Tag Board

effie tait: hi carol, just seing if i can do this..thought my smoke alarm was the laptop having a nervous breakdown...F xxxx
Destiny: Hi Carol-- I found this nifty little area too. I liked the story and plan on reading the book! You will autograph it for me won't you? Des
Poppy: Liiiiike the new colors! Vibrant and fresh! Good Job!
Margaret B.: Happy Thanksgiving MacDaniels Clan! from the Biernbaums we'll be over for desert!
Livie: Oh Carol! I have found a new toy. I like how I can stop by and drop in a line or two! Now I can pester you for installments all day long and there is nothing you can do about it! Olivia
Chase & Jordan: Hey Carol-It was the thrill of our life to finally meet you and Steve. Can't decide which one of you we have crushes on. LOL! Let's see more blogging and excerpts please. This story is way too good to let stand still. Chase and Jordan
Danny: hey Kiddo--I know I have teased you about your love of football in the past, but I like your post and admire your presentation. You're a pretty cool chick and Steve is a lucky guy to be able to share football with ya.Here's hoping it all turns out fair. For the record, I am not sure whether or not the Blades can avoid being relegated either, but you are all right about the fine being a mere drop in the ocean. It's just wrong. D.
Louise S.: I think you are so interesting. I have begun to make it a habit to come in here to see what you are up to. Looking forward to more BEHIND THE WALL!
Linda: Carol --I've come in here to read BTW and love the excerpts you've chosen. It was great to see you both in Scotland again (And the kids - how they've all grown!) - even though the circumstances were so sad. You were awesome for Steve at the funeral. I am proud of you. He's a lucky man to have you and I believe he will get through this. With you at his side how can he not.
Rick: CarolPlease extend my condolances to Stve and all your family on the loss of your father in law. I know it ia hard right now, so if i don't get to read you for a while, I'll be thinking of you. Rick
Teej---: Carol and SteveYou know we're here for you if you need anything at all. Grandy was a wonderful man and he will be missed by everyone who knew him.Teej and Deej
Elizabeth: Oh Carol, I am so very sorry to learn of Steve's dad's passing. I am sure it is a very painful time for you and yours. Please accept my sincerest condolances.Eliz
Bea: Carol -\Plase extend my sincerest condolances to Steve on the loss of his dad. I know how much it hurts and how you all loved him. He did sound like a wonderful man and he certainly raised a wonderful son. If you guys need anything... If there is anying I can do...Bea
Danny: Carol-Sorry to hear about Steve's father passing. I can't imagine how much it must hurt. S.
Carol: Danny! You can be so unkind! Does this mean you are happy to see someone hurtin'? LOLFirst of all, he is not MY Sean Bean - Second of all, although his last two films may not have been his best, his performances in both of them were outstanding; I trust you made note of that. Lastly, I saw the game yesterday and truly felt bad about it. There is something fundamentally wrong with how all this was attained by West Ham and I am not so sure I trust what the outcome will be... It has made for
Danny: Hey Carol, Looks like your Sean Bean is having a rough go of it lately. Two bad movies and yesterday his team lost Premiership.
Louise: Carol I stumbled in here on Wednesday evening and have loved every minute. You have a real no nonsense way of writing that I happen to like very much. Terrific job. (Oh and I like your taste in men too. Sean Bean is definitely a hottie!)
Elizabeth: Yeah, Carol, post about your wonderful marriage. We do all want to know. What's your secret for keeping things so tight between you and Steve all these years. Most of the time, I can't stand my husband! LOL.
Carol: Thanks for the remarks everyone - Please remember that the excerpts are very raw. What I have prepared now for the book is infinately more polished... Odds botkins, I love youz!Carol
Bea: Oh Carol, I want to be you! What is your secret for getting on so well for so long with your Steve. We all want to know!
Elizabeth: Carol this is terrific. I am so happy for you! I love the excerpts you have chosen (and I can say that because I know where this is going!) Your time has come and I am so excited to be here to see it all unfold for you!Love you!Elizabeth
TJ: You went to see Christopher Plummer and Brian Dennehey? Why you no good low down... I am SO JEALOUS! I love them both! Still, nobody deserves a wonderful night out more than you, lady!JT
Bea: Hi Carol. Good to see Madison County Event restored. I thought it had fallen off the book.
Ria: Carol this is brilliant! I am amazed at your creativity!
Leah: I love your latest. Perfect Muse. You are so freakin' funny!
Marian: This is really great, Carol! Kudos, kiddo!~ :D
DCH: Ah! As soon as you mentioned Sean Bean, I kind of figured you'd had him in mind for your character. (Which character I'm not certain yet; there seems to be several incorporated in the story -- Steve, Logan and Jamie . . .) I'll read it again! I've known how great Sean Bean is since the first time I saw the "Sharp" series on the History Channel years ago . . and just had to own the videos (now a set of DVDs as well!). I love the Sharp character and Sean is absolutely perfect in that role!
Bea: JEEPERS! How did I miss this?!Terrific stuff, even in its roughest form. I cannot wait to see the final product, m'dear! TJ is right; you MUST finish it! And YOU are right; it IS the best thing you have ever done. How clever you are! INDEED!
Chase: I LOVE THE WAY YOU WRITE! You make me want to be Logan!Chase
Ricky: Hey you! Been reading more Logan. Congrats on rekindling your love affair with Bean! LOLSeriously, Carol, it's damn good!
Carol: Thanks D and all... No, Rick, I have not seen it. I am not inclined to scare myself senseless... LOLCarol
Danny: I love this. Your excerpts from BTW are awesome. I am thrilled for you, Kiddo! Don't let the shock of catching Bean out of his element befuddle you; you're better than that. Loved Madison COUnty Event too! As you would say, it's Good Stuff. Cheers babe.D-man
Rick: You scare me. Have you seen Hitcher? Damn!
Barb -: I am left speechless. But in a good way.
Bea: Girlfriend you are something else. This is awesome tho I am surprised you are sharing it. Is our old fashioned girl going to join the millinium and start blogging?

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Sunday, November 13th 2005

11:04 AM

DEAN AND ME: A Love Story by Jerry Lewis with James Kaplan

Having enjoyed the comedy of Martin and Lewis all my life, I bought this book the very day it was released and enjoyed reading it so much that I am already reading it for the second time. (This is NOT like me!)  Oh, it is not great literature, to be sure, but, my oh my, it is a wonderful story! And it really is a love story... It is the tale of two regular guys who achieved the great American dream. It is, in fact, American History. It is also the chronicle of a deep and abiding friendship and the realization that the friendship was a treasure far greater than the achievement of the childhood dreams of fame and fortune.
 
That is not all. 
 
It is also quite an entertaining read.  Jerry Lewis, with James Kaplan's expert assistance, has written it as though he is sitting in your living room speaking to only you; he includes sidebars and interesting little tidbits about the times, the fashions, the mob, the rat pack, and many other celebrities.  One of the most wonderful surprises of this book is that Mr. Lewis does not beat his readers over the head with the silliness we might have expected from him.  He has, instead, written this story to honor his partner and the partnership and friendship they shared.  Readers are engaged from the first page and unceremoniously escorted on a sentimental journey - from Martin and Lewis' humble beginnings and how they got their start in the big time to their infamous break up and some of what came thereafter.  Also included are answers to questions we might have had about the heartbreaks suffered by both partners along the way... Bravely, he does not shy away from discussing his remembrance of Dean Martin's broken heart over the loss of his son, Dino, Jr. in a plane crash which, some believe, ultimately led to Dean's own death.  Mr. Lewis concludes with their reconciliation and their last encounter, only a short time before Dean passed away.
 
While he is clearly not telling this as a comedy, Jerry Lewis is, after all, the consummate classic entertainer, always conscious of what this audience is feeling. This shines through in his generous peppering of the book with stories of their early years and their mischievous antics, and the predicaments into which those antics led them on more than one occasion.  He recounts it all in such a way that it consistently evoked remarkably vivid memories of their hilarious routines that had me laughing out loud throughout the entire read!
 
I cannot remember when I have had so much fun reading and then re-reading a memoir, or, as the case may be, a tribute!
 
If you have ever been a fan of this greatest of the great comedy team, do yourself a favor and get ahold of this book!  it is my firm belief that you will not be spending your hard earned money; you will be investing it.  Among the benefits and returns with which you will be delighted are:  the wonderful memories; the discussions; the laughs; the conversations; and the out and out fun it will inspire within your heart, your home and your social circle!  You may even find yourself looking up an old friend... 
 
Thank you for the laughter, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  You have done it again... still!
 
CM
 
© Copyright 2006-2008 Carol Marsella. All rights reserved. Carol Marsella has granted Newprose.org, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.
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