Michigan Books

Although I have never been to Detroit, I was able to appreciate and enjoy this book because I could readily identify with the decadence Daniels depicts so well with his characteristic honesty and realism. As Daniels' characters come-of-age in their midwestern wasteland, they are challenged by the problems and dilemmas many of us faced during the seventies and eighties, but one reality that permeates virtually all of these tales is how, during these decades, we often desperately sought love and understanding from our families and from society. Daniels'characters try to deal with their own problems and dilemmas by escaping to other locales, by isolating themselves, or by remaining at home and making the best of it. Three tales that feature characters representative of the escape category are "Cross Country," "Renegade" and "Islands." In the first tale, EJ and fellow autoworker Jimmy climb into the latter's Gremlin and set off across the country in search of adventure and new jobs. In the second, Kenny, a Vietnam vet, joins a gang of mostly fellow assembly line buddies because he missed the "sense of togetherness" of the sixties, although at one point he flashes back to when he and Cheryl, his high school sweetheart, once in vain headed north out of Detroit to begin what they thought would be new lives. In "Islands," Gerry and his young wife attempt to carve a normal family life out of their Detroit neighborhood, which includes a halfway house/drug outlet across the highway from their residence. Other characters respond to the city's decadence with physical or psychological isolation. The narrator of "Good Neighbor" and her husband Terry have progressively isolated themselves from their rather peculiar neighbors. She explains, moreover, that they do not even sit out front anymore because,"Looking across the street at each other dying off, it's too depressing." When they receive a surprise visit from former neighbor Bert, the narrator vividly recalls how Bert had once stopped over to see her and inappropriately embraced her. The narrator of "Sugar Water," a late 20's autoworker, is about to break out of his social isolation through his relationship with Sue, but at the latter's graduation party, he explains how he had violated this relationship when he and Sue's longtime friend Karen had sneaked off to the park to have sex, commenting that, "Maybe I'm destined to drive by the houses of women all the nights of my life, wondering what's inside." Characters in the third category, however, are able to improve their lives by making the best of what they have, sometimes discovering love and understanding in their own back yards. A must-read here is "Middle of the Mitten," a lighthearted Chekhovian tale about a college senior named Avery, who is haunted by his best friend's suicide, involved with two very different coeds, and troubled because he must pass crusty old Professor Cornwall's astronomy class in order to graduate. Avery is able to combat his own suicidal tendencies through his gymnastic sexual relationship with nymphomaniacal Snake Lady Karen and through his chief love interest, Dawn, who is not interested in "sweaty" sex. Dawn is earning a "C" in Cornwall's class and Avery is failing; moreover, Cornwall had once observed how Avery's dog had relieved himself on the professor's front lawn, so that one day in class Cornwall halted his lecture to inquire of Avery, "Aren't you the one with the poopy dog?" After the class roars with laughter, Dawn passes the embarrassed senior a note, reassuring him that, "I still love you, even if you have a poopy dog." Yes, love and understanding can be found by some of Daniels' otherwise desperate characters--those whose day-to-day struggles play out within otherwise sordid and often depressing environments, and if you give these insightful tales about America's incredible decadence a chance, you may find yourself, like me, identifying with, if not laughing at, many of his finely realized characters and their often bizarre circumstances.

Although I have never been to Detroit, I was able to appreciate and enjoy this book because I could readily identify with the decadence Daniels depicts so well with his characteristic honesty and realism. As Daniels' characters come-of-age in their midwestern wasteland, they are challenged by the problems and dilemmas many of us faced during the seventies and eighties, but one reality that permeates virtually all of these tales is how, during these decades, we often desperately sought love and understanding from our families and from society. Daniels'
characters try to deal with their own problems and dilemmas by escaping to other locales, by isolating themselves, or by remaining at home and making the best of it. Two tales that feature characters representative of the escape category are "Cross Country," "Renegade" and "Islands." In the first tale, EJ and fellow autoworker Jimmy climb into the latter's Gremlin and set off across the country in search of adventure and new jobs. In the second, Kenny, a Vietnam vet,joins a gang of mostly fellow assembly line buddies because he missed
the "sense of togetherness" of the sixties, although at one point he flashes back to when he and Cheryl, his high school sweetheart, once in vain headed north out of Detroit to begin
what they thought would be new lives. In "Islands," Gerry and his young wife attempt to carve a normal family life out of
their Detroit neighborhood, which includes a halfway house/drug outlet across the highway from their residence. Other characters respond to the city's decadence with physical or psychological isolation. The narrator of "Good Neighbor" and her husband Terry have progressively isolated themselves from their rather peculiar neighbors. She explains, moreover, that they do not even sit out front anymore because,"Looking across the street at each other dying off, it's too depressing." When they receive a surprise visit from former neighbor Bert, the narrator vividly recalls how Bert had once stopped over to see her and inappropriately embraced her. The narrator of "Sugar Water," a late 20's autoworker, is about to break out of his social isolation through his relationship with Sue, but at the latter's graduation party, he explains how he had violated this relationship when he and Sue's longtime friend Karen had sneaked off to the park to have sex, commenting that, "Maybe I'm destined to drive by the houses of women all the nights of my life, wondering what's inside." Characters in the third category, however, are able to improve their lives by making the best of what they have, sometimes discovering love and understanding in their own back yards. A must-read here is "Middle of the Mitten," a lighthearted Chekhovian tale about a college senior named Avery, who is haunted by his best friend's suicide, involved with two very different coeds, and troubled because he must pass crusty old Professor Cornwall's astronomy class in order to graduate. Avery is able to combat his own suicidal tendencies through his gymnastic sexual relationship with nymphomaniacal Snake Lady Karen and through his chief love interest, Dawn, who is not interested in "sweaty" sex. Dawn is earning a "C" in Cornwall's class and Avery is failing; moreover, Cornwall had once observed how Avery's dog had relieved himself on the professor's front lawn, so that one day in class Cornwall halted his lecture to inquire of
Avery, "Aren't you the one with the poopy dog?" After the class roars with laughter, Dawn passes the embarrassed senior a note, reassuring him that, "I still love you, even if you have a poopy dog." Yes, love and understanding can be found by some of Daniels' otherwise desperate characters--those whose day-to-day struggles play out within otherwise sordid and often depressing environments, and if you give these insightful tales about America's incredible decadence a chance, you may find yourself,
like me, identifying with, if not laughing at, many of his finely realized characters and their often bizarre circumstances.

Just as Jim Daniels has grown as a poet, he has grown as a fiction writer. The working class stories of No Pets have become the more diverse stories of Detroit Tales. Daniels characters in Detroit Tales are in complex and tough situations. These are not stories for those looking for sugary, uplifting fiction, though some of the stories do provide a flicker of redemption. Many of the stories center around characters who have lost someone, often to suicide. It befits a book set in and around Detroit, a city that often leaves its residents feeling as though they've lost something, something that died in the suicide that follows building an entire city around one industry. Daniels' characters, young or old, are always struggling with something that nearly anyone can connect with. His characters are up against bullies, bad neighborhoods, bad work situations, faltering marriages, and stifling lives. Although, some of his characters are more on the fringe. There's the Vietnam Veteran biker of "Renegade," the sexually confused twenty-something of "Middle of the Mitten" and the nearly adulterous minister of "The Jimmy Stewart Story". What I really like about Daniels stories is the fact that they don't seem like so many other stories I've been reading. I think MFA programs have done a disservice to fiction in this country. Stories are becoming faddish. Right now the fad seems to be to have characters so far on the fringe that nobody can connect with them. I don't see that in Daniels. Then again, he didn't come through an MFA program. He writes stories out of an innate instinct to write stories -- like writers did before there were MFA programs and writing workshops. As a result, his stories are a pleasure because they are so often surprising -- especially in their lack of overly crafted endings. Sometimes Daniels endings are so subtle that they seem more like life than anything else. Sometimes there are no great epiphanies or changes in character, just characters who are slightly altered, scarred or scared after what they've been through. It seems that Daniels understands life better than he understands the formula of short fiction which, in the end, makes his fiction so much better than most of the Mc-stories coming out of MFA programs.

Margaret Thomas and Lois Johnson did a splendid job writing "Detroit's Eastern Market". I found the book a delight because I not only shopped there many times but when I was a young I sold produce there grown on my Uncles farm in Northville, MI.. I tried some of the recipes and again I was very impressed. I conceder myself a friend of Margaret and hope to have my copy of her book signed soon and cook a dish from the book for her too.

I also as the first reviewer know the authors Lois Johnson and Margaret Thomas. Their approach to writing to me is as fresh as the produce found in the market. I was extremely lucky recently to be part of a tour of the market led by them. Their enthusiasm for the subject is very evident first hand as is their obvious repoire with the traders who generally greet the authors with smiles and hugs. The whole experience I felt was very worthwhile as is reading the book. It has become a stock "Detroit" gift, when I go back to England I take copies for my family and friends who delight in this little piece of Americana.

Sure, Margaret Thomas is a good friend of mine, but I can still manage to be objective. This is a really great book.

Set out as a walking guide to the Market, the text is clear and informative, but maintains a friendly, informal style, just as if you are walking along with the authors in the Market. You will learn about the Market's nearly 200 year history, meet the store owners and get some great recipes while on your "walk". Of course, all the ingredients can be found right in this open air marketplace.

Michigan is a four season state, and this market is open in all seasons, not just summer. A section featuring 8 full menus is organized by seasons-A spring Mediterranean feast features lamb, summer brings fresh salads, autumn has satisfying soups, and a winter highlight is veal scaloppine.

In the index, you will also find individual recipes from appetizers to vegetables (more than 25 unique offerings for vegetables alone) The recipes come from shop owners, employees, farmers, dealers, shoppers and restaurant owners, as well as the authors themselves. Wonderful color photos by Bruce Harkness capture the hustle and bustle of the Eastern Market, and spotlight fresh Michigan Produce.

Like the market itself, this book is "highly useful, convenient and beneficial".

In addition to offering great historical and cultural perspective for anyone interested in the "American War" - the Vietnam War - and previous history...this book is just funny.

It is an intelligent, witty, insightful book, and yet is somehow familiar...almost 'quaint' - with characters who are endearing, comfortable and delightful even to an American reader many decades later.

I was assigned this novel for a Vietnamese history class; I would not have even heard of it otherwise.

This novel is excellent. The writing style, translated from 1930's Vietnamese, is humourous, witty, and fast-paced. The luck, charisma, and quick thinking of Red-Haired Xuan is hilarious, and the plot is worthy of the best modern comedy movies (particularly British ones).

I have no clue how you would find out about this novel, but if you do, you should read it. It had me laughing out loud, and I am not a fan of historical or foreign novels. Considering that this novel is 70 years old and from a totally different language, it must be a masterpiece if to still be so good.

i haven't read a lot of vietnamese literature but among those i've read, i would rank dumb luck and tale of kieu at the very top. dumb luck is hilarious and absurdly modern for its time and place. i could definitely see this book translated into a quirky comedic film (i think the preface says the author may have been influenced by such french films and i can see that, if that's true). the main character, red-haired xuan, is delightful but not annoying. not a word is wasted here -- every character and line of dialogue is essential to the story. the book is a quick, refreshing read. however, in trying to give an objective comparison, i can tell you that my israeli boyfriend also loved it but my vietnamese high school brother merely thought it was funny but not hilarious. pick up this book if you want to read an excellent piece of vietnamese literature or want to spend a few hours rollicking with laughter (or more likely smirking and uttering a couple of "hah!"s every few minutes). this is a rare, obscure find. read it if you have the opportunity to do so.

Although light reading, the text serves as a functional guide; lean and concise requiring the reader to become involved in cross reference.

One of a fantastic series of 4 chuck full of informational volumes dedicated to a particular geographic area. A must for any rock hound weather you travel or just live in the geographic area of the volume. If you can afford it, get all 4 regional volumes. Start with your area. The location information brake down of the minerals to be found in each state counties is so valuable you can't do with out it. Saves time, eliminate barren hunting grounds and it's so detailed as to where and how you find the minerals. This is just one of a fact full accurate guide series you'll want to have in your rock library. Don't settle for an older printing, this one is reprinted and has been updated.

This book looks like it's going to be a GREAT asset in my mineral hunting! I like the way it's set up, by state and then by county within the state. It lists the various sites, tells what has been found at each site and (by a code explained in the front of the book) where in each site the minerals were (in a field, in a mine, in the water, etc.). There are directions of varying degrees to each site. That's the one thing I'd quibble about -- some of the directions aren't that precise. But I understand that some of these sites are private lands, or not completely documented, and he can't come out and say, "Go fifty feet past the blue house, down a ravine, and to your left." In general, the directions seem good enough to get you close, and after that it's up to you.

He lists the rocks and minerals found at each site and gives some information about the quality at most places, including size of crystals found, color (and quality of color), and so on.

My only regret? I don't know if I'll have time to visit each site he has listed! So many rocks, so little time........

I identified with Joe: he is about the same age as me, we both loved aports as children (his listening the football games on the radio reminds me of (audio) taping games as a child. I remember watching those OSU vs Michigan games (like the one where Woody Hayes had a 'fit' and started throwing the yard markers; this was mentioned in the book)...
I took my time reading (in bed each night)this because i enjoyed it alot. A couple things that happened were kind of far fetched (like him recognizing a 'old' player...).
I was really affraid towards the end, that he was going to die somehow. I think that I had a little 'breakdown' about the same time as I read about Joe having one. Mine was related to sports too; "Illinois' '05 NCAA basketball tournament"; I kept thinking about this constantly and kindof 'went crazy' when they beat Lousiville and then depressed like I knew that they would lose to KN; Joe and I have a few things in common.
Incidently, the copy I got (not from amazon) was signed by the author.

Admirers of Ray Murphy's The Siege of Gresham who've beenwondering about what else this manic wordsmith has up his sleeve maybe surprised--& impressed--to find that in Empire & Victory the writer shows himself to be master of quite another mode. In this spacious & heartfelt novel we follow the career of Joe Pakotas, full of hungers & angers fueled by his bleak midwestern childhood. Dazzled by the grace of a University of Michigan tailback, Joe leaves the known world behind & sets out across an America where people hustle, suffer & dream. The faces of this Greyhound landscape are given a vivid, Whitmanlike presence as we follow Joe, hurt, hoping & chasing after dreams he can't quite make out but can't abandon, either. Don't be fooled by the football photo on the cover; this is a book about more serious games & the honesty with which Murphy portrays the desperation around his protagonist makes his affirmations all the more persuasive. Score one more for this writer who increasingly bears watching.

Empire & Victory is one of the best books I have ever read. The story of Joe Pakotas and his riotous journey across the North American Continent is an awesome ride, a tour de force, an American classic in the truest sense. It isn't afraid to be ambitious on a grand scale, and has the heart and faith to tackle subjects cynically judged as passe -- rights of passage, American destiny, freedom, love, and the open road -- with a heady abandon and confidence, as if no novel had ever broached these themes and the record has to be set straight. And it is put forth with such passion and skill, the only books you can compare it to are old and big -- Huck Finn, Look Homeward Angel, Suttree -- books that want to take on so much they burst their seams. Books whose subject is ... America, everything, life. God, it is great and refreshing to read a novel like this. A story that kicks off the old cobwebs of theory and commercial considerations and makes you remember what it is like to discover the world. Hell, if that ain't what novels are for, I think we've forgot.

E&V starts with a bang, recasting an early 70s Michigan-Ohio State football game into a pagan ritual of ecstatic intensity. And continues as Joe Pakotas makes his trek by hook or crook across the country toward the Rose Bowl. It is a pilgrimage as rich, varied and dangerous as the Canterbury Tales. Reading it, I found myself in a state of anticipation as one episode followed the next, wondering if the pace would slow. The sheer number of characters introduced, and the economy and vividness with which they are drawn, is breathtaking -- football coaches, book salesmen, prostitutes, hucksters, religious zealots, hippies, reporters, store clerks, priests, and bus drivers -- all pass before us and instantly ground themselves as real.

There is a throwback quality to the book. There is no sarcasm here, no narrative trickery, no distrust of the medium itself. It is sad that we live in a time that passion is looked upon with a jaundiced eye. Just as the decline of theater has impoverished our acting, the marginalization of poetry has withered our prose. But Ray Murphy has that old time religion. His writing has the clarity and density of 19th century Romantic poetry, as well as the beauty. The prose is so addictive and flows so effortlessly, it colors your consciousness, enriching your view of life. Empire & Victory is exhilarating and revelatory. I can't wait to read it again.

I love the Great Lakes. My great-great-grandparents were pioneers in Manistee. I live close to the lake in Chicago. Our family is tied to water from the 1600s of the West coast of France. Fresh Water was on my wish list for a long time. I asked for it for Christmas. Now I can't give it away. The Notes on the Contributors has too many references to other literature the authors have written and ecological societies around the Great Lakes. The stories vary from personal to purposeful.

Having grown up on Lake Ontario, living now in high desert country, I was longing for the big vista of "my lake". Fresh Water is full of well written strong experiences and images that vividly recalled my years on the lake. I could almost smell and feel that big body of fresh water, remember the intensity of storms and forgotten mystery, as well as the joy of quiet early morning swims. Gifts from Alison Swan and all the contributors!

Edited by award-winning environmentalist Alison Swan, Fresh Water: Women Writing on the Great Lakes is an anthology of brief yet contemplative reflections upon the Great Lakes, all written by women. The essays are contemplative rather than scholarly in nature, dwelling upon emotion, history, the beauty of the Lakes and the need to preserve them. A deeply moving compilation filled with passion and respect for the spiritual bounty of nature.

Langford is even-handed and doesn't withhold criticism of academia and the Church for its handling of Galileo and his books.

What I was taught by public school and the popular press:
The Catholic Church persecuted Galileo because he proved and taught the Earth revolved around the Sun, was threatened with torture and death. Copernicus delayed publishing his theory for fear of persecution from the Church, finally publishing it on his deathbed.

What Langford convincingly shows from research into primary documents:
The Catholic Church was more receptive to the heliocentric theory than the universities. Pope Clement requested a hearing of Copernicus' theory in the Vatican gardens, and was "quite favorably impressed" with the theory. Copernicus was afraid of persecution from his peers, the universities, not the Catholic Church. His fears were well founded, as Galileo discovered years later. Galileo received the full weight of academic condemnation and ridicule. When professors realized peer pressure wouldn't silence Galileo, they turned to the Church for help. Fortunately, a good portion of the Church was behind Galileo. The head of one Jesuit college wrote to Galileo to say that his astronomers and mathematicians had confirmed his theory, but wanted more proof. Galileo's efforts were further encouraged by Pope Urban. His first trial resulted in being admonished not to teach it as fact, but was welcome to teach it as theory. Unfortunately, by the time of his second trial he had managed to alienate his support, mainly by insisting his theory be taught as fact despite a lack of evidence. Two of his proofs were the tides--he believed they were cause by the Earth sloshing the oceans. Galileo insisted on circular orbits, and refused to consider Kepler's calculations on elliptical orbits, which would have corrected errors he and others found in his model. He was tried a second time for teaching the theory as fact, not for teaching the theory. He was never tortured or shown a dungeon. His house arrest consisted of a five-room apartment with a servant at his disposal, and was free to roam Rome while awaiting trial. After the trial, he was released. True he was threatened with imprisonment, but at his age, Langford asserts, both he and the court officials knew it would not be carried out; the sentence would have been mitigated.

In short, Galileo and Copernicus were treated by the academia in much the same way they treat new ideas today. For an explanation of why the geo-centric theory isn't Christian in principle or origin, read Sampson's Six Modern Myths.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This book is mainly about Galileo's theory of universe and the trial of Galileo which was caused by his conflict with the Catholic Church. This book also talks about Galileo's life briefly. I learned about theories that influenced Galileo's ideas and his opinion toward Copernicus's theory which stated that the all of the planets, including the earth, revolved around the sun.

This is a brief, well balanced account of the conflict between Galileo and the Church. It opens with an insightful look at the world view and astronomy of the late 1500's, including a detailed look at the role of Scripture in these views. This is followed with a thorough description of Galileo's life and how his conflict with the church unfolded. The final chapter is a fascinating overview of the relationships between faith, science and philosophy since Galileo's time. It's not overly difficult reading, though it deals with science, theology and philosophy. The book is a fair account, looking at the strengths and weaknesses of Galileo and some Church officials in how they approached the issues. It also critiques some long held cultural assumptions about the causes, events and meaning of this case (ex: Galileo was never tortured; some lower Church officials who disliked Galileo gave the Pope misleading reports, etc). Definitely worth reading!!

Being an experienced sea kayaker I often review books to evaluate the competence of the authors. This book is written by kayakers who really love the sport and want to share it but who have chosen not to guide new kayakers' every stroke. So many guide books do the entire trip for you leaving you with little to learn about your personal skill and no adventure whatsoever. They give you the basics and then leave it to you to discover yourself and adventure. Great guidebook!

We referred to this book time and time again and found accurate, precise information regarding Lake Michigan and Superior paddle trips. Guided us to many accesible sites that represents the true nature of both lakes, from sandy beaches to rocky shores. An accurate guidance of what skill level should attempt each trip. Great book to use as a guide to map a vacation. Also good information regarding restuarants and camping spots.

Good directions to put-ins and landmarks visible on the water

We need more memoirs like this. It takes you back through rock and soul glory years, from the perspective of one of the hundreds of musicians who weren't really "superstars" but were stars simply trying to make a living and make great music. Coffey's rise as a rock and Motown guitarist, his forced move along with all the Motown gang to LA by Barry Gordy, and his subsequent fall from the upper echelon of the American music scene to working on a Chevrolet assembly line reads like a great rags to riches to rags novel. A nice plus is the complete discography and a section where he tells us what guitar he used on different songs.

Under Berry Gordy Motown became a place where studio musicians usually stood in the shadows of solo stars promoted in his studios, for Gordy held stringent contracts which prevented his musicians from playing for other record companies and often denied them credit on his records. In Guitars, Bars, And Motown Superstars, guitarist Dennis Coffey tells how he escaped Gordy's tight hold on music to become a success as both a Motown musician and solo artist - and his backstage look at the Motown experience provides quite a different perspective than most. This is no fly-by-night artist: Coffey was one of Detroit's most important session guitarists in the 1960s and 80s and played for many superstars: his insights are a 'must' for any enthusiast of the Motown scene.

This is one book you just can't put down. It grabs you and takes you on a funk-filled roller coaster ride through LA, NY, Detroit, and all points in between!

Dennis Coffey comes to life and brings you along for the ride of a lifetime. Exploring Detroit in the 60's and 70's, he talks about the rise of Motown Records, his gigs, shows, and tells the stories that only an insider like him can tell. With wit and charm, he often makes you laugh out loud, and you catch yourself imagining just what it was like to be making history. This is the kind of biography and story telling that we need more of. The session players like Dennis have all sorts of great stories because the people they are, and the people they worked with, are so far above extraordinary that it makes for great reading.

Pick this book up, but be warned, you won't put it down anytime soon.

HAUNTED HEART: A BIOGRAPHY OF SUSANNAH MCCORKLE isn't likely to reach the general interest, non-musical reader, for her name is likely to prove familiar only to those with an in-depth interest in female jazz vocalists. This audience, however, will find HAUNTED HEART a brilliant expose of a troubled American songbird, surveying her many achievements as she devleoped her own style and performed in venues around the world while struggling with bipolar disorder. From her emotional ups and downs to her influences on singers of the 70s through the 90s, HAUNTED HEART is a key piece of musical history not to be missed.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

This is an exhaustive biography of the jazz/cabaret singer Susannah McCorkle. The book features a blow-by-blow account of McCorkle's musical career and psychological processes. Why "psychological processes?" Susannah struggled with bipolar disorder for at least all of her adult life, if not longer. She took her life at the age of 55. It is therefore very relevant to showcase her mental state as a major focus of the book. I found it exhausting to read about all of her ups and downs. Think of how Susannah must have felt to live through them!

The other focus of the book of course, is a detailed account of her musical career. McCorkle started out as an aspiring author and one day in early adulthood heard a Billie Holiday recording and decided she wanted to sing jazz. Even though she still wrote short stories with some success, Susannah then started on the road to become a prominent, although always struggling, singer. I felt I was with Susannah as I read about her career and life. The author, Linda Dahl, brings this woman into sharp focus.

To me, one moral of this biography is, "take your meds, folks." Ms McCorkle was not taking her prescribed medicines when she died. I can't help but wonder if the outcome could have turned out differently.

Haunted Heart by Linda Dahl is a biography of American cabaret singer Susannah McCorkle, who took her own life in May of 2001. The author seems to have had extensive cooperation of family members and friends in researching the book. McCorkle suffered from depression and bipolar disorder all of her adult life, and part of her childhood as well. Much of the book is given over to her illness.

Like many women, McCorkle was dissatisfied with her physical appearance, this combined with her mental illness no doubt contributed to her unhappiness. She was a large woman, though well-proportioned and not at all unattractive, but far from her own ideal of feminine beauty.

The author says McCorkle was in love with the idea of being in love (as in the song), she also seems to have been in love with the idea of being a cabaret singer. None of her many romances was entirely satisfactory, despite the fact that she was twice married to men who seem to have been loving and caring. Though a respected professional singer for over twenty years - winning several record of the year awards, her career was not actually very successful. She had a loyal, but small, following among New York's cabaret set, but was not otherwise highly sought after.

The shortcomings of both her personal and professional lives seem to have been related to an inability to compromise. Though, for example, her husband lived in Schenectady, NY, she insisted on living in New York City - even when not performing there. Likewise, she often complained about people talking during her shows and the noise of waiters serving food and drinks. She failed to accept the idea that a cabaret singer is supposed to "put butts on chairs", as someone puts it in the book, not give a master class on the subtlety of Cole Porter lyrics!

Susannah McCorkle comes across as having been a "user", viewing others merely as ways to achieve her goals - particularly musicians, critics, club owners, and others connected with the music business. Repeatedly, she is shown cultivating those whom she feels can advance her career, while ignoring, even dismissing, others. Many people helped her get started, paying for demo tapes, for example, or by encouraging owners of small restaurants and clubs to let her sing, if only for tips. Yet, there was no mention of her having helped others get started later on.

One story near the end of the book struck me as typical of her manipulative behavior. The manager of her favorite venue, the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel in New York remarked, that in Autumn of 2000, she had acted affectionate to him, even giving him a hug, which she had never done before. Later on in the book it comes up that she had taken pains to be affectionate with him, suggesting it was a conscious effort to do so, not a spontaneous act of friendship. Only months before she died, she was still "playing" people she thought were useful.

Significantly, she had few friends among professional musicians, though several friends were amateur musicians. For the most part, her close associates were writers and others connected with the arts and show business. Many of her acquaintances were themselves involved in psychotherapy, both as patients and practitioners.

McCorkle began her career as a writer, only later becoming a singer. She continued to write throughout her singing career, and worked (unsuccessfully) to become a novelist. Her singing style and careful phrasing reflected her interest in words and story telling. She often sought out original lyrics to old songs, and even taught herself Portuguese in order to translate Brazilian songs, so popular in clubs during the 70s and 80s.

The book itself is a little scholarly, perhaps, and not always easy to follow - for example, when the author quotes someone who is quoting someone else. I would have appreciated more frequent date references since the author attempts to intertwine McCorkle's career and personal life with the progress of her illness. The book is a well-documented and carefully researched biography of a person with a troubled personal and professional life. Recommended.