3 comments about Deja Views of an Aging Orphan.

1. *Professor Roy Lachman reviews Deja Views of an Aging Orphan; Growing Up in the Hebrew National Orphan Home (Xlibris, Philadelphia) by Sam George Arcus.

   For the first time in over 50 years, there is a resurgence of interest in a "faith-based" approach to social services, driven by the current administration in the White House. Sam George Arcus' book, a retrospective on his childhood and youth in a pre-WWII Hebrew orphan home, provides invaluable data and insights into the efficiency and effectiveness of the faith-based services delivered by these homes.

   During the first half of the twentieth century, institutions dealt with several constituencies: orphans, criminals, and what were then called the "insane". The care of criminals and the insane was the province of government, except for a few private clinics serving the well to do mentally ill. The care of orphans, on the other hand, was almost exclusively the province of faith-based institutions such as the Hebrew National Orphan Home (chronicled by Arcus), Academies of the Sacred Heart, institutions sponsored by other denominations and the well-known Boys Town located in Nebraska.

   Today, these roles are very different. The mentally ill are treated by private, for profit institutions providing they have insurance. Government handles the criminally insane. There are relatively few asylums for the uninsured mentally ill; these people make up a disproportionate number of what are now called "the homeless," who are served largely by faith-based, not-for-profit organizations. There are virtually no orphan homes any more; instead, orphaned children without family are usually assigned to foster homes under the auspices of the state. Criminals are still the province of government, with a prison population that has expanded beyond the wildest predictions that could have been made, say, in 1950. Into this milieu President Bush has declared his intention to invite faith-based institutions once again to deal with contemporary social problems. So how can a book like Deja Views of an Aging Orphan enlighten our approach to the social issues of today? Although the data presented are anecdotal, they are very rare. No controlled studies exist comparing the effectiveness of orphanages with that of foster care - there was limited temporal overlap, and the social contexts of the different historical periods in which they occurred rendered comparison futile. However, the anecdotal evidence, as well as some of the reflections offered by Arcus, suggests that group homes may well work better than foster care in terms of protecting the children from the type of abuse that contributes to the burgeoning prison population. If government funds are to be funneled to faith-based programs while foster care is still the primary method of serving orphaned or dependent children, and if some of these programs return to traditional group homes, a golden opportunity exists to equate many of the variables that affect outcomes, thus permitting a principled evaluation of foster care as opposed to congregate group care. Arcus' book provides a rich source of hypotheses for such work. In fact, it can be perceived as a benchmark for the genre labeled "Orphanology" by Dr. Stanley Friedland, co-author of an earlier work An Orphan Has Many parents (KTAV Publishers, NY) to which Arcus also contributed. Besides its value in support of research, Deja Views is an entertaining and often touching account of one man's journey to adulthood through a non-traditional path. Arcus has captured the flavor of the orphan homes in which he was placed, as well as their lasting influence on him as a person and the definition of himself as an "aging orphan." It is well worth reading.

   *Dr. Roy Lachman, is Professor and Director of Graduate Training of the Department of Psychology, University of Houston, Houston TX,...




2. Growing up in a family consisting of two loving parents, a sister and doting grandparents, it is hard to fathom that there are others in this world not as fortunate as you are. But Sam George Arcus's book, Deja Views Of An Aging Orphan will prove to anyone who reads this most wonderful descriptive book, that there still can be love and devotion and a sense of family with children bonding together to form a "brotherhood" of long lasting and loving relationships. Intertwined with the trials and tribulations of being designated as "orphans" or "inmates", these children searching for love and acceptance do come to find their Home does have some heart.

   To anyone not familiar with orphanage or institutional life, and most are not, one must first understand what is an orphan? Not all orphans had two deceased parents. Some have/had one and were called half-orphans, others might even have/had both, but abandoned because of ill health, poverty or other reasons. These children were placed in institutions through no fault of their own. Many carrying resentment of other relatives, i.e. aunts, uncles and cousins who refused to "save" them from this new and scary life. For those lucky few that still had some family, their Sunday and holiday visits meant the world to them. The caring women's auxiliaries and other organizations that went out of their way to donate their time and monies to make life as pleasant and normal as possible for these children were to be commended.

   Throughout the pages of Deja Views Of An Aging Orphan, Sam Arcus brings to us 50 to 60 years of memories, stories, columns and thoughts of what life was like and how it was lived at the Hebrew National Orphan Home on Tuckahoe Road, in Yonkers, NY. Laughter and tears are contained in "all the parts" of this book that makes it "whole".

   A wonderful read! "You Are There!"....just as Edward R. Murrow used to say.




3. In the genre of books by orphans about their respective orphanages, a new gem has just hit the market. "Deja Views" enables the reader to walk in the shoes of a fascinating man and re-live his development from an orphan in dire straits to that of an impact individual who has made strong contributions to our society. The author, Sam Arcus, details his childhood experiences of his life in the Hebrew National Orphans' Home and of its impact and influence on his entire life. His narrative is colorful, richly detailed and viewed from all sides. The reader is able to "feel" each experience, which gives rise to that enjoyable reading sensation of, "What's next?" The"Aging Orphan" in the title refers to the sequencing of the author's life. After leaving his own orphanage, he became a beloved supervisor in another one and then started a long and illustrious career in Jewish Community Centers where he developed a national reputation for creating some of the best Centers in the country. So, in a manner of speaking, he remained in related institutions all of his life and retained a good humored self concept as an "aging orphan." Given the width and breath of his total experiences, which are richly detailed in the book, the author is uniquely well qualified to add some new and valuable insights and observations to the emerging field of "orphanology".And he does so, eloquently, informatively and interestingly. Whether you are a scholar in this field, or just looking for a good read, I would recommend this book to you with great enthusiasm. It is, indeed, a gem!

   Stan Friedland Syosset, N.Y.

No comments about Growing Up in the City: A Boy's Tale.

5 comments about Living Crazy Like Fly.

1. In her book, Living Crazy Like Fly, author Caryn Suarez invites her readers to travel with her on a journey from the depths of depression to the euphoria of joy, and back again. Author Suarez's has done an able job as she writes of a young woman's daily trek from hell to heaven, from home to school.

   It takes courage for one to write of something so personal, so tragic. And yet Ms. Suarez has provided us an opportunity to explore, with her, the dark corners of that young woman's life and to see the skeletons in the closets of the place she called home for so many painful years.

   To you readers:I hope you plan on giving Ms. Suarez a chance to share with you the heart felt story of one woman's tragedy and triumph, of her heartbreak and joy, by buying a copy of this remarkable book.

   To Ms. Suarez: I hope you plan on sharing with us, in writing, more of your thoughts and stories.




2. After reading the book I realized that I was not alone. I think there are many others out there from the '70's who were in the same boat and did not have anyone to talk to about the abuse they were suffering at home. Like the author, we went to school to escape home life. I think it is a great book and that everyone should read this true to life story of survival. It lets you know there is still a chance for all of us to land on our feet.



3. Caryn has wrote a great but sometimes sad, sometimes happy book about growing up in the 70's. Though I am a personal friend of the author, I believe the reader will throughly enjoy this book and be able to relate to it from their own growing pains. We had lots of fun in that era and hope you will join the adventure. Just watch out for the holes in the ground :-)



4. I found Caryn Suarez' story captivating, a good read, and something I couldn't put down once I started reading. How easily we picture our friends and neighbors as 'typical,' and yet does anyone ever know what really goes on behind closed doors ? A book I recommend to anyone who wants to read about the hidden truths in small town USA.



5. Imagine going home from school, walking in your door and fearing for your life. Now, do that everday for about 15 years. Picture yourself walking into a room and looking down the barrel of a large caliber gun held by your father. The man who is supposed to protect his family and children, instead he is beating them until they can hardly move. This happened in my small town. It was in her household that this story takes place. Her home was her private hell. It was a place that was perfect; an "all American household" on the outside, but to the people who lived in the house it was the worst place on earth. However, her life was not totally miserable. The book tells of her high school activities, her friends and "ze Country Club". This was a club that she and her friends formed and it became a club much loved by most of the students. It was special because the leaders did not limit entrance by social status, money or age: they let you be a part of their lives if you were a good person and fun to be with. In my honest opinion, this book was the most depressing, happy, funny, disturbing and most heartfelt book that I have ever read. "Living Crazy Like Fly" is a book that EVERYBODY should read. It gives you strength to endure bad things; and it makes good things much better. It brings reality to life and makes the human heart a little bit kinder.

4 comments about ...By Reason of Childhood.

1. Francis Connelly's BY REASON OF CHILDHOOD is a frank remembrance of a youth spent on Brooklyn's sidewalks. While reading it, I was struck by how Mr. Connelly's book was a sort of male version of Betty Smith's A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. The impossible task of coping with an alcoholic father, the toughing it out in the streets, the quick allies and enemies of childhood, all come together in this open and, often times, funny narrative. Qualities you don't find very frequently these days. The fact is, you have to learn to laugh at life, especially when it tends to frown at you; this is the subtext of BY REASON OF CHILDHOOD. It is a powerfully taught lesson which, to Mr. Connelly's credit, is conveyed to us through this wonderful book.



2. I just finished reading this book, and spent as much time crying as I did laughing. It's basically a really engaging collection of episodes from an Irish youth spent making the most of a situation marked with the sadness of an absent, alcohholic father. I read Angela's Ashes several years ago, but found this memoir to be so much more refreshing because it's so much less "literary" and so much more personable. The voice with which the stories are told is more common than McCourt's (in my opinion almost contrived) loftiness, and the image I most often had in mind was Connelly as my own father, telling random stories from memory as they occurred to him, and as he remembered them. In spite of the hardships he was faced with, this guy was a champ at finding the fun and wonder in the simple things he had before him. I live in Brooklyn today, but Connelly made me wish for some of the Brooklyn of yesterday.



3. Once you get started reading this book, you won't want to put it down! This is the story of what it was like for a young Irish boy growing up in old time Brooklyn. You'll share in his triumphs and sorrows. The author has a certain charming wit that just about everyone can identify with. If you're a fan of true life stories - you must add ...by Reason of Childhood to your reading list.



4. This book is a must for fans of memoirs, old-time Brooklyn stories, and stories of the Irish experience in America. I really got sucked into the story. He had a tough life, his father was an alcoholic and never around, his mother had grown up in an orphanage, they had no money-but somehow he was able to have a sense of humor about it all and grow up with a real sense of right and wrong, aware of the joy that's possible in life. Even though his childhood wasn't all roses he could look back on it with affection and new understanding. I highly recommend this book, it was truly inspiring. The way he wrote with such an honest, unaffected voice was so refreshing too.

3 comments about One Dog Man.

1. As a child in the Sixties, I read everything I could find--I pillaged the library and I went through nearly every book on my grandmother's tall shelves. I don't know who put "One-Dog Man" into my hands, but it instantly became one of my favorite books of all time. Sadly, I long ago lost the copy I had as a child.
   
   The story is the first-person tale of a little boy (we never learn his name, I suspect that's because "Ahmad" would have jarred Baby Boomer America--the book was first published in 1950) who acquires partial ownership of a feisty little dog, whom he has to share with his best friends, a pair of twins. These boys get into more scrapes and situations with bullies, police, mothers, fathers, siblings, and neighbors than any kids I've ever seen, but the story is completely compelling. The details include those of the times: there are thrashings and a certain kind of violence that kids just live through. And always, the dog is central to everything, but mostly it's a book about childhood, where nothing is sacchrine or sterilized or politically correct. Have I mentioned that it's hilarious? It's HILARIOUS.
   
   Refreshingly, there is no moral to the story-only impeccable storytelling.
   
   ... Ignore the cover--you cannot judge this book by its cover.
   
   It is a wonderful story, if you are a realist with a tremendous sense of humor. I love memoirs, and it's rare to find a childhood memoir this charming. The only thing that comes close is the fabulous book by Haven Kimmel, "A Girl Named Zippy."
   
   ...



2. This book is written for the child (what little there might be left of it) in all adults. Written with the appearance as being a child's book, it will breath new life into your soul.

   If you enjoy fiction, philosophy, self help or want some innocent energy injected back into your life, read this book! Wonderful! :)




3. I highly reccomend reading this book for anyone who considers themself an adult. For those who are children at heart, it will fuel the inner child. For those who have lost the inner child, it will give you a sincere taste for life again.

   This book is very easy reading. It puts on the front that it is a childlen's book but, in my opinion, is really a book written for the child within the adult.

   If you enjoy reading, if you enjoy philosphy or just reading fiction, this is a wonderful book. You will be glad you read it!

1 comments about Orphan Boy.

1. Orphan Boy is an interesting read. The book recounts the true story of a boy left parentless at an early age, his struggles to earn a living--or sometimes just to survive--in the early 20th century West. It's an inspirational story of a boy who never relented, and always forged ahead to make a better life for himself. It was never easy for him, but his persistence paid off. As his life progressed, he became a very successful businessman--quite a change from the often homeless, disregarded boy of his youth, who sometimes wondered where he would get his next meal.
   
   I encourage you to read Orphan Boy for its overall message of persistence and ingenuity. The story of how this boy (Russell Milne, Sr.) was compelled to survive and succeed in a tough world is truly a motivational read!

1 comments about A Tobacco Farmer's Daughter.

1. I think that this book is so very interesting. It hold your interest from cover to cover. When you start reading it, you have to finish. I would tell anyone to invest in this book for one day, it will be a valuable book, one that goes down in history.

1 comments about HELL WAS EMPTY: A BIOGRAPHY FROM THE THIRD REICH.

1. Hell Was Empty: A Biography From The Third Reich by Dieter W. Gombert, AuthorHouse, 557p.
   
   In the opening pages of this book, Author's Reflections, Dieter Gombert states "much has been reported about the Holocaust and the incredible sufferings of the Jews, but they were not the only victims of the monstrous Nazi Regime. Many German gentiles, who were social Democrats, Communists, or plain dissenters, were tortured and murdered. Those perilous times brought out the best and the worst of human society." This is the only insight into the book's contents since there is no cover overview or description, nor is any provided by listings with book distributors. What follows is a story told by the author about his German father and Jewish mother and his own experiences. The beginning of the book covers father, Wilhelm Gombert, a recognized opera performer, who encounters problems because of his marital situation. Most of the book, however is mainly devoted to Dieter Gombert's personal experiences from 1933 until 1948. It is better classified as an autobiography rather than a biography. The book is well illustrated with pictures of family and friends, various residences of the family, and the personalities referenced in the book.
   
   Hell Was Empty is published in larger than average print size and the style is very informal. This may have been done to give the presentation a personalized feeling, but this reader felt as though he was reading a diary or informal ramblings. Unfortunately there are many spelling and typographical errors.
   
   Mr. Dieter is continually in search of himself, and, while he attempts many activities, his main objective seems to be a theatrical career with emphasis on acting, dancing and singing. This brings him into contact with a variety of people whom he always describes very clearly as to physical features and attire. He has very strong opinions about the people introduced and offers insights into their past activities, making future references to them when they are affected by the war. He is clearly a womanizer and describes many affairs during his discourse. At times his adventures almost sound like a travelogue with details of places visited on bike rides and other excursions. Life seems to go on despite the war and this appears to be his purpose in such descriptions. These scenarios are periodically interrupted with a statement or two about the political and war situation. These are situations that required additional comment, but are only addressed by personal wishes that Hitler would be ousted. It is clear this was not a national desire.
   
   The War is covered in more detail as the United States enters the conflict toward the latter part of the book. The effects of the bombings on civilians and the encounters in the bomb shelters as well as the devastation have a very emotional impact. His efforts to leave Germany and go to Sweden become the main theme of the book as he encounters the obstacles presented by Nazi officials and border crossings. He is continually at odds with the United States for not ending the war and offers some armchair advice for reaching that objective. He finally succeeds in reaching Sweden, where the family is eventually re-united. In 1948 he immigrated to the United States.
   
   Mr. Dieter has a story to tell. There are many apparent remembrances and dangers he experienced as a resident in Germany during World War II. He was not permitted to serve because he was not a pure Aryan and his Jewish status was a constant barrier to his activities. There are many materials available today on the subject of the Holocaust and those who opposed Hitler's regime, but the depth of such resistance is not presented in this book in a readable and convincing manner. Much of this has to do with the writing style and rambling of much of the text. There is also a failure to expand on discussions with family and friends without detail which would better help to understand conditions, in general and viewpoints in Germany at the time. .

No comments about Bosnian Counterpoint.

No comments about Transitions: Stories of Our Journeys.