5 comments about From This Day Forward.

1. I work with Habitat for Humanity and we use a ot of Hardie Bd. siding. The Gecko set makes installation much easier and accurate. Buying it through Amazon was also fast and easy. Thanks



2. It takes a narcissist of tremendous proportions to foist this scrapbook off on an unsuspecting public. On the plus side, Cokie Roberts does more than her usual cut and paste from the work of others in From This Day Forward. When not pulling from the work of others, Cokie (and the compliant Steve) offer up tidbits that are supposed to inform the reader how s/he too can have a great marriage.
   Apparently the basic rule for a successful marriage is to live in your own little world the way kooky Cokie does. I doubt she realizes how racist she comes off in parts of the book. (Yes, Cokie, condescension is a form of racism.) Or how laughable most will find her book. Reading of the great "trauma" of her life, you realize this is someone who hasn't experienced many character building moments in her life. The great "trauma"? Learning that her new employer wouldn't provide a limo and that Cokie would have to take taxis around NYC. Oh, the horror! Oh, the shame! How did Cokie ever survive?
   (Had she been told to take the subway, one gets the impression Roberts would have called it quits right then.)
   A vapid celebration of what appears to be a vapid marriage isn't necessarily shocking -- what's shocking is that Cokie (and husband Steve) put their names to it. Had a child offered this slight volume as a souvenir to a wedding anniversary, we all would have "oooh"ed and "aaaawe"d over it. But for grownups to write such a book about themselves is the height of narcissism.
   The book works best as anthropological study of When Gigantic Egos Mate.



3. I always loved Cokie Roberts on TV and when I saw this book, I figured it would be fun to read about her marriage to Steve Roberts. I recommend this book highly to everyone thinking of marriage especially.

   From the beginning I was drawn into this couple's world and liked the way they each expressed themselves in separate chapters. I found the entire book exciting, informative, inspiring, and so thankful that they took time to write about their unique marriage and how they make it work.

   This is a refreshing book. A rare book about how a marriage can work. I've been married for fifty years and I know this couple will celebrate gold as well. Lots of love and best wishes to Cokie and Steve and thanks for sharing your busy happy loving life with us.

   You'll be glad you read this book too.




4. I picked up this book for $5 at Borders, mainly because I enjoy listening to Cokie Roberts on NPR. I was curious to get to know her a little better.

   I thoroughly enjoyed the book. She and Steve take turns writing, as if they're dialoguing back and forth. I appreciated their commitment to their marriage in a day when it's not all that popular to stay married to the same person.

   I also enjoyed the glimpses into slave marriages and Old West marriages. I'm glad I picked up this book. It was a pleasant read for sure.




5. A boring book filled with narratives, possibly copied from an encyclopedia, about historical figures. Apparently, stories from their own lives could only fill a few chapters of this book.

No comments about Down for the Count: The Shocking Truth Behind the Mike Tyson Rape Trial.

5 comments about What Falls Away.

1. It's a beautifully written book, which reveals a lot about her past which is sad, and not revealed in such detail before. But the degree to which she bashes Woody Allen, including very personal details about his life, was excessive.



2. I had meant to read this memoir for years, mostly because of the curiosity I had surrounding the sordid mess between Woody Allen and Soon-Yi Previn. I figured reading this book would probably set the record straight, and it definitely seemed to.
   
   The whole book was well-written, and I wonder why, if she had no help from a ghostwriter, didn't she try her hand at further writing efforts. It would make sense that she might be especially cut out for writing for children, as much as she has dedicated her life to them.
   
   Her early life as a child of a famous actress and director was fascinating and I enjoyed the bits and pieces from her various and many acquaintances, friends, and associates. She does not say so much about her siblings throughout the book, which made me constantly wonder throughout the reading of this book if any of them were very close.
   
   Her relationships with men seemed to be tenuous and immature. It seemed like she didn't really fight for either marriage, to Sinatra or Previn. In fact it seemed like she went into marriage both times with blinders on, without really knowing either men.
   
   Unfortunately it seemed to be a mix of naivete and neediness that led her to spend about twelve years with Woody Allen, who she potrays as the most juvenile, immature, temperamental, arrogant, rude, socially inept person I've ever read about in any memoir. Indeed, her biggest mistake was wasting all those years with that person.
   
   It is ghastly to think about what Ms. Farrow went through when the ---- hit the fan with Soon-Yi and Woody Allen (I love how she starts to refer to him as 'Woody Allen' instead of 'Woody' when she finally starts to come to her senses). I don't understand why it took so long to finally extract him out of her family, though. She gave him far too many chances and allowed him way too much access after the accusations began to fly.
   
   Overall, though, it is without a doubt that she has been a doting and loving mother to all her children, and I applaud her humanitarian efforts. Angelina Jolie could take some notes from Ms. Farrow.



3. I have always wanted to know what exactly happened between Mia and Woody Allen (I knew he'd been accused of bad things regarding her daughter Soon-Yi but didn't know much more than that) and this book sheds a lot of light on those rarely-talked about circumstances. This relationship takes up a good portion of the book, which is to be expected because of the length of time they'd been together not to mention the custody battles. But I definitely found out way more than I had known coming into the book. She is awfully kind to Mr. Allen in the book by not totally attacking him like she could have, considering what he was accused of doing. I feel like she is honest and forthright enough to be believed in these matters. Fascinating stuff.
   I'd always been interested in why she married Frank Sinatra as well, however I still feel like I didn't really get to find out exactly why they became interested in one another. I liked reading what glimpses into their life together she gave, like the time he came out of a casino in Vegas a little steamed over something that had happened inside moments earlier, hopped on a golf cart and drove away only to veer back suddenly (with Mia in the cart with him) and drive it into a plate glass window in the casino. Maybe it's in retrospect, but she really seems to take his behavior in stride.
   And that's one little thing that irritated me in this book. Basically, it was how she was (and kind of still is) extraordinarily PASSIVE about things that would elicit much more of a response in people. If she hadn't been such a passive personality, she would never have gotten involved in ANY of her relationships. It's like she was a young girl being led around by whatever guy was interested in her at the time and she just did whatever they wanted to do. She followed Previn on tour and to foreign coutries, basically putting her career on hold; she followed Sinatra around the same way, seeing as how he was a tad bit controlling and didn't want her to work at all and wanted her to be his arm candy 24-7 whenever it suited him to have her there; and as for Woody Allen, she should have seen THAT train wreck coming a mile away but she didn't.
   Among other things, this book can serve as a warning to teenage girls in the ways of choosing relationships that are healthy and unhealthy for you.
   I do admire her abilities as a mother, though. She must have the patience of a saint. I had no idea how many children she'd adopted. She spends a lot of time writing about her kids and her adoption experiences, which were interesting as well.



4. This book was a suprisingly interesting read, and Mia Farrow strikes me as a caring, compassionate person, but rather naive and illogical in her thinking. For a person who writes so well and is an avid reader of philosophers, she appears to be quite intelligent but strangely out of touch with reality. Perhaps this is due, in part, to a childhood that was both very happy (except for a bout of polio) and extremely sheltered and isolated from "the real world." It is apparent that she had little parental guidance past childhood as she seems to have received no warning that an affair/marriage to Frank Sinatra, more than twice her age, might be a mistake. Her judgement of the character of others, even as she grows older, is inconsistent at best . . . she calls her father both a "devout Catholic" and a "womanizer" in the same sentence; she identifies with Sinatra's lack of self knowledge (ignoring the fact that he should have had, at that age, twice her maturity); and she "adores" her children and "loves" Woody Allen but turns a blind eye to his emotional detachment from most of her kids while being overly tolerant of his inappropriate behavior toward others. While the book does, very vividly, take you into a "Hollywood" life, it seems sad that, by the end, Mia (while acknowleding how much she has learned) seems very vulnerable to repeating the same mistakes.



5. Ms. Farrow is not only a talented actress, she is also a surprisingly good writer. She takes us behind the scenes of "Old Hollywood" in her memoir WHAT FALLS AWAY, and shares some of the pains and joys of growing up in an atmosphere where the motto seemed to be "Show the World how well you're doing even if you don't have a dime!" Mia bravely talks about her own mistakes which are so much a part of living and growing up. Behind the tall gates, idols and icons become real people with ordinary struggles.
   
   This is not your run-of-the-mill Hollywood memoir. This is an excellent book which happens to be well written. {It should be noted that Mia is also a well recognized humanitarian who has helped and/or adopted numerous children with various challenges.}

5 comments about Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig.

1. I read this book while in middle school and it inspired me. Yes even a Red Sox fan enjoyed this book. This is not a book about a Yankee or baseball but a story about an amazing person.



2. Author Jonathan Eig has written a fantastic character study of New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig, a shy, Momma's boy who always followed the rules and didn't want to let anyone down. A proud man, Gehrig always handled himself with class. He had few equals on or off the field.
   
   Eig paints a sensitive portrait of Gehrig while discussing his relationships with his mother, his wife, Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and his other teammates as well as Yankees management.
   
   Never considered colorful enough to merit the press' attention, Gehrig played in the shadows of Ruth and DiMaggio.
   
   Thanks to locating letters between Gehrig and his physicians at the Mayo Clinic, Eig is able to shed light on the relationship the Yankee great had with his physicians, what the doctors told him about his disease (ALS) and how he handled it.
   
   After reading Eig's biography, you'll have a deeper understanding of Gehrig, the man, and a better appreciation of Gehrig, the baseball player.



3. Lou Gehrig has always been an interesting subject for me. I'm a so-so baseball fan, but I am a fan of individual's who appear to have the same values and morals that I hold.
   
   Jonathan Eig does a very nice job in this book of focusing on Gehrig's baseball qualities and his qualities as a man. I really enjoyed the book that gave a tremendous insight into how Gehrig acted behind closed doors.
   
   A few things that really interested me:
   
   I didn't know he was nearly that good of a baseball player. If ALS wouldn't have ended his career he might have gone down as the greatest first baseman ever. Eig did a very nice job in citing statistics and comparing those to other players in Gehrig's era and in the modern era.
   
   I also didn't know that a number of times Gehrig would play an inning or two and get credit for a game. I appreciate the fact that the writer didn't get caught up in the legend of Gehrig and pointed out the streak and how it lived basically because of the manipulation of Gehrig and Yankee manager Joe McCarthy. That definitely diminshes the accomplishment of consecutive games played in my mind... not by much because Gehrig did play with a lot of injuries and issues.... but it does diminish it. It also puts that much more of a wow factor into the consecutive games streak of Cal Ripken because I believe he had to play 5 innings to get credit for a game.
   
   That said, Eig did a really nice job in pointing out that Gehrig really was much more than just "An Iron Horse" at first base. The stats, the clutch hitting, etc. were well documented by Eig.
   
   I also liked the detail that Eig provided on ALS and Gehrig's final years. As I was reading the book, I was thinking we are sure flying through his playing career and there is a whole lot of book left here. That was because Eig wanted to take some time to describe in detail Gehrig's final years and he did a very nice job.
   
   I would suggest this book to anyone wanting to know more about Gehrig, Yankees history, or if you just want to read a great account of a man who should be well-admired for his work ethic and moral values.
   
   A great book and great subject matter.



4. I'm a Yankee hater, but I loved this book. I always found the story of Lou Gehrig to be an inspirational one. Jonathan Eig did a great job of not only telling Gehrig's story, but also making you want to root for Gehrig to survive. At times I found myself forgetting that he dies in the end, only wanting to read more about his amazing feats on the ball field. A great book that everyone should read.



5. Looking through the glass of hindsight, everyone just flat out looks better. Life is funny that way. If you were mean in reality, history may classify you as "gritty." If you were thoughtful, history may remember you as "genius." Or if you were fat, you may be labeled as "stout and strong." The story of Lou Gehrig is not necessarily an example of this. In reality I will never know. The author will probably not know either. Lou is painted as larger than life in "Luckiest Man." He was thoughtful, kind, humble, and amazing. Not only that, but he brought to the public the story of ALS and its affects. It became real and tangible to the whole world. His personal health tragedy no doubt amplifies his kinder qualities, as it would in most people's remembrance. Not to say it is undeserved, but in this book, it seems exaggerated. Gehrig is not really made into a real person. He is made into a monolithic figure. In baseball, he was one, but in his personal life, he would have hated this.
   
   I have always had a soft spot for heroes, especially heroes in baseball. No doubt Lou Gehrig is a hero in this regard. He played in the shadow of one of the largest figures in history, Babe Ruth. Not only did he thrive, but he made a name for himself that, in my opinion, out shined Ruth on the field. No one could outshine him off of it. I have no doubt that if the opposite had occurred, Ruth would never have made it in Gehrig's shadow. His accomplishments, unlike his character and personality, are in black and white. His statistics say it all. Amazing in his steadfast play, he also shone when it counted most, the World Series. Back in those days baseball meant something to everyone, and he had the privilege of playing and delivering in those times.
   
   Gehrig was a great role model, and a great player. His character and approach to the game are things I would teach my children, and plan to. These type of stories may not be completely true, but sometimes it is the legend and myth that build from simple beginnings that can shape our lives and build on our own morality.

5 comments about The Privilege of Youth : A Teenager's Story of Longing for Acceptance and Friendship.

1. It took a while for me to get my order but the seller was extreamly helpful and answered all my questions very fast. Product is in great shape!! Better then described!!



2. This book covers a time that was already written about in The Lost Boy. Despite my love for Dave's other books I think this was an attempt to milk out more money from his already established fans. This book does not give much more information about his life and only a few forgettable fun stories about his teenage years. Don't waste your time on this one, just read the first three.



3. I have read A Child Called "It", The Lost Boy, A Man Named Dave and Help Yourself and I must say that this book was not Dave's best work. The writing did not keep me interested as his other books have. While reading this I felt like the passion just wasn't there.



4. Read every Dave Pelzer book he writes. He is an exceptional human being. There should be more people like him without having to go through the abuse he endured.



5. this is a good book! i love it when dave sees that boy from the lost boy, and the boy says what you call my sister? then david says a horror? then the boy punches dave, makes his nose bleed, and says, don't you ever, ever, call my sister a whore again! read it if you like dave pelzer as much as me!

5 comments about My Name Escapes Me (Penguin Audiobooks).

1. Where BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE are more organized as memoirs, this is simply a sequence of diary entries prepared for publication. They show a great actor, the dean of Ealing comedies and (to his chagrin) the great Jedi Master, admiring the twilight in his retirement. This is a gentlemanly, sensitive, yet vibrantly witty writer who once described heaven as sitting with one or two friends, sharing a drink and savoring the silence. There are no peekaboo stories about celebrities or iconoclastic commentaries on the state of the world; just an appreciation for an interesting life well-lived, deliciously and intimately inscribed for us in these daily entries.

   For a more organized and literary memoir, the two titles mentioned above come highly recommended.




2. "My Name Escapes Me" is a book of actor Sir Alec Guinness' personal diary entries from January 1995 to June 1996, which he wrote with publication in mind. I have to give Sir Alec credit: His diary is not as tedious as most people's would be. His writing has a nice pace, and the book is mercifully short. But there simply isn't anything interesting about it. Sir Alec was 82 years old and retired when he wrote this diary. He spent most of his time relaxing at his country home. If he were working, he might have had more interesting anecdotes to relate or perhaps some insight into the process of putting on a play or making a movie to share. But it takes a more talented writer to make something interesting out of the mundane. Sir Alec mentions music that he likes, plays that he sees, books that he reads, art in various forms, but he never expounds on these subjects, so we don't learn anything about the subjects or about him. He doesn't seem to be an opinionated person. Opinions, however trying, might make for better reading. All in all, "My Name Escapes Me" gives the impression of a man of moderate writing talent and moderate intelligence. It's really too bad that no publisher asked Alec Guinness to write a diary for publication earlier in his life. His style is both literate and easy-going. If it had been applied to the life of a working actor, an insightful and highly readable book might have resulted. But as it is, I think only obsessively curious fans of Alec Guinness will find anything of interest in "My Name Escapes Me".



3. sir alec must have been a kind and gentle man. i found in this book that he was charming and witty and deliberately effacing. it takes us on a journey to his many memories of movies,tv,politics, and a great cast of characters that he's met over the years. it's a quiet and calm book. a very relaxing and entertaining read. and what a since of humor!



4. I haven't hear the audio version of Sir Alec's diary: don't need to since I can hear his voice in my head as I read. Gracious to a fault about his fellow actors, prickly about fans who invade his privacy (whether spying him at a museum or appearing in the back garden), exasperated at the Star Wars fame, he is a truly eccentric Englishman and proud of it. I love it when he admits he probably went on and on while telling a story; a common fault of the loquacious and the aging. Pokes fun at himself and endears himself all the more. Delightful.



5. In this, the first of his two volumes (so far, I hope) based on his journal, the great actor Sir Alec Guinness makes writing and reading seem as effortless as his acting. His graceful, lucid prose is remarkable, as are his observations and ruminations on his life, on the craft of acting (he never lets one forget that acting is a craft with exacting standards of professionalism), on his reading, on his religious life, on the world around him, and on his family and friends. He is one of the sharpest yet kindest observers of the human comedy, and reading him is not only an unalloyed pleasure but nourishing to the mind and the heart. Readers of this book should scour used-bookstores for BLESSINGS IN DISGUISE and should also hunt down his new book A POSITIVELY FINAL APPEARANCE.

1 comments about Marlene Dietrich: Life and Legend (4 Cassettes Read By Roddy Mcdowall).

1. Having read Maria Riva's book on her mother along with Dietrich's own autobiography, I didn't really expect any new revelations from this book -- but I couldn't have been more wrong! Mr. Bach is to be congratulated on his fascinating and respectable work honoring Miss Dietrich and her life. What a remarkable performer and a remarkable human being. We could sure use a few more like her in today's world. This is a must read for fans of the Lady and the Legend!!

5 comments about Devil in the Details.

1. I just finished reading Jennifer Traig's incredibly engaging memoir. Who knew a book about a serious condition- OCD, more specifically srucpulosity- would be so entertaining, yet endearing? I was constantly reading parts of the books outloud to my husband, who was wondering why I was giggling.
   Traig is both a gifted and clever author as she gives us an inside peak into a world of extreme religion and cleanliness.
   The story was captivating, the writing wonderful, and yes, the devil is in the details. If you are considering buying this book, definitely buy it. Put a tissue on your head and read it!!



2. Is it wrong to fall over laughing when reading a book about a person with severe OCD? If so, I'm in some deep cosmic trouble, because this was hilarious.
   
   "Scenes" aptly describes the book because, as Traig herself makes clear, her battles with the disease were sporadic. Plus, the book has scattered through it various (also very funny) quizzes, proofs, sample SAT questions, and so forth that give insight into the OCD mind. Somehow, Traig helps us find humor in the horror of bloody, chapped hands, anorexia, and hair-pulling. It's almost a hat trick; I'm not sure how she did it.
   
   Traig and her family, as presented in the book, are immensely likable and weather the bizzare with good humor. There are colorful portraits of them as well as of Traig; no member of her immediate family is there as a mere prop to her own story, which is a real strength in the book, something that helps make it more substantial than many of the more "me-centric" memoirs.
   
   Religion plays a heavy part in this memoir, something that many readers may not expect, but it was the key piece of Traig's disorder. I personally found it fascinating to read about, as so many elements of Orthodox Judaism were unfamiliar to me, and, again, I thought it gave the book a good deal of substance. Some readers may be put off by this element of the unfamiliar, while others may find it intriguing (and it certainly makes this book stand out from any other OCD memoir). The book becomes not just a "book about a girl with OCD" but also a more profound look at a girl coming to terms with her identity and faith. And again-- to be able to make all of this side-splittingly funny reveals rare talent indeed!



3. Intrigued by the excellent art design on the cover of this book, I recently enjoyed stepping into the mind of author Traig as a young girl struggling with a mental disorder amongst other pains of growing up. She writes with a very sardonic tone, which suits the serious subject quite well, making it a fun read instead of a potentially dreary one. The only aspect that seemed slightly out of place was how she didn't really wrap the memoir up with any sense of finality. There was hardly any sense of the author in the present tense, aside from a few mentions of her religious life currently. Perhaps the intent was to create a snapshot of her as an adolescent, but it seems like an abrupt ending to the book regardless. Would definitely recommend to anyone interested in reading a sharply written memoir.



4. Jennifer Traig uses a distinctive comic voice throughout this book that makes it very easy to read. The author describes the trials and tribulations of growing up with OCD, and her anecdotes are both poignant and funny. She provides a non-clinical point of view, describing the impact of OCD on her everyday life. I would recommend this book and am looking forward to reading more works by Traig.



5. I really liked this book. A good read about growing up, religion, family and OCD. I just saw that the author has another book, and I'm ordering that one right now! Good read!

5 comments about Ann Margaret: My Story (Cassette).

1. Ann-Margret gives us a wonderful and candid portrait of one of the most fascinating actresses in the business, her strengths and weaknesses, her wins and losses in both her professional and personal life. I have a great deal of respect for her as an actress, a lady and a woman. A good read.



2. She has always been one of my most favorite entertainers. She is a truly remarkable woman and reading this book reinforced that fact. I enjoyed every page. Well done, Ann-Margret!



3. This is a really good book well written, flows nicely and great story.



4. This review is based on hardcover 1994 publication...

   Accomplished actress, entertainer, wife, daughter, mother -- Ann-Margret writes an informative, entertaining autobiographical picture of her life, loves, losses, heartaches, and continued triumphs. Candidly, this performer tells of her successes but is also honest about her bouts with alcohol - and her triumph over the illness - more than once. It is interesting to note pride in her heritage from Valsjobyn, Sweden, her birthplace... with a close and loving relationship with her parents and their immigration to the US.

   To read Ann-Margret's autobiography is to cry, laugh, & cheer... reading of her downs but mostly ups, with her loving husband and manager Roger Smith, who battled his own nerve disease to remission, and remained at Ann-Margret's side to support her personally and professionally, through hard times and more good times. The loss of her father to cancer; the death of Elvis Presley; her accidental fall from a platform at a performance in Lake Tahoe and finding the astounding strength and determination to come back to the entertainment world so quickly from so many injuries suffered in that fall... tells of the inner strength, stability, astuteness, professional, unselfish and loving human being that is Ann-Margret, who always keeps her positive focus within reach.

   Ann-Margret's career began at an early age; even though a "natural talent", her success came with a lot of very hard work, high standards, and fortitude based on a mannerly upbringing and strong support by her parents, friends and husband Roger Smith. Ann-Margret describes in her bio a close and soulmate relationship within the scope of personal as well as professional essence with legendary Elvis Presley. Her upbeat description and tales of her co-stars, including "Duke" John Wayne; Claudette Colbert; Bette Davis; George Burns; directors, producers, along with many supportive individuals.

   Her range of talent is wide -- in song, dance... acting on stage, movie screen and television, along with her comedy performances among which are Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, and the great George Burns. Acting roles she assumed were highly challenging and to her credit she glowed with each performance, in differing genre delving into in-depth characterizations -- her repertoire includes but not limited to "Bye Bye Birdie", "Tommy", "Streetcar Named Desire", "Carnal Knowledge", "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles".

   This reader has always been a fan of both Ann-Margret and husband Roger Smith, ignoring the tabloid garbage... cheering and admiring the fortitude of both of these talented persons and their lasting relationship...

   And to Ann-Margret I say... thank you for writing your biography, even though it took me some years to get to reading it among my large collection of books. And, I am so glad I did... I am proud to be a "forever fan" of yours. God bless you.




5. I had the audiotape version, read by the author, and was surprised at how hokey it sounded, given that she is an actress. I mean, I expected a better reading. Not sure how well it represents her, but the book makes her come across as a bit shallow. I've enjoyed her movies, but found this book a bore.

1 comments about James Herriot's World of Animals: A Collection of Stories from the World's Most Beloved Veterinarian.

1. This audio collection is a repackaging of Herriot's Cat Stories, Dog Stories, and Animal Stories. I've never listened to any of Herriot's work (or read any for that matter!)--these stories are terrific. They remind me of Miss Read. This is another great addition to your "car trip" audio book collection!