No comments about Autobiography: I Wonder As I Wander (Collected Works of Langston Hughes, Vol 14).

No comments about Erykah Badu: The First Lady of Neo-Soul.

1 comments about Looking Beyond Race: The Life of Otis Milton Smith (Great Lakes Books).

1. I found Mr. Smith's memoirs insightful and interesting. A true icon among those who mastered life in both the public and private sectors, Mr. Smith left a legacy of character, pragmatic behavior and reconciliation with the apparent facts surrounding race relations in our country. Had I to attempt what he did at the time it was done, I am not certain that I could have performed as admirably as he did. It is a story that many should know.

No comments about For God and Race: The Religious and Political Leadership of AMEZ Bishop James Walker Hood.

2 comments about The Shattered Pearl: An Odyssey of Service, Savagery and Survival.

1. This book is a well written personal experience of living through the most terrifying takeover by a dictator with no conscience or
   inteligence. I cringed at the Fear generated by people suddenly missing and not heard from again.
   The stupidity of taking over the shops and businesses causing shortages of everything needed to keep the people fed, clothed and in good health.
   I got a strong feeling from it that it is not that hard to pull off in a civilization that took freedom for granted much like we do here in the United States. Freedom demands eternal vigilance and this book points this out with great force.
   The last election in my town brought out little more than 20% of the Vote. That must change or we may emulate the citizens of this great book by Sara Armstong.



2. Mrs. Armstrong's touching story of courage, faith and personal growth is a captivating account of personal discovery. Sara uses both historical and personal accounts of life in Uganda as an American. She brings you into her world and you can relate to the both the fear and saddeness associated with the fall of Uganda, the Pearl of Africa. Her creative use of sarcasm and humor bring a unique quality to this touching story. This book has something for everyone. I can't wait for the next book.

5 comments about The Tale of Juliet: You Have the Power to Change Your Life.

1. After reading the reviews for this book on Amazon, I purchased it. I've read several inspiring stories and always welcome another good book to my library. However, I am really, truly, sorry to say that I believe that the reviews for this book by other Amazon readers must have been created by friends and acquaintances of the author. The book is incredibly poorly written. At first, I wondered what publisher failed to edit this book properly. I flipped back to find that this book was self-published, which explained a lot. Jhet's story may be "inspiring" (poverty to the good life through hard work and people met along the way) but I could not relate to the author, to her writing style or even "find" her life lessons. (N.B. Admittedly, English is the author's second language, but that's what a publisher is for. It does not excuse bad writing.)
   I rarely give a bad review and this author seems like a truly nice woman. However, the "amazing" reviews steered me to purchase this book and I hold them as accountable as the author for having wasted a couple of hours or my life.
   I would advise you to think hard before buying this book and take a look at who the "reviewers" are...It seems to me that there are several who are "inspirational" book writers themselves and as such would seem like close parties/friends of the author who have a vested interest in the sales of this book.



2. It's not often that i read a book from cover to cover in a single sitting. The Tale of Juliet had me hooked from the start, and didn't let up over the course of a truly amazing, roller coaster life.
   
   The book is inspirational due to the magnitude of the obstacles that Jhet overcame, not once but several times on her journey. These were the kind of obstacles that anyone with an internet connection are never likely to encounter ... and so they serve as a truly powerful example of what is really possible in life.
   
   Read this book for no other reason than to remove the limitations you have placed on your own life - I guarantee your dreams will get bigger, and seem more attainable after reading The Tale Of Juliet.
   
   The simple telling of her story is both a refreshing break from the usual "How I became a millionaire" books, and a moving personal account.
   
   Big dreams really do come true!



3. I was given this book before boarding a long flight and was able to quickly finish it.
   As a college student and avid reader, I've come across countless "inspirational" and "self-help" books that I've been rather quick to reject. However, it was incredibly refreshing to read a book that drew its inspiration solely through the facts of a woman's life. I have also lived in the Philippines for eleven years now, and capturing the essence of rural Philippines is certainly a difficult task. With this in mind, the author successfully paints a vivid and genuine picture of her childhood lifestyle that will be equally fascinating for Filipinos and foreigners alike.
   
   Overall, I found this novel to be immensely inspiring without being overly "preachy". Definitely recommended.



4. The tales of Juliet is very inspiring to me. For me, the value one can get from Jhet's personal story is more about connections and virtues.
   
   Every immigrant would benefit from reading this book whether one came from Philippines or somewhere else in the world. Its all about connecting with the experience of third world countries and understanding their virtues and values. Its all about respect for everyone's way of thinking and living. Read this and you will understand the world better. Love and Blessings to all!



5. Jhet's book is a MUST - read for anyone who thinks that they're hopeless. She is a master in transformation with the power of faith consists of desire, belief, and expectancy. Highly recommended!

No comments about Fighting for Fairness: The Life Story of Hall of Fame Sportswriter Sam Lacy.

5 comments about The Road South: A Memoir.

1. This book was truly an inspiration to me! I read it in only two days because I just could not put it down! I'm saddened to read another review that gave a negative image of Mr. Stewart. Having met him and worked with him, I have only seen positivity and generosity in him. Anyone who thinks that they can use their past as an excuse not to go forward should read this book. You cannot dwell on the past, and Mr. Stewart is a great testimony! This book is a must read for all ages!



2. Wow, I started reading on a December 12th and finished on January 2nd. Not because the book was not intresting, but for the simple fact I started telling my husband about the book and he began to read it and finished it in two days then he handed it to my mother law who in between prepring the Christmas feast could not put it down. I was lucky to finally get my hands on it on News Years day to finish the last three chapters . This book tuged at my heart strings in so many ways. A picture of Shelly should be in the dictionary next to the word Preserveriance and Determination. I have had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Stewart and he is every bit of exciting,intelligent,hardworking, and personable as he appears in his book. Thank you Shelly for sharing your journey with the world, thank your for chronlizing a piece of history for all of the free world to appreciate.



3. Shelley Stewart is absolutely NOT the man he appears to be. As a member of his family, I have seen his astonishing greed and selfishness towards the family he supposedly cares so much about. He has poor relationships with his son, and most of his other children. He cares only for himself, and offers no help his family. Take it from me; buy another book. Large portions of this book were admitted to be largely fictional.



4. you think you had a bad childhood? Shelly Stewart had one that is hard to believe. This is shown in this wonderful book, and how he overcame this handicap. He is now a successful businessman and is helping other people. This memoir reads like a novel, I could not put it down.



5. I don't know how to start this, but I just got to write something about this book. If this book don't affect you to the point of sadness or tears, I don't know what to say for you. This book was nothing short of a miracle. I have encountered people with similar backgrounds and they just get by, and expect you to feel sorry for them. With Mr.Stewart, you just want to applaud him. The fact that their father would kill his wife in front of his children with an axe and let her fall out the window onto a tree with not so much as remorse,well, I had no sympathy,no nothing for him, and like his sons, I felt nothing for him or that second wife or those aunts for that matter. What kind of woman feeds fried rat to children? Where is your humanity, where is your heart? what kind of man tells his son(a child) such heartless things, and allow such treatment that your own children leave you before puberty? what kind of woman mentally and physically break down a child just so the white man doesn't? Yet, it was a white man that took him in his own family when you didn't want to be bothered? This is just too much, and then here comes the military giving shock treatments just because you speak up for yourself and feel that despite your early life you should just go on? What kind of stuff is that? This is what happens in Shelley Stewart's life. He went through so much abuse, so much living from one pillar to post,so much betrayal(like the high school principal who wouldn't give him a chance at a scholarship despite the fact that he had the grades and know how to do so) yet despite all of that, he STILL makes something out of himself and is one of Birmingham's living legends..Folks, we hear of how we can't do this because of our background, childhood, someone said this or whatever, I say if this man can go through the stuff he went through and still live to tell the story, and is a man(and we know that men just keep their feelings to themselves and all),well, he deserves my salute, and I say GET THIS BOOK. You may want to scream, you may want to cry(Lord knows I did), but if the best thing you can do with this book is give it to some person who needs a lift in the right direction and say,"Read this",perhaps, we have made the life of one person better in order for him to make a contribution to this world.I reccommend this book highly, but, if you are faint at heart and always need a kleenex(which you may need), you have been warned.This ain't no pretty story.It's gritty,and if I could get this man down to my neck of the woods in lower Alabama, I would. Matter of fact, the book deserves 10 plus stars.

3 comments about In Darkness With God: The Life of Joseph Gomez, a Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

1. Joseph Gomez (1890-1979) was an AME minister, and was ordained a Bishop in 1948. He was also a teacher, civil rights pioneer, scholar, writer, and humanitarian. He was born on the island of Antigua and came to the US in 1908. He served several congregations but was most closely associated with Ohio, particularly Cleveland and also Wilberforce college, from which he graduated.
   
   His biography tells the inspiring story of his life, family, ministry, struggles, and victories.
   
   Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction." He has also authored "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and the forthcoming "Sacred Friendships: Listening to the Voices of Women Soul Care-Givers and Spiritual Directors."



2. An absorbing biography of an Afircan-American's rise to the highest position of the AME church as a Bishop, and his challenges to build and maintain the church. It also explains his challenges and struggles in America as a African-American and the love of God, his family, friends an associates . It was hard to put down. At times I was with him in the struggles. It provides another format to look at the African-American history in America, and the impact on a cutlture and people. His daughter has done an excellent job at collecting and recording this history. I only hope others will follow in her footsteps. The book was rather pricey but well done with adequate references.



3. Bishop Gomez built the AME church in Cleveland, Ohio. He rewrote church doctrine in the 1970s for the first time since written by Richard Allen. The book also depicted his struggles and lonely walk with God as he lead a Black congregation and was faced with issues during the Civil Rights movement. The book was easy to read, inspiring, and you didn't want to put it down until finished!

2 comments about Deep Down Hard Blues: Tribute to Lightnin.

1. This book should be called "Deep Down Bad Poetry" Nothing but a book of bad poetry and sick obsessing.....

   Fortunately, Lightnin never met this woman.




2. Poor Sam "Lightnin" Hopkins must be rotating in his grave over this pretentious peice of unadulterated crap. There is a total dearth of detail about the man, his life, and his impact on the blues. How something like this got published escapes me. The book is almost totally "poems" "inspired" by L. Hopkins, and not good ones either. The Author say's she never met Sam, but feels his inspiration. I did meet Lightnin, and I know he wouldn't suffer this foolishness if the royalties were being paid to him in total. This is in my humble opinion a rank capitalization on those of us who love the people and music called the blues. Don't waste your time or your money. There incidently, isn't a no star category, so I couldn't do this rag true justice