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HomeShop at BookSurgeTrue CrimeLonesome Town: The Real Story of "America's Favorite Family" |
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 Lonesome Town Sep 07, 2008
I am now on the third reading of this book. Its a hard book to read but reading a book once is not enough as a book writer friend once told me. I hate to say this but Ricky was being destroyed by his ex-wife and there is no other way to put it. I am 69 years old so I believe I have the wisdom to know when someone deeply loves the other. There was no real love from the ex-wife and from Ricky he did love her at one time but she killed it. The sad part about the book is Helen who really, really loved Ricky, was really there for Ricky, yet she was not buried beside him. That to me is so sad. It is a book worth reading if you really want to know the person Ricky was. A gentle, humble, loving human- being that should have never had to go throught what he did.
Sincerely,
Shirl ShrlCp@aol.com
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Lukewarm recommendation Jan 18, 2008
I read both the Selvin and Bashe biographies of Rick Nelson. I did find that this book went into more detail about many areas of Rick's life. I would recommend it to anyone who is a big Rick Nelson fan. But, one has to be skeptical of how factual it is. My overall reaction is lukewarm.
My biggest complaint is that it was obviously vanity published, and given the numerous grammatical and typographical errors throughout, the manuscript was not proofread or edited prior to publishing. For example, in the early part of the book it repeatedly refers to comedian Red Skelton as "Red Skeleton" I also think the book would have had more scholarly credentials if it cited sources for the information it presents beyond a general bibliography at the end. The book also contains photographs, but they are amazingly poor reproductions. It appears the author relied on secondary and other previously published sources rather than personal interviews with some persons he quotes in the book. Nothing indicates that the Nelson family cooperated with the author in writing the book. or that he made any effort to consult them.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 GREAT BOOK!! Jan 18, 2008
I've only read one other biography on Rick and that was Joel Selvin's, "Ricky Nelson: Idol For A Generation" and I found it to be lacking in lots of areas but this book by Jim Brady definitely fills in the gaps! The account of the moments leading up to the plane crash are heartbreaking....if only the plane hadn't caught fire Rick and Helen and the rest of the band would still be here. I've been a fan of Rick's music for over fifteen years and reading this book, I feel like I have a deeper understanding of who Rick was as a person. The infamous, "Garden Party" incident is mentioned here and the true story behind it.
All in all, purchase this book if you're a fan and want to know more 'bout Rick cuz this is the best biography regarding Rick to some along in a long time!!
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 Poorly edited! Feb 13, 2007
Lonesome Town comes off as mean spirited, consumed with playing into the trashier aspects of Rick Nelson's life. Pretending to give us insight into Nelson's sexual, financial and mental health. How does the author, Brady know what Rick is thinking about his wife's naked body on thier honeymoon? Continually misspelling names and getting the instruments played by backing musicians wrong.
Yet at the same time there are some compelling moments. The detailed financial reports are claimed to be official. If so, Nelson's final years had to be a living hell. The portrait presented of Nelson's last manager Greg McDonald is not pretty. Written as an ego-maniac, know nothing of being a professional manager, McDonald comes across as a weasel/schemer, backstabber. Every musician that played with Rick during the McDonald years (that I know) has nothing good to say about the man and the book reaffirms that.
Be prepared to read a very "warts an all" book on a nice but flawed man, Rick Nelson with many an unflattering picture of the whole Nelson family.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Great look into the lives of the nelson family Jan 23, 2007
I had purchased this book and can't seem to put it down. I am not familiar with the author but he goes to great lenghts to give the history of america's favorite family. He gives insight into what a great, kind,gentle,warm and caring person ricky nelson was. This book is a must read if you are a ricky nelson fan.
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