What do you think?
Rate this book
Private Conversations in Neverland with Michael Jackson
An insightful journey into the friendship between Barney Van Valin, a rural farmland physician and music icon, Michael Jackson. You will read about the close friendship from their first meeting to the mysterious and sudden end of their conversations after five years. Michael spent countless hours away from the opulent Neverland Ranch inside the humble home of Dr. Van Valin sharing time with his family. The book takes you inside Neverland Ranch from the dinner table to the extravagant game room, carnival rides, theater, to sitting in bed watching movies with Michael Jackson and Elizabeth Taylor.
You will read of the absence of memorabilia in his home from gold records to photographs of world dignitaries and his candid view of such acknowledgements; the nightly menu at the Neverland dinner table; the origin of the Moon Walk dance; his curiosity of the deceased that had him at Barney's mother's death bed; Michael's ghost; mystery behind Billie Jean; and his candid opinion of his father, Joe, and mother, Katherine.
A must read for any Michael Jackson fan.
You will read of the absence of memorabilia in his home from gold records to photographs of world dignitaries and his candid view of such acknowledgements; the nightly menu at the Neverland dinner table; the origin of the Moon Walk dance; his curiosity of the deceased that had him at Barney's mother's death bed; Michael's ghost; mystery behind Billie Jean; and his candid opinion of his father, Joe, and mother, Katherine.
A must read for any Michael Jackson fan.
- GenresNonfiction
102 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 20, 2012
8 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 27, 2018
The story begins when Michael Jackson was looking for a local doctor who would make house calls and happened to find Dr. Van Valin's name in the local phone book. Michael paid a visit to the clinic and they bonded over their passion for antiques which led to Michael inviting Dr. Van Valin to the Neverland Ranch; it's a four-year-old tale of friendship between Barney (Dr. Van Valin) and his friend Michael.
I've seen this book around for 4 years but I, somehow, was never in rush to pick it up. Perhaps because I prefer to read academic and the books that focuses more on analyzing his magnificent art. However, I long to read such delightful books like Barney's whenever missing him becomes unbearable.
Now, what's so good about this book is the lack of dreadful commentaries by the author–that's rare because there are many good books on Michael that the terrible commentaries by the bitter authors ruined the beauty of the content (E.g The Michael Jackson Tapes and My Friend Michael).
Barney is sincere and genuinely cherishes the friendship that they've shared. Also, the connection that the author establishes with the reader adds to the journey.
The book cover is beautiful; it shows the gates of Neverland Ranch which suggests to the reader that when the book is opened, you will be granted a quick visit to the Ranch; it's smart and inviting.
The stories are divided into thirty anecdotes, each story takes up a page or barely two pages; they vary from fun and humorous to touching and reflecting.
The story that touched me the most is the one about Dave Dave (David Rothenberg) for it shows the depth of Michael's compassion and how far he's willing to go to ease other people's pain.
Although this is a very small book (91 pages) but it sheds a light into Michael's personality more than the other 500-page books out there. It shows his sense of humor, generosity, compassion, philosophy, fatherhood, intelligence, humility, wealth and strength.
Two things that this book proves that Michael never inflicted his pain on others. Although he was going through hell (during the trial) but he never inflicted his misery upon the Van Valin's family. He remained upbeat and handled his pain with grace like the champion that he was. And the testimony of Dr. Van Valin regarding the erroneous accusation with children:
This book actually debunks the horrendous theories that the media have been planting that Michael only struck friendship with adults to get to their kids. Wrong. Michael and Barney were almost always together late at night watching movies, going rendezvous, discussing antiques/books etc! Yes, there were fun times when they went for rides, ate snacks, played games and watched cartoons but that was only a little part comparing to the amount of times they spent discussing art and architecture. This proves yet again that Michael (DUH!) was perfectly capable of maintaining an adult friendship, not like what the media is trying to falsely paint.
All in all, it's intimate, sincere and delightful. A must have for any Michael Jackson fans and a must read for those who wants to simply see Michael Jackson-the human being beyond the remarkable artist.
I've seen this book around for 4 years but I, somehow, was never in rush to pick it up. Perhaps because I prefer to read academic and the books that focuses more on analyzing his magnificent art. However, I long to read such delightful books like Barney's whenever missing him becomes unbearable.
Now, what's so good about this book is the lack of dreadful commentaries by the author–that's rare because there are many good books on Michael that the terrible commentaries by the bitter authors ruined the beauty of the content (E.g The Michael Jackson Tapes and My Friend Michael).
Barney is sincere and genuinely cherishes the friendship that they've shared. Also, the connection that the author establishes with the reader adds to the journey.
The book cover is beautiful; it shows the gates of Neverland Ranch which suggests to the reader that when the book is opened, you will be granted a quick visit to the Ranch; it's smart and inviting.
The stories are divided into thirty anecdotes, each story takes up a page or barely two pages; they vary from fun and humorous to touching and reflecting.
The story that touched me the most is the one about Dave Dave (David Rothenberg) for it shows the depth of Michael's compassion and how far he's willing to go to ease other people's pain.
Although this is a very small book (91 pages) but it sheds a light into Michael's personality more than the other 500-page books out there. It shows his sense of humor, generosity, compassion, philosophy, fatherhood, intelligence, humility, wealth and strength.
Two things that this book proves that Michael never inflicted his pain on others. Although he was going through hell (during the trial) but he never inflicted his misery upon the Van Valin's family. He remained upbeat and handled his pain with grace like the champion that he was. And the testimony of Dr. Van Valin regarding the erroneous accusation with children:
"Just for the record, my family and I never believed Michael molested or was inappropriate with any children. We knew ours were safe with him and we allowed them to spend time with him whenever they wanted. Nothing I ever observed would have suggested, and nothing I knew about this man would ever have allowed, that the inference of any such behavior could possibly be attributed to him."
This book actually debunks the horrendous theories that the media have been planting that Michael only struck friendship with adults to get to their kids. Wrong. Michael and Barney were almost always together late at night watching movies, going rendezvous, discussing antiques/books etc! Yes, there were fun times when they went for rides, ate snacks, played games and watched cartoons but that was only a little part comparing to the amount of times they spent discussing art and architecture. This proves yet again that Michael (DUH!) was perfectly capable of maintaining an adult friendship, not like what the media is trying to falsely paint.
All in all, it's intimate, sincere and delightful. A must have for any Michael Jackson fans and a must read for those who wants to simply see Michael Jackson-the human being beyond the remarkable artist.
September 2, 2014
A friend whom I first met at the gates of Neverland on 25 June 2013 told me about Barney Van Valin's little book. Admittedly I didn't rush to buy it, but now, having done so and having read it, I am more than happy to tell others about it.
Everything we disliked from the Michael Jackson Tapes or other supposedly tell-all tales from Michael's so-called friends and associates - all of it is absent from this book.
Private Conversations... is a rather sweet collection of anecdotes, vignettes of life at Neverland, of visits late into the night with Michael, his children and his staff, meeting his friends and returning his hospitality in the Van Valin's own home.
Some things will stand out - for example, the elephants trashing a birthday party on their daily walk down to the house! The theft of antiques by some of Michael's own staff (I actually saw one item specifically mentioned in this chapter - still where it was subsequently located.)
There are plenty of examples of Michael behaving like a big kid, enjoying himself, having fun and encouraging others to have fun with him; whether it be watching movies in his private cinema, playing arcade games, riding the bumper cars (of which he was the most reckless driver!) or just hanging out watching DVDs and having late night snacks.
This is nothing we haven't heard before from other MJ 'insiders' and observers, and confirms a definite lack of anything of a sinister nature in Michael's activities, whatever they may be. In fact Barney's observations of Martin Basheer's depiction of it in his television documentary, coming from the perspective of someone who frequently visited the ranch with his family, pretty much sum up what has always been obvious to Michael's fans.
Barney's wife Criss gets to give her opinion of Michael about halfway through the book. That too rings more than true.
"If he had never become famous you still would have been smitten with him no matter what it was he did. It was lovely just to be around him. I loved every minute that we spent together. He was charming and funny and I am lucky to have been able to count him as a friend."
Her husband's book is certainly written from the perspective of someone who truly valued that friendship.
Review by K A Hennigan
2 September 2014
(Book purchased through Amazon Smile, to benefit my charity of choice, the Roar Foundation whose Shambala preserve is home to the last Neverland tiger, Sabu, whom I sponsor. Kerry)
Everything we disliked from the Michael Jackson Tapes or other supposedly tell-all tales from Michael's so-called friends and associates - all of it is absent from this book.
Private Conversations... is a rather sweet collection of anecdotes, vignettes of life at Neverland, of visits late into the night with Michael, his children and his staff, meeting his friends and returning his hospitality in the Van Valin's own home.
Some things will stand out - for example, the elephants trashing a birthday party on their daily walk down to the house! The theft of antiques by some of Michael's own staff (I actually saw one item specifically mentioned in this chapter - still where it was subsequently located.)
There are plenty of examples of Michael behaving like a big kid, enjoying himself, having fun and encouraging others to have fun with him; whether it be watching movies in his private cinema, playing arcade games, riding the bumper cars (of which he was the most reckless driver!) or just hanging out watching DVDs and having late night snacks.
This is nothing we haven't heard before from other MJ 'insiders' and observers, and confirms a definite lack of anything of a sinister nature in Michael's activities, whatever they may be. In fact Barney's observations of Martin Basheer's depiction of it in his television documentary, coming from the perspective of someone who frequently visited the ranch with his family, pretty much sum up what has always been obvious to Michael's fans.
Barney's wife Criss gets to give her opinion of Michael about halfway through the book. That too rings more than true.
"If he had never become famous you still would have been smitten with him no matter what it was he did. It was lovely just to be around him. I loved every minute that we spent together. He was charming and funny and I am lucky to have been able to count him as a friend."
Her husband's book is certainly written from the perspective of someone who truly valued that friendship.
Review by K A Hennigan
2 September 2014
(Book purchased through Amazon Smile, to benefit my charity of choice, the Roar Foundation whose Shambala preserve is home to the last Neverland tiger, Sabu, whom I sponsor. Kerry)
January 6, 2015
Another Testament to the Wonder That Was Michael Jackson
This was a wonderful, if short, read.
Any Jackson fan who has been faithful about reading the numerous CREDIBLE biographies about him or books by his trusted friends will find little "New" information here. What you will find instead is further illustration of that which we already know: that Michael Jackson was one of the most extraordinary human beings ever to walk the planet. That one of our society's greatest mistakes was how we misunderstood and devalued him, and further, how tragic it is that this lesson will likely go mostly unlearned. When Dr. Van Valin's narrative is so abruptly and tragically cut short as he describes when his son Mason learns of Michael's passing, I shed tears on the NYC subway; one feels the sensation of losing him all over again.
Thank you, Dr. Van Valin, for your personal generosity in sharing this part of your life, and for your historical testimony, as it is.
This book belongs on the shelf of every MJ fan or scholar.
This was a wonderful, if short, read.
Any Jackson fan who has been faithful about reading the numerous CREDIBLE biographies about him or books by his trusted friends will find little "New" information here. What you will find instead is further illustration of that which we already know: that Michael Jackson was one of the most extraordinary human beings ever to walk the planet. That one of our society's greatest mistakes was how we misunderstood and devalued him, and further, how tragic it is that this lesson will likely go mostly unlearned. When Dr. Van Valin's narrative is so abruptly and tragically cut short as he describes when his son Mason learns of Michael's passing, I shed tears on the NYC subway; one feels the sensation of losing him all over again.
Thank you, Dr. Van Valin, for your personal generosity in sharing this part of your life, and for your historical testimony, as it is.
This book belongs on the shelf of every MJ fan or scholar.
April 8, 2014
Un libro encantador, de fàcil lectura y cortito, que nos explica a través de las anécdotas y vivencias del autor durante sus 5 años de amistad desde 2001 con Michael, algunos aspectos de la personalidad del artista.
Huye del sensacionalismo, de la polémica y es un libro tributo al cantante.
La edición traducida en castellano que me he leído y que compré en Amazon es horrible, burda, con infinidad de errores de traducción, ortográficos y gramaticales, así como gazapos peores como alguna repetición sorprendente de partes del texto. Un libro fanmade y pirata total, que solo compensa si no se quiere o puede leerse el original en inglés...
Sea la edición que sea, lo recomiendo.
Huye del sensacionalismo, de la polémica y es un libro tributo al cantante.
La edición traducida en castellano que me he leído y que compré en Amazon es horrible, burda, con infinidad de errores de traducción, ortográficos y gramaticales, así como gazapos peores como alguna repetición sorprendente de partes del texto. Un libro fanmade y pirata total, que solo compensa si no se quiere o puede leerse el original en inglés...
Sea la edición que sea, lo recomiendo.
February 7, 2016
Doctor Van valin's writing style was very simple,childlike,
describing the situations and dialogues as a child would ..
just describing that special friendship.
-
"See you in heaven,Applehead".
January 4, 2015
Silly, pointless reading, not particularly well written, but it was quick and entertaining. Fun to hear an insider account of what he was like.
November 3, 2016
The Real Michael Jackson
I enjoyed this book as it tells of a great friendship and what Michael Jackson was like, not "The King of Pop", but the type of human being he was. It was a very warm and pleasant reading.
I enjoyed this book as it tells of a great friendship and what Michael Jackson was like, not "The King of Pop", but the type of human being he was. It was a very warm and pleasant reading.
December 18, 2015
As a visitor to Neverland myself, I read this book intrigued by others who've visited Michael Jackson's estate. Van Valin II creates strong emotional connections for the reader through vivid descriptions of his own personal experiences in the many years he, and his family, have befriend Jackson. Abundant with humor, tragedy, scandal, and forgiveness, this intimate memoir is a must read for those who wish to find a most intimate portrait of one music's timeless legends.
My only negative critique is the improper formatting, inconsistent paragraph spacing, and several grammatical and spelling errors. Most readers shouldn't be deterred from picking up this story though, because the content itself is rich and illuminating.
My only negative critique is the improper formatting, inconsistent paragraph spacing, and several grammatical and spelling errors. Most readers shouldn't be deterred from picking up this story though, because the content itself is rich and illuminating.
Read
April 18, 2014This book was amazing! I loved everything about it. One of the best books I have ever read! Deffinatly would reccomend for anyone!
August 26, 2014
just like what the author suggested " A must read for any Michael Jackson fan "
July 21, 2014
Nice touching account of a man's friendship with the King of Pop. He didn't exploit him, just talked about his loneliness, generosity and kind nature.
Want to read
May 1, 2015Please somebody!!! Help me to find this book! It's not available anywhere, I have read only some pages which are here.. Where did you find it???
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews