Alembic Guitars Club
Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: lbpesq on August 28, 2018, 01:51:14 PM
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Jorma Kaukonen's new book, "Been So Long: My Life and Music" was just released! (I pre-ordered it months ago). It just jumped into first position after I finish the novel I'm currently reading (Christopher Moore's "Blood Sucking Fiends"). I anticipate Jorma's book is going to be a good read.
Bill, tgo
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Thanks Bill,
I hope he talks a bit about Altamont !
First hand recollections are what you really want to hear !!
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Thanks Bill I'm going to order it.Btw did you read Christopher Moores "Noir" /
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Let us know what you think of it.
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1) I just read Noir; it's freakin' GREAT! My habit is to choose an author & read everything, in order; I'm currently working my way through Richard Russo, but Moore's next on the list.
2) Jorma has a book??? Sweet! Thanks for letting us know! Based on what I've read of his blog, I'm expecting something on a level with Phil's & Levon's books; can't wait!!!
Peter
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Peter, I tend to do the same with authors and right now it's Moore's turn. Haven't gotten to Noir yet. If you like Moore, and you haven't checked them out yet, I strongly recommend Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen. And I couldn't agree more on the comps. Phil and Levon's books are, IMHO, the two finest written rock autobiograpies I've ever read.
Bill, tgo
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Thanks, Bill - I'll check Dorsey out (read Hiaasen about 10 years ago, and loved him).
Peter
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Dorsey's my favorite since Vonnegut and Robbins. Your going to love his books.
Bill, tgo
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Wow!! Same breath as Vonnegut?!?!?!? OK, I gots to read this guy!
Peter (Who considers Kurt to be the greatest American writer, period.)
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Always loved Vonnegut's books, too. It's been long since I've read one though.
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Bill, Dorsey's Wikipedia page lists his novels twice; once in publication order & once in storyline chronological order. Which way would you recommend?
Peter
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Here's what Dorsey says on his website:
"Why dead people show up in later books"
"Although the timeline of the first five books in the series is non-chronological, they are meant to be read non-chronologically (in the publication order in which they were release).
The lists below are provided in case you started in the middle and wanted to know where you were (think of it all like the order of the Star Wars movie series)."
I read them in order of publication. And while we're on books that take place in Florida, another great one is John D. MacDonald's "Travis McGee" series. Not slightly twisted, like the other authors we've been discussing, but great action stories with more than a skosh of social comment mixed in.
Bill, tgo
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Thanks; publication order it is.
And yeah, the McGee series is good.
Peter
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10156437654887906&id=827892905
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Is anyone else reading Jorma's book? I'm 70% through it and I had to take a break. It's been a very disappointing read. I've forced myself to stick with it this far, but I don't know if I'll finish it. He really needed a co-author or, at least, an editor. He keeps repeating himself and the book is mostly him telling us that he had a lousy family (he mentions at least a dozen times at different points in the book that he never was close with his brother), telling us that he had a lousy first marriage of 20 years, (also repeated many times), telling over and over again how he was immature, telling (many times) how much he loves driving, telling how he loves motorcycles and cars, including different types of carburetors and mufflers, his world travels while growing up, his numerous trips to Scandanavia to learn speed skating, and, oh yea, he also played music, did drugs, and drank booze. Monterey Pop, Woodstock, and Altamont get a few paragraphs each. The entire run of the Jefferson Airplane was only about ten pages!
I just downloaded John Perry Barlow's book.
Bill, tgo
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Well, that's a bummer. Thanks for taking the hit for us.
What's he title of Barlow's?
peter
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Thanks for the update, Bill; looks like it's a pass.
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Barlow's book is:
Mother American Night
My Life in Crazy Times
Bill, tgo
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Well if anything I bet it was therapeutic for Jorma to get stuff out on paper.
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I finished the book (although a grind) and my reaction is the same as Bill's. I became more and more annoyed as the book went on (and on) about his failings and atonement. It felt very condescending to me as the reader (although he probably didn't intend it to be so). Lots of filler. YMMV.
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I just finished the book and while I understand some of the criticisms (yes, he definitely needed a more aggressive editor), I found it a very good read and quite interesting. And honest. Jefferson Airplane has always seemed to be a world that lived on the edge, suffused with conflict, whether under the surface or overt and I've always wondered what it would have been like to be in that scene. It wasn't all that attractive, to be honest. The fact that Jorma could be so gracious to Grace, given how much she sabotaged things, is pretty amazing.
I think the book is about atonement, not really music. Here's a man who spent his 20s until well into his 50s struggling with issues in an environment that did not require any reckoning. Many people didn't make it out alive. The big story isn't how he was in Jefferson Airplane or Tuna, the big story is how a man was lucky enough to live long enough to atone and to express gratitude for having the chance and support to do so. Given my past, which I won't go into and wasn't quite so dramatic, it resonated pretty deeply.
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I saw it at the library & figured "What the heck, the price is right"; finished it yesterday. I agree with Edwin's assessment of it as atonement; I was hoping for a clearer look into the JA/HT world, but that was obviously not his purpose. And while I understand Bill's complaints, I (having grown up in an even more dysfunctional family than Jorma, and being in my 36th year of marriage to a bipolar person) have more patience with his dwelling on his problems - though all problems all the time did get old.
But I have to say (and, having read a bunch of his blog entries & expecting more based on that, I was surprised by this), he really is a crappy writer. A more aggressive editor? I'd almost say a ghost writer was in order.......
Peter
Peter
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Thanks for sharing the additional reviews.
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Got it as an Xmas gift. Read it over the holiday break and agree with the previous assessments. Basically a somewhat depressing and cautionary tale of the hazards and relationship damage that might be encountered if you attempt to protect yourself from life by passively allowing your life to live you as opposed to proactively living your life.
Particularly disappointed in the lack of info about the Airplane years - wasn't looking for gossip, just more in-depth behind the scenes insight into what it was like to be a part of the creative process that produced several iconic and influential (at least to me) recordings.
But, music is the great healer and he seems to be in a good (or at least better) place in his life right now - healthier self-image and several successful relationships with others - so it ends on a positive note.
G-d only knows what would've happened to him had his love for music and the guitar not been so strong.
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Oh, yeah - one more thing: I was pretty surprised to learn that I've done more acid than Jorma (or at least more than he admits to......)
Peter
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My Wife gifted me a copy for Valentines Day . I look forward to reading it . I have met a few folks who's photos are shown in this book .
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And played with at least one. Steve F. is mentioned in the book!
Bill, tgo
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Indeed ,yes Steve F ! I have know him since High School and we used to jam since I was about 16 years old or so .