Book Description
Richard "The Iceman Kuklinski" led a double life beyond anything ever seen on The Sopranos, becoming one of the most notorious professional assassins in American history while hosting neighborhood barbecues in suburban New Jersey. Now, after 240 hours of face-to-face interviews with Kuklinski and his wife and daughters, author Philip Carlo tells his extraordianry story. Kuklinski was Sammy "The Bull" Gravano's partner in the killing of Paul Castellano at Spark's Steakhouse. John Gotti hired him to kill the neighbor who accidentally ran over his child. For an additional price, he would make victims suffer; he conducted this sadistic business with cold-hearted intensity, never disappointing his customers. By his own estimate, he killed over two hundred men, taking enormous pride in his variety and ferocity of technique. Kuklinski's story, once known, captivated the public and became the subject of three HBO documentaries about which the New York Times raved "Few viewers are ever likely to forget this thoroughly chilling portrait. As for possible movie competition, it would work on the level of The Silence of the Lambs." The Ice Man is the most complete portrait of a killer since Peter Maas' New York Times bestselling biography of Sammy the Bull, Underboss, or Gay Talese's Honor Thy Father.
Customer Reviews:
Awesome!.......2007-10-01
I recently finished this book and found it to be incredibly insightful, thought provoking and extremely gruesome - but I loved it!!
I think Mr. Carlo touched every aspect of Richard Kuklinski's life that you may have been wondering about - from his childhood, parents, wife, kids, etc. It's so unfortunate that all those people had to die, the families lives that were ruined (not to mention his own family), and the horrible beatings Richard had to endure - but this book did an excellent job portraying it all.
I couldn't put this book down. I have since lent it to a friend who can't put it down either.
Mr. Carlo deserves every 5 star review that's given!
Very little Credibility.......2007-09-30
I bought "The Ice Man" because I had viewed the HBO documentary, which was terrifying. I read this book once and gave it away. According to Richard Kuklinski, hardly a major killing took place in the U.S. during the 1970s and 1980s without his involvement. Among his incredible assertions are that he participated in the murders of Carmine Galante, Paul Castellano, and even Jimmy Hoffa. Had he been somewhat older, it wouldn't have surprised me had he stated that it was he, and not John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated President Lincoln. Since it's been some time since I've read this tome, my recollection of many of his allegations are somewhat hazy, but I do remember questioning many of them. Philip Carlo's writing is flawless and gripping, but Kuklinski's credibility, in my opinion, is somewhat debatable.
The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer .......2007-09-22
I saw a documentary on televison about this man so I was intrigued and bought the book. The book is excellent, but sad. It is a riveting story of so many lives lost. Excellent reading.
Chilling and compelling .......2007-08-31
"The Ice Man" is, by far, one of the most compelling, perfectly-written, biographical accounts I've ever read. Philip Carlo masterfully conveyed the most graphic details of Richard Kuklinski's criminal activities without repelling his audience -- an incredible feat given the unnerving subject matter.
excellent true crime read.......2007-08-30
This is a book that once you pick it up you can't put it down and you definitely do feel a pressure to talk to someone about it. It is so gruesome you have to have to be careful who you choose to talk to about it. I am a psychotherapist and from a psychological point of view it was facinating. Carlo was able to show the different facets of the man, a true sadistic psychopath. On the other hand he had some kind of "code" or sense of empathy with the children he rescued from sexual abuse. It is as if he could identify with them, something that psychopaths are believed to be unable to do not having a conscience. It seems that there was a small part of him somewhere that cared about those children. And he cared about his family, even though he also terrified and abused them. He said he would not kill a woman unless she was also a hit "person". But his cruelty to men had no bounds. He was not into sexual assaults which maybe is the reason he is not as well known as Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer. He should be the most notorious of all serial killers. I agree he was the worst of the serial killers and it surprised me he is not the most well known. Carlo did a great job.
Average customer rating:
- Fascinating story, great protagonist
- A book that never leaves you
- breathtaking
- I loved it!
- Charlotte Doyle
|
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (rpkg) (HarperClassics)
Avi
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
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ASIN: 0380728850
Release Date: 2004-08-10 |
Book Description
A vicious captain, a mutinous crew --
and a young girl caught in the middle
Not every thirteen-year-old girl is accused of murder, brought to trial, and found guilty. But I was just such a girl, and my story is worth relating even if it did happen years ago. Be warned, however: If strong ideas and action offend you, read no more. Find another companion to share your idle hours. For my part I intend to tell the truth as I lived it.
Customer Reviews:
Fascinating story, great protagonist.......2007-08-09
Charlotte Doyle is a prim and proper 13-year-old lady in the making. Having completed schooling in England, she sets sail to rejoin her family in Rhode Island -- but her father's carefully made travel arrangements, including escorts and chaperones, go awry, and she boards the ship alone. Before she can debark to make other arrangements, the Seahawk departs from Liverpool and begins the several-week journey across the Atlantic. Charlotte finds herself alone with the crew, an unsavory lot to a man, and the captain, who seems utterly charming and refined despite his unpopular reputation.
But before the voyage can get very far, Charlotte finds herself embroiled in shipboard plots, mutinous rumblings, betrayals, brutal punishments and murders. Her schooling has not prepared her for anything but the most genteel of society, so the young girl is forced by circumstances to adapt to this new and dangerous situation. She also faces a hard choice in choosing her loyalties on this volatile ship.
"The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" is an engrossing, exciting book that is suitable for younger readers but will hold the interest of adults. As historical fiction, readers will find it filled with details about life on a ship in 1832, and it's obvious Avi has done his research about the period. As both a nautical adventure story and a murder-mystery, the novel has both a riveting plot and several rich, well-developed characters to hold your attention.
Charlotte herself is a fascinating protagonist, growing from her refined but naive beginnings into a decisive, self-assured young girl. She is an excellent role model for teen readers.
I highly recommend this book to all but the youngest readers. In particular, fans of L.A. Meyer's "Bloody Jack" series should enjoy this seafaring mystery, a deserving recipient of the Newbery Award.
by Tom Knapp, Rambles.NET editor
A book that never leaves you.......2007-07-31
I read this book as a young girl, and it enthralls me still. It stands out in my mind as an almost perfect novel- one of the greatest (children's or otherwise) I have ever read. Highly recommended!
breathtaking.......2007-06-10
Charlotte Doyle, a proper young lady from england, becomes something so unexpected. She stars in this breathtaking, suspensful story, of action, murder, and mutany aboard a ship in the middle of the atlantic ocean.
I loved it!.......2007-06-06
I read this book for the first time when I was about 10 or 11. I am 25 now and I still remember this as being an excellent book! I am planning on buying it so that I can read it again.
Charlotte Doyle.......2007-06-05
I LOVED the book, but I wish I could connect with it more. I would have never thought of reading this book if it weren't for our reading class! It all starts with Charlotte, a girl of high class living in 1832. She must travel to Providence to meet her family. From there, the story has many tragic events all leading up to a suprising twist. I LOVED the book because it brought me and my BFF Kayla really close in the tragic parts of it because we both got REALLY into it. I would deffinatly recomend the book "The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle" to all young adults.
Book Description
Dr. Witiak's stories of the bond between the veterinarian, client, and pet take the reader into the exam room and on house calls to experience the laughable calamities, miscues, and surprises as well as the personal sorrows, revelations, and joys that treating animals can bring. This is a book of vignettes and personal commentary by a devoted veterinarian who is dedicated both to the science of his profession and to his personal belief in the importance of being loved and loving.
Dr. Witiak makes readers laugh when he checks a small dog's breath and gets bitten on the nose and then makes them cry when he hugs an old man who has just lost his faithful canine friend. The stories give the reader a deeper understanding of how the unconditional love of our animals enables us to love each other better.
This is a joyous ride where readers bounce from one event to the other just like the veterinarian bounds from exam room to exam room — each with its own surprises. Readers discover just how organic caring is as Dr. Witiak works his magic, enjoying his tongue-in-cheek observations and self-deprecating humor along the way.
Customer Reviews:
True Confessions of a Veterinarian.......2005-04-10
This is an enjoyable and enlightening book. The tales are short, funny, educational, and personal. Anyone who loves animals will love this book. I hope there is a followup book with more stories.
I so enjoyed this book.......2004-12-31
I have so enjoyed reading Dr. Witiak's book. It has brought giggles, tears, and insight into the field of veterinary medicine. This passionate doctor shows his love for his patients and their owners through cleverly written snippets of interactions. His writing reminds me of James Herriot, one of my favorite authors, who wrote about his life as a veterinarian. It is a compliment when some of his pet owners say, "We wish you were our family's doctor." Truly a delightful book!
It's about love.......2004-12-21
Gene Witiak's TRUE CONFESSIONS OF A VETERINARIAN reveals him to be a caring and insightful person. Clearly, he cares about both animals and people, has lots of empathy for both, understands their strengths and weaknesses and how to maximize his skills to advance their welfare.
This book is delightfully written with an excellent blend of humor and seriousness. A great read!
Outstanding.......2004-09-01
Gene Witiak has been my personal veterinarian for 36 years. He is very fine man. I was thrilled when I heard he was writing a book. The book is full of stories both happy and sad about his lifes work of over forty years. The book also has many funny moments. Anyone who has every owned a pet or is an animal lover should read this book.
True Confessions.......2004-08-05
Dr. Gene's years of experience with people and animals gave birth to this wonderful collection of heartwarming "tails" and valuable advice. It goes from advice on a new pet to personal stories of his family and pets. I laughed in places and cried in others. I think all pet owners and pet lovers would relate to one or more of the touching stories in this book.
Average customer rating:
- AMAZING WHAT DEATH CAN TELL YOU!!
- An Insight into the World of Forensics Death and Murder and Suicide!
- Bad writing
- America should always listen to Baden.
- Forensics at its Best
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Unnatural Death: Confessions of a Medical Examiner
Michael M. Baden
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
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ASIN: 0804105995
Release Date: 1990-03-28 |
Amazon.com
Forensic pathologist Michael Baden was a medical examiner in New York City for more than 25 years. Now he works for the New York State Police and teaches forensic medicine. This engrossing book covers: (1) several famous cases, including Baden's personal re-examination of the autopsy findings for Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy; (2) unusual cases Baden had as medical examiner for NYC, such as an autopsy on a dining room table at the Plaza Hotel; (3) how medical examiners decide on means of death, with a section on poisons; (4) the history of coroners and medical examiners since 12th century England; (5) disturbing politics involved in the office of the Chief Medical Examiner of NYC; (6) identification of the dead; (7) time of death; (8) multiple-murder cases; (9) an almost perfect murder; (10) close calls, including near deaths during sex; (11) cases of mistaken diagnosis; and (12) autopsy findings that shed light on what happened in the Attica uprising.
Book Description
* JFK's autopsy failed to disclose crucial evidence.
* The deaths of John Belushi and Elvis Presley were far more complex than anyone has let on.
* Decisive medical findings in the von Bulow affair were consistently overlooked.
These are but three of the shocking revelations in Dr. Michael Baden's first-person, no-holds-barred account of his distinguished career in forensic pathology. In determining the causes of tens of thousands of deaths, from those of presidents and rock stars to victims of serial killings, exotic sex rituals, mass disasters, child abuse and drug abuse, Baden has come to the unavoidable conclusion that the search for scientific truth is often sullied by the pressures of expediency. He produces dramatic evidence to demonstrate that political intrigue, influence peddling, and professional incompetence have created a national crisis in forensic medicine.
"A fascinating look into the mechanics of forensics and a disconcerting lesson in the politics of death." -- The New York Times Book Review
Customer Reviews:
AMAZING WHAT DEATH CAN TELL YOU!!.......2007-08-17
What a read!! If you think a dead person has no info to give after their loss of life, you are dead wrong. Amazing what can be learned from a body even after some time AND how this arthur knows how to explain all of these findings in detail. I learned so much about what happens to a body after death, the time period when certain items occur, and what these details can tell a coroner who knows what he is looking for and how. I also learned that all medical examiners are not really qualified to give a complete/accurate autopsy results. Let me say this...if you ever considered a murder, or suspected a murder, or are not sure if someone you know was murdered....READ THIS BOOK...THIS IS A BOOK YOU WILL NOT WANT TO PUT DOWN AND WILL LEAVE YOU HUNGRY FOR MORE OF THIS TYPE INFO!!
An Insight into the World of Forensics Death and Murder and Suicide!.......2007-06-21
Dr. Michael Baden is married to Linda Kenney Baden who is representing Phil Spector in his criminal trial in the murder of Lana Clarkson, a Hollywood actress. Dr. Baden's book is an easy read, very informative, and revealing. He cuts out the nonsense that goes into conspiracy theories like John F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, etc. as well as explains the differences between classes even in death as the upper classes do their best to cover up embarrassing situations like the woman choking. Dr. Baden is great at explaining why death occurs and the importance of forensics pathologists and medical examiners needed in our country. There is no doubt that some cases can be suspicious if not investigated further. I do believe that anybody who gets cremated should have an autopsy in order to know that the death was not caused by homicide but by natural causes. Anyway, Dr. Baden's experiences and his dedication to his career as a medical examiner in New York City is most helpful in probably explaining the process of his profession which he loves very much. His wife is an attorney who specializes in the forensics part of the crime. I would have liked to have seen photos of the author and others in their dedicated profession.
Bad writing.......2007-03-08
Interesting content, really poor writing. The whole book had no clear path. Just poorly organized.
America should always listen to Baden........2006-03-01
This thoughtful and interesting book showed that this medical examiner stands above the others. More people should have listened to his evidence in the O. J. Simpson case. In case after case, his careful examinations brought justice where others had failed. Baden is a giant in hsi profession.
Forensics at its Best.......2005-09-27
As a loyal CIS fan, Confessions of a Medical Examiner takes the reader into the fascinating and real world of forensic science. What takes 40 minutes to solve on television in reality can take days, weeks, months and sometimes never.
Michael Baden gives terrific insigt into the life and career of a medical examiner, who, unlike a hospital pathologist, autopies for three kinds of unnatural deaths - suicides, homicides and accidents. This is an untaught specialty and according to Dr. Baden, a stepchild of the medical profession. Training comes as apprentices in a medical examiner's office.
Each chapter is riveting in detail and forensic lore - for any crime buff, Confessions of a Medical Examiner should be on the "must read" list.
Marianne Gordon
Book Description
Dan Reingold was one of the top analysts on Wall Street. Specializing in telecom companies like WorldCom and Qwest, Reingold believed in Wall Street, and was a part of it. But in this insiders memoir, Reingold describes how his enthusiasm gradually gave way to disgust when he saw how deeply corrupt Wall Street really was. Because big investors had the advantage of inside information, which companies shared with more accomodating analysts, Reingold saw how a straight arrow like himself was doomed to fail.
Reingold is like an incredulous minister who mistakenly finds himself in a whore house. He struggles with temptation: for example, his employer, Credit Suisse First Boston, wants him to sign a contract that would give him huge incentives in return for essentially selling out his clients. He seethes with resentment at being continually trumped by his nemesis, Jack Grubman, who was viewed as a superstar and only later, fined and thrown out of the industry.
Ultimately, Reingold comes to terms with the corrupted, insiders game that was his profession. In the tradition of Liar's Poker, this is a lively, insiders account of how things really work on Wall Street that will teach even Eliot Spitzer a few things. To complete his tale, Reingold even sat through the 2005 trial of one of the most spectacular losers of the 1990s, fallen WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers, who Reingold knew in his heyday.
Customer Reviews:
Good read on the inner workings of Wall Street but..........2007-08-10
..but each time I felt that I liked the author, he kept bringing up instances to support his extreme dislike of Grubman. This really took away from the content and message of the book. I think it would have been enough to state how different he was from Grubman and then let his own example of hard, clean work be benchmark for the reader to compare the 2 analysts. In the end, no one can say Grubman was as honest a man as Reingold.
Interesting read.......2007-07-30
Interesting read for anyone interested in learning more about the stock analyst profession and the conflicts of interest that occurred during the dot com bubble during the late 90s.
Not Since "Den of Thieves...".......2007-07-29
Not Since the book "Den of Thieves" has a Wall Street expose been created that details the lurid "behind the scenes" events and actions affecting a major part of our nation's financial industry.
Author Dan Reingold, a former Wall Street telecom analyst, takes the reader on an intimate journey through the telecom stock "boom" and subsequent "bust" in the 1990's.
I found this book to be very insightful with particular interest to those of us who specialize in "day-trading" and dabbling in trading of stocks and options (at any level). Author Reingold warns:
"Of all the lessons I've learned in my time on the Street, the most difficult one to swallow is that I no longer believe in the transparency of the American financial system. When I came to the Street, I saw it as a place where there were plenty of sharks, but also as a place where American capitalism reigned supreme, a place where everyone has a chance to do well if they were smart, hardworking, and a little bit lucky. It was a game I enjoyed playing--at least until how I realized how corrupted the game had become.
But I also came to realize that for people who don't have access to this inner sanctum, Wall Street is not a game at all. It's deadly serious, and it's rigged against most of its participants--everyone but the few with a seat at Wall Street's special tables. If you take anything away from this book, I hope it is this unfortunate truth (pp 314-15)."
Well done and rated at five stars for taking the uncomfortable position of trying to sound the alarm while uncovering the truth.
JP
Inside scoop on the telecomm industry.......2007-07-15
The author gives all the dirt on what it was like to work on wall street during the telecomm craze of the eary 1990's. all the players are named and the best part that he concludes and proves how slimy it all is with concrete examples. Good book.
Good story about the job of a Research Analyst.......2007-03-09
This is a good description of what research analyst's job entails. However, one has to read this book with a grain of salt as the author may not have been forthcoming about the activities that he has been involved in that are in a gray area. Otherwise, though, it makes for interesting reading. I wonder if it becomes fuel for more regulatory changes on Wall Street.
Also, the salaries spoken about in this book are shocking. Read it to find out what they earn on Wall Street :-).
Book Description
Joey O'Shay is not the real name of the narcotics agent in an unnamed city in the center of the country. But Joey O'Shay exists. The nearly three hundred drug busts he has orchestrated over more than two decades are real, too; if the drug war were a declared war, O'Shay would have a Silver Star.
With nerves and mastery worthy of his subject, Charles Bowden follows O'Shay as he sets in motion his latest conquest, a $50 million heroin deal that originates in Colombia and has federal agents sitting at attention from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to New York City. As it unfolds, O'Shay reveals the unerring instinct and ceaseless vigilance that have led him through minefields and brought down kingpins. But now they have led him to a place where it isn't so clear who the heroes are or what the fight has been for. And still the warrior fights on, in a murky and unforgiving landscape readers will not be able to forget.
Customer Reviews:
haunting true story of u/c narcotics officer .......2006-12-27
As he did in Down by the River, Charles Bowden takes the reader deep into the shadow world that is the war on drugs. This book reads like a well crafted literary mystery novel - think Graham Greene or Scott Turow -except it's true. If you read both River and Shadow, you'll get some idea of the personal toll the drug war takes on the cops and their families, and also wonder how they can go out and fight this evil day after day and year after year. Especially since the street agents are the ones who pay the biggest price, while the "suits" play the career game. Joey O'Shea could be the model for Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice.
It ain't a pretty world .......2006-03-29
I'm an unabashed Bowden fan -- I'd read his grocery list if he published it. This isn't his best book (that honor would lie, in my mind, with either "Blood Orchid" or "Down by the River") and he does things a little differently here, such as using more traditional storytelling devices, such as suspense. That said, I read it straight through, hanging on every word. This is a dark and depressing book -- the kind that made me question not only what kind of world we live in, but also what I even know about the world today. Throughout his entire career, Bowden has worked hard, finding characters such as Joey O'Shay, the undercover drug "warrior" in this book -- and I get the impression that he devours their insanity, insecurities and internal demons and can only try and purge that burden by writing books that the rest of us will then wonder about long after we've finished reading them. There are two main reasons to read this book: One, because it's really good. And two, because smart journalists and great writers such as Bowden are a rarity and deserve to be supported whenever they share their thoughts and experiences with the rest of us.
A Shadow in the City:Confessions of an Undercover Drug Warrior.......2005-09-20
In the beginning chapters I judged the style as a bit aloof. It does not take long, however for Charles Bowden's wordcraft and narrative style to hook you into the surreal life Joey O'Shay leads.
A Lone Efficient Wolf, down a long hall....in an office, deep inside the belly of the DEA. The Eagle Scout agents will not even walk past his door. It does ones spirit good to know they are not all twisted right wing suits.
I highly recommend this book for those who think they lead a strange life. O'Shay lives in a dimension all his own, and one largely of his own careful making.
I hope he allows us more when he retires.
In Dubious Battle.......2005-08-03
In January of 1935, shortly before Steinbeck sent off his manuscript of "In Dubious Battle," he wrote, "But man hates something in himself. He has been able to defeat every natural obstacle but himself he cannot win over unless he kills every individual. And this self-hate which goes so closely in hand with self-love is what I wrote about. This books is brutal. I wanted to be merely a recording consciousness, judging nothing, simply putting down the thing. I think it has the thrust, almost crazy, that mobs have." What does this have to do with Bowden's latest book? Everything and nothing.
He is a poet trapped in a journalist's psyche, and this is no more evident than the opening of this book. I think the same could be said of Steinbeck who approached the world scientifically through metaphor. I would have enjoyed this, a conversation amongst Bowden, Abbey, Ricketts, Steinbeck, hell, throw in Joe Campbell.
Buy this book and learn about the animal within us all. An animal that purrs while ripping the flesh of a gazelle.
Winning the Battles on Drugs, Not Affecting the War.......2005-07-28
One definition of insanity is that a person keeps doing the same thing over and over even after he knows that it won't work. I have met people like Joey O'Shay who have such a deep seated drive to wipe out the drug business that they almost couldn't function doing anything else. Popeye Doyle of French Connection fame was one.
I've also seen them reach the point where perhaps they have been shot a time or two, perhaps they have looked at all the drugs that the French Connection stopped from comming into the country ($32,000,000) doesn't mean that drugs are any harder to get. (In fact police tell me that the drugs on the street are of higher quality and lower price than ever before.) Then like Joey O'Shay they begin to question the futility of our never ending war on drugs. And somewhere along there Mr. O'Shay you'd better find a way to leave this life behind.
I do not profess to know the answer to the drug problem, but, Guys, this isn't working.
As you might guess, in this book Joey O'Shay is a cop on the undercover drug beat. He's being very successful, but the people he puts away are replaced immediately. He's involved with another huge drug deal. He's having a problem understanding that winning the battles he is fighting isn't winning the war.
Amazon.com
Not everyone who graduates from Ivy League schools immediately enters high-paying and prestigious careers. Peter Alson, Harvard graduate and nephew of Norman Mailer, writes in an "almost-tough-guy" style of his life as a bookie in Brooklyn, from the highs of making some big commissions to the lows of spending time in a feces-encrusted and overcrowded cell. A cross between Jim Carroll's The Basketball Diaries and Damon Runyon's tales of down-and-out or lowlife New Yorkers.
Book Description
Juxtaposing the thuggish worlds of bookies and privileged ivy leaguers, this hilarious study of unfettered machismo takes a perceptive look into a young, donw-on-his-luck Harvard graducate who joins a bookmaking operations while he tries to pull his life together.
Customer Reviews:
Even odds on whether it's worth it........2000-02-16
Despite the subtitle ("A True Tale of Love and the Vig") I was plagued throughout my reading of this semi-confession of a former Ivy-leaguer's plummet into the world of bookmaking by a certain dubiousness. Alson's story is written in a kind of flippantly open manner that undermines the believability of his insider's story. Don't get me wrong, it's very entertaining and all, but his coyness about just how "connected" the small-time operation he was a part of was came across as rather disingenuous to me. While his confusion and despair about figuring out what he should be doing with his overeducated self hit the right notes, the subplot of the long distance sort of relationship was often more annoying than interesting. Still, not a bad little peek into bookmaking.
What a brave and compelling tale!.......1998-01-16
I felt like I was growing up with Peter as he faced the consequences of his decisions. Looking forward to his next one.
A Sure Bet!.......1997-10-26
I really liked this book! I thought it was a refreshing and entertaining look at how are lives don't always end up as we had planned. There are some unresolved issues, but perhaps that makes the book all the more realistic. A movie version of this book would do very well.
Very entertaining misadventure.......1997-04-22
This book was a great but limited look inside a small-time illegal sports book. Alson's story is very funny, compelling, and informative but suffers from his distracting whining about a long-distance girlfriend and the unresolved mystery of whether his operation was part of a bigger syndicate. His frustrated accounts of big-time editors wanting his services as a bookie instead of a writer are a gem
Covers the spread.......1997-01-30
Very much enjoyed this real life book and look forward to the next one from Alson
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Sheriff Dylan Taber takes one look at city girl Hope Spencer and bets she won't last a week in Gospel, Idaho. But Ray Bans, tiny spandex tops, and a silver Porsche are not the sum total of a woman, and Hope not only stays more than a week, she makes an indelible impression on the local population while she's driving Dylan crazy with lust and longing. Not that she plans to make the sheriff crazy. Hope just wants to end the writer's block that has plagued her for months so she can return to being a star reporter for an L.A. tabloid.
Fortunately for her, the residents of Gospel provide inspiration for her fertile imagination and she's soon cranking out new stories that her publisher loves. Meanwhile, she's making new friends and falling in love--with the Sawtooth Mountains, with small-town life, and with Dylan Taber. Dylan is keeping a secret, however, and when he finds out that Hope isn't just a writer of nonfiction, but a member of the notorious tabloid paparazzi, all hell breaks loose in Gospel. Can Hope convince him that her actions were innocent and will Dylan ever believe her?
From the waitress in the Cozy Corner Cafe to the patrons of the Buckhorn Bar, from the neighbor next door with big hair to seven-year-old boys and their endearing shenanigans, Gibson nails small-town life to perfection. True Confessions is sexy, funny, well-plotted, and a darn good novel. Don't miss this latest offering from one of the rising stars of romantic comedy. --Lois Faye Dyer
Book Description
Welcome to Gospel, Idaho where everyone knows that there are two universal truths. First, God did His best work when He created the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. Second, every sin known to heaven and earth -- from the hole in the ozone to alien abductions -- is all California's fault. This is the story of what happened when a Californian came to visit...L.A. based tabloid reporter Hope Spencer has come to Gospel hoping for inspiration. Well, she gets inspiration...Hope has never met anyone quite like the resident of Gospel. From the Dean sisters with their color-coordinated hair to the toilet-tossing sportsmen...to the murder victim whose body had been found in her house years before. She discovers that really is stranger than fiction -- even tabloid fiction!And then there is local sheriff Dylan Taber. He is no made-up character from one of her stories. Dylan is all too real...and soon Hope is forced to face the awful truth -- she's been too long without a man. But once she gets wind of a Hollywood actress somehow mixed up Dylan's life, Hope realizes that if they are to have a furture together, he has some true confessing to do.
Customer Reviews:
What's Hotter Than A Hunky Sheriff?.......2007-08-02
I really loved this book! But I love almost all of Rachel Gibson's books.
This is the story of Hope Spencer, a tabloid reporter with writers block, and Sheriff Dylan Taber, a single father of little boy. Hope comes to Gospel when she experiences a lack of inspiration for her tabloid stories she writes for the Weekly World News. She meets Dylan as soon as she hits town when she stops to ask for directions to her rented house. Hope keeps her actual job a secret because most people just don't understand it. Dylan hates reporters since he's got a secret he wants kept. His sons mother is a tv star and the public has no idea she's a mother. When someone leaks info about his son to the press, Dylan believes Hope is responsible.
This is a good book and the only part I don't quite like is that Dylan doesn't end up having to grovel to get Hope back. But there is lots of humor with the town being full of crazy people and the stories Hope makes up about them.
Humorous and romantic........2007-07-16
Hope Spencer is a writer of "The Weekly News of the Universe". Sound weird? Well, that is because "The Weekly News of the Universe" DOES weird. Hope wants some quiet time, time for normality. She gets a lease for a place in Gospel, Idaho, and begins to settle in.
It is not long before Hope realizes that Gospel is anything but normal. However, there IS a bright side. His name is Dylan Taber and he is the local sheriff. To say Hope is attracted to Dylan is an understatement. When she hears that Dylan's life is somehow mixed up with a Hollywood actress, her reporter senses kick in.
***** This story will keep you grinning from beginning to end. I found myself chuckling often, which only made this great book even better to me. Author Rachel Gibson blends humor and romance together to give readers one sassy read. *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Cute Novel!.......2006-05-14
This is early Rachel Gibson and was a cute story. It wasn't my favorite Gibson novel but still better than most. Hope Spencer works for one of the trashing magazines where she writes about Aliens and other weird stuff. She taks a working vacation to Gospel, Idaho. She finds lots of characters for her articles in in the small town and one hot secretative Sheriff Dylan Taber. My favorite Gibson so far are: The Trouble With Valentine's Day,See Jane Score and Sex,Lies,and Online Dating. I can't wait for her new book I'm In No Mood For Love -- coming October 2006.
Great! - as usual!.......2005-09-13
TRUE CONFESSIONS is a very different style than the first Rachel Gibson I read - TRULY, MADLY YOURS - and it is also somewhat different in style from SEE JANE SCORE. From what I have seen so far, Ms. Gibson changes everything for each of her books - SHE doesn't churn them out by formula. On the one hand, that means that you get a different read each time, but on the other hand, that also means that one might be more to your style than another. Luckily for me, I enjoyed TRUE CONFESSIONS very much, and I enjoyed the others that I read (so far) as well. This one was a more lighthearted read, but that doesn't mean that it's not a good book, or even that it's not as good as the others. Just different, and if you can adjust yourself for a different style, then you can enjoy this one as well.
The plot is fairly basic - career woman comes to small town to recuperate from "writer's block" - presumably to *rest* and get her creative juices flowing. She meets the town sheriff - who, by coincidence, of course, is also fabulous, handsome - and single. Did I mention that she's thin and beautiful?
This is a plot that's been done to death, and frankly, I generally find it kind of boring (what's romantic and unusual about "gorgeous model meets really handsome sheriff?"), but it's the way it's written that earns every one of the five stars I rated it. Ms. Gibson seems to be able to do any style of writing well, and here, where the book is meant to be lighthearted and funny, it is *really* lighthearted, funny, and enjoyable! The dialogue is fabulous, the dialogue alone is worth five stars, but the story and the characters, are definitely well done as well. Absolutely recommended for anyone looking for a really fun read!
Very Poorly Written Book.......2005-05-30
I'm sorry, but I never liked the heroine. I found the book way too contrived and almost insulting in its lack of ingenuity and scene plots. (I'll admit being a reporter for tabloid magazine was a fun idea.)
Honestly though, I put the book down half way through. The characters were not believable nor was the plot intriging. Sorry, I don't like writing a harsh review but I really thought the writing was bad and will never, ever buy another Rachel Gibson book.
Amazon.com
In a truly just world, everyone would have to wait tables for at least six months, just to know what it's like. Failing that, we have writer-waiter Debra Ginsberg's tasty memoir to remind us about life on the other side of those swinging doors. Horror stories? After 20 years of serving other people's food, she's got 'em--and being handed a drunk's vomit-soaked napkins certainly fits the bill. But even though she expresses the usual frustrations with bad tippers and control freaks, in the long run Ginsberg is anything but bitter. In fact, she recently left her publishing job to return to waiting tables, hooked on the freedom, spare time, and ready cash the lifestyle provides. Of course, there are other perks too. Sex thrives in the close quarters and steamy atmosphere of a typical restaurant (not to mention with the high-drama personalities who work there). Fans of Kitchen Confidential will be relieved to know there's as much bad behavior among the floor staff as there is in the back of the house. As in that book, Ginsberg also relates some eyebrow-raising tales about what can happen before your food gets to your table. (The moral here: "It really does pay to be nice to your server.") But Waiting is far more than just a sexual soap opera or a cautionary guide for dining out; it's also the story of one woman's coming of age, most of which just happens to take place while she's wearing an apron. During her tenure as a waitress, Ginsberg thrives as a single mother and comes into her own as a writer--and waiting (as she suggestively calls it) helps her do both. Most of us (including waiters) think of the profession as a stopgap, not a career, but what happens on the way to somewhere else, Ginsberg writes, is every bit as important as the final destination: "Perhaps the most valuable lesson I'd learned was that the act of waiting itself is an active one. That period of time between the anticipation and the beginning of life's events is when everything really happens--the time when actual living occurs." --Mary Park
Book Description
Many people can tell horror stories about their teenage or college stints waiting tables. For Debra Ginsberg, struggling writer and single mother, waitressing has been a means of survival -- and she has the scars to prove it.
In Waiting: The True Confessions of a Waitress -- part memoir, part social commentary, part guide on how to behave when dining out-Ginsberg takes readers on an intimate journey of her twenty years as a waitress at the dingiest of diners, a soap-operatic Italian restaurant, an exclusive five-star dining club, and more. While chronicling her parallel evolution as a writer and single mother, the book also takes a behind-the-scenes look at restaurant life -- revealing that, yes, when pushed, a server will spit in food, and, no, that's not really decaf you're getting-and at how most people in this business are in a constant state of waiting to do something else.
Colorful, insightful, and often irreverent, Ginsberg's stories truly capture the spirit of the universal things she's learned about human nature, interpersonal relationships, the frightening things that go on in the kitchen, romantic hopes dashed and rebuilt, and all of the frustrating and funny moments in this life. Waiting is for everyone who has had to wait for their life to begin -- only to realize, suddenly, that they're living it.
Customer Reviews:
A must-read for anyone in the industry.......2007-06-02
Anyone who has ever worked in any part of the restaurant industry, be they a server, bartender, cook or dishwasher will appreciate the years Debra Ginsberg spent in the trenches. Many of her tales from work will leave you nodding in agreement, and remembering stories of your own. Some of her stories will make you realize that you really don't have it as bad as it could be. This book reads like a soldier's-eye view of life on the food service battlefield, and from the first page you will not be able to put it down.
I was a waitress.......2007-05-29
This job is interesting enough to write a book about. It is physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding, it sometimes pays off and other times does not. You interact with a lot of people because of all the customers and the co-workers.
Dead on!.......2007-05-23
I have waited tables for 13 years and could relate to the author's plight from page one. I laughed and nodded my head in agreement thru the whole thing. The poor reviews of this book are written by people who have never waited tables before......another testament to the fact that everyone should, at some point in their lives. It is an occupation that breeds both compassion and hatred for the human race. This book paints a clear picture of the hell I put myself thru every night.....and why I keep going back for more. :)
Be Nice to Your Waitress.......2007-05-07
I think this book was great. I have always heard the work of a waitress is demanding, but never understood it to this book. After reading this, I have tried to tip way more generously!
A Solid Effort.....Maybe 4.4 Stars.......2006-09-04
Like the title says, this is solid effort. Ginsberg is much more polished than Anthony Bourdain. Not so shock value-oriented, either.
For me, FINE DINING MADNESS (by J. Galloway) is the champ as far as restaurant books go. Very funny, and gutsy. "Heat"is a three star book, but comes off a little phony.
Book Description
When the body of 45-year-old Glen Harrelson was found in his Denver home, police tried to contact his wife, but soon they made a startling realization. She had played the part of grieving widow once before: her previous husband also had died a mysterious accidental death....In a true story as shocking as any fiction, The Confessions of an American Black Widow is the amazing account of Sharon Lynn Nelson, a wild, beautiful preacher's wife who couldn't get enough-enough sex, enough money, or enough of her rugged "Mountain Man" lover, Gary Adams. Nelson was so consumed by greed that she convinced Adams to killed two of her three husbands in order to cash in on their insurance policies.Here is a compelling portrait of a woman driven by the darkest forces to mate, then kill--an American black widow who ultimately got snared in her own twisted web....
Customer Reviews:
"She Sat Like A Homecoming Queen Gone Bad....".......2007-02-19
Sharon Fuller Nelson Harrelson is the epitomy of an American Black Widow. This oversexed beauty-queen-wannabe wrapped her finger around men's hearts so that she could sneak into their wallets. And when she had sucked the monetary life out of them, she had them killed by her on-again-off-again lover, Gary Adams. But in the end, the Nepho rolled over on her Mountain Man...and I don't mean she didn't it in the bedroom!
I am a huge fan of Gregg Olsen's work. He is number one on my list of my favorite true crime writers. What I particularly enjoy about this work is that he is able to make a story "a story." His books do not subject me to repetitious recounts taken straight from Court transcriptions, but puts those same aspects into an interesting story that is easily read and understood without lulling you into sleep (or skimming, as I so often do.)
Black Widow is particularly interesting to read as the whole book is a storilized form of Sharon Harrelson's confession to police about the deaths of her husbands, Perry Nelson and Glen Harrelson. From front to back, this is simply a story filled full of interesting recalls from Sharon herself and those who, unfortunately, knew her and was affected by her in some shape, form or fashion.
To date, this is my favorite true crime story. Excellent job, Gregg Olsen!
A truely great book.......2007-01-22
Another great book by Gregg. This women stops at nothing to get what she wants. She jumps from man to man just to get what she wants. All they mean to her is what she can get out of them. And each and every one of those men knows it and are willing to take her back no matter what she's done to them. One in particular is even willing to kill for her.
Don't you just want to slap her??.......2006-12-01
Another great read Gregg!! How this woman could persuade men the way she did is astounding. These men were intelligent and still fell under her spell. She left a path of destruction in a lot of lives.
Amazing!.......2006-11-04
It's amazing what humans are capable of doing to each other....and the lengths they will go to to get their dirty deed done too.
This book is classic Olsen, and won't disappoint you, just as his others won't either.
The author writes with an uncommon clarity and a complete understanding of what a readers needs to SEE in writing to be able to picture the subjects.
Makes his books really a true joy to read regardless of the subject...and in this case it's murder for greed.
Confessions of an American Black Widow.......2000-12-28
This is a very fascinating true story of Sharon Nelson Harrelson, who was not only a Black Widow, but also a serial killer. Sharon would stop at nothing (money, sex, material possessions, etc.) to get what she wanted even when it meant murder. Sharon Nelson is a woman w/o any values, principles, or class; she used sex to get whatever she wanted. Everything about Sharon oozes sex. Sharon always put herself first, even ahead of her own children. Sharon is what you call a husband stealer, husband killer.
This is the second true crime book by Gregg Olsen that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. I've also read 'If Loving You is Wrong' and found that very fascinating. Olsen does such a wonderful job with his research from Sharon's upbringing to her three marriages (preacher, doctor, and fireman), to the murders of her doctor and fireman husbands, to her confessions. We learn a lot about Sharon Nelson and the type of person she is from her sister, Judy, her neighbors in Weston, family members and friends of the victims, and Perry Nelson's secretary.
Confessions of an American Black Widow is a must read.
Books:
- The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream
- The Misfits
- The Mom Inventors Handbook: How to Turn Your Great Idea into the Next Big Thing
- The Power of the Actor
- The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands
- The Proverbial Cracker Jack: How To Get Out Of The Box And Become The Prize
- The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out
- The Writer's Guide to Writing Your Screenplay: How to Write Great Screenplays for Movies and Television
- Theories of Everything: Selected, Collected, and Health-Inspected Cartoons, 1978-2006
- Throwing the Elephant: Zen and the Art of Managing Up
Books Index
Books Home
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Murder Machine (Onyx)
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