5 comments about She Had No Enemies: A Memoir.

1. Dennis Fleming's She Had No Enemies tells the story of the author's younger sister, who was murdered by a serial rapist/killer when she was 18 years old. The killer was apprehended two weeks later and eventually executed, but the murder had a devastating impact on the author and his family. The memoir tells about coming to terms with Mickey's death, speaking with her killer, and attending his excecution. A page-turner, this memoir tells the author's story during the decades he survived his sister. This is a compelling narrative that pays beautiful tribute to his sister and her long-term effects on his life.



2. Anthony Joe Larette Jr. was a serial killer as prolific as Gacy, Bundy, and Gein. Experts say that the only reason he hadn't killed by age 8 was that he lacked the physical strength to do so. He professed to have killed hundreds, and raped thousands. While on death row he attempted to cheat death by confession to many heinous murders.
   Amnesty International has used his case to highlight injustice in executing the mentally insane. He claimed that epilepsy made him kill in a blacked out rage, however his confessions were as vivid and graphic as the worst horror movies.
   She Had No Enemies goes beyond the genre of true crime as only John Walsh has done before. This was voiced as only a victim in the wake of the crime can write it. This addresses the Authors evolution between vengeance, and closure. The story is free of the obvious literary embellishments of many crime novels. The author does not write this to sensationalize the killer, but rather to remember the victim, and honor her memory.
   Mary (Mickey) Fleming, did not die in vain. Her last acts provided police with enough information to hunt and convict a serial killer. Her sacrifice, provided confessions to close to 20 murders (and several more eluded to), and could have closed the books on many more rapes. There are many victims out there whos lives have been made better as a result.
   I have never met Denis Fleming, however I was another victim of the same killer. As his book has helped me, it can help many other victims look at this in a slightly different light. My only recommendation is; BUY THIS BOOK!



3. 28 years ago today, on July 25, 1980, Mary Fleming was killed. It took her brother, Dennis Fleming, many wrong turns in life and a quarter of a century to tell the story of her brutal murder in his memoir, "She Had No Enemies."
   
   The facts are, as often, deceptively simple. On a warm summer day, Mary, the youngest of the Fleming children, affectionately nicknamed "Mickey," is followed home from a walk to the corner market where she had purchased lunch items. The man who followed her was Anthony J. LaRette, a serial killer, who slashed her throat and stabbed her in the heart while the lettuce for her luncheon salad sat on the kitchen counter.
   
   When I look at Mickey's picture, a beautiful girl at age 18 with the full promise of life ahead of her, I can imagine how difficult it must have been for the author to tell a story so close to the bone. But when you read his book you'll know that he had to find a way to talk about this most personal tragedy, or let it destroy him. And destroy him it almost did by way of drugs, alcohol, depression, attempted suicide, and failed marriages.
   
   "She Had No Enemies" is more than a crime story of how LaRette was caught, tried, and eventually executed. The blue-collar Flemings, like Frank McCourt`s family in "Angela's Ashes," have tragedy written all over them right from the get-go. Fleming's mother and brother were abandoned by their parents, raised by a grandma "who'd smack your hands with her sausage fingers." No wonder the mom ran as fast as she could from "Big Grandma" right into the arms of an alcoholic who beat her and the children, which the two somehow managed to produce between the fighting and the beatings. She had eight of them before she found the strength to leave him. "Whenever I think back on my childhood, I recall those ugly images," Fleming writes.
   
   The father was a bully and a conman who couldn`t hold down a job. Fleming nails him, reads him like a book. He does it so well you must wonder if he sees something of himself in the old man. But unlike the dad, when Fleming blunders he catches himself, mostly, like the time with Christopher McQuarrie at a writer`s conference, or when he says he`s rarely passed an opportunity to make a fool of himself. At other times I question his self-awareness. Why did he really move back home and why is he disappointed that the family hasn't changed? Did he believe time and distance would transform them into a model family? Yet, my heart breaks for him when he says, "seeing Mickey again was my homecoming."
   
   Fleming says, "Although most of us were broken in some way growing up in the chaos of our family, Mickey emerged intact." When he thinks of Mickey's death one hopes that this is a comfort to him, just like Mickey's innocent drawings he used to tuck into his footlocker as a Marine. In the end, for Dennis Fleming to emerge intact he had to write "She had to Enemies."



4. I have read other books where the author describes the murder of a relative and the consequences to the lives of the surviving family. I have also stated that it tends to make the book more difficult to read because the author responds strongly to minor details and the presentation degenerates into a set of their reactions to insignificant events. That is not the case here.
   The author's younger and beloved sister is brutally murdered when she was eighteen by a man that was a serial killer. Despite his natural and understandable rage and desire to see the perpetrator punished, Fleming manages to maintain a civilized approach to the situation. He learns that the killer was heavily abused as a child and comes to the belief that at least some measure of understanding needs to be extended to the killer. This is not to say that he forgives the man, he never goes that far and he is a spectator when the man is executed.
   Fleming's approach to the problem is one of general social good. He believes that if serial killers are studied rather than executed, it may be possible to learn what goes wrong in their minds to make them someone who extracts great joy from death. Fleming also points out that the longer the serial killer is in jail, the more crimes they confess to and the more the survivors of their victims can learn the truth.
   When I first opened this book, I expected a somewhat monotonous recapitulation of intense feelings over a murder and consequently a story that grew tedious to read. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised to discover an honest and intelligent rendition of the belief that criminals should be studied as much as possible. This is in the hope that a level of understanding can be achieved that will allow society to prevent the development of serial killers in the future.



5. Even though this review is by his wife and I find it difficult to be objective, I believe I can vouch for the writing and the intent of this work. The writing is nice and tight - it reads very quickly. Also, the story and the way Dennis tells it, is very compelling. The serial killer in this memoir was probably one of the nation's worst - but at a time when there wasn't as much known about serial killers, DNA evidence was not refined, and the power of communication (the internet wasn't widely available) didn't bring it to national attention. I believe Dennis needed to tell his story, which involved the death and mutilation of a very dear sister, and how it affected his life irrevocably. His ability to come to terms with the event - the years it took to sort through all the emotions, the fallout, and psychological stress eventually lead him to an understanding about the death penalty and the killer himself. Read this story - you won't regret it.

5 comments about Everything About Me Is Fake-- And I'm Perfect.

1. This is an autobiographical work in which the self-absorbed author likes to refer to herself as the world's first super model. Well, Suzy Parker, Twiggy, and Jean Shrimpton may well take umbrage at that, as they were super models who preceded Ms. Dickinson. Better looking and classier, they leave this author eating their dust.
   
   This book is mildly amusing, at first, as the author cattily takes jabs at her former lovers, naming names. Let me tell you, Mick Jagger and Sly Stallone do not fare too well in this book. In general, the author talks about men in such a derogatory way that, if men were talking about women in this way, they would be called sexist.
   
   The author routinely engages in trash talk, and some of it is acerbically funny. Yet, so often is it repetitious that it begins to pall on the reader. A more shallow, vain, and self-absorbed woman than the author would be hard to find. It is no wonder that she is unable to have long-term relationships, as she seems so one-dimensional.
   
   Still, her book is a no-holds-barred look at her life and the wacky world of modeling, as well as the lengths one needs to go to stay on top of one's game. There is little enjoyment to be had from this book, and a measure of boredom will eventually seep in, as the author repetitively drones on and on about herself. The book is replete with photographs, which show the author in varying stages of her career, including before and after her breast implants.



2. This book is so good! You either love her or hate her, if you love her, read this book! I love her sarcasim, bold, blunt, funny personality. I loved the first book and I love this one as well. She is not just some obnoxious woman and if you cannot think past that thought and see her as a whole, dont read it. She is so many things and sometimes so honest people hate her for it, i guess hate her for saying all the things we think and you just cant say. If you cant think past it and enjoy her as a person, then this book is not for you. I Stayed up two nights just to read as much as I could and laughed a lot.You can gain insight into her true feelings about modeling, her life, family and so much more.



3. In only the candid, cocky, no holds barred way Janice can she reveals her own personal struggles. Yes, of course, (it's Janice Dickinson) she does take every opportunity to brag about herself too!
   
   Janice starts by telling how she was an awkward teenager and how she clawed her way to supermodeldom. Janice is very frank about how even as she was gracing the covers of "Cosmo" and "Vogue" she was still full of self-doubt. She fought that self-doubt by having plastic surgery, doing drugs and having sorrid affairs. She further tells how the image the industry sells to the average woman is totally unattainable. Unless, of course you're willing to starve yourself and undergo plastic surgery. Even then she tells how many of the photo's of even supermodels are airbrushed. She also says many times that cosmetic surgery isn't an option that everyone should persue and it seems at times she discourages it, even tho she's doing it left and right. Her reasoning from the book is that she is an extreme person, who overdoes everything in her quest for perfection.
   
   Janice also throws in some juicy personal anecdotes about her personal life. Sometimes she gives a little too much information! Among her tales are Mick Jagger, JFK Jr., Donald Trump, Jerry Hall, Sly Stallone and many more. Another plus included throughout the book, are several pages of photos from Janice's career and her personal life.
   
   Also, she tells her readers of yoga tips, beauty tips, fitness tips and nutritional advice. She offers the reader lots of straight advice on how to feel and look their best on their own terms. I liked the tips on skin care using household items in everyone's pantry. I've tried them and they certainly work.
   
   The latter chapters of the book are Janice's best. In these she shows her softer side. She writes like she knows she shouldn't be so obsessed with tring to find perfection with surgery, but she says she will continue. Still, she says to other women- don't be so hard on yourselves, that true happiness comes from within.
   
   Overall, this is a fun, fast and at times insightful read from an over-the-top lady, who isn't afraid to let it all out. Tho, as other readers stated she does overdo the four letter words, her sexual life info, and she does contradict herself by being so hard on herself and other women as well. Tho, if you like Janice- the good, the bad & the ugly- you'll probably enjoy this book.



4. Book came brand new as described & the present was a hit for the birthday girl.
   Seller highly recommended



5. This woman is a joke. No talent. I know her personally and she didn't even write this book.

5 comments about A Full House of Growing Pains.

1. I really liked this book by Barbara Cameron. She was very honest about the ups and downs of show business, motherhood and marriage. I'd also recommend her son Kirk Cameron's book "Still Growing: An Autobiography" which is also an honest and funny read!



2. A great memoir about a woman doing her best to be fair and good in a system (Hollywood) that can corrupt the best of us.
   
   What makes Barbara Cameron's story exceptional is that anyone can relate to her. We're able to see her adult relationship with God begin with her simple belief that He is our Creator who helps us when we pray. Then we're able to see Barbara's realization that He is Everything and there is nothing without absolute Trust in Him, and the changes in her life that ensue.
   
   The feelings and emotions described in this book are the feelings and emotions so many of us deal with everyday and are left wondering how to deal with issues of faith and submission to God.



3. This book is so well written. It has such an even flow. I love reading the story of their lives. It is so interesting and I am so proud of the way Barbara has managed her life in Hollywood and as a Christian. I haven't finished the book yet, i really dreading to finish it. I want the story to go on and on, it's very enjoyable! Please purchase this book it is so interesting and easy to read. You won't want to put it down! God Bless~



4. This wonderful book by Barbara Cameron explains the comings and goings, trials, tribulations, success's and heartbreaks of a Hollywood family. It's refreshingly honest with no spin at all. Mrs. Cameron had her shares of ups and downs in her personal life, all the while being a supportive mother who kept her "star" children in line and the "non-star" children were really the stars at home.
   My heart went out to poor Bridgett who is the real star of the family!! But their amazing transformation into Born Again, on fire for Jesus Chrsit and their passion that none should miss out on Heaven is so honest, and pure, and indeed rare in a Hollywood where it's hip to be anti-Christian, anti-morals, and whatever goes is OK. Praise God for this family and I know that He is indeed Blessing us with this most excellent book. Thank you Ray Comfort for inspiring Mrs. Cameron. Thank You Mrs. Cameron for sharing your life with us, and thank you Jesus for loving and dying for all of us so that we may be saved!



5. I must say that you going to be very surprised by this book! It isn't only what you probably think it is about, but oh so much more. Barbara is more real and honest with her readers than most people are even with themselves. She shines a flashlight in the dark corners of her life for all to see without apology because as the saying goes..."the truth shall set you free". Let's just say that she has faced her demons and won! Not only do I hope that all the people who read this book let it touch them, but I pray that all people start revealing their secrets in order to be set free, as well. I have and though it was hard, it was worth it because when you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear! Way to Go Barbara---Your truth has made a difference!

5 comments about Notes from the Hyena's Belly: An Ethiopian Boyhood.

1. Notes from the Hyena's Belly is a memoir that often reads like a novel. It depicts Nega's relatively calm childhood in sharp contrast to the growing unrest, civil strife and government corruption that dominated his adolescence and early adulthood. The book gives insight into a piece of Ethiopia's history, which is peppered with scenes from Nega's growing up years and folk tales that his mother told. Nega successfully speaks to the impact of civil war, government corruption and the too frequent global indifference to such issues in Africa, while at the same time maintaining a wry sense of humor that makes his story all the more human and real. This combination gives it a unique flavor and certainly makes it memorable.



2. This book provides great insight into the older Ethiopia. It provides interesting cultural perspectives as well as many life experiences of the author. A great read and a recommendation for those preparing to experience Ethiopia first hand.



3. An enlightening story of a boy growing up in Ethiopia. A world that we Americans cannot relate to, however we certainly are sympathetic. Still, Mezlekia spares us by sprinkling a little humor here and there, and we see that young boys do find time to be a little mischievous even in the worst of situations, like straying too far and being eaten by hyenas. Visited Ethiopia with my wife in the late 80's and witnessed some of the famine and suffering, but also found the people gracious and hospitable to Westerners. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.
   
   James Hart Isley
   Author of The Bear Hunter



4. Why I enjoyed Notes from the Hyena's Belly? The writing, the wisdom, the history, the survival. If you enjoy having a narrarator walk you through a book showing you the real people, places and happenings that were "Once Upon A Time," then you may just find this book to be a treasure. I myself enjoyed the way this author held my inner voice's attention. It was almost as if I were sitting at his home while he spoke of the life experiences that make him the person now sitting before me. Because I'm such an avid reader, I did put this book down a few times to indulge in other reads. I did this knowing that when I'd pick it back up I'd have a great companion to spend time with. I almost hated to see the book conclude. The fact that I'm writing only my second or third amazon review says how much I enjoyed this read. Hope you decide to visit the Hyena's Belly. You won't be disappointed.



5. My family spent 23 months in Ethiopia during my active duty military service, in a home just a block off the road from His Imperial Majesty's (Haile Selassie I) palace and the Bole airport in Addis Ababa. That was from February of 1970 until January of 1972. The American community was concerned about the stability of the government there when the Emperor would eventually go the way of all mankind. HIM HSI died after we left, probably suffocated by the new rulers after the Dergue took over the country . Many of us wondered what has happened during the intervening years. This book tells the story from the memories of one student who lived and suffered through those perilous times. It's very interesting to anyone who ever lived there, and appears authentic.

5 comments about Adventures in Larryland!: Life in Professional Wrestling.

1. Larry Zbyszko is one of the most well traveled wrestlers of any generation, having worked for nearly ever major promotion during his glorious career.
   
   Larry sheds just enough light on his suburban upbringing, and speaks with awe and affection about his mentor and hero, Bruno Sammartino. Throughout the book Bruno's influence is obvious on Larry, and he applied it to carve out a legendary career of his own.
   
   Larry shares insights on doing business with both Vince McMahon Sr. and Jr., and the chessgame between the McMahons against himself and Bruno that almost led to the dropping of the Sammartino/Zbyszko angle, to this day IMO the best angle ever done.
   
   Larry glosses over his time in the NWA territories, which is understandable since he didn't spend a great deal of time in either area, but does give insight into why his blackmail angle with Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll never happened.
   
   Larry's stories of dealing with father-in-law Verne Gagne in the AWA are entertaining, as are his stories of the territory in general, such as the story behind his ninjas, and his wrestler vs. boxer feud with Scott LeDoux.
   
   You'll hear Larry talk about the end of his in-ring career and his commentary career in WCW. He talks about business dealings with Jim Herd, Kip Frye, Bill Watts, and Eric Bischoff, why a program with Ric Flair never materialized, how his comeback feud with Lord Steven Regal came about and produces stellar matches, and caps it off with his stand against the New World Order, while talking about backstage dealings with the members, including Hulk Hogan.
   
   You wish he'd have gone into a little more detail, but his writing of his time in the WWWF alone make it well worth the buy.



2. This a must read whether you are a fan of wrestling or not! It may be a short book, but the entertainment value more than makes up for the large font everyone seems to be concerned about. You get an insiders view of the way wrestling used to be instead of the new hyped up matches. Larry takes you on his journey into the world of wrestling from his beginnings. He allows you into his inner circle and shares some very colorful and entertaining experiences through the ups and downs of his career. It is well worth the journey and I would highly recommend this book to anyone!
   The only reason you would not like this book is if you work for Vince McMahon!!



3. This book was a fast read, with much humor, which provided an excellent review of professional wrestling from the 1970s up through the 1990s when World Championship Wrestling was locked in a television rating war against the World Wrestling Federation (later changed to World Wrestling Entertainment)in an attempt to win over the hearts and souls of the fans. This book should be picked up by serious fans of pro wrestling. There are nuggets of solid information into the workings of pro wrestling which can be picked up from Larry's stories. One of the unique stories presented in the book is the relationship between Larry and his mentor, the great Bruno Sammartino, wrestling's original Living Legend. The story of their dealings with the McMahons, Vince Sr. and Jr. is the stuff of legend. Wrestling fans throughout the world will truly enjoy Adventures in Larryland!



4. I read this book in two short sittings...not because I couldn't put it down, but because it was so short. This is more like someone jotting down notes than an autobiography. Years would pass in one sentence. Nothing particularly groundbreaking at all, more like a few interesting anecdotes.
   
   His matches with Eric Bischoff and Scott Hall set records? Uhhhh...maybe that's because the Bischoff match was on the undercard of Hogan/Sting? That's like Koko B. Ware saying his match with Butch Reed at WrestleMania III broke all kinds of records.
   
   Go buy Jericho or Bret Hart's autobiographies instead. Pass on this one.



5. Here's what you will not learn:
   
   -You will not learn anything about Larry Zbyszko's personal life. Although he mentions a crazy girlfriend, three wives, and pictures of children, you will not learn anything about them much less that he is married to Kathy Gagne!
   -You will not learn where he got the name Zbyszko from.
   -You will not learn anything about his professional career from 1981 - 1984 as he goes from WWF to AWA with just a bare mention of Georgia later in the book. The fact that he was rumored to be blackballed for two years and was stuck doing outlaw/indy shows headlining with David Sammartino is never mentioned. This could have been the most interesting part of the book.
   -You will not learn much about his WWF/WWWF tenure except for the feud with Bruno which does make for very entertaining reading.
   
   I got through this book in a couple of hours as it is less than 200 pages although Amazon is saying 240. Just not true even with pictures.
   
   Some stories are definitely entertaining but so much was left out it was ridiculous and a slap in the face to any reader. His exaggerations were ridiculous too. While he has every claim to the Shea Stadium gate with Bruno, he also claims that he and Saito sold out the Tokyo Dome and that his 2 PPV matches in 1997/1998 for WCW set PPV buy-rate records. He even tried to say he wrestled in front of a sold out crowd when he won the title. He didn't even say he won it in a battle royal in the Minneapolis Auditorium in front of less than 2,000 fans.
   
   I was really looking forward to this as I thought he would fill in the blanks but this was a very lazy effort with large print and small margins to boot.
   
   His timelines are also all over the place as he says that WCW brought in Hulk Hogan for purposes of Nitro.
   
   Really poor effort overall.
   
   Just like his wrestling technique, he stalled right through this effort and I fell for it hook, line, and sinker with my wallet.

4 comments about The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton.

1. Completed only a few weeks prior to the close of the author's long, successful and happy life, The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton is the life story of one the modern era's most prolific authors, credited with approximately one hundred books on topics ranging from philosophy, theology, poetry, literature, fiction, and history. Written in an amiable, accessible first-person voice, and illustrated with some forty rare black-and-white photographs, The Autobiography of G.K. Chesterton is a "must-have" for researchers and students of Chesterton's literary work, and highly recommended for college and public library collections. A witty, insightful chronicle brimming with wisdom, experience, and more than a few life lessons learned the hard way.



2. Like many English majors upon graduation I was sick to death of Enlgish lit and sold my books off at the local used book store. As "classic rock" seems to be whichever moldy oldies a radio station wants to play, so "classic lit" is similarly a mixed bag of whatever gets shoved into the Norton Anthologies.
   
   Much later I found out how politically motivated such anthologies are (especially the non-fiction ones) and as usual, the Oxford Press ones proved to be far better collections. But reading Chesterton's autobio, I realized how little I got out of my one Victorian lit class, and how much more there was to this era than Thomas Hardy and George Eliot.
   
   Being more and more known as a Chesterton fan-atic and having garnered three pages of notes, bon mots and one-liners from this book, why do I give it four stars? Simply because I require Randall P. or some other competent commentator to provide far more copious footnotes of all things Victoriana. A great deal of history and literature (Victorian pop culture)is herein lightly touched on or briefly referred to by G.K.C. as if readers actually knew what he was talking about.
   
   A friend listened to this book on tape and his take on it was that unlike Orthodoxy and other Chesterton works which continually dazzle the reader, this one is concerned more with enlightening them. Rather than quote the whole book, as one may be tempted to do, I'll confine myself to this reflection on World War One, which Chesterton calls the Great War since this book from 1936 falls before WW II:
   
   "What would the Kaiser, with his mailed fist and his boasts of being Atilla and the leader of the Huns, even in time of peace, have been like if he had issued completely victorious out of a universal war?...What has come out of the War?(?) We have come out of the War, and come out alive; England and Europe have come out of the War, with all their sins on their heads, confused, corrupted, degraded, but not dead....The only defensible war is a war of defence. And a war of defence by its very definition and nature, is one from which a man comes back battered and bleeding and only boasting that he is not dead."
   
   Chesterton has done this reader a great service of actually making him interested in the Victorian era, and rekindled something of that spark for reading that being an English major plodding through a Norton Anthology nearly inevitably kills. He's done something more than breathed life into an oft-dismissed and dusty age, in his lust for life he holds out the promise of breathing life even into our own.



3. Let me begin by saying that this is really not so much of an autobiography as the title Autobiography implies that it is. Chesterton, being a very humble man, chose not to talk about himself during good portions of this book. Of course, there is a lot of discussion of himself (otherwise it would not be an autobiography at all), but there is much that is simply about the world at his time and the thoughts that he has. It is almost more like Augustine's Confessions that a real autobiography (by this I mean an autobiography of his ideas rather than his actions).
   
   In this outstanding book, Chesterton gives us his life story, starting with his childhood, leading into his slight involvement in occultism, then to his conversion (when he realized that all the things he thought he had discovered by thinking were what Christians had believed all along), and into his literary career and political activities. Along the way we get his views on materialism, determinism, naturalism, educations, science, Catholocism, evil, art, the common man, ethics, war, politics, truth, writing fiction, optimism and pessimism, nature, human rights, etc. You get the picture. Chesterton talks about just about everything that was a major issue when he wrote this (1936). He finished it right before he died and it was published posthumously. I personally liked it more than Orthodoxy, which I liked very much. This book is almost like an expanded version of Orthodoxy with some of Chesterton's life story mixed in. Definitely worth reading. It is probably one of my ten favorite books that I have ever read.
   
   His discussion of optimism and pessimism near the end of the book was especially good. This was a major issue then, as modernism's Idea of Progress was clashing with the despair following the World War and the Great Depression. He ended up concluding that neither is the correct stance. He states that "The two sins against Hope are presumption and despair." He goes on to say that what we should really be doing is not presuming that things will go right, or despairing that they will go ill, but rather we should be appreciating what we have. Some things are perhaps hard to appreciate, but this book is not one of them.
   
   Overall grade: A+



4. As always, Chesterton here weighs in with mountains of brilliant insights and poetic experiences. This is a very broad book, covering the whole range of Chesterton's interests, which spanned literature and politics and myth and orthodoxy, among other things. As I progressed from chapter to delightful chapter, I found myself chuckling now and scratching my head again and racing to jot down my thoughts at the end. Few authors I have read carry such a solid understanding of so many areas as Chesterton, and certainly even fewer present it as accurately and as beautifully as Chesterton.

   But you can get a lot of this insight in his other books. This book in particular was enjoyable to understand in a small degree how Chesterton lived out what he believed. It was very encouraging to see that all of these wonderful thoughts need not stay bottled up in the head; they must come out in jokes and essays, books and beer. It took Chesterton a number of years to believe in orthodoxy, and he made some blunders and learned many things in a difficult manner. But in the end, Chesterton lived as a manalive, and this was perfectly in keeping with his final philosophy. We would all do good to read this book and take some lessons from the wise man who was Chesterton.

   Oh, one minor word of warning. Much of the book deals with rather obscure commentary on even more obscure English events in Chesterton's time. I'm sure all of it is incisive and trenchant material, but many times I couldn't make heads or tails out of what he was talking about. But it was nevertheless fun to read despite the mystery of it all.

5 comments about Dancing Barefoot.

1. This book is great. Any fan of Wil's should check it out. Anyone who hates Wil should check it out to find out why Wil Wheaton ROCKS.



2. This was a great book. Its a few short stories of Wil's experiences. It really lets you know how he feels about critical moments in his life. After reading this book and went out and got his other one, Just a Geek.
   The stories are especially good if you are a geek, gamer, browncoat, or trekkie.



3. ...I got a little teary-eyed. This is an excellent book. It's funny and compelling and Wil shows what a great writer he is. I wanted more and I'm upset that I didn't buy "Just A Geek" first. I'll be remedying that as soon as I'm finished writing this review. If you just like a good story whether it be about Star Trek or just being a regualar everyday person, or if you want a good laugh, I recommed this book.



4. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Wheaton at a sci-fi convention in 2006. He was really nice and easy going. I picked up a smaller book that he had printed in limited numbers. I love how he spins his tales. It took me a while but I finally grabbed his book Dancing barefoot. His childhood storys and those of his current family are heartfelt and warm. His dealing with the memories of his Trek experience and coming to grips with his "Child Actor" status. If you are a trek fan or not doesn't matter the guy is a great writer and I can't wait for the next book.



5. I was very pleased with this book. Excellent writing, but it leaves me wanting more.

5 comments about Cracks in My Foundation: Bags, Trips, Make-up Tips, Charity, Glory, and the Darker Side of the Story.

1. Fantastic - fantastic - fantastic.
   
   I am now a loyal fan of hers!!!
   
   She writes so well - so funny. I can hear every word inside my head and even as I'm working hard at the office her words run across my mind and I find laughing to myself. I have one book at the office and during lunch hour I lock myself in an empty office and read, slowly as to savor every word, every laughter and every believable detail.
   
   Please keep writing and I'll keep buying!!



2. Having read all of Marian Keyes' other books (except "Under the Duvet") I decided to gove this a try while I wait for her newest work of fiction arrives. I didn't expect to like it. I thought that I really would not be interested in the personal essays. Turns out that I was wrong. A good writer is a good writer whether she is writing long fiction or a short story or a 4 page essay on finding a great hairstylist. If you enjoy Marian Keyes you will enjoy this book.
   
   I admit that I haven't devoured this book like I do most other books. I just keep it around and read a little bit at a time. But, that works out quite nicely for me some days.



3. What is it about Marian Keyes that makes her so absolutely delightful to read? A good way to find out is to run, not walk, to buy (or order!) her latest collection of essays and stories (her first such collection was "Under the Duvet," an equally fabulous treat).
   
   As in all her novels, Keyes combines Irish wit and wisdom, unbelieavable humor, pathos, romance, and, yes, dead-serious accounts of her successful battle with alcoholism (which, as terribly serious as it is, she manages to convey in a lighthearted manner), all in a perfect package. And as a special added treat: An advice column from the formidable Mammy Walsh, whom readers know from many of Keyes' previous novels. What more could one want?
   
   I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Keyes is an experience not to be missed!



4. I adore Marian Keyes. Her novels are among my favorites. Her writing style is just so hysterical, while at the same time heart wrenching! Sometimes I wonder, "How did this woman nail how I feel about this/that so well?" If you also adore her, read this book! It's very much a companion book to "Under the Duvet" - so if you enjoyed that, then you'll enjoy this.
   
   However, don't let this be the FIRST Keyes you read. I think after reading some of her novels and getting a feel for her style/characters then the essays are eye opening and touching. But if you have no connection with her fictional stories, you may ask yourself, "So what?"
   
   Read some of her other books first - all are pretty great - and then come back to her essays.



5. If you are already a Marian Keyes fan, having devoured her modern and witty novels such as SUSHI FOR BEGINNERS, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY and LUCY SULLIVAN IS GETTING MARRIED, as well as her collection of essays titled UNDER THE DUVET, then you know what I know --- Marian Keyes has wit, style, verve and intelligence. If you're not familiar with her, get ready for a great read and an introduction to an author whose other books you'll want to run right out and grab from your local bookstore.
   
   CRACKS IN MY FOUNDATION echoes thoughts shared by women everywhere --- thoughts on beauty, health, family, friends, home, and just about anything else of interest to the gentler half of the population. Keyes says out loud what a lot of us only dare to think, and it's liberating to know we're not alone.
   
   For instance, her love of cosmetics is shared by women the world over. "The love affair has never waned: makeup always makes me feel better. With it I am more confident, more articulate, more amusing. Without it, I'm like Samson without his hair." Truer words were never spoken. What woman doesn't feel a boost of confidence with her face on? Remember the time the plumber made it to the door before you were properly made up? It's an awful feeling!
   
   What about the dilemma of whether to leave one's underwear on at a spa or take it off? Who among us hasn't struggled with this? Of course there are some who are not afraid, who willingly fling their panties aside and let complete strangers see their bare bum, but then there are the rest of us who debate the issue. "A vexed area, without a doubt: to leave on or take off. If you leave them on, discomfort could mar your enjoyment, but if you take them off, there's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide -- - every bit of you will be on display, in all your cellulitely glory (if you're me)."
   
   What about cooking? While cooking used to be something every woman did and took pride in, those days are gone. Cooking is something you either love or hate. There's no in-between, and those of us who do it grudgingly are a growing majority. "See, we all have our gifts and cooking isn't one of mine. But it's not just the thought of sticking my hand up inside a turkey that I dread, it's the coordination involved in preparing a meal --- having to have everything ready at the same time gives me a knot in my stomach." Amen.
   
   When I read this book, I wanted to be Marian Keyes: a successful writer, a world traveler, a spa patron, even Irish! While Keyes is funny in a self-deprecating way, you can tell that she basically likes herself. She knows that we all have our issues and that hers are what make her unique. I love that in a person.
   
   My suggestion to you: Pick up this book, gather up the chocolate, potato chips, or whatever your favorite splurge is, call in sick to work, and climb into bed with this book and enjoy yourself. We all have cracks in our foundation. Why not make the most of them?
   
   --- Reviewed by Amie Taylor

5 comments about Welcome to Shirley: A Memoir from an Atomic Town.

1. I just finished reading this book and it is an easy read. I usually get bored mid-way through a book. This book kept be interested with the mix of her personal stories and factual information about the radioactive pollution that is affecting people in the Suffolk County area. The lab sits on top of the sole aquifer in the area and is pumped into the homes of families within about a twenty mile radius.
   I am particularly interested because I live in Shirley's sister town, Mastic Beach. My mother in-law lived there for 20+ years, has no history of breast cancer in her family, never smoked, never abused alcohol and has been in and out of remission from breast cancer. Her oncologist said she is a 'rare' case because she never abused these things and it does not run in her large family. But it does not seem that they took into consideration where she was living.
   I remember watching the Montel Williams show when they did a piece with Alec Baldwin in the late 90's about the 13 rare childhood cancers in Suffolk county. They were 1 in a million (or higher) cancers and when you viewed the map you could see where the children lived created a circle around Brookhaven Lab. McMasters speaks of a child in the book that has a one in 4 million case of cancer and how her father finds out there are 28 other cases of it in Suffolk County.
   McMasters speaks of the danger this radioactive water poses in everyday life. Shocking revelation after shocking revelation are revealed: it's not just about drinking the water; hand-washing clothes (for instance)the agitation of the clothes in the water releases the water into the air for the person to inhale and absorb the isotopes into the lungs and bloodstream. This also occurs when we shower and the vaporized steam is inhaled and also absorbed through the skin upon contact. The water we use everyday in innumerable ways is the enemy and we can't get away from it unless we get away from the area.
   As she grows up cancer seems to envelope the people in her area. She reports of numerous young adults having benign tumors and then going back to the doctors, those same adults now have developed cancer.
   Everyone needs to read this book. You never know what is lurking in your backyard and how it is affecting you.



2. My sister recently came for a visit a brought me this book. McMasters accurately describes my childhood to a T (and I started living in Shirley 10 years earlier). I enjoyed the book until it got to all Brookhaven Lab pollution. I agree with an earlier reveiw that the it reads like 2 books. I do hope that someday Shirley can be saved..........it was a great place to grow up, but I wouldn't want to live there.



3. As other reviewers have noted, this book is full of inaccuracies. Though the author seems to describe a great childhood with lots of friends, a stay at home mother, a family that loves her and a supportive network of neighbors - she also bashes the town and calls it 'white trash' and says that she's ashamed to admit she's from there. Sounds to me like she had an opportunity to make the town a better place and decided to knock it down some more so she could sell some books.
   
   Ms. McMasters also does not view anything but potential atomic waste as reasons for every health ailment that befalls a resident of Shirley. What about the town dump nearby? Discharge from boats on the water? Poor eating habits, proximity to farmlands where various pesticides and herbicides are used. She's basically looking for things to prove her case about BNL being the cause of all the towns ills rather than actually seeking answers.
   
   The stories of her family life were interesting, but the BNL tangent was a work of fiction that doesn't really fit into the book. I'm glad I borrowed my copy from my local library and didn't support McMaster's bashing of Shirley and BNL by purchasing this book.



4. As someone who is a recognized historian and former resident of the Shirley area, I was truly looking forward to the arrival of this book. Ms. McMasters contacted me several years ago for both information and potential people to interview for it.
   
   After reading it, I have to say about the only thing I can agree with is that what happened to the Shirley area is indeed a sad tale. But I am also saddened that Ms. McMasters, who is a talented writer, would use her talent to distort history to support a thesis. There are just TOO MANY factual errors and half truths here about the basic history of the town to be dismissed as just sloppy work. Because of that I can only say that her far bigger picture of the enviormental dangers both real and imaginary of having a nuclear facility looming in Shirley's back yard is greatly diminished. If you are interested in an in depth review with many of the books errors pointed out in detail just go to The Knapps Lived Here website and look on the left side of the main page in the green area



5. I just wanted to thank you for the! Having grown up playing in an open sewer on the poor side of a rich town I can relate to your class statements. Moreover having a chronic illness, psoriasis, and an acute condition, a continually detaching retina, the the emotional see-saw of chronic illness and death at the hands of dominating forces was right on point. The reality of class based healthcare and the meeting point between environment and health is on the forefront of my mind and will become a growing societal concern for the next 50 years.
   
   Thanks again for the book as it has impacted my world view.

5 comments about A Thousand Days in Tuscany: A Bittersweet Adventure.

1. Left wanting more from Ms. DeBlasi's previous book, I moved with her from Venice to Tuscany and never wanted to leave. The prose in these books is as sumptuous as the life seems to be--rich in detail, rich in emotion and rich in love for the place, the people and the food. Through Ms. DeBlasi's pen, we are immersed in tender moments, breathtaking settings and relationships of great depth, which brought tears and laughter and a hunger to share such a life. Most surprisingly, I came away thinking life can be more deeply appreciated no matter where we are. Once again I couldn't bear to leave this delicious tale and moved right along to read the next chapter The Lady in the Palazzo: At Home in Umbria. This story ranks right up there with my favorite books about Tuscany.



2. This book was my introduction to Marlena De Blasi's collection of stories. In my opinion, "Tuscany" is the best story of the series. De Blasi paints beautiful pictures of the people, places and food on her adventure in Tuscany. Her humor and lust for food are always evident and her ability to weave the story tightly with these elements succeeds in transporting the reader to the kitchens, vineyards and orchards of this little village. This book launched me on the path to continue to read more of Marlena's stories, but perhaps like a first love...those that follow pale by comparison.



3. Thank you, Marlena and Fernando, for the warmest, loveliest winter reading experience (s) I have had in a long time! You got me through the howling winter evenings, and the dreary grey days, armchair travelling to your beloved Italy from my upstate NY lakeside community. I have told many of my friends about your books, and cannot WAIT for the latest installment, with old friend and new acquaintences filling your cornucopia of Life to overflowing.
   
   It is evident you had a love at first sight, as we have reading your story.
   
   My hope for you both to continue in good health (and great food and interesting beloved friends) as you make this life's journey together. Your story is an inspiration for those of us afraid of major life changes at 'any age.' GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!



4. I love this book and would love to give a copy to everyone I know. I wish I had MDB in my life too. Reading that books moves you to look around and enjoy/love the life you find yourself living. The food and recipes are great, but what I really take away from this book is the philosophy/life lessons.
   
   My favorite quote from the book, "First prize for not waiting, for not waiting to splash in a river, for not promising myself that I would someday splash in a river, but for doing it now, right now."



5. A THOUSAND DAYS IN TUSCANY is Marlena de Blasi's second memoir recounting her life in Italy, after 2002's A THOUSAND DAYS IN VENICE. In the book's opening pages, she and her husband and soul mate, Fernando, have left Venice for a dilapidated farmouse deep in the Tuscan countryside. The residents of the idyllic village near their new home welcome them with a meal, which inevitably lasts for hours, ending with a dessert whose cream was just milked from a blue-eyed cow that morning. Subsequently, Marlena and Fernando are befriended by Barlozzo, one of the town's oldest residents, who is eager to share stories about the locals and to introduce them to timeless Tuscan traditions: hunting for truffles, baking bread, picking olives for olive oil, crushing grapes for wine, harvesting chestnuts... But it's not just Tuscany that Marlena and Fernando learn about during their stay in one of the world's most beautiful places; they also learn a lot about each other and about themselves, and a lot about what it means to slow down and enjoy a life free from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
   
   This was a beautiful, beautiful book, with some of the most stunning writing I've ever come across. De Blasi's descriptions bring Old World Tuscany utterly and completely to life; you can almost taste the olive oil, can almost feel the grapes bursting under your feet, can almost imagine yourself there, in an old Tuscan farmhouse, starting out the window at that marvelous landscape. The pictures de Blasi paints of the townspeople are insightful and vibrant, and the recipes at the end of every chapter are completely succulent, including the recipe for the "one true bruschetta" (no tomatoes, no garlic, no onion or herbs...just fresh-baked toasted bread doused in olive oil and topped with a little bit of sea salt). It's really obvious from her writing that de Blasi loves everything about Italy: her people, her food, her breathtaking vistas and her sun-drenched, relaxed way of life.
   
   I fell in love with Marlena de Blasi's Italy, with her gorgeous writing, her delicious traditional Tuscan recipes, and her vivid portrayals of the people who live in the beauty and romance of Tuscany every day. There were moments when I felt like her writing bordered on pretentious, but mostly I just thought everything about this book was gorgeous. I haven't read A THOUSAND DAYS IN VENICE, but I'm definitely going to. You can definitely tell how much Fernando and Marlena are in love in this book, but I'm eager to learn how their love story began.
   
   The Tuscan state of mind can best be summed up with the following passage, spoken by one of Marlena's dearest Tuscan friends: "Maybe the only thing that matters is to make our lives last as long as we do. You know, to make a life last until it ends, to make all the parts come out even, like when you rub the last piece of bread in the last drop of oil on your plate and eat it with the last sip of wine in your glass." A THOUSAND DAYS IN TUSCANY is a book for people in love, for people who long for a simpler way of life, for people who go to that idyllic Tuscan countryside every night in their dreams. I loved everything about this book!