5 comments about Las cenizas de Ángela.

1. Este es definitivamente uno de los mejores libros que he leido. Indiscutiblemente, te hace ver la vida de una manera distinta. La narrativa es simplemente unica. Te envuelve de una manera en la que no puedes dejar de leerlo y te hace sentir parte de la historia, parte de la vida de Frank McCourt



2. Este es uno de esos libros que te hacen cambiar las expreciones en tu rostro mientras los lees, pueder reir, llorar, mostrar asombro o asco mientras pasas un par de paginas. Exelente narrativa, impresionante la manera como el autor describe cada detalle de la de las situasiones que atraviesa y de sus pensamientos mientras estas situaciones ocurren.
   
   Una vez que comienzas a leerlo ya no puedes parar y te quieres llevar el libro a todas partes, para saber que le depara a Franky en el proximo capitulo.



3. Soy aficionada a la lectura, y en especial las autobiografias y memorias me atraen, Frank McCourt definitivamente es el mejor, sus letras son reveladoras, dramaticamente expresadas, y un vocabulario sencillo y real del vivir cotidiano, su libro Cenizas de Angela es una historia que llega al corazon.



4. HABRIA MUCHAS FORMAS DE DESCRIBIR LA HISTORIA, MAS TAL VEZ SERIA SUFICIENTE DESCRIBIRLA COMO LA HISTORIA DEL SER HUMANO QUE POSEE CALIDAD Y BRILLANTEZ. VALORES QUE EN ESTE SIGLO SON OLVIDADOS POR LOS INSUFRIBLES VALORES MATERIALES.

   DE LECTURA FLUIDA, SIN GRANDES PRETENSIONES ESTRUCTURALES MAS CON UNA SENSIBILIDAD DIGNA DE SER VIVIDA, ESTE ES UN LIBRO QUE NOS RECUERDA QUE EL SER HUMANO, ADEMAS Y ENTRE OTRAS COSAS NUNCA DEBERA OLVIDAR SU PROPIA CONDICION HUMANA. ES A FIN DE CUENTA LA LITERATURA QUE NOS NUTRE HORA TRAS HORA. Y ESTA ES A FIN DE CUENTAS LA CULTURA QUE NOS PERMITE CRECER.

   LO RECOMIENDO SIN NINGUNA EXCEPCION.




5. Es una historia real. Es increible como su hijo mayor saco su familia adelante y como su padre no le importaba su familia dedicado al alcohol. Fue muy duro en que los ninos se acostaran sin comer cuando su padre se bebia el dinero, y como la gente era tan ignorante para todo. Aveces leia y me daba coraje. Queria meterme en ese libro y caerle a patadas al padre y toda esa gente ignorantes. Hoy termine de leer mi libro y quisiera leer la continuacion. Es un libro maravilloso y triste. Quisiera saber cuando van hacer el proximo libro en Espanol. Estoy impaciente por leerlo.

5 comments about Shaq Talks Back.

1. 18 Jun 2005
   
   As the book progressed, it got more and more egoistic, to the point where it becomes a turn-off towards the end of the book. I am surprised that there was so little mentioned of Hakeem. Shaq's attitude seems to be that since he can score, he does not respect centers who can't score. Whereas he respect Bill Russell. But he does give Kobe his fair share of spotlight. The other book I read was an unabashed hype of Shaq, so this is a big improvement.



2. THIS IS A BOOK BY SHAQUILLE O'NEAL CENTER FOR THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS. HE TELLS US SOME OF HIS LIFE AND CAREER IN THE NBA. MOST OF THE BOOK CONCERNS WINNING HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE NBA. HE TOUCHES ON HIS TEAMATES, COACHES AND LIFE IN GENERAL IN THE NBA. I LIKED THIS BOOK AND I LIKE SHAQ, EVEN THOUGH HE IS A BIT FULL OF HIMSELF. HE ENJOYS LIFE AND IS VERY HUMAN. I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO LAKER AND BASKETBALL FANS.



3. From all of his interviews and press conferences, I know that he wrote this book and there were very few, if any, editors to "re-write" his book like most athlete autobiographies. This one might not have every sentence punctuated correctly, but he does a great job as a whole. Where else can you get something like this--a diary, essentially--from the store.



4. I do agree that some sections he repeats himself, and caught myself wondering if I had read that section already. I do like his conversational approach though as it seems like he's just talking right to you. Nowhere does it mention in the 'laws of book etiquette' that you have to be a prolific writer to release a book.
   
   I've read the whole book and thoroughly enjoyed it and how it gave the readers an insight on how Shaq views the NBA, how the underachieving pre-Jackson Lakers REALLY were, and most rewarding, his upbringing and how his parents raised him.
   
   Don't expect the same Shaq in this book than what he portrays now. As he's contradicted himself a bit in light of recent events regarding his trade to Miami. Nevertheless, I do recommend this book as a casual and humorous read.
   - Laker fan for life, thanks Shaq for your dominance



5. this book is complete garbage....it has no moral or purpose just a bunch of bragging(ALTHOUGH IM A BIG LAKER FAN!)

2 comments about Dolemite : the story of Rudy Ray Moore.

1. The only tragedy about this book is that there are'nt Moore pages. I was truely in awe after every word that I read. This book kept me glued to my seat. I find the career of Sir Ray Moore a perfect analogie of "The Ship of Dreams", The R.M.S. Titanic. As she left port (Peaty Wheatstraw) she was a strong force to be reckoned with, and she was very long too. As The ship of dreams picked up Moore passengers, she gained momentum (Dolemite) until that fateful night where she stoped so suddenly and sank to rock bottom (Disco Godfather). But much like the memory of the mighty Titanic, Rudy Ray Moore will remain hard, in our hearts. "OH DOLEMITE, IM SO HAPPY, IM GONNA TELL EVERYONE DOLEMITE IS COMING HOME"-Queen Bee



2. This fascinating biography, written by Julian & David Shabazz, chronicles the meteoric rise of one of the world's most influential comedians of the late 1970's, Rudy Ray Moore. The book explores Moore's unerring lust for comic superstardom, a drive that propelled him to the very top of the entertainment scene for much of his adult life. Powered by sharp wit and raw dynamism, Moore created what is arguably the most popular icon of modern folklore: the sassy, street-smart Dolemite, a man whose sexual and fighting prowess have made him the legend of choice for today's black youths. Dolemite is the very embodiment of coolness and style, created by Moore to be a reflection of his own self. The Shabazz siblings also detail Moore's many other characters, from the affable Petey Wheatstraw (or, as he was known to the many pimps and street hustlers of his day, "Mr. Excitment") to the dangerously-menacing Disco Godfather, who mastered the ancient art of karate in order to win back his plundered nightclub. The book also covers Moore's eventual fall into movie obscurity, the end result of a sickening downward spiral that included drugs, hustling and, ultimately, death. Overall, this biography is very well-crafted and contains just the right combination of hard-hitting drama and steamy sexual hijinks, two elements which Rudy Ray Moore not only pioneered but was made famous for.

5 comments about Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown (Blue Jacket Books) (Blue Jacket Books) (Blue Jacket Books).

1. This book was an easy read and provided me an opportunity to learn about another Black hero that became part of American History. Truly an inspiration. I really enjoyed this book!



2. The Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown is a tremendous book about a true story of an African American to become a naval fighter pilot. It is writen by the same auther of the Cay( search The Cay for more on it). It shows every moment of his rough journey to become an naval pilot. This book really describes the kind of person that Jesse Leroy Brown was. Jesse is one of a handful of African Americans like Martin Luther King Jr. who stood up for his rights as a person.I don't want to describe too much with out spoiling the book, so read the "Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown" and see the life of a famous fighter pilot and African American.



3. The Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown is a tromendous book about a ture storyof a African American becoming the first african american to become a navel fighter pilot. It is writen by the same aouther of the Cay( search The Cay for more on it). Shows every moment of his rough journy to become an navel pilot. Jesse is a hand full of african americans like Martin Luther King Jr. Not to little nor not much to describe with out spoiling the book so read the Flight of Jesse Leroy Brown and see the life of a famous fighter pilot and african american.



4. Jesse Leroy Brown is a true hero. His life was a shining example of perseverance and courage. Mr. Taylor's book was well written and extremely well researched. Jesse's flight school and combat experiences brought me vivid recollections of my own time in flight school and flying F/A 18s in combat. The Navy, along with American society, has gotten much better; but even in the late 80s and 90s, I observed some of the prejudice that Jesse encountered.
   
   This book has universal appeal, but it will be especially inspirational to those who are on the leading edge of a movement.
   
   I wish I could have met Jesse Leroy Brown and thanked him for paving the way for my success some 40 years later. My children will definitely know of his ultimate sacrifice. I thank Mr. Taylor for telling this important story.



5. The travails of the First Marine Division in its "advance in the opposite direction," at the Chosin Reservoir in 1950 are legendary. Almost unknow to them then, and to millions of Americans now, a lone black naval aviator was giving his best effort to cover their escape. He died in the line of duty doing what he had dreamed of accomplishing all his life. He was Jesse Leroy Brown. Never hear of him? Neither had I until I read his biography written by Theodore Taylor. This story cannot be simply classified as African-American History. History of the American Spirit more aptly describes the chronicle of a young black boy who set his sights high then struggled to hit the target. Readers should be prepared to be uplifted in the same manner that they were when first reading about Davey Crockett, "Unsinkable" Molly Brown or Seargent Alvin York. This is human drama and adventure at its finest.

3 comments about The Death and Life of Malcolm X (Blacks in the New World).

1. Reviewed by Dr. Abdul Salaam first health professional (Dentist) to join the Nation of Islam (1957), dentist to Malcolm X, Minister Louis Farrakhan and (The Honorable) Elijah Muhammad.
   
   This book was for me one of the more thoughtful and clear expositions looking at a short segment of his life pre Malcolm X but focusing primarily on the last year and a half after Malcolm had left the Nation of Islam and a short time after his death that took a close look at his overall economic as well as his conjectured mental state during that time. The fact that Goldman was both a well respected journalist and a Whiteman who had known and was writing about Malcolm, in my opinion, produced a book of unusual insights and depth. Goldman was interviewed in the film An American Experience PBS documentary "Malcolm X Make It Plain" (a film containng segments from my collection on Malcolm and the Nation of Islam) to discuss his perspective on Malcolm. If anyone is still into the "Whiteman is the Devil" thing I suggest care be exercised by holding that bias in abeyance so as not to be blinded by that belief when reading the book. They may miss an important contribution to understanding Malcolm X. and the hardships he endured both in spite of and because of his fame. We all wear some kind of blinders as I tried to indicate in the chapter on "My Story" in my own soon to be released publication, Myths vs Realities, (The Honorable) Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam and Malcolm X, an Islamic Perspective. We should always keep that in mind.



2. On all of the chapters what happen back then is still very alive today.



3. Anyone who has read Alex Haley's "Autobiography of Malcolm X" would be interested in this account by Goldman. Notice the title puts the word "death" before "life". The author delves into the mystery connected with Malcolm's assassination and the resulting coverup of the facts. Issues with the Nation of Islam are also addressed in a non-bias approach. Goldman also intelligently presents his case as being qualified to write about Malcolm X, despite the fact that he is a white man. Although there is no "smoking gun" as to who was truly behind Malcolm's assassination, this book is a good read.

5 comments about Getting Open: The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball.

1. This well-written book took me back to Shelbyville IN in the 1950s, when every barber shop displayed a picture of the 1947 championship team and every patron knew all their names. No one would question the effect Bill Garrett had on his home town, but few could have predicted the impact he would have on collegiate sports for years to come.
   
   The little town of Milan provided great sports drama for the movie "Hoosiers," but the life of Bill Garrett is more than a sports story. He did for NCAA athletics what Jackie Robinson did for Major League Baseball. Young people of today would be shocked to learn what he endured just a couple of generations ago.
   
   Thanks to Tom and Rachel Graham Cody for this great read. As a Purdue grad, it pains me to praise a book that casts such a positive glow on Indiana University!



2. This is a good book and a good read. If you're from small-town Indiana (like me) and old enough to understand what single-class "Hoosier Hysteria" really meant, then you'll like this book.
   
   However I respectfully offer that it's not a 5-star book. It may be a 5-star story in search of a 5-star telling.
   
   I just finished the book yesterday, and I find myself wishing the authors had been less dispassionate. Or more passionate? Whatever.
   
   So who was Bill Garrett? The book talks a lot about his life and times, and provides some ancedotes, but always left me wanting more about Bill. Sadly, Bill wasn't available to be interviewed, but his teammates, friends and wife were all sources for the book.
   
   Here are some examples:
   
   We learn a lot about how Bill came to enroll at IU, but we don't learn about the man himself. Bill left Tennessee State after enrolling, and took a bus to IU. No one was available to meet him there! How did he feel about this?
   
   Bill was on the road and separated from his wife for several years while he knocked around the fringes of professional basketball. How was their relationship affected? We don't know.
   
   Finally - the authors talk about the changes in college basketball in the 1950's (pp 169-175), Branch McCracken's sporadic recruitment of black players, yet fail to mention that IU WON the NCAA championship in 1953!
   
   Sorry 5-star raters...it's a good book and a story worth telling, but could be a lot better. Probably a better movie than a book.



3. Seldom have I been so touched, entertained, and educated by a book as I was by Getting Open, which I read in two days. It is truly a masterpiece and something I will keep on my bookshelf for the rest of my life.
   
   Although born and raised in Indiana, I didn't know much if anything about Bill Garrett before reading this book, but I was just blown away by his story. Not knowing the story, it was almost like reading a well-crafted novel and I hung on every new development the authors revealed. I also didn't know much about the racial intolerance of the times. My neighborhood and high school were all white, so I really had little if any contact with blacks before I went to Indiana University as a freshman in 1963. It hardly seems possible that such racial intolerance existed in the Midwest so recently before then.
   
   This book exceeded all my expectations and I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you're a basketball fan or not. If you have any ties to the Hoosier State or to Indiana University, you will love it all the more.



4. At the pinnacle of his high school career - leading Shelbyville High to the Indiana state championship; a team that had three black starters - not one college scout in the arena attended the game to recruit Bill Garrett or his two teammates due to the color of their skin.
   
   At the pinnacle of his collegiate career - leaving the court to a standing ovation that lasted several minutes - Bill Garrett was refused service in a restaurant days later; one that had on its marquee that it welcomed fans of Indiana Unniversity basketball.
   
   And when Bill Garrett was ready to launch his pro career, the team in his home state did not draft him.
   
   But Bill Garrett was stronger than those who attempted to keep those doors closed. And we are better because of him.
   
   For author Tom Graham - with his co-author/daughter Rachel Graham Cody - the book took seven years of reseach, and certainly a lifetime of not denying the facts from the past and understanding the urgency in the present to set the record straight.
   
   Getting Open is more than a biography on Garrett and how he integrated Big Ten basketball by playing and starring for IU. It is a history of institutionalized racial hatred in the State of Indiana - at one point in the 20th Century, the KKK essentially controlled all essential government offices - and the tireless work of person's from different sides of the tracks to fight the good fight.
   
   Graham is a Shelbyville native who was old enough to vividly recall the times, which certainly helped as he meticulously did his research to cut through the fiction that builds from facts as the years tumble on.
   
   It is a book from the heart that will make you realize how we must celebrate those who had the courage then by continuing to challenge those who want to forget - or rewrite - the past.



5. This book is an incredibly well written and well documented story that should be more widely read. It is an important history that many sports fans, and non-sports fans, will enjoy tremendously. It is an inspiration to us all, and offers many lessons and insights about overcoming racism. Thank you to the father-daughter authors for getting out this story!

2 comments about Selma, Lord, Selma: Girlhood Memories of the Civil Rights Days.

1. I have read this book over a decade ago, and saw the movie on Tv, and I enjoyed both very well. These children were fearless in the face of danger, and to me,that is awesome.



2. A moving as-told-to account of the experiences of 2 brave little girls in the days of the Selma civil rights movement. As adult women, they recall their involvement as children in the stirring church meetings and the marches, their relationship with Martin Luther King Jr., and themurders of 2 white Northern clergyman. Stirring, inspirational, deeply moving.

4 comments about The Oracles: My Filipino Grandparents in America.

1. Being an adult Filipino born in the Philippines and raised in the U.S. since I was 3 years old, I really enjoyed this book. I didn't have living grandparents to raise me so it was fun reading Pati's experience. I could relate to all the Filipino traditions that her grandparents were trying to instill in her. I enjoyed her storytelling and read the book in one day! I recommend this book to any Filipino born in the U.S. or the Philippines.
   
   Belinda



2. I finished reading this book in one direct plane ride from San Diego to Houston. It made me cry unashamedly in the airport and during the flight. It reminded me of how my parents raised my 3 daughters while I worked. Losing a parent in my case (a grandparent in my children's case) was a sad experience just as the author described it in the book.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Oracles." For the past 35 years, I have been an educator in a school whose Filipino population numbers over 50%. During that time, often I have been struck by the challenges faced by immigrant parents and grandparents who are raising American kids. For me, this topic was the heart of "The Oracles." Just as we read "House on Mango Street" and "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" in our schools, "The Oracles" would be a worthy addition to our required reading lists. This book builds bridges of understanding. It doesn't get much better than that.



4. I loved this story. Pati writes in an engaging manner which makes it easy to read. I saw the author at a reading and she is throughly engaging. Her story is humorous, touching and will bring back many memories of growing up. It's interesting how a half-japanese and caucasian male can relate to so many of her stories of growing up in the Bay Area in the 1970's and 80's.

5 comments about Long Walk to Freedom: Autobiography of Nelson Mandela.

1. Nelson Mandela's life and actions are an inspiration! "Long Walk to Freedom" should be read by every person alive. There is so much to learn from this book. Mandela gives us hope that the humankind can do better. He shows the path of peace and hope instead of hatred and revenge.



2. If you read only one autobiography this year, I recommend this one.
   
   Leadership breakthroughs are few and far between. They are even rarer in the political arena. Although I had closely followed the path to an integrated democracy in South Africa (and worked hard on the anti-apartheid sanctions and boycotts), much of Nelson Mandela's struggle was hidden to me at the time. Only after the reconciliation had gone on for a number of years did it become apart how remarkable this man's contribution has been.
   
   Recently, I read Playing the Enemy which described some of the nuances in how Mandela conceived of creating a peaceful transition through an unauthorized sole negotiation from a prison cell. Those stories impressed me even more. Now, I had to read the autobiography. And I'm glad I did.
   
   Let me warn you, however, that Nelson Mandela is so self-effacing that the real story of what he accomplished and how he did it doesn't fully come through in the autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom. I recommend that you read Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation first.
   
   What the autobiography will do is show the cultural and social backgrounds of the struggle and how critical it was that Mandela be a man of honor, principle, and loyalty. He was a leader for the whole nation even when many people didn't want him to be in the nation. It's a remarkable way to be, a way that few people can accomplish.
   
   The apartheid system was as vile a way to treat citizens as anything that has come along since Germany in the 1930s. It's hard to imagine that it arose after World War II and was so difficult to break.
   
   The treatment of the African National Congress's leaders will appall you. Their grace will delight you.
   
   May every nation have a Nelson Mandela to lead it!



3. I have been reading the "Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela" and I find it completely delightfully and thoroughly enjoyable. It is very well written and the experiences are more than interesting. Nelson Mandela's life is very fascinating and it is so insightful to gain the background and foundation for the life we all know so well. Very inspiring.



4. I first bought this book in paperback form at the PX while stationed at Fort Hood. It was a long and outstanding read! I understand that there are some things that Mr Mandela may have decided to leave out i.e.: his linking to various political uprisings against the aparthied government. I wish that he would have discussed that part of his life more. Nonetheless, this book tells the story of a man who came from humble beginnings to become the first black president of post-aparthied South Africa. I had to buy copy of this book for the Kindle. If you want a piece of modern history, and a good long read as well, get this book. I recommend it to everyone!



5. A must read for all, especially my generation (1964) and younger. We need to ensure that what South Africa went through and the racism present in the U.S. is never allowed to return. Any racism no matter how small or seemingly insignificant needs to be stamped out. Wouldn't it be nice if someday we were all classified as "Human" and not by some other label? Read this book and realize the struggle this man, his family, and his country went through to gain the simple freedoms we often take for granted.

3 comments about Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music.

1. This is a very well written concise biography of Monk that is comprehensive enough to foster an understanding of his influences and the music and cultural scene in which he emerged. It is thoroughly researched and doesn't bog down in trivial detail the way many iconographic bios do. About one third of the book consists of a comprhensive discography which is notable for it's objectivity in reviewing all of Monk's recordings. This would be very helpful to anyone looking to begin or expand their Monk collection. The musicians that played with Monk in various sessions are all covered and the circumstances surrounding most of the recordings are adequately described.
   All in all I think this is a wonderful reference for the jazz lover and a good overview of the life and work of one of the all-time great jazz musicians.



2. Only about a third of this volume is alloted for Monk's life--which is not bad; the rest is about the various recordings he made.

   You get enough to wet your appetite. Makes you want to look for something more indepth, etc. Worth buying, though, as it is written by a genuine fan of Monk and the whole jazz scene. I don't regret getting it.




3. This book is really good...especially if you own or plan to collect Monks music.The first part gives a brief(100 pages)bio(more expanded in gourse's "straight no chaser")a decent overveiw.The second part explains more or less "the Monk sound"his style in understandable terms(terms are also explained.) The third part is the best...monk on disk(and vinyl) and all sessions and personnel(all confirmed) in chronological order.Very excellent if you are obsessed like i am about this kind of stuff. It covers all this extremely well with much commentary.In depth even. If you got Monk on record this is a great reference.The focus on the music is its strong point.