Joseph S. BonsallBesprekingen

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Usually a captivating writer, this time Bonsall slips a bit. While he adds some interesting tidbits about life on the road he tends to get a bit preachy. Still a good read.

There is no greater love than when a child honors his parents, and in G.I. Joe & Lillie, Oak Ridge Boys tenor Joseph S. Bonsall pays a beautiful tribute to his parents Joe and Lillie Bonsall with a beautifully written memoir as a testament of their true love for each other.

G.I. Joe and Lillie's love story begins when they are called to duty in World War II. Joe was a street kid from Philly and Lillie was a farmer's daughter from Roanoke Rapids, NC. Both had a difficult childhood and left high school in the 9th grade, and both had a desire to help the war effort in the best way that they could. Joe & Lillie's journey began in May 1943, when at the age of eighteen, Joe enlisted in the Army, while Lillie left home in 1943 at the age of sixteen and worked in a defense plant in Michigan before joining the Women's Army Corps. (WAC) at the age of seventeen in August 1944. These two young people met, fell in love, married, and served their nation in the armed forces. They had a special marriage that spanned fifty-five years, one that was based on love, faith, loyalty, commitment, and dedication to each other, no matter what trials and tribulations that they faced through the years.

Since his childhood, Author Joe Bonsall has been fascinated with the idiosyncrasies of war, so in addition to sharing G.I. Joe and Lillie's story with the reader, he interweaves a richly descriptive and historical account of World War II, with photos interspersed throughout the book.

G.I. Joe & Lillie is an inspirational and compelling memoir that documents the lives of two American heroes, their love, and the memories that will remain forever in the author and his family's heart. You can't help but feel the patriotism and pride that runs throughout the story, and feel the enduring love and deep family values that kept G.I Joe & Lillie's marriage going throughout the years. This lovely memoir will make the reader pause and consider what our military personnel go through as they serve overseas, and the serious trauma and other effects (PTSD) that they face when they come home, and how their families provide the love, support, and perseverance to help them get through it with dignity, honor, and grace.

G.I. Joe & Lillie is an emotional memoir that will tug at the heartstrings and stir the soul.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/05/gi-joe-lillie-by-joseph-s-bons...

Every once in a while I come across a book that completely captivates me, currently that book is On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys by author / ORB tenor Joseph S. Bonsall!

As a longtime ORB fan, I couldn't help but get excited to read the behind the scenes memoir of the magical musical journey that this band has embarked on for the past 40+ years. From their humbled beginnings as a gospel group to transitioning into a phenomenally successful country music group, the Oak Ridge Boys: Duane Allen (lead), Joe Bonsall (tenor), William Lee Golden (baritone) and Richard Sterban (bass) have always based their successful career on their faith and love for God, family, country, and singing harmony together.

Author Joe Bonsall takes the reader on a wonderful journey as he recounts how the Oak Ridge Boys have lived out their dreams (and continue to do so today) from their gospel quartet roots founded in the 1940s, and how the current members (1960s - present) transitioned into the mainstream country music genre with their first big hit "Y'all Come Back Saloon (my all-time favorite ORB song!) in 1977, to becoming a major household name with the wildly popular "Elvira" in 1981, that made song history when it went viral with a crossover into the pop charts.

Joe provides the reader with a little history of each of the members' lives, and how they came to join the Oak Ridge Boys. You can't help but feel the brotherhood that was formed between these four men, each of them live by the unwritten and unspoken ORB Doctrine that has been a major part of their long-term success: keep egos in check, make few demands, treat people right, be humble, be respectful, work hard, fulfill obligations, be honest and have integrity, go the extra mile, have a good relationship with promoters, venues, the music industry, and fans, and most of all love what you do. Each member of the Oak Ridge Boys brings something different to the group, and when you add it all together, you get a very successful phenomenon that continues to be very relevant in the country music industry today!

This memoir is jammed packed with memorable moments in their 40+ year career: from their first concert together in Cincinnati, Ohio in October 1973, to being on the road with their Mighty Oaks band and hosting concert dates from "everywhere" USA across the years, to their recent induction into the prestigious Country Music Hall of Fame in October 2015 (which is well deserved and was a long time coming in my eyes!), the Oak Ridge Boys continue to bring their special kind of musical magic to their fans at each and every concert. As quoted by lead singer Duane Allen: "Every song has a story, and three minutes of magic," and this my friends is the essence of the group, for their love of gospel and country is passed on to their concert goers in a ninety minute family-oriented concert that is pure Americana at its best!

There is so much more that is included in this inspirational and delightful memoir, but you really need to read this book to get a full appreciation of just how special this group really is. But I will leave you with a tantalizing tidbit to whet your appetite: included is a wonderful array of pictures of the ORB throughout the years, a complete discography and list of awards, and a fun ORB Trivia that every fan will enjoy.

On The Road With The Oak Ridge Boys is an amazing memoir that is a must read for every ORB, gospel, and country music fan!

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2016/04/on-road-with-oak-ridge-boys-by...

This was a recent find and I got an added Bonus its a signed Copy! The story was very captivating!

I do not enjoy reading books about the Gulf War or the current wars with Iraq or Afghanistan. That said, I really enjoyed reading this book. The short stories are excellent! Far fetched? Yes. That is why it is called Christmas Miracles. While this is a work of fiction, those that truly believe in miracles know that anything is possible. Be prepared to cry while reading this book. Most of these stories are tear-jerkers.

Thank you, Joe (may I call you Joe?) for another well written, entertaining book. You have a very special and God given talent. Thank you for sharing it with us.

After reading this book I feel as if I know G.I. Joe and Lillie personally. Bonsall's writing is so crisp and riveting that I could not put this book down. Suddenly, I was there on Utah Beach with G. I. Joe. I spotted him at the hospital at he same time Lillie did, and I fell in love with the sassy hero along with Lillie. Their struggles were my struggles, their victories were mine. I was taken back in time to when Joe and Lillie were children and I felt their pain and uncertainty.

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Joe Bonsall, tenor or the Oak Ridge Boys, has proven that his talent lies far beyond the country music stage. He does as well, if not better (and that is saying a lot) with a pen as he does with a microphone. I hope if he ever decides to retire from his singing career he will continue to write, for adults as well as children. There are very few authors that can take me away and put me into the lives of the people he/ she is writing about, causing me to see the world through their eyes.

Thank you Joe, for sharing the wonderful story of G.I. Joe and Lillie.

What a wonderful book! And what a blessing! In most of the stories I am right there beside "little Joey" seeing his old Philly neighborhood through the the eyes of a young boy who wanted to go places, but had no idea the wondrous places he would go. Bonsall paints such a wonderful picture with his words that I feel as if his experiences are my own. I ride with him on the tractor clearing the fields that have flooded yet again. I pet the tiny frightened barn swallow named Barney (yes Joe, I get it) and worry about the poor thing, hoping it will be ok. Bonsall is an amazing storyteller. It isn't often I can read a book and drift away so that is seems I am no longer reading but that I have actually experienced what has been written. In the story about the fellow author at the Washington Press Club who asked Joe the subject matter of his latest book.....Joe said "I have talking cats..." I started out smiling but it soon erupted into a loud guffaw, getting me some strange looks from everyone else in my workplace break room. As a long time Oak Ridge Boys fan, I could picture Joe saying those words with a straight face and a twinkle in his eyes. "A Lazy Moon" brought tears to my eyes and made me miss my mom even more. And now I can picture mom standing with Lillie and watching over their children; such different lives but the same empty spot in their hearts since their mothers have left their lives. When I finally put the book down, it took a moment to realize where I was and that I was experiencing this through someone else's eyes, not my own. This is a book that I will save and read again and again. This is certainly a 5 star book!