No comments about Michelle Obama: An American Story.

5 comments about Between the Lines: Not-So-Tall Tales From Ray "Scampy" Scapinello's Four Decades in the NHL.

1. I (asked for and) received this book for Christmas (Thanks, Mom!) and read it on the plane ride to Minnesota. It was a fun, entertaining read. For a post-lockout new fan, as I am, I found the mentions of the mechanics of the game interesting and for a short while I considered trying to be a referee or linesman in the NHL, until I realized I couldn't skate forwards that well, let alone backwards, sideways, or while holding myself up on the boards. The non-mechanics parts of the book were also fun - It has a lot of stories of "Scampy's" personal experiences working in the league for over 20 years. If you're looking for a light*, fun read about hockey, this is certainly the book for you.
   
   *"Light" meaning quick and mostly painless, and we're comparing it to the wide range of literature rather than other hockey books.



2. This was a good book. But if you're looking for juicy stories you won't find many (if any) here.



3. I bought an autographed copy of the book directly from Ray at the HSBC arena in Buffalo. I loved Scampy as a ref and I loved his book. Sure, it could've had a bit more content but overall it was a very enjoyable read.



4. As a hockey fan with an appreciation for the history of the game, I jumped at the chance to read and review Between the Lines: Not-So-Tall Tales From Ray "Scampy" Scapinello's Four Decades in the NHL by Ray Scapinello and Rob Simpson. From the perspective of a fan, it was fun to read. But from a critical perspective, it could (and should) have been much, much more...
   
   Contents:
   The Essential Scampy; Big Games, Colossal Pressure; Fighters and Brawlers; Young "Gus" Grows; Gaining Experience; A Brotherhood of Pranksters; All in the Family; NHL Evolutions; Privet (Hello) Russia; What's Left Behind and Lies Ahead; Index
   
   Ray Scapinello, aka "Scampy", was a linesman in the National Hockey League (NHL), and has a career of respect and longevity that will never again be matched by an official. Due to excellent conditioning and more than a little luck, he never missed a game and was on the ice until his late 50's. During that time, he skated with many of the legends of the game. And at only 5' 7", he was almost always outmatched in the size and bulk department when breaking up fights. But again, his commitment to the game and fearless attitude had him diving into scrums with some of the league's most notorious brawlers. Throughout the book, there are a number of stories related to the games he worked, personalities he met, and other officials he saw come and go during that time. From a pure hockey appreciation standpoint, the book provides an insight to the life of a "zebra", quite often the most thankless job in sports.
   
   So where did things go wrong with the book?
   
   Primarily, a lack of focus. I wouldn't expect fellow officials to be left out of stories, but far too often the stories were more about them than Scampy. It also wasn't unusual for the author to head off on a tangent related to some aspect of the game. Again, interesting from a hockey standpoint, but not seemingly relevant to Scampy's story. The stories don't always follow a chronological order in his life, so you jump from his last game to his childhood to the strike season back to his son, etc. It made the organization of the book seem very disjointed, and detracted from what could have been both an entertaining read *and* a solid book.
   
   I'll pass this along to my son, who is also a linesman and referee at the junior level. I have no doubt he'll enjoy the book and relate to many of the on-ice incidents. But I have a feeling that even he will be less than impressed at the overall layout. Too bad, as Scampy is a part of the game that's often overlooked and should have more attention. There *are* real people under those striped sweaters...



5. As an avid hockey fan, I enjoyed all of the stories in the book. It provides incredible insight into the NHL and its officials. I found myself thouroughly amazed at how much extracurricular stuff goes on during a hockey game between the officials and players.
   
   That said, the book itself was dissapointing. It seems to skip around alot, telling a story and then going off on several related tangents before returning to the original point. This causes the author to repeat himself several times, particularly across several chapters.
   
   Perhaps most dissapointing is the general lack of "Scampy" stories through the first two thirds of the book. It's more of a "life of the NHL officials" type of book than a story about the life and career of a specific person. This is why hockey fans will still enjoy this book, reading background stories about NHL games always provides a unique, new, and enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, this book is published as an [auto]biography and that takes away from the overall enjoyment of the book.

5 comments about B-Shifter: A Firefighter's Memoir.

1. This book is a highly entertaining view of life inside a career fire department. If you're interested in this book and want a sample go to www.bshifter.com and click on the link for the blogs. Then select the blog titled Staring into the Sun. This book is not a collection of Nick's fire magazine articles but new or fresh perspectives on his observations of his fire service career.



2. I have been a firefighter for 30+ years. We are a workforce that runs into burning buildings when everyone else is running out. We are often times the last people many victims will see before they die. B-Shifter captures the human element of our profession as well (if not better) than any other book I've read. Brunacini paints an accurate and mesmerizing picture of the work and the workforce. The book also manages to be side-splittingly funny. It is a book that I didn't want to end.



3. Hilarious, twisted, crude, TRUE, and did I say it was HILARIOUS!! I laughed until I cried in some places and wanted to cry in others because I'm a firefighter and he reminds me of things that I've seen. I could see the dishwasher incident happening in my own station. Way to go Nick!! You said it for all of us who can't write!



4. This book is twisted, warped, offensive, gut-wrenchingly funny, and heart-breaking all at once. It is wonderfully paced, and an amazing first time novel. The author captures both the family ties and the history of this work force. It is hands down one of the best books I have ever read. If Hunter S. Thompson and Joseph Wambaugh had a love child, Nick would be it.



5. My brother is a firefighter, and after he read this, he passed it on to me. I wasn't sure whether I could get into a firefighter book, but he promised me I would love it and I did love it. Its really hillarious, even if you're not a firefighter. Some of the stories are kind of gross, but it's real life stuff. The writer did great job of telling these stories. His perspective is pretty unique and sometimes you think he might be a little cold-hearted to actually write these stories, but you realize as you read his insights that he's a softy (I think so anyway). The stories, even the sad ones, manage to be be funny in their ability to capture the human experience, but also touching and sweet. It's really a great book. A great quick summer read. I think this would be a great vacation book for men especially who want something fun to read on the beach or by the pool or whatever.

4 comments about Running through My Mind: Confessions of an Every Day Runner.

1. I was recommended this book and I thought, "Great, ANOTHER running book. I hate books about running. They're all the same. Run more, eat better, try this, try that."
   But I was about to drive down to Disney for a marathon, and thought at the very least I could flip through it in the car, and maybe get a couple one liners of inspiration.
   Boy was I wrong.
   I read the first half on the way down, and the second half on the way back.
   If you can appreciate dry humor and benevolent sarcasm then this book is a real treat.
   Scott Ludwig is that guy in line behind you at the supermarket, who strikes up a conversation, and just talks to you. He doesn't brag, he doesn't preach, he doesn't coach, he doesn't teach. He just talks. In this case he was talking to me.
   Everything everyone has said is true. Take it to heart. This man is an incredible runner, a humorous writer, and an interesting story teller.
   Treat yourself, and let him talk to you.



2. Many years ago, Scott set three distinct running goals for himself: run 100 marathons; run 1000 races; and run 100,000 miles. As of the fall of 2007, Scott had completed 136 marathons, 686 races, and 110,000+ miles. "Two outta three ain't bad." Especially considering it's only a matter of time until he completes 1000 races.
   
   But there's more to it than just the statistics above. Scott has also completed the Western States 100 Miler (after two attempts), and even more impressive, he completed the granddaddy ultramarathon of them all, the 135 mile Badwater Ultramarathon from Death Valley to Mount Whitney (held annually in July, no less!). He has extended his running streak to over 29 years running consecutively every day for over 10,000 days. In 2001 he founded the Darkside Running Club dedicated to ultramarathon runners and began publishing their newsletter, "Tales from the Darkside," the following year. In 2002 the club hosted its first annual Peachtree City 50K, an ongoing certified ultramarathon.
   
   Oh, yeah, in between all that running, he also found time to write and publish a book. All this and much, much more is covered in his tome entitled, Running Through My Mind: Confessions of an Every Day Runner. From the mundane to the outrageous, Scott covers in detail how he got started in running after some false starts at other sports through his current status as one of the best known ultramarathoners in the U.S. Injected with a lethal dose of humor owing to his wry outlook on life, Scott does his literary hero and role model, Lewis Grizzard, proud. Scott includes his whole family in on the act so to speak, including his dog Magic, as each one gets to comment on the influence Scott's running has had on their lives and vice versa.
   
   Fellow runners, Darkside club members, other ultramarathoners, and many others all contribute to make Scott's book a truly diverse journey through the trials and tribulations, achievements and disappointments, and flat out hilarious events encountered during his 30 year running career. So what does Scott have in mind for the next 30 years of running?? You'll just have to buy the book to find out.



3. I have read a hundred-and-umpty-ump-point-two books about Running, and this is THE BEST! It is Inspirational, Entertaining, Informative, Inspirational, (had I said that yet!?), Humorous, Fascinating, and Inspirational! I would recommend it to anyone who runs, or is thinking about starting running, or can spell the word "RUN"!



4. April 17th, 1978 was a very special day for me. I still remember it as though it were yesterday. My heart was bursting with pride as I crossed the finish line of my first Boston Marathon! I was on top of the world!
   
   Little did I know that, on that day, there was a guy living in Gainesville, Florida with a 38" waist and weighing 194lbs who would eventually become one of my best friends and would finish ahead of me in every one of the 100 plus races that we have run together over the years! That person, of course, is Scott Ludwig. The unbelievable story of his 30 year running life is the subject of this book.
   
   Scott has two gifts. One is a perseverance that has enabled him to run every single day for almost 30 years, and the other is an amazing talent for writing. His "Lewis Grizzard" style makes for a wonderful read that is hard to put down. Some of his stories will bring tears to your eyes and some will make you fall out of your chair with laughter. And the scary thing is- they're all true!
   
   -Al Barker

5 comments about Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in-Chic Peek Behind the Pose.

1. This book is a joy for any girl or woman who needs to brighten their day.
   Ms. Hilton is a wonderful entertainer. I have a very serious life (writing history, studying international affairs, assisting with a family business) and it is ladies like Ms. Hilton who can lighten our mood. Please remember that her book is meant to be FUN. And it is. I read it cover to cover after a particularly bad day and Ms. Hilton made me smile. She is a role model for those of us who probably need to enjoy ourselves a little more so for that reason I thank her. Well done.



2. Entertaining, and full of pictures. This book is not meant as a serious read, but an enjoyable read, and in that sense it succeeds. Just as her recent political ads have. When a presumptive Presidential candidate featured Paris Hilton in one of their ads, she fired back. She should have mentioned the "Little" fact that Senator Hillary Clinton is the candidate that won more votes than any other Presidential Primary candidate in the History of America. Now thats Hot!



3. I hate to say this but I really like this book. It's like a guilty pleasure. More than a year ago, I found it at a book store in my favorite shopping mall and decided to take a peek in it. After a few pages, I found myself laughing and took this book home. When I finished it the first time, I thought "This is a really funny book. What kind of a person is this. Quite self-absorb. Still, it's really funny." Then, it was left on shelf. Anyway, yesterday I was bored, too lazy to find a new book, I picked it up hoping to get relax, instead I got to think hard about it. Really look behind the book, I think she's pretty smart. She doesn't seem to work that hard, just go out partying and maybe famous for being in a sex tape, but the girl's now really making money for going to a party, releasing purfumes, endorsing products, designing stuff, etc. Even having a record deal! What kind of a person will make money just to go to party and have some fun, which you're going to do that by yourself anyway? And hey! for many of you who don't like her, I think some of you already bought (aka giving her your money) her stuff, right? Something in the book are totally ridiculous like "choosing a family you are born into,... blah blah blah..." but some are pretty sharp. Of course, this is not "The Alchemist", but I don't think she'll feel embarass to say when she was young, she'd written something like this. Just give it a good laugh and a try. After all, it's just a guilty pleasure!



4. This book is a how-to on how to be an heiress. While some may argue that Paris Hilton only put her name on this work and didn't author it, I can assure you that she has penned it herself, like totally. It is overwhelmingly obvious that an experienced, educated writer did not type this up. She describes how one should behave and present herself when aspiring to become an heiress, even going so far as proclaiming that she believes everyone chooses their life on earth before they are born. She was smart enough to pick a life full of wealth, fame and privileges, why anything less? While I believe everyone does choose their life before birth... it is certainly not based upon anything materialistic or egocentric. Lessons to learn are the focal point, well, the only point. After all, what of those in poverty or places of violence, etc.?
   Furthermore, I DO NOT understand how someone with hundreds of millions of dollars has absolutely NO intention of earning a college degree. This book reads like a how-to straight out of junior high. There are no misspellings or problems with grammar, capitalization or punctuation, of course, but search inside this book and see that the content is very immature for her age. Did she even graduate from high school? All of her career aspirations revolve around fame and admiration: acting, modeling, singing, writing a book on how to be like her, etc. Look at me, me, me, me!! That's HOT! Well, it's not so hot; what about a priceless college education and a degree no one can ever take away from you? If one looks at real royalty all over the globe, attaining an education is an absolute MUST. If I had as much money as she did I would attend classes until I died or ran out of things to study, whichever came first. College? AS IF!



5. It's not the cheapest variety of kitty litter or the most absorbent, but kitty litter is the best way to use this book. After reading a couple pages in a local bookstore I came to the conclusion that Paris Hilton needs to stop trying to get into the spot light. Talented people need it for good entertainment.

5 comments about What Just Happened?: Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line.

1. Though written in 2002, Art Linson's enjoyable "What Just Happened" has just been turned into a movie starring Robert DeNiro that will has been released in select cities in October of 08. I had a good time reading this book, with its name dropping and discussions of movies I had seen and enjoyed, such as "Fight Club" and "The Untouchables." If you are a movie fan, buy this book!



2. Art Linson's tales of Hollywood provide some intrigue and entertainment, but some of his writing falls flat. The ongoing relationship between the narrator and a former producer isn't a good enough excuse for the exposition in the storytelling. Not sure why Linson didn't just write a non-fiction tell-all and skip the part about his character getting things off his chest for "therapy." A life full of events that would have been more enjoyable in the hands of a stronger storyteller.



3. As one who writes and researches alcoholism and the role it plays in human misery, misbehaviors and the bizarre, this book was a huge disappointment. There is bizarre, there is misbehavior (Baldwin's little fit over his beard)--but there is no alcohol or other drug use or addiction. We can't possibly understand Hollywood without inserting alcohol and drug use in a third or so of the characters--usually the ones written about (after all, they provide the most interesting stories). In addition, there was a lack of depth from someone who was so entrenched. There should have--and easily could have been--something far better than the superficiality sprinked throughout this little book. Thus far, I rarely write reviews and wouldn't ordinarily consider panning a book. Unfortunately, this one deserves it.



4. Sex sells, goes the old maxim, but if the sales of gossip magazines featuring the likes of the late Princess Diana, the present Drew Barrymore et al, then gossip may well be up there with sex as a matter of titilation (no pun intended) for the masses, of which I am one. THe fact is David Mamet is a great writer, Robert De Niro a great actor and the author, Art Linson, is no slouch in the producing arena. So if any of these are of interest to you, this book is a very well written - snappy dialogue, witty observations on the status of restaurant seating, and well constructed vignettes - as well as providing yet another insider's view on the shark aquarium known as Hollywood.



5. I couldn't put this book down once I started it -- not such a problem, since it's pretty small. Linson aims for deliberate frankness from the very first quote to the final credits. The book is a series of conversations between Linson, the producer of such movies as Great Expectations, The Untouchables, and Fight Club, and an ousted movie studio exec, in which Linson relives all of his recent Fox Film "failures" (including GE, The Edge, Fight Club and Pushing Tin). Linson works hard to look like he's pulling no punches, and the anecdotes he does share are bizarre and funny - Alec Baldwin's beard tantrum, the stunned studio reaction to Fight Club, etc. 

   Don't let the conversational style fool you, though. This isn't a documentary; it's a highlights reel, cuts from Linson's life that show the best story. The book is, if nothing else, extremely self-interested. Linson gives a sort of overview of what producers actually do in films mostly as a justification for his own job. Beyond that, the book reads a bit like a therapy session and a bit like a report Linson cooked up to show his own "blamelessness" in the four "failures" described within. 

   WJH is a good, short, gossipy book for behind-the-scenes nuts, but shouldn't be regarded as much more than the popcorn version of the events behind any of these films.

5 comments about Never Give Up: My Stroke, My Recovery, and My Return to the NFL.

1. This is without a doubt the most inspirational book I've read. I've always been a huge fan of Tedy Bruschi's, and after this book I have a whole new respect for him and his family for what they went through. It's a great book for everyone, regardless of how they feel about the Patriots!



2. Never Give Up is the journey of Tedy Bruschi and how he went from Super Bowl Champion/Pro Bowl participant to hoping he could lead a normal life. Bruschi suffered a mild stroke that impaired his vision and ability to walk. He and his wife Heidi received a crash course in what it means to have a stroke and how it can impact your life.
   
   Bruschi details how this event caused turmoil in his personal and professional life and how he went from being completely striped of any hope of playing football again to becoming a leading spokesman for stroke awareness. The book is well written and a very fast read.
   
   This book is well beyond a book only for New England Patriots fans; it is a great inspiration for anyone who is facing adversity in their life. Highly recommended.



3. Truly insperational. I love Tedy Bruschi and this shows the heart of a true sportsman and a great person. This book is easy to read and a must read if you are a PATS fan at all!



4. I haven't finished the book, but what i have read is excellent. It was well written, and I felt it explained in the details of his life.



5. I am a HUGE Patriots fan and i could not put this book down. I am 14 years old and i have to read every single night and i was excited when i started to read this book. This book makes you think about what you have and the things that you take for granted. Even though the patriots lost the super bowl i got over it quicker than i would of since i had just finished the book. I liked the insight on what goes on and what goes through the NFL players head. You have got to read this inspirational book!

5 comments about Daughter of Destiny: An Autobiography.

1. This is an extraordinary re-evaluation of the political history of Pakistan through the lens of the Bhutto's family. It describes with literary paintings the primacy and legacy of political violence that has made Pakistan very prominent in world news, during the last four decades. Next, it is a brush up of Benazir's own political heritage. The book is best suited for an introduction in 'modern' Pakistan's political history for beginners: it provides a literal analysis of the key stakeholders in the political arena from a historical perspective; it presents the country's geopolitical stakes and how it became source of domestic vulnerability. Benazir, furthermore, reminds us of the stiffled potential of social and democratic capital. She made the case that even in times of great frustration and fear, the Pakistanese people have always clinched to the virtues of democracy and freedom. Those values are not the result of a particular cultural setting or of its imitation by tiers, but the very human aspiration that has always existed deep in the political intinct of all people--Pakistanese people are no less and no greater category in this regard. The book facilitates the understanding of what it means to be son, daughter, mother, father, citizen, soldier and leader in Pakistan's political world. Is it different from other experience: Benazir's answer is 'yes, fundamentally'. She demonstrated with amazing persuasion that playing a role within or closer to the political business comes at high costs and overwhelming sacrifices in Pakistan. Being political leader in 'modern' Pakistan equates pursuing an objective agenda under constantly shifting parameters and among self-declared Leviathans.
   
   The other aspect of the book is the account of the life of a muslim woman, an authentic come-what-may maverick of our times, who challenged popular beliefs and was undeterredly dedicated to playing a major political role in an environment thoroughly fraught with uncertainties and ostansibly defined by a high probability of personal casualties.
   
   Cyril Fegue



2. This is a wonderful book about an impressive woman. I've learned so much about the Pakistani culture. It's helped me to better understand the way this Moslem country thinks. This book has pointed out more strongly than ever that not all Moslems want violence and that there are many good people out there trying to fight against extremists who are trying to dominate the many middle eastern/asian countries.
   
   Daughter of Destiny: An Autobiography



3. Benazir Bhutto, mother, first Woman and two-time Prime Minister, and life-long Pakistani patriot, sets forth her version of Pakistani history here - at least the history during her and her father's reign. Her version is a private chronicling of her public life; her educational years; and her years incarcerated, under house arrest, and in exile.
   
   It is often laced with bitter memories and understandable bitterness expressed towards the murderer of her father, ex-President Zia-ul-Haq; towards those who were responsible for her incarceration, which lasted for a total of about seven years. She also has many equally unkind things to say about the viciousness of Pakistani internal politics, although the role her family played in making it so is carefully omitted.
   
   On balance, her outlook and the book are generally upbeat. She never completely loses faith in, or gives up on the hope and the dream that Pakistan can turn itself around and become the kind of open democracy she envisioned it to be, and which, almost with an obsession, that ended in her death, she seemed bent on leading it to become. Agreeing to an arranged marriage to a Pakistani playboy, she admits to being not much of either a mother, or a wife: politics remaining her primary preoccupation throughout her adult life.
   
   In the wake of her assassination, her autobiography seems to have served as part of the national mourning process, at least for her followers and admirers. And while this book, her autobiography, naturally portrays her as the national hero that she surely is, we all know that her reign as leader of Pakistan was not without its own problems and was itself beset with many intrigues. None of this is mentioned in the book. One hopes, that in due course, a more definitive and a more balanced account of Pakistani history covering the period of her and her family's reign, soon will be forthcoming. Four Stars



4. Benazir Bhutto, on the brink of a political comeback against the odds in several ways, was assassinated after a political rally on December 27, 2007. Bhutto is an impressive figure from a prominent political family, whose history includes several untimely deaths -- her own father, a Prime Minister of Pakistan, was killed in a coup in the 1970s; her brothers were killed in suspicious circumstances. Now Bhutto herself has been lost, and likely the aftermath will continue in different ways for some time to come, both internally to Pakistan as well as internationally.
   
   Bhutto's strongest claim to fame in history will be that she was the first female Prime Minister of a Muslim nation, an accomplishment unlikely to be achieved in any other Muslim nation any time soon (even nations such as Turkey, which are officially secular). Her rise in some ways paralleled that of Indira Gandhi, who also gained political power in large part from the family reputation bestowed upon her initially. Bhutto, however, was no mere figurehead for her family or her party. Educated at Oxford and Harvard, she had a good intellect and a keen understanding of the world.
   
   This book details Bhutto's feelings and memories of her family, her growing years, and the struggle to the point of her first election as Prime Minister (she would go on to be re-elected after being deposed, and then spend many years in exile in the West). This is not dissimilar to the kinds of books that every American presidential candidate feels obliged to publish - part policy, part history, part wish-list. Still, it is one of the rare books we have on Bhutto, and (at least partially) by Bhutto. As such, it is worthy to be read. How it will compare to the upcoming autobiography (due to be released in April 2008) will be interesting.



5. Benazir Bhutto has acquired an eminent place in history of Muslim world. She is the first Muslim elected prime minister of any Muslim country in 1400-year history. This book, no doubt, is part of Pakistan's history now. She talks very eloquently about the atrocities that her family endured during long dictator ship of Asia's model dictator ZIA-UL-HAQUE, who overturned Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto's elected government in a military coup. Z.A. Bhutto had the courage to challenge the WHITE ELEPHANT, and subsequently loose his power and face assassination at hands of undemocratic and tyrant army supported by PNA (Pakistan National Alliance), a group of islamists backed by a foreign agency. Same religious group has gathered some political strength in Pakistan's political scenario, but has now been shunned by the same opportunist foreign agency. Benazir Bhutto talks a lot about the sufferings at hands of military but does not have same heart as ZA Bhutto to challenge her real enemies. This book is however a "must read" for those who are interested in the politics and history of this region. She has art to impress the reader and make her point clear.

5 comments about Man on Wire.

1. I have been living near the Twin Towers for over 30 years, and try as I did, I always had to go into length about Minoru Yamasaki's wondrous structure that architects loved to hate. Imagine my joy when someone comes to the rescue and captures the awe I saw since I stood at the base of the Twin Towers as a child and looked up, up, and up. The sheer simplicity, overstretched grandeur, and minimalist repetition can only be brought to scale by a man whose dreams supersedes his size.
   
   Sure, you can read about it in Wikipedia, but under the watchful, crafty pen of Philippe Petit, you will be taken on a true journey from conception to realization. We begin with Petit's background as a child in France, learning pickpocketing, fencing, horseriding, painting, juggling, tightrope walking, and magic tricks. After being thrown out of five schools, we grasp that our author has a penchant for defying authority, one that sends him, inevitably, on a crash course with the New York Port Authority the day he set eyes on the Twin Towers.
   
   Over six years in planning, with an endless list of accomplices (the cheery, angelic Jean Francois is an absolute delight) from both sides of the pond, Petit's daredevil tightrope walk across the near complete Twin Towers (World Trade Center 1 & 2) arrived only after several attempts to penetrate security, coordinate assistants, and gather all the necessary tools to be smuggled onto site.
   
   Even though a coffee-table book in appearance, To Reach The Clouds is built masterfully, taut with suspense, gaining in momentum, only to be surprised by setbacks, followed by a surge. The format of storytelling here is analogous to the rollercoaster nature of inspiration for every artist.
   
   A virtuoso narrative passage occurs in the sequence on the night before the big morning of the walk. Operating without any light, the accomplices and Petit illegally make their way to the roofs of the world, only to work in total darkness. After pages and pages of black and white photos, blueprints, snapshots, and a stock image or two of construction equipment, the photos all but disappear for a passage of 30 pages. If Petit has to work in the dark, so do we, the readers. And the moment dawn arrives, the first photograph appears. Wonderful! It's almost as if we, the readers are right there.
   
   A very emotional picture occurs on Page 184, in the snapshot of New Yorkers gawking up in disbelief. Having lived through both attacks on my favorite skyscrapers when man's hate and his religion destroyed, it is truly breathtaking to see what man and his art instead, can inspire.
   
   I found it puzzling that someone gave this book a 1 star. Petit is not nasty. A rebellious individual who pits nerves against the unforeseen disappointments of the creative endeavor can be forgiven for being short once in a while, but Petit does take the time, for example, to think of the lives of construction workers and tighten the cables of their platforms even at his most stressed moment. He offers a beautiful historical story of the collapse of the San Marco tower in 1902 as an afterward to 9/11, and also a promise to walk across the structure that will stand where the World Trade Center once stood. Even if that day doesn't arrive, Petit and this book has already given us the privilege to have a beautiful and lasting memory when we think about the World Trade Center. Thank You Philippe.



2. Petit's autobiography of his absolute single minded passion to defy gravity and walk between the Twin Towers is the most beautiful book I have ever read. It is a template for fulfilling your ultimate passion and describes moment by moment what it takes to achieve your most ridiculous dream.
   From the moment he first heard of the plans to build the Twin Towers, Petit, the budding high wire artist, knew that he had to walk between the towers. The frenchman describes, in his marvelously accented english, his journey: the anticipation as he saw the towers being built, his painstaking preparations, the role of his mentor and coach, his meticulous planning and stakeout of the Towers, his recruitment of a shadowy team of rebels to facilitate his attempt and the ultimate stealth operation to rig the wire between the towers in order to perform his tightrope walk.
   The book climaxes with his experience of walking between the towers 400m above the sidewalk with police in each tower screaming at him to get off and threatening to slacken the wire so he falls off. Amidst all this his experience is of ultimate calmness and freedom as he walks back and forth and even stands on his head high above New York while communing with a passing seagull. This is a truly spititual experience and the book took me there with him.
   If you want to be inspired to follow your dream and want more than coaching and tips on how to get there then this is a book that allows you to live another's passion and fully experience what it is to be alive.



3. I recently saw "Man on Wire" in the theatres (more on that later), and having seen this movie prompted me to seek out the book that high wire walker Philippe Petit wrote about his 1974 wire walk between the WTC Twin Towers.
   
   "To Reach the Clouds: My High Wire Walk between the Twin Towers" (244 pages; originally released in 2002) is a reconstruction, both verbally and visually, of this extraordinary event. Petit tells the tales of the early days, of his high-wire walks between the Paris Notre Dame towers and at the Sidney Harbor, only to be caught by the fantasy of the World Trade Centers, by a picture in a French magazine. The book details the preparations for the improbable feat, and it reads like a thriller (such as how did they manage to get all the gear into the Towers without being detected), even when you know the eventual outcome. The book comes with many visual details, like how Petit and his crew studied the WTC in detail (all the while trying to stay ahead of law enforcement and security guards). Petit brings a lot of poetic moments to the book, describing his inner feelings both as he was preparing for this impossible feat, and best of all as he is walking the high wire between the WTC towers. The book has a number of great pictures of that walk but to be honest I wished it had more.
   
   In all, this book is a fabulous read, whether or not you have seen that "Man on Wire" documentary. But let me tell you that "Man on Wire" is one of the most fascinating movies I've seen recently. Best of all, Philippe Petit turns out to be one of the most engaging tale-tellers I've seen on screen in memory. Don't miss it!!



4. This book pulled me out of the doldrums. What an appealing person Petit is! Daring, ingenious, and courageous to an insane degree, he pulled off the greatest feat of street theater in the history of the world. He makes the phrase 'the impossible dream' stand up and dance. What I didn't appreciate until I read this book was what a fine engineering coup it was - all the rigging done clandestinely in the dead of night, so that at first light he was ready to step into the air.
   
   And what a nail biting read! He re-creates the months long drama, keeping you right there with him all the way to the exhilarating end. What I also wasn't prepared for was how agile and graceful a writer he is and what a benevolent, endearing spirit.
   
   You think you're facing a daunting challenge? Read this book and put yours into perspective.



5. I remember seeing the WTC towers being built, still partly framed in steel, as a child in the late 1960's. I also remember a snippet of this event in the news in the 70s. But, it was (I think) Ken Burns' American Stories on TV that reminded me of it and really gave it perspective that blew my mind as to how unbelievable an event it was. To me, it wason a scale of things like landing on the moon. With that still fresh in my head, I looked into the event and found this book and was unable to put it down from the first page until I finished it.
   
   This book is inspiring. Petit is a bit crazy, but to pull off a hack of this magnitude, you have to be. Genius is touched with madness. To say the feat is inspiring is a great understatement. The logistics, planning, obstacles overcome, and just plain luck that all aligned in the end were really incomprehensible - more so after reading this book!
   
   I thoroughly enjoyed every page. Sometimes, I get overwhelmed with things I need to do and obstacles I face, and I look at that timeless picture of Petit between the towers on the cover of this book and I am inspired. If he could do THAT, certainly I can find a way to overcome whatever is in my way today. THis book is fantastic.

4 comments about Mortician Diaries: The Dead-Honest Truth from a Life Spent with Death.

1. I really enjoyed reading this quick read biographical book as I am currently working on my own book (fiction) about the life of a woman who is a funeral director. The author shows her intelligence, sensitivity and humor in the stories she relates about her career as a mortician.



2. June has a wonderful way of presenting the intriguing stories then briefly discussing the significance of the experience. Through her stories she discusses teaching children about death, forgiving the dead, forgiving yourself after a loved one has died, stages of grief, and looking at death realisticly rather than with fear. Some stories are comical, some are heart-wrenching, and others are eye-opening. My husband and I read this book together and really enjoyed it! Thanks June!



3. Excellently written book. Written with love, compassion, and a deep understanding of love, life, and death. A must read for anyone and everyone!



4. You might not expect a memoir by an eighty-year-old woman to deal with topics such as gang warfare, AIDS, racism, unplanned pregnancies, and feminism, but this one does. You also might not expect a book called Mortician Diaries to be anything but morbid, but Nadle possesses the gift of bringing her over 50-year-long career as a mortician and her lust for life to the page. She's the kind of woman who visits cemeteries when she travels, to see how different cultures treat the dead. She uses phrases like "death care industry" and urges readers to create a "dialogue on death," but never lapses into a cold, analytical account. Every page is bursting with humanity, with people who are learning how to grieve in their own way. This book is as much about psychology as it is about death.
   
   June Nadle's Mortician's Diaries offer a rare, heartfelt, and wonderfully honest insight into the "highlights" of the career of a lifelong mortician, capturing some of the most emotionally intense and interesting stories from her years working with death. The grandmotherly Nadle doesn't shy away from the subject, and encourages her readers to openly confront and discuss death, not in an obsessive, morbid way, but to gain closure and be as prepared as possible when the time comes, even though sometimes death catches us anawares. She offers case studies, such as an elderly woman who planned every detail of her own funeral to the story of a mother clinging to her newly-dead baby, unable to accept his death despite the blood soaking his tiny body, until Nadle speaks to her mother to mother and allows her to see that her older children also need her to be present for them. Nadle does not judge her clients, but offers psychological insights into why denial rears its head and how natural it is. In "The Mother Who Risked Her Life to Grieve," Nadle tells of one service, after a gang-related drive-by shooting, that's interrupted by bullets, and the following day the trip to the ceremony is made along with patrol cars flanking the mourners.
   
   Her case studies are fascinating, and showcase a wide swath of humanity, across cultures and relationships. Friends, lovers, husbands, wives, parents, and children mourn for those they've lost as well as grapple with their sometimes conflicted relationships with the deceased. Nadle allows each of them to work their way toward mourning rather than pushing a socially-approved agenda or timeline onto them. She handles each one with dignity and compassion, and clearly attempts to understand the often-painful mix of emotions the bereaved feel.
   
   As someone who's always tried to escape talking about death, especially when it comes to my most loved ones, I welcomed Nadle's approach. She has seen deaths of humans and animals, often under horrific, or simply human, circumstances, and offers a brief glimpse into her wisdom and, most of all, her heart. By reading of the many who did not appreciate their loved ones during life, whether the parents who shunned their gay sons who later died of AIDS, or the father who berated his little girl for, well, not being a boy, only regretting this when she was killed by a passing car at age four, to the father who sent his 17-year-old pregnant daughter away and made her feel ashamed, one gains an appreciation for one's own family. Nadle reminds us that it's not just life versus death, but about the quality of one's life that matters. She writes: "As humans, we have the unique ability to pause, to reflect, to acknowledge life, and to be reminded of our own mortal natures. In addition to our grief, death brings us the opportunity to reassess our own lives as well as our relationships so we can vow (maybe again) to make changes we see are needed." She offers various examples of how funerals can be conducted and the value they provided to the surviving family and friends.
   
   Though this book will most likely bring tears to your eyes, it's not solemn or overly sad, but instead is about, as she would have it, a celebration of life and all that's in it.