3 comments about Searching for Robert Johnson: The Life and Legend of the "King of the Delta Blues Singers".

1. Excellent book. Interesting prospective not only of Robert Johnson, but of his contemporaries.



2. The 96 pages of this book are pack full of information about legendary bluesman Robert Johnson. Virtually everything that is known about Mr. Johnson is vividly detailed in this work. Makes for excellent reading.



3. It is to bad that someone so capable of telling a good tale could take a dive with such vivid subject matter at his disposal. It is extremely over priced for such a dismal read. Anyone who has purchased the Box set has read pretty much the same info given in this minute pamplet of wash. We need a vision of this man not a paint by numbers acount of times,places and song verses. Then again If you do not know the tale of johnson then this is the book for you. let me also highly recomend Robert palmers book Deep Blues. Also the finest attempt to give an acurate portrayal of such a god is the book LOVE in VAIN by Alan Greenberg...

5 comments about On the Shoulders of Giants: My Journey Through the Harlem Renaissance.

1. I have only scanned the book, however I am historically familiar with a
   lot of the content which motivated me to buy the book as a collectors
   item. I also order the book for my grandson and a friend's son.
   
   Doug Murray



2. Here is a man who should be an inspiration to a whole generation. This book is more proof that he is more than just an athlete. This book is recommended reading for all teenagers



3. On the Shoulders of Giants speaks of a bygone, sometimes forgotten piece of America and its culture that nevertheless has great, reaching tentacles into our present, and that will continue to shake and embrace us well into our future. Beautifully written, with a title that says it all, this book is just as evocative and fascinating for non-sports, non-jazz fans as it will undoubtedly be for those entrenched in both subjects.
   
   A wonderful discovery.



4. Especially interesting are the musicians and music that originated or passed through Harlem during this time.



5. The Harlem Renaissance continues to contribute to society today, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explains why in this memoir.

5 comments about Gall: Lakota War Chief.

1. Gall. Lakota war chief.
   I want to thank Robert W. Larson for his contribution to one of the most important hunkpapa war chiefs: Gall.
   I think Robert M. Utley said it right: "Robert Larson has rescued from obscurity one of the most prominent leaders of the Lakota Sioux".
   I am from the Netherlands, Europe, and I read for several years now about the history of the sioux peoples, especcialy 2 tribes: the Mdewakantons and the Hunkpapas.
   The book "Gall. Lakota war chief" is for me a beautiful contribution to the Sioux history.
   If somebody wants to react, do not hesitate and mail me please.
   I am looking for more information of the Mdewakantons chief Little Crow.
   In my opinion the most important chief of the Dakota tribes.



2. The life of Gall of the Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) who lived from 1840 to 1894 has long been a footnote of history, someone who shows up alongside Custer, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse but never comes to the fore to offer his own story. With so many first class biographies of his contemporaries such as Crazy Horse and Custer and Sitting Bull: The Life and Times of an American Patriot there was always a need for a biography of Gall.
   
   Born in 1840 he was a famed warrior in his twenties and served under Sitting Bull during the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, and later fled to Canada with him until his surrender. Gall settled in the Dakotas as a farmer and Judge of the Court of Indian Affairs on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation and apparently became friendly with local white settlers in his later years. He turned against Sitting Bull when the older chief become involved with the Ghost Dance movement.
   
   Gall lived on the Standing Rock Agency until his death December 5, 1895.
   
   This is a wonderful contribution to scholarish on the American West and on the American Indian and finally provides a chapter in the life of one of the greatest warriors of the American West,
   
   Seth J. Frantzman



3. I just finished reading this "first ever" biography of the Lakota (Hunkpapa) Indian leader Gall (Pizi) by Robert W. Larson, retired Professor of History (from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley) and writer, and found it very informative. I want to recommend it to all serious Indian Wars students and frontier history buffs.
   
   It is, doubtless by necessity, somewhat speculative regarding Gall's exact whereabouts and activities during certain phases of his life, as sufficient biographical source material is sometimes lacking. That is to be expected and is quite understandable -- there are obvious gaps in the record. Further, Gall certainly lived in the shadows of more renowned Lakota chiefs such as Sitting Bull (for many years, Gall was one of his loyal lieutenants) and Crazy Horse.
   
   But regardless, Gall was quite a phenomenon in his own right. At the time, U.S. soldiers called him the "Fighting Cock of the Sioux", and Libbie Custer, even while continuing to grieve the loss of her husband at the Little Big Horn, upon first seeing his picture (which was taken in 1881 at Ft. Buford by David F. Barry), observed that he appeared to be one "fine specimen of a warrior". And so he was, according to all accounts. He wasn't notably tall, at least by modern day standards, but he was well-built, strong, athletic, and courageous. And, not unlike Custer, he apparently didn't mind being conspicuous on the battlefield, such as by wearing red.
   
   Larson's approach is scholarly (there are copious end notes) and, at times, though always reliably competent and straightforward, some readers might find his writing style to be a bit on the dry side. But, even so, for people of my ilk who are fascinated with this era of history, the subject matter will inevitably keep one turning the pages.
   
   This book is worthwhile, especially regarding information that it presents on lesser-known actions and incidents. While plenty of ink has been devoted to the Little Big Horn fight, Larson's book doesn't focus too much on the xs and os of that conflict, opting instead to bring out all kinds of interesting details regarding the lesser known parts of the Great Sioux War era, the sojourn of the "hostile" Lakotas in Canada prior to their ultimate surrender, reservation life at Standing Rock, etc. I personally appreciated reading and learning more about these things.



4. Gall was a Hunkpapa warrior and Lakota chief who resisted efforts by the U.S. government to annex the Black Hills - and led a charge to attack Custer's men on the other side of Little Bighorn. Despite his achievements there has been much controversy surrounding Gall's role and contribution to the conflict, and retired history professor Robert W. Larson here sorts through different reports, views and source materials to paint a new portrait of Gall's character. College-level holdings strong in Native American history will find it a scholarly survey that covers the known extent of Gall's life, using rare Standing Rock Reservation records, among others, to recreate and add depth to standard reports. It's a highly recommended library addition for any specialty collection.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. It is fitting that Hunkpapa Sioux warrior Gall (Pizi) has his biography. Definitive biographies of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were written decades ago ("The Lance and the Shield" by Robert Utley and "Sitting Bull: Champion of the Sioux" by Stanley Vestal, "Crazy Horse: The Strange Man of the Oglalas" by Mari Sandoz). Oglala chief Red Cloud and the Brule Spotted Tail share a literary champion (George Hyde's "Red Cloud's Folk" and "Spotted Tail's Folk"). Generals George Custer, George Crook and Alfred Terry have received exhaustive treatments. Even Custer scout and Gall adversary, the Arikara Bloody Knife, has received attention.
   
   It bothered Robert Larson, a retired University of North Colorado history professor, that Gall's role in the decades-long Plains wars did not have the scholarly treatment it deserved. Further, his estrangement from his uncle, Sitting Bull, in the years afterward remained largely unexamined. Though not a visionary figure like Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse, Larson writes, "Gall was thought to be the equal of Crazy Horse if not superior when it came to warfare." For this he was known by the American troops as "the Fighting Cock of the Sioux". Tellingly, Gall's favorite Hunkpapa name was The Man That Goes in the Middle, as in "the man who leads the charge".
   
   Mr. Larson puts Gall's life into context: Born in 1840, Gall was present at almost every significant action in the Sioux wars (and the primary antagonist in many of those events). Gall may be found at the 1864 battles of Killdeer Mountain and the Badlands, and the Fort Rice attacks of 1865. In December 1865, upon Bloody Knife's identification, soldiers bayoneted Gall while he lay in his tipi outside Fort Berthold. He barely survived. He was reported to be at Fort Buford (1866), and likely other forts along the Bozeman Trail during Red Cloud's War (1866-1868). As Sitting Bull's delegate, Gall attended a July 1868 peace conference at Fort Rice to discuss the Fort Laramie Treaty. He bared his scars and spoke against the treaty, then unexpectedly endorsed it (now believed for the post-conference gifts only). Red Cloud would not sign it until November of that year. Agency life in the Dakotas' Great Sioux Reservation thus began for many, while others remained in the unceded lands of Montana and northern Wyoming. The independent Gall straddled both worlds, coming and going as he pleased.
   
   The early 1870s were relatively quiet years, interrupted by unwelcome US expeditions into Yellowstone valley in 1871 and 1872. These intrusions triggered the Battle of Arrow Creek (Baker's Battle) and the harassment of other soldier-escorted survey parties (i.e. the skirmish at O'Fallon Creek). Custer led an expedition into the Yellowstone country in 1873. He was fired upon by Rain-in-the-Face and later by Gall's men. Not long after the Battle of the Yellowstone, Custer led an 1874 expedition into the Black Hills. The gold rush that followed triggered more clashes between non-treaty Lakota's and white intruders. An attempt to buy the sacred Paha Sapa was made by the US government and rejected by Red Cloud. In late 1875 President Grant signed off on an ultimatum to the roaming peoples: come into the reservation lands by January 31, 1876 or be considered "hostile".
   
   General's Sherman and Sheridan made plans for a winter campaign to force Sitting Bull, Gall, Crazy Horse and others' bands in. The campaign would result in the June 17, 1876 Battle of the Rosebud and Custer's June 25, 1876 "massacre" at the Little Bighorn. Gall does not appear to have been at the Rosebud, a battle in which Crazy Horse figured prominently and a sun dance-weakened Sitting Bull attended to provide inspiration. Larson's speculation that Gall was also suffering from the effects of the sun dance ceremony seems generous. Likely he was elsewhere, having gone off to Fort Berthold or some other trading post, or simply arrived late to the battle and was content to watch the younger combatants.
   
   He was at Little Bighorn, however, and lost five family members there. After hearing the first shots Gall ran to gather his horses, saw Crazy Horse taking action to repel Reno's charge at the south end of the village, and went to find his family (whom he assumed had gone running with others in the opposite direction). After searching for a time and finally reaching his village again, Gall found his two wives and three children all killed. He picked up a hatchet, remounted his horse and rode for the river where he'd earlier seen troops searching for a northern crossing. Late to the fight and admittedly following Crazy Horse, Crow King and others, he fell in with those repelling the attackers from that end of the camp. Gall and his fellow warriors reportedly ended the soldiers' brief struggle on Calhoun Hill, overwhelming them with shots and charges. Gall then proceeded to Custer Hill and participated as hoards of angry tribesmen "charged them with our ponies," ending the assault on their families.
   
   Shortly after this fight the assembled bands split apart, well aware that this "victory" would only lead to more soldiers and more misery. After a couple more desultory battles (Slim Buttes and Cedar Creek), in May 1877 Gall followed Sitting Bull north into Canada - the same month in which Crazy Horse led his people into Red Cloud Agency and his own murder.
   
   After four difficult, near-starving years in Grandmother's Land, in January 1881 Gall broke with Sitting Bull in making the decision to return to the US. An angry Sitting Bull would return that fall. Gall made an effort to adjust to reservation life, trying his hand as a district farmer and serving as a judge on the Court of Indian Affairs at Standing Rock. Indian Agent James McLaughlin's promotion of Gall and other "progressives" at the expense of "traditionalists" such as Sitting Bull damaged some tribesmen's perception of Gall, but the manipulation of various Indian factions was McLaughlin's doing not Gall's. (Resentment among Sitting Bull's allies was such that Kicking Bear's famous pictograph of the Little Bighorn battle highlights Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Rain-in-the-Face and Kicking Bear himself - omitting Gall's presence altogether!)
   
   Ever a man of action, Gall survived. He evaluated his people's predicament and "assimilated" to the extent he felt it necessary and culturally comfortable, permitting his children to attend a reservation school while ignoring Episcopal preaching against keeping more than one wife. Gall is described as a good farmer and a conscientious judge, a man of integrity, hardworking and loyal, and "constructive" in contrast to the intractable Sitting Bull. Having been a successful warrior and hunter, it is not surprising that Gall prospered while others withered. And he remained tough as nails and greatly respected, as Larson illustrates in an 1882 incident: "When two large groups of Indians became involved in a fight in which guns were displayed, Gall intervened, seized the guns, and refused to return them until the two parties reconciled."
   
   As with all human beings however, age, rich food, and sedentary life took its toll. Gall died in December 1894, having lived long enough to bear the wretched disappointment of the disastrous Dawes Act and Sioux Act of 1889, and witness the rise of the Ghost Dance and Sitting Bull's subsequent murder and the culminating evil of Wounded Knee.
   
   Several decades ago, late Sixties and early Seventies activists employed a potent mix of history and mythology to raise public awareness and renew tribal consciousness. It is not surprising that they chose to use the powerful images of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, warriors to the end. But it is fitting too that our memory of Gall, the warrior who survived longer than they - and arguably fought better, is revived. Wicoh `a ("good deed"), Robert Larson.

5 comments about Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad.

1. This is the autobiography of Waris Dirie, an international supermodel. Waris grew up as part of a nomadic tribe in Somalia that still practices female circumcision, sleeps outdoors, subsists on camels milk, and marries off young girls at 12 or 13 to much older men. It was very interesting to read about her experiences as a child because her upbringing was the same as the upbringing of children 1000 years ago in Somalia. Waris' description of her circumcision and the problems she experienced afterward were poignant and terrifying.
   
   Waris clearly has a good sense of humor. It is interesting to read her perspectives first of Mogadishu and then of London. It is fascinating to hear about how she became a model. Unfortunately, the book degenerated in the second half. Waris becomes conceited and less likeable. She also seems a bit selfish in her behaviors towards her friends.
   
   This book was a good read because of the first half but the last hundred pages was a big disappointment.



2. I looked for a book off my shelves that I hadn't read yet and came upon this one-- one I've been meaning to read ever since I first heard of Waris Dirie a few months ago when she disappeared for a few days and made the international news.
   
   As I had a few hours to wait for my son to finish his pottery class, I dove right into this book. And, it was very good. I was able to finish it before my son's class was over 2 1/2 hours later.
   
   Waris' life has definitely been interesting and, in some cases, very sad. Born in Somalia, she lived with her nomadic family for her first 13 years. As she notes, all ages are estimates, since they didn't really pay attention to birthdays. She begged her mother to be circumcised when she was five years old-- obviously, she had no idea what that meant, at all-- she only knew it meant she was considered more grown up. And, this was the kind you read about-- the kind that removes both the inner and outer labia and the clitoris. The woman that did the "surgery" sawed her with a rusty bloody broken blade that she spat on and wiped dry before cutting. Waris' circumcision left her infibulated-- with only the smallest opening that made menstruation and urination extremely painful.
   
   She does discuss this, one of the most abhorrent practices, but she also discusses much more. Much of her life was very happy-- although they were very poor. She loved both parents but ran away when she was 13 (through the desert with no shoes or water) or so to avoid a marriage to a much older man (for the price of five camels!).
   
   Through an odd chain of events, she was able to go to London to be a servant for some wealthy relatives. And, when this family planned to return to Somalia, Waris decided to stay in London. She was very soon discovered by a photographer and almost immediately became a top model.
   
   Waris' tells her story in simple, yet stark language-- she speaks her mind and is a likeable and strong woman. Her memoir is definitely interesting and she's very open about all her feelings and thoughts. The only thing I would have preferred she talk about more were her feelings about Islam. I realize that genital mutilation is not mandated by the Koran-- it is only a tradition in many of these families. However, her thoughts about her religion and some of its laws and archaic practices that affected her family (polygyny and its treatment of women, for instance), would have made the book a bit more intriguing. She didn't go into this at all.
   
   All in all, this was a provocative memoir of someone raised so entirely differently than those of us in the West. Her introduction to our foreign culture- so different than her own- made for a very thoughtful and affecting read.



3. This is the most emotional, extraordinary and shocking autobiography I've ever read, and the one I'll never forget and will always be in my mind.
   
   Some passages of the book are so shocking, you get sick in your stomach for a few seconds. But every time I had that feeling, I thought: what's this feeling compared to the pain they've gone through? So I kept reading and was astonished that FGM is still existing.
   
   I'm now a proud member of the Waris Dirie Foundation and every month, I give a little amount of money to help these little girls and the battle against FGM.



4. I purchased Desert Flower about five years ago from a street vendor in Brooklyn. I'd have to admit that I purchased the book simply because of the pretty face on the cover. I recently grabed the book of the shelf to read the story behind that pretty face. Oh! my God. I can't remember the last time I was touch by a story like this one. It's been a week since I've read the book and I'm still trying to get it out of my system.
   
   Scream in silence is the first thing that came to my mind when I heard what these women are going through in Somalia and other countries that pratice female Genital Mulitation. To deny a woman of something so natural and beautiful, I think is the worst act ever commited against women. It's as if the women are there only to service the men: cooking their food, washing their clothes, taking care of their children and she's still obligated to satisfy him sexually regardless whether or not she enjoys it in the process.
   
   Loveless sexless and most of all painfull is the best way I can describe these countries that practice Female Genital Mutilation. Shortly after these women are born, they're sexually mutilated , and have to deal with all the medical complications that follows: From trouble urinating, severe menstual cramps, painful sexual intercourse and painfull childbirth. Pain seems to play a major roll in just about every aspect of their lives. These women are hurting and and screaming in silence.
   
   A woman's body is very delicate and sensitive. Without provation women sometimes experience or develop problem with their sexual organs. So, why make matters worst?
   
   As the old saying goes, people will only go as far as you allow them. until These women work up the strength and say enough! is enough! and also recognize that they're the one with the power This nonsense will continue. Throughout history men have been known to buy, beg for sex and sometimes take it involuntary. That in itself should give these women strength to stand up to these men and stop multilating their daughters to satisfy these selfish men. These women should take control of their mind and body.
   
   Waris is definitely a child of God. There is a special purpose for hebeing here on this earth. It was not by accident that she made it safely out the desert and jungle after encountering a lion. Waris has achieve what many women will never achieve, a successful modeling career and inspite of her situation, gave birth to a healthy son without complications. Keep on counting your blessing Waris. The Lord is not done with you yet.



5. This book was both heart wrentching and inspiring. It was a beautiful story. I would like to use this book in class. I think it should be a mandatory read for everyone. This woman has become my hero. I plan on reading all her other books as well.

5 comments about The Day I Stopped Being Pretty.

1. I finished this book in one day. I tried to put it down and just could not. Mr. Lofton takes you along with him on his journey. The good and the bad. He bravely shines a light in to his closet, showing all of us our skeletons. He and his story are a fantastic.... bright shining light.



2. Author Rodney Lofton's debut offering, "The day I Stopped Being pretty" is a brave, unvarnished telling of Lofton's tale of desire to connect with his father and gain his unrequited affection and his experiences as he struggles with his sexuality and lives and loves with an HIV positive diagnosis.
   
   
   This is no powder puff read and is not for the faint at heart. This author uses frank - in your face language as he takes us along to walk a mile in his shoes. I was sympathetic for the adolescent who never knew the love he obviously needed from the most important man in his life. I was scandalized by the wanton antics of a young man desperate for love and acceptance, and the unrelenting abuse of body and soul, described so graphically -would it ever end. I felt compassion for the vulnerable misguided waif and I held out hope for the man going forward in the face of insurmountable odds, after being diagnosed with HIV. We get just a glimpse of his redemption in the end- leaving us wondering and wanting to know more.
   
   
   The narrative flat lines at times as Lofton detours into sideline anecdotes that seem disjointed, and there are questions posed that are not quite addressed. However, when he finds his zone you know it. He vividly chronicles his experiences with promising prose, evoking emotion and thought. The issues he raises as he lays his soul bare for us are still relevant and worth being brought to the forefront once again.
   
   
   Brilliant marketing (which can be seen at [...]) coupled with the interesting subject matter and Rodney's apparent writing skill - which is unpolished but still shines through- make this package hard to resist. I have no doubt that a follow up to this memoir will be worth a look. Look for our interview with Rodney to be posted soon.
   Would somebody please tell this man he is still pretty! Congratulations Rodney Lofton.
   
   Terri E. Williams
   Reviewer
   Sisters Sippin' Tea Literary group - Tulsa Inc.



3. Rodney Lofton "The Day I stopped Being Pretty" captures the attention from the very first page, his written words speaks volumes and allow the reader a front row seat into the mind and soul of a man on a journey of self discovery and soul preservation, the openeness in which he tells his story leaves the reader at times speechless and drained from the tears that are sure to come. This book is so raw and honest that It makes the reader take a real look at their own lives,loves and immortality. A Truely Great and Inspiring Read!



4. Rodney Lofton scores points for opening his life's story to readers in this memoir. His incredible recollection of some very difficult life's experiences draws the readers into his world. One cannot help but feel the pain of a son wanting the acceptance of his father while simultaneously coping with his evolving homosexuality. Lofton does not sugar coat his own part in a life that was somewhat self-destructive. He describes broken relationships and drug assisted sexual encounters to illustrate the depths to which an individual can be pushed or pulled. I applaud his work and look forward to the continued story. I am sure there is much that is yet to be told.



5. The Day I Stopped Being Pretty I opened this book with many, many judgemental thoughts. After reading this book i can truely say that he has opened my little world in my mind. People don't always live like we think they should. It took Rodney to open my eyes to see that the same struggles that he had was the same struggles alot of people has in life. After reading for a while it wasn't about a young black boy being gay anymore, i could relate to his fellings. The way he wrote his story made it easy to identify with something you went through in your life, different circumsatances but same feelings. As i turned each page i could feel his heart beat on each page. There were tears alot of tears and then joy that a young man could go through so much and still claim the victory. I would recommend this book too anybody going through anything, you'll see its not so bad. I especially recommend this to anybody who has a family member or friend struggling though this, even anybody who has hatred in thier heart for a persons sexual prefrence should read because you will see that they are just like anybody else we all want to feel love in comfort.

5 comments about Finding Fish: A Memoir.

1. Finding Fish, by Antwone Fisher, is a passionate and heart wrenching look into the life of the author as a ward of the state. Thankfully, he escapes the terrors of his childhood and eventually finds success. Fisher writes with a distinctive voice. He is able to convey the emotions of the young boy he portrays in the memoir, rather than telling the story through the voice of an adult. The memoir is an honest, and shocking, look into the world of an orphan without anyone to protect him. His father had been shot two months before his birth and his mom is in prison. Throughout his life with the Picketts,his foster parents, Antwone is forced through horrific events that are painful to read about. He is molested at a young age by a babysitter, beaten, mentally abused, and treated like a ghost. He becomes reserved and shy, lacking love and the comfort of a family. Even worse, his social workers are sadly oblivious to the abuse because the Picketts are able to transform into respectable and polite adults when in public. Remarkably, Antwone braves through his torturous childhood, as well as homelessness for a short time, and finds himself in the Navy. This becomes his miracle, and inspires him to do more with his life. He finds himself traveling around the world, educating himself about different cultures as well as teaching himself English with the help of a thesaurus. In comparison to his childhood, Antwone is in paradise. This transition from a hopeless child with no allies in the world to a strong, successful Navy officer illustrates a major theme in the memoir. No matter how horrible somebody's life is, with perseverance and hope it is possible to achieve anything. Although Antwone is thrown into a terrible life, he finds his own success and thankfully escapes his past and finds happiness. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and any reader will become attached to Antwone, rooting for him against the negativity in his life.



2. and taught me something. It taught me how much we all share--the need to belong, for family, to search, to question. This book is unexpected tender and this boy's journey impacted my own journey, my own questions of family, of accceptance.
   ~Carol D. O'Dell
   Author, MOTHERING MOTHER
   Kunati Publishing, April 2007



3. At first I resisted this book because it seemed to be written by an adult looking over his childhood from a very mature place. However, late in the book it is a revelatory experience to find that this is exactly what happened when an unfair accusation concerning Antwone at age 25 during his Navy experience 'caused' him to buy a dictionary, a thesorus and learn writing almost from scratch at this age. He soon found that he couldn't stop. Later he wrote this book that has become a best seller very deservedly. It is full of remarkable coincidences that could not be other than genuine because of hundreds of tiny clews that all add up to this person having been there. This is a profound work concerning human holistic Intelligence that Confirms Joseph Pierce's 'Magical Child Matures."



4. Finding Fish was a good book. I first learned of Antowne Fisher a few years ago when he appeared on the Montell Williams show. After hearing his story on the show I immediately wanted to go out and buy his book to find out more about this wonderful young man but could never find the book. A few years went by and then a movie of his life was made. After seeing the movie, which I thought was very good, I decided that the movie did a good job of telling his story and that I no longer wanted to purchase the book. Some years later I was in a book store looking for some books to purchase and came across Finding Fish on the book shelf. Since I was in a thrift book store I said what the heck and purchased this book along with some others. Well needless to say it was meant for me to read this book. The movie just touched on a small portion of his life and did nothing to give us a better understanding of Antwone's full story. The book went into more detail and was just phenomenal. I have such respect and admiration for Mr. Fisher and all that he endured. The saying is true: "All things happen for a reason" were it not for his horrific
   childhood I don't think Antwone would be the man he is today. Kudows for Mr. Fisher!! If you have not read this book I recommend you do.



5. Wow..if you thought the movie was thought provoking..
   the book is beyond that!
   This book covers Antwone's childhood, where in the movie,
   we only saw a taste of it.
   This book tells the story of a little boy who beat the odds,
   and used his innate ability to survive, extreme verbal, emotional
   sexual and physical abuse.

5 comments about Looking Like the Enemy: My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese American Internment Camps.

1. I'm a history buff of sorts and alsways looking for books on American History. I've just started reading this book and it is already very interesting. We need to know how our citizens felt when they were treated like the enemy. We don't want to do it again.



2. I loved this book. As a Sansei, 3rd generation Japanese in America, I learned so much from reading this book. Both of my parents were interned during the war, but in all these years, they've only shared bits and pieces or vague generalities of their own experiences. Reading Mary Matsuda's vivid and detailed account of her own experience gave me a much greater appreciation and understanding of this traumatic, stressful period, along with a better understanding of basic Japanese customs and beliefs that have guided my own life. It has been a powerful step towards better understanding my own family's history, and I so appreciate that this story was shared by the author. It was beautifully written. I highly recommend this book to all.



3. A must. Extremely readable. Should be required reading for Junior or High School students. Evokes a sense of what it felt like to be Japanese during that infamous time.



4. My family was also sent to internment camps, actually some of the same ones as this author. We came from the same beloved Vashon. Being a child of a parental figure who came from that era and having had aunts and uncles, grandparents and great grandparents who had lived that experience but never spoken of it, this book has opened my eyes and helped me understand the severity of it all. I can understand now the turmoil emotionally and physically that they under went. I cried with this author. For even today, in this wide spread nation, I can still see the ripples of underlying current made from this time period and the choices made by our leaders. This is a wonderful book. You'll learn something, and if you don't, you should ask yourself some hard questions.



5. Even if one is aware of the internment of the American Japanese, I doubt that most people can form any real idea of what it was like without reading a personal chronicle like this. It is difficult to express how painful it is to read, and I already knew the basic story. Sure, now we know that it didn't turn into a second Holocaust, but the people in the camps didn't have that comforting foreknowledge. One needs to be reminded that although the intense portions of a tragedy may be long over with, the ramifications for the people who suffered through it can last all their lives, even for those who didn't lose everything that they had owned before the catastrophe.
   
   Jeanne Wakatusi Houston also wrote a classic memoir: Farewell to Manzanar: A True Story of Japanese American Experience During and After the World War II Internment, and it is well worth reading both of the books for the similarities and differences between the two experiences. Houston was perhaps 8 or 10 years younger than Mary Matsuda, and her family dynamics were quite different, so they really complement one another. Being older, Mary Matsuda had to confront personally and directly issues that Jeanne Wakatusi Houston didn't, although of course her family members did. JWH tells us more about her life after the camps; MMG ends her books in 1945, with only an afterword summarizing the later lives of the Matsudas.
   
   I found the book very vivid. I could easily imagine how I would feel having to destroy so much family history, even being afraid to keep a set of dolls lest it add fuel to the anti-Japanese fervor. And I feel that I have some inkling of what it was like to live for years under constant strain, not knowing what would come next, or if it would ever end. I was close to crying at points, which is unusual for me. The Matsudas lived on Vashon Island in the Puget Sound, which should make the book all the more interesting to fans of Guterson's Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel.
   
   The book includes a bibliography, a glossary and numerous black-and-white photographs of the Matsudas and the camps.

5 comments about Black Ice.

1. This book is interesting, and the author actually spoke at my school (Temple University) which was awesome. She goes into detail within the book and leaves you guessing.



2. This book is horrible. The writing is badly done, and it is so drawn out and boring. It felt like one hour to read one chapter it was so bad.



3. 
   This review is for the students. The title of the book is Black Ice and the author of the book is Lorene Cary. To me I say this book was very interesting. The reason why was interesting, because it talked about how blacks and whites used to be segregated. They were both segregated and both races were treated differently. For example, the whites had better facilities then the blacks. That is why I thought the novel was interesting, but others who might have read this book over the summer maybe they did not think this book was as interesting. Therefore, I say this book is not made for everyone to read the masterpiece, just because one person may like the book does not mean that everyone likes the story. If someone who has not yet read the novel but would like to it would be better if they asked someone who has already read the book if the text would be a good novel for them to read or not to read. The student who has not yet read the publication would need to know what the text is about so they can determine if they would like to read the novel or not read it.
   The students who may like to read about how people different races are treated differently. They might like to read this novel to learn more about all of their backgrounds.



4. Dear peer,
   The first thing that you need to know about Black Ice is the author which is Lorene Gary. I liked this book because I learned that you can make mistakes of doing drugs, but you can quit just in time to have a better future.
   This book is about a girl named Libby; she went to a boarding school at St. Paul's High
   School. She once went to a forest to smoke weed and pot with a group of friends. Also in this text Libby was forced to have relationship with this boy. He gave Libby a necklace of engagement, because he really liked her a lot. But Libby did not like him, so she threw the necklace away and Libby's mom picked it up and she wore it on her neck.
   This story is short in length, but difficult to read. It was difficult because, a lot of event happens in every chapter and you have to read it carefully so that you could know what is happening.
   My opinion about this text is that it is very interesting and it kept me entertained while I was reading the story. That is my opinion and the reason I think this book is very interesting because, I like reading Auto-Biographies. I really enjoyed reading this publication about Libby life.
   Thank you peer for taking your time and reading this essay. I hope you make your decision and read this book. So that you could know everything that happens in this master pieace.



5. The author of Black Ice is Lorene Cary. This book is mostly about racism, and a young girl named Lorene being highly educated] and working with whites in a restaurant. I think anybody older than twelve and up will enjoy this text; Black Ice was mostly talking about Lorene's childhood.
   This book was quiet interesting. In order to see if a book is going to be good, read the reference page. If its interesting then read the first page. If you not, ask for assistance.
   This novel will be a good book for fifth graders. It will help them know more about the past between blacks, and whites. It will help increase your vocabulary, and give you more history out of the story. By a chance, you will probably enjoy reading Lorene Cary's autobiography of her childhood life.

5 comments about The Heart of a Woman (Oprah's Book Club).

1. Maya has such an impeccable method of penning and conveying her prose!! This was a wonderful installment in her biographical sequence(s). I recommend this book to ALL (those mature and aged enough to handle the sometimes-explicit subject matter) because it brings so many pieces of American history together in such a uniquely stated manner!



2. i was so excited to get this book. it arrived fast and was in good condition. thank you



3. Another slice of Maya Angleou's memoir, The Heart of a Woman, brings you through her hardships of raising her son Guy in California and continues during her move to New York City, her stint in the Harlem Writers guild, her intimate involvement in the Civil Rights movement, her marriage to South African Freedom Fighter, Vusumzi Make and subsequent move to Egypt, Ghana and ultimate divorce. A book that will speak to men and women on all levels, The Heart of a Woman is truly a phenomenal read.



4. I have just finished The Heart of a Woman and I could not put it down once I started it. Angelou lays bare for all of her readers her heart, her life and her truth. What an amazing life she has lived. I read some reviews that criticized her for her honesty in regards to whites during the 60s. It was the 60s, racial barriers where still up strong and bared anyone of color from living the lives they so richly deserved, why should she be criticized for this? Would it be better that she lied and said how wonderful life was for blacks in this country during that time? It wasn't and that is the point that she is making in this book. That is the point that she is making as an African American woman, called to the forefront in the battle of discrimination.
   I had to look on the cover to see when she wrote this book, it was 1981, how sad that in 26yrs we still see white America carrying the flag of superiority! I am truly glad that Angelou is still walking this earth to see that though the gains for civil rights are slow coming they are coming,regardless of what her criticizers are saying. Because if they are criticizing her for telling it like it was, then there is still a long path to journey to get us beyond the need for civil rights.
   If you want to know what the 60's Civil Rights movement & Aparthied in South Africa was about this book will give you an accurate picture of one womans involvement. Two thumbs up for Angelou!



5. The heart of a woman was not an easy read for me, i just couldn't get into it, it did not grab my attention.

5 comments about Black, White & Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self.

1. Dirty Sally
   I was introduced to Black White and Jewish by purchasing another book on Amazon.com, The secret daughter by June Cross which by the way was very good! Black White and Jewish was relatable to me. I wasn't too pleased with the way some of readers reviewed this book, but I think it's because they haven't walked in her shoes. It seems that Ms. Walker had a difficult time committing to either side, which is understandable. How does one decide which race to empower and which one to detach? Having a dual identity and not being able to choose creates categories that functions not only to perpetuate racism by maintaining racial purity and separatism but in so doing it also functions to deny living space to those of mixed race. Mixed people do not have the right to identify themselves publicly as such and shouldn't be discouraged from doing so.
   
   While the author, Ms. Walker, can totally understand what it means for mixed people to straddle the fence of a dual identity, she defines herself as "soul" instead of a symbol. Societal pressures create and enforce racial identity issues. It is far easier to diminish and dismiss the complexity and variety that individual experience that is why we need more memoirs and autobiographies about this complex, yet sensitive issue. I can definitely relate to this issue. I am a first generation multiracial person myself. My mother is German and my father is African American and Native American. I am what you call "racially ambiguous", so often time's people assume I am everything but my unique make-up. Almost every day of my life, some one asks, "What are you?" or "Where are you from". I get so tired of justifying my ethnic legitimacy. Its 2008 and we still get boxed into these categories. I have dated men that felt it was just easier to say to their families that I am Boriqua, because it makes them look like they are dating an "acceptable" minority. I've been told to follow the script because dating a chick who is half white makes them a sellout, so just follow along. I am an author myself, but I basically write about biracial children and their life experiences. I channel my experiences through my writing. Eventually I will publish my memoir, but it still needs a lot of work. If anyone is interested in my book its entitled; Dirty Sally..The untold stories of mixed race kids who find a new identity, love, faith and forgiveness through GOD.
   There is an interesting story behind the title. I was often taunted or teased about being biracial. Some of my family members and friends called me Dirty Sally. Dirty Sally is an old slavery term used to identify the descendants or offspring of Sally Hemings, a former slave and the late President Thomas Jefferson. Sally Hemings was biracial her mother was ½ white and ½ black and her father white. This book focuses on the misconceptions surrounding racial identity and the importance of choosing one's racial identity. Dirty Sally is a must read not only for inter-racial families, but for all parents hoping to instill in their children a sense of understanding and compassion. I believe that change requires resistance and within that process we can help heal some of the wounds that continue to inflict on racially mixed children. Purchase available on Amazon.com the ISBN# is 9781432707743
   For more information or to contact the author, Myrtice J. Edwards visit www.outskirtspress.com/39446A



2. If this had been entitled "Black while denying the White, Jewish side of me," then I'd understand it better. I think "Jewish" was thrown into the title for controversy, not because Rebecca ever explored or seemed to show interest in what being Jewish means. She seemed to cursorily dismiss anything white and Jewish as Jappy, elitist and boring. I don't remember anything positive she said about living with her dad or living in paler communities. I also don't remember ever reading anything she said negative about the darker communities she lived in. The communities in which she participated in oral sex in 6th grade, or where she took drugs with abandon. The communities in which she had an (almost unexplored) abortion at the age of 14. The fact that at the end of the book she chronicles getting rid of her father's last name -- and really choosing one of her identities instead of embracing her whole self -- really stood as a contrast to the title of the book and what I thought she might be exploring. She isn't really Black, White and Jewish, because she tossed the White and the Jewish a long time ago.



3. I bought this book expecting some insight into what it is to be black, white, and Jewish. Though Ms. Walker's memoir is well written and a quick read, it becomes apparent that her problems stem in majority not from being black, white, and jewish, but from being the child of two divorced parents who do not seem to be particularly good or interested parents. Ms. Walker acts out from a very young age to parents who appear to be disinterested both in her behavior, but also in her education. It appears that Ms. Walker's largest problem is having two parents who expect her to raise herself, rather than being seemingly responsible parents. Then that problem is complicated by being black, white, and Jewish. But, it leaves very uncertain what it would be like to be black, white, and Jewish with two parents who apparently were interested and were good, involved parents with a better custody sharing scheme than passing Ms. Walker back and forth every 2 years.



4. I discovered how much I like Rebecca Walker's writing, voice and style after reading a forward she wrote for an anthology of mixed race writings. Then I heard her speak and I read "Black, White and Jewish" the next day. I didn't want to put the book down and I was sorry when her memoir ended because I wanted to keep on reading.
   And no, at that point it had not yet occurred to me that she was Alice Walker's daughter. Besides, that would not have made any difference to me anyway. Both Alice and Rebecca are excellent authors, but the fact that they are related is not important to me. What matters is that Rebecca has written an excellent memoir.
   
   Thank you Rebecca.



5. What caught my eye at first was her last name...Walker. So I said to myself she must have inherited her Mom's way of putting into words her thoughts. Once I started to read the story, I could not put it down. The pain was felt through each chapter, each change of home every two years. What a way to grow up. But grow up she did into a very complex woman who can share her childhood with others who may also have the identity crisis of having not only parents from different racial backgrounds, but also of having the constant shift of "home". The book helped me understand what my daughters have gone through with their Mom being white, their Dad being African American and a military family with the moving every couple of years. Once I was done, I gave the book to my now 24 year old daughter, a mother now of half Honduran and the rest of her children. Thanks for opening her up to others being out there who may share her pain and to open our conversation up more than it already was.