Product Description

Ricci Martin takes readers on a tour through his childhood, from the star-studded parties to the exploration of three marriages, eight kids, one family, to the treasured one-on-one time he shared with his father.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111572 in Books
• Published on: 2004-12-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781589791404
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
Celebrity-watchers keep tabloids in business hoping to catch a glimpse of the "real" side of favorite movie stars. This scattershot memoir by Dean Martin's youngest son proves that sometimes the image on the screen is a lot more colorful than the father who comes home and enjoys a slice of bread before dinner. Martin's affectionate, innocuous and slightly dull book of memories will be a treat only for true Dino fans, affording them an intimate look at the performer at home. The anecdotes have an "I guess you had to be there" flavor ("One of Dad's favorite jokes, which he would pull when we went out to dinner, was to be having a conversation and absent-mindedly butter his big hands as if they were pieces of bread") that should appeal to those who enjoy the humor in Reader's Digest. The younger Martin's focus is strictly Dino-as-Dad, with very few peeks into his father's work on screen or in the recording studio. Life at 601 Mountain Drive was pretty idyllic, with parents who didn't mind their kids shooting guns inside the house and who were blas‚ when older son Dean Paul bought a tank. The latter part of the book is sparked to life by a too-close-for-comfort association with Charles Manson and the tragic fatal plane crash of Dean Paul, which precipitated Dino's health deterioration. More than 100 b&w photos. (Feb.)Forecast: Those looking for a companion to Nick Tosches's definitive Dino: High Living in the Dirty Business of Dreams (1992) won't find much juice here.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Very entertaining read, like spending time with the family
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!

Great reading
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.

A tribute to Dean and also a nod to old Hollywood
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.