Robert Schnakenberg

The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray is just that, it is a wonderfully comprehensive collection of Bill Murray and all things remotely related to Bill Murray. Upon seeing this book, one might think it a long winded ode to Murray and while it kind of is it is done surprisingly well. The Big Bad Book is organized alphabetically not chronologically and is full of pictures, interesting tidbits of info, and even movie ratings. It is the Murray bible for this generation and it will sit perfectly on my show more shelf with my Bill Murray coloring book (yes that does exist, and yes I really own it- it is epic as well).

Since I was blessed with an advanced copy of this book, I am missing out a little bit, my copy lacks full color photos and I believe the final version will have a more complete list of references but I still absolutely loved reading through this collection.

Did you know that Bill Murray was bitten multiple times by the groundhog in Groundhog Day while filming? Did you know that that he thinks Con Air was funny? These are just a few of the weird and insightful blurbs Schnakenberg shares about the elusive, crazy fun actor.

The alphabetical medley is surprisingly easy to read through or jump from here to there in, it is cross referenced for your reading amusement and it has marvelous Murray quotes embedded throughout as full pages and as details in subjects and they cover just about all things in life (including, but not limited to, the importance of Cinnebon and pickles).

How can you not love Bill Murray and this book? (If you have an answer just know ... Murray "really hates critics").

This book would be wonderful in the Murray fan collection or just as a random coffee table book to amuse you and your visitors. Bottom line? Go buy it! show less

I approached Robert Schnakenberg’s Secret Lives of Authors with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. Its cover, which mimics the garish covers of tabloids, advertises the foibles of the great authors in question. For instance, it shows Ernest Hemingway attacking a critic and Louisa May Alcott caressing a bottle of opium. However, to Schnakenberg’s credit, he does not leave the reader thinking that Alcott was a druggie or that Hemingway attacked random people. Instead, he is able to show more concisely give the contextual information necessary for us to make sense of the authors’ more eccentric behavior...

To read my full review, go here: http://apparentlynotderanged.blogspot.com/2008/05/book-review-secret-lives-of-gr... show less

After a brief bio and explanation of why an author became famous, or even, iconic, their chapter is broken up into smaller sections of juicy gossip involving serious character flaws, kinks, scandals or just the unearthing of little-known facts. Who knew that Oscar Wilde's teeth were black due to mercury treatment, that H.G. Wells met and liked Stalin or that Tolkien was known around Oxford for trying to force other cars off the road? And Agatha Christie's father was American, which is show more something I'd never heard before, and the whole mess with Hemingway's favorite son is bizarre.

If you tend to like The People's Almanac type books, as I do, because they lead you to authors and give good backstories, you'll probably like this one. Added bonus are the drawings of each author, usually doing something anti-social such as Alcott cuddling a bottle of laudanum. show less

Pretty funny. I laughed out loud many times while reading this. Not much substance, but amusing.