(no subject)

[cleolinda]

Today's horoscope: You can't just dip a toe into your life's work. You need to immerse yourself.

All right: I need some help. This is sort of a variation on the holiday_wishes meme in that I don't want you to give me these things--I want you to help me find them so Mom and I can buy them. (By the way: I BOUGHT MY ARWEN DOLL WOOT WOOT WOOT. Fugagorn, the Fug of Men, will be pleased.)

Sister Girl wants a Hermione doll of some sort (this is her favorite character). I gave one to The Lovely Emily when we went to see one either SS or COS, I can't remember, but I haven't been able to find any now (probably because POA was released in June and all the toys have been snapped up). I think I'm hitting eBay for this, after finding nothing online at KB Toys or Amazon, but if you have a particularly good tip, let me know. Update: Have found good deals on two dolls, so that's taken care of.

Mom and I are desperate to think of things to get George--he's one of those people who's just not very forthcoming about wanting stuff, whereas Mom and I are all about the stuff. What I need mostly for him are recommendations. He really liked Band of Brothers, very interested in WWII, watches the History Channel a lot, loved Master and Commander, liked the John Adams bio that was so big last year, plays the drums and likes swing/big band music, and liked reading political books like Worse than Watergate (but we're trying to keep away from that kind of thing now that the election is a done deal, because he gets a little too riled up about it).

What we really want to get him is "something like Band of Brothers." (I'm pretty sure he has the book, also, so this is strictly a "similar product" recommendation.) That, and he mentioned wanting a DVD of the Phantom of the Opera Broadway show (hard to believe I'm not actually related to this man, isn't it?), but as far as we can tell, no such thing exists. And speaking of swing music, can anyone recommend any specific CD compilations?

(ETA: I should add here that George is my stepfather. Just so you know the age demographic we're talking about here. Fairly conservative guy, although he voted for Kerry. Served in the Army Reserves and plays with a few bands in his spare time. More of a reader than my father was, but needs large print. I just got an email from Mom about a suggestion I just came up with, and it turns out... he doesn't like musicals. Except for Phantom. And Blast. And Smokey Joe's Cafe. And... I don't know.)

I'm looking for Phantom of the Opera in the original French (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, Gaston LeRoux). I've found a great annotated English translation that we're buying, so that's covered, but I was a French minor and I'd really like to have the original French to brush up with. I'm having a hard time finding it, though--the one at Amazon, if you read the reader reviews carefully, turns out to be "abridged for students of intermediate French." Uh, no.

Finally: I am looking for this doll that the Franklin Mint put out. I have been haunting their website for about a year now, but they've never posted it there. I saw it in the Franklin Mint store at the Galleria which, I discovered two Fridays ago, isn't there anymore--probably because they finally figured out that there's not much of an audience for walk-in purchases of overpriced dolls and collector plates. It's the White Witch from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and it has a tall pointy gold crown and it's bitch-ass tall and it's reaching back to stab you with a freakin' awesome dagger from the Stone Table scene and it is, quite simply, the most bad-ass doll ever created. But it was something like $200, so I never asked for it or tried to get it. I did show my mother, and it turns out now that she's almost as obsessed with it as I am--she's the one who reminded me today, and said she'd buy it if we could find it. But I've never seen it anywhere but this one store that doesn't exist anymore, not even on the secondary market. Fnarrr.



This is totally off-topic, but I was browsing Lemony Snicket items and found this. The author and product descriptions are priceless. I highly suggest that you read the product descriptions for some of the other movie tie-in products, like the Pessimistic Posters and the Ponderous Postcards.



Also: I'm finally getting myself a P.O. box so that I have an "address" I can give y'all. Like cards and postcards. I just like mail.

Comments

[theatre-angel.livejournal.com]

I know the original Phantom novel in French has been out of print for years. I'm sure there's still some way to get it, but I haven't figured it out yet. I have an abridged version, too. Yuck. -_-

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

But... dude! What do the French read?

[dreamingenigma.livejournal.com]

Hmm I'm in a WW2 class right now and I'm trying to think of some of the cool stuff we've seen/read. Does he want dvds or books? Something like BoB *thinks* I'll have to get back to you on that one!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I'll take recommendations on DVDs or books, but I'll warn you, his taste is more mainstream than scholarly.

[blackraven9.livejournal.com]

Buy the DVD of Gettysburg. Not totally historically accurate ( you know, 3 days into 3 hours, there is going to be some cutting done) but an excellent DVD anyway. Or buy the DVD of Das Boot (subtitled)it is excellent.

Forgive the annonymous post

[(Anonymous)]

but I don't have LJ. I just lurk around it.

You can purchase the original French novel through Amazon.fr: http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/2253009504/qid=1101762962/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/171-5021900-9277834

You can probably search around the site to see if they have better looking covers.

Also, yes, original theater production of Phantom was never filmed. The closest you could do is search for one of those music video compliations of scenes from Lloyd Webber musicals. Some of those are worth it just to laugh at the bad '80s hair.

Regards,
Gwynevere1

Re: Forgive the annonymous post

[theatre-angel.livejournal.com]

...Oh, that is DEPRESSING that I didn't know about that.

[perardua.livejournal.com]

For, ahem, 'unofficial' dvd recordings of the Broadway and West End productions of Phantom, Ebay is your friend. Not sure what's available at the moment, but there's usually something if you keep checking back.

WWII

[marialima.livejournal.com]

For good WWII books, try the two by James Bradley:

Flags of our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima or Flyboys.

Bradley's father was one of the guys depicted in the Iwo Jima photo/memorial and when his father died, he put together this book. I just saw him at a speaking event in October. Fascinating story - and I'm not even a WWII fanatic.

Not scholarly at all. :)

Re: WWII

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I conferred with Mom, who says that he has and really likes Flyboys, so I'll definitely be getting him Flags of Our Fathers. Thanks!

[aigooism.livejournal.com]

Hrm... Big Band/Swing stuff? Only things I can think of is Glenn Miller or Benny Goodman at the top of my head... yet I'm sure he has them. XD

[wock.livejournal.com]

I'd recommned the DVD of "A Bridge Too Far"- dramatization of a failed military campaign. Very accurate in its portrayal of both history and the small unit tactics, and good drama besides.

Also, I'll bet he'd like the DVDs of the British television serioes "Danger: UXB" which dramatized the life of a young lieutenant assigned to the unexploded bomb disposal unit in WWII London.

Books: He could do worse than "A Concise History of the Crusades", by Thomas F. Madden, ofr perspective.

[iczer6.livejournal.com]

Would 'Victory at Sea' be a good choice for George? My Dad's a big history buff and he loves the series.

It's a documentary, not a movie though, but I'd reccomend it and the soundtrack.

As for the doll sad to say but I believe the Franklin Mint isn't making dolls anymore, I think they're now gonna focus on models instead.

I'd keep an eye out on eBay, I think that's your best bet.


Icz

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Huh--I was just at their site yesterday, and they seem to have some new dolls (http://www.franklinmint.com/category.aspx?UserID=2820364&SessionID=KKLeJYLrPPeZZHAzjl5E&SID=2&Category_ID=26&) ("Shauna, Princess of Blarney"!), but at the same time, they've also taken down a lot they had before. So I don't know.

[snowking.livejournal.com]

Well, there's always the other Stephen Ambrose books if he doesn't have them. D-Day and Citizen Soldiers are both intimidatingly large, Pegasus Bridge is slim and about the first engagement of D-Day by British glider troops.

[prncssaurora.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was going to recommend the other Stephen Ambrose books as well. My dad has read all of them, I think, and he loves them. He loves WWII stuff as well.

Also, the film The Longest Day is an old black and white film about the D-Day invasion. I've seen it (Dad made us watch it) and I actually really enjoyed it, so that might be another idea. Good luck!

Don't know if this'll help tremendously, but...

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for Phantom of the Opera in the original French (Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, Gaston LeRoux).

I got my copy at the gift shop in the actual Opera Populaire in Paris, that's the only place I've ever seen it. If you like I can check the publishing info when I get home and let you know, you might be able to track down a copy online.

[ambiguousreason.livejournal.com]

i can't help you with any of that stuff... it's not really my forte, so to speak. but a P.O box for cleolinda?! yay!! if it's mail you want, it's mail you'll get. :]

[kittygopounce.livejournal.com]

*nods and agrees* plus you seem to have ample suggestions flying in (and I know very little about the things you want to have recommended ...) so, mai is mail rawr. I mean PO Box Cleolinda - yay!

"America: The Book" for George?

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

Does he watch Comedy Central's The Daily Show? If so...

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446532681/qid=1101765540/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/102-8363724-9499320)

Re: "America: The Book" for George?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

No, but I know it's on *my* list. ; )

For George

[wmetoile.livejournal.com]

I would recommend Stephen Ambrose's Citizen Soldiers; it's about the year between the invasion of Normandy and D-Day, and both I and my grandfather very much enjoyed. Also, the superb Washington Goes to War, by David Brinkley.

My congratulations on being so pro–holiday shopping. I'm burying my head in the sand.

Re: For George

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Hmmm--I don't think he has either of those, and if he doesn't, those might actually be good bets. Thanks!

[http://users.livejournal.com/lorien__/]

sorry can't come up with anything as it was kinda all chinese to me... *blush*

i did understand the 'also:' part... *giggle*

and with that WOOOHOOO... this way i can send you the book back to have it signed... i know i know i'm dreaming out loud... oh well... can't wait... wish it was this time next year tho...

Lorien__
cheerleader and nutcase

[aki.livejournal.com]

My dad really liked "We Were Soldiers", but it may be too a) Vietnam and/or b) sappy for what you're looking for. If he's a real WWII buff, anything by Studs Terkell (sp?) [homefront] or John Dower [Pacific front] makes for interesting historical reading. There's also "The Greatest Generation" by Brocaw.

This is a great bookstore in Harvard Square - tends to be a bit expensive (think college bookstore prices - the Harvard French dept actually uses the store rather than the Coop) and I can't promise about shipping, but it's there (http://www.schoenhofs.com/app/detail:72417e946f0a6c6ef7db59bf6c00fdbf?isbn=2253009504")

o.O What does 'ETA' stand for?

[chenpion.livejournal.com]

I thought it was Estimated Time of Arrival?

Re: o.O What does 'ETA' stand for?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

In a journal/message board context it means "edited to add." A lot of times people preface a change with "ETA" rather than change their text and not mention it because it puts replies they got before they made that change into context.

check

[law-witch.livejournal.com]

http://www.rhinorecords.com/store/SearchResults.lasso

they've a really good selection

[cabell.livejournal.com]

My father is really into history books, particularly concerning the Civil War, so you might find something good on his "reading journal" page: http://cstl-csm.semo.edu/gathman/reading.htm

There are only a couple on the current page, but there are archives linked.

[meredith-mae.livejournal.com]

My dad loves military history stuff, but he also likes John Wayne, so a lot of his war movies are in *that* vein. I've kind of tried to ignore most of that stuff. My grandmother bought him the Greatest Generation for Christmas a few years ago, and there's a companion book called The Greatest Generation Speaks, which are all letters from vets and their families.

Ken Burns has the "Jazz" documentary series (also: The Civil War, Baseball and Mark Twain). I'm not sure how many DVDs are involved, so it might be pricey, if you and your mom want to go in on it together. Also, David McCullough, who wrote the John Adams biography, now has a biography out on Harry Truman called, get this, Truman.

My mom loves Mel Gibson's We were soldiers. But then, my mom loves sappy, Mel Gibson-type things. She's forever plaguing me to watch it an I refuse. Thankfully, this year I'm getting her lots and lots of Dr. Quinn Medicine woman on DVD, and I'll only be at their house for 5 days, so *fingers crossed* I won't be forced to watch lots of crap.


Also, I own Les Mis in the original French. Foudn it at an antique bookstore. It's really cool.

Woot fan mail. I wonder how many holiday cards you could get if you set up that P.O. Box soon? I guess it would be a good way to measure your fan base.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Why don't you get him some of the Aubrey/Maturin books that Master and Commander was rather faithfully adapted from?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I did last year--the two they apparently combined for the movie. Unfortunately, I was unaware of the "needs large print" thing, so he hasn't been able to read them yet. Woe.

thank you!

[butindreams.livejournal.com]

Those product descriptions just made my otherwise fairly boring day. :)

[nilo.livejournal.com]

For George, as a military wife and daughter, I can definitely recommend Duty and Gates of Fire.

Duty ( http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0380814110/qid=1101769720/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-4562369-3249540?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 ) is one of my dad's favorite books.

Gates of Fire (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553580531/qid=1101769812/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-4562369-3249540 ) is the one The Captain (my hubby) asks all his troops to read.

[girlalmighty]

No leads on the White Witch doll, but when you find it, if there's a picture, will you link to it or post it? It sounds bloody awesome.

And regarding the other things . . . If you do get an "unofficial" recording of Phantom, as has been recommended above, be careful; some of those are really badly done, and are generally videos of the backs of heads and some fuzzy noises. Some are utterly awesome. So.

For big band/swing music, I highly recommend Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. They are way cool and come from my hometown, so support them, yay! and great for swing-dancing to. ^_^

And in regards to what George might like to watch . . . It's not WWII, but if he liked M&C, I highly, highly recommend the Horatio Hornblower A&E miniseries (starring Ioan "I have two swords!" Gruffudd).

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I pointed out HH at Best Buy when I was there with Mom ("Look, it's with Lancelot! It's like M&C!"), but she just sort of looked at me. Hmmm.

And seriously, it was the most awesome doll ever, but I have yet to find any proof of its existence outside that store--nothing on the internet, nada.

[celsitude.livejournal.com]

He really liked Band of Brothers, very interested in WWII,

Some suggestions from a WWII nut (that would be me) - One of the men from Easy company (Webster) wrote a book called "Parachute Infantry" by David Kenyon Webster. It's extraordinarily well written and it's really interesting.

Also, another paratrooper from the same regiment as easy company but he was in A company - Don Burgett - wrote a series of books. Currahee, Seven Roads to Hell, The Road to Arnhem and Beyond the Rhine. I've only finished Currahee and Seven Roads, but they're great books.

Citizen Soldiers by Stephen Ambrose is good, but very large and mostly technical. Burgett and Webster both write from the perspective of the trooper.

Hope that helps. :)

[celsitude.livejournal.com]

Sorry - that should read The Road to ARNHEM. For some reason the r and the n combine to make an m. Ah well..