Kill Me

Book Description

He has chosen to die and signed a contract with the right people to make it happen. Everything will go as planned, even if he changes his mind. Which he has. And all he can do now is keep looking over his shoulder.

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This one is different New York Times bestselling author Stephen White has written a new breed of thriller. Throw out everything you think you know about twists, turns, and surprises. Get ready for the next big thing. Get ready to meet the Death Angels. We've all been there. A loved one or a dear friend becomes desperately ill or is tragically injured. Someone-maybe even you-says, 'If that ever happens to me, I wish someone would just . . . kill me." What if you could choose when to die? But once you decide, you can't change your mind. Ever. No matter what. Welcome to the next step in the evolution of suspense fiction, to an in-your-face/what-would-you-do? topical thriller. Kill Me is a brilliantly conceived roller-coaster ride that zeros in on some of the most contentious issues of our time, the human yearning for connection between the choices we make about our lives and deaths. Intelligent and relentlessly paced, Kill Me is the smart kind of read that fans have come to expect from Stephen White. Kill Me brings Alan Gregory face-to-face with the most challenging case of his career. As always, White's characters are indelible and the dialogue is dead-on, but Kill Me is fresh and thought provoking in a way that's so uncommon in crime fiction. Kill Me delivers on all the promise of White's earlier work and then raises the bar in an unforgettably inventive tale of life and death. This is the book that you won't be able to put down, but more to the point, this is the book that won't go away after readers have raced to the last page. Readers will be asking each other: 'What would you do?" 'If you could sign up-really-would you?"

Customer Reviews:

Different and Good.......2007-09-04

Mr. Rich Guy has it made...more money than he needs, a great wife and two little girls, a plane, two houses, etc, etc. After a skiing accident with his buddies, he tells them all if he's ever really seriously injured or ill, pull the plug. One of these buddies tells him about the Death Angels. Rich Guy thinks about it and ends up signing the contract which has client-driven parameters--once you cross the line, there's no turning back.

Alan Gregory is not the main character for a change. The bulk of the story is written in first person as the Rich Guy (he's never given a name) goes through the alleged end of his life, the surprise at his front door, and his dealings with a woman he meets. Alan's small part is also written in first person. A really different concept for a book cleverly told with bits of the author's dry humor here and there.

A change of pace for White.......2007-09-04

This is a departure from White's normal series about psychologist DR. Alan Gregory. In this book, Dr. Gregory is a minor character. The narrator is Chuck, who is seeing Dr. Gregory to try to come to terms with life decisions he has made. One of which is to contract to have his life end when/if he becomes terminal and can no longer make end-of-life decisions for himself.

It seems there is an organization, he refers to them as the Death Angels who contract to take care of things and make them look like an accident, so the family doesn't need to know what the terminal patient was up to. Once the payments have been made, and the contract signed and all the parameters listed, there is no going back.

But Chuck is in his 40s, with a wife he loves and two wonderful little girls. He soon finds that he has a son by an encounter when he was 23. Adam is brilliant, perceptive and a loner. Chuck lives a reckless lifestyle, helio skiing, diving, racing cars, surfing, and all kinds of x-treme adventures.

He is just getting to know his son, when he is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.

Now the race begins. He wants to connect with Adam, one more time, to let him know how much he meant to him. But the contract has been initiated and Chuck is on the run, trying to find Adam, trying to tie up loose ends with his wife and daughters and trying to avoid getting killed before he finishes his quest. He enlists the aid of one of the Death Angels, herself on the run from her own cohorts because of her cancer. The two travel from Colorado to New Haven, having tracked Adam in a hospital there.

What happens next is pure Stephen White. Tense, poignant, and sad all at the same time.

The absence of Dr. Gregory doing all the investigative work in this novel was a unique plot twist. One that was enjoyable to read. But I do prefer Dr. Gregory out on the front lines.

Amazing! Impossible to put down!.......2007-08-05

Ok. so once i found the book at the book store i thought the title was kind of well.... you know what im getting at.

i mean a thriller with the title "kill me" cant seem to be absolutly breath taking. Every thriller has death.

But then it dawned on me that this book wasnt all about the title or the fact that i wasnt giving it a huge chance.

(for all you stephen white fans, this was my first time reading him)

but regardless.

this book was impossible to put down.

once crique says buy this for a weekend you'll sure breeze through it quickly.

im sorry but it took me a day and a half at most.

the book was so good.

so raw and full of good plotting and character climaxes.

the characters had heart. could relate to anyone reading the book.

there's huge twists and turns in the book.

at one pont you think you might have an idea what will happen but then at the end you'll deff. be suprised.

i reccomend this book 100%

like i said titles can be decieiving. DUH.

but anywhoo.....

buy the book.

you'll appreciate the title well more after you read the book. haha i did.

ok ok ill stop rambling. im reading a new book now hope i enjoy it just as much.

Atypical White but still good.......2007-07-29

At first glance, Stephen White's Kill Me might seem to be another in his series of well-written mysteries featuring psychologist Alan Gregory. After all, Gregory is a character and the story does involve a group of professional killers. It doesn't take long, however, to see that this is anything but a typical Stephen White novel.

Kill Me is for the most part narrated by an unnamed character who is a very successful businessman. In his early forties, the narrator is wealthy, has a happy marriage and a great daughter and spends a lot of time indulging in extreme sports. After a friend is severely injured, the narrator says that he would rather be dead than suffer in a vegetative or substantially disabled state. This leads him eventually to the Death Angels, a secret business who offer a form of insurance: if he is in a situation that he cannot recover from, they will end his life in a manner that looks like an accident. The only thing is, once he enters into the contract, it is irrevocable.

Soon enough, he finds out that he does have a situation that threatens to be disabling. The problem is that he has found out he has a teenaged son from a long-ago fling, and their relationship is tenuous. When the son disappears, the narrator is intent on achieving some closure before he is killed. Unfortunately, the Death Angels are not interested in his plans. As a result, he must evade these very skilled killers until he can fix things with his son.

This is not a standard suspense story and fans of Stephen White may be disappointed if they are only expecting another Alan Gregory mystery. (Gregory does have a small role in this novel, but he is a secondary character.) While the elements of suspense and mystery are there, this seems to be a more character-driven than plot-driven story, and has deeper themes than is typical of the genre, in particular with its rather off-beat approach to assisted suicide (which is essentially what the Death Angels are all about). While White does deliver another good book in his series of good books, you should go into this one with a more open mind.

Favorite author; not a favorite read.......2007-07-17

Stephen White is one of my favorite authors but this was definitely not one of my favorite books. It started great with a really good premise that would set the reader into a completely new backdrop for a mystery thriller. There was no formula plot-line here! Midway through the book is where it gets murky. The protagonists seem to spend a lot of time talking the main character out of an idea he was absolutely gung-ho about that they themselves had presented as their best service to mankind in the two previous chapters. I understand this was needed in order to carry the plot and a lot was being asked of the reader to suspend one's better judgment, but after two pages I wanted to scream, "Alright already, we get it!" I have to agree with some other critics that the tunnel scenes were pretty loopy as well. Other than that it is a good book. If reading White for the first time, I would recommend one of his earlier books.

How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me: One Person's Guide to Suicide Prevention

Average customer rating:

Thank you, Susan!
Just what I wanted
Essential reading
Not So Helpful Overall
Dangerous assumptions

How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me: One Person's Guide to Suicide Prevention
Susan Rose Blauner
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0066211212
Release Date: 2002-08-06

Book Description

An international epidemic, suicide has touched the lives of nearly half of all Americans, yet is rarely talked about openly. In this timely and important book, Susan Blauner breaks the silence to offer guidance and hope for those contemplating ending their lives -- and for their loved ones.

A survivor of multiple suicide attempts, Blauner eloquently describes the feelings and fantasies surrounding suicide. In a direct, nonjudgmental, and loving voice, she offers affirmations and suggestions for those experiencing life-ending thoughts, and for their friends and family. Here is an essential resource destined to be the classic guide on the subject.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death among the elderly, third among those aged 14-24, and eighth among all Americans. More than 30,000 Americans take their lives annually, and more than 650,000 Americans attempt suicide every year.

In August 2002, Blauner will participate in "Out of the Darkness," the largest ever public awareness event on the topic, in Washington, D.C.

A portion of the book's proceeds will go to the National Hopeline Network/National Suicide Hotline (1-800-SUICIDE).

Customer Reviews:

Thank you, Susan!.......2007-01-31

Susan Blauner's book has helped me immensely. I am so grateful to her for her strength and courage, to stay alive and live so well and share her story, and for being so devoted to helping others do the same.

When I had depression, what helped me the most - despite the fact that I did not actually contemplate suicide - was reading this book and doing the exercises in it (i.e. the "Tricks of the Trade"). I appreciate Susan's clear writing style, her candidness and directness, and her pragmatism. I had been spiraling into depression for weeks, but something "clicked" inside of me when I began reading Susan's words - I realized that helping myself was possible and a worthwhile endeavor! I called in sick to work that day and for the first time, didn't feel guilty and selfish for doing so - I spent the whole day reading the book, and trying Susan's suggestions. I wrote a crisis plan (Trick #3, p. 69), made a "God box" (Trick #7, p. 103), wrote positive affirmations and put them all over my house (Trick #17, p. 165), and called a family member to talk even though asking for help had always been really hard for me (Trick #1, p. 59). It was a great start, and for several days, I carried that book around like a security blanket. One morning I noticed myself start to meltdown "randomly"...and in the past, I wouldn't have known how to stop it, but this time, I went back to the book. I did the "Feelings" and "Feelings vs. Facts" exercises (Tricks #4 and 5, p. 82 and 94), and analyzed what I was thinking and feeling and why. I was able to identify several things that had "triggered" me in the past 12 hours, and thus understood why I was feeling on the verge of a meltdown, and then I was able to see that my feelings were different than the facts. It really worked, and I avoided the meltdown.

When someone I love very much attempted suicide, I immediately bought a copy of Susan's book for him. He has told me it's very helpful, and the book is clear and flows well. I agree - depression clouds the brain, and when just getting out of bed and eating breakfast feels like climbing a mountain, I need simple, clear, gentle words. When I'm deep in depression, I need to read things like step-by-step instructions on how to breathe!! I appreciate how the book teaches coping skills and strategies for people who may not have (m)any.

My depression was situational and I fortunately caught it early before it became very severe. I'm feeling much better now that I've made big lifestyle changes - changes that Susan gave me the courage to make. I'm no longer experiencing depression, but I still refer to Susan's book often, as preventative medicine, in a way. Her philosophies and practices are sound, and help me through rough patches.

I highly recommend How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me to anyone who has depression or cares about someone who has depression.

Just what I wanted.......2006-06-23

When I bought this book I didn't know how it would change my life... It's a lovely book. Susan knows how to be incisive when she needs to, but still she's lovely in this moments. I've considered suicide many times in my life, I'm lucky I never got really to act upon my thoughts...
I've been suffering with depression for years, and now maybe I've found the wall which makes me shift from good mood to bad mood. I think this is the oportunity we all need to see from a different point of view, to get outside our heads and scream that we want help, and that we can help, 'cause we understand.

Essential reading.......2005-11-15

I wish I'd had a copy of this book when I was suicidal. It's full of simple, practical ideas for keeping yourself safe and beginning to feel better. The crisis plan is especially good, and easy to follow even when you find it hard to think straight. The only reason I gave this book four stars rather than five is that I came across it after I'd recovered, and haven't tried out all of its techniques myself - but from my experience of what did help me, they're all excellent.

"How I Stayed Alive..." would also be a useful self-help book for people who self-injure, even if they don't feel suicidal. Most of the suggestions work just as well for getting through the urge to self-harm.

I've heard two main criticisms of this book. The first is that the author wasn't "really" suicidal, but just attention-seeking. I disagree. All suicide attempts should be taken seriously, even if the person's done it many times before, or chooses to get help afterwards. In fact, the more unsuccessful suicide attempts a person has made, the more likely they are statistically to die by their own hand. And seeking medical help after one has taken an overdose can, tragically, be too late. That's why books such as this one are so important, because they help prevent the suicide attempts in the first place. Admittedly, this book is aimed mainly at people whose suicidal thoughts and feelings come and go, and who need help in getting through those difficult times without harming themselves. Someone who is unrelentingly suicidal and not interested in alternative courses of action probably needs to be in hospital, not reading a self-help book.

The other criticism I've heard is that not all the book's suggestions can be used by everyone. That's true. Some people may not have a good friend they can ring up in the middle of the night, while others may not be able to afford therapy. But "How I Stayed Alive..." also contains many techniques that require nothing more than a copy of the book. I'd encourage anyone who uses this book to adapt the crisis plan to their own particular situation, removing any steps that aren't appropriate and adding in anything extra they can think of.

"How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me" should be required reading for anyone who struggles with suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, or self-harm.

Not So Helpful Overall.......2005-04-04

I am thrilled that proceeds from this book are being donated to 1-800-SUICIDE, a very useful resource. It seems the author suffered more from ideation rather than true suicidality; I didn't find any novel ideas for addressing the latter. Many suggestions presuppose the presence of a support system and financial resources, things lacking for many suicidal people. Most of the Tricks are simply common sense and seem trite to a genuinely suicidal reader. Though glad she made it through her difficult times, I'm still looking for a helpful guide for the chronically suicidal folks who are in grave danger of dying at their own hands.

Dangerous assumptions.......2004-11-07

I will start off by admitting I did not read this entire book. As someone who has struggled with severe depression since I was seventeen, the first few chapters made me angry, nauseated, and eventually frightened. This book will serve to fuel prejudice and contempt towards suicidal people, by claiming it's something that can be averted with a lollipop and a pat on the head; a hysterical search for attention. Obviously the writer did have serious emotional difficulties; but most suicides are committed by people with physical, chemical, mental illnesses, as dangerous and as un-asked for as diabetes or cancer. If you want to know WHY, read Kay Redfield Jamison's "Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide". If you want to know how to make it go away, I still don't have an answer, and I can't trust anyone who claims there's an easy one.

Kill Me Twice (The Bullet Catchers, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Book #1 of Bullet Catcher Series
Sensuality and red herrings galore
First in the Bullet Catcher series
A can't put it down read
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!!

Kill Me Twice (The Bullet Catchers, Book 1)
Roxanne St. Claire
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0743477308

Book Description

From bestselling author Roxanne St. Claire comes a sensational new novel of dangerous desires, dark deceptions -- and one drop-dead gorgeous bodyguard.

WATCH YOUR BACK

Alex Romero is the hottest "Bullet Catcher" in the business. Tall, dark, and deadly if necessary, this high-priced bodyguard's got the muscle and the moves -- especially when it comes to the ladies. Alex can keep his beautiful clients out of danger, but sometimes they can't keep their hands off of him. Now Alex has one last chance to prove he belongs among the elite force known as The Bullet Catchers, but his assignment is stacked...against him.

WATCH YOUR HEART

Private investigator Jasmine Adams is fiercely independent and fearless under pressure -- she doesn't need some hunk-for-hire's help to catch the creep stalking her twin sister. But when Jazz uncovers bigger forces targeting her sister for death, she's glad to have Alex's brain and brawn handy. From the steamy streets of Miami to the sultry beaches of Key West, Alex and Jazz try to fight temptation as they race to keep a madman from fulfilling his promise to kill not just once, but twice. And some temptations are too powerful to resist....

First in the new "Bullet Catchers" series by Roxanne St. Claire

Customer Reviews:

Book #1 of Bullet Catcher Series.......2007-06-25

I enjoyed this "thriller type romance." It starts right off and goes. Lots of twists, suspense, not gory and gross stuff either. Bodyguard type romance with a twist. Well written and easy to read and follow without too much concentration. Nice read! Some steam, but not too much. I'm reading book 2 now.

Sensuality and red herrings galore.......2007-05-15

Miami reporter Jessica Adams is about to embark on the big time - a network anchor job in New York. But she stumbles upon a story and calls upon her twin sister Jasmine to take her place for a week while she gets the scoop of a lifetime. Jasmine is a former reporter turned tough as nails PI from California. Taking Jessica's place won't be so easy - especially since her boss hired a sexy hunk of a bodyguard to watch over "Jessica" after she received some menacing fan mail. Bullet catcher Alex Romero is not thrilled to be stuck babysitting, but his libido got in the way of his last assignment, so he is doing penance. He is able to tell right off that he has the wrong twin... where could Jessica be?

But things are not adding up, and when Jessica fails to call Jazz, Alex reluctantly agrees to help investigate, even though doing so could put his job at risk. He does not count on an intense attraction to Jazz, and soon the two are acting on the attraction, while trying to figure out who to trust.

St. Claire's first in the "Bullet Catcher" series (once again, I read them out of order) is a sensuous tale filled with snappy dialogue, red herrings, lots of suspects, and written with frenetic pacing, it keeps the reader glued. Followed by "Thrill me to Death" and "Take Me Tonight." If the first two books are any indication of the quality of the series, this reader will keep tuning in for more.

First in the Bullet Catcher series.......2006-10-02

Alex Romero is given one assignment- to keep Jessica Adams safe, and stay out of her bed. What Alex didn't expect was her twin sister to be the one pretending to be Jessica. Jazz Adams is nothing like her sister the newscaster. She has spunk, and an overly eager sense of determination to find her missing sister, but who can she trust? Before Jessica disappeared, she asked Jazz to pretend to be her and to tell no one who she was. With only Alex on her side, the two must unravel the clues to find Jessica before it is too late.

As my first Roxanne St. Claire novel, it was a fairly decent read. The suspense held throughout the story line. I noticed how so many people mentioned the many twists and turns, I however, did not think they were as cleverly done. Maybe it is just that I read at least a book a day if not two with a good majority being mysteries, but it was a bit predictable to me. Maybe that's because there just weren't enough red herrings to really make the twist a shocker. Even with the predictability on my part though, it was a good romantic suspense. I look forward to reading the next in the bullet catcher series.

Is it worth buying?
Yes, I do feel most people will enjoy this book.

A can't put it down read.......2006-05-02

I read this while at a conference in Arizona--hooked from the start. I ended up waterlogged from a too-long soak in the tub, skipped dinner, and sat in the back of the room pretending to pay attention to the seminars. Twins are normally a hard sell for me (since I have a set of my own) but this one didn't rely on the usual cliches.

Can't wait for the next on. Roxanne's done it again.

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE, DOUBLE YOUR FUN!!.......2006-03-16

What can I say other than to leave yourself plenty of time to pick this book up and NOT put it down until the end!

Kill Me Twice, the first title in a new series, The Bullet Catchers, is a major hit with me--and I love recommending the books that deserve a good following. Terrific twists, characters who will make you laugh, cry, applaud, and a way with words which will leave the reader breathlessly turning pages, is the only way I can describe this book.

The second in the series, Thrill Me To Death, is due out this summer and I can't wait....Susan

Recommended: Christiane Heggan, Gwen Hunter, Chris Grabenstein,
Lee Child, Richard Montanari, Susan Wittig Albert, P.J.Tracy

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk

Average customer rating:

Should be called "The American History of Punk: the First 20 Years..."
If you like the style Hollywood gossip rags, this is for you
Insider storis from the girls in the scene
Fascinating cultural commentary
one of the best rock 'n' roll books out there...

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
Legs McNeil , and Gillian McCain
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0140266909

Amazon.com

Though Britain's notorious Sex Pistols shoved punk rock into the face of mainstream America, the movement was already brewing in the U.S. in the 1960s with bands like the Velvet Underground and Iggy and the Stooges. Through hundreds of interviews with forgotten bands as well as the ones that made names for themselves--including Blondie and the Ramones--Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain chronicle punk rock history through the people who really lived it. Please Kill Me is a thrash down memory lane for those hip to punk's early years and an enlightening history lesson for youngsters interested in the origins of modern "alternative" music.

Customer Reviews:

Should be called "The American History of Punk: the First 20 Years...".......2007-05-21

This is a great book. With it's "directly from the horse's mouth" approach, it gives the story as seen from it's original players. And the author's choice quotes are excellent: amusing, and at the same time highly informative.

But, naturally, there are faults.

First: half of the book isn't about the original Punk Rock itself, but about it's predecessors - MC5, The Stooges, New York Dolls & The Velvet Underground. I personally have nothing against these bands, but some of the space taken up by them should be given to what happened after Punk '77.

Second: English punk, here, is a generally considered a farse. That might be half-true about the Sex Pistols, but what about The Clash? The author also treats Punk's political leanings - a major & defining trait of the style - as something "forced". There's also a very real feeling of resentment of the protagonists of the New York scene towards British punk - a feeling that's shared with the author himself. Brit punks are treated here, most of the time, as usurpers...

The third major fault I find in this book is the complete lack of coverage it gives to 80's and 90's punk. Where is Hardcore (Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains & Discharge)? Where is Oi! music? And what about Crossover (D.R.I., S.O.D.)? And Grindcore? And those platinum-selling punk bands of the nineties (Greenday, The Offspring)? The focus is just too narrow.

I repeat: this is a great book, but know what you're buying.

If you like the style Hollywood gossip rags, this is for you.......2006-11-14

A little about my frame of reference. I was a few years shy of being able to fully partake in the punk experience. Nonetheless, a friend and I were into the Sex Pistols, Ramones, and Clash when the scene was going down. So, you know I love this stuff, and merely talking about it thrills me; however, Please Kill Me overall left me somewhat cold. Let me explain why.

First off, the book is nothing more than a gossip rag. 98% of the interviews focus on sex and drugs. What's missing? The Rock-n-Roll! Groupies are given WAY too much time to speak. If you add up the words by interviewee, it seems like 35% is testimony by groupies. There are gleaming occasions though when you get some real pearls. For example, the MC5 tell all about their famous gig in Chicago. Iggy shares how he wrote the "I got a heart full of Napalm" lyric. Bandmates explain how Iggy got his name. But that still doesn't account for the dross along the lines of "I just thought so-and-so was so cute, but then I thought so-and-so was cute." Pretty pathetic. There was some major editing to be done here. I mean, why is there testimony from Bebe Buell about her affair with Jack Nicholson?

Next off, the book limits its scope to a handful of focal bands - and mostly how they relate to New York City. These bands include Velvet Underground, Iggy and the Stooges, MC5, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Ramones, New York Dolls, Dead Boys, Heartbreakers, Television, and the Sex Pistols. I am sure that everyone has at least one favorite punk that was left out, so I don't see the point in complaining about that; however, Please Kill Me sees everything through the lens of the New York City scene and tends to dismiss anything happening outside of New York or, equally, denigrate other scenes as New York derivatives. It could have been that way, but I don't think it is a fully accurate depiction. There is certainly some distorting bias of the editors here.

Next, there seems to be some issues with facts in the book. Several others have mentioned some. For one, I was peeved that Legs McNeil, the author, took a lot of pride in claiming that he was the father of the term "punk" as applied to the culture. It's pretty well documented that Lester Bangs did this about 6 years prior - and Legs was friends with Lester, so the chance to steal the term was certainly there.

If you are a real fan of punk, this book will not be an entire waste of time, but I can't help but feel that there are many better books. I am currently looking for those. But Please Kill Me will, at the very least, give you an idea of the personalities of the focal people. It will not give you insight to the punk movement from a philosophical or artistic point of view. Like I said, it is merely a gossip rag.

Insider storis from the girls in the scene.......2006-11-06

All the interview are so intriguing, but most of the interesting stories are transplanted into rocumentary films like Punk Attitude or End of Century-the biography of the Ramones, let stand one of the authors, Legs McNeil is in these films. So I assume most of the artists talking/being talked in this book; Iggy Pop & the Stooges, velvet Underground, Patti Smith, New York Dolls, Ramones, Richard Hell, Dead Boys, etc, etc...., if they have their own rocumentary films, main stories talked in this book are in them.

But what I found interesting was the stories from the groupies, or girlfriends so to speak, like Cylinda Foxe(David Johansen's ex-girl friend/wife, married to Steven Tyler), Bebe Buell(Todd Langren's ex-girl frined, Patti Smith's friend, mother of actress Liv Tyler)and Connie, who was a crazy street hooker who was with Arther Kane and Dee Dee Ramones. There so many other inspiration to this book, but to me, their stories are something really fresh, giving more atmosphere of the late 1970's New York and its scenes, kind of like, insider story.

Fascinating cultural commentary.......2006-10-26

"Please Kill Me" is a fascinating book that describes the origins of Punk but in my opinion goes beyond that - its a vivid commentary on the art and personalities emerging in the post-hippy era, a sharp inflection point giving birth to two decades of revitalized hard rock and gutter culture (a term I do not employ derisively).

I love the format, noting names emerging and passing with their relevance and influence. While the narrative is formed from disjoint quotes, the history is delivered intact.

I see a number of parallels between this book and "Dear Muffo" by Harold Conrad, which likewise uses anecdotes of dozens of personalities ranging from Erich Remarque to Muhammed Ali to Evil Kneivel to provide a fasinating history of a completely different (yet still fascinating) cultural era. Readers who love the style of Please Kill Me might also like this book.

one of the best rock 'n' roll books out there..........2006-10-15

Short and sweet: This book captures pure, primal rock 'n' roll as it was happening and doesn't leave out many details on what was going on backstage. Quite frankly, after reading about all the bizarre antics Iggy Pop was up to in the heyday of the Stooges, I find it hard to believe that he is still alive and kickin'.

Kiss Me, Kill Me: Ann Rule's Crime Files Vol. 9 (Ann Rule's Crime Files)

Average customer rating:

Disappointed
Scary
Disturbing!
A little flat and too familiar.
kiss me kill me--ann rule

Kiss Me, Kill Me: Ann Rule's Crime Files Vol. 9 (Ann Rule's Crime Files)
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671691392
Release Date: 2004-11-30

Book Description

The dark side of love is no fairy tale....

And while we may like to believe that crimes of the heart only victimize those who aren't careful, this page-turning collection of must-read accounts will convince you otherwise. America's #1 true-crime writer, Ann Rule reveals how lovers become predators, how sex and lust can push ordinary people to desperate acts, and how investigators and forensics experts work to unravel the most entangled crimes of passion. Extracting behind-the-scenes details, Rule makes these volatile relationships utterly real, and masterfully re-creates the ill-fated chains of events in such cases as the ex-Marine and martial arts master who seduced vulnerable women and then destroyed their lives...the killer whose calling card was a single bloodred rose...the faithless wife who manipulated and murdered without conscience...the blind date that set the stage for a killer's brutality...and more. In every case, the victim -- young and innocent or older and experienced -- unknowingly trusted a stranger with the sociopathic skill to hide their dark motives, until it was too late to escape a web of deadly lies, fatal promises, and homicidal possession.

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"The dark side of love is no fairy tale.... And while we may like to believe that crimes of the heart only victimize those who aren't careful, this page-turning collection of must-read accounts will convince you otherwise. America's #1 true-crime writer, Ann Rule reveals how lovers become predators, how sex and lust can push ordinary people to desperate acts, and how investigators and forensics experts work to unravel the most entangled crimes of passion. Extracting behind-the-scenes details, Rule makes these volatile relationships utterly real, and masterfully re-creates the ill-fated chains of events in such cases as the ex-Marine and martial arts master who seduced vulnerable women and then destroyed their lives...the killer whose calling card was a single bloodred rose...the faithless wife who manipulated and murdered without conscience...the blind date that set the stage for a killer's brutality...and more. In every case, the victim -- young and innocent or older and experienced -- unknowingly trusted a stranger with the sociopathic skill to hide their dark motives, until it was too late to escape a web of deadly lies, fatal promises, and homicidal possession. "

Customer Reviews:

Disappointed.......2007-09-17

Very disappointed. Have loved most of Anne Rule's books, but this on is definitely not up to her standards. Appeared to be put together just to make money

Scary.......2007-09-05

This was not one of my favorites of Ann Rule's books. The anchor story, "Kiss Me Kill Me," was confusing to read. She interjected other cases in it, making it hard to follow and choppy. The other stories were interesting, scary, and horrifying, but outdated. I agree with another reviewer that I would prefer more pictures of the victims and perpetrators rather than the investigators. Some of the cases, as well as victims in other cases, in this book had no pictures at all and that was disappointing.

Disturbing!.......2007-08-01

I'm a big fan of Ann Rule's. I enjoyed reading this collection of cases. Each story was different, yet had the same theme of love or attraction gone wrong woven throughout. I found the saddest story to be the last one. To never know what happened to a missing loved one, how horrible...

A little flat and too familiar........2007-07-15

Like many readers, I am an Ann Rule junkie. This book, however, was not that interesting. The stories are outdated and in most of the short stories, the killers are known early on. Thus, there is no mystery that keeps the reader turning the pages, hungry to see where the investigation leads. One thing that always strikes me about Rule's haunting tales is the fact that the female victim could have been me in my teen years or during college: trusting, naive, without any concept of the evil in this world. As an aside, I would prefer more photos of the victims and the perpetrators, rather than so many pics of the investigators.

kiss me kill me--ann rule.......2007-06-27

all her books are good, she does a lot of investagative work on all her stories.

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk (An Evergreen book)

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Stranger than reality
Great book
Should be called "The American History of Punk: the First 20 Years..."
Not just for fans of Punk
A SAGA OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, 1936-39

Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk (An Evergreen book)
Legs McNeil , and Gillian McCain
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0802142648

Book Description

A Time Out and New York Daily News Top Ten Book of the Year upon its release, Please Kill Me brings the sound of the punk generation to life. Iggy Pop, Danny Fields, Dee Dee and Joey Ramone, Nico, Patti Smith, and scores of other famous and infamous punk figures lend their voices to this definitive account of that outrageous, explosive era. From its origins in the twilight years of Andy Warhol's New York reign to its last gasps as eighties corporate rock, the phenomenon that was known as punk is scrutinized, eulogized, and idealized by the people who were there and who made it happen.

Customer Reviews:

Stranger than reality.......2007-09-14

What would happen if you played The Sims on your PC and your characters consisted of Iggy Pop, Dee Dee Ramone, Richard Hell, and Sid Vicious? The answer, is this book because the tales featured here are so outrageous it's hard to believe they happened in this reality instead of some fantasy realm.
Next to the Holy Bible, this is the best non-fiction work I have ever read. I realize that's a bold statement, but those who have not read Please Kill Me cannot judge.
Told in spoke word format, Legs McNeil chisels out an epic of imaginative ground-breakers forging their mark on American youth through such obstacles as fighting naïve critics, avoiding police scrutiny and struggles to fight drug addictions (which include a life of living in filth). It inherently clears up the myth of where punk rock came from and how it progressed through America during the late-60's, 70's, and early-80's.
Starting with the daring and ingenious exploits of The Velvet Underground and MC5. The opening chapters give way to the real meat and potatoes of the punk movement which are the music and anecdotes of Iggy Pop and The Ramones.
Format in linear time, the book comes back to the main protagonists every so often while pausing to give proper credit due to such acts as The New York Dolls, Patti Smith, Television, and Blondie while keeping the tales local to such prominent landmarks as Max's Kansas City and CBGB's.
Towards the end it becomes rather down when you start seeing some of the artists pass away one by one due to the lasting affects of heavy drug use.
The majority of accounts are told by Danny Fields, a journalist and record executive who either managed or had a close relationship with nearly all of the acts mentioned in this book. Legs McNeil's was dead-on accurate having Fields lead the story-telling in this book.
What makes it great is not so much what was accomplished by a bunch of nihilistic and sometimes cross-dressing junkies, but the individual stories they told. Iggy's first case of the clap is one of my favorites.
It's very hard to piece together how punk rock evolved from The Velvet Underground to what it is today, and this book won't shine many answers on that either. For further explanation of punk rock and it's many sub-genre's, try picking up "We Got The Nuetron Bomb" and "Rip It Up and Start Again"

Great book.......2007-09-11

This book really opens your eyes to what punk was about, by focusing on its roots. Nearly every major player that hadn't died by the time of writing was interviewed, from Iggy Pop to Debbie Harry, from Patti Smith to the Ramones. The book traces the history of what would be called "punk rock", from the Velvet Underground's controversial lyrics, up to the last gasps of a dying scene and the death of Johnny Thunders...and it's an fascinating read. You really get a feeling of TRUE punk, and see through the shallow image of later scenes - mohawks and spikes and bad attitudes aren't what the music was about. The Sex Pistols come off as a joke compared to the New York Dolls or the Ramones, through the accounts of people who were actually there. The format used, clips from interviews, gives as genuine and objective an account as possible, and it ends at a sad, but appropriate note.

An earlier reviewer asked, What about Green Day and the Offspring? All I can say to that is, if that's those bands are what comes to mind when you think "punk", then you don't know what punk is, and buying this book is a good way to educate yourself.

Should be called "The American History of Punk: the First 20 Years...".......2007-05-21

Not just for fans of Punk.......2007-03-01

I am not a punk music enthusiast. However, I found this book interesting and entertaining. Do not ignore that it says that it is an Oral History, truly it is written as a serious of anecdotes and stories told by those involved. Once you get used to it, you will marvel at how well they were able to chronologically tell this story around the origins and glory days of punk music. Honest interesting stories.

A SAGA OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR, 1936-39.......2007-02-19

As I wrote in recent review of Man's Fate by this same author as a young man in the late 1920's many held out high hopes that French writer Andre Malraux would become an accomplished revolutionary writer, or at least an extraordinary writer of revolutionary sagas. No less a communist literary critic than Leon Trotsky, the consummate man of action and letters, praised his early work. Man's Hope is another prime example of the reason that leftist critics praised his work, although it is a more uneven work which reflects the author's ambiguity toward the events of the subject of the novel, the Spanish Civil. Although later events would destroy Malraux's reputation as a writer and as a man of action on the left this novel takes its place in the pantheon of well-written expressions of the dilemma of modern humankind confronted as it is with one half of itself mired in the mundane bourgeois world and the other half striving toward a more just and equitable society. This was a central preoccupation of 20th century leftist literary endeavor, and early Malraux was one of the better exponents of that thesis.

The action of the novel takes place in the throes of the Spanish Civil War, 1936-39, a decisive event in pre-World War II history, especially international working class history. Malraux, himself, had organized an air force squadron of international volunteers on behalf of the Republican forces early on and so this novel benefits from a more realistic interpretation of the military action described in the novel. Moreover, like Russia and China before it, everyone knew that the events which led up to 1936 Fascist uprising against the elected Popular Front Republican government in Spain portended a revolutionary outcome. The only question at that point was whether it was to be a fascist counter-revolution like in Germany and Italy or a socialist revolution that would go a long way to helping the Soviet Union of the 1930's break out of its isolation after various unsuccessful revolutionary attempts in the West had failed. We know the outcome, to our regret. These tensions, and especially the tensions produced among the Communists who were under orders from the Communist International, and hence Moscow, to subordinate themselves to the various Popular Front governments, are what drives the action.

The novel is also a snapshot of what the Communist International's `high policy' looks like as it was implemented on the ground among the secondary cadre and rank and filers of the Spanish Communist Party, their allies, semi-allies, adversaries and the merely indifferent. But more than describing that struggle the novel betrays in its dialogue among the leading characters something of Malraux's disillusionment with leftist politics at this time. Hereafter Malraux would become something of a `premature' existentialist and searcher after the `great men' of history like Stalin and DeGaulle.

Yes, war is hell. Yes, war is banal. Yes, war does not bring out the better instincts of humankind, even in just wars like that fought by Republican Spain. Despite the caveat mentioned above, Malraux nevertheless tells that part of the story well, in the tradition of Hemingway and Dos Passos. That is fast company, indeed. Read on.

The Mike Hammer Collection, Volume 2: One Lonely Night, The Big Kill, Kiss Me Deadly

Average customer rating:

Great reading
The Private Eye version of a Time Capsule
Mike Hammer -- named appropriately
Lord Breadalbane's Opinion
Tough guys and curvy dames

The Mike Hammer Collection, Volume 2: One Lonely Night, The Big Kill, Kiss Me Deadly
Mickey Spillane
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451204255
Release Date: 2001-09-05

Book Description

"There's a kind of power about Mickey Spillane that no other writer can imitate." (The New York Times)

Apparently. With his trend-setting Mike Hammer detective novels, Mickey Spillane shot to superstardom as one of the most notorious bestselling sensations in publishing history. This powerhouse collection includes three of the master's long-out-of-print greatest novels-together for the first time in one explosive volume:
The Big Kill
One Lonely Night
Kiss Me, Deadly

Includes a special introduction by Shamus and Edgar Award-winner Lawrence Block.

Customer Reviews:

Great reading.......2007-06-08

Fine writing by a fine author. Pictures appeared in my mind with his use of words and always enjoyed each story. No one else like Spillane - not ever.

The Private Eye version of a Time Capsule.......2007-05-10

These Mickey Spillane novels that feature Mike Hammer are incredible. Spillane was immensely popular in the late 40s and early 50s. He wrote incredibly straightforward pulp novels of the sort that have been parodied endlessly in various media since, to the point that going back and reading the original invites laughs when they weren't intended.

The main character, Mike Hammer, is of course the private eye who's the toughest guy in New York City. He has his vices: he smokes constantly, drinks pretty much every chapter, and chases girls constantly. The women, especially, seem badly overdone. Each book he falls for at least three, and of course there's his secretary, Velda, who he claims to be in love with (though of course out of sight, out of mind definitely applies here). Velda never seems to get jealous when she figures out that he's been with another woman, at least not really, and none of the rest of them appear to think he should be monogamous either. They seem to understand that the book is for men, so they should let him chase as many girls as he can catch. He can catch a lot.

Some of the dialog is so overwritten and purple it's beyond parody, and often it's unintentionally funny. Some of the characters are a bit much too: Pat Chambers, his cop friend, never does anything beyond provide information and tell Mike to stay out of trouble, which Mike of course ignores. Mike is insanely tough: beat him up, shoot at him (or shoot him), whatever, he keeps trying to kill you until he succeeds.

One fascinating thing about the series, having read both volumes of the collection, is that Hammer almost never has a real client. Instead, he gets involved in these killings through being what amounts to a knight errant, wandering around and rescuing women. Of course the girl gets killed in the early going of the book, and of course Mike swears revenge, and of course he exacts it by the end of the book. Figuring out who the bad guy is by the end of the book is hard, though it's often another beautiful woman somewhere in the plot; if it isn't, it's some nefarious crime boss or something.

Everything is so dated it's funny. One of the books in this collection features bad guys who Mike invariably refers to as "Commies" as if he intends that as an insult. There's no pretense that someone should have the right to belong to a political party or anything like that: as far as Mike Hammer (and presumably Mickey Spillane too) is concerned, "Commies" deserve a firing squad.

I like dated things, things that are old and make you think about the past. Cultural references (the "Commies" mentioned above) are fascinating to me. I wonder what Hammett (who was a Marxist) thought of the book, if he read it. These books can be a bit hard to read (the characters are very cardboard, and the dialog is often way overdone) but they're interesting for what they are, and worth delving into.

Mike Hammer -- named appropriately.......2007-05-07

I read these books shortly after they were published originally. I was a teenager who fantisized myself as Mike Hammer and his conquests - both with the ladies and in giving the bad guys their due. Spillane introduced me to the wonderful world of paperback novels that have kept me a voracious reader of them to this day. A few years later, I marveled at the exploits of 007, first in the books by Ian Fleming and then the movies so ably done by Broccoli and Saltzman - not to mention Sean Connery (the only real James Bond). Mickey has now gone on to his reward and I would say to him "job well done, Mick."

Lord Breadalbane's Opinion.......2005-09-30

Nice format and great introduction but numerous typos and some dialogue was nonsensical to the point that I am tempted to go to local library and borrow a copy of Kiss Me, Deadly to compare text. Quality control obviously poor.

Tough guys and curvy dames.......2005-09-23

Spillane's books can be found at used bookstores or online for cheap, but buy these new collections and see how fast you can read three books at a time. I tore through these yarns fast and can't wait for the third set. Spillane does more for me than Chandlier or Hammett, though I love their books too, but the Mike Hammer stories are cool, tough, brutal, sexy, post-war stories with all the right slang.

Mike Hammer is brutal, sure. Maybe even cruel. But he is an avenging angel, always seeking revenge for a friend, sometimes for a stranger, but always to set things right. Or at least as close to right as he can make it with his fists and his slabside .45.

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Kill Me, Kiss Me, Book 3
Lee Young You
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591825954

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Kill Me, Kiss Me Volume 4
Lee Young You
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1591825962

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Kill Me, Kiss Me Vol. 5
Lee Young You
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1595324208

Book Description

*Story by Lee Young YOU *A wild romp full of slapstick, cross-dressing and high school romance that will appeal to the readers of INVU & Kare Kano.

Things are heating up between Ghun Que Min and Jung Woo. After being locked in together in a room by members of Na Rha Gong, Jung Woo retells stories of his troubled childhood to Ghun Que Minâ€¦and Ghun Que Min does more than just â€œconsolingâ€Ehim. Che Ghoon Hahm finds out about their whereabouts, but can he arrive in time to interrupt their little special moment together? In addition to his girl problems, Che Ghoon Hahm has to deal with Kai and his gang. Can he defeat Kai once and for all and win over Ghun Que Minâ€™s heart?

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