Reviews (49)

Five Stars
A wonderful book about extraordinary real women who deserve their own spot along side the Founding Fathers. The bravery and the guts of these women surprised me. Each one was heroic in her own way and has made me want to learn more about each one.

History Comes Alive ...
This is a very fascinating book and I am glad that I was able to buy it not too long ago. I remember reading the back of the book at the bookstore and thinking, "I have to have it." That first thought hasn't changed.
LOW-KEYED, INFORMATIVE AND PLEASING READ
I rather enjoyed this low-keyed take on history.The reading was easy and it was fun and I did indeed learn some facts I was unaware of.This by no means is "hard core history" and I doubt if it was ment to be.The book of course take a look a the wives of some of our founding fathers and the role they played at the time.The book appears to be reasonably researched, as any book of the nature can be, and the author uses an easy and informative style.On the otherhand, I doubt if this work will satisfy the hard core reader of history any more than it will satisfy the reader who is wanting a cozy sort of read...it sort of falls in the middle somewhere.I read it for pleasure and did receive that from it.Recommend this one. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 18th century    2. 19th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Historical - U.S.    6. History    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. United States    10. United States - Revolutionary War    11. Women    12. Women in politics    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (47)

extraordinary American memoir
I read the book (536 pages) in 4 or 5 sittings. To me it's a masterpiece. Yes, it is a bit slow going in the beginning but then the story takes off. I found Jentz's book to be overwhelmingly rich in symbolism of the forces between good and evil. Also present are the themes all of us can relate to in small town everyday American life. I couldn't stop reading it. I found myself completely drawn into the awesome horror, bewildering twists and eyebrow-knitting circumstances that occurred during and after the attack. The research done for this book is compelling by itself.
an exploration of evil and violence
Strange Piece of Paradise is true crime with a supremely ironic twist-the true crime story is written not by an investigative reporter or a psychologist, but by the victim. Terri Jentz has managed to cope with the absolute horror of an incredibly vicious attack by facing the situation head on. Her assailant was never apprehended, and many years later she returned to the small town where she and a college roommate experienced such extreme violence that the roommate refused to ever discuss it. The result of Terri's investigation is a profound book exploring a society that promulgates violence and evil.
Read In Cold Blood
I am on the last leg of this book, much to my relief.It is terribly over-written, redundant and irritating to read. Jentz could learn a few lessons from Capote about creating a compelling narrative with an economy of words.Ever meet one of those people who insist on telling you in great excrutiating detail about how they were wronged?How every nuance, ambiguity and off-hand comment was a significant episode in their victimization? Even if they are factual, you reach a point where you just don't care anymore.Jentz went through an unbelievable horrible experience.Her recounting of the experience, is barely readable.Go buy In Cold Blood and read it again. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography And Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Case studies    5. Criminal investigation    6. Oregon    7. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    8. Personal Memoirs    9. True Crime / Espionage    10. Violent crimes    11. Women   

Reviews (16)

Boring - no rock star insight
I bought this book thinking I'd get some candid behind-the-scenes insight into what it would be like to hang out with the rock stars of the 60's and 70's. No luck. Just Pamela obsessing about finding the next band member to lay and wondering why she wasn't a star. I'd recommend Zep's "Hammer Of The Gods" or Aerosmith's "Walk This Way".

Fun, fast read.
This book was fun, even if I got the feeling Miss Pamela down played some of her antics. Good book.

This dish I definitely enjoyed!
I usually don't care for tabloid dish on others but this book was so enchanting she doesn't really have a bad word to say about her rockers that she followed as a groupie.She kind of sounded like "Penny Lane" in the movie "Almost Famous".She was a comfortable groupie that all the bands liked having around and she spoke about them with nothing but love.I liked that part of it.Most of them ridicule their lifestyle and dish the bad dirt.Even though she didn't slash their reputations, it is a page turning read that you won't be able to put down.Her second book was a bore though, get this one instead, I highly recommend it to all of you kids and baby boomers that want the behind the scenes blow by blow of 60's and 70's rock stars and concerts and bedroom dish galore with drug and alcohol chasers to boot. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    3. Genres & Styles - Rock    4. Music    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Rock Music    7. Specific Groups - General    8. Women    9. Biography: film, television & music    10. Music / Rock    11. Rock & pop   

Reviews (83)

Great Story, Detail Overload
I was completely enthralled throughout the entire reading of this book. However, some of the chapters seemed very long because Ralston takes great care to give every last detail of every surrounding, feeling, conversation, personality, direction, etc. I found myself thinking, "Hurry up and just SAY SOMETHING!!"
Below par is great in golf, not in books
Like an overly ambitious ivy plant that has leapt from an accenting trellis to conquer an entire Big Ten university building, Aron Ralston's Between a Rock and a Hard Place should have been a simple story about how an average person finds themselves the target of a planetary assault; instead readers find themselves the victims of a literary mugging.
Choosing Gratitude
Aron Ralston was tested and passed. In this remarkable journal,the former engineer turned outdoorsman proves one's value isn't what happens to you: it is in how you react. Aron is a walking, talking miracle. He knows it: and he has chosen to be grateful for what could easily have been just an other tragedy.
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Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Bluejohn Canyon    6. Desert survival    7. General    8. Hiking    9. Inspirational - General    10. Mountaineering    11. Outdoor Life    12. Rock climbing accidents    13. Utah    14. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

Picking up the thread where her debut memoir-in-comics concluded, Read more

Reviews (35)

Awesome!
This book was great! I found myself laughing sometimes as well as intrigued. This is a kind of book that once you start reading it, you can't put it back down. If you read and liked Persepolis 1, you'll like this one.

More scenes from one woman's life
This time, the scenes are drawn from her teen years through young adulthoood. Some of the moments should be familiar to anyone - like that pre-adult growth spurt where all the parts seem to be in the wrong places. Other themes will sound familiar, though not in such literal ways. For example, Satrapi describes living in peaceful Europe, herself a daughter of war; at the same time, she describes holding western views about freedom in a country where a pair of red socks is grounds for adminstrative discipline. That sense of being an alien everywhere will ring true for many readers, whether or not their reasons are as overwhelming as hers.
Surprisingly interesting
It causes wonder with its sensitive and prudent style and, ultimately, by its incredibly smart, honest and thoughtful result. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Comic books, strips, etc    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. Fine Arts    9. Literary    10. Middle East - General    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Satrapi, Marjane,    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (69)

The title is very misleading
This book was a huge disappointment.I checked it out of the library (thank goodness I didn't spend money on it) thinking I would learn about one woman's struggle to spend less and live more simply.Honestly, I learned all I needed to know about Judith's year-long "journey" from her 5 minute interview on Oprah. It starts off ok, but quickly descends into a rant against Republicans, the Iraq War and George W.Not that I'm a fan of George W and Co., but her views were quite boring and I found myself barely able to finish. I really felt as though I had suffered a "bait and switch", which use to be a favorite tactic of retailers.I guess Ms. Levine learned something from them during all those years of shopping.

Don't Waste your Time or Money
The author had a good idea but executed it poorly.This book was more about politics than abstaining from purchasing.
Not buying this book
The author had a BRILLIANT idea writing this book, however she couldn't accomplish and develop a chain of reasoning. She is PROLIX and way too boring. The reading has to be dragged.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Consumer Behavior    3. Consumer Behavior - General    4. Consumer education    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Shopping    7. Social Movements    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Women    12. Consumer issues    13. Social & cultural anthropology    14. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Editorial Review

When this true-crime story first appeared in 1980, it made the Read more

Reviews (270)

The life I've always secretly wanted.
"Catch Me If You Can" follows the life of Frank W. Abignale - one of the greatest con men of all time who single handedly lived his life on fradulant checks and scams that just leave you thinking how amazing he was. This book is the autobiographical account of Abignale's teenage years from when he first created a scam on his father's Mobil credit card. There are so many times in this book that I had to step back and think about the air of confidence that Abignale displayed, yet curiously inside he was often paranoid and worried about the authorities catching up to him.
A great read!
This book was very well written and so much fun to read.
Frank Abagnale Jr.
We all know of Frank Abagnale's personality; arrogant, yet kind with class. Among all the different characters that he chooses to play, whether he's a pilot, doctor, lawyer, or a college professor, i believe that Frank is somewhat confused of who he is. Frank "ran away" from home at 16; the age of teenager who is only halfway through high school. At 16, most people don't know where they are in life or what to pursue in the future. One thing was for sure; Frank wanted money and women.
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Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. Abagnale, Frank W.,    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Criminals & Outlaws    6. General    7. Impostors and imposture    8. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    9. Swindlers and swindling    10. True Crime    11. United States    12. Abagnale, Frank W    13. True Crime / General   

Reviews (13)

DianeMoneyd
I respect June's love for her mother but I don't think her mother deserved it.Larry was never a big star and his career wasn't so great that She had to give up a black daughter and a white son.She gave away three children and she called herself a mother.June should had more love for the woman who raised her.

Intriging Story of a "special" little girl
This is the story of June Cross (the author).As a little girl she is forced to live with that fact that she is different, but non the less she's that little girl that is like every other little girl her age.In the early stages of her life she innocent and unfortunately she has to grow up fast during to a time of segregation and oppression.Overall it's about June's journey as a bi-racial girl who goes through ups and downs, and how she prevails against all odds.This is definitely a book that you can't put down!

Racism & Relationships in this Generation
The story is compelling in its complexity. That it starts with the author's birth in 1954 the book highlights the recent events and history of the US I have grown up in and witnessed. As the adoptive mother of two bi-racial children I found her mother's actions perplexing and hard to understand...but her daughter wants the reader to understand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abandoned children    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Discrimination & Racism    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Race And Ethnic Relations    8. Race identity    9. Racially mixed people    10. Social Science    11. Sociology    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (1)

Beautiful
It's a beautiful book, the pictures are wonderful.I haven't gotten down to reading it yet as I just received it, but it's worth it for the Edie end papers alone.One thing is I don't see are any rare photos of Sienna as Edie, as the description touted.Not that I care or wanted that but it's strange that it says it contains them and as far as I can see they're not there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Motion picture actors and actresses    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Photojournalism    7. Sedgwick, Edie    8. United States    9. Women    10. Photographs: portraits   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Encyclopedias    3. Ethnic Studies - Hispanic American Studies    4. Hispanic American women    5. Reference    6. Sociology    7. Women's Studies - History    8. American studies    9. Latin America    10. Social & cultural anthropology    11. USA   

Reviews (9)

Wonderful Book
Healed by Horses is a wonderful book that gives hope and encouragement to anyone who reads it! It reaffirms the fact that life is a gift, and, if you allow it, struggle can make you better. As Carole states on page 230: "It's working with horses that heals, by developing discipline, courage, patience, and perseverance. You may come to horses -- as I did -- unable to walk, unable to cope, disfigured and in despair, but what I learned is that horses do not judge by looks or class or reputation. Still, you must earn their trust and cooperation, and out of that comes self-esteem."

The True Story of Carole Fletcher
Healed by Horses is a must-read; a fantastic book that leaves readers entertained, educated and... changed.
Fanning the Flames
As a fan and student of Carole Fletcher's Trick Training techniques, I was familiar with the bio behind this book before reading it.So it was with a literary mindset that I opened the cover, expecting to view the entire book with a critical eye; curious, mostly, to learn just what did Larry Scanlan do to bring the ashes of Carole's past back to life.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Burns and scalds    6. Fletcher, Carole    7. Horses - General    8. Patients    9. Pets    10. Rehabilitation    11. Treatment Of Burns    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (3)

Deeply Moving Memoir
In this poignant,intensely personal and informative memoir Nahid Rachlin traces her life from her childhood under the Shah, through the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which she witnessed from America, where she was living at that point, to a bittersweet reunion with a family both shattered and healed by the tragedies that have befallen them. The way her life goes in a different direction from that of her beloved sister, as she remains in Iran and she comes to the U.S., offers great insights into the dynamics of the culture they lived in and how it affected each. It is a story of painful separations, heartbreaking losses, and hard-won freedoms. It has the same mesmerizing power as her novels, lingering in the mind after we have finished reading the book.
A Powerful Memoir
This book kept me up all night. Among other things it gave me a glimpse into the inner workings of Iranian family life and the author's creative development. As a fan of Nahid Rachlin's fiction, I wanted to know more about her own life; Persian Girls has given me an insight into that life and its emotional conflict. It reveals the suffering that many women, among them her sister, and the aunt who raised her as a child, endure in many Islamic cultures--the limitations imposed on them by the legal system and their families, especially the husbands who rule over them with tyrannical power. The oppressiveness and the pain of separation the author endured when her father took her away from her aunt the only mother she knew as a child (and forced her to live with him and her biological mother and siblings) are deeply conveyed. And so is the strength the author found within herself that allowed her to break away from these restrictions and create another life in America.

A Riviting Story of Oppresion and Hope.
During my careful read of this extraordinarily meaningful and important book written by respected author Nahid Rachlin, a deep forboding feeling of gloom and heavy weights continued to cover my spirit. So powerful is the tale of the two Iranian sisters Rachlin writes about: one who is able to essentially flee Iran to America to persue the freedom of her artistic desires, while the other sister is tragically confined to a similiar fate of many oppressed women post-Shah: pre-determined marriage, mental and physical abuse by an arrogant husband suitor, divorce, seperation from children, and the downward spiral of loss of self dignity and hope for a better tomorrow.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Ethnic Cultures - General    7. Iran    8. Iran - History    9. Iranian American authors    10. Iranian American women    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Social conditions    13. Women    14. Women In Islam    15. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (4)

Ambiguities and the Fog of War
After the retreat from Dunkirk in 1940, Britain knew that it would be fighting again within Europe, but until an invasion could be made by regular forces, a secret war had to be waged.For this purpose the Special Operations Executive was formed, with the object of clandestine insertion of agents to oppose the advancement of the Nazis.It was a perilous assignment, and agents were told to expect a fifty-fifty chance of dying; as it turned out, they fared better, a 75% survival rate.The section of the SOE devoted to activities within France was the assignment of Vera Atkins, where she was staff officer to the head of the section.Atkins was devoted to the highly secret operation, and only recently have the truths about the work of the SOE (including its many failings) emerged.Atkins took many of the secrets to her grave when she died in 2000.Sarah Helm, an investigative reporter, was able to interview her two years before her death."She didn't tell me much," Helm says."She never told anybody much."There was, however, quite a story, and it involved Atkins's personal secrets as well as military ones.In _A Life in Secrets: Vera Atkins and the Missing Agents of WWII_ (Nan A. Talese / Doubleday), Helm has described her efforts to understand the secrets in a long and frustrating search for what made the brilliant and wary Atkins averse, beyond all callings of duty, to letting some secrets go.
A brilliant account of SOE and one of its spies
I've read a lot about World War II and SOE, and this outshines most books. Ms. Helm puts human faces on the dead and betrayed agents, and doesn't mince words when it comes to skewering those who sent them to their deaths. This is brilliantly researched and written, provoking outrageous anger at the novice spy handlers who ignored numerous warnings that networks had been penetrated and who continued sending agents to horrible deaths in concentration camps. Further, it shows their callous nature in covering up their stupidity and never admitting mistakes. There are many lessons here for today's times. I cannot recommend it highly enough. It will stay with me for a long time.

The incredible tale of a true heroine
Both the NY Times (William Grimes) and the Washington Post highly praise this book. It tells the story of two great searches . The first is of the heroine of the book, Vera Atkins who after the War searches in Europe to learn of the fates of the 117 of 400 agents she had helped prepare for their missions of gathering Intelligence for Great Britain against the Nazis. The second is the search of the author Sarah Helm to get the details of the story of her subject, a research which also involved extraordinary effort.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography And Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. France    6. General    7. Great Britain    8. Historical - General    9. Intelligence Operations    10. Military    11. Military - World War II    12. Missing in action    13. Secret service    14. Underground movements    15. Women    16. World War, 1939-1945    17. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (12)

A womans heart ...laid out boldly in words for all to see.
ANAIS has been someone who has carried me through some tough times in the past...I read her at twenty...and twenty-three and twenty-six. Her troubles were my own and we were kin. She is meant to be read by anyone who loves life...in it's full fleshy sometimes heart rending reality. She writes with the open-heart of a poet, and leaves the reader feeling more than fed. READ ANAIS NIN!

A great read
I recomend reading Anais Nin's diary. The book is such poetic prose. Some sentences really took my breath away, the way she can captivate something so beautiful and human in simple words. Since it is a diary, its main focus is her life, but its not selfish, infact she mentions herself very little. The main focus is Henry (Miller) and June, his wife. When Ananis Nin falls inlove with someone, so does the reader. Her descriptive skills gave me goosebumps, you really can see it in your minds eye, hear the music or feel the softness of skin. I highly recomend this to anyone thinking about reading this book, you will come away with a slice of life from 1930's France.

Wonderfully delicate and erotic
This is one of the most profound works of literature I have ever read.Nin leads you directly into her life, the nature of the people around her, her feelings and internal conflicts.She writes delicately and powerfully and womanly.Everyone should have a chance to read this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1903-1977    2. 20th century    3. Authors, American    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Diaries    7. Literary    8. Nin, Anais,    9. Nin, Anaèis,    10. Women    11. Biography & Autobiography    12. Biography & Autobiography / Literary    13. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    14. Novels, other prose & writers: from c 1900 -   

Reviews (28)

A compelling story of abuse in the search for Divine Love
I applaud Karen Armstrong for having the guts to write this book. Although I am guessing that it was cathartic for her to review this period in her life, she wrote quite dispassionately about her experiences. It is remarkable to me that she did not play the role of victim. In fact, she showed more love and compassion to those who abused her than those who were supposed to guide her on the path to love.
A harrowing inside look
Karen Armstrong has written a compelling memoir of her time in the convent in formation to become a nun.She wants this life so badly that she will forsake everything, including her own mind, to attain a perfect relationship with God.This is what she was told she must do.She did this despite gut feelings to the contrary, despite physical illness, and despite slowly dying inside.In fact, she believed this was a sign of progress.
Difficult to read at times...
but well worth getting through the gritty parts.
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Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Armstrong, Karen,    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Ex-nuns    6. Institutions & Organizations    7. Religion    8. Religious    9. Women   

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Case studies    3. Korea    4. Shamanism    5. Women   

Reviews (5)

Good Book but why not do one on someone that came out before they were big
This was a really good book.I really enjoyed the part about Mark's experience with being on the various committees and his speaking career.It was interesting to read something about an athlete who talked about other things he did besides just performing the sport itself.
new low for the Olympics, Gay Games & OutGames
Mark did a fairly good job in destroying any respect I had for the people responsible for putting together the Olympics, GayGames and the newly formed OutGames.His story was quite interesting and for the most part well written.I don't know if it was his intention but I agonized over all the frustrating in-fighting at Olympics/Gay Games/OutGames that was depicted in graphic detail.I was saddened that our gay brothers and sisters could not come together and cause one games series for us.Mark did a great job making me feel the pain we all go through with the anti-gay bigotry.I also enjoyed the way he showed the upward progression of acceptance from the time he was a teen to his 30s.I applaud Mark for this contribution and recommend the book.

Straight Up and Out Talk
Mark Tewksbury is an inspiring person and a well-admired athlete of the Olympics. I'll be honest and say I was approaching this book from a shallow viewpoint. Though he was a swimmer, not a diver, it seemed like his "coming out" story would just be a pale comparison to that of Greg Louganis.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Gay Studies    5. Homosexuality    6. Specific Groups - Male Gay Studies    7. Sports - General    8. Swimming    9. Swimming And Diving    10. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

Meteorologists called the storm that hit North America's eastern seaboard inOctober 1991 a "perfect storm" because of the rare combination of factorsthat created it. For everyone else, it was perfect hell. In Read more

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Reviews (882)

Excellent, exciting and interesting...
I read this book after I visited Gloucester last year and had a chance to read F/V Black Sheep before it was published, in it the author talks about drinking in a bar with Sully so it was interesting to be able to get this book and read about what happened to him. Gloucester fishermen sure lead tough lives. This is a very exciting book with lots of details and information about what their lives are like. I'll probably read it again.

A haunting sea
This is a gripping book that kept me awake many nights when the winds would push the rain against my bed room windows.They say that the New England weather is unpredictable and having lived in Massachusetts for almost 15 years I can only agree.Storms can build so fast that a sunny picnic can quickly turn into a washed out event.In fact, I remember this "Perfect storm" happening in October of 1991.It happened the day of Halloween and it rained and rained and rained.The sky was so dark and the wind was roaring like a true Nor'easter.Given my location and own personal experience of this storm, I feel very attached to this story.
The Perfect Storm
By: Travis Brountas, a sixth grader in Maine