Grateful Dead

Damn, I just posted another long comment but then Dead.net got all wonky. Anyway:Forgot to mention I also just read TC's memoir, which was pretty interesting. A decent storyteller and obviously absurdly intelligent (it'll raise your IQ by a couple notches, no doubt), his time in the Dead was brief and thus so is the segment about it, but it's illuminating to see how he got there and what he's been up to since. AND - and I swear this is it, at least for a little while - I've been deeply submerged in Blair's Golden Road zines for the last few months, and I can't recommend 'em highly enough. They ran (mostly) quarterly from like '83 to '93 and are especially interesting because each one is centered squarely in it's own particular time, providing direct insight into where the band and heads were at these moments - for example, on-the-spot reactions to and reflections on Jerry's coma, the post-Touch boom (and it's early stirrings), the trouble that caused for the band and for heads with resulting gate-crashings, bunk tickets, cop trouble etc etc etc. And also of course reviews of now-classic shows, early reactions to "new" songs, and on and on and on. These pop up on ebay from time to time and are usually pretty reasonable. Pick 'em up or dig 'em out for sure! Ok, enough out of me!

I've been on a tear with GD books lately, just can't seem to get enough.. Anyway, quick run-downs on some of the ones I've read in the last couple of months: Slipknot!, by Gary McKinney (got this from the nice people who posted about it earlier in this thread, if they're still doing it shoot 'em an email and they'll send you a copy absolutely free - all they ask is that you write a review of it somewhere, as I'm about to do right here!) - this is a good Pacific Northwest mystery involving the timber industry, a small town and a local Dead-quoting sheriff. The story rolls along pretty well, chases down some dead-end cul-de-sacs and ultimately (not giving anything away here) ends at the person you thought it was gonna end at. Maybe. The writing is definitely solid and can hold the reader's attention, but I did find myself at the end wondering why certain things happened that didn't really turn out to have anything to do with anything. But, that's life, right? Skeleton Key, by David Shenk and Steve Silberman - indispensible, how did I live without this for so long?! A truly fun - and at times enlightening, even for those who have read the history from a thousand different perspectives -read that touches on the band's history, legacy and, of course, fan base. Playin' in the Band, by David Gans - made up of quotes and interview bits, intercut with David Gans' capable narrative, this one's a lot of fun and also has tons of great photos. Dead Tour, by Alan Izumi - this is one of the worst books I have ever read, period. The lead character is a contemptible little shit who somehow is able to make self-depracating humor seem self-righteous, and the story is weak and full of absurd generalizations about "the sixties" ... and the only actual deadhead in the book is a perpetually stoned non-character who serves no purpose. Why Robert Hunter wrote a forward for this book is surely beyond me. That's it for now, though I did just get Cooking with the Dead by Elizabeth Zipern, a Deadhead road-recipes cookbook that I'm excited to delve into. And I'm currently in the middle of This Wheel's on Fire by Levon Helm, his memoir about being in The Band. It's really excellent so far, if you dig The Band you'll dig it.

lots of very nice fairly large photos, many of which I have never seen. Am really enjoying this, only look at a couple of pages at at time. Nice color watercolors of the band by Stanley Mouse Covers the years 1965 - 2008. Check it out. If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite. William Blake

Three Bags Full is fluffy indeed! Not to mention hilarious. And occasionally even "deep". These seem to be very philosophical sheep, and what they learn about God, and the conclusions they draw from overhearing human converstation during their detective work are side-splitting. (these sheep do seem to both speak in and understand human Irish English) They find it obvious that humans have no soul, because "everyone knows that the soul is connected to the sense of smell, and humans have no sense of smell, so..." Priceless! HeeHee HoHo! Would be curious whether you guys find this book as refreshingly brilliant as I do so far.********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

and it sounded fluffy so I've requested it. Another book my library has is "Acid Dreams", which had been recommended in an earlier post (might not have been this forum). Who knew how much Kentucky had to do with the early history of LSD? I thought the invention of the toothbrush was Kentucky's only claim to fame that didn't involve horses. Happy Boxing Day, MarkintheDark ********************************************* I have a sigfile! --> www.kindveggieburritos.com *********************************************

I hope they have it on Amazon because my boss gave me a nice gift card!

cuz had been thinking of you especially when I posted that. remembered when we talked bout the Lynley mysteries before :-) ********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

I love mysteries and sheep are a bonus, ditto Ireland. Thanks!

Have found a book that am so excited about-wanna tell about it. Is called "Three Bags Full" by an Irish woman called Leonie Swann. Is her first novel, and I am blown away. Is a murder mystery, told from the perspective of a flock of sheep. This book is absurd and brilliant, and has been cracking me up from the first page that introduces the characters. Cloud:the wooliest sheep in the flock Mis Maple: the cleverest sheep in the flock., maybe even the cleverest sheep in Glennkill, quite possibly the cleverest sheep in the world. Has an enquiring mind, never gives up, sometimes feels a sense of responsibility. Othello: a black hebridean four-horned ram, with a mysterious past A lamb:who has seen something strange Cornelia:likes unusual words Mopple the Whale: the memory sheep:once he has seen something, he never forgets it. A very stout merino ram with round, spiral horns. almost always hungry that is just a sample of the character introduction. The story stays almost completely in "sheep perspective" and is tons of fun! ********************************** Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone, you will still exist, but you have ceased to live. Samuel Clemens

I've been hearing some good buzz about this book, which is lots and lots of photos by the likes of Jim Marshall and Jay Blakesberg. I just checked, and it IS available on Dead.net here.