5 comments about Not the Girl Next Door: Joan Crawford, a Personal Biography.

1. I had read a book about Ingrid Bergman by Charlotte Chandler and thought that the book about Joan Crawford would be the same. It was not, it was much worse.
   
   From the title I thought that Charlotte Chandler would a least touch on the abuse that Christina Crawford detailed in Mommy Dearest. Instead the readers are given quotes from Myra Loy who said that she did not want children because of Christina and Christopher Crawford, as well as quotes by one of the twins Joan adopted in 1947 saying that there was no abuse in the Crawford household.
   
   One other thing that the author did not do was research. When writing about Joan Crawford's birth she listed 1908 as the year of her birth when there is evidence that she was born in 1905 and Christina Crawford says Anna (Joan's mother) told her that she was born in 1904.
   
   If you want to know more about Joan Crawford, do not waste your time or money on this book.



2. This really doesn't come across as a biography, it lacks the intensive research that one would generally associate with such an undertaking. Rather, it's Joan talking to Chandler about her life, and where there are no direct quotes available from Crawford, we can get them from her first husband, Douglas Fairbanks. Joan Crawford has many legends associated with her, and they are pretty much breezed over in this book.
   
   One thing I loved was the photo of the author on the blurb. I haven't seen a hairdo like that since the days of Marie Antoinette!



3. I always find myself disappointed in biographies of Movie Stars, and this was the same. Joan Crawford is a remarkable woman, who made herself into the person she wanted and thought she should be. Entirely told by the author in Joan's words, supposedly. Obviously alot of whitewash, which is in line with Joan Crawfords image of herself, but I could have done without the synopsis of all her movies that were included, it seemed like filler, and overall, I was disappointed.



4. WONDERFUL READ - DON'T QUITE FOLLOW THE TIMELINE OF HER LIFE AND CHILDREN, BUT QUITE SATISFIED.



5. This perfunctory but hardly spectacular new Crawford bio doesn't have much to offer that is new, and relies far too heavily on "as spoken to" interviews with its conveniently dead subjects to make a literary dent. One gets the unsavory impression that the author just dreamed up the words & sentiments, then put them in the dead people's mouths.
   
   Atleast the bulk of it is harmless-- though after while, you may find yourself wishing it wasn't! Confronting chapter after chapter of overly-sanitized, pro-Joan propaganda becomes rather boring without any conflicts, or revelations about a woman I thought, until now, was complex. The most interesting accounts are from Douglas Fairbanks Jr. reminiscing about his married life with young Joan, although even that is devoid of any bombshells.
   
   I also agree with other reviewers that some of the film synopsis are grossly inaccurate, as are some of the captions. For example, there' a picture from "Dancing Lady" of Joan with Clark Gable with the caption, "Dancing Lady was made before Clark Gable had his mustache."--and he CLEARLY has a mustache in the pic!
   
   Despite these & other inaccuracies, "Not the Girl Next Door" is still a pleasant enough, if lightweight read,especially for Crawford novices-- with a fair to good photo section. But far superior are Bob Thomas's "Joan Crawford: A Biography" and Alexander Walker's "Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Star".

1 comments about The Life and Works of Beethoven (Naxos Audio).

1. Naxos is doing a wonderful job with its emerging "Life and Works" series. Quite some time ago, we had a Life/Works of Mozart, more recently one of Chopin and now two more, Liszt and Beethoven. Both are even better packaged than are the earlier sets, with a thick booklet that offers us essays on the historical background, the position of the composer in his time, a look at the major works, a listening plan, recommended readings, personalities, a calendar of the artist's life, a glossary, a discography--and finally something I thought I would never see, the text of the recording's narration. This booklet is worth the price of the set alone.

   The Liszt set starts with the sound of artillery, the Beethoven with the sound of a cork popping. A good way to grab your attention, surely, but also to make you think they packaged the wrong disc in the jewel case!

   Written and narrated by Jeremy Siepmann, the production enlists some excellent actors to play the people in the composer's life. In the "Beethoven" set (8.558024-27), we have Bob Peck as the usually tormented voice of Beethoven, who is joined by David Timson, Neville Jason, Elaine Claxton, and Karen Archer as the voices of Beethoven's friends, critics, and loves. The musical selections are drawn from the bottomless well of Naxos recordings.

   As I commented with regard to the other sets, the music is well chosen but some of it simply lasts too long for those who are eager to get on to the facts of the composer's life. On the other hand, this IS called the Life and Works series, and perhaps a balance is to be maintained between the two aspects.

   Beethoven's idiosyncrasies make a good comparison with those of Chopin, the former doing everything he could to call attention to himself, the latter withdrawn--but both acting like bloody fools in so many ways. Perhaps that is the price of genius. The tale of his "Immortal Beloved" is briefly treated here, but it is fascinating to follow his amores, which are invariably with women he could never hope to attain. The most surprising element is his early popularity as a Very Witty Person, an estimate he quickly lost when deafness came upon him.

   Along with the other three sets, a both fascinating and informative recording.

   Question: ...

5 comments about Warped Factors: A Neurotic's Guide to the Universe.

1. I don't think I've ever read a memoir or autobiography that didn't shine most in its early pages, when recounting the author's childhood. It's certainly true of this one, though perhaps I'm biased, because I too grew up in NYC, attending public schools that, even 15 years after Mr. Koenig's experience, bore a spooky resemblance to his, down to the sadistic second-grade and mannish fifth-grade teachers. On the other hand, I'm not sure I've read another autobiography that began to fray quite as quickly as this one did. My complaints, briefly:
   
   1) The edition of Warped Factors I read was published in 1997 by Taylor Publishing Company. Let's hope Taylor has a fantastic distribution system; that, or it took absolutely no cut from the income on this book other than printing costs--because I can't see that it did anything else that publishers ordinarily do, such as discuss coherence and continuity with the author, correct errors in grammar and vocabulary, or even read through page proofs. (There are lines in the book which lose their flush right margin all of a sudden, for no reason that I can see.) While the jumpy margins are just a strange printing phenomenon that might cause a reader to question an author's judgment but not literacy, literacy does become an issue over things like misspellings ("wildlife," not "wild life"), word choice ("formidable," not "formative," personality) and misquotes (I won't embarrass anyone here because I'm sure both the author and the publisher have had it pointed out already; if not: it's the quote that starts out Shakespeare and ends Robert Burns, and if that's still not enough, see me after class). Is it Los Angeles (see more below)? Is it that on The Coast, away from New York's literary elite, Mr. Koenig could not find anyone--a writer for the Simpson's, maybe?--who'd zip through his oeuvre and point out errors and awkwardness? Or, a more ominous thought, did he just want to do it his own way?
   
   2) This leads to the more dismaying point--the author himself. And here I have to confess to being one of those 12-year-old girls who thought Mr. Chekov was the cutest thing since Davy Jones. I continue to be impressed with his wit and humor. However, I am left with the strong impression that he is too smart for Hollywood, and his book--deliberately, I think--gives no clues to why he stayed, except to keep insisting that he's neurotic and loves the craft of acting. Another reviewer made a comparison of Mr. Koenig to Woody Allen, and there's some truth there. I grew up with boys like Woody and Walter in the back of my classroom (that would be PS 169); they were kids who'd today be zonked out on ritalin or the equivalent; they were funny (to the kind of girl who appreciated the Three Stooges) and smart, even if they were underachievers--Bart Simpson with brains. Of course they were neurotic kids; the world and their mothers didn't know what to do with them. But most of them figured things out. By high school they were hitting their stride and maturing. That's what it boils down to: A 6-year-old boy is cute; a 46-year-old boy is . . . not cute. I read the autobiography of Grace Lee Whitney, who played Yeoman Janice Rand; she had bigger problems and fewer advantages, and yet she seems to have made some forward motion towards growing up. (Yes, I know Woody Allen's line: "I used to be a heroin addict; now I'm a methadone addict.")
   
   I'm going to give Mr. Koenig the benefit of the doubt here. I'm going to assume that in private he's just as thoughtful, solid, grounded, and wise as any other man nearing retirement age. He made a decision in writing this book to eliminate information that would embarrass his family and friends but that might give the reader a clue to his personality and motivation as an adult. The result is a frolic of wacky anecdotes about a hapless, non-observant Jewish actor from New York who finds himself in Hollywood and who just never learns his lesson.
   
   It sounds like a life in sitcom form. Maybe it's time for the Koenigs to relocate somewhere where if life is going to imitate anything, it will be art, not TV.



2. Everybody knows that all the actors in Star Trek did their autobiographies, so , I thought, why not read this one? I was in for a surprise! I usually don't comment a book I didn't finish but maybe Mr Koenig should have seen a psychiatrist longer than in his youth. Why write something like that? Jokes are cheap, writing is erring at best, thoughts are at random (an editor,please!!!!) not much to say, really... He does have an interesting career but must he explain all his doubts and neuroses too? It is honest , I know, but I prefer to read about Career & Life...
   I got fed up ... I would have read DeForrest Kelley instead...
   If you want something really interesting to read about the less "principal" characters in Star Trek OS, go to Takei's or Nichols books: THAT is worth it!



3. Walter Koenig writes candidly about his experiences with Star Trek and many other topics regarding his career as an actor and writer. His recollections of his years on the TOS is quite interesting and provides quite a bit of "behind the scene" glimpses of certain episodes..Being a die hard Trekkie, I found this book to be a very enjoyable read! I have also read the other supporting cast member's books and feel that Walter's is one of the most articulate and amusing..some of his recollections of his "life on the road" with James Doohan and George Takei making video store appearances are hilarious!
   
   Walter also write deeply about his feelings toward William Shatner and reveals how hurt he felt on a couple of occasions..
   After reading the other cast member's books you can't help but feel that there was "something" going on there...It's kind of like if you worked for a company for many years and are treated as if you were "nothing" and just a body to kick around..
   
   I'm sure in life there are many who are placed into this role who feel extremely stressed and down..it's no different with actors I'm sure..However, Walter seemed to maintain his dignity throughout..sometimes in life you just have to live by "the golden rule"..Treat others as you would like to be treated.." I think if everyone followed this simple principle life would be grand!
   
   Star Trek has given pleasure to many fans around the world and it is quite interesting to read the memoirs of cast members to truly see how the show has affected their lives and to laugh at their interesting anecdotes! There are plenty to be found in this book and asides from talking about Star Trek, Walter talks about his career as a struggling actor in the beginning and his later career as a writer. Walter writes very well and I feel he should write more books on other topics! He definitely has a talent in this area!
   
   I've never watched Babylon 5 so I'm not familiar with his role as Alfred Bester but I have seen all 79 TOS episodes and all 6 of the films so I am quite aware of his work as Chekhov..It would be interesting to see Walter in some of his other work..As an example..I recently saw George Takei in "The Encounter"..a classic Twilite Zone spisode and was blown away by his acting! George's role was very powerful however, you were never really able to witness it much in Star Trek..I think that's why some of the other supporting cast members held some resentment towards Shatner because they felt that he was trying to minimize their contributions..hearing Shatner's take on it in the wonderful documentary, "Mind Meld" with Leonard Nimoy..you feel as if Shatner felt these claims were trivial and that he truly did not understand what these actors were going through..I really have a hard time believing that...Walter, although hurt by Shatner's behavior over the years still has a begrudging respect for him as do the others with the exception of perhaps..James Doohan.
   
   Anyways, if you are a Trekkie this book is a must read and an important one to have in your collection! It's very entertaining and insightful!



4. While a decent portion of the book focuses on Star Trek, most of it does not. This is a book about Walter Koenig, a self-admittedly neurotic actor. For me, this difference made the book very enjoyable. Here you will get a humorous look into the actor's life, complete with looking for work, working as a hotel package boy, dealing with agent's lies, and more. This book was a lot of fun.



5. I've just got into Star Trek and decided to read some of the books the cast wrote. The first book I read was Walter's book. He told some hilarious stories, but yet he told about the serious stuff too.

   I've heard that some, if not all of the cast had issues with William Shatner. Walter could've made this a dirt book and tell about every dirty thing Shatner ever did to him. Walter didn't do that. He let it be known that he wasn't happy with some of the things Shatner did it on the set, but the whole book wasn't about that. I've read other books where stars and costars just let out all the bad feelings and the book turns out negative because it turns into 'I hate him because he did this and that, this and that, this and that- etc' I repeat that Walter's book ISN'T like that. It's worth a read if you are a Star Trek fan.

5 comments about Beyond Uhura.

1. very worth reading, even if you aren't much into Star Trek stuff.
   
   Especially interesting for me was, of course, the struggle it was for a young talented black woman to get a space in a succesful TV show in the 60s. It seems astounding, from our perspective, that her story was so difficult, and that she almost wouldn't have remained in Star Trek at all without a chance encounter with none other than Martin Luther King.
   
   If you are interested in civil rights and/or showbiz intrigue, you'll certainly love this. What a lady!



2. This autobiography by Nichelle Nichols reflects upon her life, as a black actress, facing racism of her times and breaking them with certain amount of courage and skills. First half of the book retells the story of her life prior to Star Trek, her education, training and people whom she met, some who were helpful while others who were not. Her occasional slide into self praise is typical of many memoirs, not atypical.
   
   But for most people who read this book, they read it because they are Star Trek fans and second part of the book don't disappointed them at all. She goes into all sort of interesting tales about her experiences in Star Trek that brought her to the forefront. Her story on how Martin Luther King talked her into staying on the show, her frustration with the limited role she was having and her relationships with her co-workers while still fighting occasional racism at the studios proves to be an set of very interesting and telling stories. She continued on with her stories on the Star Trek movies as well as her work with NASA.
   
   Like Jimmy Doohan and George Takei books, Nichols seem to have problems with William Shatner. From the three of them, Shatner does not seem to be a very generous actor and by design or not, William Shatner often end up sounding like a self centered cad. Its interesting that almost every Star Trek actor have problems with Shatner. But she was generous enough to say that Shatner as a director of Star Trek V, was most wonderful person. Doohan and Takei had no kind words for Shatner in their books.
   
   Intersting reading material for all Star Trek fans. Story of Nichelle Nichols proves to be one of courage and determination that marked her a very special woman. In some ways, that make the color of her skin immaterial in the end.



3. I really enjoyed this book. Nichelle tells lots of great stories. A couple of times it would get a little bogged down in details about all her various gigs, but for the most the book moved quickly. She begins with her multi-racial family living thru segregation. She goes on to tell stories about how her carreer evolved, her brush with gangsters running the entertainment industry, her relationship with Gene Roddenbery, how insensitive Bill Shatner was to his cast mates, and by contrast, how egalitarian Leonard Nimoy was, and about her work with NASA recruiting astronauts. There are many, many fascinating stories in this book.



4. I just came from reviewing Walter Koenig's book and I'd like to take the chance to review Nichelle's book. Nichelle's is the 2nd ST book I've read this week.

   I liked Uhura on Star Trek, but after reading Nichelle's book I admire her even more. Nichelle is a brave woman and she had to put up with a bunch of [stuff] to get where she did. If you read her book, you'll see she met a few people that made racial comments to her and treated her badly because of her skin color. I don't know Nichelle, but I must say that I admire her bravery to put up with some of the stuff she had to put up with.

   Let me move onto her Star Trek days. I was entertained by the chapters talking about Star Trek. Like Walter Koenig's book, she didn't really talk about the issues with William Shatner. She skimmed the surface, but then I reach the end of the book where Bill wants to interview her for his Star Trek Memories book. She did sound upset that William betrayed her trust, but she didn't spend the whole book dissing him. It's just my guess, but I get the feeling when I read James Doohan's book that's when I'll see the dissing start. I like every Star Trek cast member, including Bill Shatner and I'm still going to like every member whether or not Bill did have a chip on his shoulder.

   Anyway, Nichelle's book is def. worth a read.




5. Hi ... as if my Review Title isn't "controversial" enough. Might I first note, with sick fascination, the overwhelming majority of occasions on which We Of Varied "Colors" wildly [ and customarily, VIOLENTLY ] flail away at each other ? Ruefully, therefore, even when Gayle Sayer's beautiful autobiography, I Am Third, was *not* out-of-print, hardly ANYbody, Black -or- White, decided it worth the time to read, among other chapters, Gayle's summary of his friendship with Brian Piccolo entitled "Pick." As my segue into some brief remarks on Nichelle Nichols autobiography, Beyond Uhura, might I specify: look to a verse in the Beautiful Beatles song "A Day In The Life" wherein Paul McCartney, I believe, sings "The Crowd of People turned *away* ... BUT I just *had* to look ... having Read the book." That's what I think, and feel, about Ms. Nichols splendid autobiography. What a wonderful Lady, and how very gracious, talented, lovely (in AND out), non-bigoted, non-judgemental, and holy she is ! Her autobiography is an invaluable, indispensable read for we who vituperously segment ourselves into separate "Races" ( check out the Graham Nash song, if you will, titled "There's Only One" ) and stick hurtful, derogatory LABELS upon anyone but OURSELVES. Nichelle, like Gayle, simply tells us the TRUTH, and like Mr. Sayers, Nichelle relates Truth to us like the genuine, loving Christian she is !!

5 comments about Call Me by My True Names: The Life, Poetry, and Teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh.

1. There are many wonderful introductions to the work, life and ideas of Thich Nhat Hanh, and this is both one of the more unexpected, and one of the finest.
   
   CALL ME BY MY TRUE NAMES is a comprehensive collection of Thich Nhat Hanh's poetry, presented here with occasional brief comments from the author following many of the poems. I initially purchased this for the comparatively famous title piece, which is a work of extraordinary moral power, and also of extraordinary literary control.
   
   From start to finish here, the writing is economical and plainspoken - but not 'plain': to draw feeble Western connections, this is a distant stylistic cousin to the likes of Dickens, or perhaps Steinbeck - rather than resort to gimmicks, or technical flash, Thich Nhat Hanh has the respect or confidence in his own voice (or the voices of characters) to allow that voice clear expression.
   
   Thus, a collection of dignity and skill. The Vietnamese Zen ideals and ideas Thich Nhat Hanh has been developing, exploring and living for decades are expressed with precision and grace, and he doesn't have to ask for a readers' interest - this work sparkles with calm dignity and life.
   
   -David Alston



2. We were there the day Thich Nhat Hanh gave his lecture at Grace Cathedral. We were there, simply enough, praying in thebold Cathedral at the top of Nob Hill, having just stopped in to get out of the chilly fog on a windswept afternoon. People with dark suits and lengths of lavender ribbons were festooning the nave and aisles of the church with color and flowers, and placed a large jar of proteus on the podium floor. We later discovered that proteus was the favorite flower of Thich Nhat Hanh, and you can hear him croon with pleasure on the tape about the flowers, and if you do not understand the reference immediately, he's talking about how he sees proteus all over the world, so it's like a universal symbol of love.
   
   We soon found out that Thich Nhat Hanh and his organization had sold tickets to hear this lecture but miracle of miracles, they did not kick us out, but allowed us to stay even though we did not pay the minimal fees charged. And what a lecture, filled with poetry and the pedagogy of love. By the time we went outside, the sun had burst out, and you could see a rainbow towering over Nob Hill with one end buried in the Mission and the other by Coit Tower. Afterwards we saw Thich Nhat Hanh, accompanied by two children, scampering through the famous maze in the pavement in front of Grace Cathedral. With glee they negotiated the twists and turns that baffle Western man.



3. As many of us may (or may not) be aware, Nhat Hanh is at once a renowned Buddhist monk, a poet, and activist for peace; especially peace sought after during war time. This particular book brings together a collection of 100+ poems he has written and orated over 40 years. Each one gives the reader a glimpse into the very heart of this real life bodhisattva. Call Me By My True Names is perhaps one of his most profound and important, for it penetrates one's dualistic mode of thinking to the point of acknowledging all nature is within my own nature. True understanding stems from realizing there is no other in a traditional sense. What there should only be is, "How can I help this world?" Call Me By My True Names is awe-inspiring, one of the most powerful texts on interconnection and being I've ever happened to read. And simple, so clear.

   This book covers practically every aspect of a spiritual life in it's contents, and it is my wish you will buy it. It should be on all beings shelves, for it's prose is delivered deep from the heart of a modern bodhisattva.




4. This book is something special. Call me by my true names is more than a collection of poems by some crusty old Zen guy. The author's clarity and enlightening style have cut through my muddy mind like a knife through butter. I sit here covered in Goosebumps because Thich Nhat Hahn's poetry resonates with the voice of Buddha.

   Call me by my true names is nothing short of spectacular.




5. His simple words reveal an ocean of truth of miseries, hopes, memories & dreams a normal citizen had, when Vietnam was bleeding.It also has all the good things that we have ever heard from elders or read somewhere. Simple yet powerful this collection is a close encounter with nature and life.

5 comments about Star Trek Memories.

1. Worth every penny - Chock full of fascinating details about all the backstage and front office folks, and some about the cast. Doesn't go into individual episodes much, and we actually don't hear all that much about Bill Shatner's Star Trek experience: it's more like Bill is the narrator for EVERYONE ELSE'S Star Trek memories. As a die-hard Shatner worshipper I was bummed about that; still, the book has enough juicy backstage scoop to be a really fun read.



2. While Star Trek made a great deal of television history, there were many other significant consequences. To the best of my knowledge, it was the first show to make significant profits via syndication. It was so popular that three subsequent television series, "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Star Trek: Voyager" each ran for years. Finally, there is also the enormous number of books about Star Trek. I own nearly one hundred Star Trek novels and have read nearly every one of the "memories" books written by a major cast member of the original series.
   In this book, Shatner sets down many of his recollections about the original series. To his credit, Shatner is very honest about things, giving all of the other major players the opportunity to contribute to the book. Those contributions are included even when they are critical of his actions on and off camera. In defense of Shatner, it is difficult to see how it could have been any other way. This was a show about a quasi-military ship that by necessity had to operate independently of any central command structure. The captain of the ship was lord of his surroundings, so the premise of the show was that all the action had to resolve around the captain. Secondly, television shows, especially in that period of time, revolved around the stars of the show.
   These are the reasons why I have always taken comments critical of Shatner by the secondary members of the cast with a grain of salt. Had the show simply languished and died off, none of them would have ever achieved the fame that they did. Therefore, they are criticizing the very means whereby they achieved their fame.
   As Shatner makes very clear in this book, all the members of the cast and production crew were under enormous pressure to get the work done. Given those circumstances, it is amazing that more serious and lasting rifts between the principals did not occur. The fact that they did not speaks to the sense of purpose and community that existed between them.



3. After reading this book, I was able to tell that William Shatner knows how to write! Not that I had any doubts, but this book is so intriguing, it feels like he is talking to me as a friend while I read. This is written like a documentary, and it is just as interesting. There are facts in here that I never knew, and stories are told about things that happened in front of and behind the camera. About the smallest detail of how Star Trek works that you wanted to know is talked about. Shatner not only talks about and interviews the cast, but the behind the scenes set builders and script writers among other people that are revealed and talked about.
   
   The book is written in a light hearted, joking way, with Shatner making fun of himself and having fun at other people's expense. The only problem I had is that the book also kind of brags on how great Shatner is, and how many problems some of the other cast members had while filming. Coming from the man who wrote the book, it feels kind of like an ego trip since it occurs many times throughout the read. There is also a very nice collection of pictures that are on some of the pages that shows behind the scenes laughs and on set memorable scenes. Overall, this is a book I recommend to all fans. It hardly ever gets dull and by the end, it feels too short and could have lasted longer.



4. The first big chunk of this book is taken up with giving lots of attention and credit to Gene Roddenberry and the many people behind the scenes, and explaining the interworkings of network TV- very interesting to those who like to know how the series was created and why it started losing in the ratings wars and why it was eventually cancelled.
   
   I would have loved to hear more about the crew of the USS Enterprise and enjoyed immensely the few stories related. The book became much more interesting once he launched into the separate sections with the interviews with Grace Lee Whitney, Leonard Nimoy, Nichelle Nichols, but there was not much on the rest of the crew. The format used of letting others speak for themselves was unique and entertaining. The conversational style of writing made one feel right at home. William Shatner is a fine actor and a gifted writer. Obviously, he was the star of the series and movies and that caused much friction, especially since the other cast members didn't let him know when he upset them or hurt their feelings. I would have loved to read much more concerning all the crew of the Starship Enterprise. "The Captain" turned the spotlight on the cast and crew but overall kept out of the spotlight in this book. Since William Shatner has all the notes from extensive interviews and possibly the ability to gain more information from the other actors, I would love to see one more book on our Star Trek heroes.



5. Keep in mind going in that William Shatner (with Chris Kreski) set down these "Star Trek Memories" a quarter century after Gene Roddenberry's "Wagon Train to the stars" aired on television, so this is not a contemporaneous account by the actor of the television that made him a pop culture icon. In fact, this memoir begins with a mea culpa from Shatner, who acknowledges that he was "Blind with personal problems, with fatigue and with the necessity of spending those incredibly hard hours shooting 'Star Trek,' the series." Sometime between the end of the series and when he wrote this book Shatner apparently made a transition from being a supreme egotist to someone who can make fun of his own persona (the man sold his kidney stone for charity this week), passing somewhere along the way the Shatner who did the infamous "Star Trek" convention skit on "Saturday Night Live."
   
   Shatner began writing this book on the final day of shooting "Stark Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country," which was being promoted as "the final voyage of the Starship 'Enterprise/.'" Consequently, Shatner found himself in a nostalgic state of mind, and goes back to the beginning. "Star Trek Memories" proceeds chronologically, from the creation of the series, when Shatner was not the captain of the "Enterprise," to the show's cancellation. Of course around the same time that Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, "Star Trek" was becoming enormously popular in syndication, which is why there were all those new "Star Trek" movies and television series. However, the epilogue to this book is not about the success of "Star Trek" after the original series, but about Shatner learning what his co-workers thought about him, his efforts to reconcile with them, and his regrets over the lack of stronger friendships. The final subject of the book is Roddenberry's death and the legacy of "Star Trek."
   
   In covering the three seasons of "Star Trek," Shatner tells what he remembers about the various episodes and guest stars, with his developing friendship with Leonary Nimoy a constant element. But not as much as the series of practical jokes that took place on the "Star Trek" set. There are chapters devoted to the Shatner's favorite episode, "The Devil in the Dark," which was filmed the week Shatner buried his father, and Harlan Ellison's "City on the Edge of Forever." There is much more about the first two seasons than the show's third and final season when it became obvious cancellation was inevitable. The story of the "Save 'Star Trek'" campaign receives more attention from Shatner than the season it produce, which makes sense. The result is a decent but certainly not comprehensive look back at the history of the television show, Die-hard fans should read in paperback as opposed to hardback. Shatner and Kreski followed this book up with "Star Trek Movie Memories," which continues the actor's journey to the death of the character of James T. Kirk.
   
   In addition to his recollections and anecdotes, Shatner includes the personal recollections of cast members, producers, designers, and crew, who are able to provide some different perspectives on the series (No surprise, Nimoy provides thoughtful insights, but my favorite is Nichelle Nichols getting to the heart of the NBC suits worried about the first interracial kiss on television, which, Shatner reveals, did not really happen). There are also more than 120 photographs and illustrations scattered throughout the book, most of which include wry captions because while Shatner might be willing to give up his ego, he is always going to go for the laugh. It is clearly pathological with the man, which explains why he has won consecutive Emmy Awards as Denny Crane on "Boston Legal."

4 comments about Goodbye Jumbo: Hello Cruel World.

1. Louie Anderson continues to battle the demons of his dysfunctional upbringing in this second of his three books. In his first book, Dear Dad, Louie focused on his abusive father's alcoholism and the impact it has had on the comedian's life and overall psychological well being. In this book, he tries to come to grips with his own obesity and the negative impact it has had on his life. He largely attributes it to his father's alcoholism and the lack of love he received as a child. Anderson's reflections are often laugh out loud funny. Yet, throughout the book, there is an overall sense of pain. As somebody who grew up battling obesity (I eventually lost 150 lbs), I can understand the psychological abuse that fat people receive on a daily basis. They are insulted, ridiculed, and treated like outcasts. This leaves the victim feeling angry, bitter, and very lonely. He or she turns to food to ease the pain, which only makes the problem worse. For anybody who has battled obesity, this book will be very therapeutic. If you've never had a weight problem, this book will no doubt give you more compassion for those who have. The 250 page book is an easy, quick read and is very inspiring.



2. Louie Anderson once again brings the struggles of his life to print, and opens up his heart and soul. I found this book even better than his first. I hope he decides to keep writing, he is very talented at bringing the reader into his situation.



3. Funny and poignant, from Anderson's heart and stomach are a guide to life, coping, eating, love, comedy, and performing. Also manages to be downright hilarious with straight-ahead stand-up comedy. Somehow it all works. And very nicely, too. Inspired and inspiring.



4. Louie Anderson does a wonderful job of revealing the true self. Especially the dialogue where he becomes Jumbo the elephant. He never mentioned a Love interest (human, not food) who could be support he so needed during these transitions he struggled with, the treadmill, death of his mom, selling the home, etc. Louie remains a real human, down to earth, complete with dysfunctional family. It was difficult to see him as the superstar wealthy comedian image we see. Whether it is food or some other controlling addiction, low self-esteem, children of alcoholics, pained school years, many can relate to his struggle. A good book by a funny man!

5 comments about Finding Fish.

1. Finding Fish, by Antwone Fisher, is a passionate and heart wrenching look into the life of the author as a ward of the state. Thankfully, he escapes the terrors of his childhood and eventually finds success. Fisher writes with a distinctive voice. He is able to convey the emotions of the young boy he portrays in the memoir, rather than telling the story through the voice of an adult. The memoir is an honest, and shocking, look into the world of an orphan without anyone to protect him. His father had been shot two months before his birth and his mom is in prison. Throughout his life with the Picketts,his foster parents, Antwone is forced through horrific events that are painful to read about. He is molested at a young age by a babysitter, beaten, mentally abused, and treated like a ghost. He becomes reserved and shy, lacking love and the comfort of a family. Even worse, his social workers are sadly oblivious to the abuse because the Picketts are able to transform into respectable and polite adults when in public. Remarkably, Antwone braves through his torturous childhood, as well as homelessness for a short time, and finds himself in the Navy. This becomes his miracle, and inspires him to do more with his life. He finds himself traveling around the world, educating himself about different cultures as well as teaching himself English with the help of a thesaurus. In comparison to his childhood, Antwone is in paradise. This transition from a hopeless child with no allies in the world to a strong, successful Navy officer illustrates a major theme in the memoir. No matter how horrible somebody's life is, with perseverance and hope it is possible to achieve anything. Although Antwone is thrown into a terrible life, he finds his own success and thankfully escapes his past and finds happiness. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and any reader will become attached to Antwone, rooting for him against the negativity in his life.



2. and taught me something. It taught me how much we all share--the need to belong, for family, to search, to question. This book is unexpected tender and this boy's journey impacted my own journey, my own questions of family, of accceptance.
   ~Carol D. O'Dell
   Author, MOTHERING MOTHER
   Kunati Publishing, April 2007



3. At first I resisted this book because it seemed to be written by an adult looking over his childhood from a very mature place. However, late in the book it is a revelatory experience to find that this is exactly what happened when an unfair accusation concerning Antwone at age 25 during his Navy experience 'caused' him to buy a dictionary, a thesorus and learn writing almost from scratch at this age. He soon found that he couldn't stop. Later he wrote this book that has become a best seller very deservedly. It is full of remarkable coincidences that could not be other than genuine because of hundreds of tiny clews that all add up to this person having been there. This is a profound work concerning human holistic Intelligence that Confirms Joseph Pierce's 'Magical Child Matures."



4. Finding Fish was a good book. I first learned of Antowne Fisher a few years ago when he appeared on the Montell Williams show. After hearing his story on the show I immediately wanted to go out and buy his book to find out more about this wonderful young man but could never find the book. A few years went by and then a movie of his life was made. After seeing the movie, which I thought was very good, I decided that the movie did a good job of telling his story and that I no longer wanted to purchase the book. Some years later I was in a book store looking for some books to purchase and came across Finding Fish on the book shelf. Since I was in a thrift book store I said what the heck and purchased this book along with some others. Well needless to say it was meant for me to read this book. The movie just touched on a small portion of his life and did nothing to give us a better understanding of Antwone's full story. The book went into more detail and was just phenomenal. I have such respect and admiration for Mr. Fisher and all that he endured. The saying is true: "All things happen for a reason" were it not for his horrific
   childhood I don't think Antwone would be the man he is today. Kudows for Mr. Fisher!! If you have not read this book I recommend you do.



5. Wow..if you thought the movie was thought provoking..
   the book is beyond that!
   This book covers Antwone's childhood, where in the movie,
   we only saw a taste of it.
   This book tells the story of a little boy who beat the odds,
   and used his innate ability to survive, extreme verbal, emotional
   sexual and physical abuse.

1 comments about The Carpenter's Apprentice: The Spiritual Biography of Jimmy Carter.

1. Dan Ariail is the pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia and Maranatha is the home Church of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter where they are active members. Rev. Ariail with the assistance of Cheryl Heckler-Feltz has attempted to put together a book that sheds some light on the Carter's spiritual life. It is indeed hard to understand the Presidency and post-Presidency of James Earl Carter without coming to grips with his basic religious beliefs. After all, while most former Presidents of both parties spend most of their time making huge sums of money or just relaxing, Jimmy Carter has done more to help more people than almost any man alive has. What is it that drives this wonderful man as he seeks to do good day after day? According to this book and several by Carter himself it is the former President's faith in God and his relationship with Christ.

   Unfortunately, this book is mostly made up of accounts that have already been written about by Carter in his own books. In fact, if one were to combine several of Carter's books, this could be the condensed version. There are also too many long quotes from Carter's speeches and Sunday school lessons included in the text. With the book being as short as it is I felt the space could have been better used. Especially if it had been used to gain some extra insight from a man who knows Mr. & Mrs. Carter so well. I finished this book thinking a great opportunity had been missed.

   There are however several wonderful insights to be found in this book. For example there are stories of Jimmy Carter going out with his Pastor to visit new families in the community which is just as much a part of his Christian outreach as are his diplomatic efforts. The last section of the book is basically a tourist information chapter for those planning a trip to Plains. Just last year my wife and I went to Plains and this chapter would have been a great help. Especially the section about visiting Maranatha Church. We managed to make the Church visit and were in the President's Sunday school class. After the service we were able to have our picture made with the former First Family and found that they are gracious and lovely people. If nothing else, this book will help you plan for such a trip so you can share with my wife and I in this once in a lifetime experience. We would have had a much easier time if I had had this book back then.

   If you are a Carter fan you will probably already be familiar with most of the material in this book but you will probably enjoy it anyway. If nothing else you will get a little insight into the personality of Billy Carter from someone outside the family. Billy was also a member of Maranatha and the Sunday we were there his widow was singing in the choir. On the other hand, if you don't really know much about the family Carter this book would be a great learning experience. For those who have already read Jimmy Carter's books this would be a two star selection while for those new to the Carter story it would be worth four stars. I guess I'll have to average it out at three.

5 comments about Serving in Silence.

1. This book tells the story of Margarethe Cammermeyer, a woman who challenged the army's regulation against homosexuality. Cammermeyer was born in Norway but came to the US with her family when she was a small child. As a teenager, she thought she would become a doctor like her father, but faced with the freedoms of college-life, wasn't able to make the grades. Instead she found herself drawn to nursing. An acquaintance got her interested in the challenges and adventure of army nursing, so she gave it a try. She soon found that army life was an ideal match for her career-oriented nature. She served with her husband in Vietnam. When she had children, she was forced to leave the army, for a while, but regulations eventually changed, and she was able to re-enlist as a reservist. During her long career in the army and national guard, she won many honors. Her goal was to become a general before she retired. However, to do this, she needed a top-secret security clearance, which required an in-depth background interview. It was during this interview that she admitted that she was a lesbian. Suddenly, the army found it no longer had any use for her skills or experience. Cammermeyer was flabbergasted at this response, and began a campaign against the regulations which forbid professed homosexuals from serving their country in uniform.
   
   The book begins with description of an ugly event that happened on the day Cammermeyer was forced out of the Washington National Guard. The text in this chapter is so angry, I almost put the book down without reading further because I wanted to read about her life, not her anger. Fortunately, I kept reading, and found myself quite taken with Cammermeyer's coming of age story. As Cammermeyer came to adulthood in the early 1960s, young women didn't have a lot of say in running their lives. They were expected to do what they were told, and what they were supposed to do, like marry, have children, keep house, and leave the career-building for the men. In trying to play her part, Cammermeyer married, had children, tried settling down on the farm. But coincident with the women's movement, she noticed that she wasn't satisfied with these actions, and set out to get advanced degrees so that she could push her career into high gear. Her husband felt threatened and abandoned by her new attitude of independence, and this led eventually to an acrimonious divorce. After the divorce, Cammermeyer had time to think about what she really wanted and liked in life, and it was at this time that she realized her innate sexual orientation. Overall the book is well written, and it provides an interesting personal account of the societal changes for women from the 1960s to the 1990s.



2. "Serving in Silence," by Margarethe Cammermeyer (with Chris Fisher) is a memoir by a nurse who rose to the rank of full colonel in the United States Army. An openly gay woman, she challenged the U.S. military's policy of discharging gay people. But her fight over this policy is only part of a wide-ranging and consistently fascinating book.
   
   The book begins with her childhood in Norway during World War II and Nazi occupation. The reader follows her as she emigrates to the U.S. and becomes a citizen. Cammermeyer tells in depth about her career as an Army nurse; particularly fascinating are her memories of serving in wartime Vietnam. The book also covers marriage, motherhood, and divorce, as well as her civilian nursing career and her continuing military service in both the Army Reserve and the National Guard.
   
   A particularly intriguing aspect of the book is her quest to raise a bilingual family and celebrate her Norwegian roots; in this regard the book represents a fine contribution to the canon of multiethnic American literature. The book is not just about the colonel, but is a multigenerational family story; her accounts of her relationships with her parents, sons, and other relatives are very moving. Cammermeyer also offers interesting insights into military life, the nursing profession, and the process of discovering the lesbian and gay community.
   
   Cammermeyer has lived a truly epic life, and this book is absorbing throughout. I found the prose style very enjoyable to read. The book's cover emphasizes the colonel's role as a pioneer for gay rights, and indeed this aspect of the text is truly compelling. But the book succeeds on many other levels. I highly recommend "Serving" to those interested in the Vietnam War, lesbian and gay studies, military memoirs, women's studies, and the nursing profession.



3. I know Dr. Cammermeyer personaly...She is an amazing woman who has been through many struggles...This book was a way for her to let other people know what she had to put up with and try and give others hope that even when you feel like everything is going wrong...Never give up, something good will always come.



4. I am an out lesbian who's been involved with queer politics and HIV issues for 15 years, but I just recently got around to reading Dr. Cammermeyer's book. Even after all my years of being "out," I found her story and life so far to be fascinating and inspiring. It's wonderful to have another role model for my own life! I encourage anyone interested in finding out how women can change society and military policy to read this book. It's also a good read for the role of women in the Vietnam war and in the National Guard. Dr. Cammermeyer is truly a "great American," as the military admitted while in the same breath sanctioning her discharge. Her story is all about one person having the integrity and strength to stand up for what she believes to be right, using the legal system to out-maneuver the military, and continuing to be a passionate and out-spoken supporter of banishing ALL types of discrimination. But her book is also an amazing window into the life experiences that fully shaped her to be the person who she is today. Daughter, mother, soldier, nurse, life partner, healer, activist: Dr. Cammermeyer is a hero on so many levels, and you'll have the chance to learn about all of it in her book. (The made-for-TV movie starring Glenn Close as Dr. Cammermeyer and Judy Davis as Diane, her life partner, is also fabulous!)



5. In 1996 I was fired from a government law enforcement position due to my orientation. I hit bottom, emotionally and financially. This book helped me see we have to fight discrimination, that I can survive this ordeal and come out a better person. It is a story of courage from a real hero, and I reccomend it no matter what your orientation, military status, or personal beliefs.