The real James Dean?

Advantages: Interesting insight into Dean's life.
Disadvantages: Can't think of any.

...I don't know if anyone will ever know the real truth behind the facade of the late James Dean but this book is one of many biographies I have read about the actor and has a reality to it that I haven't found in others. The enigmatic James Dean is now a figure of iconic status but what was he really like?The author of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" ,Paul Alexander,claims to tell us just that. The book is in sections ranging from Dean's birth and early childhood to Dean's death in a car crash at the young age of 24 in 1955. The book covers Dean's childhood telling the reader about his relationship with his beloved mother and the huge changes he entailed after her death when he went to live with his aunt and uncle in Fairmount,Indiana.We hear of Dean's strained relationship with his father that left him feeling like a lost soul...

gypsyangel 13.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of James Dean Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Paul Alexander

Was this man another James Dean?

Advantages: Interesting biography of a shortlived talent who never realised his potential
Disadvantages: Rather too much about his family background in the early pages

...The American musician and singer Gram Parsons was in effect rock music's James Dean. He died too young (in 1973, aged 26) to have achieved much, but in going to an early grave he seems to have achieved this iconic status of one of the 20th century's legendary might-have-been-greats if only he had lived longer. ?Born to a wealthy Southern-Gothic family of alcoholics and suicides are the first words of the blurb?. So the odds were rather stacked against him - this is the story of a man who carried the self-destruct gene in his soul. His father committed suicide two days before Christmas Day 1958 while Ingram, to give him his full name, was still a boy. His mother died of acute alcoholic poisoning a few years later, though how much Gram's much-hated stepfather helped her on her way is still hotly debated by surviving members of the family...

JOHNV 08.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Twenty Thousand Roads - David N. Meyer

The Husband by Dean Koontz

Advantages: fast paced, great read, imaginative, interesting characters and plot
Disadvantages: it's over too quick!

...This is a fantastic read, one of my favourite Dean Koontz books and possibly even one of my favourite thriller books of all time. An ordinary guy, Mitch Rafferty, gets a call from his wife whilst he is at work, she has been abducted and her kidnappers demand a two million dollar ransom for her safe return, but of course Mitch does not have that kind of money, however the kidnappers know a place where he can get it. Through desperation of trying to get his loved one back Mitch is lead on an unforgettable journey. This novel is so fast paced that you can't stop yourself from read more and more, Mitch's character is so endearing and you instantly feel sympathy for him, allowing you to relate better to this book than to many other thrillers. Although a slightly clichéd storyline of ordinary guy versus pschopathic villain, Koontz does it...

CLDbizz 11.11.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Husband - Dean Koontz

Home James!

Advantages: 18 tracks of pure brilliance and some wonderful lyrics
Disadvantages: None

...James are probably one of the most under-rated bands of the past 25 years. They formed in Whalley Range, Manchester in 1981. Band members came and went in a flurry of activity until the band came across Tim Booth dancing like a complete loon at a disco they had sneaked into. They invited him to join the band as their dancer (a la Bez in the Happy Mondays) but later he became their vocalist. This 'Best of' collection was released in 1998 and contains eighteen tracks of pure brilliance. Track Listing 1 - Come Home (Flood Mix) 2 - Sit Down 3 - She's a Star 4 - Laid 5 - Waltzing Along (single version) 6 - Say Something 7 - Born of Frustration 8 - Tomorrow 9 - Destiny Calling 10 - Out to get You 11 - Runaground 12 - Lose Control 13 - Sometimes 14 - How was it for You? 15...

david_1967 20.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Best Of James, The - James

Bland, James Bland

Advantages: Playability, Fun, Great Multiplayer
Disadvantages: It's no Goldeneye

...killed trying to use) and mobile vehicles (a rocket firing tank and the unbelievably excellent mini copter). With the combative angst between the two of us, these would either see a 5-0 walk over or a swear induced 4-4 draw (1 level being tied) before the console would go off in disgust of drawing. Although the memory's of the game are fond, I'll be patently honest, they are probably happy mainly due to the fact it was a family thing. I can't remember much of the game (though having not played it in 2 years this may be fair enough) but all I seem to remember are fond things of a slightly ropey looking shooter that was fun but nothing truly special. Even in those days there was better games available (MOH, Killzone) but yet this one always had us coming back. No reason why, maybe it was still the fact we could be James Bone, or maybe it was...

iamasadlittleboy 08.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of James Bond 007: Nightfire (PS2)

Which way to Kyffin?

Advantages: Best album of 2006 hands down ; Lyrical perfection ; The break has done wonders to the Mancis powerhouse; A real treat to see live ; Flows like a book really, each song is a chapter
Disadvantages: Extremely underrated and addictive

...It's like from that film, 'He's merely miss-cast the play, he's got the ability to do anything he wants to do, but he can't find anything he really wants to do.' Those being the words spoken by James Dean Bradfield when asked about the meaning of his song 'The Wrong Beginning', orientated around the musical career of his missing bandmate Richey Edwards. You'd be of course naive to think of The Great Western as a political/protest album with the usual rawness of power chords, menacing solos and catchy rhythms. The Great Western, to me is a reflection, James Dean Bradfield reflecting on his musical career and paying homage to those who made it possible and so unique. Now when I first heard that James Dean Bradfield was going to on a huge nationwide tour I just had to grab some Cardiff tickets, going through...

darkangelwing 26.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of Great Western, The - James Dean Bradfield

Dean Koontz - Icebound

Advantages: Good thriller that's worth a read
Disadvantages: Not his usual horror story

...I got this book from my local library as i spend quite a bit of time travelling on the train now and need something to do, and books are soooooo expensive when you read them in like two days. So whilst browsing the shelfs in the library i'm looking at the Koontz books and most of them i've read, but not this one so i get it on loan. This book was not what i was expecting and is totally different to what i know and respect Dean koontz for. I like Dean koontz for his horror stories that make Steven Kings look weak, but are not as good as Richard Laymon (if you haven't read any of his, do so you will not be disappointed!!!), however this book is totally different but not in a bad way. It is more of a thriller book than a horror, but still a damn good read and at times difficult to put down. The basic story is that a widespread drought is...

markyeadon 10.07.2007 (19.07.2007) · Read review
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Review of Icebound - Dean Koontz

James Wellbeloved

Advantages: Gluten, wheat free, dogs enjoy it and look great on it
Disadvantages: slightly high priced

...Feed this to 5 of our border collies. Very good quality food and really good for dogs whos stomachs get upset easily, no wheat and gluten or un-natural preservatives that can irritate a dogs diestive system. A good variety of flavours are available and different foods to suit your dog which James Wellbeloved will help you choose the right food to suit your dog. The dogs all enjoy it and have shiney healthy coats, and what comes out the other end is as it should be rather than slightly loose. Also they don't itch and scratch like some foods can cause dogs to do. James well belovd offer a really good breeders scheme and are helpfull when ever we have contacted them offering sampes of their food to try before we changed our dogs over onto it to see if they liked it and if it agreed with them. They also offer support if you need any...

Hsaxo 18.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of James Wellbeloved

My heart belongs to him, once more! Dean Koontz Relentless

Advantages: Pace, characters, thrill.
Disadvantages: Not long enough

...I have always been a Koontz fan. I read my first novel at nine years old, and have read everything in print, from this bestselling novelist. However in recent years I have felt his work has lacked heart, direction, and 'meat'. The stories were always exciting and fast paced, don't get me wrong, but they seemed so formulaic. It was as if he had re-read some of his earlier work and morphed them into one book, with no depth to the characters (unusual for Dean) and I have to admit, after reading 'Your heart Belongs to Me' I began to question whether it was time for Dean to put down his well used pen and retire in the Californian sunshine. Then Relentless appeared in print, and made me consider the fact that Dean may never be ready to stop telling stories. Nor am I ready for him to stop. The characters are loveable, and of course, once...

alaynasmummy 21.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of Relentless - Dean Koontz

The Name Was Hunt, James Hunt

Advantages: A fascinating and intelligent account of the life of a sporting great
Disadvantages: The subject nature will perhaps put off those unfamiliar with Formula 1

...noughties. The 70s were politically turbulent, gaudy, vulgar and very difficult, but they were also energetic, abrasive and exciting years, years when things could get done without the need to jump through an assault course of hoops and people could tell others what they really thought of them (within reason) without inviting an immediate thumping by the passive-aggressive heavies of political correctness. Formula 1 in the 70s was as much a reflection of its time as it is now: it was loud, grubby, slightly chaotic, brash and very very dangerous. It also necessarily produced driving stars that were cut from a somewhat rougher cloth than that from which derives many of our sweet-young-things of the present. James Hunt, for those who still have youth on their side, was one of Britain's most famous and talked-about sports stars of the 1970s. He...

Templar19 28.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of James Hunt - Gerald Donaldson