ebooks Max Ernst and Alchemy: A Magician in Search of Myth (Surrealist Revolution Series) by M. E. Warlick in Arts-Photography

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Good book.By Michael KennedyThis is a good book; and for the most part an interesting read. I agree with other reviewers who say it is good to have a computer nearby to go to YouTube and actually listen to the songs discussed in the text. The book tells the story of a number of men - and briefly one woman - who are obsessed with collecting 78 rpm records and how the eccentricities of their personalities add to the overall adventure. I do wish the writer had given more attention to the issue of collecting in the context of whether a rare record is some sort of sign of cultural importance; or if its rare because it wasnt worth buying in the first place. In other words; who determines what is culturally important? The general public? Record companies? Obsessed people at garage sales? To me that sort of critical discussion would have been more interesting than a lot of the personal blog/travelog episodes in the book. Giving a lot of time discussing scuba lessons and an unsuccessful dive into a river to find lost records tended to distract from the book rather than enhance the text. Still; this is a book about something within our culture that has a lot of musical treasure and Im glad it is being brought to light. Youll enjoy it.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A fun and entertaining book!By Which WayI love records; so thats why I wanted to read this book. I discovered so much more. It offers a great insight into early American blues music and delved into the minds of collectors. Anyone willing to learn to scuba dive to search a merky cold river in search of old 78s is both a lover of rare records and a little nuts! A great read!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Excellent Research Well Presented Book On The 78 RPM HistoryBy Kent McCombsA wonderful description of the human condition (or at least a part of it). Both funny and well written/presented. Author did a lot of research that was fascinating to read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone; both collector and non-collector alike.