Customer Reviews

Portland Confidential

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Longtime residents of Portland will probably find Portland Confidential a quick, enjoyable read because they'll recognize the places and names Stanford peppers his story with. Portland residents will be less put off by Stanford's "conversational" narrative voice, as they have been reading him for years in his role as columnist for The Oregonian, and more recently the Portland Tribune. I suspect that out of towners and would find very little for them here.

Using a wealth of sources, anonymous and credited, Stanford revisits a time Portland civic leaders have long tried to forget: the corruption filled 1950s. In short, digestable, one newspaper column sized vignettes, Stanford generally cuts right to the chase: Portland was a bad, bad town.

The photographs chosen for this story are marvelous; they bring the story to life and really reflect the tone Stanford seems to be trying to achieve.

The story itself (if one can call it that, it ends up more like a long ramble that often doubles back on itself) is compelling. Like one of the other reviewers, I can't help but wonder how another writer would tell this tale.

That said, Stanford has spent his entire life cultivating the leads and the inside information that led to the publication of this book. Few others would have the wealth of infomation necessary to tell this tale. It serves as a reminder that the Golden 1950's had almost as much tarnish on them as the 2000s do.

As a Portland area resident, I was really exited to read this book. I was somewhat disappointed. . . Phil Stanford is a journalist, and the book reads like a collection of news clippings. The characters are colorful and interesting, and the photos added a lot to the book, but overall, I felt his coverage was somewhat cursory. I wanted more information, more historical background and more perspective. To be fair, however, I read this book immediately after reading The Devil in the White City. There, Eric Larson took a time in Chicago history, and created a masterpiece. Imagine the Portland Confidenital story/characters in the hands of a writer of that caliber!

My grandfather was a health inspector during this time and eventually quit because he refused to take bribes to look the other way regarding various establishments in Portland. This book is a quick and enjoyable read. The journalistic tone fits the subject matter and is, I think, a deliberate tone to suit the style. It is NOT a text book of the history of Portland. It is an entertaining look into the seedy past of a city not usually known for seediness. Though even today Portland has more strip clubs per capita than Vegas or LA, or any other city in the nation.

When I purchased this book, I really wanted a different book from the author, "The Peyton-Allan Files. But like with everything else offered for sale, I got a discount if I bought both, so I did. When I finished this book, I actually thought that I'd like this one more than the one (Peyton-Allan files) I originally wanted!

It's a book you can't put down, especially for Portlanders or folks interested in Portland. And boy did it bring back memories of when I was a kid growing up in Portland!

Then when I browsed over the other reviews, and thought to myself, There's always ONE, no matter what it is, that doesn't think something is as good as it really is. There is always ONE! At the very least, the book is entertaining, enlightening, and educational. Everyone should have given it a "5". I swear, that if the item up for review was a $100 bill, someone would give it a 2 or 3!!!

The pictures in the book brought back memories! Like the old multi-level steel girder parking structures that use to be used in downtown portland!

Well, anyway, when I started reading the Peyton-Allan murders, it was every bit as good as this book, and maybe even more! I don't see where anyone can go wrong, that really wants a good book to read. !!! And Phil really knows how to write!!

I just got this book last week, and I love it. Couldn't put it down. I live in Portland and love reading about its sordid history. Next, I'd love to see Phil write another book about Portland's older, seamier tales of slavery and forced prostitution that happened from the 1850's into the 1900's. Great job Phil! Please write more!

A very well written look into Portland's dicey past.Its informative for any newcomer to to learn about the cities past,and a must for any native to read.

my grandfather was Frank Tatum. He was murdered before I was born. It was a very good story. Now I have to find the obituary.