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BOOK REVIEWS/NEWS
Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe
Sharlot Herself:
Selected Writings of
Sharlot Hall Edited
by Nancy Kirkpatrick
Wright with an
introduction by
Margaret F. Maxwell
Illustrations by
Carlos Parra
Copyright 1992 by
Sharlot Hall Museum
415 W. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301
ISBN 0-927579-04-9
Sharlot Hall books
can be ordered at
phone: 928.445.3122.
Recently my friend
Bob Roloff, the
Arizona Duuude,
introduced me to the
writings of Sharlot
Hall. First I read
her biography by
Margaret F. Maxwell,
“A Passion For
Freedom: The Life of
Sharlot Hall”,
“Cactus and Pine”
and then the Arizona
Strip book. Finally
I have completed the
series with the
“Sharlot Herself:
Selected Writings of
Sharlot Hall”,
Edited by Nancy
Kirkpatrick Wright.
With each book I
have come to love
Sharlot Hall more.
Her dedication to
the state of Arizona
and love of early
history runs
parallel to the
course I have set
for my own life.
Sharlot’s way of
turning a phrase
using the jargon of
the western cowboy
and Arizona pioneer
makes her stories
especially
interesting.
It is almost beyond
belief that a woman
of her era was able
to travel so
extensively and
participate in so
many daring and
adventurous
activities generally
associated with men.
As a young girl she
rode her pony with
her pioneering
family from Kansas
to Lonesome Valley
Arizona outside
Prescott. That in
itself led to many
adventures and
strengthened her
spirit.
Her chauvinistic,
self-centered, brute
of a father probably
did her a favor in
setting her mind
against marriage at
an early age. Seeing
how her mother was
merely his property
and slave, worked to
death without the
affection due as
reward for her
commitment, Sharlot
vowed never to be
yoked by any man.
Perhaps once or
twice she felt
genuine affection
for men in her life,
but they didn’t see
her as wifely
material, not that
she was interested.
Rather she was
almost an
intellectual equal
or student to sit at
their feet and
learn, take advice
and fawn over their
ideas.
Samuel Putnam, a
proponent of the
Free Thought
Movement who
lectured in Prescott
in 1895 caught her
eye and she became
an ardent follower
until his death just
a year later. Her
poems reflected her
deep love for him
and regret that he
was gone from her
life forever. At the
same time she seemed
almost angry with
him that he was gone
or maybe more that
she had fallen for
him so deeply. It
must have hurt her
knowing he was
traveling with a
young woman much
like herself. But
then the woman has
died in the same gas
accident as Putnam.
Her life was filled
with exciting men of
history including
the renowned
publisher Charles F.
Lummis, the last
Arizona territorial
governor Richard E.
Sloan, first state
governor George W.P.
Hunt, President
Calvin Coolidge and
artist Maynard
Dixon.
Sharlot Herself:
Selected Writings of
Sharlot Hall
presents many of
Sharlot’s previously
unpublished bits and
pieces of prose and
letters into the
context of her life
at that time. It
helps to flesh out
the character of
this rugged
individualist with a
unique talent for
throwing a lariat to
lasso up just the
right words to
express her feelings
and experiences.
When she went north
to the Arizona Strip
she went through
territory few people
had traveled. Her
descriptions of
nature; flora, fauna
and geology aroused
the interests of
many businessmen
looking at the area
for mining and
lumbering potential.
Each of the books
mentioned above
would be of interest
to anyone with a
love for early
Arizona history.
Reading about a
brave adventurous
woman like Sharlot
Hall is
inspirational.
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Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe
SHARLOT HALL ON THE
ARIZONA STRIP: A
Diary of a Journey
Through Northern
Arizona in 1911 by
Sharlot M. Hall,
edited by C. Gregory
Crampton, foreword
by Valeen Tippetts
Avery published by
Sharlot Hall Museum
415 W. Gurley Street
Prescott, AZ 86301.
Revised edition, ©
1999 112 pp.,
photograph, map
ISBN: 0-927579-08-1
$14.95, paperback.
This book has just
gone out of print.
Other Sharlot Hall
books can be ordered
at phone:
928.445.3122.
You think you know
everything about
your home state
until you read the
words of a traveler
who walked the state
step-by-step
discovering intimate
details known no
other way. Some of
the way was in a
buckboard, but she
enjoyed walking
ahead, even running
on occasion to enjoy
the freedom of being
one with nature
alone in the
wilderness.
Sharlot Hall and Al
Doyle walked every
inch of the trails
in the Arizona
Strip, the area
north of the Grand
Canyon. It was in a
time, 1910, when
trails were few,
rugged and
treacherous at best.
It was in a time
when women seldom
left the comforts of
home, unless
absolutely
necessary. But
Sharlot Hall of her
own free will and
desire took on the
role of historian
and adventurer to
document the area
before Arizona was
even a state.
When my friend Bob
Roloff, the Arizona
Duuude, wrote of his
love for the writing
of Sharlot Hall it
made me curious.
First I read her
biography by
Margaret F. Maxwell,
“A Passion For
Freedom: The Life of
Sharlot Hall”, and
her book of poems
“Cactus and Pine”.
Then I had to read
“Sharlot Hall: the
Arizona Strip” by
Sharlot Hall.
I’d always thought
of myself as a
fairly brave and
adventurous spirit,
raised as tom boy,
the son my father
never had. I’ve
hiked, hunted,
fished and camped
all of my life.
Arizona has been a
wonderful playground
in which to explore
and learn about
nature and history,
especially back in
the 1950’s and
1960’s when much of
the state was still
barely inhabited.
But what it must
have been for
Sharlot Hall and Al
Doyle to travel from
Prescott to Kingman,
Flagstaff, to Tuba
City and up to Lee’s
Ferry. They went
across the Colorado
River to the Arizona
Strip and the
Painted Desert, the
Kaibab Plateau,
Fredonia and the
North Rim of the
Grand Canyon.
Her descriptions of
the flowers and
trees, the mountains
and trails and every
living creature they
encountered were
fascinating.
Thrilling were her
descriptions of
wagons swallowed
whole in raging
rivers and strong
oxen teams washed
downstream never to
be seen again. The
incredible muscle
and will it took to
move equipment and
supplies to remote
mines and
construction
projects at a snails
pace make it hard to
imagine getting
anything
accomplished. But
they did and we reap
the benefits today.
Sharlot may not have
known at the time,
but while she
traveled the state
as the official
Arizona Territorial
Historian, appointed
by Governor Richard
Sloan, the October
1910 Constitutional
Convention was
meeting in Phoenix
to plan the
preliminary document
that would lead to
Arizona’s statehood.
As a direct result
of Hall’s
appointment which
had generated
criticism at the
time, a provision to
deny suffrage to
women, and another
stating only
qualified voters
could hold public
office were insert
into the state
constitution. Thus
when Sharlot
returned her
position was in
question and her
termination came
when Governor George
W.P. Hunt was sworn
in as the first
Arizona state
governor. Still she
remains the only
woman to serve
public office in the
Arizona Territory.
She may have been
born a woman but she
was not going to let
the dictates of a
male dominated
society tell her
what she could and
could not do with
her own life. She
continued to take
risks, write about
all she saw, run a
ranch until her
father’s death, and
took a dilapidated
territorial
governors mansion
and restored it into
what is now one of
the foremost
historical museums
in the state today.
Sharlot Hall once
said, "There is
something better
than making a
living--making a
life." And so she
lived her life.
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"It
is heartening to know that when young people seek sage advice
these days, many are turning to the Elder Wisdom Circle. I
continue to be impressed by the candor and insight of these
Elders" --Walter Cronkite
New
Book Offers 45,000 Years of Wisdom to the Younger Generations
When the new Penguin/Plume book "The Elder Wisdom Circle Guide
for A Meaningful Life" goes on sale nationwide October 30th it
will feature the practical advice of a nationwide group of 600
cyber-grandparents aged 60-105. In real life, the Elders provide
free on-line advice to people worldwide with most advice-seekers
in their teens to thirties. In 10 chapters, these savvy seniors
apply their experience and knowledge to the following topics:
Overcoming life's obstacles; parent-child relationships; sibling
rivalry; self-discovery; lasting love; decision-making; career;
aging and loss. In the final chapter, the Elders offer their
secrets and watchwords for living life the wise way.
This popular group and their website have been featured numerous
times in the media, including USA Today and Time with
appearances on ABC, CBS, NPR and the BBC.
FEATURE STORY IDEAS:
1. With 600 Elders across the U.S. and Canada, it is highly
possible that there are Elders in your city, state or geographic
region. We can put you in touch with an Elder who can talk about
their experiences.
2. Observe a group: In some communities, Elders meet in senior
residences to discuss advice-seekers' questions; you can usually
expect the unexpected from these outspoken Elders.
3. The advice seekers: Although the advice service is strictly
anonymous, in a few cases advice seekers have agreed to talk
about their connection with the Elder Wisdom Circle.
4. First person: Seek advice yourself at
www.ElderWisdomCircle.org and tell the story of
how it affects your own life.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
“Shadows of the Silk Road”
by Colin Thubron, 2007
HarperCollins Publishers
Review by LeeAnn Sharpe
“Shadow of the Silk Road”
records 68-year-old
Englishman Colin Thubron's
journey along the greatest
land route on earth, The
Silk Road. In his 9th travel
book Colin takes us along,
without a camera, only his
elegant prose to describe
the land and people. From
the heart of China, Xian,
into the mountains of
Central Asia, across
northern Afghanistan and the
plains of Iran and into
Kurdish Turkey, Colin
Thubron travels for some
seven thousand miles in
eight months along routes he
had been before many years
ago.
“Making his way by local
bus, truck, car, donkey cart
and camel, he travels from
the tomb of the Yellow
Emperor, the mythic
progenitor of the Chinese
people, to the ancient port
of Antioch in perhaps the
most difficult and ambitious
journey he has undertaken in
forty years of travel,”
reads the dust jacket. The
contrast of then (his
previous experiences) and
now, examination of the
ancient and current
conditions, provide a
glimpse of how history has
treated this most ancient of
lands and people.
Without a camera, Thubron
must paint a picture for us
to see what he sees and that
is the beauty of his prose.
You can see, hear, smell and
taste all he experiences in
explicit detail. And you
hear the voices in his head
as he senses danger and fear
in this insanely dangerous
part of the world. Language
is seldom a barrier as his
gift for talking to people
and getting them to talk to
him is intriguing. Speaking
Mandarin, Russian or the
mélange of the many tongues
along the way, he always
finds a translator and or
driver willing to take the
time with him to explore.
We learn through his
discussions with the common
people there has been good
and bad in the changes they
have seen. China,
transformed since the
Cultural Revolution, has
cities with all of the
trappings of Paris or Rome
and other towns untouched by
the modern world. It has
people making it rich and
others in extreme poverty.
Religion all but
extinguished in the past is
resurging in unusual ways.
It’s a society without a
conscious as we know it in
the west. All of the
stereotypes of China are
just that and totally out of
step with the reality of
China today. The internet
has opened the world to
China. A generation ready to
abandon their own world for
what they view as a better
world are quick to jump
aboard the consumer train.
Change in China is at an
extremely fast pace with
markets opened to her
commodities worldwide.
The former Soviet held
countries are faced with
false nationalisms and an
identity crisis on so many
fronts. Ethnically Chinese
intermixed with races of
multiple invasions though
the centuries from
Alexander’s armies to
Tamerlane and Genghis Kahn.
Since the Soviet withdraw,
factories have closed and
workers are unemployed. On
some level people felt
better off under Soviet
occupation. They have found
the cost of freedom leaves
them hungry.
True boundaries are not
political borders, but the
frontiers of tribe,
ethnicity, language and
religion. “It is a
magnificent and important
account of an ancient world
in modern ferment,” reads
the book jacket. So true, as
the people of this ancient
world survive upheaval after
upheaval and still manage to
get up each morning and go
about their lives. Few
places are untouched by the
prejudice of where their
people came from, their
religion, or their class.
“Shadow of the Silk Road
“encounters Islamic
countries in many forms.
Some are seemingly hard line
totally devout in public,
yet speaking another line in
private. The young are
playing a waiting game until
the old mullahs die off and
they can effect real change.
The extremists we hear about
are a small minority in most
Islamic countries. The
majority of their “faithful”
go through the motions, and
follow the traditions not
even knowing the words they
pray.
The only shortcoming of
Thubron’s book is the fate
of women and children. They
are absent for most part as
is the case in most of the
Islamic world. A strange man
would not have access to
women. We briefly encounter
a few women of great
strength and courage. But
most are elusive.
Still this story was
intriguing and insightful
about a part of the world
most of us will never
experience. And as Thubron
often found, is quickly
fading, being erased by war,
development, weather and
time. It made me think how
sad the world will be when
we lose the uniqueness of
all of the wonderful
cultures of the past all
being homonogized into a
dull sameness. At least we
will always have stories
like these to remind us of
the rich culture that once
was the “Shadow of the Silk
Road”.
###
______________________________________________________________________________________________
“Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows”
Released July 21st
By LeeAnn Sharpe
“Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, the seventh
and final chapter in JK Rowling's epic saga, was released July
21st at the stoke of midnight all over the world amid
elaborate parties and excitement never before seen. Seldom has a
book series captured the hearts of so many, both young and old.
And it’s the end of an era. Never again will readers experience
the joy, anxiety, and anticipation of waiting for the next “Harry
Potter” book. But I doubt it’s the last we
hear of Hogworth.
In my neighborhood, the local Borders book
store threw a fabulous party with costume contests and games
with prizes and free posters. The aisles were loaded with Potter
loyals, young and old, gathered in groups discussing their
expectations and predictions for the final book. Even as it
neared midnight the line stretched out the door and around the
corner several hundred long.
Store Manager Dee when asked how many
books would be sold that night said, “Everyone here will get a “Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows” so it will be a
lot. And we have sufficient stock to take care of anyone
tomorrow or the next day too.” 
Costumed customers ran the gambit of Harry
glasses and scar, to Hogworth students in gowns, Hermione tie and uniforms were popular, Dumbledore
beards, general witches and wizards, and even the Sorting Hat
was on hand. T-Shirts with Harry’s picture and name were
popular. The excitement reached a peak as the costume contest
was decided by audience applause. A girl and boy were picked as
winners and prizes awarded to many of the contestants.
Never again will we enjoy the thrill of debate over Harry's
fate, Snape's loyalty, or who will end up with whom. The final
piece of the
puzzle
is put in place and now we know how it all works out. The
greatest fantasy classic series ever penned has reached its
triumphant end.
Enjoy what you have left of Harry's escapades, because this may
be the last chance we'll ever have to explore the adventures of
young Harry. JK Rowling's truly mesmerizing world, if she
decides to invite us back again, might be as enchanting, but
surely different.
Next Book -
Shadows of the Silk Road by Colin Thubron -
Shadow of the Silk Road
records Colin Thubron's journey along the greatest land route on
earth... The Silk Road. In his 9th travel book, Colin takes us
along without a camera, only his elegant prose to describe the
land and people. From the heart of China
into the mountains of Central Asia, across northern Afghanistan
and the plains of Iran and into Kurdish Turkey, Colin Thubron
takes you along with him for some seven thousand miles in eight
months. Making his way by train, local bus, truck, car, donkey
cart and camel, he travels from the tomb of the Yellow Emperor,
the mythic progenitor of the Chinese people, to the ancient port
of Antioch in perhaps the most difficult and ambitious journey
he has undertaken in forty years of travel.
Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe
Wonderful Tonight George
Harrison, Eric Clapton and
Me by Pattie Boyd with Penny
Junor Published by Harmony
Books 2007
Pattie Boyd has had an
incredible life. Even before
marrying a Beatle and the
guitar God of the 60’s, she
had been raised in Kenya and
had a modeling career in mod
London. Her face epitomized
the swinging London scene.
How terrific can one life
get! And it seems like she
has had several very
exciting experiences at all
stages of her life. It’s
easy to see how she became a
muse to two of the most
addictive and promiscuous
musical geniuses in the
history of rock and roll.
Born in England on St.
Patrick’s Day, thus the
name, she was moved to Kenya
at the age of four to be
with her maternal
grandparents. Her mother’s
remarrying kept them
separated for a time, so she
was raised by the grands in
this strange and exciting
world. Once Mum and the new
hubby were settled she was
back in England attending
convent schools from the age
of 10. By 17 she was working
at Elizabeth Arden on Bond
Street and eventually
professional modeling.
In the early 1960’s there
was nothing making more news
than the Beatles. Pattie
seemed somewhat oblivious of
them until she was sent on
an acting job at Paddington
Station to play a schoolgirl
in a film they were making
called “A Hard Day’s Night”
in 1964. She caught the eye
of George Harrison, he
proposed ten days later and
her life changed again into
the world of rock and roll.
The girlfriend and then wife
of a Beatle was about as
center of the universe for
most young girls as you
could get. She traveled the
world of rock and roll
legends in the making,
becoming acquainted with
every major star of the era.
Mick Jagger & Marianne
Faithfull, Mick Fleetwood,
Donovan, Dylan and anyone
else in the scene were part
of her life. All of the
major Beatle events we heard
about in the news were
personal experiences for her
and she tells the intimate
behind the scenes details
that flesh out the stories
in from the inside.
Even day to day life was
filled with history. She
talks about George sitting
at the kitchen table writing
“My Sweet Lord”. He also
wrote “Something” which was
his most successful
songwriting experience and
Pattie had been his
inspiration.
Their lives were filled with
travel. Travel to exotic
places like India to see the
Maharishi opened her eyes to
a whole new world. Although
exciting and fun, it was
often difficult and
uncomfortable as it was
happening. She talks about
the experiences of sea
sickness, unbearable hot
humid weather, rushing to
make trains or planes and
the strange foods they were
served.
In the public eye she even
got her own fan mail. She
was pursued by one man in
particular for over a
decade. Eric Clapton wrote
her passionate love letters
and even songs including
“Layla” about his terrible
love for her, the wife of
one of his best friends.
Years later when George and
Pattie split, Clapton came
in a swooped her up. But
once he had her in his life,
he lost interest and never
found it necessary to be
true to his “true love”.
Part of the problem is his
obsession had always been
through a drug and alcohol
haze. Once he went through
rehad their relationship
changed. And rehad didn’t
stick.
Pattie always seemed to
maintain a fairly level head
through all of the highs and
lows dealing with drugs and
alcohol, infidelity, abuse
and neglect. She regrets
that her marriage to George
ended. “Marriage is
forever”, she wrote. And she
loved him till the day he
died and mourned his death
alone on top of a mountain
in Peru.
Her marriage to Eric was so
passionate she felt
incapable of resisting.
Eventually the alcohol and
drugs made the situation
intolerable. Her leaving
sent Eric into rehab again
and he finally cleaned up.
She thinks if she had stayed
he would have drunk himself
to death. And she would have
never found her own
identity. Having always been
the wife of a famous man she
was overshadowed and never
seen for herself. Now as a
writer and photographer, her
own work is recognized.
Inspiration for George
Harrison’s song “Something”
and Eric Clapton’s “Layla”
and “Wonderful Tonight” and
who knows how many other
songs, the world is a better
place for the muse Pattie
Boyd. And she shares her
exciting life openly in her
book “Wonderful Tonight”.
It’s a very enjoyable read
to anyone who lived through
the early years of rock and
roll, a wonderful trip down
memory lane. She shares lots
of great pictures from her
personal collection too.
###
Book Review
By LeeAnn Sharpe
“Clapton - The Autobiography
of Eric Clapton” (Broadway
Books 2007), takes you along
for an incredible journey
thro ugh
the history of rock and roll
and the blues from the early
1960’s to present day.
Early childhood trauma of
being raised by his
grandparents, who he thought
were actually his parents,
only to learn who he thought
was his sister was his
mother, left him with some
deep and obviously painful
wounds. Clapton's
experiences with alcohol,
drugs and women all attest
to his emotional fragility
that was only addressed well
into his 50’s.
That’s all very interesting
background, but what is more
is how he managed to survive
it all (drugs including
heroin, cocaine, alcohol,
and groupies) and still
create incredible music. The
fact that he is alive after
all the abuse he put himself
through is mind boggling.
Clapton goes into great
detail about the music,
expounding on who he liked
and admired and how he felt
he had to play true to his
heart. The pop rock world
kept pulling at him with
commercial success, but his
heart wanted to be a blues
purist. Clapton modeled
himself after blues players
Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters,
Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and
Robert Johnson. Clapton’s
first success was with the
1965 single “For Your Love”
by The Yardbirds. He felt
that it was too pop and
before it peaked at #6 in
the US, Clapton had left the
band. He wrote, "I felt it
was a dreadful waste of what
had potentially been a good
rock blues band."
Already his fame as a rock
guitarist was known.
“Clapton is God” was painted
on a tube station wall just
outside London and spread to
walls throughout the city.
Covering such a long career,
it seems he jumped from band
to band. Just as they
reached some level of
success Clapton would bail
on to a new adventure. It
was often because he felt he
was selling out on his goal
of playing the blues. Or the
opportunity to play with
other musicians he admired
was too great a lure.
John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers
provided the direction
Clapton wanted building his
reputation as a great guitar
player. Then he helped form
Cream, a blues trio that in
1968 broke into the US Top
10 with the gold single
“Sunshine Of Your Love”.
Over their brief three year
career, Cream produced four
gold albums including the
post-breakup sets Goodbye
and Best Of Cream, including
a cover of Robert Johnson’s
“Cross Road Blues” which
would be the first single to
feature Eric Clapton on
vocals.
Personalities were often the
cause of Clapton moving on.
The artistic directions
often clashed and he moved
on to new horizon’s always
seeking his own voice and
learning from each group as
he moved on. After Cream’s
demise, Clapton formed a new
blues-rock band called Blind
Faith that produced a gold
album and a tour before
parting ways. A tour and
live album with Delaney &
Bonnie was his next stop.
Then he went solo on his
self-titled album in 1970.
Eric Clapton produced the
hit “After Midnight” and
reached #13 on the charts.
Before the album had even
been released, Clapton had
formed yet another band,
Derek & The Dominos, which
featured Eric on both guitar
and vocals.
It was a turbulent time in
his love life and the song
Layla spoke of Eric’s
passion for Pattie Boyd,
wife of his good friend
George Harrison. Derek & The
Dominos made one studio
album, 1970’s Layla & Other
Assorted Love Songs. Upon
release, Layla was panned by
critics and fans alike.
However, the record got a
major boost with the release
of the title track, which
featured the recently
deceased Duane Allman on
slide guitar. “Layla” became
a Top 10 US hit and the
album went gold. Today,
Layla is considered one of
the greatest albums of all
time.
About this time Clapton
began using heroin, which
appealed to him because it
was steeped in the blues. It
connected him to junkie
musicians like Charlie
Parker, Robert Johnson and
Ray Charles. For more than
two years, he fell firmly in
the drug's grip.
Clapton experiences with
Derek & The Dominos ended
fairly quickly, but even in
later years impacted his
musical direction greatly.
Learning he was better off
recording solo and joining
with friends without long
term commitments he recorded
1974’s 461 Ocean Boulevard,
producing the cover of Bob
Marley’s “I Shot The
Sheriff”, as well as a minor
hit in “Willie & The Hand
Jive”. After a couple of
less successful albums he
returned in 1977 with
Slowhand, which became
Clapton’s first platinum
album. It also yielded his
second solo gold single,
“Lay Down Sally”.
Pattie Boyd was the great
love of his life and once he
won her, (married in Tucson
1977)the thrill seemed to
fade. Clapton was unfaithful
on the road and sexually
unresponsive at home. The
alcohol and cocaine, now the
drug of choice, were more
important than anything.
Clapton entered the Hazelden
Clinic in 1983 to dry out.
He wrote, "My fear of loss
of identity was phenomenal.
This could have been born
out of the 'Clapton is God'
thing, which had put so much
of my self-worth onto my
musical career. When the
focus shifted toward my
well-being . . . and to the
realization that I was an
alcoholic and suffering from
the same disease everybody
else was, I went into
meltdown."
The early 80’s were not as
productive for Clapton as
the 70’s. Journeyman,
released in late 1989 went
double platinum in less than
two years, making it
Clapton’s career first
record to move over 2
million units. In 1991 the
soundtrack Rush included
“Tears In Heaven”, a
touching number dealing with
the accidental death of his
young son Conor, reached #2
on the US charts in January
of 1992. Tragically he had
just started bonding with
Conor when the boy died. His
personal life turbulent and
his attempts at maintaining
sobriety amid the drug and
alcohol world of rock and
roll were challenging. A
numb, grieving Clapton was
determined to stay sober.
"At that moment I realized
there was no better way of
honoring the memory of my
son." About this time he
learns about another child
he fathered, Ruth, and
brings her into his life.
The box set Crossroads and
Time Pieces both receiving
accolades leading to an
iconic appearance on MTV’s
“Unplugged”, playing
acoustic re-workings of some
of his best known singles
and blues classic.
Unplugged, was a massive
success, breathing new life
into the classic “Layla”,
which became a hit for the
second time in its life.
Clapton followed with 1994’s
From The Cradle, a full
album of electric blues
covers that also reached #1
on the charts.1998’s
Pilgrim, with “Change The
World”.
With 20 years of sobriety
Clapton has reached such a
level of success his career
is now a mix of old material
and the desire to try new
things. Reptile, Me & Mr.
Johnson, an album of Robert
Johnson covers and Back Home
solo albums have done well.
He’s also recorded two
collaboration albums, 2000’s
double platinum Riding With
The King with blues legend
B.B. King and 2006’s gold
The Road To Escondido with
famed songwriter J.J. Cale.
His old stuff continues to
sell well, like “Wonderful
Tonight” the ode to Pattie
written as he waited for her
to get dressed for a party,
being certified gold in
2005, nearly 30 years after
its release.
With his personal life
settled into the family life
with four daughters and a
young wife Melia, he worked
on his autobiography while
touring Asia. He released a
double disc compilation,
Complete Clapton featuring
songs from his entire forty
year career.
Clapton wrote, "For me, the
most trustworthy vehicle for
spirituality has always
proven to be music."
The only thing I missed was
more about his life with
ex-wife Pattie Boyd. She
published an autobiography
that included excerpts from
the unbelievably passionate
letters Clapton sent her
while she was still George
Harrison's wife. His
desperation in her book is
apparent with threats of
doing himself in if he can’t
have her. His songs about
her made getting over her
difficult, as they would be
played in every concert
being among his top hits.
He’s so open in his own book
about everything else, but
Pattie is absent in the
index, although smattered
throughout his book. Perhaps
he lets the music speak of
that love.
You come away after reading
this easily flowing
chronological tale
understanding that “Clapton
is God” was too much to put
on the head of a 20 year old
rock musician. His life
struggles into the heart of
rock and roll decadence and
his eventual maturing into a
musician at the top of his
art are amazing to read.
It’s as if you were having a
pint and hearing the words
straight from his lips. I
found it very enjoyable and
I highly recommend both the
music and the book.
###
Book Review: “Peeking Over
the Edge… views from life’s
middle” by Cathy Jo Marley
Reviewed By LeeAnn Sharpe
Have you ever opened a new
book and suddenly feel as if
you are in the company of an
old friend? That’s the way
“Peeking Over the Edge…
views from life’s middle” by
Cathy Jo Marley made me
feel. She instantaneously
became my oldest and dearest
and wisest friend telling me
stories from her life
experiences. Some I would
shake my head and think yes,
yes, yes, she gets it! Other
times I would think, I need
to share this wisdom with my
daughter.
It’s not a big book, only
163 pages with large enough
print even fifty some things
can read without their
glasses. But I warn you,
once you pick it up you
won’t want to stop reading.
That’s a problem when you
pick up a good book like
this as you crawl into bed
thinking a half an hour will
put you to sleep. Two hours
later I was finishing it
off!
Nothing is off limits.
Weight, vanity, aging and
family are all discussed.
Each chapter is a brief
little vignette into her
life’s experiences. Each
chapter begins with a poetry
verse, proverb or quote.
Some even have song lyrics
and one ends with a recipe.
She brings humor into sad
situations we all face in
life and shows how life goes
on, maybe not as we
expected, but it goes on.
If you are looking for light
hearted optimistic read for
someone on your Christmas
list, consider going to
Cathy Jo Marley’s book
signing and get an
autographed copy as an extra
special gift.
Award-winning Phoenix author
Cathy Marley will be signing
her heartwarming book,
Peeking Over the
Edge...views from life’s
middle (Infinity Publishing,
April, 2006), at two
locations in December. The
first signing is scheduled
at Karen’s Hallmark, 10639
N. 32nd St. in Phoenix, from
10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday
December 10. The second
signing is scheduled at A
Peace of the Universe, 7000
E Shea Blvd, # 1710 in
Scottsdale, from 1:00 p.m.
to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday
December 15.
Peeking Over the
Edge...views from life’s
middle takes a philosophical
look at those moments and
memories that contribute to
a life well lived.
Poetically fashioned and
emotionally candid, this
collection of personal
reflections savors the joys
of life after 50. As Ms
Marley says, “In my writing,
I talk about love, self
acceptance, connection to
the world and the legacy we
choose to create for
ourselves by the life we
live. What I have said here
goes beyond my own
experience to truths that
apply to anyone who has
achieved middle age or just
hopes to someday.”
Since its introduction in
May 2006, Peeking Over the
Edge has received high
praise. In its Small Press
Bookwatch, Midwest Book
Review said, “From coping
with a hysterectomy, to
fondly recalling distant
memories, to the luxurious
yet tawdry experience of
reading "bodice ripper"
romances and more, Peeking
Over the Edge offers a
candid glimpse of the simple
moments in life, and the
relish of adapting to new
changes with aplomb. A
wonderful amalgamation of
insights into the pleasures
of life well lived.”
The first question she
raised to which I could
relate, and probably anyone
over fifty, is “What mark?”
That is what mark will I
leave on the world? Writers
are especially prone to ask
the question and even write
it down. Some people want to
leave a grandiose beautiful
mark that everyone stands up
and cheers. They are usually
artists, actors or
politicians. But I like
detailed drawings where
hundreds of little marks add
up to create a full picture.
I hope my life of little
marks adds up to a beautiful
image. I know my main mark,
my daughter, is a pretty
good contribution toward a
life worth living. Cathy Jo
Marley offers this book and
it is a nice stroke in her
life painting.
Body image, family, mush
brain, aging, and pack rat
life are all things I found
in common with Cathy. Her
elephant in the room and
little beasties leave enough
room for anyone to fill in
their own animals. Her words
resonate in different ways
for each person reading her
book. She says she began
crafting words to reveal her
hearts deepest feelings.
Most of all her optimism
about the rest of her life
and where it has lead her to
today made me think and hope
for a future open to the
possibilities of love and
adventure. And it reminded
me to stop and smell the
roses along the way.
Peeking Over the
Edge...views from life’s
middle (Infinity Publishing,
April, 2006), ISBN
0-7414-3169-6 $14.95
I
will be reviewing this book
soon...
an excerpt from...
THE PERILS OF PLEASURE
by Julie Anne Long
Coming February 2008!
It was early summer, and
accordingly, hedgerows were
a riot of Hawthorne
blossoms. Horse chestnuts,
beeches and the occasional
old oak stood sentry over
the roads, and songbirds
rustled amongst all the
greenery. Up ahead, around
the bend, Madeleine could
see the branches of an
enormous oak splaying out in
every direction, taking up
more than its share of
roadside.
"Do you know what I haven't
done?" Colin said suddenly.
He stopped, allowed her to
catch up with him.
She sniffed indelicately.
"Very little, if you believe
the broadsheets."
"I haven't yet kissed you."
And then he snatched hold of
her hand and pulled her
behind that oak, barely
giving her time to squeak.
Blessed shade the tree
provided, with arms that
splayed everywhere like a
mad octopus. It hid two of
them from the road, but not
from the gaze of a gently
curious sheep, who paused in
its grass cropping to stare.
Colin spun her about and had
her up against it in a
thrice, pinned between his
arms, and he towered over
her, staring down for a
moment. At the stars in my
eyes or my great white
forehead? She wondered.
"Don't—" she began
nervously.
"Don't what, Mad?" Colin
laughed softly, in a voice
that stroked up her spine
like velvet. His arms
dropped from the tree, went
around her waist; he pulled
her hips hard against his
hips, very familiarly; she
felt the outline of
everything male about him.
"Don't…what?" He whispered
it this time, and when his
hands went up to her face,
it was she who closed her
arms around his slim waist,
flattening her hands to feel
the hard muscles of his
back, keeping him pulled
close to her body, keeping
the two of them groin to
groin. She wanted to feel
again the heat of his body
over the entire length of
her.
His knuckles dragged softly
over her cheeks, and she
closed her eyes, because his
eyes were too merry and too
hot and too soft and too
knowing, and she, at the
moment, didn't want to be
known by a man who had known
nearly every woman in
London, if rumors were true.
She did want to be kissed.
And then his fingers opened
to feather across her ears,
along her throat, the nape
of her neck, and she felt
her head tip back trustingly
into his hands.
Cradling it, he touched his
lips very, very softly to
the pulse in her throat.
"Oh, Mad." It was half sigh,
half soft laugh.
Colin dragged his lips
softly from the arch of her
throat, to her ear, to her
lips, which were parted,
while her eyes were still
closed.
"Now I'll kiss you
properly," he murmured.
She knew how to do this.
She'd done it before. Her
body knew where it wanted to
be touched, and how it
wanted to fit against his,
and oddly nothing had ever
seemed more right. And still
somehow it became a little
battle, as it always was
with the two of them, in
part because Madeleine only
felt safe in the midst of
battle. Their lips brushed,
bumped, nipped softly,
Madeleine now afraid to
surrender to this. Too late
she recalled how a kiss
sometimes had the power to
split one dangerously,
vulnerably open. More so
even than lovemaking.
"Shhhh," he whispered
against her mouth, although
she wasn't making a sound.
It was as though he wanted
to soothe the battle inside
her. "Shhhhh."
His hands were at the back
of her neck, soothing,
stroking, and he brushed his
lips over hers, urged hers
apart with tender strokes of
his tongue, sending a rain
of silver sparks down her
spine, and she gave a sigh.
It was part pleasure, part
some unexpressed sadness.
The sound of something
released.
Madeleine's hands slid up to
the hard blades of his
shoulders, pulling him
closer, and her lips fell
open beneath his. His
tongue, at first, was a
gentle invader, warm,
velvety soft, finding and
twining with hers softly in
a tentative foray.
He took his lips away from
hers, looked into her eyes,
as though looking for some
sort of answer, or wanting
to see what the kiss had
done to hers. His own eyes
were hazy with desire.
And then his firm, clever
lips took hers again, more
decisively this time, and
she was ready. Her arms slid
up his chest to wrap round
his neck, and he pulled her
into his body, and his
iron-hard arousal pressing
against her was a
maddeningly erotic contrast
to his soft lips, his soft
tongue. He drove the kiss
deeper, and she met him;
their tongues touching and
tangling, part dance, part
duel. He moaned softly, the
sound of it vibrating in his
chest beneath her hands. He
withdrew his tongue to bite
her bottom lip gently, a
sensation startling and
erotic.
Then he took her mouth
again, ferociously this
time, and she took as much
as he did, devouring,
needing him deeper into her
body. He tasted sweet and
dark and as she kissed him
everything in her was
melting, dissolving, until
Madeleine knew that
terrifying, exhilarating
sense of having no other
existence outside the heady,
penetrating bliss of this
kiss.
And then Colin suddenly
broke the kiss with a gasp.
He tucked his cheek against
hers. His whiskers rasped at
her delicate skin; his
breath was hot and swift the
crook of her neck.
He was quiet for a long
time. His arms loosened on
her.
Confused and strangely
bereft, Madeleine's clung to
him for a moment longer.
Then her arms loosened about
him, too, uncertainly.
"Just a kiss," he whispered,
sounding dazed.
She didn't quite understand
what he meant.
They remained close but not
nearly as close as moments
before, their breathing
slowing to before-kiss
rhythms.
Colin lifted his head up,
looked down into her eyes.
He looked as if he was
considering whether to
speak.
"Did you love him, Mad?"
The question surprised her
so completely that she
didn't have time to disguise
the truth, and she was
certain it was written all
over her face.
Why did he do this? How did
he do this?
"Life can be the very devil
sometimes, can't it?" he
said softly.
She stared at him.
"The very devil," she agreed
thickly, after a moment.
He smiled down at her, as
only Colin Eversea could
smile.
And when he took her by the
hand back out to the road
Madeleine felt feeling as
though she'd been thrown
from the moon back down to
earth.
*************************************
Thanks for reading! Like
it?? Here's a preorder link,
if you're interested!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0061341584/1n9867a-20
*************************************
Copyright 2008 Julie Anne
Long
A sSalt
Tour & Stephen
Baldwin
Stevie B brings his
Breakthough Ministry
to Arizona
By LeeAnn Sharpe
If a child hasn’t
had an introduction
to the spiritual
experience by the
time they graduate
high school, it’s
unlikely he will
ever have the
opportunity as an
adult. Stephen
Baldwin and the
Breakthrough
Ministry are working
to give hundreds of
thousands of young
people the
opportunity to be
“born again” in a
fun and exciting
way. They use
extreme sports as
the draw and rock
music and youthful
speakers to deliver
the message. The
idea is that a
youngster who has
made a commitment to
Christ will turn
away from violence,
drugs and sex and
lead a righteous
life.
Stephen Baldwin,
born May 12, 1966 in
Massapequa, New
York, is an actor,
best known by adults
for his roles in the
1995 film
The Usual Suspects
or his TV Series the
Young Riders
(1989-1992). But the
kids know him as
Barney Rubble from
The Flintstones in
Viva Rock Vegas
(2000), team captain
Sean Linden in Slap
Shot 2 (2002) and
Doyle in Bio-Dome
(1996). Baldwin
credits his role in
Bio-Dome with his
popularity among the
kids he seeks to
reach today. They
flock to him as if
he’s one of them.
He’s the narley
skateboarding,
hockey playing, kid
on the street out
having fun.
The youngest of the
acting
Baldwin brothers,
with brothers
Daniel,
William, and
Alec, Stephen
had a religious
conversion after
Sept 11, 2001. He
gave up smoking,
stopped drinking.
His wife, Kennya,
had been a devoutly
practicing Christian
for several years
when he had an
epiphany. Their
nanny from Brazil
had made a
prediction back in
1993, that Stephen
and his wife would
have a ministry, and
her prediction has
come to pass.
Baldwin directed and
produced
Livin' It and
Livin' It LA
films that focus on
Christian athletes
involved in Extreme
sports evangelism
after his 2003
experience in Ft
Lauderdale with the
Luis Palau Ministry
and Kevin Palau. The
goal was to
distribute 20,000
videos but in the
first 6 months they
sold 50,000 and to
date over 200,000.
They also did a 100
city skateboarding
tour. Through small
parking lot
skateboarding
gatherings they have
already brought the
message to over
100,000 young
people.
His Breakthrough
Ministry, begun in
January 2007 in San
Diego, features
skateboarding and
extreme sports,
Christian_rock
concerts, laser
light shows and
fireworks. The hope
is to use culturally
relevant tools to
reach the youth of
America. They are
calling it the
AsSalt Tour with a
December 15th event
in Phoenix’s
Veterans Memorial
Coliseum. The
mainstream Christian
rock group P.O.D.
(Payable on Death)
will perform. Their
song Alive was the
theme for the Winter
Olympics and their
music has been
included in many
popular movies and
tv shows. Stars of
Skateboarding,
including Christian
Hosoi, Brian Sumner,
Andre Genovesi and
Josh Kasper will
perform. BMX
Freestyle, X Games
Gold Medalist Bruce
Crisman and Dew Tour
Vert Finalist Mike
Mancuso will be
there too. Showing
off his God given
talent in Extreme
Freestyle Motocross
will be 3007 X Games
Gold Medalist for
“Best New Trick”
Kyle Loza , plus
many more
performances,
choreographed laser
lights and
pyrotechnics are all
promised with jumbo-trons
broadcasting the
action up close. And
admission is free,
first come first
served basis. They
will also have a car
Show and Hip-Hop
Show live in the
parking lot.
Baldwin will play
host to the action.
He says, “For me.
Being born again was
the most awesome
thing that has ever
happened in my life,
and I had a pretty
awesome life
already.” His book
“The Unusual
Suspect” details his
life and conversion
to faith made it
onto the
New York Times
bestseller list.
The AsSalt Tour’s
purpose is to
“Pierce the darkened
hearts of today’s
youth with the light
of Christ.” It has
become obvious that
the youth of today
are not being
reached in an
effective or truly
relevant way. The
Breakthrough
believes this is
unacceptable and
will now take the
necessary action to
reach a lost
generation.
The passion of the
Breakthrough
Ministry is to see
the youth of the
world become
empowered and set
free, so they can
make better choices
and become the
world-changers that
God intended them to
be. Baldwin says,
“We believe the
greatest way to
ensure the future of
America is the rest
of the world is to
evangelize the youth
today.”
When he first became
involved in
ministering to the
youth of America, he
asked that they not
call it a “ministry”
because that would
be the kiss of death
for his career in
Hollywood. But there
was no other way to
describe what he was
doing. It was a
ministry. When he
realized the
prophesy his
Brazilian nanny
foretold had come to
fruition he
experienced the most
powerful moment in
his life. And so far
it seems to have had
a positive impact on
his life. The phone
rings off the hook
offering him more
work than ever.
With over 60 movies
in his career
Baldwin has made a
pretty good living
as an actor. In
2002, he
participated in “Celebrity
Mole Hawaii”,
the first celebrity
edition of “The
Mole”. ABC
broadcast the
reality show in
early 2003. Later
that year he
returned for “Celebrity
Mole Yucatan”,
which ABC aired in
early 2004. In 2004,
he became the host
of another reality
show “Scare
Tactics”, which
was broadcast on The
Sci Fi Channel.
In 2006, Baldwin
starred in “The
Genius Club” for
writer/director
Tim Chey. The
film is about seven
geniuses who try
to solve the world's
problems in a single
night. In
August 2007, he
was back on
television when
CMT cast Baldwin
in
Ty Murray’s
“Celebrity Bull
Riding Challenge”.
He was among nine
celebrities cast on
the show. In the
first episode,
Baldwin was injured
after taking a bad
fall from a bull,
breaking his
shoulder blade
and cracking a
rib.
In contrast to his
brothers
Alec and
William, who are
noted
Democrats and
avid
Bush opponents,
Stephen is a Bush
supporter. Calling
himself an
Independent, Baldwin
makes occasional
appearances with
Republican political
figures and, in
April 2007, was a
special
White House
guest for the annual
White House Egg Roll.
“People constantly
ask me for details
of my "Damascus
Road" experience
(see Acts 9) that
made me give my life
to Jesus Christ.
Most assume I hit
bottom and had
nowhere else to
turn. They're
wrong.” For more of
the story read his
book “The Unusual
Suspect”.
Breakthrough Radio
airs Sundays
12pm-1pm on 1360AM
KPXQ. They advertise
“This ain’t your
grandma’s radio
show” gearing the
message to the young
people, taking calls
and sharing their
message of faith.
A website with
incredible music and
graphics attracts
young people looking
for a connection at
http://www.stephenbaldwin.com/break4.htm.
The AsSalt Tour is
just a part of his
ministry. The Tour
will hit Phoenix,
Chicago, Dallas and
Nashville.
http://www.assalttour.com/.
The 330 Youth
Movement gives kids
a direction.
Stephen Baldwin’s
first and final
words at a recent
luncheon here in
Phoenix at North
Christian Baptist
Church were, “I’m on
a very powerful
journey that’s
extremely fun for me
and I’m inviting you
to join me, but I’m
going with or
without you.”
Author: LeeAnn
Sharpe is a
freelance writer and
can be reached at
http://www.leeannsharpe.com/
 |
