Publisher: Tales of Terror
This book contains 80 descriptions of horror films reviewed and ranked by critic Steve Hutchison. Each description includes five ratings (stars, story, creativity, acting, quality), a synopsis and a review. All movies were produced exclusively by the United Kingdom. How many have you seen?
The violin has formed an important aspect of Jewish culture for centuries, both as a popular instrument with classical Jewish musicians—Jascha Heifetz, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman—and also a central factor of social life as part of the enduring Klezmer tradition. But during the Holocaust, the violin assumed extraordinary new roles within the Jewish community. For some musicians, the instrument was a liberator; for others, it was a savior that spared their lives. For many, the violin provided comfort in mankind's darkest hour, and, in at least one case, helped avenge murdered family members. Above all, the violins of the Holocaust represented strength and optimism for the future. In Violins of Hope, music historian James A. Grymes tells the amazing, horrifying, and inspiring story of the violins of the Holocaust, and of Amnon Weinstein, the renowned Israeli violinmaker who has devoted the past twenty years to restoring these instruments in tribute to those who were lost, including 400 members of his own family. Juxtaposing tales of individual violins with one man's harrowing struggle to reconcile his own family's history and the history of his people, it is a poignant, affecting, and ultimately uplifting look at the Holocaust and its enduring impact.Show book
The star of the cult classic Withnail and I offers “a refreshing combination of comedy, confession, and coruscation” in this memoir of the movie business (Kirkus Reviews). Richard E. Grant’s acting career has included memorable roles in some of Hollywood’s most critically acclaimed films, including Robert Altman’s Gosford Park and Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula. But he attributes his success to his first film role, starring as a flamboyantly pathetic Shakespearean in the underground hit Withnail and I. As Grant explains, “I had no notion that, almost without exception, every film offered since would be the result of playing an alcoholic out-of-work actor.” In With Nails, Grant shares his long, maddening, and immensely rewarding journey through the world of film. From the hell of making Hudson Hawk to befriending Steve Martin on the set of L.A. Story; and from eating spaghetti with the Coppolas, to window-shopping with Sharon Stone, and working with and learning from the best actors and directors in the business, Grant’s unvarnished memoir “is a biting and wonderfully funny look at the movie business by an actor who is as clear-eyed and observant about himself as he is about the craziness surrounding him” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).Show book
The Muisca Confederation was one of the most sophisticated political entities in pre-Columbian South America, emerging in the highlands of present-day Colombia. The origins of this powerful society can be traced back to the earliest inhabitants of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes, a region characterized by fertile valleys, cool mountain climates, and abundant natural resources. Over time, these early settlers developed complex social structures, agricultural techniques, and political institutions that would form the foundation of the Muisca Confederation. The first groups to settle in the high-altitude plateaus of the Andean region arrived thousands of years ago, likely migrating from Central America or other parts of South America. These early inhabitants lived in small, semi-nomadic communities, relying on hunting, fishing, and rudimentary farming. As they adapted to their environment, they developed advanced agricultural methods, cultivating maize, potatoes, quinoa, and other crops suited to the high-altitude terrain. The fertile lands and steady supply of food allowed for population growth, leading to the establishment of permanent settlements. As Muisca society evolved, it became increasingly hierarchical, with distinct roles emerging among its members. The transition from small, scattered villages to organized chiefdoms marked a significant turning point in their history. Power began to concentrate in the hands of local leaders, or caciques, who governed their respective communities. Over time, these leaders expanded their influence, forming alliances and asserting control over larger territories. The most powerful of these rulers eventually became the Zipa of Bacatá and the Zaque of Hunza, the two principal leaders who governed the northern and southern regions of the Muisca Confederation.Show book
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind; And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind. Nor hath love's mind of any judgment taste; Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste: And therefore is love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so oft beguil'd.Show book
Kids will love this sweet story/song combination as they listen to “Hanukkah is Here” and follow along word-for-word in the adorably illustrated eBook. Rhyme and repetition will teach children about this Jewish holiday. This adorably illustrated eBook encourages learning through music and introduces children to important early literacy skills.Show book
Driven by different motives, Robert Moses and Francis Cardinal Spellman had the same vision: to display Michelangelo's masterpiece, the Pietà, in the Vatican's pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City. As Ruth D. Nelson gracefully showcases, Moses believed this blockbuster would guarantee the fair's financial success. At the same time, Spellman, Archbishop of New York and the spiritual leader of Cold War America's Catholic community, hoped that at a time of domestic strife and global conflict, the Pietà's presence would have a positive spiritual impact on the nation. Although the fair did not turn out to be the financial bonanza that Moses expected, the Pietà drew record crowds of the faithful, art lovers, and the curious. Nelson's fascinating uncovering of the intensive planning that went into designing the pavilion, transporting the art piece across the Atlantic, and coordinating Pope Paul VI's visit to New York in 1965—the first papal visit to the Western Hemisphere—demonstrates the sheer scale and opportunity of the two men's endeavors. Our Lady of the World's Fair depicts the skepticism and fierce criticism that faced the two New York power brokers. Rather than letting the negative weigh them down, they united and called on every resource at their disposal to make this unlikely cultural coup possible.Show book
