5 comments about It's All About Him: Finding the Love of My Life.

1. First of all, I do not believe Denise and Alan Jackson were compatible from the very start of their relationship. Initially it was a physical attraction at best - more so on Alan's part. As time marched on in their marriage, they began to drift apart and then later fell apart due to Alan's infidelity.
   I sensed that Denise would have liked to share more concerning Alan's unfaithfulness but showed great restraint in choosing not to cast him or his career in a bad light.
   It was upsetting to me and countless others to see Denise blame herself for Alan's betrayal or trying to pull herself down to his level for a few impure thoughts she may have had back when - whenever.
   Denise fought long and hard by exhausting every avenue to restore her relationship with Alan until finally surrendering it all to Christ, the Author and Finisher of Our Faith. I to have been there until I did exactly what Denise did in crying out to God to not only save my marriage but to save myself and by divine intervention, my marriage was spared. That was over 25 years ago and we are still going so very strong.
   
   In all honesty, I do not think Denise would have fought so long and so vehemently to save her marriage if it were not for the extravagant and opulent lifestyle she had come to know and love, for herself and for their children. I appreciate Denise's honesty in making mention in her book before the fame and fortune she said, "I don't remember any woman chasing after you when you worked the second shift at the local K-Mart." I truly believe that Denise would have shown Alan to the door had it not been for all the wealth.
   
   It is my hope that they will both stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to everlasting life and their children as well.
   The scripture does say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
   Denise closed her book by quoting the passage, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him."
   However, for the readers sake I would like to add the very next passage that states, "But God has revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God."
   I'll close by sharing this thought, "It is Christ Himself who empowers us to forgive those who have violated our trust, all we need do is ask and by the Holy Spirit he will enable us to forgive all."
   
   For a truly extraordinary story of love and redemption, check out D. W. Gutridge's "Captured by a Smile." You will not be disappointed.Captured by a Smile "Imprisoned by Love": A Memoir of Young Love that Refused to Die



2. I cannot recommend this book enough for every woman. It truely changed my life. I read it in half a day, and think about it weekly. It truely taught me forgiveness and for those struggling with hurt and betrayal, who need a way to faithfully overcome the hurt and to forgive, this is an excellent book!



3. I bought this book for my mom last Christmas. She read it in two days. She loved it and it made her respect Alan Jackson all the more.



4. I picked up this book and could not put it down. I got it from the library but had to go buy my own copy. Denise is so open and honest and I learned so much from her story. Thanks so much for opening up yourself and sharing your joys and heartaches. I cried and laughed. I wasn't really an Alan Jackson fan but I am now! Great story!
   Shannon



5. I was shocked when I got this product, as I thoutht I was getting a used copy and it was brand new and had never been opened. I received it in a very short amount of time. I would purchase from them again.

5 comments about Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott.

1. "These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people's hearts"
   (in one of Rachel's drawings)
   
   Interestingly, I got to know about the Columbine Massacre when I was in the polytechnic (in Singapore). In a particular lecture, a friend of mine beside me was reading FHM and I noticed to my surprise, there was a feature about it.
   
   Fast forward to end-2005. I don't remember exactly how, but I bumped into an article on Wikipedia about that fatal event. It piqued my interest and soon I was visiting every outgoing link from that encyclopedia entry. It was then that I found out who Rachel Joy Scott was.
   
   She was the first victim of the shooting.
   
   A beautiful, 17-year-old with a bright future ahead of her was slain as a result of two boys' murderous rage. A pity it seems; on the contrary, her kin and close friends, who should be the most shaken from the disaster, claimed otherwise.
   
   It tickled my curiosity and fired up my research into her intriguing life story--one of faith, hope and love--one of inspiration and vision--even one exemplary to the awesome greatness of God. These things were evident in her intimate writings--she recorded volumes in her diary, and if you don't know what that is, it's a private and retrogressive version of what we call a "blog" today.
   
   The sequence of events leading up to her death and her amazing testimony was compiled by her parents into this book. And I highly recommend it because it will change your perception of Christianity. Hers is a modern day example of what a true saint is.
   
   What inspired me the most was how mature her thoughts and faith was for her age. Her genuine heart of wanting to help others and be a blessing unto them radiates in her actions.
   
   The book also mentions the uncertainties and difficulties she faced--the things we all meet and can relate to--and how she submitted them to God. I remember an account of a lesson she learned while working in Subway, where she passed an opportunity to help a poor person. She eventually realized every failure to exercise the divine appointment God has given her will simply be given to another who is willing, and the heavenly reward will be theirs. This instantly changed my approach towards serving others.
   
   She even convinced me to start writing a journal.
   
   I lent my copy of the book to a friend, and I never saw it again. The book was passed on and around. I guess that shows how good the book was.
   
   Rachel's legacy lives on, not through her life, but her death. She had a vision to touch millions of lives and I am one of them. God bless her soul, and glory be to God!



2. If you are looking to find more of the story beyond the cold, hard details of the Columbine school shootings, and you don't mind poor writing and structure, this book provides a somewhat sacred and voyeuristic look behind the tragedy.



3. Rachel's Tears Amazon Book Review
   
   
   Rachel's Tears is a very emotional book. Rachel's Tears is a Biography written by Rachel Scott's parents Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott. This story tells the spiritual journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Joy Scott. Rachel's Tears features excerpts from Rachel's private journals. This tragic and true story explains how Rachel knew that her and twelve others would die. Out of the thirteen people that died one of them was a teacher and twelve of them were students that attended Columbine High School. Among the thirteen people that died nearly two dozen more were injured. And hundreds more were traumatized by the sights and sounds of that day. This horror was caused by two troubled teens who were overcome with hatred and desire for revenge, so they lashed out at the people at Columbine High School. Columbine High School is located in Littleton, Colorado. Littleton is located eight miles Southwest of Denver. Colorado. After this event occurred the two teens committed suicide. This makes the total death count at fifteen people. Rachel Scott was the first one who died on April 20, 1999. So when Beth and Darrell found out that their daughter was one of those thirteen people who died that day their lives changed forever! In Rachel's private journal's she writes and draws about God, and how Rachel is not going to live a lot longer. On page 111, there is a letter to God from Rachel. The opening statement says "why do I feel dry in your spirit?" This passage is only one out of many passages that has to do with Rachel and God. The authors purpose of the story is to explain how Rachel's relationship with God was one that he sent her messages explaining that something bad was going to happen. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in middle school and above. After the murders Rachel's friends and family started a program called Rachel's challenge to find out more on this program go to [...]



4. This young lady was a beautiful soul. It is a sad story but one of hope as well.
   Her parents did a wonderful job describing the tragic story.
   Anyone interested in the Columbine event should read this.
   Excellent.



5. i was so blessed by the words of faith that your little girl has shared.Its very rare to see such faith in anyone.Thank You for sharing her story. It has really blessed me.

5 comments about Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of an Iranian American, at Home and Abroad.

1. I don't remember the last time I read a book that made me laugh out loud. As I read this book, I laughed often as I recognized myself and my family within the pages.
   
   In this collection of essays, Dumas describes her experiences while growing up in Iran and her life in the U.S. Dumas' writing is honest, light, and laced with humor. Her stories are simple, yet powerful. This book is a fabulous reminder that our similarities far outweigh our differences- regardless of our cultural background. I can't wait to read "Funny in Farsi."



2. Laughing Without an Accent is Fizooreh Dumas' follow-up to her first book, Funny in Farsi. Both serve as anecdotal memoirs of situations Dumas faced as an Iranian growing up in the United States and eventually marrying a Frenchman. The book covers a vast time period; the youngest story is from when she was a six-year-old girl living in Iran, the oldest from events which probably took place mere months before the book was published. The stories are in no particular order; some reference events that took place in others.
   
   The vignettes are curious glimpses into a culture that is foreign to most Americans. For example, the first chapter of the book deals with Dumas' attempts to have her book translated into Persian (the major language in Iran). The author was passionate about those in her home country reading her works as they were written, so she went about seeking her own translator rather than relying on the lowest common denominator. She recounts the roadblocks that were thrown in front of her, as well as how well the book was received once it was actually published in Iran. It's a wonderful beginning to establishing a relationship with a foreign culture, rather than fearing and vilifying it.
   
   Some of the anecdotes are not so foreign, such as parents buying gifts for their children that the children abhor. Through these stories, Dumas illustrates that while she is from a different culture, the distinctions aren't as numerous as the similarities. That is what is important about this book, and why it is crucial that Americans read it: understanding is the beginning of acceptance. In the book, Dumas describes her family's reaction to and treatment during the Iranian hostage crisis. She speaks of their horror at the situation and her subsequent friendship with one of the hostages. In some ways, Dumas is brave; in her own way, she is standing up for the normal, everyday Iranians who only want to live their lives in peace. At the same time, by insisting her books be published in Iran, she is showing them that Americans aren't a people to fear. It is a phenomenal thing for one woman to do, and she does it incredibly well.
   
   Perhaps the best element of Dumas' work is her sense of humor. It is apparent that most of the anecdotes are intended to be humorous; she fully expects the reader to laugh along with her about the nuances of her culture. However, it is not a malicious laughter - Dumas respects and loves her background, and she is not trying to make fun of it. It is charming and affectionate, full of love and life. Both Laughing Without an Accent and Funny in Farsi are funny and sentimental without being cheesy. The vignette style makes them incredibly easy to read, and the message is equally relevant in today's tense atmosphere: we are all different, yet we are the same.



3. One needn't have read Mrs. Dumas' first book, Funny In Farsi, to enjoy this take on the ethnic translation into American culture, but it would certainly help to get you into the mood. Knowing a bit of the family and its ways means you can start smiling, even chuckling, before the stories unfold. An occasional outburst of pure laughter also happen. Mrs. Dumas, in this sequel, shifts the terrain a bit, with a heavier focus on Iranian ethnic life amidst the bits and pieces of American life. An occasional downward spin on some of our habits and mores is fair game, but doesn't spoil this never-ending story of confused Iranians coping with the "New World." After all, this "New World" is now Mrs. Dumas' as well.



4. While not laugh-out-loud funny it is amusing, enjoyable book. So many of us can see pieces of our own family dynamics in her stories of gifts that you pretend to like, food you serve they won't eat, and those incidents you laugh at only in hind-sight. Her last chapter where she spends time with one of the Americans held hostage in Iran for 444 days is wonderfully poignant.



5. I heard the author on NPR and immediately wanted to read her book. She did not disappoint. She provided a much-needed antidote to the current stereotype of people from Iran. She is smart, sensible, and very amusing. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how her family has successfully adjusted to living in the United States.

5 comments about Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China.

1. Lin-Liu's style of writing is so easy and inviting. I hope she writes more about travel in China and does a cookbook from her school.



2. This book will be enjoyed by anyone who likes to eat. It's a must for anyone who likes to cook, and an absolute must for anyone who wants to enhance the insight gained by reading travel guides before (or after) traveling to China.
   The author's writing style places her sitting in your living room, telling you about her adventures!
   Gotta run, I've got more Chinese food cooking to try!



3. Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I'm absolutely blown away and agree with a previous reviewer that it was hard to put this book down; there were several times when people on the train looked at me while I cackled or exclaimed aloud at what I was reading. Jen Lin-Liu is amazingly straightforward and puts it all out there - some shockers in here! She makes no excuses about her experiences or her own thoughts/actions and poses some interesting, thought-provoking questions.
   
   Her journey is clearly beyond geographic - it's a mix of culinary, cultural, and personal growth. Her description of the different cuisine and her relentless pursuit of their origins translates into her quest for her own identity. The food she discovers and describes had my mouth watering! As a Chinese-American, I find she's hit the nail on the head on many of the personal issues I've worked through as well. It was refreshing (and comforting) to see her journey and they way she went through self-discovery.
   
   I totally want to go enroll in her cooking school myself! And who is this mysterious Craig who has stolen away her heart?! Congratulations to you both and I hope to see more from Jen Lin-Liu!



4. Once I starting reading this book, I couldn't put it down. It is the story about a Chinese-American who goes to China on a Fulbright scholarship as part of her journalism career and ends up riding her bike down a narrow street to take cooking classes. The story (both humorous and touching) is told through her quest to learn about authentic Chinese cuisine both past and present, home cooking and high end restaurants. One of the many compelling things about the book are the Chinese people we are privileged to meet. It is a very personal portrait of Chinese people of all ages and classes. One memorable moment is when Chairman Wang finally tells about the Cultural Revolution and how it affected her and the people around her. It is heartbreaking to hear about it, but amazing to see how the Chinese people survived and continued their lives. And of course there are the mouth watering recipes peppered through out the book -- favorite recipes from people the author meets along the way -- Beijing-Style Noodles, "The Best" Mapo Tofu, Tea-Infused Eggs, Smashed Cucumbers, Drunken Chicken, Lamb-and-Pumpkin Dumpling Filling -- the list goes on and on. The recipes are why I bought the book, but got so much more. This is a book that I will keep, cherish and use as a cookbook forever.



5. Satisfying book that is as much about Beijing as cooking; it captures a sort of mix of optimism and sadness that is contemporary Beijing, through Lin-Liu's writing you really see the city as it is today; especially vibrant if you've lived here for any time.
   
   Jen runs a small cooking school in Beijing where you can learn to cook some of these recipes.
   
   The characters, especially Chairman Wang, grow on you; I also liked the brief appearance of Allison Moore.

5 comments about In His Sights: A True Story of Love and Obsession.

1. This book is an amazing look inside the life of someone who's being stalked. It's written in such a compelling way, I couldn't put it down-- Both times I read it. It makes you both sad and angry because it reveals how ill equipped we are to protect the victims of this crime. Everyone should read it. It's that good.



2. I am surprised by the anger this book generated in a recent review. I, too, read the book. It was clear the experience was fully documented as accurate. Although documenting subtle and mind-playing games must be difficult, it was apparent that the authorities saw it as real and recognized the potential for great danger and harm. I applaud the effort and courage this author extended to validate her own experience and the experiences of others who feel helpless and victimized.



3. I had high hopes for this book. I myself was a victim of stalking several years ago, and was looking forward to reading an honest account of it. By the time I was 3/4 of the way through this book, I was genuinely beginning to believe that the author either fabricated most of the plot (which is fine, but just don't call it non-fiction) or, more frighteningly, was *herself* the obsessed one.
   
   When you really get right down to it, this is the memoir of a deeply narcissistic, navel-gazing woman who took extreme-yet-illogical measures like traveling under an assumed name (like a customs agent in the United Kingdom, post 9/11, is going to care about a hand-written letter from a small town police chief when her airline ticket doesn't match her passport?) and yet she continues to go to the same therapist for a decade, continues to go to the same libraries for years and years, etc.?
   
   I just finished this book tonight. Once I read the last page, I sat down and thought, 'OK, what really happened?' She never once, except for at the very end, actually SAW Paul. She slipped it in that he had REMARRIED and completed MEDICAL SCHOOL, all the while he was allegedly stalking her? C'mon. So, her phone line went dead a few times. She herself admits it happened only once every two years or so. She saw an acquaintance at an airline ticket office, an acquaintance who apparently didn't even take note of her. Her "complex, modern" alarm system rang false alarms a few times. So does mine. All the time. I can't think of anything else that happened to support her claims of being stalked.
   
   She was never assaulted. She was never threatened; not verbally, not in writing, not second-hand. She never once saw her alleged stalker, nor did she imply that he was following her and was just good at hiding. A backpacker in the woods in Maine asked if he could sit next to her. GASP! CALL THE POLICE!!
   
   Honestly, I am surprised at my own reaction to this, but I guess I feel really tricked and manipulated by this book. There's simply no evidence that this woman was stalked, let alone brutally stalked by a virtual ARMY of paid "surrogates" for more than a decade. I think she is chronically bored, has an overactive imagination, and was perhaps spurned by Paul. What kind of a person doesn't get out the FIRST time their boyfriend says, "Does it bother you that I have a gun in the house?" Does it really ring true that she laid there night after night as he asked and re-asked that question? Wouldn't it be a little more realistic that she might turn over and go "What the hell, freako? You asked me that last night, and the night before that!"
   
   Another lie: She says she didn't get a restraining order because Paul would've had to come to court and be in the same room with her. That is an absolute falsehood. The system is not set up that way.
   
   If I am wrong, then God forgive me. But I don't think I am. Do some critical thinking, folks. Look at the evidence she provides. Look at the likelihood of some of her stories about creating false identities and "going on the run," yet then she returns to her mother's house (where presumably Paul had frequently been a visitor when they were dating) and lives there for a year without a worry?
   
   In conclusion? I don't buy it. In the very beginning of the book, she says she will not name anyone still alive in her acknowledgments, because she is afraid that Paul will hurt them. At the end, she goes on to name full, first and last names of several people who helped her with the book. Huh? I also found it interesting that apparently, according to the author's own words, several people in her life also decided that this alleged "stalking" was a fabricated drama of her own making. I'm with them.



4. I ordered this book immediately after seeing it advertised in a newspaper and read it almost straight through once I got it. I'm very sad for this author who has to be so aware & methodical in her daily doings and living. I also greatly admire her strength and tenacity in being in "control" of her own life while also being Mindful of how quickly the rug can be pulled out from under her. An amazing lady for sure!!



5. 
   
   
   
   Stalk, stalking, stalker - all frightening words. They are words that we see in newspapers, online, or in books. Fortunately for most of us those words are not applicable to our lives, yet we do know that millions of women are terrorized by stalkers. Frequently these women are too frightened to speak out. Not so for Kate Brennan who has been the victim of a stalker for some 13 years. Choosing to write pseudonymously in order to protect those close to her, Kate recounts years of emotional turmoil, fear, aggravation, and anything but a normal life.
   
   Those years have also been a time of growing self-awareness as she remembers growing up in an alcoholic family and the fact that she has always been attracted by slightly out of sync, controlling men. She wonders how she could have loved and once trusted a man capable of such fearful acts. Kate believes that the answer is "...that life with my family had left me with such a high tolerance for cruelty I couldn't recognize perversion when I saw it." Then, as she notes, when she did see it she still thought that sick people could be well, that enough love and understanding might heal. She learned how very wrong she was.
   
   Kate first met Paul at a party in the home of friends. A writer and Bronte scholar, she went alone, comfortable with herself as a 41-year-old single woman. Paul was attractive, a charmer, and independently wealthy. He was a photographer, and the two shared a love of travel. He pursued her and despite past poor luck at romance Kate moved in with him.
   
   However, Paul was not at all what he seemed to be. It wasn't too long before he began having affairs, there were signs of illegal dealings, his once congenial facade changed dramatically. Kate moved out. She thought this was easily done - just walk away. She learned differently. "You can do all the psychic and physical separation you want, but there's no getting away from someone who wants to remind you he can mess with your life anytime he wants." Paul has the resources to do just that, and she now realizes it will not be over as long as he lives.
   
   She has moved repeatedly, still her phone goes dead because her account has been canceled. Small things are moved from place to place in her apartment, people are hired to intimidate her. When she goes to a movie, she first locates the exit then sits in the back row so she can keep an eye on the audience. There is nothing the police can do because there is no solid evidence against Paul.
   
   One wonders how she has been able to maintain her sanity through all of this. Kate's story is a chilling one, even more terrifying because it is true.
   
   - Gail Cooke

5 comments about Pihkal: A Chemical Love Story.

1. This book has the story and the science, the fantasy and the dry reality. I love there is a love story here as well. This is inspiration for couples to dive deeper into each other.



2. I thought this book very infomative and educational.
   It gives great insight to DR.Shulgin & his wifes life work.
   A must read for any aspiring chemist.
   This book cuts away all the propaganda surrounding many of these recreational compounds and chemicals. The facts and nothing else.
   Educate yourself, knowledge is always your friend.



3. I purchased PIHKAL from Amazon and read it in it's entirety.
   
   The most poignant aspect of this book reveals that as we are organic machines, our consciousness is just another chemically induced perception and therefore only one valid reality predisposed by evolution for survival.
   
   Shulgin's Genius is honed with such objectivity, innocence, dedication and clarity that he is able to both successfuly and interestingly document the human-mind altering effects produced by the synthesised compounds entirely dedicated to the second-half of this book.
   
   Furthermore, I have read all of the Amazon reviews regarding PIHKAL and feel that some just do not get the extreme depth of this work. Reading this incredibly open account of Human reality means that there will always be dull bits and parts that make one cringe because that's how real life is for one and all.
   
   The potential reader needs to approach this work with an open mindset and absorb the content without pretence, preconception or professional envy affecting clarity because this book is about the other side of the coin.
   
   Finally, to dedicate ones life to recording Human perception so openly in hardcopy is a tremendous quantum leap ahead of the absurd revisionist realities that people in our "Soap World" prefer to pretend that they live via TV and use to deal with personal issues through the application of anger, violence and greed which are wrongly accepted as legitimate relief mechanisms.
   
   In summary, PIHKAL is an extremely important piece in the Jigsaw of the "age of reason" and awareness. Don't be threatened, it definitely deserves at least "5 Stars". Read it, do it and get to the next level...... the evolution of mind.



4. For the person looking for both hard information regarding the world of psychoactive substances (and The Drug War), and an enjoyable honest and heartfelt love story, this is for you. A real masterpiece!



5. Very interesting. Very well explained, and the chemistry is flawless. 6 Stars to be truthful.. A must have for any chemist.

5 comments about Foreskin's Lament: A Memoir.

1. I found this book very interesting. I think the questions the author asks are important--especially in regard to the unquestioned fantasies so many people hold of a tyrannical father-god. I'm sorry to read other reviews in which the author is so severely castigated, simply for expressing his own experience and view.



2. you know those moments in life that are frustratingly awful but then you can laugh when you look back on them? This is Foreskins Lament. Auslander has the ability to look back and see the humour and how great to share it with us.
   
   The curcumcision Dillema is at the beginging and end of this book, and I feel it is more of a construct to make the book into a package and not the heart and story of the book.
   
   I do not know how it is interpreted by those who are far from this story in real life. For me, having gone to a yeshiva, I really sympathized and related and laughed out loud.
   
   I would love to see or hear Ausalnder on a panel togheter with the author of Living the Bible. What a panel that would be!



3. I wanted to like this book. I heard an interview in which Auslander read the first page or so, and thought it sounded really funny. As someone that grew up in what was, at times, an overbearing religious environment and a semi-dysfunctional home, I was sure I could understand, and laugh along with him.
   
   But my, oh my, Auslander is angry. Very, very angry. And more so than the humor, this is what permeated this book for me. In many places, it completely washed out the humor.
   
   Don't get me wrong, he's a funny man and knows how to turn a phrase for comic effect. There were moments I really, really enjoyed, and even one or two that made me laugh out loud. (Who names their kid peace?)
   
   But I guess I was expecting something more like David Sedaris -- a man who really knows how to make the most of a screwed up and depressing situation.
   
   Foreskin's Lament just left me uncomfortable, and possibly worried about Shalom's blood pressure. You just can't hang on to anger like that, can you?



4. ...and indeed, he keeps you guessing. Well-written, heartbreaking. So amazing how he gets the reader to sympathize with his abusive father. I just have one critique, which is why I gave it four stars: How could someone raised ultra-Orthodox not know that a medical circumcision is "not kosher"? He participated in Blessing Bees, he can recite all 40 of the Forbidden Sabbath Activities, yet he doesn't realize that a circumcision is a ritual, complete with a *mohel* and blessings? C'mon...Sounds like selective amnesia to me, although who could blame him?



5. Auslander is incredibly funny in his "memoir". I originally came across him in a GQ article and had to read his other material. He provided some great points about God and "theological Abuse" in this book. His negative & nonstop thoughts are both hilarious and very universal. He is in constant fear of an angry God and his idiotic rambles and stupid stunts are only fodder for a great story.

5 comments about The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School.

1. This book is interesting and funny.
   It is one of those books that make you laugh out loud ... as proven for me at work when I was trying to look like I was working but was actually devouring this book.
   
   BUSTED.
   
   LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. while it is true that certain aspects of this story might strike some readers as unfair or annoying (that she can afford not to work for a year and live in paris, and that she does all of this not as a career move, but more as a means to "find herself") the bottom line is that this is just not a particularly interesting or well- written book. in fact, it reads more like a journal than a compelling narrative. there is no suspense, no stakes, nothing at all to carry a reader through to the end - unless you're dying to know whether or not she graduates, which actually matters not at all, since her diploma is more a "badge of honor" than a means to an end. ultimately, it doesn't succeed on either level - as memoir or food journalism - as it manages to be somehow too small and personal to be universal, and not personal enough for us to care about the characters. anyone truly interested in the subject of cooking would do far better to read "heat", "kitchen confidential", or michael ruhlman's books (if they haven't already) for any real sense of what the life of a "chef" is like.



3. My book club recently read this book and we unanimously voted it a five star. It's such a good read and the author writes a touching story - sometimes funny and sometimes a little sad but always moving.
   
   We have 17 members in our club and many have purchased the book as gifts for others after we read it.
   
   I am an avid reader and this book kept me enthralled. I was up reading it until 2:00 am once.
   
   I would recommend it to others. You will not be disappointed.



4. I bought this book based on the glowing reviews it received on this site. After all, it combined two of my great loves -- cooking and France - as subject matter. Unfortunately, I am still struggling to finish it. There is nothing compelling or terribly interesting in this story which is prosaically written. It doesn't come to Bill Buford's "Heat" or any of the Michael Ruhlman books. Eh...



5. The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry is a riveting memoir of one woman's journey through the hallowed kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Fresh from a corporate layoff in her London office, Kathleen Flinn chases her childhood dream to attend Le Cordon Bleu, encouraged by then-boyfriend Mike. Kathleen's love for cooking came as a result of necessity: after her father's early death from cancer when Kathleen was a teenager, she took over cooking for her family, eventually exploring the works of Julia Child and other cuisines. As an adult, her job in journalism allowed her to dabble in food writing and to indulge her love of restaurants, cooking, and food around the globe (including a brush with food poisoning from undercooked pig kidneys in China).
   
   Kathleen's witty observations of Cordon Bleu demonstrations and classes are culled from 600 pages of personal notes, 120 hours of audio recordings, and selections from the 300-plus recipes in the Cordon Bleu curriculum, so readers are instantly immersed into the grueling world of elite chefdom, including less appetizing ventures such as gutting fish, removing tendons and glands from chickens and guinea fowl, beheading rabbits, and chopping live lobsters in half (this book is definitely NOT for the squeamish). However, such visions are tempered by sweeter notes, including puff pastry and delicate sauces described in detail.
   
   Kathleen describes her new friends and classmates in detail, along with her continuing explorations of Paris and her struggles to improve her rusty French. One of the book's most touching moments involves a visit from her sister, who had planned on studying at the Sorbonne but gave up her place (and her dreams of studying in France) when their father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Small moments of everyday Parisian life provide a pleasant counterpart to break up the monotony of daily classes. Other domestic affairs include Kathleen's marriage to Mike, a visit from annoying houseguests, and several medical emergencies.
   
   The Sharper Your Knife includes many of the recipes alluded to in the text, and the back of the book thoughtfully includes a recipe index for faster retrieval. Traditional selections include Beef Braised in Red Wine, Chicken Cordon Bleu (which has no affiliation with the school), Rabbit or Chicken with Mustard Sauce, Chocolate Souffle, and Duck With Orange Sauce. Some of the author's personal favorites include Minestrone Soup, Gumbo from Paris, and Banana and Nutella Crepes.

5 comments about Crazy.

1. The author is an investigative journalist who does an outstanding job of describing not only his own struggles with a mentally ill adult son but also the issues and history regarding the serious problem of mentally ill persons involved in our criminal justice system.
   
   I am currently teaching a university course on Mentally Impaired Offenders. I have made this book a required text for the course.
   
   I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in mental illness and criminal justice.
   
   Mary White



2. I have read and purchased over a dozen books to give to people in the community, justice system, mental health, law enforcement, etc. It gives a clear picture of the difficulties loved ones face in getting their mentally ill relative help. Also shows how our criminal justice system has failed to do the right thing and continues to criminalize the mentally ill.



3. This book should be a must read by everyone. It gives frightening details about the plight of the mentally ill. Who would believe that being mentally ill could land you in prison or worse, result in you're being killed by the very people who are entrusted with protecting you? The author's poignant account of his own son's incarceration and legal battles more than alarmed this reader. This is a very important work for our times. Read it.



4. What an absolutely chilling expose of the mental health treatment system in our affluent country. Or should I say "non-treatment system"? Shameful. Tragically, hundreds of thousands of mentally ill people are out on the streets, not receiving treatment thanks to deinstitutionalization. And the ACLU can take much of the "credit" for this.
   
   Earley's pain comes through in his writing, but he has also managed to distance himself enough to present a well-researched and thoughtful book which educates its readers.
   
   Not only are many of those who are chronically mentally ill in denial as to their disease, so too are our society and the healthcare system in denial.
   
   As another reviewer said, the REAL crime was when we stopped helping the mentally ill, under the guise of protecting their civil rights by turning them out of mental hospitals. Not that those "warehouses" are the answer, but neither is prison or living in a gutter.



5. Pete writes the truth, our Mental Health system is in shambles. The Mentally Ill, housed in prisons as prisoners instead of being labeled patients. Something must be done about the way America treats its Mentally Ill.

5 comments about Mindfreak: Secret Revelations.

1. Two things I really loved about this book are that you get to read about Chris' life and learn about how he became the magician that he is. He's a very special person and he shares a lot of himself in this book. Second is that the back of the book is filled with magic tricks that ANYONE can learn. I say that because I've never tried learning magic before and had a blast with these tricks. I got a huge kick out of showing the tricks to people and seeing them freak out trying to figure out how I did them. Way cool!



2. One of the best magician in the world. In this book, takes us on a personal tour of his surreal world, a special place where he seamlessly blends illusion and reality. Prepare yourself for a stunning look into his mind, life, and philosophy.



3. I purchased this book from the MINDFREAK store in Luxor, Las Vegas. Less of a mindFREAK than a mindNUMB... This was one of the very worst books I have ever read, and I wasn't expecting much (he is, after all, a magician and not a writer).
   
   The book was rambling and contained very little meaningful discussion. Instead, Angel spends page after page (after page...) lauding himself and his self-reported "laser-like" focus on his goals, his amazing imagination, and his laughable "signature poses". The "biography" portion of the book is thankfully short, with the balance of the book consisting of 40 "Mindfreaks" -- Magic 101-level tricks complete with photos of an "intense" looking Criss (who mostly just looks silly).
   
   I actually felt LESS smart after reading this book. The real magic is how Angel makes your money disappear without providing you anything worthwhile in exchange.
   
   Avoid this book.



4. This book is amazing! It gives you the history of Criss. It tells you the experiances he went through during his life, and his rise to fame. It also teaches you lots of tricks that you can do at home. I reccommend this book to everybody!!!!



5. I like Criss Angel and appreciate his skill with magic, but found the book to be very short, and low on any substance. It focuses on his own belief in himself. I hope a proper biography or autobiography gets written at a later date