Customer Reviews

That's Amore: A Son Remembers Dean Martin

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Ever since I can remember, I have been a fan of Dean Martin, and after reading this book I no longer wonder why. Ricci tells us what I always suspected, that Dean was real, he was a loving person, a good Dad and his son reports he didn't put himself above anyone else. I like that in a person. I remember seeing the lovely Olympic Ice Skater Dorothy Hamill interviewed on TV, shortly after Dean's death several years ago and she said he was one of the kindest people she ever met. Dorothy had been married at one time to Dean's son, Dino, of the 1960's Rock'N Roll Band, Dino, Desi & Billy. There are some wonderful photos in the book, heart-warming memories from his son and an insight to life must have felt like having a super star for a father, although I got the impression Dean was very much a regular guy once he arrived home after work. The book has some great (funny!)stories about Ricci and his brother, Dean Paul (Dino). How I wish I could have seen Dean in Vegas with his buddies on stage. This book could have been a few hundred pages longer! Good job, Ricci, thanks for sharing memories of your father and your family with us. Funny I could write this review without mentioning Dean's wonderful singing voice, and who in the world didn't love to listen to Dean!

I always felt he was a loving father and husband even though many bios on Dean portrayed him as a cold, unfeeling human being. Ricci Martin finally allowed the world to know what a sensitive, loving man he really was. My heart went out to the family when Dean Paul was killed and it appears that that was the beginning of the end for Dean. How heart breaking it must have been for all of the Martin family. I would recommend this book not only for the good reading, but its always nice to read a beautiful tribute from a son to his father. I just wish it could have been a much longer book.

If you love Dean Martin this is definetly the book for you!! I actually put the book down and stopped reading it to make it last longer. It was wonderful! Ricci takes you to their home and places you right there to watch their life unfold. I laughed at the good times and cried with the sad times. Makes me want to turn back the clock of time. This book is well written. The love of a son for his father & family is apparent. Now that I have read it, I will definetly read it again. This is a must read!!!!

I'll start out by confessing that I don't know if I can write a wholly objective review of this one. I wanted to love it. I DID love it. Even after noting that, I have to add that Ricci Martin did not sugar coat this memoir and he revealed plenty of his father's flaws, including the pain and confusion during Dean's divorce from Jeanne Martin (there is an incident with a policeman during that time that reveals much of the pain Ricci was possibly going through).

I am trying to be very careful not to reveal anything that would spoil this for readers. The photo section is wonderful. Also, there are some facts about racial relationships that I found very revealing in this book, especially since Sammy Davis, Jr was a part of the notorious "Rat Pack". I found Ricci's insights and childhood experiences to be very revealing about that side of things.

There are also some secrets revealed, ones that might not surprise those who already know every detail of Dean's life that can be found at various fan sites but I honestly did not know some of the information about Shirley Maclaine that was included in the book. If your imagination is going wild about that, let me add that you'll probably be surprised and perhaps intrigued by the info included but it probably won't be what you expect. Enough said about that. Yes, I'm really, really against lurid details and spoilers so if you're finding that disappointing, I'm sure someone here has written a more explicit review. If you want spoilers, just post a comment to me and I'll fill in any details for you, gladly. But not in this review.

Another part of the book that was enjoyable? Learning about what it was like to grow up in "old Hollywood" before the Sharon Tate murders and other incidents made people lock their doors and hire more security. It was truly a different era, a time when the Martin kids could sell items to tourists from their front lawn (can you imagine the look on the tourists' faces?) or even give some lucky fans a tour of the house.

This is a very personal look from one son's perspective. I recommend reading Deanna Martin's book as well because it gives a whole different view of growing up as the child of Dean Martin and reveals more about Dean's first wife. Ricci clearly adored his father and it shows. Deanna was more critical about him. Both books present a rounded picture of Dean Martin.

This book is a wonderful tribute to a wonderful Dad. Dean Martin is remembered by his son Ricci. Forget all the negative stuff you have ever read about Dean Martin. This is the true Dean. Dean was a man who loved to golf and loved his family. It is refreshing for a son to write a tribute to his Father. Enjoy it.

This is a must have book! Whether you are a big fan or have just happened to be around in the last half century... you'll certainly enjoy what this book has to offer. Only a handful few people are known worldwide by just their first name ... "Dino" was (and still is) one of those.

The tabloids (both on the newsstands and on TV) and even other "so-called" biographies have had their field day. Most of what has been written has been pure speculation, and sensationalized beyond belief... UNTIL NOW. This is the VERY FIRST TIME that someone who actually knew Dean (with the one exception of Lee Hale's wonderful book) has written an accurate accounting about the man everyone 'thinks' they know. To top it off, this is an accounting from Dean Martin's OWN son, Ricci Martin. How much closer can you get?

We get a look into what life was like growing up in Beverly Hills at 601 Mountain (the most stopped at house by all the tour buses), to what it was like being the son of one of the greatest entertainers of all time. We also get a peek at life with a houseful of brothers and sisters, to the tragic shock of losing one of them so suddenly, and how it affected the whole family.

Dean Martin was the only personality in show business to have conquered all five major fields, and Ricci gives us his views on each of these (Radio, TV, Stage, Motion Pictures, and Records). Ricci not only discusses his feelings about his father, and the breakup with Jerry Lewis, but also his views on the Rat Pack years, and his top-rated television series (which Ricci worked as a photographer, taking pictures that he saw from a son's point of view). Ricci was there though it all, whether it was in Las Vegas while his Dad was performing to standing room only crowds, or the quiet times he enjoyed one-on-one with his Dad.

Much has been written or said about Dean Martin. The fact of the matter is that Dean only gave about a dozen interviews his whole life. Forget about all those other books that try to tell the story about Dean from people who didn't even get to shake his hand... this one is REAL.

Ricci , who is very talented man in his own right, often performs himself and produces many other artists at his famous `River Ranch' recording complex. Now he can add author to his credits. Along with his writing partner, Christopher Smith, this book is written in a easy flowing style with many memories that we can all relate to in some way. You'll not only laugh at the wonderful stories about growing up, but it might take you back to a time that was much easier and simpler. Also, a ton of photographs (some never before seen) adorn the pages of his wonderful book, which help to accentuate the memories.

As a side note... Ricci actually started this as a secret project for his mom. He found that she had so many photographs laying around in boxes and in drawers, and wanted to preserve them for her, as well as his own daughters and other family members. From there, it kept growing , and we now are fortunate have a little bit of history that Ricci has allowed everyone to share in.

As chairman of the current 'Dean Martin Fan Center', and someone who was actually there at NBC, during those years that Dean was doing his weekly television series, I was finally able to see if the Dean Martin that I knew was the same Dean Martin who went home every night. I can certainly say that this book is in a class all it's own, and I am very picky about what I will recommend. I give "That's Amore - A Son Remembers Dean Martin" FIVE STARS PLUS... I can't say enough about this book! THIS IS A MUST HAVE! ....

This book is written by Dean's son from his second marriage, Ricci. Simply because Ricci was born later in Dean's life, it doesn't cover as much about Dean as I would like. What is covered is the life Ricci had with his parents and siblings, four of whom were from Dean's first wife and who had seen little of their father for a number of years before he took custody. I am happy to know that Ricci has mostly good things to say about his dad, but his was a different experience then the one his four half siblings had with their dad. You have to read Dina Martin's book also to get a more balanced view of Dean as a parent. There were lengthy descriptions of Ricci's toys and exploits that really didn't involve his father at all and for me, could have be left out of the book.

This book was a great read. Ricci Martin worte a great book on a beloved man, his DAD, and I am sure Dean is very happy with this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I felt that it was honestly written and I could actually get a sense of what it was like to be one of Dean Martin's children. I always knew that Dean Martin was a loving, nurturing and caring father and this book just reaffirmed that for me. Thanks to Ricci for doing a WONDERFUL job with allowing his readers to share in his memories with his famous Dad. After reading this book, it is very apparent to me that Dean Martin was the complete package: a GREAT entertainer, singer and movie star, and above all else a wonderful person and loving and caring father. He really was the type of person that he depicted and the person that we welcomed into our living rooms every Thursday night and with every opportunity we had to watch him on TV. Thanks Ricci for writing this book and making it one in which WE ALL REMEMBER.

Susan D. Fong - A Faithful Dean Martin Fan For Life

The new Ricci Martin book arrived yesterday and I read it in two highly enjoyable sittings. It's nicely organized and well-written. Best of all, the glimpses it provides into the life of Dean Martin, the family man, reveal an extremely likable guy. There is a note of sadness running through this story, though, partly the result of the sharp contrast between the flamboyant, man-about-town image on stage and the 'father know's best' reality of homelife. It's touching as well to read about the loving family relationships that endured, first divorce, and then the tragic loss of Dean-Paul. In short, an affecting portrayal of a great entertainer and a loving father. Highly recommended to Dino fans for the anecdotes and pictures alike.