5 comments about Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned.

1. As a lover of M*A*S*H I jumped at this book and I'm glad I did.
   
   Alan Alda paints the portrait of his life with beautiful detail. I learned about the relationship he had with his parents. I didn't find the relationship he had with his dad to surprising. I sensed that a lot of who he is today comes from the foundational relationship he had with his dad.
   
   His mom on the other hand was very interesting to read about. I could sense his pain as he described what their relationship was like and at times how he wished it could have been.
   
   I wish he had spent more time on MASH memories and such, but I don't think he should have taken out anything that was in there.
   
   In short you sense the person he was that made him the person he is. I really enjoyed it. Anyone who loves MASH, or is just an Alan Alda fan should grab this book.



2. First of all, let me start out by saying that I have been in love with "Hawkeye Pierce" since girlhood. I grew up watching reruns of M*A*S*H and wishing I was a nurse, girlfriend, or anyone who could be close to this dynamic persona that was Alan Alda. I purchased the book, eager to know more of my childhood crush and was not disappointed. Alan Alda has a sincere writing style that makes you feel like you are in his living room as a trusted friend--rather than as a mere reader trying to find out more about his life. Many times, I laughed out loud at his wonderful stories and recollections. I am very eager to start his next book--which could not be disappointing if only half as good as his first. Thanks Alan Alda--but you will always be Hawkeye to me.



3. This tale contains much more about lessons of life than a famous TV star's autobiography. Alda discusses everything from his best moments on the road with his father's traveling stage-show to dealing with the mental illness of his mother. This is a must for any MASH fan who wants to know the unique journey of its star. You will not want to put this one down.



4. Alan Alda titled his new book Never Have Your Dog Stuffed -- and Other Things I've Learned. But rest assured he didn't write it as a guide for self-improvement. He doesn't aim to be your guru. "I tried to tell as good a story as I could," he sums up. The resulting narrative, at 224 pages, is as lean as its author, and as engaging, and as flush with ideas and observations. "There are things that were very, very difficult to put into words," says Alda, at 69 an entertainment veteran actor who had written numerous screenplays but never a book. "That was what I had the most fun with - the things that don't want to go into words. "But the hardest part was how to take a life and make it one simple story, not just a bunch of anecdotes. I didn't like the idea of writing a memoir or an autobiography. I only put in stuff that moved the story forward." The story: One man's advancement toward accepting the uncertainties of life. Letting go, notes Alda, is a drawn-out process, "so you don't just decide to do it. You have to creep up on it. Practice it. Get used to it. "I think the guy who winds up at the end of the book would say, 'Destiny is just what happens. " Alda should know. A lot has happened for that guy this year. He got an Oscar nomination for his role in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator, a Tony nomination for his Broadway performance in David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, and an Emmy nomination for The West Wing, in which he plays flinty Republican presidential hopeful Arnold Vinick. He continues this season on the NBC political drama, and, for its Nov. 6 episode, Sen. Vinick will square off against the Democrat (Jimmy Smits) in a debate aired live. Which candidate will succeed President Bartlet (series star Martin Sheen) by season's end? " I wouldn't spoil the surprise even if I knew," Alda replies when pressed for details about his contractual commitment to the series. But then, flashing his incandescent grin, he pledges to remain "as long as necessary to turn this great country around." When he isn't shuttling to Los Angeles to shoot the series, Alda leaves his Long Island home to hit the campaign trail for Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Its first sentence establishes the book's matter-of-fact, often darkly witty tone. "My mother didn't try to stab my father until I was six, but she must have shown signs of oddness before that," Alda writes. He was the son of a mentally ill mother and an actor father, Robert Alda, who was subject to the vagaries of show business during a career that ranged from the hardscrabble vaudeville circuit to Broadway in the original production of Guys and Dolls. All in all, it was a dizzying childhood for Alan. But by age nine, he had decided he would be an actor, too, setting the stage for his push-pull life of embracing make-believe while defiantly inquiring into how things really are. He is a man in love with facts and verifiable truth (his decade as the gung-ho host of Scientific American Frontiers makes that clear). But he has also studied what it means to yield control to forces beyond reason.



5. I've been a fan of Alda's work for a long time. The man is so talented it's unreal. Now to be able to see where he came from and how he got into the spotlight is amazing. He uses certain elements in his life where, had it happen to you or someone you know, it would be depressing, and turns them into amusing learning experiences. I am a constant reader, however 99% of what I read is fiction, nonfiction never grabs my attention. But I could not put this one down. Please read it. You wont regret it.

5 comments about Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood.

1. Sickened is a story displaying the depth of a child's love for her mother and the strength it took to ultimately break away and save herself. I will not give away the story. It is enough to say this is a very interesting, well written book.



2. The book was a very easy/quick read. The stories are heart breaking and tragic but good information for others to know. It is hard to imagine a mother like the one in the book but there are a lot of very sick people in the world that pass for 'normal.' Good to know that the author made it out and is recovering from the trauma.



3. It amazes me that this was allowed to go on as long as it did. Doctors, Nurses etc.. Just sad, and this is far from an isolated case, my heart goes out to this girl who is now a woman and I hope she has been able to truly put this behind her, but I'm not sure that is possible. Children are innocents and need protection, just sad.



4. I loved this book! I couldn't put it down! It really showed how this disease affected one family. The pictures in the book made it all very real!



5. Horrible story and yet inspiring that this little girl who suffered such abuse and missed so much valuable education came out the other side to become an educated, talented writer, and a normal, healthy person.

5 comments about Thrumpton Hall: A Memoir of Life in My Father's House.

1. I really enjoyed this book and would have kept reading if it was twice as long. Just a great portrait of one of the last of a vanishing breed of great country home owners in England. Seymour's writing is crisp and clear, as she skillfully interweaves past to present.
   
   My only comment would be that I never fully understood why the author hated her father. He evidently could be a little difficult - not exactly unusual - but he was hardly a monster. To me, he seems to have made the best out of being a man who no longer fit his times. Regardless, a book well worth reading.



2. I couldn't put this book down - although not the best writing ever, the structure that combines a linear life story with present day discussions between mother and daughter is an interesting device that works well here.
   
   I bought the book based on the NY Times review (in fact, one of the other reviews here reads a lot like that review), expecting insights into life in an English country house in the last century, focused around one person specifically. It starts that way, but by about halfway through, it's much more about George Seymour than his house or even his relationship to his house (in the latter part of his life, the house apparently lessens in importance to him). By the end, I realized it's actually a book about Miranda Seymour, the author, and her as yet unresolved relationship with her father. A few days after finishing the book, I've decided that the book is in fact entirely about Miranda Seymour, and her as yet unresolved issues with herself.
   
   Reviews here and elsewhere have portrayed George Seymour as the villain, an unsympathetic character and a deplorable man. But by the author's own testament, short of a few odd episodes such as the one revolving around wigs, her father tried hard to create a close-knit family and a happy childhood for his two kids - exactly what he did not have growing up, and which in part led to his obsession with the only tangible constant in his life, Thrumpton Hall.
   
   I'm left with questions about the father's relationship with his own father (who barely plays in the story, and even his "beloved" mother eventually dies without fanfare), and in turn his son (a conscious choice by the author in respect of her brother). The father's older siblings are also barely mentioned; and after going to the trouble of printing a full family tree at the start of the book, very few of those relationships are explored. One does get the idea that George Seymour felt lonely and isolated - it's a key theme of the book - but at the same time, his passion for correspondence, social visits and parties is well documented, in stark contrast. Thus, I remain curious about this man's relationships beyond his daughter and wife (the latter being rather distorted through the eyes of the former).
   
   On this point, on a personal level, this is perhaps the most important lesson - that our tendency to become angry with loved ones over their relationships with other people is often misplaced.
   
   In the end, if it's supposed to be a book about Thrumpton Hall, then 2 stars, because I want to know much more. If it's supposed to be about George Seymour, then 4 stars, because I feel I now know him, even if left with several perplexing questions.
   
   If it's about Miranda Seymour, then 5 stars, because I think I know her quite well now - to the point that I've had enough and don't want to know any more at all. But since I think the author set out to tell a different story, I'll put it back down to 3 stars.



3. Somewhat sophmoric, both in writing and in content. Not much meat; too many words and florid descriptions--a quite a few low-level grammatical errors. And some of the writing reminds one of high-school diaries: "Oh, Dear Diary, what does this mean? Will I find the answer??" I bought the book with great expectations, based on several print-media reviews; now I am skimming just to finish the book.



4. Miranda Seymour is the author of a number of highly regarded biographies (Henry James, Mary Shelley) - in this book she turns her attention to the story of her family with a focus on her Father. Her Father's object of affection, is not Seymour (his daughter) but "Thrumpton Hall" - a beautiful country house in Nottinghamshire.
   
   Her Father George Seymour was left in the care of his Aunt at Thrumpton Hall at a very young age - being described by his Mother as being "unfit and weakly" to make the trip to La Paz with the other family members. George Seymour grew up in solitude or in the hands of nanny's - over time, the child fell in love (compulsively) with Thrumpton Hall.
   
   He was not the sportsman's type and acted as a much older member of aristocracy - which made him the subject of ridicule of school mates. Later, as many of his classmates and friends were enlisted in the draft and went off to war, George Seymour, after several attempts to attend boot camp, was dismissed for a condition called "effort syndrome" - the drill sergeant not being impressed with his physique, his attitude and his aversion to team sports - - George was sent home. Despite this profile, once George was locked in on a mission, he was unstoppable - he was charming, relentless, controlling, determined and not easily put off. He eventually was successful in acquiring his love (Thrumpton Hall) but learned that this came at quite a cost.
   
   "My father had hoped for so much from the House. It was his Camelot, his grail, his lost land redeemed, from which all good would flow. But the House couldn't give more than it was. It couldn't confer friendship or success. This was a source of bewilderment, sadness and disappointment...The House was the grail that my Father pursued throughout his life. It came as a shock (to him) that it was an empty cup."
   
   Much of the later part of the story speaks to Miranda Seymour's "pain of being displaced" by her Father with the House, younger boys, his other addictions at the time. P. 238: "I'm clearer on the fact that it was, once more, the pain of displacement that troubled me most. Being ousted, reduced to a lesser place in my father's affections than his friend: this was what hurt, like a bad headache, all the time."
   
   My assessment of the book:
   
   * Hang in there.
   The story starts to cook after 100 pages or so. I'm not a avid history reader or fan of British aristocracy (and the related quirkiness) and found the first one hundred pages or so that lay the foundation for her Father's childhood, teen and adult years to be thick, dense and somewhat of a grind. Yet , the story catches hold once Seymour moves in and squarely focuses on her Father's, Mother's and family's life.
   
   * The book is exceptionally well researched but fully engaging.
   I was awestruck by how Miranda Seymour is able to pull the history and facts together in a compelling storyline. The book is a mere 270 pages - it can be read in 1 or 2 sittings - yet you have learned so much about the family and the players and the story is so engaging you will feel that you've lived in the household. Amazing effort.
   
   * Seymour has put forth a deeply introspective and moving work with piercing insights into the life of her Father, Mother and herself.
   How she's managed to do so (with her research, letters, conversations, etc) and connect the dots is simply a marvel.
   
   * I'm me because of my parents.
   Yes, if you believe that many of our adult problems stem from our relationships with our Fathers and Mothers - and the incessant yearning for their love, this is substantive supporting case. Page 186: "The technique by which this in many ways unremarkable man kept two strong-willed women under his control was simple and invisible; he made us feel worthless. Without value, you have no power. No physical force was employed, no threat, except of his displeasure."
   
   * "Mom knows all."
   Seymour interjects the opinions of her 80-year Mother - which adds considerable balance, color and nuance to the story. She makes you feel as if you are sitting around the table with Mother and Daughter and they're telling you the family history.
   
   *The book is beautifully written and engaging - pulling you along as you turn the pages. I highly recommend it.
   
   Page 3: "We buried his ashes privately, in the garden of the House to which he gave his heart. The wording on the tablet that marked the spot was borrowed from Christopher Wren's epitaph. Si monumentum requirus, circumspice The pride of it, loosely translated here felt right: If you wish to know me, look around you. Here I am."



5. "Thrumpton Hall" is a delightful memoir by author Miranda Seymour. It is a strange but fascinating real story of the romance of George Seymour, the author's father, first with Thrumpton Hall, a grand manor house in which he grew up in Nottinghamshire, England, and, later in life, his second romance with a leather-clad motor cycle rider, a young man named Robbie.
   
   Even though George FitzRoy Seymour was a descendant of the Marquess of Hertford and related to the 10th Duke of Grafton, he had no title; but he craved for one. It is said that if one is poor and strange he is considered a lunatic or mad man, but if one is rich and strange he is considered most assuredly an eccentric. So, George Seymour was considered an eccentric man.
   
   When George's father was posted to La Paz as a diplomat, George was sent to Thrumpton Hall and put in the care of his aunt, his mother's sister, Lady Byron. He was only two years old. Thrumpton Hall belonged to his aunt and uncle, Lord Byron, a descendant of the famous poet. Lord and Lady Byron, who were childless, gave George his own quarters in the manor house, in the attic.
   
   People with extraordinary and strange names such as ShotBolt the butler, who was his best friend, and Percy Crush the footman, who shined his shoes, and Sarah Death the house maid who tended to his needs, create an indelible impression as if you were reading a Gothic novel, and not a memoir that it is.
   
   His uncle gave him life tenancy at Thrumpton Hall, but when his uncle died, the tax bill was so huge that George bought the manor on borrowed money. George married Rosemary Scott-Ellis, a daughter of the 8th Baron Howard de Walden, not for his love for Rosemary, but for his love of her inheritance. Unluckily for him, she never inherited anything, much less a fortune.
   
   In middle age, not finding the happiness he sought from the manor, George, dejected, tried to find solace in the company of young men, and became a biker. Be bought a motorcycle and, dressed in leather pants and jackets, began riding around the countryside, first with Nick, a local shopkeeper's son, and after Nick married a woman and broke George's heart, with Robbie, who became George's second greatest love in life, after Thrumpton Hall, of course.
   
   Written in prose so grand and lyrical, and the story so captivating, that reading "Thrumpton Hall" was a great delight. Miranda Seymour's prose - the Queen's English, that precious thing one rarely finds in modern literature, was music to my ears: "His address provides the clue to George FitzRoy Seymour's most substantial achievement. Deposited with its childless owners as a baby, he fell in love with the House that always seemed to be his natural home. His vocation was announced in one of the first roundhanded essays he wrote as a schoolboy. When he grew up, he wrote, he wished to become the squ'arson of Thrumpton Hall, combining the role of landowner and parson as his uncle, Lord Byron, the poet's descendant, had done before him. He would look after the tenants. He would be kind to his servants, especially when they grew old. He would cherish and protect the home he loved."
   
   Read this witty, charming, sad and humorous book for the sheer joy it gives.

5 comments about The Sharper Your Knife, the Less You Cry: Love, Laughter, and Tears at the World's Most Famous Cooking School.

1. This book is interesting and funny.
   It is one of those books that make you laugh out loud ... as proven for me at work when I was trying to look like I was working but was actually devouring this book.
   
   BUSTED.
   
   LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. while it is true that certain aspects of this story might strike some readers as unfair or annoying (that she can afford not to work for a year and live in paris, and that she does all of this not as a career move, but more as a means to "find herself") the bottom line is that this is just not a particularly interesting or well- written book. in fact, it reads more like a journal than a compelling narrative. there is no suspense, no stakes, nothing at all to carry a reader through to the end - unless you're dying to know whether or not she graduates, which actually matters not at all, since her diploma is more a "badge of honor" than a means to an end. ultimately, it doesn't succeed on either level - as memoir or food journalism - as it manages to be somehow too small and personal to be universal, and not personal enough for us to care about the characters. anyone truly interested in the subject of cooking would do far better to read "heat", "kitchen confidential", or michael ruhlman's books (if they haven't already) for any real sense of what the life of a "chef" is like.



3. My book club recently read this book and we unanimously voted it a five star. It's such a good read and the author writes a touching story - sometimes funny and sometimes a little sad but always moving.
   
   We have 17 members in our club and many have purchased the book as gifts for others after we read it.
   
   I am an avid reader and this book kept me enthralled. I was up reading it until 2:00 am once.
   
   I would recommend it to others. You will not be disappointed.



4. I bought this book based on the glowing reviews it received on this site. After all, it combined two of my great loves -- cooking and France - as subject matter. Unfortunately, I am still struggling to finish it. There is nothing compelling or terribly interesting in this story which is prosaically written. It doesn't come to Bill Buford's "Heat" or any of the Michael Ruhlman books. Eh...



5. The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry is a riveting memoir of one woman's journey through the hallowed kitchens of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. Fresh from a corporate layoff in her London office, Kathleen Flinn chases her childhood dream to attend Le Cordon Bleu, encouraged by then-boyfriend Mike. Kathleen's love for cooking came as a result of necessity: after her father's early death from cancer when Kathleen was a teenager, she took over cooking for her family, eventually exploring the works of Julia Child and other cuisines. As an adult, her job in journalism allowed her to dabble in food writing and to indulge her love of restaurants, cooking, and food around the globe (including a brush with food poisoning from undercooked pig kidneys in China).
   
   Kathleen's witty observations of Cordon Bleu demonstrations and classes are culled from 600 pages of personal notes, 120 hours of audio recordings, and selections from the 300-plus recipes in the Cordon Bleu curriculum, so readers are instantly immersed into the grueling world of elite chefdom, including less appetizing ventures such as gutting fish, removing tendons and glands from chickens and guinea fowl, beheading rabbits, and chopping live lobsters in half (this book is definitely NOT for the squeamish). However, such visions are tempered by sweeter notes, including puff pastry and delicate sauces described in detail.
   
   Kathleen describes her new friends and classmates in detail, along with her continuing explorations of Paris and her struggles to improve her rusty French. One of the book's most touching moments involves a visit from her sister, who had planned on studying at the Sorbonne but gave up her place (and her dreams of studying in France) when their father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Small moments of everyday Parisian life provide a pleasant counterpart to break up the monotony of daily classes. Other domestic affairs include Kathleen's marriage to Mike, a visit from annoying houseguests, and several medical emergencies.
   
   The Sharper Your Knife includes many of the recipes alluded to in the text, and the back of the book thoughtfully includes a recipe index for faster retrieval. Traditional selections include Beef Braised in Red Wine, Chicken Cordon Bleu (which has no affiliation with the school), Rabbit or Chicken with Mustard Sauce, Chocolate Souffle, and Duck With Orange Sauce. Some of the author's personal favorites include Minestrone Soup, Gumbo from Paris, and Banana and Nutella Crepes.

5 comments about Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner.

1. This is one of my most favorite books! Everytime I read it I feel like I have to go running..ASAP!!As a trainer I make all of my clients read this weather they are a runner or not! His story is amazing and extremely motivating.



2. Dean is amazing! He writes is a relaxed, conversational manner that makes you feel like he's talking to you directly. His experiences and the way he presents them make you never want to put the book down! Give us more, Dean!!! Your inspirational and we'll follow you anywhere.



3. This book is just as inspiring after reading it for the second time. Dean Karnazes shows the world that with hard work and determination you can accomplish what you want. It's a wonderful story.



4. As a fellow endurance athlete, I thoroughly enjoyed Dean's book. He has inspired me to further my journey and continually test my own limits.



5. At more than a few points in the book I wasn't sure if I should be laughing at the absurdity and the physical pain Dean would inflict on himself, but the truth be told, it was inspirational. The notion of pushing beyond any imaginable limits is a powerful message, and it rubbed off. I'm happy to say that Dean has transformed running, which I often used as a form of self-punishment, into an event I truly look forward to: "Competition with yourself is the ultimate test." For best effect, next time you go for a run, load "Ultramarathon Man" onto your player - you wont regret it.

5 comments about The Wishing Year: A House, a Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire.

1. loved it. it makes me think in all different ways....the things around you and the things that happen to you make you think and react in a quite magical way



2. The book was enjoyable. I think the author made an honest effort to be fair and to believe. She had some preconceptions though that I thought held her back. 1. The experience of an unbeliever/cynic is more valid than someone who does not question and moves ahead with a premise. 2. It is somehow undignified and low class to want material things and, at the same time, makes you insensitive to the blight of others. 3. A person's wishes are something to be judged. Everyone lives their own life and our preception is our reality regardless of what others may think. We really don't have any authority to judge another just because their problem does not seem as important or as grave as others we can bring to mind. I would like to ask her if she thinks the world would be a better place if a majority of people were moving towards what gives them substance and satisfaction thereby reaching a place where they can contribute or by sitting in the dust lashing themselves feeling guilty. We are all unique gifts to this world, no exceptions, and we actualize that by following what gives us joy, not by gnashing our teeth over what we think is 'profane' in another.
   I wouldn't discourage buying the book. I definitely go something out of it, but I never felt she was comfortable enough with the material. She always seems to hold herself apart, afraid to admit somethings to herself. She is a good writer, but she may have finished the book before she finished the lesson.



3. Five Shooting Stars for The Wishing Year! I am so thankful that I ignored
   the first Amazon reviewer and bought it anyway. "See how our thoughts make
   our world? I feel like saying--but I resist." (page 255)
   One day I hope to get the nerve to try "Putting It Out There" myself. And if
   this happens I plan to take this book, place it under my pillow, focus on
   Noelle's poetic thoughts and words, and wish for a muse to sing through
   me...



4. Ninety percent of this book is mind-numbingly boring. If you want to read a great book of this genre, go for "Eat Pray Love" and skip "The Wishing Year." The author is not particularly likable and there is waaaay too much academic rambling.



5. I just finished the Wishing Year and my profoundest wish when I got to the end was that it wouldn't be over so soon. I wanted it to go on and on. Spending time with this author is like spending an evening with one of those mesmerizing friends who leans towards you over the table at your favorite bistro and says, "You won't believe what happened to me?" and then launches into a tale of meeting someone fascinating who transformed her life, or unexpectedly being offered a trip to an exotic place that she'd always wanted to visit, or another wondrous occurrence. You're left thinking, "why don't these things happen to me? Reading the Wishing Year is wish fulfillment in itself. You get to live Noelle's life for that year and it was a hell of a lot more fun than my life that year for sure.
   
   The best thing about her approach to wishing was that it made sense of New Agey gobbledygook like the "Secret." I, like her, am an intellectual, skeptical sort who secretly visits psychics and semi-believes in some of this woo-woo stuff but feels guilty about it. Oxenhandler removes the guilt by explaining the ancient roots of wishing and other attempts at magical intervention, and comes up with some scientific theories about why it might work. Hey, even Plato believed it. (sort of).
   
   I'm coming up with my wish list as we speak and will report back whether any of them came true.

5 comments about The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir.

1. I loved this memoir and could hardly put it down. Allende is honest, open, and emotional. She touches your heart and makes you laugh at the same time. I love getting to "know" her family. I wouldn't recommend this as first Allende book, however.



2. Isabel Allende's book "The Sum Of Our Days" bring both extraordinary insight and what I consider thoughtful availability to her memoir that touched me deeply. I got to "be" a part of her story, her family...it was truly intimate.
   
   Her conversations and storytelling throughout the book, with her deceased daughter Paula, are both beautiful and haunting. Watching through Isabel's eyes, her family life unfolding around her, and dealing with their grief was amazing. It aided me personally in my own grief over the loss of my daughter Martha to breast cancer in Febuary of 2007.
   
   Isabel gives hope in sharing her memoir. We can move forward through all of life's changes, both joyful and sorrowful. After all, we are the sum of our days...



3. Isabelle Allende writes in a very simple way her memories about her life. While reading the book the reader is concentrated on her life and can enter in it without being conscious..I recommend this book to all people in search of emotion...



4. Like most reviewers, I've enjoyed Allende's previous works, and I spent most of a Sunday afternoon wrapping up this latest offering. I can feel my furrowed brow as I type, because I don't know what to make of it. I enjoyed reading about the various members of Allende's "tribe" and at times wished I could join them. At other times I felt like the book was an infomercial. Clearly Allende is justifiably proud of her friends and family's accomplishments--her friend Tabra's jewelry business (I'll probably make a purchase shortly), her former daughter-in-law's Marin County mountain bike tour company, her husband's novels.
   
   Allende also discusses her frequent travels around the globe with family members--annual trips to Chile to her mother, an African safari with her grandchildren, a trip to India with her husband and Tabra. I suspect the average reader can only dream of such adventures; am I envious? Allende and her husband can afford to be financially generous to their large family, and they obviously enjoy sharing their good fortune, but for a reason I still can't put my finger on, broadcasting that fact to devoted readers just smacked of Oprah to me.
   
   Other reviewers had mentioned that they felt the book was written in haste, and poorly edited. Passages like this one simply didn't ring true for me: "I had shrunk an inch [she's 5 feet tall] and the body lolling in the water was that of a mature woman who had never been a beauty." I'm sure anyone who has seen photos of Ms. Allende would agree that she's stunning and quite beautiful. Had she been unattractive, I suspect her career might not have been as successful as it is.
   
   I'm sure I'll be editing my review once I've given it more thought. For now, I agree with other reviewers that The Sum of Our Lives is not the best introduction to Allende's wonderful body of work. Start with House of the Spirits and work your way up through her earlier works to the current offering.



5. In terms of literature, a bit of a disappointment -- it certainly isn't a candle on "Paula," and I kind of agree with the reviewer who said it seemed hastily written. It does, and there's little of the lyrical language that made "Paula" such a treat.
   
   On the other hand, it IS interesting to see more of the whole "tribe" here, and people are depicted more as real people, including Isabel herself. I was shocked and surprised to find that Paula, who came across as almost too saintly in the last book, didn't like children, but it made me like her a lot more as a real person. (Perhaps it was just her youth; I can imagine her, like many woman, wanting a child as she got older.)
   
   I'd say this book is best for people who have already read a lot of Allende and are interested in her and her family. I wouldn't start anybody off with this one, and even for diehard fans, the hardcover price may be a bit much. I'd say wait for the paperback or borrow from a library.

5 comments about Sage-ing While Age-ing.

1. As usual Shirley involves her efforts into the mysterious universe and its exciting ramifications, whether in the body or the heavens. She has done an exhausting and in depth job of researching matters that concern all of us as to outer space alien co-existence. The first part of the book explores the universe of the body and its needs. The second part of the book explores the possibility of the presence of beings from other solar systems that have been visiting us for many years or maybe milleniums. Her research into government cover ups on this issue makes for fascinating reading.



2. The book's subject matter has been pretty well covered by others. You either choose to believe Shirley or not (about the spiritual/ET, etc.)
   
   I think she holds back a lot of what she has either experienced or is aware of. I've heard it expressed that she is very well connected in who she knows. I hope she has more books forthcoming as I am waiting for her to really rip loose.
   
   She's a good writer and knows how to do page turners. I confess that while her movie/TV career may be of prime interest to some, it's the other aspects of her life and what she knows in that arena is why I read her books.
   
   She has an interesting website for those who haven't noticed it yet.



3. Do not remember who was known for this comment, but "Being Happy is a woman's best cosmetic". Take a look at Shirley! Hope this has finally, at long last- made her critics take a step toward realizing she is not "out to lunch". A brave look at the place we live. Bravo Shirley



4. shirley mclaine writes another book about her life, interesting first half, second half full of aliens, if thats your cup of tea, by all means, buy it.



5. This is yet another wonderful book from an inspiration to us all. I also loved the video Out on a Limb and hope that they put it on a DVD soon.

5 comments about Black Wave: A Family's Adventure at Sea and the Disaster That Saved Them.

1. I couldn't put this book down. I was especially moved by Jean's account of the events. As a mother myself, I understand the inherent need to keep your kids safe. What an adventure this family took and it almost took everything from them. John and Jean were well prepared and had researched everything from route logistics to safety on the island--who knew you couldn't trust a taxi driver in Panama? If you are into sailing there's plenty of technical stuff to keep you on your toes, even if you're not, you still get the gist of the full power of the sea. Their story of survival is incredible. The bravery of Amelia and Ben especially stand out. The experiences they shared as a family will forever change them and bond them together too. They were able to work through so many obstacles--boat repairs, alcoholism, pirates, sea sickness, family drama, broken arm. Just an amazing read. Highly recommended.



2. Extremely interesting to anyone who has ever gone down to the sea in ships. An authentic and chilling review of what can go wrong and things that probably will go wrong. The modern equipment may not save your ship
   but it may save your life (and limb?.) Would a regular single hull have
   reacted differently?



3. A page turner! An amazing story of a seemingly grounded family who ran aground (& then some!), finding their footing in spite of it. A story of risk-taking, persevering & resiliency. "Black Wave" not only represents the literal wave that hides what lurks beneath the surface, but also reflects the dynamics that lurk beneath a family's polished exterior.
   
   Honest, compelling account -- interweaving 2 years aboard while returning to the scene of their ultimate crisis, where their journey challenges their very lives.
   
   Don't let the esoteric jargon dissuade you from reading what is a much bigger story. There are incredible, articulate descriptions of people, landscapes, seascapes, and the beauty of sailing, which makes you feel like you're along for the ride. The photos add to the visual descriptions. It is a growing lesson, finding balance, maintaining sanity in close quarters. Jean Silverwood's honest assessment of their joys & struggles is refreshing and very real. Not glossing over the speed bumps that make us human -- and not even providing (or having) all the answers. Some really great humor adds levity to some tense situations.
   
   This is a story of a family that grew stronger through each crisis (there were several) even when it seemed darkest. It gives you a healthy respect for the sea, and yet yearn to sail on it. Their conviction in each other & their faith is inspiring. So is Jean & John's palpable pride in their children.
   
   [4 Star Rating as the 2nd half of the book got bogged down in John's need to parallel a historical shipwreck to this family's plight. Altho' educational, it became overlong and avoided the emotional experience that we're so privy to by Jean's account in the first half of the book. But it's quick enough to skim through.]



4. An amazing story of survival and all the people who were there in the nick of time to help this family. Not the best writer in the world, but he did a good job telling his story and bringing it to life with pictures.



5. I loved this book, even though there were parts that seemed a little repetitive. There were really two different stories going on, the physical one about the boat trip and what happened off Tahiti, and the parallel story of an American suburban family, a family that had a lot going for them, but real problems as well. The family tensions seemed very appropriate and understandable, and being a mom I appreciated Jean's concerns and the stress she was feeling. I've been on a 40 ft boat for 10 days with 4 people, and couldn't wait to get off at the end. I also understood John's adventurous spirit, and loved the boating descriptions, having owned a 25 ft sailboat for many years. There is nothing like the free feeling of sailing on the open ocean. I found the Julia Ann story interesting, but the best part was the first part that Jean wrote. It was extremely compelling, with the narrative about the trip weaving back and forth through the details of the accident. The kids were both real, and real heroes. What an amazing story, and it was all true!

5 comments about Society's Child: My Autobiography.

1. As a long time fan of Janis Ian, I was interested in her professional journey and the influences for her work. This book covers that and so much more. It happens that I knew Janis' father very well having worked with him for several years. The Openness that the author demonstrates is both courages and enlightening. I had no idea of the struggles that she has overcome. The writing is so personal and yet universal that I felt like she was telling her story directly to me. This is a great read.



2. Wow! What a great autobiography. Janis Ian describes her home life, her development as an artist and her rise to fame at a very, very young age which thrust her into very complicated world filled with expectation.
   We are witness as Janis endures her family falling apart, a series of abusive relationships, industry and management dysfunction and fraud which, even after toiling for years and producing numerous albums, eventually left her bankrupt. Each period of her life is artfully written with brevity, reflection and humor and she gives a very interesting inside account of American music culture during the 1960's-70's. Janis is frank in addressing what has clearly been tragic, but the thread throughout is her tremendous faith and fighting spirit to preserve herself and her integrity as an artist. What an inspirational book to read in turbulent times. Janis, thanks for sharing.



3. I've followed Janis' work from my teens to the present. All these years and I had no knowledge what cards life had dealt her. She quite openly shares her marriage to a disturbed husband. The abuse she endured brought tears to my eyes, as I recalled my own abuse at the hands of an abusive husband. I believe this book would be helpful to others who have lived with spousal abuse.
   
   People living with the threat of violence tend to believe they are alone. Reading this book will enhance their ability to say even the artists have endured abuse.
   
   Janis discusses the shear horror she faced with the IRS. I could not have endured all that she went through.
   
   I was ever so grateful that Pat entered her life. It is clearly a loving relationship which finally enabled her to have a stable home environment with a loving partner. Janis so deserves this life.



4. I saw Janis in Winters CA last weekend. She is still an amazing performer. Just to hear her sing her own songs was awesome. I bought this book and had her autograph it for me. It is a superb book. I knew it would be. I could have just listened to her talk at her concert. Her stories in between the songs were funny, sad, and perfect. This book is a must for any Janis Ian fan or anyone interested in folk/pop/jazz music of the 60's - 80's. I am so glad Janis is still performing after five decades. All I can say is THANK YOU JANIS!
   Bruce



5. I've been a fan of Janis Ian since I was very small and as I've gotten older I've found so many new ways to appreciate her and be awed by her. This book overwhelmed me with new feelings of admiration. The life she's lead has been fascinating and the strength she did it with was inspirational. Every detail is told with a straight forward but entertaining tone, from the dizziest heights of her career to her surprising rank in an arcade game. I read it in three days, and I'm tempted to just start again. Recommended to anyone who's interested in folk/rock/pop music history, passionate living, and/or simply being stunned by the strength of the human spirit. This has been long awaited and didn't disappoint. I've read a lot of bios and auto-bios and it's refreshing to see someone so artistically able to tell their own story. I've loved her music for most of my life, looked up at her on stage still so bright and beautiful 25 years removed from the album covers in my Dad's collection, and been impressed by the leaps she's made in the independent music industry, philanthropy, and technology in the past ten years alone. But now I feel like everything I'd seen before was just the tip of an iceberg far larger and more brilliant than I ever could imagine. Thank you Janis Ian for sharing your life with us.