Through Frankie's Eyes. What a wonderful book.
924236
I have to say this is one of the best books that I read in a long time. It was very inspirational and I could not get through the book without crying. It taught me a lot also about myself and there are many more things in my life that I wanna be able to do.

 I loved how Barbara's dedication towards her pets were. Pure and unconditional love. I know I would have done almost the same things in order to try to help my doxie Lucy Faith. She has been one of my best friends for over ten years.

 I highly recommend this book if you are a "true" animal lover like myself or if you are looking for ways to make more out of your life!!!
1329098
I had resisted reading this book when it was published because I liked Frank Sinatra and did not want to see him trashed as might be expected by a "disgruntled" ex employee. Hoever, it was highly recommended by a credible friend so I bought it from Amazon. As it turned out I devoured the book in very little time and the author, George Jacobs, is hardly disgruntled, rather he is respectful and saddened and presents his former boss in a very sympathtic, very inside way. As Sammy Davis, Jr.'s biographer (Yes I Can and Why Me? and Photo By Sammy Davis, Jr.)I knew many of the personalities in this book and was aware of many of the situations Mr. Jacobs reveals so clearly and accurately. Some of it is shocking, probably only possible because the people are dead and cannot sue. But he is accurate on the things I knew about so I have to assume he is on the money all the way. It was a wonderful page turning read. Highly recommended to anyone interested in this subject matter.

Burt Boyar
1872085
I loved this book. Carlys honesty, bravery and poetic soul were all evident. Couldnt put it down.
4227579
What a wonderful book. I loved it, so many examples of people feeling the benefit of Raphael, he's truly real. A highly recommended read, it will lift your heart and soul.
3556189
F-loved this book!!! Frankie! And deacon!!!! JUST THE TIP! Ugh. This book grabs your emotions. I freaked when I read about Frankie and what happened but I felt for deacon when he pleaded with her at her birthday party because he cared for her and wasn't gonna keep it from her any longer! Go pick up this book!!!!
1912062
This is a wonderful book, full of heart and music. What's even more wonderful is to keep YouTube open on your computer and listen to each piece as Frankie Presto mentions or plays it. Your spirit will soar.
4425209
I loved this book. At first I was a little confused as it begins with teenage Kip and his twin brother Francis in story one and then jumps to Stanzi in the present,  but when I realized how it is written I quite enjoyed this style of reaching straight to another generation and then back again to the previous character in each chapter. It covers a great many years beginning at the start of WW2 which is how the cover photo takes place. Kip is the mainstay of the book really and with his parents and brother Francis and sister Connie. The story of this family and the neighbours in all the stories, unfolds gradually reaching to the explaination of the photo.  It is quite a heart warming novel and we read the hardships and joys these families live through.  It's hard to write too much about the story lines without revealing too much. There are some very sad moments but all in all I found I was so glad I read it and I am sure most readers would find it hard to fault.  The Author discovered this photograph and decided to write to a book based around it.
4085853
What a a wonderful book, my goodness. I loved both Asher and Permilia so much that, having just finished the book, I can't stop smiling. The book was hilarious and extremely well thought out. I almost didn't read it do to the few, more negative reviews, but I'm so glad that I erred more on Mrs. Turano's reputation and picked the novel up because it was a joy and a hoot to read. If I could give this wonderful novel ten stars, I would, but since I unfortunately cannot, Five Stars it is. The book deserved it.
3532796
I just finished reading this wonderful book a few hours ago.  The book is so well written, so full of honesty and family anecdotes, it make me feel almost as if I were a member of the Waller family.  Maurice Waller (Fats' son) has written a classic, seminal book about the greatest pianist/singer/comedian/actor/composer of the twentieth century.  I place Fats' untimely death at age 39 in the same category in terms of the tragedy and loss to the world of music, as the tragic death of George Gershwin in his 30's.  (Gershwin and Fats were good friends, by the way.  It was Gershwin who suggested to Fats that he study counterpoint and harmony with Godowsky).  There are so many good things to say about this book that I wouldn't have room to list them all.  Maurice Waller, born in 1927, should in my opinion win a Pulitzer prize for this book.  I have already begun ordering CD's ...in order to better appreciate this great man's musical output.  Fats was taken under J.P. Johnson's wing when Fats was 16 and J.P. Johnson was 26. Fats himself personally taught Count Basie how to play the organ.  Fats was a truly wonderful human being. Over 10,000 people came to his funeral in Harlem when died in 1943.  Thank you, Maurice Waller, for writing this monumental book about a monumental man.
1243326
I thought 'Tis was a magnificent book and a great complement to Angela's Ashes.  Frank McCourt has many strengths.  He has the ability to incorporate dialogue into his story and keep the flow extremely smooth.  When reading 'Tis I felt like McCourt and all of his friends were acting out their lives in front of me.  The images McCourt created were so vivid.  Even though McCourt and I come from different backgrounds I could relate to many of his feelings, his uneasiness with dancing, his approach to education.  I felt like his feelings were so honest, he included the "good" and "bad" things he felt, from being faithful to his mother to the women at the refugee camp.  'Tis is a story about human nature, with none of the facts or feelings left out, it is painfully honest.  McCourt's humor is also unmistakable, his Irish blood shines through his writing!  I enjoyed reading about his teaching experiences.  I am a student, and I was reminded that teachers have families, pasts, and lives as well as their students.  On completing the book, I read a review by Robert Sullivan (Vogue) that was a perfect example of how I felt throughout the book "...funny, sad as hell, written with sentences that seem to come from the dream you wish you hadn't woken up from..."  The book's ending disturbed me in that I am still hungry to find out the next chapter of McCourt's life.  I'm wondering what happened after Stuyvesant, what happened to Alberta?  Maggie?
1411902
This is a beautifully written book.
So descriptive that the pictures of all the characters and places are crystal clear.
Amazing study of animal behaviour laced into a lovely story.
I would recommend this book to animal lovers and children.
Thank you for the pleasure.
Fran"
2396990
I jumped at the chance to read this without so much as looking at the blurb, all I saw was that it had been written by Freya North, I read The Way Back Home and loved it, not just the book but her writing style and I knew I would enjoy this book just as much. There's just something so comforting and completely familiar about North's writing, it makes you feel like you are sitting down with an old friend. And that's what I found when I opened up the book and slipped between the pages.

By the time I had read 70 pages I was completely hooked. I found myself unable to step away, I was so compelled to read about Scott and Frankie's relationship that before I knew it I had been reading for 3 hours and was already over half way through the book. At this point I knew there was no setting this book down, I needed to see how things were going to progress. This book grabbed hold of me with both hands and wouldn't let me go until I had read it in its entirety. And read it I did.

This book is so beautifully written, filled with emotion and descriptive text that allow you to feel as though you are there alongside Scott and Frankie, looking out over the mountains in Canada, or walking along the beach in Norfolk.
398116
The more I reflect on this book, the more I like it.  As I first started reading it, I really did not like Rafe.  I truly was disgusted by him, his thoughts and actions.  But I also believe that is a sign of a good story/writer, when they can make you feel strongly about a character.  So I did not give up on Rafe.  And his transformation was well worth the wait.  I loved what he said and how he acted towards Frankie.

Frankie, I loved her from start to finish.  She is someone I could be friends with because a lot of her beliefs are the same as mine.  She is a beautiful character who knows what is important in life and she stuck with her virtues.

The chemistry between Frankie and Rafe was instantaneous and hot.  I laughed at Frankie's inner dialogs as Ms. Francesca.  The book club ladies were a hoot.  And I am hoping with the way the epilogue read that we will be getting a little more from the town of Wilcox.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the author.
3781519
One of the most wonderful books I've read in a long time. The complexity and perspective of Ted's character was riveting both for Bill, the other main character, and  also for the reader. Believing that life is not a dress rehearsal, Ted is in no danger of getting to the end of his life with any regrets for all the things he didn't do as so many people do. And it was this spirit of adventure Ted gave to Bill. Personally, I dread 'good-byes' and started holding back tears from the end-of-season pool party. As Ted wisely said; "We were both at the same crossroads .It was only natural for us to take the same path for a while." A thoughtful and interesting book to be read many times.
4927577
I really loved this book and hated to see it end. Ms. Hyde has written about a lovely and wise older man who traveled in his motor home with two young boys. It's the dialogue between him and the two youngsters that is so enchanting. The ending of the story is so heartwarming I can only hope for a sequel.
120535
What a BEAUTIFUL book!!!!! What a sweet description of life, full of soul and sensuality. This is exactly what I expected to find in between the book covers of a poem book written by Jen Circosta. Thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing it with everyone.
1799030
What a wonderful book!!  How awful was this race treated??  There is a lot of love showing in this book.