colorful array of eccentrics and geniuses we see the city constantly reinventing itself and leaping into the future. I had so much fun reading it I almost forgot how bad the damn traffic is here!



4. Incredible compendium of all the events and characters that created and still shape this most unique city. Much more fun than hunting down similar information on the internet, "Picturing Los Angeles" offers readers hours of fascinating reading, aided by an astounding collection of pictures. A seemingly impossible task to put together, the authors have provided a wonderful encyclopedia of the culture, architecture and citizenry of a town that continues to impact the world. You'll see why!



5. 
   This book is basically a photographical introduction to the history of Los Angeles . If you are interested in knowing about the history of Los Angeles, from it's very early beginnings , up until the early 2000's, then you will find this book very informative.
   
   
   There are many many photos that go along with the historical text. All photos are in black and white.

3 comments about Time Out Los Angeles (Time Out Guides).

1. These books are really helpful and useful. Even if you're like me and know your way around Los Angeles like the back of your hand, it still comes in handy. It gives web addresses and phone numbers and more correct information than I've seen in other publications. It also gives you the closest freeways to a particular location. It's a good compact size too. All the Time Out guides I've read are as good as this. They are on a par if not better to Lonely Planet.



2. While there are heaps of travel book guides on the market, Time Out are better than all others. Lonely Planet are good and DK are good, but this range is a little more in depth and seems to go the extra mile.
   After a fun introduction, there are the usual sections you'd expect to find in a guide book; Restaurants and Bars, Hotels, Nightlife, Shopping (my personal favourite) and things Nearby to name a few. I believe their maps are more detailed and layed out really well. There are hours for shops and restaurants and websites too. They include things for people on all kinds of budgets. Another cute idea they have going on is little blue notes on various pages with a point of interest that has been used in a movie or TV show. For example, on page 116 it mentions that the Grand Olympic Auditorium (with its address) was used in Million Dollar Baby. These are just another added bonus that makes this more unique.
   I have found these guides useful in the past, and this one is going to come in handy again, because they always update to include new places to stay, eat and shop. These books are so helpful and I think you'll find that too. Check them out, and you may not use other guides again.



3. great guidebooks. Little hard read at first, but useful all the time. worth read before trip. Not the one that you can just open on scene.

4 comments about Hollywood: The Movie Lover's Guide: The Ultimate Insider Tour of Movie L.A..

1. In the late '80's, I went into Dutton's in Manhattan and found this book as well as its companion piece: New York: The Movie Lover's Guide. Both books got quite a workout on my travels to both coasts and showed a lot of wear including crayon marks from the kids. I often wished I had extra copies of both to pass on to my movie crazy friends. Fast forward 20 years. The kids are out of the house and a new and improved version of both books are available at the bookstore. What makes this book particularly endearing is that it doesn't focus on a particular era of film making/celebrity......it covers it all! Whether you are interested in knowing where Laurel and Hardy filmed THE MUSIC BOX or where Howard Hughes maintained his LA offices, it's all here. This is a great book for the merely curious or the die hard movie fanatic and definitely a must-have for the armchair traveler.



2. I too purchased the original 'Movie Lover's Guide to Hollywood' (and 'New York') and thumbed through them until the bindings gave way. Never before or since have so many locations been compiled into one good book. The writing style makes you feel as if you're with a good friend on your own private tour, and without a doubt it's the most comprehensive guide around. I was thrilled to see an updated version was released.
   
   That being said, I was disappointed in numerous factual errors scattered in this revision. The research assistants were apparently moonlighting at another job-or two-vs re-visiting some of the sites. Many of the errors are laughably obvious.
   A few examples are: p.30: the photo of the 'Warner Hollywood' is actually the Hollywood/Mark Hellinger Theater on 51st Street in NYC(the same photo is on page 101 of the original 'Movie Lover's NYC');
   p.50: the 'organized walking tours' by the Whitley Heights Civic Association tours were discontinued years ago;
   p.69: the entire Hollywood Brown Derby building was torn down, the portion that is noted as surviving is representative of the architectural style of the original, but was separated by a driveway;
   p.73; a defunct McDonald's, not an existing Burger King was on the site of the Top Hat Malt shop;
   p 232: the Trocadero 'steps' were removed about a decade ago
   p 313; Sharon Tate's Cielo Drive home has also been demolished although this is not noted in the text.
   I could continue, but you get the drift.
   Most disappointing was the glaring typo 'Janice' Joplin on the back cover. C'mon folks.
   If you're not the nitpicky fact freak as I am, there is alot of good in this book, the additions of websites and phone numbers help and it's again an entertaining read and valuable resource. Just don't take it 'literally'.
   And Mr. Alleman, when you go to update version 3, give me a holler. You're a talented writer and deserve better on the next go round.



3. I was just in L.A. and used this book as a tour guide. I found it to be well researched; however, the directions aren't always clear. Therefore, it is difficult to find the listings without other guidance.



4. As a resident of Los Angeles and a lover of film and the history behind it, this book has been a source of hours of late night reading that lead to hours of next day exploring. You will be amazed to find that your favorite coffee shop sits on a site that was once the location of a great epic or that Cecil B DeMille lived in your neighborhood. this book gives a context and history to Los Angeles and Hollywood that is often forgotten in the current obsessions that the city is associated with today. Not only will you find the address and locations of many famous film locations and movie studios but you will also begin to see the picture of how Hollywood developed and understand the important American cultural history that lies therein.
   Keep it in the Glove box of your car or next to your bed or both. Truly enjoyable to the resident or the visitor.