Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB ’s Comments (group member since Oct 06, 2009)

Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB ’s comments from the THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB group.

Most definitely recommend this magnificent and touching memoir

In “Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish” Murray Schwartz has written a memoir that not only hits a grand slam, but throws a Super Bowl touchdown, scores a hat-trick and wins the Triple Crown when it comes to checking off all the boxes for what qualifies as a brilliant, original and very affecting autobiography.

Born into a poor family in the Bronx, Mr. Schwartz scoops the reader right out of their own existence and into his with razor sharp reminiscences and prose worthy of Proust.

At the very center of Mr. Schwartz's existence is The Red Mill Nightclub, legendary in its day for providing the sort of entertainment and ambiance which stressed a sort of elegance which would later open up the whole world for a child who’s father worked there as a manager, bartender and sort of bouncer. Mr. Schwartz’ father spent many years as “Schwartzy”, the poorly paid “jack of all trades” at The Red Mill with his young son helping out for spare change. The pain of seeing his father, a very decent, moral and caring man referred to by such a demeaning nickname infused young Murray with an inner vow that when he reached adulthood, he would be called Mr. Schwartz.

As Mr. Schwartz points out many times, quite eloquently, life is made up of luck, chance, action and hard work. Through all of those nouns, Mr. Schwartz ended up in the mail room of the William Morris Talent Agency and ultimately working for the unforgettable and infamous George Wood, one of its top agents.

It is here, Mr. Schwartz separates himself from the vast majority of other memoirists, as he displays a rare skill in perfectly capturing the character of this enormously complex man. George Wood, although attired in the most expensive of suits (all blue) and perfectly groomed, had enough inner demons to make even Dylan Thomas blush. The anecdotes that Mr. Schwartz relates are full of humor as well as pathos, in a sense a mix of Damon Runyon and Dostoyevsky.

It was while booking guests for The Tonight Show that Mr. Schwartz met Merv Griffin, which ultimately led to his being invited by Mr. Griffin, to help form the company that would become Merv Griffin Enterprises, where as President and CEO, Mr. Schwartz would oversee this brilliantly successful behemoth ultimately responsible for such shows as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. The relationship between the two men is written about in honest and genuine detail. From the monumental successes to the inexplicable ending and Griffin’s inner struggles, so publicly and garishly publicized at the time, are handled with impeccable respect and openness. Mr. Schwartz has too much respect for his readers to gloss over details yet too much humility to embellish them.

The great strength of “Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish” is that Mr. Schwartz does not allow the book to become a standard celebrity gabfest. He certainly has met and befriended more than his share of famous people. Rather, this is a heartfelt memoir, written by a man seeking to search his background and his life to fully understand how past events helped shape, not only where he is now, but how he ultimately arrived at his present destination. Readers are very fortunate to have such an expert guide, as they are truly taken along on this fascinating journey, meeting unforgettable characters, the famous and the infamous, as Schwartzy’s son does indeed earn the title of Mr. Schwartz.

Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish

Reviewed by
Rick Friedman
Founder
The James Mason Community Book Club- est 2009.
8,500 Plus Members

Just finished a magnificent memoir…highest recommendation!!!

In “Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish” Murray Schwartz has written a memoir that not only hits a grand slam, but throws a Super Bowl touchdown, scores a hat-trick and wins the Triple Crown when it comes to checking off all the boxes for what qualifies as a brilliant, original and very affecting autobiography.

Born into a poor family in the Bronx, Mr. Schwartz scoops the reader right out of their own existence and into his with razor sharp reminiscences and prose worthy of Proust.

At the very center of Mr. Schwartz's existence is The Red Mill Nightclub, legendary in its day for providing the sort of entertainment and ambiance which stressed a sort of elegance which would later open up the whole world for a child who’s father worked there as a manager, bartender and sort of bouncer. Mr. Schwartz’ father spent many years as “Schwartzy”, the poorly paid “jack of all trades” at The Red Mill with his young son helping out for spare change. The pain of seeing his father, a very decent, moral and caring man referred to by such a demeaning nickname infused young Murray with an inner vow that when he reached adulthood, he would be called Mr. Schwartz.

As Mr. Schwartz points out many times, quite eloquently, life is made up of luck, chance, action and hard work. Through all of those nouns, Mr. Schwartz ended up in the mail room of the William Morris Talent Agency and ultimately working for the unforgettable and infamous George Wood, one of its top agents.

It is here, Mr. Schwartz separates himself from the vast majority of other memoirists, as he displays a rare skill in perfectly capturing the character of this enormously complex man. George Wood, although attired in the most expensive of suits (all blue) and perfectly groomed, had enough inner demons to make even Dylan Thomas blush. The anecdotes that Mr. Schwartz relates are full of humor as well as pathos, in a sense a mix of Damon Runyon and Dostoyevsky.

It was while booking guests for The Tonight Show that Mr. Schwartz met Merv Griffin, which ultimately led to his being invited by Mr. Griffin, to help form the company that would become Merv Griffin Enterprises, where as President and CEO, Mr. Schwartz would oversee this brilliantly successful behemoth ultimately responsible for such shows as Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. The relationship between the two men is written about in honest and genuine detail. From the monumental successes to the inexplicable ending and Griffin’s inner struggles, so publicly and garishly publicized at the time, are handled with impeccable respect and openness. Mr. Schwartz has too much respect for his readers to gloss over details yet too much humility to embellish them.

The great strength of “Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish” is that Mr. Schwartz does not allow the book to become a standard celebrity gabfest. He certainly has met and befriended more than his share of famous people. Rather, this is a heartfelt memoir, written by a man seeking to search his background and his life to fully understand how past events helped shape, not only where he is now, but how he ultimately arrived at his present destination. Readers are very fortunate to have such an expert guide, as they are truly taken along on this fascinating journey, meeting unforgettable characters, the famous and the infamous, as Schwartzy’s son does indeed earn the title of Mr. Schwartz.

Red Mill: It's Not How You Start, It's How You Finish

Reviewed by
Rick Friedman
Founder
The James Mason Community Book Club- est 2009.
8,500 Plus Members

Pat Rogers, if he was not one of the great historians of our age, would rival Dashiell Hammett as a truly magnificent detective novelist. In his latest non-fiction gem, The Poet and the Publisher: The Case of Alexander Pope, Esq., of Twickenham versus Edmund Curll, Bookseller in Grub Street, Dr. Rogers, professor emeritus in the liberal arts at the University of South Florida, transports the reader back to one of the most legendary literary feuds that occurred centuries ago though made alive and vivid in this remarkable volume.

Alexander Pope was the “poète du moment” of his time. He was also one of the most controversial and berated of public figures, often due to his own antics. Pope fell out of favor with most so called intelligentsia for many decades in favor of the romantics and was, if not largely forgotten… dismissed yet Dr. Rogers, one of the foremost experts on Pope has, by shear tenacity, conjured up a renaissance for this misbegotten rogue..or was he?

When one writes about history it can often be dry and dull, a retelling of simple facts and dates. Thankfully, Dr. Rogers documentation of the feud between Alexander Pope and Edmund Curll is anything but academic. Blessed with two combatants with incredible wit and infinite hostility against each other, Dr. Rogers allows the events and the personalities to speak for themselves. The fact that the author is an expert on this era is an immeasurable balm in the descriptive writing that enables the reader to become engulfed in the events of this period.

While Alexander Pope is certainly far more well known, Edmund Curll is much deserving of note. We all owe Dr. Rogers a great debt of gratitude for bringing his name to much greater light. Curll was a product of Grub Street. First let us examine Grub Street… The very definition of Onomatopoeia. The very name brings to mind the unsavory and the distasteful. Curll was one of the most successful of publishers at this storied location and one of the most keen practitioners of the art of deceit and skulduggery. He was also incredibly intelligent and blessed with a superb sense of business savvy.

His opponent Alexander Pope was no less skilled in the art of deception and most importantly, an unwavering obsession for revenge. This was no David and Goliath story rather it was Goliath versus Goliath. Each competitor had many weapons at their disposal. Their hatred toward each other as perfectly depicted by Dr. Rogers was a “Combattez jusqu'à la mort”.

The genius of Dr. Rogers’ retelling of the events in this epic feud is his ability to allow the participants to speak for themselves. With a generous allowance of original documentation, letters, court documents, illustrations, and other pertinent first-hand descriptions, the reader is afforded a front row seat at the proverbial fight of the century.

This is no mundane history, with the assured writing of an expert historian and the main protagonists being both outrageous and outstandingly witty, this is a joy to read. The words and personalities of both Alexander Pope and Edmund Curll come to life in this volume. Dr. Rogers further enhances his history by populating the book with multiple personalities of the period.

The key difference that distinguishes this history from others is Dr. Roger’s decision to present his distillation as a Personnalités de Trilo… A distinct battle of opposites. Personalities that are different yet in many ways the same. Both protagonists are stubborn, arrogant, self righteous, and certain they are in the right. From the battle over lack of copyright laws to pilfering of letters, there seems to be no limit to the lengths at which each will go to destroying the other. Detailng and publishing one’s personal property is even.. Pas hors limites.

We now return to Dashiell Hammett, Dr. Rogers includes a most astute biographical segment on each protagonist as well as fascinating and incisive segments on the era and personalities in which both inhabited. It is to be remembered that the author is one of the foremost experts on this literary era. It is to his credit that he is able to bring it to such vibrant life. Once the reader is informed about the combatants, Dr. Rogers presents the various facts of each of their “cases”. Legal documents and other specific and original articles are included. The reader is then able to delve into the various articles of evidence and come to their own conclusions. It is the very best in cross exhibit and allowance for individual verdict that even the most astute lover of whodunits cannot equal.

We live in a time of instant gratification. A time when if one desires an answer, one can simply Google it and it is presented within seconds. This was not always the case. There was a time when one had to read the newspapers and follow the local gossip in order to at least find a hint of the truth. In The Poet and the Publisher: The Case of Alexander Pope, Esq., of Twickenham versus Edmund Curll, Bookseller in Grub Street, Dr. Pat Rogers has managed to awaken a period in history that has long been, if not forgotten, then dismissed.
Dr. Rogers has take two protagonists, both incredibly full of wit and vigor and managed to bring them both back to life centuries after their passing. Additionally, the author has miraculously brought back 18th century Grub Street to life with all its grime, exuberance, mischievousness, innovation and uniqueness.

To those who might find this volume incredibly witty for a “Histoire sérieuse”.. I refer you to the following:
To paraphrase the late actor Billy Gilbert, he was once asked by a rather snobbish fellow about Laurel and Hardy (with whom he appeared in many films)… “Weren’t they lowbrow funnymen?” …To which he replied “They made people laugh..what’s wrong with that”……Indeed I say…Pope and Curll had wit which is universal…blind to all so-called human made castes…and kudos to Dr. Rogers for once again allowing us to luxuriant in Pope’s and Curll’s laughter.

Richard Friedman
Founder
The James Mason Community Book Club
7,000+ Members

Pat Rogers, if he was not one of the great historians of our age, would rival Dashiell Hammett as a truly magnificent detective novelist. In his latest non-fiction gem, The Poet and the Publisher: The Case of Alexander Pope, Esq., of Twickenham versus Edmund Curll, Bookseller in Grub Street, Dr. Rogers, professor emeritus in the liberal arts at the University of South Florida, transports the reader back to one of the most legendary literary feuds that occurred centuries ago though made alive and vivid in this remarkable volume.

Alexander Pope was the “poète du moment” of his time. He was also one of the most controversial and berated of public figures, often due to his own antics. Pope fell out of favor with most so called intelligentsia for many decades in favor of the romantics and was, if not largely forgotten… dismissed yet Dr. Rogers, one of the foremost experts on Pope has, by shear tenacity, conjured up a renaissance for this misbegotten rogue..or was he?

When one writes about history it can often be dry and dull, a retelling of simple facts and dates. Thankfully, Dr. Rogers documentation of the feud between Alexander Pope and Edmund Curll is anything but academic. Blessed with two combatants with incredible wit and infinite hostility against each other, Dr. Rogers allows the events and the personalities to speak for themselves. The fact that the author is an expert on this era is an immeasurable balm in the descriptive writing that enables the reader to become engulfed in the events of this period.

While Alexander Pope is certainly far more well known, Edmund Curll is much deserving of note. We all owe Dr. Rogers a great debt of gratitude for bringing his name to much greater light. Curll was a product of Grub Street. First let us examine Grub Street… The very definition of Onomatopoeia. The very name brings to mind the unsavory and the distasteful. Curll was one of the most successful of publishers at this storied location and one of the most keen practitioners of the art of deceit and skulduggery. He was also incredibly intelligent and blessed with a superb sense of business savvy.

His opponent Alexander Pope was no less skilled in the art of deception and most importantly, an unwavering obsession for revenge. This was no David and Goliath story rather it was Goliath versus Goliath. Each competitor had many weapons at their disposal. Their hatred toward each other as perfectly depicted by Dr. Rogers was a “Combattez jusqu'à la mort”.

The genius of Dr. Rogers’ retelling of the events in this epic feud is his ability to allow the participants to speak for themselves. With a generous allowance of original documentation, letters, court documents, illustrations, and other pertinent first-hand descriptions, the reader is afforded a front row seat at the proverbial fight of the century.

This is no mundane history, with the assured writing of an expert historian and the main protagonists being both outrageous and outstandingly witty, this is a joy to read. The words and personalities of both Alexander Pope and Edmund Curll come to life in this volume. Dr. Rogers further enhances his history by populating the book with multiple personalities of the period.

The key difference that distinguishes this history from others is Dr. Roger’s decision to present his distillation as a Personnalités de Trilo… A distinct battle of opposites. Personalities that are different yet in many ways the same. Both protagonists are stubborn, arrogant, self righteous, and certain they are in the right. From the battle over lack of copyright laws to pilfering of letters, there seems to be no limit to the lengths at which each will go to destroying the other. Detailng and publishing one’s personal property is even.. Pas hors limites.

We now return to Dashiell Hammett, Dr. Rogers includes a most astute biographical segment on each protagonist as well as fascinating and incisive segments on the era and personalities in which both inhabited. It is to be remembered that the author is one of the foremost experts on this literary era. It is to his credit that he is able to bring it to such vibrant life. Once the reader is informed about the combatants, Dr. Rogers presents the various facts of each of their “cases”. Legal documents and other specific and original articles are included. The reader is then able to delve into the various articles of evidence and come to their own conclusions. It is the very best in cross exhibit and allowance for individual verdict that even the most astute lover of whodunits cannot equal.

We live in a time of instant gratification. A time when if one desires an answer, one can simply Google it and it is presented within seconds. This was not always the case. There was a time when one had to read the newspapers and follow the local gossip in order to at least find a hint of the truth. In The Poet and the Publisher: The Case of Alexander Pope, Esq., of Twickenham versus Edmund Curll, Bookseller in Grub Street, Dr. Pat Rogers has managed to awaken a period in history that has long been, if not forgotten, then dismissed.
Dr. Rogers has take two protagonists, both incredibly full of wit and vigor and managed to bring them both back to life centuries after their passing. Additionally, the author has miraculously brought back 18th century Grub Street to life with all its grime, exuberance, mischievousness, innovation and uniqueness.

To those who might find this volume incredibly witty for a “Histoire sérieuse”.. I refer you to the following:
To paraphrase the late actor Billy Gilbert, he was once asked by a rather snobbish fellow about Laurel and Hardy (with whom he appeared in many films)… “Weren’t they lowbrow funnymen?” …To which he replied “They made people laugh..what’s wrong with that”……Indeed I say…Pope and Curll had wit which is universal…blind to all so-called human made castes…and kudos to Dr. Rogers for once again allowing us to luxuriant in Pope’s and Curll’s laughter.

Richard Friedman
Founder
The James Mason Community Book Club
7,000+ Members

When I first started this group back in 2009 one of my main objectives was the support of Independent writers and that continues to be a very important goal of this group

Just finished The Mango Season .. excellent book about an Indian woman returning home after spending seven years in San Francisco to tell her family that she is marrying an American and all the repercussions that that causes… extremely well done

I read the biography on Rin Tin Tin and it was magnificent. He really was as big a star as Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks Senior

Tokyo Black. A Thomas Caine Thriller

William Marshal : The Greatest Knight

All excellent excellent books

I have never enjoyed novels that do not have linear plots such as James Joyce and other experimental novels where you have to almost solve a puzzle to understand what is going on books should provide entertainment not confusion

For those and I’m sure everyone is mourning the passing of the irreplaceable Christopher Plummer I highly recommend. The Last station in which he plays Leo Tolstoy a stunning movie about the last days of the great author. Plummer is brilliant in the role and was nominated for an Oscar

VT wrote: "Hello!

I was lucky enough to be introduced to many classic films throughout my childhood, which has left me with a movie-watching habit (over 200 watched last year,) and a particular if perhaps s..."

Welcome VT!!

Wonderful to have you as a member and I apologize for taking so long to welcome you. I might mention that in all the interviews I saw of James Mason he always mentioned Odd Man Out as his favorite film and one of the very few that he was actually proud of out of the over 100 movies he made. He especially loved that the cast was made up mostly of first time movie actors from the Abbey theater from Ireland. Again absolutely wonderful to have you with us and welcome welcome welcome

Absolutely brilliant book almost finished and one of those that you hate to see Ende

Just finished this massive biography. BRILLIANT!!!! Here is my review....


There are those figures in history that become so much larger than life that their very name becomes an adjective, Napoleon is such an example (Napoleonic).. another such example is Machiavelli. The adjective “Machiavellian” has become a regular part of the common vernacular and a very evil one at that, referencing a person willing to do anything to gain power. How accurate is that term based on the man it is named for?

In Machiavelli: His Life and Times, which is unquestionably the definitive biography of this most unfairly maligned larger than life personality, Alexander Lee has produced not only a much needed comprehensive life, but one that is stunningly written and expertly researched.

It would be unfair to simply label this as a mere biography as Mr. Lee utilizes Machiavelli to detail the entire political and social spectrum in which his subject spent his childhood, youth, adulthood and final years. One can look at this massive tome as a brilliant painting with Machiavelli at the center and Florence (and it’s surroundings) as the background...each painted in brilliant, colorful, living images.

The true magic of this book comes from Mr. Lee’s ability to nuance the life of Machiavelli with fascinating anecdotes directly from his life beginning with his childhood which was far from privileged and continuing onto his self made path to becoming one of the great diplomats at the same time combating the image of Machiavelli that has developed over the centuries yet never becoming defensive of his subject, always letting the facts speak for themselves. This certainly does not mean that Mr. Lee covers up any of his subjects shortcomings, he doesn’t, yet the authors brilliance allows for a fully realized portrait of his subject to emerge which is very rare and only happens in the truly great histories and biographies.

The often frustratingly complicated political and social life of Florence, the Medici’s, their ups and downs.. has brought many a book to a dead stop.. yet in Machiavelli: His Life and Time, Mr. Lee deftly allows the events and characters to guide the action which opens up this entire fascinating world for the reader and allows one to see Machiavelli‘s place in it and puts to shame the word “Machiavellian” as he was anything but the leader or “The man behind the curtain”. Readers unfamiliar with Machiavelli will be shocked when they find out the facts about the real man versus the myth.

Machiavelli is best known today as the author of The Prince, a book “assumed” to be a “how to” for ruthless leaders wanting to gain power by any means necessary, yet this is also not true. Mr. Lee does a splendid and sensitive job explaining the circumstances which provoked Machiavelli to write this book which would have profound influences not just on history but on his reputation for centuries to come.

Niccolo Machiavelli lived a most unique and complicated life, one filled with incredible highs and devastating lows, and one completely and falsely besmirched by history. There have been many books written on the life and writings of Machiavelli yet they have only served as appetizers to what has now become the main course... Alexander Lee’s stunning and definitive, Machiavelli: His Life and Times. Lee is able to answer as many questions about his subject as all the great researchers before him put together. All future scholars of Machiavelli will certainly look at this brilliantly researched and written book as a veritable Rosetta Stone when trying to figure out the myth and mystery that is and perhaps always will be Machiavelli.

Rick Friedman

Emily wrote: "willaful wrote: "My biggest hate is a lighthearted story in which there's a sudden, horrendous catastrophe out of nowhere at the end.

Ha! "Horrendous catastrophe"
I felt this way about (a) Beach..."

Absolutely agree it destroys the entire mood of the book as well as the reader

The Year of the Hare

Absolutely charming book which I highly recommend

How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland's Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe 

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