false 11 14 13 true 5752071 read 0 true 3870300 currently-reading 1 true 3870299 to-read http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/61589990 Gladiator: A True Story of 'Roids, Rage, and Redemption (Hardcover) by Dan Clark
Meet Dan Clark -- A1 douche and legend in his own mind. Seriously, there's a reason why autobiographies like this almost always have a co-author. Dan aka "Nitro's" prose makes Linda Lovelace's Ordeal read like Ulysses. What, you never heard of "Nitro" from the original American Gladiators??!! Well, you must be the ONLY person in America -- no, make that the entire planet -- who hasn't because this dude was a "reality television superstar." Just ask him. This guy slept with more porn stars than John Holmes, was a better athlete than Bo Jackson, and most assuredly as you can say decadurabolin a bigger TV star than Simon Cowell. No really, all you have to do is ask him... ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/57485462 to: Death by Leisure: A Cautionary Tale (Hardcover) by Chris Ayres
Ok let's cut the shit. I don't like Chris Ayres and I don't like people like Chris Ayres -- and it sounds like L.A. is crawling with them. That said, Chris Ayres is one hell of a funny guy. Whining, self-deprecating, unabashedly materialistic, and hopeless with the women... I mean, the guy sells his furniture on craigs list as a ploy to get women to talk to him??? Would I take the guy's phone call? No fucking way. Did I think I'd finish a semi-autobiography by the guy? Not on your life. But I did... and parts of it (the middle of the book especially) I couldn't put down. Yeah, the last 20 or so pages are WAY too preachy for me (hence four stars), but nonetheless this is a genuinely funny read -- made all the more so because it's so fucking true. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/52949937 to: Bases Loaded: The Inside Story of the Steroid Era in Baseball by the Central Figure in the Mitchell Report (Hardcover) by Kirk Radomski
Ok, I read a lot of folks slamming Radomski's book as self-absorbed and may be it is. But if you care at all about the proliferation of PEDs in MLB during the 1990s this book -- like Game of Shadows -- is a must read. Is it as good as Game of Shadows? No, not at all, but it's still an informative an insightful read. Radomski names names -- lots of names, and has all the details to back up his claims. In fact, virtually the entire Mitchell Report was based on his testimony. How Bud Selig and Donald Fehr even have jobs after this is beyond me, and the fact that they do just goes to show that the powers that be will never ever take the proper steps to clean up the game. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48763331 to: Outlaw Journalist: The Life and Times of Hunter S. Thompson (Hardcover) by William McKeen
Pretty good bio as far as HTS goes. Of course, reading Hunter bios is typically more interesting than reading actual Hunter S. Thompson -- aside from Hell's Angels, of course. The new movie (Gonzo) is pretty lame outside of about 10 minutes of classic archival footage of HST on The Dating Game. Pick this up instead. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/46933045 to: Ordeal (Paperback) by Linda Lovelace
Three stars for the entertainment value alone, but that's the ONLY value in Ordeal. Lord knows Linda Boreman isn't much of a writer, nor is she particularly credible. She admits that her first two published autobiographies were purely fictional, but that this time she's telling the truth. Possibly so, but why would anyone believe her? Look, we all know Chuck Traynor's a (deceased) scumbag, and we all know that the porn world is seedy. But Linda's tale has more holes than Swiss cheese -- chief among them: She says she disavows the name Linda "Lovelace," but then she uses that name on the byline of Ordeal!

In short, Linda accuses Chuck of so many criminal activities that there should have been a 200 page indictment for his arrest after Ordeal hit the shelves. There wasn't. Then again, if all of Linda's accusations were outright BS, Chuck should have sued her and her publisher for libel fifty times over. He didn't. That ought to tell you all you need to know about the two protagonists of Ordeal. Let them both rest in piece. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42416592 to: The Way I Am (Hardcover) by Eminem
Not particularly personal, not really revealing... Is this a quick cash in because the guy's been locked away in his house the past few years? An okay and rather quick read, but I doubt it'll be particularly satisfying to fans of Eminem. I picked up my copy at the library, thankfully. ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39838251 to: Days of War, Nights of Love : Crimethink For Beginners (Paperback) by Crimethinc
]]> http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/ check it out » ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/39527211 New Orleans Noir (Paperback) by Julie Smith
bookshelves: to-read
I picked this up cuz my girl Jeri Cain Rossi has an essay in it. I haven't been in touch with JCR in a few years but it's good to see she's still writing. Check out Angel With a Criminal Kiss or Red, Wine, Moan for more... ]]>