O Books

I got this for my 6-year old niece, and she really liked it. My sister, her mother, liked the book as well. Both said it was funny and the pictures were pleasing.

Update - I got a chance to read the book, and I enjoyed the whole theme of the prettiest girl doesn't always have the happiest life. I liked that it showed how it's good to be practical and make logical choices...but I also believe a good fantasy fairytale is in order every once in a while. It's nice to indulge in the unrealistic, too.

Also, the illustrations were detailed but kind of cluttered, and the paragraphs were so long on some pages...maybe a bit overwhelming for a child learning to read more content than a few sentences.

i think my teacher read this book to me in grade 3 or 4. its the cinderella story, but 'cinderella' doesn't wait around for prince charming doing nothing. she goes through the cinderella story but finds practical solutions to problems cinderella does nothing about or complains about. i can't remember if cinderella is in the book or not as a foil for cinderedna, but it was an amusing read and a enjoyed it at the time. it thankfully isn't a bra burning approach to feminism, but a 'you can do things on your own' book. its cinderella without the idealism. of course we all love the idealism, that's why such stories as cinderella exist, but for every cinderella there must be a cinderedna... because a person can't be entirely practical or entirely idealistic, but a balance of both must be achieved. unfortunately there aren't as many 'cinderenda' books on the market as there should be for young girls, so i guess this one is good!

Wow, I really am missing why this book is so good. I actually had to go back & read the book again when I saw all the good reviews. Well, ying & yang I guess. I didn't like this book at all and I was up for a silly twist on the whole story, but I felt it just didn't get it right. It missed the mark on telling a story of a witch/girl who'd want to be the dirtiest and grossest. I didn't think it spoke to what kids would find gross and funny at the same time. The art was, well you can see the cover. I guess that plays into how she wants to be dirty, but I found it more creepy than yuckie. We even like the art of the "No David" books that some people dislike. Sadly, this book was read once -- maybe twice, but that's it. Not a favorite at all. Of course we've got lots of books that we don't read often; I guess honestly, I can't stand this book and so far with all the books we've got, I can only say that about this book and those terrible "Froggy" books. So, the wonderfulness of this book was lost on me. Not recommended. THe story could have been better & the art is just super unpleasant to look at.

This adaptation of the classic children's fairytale Cinderella brings something of a mixture of the classic story elements (princes, castles, and fancy dress balls) with modern, contemporary settings (the city bus, penny loafers, and recycling plants)...Cinder Edna is Cinderella's more self-reliant, self-sufficient neighbor who just doesn't have time (or see the point of) sitting around in the fireplace cinders feeling sorry for oneself. She gets out and about doing for herself and enjoying life...she even knows 16 different ways to make tuna casserole (and that's quite spectacular, don't ya know)! While Cinderella needs her fairy godmother to get her a dress, a ride to the ball and snazzy glass slippers, Edna gets her dress off layaway, puts on her comfortable penny loafers and takes the city buss to the ball. In the end each girls get her man...Cinderella gets her prince charming and Edna falls for charming's somewhat dorky younger brother Rupert. This story, like the classic, portrays a happy ending for all...the somewhat ditzy and bubble-headed Cinderella spends her days in luxury and self-absorption (and is perfectly happy), Cinder Edna winds up in an ecologically friendly soar-heated cottage with her recycling prince...and she also lives happily ever after (in a life that looks to be infinitely more interesting and full of fun than that of Cinderella and her boorish, snobby prince). I enjoyed reading this as did my 7 year old. I got a kick out of the artwork, which goes along so very well with the message of this particular adaptation (that living happily ever after is in the eye of the beholder...and getting there doesn't necessarily involve fairy godmothers and magic...you CAN make your own happily ever after)! I give Cinder Edna 5 stars and two thumbs up...it made me smile deeply and often and even had a few laugh out loud moments that really made my day! I'd recommend it as a read aloud for ages 5-7, though it's a picture book I don't think that he length of the text makes for ideal reading for younger children (3-5). I also think it would be well received by children transitioning to independent reading, as this would provide a "new story" with some familiarity and the amount of text is just about right for emerging independent readers (6-8).

This is the story of two neighbors, both overworked sisters to mean, wicked, old step-sisters. Cinderella is the pretty one who sits in the cinders and daydreams after she finishes her chores. Next door Cinder Edna, the spunky one but not so pretty, sings while she works. She doesn't like sitting in cinders--gets her clothes sooty--so she takes on extra chores from the neighbors who pay her, enabling her to put a lovely dress on lay-away, her just-in-case dress.

One day the two princes announce a big ball and invite all the women of the kingdom to attend. The six wicked sisters ready themselves through the help of the abused step-sisters. Cinderella's fairy godmother comes along to poof the pretty lass ready. Cinderella's lack of imagination, lack of spunk, lack of proper attitude cannot see a way to the ball. GM has to turn a pumpkin, you know the rest.

Meanwhile, Cinder Edna gets her dress off lay-away, decides to wear her comfortable loafers to dance in, and takes the bus to the ball. There is no effort except her own good attitude. At the ball she finds the handsome prince too stuffed full of himself. Boring, she decides of him. Then she meets Rupert, the younger prince, head of waste recycling and keeper of orphaned kittens and master joke teller. She is known to tell a joke or two herself. They dance the night away.

All good stories must come to an end. The usual hunt for the right foot for the glass slipper, and a woman who can recite 17 tuna casserole recipes play a major role. There is a double wedding (surely this is not a spoiler!). But the big question is: Which couple lives happily ever after?

I am not much of a reader- I start a lot of books but lose interest very fast. I could not put this one down. I read it in one weekend! What an amazing story. I was also struck by the similarities I see in America today.

I've just order Song of Redemption, which is the next in the series. Can't wait to get it!

I pass books on, this series I pass on, but want them back. The stories are rich and not at all trite. Rich spiritually and historically. Great character development. I especially like the novels that have an explanation at the end of where facts were gathered.

Riviting, well written and insightful. I have read the books of Kings and the books of Chronicles in the Bible, and for the most part, the words and names just slip through my mind as a long ago story. This book makes it very real. Personally, I couldn't help but see the eerie similarities between the Isreal that Hezekiah inhereted and the America that we live in today. Perhaps there is more than just history and entertainment to be gleaned from this book.

This series was incredible. I enjoyed the biblical history that was intertwined with Lynn Austin's imaginative story of some of Israel's kings & their lives. While reading this series, I was also drawn into worship with my God. His love & redemption are lived out by the characters as God's plan for Israel is unfolded. It made me wish I could still go to God's Temple on the Temple Mount & worship him like the Israelites did in their early history!

Good biblical fiction remains faithful to both Scripture and its characters while bringing ancient accounts fully to life. Lynn Austin has done a fantastic job of creating a vivid, insightful, page-turning story that I stayed up all night to finish. Austin has very romantically yet realistically depicted noble Hezekiah, the prophets Isaiah and Micah, and numerous other biblical characters. The heroes (and villains) are fully fleshed-out. The story line never slows as it unravels a tale compiled from numerous biblical texts (with which the author shows herself thoroughly knowledgeable). The backdrop of history and geography exhibit serious historical research.

I'm a fan of biblical fiction, and I haven't found any better than this.

WARNING: Don't even pick up Gods & Kings unless you're willing to commit to the five book series. You'll be hooked until the last page of book five.

This book is an exceptional resource for people who want to help prevent animal abuse. Mark Hawthorne offers clear, concise actions we can take in our every day lives that really do make a difference. And he reminds us that we don't have to sacrifice ourselves to the cause to be effective. In fact we are better advocates if we don't.

Informative, engaging, easy-to-read and inspiring. If you care about animals, read this book.

I am so grateful for Mark Hawthorne's debut release, 'Striking At The Roots.' This book is essential for anyone who has observed an injustice in our society but wasn't sure how to approach the systematic eradication of the problem; Hawthorne provides strategies, testimonials, and practical advice for any fledgling or veteran activists who want to make the greatest impact on the world.

The oppression of billions of animals each year for food, clothing, and entertainment is one of the most pressing matters in the world today, and it's my hope that anyone who picks up this book will be inspired to take action to stop the egregious cruelty and abuse that exists in these animal industries. Furthermore, the skills and knowledge learned in Hawthorne's book can be applied to any cause for which one may take up arms: racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc. All struggles are one struggle, and Mark Hawthorne has written a book that will, hopefully, make those struggles a little less grueling.

This is a wonderful book for folks who love animals but are not sure how to turn that love into action. Does everyone have to carry a picket sign in front of KFC? Not at all. As the author shows, there are as many ways to help animals as there are people who care. This is a great book!

"Striking at the roots" is an excellent guide for all those who want to act in defense of animals, without breaking any law. There are so many of us who feel they could contribute more, but have a hard time finding a practical way to do it. This book is extremely useful because it offers so many ideas and examples: there surely is one for you, too. Well written, smart, concise, pragmatic. Couldn't be better.

Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism, by Mark Hawthorne, is about walking the walk - and getting others to walk with you. The book, Hawthorne explains, is "intended for the person who agrees with the premise that animals are mistreated in our society, believes that the public has a moral obligation to speak out against this cruelty and who wants to be directly involved in opposing animal exploitation in its many forms." The book is "a guide to the most pragmatic opportunities available for speaking and acting on behalf of animals." Readers with busy lives are encouraged, "you can make a difference even if you limit your involvement to an hour a month."

Striking at the Roots shows how to become an effective leafleter, write publishable letters to the editor and opinion pieces, conduct successful protests and demonstrations, use vegan food to educate and win people over, engage in corporate campaigning, set up and run a sanctuary, shelter & rescue center, deal with the legal system, and engage in direct action - rescuing animals in order to experience directly and expose firsthand the atrocities they are forced to endure on commercial farms, in laboratories and other abominable places.

As for rescuing chickens from the filthy "broiler" sheds in which they are raised for meat, we're told that "nothing except firsthand experience could convey the utter despair a compassionate person feels at the sight of lame, feces-encrusted birds limping about and dead chickens, their ammonia-scalded breasts denuded of feathers, lying where they collapsed from inhumane breeding practices."

While most activists will not be directly involved in rescuing animals from factory farms and laboratories, Striking at the Roots shows the importance of keeping informed about these rescues and what they uncover, in order to provide credible and compelling content to one's letter writing and other advocacy on behalf of animals. Essential to being an effective activist are poise, self-confidence, knowledge, and persistence.

For example, I am quoted regarding rejected letters to editors and op-eds: "Over the years, I've published many guest columns about the plight - and delight - of chickens and turkeys. I've also written letters and op-eds that were turned down. Usually in such cases, I rework the piece and eventually submit it elsewhere with success. Also, it's good to establish a relationship with an editorial page editor. Not to ramble on and take up their valuable time, but a brief friendly phone call about your submission can increase your chance of being published, and you may be pleased to learn on occasion that the editorial page editor cares about animals and values your concerns."

Striking at the Roots stresses the importance of seizing opportunities to act and speak out locally - "don't overlook even the smallest neighborhood media outlets," activists urge. Local media want to know what is happening in their area. Often a protest demonstration is "a quite interesting and different story to what they normally may cover," stresses an Australian activist.

Striking at the Roots is not just for novices and the insecure. A good activist never reaches the point where ideas about activism are "preaching to the choir." Effective activism is about continuing education, not only of others, but of oneself. It's an essential part of the attitude that is needed to liberate animals and establish their rights.

Karen Davis, PhD, President
United Poultry Concerns
Dedicated to the compassionate & respectful treatment of chickens and other domestic fowl. www.upc-online.org

I do not agree with the reviewer who said that the text was not very good. It is fun to read because of the rhyming text, and it is simple and brief enough to begin reading it to very young twins. I especially like the end that states, "Double hands, skin to skin, Double hearts, twin to twin." It is nice that it starts out at the beginning of the twins' lives and then as the book continues, it describes other events as they get older. Although the pictures are showing boy/girl twins, it is appropriate for all combinations of twins. I am going to be buying it for a friend who is having twins because we have enjoyed this book so much.

I was a little disappointed. The pictures were cute, but not very good text. The book itself must have come from the bargain bin. It had a black marker across the top and the cover was smudged.

If my 19-month old twin girls could give the review for this book themselves, it would be 5+ stars. The illustrations and story are just adorable. What really makes me melt is everytime we come upon the last page that says, "Double hands, skin to skin. Double hearts, twin to twin.", my girls hold hands just like the twins in the picture!

When our boy/girl twins were born, a cousin gave us this book for a gift, and it quickly became one of our favorites to read to them, starting when they were just a few months old. Now they're almost 2 1/2 years old and it is one of their favorites as well. The rhyme is concise and sweet, and the pictures are very endearing. It really celebrates the joy of twins despite all the little frustrations they may create along the way!

Bought this book to read to my two year old because we are expecting a set of twins. He loves the book about "his babies" It is a cute book, great for preparing a sibling for the arrival of twins.

I've read this book several times. Every time I pick it up, I end up laughing until I almost cry. As a bachelor myself, I relate to the grains of reality underneath O'Rouke's great sarcasm.

Not as good as "Eat The Rich" or "Parliament of Whores" or "All The Trouble in the World" or "Holidays in Hell" or "Give War A Chance"; those books are thought-provoking as well as screamingly funny. This one is just screamingly funny, but this might actually be a plus for people whose response to some of P.J.'s better works is a defensive "That's not funny!"; P.J. has a tendancy to poke fun at EVERYTHING, including the sacred cows of people who he disagrees with (and sometimes those he agrees with.)

As a 32 yr old bacelor, this book had me literally HOWLING with laughter! I let my girlfriend read it. We aren't dating anymore, LOL. As ridiculous and as obscene as some of it seems, it is startling to realize that I have actually LIVED like that!

FIVE STARS,..!!!!!!

I've been on a tear of P.J. O'Rourke's books lately, starting with Republican Party Reptile and so forth. This is by far one of P.J.'s best. I'm on the other side of the coin politically (fairly liberal) myself, but P.J. usually spares no one, and I admire that (Rush and his wacko friends could learn a thing or two).

This book is just about how to get by if you're a bachelor. It's incredibly funny for the most part (the cooking sections should not be read if you've just ate!). This is a fantastic little book, very helpful if you plan to live like a slob or like a typical college freshman.

The Bachelor Home Companion: A Practical Guide to Keeping House Like A Pig written by P.J. O'Rourke is a very funny, keep you in stiches book.

You'll never keep a house neat and tidy after you read this book. Of Course, that's assuming that you already do. What its like as a bachelor in theory as to actually being one is, according to O'Rourke, a great disparity. If you want to laugh and be entertained at the same time then this little tome is for you to enjoy.

Humor abounds and your life will definately take a turn... for better or worse will depend on you.According to O'Rourke... "How often does a house need to be cleaned, anyway? As a general rule, once every girlfriend. After that she can get to know the real you."

A really wonderful collection of stories that demonstrates O'Neill's gift of observation, irony and allegory concerning a neglected and under-exposed aspect of the Vietnam War. I highly recommend it both for its excellent craftsmanship and its contribution to our under understanding of that war.

For some reason I didn't think this was going to be a very good book when I selected it. Boy was I wrong, it's a great book. My husband who is not a reader, unless its something to do with sports, is reading it.

Sue O'Neill brings home all the craziness of being in a war. This collection gives a firsthand account of just what it was like to be there and reveals the humanity on a new level. I especially recommend it for the children of vets whose mothers or father may have never come home or never have talked about the war.

Sue O'Neill along with Mary Reynolds Powell (A World Of Hurt) and Sharon Grant Wildwind (Dreams That Blister Sleep) is one of a rare breed of women who not only flew 10,000 miles into a war zone to support an Army whose average age was 19 (in WW II it was 26), she also had the strength and the vision to write about her experiences.

Don't Mean Nothing is an essential Nam book, along with the late Lynda Van Devanter's Home Before Morning. While I don't accept that the war was literally unwinnable, I totally agree that the way it was being fought, with no sense of a Win Scenario at any time, resulted in a mindless and sickening waste of human life - on both sides.

President Johnson, the simpleton who put more than 500,000 US troops in harm's way, yet never defined a Win Scenario or Exit Strategy, once boasted that the Air Force "couldn't even bomb an outhouse" without his approval. Similarly, the target selection for the Rolling Thunder bombing campaign in which the US lost 922 aircraft, was carried out at cozy White House lunches, without a single Air Force commander being present.

Sue's anger at a mind-numbingly incompetent Government, who denied Ho Chi Minh a fair crack at democratic elections (which he may well have won) by installing the hateful and corrupt Diem in the South, is well stated.

These stories take you under the hood, behind the propaganda and the lies and put you right there in the middle of a war that either should never have happened or which should have been fought very differently at the very least.

A great writer. A great human being.

Other Amazon customer reviews have done a great job of outlining the subject matter of these stories. But the stories, which are fine pieces individually, are also wonderfully orchestrated in this collection. Some stories are poignant, some are dark with flashes of humor, and 'Monkey On Our Backs' is laugh-out-loud funny from beginning to end. The stories benefit from both a common thread and great variety, and the overall effect, with recurring characters, is a bit like reading an episodic novel.

Above all, Susan O'Neill is an excellent storyteller, a writer who has mastered her craft. I hope we're going to see more stories from her. I would expect her narratives to be compelling whether set in a war or not. Highly recommended.

The book is great--a long-time favorite of mine. Funny and touching at the same time.

The only drawback to my book: it was the English translation; not the American one.

John

I fell in love with both the priest Don Camillo and his faithful adversary, Peppone the Communist mayor, when I was only ten, and since then have read all of the books, several times. After my experiences of being in the USAF in Taiwan in the 1970s, and now a permanent resident in mainland China's Fujian Province, I can appreciate the kinds of clashes that can occur between Communists and Christians--serious, but at times quite humorous also. I appreciate the zany humor but most of all the down to earth warm portrayels of both Don Camillo and Peppone. The author shows good and bad sides of both, and Don Camillo's conversations with Christ, who speaks to him from the crucifix above the altar, are priceless. After a few stories, one realizes that neither Don Camillo nor Peppone are the good guy or the bad guy, but simple ordinary people--and though enemies, they each sometimes go out of their way to help the other (though secretly, to save face). The cast of supporting characters, like skinny Smilzo, is also a delight.
The line drawings of the angel Don Camillo and the devil Peppone are, of course, priceless. Simple and to the point, they are the icing on the Don Camillo cake, and probably the reason why I draw cartoons on everything from greeting cards to my books on China--Amoy Magic, Fujian Adventure, Mystic Quanzhou, deng deng (which is Chinese for "etcetera"). I highly recommend not only Little World but all of the Don Camillo books in print.

This little book is filled with quick-reading short chapters which each impart a bit of wisdom and a moral or biblical lesson, and always with humor.

The story format is short tales in the ongoing feud between village priest Don Camillo and communist mayor Peppone. One of them often ends up bruised (literally or figuratively). At first blush it would seem like a good vs evil scenario, but really they are very much alike, and secretly sympathize with (even love)one another. Each struggles through life's choices from the perspective of his own situation.

One of the best parts, for me, is that each battle-du-jour includes Camillo's "consultation" with and reception of "advice" from the Christ image at the church altar. Rich stuff. Of course the image is not really speaking, and this technique is the author's metaphor for the working of the Holy Spirit in Camillo (or "his conscience", depending on your own theological perspective).

The theme runs throughout the book. Each chapter in pretty much a stand-alone story, although a few chapters are coupled, dealing with an ongoing incident. An entertaining little read that is a superior choice to those "thought-for-the-day" motivational/religious pamphlets. I read mine a chapter at a time when going to bed for the night. It gave me a truth to ponder as I dropped off . . . zzzzzzzz. Or maybe install a copy in your bathroom book rack. This book is very Italian and very Catholic . . . but you needn't be either to enjoy it (I'm not).

I was at a summer fair recently and browsing on the book stall when I found a very old copy of the Little World of Don Camillo dating from 1953. I had no idea what it was at the time as I'd never heard of it but i was intrigued by the blurb. this book is HILARIOUS! I kept laughing out loud and getting very strange looks! but it was worth it! I am now determined to find the rest of the books and read them although I am aware that they may cost me slightly more that my 25p find at the Fete! It's a brilliant book that transports you into another world with ease and lets you meet characters that you can believe in and love. A very well spent 25 pence!

Having first entered Don Camillo's little world at 10, I have returned innumerable times over the decades, and frequently given directions to friends, too. This little work is a masterpiece. There is more wisdom, faith, hope, and love, to be found in its pages than in many far more "serious" works of fiction. All of that is accomplished in a deceptively simple gem of literary style. Like any great work of fiction, it captivates the heart as well as the mind. It is impossible to spend time in this little world and not come away with a smile on one's face and hope in one's heart. The Little World of Don Camillo is ideal reading for anyone, of any age or condition, anywhere.

I first stumbled upon O'Finioan on YouTube and watched the long interview with him by Project Camelot (over one hour) plus another shorter interview with him and someone who remembered him from an operation. In this video he even begins to cry in the middle. He is clearly sincere.

On his website one can see now that he is paying for this. His daughter's house, near her bedroom, has been bombed. He is also having a hard time feeding his family even though his book clearly could have made enough money for him to live on royalties. But no. The book is not being reprinted and it is out of print and it is, frankly, expensive. On his website a very low-cost e-book version is available. Thanks in advance to the kind Amazon reviewers who let this post be posted.

I believe the events in this actually took place!
I would tell everyone to read this eyeopener!
Onec you start reading, you can't put it down!
Good job and best wishes to the author.

I loved this book!!
I couldn't put the dang thing down until I was finished reading it!
I hope there is a follow up to this story.
It sure tells it like it is!!!

Innocence Turned Deadly is a book everyone should read. As the author says, "It's mostly true!." and..thjat is what makes it so frighting!
I have had the pleasure of hearing Mr. O'Finioan on a couple of radio interviews, and he is great to listen to!
I can't wait to read his nect book!!

This remarkable first novel of Duncan O'Finioans brings to mind another first published in my lifetime, CATCHER IN THE RYE. INNOCENCE TURNED DEADLY has the same classical input into today's circumstances as CATCHER'S had those years ago. The urgency lies in the factual information such as when he writes about the Gestapo. Believe it. It is the Truth.

It's rare that a person who is not a political figure or cultural icon receives the level of detailed attention and analysis that actress Barbara Payton has earned from her biographer, John O' Dowd, in Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Barbara Payton Story. Even the word "story" here is an understatement, for Mr. O'Dowd has written a riveting, page-turning epic.

His subject is a stunningly beautiful actress of largely unfulfilled potential, a "starlet," in Hollywood's dismissive nomenclature. Barbara Payton died in 1967 at age 39, after a self-destructive plunge that remains unrivaled for its momentum and intensity. Her misfortune places her in that pantheon of haunting tinseltown tragedies that includes the Black Dahlia, and that Hollywood continues to pick at, like a sore that will not heal.

Payton's career began in a characteristic way: A high-spirited beauty from Cloquet, Minnesota, she set her sights early on stardom. Already a rebel in her teens, she had one, perhaps two runaway nuptials, quickly annulled, before marrying Air Force veteran, John Payton. The couple relocated to California, where John attended college, and where the proximity of Hollywood soon began to singe the marriage. Barbara's beauty and natural modeling talent quickly brought her studio notice. Despite her joy at the arrival of her son--a deep love that never wavered throughout her life--the modest rewards of domesticity could not compete with the siren song of Sunset Boulevard.

From the start, Barbara Payton's acting career conflated the professional and the sexual with puzzling recklessness, given Hollywood's determination to paste a conventionally wholesome facade onto its actors and actresses. That effort naturally spawned hypocrisy, rebellion, and wreckage. The cheery morality on display in Father Knows Best could turn with toxic fury on those who flouted it, as Ingrid Berman and countless others discovered.

For whatever reasons, Barbara chose the path of least caution. Affairs with co-stars were frequent and blatant; liaisons with the likes of Bob Hope, Gregory Peck, George Raft, Guy Madison, Marlon Brando and others stoked the tabloids. Like Lana Turner, Barbara's poor judgment in boyfriends entangled her in the sleazy machinations of petty gangsters and dope dealers. A defiant streak and possible bipolar personality kept well-intentioned good samaritans at bay.

We see a timeline with an almost vertical rising trajectory, as Barbara is groomed to be a major star. Her salary shoots up to $10,000 a week. She enjoys a heady honeymoon of parties and associations with A-list stars. She is flattered, lauded and lionized as only Hollywood can. Then, almost as quickly as it began, her career is over. Her life becomes a long, agonizing skid downwards, through unspeakable degradation to early death. After reading this book you will never again look at a bag lady without wondering if she might have once been a beauty that men could fight over.

And fight they did. Her probably unintentional heedlessness one night provoked near-lethal drunken combat between her incendiary lovers, the suave, popular Franchot Tone and noir bully Tom Neal, an icon of hyper-sexualized brutality. In the aftermath, Barbara was branded and banished to the hinterlands of her profession. Her career never recovered, nor did that of Neal, who subsequently spent years in prison for murdering his next wife. Tone fared better professionally than he did physically, but his obsession with, and misbegotten marriage to Barbara continued to gorge the gossip columnists--on one of whom Tone famously, and deservedly, spat in a nightclub.

By the mid 1950s, Barbara's career was in freefall. Pictures that came her way were of the ilk of Bride of the Gorilla, thanks to the manipulations of Jack Warner, the vindictive, foul-mouthed head of Warner Brothers, who set out to ruin his own star. But by this time, Barbara's personal life was in freefall as well.

As her looks coarsened from relentless self-abuse, so did her language and behavior. She lost custody of her beloved son, a blow that hastened and exacerbated her decline. The partying became frenzied. She treated her luscious body, formerly a source of pride and pleasure--as something of no value, marinating herself in alcohol, letting herself go shapeless and unwashed. She had sex with a succession of men, seeming almost to celebrate her nihilism--flaunting her poverty; turning passers-by into voyeurs as if to accuse the world. Friends tried in vain to interrupt the momentum. Her long-suffering lawyer, Milton Golden, not only represented her pro bono on prostitution and bad check charges, but threw her a lavish, hopeful party to kick off a comeback effort in 1958, which failed miserably, sealing her doom.

Barbara Payton's decline vividly exposed the deficits of her parents--hopeless alcoholics themselves, complicit in her drinking. The inexplicable impotence of a social system that turned its back on a woman plainly a threat to herself and in desperate need of hospitalization continues to appall. Of course the tabloids, flies on a wound, never deserted her in her torment.

The book is liberally seasoned with pictures, which harmonize poignantly with O'Dowd's evocative writing. We visit Barbara's world in a wealth of scenes; we are riveted by the flawless young beauty wooing the camera, playfully confident of no bad angles. And yet, in retrospect, the eyes seem haunted; the joy manic. Sadness lingers at the corners of the famously lush mouth. The last snapshots are simply agonizing to look at--and yet we cannot look away.

John O'Dowd, who dedicated ten years to this labor, has both shed light on and deepened the mystery of Barbara Payton--which is, after all, a mystery of the human condition. Often, a book or a film is not immediately recognized as the masterpiece it is. Tom Neal's performance in Detour; Barbara Payton's in Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye; and O'Dowd's in this book all bear witness to the demons that can infest the human spirit, lurking just outside our dreams, testing the boundaries, awaiting their day.

"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" delivers an entertaining account and perspective on the life of one of Hollywood's most troubled starlets. Authored by John O'Dowd, the book does a masterful job of piecing together the many sides of this complex individual. It works not only because John has spent years researching the former actress, but he's tracked down the people that knew her best. Interviews with her son, sister-in-law, and a former husband proved paramount to a full understanding of who she was. For the most part, this is the first time they've publicly spoke at length about her life.

While John presents an uncensored view of Barbara's demise, he does so with respect for her as a human being. Predictably the book details her struggles, but it also underscores her many strengths. Prior to "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye", we remembered her through tabloid headlines and a dozen or so films. Thanks to John O'Dowd, we now have a complete and accurate view of the real Barbara Payton.

Lee Martin
www.atomicpinup.com

I REALLY ENJOYED THE BOOK AND IT HAD ALOT OF PICTURES OF THE ACTRESS. IT WENT IN DEPTH OF HER LIFE AND HAD INSIGHTS FROM RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK IF YOU WERE INTERESTED IN THIS ACTRESS. SHE DID SOME OUTRAGES THINGS BUT YOU CAN'T HELP FEELING SORRY FOR HER.

What an incredible book! You can tell that talented writer John O'Dowd has poured his "heart and soul" into this book! What a amazing story...... a very beautiful and talented actress who is starring in films with such superstars as James Cagney, "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" Gary Cooper, "Dallas" Gregory Peck, "Only The Valiant"! And earning 10.000 a week to five dollars a day! This is the incredible story about this beautiful women's meteoric rise to fame..... then suddenly just as quick, a swift tragic descent! This book covers every aspect of Barbara's incisive "descend" into Hell! Her many amorous scandalous affairs with Bob Hope, Errol Flynn, Gary Cooper, Steve Cochran, Tom Neal, Franchot Tone, and the famous headline fight between Neal and Tone its all here. But O'Dowd is not here to denigrate Payton, he wants to get at all the facts and the (real) story. You can tell that he wants to bring some humanity and respect for this actress! I firmly believe he succeeds in that! It had to take MANY painstaking years of flawless thorough research and devotion to write this prolific biography! O'Dowd doesn't seem to miss anything! This is hands down one of the BEST biographies I ever read! Also in this very thick(479 page)book are many rare photos through-out. I did not know that much about Barbara Payton but after reading this well-written book I certainly do now! I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Barbara Payton! Could it had been certain "influences" that led her down the path of this nightmare world of alcohol,drugs,and prostitution..... you be the judge. But I know that O'Dowd's book in reading it brought to me compassion for this actress and why not! Yes we get to see the "dark side"........ the seedy apartments,the prostitution! But when I read that she was a loving mother, loving and protective of her son! And when I read where she had hit rock bottom living on "skid row"! And yet she had enough compassion in her disillusioned heart to bring in a homeless straving dog into the run-down hotel that she was living in, that pulls at my heart! This is definitely a "heart-breaking" tragic story,that pulls no punches! The insurmontable suffering this dear woman went through is horrible! I believe John O'Dowd proves that with this book that he is one of the BEST biographers out there in the literary field! This is the type of imformative riveting book that once you pick it up and start reading the book it is hard to put it down until you are finished! Thank you John O'Dowd for writing this book! There is no doubt that this fantastic "compelling" book should be turned into a screen-play and made into a movie! What a movie this would make! This book and story of anguish and torment definitely "cries out" to be made into a movie! This book is worth every penny it cost and much more! Again highly recommended!

Lawrence Fultz Jr.

I highly recommend Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, The Barbara Payton Story.
While I was reading this book I was totally consumed by Barbara and her story of highs and lows.
I feel she is the most beautiful actess in my eyes.
I was able to lose myself in Mr O'Dowds writing and took the journey of imagining Barbara's true life experiences with the author.
It was a read I will never forget. The research,time and heart felt writing shined through the whole book.
I purchased this book online and was not dissappointed. This book is worth every cent!!!!
The book is over 400 pages and I never lost interest or the desire to read. Plenty of glamorous and startling pictures included in this book as well.
I was sorry when I finished the book, I was compelled to keep reading online about Barbara and visited John O'Dowd's website on Barbara Payton.
Found that to be very interesting along with updates.
If you are an avid reader of biography's this is the book to read. absolutley one of the best.
Sincerely Beth

I just finished reading this book, and i could not put it down! This is one amazing book, i highly recommend this to anyone who wants to hear a true account of a courageous undercover detective who infiltrated the mob. All true, amazing work by Rick and the NYPD. A must have! "It's in there" everything Rick was involved in, is in there!

An unbelievable yet true story that kept me engaged, too engaged for my wife on our cruise! I highly recommend for vacation reading.

What a pageturner!!!! I was very afraid for Mr. Rick Cowan throughout this whole book. Man, what guts!!! Why isn't this guy being heralded all over the place like Joe Pistone? No disrespect to Pistone but he infiltrated a fractured and disorganized crime family(Bonnano). Cowan got in with the class of the mob, the Genovese and Gambino families. I could not put this book down. I always heard that New Yorkers were being fleeced by the "garbage gangsters" but I never fully understood how. Or why couldn't our government stop it? This book breaks it down. This one is in my top 10. Fantastic!!!!

I'm of two minds on this book. The history of the mob's control of the trash and paper recycling industries in and around NYC are fascinating. But a great deal of the book consists of verbatim transcripts from wires worn by Cowan in his interminable dealings with the mob, many of which are repetitive. Only for the real lovers of mob stories.

Over the course of the past few years, my love of reading books about the mafia went dormant. When I arrived upon a copy of "Takedown" in a used book store, my interest was revitalized. The story in "Takedown" is unbelievable not because it is untrue, but because it is unbelievable how many times Rick Cowan avoided certain death. Though it is unbelievable at times, it is a true story.

By chance, Rick Cowan was in the right palce at the right time. This young detective made the mafia believe he was a cousin in a garbage hauling family. Through this false pretense, he was able to infiltrate the Gambino Fanily to its highest level. Such a task was thought to be out of reach to the NYPD. The stories Cowan tells of his interactions with the mafia have a level of authenticity to them. You can almost hear the stereotypical accents being spoken as you read. I question whether some of the stories were exaggerated to make the book a more exciting read. Surely any man faced with some of these circumstances would crack or slip.

Cowan even discusses the strain three years uncover put on his family. This is an aspect of the investigation that receives little attention in similar books. I also enjoyed the epilogue in which Cowan discusses whether he felt remorse for "ratting out" the friends he made in three years.

Reading a book about the real life mafia is much more exciting than any movie or TV show available. While there certainly must be some fabrications present in the book, none were so glaring to take away from the story. I would recommend this book to any person with an interest organized crime.