House of Cash: The Legacies of My Father, Johnny Cash

"Neither of my parents ever threw anything away,%E2%80%9D writes Cash (son of Johnny and June Carter Cash) in this loving tribute to his father packed with ephemera that offers greater insight into the mythic musician. Though he recounts the arc of his famous father's career, the younger Cash's real goal is to give readers a sense of what he was like as a father and as a man. There are reproductions of childhood photos and poetry, artwork, lyrics, candid photos, letters written on hotel stationery, love letters, and valentines he sent to his wife June and even recipes (Cash was reportedly known for his chili, included here). In a journal entry, "dental appointment%E2%80%9D appears right after "appeared at Madison Square Garden%E2%80%9D in a short list of what Cash had been up to one particular week. Together, these add up to show the many facets of "a complicated man,%E2%80%9D full of contradictions, passions, and faith. While this isn't the best Johnny Cash biography on the shelves, it may be one of the best ways to get to know what he was like as a father, husband, and friend instead of as the musical icon so many are familiar with. (Oct.)