Confessions of a Video Vixen

Book Description

Once the sought–after video girl, this sexy siren has helped multi–platinum artists like Jay–Z, R. Kelly and LL Cool J sell millions of albums with her sensual dancing. In a word, Karrine was H–O–T. So hot that she made as much as $2500 a day in videos and was selected by well–known film director F. Gary Gray to co–star in his film, A Man Apart, starring Vin Diesel. But the film and music video sets, swanky Hollywood and New York restaurants and trysts with the celebrities featured in the pages of People and In Touch magazines only touches the surface of Karrine Steffans' life.

Her journey is filled with physical abuse, rape, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness and single motherhood––all by the age of 26. By sharing her story, Steffans hopes to shed light on an otherwise romanticized industry and help young women avoid the same pitfalls she encountered–– and if they're already in danger, she hopes to inspire them to find a way to dig themselves out of what she knows first–hand to be a cycle of hopelessness and despair.

Customer Reviews:

It was okay, but confusing at the same time .......2007-10-04

I know this book has been on the shelfs for a while. There is actually a second book that follows this one. I felt i had to read this book before I read Karrine's second book. The book is okay but it is all over the place. First her whole childhood story wasn't really convincing to me. I felt that she fabricated a lot of the stuff that she talks about her mother. The rape incident seem so unrealistic to me. I don't believe that whole part about other people watching her getting rape and not doing anything about it. Also i couldn't believe she remained friends with that girl after what happen. She constantly claims how she had low sef-esteem and how she always looked for love in the wrong places.One thing that stood with me was after sleeping with all these celebrities she would say, how she felt love and worth it once again.

Superhead whatever her name is, she was just too confusing for me. I can't believe that she put her child through so much and abandoned him numerous times in order to go with these rappers who didn't care about her. I think she put her self in those situations, i didn't feel sorry for her. i felt sorry for her son and i have to say Ray J. She lied to him and used him as her safety net. Overall the book is a quick read.

This Book Will Go Down In History.......2007-09-29

I am just getting the chance to write this review but I read it shortly after it was released. Karrine took us back to her childhood and helped us to understand the complex woman now called "Superhead." As in other reviews, I have never judged her.No one should. Who we may be quick to judge though are those people in the book who shield their past and demons. It was very interesting to divulge in the lives of many powerful (not only hip hop) figures. I did feel in reading the book that there is so much that she left out--no wonder no one has sued her. Many of them are sighing relief. Well besides "Big Tigger" which makes me wonder why HE'S so upset. If its "not true" Tigger--just move on...u guilty of something? Just wondering. Who also makes me cringe and want to judge is "Papa" otherwise known as Method Man. I'm sorry if I am spoiling it for those who haven't read Vixen Diaries yet but the fact that he called up to Hot 97 in a rage about how he doesn't know her only for us to find out it was him the whole time. It plays in my head "Why do I keep getting mentioned in the same sentence with this girl and I don't know her?" I have no respect for him whatsoever and being outed is what he deserved. Now you have a LOT of explaining to do Meth!! I imagine that he will not be making any appearances or doing anything in the near future in the sheer effort to avoid the "Superhead" question. Anywhoo--everybody should have a copy of this in your library. Just think 10 years from now your 16 year old son or daughter who is looking at these aged hip hop artists and even Karrine,can read and see who they really are--just normal people trying to figure things out in the world.

alright further proof that sex sells.......2007-09-14

karrine's my kind of girl she's into everything threesomes, prostituition, drugs you name uit she did it ain't nothing I can say that have'nt already beed said on here but there are some names I was hoping she drop like snoop, ice cube, nelly, master p, mack 10, ugk, too short, luke, maybe she did'nt have time for those good book lobve how she go into detailsd about dmx scratching her and barking while havinbg sex.

No doubt about it: She CONFESSED........2007-09-09

Poorly written novels irritate me greatly. Based on the life Karrine lived and the way she reacted to certain situations informs the reader that she isn't the most intelligent woman alive, but she did have Karen Hunter aid her with this book, so between the two of them, someone should have known how to write a decent book. However, in this instance, the poor vernacular isn't the most imperative issue here. What truly matters here is the fact that she was so unapologetically honest about many of today's hottest male celebrities. She was sexually involved with superstars such as Ray-J, Kool G Rap, Ja Rule, DMX, Jay Z, Shaquille O'Neal, Ice-T and Diddy. She was seemingly honest about her liaisons with these men, many of whom are married.

Karrine was able to get doors opened for her because of her good looks and amazing sexual expertise. In this book, she makes it clear that she has no love for her mother because her mother was not there for her. This may or may not serve as a contributing factor to why Karrine was so free with her body. She began her "career" as a dancer in hip-hop music videos. This opened doors for her; she was able to get into concerts and VIP at clubs. In the book, Karrine doesn't necessarily glorify the finer things in life, but one can easily imply that she enjoys them a great deal. She is very candid about her abusive relationship with rapper Kool G Rap and the fact that she was homeless. Before the book ends, she becomes a bit preachy and lets girls know that they should want more for themselves than to be a man's whore.

I truly enjoyed reading the book. It was difficult to put down once I became engrossed into it. If you can look past the poor writing, this book should be at least a little enjoying and/or intriguing.

JUICY !!!.......2007-09-09

Its not great literature, but its spicy and lurid. And I couldn't put it down! If you want a quick & easy read, than you will like Confessions of a Video Vixen.

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band

Average customer rating:

Best book I've ever read!!!
Great book
Anazing !!
Suprisingly great book
Great book, but just a little over-embelished.

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
Tommy Lee , Vince Neil , Mick Mars , Nikki Sixx , and Neil Strauss
Manufacturer: HarperEntertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060989157
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Book Description

The most influential, enduring, and iconic metal band of the 1980's reveals everything a tell–all of epic proportions.

This unbelievable autobiography explores the rebellious lives of four of the most influential icons in American rock history.

Motley Crue was the voice of a barely pubescent Generation X, the anointed high priests of backward–masking pentagram rock, pioneers of Hollywood glam, and the creators of MTV's first ⯯wer ballad.⟔heir sex lives claimed celebrities from Heather Locklear to Pamela Anderson to Donna D ᄲ rico. Their scuffles involved everyone from Axl Rose to 2LiveCrew. Their hobbies have included collecting automatic weapons, cultivating long arrest records, pushing the envelope of conceivable drug abuse, and dreaming up backstage antics that would make Ozzy Osbourne blanch with modesty.

Provocatively written and brilliantly designed, this book includes over 100 photos, many never before published, for the most exciting and insightful look ever into the Crue.

Customer Reviews:

Best book I've ever read!!!.......2007-09-30

Art is a piece of work that moves you & this book did. I laughed, I was disgusted, I even cried. This is twenty years of a band strugling though fights, overdoses, suicide attempts, mariages, deaths, prison (it's all here!). I love how the story is told by different people so you can hearing everybody's version of what happened (crazy how everybody remebers things differently). You get to hear what happened behind closed doors & what wasn't in the tabloids. It truly was an awesome read - very hard to put down!

Great book.......2007-09-18

From page one your are on a journey, as told by each memeber of the band, from the worst part of L.A. and Motley Crue's beginnings, to their rise to super stardom in the world of rock and roll. I was never much of a Crue fan when they were in their prime, but as I got older, I started to like their music and enjoyed reading about their beginning and the typical crazy road that most rock stars take.

Anazing !!.......2007-09-18

I loved the book the most amazing thing i have ever read inmy life !!!

Suprisingly great book.......2007-09-17

You will wet your pants laughing within the first 5 pages. I am half way through the book and learning alot about the band and Nikki Sixx himself. There is alot people do not know. Can't wait to finish the rest.

Great book, but just a little over-embelished........2007-09-13

This book is a FUN read and I have no doubt that for the most part things went down exactly as described. However I've also read Neil Strauss' other books and while a brilliant writer, he tend to make things larger than life and more polished than they really were (read the Game especially for examples of this.) Some things in the book seem a little too "neatly" described and he glosses over some of the more negative aspects of Motley Crue (And I grew up with them and obsessively followed their press since I was in middle school.)

But definitely a thumbs up. Look forward to reading Nikki's new book for comparison.

Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles

Average customer rating:

He should know; he was there
Class Act
Here, There and Everywhere
Interesting book
I'll read this one again, soon!

Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles
Geoff Emerick , and Howard Massey
Manufacturer: Gotham
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: B000NA1XSA

Book Description

A fascinating memoir featuring never-before-told stories from Beatles recording engineer Geoff Emerick—the industry legend who made music history by crafting the groundbreaking sound of the group's most famous records, including Revolver, Sgt. Pepper, and Abbey Road

Geoff Emerick was only fifteen years old when he began working with the Beatles as assistant engineer for their early classics “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” Incredibly, at the age of nineteen, he was promoted to full engineer, taking the helm for the group's groundbreaking album Revolver. Ten months later, he joined forces with the Beatles for the recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, hailed by Rolling Stone as the greatest album ever made. In their constant quest for experimentation and new sounds—and despite the technical limitations of the pre-digital age—Emerick developed a slew of innovative recording techniques, many of which are still in use today.

In Here, There and Everywhere, Emerick tells his story for the first time, taking the reader through the hallowed (though somewhat dingy) corridors of Abbey Road Studios to give rare insights into the Beatles' unique creative processes and personalities and provide a behind-the- scenes look at how the greatest band of all time made their greatest records. As Emerick describes the Beatles' transformation from wide-eyed Liverpool teenagers into tour-savvy professionals, he provides a startling picture of the Fab Four. Fascinating and moving, Here, There and Everywhere illuminates the creative tensions within the band that fueled their early success, but would ultimately lead them to record in separate studios while the partnership was disintegrating.

“We all owe some debt to Geoff Emerick's self-effacing work as an engineer and producer . . . there is very little that any group of scruffy musicians can throw at him that he cannot put into some kind of good sonic order. I feel fortunate to have worked with him.”
—Elvis Costello

Customer Reviews:

He should know; he was there.......2007-09-28

Few accounts of history are more accurate than the first-hand kind, and that is what we have with Mr. Emerick's outstanding book. To his credit, this thoroughly British gentleman focuses on what he actually saw versus what is commonly known about the Beatles. His tone is respectful, but he does not shy away from saying what he thinks based on what he saw and how he was treated. Mr. Emerick went on to engineer and produce some great acts, which I hope are the subjects of a future book. And consider this: When I was 19, I was just learning to tie my shoes. He was engineering the "Revolver" album!

Class Act.......2007-09-17

I couldn't put this book down....what a fascinating first hand account of one of the most infuential musical experiences in modern history. I think you will find it particularly interesting if you write and record music, as Geoff's recollections are incredibly detailed and specific. It's truly unbelievable that he could remember so much of what happened in such picture perfect detail, and it is a lasting testament to critical and often unsung heroics of the worlds best audio engineers. Howard Massey did an excellent job helping Geoff make this material completely accessible to the lay person and fan as well. When I proposed to my wife in 2002 I wrote a symphonic piece and surprised her at Capitol Records in Studio A, where we recorded it live (I proposed afterwards). While they were mixing the music we took a tour of Capitol Records, and when we returned there was a gentleman in the studio playing the most beautiful music on the grand piano. We listened for awhile, then entered to studio and spoke with him for almost half an hour. What a lovely man, and what great music. That was Geoff Emerick. Perhaps someday we will hear you on the other side of the glass young man:)
Thanks so much for sharing your amazing life with us Geoff. As I sit at my grand piano in Maui I can't thank you enough for the inspiration. Warmest aloha from Maui, Tim & Michele Heile

Here, There and Everywhere.......2007-09-03

Geoff Emerick was there for the creation of the Beatle sound. It is well written with enjoyable person information.

Interesting book.......2007-09-01

I picked up this book to find out why the Beatles are so good, and I found all the answers I was looking for. This book gave terrific insight to all four beatles and the camp that surrounded them, though my patience did wear thin towards the end- Emerick favors Paul, tends to repeat himself a little bit, and shows a little disdain towards Lennon and George Martin. That being said, I really thoroughly loved the book as a music student and an audio engineering student, but any fan of music should read this to get a glimpse of the thrilling world that creates the music we all love. I love understanding the context to the music I listen to, and if you do too you'll really enjoy this book.

I'll read this one again, soon!.......2007-08-29

My favorite Beatles related book to date. Geoff Emerick and Howard Massey captured a straight forward account of The Beatles in the studio from beginning to end. Added bonus includes Paul's sojourn in Lagos recording Band on the Run. The interesting happenings their, were not in the studio.

Channels of Discourse, Reassembled: Television and Contemporary Criticism

Average customer rating:

Excellent Overview of Media Studies Methodologies

Channels of Discourse, Reassembled: Television and Contemporary Criticism
Robert C. (ed.) Allen
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807843741

Book Description

Since its original publication in 1987, Channels of Discourse has provided the most comprehensive consideration of commercial television, drawing on insights provided by the major strands of contemporary criticism: semiotics, narrative theory, reception theory, genre theory, ideological analysis, psychoanalysis, feminist criticism, and British cultural studies.

The second edition features a new introduction by Robert Allen that includes a discussion of the political economy of commercial television. Two new essays have been added—one an assessment of postmodernism and television, the other an analysis of convergence and divergence among the essays—and the original essays have been substantially revised and updated with an international audience in mind. Sixty-one new television stills illustrate the text.

Each essay lays out the general tenets of its particular approach, discusses television as an object of analysis within that critical framework, and provides extended examples of the types of analysis produced by that critical approach. Case studies range from Rescue 911 and Twin Peaks to soap operas, music videos, game shows, talk shows, and commericals.

Channels of Discourse, Reassembled suggests new ways of understanding relationships among television programs, between viewing pleasure and narrative structure, and between the world in front of the television set and that represented on the screen. The collection also addresses the qualities of popular television that traditional aesthetics and quantitative media research have failed to treat satisfactorily, including its seriality, mass production, and extraordinary popularity.

The contributors are Robert C. Allen, Jim Collins, Jane Feuer, John Fiske, Sandy Flitterman-Lewis, James Hay, E. Ann Kaplan, Sarah Kozloff, Ellen Seiter, and Mimi White.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Overview of Media Studies Methodologies.......2002-07-04

In a critical writing course I taught in Spring 2002, I used Channels of Discourse, Reassembled as the core text for the course readings. The many chapters within are written by the best of the best in the fields of media studies and cultural studies, and the methodologies are presented in an easy-to-read manner which is informative and full of examples and case studies. This is an excellent book for media studies students, as its chapters lay out the basic information they should know about many of the methodologies often used in media criticism.

Average customer rating:

Great gift for Elvis fans
Well-done pop-up, awesome tribute, kitschtastic
Fun
graceland an interactive pop up tour
I live in Memphis

Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour
Chuck Murphy
Manufacturer: Quirk Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

Lennon Legend
Marley Legend: An Illustrated Life of Bob Marley
Postcards from the Boys

ASIN: 159474131X

Book Description

More than 600,000 people visit Graceland every year, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the United States. With Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour, you'll go behind the velvet ropes for an all-access tour of the Elvis Presley Estate. Eight full-color pop-up spreads feature the mansion's most memorable destinations:

The Kitchen: Home of the famous peanut butter and banana sandwich.
The TV Room: With three TVs running simultaneously, there's never a dull moment.
The Trophy Room: A monument to the King's legacy.
The Meditation Garden: Where Elvis and his family are buried.

Along the way, interactive pop-up features allow you to flip through Elvis's record collection, browse the family photo album, open his refrigerator, and discover other hidden surprises. Graceland: An Interactive Pop-Up Tour is the perfect gift for Elvis fans of all ages!

Customer Reviews:

Great gift for Elvis fans.......2007-10-01

GRACELAND: AN INTERACTIVE POP-UP TOUR is a must-have for any Elvis fan. I bought one for a friend, and it was such a hit that several of her friends have purchased them also. The pop-ups are well done, and the book gives a lot of information about Elvis and Graceland. It makes a great birthday present and will be the hit of the party.

Well-done pop-up, awesome tribute, kitschtastic.......2007-09-21

I bought this for my mother, a huge Elvis fan, and she loves it. The pop-ups are very well done - lots of detail, and lots of little extra flaps and such to open. Each page features a different room - kitchen, jungle room, etc., and the book discusses the significance of each room in Elvis' life. In a slightly morbid twist, the last page is the grave of Elvis and his parents. Also included are a cardboard pair of Elvis' famous gold sunglasses that you can wear! This book far surpassed my expectations.

Fun.......2007-08-29

I gave this book as a gift and boy was it a huge hit. Great fun for everyone. If you have an Elvis fan in your circle you can not go wrong. Great detail and package. Highly recommended

graceland an interactive pop up tour.......2007-08-16

hi as i have just returned from visiting graceland with my wife 30years anniversary i bought a lot of things home to remind of our visit i bought this item a book which features inside of elvis home there is alot of things in this book we wernt allowed to see to our dissapointed in graceland no camcorder was allowed and no flash lights a lot of the rooms were dark so most of our pictures came out dark spoilt this book shows all elvis rooms to great detail even inside his fridge i will go back one day but until that day ijust open this great book and it brings it all back as if we were there in person worth buying go for it you wont be dissapointed hope this review helps

I live in Memphis.......2007-05-12

Since I live in Memphis, I am of course an Elvis authority (not.) My father-in-law created the Christmas scene to Elvis' specifications years ago. I hoped that Christmas would be included. Eveyone I have shared this book with has bought one. I plan to use it for gifts. You don't have to be a fan to appreciate the accuracy and "fun" of visiting the King's house.

Average customer rating:

Purchases
come live with us in forests of azure....
Glossy, informative and well edited
All FOUR one and one FOUR all....
The Doors

DOORS, THE
The Doors
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 140130303X

Book Description

The Doors are rock royalty. Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Robby Krieger, and John Densmore reinvented rock 'n' roll in the 60s, and their influence can be felt even today. Now, for the first time, the living members of the band are opening up their personal archives to their fans, telling their story in their own words. This book is filled with untold anecdotes and never-before-seen photos from their private collections. Fans can learn first-hand what really went on in America's most enigmatic and mythical band.

Customer Reviews:

Purchases.......2007-09-29

I do not order much from the internet, except I do find Amazon to be great. I have ordered serveral book, and they have all arrived in a very timely manner. The purchased have been very easy and there has never been a mix up on payments, they have also been prompt in emailing to let me know when we can expect our merchandise. I thank you for providing such a wanderful website were we can get great prices and good service too. JML California

come live with us in forests of azure...........2007-09-05

You could build a library with all that's been written about The Doors over the past 40 years. This makes it hard to find anything new, but Ben Fong-Torres has done that here. Several never before published photos (including Jim dressed as an Indian for Halloween at age 7!) and interviews with Jim's father, brother & sister (his mother was unfortunately too ill to participate) make this a must for any Doors fan. Also has lots of commentary from Ray, Robby & John and others who were closely involved with the band.

Glossy, informative and well edited.......2007-06-24

Rock writer nonpareil Ben Fong-Torres has done an excellent job in this very fine work about the Doors. Lots of never seen before pictures and what a great treat that we finally heard something from Morrisons relatives, especially the rear-admiral. Im pretty sure those fat royalty cheques that started pouring in from 1974 has mellowed the old warriors heart over the years, but still you believe that somewhere deep inside, he was proud of his son achievements. It's a book that you can't put away, so if you start reading it early, you most likely will finish it the same day.

All FOUR one and one FOUR all...........2007-06-12

The Doors by The Doors and Ben Fong-Torres

Hyperion Books

Forty years ago The Doors broke on through and romanced the public with poetic nightmares combined with a jazz influenced brand of blues driven rock and roll. We all know about Jim Morrison, the bands wildly erratic front man who lived either on the edge of a stage or at the edge of his own mortality. The three remaining Doors members John Densmore, Robby Kreiger and Ray Manzarek give their take on what it was like to ride the ascending success and ultimately the burn out and downfall of comet Morrison. Ben Fong-Torres has the daunting but enviable task of coordinating the vast treasure of photos, interviews and fresh quotes into a time line narrative that takes the readers from the beaches of California to the graveyard in France. What Oliver Stone got wrong in his 1991 movie, "The Doors" Fong-Torres is determined to set straight in this retrospect. Even though it was Jim who gained the most publicity as charismatic singer and lyricist he was the first to correct anyone that would garner him with more than one fourth of the credit for the bands success. The corresponding biographies of each member help to re-tell the now famous stories but also add a more personal insight and explanation of these now legendary tales. It's always been my contention that actually being in such a famous band it is impossible to truly appreciate or understand your own impact. The Beatles never had "The Beatles" to appreciate or enjoy like the public did and the same thing goes with this remarkable group. The Doors were just trying to write some songs and score with the ladies of Venice but after these four individual and creative elements combined a funny thing happened resulting in pure rock and roll legend. It's all here in beautiful detail and imagery, from the band's first rehearsals and the ground breaking shows at the Whiskey, the Ed Sullivan snub, Miami madness to Jim's controversial departure from the United States and ultimately the planet. This is a beautiful coffee table styled book that chronicles all of The Doors phenomenal successes and internal struggles. Just as with The Beatles "Anthology" book the surviving members have assembled to tell their remembrances and share some never before seen photos and antidotes. This leaves Jim's creative and prophetic lyrics along side his infamous quotes behind as both his contribution towards the book and his path to or bread crumb trail back from the other side.

Matt Parish

The Doors .......2007-05-15

I loved the book! Well worth the money. It has great pictures too. It tells about the whole band and how they got along with Jim.

Average customer rating:

Story of the Trapp Family Singers
Inspirational family
wholesome and heartwarming
A Refreshing, Straightforward Story
A pleasure to read and learn of the real Trapp family

The Story of the Trapp Family Singers
Maria Augusta Trapp
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Agathe von Trapp: Memories Before and After The Sound of Music

ASIN: 0060005777
Release Date: 2001-12-24

Book Description

With nearly 1,500 Broadway performances, six Tony Awards, more than three million albums sold, and five Academy Awards, The Sound of Music, based on the lives of Maria, the baron, and their singing children, is as familiar to most of us as our own family history. But much about the real-life woman and her family was left untold.

Here, Baroness Maria Augusta Trapp tells in her own beautiful, simple words the extraordinary story of her romance with the baron, their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, and their life in America.

Now with photographs from the original edition.

Customer Reviews:

Story of the Trapp Family Singers.......2007-05-08

Excellent writing--My mother has enjoying reading the book. I have enjoying reading it also.

Inspirational family.......2006-11-06

You will enjoy this true story of the "Sound of Music" family. It is both historical and charming. The family's adventures and trials will keep you turning the pages.

wholesome and heartwarming.......2006-08-18

I smile whenever I see this book on my shelf...

Picture a large, creative, talented family seated around a fireplace in the evenings--playing with dolls or whittling--while the mother reads aloud. Later, they sing together...imagine that...a family singing together for fun!

German occupied Austria in 1938...I can only envision what it would have been like. Its intriguing to see it through Maria's eyes. One of my favorite quotes in this book is: "you can't say no three times to Hitler." My second favorite quote is: "The Americans never seemed to ask, "Who are you?" but "How good are you? Let's see."

I've read this book several times, and I always enjoy it!

A Refreshing, Straightforward Story.......2006-07-01

Okay, "War and Peace" it ain't, but what it is is a charming rendering of the Trapp Family history. Told in an almost childlike voice, it was refreshing to learn about this amazing woman and her struggles to keep her family afloat during a turbulent time in the world. After hearing so much about Paris Hilton and Tori Spelling these days it was refreshing to come back to reality and see how insipid today's youth can be. Maria was a strong woman who didn't flinch in the face of adversity. I enjoyed hearing about her faith, as well, being a rather lax Catholic, my interest in my own faith has been inspired by reading her book. I enjoyed her exuberance over the simplest things and it made me appreciate everything I have. I would recommend this book to everyone...young, old, religious, atheists, etc. There is something to learn from Maria von Trapp and this delightful book now goes on my short list of "All Time Favorites". Read this book and share it with someone you love, or better yet, share it with someone you hate.

A pleasure to read and learn of the real Trapp family.......2006-04-29

The book was a joy to read, one filled with hope, love, struggle and triumph through faith and hard work. The true value is in learning how different the Trapp family's life was from the Sound of Music and quite different indeed it was.

I was unaware of just how musically gifted the family really was, how much of a struggle their early years in America were and just how deep their faith in God was throughout their lives.

I would have given it 5 stars but the tale of the romance between the Captain and Maria and their escape from Austria were brief to non-existent . I would have liked to have heard more from Maria on those chapters of their life.

On the plus side, her writing is from the heart, and filled with wonder on her part on the goodness of people wherever she went.
The path of a family who succeeded by faith, hard work and personal responsibility was a real inspiration.

Pick up this book, read their true story, and be inspired.

Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus

Average customer rating:

Can't say enough about it...
A great book for everyone
Providing depth to the inner workings of the music industry.
The poet laureate of early rock/pop gets a worthy biography
Well written and researched biography of a musical legend

Lonely Avenue: The Unlikely Life and Times of Doc Pomus
Alex Halberstadt
Manufacturer: Da Capo Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0306813009

Book Description

The only biography of colorful and legendary songwriter Doc Pomus, who wrote such enduring songs as "Lonely Avenue," "Save the Last Dance for Me," and "Viva Las Vegas."

One of the most original, influential, and commercially successful American songwriters, Jerome Felder, aka Doc Pomus (1925-1991), gave the world a dazzling legacy of musical hits during rock 'n' roll's first decade. A role model for generations of writers and performers, Doc was renowned for his mastery of virtually every popular style, from the gutbucket rhythm and blues of "Lonely Avenue" to the symphonic soul of "Save the Last Dance for Me" to the pure pop of "Viva Las Vegas." His songs--"This Magic Moment," "A Teenager in Love," "Hushabye," "Little Sister," "Turn Me Loose," and many others--have been recorded by everyone from Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, and B. B. King to Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, and Bruce Springsteen, with sales exceeding $100 million.

Doc was ready-made for literature. His collaborator Mort Shuman once described him as an "entire rollicking soul neighborhood rolled into one man." Garrulous, profane, hilarious, and Rabelaisian, Doc was never inhibited about offering his opinions and his friendship. His confidants, collaborators, and discoveries included Duke Ellington, John Lennon, Dr. John, Jimmy Scott, Bette Midler, and Lou Reed. In the words of renowned producer Jerry Wexler, "If the music industry had a heart, it would be Doc Pomus."

Despite, or more likely because of, his successes, few acquaintances knew that this writer of jukebox hits led one of the most dramatic and unlikely lives of his time. Spanning extravagant wealth and desperate poverty, suburban domesticity and the depths of New York's underworld, worldwide fame and near-total obscurity, enduring love and persistent loneliness, Doc's story remains one of the great untold American lives. Its chapters comprise a back-room history of rock 'n' roll, touching on more than a half-century of American popular music--from the blues Doc performed with Lester Young to his collaborations with the luminaries of New York's punk scene, shot through with vivid portraits of virtually every major player.

Lonely Avenue is the first biography of this American original, so elegantly rendered that it reads like a novel, and fortified by full, exclusive access to Doc Pomus's family, friends, voluminous journals, and archives.

Customer Reviews:

Can't say enough about it..........2007-06-29

"Lonely Avenue" is one of the most moving books I've read in a long, long time. It's so good, I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and parts of it will make you want to jump out of your chair and cheer for its hero (and a new hero of mine), Doc Pomus, a true American orginal if there ever was one. Even if you don't know anything about him or his music, do yourself a favor and buy this book.

A great book for everyone.......2007-06-05

This is a fantastic new book. Among its many strengths is the fact that this is a book that can be appreciated and enjoyed by anyone. While it is a biography of a great American song writer, it is also a multi-dimensional work that offers readers glimpses into the history of New York City and its various neighborhoods, the evolution of American culture, the personal struggles of all its characters and the music industry. The book is also very personal and very human and is an inspiring piece about extraordianry and ordinary people. Anyone can read this book; no one needs to have a background in music history or to even love Elvis!

Halberstadt's book is very beautifully written. I was just as caught up with the writing as I was with the subject. I learned a great deal about America's famous musicians, but I also just loved the prose and the intimate details that the author included. Clearly, this book was exhautively researched and the author obviously labored lovingly over each sentence. I hope that Halberstadt will continue to publish books as I am eagerly looking forward to his next one.

I highly recommend this book. It is perfect for summer reading, for serious inquiry into American history, for book clubs, for college classes.... You will not be disappointed, and you will probably go out and buy lots of new music after reading it!

Providing depth to the inner workings of the music industry........2007-05-08

I met Doc Pomus in a treasured CD by Johnny Adams. Pomus' lyrics fascinate me. I have searched and found bits and pieces of his life. When I read a review of Lonely Avenue, I had to have it. I savored every word as I have a special place in my heart for musicians. I did not want to finish the book because I did not want him to die. I have loaned the book to friends who are musicians and loaned Johnny Adams' interpretation of his music also. Friends of my who are avid readers have been receiving this recommendation from me as "a person I would like to have known." Long Live Doc's Music!

The poet laureate of early rock/pop gets a worthy biography.......2007-03-07

He was short and stubby. He'd had polio at 9; he couldn't walk without braces and crutches. To see this 16-year-old kid struggle to the stage of a Greenwich Village club in 1943 was to get a taste of what it was like to run into Toulouse Lautrec in a Paris cafe half a century earlier --- you knew this guy was....different.

His dreams, for starters. Jerome Felder wanted to stand in a boxing ring and, though he couldn't move, win the championship. Or fire unhittable fastballs from the pitcher's mound. And the women --- they'd be lined up for him.

In that club, though, Jerome connected with a dream that could come true. He got on stage and sang the only blues song he knew --- and people clapped. The next night, he was back, with a new confidence and a new name: Doc Pomus. He was on his way to becoming the greatest songwriter in the history of early rock `n roll.

There are books you read because you're interested in the subject. And then there are books you read because you just happen to pick them up --- and the next thing you knew, your mouth was dry, your heart was racing and you were turning the pages like the secret of life lay just ahead. "Lonely Avenue" was like that for me: a freight train with no brakes, bound for glory and ruin.

I have a soft spot for stories about people who make something out of nothing --- people who reach into their guts and share their deepest, rawest feelings in a form that makes us feel them too. The Doc Pomus story is the very best of that breed. A Brooklyn kid who didn't want to waste his life at a desk. A misfit who found his first home in black blues clubs. A survivor who realized he was never going to make it as a performer and started writing songs because behind-the-scenes was the closest a white, chunky cripple could come to touching an audience.

He was in his 30s when he teamed up with an 18-year-old composer named Mort Shuman. And when, unaccountably, he persuaded a virginal blond actress to marry him. A few years later, he chanced upon their wedding invitation, and he remembered what it was like to sit on the sidelines while other men danced with his wife. He picked up a pen and watched the words flow:

You can dance
Every dance with the guy
Who gives you the eye
Let him hold you tight
You can smile
Every smile for the man who held your hand
'Neath the pale moonlight
But don't forget who's taking you home
And in whose arms you're gonna be
So darlin', save the last dance for me...

Before Ben E. King recorded that song, Ahmet Ertegun told him the back story. King's eyes misted. And, as you know, he and the Drifters delivered a record they'll be playing as long as there are lovers.

Silly stuff followed. "Turn Me Loose" and other hits for Fabian, a teen idol "who had a reliable range of four or five notes." But also, more hits for Ben E. King and the Drifters: "This Magic Moment" and "I Count the Tears." For Dion & the Belmonts, "Teenager in Love."And, for Elvis, "Suspicion" and "Viva Las Vegas."

If this were just a story about music, it would be fascinating --- Halberstadt introduces us to a world of sleazy promoters, crooked producers, random hangers-on and freaks. All inhabited Doc's world --- he was not only the ultimate hipster, the insider's insider, but he had infinite time for stories. To read these pages is to enlarge your world.

And then, to read these pages is to watch a world explode and one of its kings have to re-invent himself all over again. What happened? The Beatles. The Stones. And Dylan. "Tin Pan Alley is dead," Dylan announced. "I killed it."

At 40, Doc was broke again. His weight ballooned to 350 and crutches were out of the question --- now he was chair-bound. His wife divorced him and took the kids. This is where the Doc Pomus story gets really exciting for me, because it's one thing to be at the bottom when you've never seen the top, another to wake up in a fleabag hotel after you've known success. Anyone who's been there will tell you: It's harder to make it the second time.

Poc made it twice. That's one good reason to read this book: as a fable of disability denied, as the rugged, raw story of a guy in a wheelchair learning how to become the tallest guy in the room. But there's so much more in these lightning-fast 225 pages. A large claim, but here it is: the story of a great 20th century artist.

Oh, come on, you say. The guy wrote pop ditties for pimply kids.His stuff is like Kleenex. Keats and Shakespeare he ain't. I beg to differ. I say anyone can write arty stuff that only the elite can appreciate; it takes real talent to deliver a clear, powerful message with just a few chords in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Keats and Shakespeare were immensely talented poets, and popular in their day --- but they never reached a fraction of the people Doc Pomus. And admit it: You can quote five of Doc's songs for every Shakespeare sonnet you know.

One of Motown's early mottos was, "It's what's in the grooves that counts." On "Till the Night Is Gone," you can hear Dylan and The Band and Lou Reed and Aaron Neville and Dion and Rosanne Cash --- the kings and queens of modern music --- pay tribute to the master. Every cut is gold.

Well written and researched biography of a musical legend.......2007-03-05

LONELY AVENUE gives us a glimpse into songwriter "Doc" Pomus career and life. During the 50's he was one of THE most important songwriters that worked in the penthouse of the Brill Building providing songs to everyone from Big Joe Turner to Elvis Presley. Crippled by polio, Pomus held court with some of the biggest singers of the day as a unique talent that scored with a series of great hit songs from 1959 through the early 60's. Even when the hits dried up he continued to provide inspiration to talents as diverse as John Lennon to Andy Williams (who scored a huge hit with Pomus' "Can't Get Used to Losing You"). Collaborating with Mort Shuman Pomus produced classics such as "Save the Last Dance for Me" (which he wrote about a personal incident--Pomus watched his friends dance with his new wife something he wasn't able to do).

Author Alex Halberstadt used Pomus' journals as some of the source material for this marvelous biography. Well written with the insight afforded access to Pomus' private papers, LONELY AVENUE paints a picture of a man with tremendous talent who was never quite content and overcame tremendous adversity to achieve musical greatness. Ultimately, though, we get a sense that Pomus' melancholy about those things he couldn't control in his life drove him to continue to achieve.

Pomus was later celebrated and rediscovered by other generations of singer/songwriters after the British Invasion dissapated and after the waning of Punk rock. Although it isn't a perfect biography, it's a heartfelt, intelligent exploration of Pomus' unique gift and the burdens that haunted him his whole life.

Average customer rating:

Great Book - Great stories.
An amazing book
Only Book You Need
Everything Beatles! By the Beatles! What could be wrong?
THE BEST CHRONICLE OF THE BEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND: THE BEATLES AGAIN!!!

The Beatles Anthology
Beatles , John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison , and Ringo Starr
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Beatles Anthology
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ASIN: 0811826848
Release Date: 2000-10-05

Book Description

Created with their full cooperation, The Beatles Anthology is, in effect, The Beatles' autobiography. Like their music, which has been a part of so many of our lives, this landmark release is warm, frank, funny, poignant and bold. At last, here is The Beatles' own story. Each page is brimming with personal stories and rare, vintage images. Includes over 340,000 words and over 1300 images, including unseen photographs and personal memorabilia.

Customer Reviews:

Great Book - Great stories........2007-05-22

The only negative is the size of the book. There should be a smaller hardcover or paperback edition. The content is superb and a great coffee table book, but it's difficult to curl up with this book in bed.

An amazing book.......2007-05-13

I really liked Anthology. Not because it told the basic story, which I already got from other biographies. What makes this book really valuable is that it gives the view from inside the eye of the hurricane.

I mean, what's it like when the world starts screaming in your face?

Telling moments... There's a snapshot of John and Paul clutching their guitars as they head onstage for a concert, but their eyes are grim and tired. Paul is holding up his guitar like he needs a shield to ward off a punch to the face. It's a rather frightening photograph, and you feel sorry for them.

Or you wonder, what was George Harrison thinking, when he set off on a stroll through Height-Ashbury - that no one would notice him?

Or you sense, how much fun they seem to have had touring Australia.

Or their "family photos" from vacation trips... about as boring as anyone's photos. Except it's them. THEM.

The book seamlessly works fresh material from the three Beatles (and a few others) with parts of old John Lennon interviews, so it all reads smoothly, like it was all done at once - really great. The book is a fascinating trip all over again... I read it for two days through and hardly put it down.

Only Book You Need.......2007-05-11

As a hard core Beatles fan I can recommend many books,but if I had to recommend only one it would probably be this one. This is a complete,definitive biography,told in their own words. Not surprising that they should feel the need to do this. With all the tabloid fiction out there, I'm surprised they didn't do this earlier. I'm also not surprised that some people are calling it incomplete, saying that this seems to be their version of the story that they want put out. Could it be because this IS the actual true story about them? No really! Do they mean to imply that they ( the Beatles) actually know more about this subject (the Beatles) then some idiot who met them twice, or (maybe not at all) and decided to make some money by writing a second rate book? The audacity! This book tells the story from birth to break up. There is no filler, just facts. And it is told in their own funny,matter of fact,no nonsense way.

Of course the music is the spotlight. Each album is gone over with a fine tooth comb and you are lifted right into the atmosphere, and events unfolding behind the scenes that made each album special. Actually everything they talk about,from their childhoods to Beatlemania seems to lift you right into the scene. This is helped by the gorgeous pictures, almost all of them from their personal collections. Even if you are illiterate you will want this book just for the pictures. By the way, John's quarter of the story is told through interviews. Thank goodness he gave so many. Some of the pictures even have his written comments scrawled on them,showing us exactly how he felt at the time. There are hundreds of pictures of documents, handwritten play lists, handwritten lyrics, notes, hotel and restaurant bills,lists of concerts (again with John's handwritten comments about what was going on.) These guys kept everything! I can't beleive that Paul and Ringo actually kept plane and hotel receipts from a long ago trip to Greece with Jane Asher and Maureen Cox.(at that time,the future Mrs. Starkey) There is even a document at the top corner of one of the pages, (I bet a lot of people missed it) which refers to the request for some lice removal medicine to be delivered to one unfortunate Beatle's home. Of course they are NOT talking about head lice,and having read Peter Brown's pointless,vindictive book,The Love You Make,I know that this may have been Paul's way of saying,'Yes it's true but Epstein's creepy,lackey had no right to put it in a book (and make lots of money). Or maybe I read it in that other rag, Yesterday by Chet Flippo. I had the misfortune of reading both books. Don't make the same mistake.

Don't get me wrong, I don't mind reading juicy,personal stuff as long as it's true and not embellishment. And there are plenty of interesting,sexy, stories,and stories of John's craziness but coming from their mouths, I know they are true. Except for that peeing on nuns story. Really John! George says it never happened and I beleive him. This book is like a huge memoir. A personal scrapbook and photo album. You will enjoy it's beauty,candidness, and it's entertaining style. And it's not true that most of these stories have been told before. I've read hundreds of books on the Fabs and 90% of this book is fresh, especially the early years. While you're at it, get the Anthology DVD set also. It's completely different from this book! Talk about quality, and value for money! Something that's always been important to the Beatles.

Everything Beatles! By the Beatles! What could be wrong?.......2007-05-09

Take 4 guys from England that changed the world of music forever and have them tell the story of their meteoric rise to fame and dominance of the music industry for decades and what do you have? THE BEATLES ANTHOLOGY.

John, Paul, George and Ringo made the music that we listen to today what it is. Without the British Invasion, we would never have had the development of rock and roll as it is today. Elvis and the Beatles, they are the fathers of rock and roll. This is half of that story.

The Anthology is a great compilation of photos, album covers, artwork, lyrics, personal stories, articles and everything else Beatles. If you like the Beatles, then this is the source for every bit of information about the first super-group. You can probably find other books out there about the Beatles, but this was written by the fab four; you really can't go anywhere else to get the information you get in this book.

This is a must have for any Beatles fan. A must have for anyone that appreciates the history of music and rock & roll. Well, this is just a must have.

What more can I say? The Beatles were the original. Their story is great, their music is great, this book is great. Fact, period, end of story.

THE BEST CHRONICLE OF THE BEST ROCK AND ROLL BAND: THE BEATLES AGAIN!!!.......2007-01-10

WoooW!! What an elaborated and extensive material about the best band in the world! this book has every moment, every day, every story about the greatest John, Paul, George and Ringo told by themselves; this book is an invaluable work and every people who likes every kind of music has to buy it! I recommend it especially for the young people who begin to play music and former musical groups with their friends, I'm sure everyone will love this book. THE BEATLES SHOKING ALL THE WORLD AGAIN!!!

The Wu-Tang Manual: Enter the 36 Chambers, Volume One

Average customer rating:

Wow!
Not for newcomers
The RZA makes another classic!
ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING.
Must Have

The Wu-Tang Manual: Enter the 36 Chambers, Volume One
The RZA , and Chris Norris
Manufacturer: Riverhead Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1594480184
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Book Description

The first book, the definitive book from HIP-HOP'S ORIGINAL DYNASTY

Since the release of the revolutionary Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), the Wu-Tang Clan has been hip-hop's leading creative force. Over the course of four seminal group albums and a multitude of ambitious side projects, they have constantly redefined the outer edge of what hip-hop can do and where hip-hop can go. Now, after a decade of dark beats and mysterious lyrics hinting at a larger whole, the legendary Staten Island hip-hop collective fully reveals, for the first time, the complex, multi-layered Wu-Tang Universe.

Spearheaded by the RZA, the "Abbot" of the Clan, The Wu-Tang Manual unravels the intricate web of personalities (and alter egos), warrior codes, numerological systems, and Eastern spiritual ethics that define the Wu-Tang dynasty. Here you'll find the key to Shaolin, to the Nine Rings and to the 36 Chambers, to the eight-point sun and to the rest of the enduring mysteries of Wu-Tang. The Wu-Tang Manual also contains the first official and comprehensive lyrical encyclopedia of the Wu-Tang, complete with musical, technical, and anecdotal analysis and annotation by the Clan.

For the hardcore Wu-Tang disciple and the recent initiate alike, The Wu-Tang Manual is the definitive guide to the essence of Wu.

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2007-08-29

I bought this book because I have been an avid fan of the Wu since high school. I had a feeling it would be good but little did I know that it would be in the tops of the bests books I've ever read in my life. If you've ever listened to a Wu song and wondered what this line meant, or what this word means, look no further. Who knew that there was actual rhyme and reason to ever since word picked for their lyrics.

If this is truely only a volume 1 out of many, I can't wait for the others. No matter what level of Wu fan you are, this will double it at least. Get this book.

Not for newcomers.......2007-08-18

The Wu-Tang Clan has been of the primary influences in my life, starting my interest in Hip-Hop music and culture as a youth through adulthood. This book is amazing; however, a novice listener of the Wu will not truly understand this book. A bandwagon listener of the Wu will not truly understand this book. This book is for the true heads, the people that have been intrigued with the sound, slang, style and charisma of the Wu-Tang ever since they first dropped on the music scene. If you're one of these fans, buy this book; you won't be dissapointed. For all you corny,wannabe, Johnny-come-latelys that claim to be a Wu fan and only own The W and Iron Flag, do us all a favor and don't buy this book; it will be a piece of genius that will go to waste collecting dust.

Witty Unpredictable Talent And Natural Game!

The RZA makes another classic!.......2006-11-05

This book is great for all Wu fans! Rza gives an in-depth look into the history of the Wu Tang Clan, its members, its songs and even the philosophies of the clan. This is a must read for anyone interested in the true innovators of the hip-hop game. From being the first rap group to have a clothing line, to the first rappers with a video game - the WU really taught all other rap labels how to stunt and laid a blueprint down for being successful in areas other than just rapping. Get this book to gain insight on the most prolific rap super group ever!

ABSOLUTELY ASTONISHING........2006-04-13

The Wu-Tang Manual is akin to all the EU (Expanded Universe) novels, comic books, and publications related to the Star Wars franchise for a hip hop fan of one of the culture's biggest phenomenons ever. The Manual is chock full of EVERYTHING an intellectual listener and avid fan of the Wu would want to know: biographies, lyrics explanations, philosophy, music equipment, and spirituality.

The Wu-Tang started a new sound in hip hop in early '93: gritty, minimalistic, atonal, and lo-fi, all exemplified in the classic debut 'Enter: The Wu-Tang'. From then on, a legend was born: numerous solo albums from all nine members, even including the honorary tenth member Cappadonna, movies, television, touring, guest appearances on other artists' projects, RZA even composed music for the original soundtrack to the Tarantino's two-parter 'Kill Bill'. The Wu-Tang even have their own "Expanded Universe" of branch-off emcees and groups that rivals the amount of material in that of the Star Wars EU (e.g. Cilvaringz, Killah Priest, Sunz of Man, Black Knights, Killarmy, etc.). And they're STILL going strong with a slew of new albums already dropping (Ghost's awesome 'Fishscale', Sunz' 'Old Testament', etc.). The Wu-Tang Clan are HIP HOP LEGENDS, and this Manual chronicles the beginning of the movement all the way to the present, even chronicling the events that shaped the life of Robert Diggs (RZA), which would eventually also shape his movement.

To the initiated, [hip hop] heads know the Wu stand for something and they're some pretty deep brothers. RZA quotes everyone from Nietzsche to the Hagakure, a guide of bushido commentaries for the warrior (samurai). Being heavily into philosophy myself, I was really intrigued and exhilerated to read what some of the artist's actually meant behind some of their poetic verses. I saw this book at a mom 'n' pop store (Hasting's) in San Marcos and absolutely fell in love with it.

If you're into hip hop, you're more than likely a fan of the Wu as well, and if you are, YOU NEED THIS BOOK -- become more intimately knowledgeable of the legendary Clan and everything they stand for and how they came to be. "CLAN IN THE FRONT!"

Must Have.......2006-04-05

If you're a Wu-Tang fan, you must buy this book. I think they could go deeper in few subjects, but it is good enough for the first book.

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