Book Description
The high priestess of the hood, Nikki Turner, is back with the novel fans have been feenin’ for: the sequel to her #1 bestselling novel, A Hustler’s Wife.
Des, Virginia’s slickest gangsta, is about to become a dad when he is charged with the murder of his own attorney. But with Yarni, his gorgeous wife (and a brilliant lawyer), now calling the shots, Des isn’t going back to the slammer without a fierce fight. Even with the heat on, Des manages to take his game to the next level and finds a new hustle, one that will allow him to possess the three things all major players desire: money, power, and respect. He becomes a preacher. Reluctantly, Yarni stands by her man as he trades in his triple beam scale for a Bible and a Bentley and makes his Church of the Good Life Ministry a welcoming place for all sinners to step up to the altar.
But when Des’s nephew is killed in the high-stakes heroin trade and Des learns that someone close to him okayed the hit, the dyed-in-the-wool gangsta sets aside the Bible for the gospel of the streets–even if it means risking the one person who’s always had his back.
Customer Reviews:
What happened? The book was rushed.........2007-10-05
I am a big fan of Nikki Turner, especially her novels "A Hustler's wife" & "Riding Dirty on I-95". BUT FOREVER A HUSTLER'S WIFE was indeed rushed and a fairytale comparing it to her other novels and to the first book. I most definitely was dissappointed with the novel. If I would have not read her other novels and "Forever A Hustler's Wife" would have been my first read by Nikki Turner then I wouldnt have misunderstood the hype about her urban literary skills.
Awesome!!! Awesome!!!.......2007-09-18
I really enjoyed reading this book. I searched 4 book stores for this book and they were all sold out. When I finally found it on amazon, I had to get it immediately. I finished this book in about 2 days. I just could not put it down. Everytime I started to put it down, it got good again. Thanks Nikki.
La Dee Da Dee Da.......2007-08-25
The sequel was a bit disappointing. I did get through it but it took me a couple of days. It was an ok book but it wasn't one of those books where I had to read it during every free moment I have. I still had to ween my way through the grammatical errors (fault of the publisher), but it was alright. Some of the stuff was a bit far-fetched. I am from the streets so I have a clue. You can read the 2 books or not read them. I will continue to check her out though. I see here writing skills evolving with time. I recommend support Turner and her writings. Peace and Blessings!
Great!.......2007-08-20
I thought Forever a Hustlers Wife was a GREAT come back. Of course I thought it wasn't as good as A Hustlers Wife, but it was good enough to ease my craving to know where Des and Yarni end up. Reading the Special Message at the beginning really gave me a new respect for writers! This was a great story despite all the struggles Nikki has gone through, and although it wasn't the best I have faith in her that she will come back with something that will blow her fans away!
Forever a hustler's wife.......2007-08-13
First you must read a hustler wife it is a great book 5 stars. Now forever a hustlers wife dosn't do justice to the first novel. it is okay, the book had to many things going on. Bambi from Glamorous life had a part, new characters, Lava who is Des Nephew's girl needs her own book she is a great character. All and all the book was okay it was not as good as hustlers wife, glamorous life, project chick, nor riding drity on I-95 this book is at the bottom of the list for Nikki Turner books. i gave it 3 stars because you cannot give 2.5 stars. Nikki Turner is a great writer it was just probably hard following up on such a great book.
Book Description
This novel portrays the life of Yarni, a sweet and innocent girl from a well-to-do family. By chance she meets Richmond Virginia's notorious drug kingpin, Des. Immediately they develop an astronomical love, which separates her from her family and friends. But when Des is sentenced to life in prison, Yarni will learn being A Hustler's Wife isn't easy with her sole provider behind bars.
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding book.......2007-09-18
I had purchased this book sometime ago, but never got a chance to read it. When I did get that chance, the book was outstanding. I would suggest that you read "Forever a Hustler's Wife" as soon as you are done with this one.
Extremely Good!!!.......2007-09-02
I thought this book was very good. I had to go out and get "Forever a Hustler's" after readng this. That one was also very good.
I recommend this reading!!
cHICKS IN THE GAME.......2007-08-29
OK FOR A CHICK BOOK i EXPECTED A LITTLE BETTER ENDING , IT WAS WEAK, BUT THESE ARE WOMEN WHO THINK THEY GOT GAME
Definitely Worth the Read...........2007-08-25
"A Hustler's Wife was a pretty good book. I am not familiar with Turner's writing, so this was my first experience. There were a lot of publishing errors and missed words. I had to use context clues to figure some things out, but overall, it was an easy read. It was a page turner, but not quite the page turner I expected after reading the reviews. By the time I finished the book, I was ready for the sequel. However, I will say that one thing I LOVE about Turner is how she incorporated spirituality into the street. That was hot!! Either way, I would say pick it up and read it, but buy it on Amazon.com.
Boring.......2007-07-30
I love to read....2 to 3 books a week. This was not at all interesting, but when I start them, I always finish. It took about 2 long days to finish. I'm not even the least bit interested in the sequel. Sorry.
Product Description
Based out of Bladensburg, Maryland, 31-year-old Janet Stayley spent her life looking for a hustler. She never knew she would find one in her 15-year-old son, Kelsi. Surrounded by violence, drugs and lies, Kelsi murders in self-defense. Suddenly Kelsi becomes charged with the new-found feeling he associates with becoming a man, and feels he can take on anything, including his mothers cheating lover. The heat of murder ensues and Janet feels its time to make a permanent move out of Maryland. Before doing so, she plans one last murder which, if goes as planned, could ultimately be worth millions. To top it all off, Janet has not revealed to her son the biggest secret yet.
Customer Reviews:
Keep It Up.......2007-09-18
I must say I have to give it up to triple crown book they sure know how to pick them I read this in one day I was on vacation and picked it up at the mall right before boarding the plane and finish the next day. I couldn't even start my vacation until I finished it!!! Go get it page turner!
New York For Real?!!.......2007-09-15
This book was filled with suspense!!! I picked it up at a public library and almost didnt return it. Kelsi is off the chain and things went from chill to bad in a matter of days!!! I was thrown off by the name A Hustler's Son because I thought his father was it!! When I found out it was his mother my mouth dropped!!! Excellent book!!
Started out as a promising novel!!.......2007-09-15
This started out as a great book but as the story goes on I find it pointless to tell. The Mom is not a very great parent and the lessons she teaches her son is just ridiculous.
Could of been better..........2007-08-29
This book had a great story line- but it was too fictional for me... I mean the son was only 14 or 15 yrs old- and the book made him seem like he was about 25-30 and had been in the streets for years.. On top of that the story takes place in about three days and the author seem like he was rushing to finish- and so he did just that... (Rushed the ending)...
A Hustler's Son.......2007-08-14
This book was never received. I had it mailed to a friend in a correctional facility and he said it was returned. No credit has been returned to me.
Average customer rating:
- Read it in one day!
- Holy Moly
- (4.5 stars) Church Drama!
- (RAW Rating: 2.5) - Within God's House
- More than worth it!
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Holy Hustler
P. L. Wilson
Manufacturer: Urban Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
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Similar Items:
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Sex in the Sanctuary
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Drama in the Church
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Someone Else's Puddin'
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One Dead Preacher
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Outlaw
ASIN: 0977733556 |
Book Description
Reverend Goodlove the Third and his three sons are known for spreading more than just the gospel around the Sweetwater Powerhouse of God.
Soon, the Pastor has to get more than just his mega-church in order. There are rumors flying about his sexuality and his second wife can't seem to gain respect from the church elders who just won't allow the late Mrs. Goodlove's memory to rest in peace.
His oldest son Damien will have to stop chasing skirts and remember the vows he took before God and his Sweetwater PG family. Reginald, the middle son, will have to quit cooking the books and stop succumbing to the flesh, and baby boy Barry might find his way out of his very peculiar situation.
If all of this happens, then maybe, just maybe the Reverend Goodlove can go back to getting his hustle on from the pulpit! But until then, the sanctified drama promises to make us all scream "Hallelujah!"
Customer Reviews:
Read it in one day!.......2007-09-13
This book definitely kept me hooked. At the end I was like "What?" then relaxed once I saw the author was working on a sequel. I love reading books that are based in my hometown of Houston, recognizing the streets. restaurants, malls, highways, etc. Most novels are based in ATL, New York or Cali. We need more H-town representers :)
Pastor Goodloves sermons about nothing got annoying, especially with the members continuously falling out and rolling around.
Holy Moly.......2007-09-05
The Goodlove men are going to hell in gasoline pants if they don't change their sinning ways. This book is filled with so many issues that are going on today in some churches.
For me the book had a couple of "Ok let's get real" moments but after all the book is for reading entertainment.
The book left you hanging so there definitely is a sequel.
(4.5 stars) Church Drama!.......2007-08-05
Drama always seems to find its way in the midst of the congregation at The Sweetwater Powerhouse of God, thanks to their pastor and his family. Reverend Ezekiel Goodlove a.k.a. Pastor Gee needs the help of the Holy Spirit more than ever. He thought he was on top of his game, and the members of the church were very, very good stewards. He had nothing to worry about....or so he thought.
Since the Lord had called his first wife home, he married Theola Goodlove. Theola gave a new meaning to the name GOLD-DIGGER!! She was young, beautiful, and a freak! She knew exactly how to get what she wanted out of Pastor Gee until she started to have problems with a group of elders that were named "The Holy Rollers." They treated her like gum on the bottom of their shoes. If they weren't talking about her Sunday morning outfits, they were talking about the latest luxury car she was driving. She could never prove to them that she belonged with Pastor Gee no matter what she did. To the Holy Rollers, it was simply not the "Christian Way." In order for Theola to be recognized as the new First Lady, she had to get rid of the Holy Rollers. Will she get her way or just be known as the gold-digging freak that suckered Pastor Gee into marrying her?
The eldest son Damien Goodlove just could not give up his fornicating ways, and his wife got tired of it. Everyone in the church knew how Damien was. Whenever a new female member joined the church, he made sure he welcomed her into the flock the only way he knew how. Soon his womanizing ways will catch up with him and it may cost him his wife, children, and even his life.
Reginal Goodlove was the financial genius of the family. He handled all of the finances at the church. Just when his dark secret was about to catch up with him, he left the church and was nowhere to be found. What will happen when Pastor Gee finally finds his wayward son? Will he be forgiving and be the father he has never been to his son? Or will he make sure his son never works with anyone's finances again?
The youngest son, Barry Goodlove was supposed to be the one to follow in his father's footsteps. Soon we find out that's far from the truth. Barry gets involved with a sex scandal that could destroy his family and the family of the woman he wants to marry. Time will tell if Barry will come clean with his fiancé or will he continue to let the woman who's blackmailing him stay in control.
Holy Hustler is a book that is in a league of its own. You will be very surprised that this book is all about a church, its pastor, and the congregation. It will make you laugh out loud, get mad at some of the characters, and even feel sorry for others. P.L. Wilson did a very good job pulling all characters together and making sure the plot stayed intact. Holy Hustler was a good read, and I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys a good fiction book with a little twist.
Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews
(RAW Rating: 2.5) - Within God's House.......2007-07-29
Sweetwater Powerhouse of God in Houston, Texas is home to the Goodlove men. Reverend Ethan E. Goodlove III is pastor of this mega-church, which boasts a congregation of over ten thousand members. Along with his sons Damien, Reginald and Barry, there is plenty of hustling going on in and out of God's sanctuary.
Reverend Goodlove's mind is always on making more money to continue his lavish lifestyle and he is constantly scheming on how to bilk more out of his parishioners. His eldest son, Damien, is a married deacon who cannot stop sleeping around with every available woman within and outside the walls of Sweetwater. The middle son, Reginald, is the church's accountant and suffers from the classic middle child syndrome. He dances to his father's abusive beat but at the same time has a penchant for buying sex utilizing the church's money. The youngest son, Barry, stays on the straight and narrow, but an indiscretion from his past and his fiancée past, surfaces to cause havoc on the two.
Reverend Goodlove is married to a woman young enough to be his daughter and the elder women of the church, who dubbed themselves the Holy Rollers, scheme on how to oust her. Reverend Goodlove is also harboring a secret that rears its ugly head at the most inopportune time. Damien's philandering sends his wife on a mission to finally rid herself of her husband, an act that has dire consequences. Reginald's embezzlement leads him to a Caribbean island and leaves the pastor to answer questions about Sweetwater's finances. Barry's secret is used as leverage and when he doesn't succumb to the pressure, his name is posted throughout Houston for all to see.
HOLY HUSTLER by Pat Wilson is filled with drama on top of drama and had me wondering if these antics are the figment of someone's imagination or if they're based on facts. The antics are over the top and humorous, but the plot lacks substance; most of the subplots do not provide closure. In the end what is revealed is the redemption within some of the characters, but not much on the process of how they arrived at that point.
Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
More than worth it!.......2007-06-16
With all the books out there you have to be picky when selecting book and I can tell you this was worth it. It has homosexual things in it so as long as your not offended by that you will love this book
Danielle
Book Description
Based on police wiretaps and exclusive interviews with drug kingpins and hip-hop insiders, this is the untold story of how the streets and housing projects of southeast Queens took over the rap industry.
For years, rappers from Nas to Ja Rule have hero-worshipped the legendary drug dealers who dominated Queens in the 1980s with their violent crimes and flashy lifestyles. Now, for the first time ever, this gripping narrative digs beneath the hip-hop fables to re-create the rise and fall of hustlers like Lorenzo “Fat Cat” Nichols, Gerald “Prince” Miller, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff, and Thomas “Tony Montana” Mickens. Spanning twenty-five years, from the violence of the crack era to Run DMC to the infamous murder of NYPD rookie Edward Byrne to Tupac Shakur to 50 Cent’s battles against Ja Rule and Murder Inc., to the killing of Jam Master Jay, Queens Reigns Supreme is the first inside look at the infamous southeast Queens crews and their connections to gangster culture in hip hop today.
Customer Reviews:
An Urban History Lesson....Life chooses you.......2007-08-31
I read this book in its entirety today. It bought back a lot of memories and pain. As a 38YO husband, father of 3 beautiful children, with a wonderful wife and 18 year IT career, I grew up during the 80's crack epidemic. I sold drugs. I was a crack addict. I watched childhood friends involved in the drug game die. I saw beautiful women become crack addicts. Even then, as a teenager, I wondered why something so small could cause so much destruction. This book reveals a lot. How drugs almost destroyed Urban America, in particular NYC. This book should serve as a history lesson to young people who view rappers as gangsters. "Real gangsters move in silence". This book should also serve as a reminder to people who survived the devastating decade that was the 80's. "Never forget where you come from".
It's easy for privileged people to dismiss the urban population; however when you have people that are disenfranchised, suffer abject poverty, and lack educational, creative, and/or financial opportunities; the majority will do whatever necessary to create opportunities for themselves, even if it means hurting their own. It's unfortunate that the crack epidemic was largely ignored until children of White America started dying.
Although the author highlights the exploits of particular South Queens drug gangs, I think the overall context of the book should be reviewed in a larger perspective: From the Civil Rights inequality, to government disenfranchisement, as a result of Vietnam, subsequent escapism via drug abuse, to opportunities via drug sales, to capitalism/exploitation via urban music.
This book should serve as a guide for kids that want to get involved in hip-hop/rap music (STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF. STOP BEING SOMEONE ELSE).
It should serve as a wakeup call to those (Music companies/Law Enforcement/Religious organizations) that want to exploit kids in the music game (STOP EXPLOITING OUR CHILDREN).
It should serve as a warning sign to all Black youth that murder each other for nonsense (STOP KILLING EACH OTHER. THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT US TO DO).
As long as there's a mongoose, there'll be a snake. As long as there's an audience, there'll be a minstrel. It's sad how life chooses you....
Excellent.......2007-01-31
If your from Queens, or you have listened to 90's rap, then this is a good book for you. It explains the litany of characters(criminals) mentioned in so much gangster rap. It is also gives excellent accounts of the "crack" years of NYC in Queens. There were so many locations in Queens, that I was stunned to find out the history of. Well worth the cheap purchase price!
Will The Snake Charmer Please Stand Up!!.......2006-10-24
I ordered the book last week and read it in 2 days. I feel like I'm still trapped within the pages. Looking at the picture of the author Ethan Brown I found it hard to believe he could get so many people to talk. No offense but the man looks like a skinhead. I did some research on him and found out he's not even from NY much less Queens which puzzled me even more because why write a book about Queens if you have no history or ties to the era or place? Then I see a dedication to someone he calls "the snake charmer" who he claims is the preeminent street historian. If the snake charmer is the preeminent street historian then Ethan must be his stenographer. For the life of me I can't figure out why someone with all this riveting detail would allow someone else to claim the credit in exchange for anonymous praise. The book was EXCELLENT but I want to see Ethan give credit where it's due because there's no way in hell HE could've done that book. Anyone who reads it and sees his picture will have to agree.
Read It ASAP.......2006-07-21
No matter what you're reading, put it to the side for a bit, especially if it's fiction. This is fact. Everyone from 13 to 43 should read this book. If you lived through the crack era you should read this book. If you grew up anywhere in the five boroughs of New York can identify, you can remember the stories, you can remember the fear you can remember the body count delivered on the front page of the newspaper. If you remember being afraid to ride the trains and welcomed the site of the red tams you should read this book.
Brown impressed me with the thoroughness and professionalism of his work. He didn't try to sell us mythical figures or misguided youth. He simply told the story as it was, as it is.
If you have African American youth in your life give them this book. Buy them their own copy; make them read it because they need to know. The youth of today weren't there in the 80's and 90's. They think the rappers they like are "gangsta". No matter how hard you try to tell these kids that you can't be a multi-millionaire rapper and gangsta, what you think the police wouldn't notice. Real ganstas hustle to get out of the ghetto and are hardly concerned about keeping it real. I say all that to make this point...Queens Reigns Supreme is the book that can challenge a generation to question the direction that rap is going. This is a book that can open eyes and cause a life changing thought process. The revelation of a number of things in this book will have you seeing things in a new light. If you never invested in a book starting with this one would be a good choice.
The Realness.......2006-06-23
This book is not a fictional "hood" farce as I initially thought upon seeing it in the store. After reading the abstract on the back cover, I was compelled to read the Preface and first two chapters while still sitting in the store. I purchased the book and read it in less than 48 hours. I literally could not put it down. It is filled with the TRUE stories of Queens hustlers like the Supreme Team and Pappy Mason. These are hood icons that you may hear about in a rap record but never know who they really were. This book does an excellent job of conveying the street savvy and relentlessness of these hustlers who amassed millions as well as carefully cataloguing their down fall. There are times where you read the book and almost hear these figures talking to you or reading what was going through their minds at the time. You see them on top of the world as well as at the bottom of the barrel. You see them as violent and fearless as well as seeing them desperate and vulnerable.
The connection that is drawn to the current hip hop music and culture is drawn seemlessly. There are a lot of familiar names and some unfamiliar stories. Some truths come out and we see who is "gangsta" and who's not. This is a must read for anyone interested in Urban History/ Culture.
Average customer rating:
- Definitive
- Everything you always wanted to know about the B-58.
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Convair B-58 Hustler: The World's First Supersonic Bomber (Aerofax Series)
Jay Miller
Manufacturer: Voyageur Press (MN)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Aviation
| Military
| History
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General
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| History
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General
| Conventional
| Weapons & Warfare
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ASIN: 1857800583 |
Book Description
This book takes a retrospective in-depth look at this significant aircraft, from design studies through development and its comparatively short service life, to retirement. It includes detailed technical descriptions of the construction plus specifications and performance, which are backed up with drawings and detailed illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Definitive.......2002-06-23
This book, even in the first edition, tells you just about everything you would ever want to know about one of the most amazing aircraft made. It is stunning that this machine was sustaining 3 men at Mach 2 for half an hour about a decade after it had required an air-launched rocket to get beyond Mach 1 for a minute or two. Not only that but on the same timescale Convair were building a successful airliner, a vertical takeoff turboprop, two very complex interceptors, a hydroski naval fighter, and the missile that eventually became the SM-65 Atlas, America's first ballistic missile, and manned space booster. What an amazing time the 50's must have been. Not a lot of PC's true, but also a lot fewer accountants / economists as well.
The text is clear, well written giving an excellent context for the whole history of the program, and a sense of what was accomplished. The bulk of the photos are black and white, very useful for modellers. Limited colour, about 10 pages, but the B-58 marking were pretty minimal.
There is some interesting information on the proposed recon system Super Hustler (Project Fish/Kingfish), surely one of the few planes that the could make the A-12/SR-71 series be called the more conventional option.
If you're interested in the B-58, buy this book
Everything you always wanted to know about the B-58........1999-03-30
Highly recommended if you're into jets. In the fifties, before the days of stealth and low-level penetration, speed was of the essence for designers of military aircraft. To my eye, this was when the most esthetic of planes were conceived: the Century Series fighters, the XB-70, the SR-71, and the B-58. Few books exist on this aircraft, and Jay Miller covers the whole story- German aerodynamic studies, development of the B-58, operational history, and offshoots that never went anywhere, including a supersonic commercial passenger version! Many, many pictures make this an excellent modeler's reference. An appendix includes photos and histories of most of the 116 B-58s that were produced. One of the most fascinating sections covers the camouflage-painted B-58 and how Robert McNamara kept it from being used in Vietnam. I give this book one of my highest compliments: whenever I am hungry to read something and I don't have any unread stuff handy, this is one of the books that I can pick up and find something that I missed previously.
Average customer rating:
- THE REAL FAT MAN
- He had an army and dead nuts, then he dumped on the on the locksmith good. Real good, see.
- Fantastic look at a bygone era of hustling on the road
- Great book about a great era
- Wanted to be a professional like these guys!
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Hustler Days: Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red, and America's Great Age of Pool
R. A. Dyer
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1592281044 |
Book Description
Minnesota Fats was a brilliant pool player, but he was even better at lying about his past. Wimpy Lassiter, the gentleman hustler, started playing at age seven, and for the rest of his life lived for the rush of victory and high stakes. Violent and determined, Jersey Red made and lost a fortune at the table.
With a passion for the game evident on every page, R.A. DYER takes us through the smoky bars and late nights where a win was just as dangerous as a loss. He captures the game's popularity in the thirties, its dark days in the fifties, and its renaissance and apex in the sixties, fueled by the smashing success of Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason going toe-to-toe in The Hustler. It was an era that culminated in the legendary nationally televised tournaments in Little Egypt, Illinois, where Jersey Red and Wimpy Lassiter went at it for hours. And it was an era that ended in perhaps the most dramatic scene in all of pool. Just as Jersey Red beat Wimpy Lassiter in 1969, after a decade of bitter rivalry, the police shut down the tournament. Cameras in tow, they arrested eighty hustlers--including the new champion!
From Fats's first showdown--in Brooklyn, with a Texas-style gunslinger in cowboy boots and revolvers--to world championship clashes, HUSTLER DAYS is a rollicking portrait of one of our national treasures.
Customer Reviews:
THE REAL FAT MAN.......2007-08-09
Pool is probably one of the few sports that the general public knows virtually next to nothing on. Ask anybody to name one pool player and the majority will say "Minnesota Fats". Most of the public would be amazed to find out that he wasn't a champion, never won a tournament, probably couldn't even beat half the country. This book explains how he could con a nation into thinking he was "the greatest" and in the process become single handedly the biggest promoter to the sport the game has ever known. Yes, this book is really about the true story of Rudolph Wanderone (Fats) and it is a very good read.
He had an army and dead nuts, then he dumped on the on the locksmith good. Real good, see........2007-07-28
Who wouldn't want to be a pool hustler, being rich without ever having to work a day in your life? It's an exciting fantasy. To live in Little Egypt during the early 40's shooting pool with Minnesota Fats would've been incredible. Or riding with Sonny Barger in the mid 60's or any other kind of walk on the wild side fantasy one could concoct.
The author clearly feels the same way in a midlife crisis sort of way. The subject matter is definitely fascinating, but I wish R.A. Dyer could've taken himself out of the text more. The book reads like he learned all his tough guy speech patterns from Scorcese films.
Another thing that would've helped the prose is to explain the games more within the text. To an outsider it could get difficult during the game decriptions. It've been nice to not have to constantly check the glossary in the back.
Fantastic look at a bygone era of hustling on the road.......2007-05-07
Reflects the history of American pool playing from pre-Depression days to first resurgence in pool after the movie THE HUSTLER. As an aside, the larger resurgence happened after the sequel THE COLOR OF MONEY when women also entered the game and upscale rooms flourished. Many rooms have closed after the recent popularity of poker on TV.
Back to the book, anyone with an interest in the history of American pool playing, hustling, and the sociology of pool--this is a must own!!!
Great book about a great era.......2007-05-02
As a pool player, I caught the end of what "Hustler Days" describes as the heyday of the road hustler. I watched two of the three main subjects of this book in action: Rudolph Wanderone (The Fat Man) and Luther Lassiter. Having frequented some of the New York pool joints (McGirrs, 7-11) that figure in R.A. Dyer's vivid depiction of the hustler's life, I can partly attest to its authenticity.
But I was a player not a hustler. What Dyer gave me was the full and colorful history of the era that I saw ending. This is a beautifully written account covering the 1940s through the 60s. The story is told with the steely, merciless attitude of their game, but with a great deal of humor and affection.
Dyer has written about the game in various publications and he appreciates the astounding skills of these men: the hustle was in the fact that if you were not in their world, you had no idea of the abilities that could be brought to bear against you if you went to the table.
Anyone who saw "The Hustler" with Paul Newman has some idea of all this. But Dyer digs deep into their lives, sometimes painfully so. The canvas is not just New York but all the towns, big and small, where the action was. Such as Norfolk, Va., the Naval and shipbulding hub which during WWII was a pool hustler's paradise and a regular stop on the circuit.
Once tournaments began to be televised, another chapter in the hustler's life opened and Dyer has it covered, shot by excruciating shot. Big-time pool is all about pressure, and with Dyer you can feel it taking the air out of the room.
I loved reading this book and look forward to reading it again.
Wanted to be a professional like these guys!.......2007-01-16
This is a great book for all the baby boomers out there that loved to play pool (pocket billiards). The book explains where the word pool comes from. Anybody that wants to know the history of the early days should read this book! Really anybody with a interest in pool should read it.
Buy and enjoy. I know I did.
Product Description
Chino's back, or is he? All Lisa knows is that someone is trying to drive her crazy. Will she lose all that has become good in her life? Shark has broken his promise of leaving the streets alone, to himself and his daughter. He's deeply back into the drug game, with new players, a new woman, and stakes that are higher than they've ever been before! Shantel is a million dollars richer and has assumed the sass talking personality of her dead mother. She's off the chain, and the new woman in her father's life-in her opion-has GOT TO GO! The Junior Army is not so "junior" anymore. They've graduated, and they're playing in the major leagues now! With the inner demons that lurk within them all, will any one of them be able to fully comprehend: A Dead Man's Vengeance? The exciting sequel to "Betrayal of a Hustler."
Customer Reviews:
Vengeance for a Hustle..........2007-10-10
Chino Wells makes a grand re-entrance in A Dead Man's Vengeance to renew the love triangle that transcends into a full blown circle.
At the end of Betrayal of a Hustler, Chino is shot and left for dead. But his right hand man, Knees, wasn't haven' it, and Chino was nursed back to health and sent to recuperate in Virginia with his fam. Chino is back to reclaim his true love, Lisa, and his territory.
Since Chino's death, Lisa has tried to move on with her life with husband/doctor Chris and son Jordan. Lisa and Chris' lives are turned upside down when Chino returns and wreaks havoc on both their lives.
In the meantime, Jamaican drug lord Shark has joined forces with assassin Abu and his crew of killers. Shark and daughter Shantel have tried to get on with their lives after Shantel's mother, Shelly, was gunned down by Chino.
A Dead Man's Vengeance is a very suspenseful work of fiction that had me even more intrigued than it's predecessor. I look forward to the release of The Vendetta.
very very good read.......2007-07-15
IF YOU DON'T KNOW BETRAYAL OF A HUSTLER IS FIRST READ THEN COMES THE SEQUEL. I LIKED THE SEQUEL WAY BETTER NOT TO SAY THAT THE 1ST ONE WASN'T GOOD. IT ANSWERED THE QUESTIONS I ASKED IN MY REVIEW WITH BETRAYAL OF A HUSTLER. I SWEAR THAT LISA IS DUMB AND I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW SHE GETS ALL THE GOOD MEN WITH HER WAYZ. THERE IS GOING TO BE A 3RD PART TO THIS TRILOGY AND I CANNOT WAIT BECAUSE SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THIS ONE WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE. YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK IF U THOUGHT NOT TOO IT IS A MUST. GO COP THIS ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dead man's vengence.......2007-07-09
very very good i'm a truck driver and the book was so good i was pulling over on the side of the road just to get in some reading it had me not wanting to put the book down excellent read
DianeMoneyd.......2007-04-11
I really enjoyed this book and the sequel too. I hope to read more from this author
off the chain sequel!!!!.......2007-03-13
this book was great! i really enjoyed how chino surfaced after so long.i think i couldn't stand lisa i just think that she's grimy. friends are off limits no matter what.
Product Description
All she wanted was a life of happiness, comfort and peace. Why she tampered with damaged goods is a question that lingers within Lisa's being...but the answer came a little too late. All he wanted was to avenge his father's death. Vengeance was an understatement as all of Chino's actions unfolded into a series of events that would shake his circle of friends forever. Join these two on an adventure of lust, love, murder and danger as they discover the high price to pay for the Betrayal of a Hustler.
Customer Reviews:
The Ultimate Betrayal ..........2007-10-07
Chino and Donell were the best of friends; Chino and Shark were like family. Everything seemed to be cool, until Chino goes to the left. Chino betrays Donell and Shark in the worst ways, and wreaks havoc on their entire operation. After he betrays both of his friends, Chino finds himself being hunted down with a bounty on his head.
B.L.U.N.T. makes you wonder if friends can really stay friends when power, drugs, money, love and sex are involved.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD.......2007-07-02
I LIKED THIS BOOK BUT I FELT THAT ALOT OF QUESTIONS WERE LEFT UNANSWERED LIKE WHAT WAS CAMARIA'S CONVERSATION ABOUT WHEN LISA HEARD HER???? WHAT HAPPENED TO CAMARIA, DONNELL. MAYBE THEY WILL BE ANSWERED IN PART 2. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW LISA HAD SUCH GOOD LUCK WITH MEN AND WHY SHE MANAGED TO DO ALL OF THIS.
FINALLY A REAL BOOK SINCE DUTCH.......2007-05-11
THIS WAS EXCELLENT. I JUST ORDERED PART 2. THE NEW BOOKS OUT HERE ARE BEGINNING TO SOUND THE SAME. THIS IS ON THE LEVEL WITH DUTCH, COLDEST WINTER EVER AND SOME OF THE BOOKS BACK FROM 2002-2004. A MUST ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION...
You won't believe how good this book is..........2007-04-12
I had this book for a while before I decided to read it...I could have kicked myself for not reading it sooner...I wanted the whole world to stop until I finished this book, it was that great...Ms.Blunt did the damn thing with this one....You must get the sequel to this book as well...It too is off the chain....
what a read!.......2007-03-13
i wouldn't normally go for a book like this one. but the name sort of interested me. and boy was i in for a ride!this book had me from page 1. all the characters played their parts to a tee. bravo to the author, she's great!
Average customer rating:
- The Crass, the Odd & the Clever Gamut of Popular Entertainments through the Ages.
- You have to like your humor dry
- 'An Anomaly of Anomalies'
- Odd Tastes? Read This Book.
- Perfectly Odd
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Jay's Journal of Anomalies : Conjurers, Cheats, Hustlers, Hoaxsters, Pranksters, Jokesters, Imposters, Pretenders, Side-Show Showmen, Armless Calligraphers, Mechanical Marvels, Popular Entertainments
Ricky Jay
Manufacturer: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0374178674 |
Book Description
A dazzling tour through the world of singular entertainers, con men, and unusual phenomena.
For the past four years, the multitalented Ricky Jay (sleight-of-hand artist, author, actor, film consultant, and scholar of the unusual) has published a unique and beautifully designed quarterly called Jay's Journal of Anomalies. Already a coveted collector's item, the complete set is gathered here for the first time. A brilliant excursion into the history of bizarre entertainments, the journal covered such subjects as dogs stealing acts from other dogs, an anthropological hoax involving the only survivors of a caste of ancient Aztec priests, and the ultimate diet: ingesting only air.In a delectably deadpan and winning style, Jay conveys his admiration and affection for the offbeat that characterized his bestselling Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women. He explains how wags since the sixteenth century have cheated at bowling; he explores the ancient relationship between conjuring and dentistry; and he chronicles the exploits of ceiling walkers and human flies. Crammed full of illustrations drawn from the author's massive personal archive, Jay's Journal of Anomalies will baffle, instruct, and, above all, delight.
Customer Reviews:
The Crass, the Odd & the Clever Gamut of Popular Entertainments through the Ages. .......2007-04-12
"Jay's Journal of Anomalies" reproduces all 16 issues of Ricky Jay's quarterly that was published by Antiquarian Booksellers in Los Angeles for a subscription rate of $90 per annum from Spring 1994-2000. The publications are numbered Volume One, Number One through Volume Four, Number Four, and I assume they appear much the same as they did originally. The "Journals" have essentially been bound into book form with a few additional illustrations and an "Afterword" in which Mr. Jay talks about the publication of the Journals, provides additional information about the subjects therein that he obtained after their original publication, and makes the occasional correction.
Ricky Jay is master of the magic arts and perhaps the foremost scholar on their history as well as the history of "peculiar performance" in general. His 1986 book Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women chronicles some of the most creative and amazing performers in the annals of popular entertainments. That is probably the book you should start with if you're new to Ricky Jay's writing. The entertainments explored in "Jay's Journal of Anomalies" are less spectacular but no less curious. This book cuts a broader swath, including the unvirtuous origins of bowling, the first successful attempts to mimic the human voice mechanically, and an American buffalo exhibited disingenuously as a startling new species. No contents of "Learned Pigs & Fireproof Women" are repeated in this book except in passing reference.
Mr. Jay's prose is, as always, erudite, wry, and a pleasure to read. He loves this stuff. And the reader can't help but love it too. Each Journal is dedicated to a different subject and includes extensive endnotes, in which you will discover interesting tidbits of information and references to Jay's sources. The subjects covered in these 16 Journals are, speaking generally: dog performers, exhibiting obesity, common animals exhibited as rarities, performances of crucifixion (real and fraudulent), performing fleas, facial contortionists, 18th century showman Isaac Fawkes, ceiling walkers, nose amputation (fake), the "Aztec Lilliputians", the athletic legless Harvey Leach, the artful history of bowling, fasters (who starve themselves for profit), the shared history of dentistry and legerdemain, early levitators, and early machines that replicated human abilities.
There are over 130 black-and-white and color illustrations throughout that reproduce playbills, engravings, broadsides, woodcuts, lithographs and more from the author's collection. Also included are 2 large fold-outs: One is a 1931 photo of the cast of the "Dreamland Circus Side Show" in New York, which featured a "crucified man". The other is a drawing of the Bartholomew Fair in 1729, which featured Isaac Fawkes. I offer a bit of trivia for Amazon shoppers: The Automaton Chess Player built by Wolfgang von Kempelen and described in Jay's last Journal is the same that inspired the name of Amazon Mechanical Turk, an Amazon subsidiary that solicits humans to perform tasks that we do better than computers.
You have to like your humor dry.......2005-01-20
Ricky Jay is an odd bird, and I guess most people would consider his fans (myself included) odd for liking him. I can't imagine that anyone unfamiliar with Mr. Jay and his trademark deadpan delivery, use of archaic multi-syllabic synonyms, and fondness for esoterica will be interested in Anomalies. But for those who are into him (and you know who you are) the book is quality through and through. The topics are interesting, fun and wide-ranging. The research is, of course, top notch. The genuine admiration he shows for the entertainers he writes of and his respect for their craft are abundantly clear.
As far as the appreciation of Jay's writing and his selection of content, you either get it or you don't. And if you get it, then by all means get the book. The fact that the book is a reprint of his newsletters, and therefore various subjects can be read in a single sitting, makes this compilation all the more enjoyable. My only itty-bitty complaint would be that the updates would be more accessible if they came immediately after the individual articles rather than a collection of endnote.
'An Anomaly of Anomalies'.......2004-05-27
What wasn't quite clear to me when I got this book is that it is exactly what it says it is: a compellation of a quarterly 'newsletter' or journal written by magician Ricky Jay over a period of six years. The newsletter combines Jay's interest in entertainers of the outrageous kind with high quality publication; as he says,"a magazine printed letterpress on mold-made paper, with tipped-in color plates to present the illustrations I cherished with dignity and clarity." Although I have not seen either the original newsletters or the paperback version of the book, I can testify that the hardback retains these fine qualities.
As one might expect given the nature of the project, the quality of individual chapters evolves with time. Each chapter of the book is one volume of the newletter, preserved with the original masthead; the first few chapters show Jay warming to his subject. Chapter one, on trained dogs, is only 6 pages long; Chapter two, on Edward Bright and other early "Fattest Man/Woman/Child" is eight pages. Honestly, these opening chapters did not particularly interest me. But then the topics became more interesting to me and Jay seemed to 'hit his stride'--the final chapter, on the Amazing Chess Automaton, is twice the length of the first. Nonetheless, I still found the book a bit uneven--the chapter on bowling begins superbly, with a short description of Matthew Buchinger, born in 1674 who became a bowling wizard in spite of having neither arms nor legs. But after a single paragraph and picture, this singular character is not mentioned again. Instead, Jay concentrates the remaining pages on a general discussion of cheating at bowling--substitute "pool" for 'bowling' and the situation is pretty much unchanged today; and the association of bowling with amorality in the Victorian mind. Moderately interesting, but give me a ceiling walker, chess automaton, or Bonassus any day. It would be churlish of me to make more of this--it is, after all, Jay's Journal of Anomalies, not Coleman's Journal.
Among the more fascinating chapters are those on fasters, where Jay brings in the modern example of the Breatharians, who supposedly live on air alone; the Aztec Lilliputians; and a quirky chapter on "nose amputations". The common but unspoken thread among all the chapters is that odd but universal human quality--an eagerness to be deceived. The Amazing Chess Automaton, a device which has been treated at great lengths elsewhere, is a real testament to this quality; having been purchased by not one, but two members of royalty!
Each chapter is thoroughly footnoted, so that the book stands not only as an entertaining collection of quirks, but also as a scholarly source of information. One of the highlights is the Afterward, in which Jay publishes, presumably for the first time, additional material and pictures supplied by his readers in response to the original newsletter. All in all, Jay has succeeded admirably in creating (in his own words) 'an anomaly of anomalies."
Odd Tastes? Read This Book........2002-03-16
Wonderfully entertaining and enjoyable scholarship on extremely odd topics: flea circuses, hunger artists, nose-removal devices, and humbug of all sorts. Jay proves himself once again to be not only a supremely talented performer on the stage but on the page as well. Peruse this and be amazed at what people found entertaining a century or two ago... it's not so different from what you watch every evening on the TV (especially if you watch Fox).
Perfectly Odd.......2001-12-28
A superb book stuffed with bizarre topics and weird old illustrations. The previous reviewer's remark about "there's nothing in here I need to know" totally misses the point. Of course you don't NEED to know this stuff! It's the simple joy of human weirdness that makes this book worthwhile. Where else are you going to learn about recreational nose-slicing and the fine art of ceiling-walking? Also check out Jay's "Learned Pigs", Bondeson's "Feejee Mermaid," Collins's "Banvard's Folly," and Standage's "The Turk" ... all great stuff in this same line.
Books:
- Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call 2007 (Frommer's Cruises)
- Fuzzy Logic Get Fuzzy 2
- Glorious Appearing: The End of Days (Left Behind #12)
- Harmonious Environment: Beautify, Detoxify and Energize Your Life, Your Home and Your Planet
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
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