DOC Paradigm Islands: Manhattan and Venice: Discourses on Architecture and the City by Teresa Stoppani in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Love Ms. Loves BookBy Francie NolanMan; what a cool person Ms. Love is. There are many things I enjoyed about this book and her story. One thing I loved is that she didnt get involved with drugs and alcohol! Thats rife in rock n roll memoirs. I actually cant think of one off the top of my head that didnt have at least a chapter of the celebritys life given over to a life of dissipation. (Im no saint. I had many chapters of dissipation! So I love when people dont fall that way.) I also loved that she didnt run around. She was true blue. And she always spoke her mind to Phil Spector or whoever. Love; love; love that.She cracked me up describing the dancing skills of Mick Jagger and...I cant remember now; maybe Freddy and the Dreamers. I remember watching that guy on Ed Sullivan doing just as she said; flapping his arms like a disabled ostrich. Too funny.A lot of scoops about so many musicians and singers and rock stars in this book; so thats fun; too.She is so talented. I totally understood her sometimes feeling like Tony Bennett singing back-up to Frank Sinatra. She was as good if not almost always better than the singers she backed-up; so it was good to see she had such faith in God because certainly God knew the challenges he sent her would give her the opportunity to evolve her soul. Although I was sorry to read she felt if shed had more faith; a certain tragedy would not have happened early in her marriage. I dont believe in a cruel God. An incomprehensible one; yes; but not cruel. But I respect her feelings on this matter.And this woman has such a way with words! I dont have my Kindle with me to quote her; but early on in the book shes describing a room in a mansion as having "good posture" and I thought; Oh my gosh; how perfect. She does these kind of original takes throughout the book that I totally loved.I loved her description of Dionne Warwicks music as boarding-school soul. So perfect. Thats it!!The only reason I dont give this five stars is because I got bored with the family details. I love that she loves her family; but I really just wanted to read about Ms. Love and her career and not so much about her kids and family. Some yes; but not as much as there was. But let me add that some people will love that view into her life. Its just me Im talking about.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful StoryBy Richard A. RootAt the start; why didnt I give it 5-stars? Because this book is an update of an autobiography that ends in the mid-1990s; and is fantastic up until that point. Since then; Ms. Love was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; and has continued to enjoy a great comeback. This information is included in a very brief "update" chapter.Except for that; I would give this book a 5-star rating. I was enthralled with her story from the start to the finish. She gives both a fascinating story of coming from an extremely religious family to life as a backup-singer whose songs are known around the world. I am a former disc jockey in an oldies club; and was well aware of Ms. Loves contributions to many of these songs. However; I was stunned by many of the songs that shed sung backup on that I never knew of her contributions. For example; The Monster Mash. If you love the music of the late 1950s; 1960s and early 1970s this is a great book for you. Id also encourage you to read The Wrecking Crew; another great book of the instrumental artists that Ms. Love worked with behind the scenes of the great hits of this era.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. INCOMPLETE LOVEBy art aratinLet me start with this: I LOVE DARLENE LOVE. She has been a favorite singer of mine since she started recording. I was thrilled to see her on the Oscar telecast and I loved 20 FEET FROM STARDOM. I liked MY NAME IS LOVE; but could only give it four stars instead of five. It was well-written; but it was incomplete. Missing was a musical adaptation (called a "popera") of William Shakespeares OTHELLO at Los Angeles Ahmanson Theatre. Jerry Lee Lewis was the headliner as Iago with Gloria Jones as his wife; Bianca. Darlene Love was not only Jones understudy and standby; but also had her own part in the show with the Blossoms. This was a major theatrical event in Los Angeles and should not have gone unmentioned. Then there was a movie; MADE TO ORDER; that was taken from Loves life story. It was only a subplot; but there was a maid played by Merry Clayton; who had been a hit singer early on. And gets rediscovered by one of the other maids and gets her back into singing. Merry Claytons singing was the best part of the movie. Important enough items that should have been mentioned in the book.