Rock Books

A fun read for most Elvis fans. The story is delightful
and fast paced with alot of twists to keep a mystery
reader happy. As a fan, I found myself wishing for a
few more details to be like the personal Elvis.
eg: language used was ok, but certain phrases
could have just as easy been used that Elvis was
known to say often. Ok..Ok... I'm picking but
all in all it was a fun book and worth a read and
a must for E collectors.

I'm not a big Elvis fan and when my husband brought this book home, I was reluctant to read it. Alas, with nothing left in the house to read, I had no choice (I am a serious book junkie!). I thought the book would be silly and rather tongue-in-cheek, but boy, was I wrong. This book is magnificent. It is a real page turner! I could hardly put the book down. Elvis plays a detective trying to figure out who is killing the young, female presidents of his fan clubs. He turns out to be an upstanding citizen and his character is portrayed as being very un-Hollywood. Elvis fights both crime and moral issues is this novel. The book is quite witty and, although I would like to say I did not know who the killer was until the end, it managed to keep my attention with the interplay between the characters. For those who like a suspense-ful novel with light-hearted brevity and a good, twisty plot, this book is a must read!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Elvis comes off as a real live breathing human being, and Daniel Klein did a great job with the various characters. I especially liked the relationship of Elvis and Selma - very sweet and tender. Elvis in the book did a lot of the things that the Elvis in real life would love to have done. The mystery itself was intriguing - strange lethal drug killing fan club presidents - various characters appearing to be the likely suspect. I liked Selma so much that I was sad at the end - and the final phone call from overseas was a great ending. My only complaint was the overuse at times of crude language which did not always seem necessary. However, I enjoyed the book enough that I would definitely buy the next in the series. Jean Donovan

Kill Me Tender by Daniel Klein

"Kill Me Tender" is a pure fiction "murder mystery" featuring Elvis Presley. Well, why not? There are many "fact"-books written about Elvis that are playing more or less fast and loose with those facts. At least the cover of this book states that this time it is fiction.

Elvis playing detective is not a strange idea at all, because it is a well-known fact Elvis had the hang of the police enforcement. Overall it is clear that the writer studied his main character pretty well. He does not only recommend Peter Guralnick's works, but it looks like he actually read them.

Daniel Klein took some liberties with stipulations as to time that catch the eye of the reader immediately, at least when the reader is an Elvis-fan. To the less fanatics those stipulations are just "Elvis-facts" that may seem in place. We can safely place the story in 1960, because most "facts" point to that. Elvis is home for just a couple of months after returning from Germany and "Elvis Is Back" is his latest album. Being a couple of weeks from the filming of "Take Me to The Fair" is in contradiction with this, because this movie (which became "It Happened At The World's Fair") was not filmed before the last quarter of 1962. Also a statue of Elvis in a jumpsuit and a TCB-belt do not really fit in the 1960-picture, because it took another decade before those things showed up. On first sight it looks strange that some of the Elvis-related people are mentioned by name, like Priscilla, Vernon, The Colonel and The Jordanaires, while Elvis' close friends are fictional.

Here we'll stop the hair-splitting. Assuming you like murder-mysteries at all this book is a nice read. It is fast, but demanding: it forces you to read on, even when you know you should go to sleep, because you have to go to work again the next day. The mystery starts when two young girls, both presidents of local fanclubs find an untimely death. Elvis gets involved and before you know it you are reading about P.I. Presley instead of G.I. Presley. There are some tender, touching moments, of course there is tension too and even humour can be spotted on several pages. In other words we enjoyed the book very much and therefore we won't say anything more about it, especially not regarding the story line. Not to give away the clue and to be sure we won't spoil your pleasure reading it!

What a great mystery. I loved having Elvis Presley sleuthing to unravel the mysterious deaths of the fan club presidents. He was very likeable but he also resembled the real King.

Elvis is made aware of two young girls who have apparently died in their sleep. They were both presidents of his fan club in different Tennessee cities. No one believes them to be anything but sad. No foul play is suspected. Elvis feels differently and enlists the aid of Billy Jackson, a self-taught doctor to a small black community. His nurse Selma also assists and Elvis is smitten with her.

He also has to deal with a Elvis impersonator that thinks he really is Elvis. Elvis consults with a forensic psychiatrist to try to understand the killer's mind.

Then there is another death of a fan club president. Still no one will listen to him and look into these deaths as murders. Plus Elvis keeps receiving recordings of his songs but with twisted lyrics. Who can be sending these? Could they be related to the deaths?

In the meantime, Elvis goes to his class reunion and runs into Penny Woodruff, a classmate and former girlfriend.

Things are getting complicated and Elvis is constantly missing recording sessions in his quest to find a killer no one else is even looking for. His is constantly have to deal with his manager and childhood pals at Graceland. His interest in Selma is constantly growing, but what about Priscilla.

Elvis ends up putting himself and others in danger to discover the identity of the killer before there are any more deaths.

I found this to be a delightful mystery. The Elvis character was so well constructed, I often found myself wondering if these things really happened!

This is a terrific new series and I can't wait to read them all. You will not be disappointed! You won't want to put it down until the last page! I highly recommend it!

Even adults will love this book, which is geared toward 9-12 year-olds. You won't look at man's best friend the same again!

With "Larry: The King of Rock and Roll," Iris Rainer Dart and Joyce Brotman have created a moral tale that is at once wildly fun, totally absorbing, and quite touching. As we follow the sky-rocketing career (and ego) of Larry, a talented and talkative Maltese, we learn that even the most famous fido has his day and ultimately needs his friends. In Larry's case, these are Tom and Cathy, the father and daughter who are, respectively, Larry's musical partner and his best friend. Rainer Dart and Brotman give extra zip to the story of Larry's rise, fall, and return to grace by alternating the chapters between Cathy's narration of events and Larry's, creating a conflict of perspective that will keep children and adults eagerly flipping the pages. A great story--even for cat people!

My six-year old son and I read this book together and loved it. The story is original (rare for a children's book) and engaging. I would recommend Larry the King of Rock and Roll without reservation.

Yes, you CAN tell a book by its cover. Though I am a mature adult, I was attracted to this book, recommended for 9-12 year olds, by its delightful cover. So I bought it, read it, and loved it. It's breezy, funny and feel-good. And it has a story that keeps you guessing till the very satisfying ending. My wife also loved it and we have already sent it to cousins with two kids. Can't wait to see the movie!

This is an excellent book. Full of talent and originality, you will never look at your dog--or treat him/her for that matter--the same way again! A must read for early tweens.

Maybe it's the setting, my alma mater--the University of Louisville campus--but I felt right at home with these characters. A hunk trying to live a responsible life and a responsible bookworm trying to break free of her image. It's an academic experiment that quickly runs out of control. I'll never look at a car wash again without thinking of this book! Joanne Rock is one fine writer, one to watch.

Cal and Maddie's story snagged my attention from page one and held it all the way through a one-sitting read. What an awesome story with great characters! Cal's sister Allison is esepcially fun with her mall addiction. Joanne Rock stories are now definitely on my auto-buy list!

Graduate student Madeline Watson feels outraged to learn that her desertion topic has been rejected. She had elected to study the mating practices of humans from a sociological point of view. The committee's denial of the topic implies that she lives a pristine life that lacks practical experience with dating rituals; therefore, her innocence disqualifies her from making an adequate study of such a racy topic. Consequently, Madeline approaches long time friend Cal Turner, the bad boy of the teacher's lounge. Her goal: to practice dating rituals publicly enough to convince her professors to reconsider her topic.

Cal has tried to flirt with Madeline for years, but she just never seems to "get it." He resolved long ago to maintain their platonic friendship. Now he is shocked at Maddy's invitation to come to her place to burn up the sheets. Shocked that she offers and flattered that she wants him, Cal still has to decline. He has been cleaning up his reputation for the sake of a custody hearing for his little sister. A flagrant and public affair could cost him the case. Still, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Madeline, especially when his Lady Scholar becomes a siren in a red dress.

Author Joanne Rock brings a marvelous sense of adventure and a touch of the unexpected to LEARNING CURVES. In the Ivory Towers of higher academia, this marvelous heroine discovers that higher learning and falling in love can be both challenging and rewarding. Rock carefully sidesteps current policy of prohibiting a graduate student and an instructor from dating. Her ingenious resolution: they were friends before he started teaching, she has more teaching experience, and they are in different departments. And in a world where a graduate student's reputation makes all the difference, in this case because she is a little too pristine, Rock exploits the possibilities to the fullest. A delightful romp scertain to entertain, LEARNING CURVES comes very highly recommended.

Madeline Watson wants to study human-mating rituals...and who better to study with than her good pal Cal Turner. But Cal can't have a scandal, and a scandal is just what he'll have if word gets out he's dating a grad student. There's too much at stake to risk. But maybe there's too much at stake not to?

Joanne Rock writes a steamy story with "real" people who will not only delight you, but move you!

I figured a Harlequin Temptation novel would have plenty of sizzle, especially one whose cover featured a scarlet sheath-clad siren in the back seat of a classic convertible getting very friendly with a gorgeous guy. LEARNING CURVES, the Harlequin Temptation debut of Golden Heart winner Joanne Rock, does have sizzle to spare. But it isn't a case of all sizzle, no steak. Ms. Rock delivers a juicy, full-flavored steak with the love story of Madeline Watson, a socially inexperienced academic and Cal Turner, the campus bad boy she chooses to tutor her in the subject of passion. Cal and Maddy set off sparks that can't be quenched by either the complications in their lives or the pink soap bubble car wash that's the scene of one memorable tryst. Like a roller coaster that ends with a lingering ride through the tunnel of love, LEARNING CURVES, provides the perfect mixture of sensual thrills and sweet satisfaction.

I purchased this book for my sister for her birthday because is is a Die-Hard MJ fan and she just loves everything about this book!!, The pictures, The Interviews she says that it even has MJ opinion about how he felt about the his earlier hits. So I say this is a very excellent book to purchase for yourself if you too are a die-hard fan of MJ'S or even if you know someonre who is they won't be disappointed.

P.S. It even has his lyrics to certain songs. So how can you go wrong? this book was worth every cent I sent to it knowing how happy it made my sister.

this book is basicaly a bunch of facts on the star with itntrevew tranacriptions and some nice pictures thown in although the way the book is set up is a little odd and the typing errors in the first few chapters lead me to belive that it was rushed to prir This book iss not a bio it was a book put togther by a big fan that becaily said michael jackson is cool and heres why after quickly going over his personal life (and not in much detail) it basicaly breaks down what hes done with somerarelly seen at least in some areas of the word intervieews printed

This is a beautiful book from the front cover to the back. It's a down-to-earth, no-non sense read on the entertainer. It's a keepsake for the bookself.

This 300 page book is not just another book on Michael Jackson! This book is unique and a mile from the rest! It's packed with detailed information on the life and career of the entertainer. It's a well-written book that can be housed in any public library or on any high school bookshelf. Yet, I have noticed that this clean book on Michael Jackson doesn't appear to be selling as well as all the other books that are on the market about him. What a pity! This book is more of a literary work on the Superstar life and career than any of the others that I have read. But it's missing one main ingredient - Trash! It doesn't really get into throwing stones and pulling what-ifs opinions out of the wind.
But that's the world we're living in. Give the people what they want, and what they want is dirty laundry over good writing! Decent works like this one get left behind!

this Book is very Detailed&the world Owes Michael Jackson as does the Media a Big saying they are Sorry.He is One o fthe Greatest Musicians Ever. He has Broken down many barriers.Michael Jackson is a Civil Rights leader&Strogn Pressence that will never be denied.almost 40 year career.He is the King of Pop&this Book goes into many areas acknowledging His Genius&timeless Musical Qualitys.

Just finished reading Mind Bomb for the second time. I enjoyed it even more than the first time. It is is without doubt one of the most uniquely funny stories I've ever read. I really wonder how the author came up with Mind Bomb. I've only ever felt like that with one other book and that was 'The Perfume', although Mind Bomb is not as well written as Patrick Suskind's dark masterpiece. Nonetheless what Mind Bomb lacks in brilliant writing style is more than made up for by the author's bizarre sense of humour. The story of the guy on an LSD trip who thinks he is a chicken is a split your sides laughing classic. Now that I think about it I'm starting to wonder if I shouls read Mind Bomb for a third time. It is that kind of a book.

Be warned, Mind Bomb is not a book for the faint-hearted. It is a tough take on life and deals with sex, drugs and rock and roll in a way that is both visceral and so darkly humorous that it will have you asking yourself, 'Am I really so warped that I find this irreverent, absolutely outrageous take on the sixties so damned funny that my laughing bone feels like its going to explode?' If you've ever rolled up something tasty in an XL cigarette paper, this is the story for you. Hold on to your hat and get ready to be mindbombed.

A fantastic bit of storytelling that I read from cover to cover in one night, Think Cheech and Chong meets Billy Connolly on acid.

Mr. Mitchell is a wonderful storyteller, and had me laughing out loud on many occassions. I have rarely read a story which covers the sixties and early seventies that captures the wonderful madness, innocence and insane stoned enthusiasm that is the essence of that time.
I ould not put it down, and it left a delicious aftertaste;very more-ish.
At the end I wanted to start the next part immediately, and can only hope that it is published soon, as I for one do not want to lose the momentum of such a fun and rollicking ride.
I would love to sit around the fire with this man and some stimulants.

This book was one of the most unusual overlying threads to the plot that I have ever seen. Hamish Macleod is on a trip to Southeast Cambodia in 2005 and he decides to take a late-night stroll on the beach. A little fatigued, he decides to sit down under a coconut palm. There are few things that he could have done that would be worse, for the audible click and the hard pressure on his buttock inform him that he has just sat down on an unexploded land mine.
As common folklore dictates, he mind begins to recapitulate his life. It begins when he and his twin brother Angus are born, an event that claims the life of his mother. His father, a fisherman plying the stormy waters of the North Atlantic off the coast of Scotland, dies before returning home when his ship is wrecked by a storm. Hamish and Angus are split up and it is decades before they learn of the others' existence.
Using interleaved threads, Hamish relives Angus' life as well. Both boys and then men live wild lives, crime and drug involvement are prominent. The story ends with the lines "Free of thought, he closed his eyes and found himself tottering on the brink of a great abyss. He jumped." While this line could mean that Hamish got up off the mine, it could also be metaphoric, where his mind is just continuing to work.
What stands out in this book is the incredibly creative imagery that the author uses to describe the events. At times it is hysterical; there is no part better than the section on the pillow being used as a masturbatory organ by the boys. After it reaches the point where it is ripe from overuse, the pillow was thrown into the seas. Caught by a fisherman, he samples the contents and finds it tasteful and capable of mimicking the highest quality Viagra. Being the enterprising sort, he uses it to mix up a liquid elixir and sells it to his friends.
From the information on the title page, this is "The First Book of the Landmine Chronicles." I am eagerly anticipating the sequel as this book is remarkably imaginative and one of the most engaging books I have ever read.

the book was great...it showed just how close each member was to each other. The book shows how they each live their every day lives and their personality.

nsync is the number one band and they have the awards to prove it justin alone has won 3 and the group to many to count and if i gave the awards away they would get everyone of them even though i only met joey and only joey he was really cool about taking his personal time to come and sign autographs well go nsync and buy every book out there everyone.

I love all the new pictures in it. My man JC looks really good. All the guys are so awesome, and soon, N Sync will conquer the world and leave BSB in their dust!

the book was great...it showed just how close each member was to each other. The book shows how they each live their every day lives and their personality.

I think NSYNC is really cool. I've met them before they were famous which was really wicked and they're sooo down to earth. I mean BSB is well kinda..conceited if you ask me. That lifelong amount of fame has gotten to their heads but NSYNC is really nice and everything to their fans. I'm not "obsessed" or anything. I'm not really a fan but Lance is pretty cool. My special nickname for him is "Blonde Boy" and JC "Dude in the White Shirt" lol this was WAY before anyone knew who they were but like I totally support them in anything they do. They're nice guys.

Nirvana was an iconic album of the alternative rock genre. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is just short of the music CD itself in fully understanding the album that made the grunge movement of the early nineties so memorable. Taking a look at the early days of Nirvana's career complete with black and white photographs of the band's early days, information on recording sessions, and information on each track of the million selling album. "Classic Rock Albums: Nevermind Nirvana" is an absolute must have for any Nirvana fan who can't get enough of trivia for the group.

It tells alittle bit about the history of Nirvana but its mostly about the making of Nevermind and about the songs. Its pretty good.

This book gives an excellent account of what led to the great CD we now know as Nevermind. It briefly describes Nirvana's rise to stardom and gives a glimpse into the personalities of the members, but is at its best in describing how the actual production of the album went. Using numerous sources, the author lets us listen to Nevermind in a completely different way. The only downside is that it is a relatively short work, and I left wanting more

This is an excellent book on Nirvana, and it is too sad that it is out-of-print. It contains important interviews and write-ups from several pop culture mags of that era on the band--on performances--on their overall views...

Does this signal that Kurt was right: Grunge is dead?

Well, perhaps dead but not yet interred into the earth.

Yeah, yeah, it's really lame to buy a book about them and all, but this isn't just another stupid ripoff fan book- this is really good stuff. It's funny. It's sad. It gives Courtney a chance to look less evil- I changed my mind about her because of this book. And it's not just about Kurt like most Nirvana books are- there's a good amount of stuff on Krist and the various drummers as well. Serious Nirvana fans really need to read this.

As an eager but somewhat overwhelmed newcomer to the world of ambient music, I've found this overview to be informative & invaluable. It's constructed like many ambient pieces: layers of information & exotica that overlap, shade into one another, and in many ways recreate in prose the experience of the music. Yet at the same time, there's a clarity & focus to the writing, which becomes apparent as the reader flows from one topic to the next. By the end, I'd not only gained some real knowledge & understanding, I'd been given some excellent starting points for further exploration. An exemplary volume, highly recommended!

I love to read about music, but there are so few good music writers it seems. This book approaches the development of incidental, ambient, experimental, avant garde, and world musics in a way that mimics the music itself - with random bursts of observations, anecdotes, interviews, and just plain bizarre missives. I encourage anyone with a sense of adventure and an open mind to grab a copy.

There is a similarly-titled double CD which came out to accompany the book, but I can't see it on Amazon. It is as eclectic as the book and features a lot of the artists interviewed and mentioned - Sun Ra, Aphex Twin, and others. I have played the CD to death and would recommend it. You gotta respect a compilation that puts The Beach Boys right next to African Headcharge, or My Bloody Valentine next to Brian Eno - and makes it work so well.

The book also features a list of albums and artists in the appendix, which I found useful as a way of doing further research.

Another book in a similar vein is Kodwo Eshun's "More Brilliant Than The Sun", though it focuses solely on the innovators in electronic music.

If you like ambient, or....atmospheric music of any sort you should give this book a chance as it a nice erudite survey of the various genres and musicians that are linked to..or been influenced by ambient music. It is not a linear survey thru time, but rather this book reminds me of a map which Toop rolls around visiting here and there with a few jumps now and then as he discusses how in the last 100 years "music has reflected the world back to itself and to its listeners". The writing is enjoyable, and full of poetry, such that I kept finding myself underlining odd bits and pieces every few pages and I wound up compiling them for myself for future reference. There is also a nice bibliography and discography at the end of the book.

Incredible in many ways, Toop's book attempts to trace a quiet revolution in twentieth century music. One cannot deny the impressive breadth of his knowledge, from Stockhausen to Miles all the way to Future Sound of London and their ilk. His writing is quite often beautiful, if occasionally one feels like he is writing too many words to actually say anything.

Ultimately, however, I leave the book feeling a bit underwhelmed. Ironically, it is the book's very eclecticism that works against it. I personally did not see the connectionsbetween, say, the music of Kraftwerk and Toop's (admittedly fascinating) discussion of the sound of the Amazon jungle. These disgressions ultimately make the book useless as a survey. Of course, I doubt that it was meant to be so, but Toop fails to make the kinds of connections that have given books by Greil Marcus and others a fascinating unity.

Perhaps, though, this is the point. Much like the ambient music that serves as the centerpoint of the book, this book simply floats by, not asking you to make any conclusions. It is probably best read in bits, before bed or in the bathroom, where the individual moments of brilliance can be better appreciated. Very ambient, indeed.

David Toop is both a musician and writer, having done ambient music, dub music with the likes of Prince Far I, and of course numerous written articles on ambient and experimental aspects of popular music. I'd have to say that this book is perhaps one of the definitive studies on this musical genre, covering the aesthetics, listening practica, concepts, influences, directions, and so on of this growing musical field in a very inclusive and insightful style. This is perhaps one of the best written companions to everything ambient, as well as influences on ambient music from as far afield as Sun Ra and Karlheinz Stockhausen. Anyone interested in knowing more...either in scope, or deeper within...on ambient should obtain a copy of this book.

Very interesting facts that actually help you to be a winner with this game!

I had to read through this book a few times, as it is quite complicated - I never really knew there was so much to RPS. I always assumed rock beats everything, but after my second or third reading I started to understand the intricacies of the game. I now choose paper everytime, and my winning rate has increased almost 1%

I bought this as a gift for my wife. Whenever it's time to clean the cat boxes or change a dirty diaper or do anything else unpleasant, She always wants to RPS for it. Now, we at least play by the rules and the decision is made fairly.

You think Rock Paper Scissors is a game of chance? think again! This book offersgood information on the game, its history, strategies, and much more.

this guide has really helped my game!

I was enchanted by the ideas in this helpful and instructive guide to painting gnome houses from rocks you can find in your yard. I showed the book to my crafty ladies group and I had to order 3 more. There are such darling villages and imaginative scenes that are shown in this book,that your imagine just explodes with new ideas of your own. I hightly recommend this book for making something out of nothing!

Lots of great ideas of rock to houses. Cute & warm samples.

I'm very satisfied with the books i've bought.
They are very instructive and complete.
They teach the reader to paint rocks step by step, allowing consisting apprenticeship.

I love the book. It is filled with ideas that will keep me busy for a long time. We enjoy our yard and garden so making these little houses, cottages, and towns will be fun to add to our stepables garden. So thanks Lin for being so creative and for sharing your ideas with others like me.

This is a well written and very specific guide to painting houses on rocks. It is beautifully illustrated and offers very specific, understandable and do-able instructions. It is not possible to read this book without feeling encouraged and motivated to get going.