Rock The Books

Lone Star Ice and Fire is a tale of rock and roll excess and redemption told with the backdrop of a familiar base of two guitar playing brothers from Mingus, Texas. The Blaine brothers are based on Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan and takes their story to all new and inventive heights. The background and supporting characters are the same, but the outcomes of their lives are quite different.

For those not familiar, Stevie Ray Vaughan was an enormously talented blues guitarist whose fast paced, frantic style had people comparing him to Hendrix. Jimmy, the less known of the two, was the guitarist for the blues/rock group the Fabulous Thunderbirds.

"Fire and Ice" takes us on a journey with the two brothers from their teens in Mingus to the heights of their popularity. Along the way we get a great look at their struggles, their heartache and their redemption. Those familiar with the Vaughans will see similarities with throughout the book with the actual Vaughans, but Brady takes the story in entirely different directions.

The book does a great job mixing actual musicians with fictitious ones who propel the story. Half the fun is trying to figure out just who is supposed to be who. Those familiar with blues, rock and soul will have fun with the numerous songs and artist sprinkled throughout the book, but one does not need to be a true `recordhead' to appreciate the story.

Brady is a skillful writer who does a nice job focusing on the important parts of the 20+ years of the tale. Rarely does one wonder why a particular scene is included. Her writing style is descriptive, but she avoids the flowery, lengthy descriptions that too many writers use when describing emotional music like the blues. She lets the reader rely on their own experiences and knowledge, why at the same time not being too minimal. She describes the important parts and lets us decipher the rest.

The book alternates between the two brothers as the protagonists. Sonny "Icestorm" Blaine is the older brother, with the movie star good looks. A great guitarist, but Sonny never gets the widespread acclaim. Walker is the younger brother. Not the looker his brother is, Walker has a true gift for music. He's truly special. Both brothers live in the shadow of one another, and their subtle rivalries propel much of the story.

The supporting characters are what make the book. From Cilla, the brother's femme fatale, to the mysterious Bonell, the "Used Car Salesman of the Blues", the supporting cast is key. Brady doesn't just focus on the protagonists, she fleshes out their lives with rich, wonderful characters.

You don't have to love the blues to love the book. If you've ever watched `Behind the Music', you'll enjoy the story. It has all of the makings of a great rock and roll tale, drugs, sex, music and the fast paced lifestyle they create. It also has believable, likable characters that are all too human.

Brady has brought to life the heart and soul of the blues singing lifestyle: of two brothers, Sonny and Walker Blaine, whos loves, hates, addictions and competitions know no bounds. Through her pen we feel the music we don't really hear, sense the euphoria and let-down of the effects of debilitating drugs, struggle with the emotions of the comings and goings of elusive lovers, laugh and cringe at the antics of the colorful sub-characters, wonder at the mystical drive that pushes them both on, and celebrate their victories or cry at the losses life sends their way. She has captured in this story the need of one man to jealously guard his role as leader-of-the-pack and of the other's desire just to be himself. This is MUST reading for anyone who has an interest in the human experience.

I have always found the rock'n'roll novel a tricky genre -- the novelists usually get the music right, or the drugs right, but they often skimp on characters or language. Not so here. Brady writes beautifully and understands the music so completely that she can write about fictional music and make you hear it. Her characters Sonny and Walker are compelling and exasperating and her minor characters are colorful, funny and vivid. Brady creates an entire world of Texas blues music and musicians full of salty, sarcastic dialogue, referencing traditional legends such as Robert Johnson and enhancing them with legends of her own. The drugs are there, yes, but for once they're not the whole point -- the characters are more addicted to each other and to the music they create than anything else. I was sorry to see it end.

Much like the book "A Day in the Life," this one details all the songs, recording sessions and goings-on behind the scenes of the Beatles' studio career. Unlike "A Day in the Life," this book was able to make use of the Anthology interviews, and other tidbits that have surfaced the past 12 years. It is very interesting and doesn't fail to hold your attention throughout, all while reinforcing many things you already know about the Beatles' recording sessions, as well as giving you new insight into many songs.
Much like Abe Lincoln material, Beatle books are ubiquitous and a dime a dozen. This one deserves to be on your bookshelf with a few select others.
Besides, the picture on the front cover is cool.

Any music library strong in Beatles surveys and references will welcome LONG AND WINDING ROADS: THE EVOLVING ARTISTRY OF THE BEATLES, which takes quite a different approach than most biographical focuses. This one maps the group's evolutionary trends from their first recordings to the height - and then fall - of their career. The Beatles' body of songs - not their lives - are considered in an analysis which does include some biography, but doesn't make this the focal point. The result is more well-rounded than most Beatles coverages with an emphasis on music over inspirational influences.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of books written on the Beatles. However, Mr. Womack has added another significant chapter to the story. This well written and researched book will be enjoyed by the ultimate fan or folks just becoming familiar with this group that will long be realized as a major force in 20th century popular music.

Madonna's Girlie Show was a thrilling extravaganza of a show! The setlist combined old hits with material from her then-new-album, Erotica. This book showcases the show with pictures, both behind the scenes and the show itself. Throughout the book, there are captions which promote the show as the spectacular, circus-like escapade that it is. Bottom line, the book truly captures the excitement of the show.

It comes with a 3-track CD, which features live performances of "Why's It So Hard?", "In This Life", and "Like A Virgin". Official live cuts of Madonna songs are a rarity indeed (I believe the only other live track released on CD is "Live To Tell", on the single for "You'll See" as a hidden track). The only complaint I have is that they edited "Like A Virgin" to exclude the portions that blend in Marlene Dietrich's "Falling In Love Again". That was the best part of the song!

If you're a Madonna fan, there's no reason why you shouldn't own this! Aside from the Sex book, this is a very special collector's item. I definitely recommend this!

This book makes a great companion to the controversial sex book. Though the Sex book was controversial regarding whether it was true art or not, this book proves that Madonna is indeed a true artist, explaining that her concerts are not about her songs, they're more about creating an ambiance, mood, and journey. Though the book is relatively hard to find, it's definately worth it to any Madonna fan, or anyone who wants to impress their guests by displaying it on their coffee table.

OK, so Madonna's second book was less controversial then her first (I forgot the name, something that rhymes with REX?). But this follow-up is nonetheless creatively assembled and beautifully shot. Think of it as "Truth Or Dare: The Written Edition". Stunning color photographs document Madonna's limited 1993 World Tour, which still ranks as her most glamorous and visually stunning show. Other goodies include behind-the-scenes photos and Madonna's own personal journal of the complicated tour. While turning the pages, you can listen to the CD insert, which features highlights from the show. An excellent book to read right after viewing her original concert film "Truth Or Dare", this is also a great companion piece to the home video "The Girlie Show-Live Down Under".

Well,this item that i purchased,is very awesome i think it's worth it to have this madonna stuff!

In 1998 at the Oscar's Madonna was called the sole survivor of the 80's. Now, nearly a decade later the terms holds true. What was the secret to a reign that rivals the Rolling Stones and Elizabeth the First ... her STYLE! From New York street urchin, yoga mamma, Gauthier Muse, and Scottish lass Mrs. Ritchie .... Madonna is the master of reinvention. Her style is always changing and evolving with time, and keeps everyone guessing what this pop culture icon will do next.

Unlike her 80's contemporaries (Boy George, Cyndi Lauper, Pat Benetar, etc) ... Madonna is not stuck in an era of the "good old days" because like her style reflects, the good times are always NOW!

I just received my copy of this book yesterday! It's a visually stunning retrospective of Madonna's inimitable style and her incredible influence over fashion and pop culture over the past twenty years. The photographs included in this collection are beautiful and capture the true essence of a woman that transcends mere superstardom and is in a class entirely by herself. This book is definitely a must-have in all Madonna fan's collections. Also check out Matthew Rettenmund's Encyclopedia Madonnica & Michael D. Craig's Who's That Girl? The Ultimate Madonna Trivia Book!

One of the best Mariah Books I've read. This has lots of Info for mariah fans!

This book is Great. It has lots of Information about mariah. SO BUY IT. Thats why I give it 5 stars. It has tons of facts about Mariah Carey. There were thins I just found out about just reading this book. It's not like other books that say things you know It has differnt things about her.So go ahead get.I recomend it.

She is so great.So is this this book."Very Informational". There were facts in this book That I just found Out . So for all the MC webmasters you should buy it because it's great . That's all I can say!

The specimens shown in this book from the Houston Museum are truly the top of their class. This is a coffee-table book for the mineral collector, and only falls short of a visit to the museum itself.

Excellent detail and photography. Very good section on attributes of mineral specimens, locations,and collections through the centuries.A wonderful table top book for everyone to enjoy.

Minerals and crystals are among the most beautiful objects on the planet. Their sculptural shapes and intense colors can be mesmerizing. Amazingly these specimens haven't been "enhanced" by cutting or polishing. They are as God made them. These magnificent photographs of the world's greatest collection capture their beauty as well as any book I've ever seen.

When I started reading books about Elvis, I began to take notes on where he'd lived, played, recorded, etc., knowing one day I'd travel there. Then I discovered this book! Mike and Cindy had done the work for me. The book is not only well written, but there are informative stories AND they tell you if a place has been demolished, or moved -- information that saved me a lot of time. After reading the book I decided that I HAD to take Mike's tour of Memphis -- it was well worth it. I had a glorious time -- Mike is a walking Elvis-encyclopedia (and fun too!). After the tour, my niece, who was traveling with me said, "well, I think we've done it all and seen it all"! And yes, thanks to Mike and Cindy, we had.

This is the ultimate read for any Elvis fan. Especially if they are going to spend any time in Memphis. It's eerie, even chilling, to walk the grounds where Elvis walked as a teenager, and even during stardom. This is a step-by-step narrative of how to find nearly every address related to Elvis in Memphis, and every one of them with a used-to-be secret. It's really cool!

I had this book on my bedstand for months as a gift from my wife. Once I picked it up and read the first page, I couldn't put it down. Every page is loaded with "Man, If I would've only
known."

But you better hurry! These sites are rapidly falling by the wayside. As we saw in a store window in Memphis, you can contact the authors for a personalized tour. Although we haven't taken it, this would be a way-cool afternoon.

Thank you Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman,
Dave-n-Tina Campbell
Mt. Vernon, Texas

Memphis Elvis Style Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman A phenomenal number of books have been written about Elvis. Recently it would seem that ever more such books are being published. Some are just rehashes of the same old story; others are the recollections of a five-minute fling, being as much a flight of phantasy as a worthwhile document; a few, a very few, are really worth buying and can be returned to again and again. "Memphis Elvis Style" by Memphis residents Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman is most definitely one of the latter. It has not been launched under a blaze of publicity, but it is nevertheless an almost indispensable addition to the Elvis library. "Memphis Elvis Style" is, in fact, a guide book of Elvis related sites in and around Memphis. The no less than 129 sites have been cleverly organised firstly by their chronological relationship with Elvis and then further grouped by type. In addition, maps and an index help searching both in the book and in Memphis itself as simple as possible. And if this wasn't already enough, each entry contains detailed instructions on how to find its site and exactly what to expect, many buildings having been flattened or modified in the course of the years. But the book is also for those who have never been or never will go to Memphis. Cindy and Mike have achieved this by expanding each entry with some background information and an anecdote directly relating it to Elvis. This additional information provides some excellent reading and is sometimes quite amusing - I particularly liked the story of Elvis's visit to his local McDonald's with girlfriend Linda Thompson., but there are lots more stories and Elvis lore to satisfy all readers, even those looking for information about Hi Records, car dealerships, and just about everything else associated with Elvis in Memphis. Definitely a book to get! David Neale September 199

The Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary is the most comprehensive book ever published on the King of Pop. Michael Jackson himself has recommended this book - mentioning it in the sleeve notes of his HIStory - Past, Present and Future Book 1 album. Covering from the birth of Michael Jackson upon to the present day, the book provides a complete record of Michael Jackson's moves, grooves, music, albums, family, history, and more. Illustrated with hundreds of photographs, the book also details Jackson's records, concerts, videos, awards, interviews, quotes, public appearances, his family, fascinating memorabilia and details of rare Michael Jackson records, and much more. From Steeltown to Motown, from the Jackson 5 to his solo career, from The Wiz to Thriller, he's been Bad, Smooth and Dangerous and even Blood On The Dance Floor. He's made captivating videos, with exciting dance moves, played spectacular concerts and filled the world's largest arenas across the world. He has been performing since the age of five, breaking records since he was 11 and a star without equal since 21. He has been such a great influence on music history over the past 30 years and with this book, you can be part of his journey from birth to present (full with dated details). Though never far from the media spotlight, Michael Jackson remains an enigma. The Michael Jackson: The Visual Documentary presents all the facts about Michael as never before -- everything you need to know about world's most famous celebrity is in this one book. The book contains over 200 pages, over 280 photos, promo pictures, rare pictures, complete discography, singles information, family tree information, and much more. The complete history of Michael Jackson.

Props to Adrian Grant for this Book. Elvis,Sinatra&the Beatles I got there albums&they were alright,but MJ Built the House Known as Pop Music. nobody else has taken Pop Music where he has. the Brother always makes Me Proud.growing up in the Hood from Gary Indiana to Becoming the King of Pop.the Man is a One Man Industry.Owns those Catelogs,Masters&is the Most Influential Artist over the past 30 years easily.Every Artist over the past 30 years is in Debt to this Man's Musical Genius&Vision.this is a Tight Book&takes you back.He is the Artist that got me interested in Music more than anyone else.truth be told:the Brother is Vastly Underrated IMO.He deserves far more due for the doors He Broke down.

I got this Book a few Years back&truly dug how Adrian Grant went into Detail on MJ's Music.He mentioned when tracks were done&also mentioned side tidbits that were cool as well.very good comprehensive overview on one of the Greatest Music Artists Ever.He mentioned this song called "Buffalo Bill" that Michael Jackson had done&I was like I wish I could have heard it? that was cool of Him to drop Songs&things.alot of folks don't know how detailed MJ is in the studio or the fact He records so much.

If I had to describe this book (and indeed, other books in the Mrs. Jeffries series) in one word, I'd say "clever." Emily Brightwell has a wonderful knack for creating such interesting plots and twists. The way the characters slowly peel away at the mystery and the way the killer is revealed in a heart-pounding way are simply genius.

Sit back, read this book with a cup of tea, and enjoy!

Only the gardener and the residents of Sheridan Square have keys that allow access to the gardens. Venerable Scotland Yard Inspector Gerald Witherspoon begins investigating the murder of Mirabelle Daws, a visitor from Australia. The highly regarded law enforcement official expects this case will prove relatively simpler to solve than most of his previous cases due to the limited opportunity. However, as Gerald meets the occupants, he finds it difficult to see who would possibly have the motive amongst this gentle group. Adding to his troubles is that no one, including the sibling, knew or expected Mirabelle to be in England.

Unbeknownst to the Inspector, his housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries organizes the staff to begin their own inquiries in support of their beloved employer. As the Witherspoon servants begin to unlock the case, Mrs. Jeffries subtly provides her employer with clues and answers without him being aware of what his crack staff is doing for him.

The fourteenth Mrs. Jeffries Victorian mystery stays with the overall premise of the series, yet continues to retain a freshness to each new novel entry. The current tale, MRS. JEFFRIES ROCKS THE BOAT, is entertaining and the who-done is perplexing but interesting, and the characters provide a taste of life the nineteenth century in England. Emily Brightwell's novels continue to be some of the brightest historical mysteries of the past decade.

Harriet Klausner

This is one of the better Mrs. Jeffries books. The plot is a little more complex than some of the preceeding books. When an unidentified lady is found stabbed to death in a locked communal garden, Mrs. Jeffries and her crew are launched into investigating one of the most confusing cases yet. The ending for this one is a bit of a surprise as well. And we see Bestsy and her Smythe reach another level in their "courting". Same great characters, same cozy atmosphere - What else could you ask for?

Book is easy to read with lots of colorful pictures. My 3 month old loves it when we read to him from this Bible. We as parents enjoy it as well for the "child-like" perspective it gives us as God's children. I highly recommend this for anyone seeking to introduce their child to God's Word at an early age.

This is a very child-friendly book that helps young children understand the story of the Bible.

I bought this book at Sam's Club for under $10. It's so short and sweet that it keeps even my 1-year-old's attention (unlike several other "first bible's" I've seen). My experience has been that other toddler bible stories are still too long for the very young, but these are not. One story is over in 2-3 minutes, usually. Also, nice big print for when the child starts reading on his/her own, and, of course, LOTS of pictures! I didn't know there was also a prayer book until I saw it on Amazon; I plan to order it.