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Rose Mary Stiffin PhD
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Groovin' on the Half Shell: The Biography of Bluesman Carl Murray Paperback – Large Print, May 2, 2014

by Rose Mary Stiffin PhD (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings
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Carl Murray came to Memphis with his bride Gertrude, his dreams, and The Plan. With his voice, he would become an award – winning blues singer. His perfect marriage met with tragedy when he and Gertrude failed to accomplish their personal goal of being parents. Enter Jessamae Freeman. Single, easy on the eye, and interested. Any other man would have had the affair and be done with it. Not Carl Murray. Groovin’ on the Half-shell is Rose Mary Stiffin’s unforgettable novel of a man who shocked society and broke the laws of decency by not only falling in love with Jessamae but taking his mistress into the bosom of his home.
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  1. Print length
    174 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    May 2, 2014
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.44 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1494965534
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1494965532
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Large Print edition (May 2, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 174 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1494965534
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1494965532
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.3 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.44 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 7 ratings

About the author

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Rose Mary Stiffin PhD

Rose Mary Stiffin PhD

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Rose Mary Stiffin, PhD

Biographical Sketch

I was raised and educated in Indianola, Mississippi, notably the Delta hometown of the blues legend, BB King. I received my Bachelor of Art degree in Chemistry from Mississippi Valley State University (1974), my Master of Science degree in Organic Chemistry from Mississippi State University (1981), and my PhD (Biochemistry) from the University of Tennessee in Memphis (1995). I did my post-doctoral work at the world-famous hospital, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Currently, I am the Chair of the Division of Health and Natural Sciences at Florida Memorial University, a small HBCU located in Miami Gardens.

I have written several short stories and had some of them published in the Imagine literary magazine. I have also been published in the Algonquin Quarterly (“The Water Buffalo and Pink Flamingo”) and in an anthology For Your Eyes Only (“Casino Blues”). Walk in Bethel is my first novel. Reflections is my second. I am working on a third, called Groovin’ on the Half-shell.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • KB Schaller
    5.0 out of 5 stars It's love at first sight for Carl when he meets his ...
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Groovin' on the Half Shell by critically acclaimed novelist Rose Mary Stiffin PhD, chronicles the character Carl Murray's rise from humble beginnings in the 1950s South to the top of the music world. He can be called an ethical egoist as well as an egotist, but these are qualities that enable him to present himself without the reticence the average white person of his day would expect from a young black man.These qualities also contribute to his rise to the top as a Grammy award-winning bluesman.

    It's love at first sight for Carl when he meets his high school sweetheart Gertrude at age 17. Both remain chaste until their marriage several years later, consistent with the values of the times. They are desperate to begin a family, but a series of miscarriages prevent them from achieving this.

    Carl's inability to say "no" to himself is part of his self-perceived honesty when he meets and falls equally in love with his mistress, resulting in a pregnancy. This leads to a multifaceted, multifarious relationship between Carl and the two women. Carl never perceives his actions as either right or wrong, and could not care less what his family and society think

    I gave it 5 stars for Ms. Stiffin's brilliant rendering of her "sister wives" storyline, through unorthodox characters and powerful, realistic dialogue. Groovin' is sure to stimulate much discussion and debate.
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  • pooh30cheryl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Re-defining love
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The book makes you think: Can a person really love two people so deeply as to bring them together under one roof with minimal conflict?
    This is a great, quick summer read (read in 1 day) that is entertaining. I would recommend to all book clubs as the discussion will be lively as people discuss their feelings about the book!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Stocker
    4.0 out of 5 stars Attention grabber
    Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2017
    I enjoyed reading this. The author writes well and gives you a clear description of each character. I recommend reading this.
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  • Barscoinc
    5.0 out of 5 stars A dynamic threesome tests the limits.....
    Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2015
    Groovin’ on the Half Shell
    Rose Mary Stiffin

    Review by Barbara Bamberger Scott

    Thought-provoking!

    “Does it concern you at all that your life is so unorthodox? The only thing that bothers me about the whole thing is that to me it’s not unorthodox at all.” In an interview with his biographer, blues musician Carl Murray tells all. Thereon hangs a fascinating, amusing, and passionate novel about a man, two women, and a most unusual triangle.

    In high school boy (Carl) meets girl (Gertrude) and falls forever in love. Later, he travels here and there trying to scratch out a living as a relatively unknown musician, leaving his beloved wife Gert, as he calls her, to maintain he homefront. On one such jaunt, boy meets second girl (Jessamae). And falls in love. But is it forever?

    When an oyster makes a pearl, it is because a grain of sand gets in the shell and becomes an irritant, around which layers of protection grow, little by little. The irritant for Carl and Gert was that she cannot have children; time after time she becomes pregnant, and time after time, miscarries. The disappointment they feel is mutual, and runs deep. But Jessamae has no problem at all having babies, and falls pregnant with Carl’s child not long after their first liaison. How will this irritant affect Carl and Gert? Surprisingly, Gert decides on a most unusual solution: acceptance. Loving him so much, knowing that his love for her is secure, she lets Jessamae into their life, literally. The “other woman” moves in, and the two women share Carl equally. Day by day, and child by child. This seemingly ideal solution suits them fine, but it naturally incites the rumor mill, especially as Carl’s fame grows, perhaps peaking with his big hit that no doubt refers to his unusually open marriage—“Split My Love.”

    Written by Rose Mary Stiffin, an author (Walk in Bethel, Reflections)with a PhD in chemistry who obviously understands a lot about human chemistry, Groovin’ on the Half Shell is full of surprises. Examining black on black, white on black prejudice at multiple levels, it also includes a Jewish biographer; the lawyer who helps Carl see The Plan through; and his gay lover for yet another subtle layer of societal bias, and another way for Stiffin to shine a light, with empathy, on the foibles and fancies of human love that can, if given a chance, conquer everything – except death.

    With a layered plot, engaging characters and a multifaceted look at relationships from without and within, Groovin’ on the Half Shell comes off as a fictional real life story about people as ordinary as you and me, acting in extraordinary ways, in defiance of society’s rules, to please themselves and influence others in a positive way.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Peach
    5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful read!
    Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2017
    I just finished Groovin’ On The Half Shell by Rose Mary Stiffin, PhD. The story focuses primarily on fictional Blues Singer, Carl Murray and his unorthodox family life throughout the rise of his career. I won’t give any spoilers, but Carl is a talented singer who works hard to provide for himself and his extended family. He is also a loving companion who finds a unique solution to the love triangle that he finds himself a part of.

    The story is told from multiple points of view. I especially enjoyed the Biographer and Carl himself. The story begins in the American South during the Civil Rights era but spans multiple eras and generations seamlessly. The feel and tone of the book is like sitting on the front porch with a friend in the evening, drinking tea and enjoying a gentle breeze.

    Rose’s characters come alive with dialogue that is clever and witty. Very engaging and highly recommended
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  • Jajing
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very Different Biography
    Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2014
    A Very Different Biography in that in most biographies, the subject's life is written in the third person with the author offering previously unknown or little known snippets of the his/her life. Such snippets enable us to understand more fully the life of the individual. In this biography, the life of Carl Murray is told in the first person perspective by each of the characters that have interacted with him. Very refreshing read and unique considering most biographies follow the same plot line. A good read to spend an afternoon with learning about Carl Murray. A previous reviewer was spot on about the relationship between 3 of the characters.
    One person found this helpful
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  • ale
    5.0 out of 5 stars Could not put it down.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2014
    This story shocks you with its (at first glance) infuriating and implausible turn of events in a post women rights society but the characters and the unique way they choose to piece together their strange family become more believable as the author takes us deeper into their psyche and emotional core.
    One person found this helpful
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