5 comments about What Zizi Gave Honeyboy: A True Story About Love, Wisdom, and the Soul of America.

1. In this book, Gerald Celente pays tribute to his remarkable Aunt Zizi. In a series of conversations, the two make important points about our world today and the challenges of living in it. If you've wondered if the "good old days" really are better, read WHAT ZIZI GAVE HONEYBOY, and you'll not only be armed with information, but you'll be ready to do something about it. I buy up remaindered copies of the book and give them to my friends, who share my opinion of it once they've read it. It's a real "find" and a provocative and often very amusing read.



2. OK, that may be a little exagerated, but I couldn't put the book down - and thoughts of "The Prophet" DID cross my mind at times. I only bought it for an easy read - it was that and more. It's a book that I expect to re-read and (selfishly) I won't loan it out - not for a long time. However, at the current price, I might buy extra copies to give away. Unlike one reviewer, I appreciated the author's commentary (and the statistics) using real life examples to illustrate ZiZi's wisdom. ZiZi (and the author) put into simple words what many of us have thought many times while observing present day events and then, the author's commentary and statistics, add new perspectives. I'm not Italian - and this book didn't make me wish to me. Plain & simple - it's a delightful book who's author (and his aunt) just happen to be Americans of Italian descent- and the book wouldn't be the same if they weren't. I'll definitely try out ZiZi's Anise Cookies recipe - maybe today!



3. I liked the book! I had heard the author interviewed on NPR and was so impressed and intrigued by the premise of the book that I decided to order it here.I appreciated the semi autobiographical way in which Celente presented the conversations he had with his aunt. And, not being Italian myself, I found the insights into Italian-American culture of the thirties throuh the present very interesting.Zizi is presented as neither omnisciently wiser than anyone else, nor as a caricature. Her life experiences are presented from the viewpoint of a typical person of her era, living, learning, and doing the best she can throughout her long life. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in sociological history, or just warm conversation with an older, wiser relative.



4. This is a quick read, but a heartwarming one, sure to spark memories in many Italian-Americans about life the way it used to be, in the days when several generations often lived together under one roof, when life was hard but laughter somehow came easy anyway. The photos which accompany the text will touch your heart.
   But this isn't just a trip down memory lane but an examination and critique of modern life, as seen through the eyes of Zizi, a wise and loving Italian aunt. She happens to be author Gerald Celente's aunt and it is clear that she has been a pivotal figure in his life, offering support and comfort as he went through a traumatic divorce, dispensing wisdom and love as needed. In the hours Celente spends with his aunt, talking and enjoying the meals she prepares (some of the recipes are included in the book), he begins to think about life past and life present and takes the reader along for the ride.
   After reading this book, you may find yourself thinking about the pitfalls of modern life and what has been sacrified in the pursuit of progress. You may also think about what the future holds for each of us.



5. This book is a must read for anyone that grew up as an american italian and cares about our future. It reminded me of what we are missing today and what is really important.

5 comments about killing rage: Ending Racism.

1. I picked this up in interest. Then I got to a particular paragraph. She says that she doesn't understand why white people think that black people are eager for revenge and bound to explode in violence. Well, maybe these fears are overexagerated, but then look at the title of your book Ms hooks. I couldn't take her seriously after that. Moreover, I think she uses the language as shock value, because by the end of the book she is saying that she rages for justice, and not for killing. QUite frankly, I think this is a very poor choice of tactics of communication. I think that books like these damage race relations more than anything else. The only enlightenment you can expect out of it is if you read it as a case study in anger. I would not expect any insight on her part.



2. This was my first bell hooks book and, while I wouldn't say I am anywhere near as militant as she is, it gave voice to so many concerns I'd had over the years but didn't have the words or insight to explain. What a magnificent work.



3. This book packs one hell of a wallop. Ms HOOKS first essay titled Killing Rage put my teeth on edge, for I have had a similar experience, only because I can pass for white it didn't happen until my Black father appeared at my side, need I say more? However what is brilliant about this particular book is that it does not lower itself to bash white people and point out their zillion faults, I know there will be some who disagree with me, but reading each essay I got the sense of someone who has an uncute understanding of racism, its roots past and present and why sometimes so many people of colour are defeated by a system of institutional racism that is at times so covert we are accused of lying about it!
   
   Bell HOOKS book pulls no punches, but it is a candid discourse that is well argued, well written but most all incredibly easy to read and understand.
   
   This is a book that if you can't get your hands on a copy, go out and beg, borrow or steal, it is that good and that hard hitting.
   
   You go Ms HOOKS!



4. 
   Very rarely can I sum up a book in two words. On this occasion, I can.
   
   "Racist drivel."
   
   Miss (or is it Ms?) "bell hooks" looks for racism in every situation she can possibly find, and--even though these situations are told through HER point of view--she often comes off as barking mad. Very few of these situations portray racism. It's almost like she's anticipating the slightest of racist actions from a white person, ready to pounce with her ridiculous "Killing Rage." Is THAT not racist?
   
   0/10



5. It wasn't long ago that I despised "racism", which I felt meant oppression, exclusion and generally dislike of peoples with different skin color attributes.
   
   It took me a while to realize that in the world of uber-Politically Correct Leftist activism, "racism" basically translates to "evil white people putting everyone down".
   
   A few days ago one of my Latino college professors referred to me as a "Anglo Saxon". I'm not sure if she knows this, but it is a known fact that Anglo Saxons are actually one ethnic group of caucasians among many, and I myself am Slavic. Can I play the race card too and become a victim? It sure looks fun

5 comments about Jackie Ormes: The First African American Woman Cartoonist.

1. A fascinating history of a little-known female cartoonist. That she enjoyed some success mid-20th century as an African American cartoonist is noteworthy. Well researched biography.



2. The story of Jackie Ormes is unique that she was female cartoonist at
   time when that field was solely male. Secondly Jackie Ormes was an
   African American in a field predominately white. With two strikes
   against her, what does Ms. Ormes do but hit a home run. She was a
   timely and politically correct artist who kept herself and her work
   contemporary and relevant with her African American community at a
   time when they were neglected in the mainstream white papers. Jackie's
   work was artistically well done with dialogue and a story line to keep
   her readership ready to read the next issue.
   
   The research done by the author Nancy Goldstein was thorough and
   the writing keeps the reader's interest focused without losing a beat
   page after page.
   
   I wish that someone would publish her columns in a single volume
   so that today's readers could get a feel for this talented artist
   who needs to be recognized for her consistent and her ground breaking
   work that would allow other female artists to follow in her foot-
   steps. I highly recommend this scholarly book to anyone interested
   in the field of writing, cartoon artwork, and in African American
   history.



3. As graphic novels continue to gain respect in the literary world, there is a corresponding renaissance of interest in cartoonists of the past.
   
   How fitting that a work about Ormes would also manage to be both engaging and educational.
   
   Please read the rest of the review on Indigo Editing's blog:
   http://www.indigoediting.blogspot.com/



4. What a great book! Jackie Ormes not only made history but created and drew some wonderful characters as well.
   
   This is a well thought out book which gives us enough information to keep us interested but not enough to bore us to tears. Good job!
   
   From her birth to the birth of her art, Jackie seemed destined to draw and create. It was fortunate for all of us that she was able to practice her art and creativity in a such a way that overshadowed that fact that she was an African American Woman in a time when it mattered and was held against her.
   
   Now we can read and see some of her triumphs and give praise where it's due.
   
   If you enjoy the history of comics or cartoons, this is a must have book.



5. Nancy Goldstein has struck gold with this biography of Jackie Ormes. Ormes is a Black cartoonist who drew cartoons for Black newspapers during the 1940's and 50's. She also made a foray into early Black doll production.
   Goldstein writes about the tribulations of Ormes and her contemporaries making satire during a time of repression, belittlement, bigotry, and official investigations. Through it all, she shows that Ormes continued to raise the consciousness of African-Americans despite their hardships.
   This book is a must-read for any students of Black history.
   Larry Bush

5 comments about Days of Grace.

1. The biography was absolutely rivteting. It showed the enormous depth of a very special man - a side other than that of a great athlete but also one of a very special leader. His story of living with AIDS reveals all the complexities associated with the disease early in the epidemic, the stigma, the lack of confidentiality, and discrimination. Unfortunately, many of these themes have not gone away since the I read the book. A must read for the entire community as an important reminder of the still unending work that has to be done in this epidemic.
   Pamela Payne Foster, author of "Is there a balm in Black America?"



2. I cannot remember the last time I started reading a book and enjoying it as much as I did, and then half way through the book I could barely continue on. Arthur Ashe did this to me in his autobiography. What happened really, I couldn't say, but I was all praise and looked forward to reading more and more, and then I couldn't wait to be done. Strange indeed.
   
   The book started off great. Ashe gave us some insight into his world and into various aspects of his life that is not well known. He talked about his days as the captain of the American Davis Cup team, which was enlightening and revealing. He tells the intimate details of how, why and what happened when he discovered, as well as was discovered, to have aids. The opening chapter had me gripped to the seat as I was drawn in from the first few words. Amidst all this was Ashe's eloquence and ability to calmly and eloquently tell his story and impart who he was at the same time.
   
   But then it became droll and boring. Ashe started talking about day to day stuff and imparting common conversations, thoughts and actions with too much importance. He would talk about going for a walk, or a talk he had with his daughter. He devoted several chapters to talking about various issues that didn't have anything to do with him but was more of a long winded explanation to help clarify a one sentence thought that he had. For example, he talked for almost a whole chapter about the likelihood of gay and lesbian athletes in various sports. Finally, as much as this seems touching, the letter at the end to his daughter sealed the deal and made this a mostly boring biography to read.
   
   What we didn't see was his struggle with racism and segregation as he grew up in those troubled times of America. He talks a lot about segregation and racism as a retired tennis player, but he hardly goes into any detail about what ordeals he had to go through. This was the stuff that he could have gone into detail about and not only made his writing more interesting but helped raise awareness to what was and to hopefully will no longer be. Additionally, he didn't go into any detail about his own tennis career as a professional.
   
   I wanted to see Ashe as a tennis player as well as his ordeals with the many surgeries he had that resulted in him contracting AIDS. But we don't get that. Instead we oftentimes get paragraph after paragraph of his day to day routine with AIDS. What pills he took, what he considered taking and so on.
   
   What made his biography interesting in the first place was his stance on the black race and how they perceived themselves after slavery, segregation and slavery. He was truly a man beyond his time not only for black relations but for mankind's relationship with one another. For the first half of the book I would most certainly recommend to anyone as this is a very enlightening read. But the second half killed it and made it nothing more than average. Where was the biography part of autoBIOGRAPHY? I didn't find it, but I was still impressed with who Ashe was nonetheless.
   
   3 stars.



3. That tennis great Arthur Ashe died a victim of AIDS on February 6, 1993, is an undeniable tragedy. The fact that while he lived, he did so with consummate integrity, intelligence, and grace, remains his enduring legacy. Written with literary biographer Arnold Rampersad (Langston Hughes, Ralph Ellison) Arthur Ashe's DAYS OF GRACE provides readers with a powerful portrait of an exceptional individual entrenched in the issues and passions of his life and times. Aside from being one of the most dynamic athletes of his or any other generation, his legacy also marks him as one of our greatest humanitarians.
   
   In this invitingly intimate and yet stoically objective memoir, Ashe grapples with the issues of sports, racism, and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) which he contracted while receiving a blood transfusion after his second heart bypass operation in 1983. DAYS OF GRACE reveals different sides to a man many described as "cold" while he lived. The view from within does not support this description. Some very warm snapshots are provided of Ashe as a man who never stopped being an obedient son, as a fervent patriot, lover of art, serious intellectual, mystical seeker, generous philanthropist, devoted husband, and loving father.
   
   Ashe's tendency to gloss over such feats as writing a landmark three-volume history of black athletes, his historic 1970 win at the Australian Tennis Open and 1975 victory at Wimbledon; or his association with people like Nelson Mandela and Jesse Jackson, rings true to an exceptional character whose many parts added up to a truly noble and memorable sum. As tragically as he may have died, DAYS OF GRACE provides an amazing portrait of just how heroically he lived.
   
   by Author-Poet Aberjhani
   author of "The Bridge of Silver Wings"
   and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File Library of American History)



4. An athlete who epitomized grace. He had style, compassion, 3 Grand Slam Titles and a place in the Tennis Hall of Fame. The only African-American ever to win at Wimbledom and the first African-American to win a Grand Slam Title. Arthur won the inaugural US Open in 1968. Arthur's legacy as a social activist is perhaps even more important to this legacy, his steadfast beliefs in doing what was right for those who could not so for themselves, in his standing up to apartheid in South Africa after being denied a visa in 1968 to play in the South African Open because he was black. In 1988 Arthur discovered he was HIV+ after undergoing heart surgery and receiving a blood transfusion. Arthur died of complications from AIDS in Feb of 1993 but not before calling world-wide attention to the sufferers of AIDS and the indignities suffered by them. In this day and age of black athletes more worried about their 'street cred' then being a positive role model this is one of the most memorable autobiographies I've ever read.



5. Arthur Ashe (1943-1993) wrote this book in his final year of life, after his battle against AIDS had been made public by the media against his wishes. This book is a remarkable combination of autobiography, tennis narrative, and philosophical/political statement from the author as he faced death with courage, class, and grace. Ashe describes his upbringing in Richmond Virginia during the latter days of segregation, his career in professional tennis, and his premature heart problems that apparently led to his contracting HIV from a blood transfusion. Ashe also offers insights and opinions on tennis players like John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors, Black-Jewish relations, civil rights, the nation's political culture in the early 1990's, and of course, the tragic disease that was to fell him and so many others.
   
   Ashe demonstrated intelligence, dignity and compassion, and tragically died before the new retro-viral drugs arrived to spare (but not cure) many victims. Ashe was a class act, and his book is a lasting and valuable testament.

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.

5 comments about When Nothing Else Matters: Michael Jordan's Last Comeback.

1. Published in 2004, author Michael Leahy shares his experiences during Michael Jordan's last comeback to the National Basketball Association.
   
   Leahy's potrayal of Jordan showed a different side of the basketball legend which is not normally seen in the eyes of the public. Jordan, the "the most marketed player in the history of the NBA," was finally..."mortal" and did go through the same trials and tribulations (from a heightened perspective) that we all go through at some point in our lives. Leahy accounts the days wherein Jordan was at his best and would score 35 points over the span of several games to the days wherein he wasn't unstoppable and hit his career lows of 8 and 2 points respectively.
   
   What stood out for me was Jordan's lambasting of players who didn't play up to his standards. Leahy quotes Jordan on numerous occasions wherein he would lambast teammates. Coach Fred "Tex" Winter, an assistant with the Los Angeles Lakers and former assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls summed it up best, "you either work hard or Michael has no use for you."
   
   But the one paragraph in Leahy's entire book which rocked my very foundation of emulating Michael Jordan was the following:
   
   "His people had held him up as a man to be emulated, making Jordan more than a half-billion in endorsement dollars in the process...he had raised the bar on his behavior during 17 years of unremitting self-promotion, in campaigns approved by the Jordan camp and coordinated by Nike and other corporate sponsors that elevated him from great athlete to hero and, finally, to moral symbol.
   
   ...when you present yourself as virtuous in years of ad campaigns and TV commercials, you will be fairly held in time to that standard. Fairly held because uou have sold your basketball shoes to people plunking down in excess of $100 not merely for a chance at better Ups but for a way to rub up against your aura, to feel a tiny sense of you in that admittedly silly way people feel when they wish to emulate anybody, to be inspired by your class and elegance, your morality and grace, as they've heard it told. And if some of that was artifice, then so, too, was everything you sold with your likeness on it."
   
   Disturbing but quite true, personally, I have seen myself on many occasions wanting to "be like Mike." I've bought the shoes, worn the clothes, gotten the cards, read the books...and it is only now I realized. What about me? Leahy's book showed me that. In the years that I have been collecting "Jordan" in order to be inspired, all I needed to do in the end was look in the mirror in order to be inspired.
   
   This is a great book that puts any not only Michael Jordan's life in perspective but also that of your own, especially if you are a Jordan fan who has collected his paraphernalia over the years.



2. Michael Leahy obviously likes to tear down icons. In doing so he comes over as petulant and singularly lacking in the understanding of what it takes for a Michael Jordan to be as successful as he was.
   
   All of the NBA elite are tough in an over the top alpha male hyper competitive environment. If they are not, they quickly fall by the way side. Obviously the author failed to grasp this fact.
   
   That Jordan wasn't a crack executive is neither here nor there. His single minded successful quest to be the best player ever, did not leave him much room to observe and learn board room politics.
   
   If Mr. Leahy ecomes half the writer that MJ was as a player he would have world's of success and probably win a Pulitzer, however, he will more likely have a career mirroring a Brad Sellers, just not good in the clutch!



3. Mr. Leahy is a very talented reporter, but his interesting, carefully collected raw material is poisoned by his obvious agenda, which is to make the case that Michael Jordan is a terribly flawed man who never truly deserved the admiration of his fans. By the end of the book, Mr. Leahy's perspective just seems childish. He is forever blaming others for telling part of the truth, but concealing the rest--yet that is precisely what he does throughout the book. Certainly, Jordan had his faults as a teammate and as an employee, but what about the admirable features of his "last comeback"? What other fading sports star tried to turn around a miserable franchise? What other fading sports star remained one of the best players in the world at 39 years old, even though his performance was limited by a serious knee injury? What other sports legend risked spoiling an absolutely PERFECT conclusion to a brilliant career just because he loved the game and wasn't ready to give it up forever? Jordan took on an extraordinary challenge and didn't succeed. That may seem pathetic and selfish to Mr. Leahy, but I don't see why readers should view Jordan's struggles as a Wizard in that way.



4. The Michael Jordan story always seems to be told in extremes. Either he is heralded as an icon so mindlessly that the storytelling appears uninteresting or he is vilified, as previous writers knew the value of tearing down an icon.
   
   When Nothing Else Matters is a portrait of a man that feels honest, Jordan is neither vilified nor overly praised; instead Micheal Leahy has given us a view of a man experiencing his only real failure in his career as a professional basketball player. A failure that is proven by the simple fact the Washington Wizards, with Jordan in a powerful position off, then on the court, never ascended the heights of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Eastern Conference. It is a fascinating look at the world's most famous basketball player, during a time period where he seemed unable to transition his on the court reputation and success, to a career in management.
   
   Jordan, the man, had grown comfortable being an icon and as his skills faded and his team missed the playoffs, Leahy reveals someone whose disconnect from the world around him made him unable to finesse his way to off the court success. Therefore his last games for the Wizards are revealed to have been one last chance to court the spotlight as a prime-time player, as the chances to move forward off the court didn't exist, Leahy lays out these realities, and Jordan's apparent blindness to them, that shows Jordan as a very accomplished yet out-of-the-loop figure who couldn't overcome his last challenge in the N.B.A. It also makes clear what Micheal Jordan was to the Washington Wizards management, a cash infusion.
   
   Leahy's even handed treatment may prevent When Nothing Else Matters from being extreme in its presentation, but it doesn't prevent it from being an extreme success as it stands as a historical document for basketball fans to turn to when looking at a honest portrait of life in the N.B.A.



5. I was hoping that Leahy had recaptured some of the magic that Sam Smith used when he wrote 'The Jordan Rules,' and early on I wasn't disappointed. However, halfway through the book I realized that the magic ran out. It's possible that the magic ran out because Jordan himself ran out of magic when he came back with The Wizards.
   
   This book does a fine job detailing the downward spiral of Jordan's NBA life, but becomes tedious and boring in the latter half. Much like the Wiz stopped selling out their arena during Jordan's comeback as fans lost interest, I started losing interest. The ending of the book chronicling Jordan's 2nd Wizards season is a desultory piece of writing without a strong narrative flow.
   
   Recommended for hoops diehards, but not the casual fan.

5 comments about Biko - Cry Freedom.

1. The book not only features the story told by Donald Woods but has extensive court interviews with Biko showing his true ideas that scared the racist government of South Africa so much that they had him killed.
   
   Excellent book.



2. The number one element stopping Blacks today is the absence of consciousness and the Orisha Biko exudes that. His essays are honest and concise and he gives you a glimpse of what South Africa was like and the resistance by him and a number of other Africans. Blacks have to be leading the league in terms of 'liberation literature' but it doesn't matter because they don't read and when they do it's not material like this. Hence, the situation remains.



3. Despite the dramatic shift in the political climate of South Africa since his death, Biko's words and beliefs are every bit as relevant today. His Black Consciousness movement was as much a political force against apartheid as it was an indictment of self-inflicted notions of inferiority. This book powerfully tells the story of Biko's life, his beliefs and the circumstances of living in banishment in South Africa. In the absence of any physical memorial for Biko, this book is a powerful rememberance to a man who should not be forgotten, and a tribute to an author who bravely brought us Biko's story.



4. Woods wrote this book to show the world how desperate the need for change was in south Africa. There is a vast seperation between the black natives and the whites in south africa, up until recently the country lived under a currupt white goverment which did not allow blacks to live in white towns as anything other then slaves, forcd them into awful getto which had awful living conditions, taught them in school only what they needed to know to serve the whites, and constently terrorised their neighborhoods. Steve Biko stood up peicefully, not demanding radical change, but understanding that he must change what has happened to his people. Black Contiousness was his approch. He wanted the natives of south africa to learn their own history at school and not the whites, he wanted them to have pride in themselves and understand their own humanity. Steve Biko was band and very liking killed for saying this. Blacks who stood up in South Africa always seemed to die in police custodity one way or another. After his death Woods was inspired to write this book, he was band in South Africa and risked his life to escape the country with his book. This is a must read for anyone who is not educated about the hardships of South Africa or Africa as a whole.



5. This is much more than a simple biography of Steve Biko, the leader of the Black Consciousness movement in South Africa and one of the seminal figures in the anti-apartheid movement, it is an insider's look and condemnation of the System. Though Biko died young and apartheid has faded into memories for most people who had the misfortune of living in it, his is an excellent example of the horroific prejudices to which people, even in these enlightened times, can be subjected. This book uses incredible detail and many essential sources to tell a lively, powerful, and important story. I watched Cry Freedom several years ago and was inspired tolearn more about the subject, and I would recommend the same path, because the movie really brings the characters and issues to life. I would caution people who only want to learn the basics about the history of apartheid or Biko, that this is a very indepth and detailed book, that can be difficult to follow if you are not familiar with the subjects, so I might recommend a slightly more elementary book for a first experience.

5 comments about Paper Daughter: A Memoir.

1. I loved this book and found it immensely readable. The writing carried you along without you wanting to stop. I have met many Asian immigrants and read many Asian immigrants books, but this is the most stark and informative in it's revelations of what it can be like for such children and their families encountering a different and sometimes unwelcoming USA culture. I do hope this author continues to write as she is a superb and unforgettable storyteller.



2. Although much of the focus of Elaine Mar's memoir could be written by anyone who experienced childhood teasing, discrimination, loneliness, poverty, low self-esteem; it is important to find the core of her plight, a battle with parents resisting a change into their new country. But even that story can be retold by many.
   
   Two countries in one household.
   Elaine was very young upon arriving from Hong Kong with her mother to join her father. The parents didn't accommodate to the U.S. well. They didn't learn English or customary ways. Her mother was mentally and physically abusive and spoke to her daughter in a degrading manner, and often repeated to the daughter that it was a waste of their time raising her.
   
   I didn't feel what she had to say was any different that what many people experience as children. But then, I understood the conflict being raised as an American, but challenged by Hong Kong parents with their strong ties to that culture and beliefs.
   
   Money vs no money.
   That she could not buy the right clothes to fit in was moreso, poverty vs. money rather than a cultural aspect. And many Americans are forced to work in the family business their entire youth; it is not just a Hong Kong thing.
   
   Unanswered Questions
   I was left with questions unanswered. Her parents worked in a restaurant with relatives, and a feud caused them to leave the home (basement) and the father to be out of work. She never elaborates on what caused this feud that forced them to make changes and how did the feud end, since there was a reunion.
   
   Also, aside from some typographical errors, toward the end, there is a chapter titled "When Father Lived in Wichita", but it has nothing to do with the content. The father lived there before she came to the U.S. Another chapter regarding college life is titled TASPS, but nowhere do we get an explanation what this stands for.
   
   Graphic Detail - the sexual experience.
   We learn of her sexual experience with a white boy from the restaurant, and I do say; we learn this through graphic detail for several pages.....several. A page would have done for me.
   
   Well-written, holding my interest, living in Denver, and, my fascination with a different look at how two cultures collided.
   
   One has to admire her tenacity to get where she did! ......MzRizz



3. Some people who've posted reviews here feel this book is not significant but I think we can all relate to being teased at school and trying to get by as a child. I loved this memoir and recommend it to anyone else who also loves memoirs or autobiographies.



4. I read somewhere that the events in a person's life are only interesting to that person. So true in this case. Yeah, yeah, Asian girl picked on my American classmates. Asian girl must learn proper American table manners. blah blah blah. The flowery, overly-detailed descriptions were lame and contrived. It could have been a good story if it wasn't so full of self-pity and a narcissistic attitude. Poor child, auntie won't hug her. Poor dear, she can't date outside her ethnic background. It seems more like the diary of a confused and angry adolescent. Now, Amy Tan, that's an interesting writer!



5. The book opens with a sensuous description of a Hong Kong child eating chicken bones, crushing them between her teeth to release the clotted marrow within. The author later contrasts this earthy and primal experience with the manner in which Americans eat fried chicken, delicately nibbling away from the bone, oblivious to the rich marrow within. I found this broad metaphor thought-provoking, contrasting the sterility of American suburban life with the riotous, crowded Hong Kong environs where the author lived her earliest years.

   I was very impressed with the sensual detail in the book, the descriptions of textures and scents hinting of mystery, such as the jars of dried mushrooms and spices that her mother stored in the tiny room that was the author's first home.

   The criticism that many reviewers have expressed is that the memoir fails to be reflective. I did not find that to be the case. I prefer to have the author use metaphor and selectiveness of memory to present her view, as she deftly does, than to read pages of exposition detailing why she felt her mother treated her coldly. I believe the author is trusting to the intelligence of the reader to puzzle out the motivations of each character. It would be less than artful to be as obvious as some readers apparently wish.

   That said, I did not always sympathize with the author, especially as she grew into adolescence and became increasingly disrespectful of her parents. However, it took courage for the author to sometimes portray herself in a less than attractive manner. One was left to wonder if her adolescent angst would have been similar if she had never left Hong Kong.

   I felt the memoir's legitimate focus was her childhood and formative years. Some have expressed the wish that the author would have continued, describing her college years in greater detail. I disagree, as that would have moved the story away from the focus on family. Family is used to define the author throughout the memoir; as she seperates from her family, the story ends. Therefore, I found the break logical.

   My one criticism would be that it is slightly facile to believe that a Harvard education somehow has elevated the author beyond her family. The first severing was one of language. Education was secondary. I disliked the implication that the education she strove for somehow delivered her from an intolerable life. The author seemed to be overly impressed with herself for being accepted into Harvard, as if this were the grandest achievement attainable. She also failed to criticize, or if she did, it was too subtle for my tastes, the adolescent mentalities and delusions of genius, which were apparently common amongst the students at the Cornell summer program she attended. Nor could I tell if she felt the psychiatrist who interviewed her for the program was rather pompous and shallow, as I did. My assumption, though, is that the author has chosen to leave this unsaid and that this scene was yet another instance of her trying to fit into one sub-group or another, posing as an intellectual rather than as a typical American teenager.

   The author progresses from dutiful Chinese daughter, to bewildered immigrant, to essential interlocutor for her family, to sullen teenager, to burgeoning "intellectual". I felt that most of these transitions were beautifully described and that the varying experiences and motivations of the different family members contributed greatly to the richness of the story. I was a little off-put by her eventual move to Cambridge and Harvard, because I felt that the author's motivations were more about belonging to an "elite" group and progressing socially than any educational goals. However, my opinion is belied by the elegant and moving memoir that she later wrote, which implies that her maturity has progressed greatly beyond the last stage described in the book, that of a self-centered teenager eager to break from her family.

   Overall, I found this memoir to be very worthwhile reading.

5 comments about The Revolt of the Cockroach People.

1. Re-Saturday Review of Literature
   Oscar Acosta disappeared in Mexico in 1974, not 1971 (the year of his trip to Las Vegas with Dr. Thompson).



2. Re-Saturday Review of Literature
   Oscar Acosta disappeared in Mexico in 1974, not 1971 (the year of his trip to Las Vegas with Dr. Thompson).



3. This is the most realistic book I have ever seen about Mexican American hippies in Aztlan, the Chicanos of the 1960's neo-freedom movements. It will surely become a collector's item worth saving in this era of gung-ho Americanism which does not know the kind of objectivity Acosta displays with regard to how we think and why we believe as we do. Hunter S. Thompson described the author better than I can in his introduction to the book, highlighting his uniqueness while lamenting his untimely passing. I will write more after I give the book a more thorough second reading.



4. I read this book after finding out that Oscar Zeta Acosta was the fat Samoan lawyer from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." Acosta's style is similar, with a lot of drugs and sex with minors. The differences are that Acosta isn't tripping the whole time and he has time to incite political rallies. I love when they protest the Catholic church, or when he pleasures himself with some nubile young high schoolers under a blanket during a sit-in.... For those interested in the turbulent times that was the 60s, this is a must-read.



5. After reading this book, and actually living through those turbulent times of the 60's and 70' s , it was refreshing to read and feel the burning frustration and love that this man was experiencing and the way he expressed his anger against the machine. This type of awareness has been lost , due to us the forefathers of the Chicano Movement, to teach our own and other's children of how important those actions were, so that we may emphasize education, political power and family values. We have implemented a course in Chicano Studies in schools, we now have political representation in our governments, and many more success stories that are due to the work of such people as Cesar Chavez, Ruben Salazar and Corky Gonzales. Oscar Zeta was a man amongst his own that was afraid of nothing and no one.My thanks to him for fighting the powers that be and for creating an example for all of us, regardless of race. You have to stand up for what you believe and Acosta is atrue testament to that.

5 comments about This Voice in My Heart: A Genocide Survivor's Story of Escape, Faith, and Forgiveness.

1. An excellent book. Not only does it give the story of Gilbert's experience, but a wonderful insight to the culture and educational system of the country. Many of our teachers and students have enjoyed the book. I made a second purchase to donate to the school library.
   It is also a beautiful inspirational read.



2. It is too easy to think the world is right. We may see or hear things on TV and get along with our day and our activities. Here is a real story of survival that was born out of an ordinary day in the life of a privileged young man, and how everything changed in his life from that moment on. How he found guidance through the Voice in his Heart that he has now learned to trust and follow in all decisions.



3. I truly enjoyed this book.
   It meant a lot to me because I was able to see Gilbert speak at the Oklahoma City Marathon.
   He is an inspiration!



4. Pause a bit in your busy life and read this amazing book. The writing style is unique. The message of hope is clear. Genocide on a large scale is a subject we don't understand here in America. Gilbert's story will enlighten you, force you to count your blessings, and make you ponder.
   
   The story of early explorations of Africa by David Livingstone is a helpful introduction to this continent. Gilbert's description of his country is very modern - his ordeal began only fourteen years ago. It provides a whole new way of thinking about how Africans lived and now live.
   
   I am grateful to my friend in Pa. who shared a copy (signed by Gilbert) of the book with me. It's an unforgettable story about a place in Africa (Burundi) I had never heard of; about running competitions and how qualified runners in developing countries can acquire training, and about a terrible tragedy. Gilbert, a gifted runner, being the lone survivor to give the account.Gilbert details his life, his education, his experience in international running competitions, and his present life in Austin, Texas.
   
   Best wishes, Gilbert, for success in the 2008 Olympics. May your story reach every nation. May genocide in Africa and everywhere else in our world be banned. May God continue to bless you and your efforts to build of bridge of understanding and love between nations.



5. This Voice in My Heart by Gilbert Tuhabonye (Amistad--May 2006) is a heart wrenching account of what one young man, Mr. Tuhabonye, who, at the time, went by his birth name of Tuhabonyemana--Child of God--went through at a time of extreme political upheaval in his homeland of Burundi. This book is a must-read for those interested in history as well as those who want to know more about what can drive a young man to overcome and not only survive, but make a name for himself.
   
   Early on in his story, Mr. Tuhabonye writes, "If you were to read the history of Burundi in a schoolbook, it would tell a story very different from the story of my early years. You would read words like war-torn, genocide, impoverished and sanctions. Despite all the violence and unrest that has plagued the country since it first achieved independence in 1962, for me, growing up on its southern hillsides and deep valleys, Burundi was truly a paradise." I imagine this was placed where it was to set the contrast in motion in the reader's mind--that what we get on the news--especially the Western News--is not necessarily what people are experiencing, however it had a different effect to me. Burundi, whether painted in a positive or negative light, hadn't made much of an impact on me. I don't recall spending more than a few moments glossing over the country in history and geography classes so this insider's look told me more than I could ever have expected to know. And though he wrote it as an adult, we got the point of view of a young child peering out at the world from the safety of his campus and trying to make sense of a world gone seemingly mad. An idea that most people born and raised in the relative safety of the USA cannot even begin to imagine.
   
   The author also focuses on the little things, which serve as a reminder that material things are not necessary in order to remember times in our lives. If you fix something that's broken there's a chance that you'll lose the story of why it was broken in the first place. And what's more important? The story of the homeland to pass on to future generations or a perfect smile? A smile can always be addressed but a story once gone is lost forever. Mr. Tuhabonye's work with this story is key to making sure the story of the Burundi genocide is not lost. A reminder to the West that we must remember if we're going to avoid repeating history.
   
   The story's pace kept the reader engaged in the story--we learned some details of the country's history while at the same time learned the small details of the life of a normal teenage boy--a life seriously interrupted by a snowballing series of events in October 1993.
   
   From his recollections of his early days, how he longed to follow his older siblings in both their chores and going to school to the day when his life changed in seemingly an instant, Mr. Tuhabonye covered it all with a voice that seemed more as if he was talking to a few friends rather than such a large audience. It all started on a normal day: a young boy worrying about exams and thinking about a race--never realizing the next race he'd be facing was one to save his own life--to prove he was a true survivor.
   
   I cannot imagine what it must have been like to be in a room where your classmates and teachers were dying around me. Dying at the hands of people I'd lived along side of. I cannot imagine having the foresight to use a classmate's bone to free myself, but Mr. Tuhabonye showed us that he has what is needed to succeed.
   
   That drive will take him far, whether it's to Beijing in 2008 or to the next location where he speaks of the atrocities he faced, but it will help him to succeed in whatever path he pursues. He's already shown what he's made of.