"Those Who Trespass," by Bill O'Reilly, is a real crowd pleaser. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a murder, mystery, thriller about a man named Shannon Michaels who works as a field reporter for "GNN" news. Shannon files a fantastic story about a riot he was covering and then became enveloped by on the streets of South America. His story is stolen by this news caster named Costello that everybody hates at GNN . Shannon tries to do something about it but ruffles the wrong feathers in the process and gets fired. Shannon who is tall, dark, handsome, and very suave lucks out and becomes a news anchorman on a small, disorganized T.V. news broadcast on channel six. He becomes famous, rich, not very well liked by the people he works with but, the ratings are great. Then Shannon ruffles the wrong feathers again and is fired. That ended his T.V. career and sent him off in a very different direction. This is also when people from GNN start mysteriously showing up dead in the most creative manors. Enter Detective Tommy O'Mally - a really talented, well liked detective who is excellent at his job. Besides being a detective, O'Mally has a loving dotting mother, a great partner, and a super self absorbed, extremely religious Italian princess X-wife. While O'Mally works to solve the GNN murders he meets the lovely, sexy, talented investigative newspaper reporter covering the story for "The Globe," Ashely (Ash) Van Buren. All the characters, and the side characters, in the book are very well done. They are all 'alive' and believable, very much like someone you would know, which is unfortunate in some cases. The story is exciting. Once you realize who the killer is you are not disappointed there are still a few surprises. The ending is very exciting, so I'm not going to tell you. I think anyone - guys or gals - who enjoy a good murder mystery thriller will enjoy this read.
Devon.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
Speaks review
" This extremely well-written book portrays a large suburban high school with a fresh and authentic eye- all the cliques are there, from the jocks, to the Goths, to the "Marthas" (Martha Stewart wanna-bes)... This powerful story has an important lesson: never be afraid to speak up for yourself." -VOYA
Truer words were never spoken. You could find all the cliques right here in Ardsley. I agree with this critique. "Speak" is a powerful illustration of what hugh consequences bad choices can make. The voice spoken in this book needs to be heard.
Truer words were never spoken. You could find all the cliques right here in Ardsley. I agree with this critique. "Speak" is a powerful illustration of what hugh consequences bad choices can make. The voice spoken in this book needs to be heard.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower- by Stephen Chbosky
Interesting book, interesting format. As a matter of fact I like writing stories as if they were letters. The first person narrative works well for me. However this book doesn't really do it for me although I like Charlie. He seems like a sweet kid, I'm curious as to who the friend in these letters are going to is. These letters are sort of a diary where he always signs off love always Charlie. Charlie tells this unknown person who he doesn't want to recognize him every personal detail he can think of. The letters begin with Charlie telling us about Micheal's suicide and how it affected him. We know Micheal is a friend but we don't know much else, and what happened to poor Aunt Helen is so painful for Charlie. Charlie loves her so much feels responsible for her death and misses her. You find out later exactly what happened to Aunt Helen. Charlie's Dad gets very emotional for some reason when Charlie wants to know what happened what happened. Why? Charlie to me is like a beach where things just keep washing over him. He cries allot when he's happy and sad. Most letters he's always crying about something.
I liked Charlie's experience with Sam at Christmas. I thought it was so sweet and very touching that Sam wanted Charlie's first kiss to come from someone who loved him. I guess that's every ones wish- well actually maybe not but its mine. I like the way Charlie describes his family. Sounds like every ones family., loud, lots of hidden secrets, but lots of love with most of the relatives. Charlie's father's step dad was awful. He beat his wife and Charlie's dad and his sister until grandma's brother Uncle Phil stepped in and beat the guy up. The husband died and Charlie's Dad vowed never to hit his own kids which is why when Charlie's Dad did hit him, he got down on his knees asked for forgiveness. Charlie loves his Dad.
Through Charlie's letters you get a real look into his experiences. One of the things Charlie did that left an impression on me was the tapes he made. An idea he took from a boyfriend of his sister. I like the "First time I Drive" tape and that Charlie liked thinking that when he plated that tape when he was old he'd remember those first drives. I can see myself doing something like that.
Charlie's first year of high school really changes him by robbing his innocence. Almost polluting him. He really did allot of changing. He seemed so innocent in the beginning of his letters but then as he experiences so much- sex, drugs he changes Smoking, drinking I thought was sad, but Charlie had some good friends that did care for him. Patric though exposed Charlie to some frightening things like the men's meet up park. I don't know how to respond to this book. I was confused by Charlie being so overwhelmed he ended up in the hospital- all his emotions on over drive. It was so sad when everyone was leaving for college. Interesting how his family dynamics changed. How his brothers and sister matured and actually loved each other. It was really nice that Charlie really was happy for everyone. How they were moving on. Aunt Helen and Bill were right Charlie is very special.
I liked Charlie's experience with Sam at Christmas. I thought it was so sweet and very touching that Sam wanted Charlie's first kiss to come from someone who loved him. I guess that's every ones wish- well actually maybe not but its mine. I like the way Charlie describes his family. Sounds like every ones family., loud, lots of hidden secrets, but lots of love with most of the relatives. Charlie's father's step dad was awful. He beat his wife and Charlie's dad and his sister until grandma's brother Uncle Phil stepped in and beat the guy up. The husband died and Charlie's Dad vowed never to hit his own kids which is why when Charlie's Dad did hit him, he got down on his knees asked for forgiveness. Charlie loves his Dad.
Through Charlie's letters you get a real look into his experiences. One of the things Charlie did that left an impression on me was the tapes he made. An idea he took from a boyfriend of his sister. I like the "First time I Drive" tape and that Charlie liked thinking that when he plated that tape when he was old he'd remember those first drives. I can see myself doing something like that.
Charlie's first year of high school really changes him by robbing his innocence. Almost polluting him. He really did allot of changing. He seemed so innocent in the beginning of his letters but then as he experiences so much- sex, drugs he changes Smoking, drinking I thought was sad, but Charlie had some good friends that did care for him. Patric though exposed Charlie to some frightening things like the men's meet up park. I don't know how to respond to this book. I was confused by Charlie being so overwhelmed he ended up in the hospital- all his emotions on over drive. It was so sad when everyone was leaving for college. Interesting how his family dynamics changed. How his brothers and sister matured and actually loved each other. It was really nice that Charlie really was happy for everyone. How they were moving on. Aunt Helen and Bill were right Charlie is very special.
Speak by: Laurie Halse Anderson
Fantastic! A must read for all us stupid teenagers out there who think we know it all. Speak is about a girl named Melinda who is about to start High School the following fall and goes to a blow-out of a party her friend Rachel got them invited to. I love the way this book is written! It's a running narrative and dialog. You don't get to find out what happened at the party until the en of the book because, Melinda won't 'Speak.' In fact, the author has a technique that I really loved as a reader. people would ask Melinda specific questions and the dialog would read--Mon:Whats wrong with you? Me:______. I thought the blank was very effective and powerful because you quickly got the picture of everyone around Melinda getting frustrated and totally misunderstanding her because Melinda wouldn't 'Speak.' Melinda goes from a happy 8Th grader with friends, to a severely depressed 9Th grader. Her grades are worse each marking period. She has no friends, they all abandoned her because she called 911 at that out of control summer party.
Since the order of events in this book are sort of backward, its hard to relate it without giving away the end. High school begins and Melinda is totally alone. All the kids hate her and make fun of her because she called the cops and because of that phone call some one's brother got arrested. So Melinda tries to survive each day best she can alone and hated. Her x-best friend Rachel now with new friends in tow make quite comments and giggle behind her. People throw paper at her. Melinda is awkward and uncomfortable everywhere in school except art. As the school year rolls along things keep getting worse. A new girl, Heather, from Ohio comes to the school- Merryweather High School, in Syracuse- who is the only person who will sit and talk to Melinda at lunch. Heather is a bit high strung but tries to include Melinda in what shes doing, and be her friend. Melinda though barely participates. You can't help but wonder why when Melinda has nobody else and is dieing for friendship that she is so dead pan around Heather. Heather is so perky trying to find where she fits in and Melinda is just like- whatever or "_______ ." Its hard for Melinda to see her old friend enjoying themselves. Shes always looking to escape and she finds a very creative way to do that. Melinda finds a dirty old, now unused, janitor's closet. She cleans it up and makes herself a little hide away where she can get away from it all. Home is no better nobody communicates with each other. They just leave notes to let each other know whats going on day to day as they pass each other. Her parents fight a lot so Melinda retreats to her room with her bunnies and bed. Melinda's behavior has really changed and neither parent has asked her whats wrong. They just get more frustrated and Melinda gets more alienated.
As Melinda's grades continue to sink, " Principle principle," and guidance councilors call her in along with her parents who have had it. Melinda's Mom even curses out Principle Principle for prying into the workings of their marriage. Melinda says, "_______ ,"but so much is going on in her head world. Should she tell them? Can she tell them? Melinda mentions always wanting to take a nap. That very Freudian- sleep is the ultimate escape. What Melinda doesn't see is that some people really do want to help, Heather really does want to be her friend, and other people might try too, except Melinda won't let them. She can't let the because of what happened at that party.
The school year continues on. I like the technique that the author uses to mark the passage of time. At the end of each section she posts Melinda's grades. Very clever.
Heather is tiring to get involved with a very fashionable group of girls called the "Martha's," who do a lot of good things for people and dress alike. Heather is trying to take Melinda along but Melinda just can get involved. Eventually Heather dumps Melinda although it really isn't Heathers fault. Heather is trying to fit in and Melinda refuses to fit in, so one day at lunch Heather drops the "we're not friends any more," bomb on Melinda. Cruel yes , but Heather does make a point of saying you really weren't my friend - like you never invited me to sleep over and stuff. Heather was right. Now Melinda is really alone. She starts cutting school. Her parents have had it- yet another phone call from the school. Mr. Freeman (who hates the school board) a great character himself, really notices Melinda, he likes her, and is trying to help her through her art to find out who she is as an artist and as a person. In the beginning of the year each student picks a topic that they will develop all year. Melinda's topic is a tree, which is very symbolic of Melinda actually. Trees grow and withstand damage, parts die, new parts grow and continue to live and survive. This process is exactly what Melinda is going through in life. She is in the process of dropping dead wood, healing, and beginning to grow a new. Tree symbolism is used in another place in this book, the trimming of the dead wood on the oak tree in Melinda's front yard symbolizes the healing that takes place between her father (her parents) and herself.
Mr.Freeman helps Melinda to find herself again through Picasso. Picasso's cubic figures 'speak' to her. She is finding herself again and getting stronger. She starts going to class, doing her work. She also starts doing the yard work which is metaphoric -cleaning away all the dead leaves exposing the new growth beneath. Melinda finds she doesn't need to go to her closet at school very much anymore. Shes finding strength in herself and it feels good.
Heather, who hasn't spoken to Melinda in months, comes over to Melinda's house unexpected one day and begs Melinda to help her decorate the road with balloons for the prom. The "Martha's" direct Heather to do this but they can't help because they have to get ready to go to the prom. Heather just wants to use Melinda, she doesn't really want to be her friend. Heather comes up with a lame excuse about how the 'Martha's ' are driving her nuts and how Melinda was smart to get out from under the 'Martha's ' when she did -... DA DA DA DA DA....Melinda though doesn't but in and she says- NO! Heather is shocked that her manipulation didn't work. Go Melinda! The fact that the prom is coming up is a very important turning point for Melinda though because there is something she feels she must do. There is a guy at school that Melinda calls, " It."She hates him. She fears him. " It," is Andy Evans or as Melinda also calls him- Andy Beast, a handsome, super pig jock. Prom is coming and Rachel Melinda's childhood ex best friend who dumped Melinda after she called 911 at that summer party - is going to the prom with "It" and Melinda can't let that happen because "It" raped her at that party and Melinda too scared to tell anyone was never able to "speak" a word about it to anyone. Her fear, her pain, her confusion, her inexperience, her youth, kept her silent and destroyed her from within. Even though Rachel has hurt Melinda so bad she cannot let her be put in danger by going to prom with "It". Melinda gets all the courage she can muster together and tells Rachel what happened at that party. Rachel is shocked. At thirteen Rachel and Melinda went to wild unsupervised party where there was beer. Melinda drank one - two - four and got drunk. "It" asked her to dance then forced himself upon her and she was too frighten and messed up to stop him. He held her down, raped her and walked away. Melinda knew she needed help and called 911. She couldn't even "speak" to tell police where she was but the police were able to trace the call. When they came the kids at the party were already so angry she was afraid to get the help she needed and just slipped away into the darkness and walked home. Rachel said why didn't you tell me - who was "it". When Melinda told her Rachel was in instant denial. She refused to believe her and walked away.
On the bathroom wall at school where anonymous written conversations are scrolled, Melinda in liberation writes, "guys to stay away from" and under that writes " Andy Evans". Prom happens- Rachel goes with "It" and something big does happen. Andy gets too aggressive- Rachel gets away- Andy is alone and embarrassed- prom ends. Andy infuriated that Rachel wouldn't even talk to him confronts Melinda and traps her in her closet and says you liar you told people I raped you... and begins to try to raped her again. This time Melinda finds her voice she screams "noooooo." She fights and is about to cut his throat with a piece of broken glass when the girls lacrosse team beats on the closet door. Melinda is saved. Everyone understands and Melinda is free because she used her strength to fight "It" and "speak." The details of what happens at the party, school, and in the closet are well worth reading this book.
Since the order of events in this book are sort of backward, its hard to relate it without giving away the end. High school begins and Melinda is totally alone. All the kids hate her and make fun of her because she called the cops and because of that phone call some one's brother got arrested. So Melinda tries to survive each day best she can alone and hated. Her x-best friend Rachel now with new friends in tow make quite comments and giggle behind her. People throw paper at her. Melinda is awkward and uncomfortable everywhere in school except art. As the school year rolls along things keep getting worse. A new girl, Heather, from Ohio comes to the school- Merryweather High School, in Syracuse- who is the only person who will sit and talk to Melinda at lunch. Heather is a bit high strung but tries to include Melinda in what shes doing, and be her friend. Melinda though barely participates. You can't help but wonder why when Melinda has nobody else and is dieing for friendship that she is so dead pan around Heather. Heather is so perky trying to find where she fits in and Melinda is just like- whatever or "_______ ." Its hard for Melinda to see her old friend enjoying themselves. Shes always looking to escape and she finds a very creative way to do that. Melinda finds a dirty old, now unused, janitor's closet. She cleans it up and makes herself a little hide away where she can get away from it all. Home is no better nobody communicates with each other. They just leave notes to let each other know whats going on day to day as they pass each other. Her parents fight a lot so Melinda retreats to her room with her bunnies and bed. Melinda's behavior has really changed and neither parent has asked her whats wrong. They just get more frustrated and Melinda gets more alienated.
As Melinda's grades continue to sink, " Principle principle," and guidance councilors call her in along with her parents who have had it. Melinda's Mom even curses out Principle Principle for prying into the workings of their marriage. Melinda says, "_______ ,"but so much is going on in her head world. Should she tell them? Can she tell them? Melinda mentions always wanting to take a nap. That very Freudian- sleep is the ultimate escape. What Melinda doesn't see is that some people really do want to help, Heather really does want to be her friend, and other people might try too, except Melinda won't let them. She can't let the because of what happened at that party.
The school year continues on. I like the technique that the author uses to mark the passage of time. At the end of each section she posts Melinda's grades. Very clever.
Heather is tiring to get involved with a very fashionable group of girls called the "Martha's," who do a lot of good things for people and dress alike. Heather is trying to take Melinda along but Melinda just can get involved. Eventually Heather dumps Melinda although it really isn't Heathers fault. Heather is trying to fit in and Melinda refuses to fit in, so one day at lunch Heather drops the "we're not friends any more," bomb on Melinda. Cruel yes , but Heather does make a point of saying you really weren't my friend - like you never invited me to sleep over and stuff. Heather was right. Now Melinda is really alone. She starts cutting school. Her parents have had it- yet another phone call from the school. Mr. Freeman (who hates the school board) a great character himself, really notices Melinda, he likes her, and is trying to help her through her art to find out who she is as an artist and as a person. In the beginning of the year each student picks a topic that they will develop all year. Melinda's topic is a tree, which is very symbolic of Melinda actually. Trees grow and withstand damage, parts die, new parts grow and continue to live and survive. This process is exactly what Melinda is going through in life. She is in the process of dropping dead wood, healing, and beginning to grow a new. Tree symbolism is used in another place in this book, the trimming of the dead wood on the oak tree in Melinda's front yard symbolizes the healing that takes place between her father (her parents) and herself.
Mr.Freeman helps Melinda to find herself again through Picasso. Picasso's cubic figures 'speak' to her. She is finding herself again and getting stronger. She starts going to class, doing her work. She also starts doing the yard work which is metaphoric -cleaning away all the dead leaves exposing the new growth beneath. Melinda finds she doesn't need to go to her closet at school very much anymore. Shes finding strength in herself and it feels good.
Heather, who hasn't spoken to Melinda in months, comes over to Melinda's house unexpected one day and begs Melinda to help her decorate the road with balloons for the prom. The "Martha's" direct Heather to do this but they can't help because they have to get ready to go to the prom. Heather just wants to use Melinda, she doesn't really want to be her friend. Heather comes up with a lame excuse about how the 'Martha's ' are driving her nuts and how Melinda was smart to get out from under the 'Martha's ' when she did -... DA DA DA DA DA....Melinda though doesn't but in and she says- NO! Heather is shocked that her manipulation didn't work. Go Melinda! The fact that the prom is coming up is a very important turning point for Melinda though because there is something she feels she must do. There is a guy at school that Melinda calls, " It."She hates him. She fears him. " It," is Andy Evans or as Melinda also calls him- Andy Beast, a handsome, super pig jock. Prom is coming and Rachel Melinda's childhood ex best friend who dumped Melinda after she called 911 at that summer party - is going to the prom with "It" and Melinda can't let that happen because "It" raped her at that party and Melinda too scared to tell anyone was never able to "speak" a word about it to anyone. Her fear, her pain, her confusion, her inexperience, her youth, kept her silent and destroyed her from within. Even though Rachel has hurt Melinda so bad she cannot let her be put in danger by going to prom with "It". Melinda gets all the courage she can muster together and tells Rachel what happened at that party. Rachel is shocked. At thirteen Rachel and Melinda went to wild unsupervised party where there was beer. Melinda drank one - two - four and got drunk. "It" asked her to dance then forced himself upon her and she was too frighten and messed up to stop him. He held her down, raped her and walked away. Melinda knew she needed help and called 911. She couldn't even "speak" to tell police where she was but the police were able to trace the call. When they came the kids at the party were already so angry she was afraid to get the help she needed and just slipped away into the darkness and walked home. Rachel said why didn't you tell me - who was "it". When Melinda told her Rachel was in instant denial. She refused to believe her and walked away.
On the bathroom wall at school where anonymous written conversations are scrolled, Melinda in liberation writes, "guys to stay away from" and under that writes " Andy Evans". Prom happens- Rachel goes with "It" and something big does happen. Andy gets too aggressive- Rachel gets away- Andy is alone and embarrassed- prom ends. Andy infuriated that Rachel wouldn't even talk to him confronts Melinda and traps her in her closet and says you liar you told people I raped you... and begins to try to raped her again. This time Melinda finds her voice she screams "noooooo." She fights and is about to cut his throat with a piece of broken glass when the girls lacrosse team beats on the closet door. Melinda is saved. Everyone understands and Melinda is free because she used her strength to fight "It" and "speak." The details of what happens at the party, school, and in the closet are well worth reading this book.
Girl Singer-an autobiography by Rosemary Clooney with Joan Bathel
The book was a lot of fun to read.I love old movies especially musicals.One of my favorites is " White Christmas," starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye, and Vera- Ellen, so when I came across this book about Rosemary Clooney I was very interested in what kind of life one of my favorite old ( I hope she wouldn't mind me referring to her like that), singer-movie actresses has had. Rosemary Clooney came from a very small town called Maysville, Kentucky along the Ohio River. Her mom was very strange. She married a man her mother didn't like, handsome and suave, but an alcoholic. Her mother loved him but she felt very held down by the small town they lived in. So she left her husband and three small children- Rosemary, her sister Betty,and their brother Nicky. The children were shifted around between the relatives- grandparents, uncles, and aunts- who ever could afford to keep them. Rosemary learned very early how to be the perfect child so that which ever relative had them they would like them so all the children could stay together. I thought that was so sad. Mom was in and out but sent home money, Dad wasn't around much but when he was he loved to listen to music and Rosemary would sit on his lap and listen with him. Rosemary was lucky she had a very close knit family although she was closest with both sets of grandparents. Since her Dad wasn't around much she actually called her Dad's father Papa, and she never had much of a relationship with her mother which is something that always bothered her. It was also something that Rosemary was never able to fix or find out why her Mother had left them in the first place. Yet, Ms. Clooney still describes her childhood as a very sweet time in a small town with lots of close relatives and friends,with an extremely close bond between her brother and sister that lasts always. But, she was especially close to her sister Betty who was closest to her in age.
Rosemary started singing at age three. She loved singing with her sister Betty because they could do such great harmonies together. Towards the end of High School, for Rosemary anyway, the Clooney girls started singing open auditions on the local radio station and from there they were picked up by the Tony Pastor's Orchestra. Since both sisters were under aged, they convinced their Uncle George to be their guardian and manager and they were off touring the U.S. as professional Big Band singers. Soon Rosemary realized that as much as she loved her sister and Uncle George it was time for her to go out on her own. It hurt her very much to tell them but it was the best career move for her. Betty lied and said she was tired of being on the road any way, but Uncle George who had given up everything to take the girls on the road was so hurt and they didn't speak for years. Years later Rosemary and George were able to have a good relationship but they were never able to discuss what happened.
Rosemary's career took off and her pay check was getting bigger, but I thought it was interesting that as a solo artist she had to pay the musicians out of her own check. More and more success. The people she met who became friends was an incredible list of who's who in the entertainment world, like Frank Sinatra- who she didn't like very much. Can you imagine being called by Bing Crosby to come over to his house for a beer and football game! Along the way Rosemary meets a dancer she really loves named Dante DiPaolo. He calls her " Roselinda." Rosemary's whole family loves him, but then she meets Jose Ferrer(actor) who sweeps her off her feet. She was blown away by his worldliness, charm and finesse- and your like-"Noooooooo!"-don't marry him. Marry Dante. Don't do it! Well- she does it. When Rosemary calls her family to tell them she got married they all said," Wheres Dante?" Everyone was shocked. I thought it was very interesting -Rosemary married a suave, charming guy that her family didn't like just like her Mom had. Interesting isn't that?
Anyway, Jose, or Joe as she calls him,have an up/down marriage. He cheats on her all the time. On their honeymoon Rosemary overhears Joe and a male friend talking about an affair he had with some woman on the set of the movie he was currently doing. When she tearfully confronted him,he just sat on the end of their bed and listened but said nothing. Poor Rosemary had no recourse, she realized she had to accept this about him. She should have dumped him right there but she didn't. You should of married Dante! Anyway, Jose and Rosemary have 5 children and each time Rosemary hopes that each child will bring him closer to her. Rosemary says Jose was a good father but, eventually she couldn't take all the cheating so she threw him out and divorced him. Then everyone was unhappy (and there was less money)-she took him back only to divorce him again. Then poor Rosemary got into drugs, pills to help her sleep, her career tanked and her kids where afraid of her.Sometime before Rosemary's mom had come to live with the family, she had no place to go, and never left again;yet, that was a good thing for it was Rosemary's mom who took care of the kids while she was drugged and closed in her room. Something Rosemary didn't miss though, and resented, was that her mom took better care of Rosemary's kids than she had of her own. Rosemary Clooney had said at the beginning of her career that she knew she would always be to make money singing because she has such a great voice (never formal training by the way). Yet, when souped up on drugs she cursed out an entire audience and stomped off the stage. Not a good career move.
For a brief time she fell in love with Nelson Riddle, a fantastic music arranger and, they had a red hot affair. He was married but said he was going to leave his wife. Nelson's secretary would arrange rendezvouses for them at fancy hotels but one night Nelson's wife called and Rosemary realized she was now the woman being quiet in the room-like when she would call Joe. Well the short of it is, Nelson did leave his wife but he married his secretary. Rosemary was devastated.
somehow Rosemary was able to keep her expensive house on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills singing commercials, doing tours and arrangements all over. MOinney was sure a lot tighter.Driving down the road one afternoon, who pulls up next to her-Dante. He comes over for dinner, her kids now much older love him and eventually, Dante moves in. Finally, they marry. Rosemary Clooney's life, so far was very interesting to read about. She was poor, a big band singer, soloist, movie and TV star, rich, married, divorced, not so rich, remarried same guy, divorced, depressed, drug addict, hospitalized, career dumps, career rises, Dante back in her life, happy, rich,WOW! Now she lives back on the river near her brother and family, with her brother close by. Unfortunately she lost her sister Betty. Great story and its not over yet.
Rosemary started singing at age three. She loved singing with her sister Betty because they could do such great harmonies together. Towards the end of High School, for Rosemary anyway, the Clooney girls started singing open auditions on the local radio station and from there they were picked up by the Tony Pastor's Orchestra. Since both sisters were under aged, they convinced their Uncle George to be their guardian and manager and they were off touring the U.S. as professional Big Band singers. Soon Rosemary realized that as much as she loved her sister and Uncle George it was time for her to go out on her own. It hurt her very much to tell them but it was the best career move for her. Betty lied and said she was tired of being on the road any way, but Uncle George who had given up everything to take the girls on the road was so hurt and they didn't speak for years. Years later Rosemary and George were able to have a good relationship but they were never able to discuss what happened.
Rosemary's career took off and her pay check was getting bigger, but I thought it was interesting that as a solo artist she had to pay the musicians out of her own check. More and more success. The people she met who became friends was an incredible list of who's who in the entertainment world, like Frank Sinatra- who she didn't like very much. Can you imagine being called by Bing Crosby to come over to his house for a beer and football game! Along the way Rosemary meets a dancer she really loves named Dante DiPaolo. He calls her " Roselinda." Rosemary's whole family loves him, but then she meets Jose Ferrer(actor) who sweeps her off her feet. She was blown away by his worldliness, charm and finesse- and your like-"Noooooooo!"-don't marry him. Marry Dante. Don't do it! Well- she does it. When Rosemary calls her family to tell them she got married they all said," Wheres Dante?" Everyone was shocked. I thought it was very interesting -Rosemary married a suave, charming guy that her family didn't like just like her Mom had. Interesting isn't that?
Anyway, Jose, or Joe as she calls him,have an up/down marriage. He cheats on her all the time. On their honeymoon Rosemary overhears Joe and a male friend talking about an affair he had with some woman on the set of the movie he was currently doing. When she tearfully confronted him,he just sat on the end of their bed and listened but said nothing. Poor Rosemary had no recourse, she realized she had to accept this about him. She should have dumped him right there but she didn't. You should of married Dante! Anyway, Jose and Rosemary have 5 children and each time Rosemary hopes that each child will bring him closer to her. Rosemary says Jose was a good father but, eventually she couldn't take all the cheating so she threw him out and divorced him. Then everyone was unhappy (and there was less money)-she took him back only to divorce him again. Then poor Rosemary got into drugs, pills to help her sleep, her career tanked and her kids where afraid of her.Sometime before Rosemary's mom had come to live with the family, she had no place to go, and never left again;yet, that was a good thing for it was Rosemary's mom who took care of the kids while she was drugged and closed in her room. Something Rosemary didn't miss though, and resented, was that her mom took better care of Rosemary's kids than she had of her own. Rosemary Clooney had said at the beginning of her career that she knew she would always be to make money singing because she has such a great voice (never formal training by the way). Yet, when souped up on drugs she cursed out an entire audience and stomped off the stage. Not a good career move.
For a brief time she fell in love with Nelson Riddle, a fantastic music arranger and, they had a red hot affair. He was married but said he was going to leave his wife. Nelson's secretary would arrange rendezvouses for them at fancy hotels but one night Nelson's wife called and Rosemary realized she was now the woman being quiet in the room-like when she would call Joe. Well the short of it is, Nelson did leave his wife but he married his secretary. Rosemary was devastated.
somehow Rosemary was able to keep her expensive house on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills singing commercials, doing tours and arrangements all over. MOinney was sure a lot tighter.Driving down the road one afternoon, who pulls up next to her-Dante. He comes over for dinner, her kids now much older love him and eventually, Dante moves in. Finally, they marry. Rosemary Clooney's life, so far was very interesting to read about. She was poor, a big band singer, soloist, movie and TV star, rich, married, divorced, not so rich, remarried same guy, divorced, depressed, drug addict, hospitalized, career dumps, career rises, Dante back in her life, happy, rich,WOW! Now she lives back on the river near her brother and family, with her brother close by. Unfortunately she lost her sister Betty. Great story and its not over yet.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Just Starting: Girl Singer an autobiography, Rosemary Clooney with Joan Barthel
Dear Ms. O'Brien,
I hope you feel better!!!!!
If you are an old movie buff, like me, maybe you know who Rosemary Cloony is. She is an extremely talented singer/actress, from when dinosaurs lived, and was in one of my favorite movies "White Christmas," with Bing Crasby. I've just started reading her autobiography, "Girl Singer-an autobiography." She has such an amazing voice, for any kind of music (Jazz, bluesy, or Broadway), she could sing it.
Rosemary Clooney grew up poor-really poor in Maysville, Kentucky on the Ohio River; yet, she never felt poor. Both her parents had serious issues, shall we say. Growing up Rosemary's mom, Frances, hated their small town and wanted to be something more, like and actress, dancer- something, but instead got married to a really nice guy named Andrew Clooney. He was very charming and handsome but also an alcoholic. Frances and Andrew had 3 children together- Rosemary, Betty, and Nicky (her brother); yet, her parents came together and separated so many times that Rosemary can't recall a time when they were all living happily together. Eventually her mom became a traveling sales representative and left her children with whoever had room and money. Frances would send her children $5 a week(a lot at the time). The following part made me feel so bad for, as a small child Rosemary figured out what the people she was staying with wanted and expected. She learned what to say and do so that her and her siblings weren't separated. In the early 1930's (the Depression years) I guess it was a lot to expect other struggling relatives to take care or your kids.
Rosemary spent a lot of her time living with her grandparents and thought more of them as parents (especially her father's parents). Time was spent with other aunts and uncles as well. All parts of Rosemary's family were important to her. Even though her dad's parent's had money and her mom's didn't, she loved and appreciated them all just the same. Ms. Clooney remembers fun times singing with her family, her dad had a beautiful voice, and preformed her first song at 3 yrs old in the local movie theater.
I haven't gotten into this book to much yet, but I feel Rosemary had a huge strength within herself from a very young age. At 6 and 7yrs old, she was trying so hard to hold her family together. Her mom, when she was around, was always saying what a bad man her father was, and her father's mother (the grandma she lived with) was always saying what a rotten mother she had. Many of Rosemary Clooney's relatives, on both sides, had alcohol, drug, and depression problems. This was such a hard time to live through yet, she was destined to become a big star and I'm looking forward to reading her story.
My grandparents lived through the depression and my parents have told me about the experiences they had growing up during those years. It must have been a very interesting time- but I get the impression some people had their priorities more straight than now. It seems then just having family around and being together was more important than having a lot of stuff.
Until next time,
Devon
I hope you feel better!!!!!
If you are an old movie buff, like me, maybe you know who Rosemary Cloony is. She is an extremely talented singer/actress, from when dinosaurs lived, and was in one of my favorite movies "White Christmas," with Bing Crasby. I've just started reading her autobiography, "Girl Singer-an autobiography." She has such an amazing voice, for any kind of music (Jazz, bluesy, or Broadway), she could sing it.
Rosemary Clooney grew up poor-really poor in Maysville, Kentucky on the Ohio River; yet, she never felt poor. Both her parents had serious issues, shall we say. Growing up Rosemary's mom, Frances, hated their small town and wanted to be something more, like and actress, dancer- something, but instead got married to a really nice guy named Andrew Clooney. He was very charming and handsome but also an alcoholic. Frances and Andrew had 3 children together- Rosemary, Betty, and Nicky (her brother); yet, her parents came together and separated so many times that Rosemary can't recall a time when they were all living happily together. Eventually her mom became a traveling sales representative and left her children with whoever had room and money. Frances would send her children $5 a week(a lot at the time). The following part made me feel so bad for, as a small child Rosemary figured out what the people she was staying with wanted and expected. She learned what to say and do so that her and her siblings weren't separated. In the early 1930's (the Depression years) I guess it was a lot to expect other struggling relatives to take care or your kids.
Rosemary spent a lot of her time living with her grandparents and thought more of them as parents (especially her father's parents). Time was spent with other aunts and uncles as well. All parts of Rosemary's family were important to her. Even though her dad's parent's had money and her mom's didn't, she loved and appreciated them all just the same. Ms. Clooney remembers fun times singing with her family, her dad had a beautiful voice, and preformed her first song at 3 yrs old in the local movie theater.
I haven't gotten into this book to much yet, but I feel Rosemary had a huge strength within herself from a very young age. At 6 and 7yrs old, she was trying so hard to hold her family together. Her mom, when she was around, was always saying what a bad man her father was, and her father's mother (the grandma she lived with) was always saying what a rotten mother she had. Many of Rosemary Clooney's relatives, on both sides, had alcohol, drug, and depression problems. This was such a hard time to live through yet, she was destined to become a big star and I'm looking forward to reading her story.
My grandparents lived through the depression and my parents have told me about the experiences they had growing up during those years. It must have been a very interesting time- but I get the impression some people had their priorities more straight than now. It seems then just having family around and being together was more important than having a lot of stuff.
Until next time,
Devon
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Finished '9o Minutes in Heaven' by: Don Piper
Concurrently with 'Odd Girl Speaks Out', I was reading '90 Minutes in Heaven' by: Don Piper. This book was an amazing real story about a man that made a very small decision that ended up changing his entire life. Can you imagine that if tonight when you walk out of the school building you decided for a change to turn right instead of left because either way you can get home and that mindless decision so changed you- you were never the same person again. You just can't take any day for granted because you really never know what will happen in the next minute, yet don't we all.
Mr. Piper's decision to turn right put him in the way of an out of control truck, driven by an unlicensed inmate from a local prison. Imagine if for a moment you could zoom up and look down on all the events happening on Earth and see how when everyone starts out from their different starting points, their every action somehow join together into and event. Mr. Piper's small red car was crushed and run over and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His car was covered over and left while the EMS people checked out the others. I really would like to tell you absolutely everything that happened in this book. It made such an impact on me, its going to be hard to write it all into this blog!
Most important though, to me, was Mr. Piper' description of Heaven itself. He said that for him there was no tunnel he just arrived in Heaven and that immediately he felt so completely surrounded by love that he had no cares at all for anything he had here on Earth- not his wife or his children, his ministry, his belongings - nothing- because he knew he was in the presence of God's total love and that he absolutely did not want to leave. He describes relatives and friends that were so over joyed to see him like they had been waiting to be with him again. That all of these people were beautiful and perfect- even his grandmother who had no teeth in life, now had a most perfect and beautiful smile. He said the music was more incredible than anything you can imagine, and the colors were so deep, richer, and brighter. Then came a point after he was so lovingly welcomed when everyone started moving toward the gates of Heaven. Mr. Piper said the gates are huge and that the walls that extend out from either side continue on and on into the distance so far you can see no end. He said they are not made out of pearls but that they are luminescent like pearls.
In the mean time at the accident scene, a friend that had been at the same convention was stuck in the traffic due to the accident and not knowing who was in the crushed car ahead felt drawn to pray for,"the guy in the red car," even though the police told him the guy inside was dead. On Earth Mr. Piper's friend crawled into the crushed car placed his hand on Don's lifeless shoulder and prayed and sang for Don as the people in Heaven progressed toward Heaven's gate. Mr. Piper said he knew if he went with them there would be no coming back and that he'd be in the presence of God and that's what he wanted. But, then suddenly he was whisked away back to his mangled body and the first thing he remembers is hearing himself singing,"What a friend we have in Jesus," along with his friend. Although Mr. Piper was alive he felt that all he wanted was to be back surrounded by the total love and beauty of Heaven and did not understand why he had to leave only to came back and face months of horrendous pain and suffering. Don Piper never told anyone his experience in Heaven until depressed he was talking to a close friend and told him everything. The friend asked him one simple question. He said, 'why do you think God sent you back if not to tell what happened to you?' The rest is in the book and for me it meant so much. I lost my cat Scrapper recently and although I knew he had gone to Heaven now I am so comforted that I 'know' exactly where he is and everyone else too. This book is a must read for people of faith, for those who are curious, for those who do not believe, but most especially for anyone who is either near the end of life or has lost someone very dear. It has made a great impact on me.
Quick Overview of 'A Skating Life-My Story' by: Dorthy Hamill with Deborah Amelon
The other book I read was an autobiography called, 'A Skating Life-My Story' by: Dorthy Hamill with Deborah Amelon.Its about Dorothy Hamill's journey to the Olympic gold. It was very interesting. The dedication, pain-physical and mental, time, and sacrifice it takes to get there is not just something the athlete must do. The entire family must sacrifice as well. Her parents fought a lot. Dad had to work very hard to pay for all the lessons and coaches. Mom had to practically let the other two kids, a brother and sister, both older, fend for themselves as she drove Dorothy all over to ice rinks to practice. Something that I thought was very interesting was that Dorothy Hamill could patiently practice her skating hour after hour, but she had no patients at all for school work. She said she had undiagnosed attention deficit disorder and that school was difficult and terrifying to her. It's interesting how her brain can be so attentive in one area and not in others. (Michael Phelps is the same way.)
She was very sheltered by her mother who demanded Dorothy's best but never told her if she thought Dorothy had done well. Yet, her mother drove her and stayed at practices year after year,rink after rink. Dorothy's mother was not even at the arena when Dorothy won her Olympic gold. She sat in their hotel room alone, with the T.V. off. Dorothy was closer to her father who was very talented musically and put together most of her music. As you read about this family you see that both parents felt frustrated and trapped and both suffered from depression. Dorothy got a very lucrative contract from the Ice Capaides and was so proud to be able to buy her family things that she knew they had to sacrifice for her endless lessons. She had started sending her parents weekly allowances that sadly turned into such a drain on Dorothy's income that she had to stop them. But, her parents got really angry because even though they had enough money they felt Dorothy 'owed' them for all the years of sacrifice they had given her. That was pretty ugly.
Dorothy didn't do so well in the husband department. She married Dean Martin's son Dean Paul, he was Dorothy's true love, but he broke her heart and left her. Then she married a sports doctor named Ken, who not only cheated on her, and everybody but her knew it, but took her for all her money. The only good thing out of that marriage was her daughter Alex.
I have to say though, the difference between these two books was immense. I feel almost bad to say that having read Dorothy Hamill's book after '90 Minutes in Heaven,' made her story seem quite trivial which is not fair. I did enjoy it. Skating fans will love it, but I don't think it needs to go on many must read lists.
Until next time,
Devon
Mr. Piper's decision to turn right put him in the way of an out of control truck, driven by an unlicensed inmate from a local prison. Imagine if for a moment you could zoom up and look down on all the events happening on Earth and see how when everyone starts out from their different starting points, their every action somehow join together into and event. Mr. Piper's small red car was crushed and run over and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His car was covered over and left while the EMS people checked out the others. I really would like to tell you absolutely everything that happened in this book. It made such an impact on me, its going to be hard to write it all into this blog!
Most important though, to me, was Mr. Piper' description of Heaven itself. He said that for him there was no tunnel he just arrived in Heaven and that immediately he felt so completely surrounded by love that he had no cares at all for anything he had here on Earth- not his wife or his children, his ministry, his belongings - nothing- because he knew he was in the presence of God's total love and that he absolutely did not want to leave. He describes relatives and friends that were so over joyed to see him like they had been waiting to be with him again. That all of these people were beautiful and perfect- even his grandmother who had no teeth in life, now had a most perfect and beautiful smile. He said the music was more incredible than anything you can imagine, and the colors were so deep, richer, and brighter. Then came a point after he was so lovingly welcomed when everyone started moving toward the gates of Heaven. Mr. Piper said the gates are huge and that the walls that extend out from either side continue on and on into the distance so far you can see no end. He said they are not made out of pearls but that they are luminescent like pearls.
In the mean time at the accident scene, a friend that had been at the same convention was stuck in the traffic due to the accident and not knowing who was in the crushed car ahead felt drawn to pray for,"the guy in the red car," even though the police told him the guy inside was dead. On Earth Mr. Piper's friend crawled into the crushed car placed his hand on Don's lifeless shoulder and prayed and sang for Don as the people in Heaven progressed toward Heaven's gate. Mr. Piper said he knew if he went with them there would be no coming back and that he'd be in the presence of God and that's what he wanted. But, then suddenly he was whisked away back to his mangled body and the first thing he remembers is hearing himself singing,"What a friend we have in Jesus," along with his friend. Although Mr. Piper was alive he felt that all he wanted was to be back surrounded by the total love and beauty of Heaven and did not understand why he had to leave only to came back and face months of horrendous pain and suffering. Don Piper never told anyone his experience in Heaven until depressed he was talking to a close friend and told him everything. The friend asked him one simple question. He said, 'why do you think God sent you back if not to tell what happened to you?' The rest is in the book and for me it meant so much. I lost my cat Scrapper recently and although I knew he had gone to Heaven now I am so comforted that I 'know' exactly where he is and everyone else too. This book is a must read for people of faith, for those who are curious, for those who do not believe, but most especially for anyone who is either near the end of life or has lost someone very dear. It has made a great impact on me.
Quick Overview of 'A Skating Life-My Story' by: Dorthy Hamill with Deborah Amelon
The other book I read was an autobiography called, 'A Skating Life-My Story' by: Dorthy Hamill with Deborah Amelon.Its about Dorothy Hamill's journey to the Olympic gold. It was very interesting. The dedication, pain-physical and mental, time, and sacrifice it takes to get there is not just something the athlete must do. The entire family must sacrifice as well. Her parents fought a lot. Dad had to work very hard to pay for all the lessons and coaches. Mom had to practically let the other two kids, a brother and sister, both older, fend for themselves as she drove Dorothy all over to ice rinks to practice. Something that I thought was very interesting was that Dorothy Hamill could patiently practice her skating hour after hour, but she had no patients at all for school work. She said she had undiagnosed attention deficit disorder and that school was difficult and terrifying to her. It's interesting how her brain can be so attentive in one area and not in others. (Michael Phelps is the same way.)
She was very sheltered by her mother who demanded Dorothy's best but never told her if she thought Dorothy had done well. Yet, her mother drove her and stayed at practices year after year,rink after rink. Dorothy's mother was not even at the arena when Dorothy won her Olympic gold. She sat in their hotel room alone, with the T.V. off. Dorothy was closer to her father who was very talented musically and put together most of her music. As you read about this family you see that both parents felt frustrated and trapped and both suffered from depression. Dorothy got a very lucrative contract from the Ice Capaides and was so proud to be able to buy her family things that she knew they had to sacrifice for her endless lessons. She had started sending her parents weekly allowances that sadly turned into such a drain on Dorothy's income that she had to stop them. But, her parents got really angry because even though they had enough money they felt Dorothy 'owed' them for all the years of sacrifice they had given her. That was pretty ugly.
Dorothy didn't do so well in the husband department. She married Dean Martin's son Dean Paul, he was Dorothy's true love, but he broke her heart and left her. Then she married a sports doctor named Ken, who not only cheated on her, and everybody but her knew it, but took her for all her money. The only good thing out of that marriage was her daughter Alex.
I have to say though, the difference between these two books was immense. I feel almost bad to say that having read Dorothy Hamill's book after '90 Minutes in Heaven,' made her story seem quite trivial which is not fair. I did enjoy it. Skating fans will love it, but I don't think it needs to go on many must read lists.
Until next time,
Devon
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