Rating: 
Summary: Pass This One By
Review: Having read just about every Springsteen book I've come across in the last 10 years or so, I've got to say that Sanford's Point Blank is hands down the least redeeming of the bunch. Rather than ramble on endlessly (as Sanford tends to do) let me just sum it up this way: first, this book offers no information that even the most fair-weather Springsteen fan wouldn't already know. Second, Sanford's prose is, at best, ill-developed, sloppy and over-written, as if he's trying to squeeze every fancy adjective he's ever heard into the very same sentence. At worst, it bounces around and runs on and on to the point of being unreadable. (And given that Bruce has made a career out of writing for "every man", as it were, with both economy and accessibility, Sanford's style seems in direct contradiction to the man he's writing about and the fans who will likely buy this book.) In short, even if Bruce were a raving ego-maniac (which I sincerely doubt he is) HE would find it nearly impossible to make his way through this book. On that note, the Dave Marsh volumes "Glory Days" and "Thunder Road" manage to reveal more of Springsteen's myth, legend, and reality in the first couple pages than Sanford does in an entire book. Spend your money on those, if you want, but take a pass on Point Blank.
Rating: 
Summary: You need a literacy degree to decipher this one!
Review: I have read several works about Bruce, like Marsh's and Cross' books and was eager to read a book that went from "beginning to now", so to speak. I grew up on the Jersey shore (Seaside Park)in the 60's and 70's, so I have a feel for what "went down" in those days. Therefore, I feel I have a good backround to comment.The book has a great deal of information contained within, but I have a hard time believing the author when he tries to convey what Bruce was thinking at certain times in his life. How the hell would he know? To include quotes from Bruce is one thing, but to make assumptions about what the man was thinking is a little "out there" for me. Then there is the "literacy" thing. The author goes well beyond the normal english language (at least for this Jersey guy). This type of writing makes it very hard to read the book and follow whatever it is the author is trying to say with his long winded, see-if-you-can-decipher-this style. Example: pg. 224 Plato called songs `spells for souls for the creation of concord'; at best, Springsteen's slogans were balm to a republic polarized by bebt. (this means what?) For $15. I guess it's worth the cash, just be prepared to ask yourself over and over, "what the hell did that mean"? KEEP ROCKIN BRUCE!
Rating:
Summary: You need a literacy degree to decipher this one!
Review: I have read several works about Bruce, like Marsh's and Cross' books and was eager to read a book that went from "beginning to now", so to speak. I grew up on the Jersey shore (Seaside Park)in the 60's and 70's, so I have a feel for what "went down" in those days. Therefore, I feel I have a good backround to comment. The book has a great deal of information contained within, but I have a hard time believing the author when he tries to convey what Bruce was thinking at certain times in his life. How the hell would he know? To include quotes from Bruce is one thing, but to make assumptions about what the man was thinking is a little "out there" for me. Then there is the "literacy" thing. The author goes well beyond the normal english language (at least for this Jersey guy). This type of writing makes it very hard to read the book and follow whatever it is the author is trying to say with his long winded, see-if-you-can-decipher-this style. Example: pg. 224 Plato called songs `spells for souls for the creation of concord'; at best, Springsteen's slogans were balm to a republic polarized by bebt. (this means what?) For $15. I guess it's worth the cash, just be prepared to ask yourself over and over, "what the hell did that mean"? KEEP ROCKIN BRUCE!
Rating:
Summary: You need a literacy degree to decipher this one!
Review: I have read several works about Bruce, like Marsh's and Cross' books and was eager to read a book that went from "beginning to now", so to speak. I grew up on the Jersey shore (Seaside Park)in the 60's and 70's, so I have a feel for what "went down" in those days. Therefore, I feel I have a good backround to comment. The book has a great deal of information contained within, but I have a hard time believing the author when he tries to convey what Bruce was thinking at certain times in his life. How the hell would he know? To include quotes from Bruce is one thing, but to make assumptions about what the man was thinking is a little "out there" for me. Then there is the "literacy" thing. The author goes well beyond the normal english language (at least for this Jersey guy). This type of writing makes it very hard to read the book and follow whatever it is the author is trying to say with his long winded, see-if-you-can-decipher-this style. Example: pg. 224 Plato called songs `spells for souls for the creation of concord'; at best, Springsteen's slogans were balm to a republic polarized by bebt. (this means what?) For $15. I guess it's worth the cash, just be prepared to ask yourself over and over, "what the hell did that mean"? KEEP ROCKIN BRUCE!
Rating: 
Summary: brilliant book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is the most complete work today of the life, music and times of Springsteen. Sandford does an excellent job of illustrating how Springsteen's musical journey reflects his growth and personal development. The closing paragraph poetically reflects the theme carried on throughout: "Above all, Springsteen kept faith with both his conscience and his constituency. 'Rock can offer a transcendent moment of freedom,' he'd told fans. 'A promised land.' He let them glimpse it fleetingly through the fog." I found the writing incisive and extremely well crafted. However, it does make the reader think -- which may be the downside -- after reading several of the reviewers who imply that Springsteen hard core fans lack the capacity or ability to comprehend a complex sentence. I disagree!
Rating:
Summary: And the 1 Star is for the pictures
Review: It's a shame books can't come with "Hazardous to Your Health" warning labels for Springsteen fans. As nearly as I can figure, the author used as many anonymous sources as possible, and filled in the blanks with whatever information he could make up. He also obviously kept his Thesaurus close by so he could adhere to the adage: "If you can't dazzle them with facts, baffle them with BS." True Springsteen needn't waste their money unless they have been advised by their doctor to raise their blood pressure a couple points.
Rating: 
Summary: Blunder Road
Review: It's always good to read a Springsteen bio that counterbalances the worshipful works by Dave Marsh, whose objectivity is tainted by his family's long personal relationship with Bruce. On the up side, this is a warts and all portrait that offers information I haven't read elsewhere. It paints a fuller, more life-like picture than previous books. On the down side, the author is guilty of gross overwriting and sweeping generalizations. Where one word would do, he uses four or five. I suspect many readers will also have trouble decoding the "Britishisms" that litter every page. Another negative is the failure to grasp the culture of Asbury Park and Freehold in the 1950s and 1960s. I grew up in this area, a few years behind Bruce, knew this culture firsthand, and saw all his early bands (except the Castilles). The author alternates between being clueless and plain wrong. There were enough factual errors (e.g., Ocean County College is not on Hwy 9, the Stone Pony was not in existence during Bruce's scuffling club days) to make me question the accuracy of the balance of the book. In short, while this is an interesting addition to my rock-n-roll library, I'm still waiting for the definitive Springsteen biography.
Rating:
Summary: brilliant book
Review: Point Blank gets flamed by most of the Springsteen fans. The book doesn't deserve this. It is true, Sandford uses a lot of anonymous persons and it would be better if we knew who they are. Sandford doesn't paint a bad picture of Springsteen. The summary of the book could be: Springsteen ain't a saint, but he's a good and honest man who has come a long way to become what he is today. A must read for fans
Rating:
Summary: Misunderstood
Review: Point Blank gets flamed by most of the Springsteen fans. The book doesn't deserve this. It is true, Sandford uses a lot of anonymous persons and it would be better if we knew who they are. Sandford doesn't paint a bad picture of Springsteen. The summary of the book could be: Springsteen ain't a saint, but he's a good and honest man who has come a long way to become what he is today. A must read for fans
Rating:
Summary: DON'T BOTHER
Review: Reads like petty gossip. A true Bruce fan will enjoy Eric Alterman's "Ain't No Sin TO Be Glad You're Alive"
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