Music From Big Pink is a moving book that succeeds not just in vividly evoking its time and place but in distilling one young mans cliched and minor destiny into something approaching tragedy....This well-written first novel captures not just some of the dreams of that bygone era; but the way those dreams died. -Greg Kamiya; The New York Times Book ReviewMusic From Big Pink is faction: real people like Richard Manuel; Rick Danko; Bob Dylan and Albert Grossman rub shoulders with fictional characters and actual; documented events thread their way through text alongside imagined scenarios. Through the eyes of 23-year-old Greg Keltner; drug-dealer and wannabe musician; we witness the gestation and birth of a record that will go on to cast its spell across five decades - bewitching and inspiring artists as disparate as The Beatles; Eric Clapton; Travis; Wilco and Mercury Rev. Booksellers contact reviews@continuum-books.com for a reading copy; while supplies last!
#1140962 in eBooks 2014-09-15 2014-11-21File Name: B00PZ7QFPC
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Interesting in spots; dry in others...By Cynthia K. RobertsonPlanning a trip to George Washington’s Mount Vernon; I decided to do a little research by reading George Washington’s Mt. Vernon: At Home in Revolutionary America by Robert F. Dalzell; Jr. and Lee Baldwin Dalzell. Although interesting in spots; I thought that George Washington’s Mt. Vernon was a slow read that often went off on uninteresting tangents. Also; the body of the book was only 54% of the total (not that this was a quick read).George Washington was the oldest son of Augustine Washington and his second wife; Mary. George inherited all of Mt. Vernon upon the death of his half-brother; Lawrence; and Lawrence’s wife and only child. Mt. Vernon reveals “a great deal about him precisely because he put so much of himself into it. From 1754 until his death in 1799; there was never a time when he was not at work on the place.†Even while off fighting the Revolutionary War; he continued to send detailed instructions on what he wanted done while he was away. He rebuilt the house twice; doubling its size each time. Washington constantly bought neighboring farms to increase the size of his property. He also spent much time and money ordering items for the interiors including furniture; dinnerware; curtains; etc. The authors break the book into sections that include the building and revisions to Mt. Vernon; as well as the builders including Slavers and Overseers; Artisans; Undertakers and Managers; Uses of a Great House; and what Washington stipulated for Mt. Vernon upon his death. George Washington’s Mt. Vernon is filled with photographs; drawings; floor plans; surveys and maps.For anyone who has built or done renovations to a house; you will find comfort in the fact that George Washington had the same problems with contractors and workers during his many projects that you may have experienced in the present day. Through the many letters that survive from Washington’s time; “What comes through the records most clearly; however; is that Washington was a demanding master and employer; and most of those working for him did not meet his standards.â€When Washington died; he divided his estate among various extended family and thus assured that his heirs would not be able to successfully keep and operate Mt. Vernon. “By mandating Mt. Vernon’s demise; Washington made it pure and simply his home; not a monument to him; or a memorial to anything.†Thank goodness the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association purchased the mansion from John Augustine Washington; III in 1858. Today; Mt. Vernon probably looks better than it did any time in the 1800s. I’m looking forward to a future visit.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. a good insight to the life of Washington through his homeBy Jason GThis is really an architectural biography; that is a story of the life of Washington through his public and private spaces. Mount Vernon; the estate and house; has long been seen as an archetype of colonial America; yet this work exists to show just how unusual Washington was and how unusual his estate was.Drawing on extensive use of primary sources; the authors have made the case that Washingtons working estate was intended to be a public location for showing how a private life could be lived well; with late 18th century virtue at its heart.The authors do not ignore the role that slave labor played at Mt. Vernon; nor Washingtons changing attitudes. Mostly what they accomplish with this work is to show and flesh out in greater detail how this estate; and its evolving history; to 1799; was used to create and demonstrate what the new American Republic could be.Washington might be surprised at the attention to detail that the preservation of Mt. Vernon has today. He would not be surprised that it is a public space; welcoming to people from across the land. He might be surprised at its attention today; froze in amber in 1799; as it remained a working estate; constantly changing; to be used and grown for economic output in his day.This is a readable; well researched history that fleshes out Washington and the important role that Mt. Vernon played in his life.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. George Washington insightsBy Old SailorWe learn from this book a great deal about George Washington the man; as well as his beloved estate; Mount Vernon. It was a surprise to learn Mount Vernon was more than just a residence; it was a working farm of up to 3000 acres. Crops ranged from tobacco; then wheat; corn and flax as well as good quality wool. Fish from the Potomac were salted and sold; wheat was ground to meal and to flour; all requiring a large pool of labour; mainly slaves. Even when General Washington was away at the revolutionary war; he wrote letters home with his instructions for repairs; maintenance; etc at Mount Vernon. His attention to detail was such that he may have been a somewhat difficult person to work for. We also learn that Washingtons two stepchildren both died at an early age; and that he never had children of his own. He also stated that upon his death; all his slaves were to be freed. We are also reminded that General Washington was over six foot two in height; so he must have been a commanding figure. both as General and as President.
