Book Description

"Meant to be a field guide for further research, it pitches to the most erudite echelons of Elvis fandom without going over the heads of the masses. It is also easily the coolest, most reasonable book about the Kink yet." Booklist ... Read more

Book Description

The poet Sylvia Plath has been a cultural icon since 1963 when she took her own life on a cold winter morning at the age of 30. This up-to-date biography explores the nature and sources of the mythology that has surrounded the poet's life by presenting a balanced account of her own life and the many significant people and events that influenced her. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Why do they print rubbish like this
Indeed, why do they. What rubbish. Is it just me but it seem that anyone can write a book about Elvis, even if they just saw him once buying a hamburger!

Will EPE please stop this rubbish getting published and give us all a rest. It doesn't tell us anything new, it doesn't give any insight into the man and is just making a quick buck for his "cousin" Earl.

Spare us this rubbish, please.

GREAT! ALL ASPECTS POINT TO "WHITNESS PROTECTION PROGRAM"
WE ALL KNOW THAT ELVIS WAS HELPING NIXON WITH THE DRUG WAR. IF I READ MANY ITEMS RIGHT, HE WAS A PERFECT TARGET FOR THE UNDERGROUND, MAFIA, ETC. SINCE HE WAS THE MOST TALKED ABOUT, THE MOST RECONIZEABLE PERSON ON THIS EARTH, SOMETHING HAD TO BE DONE. HE HELPED CAPTURE MANY DRUG LORDS, AND WHEN SOMEONE DOES THIS, THE DRUG LORDS SEND OUT HIT MEN. I STILL BELIEVE TODAY, THAT HE IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THE PROGRAM. THERE'S TO MANY UN-ANSWERED QUESTIONS, AND TO MANY STONES UNTURNED!! IT WOULDN'T BE HARD TO HAVE HIM AS AN ELVIS IMPERSONATER! THAT'S JUST MY OPINION. AN EXAMPLE IS...HIS $1,000,000 INSURANCE IS STILL NOT CASHED IN..HOUND DOG #2 (THE PLANE) STILL MAKES SECRET FLIGHTS AT NIGHT..THE HOME IS STILL VERY SECLUDED. CURTAINS SHUT, ROOMS OFF LIMIT, THE COFFIN WEIGHING OVER 800 POUNDS, WHEN HHE WAS IN THE COFFIN, THAT WAS NOT THE OLDER ELVIS, AND NO MORGUE CAN DO THAT MUCH FANTASTIC WORK!! I GUESS THAT'S IT. I REALLY WOULD LOVE TO HAVE HIM ALIVE TODAY, AND ENTER THE MUSIC SCEENE!! ALSO..PRISCILLA WASN'T THAT UPSET, IT LOOKED LIKE A "FAKE" FACE. EVEN LISA..THE FBI DOCUMENTS TONS OF INFORMATION ABOUT ELVIS BEING A "SECRET" AGENT FROM TIME TO TIME..I READ THE BOOK OVER, AND OVER AGAIN. EVERYTIME I READ IT, I FIND FACTS THAT I MISSED THE FIRST TIME.----ANYWAY-----ELVIS ROCKS AND HE BRINGS MANY PEOPLE, "WORLD-WIDE" TOGETHER!! AND THAT'S A GREAT THING!! THANKS FOR READING THIS!! TAKE CARE...FRIENDS THROUGH ELVIS...CONNIE ... Read more

Reviews (6)

What great research - and what a fun book this is!
Ok. While on the road, I used this book to conduct trivia contests. The guys I am with, are Elvis fans and they always try to prove that they know Elvis more than I. So this book put an end to that!

But I will say this: I TOO WAS WRONG on many occasions! I never knew 50-60% of the information that was listed in this book -- and I thought I knew a LOT! So this is an educational book beyond any Elvis fans' expections or knowledge!

I think this will soon become an Elvis Bible to the fans and Elvis world - if it's not already!

Remarkable from the first page to the last!

Wonderful book!
What struck me about this book was the beautiful and clean art deco cover. What a gorgeous cover! And what fun it is to look at.

I bought it along with Christmas with Elvis by the same author. Never knew about anyone making a Christmas book with Elvis! So I was thrilled about that!

Anyway I took this book home, and to keep it short: I have so far read it 3 times from cover to cover! That is how enticing this book is. Never had I thought possible that anyone could trace Elvis' family history back that far as did Mr. Curtin. Because Graceland still has the OLD information that Elvis came from Scotland and Andrew Pressley! My goodness Mr. Curtin goes back much much farther. What an important addition Mr. Curtin is to the Elvis world. He is the key to the lock on the Elvis Presley that no one dares to write about: THE GOOD MAN!

Thank you Mr. Curtin for showing class in authoring a beautiful book on Elvis. And thank you for all your extremely hard work in finding out all this information on Elvis and for sharing it with us fans. God Bless you and much continued success.

GETTING ON MY KNEES
I AM NOW TYPING IN CAPITALS!

JUST READ THIS BOOK AND I WILL SAY THIS : I AM AMAZED AT JIM CURTIN AND HIS WRITER FOR WHAT, AND HOW MUCH THEY RESEARCHED ON ELVIS.

SO WITH THIS REVIEW I AM GETTING ON MY KNEES AND THANKING GOD NOT ONLY FOR GIFTING THIS WORLD WITH ELVIS, BUT FOR GIFTING THE ELVIS WORLD WITH JIM CURTIN! (and lets not forget Renata)

THANK YOU .... THANK YOU .... THANK YOU .... THANKYOUVERYMUCH!

Superb research!
This book should get an award just for the research that was done in putting this book together. This team of Jim and Renata is the best ever in the Elvis world. Just wonderful, wonderful information is PACKED into this little book! You would think its a mini encyclopedia with how much writing is involved in this book!

If this book, the early years, is this great; I can't wait for the next volumes!

I personally thought that was no other information that could be FOUND on Elvis, but I was wrong. I think Jim and Renata truly pinpointed Elvis' family tree to a T ..... I can't find fault in it. Everything seems to fit and make sense. Not even Elvis' family members got things as right! So what does that mean to us? THE PERFECT INFORMATIVE BOOK!

Thanks a million!

WOW! WOW! WOW!
Did you read or get this book? Well my God what are you all waiting for!

I have never ever seen such intense research put into an Elvis book before in my life .. and this is just the early volume!

This book is worth not only the great photos but for the impressive family tree and lineage that was done on Elvis and his family. I mean did you know that Elvis' family tree was traced back to Denmark to the 1595? I sure didnt, until now.

I am now going to hold Elvis trivia contests with all my Elvis friends and fan club members ... This book is remarkable. that is all I can say.

Jim once again, a super book. And your assistant did a super job with her research! You guys actually proved a lot of "so-called experts" wrong!

Another must book for the Elvis fan! ... Read more

Book Description

Elvis Presley and his two faithful sidekicks tore up Texas highways, crisscrossing the state, always late for their next high school hop, car dealership opening, or Lion’s Club fund raiser. As they dodged tumbleweeds at 110 mph, scores of abused cars and unwary rattlesnakes sacrificed their lives so that one day Elvis could tell a Dallas newspaper reporter, “I owe a lot to Texas. They’re the ones who put me over the top.” ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Another Star in the Lone Star State
Lori Torrence brings the King alive recounting his early days in our beloved Texas. Her wonderful tidbits of little-known information make this book a MUST HAVE for all Elvis fans, and her humorous style ensures even those who may not have loved the singer will certainly enjoy the read! I would recommend about anything Lori writes to all.

Now, wait just a minute...
I picked up a copy of Elvis in Texas in November 2001, at the Annual Literacy Book Festival, where I had the pleasure of meeting author, Lori Torrance, as well as researcher, Stanley Oberst. Upon meeting Ms. Torrance, I found her charming demeanor to be an asset to the book's personality, and ultimately, it's readability. I'm certain many readers, as well as I, were unaware of Elvis' extensive road trip through Texas in gaining stardom and can admire the lengthy inquiry into the past. Together with the chronicle of information on Elvis and Texas, the pages are bursting with tons of pictures and aside-shots of trivia, which literally draws the reader right back in the '50s, as if they were reliving the past. And if you didn't live in the day, the book provides a rich portal through the generation gap in time, so younger audiences can relate to and appreciate the ambience. My children and I found the book to be a real treat! I welcome the "Happy Days" nostalgia, and am absolutely delighted with this book!

Worth a look
This a very nice book. There are some great pictures in here. I own a lot of Elvis books and there are some pictures in here I haven't seen before. The text is a bit gossipy but okay. It's not an in depth study of the King but good coffee table fodder. According to this, he really did sow his wild oats in Texas - I wonder how many little Elvi are going about?

It's interesting to see Elvis the boy at the beginning, looking full of life and looking to the future and then look at pictures of him toward the end. Was all the success worth it? Perhaps not.

Sarcastic author sounds unprofessional
I bought this book because I'm writing Faron Young's biography and needed information on dates Faron and Elvis worked together. Lori Torrance lost my respect in the very first paragraph of the book, with her statement, "Country music twanged on the radio, Hank Williams crying in his cornflakes again." A few pages later, she says, "At that time, easy listening and my-dog-has-fleas country music monopolized the mass music market." The research was useful but the flippant writing was a turn-off.

Great photos! Frustrating read & sometimes inaccurate text.
Scotty Moore, Elvis' original guitar player and manager, recently said he thought he had seen every photo from that era until he saw this book. That's why I bought it. The photos, mostly performance snapshots, are great. Unfortunately the text is not. At best the writing gets in the way, and at worst it is just plain wrong (which Scotty warned me about). Still, this rare glimpse of one of the greatest American bands merits its recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

When Bobbie Ann Mason first heard Elvis Presley on the family radio, she recognized him as "one of us . . . a country person who spoke our language"--Southern, working class, a little wild. In Elvis Presley, the bestselling author of the two modern American classics Shiloh and Other Stories and In Country captures all the vibrancy and tragedy of this mythic figure.

With heartfelt intimacy and a novelist's insight, Mason charts the intoxicating life of the first rock-and-roll superstar, whose music shattered barriers and changed the sound of America. Elvis the impassioned singer and charismatic youth embraced the celebrity brought him by a host of top-forty hits and movies. But Elvis the small-town boy and devoted son was in no way prepared for being catapulted into an unimagined stratosphere. This is the riveting story of an unforgettable man and his indelible legacy. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Mason On Elvis:An American Tragedy
Bobbie Ann Mason is the person who should have written this book on Elvis. Born in 1942, she grew up on a dairy farm in Mayfield, Kentucky; she and Elvis then are from the same time and part of the country. It is obvious from every page of this work that Ms. Mason likes Elvis's music and understands what his contribution to America and the world was. There is no substitute, as some of us remember, to being alive when Elvis literally burst on the music scene and shook us from the Eisenhower 50's. Of course Ms. Mason, one of our best living fiction writers, says it better than I: "For me, Elvis is personal--as a Southerner and something of a neighbor. I heard Elvis from the very beginning on the Memphis radio stations. Many parents found Elvis's music dangerously evocative, his movements lewd and suggestive--but when my family saw Elvis on THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW, singing 'Ready Teddy', my father cried, 'Boy, he's good!'"

My problem with this book is the same I have with the other books in this series-- their required brevity makes any in-depth study of the character impossible. This series works best, I think, in Douglas Brinkley's book on Rosa Parks since no bio of her except one for children had ever been written so he was covering new ground rather than rehashing previous material. Ms. Mason lists her sources, saying she relied heavily on Peter Guaralnick's two books on Pressley that I have not read. I did read, however, the awful book by Albert Goldman whom I believe Ms. Mason alludes to in her introduction: "In 1980, a scurrilous biography portrayed him as a redneck with savage appetites and perverted mentality, and of no musical significance to American culture." Ms. Mason provides the ultimate insult by not giving the name of the biographer.

Ms. Mason discusses briefly Elvis's movies and his interest in books. I didn't know he read books or that Priscilla got him to burn them. Ms. Mason also says that by the end of 2000 Graceland had become the most visited private home in the U. S. When I visited his grave a few years ago-- Graceland was closed that day-- I was saddened so see that out of hundreds of "floral arrangements" there was not one real flower. I suppose as the Lorettta Lynn character says in "Cold Miner's Daughter," that the plastic ones last longer.

Bereft
When these publishing houses reach into the shallow end of the writing pool to assign authors the task of patching together a novella, this is the inevitable pitiful result. Superficiality overflows her perspectives, and the style of the book is forced, as she tries to spin a tome of the south as a tapestry into Elvis' life. I must've been absent from the planet during the minute that Elvis' career took this downward spiral she focuses on. Recently he has had the number 1 song and album in the world, which went gold or platinum in 60 countries. 15,000,000 people from around the world have stopped by his house over the last 20 years, making Graceland the most visited home in the world (next to the White House which is a public building); there are over 700 fan clubs; he has sold more records since 1977 than any 3 acts combined; his posthumous concert tour breaks attendance records around the world, and a whole new generation of children have discovered him in the Lilo & Stitch movie. There are still more books sold and written about Elvis than any other artist. He was voted the "Artist of the Century" the 57th "Most Influential Person of the Millennium," and his song, "That's All Right Mama" was chosen by CNN as the "Song That Changed The World." He revolutionized, Radio, Concerts, the Record Industry, the Music Charts, Television, Movies, Pop Culture, Male Sexuality and fan devotion. He first created the generation gap in the 50s and bridged it in the 70s. Without Elvis crossing over to open the portal for Black entertainers, Motown would've been a regional success only. After 9/11 when the world sought emotional comfort through songs of inspiration and patriotism, "America The Beautiful" sung by Elvis in 1972, went up the Top 10 charts worldwide. A man that accomplished all this in just 22 years---so much that his work and image still dominate the perlieu 26 years after his demise--- deserves better than to be written about by an author of the ilk of a Bobbie Ann Mason.
P.S He is releasing another album, that will be pushed to the top by another Number 1 single.

A quick glimpse of the King...
This book fits well into the Penguin Lives series - none of them are meant to be definitive pictures of the person being written about, but most of them succeed in giving a good glimpse of a person's life and accomplishments, however, most are over far too quickly and with many details left to further reading. That's not necessarily a bad thing if it's what you're expecting.

This book on Elvis is a WHOOSH WHAT HAPPENED?!?! sort of a quick read. Before I knew it I was turning the final page. Elvis' forty-two years were exhausted in a few hours of reading.The prose is mostly very readable, but early on the author didn't seem to know what to write about Elvis' childhood, so she rhapsodizes on the taste of hamburgers or makes numerous Faulkner references. I almost didn't make it past the first few chapters. Admittedly, there is probably a lack of material on this part of Elvis' life, but that doesn't mean we need a short essay on the lucious taste of hamburgers and how Elvis surely loved them.

Happily, Faulker is never mentioned in subsequent chapters, and the dearth of material vanishes. What follows is a good but all too quick and somewhat one-sided view of the life of Elvis. There is a hint of a 'Poor Elvis' theme as the author continually mentions his "innocence." Even towards the end of his life, when Elvis was literally destroying himself and seemed somewhat nuts, the tone is mostly sympathetic. The author almost blames Elvis' fame more than Elvis himself.It is true that fame can destroy a person. It's happened to too many people (even many who were never famous), but typically there's something else about the person that causes this self-destruction rather than simply the fact that they're famous. Though to be fair, it's a short book so all sides of the story cannot be told.

If you're already versed inthe life of Elvis Presley you'll likely find little new information here. I used the book as a starting point. I wanted to know more about Elvis' life, but I wasn't sure to what extent. This book was perfect as a glimpse into what happened to Elvis and the major events of his strange life. As a result of reading this book, I would really like to know more details about his "fall." This book whizzes through his final years by outlining some crazy stories such as Presley's visit with Nixon, his fascination with karate, his bizarre stage shows (to my generation, Elvis' 70's stage shows are strange and almost surreal to watch), the origin of his 70's persona (there's more to it than Captain Marvel), his divorce from Priscilla (good for her!), his becoming a narcotics officer, and his overall increasingly obsessive behavior. There's much more there I'm sure than this book tells, though it's probably not a happy tale, and this book strives to be a happy book.

The book does not mention accusations pointed at Elvis of racism. There are positive quotes from Little Richard, a Black Panthers Leader, and Elvis himself. Right or wrong, many people my age see Elvis as a thief of "black music" and as a symbol of white cultural appropriation and domination. I'm not supporting or denying this view, but the book implicitly takes the stance that this is not an issue or that "everything's okay" on this count. Elvis, along with Sam Phillips, is celebrated as a joiner of the races. This is at best controversial. Nonetheless, the overly positive view the book takes makes me want to learn more about this topic.

The book also goes a little light on Elvis' movies. They are far worse than the book leads on (I've seen all but a couple of them). It's easy to see how his legendary status declined since most people born after Elvis' death experience him first through his movies. It's really very hard to take Elvis seriously when your first exposure to him is "Paradise Hawwaiian Style", "It Happened at The World's Fair", or "Harum Scarum." In the end, his films did far more damage to his name than Elvis could ever imagine. Historically, it's telling that while the Beatles were working on Seargent Pepper, Elvis was working on "Clambake."

The book also doesn't mention what is usually considered Elvis' most critically acclaimed album: "From Elvis in Memphis." Elvis could make some darn good music when he was focused. His music is generally not album-oriented, however, so many of his albums sound merely like collections of songs strung together. "From Elvis in Memphis" is an exception to this, and is enjoyable from beginning to end. It deserves a mention even in a survey.

Overall, the book piqued my interest in Elvis as a cultural icon who took a huge fall for complicated reasons. He is right up there with Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, and Micheal Jackson in terms of the negative impact fame can have on a life. Concerning the topic of Elvis in general, there's more and less of what you'd think involved. He is a tragic figure and a symbol and a warning of the potential destructive powers of fame and wealth.

But if you want to know more details, you'll have to read another book.

Are You boring Tonight?
ELVIS PRESLEY:Bobbie Ann Mason

Early on in this skimpy biography of The King, author Mason recounts Elvis' first taste of success when his early Sun Record recordings began to be played on the radio, "the sounds that came hurtling out of Elvis' unfettered soul were so real and refreshing it was as if some juke joint had opened up and racial harmony were a happy reality."

Oh, yeah! I think we can all relate to that. Who among us, upon hearing Elvis for the first time, didn't say, "man, I feel like racial harmony is a reality."

This short (169 pages), uneven effort is not as bad as that quote would indicate, but the reader would be better served by almost any of the Presley bios available with the exception of Albert Goldman's hack job.

Elvis changed music, performing, and recording more than any artist in history, became more famous in a shorter time than anyone who ever graced the planet, and detonated the social revolution of the 60s, but that is as nothing to Mason who is hell-bent on finding something that SHE considers significant.

As a result, Elvis becomes a poster boy for a long discourse on southern whites and poverty and, in case that is not significant enough, is magically transformed from The King into The Saint, who performs merely as a device to achieve his true purpose, leading the diversity movement.

It is hard to make Elvis Presley boring, but Mason comes close.

A Disappointment
"Elvis Presley," by Bobbie Ann Mason, is an almost too intimate look into the conjectured feelings, rather than the events, shaping the life of "The King of Rock 'n' Roll."I was disappointed by both the writing style, which reminded me of backroom "beauty shop-like" gossip, and the content, which contained psychoanalysis of Presley. The continuous message that the society he was raised in as a child was the blame for the his adult downfall became the focus of the narrative; so much so that it made such a significant contributor to music history and cultural icon seem pathetic and uninteresting.The book is a good study for those interested in counseling or Freudian psychology; however, for those wanting a glimpse into the exciting and flamboyant life of Elvis Presley, this book is not recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

That's Alright, Elvis recounts the life of Scotty Moore, one of the early men behind the legendary Elvis Presley. Moore was already an accomplished musician (Rolling Stone Keith Richards says that Moore's music inspired him to play rock-and-roll) when, at the behest of Sun Records executive Sam Phillips, he took young Presley under his wing. It didn't take long for Moore's seasoned ear to discern the young singer's talent, one that would soon explode into the rock sound. Moore's relationship with Elvis deepened through the years as he managed Presley's career and played in his band, the Blue Moon Boys. But as Elvis's popularity skyrocketed, Moore's managerial role was usurped, and the professional relationship between the two ultimately soured over money and miscommunication. Moore continued his musical career and is now considered the quintessential rock guitarist by many in the industry. He maintains an admirable objectivity about his life with Elvis as he tells his story through writer James Dickerson. That's Alright, Elvis is a fresh take on a seminal period in both Elvis's life and in the history of rock-and-roll. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Required reading even if you're not an Elvis fan
Although not a technical genius, or a flambouyant showman, Scotty Moore is the first Rock and Roll guitar hero. He can be considered a discoverer, an inventor. He provided support, on and off stage, to a musical phenomenon, Elvis Presley. They both found a way of making three instruments and a vocal sound big. His riffs and syncopations inspired millions. Too bad he didn't make...millions.
His story is told in a warmly engaging way, filled with panorama; and not once does a bitter tone prevail.
As Elvis progressed, it seems that he (along with the powers that be) decided that Scotty's licks were not sophisticated enough, so Moore apparently was an occasional studio player after 1961. It's interesting that Big El summoned Scotty for his crucial TV Special - the word "Comeback" came shortly after December 3rd, 1968.
It's facinating to read about Mr. Bill Black, Elvis' first bassist. Black was another instinctual musician, limited but perfectly attuned to the new art form. He died a young man, but found a way onto the charts with the Bill Black Combo and strong instrumental workouts. He died in 1965 and it's too bad that Elvis did not mention his name on the TV Special section where he demonstrated how they got the big sound with just three guys.
I do not enjoy the storytelling in the second person: it would have been much more effective to have Scotty's words up-front throughout. Just like his guitar playing.

Excellent biography
James Dickerson did a great job of telling the story of Scotty Moore. I was as impressed with the writing as with the subject. I read this as research for the biography I'm writing about Faron Young, and I must admit to disappointment--but not surprise--at the lack of mention of him. That aside, this is a book worth reading. Scotty Moore is a man I'd like to meet.

Excellent, simple tale of a world-class musician and Elvis
Scotty Moore is one of the unsung heroes of rock 'n roll and his writing style reflects his playing style- simple, precise and to the point. In a humble, matter-of-fact style, guitarist Moore recounts his experiences with the King in an eminently readable and interesting way. I have read many Elvis books and this is one of my favorites. After reading it, you just wished you could bump into Scotty sometime, buy him a beer and talk the night away. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on extensive interviews, Oscar Peterson is a well-informed and provocative exploration of Peterson's music. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lees paints portrait of legendary pianist
This updated version of the great jazz pianist is an excellent work by Mr. Lees. Few other writers could do justice to this project. Gene Lees has known most of the legends of jazz and counts many as personal friends. Only someone like Lees could have done such an extensive piece on this celebrated artist. The story of Oscar Peterson and his impact on modern jazz is worthy of 5 stars. Highly recommended for students of jazz history and those many fans that have collected OP's recordings for decades. A marvelous effort by the author. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Elvis & Billy Stanley - good read!
I found this book to be rather interesting. It's obvious that Elvis had a special relationship with his step-brothers. All Elvis fans should read this book. Why are so many people jealous of the Stanley boys and Dee Presley? They give these bad reviews of the books they wrote. I'm sure they would have loved to be in their place. And what a good way to honor their brother by writing a book. At least they didn't make Elvis look like a monster as Priscilla Presley did in her book, Elvis & Me!

A STEPBROTHER OF A BOOK
I enjoyed this book and so I gave it a star boost in spite of being boring and without depth. Billy is open and candid, but the story ranbles. the big bombshell is that Elvis took his wife (and others) to bed. once that comes and goes it's a whitefish. It's not like Billy penned this tome, so it's on the writers. The book ended strong and the writer should have explored the turmoil more intently. It felt like it was slapped together to be ready in time for the holidays. It's too chronicled and stiff. It reads like "Elvis and me got a pizza; Elvis and me watched T.V." And way way more about hot rods than needed unless it was a book about hot rods. I learned more about the Stanley bros reading the novel AROUND ELVIS. Billy, not only wasn't the star running back on the Hillcrest High football team, he didn't even play for the team. Not only that, he and Ricky were the waterboys!!! None of the brothers ever played on the team. Shame on you Billy! And how come you never told how you were arrested by the Constable of Desoto County, T. Burma Hobbs for taking a leak behind a liquor store? Billy Stanley!! I would recommend this book, because he did have a unique perspective of Elvis' life that manages to peak through now and then and it has moments that are absolutely charming.

Where are they located?
Can you please tell me how I can get in touch with Billy, Ric ,or David Stanley? ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Very Interesting Study of Plath
I bought a used version of this book because I wasn't sure if I would like it or not. I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. I have not read tons of Plath criticism, but I felt this was the first I have read to really articulate what makes her poetry so compelling for me. Chapter Two on Orality and Writing I thought was just deadly accurate about Plath's work. I kept thinking, "Exactly! Wonderful!" Rose takes a few psychoanalytic ideas from Kristeva and Freud and makes them really work--this chapter should be a model for how to use psychoanalytic theory in interpreting literature in a productive and succinct way. I would have liked to see this chapter expanded--the ideas in it can be a little dense and quick (like Plath) and I would have liked to see Rose expand this to an analysis of more poems. I felt truly enlightened after reading this. The fourth chapter on Plath, feminism and fantasy is also excellent: Rose gave me so much to think about. She really opened up a way to read Plath again and she negotiated the question of Plath's relation to feminism very well. (To me) her ideas were unique and original.
My only criticism is that throughout I would have liked to see Rose analyze more poems. This book in fact struck me as a blueprint or outline for what should be a longer, more extensive analysis of the work. But overall, it will leave you inspired to do your own readings of Plath. I feel grateful for the provocative and helpful insights of this book.

Harrowing
This is a fascinating account of the controversal life and death of one of America and England's most wondered-about poets. Gives many new details and fresh insights. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP
Gimme a break.......people, this book is nothing but the result of some woman in need of some cash--end of story.

First of all there are a number of "facts" in her book which are verifiably not true.During one of her supposed secret meetings with Elvis (during his trip to meet with Richard Nixon), she describes him as being dressed "wildly" in a purple suit.She obviously lifted this piece of info from Albert Goldman's book, because both Elvis' bodyguards at that time and photos clearly show that he was dressed in black, not purple.

Secondly, she writes that one day in 1953, she rode a rented horse up to the mountains in Memphis and lo and behold here comes Sir Lancelot (Elvis) riding up behind her where the spend the night together up there.Uh, the only place you could rent a horse in Memphis in 1953 was the local fairgrounds and the horses were NOT allowed off the property.

Plus, it is a well-known fact that Elvis had a major problem having sex with a woman who had had children.Something inside him, just turned off.This subject was dealt with in the books "Elvis, What Happened"? by his bodyguards, and in "Elvis and Me" by Priscilla Presley.Elvis was greatly attracted to innocent young girls, not women who looked like they had been run through the mill.Sorry, but that was just his way.

what really nailed her coffin is when she was on a talk show several years ago with her daughter Desiree.Someone asked what colour Ms. Barbin's eyes were. She said "brown". She was then asked what colour Desiree's eyes were. She said "green". It's a well known fact of course, that Elvis had blue eyes.What's not so well known is that it's genetically impossible for someone with brown eyes and someone with blue eyes to have an offspring with green eyes.When this fact was presented to Lucy de Barbin on national TV, she stumbled and stuttered over her words, tried back tracking and said "well, her eyes are really blue."Can you say: 'Liar'?

Another problem with Lucy de Barbin's "story", is that not one single person who was close to Elvis all those years can verify anything about what she claims. Elvis was rarely alone and if he indeed had an affair with Ms. de Barbin, SOMEONE would have been able to say "yep, I remember all those times when E was meeting with Lucy."Guess what?Not one single person remembers her.

Plus, Elvis couldn't keep his mouth shut---about anything.He would blab to his bodyguards about anyone and they knew about all the girls he was fooling around with.Guess what? He never mentioned her ONCE to anyone.

Seeing as this book was written before DNA testing was around, I would be very interested to see if Lucy de Barin's daughter would be willing to submit to a DNA test, and compare it with Lisa Marie Presley's to see if it's a match.I guarantee that it won't be.

Overall, this book is ridiculous and if you believe the nonsense that Ms. de Barbin tells, then I've got some swamp land in Florida to sell you.

lonely book
As an avid Elvis fan, I was really disappointed with this book. I went in very cautiously, not wanting to believe a word of it. The more I read, the more I started to believe Lucy's story. As the book went on I got bored with the same story telling,the same lines, the same everything. By the end of the book, I was still skeptical. Nowhere is Lucy mentioned in his life. Any other biographies omit her name completely. With that many people in Elvis' life at that time someone would know something more than what is told. I'm not sure of the story being true. I am sure of the story being pretty boring at times. Worth reading? Sure, if you can get it for a penny plus shipping.

well i tought it was bad
First of all i didnt believe the book for one minute.It was false.Its the worst book ive ever read.I cant belive pppl liked it.

Tear Drop Heaven
I just finished reading "Are you Lonesome tonight" by Lucy De Barbin, Elvis' secret love. I am only 16 but I felt as though I was living with Elvis during his fame and with Lucy during her sorrow. I couldn't believe the things that happened. I cried more times than I can count on both hands and I couldn't get over the book at all. It made me so mad that Elvis couldn't come back because he has so much unfinished businnes with his life and his long lost daughter. Those men that destroyed him should have been convicted of murder because that is what they did. They murdered him. Elvis is an Au Natural singer who will always live in our hearts. GO ELVIS!!

An interesting opinion of mine.
man, This is a very fascinating book written by Lucy. But to be honest, in my eyes, Elvis was kind of taking advantage of herin order to fufill his desire. Indeed, he was a lonely man, so he needed someone to light the candle to brighten up his life. He also wanted someone who listened to him when his life was at the lowest point of his career. In exchange of this, he spoiled her with beautiful gifts.

Lucy was like other every woman who liked to be believed by Elvis's soft and persuading words. They were the ones who he liked to fornicate with, even though he may not love them. He could have left Priscilla for Lucy if he loved her enough, and looked for her to get her back. If he did, she would be persuaded to stay with him. But, the point is that he didn't.

I believe Priscilla Presley was the love of his life. He knew she was the one he would come home to. But she wanted something more from him. They were both lonely, which their relationship ended up as a disaster.

Basically, all of us don't know what his feelings for those women were like.

Back to the point, the book is indeed good & interesting. ... Read more

Book Description

Based on unprecedented research and interviews, this authoritative biography of Colonel Tom Parker (1909-1997) includes new revelations and insights into rock music's most renowned and notorious manager. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

I've read it all before
This book is a compolation of every story we've ever heard. The fans have a tendency to blame everyone for Elvis' downfalls and the Colonel is villified for letting Elvis be a drug addict as if he or anyone had any say. The nature of their relationship was established right off. Elvis had the million dollars worth of talent and the Colonel had the ability to cash it in. Elvis went from making $18 a night on the Louisiana Hayride to making $100,000.00 for TV appearances in less than a year. He got Elvis a big money movie contract with an unheard of backend royalty. Elvis had the talent to pull it off; Parker couldn't have done it with Hank Snow. But Elvis was just as talented when he met Parker and was scraping along in the lower strata of middle class. In this book once again the chatracters are stick figures; they're one dimensional in their interaction and the story is worn.

A fascinating insight into The Colonel & into Elvis' career
I like to learn about Elvis from the inside out.This is unquestionably one of the best and most interesting books I have ever read about Elvis' career.It is a fascinating and enlightening insight into Colonel Parker and thus into Elvis and his career also.Dickerson's approach takes you down a road I don't believe has been explored before.He has done remarkable research into (i) what influenced and shaped The Colonel and enabled him to emerge as a revolutionary and unique manager and (ii) into the underlying cultural and political forces of the time that greatly influenced the course of this particular piece of history.If you are serious about learning about Elvis and The Colonel, Dickerson's writing makes you think; it opens doors and suddenly so much becomes clear.The first half of the book is, perhaps, kinder to The Colonel than the second half; but, above all, if you want new and interesting information and great insight into these two gentlemen (Elvis and The Colonel), this book is brilliant.This book is well worth your time and money.

A waste of time.
I don't care to write too much about this book, because it just wastes more time.

Too much effort was put into this book and it was all futile.
Not enough "real hard evidence" supports anything reported in this "tabloid" type of book.
I felt like I was reading the National Enquirer (hardback version) than a book about Elvis and his manager.

This man obviously used a lot of other people's material, from other books, and added his opinion: which doesn't amount to much.

I like Scotty Moore and what he did for Elvis, but he was always kept in the dark about Elvis' business.So his comment about how much this book was an eye-opener is expected.

This was a waste of my money, but even moreso my time.
I would rather read something more substantial.

What the experts have to say!
FROM THE BOOKJACKET:

"James Dickerson's research has confirmed more than I ever suspected"--Scotty Moore, Elvis's guitarist and first manager

"An indendiary, powerful investigative account . . . an explanation, finally, of the twisted, corrupt relationship between Elvis and Colonel Parker"--Joe Eszterhas, best-selling author, screenwriter and former writer for Rolling Stone magazine

"This jaw-dropping biography of Tom Parker confirms what I felt for years--that the Colonel was a far more fascinating rascal than Elvis ever became. This is a model of research assembled with crafty objectivity and humor"--Hal Kanter, director of the Elvis film "Loving You"

"Here is the whole sad and amazing story of 'the most accomplished con man since Barnum.' In swift, deft strokes Dickerson has sketched the greed, compulsion, and lies that drove every decision in the making of undoing of rock and roll's greatest talent. This is the book our study of popular culture's most glittering icon has lacked"--Lewis Nordan, author of "The Sharpshooter Blues"

"This riveting biography shines a hard light on the inscrutable Colonel . . . Dickerson has made it easy to understand that if rock and roll will never die, it owes its life to how Parker wrote the rules of the game"--Mark Ribowsky, author of "He's a Rebel"

An Unfair Portrait of Elvis Presley's Manager
Colonel Tom Parker was Elvis Presley's manager for virtually Elvis' entire career.Parker began his career working for carnivals and when he became a successful music manager, first for country singer Eddy Arnold and later for Elvis, Parker maintained his image as a carnival man.In negotiations he played the role of the unpolished but sharp dealing operator who took his adversary by surprise and got a great deal for his client and himself.Parker seemed to enjoy and possibly profit from his mysterious and unsavory reputation.

That mysterious and unsavory reputation draws suspicion to Colonel Parker when Elvis Presley's career is considered.Alot of bad and weird things happened to Elvis as his career went on.He made terrible movies, indifferent records and suffered weight and drug problems.Why did this happen? Colonel Parker is a convenient scape goat, but how much was Colonel Parker really to blame for Elvis' misery?

The answer may never be known.There are many rumors about Colonel Parker.He was an illegal alien so Elvis never toured Europe. (That makes no sense to me.Colonel Parker wouldn't have to leave the country for Elvis to tour Europe.After all, Elvis was stationed in Germany while Parker managed him.) Another rumor is that Elvis was a great and exciting singer until Colonel Parker corrupted him into a cheesy money making parody of himself.The 1968 "Comeback TV Special" was rumored to be one of the few times that Elvis defied the Colonel and showed the public the "real" Elvis.But if Elvis was unhappy with the Colonel, why didn't he fire him?If Elvis didn't like the direction is career was taking why didn't he try to change it? There are many unanswered questions.

Unfortunately this book doesn't provide many answers.Instead it just adds more unsubstantiated rumors.For example, it has been rumored that Parker was born in Breda, Holland and was originally named Andreas van Kujik.The author believes that Parker was born to jewish parents in Russia and only lived with the van Kujik family when he was in his teens.It's frustrating that the author offers no facts in support of this theory.

Another rumor is that Parker was involved with organized crime.Probate court records after Elvis' death show that Parker was losing one million dollars a year gambling in Las Vegas by the early 1960's.Certainly a man with heavy gambling debts would be vulnerable to collection pressures.It's plausible that Colonel Parker was unduly influenced in his managment decisions by his need to raise cash, but that doesn't mean that Parker is neccessarily guilty.The author suggests that Parker was involved with organized crime, but does not offer any proof to convict him.The author even speculates that Parker was close to surrendering his managent contract on Elvis to satisfy gambling debts. No facts are offered to support these rumors.All that is known for sure is that Colonel Parker was a heavy gambler.

This is just a poorly crafted book.Dickerson's writiing is competent enough, but his research work is shoddy.People write books about Elvis Presley all the time.His old girl friends, his family members, his friends, his band members, have all written books about Elvis.With so many books about Elvis out there, why waste time reading this one? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Sylvia Plath : A Literary Life
Wagner-Martin (Univ. of North Carolina) focuses on how Plath's story "interfaces with American culture during the 1930s, the 1940s, and the 1950s, and with British culture during the last decade of her life." The author discusses how Plath wanted to become "the great poet" and learned to draw from the real events of her life. Few of her stories or poems mention a mother; her father, Otto Plath, and his early death, surfaces "either as primary theme or as a subtle embroidery" in many of her poems and stories. Her one novel, The Bell Jar, with its objectified heroine, Esther, shows Plath's understanding of "the subtleties and the full ranges of mental and physical health." Traditional literary knowledge was of little use to Plath; she composed to "the true wildness of her imagination." She wrote about women who murdered the "Daddy person," gave birth to and nurtured children, and "have no use for anything that remains of their earlier lives." Although Wagner-Martin avoids connecting Plath's writings directly with her life, she believes that avoiding connections is nearly impossible. A few awkward sentences notwithstanding, this intelligent, focused study will enhance the reading of Plath's work. The author includes notes and a chronology. Recommended for all academic collections.

A concise view of Plath in her time
This book is an excellent look at what Plath wrote, her beginnings as a writer, the climates that she worked in and how her relations with her mother and her husband helped to shape her writing. While I would have liked to see more of how Plath's favorite authors influenced her, there is enough new material (letter and journal excerpts, as well as the author's observations) to make it a worthwhile addition to the ever-growing pile of books on the legendary Sylvia Plath. A good study for beginners and scholars alike. ... Read more

Book Description

A remarkable new series of audiobooks, featuring the most distinquished twentieth-century American poets reading from their own work. A first in audiobook publishing--a series that uses the written word to enhance the listening experience--poetry to be read as well as heard. Each audiobook includes rare archival recordings on cassette and a book with the text of the poetry, a bibliography, and a commentary by J. D. McClatchy, the poet and critic, who is the editor of The Yale Review. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

De profundis
There are poems here to warm your heart, and others to chill your blood. The 1957 poem "Sow" is a fulsome celebration of the muddiness and bloodiness of thriving, procreating life, redolent of the optimistic romanticism of Wordsworth or Robert Graves. When we get to the later recordings, on side two, the poet's nerve ends are raw-exposed. "Daddy", with its dark and terrible imagery - "Every woman adores a fascist, the boot in the face..." - makes you wonder exactly how her father, who died when she was a child, behaved toward her. That and "Lady Lazarus" are about as dark as poetry can get. Not every poet is the best reader of their work, but Plath conveys her agony in these recordings in a way that surely no one else could do. If you are prepared to probe the very centres of poetic pain, get this tape.

A Powerful Experience
This cassette is an amazing recording. Hearing Plath read her poems "Lady Lazarus" and "Ariel" is an experience beyond compare. Hearing the intonation of her voice leads one closer to discovering another dimension to the poetry beyond that written on the page. Her poems are works of art that are brought to a new plateau when she infuses her voice. They begin to stand in a new space, replicating the motion that her poem "Ariel" describes.

Audio intensifies relationship between poet and listener
This tape is amazing. From the moment I first read Plath's poetry, I longed to hear her read it herself. Her poetry is so extremely personal. The sound of her voice makes the poetry all the more powerful. This tape also allows the listener to hear the beauty of the words and the rhythm of Plath's works.

Voice from the Dead
Listening to these recordings is a haunting experience. Plath recorded Side A when she was 25 and in the full blush of newlywed happiness. Like the rigidly structured poems of "The Colossus," Plath's delivery of these earlier poems reflects a painstaking adherence to precision of pronunciation and form. However, turn to Side B, recorded five years later on October 30th, 1962--three days after her 30th birthday, three months before her suicide--and you are at once stunned by the harrowing transformation in both Plath's voice and poetry. These are the "Ariel" poems, the poems that Plath herself declared to be "the best poems of my life; they will make my name." Here, it is clear that all hope and vitality has been sapped, and all that is left are the charred remains of her former self--bruised and beaten, suffocating in a self-made grave of self-loathing and regret. Listen closely, and you can hear the faint murmuring of traffic outdoors, or the gentle shuffling of papers and creaking of wooden drawers. You are lost in her world, locked in her slow destruction. Sylvia Plath's pain bleeds from these recordings, and you will not walk away from them unstained.

A Must Have for Any Plath Fan
If you are thinking about purchasing this tape and are a Plath fan, I urge you to stop just thinking about it, and buy it! It is worth the money, and worth the time to wait for it to arrive in the mail. Sylvia Plath reads her own work so well, and with such clarity that you will probably never look at poetry the same way. Listening to them is like listening to stories, especially so on side B of the tape where she reads from her later works including "Daddy" and "Lady Lazarus." Side A is her earlier work, her heavily structured poems, and crisp voice. Each word is pronounced so exactly correct, it does tend to get a little annoying. I do not listen to Side A as much as side B, let's just say that. You can hear the different sound so well between the two that it seems like two seperate people. The one "in plaster" and the one without.

Buy it! :) ... Read more