No comments about Memoirs of Marguerite de Valois, Volume 2 [EasyRead Comfort Edition].

No comments about Autobiography of Madame Guyon.

5 comments about Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Large Print Edition): Written by Herself.

1. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: This book is diffficult to read because of the horrible reminders of
   the wretched life of American slaves. The book is so
   well written, beautiful prose, detailed descriptions
   of rememberances that I am sure were difficult to
   relive. I highly recommend this wonderful book to any
   one.



2. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl / 0-674-44746-8
   
   It is amusing to note that Jacobs' autobiography was published just prior to Stowe's famous Uncle Tom's Cabin. Stowe's work, for all it's virtues, is (to modern eyes, at least) painfully didactic, frequently breaking the narrative to tell the reader what they are meant to take from a scene. Jacobs' Incidents, however, is written freely and easily, relating the salient points of her life, rarely breaking narrative to tell the reader what to think. It is merely presented, as is, and is immensely more readable than other contemporary works. Unfortunately, Jacobs' work was passed over as too salacious - she actually includes men in her novel, and not all her encounters are strictly 'forced', in the sense that some liaisons are contracted for convenience and safety, if not always for love.
   
   Amusingly, these "flaws" in Jacobs' character make her narrative that more interesting and insightful to read. It is relevant and worth knowing that slaves sometimes felt obligated to please certain men in order to secure safety or basic necessities. Jacobs determination to survive and thrive within the system that oppresses her causes us to admire her and to enjoy her narrative as we hope for some kind of happiness and success in her life of few options, none of them good. If you have any interest at all in slavery or the American Civil War, I highly recommend this narrative.



3. I had no idea that this book would be as compelling as it was. Really, it was a bit of a pleasant surprise. I bought it because it was required reading for a class, but ended up liking it... Who knew?



4. It's obvious the difficulty slaves endured. Ironic, but she endures a great deal more than most. How her story ends is not predictable.



5. Concerning this edition (the book is a must read)... Dover's thrift editions are just that--thrifty. The text is close together and the overall readability of the edition is fair. It works, but I'd like to see Oxford or Penguin make a "classic" edition with a scholary introduction, footnoting and contextual information like 19th century reviews, etc... A good edition, needs improvement, but then it wouldn't have a "thrifty" price!

2 comments about A House With Four Rooms (Ulverscroft Large Print Series).

1. "A House With Four Rooms," the second and last volume of Rumer Godden's memoirs, is one of the most treasured volumes in my library. Miss Godden writes with a terrible beauty of her life on returning to England, a divorcee with two little girls, her obstinate and ultimately successful struggle to earn a living solely by writing, her second marriage, her conversion to Catholicism, the years at Stanbrook Abbey where she wrote "In This House of Brede," her publishers, the films made from her books, and (of course) her love affairs with houses. She also writes delightfully and with her incomparable irony of the challenges of fame, a lecture tour of the United States, etc. The book nourishes the mind, the soul, the imagination, and the heart. You will be consoled without having realized you were in need of consolation. Enjoy, if you haven't already, the first volume of her memoirs, "A Time to Dance, No Time to Weep."



2. "A House With Four Rooms" will delight those new to Rumer Godden as well as those who have read "A Time to Dance, No Time to Weep," the first volume of her memoirs. This second volume tells the story of her life in England after WWII when she returned from India, her getting established as a writer in London, raising Jane and Paula, love affairs with several delightful houses, collaboration with Jean Renoir on the movie "The River," second marriage, lecture tours of America, conversion to Catholicism, link with the Benedictine nuns and writing of "This House of Brede," and a wealth of other charming things. The wine of her life beautifully aged and distilled, this memoir ends with her retirement to Scotland, but its delight goes on long after that. You'll love it.

No comments about My Stroke!.

No comments about One Woman's Life (Large Print Edition).

No comments about From Early Life: Childhood in Crewe (Isis Reminiscence Series).

1 comments about The Silent Stars Go by: A True Christmas Story (Isis Large Print Nonfiction).

1. "The Silent Stars Go By" is a Christmas story we all wish we could tell, but don't have a childhood like Williams' to reflect on. Throughout the work, Williams is able to recall the era of the late 1950s and how the fall and early winter of 1959 in particular impacted he and his family. Madison, Georgia at that time was a northeast Georgia village in love with its football team (the local high school won 3-of-4 state championship and many regional titles in and around the late 50s and early 60s)and Williams masterfully gives readers a clear depiction of what the town was like. In a style similar to his "Heart of the Distant Forest," Williams also creates a sense of his love for all things natural and devotion to family. The fact that the story is true, and based on his family's own struggle, is something many should treasure. An additional pleasant aspect of the story is that there is no "angry child syndrome." This is a joyous tale, I love the book and have read it twice.

No comments about Far Away and Long Ago.

No comments about Memories and Adventures (Transaction Large Print Books).