Customer Reviews

Take Me to the River

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm just on the 8th Chapter and I'm loving this book. I am very surprised at Al's candor about his sexual life and spiritual calling. This book is an inspiration to me as I sometimes go through the same predicament; choosing between my own spiritual calling and yet wanting to fulfill my own fleshly desires to the "fullest." Thanks Al for being honest about your life! It let's me know that there is hope for us all and that we all go through the same spiritual "tug of war."

I absolutley could not put it down until i finished the whole incredible thing. Being a die hard Al Green fan, this book only made me a bigger fan. His honesty and sincerity was so refreshing. I'd been sceptical of buying another autobiography after reading Aretha Franklins' disaster of a book. However, i was highly pleased with Al Green's story. This book could serve as a "real life" lesson for American history. His story offers a first hand account of the Black American experience after the Great Deprression. From sharecropping to the great migration of Blacks from the south to the north, he's lived it all. Anyone aspiring to write their life story can benefit from this book. He tells just enough to keep you turning the pages, not bogging down with a lot of trivial ideas or heady musical facts or unimportant details. i feel like i've gotten to know a legend, who is acknowledges that he is only human. I recommend this book to anyone who loves music and loves to read. I definately plan to readthis one again!!

Al Green's new autobiography, written in 2000, is a riveting story for anyone who has ever been curious about Al Green, how he came to be a famous soul singer, and the story behind his music. I was hooked on this book from the moment I picked it up. It was easy to read and very entertaining. He starts off describing his childhood and his experiences in Jacknash Arkansas as the middle child of a sharecropping family. He tells about his parents whom he loves very much and how they had the courage to sell everything they had and move north for a better life. "Al," he said, "go wake up your brothers and sisters. Tell them to get dressed and start packin." Al explains how much he learned from his parents and how much he respects them for taking this gutsy move. His childhood was hard but he pursued his dream of becoming a soul singer and when he teamed up with legendary producer Willie Mitchell, he was on his way. This autobiography tells of his rise to the top of the music industry, his attempted murder and suicide, his immense struggle between his religious side and his secular side, and how this struggle is reflected in much of his music. Al eventually chooses God over his million dollar career but left us with some of the best soul music ever recorded. I was very surprised at the candor with which Al told the details of his life, good and bad. He talked as honestly about the problems he had with drugs and money as he did about his numerous successes. It made his story sound very earnest and sincere. He covered all the bases of his life and answered all the questions I had about the artist that I have been listening to for many years. The only negative about this book was that it wasn't longer. I was not ready for it to end and have a strong desire to read as much more as I can about him. I am only 17 years old but have been listening to Al Green for over five years. This book was very well written and very interesting to me. I am sure it will be just as riveting for other fans.

I love Al Green(e). Almost everyone who knows me knows that. For Christmas I received two copies of this book: one from my husband and one from a girlfriend. My husband ordered the book from Amazon.com. My girlfriend, however, purchased hers and stood in line at a bookstore in Atlanta to have Al sign it and personalize it. It was the BEST gift I received this Christmas! I read it in a couple of days and thoroughly enjoyed it right from the Introduction to the last page. I have a deeper appreciation of my favorite male vocal artist (Aretha being my favorite female) and although he sounded boastful often enough, he owned right up to it -- admirable. HOWEVER . . . Being married to a copyeditor/indexer/proofreader it was almost impossible to put up with all the stupid and distracting mistakes. A publisher the size of HarperCollins should have staff that is at least literate! What an embarrassment! For example, throughout the book "or" is used instead of "of," "spent" instead of "spend," words beginning with a consonant are preceded by "an" instead of "a," and the reverse happens for vowels. I know this kind of slack attitude is rampant in e-mail messages, but I started getting angry at the apparent total disregard for the English language. I hope this was a case of rushing to have the book out in time for holiday season sales (although there's NO excuse for such a sloppy job), but I started to wonder at one point if some misguided editor was trying to make the book have more of an ethnic sound to it. If that is the case, Mr. Green and Mr. Seay should have that editor's hide because it was downright insulting. And since that is probably not the case, I would advise future authors to think twice before allowing HarperEntertainment to publish their work using their current staff of copyeditors and proofreaders. By the way, I have the name of an excellent person if you want it!

Every time I think of this man, I remember "Love and Happiness" and dancing to his music when I was a little girl and liking it down in a friend's basement. Reading this book brought back the memories and more. Obviously, this man has truly paid his dues, I feel after reading it though, that he either had some more to say and or there is sequel coming. One thing I like is that when he was on his own, he never wanted to give up. He just kept on no matter what. He had doubts, but he kept on. His deference to Willie Mitchell is touching. A lot of folk don't remember the ones who helped them up. He did, and the thing with that was they both acted liked gentlemen in their business dealings. when they agreed to do business together, they were tight, and when they decided to part, it was still all good. I don't think we heard the end of the Rev.Green though. Stay tuned.

I had the pleasure of having my book personally signed by Reverend Green at a book signing in Atlanta, GA. He is the most personable man I have ever met. I enjoyed the book immensely although I was left with a feeling of wanting more. His honesty was refreshing. He spoke candidly about the thin line between the secular and the spiritual and how it affected his career. He was a man torn and it was evident in the lyrics of most of his songs. I recommend this book to all who are true fans of Al Green, you are sure to blessed by his story.

This book contains so much that's worth reading -- the Memphis music scene, dealing with fame and it's problems, and finding redemption.

But the book reaches its highlights when Green writes about signing and walking the fine line between sin and salvation -- something he does very convincingly.

A joy to read.

Huge Al Green fan, yet greatly disappointed in this book. For some reason, I did not feel total truth and sincerity was put into writing this book. And who was the editor! The numerous typos only led to further frustration. I have always respected Al Green for who he was- the church boy gone secular who never lost his ability to interpret any tune with gospel fire and conviction. The Hollywood side of Al has always been visible- to everyone but himself- and it is still prevelant as I watch him on numerous television events singing his hits of old. I was not fascinated by this read and I would suggest that you borrow this book from the library or a friend before making the purchase.

For the truly musically inclined, this book will touch your soul. Al Green's love of music is more than just words and songs, it goes to the core - the everyday sounds of life. True music lovers will identify with his use of poetic imagery to describe the impact music made throughout and how blessed his life has been through this gift. While I found the first half of the book, which covered his childhood thru his beginnings as a solo artist, absolutely engrossing, the second half felt a bit rushed. There was a need for more to fill in the details of his later years. I do commend Green and Seay for leaving out the gory details of life on the road and the wild stories that came with it.

I believe that one of the most interesting aspects of the book is Al's discussion about his upbringing in an intensely religious home, and how this conflicted with his worldly aspirations. His story in a sense is not unlike many of the stars of his generation who were brought up in the church, and found themselves at odds with their parents world view. The chapter that illuminated on the Hi recording sessions at the Royal Studios in Memphis was spectacular. The book even provides a great run down of the stars on the Hi label - a record label that has not received the respect it is due. By the way, Al Green's producer Willie Mitchell is a genius. He turned Al Green into a superstar. However, I must say I found the book wanting. I thought the pictures in the book were one's that most of us who have followed his career have seen over and over. In addition, there are no pictures of him as a child, or even of his own family (wife and children). If you expect this book to be reveal any of the struggles that he has dealt with on a personal level, you will be sorely disappointed. He glosses over his own personal family life. The book paints a nice surface potrait of Al, but really does not go much beyond that.