2 comments about Africa on Six Wheels: A Semester on Safari.

1. I love reading travel books and I am especially interested in Africa. I have unfortunately been disappointed in the past with travel books about Africa written in a depressing or patronizing manner. Although plagued with many problems, Africa is full of people with hopes, dreams and talents. This book brings out the positive and best aspects of Africa and the people that live there without being unrealistic about the challenges they face.
   
   Overall this book was a very pleasant suprise. It is written by a professor who takes her students on a semester to Africa. She writes in a very honest, humorous and non-preachy way about the students, her travels and everyone's reaction to the places they visit and the people they meet as well as her experiences teaching and living in a communal household. She is a good story teller and each chapter has one main point and it is made in a very interesting and poignant way.
   
   I really enjoyed this book and found myself learning much from her insights and also learning about Africa as well. Out of all the travel books I have read "Africa on Six Wheels" is definitely one of my favorites!



2. I found the book, Africa on Wheels: A semester on safari by Betty Levitov, quite informative on contemporary social issues in Africa. The author took 13 students, male and female, of Doane College, Nebraska, USA, to eastern and southern Africa in 2002. They spent three months touring and learning about interesting landscapes, plants, animals, and socialising with local people. The group travelled in a van with six wheels, which was driven by an Australian with a highly fragmented and apparently fabled biography. At the end of their African travel and adventure, commonly called safari, every student reported that the experience had profoundly deepened his or her understanding of African people and life in general. And, in the words of the author, 'in spite of many dangers of traveling in Africa, no student died or became pregnant.'
   
   The author provided interesting background information to the places they visited, and described local people and individuals objectively and with affection. Unlike certain foreign writers, whose books are a catalog of the ugly and the comical in Africa, Levitov presented her observations fairly and objectively. Of course, she discussed the problem of poverty that is prevalent in most developing countries.
   
   I have a few criticisms on the book. While the author frequently mentioned taking numerous photographs, there is no single photo in the book to help the reader connect text to image. The cover of the book contains an illustration of a vehicle and a scenery, which do not match any description in the book. Shouldn't a book of travel and adventure contain show the reader some images that the author saw? Also, I felt the author dwelt on trivial musings of the students for far too long, and memorable events were too far in-between. Nevertheless, the book is very informative, and I strongly recommend it to any reader seeking objective and honest information on contemporary social life in Africa.
   Leo Juma, Riverside, California

5 comments about The Confession.

1. A "confession" is an admission of wrongdoing, or, a statement of beliefs. Was his secret ("a gay American") known to insiders? Only the public was kept ignorant by the corporate media (else it would have surfaced in election time). JEM was adept in living his secret life, so this book has his self-serving statements. Politicians, like actors, live to fool the public to get their votes and money (p.5). JEM's early life was training to be "a perfect child" (p.23). Did he read too much (p.24)? Was he a fastidious dresser (p.25). Why didn't he fit in (p.28)? Was he precocious (p.36)? Were people secretly spying on him (p.38)? JEM knew his future (p.42). JEM backed Nixon (p.52)! JEM's admission of homosexuality could not have been a shocking surprise to those who knew him. Aren't party bosses and patronage a continuation of the feudal system (p.84)? Isn't that how corporations operate? The purpose of any government is to control the economy. Political power leads to wealth (p.85). Is a "strong governorship" a symptom of corruption that leads to high taxes (p.92)? JEM doesn't tell how the Kean campaign smeared Shapiro because he married a divorced woman (p.111). Did Merck buy him a seat in the NJ Assembly (p.112)? Chapters 8 and 9 give JEM's views about local politics. Florio's tax increase was "a bitter pill" because it extended and raised the sales tax.
   
   As mayor of Woodbridge JEM borrowed $42 million from politically connected underwriters (p.134). The Florio gun ban violated the "ex post facto" clause in the Constitution (p.142). JEM seems confused about politics, business, and self-interest (p.143)! Did Woodbridge really have "six, seven feet of snow" "month after month" (p.145)? The solution for high electricity prices is municipal-owned utilities (p.151). Big insurance companies drove up costs (p.158). Did Whitman loot NJ and cause high property taxes (p.161)? JEM's "punishing" schedule implies a lack of delegation (p.172). Does his meeting with Golan Cipel sound funny (p.209)? That detailed knowledge sounds like a set-up by an intelligence service to acquire an asset. Politics is business (pp.205-206). The job of governor is "very rewarding" (p.207). Who double-crossed JEM (p.208)? "The biggest hypocrite in the world"? Pages 209-211 provides news that is censored by the Media. Are voters that naive (p.213)? Was Golan an adventurer (p.214)? JEM named his biggest contributor to the Port Authority (p.224), but that was not a payback.
   
   "Cooking the books" to create a budget shortfall for the new governor isn't new (p.242). The result of a "strong governor"? Reduced corporate taxes? Personalities affect politics (p.244). "It was a big error in judgment" (p.248). Can any governor have a "secret life" (p.250)? JEM blames his faults on his security detail (p.252)! Was JEM "a bad judge of character" (p.270) or a "machine politician off the assembly line" (p.269)? Did people love JEM like he loved himself (p.270)? Chapter 14 is most revealing about the intrigues of the ruling class. JEM tries to explain away his use of the code word "Machiavelli" (p.280). Did a fixer procure women for JEM? NJ politicians hug each other to check for a hidden recording device (p.292)! What did JEM do about "auto insurance" (p.295)? New developments lead to rising taxes (p.296). Charles Kushner paid NY spooks for that sex blackmail (p.300). Were Federal laws broken? JEM's final crisis was a suit for sexual harassment (p.304). Why did he have to resign (p.322)? Why does JEM need punishment (p.324)? Do other politicians resign over a sex scandal when no laws were broken (p.327)? JEM's sins are also pride and vanity (p.336). JEM's "reform" made the political bosses more powerful (p.337)! Awarding contracts to political supporters is how government works by nature. JEM's skills could make him a talk show host. It worked for Jerry Springer and other lawyers.



2. It took me a long time to buy both of the books, I'm glad I did...
   Bravo Jim McGreevy & Forbidden Love with a Married Man: E-mail Diaries by Dennis Schleicher, you both are brave men by telling us all your stories. Memoir's like this and other's like "Forbidden Love with a Married Man; E-mail Diaries" by Dennis J. Schleicher, "The Other Man," show men remaining closeted that heterosexually marrying will continue until society hears from these individuals. As you both experience an emotional time all who read your stories will understand the circumstances you both face as Gay American's. I would love to see more press on you this and will buy any sequel's you both do. Thank you Dennis for you support in my own Coming-Out and helping me to read "The Confession."
   
   Best of luck,
   
   Craig Davis
   Boston, MA.



3. i have never actually responded to what the reviewer's are saying about a book, but i am now. how the hell did this piece of crap get a high rating. are people that off base that a clear right and wrong is that hard to see.
   this guy is a dirtbag. he lied to just about everyone, used his office to get a job for his lover, and only fessed up when he was caught. it's assinine to excuse this behavior because he was conflicted about being gay. regardless of your race, sexual orientation, religion, or environment, unless you have a gun pointed to your head, you have free will. this guy did have a choice to be honest, and he DIDN'T.
   also, he not only put his life in danger but the life of his unborn child. condoms are NOT a 100% gaurantee against STDs and HIV. I know there are some that buy into that myth, but it's the truth. Many STDs are are now showing up that are resistant to antibiotics. STDs can cause blindness and mental retardation in babies. HIV is still mutating and advancing through our population. The drugs out their prolong the life, but that's a far cry from a cure.
   anyone who endorses this kind of behavior is just stupid. this guy is scum. being gay does not excuse that. safety, honesty, and some kind of moral compass trump that. right is STILL right. i could care less who you are. all human beings should be held to the same standard. ALL. NO EXCEPTIONS.



4. 
   This book is a personal narrative and a description of New Jersey politics. It's sad that the circumstances of McGreevey's life forced this resignation, because the list of his achievements (early childhood education, insurance reform, tax redistribution, land conservation, and in the end, campaign finance reform) shows that he provided good governance within the realm of the possible.
   
   McGreevey gives insight into the life of a statewide political leader. None of your life, nor that of your spouse, is yours. Day and night you're shaking hands and talking about water and potholes. I have been to a few rubber chicken dinners but have no idea what it is like to enjoy them as Jim McGreevey did. If you don't take your share, despite your $100K+ income, the cost of appearances means you have almost no savings, but you get accused anyway.
   
   He also gives insight into how one becomes a governor in NJ. He tells how the north and south Democratic organizations chose their statewide candidates and how key leaders need to be visited and convinced. He explains the code words that keep candidates from crossing legal lines when their staffs line up contributions. He shows how the Governor's office is not a safe pinnacle. Knives come at you from everywhere including the US Justice Department where the prosecutor uses his office as a tool to damage McGreevey's reputation to clear the way for his own run for office.
   
   So, why did McGreevey (or anyone for that matter) choose such a stressful career? He gives insight into his childhood, his coming of age, his need for approval. He writes about the need to integrate the self he created with the natural person who was penned up inside.
   
   I was one of the many people in the crowds who at one time shook his hand. He impressed me a super clean highly disciplined person who had a secret. I'm glad that being gay was his secret, because I had speculated on a lot of very unpleasant possibilities.



5. Read about the experience of New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey when he came out of the closet.

5 comments about Bust: How I Gambled and Lost a Fortune, Brought Down a Bank--and Lived to Pay for It.

1. What an amazing story! This is one of those books you can't put down. Even if you don't gamble will find the book very interesting! When your setting in Jail I guess you can put A lot of effort into writing A great Book!



2. This book really captured my attention. I spent most of my time reading it with my mouth agape wondering what could possibly happen next. Adam's gambling exploits are so adroitly captured between these pages.
   
   It is really a study of how an addiction really gets you in its grip and doesn't let go. I applaud Adam's wife Meredith for sticking with him all this time. I find it hard to believe he had fooled her so completely.
   
   Adam finally hits bottom towards the end of the book after many narrow escapes along the way. I found myself rooting Adam on while at the same time hoping he gets what is coming to him for all his deceit.
   
   The sacrifice his wife Meredith makes at the end of the book ripped my heart out.
   
   This is a sensational book and I highly reccommend it to any and all inveterate gamblers out there.



3. I picked up this book after hearing about it on the radio of all places! The Talk Show host talked about the book with a sense of awe that anyone could do the things that Resnick did to feed his gambling habit. It is the sense of someone who is liable to the flash and celebrity associated with addition rather than the realities of broken families and broken lives.
   
   Bust is a good story and while the people are real, I would suggest that readers look at this as a piece of fiction -- really a tribute to the incredible hubris of a person who is addicted to the action. The books prose works at a quick clip, the stories are almost too cute and perfect for the subject.
   
   Resnick is an addict and in the book you get the sense that he has mentally internalized his problem, yet psychically he has not. In that regard it is a somewhat tragic tale until you realize that may be exactly what Resnick wants you to think.
   
   Recommended as a first person study of the destructive effect of addition and the fact that it is always there even when you recognize you have a problem.



4. This book is a very well-written book that provides good entertaining reading while attempting to at the same time to reach out to people and family members in the need of help (to show them how ugly things can get when gambling takes over your life).
   
   Hey "EyeInTheSky"? Do you have a life? Or do you just visit these postings daily and try to ridicule them out of angst, bitterness, and jealousy? You ridiculed Mr. Sanjay about being honest and telling it like it is; why don't you stop hiding behind your post-name and reveal your real name and insecurity as to your knowledge/involvement in Mr. Resnick's downfall?



5. This is supposed to be a self help book or a "cautionary tale" for gamblers and addicts looking to break the pattern. This book barely discusses the underlying causes for addiction and it reads (in my opinion) as a self serving and vile vehicle for the author, Adam Resnick to brag about his exploits (business, sexual, social) while offering no redeeming value to people with real problems. I would argue that this book makes James Frey's novel (which is clearly Mr. Resnick's model for this novel) look like a masterpiece in its' factual content.
   
   Mr. Resnick seems to have delusions of grandeur and used gambling to obtain friends, fame and wealth. All he really is is a simple conman that got caught trying to complete his latest scheme. This book is a continuance of that life long need for self importance exploiting peoples' lives to sell a few books in hopes of paying back an enormous debt to the innocent customers of a small community bank. I hope Mr. Resnick takes his long days ahead of him to think about what he's done to those that care about him because writing a book like this shows he still has not learned his lesson.

No comments about Autobiografía de un esclavo (Diferencias).

5 comments about La Dolce Vita (the Sweet Life) in Cortona, Tuscany Italy.

1. While there were some interesting passages in "La Dolce Vita," the grammar, spelling and typographical errors were so numerous that it was distracting and frustrating to read. The best parts could be found better written in a tour guide.



2. Even though the publisher sent out the wrong book before editing, I overlooked it all and just enjoyed reading the humorous experiences that Ms Phillips had during her first stay in Cortona. I am also an expat living in Italy and I can appreciate all the problems she encountered and she certainly had a knack for adding humor to the most disasterous events. If you want to know what the inside of a church looks like, then you should consult a guide book. This was not a guide book nor was it meant to be-I think the author wrote like she was telling it to me over cappuccino, and I truly enjoyed journeying through her year in Cortona. It was a delightful read.



3. I enjoyed Charlotte's book... not so much for her writing skills, but for the reminders of the Tuscan hill town that I fell in love with 6 years ago. While I don't live in Cortona, my heart lives there, with the people, places, sights, sounds and wonderful friends I've made there through the years. I've been traveling to Italy for more than 25 years and Cortona is my heart of hearts. Many of the people in her book are people that I personally know in Cortona. While some may criticize Charlotte's book, I applaud her for not wallowing in her divorce woes, instead she made a new life for herself.



4. I could not finish it. My wife could, and told me that I was right not to.
   
   This book prompts several questions.
   
   1. Did the author actually live in Cortona, or just read all of the other books?
   2. Don't vanity publishers have spell checkers?
   3. Did anybody proof the galleys of this book? Firenze (Florence) is spelled correctly, then incorrectly, IN THE SAME SENTENCE!
   4. Will Amazon refund my money?
   5. Is this woman the model for Belinda Smith in Tuscany for Beginners?
   6. Does the Portuguese government know that she's going there next?
   
   We are lucky enough to know what it's like to spend time in southern Tuscany. This author doesn't (or didn't do the time)
   
   I have great respect for writers; the blank page is an awesome adversary. To the list of Dario Castagno, Frances Mayes, Ferenc Mate, and Marlena Di Blasi, add Isabella Dusi, Tim Parks, Henry James and Goethe. But not this author.



5. Between misspelled words and losing me fairly quickly into the read I still dream of spending a year in Bella Italia.

3 comments about They Looked for a City.

1. This wonderful book will have you laughing and crying through every single chapter. It is one of the finest books ever written about the TRUE LIFE saga of a Jewish family at the turn of the century and how they came to terms with the Christian faith in a time of great turmoil. Both I and my wife enjoyed this book like few that we have ever read. It is TRULY an inspiration and a classic to those who know that GOD can (and does) lead people by His precious Holy Spirit to a knowledge of His ways and His salvation. Highly recommended. And an exceedingly well written narrative.



2. I am in the process of reading this book now. It is really quite good; particularly for a reader who is interested in comparative religion, history of religion, or one who is examining spirituality. All these apply to me. My copy, a 1955 edition, was lent to me by a very dear lady about a year ago. I am so glad I did not return it unread, as I had planned! I almost feel like Mrs. Buksbazen had me in mind when she wrote it. I am sure that many Orthodox Jews will understandably resent its content. I can appreciate that sentiment. But I also am happy I decided to read it. It speaks to ME.



3. this book is a MUST read. it is the story of Yente (written by her daughter). it is a love story, a story about REAL faith, a story of courage and a story of hope. if you want to be drawn in, challanged, lifted up, inspired, humbled, and you are serious about your faith, or are seeking God..... read this book!

2 comments about Kathy's Story: The True Story of a Childhood Hell Inside Ireland's Magdalen Laundries.

1. This is a shocking story of how parents could discard their children in Ireland. I'm happy I live in America.



2. This is a brilliant, heart rending true story. I read it twice already and am sure I'll go back to it again. Buy it as you won't be disappointed!

5 comments about An Unlit Path.

1. As a foster parent this book was very realistic and hit home on a lot of levels.



2. I highly recommend this wonderful book!! I read it in one sitting; I simply could not put it down. The Hannah family's journey through foster parenting and adoption mirrored my own. My family started fostering children around the same time that the Hannah's did and we have experienced many of the same break downs in the child welfare system that they have. This book is a must read for anyone looking into the possibility of fostering children and also for anyone who knows foster families. The isolation foster families feel when everyone around them starts questioning their parenting, not realizing that the children are very, very ill and need to be parented differently is devastating. The journey towards healing and forgiveness is very uplifting and motivating. Deborah Hannah conveys her joy, betrayal, disillusionment and forgiveness simply and clearly. She gives us the message that life does go on.



3. This was an amazing book!! I am currently on my way to becoming a foster parent, so I decided to read this book. I started reading it yesterday morning, and finished at 2 o'clock this morning. I couldn't stop reading. I cried while reading it, it was so sad, but I don't regret hearing the story. It needed to be told.
   
   The author has a beautiful way with words, and the book was an easy read. It flowed very well.



4. This book is fantastic! It takes an honest look at the adoption and foster care system and the sometimes heartbreaking trails that come with fostering and adopting. I felt like Deborah was writing my story and the story of so many other families I know. I deeply appreciated her willingness to be transparent. For so many of us who feel alone in our struggles, this is a must read.



5. I couldn't put this book down! As a foster parent for 14 years and an adoptive mom of 6, I found this book to be thought provoking, reaffirming and truthful. I, like the Hannah's, went into fostering thinking it would be a great way to help children in need and also found that love was not enough. This book really spoke to me and it really helps to know you aren't alone in having faced these kinds of problems. I would recommend this to anyone considering older child adoption because these problems are prevalent (although not always to the degree that the Hannahs faced) and you need to go into it with your eyes wide open. There are significant ramifications to be faced by every member of the family in older child adoption.
   
   Another book I highly recommend is The Limits of Hope, by Ann Kimble Loux.
   
   I gave this book 4 stars and it would have been 4.5 if that had been an option. I only had 2 problems with it. First, I thought the introductions to the chapters were very wordy and an attempt at writing a great work of literature, but they were strained. The author did much better in just telling her story and letting the truth of her voice come through in the body of the book than in trying to write a literary treasure as it sounded in the introductions. Second, this is not the first time that I have bought a book from Amazon that is clearly (and stated as such on the book cover) from a Christian point of view, but they don't state this in the sale listing. Amazon should really include that in the item information. The book does include bible references, but the author does not spend a undue amount of time on religious matters.
   
   Great book and a must read.

3 comments about Bono.

1. This book was excellent. If you're a Bono fan, this is a great read. It helps to clear up some of the things he does, and it shows him as a good person. He seems like the kind of guy it would be fun to hang out with.
   The questions were great and well written. Overall I think the author did a great job with this book.



2. Though I enjoy their music, I'm still not a huge fan of U2. However, I have become quite interested in the band's front man, Bono. Bono has used his celebrity and fame in a way that many others would benefit from by example. I find the man fascinating and I was looking forward to learning more about him.
   
   BONO is an extended interview that Michka Assayas had with Bono over a period of several years. The project originally didn't start out as book, but as Assayas discusses, a book-length interview seemed to best way to present everything that he and Bono had discussed. I was a bit leery about the book before reading it because I had never read a book-length interview before and I was concerned the book might start repeating itself. Thankfully, BONO doesn't. Assayas doesn't do much sugar-coating and asks Bono tough questions. Bono seems to like this though, as it forces him to do some serious reflection and self-evaluation. What follows, then is a written conversation that is candid, often insightful, and sometimes humorous.
   
   The only repetition in the piece is brought up by Bono himself in regards to his work with Africa. Had another celebrity mentioned the cause, it might seem like fluff. But Bono is serious and since the book takes place over a series of years, one can see how serious Bono is about the problem and what he has done over time to find a solution.
   
   Bono is a Christian and I especially enjoyed reading about his faith. There aren't very many Christians who are also world famous rock stars, so he isn't a typical Christian and I found it interesting to read how Bono balances between his faith and his fame. Bono does uses some foul language every once and awhile and some people might be taken back by that. Personally, I found it refreshing to read an authentic account of faith instead of tired and overused clichés that many evangelicals often use in discussing their lives.
   
   A great book for anyone who is a fan of U2 or Bono or for someone looking to read about a famous Christian who tries to use their celebrity for Biblical purposes.



3. A pleasant surprise. I was afraid this book-length interview would turn into a self-congratulatory rambling session with a sycophantic journalist. However, Assayas keeps after Bono with tough and interesting questions and Bono is - by and large - candid and frequently quite insightful. He holds back on some things, which is his perogative, and can get on tangents about his greatest passion of the moment (Africa) but ultimately I found him an honest, fascinating, intelligent, and admirable fellow. I couldn't put it down.
   
   Especially refreshing (and amusing) is the chapter devoted to Bono's theology ("Add Eternity to That"). He has a penchant for dropping swear words into the discussion and that may be off-putting to some Christians. He clearly points to Christ's sacrifice on the cross and God's grace as his only hope of salvation but avoids the cliches evangelicals often fall back on. You don't hear that from too many rock stars.

1 comments about Levitation: Physics And Psychology In The Service Of Deception.

1. Levitation by Jim Ottaviani and Janine Johnston is an expose of how magicians perform their famous levitation tricks on stage. But the book is far more than that. This beautiful graphic novel is narrated by a stagehand who knows the history of the trick and how it traveled from Europe with the magician John Neville Maskelyne to the American Harry Kellar, who stole the trick. The slim volume has backstage drama along with technical detail all lovingly illustrated by Johnston. Each panel is fantastic, especially those where real posters have been included. There's not a lot to this book, but what is there is all pleasing. I even got my husband to read this, and he's not a fan of graphic novels. Very enjoyable read!