"It was unfair when you looked so much like that small dot of stupidity that was in you, as if that dot were the whole of it and nothing more."--"Molly Flanagan and the Holy Ghost." This novel invites us into a little girl's world with precious detail and smart, hard-hitting statements such as the one above that open a window on the world by moving past the story at hand and shedding light on Living. Skinner paints her characters with a fine touch--she captures the ache of a younger sister with a intellectual, talented brother who just seems to Do Everything Well. And you learn to love Molly, with her double vision and her religious obsessions, her frustrated piano playing and her intuition about other people's troubles. I am very surprised that this is an out-of-print book but perhaps someone will soon come to their senses and put it back into circulation.

This book is horrible. The action is laughable.The main characters are portrayed as near supermen. David Robbins must be stupid.

Once again the reviewer from New York has attacked
a Robbins novel with a simplistic insult.
The truth of the matter is that these two books are much more than the sum of their parts. Yes, there is plenty of action, and yes, as always, there is plenty of humor, and yes, as always, plenty of suspense. But both are some more. MEMPHIS RUN, for instance, is a scathingly humorous dig at 'Elvismania'.
As with most of Mr. Robbins books, you have to look a little deeper than the print on the page to fully appreciate his wit and insights.

This is one the best books I've read. The action is nicely complimented by Hickok's humor. David Robbins ties all of the series in well with references to other books that you can't resist looking into. I highly recomend it.

There are many better books about Memphis, music, and the combined subject than this one. The author employs a ludicrous conspiracy theory, half-baked and never fully explained. For info on Memhpis Music, read Guralnick or Robert Gordon's It Came From Memphis. Stay away.

i'm not the man to make a 1000 words, but if James L. Dickerson writes them, they get you right from the start, believe you me! This is a highly entertaining look behind the scenes of american music making/industry. It also informs you quite humorous about the history of memphis politics and music. Doesn`t matter if you like jazz, blues, country, folk or rock, once you started it, you will not put it out of your hands til it's finished, at least that's how it happened to me. This was my first book of Mr. Dickerson but it will definitely not be the last. Actually i'm going to ask him if he would consider to allow me to translate it into german. To make a long story short: music lovers of the world, if you love Elvis Presley, STAX records or the blues, if you know who Chips Moman is or you want to know, order this book now cause you have to consider: it'll take them some days to get it shipped. YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LIVE WITHOUT IT AND PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD ! To make one thing clear: i am not getting paid by amazon, i don't have any deals with them,i didn't even buy my copy of the book from them. Love + Peace, Axel Drücke

I don't write many reviews, but when I read the May 27 review on this page, I knew I would have to say something. Anyone with half a brain knows that James Dickerson is the foremost expert on Memphis music. He has written more music books on Memphis than anyone else and he has done it with more depth and authority than anyone else.

Goin Back to Memphis was nominated for the Gleason Award, and it is the only book about Memphis music that offers a complete history. The two writers the previous reviewer mentions, Gordon and Guralnick, have written some interesting books, but neither writer has ever written a history of Memphis music. Gordon's book is mostly about the people who failed to make it in music, and Guralnick's books have either been about soul music or Elvis Presley, who recorded most of his records in Nashville, not Memphis.

I recommend this book to anyone who cares about blues, soul and rock n roll music.

...There is a plaque going though the town that Eli, Addie, and the graveyard girl live in. They all lost their families to it so they live together. Eli and the graveyard girl teach Addie a lot. Then the graveyard girl dies and Eli tries to bring Addie to an asylum and she runs off. In the end Addie saves Eli's life and they live happily ever after.

I didn't like the characters in the story because they seemed fake. They are left behind by their parents and they just turn from children to adults. Before they had no idea how to cook but as soon as they are on their own they know how to cook like master chefs. Eli was stupid because he wouldn't know one thing but the next moment he would know it. All the other characters were pretty believable. The length was perfect and it was gust enough pages. Even with so little pages it seemed to drag on, if it was about twenty pages shorter it would have been better. I was relieved when it was over because it dragged on.

I wouldn't recommend this book unless you like reading old stories about the beginning of the United States and its history. If you don't like reading these kinds of stories then don't read this book!

This story is about a boy named Eli who lives in Memphis, Tenneessee. He has lost his family to a disease called Yellow Jack. ELi goes too Elmwood cemetary in hopes of some help, yet he finds Grace, the Graveyard Girl, and Addie Carlile, who lost all her family too and is waiting for her Aunt to come get her. He indends on runnning away to the west to California. When Grace getse sick with the disease he feels obligated to stay and watch after the little girl, yet when he tries to put her in the orphan asylum she runs away. In the end she saves his life and the two of them live happily ever after when Addie's aunt gets to Memphis

I don't recall ever hearing about yellow fever before I read this book. I found this to be a gripping story of a young boy who is forced by the death around him to make some very adult decisions. I found myself compelled to read it in one sitting. This is an excellent story for those who like historical fiction or sad stories. It has a great message also.

In Memphis, Al Sears is a recovering alcoholic, who plans to remain sober for the rest of his life because he knows how much the drink cost him. His spouse left him. His law practice died. Finally, his beloved coin collection disappeared during a haze of booze. Getting his life back on track, Al works part-time at Ralph's Coin shop and as a private investigator. Bottom line is that at least for now Al is the poster boy for AA.

However, an individual holding a shotgun tries to abduct Al from his weekly poker game. With the help of his cronies, the culprit is killed. Later, Al learns from the police that the deceased was a professional hit man. Someone, probably from his boozed past, has targeted Al for death. Since he already is climbing up from the bottom, Al decides to uncover the identity of his enemy before his new lease on life is permanently ended.

LOOSE COINS is a well written who-done-it that introduces readers to an interesting and appealing character, filled with flaws and a mistake-laden history. The story line is straight forward, making for an easy, enjoyable experience. However, because of the streamlined plot, the support cast (including the city of Memphis) never displays depth or motivation. Still, Joe L. Hensley and Guy Townsend scribes a fast reading and absorbing novel that will appeal to mystery buffs who want a fast read.

Harriet Klausner

Hensley and Townsend have crafted a tightly conceived story that will appeal to anyone who has ever looked carefully at the money they handle daily. It will appeal even more to those who've set foot inside of a coin shop or coin show. The hero is a former star gymnast and drunken lawyer, now on his way back to a sober life as a PI and part-time coin dealer. The strongest features of this tale are the characters, perhaps brought to life by the authors and perhaps only remembered from their trips into the world of numismatics. The authors have a way of letting you figure out whom to suspect and why, only to have the hero shoot down that idea in the next chapter. The weakest part of the book is the lack of a surprise ending and a hard to believe reason for wanting to take out the hero in chapter one. Try it, you'll like it.

There are so many poorly researched segments in this biography, that to list them would be too lengthy. Half of the book is biography, the other half academic deconstructions of Minnie's songs. The first 30 years of her life is nearly absent; questions remain unanswered even after that. The one good thing about this work, is that there's all sorts of room left for someone to write a definitive--or even near definitive--biography of this great blues singer and song writer.

This much-needed study documents the life and work of Lizzie "Kid" Douglas, preeminent blues vocalist and guitarist, c. 1920-1950. Poets will appreciate the careful transcriptions and interpretations of Minnie's lyrics; scholars, the meticulous research; and feminists, the story line of a rough n' ready woman making her way in the music business. Fifty photographs of Minnie, her record contracts and sheet music, and period advertisements, further vivify this portrait of an African-American musical legend

I must agree with the review by Janis Jones. In addition to her her comments, I thought this book had a slow start and poor editing in my opinion. The potential to make this a great novel was truly missed by not "connecting the dots" or following through with patterns/behaviors that were detailed earlier in the novel (Basil's tendency for violence in childhood but not adulthood, Anne's concern for her nieces/nephews, etc.). I thought this made for inconsistent character behavior.

As far as the history lesson goes...obviously she did a lot of research; but other than the parts relating to Memphis and the Russell family; I couldn't relate the other historical events (timeline) to what was happening to the characters in the book. If there was a correlation; it was light or I missed it.

I, too, felt it was a hurried rush to close the novel and in doing was left with many unanswered questions and a lack of closure on some minor issues. I couldn't help but feel as if this novel were pushed out to meet some type of deadline.

This was my first book by Rosalyn McMillan. I am willing to read others by her.

If you are looking for a carbon copy of her sister Terry McMillan...this is not the book for you. Rosalyn definitely has her own style and voice in her literary works. A lot of historical facts were researched to set the stage for Anne Russell's story to come alive in Memphis during the 1960s.

I enjoyed this book although it was a slow read. However I can appreciate it being a slow read due to the intense details of the past, the complicated lives of the characters and the thick plot. My heart was breaking as I read about more tragedy than any one family should have to bear, but at the end I was able to breathe a sigh of relief and close the book at peace because it ended on a positive...somewhat triumphant note.

This book also creates a lot of detailed discussion for Book Club members. Also, don't miss this author's book signings. As I stated earlier she has her own style in more ways than one. I enjoyed the promotional chewing gum packs and t-shirts that she gave away in support of this book.

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, I had the opportunity to read Rosalyn McMillian's This Side of Eternity and I have to say WOW!! This book keeps you on edge and shocks you in the process. I tried to guess what would happen next and oftentimes couldn't. The story is set in Memphis,TN. during the late 1960's. The era was during the Sanitation Workers Strike and the assassination of Dr. M.L.King. Two powerful moments not only in American history but, also the history of the city and state. This is the first book Rosalyn has written that wasn't centered around Detroit and she did a wonderful job.She pays so much attention to detail and makes you feel as though you're a part of the story. She focuses on the Russell family and their cursed lives so, it would seems. They struggle to overcome pain, heartache and tragic situation after situation, only to be faced with another. It's enough to make you scream. The family shows great strength and courage as the book progresses and you become overjoyed for them. I was pleasantly pleased with the book and enjoyed the mix of romance, fiction and mystery.

Gerald Duff does an interesting job mixing comedy and violent crime--no easy task. Memphis cop J.W. Ragsdale is a well developed character, who goes about solving the murder of a tourist during the International BBQ Cooking Contest and the Cotton Carnival. Duff's Southern dialects and colloquialisms are a little in the stereotypical vein, which is surprising from a former Memphis college prof. The story lines are tied up cleanly at the end, but left this reader wondering what purpose this excercise served. The framework for a great story is in place, and a good revision could have gotten this tale on track.

Gerald Duff's Memphis Ribs is a funny book. Its best quality lies in the dialogue engaged by its main character, Memphis police detective J.W. Ragsdale. I'm from Minnesota, where the best we can come up with is "yah" and "you betcha," so I can't say how accurate the dialect is. But it was enjoyable reading. The comebacks and phrasing were hilarious. Ragsdale is an immediately likable protagonist. Duff's ability to write dialogue reminds me of Robert B. Parker.

The story develops nicely too: drugs and murder all set against the backdrop of Memphis and Ragsdale's passion for barbecued pork ribs. I was surprised by how much there is to learn about barbecuing pork. Up here we just throw a couple of beer-soaked brats on the grill and take 'em off when they split. Duff teaches us that the subtleties in cooking methodology and geographical origin of barbecued pork are as varied and consequential as in the world of fine wines.

Though the ending left me a bit confused, Memphis Ribs is overall a good effort.

This is not a historical document, so who cares if the "fact checkers" weren't out in force in proofing this novel? It DOES capture the feel of a good portion of Memphis-- and some of Northern Mississippi as well. It's a good, fun read... well worth the time.

this novel is written in the voice of a black male blues musician. who speaks completely differently than any black male blues muscians I've ever met. its like reading a bad translation of a french novel or something. First of all, musicians don't refer to blues as 'blues music', or to what a guitarist plays as 'guitar music'. Similarly, black men in 1995 are not so afraid of being seen with a white woman that they sweat and panic. Perhpas if this book had been set in the 50's, she might have had something more than a trite and quaint race novel. then again, she might not have.

I just loved Ann Patchett's wonderful writing and story in her recent novel BEL CANTO, so decided to read her other three books, starting with the first one, so that I could see the progression. Although it wasn't on the same level as Bel Canto (my favorite), I really liked Patchett's first novel, THE PATRON SAINT OF LIARS. Wonderful characters and voice & things to think about.

But her second book, TAFT, was a real disappointment. The characters are flat and I couldn't connect with any of them, was particularly disgusted with the young Fay, and just couldn't understand the much older John Nickel's fascination with her, his compulsion to take her wherever she asks, do almost anything she wants, to the extent of always protecting her brother Carl. She just isn't likeable, is embarrassingly naive, a weak character (not that I liked Carl any better). Yes, we are told it's because she's needy and John wants to be protective. But 'telling' doesn't make it believable.

I felt there was a hazy screen in front of me the whole time I was reading Taft--which by the way is yes, a real 'lightweight,' nothing much to think about in it--that there wasn't much story there, let alone feeling for any of the characters. For me, when a book is really well-written, I can't get enough of every detail, like to savor them, and that was certainly missing for me here (plus there is little detail in this novel anyway--it's pretty sparse). I did think that Patchett had an original idea in trying to incorporate John Nickel's imagined 'story' of Taft (Fay and Carl's deceased father), and it almost worked, but something seemed missing to weave these parts into the novel seamlessly--they felt choppy and often out of place.

The book meanders until near the end (which I wouldn't mind if I had been immersed in its characters or story), and then it picks up--and then bam, ends pretty quickly. I did like the last couple of reminiscences of Taft woven in at the end and the fact that Patchett didn't end with his death, but went back to an earlier time--it did bring together some of the theme strands about protecting those we love. But it left me with little feeling or little to think about also. Nor did the book bring much closure with it, though I just didn't care, at that point.

So, for me, this book just didn't jell, and I wouldn't recommend it. I haven't read Patchett's third book yet (MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT), but would certainly recommend her first and fourth over this novel. I'm hesitating between two stars--because I didn't find much to like in this novel--and three stars, because Patchett has such potential, is an intelligent, literary writer; so maybe I'll say two and a half.

This is an entertaining, albeit lightweight book. It's like an R-rated after school special where black bar manager John Nickel gets involved in the lives of two white teenagers from rural Tennessee. The older of the two kids, Fay, develops a crush on John while working at the bar and the younger, Carl, uses the bar to deal drugs. Ultimately there is a clash between John and Carl that winds up in a botched robbery attempt.

The good thing about this book is that it's told in the first-person and narrator John is interesting enough to listen to. I can't attest to the validity of his "voice", though I'm never a big fan of using a lot of dialects because it can make things harder for people to read.

There are a couple things about this book that I didn't like. First, the book starts to cut between John's story and bits and pieces of Fay and Carl's father, Levon Taft. This happens almost randomly and at one point the "Taft" section is a single sentence. It took me by surprise when this first happened, as I didn't see a whole lot of reason for it. It does add a little understanding about Fay and Carl and ultimately John learns from Taft's demise.

The book ends too quickly, without any issues really being wrapped up. I suppose the book is pretty good because I did want to see how things played out for John and the Tafts. It's almost never good in my mind to leave readers wondering what happened. It leaves us without a sense of closure.

"Taft" is a short read, but a good one. If you're looking for some light reading, I say go ahead and check it out.