5 comments about Slackjaw: 6A memoir.

1. This memoir is funny,clever and engaging. Knipfel is an interesting guy to say the least. If "Slackjaw" hadn't come highly recomended to me, there's no way I would have read a book about a mentally-ill, guy who tried to kill himself several times before going blind. However, since I did, it was rewarding, humorous, proud and never depressing.



2. The book is most interesting. Knipfel knows how to tell a story; he tells in a sarcastic way the story of his life. Very important book for rehabilitation teachers for the blind and social workers.



3. Jim Knipfel is an idiot, truly. He's the type of person that delivers stories on characters like Werner Herzog and Ed Gein, very self-aggrandising, and, most significant to his idiot status, fails to understand anything at all. Want to be like Jim Knipfel? Quickly read a story in the newspaper, spend the next ten years watching The Nanny, then write a story based on what you read in the newspaper, and then assume the role of expert on the whole thing.



4. I like this book. I like Jim Knipfel's writing in general. He's quite good, and seems to be a naturally gifted author who's learned the ropes from his years as a columnist. In a strange sort of way, I consider him to be yet another link in the line of writers first described in the 1950s as the Beats. He measures up to many of those great truthsayers, and I always look forward to more work from Mr. Knipfel.

   Long may he linger.




5. Slackjaw is an entertaining memoir about the author's past. Jim writes with raw honesty and the book has a contagious personal quality that makes it hard to stop reading. Even though people may go through different hardships than the author, he writes in a way in which all people can relate. Through all the hard times, Jim takes the time to look at the ironic, hilarious details that make life, life.
   This book is highly recommended...

5 comments about The Tender Land: A Family Love Story.

1. I count this book among the best I have ever read. Whether or not you know someone who has committed suicide, this book will touch you deeply. If you do know someone who has committed suicide, this book could help you see how one person unravelled the story behind her brother's tragic, young death. This is a book of enormous truth and humanity, told with humor and obvious love. It is also a closely scrutinized view of one family, how it lives from day to day, the roles of each person within the family, and how it dealt with disaster.
   I check Amazon periodically to see if Kathleen Finneran has written another book. Where are you Kathleen Finneran? Your audience awaits.



2. This book reveals the emotional upheaval that only a suicide survivor can put into words. Ms. Finnerman's story of the suicide death of her brother was unfortunalty a subject I can relate to. It is a well told and sensitive book which shines a light on the topic of losing a sibling in such a tragic manner.



3. I recently read The Tender Land and loved it. I admit that I was somewhat hesitant to read it because of the suicide subject matter. But it turns out to be more of a book of how a family copes with sudden death and the grief that follows. I think anyone could relate to this story. Ms. Finneran is a descriptive author that brings the reader into the story to experience it yourself. I will be looking for more of this author's work.



4. From the first part of the book I was hooked. The author's Mother had experienced some very powerful things in regard to her son..and what made them powerful was she wasn't scared to share those experiences with her daughter--the author. I gave this book to a friend to read and she thought it was very good--and I have since sold it to my favorite used bookstore--I think someday I will buy it (again) and reread it.



5. This memoir is one that I will never forget - it affected me in the way that The Lovely Bones did - it's left me with a profound feeling of heartbreak and poignancy.

   Kathleen Finneran is probably one of the bravest of authors as she lays bare many personal feelings and experiences of her own, along with the family tragedy that the Finnerans lived through when they lost 15-year-old Sean to suicide.

   She portrays her family, separately and wholly, as tight-knit, strong, extremely loving, but tragically touched by depression and suicide.

   I highly recommend this beautifully written, heartrending, precious memoir. It is one-of-a-kind.

5 comments about Burned Alive: A Survivor of an "Honor Killing" Speaks Out.

1. This book held my interest and at times made for shocking reading. A country with beliefs so foreign to us made it almost abhorant. The true tragedy is how women in other cultures suffer and we are powerless to do anything to stop it. This book was written by a very very brave woman.



2. "Burned Alive" is an insightful account of a heinous and violent crime, that is unfortunately rather common.
   
   Souad describes thoughtfully how she was treated worse than an animal while she lived as a slave; owned by her father in a primitive West Bank Village. On a daily basis Souad was the victim of beatings and horrible abuse. Why is that?
   
   Because like virtually all third-world/Islamic States, women are property; not human-beings. Souad is nothing if not honest and brave as she describes in detail how it is a sin simply to be born female. She even describes how her mother murdered her own newborn baby daughters because of their gender!
   
   Souad was forbidden to ever speak to a man and could only go outside to work her long daily chores. When she was still a teenager one of her neighbors raped her repeatedly. She was young and vulnerable and this pig told her that he "loved" her and would "marry" her. But after Souad became pregnant this rapist abandoned her!
   
   Poor Souad goes into detail about how she tried to hide her pregnancy because she knew that it would surely mean her execution. When her family was finally aware of her pregnancy (more than 6 months,) they had her brother-in-law douse her with gasoline and set her on fire. Soaud bravely describes how this felt and how she was treated.
   
   This story is very sad, shocking, tragic but also hopeful. There are millions and millions of women who have been victims of these horrible honor murders. Souad is unique because she is a survivor. She survived her attempted murder. Her family left her for dead, but she survived. And she was able to start a new life!
   
   My hope is that this book will be passed around in the Islamic third-world villages where women are treated worse than garbage. Proper education is the solution. No one deserves to be treated the way Soaud was; there is no justification for this.
   
   Souad is a very courageous woman, not just for surviving, but for also telling her story. She still feels guilty, but if I could speak to her now I would tell her that she is a shero and has nothing to be ashamed off. Souad is a survivor.



3. I read this book when it first came out in hardback and admit I was blown away although I am someone who is VERY familiar with the challenges so many women face worldwide. I am disappointed with reviewers who state that the book is not true and only have one question: HOW CAN YOU KNOW THIS FOR A FACT? CAN YOU PROVE WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? The truth is that you cannot possibly know and that you are simply angry and making unfair statements. Life is stranger than fiction and no one but the author of this book knows for certain, but I suspect that this story IS true. There are many people who believe that such book exposures are meant to attack a culture or a religion. This is not true. You should not take these true stories as an attack on you or your country or your culture. These are individual stories that do not reflect on you, yet should be made known. This does not mean that your culture or your land does not have many wonderful aspects. I, myself, write about women's issues and just so happen to write about the Arab world because that is where I lived for much of my adult life and that is what I know, and women from the area come to me oftentimes asking that I tell their stories. Although I write true stories of women in the Arab world, and those stories are heart-wretching, I am still aware that there are many women living happy lives in Arab lands, and that there are many wonderful things about Arab culture and lands...things that we westerners can learn from and better ourselves. But the issue of abuse on women is one that should concern every caring person. Even if most women live in safety in the Arab world, it does not mean that ALL women live without abuse. Every life is different and readers from the Arab world should be glad such stories are exposed and work to stop the abuse of women, rather than gripe when stories are made public. I am from the United States yet am not ashamed to admit that we have many abuses of women here. I myself know some professional women (doctors, lawyers) who live in abusive relationships, which is horrifying. Yet I have found that a very important difference is that women in the USA who have an abuse problem CAN seek help from society and generally will find help. Sadly, in the Middle East when a woman complains of abuse, society generally BLAMES HER for the abuse rather than the man who is abusing her! Few people will step up and try to help. Why? Because they are worried that they themselves will be targeted. Also, to expose abuse is considered a huge shame on the country. This should not be the case. No one blames an entire country for a few bad people. If anyone in the area will be honest, they will admit that abuse of women is a genuine problem. Rarely will anyone help a woman in need. The area is still a part of the world where men are more valued than women, and until this attitude changes, a lot of women will pay the ultimate price, and will live miserable lives. For example: I still have very educated Arab friends who mourn at the birth of daughters and express openly their desire for sons only. Even the educated women I know keep this attitude ongoing, which is shocking considering the fact they are women and they should work to make the status of women high. It is a huge problem. When will the world acknowledge the truth that a baby girl is no less than a baby boy, both are precious and there should be rejoicing at the birth of either. So, those of you who make statements that this story is not true, perhaps you should look around the world and know that cruelty upon women knows no bounds. I believe that anything is possible and nothing in this arena surprised me anymore. Princess: A True Story of Life Behind the Veil in Saudi Arabia;Mayada, Daughter of Iraq: One Woman's Survival Under Saddam Hussein[;[ASIN:0470067292 Love in a Torn Land: Joanna of Kurdistan: The True Story of a Freedom Fighter's Escape from Iraqi Vengeance]]



4. This book was a big waste of both time and money. It is absolutely the worst thing I have ever read and, for someone who is interested in and has studied Islamic culture, religion and history, this book is a complete disgrace. Yes, some things that the author maintained happened to her do really happen. BUT, she did not experience just one bad thing, but ALL of them and, quite frankly, nobody is that unlucky. And even if someone can be that unlucky, there is no way such person could just randomly be saved by some European aid worker. Not after she was left to die. Although, I, too, was skeptical about the claims that Souad's story is a fake, after reading the first 20 pages, I was sorry I didn't listen to the people who wrote the negative reviews.
   
   OK, in the words of Therese Taylor:
   
   "An important point to note is that Burned Alive is a work of recovered memory." ... "There are similarities in most works of recovered memory and unreliable memoirs. The authors' stories are extreme, they are the victims of every conceivable circumstance, and everyone they meet tends to be a sadist. Their survival is always a miracle."
   
   Also important to note is that such works are found to be fictional 90% of the time. Basically, in my opinion, this is yet another work of anti-Muslim propaganda that is becoming oh-so-popular these days. So, if you don't care about the truth, this is an excellent book for reinforcing your hatred of the entire Muslim world. But, then again, ignorance is bliss...



5. It is highly suspenseful and I especially liked the evil telephone motif. This was back in the days before calling features when the phone still had enough mystique to sometimes in still fear.
   
   Several reviewers have impugned the credibility of this story. The basic premise, unfortunately, is highly plausible and not just confined to Muslim countries. Someone also expressed contemptuous disbelief that Souad's mother would actually suffocate her baby daughters. This story takes place about three decades ago. Today gender (almost always female) infanticide has been made obsolete by ultra-sound. In countries like India (majority Hindu) and China (majority atheist) female fetuses are aborted at such a high rate many young men have difficulty finding wives. Many baby girls who manage to make it out of the womb alive end up in orphanages. This perturbing aspect of females helping to perpetuate their own subservient status is an irony usually overlooked by readers.
   
   Burned Alive is a timeless story. This version just happens to take place in Palestine. Souad lives a very isolated and abusive life. Instead of her parents building self-esteem in their daughter, and warning her about the archetypal Humpty-Dumpty, they treat her as some sort scourge turned servant as compensation for not having been born male. She is kept locked up behind walls so that she won't escape and no one will use her. When she eventually manages to sneak out she is putty in the hands of a wily older man looking to score. He showers her with "kindness" and flattery, tells her he loves her and wants to marry her, etc. He gets her pregnant and then leaves the country for an extended vacation. It also turns out that he's already married or has a fiancée.
   
   This creates an embarrassing quagmire for Souad's family: It makes the men look like a bunch of weenies who can't control their women. It also spoils their cash crop since in many cultures the groom must pay a bride price to the male head of household. Ergo, pregnant Souad must be annihilated in order to punish her and save face.
   
   In the US murder is the leading cause of death among pregnant women, usually perpetrated by the husband or boyfriend who wants to be relieved of his paternal responsibility. Fortunately, defending one's so called "honor" is not a defense for murder. So, Charles Stuart, who fatally shot his pregnant wife and superficially shot himself blamed it on a non-existent black man. Rae Caruth denied shooting his pregnant girlfriend and if this had been prior to the advent of DNA testing he could have simply denied paternity. Scott Peterson blamed it on a band of marauding Devil worshippers. His trial was a death penalty (which is rarely carried out) case and he was convicted of two murders.
   
   I am very grateful that in America women enjoy a status, economic power, and legal protect that exceeds that of many nations. Unfortunately, these advances haven't eradicated misogyny, which fuels violence against women.
   
   FYI: For those interested in this subject I also recommend The Garlic Ballads by Mo Yan. It takes place in the Chinese countryside in 1987. A young woman, Jinju, is forced into an unwanted marriage with a much older man in order to secure a happy marriage for her older brother. Corrupt officials refuse to help her and she runs off with her true love. It is also a brutal story and its premise is basically the same.
   
   There is a website [...] that claims to have debunked this particular book as a hoax.

No comments about Hashish: A Smuggler's Tale (Penguin Classics).

5 comments about Bad Grass Never Dies: The Sequel to Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.

1. Growing up, some of my favorite memories are of my family laughing out loud by Chucks games shows. Now, through Confessions and Bad Grass, Chuck continues to do what he was born to do, which is entertain us.
   This book was great. A page turner that made it one of those few "hard to put down" books. What is really great about it though is that Chuck found a way to involve us all in a game called "Did it really happen" In this game the contestant reads the book, and no matter what answer we give, we win. What fun.
   Thanks Chuck. I had a great time.



2. Good book. I just want to comment on David L. Vasser's review where Barris names a "Stechkin revolver" with silencer as his favored weapon for "close work." Only one revolver is silencable and it isn't a Stechkin.
   I did some research and found that in the 1980's a modification of APS, known as APSB (silenced APS) was adopted to use with external silencer and a special butt-stock (not a heavy wooden holster, but a metal butt-stock much like one used with many modern SMG's).



3. "Bad Grass Never Dies", a sequel to the wonderful 1984 book "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," is more over the top than its predecessor, but still wildly entertaining. While "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" weaves an almost believable tale of a double life as "Gong Show" host and CIA assassin, this book is somewhat less plausible, yet it is very fast paced and filled with several twists that I didn't see coming. My favorite part of Barris' writing style is his character descriptions. He is one of the best at genuinely painting a picture of the characters so they totally come to life and can be readily visualized. I was particularly amused by the descriptions of Coulter Bean and all of the villains.
   
   This book is foremost a first person spy novel, but also touches on a lot of other things such as aging and relationship traumas that are clearly more autobiographical for Barris. The interplay of the CIA assassin plot versus the aging TV producer are well balanced and poignantly nuanced.
   
   Although I still prefer "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," I think it is worth five stars for sheer entertainment value. Great job, Chuck!



4. I enjoyed the book, realizing full well that the CIA part is fictional. Some examples that shoot out as fiction. He mentions the Mexican assassin as being involved with the "Sandies" and Contras in the mid- 1970's, before the existence of the Contras, and before the Sandinistas had achieved power in Nicaragua, a time when they clearly were not a high priority for CIA activity. Also, he mentions a conversation with his alleged target in 1994, the Eygptian bio-terrorist, in which he refers to the Oklahoma City bombing of 1995. He speaks of the Brader Meinhof gang, (could be typo) instead of the Baader Meinhof gang, and mentions one of them being from East Germany. To my knowledge all of them were from West Germany. Also, he mentions a mythical Baader Meinhof take over of the US consulate in Munich, which never happened. Also, he talks about a Haitian agent for the Soviets and Cubans in the mid-1990's, when the Soviet Union no longer existed. Clearly, Barris doesn't know a whole lot about politics, and this constantly blows his cover. Still, the book is a fun read, as long as you take it with a huge grain of salt, and realize that it is at least part-novel. The part about the Madison avenue synagogue Rabbi is so over the top one wonders about that as well, but again, fact or fiction, it makes for a good read.



5. One-time game show producer/host Chuck Barris becomes CIA hired assassin "Sunny Sixkiller" who sells his TV Empire for gazillions. Gazillionaire Barris moves to the French Riveria while keeping his moonlighting job as CIA hit man. I admit I believed Barris' tale in the first outing "Dangerous Minds" could be legitimate, but I saw the light this time. What was his #1 downfall? Professionals know their tools and there are two flaws in his firearms facts a real pro would never make. He writes of a "Walther PBK" but probably meant the Walther PPK. Yes that could be a typo. Then he names a "Stechkin revolver" with silencer as his favored weapon for "close work." Only one revolver is silencable and it isn't a Stechkin. Only the Belgian "Nagant" revolver can be effectively silenced, it's been out of production for about 50 years & is hardly concealable. Downfall #2, Barris' CIA control agent is ex-NY Yankee pitcher Colter Bean who would be at least 55 years old now. In reality Colter Bean was called up from the minors to pitch for the Yankees during the 2004 season. Yes it could be Colter Bean, Jr., but that would just be too big a coincidence. Barris has a gift for suspense and adventure writing and this might be his most enjoyable and zippy read yet. However, I'm convinced he invented the entire CIA angle which makes me wonder about the rest. Too bad Barris wasted so much time writing autobiographies. He obviously has a gift for fiction and could have been a top fiction writer instead of issuing serial autobiographical hoaxes

5 comments about Glory Road: My Story of the 1966 NCAA Basketball Championship and How One Team Triumphed Against the Odds.

1. GLORY ROAD IS ABOUT TEXAS WESTERN COLLEGE WHO WON THE 1966 NCAA BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT. THE BOOK IS WRITTEN BY DON HASKINS WHO COACHED THIS GROUND BREAKING TEAM. BY THAT I MEAN FIVE BLACKS WERE IN THE STARTING LINEUP AN UNHEARD OF THING BACK IN THE 1960'S. HASKINS REALLY KICKED PREJUDICE IN THE ASS. HE WAS NOT PREDJUCIDE TO COLOR BUT TO GUYS WHO WOULD NOT GIVE A 100% EFFORT. HE WAS A REAL S.O.B. TO PLAY FOR, MAKING HIS TEAM PRACTICE VERY HARD AND LONG. (SOMETIMES EVEN AFTER A GAME HE WOULD WORK THEM UNTIL WELL INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS) THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR TODAY WOULD GET HIM SUED OR TEMINATED OR BOTH. HE IS VERY DRIVEN AND VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT WINNING. HE ALSO TRIES TO COME ACROSS AS BEING A NO EGO TYPE OF GUY BUT HE ALSO BRAGS HOW GREAT A POOL PLAYER HE WAS. NOT ALOT OF THIS BOOK IS ABOUT THE ACTUAL 1966 TOURNAMENT ITSELF BUT MORE ABOUT HIS RESPECT FOR LEGENDARY COACH HANK IBA AND MORE ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS WHO HELPED MAKE THEM CHAMPIONS. THIS IS A VERY GOOD READ AND I RECOMMEND IT MOSTLY FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL FANS.



2. An amazing person as well as basketball player and coach, Don Haskins relates the history of Texas Western/UTEP basketball in a way that the movie "Glory Road" (though very good) simply could not. Even though the title makes it sound like the 1966 season is all that is covered, this book actually tells the history of Haskins' long tenure here at UTEP, from his first years at the school through the historic championship in '66, and beyond. His insights into the players, coaches, and personalities he came into contact with were enthralling, and the wonderful storytelling really makes you feel like you were there through all the good times and bad. I read it cover to cover the same afternoon I bought it, and highly recommend it to any fan of UTEP, Coach Haskins, or basketball in general. Thanks for everything you've done for the city of El Paso, our university, and the game of basketball, Mr. Haskins.



3. Your current published reviews are enthusiastic but in some cases contain factual inaccuracies. The movie and the book are related in title and subject (Don Haskins); but that is about as far as it goes. The movie which focuses on 1966 is moving and concludes with a happy and factual ending - that is, that Texas Western won that game in 1966 --- but the movie not always true to the facts. Understandably I suppose when you try to compress a life story, even if only one year of a life, into a 2 hour or so movie. The book, from someone who played for Coach, reviewed and commented on the galley proof, and has represented Coach Haskins and the '66 team as a lawyer and a friend for 35 plus years, is "spot-on" and should be read by everyone who has ever had an interest in basketball.
   
   As to the fortunes of 1966 team and the gentlemen representing that team so well, then and now, suffice it to say that the past 3 or 4 years have indeed been a trip down Glory Road: The team was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA this past April, only the 6th team to ever be so honored - and the first collegiate team --- with the enshrinement proceedings to be held on September 7 and 8, 2007 at the HOF facility. The team has also been honored with dinner and a movie at the White House with President and Mrs. Bush; the team will be inducted in the Boys Clubs of New York Hall of Fame in October of 2007, and some of the members volunteered to take an Armed Services Entertainment Tour to Germany, the Netherlands and England in February of 2007 to entertain our country's troops and their families. Also, Texas Western's victory on March 19, 1966 in College Park, Maryland over Hall of Fame Coach Adolph Rupp and his great Kentucky Wildcat team, that included Pat Riley, Louie Dampier and Larry Conley, among others, was selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association ("NCAA") as one of 25 defining moments in the 100 year History of NCAA sports.
   
   I could go on but I think this should at least clear up a few matters and hopefully whet the appetite of prospective readers and reviewers to pause and consider reading this book, viewing the movie. Coach Haskin's story is presented in an interesting manner, containing both Coach Haskin's well known skills as a pick-up riding around story teller and the literary skills of Dan Wetzel who spent hours upon hours riding, listening and recording those stories.
   
   It is well written and factual to a fault; and points out what people can do when they put aside prejudices, rediculous stereoptypes (blacks had no discipline, couldn't be a point guard or quarterback) and circumstances and judge people by character and performance; not color and privilege. Every one of those (then but now not so) young men -- all are still alive except Bobby Joe Hill who passed away of a heart attack in 2002 --- that comprised the Texas Western Team in 1966 had talent and skill; more importantly they had character and heart and respect for each other and their coaches and that combination took them to over the top.
   
   Enjoy this story and share it with others - because of their courage and accomplishments, and those of others in other aspects of the 60's civil rights movement, questions surrounding recruiting, playing, starting and honoring people of color in sports today seem strangely quaint, and beyond the imagination of most people born after the '60s. But it wasn't always so and for this all of society owes a debt of gratitude to Don Haskins, the members of his '66 team, the University of Texas at El Paso (formerly Texas Western College) and the citizens of El Paso for contributing to the environment in which we now find ourselves with respect to race relations in sports.



4. I have the honor of being Don Haskins teammate at Oklahoma A & M, now Oklahoma State University and couldn't be prouder and happier for a very good film about a very historic Coach and athletic event. Please be advised that Don's whole 1966 team was just inducted into the new Collegiate Hall of Fame in Kansas City, Missouri. Buy it, you will like it...!



5. In one of those quirky moments in the book and movie industries, the autobiography of coach Don Haskins was already "in the pipeline" before the development of the picture.
   
   The book and movie share the title - Glory Road - which is a name of a street on the UTEP campus to commemorate the championship basketball season.
   
   The book obviously gives a more fuller picture of Haskins and does not solely focus on the monumental victory by Texas Western College (UTEP) over Kentucky in the 1966 NCAA Finals. There will be areas "filled-in" where the movie takes artistic license with some facts/scenes to push the plot along.
   
   The years after the title run are especially interesting, since the basketball program somewhat faded from national view as the sport became a multi-billion-dollar industry.
   
   It is a shame that history - especially when it comes to matters of race - oftentimes become blurry as the years lumber forward. Though Haskins has always downplayed his role in what was a defining moment on the court of race & athletics, he truly deserved the attention from the national platform that propelled the book to national bestseller status.
   
   The lessons learned along that glory road are as important today as they were 40 years ago.

5 comments about Praying for My Life.

1. I ordered this book to be read and discussed in a church book club discussion group. Most of us agreed that the book has some wisdom, particularly involving the concepts of trusting God and handling life's challenges with prayer. One of our group members is a widow who related well to Marion Bond West's description of early widowhood. However, the book seemed poorly organized and the writing lacked strength and depth.



2. In an instant, your life can change from calm and peaceful to one filled with personal trauma. Where do you turn for peace? How do you find God's help and comfort?
   
   The key points of PRAYING FOR MY LIFE by Marion Bond West are captured in the prophetic words from Habakkuk 3:17-19, which describes a difficult personal plight. In part it says, "Though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation." The phrases from these verses create the section divisions of Bond West's personal story of dealing with adversity.
   
   The mother of four, Bond West writes movingly about the difficulties she faced with her fraternal twin sons, Jon and Jeremy, after her first husband died from a brain tumor. Over a four-year period, this now-single mother had to look after these "strong-willed" brothers who stretched every boundary and limit.
   
   In an early chapter, Bond West describes her fears when Jon and Jeremy, as 35-year-old adults, are patients in two different hospitals. Jeremy suffers his fourth car accident, while on the other side of the city, Jon is hospitalized with a fever and a life-threatening bacterial disease to his hand and arm. Just when you believe Bond West is carrying more than a human can bear, she's challenged to say "no" to a grown son who wants to move back home.
   
   In a modern sense, Bond West's personal experiences capture the emotions of the prophet Habakkuk, and she declares her own determination to follow God in faith no matter what happens.
   
   Each chapter ends with a pointed personal prayer related to Bond West's experiences in that section. As she grows through the life-changing situations and walks in faith, the reader's faith is also strengthened. Not every chapter relates to her family --- several sections deal with befriending nearby neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Farmer. Despite her hardships and struggles, Bond West never stops believing and never stops praying. She continues to experience the transforming power of God in her life and in the lives of family members, providing hope to readers that they too can continue to move ahead through life's challenges.
   
   In this well-crafted book, Bond West uses vivid dialogue and rich, engaging prose to relate her experiences. Anyone can gain strength and encouragement from these pages.
   
   --- Reviewed by W. Terry Whalin



3. When life became overwhelming, testing author Marion Bond West's faith in God, she found herself praying for confidence and belief - and her spiritual memoir shares her story and how this new approach changed her life. Her twin sons struggled with an auto accident, bipolar disorder, and addiction - when her husband died her faith was sorely tested as a single parent. Her wellspring of inspiration translates well to this vivid memoir: a top pick for any spirituality library.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. Do you feel like you're on the verge of losing hope? Marion Bond West has been there, and in her powerful spiritual memoir, she'll show you how she survived with a little known prayer in the book of Habakkuk.
   
   Now a grandmother and contributing editor for Guideposts magazine, Bond West has had to overcome early widowhood, raising four children as a single mom, and dealing with rebellion, substance abuse, and bipolar disorder in her adult sons.
   
   Marion's honest, transparent writing will restore your hope.
   
   I loved this book, and it's the kind of book you write your name in so when you loan it to people they'll be sure to give it back to you. (I've already loaned mine out twice so far!) Each chapter is a stand-alone story that demonstrates how God brought the author through a trial -- sometimes funny (as in the time she fell through the flooring of her neighbor's attic trying to take care of a cat) and sometimes painful (as in having to say good-bye to her adult son who was leaving for a treatment center).
   
   But always, you feel a little bit closer to the heart of God when you journey alongside Marion Bond West.
   
   -- Christian Women Online Book Buzz



5. It happens to everyone--unexpected experiences in life. It seems like Marion Bond West had almost more than her share of difficulties. When the experiences of life seemed almost too much to bear, she turned to prayer and found unusual strength and peace.
   
   The theme of this book uses, Habakkuk 3:17-19--some little known verses from a minor prophet in the Old Testament. The world crumbled around Habakkuk as well yet he chose to follow the God of his salvation. It's a timeless choice which Marion Bond West makes in this book--and each reader can make as they reflect on these experiences.
   
   Here's a book loaded with hope and encouragement for the most challenging of life's experiences. I recommend it.

5 comments about Geno: In Pursuit of Perfection.

1. This book does nothing but confirm what a jerk this fellow is. He can turn on the charm when he wants, such as when he is wooing a recruit. He has also assembled a staff that can coach, as well as recruiting the best basketball talent in the country. He obviously is a shrewd game tactician. But scratch the surface, and you find the egotistical, totally self centered, shallow jerk that lies within. From his profanity filled rants at press conferences, to his adolescent taunts directed at opposing teams to his verbal abuse of his players to his unethical recruiting practices, he earns the title of Geno the Jerk. This book is a big nothing. Wait for the DVD.



2. Auriemma is a JERK. The best thing about this book is he tells you that he, CD (his associate head coach), all his assistant coaches and most of all his players know he is a JERK. But even more important, he cares about his players like a parent or that uncle who will always be there when you need them to be does. He doesn't coddle, he doesn't kiss up to good, or even great players. He does sometimes treat players differently, but only because every single one of his players is an individual, but he demands that they play not as individuals, but as a team. He gets the best out of his players because he demands the best out of them and even more so out of himself. He is insecure and cocky. Doubtful and arrogant. A smooth talker and someone who regularly eats shoe leather. He is a real person who I would love my daughter to play for some day if she ever got the chance.



3. It's rare these days -- I just couldn't stop reading. Auriemma's co-writer creates a style that makes Geno come across as a good guy who tries hard - a real rags to riches, Horatio Alger story.
   
   As a basketball fan, I loved the glimpses into life at UConn and the stories beyond some legendary playeres. In particular, I liked Diana Taurasi's introduction and the brief mentions of her background and style. She's a fascinating person as well as a great player, adding charisma he way Lisa Leslie once did.
   
   Geno tells the truth, too. After UConn, many players faced a letdown. I watched Taurasi play against Seattle next year, as a member of the Arizona team. She tried hard but was obviously frustrated being a top player on a mid-level team.
   
   Ironically, there are many parallels between Taurasi and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee's star, who would have graduated just before Taurasi went to UConn. Both began their WNBA careers as Number 1 draft picks on low-ranked teams. And both complained about being so famous. Tough, said both coaches.
   
   I also liked Geno's report of recruiting,a coach's toughest job, he says.
   
   A few times I flipped pages while Geno pontificated and philosophized. Most mostly I loved it...and despite a long and growing "To Do" list, I kept reading.



4. Luigi "Geno" Auriemma has written an extremely heartfelt biography chronicling his life experiences, especially the years he has been coaching UConn's womens basketball team. This is one of those biographies you don't want to miss out on!
   
   Geno is a straight shooter and one heck of a honest man. His genuine display of his emotions and thoughts throughout the book are a testament to his character. His loyalty to his wife, family, colleagues, players and fans is incredible!
   
   The stories behind how he recruited Diana Taurasi and others are very enjoyable to read, as are the countless other stories he recalls over the years. "Geno" is an excellent book for anyone to read - you don't need to be a huge sports enthusiast (although I reckon it might make a slight difference) as this is a story of an Italian boy from Norristown who made it big through his strong work ethics and values.
   
   Molto Grazie, Geno! You rock!



5. The book is filled with anecdotes about his early life (the best chapter) and his years at UConn. Trials, tribulations, success and failures with various players, their families, etc. are the central theme. If you've followed the team in recent years or long term, you will appreciate this information. Fewer points, however, for writing style and continuity of subject. As a whole and as a fan, I enjoyed it!

5 comments about Goodbye Stalin: A True Story of Wars, Escapes and Reinvention.

1. This is a very interesting story and well written. It makes you grateful for where you were fortunate enough to be born. The story of this family tells how it had to reinvent itself four times as it escaped communism and war. Highly recommended.



2. I would highly recomment Goodbye Stalin for anyone trying to get a better sense of Soviet repression in the Baltic nations and how innocent people were caught between the evils of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. While author Sigrid von Bremen Thomas was a Baltic German who fled Estonia with her family as a child, her experiences mirror those of many Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians. This is a must read for children and grandchildren of refugees who want to better understand their parents' experiences.



3. Critically important book about life as experienced on the ground in Stalin's Eastern Europe before, during and after the Second World War. Few accounts are as gripping and life affirming. Well read. Would be great to read outloud to one's children for them to understand just how good most Americans have it today and how so many others have had to fight and survive for what we take for granted.



4. We have read many nail-biting escape memoirs about escaping from the cold-hearted Nazis; here is a page-turner that reads like a novel about a world shattered by the pillaging and rape brought to successive countries by the Soviet Army. The memories of a young, beautiful daughter who later comes to the United States and marries Newsweek editor Rich Thomas are indelibly set down as a tribute to her father and, unwittingly, to herself. They are both people of rare courage and intelligence. This is a must read.



5. Goodbye Stalin chronicles the von Bremen family's travel from "feudal glory under the czars through revolution in 1817, then democracy in Estonia, Nazism in Poland during World War II, communism in East Germany, and finally freedom in West German and the United States." In traveling this tumultuous road the family lived through repeated losses of its holdings, possessions and stature.
   
   It is a remarkable story, one not experienced by many and chronicled by fewer. It is told in a straightforward, highly readable chronology of escapes and recoveries that are truly fascinating and are told in an understated, compelling voice that makes the book very much of a page turner.
   
   The most memorable story that emerges from a reading of the book is a fascinating impression of the author's father. He seems to have had an infinite capacity for adaptability, having moved the family through real peril again and again to reestablish it as a productive and relatively peaceful unit in some other place. As a trained agronomist his ability to identify agricultural opportunities and to take advantage of them might be expected, but his ability to keep his family intact in the face of war and an inflexible and demanding mother were extraordinary.
   
   Perhaps there really are genes for adaptability. Perhaps noblesse oblige actually worked on von Bremen pere, for he exhibited resilience and resourcefulness to an extraordinary degree. Sigrid von Bremen Thomas, his daughter and the author, seems to have inherited or acquired the same traits, for she has shown extraordinary personal strength and flexibility in her life. One of the books several virtues is that it resists drawing conclusions about these traits, leaving the reader to consider their source and relative importance.
   
   Goodbye Stalin is fascinating reading that engenders a great deal of introspection. It also leaves the reader with tremendous respect for its protagonists.

5 comments about Running After Antelope.

1. Scott Carrier has the ability to bring the difficult, heartfelt pain of going through transition to words with humor, selflessness and honesty. His very humble manner is charming and yet also you realize how much you want to reach out and help, even though his writing style isn't a call for help. I listened to him on NPR and I laughed as he described living in mormon Utah and discussed the most personal topic of all, his life. He is going through the same trials and tribulations we all do, his is a personal painful road which I hope most won't have to encounter. But I loved his work and only wish he would write more.



2. This book is a loosely woven collection of essays from Scott Carrier, some of which were read on various NPR programs, and others of which appeared in Esquire. Running throughout the essays are the author's attempts to outrun pronghorn (prodded by his brother's research into the evolution of breathing). But along the way, we hear about Carrier's other adventures in the world: reporting from places where most would fear to tread (the jungles of Mexico, Kashmir, Cambodia), trying to find the truth; hitchhiking across the country to collect an advance on a book; living in a dumpy house near the University of Utah with some way-out neighbors; and many more. In each, he examines the plight of the people whose paths cross his. His writing is very evocative and immediate, sad and funny. I sped through this little collection and might just look for something else by Carrier.



3. Scott doesn't tell us the story of his life in one time restrained, fact-stacked mess he lets us into his world with lucid storytelling.
   
   From Cambodia to Mexico and into his city of orgin (Salt Lake) Scott uses words to more than paint pictures he transports the reader to the scene and injects them with emotion.



4. Highly recommended.
   I read this about a year ago, so don't have the best memory of it, but remember it foundly.
   The chapters that directly deal with "Running after antelope" are interesting scientifically in their own right. They broke the idea of a key role for long distance running in human evolution to the public far ahead of the popular press.
   The rest of the book was entertaining and filled with good down home american stories as I remember..and inspiring in a semi depressive sort of way.



5. Hi all, I just wanted to say I just finished reading RUNNING AFTER ANTELOPE and it was a very nice, thoughful, and fast read. I found the idea of his obsession of running after antelope a bit ridiculous, which I am assuming was the point. I've never read, heard, or heard of Scott Carrier before so I have no prior knowledge to help fund my knowledge. I wanted to say though that the pieces about Cambodia, Kashmir, and Mexico were wonderful. They really made me think and if nothing else, I believe that a great writer must have the ability to make you look at life's absurdities, laugh, and ponder deeply about the world around you. Scott Carrier you have succeeded! May you forever run with the antelope!