Genres Books

Fern Hill knows her horse flesh. I loved all the details about driving a stagecoach and how the whole procedure of setting up the coach and team was carried out. Charley Parkhurst must have been quite a woman. I read a lot of Western fiction. I sometimes have no trouble setting it aside for a good Western movie, but this was one book I didn't want to put down. I found the story of Parkhurst's life inspiring and there's not a whole lot that inspires me. Thanks a lot Fern! BUFFALOed

Fern J. Hill authored a compelling tale about Charley Parkhurst. This made for a believable account based on historic fact fused with fiction. Charley was a trailblazing woman, who despite difficulties, forged a fulfilling life.

Charley lives in a home for orphans where she pals around with Fish, her best buddy. Charley loves horses and is determined, even at a young age, to someday drive the stagecoach. Often Fish would keep watch while Charley secretly rode horses at the home.

Charley never let circumstances or people get in the way of her dreams. She moved from one part of the country to another alone - a daring move for a young woman in that era. She was not harsh or boorish, but composed and confident.

Snakebites, robberies, injuries and danger only strengthened Charley. She could fire a rifle, shoot a pistol and drive a carriage with greater precision than anyone. When it came to horses, she was an expert. She transported cargo and people, often defying the odds of natural disasters. Passengers and friends felt safe in her company.

A family-like bond developed with Eb and Tilly, the first to really treat her like family. Charley leaves them due to unexpected circumstances. Her life takes a surprising turn and we learn about a softer side of her. Eventually, she returns to the only roots she knows, Eb and Tilly's place. After a brief stay she heads to California where she works as a stagecoach driver.

This is an inspiring story of one brave woman beating the odds and realizing her dreams despite the naysayers. Hill has done her research and effectively told the tale of one amazing horsewoman in early America.

Armchair Interviews says: An inspiring story about a strong and determined women who started with nothing but a dream.

What an amazing story this is! The story of Charley Parkhurst, as told by Fern Hill, will stay with me for a long time. Fern wove the few known detatils of the life of Charley Parkhurst into an unforgettable tale. I found myself thinking about Charley and her life while doing other things, and now that I have finished the book I am still thinking about it. That's a sure sign of a good book. I will be recommending it to a lot of people, but in particular a few young women who are struggling to find their way in the world. This book makes the point that you just do what you need to do, and get on with it. Thanks, Fern, for such a good read!

My Mom and I have both read Miss Hill's wonderful book and we both agree that it holds your attention right to the end! I don't usually make time to read a book if it is not off the 'Self Help' shelf, or maybe it would be more correct to say that if I do make the time a feeling of impatience overcomes me because I feel I should be out accomplishing something. "Charley's Choice" captured my attention and brought me back in time. I enjoyed letting go of my "real world" and escaping into Charley's world feeling the aticipations and frustrations of going against the odds while being determined and passionate for her desires. If you are a self help junkie like me, I would encourage you to take the time to enjoy Miss Hill's book and experience life through Charley's eyes.

Those who love history and horses and stories of people who prevail against overwhelming odds are in for a treat when they read Charley's Choice by Fern J. Hill.
Fern's meticulous research and knack for telling a good tale make the story of Charley Parkhurst's adventures and lifelong masquerade a great read.

The Omni Book in C...

I play guitar, classic and electric. I bought this book to help me improvise jazz, and learn jazz standards. My problem reading the tricky rhythms well, but I've now gotten over that and im just flying through this book at slower tempos. I LOVE how they include references for the audio recordings the solos were transcribed from, because if you can hear what the tune sounds like it makes it way easier. its good for travel, very flexible book.

I would say that if you play through every tune in this book at least once, preferably twice, you will be MUCH better.

want to do jazz? BUY THIS BOOK!

I got this for my upcoming lessons in college and so far its great. I play alto sax and its alot of fun to be able to play along with bird. The only thing the book dosen't have is the recordings. Something from his verve years should cover just about everything though, I put a link on here for a cd collection. Theres some stuff that he recorded with savoy as well but most of it should be in the verve collection. The Complete Verve Master Takes Its some great stuff and the transcriptions are great. highly recommended

The transcriptions are spot on and a huge time saver for anyone who wants to learn Bird's patterns and doesn't have the proper equipment or time to transcribe em' his/herself. I learn more and more through this book every day. It's absolutely worth transcribing pieces on your own sometimes but to get a collection of this magnitude, and accurate as it is, would be really time-consuming. This Eb version is a necessity for any serious jazz alto players - personally i think the some version of it should be in EVERY MUSICIAN'S library.

Whether you are a saxophonist trying to follow bird' s steps or a pianist wnting to improve your reading and improvisational skills, this book is a true jewel.

If you want to play great bebop lines, you immitate the master. If there is a better way to immitate the master than working this book on the metronome, I haven't encountered it yet. This book has become the standard for Bird transcriptions. If you're serious about playing bop, you won't be disappointed by this book.

Cheese Chronicles is a faced paced, funny, and event-driven journey through the life of a rock band. The story, on its own, pales in comparison with similar stories such as Rock Scully's 'Living With the Dead.' Womack doesn't show us Government Cheese as a hedonistic troupe by detailing sexual exploits or bragging about the volume of drugs ingested. In fact, no one even dies in the story. Therefore, unlike comparable books, the greatness of this one isn't attributed to the incredibility of the band's adventures. Instead, the book is a great read because of Womack's unique writing style, which allows us to feel the intensity of his experience.

Womack is always willing to sacrifice his ego for the sake of getting the story across accurately. He is brutally honest, self deprecating, and throughout, he's insistent on making the reader aware of the lousy state of the human condition. It is funny to read that Womack's apartment was broken into, but the burglars didn't take anything and in a sense that was insulting to him.

Also notable, is that Womack has a skill for being completely frank but yet still being a southern gentleman. In the book, most of the judgements he passes are on himself. If he has a beef with someone or something they did, he is quick to defend that person or try to offset his disclosures by mentioning something good about that person. He creates almost no villians in a book packed full of nights gone wrong.

At the time of this review, Womack's web site had a collection of songs on it in mp3 format available for download for free. Among those are some songs that are mentioned throughout the book and hearing them (while I was about half way through the book) enriched the stories.

I wish this book hadn't ended but that's part of the story's theme.

Tommy Womack is a great writer! I too was a Cheesefan back in the day, but this book would be amazing even if I hadn't heard of them. I laughed, I cried...I could not put it down! Facinating and definitely a must read for any young bands out there.

I used to go see this rock and roll band you've never heard of when they played my Middle Tennessee college town. Although none of them would ever remember me, I've actually met and spoken with them on a couple of different occasions. So, reading this book was like getting in on all the shows I missed. For me, it was a funny bit of nostalgia. For those of you who've never heard of Government Cheese or heard their music...well, that's a real shame.

Tommy Womack's excellent book, Cheese Chronicles, is an essential read for anyone interested in the music business. The book is hilarious and at the same time, it provides a gritty look at what it's really like to be in a rock band. I cannot say enough good things about this book. BUY IT AND READ IT!

This is the story representing the 1,000 bands who didn't make it for every one that did -- and I'd MUCH rather read about Government Cheese's failures than N'Sync's successes.

Tommy is a fabulous musician, a clever writer and funny as hell. I grew up near where he did and have never read a more accurate expression of wanting to be a rocker soooo badly in a place that has NO desire to be rocked, thank you very much. Tommy has never grown out of the pure fun of jumping on your bed playing your tennis racket to "Surrender" or air-drumming Peter Criss' "God of Thunder" solo on Alive II. (Try it, I don't care if you're a 42-year-old accountant with a minivan. It will keep you young.)

I once chased Tommy across a bar to praise his book with beer-induced enthusiasm. The next day I sent a letter apologizing and received a reply that still hangs on my wall: "I'll accept no apologies for drunken behavior. I heartily endorse it."

You could read this book 50 times and never tire of it.

This is such a great book. I really enjoyed reading it. It tells Buddy, Ritchie and J.P.'s story in a very interesting and easy to follow book. I would recommend this book to any Buddy fan. Five stars!

This is a great book. I have always been interested in "The day the music died" I had read several books and magazine articles about Buddy Holly's life but there was little in the way of the actual Winter Dance Party or the other musicians. I purchased this book and was shocked at how well and detailed the accounts of the musicians lives and the aftermath of the plane crash was. Larry Lehmer did an excelent job and should be commended on telling the truth not just what Buddy Holly's widow wanted or others who are wanting to cover the truth about what life was really like for all those involved. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in rock and roll, Buddy Holly or just 50's style music.

This book is great because it not only tells of the careers of those involved in the Winter Party Tour, but also tells details leading up the crash (including stops in many small towns along the way). It was quite informative.
Buddy Holly is the best known,yet most elusive and enigmatic of all Rock 'n' Roll legends.This man was a genius.The way he constructed his songs was sensational.

Larry Lehmer has crafted one of the better journalistic books about a historical rock 'n' roll event. He brings a newspaperman's observations and senses to the project, which connects all the dots in the tragic last tour for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. "The Day the Music Died" is not only entertaining -- somber and occasionally macabre in appropriate moments, and humorous elsewhere -- but it describes the days and weeks leading up to the tragic crash in Clear Lake through the eyes of people who were there. In each case, he paints a vivid portrait of a fallen star, making their stories all the more tragic. To read this book is to understand how American rock 'n' roll evolved from its early, innocent roots toward the fragmented, even chaotic market it encompasses today. I highyl recommend this book.

The initial first run of this great book was not around very long and people have been begging since for a reprint and here it is! This one is hard to put down, it is intriguing, informative and FACTUAL, which most Buddy book are not (avoid the Amburn book at all costs). What is particularily nice is that it features a great deal of updated info about the last tour & crash, info about Roger Peterson, and a good deal about Ritchie & The Bopper that usually doesn't get included. Lehmer talks to people that were at the shows, helped with the Tour, etc. No wild theories here, just the facts. Top notch in every regard. You see any bad reviews here? 'Nuff said!

Many years ago I read The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell. It told the same story in Egypt 1930 to 40 involving the same characters but through the eyes of 4 different people. The impressions were interlocking but totally different demonstrating that truth is relative and never absolute. So it is with Death of a Bebop Wife seeing Al Haig and the surrounding events from a kaleidoscope of so many different people including Grange Rutan as she "bebops" the reader along like some attempted complex passage of sound by Charlie or Dizzy themselves.


So what is this tome about and where does the truth lie? It is about so many different things. It's certainly about Al, his genius, his career, his mental instability, sexuality and treatment of women. But it is also about Bonnie too, a sad soul, an accident waiting to happen and how in some way you want to be on her side and rooting for her. To what extent are you on Al's side? I'm not sure of the answer here. It is doubtful if anyone could have saved her and as fate would have it, Al is the last person she should have bumped into that evening at Cloud 9. Thomas Hardy in Tess of the d' Urbervilles illustrated that these kind of coincidences can determine the future tragedy or happiness of our lives.


But that's not all - Death of a Bebop Wife is also about Haig's other wives and sons and including all those guys flitting in and out of that crazy world of bebop and crossing Al's path in some way and of course finally, and by no means least, the book is about Lady Haig ... the forgotten wife.

Rutan paid that last visit to Al for reasons of closure ... I do not think so; it is only the writing of this book that has given her
closure, hopefully and finally for the very last time.


So where does the truth lie? I think it does not lie in any one single statement by any one person, but you must look in between and around everything that has been said and you, the reader, will arrive at a kind of truth that satisfies yourself and the only mistake you can make is to believe that it is absolute. That truth is for you the reader alone.

For all those interested in jazz, history and life, Grange(Lady Haig)Rutan's tour de force is a wonderful book and essential reading; a must for your coffee table.

Lady Haig opens a dark and dusty door and allows us to peek into a once hidden world of music, drugs, sex and murder. She shares her own scars as she must, to bring this story to life, as she is the only one left to tell the tale.
This book is not for the faint of heart, as you can smell as the whiskey and blood spill together into one page turning masterpiece!

Thank-you Lady Haig for having the guts to lay it on the line, and tell it like it is.

Colonel Robert Morris
'two time hall of fame writer/musician'

Being a long-time jazz fanatic and avid reader of jazz biographies, I of course knew Al Haig's name and his association with the bebop era. However, after reading Death of a Bebop Wife by Lady Haig Grange Rutan, I now realize how little I knew about him previously. This great book tells the rich (and entire) story of Al Haig (who served as one of the seminal bebop pianists and an early member of the famous Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie quintet) and the tale is a compelling one - told from the multiple vantage points of those who were there with him during that magical time in jazz music history. Among the many fascinating tidbits which overflow this important tome is that Al Haig was a highly sought after, but extremely selective accompanist who played with many of the legends of his time, was the favorite pianist of Bud Powell (himself, considered the greatest of all bebop pianists) and was an important contributor to the early fame of Stan Getz and Harry Belafonte. While these facts alone would qualify him for membership in the pantheon of greatest jazz musicians of all time, he remains only a footnote to the era he helped define. Grange (Lady Haig) Rutan's book helps to correct this historical oversight and slight.
The central theme of the book is the background story of Al's indictment, defense and ultimate acquittal of the charge of murdering his third wife. In fact, the "murder/accidental death" of Bonnie Haig, a remarkably sad counterpoint in the life of this musician (not to mention that of the victim's family and friends), is sensitively told, and Rutan amasses and presents copious information in the book from which the reader can derive his or her own judgment as to Al Haig's probable guilt or innocence. I will not prejudice future readers by disclosing my own view of this matter here.
Nevertheless, this book is so much more than a crime story. Rather, it is a treasure trove for the jazz afficionado - chock full of anecdotes, insights and, most importantly, direct testimonial evidence of the public and private lives lead by many jazz musicians of the fifties, as told by many of the musicians themselves. Within this milieu, as the book makes eminently clear, Al Haig stood out as a very complex, technically proficient and brilliantly-inventive (but perhaps also seriously troubled) musician -equally adept at both classical and jazz music- who more than passed muster with the greatest purveyors of the music of his time.
Al Haig made his mark on the music and, because of this great book, his legacy will survive. No serious jazz fan should overlook this gem!

I first met Al Haig in Sarasota, Florida, in the early 50s. My drummer friend, the late Jess Gruel, and I were very young "beboppers" just out of high school, and when we found out Al Haig was in town, it was like the arrival of royalty. The three of us ended up playing a few gigs together around the Sarasota-Venice area at that time. I was a trumpet player who knew most of the bebop riffs and enough standard tunes to get through a job. He was always gracious about our lack of expereinece and always, always professional. I ran into him again at Birdland on a trip to NYC with the Gator Band from UF a year or two later, and again a couple of years after that when I lived in NYC one summer. I spent some time talking with him several times at Birdland. Years later in the late 70s, I looked him up when he was playing at Gregory's in NY, and we chatted on one of his breaks. He was working as a single. When I reminded him of our earlier work together in Sarasota in the 50s, he could not recall any of that period of his life. So, when a friend told me of Grange Rutan's book, I ordered it immediately and devoured it. It filled in a lot of the personal info on Al that he had kept to himself when I knew him. I guess I never really knew him, expect for his obvious skill. It turns out that the period of his time in Sarasota was not a happy time for him, as the book explains. The book is very well written, and it reflects a daunting amount of research. I was put off slightly at first by the Helvetica typeface and the tight layout, but the content and story quickly make you forget such editorial shortcomings. It made me relive the whole era - a turbulent time for those of us who lived through it. I recommend it highly, and have to many, for insight into a marvelous musician who had apparent emotional problems, but who was a pro right to the end. I won't tell you from whence the title comes - you wiill have to buy the book and read it for yourself. But, it is a shocker.

Reading this book not only educated me on the whole "Bebop Era", it left a warm place in my heart. This woman Grange (Lady Haig) Rutan spent over a decade of her life interviewing and collecting quotes from all the "who's who" in jazz, to share a story with the world that was so desperately needed. I know there have been so many books written about this era, but it was great to read it from a woman's perspective. Besides this being a must read to anyone who loves jazz, I must comment on the author's writing style....she has a way of keeping you hooked, not wanting to put the book down for one second....like you are putting the pieces of a puzzle together. People put these artists up on a pedestal, but when you dig deeper into their lives you see that they are only human. Trying to do the best that they can. She truly loved this man, and wanted to tell his story (the truth).

It is truly a great read....
samantha scott
miami beach florida

...and by that I mean finding out what a serious drug user Cass was most of her life. We're talking heroin here, people, HEROIN. No, She wasn't in the same league with John Phillips, to be sure. Very few people reach that rarified atmosphere (read HIS book), and fewer still live to tell the story. But still... heroin usage throughout a large portion of her life, and on top of all the other drugs she dabbled with. Rather disconcerting, to say the least.

This knowledge does not modify in the slightest her achievements as an artist, but it is a good example of why one should always remember to separate that "artist" from the flesh-and-blood person. Which brings me to another point that I gleaned from this book: that she is the iconic figure she is today rather in spite of herself. She never really wanted to be in a rock or even a pop group. She wanted to the kind of singer she eventually became on the RCA albums, and especially the "Don't Call Me Mama Anymore" album. She wanted to be a Barbara Streisand or a Judy Garland. Whether she would ever have achieved that goal had she not crossed paths with John Phillips could be debated ad infinitum, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no, she would not have. Why? Because of the way she looked, of course. Her talent and spectacular voice would always have been overshadowed by that factor in the world she sought to be accepted in. It was the quirky, hippie, pop music world that allowed just enough of a foot in the door to force it the rest of the way open with her talent... a world she really didn't seek.

So while the Mamas and Papas would have been something very different without her, I believe Phillips still would have put together something in that same vein and had great success because his marvelous writing and formidable leadership just would not be denied for very long. On the other hand I don't think Cass' legacy would be as it is today had she not met John and become the main voice associated with those records.

As to the style of the book itself, I would tend to agree with reviewer from Publishers Weekly who described it as "slow and repetitive". I did not find it a "fast read" as one other reviewer did, but I still enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it. I much preferred this book to Michelle Phillips', which was just too slick and breezy.

Wow...words cannot begin to describe this book! A very detailed, and well researched book about one of the greatest female singers ever to grace us with her beautiful voice and music! After reading this book I found myself lost and up in the clouds because I have never, ever been so into A book in all my life. I just wish I was old enough back then to have fully appreciated Cass, The Mamas and Papas, and the music explosion of incredible people, songs, and albums(I was born in 1968). I guess I will have to settle doing it now. I hope Cass knows somehow that she has so many fans who adore her to this day!! It's very sad to think that she's not here today to feel that warmth. Well, I'd like to think she does know, and is smiling at those fans who continue to be touched by her spirit, music, and humor. Some say Michelle was the "Pretty" one in the Mamas And Papas...I honestly have to say, nahhhh. Cass was as beautiful on the outside, and she was on the inside. The only thing I believe I would maybe tell her, if I had meet her back then...I wish, was to stop the drug use. After reading the book, I learned that she was making big steps to clean up that aspect of her life at the time of her death. The drug use would have turned me off for sure, but this was the mid-late 1960's. If you are A new Cass Elliot fan, purchase this book. You will learn so much about her life, and become even A bigger fan. If you are already A huge Cass fan, and don't own this book...you are doing yourself an in-justice. You will also learn new things like I did! Kudos to the author for an incredible treasure! We still miss you Cass!

A thorough, carefully researched biography of the infamous Mama Cass. Through interviews with Cass' family and friends, the author debunks the Ham Sandwich Myth which has been urban legend for years. If you want a detailed biography of this talented woman, this is a great one to start with. Cass never really wanted to be a folk-rock/pop singer; she was a Broadway Baby and her love was Broadway musicals. But without her, The Mamas & The Papas would not have had the success they did have in the 1960's, in my opinion. Her larger-than-life figure and personality, plus her knockout voice really made that group.

I like the book I recemend it to anyone who is a mama and papas fan

This book was very good, but it was sad to find out how really pathetic these talented people were. John Philips was the worst of the group, what a egotistical and controlling as*hole! I was totally blown away by the actions of this famous group! I understand that this was the 60's , but not everyone was doing drugs and laying around stone out of their minds. Cass Elliott brags that she dropped acid 5 times during her pregnancy and her daughter turned out perfectly normal! She was considered a "good" mother by her friends?!! (I have to wonder what her daughter really thinks about that.) To me, being very talented is not an excuse for being irresponsible. I'm glad I read this book, It was a real eye-opener about who the Mama's and the Papa's really were.If you Love this group you HAVE to read this.

I finally got my hands on a copy of this amazing book. It has lived up to everything I've heard about it from my fellow Elvis fans. First of all it's huge. It's 626 oversized pages of nothing but Elvis. It has over 500 photos ( I stopped counting at 500). Many of the photos were completly new to me. If you were from another planet and didn't know anything about Elvis this book would bring you up to speed. I predict this book will become "the bible" of Elvis fans all over the world.

The book is divided into 33 chapters. Each chapter focuses on one aspect of Elvis and his fans. Some of the chapter titles: Elvis music, Elvis and family, Elvis and the Army, Elvis and romance, Elvis and the martial arts, Elvis and food, Elvis impersonators, Elvis and animals, Elvis in person, Collecting Elvis, Elvis in cyberspace - It's sort of a "how to" book on being an Elvis Fan. It's like a Peter Guralnick book with a sense of humor and a lot more photos.

Not only does it tell you everything you want to know about Elvis himself, it tells you about what has emerged in the 25 years since he's been gone. At the end of every chapter is a section called " The Elvis and You Experience." This is where the author's suggest things to do to enhance your enjoyment of Elvis. The suggestions are a lot of fun. Some are really silly. Just like Elvis!

My favorite chapter is "The Pilgrimage". It lists all the important places to see in Memphis during tribute week. A lot of stuff only Elvis insiders know. I'm studying up to get ready for Tribute week 2002. If you're going to the 25th anniversary Elvis week in Memphis this August. I have one thing to say about this book. Don't leave home without it!

Probably because the book is this massive it is printed on very thin paper. Especially because this guide will function as a reference book often, this is a pity. We bet there will be only a few in perfect condition after a couple of weeks. Also a lot of the pictures used in the book deserve more than the exposure they get now, also due to the poor paper-quality. On the other hand: this work on quality paper might hardly be affordable for a lot of people, so the choice is understandable. Let's see if the content is good enough to hope for a "deluxe version" someday.As we always do with new books, we thumbed through it looking for new pictures. On first sight it looked a little complex, with a lot of repeats, we thought. Well, we weren't completely wrong about that, but starting from the beginning we soon found out it has a reason, and a well considered one. All chapters are build in the same way: a more or less short essay about the subject, facts ("Essential Elvisology"), references ("Your Elvis Education") and tips how to enrich your own experiences regarding the subject ("The Elvis And You Experience"). This consistent design makes it pretty easy to find what you want, most of the time. Unfortunately there is no index to this guide, so when you are looking for something really specific... it can be a very hard job.During the acknowledgements it becomes clear that the book has "a heavy Internet base". The reader familiar with the Elvis-scene on the Internet will recognize a lot of the names. Of course this results in a lot of references to the Internet throughout the book.The book is split up in 33 chapters, starting with the man himself: a short biography, mainly a time-line of important dates, his death, his records, his movies, his TV-work, his shows and his personal interests. There are a couple of chapters that are devoted mainly to the fans: Collecting, The Pilgrimage, Your Elvis Shrine, Impersonators and such. As stated before, all chapters start with an essay. Those essays are very well written, and even though nothing new comes up, the point of view from the authors makes them very enjoyable. The guide part of these chapters is very good, directing the reader towards the more important available works. Because the Internet-addresses (the so-called URL's) are often very long and hardly readable, the references to the sites look pretty cluttered. A better solution would have been to list just the site-names, with an alphabetic overview including the URL's in the back of the book. Since this book has its own site (that is: they are constructing the site, so far it looks like they only registered the URL), it might be a nice idea to include all links used in the book on that site, if possible per chapter. Since the Internet is evolving constantly, this might be a good idea anyway. Before such a list returns from the printer it may be outdated already.In general we can say the Elvis part of the guide is reliable, there are some mistakes, but they are in every book it seems, and we didn't find real major misses. The "You"-part is often going towards the ridiculous, especially the chapters we mentioned before. This certainly doesn't mean you can easily skip them. Again, the essays are well written, including a lot of wit and the "tips" are often so ridiculous it gets really funny (e.g. the "Dos and Don'ts of Impersonation" and "How to get started impersonating"). Having met all kinds of people ourselves (especially on the Internet), we know it's not complete nonsense written in those chapters, but sometimes we can't help but think it's too crazy to be true. In opposition to the main media, that love to use those exceptions to stereotype the average Elvis fan, this book shows it in a light-hearted, funny way. Probably the poor souls suffering the "handicaps" in these chapters won't even recognize it and take it seriously, so they'll be happy too.  Our conclusion is that this guide is really what it claims to be: "the guide to the pleasure of being an Elvis fan". Interesting, well researched and very enjoyable, thus it gave a lot of pleasure. We can only say that supported by a well maintained website it certainly deserves a "deluxe edition". "So now let's have a tremendous hand for a very nice book"

"Elvis & You", A comprehensive book like this deserves just a short review as it contains within it vast scope it's own recommendation. Elvis fans will be delighted with it's in-depth research, and the less scholastic will enjoy the eccentric humorous nature of the book as a whole. A work to explore at leisure and delve into for those important links to all things Elvis. A bargain for the photos alone!

As a discerning fan of the late Elvis Presley since 1957 yours truly has read a library of Elvis books-this one is amongst the very best.

This book is by far the absolute best book that will ever be written about Elvis. The authors are sincere Elvis fans who have done their homework, and it truly shows in this masterpiece. Whether you are a lifelong Elvis fan, or an "outsider looking in", this book is a must read. If you are an Elvis skeptic, read this book and you will be smitten for good. Kudos to the authors!!!

One of the most useful, fun and interesting Elvis books around. A must-have for Elvis fans and scholars because of the breadth and depth of its information. The photos are great as well. This book will be read and used for a long time. I only wish it had been around when I wrote my Elvis book - would have made my work much easier!

This is the best book ever. John Joseph takes you back to the pre- Age of Quarrel street- times. Hillarious, emotional and hardtimes, this book rules !

John's an "amazing" writer!!! Unbelievable talent!!! I love how his life has evolved after such a horrific childhood.... He shows us once again that you don't have to stay a victim if you take charge of your life...
John has an enormous capacity for forgiveness... Forgiveness has set John free to give back with a pure and open heart....

I must agree with all the positive reviews of this book. I admit I wasn't sure what to expect. I was familiar with the Cro-Mags mostly through them being mentioned with Agnostic Front as NYHC. Great bands along with Sick of it All, Murphy's Law, and Bad Brains, but writing a book is much different than hardcore punk. Thankfully John succeeds on both fronts. The book was well written, engrossing, humorous, heartbreaking, and always entertaing. Everyone can learn from John's lessons. Keep an open mind and listen. Give Thanks and Praises!

"The Age of Quarrel" album by the legendary Cro-Mags is the greatest Punk/Hardcore album ever recorded. Yes, I think it's better than the Bad Brains ROIR release...sorry just my opinion. This book like the aforementioned album is down right raw as it gets. It is brutally honest, sad, hilarious at times, unselfish, unapologetic and more importantly inspiring...it's NYC to the highest degree. John has overcome his addictions and his screw ups with no excuses. He hustled cause he had to, he knew no other way. There was no one to guide him in the right direction, so he chose his own path...the streets. This book is more than one man's tribulations, it's about survival and everything that comes with it. It's about family, friends and trust. John Joseph is a true testament that if you want change all you have to do is believe and NEVER give up no matter how down you are. I commend JJ for writing this book and letting us come in his life. John Joseph is Hardcore.

As a Cro-Mags fan since the 80's the least interesting (but still great) part of the book was about the band. However, it was still disheartening nonetheless. Why? cause that original line-up (AOQ) should have made more records together and been huge. But greed, egos and an ongoing soap opera has somewhat tarnished this legendary band. In this great book there is mention of a show they played at L'amours in Bklyn (w/Carnivore, Nuclear Assault) back in the 80's. That night introduced me to the Cro-Mags live show. I remember they sounded and looked great. John joseph was doing flips into the audience and the dance floor was packed with skinheads, it looked like a battlefield. One of the greatest shows I've ever been to.

No one is saying John Joseph didn't have a terrible, abused childhood. He did. No one deserves what he endured. However, I wonder if I am the only one noticing certain disturbing things. I guess the main thing that bothers me is is his total lack of remorse for certain bad things he did. I am not talking about the Krishna stuff -- and he says he does feel bad about that -- I am talking about stuff he did on his own.

On pages 347-348, he talks about how he and his brothers rent a house from an Indian immigrant, Umon. For some reason, this man and his family remind John of the Valentis, the terrible foster family that abused him and his brothers when they were kids.

John takes about two pages to describe how they scammed this man out of months worth of rent and caused him all kinds of emotional distress. John describes this with such glee -- he doesn't seem to understand that he is hurting a human being, a person with a family, a person with bills to pay. NEVER does John indicate that he is sorry he did this. It's almost as if he thinks this family owes him somehow. Read the pages (347-248) and really think about what John did and how he sounds when he writes about it. It's disturbing.

This family MAY have reminded him of the Valentis. But they weren't the Valentis. They were just trying to make a living. John should have expressed some remorse. Instead he mocks this Indian man in a way that sounds -- I hate to say it -- almost racist. Look what John wrote: "When he (the Indian landlord) returned with the cops he starting yelling in a mixture of Hindi and English, 'Doo bah did dee had bah dee dee 'want my money' da dondi did dee boo dee dah...now!'"

I couldn't believe what I was reading. OF COURSE this man wanted his money! He had bills to pay and a family to support. How dare John make fun of his language?

The last John has to say on that topic is, "We made plans to meet him one morning at the house to give him his check for the seven or eight months of back rent. We pulled a midnight move the night before and left his a** sitting high and dry on the doorstep."

And that's it. Not one word of apology -- only pride in the fact that they tricked this man. Is it just me or do others think that comment is just dripping with self-righteous contempt? I felt bad for that man and his family. John sounds PROUD of how he scammed him.

When John describes the beginning of the scam, he wrote, "Umon kept smiling, patting Frank's sons on their heads and repeatedly saying in his super-thick Indian accent, 'What a nice American family. So, so nice all of you are.'" After John reports this, he mockingly writes, "Guess he shoulda read Robert McKee's 'Story,' cause the brotha got fooled by the characterization."

That shocked me, too. Why should Umon have read anything? Why is John blaming the victim? Someone who was being truly honest about himself would have written, "I shouldn't have scammed someone who was trying to make an honest living."

And Umon was trying to be nice, to say kind things to kids who, I imagine, didn't hear nice things very often.

I wonder how much personal growth John has really done. He just wrote this book, and he could never have described how he scammed this man with such pride if he had done as much personal growth as he claims he has.

This set of Book/DVD/CD provides an excellent training material for learning Flamenco Guitar for who has some background of playing guitar.
I am quite satisfied with this set and have alreday got the Volume 2:book/DVD.

thanks a lot, el libro, cd y dvd llegaron a tiempo, muchas gracias!!
un manual practico para iniciarce en el mundo del flamenco

The product lived up to my expectations. The DVD allowed me to see the way that the flamenco players accomplish techniques. It is a great way to introduce the flamenco guitar technique.

Graf-Martínez's Value Pack is truly a bargain. You get not only a text in a familiar, carefully annotated and progressive format, but also its parallel breakdown in lessons on both CD and video (DVD) format. The author's detailed explanations make much of the flamenco nuances accessible. Go through the DVD first to familiarize yourself with the material, put the CD in your digital player so you can enjoy it in your car or home, and then go back to the book and follow the method.

I started with this DVD two months after I started playing the guitar. I found the DVD very helpful, and kind to myself as an ultra beginner (although I do read music).

PROS:
*Martinez plays a song in its original speed; then, with tabs and music available to the viewer, he plays it much slower.

*The DVD starts with easy techniques, working its way to more difficult ones. The techniques are shown in regular speed, then a much slower speed.

*The camera gives close-up angles of right-hand techniques.

*Tabs are available.

*After a technique, a song follows using only that technique.

*A highlighted bar moves across the music showing where Martinez is playing. This also serves somewhat as a metronome.

*Great songs

*Wide range of techniques introduced and explained.

CONS:
*The translator for Martinez sounds a bit awkward; nonetheless, every word translated is very comprehensible.

*Sometimes the tabulature (i.e. the actual numbers themselves) is hard to read.

*Rarely is there a close-up on the fingering hand of Martinez.


Overall: I cannot recommend this DVD enough for beginners--it has been immeasurably helpful for me, and has turned me into an intermediate player.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels). Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, but Lady Lufton has many more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's disappointment in love increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, pushes Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. Mary Whipple

Anthony Trollope is a favorite author of mine, and this audio CD version of Framley Parsonage, read by Simon Vance, is well worth the investment. Deft use of language and a keen sense of human motivation, time, and place characterize all Trollope's writing, and those who enjoy period literature will be more than satisfied with this book. It starts slowly, as Trollope's stories often do, but once the background information is given, there are many interesting social, political, financial, and romantic plot developments to engage the reader and listener. Simon Vance's reading is superb, as always. The only caveat is that his rendering of the voice and character of young women is not as good as his pitch, tone, and inflection when narrating the voices of mature women and all men. His skill in rendering different dialects for different social classes and geographical regions is matchless. By all means, listen to this book.

The fourth of the Chronicles of Barsetshire, Framley Parsonage (1861) is a gentle novel filled with memorable characters, including many characters from The Warden, Barchester Towers, and Dr. Thorne. Mark Robarts, a young vicar with a devoted wife, has a comfortable situation at Framley Parsonage on the estate of the indomitable Lady Lufton. Her son, now Lord Lufton, had been a friend of Mark Robarts at school, and it was their friendship which resulted in Mark's position. Mark, though conscientious in his duties and grateful for his situation, is ambitious, however, anxious to expand his horizons beyond Framley.

Lady Lufton, who rules with an iron hand, is appalled when Mark decides to spend a weekend with a "fast" crowd, one which he believes can advance his career. Young and naïve, he becomes the dupe of an aristocratic "con-man," an MP named Nathaniel Sowerby, who persuades him to help him out of a financial jam by signing a note for five hundred pounds (more than half Robarts's yearly salary), allowing Sowerby to draw funds on Robarts's name. Though Sowerby swears he will resolve the problem within weeks, he needs an additional four hundred pounds when the note comes due.

In the meantime, Robarts's sister Lucy arrives at Framley Parsonage upon the death of their father. Lucy, a sweet ingénue in mourning, soon comes to the attention of Lord Lufton, who is fascinated by her naivete, a marked contrast with the women he has known to date. Though Lady Lufton has much more "significant" matrimonial prospects in mind for her son, the courtship begins, and though Lucy declines Lord Lufton's initial proposal, she remains in love with him. As Robarts's financial miseries become more pressing, and as Lucy's misery at having turned down Lord Lufton increases, the scene is set for a final showdown.

Numerous peripheral characters, many of them known to readers of the series, add to the drama of the primary action. The implacable dowager Lady Lufton, wishing to maintain her family's social position, staunchly opposes the Duke's relationship with Lucy Robarts, pushing Griselda Grantly, daughter of Archdeacon Grantly, as the Duke's suitor. The competition between the (Archdeacon) Grantlys and the (Bishop) Proudies for suitors for their daughters adds great comic relief to the story, and the internecine manipulations among the clergy provide gentle satire in a novel which seems to be remarkably domestic in its focus.

Trollope provides a full picture of Victorian life, representing many aspects of society, and though his view of the clergy has in earlier novels been a bit jaded, he is sympathetic to many of its representatives in this novel, seeing them as humans, rather than as types. A sweet novel, part love story and part social commentary, Framley Parsonage is charming, memorable for its characters and picture of Victorian England. n Mary Whipple

The Warden
Barchester Towers
Doctor Thorne (Barsetshire Novels)

In this novel we find one Mark Robarts, clergyman and parson of Framley. He is an ambitious young man desirous of rising in society. He is friends since childhood with Lord Lufton who makes an unfortunate introduction in the person of Sowerby who seduces poor Mark into signing his name to a debt which the parson cannot afford.

Mark Robarts's father passes away early on and his sister Lucy joins Mark and his wife at Framley Parsonage where Lord Lufton falls in love with her. Two more couples form and while I won't reveal how any of these relationships work out it wouldn't really matter if I did. Trollope's plots usually vary from bad to good but they are hardly ever of any importance anyway. What is important in a Trollope novel isn't what the plot is or how it concludes, it's how it works itself out and how Trollope paints his characters.

The characters in Framley Parsonage are a little whiter and blacker than those of the previous novels in the Barsetshire series. Sowerby is by far and away the blackest and Trollope was so effective in painting him black that towards the end he clumsily appeals directly to the reader and assures us Sowerby isn't really as bad a fellow as he seems.

Dr. Thorne and his niece Mary Gresham appear (from Doctor Thorne) as do the Grantlys and the Proudies (from Barchester Towers). Lucy Robarts is a fascinating woman even more headstrong here than Mary Gresham was in Doctor Thorne, but my favourite character in this novel is Lady Lufton. She opposes her son's desire to court and marry Lucy but does so politely and with consideration. At the same time, Lucy behaves in way Lady Lufton can only find irreproachable. So of course, not having anything with which to reproach Lucy, Lady Lufton has nothing with which to oppose her son's suit. And yet she does. How will this three-sided battle of wills, pitting Lord Lufton against his mother against Lucy against her suitor, resolve itself?

Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it? Let's just say that Lady Lufton has painted herself into a corner and let us leave it at that.

All in all, another fine example of Trollope's mastery of moral calculus.

Vincent Poirier, Dublin

Framley Parsonage is the fourth in Trollope's Barsetshire novels. Trollope (1815-1882) wrote the novel as a serial in the influential Cornhill magazine in 186-61, This novel along with the others in the series: The Warden; Dr. Thorne, The Small House at Allington, Barchester Towers and the Last Chronicle of Barset is a delightful return to mid-Victorian middle class society in a rural mythical county named Barsetshire.
In this long novel of over 600 pages there are several stories. The main character is the Rev. Mark Robarts, a
doctor's son, who at a young age becomes the vicar of Framley Parsonage. He has children and a kind wife Fanny. Mark has visions of grandeur in his head. He lends money to the unscrupulous Member of Parliament Mr. Sowerby. As a result of this fatuity Mark falls into debt. His friends rally to his aid.
Mark's sister Lucy Robarts is novel's heroine. She falls in love with the wealthy Lord Lufton who lives at Eustace Court with his formidable mother Lady Lufton. Lady Lufton wants her son Ludovic to wed Griselda Grantley the statuesque but dull as dishwater and cold as a cucumber daughter of Archdeacon Grantley. Lufton is torn between these two women. We see Lady Lufton overcome her prejudice against Lucy. Lucy is a kind girl who minister to the family of the poor clergyman Josiah Crawley. She wins over the heart of Lady Lufton and the reader.
Secondary plots concern the midlife romance of Miss Dunstable and good Doctor Thorne. Olivia Proudie daughter of the fussy busybody and scold Mrs. Proudie and the uxorious Bishop Proudie weds a clergyman Mr. Tickler who is a widower. Griselda Grantley is courted by the stupid Lord Dumbello who possesses a name and title to the Hartletop lands and fortune. Will she win Lord Lufton or choose Dumbello?
All's well that ends well in this classic Trollopian tale. Long before Jan Karon, Anthony Trollope wrote humorous, moving and plot driven tales of the lives of the clergy dealing with real life problems, romance and challenges. In my opinion, an Anthony Trollope novel is a good way to spend a quiet evening before the fireplace. Enjoy this wonderful author and the world he created.