Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters has written a interesting book about the two Hollywood Hustlers: Jon Peters and Peter Guber. The way they tell their side of the story makes it a wonderfull book. Just the part of the book, that tells to story og Sony and the purchase of Columbia and Tri-Star is worth every penny. You just sit back and wonder, how did they hustle their way all the way to the top.

To read something else about Peters and Guber, I've strongly recommend "Burton on Burton", where Tim Burton gives his personal view on them.

Nancy Griffin and Kim Masters has written a interesting book about the two Hollywood Hustlers: Jon Peters and Peter Guber. The way they tell their side of the story makes it a wonderfull book. Just the part of the book, that tells to story og Sony and the purchase of Columbia and Tri-Star is worth every penny. You just sit back and wonder, how did they hustle their way all the way to the top.

To read something else about Peters and Guber, I've strongly recommend "Burton on Burton", where Tim Burton gives his personal view on them.

The authors have done an amazing job of compiling an incredible amount of information and assimilating it in a well-thought out and informative manner. The story of how Jon Peters and Peter Guber were able to so completely screw Sony is unbelievable. Yet, Kim Masters and Nancy Griffin boil all the subplots down into a manageable and compelling story that is completely accessible. It isn't often that a non-fiction book reads like a novel. An absolute must-read for anyone interested in the film industry.

Mariah Pijeaux is knocking on the door of her fortieth birthday and has been dating a man for seven years that refuses to even introduce her to his family, rather less marry her. She is the mother of three; two by a deceased husband and one by a father that maintains sole custody of their son but allows Mariah to see him every other weekend.
Mariah has several girlfriends that are also experiencing relationship "issues" and they decide to go to these hilarious, yet enlightening, relationship seminars where the doctor instructs them on debonding from the [man] they are attached to. The seminars alone make the book worth reading.

While working a temporary job--Mariah still has not found her chosen career either--she finds herself attracted to a much younger man, Malik. Decades younger to be exact. At first, she tries to ignore the chemistry between them but ultimately decides that she doesn't have anything to lose. What follows is an interesting characterization that flips the script on the older man-younger woman scenario. The reaction of her kids, friends, and Mariah herself instigate provocative and stimulating thinking for the reader. Marissa Monteilh has an interesting writing style and those that can appreciate a little humor mixed with a reality check will truly enjoy the novel. I look forward to her next effort.

Reviewed by Zane

The voice of May December Souls is what knocks you over the most. Mariah, the narrator, is calm, observant, and seems certain of herself even when she's not sure. She's grappling with lots of issues in this book; it's not just the fact that she's digging a guy who is young enough to have once been diapered by her own hands. Mariah is hurting over the lack of a relationship with her father. She and her new lover, Malik, have father-child issues in common. Maybe it's the thing that bonds them, besides the obvious physical attractions.

The most powerful scene deals with Mariah's acceptance of her father's decision to leave when she was a child. Emotional and vivid with an element of healing, the scene makes that necessary connection to its reader, enough to ensure that the author wrote from the depths of her heart, and perhaps her pain.

May December Souls is a recommended read; it's a contemporary novel that will make you laugh, make you feel, and make you think.

May December Souls is a must read...This book has an incredible rhythm that keeps you turning page after page. I love this novel for too many reasons to list...The "ladies first" theory is one that has helped my love life in many ways already. It gives a lovely illustration of roles in a relationship and reflects the strengths and weaknesses women encounter in our quest to be cherished. I recommend this book to men and women that enjoy the pleasure of sexy, sassy, and brilliant writing. Ladies, this book will have you talking for months! I am sure it will encourage you as it did me. I look forward to many more novels by Marissa Monteilh.

VENDETTA: LUCKY'S REVENGE, is the 4th in a series of books about Lucky Santangelo, daughter of an italian "businessman" who had ties with the mafia. In this novel, Lucky experiences a series of bad luck, not realizing til much later that this was not bad luck, but an old nemesis Donna Donnatelli Bonnatti taking revenge on the family and on Lucky for murdering Donna's husband Enzio. Lucky's movie studio is taken over by an unknown business woman, and her husband Lennie Goldman is reported missing and dead. It does appear to be bad luck but it takes some heavy duty sleuthing for Lucky to figure out what is really going on. In between this main plot, there are sub plots with various hollywood-type characters. The action never stops, as is typical in any Jackie Collins book.

If you are looking for some fast action, you won't go wrong with LUCKY'S REVENGE.

I really liked that book. From the few Jackie Collins books that I have read, this was by far the best. Lucky is a very strong woman - that's the way today's woman should be! They should not let people walk on their feet. What I admire is the faith and trust that there is in Lucky's and Lennie's marriage. It's not directly their fault if they had both committed adultery, only once. The one to be blamed is Donna. Lucky was trapped in believing that Lennie was dead, that's why she slept with Alex, while Lennie slept with that italian girl so as to save himself. A must read book for all Jackie Collins fan. I am not exactly one of her fans, but I definitely am now after having read Lucky's Revenge!

Jackie Collins is always the best when it comes to fun can't put down reads. In Vendetta Collins proves that she is the queen of the beach read! Vendetta continues the story of Lucky Santangello, this time as the head of her own studio and a happily married woman and devoted mother. All is perfect until Donatella Bonnati takes revenge on Lucky destroying her and those around her. Now Lucky vows to destroy her and get back her and get it all back. Vendetta is a fun read. The characters are interesting, the story may seem far fetched at times, but it keeps the pages turning. Jackie Collins says she wants readers to have fun reading her books and Vendetta lives up to to that promise. I hope that Jackie Collins keeps writing her fun reads, because I always have a good time reading her books.

Like screenwriter William Goldman, I love movies. I love everything about them -- from their scores (especially those by John Williams or James Horner) to the actors (particularly Sean Connery, Gene Hackman, Kevin Spacey and Cary Grant) to the directors (Shyamalan, Cameron, Welles and Reiner) to the screenwriters (Mamet, Shyamalan and, of course, William Goldman).

Goldman's book "Adventures in the Screen Trade" is one of the best books I've read in years. It is chock-full of fascinating anecdotes...crisp, witty, honest writing...and enough "dirt" on Hollywood to keep a half dozen gossip columnists busy at their keyboards for days.

So well-written and fun is Goldman's book that I think even if I wasn't a budding screenwriter and avid movie-goer, I still would have found his peek behind the scenes in Hollywood to be an engrossing read.

But for me, a true film nut, this book is indispensable. It contains plenty of tips on how to write screenplays, sure, but the most important lesson I learned from Goldman's book is that Hollywood is a brutal, fickle and cutthroat place to do business and that I'd best develop a thick skin if I'm going to send my screenplays there.

Since reading Goldman's book, I noticed many of the movies I've enjoyed over the years have been written by him -- including Princess Bride (one of my all-time favorites), Magic, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Misery and even the just-released Jurassic Park 3!

"Adventures in the Screen Trade" is a superb book. I highly recommend it.

I have read a lot of books about screenwriting, filmmaking, and related topics. I learned more in Goldman's book than in most of those other books put together, and it was so wildly interesting and entertaining that I couldn't tear myself away.

Goldman is alternately self-congratulatory and self deprecating, proud and humble, excited and blase. His prose reflects his love for telling a good story with good reversals, and his screenwriting technique becomes apparent throughout the book. What also becomes apparent is Goldman's genius, and the precarious balance between success and selling out inherent in the screenwriting trade.

I learned about filmmaking in a way I never have, and got the opinion and perspective of a true veteran in the field. And, this book is a great read by a gifted author!

This book contains a general history of Goldman in Hollywood, as well as a rundown of all his scripts and the experiences he had writing them and seeing them come into maturity as films (or not). It also contains the full screenplay for "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" as well as a screenplay written from one of Goldman's old short stories which is especially interesting because it comes with critiques from an art director, editor, cameraperson, and director. Intertwined within this framework is Goldman's philosophy on writing as well as dozens of lessons on how to improve as a writer.

I enjoyed this book greatly, and look forward to reading his follow-up to it, "Which Lies Did I Tell." Without a doubt, this book is required reading for ANYONE who wishes to be a screenwriter, and probably also for anyone who is remotely interested in Hollywood and the movies.

Writing screenplays can be a thankless task; producers, directors, and actors all have their own agendas and many are quite willing to sack the writer at the earliest opportunity in order to further those agendas. The salary can be nice, for sure, but you have to wonder sometimes why writers put up with it. Adventures in the Screen Trade will certainly have you asking that question more than once, but it also helps you get inside a writer's head and understand the rewards.

William Goldman wrote Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Princess Bride (both the book and the screenplay), and a ton of other books and screenplays. There's plenty of humor in Adventures, although not of the absurd type found in Princess Bride; it's more of a light-hearted, can-you-believe-this tone that you'd expect to hear from someone who is supposed to give a lecture but decides he wants to drop the pretense and have an informal conversation with the audience.

The book opens with Goldman's analysis of the various elements of the film industry. The heart of the book, though, is probably the middle two sections. Goldman discusses his own adventures in the trade, and devotes at least a chapter to most of the films on which he worked from 1965 to 1979. He talks about the problems he encountered trying to find the "spine" of the stories, the structure that would let him transform an idea into a blueprint for a movie. He discusses the negotiations that tried to navigate through all those agendas - and sometimes succeeded; what connected with an audience and what didn't; and the small thrills that can be a part of the moviemaking process, like Sir Lawrence Olivier asking him if it was OK to rearrange a few words of dialogue in Marathon Man. There is some fairly juicy behind-the-scenes gossip here, but Goldman doesn't come off as vindictive; he's often just as critical of himself as he is of anyone else, and he seems to understand how people with the best of intentions can still wind up making each other's lives difficult.

He also dissects the screenplay to Butch Cassidy - reprinted here in its entirety - in great detail. Both the dissection and the screenplay itself are tremendously useful to anyone who really wants to understand the screenwriting process, even though I'm fairly certain these days that very few people use quite the format that Goldman does. The final section of the book is another boon to those interested in the guts of screenwriting. Goldman takes one of his old short stories, transforms it into a short screenplay, and then gets feedback on the script from top Hollywood professionals in a number of disciplines. It gives an added perspective to the look behind the curtain of filmmaking and balances the memoir elements of the book quite well.

I've reread this book at least five times, and I still enjoy it thoroughly. That I've learned anything is a considerable bonus. For education or enjoyment, you can't beat this book.

TV comedy writer Lily Benjamin is depressed over the death of her long time friend, mentor, and boss Harry Green. The producers of the hit sitcom Angel's Devils hire acid-tongued Charlie Roth to replace the popular Harry. At their first meeting, Lily and Charlie seem to rub each other the wrong way. Besides his not cutting her any slack over being a single mother raising a teenage boy, she finds his jokes about his physical handicap to be in poor taste.

Lily's world collapses even further when her physically active son is injured during a domestic dispute. His injuries leave him paralyzed with the firm belief he has no future. Only Charlie can get inside his head and help him adjust to his condition. As she watches the abrasive Charlie helps her son adjust, Lily sees and falls in love with the inner being. Charlie also falls in love with Lily, but decides she needs a "complete" male for a spouse. Lily wants Charlie and plans to do whatever it takes to get him.

Readers who enjoy a poignant, passionate contemporary tale hold Iris Rainer Dart in high esteem. Her latest novel, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE, is as deep as any novel ever gets because of the characters. Lily and Charlie struggle to adjust to his being wheelchair bound for life. The abrasive Charlie shows them that there is much left in the future for all of three them to look forward to if they go after it. Ms. Dart leaves her audience with a wonderful message that anyone can do just about anything if they only try.

Harriet Klausner

Author Dart has labored in the trenches of writing television comedy herself so what better protagonists to bring to a story than two comedy writers for a television show? The heroine is already engaged to a handsome heart surgeon when she meets Charlie, known as The King Of Jokes, who is her new writing boss. Any novel that features a heroine who picks a comedy writer hero, who also has a disability, after dumping the heart surgeon, is/was a must read for me! The best love story of 1999.

Sometimes, a reader needs to pick a book because the blurp makes it sound enjoyable, and she needs enjoyable. Sometimes a reader chooses it for the romance and laughter, something she is craving that day. And somtimes, when the reader gets into the book, she realizes that yes, it is romantic; yes it is pleasurable; yes it makes her laugh out loud at times; but, unexpectedly, it makes her think, and that is a wonderful gift she hadn't expected. She finds the words to be magic carpets that transcend time and space, and for a full day she is immersed in the lives of Lily, Byran, and Charlie. She learns about handicaps, emotional and physcial; she learns about beating the odds; she learns about love penetrating prejudice. Her heart is full; her eyes are wet; her beliefs are buoyed; she has read a deftly written book in one sitting and she is most grateful to the author. She thanks Iris Rainer Dart profusely in her review and she encourages others.........If you need to feel uplifted by life again, treat yourself to "When I Fall In Love." The carpet ride awaits!!

A dozen linked episodes form the return of Socrates Fortlow, the 60ish ex-con who first appeared in Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. Of course, when the main character is named Socrates, you shouldn't be surprised when his story turns out to be a metaphor. Socrates is a man whose daily life is suffused with his past (he spent 27 years in jail for murdering two friends), and is engaged in a constant struggles break free of that past and try and live somewhat normally in the Watts ghetto he calls home. He's cautious and tentative about new opportunities and options before him, seeing traps and pitfalls in every deviation from his simple, spartan life. It's not difficult to see how Mosley is using Socrates to embody disenfranchised black men everywhere and give voice to their (and his) own inner conflicts as black men in contemporary society.

Central to this is anger'a theme that pervades not only Socrates' life, but that of those around him. Throughout the book, Socrates bubbles with an undefined rage at his surroundings, and ultimately he must find some way to accommodate that rage without letting it consume him. Even so, the good side of Socrates is always plainly evident: he's a father figure to a young boy, cares for his two-legged dog, and saves the life of a drunk. That's not to say that he's a "good" person, because he has killed people, but he is a man that's trying to do good things with life despite his past and despite the turmoil within him. Through his interactions with a neighborhood discussion group (a somewhat clumsy device) and a self-styled revolutionary, Socrates comes to discover that he has a right to be angry, but it's how that anger is channeled that will decide his fate. This is played out in a rushed and melodramatic final story that fits thematically with the rest of the book, but is kind of jarring.

Ultimately, the book's message is reasonably clear. Black men need to translate their anger into productive action and free themselves of the mental shackles that keep them from fulfilling their potential. For every person, this means something different, but even those who have committed the greatest sin can live a moral life. Which is not to say their aren't evil people in the world'or in their own community'but just because one lives in a ghetto doesn't mean the only solution is to leave. Rather, stay in the community and try and make it better'even though the man is trying to keep you down.

...and his "Walkin' The Dog" sequel to "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" confirms it. Mr. Mosley does what seems to be lacking in other Afro-American writers: he is able to instantly add details to his story without giving you the feeling that you missed something. In "Walkin' The Dog," Mr. Mosley provides a deeper glimpse into Socrates Fortlow, to understand this seemingly violent character. Socrates thinks he has nothing to offer society because of his past incarceration, but he is a determined, hard-working man, and his profound insight makes those who know or meet him rethink their purpose in life. Socrates takes care of his neighborhood, seeing things that no one wants to see or what others choose to ignore. In the end, and although he certainly is not seeking acceptance from others, he attains a degree of respect, success, and friendship because of his attitude and convictions.

If only there were more men like Socrates in this world, even with his less-than-desirable background. Thank you, Mr. Mosley, for sharing your talent with us. You are able to create, through your writing, complex relationships and to convey them expertly. I hope you continue to write, and I will continue to read your work.

Mr. Mosley has written a brilliant book that explores the concept that freedom begins and ends in the mind. The physical world may put hand cuffs or handicaps on you, but you choose how you respond to those limitations. The roads you choose not to take limit your freedom far more than what anyone else will do to you. This is a timeless novel that will probably be considered a classic in the future. I encourage everyone to read it. You have much to gain.

Socrates Fortlow is an ex-con who is just trying to survive. His dreams are haunted by memories of his small cell and the murder he committed that placed him there. The book opens to find him operating like a future butterfly in its cocoon. He is constrained by his violent feelings, his distrust of progress and good fortune, and his discomfort with people. Like many who have sinned (all of us), he has many good qualities. He is mentoring a teenager he works with, will do more than his share of the work required, quietly endures mistreatment by white people, and cares for a badly handicapped dog who has only two legs. His great strengths are that he is interested in controlling his own actions (rather than just striking out in blind anger) and making the best moral choice (taking full responsibility for his actions).

Throughout the story, Socrates develops and finally emerges from his cocoon, and begins to seek out new opportunities and experiences. As a result, he grows as a person and as a moral force. Gradually, he begins to lose the mental bonds that hold him back from fulfilling his mighty potential.

The book is filled with much violence, hatred, and inhumanity. That backdrop will disturb many readers. Yet, for many people, life is like a battleground, and what is portrayed here is realistic in terms of inner city life for many black people.

On the other hand, the book is filled with much love, generosity, and caring. Seeing how these positive and negative forces confront and affect each other is extremely interesting in the plot that Mr. Mosley has developed. You will find it difficult to anticpate what will happen next, because of Mr. Mosley's inventiveness.

Like the Greek Socrates, Socrates Fortlow asks many questions and his questions help others to find their own solutions, as well. You will find yourself pondering the questions, long after you close the book.

The dog, Killer, is an astonishing metaphor for Socrates' life (and indeed our own), and will help every reader to appreciate the nuances in this story.

As much as I enjoyed the Easy Rawlins series, this book vastly transcends those fine books to move into the rarified air of great literature. Many will see the obvious similarities to Les Miserables, but I found Socrates Fortlow to be a greater creation than Jean Valjean was. Also, Mr. Mosley does a better job of character development with Socrates Fortlow than Victor Hugo did with Jean Valjean.

After you finish this story, think about where pessimism has stolen choices from you. What else can you choose to do that will set you free from the limitations of your mind? Like Killer, realize that you may need some help from others in order to accomplish everything you potentially can.

Choose to live free of your preconceptions!

Can a book have atmosphere? If it can, then this book has it. The descriptions of the school yard took me back, in a flash, to my elementary school in Long Beach, California years ago. Do you remember school rooms in bungalows? And tetherball? Mosley is absolutely THE master of dialogue. Sometimes too much of one author can get tiresome, but not in this case. I read BLACK BETTY just before this book and the dialogue continues to be fresh and sparkling. I enjoyed the dry humor sprinkled throughout the story. It suits Easy very well and I'd like to see more of it in future books. The foray into the culinary experience was another new addition that I liked a lot. The main story line held together well and moved along almost effortlessly. I finished this book yesterday and I still don't know how I feel about the ending. I'm sure it will stay with me for a long while. Walter Mosley is one of the best authors around today, in my opinion. I eagerly await the next installment in the saga of Easy Rawlins

Can a book have atmosphere? If it can, then this book has it. The descriptions of the school yard took me back, in a flash, to my elementary school in Long Beach, California years ago. Do you remember school rooms in bungalows? And tetherball? Mosley is absolutely THE master of dialogue. Sometimes too much of one author can get tiresome, but not in this case. I read BLACK BETTY just before this book and the dialogue continues to be fresh and sparkling. I enjoyed the dry humor sprinkled throughout the story. It suits Easy very well and I'd like to see more of it in future books. The foray into the culinary experience was another new addition that I liked a lot. The main story line held together well and moved along almost effortlessly. I finished this book yesterday and I still don't know how I feel about the ending. I'm sure it will stay with me for a long while. Walter Mosley is one of the best authors around today, in my opinion. I eagerly await the next installment in the saga of Easy Rawlins

Can a book have atmosphere? If it can, then this book has it. The descriptions of the school yard took me back, in a flash, to my elementary school in Long Beach, California years ago. Do you remember school rooms in bungalows? And tetherball? Mosley is absolutely THE master of dialogue. Sometimes too much of one author can get tiresome, but not in this case. I read BLACK BETTY just before this book and the dialogue continues to be fresh and sparkling. I enjoyed the dry humor sprinkled throughout the story. It suits Easy very well and I'd like to see more of it in future books. The foray into the culinary experience was another new addition that I liked a lot. The main story line held together well and moved along almost effortlessly. I finished this book yesterday and I still don't know how I feel about the ending. I'm sure it will stay with me for a long while. Walter Mosley is one of the best authors around today, in my opinion. I eagerly await the next installment in the saga of Easy Rawlins.

After sending Elvis Cole to the East Coast in third installment of the series, Robert Crais keeps it in L.A. for the fourth installment, Free Fall. Elvis and his partner Joe Pike try to weed out corruption in the L.A. Police Department. They are approached by a young woman who thinks her police officer finance is involved is less than scrupulous activities. We know that Pike was a one-time L.A. cop and we learn a little bit more about his time on the force. What we discover is that he didn't leave on the best of terms and the mention of his name still rankles some of the men in blue. Free Fall loses some momentum in terms of the plot, but Mr. Crais is more interested in peeling back some of Joe Pike's layers and exposing more of his skin (an area that will be further explored in future releases). As usual, Mr. Crais spikes his plots with liberal doses of humor and comes up with yet another winner

Robert Crais has put forth another masterful novel. The wise-cracking private detective is back again in the fourth book of this excellent series.

In FREE FALL, a beautiful young woman hires Elvis Cole to find out what her L.A.P.D. boyfriend is hiding from her. He claims that it is an affair, but she thinks that there is more to it. Upon his investigation, Cole stumbles upon a group of crooked cops, a wrongful death in South Central, and a druglord that seems to be unstoppable. To make matters worse, Cole and his aviator-sunglasses-wearing partner Joe Pike are arrested for murder.

Regulars Cole, Pike, and Lou Poitras are back in this thriller, and Crais does an fine job of adding in other interesting, well-developed characters. The snappy dialogue and intricate, cohesive storyline make for truly entertaining reading. His short, fast-paced chapters make this a page-turning, suspense-filled thriller that culminates with an amazing ending. This book is a can't miss.

I was turned onto Robert Crais by my Doctor who knew I was a big fan of mystery writer Michael Connelly. Like Connelly's character Harry Bosch, Crais has created a tough wise cracking LA detective named Elvis Cole. Woman want him. Men want to be him. My suggestion if you've never read him, is to start at the beginning with "The Monkey's Raincoat" and work your way through all of them. One of the greatest things about Crais' novels is Elvis' partner Joe Pike. An aviator glasses wearing silent but deadly killing machine. Think Dirty Harry with a drier sense of humor. In reference to "Free Fall", I always feel like knowing less is more when telling the plot of a mystery. The basic gist is an attractive woman shows up at Cole's office to ask him to investigate what's going on with her boyfriend who's an L.A.P.D. Officer who's been hiding something from her. He claims it's an affair. She thinks it's something deeper. Crap hits the fan, and you'll be off turning pages faster than you thought possible. Great characters, great plot twists, great writing. Long live Elvis & Robert Crais!

Although far from Bukowski's best, this is a revealing send-up of what happens when brutal honesty (Buk) interacts with the California entertainment industry. A roman a clef about the making of the independent film Barfly based on Bukowski's life and some of his earlier stories,the book shows Bukowski finally gaining some recognition and acceptance near the end of his career. The movie stars Faye Dunnaway and Hollywood badboy Mickey Rourke who does a good job slurring and walking about with hemorrhoids. Yet it appears from the text that Bukowski would have preferred Sean Penn, who was originally cast in the part, to play him in the film--Penn had more heart. As always with Bukowski, there are real emotions, honest appraisals, and bone-cutting prose--not compromise, pandering, mediocrity, and unfortunately often successful attempts by MSG-dazed writers to pluck the heart strings and collect the cash.In all his books, Bukowski's presence is perhaps the most palpable of any author behind his fictional protagonist. This is, one might argue (and Phillipe Lacoue-Labarthe did, in the Paradox of the Actor), the diametric opposite of actors, whose abilities lie in taking on the personae of others, and consequently losing their own identity in the process. The story is that when Bukowski, although much older, first encountered Arnold Schwazenegger in Hollywood, he had to be restrained from attempting to fight him just for being such an obvious phony. Far from his most testosterone-crazed, drunken bull self here,he does not seduce but does manage as if for old time's sake to pull onto his lap the pretty co-star during a wine-drenched film party. Even and especially when confronted with (and making some money off of) L.A.s billion-dollar dream machine, Bukowski (as alter ego Henry Chinaski) preserves his uncompromising heart and unwavering eye in the face of the ugly truth. A welcome tonic to Hollywood's treacle.

I picked this novel out in the library when I was a teenager. Nothing could have prepared me for what I experienced with Bukowski. It was unexpected, to say the least. From an innocuous cover and title that exploded into the hilarious story of a drunk, his wife and a screenplay, I had to put the book down several times from laughing so hard. It would inspire even the stone sober to crave a drink.

Chinaski doesn't seem to like much about life, save for booze. He and his wife swim in an alcoholic haze throughout the winding tale. The novel was based on Bukowski's experience with the writing for the movie 'Barfly'. The narrative here is patchy, the storyline not so important, and the novel ends up being not much more than an endless recalling of drunken days and nights, strange characters, and interesting occurrences as a result of them.

I am now a devoted Bukowski fan and nothing I have ever read by him has let me down. His humor is unmatched. He is vulgar, disgusting, entertaining and simply brilliant. While not for everyone, he comes highly recommended. Grab a bottle and settle in for a good time.

Anyone who has seen the movie must read this book. The film was a stretch for O'rouke and Dunaway to capture the essence of the characters who actually lived this life. The debate that end with a saw. One book that deserves a spot on my bookshelf.

I first discovered the work of Charles Bukowski approximately five years ago, and I was immediately impressed. The more I read the more I enjoyed. I had heard all the legendary tales, the horror stories and the millions of tales of drunken mania, but I purposely stayed away from reading anything ABOUT the man. I didn't want to be disappointed when the reality is often times a far cry from the truth.
Eventually I broke down and bought this book, simply because the countless stories of his life were really becoming too much, and I wanted to know a little more about the man. If at all possible, from an independent observer who was not a Bukowski crony. I think this book accomplishes the task of being a reasonably detached look at the life of a complicated individual, with a few complaints.
First, the author obviously fell in love with Bukowski during this book (or perhaps before he even wrote it), and it shows constantly. There are admitted mistakes in his life, but the real warts are brushed over rather quickly.
Second, the book felt rushed. I think the book would have been much better if the author took his time and wrote a comprehensive 500-700 page book, which he obviously could have done. There are more than enough things to write about. Whole accounts of his womanizing and his time with the LA Free Press are just glanced over. I think it cheated the reader
Lastly, the author quickly passes over the interpersonal relationships Bukowski formed and spoke almost exclusively of events. Events don't tell us the whole story, and what he did write about the relationships was shallow at best. Linda King was the only one who had any depth added. The lack of interpersonal discussions really failed to bring out the third dimension in this book, and it fell a little flat.
The good thing for the author is that he writes well, and thankfully, Charles Bukowski is an interesting subject. I find it hard to believe anyone could really make his life boring. So the book is worth reading, especially if you are like me and don't know much about the man, but if you do I think the reader might find this a bit overly simplistic.

If I could have I would have rated this a 3.5 star book. Because I like Bukowski's work, I will round up. I am huge fan of biographies and this just isn't one of the better ones.

The author does an excellent job of piercing the myths and legends about Bukowski and revealing the scared, lonely guy within - while admitting that Bukowski could be, and often was, a real louse, he shows his human side and does a good analysis of his life's work. It's not an exhaustive biography and it's a quick read, but frankly, with someone whose life was as squalid and often, depressing as Bukowski's, I prefer reading a book that doesn't go into every drunken rage and arrest the guy ever had. A very nice piece of work, a must for Bukowski fans.

I finished this book in two days. As a Bukowski fan I enjoyed learning about the people he wrote about. Still, I thought to myself, was Bukowski writing about those people so truthfully or was Sounes filling in the blanks and putting the cart before the horse in his non-fiction. I very much enjoyed it but had to give it a four because the biographer kept saying that Bukowski was in a stage of his life where he was producing the best poems ever. Seemed to be that the author was telling us this time and time again in all stages of the life of Mr. Bukowski. I could never tell what his opinion was about the best poetry done by C.B.