Bean Spasms - Ted Berrigan

Advantages: Ultimatly life-affirming
Disadvantages: Hard to obtain in England (try the Internet)

...I prefer American poets. British poets are too self-obsessed and parochial. Of all Modern American Poets, Jim Carroll is the most emotionally direct. While some of his early work can be contextually obscure, his heart always comes through. Carroll’s creativity pulled him through protracted Heroin addiction in the 70s. He became an over-night star in New York’s underground poetry scene, buoyed up on praise from contempories Patti Smith and Ted Berrigan and rave reviews from the legendary Jack Kerouac. His unquenchable lust for expression led him to become a luminary of the New York punk scene in the 80s; his song ‘People Who Died’ widely considered a seminal work from that period. This is a man for whom words are more than a living, they are a life. His work combines the raw hunger of the street with an unpretentious spirituality... Read review

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Advantages: Entertaining, fascinating, and thoroughly readable
Disadvantages: Not for the faint-hearted

...Ted Bundy has fascinated me for years. In fact, I am fascinated by nearly all serial killers. It is as though I would like to probe their minds just to find out what makes them tick. What on earth went wrong? Why would someone have the desire to commit such horrible crimes? Ted Bundy was, and remains, a riveting figure. I well remember his highly publicized execution. I also remember the famous court trial and interviews prior to his day of reckoning. Ann Rule probes the psyche of Ted Bundy better than anyone else possibly could. She first knew Ted as a co-worker and friend at a crisis center. His apparent charm and affability hid well the secretive double life that he was leading. Later, Ted became known to Ann Rule through her close workings with the Washington Police Bureau and her job as a freelance writer for true... Read review

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Advantages: You learn alot about the world
Disadvantages: Will leave you wanting more

...I first came across Ted Simon when watching the Long Way Round, and after finishing watching that i craved more, and was very far from disappointed when i gave this a try, especially since this was the book that sparked the whole idea. From page one i could put it down without feeling that i was missing out on a fantastic adventure. Ted Simon is an extremely generous author, and holds nothing back as he describes his epic 4 year experience. You'll finish this book craving more and with an amazing sense of pleasure of the world we live in as it paints picture that would have failed without the kindness and generosity of people from the all over the entire world. If you liked the long way round, you are guaranteed to love this.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful