Customer Reviews

The Devil, Me, and Jerry Lee

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4 star:		(1)
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This is a delightful book in which Linda recounts her life as a member of the exrtaordinary Lewis family. The style is conversational, warm and intimate - so much so that you can almost hear her dropping her voice as she gets to the more delicate bits. It's like having her sitting by your side, chatting away - slipping in the odd bit of scandal here and there to spice up the narrative lest your attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humour. And what a story it is! If it had been written as fiction it would be dismissed as being too fanciful. Shooting, killings, Heaven, The Devil, death and judgement, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs and rock'n'roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two gets even better. Linda begins with a snapshot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana with (one imagines) daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie, momma raisin' the roof with songs of praise and big sister Frankie Jean generally causing mayhem. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realised that not every family lived like the Lewis' - but for all their perceived shortcomings (even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric), daddy and momma were exemplary parents. No one could have done more for their children or been more supportive. The story of mortgaging the family home to buy a piano and selling eggs to raise money to get to Sun Records are well known, but Linda for her part remembers the talk at home as always being of 'when' Jerry Lee would become famous - never 'if'. The Lewis famiuly were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday - which Linda describes as the battleground between good and evil. Guys urged on by the preaching and the singing and the speaking in tongues would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards. In later years as older members of the family died and were buried, Linda and Jerry Lee with cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Lee Swaggart would return to sing with the fifty or so regular congregation in what must have been the gospel show to end all gospel shows. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep within the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda recounts her marriages with good humour and without rancour. One guy blew his brains out, another just lasted for one glorious sex-filled weekend and in one case a quickie divorce (to allow an immediate re-marriage) was facilitated by a judge who was well disposed to the Lewis', having played the mailman in the movie 'Great Balls Of Fire'. A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee. Having dropped out of school she was able to see Jerry through the lean years following the Myra incident. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even the places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one, they gave you one. Jerry's resillience and determination in fighting his way back to the top is widely acknowledged, but Linda - forever his number one fan - deserves some of that recognition for her totally untiring and unselfish support. It grieves her that in later years Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr. Nick and sixth wife Kerrie. Linda is generous towards previous wives but understandably wouldn't give Kerrie the lickings of a dog. What should have been the crowning glory of a glorious career seems to end in ruins and that hurts. But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty - it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully-loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - you'll have to read the book. It would be wrong to give the name away here, and in any case Linda tells it so much better. In life, as in the book, there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee'. Chris Woodford.

I found this book to be a very interesting look at the upbringing and early influences on Jerry Lee's life which was not detailed in earlier books on his life. It was sometimes shocking, but always interesting.

This is a delightful book - in which Linda recounts her life as brother to rock and roll star Jerry Lee Lewis. The style is conversational, warm and intimate - so much so that her voice can be heard to drop as she slips the odd bit of scandal here and there lest the attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humor. And what a story it is ! If it had been written as fiction - it would be dismissed as being too fanciful. Shooting, killings, Heaven, Hell, the Devil, death and judgement, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs and rock and roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two is even better.

Linda begins with a snap-shot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana - with Daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie and Momma raising the roof with songs of Praise. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realised that not every family lived like the Lee Lewis's - even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric.

The Lewis family were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday, Louisiana - which Linda describes as a battleground between good and evil. People would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep within the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda is quite specific as to why her marriages failed. For example one guy blew his brains out and another just lasted for one glorious 'sex-filled' weekend.

A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee - during the lean years which followed the 'scandal' of the marriage to his 13 year old cousin. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even the places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one they gave you one. It grieves Linda that in later years - Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr.Nick and sixth wife Kerrie. What should have been the crowning of a glorious career seems set to end in ruins - and that hurts.

But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty, it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - well, it would be wrong to give the game away here. In any case Linda can tell it so much better. In life, as in the book - there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee'.

This is a delightful book in which Linda recounts her life as a member of the extraordinary Lewis family. The style is conversational, warm, and intimate - so much so that you can almost hear her dropping her voice as she gets to the more delicate bits. It's like having her sitting by your side, chatting away - slipping in the odd bit of scandal here and there to spice up the narrative, lest your attention should wander. Linda does the story justice by telling it simply and with humour. And what a story it is! If it had been written as fiction it would be dismissed as being to fanciful. Shootings, killings, Heaven, Hell, the Devil, death and judgment, marriage, divorce, sex, drugs, and rock n roll all play their part - and that's just for starters. Chapter two gets even better. Linda begins with a snapshot of family life in Ferriday, Louisiana, with (one imagines) daddy coming in from a hard day's bootlegging to Jerry Lee playing boogie-woogie, momma raising the roof with songs of praise and big sister Frankie Jean generally causing mayhem. It wasn't until later in life that Linda realized that not every family lived like the Lewis' - but for all their percieved shortcoming (even by Ferriday standards they were regarded as somewhat eccentric) momma and daddy were exemplary parents. No one could have done more for their children or been more supportive. The story of mortgaging the family home to buy a piano and selling eggs to raise money to get to Sun Records are well known, but Linda for her part remembers the talk at home as always being of 'when' Jerry Lee becomes famous-never 'if'. The Lewis family were always well represented at the Holiness Church in Ferriday - which Linda Gail describes as a battle ground between good and evil. Guys urged on by the preaching and the singing and the speaking in tongues would confess all manner of sins and vow to fight the good fight, which some of them did - at least for an hour or so afterwards, In later years as older members of the family died and were buried, Linda and Jerry Lee with cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Lee Swaggart would return to sing with the fifty or so regular congregation in what must have been the gospel shows to end all gospel shows. The lessons learned in church were taken to heart - even though the bit about not sleeping together without getting married meant that Linda (like Jerry) had to tie the knot many times over to keep to the letter, if not the spirit of the law. Linda recounts her marriages with good humour and without rancour. One guy blew his brains out, another just lasted for one glorious sex-filled weekend and in one case a quickie divorce(to allow an immediate re-marriage) was facilitated by judge who was well disposed to the Lewis', having played the mailman in the movie 'Great Balls of Fire.' A good deal of the book is taken up with life on the road with Jerry Lee. Having dropped out of school whe was able to see Jerry through the lean years following the Myra incident. She went everywhere with him, backwards and forwards across America playing any club or bar that would have them, even places where she says they frisked you for guns - and if you didn't have one, they gave you one. Jerry's resilience and determination in fighting his way back to the top is widely acknowledged, but Linda - forever his number one fan - deserves some of that recognition for her totally untiring and unselfish support. It grieves her that in later years Jerry Lee has been hi-jacked by the infamous Dr. Nick and sixth wife Kerrie, Linda is generous towards previous wives but understandably wouldn't give Kerrie the lickings of a dog. What should have been the crowning of a glorious career seems set to end in ruins - and that hurts. But among the lighter moments - and there are plenty - it is revealed that Jerry Lee Lewis sleeps with a fully loaded sub-machine gun under his bed. But as to the circumstances in which he came to use it - you'll have to read the book. It would be wrong to give the game away here - and in any case, Linda tells it so much better. In life, as in the book, there's never a dull moment with 'The Devil, Me, and Jerry Lee'.

What a great story and well written. Coming from a religious family, I enjoyed reading all the interesting circumstances that Linda and her big family went through. I've never read a much more shocking story and laughed so hard!! Double Thumbs Up!!!!!

Reading this book is like having a conversation with Linda Gail Lewis over a cup of coffee. If you like knowing the inside scoop, this book is a must read. Sit down to and have a heart-to-heart talk!

Sister to Jerry Lee Lewis, Linda Gail has written a blunt, fascinating warts-and-all showbiz book about her life and that of the rock and country legend. Linda Gail, who hit the Top 10 with her duet with Jerry Lee "DON'T LET ME CROSS OVER", toured with Jerry Lee for 15 years as a background singer , and her love and concern for her brother shines through this fast-paced 166 page book co-written with Les Pendleton. The family grew up in a shack in Ferriday, La. with no insulation, no bathroom and no lack of hardship. A drunk driver killed their 9-year-old brother, their father spent time in prison for bootlegging, and Jerry Lee, when 22, married his 13 year old cousin, Myra. Writes Linda Gail, "Myra looked like she was 20, and she was more than a little bit on the wild side herself. In Ferriday, I could have married a cousin and not even known it. It was no big deal." Despite his career ups and downs, Linda Gail notes, "Momma would remain in new Cadillacs and housekeepers until she died." If there were book ratings, this one would be PG. And, if there were ratings on the most interesting books - on a scale from 1 to 10, this would be an 11. Linda Gail, now happily married and living in Big Sandy, Tenn., has written a compelling, no-holds-barred, true-life story with a very appropriate title. Gerry Wood, Country Weekly - January 12, 1999

There is no question about it: "The Devil, Me and Jerry Lee" is entertaining and fast reading. The author is the younger sister of Jerry Lee Lewis. It is for those of us that already appreciate the Killer. Folks who don't know who "The Killer" is should stop reading this review now. The faithful will be treated to a tale of life on the road and a little on the wild side of Jerry Lee. There are few surprises for those familiar with Lewis' past. His up and down career is covered form the mid -1950s at Sun Records in Memphis until the "present day". It's a bit foggy, perhaps intentionally so, as to what the Killer is doing right now. To quote the trailer in the movie "Great Balls of Fire" `he is probably playing his heart out-somewhere'. DMJL also tells the tale of the author's own strange career both on and off stage. The details of the latter are frank, earthy and mostly believable. (As to the former, it's a mystery: What "career" did Linda Gail have?Billboard credits her with 2 chart hits.) They are delivered in a take me or leave me fashion, just the way her big brother would want. The author has a definite manipulative charm to her, a trait she no doubt shares with her sibling. I am certain her 8 husbands could attest to that! The bottom line is that DMJL is recommended for Lewis fans only. The story won't win any new ones. Any serious country fan should possess at least one Killer CD. Amazon has several available! Jerry Lee is an entertainer one has to listen to, not merely read about. As for his little sister, she wore me down: 5 stars.

I read THE DEVIL, ME, and JERRY LEE in a single afternoon. It is the well-written account of a woman who has risen from adverse poverty in Louisiana to lead quite an exciting, often raucous life in the world of entertainment. Linda Gail Lewis takes the reader through the swamps and shacks of her childhood and behind the curtains of the nightclubs and honky-tonks that she and her brother, Jerry Lee, played in night after night throughout their adult lives. She shares the "ups and downs" of her personal and professional life. Her story is honest, forthright and reflective. Linda Gail Lewis and Les Pendleton have a winner!

This book was very down to earth. Very interesting. I loved reading every word of it. Was sad and funny at the same time. I remember a lot of the times that were talked about in the book and could relate to these in my own life. Very easy reading and never dull. This was a very down to earth book. I learned alot about the Lewis family that I never knew. Definately a book worth keeping.