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HomeShop at BookSurgeTechnology & EngineeringLonesome Town: The Real Story of "America's Favorite Family" |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 10 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Lukewarm recommendation Jan 18, 2008
By Stephen P. Salniker
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.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 An honest look at an honest man Jan 20, 2007
By Sharon Sides
This is a wonderfully complete, personal and honest look at a man about whom many of us still can't read enough. There was simply no one like Rick and he'll never be replaced.
I have no idea who Jim Brady is, but his book is well written, thorough, and pulls together previously unpublished information objectively, but in a tone that can't help but touch the reader.
I read the one negative review and have no idea from where the reviewer was coming. There's nothing in Brady's book to indicate that Rick was anything but the humble, gentle, kind, talented and shy man we've all came to love and remember.
Thanks for filling in many blanks in a life and story that's very much worth reading.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
GREAT BOOK!! Jan 18, 2008
By Tony Lee Trout
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!!
6 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Lonesome Town: The Real Story of America's Favorite Family Dec 11, 2006
By Leda Carmody
The real story, according to whom? The Rick Nelson in this book is the not the one I knew. I saw Rick 40 times between 1969 and 1983. I was always invited backstage for a visit. I have never met a nicer human being than Rick Nelson. This book deserves a paper shredder.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Very Mixed feelings about this book Jul 12, 2010
By Catherine Porter
"axlschick559"
Like some of the other reviewers of this book, I have very mixed feelings about it. It was obviously vanity published, as previously stated with many spelling and typographical errors. And the writing itself...with descriptions such as yellowish-tannish paper and a blueish-grayish jacket, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
That being said, it is also obvious to any Ricky Nelson fan, who has read the other biographies (Bashe and Selvin) and Kristin Nelson's book, that much of the material for this book was taken from other sources. So if you have read the other books, and some magazine interviews, much of this is a rehash. In addition, I do understand that when writing a biography about someone, especially someone long dead, the author must make certain presumptions about what the person was thinking. But Brady takes that to the extremes in some cases in the book, for example as one reviewer previously stated, presuming to know what Rick Nelson was thinking on his wedding night? And that is not the only instance of such presumptions, which certainly casts doubt on the credibility of the material.
But as also stated by other reviewers, the last few years of Rick Nelson's life, his financial struggles, the issues with his manager Greg Macdonald, and his touring and shows at the time, is covered much more extensively than any of the other books. But it actually it just mostly made me sad to think that he had such a difficult time during his last five years or so.
So with that being said, I would really only recommend this book for the most hard core Rick Nelson fans, especially with a $30 price tag. For the casual fan you're probably better off just purchasing a few cd's and enjoying the great music.
See all 10 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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