Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Can't Wait Wednesday (255)


Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Wishful Endings to spotlight highly anticipated books.  It is based on the Waiting on Wednesday meme which used to be hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.



FROM GOODREADS: Formerly Known As profoundly changes what we know about a global star whose talents humbled other celebrities, and who ruthlessly controlled his own image and career, purposely muddying the murky waters of his own fractured life to keep attention focused on his music--not the man--and whom everyone wanted to know.

Neal Karlen was the only journalist Prince granted in-depth press interviews to for over a dozen years, from before Purple Rain to when the artist changed his name to an unpronounceable glyph. Karlen interviewed Prince for three Rolling Stone cover stories, wrote "3 Chains o' Gold," Prince's "rock video opera," as well as the rock star's last testament, which is claimed to be buried with Prince's will underneath Paisley Park's vast acreage.

According to Prince's former fianc�e Susannah Melvoin, Karlen was "the only reporter who made Prince sound like what he really sounded like." Karlen quit writing about Prince a quarter-century before the mega-star died, but he never quit Prince, and the two remained confidantes for the last thirty-one years of the superstar's life.

Indeed, Prince and Karlen had known each other years before (the reporter's grandparents lived two blocks from Prince in North Minneapolis, ) as two of the gang of Minneapolis kids who biked around the neighborhood and played basketball. Karlen says that not only can fans not understand Prince without understanding Minneapolis in the '70s, but that even his best friends knew only 15% of him: that was all he was willing to give, no matter how much he cared for them.

Going back to Prince Rogers Nelson's roots, especially his contradictory often tortured, and sometimes violent relationship with his father, Formerly Known As explains the star as no biography has: a superstar who calls in the middle of the night to talk, who loved The Wire and could quote from every episode of The Office, who frequented libraries and jammed spontaneously for local crowds (and fed everyone pancakes afterward), who was lonely but craved being alone. Readers will drive around Minneapolis with Prince in a convertible, talk about movies and music and life, and watch as he tries not to curse (and instead dishes a healthy dose of "mamma jammas").

WHY I CAN'T WAIT:  April has come to mean a lot of things for me.  This April has turned into a nightmare for so much of the world and I'm constantly worrying about everyone.  Last April we lost Booker T.  And then 4 years ago we lost Prince, whom everyone who visits here knows hit me hard. (sad story, Booker T actually died on the same day last year and I was so distraught it took me 9 months to realize it.

So I'm thrilled that there are still new books coming out.  This one seems to have a more personal side to it as it will delve into some of his favorite shows and the fact that he loved visiting local libraries.

CASSIUS'S PICK:

FROM GOOREADS:  A delightfully quirky, cute, and funny guide to horoscopes told through adorable dog photographs.
With the help of a collection of sweet and hilarious dog pictures, DOGSTROLOGY will unlock all the secrets of the stars that you need to know, including:

- Each of the signs at their best and worst (and the perfect pup to illustrate them)
- The common traits of each element and modality in the zodiac
- What do you and your "sister sign" have in common? Find out, with the perfect dog photo to complement it.
- And of course: the right dog for you, based on your star sign!

WHY CASS CAN'T WAIT:  This is already out.  It seems like people everywhere are waiting on all kinds of things - good news, word about loved ones, for things to start looking up.  I wanted to share a book that sound cute and quirky and one where people can enjoy it in the here and now. 

CASS AND APOLLO SAY STAY SAFE FRIENDS!

37 comments:

  1. Nice pick, I know how much you like your Prince books. Especially one with a more personal side.

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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    1. Yea and I think the cover of this one is especially great.

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  2. Oh wow, I can't believe it's been a year since you lost Booker T!😥 Ugh, sounds like April is just a tough month. I hope this one is better for you. I love the sound of Dogstrology😁

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    1. Yea and it doesn't look like this one will be much easier right?

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  3. Two interesting books. I hope you enjoy them.

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  4. I didn’t know about Formally Known As. It sounds like it will be a good one. So does Dogstrology.

    My CWW

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  5. Dogstrology looks really cute. Sending you good thoughts this April. Stay safe <3

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  6. What an especially sad coincidence! It makes the month even harder, I imagine (not to mention this April and what we are dealing with). I've always had so much respect for Prince. I hope this biography does him justice. Dogstrology sounds so cute and fun! Thank you for sharing! Take care, Barb. Stay safe and well.

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    1. There's been so many written. So far my fave has still been the one written by Mayte. And it was the one I thought I'd hate the most.

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  7. I was a huge fan of Prince as well. One of the best concerts I ever attended. This sounds like a very good book with a lot of things maybe we don't already know. And the dogstrology seems important for our dogs to find their matches. :-) Thanks for visiting Lisa Loves Literature earlier!

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    1. That's awesome that you got to see him in concert. I always want to!

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  8. Awesome. I miss his music. I mean it's still there but still... and I like that bit about having to understand Minneapolis in the 70's to really understand him. we are such a product of where we're from , aren't we??

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    1. I wish they release some more of his stuff that is in the vault.

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  9. Oh wow, what a relationship Prince and Karlen had. That is going to be such a good read, Barb, i am seriously looking forward to your review of it already!

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    1. Thanks. I hope it's as good as it sounds.

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  10. A book about Prince? Sounds perfect! My wishlist just grew a bit *smile* Thanks for sharing and happy reading. Stay safe and well.

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  11. Aww, I love the cover of Dogstrology! It’s so cute! I hope you enjoy these!

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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  12. I love the idea of Dogstrology. Thanks for sharing! :)

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    1. I should have posted it but they also have one for cats.

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  13. It certainly is a strange time isn't it. I'm also worrying about people and books are a good distraction.
    Lynn :D

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    1. Yep, books, tv, coffee and music are my life right now.

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  14. Prince was always a favorite singer of mine. It was sad, he died way too early.

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    1. Yes he did. Just say on Chuckles site how bad your week has been going. I'm sending prayers your way!

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  15. I like the way Cass looks at things. This sounds like the perfect time to dive in and forget about waiting.

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  16. Umm, I would think by now you should know everything there is to know about Prince! ;)

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  17. I can't believe it's a full year that Booker T has been gone. It only feels like a few months ago that you were sharing the bad news. I can't believe it was the same day as Prince-I didn't register it. Hug Cass and Apollo that wee bit harder for some measure of comfort. I'm in a state of anxiety all the time and I won't let my dad go further than our garden and the car. If we need the shops, I go and I'm taking full precautions. Stay safe at The Farm.

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    1. Yea, you can see it took me a while to register it as well. We still mention him daily and Mr. Barb has been showing Apollo pictures of his big brother. I'm glad Cass has a new brother but I can't imagine how much he probably still misses T. You guys stay safe as well.

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  18. Dogstrology looks fantastic, I definitely have to check that out!

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  19. The Prince book sounds really good. And I love the picture of the Basset on the cover of the dogstrology book. It sounds like it will be a fun read. Hope you get to read the books soon! Stay safe as well.

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  20. I definitely need to read the Prince book! I love biographies by people who know the person personally, and go back a long time. I'm sure you'll be nabbing it hot off the presses! 💜 It's very sentimental they passed on the same day.

    Dogstology sounds like a lot of fun. I'll have to look for it on Hoopla. Thanks for the heads up. 👍✨

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