Irish Girls About Town: An Anthology of Short Stories

Book Description

Get ready to paint the town green.

New York Times bestselling authors Maeve Binchy and Marian Keyes top an impressive roster of the Emerald Isle's most popular women writers as they celebrate the joys and perils of love and the adventure and constancy of female friendships.

In Maeve Binchy's "Carissima," an ex-pat returns to Ireland and shakes things up for her family, who finds her free spirit scandalous. In "Soulmates," by Marian Keyes, one woman's relationship is so bleedin' perfect that it's driving her friends crazy. In Cathy Kelly's "Thelma, Louise and the Lurve Gods," two women on a madcap Stateside road trip encounter a pair of insanely good-looking men....These fabulous stories and a baker's dozen more prove that when it comes to spinning a good yarn, the Irish are the best in the business.

Customer Reviews:

Half and Half.......2007-08-24

I only enjoyed about 50% of the short stories in this book. But of those I did like, I really, really enjoyed them. I would just rather get an entire book from those authors that I liked than read a few short stories. Just as you get into the story, it's over. Although it was helpful in learning new authors.

Good stuff!.......2007-08-16

These are fun short stories that you can read before bedtime. Each author has a slightly different style and they really capture the Irish culture.

Irish Girls About Town.......2007-03-12

Although all the stories in this book were good, Maive Binchy is absolutely outstanding. Received in good condition.

My Review.......2006-04-16

Just finished reading today.
I loved it!! Well, some of the stories I liked, some were boring.
My favourite has to be, "The Unlovable Woman" by Annie Sparrow.
It's a short story about a woman who has just been stood up by whom she thought was Mr. Right. The next day at work a "fortune teller" of sorts tells her that love will come knocking on her door, and to be ready for it. I'm not going to ruin the story, but her true love has been right there in front of her for a long time, but she was too busy dating the "rejects" to notice "mr. Right."

Feel-Good Anthology.......2005-06-23

Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, and a host of other fabulous but unkown-to-this-reviewer Irish women authors pooled their talents to raise money for an Irish charity--and this fabulously wonderful book was the result.

Each short story is a gem unto itself, and absolutely nothing is boring, trite or blah. This is a perfect beach read, and makes me want to look up all the women of whom I knew nothing so that I can order each of their books!!!

This is a real treat for any fan of Brit Lit.

Irish Girls About Town: An Anthology of Short Stories

Average customer rating:

Irish Girls About Town: An Anthology of Short Stories
Maeve Binchy
Manufacturer: Simon and Shuster for Barnes and Noble
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Whitethorn Woods

ASIN: 0760773971

Product Description

International bestseller features Irish women celebrating the joys and perils of love and friendship

Book Description

Four brothers, one wildly sexy collection from the New York Times bestselling author.

All four Winston brothers are scorchingly handsome, sensually passionate- and stubbornly proud. Left alone in the world after their parents' deaths, they learned to depend on each other-and to cherish the bond that holds them together. Now, with their disarming charm and sexy smiles, they will inspire readers' wildest, most sensuous fantasies- and will surely become the men of their dreams.

Customer Reviews:

very good.......2006-12-01

this was a good book, it is hard to rate anthologies, but i really liked the first three stories. i would have given this a 5 if the last story had been a little better. it was the longest of the stories, and i felt it kind of dragged a little, or was repetitive. plus zane annoyed me by being so heavy-handed, and tamara let him get away with it. but other than that a very good book, with stories you will love.

*I WANT ONE NOW!*.......2006-11-11

I LOVED THIS BOOK! THE WINSTON BROS ARE SO ADORABLE AND HOT HOT! I PERSONALLY WOULD TAKE ANY ONE OF THEM BUT MY FAV IS CHASE! SHY, STRONG, SILENT TYPE, WITH SOME NASTY BEDROOM IDEAS! I HIGHTLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK. SHORT STORIES SO WON'T KEEP YOU UP ALL NIGHT!

Meet the Wickedly Handsome Winston brothers..........2006-03-13

Four fabulous brothers who will make you fall in love with them. Meet the Winston brothers...

Tangled Sheets - Bar owner Cole has been watching shy Sophie for weeks and he wants to know her better. Then one night, in walks her not-so-shy twin sister, Shelly, to enter a contest sponsored by Cole's bar. Cole knows it's really Sophie in disguise, but why not take advantage of the change? We get introduced to the Winston brothers in this one. Cole is the eldest and makes my toes curl. Great story of when good girls who want to be bad meet their match.

Tangled Dreams - A paranormal-type story, Chase has known Allison for a while, but suddenly he's hearing her thoughts inside his head. This certainly gets his attention and when he agrees to accompany her to a haunted house, the sparks fly hot and heavy between them. Whew! Chase Winston and ghosts make for a memorable tale. With Tangled Dreams, Lori Foster really started setting the tone for the series.

Tangled Images - Mack may be the youngest Winston, but don't let youth fool you. When he agrees to model lingerie for a catalog, it doesn't take much for flames to ignite between Mack and the photographer, Jessica. Who cares if she's a little older and has a daughter? Love knows no bounds. Great story! I would've loved it if Tangled Images had been longer.

But we got lucky...

Wild - a full length Winston brother story! We've seen glimpses of Zane in the previous stories. He always appears irreverent and we knew the woman to make him come to his knees would have to be special. Well...meet Tamara. She's mysterious and talks Gypsy stuff which drives him insane, but soon he's crazy for her. When unexplained things begin happening at Tamara's shop, it's Zane to the rescue. And whew...Wild is a scorcher! We also get caught up on all the Winston brothers and get introduced to rakish cousin Joe Winston.

If you missed the Winston brothers the first time around, or want to revisit them again, I highly recommend picking up WILDLY WINSTON. This is definitely one of my favorite, all time series ever.

LOVE IT!!!.......2006-03-11

Ok I know that this is a reissue, but you have got to get the book, even if just for the cover. YUMMO!!!

I'm sure some of you are familiar with the Winston Brothers, I mean who could forget Cole, Chase, Mack and Zane????
These are extraordinary guys coming from a close knit family, not only are they gorgeous but when they love, they do it with no restrains. They will make you fall in love with them and leave you wishing you were the women that snatched them up.

It's great to have all the Winstons in one book and with ONE GORGEOUS COVER! Need I say more?
It's pure Lori Foster at her best!!! Can't ever go wrong with her books, amazing!

Average customer rating:

Too bad its not possible to give a negative 5 star rating

Excellent book, very good series

Excellent Series! A must read for true sci-fi fans!

Over all a decient book

Worst series I have ever read

Philip Jose Farmer's The Dungeon, Vol. 1: The Black Tower
Richard A. Lupoff
Manufacturer: Bantam Spectra
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Farmer, Philip Jose | ( F ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

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ASIN: 0553273469
Release Date: 1988-07-01

Customer Reviews:

Too bad its not possible to give a negative 5 star rating.......2006-09-15

I first picked up the first novel when I was 12, maybe 13. Shortly after finishing it I picked up the rest of the series and devoured them. Only years later when I reread them did I realize what garbage these were. I realize that Farmer had next to nothing to do with this series, but I had been him, I'd have had less to do with it than that.

I adore books and cannot stand to give them up for any reason, but this series has truly tested that love.

Excellent book, very good series.......2000-01-21

The first book of the Dungeon series is terrific. Very exciting and interesting, it sets the way for the rest of the series. Characters are fairly well developed, and many plot hooks, unexplained events, characters, and ideas are introduced. This leaves much for the rest of the books in the series. The rest of the books are important for a sense of closure and understanding. The Tower is a great first book. The series is a wonderful idea, a playground for the authors. They build upon each other, creating a world and keeping a complex plot on a track the develop as they write. Some aspects of the characters do change from book to book, but that is to be expected with multiple authors. The last book is a great letdown, awful to tell the truth, but the other five make up for it. I read them over and over, some of the ideas are so fascinating and adventures great. I definitely recommend.

Excellent Series! A must read for true sci-fi fans!.......1999-10-16

I have read the entire series. (More than once!) The characters are all very memorable. The adventures are awesome. It almost makes you want to get lost in the Dungeon. It's only weakness is the final 6th book. But after the first awesome 5, you won't care!

Over all a decient book.......1999-06-17

I felt it lacked a little of character backgrounds but it kept me guessing about what was going to happen next.

Worst series I have ever read.......1999-06-01

First off, Philip Jose Farmer did not write the series, he wrote the foward and loaned his name to the series. Second, the author of the vol. 1 and 6, Richard A. Lupoff, can write but can't tell a story. My mother heard of him and said he was not know for sci-fi and fantasy; it shows. This guy should stick to what his knows. These books (especiallly the 1st and 6th) have events occuring with no explaination other than its "way the dungeon is". Strange events or behaviors of the characters are never explain (especially in the poorly told 6th book "The Final Battle". If you read this review, save your money and time and buy another book or series. As for my copy of the "Dungeon" series, I am going to put them where they belong the trash.

Book Description

Here is a calorie/carbohydrate-controlled collection of delicious, hassle-free meals to make meal planning a breeze. Based on a 1,500-calorie-a-day menu, every breakfast, lunch, and dinner recipe balances the reader's meal plan perfectly. Every mealspecific recipe includes the same number of carbs no matter which one readers pick--they get 45-60 grams for every breakfast, 60-75 grams for every lunch, and 70-85 grams for every dinner--which helps keep blood sugar levels stable. Readers can mix and match recipes to their tastes. Includes more than 50 breakfasts, 50 lunches, 75 dinners, and 30 snacks. This new edition includes complete nutrition analysis and carbohydrate counts for every meal and recipe.

Customer Reviews:

A popular addition to any diabetic's cookbook collection.......2003-04-08

Proper meal planning is more than a just good nutritional practice for a healthy lifestyle. For diabetics, proper eating is a vital element and mandatory aspect for the care and control of their medical condition. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, the American Diabetes Association's Magic Menus For People With Diabetes continues to be a complete and authoritative reference and resource for complete meal planning offering diabetes appropriate menus for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Clear and concise directions are provided for adjusting calorie levels to individual needs. Also provided are carb totals for each meal and snack because keeping carb totals consistent affects keeping blood glucose levels in check. From Easy Spud Breakfast; Veggie Pizza; and Chicken-Fried Steak with Pan Gravy; to Light and Creamy Yogurt Pie; Bean Burgers; and Macedonia Fruit Cup, Magic Menus For People With Diabetes will prove to be a popular addition to any diabetic's cookbook collection.

Very good menus and recipes.......2001-03-02

This book is as advertised (actually, has more variety and more actually usable recipes without a lot of specialty ingredients or weird things the kids in the family will refuse than I expected).

75 Dinners, 50 Lunches, 50 Breakfasts and 30 Snacks.

Not a good book for Type 2 diabetics lmiting carbs (each meal is 50 grams of carbohydrates or more)--and definitely not for low carb dieters limiting themselves to 20 carbs a day.

The intent of the book is to take some of the guess work out of meal planning. It fails to get 5 stars from me because I would prefer nutrition counts for each recipe instead of for each menu, probably unfair of me given book title but my family needs count exact carbohydrates and does not use the exchange system.

un libro importante para los diabeticos.......2000-05-20

ESTE ES UN LIBRO QUE AYUDA A LAS PERSONAS DIABETICAS A TENER UNA IDEA MAS CLARA Y SIN PROBLEMAS DE COMO FORMAR MENUS ADECUADOS A SUS NECESIDADES. TAMBIEN DE IDEAS DE DIFERENTES RECETAS QUE SON RICAS A PESAR DE SER PARA PERSONAS ENFERMAS COMO MI ESPOSO, DIABETICO A CONSECUENCIA DE OPERACION DEL PANCREAS, Y UNA PERSONA QUE LE GUSTA MUCHO LOS POSTRES Y DULCES.

Average customer rating:

Amusing compilation of food-related quotes

Never Eat More Than You Can Lift and Other Food Quotes and Quips: 1,500 Notable Quotables About Edibles and Potables
Sharon Tyler Herbst
Manufacturer: Broadway
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Essays | Gastronomy | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Food and Drink: A Book of Quotations (Dover Thrift Editions)

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Food Lover's Companion, The (Barron's Cooking Guide) 3rd Edition

ASIN: 0553069012
Release Date: 1997-05-19

Amazon.com

Sharyn Tyler Herbst lifted the phrase "Never Eat More Than You Can Lift" from the mouth of Miss Piggy to make it the title for her 12th volume on food. This is a work to love and get lost in. It makes you want to read many of its "1500 Notable Quotables About Edibles and Potables" out loud to anyone around, or reach for the phone to share choice finds. Information about specific foods, cooking tips, and recipes set this book apart from others in the genre of culinary quote collections. Herbst also draws from a wider range than others, quoting from sources as ancient as Aristophanes, contemporary as Miss Piggy, famous as F. Scott Fitzgerald, and obscure as Robert Orben. You'll find quotes here that do not appear in other books of this type. Add this to the appealing look of this book and you have a delicious volume.

Book Description

Sharon Tyler Herbst, the foremost writer of user-friendly food reference books, offers an "appeteasing" collection of racy, wicked, funny, informative, and historical quotations about food and drink.

Feast on:

A delicious assortment of more than 1,500 quotes on food- and drink-related subjects including dinner parties, health food, holidays, diets, gourmets, gluttons, manners, and cocktails.

More than 200 subjects arranged in a user-friendly A-to-Z format.

Quotations from an eclectic and intriguing array of over 700 personalities--including Woody Allen, Winston Churchill, Bette Davis, Steve Martin, Miss Piggy, Julia Child, and more.

A potpourri of fifty easy recipes, including Maple-Kissed Blueberries, Red-Eye Gravy, Peppered Caramel Bacon, Bodacious Brownie Thins, and Chocolate Cinnamon Toast.

Informative, entertaining tidbits featuring anecdotes, etymologies, history, and cooking tips.

Two indexes and extensive cross-referencing make it easy to find what you're looking for.

Customer Reviews:

Amusing compilation of food-related quotes.......2000-09-03

"Never Eat More Than You Can Lift" is a goulash, a mix of this and that and a lot of other things.

It's a quote book and the source for Twain's swipe at American cookery. It's also a cookbook with recipes for chutney ham rolls, baked caramel apples and garlic grilled okra. It's an advice book with hints for making custard, peeling cucumbers and telling the difference among English, American, Dijon, German and Chinese mustards.

Weaving their way among these mini-essays are 1,500 thoughts, one-liners and musings about food. Author Sharon Tyler Herbst casts a wide net for her quotations, from Arab emir Abd-al Kadir ("Coffee is the common man's gold, and like gold, it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility.") to writer and editor William Zinsser ("[The hot dog] . . . a twin pillar of democracy along with Mom's apple pie. In fact, now that Mom's apple pie comes frozen and baked by somebody who isn't Mom, the hot dog stands alone.") Alongside familiar faces like Julia Child and James Beard are the unexpected, like Miss Piggy, who supplied this book's title.

Herbst spices the mix with her own ruminations on the sensuous joys of frozen grapes, the mythological origins of mint and why onions make you cry. With so much variety, it would be impossible not to find something that makes you laugh or think, or head for the fridge.

Book Description

455 beautiful color photographs and engaging text showcase mens belt buckles from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Military, police, fire service, western, and youth group buckles are well represented, along with intriguing multi-function buckles containing cigarette lighters, knives, and guns. Masculine lifestyles are reflected through these personalized buckles, ranging from buckles used by scouting organizations worldwide and bronc riding champions to those employed by the Highway Patrol and Secret Service. Collecting tips and values are included. This is an excellent reference for the dealer and collector, and an inspirational guide for clothing and jewelry designers and fashion historians.

Customer Reviews:

a must for any collector.......2001-04-20

A wonderful book for any collector of buckles. Great clear pictures with short and too the point descriptions. What else does he collect? Anyone who has this many buckles must have a wealth of other collectibles. A great reference for the beginner or the experience collector. Not just another coffee table book.

Customer Reviews:

Great.......2001-07-26

I didn't know much about Windsor Chairs, and now probably won't find much more than is here in this book.

Very interesting.......2000-04-18

This book on the Windsor style was an easy-to-read reference on identifying Windsors. Other books on the subject are simply too "heavy" for enjoyment. The Windsor Style in America both enjoyable to read and very informative. I feel that it is an excellent resource for both collectors and those who simply enjoy antiques.

Average customer rating:

Best book for ideas on interiors

A rich, gorgeous presentation of many examples.

Photo album

Dream Homes: 100 Inspirational Interiors
Andreas Von Einsiedel , and Johanna Thornycroft
Manufacturer: Merrell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
Decorating | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Interior Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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The Way We Live Alfresco

ASIN: 1858943493

Book Description

Everyone has an idea of their own dream home, whether it be a minimally furnished apartment overlooking a city skyline or an informal and colourful retreat in the sun. Whatever your dream, this bestselling book - now available in paperback for the first time - presents 100 inspirational interiors of all styles from around the globe, from New England to Mallorca and from Provence to South Africa. Alongside the work of many of the world's most talented interior designers are homes that have been imaginatively transformed by the vision and commitment of their owners.

Features 100 inspirational homes, the key characteristics of which are compellingly described by leading interiors writer Johanna Thornycroft
Stunningly illustrated with over 800 photographs by world-renowned interiors photographer Andreas von Einsiedel
An essential reference for anyone wanting to turn their dream home into a reality

Customer Reviews:

Best book for ideas on interiors.......2007-03-22

My wife and I are getting started on designing the interior of our new home. To this end, I visited three bookstores browsing through about 40 books for ideas on interior decoration. This book stood out as having the most inspiring and tasteful designs, as well as providing a large number and variety of photos, all at a very good price. Highly recommended. As one other reviewer pointed out, written text is limited, but this is made up for by the superior quantity and quality of photos. The book more than serves its purpose. For written guides on interior design, I plan to purchase: "The Home Design Planner" by Katherine Sorrell.

A rich, gorgeous presentation of many examples........2007-01-07

For an outstanding sourcebook of interiors which stand out from the many, DREAM HOMES: 100 INSPIRATIONAL INTERIORS is an exceptional purchase recommended for any discriminating art library strong in interior design titles. No single style represents a 'dream home': it can be Mediterranean, Californian, Asian or a blend. A hundred examples of perfection in all areas are culled from homes of all styles from around the world, presenting the work of the planet's most talented interior designers. There are over 800 lovely color photos of these spaces, plus in-depth explanations by design expert Johanna Thornycroft, which explains how each home was created or transformed. A rich, gorgeous presentation of many examples.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Photo album.......2006-05-18

This book is full of pictures but very little information. The pictures are beautiful but I was expecting more written ideas and advice.

Book Description

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the national republic of Cuba. To usher in the centenary, Steven Heller and Vicki Gold Levi have collected hundreds of vintage graphics of Cuba from the 1920s to the 1959 revolution. Cuba Style recalls the days of glory when the island was a veritable resort colony for Americans and Europeans who came in search of Latino music and dancing, gambling, tropical romance, and the best beaches in the Americas.

To advertise these attractions, Cubano graphistos combined elements of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Bauhaus modernism, and Vegas-style kitsch in a distinctly Cuban sensibility. Cuba Style, the first book of its kind, reproduces a treasure trove of graphics from popular magazines, packaging, posters, and indigenous products such as liquor and cigars. It is a visual history of Cuba in its golden age as well as a wellspring of capitalist extravagance, seen here through the rare graphics of its extraordinary and now lost popular culture.

Customer Reviews:

Nice!.......2007-08-17

Like anything by Steven Heller, there's tons of amazing imagery in this book. Great for the price! Fun & exotic!

Graphics, not Propaganda.......2007-08-15

I haven't finished it and I can say that this book is a "must have", this images are worth not a thousand words but a million words (any Cuban could give you a million words speech in a matter of five minutes), this book is going to solve me just that, whenever somebody would ask me questions about Cuba before Castro, all I have to do is show them this book. This book will show you exactly what Graphics and Arts, in general, were before Castro, not the political propaganda that it became after the revolution-take as an example the image of Murder, Che Guevara, shown all over Cuba promising you "Victory"-. For some, this book will bring back memories and nostalgia, for others like me, born and raised during the communist period, a confirmation that things were a lot better, not perfect, not the paradise they proclaimed it was, simply the place to be, it was for most Cubans the place to be born Cuban and die Cuban.

Cuba Style : Graphics from the Golden Age of Design .......2006-07-11

Ahhh, nostalgia. Nothing but that. Excellent, outstanding...

Amazon.com

With hundreds of Beatles books already available, there is inevitably a sinking feeling when yet another comes along to chronicle the rise of the world's most extraordinary entertainment phenomenon.

So, it's all the more to Debbie Geller's credit that she brings fresh perspective to a familiar tale with this collection of transcripts, culled from 1998's two-part BBC documentary. As well as obtaining access to Epstein's unpublished correspondence, Geller has rounded-up an impressive array of former chauffeurs, attorneys, employees, and ex-Beatles to tell their tales of the shy salesman who chanced upon a scruffy quartet in a Liverpool cellar, and went on to help them conquer the world. Particularly illuminating are the details of Epstein's business deals: "I think ... Brian did good deals," Paul McCartney says. "He looked to his dad for business advice, and his dad really knew how to run a furniture store in Liverpool. This was a little bigger than that!"

Back then, the full impact of the Beatles was impossible to foresee--but, when it finally did come, it was immense and immediate. A month before he died, at only 34, Epstein wrote of his beloved charges: "The boys have gone to Greece to buy an island. I think it's a dotty idea, but they're no longer children and must have their own sweet way." Had Epstein lived, one can only speculate how different things might have been for the Beatles, and the world. --Patrick Humphries, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description

Without the determination, magnetism, vision, good manners, respectable clothes, and financial security of Brian Epstein, no one would ever have heard of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. In Liverpool, in December 1961, Brian Epstein met the Beatles in his small office and signed a management deal. The rest may be history, but it’s a history that Epstein created, along with a blueprint for all pop groups since.

Out of the public eye, Epstein was flamboyant and charismatic. He drank, gambled compulsively, and took drugs to excess. But people remember his wit, charm, and capacity to inspire affection and loyalty. That’s when he wasn’t depressed, or even suicidal. Epstein was Jewish in a society filled with anti-Semitism. He was homosexual at a time when it was a crime to be gay, and from his teenage days to the end of his life he suffered arrests, beatings, and blackmail—all of which had to be kept secret.

This book tells the story of Epstein’s complicated life through the reminiscences of his friends and family. Based on dozens of interviews—with Paul McCartney, George Martin, and Marianne Faithfull, among others—plus many of Epstein’s personal diaries, this book uncovers the truth behind the enigmatic young man who unintentionally caused a cultural revolution, and in the process destroyed himself.

Customer Reviews:

Worth Reading.......2006-11-16

Lots of useful information gathered here, but it would have been much better presented as a narrative than as a series of quotations. Facts and opinions by the barrelful, but where's the art?

Surprisingly Enlightening.......2006-06-20

Even after reading Bob Spitz' encyclopedic, "The Beatles," this collection of BBC interviews by those who knew Brian Epstein best comes across as fresh. There's not much narrative here. Almost everything comes from transcribed quotes off a TV documentary. But the sources are perfect: Paul McCartney, Derek and Alistair Taylor, Sid Bernstein, and assorted chauffers, gofers, lawyers and business people who worked with and knew Brian Epstein as well as that enigmatic gay man of the uptight 50s and early 60s could be known. Way ahead of his time, Epstein is seen as inventing the modern rock star, an astonishing feat for a record store clerk from Liverpool, albeit a well educated, rich one. Epstein screwed up the Beatles' merchandising deals, yes, but don't weep too much over that. They went on to make quite a few quid after all. The odd thing is Epstein never really liked this type of music. Sibelius was his 'desert island' music of choice. Maybe that helped him see his job more clearly. This is an illuminating bio well worth reading if you are even just a casual Beatles historian.

Enlightening.......2002-11-13

It's been a few years since I've read any 'Beatle' books. (I had my fanatical Beatle phase in high school in the 80's.) But, something about this book drew me, so I bought it.

I think it's great at filling in some holes in the Beatle mythology. Brian's talents are very fully explained. His weaknesses are, too. Therefore, for the first time, he comes across as a more complete person.

He was obviously ahead of his time in terms of the music business. His artists loved him and respected him, but they didn't fear him.

It's interesting that after all this time, there's still conflict about his demise--did he or didn't he kill himself. It reminds me a bit of the Michael Hutchence accidental/suicide death.

I like the style of the book--the oral history with additional explanation. It leaves the history to the people who were there.

An untapped vein in Beatles literature.......2001-01-15

I agree with the earlier reviewer's incredulous comments about the cover of this book. If the publisher wanted to make browsers think twice about a purchase, they've done it.

But despite the cheesy cover, I went ahead with my purchase & was not disappointed. One would think that just about every aspect of the Beatles has been absolutely covered and trampled to death. Then along comes Debbie Geller with this gem - the Brian Epstein angle has been an untapped vein up until this point. It's not so much a traditional book about her subject as it is an oral history. Geller's coup is to get Paul McCartney - among many other voices - to comment at length on Epstein's role with the group.

The book's main themes and premises, of which a strong case is made by all the book's participants:

1. There would be no Beatles without Epstein. During the very early sixties when they were no more than a crude band distinguished only by their Hamburg experience, Epstein's belief in 'his boys' was indefatigable. He created a new image for them, and sold that image - after much rejection - to London.

2. Epstein created rock and roll management and promotion as we know it today; it simply did not exist before he came along, & it is around today mainly in the guise that he created.

3. Epstein was a terribly complex and conflicted man. No one participating in this project makes the case that he was 'nice' or easy to get along with. In fact, he comes across as a holy terror at times. Jewish in a non-Jewish world, openly gay prior to any societal openness on that front, a manic-depressive (some posit) before a clinical diagnosis for such an afflication existed, addicted to various uppers and downers.

This was a terribly complex, troubled - but enormously gifted - man. To think that he fit all he did into 32 short years. Amazing.

Thank you Debbie Geller for honoring this blazing comet named Brian Espstein, who willed the Beatles into this world.

Don't judge this book by its cover!.......2001-01-01

Ok - so the cover is so heinous that one wonders whether anyone is actually breathing at St Martin's Press. Despite that, this is a subtle and nuanced celebration of the life of a truly unsung hero - and a celebration it is, despite the temptation to characterize Epstein's life as a sordid tragedy, victim of the era etcetera etcetera. A truly original man, with his own share of demons, but also with the incredible vision to recognise in the Beatles that which the rest of us now take for granted - and this when they were nobodies, and he was the only one to recognise the genius.

What Debbie Geller conveys so beautifully is that transition from a normal life to a life lived in the strange swirl of celebrity. And by "curating" the book, rather than writing it (ie, leaving it in the words of the people she and Wall interviewed for the documentary), Geller allows the protagists to remember Epstein - it makes for an impressionistic protrait of him: complex, contradictory, filled with incredible life.

Average customer rating:
In My Life: The Brian Epstein Story
Debbie Geller
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K06QT4

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