- Table View
- List View
My First Hundred Years in Show Business: A Memoir
by Mary Louise WilsonThis Tony winner&’s memoir is &“a riot of characters met and characters played . . . a funny, frank, and savvy chronicle of a wonderful life.&” —David Hyde Pierce Mary Louise Wilson became a star at age sixty with her smash one-woman play Full Gallop, portraying legendary Vogue editor Diana Vreeland. But before and since, her life and career—including the Tony Award for her portrayal of Big Edie in Grey Gardens—have been celebrated and varied. Raised in New Orleans with a social climbing, alcoholic mother, Mary Louise moved to New York City in the late 1950s; lived with her gay brother in the Village; entered the nightclub scene in a legendary revue; and rubbed shoulders with every famous person of that era and since. My First Hundred Years in Show Business gets it all down. Yet as delicious as the anecdotes are, the heart of this book is in its unblinkingly honest depiction of the life of a working actor. In her inimitable voice—wry, admirably unsentimental, mordantly funny—Mary Louise Wilson has crafted a work that is at once a teeming social history of the New York theatre scene and a thoroughly revealing, superbly entertaining memoir of the life of an extraordinary woman and actor. &“Brims with anecdotes . . . plenty of laughs [and] plenty of candor, too.&” —Nola.com
My First Knitting Book: Easy-to-Follow Instructions and More Than 15 Projects (Dover Crafts: Knitting)
by Hildegarde DeuzoIf you want to learn to knit, you only need a ball of yarn, knitting needles, some patience — and this book! It's the ideal introduction to knitting, with easy-to-follow, full-color instructions for more than fifteen projects. Clear, step-by-step explanations of basic techniques make this guide great for beginners of all ages, especially those wishing to create handmade gifts. An introduction explains the how-to of knitting, from holding the needles and yarn to casting on, basic stitches, and finishing touches. Patterns start out as simple as can be and gradually become more challenging, although by no means difficult. Readers can advance from bracelets, hair ornaments, and pocketbooks to scarves and hats, in addition to a charming variety of household decorations.
My First New York: Early Adventures in the Big City
by New York MagazineA book as effervescent and alive as the city itself.My First New York features candid accounts of coming to New York by more than fifty of the most remarkable people who have called the city home. Here are true stories of long nights out and wild nights in, of first dates and lost loves, of memorable meals and miserable jobs, of slow walks up Broadway and fast subway rides downtown.The contributors—a mix of actors, artists, comedians, entrepreneurs, musicians, politicians, sports stars, writers, and others—reflect an enormous variety of experiences: few have arrived with less than filmmaker Jonas Mekas, a concentration-camp survivor on a UN refugee ship; few have swanned in with more than designer Diane von Furstenberg, a princess. And an extraordinary number managed to land in New York just as something historic was happening—the artist Cindy Sherman arrived in the middle of the Summer of Sam; restaurateur Danny Meyer came on the day John Lennon was shot.Arranged chronologically, these moving and memorable stories combine to form an impressionistic history of New York since the Great Depression. They also provide an accidental encyclopedia of New York hotspots through the ages: from the Cedar Tavern and the Gaslight to Lutèce and Elaine's, from Max's Kansas City and the Mudd Club to the Odeon and Bungalow 8, they're all here, dots on the unbroken line of the Next Next things.Taken together, My First New York is a collection of fifty-six testaments to a larger revelation, one that new arrivals of all stripes and all eras have experienced again and again in New York, regardless of how the city proceeds to treat them: what the songwriter Rufus Wain-wright calls "having cracked the code of living life to the fullest."
My First Origami Kit
by Joel SternChildren and beginners can make fun and simple origami projects with this great origami kit. My First Origami Kit is the perfect, affordable introductory kit for kids and parents to learn and master the joys of origami together. If you've never done origami before,My First Origami Kit is a great origami kit for beginners. It is filled with origami of all kinds--birds, beasts, vehicles, even a teddy bear that talks when you open and close its arms. The folding fun begins with the specially designed origami papers. Both sides are decorated based on the subject--feathers for the duck, metal plates for the airplane, scales for the cobra, and other surprises. You'll end up with a great looking paper model no matter which side you start with. You can add fun stickers to your finished models--to make eyes, ears, paws, and other features. This easy origami kit contains: Full-colored instructional booklet Easy-to-follow instructions 22 origami-for-kids projects 150 detailed stickers 60 two-sided folding sheets Origami paper is pre-colored This kit is sure to keep kids engaged and happy for hours. They'll be so proud of their very first origami--and you'll be happy to display them! Origami projects include: Penny Penguin Sea Surfer Caramel Bear Magic Box Hugo Pig And many more. . .
My First Summer in the Sierra: Illustrated Edition (Mint Editions (the Natural World) Ser.)
by John MuirFrom the photographer who brought Thoreau's Walden and Cape Cod to life comes a new work combining classic literature with brand-new photography. This time, Scot Miller takes on the seminal work of John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra. The book details Muir's first extended trip to the Sierra Nevada in what is now Yosemite National Park, a landscape that entranced him immediately and had a profound effect on his life. The towering waterfalls, natural rock formations, and abundant plant and animal life helped Muir develop his views of the natural world, views that would eventually lead him to push for the creation of the national parks. My First Summer in the Sierra is illustrated with Miller's stunning photographs, showcasing the dramatic landscape of the High Sierra plus John Muir's illustrations from the original edition and several previously unpublished illustrations from his 1911 manuscript. The publication of My First Summer in the Sierra inspired many to journey there, and this newly illustrated edition will surely inspire many more. This book is being published in collaboration with Yosemite Conservancy and, for each copy sold, Scot Miller is making a donation to Yosemite Conservancy. My First Summer in the Sierra won the National Outdoor Book Award.
My Florence
by Art ShayMy Florence is a collection of striking moments drawn from the shared life of renowned Chicago photojournalist ART SHAY and his beloved wife, Florence. By turns casual and glamorous, pensive and humorous, the photographs start the day Art and Florence met in 1942, as 20-year-old camp counselors in the Catskill Mountains, and continue for seven decades.Former LIFE, Fortune, Time, and Sports Illustrator photographer, ART SHAY is famous for immortalizing some of America's most compelling 20th century figures, including John F. Kennedy Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Eleanor Roosevelt. But the story of Florence was Shay's constant beat. The result is a story that runs deep and reads as a call to joy and source of inspiration for lovers, family, friends, and the photographer in us all.From the Trade Paperback edition.
My Garden: A Year of Design and Experimentation
by Jacqueline van der KloetA month-by-month tour of the renowned naturalistic garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet's home garden—a visual feast of perennials, trees, grasses, shrubs, and bulbs that have inspired a generation of gardeners and designers. From a pioneer of the New Perennial movement, My Garden showcases the practice and process behind Jaqueline van der Kloet's leading-edge, naturalistic planting experimentations, rooted in her site of experimentation for the past forty years: her home garden. Jacqueline has established a design process emphasizing naturalized bulbs and other plants that intermingle in every month of the year, supporting biodiversity and embracing the natural tendencies of plants. With an elegance admired the world over, each corner of van der Kloet's garden reflects an important aspect of her creative process, sharing down-to-earth wisdom from her own little piece of paradise. Enter into this stunning, innovative garden and discover: ·Visionary techniques and methods for tending and cultivating a natural garden, training one's focus to shift along with the seasons ·Lists of Jaqueline's favorite plants by color, with insight on inspiring and unexpected combinations ·Snapshots of specific spots in her garden, documenting the subtle shifts in each plant as it traverses the seasons' rhythms ·A glimpse into the conceptual frameworks for many of her international projects ·Inspiration for your home garden, with ideas for maintaining interest throughout every season, even in the cold and snow
My Girls: A Lifetime with Carrie and Debbie
by Todd FisherA memoir of Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds by the one who knew them best: “A family story, part comedy, part tragedy . . . an homage and a cautionary tale.” —The Wall Street JournalIn December 2016, the world was shaken by the sudden deaths of Carrie Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, losses that occurred within twenty-four hours of each other. The stunned public turned for solace to Debbie’s only remaining child, Todd Fisher, who somehow retained his grace and composure under the glare of the media spotlight as he struggled with his own overwhelming grief.The son of “America’s Sweethearts” Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher, Todd grew up amid the glamor, wealth, and pretense of Hollywood, but managed to remain grounded thanks to his funny, loving, no-nonsense mother and remained close to his sister through both her meteoric rise to stardom and her personal struggles. Now, Todd shares his memories of Debbie and Carrie with deeply personal stories, from his earliest years to those last unfathomable days. With thirty-two pages of never-before-seen photos and memorabilia from his family’s private archives, Todd’s book is a love letter to a sister and a mother, and a gift to their countless fans.“A frequently hilarious and too often heartbreaking story of life with the women he called ‘my girls’. . . . More than a Hollywood tell-all, Fisher’s memoir of a family’s love and endurance under trying and sometimes outrageous circumstances is a clear-eyed tribute to lives lived to the fullest.” —Publishers Weekly“Fisher’s tribute to these larger-than-life creative ladies is a down-to-earth portrait of a loving mother and supportive sister.” —Booklist
My Happy Days in Hollywood: A Memoir
by Garry MarshallWith the television hits The Odd Couple, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, and Mork & Mindy, and movies like The Flamingo Kid, Beaches, Pretty Woman, and The Princess Diaries under his belt, Garry Marshall has been among the most successful writers, directors, and producers in America for more than five decades. His work on the small and big screen has delighted audiences for the last three decades and has withstood the test of time. In My Happy Days in Hollywood, Marshall takes us on a journey from his stickball-playing days in the Bronx to his time at the helm of some of the most popular television series and movies of all time, sharing the joys and challenges of working with the Fonz and the young Julia Roberts, the "street performer" Robin Williams, and the young Anne Hathaway, among many others. This honest, vibrant, and often hilarious memoir reveals a man whose career has been defined by his drive to make people laugh and whose personal philosophy--despite his tremendous achievements--has always been that life is more important than show business.From the Hardcover edition.
My Home as I Remember
by Lee Maracle Sandra LarondeMy Home As I Remember describes literary and artistic achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Metis women across Canada and the United States, including contributions from New Zealand and Mexico. Their voices and creative expression of identity and place are richly varied, reflecting the depth of the culturally diverse energy found on these continents. Over 60 writers and visual artists are represented from nearly 25 nations, including writers such as Lee Maracle, Chrystos and Louise Bernice Halfe, and visual artists Joane Cardinal-Schubert, Teresa Marshall, Kenojuak Ashevak, Doreen Jensen and Shelley Niro; and some who are published for the first time in this landmark volume. Lee Maracle is the author of numerous books, including Ravensong. Sandra Laronde, writer/actor, is Executive Director of Native Women in the Arts.
My Inner Sky: On Embracing Day, Night, and All the Times in Between
by Mari AndrewFrom New York Times bestselling author Mari Andrew, a collection of essays and illustrations, divided into phases of the sky--twilight, golden hour, night, and dawn--that serves as a loyal companion for life's curveballsA whole, beautiful life is only made possible by the wide spectrum of feelings that exist between joy and sorrow. In this insightful and warm book, writer and illustrator Mari Andrew explores all the emotions that make up a life, in the process offering insights about trauma and healing, the meaning of home and the challenges of loneliness, finding love in the most unexpected of places--from birds nesting on a sculpture to a ride on the subway--and a resounding case for why sometimes you have to put yourself in the path of magic.My Inner Sky empowers us to transform everything that's happened to us into something meaningful, reassurance that even in our darkest times, there's light and beauty to be found.
My Journey
by Donna KaranIn this candid memoir, renowned designer Donna Karan shares intimate details about her lonely childhood, her four-plus decades in the fashion industry, her two marriages, motherhood, and her ongoing quest for self-acceptance and spiritual peace. Donna Karan was born into the fashion business--her father was a tailor, and her mother was a showroom model and Seventh Avenue saleswoman--yet Karan dreamed of becoming a dancer like Martha Graham or a singer like Barbra Streisand. Fashion was her destiny, though. My Journey traces Karan's early days as an intern at Anne Klein, the creation of her Seven Easy Pieces (which forever changed the way working women dressed), and the meteoric rise of her company. Along with juicy industry stories, Karan candidly discusses her difficult mother and traumatic childhood, her turbulent romantic life, all the loved ones she has lost over the years, and the personal awakening that occurred just as she reached the height of professional and financial success. That awakening set Karan down a path of spiritual discovery and self-improvement. From est to Kabbalah, from silent retreats to leech therapy, Karan tried everything to find, as she writes, "calm in the chaos." But she also reveals how a chaotic life, fueled by endless curiosity and childlike impulses, helped her design seminal collections season after season for global powerhouse brands Donna Karan New York and DKNY. She also details how she has channeled her creativity (and her urge to solve problems and nurture others) into philanthropic work, particularly her early outspoken advocacy for AIDS awareness and research, and the creation of her Urban Zen Foundation, focusing on integrated healthcare and education as well as preservation of culture, which led to her current efforts in Haiti. Karan's life has been crowded with glamorous characters and adventures around the world. But she sometimes still feels like that awkward teen from Long Island who never fit in--which makes her all the more endearing. Brimming with Karan's infectious energy, My Journey is about much more than the fashion world: It is the story of a young woman whose vision and hard work made her a role model for women everywhere--a woman who dreamed big, fought to have it all, broke the rules, and loved passionately along the way.Advance praise for My Journey"Donna's creativity and passion as a committed philanthropist are matched only by her gift for friendship. Whether she's making the world more beautiful or giving a Haitian artisan the tools to create a sustainable business, Donna has always led with great heart and wonderful humor."--President Bill Clinton"What we take for granted often comes from the most revolutionary of sources. In New York in the 1980s, no one was more radical than Donna Karan. She created a way of dressing that was womanly, practical, and empowering."--Anna Wintour "My Journey is the story of an extraordinary personal, professional, and spiritual life. It's a journey defined by Donna's incredible resilience, her inward search for calm in the midst of success, and her insistence on always following her heart."--Arianna Huffington "Anyone who has ever watched Donna Karan in the dressing room with one of her loyal customers has witnessed a bond between designer and client that is as vital as an umbilical cord. That same bond is present on every page of this memoir."--Ingrid Sischy "Donna demonstrates unwavering passion and commitment to women, family, design and all of humanity with her immense philanthropic work. Her story is fascinating!"--Calvin KleinFrom the Hardcover edition.
My Kind of City: Collected Essays of Hank Dittmar
by Hank Dittmar"Hank lived by the credo, ‘first listen, then design'.”—Scott Bernstein, Founder and Chief Strategy + Innovation Officer, Center for Neighborhood Technology Hank Dittmar was a globally recognized urban planner, advocate, and policy advisor. He wrote extensively on a wide range of topics, including architectural criticism, community planning, and transportation policy over his long and storied career. In My Kind of City, Dittmar has organized his selected writings into ten sections with original introductions. His observations range on scale from local ("My Favorite Street: Seven Dials, Covent Garden, London”) to national ("Post Truth Architecture in the Age of Trump”) and global ("Architects are Critical to Adapting our Cities to Climate Change”). Andrés Duany writes of Hank in the book foreword, "He has continued to search for ways to engage place, community and history in order to avoid the tempting formalism of plans.” The range of topics covered in My Kind of City reflects the breadth of Dittmar's experience in working for better cities for people. Common themes emerge in the engaging prose including Dittmar's belief that improving our cities should not be left to the "experts”; his appreciation for the beautiful and the messy; and his rare combination of deep expertise and modesty. As Lynn Richards, CEO of Congress for the New Urbanism expresses in the preface, "Hank's writing is smart without being elitist, witty and poetic, succinct and often surprising.”My Kind of City captures a visionary planner's spirit, eye for beauty, and love for the places where we live.
My Kind of Happy: The new feel-good, funny novel from the Sunday Times bestseller
by Cathy BramleyIt started with a wishlist... Now can she make it happen?'A story bursting at the seams with sunshine' Milly Johnson'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'A delightfully uplifting, inspiring read. You might just want to change your life too' Fiona Gibson------------'I think flowers are sunshine for the soul.'Flowers have always made Fearne smile. She treasures the memories of her beloved grandmother's floristry and helping her to arrange beautiful blooms that brought such joy to their recipients.But ever since a family tragedy a year ago, Fearne has been searching for her own contentment. When a chance discovery inspires her to start a happiness wishlist, it seems that Fearne might just have found her answer...Sometimes the scariest path can be the most rewarding. So is Fearne ready to take the risk and step into the unknown? And what kind of happiness might she find if she does?Fall in love with this romantic, feel-good story from bestseller Cathy Bramley about one woman's search for happiness!My Kind of Happy was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.------------Readers are LOVING My Kind of Happy!'Inspiring and uplifting' 5*'Cathy just gets better and better' 5*'Like a dose of sunshine on a dismal day...' 5*'A feel-good story!' 5*'Draws you in from the beginning...' 5*'I laughed and cried my eyes out!' 5*------------Your other favourite authors love to curl up with Cathy Bramley too:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara
My Kind of Happy: The new feel-good, funny novel from the Sunday Times bestseller
by Cathy BramleyIt started with a wishlist... Now can she make it happen?'A story bursting at the seams with sunshine' Milly Johnson'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'A delightfully uplifting, inspiring read. You might just want to change your life too' Fiona Gibson------------'I think flowers are sunshine for the soul.'Flowers have always made Fearne smile. She treasures the memories of her beloved grandmother's floristry and helping her to arrange beautiful blooms that brought such joy to their recipients.But ever since a family tragedy a year ago, Fearne has been searching for her own contentment. When a chance discovery inspires her to start a happiness wishlist, it seems that Fearne might just have found her answer...Sometimes the scariest path can be the most rewarding. So is Fearne ready to take the risk and step into the unknown? And what kind of happiness might she find if she does?Fall in love with this romantic, feel-good story from bestseller Cathy Bramley about one woman's search for happiness!My Kind of Happy was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.------------Readers are LOVING My Kind of Happy!'Inspiring and uplifting' 5*'Cathy just gets better and better' 5*'Like a dose of sunshine on a dismal day...' 5*'A feel-good story!' 5*'Draws you in from the beginning...' 5*'I laughed and cried my eyes out!' 5*------------Your other favourite authors love to curl up with Cathy Bramley too:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara
My Kind of Transit: Rethinking Public Transportation (Center For American Places - My Kind Of ... Ser.)
by Darrin NordahlIn My Kind of Transit, Darrin Nordahl argues that like life itself, transportation isn't only about the destination, but the journey. Public transit reduces traffic and pollution, yet few of us are willing to get out of our cars and onto subways and buses. But Nordahl demonstrates that when using public transit is an enjoyable experience, tourists and commuters alike willingly hand in their keys. The trick is creating a system that isn't simply a poor imitation of the automobile, but offers its own pleasures and comforts. While a railway or bus will never achieve the quiet solitude of a personal car, it can provide, much like a well-designed public park, an inviting, communal space. My Kind of Transit is an animated tour of successful transportation systems, offering smart, commonsense analysis of what makes transit fun. Nordahl draws on examples like the iconic street cars of New Orleans and the picturesque cable cars in San Francisco, illustrating that the best transit systems are uniquely tailored to their individual cities. He also describes universal principles of good transit design. Nordahl's humanistic treatment will help planners, designers, transportation professionals, and policymakers create transit systems the public actually wants to ride. And it will introduce all readers to delightful ways of getting from point A to point B.
My Knitted Doll: Knitting Patterns for 12 Adorable Dolls and Over 50 Garments and Accessories
by Louise CrowtherCreate twelve dolls and over fifty garments and accessories to dress them in with this wonderful collection, featuring easy-to-follow instructions.Make an adorable, knitted doll for the little person in your life. Children will love all twelve dolls in this knitting pattern collection which has been designed to provide the perfect playmate.Each doll has their own personality and style—whether it’s Faye with her cute bunny ear hast and cozy boots, or Jane with her chic beret and Breton top. There is a doll here to suit everyone. The step-by-step instructions show you how to make the twelve individual dolls, but you could also mix and match the outfits, hairstyles, and colors to create the perfect doll for you.My Knitted Doll is not for the absolute beginner knitter but will appeal to knitters who do have a basic understanding of the craft. Having said that, the instructions are presented succinctly with easy-to-follow diagrams, with charts for intarsia and other designs.
My Last Sigh
by Luis BunuelA provocative memoir from Luis Buñuel, the Academy Award winning creator of some of modern cinema's most important films, from Un Chien Andalou to The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie.Luis Buñuel's films have the power to shock, inspire, and reinvent our world. Now, in a memoir that carries all the surrealism and subversion of his cinema, Buñuel turns his artistic gaze inward. In swift and generous prose, Buñuel traces the surprising contours of his life, from the Good Friday drumbeats of his childhood to the dreams that inspired his most famous films to his turbulent friendships with Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalí. His personal narratives also encompass the pressing political issues of his time, many of which still haunt us today--the specter of fascism, the culture wars, the nuclear bomb. Filled with film trivia, framed by Buñuel's intellect and wit, this is essential reading for fans of cinema and for anyone who has ever wanted to see the world through a surrealist's eyes.
My Last Summer with Cass
by Mark CrilleyThis One Summer meets The Edge of Seventeen in this poignant coming-of-age YA graphic novel about two childhood friends at a crossroads in their lives and art from the author of Mastering Manga.Megan and Cass have been joined at the brush for as long as they can remember. For years, while spending summers together at a lakeside cabin, they created art together, from sand to scribbles . . . to anything available. Then Cass moved away to New York.When Megan finally convinces her parents to let her spend a week in the city, too, it seems like Cass has completely changed. She has tattoos, every artist in the city knows her. She even eats chicken feet now! At least one thing has stayed the same: They still make their best art together.But when one girl betrays the other's trust on the eve of what is supposed to be their greatest artistic feat yet, can their friendship survive? Can their art?
My Last Supper: 50 More Great Chefs and Their Final Meals: Portraits, Interviews, and Recipes
by Melanie DuneaIn her first book, My Last Supper, Melanie Dunea transformed a pastime that has animated restaurants after hours for decades into a sumptuous photographic journey that provided a glimpse into the rarified world of top chefs. The book garnered national media and critical acclaim for the chic and beautiful package and the totally unique concept.In My Last Supper: The NextCourse, Dunea expands her circle from the highest echelons of chefs to include the best-loved food personalities such as Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray, Joël Robuchon, Tom Colicchio, and Bobby Flay to ask them the question that drove the first volume: "What would you eat for your last meal on earth?"A perfect gift for anyone who loves food, beautifully produced with gorgeous photography, My Last Supper: The Next Course is so much more than a coffee table book—it's a fascinating glimpse into the world of people who eat, breathe, and sleep food. As the number of people who consider themselves foodies has exploded, this book is sure to capture the audience who loved the first one and captivate those who are new to the scene.
My Last Wishes: A Journal of Life, Love, Laughs, & a Few Final Notes
by Joy MeredithIf you're like most people, you've probably wondered what will happen after you're gone. What will you wear to your funeral? What will your obituary say? Will the people in your life know that you loved them? Formatted like a journal and intermingled with charmingly helpful tips and witty, expert advice, My Last Wishes provides you with the chance to leave behind the answers to these questions and many more. It's the ultimate gift to give yourself and your loved ones. What's more, filling it out inspires you to treasure your life today, and look forward to the life you have yet to live.
My Left Foot: The Life That Inspired My Left Foot
by Christy BrownChristy Brown was born a victim of cerebral palsy. But the hapless, lolling baby concealed the brilliantly imaginative and sensitive mind of a writer who would take his place among the giants of Irish literature. This is Christy Brown's own story. He recounts his childhood struggle to learn to read, write, paint and finally type, with the toe of his left foot. In this manner he wrote his bestseller Down all the Days.
My Life And Hard Times
by James ThurberIn this autobiography Mr. Thurber's daring typewriter and unbridled drawing pencil have combined to glean his teeming life. In chapter one he tells what happened the night the bed fell on his father.
My Life as a Filmmaker
by Chia-Ning Chang Satsuo YamamotoIn his posthumous autobiography, Watakushi no eiga jinsei (1984), Yamamoto reflects on his career and legacy: beginning in the prewar days as an assistant director in a well-established film company under the master Naruse Mikio, to his wide-ranging experiences as a filmmaker, including his participation in the tumultuous Toho Labor Upheaval soon after Japan’s defeat in World War II and his struggles as an independent filmmaker in the 1950s and 1960s before returning to work within the mainstream industry. In the process, he established himself as one of the most prominent and socially engaged film artists in postwar Japan. Imbued with vibrant social realism and astute political commentary, his filmic genres ranged widely from melodramas, period films from the Tokugawa era, samurai action jidaigeki, social satires, and antiwar films. Providing serious insights into and trenchant critique of the moral corruption in Japanese politics, academe, industry, and society, Yamamoto at the same time produced highly successful films that offered drama and entertainment for Japanese and international moviegoers. His considerable artistic distinction, strong social and political consciousness, and filmic versatility have earned him a unique and distinguished position among Japan’s world-class film directors. In addition to detailed annotations of the autobiography, translator Chia-ning Chang offers a comprehensive introduction to the career and the significance of Yamamoto and his works in the context of Japanese film history. It contextualizes Yamamoto’s life and works in the historical and cultural zeitgeist of prewar, wartime, and postwar Japan before scrutinizing the unique qualities of his narrative voice and social conscience as a film artist.
My Life as a Furry Red Monster: What Being Elmo Has Taught Me About Life, Love, and Laughing Out Loud
by Kevin ClashFrom the Book Jacket: Hello, Everybody! The furry red monster known as Elmo has charmed his way into hearts and homes throughout the world with his unmistakable laugh, over-the-top enthusiasm, and boundless love. Elmo's appeal is nothing short of magical. Kids adore him, and parents find him irresistible. What is it about this little monster? Meet Kevin Clash, the man behind the Muppet and the unassuming heart and soul of Elmo. At last, the puppeteer who has performed Elmo for nearly twenty years comes out from behind the stage to share his story. Weaving together his memories of growing up with the life lessons gained from his furry red alter ego, Kevin reveals himself to be as caring, and as eager to grow and learn and love, as the very special character he brings to life. You will discover how young Kevin honed his talent entertaining the kids in his mother's home day care with puppets he made from slippers and coat liners; how, as a struggling young artist, he realized his dream to meet and then work for his idol, Muppet creator Jim Henson; and how each and every day of performing Elmo reinforces for him what is most important in life. As Kevin has been inspired by Elmo, now all learn from his furry red ways. Kevin's (and Elmo's) thoughts on love, creativity, friendship, and optimism remind us of life's simple truths and ultimately encourage us all to be a little bit more like Elmo-to live with joy, to love more easily, and to laugh more often. KEVIN CLASH began making his own puppets and performing for live audiences when he was a boy. He turned his childhood obsession into a professional passion, forging a career in television and making an indelible mark on children's imaginations. Kevin has been with Sesame Street for twenty-six years and is coexecutive producer of "Elmo's World." He has won three Emmy Awards for Outstanding Performer in a Children's Series and six for his work as coexecutive producer of an Outstanding Pre-School Children's Series. He has a daughter, Shannon, and lives in New York City.