5 comments about Zeitoun (Vintage).

1. The low key writing style of this author is the strength of this book. It's a true story about a real family and the actual events they experience as a result of hurricane Katrina. As most residents of New Orleans struggle to exit the city, Zeitoun chooses to stay to protect his properties and investments. The first thing that resonates with this book is the character of Zeitoun. He's a hardworking family man who immigrated to the United States from Syria. The events that unfold in the aftermath of Katrina are told from his perspective in a straight forward no nonsense style. He experiences the devastation of the storm followed by another nightmare, more potent and with longer lasting scars. He recounts the devastating effect of a society regressing to substandard mores and the result of being a Syrian immigrant during a national disaster. While reading I had to constantly remind myself this was not fiction and found it hard to believe such events could happen in America. It's an amazing story that is equal parts haunting and inspiring and leaves you wondering what else happened that was not reported. Some of the sections that deal with Zeitoun's background information are a little to long, but don't let that deter you from reading this piece of work



2. OnTrac's delivery of books is awful. In my experience, books either go to wrong address or arrive overdue from two-day Prime promise!



3. We read this book this year after hearing wonderful things about it. It is a must read for anyone under the assumption that "it happens to the other guy" or that "it can't happen to me" referring to homeland security whisking away a family member and throwing away the key.
   
   It was written in a simple and readable style which I believe was the best for this kind of story. We plan to give this book for christmas presents this year, not just to support the organizations founded as a consequence of these unthinkable violations of our civil and human rights, but also to spread awareness to those we know who are still under the illusion that it can't happen to them.



4. This book turned out to be a disappointment. Based on Eggers' famous memoirs that I enjoyed tremendously, and on the Katrina subject matter, I had high expectations of a book that would provide a personal look at one of America's worst natural disasters. It started out that way, but the second half of the book descended into a weird account of an extremely anomalous experience of the disaster by one particular family.
   
   The book focuses on the Zeitoun family. The husband is a Syrian immigrant, the wife a native American convert to Islam. They were fairly prominent contractors in NO when the hurricane hit. The initial story of the husband riding out the storm while the wife and kids evacuated, and the husband's early attempts to help others using a rowboat he happened to have, were pretty fascinating.
   
   Then about halfway thru the book the husband is arrested and thrown into a makeshift prison in NO, deprived of his rights to even make a phone call, and essentially held incommunicado for weeks while his wife thinks he is dead. This is somewhat complicated by their Islamic/Arab roots, although ultimately that doesn't seem to have played much of a role in the official misconduct. The whole thing borders on the unbelievable, and much of it is essentially unsubstantiated. But the biggest complaint is that this was not the overwhelming experience of the flood for the vast majority of people, and as such is no more than a sideshow. The religious overtones of the whole second half of the book were also unwelcome. All in all, a huge disappointment and I probably will avoid Eggers in the future.



5. Reading Zeitoun by David Eggers captured my attention but I grew less and less enchanted; section V is unnecessary to the story portrayed and took away significantly from the impact of the novel. That David Eggers' is a fine writer there is no doubt, but the novel degenerates into moralistic harangue at the close which I found offensive and about which I was a bit resentful. By the time the reader gets to this section of the book, there is no doubt that there was no adequate operations, no system of support, in place to help survive a catastrophe. Eggers has done a fine job in the first sections of the novel of showing us just how devastated New Orleans, and the Gulf Coast is, by hurricanes Katrinia and Rita - there in no need for the demagogic preaching at the close of the book. The last section describes how poorly Zeitoun and his family, friends and the characters we meet in the novel fair after Katrina. Unfortunately it devolves into a preachy, proselytizing diatribe that detracts significantly from the novel and the horrific story revealed in the preceding pages.
   
   The story is of a man who stays in New Orleans during and after hurricane Katarina, who is a builder / construction worker and a family man with a wife and 4 children . . . he's also an emigrant from Syria and a Muslim. And, although anyone who has ever been in Southeast Louisiana knows that there are no basements to homes because of the high water table, yet Zeitoun laments the loss of the basement floor of the home flooded on Carrolton Ave. - which is an example of either bad editing or carelessness on Eggers part. This mistake of craftsmanship also detracts from the book and makes Zeitoun a less believable character in the novel. Zeitoun and his family, like most New Orleanians, have a horrific, traumatizing experience with Katarina, and yes, this book portrays a stark look at the reality of chaos and catastrophe. The novel shows how we, as a society, are vastly under equipped and failed wholly to address a major catastrophic event like Katarina, further the novel explores how one individual does his best to help survivors and rescues others from harm and how that effort seems to mean nothing in the scheme of things. Particularly poignant is the interaction Zeitoun has with animals, dogs, left in New Orleans by homeowners upon evacuation. After Zeitoun's ordeal with the lawlessness in South East Louisiana through the hurricanes, Katarina and Rita, he returns to the animals to find them dead from starvation. This scene in and of itself emphasizes the depth to which chaos and catastrophe wracked the city and it citizens - there is no need for the proselytizing into which the last section of the book degenerates.

5 comments about Setting the Record Straight: American History in Black & White.

1. Well written. Short and to the point. Easy to read. Great information with foot notes.



2. I was aghast at the amount of history that I was denied in high school. David Barton has a great gift of being able to explain portions of our history so as to describe the how's and why's. I never knew how much I was denied educationally. I am thankful to Mr. Barton for helping me to understand the relationship between slaves and representation. What a turmoil. I recommend this book, in fact, I've bought this book for my mother who is also interested in the American History that was too inconvenient to teach.



3. Full disclosure, I consider myself a limited government Constitutional Christian conservative with some liberal social leanings (perhaps Libertarian in some ways?). I don't think the modern Republican party or Democratic party serve the needs/wants of We the People, both parties are corrupt and I think they have been infiltrated by big government Progressives (example: Obama has been honest and transparent with his beliefs, read his books and listen to his words "fundamental transformation" and "spread the wealth around", can't be more clear than that.....however McCain and Bush wear the GOP label, but does anyone believe that that are NOT big government Progressives??? Really??? Puhlease!).
   
   That said, knowing our history is very important, so I think this book is a must read if you want to understand the political history of Black Americans. Very well documented and references are clearly listed. The only thing lacking was a better understanding of how/when Black Americans were convinced that the Democratic Party was for them given the history of that party's hatred for Blacks. Case in point, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 would never had been passed if the Republicans had not supported it overwhelmingly. Yet Black Americans (and Latinos) vote overwhelming for Democrats!
   
   Bottomline, register to vote, educate yourself on the individual candidates and vote for who you think is best for the Country first, then your own self-interests second.....who cares if they have an "R" of "D" after their name. I think this is even more important for groups who have been taken for granted by one party or the other, Country is greater than Party!



4. I found this very informative. It is very well written with a lot of detail. What an eye opener and sad that our country who was escaping its own sense of persecution would inflict the same on others. It's amazing what we did not learn in school. I believe every school should be teaching this today.



5. History you have never read or heard. History that has been white washed (pun intended) History that every person in America should know!

5 comments about Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.

1. I first saw the movie and I thought the graphic novel was going to be exactly the same. No, it is much much better! You cannot stop reading it. It goes much deeper into who Marjane was and what Iran meant for her in the different stages of her life. Don't lose the chance of reading such a great book.
   
   Recommended!!!



2. Marjane's memoir of her years in Tehran from ages six to fourteen is a page-turning history of the events she witnesses. Her upper class liberal parents (she is the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor) demonstrate against the Shah. They are bitterly disappointed when the new republic is overtaken by the fundamentalist Islamic revolution. Despite the imprisonment and execution of friends and family members, her parents remain in Iran. The war with Iraq brings yet more tragedies. The book ends with her parents sending the fourteen year old Marjane to school in Germany. The author's black and white illustrations enhance the text. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return continues the story.



3. Satrapi's graphic novel is an inspiration to expressing oneself in a medium other than words. Her illustrations are telling; giving hints of expressions and fabulous drawings that echo woodblock prints. My book club had some trouble transitioning from words to both illustration and words but found the experience worthwhile. We compared Satrapi's experiences to "Reading Lolita in Tehran," and "Infidel." We discovered that the artwork indeed added to the story, and concluded that the "graphic novel" is a legitimate literary form.



4. This books begins my foray into graphic novels. The exact definition of a graphic novel is debatable, but Wikipedia defines it as "a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels, and often aimed at mature audiences." Technically, this volume is a memoir, as it's the true story of author Marjane Satrapi's growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, told in comic-strip form. I figured, "Finally, a book that won't make me cry," but of course, I was wrong. Maybe I'm just a cry-baby.
   
   Though it took me only a couple of hours to complete, it was mesmerizing. I found it unabashedly forthright and ultimately heartbreaking. I appreciated Satrapi's illustrations which, in their broad-stroked black-and-white simplicity, were a stark, yet appropriate, departure from what most people recognize as that highly anatomical, Batmanesque comic-book style. I look forward to reading the sequel "Persepolis: The Story of a Return," and also highly recommend the Oscar-nominated full-length animated feature film of the same name.



5. In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi uses the graphic novel format to share her life story with readers. Satrapi grew up in Iran during the years that the Shah lost power and the Fundamentalist Muslims became the government authority.
   
   Satrapi was raised in a modern family that valued education and modern life. Her parents were part of the revolution that forced the Shah from power. They were shocked, however, when the ultra-religous government that took over soon made the freedoms they were used to and expected illegal. No longer could women dress as they pleased; they were instead forced to wear the veil. No longer could the Iranian people travel freely; the borders were closed for over three years, and even when reopened, passports were almost impossible to obtain. No longer could one count on an education; the universities were closed for over two years.
   
   Darker items were to follow. There were 3000 political prisoners under the Shah, but there were 300,000 political prisoners under the new regime. Satrapi's family had both relatives and friends that were imprisoned, tortured and some were even executed. Then the government got involved in a war with Iraqi. Bombings were common, and over a million people were killed.
   
   Satrapi's use of the graphic format is a perfect match to the story of a young girl whose life changes so dramatically and who tries to make sense of the things happening around her with a child's understanding. Satrapi ended up being educated outside of Iran in her teen years and later, and chose a graphic artist's career. This book was a perfect match for her talent, and her memoir is chilling. To see freedoms taken away gradually is difficult, and when one looks up and sees where the normality markers have moved to, it is eye-opening. This book is recommended to all readers who care about world events, and those who enjoy memoirs.

5 comments about Same Kind of Different As Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together.

1. The Same Kind of Different As Me, by Ron Hall and Denver Moore, is a compelling true story about two completely different lives--one, a homeless drifter who grew up enslaved by a plantation owner picking cotton, the other, an upscale art dealer living the good life--and the woman who brought them together to become friends forever.
   
   This story is told by each of the two men about their lives and how their lives changed because of the art dealer's wife. Deborah had a heart of gold and a vision for the homeless in her city. How her vision played out and affected the lives of all who knew her is a fascinating story that reminds us that we need to listen to the messages God puts in our hearts and never give up. She had enough faith for everyone. From the relationship between the two men, we learn that we aren't so different from others as we think we are.
   
   I loved this book! It was very well written from the heart and perspective of each man. They were both brutally honest about their lives and their thoughts along the way and you walked away feeling like you knew them and their struggles. I don't want say much more but make sure you do have a box of kleenex handy when reading this.
   
   Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson to provide my honest review. This review contains my honest opinions.



2. There just aren't enough words to capture the impact of this book. The emotions it evokes, the enlightenment it provides, the depth of wisdom is holds. This book is told through the mouths of the very men that lived what is probably the most profound, incredible and moving transition and transformation I've ever heard of. Reading as they share their experience in meeting, befriending, transforming and loving each other, is without a doubt, the essence of true christianity and definitive of what unconditional love is. As these men tell the story of their lives, this book allowed me to witness with my heart as I followed their journey, just how beautifully miraculous God is, and how he shapes us with his love and grace, through the love of others. Reading this novel was so captivating, moving and touching ... so enriching and eye opening, and incredibly humbling. It's a true spiritually visible miracle of God's amazing love and the ability of HIS love, to transform anyone, and any heart.



3. Denver Moore is a homeless man who grew up as a modern-day slave in a plantation in Louisiana. Ron Hall is an international art dealer with preconceived notions about homeless people. Debbie Hall is the tenacious woman who brought these two men together. It is an almost unbelievably true story about the impact one life can have on another.
   
   By telling their own story in this memoir, Moore and Hall share significant aspects of their lives, demonstrating a jarring contrast as they are juxtaposed chapter by chapter. Worthy of noting is Denver Moore's authentic, engaging, and down-to-earth writing style and voice, reminiscent of the language of some of Flannery O'Connor's characters.
   
   What I found particularly interesting was the way Denver Moore taught Ron Hall nuggets of wisdom through their friendship. Societal expectations would place Hall as Moore's benefactor, so to speak. Not in this story. God uses the despised of this world to teach the world His wisdom.
   
   This book brings to the fore the ever present issue of homelessness plaguing our country and the many individual lives that are overlooked on a daily basis. As for me, it is a call to action as much as it is a story about friendship, faith and love. If you want to be inspired to live a life that matters, then pick this book up. It has already garnered a place as one of my favorites, not because of any literary laurels received, but simply due to the applause my spirit has given it.



4. So all the reviews are quite similar..... Changed my life.....made me anew person..... makes you want to change..... So if it is a book that will make you SEE the bad things or wrong things or the things that you indeed know are heartbreaking.... I suggest this world get to reading! There are so many many situations in life that people are going through. that it is truly sad you only open your eyes to this kind of stuff though a book! Look around people it's everywhere..... Street corners and redlights are littered with the homeless! This apparently has no effect on you unless you read it in a book and are face to face with it? Listen to the news, see it on the street and quit be so shallow as to letting a book "change" you! Open your hearts to the whole world..... not just a book! So the next time all of you that are sooooo ...... changed- see a homeless person .....HELP them out. Someway, anyway, even if you have to have one less Starbucks during the week! Geeeezzee.... What a sad world we live in. Hope you all sleep well tonight!



5. The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore is truly a life changing book. It is a true story about two very different lives that are brought together to make a difference.
   This is a book that challenges those of us who says we are living our lives as "Christians", but our actions are not quite up to par. It truly explores the saying "actions speak louder than words". It's a book about love, acceptance, trusting God, and making a difference.
   This book brought me pure joy, sadness, and conviction. It is a very honest book and I've already passed it on to others! Definitely a must read!
   
   "Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. " -Mother Teresa
   
   Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 <[...]> : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

5 comments about Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave, Written by Himself (The Bedford Series in History and Culture).

1. We had to read this in 11th grade when I was in high school. Like many people, I just skimmed it and now I regret the decision so I decided to try it again. This is a fantastic edition. First, to hear about slavery in America from a former slave's own words is powerful. Many times we just hear slavery was horrible and that's it. This narrative makes it personal. You see an individual and what has happened in his personal life and that always makes it more real. Secondly, the reason why this edition is so fantastic, is the footnotes that it provides. It tells you who the people in the narrative are and even points out mistakes that Douglas made which makes it more authentic for me. I literally read this in a few hours as it is a short book but I have gained much from the exercise.



2. This is a brief life story, written in 1845, by an ex-slave. At the time of writing he was technically an escaped slave. He later had his freedom bought for him by some English people.
   
   Douglass is a very intelligent, brave and resourceful man and he describes slavery in Maryland, a state supposedly kinder to slaves than the deep South.
   
   Apart from the horror of the living conditions and treatment, what stands out for me is his denunciation of the Christian society which the slaveowners subscribed to. This is in the Appendix, which I think some editions don't have. (The Penguin does). According to Douglass the more pious they were, the more likely to be cruel. I hasten to add Douglass himself was a Christian too. Towards the end of the book is a long quotation from the New Testament about Philistines and hypocrites.
   
   It's powerful stuff.



3. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is one of the few books that every American should read and is also essential for anyone even remotely interested in American history, African Americans, or slavery's sad story. It is a fine piece of writing in itself and also of immense historical value - a true American classic.
   
   The most obvious aspect is of course autobiographical. American literature has a long, prestigious autobiographical tradition, and this is one of the best entries. Douglass' account of his life is profoundly moving and immensely thought-provoking. He begins with his first memories and carries his story all the way to what was then the present. Needless to say, the inside look at slavery from a slave's perspective is the most valuable part; there are numerous such narratives, but this is surely preeminent. The story is heart-wrenching, vividly and unforgettably detailing humanity's inhumanity; we see what it was like to be a slave in regard to everything from food, clothing, and shelter to labor. Many of the incidents are almost painful to even read; actually living through them - or even being alive when such things happened - is now thankfully unimaginable. Douglass gives several examples of physical cruelty, but the most harrowing stories may well be those of psychological torture and simple denial of basic human feelings, as in the heartless breaking up of families. Such things are inherently moving, and this would be one of the most emotional works ever if it were fiction, but the stunning fact that it is not makes it all the more meaningful. The dread weight of its truth is particularly shocking when we realize that Douglass came from one of the areas where slavery was least harsh. The horrors here related are thankfully long past, but such books will always be immensely valuable as reminders of just how cruel people can be - and have been quite recently. We must never forget, lest they happen again.
   
   Douglass in this way is more representative than individual, and he indeed took it on himself to speak for all slaves. The book was in this sense propagandistic and did its job better than anyone could have expected, laying slavery's evils bare to many who were previously unaware or unable - possibly unwilling - to believe. It was an abolitionist milestone and had a real effect in moving slavery toward its end. Yet Douglass' story is extremely interesting in itself; indeed, in many ways he was the spiritual successor of Benjamin Franklin, founder of the American autobiographical tradition. Franklin practically invented the American dream by showing how hard work and perseverance could raise one from humble beginnings to wealth, fame, and acclaim. Douglass had infinitely worse circumstances yet managed to rise far above them - not only teaching himself to read but becoming a genuine autodidact, not only escaping slavery but becoming a noted abolitionist, orator, writer, black leader, and racial authority with world fame and reverence. Few stories are more inspirational, and the work is thus on top of everything else the best kind of self-help book. Douglass unforgettably shows that it is possible to overcome even the most adverse circumstances and gives a good idea of how to do so.
   
   One must not neglect to mention that, incredible as it is, Douglass is a premier prose stylist. Considering his circumstances, the fact that he was able to write at all is amazing; anyone would make great allowance for poor or even semi-literature writing. In fact, though, Douglass is a top-level writer; this is not only one of the very few autobiographies that is true literature but simply great writing per se. The writing is simple in the best sense; Douglass truly embodied Jonathan Swift's good style definition: "Proper words in proper places." He is admirably clear and concise. That said, he works himself up to a rhapsody when appropriate, reaching near-lyrical heights; the passage where he compares himself to the free is one of the most affecting and best-written I have seen in the hundreds or thousands of books I have read. That Douglass' Narrative has this totally unlooked for virtue in addition to all others is thoroughly impressive.
   
   Simply put, anyone who has not read this should do so as soon as possible; few books are more important or memorable. Douglass is an American giant, and this is his enduring fame's base. No one who reads it can forget it, and that may be the highest praise of all.



4. Amazing.
   Inspiration for your life regardless of the kind of trials you face.
   Highly recommended.



5. In the classic slave narrative genre, Frederick Douglass' narrative of his life brings to life, in all its horrors, American slave society, and one slave's life-long protest against it.
   
   When we read Frederick Douglass in his own words, he is less the radical and more the reformer than we've been led to believe. He is also more the Christian statesmen and less the Christianity critic than we might imagine. Douglass' oft quoted comments about Christianity had much more to do with a righteous critique of distorted Christian living practiced by white masters than with any critique of Christianity or of Christ. In reality, Douglass, like so many enslaved African Americans before and after him, saw in Jesus a Savior they could identify with--a suffering Savior.
   
   Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction , Soul Physicians, and Spiritual Friends.

5 comments about Enrique's Journey.

1. Although the book has received numerous awards, and great reviews from critics, which I don't really see why, I hated it. The book is trying to garner sympathy for illegal immigrants. Simple as that. Sad story, simple story, not something I'm ever going to read again.



2. The purchase was easy and the product arrived very quickly....would buy from here again! Thank you!



3. If you are not sure why theres such a big debate over immigration reform, this book will give you a glimpse at why a family may choose to migrate to the U.S. This book was an easy read, I couldn't put it down. The journey some immigrants take is dangerous, even deadly and yet some people live in such poor conditions, that they risk their own lives in search of jobs in the U.S. I highly recommend this book.



4. I read this while on a cultural exchange trip to Guanajuato Mexico...it certainly opened my eyes to the lengths immigrants are going to when trying to enter our country.



5. There are many problems with this book beyond the obvious. One is the journalist-author never confirmed her sources' stories. The anger expressed by ILLEGALS towards American is slightly over the top - when the problem lies with the accuser. For one thing it is against the law, now, on our books, to come to the U.S. illegally. Previous generations came her LEGALLY and they had tougher times and more compelling emotional stories than this, but they still respeted our laws and came here legally. I personally resent EMOTION used like this to soften you towards criminals - which is what illegals are! My own family has a more compelling story and they came here LEGALLY. The LEFT clearly has its agenda endorsed through raw emotion. It's a pity so many are taken in by this and do not THINK about how problematic ILLEGAL immigration really is and how that can be avoided - come here LEGALLY!
   
   Once ILLEGALLY over the border he confirms what makes America angry. His illegal mother took a job away from a legal America. Jobs are tough and unemployement is sky high in the U.S.. Atleast 20% of those who had been unemployed are now UNDER employed. This is a U.S. fact. have no idea how much our school system is burdened by illegals but I know it is high. Again, you as the taxpayer, foot that bill too since the majority of illegals do NOT pay taxes and if they do, it is not nearly enough for what their costs are to U.S. taxpayers.
   
   As another responder indicated, the boy becomes a "social problem". Our prisons are teaming with these illegal "social problems and cost the America taxpayer untold billions each year - ESL, welfare, social services etc.. They also cost the American taxpayer untold billions each year in "free" social services and adding untold burden of not bothering to learn English, bringing drugs, gang wars and basically hating America. YOU, the legal America is the source of their "free servces". Eventually many hospitals shut down since they cannot turn away illegals when they show up at the emergencey room for medical attention with no insurance. Again, you as a legal citizen, lose when this doesn't need to be a problem - come here LEGALLY. Then there is NO family split.
   
   His Mom, didn't have to be a "single mother". If anything wiser choices for a partner need to be encouraged. We don't need to illegally import more of this. We already have a epidemic of legal, single moms. If mom was truly a respectable person, she would have come to the U.S. legally and then brought her family.
   
   In a nutshell this book is being used to play on your EMOTIONS and have you supportive of others breaking our laws to come here illegally. What better way to get tha view across then making your kids READ this, FEEL guilty and forget WHY we have IMMIGRATION LAWS. We want to be careful in WHO comes to the U.S..
   
   You are to see the U.S. as a "mean" country to not want to know WHO is coming into our country, why and know their background. We surely don't need more criminals coming here or the "social problems" this immigrant brings. These "social problem" types are what wind up in prison. Had they come here legally, there is an appreciation for the U.S. and less hatred for it.
   
   I would not recommend this book. I would recommend ILLEGAL immigrants get in line, allow us to screen them and see if this is the kind of person we want as a citizen. If they are, then welcome them and help them assimilate into our "melting pot" as well as teaching them some civility in not "flipping the bird" at Americans as highlighted in this book. Uncivilized actions should never be rationalized as okay. We don't need more of this gutter incivility.
   
   Single moms should also want to set the right example for their kids and the includes not disobeying another countries laws. Don't let the LEFT manipulate you like this for their "open borders" agenda. All my family came her LEGALLY and for more emotionally compelling reasons than this. I find it alarming that people allow their emotions to be so easily manipulated like they are. Do we really need more single parents here for U.S. to support and wink at while they disobey our laws and have an attitude? I don't THINK so and YOU shouldn't THINK so either.

5 comments about The Color of Water 10th Anniversary Edition.

1. This was a fascinating and well-written story about the identity of a "black" child growing up in Harlem with a white mother. It made me think about two issues:
   
   1. The Recipe for Academic Achievement
   All twelve children went to college and many went on to be doctors, lawyers, or professors. Clearly, the mother's emphasis on education and careful choice of magnet schools (with long bus rides outside of Harlem) were factors. The first 7 children achieved more than the last 5. Was this biological (the 1st father had a higher IQ than the 2nd father)? Birth order (older children received more parental attention)?
   
   Just for fun, if I had to guess what factors influence academic achievement, I would guess:
   
   Academic Achievement = f (parent participation and expectations; parent education level; quality of school - class size, teacher salary, teacher training, teacher reward system; bio-IQ; emotional stability?)
   
   Did I miss something?
   
   2. Racial Identity
   
   Growing up in the "white" majority, my race has never been part of my identity nor something my family ever talked about. But this was a BIG emotional deal in the life of this child growing up in Harlem with a white ex-Jewish Mom in the 1960s. It took him years to integrate his white Jewish and black Christian sides. Is a positive racial identity a good thing? Only for minorities? Or, is the "we're all Americans" way of thinking better?
   
   Other options:
   
   Evangelical Christians - "Us" (evangelical Christians who are forgiven sinners) v "Them" (everyone else in the world who is not a forgiven sinner)
   
   Hindu Priest who taught at our church - we (humans and animals) are all sentient beings created and loved by God, in various stages of spiritual development (a spiritual pecking order)



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I started reading it one day and couldn't stop. I finished it the next day. It is a tale of human perseverance and love overcoming all obstacles. It is a tale of responding to the worst in human nature and finding a way to survive. The fact that is a real biography and not fiction makes it all the more poignant.



3. 
   The Color of Water was recommended by a colleague. It is a very intriguing read. The author pulls you into the story immediately. The story is amazing with alot of history and fact. I have told several people about this book and how it will change their life. Read it and you will see.



4. This book is a great read. It tells a wonderful story while also connecting each event to the time period to give readers of sense of life during this age. It is truly heart felt and at times tends to be a tear jerker. It takes you on a journey of a boy who is becoming a man and his mother who struggles with her past but is constantly doing the best she can.



5. The author's mother abandoned her Jewish family after having become pregnant by a con man, never contacted her family again after she abandoned them except to ask them for money, never went to see her mother even as the mother lay dying in a hospital a quick train ride away. She married a black man, converted to Christianity and then spent a lifetime concealing information about her past from her children. When one son, a sometime-reporter, decided that her story would make a good book, he took down uncritically a completely unbelievable story about a miserly, money-hungry, child-abusing, wife-abusing, violent rabbi father, someone who seems to have stepped off the pages of a medieval anti-Semitic tract. The Jewish family life described in this book comes right out of the pages of the "Jew of Malta," complete with bloodthirsty and barbaric rituals, mindless rules, usury, and hatred of others. The son made no effort to contact his living extensive Jewish family, including his aunt or many living cousins who might have cast any doubt on his mother's story. Given that even to the casual reader it is apparent that the mother's tale is a carefully constructed rationalization and justification of her own decision to cut all family ties, the son's uncritical acceptance of this fable is shocking. The author's attempt to undercut the obvious anti-Semitism in the book by stating that some of his best friends are Jewish and that his mother sees a "wonderful Jewish heart doctor" makes this even more sickening, as does his bragging that due to his efforts his mother has become one of the "most inspirational figures in contemporary American literature." McBride's use of the word "literature" to describe his efforts is actually very telling, since the dictionary definition of "literature" is "imaginative or creative writing." The reader should take this as a work of fiction until proven otherwise.

5 comments about The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts.

1. I am pleased to say this item arrived as the seller said it would and it was in better condition than what the seller described. This is needed for my high school student (as well as 2 other books) for a summer reading project due the first day of school and we are pleased with the condition and with the story itself. Thanks so much!



2. It is a miracle that Kingston survived her Ghost ridden life. The book was hard to follow at times because author's life is hard to follow. She was brought up with mystery, myth and ghosts. Myth, fiction and stony reality are all blended so intricately in this woman's life that the lines become blurred. Written with clarity, the fiction that her mother and family paraded as truth becomes intertwined into the psyche of a strong, impressionable young woman who is blessed with the intelligence and presence to wade through and survive.
   I can not help but believe that the ghosts that were so real to her and real to us in the reading, are still alive in the life of the author and all those who read her.



3. So I liked this book, but I'm definitely a bit confused as to whether or not it was truly a nonfiction book. I will count it simply because it's billed as a memoir. Definitely, it shows aspects of the author's childhood, including various important events in her life. It even describes events in her parents' life.
   
   Kingston describes the travails of her parents starting over in a new land. Though they have similarities with the stories of many immigrants of that time, Kingston coats hers in a layer of fantasy, sometimes shrouding the true story behind them.
   
   I did enjoy reading the book, especially the part about Fa Mulan. That story was probably my favorite, the girl who trained so hard in order to save her village. I would recommend this book, but probably not for someone really looking for a strict nonfiction book.



4. I don't know about everyone else, but I don't like reading novels that anger me. I had to read this for a class and absolutely hated it. Avoid it if you want to sleep after reading.



5. I never received this item. I will not use this person again. After waiting to the point that I had to go out and buy the book, I'm not happy at all. I don't know if my money was refunded or not. (Probably not). I wrote to the buyer and didn't get a reply.

5 comments about The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates.

1. This book could not have come at a better time for me. This is a point in my life where my choices could ultimately decide where I go in life. I'm about to begin one of the most crucial years of my career as a student. Never one to take school too seriously I would usually procrastinate, and honestly, as I finish this book for summer reading, my junior year is less than a week away. Moore has planted within me a desire to succeed, to see myself pursue happiness, a right which Moore himself has fought for me and others both in the line of fire and between the lines of this book. This is an inspirational book that demonstrates the reality that action is paired with reaction, that cause cannot be without effect, and that choices come with consequences. By studying their lives in parallel, Moore demonstrates how choices led two mirror lives, his and the other Wes Moore's, to diverge on a path of success and accomplishments and a path of corruption and penitence.



2. This is an unusual book. It is not in any way a traditional biography or autobiography but is the story of two people who happen to share the same name, and a similar background. I came to know of the book through the JHU alumni book club.
   
   Different people may be thinking about reading this book for different reasons. One group may be people who are currently living in troubled neighborhoods or difficult environments, and who are looking for inspiration or support in efforts to escape and live a better life. Another group may be people living in secure environments both economically and socially who are interested in the problems facing impoverished crime-ridden areas, both in terms of understanding them and understanding how to help.
   
   A third group may be students and researchers who are interested in doing a report or are involved in research of urban problems. Even if from a research point of view one cannot take individual stories as concrete evidence for larger trends these books provide flesh and blood examples which one cannot get from dry academic discourse.
   
   Many people who read this book may be volunteers or in jobs working with at risk individuals.
   
   I think for students whether in high school or college who are interested in doing a book report this could be an excellent choice. I found the stories dramatic and interesting. It is well written throughout and I was not at all bored reading about the lives of these two people. It was exciting to see how their lives unfolded in different ways based on the play of different forces, expectations, and drives.



3. I have recently written a summary of a session we had here at the jail (where I work) with hard core addicts and with workshop presentors- David Miller and La Marr Shileds of the Urban leadership Institute- in my opinion- the experts in town on the issues of black male crime and black youth crime. I'd be glad to share it with any one who wants it- it was quite revealing.
   
   I heard Wes Moore on Dan Rodricks program on Wypr today- 8/26- and I have to say it was shallow. Good as far as it went- but, in the end...?
   
   The solutions proposed? having a support system like the one that the "good" Wes Moore had- which has ended him in Afghanistan and now working for Citigroup.
   
   Yes- the other Wes Moore lacked that family support system- as they said- a child wants a parent that cares. But what creates the system of poverty that makes that impossible for inner city kids. Neither Wes nor Dan explored deeply enough to get into it.



4. This book was a very enjoyable & quick read, as well as providing a look into our society's problems. It's not hard to conclude that the author had more familial support, as well as access to money to help pay his tuition & it is these factors which were in a large part, why he succeeded in life. This is surely not a revelation for me, so in some respects I am disappointed that the author did not make any suggestions about how we can help to change society. Perhaps that thought is just way too daunting. I do commend him, however, for suggesting that we volunteer & he provided a list of reputable organizations out there who are devoted to helping urban youth.



5. Wes Moore's mother had come from Jamaica. Young Wes grew up in Washington, DC, in modest circumstances. His mother's father was a pastor and had come to New York to study. The family became American and Wes' grandfather ministered to a congregation in the Bronx.
   
   The focus shifted to Washington when Wes' mother Joy went to study at the American University. She met Bill, who became her first husband, but turned out to be an alcoholic and wife-beater. After getting out of that, a better life was established with Wes Moore, also a college graduate. The author was their firstborn, named after his father. The elder Wes was a radio commentator who died when young Wes was only three.
   
   Wes went to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, where his life intersected with another family named Moore. The week of his graduation, a news story brought to his attention another man named Wes Moore, a member of a local family. The other Wes Moore was now in prison for robbery and the shooting death of a police officer.
   
   Our Wes became intrigued with this other Wes, made contact and explored the life story of the second Wes Moore. This book details the two disparate lives that share so many similarities yet turned out so differently.
   
   Our Wes spins out the details he gathers as he visits the other Wes Moore in prison, as well as family and neighbors, to understand the life of the other Wes Moore. The story is well told as author Wes interweaves the different stages of the lives of the two Wes Moors.
   
   I found the story interesting largely because it is true. Being written in first-person testimonial format that provides power and presence. The topic itself, however, did not grab me, and I found it hard to maintain focus as the story developed.

5 comments about Coming of Age in Mississippi.

1. This book will really suck you in. It's hard for people who aren't from the South to understand the family dynamics, the method of speak, the rural center of it all, etc. But the time period covered while (possibly) somewhat far-removed from today's standards of living is what drives the story forward. The conditions described are both deplorable an' fascinating, an' anyone who thinks slavery ended in 1865 would be greatly challenged by the childhood stories recounted by Anne Moody. One'a the most vivid to me being her description of the chicken factory she worked at in New Orleans. There's no traditional arc here either an' no false hope, possibly because it was published in 1968 at the height of social unrest, but I wouldn't call it a downer either. Its as straightforward as it gets; tumultuous, surreal at times, filled with disillusion an' ultimate uncertainty. But, you will be better for having explored it. I've passed it on to several friends and (if I ever get it back) I intend to read it again.



2. This book is so clearly written and so interesting that I wanted to read on and on. Every so often I would stop and think that the storyline is so good and then I would remember that it's a true story which would further amaze me. I would forget that I am actually reading it for history class. We've always heard of the achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but this gives us the story of one female activist who was in action during that time. We learn in more detail about how some of the less mentioned people in history conducted protests and sit ins and strived towards uniting African Americans to gain equality. The life story of Anne Moody is sure to keep you interested.



3. If you want to understand truly the insanity of the prejudice in the south, this book is the truth. Written from a woman who lived it and fought for her freedom and that of her race. It is difficult to read at times. I had to put it down in disgust at the hatred and cruelty that white men have shown to Blacks in our country. It is so well written and should be used as a historical novel in English classes in our schools. Moody had so much courage at such a young age. Pass this one on. Use it in book clubs. Excellent.



4. Great Book. I had to read it for my History Class, my mom later read it and loved it.
   
   This is American History, everyone should read it.



5. What an amazing book!! To know this book was bravely published in 1968, when the Civil Rights issues were still a hot topic, is telling of how Anne (Essie Mae) Moody unabashadly tells the stories of her life in Mississippi. She didn't wait for controversies and prejudice to cool down. She let her voice be known at a time when immediate influence was necessary.
   
   She draws readers into this autobiography that reads more like a novel than a memoir, with tales of herself, a little girl exchanging work for milk for her family. She then shares her teenage years, as a beautiful girl struggling though work, school and family upheaval. Then as a young adult putting her life and that of her family at risk fighting for Civil Rights.
   
   This is a touching story of leadership, accountability, struggle and victory.
   
   Having missed this historical generationmyself by being born in the 70s, it is incredibly angering to know that there was such a distinction made between races. Even worse,that it was a LEGAL distinction.
   
   This book was really incredible. I can see why it continues to be ppular more than 40 years after it's original publication.