No comments about Fried: Surviving Two Centuries in Restaurants.

5 comments about Thirteen Senses: A Memoir.

1. Started out a little slow, but became one of my favorites by the end. The second time I read it, it was much better. It is definately on the top of my recomindation list.



2. Stream of consciousness books like this one are always a risk. So in the end, I liked it. I liked it for the candidness and the luck that seemed to pervade the characters. More than anything though, I like "13 Senses" for the magical realism and the strength of the women. The Bonnie and Clyde "esque" quality lends itself to a recklessness that is the exuberance of youth. Villaseñor's situates the whole book on the extra senses that is almost forgotten by hard core materialists - yes matter precedes all but the senses six through nine. (Ten through thirteen seem to reside in some outer realm) but it is funny. Many will argue that it is short on reason and full of anecdote - yes, but that is the strength of the book not its weakness. My guess is that if we changed that "thing" within ourselves that looks for the clean and neat narrative - we lose all the heavenly glory.
   
   Miguel Llora



3. I was truly excited to hear Villasenor had written a continuation to Rain of Gold! I could hardly wait to get my hands on a copy of Thirteen Senses, and I'm so happy I did. Rain of Gold did so much to change my perspective on the Mexican experience in this century, and I felt a longing to know what happened to Lupe and Salvadore after their marriage ceremony. This story really came through, showing their growth as a couple along with their individual spiritual growth. This story is about growing into real adulthood and loosing our childish self centeredness. It's about discovering how incredible a person can be, and how far limits can be pushed.



4. I think the sequence where Lupe is talking with her mother-in-law an Idigeneous Mexican Indian was very moving. Finished the book on our way to San Francisco were we visited our daughter-in-love" and our son and grandchild. Have been struggleing with the "Thirteenth Sense" all my life, and if I can't make it on a beautiful barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, with my husband of 37 years, there is no hope for the rest of us. Buying the book for Christmas gifts to give all the people who give meaning to my life. Beautifully written and with such sensitivity it makes you want to invite Victor for dinner.



5. I would suggest reading "Rain of Gold" first as it lays the background for Thirteen Senses and I, personally, thought Rain of Gold was the better story which pointed out the meaning of LOVE in a myriad of ways that was better than most other descriptions I have ever read.

   The weakness of this story is the overuse of the Almighty's powers and Salvador's mother's retelling her philosophy of life page after page after page. If 50 to 75 pages of this type dissertation was edited out, it would be a much better story. The religious nature of both primary familys' is very important to the story, however, it is overdone. While reading I was comparing the American Indian's religious beliefs (which I love) along with the Mexican Indian's outlook. Quite the same in many ways, particularly when actually changing from human to animal form and then back to human. Fascinating.

   I read this book out loud to my wife and she also enjoyed it and would most certainly recommend this being a fine reading experience, however, she also agrees there is too much philosophy given by Dona Guadalupe, Salvador's mother. Her meanderings are important to the story, but you can pass by many paragraphs when she gets too wound up.

5 comments about Scheisshaus Luck: Surviving the Unspeakable in Auschwitz and Dora.

1. "Scheisshaus Luck" is a searing memoir of the Holocaust. As the initial draft was written less than 2 years following the author's release from the concentration camp, the book retains the rawness and freshness of detail that brings the day to day brutality and deprivation of concentration camp experience to life. As I read the book, two themes stood out: (a) the tremendous evil that humans are capable of inflicting on each other, and (b) the depths of what humans will endure in order to live. Most of us think we could not stand long days of back-breaking labor with only a cupful of weak soup and a few bites of bread to eat day in and day out. Berg, and his fellow prisoners at Berg's camp did this... and more. One of the outstanding features of the book, in fact, is Berg's inflinching portrayal of the conditions of concentration camp life, in all its moments of great ugliness (the scene where one inmate takes advantage of temporary darkness to steal Berg's bread literally from his hands is particularly heartbreaking) as well as moments of great heroism (Berg survives one forced march due to the efforts and help of his friend, who is then so weakened that he is "selected" for death upon the arrival at the next camp).
   
   The title of the book echoes the major premise developed by Berg in his narrative, which is that the question of who lived or died during the Holocaust was largely determined by blind luck. And he does an excellent job of portraying the arbitrary nature of much of the cruelty that occurred, not to mention the role that chance plays when the line between life and death is so slim that one's survival literally depended on whether you were able to "organize" an extra spoon of soup that day.
   
   However, I might gently disagree with Berg that his survival was only a matter of sheer luck. Throughout the narrative, it becomes clear that--while arbitrary luck certainly played a role in what happened to him--Berg's survival also depended heavily on his abilities and quick wit. More than once, Berg was provided with jobs that were physically less demanding and provided him with more food because of his skills as an interpreter (he spoke four languages fluently). More than once, he obtained more favorable jobs because of his mechanical abilities and willingness to fake being a trained electrician.
   
   This is not an easy memoir to read. Berg relates what happened to him and his companions in a clear, unflinching prose that does not sugarcoat any of the details. But it is not a totally depressing book, either; Berg has a sardonic wit (as seen even in the very first sentence of the book, where he says "if you're seeking a Holocaust survivor's memoir with a profound and poetic statement...you've opened the wrong book"), and there are multiple instances of gallows humor to offer a reader some emotional relief.
   
   Toward the end of the memoir, Berg questions "whether, as a society, we had the fortitude to ever overcome the bestiality so deeply embedded in our fabric." I don't know the answer to that question, but I do know that if we are to have even the slightest chance of preventing genocides like the Holocaust from occurring again, we much confront, and remember, the evil of the past. Berg's book, like the memoirs of others who have experienced the Holocaust, plays a vital role toward that end.



2. Hey, I'm a big fan of Holocaust Books - generally I can't put them down. Sometimes I make fun of myself and say that I'm like Woody Allen's character in Annie Hall who has to go see Marcel Ophuls' The Sorrow and The Pity every time it shows. But what this does is create some kind of fairly informed perspective - at least I think so. I know I'm not here to review the back cover, but to say that this book ranks in importance with Levi and Weisel, as the back cover does, is shameful hyperbole. Every survivor's story should be heard, but this one is on the plebian side of the spectrum. It doesn't engage with the universal, paradigmatic significance of the Holocaust. It is artless, and in that it has value. We are perhaps TOO accustomed to drawing deep philosophical significance from Holocaust Testimony, and this book reminds us that there are hundreds of thousands of individuals who went through this collective trauma and came out on the other side, marked forever. But I can't recommend this book warmly, although making aesthetic judgements about such recountings troubles me. But when one publishes such a book, I suppose one leaves oneself open to this.



3. I just finished Pierre Berg's book, "Scheisshaus Luck," and it was quite a vivid memoir.
   
   If you have read Elie Wiesel's book, "Night," you will notice some parallels. A teenager sent to Auschwitz, "selected" for hard labor, and attempting to survive as best as he can. "Night" tells the Holocaust story primarily from the Jewish victim's point of view. "Scheisshaus Luck" tells the story from the gentile point of view. Both points of view are just as brutal, and both young men suffered horribly during their internment. Berg was older than Wiesel at the time of internment; that may account for the additional observations and details in Berg's book ("Night" is about half the length of "Luck").
   
   Some of you may be put off by the title. Don't be. The title is in reference to the randomness of fate that intervened at odd times. This randomness ensured Berg's survival. In fact, there's an excellent online interview with Berg, posted at litpark.com/2007/10/03/pierre-berg/ One example of this randomness is an incorrect digit, which keeps him from a date with the hangman.
   
   One addition I wish could've been made in the afterward; we meet characters in the book, and we never know what happens to them again (for example, Berg's parents. We see them up until 1947, and then that's it). I'd like to know what happened to Berg's parents, to the Novaks, to Claude, etc. What happened to them after the war? I realize we cannot know what happened to all of the characters, as many probably disappeared and were never heard from again. That is the only suggestion I have for improvement.
   
   "Scheisshaus Luck" is frank, raw, in-your-face, snarky and filled with gallows humor. And it was well worth my time. And it'll be worth yours, too. You won't regret it.



4. This is a very well written book about the author's experiences in the Nazi concentration camps at the end of World War II. It is an almost brutally frank appraisal of man's inhumanity to man. One episode of particular interest on the effect of these events is the author's description of what happens when he finally meets up again with his beloved Stella, who he first meets on the train to the concentration camp, and why he acted as he did. Overall, the book is a must read for anyone even peripherally interested in this aspect of World War II.
   It is clear the writer hates the Nazis (of course, not without good reason) and a minor drawback to the book is that the author's editorializing about matters beyond his personal knowledge sometimes seems out of place and tends to drag down the overall quality of the book and actually detracts from the story. [In the same vein, the book (somewhat like Rolling Stone magazine refusing to ever mention John Lennon's assassin by name) never mentions Hitler by name, referring to him solely as the "god with a moustache": This itself does not detract from the book, and is presumably Mr. Berg's choice, but I would have liked to hear the author's personal explanation for this (i.e., other than the obvious ones).]
   Other minor drawbacks are (1) Mr. Berg's insistence he saw Heinrich Himmler at Auschwitz at a time when there is no record of Himmmler ever being near the camp (A note in the book and the book's afterward try to explain away this mistake by asserting it must have been a body double of Himmler's. Yet the footnote for this assertion fails to identify a single source confirming Himmler's use of body doubles. I would appreciate authentication of this for my own general knowledge, either from the publisher or any astute Amazon readers.), (2) the reference to a prisoner's identification as consisting only of a colored triangle (e.g., red for political prisoners) with an additionl yellow triangle if the prisoner was both Jewish and fell into some other category (e.g., pink for homosexuals) as it is my understanding that, during the later stages of the war when the author was interned, the Nazis used a yellow bar over the triangle, instead of two triangles, to identify Jewish inmates who fell into more than one prisoner category (e.g., a Jewish criminal would be identified by a yellow bar over a green triangle), and (3) the sometimes too literal interpretation of German words and phrases that fails to pick up the nuance of what was actually meant.
   But please do not let these minor matters prevent you from reading the book. It is full of harrowing escapades (not the least of which is the death march from Auschwitz to Dora) and episodes where the author survives by blind, or just plain dumb (as when he mistakenly escapes execution due to the misreading of his prisoner number), luck. In the final analysis, though, it was more than just luck that kept the author alive. He just never gave up and used his ingenuity and intelligence to survive.



5. "Scheisshaus Luck" is superb. Most people think it was just Jews who were holocaust survivors; however, this book clearly details how the Nazis captured Italians, French, and others.
   
   Pierre Berg was an 18-year-old French lad in the wrong place at the wrong time in January 1944 when he was captured by the Germans. He suffered an unspeakable and savage existence for the next 17 months until May 1945. This brutality was not only dished out by the Germans but by his fellow inmates who had garnered priveleges as overseers of the other prisoners.
   
   Pierre Berg with the help of writer Brian Brock delivers a cold and unemotional account of his and others existence (through his eyes) during his imprisonment in several concentration camps. The tragedies he experienced (witnessing calous murders, beatings, disembowelment of a dead prostitute to catch eels for the Germans, etc.) clearly portrayed how a "pre-war" wonderful human being could lose all his dignity to be reduced to the sub-human person the Nazis expected him to be. His story is told with such a clear emotional detachment, that one really got a good feel for how he survived.
   
   Brian Brock said that it was Pierre's resistance to talking about the emotions that made it difficult to express Pierre's memoir as vividly as he wanted. In my opinion, however, Brian really misunderstood how effective the lack of that expression makes the book. It was this lack of emotion that drives home how one becomes after such catastrophic torture. It is not that Pierre has no emotion; it is that he has had to become so numb to expressing that emotion and had to sometimes find humor in some circumstances to SURVIVE. It is the same survival instinct some abused children employ.
   
   I am so sorry Pierre and others had to suffer such atrocities and thank him for telling his story. There is no doubt those awful 17 months changed you (and the other survivors) for life.

4 comments about A Teenager's Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse.

1. Excellent book a great persprective from the brothers point of view & what happens when child abouse isn't stoppecd



2. good book! i love the part where richard remembers his mom making him eat garbage and tabasco sauce! read it if you like richard pelzer as much as me!



3. I often read reviews of books that I am considering for purchase. I read "A Brother's Journey" and found it to be a better read, that kept my interest and that had some good writing. With this book, "A Teenager's Journey" I was somewhat disappointed. Since I depend so often on others reviews of books, I am beginning to think that I need to take the time to review what I have purchased. Again, I sympathize with both Richard and David, but this book did not make me feel strong emotions that made me want to turn page after page to see what would happen next.



4. I wrote an Amazon review of "A Brother's Journey" in which I called the book emotionally accurate and even a "shining achievement". It was.
   This book on the other hand is by far the most poorly written of all the Pelzer brothers books.
   Richard wrote this book using diaries he kept during the years he was a drug addict. Did he copy passages verbatim from his drug diaries?
   I'm guessing he did because he was under pressure from Time-Warner to get this money maker on the road.
   I hate to say anything bad about one of these boys and I do believe their story but this book is horrifically overpriced for under 200 pages. It costs more than a paper back copy of My Story that contains all three of David's books.
   The reason I suggest he copied passages verbatim from the drug diaries is that this is truly one of the most poorly written books I've ever read and this is surprising because I thought "A Brother's Jorney" was well written. This book on the other hand is just incredibly rambling, vague, repetitious and disjointed.
   There is really not much to it.
   R.Pelzer gets involved with drugs. His mother can't bash him cause he's six foot tall but she continues her emotional abuse. Pelzer befriends some nice people and hides his drug abuse from them.
   The rest of the 200 pages is endless vauge agonised rambling about how bad he felt about hiding drug abuse from the nice people. There is really not much more to the book than that.
   Two stars instead of one for one evocative description of a drug trip and because I feel bad for him. First he was exploited by his mother and now it's his editor and publishers.
   A Brother's Journey showed he had potential as a writer. Then he got forced in to tossing out this garbage.
   No one bothered to edit this book. They knew people would rush out to buy it and so will you, despite this review.
   But you'd be better off spending your money on "The Priviledge of Youth.
   The only truly uplifting Pelzer book is "A Man Named Dave."

4 comments about Before and After Zachariah: A Family Story About a Different Kind of Courage.

1. Fern Kupfer captures the essence of raising a child with special needs. She expresses all the mixed emotions, including anger and rage, that most families in this situation wish to express, but fear what others will think of them, if they do. Our society has told parents that raising a child with special needs can be done, and done well. Parents are often told that they have been specially chosen by a higher power to carry out this noble task. Fern Kupfer questions all those platitudes. She and her husband are doggedly committed to doing all they can for their child, and she realistically examines the effects this has on them as a couple, and a family as a whole.
   This book should be required reading for all individuals working with children and families with special needs. This book would help many families in this situation understand that ALL of their feelings are normal,and that only they can make the best decision for their child and family, and not a society that shows little regard for individuals in this situation.
   I applaud Fern and her husband for their courage to do what they believe is best for Zachy and the family.



2. The world was first introduced to Zachariah in a 1980 article of "Redbook" magazine. Fern Kupfer writes with a clear, clean, crisp and very direct style that is sure to reach all readers.

   In more recent years, her severely developmentally delayed son's progress has been updated in this book. It made the reader feel somewhat bonded to the Kupfers (Fern Kupfer has written some delightful fictional stories that have appeared in "Redbook" and other magazines) and all the more interested in the approaches used to teach and raise this perpetual infant.

   Zachariah's older sister, Gabi, provides comic relief. Bright and verbal, Gabi possesses a savvy that shows up at a very early age. Wonderfully original, Gabi is never at a loss to express herself and her mixed feelings about her brother. One does sense that Gabi feels a real loss. Her brother is on the developmental plane of an infant and most likely will remain an infant for the rest of his life. She is funny, lovable and unflinchingly honest in her assessments. It is through Gabi that one gets an even clearer picture of life with a loved one who is severely developmentally delayed.

   Some years have passed since the latest update on Zachariah's progress. The residential program in Iowa where we last checked in with Zachariah sounded like a wonderfully humane place and one where persons living as perpetual infants got good, loving care and full protection.




3. As the sister of a profoundly retarded young man, I recommend this book to anyone related to or otherwise close to a person whose mental functioning is severely impaired. While there is much material available on the mildly and moderately retarded, few books are written about the lives of the severely and profoundly retarded and their families. Fern Kupfer tells her family's story well, and by including quotations from many other parents of severely retarded children, she also puts that story into perspective. Her family's decision to place Zachariah in residential care was not made lightly or easily, and those who are struggling with their choices in caring for their relatives will find this book compassionate and helpful, as well as refreshingly honest. This book is also an important reminder to all that while the vast majority of retarded people can be "mainstreamed" with success, a significant minority do need a level of lifetime care that is extraordinarily difficult for a family to provide.



4. This book is especially helpful and insightful for those of us who have handicapped children, but I really believe every mom or dad could learn from it. Although the "I'm so glad it's you and not me" phrase is thrown at us "special" parents way too often, there's some truth to the fact that most parents never have to deal with anything that remotely comes close to the things that happen daily when a family includes a disabled child. I especially appreciated the stories in the book from other parents of disabled children. Ms. Kupfer hit it right on the mark when she brought up the issue about "accepting" her child's disability. I wish the therapists and care providers and docs could get hold of that concept and really understand it. Awesome, wonderful book. It's old, but still good -- and very applicable in our society today that is pushing to do away with institutions for the disabled. What has always made our country great is our freedoms and our wonderful ability to choose out of all the opportunities available to us. Some would take this choice (to make use of institutions) away and call it a step in the right direction. They are sadly mistaken. Read this book and you will not be disappointed.

5 comments about Never Give In: Battling Cancer in the Senate.

1. As a Pennsylvania independent, I really enjoyed reading Specter's story on his trials and tribulations in the Senate while facing Stage IVB Hodgkin's lymphoma (the WORST stage there is, folks). He is feisty, ambitious, and, frankly, a braver person than many, in going forward and taking the chairmanship of the Judiciary committee, undoubtedly his life-long dream, while facing the ugliness of cancer. Reading this, you learn, this diagnosis is not the end, that life can go on and that, as Mr. Specter states many times, attitude is everything. However, this optimism is helped by his luck. Not all cancer survivors have a tumor that readily goes into remission. Inspiring for all and great insights into the Washington political process, including the surprising support and humanity with which he was treated during his personal crisis. If only all employers allowed naps during chemo and allowed you to come back to your job! Specter gets my vote!



2. I applaud Specter for his hard-fought battle with Hodgkins disease. This book is marketed as an account of his journey through his illness. However, it is 80% focused on his senate career and the bills he worked to pass while serving on Judiciary and 20% focused on his battle with cancer.



3. really inspiring. after reading this book, I have no doubt that Specter will be able to overcome his recurrence on Hodgkin's with flying colors. probably take names along the way.



4. I am neither a Democrat or Republican. I saw Senator Spector interviewed on a late night program and was fascinated by his demeanor. He was charming, witty , and spoke freely of his battle with cancer. He had many foes in his political career, but none as strong as this one. Some of his 'good friends' offered synthetic sympathy, but he kept smilin through the rain and the pain. I bought the book the same night and, although it ddin't keep me glued to it throughout, it was well worth the time spent reading. With the way things are going today, we could certainly use him on the Presidential ticket in November.



5. As a former intern for Sen. Specter, I can say that working in his office and watching him work was fascinating and inspiring. The more I observed him on the floor and as ranking member on the Judiciary committee, the more I respected him. Senator Specter is an icon for Republicans and Democrats alike, and his thinking transcends party lines. This book is a wonderful read, and I couldn't recommend it more. His dry sense of humor and great anecdotes are unmatched.

5 comments about Man, Interrupted: Welcome to the Bizarre World of OCD, Where Once More is Never Enough.

1. This enlightening yet funny book takes you through the story of one mans recovery from OCD. A very entertaining easy read that will not only open your eyes to the many forms of OCD and the toll it takes on its sufferers, but will also show you ways of overcoming them. A brilliant read for all.



2. I was eager to read this book as I am every book on an individual's struggle with OCD. While a worthy effort, I didn't think the author spent enough time concentrating on his own OCD, and a bit too much time poking fun at his fellow patients' symptoms. I was disappointed in that aspect. Overall a very honest account, and I applaud the author for writing it, but his girl chasing habits and the amount of time devoted to that issue can get rather old.



3. Through my sister, I have had the pleasure of being acquainted with Mr. Bailey himself. Before reading his book, I did not know much about him, only that he was a very jovial fellow. So it is no wonder why my jaw dropped periodically while reading Man Interrupted. I could not believe that the events unfolding on the pages before me were from the life of this man whom I saw so frequently. The experience of being acquainted with Mr. Bailey and reading his book reminded me that everyone has a story of their own, explaining who they are, where they come from, and what trials they had to overcome (and Mr. Bailey's were no small feat). Man Interrupted gives great insight into a world that many people may not think about. At the same time it is hilarious, relatable, and touching. I actually laughed out loud, which is a rare occurrence when I read. It is one of the most engrossing books I have ever read, and is worth every penny and minute spent on it.



4. Until last week, I didn't know the slightest thing about him, or about his book, until he went and introduced himself through MySpace, something that led to the inevitable reading of said book, and something that I'm really glad that I did. It's 222 pages of one of the most incredibly well written, fresh and original books that you're ever likely to read, a word of warning though, it really will make you question yourself, and exactly how pernickety you are. We all have an OCD, we may not realise it, or we do, and it's just insignificant, but we rarely externalises our OCD, are never forced to justify it, or explain it away, usually we're able to sufficiently hide it enough to function, but it wouldn't take much for everyone to collapse under the weight of it, and only a small percentage could ever do what James Bailey did, namely building himself back up. All of the patients in his book really do stand out too, because they're chillingly real, but then I suppose that's because they actually are, but he's managed to render them better than anyone else could have. It really is like reading the transcript of a Docu-Soap, and I'm not talking about an episode of "Cops", but an English one, because it's unapologetic, and gritty. What James Bailey has written is brutally honest, and I don't think that I've ever read that level of honestly, that level of shameless exposure; he made me feel like I lived it with him. Reading this book made me look at myself a little differently, maybe a little more clearly, but it also made me a friend in James Bailey, and that was well worth the cost of a good book ;-)



5. There were 2 things that struck me in particular when reading this book.
   One was James' honesty which enables the reader to acquire a rare and fascinating insight into the life of an individual suffering from such a disabling & severe condition.
   I learned a heck of a lot about OCD through reading this book & I found it most fascinating to read about James' real life experiences.
   Secondly was the humour that was rife throughout the book. James is clearly blessed with the ability to transform any scenario, no matter how daunting, into something so funny it just tickles you.
   I loved every word. Brilliant.

5 comments about Going Overboard: The Misadventures of a Military Wife.

1. I was so excited to read this book, especially after meeting Sarah Smiley when she was a guest speaker at a military spouses group I was a part of. However, after reading the book, I was disappointed. While I admire her honesty (although I wonder how much of that "honesty" is driven by the need to spice up the book to improve with sales"), I would be so embarrased if I were Sarah. I am a military brat AND a military wife and have dealt with my own deployments. My husband deployed when our son was just 5 weeks old and our daughter was 2 1/2. I DID NOT FALL APART!! Nowhere near!! It's difficult, yes but there's no honor in the way she behaved! I'm teetering between sympathy for Sarah and disgrace. What a mess! I really expected more from the book though! I'm glad I didn't spend much on it!



2. I love Sara Smiley! This book is so refreshing after reading so many serious or do this and not this military wife books out there. I think my experiences with military life and deployment are funny. It is what it is but I knew that getting married to my soldier. This book entertained me so much i bought it twice (one to pass around) and the other I have to keep to read again. Thanks for the great book!! HIGHLY recommended. You can find a lot of how to's and guides online but for entertainment on what it is REALLY like to be a military wife is right in the book!



3. This book was written for idiots! Should be considered a fiction novel. Don't waste your time if you want to read a book about military wives read either "Under the Sabers" or "Home Fires Burning". This author should stick to writing magazine columns.



4. Sarah Smiley does a wonderful job of relating military family life. It's great to know that there are other women and families out there who are dealing with the same everyday issues. I love that she's unafraid to put her feelings and actions out in print for the rest of us to read. It's great knowing that I'm not the only one who hates waiting at Pass and Tag or who has family and friends who have no clue about our lives as military spouses. I can't wait to read more from this entertaining writer!



5. Awesome, funny quick read, could not put this book down. I loved it and wanted more, write more!!! It is great to hear or read about other peoples "adventures" with military life and put a humorous spin on it instead of dwelling on the negative! I loved it and would love a sequel or more stories!!

5 comments about The Horizontal World: Growing Up In the Middle of Nowhere: A Memoir.

1. Like most of the other reviewers, I simply loved this book. The author has a wonderful sense of place and clear descriptions that made her story so compelling. I felt strong kinship to Ms. Marquart's background as a girl of German-Russian parents who had made their living farming. In my case, it was my grandparents who farmed and in California rather than North Dakota, but my German Mennonite mom instilled in me the importance of knowing where one's food came from and the hard work that went with this way of making a living. Thank you for writing about your life and family. I love your voice. By the way, actually the book's jacket captured my attention while browsing through the library. The photograph is perfectly suited to the book. Can't think of a better package.



2. Recommended by a parishioner as a good first book to read during a period of time off, this memoir rings true and Debra Marquart is a real -- really real -- person. From the dramatic photograph on the jacket to Ms Marquart's family's assessment of North Dakotan Lawrence Welk's having "made it," from the impulse to bolt the past to the stronger impulse drawing one back again, I walked with the author almost every step of the way.



3. I heard the author being interviewed on NPR and thought "I want to meet this person - and I HAVE to read this book." I've recommended it to all my friends who went out and purchased it and also loved it. This is a GREAT book. She opens her soul to the reader in disarming and guileless ways.



4. This book is simply lovely. Now that I'm done I find myself thinking of it, dwelling in it, savoring its sweetness. This is the very best kind of memoir, as I learned not just about Marquart's experience, but about the land and its history as well. Really, I learned about my history. I thought of my own father when I read of hers, wonder what earth and sky my own grandmothers worked to their graves. If I wrote a memoir, I'd like it to feel like this one, to leave the reader bronzed as this book has left me.



5. This book sounds quite poetic in some chapters. I really enjoyed the last section of the book titled "signs and wonders" I do believe what the writer says in that part of the book. :) Quite a moving memoir..she credits various books that I now what to get a hold of to read as well.

5 comments about 700 Sundays.

1. I saw this book in a BJ's store and thought it looked interesting. So I got it and loved it! Mr. Crystal has always been hilarious and it didn't get shorted in this book! I loved this book so much I brought it down to my dad for him to read and he loved it too! Dad's are special and I thank Mr. Crystal for giving us a little view of his life with his. Awesome work!



2. I received a copy of this book for my birthday from a dear friend, and have since bought two more copies - one to give to another dear friend, the second one for my father. You don't have to be Jewish to appreciate this book (but it doesn't hurt!) Billy is adorable - and such a wonderful son. It made me laugh and warmed my heart. I love him more than ever. A delight from start to finish. And the photos are priceless!



3. Found this at the library, never heard of the broadway show, loved the book. A quick, easy and pleasant read that nonetheless has some very solid moments, and plenty of laughs.
   Crystal is just plain funny, and he can make fun of his oy-so-Jewish family in a million hilarious ways. His Aunt Sheila's phone speech about her lesbian daughter's wedding is by itself worth reading this book for.
   The best surprise for me were the Milt Gabler jazz tales; had no idea Billy was part of the Commodore story. Imagine going to see Shane on a Sunday with Billie Holiday. Unreal.
   Tons of great lines, some very touching and sad moments, and Crystal's unique comedic genius make this a winner.



4. I have read this book three times, and every time I cry, laugh and smile. It is so well written I am now sure I grew up with Billy Crystal. Read this book! You won't regret it.



5. I received this book as a gift and have enjoyed Billy Crystal's career, so I looked forward to reading it. Crystal's childhood was very colorful both with his relatives and his exposure to some of the greatest jazz musicians of their day. His account is funny and a quick read. I have to say I wasn't a fan of the many "f-word" expletives which sometimes detracted from the stories but, all in all, I'm glad I read this book.