My New Must-See Movies Series Now Available on Kindle and Kindle Apps (And How to Get One for Free)
Posted on October 2, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I’m delighted that the first three books in my new Must-See Movie series are now available as ebooks. The first is #1 and and all three are in the top 20 of Amazon Kindle’s movie guides and reviews best-seller list. You don’t need to have a Kindle — the free Kindle app works on just about any computer or tablet or smartphone. If you buy 101 Must-See Movie Moments, email me at moviemom@moviemom.com and tell me the last movie in the book before October 31, 2012 and I will send you either 50 Must-See Movies: Weddings or 50 Must-See Movies: Mothers for free. If you post a review of 101 Must-See Movie Moments, I’ll send you both!
The three books are:
101 Must-See Movie Moments 101 essays on great moments in neglected films and neglected moments, from the lobster scene in “Annie Hall” to the final moments of “Godfather 2,” to a sandwich in the otherwise forgettable “Wives and Lovers” and the “Coward’s Corner” scene in “Homicidal” and the garbage can lid dance in “It’s Always Fair Weather,” and the “Dead by Third Act” character in “Top Gun,” each illuminates an element of cinematic storytelling that will make you understand and appreciate all movies better. ($1.99)
50 Must-See Movies: Mothers No relationship is more primal, more fraught, more influential, more worried over, more nourishing when good and more devastating when bad that our connection to our mothers. Mom inspires a lot of movies in every possible category, from comedy to romance to drama to crime to animation to horror, from the lowest-budget indie to the biggest-budget prestige film. A lot of women have been nominated for Oscars for playing mothers and just about every actress over age 20 has appeared as a mother in at least one movie. Here are 50 classic movie mothers, the good, the bad, and the downright nightmarish. (99 cents)
50 Must-See Movies: Weddings Movies and weddings are — it must be said — a match made in heaven. Here are 50 of the best movies about proposals, engagements, and weddings from classics (“Father of the Bride,” “The Godfather”) to neglected gems like “Confetti” and “The Baxter.” Comedies, romances, dramas, runaway brides and wedding crashers — these are must-see for anyone who has ever planned, dreamed of, or been to a wedding. (99 cents)
Andrew McCarthy, now a distinguished travel writer as well as an alumnus of Brat Pack movies like Pretty in Pink, has a new book called The Longest Way Home: One Man’s Quest for the Courage to Settle Down, the story of his journey from a restless traveler who could not make a commitment to his girlfriend of four years to a devoted husband and father. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman’s Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, says “McCarthy ponders some of the biggest and most frightening questions surrounding intimacy: How does a loner connect? How does a traveler settle down? How do we merge into families without losing ourselves? The answer seems to be that all these things are impossible…and yet somehow we do it anyway. There is much to be learned, and much to be admired, in this elegant, thoughtful story.” His article about a camping trip with his son that required some chocolate bribes is featured in the current Parade Magazine.
McCarthy joins his “Pretty in Pink” co-star, Molly Ringwald, whose collection, When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories, has received excellent reviews. Her recent appearance at The Moth, telling a story about her daughter’s difficulties in school, is available on iTunes.
I am very proud to celebrate my new publishing company, Miniver Press, by offering the first five people to respond a free copy of one of our first three ebooks. Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with the name of the book you want in the title and let me know if you’d like me to send it directly to your Kindle (or Kindle app on your iPad or laptop or smartphone) or receive a copy on Word (less fancy, but otherwise every bit as good). Stay tuned for more on our upcoming titles including a new “Must-See Movie” series from me.
She was the black Amelia Earhart.
Back in the 1920s planes were made of wood and cloth held together with wire.
And back then everyone knew blacks couldn’t fly, and neither could women. But this spunky black woman from the cotton fields of Texas did loops above the Eiffel Tower, walked on wings above America, and jumped off planes to the oohs and gasps of crowds.
Bessie could also do a mean Charleston on the dance floor while guys lined up on both sides of the Atlantic. Her admirers included France’s top World War I ace, an African prince, a Florida millionaire, Chicago’s top black newspaperman, and its top black gangster.
She survived broken bones and some broken hearts. She was the first person, man or woman, to open the skies to black pilots. She helped open grandstands on the ground as well, refusing to perform unless everyone could buy a ticket.
She inspired generations of flyers. After years of neglect, she has at last been recognized as one of the leading figures in aviation, African-American, and women’s history.
Tributes include a postage stamp, a street named for her at O’Hare airport, and her photo tucked into a spacesuit worn by the first black woman astronaut as she flew on the space shuttle.
Coleman performed across the country as a barnstormer and daredevil until she was killed falling from a plane after a wrench fell into the gearbox. Or was it put there? Who would want to kill this pretty, fearless, half-Cherokee, half-black daredevil? A bigot? A jealous lover?
“Love Me Do” was the Beatles’s first single. Longtime Beatles friend and fan Bill Harry takes us behind the scenes in honor of the 50th anniversary of its release in October 1962. He tells about how Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr after the first recording session, how John stole his harmonica, why the vocal was switched from John to Paul, how George got a black eye, and the real story behind the legend that Brian Epstein bought thousands of records to get the song on the charts.
The 1914 Boston Braves had one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. On the 4th of July, they were in last place. But they went on to sweep the World Series against Connie Mack’s Philadelphia A’s. Their story includes Rabbit Maranville, George Stallings, Mayor “Honey Fitz” (JFK’s grandfather), and a good luck song called “Tessie.”
Have you ever wanted to taste one of the delicious concoctions described in one of your favorite books? Huffington Post has gathered some recipes inspired by classic books for children, from Harry Potter’s butterbeer and Narnia’s Turkish Delight to Anne of Green Gables’ raspberry cordial and, of course, green eggs and ham!
I am delighted that the small publishing firm I founded, Miniver Press, has produced our first Kindle ebook. Today, on the anniversary of the first public flight of a black woman in the United States on this date 90 years ago, John B. Holway’s new book about Bessie Coleman is available for 99 cents. Bessie Coleman: Pioneering Black Woman Aviator is the story of a young woman from the cotton fields of Texas, half African-American and half Cherokee, who was told that the brand-new skill of flying was beyond the capacity of women and minorities. When no one in the US would teach her to fly, she learned French and went to France to attend flight school. When promoters told her that only white people could buy tickets to see her barnstorming shows, she told them they had to sell tickets to everyone. She was romanced by a gangster, a prince, and the heir to a chewing gum fortune. And no one knows if the plane crash that killed her was an accident or premeditated murder.
It is an amazing story, and it is thrillingly told by John Holway, author of many books about 20th century figures. His book about the Tuskegee Airmen was the basis for the George Lucas film, “Red Tails.” Coming soon from Miniver Press is a fascinating book by an insider about the recording of the Beatles’ first single, “Love Me Do,” in time for the 50th anniversary of the song’s release on October 5, 1962. And I’ve got a new series called “Must-See Movies,” with the first three coming out before the end of September. Stay tuned!
101 Must-See Movie Moments
, has a new book called 
, the story of his journey from a restless traveler who could not make a commitment to his girlfriend of four years to a devoted husband and father. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of 
, says “McCarthy ponders some of the biggest and most frightening questions surrounding intimacy: How does a loner connect? How does a traveler settle down? How do we merge into families without losing ourselves? The answer seems to be that all these things are impossible…and yet somehow we do it anyway. There is much to be learned, and much to be admired, in this elegant, thoughtful story.” His article about 
, has received excellent reviews. Her recent appearance at The Moth, telling a story about her daughter’s difficulties in school, is available on iTunes.
