This is the funny, touching, and true story of the man who enabled Woodstock to take place. It is also the personal story of one man who took stock...
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Nov 12, 2011
Jeanette
rated it: 
Urp! This one nearly gave me indigestion. Tiber admits to heavy use of pot and hash and other drugs during this period of his life, which makes me doubt the reliability of his bizarre version of events. How much of this did he hallucinate or misremember? He even says he doesn't remember a single detail of what he did following his first acid trip.
I give this two stars instead of one because I did learn some things about pre-Woodstock difficulties and the reasons the Woodstock Music More...
I give this two stars instead of one because I did learn some things about pre-Woodstock difficulties and the reasons the Woodstock Music More...
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Sep 20, 2009
Erin
rated it: 
I saw the movie without knowing there was a book on which it was based, so the night after I saw it, I downloaded the book to my Kindle. It was enjoyable but not what I was expecting.
The movie is a pretty faithful adaptation of the Woodstock chapters, so there's that. The first half of the book, though, is about Tiber's life prior to Woodstock landing in his (literal) backyard. Those chapters self-congratulate and name drop (he lived in the same building as Tennessee Williams, he wa More...
The movie is a pretty faithful adaptation of the Woodstock chapters, so there's that. The first half of the book, though, is about Tiber's life prior to Woodstock landing in his (literal) backyard. Those chapters self-congratulate and name drop (he lived in the same building as Tennessee Williams, he wa More...
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Feb 12, 2011
Christina
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A graphic tale of Elliot Tiber's coming-of-age in New York City in the 1960s and his involvement in the Woodstock concert via his work at the El Monaco-a hotel in White Lake where Woodstock Ventures and hundreds of hippies descended to camp out in the weeks and days leading to the historic musical event.
I was four years old when the concert took place. As I read this book, I wondered how it would be if I were a young woman in 1969. Would I go to Woodstock? Would I espouse free lov More...
I was four years old when the concert took place. As I read this book, I wondered how it would be if I were a young woman in 1969. Would I go to Woodstock? Would I espouse free lov More...
Nov 22, 2007
Koeeoaddi
rated it:
Part gay man coming of age memoir, part Woodstock hippie-ana, it's a short, entertaining, name dropping read, if sometimes a little TMI for my taste. I did love his parents' hotel from Hell in the Catskills. [Imagine Fawlty Towers run by Don Rickles and Ida Morgenstern.]
Note to Woodstock historians: you would be out of an occupation without this guy. He. Got. The. Permit.
Note to Woodstock historians: you would be out of an occupation without this guy. He. Got. The. Permit.
Feb 14, 2010
Neil
rated it: 
This was disappointing. The first problem is that it takes Tiber a third of the book before he gets to anything about Woodstock. The first third is about the sleazy way in which his family runs a hotel. Tiber tries to blame this on his parents, but I don't see him fighting the practices much. He's as guilty of lying to the people who stay there as the mother he constantly berates. It's also about his sexual awakening as a homosexual, an awakening dominated by his taste for S & M. So you get page
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Dec 16, 2011
Brent
rated it:
Elliot Tiber tells the story of the Woodstock music festival from his own perspective. His family's hotel served as the headquarters for the Woodstock organizers during the weeks leading up to the festival, and as such gave Elliot unparalleled insight into all that went on behind the scenes. From insane amounts of traffic turning an entire town into a parking lot, to locals being unwilling or unable to see the value in such a festival and trying their best (to humorous effect) to shut down th
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Dec 16, 2009
Westy
rated it:
Not what I was expecting. Liked the writing style, short quick read, lots of funny parts. But in a book about Woodstock I was surprised the first half had NOTHING to do with Woodstock. 215 page book and only the last 100 pages were about Woodstock.
Lots of name dropping sexcapades, very heavy on sex, S&M, lots of parts were almost uncomfortable. But overall painted a good picture of the struggles of being a gay man in the 60s and how the summer of 69' changed him. Mr Tiber lived a More...
Lots of name dropping sexcapades, very heavy on sex, S&M, lots of parts were almost uncomfortable. But overall painted a good picture of the struggles of being a gay man in the 60s and how the summer of 69' changed him. Mr Tiber lived a More...
Aug 11, 2010
Cristy
rated it:
It's no surprise the film "taking woodstock" didnt know what it wanted to be because the source material, this book, doesn't know either.
One on hand, Elliot chronicles is sexual self-discovery and his identity development as a homosexual. On the other, as if he knew that wouldn't be enough to garner publication, he throws the Woodstock story in the midst of it all. Both would've been decent tomes, had they been taken on separately and completely. As it stands, both are sca More...
One on hand, Elliot chronicles is sexual self-discovery and his identity development as a homosexual. On the other, as if he knew that wouldn't be enough to garner publication, he throws the Woodstock story in the midst of it all. Both would've been decent tomes, had they been taken on separately and completely. As it stands, both are sca More...
Aug 05, 2009
K
rated it: 
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Jul 21, 2009
Galina
rated it:
I understand a movie has been made about this momentous historical event in our history. The 'behind the scenes' negotiations were interesting from Eli's point of view. He helped by offering the place/property where Woodstock happened. Apparently the initial small town in NY State that was supposed to host this concert, backed out. What I did not like about this book was the 'tabloid' disgusting gossip about famous peoples gay escapades. I don't care if your straight or gay - this type of goss
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Mar 23, 2010
Melody
rated it:
I really enjoyed Tiber's funny and poignant account of his role in the festival, especially his descriptions of his parents and life at the El Monaco motel. I didn't find the descriptions of his sexual experiences particularly offensive...just unbelievably sad. And when he mentioned famous people, I didn't think of it as name-dropping, so much as what for him must have been quite a revelation. Here were these creative, talented people who were either famous or soon-to-be famous and were just as
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Dec 12, 2009
Veronica
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Jun 17, 2009
Kathryn
rated it:
The reason I picked this book up was because I have been going to Bethel, NY every summer for 22 years. My family has been going there for over 50 and some witnessed Woodstock first hand. I love hearing my grandparents talk about the weeks when all the hippies invaded town. They’ve told me stories about how they let all who could reach take apples from the tree on their property (since there was such a shortage of food), and gave dozens of people money to make phone calls (since they didn’t e
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Apr 22, 2011
Patricia
rated it:
I guess being someone who had wanted to be part of that first Woodstock Festival in '69 as a very young teenager, I expected more from this book than it delivered. It was amusing, and I actually saw the film version of the book before I finished reading it. If you are looking for more information about the festival itself, don't look for it here. This is more about Elliot Tiber's life with his odd family and the influence the '69 famous festival had on the family business.
Sep 01, 2009
Ishita
rated it:
This haphazardly novel by Tiber is less a narrative of Woodstock (the description of which begins only half way through the book) and more about Tiber's discovery of his own sexual identity. It is occassionally funny, occassionally pretentious and Tiber does not hesitate to name drop and bitch incessantly about his mother.
In a way, I thought that the marketing and the covers etc were misleading. Half way through, the book picks up momentum and style. I did like his vivid descriptions of Be More...
In a way, I thought that the marketing and the covers etc were misleading. Half way through, the book picks up momentum and style. I did like his vivid descriptions of Be More...
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Oct 06, 2009
Joan
rated it:
I definitely liked this book over Michael Lang's book because I felt it was more honest and open. I also liked the movie this book is based on a lot and felt the movie and book were both justified. I was surprised that the guy had so much drugs and sex before Woodstock though because in the movie it looks like he's so straight before the festival took over his life!
Jul 26, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. The movie was based on it, but this even more than the film reflects, is a MEMOIR. It's about Tiber & how organizing Woodstock affected his life, rather than about the festival itself. Having done extra work on the movie, it was especially cool to find out more about the scene we shot that got cut!
Sep 25, 2009
Kmalac
rated it:
This is a behind the scenes of Woodstock. True Story! I love Michael Lang, he is probably the best character in the book and I love Elliot's and his father relationship. Be warned there are some references to the true essence of the 60's and all that Woodstock entailed.
Jul 15, 2009
Greg
rated it:
Fun book to read if you are interested in how Woodstock came about. This is not about the festival but the months and days leading up to the 3-day lovefest. Quick and easy to read. At times I felt Elliot Tiber was throwing more bull around then what actually happened.
Aug 29, 2009
Janet
rated it:
While the writing was not so good, this was an enjoyable ride on the road to Woodstock and the author's involvement in making peace, love and music happen in his little town of White Lake/Bethel, NY 40 years ago. It was particularly interesting because I know the area well; my lake house is 15 minutes from the site.
Jan 08, 2010
Sue
rated it:
I saw the movie recently but mised the first few minutes of the film. They must have squeezed the first 7 chapters of the book into those ten minutes! I was most interested in the details of how Woodstock came about, but I also found the personal side of Elliot Tiber's story interesting. He was involved in two major iconic events, the Stonewall Uprising and Woodstock, and it was interesting to see how the one ultimately led to the other. It's quite possible that Woodstock might not have happened
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Aug 10, 2011
Write a review...More subjective than the film, this is more about the author's development as a gay man in a homophobic society than about the eponymous festival. It complements the film, while being less generally relevant.
Jul 30, 2010
Stephanie
rated it:
I adore this movie. I adore the book, but not quite as much as the movie. I was glad to find that most of the movie is true to the book (although some details differ from Michael Lang's account in his book, hmmm), and it was interesting to learn more about Elliot. But I would still recommend the movie over the book. Then read the book if you are so inclined. :)
Dec 14, 2009
Kelly
rated it:
Not what I expected. The title is a little misleading. This book focuses more on Elliot Tiber than the actual festival itself. That being said, this book definitely encompassed the feel of Woodstock throughout tis pages.
Jun 22, 2010
Caroline
rated it:
I think the main reason I liked this book was because I enjoy the entire atmosphere of Woodstock. Though the book has a tendency to go through paragraphs of vague, shining compliments for the event, I thought it was an enjoyable read.
Jan 11, 2010
Kathy
rated it:
Excellent book! Much better than the movie. Elliot Tiber is hilarious too, very funny. Also heartfelt and outstanding. The book is illuminating about the times and his personal struggle. Highly recommend for a fast read that I could not put down.
Oct 26, 2009
George
rated it:
I liked the behind the scenes info about woodstock and the running of his parents motel, but there was way too much information on his personal life that I really didn't need to know.
Nov 22, 2009
Mary Lu
rated it:
This book is more than the story of how Woodstock ended up in a tiny town in New York. It's the author's story of how he came out as a gay man and accepted himself.
Sep 30, 2009
Mike
rated it:
I wanted to hear about Woodstock, not about the Author’s sexuality, nor about his adolescent experiences in New York movie houses.
Not a good read.
Not a good read.
Aug 29, 2009
laura
rated it:
A really sweet story and a quick read. Worth staying up late one night reading before you go out to see the movie. I'm a sucker for these coming of age stories where gay people integrate the different strands of their lives and make a go of their futures. That it's hilarious and full interesting Woodstock backstory is icing.
