3.5/5 This book is about Prince during a specific period of time (1983-1984) when he was at his most creative. It was a time when he was touring and r3.5/5 This book is about Prince during a specific period of time (1983-1984) when he was at his most creative. It was a time when he was touring and recording and got off the road to make a movie that started out being titled "Dream" but ended up becoming "Purple Rain". It talks about all 3 bands that he was writing for and running on tour, which was crazy, he had The Time, Destiny 6, and his own band, but he practiced with all three bands. It goes into every studio session between those years, the where (studio), what (songs, instruments) and who (producer, artist, engineer) of them. It also talks to the people who were there, accessing their memories for details of the times, now decades old, by getting hours of interviews. Many of the friends going back to elementary friends school. Prince was known as a workaholic, often working in the recording studio all night until dawn, going thru 3 recording engineers before he finally tired out. This is for Prince fans really. Thanks for reading. An ARC was provided by NetGalley for an unbiased review.
Merged review:
3.5/5 This book is about Prince during a specific period of time (1983-1984) when he was at his most creative. It was a time when he was touring and recording and got off the road to make a movie that started out being titled "Dream" but ended up becoming "Purple Rain". It talks about all 3 bands that he was writing for and running on tour, which was crazy, he had The Time, Destiny 6, and his own band, but he practiced with all three bands. It goes into every studio session between those years, the where (studio), what (songs, instruments) and who (producer, artist, engineer) of them. It also talks to the people who were there, accessing their memories for details of the times, now decades old, by getting hours of interviews. Many of the friends going back to elementary friends school. Prince was known as a workaholic, often working in the recording studio all night until dawn, going thru 3 recording engineers before he finally tired out. This is for Prince fans really. Thanks for reading. An ARC was provided by NetGalley for an unbiased review....more
First published January 1st, 2006, this book on Freddie Mercury sounded pretty amazing. As I read through it, enjoying hearing about his life in his oFirst published January 1st, 2006, this book on Freddie Mercury sounded pretty amazing. As I read through it, enjoying hearing about his life in his own words, it eventually did become repetitive. It began to feel like “blah, blah, blah”. It was a good concept I thought, but in execution wasn’t the book I had hoped for as a Freddie Mercury fan. I guess the fact that he’s gone and cannot write his own biography just leaves me sad and wanting the real story from him. Without any middle men just piecing together his interviews....more
I didn’t find this book enjoyable. I wasn’t expecting it to be all quotes from writers, former co-stars, former employees and the like. It started offI didn’t find this book enjoyable. I wasn’t expecting it to be all quotes from writers, former co-stars, former employees and the like. It started off ok but by the halfway point it turned into a trashfest. I have no illusions about Elvis or how he led his life, but this was just bashing. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Boze Hadleigh, and the publisher....more
A pleasantly written book about a woman who is determined to breed horses. She is especially into Irish Draught horses, and also has other breeds. TheA pleasantly written book about a woman who is determined to breed horses. She is especially into Irish Draught horses, and also has other breeds. The book tells how she goes about it on her farm, Crowndale. She has a great looking colt named Mac, along with other horses. She gets the chance to buy an Irish Draught mare, Maggie’s Last and she dives in by breeding her to O’Leary’s Irish Diamond. It was the only Irish Draught horse stallion in the US that was competing in open classes and doing super well. It’s an interesting horsy biography that’s also informative. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Cynthia Lurix, and the publisher....more
My thoughts: I flew through this wonderful book in one night. I wasn’t sure what I would think of it, but after reading it, I am happy to say I loved My thoughts: I flew through this wonderful book in one night. I wasn’t sure what I would think of it, but after reading it, I am happy to say I loved it. The author tells her story of growing up in a dysfunctional family until one day her mother finally got the gumption to leave their dad. They moved into a half a house that was in sad disrepair, but the rent was cheap. It’s a story of her mother and how she made the place into a home and found ways to keep the kids fed. Annie had a deep love for animals, and working at an animal shelter, she gradually began to bring home the ones that no one wanted. It started when they needed a dog to keep intruders away from the house, and snowballed from there. Uplifting and inspiring, recommended. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Laurie Zaleski, and the publisher....more
I was wanting to learn about the actress Diana Dors, so I picked up this book on her. It tells about her ups and downs as she began working towards heI was wanting to learn about the actress Diana Dors, so I picked up this book on her. It tells about her ups and downs as she began working towards her early goal of being a star. She started as a teenager, learning the ropes, studying acting, and went on to get a start in the industry. Her love life certainly didn’t help her career any. This is an interesting book on her, sharing what she went through. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Anna Cale, and the publisher....more
Originally published March 3, 2016, this book is a biography using gardens that Shakespeare was very familiar with at different times in his life. It’Originally published March 3, 2016, this book is a biography using gardens that Shakespeare was very familiar with at different times in his life. It’s just bursting with beautifully done photos and information on the bard and many of the flowers and plants that he often worked into his writings. It’s a great look at the various types of gardens that were around in Shakespeare’s time, and how they’ve evolved. This is put together for the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death for those that are interested in him and gardening. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Jackie Bennett, and the publisher....more
I feel this book is well written and engaging. It tells the story of Selma van de Perre and her experiences during the 2nd World War living in the NetI feel this book is well written and engaging. It tells the story of Selma van de Perre and her experiences during the 2nd World War living in the Netherlands with her family. When they all end up in different directions, leaving Selma the last one, she has to figure out the best way to avoid being picked up by the Nazis. She changes her name and her look to seem non-Jewish, becoming Margareta van der Kuit, and blonde too.
If you are a reader of this type of book, as I am, you may want to check this one out. This book comes out May 11th. This is my second book about women resistance fighters in the last few months. They sure are some very brave ladies with some harrowing stories to tell. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Selma van de Perre, and the publisher....more
A wonderful biography of Old Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. I’ve read several books on Taylor, but Clift is more elusive to knA wonderful biography of Old Hollywood stars Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. I’ve read several books on Taylor, but Clift is more elusive to know. So I was glad to read this and learn more about him and their strong friendship. They were so close, were they just friends? It was a time in the industry where it was forbidden to openly be gay, if you wanted a career anyway. Clift had an affinity for women, he loved being in their company, and was very close to several, which really kept people guessing. When Clift met the actress Elizabeth Taylor, she was still a minor. Yet when they began acting together, they really bonded and found they liked being around one another.
The older, more experienced actor from the stage in New York, Clift even began coaching Taylor, helping her with her acting. They had similar mothers who were stage mothers in the worst sense. This cemented their friendship for the remainder of Clift’s life. I got a lot from this book and enjoyed it as well. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Charles Castillo, and the publisher....more
Its amazing sometimes how much children and teens are put through growing up in dealing with the messes that others have often made of their own livesIts amazing sometimes how much children and teens are put through growing up in dealing with the messes that others have often made of their own lives. But I think its also helpful when at rare times one can also later make something helpful come out of it, like this memoir that provides hope for others who are also struggling. It shows that no matter how bad your circumstances, there is always a chance to fulfill your dreams and become that which you always knew you could.
I found Angela Howard’s story to be shocking and painfully real, and I applaud her for overcoming all that she had to endure. What a determined woman and mother, to make it out of all that, and get her nursing degree and more. Her girls and everyone must be so very proud of her! I am proud of her and I don’t even know her. If you could use a tough, yet very good, uplifting read right now, check out this book. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Angela Howard, and the publisher....more
I often find these kinds of books fascinating, where people who do autopsies share some of their more strange or famous cases. I can think of at leastI often find these kinds of books fascinating, where people who do autopsies share some of their more strange or famous cases. I can think of at least 2 TV shows about a similar subject, one where the lead was a male, and one where the lead was a female. I was a fan of both shows. Being curious about death is pretty natural, I believe. This book, by Ryan Blumenthal discusses cases in Africa, which makes it unique from the start. There are a certain number of people killed by large wildlife, insects, lightening, even malaria. There are a wide array of deaths, related by the author in an interesting manner from his early years of his time at that profession. A read on the shorter side for those who are interested in this sort of medicolegal mystery. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Ryan Blumenthal, and the publisher....more
This is my first exposure to this author’s work in Father-ish, a book made of stories of being a male parent. Edwards writes about it in a wry, humoroThis is my first exposure to this author’s work in Father-ish, a book made of stories of being a male parent. Edwards writes about it in a wry, humorous way that many can relate to. The stories are all along those lines, about situations between him and his family, how he manages and deals with fatherhood, and how oftentimes, those very things leave him wondering how he’s doing as a dad.
There are many personal scenarios pulled from his personal life with his wife and kids, and he has a great way of expressing them in ways that are funny. I caught myself laughing out loud more than I expected. If you like this type of humor and topic, you should check out his writing here, and also his blog. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Clint Edwards, and the publisher....more
This was a wonderful though ultimately sad read. I’d seen the documentary a few years back that I found so profound, and this was the perfect follow-uThis was a wonderful though ultimately sad read. I’d seen the documentary a few years back that I found so profound, and this was the perfect follow-up to it. So very moving, it shares a lot more about Glen’s background I didn’t know. Their love story is also rather amazing by itself, with some major challenges, but Kim was in it for life. I do think this really shined a light on Alzheimer’s and got people thinking and talking about it. Not to be missed by real Glen Campbell fans, or those with an interest in Alzheimer’s. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author Kim Campbell, and publisher Thomas Nelson for my unbiased review....more
A book about a very unique individual named Steve Jackley who grows up in unusual circumstances. This is another book I had to “wish” for and was luckA book about a very unique individual named Steve Jackley who grows up in unusual circumstances. This is another book I had to “wish” for and was lucky enough to obtain. I became engrossed in his life of growing up in a tough situation in several ways. He grows up with a strong social conscience and wants to make a difference in the injustice of the huge gap between the haves and the have nots. I found this to be quite an amazing story. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Ben Machell, and the publisher....more
Having missed the documentary Tiger King, I decided to read this book on the situation. I did see the documentary with Rick Kirkham, former Inside EdiHaving missed the documentary Tiger King, I decided to read this book on the situation. I did see the documentary with Rick Kirkham, former Inside Edition journalist and crack cocaine addict, titled “The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story”, which was a trip in itself. Rick split with Joe as his Producer after he angered Joe apparently. The production building with all of the equipment mysteriously burned down a couple of nights later after Joe changed the locks and had the only key. Kirkham had been going to produce a reality series on Joe, despite his growing reservations. The more he got to know Joe and the more he began to see how he operated, the less he wanted to do with him. The fire ended any reality show hopes, as the equipment of both men was destroyed in the fire.
This book finally turned the spotlight on Joe Schreibvogel for me, aka Joe Exotic, among many other aliases he used. It shared about his earlier years, his parents, his late brother, and how he got started with his zoo where it was in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. It also explains Carole Baskin and her place, the Big Cat Rescue in Florida, and how she and Joe came to have such a huge dislike for each other, and the way each runs their big cat places. Joe has a pretty awful reputation and deservedly so, and Carole is horrified by some of the cruel things she has heard about that have happened at his place that he’s done. The battle of words online becomes personal and threats are made and it really becomes ugly. Then the lawsuits start. But Joe has other problems...lots of them. And they threaten to blow his world apart at any moment, that's just how he lives. This is a crazy book that makes for interesting reading, for sure about the bizarre world of exotic animals in the United States. I found it fascinating and flew through it in an evening. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, the author Al Cimino, and publisher in return for my honest review.
** Just a note, you may also want to check out the show on Joe Exotic and Rick Kirkham if you can find it on Investigation Discovery, or elsewhere, it was fascinating as well, it’s titled “The Truth Behind Joe Exotic: The Rick Kirkham Story,”. It was after Rick had lived at the zoo with Joe for about a year. Plus there’s one he did of his own life of making video diaries. It’s called ”TV Junkie”. I found the title info on IMDB....more
First published in 2001, it looks like I first bought a copy of this in 2008 and read and rated it 4 stars back in June, 2014. I hadn’t realized I’d aFirst published in 2001, it looks like I first bought a copy of this in 2008 and read and rated it 4 stars back in June, 2014. I hadn’t realized I’d already read this one, it was just like reading a new book. My memory is not what it used to be. I obviously enjoyed it just as much as I likely did the first time. Ride/fly along with drug smuggler Andrew Barnes during his hey day in the 1980s as he does his thing for the Medellin cartel, flying planes with drugs on board. Plenty of excitement to go around here, lots of true crime stories shared. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author William Norris, and the publisher....more
This is an excellent mob book that’s just filled with all kinds of good stuff on Albert Anastasia and the Murder, Inc. crew that has been needing doneThis is an excellent mob book that’s just filled with all kinds of good stuff on Albert Anastasia and the Murder, Inc. crew that has been needing done. It’s finally going to be all in one place, the whole story, start to finish. Read how Anastasia got his start, why wanted to be the boss so bad that major rules were broken. I’ve always heard him mentioned in other books but never knew much about him at all. This book changes all that.
You find out who he followed, who he was friends with, and who he really didn’t like. There is also a lot about the killings he committed under the guise of Murder, Inc. or otherwise. And ones contracted and performed by others for large financial gains for the group. If you enjoy true crime or mobster books, you’ll likely enjoy this read. I’ve read some of both Dimatteo’s and Benson’s other true crime works. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors Frank Dimatteo & Michael Benson, and Citadel....more
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