5 comments about Justice: Crimes, Trials, and Punishments.

1. Most of these pieces appeared in Vanity Fair, and the overlap in some of them about the O.J. Simpson trial is left in. About 10 minutes worth of editing could have solved that problem. Otherwise, this is a passionate account of Dunne's view of several of the high profile cases he's made a career of covering since exiting the movie business. The most interesting is the case of his own daughter's murderer, but the Menendez stories and the Michael Skakel case make fascinating prose. Definitely worth reading, even now, long after these trials ended.



2. A fascinating book into how high priced lawyers can convince any jury your Mother is worse than a serial killer. Essentially that is the conclusion I got from the book.
   
   Some of the stories are too long and complicated with lots of names, so that is why I am giving it 4 instead of 5 stars. It also was not clear to me what exactly happened in some of the murders, particularly the last one on Safre.



3. The man cannot string two words together without name dropping. It is disgusting and so is he.



4. Briefly interesting, but after awhile it begins to read like a syrupy tabloid. Also, as the narrative went through the murder account and trial of Dominick Dunne's daughter, I couldn't help but think, why didn't the author do more to keep his daughter away from this convicted criminal? Maybe I missed something, but he was in the know that his daughter was involved with a convicted abuser: why didn't he do everything in his power to bring his daughter back away from this creep?
   Anyhow, as for the rest of the book, I really couldn't care less about individuals like Claus von Bülow, so the text tended to drag.



5. Yes, he is gossipy but in many ways that raises him above others. Any one who likes true crime will love his work. I think that he has experienced such things he speaks with the a personal insight that only the person who has experienced the pain knows ho to convey that in written form

No comments about The Life of the Fly (EasyRead Large Bold Edition).

5 comments about I'll Be Right Back: Memories of Tv's Greatest Talk Show.

1. Hi!! I have recently bidded on this book, signed by Matt from the Real World New Orleans and won! So I just came to see how it looks...doesn't look too thrilling!!



2. I remember growing up watching the Mike Douglas Show after school and this book brought back lots of good memories. It will be hard for any talk show host to match Mike's graciousness and talent. He was able to make people from all walks of life open up and share a little bit of themselves (good or bad) and I'm really glad that Mike shares his memories with us so we can all enjoy some of those moments once again. I hope Mike writes volume 2 soon!



3. Yep, I also remember watching Mike after school, like so many others.

   You are not getting controversy from him, not getting hard edges. Mike will never say anything bad about anyone else.

   However, when you look at the guest list, wow!!!!!

   His editors must have had a miserable time deciding what to leave out.

   Am I imagining things or wasn't he based in Philadelphia for much of the show's run. Mike ignores that in the book and he ignores other things as well.

   Still, I have extremely fond memories of him and wish he would come out of retirement. He is amazed that people remember him so well?




4. As a kid, I used to watch Mike's show, marveling at the cool sets in what was apparently a tiny studio in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, this book does not duplicate the mood he conveyed all those years ago.

   If you hadn't seen his show and picked up this book, you'd swear Mike was dillusional. I mean, if this guy was so connected, why wasn't he Carson? It got to the point I expected to turn the page and see, "... then when President Roosevelt did that cameo, Genghis Khan almost fell on the floor. I laughed until Jack Benny and Nero did a poignant violin duet. That was just too much for the three former popes to bear." By the way, his memory must be failing him on Muhammad Ali, because the facts don't check out.

   If I ever see Mike is doing a TV show, I am there. But if he ever writes another book, I'm afraid I'll have to turn the channel.




5. i watched old Re-Runs of Mike Douglas's show&thought He had a laid-back quality to what he was doing.I enjoyed the fact that so many acts could come&go on His show&He was Classy about How He handled various details.this was a Guy who had his thing on Tv.a Good Book&reflects a different era&time period.

5 comments about Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had.

1. First off, I'm a big fan of Rick Bass' writing. Clear, compelling, and crisp. "Colter" is definitely a story about a dog and his owner. But it transcends the heart-string pulls that might imply and manages to paint a picture of place, character, and neighborly interaction in the American West as well.

   If you enjoyed Rick Bass' "Winter" or his later story collections, "Colter" might be a welcome read.




2. I originally picked up this book because of the cover. The darling GSP pup is hard to resist. However, the beautiful imagery within is what stays with me.

   I am a confessed dog-lover and outdoor enthusiast. I responded to Bass's descriptions of Colter's hunting skills and of the natural world. I enjoyed Bass's humility and sense of humor. Mostly, I could just relate to how much he loves his dog. I feel the same. I could not put the book down and have reread certain passages upon finishing Colter.

   A great choice for people who appreciate the magic of working dogs-dogs that live to hunt or herd or help. Also, anyone who loves the Montana wilderness would like Colter, as well.




3. For Rick Bass, the qualities of innocence, wonder, and vibrancy of life come together in the form of a brown pointer who runs with a smile and an inquisitiveness about the natural world that forms a wonderful, compelling narrative. This book is not really about hunting. Nor is it about dog training; it is much more.
   Bass tells the reader about his idyllic life in an extremely remote section of Montana where September ushers in a pre-winter appearance of grouse and pheasants signaling the advent of a new hunting season. Other activities throughout the year seem merely a prelude to this time of year.
   And into his life leaps Coulter, an energetic addition to his canine household of Homer and Ann, brought into a seemingly foreign land. Coulter is described as the "runt of the litter", the last one to be selected, and the most unlikely to ever achieve any mastery of seeking out pheasants.
   What emerges is a dog that transcends bird hunting and lands smack dab into the heart and soul of his owner.
   For anyone who has ever treasured the companionship of a dog-loved and lost them-- this book is a tribute. It is also a reminder of the pure things in life that school a person in the important elements of being alive.



4. For any dog lover this is a great read. Bass is a very sensitive and descriptive writer. You will laugh and cry as you relate to this personal story.



5. Although I know nothing about hunting birds or hunting dogs I really enjoyed this book-I read it in just a few hours because It was so captivating...I first read about colter in the book DOG IS MY COPILOT and ordered this book after reading an excerpt in that book and I LOVED IT....Of course I cried but I will read anything about dogs and I highly recommend this book....

5 comments about Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood.

1. This is one of the very few biographies where i was left feeling i knew the subject intimately and deeply. I have always felt that Natalie Woods life was a highly fascinating and karmically complex one.
   The author certainly confirmed that and i didnt find the prose to be overly dramatic at all.
   She is a talented writer as well as a biographer and for me, that makes a huge difference.
   I like depth, insight, and good writing,
   a wonderful subject is of course important and this book had it all.



2. This book read more like fiction than fact.I was horrified at the things Natalie went through to become and remain a star. I was thrilled by her ability to overcome all and become one of the most respected actors of her time.I wanted to lash out at someone about the way she died and I wanted someone charged with a crime.With that said, I thought too much time was spent describing her early years and her background but that is a minor complaint.Natalie was a favorite of mine so I enjoyed the book.Natalie: A Memoir by Her Sister



3. If you are over the age of 25 in America, you have heard of Natalie Wood. The tragically deceased movie star is akin to an icon in our nation's past. This thoroughly researched biography gives insight into her early life and behind the scenes information about her movies. With quotes from original sources, such as Wood's family members and staff, and second hand sources, such as magazine articles, the details of Natalie's life are spread before us.
   I was only semi-knowledgeable about this actress prior to reading the book. I had only ever seen her three most famous movies, Rebel Without a Cause, West Side Story, and Miracle on 34th Street. Since this book, I have been compelled to familiarize myself with more of her work.
   The author is, I believe, I first-time biographer, and although I haven't read terribly many biographies, I found her style somewhat heavy-handed. She also needs to familiarize herself better with the concepts of "foreshadowing" and "irony." One thing I found very annoying about the writing was that the author felt the need to remind us, over and over, of who people were. For example, she introduces us to Debbie Reynolds "who was originally considered for the part of Judy." Then, a paragraph later, she quotes Reynolds again, identifying her as "the actress who almost got [Natalie's] part." Scarcely a paragraph later, Reynolds "who almost played Judy" is quoted again. I did not need these reminders, as I (and I would imagine most other reasonably intelligent readers) can remember what was written from paragraph to paragraph. Also, I am quite unfamiliar with movie stars and directors from this period, so I would imagine people who were alive during this time or more well-versed on in this subject might be even more frustrated than I was.
   Finstad also kept pushing the idea that "Natalie Wood" was a "composite" of Natalie herself and her mother, Maria. I was willing to accept the assertion at first, as Maria pushed Natalie into stardom, but later, as Natalie grew up, it seemed Finstad was massaging the facts to support her claim.
   In conclusion, I learned a lot from Finstad's thorough research and interviews with close friends and family members of Ms. Wood, but I would not read a book by her again. I have wish-listed another biography of Natalie Wood, and would be interested to see whether this concept of the "composite" Natalie Wood is more pervasive.



4. Natasha: The biography of Natalie Wood was written by Suzanne Finstad. She claims to be a die-hard fan of Wood and that part is probably true but the way she writes about her favorite star is calculated and contrived. We know Natalie drowned, which was her biggest phobia and she married three times, twice to the same man. This book is a real page turner but you can't help but wonder what is fiction and what is real, even Wood's eldest daughter called this book trash, decide for yourself.



5. Too bad Wood's story-book career is overshadowed by the many unanswered questions surrounding her death. How ironic, I suppose, that the high-profile, high-pressure industry she so excelled at also had a lot to do with many of those questions going unanswered. The sorry fact is that LA's biggest industry has long influenced police investigation when scandal threatens the Hollywood image, all the way back to the murder of William Desmond Taylor.
   
   In fact, the book's best part is what I take to be the author's no-punches-pulled, eye-witness testimony surrounding that fateful November night. Two particularly damaging aspects of the investigation emerge-- no sheriff's effort at putting together a time-line surrounding Wood's sudden disappearance (p.441), and the sheriff's refusal to even contact credible witnesses overhearing cries for help during that time frame (pps. 431- 432). Couple that with Frank Sinatra's effort to get respected county coroner Thomas Noguchi removed from the case (p.435), and a classic instance of industry string-pulling takes shape.
   
   This is not to insinuate that criminal behavior was necessarily involved in the drowning. Neither the book nor I am implying that. However, there is a clear implication of botched procedures that remained remarkably incurious about conflicting accounts and details surrounding the death. Efforts to spare family feelings are understandable. But such factors should not impede justice from being done. Then too, I wonder if family feelings would be such a factor were the deceased from poverty-ridden East LA. In my view, this is another instance of investigation being boxed-in by big money, big reputations, and big industry. After all, as the fan mags liked to brag, Natalie and RJ were Hollywood "royalty". Nonetheless, the little girl many of us grew up with deserved better, royalty or not.
   
   Natalie Wood had what amounts to an amazing Hollywood career. Unlike the great majority of child stars, her career remained uninterrupted from childhood through mature adulthood. This was a testament both to her talent and her ability to stay employed through life's inevitable changes. Author Finstad pinpoints the central conflict in her life-- the tension between the person herself (Natasha) and her carefully crafted show-biz persona ("Natalie Wood"). After all, she was a professional actress from age six, so it's not surprising that the real person had little chance to develop and that what there was remained submerged under the movie star creation. Mom comes across as the real culprit behind this split and something of a dark Rasputin-like force in Wood's life.
   
   Curiously, little mention is made of the turbulent Vietnam period when old Hollywood was eclipsed by the new, so-called counter-culture. A glance at Wood's movie credits shows a sharp drop-off after 1966, the first big year of the war. Yet, there's not a single mention of Vietnam nor (I believe) of the war itself. This seems odd given the cultural and commercial impact on the movie industry of social and political forces then on the march. It would be interesting to know her reaction since the movement rejected the whole glamor factory concept. I don't know if the absence of material means Natalie and her circle simply floated above the national trauma or what. Anyway, I find this a curious silence in what is otherwise a pretty exhaustive text.
   
   All in all, Finstad's biography is a close account of Wood's personal life. I wish there had been more on the business side, but probably sources there were hard to find since insiders play the business dealings pretty close to the vest. Also, the text could have used tighter editing since the detail at times gets somewhat repetitious. Nonetheless, the book is an insightful look into America's great game of celebrity worship and the ups and the downs of a fairy-tale life. I'm just sorry that if a body had to be pulled from the water, it wasn't Natasha's-- it was Natalie Wood's. And from that moment on the interests of the Hollywood glamor factory took over. Even in death, Natasha was suppressed.

No comments about For the Love of Donkeys (Transaction Large Print Books).

No comments about Memories by Mom, Tales of an Alaskan Homesteader.

5 comments about Leading with My Chin.

1. Jay Leno has been entertaining the world as host of The Tonight Show every weeknight for over 13 years. His monologues covering current events are consistently funny. But his rise to this pinnacle did not come overnight. In fact, all the way up to his surprise crowning (over David Letterman) as the replacement for the retiring Johnny Carson in 1992, he was still known for little more than being a respected stand-up comedy veteran who had gained an extra reputation as a solid guest host for the show when Johnny was on vacation, as well as for his funny visits to (former) good friend Letterman's Late Night program that followed Carson.
   
   This autobiography tells in hilarious detail, through a series of anecdotal episodes, how he struggled for years to make it in show business. From humble beginnings as the son of Italian/Scottish immigrants in Boston, through experiences with various shady characters on the mean streets of Boston, New York, LA and other places- agents, club owners, hippies, mobsters, strippers, prostitutes, johns, hustlers, rednecks and con men of every stripe- as well as discrimination in LA-LA land against his trademark chin-strong image- Leno shows how perseverence and hard work can succeed in the end, and how his desire to make people laugh kept him driven to make it, despite the odds and endless obstacles.
   
   There is also a bit of a stand-up comedy history interwoven in the narrative, describing the rise of comedy clubs like The Comedy Store and The Improv during the 70s and the concurrent rise (and sometimes fall) of Jay's contemporaries like Letterman, Richard Lewis, Freddie Prinze, Jimmie Walker, Andy Kaufman and others.
   
   The book winds down with the story of how he met and bonded with his wife Mavis, his ascension to the peak of the late night talk show mountain, and a touching dedication to his deceased parents. The laughs don't come quite as often, but it is a good way to finish off the tale.
   
   Whether or not all of these occasionally hard-to-believe stories are the whole truth is moot- it's all a riot, and will have you rolling.



2. I have read this book at least THREE times. I've given it to almost everyone I know. I gave it to my nephew when he was 14. One day, we saw him shaking and crying on his bed. When I asked what was wrong, he rolled over and handed me this book!!!! He couldn't even speak, he just pointed to the part he wanted me to read. It is soooo funny. Whenever my mother feels down, she just opens it up to any page and it cheers her up. If I ever met Jay, I'd tell him this is my favorite book. I made the mistake of taking it when I was waiting to see if I would be picked for jury duty. I kept laughing out loud and everyone kept looking at me. It really is funny. I don't know if his life was this funny, or if he left out most of the bad stuff, but if you have ANY sense of humor at all, GET THIS BOOK!



3. As a comedian starting the biz in 1990 myself, I enjoy reading these comedian autobiographies. It is very interesting to see how different the industry was back when some of these guys, who paved the path for the rest of us, started. I've always heard great things about Leno, that he is the hardest working guy in show business and one of the friendliest guys in the industry. He is supposedly very supportive and I know he did a free show every year at Zanies in Chicago for all unemployed people, who showed their unemployment checks to get in.
   
   The book tells some of the best stories I've heard of coming up in the business. Leno started back when there weren't comedy clubs, more playboy rooms and strip clubs. He was one of the first club regulars and no doubt his skill, along with the others at that time, helped make the comedy club scene big. (Although I've heard criticisms about his Tonight Show monologues, Jay is known in the industry to have been one of the most talented comedians ever back when he was touring regularly.)
   
   Jay recalls episodes of his life in an easy-to-read style and isn't afraid to tell stories revealing his strong respect and love for his parents. My favorite story wasn't a funny one at all; it was the one where Jay got his first car, even a passion back then, spent lots of time and money to get it all fixed up and was sitting in his high school classroom, staring out the window at impending sudden doom of rain, looking at his convertabile with the top down. He couldn't get to it. Suddenly, his parents drove up and... you'll have to read the book for the rest of the story.
   
   It's also really cool to read about the other up and comers Jay came in contact with in his early years, as well as those who didn't make it or passed before their time. Among them are Jerry Seinfeld and Robin Williams. A fun, quick read for anyone who enjoys standup comedy or wants to read about a grateful star, of which there is a great shortage of today.



4. Sorry I don't usually swear...but the message I took away from this book was a standup comedian's life is hell! And Jay Leno deserves to make millions a year for being stick-to-itive. While hitchhiking, he was picked up by mean men. He slept in a garage near a car because a manager of a comedy club claimed he provided comedians with a "condo". He worked in tacky, dark places. It was awful. I'm glad he made it big! He didn't have a super affectionate family. But Leno describes them with loving acceptance.



5. Comedy is difficult to rate because personal taste accounts for a large degree of one's perception of the material. I have always been a fan of Jay Leno and appreciate his sense of humor, hence Leading With my Chin was very enjoyable. It falls right in line with the sense of humor you anticipate from watching the Tonight Show or any of his stand-up routines; however it is not merely a series of jokes as Leno presents an account of his life growing up in Massachusetts. If you appreciate Leno's wit and have interest in discovering the life that helped developed his sense of humor, you will enjoy this book.

No comments about The Great White Palace.

No comments about Oscar Wilde, His Life and Confessions (EasyRead Large Edition).