Rating: 
Summary: Depressing book
Review: Seven years after Stevie Ray's tragic death I was able to bring myself to finally pick up a biography to read something about his life. Unfortunately, this book was the one I found and bought. It is very average, but then again I didn't have very high expectations of these two writers. The information presented is very poorly structured and leaves a lot to be desired. The authors tend to flashback very often and in unnatural places that make the flow very uneven and annoying. I had more questions after reading this book than before I read it. I wouldn't buy this one. Just wait for an authorized biography to come out
Rating: 
Summary: Blues Oasis
Review: After much hype about this book, Caught in the Crossfire, I had to see for myself. I received this book as a gift and immediately picked it up to read it. I read 7 chapters in the first night. Being an avid fan and well-read on Stevie and the blues, I was expecting to find something wrong or at least something to contradict what I had read before. Not in this book. One can see the research that Patoski put into this book and how much he cared about his work. Patoski documented Stevie's life from the time he was born until the time of death. He included everything; the good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, isn't that what life is all about? And isn't Stevie and his music about life? Patoski showed the reader that although Stevie was in a battle against himself, he also gave the optimistic feeling that Stevie would one day realize his problems and fix them. This gives the reader a feeling of hope, as in real life. Caught in the Crossfire documents Stevie's childhood, his pain of being made fun of at school by the other kids, his constant living in brother, Jimmie's, shadow until later, his alcohol/drug abuse, and his triumph over his personal demons. Although Stevie went through so many harsh things in life, this book shows Stevie's sweet nature and how it stayed through all his troubles. Although the book was great and the information was very accurate and precise, there were times when I thought I was reading pieces of poetry. Just one word here or a couple of words there that seemed a little too cliche or too expected. Possibly even overused. However, this didn't affect the way the book afflicted my soul. Near the end, the author just tends to use the right way of wording and touch the reader's heart, almost as if one was feeling Stevie Ray right there reading along with them, giving them a Blues Oasis which will quench their soul.
Rating:
Summary: Blues Oasis
Review: After much hype about this book, Caught in the Crossfire, I had to see for myself. I received this book as a gift and immediately picked it up to read it. I read 7 chapters in the first night. Being an avid fan and well-read on Stevie and the blues, I was expecting to find something wrong or at least something to contradict what I had read before. Not in this book. One can see the research that Patoski put into this book and how much he cared about his work. Patoski documented Stevie's life from the time he was born until the time of death. He included everything; the good, the bad, and the ugly. After all, isn't that what life is all about? And isn't Stevie and his music about life? Patoski showed the reader that although Stevie was in a battle against himself, he also gave the optimistic feeling that Stevie would one day realize his problems and fix them. This gives the reader a feeling of hope, as in real life. Caught in the Crossfire documents Stevie's childhood, his pain of being made fun of at school by the other kids, his constant living in brother, Jimmie's, shadow until later, his alcohol/drug abuse, and his triumph over his personal demons. Although Stevie went through so many harsh things in life, this book shows Stevie's sweet nature and how it stayed through all his troubles. Although the book was great and the information was very accurate and precise, there were times when I thought I was reading pieces of poetry. Just one word here or a couple of words there that seemed a little too cliche or too expected. Possibly even overused. However, this didn't affect the way the book afflicted my soul. Near the end, the author just tends to use the right way of wording and touch the reader's heart, almost as if one was feeling Stevie Ray right there reading along with them, giving them a Blues Oasis which will quench their soul.
Rating:
Summary: Mind-blowing; Everything there is to know
Review: Before I bought the book, I knew very little about SRV. Now, I know all about him. This book gives great insight into the mind and life of SRV. From being born to an alcoholic/abusive father in Oak Cliff, to his triumphant performance prior to his passing on. Everything there is to know about SRV is in this book. I can now make fans out of 12 year olds just by telling them a fraction, a small fraction, of what I know thanks to this book.
Rating:
Summary: Mind-blowing; Everything there is to know
Review: Before I bought the book, I knew very little about SRV. Now, I know all about him. This book gives great insight into the mind and life of SRV. From being born to an alcoholic/abusive father in Oak Cliff, to his triumphant performance prior to his passing on. Everything there is to know about SRV is in this book. I can now make fans out of 12 year olds just by telling them a fraction, a small fraction, of what I know thanks to this book.
Rating:
Summary: A must for any SRV fan
Review: Caught In The Crossfire is the definitive look at the life of the man who made blues music popular again. Here we are able to see the rise of Stevie Ray from a boyhood adimre of the blues legends, to becoming one and taking his place on stage next to them. You can actually feel his motivation for his music and admirie him even more. The authors takes us on the roller coster ride of Stevie Ray's addictions and recovery, right up to his tragic end. Once you start to read it, it is impossible to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Caught In The Crossfire
Review: For anyone who loves Stevie Ray Vaughan, this book is the best I have seen. Will fill in all the blanks and answer all your questions. A must read even for people who dont know who Stevie is. A few lessons of a true, Blues Legend....
Rating:
Summary: SRV was the man
Review: I first started listening to SRV when I was 19 and stationed in Texas. I became a big fan and was saddened when he past away so untimely. When this book came out I right away went out and bought it. I never really knew to much about his life or his personal problems, but you are able to find everything out here in this book. This biography doesnt leave out any of the sordid details of SRV life and his fight with drug dependency and how hard he struggled when he first started out. If you are a fan of SRV, I highly recommend that you run out and find this or order it from here. You will be able to see and learn everything about the man behind the legend
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: I picked up this book at a library and I couldn't put it down. I am very interested in Stevie Ray Vaughan, I love his music. This deffinetley deserves five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: An extremely in-depth synopsis. Well researched.
Review: I received Caught in the Crossfire as a gift, and I must admit I was skeptical at first. The ominous black cover featuring SRV's silouette seemed to serve as a warning of its content. I feared that the book would only undermine what every fan, indeed everyone who has ever heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan, already knows. That he was, for so long "caught" in a world of reckless drug abuse and alcoholism, but somehow managed to make it to the top. What I found was a biography, mostly matter-of-fact, which left no stone unturned in its research. Every friend, colleague, artist; famous or infamous, who impacted Stevie's career and tragically short life finds their way onto the pages of this work. The bibliography of interviews, while not necessarily reading as a "who's who" in the world of blues, includes individuals who were closest to the guitar legend throughout his life. Paramount of these is his own brother Jimmy. Though not mentioned in the list of exclusive interviews conducted for the book, Jimmy Lee Vaughan's influential guidance in the life of his younger brother is well documented by Patosky. As SRV's hero and kin, we learn where much of Stevie's love for blues music and guitar is rooted. Stevie's mentors in music, from blues legends Albert King and Albert Collins, to Jimi Hendrix and Bonnie Rait are uniquely enveloped in the carnival of ups and downs, triumphs and tragedys of his life. Though at times it tries to unnecessarily re-enact moments in an almost movie script-like format, Caught in the Crossfire is without question the most in depth biography to date of the life of one of the greatest guitar players of our time. It is very well written, and a must for any fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan's music.
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