3 comments about A Place for Us: A Greek Immigrant Boy's Odyssey to a New Country and an Unknown Father.

1. I could not put this book down. I read the story of Eleni several years ago and wanted to know what happened to the family and thie story continues with this book. Nicholas Gage's mother would certainly be proud of her family and the sacrifice she made. A fantastic book, highly recommended



2. Gage writes his and his family's story with a wonderful combination of pathos and humour--an incredible perspective and a worthwhile read.



3. This is as an extraordinary book by one of our country's most important contemporary writers. Highly recommended!

5 comments about La Travesia de Enrique.

1. I recommend Ms. Nazario's book both as a balanced analysis of the problems associated with illegal immigration to the U.S. and as a very approachable read for students of the Spanish language. I can't comment on the quality of the translation since I haven't read the English-language original. However, the Spanish is straight-forward, and the narrative is almost entirely in the present tense. I felt that the book helped expand my Spanish vocabulary, and I would think that it would make a relevant and very useful text for teachers of intermediate Spanish in the U.S.
   
   Ms. Nazario attempts to humanize the illegal immigrants that we hear about every day in the news. She focuses on immigrants from Central America whose journey to the U.S. is often a harrowing one. She describes that journey in great detail. More interesting still (to me) was her account of the family problems and conflicts that arise when a mother leaves her children in search of better pay abroad. While the mother believes that the money she sends home will improve the lives of the children she left behind, the children themselves often feel abandoned, unloved, and resentful. I had expected that Ms. Nazario would exploit the emotions aroused in the reader -- our sympathy for the hardships experienced by these immigrants -- and argue that their suffering entitles them to residence in the U.S. (despite their illegal entry.) To my surprise, she concludes that illegal immigration serves neither their interests in all cases nor those of U.S. workers (particularly the unskilled) and U.S. taxpayers. A realistic analysis. She recommends that the U.S. do what it can to help improve economic conditions in the countries from which these immigrants come.
   
   I've put my money where my mouth is and sent copies of this book to my mother and sisters, who all live in areas of the U.S. affected by illegal immigration.



2. This true story is an eye opener to the reality of what imigrants face and risk to set foot in the US. Makes us (those who live legally and are born in US) appreciate the opportunities we have. The vivid accounts of the atrocities these poor people go through makes you wonder where the value of human life lies. I recommend you read it in english, as the translation to spanish was not that great.



3. After reading this book I completely agree with the crowd. La travesia de Enrique is an interesting read especially if you are interested in knowing the details about what children and adults experience in their journey to the USA from Central America in hopes for a better life and future. The author is a journalist and experienced the journey first hand herself, a daring experience that she wanted to endure in order to make writing the book very accurate.
   
   I personally had no knowledge of what these illegals experience in their journey and once they reach the USA more difficulty arises to find jobs due to their status and inability to speak English. I was also glad that Sonia Nazario focused on what happens to the children who are left behind by their parents and the vicious cycle that perpetuates among these families once they reach the USA and in their country of origin.
   
   The book certainly enables me to think differently about the status and rights of illegals in the USA and border control issues.



4. La Travesia de Enrique es unos de los mejores libros que he leido en mi vida. Sonia Nazario habla de una manera tan viva que es como estar mirando una pelicula. La historia en si llega al corazon de cualquier persona y al mismo tiempo nos abre los ojos ante la dificil situacion que afrentan muchisimas familias hoy en dia.



5. Hace poco adquiri este libro y tengo que ser honesta desde que lo empeze a leer no queria parar, me llama tanto la atencion de todo lo que pasan estas personas con tal de conseguir un sueno.
   
   Ojala y este libro lo pudieran leer cada presidente de centroamerica para que se pusieran la mano en la conciencia,pero claro estan demasiado ocupadas en sus campanas politicas.
   
   Se los recomiendo para toda la familia muchos de nosotros nos quejamos por las largas esperas en los aeropuertos o por los tramites de aduana eso no es nada comparado a lo que pasan estas personas.

5 comments about My Bondage and My Freedom (Penguin Classics).

1. THIS BOOK IS POWERFUL, ITS SHOCKING, AND IT IS ASPIRING. THERE IS NOTHING ON CHANNEL 11 THAT BRINGS THE HONEST, INSIGHTFUL, VERY REAL ACCOUNT THAT MR.DOUGLASS DOES IN HIS BOOK. FROM SLAVE TO FREE-MAN, THIS IS TRUELY AN AMERICAN SUCCESS. SKIP THE INTRO, AND JUMP INTO IT.



2. Douglass's second, and lengthier, narrative fills in many of the gaps left in his first autobiography: we learn about his mother, his siblings, and more details about his psychological transformation from brute to man. It's quite insightful, as Douglass is careful to relate each of his personal experiences to the innate evil of the peculiar instituition, for both the slave and the slave holder.



3. Having read a biography of Douglass many years ago, I thought I knew his story. Hearing through his pen was an entirely different matter. What a master of the language and insighful set of observations on human nature.
   
   I am a man of many words, but words fail me in my endorsement of this book. The letter to his former master in the appendix is worth the price of the book by itself.



4. Standing in line at the Lincoln Memorial, a book beckoned to me that I previously hadn't seen before. The face of Frederick Douglas grabbed my attention; a man that I've respected for many years, encountering him mainly through my study of Abraham Lincoln. On the spur of the moment, I snatched up a copy of "My Bondage and My Freedom", and within a few days, my admiration in Frederick Douglass was transformed from interest to awe.

   Frederick Douglass orginially penned his book as a response to people's accusations that someone as articulate and composed as he couldn't possibly be a former slave. With that goal in mind, Douglass wrote his memoirs, in a straight forward, powerful way. In the book, he painfully and honestly documents the path his early life took; the memories of being owned, how slaves coped during these times, and how he managed to pull himself out of it all.

   While Douglass' life in itself is amazing, (as he describes the amazing process he undertook to learn how to read), what amazed me even more are Douglass' discourses that he sprinkles through the book, discussing relevant issues during the time. In one instance, he addresses the concern about why slaves simply didn't run away from their oppressive situations. It's almost as if you can actually hear the people talking to Douglass and he responding to them.

   This book does not only tell the tale of a truly amazing American, but gives us a unique insight to the times. This book should be required reading in every high school in this country.




5. What are your impressions of Frederick Douglass? What would you say about Douglass observation that "conscience cannot stand much violence? Do you think it was possible to be a good slave owner?Why or why not? Why does Douglass view slaveholders as well as slaves as victims of slavery? Why is education incompatible with slavery? Why do you think the white children's attitude toward slavery is different from that of their parents? How would you describe Douglass attitude towards Mrs. Auld?

5 comments about Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim.

1. Although its not the most memorable of Ice's releases. I mean how could you ever top the rawness of PIMP or the drama of Mama's Black Widow, but if you really read this book you will see the sad and vulnerable side of this 'strong' man. I enjoyed the book, the most touching parts of the book were the letter to his Papa, his rap of the pimp game, and the one that stuck with me the most was the story of his goddess. I had to take a break after reading that one. I felt his pain every brutha has had their heart broken. Powerful stuff!! Also Ice explores the relationship with black males and white women and white males and black women. Ice says the things we are all afraid to say. He definitely invites you into his world and it will forever remain etched in your mind.Great novel. I'm only 16, but after 30+ years I can still relate to this late brutha he was a pure ghetto genius only person that ever came as close to him in ghetto story telling was Tupac.



2. i love this novel,slim gets, real in this very personal,who said slim cries too much, the man was just remeniscing over events of his life, especially the life of a black man trapped in the darkworlds of the underworld, berg describes the hell every black man must go through,in his excistence-pure hell, he describes what a pimp must do to stay ahead of the game, i liked how he told that young dude the real deal about pimping, and that he has tremendous odds against him, yes kiddies not anyone can be a pimp, do not let bet,or mtv, fool you learn the real deal before you get shot-like iceberg warned that particular fellow,who learned that a good whore is always in demand as some italian quickly scooped his girl, then the letter slim wrote to his daddy was deep, then we learned about melvin x, the black panthers, who slim called heroes,there's holly one of berg's old associates who became famous and forgot whewre her roots were, what really got me interested was the uncle tom issue, and how whites create this type of character in america he said the word hope is used to control the blacks of america, then i liked the way berg wrote of why white women date black men, we all heard about those old black penis myth-but this is bryond that, and how black women really deal with white johns in the street, who love critizing, and trying to outlaw prostitution, drugs but are the biggest freaks in america i will not say the names of those who puff and not inhale, or claim that they are somebody,but this is reality, the truest black book ever made besides the nigger bible, definetly a must have, then i like the weay berg adressed that young writer, about what kind of writer he wants to be, and even that berg writes he still catches hell.



3. I am a Iceberg fan, but I just didn't like this book. It didn't catch me. I have began reading it on several occasions, but never seem to finish. I am sure that other Beck fans will enjoy this novel.



4. In "The Naked Soul Of Iceberg Slim" Robert Beck (street-named Iceberg Slim) tells stories from his life. Mr. Beck describes his anger and resentment at white society's treatment of black people. He describes his dealings with the Black Panther Party and his admiration for the young Black Panthers.

   Mr. Beck dedicated this book to a number of black luminaries including Malcolm X. Mr. Beck also mentions Malcolm X. I compared this book to "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (co-author). Mr. Beck discusses white society's racism and writes about revolutionary solutions to racism. Early in his life Malcolm X also sought revolutionary solutions to racism. After his visit to Islamic North Africa, however, Malcolm X proposed a different solution: a strong, black-owned and black-operated economy coexisting peacefully with the rest of society. Mr. Beck does not discuss Malcolm X's later-proposed solution.

   This is an interesting book. It is clearly-written, and Mr. Beck has led an interesting life.




5. This book is a warmer side to the pimp saga. The iceberg is melted away and the heart of Robert Beck is revealed. This book in some ways is stronger than his first book "Pimp" but falls short in other areas. I recommend first "Pimp" then "The Naked Soul of Iceberg Slim".

5 comments about Payton.

1. My son very good at sports BMX,Soccer,Football He started playing Football 5 yrs ago pop warner He follows NCCA,NFL I told him about Walter Payton & how his stile of running was simular to yours. I bought the BOOK/DVD if he would watch it at the begging of the football this year. He didnt take his eyes off the T.V . He ended the year leading scorer & played in the div. champ. game & All- Stars. My opinion on Walter Payton Great Book, Great DVD, The Best Running Back.



2. Payton
   EXCELLENT, a must have for all Walter fans. The book is very well written and I just loved it. He was an awesome man and a devoted father and husband. Well done Connie and family!



3. Great book and DVD. Highly recommended for Bears fans across the nation but most importantly, to any sports fanatic period! Walter Payton was and is the greatest sports player who ever lived! You will be inspired to do your best and never give up at whatever you do in life! A great unselfish man who did so much for others; inspiration for the world!
   Walter Payton: A True and Genuine Role Model (34)



4. This book/dvd is a must own for any Walter Payton fan. The 1 hour dvd brings back alot of memories watching Walter bust through defenses. The book is well written and gives some insight into his background as well as his character. I paid $15 less at Amazon than what this package was going for on E-Bay. The best part is that my son got to watch the dvd and see what hard work is all about and where it can get you. He could'nt believe the way Payton could "fly" in to the end zone.



5. I actually knew Walter Payton. He was my neighbor. This book is a great tribute to him, without any doubt!! He WAS as classy as you may think, too. Still hard to believe he's gone.
   
   If you are a true fan, then this book is a MUST own for your home.

5 comments about House Calls and Hitching Posts.

1. This is an excellent book. I have recommended it to one of my colleagues who is a recognized authority on the history of medicine. Dr. Lehman comes across as a realist and a caring professional. His practice is/was heavy on births and traumatic farm injuries. While there are many examples of these in the text, they never become tedious.
   
   The book also gives a warm glimpse into the lives of the Amish people and their lifestyle and beliefs. One enlightening incident involved an elderly farm woman who had sustained a stroke at home in bed. Her husband sent for the doctor. Dr. Lehman recognized that the woman had little time left. The husband asks, "Is there anything the hospital could do for her that we can't do here?" The answer came back, "Essentially 'No." The woman passed away a few hours later in familiar surroundings, in her own bed, with her family and friends at her bedside. All of us readers can only hope for so peaceful an ending ourselves.



2. I've always been interested in the Amish People and this book is good learning for anyone who is interested in the Amish. I've read this book 2 times already and I hope there will be a sequel.



3. If you are interested in Amish culture, this is a great book to read to get a snapshot of what types of challenges, ethical and medical, on a typical Amish farm. The writing style is easy to follow and very descriptive. The Amish people have such a strong faith and are very family oriented which is a refreshing change to read. If you are a nurse or a physician, you would really appreciate the ingenuity that is needed when dealing with blunt force trauma from a farming accident or just the challenge of getting to someone's rural home in 6 feet of snow.



4. This was a wonderful book . Once I started reading it I could not put it down. It is amazing to realize that there are still Dr.'s out in the world that care so much for their patients.



5. If you enjoy reading and learning about the Amish, you will enjoy this book.

4 comments about The Art Forgers Handbook.

1. Be warned, this book contains a lot of recipes for art materials - so if you are reading just for the anecdotes you might be a bit lost in some of the process descriptions. However, Eric has done a wonderful job of weaving wit and humor into the text; it is never dry or technical. A painter looking for recipes to create decorative fakes will find this book useful, altho I think it is far too vague to provide any information to the serious forger. It excells in the anecdotes about Erics own forgeries, the art establishment, and the nature of collectors. I found myself laughing out loud at many points - a rare accomplishment for a book.



2. Interesting to read and covers a wide area of the forgers requirements, however its like swimming.
   
   You can read about it all day long but unless you do it the books pretty much useless.



3. The art forgers handbook is an intriguing confession. While having reference worthy material I would advise against
   believing the book is the bible on the subject. Forgery involves a talent for broad and bizarre logic that involves not
   only the crafting but also a mental empathy inside the universal mind of the collector, the dealer, and the expert.

   As far as I'm concerned there are more valuable resources how ever there can be no complete source that one book
   could provide and Hebborns books makes a decent edition. The real success in a forgers ability would be in there
   logic and this is something that Hebborn can't teach. Hebborn never the less seems to be a master and his
   confessions add light on how one might tackle the subject.

   I do hold the book in high regards but in fact I have learned very little from it. A study in the history of artist
   materials and techniques, conservation, authentication, and a study of how these have been flawed, artistic
   competence in craft, creative logic, and ones own trial and error will be the only all inclusive bible into successful
   forgeries.

   The book has a catchy title, is informative and intriguing just don't be misled that the book will give you the ability
   to turn Degas and Rembrants. In my opinion there is only an illusion when it comes to success in forgery. The real
   success of the book is a demonstration that history is flawed and art; mystical and intriguing art is indeed a
   commodity illusion and nobody in the field is safe if fakes are indeed fakes in what ever context a fake is regarded
   in. If you are interested in the subject read the book it may after all have cost the artist his own life. Oh yeah, look for
   my own book in two-three years!

   Good luck




4. Hebborn certainlly knew his stuff and succeeded in selling many of his "creations" through dealers such as London's Colnagi. If you are interested in the nuts and bolts of forging old masters, this will certainly get you started. Other good, though more technical, books to look at are Gettens and Stout (and don't overlook the bibliography) and the immortal Max Doerner. There are some errors in the book, e.g., bistre and orpiment are easily found, if you know where to look. Still, Hebborn writes with rare wit and, quite often, with more humor than you will find in most deliberately humorous books. Well, are ya gonna do it? Assuming, of course, you have the skill.... That's up to you and if this book has a weak spot, it is in its cloying self-justification for doing this.

4 comments about Nobody Knows My Name.

1. Bearing the subtitle "More Notes of a Native Son," "Nobody Knows My Name" is a follow-up to Baldwin's earlier, more famous book. Originally published in national magazines between 1954 and 1961, these essays are more mature, if less biting, than his first collection--and they are certainly just as witty. With one notable exception, they are timeless and trenchant commentaries on racial and cultural issues.
   
   The first group of eight essays focuses on the political and social divides in the United States. The opening article reiterates the discovery he made in "Notes of a Native Son": that by living in Europe he paradoxically discovered what it means to be an American. Others examine the despicable inhumanity of a Harlem public housing project ("cheerless as a prison"), the success of the student movement and the rise of Muslim power in black politics ("a very small echo of the black discontent now abroad in the world"), and the first efforts to integrate Southern public schools ("the entire nation has spent a hundred years avoiding the question of the place of the black man in it"). The two most memorable essays detail the daily bravery, trauma, and humiliations of a schoolboy who is the first black in an all-white school and respond to Faulkner's despicable remarks on race (which were made when Faulkner was seemingly drunk and which were later repudiated when he was atypically sober).
   
   The only disappointing essay is "Princes and Power," an account of Le Congres des Ecrivains et Artistes Noirs (Conference of Negro-African Writers and Artists). The internal disputes and lofty goals of this gathering--convened to consider "the history of Euro-African relations" and the postcolonial "cultural inventory"--did not lack for interest, and Baldwin ably relates the tensions between and cross-purposes of American blacks and Africans. But, overall, he seems to be just phoning it in, muffling the obvious passions of the conference participants and highlighting instead the abstract academic tone.
   
   The second and final group of five essays highlight cultural subjects. He follows a speech detailing the outline for an imaginary novel with biographical appraisals of Andre Gide, Ingmar Bergman, Richard Wright, and Normal Mailer. His eulogy for Wright, initially composed and published in three disparate parts, simultaneously expresses regret for Baldwin's youthful criticism of the older author that resulted in the irreparable destruction of their friendship and recounts Wright's sad social decline: "he had managed to estrange himself from almost all of the younger American Negro writers in Paris ... [who] had discovered that Richard did not really know much about the present dimensions and complexity of the Negro problem here, and, profoundly, did not want to know."
   
   But the gem of the collection is "The Black Boy Looks at the White Boy," Wright's tongue-in-cheek account of his friendship with Normal Mailer, written both as not-so-subtle payback for Mailer's criticism of Baldwin in the self-indulgent "Advertisements for Myself" and as a tribute to Mailer's talent and "responsibility" as an artist. After sending off a number of barbed (yet good-natured) repartees, Baldwin acknowledges not only Mailer's importance as a "very good friend" but also his worth as a writer. Baldwin's assessment of that career serves at as fitting coda to Baldwin's own essays: "His work, after all, is all that will be left when the newspapers are yellowed, all the gossip columnists silenced, and all the cocktail parties over, and when Norman and you and I are dead."



2. For my humanities class I was instructed to read an autobiography of my choice. Through shuffling through the library for an autobiography that I can actually read and appreciate I stumbled across this great James Baldwin title. Nobody Knows My Name is a collection of his writing while he was self exiled in Europe. I opened the book with excitment and urgency. As the words regestired in my head I began to realize that the experiences he described articulated exactly how I feel as a black man in American society.
   Each essay discussing another aspect of society or the life of a black man in the world I grasped with utter enthusasim. His observations and theories were articulate critical and insightful. James Baldwin's tales of another continent are intising and informative of where our society was and how it is still the same in many ways.
   If you are interested in Baldwin's previous writings or African American authors and perspective I know you will enjoy this combiation of essays.



3. This collection of essays show James Baldwin as he strives to figure out who he is as a writer, as an American and as a black man. Beginning with his self-imposed exile to Paris in the 1950's, he calls his own identity as both a black man and an American into question. The Conference of Negro-African Writers and Artists which met in 1956 showed him just how different Europeans and Africans viewed cultural identity and hinted at ostracizing the American contingent. And he felt distinctly American in that crowd. Through his essays about returning to Harlem, his criticisms of William Faulkner ("Faulkner and Desegregation"), his review of a work by André Gide, his dealings with author Richard Wright, his friendship with author Norman Mailer ("The Black Boy Looks At the White Boy"), and his interview with Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, Baldwin displays his own feelings at finding his own identity as both man and writer in a world that tries to both accet and to reject him at the same time.

   Powerful essays from one of America's best authors.




4. what i love about baldwin is that he does not have delusions of grandeur about himself - unlike many blacks in the public sphere. this book of essays on society and his personal experiences in the US and abroad is majestic b/c baldwin has a way of writing about complexities of people and societal issues in an introspective yet practical way. although i was impressed with every essay, his essay on richard wright was mindblowing. BUT YOU HAVE TO READ IT FOR YOURSELF! i think it is a great book for black and latin men to read. in doing so many bruhs - if they are honest - will find that they are as similar baldwin as we like to believe are are to malcolm x. either way, you do not go wrong as both were great human beings. in short, i was totally edified by this text. It will easily make my top 10 list - which is very, very, very difficult.

1 comments about Not a Genuine Black Man: My Life as an Outsider.

1. Huck Finn says to the runaway slave, Jim, who had accidently cut himself, "Why Jim, you bleed just like me!"
   
   We still have a way to go. Thank goodness Brian Copeland's endearing story shows the way. I wish I lived next door to him.
   
   And the political timing couldn't be better!

2 comments about Negro with a Hat: The Rise and Fall of Marcus Garvey.

1. Wow! What a wonderful read. I learned so much and Mr. Grant made so many pieces of history fall into place for me. Obviously my education regarding African-American History has been incomplete. Growing up in the sixties with "The Black Power Movement," I now understand where it began and Garvey has not received enough credit or press for his "dream." This book has greatly blessed me. Right on Colin Grant! Thank you.



2. Independent historian and BBC Radio script editor Colin Grant presents Negro with a Hat: The Rise and Fall of Marcus Garvey, an in-depth biography of Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940), who is perhaps best-known for his "Back to Africa" movement that sought to create an independent homeland through Pan-African emigration. Known as the "Black Moses" to his many admirers, and crowned Jamaica's first national hero after his death, Marcus Garvey also made plenty of enemies - he was deemed a enough of a threat by Winston Churchill and J. Edgar Hoover to warrant surveillance, and was scornfully derided as a "negro with a hat" by W.E.B. Du Bois. His talent for promoting his ideas and resurrecting memory of lost African civilization was unsurpassed, and he earned his place in history as one of the founders of black nationalism and a crucial figure of the twentieth century. Negro with a Hat spares no detail yet remains accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and is highly recommended for its thoughtful and balanced presentation of a thoroughly complex individual's life.