Another book misses the point

Subject: Another book misses the point
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 12:25 PM

I was looking at a list of upcoming books this morning, and ran across this:
Positively Fourth Street by David Hajdu (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, June 2001) "The story of how four young Bohemians on the make, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Mimi Baez and Richard Farina, converged in Greenwich Village, fell in love, and invented a sound and style that is one of the most lasting legacies of the 1960's." Hrmph.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 12:58 PM

Blurbs like this are usually written by someone in the marketing department of the publisher. They are designed to attract the widest possible audience. Like movie trailers, they often distort the intent of the author/director. Don't assume the author would have summarized his own book the same way. He may be more outraged than you are.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 12:58 PM

Need to know more, Hollowfox. In what way do you think this misses the point? Which point?

Alex

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Les from Hull
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:12 PM

I don't think any of them were from the Czech Republic. Perhaps the publisher meant bohemians (note no capital letter).

Les

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: catspaw49
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:27 PM

'Fox can defend herself here, but that kind of "promo" makes me want to give it a pass. If it's accurate, that's even worse. I CAN assure you I will skim it at the library rather than buy it. If it appears to be what they say, it won't be at the top of my reading list.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:39 PM

Misses what point? I don't understand this at all. Sheesh.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 01:58 PM

This sounds classic. I'm reminded of the versions that the TV series The Comic Strip did of Arthur Scargill and the Miners' Strike, or Ken Livingstone and the GLC.

Can't wait to see the movie. Too bad we stilpl haven't gopt a young Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney to play Joan and Bob...But better still maybe - cast it with the Muppets.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:11 PM

'Thief, some weeks ago, on the thread where folks were trying to get Sandy Paton to write his autobiography, I griped that all the books I'd seen on the post WW II folk scene (with one exception) didn't Get It. Phrases like "Bohemians on the make" (the blurb's capitalization, not mine)lead me to believe that this book will probably give a skewed picture as well.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:14 PM

McGrath, that sounds better than my vision of the movie version - something between Reefer Madness and Network.

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Amos
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:28 PM

Well, as an occasional if marginal participant in the Washington Square to Newport to North Beach circuit in that period, I can attest that "bohemians on the make" is pretty accurate characterization for a significant percentage of the cases I saw, including, maybe even, Bob and Joanie; at least Bob. Just listen to the music of the period that he wrote. "Whadda we need to make the country growww?" :>)

At least it applied to me and my friends!

A

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Midchuck
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 02:56 PM

But, Hollowfox, the 60s folk boom at its peak was something between Reefer Madness and Network!

Peter

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: Robo
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 12:21 AM

What ever happened to "don't judge a book by its cover"?

typos can happen.

Rob-o

Subject: RE: Another book misses the point
From: mousethief
Date: 04 Apr 01 - 02:26 AM

Thanks for the explain!

Alex