Journal Entry 1 by innae from Aurora, Colorado USA on Monday, June 09, 2008

The Jefferson County Library's Baby Whale of a Sale was this weekend, and I picked up two "surprise" boxes - one of Adult fiction and one of vintage paperbacks -- it is such fun to go through them.

Published in March of 1975, this claims to be a true tale. I will be reading it soonly (which could mean a few years) and then offering this up as a ring. If anyone reads this and is interested, PM me, and I will try to get it read faster ;-) 

Journal Entry 2 by innae at Aurora, Colorado USA on Monday, July 04, 2011

I can't say this book was enjoyable, as it was a bit difficult to read about the woman who got caught up in making porn movies, and hooked on heroin, however it is well written and I liked reading it. I am hoping that Sheila and Jeff, whomever and wherever they might be found joy and happiness, and a long life.  

Journal Entry 3 by innae at Aurora, Colorado USA on Sunday, July 17, 2011

Ready to head out on a ray...hope to get it mailed off tomorrow (Monday)


romy86 (Australia)
amme1980 (UK)
okyrhoe (Greece)
JennyC1230 (US) <--- book is here Nov 2011
NMReader (US)
sunfi (US)
Skylerdragon (US)
ToXiCKiTTiKiSS (US)
LovesOU (US)
debbie4OSU (US)
mysticalzoe (US)
mellion108 (US)
 

Journal Entry 4 by innae at -- Controlled Releases --, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (7/20/2011 UTC) at -- Controlled Releases --, Western Australia Australia

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I can't remember exactly where in Australia the book is headed :( -- but it is on its way to romy86  

Journal Entry 5 by romy86 at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Monday, August 08, 2011

Arrived in the mail today - phew! Was getting a bit concerned about it! Looks good, am looking forward to reading it next!  

Journal Entry 6 by romy86 at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Saturday, August 20, 2011

This was a pretty good read. Supposedly a true story, though I didn't personally believe a word of it. I could see the situation happening, don't get me wrong, but I think this is an exploitation piece, and as such I found it an amusing and entertaining book. Goes a little too far at times (I'll just say "the dog", and leave it there!!!). I could be wrong, it could be entirely true, in which case I apologise a thousand times for being amused by it (I have a pretty black sense of humour at times!), but I tend to doubt as I looked everywhere online for info about the author and i could find nothing. In any rate an interesting bit of retro reading!
Have PM'ed Amme1980 for her address. 

Journal Entry 7 by romy86 at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Thursday, August 25, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (8/25/2011 UTC) at Perth, Western Australia Australia

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Sending this out to the UK for Amme1980 tomorrow!  

Journal Entry 8 by amme1980 at Llantwit Major, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, September 08, 2011

Hi there,
Thank you for sending this to me. It arrived safely a couple of days ago and I've already made a start. 

Journal Entry 9 by amme1980 at Llantwit Major, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Certainly was an interesting read. The story seemed unbelievable in parts but as the old adage goes 'the truth is often stranger than fiction'.
If it were true then I also hope that Sheila and Jeff are happy & well but must agree with Romy86 - the dog!!! 

Journal Entry 10 by amme1980 at Llantwit Major, Wales United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (10/4/2011 UTC) at Llantwit Major, Wales United Kingdom

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And on it goes - hope it finds you well. 

Journal Entry 11 by okyrhoe at Athens, Attica Greece on Monday, October 10, 2011

Arrived in Athens. Thanks innae for including me in the spiral, and amme1980 for posting the book to me! 

Journal Entry 12 by okyrhoe at Athens, Attica Greece on Wednesday, November 02, 2011

An engaging read, as an artifact of the mid-1970's (a period I have a keen interest in), but unfortunately the narrative failed to suspend my disbelief.
Whether the book was composed with the generous help of a ghostwriter (copyright is attributed to a "Lyle Kenyon Engel"), or if it was all a fiction, I cannot say for sure.

There were several instances where I felt "Sheila's" word choices, or a particular turn of phrase, dissuaded rather than convinced me of the authenticity of her persona.
And often I sensed a peculiar detachment, a disconnect between the narrative voice and the events being described. If "Sheila" was writing in 1975 about something that occured 5 or 10 years ago, I'd understand this distancing. But the references to Deep Throat & Last Tango In Paris place the memoir's time frame at 1972 at the earliest.

I "lost my faith" in the veracity of the narrative during the B-movie cliché scene involving the head matron at the women's prison:
"Carla Bedoya was out of uniform. Way out. She wore a fluffy, diaphanous lime-green night gown, trimmed in black lace. The lace matched her raven hair, which she had done to fall down her back. She had a soft, cafe au lait complexion, exquisite features, and incongruously gigantic tits...."

Despite this, I ended up taking notes to add to my informal "study" of 1970's pop-culture depictions of women's sexuality & empowerment (or lack thereof).  

Journal Entry 13 by okyrhoe at bookray, By Post -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (11/2/2011 UTC) at bookray, By Post -- Controlled Releases

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way by post to JennyC1230. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 14 by JennyC1230 at Woodstock, Georgia USA on Tuesday, November 08, 2011

This book looks interesting! It seems the reviews are mixed and most people are skeptical if it's a true story or not. I'm looking forward to reading this and passing it on to the next person. Thanks for sharing innae! 

Journal Entry 15 by JennyC1230 at Woodstock, Georgia USA on Tuesday, November 15, 2011

My Review: This was an interesting book, published in the early 1970's, it definitely embodied the darkness associated with drugs, porn and the mob. I didn't believe this was a true story, it reminded me of Go Ask Alice another supposedly true story of a young girl mixed up in drugs, alcohol and her life is slowly falling apart (it's not true). I did skim parts of the story when it became slow and plodding, but I'm glad I had the chance to read it.

Info on the author

I will send this to NMReader when I get their address. 

Journal Entry 16 by JennyC1230 at Woodstock, Georgia USA on Wednesday, February 22, 2012

I'm so sorry! This book fell through the cracks, I just found it in a pile of Available books! I have NMReader's address and I am mailing it tomorrow. So sorry it was misplaced for so long. 

Journal Entry 17 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Monday, March 05, 2012

It has arrived. I have a few books in front of this but will read as soon as possible

March 12: This is a home read book and I am about 1/3 of the way through it so far. I have a busy week with classes ahead of me and might not make very good progress.

I have been trying to contact the next person with no success. I have now sent a pm to the person after her on the list.

March 17: I am on the third person on the list, trying to contact someone still interested in this book. I am about 1/2 way through the book. 

Journal Entry 18 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Sunday, March 18, 2012

I finished the book today and in all honesty I can't say that I was convinced that this was a true story.  

Journal Entry 19 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Sunday, March 18, 2012

Released 1 yr ago (3/20/2012 UTC) at Herndon, Virginia USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I'll drop at the PO after work with a couple RABCKs 

Journal Entry 20 by ToXiCKiTTiKiSS at Temecula, California USA on Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Received today, and I will start it soon. Thanks!