5 comments about Kitchen Privileges : A Memoir.

1. I read this book when it first came out and was not disappointed in the slightest. I've read every Mary Higgins Clark book ever written. They're page turners, pure and simple, with often riveting plots and always nice, dignified characters. In an increasingly nastier world, I LIKE nice :). A lovely book about how a very lovely lady came to be one of the top fiction writers, triumphing over many odds.



2. My Mother has been suffering from memory issues. We recently lucked out and found a prescription drug that has helped her focus more than she has in years. We couldn't believe it when she told us she read a book (the only book she's read in several years) that she borrowed from a friend at her Assisted Living facility. Apparently it was in large print and she loved it. I personally haven't read it, but she did pass it on to her older sister (83) and youger sister (77) and my sister 50) who all read it and said it was great. So, probably good gift idea for those form the depression era.



3. A member of my church loaned me this book and to be frank, I wasn't all that interested in it. I had never read anything by Mary Higgins Clark before, and why did a writer name her book after a kitchen anyway? I was also intent on reading the Elsie Dinsmore books, and so put this book down, thinking that I'll return it after a week or so.
   
   Two weeks passed and I finally realized that I should at least make a seventy-something woman happy by reading it and so I began reading it after reading another borrowed book, "The Secret Life of Bees" (see my review on that superb novel). From Chapter One, I was hooked.
   
   Mary Higgins Clark writes her story with charm, wit and detail. She tells us the story of her childhood in the 1940s, the death of her father, her first jobs, her marriage and the births of her five children. She discusses her dream of becoming a writer and I can relate to this. I love to write, but my work is either rubbish or incomplete or both.
   
   However, the book was very short and left me asking some questions. She's written a lot of books, but only goes into detail about writing two of them-one of which was a failure. The epilogue leaves you asking questions that she doesn't answer, especially since she devotes an entire sentence to her second, failed marriage. Wow...
   
   Despite these flaws, I am going to read Mary Higgins Clark's fictional works and see if they are as well-written as this book is. I encourage any aspiring writer to read this book.



4. The voice of Mary Higgins Clark comes through clearly to her many readers in "Kitchen Privileges." Her story-telling skills are on display as she relates the events through the decades of her life. Populating the story are family and friends, dear to her, and a theme throughout (though understated) is her warm Irish pluck, that courage that enabled her to raise five children when she was left on her own as a young widow. Clark is modest about her highly-honed writing ability; also, she never overplays her unfolding story. Instead she carries the reader along in a highly competent, yet matter-of-fact style---it's like she's
   refusing to take the role of heroine. The woman we meet in these pages is modest, immensely likable, and still young in spirit after all these years and all these best sellers. Clark's memoir deserves the highest recommendation.



5. I've been reading Mary Higgins Clark's well-woven tales of mystery since I was a little girl. I long admired and enjoyed Mrs. Higgins Clark's gift for writing entertaining mysteries with characters that still seemed like "real people". When I saw her memoir available I scooped it up immediately and read it in one afternoon. Several times I laughed out loud and cried tears of sorrow reading about her life from its humble, beautiful beginnings in the Bronx to her struggle as a young widow with five small children. I had no idea that the author had undergone such a road in her life to reach the success and fame she now well deserves. I highly reccomend this book to any Mary Higgins Clark fan, or anyone who would like to read an account of a resourceful, tender on the inside, tough as nails on the outside lady. Bravo!

5 comments about Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes (Random House Large Print (Paper)).

1. None comes better. The recipes are honest and measure up to the quality of the author! Props to Sister Angelou !



2. A wonderful mix of story and recipe.
   As I try these wonderful southern dishes I recall her stories and I can sense the history of the dish.
   the caramel cake is worth 10x the price of the book alone.



3. I love this cookbook. I have already tried some recipes from it. Almost three weeks passed, however, before I received it. I am very satisfied with it.



4. My daughter reproduced the same Caramel Cake that Maya made as a guest on Martha Stewart's show, for my birthday last fall...oh my gosh, it was so good!
   
   So good that I gave her Hallelujah! The Welcome Table, for Christmas.
   
   It is a warm and wonderful book, chock full of memories and yummy recipes...including the Caramel Cake.



5. The book is great, I also bought the cd which is great and expected recipes to be read on it and there were none except for a few on recipe cards. Good that I bought the book because I was really looking for the recipes.

5 comments about Three Weeks with My Brother.

1. Warning. Don't read the front cover flap of this book. It is a plot buster.
   
   This book is for anyone who ever had a brother or sister or ever wanted one. It describes a trip around the world in three weeks to some of the oldest buildings on this planet. While it seems like they spent more time on the planes than actually in the countries, and they saw more museums than they could handle, they also stood in awe of the world's greatest man-made treasures. Interspersed with the stories of old buildings, there were stories of old relationships: between two brothers, to their parents, to their sister, to their spouses and to their own children. In short a great read.
   
   Just don't read the front cover flap before reading the book.



2. I am a huge fan of Nicholas Sparks. I have every book he has written. I used to read his early books and wonder why sometimes they seemed so sad. Now I understand. I read this book in two days. I could not put it down!



3. I own every Nicholas Sparks book there is, so I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who has never read his books. I was interested in the type of person who could write such interesting books and I wasn't let down. I definately had laughs and tears with this book. If you like his books, read this one. It makes you appreciate all his other works much more.



4. This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. I couldn't put it down. Fantastic tale of two brothers and their stuggles in their life. I say this is a must read. You will fall in love with the book and the family. I totally recommend this book.
   Thanks



5. This book was a wonderful way to get to know Nicholas Sparks and his family. It was very interesting to go on the adventure with he and Micah, but I loved the childhood stories and finding out what Nicholas Sparks is all about! Read before you read any more of his books! You won't be disappointed.

5 comments about My Prison Without Bars.

1. My Prison Without Bars No one who has been involved with baseball over the last 40 years doesn't know who "Charlie Hustle" is. The unfortunate part of "Charlie Hustle" is Pete Rose himself. I came to this book with an open mind and heart, knowing rather little than most of the scandal that surrounded him when he was thrown out of baseball for gambling.
   
   It wasn't really the gambling aspect and its aftermath that stunned me. It was, rather, the man himself who I came to thoroughly dislike when all was said and done. He comes off as the most arrogant, boorish and narcissistic fools I've ever read about. I did not have the impression that he was in any way sorry for what he did nor had he been, in any way, rehabilitated. Pete Rose is a man on a mission with the end stop being The Hall of Fame. The only hall he's fit for is The Hall of Shame! After all he has been through he's still excusing himself with the words, "that's the way I am!" The things he has missed along the way are the very things that might have re-instated him by now. His only feeling of remorse lies in the fact that he has not yet been able to parlay his arrogant behavior into a second chance...and he won't if he keeps that type of in your face behavior up.
   
   As we all are, Pete Rose is his own worst enemy. He came from nothing but had a talent that was undeniable. His are stats that dreams are made of. Catapulted into a world of money and privilege that he enjoyed for many, many years he was able to live his life as he wished. He was a brash, foul-mouthed, egotistical bundle of power which is still his forte today. The only difference between yesterday and today is that people are no longer listening and he has lost his leverage as a baseball legend and a man. Instead of copping to his lame "that's the way I am" excuse, he should be partaking of psychotherapy every day of his life until he learns humility and true remorse for his disgusting actions. No one cares that that's the way you are Pete! We want to know what you're willing to do to change the way you are and become the man you ought to be.



2. The last twenty years should have been the best of times for baseball. Four incredible records, the all-time number of career hits, the all-time number of career home runs, the record for home runs in a season and the number of consecutive games played have all been broken. Yet, only one of these, Cal Ripken's incredible streak of games played, is untainted. The home run records are tarnished by the likely event that Mark McGuire and Barry Bonds took illegal performance enhancing substances and the record for career hits is diminished by Pete Rose's admitting he gambled on baseball.
   This book is Rose's life story, his incredible drive to succeed and how it spilled over into the thrill of gambling, even to the point where he was gambling his career and stature in the game. I was a big fan of Rose when he played, every minute he was on the field he demonstrated how the game should be played. He played to win every moment; he gave everything he had in everything he did on the field. No one can take that away and he should be commended for that.
   However, the integrity of the game must rise above any individual player, no matter what they have accomplished. While Rose admits to his errors and even served time in prison for them, he never seems to quite reach this realization. No player should be allowed to bet on baseball games, this rule must remain absolute and strictly and in some cases brutally enforced. My high opinion of Rose would have been restored had he said that.
   This book deals primarily with Rose's life off the field, which is unfortunate. Given the length of his career and the great players he was on the field with, the book would have been improved if Rose had spent some time describing his experiences with those players. It is also sad to read how far this man fell as a consequence of his breaking the rules.
   The last point I want to make is that I believe that Rose should be elected to the baseball hall of fame. The off the field conduct of some of the players in the hall was far worse that Rose's. For example, the lives of charter members Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth are horrendous. The rule is that once one pays their debts to society, they are allowed back in. Rose should be allowed back in.



3. My Prison Without Bars provides a decent insight into the trial and tribulations of the life of Pete Rose. The book shows the reader both the good and dark side of one of the all time heroes of America's pastime. The first third of the book is dedicated to Rose's childhood, where the reader gains an understanding of how his gambling addiction first happened (his father took him to his first race track at the very young age of 12).
   
   The second third of the book depicts the life Rose had on the baseball field. It emphasizes his love, desire and devotion to the game of baseball. The section puts into perspective how Rose's staggering desire to win, excel, and be the best that won him fame, admiration, and love from millions of people; but ultimately was the reason for his fall. The section illustrates the innocence, or better put, the ignorance, of Rose and severity of the consequences for the crimes he committed as far as baseball is concerned. In Chapter 9 "the Long Hot Summer" Rose says:
   
   I managed my last baseball game on August 21, a night at Wrigley Field... After I shook hands with all the players, I took one last look at the ivy on that old brick wall and turned in my spikes... I figured I'd be away from the game for a least one year. But after what I'd done - one year was fitting punishment... enough time to get my life back on track.
   
   The final third of the book deals with the prison time Pete Rose served for cheating on his taxes. Pete Rose discusses how he could empathize with the inmate who "got started in a life of crime because they came from broken homes - something I could relate to."
   
   Rose ends the book with a very uplifting reference to his family, and how he feels that he has come to the point of redemption. The lasts words of the book are, fittingly, lyrics to the song Amazing Grace.
   
   I highly recommend reading My Prison Without Bars. Rose's story is a very true, very tragic story of success and failure. Diehard fans of Rose will fall in love with the book. Casual fans of baseball will have apprehensions about certain parts of the book that see somewhat fictitious. One aspect of the book that I believe no one will disagree with is that Pete Rose loves the game of baseball.



4. Pete Rose was one of the best baseball players, but obviously extremely dumb. He admits at the end of the book that he bet on baseball, but says he did not bet on his team. Betting on baseball itself, is extremely unseemely to hear, and if he lied just about this for 15 years is he still covering up the worst sin of betting on or against his team. I would say a dummy like this probably did bet on his team. I knew after I read "Say it Ain't So" about the Blacksox scandal, that if you bet on baseball you would be banned forever from the game--no excuses!!!. I would recommend to Rose to read that book and study Judge Landis Verdict in that case. I knew this when I was 14 years old and Rose still did not even mention this in his book and still doesn't seem to get it. This guy is a hustler/jailbird and should be banned for life just for being stupid enough to do something like this----- Hey, Rose you didn't mention Judge Landis



5. 
   Poor Pete Rose...
   
   After reading Pete's book, Pete Rose, My Prison Without Bars, you just have to think it's such a shame that all those unfortunate events took place in Pete's life. I mean, the man plainly had to have a way to reduce all the stress he was forced to deal with. So Pete turned to gambling. After all, it was his money, wasn't it? Couldn't he do whatever he wanted with HIS money? And hadn't his father taken him to the racetracks and showed Pete how the "big boys bet"? Sure he did. So if Pete's father gambled, and Pete absolutely idolized his father, then the kid had to think gambling was okay...provided, of course, the gambling didn't interfere with the family's livelihood.
   Then too, Pete was afflicted with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), which basically meant he was so full of crap he couldn't sit still long enough to pay attention to what an instructor was saying, though he was doing okay until they told him that Pete was too small to play sports. After that, Pete was so distraught he flunked tenth grade. I might have fallen for Pete's claim to the ADHD problem if he hadn't been so good at numbers, a bookmaker's odds, placing bets, remembering who he owed or who owed him. And we aren't talking chicken feed either. Pete may not have been so much ADHD as he was BWSW (bored with school work), and figured out a way to get around it. Then he had that other problem, ODB (Oppositional Defiant Behavior) that was probably inherited from his mother. She could literally "whup the crap out of you" if someone made her good and mad...and, in fact, often did just that. Basically, what ODB really meant was that you didn't TELL Pete what to do. You ASK him...nicely.
   Pete was no quitter and definitely wasn't lazy when it came to playing baseball. He proved this to the entire world by the baseball records he set, which are to be admired. It was simply all those other rules that seemed to get in Pete's way, so he ignored them. Nobody could make me believe the man didn't know how to read, and Rule #21 was pretty self-explanatory: DON'T BET ON BASEBALL. But Pete did, and as you'd expect, he really didn't mean to do it, he simply couldn't help himself because of the stress. Admittedly, Pete wasn't a very "warm and fuzzy" type person, so relaxing at home with his family was out of the question. It was the excitement of the racetracks and the bookmakers that helped Pete to relax. Of course, the reason he wasn't a very warm and fuzzy type person was because of his childhood. He couldn't remember his parents ever saying they loved him, but he knew they did. Likewise, he never bothered with telling his children that he loved them either. Nope, not much show of affection going on in the Rose clan.
   But let's face it, Rules are Rules. And even though Rules supposedly aren't made to be broken, we all know that most rules are often bent, if, in fact, not broken. Pete Rose doesn't stand alone in the rule-breaking/bending area. However, if the posted rules really don't stand for what they mean, then why have the damn things in the first place?
   Pete Rose didn't do time in the Marion Penitentiary because of gambling. He was given a five-month sentence because of income tax evasion. And even though he may have avoided paying some income taxes, I'm certain he could have paid his fines and back taxes and not had to serve time in a federal prison. Most of those guys in Pete's tax bracket end up trying to beat the tax system in any manner that they can, and even when they're caught, they don't usually end up in a federal prison. Personally, I think Pete got a raw deal.
   Do I think Pete should be forgiven for his betting on baseball and be inducted into the Hall of Fame? I'm not sure and I'm glad that's not my call. I do know there are a lot worse offenses committed by big name athletes today, so if betting on baseball was Pete's only offense, then it does tend to make one wonder. Pete didn't drink, do drugs, or smoke and, he was dedicated the game of baseball. The baseball records he set were earned by his physical and mental ability and done without the aid of steroids...unlike a few other big-name baseball players we know. I guess what it boils down to, is whether or not Pete should be forgiven. We know if this hadn't happened, Pete would already been in Baseball's Hall of Fame. I seriously doubt there's a baseball player out there that in all good conscience would step up to cast the first stone at Pete Rose.
   Finally, I must say I think Rick Hill did a fairly decent job on putting this book together. There were a few areas that could have used a little polishing. I had to laugh at one of Pete's statements when he said, "I got anxious and SWANG right outta my jock". Considering what Hill had to work with, he did okay. This book tells a great deal about Pete Rose's life. If I hadn't read another manuscript given to me by a gentleman that actually served time with Pete Rose in Marion, and recalling the remarks he'd made about Pete, then I might have fallen for some of Pete's story. I just have to keep in mind that this book IS PETE'S STORY, as told by Pete, and not exactly what the other inmates thought of Pete Rose as a person. And if you're a Pete Rose fan, then you don't even want me to go there.

5 comments about Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie (Large Print Edition).

1. Born in Scotland but an immigrant to the United States as a teenager, Andrew Carnegie has been variously characterized as a "captain of industry" or a "robber baron" by those who have chronicled his rise to wealth and fame in the latter nineteenth century. After selling his steel company to J.P. Morgan at the turn of the century, Carnegie devoted himself to philanthropic goals. He gave away more than $350 million to various causes and endowed more than 250,000 libraries. His philanthropic activities were underpinned by a fundamental belief in the virtue of hard work, perseverance, and self-improvement through education, hence his emphasis on libraries and the endowing of other educational organizations. Fundamentally, this book offers a restatement of the "Horatio Alger" myth of the "American dream" of success through personal commitment. At the same time Carnegie seeks to pass on his wisdom gained through a lifetime of effort. A significant and fascinating statement of American industrial individualism that is required reading for all who wish to understand the history of the United States in the latter nineteenth century, Carnegie's autobiography also served as a model for many others to follow. Unfortunately, few achieved the success that Carnegie enjoyed despite the diligence they may have registered.



2. I'll admit that my primary motivation for reading this book was somewhat shallow--I basically wanted to read about how one of history's most successful businessmen amassed so much wealth. To be honest, the book didn't really give as many details as I would have liked on that particular interest. But what I got along the way made the book worth it.

   First and foremost, after reading 350 pages of Carnegie writing about his life you feel like you really start to know him, to get a sense of what kind of human being he was, and even to get a sense of his somewhat remarkable confidence level that exists in conjunction with his pretty inspiring level of benevolence and compassion. But I think even more than getting a sense of Carnegie, you get a sense of the time he lived in. Some of the most engaging parts of the book for me were the first-hand accounts of Lincoln during the Civil War, or Carnegie's conversations with President Harrison about a small uprising in Chile. You also hear about how he handled the strikes of steel workers, an occurence I'd only read about in history books but never learned directly about from the perspective of the manager.

   All throughout Carnegie peppers with his nuggets of wisdom, and you get the feeling he knows people want them really badly but that he chooses to give them sparingly.

   In the end, I probably will never re-read this book, but I feel better educated about one of history's greatest industrialists, greatest benefactors, and the time he lived in after having read it. If you have a nascent interest in history, you will most likely enjoy this book; if you're looking for a "how to make your millions" from a master, I would look elsewhere.




3. The vanity of today's uneducated society is breathtaking. White is black and black is white and 'a little knowledge' is indeed proving very dangerous. This book (along with the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin) should be read by every American citizen - to relearn what America once represented.

   For example, Carnegie Steel, the world's largest company in 1900, was NOT a corporation; it was a private partnership. The sale of the company to JP morgan (for half a billion dollars) was done on a handshake; a contract was a mere afterthought. Reputation and honesty and customer service were THE guiding principles of the era. 'Individual responsibility' was considered a good thing in those days.

   America now has more lawyers per capita than any other nation on Earth. Our politicians now attempt to micro-manage every detail of our lives. You break a fingernail and sue the universe. We have become terrified of freedom. Read this book if you want to understand how America rose from a third world country to a superpower between 1800 and 1900 - without government intervention or welfare or all the millions of rules and regulations we now hold so dear. We have traded away our freedom for security. The price is higher than you think.




4. It has been over a year since I ground my way through this book. My lack of adaptability to the Olde Worlde English may have contributed to this. I found this to be a long book about an interesting individual whose sole purpose for writing the book, I have concluded, was to leave a lasting, self-congratulatory reminder of his own life. I must disagree with a previous review that stated it was a must for any young ambitious person. I am; it wasn't.
   For sheer inspiration from another person's life, I would recommend works on Lincoln, the Wright brothers (Kill Devil Hill), Richard Branson, Edison, Spielberg, Mme Curie, Bruce Lee, Iacocca and Einstein.



5. This book was pracitically written for the ambitious young man, as there are many references to this. Mr. Carnegie serves as a great role model, which I feel is quite important, especially considering the terrible events in schools lately. Carnegie emphasizes the importance of self-improvement, knowing your talents, being kind, and also the importance of public speaking. You will learn important lessons thru personal anecdotes of his life. This book should be required reading for every adolescent attending high school.

5 comments about All or Nothing at All: A Life of Frank Sinatra.

1. To all those reviewers who didn't like Donald Clarke's five-star book, get your heads out of the sand, or wherever else they are. All or Nothing at All is outstanding on America, politics, gangsters, Sinatra, his music, his family, his friends, enemies, and more.
   
   I'm rereading it now. It is marvelous!



2. One thing I'm happy about is that I didn't pay full price. What a waste of paper and cardboard. There's nothing new in this book, nothing you couldn't find elsewhere. It's actually written in the first person, believe it or not, as evidenced by the not so infrequent "I never liked such and such" or "I found it to be." After a while, who cares? And evidently, the author didn't rate either a first rate editor or a fact checker. For example, there's no "e" after the "g" in judgment. He does this repeatedly. Moreover, for someone allegedly so well-versed in the entertainment industry, he's apparently rather ignorant of some basic knowledge. When discussing Reagan's inaugural parties planned by Sinatra, Clarke mentions "someone named Ben Vereen who performed in blackface", and then trashes Sinatra's "judgement" in arranging such entertainment. Uh, Mr. Clarke, Ben Vereen WAS black, he couldn't help BUT be in blackface!



3. Frank Sinatra was always a puzzle -- he sang like an angel, behaved like a jerk, and yet was apparently an extremely generous individual who kept his many charities secret.
   
   Donald Clarke sits with all the contradictions of Sinatra, both musical and personal, without attempting to simplify them. The reviewer below who complained that the book is like an extended essay is right. Clarke does not attempt, in this relatively slim volume, to write the definitive biographical work. It is instead a shrewd, opinionated, and often funny review of the man and his music.
   
   I'm not a FS fanatic, but I do own about 40 or 50 of his albums, which I guess makes me more than a casual fan. I almost always agreed with Clarke's musical judgements (although I think rather more of "Live at the Sands" than he does) and found a lot of value in the way he attempts to separate Sinatra's own bloviations from the facts (e.g. was Mitch Miller really responsible for how bad much of Sinatra's mid-50s work is? Not really, says Clarke, and gives reasons for this opinion).
   
   This book is not a replacement for a full-length biography -- if you want the details on who slapped who first in every fight he had with Ava Gardner, you'll have to go elsewhere. It's also not a replacement for an annotated discography, although it made me hungry for one -- I thought I had a pretty good handle on Sinatra's recorded output, and Clarke made me realize there's a lot I don't know.
   
   As for Clarke's writing style, I say "bravo." Judging by the impish grin he's wearing in the jacket photo, I'd say he's well aware of how provocative some of his comments are, but there's nothing arrogant about this book. Clarke has his opinions, and states them very strongly, but it's clear the reader is welcome to his or her own. If you're the sort of reader who is secure enough to enjoy strongly held and amusingly stated beliefs rather than be upset by them, I recommend this book most highly.



4. Mr. Clarke's "book" is really more of an extended ( and poorly written ) magazine essay. However, I'm not sure what magazine would publish it ( surely not the NEW YORKER or DOWN BEAT ). Clarke never sheds any light on Sinatra's upbringing, personality or musicianship. Not for a moment do you feel either the man or his music come to life. There are literally dozens of examples of his amateurish writing; in one amazingly idiotic passage ( page 132, 3rd paragraph ) he states that the title of Sinatra's famous album "SONGS FOR SWINGIN' LOVERS" has become "mildly irritating" (!). He goes on a moment later to ask whether "swinging" was a euphemism for suburban wife swapping (!!). No one should shell out $$ for this type of drivel. By the way, Mr. Clarke, if you're amusing yourself by reading this review in between writing your "books"; I DIDN'T buy it ( thank God I merely checked it out of the library! ). To concur with some of the other reviewers: regarding the music, try Will Friedwald's "THE SONG IS YOU; A SINGER'S ART" or Charles Granata's upcoming "SESSIONS WITH SINATRA". For an extremely well-balanced, thorough account of Mr. Sinatra's life, try Randy Taraborelli's "SINATRA: A COMPLETE LIFE". For a short but poignant essay, try Pete Hamill's "WHY SINATRA MATTERS". For a famous account of Sinatra c.1966, try Gay Talese's essay entitled "FRANK SINATRA HAS A COLD" ( available in the FRANK SINATRA READER ). Other short but informative passages on Sinatra have been written by Shirley MacLaine and Mia Farrow ( I forget the exact titles of their books ). As far as Clarke's volume is concerned, it only ranks slightly above Kitty Kelley's stinker; in other words, it deserves a spot deep in the bowels of Dante's inferno.



5. You get the feeling reading this book that Donald Clarke sees himself as a far more noble and heroic character than some mere mortal like Frank Sinatra. Clarke has taken self-righteousness and developed it into something approaching an art form. A waste of time, a waste of money, a waste of paper, glue, ink, and whatever else was needed to print this "biography". By the way, give the word "biography" the loosest interpretation possible. Donald Clarke has even less of a clue as to what the word "biograpy" means and his book is the best evidence to support my thesis.

5 comments about She Got Game: My Personal Odyssey.

1. Some people may shy away from this book because they think its about basketball. Wrong -- it's about life, about a person who happens to play basketball.
   
   I think every girl should read this book, because it deals with Cooper's issues with self-esteem and confidence, overcoming poverty, and her pursuit of excellence. I also think every mother should read it, because the book shows how effective a role model Cooper's mother was to her. Maybe mothers and daughters should read this book together, and have discussions about it.
   
   This is not an overtly Christian book, but Cooper is a Christian and does not hide her faith. It is not really an evangelistic book, though one can say it is pre-evangelistic.



2. Cynthia Cooper could be a role model for anyone. She knows how to play the game of life as well as basketball: when to hold, when to fold, and a whole lot more.
   What impressed me most? Signed to play in Italy, Cynthia didn't hang around being homesick. She took the opportunity to learn and grow.
   My favorite scenes:

   (1) New to Italy, she'd never even heard of famous cathedrals that someone asked her about. Later, she could have discussed the architectural history and features -- in Italian.

   (2) She asked Ford to give her a marketing internship -- and she felt right at home with the men. I use this example a lot when I talk to parents who are concerned that their daughters are more interested in sports than school.

   (3) She takes us behind the scenes of the championship Comets.

   Hard to put down, well-written, honest -- the perfect gift for any WNBA fan or any young woman looking to her future, in or out of basketball.




3. This autobiography is one of the best, if not the best, that I've read. It's amazing how Cynthia Cooper writes her own story to motivate and make readers have more confidence. She's a real example of a true athlete hero, someone that can be a role model to all. Thanks to her and her success in the WNBA, she's given Women's Basketball a new meaning. Her determination and motivation to become successful is admirable. This book is really an inspiration to those who lack self-esteem and self-confidence. I enjoyed reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone because is really interesting and inspirational. I'm proud of Cynthia Cooper because she's a real good representative of Women's basketball and a great example of determination and success. She also proved that with God's help, anything is possible.



4. Cooper's book has made me relieze that nothing can turninto something. Also Cooper provides a positive role model for anyonewho wants to better themselves and improve their way of life. This is a book that can be enjoyed by all. There was problems growing up, college, overseas (work) love, and death of loved ones. This tells the reader that everyone faces problems at many different stages of life. Also how they could be overcome with the correct outlook. END



5. This book is about the story and life of a great know person and athletic. It has its good times and bad times. It tells you what happened in her life till the time she published the book. It tells you from her first time she touched a basketball until she became the leauges MVP. If you want to read a great story about a player and her good times and bad times this is the book you should read. It is for sure the best book I've read about a great person and a life she lived. You should get this book no doubt.

1 comments about I Promised My Dad: An Intimate Portrait of Michael Landon by His Eldest Daughter.

1. I enjoyed this biography alot. I learned so much about this man that we all loved so dearly, written by his eldest daughter who loved him even more. She tells his story with such love that it brought tears to my eyes on many occaisions. Highly recommend it to anyone who has seen Bonanza, Highway to Heaven or Little House On The Prairie.

5 comments about Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin' (Thorndike Press Large Print Biography Series).

1. Paula Deen, I just love you girl. You are amazing. I love your family too, and I am so glad you found your "neighbor." Thanks for writing your story. You are a living inspiration to anyone down on their luck. Just look how things can turn around if you keep a positive outlook and aren't afraid of hard work. (You did have a lot of luck too, I might add, and that really keeps the reader hooked.) Thanks for sharing all the pictures, too.



2. Honestly, this is one heck of a book! Paula Deen is obviously human, full of mistakes and regrets, but ultimately, more than all of that, she is a woman full of strength, loyalty and sheer determination! Reading this book was at times, tough, few people are as candidly honest as Paula is, but truthfully, it just made me respect her more! Her truthfullness is un-apologetic and real, and very hard to find now a days! She makes it clear that she's far from perfect, a risk-taker and not always so nice; she cusses and demands a lot of herself and those around her, a shrewd business woman she is! However, after reading this book, I admire her more; for her strength, her honesty, her genuine regrets about her life (we ALL have them) and her love of food and family! She is an inspiration for any of us who have not always done or said the right thing, but risen above it all in the long run! I think the success and happiness she has today was well-earned and very deserved! I would reccomend this book most definately, just keep an open mind and don't expect a water-downed, sugar coated version of her life...but hey, honesty from the any star themselves is like a breath of fresh air! I'm glad Paula shared her story and it's one I'll reccomend and remmeber for a long time to come!



3. Paula Deen Is One Of My Absolute Favorites On The Food Network.I Have Several Of Her Cook Books,And I Enjoy Watching Her Show.Her Personality Is One In A Million. So Down Home & Warm.Her Openness,Being Frank,Along With Having Fun Cooking A Recipe,She's Always Laughing,And Her Southern Draw,i Love It !! She Opens Up About Her Life & Family In It Aint All About The Cookin.She's Definately One I'd Give Anything To Meet,And Share A Recipe Or 2 And Cook With In The Kitchen.It Aint All About The Cookin Is A Great Read And Well Worth Your Time Reading It.



4. I am not the type of person who enjoys biographies/autobiographies. I bought this book because I am a fan of Paula Deen's and thought that it would be an interesting read.
   
   I love this book. I cannot help but smile at her honesty and wit. The book is written in the true Paula style- you can almost hear that gorgeous Southern accent shine through the words on the page. She includes recipes at the end of every chapter and simply reading them will make your mouth water!
   
   What I enjoy most about this book is that she is so human. She did not come from a rich family who gave her everything. She had to work, really work, for what she has today. She has strength, determination, and a will that accomplished her and brought her to where she is today. Life was not always peaches and roses for her and she reflects upon the bad times with humor. While she has certainly done things in the past that she regrets (we could all right a book on our own experiences!) anyone reading this book will be inspired. What is your dream? What is holding you back? Read this book and you will learn that your only boundaries are the ones you are placing on yourself.
   
   I highly recommend this book. She notes in the beginning that she thought people would not like her or not respect her as much. After reading this book, I like her and respect her even more. She becomes more of a person vs a TV icon.
   
   By the way, there are some juicy parts in this book, but told with the honesty and hint of naughtiness that Ms. Deen is know for!
   
   Viva la Paula!



5. This book is surprising, funny, and you won't be able to put it down! I absolutely loved it.

3 comments about Past Is Myself (Transaction Large Print Books).

1. I read this book a few years ago, when living in the United Kingdom, and wanted to recommend this book to my Book Club in the USA for our next discussion. What a disappointment to find it is out of print, as this is one of the most readable and insightful autobiographies I have read! Dear Amazon team, please campaign for it to be reissued!



2. I am so sorry this book is not available. It is a fasinating story of a woman's ability to survive and keep her family in tact in WW II Germany. I met Mrs. Bielenberg a few years ago and she is still as interesting as she was in her book.



3. This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am surprised that nobody has reviewed it and I am also dissapointed to find out that it is not available to buy at the moment. I read it a few years ago and when I get the time, I will definitely read it again. Once you start you can not stop and it is a book you will remember for the rest of your life. Read it!