5 comments about Day at a Time: An Indiana Girl's Sentimental Jorney to Doris Day's Hollywood and Beyond.

1. I'm not sure why several readers chose to be so mean-spirited about this book. For years, ex-employees of celebrities have written reams about their particular "stars," digging up a lot of dirt, but "Day At A Time" doesn't do that. I read it as an honest portrayal of a beloved actress, by a sincere admirer, and I was expecting some insight into Doris Day's behind-the-scenes life. That's what the book delivered. This isn't a fake story about Saint Doris, and the author doesn't try to gild the lily: like all of us, Doris Day isn't perfect. Ms. Barothy set down her memories - backed by a lot of notes and documents - and her love for Doris shines through. I might have edited the book a little differently, as there are some parts that don't connect quite as well as others, but overall it was an enjoyable read and I loved the photos. And considering that I'm not a rabid Doris Day fan, I'd say Mary Anne Barothy accomplished what she set out to do - she wrote a book that appeals to readers on several different levels. Especially considering this is a first effort, I think she did a fine job.



2. The book gets two stars because of technical problems, as in poor editing, and very poor writing. The author was totally disorganized in her thought processes especially from the middle to the end.
   
   That being said, I wouldn't vilify the author for having written the book. There's a lesson to be learned here, which is, all fan clubs should be done away with. People are too prone to get obsessed with celebrities. Consequently, they bury their own self seeking to emulate what they perceive is the perfect life. This is what happened to the author. She got so enamoured of Ms Day, she completely lost her identity. She gave up a serious relationship, and dumped her family when she moved halfway across the country in search of a dream. A very unhealthy dream as it turned out.
   
   I think Ms Day finally realized the woman needed to get a life of her own, and fired her. Sort of a tough love move on her part, but it was the right thing to do in my opinion. On the other hand, I also think Ms Day took advantage of the author's kindness and infatuation with her to some degree. So, there were co-dependency issues going on there as well.
   
   Frankly, as much as I admire Ms Day, you will never find me in her house cleaning up after eleven dogs on a day to day basis. You couldn't pay me enough money to do that. And I love dogs.
   
   So if you buy this book, learn from it if you're inclined to overly obsess about a celebrity. They are no more important than you are in the grand scheme of things. And they are no less fallible in making decisions that impact their lives in a very negative way. In other words, the grass is not greener on the other side of the septic tank.
   
   At any rate, I do believe the author wrote without malice, and really wanted to convey the fact that Ms Day is at heart, a lovely, caring woman despite the adversity in her life. For me, the author succeeded in doing that.
   



3. I just finished reading Day at a Time and thoroughly enjoyed it!
   
   While I've never had the privilege of meeting the beautiful and talented Doris Day, the next best thing was reading this fascinating memoir of someone who has! I found myself completely consumed in this compelling story of this young woman's dream to meet her idol.
   
   Day at a Time is filled with both cute antics and serious issues that the author experienced with Doris Day. A remarkable and loving bond developed between them and you will feel as though you were living this dream come true yourself!
   
   You will see how an earnest young woman makes her way to Hollywood and endears herself to her idol and how Doris reciprocates with admiration and seeks her assistance and ultimately her friendship. I was amazed how accessible Doris made herself to her fans. You will love it.



4. I have loved Doris Day since I was a little girl. So when I saw that a new book came out from someone who actually lived with Miss Day, I had to read it. I found it hard to believe some of the negative comments and they made me want to read the book even more, just to see what all the complaining was about.
   
   I loved this book and have read it more than once. It gave me a sense of really knowing Doris on a personal level. I felt the author truly loved Doris and enjoyed being her right hand person. Doris Day is a very real person in this book and it makes me love her even more.



5. I am not sure why any publisher would have put this book out for anyone to read. The author is apparently a fan who once stalked Ms. Day. What I cannot understand is why Ms. Day ever hired her. It smacks of utter betrayal by a close confidante who wanted revenge on her former employer after 30 some odd years. I agree with the people who thought this book was tabloid garbage, because that is what it is, and this sure shows alot of disrespect toward a talented and beloved actress.

5 comments about Sons of Camelot: The Fate of an American Dynasty.

1. This book is a horror! All it does is lament that the younger generation of Kennedy men ARE Kennedys. Yes they are, but it's no one's fault. This is over 500 pages of dry rot as far as I'm concerned. Joe II has trouble in his marriage because of politics. That's not news! Bobby, Jr. and Bobby Shriver, Jr. have substance abuse problems. That's not news!
   
   Don't waste your money unless you buy this book used for 0.01.



2. This book has handsome JFK, Jr. on the cover and opens with young John-John saluting his father's coffin, and capturing our hearts. However this book is not devoted to President Kennedy's namesake. He's included here, but so are his equally fascinating -- if not as glamorous -- male cousins. Here are doomed Michael and David, ambitious Joe and a pair of gifted Bobbys (Kennedy and Shriver). There's Tim Shriver, trying to find his way within a powerful family. Ted Kennedy's sons have led particularly poignant lives, dealing with the legacy of Chappaquidick and their mother's alcoholism as well as their uncles' assasinations. I came away from this book with a renewed respect for Jackie and Eunice for their mothering skills, for their sons of Camelot were guided with surer, more attentive and imaginative hands than many of their cousins. While it was an interesting and educational read, I wish it had been longer and gone into more detail. So many of these young men were previously unknown to me and I wanted to know more. Still, I recommend it.



3. Spreading lies about JFK Jr. and his wife using anonymous sources.
   People that think that this was for selling better are in denial.
   The reason is much more sinister. For some reason the goal of the book is to cover-up the circumstances of his death.
   The other reason is to diffamate his memory. Does November 2, 2004 ring a bell ?



4. Here is the next generation of the Kennedys, warts and all. If you idolize the Kennedys, you won't be happy and if you hate the Kennedys, you won't be happy. But if you want a fairly well rounded account of the younger generation of Kennedys, Laurence Leamer's book does a good job. The sordid (the liberal use of drugs among the next generation, death of David Kennedy, the scandalous life of Michael Kennedy, etc.) and the positive (JFK Jr.'s loyalty to his friends, RFK Jr.'s rehabilitation into a leading environmentalist, Tim Shriver's teaching career helping disadvantaged children, etc.) are both discussed here. It deals in scandal, of course, but all in all is pretty even handed.
   
   However, Leamer does not discuss some of the outstanding female members of the next generation, including Kathleen Kennedy, Lt. Governor of Maryland, Caroline Kennedy and Maria Shriver. Joseph Kennedy promoted his sons in public life while virtually ignoring his daughters (even old Joe admitted that if daughter Eunice "had b*lls, she'd be president."), but several of the female members of the next generation have made their mark. It's too bad that Leamer brings his book down a notch by ignoring the Kennedy women -- they deserve some mention as well.



5. This is a comprehensive, non sensationalized account of the lives of the younger Kennedys. The book manages to be interesting without becoming tabloidish in tone (as some of the other books have). The author appears to have made an effort to be thorough and fair in his reporting of events.

3 comments about Big Lou: The Life and Career of Actor Louis Edmonds.

1. This is a loving, lovely tribute to the late soap opera star Louis Edmonds(Dark Shadows, All My Children)Craig Hamrick, who knew Edmonds during the last 8 years of the actor's life, is clearly in love(platonically) with his subject. He tells the story of Edmonds' life in a highly readable, no holds barred manner.Edmonds was a brilliant actor whose ego might have prevented his career from progressing as far as it could have. He was also a great wit, a passionate lover who had two long term relationships, and a deeply loyal friend. Hamrick writes openly and honestly about all of this, the good, the bad and the ugly, never losing sight of his own deep affection for the man.This book will stand as a lasting tribute to Louis Edmonds' life and career. He might have been forgotten, as so many soap actors are. Thanks to Craig Hamrick, this wonderful actor will be remembered for many years to come.



2. This hard-to-put down biography which is loaded with many before unknown facts about bigger-than-life performer/actor Louis Edmonds, most widely known as Roger Collins from the gothic serial Dark Shadows, is funny,touching and tenderly told by author Craig Hamrick, who became known as a friend to the actor in the latter years of his life. Yet, do not dismiss this as sugar coated fantasy, for it is told, with Louis' permission, in a forthright , no-holds-barred, bare bones manner that should earn its own praise. Hamrick has a way with laying down facts, yet not in stilted encyclopedic fashion but in a way that you actually get to know Mr. Edmonds in a more intimate light, and I for one, am deeply saddened by the fact I never had gotten the opportunity to meet this great man while he was still alive. Craig Hamrick has earned my respect as a biographer and I eagerly anticipate his next venture "Barnabas & Co" due later this summer, as well as any other literary undertaking this author may take. Kudos to him for taking me into the heart and home of one of my favorite Dark Shadows actors and making me feel as if I'd met him myself! The book is a triumph and a must for all Dark Shadows, Louis Edmonds or All My Children fans! Put this on your list for summer reading. I read it cover to cover in less than two days!



3. Louis Edmonds' death in early 2001 robbed Dark Shadows fandom of its elder statesmen. Of all the Dark Shadows cast, Louis Edmonds at times managed, perplexingly, to simultaneously be the most ubiquitous and elusive. On one level, Louis the showman remained a distinct and vibrant personality, very much admired by fans, yet one that at times seems difficult to extracate from the vestiges of Roger Collins and a handful of humourous anecdotes. To many Dark Shadows fans, this persona is arguably as familiar as any of the characters Louis portrayed on the show.

   Author Craig Hamrick does much to redress the balance with the new edition of his biography Big Lou: The Life and Career of Louis Edmonds. With a respectable period having elapsed since Louis' death, the book is able to take a more rounded look at its subject, and the results are frequently illuminating.

   Unlike the first book, which took a more formal approach, the new edition is told very much through its author's eyes, and arguably as much Craig Hamrick's story at times, as it is Louis'. From the pair's initial meeting, to Louis' funeral nearly a decade later, the reader is given a very honest appraisal which doesn't attempt to reconcile the contradictions it throws up, and indeed is all the more enjoyable for doing so. Louis' faults are lain bare and the author isn't afraid to note these - for example, his recounting of Louis' pre-occupation with money and occasions of professional arrogance go a long way to explaining why he perhaps never attained the widespread success his talented deserved.

   Louis himself emerges as a somewhat melancholy soul in the process, battling the twin demons of alcohol and depression. Noting a suicide attempt along the way, it adds a certain grim undertone to the exuberant public personality so many of us knew. Yet, for all the sadness depicted, there's still plenty of humour and warmth, and perhaps this is Louis' most admirable quality. Louis' final years are perhaps the saddest, yet it is during these that he hearteningly seems to find a sense of peace that had eluded him so badly in the past. Particularly poignant are his indulgement predictions of his own self-dramatised demise, which seem all the sadder when juxtaposed with the quiet exit he eventually makes.

   Throughout the book are sprinkled little novelized vignettes of key moments in Louis' life, which work with mixed results. At best, they succeed in painting out Louis' journey in broad strokes, and the passage where Louis reflects on the drastic effects of his cancer surgery in particular, is particularly moving and tragic. An undoubtedly cinematic device, at times they seem forced, yet one feels it is an indulgence of which Edmonds himself would have heartily approved.

   As a biography, this is an excellent work of reference and research, but on a broader level, it is a wonderful personal account of a unique performer and individual that manages to strike that rare balance between pragmatism and celebration.

5 comments about Jackie After Jack: Portrait of the Lady.

1. What a fantastic book! One of the best i have ever read.
   I`m very interested in books about Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis and this was great.
   The writer Christopher Andersen seems to be very serious and
   is not just writing gossip, he has done a great job, intervjuing
   a lot of people who knew Jackie.
   I`ts about JFK, politics, her children, friends,drugs, Onassis,
   her work at Doubleday and Viking,her grandchildren, it's fantastic that Christopher A has spoken to so many people.After reading this book you really see Jackie O in a different light. I`m very glad i have this book in my collection.
   There are 62 black and white photos in the book.



2. There was alot of intrigue in Jackie Kennedy's personal life in New York after JFK died. In fact, alot of it was like a soap opera with all its innuendos and intrigue. Jackie had alot of attractive qualities ... and she did things that weren't so attractive .... because she was human. Admiration is complex. One can admire many things about someone but not others. It's fascinating to uncover that underneath it all, she was human.



3. After the tragedy in Dallas, Jackie Kennedy became America's national hero and inspiration. Author Christopher Andersen takes us into a fascinating and often controversial journey into the real Jackie. The book wastes no time in getting to the action. It begins just seconds after John Kennedy has been shot. No story could be more heartbreaking than the the tragic journey back to Washington, DC and the days after Kennedy's death. According to Andersen, both Jackie and John relied heavily on Max Jacobson, also known as Dr. Feelgood, to relieve their pains and stresses. Jackie was kept well sedated during the funeral to become the brave grieving widow who inspired the world. JACKIE AFTER JACK is a surprising revelation. The widowed Jackie has numerous affairs often with married men and is always drawn to wealthier men. She shatters her golden image by marrying the wealthy and much older Aristotle Onassis. Jackie is portrayed as a woman who demanded loyalty and would end friendship over any perceived slight. Her shopping sprees and extravances were a strain to both her husbands. Although the book can weaken one's admiration for Jackie, it doesn't last long. By the end of the book, no one can feel anything but love and respect for a very remarkable woman. It's a fascinated and well-researched book.



4. My favorite part about this book is the fact that it gave such a refreshing look at someone who could, so easily, be idealized. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was human & possessed all the failings of a human being. I don't think she saw herself as anything else, & reportedly, could be very self-deprecating among her friends. The Kennedys & all of their family will forever fascinate our imaginations, but this book was a look at a very real woman, who withstood many challenges. She was able to present herself to the world as almost superhuman, which may have been her greatest failing. As they say, everyone is fascinated by power & strength, but too often rejoice in seeing those who possess those qualities topple from grace.



5. This is a very good book, the author seems to bring Jackie O to life right before you. You see all sides of the most famous First Lady in America's history. You see the person behind the famous smile and sunglasses, her grief and depression after JFK's murder, her restless traveling and fascinating and ultimately unsatisfactory marriage to Ari Onassis, her rediscovering herself after Ari's death and her final years with the true love of her life, Maurice Templesman. The author makes you realize that this was a real life person, not some Goddess from Mt. Olympus. She was a flawed human being, but then again, aren't we all? I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating lady.

5 comments about The Royal House of Monaco: Dynasty of Glamour, Tragedy and Scandal.

1. This is a very interesting book to read, what with the glitz and the glitter that the author presents.
   However, the historical accuracy is slipshod at best. There are a lot of lies published in this book that the author tries to pass off as true fact. He gets many dates and names mixed up as well.
   
   I'd like this book better if there was at least some research put into it.



2. While some "revelations" in this book should probably be taken with a grain of salt, overall, this is better than many Grimaldi biographies in that it is neither a hagiography nor a hatchet job. Glatt doesn't portray, say, Princess Grace as a saint, nor does he portray, say, Princess Stephanie as a monster. Glatt, though he clearly feels a measure of annoyance, even disgust, for some of the antics of the Grimaldi family, he also has compassion for them. For instance, when recounting one of the most salacious scandals to plague the family -- the videotape and photographs which showed Stephanie's husband making love to a Belgian stripper -- Glatt clearly feels bad for Stephanie (despite her appalling lack of judgement in latching on to the creep in the first place); she had really loved him and was genuinely hurt and humiliated by his betrayal.
   
   Glatt also thankfully clears up allegations about Grace having a drinking problem -- allegations that surrounded her toward the end of her life because of her visible weight gain, and which another biographer, James Spada, dug up in the late 80s. Grace was, in fact, a moderate drinker, because she suffered terrible hangovers if she had more than a glass or two of champagne.
   
   Though Prince Albert has managed to steer clear of the tabloid cover stories that followed his sisters around (due, no doubt, to Grace instructing him on how to be discreet about his love affairs, an education which she never gave to either of her daughters), he too has had his share of troubles. Glatt even makes a half-convincing case for one of the more outlandish assertions: that Albert fathered a love child who is a dead ringer for Princess Grace.
   
   So all in all, a good, juicy read about fascinating and flawed people.



3. John Glatt pens a more truthful version of "The Royals," with less favoritism and more fact. Admittedly this isn't the British royal family (who have provided us with entertainment for many years) but a lesser-known (and no less juicy) dynasty, the Grimaldi's of Monaco.

   Monaco first came to attention when Prince Rainier married the film star Grace Kelly, who brought glamor and modernity to the teeny little country. Grace's past -- involving multiple love affairs -- was swept out of sight as she ascended to the glamorous -- and severely stress-inducing -- position of princess, wife and mother. Rarely happy in her long and paparazzi-studded marriage, she nevertheless gave it her darndest and died tragically and suddenly when she was starting to find fulfillment again.

   The book shifts focus after Grace's death in a car accident, to her three *ahem* spirited children: Caroline, who married one playboy after another, got pregnant out of wedlock, and once burst out of her top at a club, then had to shift into the social position that her mother left vacant. Albert, a playboy himself, who played around with one woman after another but wouldn't make even a vestige of commitment--even to one ex-girlfriend who had his baby, Tamara Rotolo. Stephanie, who shocked Monaco with her wild antics, drug use, explicit singing career and wild modelling career, bodyguard live-in boyfriend, and humiliating divorce after marrying said boyfriend.

   Sound like a tabloid? Well, that's a royal family for you. Fortunately, Glatt doesn't speculate on the inner thoughts of the Grimaldi family (said to be under a curse from a witch raped by a Grimaldi) but allows their actions to speak alone. His writing style is pleasant to read, and gives us insights that other biographers apparently didn't get. I especially enjoyed the interviews with Cassini (Grace's ex-fiancee) Robyns who wrote a steamy biography but edited it at Grace's request, excerpts from members of the Grimaldi family, and from people who knew/know them.

   This is hardly flawless. He describes Grace as a devout/militant Catholic, yet chronicles love affairs (with men married and single), an abortion, astrology beliefs, etc. Sorry, these are not the actions of a "militant" Catholic, though admittedly it is possible that she confessed these to a priest (something we will never know). He does occasionally linger on stuff that is more than we want to know, but it does give us a good look at the Grimaldis.

   Stephanie, Caroline and Albert have already been in the spotlight, tabloidwise, so I suppose Glatt felt that there was no real reason to sugarcoat things. Rainier gets away the easiest, for though he was unfaithful to Grace during their marriage, very little space is given to it (as compared to Albert's girlfriends, Stephanie's partying days, etc).

   In recent years the Grimaldis seem to have calmed down, but this book is nevertheless a heckuva read. If you liked the Royals but didn't like the made-up parts, try this book on for size.




4. Make no mistake, this is a book by a journalist, not a historian, and it reads that way. If that's what you're looking for going in, this will most likely satisfy your curiosity.

   Although the subtitle mentions the Grimaldi 'dynasty,' 70 percent or so of the book is about the, um, 'complex' personal lives of Princesses Caroline and Stephanie and Prince Albert, the three children of Rainier and Grace. There's little effort to put the dynasty or the principality in more than the immediate historical context, and although Rainier is frequently described as an absolute monarch or even 'Europe's last dictator' (which isn't even true), matters of state take a distinct back seat to the 'glamour, tragedy, and scandal.'

   This is too bad. One of the most interesting assertions in the whole book was a comment from one of Glatt's sources to the effect that the Grimaldis were not becoming tawdry, but rather had always BEEN tawdry, and had hidden that fact behind a false front of elegance while Princess Grace was alive. I don't know if that's true or not: Glatt unfortunately lets the statement pass almost unanalyzed.

   Glatt is to be commended, at least, for the variety of his sources, including several who (at least according to Glatt himself) had never spoken on the record before. While the book frequently reads like an extended essay in People magazine, Glatt avoids the temptation of acting omniscient about his subjects' thoughts and motivations. When they act inexplicably (which is disturbingly often), he says so. Glatt's tone is respectful and polite, but he didn't pull his punches. As someone who only paid cursory attention to the Grimaldis, I think I have a better understanding (and a lower opinion) of them as a result of this book.

   A worthwhile read, all in all, for monarchy fans whose interests lie more in the personal than the political, the contemporary rather than the historical.




5. For those who feel the Brits have the dysfunctional royal family from hell, this book about the Grimaldis of Monaco will be an eye-opener. It covers Grace's marriage to Rainier--an unhappy sham of a marriage contrived to boost Monaco's economy, ending with Grace's tragic death due to a stroke while driving. Roughly half of the book covers the three troubled children, Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie, who are, to put it politely, a handful. We follow the two daughters through their teenage rebellions, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, troubled marriages, and (in Stephanie's case) drug problem; one cannot help but sympathize with their troubled parents and the heartbreak they've experienced watching their daughters destroy their lives. The sole son, Albert, is the most responsible of the three siblings, but even he is still 'sowing wild oats' at an age when he should be thinking about creating an heir to the throne. It's a gossipy sort of book--not an academic tome--but readers with some familiarity with Princess Grace will be fascinated.

5 comments about Robin Williams a Biography.

1. I have always thought that Robin Williams has always been one of the funniest people to ever walk the face of the planet. My dad told me a little about his childhood and I found it to be interesting. Reason why I purchased this book was that I was curious about his life and wanted to learn more. Some of the stories were fascinating. The downfall of this book was that there were not enough stories. I wish the authour would have focused more on the stories about him, then of the other celebs mentioned in the book. I was not interested in hearing about what every movie he did was about. Nor did I care to read about Pam Dawbers bio. If I would have, i would have bought her book. Overall the book, was fairly good. I would reccommend this book to anyone.



2. My personal opinion was that this book was written for people who wanted to know what it was like for Robin Williams in Hollywood. I feel the author does too many take offs on other actors and actresses he names in the book and also on movies and TV shows mentioned. I wished for a true insight into the life of Robin, what kind of person he is and what kind of childhood he experienced. In the preface or early it is stated that Robin's lawyer is not in support of this author writing this book and that lawsuits will follow if needed, so this leads me to believe there is not a lot of substantial facts for the basis. i am enjoying gleaning what I can.



3. This books tells the story of Robin Williams but jumps around the point, and discusses things in a very sentimental way. It is as if Dougan is afraid to say something straight out. It's a simple book going strictly chronologically through Robin's life. The book has good information and very interesting but it concentrates on Robin's career more than the man himself. Yet still, it is worth reading.



4. or "Robin Williams - who is he?" - these would be more correct titles for the book. Since the book tells us something about Robin Williams. And does not answer the question, on who he really is. Despite its rather promising beginning, with the clues to Williams' character being searched through his childhood and a general atmosphere of turbulent 60s, the book does not go far in developing its few ideas. It looks like the author is sinking in unnecessary details of TV and movie production process, which have little to do with Robin Williams as a person and an actor. I hope that one of my favorite actors will come up with his own autobiography, and the book's title "Robin Williams" will be trully justified.



5. If you want to read a two hundred fifty page tabloid, then look no further. Andy Dougan's choice of words, for the presintation of Robin's life, contains too many of his personal opinions and feelings. If I wanted to read about someone's feelings, then I would wait for Robin to write an autobiography. Since the book has such an informal tone the "facts" about Robin's life are easily questioned. This book will be recorded as the longest tabloid article in history.

5 comments about Jackie: Her Life in Pictures.

1. Despite her need for privacy Jackie Kennedy was a major target of photographers when she retreated to private life. This is a great collage of her moments being herself in New York City and elsewhere. Whether she was just walking in Central Park or throughout Manhattan, Jackie's poise never left her. The pictures prove it.



2. The texts are good but particularity the photos, there are a lot buy it!!!The photos chosen by Spada are remarkable in their ability to portray both the remarkable strength possessed by Jacqueline Kennedy .
   Jackie: Her Life in Pictures" will be money well spent



3. This book had pictures that I have never seen before and I thought I had seen them all. Worth every penny



4. I was captivated by this book. James Spada has compiled several well-known photographs with many photos I had never seen. He does not try to analyse or to delve into the behind the scenes. He presents the photos with a paragraph or two, and lets us glimpse into Jackie Kennedy Onassis's life. I was entranced by the pictures of her youth and the pure beauty and joy in several ungarded moments. A beautiful tribute.



5. I really adored this book - it is so much more than yet another reprinting of the famous pictures of Jackie. The photos chosen by Spada are remarkable in their ability to portray both the remarkable strength possessed by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, as well as her frailties that we can all relate to. While many people have seen the countless photos that have been published of Mrs. Onassis from her birth to death, Mr. Spada managed to select mostly photos that are little-seen, as well as photos that needed no text to give the reader a better sense of the people portrayed in the book. The text that does accompany the photos is well written and restrained. Purchasing "Jackie: Her Life in Pictures" will be money well spent.

3 comments about Patsy Cline: Our Father's Other Daughter: The never before told story of country music legend Patsy Clines real father and her unknown family.

1. I found this book an interesting read, if not all too brief. It was quite a bit shorter than I had imagined. Still, it was a very interesting read.
   
   Also, the book is told in first and second hand accounts of the people making the claims in this book. I would have liked to have seen some sort of DNA proof of the claims made in this book, and this could have been done without exhuming the late singer's body. Patsy's children and the woman claiming to be her half-sister could have submitted to DNA tests, and this would have proved, without any doubt, that the claims made in this book are true.
   
   I would take this book at face value, and it is a MUST for any true Patsy Cline fan.



2. I really enjoyed reading this very informative and enlightening book regarding some truths about Patsy Cline's family. It is very believable and written completely from the heart of Linda Sowers whom I feel was very courageous to write a book that could easily come under criticism. I live an hour south of Winchester, Va. where Patsy Cline grew up but I also live only 6 miles from Elkton, Virginia where her "legal" father hailed from. Folks in the Elkton area with the last name of Hensley or Shifflett will be very disappointed when they learn they can no longer lay claim to being related to Patsy Cline. Should they ever learn of this book's existence I doubt they will believe the contents. Would like to hear what Patsy's ex Gerald Cline has to say. Surely she told SOMEBODY!!!! Vicki Soles, Massanutten, Virginia



3. There is a lot of information in this small book. Many pictures.
   It was indeed time for Patsy and Charlotte to be together for all the world to acknowledge.
   Whispers were just a part of the era they were raised in. It's great to get the truth out in the open.
   Rest easy Patsy and Charlotte.
   My thanks to the author {Mrs.Sowers} for helping Charlotte bring her story to light. This was done with compassionate care. One could tell she knew and loved them both.
   May we see more of her writing .Excellent for this first time author.

No comments about Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane: Deadwood Legends (South Dakota Biography Series).

5 comments about You Will Make Money in Your Sleep: The Story of Dana Giacchetto, Financial Adviser to the Stars.

1. Pros:
   
   * It's good to hear a story from people who fail at first and succeed big time in the end.
   
   Cons:
   
   * All you will be reading is the story of Dana.
   * I don't quite get it, how can I make money while sleeping.
   * Not worth your money. Sorry Emily.



2. This is not the sort of book I would typically read. I had never heard of Dana Giacchetto and could care less about his world of decadent wealth and "A-list" people. But I do know the author and her husband and some of the people mentioned in the story, so for that reason it interested me and I ended up reading the whole thing in a weekend. (It also resonated with my own family history; my grandfather was a charming, lovable sociopath who went to prison for fraud.)
   
   One reviewer here criticizes the book for not being objective, but the author's direct personal involvement is precisely what pulled me into the story and held me there. White's first-hand experience guides the reader into a world that most of us will never know, making both the excitement and the anxiety palpable. She was at once friend and victim of her subject, and the tension between those two poles - her efforts to reconcile her positive feelings for him against her negative experience - kept me engaged. I found her ability to tell the story with both compassion and anger remarkable, the thing that takes this beyond being just another true crime exposé or scathing portrait of a greedy jerk. There is genuine feeling behind the facts, and for me this is far more compelling than (supposedly) "objective" reportage.
   
   Another reviewer complained that the book paints a negative portrait of Medford and of Giacchetto's family. As someone outside of that community, I did not feel the town was portrayed in a particularly bad light, and in fact some of the neighborhood "fun" of suburbia in the 60s comes through. But as David Lynch has shown us, the 'burbs have their dark side and White was right to acknowledge that. She clearly cares about the family and appreciates their eccentricities without denying their problems. Some of their essentially harmless quirks - the father's grandiosity and embellishment of reality, the mother's love of gambling and deal-making, their occasional reckless spending in order to impress others - resurface in their son in a more sinister form. And I was fascinated by the good boy/bad boy contrast between the golden boy Dana and his petty criminal brother that is woven throughout the book. It's a reminder that people are far more complex and multi-layered than we realize, that outward appearances tell only a small part of their story.
   
   It's easy to look back on such scenarios or to read about them second-hand and see all the red flags, to wonder how these otherwise intelligent people were taken in by someone so obviously not trustworthy. But real life isn't that simple. There are all kinds of factors that color our perception of any given situation or person, and plenty of delusion to go around. It takes a certain amount of guts to not only admit you were taken in, but to also make all of the gory details public, and to do so with a fair amount of sympathy and humor. I admire White's courage in telling her/Giacchetto's story without demonizing her subject or spinning it as a simplistic tale of Bad Person/Poor Victims.



3. The author (who lost what was a substantial sum of money relative to her not-so-large net worth) of this book is too close to the subject for it to be considered even remotely objective. Throughout the book, there were continual reminders that this book was written with too much passion and not enough solid research. The book demonstrated only the most elementary understanding of investments, risks, and returns - and, while focusing on one player (Giacchetto) who was probably a bad apple, did not explore the supporting cast of advisors, lawyers, and banks that enabled him to be successful. Instead, the author chose an extended exploration of the flaws of Giacchetto's family - certainly somewhat relevant in explaining his actions but not deserving of the degree of focus and emotion it received.



4. This book talks about a Medford, MA that I never knew. Dana's house was not a depressing place in a depressing city. It was fun for a kid. A pool, a pond and lots of fun chasing "Ceasar" and the other geese around the back yard and fishing in the pond. Drugs were not everywhere. Dana found them because he was looking for them. He had a 3 man band that played some good music. Over 20 years later I remember two songs they played a lot...Edge of a Cliff and Right Angle. Seems like Dana was dancing on a cliff and looking for the right angle in life. Medford was/is a great place. Dana always was eccentric and it was best for him to get out of the quiet family based community that was Medford. Like many of my friends and neighbors I also graduated from Medford High School and went on to college despite how terrible a place it seemed to be from Emily's description. I know you had to sell books but much like Dana...it is pretty laughable. His parents were always kind and generous and his younger brother Russell, my friend, was a good kid with a lot of energy...I would have liked to have read more of the truth about Medford and what a welcoming place 39 Winford Way was for me and Russell's other friends...I wish the entire family well.



5. I always wondered what happened when the dudes at subpop started rolling in cash after Nirvana broke. When you are so NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, and suddenly you are wallowing in it. I had no idea that the indie execs were sucked into a larger scam by a fame-obsessed scammer to the stars. Great storytelling and great stripped down prose. Keeps you from getting too nostalgic.