Book Description
Flaunt magazine declares LAbyrinth "absolutely impossible to put down" -- a book whose stunning discoveries are nonetheless "incredibly thorough and surprisingly credible." Acclaimed journalist Randall Sullivan follows Russell Poole, a highly decorated LAPD detective who in 1997 was called to investigate a controversial cop-on-cop shooting, and eventually discovered that the officer killed was tied to Marion "Suge" Knight's notorious gangsta-rap label, Death Row Records. During his investigation, Poole would come to realize that a growing cadre of black officers were allied not only with Death Row but with the murderous Bloods street gang. And incredibly, he began to uncover evidence that at least some of these "gangsta cops" may have been involved in the murders of rap superstars Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. Still more shocking is what happened when Russell Poole became lead investigator in the murder of Notorious B.I.G.: as his shrewd detective work pointed to crooked cops such as David Mack, who orchestrated one of the biggest bank heists in Los Angeles history, Poole found his investigation stifled by a police chief wary of doing further damage to a department already sullied by the O. J. Simpson trial, the Rodney King beating, and the Rampart corruption scandal. Could it be that the Rampart scandal -- in which dozens of officers were implicated in a conspiracy of robbery, brutality, drug dealing, and false imprisonment -- was only a smokescreen for a far more damaging debacle? Igniting a firestorm of controversy in the music industry and the Los Angeles media, the hardcover publication of LAbyrinth helped to prompt two lawsuits against the LAPD (one brought by the widow and mother of Notorious B.I.G., the other by Poole himself) that may finally bring this story completely out of the shadows. Entertainment Weekly insists that "no single source presents so complete or damning a record" of this "compelling" epic tale of L.A. noir. "[An] engrossing, damning tale of widespread unchecked corruption in one of the nation's largest police departments, one that deserves attention." -- Renee Graham, The Boston Globe " "A deftly told, immensely relevant, true-life potboiler from the streets of urban America." -- Kirkus Reviews " "LAbyrinth is a jeremiad, leveling everything in its path." -- R. J. Smith, Los Angeles Magazine "You don't have to know anything about any of this to love this book." -- Carolyn See, The Washington Post "You haven't got the goods on any of these notorious cases until you read this intricate show-biz true-crime thriller." -- Mike Tribby, Booklist "Sullivan's reportorial writing style accurately reflects the investigative work ... while building the drama within the truly labyrinthine political cover-ups." -- Publishers Weekly
Customer Reviews:
Mindblowing Information.......2006-10-12
This book is one of the main reasons I could not bring myself to vote for former LAPD police chief Bernard Parks, in our most recent mayoral race. Seems we were so worried about more negative press in this city, we too often just looked the other way. One of the better documented works on the subject; the background info on L.A. street gangs, Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. are worth the cost alone. Will keep you glued to the pages.
Great book, very well-written.......2006-09-02
I recommend this book for several reasons. First off, it is extremely well-written. There's no rambling, it's very well researched, and the way the stories and facts are expressed are not dry at all. The writer, Randall Sullivan, writes for Rolling Stone magazine, so it's presented in that style. Even if you aren't interested in the Tupac/Biggie story, this book still goes deep into the origins of the Bloods and Crips, East coast and West coast rap feuds, and especially, just how corrupt the LAPD was(and probably still is). I've read other books on these subjects, including the recently released book by "hip-hop cop" Derrick Parker, but this book is by far the best. I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Mindblowing!.......2004-07-21
If ur a fan of either tupac or biggie GET THIS BOOK .....russell poole blows the lid on how death row was really run. He explaines the level of corruption within the LAPD, and how and why the investigations into their murders remain unsloved. After reading this book, and watching the Nick Sullivan Biggie and Tupac dvd, its plain and obvious to all who was behind their murders!
Biased author, unsympathetic characters.......2003-08-28
As a fan of both Tupac and Biggie, I was very interested in learning more about what really went down. Former Officer Poole seems to think he has the answers so I was eager to learn what he knows draw my own conclusions. I was very disappointed.
First of all, to my absolute surprise, nobody else seems to have picked up on the author's extreme bias. For example, on page 14 of the hardcover version, Sullivan notes that "[In the early 1960s], as now, black males committed a hugely disproportionate amount of crime in Los Angeles and across the country." WHAT? I can't even believe that went to print. Question: do black males commit a disproportionate amount of crime in this country or are they accused and convicted disproportionately? At the very least, if you're gonna make such outrageous comments, back it up. With no statistical data, I consider Sullivan's comment to be hearsay. Then, just a few pages later, on page 18, Sullivan gets a little diatribe going about how the LAPD hiring process has become less stringent over time, noting that "liberals had successfully argued that [baring applicants with juvenile records] limited the number of blacks and Hispanics who could join the LAPD." I'm not even 20 pages into the book, and my reading of the author is that he really doesn't like minorities or "liberals," whatever the latter term means to him because he sure doesn't define anything. Yet I decided to take these and similar comments with a grain of salt and press forward with the book.
If one-tenth of what's written in these pages is true, Biggie and Tupac were just as despicible as Suge Knight, the LAPD, the affiliated gangs, the attorneys and just about everyone else who graced the pages of the book. And that made me really sad because it's hard for me to listen to the music the same way. Tupac and Biggie were not innocent; they were just greedy [...] who courted violence successfully. Truthfully, none of the stuff about the LAPD or any of the other authority figures surprised me. Money and testosterone--bad combination. Lest you think I'm a man-hater, the women in this book are appalling, too. I hate to say it but Tupac and Biggie got what they deserved.
I do think that Sullivan's style is extremely readable and engaging. I also like the way he attempted to provide background on the LAPD history, the history of the Crips and the Bloods, etc. If you're not likely to be critical going into this book, it's not bad for escapism. Unless you were living in a plastic bubble or don't keep up w/ current events, I doubt that you'll be blown away by the overall picture Sullivan paints.
Outstanding.......2003-07-26
An outstanding book. Very well researched and a methodical investigtion of the underworld that the rap music business has become. To the few people who thought that this book was a waste of time I can't imagine that you read the same book. There is so much evidence that the top brass of the LAPD covered up certain investigations that it is overwhelming.
Customer Reviews:
Coroner to Fallen Stars.......2002-05-16
Dr. Noguchi was Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner of the county of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood. His job is to establish the "manner, cause and circumstance" of death and to report the findings to the public. Every death is a mystery until the cause is known. A coroner is specifically trained to solve that mystery. He collects evidence, interviews witnesses, oversees the autopsy and laboratory reports on the body. In any unusual death, the first duty of an ME is to suspect murder, until proven otherwise.
At age 13 Dr. Noguchi witnessed an incident with his father's patient that set him on the road to forensic medicine. He later learned medicine by day and law by night. After graduation he left for America, the world leader in technology. He aimed to practice forensic medicine because of his love for scientific detective work.
Chapter 4 tells of the autopsy of Robert F. Kennedy. One shot entered underneath the right armpit and exited the right front shoulder. Another was under the armpit and traversed sideways to the spinal column. The fatal bullet entered the skull an inch behind his right ear. The thoroughness of the tests gave credence to a conspiracy theory: Sirhan had NOT fired the fatal bullet (p.101)! The murderer fired from the back into RFK's head; the gun was 3 inches from the head, 1 inch from the right ear. Sirhan was firing from the front (p.103). His gun contained eight bullets, twelve bullet tracks were found at the scene. They could not prove the fatal bullet was fired from Sirhan's gun.
Chapter 5 tells of his fights in the jungle of bureaucratic politics and personalities. "Noguchi was a target because of plain, old-fashioned prejudices" (p.113). The secretary who testified against him admitted her information came from newspapers and the prosecutor! Dr. Noguchi's private comments were the "graveyard humor" common to pathologists. The chief
prosecution witness who tried to fire him as "emotionally disturbed" admitted he offered him a post a county hospital with live patients! Dr. Noguchi's faults were being an extrovert, having a sense of humor, and excessive ambition in expanding his
department.
Chapter 11 "Forensic Science at Work" summarizes many interesting and entertaining stories from his career. He says Proposition 13 made it almost impossible to obtain increased funding for an increased work load.
Dr. Noguchi reveals the tragic facts of Natalie Wood's drowning. You can read about Marilyn Monroe, Sharon Tate, Janis Joplin, William Holden, and John Belushi. He tells of "the terrible danger of alcohol ... the most popular and most deadly drug ever conceived"; one out of every four deaths is alcohol related (p.227).
Chapter 14 tells of his demotion and removal as Coroner. He had just been installed as president of the National Association of Medical Examiners in Nov 1982. The investigator had ruled that Dr. Noguchi had been "unjustifiably demoted", but the Civil Service Commission disregarded this ruling. He was the victim of bureaucratic harassment or some kind of personal vendetta.
Coroner to Fallen Stars.......2002-05-07
Dr. Noguchi was Chief Medical Examiner/Coroner of the county of Los Angeles, which includes Hollywood. His job is to establish the "manner, cause and circumstance" of death and to report the findings to the public. Every death is a mystery until the cause is known. A coroner is specifically trained to solve that mystery. He collects evidence, interviews witnesses, oversees the autopsy and laboratory reports on the body. In any unusual death, the first duty of an ME is to suspect murder, until proven otherwise.
At age 13 Dr. Noguchi witnessed an incident with his father's patient that set him on the road to forensic medicine. He later learned medicine by day and law by night. After graduation he left for America, the world leader in technology. He aimed to practice forensic medicine because of his love for scientific detective work.
Chapter 4 tells of the autopsy of Robert F. Kennedy. One shot entered underneath the right armpit and exited the right front shoulder. Another was under the armpit and traversed sideways to the spinal column. The fatal bullet entered the skull an inch behind his right ear. The thoroughness of the tests gave credence to a conspiracy theory: Sirhan had NOT fired the fatal bullet (p.101)! The murderer fired from the back into RFK's head; the gun was 3 inches from the head, 1 inch from the right ear. Sirhan was firing from the front (p.103). His gun contained eight bullets, twelve bullet tracks were found at the scene. They could not prove the fatal bullet was fired from Sirhan's gun.
Chapter 5 tells of his fights in the jungle of bureaucratic politics and personalities. "Noguchi was a target because of plain, old-fashioned prejudices" (p.113). The secretary who testified against him admitted her information came from newspapers and the prosecutor! Dr. Noguchi's private comments were the "graveyard humor" common to pathologists. The chief prosecution witness who tried to fire him as "emotionally disturbed" admitted he offered him a post a county hospital with live patients! Dr. Noguchi's faults were being an extrovert, having a sense of humor, and excessive ambition in expanding his department.
Chapter 11 "Forensic Science at Work" summarizes many interesting and entertaining stories from his career. He says Proposition 13 made it almost impossible to obtain increased funding for an increased work load.
Dr. Noguchi reveals the tragic facts of Natalie Wood's drowning. You can read about Marilyn Monroe, Sharon Tate, Janis Joplin, William Holden, and John Belushi. He tells of "the terrible danger of alcohol ... the most popular and most deadly drug ever conceived"; one out of every four deaths is alcohol related (p.227).
Chapter 14 tells of his demotion and removal as Coroner. He had just been installed as president of the National Association of Medical Examiners in Nov 1982. The investigator had ruled that Dr. Noguchi had been "unjustifiably demoted", but the Civil Service Commission disregarded this ruling. He was the victim of bureaucratic harassment or some kind of personal vendetta.
Noguchi writes an enlightening book about forensic science........2000-07-20
As someone who enjoys reading about forensic science, I had never read a book (nonfiction) or account by a coroner. Unfortunately, I live in Pittsburgh where we have the infamous Cyril Wecht to have to listen to or read about constantly in our newspapers and on television. He is not the best representative of this group of scientists, though at one point he must have been a friend to Noguchi. Noguchi does a fairly good job of explaining the work and some of the politics involved in running a forensic lab for any large city. He could have written in much more detail then he did for some of the stories, filled in the endings of the stories like with Patty Hearst, and talked more about the work done with other groups such as the FBI. I think he tries to be fair about giving credit where credit is due, and I also feel like he wrote this book in answer to all of his many critics who lied about his statements and abilities due to prejudice. Being a native Californian and also a deaf person, I am fully aware of the prejudices of that state and can sympathize with Dr. Noguchi. I plan on reading his second book to see if his writing and coverage improves. Otherwise, for those who aren't deeply involved or interested in this area of science, this is a good introductory book. Karen Sadler, Science Education, University of Pittsburgh
Great for Those Entering Forensics.......2000-06-12
Dr. Noguchi's book gives an avergage reader or a student interested in forensic pathology or other areas of criminal justice an in depth look at some of the most famous deaths of this century.
Still unanswered questions.......2000-06-01
Considering this book, one must understand it was printed in 1983 and tell-all stories were not quite so "in your face" as they can be now. I did expect, and still would like to hear more about the actual autopsies in more detail, as it is barely discussed in this book. However, it is still an interesting accounting of controversial deaths, but will not answer those troubling questions most of us still debate. I found the first chapter about Natalie Wood to be the most enlightening. She really fought for her life, but still no one has satisfied the original question of why she tried to leave the boat in the first place. I must admit that he did more to elevate the status of forensics than any other individual in his field. Maybe Dr. Noguchi will do a more in depth book in the future and concentrate more on the cases than his troubled political life.
Average customer rating:
- A good place to start
- Nothing new really, for beginners only
- Sharon Tate: The Life and Career of one of Hollywoods most beautiful Starlets
- For true Sharon fans....
- Entertaining ReHash
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Sharon Tate and the Manson Murders
Greg King
Manufacturer: Barricade Books
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Helter Skelter: The True Story of the Manson Murders
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ASIN: 1569801576 |
Book Description
In this biography of Sharon Tate, Greg King recreates the story of Tate's career, her marriage to Polanski, and her relationships with Hollywood's most famous names. King also brings to vivid life the complete account of the tate murders, describes the lengthy search for the killers. and includes previousl unpublished police and detective reports, trail transcripts and letters from Charles Manson to "squeaky Fromme." More importantly, this is the first book to focus on the victims of the Manson murders. As such, it brings a fresh perspective to the murder story that created a media frenzy foreshadowing what occurs with alarming regularity today.
Customer Reviews:
A good place to start.......2007-06-06
The first part of this book focuses on Sharon Tate, her growing up, beginnings, romances, and marriage to Roman Polanski. The rest is about the Manson family and, of course, the murders. If you are deeply interested in additional information about Sharon Tate and especially her mother and sister's on-going fight to keep her murderers in prison, this might be the book for you. If you are more interested in the motivations and behavior of the Manson family, be aware that a good portion of this book relies on secondary sources: you would be better to read Bugliosi, Sanders, Emmons, and other books by authors who had direct contact with the murderers and events, or view for yourself the documentaries cited. The photographs are not particularly enlightening (except maybe for the crime scene, which is extremely graphic), and I found myself referring to Bugliosi & Gentry's "Helter Skelter" photos and maps much of the time instead.
Probably the best part of this book are the final chapters, in which author King updates us with how the Manson murderers have adjusted and lived their lives in prison since that fateful weekend in 1969. Especially absorbing and heartbreaking are the very personal conversations and letters from Doris and Patti Tate, Alice LaBianca (Leno's ex-wife), and the parents of Steve Parent.
The mislabeling of the source notes are a larger problem: they do not match the chapters. There is also no bibliography, which makes connecting an individual endnote with its actual source problematic. This book also does not have an index either, which is frustrating. However, the book is very readable and more evenhanded than some of the original sources cited, and King generally points out where various original sources disagree and why he is inclined to believe one or the other. It is more than a "true crime" novel, but does not approach Bugliosi & Gentry's "Helter Skelter" in either gripping readability or as a really definitive resource. It is useful, however, if one desires to track down the various sources for a direct look at the many pieces of the evidence for this uniquely complicated case.
Nothing new really, for beginners only.......2007-03-19
Though a book on Sharon Tate herself is long overdue, I found this book very disappointing. I felt like I was reading a hodge-podge of warmed over data from every other book or magazine article on the case already published. Those looking for more personal info. on Miss Tate will have to continue to read biographies on other performers who knew her. Amateur sleuths interested in the Manson Family can do better by merely browsing the internet or reading the updated versions of The Family or Helter Skelter.
Sharon Tate: The Life and Career of one of Hollywoods most beautiful Starlets.......2006-11-12
Excellent Book. Has one of her most stunning photos on the cover. The first book to really explore Sharons' life only linking it to Charles Manson in part..The only downfall is very little new information for the
true Sharon Tate fan to know...If Charles Manson is to be mentioned the
mysteries about the murders were not explained..Such AS..Sharon Tates
and Jay Sebrings blood was found in large amounts on the front porch.yet they were supposedly never there...her
body had abrasions that looked as though she had been moved around after
she died..Susan Atkins said she threw a Martex towel from the doorway
and landed on Jay Sebrings head..How could that be looking at the photo
the towel is tucked under the rope making that impossibe.
For true Sharon fans...........2006-05-19
I have been a huge fan of Sharon Tate for awhile now and when I found out that their was going to be a biography about her I was excited! I'm happy to read about her life and experiences but I think its really sad that they cannot write her name without Manson Murders behind it. I want to remember her movies her personlaities and style, not her grusome death. I have heard of the Manson murders and the horrific and morbid way that Sharon, Jay, and their friends were killed but I do not want to read about it. This page has a picture of the crime scence which I ripped out immediatly. I think thats its disgusting and disrespectful to Sharon. Also, there were many chapters that I did not bother to read simply because they were so in detail about the deaths. To me the first half of this book was great because its simply Sharon but later on it dpent over half the book decribing the Manson cult and her death. I just think we should spend more time celebrating her life then analyzing her death. If you are a true Sharon fan and want to read this simply for Sharon then you may be quite dissaponted in this book as I was.
Entertaining ReHash.......2006-05-05
You've got to give King credit for taking the focus off manson & co and giving Tate and friends the attention they finally deserve. King's patient and sensitive recreation of the days leading up the murders is clearly the highlight here; the small ordinary details of Tate's last days giving the reader a sense of impending dread.
The problem with this book though is that it feels like a patchwork. Its as though King just pasted together this book from the same sources that I and many others have read. There are some new bits of info for sure (Michelle Phillips has some interesting observations) but there is not enough for it to be considered groundbreaking or illuminating. An entertaining read, but doesn't have nearly the impact of Helter Skelter.
Book Description
Finding Freedom is a collection of prison stories - sometimes shocking, sometimes sad, often funny, always immediate-told against a background of extreme violence and aggression, written by a prisoner on death row who has become a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism.
Customer Reviews:
Very Moving.......2007-09-10
I first spotted this book when I had half an hour up my sleeve on the way to a visit at Bunbury Prison. It moved me big time.
In my working capacity over the years as a teacher and facilitator within the Western Australian Prison system I have often used chapters of this book as a pivotal point in my classes.
I am sure Jarvis would be pleased to know that this book has moved the lives of many - including that of many prisoners. To demonstrate how freedom can be found under circumstances of incarceration until death with stories that prisoners can truly relate to is an awesome feat.
The story about the 4th of July really provoked much deep and meaningful discussion.
'Scars', and 'My Sisters' really got them thinking too.
But this book is not only of great benefit to prisoners; it's messages are universal to us all.
Interesting peek into San Quentin.......2007-01-12
This book was an easy read, and gave me a good sense of what it was like for Masters to go from angry to peaceful in prison. It's not professionally written, but one wouldn't expect it to be. I think it would be interesting to people who study prison psychology, violence, Buddhism and meditation, and/or personal growth and transformation.
Escaping from our own prisons.......2006-09-18
This book was deeply moving on many levels, but I was especially struck by how Jarvis Masters was able to find freedom possibly the worst situation one could be in, while many of us, with relatively good lives, never question our own imprisionment. We're all in one sort of prison or another. Jarvis was shown a path to his own freedom, and in the true Boddhisatva tradition, he makes that path clear to the rest of us. Jarvis is an inspiration and one hopes that his message will be read by all.
Changes lives of my students every year.......2005-05-10
Since I began using this book in my 11th grade American Literature/Contemporary Composition classes a few years ago, students have consistently remarked that it has changed the way they view life, the world, and themselves. They consistently say that it is the most meaningful literature we read all year. From Jarvis, they learn life lessons and how to go beyond self-pity and anger. Jarvis is a beautful man and I recomend this book heartily to anyone wishing to open their heart.
Spirituality At Its Best.......2004-01-30
I recommend that anyone who is seeking to be spiritual read this book. Jarvis Masters provides a shining example of compassion in action in cirumstances where it is very difficult to be a holy human being.
Average customer rating:
- Caregiving and Grieving with Humor
- A Wonderful Story of Healing
- Says It All So Well!
- A great story that has meaning
- For Anyone Recovering From a Lost Love
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A Widow, a Chihuahua, and Harry Truman: A Story of Love, Loss, and Love Again
Mary Beth Crain
Manufacturer: Harperone
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0062516728
Release Date: 2000-05-30 |
Book Description
A Different Kind of Love Story
When Mary Beth Crain lost her husband of only three years to cancer, she though she would never again know the meaning of the word happiness. Inconsolable, she couldn't imagine anything with the power to draw her out of the seemingly bottomless pit of grief.
But there was a savior - or two - on the horizon, in the form of President Harry S. Truman, Mary Beth's idol, from whose practical wisdom she had always drawn strength, and his namesake, Truman, a three-pound Chihuahua. Drawing upon Harry Truman's wise words, and the small but powerful furry presence that brightened her world, Crain shares her experience of overcoming loss by finding inspiration and joy in both her dog and a former president who was the embodiment of common sense, integrity, and optimism.
Customer Reviews:
Caregiving and Grieving with Humor.......2007-05-15
I found myself laughing out loud on almost every page. Mary Beth Crain seems to embody the essence (and the quirks) of living through the process of being a caregiver,grieving her loss and moving across bereavement with her companion Truman. Her humor shines through, giving a light hearted overview of a serious subject. We need more books on Care Giving and the Bereavement Process that uplift our spirits and giving us a good "Belly Laugh" along the way. KUDOS !!For the Laughter!
Katherine Rosengren R.N. M.A.
A Wonderful Story of Healing.......2006-07-03
Aside from being more-than-a-little horrified that she went away for the weekend knowing her cat was ouside with its lower jaw ripped off....this was a wonderful book.
It's a lovely story of how animals help heal our hearts.
But, I still have trouble resolving the woman who wrote this book as the same woman who left her maimed cat alone for the weekend. Temporary insanity is the only explanation. She really should have left that part out.
Says It All So Well!.......2002-07-29
An entertaining narrative of Chihuahua personality and charateristics per se, as well as an astute insight into the complexities of emotions and perceptions while restructring life after the loss of a spouse. An excellent account of canine capers and especially personal renewal, spiced with humor and tears, says it all so well!
A great story that has meaning.......2001-06-17
I really related to this story as I too, lost my husband two years ago with cancer. Also my chihuahuas and cats and birds have been my salvation. I really understand where this lady is coming from. She did an excellant job of relating the real feelings one experiences with a death of a loved one. My hat is off to Mary Beth as a really great writer and may she find the happiness she deserves. I too, believe there is a connection with dog and God.Carole
For Anyone Recovering From a Lost Love.......2001-01-04
I found this book while searching for manuals on how to raise my new chihuahua "baby." He came into my life not because I had lost someone to cancer like the author, but as a last-chance effort to get over a broken heart. In the end the cause of the loss didn't matter; I could totally relate to the author, her grief and the healing power of 6 pounds of atomic puppy.
My thanks to the author for a book that was an integral part of my recovery and for validating all the feelings I thought were mine alone.
This book is not for the literary snob, or high-brow reader; however, it's pure delight for anyone who thinks they'll never love again after a loss.
Average customer rating:
- This book is Dangerous?
- POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS
- JUMP Into This Book!! You'll Be Glad You Did!
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The One Where the Kid Nearly Jumps to His Death and Lands in California
Mary Hershey
Manufacturer: Razorbill
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Binding: Hardcover
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Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 4)
ASIN: 1595141502
Release Date: 2007-03-01 |
Book Description
“Mom didn't think it was funny when I took off my leg at school, put it in my locker, and then tied a rag around my stump with fake blood on it. After that, though, the kids at school pretty much knew if anyone was going to be cracking jokes about my leg, it was gonna be me.”
So says thirteen-year-old Alastair Hudson in this darkly humorous comingof- age story about the relationship between Alastair—who calls himself Stump to draw shocked attention to his missing leg—and his father, who left the family after the accident that resulted in the amputation five years earlier. When Alastair is sent to spend the summer with his dad and his dad's new wife, father and son are forced to confront the truth of what happened years ago, finally allowing Alastair to move forward with his life.
Customer Reviews:
This book is Dangerous?.......2007-09-23
This book is dangerous in that it's hard to put down once you start reading it. Mary Hershey weaves together a tale of family, hope, defeat, triumph and ultimately reconciliation in an easy reading, quick moving book about one summer in the life of 13 year old alastair (aka stump)
POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.......2007-09-02
Is this author herself an amputee? I doubt it! In fact, this author brags about running marathons. This is potentially dangerous territory; before entering the fragile psyche of a physically challenged young adult, one should be prepared with suitable knowledge and insight. Parents, be cautious of what your children read, especially if they are physically or mentally challenged in some way. Training as a school guidance couselor is not necessarily adequate to represent the inner workings of the mind of an amputee. I am STILL waiting for a SUITABLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL to write an entertaining adventure story that will inspire physically or mentally challenged young people in an insightful way. This is NOT it!
JUMP Into This Book!! You'll Be Glad You Did!.......2007-03-11
I stayed up waaay too late finishing this book as once again author Mary Hershey knocks one out of the ball park as she delivers another hilarious-and-utterly-emotionally-satisfying story. Really, she does humor and catharsis better than just about anyone.
The story is about Alastair, who calls himself Stump because of his prosthetic leg, who is being shipped off to live with his father and step father for a summer while his recovering alcoholic mother struggles to keep her grip on sobriety. But there's some ugly history there, history Stump can't quite remember in detail, but history that is tied into the fateful jump he took that cost him his leg. And Stump wants nothing to do with the history, or his father, or his new step-mother, who ends up being very cool person and someone Stump could learn an awful lot from, if he'd only let himself. But of course, he won't.
About the only thing Stump does like is 15 yo Jesse. When he commits to competing in a triathlon to win her respect and spend as much time with her as possible, he attaches himself to a hardnose coach who wants little to do with him, but finally agrees to help him train.
Stump's days are filled with grueling hard work, emotional avoidance, a first crush, painful truths, and hilarious antics as he negotiates his way through his much loathed summer. His voice is dead on hilarious and full of 13 yo snark as he passes judgment on all those around him and keeps everyone at arm's length. But of course, in spite of his best attempts to stay frozen in the past, slowly awareness and memory begin to seep in, awakening the painful memories of his fateful jump, which he--and his father--must face. And face them they do, in a harrowing, emotion-wringing, soul-cleansing finale. I can't recommend this book highly enough!
Average customer rating:
- Take the time to read this book!
- Loved it
- A great new twist for Bradbury
- "Hard boiled" mystery, with tender-hearted sleuth.
- Excellent book to rediscover Bradbury with!
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Death is a Lonely Business
Ray Bradbury
Manufacturer: Knopf
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0394547020
Release Date: 1985-10-12 |
Amazon.com
The image of drowned circus cages in the trash-filled canals of Venice, California, both haunts and illuminates famed fantasy and science fiction author Ray Bradbury's rare venture into the mystery field. Like filmmaker Federico Fellini, Bradbury is fascinated by the seedy splendor of cheap carnivals and circuses--"a long time before, in the early Twenties, these cages had probably rolled by like bright summer storms with animals prowling them, lions opening their mouths to exhale hot meat breaths. Teams of white horses had dragged their pomp through Venice and across the fields."
But now it's the early 1950s, and foggy, shabby Venice is the last stop on the circus train for scores of old silent-movie stars and young writers trying to keep their art and their bodies alive. As Bradbury's autobiographical hero, a young writer, pounds out his short stories, someone is killing off the older denizens of the tacky city. The writer joins forces with a quirky detective called Elmo Crumley and a faded screen star to investigates the deaths. Their search begins and ends in one of those iconic, waterlogged cages.
Blending hard-boiled detective fiction with beautiful descriptions of this strange Californian town, Death Is a Lonely Business is well worth investigating. --Dick Adler
Book Description
Ray Bradbury, the undisputed Dean of American storytelling, dips his accomplished pen into the cryptic inkwell of noir and creates a stylish and slightly fantastical tale of mayhem and murder set among the shadows and the murky canals of Venice, California, in the early 1950s.
Toiling away amid the looming palm trees and decaying bungalows, a struggling young writer (who bears a resemblance to the author) spins fantastic stories from his fertile imagination upon his clacking typewriter. Trying not to miss his girlfriend (away studying in Mexico), the nameless writer steadily crafts his literary effort--until strange things begin happening around him.
Starting with a series of peculiar phone calls, the writer then finds clumps of seaweed on his doorstep. But as the incidents escalate, his friends fall victim to a series of mysterious "accidents"--some of them fatal. Aided by Elmo Crumley, a savvy, street-smart detective, and a reclusive actress of yesteryear with an intense hunger for life, the wordsmith sets out to find the connection between the bizarre events, and in doing so, uncovers the truth about his own creative abilities.
Customer Reviews:
Take the time to read this book!.......2006-03-04
Ray Bradbury is noted for his science fiction books, which I have never read, but I was recommended this book (his rare effort to write in a genre that he loved - the mystery novel. This is a remarkable story of love and friendship and it also has a true psycopathic killer in it. The book is peopled with wonderful eccentric characters and its setting is a dying 1950's California seaside town. This is an evocative and eerie novel, and it will keep you turning the pages until you finish. If Ray Bradbury can write like this, perhaps I should read some of his better known stories. I have seldom read a book that held so many truly wonderful characters.
Loved it.......2004-02-01
I have to admit that I've never really been a fan of Bradbury. In school I read a couple of his short stories, which were pretty good but not amazing - I always thought Asimov wrote better - and the only novel of his I had read before this one was Farenheight 451, twice, and both times I found it to be among the most dull books I'd read. However, reading the back of this paperback in a used book store, I decided that he was worth another try for $1.25.
I immediately began to enjoy it. The almost filmoire style of the writing appealed to me for some reason, though there a couple lines I had to reread in order to see what he was getting at. The main character (I started calling him Jesus because that was the way Crumley often referred to him) was in a state of near desperation the whole novel, but it wasn't completely overdone, at least in my opinion. Frankly, if I was stuck in a hell-hole like Venice, CA I would be the same way.
I would definitely recommend this book, though maybe I'm simply a weird guy who likes weird books.
A great new twist for Bradbury.......2003-08-06
Ray Bradbury, as his fans know, is a man who has published a lot of works through the years -- over 500 -- but only a handful of novels. Most of his novels, in fact, are expanded versions of his short stories, e.g., Fahrenheit 451. Death Is A Lonely Business, a very good title from a man who is a master of titles, published in 1985, was his first novel since 1962's Something Wicked This Way Comes. What a surprise, then, it was for me to find this overlooked gem at my local library for a mere 50 cents. It is something one would not expect Bradbury to write: a detective story. Of sorts. This genre, previously monopolized in the science fiction realm by Isaac Asimov (as was everything else), turns out to fit Bradbury's writing style surprisingly well. As anyone who has read the author knows, he has a unique and very distinctive style -- poetic, atmospheric, and highly literary. Arthur C. Clarke has termed him a "prose poet", and this description works quite well. His aforementioned style, which is very complex and literary, would seem, on the surface, ill-suited to a hard-boiled detective novel and destined to be relegated to the short story -- as, indeed, much of Bradbury's work is. His writing style and use of imagery is very dense and literate, too much for some, and is often difficult to hold up over the course of a novel. This novel, like much of his work, contains very vivid poetic descriptions and not a few fantasy elements, and the reader is often left unsure whether a given sentence is meant to be taken literally or only figuratively. This was a problem for many readers with Something Wicked This Way Comes, a novel that had a very simple plot -- one might almost say, with its two child protagonists, that it was written for teenagers -- but this issue, thankfully, does not come up during the course of this interesting and very engrossing novel. Though this is, essentially, a detective story, it does not escape Bradbury's distinctive touches. His style is omnipresent throughout. It proves to be very engrossing. The first chapter -- the book's sections are not technically separated as such, but the definition will work fine -- pulls the reader in, and it is very difficult to put it down: I read the book nearly in one sitting. Bradbury pours on the suspense and the keeps the reader reading. His poetic descriptions of Venice, California's broken-down piers and carnival scenery are vivid and very atmospheric; the descriptions are beautiful prose to read, mysterious and alluring, dark and brooding. Any long-time Bradbury reader will immediately appreciate this aspect of the novel. The book is also loaded with literary references, to Brabdury's own work and to a vast number of other authors. This is a treat for the author's faithful readers and shows the author's encyclopedic knowledge of literature. In addition, the novels main character, by whom it is narrarated, is a highly autobiographical character clearly modeled on Bradbury's own early career. All of this is very good, certainly enough to recommend the novel. The only reason I have given it 4 stars is the ending, which is a very jarring anti-climax. The final revealing of the murderer is not a surprise, and the way in which he is caught is very unrealistic and hard to believe. This will probably frustrate the reader, as it did me, putting an ill-conceived end to an otherwise excellent novel. Stil, the book is well-worth reading, as Bradbury usually is, and this flaw only dims one's enjoyment of it somewhat. Highly recommended for Bradbury fans, or those who enjoy the noir mystery genre and are looking for something with more of a twist than they usually get.
"Hard boiled" mystery, with tender-hearted sleuth........2003-07-12
Writing in the style of hard-boiled mystery writers such as Raymond Chandler and Dashiel Hammett, Bradbury sets his story in Venice, California, in 1949, presenting as his main character a 27-year-old struggling writer, much like himself. Returning to Venice late one night on the last trolley from Los Angeles, he finds himself alone in the car, except for a mysterious, alcohol-fumed vagrant, who whispers in his ear, "Death is a lonely business." Convinced that he has met "Death's friend," the speaker gets "chicken skin," which gets worse when, upon arriving in Venice, he glances into an old canal and discovers, inside an abandoned lion cage, a body bobbing up and down on the tides.
The city of Venice in 1949 is a place for the down-and-out, its pier and amusement park crumbling, its rollercoaster lying on its side "like the bones of a vast dinosaur," old animal cages abandoned in the canals and filled with fish, and the oil pumps looking like "great pterodactyls" as they creak and groan. Inhabited by "the lonelies," old people with no futures, Venice is a dark and dismal place in those final days before the pier is demolished. Bradbury's hypnotic descriptions of this decrepitude provide dramatic contrasts with the young speaker who still has hopes, dreams, and a future.
With veteran detective Elmo Crumley as his mentor, the speaker tries to save lives and outwit a mysterious stalker, as more and more sad, old people meet their deaths. Hollywood performers, an opera singer, a lady who once raised canaries, a tarot card reader, an inept barber who knew Scott Joplin, and the owner of an old cinema all contribute to the color, atmosphere, and action in this unusual story of people and places which have outlived their usefulness.
Bradbury's writing, as always, is witty, descriptive, imaginative, and atmospheric. These separate elements do not seem to jell into a coherent whole, however. The speaker and Crumley are supposed to be "hard-boiled," but their genuine tenderness and naivete work at cross-purposes with the sometimes gruesome deaths they investigate. Unlike the classic detectives, they seem to care more about the sad, old residents than they do about catching the killer. Elements of the supernatural impinge upon the realism, and the reader is not always sure whether strange events should be taken literally or figuratively. When the killer is finally identified, it's almost an anti-climax, since he is less developed and far less interesting than his victims. Ultimately, it's the inherent "niceness" of Bradbury's characters and his clear belief in life's hopefulness which work to undermine the drama and fear engendered by the bizarre murders. As Bradbury makes clear, if one adapts to life's changes, one can truly "live." Mary Whipple
Excellent book to rediscover Bradbury with!.......2002-05-22
I bought two of his newest books, one of which is the aforementioned _Death is a Lonely Business_. I began reading it late last night and just finished it a little more than an hour ago. Technically, it's not a fantasy or science fiction, but it is such a great book, in my opinion, that I had to put a review of it somewhere.
_Death is a Lonely Business_ is Ray Bradbury's tribute to Hammet, Chandler, Cain and Ross McDonald. It is a very engrossing noir detective story, with the young Bradbury as the main character. More or less. The main character is a struggling, starving writer living in Venice, CA with a girlfriend studying in Mexico. Strange deaths begin occuring around him, seemingly triggered by a mysterious encounter with a man he calls at one point "Death's friend".
With the aid of a detective and a reclusive, yet very much alive actress, he attempts to unravel the mystery before the people he most cares about come to harm.
Bradbury's writing style, though for some perhaps a bit wordy and "purple", pulls the reader into the story, making him feel and see the world through the eyes of the main character. Once I began reading it, I found it very difficult to stop and go to school; I wanted to keep reading until the end.
The story itself, through the deliberate use of death and loss, affirms life and demands that the reader seize the moment and pursue life, happiness, and even pain. For by avoiding pain, we die a slow, lonely death.
In short, it is a book that I would highly recommend to anyone, even those dyed-in-the-wool single genre people. This has strong fantasy elements in it, and plenty of references to other books and stories by Bradbury.
What a pleasant and welcome way to rediscover a favorite author.
Book Description
A family's horror -- one child murdered . . . another destroyed.
The Crowes' neighbors in the peaceful middle class community in San Diego's North County were shocked by the savagery of the crime -- a young girl murdered, stabbed repeatedly, in her own bed in the dead of night. The lack of any evidence of forced entry led the Escondido police to their inevitable conclusion: someone in the family was responsible for 12-year-old Stephanie Crowe's slaying. The investigation quickly zeroed in on the victim's older brother, Michael, and two teenage friends -- three loners who enjoyed inhabiting dark fantasy worlds of quests and violence. Through efficient, by-the-book police work, the boys were broken down and ultimately confessed. The only problem was the detectives had gotten everything wrong . . .
Shattered Justice is the riveting and disturbing true account of a horrific tragedy and the terrible crime that followed -- a nightmare of four innocent lives shattered, one by a killer's blade, three by obsession and twisted law.
Customer Reviews:
Justice?.......2007-08-29
This book was creepy in many ways. First you have the lunatic that went walking the neighborhood trying to get in houses, looking for his "friend". Then you have the police trying to pin a crime on three kids. I don't know which was worse, because so many lives suffered because of both. A pretty good read for the true crime lovers.
Shattered Justice.......2007-02-21
The story of three innocent families torn apart by loyalty of young boys. It was a very good book and carried you along to the end in order to try to determine who really was responsible and how in the world did those boys get themselves so involved in such a fantasy of disaster
An Interesting True Crime Story But A Difficult Read. .......2006-08-26
"Shattered Justice" is the story of a tragic murder of a 12-year-old girl in her own bed in the middle of the night in a quiet neighborhood in San Diego's North County. There was no indication of forced entry, so the normal police procedures were followed in suspecting a family member or someone close to the family.
Suspicion quickly focused on the victim's older brother Michael and two friends, based on Michael's unusual behavior after the killing and the three boy's fascination with video games such as Dungeons and Dragons. Intense interrogations followed, resulting in confessions to the crime that indeed were highly suspect, due to the techniques used by the officers to obtain them.
The author is an imminent psychologist, criminal profiler, and an experienced writer. With that said however, I would respectfully submit that the reader wonders why so much narrative is devoted to the three boys, which even the blurb on the back cover advises were not involved in the crime. It appears Mr. Philpin was laying ground work for the upcoming hero's entrance, but the reader had to slog through the shattering minutia of the contents of video games popular at the time, which only a 12-14-year-old would even understand.
In many instances throughout the book, he refers to other cases to make a point, which no doubt he worked on and were important at the local level. But the national and world-wide reader, not being familiar with those cases, was left wondering what the connection was.
Finally, on page 193, the investigation turns full-force on the eventually convicted perp of the crime and moves along smoothly to it's natural conclusion.
The author correctly makes the point of the poor original police work, but makes the additional assertion that further actions were involved to cover up the earlier errors. I am not quite able to make that leap, but the reader is left to judge that for themselves.
The book told and interesting story of crime, investigative techniques, and conviction and is worth the read, but be prepared for some early tedious reading.
An Intriquing true crime tragedy and the injustice that followed.......2006-08-26
I could not set the book down. The difference between this book and many true crime books out there -- is the writer has the details from the inside of the case. A stickler for facts and research the information in this book, written from a professional involved in the case clearly explains the complicated issues behind this story of the horrible murder of a young girl and the injustice that followed.
John Philpin is not only a brilliant forensic psychologist and internationally respected crime profiler but he is an excellent true crime writer and a popular novelist. He brings the true crime genre to a new levels.
This flawlessly detailed account of tragic crime, the investigations, injustice, and a journey to the truth that took too long coming are fascinating and unsettling.
Teach Your Children About Their Rights Under Miranda!.......2006-08-24
Popular, pretty twelve-year-old Stephanie Crowe was murdered in her own bed, in her own home one evening as the family slept in rooms nearby. Police quickly developed a theory that this was an inside job because all doors and windows remained locked; the "JonBenet theory," if you will.
Contrary to what good detectives know of how you let the the evidence develop the theory not vice versa, two investigators set out on the path of proving that Stephanie's fourteen-year-old brother and his two Dungeon & Dragon playing friends, Josh & Aaron, are responsible for her death. After long hours of extreme interrogrations while Michael is experiencing the flu and Aaron & Josh are adamant about their exhaustion and desire to sleep, two of the boys (Michael & Josh) confess to what the detectives want to hear so that they will be able to leave. Instead all three are arrested and charged with the murder of Stephanie Crowe.
Although interviewed and clothing taking from him for testing, the detectives never considered the transient, Richard Tuite, as a suspect; despite that he had knocked on doors of several homes in close proximity to the Crowes' on this same night looking for Tracy. Or that he was seen in the Lutheran Church parking lot shouting obscentities and threats on a woman no one else could see.
After serving seven long months in a juvenile facility, hearing whispered rumors about their guilt or innocence within the community, and not being permitted to attend their high school, Detective Vic Coloca became the saving grace for three young men when he realized their confessions were coerced and false.
After many years of hard work, and sometimes dirty politics, Detective Coloca proved the boys' innocence and provided the evidence for a jury to convict Tuite of the crime.
Interesting story but tedious on detail. Little to no detail provided on those involved. Story overall reads as those related to author by those involved, newspaper accounts, but not any real research.
Pro: Serves as a bold reminder that we should all teach our children their rights as provided by the Miranda Law; lest this become their story.
Book Description
No one knows the story behind the sensational headlines of the Scott Peterson murder trial better than defense attorney Matt Dalton. For six straight months after Peterson's arrest, Dalton was the defense's only full-time investigative attorney on the case. During that time, he lived in Modesto and investigated every element of the case, interviewing scores of witnesses, reviewing more than 35,000 pages of police documents, and meeting almost daily with Scott Peterson in jail.
What he has uncovered will astound even the most informed observers of the Laci Peterson murder case and challenge the most deeply held beliefs about what really happened to Laci Peterson on Christmas Eve, 2002.
This is the first book to go inside the Peterson defense team, and the only book to detail all the evidence that the jury did not hear -- evidence that might have led to Scott Peterson's acquittal, and that will surely play a crucial part in his pending appeals.
Among the revelations in Presumed Guilty:
- Reports from numerous witnesses who saw Laci Peterson alive and well the morning of December 24, after the police claim Scott Peterson had already killed her; none of them testified at trial
- The story of another woman, eight months pregnant, who was harassed by two men the morning of December 24 only five blocks from the Peterson home
- The burglary that reportedly occurred directly across the street from the Peterson home on the morning of December 24, and the confessed burglars' questionable claims that the burglary happened days later
- Previously unreported details of the autopsy reports on Laci Peterson and her son, which cast strong doubts on key elements of the prosecution's case
- The disappearances of six pregnant women, in addition to Laci, reported missing and presumed dead within eighty miles of Modesto between 1999 and 2002
Compelling, provocative, disturbing, Presumed Guilty is the fascinating story of one lawyer's relentless efforts to find the truth behind one of the most complex and notorious murder cases in American history.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting...BUT.......2007-02-15
Not very convincing. It is very hard to buy the fact that an innocent Scott Peterson would have allowed his defense to ignore so many facts, if indeed they are facts; i.e. the 6 eyewitnesses, the scream, the brown van, the other pregnant women who vanished...
This book is mainly about accusing the Modesto police of misconduct. If the allegations here ARE true-then of course, it is horrifying and scary, as any one of us could be convicted if we have the misfortune of losing a spouse to murder...
Also, if true, I have to trust the Supreme Court will ultimately grant a new trial. But this book does not show any facts that stand out-why aren't those witnesses available and screaming aloud still?
Our FRIGHTENING justice system.......2007-02-12
I'm not sure I like the writing style of the author, but overall it's a good book. I gave it 4 stars because I'm so grateful that Matt Dalton wrote it. Our justice system is frightening when someone is tried and convicted in the media long before he was even arrested. It's frightening how credible leads were ignored. It's frightening that Scott was convicted and put on death row with no evidence. This book goes into all of that.
In my personal opinion, the trial was a joke.. Amber Fry and her mistress press conference as the "motive" who offered nothing as far Scott being guilty of murder.. the Rocha family and their news conferences implicating Scott long before he was arrested. I think it all contributed to Scott being convicted in the media long before his arrest, and I think it contributed to ignoring the credible leads and evidence discussed in Matt Dalton's book.
5 stars to Matt Dalton for writing this book.
Though not particularily well written, the information presented is interesting..........2007-01-18
...as well as interesting to see some of the thought processes (or lack thereof) of the defense team. Although I doubt any of the information presented here would change anyone's mind....I've found there's not a lot of 'free thinking' allowed in regards to this case. I still wish someone would write a book providing insight on why the public latched onto the case, and so vehemently believe in Peterson's guilt and hate him with such venom, as if they were 'attached' to the victims in some way.
The thoughts and ideas Dalton brings out, are some of the same ones I had during the investigation and trial. There are still many things the defense did, or didn't do, that baffles me. Chief among this is why they didn't attack the timeframe of the robbery? Dalton seems perplexed as well.
I didn't particularily believe the 'devil worshiper' theory, but after reading the book, I wonder why, if it's that prevelant in the Modesto area, it wasn't looked in to further.
As for the negative reveiws here....I think it's more of the emotion I mentioned above. Very few 'observers' seem to be able to think rationally about this case. IE - anything the defense says bad, anything the prosecution says good...same with the families.
It would be interesting to learn how this case is progressing through the appeals process.
Ignores the obvious.......2007-01-05
This book ignore the obvious question that should come to mind:
if indeed, there was evidence that would have exonerated Scott Peterson or at least have shed reasonable doubt on the prosecution's case, why did his legal defense team not present it in court? Where were those witnesses, where was the evidence?
Unlike some other defendants on death row, Scott was not represented by an incompetent, inexperienced and/or overworked public defender. His legal defense team was the best that money could buy: a renowned criminal defense lawyer (Mark Geragos) backed up by a team of top-notch attorneys, investigators, paralegals, etc etc.
0 stars, actually!.......2006-10-16
In a nutshell, the ludicrous scenarios and insinuations in this book are so stupid and insulting to ANYONE's intelligence that I'm surprised it got published at all. A lawyer wrote this garbage, huh? I wonder where he graduated from. Perhaps he obtained his 'degree' from the same place Scott Peterson got the 3 fake ones hanging on HIS wall? Unbelievable! Did this 'author', and I use this term loosely, EVER do any real research on this case?
This Dalton character who wrote this book obviously just needed a money fix. Must be a mediocre-at-best attorney to have to stoop to this level of ethical malfeasance. A total lack of integrity on his part is an issue as well.
For those who care about Laci Peterson and the TRUTH of her murder read Sharon Rocha's book, "For Laci" as well as Catherine Crier's Book, "A Deadly Game". Also, do some research on the investigation itself-a lot of information is in the public domain. If I could find information on this case myself, a lowly civilian, then surely Dalton could have. I just don't think he wanted to, frankly. I believe I could write a better and more accurate book all on my lonesome!
Skip this book unless you truly don't think Scott Peterson killed his wife and son.
Book Description
San Diego has a rich and unique cultural history that can be effectively told through the commemoration of its dead. Local cemeteries throughout the city reflect San Diego's multiethnic cultural dynamism and pinpoint marked shifts in power from Native American to Spanish to Mexican to American governance. They also reveal the current struggle for space in a burgeoning metropolis. Graveyards, with their individually detailed and hauntingly beautiful monuments, offer an unrivaled historic yet continuous glimpse at the essence of this diverse community. The story of San Diego's cemeteries is a telling narrative that offers remarkable insight into the evolution of “America's Finest City.”
Books:
- Ladies in Waiting: From the Tudors to the Present Day
- Lady or the Tiger? And Other Logic Puzzles Including a Mathematical Novel That Features Godel's Great Discovery
- Las Vegas Little Black Book: A Guy's Guide to the Perfect Vegas Getaway
- Leroy Grannis: Surf Photography of the 1960s and 1970s
- Literacy for the 21st Century: A Balanced Approach (4th Edition)
- Live Your Best Life: A Treasury of Wisdom, Wit, Advice, Interviews, and Inspiration from O, The Oprah Magazine
- Making Your Move to One of America's Best Small Towns: How to Find a Great Little Place as Your Next Home Base
- Mother Knows Best: The Natural Way to Train Your Dog
- My Life So Far
- Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: GET OUT THE SHOVEL -- WHY EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG
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