United States Books

I read this book in adolescence and it has stayed with me since then--over 20 years. I have thought of Eric's story many times over the years, especially now that I have my own son. I think that I will read this book again and add it to my permanent collection. It is very touching albeit very sad.

Eric is the heartbreaking, inspirational true story of Eric Lund, a seventeen-year-old boy who is diagnosed with Leukemia just days before he is set to leave for college. This book is a memoir written by his mother, Doris Lund, about Eric's unwavering will to survive, and about how his cancer affects not only himself, but everyone around him.

When it's a story about a terminal illness, there can be no unexpected twist. As soon as I read the description on the back cover of the book, I knew basically how it was going to start and how it was going to end. But it's what happens in between that makes Eric Lund's life so interesting. What makes him different than many whose lives have thrown seemingly indomitable obstacles at them is that Eric refuses to give up. Even when the doctors, despite their greatest and heartfelt efforts, can offer only ominous warnings, it doesn't prevent Eric from living his life to the fullest. In this way, Eric isn't just the tragedy of a boy whose life deteriorates little by little. Instead, it is the motivational story of a man whose confidence, positive outlook, and exceptional will to live bring hope and joy to everyone around him.

Of course, Doris Lund doesn't leave herself out of the picture. A lot of the book is focused on her own hopes and fears instead of Eric's, on which she can only speculate in many instances. She is also honest about her rocky relationship with Eric and the difficulties that they sometimes had communicating, which is something that most teenagers and their parents can relate to. I couldn't help noticing that there are places in the book where Doris Lund interrupts the flow of her writing, perhaps with a misplaced or awkward metaphor, but then she quickly remembers that this story is beautiful and memorable on its own without too many fancy words and phrases to distract from it.

Even if you don't usually read this kind of literature, I still recommend Eric. It may be depressing, but it's not cynical, and it leaves you with the kind of hope that Eric held on to his whole life.

I have probably read this book 8 times since it first came out. The first time I read it was shortly after my brother had been diagnosed with a form of leukemia. This book is a wonderful tribute by Doris Lund to her son, and I highly recommend it to anyone.

This story is just a good read, and such a testimony of a young man struck with lucemia, his spirit his valor...emotions are stired to beyond words.

I hate to be the skunk in the five-star garden party, but I remember reading, or rather trying to read, this book when in high school some *cough* 20 years ago. I could barely get through it. Apparently I wasn't alone, because someone else had graffitoed on the (soft) cover, "This book sucks. Don't read it."

Sometimes I think there should be a moratorium on grieving parents writing about their dead offspring. Aside from one brief moment when Lund catches her son checking out girls in a hospital corridor or waiting room, I don't remember a single aspect of Eric's personality aside from "Mama's Little Angel." And although my memory is vague on this, I seem to recall the book contains a fair amount of delusional mumbo-jumbo about "God's will" ('scuse me while I barf).

If you want to read a superb book by someone who lost a child to cancer, read "Death Be Not Proud" by John Gunther. That book preserves every quirk of his late son Johnny's wry sense of humor and considerable intellect, and actually makes you regret that the son didn't live to take up the father's pen. Not only that, but Gunther deals with hard questions of mortality and loss without resorting to the kind of sticky sentimentality you'd expect from Oprah or the "women's channels" on cable TV. Cripes, even Marie Killilea's books about her handicapped (no, NOT "differently abled") daughter Karen are better than Lund's book.

The entire genre, for obvious reasons, is for the most part manipulatively mawkish, but that's what sells, I guess. If you have an "I Believe in Angels" bumper sticker on your car, Thomas Kincaide "paintings" on your walls, and every CD Whitney Houston ever recorded in your music collection, go ahead and order "Eric." You'll cry your eyes out and write a five-star review.

Mr. Burton does a bang up job of putting the reader right in the action as he chronicles his experiences with the State Dept's Diplomatic Security Service. The reader gets a front row seat at what was going on inside the Beltway and behind the scenes during some of the most critical events impacting US and international security. A low-threat, but riveting read for anyone interested in national security affairs.

I recommend this book for everybody. It is important to understand why our government does what it does to combat terrorism.

This is an extraordinary account of one of our (U.S.) first counterterrorism agents. The experiences encountered by 'the ghost' will help you put into perspective where your job fits on the stress curve. It provides some unnerving insight into the world of terrorists and those determined to thwart them.
Very exciting and well written,once you start it you won't want to put it down until you finish it!

I got on the library hold list early for the book Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent by Fred Burton. From the standpoint of a "been there, done that" memoir, it's a good read. You get a feel for how difficult it is to fight terrorism on a global basis. But the book loses a bit when it comes to style and storyline. It seems to be building up to something that never quite happens.

Contents:
Part 1 - Rookie Year: The Buried Bodies; Down the Rabbit Hole; Night Train; The Dark World's Redheaded Stepchildren; Chasing Shadows; No Space Between Black and White; The Mad Dog of the Middle East; Two Hits for El Dorado Canyon; Human Poker Chips; One More Gold Star; The Gray Hell of Wait and Hope; The Stench of Good Intentions; Shipwreck; The Beer Hall Encounter
Part 2 - The Veteran: Little Italy; Mice; Threat Matrix; The Bronze Star Assassin; PAK-1 Down; Night Flight; In Country; Pakistani Two-Step; One Hour to Nowheresville; The Buffet at the End of the World; Puzzle Pieces; The Perfect Murder; Autumn Leaves; Two-Minute Free Fall
Part 3 - War Weary: Street Dance; The Colonel's Revelations; Watching the Watchers; The World's Most-Wanted Man; Deadly Equation; Money Changes Everything; Finale In Pakistan; Lillybrook
Epilogue - Brotherhood of the Badge; Author's Note; Acknowledgments

Burton's story begins in 1986 when he was assigned to the Diplomatic Security Service's (DSS) small Counter-Terrorism Division. It was made up of a whopping three people, two of whom were brand new, and all the work was manual and fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants. Imagine everything being paper files, tons of filing cabinets, and all the growing institutional knowledge of terrorism in certain areas being all in the head of one or two people. Burton was quickly crowned the Middle East "expert" and as such became deeply involved in terrorist activities in Beirut, Iran, Iraq, India, and Pakistan, just to name a few. As major terror figures like Abu Nidal and Ramzi Yusef carried out their plans, Burton and his small (but growing) team tried to anticipate, warn, prevent, and ultimately capture (or kill) these criminals. His front-row perspective on these events makes you realize that luck and chance plays a much bigger role than you'd like to believe or admit. It really is a wonder that more events like the first World Trade Center bombing don't happen...

While I found the material interesting, I struggled with the style and pacing of his story. 90% of all the action takes place in the mid-80's with the kidnappings and air bombings. Any one of those incidents could be a full book in itself, so by necessity he can't go as deep as you might like. He's writing in as "as it happens" style, so there are times you feel as if you already know the outcome of the story since the major players may have already been caught/jailed/killed. Part 3 jumps to the mid-90's and gets a bit more personal as to what the job has cost him, but the gap doesn't necessarily bring you further along in the DSS story. And for all intents and purposes, it end in 1994. Nothing much on why he left, why he joined a private security firm, and so on. For a book written in 2008 and for a topic very much in the forefront of today's headlines, the 15 year gap from then to now just screams to be addressed somehow. Maybe it's all classified or he's forbidden from writing about later events, but how do you not even touch on 9/11 and the full impact it had on his agency or his private firm?

I would still recommend this as a good read if only to understand the battle that goes on in The Dark World. Just don't expect to come away with a full up-to-the-minute analysis of where we are today.

Excellent read. Supports opinions expressed by other non-fiction authors writing in the world of CIA, NSC, FBI, MACVSOG, Delta, etc.

This genre is especially interesting to one who has lived through the WW II to present era, in that some activities behind the scenes and headlines are brought to light.

This is an excellent book that tells the story of cpl. Dunham and Lima company in Iraq. It has a smooth introduction that breaks off into an ambush with intense second by second battle recounts and then takes a turn onto the more emotional path of Dunham's and his squads wounded tales and their path home through many hospitals. This book will emotionally drain you, but has lots of comedy relief to bring you back to life and has a ver spiritual ending. I am very glad I picked up this book at the library when I saw it sitting on a shelf where it did not belong. This book should be a bestseller and be placed on many book club reading lists. Why has this book went unnoticed? It is too good to be placed in the shadows.

A quick read that will help the family of this fallen Marine heal their pain. Would be a good basis for a course or discussion or analyis of how wishful thinking and hope by well meaning people falls short when they lose sight of the realities of the situation and circumstances. None of which takes anything away from the valient heart of Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Jason Dunham, USMC.

This is also a non-fiction book about the trials of becoming a Marine, then a leader of men, and then a victim of the tribulations of that position. I have been reading the Wall Street Journal for over 50 years, and have been ever salutory of the reporters that have produced stories for that instituion----and this is NO exception! This reporter dug up the very varied backgrounds of these Marines, and brought them into focus of a VERY controversial time in the U.S.----and the M.D.'s and nurses that played their roles in the very lives of these fighting men and women----that are on the the frontline--------so that we do not have to be.

This was an incredible book about an incredible young man and his sacfrice for our freedom. As a USMC veteran of the first GUlf War I was interested in reading what these guys are dealing with in Iraq. As a father I was so caught up in what his family went through and how they dealt with the decisions they had to make. This book will be on the top of my list of favorite books.

I know it's only January but this book is fantastic - an extremely well-written account of a fascinating story of a true American hero. Strongly recommended.

I bought this book a few years ago, and I often still think about Hannah and her story. It was so touching, and I cried through most of it. This is a book that I felt compelled to pass to a friend. I almost wish that I hadn't, so I could read it again.

I got a great price for this book and it arrived with in 2 weeks from the date of purchase. I was a little dissappointed when i opened the package because the cover and binding was damaged. It looked like they had tried to bend the book. Besides that the book was okay. You get what you pay for.

Oh boy, this was beyond tear-jerker for me. This was such an emotional story. I read this book in one day, while my husband was away. I was glad he wasn't here to tease me about sobbing all the way through this book. Maria Housden is a such a strong woman, what a horrible ordeal she and her family went through losing Hannah.

Hannah's Gift is the story of a remarkable little girl and her fight with cancer.

From the moment she was diagnosed, to the moment of her death, Hannah treats her disease and her fight for life in a unique, touching way.

Despite being only three years old, she appears to understand the cancer fully and is not scared of death, instead, she asks her Grandmother - 'Grandma, when I die, promise you wont forget me?'

Hannah lived her life fully and with no self-pity. I found Hannah's Gift to be less of a record of a families loss, but more a celebration of Hannah's life. Hannah truly brings to life the phrase - 'Only the good die young.'

I loved this book and it really helped me. Some think that Hannah was preceived as the "perfect" child, and I can relate to that. We just lost our Granddaughter on her 2nd. birthday, she had Cystic Fibrous, but died, not from CF, but during a "simple" 15-20 min. procedure in surgery. Two months after her passing I read Hannah's gift. I took care of our little Bethany, while our daughter worked, and they live within walking distance right next to us. We were together every day, so I saw all the same signs. These children ARE so special. They have so much love, they are almost perfect, with very small "wrongs". Like Hannah's mom, I got that feeling, that they know, their time on earth is short,just by the way their eyes will sometimes look at you. They know you love them so much as they love you, but they won't be here to share that love. Yes, Hannah's Gift was a touching story

The author describes in just the right amount of detail, what his residency in orthopedics was like at the prestigious Mayo Clinic. The struggle between the incredibly demanding hours of training and his responsibilities as a husband and dad are intense. Throw in some moonlighting on weekends in the ER and "you're good to go insane." A perfect summer read.

I really enjoyed this book. The author was very down to earth and had a great sense of humor. He included a number of wonderful stories about his experiences during his residency as a surgeon. I found it very hard to put this book down.

From the moment I started reading it, it was like the initial incision with the scalpel on my brain and I could not stop until I got to the end (close the incision--take the patient to the recovery)!! Dr Collins has done a great job in this fast paced easy to read manual of the 4 years of residency at the prestigious Mayo clinic revealing to us the incredibly long hours of residency while raising up a family, living from pay check to pay check(earned mostly by moonlighting), driving cheap cars(esp the Battleship, ha!),dealing with life and death decisions on a daily basis and eventually making it through it all. The doctor has a great sense of humor (I guess 'tis one of the survival tactics in the battle of life.) His scalpel sharp pen can touch the soul of the reader! You will laugh and weep through it all(as must have Patti(his wife) and the kids). It has given me a greater appreciation for doctors--they have a high endurance coefficient! A must read for all the doclings and doctors-to-be.

After making the decision to return to school after 7 years to become a cardio surgeon- I seriously doubted my own abilities. I read everything I could get my hands on concerning others and there first year experiences. Hot Lights, Cold Steel was amazing. I was able to relate with Dr. Collins and soon realize that I too may be ill prepared for like as a resident but along with anything, time, experience and studying will prove that I too can be just as amazing as he is. (Only difference- he has 12 children, whereas I only have 5). This book is a 5-star hands down.

I can tell when I am reading a book that I really enjoy, it keeps pestering me until I finish it. Read it in 2-3 days!!! Very enjoyable. I even like the binding on this hardcover, large inside margins, etc. Hey Doc, how about writing another book??????

Anyone thinking of buying a house should read this book. It is thousands of dollars worth of advice from an experienced broker for only $13! Randy Johnson gives you all the essential tools and knowledge to make an educated decision about your home and your investment. I'm an MBA grad and a finance professional and found this book offered much info that I had never learned about. Invaluable for anyone - finance professionals or otherwise.

Randy Johnson is the best! He's a friend to you hoping to level the playing field so one gets the best mortgage for oneself - not for the banks or mortgage companies. A truly honest and sincere business man - however that might usually sound like an oxymoron.

I found this book (the first edition) to be informative when I bought my first house.

book good as far as it went. For my purposes the amortization tablez did not go far enough, The tables stopped at $200,.000.00

I have done a lot of research and actually took the training to become a real estate agent, so I had a lot of basic information to start with. But the book explained a number of things that I have not been privy to.

First of all, I had to try to find some recipes that I wanted to try. They were a few, and they were pretty good, but there weren't that many! If I wanted oysters or unusual ingredients that I don't normally keep in my kitchen, maybe I would be more pleased, but for most cooks, it is all hype and not many usuable reipes. Sorry, I was "less than impressed".

Not only is Hope Fox great in person, but her book is even better than when I got the pitch in the Chicago airport! The way she explains making delightful and fancy dishes breaks it down and simplifies it so much! After reading some of my favorite food recipes such as cesar salad (my food drug! hehe) I thought to myself, "That's it??!?! I can totally make this! Great book and Hope is fabulous! I am so glad I met her! Such a gem!

Hope gave us the best recipes from the finest restaurants. With the market close at hand, and " Impress For Less " in our collection, we can experience dining excellence without making reservations or excuses. Thank you Hope!!

This is a wonderful cookbook. The recipes are easy to follow, and produce excellent results.

I purchased this great cook book a few weeks ago and have made several recipes. The book is well written and researched. Any one who can read can prepare delicious meals with fresh food as there isn't one complicated step in the entire book. Do yourself a "flavor" and get this book. I am a chef and found the recipes wonderfully easy and GOOD!

After reading both David McCullough's biography of Adams and now this one, I have concluded that Ferling's is the better of the two. The main reason is that although McCullough's is slightly more extensive, Ferling's book has a much more realistic view of the man. As his book Almost a Miracle shows the many tactical mistakes that Washington made, this book does the same with Adams. It makes sure to reckognize Adam's flaws as well as his virtues. For example, his frequent hypocracy, his recurrent neglect of family, his indecision, his self doubt, and his many political misjudgements are all fully acknowledged. Yet even with these faults, its overall view of Adams is still that of a great man.

In addition, Ferling's writing is practically as good as McCullough's, so read this book.

I will echo what others have written. This book gives almost every detail of John Adams life. It is an outstanding biography that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical books.

By the last page of this book you'll feel like you personally know John Adams. You'll know what drove him to succeed, his stregths, his weaknesses, his personality and most everything that can be known about a person.

As a detailed and thorough look at the life of a man, this biography is superb.

The first book I read about the times surrounding the American Revolution was "John Adams A Life" by John Ferling. It had the effect of tuning me in to the enormous impact the Adams had during that time. David McCullough has written an equally glorious work on the man who many are unaware of his historical relevance. There is no other American - no other patriot- with the exception of George Washington, who did more toward winning the Revolution and establishing our republican form of government than John Adams. I will go on record as saying that I believe Adams impact on the success of the revolution to be unparalleled. Yes, even George Washington's contribution cannot supplant Adams' role in history. Although Washington's work in the battlefield approaches genius, the key to the victory was Adams' diligent and selfless role in bringing the budding nation's leaders together for the common cause. Without his leadership, the likelihood of victory in the war would have been much more difficult for Washington. Although Adams was admittedly overly concerned with his place in history, his actions were selfless and directed to a single noble cause. Adams could very well have authored the Declaration of Independance but deferred to Jefferson as he knew that his value on the floor of the Continental Congress was much more important. His oratory skills were far superior to Jeffersons and they both knew it. Moreover, much of the verbage in the document came from Adams pen. Adams was a man with many personal flaws, but what makes him so interesting to study is his awareness of these flaws and his honesty in his personal documentation. Reading Jefferson's writings on the contrary seem to be made for the public. Jefferson was also one to avoid conflict while Adams had no fear. If the CC was filled with men like Jefferson, the revolution would surely have been relegated to the next generation. It is unfortunate that Jefferson has received more repute than Adams and hopefully books such as these will change this. Adams wrote to his beloved wife Abagail, "Yesterday the greatest Question was decided, which ever was debated in America, and a greater perhaps, never was or will be decided among Men". He may have been correct, but this question would not have been decided if not for his leadership. He also wrote "Mausoleums, statues, monuments will never be erected to me". Hopefullly this statement is not correct and the nation will more fully give him his appropraite due.

This is an excellent biography, following Adams from birth to death in one volume, and detailing both the positive and the negative aspects of the man clearly and fairly. I've been fascinated by Adams ever since seeing the movie "1776", which gives a marvellous "based on fact" dramatization of the writing and signing of the Declaration of Independence, and this book gave me a more thorough, more strictly factual look at the man. I wasn't disappointed on that score; he's just as interesting without the dramatic liberties taken by the movie.

My only quibble with this book is that the editing, at least in the edition that I have, is rather poor. There are numerous errors in grammatical structure and word choice, the kind of errors that I have become accustomed to in mass market paperbacks but refuse to accept in a scholarly historical work. Things like "he requested that the Congress name his successor be named in his place" and "...the British ... was ready" and "the New England sates" (rather than "States") and "the House of Representative" (even back then, there was more than one representative in the House) and "the dreary weather proved not be a herald of the months ahead" and many others. I understand that mistakes happen, and don't demand perfection. But there are just too many of this kind of error in this book for me to say that it is well-written; probably two dozen, if I had to guess.

Overall, this is a worthwhile biography of a fascinating president. Hopefully, future editions will clean up the writing a bit more.

Anyone who saw "Junior Bonner", and was entranced by Barbara Leigh's performance as Charmagne, cannot help but find this partial autobiography absorbing and rewarding reading. Similarly, anyone who saw and enjoyed the best of Elvis and Steve McQueen will be immediately attracted.

This book is written from the heart; it is devoid of both the taint of the popular media and casual hype. The style is almost conversational, as the writer follows different related paths in recounting her various adventures with the three titular protagonists. From her tough childhood to the loss of her son, and the failure of her marriages, you cannot help but respond; if you can keep that lump out of your throat you are a better man than I, Gunga Din.

It provides new insights into the worlds of movie-making and top-class entertainment; legendary director Sam Peckinpah needed a lot of convincing that Barbara was right for the role of Charmagne, and treated her abysmally , whilst Elvis' treatment of his lady friends and his entourage will no doubt surprise many of his fans.

As a London-based Francophile, I would have been interested to hear more of her life in Paris with Roger Vadim, and in London with her husband, but these were all incidental to the title of the book.

But be warned - this is no kiss-and-tell lurid account of an aspiring actress/model's encounters with three of America's successful men. As I said earlier, it is a candid review of part of Barbara's life which will provoke a response in the heart and spirit of any reader. I want to read it again, but my eldest daughter, a devoted Elvis fan, decided she wanted to read it first. OK, I can wait.

Thank you, Barbara Leigh, for sharing your experiences with us.

I recently finished Barbara Leigh's book The King, Mcqueen and the Love Machine. As an enthusiastic fan of Elvis and Mcqueen, her book was utterly fascinating.

There are rare, vivid insights into how Elvis lived in Vegas in the early 70s...how he demanded a very regimented world of nightly shows, post-show dressing room audiences with worshipers, late night parties back in his suite with the Memphis Mafia, a bevy of beauties, and one special girl each night ...who he took behind closed doors at the end of the night.

You'll enjoy a strange, enticing glance behind those bedroom doors: how he was a child, a rock star, a manipulator, a gentleman, an addict, a friend, and a deeply talented but utterly-flawed human. How obtusely insecure he was...and how he couldn't be left alone...insisting his woman sit next to him until he went to bed. How he doled out pills. And shower her with gifts.

Mcqueen meets Barbara at a casting and later lands her a part in his film Junior Bonner, where they begin an affair under the Arizona sky and the disdain of Martin Ritt. Mcqueenloves her in many ways (asking her to move in with him as his marriage to Neil collapsed), and again, Barbara sincerely tells it how it was with a "supe". While Elvis insisted on dresses, Mcqueen chugged brews and loved her in blue jeans. He was raw, and unpolished...but always running from his childhood of abandonment and poverty. Barbara even played a captivating role as messenger between Ali Mcgraw and Mcqueen, until she no longer wanted part of the deception.

There are thrilling moments in LA bars, Palm Springs, New York, on commercial shoots, in France, Mexico at Sinatra's...and much much more.

Also fascinating...all three men knew of each others involvement with Barbara, and were drawn to her, not only because she was stunningly beautiful, but because she was honest with them...and had her choice of the cream of the A-listers. They saw her as a sincere friend, who wouldn't settle down. She was in ways, like they were...living larger than life.

The photos of Barbara illustrate why these men were so captivated by her...she was the embodiment of raven-haired, flower-child beauty. Couple that with her sincerity and hunger for adventure and she was the angel so many men create in their mind.

Finally, Barbara saw all three men once more, near the ends of their lives. Each of these men had fallen tragically towards the end...hard for us to imagine since they are forever burned in our minds as legends. Nonetheless, this book offers unique insights into their outlooks near the end.

I highly recommend this fresh and revealing look at some of the greatest stars. Honest. Romantic. Sexy. Sad. it's all in here.

And her new 2008 audio biography is just as amazing with real people playing the parts. Check it out here on amazon!!!

If anyone ever lived a fast-paced and adventurous lifestyle it was Barbara Leigh during the 1970's. Her story is unique, one-of-a-kind and will never be duplicated. I wanted to read her book because I was always a big fan of Steve McQueen, and on that score, her chapters on Steve are informative, exciting and moving. Although these men are some of the most charismatic and powerful people of their time, it is Barbara Leigh who leaves the most lasting impression. Fame and fortune cannot compete with her kindess, inner-beauty and loving nature. Her story is well-told and is a real "page turner".

As a die-hard Elvis fan for the last 40 years, I bought Barbara's book solely to read about her relationship with him. But I was quickly captured with her entire life story, from her first recollections of her traumatic childhood, to the death of her beloved son, through her overcoming spirit of today.

I easily have 30+ books on Elvis and without a doubt, this is in the top two or three. I was riveted by her memories of Elvis and her relationship with him. Barbara was blessed to know him and she often speaks of what a good heart he had. She writes about Elvis with love, loyalty and admiration. At the same time, she does not sugar-coat the drug use, mood swings and other human frailties.

Beyond her physical beauty, one can readily see why Elvis was attracted to Barbara. One comes away with the clear sense that she is a loving, kind and nurturing person. The fact that Elvis kept in touch with her through the years is a testament to that fact. There are undoubtedly only a handful of women in his life who can make that statement.

As the title of my review states, I bought this book because of Elvis but ended up loving the entire story. I invite all Elvis fans to do likewise. Barbara writes with candor, emotion and detail, the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet. But she is never bitter. I felt as if I were right there with her through her entire story.

As the other reviewers noted, this book focuses on a few years in Barbara's life in the 1970's when she was a young Hollywood starlet making movies with actors such as Rock Hudson, Steve McQueen, and Tom Selleck. and modeling for all the big companies. She tells of her fast-paced work and romantic life involving some of the most powerful men in the entertainment business: Elvis Presley, Steve McQueen, and Jim Aubrey.

While she shared with the public a side of all three men that was unique to the public hungry for personal information about celebrities, she did so in a way that I found to be respectful and loving to these men, without intent to trash their memories. I came away with the feeling that she still cherishes each one and her time with them. I'd bet she's a classy lady.

I remembered watching Barbara in movies in the early '70's simply because of her stunning beauty. I was happy to read her book and learn more about her and her life. There were some beautiful photos of her in this book, and I'd love to see a book published of nothing but photos of her, in larger sizes. (For the record, don't take this wrong--I like men!!)

When I started reading this book I could hardly put it down. It was well-written, as well has having interesting subject material. I highly recommend it, even if you don't generally read books of this type.

"Tejano and Regional Mexican Music" by Ramiro Burr represents progress toward filling an information gap in Tejano Music. The book measures up in terms of providing authoritative information about a subject that's near and dear to many Tejanos, but that has not been adequately documented. It's a fascinating look at Tejano Music by a contemporary writer who is connected to the musicians themselves, their handlers, promoters and to the members of the media who cover the subject on a daily basis. As a writer for the San Antonio Express News, Ramiro is uniquely placed to gather and then spread current information on the subject, and he did exactly that in his book. But he also provides a historical perspective. The book is a real source for today's generation and for those who follow. Thanks Ramiro.

It's great to see that "Tejano And Regional Mexican Music" is available on Amazon.com and that it can be easily accessed by the thousands of Tejanos all over the world who are hungry for this type of information.

RAMIRO BURR deserves all the good he gets from this book.It is so informative and educational for everyone to read.TEJANO AND REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC book brings back memories from the days i was growing up in the valley.It will be a pleasure to have this book in my home to read over and over.To whoever is thinking about buying this book go for it you will not regret it. ROGELIO LUNA Freeport,Texas

Ramiro Burr's book on Tejano and reg Mex music is the most fascinating, most comprehensive and most illuminating work in the history of this industry. If you're a novice or beginner, this book will educate you fast, with fact-based bios, tons of info and ready made lists of what CDs to buy and listen to. Or, if you're a veteran you'll get much joy of reading interesting facts and juicy biographical info on your fave artists from trio and mariachii to Tejano and norteno legends. From Adalberto, Fama, Jay Perez to Los Lobos, it has it all. As Mr. Burr oftens says, the book is important because the history of a music, a culture or a country is incomplete unless everyone's contributions are documented. Finally Tex-Mex has its due recognition.JR

Ramiro Burr's book on Tejano and reg Mex music is the most fascinating, most comprehensive and most illuminating work in the history of this industry. If you're a novice or beginner, this book will educate you fast, with fact-based bios, tons of info and ready made lists of what CDs to buy and listen to. Or, if you're a veteran you'll get much joy of reading interesting facts and juicy biographical info on your fave artists from trio and mariachii to Tejano and norteno legends. As Mr. Burr oftens says, the book is important because the history of a music, a culture or a country is incomplete unless everyone's contributions are documented. Finally Tex-Mex has its due recognition.JR

I am a freelance writer for Latino oriented publications and have found Ramiro Burr's book an invaluable reference and resource tool when writing about Tejano music.