Gregory Jbara Books

This was an excellent book. I learned so much about Martin & Lewis. Having grown up watching Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin movies I loved being able to find out more about my favorite actors. But I can't help but walk away from this book feeling a sense of sadness and heartbreak. They had such an awesome partnership, and like Jerry says, "all good things must come to an end". Sometimes it's harder for the fans to deal with the reality than the ones who are involved. They are what I would consider TRUE ENTERTAINERS. I never knew how much Jerry loved Dean...he really did so much for him just to see him happy.

With candid portrayal of his start and 10 year "gig" with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis captivates us and we can't put the book down. This is no white wash flowery story; he tells the imperfections of both of them. You know it's love, even after their breakup of the team because Jerry reveals allot about his partner Dean Martin that we never knew of.

In short the Jew did good. Jerry always wanted to mix comedy with tears. Dean didn't like the sad mixing stuff; just make 'em laugh. However Jerry got his last wish with Dean, 'cause in the end of the book the clown made a full grown man cry. Jerry instead of making me laugh, at the end, warmed my heart about his love for his partner and made me grab a tissue. That was low pool Jerry.

"Dean and Me: A Love Story" is an impeccably honest memoir of the Dean and Jerry years. This book made me laugh and cry as it brought back memories of my favorite comedy team. Any fan of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis will love Jerry's recollection of those days in the 50's when the Martin and Lewis team reigned supreme.

Dean and Me: (A Love Story)
I found this to be a little dis-heartening. I love Dean Martin and from an interview I heard with Jerry Lewis, I felt he cared about him too. It wasn't what I expected. I honestly haven't finished the book. More about Jerry than Dean. I wish he were alive to comment on it.

It's written in Jerry's voice. It seems honest and straight from the heart. There wasn't a huge amount of information that I hadn't already heard or read elsewhere.

I've always disliked Dean Martin. I always felt that underneath the smiles there was a really cold human being. That drunk act he did for a lot of his later career I found really nauseating. That whole "rat pack" thing makes me gag. A bunch of greasy middle aged men trying to act hip and "groovy". There's nothing more tacky than Las Vegas. Yuch!

Jerry was an artist. Both as a comedian and as a filmmaker. The Dean and Jerry act was initiated and created by Jerry. Jerry was a genius. Dean just happened to be there. Jerry writes throughout the book about how much he loved Dean, how much Dean contributed to their success, how great Dean was at comedy. I think what Jerry was actually in love with was the "chemistry" between them, not with Dean. Jerry was still hilarious after he split up with Dean. Just like Lucy was still hilarious after she broke up with Desi. Just like Cher was still fabulous after she broke up with Sonny. Dean was never funny after he broke up with Jerry. I used to cringe when I saw Dean on those TV shows of his that he did for years. He was a "personality" and he had a passable singing voice. But he wasn't an artist.

I belive that if Jerry had never met Dean, Jerry still would have become a superstar. I also believe that if Jerry had never met Dean, Dean would have become nothing more than a 2nd rate lounge singer.