Nevada Books

Having grown up with the author and knew her father - I don't feel her father was accurately portrayed. He's a very outgoing, personable guy and can get along with basically anybody. I know my father always thought very highly of him. Katy doesn't necessarily portray herself accurately either - but then again she was merely expressing her reaction to what was going on around her.

I was disappointed when the book went from being about her family dynamics to just talking about poker. She stopped suddenly talking about the dynamics of her family and focused on the 'business of poker'. Personally, I found the dynamics of her family far more interesting.

"Poker Face," Katy Lederer's well-written but prosaic memoir cannot decide if it is an analysis of her dysfunctional family or a discourse on America's newfound fascination with Texas Hold-'Em. When Lederer focuses on family relationships, her memoir is worthy of a raise; when she rhapsodizes about poker, she is trying to win the pot with a hand that should have been folded after the flop. Either way, we've been suckered to complete a book that should have been little more than an extended magazine piece.

Lederer unearths a fascinating, fractious family, one which consists of an alcoholic mother who yearns to act, a three-hundred pound vegan brother who excels as a gambler, a combative older sister who vaults into the big leagues of Las Vegas wagering and a literate father who toils anonymously as a teacher in an Eastern prep school before becoming a best-selling author. The youngest child in this menagerie, Katy recognizes games as the sole glue cementing her family. She never quite discovers what motivates her peripatetic wanderings, either physically or emotionally. In her life, she is an indifferent student then a grade-obsessed one; she gains employment in professions which capitalize on her obsessive qualities and dabbles herself in the harsh realities of professional poker. Nowhere is there an attachment to any one person, any one idea.

It is this detachment, however, which could have made her a talented Hold-'Em player. Her brother, sister and mother, all of whom eventually call Las Vegas home do not connect; instead they intersect, and none too gracefully. On the cusp of illegal activities, they make big bank, spend it frivolously and lead sterile lives. Aside from the adrenaline rush that poker produces, this is no kind of life for a poet, which, we find, Lederer eventually becomes.

If gambling is a zero-sum game, if for every winner there are numerous losers and if winning requires a dispassionate empathy (as the author so obliquely observes), then "Poker Face" is a perfect metaphor for the pastime Katy Lederer sets out to describe. She invites us to the table, notices our every weakness, makes us believe she has something far better than what we hold in our own hand and then takes us for all we're worth.

This book does not deal the reader a full hand. It tantalizes and teases the reader into thinking that there is something of substance, ultimately failing to deliver anything other than a somewhat disjointed memoir that has difficulty holding the reader's interest.

The author's family is an interesting one, so it comes as a surprise that she deals with them in so pedantic a fashion. Her father is a bestselling author and her two older siblings, Howard Lederer and Annie Duke, are high stakes poker players of renown.

The author's family had its roots in academia, while she was growing up. Her father was an English teacher in an expensive boarding school on the East Coast. Her mother was an intelligent woman who was troubled by alcoholism, which was to have an affect on the marriage and family. By the time the inevitable split occurred between the author's parents, each member of the family seemed to have gone his or her own way. There was a disconnect among its members. The only unifying factor seemed to be a love of words and games.

It is unclear from the book as to why such a family, grounded in intellectual pursuits, should digress from the path that it seemed set upon and turn out as they did. The book is difficult to follow at times, as the author herself seems unsure what path to take, not only in her own personal life, but in terms of writing this book. What should have been an interesting sojourn, as the author seems to have a good deal of material with which to work, turned out simply to be a total bore.

This is an odd book; but it's wonderful.

My review, however, is not wholly objective, though; I read the book already very much aware of the lives of its secondary characters. I'm a poker fan; I love watching the tournaments; I know the a-list players and their - often absorbing - personal stories. so my natural approach to the book was as a neat glimpse into the lives of no-limit goddess and god, Ms A. Duke and Mr. H Lederer - the sister and brother of the author.

But on the other hand, I'm also a more than avid reader - of fiction, criticism, etc., but predominantly of non-fiction, biographies and memoirs. So I can reasonably confirm that, as a memoir, Poker Face fulfills its role thoroughly.

Though the book is obviously discerning, there has been some complaint that because of its wide embrace it only brushes its fingers along each sterling insight. This isn't true. The book is short, indeed; but so are Mr A. Burroughs' memoirs - which latter are certainly never anemic. Despite the extensive temporal span and inclusive storyline of Poker Face, there is a driving core exploration/exposition here, a clear line Ms Lederer pursues. And she pursues it very well. The epilogue - or maybe it's just a short last chapter, I can't remember - nails it all down tight. And we're not talking Becket here; nothing is terribly complex; any mindful reader will automatically hear Ms Lederer's story whispering intensely and lucidly. And listening is very rewarding. The foibles of this family are so amplified and so seamlessly tied tangible representations - to games, like poker; or to the families comparative economic status - that a vista opens wide, and offers us the naked anatomy of any contemporary American family.

I do, however, decline the fifth star in my rating, only because the character's personalities bounce around a bit. Howard is - ironically - very stable as a character, but Annie, the mother - and even the father at times - are not. The characters are not developed enough to keep their portraits `within the lines', in the Crayola sense.

But, all-in-all, very much worth it. Very good.

The book trails through Katy's memories chronologically, although selectively. She has wisely chosen to emphasize her relationship with her family and their poker lives, probably a prerequisite in order to get the book published. The reader is taken into the Lederer family home on an east coast campus, beginning with a focus on the mother's alcoholism. Then, Katy recounts her experiences in high school and college, before moving on to Las Vegas, where Howard has made himself wealthy by betting on sports and cards. Finally, Katy returns to the East Coast, and we are left with a feeling of a work in progress- Katy's life story has no climax or summation; she and her family are still in the throes of the issues raised by their unusual choice of occupation.
In general, I liked the book, because it showed the inner workings of a family that is at once familiar and strange. Their various prodigious talents and expressions of genius reminded me of two other genius families I mentioned just a short while ago: the Royal Tennenbaums and the family in The Hotel New Hampshire, right down to the physically frail and emotionally unstable youngest daughter becoming published by writing her memoirs.
The father of the family, Richard Lederer, is also known to me as the author of a series of books related to puns and various commonly made mistakes in the English language. Katy is obviously a serious literary talent, who has grown up around words being used as playthings. Howard, in addition to being a poker genius, is also a chess master. And their mother, who has an amazing rote memorization that helps her as an aspiring actress, has a special talent for puzzles.
Howard in particular is pulled into the seamier side of poker, getting sucked into a gritty lifestyle involving drugs and cat pee in New York City. But the family seems to have made good financially, even though Howard seemed to be in the midst of a police crackdown on his sports betting business as the book wraps up.
What struck me also about the book is how very embarrassing it must be to the members of the family. Howard, continually referred to as overweight, is found facedown in the midst of a drug-induced slumber. The mother is weeping all morning to herself, unaware that her daughter is watching her, and even more unaware that her daughter will eventually write about the episode for the book-buying public. I felt a little uncomfortable to be reading these things, knowing that the subjects are out there, probably not feeling all that great about the exposure.
By contrast, Katy is self-indulgent with her own portrayal, and potentially important but embarrassing episodes in her life, such as a break-up with a live-in boyfriend, are glossed over. Overall, we get a portrayal of a girl who is emotionally fragile, prone to depression and indulging that depression, who writes poetry and moons about in the background of happier goings-on because they are not appealing to her well-developed sense of being.
If you can ignore that, however, she does make interesting comments about how wealth has affected her family, and about the implications that Las Vegas's existence has on the human psyche. Money isn't happiness, she says, which is certainly a well-worn cliché, but which is never too tired a theme to be shown through interesting example, which is what Katy has done.
I guess, when I think about it, there is some self-criticism on Katy's part. She records her compulsive grade-grubbing, characterizing it as petty, and also talks about becoming a hypochondriac, but there's also a sense that these problems aren't her fault, and that they're special problems for a special person.
In the end, Katy's self-reflections and thoughts are far less compelling than the legitimately sordid and interesting tales of her other family members, and it is the portrayals of other members of the family that will stick with me into the future.
Katy is a good writer, although she is a little wordy for my tastes (she manages to use the word esplanade twice, for example). She has told the only interesting story from her personal experiences, and she probably could have told the truly interesting bits in about half the space. But I would like to read something written by her on another topic. She writes at one point that she has extensive notes and writing efforts surrounding her own stint as an aspiring poker player. This could be compelling reading, and I'd like to see more from her about topics other than herself.
Added: I saw Howard Lederer playing poker online at Ultimatebet.com, and I asked him whether Katy's book had made him unhappy in any way, what with all the revelations. He said no, not at all, and that he supported her 100%.

We have anti-gravity, anti-proton particle beams, 140,000 year old space
ships that fly, ans a 1947 space ship that is the same as the first one...
The end leaves it open for another sequel as well.
Rip rips and Charlie flies like an ace.
An anti-gravity weapon is used by a French mad man on moon.
The heroes again save the day as we all hope they will.
It is very entertaining and no science argument has ever harmed the popularity of Burroughs or Bradbury.
I'm wondering how he is going to explain an interstellar drive for the mother ship...

Great '50s sci-fi space opera in the best Heinlein-esque tradition; ray guns, robots and rocket ships. I read it in one sitting as I could not put it down. So, why doesn't Amazon sell "Saucer"? I can't find it anywhere on the site. I went looking for the start of the series but could not find it anywhere. Too bad, lost another sale to Barnes and Noble's.

I found this in a discount bin at Barnes & Noble and couldn't resist. I have never read any of his books before, so it sounded like a good start.

This is classic pulp fiction and as some other reviewers alluded to, it reminds me of the serials from the 30's and 40's. I don't think that is a problem at all and in fact, it gives the story a nice bit of charm. Others have already gone into the plot details so I won't rehash them. Instead, I will give my impressions of the story as a whole.

This book was a lot of fun to read and kept me engrossed. The chapters are not too long and there are plenty of scene breaks where you can take a rest. I read a lot during commercials when watching TV, so the short scenes are great. The story moves fast but not too fast. The science is believable based on my limited knowledge, and even if not realistic, is realistic enough.

In fact, my one criticism is that the story is too real. It takes an alien spacecraft, and makes it a little too much like a regular old airplane. The basis of the saucers are truly sci-fi, but he somewhat kills the fantasy with his obvious real experience as a pilot. So, for an object being so old yet so advanced, it sometimes comes off as just an advanced airplane (okay, jet, to be technical) rather than a real alien flying saucer. However, that is only a minor criticism and it did not dampen my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, this was well worth the time and I am going to look for the first one in the series. Recommended.

The modern military novel has often been compared to science fiction, and I own some technothrillers that have been written by authors known primarily for science fiction, but Coonts' second attempt at the genre shows that he should stick to things more grounded in reality. Not only did it feel like it had been dashed off over a weekend or two simply to fulfill a contractual obligation, it was as if he was under orders to provide some sort of right-wing balance to the material--I saw better French bashing on the Bruce Campbell show Jack of All Trades - The Complete Series. The only real reason to buy this book is to complete a collection.

This book lacks the interesting plots, strong characters, and technical authenticity that I associate with most of Coonts' work. Instead we get an egomaniac intent on reforming the world with a single superweapon,a device that got old while H.G. Wells was still using it. Long before mid book, the outcome is clear and the only motivations to finish are determination, a mild interest in the precise details chosen, and a fading hope that the old Coonts may show up. The characters are not totally shallow, but I never felt very worried about their safety, nor very concerned if I turned out wrong and they got clobbered. Technology in "Saucer" consists of long words and simplistic physics including an antigravity weapon that works backwards when the hero reverses the power leads. This is about as likely as turning the plug around on your air conditioner to heat your house in the winter. If you want to spend money on Coonts, buy any of the Grafton series and leave "Saucer" on the shelf.

Harry Reid came from a totally non-religious, squalid background in the tough Nevada mining town of Searchlight. His father, a miner, abused both alcohol and his wife. Reid and his brothers "took him down" once to stop the abuse. Eventually, Harry rose through hard work, 75 to 80 hours per week, and, with some networking help, became a lawyer.

His parental home, a shocking shack far worse than Elvis Presley's parental shack in Tupelo, Miss., had no equivalent in most advanced nations in '39, the year of his birth. The question that immediately arises is why does Reid fail to address the fact that slum houses were so prominent, so widely dispersed across the U.S. at that time and still constitute, at the present, a major feature of slumerica. Here arises a subtle theme of Reid's book, namely, one works oneself out of slumerica, but one doesn't understand why slumerica continues. Reid never once focuses on this issue. Instead, he uses it for grandstanding, for hooking onto the log-cabin-to-the-White-House myth, the Horatio Alger myth, the aspirational sentiments of most in spite of the fact that downward mobility is the reality of many Americans far more than in most advanced nations. (See the number of university educated people living in marginal trailer homes or having jobs that are performed by grade-school grads in other nations or check economic research summarized in "The Economist" re upward mobility among the poor in the EU being far better than in the U.S.)

Reid values education, but it was of the type that is used for career advancement, for escaping the slum and squalor of slumerica. In spite of becoming credentialed, he failed in being educated. He absorbed and never weaned himself of the crude values of the coarse and tough mining town. He revered turning out for football and boxing and adulated coaches. Yet, in the absence of ethical-philosophical growth, the true qualities of becoming educated, he never once (like autobios or even scholarly accounts of Nixon, Ford, LBJ, Eisenhower, etc.) focuses on becoming educated. Turning out for football and boxing and being subordinated to the exploitative bureaucratic processing of sports bureaucracies is all dominating. Reid does not grasp that organized sports bureaucracies have bludgeoned the educational system. Coaches at many universities may earn 2 to 8 times more than their presidents and academic corruption related to sports is epidemic across the U.S. It is crucial to grasp the fact that senior American politicians totally avoid this issue and cannot even admit it nor understand it nor reform it. In this sense, Reid is like the ones he correctly criticizes, namely, Bush, Rumsfeld, et al.

Like Bush, Reid has a history degree and like Bush exhibits few signs of having learned the wisdom of history. Instead, as most senior politicians, he perpetuates the myth of the "Great Country," the myth of U.S. soldiers being "the most thoughtful" and "poised 18 year-olds anywhere." (He needs to read Chalmers Johnson, et al. and look at comparative crime rates of U.S. bases abroad, for a start). Above all, he adheres to the invalid and dangerous notion--which one doesn't find in most nations--that the military dispenses liberties. While advocating not using the Yucca site for nuclear storage, he evades completely how nuclear tests and other military activities have spread nuclear contamination and toxicities not just across his home state Nevada, but across all of the U.S. so that the clean-up cost will bludgeon the living standard and tie millstones around the necks of all U.S. taxpayers--if such contamination can even be cleaned up. Amazing how he is totally unaware that military-derived poisons across the U.S. have become a noticeable cause of diseases and deaths.

After marrying, Reid embraced religion though he does not tell why, leaving the suspicion it was, as is the case with many politicians, for political posturing. He entitled his book "The Good Fight" which may have been derived from the Bible though it may also echo his coarse background and patronizing boxing fights of Mohammed Ali in Las Vegas' ambience.

Nevertheless, Senator Reid acquires unquestionable moral stature in the direction of Fulbright during the Vietnam era when he, with sincerity, exposes, criticizes and tries to correct Bush's massive deceptions, violation of laws and war crimes. This is THE crucial and most important issue and here Reid redeems himself successfully.

But again, had he familiarized himself with the facts before the Iraq war broke out by reading foreign news accounts (which gave plenty of correct info), he could have avoided voting for the war. Thus, the excuse that Bush misled Congress won't fly. It was the pressure of the junior high school political pep rally mentality which kow-towed Congress into submission.

Reid does not seem to be aware that social security and other policies, which he affirms and defends are adopted from foreign countries. He states that they made "America great." The fact that ecological policies are also coming from abroad (as corrective measures did with the car industry, with inflation and the educational system, etc.) denies the validity of Reid's characterization that the U.S. is as "self-correcting as any society ever to have existed." The fact remains that slumerica has not been corrected since his birth: 75 to 80 hour work-weeks are more common here than abroad, the infrastructure is dilapidated, huge overwhelming debts everywhere, massive trade deficits, a constantly declining dollar and no savings rate.

Thus, the greatest failing of Reid's book, namely, no focus on America's economic conditions, nothing about the mortgage mess, the stock market corruption and the S and L imbroglio, etc. and, above all, no comparison how other nations without many resources have no grinding poverty that characterizes slumerica. For someone who came from slumerica, this is puzzling and should cause him to read "Why the U.S. Needs an Economic Miracle" accessible at "http://comparativegems.blogspot.com/".

With the exception of 1 or 2 chapters early on, the book was a page turner. I couldn't put it down. The book is a worthwhile read whatever your political persuasion.

Jerry

There are plenty of rags-to-riches stories in America, but there are few that read with so much candor. Senator Reid's deadpan humor also comes thru. I highly recommend this book - if you're a Democrat, to learn a bit more about your party's unassuming leader; if you're a Republican, to get a leg up one hell of an opponent!

"The Good Fight" explains well why Harry Reid is a good Democrat on most social issues.

Growing up in a shack with an outhouse in half-dead Searchlight, Nev., in the New Deal, he learned about the hope and support government programs can offer to people on the edge.

Searchlight is detailed with warts, vivid colors and all by Reid. So, too, are his parents.

Beyond that, the best part of the book was Reid's discussion of his years as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission. While he doesn't go into a tell-all of Mob influence over Vegas casinos, he gives the reader enough information to see how much the city needed cleaning up. And, with Reid presiding over the commission at the time non-Mafiosi like Steve Wynn and Kirk Kerkorian started building, he was part of Vegas' transition to the world of today.

That said, the Washington years are somewhat thin. All Democrats are great, as is independent Joe Lieberman on anything besides Iraq. The difficulty of herding cats as Senate Majority Leader is discussed in brief, but not too much on any one issue or vote.

Nor do we hear anything about how Obama-Clinton has played out inside the Senate Democratic caucus. I would have loved to hear Reid drop a few "fly on the wall" comments.

So, this is a three/four star book, but I give it a bump, in part with the context of people one-starring the book for other reasons.

While I enjoyed Senator Reid's narrative of his life experiences (growing up in Searchlight, his education, his religious conversion, his career as a Las Vegas attorney, and his time spent on the Nevada Game Commission), I was disappointed with the events he shares during his time in the Senate. He repeatedly descends into partisan politics and hyperbole. For example, he writes that, "George W. Bush will rank among the worst presidents--if not the worst--in the history of our country." While I do not agree with much of President Bush's tenure, Reid's assessment is disrespectful, mean-spirited, and certainly over the top. I also read Clarence Thomas' biography, My Grandfather's Son, who admirably avoids this type of bashing. Reid spends 6 pages (a bit much) discussing Jim Jeffords change in party affiliation. He praises Jeffords for his "act of bravery". It seems it would have been braver for Senator Jeffords to resign his senate position since he felt he could no longer represent those who voted for him.

Reid is quite candid about some of his personal failings, but he does not mention how he has personally benefited from his powerful position. What about his land deal? Or how his son and son-in-law were generously paid as special interest lobbyists? Positions they would not have enjoyed had they not been related. What about his several other embarrassing missteps?

As someone who shares a religion with Senator Reid, I had hoped he would do a better job explaining why I should not doubt his honesty or integrity. It seems to me he merely represents why so many of the American public are dissatisfied with their elected officials.

These Delorme Atlas & Gazetters are wondeful. They show you many features not available through GPS, maps or other atlases. It is a great feature to have the BLM lands marked as well as the back roads. Good resources are also included in each states atlas. A good addition to anyone's travel tools.

An indispensable addition to your travel planning for Nevada! Buy one and you'll find you'll want more DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteers for traveling in other states!

Great Product! Nearly as good as having a seperate map for every county in the whole state.
I like it best because I can read the text much easier than a state map, especially in low light. My bifocals are OK for reading but not the fine details of most maps.

Took a number of non-roads shown as roads in this atlas and almost became stranded once. Also missed some interesting roads not shown in this atlas. I later reviewed these errors in the other brand atlas of the same size and found them ALL to be correct in that atlas. I continually find errors in the California, New Mexico, and Nevada versions of the DeLorme atlases. I have since converted my usage to the other brand.

I attended college in Nevada and volunteered for the BLM in Nevada. I have traveled extensively throughout the state's rural areas since the 1980's; and several times over.

Those of you who have seen previous editions will notice that the new edition no longer displays bold red lines for heavily traveled unpaved county roads! Why?? At least back then, most of the bolded red line routes were pretty accurate. But now, they have all been reduced to thin red lines - which may be DeLorme's way of trying to get itself off the hook regarding its inaccuracy issues.

Yes it's true DeLorme doesn't have its act together in terms of fully researching its data. And yes, I too have been misled into taking routes that appeared to exist but didn't exist in reality, or, if they did "exist" they were in such bad shape (washed out & rocky outcroppings, super-soft sand & silt) that they shouldn't have been on the map to begin with.

The rule-of-thumb when exploring rural Nevada is: if a "road" appears bad shortly after you begin going on it, turn around immediately. Even if you've already invested a few miles of time on it, turn around and save your vehicle (and yourself) the punishment. I guarantee it won't "get better" the further you go down it, so, resist the temptation altogether. If your inner voice is saying "this road is bad", it is and most likely will only get worse.

Unless you drive a Hummer, stay away from any remote Nevada backroads. The state's rural road maintenance budget has been in shambles for years and therefore these routes are no longer getting any attention or priority.

Regarding the places shown as "towns" - change is constant and not even the BLM can keep up, so, don't rely on any maps. Just keep the following in mind: Interstates 80 and 15 and 95/395 and 50 are always safe bets for services at least once an hour. State routes (paved) in all directions between Reno, Las Vegas, Winnemucca, Battle Mountain, Austin, Eureka, Ely, Baker, Caliente, Tonopah, Hawthorne, Pahrump, Fallon, Gabbs, Elko, Wells, Wendover, and Jackpot are also safe bets. Outside of that, ignore DeLorme.

I have hiked a lot in the Vegas area, and the first thing I noticed is that this book is not for first-timers! It is more useful for locating general spots to hike. It is very tough to follow the text and tiny B&W pictures to stay precisely on the trails. See if your library has a copy, or buy one used. It is worth a look and can be helpful.

Being a local of Las Vegas I have been to Red Rock Canyon several times. There are limited hiking trails. The author covers the trails, but does much more. There are many scrambles to peaks that without this book would be virtually impossible to get to. Unfortunately, the rangers at Red Rock want to ban this book. I guess they would rather be gambling than doing their jobs. Many rangers don't even know where named peaks are in Red Rock. My advice is to buy this book or visit the author's Web site (same name as the book) and forget stopping at the visitor's center for information.

This is the best -most detailed book about hiking around Las Vegas-both in Red Rock and the Mt Charleston area.
He also has a great website- hikinglasvegas.com
He really knows his stuff and has detailed descriptions as well as photos. If you're just starting or serious about hiking this has everything you need!

I tried to use this book. However, the route descriptions are poor, and the author seems to have trouble telling north from south. There are too many errors to be typos. The area has some great hiking, and the book points out some good ideas, but be sure to take your topo map and compass! I thought about selling the book on half.com, but I would feel too guilty selling it to someone with less outdoor experience than I have.

This book provides instructions for many hikes around Las Vegas not described in other guides. I have hiked many of these trails and always find the guide's desciptions inadequate. In fact, while hiking Bridge Mountain, following the Guide's instructions lead my experienced partner and I into a very dangerous situation. I still use the guide, but know that I will have to use my trail finding experience to augment the book's trail descriptions.

I am a local anti-street prostitution activist in my area. I try to read everything I can on the effects of prostitution on society. I found this book to contain alot of great information that dispelled many popular prostitution myths. This book confirmed my belief that prostitution is not the world's oldest profession - but instead is the world's oldest abuse of women.

Farley has given us a fine new tool with which to understand and reveal prostitution. In my anti-violence work in Canada, I am always on the look out for fresh research that connects one form of male violence against women with another and that looks at our local situation with some sense of the importance of activist research and some global perspective. I have bought four copies of this book so far to make sure young activists get access to it. They are immediately won to it by the cover art and find the writing easy to engage. Then they settle in to the important information available to them in this pro woman work.

The cover of Ms. Farley's book says it all. Friends who saw me reading it asked if I was reading a book on the prison system or about Guantanamo Bay. When I explained that it was in fact, a book about the legal brothels in Nevada I was met with disbelieving eyes. Why would legal brothels need barbed wire around their premises? Certainly not to keep out the Johns.
Ms. Farley's book is compelling and hard hitting, exposing the "legal" prostitution industry for its corruption, its connection with trafficking in women and girls and its human rights violations against them. The picture she shows us, starting with the cover, exposes the dark side of this so called, "glamorous" business, for what it is, male power and privilege out of control.
Give a copy to a male friend and help to expose the dirty secrets of legal prostitution.

I have been out of the horrific sex industry for 8 years now, and I am so very grateful to Melissa for writing this very true look at what happens when a woman's body is reduced to something that can be rented for men's sexual gratification.
It is a painful read at times yet very true. Most people are horrified at the thought of women trapped in sexual slavery in other countries but when it comes to looking at what is happening in North America most people appease their guilt by using the word "choice" and then do nothing to change the systems that entraps women.
Melissa, Thank-you.

An objective study of the Nevada sex industry would be a fascinating read--but Farley is not an objective writer. She attempts to manipulate her readers through her use of emotion-laden descriptors, repeatedly referring to prostitutes selling themselves rather than their services to infer they are slaves rather than sex workers. She calls Nevada bordello operators pimps. Regardless of one's opinion of such people, a madame is not a pimp, and by blurring the definitions Farley undermines her credibility.

On 21 January 2008 the LAS VEGAS SUN published an article by Abigal Adamsn titled, "Bewildered, academics pore over sex-trade hysteria." This article describes how Farley's work contradicts research performed by the University of Nevada on the sex industry.

In contrast to Farley's book, Dr. Alexa Albert's BROTHEL is an objective, non-judgemental study of a segment of the Nevada sex industy. It's a pity that instead of updating Albert's work Farley instead chose to create a work of propaganda.

Just outstanding! Although things in Vegas have changed significantly since then (book was written in early to mid-80's), the details and history are fascinating and the stories timeless. I have re-read the book many times as so many of the pieces are hilarious. Only Vegas could offer the setting for such crazy happenings, and all are believable within the veil of Vegas' history. This is NOT another book teaching you how to win or play the games..this is just a great informative timepiece which is highly enteratining reading, of which you won't be able to put down.

Although written more than 10 years ago, this book still has a ton of usefull information. I met Mr. Vinson at Ceasers Palace about 5 years ago. He was giving free lessons on the basics of Craps. I had a chance to talk with him, and through our conversation relized he truly is part of the vanishing "Old Guard" of Las Vegas. His insights and stories are fasinating. If your headed, for Vegas for the first time take this book along. It's great fun to walk into a casino with your companions and start giving them the "insiders information". If your going back for more fun,this book is still a great help. Memorize his picture, I know you'll see him at Cearsers or some other major casino. I look forward to his new book and have pre-ordered it already. In the meantime get this book and have fun with the stories written by someone who "walks the walk" and "talks the talk".

I've never been a fan of the first person narrative, which is used way too much in this book. Too many of the quotes are attributed to unnamed sources and take place in anonymous casinos, which doesn't lend much credibility to them. Most of the facts are outdated, but I gave the author a little leeway in this, as I looked at this book as an insight into Vegas in the late seventies to mid eighties. One note of interest is that for this book, Vinson is referred to as a Casino Executive, but in his later works, I have seen him referred to as a humorist, hmm ... Buyer Beware! I'd rather read Pete Earley's Super Casino a second time.

This is a horrible book. It's very out date (was revised in the mid 80's) and a first grader could write a more interesting book. The stories are not that good and the data in the book is incorrect because of how old the book is.

While I'll be the first to admit that this book has some entertaining content in the form or gaming anecdotes and Vegas trivia, I can honestly say it's biggest claim to fame is the HORRIBLE writing style!

I was absolutely floored by the unending samples poor grammar, unclear sentences, pointless or cliche references, obvious self-promotion (at least 4 chapters contain glowing character references for John Gollehon, who just happens to be the publisher of the book...), etc etc. I'm sure this book turned the stomach of any professional editor who happened to crack the cover.

After the first 25 pages, this book had reached "train wreck" status with me - I was compelled to keep reading not for the content but to see how much worse it could possibly get. If you enjoy such literary self-torture, read this book. Otherwise, skip it.

I picked up the hardcover edition of this book simply because I liked the cover - the paperback edition's photo isn't nearly as interesting.

This book has some very dynamic, well thought-out scenes - although it does tend to flounder a bit at times. The ending is also a little too predictable and anticlimatic. But the characters are compelling and there's just enough excitement and suspense to keep the reader on edge.

I look forward to reading more of this author's work.

Betts has to be one of the best authors to ever come out of North Carolina. Her writing has a touch of realism that is seldom matched by writers. Her wit is brilliant. Her characters are moving. The story is hypnotic. Take a look at this book. A+

Although it had a rough start and I wasn't immediately intrigued by the story, this book works its way up to being great. I love Betts' use of the different points of view. It adds a whole new dimension to an otherwise somewhat simplistic storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, especially Paul's character. I don't know what it was that intrigued me so much about Paul.. he's just a very well written character.

I'm not "in love" with this book, but I certainly liked it. A sort of crunchy find-yourself-in-the-Nevada-woods narrative that borders on overly optimistic (while hiding out in the woods to escape her old life, Luna finds, naturally, a wonderful and off-beat man that just happens to live in a tent nearby. Oh, and a son of course. Who, despite his cavities, may just fit in just fine). Despite all this, however, Doris Betts managed to keep my interest with strong writing and interesting observations from the characters.

The characters, the plot and the dialogue of this novel were what I'd expect to find in typical romance novel. The characters were trite: the self-absorbed fiance, the longsuffering, misunderstood woman who just needs a warm, sensitive man, the warm, sensitive man, and the loveable child-abuse victim. The writing was good, the plot a bit predictable,and it would have been fine if I had been looking in the Harlequin section.

I was intrigued -- I thought it was an investigative report on Mr. Sinatra's final days (the tackiness of the title notwithstanding), but then I noted from the reviews quoted that this title came out *before* May 14, 1998 (the day of Old Blue Eyes' death) -- meaning this was just a work of fiction. Feh, pfui -- what a waste of my time! I'm interested in *real* books about Frank Sinatra, not fiction! How about someone coming out with a *good* discography?

OK, I picked up "The Death of Frank Sinatra" as an impulse-buy $2.99 hardcover from the "used library books" aisle...so I was pretty much purchasing it by-the-pound...no expectations, other than it was Vegas-fiction and sounded fun.

Now, I feel like I owe somebody. Which is not a good feeling in the hardboiled world Ventura describes so bristlingly.

I have been turned on to a fusion of genres so rich and bountiful, that a full $24.99 pricetag seems only fair. So...if anyone wants to collect the remainder, no pistol-whipping will be necessary.

It's quite simply pulp poetry.

Crackling descriptions of the blood-in-your-urine doings of a Vegas private dick, featuring characters that jump off the page to pin your arms back while kicking your nuts and a geo-real Vegas that resonates with anyone who can "recite" the Strip from the Alladin to the Sahara and whose secret desire is to be buried at the YESCO graveyard.

It's great stuff, and if you've never heard of Michael Ventura, (cause I sure as hell hadn't) you'll soon be saying the same thing I am now..."How the hell is this guy not being read on every Flight 711, instead of Grisham?"

...

The Hamlet-esque mind of Mike Rose is the hook to Ventura's "The Death of Frank Sinatra". His head whirls in the indecision of what he loves or hates and in some cases what or whom is the object of both extremes. The italicized asides in the first person are probably the strongest portions of the book as Rose's wannabe existentialist is continually crippled by loathing for himself, his past, his connections, and perhaps most of all, for Las Vegas which he believes is his puppet master and submissive lover all at once.

Here is the crux of the novel which centers on a private eye who has bathed with and been raised by mobsters but has remained on the edge of the precipice without ever truly jumping in. It is an intriguing dilemma when his unstable brother unwittingly blabs "too much" in front of a grizzled old Outfit veteran, although as with most of the book what is spoken is half said, a half truth and, well, to be blunt, only half convincing. It's all well and good having the circle of insecurity forever turning in one's head, but surely no group of people are as instantly tuned in as Ventura's characters are. It seems half the time that, whoever it is, they are inexplicably able to read their conversation partner's mind, irrespective of intelligence, age or familiarity. What we get is a series of unfinished statements and knowing glances, which doesn't quite wash.

At first, I thought the insight into Vegas, spearheaded by the persona and rep of Frank Sinatra - a nifty touch - was about as illuminating as a travel guide, but without really being conscious of it, the constant bombardment and repetition of the town's warts and all, became quite intoxicating and ultimately revealing. I was less convinced by the insider knowledge of the mob, which seemed to focus on shock value and sensationalism, in marked contrast to the understatement of the book's overall tone. The little nuances that are so prevalent in Scorsese's films, for example, that help to humanize and rationalize are absent for the most part here.

The plot is convoluted and difficult to grasp with several intertwining threads that don't really mesh. However, in truth, most of the action happens in Rose's head, so that's not as disastrous as it sounds. Still, there seemed to be several loose ends that Ventura was content to let lie, which was a little unsettling.

Overall, I felt it was indulgent and melodramatic, teetering on the edge between dark social commentary about an inately corrupt city, and simply incoherent rambling, but the well expressed sadness and stolid, if misguided defiance of the central character, along with the admitted originality of the style was enough to earn 3 stars. Just.

I think Michael Ventura had to use the context of a crime novel to get his story published. However, this novel is really a journey of his own self-discovery. He reminds me of Herman Hesse in the way he constantly enters and exits different doors in his own psyche -- almost at random. The central character, Mike Rose, has a mentally ill older brother. So does Ventura. Avid readers of Ventura's essays know this, and it is very easy for said readers to imagine that Mike Rose is Ventura. If you just want a murder mystery, this won't work for you unless you are particularly daring -- and patient. But, if you like to see someone get to the heart of himself, take a chance. You might be blown away by Ventura's prose. Light reading, this is not, but it is very interesting.

Michael Ventura really knows how to tell a story that's more than just plot or characterization, but also SAYS something. I bought this book, read it right through, and then re-read it in bits right away, just for the enjoyment of it. This is as good as it gets.

I have always found the Moon Handbooks to be good reference material. I had the 2001 version of the same book but of course things change in a few years time. The current version is about half the size of the old one and I have not had the time to discern the difference in the two books. Perhaps the new one is more of an abridged version. In any event it is still a very useful tool and will be used in our upcoming trip to that area.

I looked at this in the book store, saw that the first 129 pages are just about Las Vegas, and almost didn't buy it.

But it is a pleasure to read. We used it to choose an RV park along Rt 80 in Northern Nevada, and the discriptions just were funny.

We saw things that we would not of had we not bought this book.

Way back in the early 90s I bought my first copy of Castleman's Nevada Handbook. I was astonished at the breadth and depth of the book, and I was delighted at the author's idiosyncratic but engaging style. I liked the book so much I actually wrote Castleman a letter of praise (this was pre-Amazon). As new editions came out every three years or so, I bought each one. (I visit Nevada annually.) Unfortunately, someone decided this new edition needed to be a mere ghost of previous editions. I can't fathom what the idea was here. It wasn't just to make room for more Vegas information, because this edition is much shorter than previous ones. Reading over comments from other readers, I notice that the positive reviews seem to come from people who never saw the previous editions. Those who'd seen earlier versions of the book are, like me, deeply disappointed. What a shame that some editor somewhere decided "Hey, I've got an idea --- let's take this great book and make it WORSE."

This edition of the Moon Nevada guide, along with the 2006 overhaul of the Moon Colorado guide, seems to represent the ongoing decline of a once-great publishing idea. While other guidebooks offered only the best-known tourist areas for middle-class and above budgets, Moon was offering comprehensive tours of entire states and plenty of options for budget travelers. But now Moon seems to be catering more to richer tourists and more glamorous vacations. This Nevada edition concentrates more on Las Vegas and eliminates many off-the-beaten path towns, even places like Beatty, gateway to Death Valley and famous for its own local mining and ghosttown history. The message seems to be that National Parks-minded and history-minded tourists don't matter beside the glitter of Las Vegas.

Because I loved previous editions of this book, I bought this new edition in anticipation of a trip back to the fabulous state of Nevada. Despite my former enthusiasm for the book, I have to give this edition a less than glowing review, mainly because many of my favourite places in the state were deleted, in order to expand coverage of just about every casino in Las Vegas, Reno and Tahoe. It's still well-written, but no longer can we read about such enigmatic places as Jarbidge, Searchlight and many of the other friendly, quirky, off-the-beaten-track towns and villages that make Nevada such a wonderful place to explore. Therefore, real Nevada-philes may want to give it a miss and try to get hold of a copy of the previous edition.