5 comments about Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China.

1. This book is amazingly moving and well written. Anyone who is even remotely curious about the life of ordinary Chinese women throughout the 20th century should read this work. It not only describes the stories of three generations of Chinese women, but it transports the reader to world that the author is describing. I definitely recommend this book. Often I will sell biographies after reading them, but this book is a keeper.



2. A wonderful narrative of the pre-1949 and cultural revolution China told through three generations.
   
   Though Jung is anti-Mao, her book does a great job of providing a relatively unbiased personal account of this pivotal period in Chinese history.
   
   Jung's colorful family history gives her fodder for intriguing anecdotes and the reader a perspective into the life of a "well-to-do"/politically active Chinese family.



3. Before leaving for my 2004-05 sojourn in China, I naturally sought to acquaint myself with the culture in which I was about to live and work. Of the various books I read (which ranged from Chinese history to essays from American expats to descriptions of "the Asian mind" as applied to Western business people), it turned out that this book was BY FAR the most helpful in my day-to-day interactions -- both social and business -- with my Chinese associates.
   
   Spanning the early 20th Century when author Chang's grandmother was given as a concubine to a warlord general, through mid-century when Chang's parents joyously risked their lives in the Communist takeover, to 1978 when Chang herself left China, WILD SWANS paints a vivid picture of the China of today. I found that the information in this book, told in first-person story form, gave me far more understanding of my Mainland Chinese colleagues than any journalistic writings ever did, or could have.
   
   Since China is already a major force in western economies (especially America's), and will only become more central to the global economy, I consider it useful to share the observation of my personal experience: Understanding the RECENT LIFE EXPERIENCES of a nation's citizens is even important than understanding its customs. The good news is that history--told well--is a fascinating read! And Jung Chang's story is hard to top.
   
   Doni Tamblyn is author of Laugh and Learn: 95 Ways to Use Humor for More Effective Teaching and Training and The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)



4. Nice review of History of China since world War II. Intersting way of telling story.



5. The story of this family is not usual. The grandmother was the mistress of a warlord, the mother was a communist revolutionist, and her daughter, the author of the book has escaped form China as a young girl. The thing I respect the most, that the author has only used personal experiences, and only written about things she has seen with her own eyes, or things which has happened with her family, and never used unchecked stories in her descriptions. She never tells a word in her story against the regime, even when she writes about the most shocking events in her family, but leave the reader to create his or her own opinion.

1 comments about Lopsided: How Having Breast Cancer Can Be Really Distracting.

1. If you're looking for easy consolations and wishful thinking, don't look here. Meredith Norton pulls no punches and tells simple but hard truths: as her dad puts it, "No one gets out of here alive." But this isn't a depressing book; it's a story of (temporary) survival, and it's wickedly funny. Norton has a great eye for the ridiculous and outrageous in others and in herself. Recommended to anyone who may die.

5 comments about Life Among the Dead.

1. An easy read and a delightful self written story of a young woman born with the gift of a medium maturing and following in the footsteps of her grandmother who was a well known medium in England.
   T. S. in Decatur, GA



2. I loved reading about Lisa Williams and how she came to be where she is today. I have watched her on TV and I love her energies and caring personna. Hope to see more of her on TV.



3. I'd seen Lisa Williams on her Lifetime show a few times last season and was curious to learn more about life on the other side. Lisa's book is written as an autobiography of her life and experiences as a medium. Through her fascinating accounts, you capture glimpses of life beyond. It satisfied a lot of questions I had, and piqued my interest to learn more. I just bought tickets to go see her live in Atlanta!



4. Lisa tells it like it is for her, with her delightful candid sense of humor to boot. I am looking forward to seeing her in Las Vegas on June 26 at the I Can Do It Conference at the Convention Center, after reading her book!



5. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It only took me a day and a half to read. That's a record in my book. I would recommend this book to anyone.

5 comments about Dry: A Memoir.

1. The fact that I finished this book in one day *probably* indicates that I enjoyed it. Indeed, the only novels that I recall where I truly laughed my head off were from chick-lits, trivial as that may sound. But, really, Burroughs has managed to be disarmingly droll while being frightfully honest and self-deprecating. I can't attest if that's from being gay, the result of coming from a dysfunctional family, or perhaps from working in advertising (in New York, no less).
   
   What made this story interesting for me was the way he narrated his excruciating battle with alcoholism, that even someone who doesn't suffer from that ailment can actually empathize with him. Definitely he refrained from being too long-winded about it, avoiding the pitfall of letting his story become boring or monotonous--his cracks about himself, his fellow addicts, down to the closet case that is his boss, openly drew chuckles from me. There was enough balance of falling into bouts of introspection as well as allowing the story to progress via the lively dialogues with the equally captivating secondary characters--the tragedy that is Pighead, the complexity and apparent exceptionality that is Foster, and the oddity namely Greer, among others. A guilty enjoyment for me as well was the encounter with the German advertising client who unwittingly provokes the imagination of Augusten to spout Nazi stereotypes.
   
   Unexpected, though, was the striking insight into repressed emotions and the ability of a person to love another despite seemingly insurmountable flaws. Augusten's relationships perfectly capture what I think is a quintessentially urban tendency of people nowadays to tirelessly compensate for what they think they are missing in life. In a way, this novel shows how cheerless that condition is, and, at the same time, be unafraid of what is, after all, a price for being human.
   
   Augusten's narration of what his childhood was, the blatant abandonment he experienced from his parents, the perversion done to him as a teenager, makes the reader in turns awed and morbidly fascinated with the man that he has become. There were times our protagonist was readily aware of his shortcomings--from keeping up with the AA meetings to juggling his relationships with Pighead and Foster--and if those weren't uncomfortable enough, the reader is also made cognizant of his glaring denials about how he was living his life, pre- and post-rehab.
   
   I highly recommend this novel. Whether one is seeking an understanding of alcoholism, or simply in want of a refreshing, entertaining read--granted it's peeking into the "memoirs" of a self-confessed mess--this story will take you from laughs to sadness, hope to sorrow. (and back again). Without a doubt, this work proves that Burroughs is an Original.



2. This was a great book. Augusten Burroughs has such a great narrative style and you immediately feel like you know him, as if you're friends. I couldn't put it down and finished it in two days (would have in one if I didn't have to stop for meals and work!). Highly recommended!



3. Quirky isn't exactly the right word for this book. Insightful maybe. Heartbreakingly honest. Gut bustingly funny.
   
   I cried, laughed, sighed and nodded my head in recognition and/or agreement...sometimes all within the same page. Sometimes in the same sentence. He's a gifted writer and after three reads, and almost 7 years, this book remains at the top of my favorites list. (Plus, I think its way better than Running With Scissors.)



4. This book is one of those that you won't put down until it is finished. He writes with wit, clarity and honesty.



5. Dry was one of the most amazing books I have read. I really enjoyed Running with Scissors but this was a much more powerful book -- and astonishingly Dry kept its humor more consistently than Running with Scissors despite such heavy materials.

3 comments about Undiscovered.

1. I like biographies and I don't like poetry. I don't like essays that are all about feelings. I don't like vague. I don't like "the journey" when you learn nothing about the journey except generalizations. So obviously I am not going to like this book. You will learn next to nothing about Debra Winger in this book. She is an "arty" writer and it is arty and poetic, but it says very little. I had to search on the Internet to find out what happened to her in the accident she alludes to in the beginning of the book. I had to search the Internet to find out who the husband is she refers to as only A. or who these children, N. and B., are. It's like a personal journal that only she will understand what she's writing about, yet she published it. She does not discuss her movies or acting. She writes a little bit about her parents dying and how it impacted her. She writes a little about motherhood. It's like a meditation on serenity.
   
   If I had seen this book at a bookstore and paged through it, read a few pages, I would have quickly figured this all out and not bought it. This is the kind of mistake you make when you buy a book sight unseen online.



2. Winger has always been a thoughtful, and, in many ways, mercurial actress. There is no question about her onscreen chops as a triple Oscar-nomineee and major star despite a rambling, choosy, relatively sporadic resume.
   
   Then again, Winger's wonderfully versatile choices (and performances) have stood the test of time ('Terms of Endearment,' 'Officer & A Gentleman,' 'Shadowlands,' and 'Urban Cowboy'--even delicious second-tier fare like 'Black Widow'). Perhaps Hollywood's current crop of mediocre talents could take a life-lesson from the gifted Winger, in this regard: scrutinize your destiny, your integrity, choose what lasts.
   
   This book is Winger's very compelling way of doing just that, in essay form. Winger demonstrates that her way with the written word is well nigh as charismatic as her way with a line of film dialogue. Naturally, it helps that she was thrust into myriad adventures by her success in the 80s and 90s (and has something of immediate interest to "play-off of"), but the book works just as convincingly as a document of sometimes aching human self-discovery. Winger is able to recount mood and mayhem with the skill of a charming raconteur and technique of a solid writer.
   
   In fact, I'm pleasantly surprised at how good a writer Winger proves herself to be. The book moves, almost dreamlike, from reflective episode to incisive commentary, and not necessarily with a strict chronological purpose--these are essays from the very soul, after all. Winger is by turns funny and subtly provocative, and, of course, takes time to drop an appropriate number of industry names and anecdotes for those more interested in her career self-perception than with the equally direct assessment of her close family life...a life away from the shackles of fame.
   
   In many ways, this is one of the more rewarding and exceptionally written memoirs to come directly from a major film star in recent memory. Winger infuses the book with wisdom and honesty; apparently she's not only earned it--she's chosen it, and that makes an impact here. The reader comes away with the feeling that one has been given a rare opportunity to glimpse the journey of a genuinely attuned "Traveller" through Hollywood and beyond, rather than a caricature of Hollywood overwhelming a Traveller's voice and personality.
   
   Great collection of memoir-ish essays. She'd be wise to write a screenplay or a stage play, with talent like this. Well done, Ms. Winger.



3. I haven't yet read this book, but I have heard several passages read aloud by Debra Winger at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH). Debra Winger has been such a mystery to me. Over the years I have heard she was a volunteer in a kibbutz, that she was strong-willed and not always easy to work with, that she had a breakdown of some kind around the time she made The Sheltering Sky, that she retired from film forever. I saw a DVD of Rosanna Arquette's documentary Searching for Debra Winger. But I had no idea of the high regard I felt for this actress or how ingrained she was into my filmgoing consciousness. Then I stumbled upon her book-reading at MFAH and was delighted. I never feel like bothering celebrities I meet, but I wanted to hug her. She looks great, and said she feels her best film work is ahead of her. I can't wait.

5 comments about Call of Duty: My Life Before, During and After the Band of Brothers.

1. Lynn Buck Compton is a well deserved member of the "Greatest Generation". His book is, as Paul Harvey would say, "the rest of the story". The four words that jump out at me are "I did my job" in reference to WW2. My father said the same thing. This generation saw their role in saving the world for freedom as simply a job. Each person did his or her job to the best of their ability. Buck Compton explains to us how these same attributes were carried on after the war. His life is a great commentary on the making of the "right stuff" in America. Only in America would the sequence of events in his life lead to the life he led. I think Buck would agree "God Bless America" and keep her forever free!



2. Buck Compton's biography covers his life before and the exciting life after "Band of Brothers"
   Although I would have liked to have read more about the WWII portion of his life, I still found his life exciting.
   Buck points out the inaccuracies of the miniseries and this helps to fill out the picture of the men of E company.
   Maybe it is not the best "Band of Brothers" biography but it still is a good read.



3. Congratulations to Buck Compton and thank you for telling us your inspiring story! Thank you for showing us the similarity between the Nazis you fought in WWII and today's terrorists. I can hardly go a day without thinking of the men of the 506th PIR. Your experiences in WWII have become a metaphor of life for me - I liken the Germans you encountered hiding behind the bushes in Europe to the challenges and troubles that life throws at all of us and try to face them with the same steely determination that you did. I sent this book to my son who recently graduated from college for several reasons - one being that it shows young people how careers are shaped by a combination of opportunity, chance and hard work!



4. This is an enjoyable, entertaining and inspirational account of Buck Compton's life! Buck is extremely honest, candid and humble in this account of his accomplishments and set backs! I wish I could have read this book when I was younger. It's a shining example of what a guy can do with hard work, a good attitude and a friendly demeanor.
   Very interesting to read about the war and E. Company from another officer's perspective. Thus far, Dick Winters is the only E. Company officer (that I know of) who has written about this group of extraordinary men.
   I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the men of the Greatest Generation.



5. Buck Compton has lead an incredible life. His book will enlighten you to some of the inconsistencies in the Band of Brothers story that will provide a more accurate account of what actually happened.
   
   Buck comes across as a very likable guy who is very grounded and true to his values. Like Malarky's book, I found it impossible to put this one down as well.

5 comments about Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism.

1. I was intrigued by this book when my son started to develop autistic characteristics. I think when you are faced with a life altering issue, you're forced to find solace, enlightenment and a certain sense of similarity with others. You want to know that there's hope out there. And it's easy to do that with a celebrity. They're celebrities, we're supposed to look up to them to a certain extent. I don't get the appeal. They're just another person, that puts their pants on, one leg at a time, like everyone else. But if they can help others, then it's not entirely a bad thing.
   
   That said, I wasn't really that impressed with this book. It is very one track minded. It seemed to be one big venting session. The swearing doesn't bother me as I tend to have a foul mouth myself when I get going, and if that's how you blow off steam, then have at it. This is just her journey. Some are going to benefit, others aren't, it's that simple. In combination with this book, and her interviews, she seems extremely standoffish in regards to her son and his treatment (which is very different from her early non-serious funny days). Maybe that's as a result of a lot of people taking issue with alternative medicine. I don't know. She seems to have her heart in the right place, fighting for greener vaccines, and realizing your potential to not just take your doctor's word as the end all. Being your own advocate.
   
   This book isn't rocket science. It's simple reading from a comedienne and tv personality. I would have appreciated more of a look at her perception of him prior to that fateful morning.
   
   Bottom line, is there are a lot of really great books out there about other everyday people's experiences that are better put together. Buy a bunch of books, take what works from each and discard the rest. There's no one way of doing things. And you'll find as you go on, that your beliefs change.



2. Ms. McCarthy's "Louder Than Words" is a candid and courageous memoir of her journey with helping her son heal from Autism. Her story was horrifying at times and made me laugh out loud at others; told with honesty and humor, Ms. McCarthy tirelessly advocates for her son's well-being and recovery. As a parent of a son with "mild autism", I have searched extensively for current and progressive information to treat my son, biomedically. Similarly to Ms. McCarthy's experience, we have not received useful guidance from the traditional pediatricians that we have consulted with and I completely understand her frustration. However, I am also grateful to a great number of biomedical researchers, alternative health practitioners, and authors who have made complex but useful information available to the public. I also wish to thank Ms McCarthy for bringing awareness to the product Threelac which, as with her own son, has made a significant difference in our son's digestive health, language, focus, and behavior. Our son is recovering from Autism.
   
   There are many many excellent books on the topics of biomedical treatments, digestive enzymes, vaccine toxicity, gluten and casein free (GF/CF) diets, advocacy, behavioral, sensory, auditory, and traditional therapies for Autism that are well-reviewed on Amazon, so I won't reiterate a huge list here. However, here are a few books that stay on my nightstand: "Say Goodbye to Allergy-Related Autism", by Devi S. Nambudripad; "Changing the Course of Autism: A Scientific Approach for Parents and Physicians", by Bryan Jepson; and "Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies: The Groundbreaking Program for the 4-A Disorders", by Kenneth Bock. The book that prompted us to consult our state's Early Intervention Program (every state has one) when our son was 18 months of age was "The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet" by Marilyn C. Agin.
   
   The one book that I wholeheartedly DO NOT RECOMMEND is "The Einstein Syndrome: Bright Children Who Talk Late", by Thomas Sowell, time will tell us about the aptitude of our kids and Sowell's book should not be used as an excuse to delay crucial early intervention.



3. I am a proud Mom of an autistic child this book was outstanding. I feel everyone that has an ASD child/adult in their life in any way should read this book to help the child and and the family. Jenny gave so much insight to parents and caretakers everywhere. Most of all she gave hope.



4. My son has autism and we never considered medicating him. Jenny's book gives alot of great alternative ideas to help.



5. Jenny's vivid recollection of the ordeals experienced with her son's illness touched my heart. My son also has a form of autism, and experienced many of the same situations. I am now sharing this book with friends and family, in hopes that they will come to understand a bit of the emotion tied to an autism diagnosis. While some of the foul language offended my mother, I felt that it was true-to-life! I know that Jenny will continue to inspire parents of children with autism! She gives us the hope that we so desperately need!

4 comments about Walden.

1. This book is fantastic. It's one of my favorite books along with Desert Solitaire by Edward Abbey. The Transcendentalists really knew what was going on. In our consumeristic times, it is necessary to learn how to simplify. That is what Thoreau was all about.



2. Something about the way the book was put together, literally- the size of the book is too big and you cannot hold it right because the print is all the way to the middle crease. Very akward. Disappointed- damn cheap publisher! My mom has an old extra copy she is going to give me. This is going to goodwill.
   
   Thoreau is awesome. Too bad the book doesn't live up to his words.



3. The service was prompt, the book was brand new, and cheaper than the list price!!!



4. This book should be required reading for every high school and college student in every school in the country. Our narcissistic, throwaway, gadget-intoxicated society needs to hear Thoreau's message about the satisfaction gained through living simply, and about the difference between want and need. Not to mention his pronouncement that we do not own our possessions but are rather owned and enslaved by them.

5 comments about Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter.

1. Life Beyond Measure is a series of letters to Poitier's great-granddaughter, to be read as she matures from infancy to young womanhood. As such, it is not a straight biographical narrative, rather a compendium of grandfatherly advice intermixed with real life examples from Poitier's marvelous and challenging life.
   
   It seems some of the events are skimmed over - he mentions finding the love of his life in his second wife, but fails to detail the divorce from his first wife and the suffering involved in that. He treats everyone very resepctfully, obviously retaining a good relationship with the first wife, but I think a few lessons detailing that type of event would have been beneficial to his intended audience.
   
   The writing style is fluent and easy to read - it moves best when Poitier is relating tales from his youth on Cat Island or Nassau, or his individual struggles against unemployment or racism. It bogs down some near the end when he begins to wax philospohically on the great mysteries of the universe, and I am not certain all the background information he throws in on society and science was that useful, but still he manages to convey his basic point that mankind needs to be a good steward of this planet and of each other.
   
   All in all, an enjoyable read with a lot of valuable advice couched in warm and accessible prose.



2. This book was purchased for my 83 year old Mother as a gift for Mother's Day. She usually sticks to cookbooks, or psychology self-help type books, but I knew she always admired Sidney Poitier as an actor, and as a human being, so I thought she might enjoy this book. Turns out I was right! Even though she can only read a few pages each night due to vision problems, she has already told me how much she is enjoying reading this book. It is extremely well written, with a true human interest style that is holding her interest. Bravo, Mr. Poitier! (I'm going to borrow it from her when she's finished!)



3. What loving letters these are! The chapters about his youth are the most interesting & delightful; those in which he philosophizes about religion are a little less clear, but very heartfelt & humanitarian. I wish we all could have such a large family network. Poitier's writing is truly elegant and articulate -- I think I'd read the phone book if he'd written it!



4. It really takes a man of great internal fortitude to look back on his life with such a critical eye toward informing the future, but screen legend Sidney Poitier has proven to be such a man. He first made an impression in his pioneering role as a top-flight film star in the 1950's and 60's and then through his profound role in the civil rights movement and more recently, on more global political commitments. He has conveyed his evolving passions in a series of increasingly reflective books - first his candid, straight-ahead autobiography, 1980's This Life and then his sometimes fiery, always revelatory memories of being caught in the crossfire of expectations among his racially divided audience in 2000's The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography. His latest book finds the actor, now 81 years old, in a more philosophical mood as he writes a series of letters to his great-granddaughter Ayele.
   
   Ayele was just born in 2005, so it's clear that Poitier wrote this book as a legacy to her and quite a legacy it is. Far less interested this time in opening old wounds, he brings a genuinely inspirational tone to his ruminations on the broad topics he covers here - love, faith, life, death. Yet, he manages to use his expansive personal history when it proves relevant to a topic. Poitier realizes that he is well beyond the age where he needs to document his life purely in chronological, milestone-achieving order. At the same time, he knows he played an essential role in breaking down barriers heretofore closed to blacks despite the limitations put upon him on the big screen. The actor had to be hopelessly idealized, articulate and sexless. Even when he was allowed to be romantically involved in films like For Love of Ivy, it was handled in the most antiseptic manner. And when he spoke out against injustices in films like In the Heat of the Night or Pressure Point, Poitier kept his passions in check with calculated responses that turned into classic set pieces like the argument with his belligerent father in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.
   
   Barack Obama owes a debt of gratitude to Poitier whose charisma and dignity paved the way for the first serious Presidential run by someone who is not white. However, the actor seems more resigned than enthralled by his pivotal place in history. That must explain why he deals more directly with questions about the existence of a higher power since he worries that the world his great-granddaughter inherits will be continually threatened by religious conflicts. Poitier wants to prepare her for the threats ahead, and in doing so, he shares his hard-earned wisdom in deceptively simple terms. There is a pervasive sense of mortality in the book, and one gets the sense that he is preparing himself for the world beyond. You would think the net effect would be sad, but he manages to give a strong sense of affirmation to the life lessons he shares. I still prefer the comparatively angrier "Measure of a Man" for pure revelation about his legend, but this lucidly written book provides a most fitting coda.



5. Although The Los Angeles Times reviewer gave Mr. Poitier a generous accolade as "a national treasure," those lofty words are nevertheless incomplete. This fine actor, and the roles he has played as a leading man, taught a generation of men and women the most important lessons possible about racial equality and social justice. He led our collective thoughts at a time when we were most impressionable.
   
   Through his authoritative lead characters for timeless movies -- such as "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?" and "In the Heat of the Night" -- Poitier gave the Baby Boomer generation palpable and enduring context for their cultural revolution around equal rights. Martin Luther King delivered the moral imperatives for change: Sydney Poitier enacted the stories that made King's lessons tangible, comprehensible and personal.
   
   This generation is now rapidly passing the hallmark birthdays of 50 and 60 and can learn again from Sydney Poitier, the author. Today's generational zeitgeist includes the pressing need to assess our collective legacies; to leave future generations a more inclusive, humane and just world; and to bequeath our successors a better society than the divisive nation of our youth.
   
   Again, he speaks to a generation that has also admired him since our teen years, a generation that has listened to him as a wise mentor. He taught us right from wrong without a single lecture or admonishment. He just demonstrated what a nation built on equality needed to become.
   
   This book challenges each of us to consider our heritage, not just for the next generation, but for generations yet to be born. Mr. Poitier's bravery, tenacity and humanity are worth further consideration, study and reflection, as inspired by this new book.
   
   Read this masterwork if you're a Boomer. It will remind you of why we sacrificed much and worked hard to help transform Poitier's revolutionary acting roles into mainstream cultural norms today.

5 comments about Petite Anglaise.

1. I've been reading Catherine's blog since she first published that she was sacked from her job. I wasn't sure if I was going to buy the book, but I'm really glad that I did! I enjoyed the honesty with which this was written and her sense of humor. I purposely did not dig into the archives of her blog so as not to ruin the suspense. Even though I don't have a child or a blog (or live in France!), I could relate to many other things in the book. I'm looking forward to reading her next book! :)



2. I've been a follower of Petite Anglaise for almost a year and it was nice to put everything together. I felt like I was looking through her eyes in Paris, and although I've never been in there I felt as if I was there. I was a bit sad to find out that the sacking wasn't in the book as it was in the blog, but other than that I enjoyed the story. It was a good story and I'm looking forward to the next book by Catherine.



3. I normally despise chick lit, but I found this book to be a highly entertaining, quick read for my train commute. The characters are more three-dimensional and complex than you would typically find in this genre.
   
   I also enjoyed all of the background details about the different neighborhoods in Paris where the main character lived. For the most part these aren't the sort of places tourists visit, which is a freshing change. She doesn't romanticize Paris too much and shows that even the "most romantic city in the world" you can get stuck in a rut and your life can be boring an mundane. Ultimately the story isn't particularly French or English or European, even. It's about a couple who grows apart and the aftermath of the separation. Also, the balancing act many separated couples face in doing what's best for their child while ending a relationship that's not working anymore. The blog thing does come into play, but it doesn't read like a blog.



4. Having followed Petite's blog off and on over a couple years, I actually had no intention of purchasing the book. Only because I thought perhaps it would be redundant of all her blog posts that I'd read. Wanting to support a fellow author, and because I'd always enjoyed her style of writing, I did pre-order this book.....and I was happily pleased.
   First of all, I was impressed with the way Sanderson combined her blog postings effortlessly into a woven piece of work that read like fiction. I did recall a few of the incidents I'd previously read on her blog, but now written in a different way.
   This is a delightful debut of a story that just happens to be true. The reader is allowed a glimpse behind the scenes, so to speak. I felt the depth of this author's writing was even stronger in her book than on her blog....and her writing on Petite Anglaise was excellent. But somehow I detected more emotion here than on her blog pages. So I was quite wrong to assume "it'll be identical to her blog."
   Like the previous reader, I read this in two days. Much like her blog, I found myself setting the book down, only to be compelled to quickly resume reading.
   Wishing much success to this author and looking forward to her fiction release.



5. I got this book thinking I would pick it up when I had a few spare moments here and there and read it. I picked it up and couldn't do anything else until I found myself at the end. Can someone express me a copy of her next book as she writes it?