Amazon.com
Ann Brashares has created a wonderful, heartfelt series for teens (and adults) around a pair of pants. In her breakout bestseller, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Brashares introduced readers to four girls, Lena, Bridget, Carmen, and Tibby, and to the magical pair of jeans that fit them all perfectly, and inspired them to live their young lives to the fullest. Forever in Blue, the fourth and final novel in the series, promises a dazzling finale--one "last glorious summer" for the four girls, and their fans. See a note from author Ann Brashares, below.--Daphne Durham
A Note from Ann Brashares
December 1, 2006
Dear Amazon Reader,
Well, here we are together again. If you are getting ready to read the fourth book, Forever in Blue, that means we've probably spent some time together. I hope you've enjoyed it. I know I have.
We don't know each other and we may never get to meet, but I feel like we are connected nonetheless. We've spent time with four fictional girls together. We've puzzled over their lives and their choices. We've rooted for them and sometimes felt annoyed by them. We've shared some hopes for them, I think, and in the process for ourselves.
So thank you for being part of the sisterhood with me. I have really appreciated your company along the way.
Happy reading,
Ann
Spend Time with the Sisterhood
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Boxed Set |
Girls in Pants |
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood |
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants |
Book Description
With unraveled embroidery and fraying hems, the Traveling Pants are back for one last, glorious summer.
Lena: Immerses herself in her painting and an intoxicating summer fling, fearing that the moment she forgets about Kostos will be the moment she sees him again.
Carmen: Falls under the spell of a sophisticated college friend for whom a theatrical role means everything and the heritage of the Pants means nothing.
Bridget: Joins a dig for an ancient city on the coast of Turkey and discovers that her archaeology professor is available in every way except one.
Tibby: Leaves behind someone she loves, wrongly believing he will stay where she has left him.
Join Ann Brashares's beloved sisterhood once again in a dazzling, fearless novel. It's a summer that will forever change the lives of Lena, Carmen, Bee, and Tibby, here and now, past and future, together and apart.
Book Description
As their lives take them in different directions, Lena, Tibby, Carmen, and Bridget discover many more things about themselves and the importance of their relationship with each other.
Customer Reviews:
I liked the others better.......2007-08-10
This was the book made to tie up loose ends. Everyone came to a conclusion about their life and the pants. The whole thing was sort of boring. Yes I liked the book, but in a way everyone was the same as they started. I suppose the point of it was to show how they had grown up and still stayed the same. Maybe it was that there wasn't enough excitement or maybe it's that I'm tired now but i thought it wasn't as good as the other books.
-cdm
Sisterhood.......2007-08-04
I have enjoyed this entire series...takes me back to my Judy Blume days. The girl in all of us can identify with these characters as they grow, change, and try to not lose themselves or each other in the process. The earlier on you learn that nothing means more than your girl friends...the better off you are! I think the quotes between the chapters are insightful, and I enjoy finding their relation to the story as I read on. That brings a literary aspect not often found in young adult novels. I appreciate that this book and its prequels can be light and real at the same time. A book about pants sounds like fluff, but you feel with these girls as they deal with real issues both internal and external. Real doesn't have to be dark...bittersweet seems more fitting. These books capture the laughter through tears that is what sisterhood is about. I highly recommend reading them all.
So Long Sisterhood.......2007-07-26
Although this wasn't my fave Sisterhood book, it deserves kudos for not only reflecting the maturity of the characters at this point in their lives, but also the realities of growing up and growing apart. This is the fourth and supposedly final chapter of the Sisterhood tomes, and is likely to provide a conclusive feeling for the readers of the series.
To recap, the Travelling Pants series details the summers four best friends spend, sometimes apart, sometimes together. They are of course, as per the legend, bonded together by a pair of 'magical' pants that give them the strength of the love they feel as friends even when they aren't together.
In all fairness I read the third book quite some time ago so reading the new fourth one was a bit of a cognitive leap - I could barely remember a lot of what happened in the past! Anyway in this one the girls are bridging the gap between their first and second year of university. They've actually shared the pants year-round this time because they have spent the year at different colleges etc. That should be your first clue something is up - the girls are very very much so a lot more individual characters this time around, which was both refreshing and problematic. Of the latter, it was good because I was sick and tired of how cheesy and overemphasized their relationship was - although some sappy moments still exist towards the end, they are certainly toned down. But in the absence of their friendship it almost defeated the purpose of the book, and the pants of course.
This time around the girls spend most of their summer apart. Tibby is still in New York working and taking a summer class and wondering whether she has made the right choices when it comes to her relationship with Brian. Bee (my fave as always) is in Turkey getting back to basics on an archeological dig site and wondering whether the best alternative to missing her boyfriend is not missing a single thing her hot professor does. Flamboyent Carmen has surprisingly shrunk into her shell over the last year, and fallen under the wing of a supposedly protective, glorious friend, who turns out to be anything but as their summer continues. Lena is at art school and enraptured with a guy, shockingly this time, not the love of her life, Kostos.
As I mentioned earlier, the book definitely took on a more mature tone than the others - most of it dealt with sex and relationships and very little of it focused on friendship and personal self-growth - although most of the storylines evolve to give the girls those girl power moments of epiphany. Although I enjoyed the storylines a lot more this time it almost felt like the characters were under-used and less developed because there was far less crossover opportunities given their summer was spent so far apart emotionally and physically.
Brashares does a good job wrapping up the series in a realistic way though - Upon finishing it, I realized why she decided to do a fourth (I completely assumed the third would be the last) as each book is kind of meant to represent each of the four girls.
All in all a fitting conclusion to the series that represented, quite honestly, the realities of growing up and moving away when it comes to those true blue friends you thought you'd never forget, and those true blue jeans you thought you'd never lose.
Forever in Blue: The Fourth Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants).......2007-07-19
OMG!!! I loved every single one of the books preceding this book and this one hit the mark! It is so wonderful, and though it is so sad that it ends the series the finish is remarkable. Brashare's masterpiece is complete!!!
One too many.......2007-07-15
I thought the prime qualities of the first three books of this series were charm and innocence. For the fourth installment, one of our heroines poses nude for a male art student and another falls for a married man with children. Whatever other qualities the book may have, charming and innocent it is not.
Book Description
James Patterson shifts high action into overdrive in this eagerly awaited follow-up to his #1 New York Times bestseller. Brave bird-kid Max and her flock fly south on a perilous quest to find their parents, after having rescued Angel and recovered secret documents about their origins. But just when they think they've finally escaped the hungry claws of evil Erasers, they're discovered by an FBI agent and forced to face perhaps an even worse nightmare: going to school. There's no such thing as an ordinary day when Max's "homework" includes decoding documents, deciphering when (and how) she's supposed to save the world, and learning to face what may be her greatest enemy: herself. A clone. Max II.
Customer Reviews:
Better than the first.......2007-10-01
The second installment in the Maximum Ride series allows for the characters to grow in a way that wasn't possible in the first. While other reviewers are dissapointed in the lack of beginning-middle-end type of storytelling, it was nice to see these kids get a chance to truly be kids for a while, even if it means they go to school and have Thanksgiving dinner with a shady FBI agent. While this hold over in Virginia doesn't make for the most exciting read, it gives these hard running, hard fighting kids a chance to regain their bearings and focus on the hunt for their birth parents. This was a fast fun read.
Read the 1st, Read the 2nd!.......2007-09-18
Patterson brings back the flock into our lives in their pursuit to understand their history and to save the world! It is better than the first!
Again, I stress that this book's targeted age group is 10 to 15. I do not recommend this book to adults (which I am) for it is too elementary. For teens it is a great read!
great series.......2007-09-17
Great series, it keeps you guessing how are they going to get out of the next situation and if one of them is a spy. Enjoyed this book as much as the first one in this series.
Boo.......2007-09-13
I'll admit, I enjoyed the first book. It was cute, clever, and I liked the idea. But the second book made me angry due, particularly at one character- Angel. A cute, six-year old girl with pure white wings who can read minds and control minds and breathe underwater and talk to fish that everyone loves. I can no longer read this without wanting to bludgeon this Mary Sue over the head.
Neither Max or Fang are too original either. Max just has an annoying personality, while Fang is the "OMG Dark mysterious pretty boy angst dark angel!!!". Yeah, like that's original.
And don't get me wrong, I loved Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy... Iggy had a little bit of page time, but the others? Max mentioned in the first book that she spoke all the time, but I can barely remember her. Gazzy is the worst though. As the older brother of Angel, he holds nothing in comparison to her superspeshulness. While Angel can do so many magical things, Gazzy farts. You heard me... infact, his name is literally 'Gasman' while his sister is some Holy Being to the rest of the group!
Don't waste your time on this book unless you like unoriginal characters and Mary Sues.
maximum ride: school's out forever.......2007-08-05
This is a great series for any age group, and book 2 continues the bird kid's adventures. You can't help but fall in love with Max, Fang, Iggy, Gasman, and Angel. And the dog!! What a hoot! Can't wait to see what happens next.
Average customer rating:
- Best BOOKK
- FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES
- books
- Highly Recomended!
- Cute book
|
The Truth About Forever
Sarah Dessen
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Fiction | Death & Dying | Social Issues | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Self-Esteem & Self-Respect | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Dessen, Sarah | ( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Death & Dying | Social Issues | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Fiction | Self-Esteem & Self-Respect | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
( D ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Being a Teen | Social Issues | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
This Lullaby
-
Just Listen
-
That Summer
-
Keeping the Moon (reissue)
-
Someone Like You (reissue)
ASIN: 0142406252 |
Amazon.com
With her sixth novel, award-winning author Sarah Dessen offers up another generous helping of finely crafted storytelling about real teens dealing with real life. In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth. In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior. Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own. As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice. Though it feels like her future endedwith her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her. All of the Dessen trademarks are here: a girl in transition, a wonderfully fleshed out cast of secondary characters, and of course, the luminous, powerful writing itself. The Truth About Forever will more than satisfy Dessen's legion of fans, and will win her countless more as well. Highly recommended. (Ages 12 and up) --Jennifer Hubert
Book Description
Sixteen-year-old Macy Queen is looking forward to a long, boring summer. Her boyfriend is going away. She's stuck with a dull-asdishwater job at the library. And she'll spend all of her free time studying for the SATs or grieving silently with her mother over her father's recent unexpected death. But everything changes when Macy is corralled into helping out at one of her mother's open house events, and she meets the chaotic Wish Catering crew. Before long, Macy joins the Wish team. She loves everything about the work and the people. But the best thing about Wish is Wes—artistic, insightful, and understanding Wes—who gets Macy to look at life in a whole new way, and really start living it….
Customer Reviews:
Best BOOKK.......2007-09-26
This was by far my favorite Sarah Dessen novel. She creates characters that make you feel like you know. They're personalities jump out at you and suck you in, and by the end you're wishing that it was never over.
FAVORITE BOOK OF ALL TIMES.......2007-09-12
i absolutely LOVE this book. i started reading it at about 10 o'clock and just couldnt put it down. i finished it that night, at 3 in the morning. i lauged, cried, and fell in love with this book, and all the characters. Sarah Dessen is by far my favorite author. i am in the middle of another one of her books, "this lullaby," which i am loving.
i would recomend this book to anyone in a heartbeat!
books.......2007-09-07
My daughter just loves this author and all her books so far that she has read.
Highly Recomended!.......2007-09-01
Before I bought it I wasn't sure if I would like it, even though everyone I had talked to loved this book. They weren't wrong. This book shows deep insight into the life of a teenager who is too afraid to show her emotions even though she longs to do so. Beautifully written, I would recomend this book to anyone!
Cute book.......2007-07-03
This book was engaging. I really enjoyed reading it. My only complaint was the occasional swear word. I whited these out but was nonetheless offended that one would degrade teenagers so by assuming we enjoy indulging in that garbage. Other than that the book was a terrific great, a great plot, cute guys, and a thorough understanding of the teen mind set.
Book Description
"The Forever Young program is the scientifically based plan that will bring your life back into synch with your genetic identity, restoring your youthful vigor and glow, while at the same time optimizing your health, quality of life, and longevity."
-James O'Keefe, MD and Joan O'Keefe, RD
In a field plagued by "miracle" diets and sketchy information, The Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle presents a commonsense plan that improves satiety; promotes wholesome, fresh, and easily obtained foods; and reinforces a rational, holistic, mind-body approach to diet and lifestyle. The program is a complete package that can help provide a lifetime of energy and good health.
Most of our health problems today result from a mismatch between the world we are designed for and the very different one in which we live. The modern American leading a sedentary lifestyle of automobiles, couches, televisions, computers, and junk food is like a fish out of water. Our genes have changed minimally over the past few thousand years, yet our diets and lifestyles have become progressively more divergent from those of our ancient ancestors.
The Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle outlines the path back to our natural needs and rhythms. Firmly grounded in the medically proven Hunter-Gatherer diet, the plan easily promotes weight loss, vastly improves energy levels, enhances sleep and concentration, and restores the natural youthful glow we should have at any age. Cardiologist James O'Keefe and his wife, Joan, a registered dietitian, provide a down-to-earth, sensible program that's both satisfying and easy to follow.
Customer Reviews:
DOH......it makes perfect sense.......2006-07-22
After I tried Atkins in the 70's, I've never been able to summon up the will power to do the carb diet again. I gained the somewhat typical pound+ per year and as I grew older, I got heavier. The program as outlined has enabled me to lose weight and improve my lifestyle.
This program that is portrayed is clearly the result of thought and observation and common sense.
I like the fact that conclusions are presented clearly and fairly and suggestions to enhance the practice of the program are reasonable and practical.
The book shares insight and "I knew that..." expositions in an engaging and comfortable format.
I'm really please that the book was published where and when it was, since it helped my wife and me to rework our lifestyle in a wonderful and accessible manner.
The whole enchilada of well being.......2006-02-26
This book goes for the whole, integrated enchilada of well being - diet, exercise, sleep, supplements, attitude, relationships, and spirituality. It's an approach that's hard to argue with, and that benefits from the O'Keefes' professional qualifications as a cardiologist/nutritionist team, as well as their well-rounded outlook on life.
On the diet front, the book takes the evolutionary perspective that we should eat what human beings have eaten over most of the last 100,000 years, which means lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and some nuts - and very little in the way of grains (especially refined grains), dairy laced with saturated fats, refined sugar, and trans fats. Readers familiar with Loren Cordain,'s Paleo Diet will see much that's familiar. In fact, James O'Keefe has co-authored scientific papers with Cordain. Sticklers for detail will notice that the O'Keefes seem to be more ready to compromise, especially when they have science on their side. They advocate the use of whey - a dairy product - as a realistic source of protein in a world where healthy sources of protein are often inconvenient or hard to come by. They also endorse moderate consumption of some other newcomers to the human diet, in each case pointing to the science. Limited amounts of alcohol, coffee, chocolate and soy products all have a place in the Forever Young Diet. As a practical matter, though, I doubt that a large-scale study would be able to detect a difference between the Paleo and Forever Young diets, though I know which one most people would find more appealing. Both diets have lots of logic and science on their side. The O'Keefes offer very accessible explanations of the science and research, as well as lots of practical tips: how to make healthy eating attractive for kids and adults; how to recognize and deal with the emotional aspects of eating; or which fish to eat and which to avoid.
The book also addresses the use of prescription drugs and supplements (including statins, omega-3, aspirin, cinnamon), topics of interest to the health-conscious, some perhaps controversial. The O'Keefes' take on exercise is moderation and variety: mind your posture, have fun, go outside, walk, lift weights, do yoga, get in the sauna, meditate. Finally, they offer tips and evidence on the role that relationships, love, attitude, faith and sex play in creating and keeping a healthy body and a healthy mind.
A disclaimer. Dr. James O'Keefe practices cardiology near where I live. I have low HDL, and when I found out a few years ago that I could schedule my regular cardiology checkup with Loren Cordain's co-author, I did. My ten minutes with O'Keefe constitute my most satisfying encounter with organized medicine. He's a responsive, caring and well-rounded doc.
A Must Have for Every Family That Considers Health a Priority!.......2006-01-14
This is the most exciting book I've read in a long time! In a complex world, who would guess that healthy eating comes from simplicity! The food suggestions taste delightful and are filling, and after following the plan for just 7 days, my weight is down 4 pounds, I'm more energetic and optimistic about my health and life in general. Now I'm buying copies for my entire family. Thank you, James and Joan O'Keefe for sharing your knowledge and good health with all of us!
Someone Finally Got It Right..........2005-12-31
Well someone finally got it right, and for the right reasons. James and Joan O'Keefe clearly define the critical and quite simple components of the healthy diet based on our genetic pre- determinants. They cut through fad and fiction and outline the obvious facts about diet that all should know and practice. Their greatest impact may be in their advice to parents on creating healthy nutritional habits for families - a not so hidden message in this era of rampant childhood obesity. They furthermore integrate common sense methods for physical and psychological health into a comprehensive scheme that seems above reproach. Their observations may not be a panacea for those looking for a quick and easy fix, but those who wish to discipline themselves to achieve a happy and healthy life will find this book a defining tool.
Robert D. Conn, MD
Clinical Professor of Medicine
University of Missouri - Kansas City
A Lesson in Lifestyle worth Listening to..........2005-12-06
This isn't just a diet book. It's really a book on living healthy and happy. Since the authors are a nutritionist and a cardiologist, it's natural that diet, supplements, and medicines are the primarily discussed subjects.
But the real benefit of this book is that it reminds us of those things that we should be doing, but often do not. Nothing in the book is surprising - and that's what makes it so good. When you read it, you say to yourself - "I know that, why aren't I doing it?"
The diet proposed is a low-carb, fresh foods, mediterranean diet akin to South Beach - but here, it is modified to be the only diet that ever really works: "Eat less, exercise more."
The authors remind us that it is our entire lifestyle that matters - what we eat, how we live, and our attitudes that cause us to age, or to be 'Forever Young'.
I recommend this book highly - the writing style is conversational, which is perfect for picking up the book and re-reading that section or two that discusses what we've neglected to do for so long.
Having dealt with Dr. O'Keefe for the last five years, I became aware of their diet/lifestyle plan long before this book came out. Dr. O'Keefe correctly diagnosed my heart attack in 2000, and I am alive today because of that diagnosis. Since working with him on my attitude and lifestyle, I have lost 20 pounds, lowered my cholesterol significantly, and use this book now to remind me of the things I'm still not doing!
Average customer rating:
- What a wonderful book!
- Great read
- Still Relevant
- wow..great book
- Child Abuse
|
Forever
Judy Blume
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Fiction | Emotions & Feelings | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Classics | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books
Blume, Judy | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Dating & Intimacy | Social Issues | Teens | Subjects | Books
Fiction | Emotions & Feelings | Social Situations | People & Places | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Classics | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Love & Romance | Literature & Fiction | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Fiction | Dating & Intimacy | Social Issues | Teens | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
Deenie
-
Wifey
-
Summer Sisters
-
It's Not the End of the World
-
Just as Long as We're Together
ASIN: 0671695304 |
Amazon.com
"Going all the way" is still a taboo subject in young adult literature. Judy Blume was the first author to write candidly about a sexually active teen, and she's been defending teenagers' rights to read about such subjects ever since. Here, Blume tells a convincing tale of first love--a love that seems strong and true enough to last forever. Katherine loves Michael so much, in fact, that she's willing to lose her virginity to him, and, as the months go by, it gets harder and harder for her to imagine living without him. However, something happens when they are separated for the summer: Katherine begins to have feelings for another guy. What does this mean about her love for Michael? What does this mean about love in general? What does "forever" mean, anyway? As always, Blume writes as if she's never forgotten a moment of what it's like to be a teenager.
Customer Reviews:
What a wonderful book!.......2007-10-10
I am twenty-six years old and have recently assigned myself the task of reading my way through the top 100 most challenged books of the 1990s. This novel occupies the eighth most-challenged space on the list and, after reading it, it's easy to see why. Blume writes in shocking and graphic detail about the sexual acts eighteen-year-olds Katherine and Michael engage in, and some language that one would not used in mixed company is used.
However, people who attempt to ban this book from libraries and classroom bookshelves are taking a superficial look. Following an intense romance between high-school seniors Katherine and Michael, Blume hits the nail on the head. Granted, these experiences are not ten years behind me, but she took me back to those same emotions in a way that was unexpected and wonderful. I would not be surprised to learn that Blume had written this when she was still in high school, a testament to how much credence she lends to Katherine's first-person narrative! A tender and moving book about first love and the consequences of giving oneself over fully, "Forever..." is a book that should not be missed. Before you chide your teenager for reading it behind your back, beat her to the punch and give it to her as a present. Read or reread it yourself and discuss the issues in it with her. This is a romance novel with all of the tender emotions and engaging prose, as well as talk of responsibility for protecting both your physical health, as well as your emotional health, and that of others. Best of all, Blume presents a range of consequences for sex at a (relatively) early age, yet manages to reserve judgment. If I'm blessed with a daughter, this is a book she will be receiving on her first day of junior high.
Great read.......2007-09-18
I read this book when I was a teenager and it was wonderful. I have read it many many times and I have still held on to it over the years. Highly recommended for any young lady.
Still Relevant.......2007-09-15
I just finished this book after not reading it for 30 or so years. Reading it at nearly 45 years old, I felt bad for Michael because he was unceremoniously dumped. However, both of them were way too young to settle down. Blume's story is still relevant because teenagers need to understand that they should not rush into relationships.
What I didn't see in this book at all was what Kath was planning on doing in college. She didn't appear to have any goals other than being with Michael. Because she was upper class, it was assumed that college would be the logical result after 12 grades of education. When I was a teenager reading this, I probably didn't care. As a middle-aged woman who had a long hard struggle to achieve a college degree at the age of 43, it would have been nice to hear about what Kath wanted to do with her life other than being with Michael. Instead, we read about the acting aspirations of a secondary character, Artie.
Blume may have been too hesitant in 1975 to make Artie gay. If she was writing it now, the author would probably have Artie realize that he was a gay young man.
Now that I'm older than the protagonist's PARENTS (Unbelievable! Where did the time go?), I paid more attention to the adult characters, especially the Mom. Since I'm no longer a teenager, I now relate more to the adults - which makes sense.
In another review, someone mentioned that Blume should write a sequel to Forever. I would love to read that sequel but I can imagine my own as well. Kath does get involved briefly with Theo but realizes that a summer love doesn't always translate to real life. She goes to college, has a number of relationships and then realizes the increased opportunities that college-educated women have in the late 1970s (due to the feminist movement) and goes to law school.
She marries by the mid-1980s, just as AIDS becomes a daily topic on the evening news. Kath has a couple of children and eventually has a midlife crisis halfway through the 1990s. She starts to go over her life and thinks about her first love Michael intermittently.
Divorced at the millennium and with her kids about to start college, she decides to Google her old boyfriend Michael. Recently widowed, Michael is also revisiting his life and is delighted to hear from Kath.
They marry in 2005.
What does all of this mean? It means that Blume is an excellent storyteller to inspire people like myself to think of sequels for the characters.
wow..great book.......2007-09-10
i'm 13 and I have to say, it might be too much for anyone younger, but overall it was a great book. I finished in 2 hours
Child Abuse.......2007-09-06
One of my daughters unsuspectingly brought this book home from the misleadingly named "Young Adult" section of our library, where children as young as twelve are encouraged to browse. This particular edition was the one with the front cover that makes it appear to be a harmless adolescent romance, but the book inside turned out to be a cross between a pornographic novel and an advertisement for Planned Parenthood.
If you want to get an idea of what this book is like without supporting it financially, and you're over 18 and have a strong stomach, just go to Amazon's "Search inside this book" feature and search for "ralph". If you still want to read the book, please don't move to my town. We've got enough weirdos and perverts here already.
Book Description
To add ten years to your life, you need more than just a good doctor. You need to have the right attitude about health and an understanding of the health industry and what it's feeding you. Following the established line on many health issues could make you very sick or worse! Achieve dynamic health with this collection of some of the "best of" Dr. Douglass' newsletters.
Book Description
Get in on Christy’s Senior Year
The last three books, collected in one page-turning volume, conclude the bestselling Christy Miller series with hope and promise! At the start of her senior year, Christy looks forward to growing closer to Todd, but her friendship with Katie is on the rocks, threatening the year she was certain would be a time to cherish. With Sweet Dreams comes the start of a romantic summer. She’d be entirely swept off her feet if it wasn’t for the most difficult decision she’s ever had to make. And in A Promise Is Forever, Christy discovers foreign adventure is just her cup of tea. Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments.
Whether you’re meeting her for the first time or have known her for yearsâ
Christy Is a Forever Friend
A Time to Cherish
For Labor Day weekend, Christy Miller is on a houseboat at Lake Shasta. What could be better? She’s about to find out! Before they know it, both Christy and her best friend, Katie, are receiving some unexpected male attention. But somehow these best friends are at odds just when they should be having the most fun together. Christy soon realizes that sometimes you have to stand back and let people make their own decisions, even when they’re headed for a fall. And although life is never perfect, this is definitely a time to cherish.
Sweet Dreams
Christy Miller’s senior year is delicious, especially the time she spends with Todd. But her best friend, Katie, is strugglingâshe’s realized she needs to break up with Michael. It’s not easy! Fortunately both Doug and Disneyland help Katie to cheer up. Christy is learning to let go and get out of the way so that her friends can become who they’re meant to be...even when it jeopardizes her own sweet dreams.
A Promise Is Forever
Christy Miller’s going to Europe! It’s a three-week missions trip with Doug, Katie, and Tracy. First stop: London for some sightseeing, and then a castle in the English countryside for group training. Christy is so excited to be headed for Belfast with her friendsâdespite some tension among them. But when plans go topsy-turvy at the last minute, Christy must face her fears and realize that some things are more important than her own comfort...and that even when she can’t foresee the end result, a promise truly is forever.
Story Behind the Book
âThe Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I’d been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, âWhy don’t you write a book for us?’ I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: âHow hard could it be? We’ll even tell you what to write! We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.’ And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise . I love that!â âRobin Jones Gunn
Customer Reviews:
christy miller series.......2007-09-01
My 19 year old daughter loves these series. She's been reading them since she was 10 years old and still thoroughly enjoys them.
The Christy Miller novel that fans have been waiting for.......2007-06-27
Christy Miller has been waiting years for longtime love interest Todd to make a commitment. In A TIME TO CHERISH, the 10th installment in Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller series, Christy and her friends set off on a summer adventure onboard a houseboat, which just might help the on-again off-again couple take the next step in their relationship.
Sure enough, the romantic scenery and lots of pushing from Christy's overbearing Aunt Marti do the trick, and Christy and Todd finally declare themselves a couple. Naturally, Christy could not be more excited. As she revels in the joy of being able to call Todd her boyfriend, plans for the future go into overdrive. While Aunt Marti begins thinking ahead to college degrees and their wedding, Christy attempts to simply slow down and enjoy the moment.
However, even this proves to be tough, as best friends Katie and Doug do not necessarily share in her enthusiasm. Doug has had a crush on Christy for years, so her relationship with Todd has put an end to his hopes. And while Katie is happy for the new couple, it only reminds her that she is still missing a significant other in her life. Determined for Katie to be just as happy as she is, Christy begins a series of disastrous attempts to set her up with Doug.
As it turns out, though, Katie might not need Christy's help at all. When they return to school for their senior year, Katie immediately becomes infatuated with an intriguing exchange student from Europe, and he is certainly returning her attention. Christy tries to warn Katie that the relationship might be dangerous, but Katie refuses to listen to her and their friendship reaches a breaking point. Is Christy just jealous, or is Katie really heading for trouble?
A TIME TO CHERISH is the Christy Miller novel that fans have been waiting for. After nine books filled with "will they or won't they" drama, Christy and Todd finally decide to make it official and begin dating. Avid readers of the series no doubt will be relieved to see the long, drawn-out drama come to an end. The book also manages to deal with complicated relationships between family, friends and significant others in a realistic and positive way. At the same time, Gunn leaves A TIME TO CHERISH with an open ending that certainly will have readers eager for more adventures with Christy Miller.
--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby
Best volume yet!.......2007-03-28
This is my favorite volume of the young Christy Miller books. I cried over the last two so much. I love when Christy and Todd are together, they're so perfect for each other! I've read all of the Christy books, and all of them made me want a hero like Todd.
Incredible!.......2007-03-25
No two ways about it, I love these books, and having a three-in-one version makes it all the better. This book contains the concluding volumes in the Christy Miller series, and it's interesting to see how she's progressed from Summer Promise.
In a Time to Cherish, Christy's relationship with Todd couldn't be better as they offically define that they're boyfriend-girlfriend. However, Christy's relationship with her best friend, Katie, on the the other hand, isn't going so well when Katie, desperate for a boyfriend and feeling left out, begins dating Michael, a non-Christian. This story was enthralling, and included some very sweet moments between Christy and Todd. It really inspired me to 'hold out for that hero.'
In Sweet Dreams, after Katie's painful break-up with Michael comes slow healing, and Christy's beginning to think that everything is good again. However, she has no idea that she'll soon be faced with one of the hardest decisions she's ever had to face. I cried at the ending of this book, yet it hit me hard, making me wonder if I could make the same sacrifice as Christy did.
A Promise is Forever would have to be one of my favorite books in the whole series. A large period of time has elapsed since Sweet Dreams, and we find Christy traveling to England for a mission's trip with Doug who's her new boyfriend, Tracy, and Katie. She expects the trip to be a good way to serve God, but she doesn't anticipate any of the speed bumps along the way, such as conlict in her group and trouble with Doug, but most of all, being sent to Spain to serve, away from the rest of her friends. This book will have you in tears at it's touching ending. A fun thing was that we're introduced to Sierra Jensen, Robin Jones Gunn's next book series. Having read the Sierra Jensen books already, it was interesting to see Sierra from Christy's point of view.
Check these books out!
Christy Miller Collection, vol. 4.......2006-06-26
I love this series. Robin Jones Gunn fills each book with drama, adventure, romance, and mystery. Every time I get one of Gunn's books, I can't put it down. I would definitely reccomend this book and all her other books to any teen girl.
Book Description
The first nine books in the popular Christy Miller series are now available in three treasured volumes!
Bestselling author Robin Jones Gunn packs each one with enough action, romance, and drama to keep you reading and wanting more. It all starts the summer Christy vacations on a California beach and meets two friends who change her life forever. But after moving across the country with her family, Christy must begin her sophomore year of high school uncertain where she’ll fit in. A red-headed new best friend, a try at cheerleading, a job at a pet store, and expectations for the prom fill Christy’s high school years with a string of laughter-and-tears moments. Fireball Katie keeps everyone guessing what she’ll do next, and surfer Todd keeps showing up while popular Rick has determined to get her full attention! As these memorable years unfold, Christy and her God-loving friends find out what it means to be a âpeculiar treasure.â Follow Christy Miller as she stays true to her identity in Christ, drawing closer to God for help in realizing her dreams and dealing with her disappointments.
Whether you’re meeting her for the first time or have known her for yearsâ
Christy Is a Forever Friend
Summer Promise
Fourteen-year-old Christy Miller has the dream summer ahead of her in sun-kissed California, staying with her aunt and uncle at their beachfront home. Aunt Marti loves to shop, and those surfers are cuteâespecially Todd. Christy promised her parents she wouldn’t do anything she’d regret later, and some of her beach friends are a little wild. But Todd and his âGod-Loverâ friends are giving Christy a new image of all things eternal. Can this summer live up to its promise?
A Whisper and a Wish
Christy’s family has moved to California just in time for her sophomore year of high school. But they’re not in Newport Beach, where she spent the summer. Instead they’re an hour and a half away and Christy has to start all over making friends. Despite an embarrassing escapade at a slumber party, things are going pretty well...until some midnight fun leads to a trip to the police station. Does God really hear every whisper? Does He know our every wish? Then why is it so hard to know who your friends really are?
Yours Forever
Christy is back at Aunt Marti and Uncle Bob’s house on the beach for the entire week between Christmas and New Year’s...and Todd is in town, too! The cute surfer completely captured Christy’s heart last summer, and she’s eager to spend every possible minute with him. But soon Christy and her aunt are barely speaking, and it seems like all her friends are mad at her, tooâincluding Todd! Is he hers or isn’t he? And why would God let things get so tangled?
Story Behind the Book
âThe Christy Miller series was actually born when a group of thirteen-year-olds challenged me to write a novel. I’d been questioning the content of their favorite books when they said, âWhy don’t you write a book for us?’ I told them no, I only wrote picture books. But they persisted: âHow hard could it be? We’ll even tell you what to write! We want a love story with teenagers at the beach.’ And there you go. Summer Promise first released seventeen years ago and is now translated into five languages. I continue to hear from readers all over the world, many girls saying that they gave their life to Christ after reading Summer Promise. I love that!â
âRobin Jones Gunn
Customer Reviews:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ROBIN JONES GUNN!!!!.......2007-07-23
After many failed attempts during the past few years to find a book or series of books for her to read for pleasure, I gave this book to my 14 yr. old daughter, Amber, in June hoping she would enjoy reading it this summer...I am thrilled to say that she couldn't put it down!!! Not only have I also purchased Vols. II, III and IV for her (she is currently reading Vol. IV)...she has shared her love of the books with her friends and now they have the series and are reading them!!! This has made me so very happy...especially since these are Christian based books with valuable life lessons for our teens. What a wonderful gift to be able to give to our teenage daughters in this challenging & confusing world we live in~~~Thank you, Thank you, Thank you Robin Jones Gunn...from the bottom of my heart!!!!
A must-read.......2007-07-07
The first three books in this series are great! It's really hard to put the book down once you've started reading. The three books are fresh, invigorating, very realistic and heartfelt. They really bring you closer to God. I love them!
A great read.......2007-06-01
In SUMMER PROMISE, the first book in Robin Jones Gunn's Christy Miller series, a farm girl from Wisconsin is invited by her aunt and uncle to spend the summer with them in ritzy Newport Beach, California. However, upon arrival, Christy Miller realizes that she certainly does not fit in with the glamorous crowd that inhabits the town. After rejection and embarrassment, Christy's Aunt Marti suggests that she undergo a makeover; perhaps a transformation is all she needs to make some new friends. With an expensive new wardrobe and a stylish haircut, Christy finds that she indeed captures the attention of Todd and Shawn, the classically good-looking surfer boys, as well as Alissa, a stunning older girl who has lived all over the world.
All seems to go well until Christy realizes that her new friends may have an entirely different definition of a good time. Shawn invites Christy to a party, and she soon learns that it may be unlike any party she has ever been to. After being ignored or laughed at by most of those in attendance, and uncomfortable with the presence of alcohol and drugs, Christy decides to get out. While she makes a wise choice, others do not, and the night soon ends with a tragedy that will change the rest of the summer. Afterwards, Christy begins spending more time with Todd, who opens up to her about his strong faith in God.
Although she has gone to church all her life, Todd introduces her to a new group of people who are serious about faith in a way she has never experienced before. At the same time, Aunt Marti's constant nagging and desire to "improve" Christy begin to eat away at her self-esteem. As her world seems to move faster than it ever has, will Christy be able to live up to the promise she made to her parents not to do anything she will regret? Will she finally be able to figure out how gorgeous, sensitive Todd really feels about her? And why is she being forced to suddenly return home?
SUMMER PROMISE is an excellent beginning to the Christy Miller series. Fans of TV shows such as "The OC" and "Summerland" undoubtedly will appreciate the familiar beach setting and situations. Gunn does an excellent job of filling the book with a plot that is not quite as predictable as those usually found in teen fiction, as well as keeping up with the latest pop-culture references. It tackles many issues, such as self-image and family problems, but underlying all of this is Christy's newfound ideas about God. SUMMER PROMISE is a great read, with an ending that does not resort to the contrived and surely will have readers eagerly awaiting Christy's future adventures.
--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby
a promise can last forever.......2007-04-05
I just fell in love with the Christy Miller series. Finally theres a great Christian teen book out there with actual morels. Its a nice break from Gossip girls. It opened up my eyes about God and everything. It also opened my life to reading. This book shows that Christians make mistakes too. If your a girl interested in Christianity then you should definitely read the bible first but if your just looking for someone to relate to i would recommend this book.
Christy and Todd are so sweet!.......2007-03-28
This one was AMAZING. Now I want to go to Disneyland to do all the things Christy did and re-live that experience. You're really rooting for her to get together with Todd. I got the volume, and I read all of this one in a day or two, I was hooked! These are my favorite series ever, and I doubt that will change soon.
-pokes post below this one- Read the college years :P You'll find that her romance with Todd is more consistent, and it might change your view on romance novels.
Book Description
A uniquely intimate portrait of John F. Kennedy, Jr., from his closest friend
For twenty-five years, William Noonan and John F. Kennedy, Jr., were best friends. Sharing an adolescence in Hyannisport, Massachusetts, the two frequented beach bonfires and the Monday night yacht-club dances, took road trips, shared albums, sneaked cigarettes on the widow's walk of John's house, and scored beer together. And as they grew older, John and Billy never lost the connection they forged in the Kennedy compound as two young boys who had both tragically lost their fathers.
A humble and touching memoir, Forever Young uncovers the private John F. Kennedy, Jr., from the matchless vantage point of a longtime childhood friend. Forever Young is packed with never-revealed details of John and Carolyn Bessette's courtship and wedding, the launch of George, John's unusually close relationship with his mother Jackie, and the heartbreaking aftermath of the plane crash off Martha's Vineyard that killed John, Carolyn, and Carolyn's sister. Noonan also shares the more ribald episodes, including John's many famous conquests, skirmishes with paparazzi, and his stint as People's “Sexiest Man Alive.” The definitive story of the son of Camelot, Forever Young is a touching and revelatory tribute to a friendship between two men—and a life cut devastatingly short.
Customer Reviews:
an excellent book.......2007-08-25
FOREVER YOUNG IS AN EXCELLENT BOOK. IT IS A WELL WRITTEN AND ENGAGING ACCOUNT OF THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JOHN KENNEDY JR, AND THE AUTHOR, BILL NOONAN. IT IS A WONDERFUL AND POIGNANT DESCRIPTION OF A DYNAMIC AND MOVING CONNECTION BETWEEN TWO FRIENDS AND THE EBBS AND FLOWS OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP THAT UNFOLDS IN THE HIGH PRESSURER WORLD OF THE KENNEDY AURA, TRADITIONS AND DARK SIDE.
WHILE THE BOOK OFFERS SOME INTERESTING INSIGHTS INTO JOHN AND OTHER KENNEDY PERSONA, IT IS A WORTHY READ FOR THE STORY OF THE RELATIONSHIP ITSELF AS MUCH AS FOR THE NOTARIETY AND NEWSWORTHINESS OF THE OTHER CHARACTERS.
great.......2007-03-20
i am reading the book now like that they are not bad mouthing him
Fantastic!!.......2007-02-10
This books gives more insight to JFK Jr.'s personal life giving personal stories. It is a fun read and is well worth the time. I really enjoyed learning more about John, the private person.
Would love to know how William and Caorline are doing today.......2007-02-06
Having followed the Kennedy story since I was 20 (some 43 years ago) I enjoyed the book tremendously. My own mother died the week after Jackie, partially over grieving Jackie's death. I grew up Democrat, Catholic in Connecticut and felt a closeness to the whole Kennedy "thing". I am still feeling sad over the loss of JFK JR some even rumored that Hillary could have played a part, I honestly hope not.
Selling out?.......2007-01-23
There is a huge desire for information on the Kennedy family and people like me lap up every piece of information written about them because the Kennedy kids were my contemporaries. Coming from Ireland the President and the First Lady were like Gods. I remember aged 5 when I watched the funeral of JFK on television and his wife being very controlled, I couldn't understand why she wasn't crying. My mother said she had probably been given a tranquilizer, but I had no idea what she meant. Talk about the American dream, it was the Irish dream that died that day and it took thirty years to recover.
Anyway certainly Billy Noonan fills a big void in that quest for knowledge of their son John's life and Robert Huber captures his voice very well. However I have a few reservations. Firstly let's start with the front cover, why does he use 'William Sylvester Noonan' Some priests in Ireland wouldn't even allow parents to baptise their sons William because of the association with William of Orange. Yet the guy seems proud to be Irish but denies it with his 'full' name.
The back cover made me wonder why I was even bought what looked like the book of a phoney friend. 'Billy' looks like he superimposed a photo of himself onto one of John Kennedy sitting on a beach. (Speaking of pictures, inside the book we get three of JK in the same clothes on the same chair in different poses, a bit unoriginal)
And maybe that back cover sums up the relationship. You had a walk-on part in JK's life but it was so compartmentalised you were really a little cog in that life. Even if he did call you his 'best friend' which even took Noonan by surprise at his own bachelor party, but you got the feeling it was JK being generous given the event
What really annoyed me most in the book was the part about how desperately his mother wanted to go to the wedding of Caroline Kennedy. Billy had an invitation for himself and a partner. But only under duress did he 'allow' her to come to the church. As she tried to board the bus to take a sneaky look at the marquee and promised to then go home, he ordered her off. Oh God the humiliation.
Now the very reason he was friends of JK was because his own father had helped the President in his election campaign. His mother knew many people at that church and probably had more right to be there than he did. Noonan said he was mortified when Jackie spotted his mother. What a shame. The coolest guy there would have taken his mother when he didn't have a date but not Billy Noonan, he just wasn't confident enough. Of course his mother died a few years later and I felt disappointed for her to have been locked out of that special day by her own son.
In a way it was reiterated when he went to Anthony Radziwill's wedding while his new wife went to her best friend's wedding the same weekend. He was friends with Anthony sure but you got the feeling he always had to be where John was. I would have had more respect for him if he had chosen his wife's friend wedding in deference to their own recent nuptials.
Knowing how well the Kennedy's guard their privacy, I'm sure they hated seeing this book published. I feel slightly ashamed it was penned by an 'Irishman' but we all have our price.
I read Carole Radziwill's account of her wife with Anthony and I felt it was one of the most poignant books I have ever read. It didn't feel like she was cashing-in. I wish I could say the same about this one.
However I did enjoy it and in fairness he gave us a real insight in how things were as opposed to what the press invented. Clearly he was a witty and entertaining friend for JK and as he seemed to be at every big event he had several stories to tell.
But when JK died and another minor friend of JK's tried to get into the house on the Cape he locked him out and threatened to have him arrested. Did Billy Noonan see himself in that person; someone who had once slotted in to an opening in the Kennedy's lives and was preventing others from doing the same.
JK was someone who had the world at his feet and was just coming into his own. His tragedy was that everyone close to him seemed to die or be dying. The fact that John, his wife, her sister and then his cousin Anthony died within three weeks of each other is unbearable. How did Lee or Caroline cope with such loss? It's mind-blowing. The fact that those three Kennedy women (Jackie included) were cold and aloof didn't help any newcomers into that fold. They didn't really allow the next generation to flourish.
I'll continue to read the good, bad and ugly words which will be written about the family so I in turn help fuel the desire for such books. But I guess the real friends are the ones who don't tell their story.
Book Description
A case study of the career of singer Florence Ballard -- her relationship with Diana Ross, Mary Wilson and Motown Records and her efforts to establish a solo career in 1968. Includes photos of Florence Ballard, Diana Ross and Mary Wilson.
Customer Reviews:
Forever Faithful gets an update in a new bio on Flo........2007-04-16
This theisis was a good attempt to cover flo's traumas as an unwilling player in Motown's chief Berry Gordy's game plan, we all know she was denied a chance to shine, and suffered humiliation, and dismissal from
a group she helped to name and create, but please take note on the heels of the movie Dreamgirls, someone has finally written a book about florence Ballard, and it was penned by Maxine Ballard, her sister.
"the true story of Florence Ballard" is now out, please get a copy
to get the real story from a family member who was there for all
of her life. go to [...].
This is a thesis rather than a biography, but still good..........2007-03-08
This book contains good information about the politics and the business aspects surrounding Florence Ballard's departure from the Supremes but it does not go into detail about her personal life. This is a thesis written by a college student who happened to be a huge Supremes and Florence Ballard Fan. This is not a biography so if you're looking for juicy details about America's Sweethearts and want to know what really went on behind the scenes, I recommend Mary Wilson's, "Dreamgirl, My Life As a Supreme."
Hopefully, someone will write a biography on Florence Ballard's life in the near future because her life story is definitely one that should be told (if there is one out there that I don't know about, please let me know). The "Dreamgirls" character Effie, is "loosely" based on Florence's life but that just doesn't do this fallen star justice. She deserves to have her own life story developed, not a record-label story, or a girl-group story, but a Florence Ballard story, to let everyone know that Diana Ross wasn't the only star in the group. Mary and Florence just never got their chance to shine.
need for florence to get her due!!!.......2007-02-25
I am an ardent fan of the original Supremes which included the wonderful FLo Ballard. What Motown did to her was awful and a bit too late for her due. this book was easy to read and pointed out the difficulty in trying to fight Mowtown, Her advisors were shameless and it was a sad end to a wonderful life.
If you are a Supremes fan this is a must read. Thanks for having it available. Already passed it on to a friend.
Also thanks to Effie of "Dreamgirls"
NEVER RECEIVED THIS ORDER.......2007-02-16
AS OF 2/15/07 I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THIS. WHERE IS IT?!
Some insight here, but not essential.......2006-12-30
I saw Dreamgirls on opening night, and I was moved to do a little bit of research on the Supremes to try to spot some of the real people behind the stories told in the flick. Effie's character in Dreamgirls is based on Florence Ballard, and the outstanding performance in Dreamgirls made me want to see how Flo and Effie compare.
The challenge is that Florence Ballard has become one of those mythological figures who people have a love/hate relationship with. It's hard to see her as the human being without saying "she failed to play the music game and got the consequences" or "she was sacrificed at the altar of Berry Gordy's and Diana Ross's quest for glory".
This appears to be a self-published adaptation of a master's thesis. I have to give the author a lot of credit. I feel that he put in good work to get this published in the '80s and he has taken on the task of trying to research Florence when others would not. I don't know how much work he put into trying to put this into book form. It's only 75 pages or so. The first 15-20 are mostly rehashing history of Motown stuff, a story that has been told more skillfully elsewhere. The last ten pages or so is a summary of what was a short book.
If you're a Supremes completist it's probably worth owning this book used to support further research on the group. Otherwise, most readers can gain what they need from treating the summary at the end as an above average magazine article or borrowing a library or used copy of the book.
As far as what new info there is, I feel that the best things are opening the door on some of Flo's legal troubles post-Supremes. From what is told here, it sounds that Flo made a poor choice in a husband/manager and made a horrible choice in a lawyer who embezzled funds from her. Yes, Motown probably blackballed her. There's some heresy in this book that leads you to believe that. But it's tragedy that when Flo desperately needed someone to trust, noone was available to help her transition.
Motown exploited its artists hunger for stardom in some very exploitive relationships. Florence Ballard is a tragic casualty of Motown. But in some ways Diana Ross doesn't appear to be that happy either. I'm going to have to read Mary Wilson's biography to get what is probably a better perspective.
I applaud the author's efforts, and I hope that better biographies on Florence or group biographies on some of the other tragic soul figures of the 60s and 70s will emerge in new popular interest in the area.
3 stars
--SD
Books:
- Get Organized Without Losing It (Free Spirit Laugh & Learn Series)
- God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time
- Grace Under Fire: Letters of Faith in Times of War
- Happy Never After : A Callahan Garrity Mystery
- Harmony in Context
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
- Hell Hath No Fury (Multiverse, Book 2)
- History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Complicated Shadows: The Life and Music of Elvis Costello
- The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
- Secret Prey
- Of Love and Russia: The Eleven-Year Fight for My Husband and Freedom
- The Art and Science of Digital Compositing
- The Microbial Challenge: Human-Microbe Interactions
- Ten Things I Learned from Bill Porter
- Munakata Shiko: Japanese Master of the Modern Print
- Self-Portrait with Turtles: A Memoir
- Pizza and Motars: Ba- Muoi-Ba & Body Bags
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)
Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 3)
The Second Summer of the Sisterhood (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 2)
It's Not Easy Being Mean (Clique Series)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Book 1)
