5 comments about The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima.

1. "The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima" by Henry Stokes is to say the least, an impressive study in abnormal human psychology, literary genius, and tragic insanity. Yukio Mishima was obvioulsy a man of many facets, and one of great complexities. Mishima appears to have viewed himeslf as an "elected angel of the gods" to resurrect the greatness of Imperial Japan. Even more evident were his perverse ideals of self, and..."love."
   
   The book explores Mishima's twisted views of beauty and anachronoistic minglings between fantasy and reality; but always...always hinged on the obsession of death as the ultimate "savior of youth."
   
   Yet, no matter how askewed or, twisted Mishima's ideas of resurrecting Yamato Damashii (Japanese fighting spirit), he was without a doubt; Poet and... Samurai.
   
   The author seems to rely almost totally upon Mishima's main literary work: "Confessions of a Mask" to develope his understanding and psychoanalysis of this very complex personality. Although, the author knew Mishima his contact with him was overall, limited compared to others in Mishima's life. None the less, Mr. Stokes is able to give the reader an educated opinion of this extraordinary man who ended his failed coup d' etat by the only way Imperial Japan would have allowed...Hara-Kiri.
   
   "TENNO HEIKA BANZAI....TENNO HEIKA BANZAI...TENNO HEIKA BANZAI!"
   
   The book is somewhat indepth and requires some patience and on-going concentration. It is a unique book about a unique subject, and a unique individual. Well worth the price!!



2. The Life and Death of Yukio Mishima is, simply put, a definitive biography. Henry Scott Stokes knew the author about as well as anyone could. He accompanied Mishima and the members of the Shield Society to cover exercises the military group (formed by Mishima) carried out at Mt. Fuji in 1969 and knew him from 1966 until his suicide by hara-kiri in November 1970. Mr. Stokes includes a lot of detail concerning this training exercise, during which he met Mishima's disciple Morita, who committed hara-kiri with him just over a year later.
   
   Mr. Stokes, being a noted journalist, provides an excellent approach to Mishima's life. At the outset, the sensational death of the artist is related in detail. I liked this approach because Mishima's life and work has been overshadowed by his death, so taking us through the ordeal allows us to concentrate on his life and learn soothing about what made him seek the death he did.
   
   Also valuable is Mr. Stokes' residence in Japan, which gives him invaluable knowledge on Japanese society, giving us a background for many of Mishima's attitudes. The major literary works are explained in excellent detail with what Mr. Stokes considers minor works (such as "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea") being only briefly mentioned. This fits well with the aim of the book: to provide an in-depth look at the forces that influenced Mishima. The Sea of Fertility cycle receives a great deal of attention. The book also has a chapter that discusses Mishima's reputation since his death. In this section Mr. Stokes draws some interesting conclusions about the relationship between Mishima and Morita.
   
   I have also read John Nathan's biography of Yukio Mishima, which presents an excellent portrait of the writer, particularly in describing his literary career. However, I find it is Mr. Stokes' book that provides a more in-depth portrait of Mishima. I would still recommend Mr. Nathan's book as a highly readable biography. Mr. Stokes' book is very well written with great attention to detail and should not be missed by anyone seriously interested in who Yukio Mishima was and what drove him.
   
   There is a useful glossary and a chronology of Mishima's life, and is illustrated with photographs and drawings.



3. Henry Scott Stokes' THE LIFE AND DEATH OF YUKIO MISHIMA is one of the few biographies in English of the Japanese novelist, whose 1970 death by seppuku after a failed coup d'etat is just as much a part of his legacy as his works.
   
   Scott Stokes understands how Mishima's death overshadows all else, and he begins the work with a very detailed description of Mishima's failed coup and suicide, before going back to his birth and beginning his life stories. His book is based on few interviews; Scott Stokes feels that everything is already out there in written form and can be compacted for English readers. The description of Mishima's unsuccessful coup, for example, is based on records of the trial of the survivors.
   
   Scott Stokes knew Mishima himself in the late 1960's, and was a keen observer of his political activity. He was even the only journalist to view training exercises of Mishima's private army. Because of this first-hand perspective, the latter portion of Mishima's life is told in great detail. Much less, satisfying, however, is his coverage of Mishima's earlier years, in which a large amount of detail is "reconstructed" from Mishima's semi-autobiographical work CONFESSIONS OF A MASK, a dubious approach. For a better view of Mishima's life prior to 1964, I'd recommend John Nathan's MISHIMA: A BIOGRAPHY, written by one of his translators who knew him early on, and to which Mishima's family contributed through personal interviews.
   
   There is a wealth of information about Mishima's books, especially about his masterpiece "The Sea of Fertility" for which detailed summaries are given. I found this had a downside in that it spoiled the surprise ending of THE DECAY OF THE ANGEL for me, and I'd recommend reading that entire cycle, as well as other works which interest you, before coming to this biography.
   
   While Scott Stokes autobiography has not been changed since the first edition in 1974, he has contributed an epilogue to the new Cooper Square Press edition which I feel is actually the strongest part of the book. Certainly necessary reading for Mishima fans. It shows how the perspective on Mishima's work has changed in the last quarter-century, and how many still consider him a fine writer, but fewer and fewer would actually consider him a genius. He also explains how the Japanese now perceive him, complaining that it is sad that Japan's post-literary culture of movies and manga has resulted in Mishima and his mentor Kawabata being nearly forgotten.
   
   A curious matter about the life and death of Yukio Mishima is that the more one learns, the more questions one has. And nothing entirely suffices to explain the way he chose to end his life. Still, Scott Stokes does give some helpful clues. I'd recommend THE LIFE AND DEATH OF YUKIO MISHIMA to fans of the writer's work, as well as those who just marvel at the novelist's bizarre death. Pick up Nathan's biography at the same time, though.



4. I was a boy when the report came through on NBC Nightly News that Yukio Mishima had committed sepukku after a failed attempt to take control of Japan. They briefly described the mode of death, & how his second-in-command had also died.

   This event was far outside the understanding of anyone in rural Minnesota, so my questions hung in the air. The best I could do was a short report & some big photos in LIFE. I found that Mishima had been considered a young literary lion, bringing Japan to a fascinating new fiction that impossibly synthesised classical writing with modern style.

   The whole thing didn't make sense. It was like hearing that Jack Kerouac had also been a Brown Shirt -- nobody could reconcile for me Mishima the uniformed revolutionary with Mishima the sensitive author.

   This book has helped bring me to a new conclusion: reconciliation is impossible. The author was a friend of Mishima, & possibly the only Westerner allowed into the funeral; he goes into great depth as only a friend (though somewhat baffled himself) could to show the paradoxes embodied, sometimes quite intentionally, within Mishima.

   I appreciate that the story has been brought full circle, at least for me.




5. The major point of discussion for reviewers of this book and of John Nathan's biography of Mishima seems to be "Which one is better?" Personally, I'd say neither. For those who were somewhat dissatisfied with the way Nathan glossed over certain things (like, oh, The Sea of Fertility), Scott-Stokes' book has a greater volume of information and a more consistent analysis of Mishima's literature. For instance, I don't recall Nathan having even mentioned Ba-ra-kei (which I intend to procure sometime in the future, now that I know of its existence) in passing; Scott-Stokes, on the other hand, includes it in the appropriate section of Mishima's life (there are four: Literature, Drama, Body and Action). Scott-Stokes also has the better analysis of Mishima's plays, with more quotes and a lengthier discussion.

   However, as a whole I think I liked Nathan's work more. I really did not get why Scott-Stokes included the "dramatization" of the Mishima Incident (as the first scene, no less); it's bewilderingly out of place, though I admit that it does provide a good hook to lead into the rest of the book with. But that's emblematic of a larger problem; Scott-Stokes gives himself much greater license than Nathan did to theorize about Mishima's motivations and inner thoughts, and like all canonical examples of dubious reportage, his theories cite anonymous sources. Nor did I particularly appreciate his cavalier dismissal of a rather large part of Mishima's literature as subpar - in fact, unlike Nathan, he really doesn't even come across as an avid reader of Mishima, which would be fine if not for the fact that he decided to be the man's biographer.

   If you're interested in Mishima, you're inevitably going to read this, but I recommend reading Nathan's biography first. This will arm you with a good bit of knowledge in advance, and will help you navigate through Scott-Stokes' "original" structure (his book starts with the last day of Mishima's life, then covers his childhood and then branches out into four directions). Scott-Stokes' book, then, will serve as a complement, filling in certain gaps.

5 comments about Gang of One: Memoirs of a Red Guard (American Lives).

1. A very interesting book. Iy gives a very detailed look at life in Communist China.



2. This is quite simply the best memoir I have ever read, and as a professional writer myself, I've read a lot of them. It deserves to be considered in a class with America's greatest storytelling.
   
   Fan Shen writes in an understated, no-holds-barred, external style that is in some ways reminiscent of his literary heroes: London and Stendhal, to name two. Like Martin Eden and The Red and the Black, this is a story of the struggle of the individual against the system. And what a struggle! No slow internal musing over small questions here - this is a pedal-to-the-metal ride through China's bloodiest and most oppressive modern period, told in one shocking life event after another, and emotions bend all the more powerfully by racing to keep up.
   
   With increasing personal, moral, and ethical risks as Fan struggles to develop an individual identity and freedom from oppression in a country where individualism is anti-revolutionary and a capital offense, this is a page-turner that you may never forget - with a beautiful love story at its heart.



3. I think this is perhaps the best memoir I've read by someone who survived the infamous Chinese Cultural Revolution. Many other authors have tried to capture the chaos and pain it has caused them, but Fan Shen outdoes them all. I'm glad he told his story, or other people would never know how horrible things really were at that time. Each chapter in this book is captivating, and its hard to put it down. It is also extremely sad, and at the end of the book you wish you knew Fan Shen so you could at least talk with him and give him a hug. :(



4. A fascinating look inside the chinese mindset. A must read for anyone who wants to know about the crazy history of the Red Guard, the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. Also provides a great insight into how the chinese operate today. Fan Shen tells a story that will stick with you as you purchase your next "made in China" item.



5. I spent about 8 months reading Dr. Shen's book -- not because it bored me, and not because it was overly long. This is just one of those books that needs to be savored in order to be properly enjoyed. It's also one of those books that you really don't want to finish.
   
   Savor it. :)

4 comments about Crazy in the Kitchen: Foods, Feuds, and Forgiveness in an Italian American Family.

1. I felt compelled to write this after reading the other reviews because I believe that a book should be judged in accordance with it's own intentions and not by what other people think it should have been. This book is not the typical happy-family-eating-meatballs memoir, nor is it a light, breezy, funny foodie memoir. It is an exquisitely-written, ultimately loving remembrance of a family in pain. It contains great insights into the Italian immigrants' experience-- and a sober, unromanticized look at "The "Old Country" conditions from which many fled in the early 20th century. This book is highly recommended for people struggling with their own family's past, anybody who appreciates beautiful prose and memoir/autobiography, or Italian Americans wanting to explore that part of their past. Ms. DeSalvo uses food as metaphor to great effect in conveying the texture of the immigrant family's experience.



2. This is not a book for those wanting a light read or those who haven't honestly looked at their own growing up experiences as second-generation Americans.
   
   Louise De Salvo courageously portrays what life was really like for many us. This is not a happy spaghetti and meatball memoir. It's gritty and at times uncomfortable reading, but well-done. Brava, Louise.



3. I found this interesting, but somewhat depressing. With the living conditions in Italy years ago and living in the States with a grandmother, mother, father and daughter was totally different than my family as I was growing up. The cooking in later life with the author and her husband were interesting.



4. I got this book to read on a trip to Europe. However, I didn't bring the book home with me, because I didn't deem it worthy of the space in my bag. It reads as though its writing was a cathartic experience for the author, to clear the air between her and her family memories. Unfortunately, this does not make for enjoyable reading. The writing itself is technically solid, but the subject matter left a bad taste in my mouth, as though I'd eaten something disagreeable. I came away with an overwhelming sense of disgust and hate, the same senses that pervaded the author's home as she's described it here. This book did not leave me happy or satisfied.

5 comments about Church Boy: Franklin, Kirk.

1. I've reviewed some of Kirk Franklin's music elsewhere and I'm fascinated in him as a Man of God, an artist, and an entrepreneur. He has taken gospel music in directions that others have not dared and that has made him a polarizing force in the music. Either you love him and think he's the last hope of gospel music or you hate him for "secularizing" the music and sacrificing the purity of the art form. "Church Boy" is Kirk's autobiography, but it is more an attempt to address both his fans and the haters about the motivating forces in his life.
   
   First, I applaud Kirk for not putting out an autobiography that feels like an "As Told To journalist" kind of work. If he was a sports star, he'd hire a journalist who would make his words and ideas seem profound. Instead he's written a work that sounds like his own voice plus minor editing.
   
   The flip side of that is that this book doesn't really follow standard autobiographical practices. It's not so much about what's happened to Kirk; it's more about how what's happened to Kirk allows him to address his fans and the haters. The book can get real preachy as a result. Some reviewers have mentioned that Kirk can appear homophobic at times. He certainly is not shy about asserting that his heterosexuality in the gospel business led him to sexual sin and fathering a child out of wedlock. Moreover, he unabashedly calls out the many homosexual artists in gospel music and states that homosexuality is a sin. That's a really bold statement to assert in print. If you agree with him, then that makes him a true minister of the faith. If you disagree with him, then that makes him a sower of anger and fear. Personally, as a heterosexual male who has enjoyed working with some outstanding gospel artists who were probably gay, I found this stance a little problematic. It's easier hearing about the problems with gay gospel artists from someone like Donnie McClurkin who has walked that walk a little more intimately.
   
   Readers would be wise to consider the context of this book. This book was designed to amplify the ideas in his recording "The Nu Nation Project". The end of the book states how his life and times have built up to that recording. Even his tragic, almost life ending, stage fall helps motivate him to rededicate himself to his ministry. The tragedy is that while Nu Nation is a great CD, I believe it represented the peak of Kirk's fame. Kirk struggled to keep all of the members of his coalition together organizationally and spiritually and he's had to take on more of a solo personality as of late that seems to go against many of the ideas of this book.
   
   Hearing the suddenness of Kirk's fame and the environment from which he came from helps me have a lot more compassion for him. When you were a runt of an outsider and needed to prove yourself, you can see how sudden fame might not have been the best thing for him to handle at such a young age.
   
   Kirk is such a strong songwriter, and I applaud him for including lyrics to many of his songs as chapter lead ins. I take him at his word that he's trying to tell his story more for the musical and spiritual benefit of his listeners than for the marketing benefits of this book.
   
   Ordinarily, I wouldn't recommend this book. It's dated in a lot of ways, and there are certainly better autobiographies on the market. However, gospel music has exploded due to this man. An inexpensive used copy of this book can offer the beginnings of vital insight into how God has used this music to enrich the lives of so many.
   
   Hope this helps.
   
   Blessings...
   
   [3 stars]
   
   --SD



2. Kirk tried to be frank and honest, but he was cautious. He tries too hard to convince the reader that he is not gay as being labeled by his peers. He tries to show the readers that he has slept with a lot of women but wasn't proud of it. This sounds like he is actually fighting a spirit of homosexuality. Kirk is in and out of the church quite often. He succumbs to his fleshly desires and gives into temptation very easily. Forgiveness is one thing, but yielding is another. He sounds like he is on the edge of reprobate, if not already. Playhouse entertainment is over. It's time to get live; it's time to represent. Check your soul, Kirk, it's in a lot of trouble son.
   
   Love Lami,
   Someone who cares about your soul



3. I actually ordered this 4 $1.25 discount. And once I got it in the mail and take a open of the book to see there were no scratches or anything I was not dissappointed. This is sure be a good book to read even tho I'm a fan to my all-time favorite artist in gospel, Kirk Franklin. This is a must if u wanna hear more from the man, y'know from behind his childhood, behind his dreams of coming a superstar in the gospel music area, why people think he's unholy or worldly to the Word of Christ, etc.
   
   I been a fan to his music since the beginning. Where be begin his group Kirk Franklin and His Family, God's Property and now 1NC (which stands for One Nation Crew). I'm professionally a trumpet player in the church band and a singer in the youth choir @ Hopewell which ya'll check out @ www.hopewellmissionarybaptist.org.
   
   Wish he'll put out a second one on the way pretty soon. God will continue your travel and thru your heart, Min. Kirk Franklin, u're still da bomb, man. Keep it up. I enjoy hearing and listening to your music. I sure come and work w/ you some day. God bless
   
   Henry "The Preacher" Cooper



4. Kirk Franklin is one of the most talented and anointed songwriters I've ever heard of. To me, he's the absolute best. In this autobiography, Kirk takes you back to his childhood days. He also talks about what occurred between then and 1998 (when the book was published). -A lot has happened since then, so maybe he should write a continuation. Kirk tells it like it is in this book... there's no holding back. I think that people are sometimes scared of the truth and Kirk brings the truth like no one else. That is why he gets so much flack from folk. People should search their hearts and start focusing on the truth that God wants them to see. Truth that He can show them through a book or someone's life story. Give this book a chance -- it is definitely worth the read!



5. I love Kirk Franklin's music. So does he - and he seems to love himself even more! Not only does this book drip of self-praise and egotism, it rings loudly of homophobia. Of all the horrible things that might have happened to Kirk as a kid (and he doesn't really tell you any!) the worst, in his mind, seems to be that he was called a queer. Give me a break.

   Kirk glosses over details, and pretty much everyone outside of his immediate, current, family have no names listed at all.

   Don't waste your time AND your money. Buy a CD and be thankful that its ok to love the message and not the messenger!

3 comments about Over the Line: The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence.

1. True, this is a large collection of Lawrence's work, however it is very incomplete. In the beginning of Lawrence's career, only 21 years old, he produced the Toussaint L'Ouverture Series. A 41 panel series dedicated to the struggle of enslaved Africans and their victory, which was never more blatantly successful than that of Haiti under the slave-born revolutionary known as Toussaint L'Ouverture. In 1938, when this series was completed it was so monumental for the Pan-African American experience, yet this book refuses to acknowledge it.
   
   First, there is only one print, and one that is subtle and not graphic (such as black soldiers defeating whites which was a major theme of the series). It is an insult to the origin of Lawrence's genius and his legacy, especially in regards to pre-Civil Rights African America:which was his community, not the pseudo-intermingled America of today that is now trying to claim him as an "American" artist, taking away his true existence as an African American artist, not American, especially during an era when his people were so restricted from full citizenship.
   
   Only purchase this book if you want a false story, one that ignores and criticizes (the author had the audacity to ridicule Lawrence for the Toussaint Series because the author claims Lawrence was not knowledgable about the Haitian revolution). Though I think Lawrence was aware, it is irrelevant. As a black man descended from slaves, the revolution was within him, he did not have to read about it. He felt it. The Haitian revolution belongs not to just Haiti, it is a symbol of the enslaved African's struggle against white oppression and the ability to be victorious at it. Even if that is all he knew, it is enough. He did not have to read about a struggle for equality, it was his very existence.



2. 
   "Lawrence (1917-2000) grew up in Harlem, then worked and studied in many parts of the country and in New York until 1971, when he joined the faculty of the U. of Washington in Seattle. Editors Nesbett and DuBois, both of the Jacob Lawrence Catalogue Raisonn<'e> [sic] Project, bring together eight in-depth essays by distinguished art historians who explore and interpret Lawrence's work and life[,] his brilliant art and his identity as an African American artist. Also included is an essay on the binding media and pigments found in Lawrence's paintings and a chronology of his life and reception. This edition was published in conjunction with a major retrospective organized by The Phillips Collection, Washington D.C. in 2001 (and scheduled to travel to several venues through 2003); a previous edition was published in 2000 (minus 50 pages of information about the exhibition) as part of a two-volume set titled [?]. The essays are illustrated with about 140 color reproductions, and the catalogue section features small reproductions of works in the exhibition."--Booknews



3. Jacob Lawrence, who died a year ago at age 82, was one of the great American artists of the 20th century -- or any century for that matter. I had the privilege recently of viewing "The Art and Life of Jacob Lawrence" at the Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, and was extremely impressed. If you can't make it to the Phillips Collection, this book is the next best thing, with more than 200 full color reproductions of Lawrence's work.

   And what a powerful body of work it is, mainly -- but not only -- on the African-American experience. Themes include: slavery; escape via the Underground Railroad; heros and heroines like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman (plus Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture); black migration to the North; continued persecution (lynchings, Jim Crow) well into the 20th century; the Harlem Renaissance; and more. Lawrence's style is simple (but NOT simplistic!), urgent, and direct, using inexpensive materials (cheap store-bought poster paints on hardboard -- whatever Lawrence could afford), which give new meaning to the expression, "less is more!" You get the feeling in looking at these paintings that Lawrence HAD to paint, to bear witness, and to let the world know the situation of his people.

   "Over the Line" is a valuable book for many reasons. For one thing, my understanding is that these paintings, sketches, etc. have never before been published in color, or at all, in any other books on Lawrence. "Over the Line" also give you information on Lawrence's life, which was very interesting in its own right. Finally, these painting are simply a joy to look at, over and over, which this book will allow you to do. I strongly recommend that you get a hold of it!

5 comments about Joyce Ann Brown: Justice Denied.

1. If you were as shocked and horrified by what happened to Joyce Ann Brown as these other readers, please consider supporting the organization that reinvestigated her wrongful conviction and worked tirelessly to free her. Centurion Ministries, Inc. of 221 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08542 has been working on behalf of the wrongfully convicted like Ms. Brown for over 20 years.



2. Joyce Ann Brown has compelling reasons to be angry with the criminal justice system. After all, the State of Texas robbed her of her family, friends and freedom. In Justice Denied, however, Joyce takes her life sentence back from the judges and overseers who wrongly declared her a murderer!
   
   Joyce Ann Brown writes powerful and empowering words that bleed honesty and passion, yet she never allows her righteous anger to become hateful. Instead, she channels her rage into positive action, serving as inspiration, appealing to the reader's sense of humanity. The author is a minister at the core of her being.
   
   Justice Denied is a gritty, painful and ultimately triumphant journey with the potential to change public policy. This book should be required reading for judges, juries, attorneys, police officers, prison guard, prison ministers, politicians, educators, activists, and anybody who has ever felt like the circumstances of their lives threaten to undermine their sense of self-worth. Like an oasis in the desert, Justice Denied compels readers to move forward and quench their thirst for justice.



3. Imagine being in prison for something you know you didn't do, this is what happened to Joyce Brown. Joyce had witnesses, was at work the time the crime was committed, but was still found guilty for the murder of a store owner, who's wife pointed her out as being the guilty party. If this can happen to Joyce Brown it can happen to anyone. I think GOd for those gentlemen who came to her aid in the book. If you think there is now way that you could end up in prison, read this book, and you will see that you very well could even if you are innocent with lots of evidence.



4. Imagine being in prison for something you know you didn't do, this is what happened to Joyce Brown. Joyce had witnesses, was at work the time the crime was committed, but was still found guilty for the murder of a store owner, who's wife pointed her out as being the guilty party. If this can happen to Joyce Brown it can happen to anyone. I think GOd for those gentlemen who came to her aid in the book. If you think there is now way that you could end up in prison, read this book, and you will see that you very well could even if you are innocent with lots of evidence.



5. I must give a rating of 10 stars!!~ This book was so well written. It placed you in Ms.Browns shoes before, during & after. This author may you feel as though You were a apart of her awful journey through this ill-fated justice system of ours. Reading her story, (if you have any compassion) at all........It will indeed make you so damn Angry at these men in Suits (lawyers)& Robes (judges), that we so often call "Justice Seekers" in America. Too many times we read about 'innocent' people, being thrown into prison, & finding out Years Later that a BIG Mistake had be made. How do OUR System compensate these individuals? With an out-landish simple Apology??? How can anyone 'accept' what has happened to them? It's time to wake up America! It's time for these Paid, & Court appointed Attorney's to represent each & every case with every piece of skill they possilbly can, to make Damn Sure about "WHO" they are really sending to the depths of Hell!

   All the facts in Ms. Brown's case were right before their eyes, yet Justice did not prevail. I searched high & low for a copy of this book for my very own, after asking a co-worker if I could read hers. Locating a copy in good condition was a feat, because it was no longer in print. Finally I located one & it had Joyce's autograph, I treasure it today still as a Great Read.

   I cried many tears, I walked every inch of this sentence with Ms. Brown. Through all of what she indured, she still remained Strong in the Lord, (this was her Only Hope), as for as I could see. I say now: If the judge who sentenced this young lady is still practicing law, holding his gavel, & wearing that black robe, he should be made to do the Years that Ms. Brown served!

   Even it was so done, It still would Not serve Ms. Brown any satisfaction, nor her family members for ripping their lives apart. The Most heart breaking part of this book, that wrenched my soul was when her child was shot/hurt, later died, & Ms.Brown was not granted the opportunity to go attend the funeral services! I fell into pieces after reading it.

   Becoming a grandmother & not being able to have that daily/weekly interactions with her grandkid, or to have any great memories of her grandchild's was also a traumatic issue for Ms. Brown. This book will indeed touch your soul~

   I'd love to meet Ms. Brown & J.Gaines, so we can share notes on what the 'System' did to my family, on the (4th of July) "What an Independence Day that was"! Good Luck Joyce on your upcoming Movie, & May God Always Be On Your Side. I know of a star who will portray your role Very Well, & Capture Every Emotion, her name is: Kimberly Elise, her role was Tee-Tee, from 'Set it Off'..........she looks like you somewhat, & I do believe she will carry your story to THE TOP of the Movie Charts!

   Thanks For Never Giving Up Hope Joyce. What You & Jay wrote in your book, it Speaks for a large number of Americans. I know that you & Jay are friends for life now, & rightfully so. Everyone deserves a friend like Jay, his love says it all, it's (unconditional)~ Again, Good Luck On Your Upcoming Movie, Let me hear from you soon Sista~ 2 Sista~

5 comments about The Real T: My 22 Years with Tina Turner.

1. I am not sure if this author is telling the truth. I say that b/c when reading a caption of the book, i notice that he states that Tina asked to keep her stage name during the divorce. This is something that the movie "What's Love...?" showed. In reality, Tina Turner admits that she did not ask for this. She didn't care if she kept her stage name, all she wanted was her freedom. So I think the author isn't accurate. But it's still fun to read, but I don't take it seriously.



2. Fun to read even though many things are probably exagerated. But it's a good read for fans to realise that Tina Turner is just a human being as all of us with her flaws and with her merits and not the saint she is always portraied at in the Media.



3. What's with all the errors in this book? Mr. Hampton is a wanna-be singer who is now just a washed up, drug addicted, drag queen trying to make a buck off of Tina Turner. At least that's what the book says. This book isn't worth purchasing.



4. Some of the facts may not be right but Eddy dishes up some stuff that would cause any Tina fan to read the book cover to cover. Its like reading the Enquirer - read it just for fun - and fun it is. Don't take it seriously. One thing is undeniable, pictures don't lie. Tina looks like she was a real party girl in her old days. But weren't we all, so what. She still survives graciously and gets better even without the protection of her fans. She didn't need her fan's protection when Ike was pounding on her, so why does she need her fan's protecting her from this piece of prose -not necessary. If she was that upset about this book, I bet her management would have filed suit to have the book removed. Truth is its just more publicity. Most of us will never know the real Tina so this is just another "story" which is as good as any from someone who was closer to her than any of her fans could ever hope to be. And Tina fans - relax - Tina can take care of herself. She always has. And think of this, she may not even mind if Eddy made a little money from the book - I believe she is reported to be that generous!



5. Based on the amount of date and fact errors (that aren't hard to spot by even a casual Tina Turner follower), I would be inclined not to trust the rest of the information in this book. While I am certainly not an authority on TT, I was present for a portion of one of her rehearsals recently and didn't see anything other than professional behaviour. Seems to me that the author might be trying to capitalize on Turner's recent popularity. Shame, shame!!

1 comments about Emmitt: Run With History.

1. This is a great book that displays Emmitt Smith's life and football career and his pursuit of Walter Payton's rushing record. The pictures in this book are very good since they are contributed by an official Cowboys photographer. The book also shows another side of Emmitt, his family life, that you probably wouldn't know even if you have been a fan of his for many years. By reading this book you really get the sense that Emmitt is a good man as well as being an extraordinary running back. I would recommend this book to all Cowboys fans and Emmitt fans.

2 comments about Charlie Parker: His Music and Life (The Michigan American Music Series).

1. This is the most accurate and thorough book on Charlie Parker's music, and contains an excellent, concise account of his life. Unfortunately, my textbook supplier says it's out of print.
   
   Woideck's excellent _A Charlie Parker Companion_ is my other favorite book on the subject -- also out of print! I have wanted to use these two books in popular graduate seminars I teach on Parker's music, but haven't been able to obtain them.



2. I have the honor of being one of Carl Woideck students in his various jazz related classes at the University of Oregon and I can say without a doubt that this man knows his jazz. This book is an extension of who Charlie Parker was to his music and to the public -- filled with many personal insights about the man and his legend. This book is truly a must for any fan of Bird or popular music in general.

3 comments about Playing Through: Straight Talk on Hard Work, Big Dreams, and Adventures with Tiger.

1. (...)
   9th English
   24 March 2006
   "Playing Through"
   In the book "Playing Through" written by Earl Woods telling how to play through life's challenges, to dream big, and to work hard.
   "Playing Through means getting down to business, not letting anything get in your way, dealing with the task at hand, and accomplishing your goals." Tiger had to go through lots of racial discrimination when he first became a pro golfer. His father Earl Woods went through some of the same things when he was a young man. His father was the first African-American to play in the Big Eight Conference, Which is a Baseball League. So he also had to play through all of the racial discrimination.
   Dream Big, that is what Tiger Woods has been doing seen he was a little boy. Earl wanted him to be a baseball player like himself, but Tiger had other plans. Tiger wanted to be a golfer; he has been playing golf since he was around the age of three, when he was hitting balls in his garage. Then at the age of eleven he beat his dad for the first time 71 to 72.
   Work Hard, even though Tiger is a pro at what he does he still has to practice at his game. He really had to work hard at his game when he was younger or he would not be as good as he is now. Working hard also goes into playing through if he could not focus on his own game he could not play as good as he does.



2. Who was the man who was behind Tiger Woods to mold and shape him into the champion that he is today? The answer is Earl Woods, Tiger's father, friend and confidant. Playing Through is Earl Woods' own biography of what it is like to be the father of one of golf's greatest stars. One would expect a cohesive and comprehensive story about Earl's life and that of his son. Instead you are presented with a man who is uncapable of seperating himself from the persona of his son. Earl Woods spends the majority of the time speaking about his son rather than himself. How strange, since the book is supposed to be about Earl Woods. Unfortunately it ends up as a promotional text about Tiger.

   Earl Woods is a man who dealt with many obstacles in his life. As a teenager he lost his parents, struggled with a career choice, dealt with the racism in the Army and a failed marriage. Then after his divorce and remarriage a child was born and Earl devotes his life to him even at the expense of his own marriage. At this juncture we hear no more about Earl. Tiger becomes the focus which is a shame since Earl's life is far more interesting.

   Throughout the work Earl tends to put people on a pedestle to the point where they become unreal ( his mother, his brother-in-law, and the orignial Tiger, his friend). He is defensive about any criticism about his son and doesn't tell us much about his relationship with his other children. Earl is so emeshed in his youngest son's identity that he becomes a bore. Surely he could have told us more about himself rather than going on and on and on about Tiger.

   Despite his faults Earl Woods raises some interesting questions regarding the role of the NCAA on student athletes. He intimates that the NCAA controls the athletes who make money for their schools but receive nothing in return. Earl also shows the impact that Tiger's status has made on the game. Tiger's presence has made the game more accessible to people, raised the purses, tightened security and inspired more minority children as well as their parents to take up the game. Tiger's impact is immeasurable as he continues his career.

   If you can tolerate Earl's egotistical meanderings and defensive posture, the book is a good lesson in how not to make the mistakes Earl made and become a better parent. It is filled with Tiger's triumphs and challenges. Earl comes across as your controlling parent of an exceptional and talented player. It is worth the read for those who are Tiger fans and collectors of books written about thim.




3. From this book, I get the feeling that Earl Woods is one of the most egotistical people I have ever come across. He does nothing but talk about how good he is at this, how good he is at that, what he did to bring up Tiger, etc. He even says his separation from his wife Tida is due to affluence, not that they are simply separated. Also, he takes no responsibility for anything that has ever happened to him. Every negative experience in his life was due to him being a minority. Give me a break.

   He also feels the NCAA was out to get he and his precious Tiger. NCAA rules are rules, just like in golf. Get over it. Tiger was not treated any differently than any other college athlete. Tiger was offered a country club membership at the Olympic Club while he was at Stanford, and Earl can't figure out why the NCAA wouldn't let him take it. Because, believe it, or not...Tiger has to live under the same rules as everyone else on this planet.

   I do have to say the book is an easy read, and keeps you interested, but only because Earl's "thumb on my back" mentality keeps you laughing.