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Book reviews for "Cale,_John" sorted by average review score:

What's Welsh for Zen: The Autobiography of John Cale
Published in Paperback by Bloomsbury USA (2000)
Authors: John Cale, Victor Bockris, and Dave McKean
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A lot of jealousy, drug use and entertaining candor
After finishing this book in the wee hours of this morning I've come to the conclusion that Cale must be appreciated for his solitary genius in the fields of art and expression but also must be taken with a grain of salt. The entire book seems to be a thinly veiled attack at Lou Reed whom Cale seems overwhelmingly jealous of (thou others would tend to disgree) Plus it shows him as a very difficult individual to get along with (ie his many wives, his broken colaborative relationships with Reed and Brian Eno) I also found it amusing how he brought it other commentators only to attack Reed and make Cale out to be a saint. Overall this is a very well written book filled with sardonic wit and dry humor with an excellent view into the VU, The Factory days, and the progression of one man's struggles through himself and art. Cale is not blameless in his trangressions but I think he sees this...

Cale can be so funny
I just recently bought this book. I love it. Great stories, and nice pictures. Sometimes it is painfull honest. It is so nice to read about the start of the Velvet Underground.

Also the pictures are wonderful.

Bettina

INSPIRING TALE OF MY FAVOURITE MUSICIAN
I devoured this book about my top music hero and pronounce it good! It's not perfect though, I would have liked more background on some of the albums (people involved in the recording, events etc) especially his work with e.g. Nick Drake, and the editing is really sloppy: in one place early in the text, the title of a newspaper has just been left out, and Cale's collaboration with Bob Neuwerth is called Last NIGHT On Earth (it is DAY). It provides valuable insights into his personal life and artistic development, and early reflections on Andy Warhol and The Factory. Great photographs and illustrations too make for a very pleasing design. Certainly worthy of the man and his achievements.


Punk!: An A-Z
Published in Hardcover by Hamlyn (15 November, 1995)
Authors: Barry Lazell and John Cale
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It's a good book in the way that it is written but its bad
Okay I havent actually read the book, but I like punk music! That gives me some credit, doesn't it? So, the thing is, that I was always wanting to have some kind of contribution to the punk scene as a whole besides going to punk shows in my local city. Though there are books about punk that I HAVE read, I thought it might be more interesting to say my nonexistent opinion on one I haven't read and see where my rambling thoughts take me. So now, you have experienced the inter workings of my messed-up-in-many-ways mind and probably still don't understand why I'm doing this, but I personally am very entertained by this activity. If you think I'm dumb, or cool, or want to send me death threats, send em to my email address included below. See ya in the pit!


What's Welsh for Zen
Published in Paperback by Bloomsbury Pub Ltd (2000)
Authors: John Cale and Victor Bockris
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GREAT STORY OF A GREAT MUSICIAN
I devoured this book about my top music hero and pronounce it good! It's not perfect though, I would have liked more background on some of the albums (people involved in the recording, events etc) especially his work with e.g. Nick Drake, and the editing is really sloppy: in one place early in the text, the title of a newspaper has just been left out, and Cale's collaboration with Bob Neuwerth is called Last NIGHT On Earth (it is DAY). It provides valuable insights into his personal life (I was amazed to discover that his mother tongue is Welsh) and artistic development, and early reflections on Andy Warhol and The Factory. The text has a favourable reference to James Young's book on Nico, which is also highly recommended. Great photographs and illustrations too make for a very pleasing design. Certainly worthy of the man and his achievements.


High Fidelity: A Novel
Published in Audio Cassette by Putnam Pub Group (Audio) (1998)
Authors: Hornby Nick, Nick Hornby, John McElroy, and David Cale
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I think I know this guy.
This is the first Nick Hornby book I've read. You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but the bright colors caught my eye, and hence I have read it. I'd like to thank those designers for their assistance in pointing out this book for me. I loved it. I think any music collector/head/nerd can relate to the characters in High Fidelity. The agony of creating a mix tape. The victorious feeling after finding an obscure B-side at a garage sale. The unrealized manner in which music can shape and affect your personality.

The story focuses on Rob's relationships with his female companions and loyal record shop employees. Rob's in his early thirties, and althoug he realizes that he's been alive that long, hasn't really noticed much difference in how he's grown since his early twenties. Barry (obnoxious record store employee) and Dick (sensitive record store employee), are in a similar time warp. These three often go through conversations/arguments involving their 5 favorite (fill in this blank with a subject), i.e. movies, songs to hear on a Monday, songs to listen to during a hurricane, songs to bathe your dog by (I'm using a little license here, but it should give you an idea of the characters.)

This provides much comic relief, although actually there's comedy throughout. But the main focus is Rob's agonizing relationship with Laura. The agonizing is mostly in Rob's head, but can give insight into familiar relationship terrain, including fear of commitment, possessiveness, insecurities, and a few other things that really can't be given a neat one word title.

Hornby's best writing features the metamorphosis from what's swirling around in the squishy grey matter that is Rob's brain to what actually comes out of his mouth when he speaks. This is most evident in Rob's conversations with Laura. I could give an example of this, but really it's much better to let Hornby take care of that, when you read this book.

Hornby writes in brief chapters much like Michael Crichton. This provi! des for logical breaks from reading, but also pushes you forward, since you know the next chapter is really "just a couple more pages." You won't want to put his one down. I nee to read more Nick Hornby books.

One Of The Funniest Books I've Read In A Long Time
Don't drink milk when you are reading this book, because it will shoot out of your nose like a firehose, you'll be laughing so much. Anytime I tried to read this book in public, I got the strangest looks from people for laughing out loud.

Hornby captures the longing, ennui, humor and bitterness of the single male so perfectly, that every guy is bound to see some of himself in the lead character. The use of "Top 5" lists is a brilliant literary device. It advances the plot in almost every instance, while at the same time painting a complete and well-rounded portrait of the protagonist (and his friends). Plus, it's a fun way to start a debate with your own friends. The writing is sharp, the characters real and the plot engaging.

As a footnote, I think the movie did a wonderful job of adapting the book. The book is better, of course, but the film stays remarkably true to the spirit and letter of the original. There are entire passages from the book that are repeated in the script, which is very, very rare among adaptations.

A Recommended Summer Read
I made the mistake of seeing the movie before reading the book. Don't get me wrong -- I really liked the movie. In fact, I own the movie, but, I wish I would have read the book first, just so I could have had a better insight on the characters.

"High Fidelity" by British writer Nick Hornby is probably the most humorous piece of fiction I have ever read. I have never read any of Hornby's other works, but after reading this, I can't wait to get started on the next.

Hornby's main character, Rob, narrates the entire book, letting the reader in on the "ins and outs" of the male mind. Very original. The book starts with Rob's girlfriend, Laura, moving her things out of their flat after they had broken up. Rob tries to convince himself that he will be fine, that the breakup won't affect him in any way, and that Laura will be back. From there, the story stems to Rob's trying to cope with losing Laura, and his many stages of getting over her.

The best part of this book, in my opinion, would be Rob's co-workers, Dick and Barry. They add just the right comedic touches to Rob's life that he needs, but doesn't realize it, or appreciate it, for that matter. The constant bickering between the three men in Rob's record store, Championship Vinyl, was enough to make me laugh out loud....honestly.

If I would have known better, I would have read this over the summer when I had more time to fully appreciate Hornby's writing, rather than reading it while having other things going on during this past semester at college. But, I fully recommend this book not only for it's humor, but because it has an excellent plot and is very well-written.


Milton's Puritan Masque
Published in Textbook Binding by University of Georgia Press (1983)
Author: Maryann Cale McGuire
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Sedition and Alchemy: a Biography of John Cale
Published in Hardcover by Peter Owen Ltd (2003)
Author: Tim Mitchell
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Trauma Care Systems : Clinical, Financial, and Political Considerations
Published in Hardcover by Greenwood Publishing Group (15 September, 1983)
Authors: John G. West, Alan B. Gazzaniga, and Richard H. Cales
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Visione e cosmo : la prospettiva nel Paradise lost
Published in Unknown Binding by Bulzoni ()
Author: Luisa Calè
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What's Welsh for Zen?: The Life of John Cale
Published in Hardcover by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (14 January, 1998)
Authors: John Cale and Victor Bockris
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