5 comments about Books: A Memoir.

1. McMurtry's works are erratically brilliant, sometimes downright bad, but this is a huge disappointment. Sloppy, badly in need of an editor (how many Bostwana "late" references do we need?), way too random and dropping names so frequently that we either don't know or don't care about...the whole effect is "who cares?" And I happen to love books, frequent second hand booksellers and have some familiarity with the turf described.To say nothing of being -- more times than not -- a fan of McMurtry's. But this book is hardly a memoir and, frankly, if not for the author's fame, I seriously doubt this would have ever been published. It's that big a waste of time.



2. In our house the greatest tribute you can give a book is that, while reading it, you ignore everything and everyone around you, including all offspring. I brought McMurtry's book about books up to my daughter's room where I was supposed to "tuck her in." I promptly sat down and began reading. An hour later said daughter asks if we're ever going to turn out the light. There's school tomorrow. Got a big day, dad. That's how wonderful and entertaining BOOKS is. Great people, great anecdotes--read Chapter 98, which is all of a half-page long, for an example. One of the funniest punch lines I've read (or heard) this year. If you love books, book selling or book buying, sprint, don't run to your nearest Amazon check out button and press. Better yet, dash over to your favorite bookstore--if you can find one.



3. Books: A Memoir, by Larry McMurtry, is a book that may not appeal to a lot of people, maybe not even to hard-core McMurtry fans. However, I found it highly entertaining and enjoyable.
   
   McMurtry has penned a book detailing his life with books; as a buyer and seller of used, rare, and antique books and as a book lover. His life with books started when he was the recipient of a wonderful gift from his cousin. On his way to enlist in World War II, Larry's cousin stopped by their house, and gave him a box of 19 books. Books, McMurtry tells you, that changed his life. Prior to those books, he lived a life of realism and immediacy. He had no thoughts outside of his current surroundings. Those books, standard adventure stories of the 1930's, opened his eyes to a vast, untapped world. One where he could go anywhere, see anything, live through the eyes of the hero's and authors. And since the age of six or seven, he hasn't stopped reading.
   
   Books: A Memoir has plenty of book selling/buying anecdotes, some of which may not appeal to everyone. McMurtry tells of books that he held and sold that were eventually sold for much more than he asked. He also drops plenty of insider names in the book selling business. While I certainly am not familiar with those circles, those stories added to the overall enjoyment of the book. Through those incidents, you could see how those people and incidents have added to his overall enjoyment of books. As you read this, you will come to have a better appreciation of McMurtry, the man, his life's work, and for books. Along the way, you will be exposed to his thoughts concerning libraries, computers, iPods, and his personal library (20,000 books, plus or minus). If you are a reader, you can probably relate to his love of books:
   
   "Very quickly, once I had my nineteen books, I realized that reading was probably the cheapest and most stable pleasure of life. Sometimes books excite me, sometimes they sustain me, but rarely do they disappoint me--as books, that is, if not necessarily the poetry, history, or fiction that they contain."
   
   This is quite a memoir from a man whose life has been spent in the company of books.



4. Larry McMurtry will steal the heart of any book lover with his newest, Books: A Memoir. The collecting and selling of rare books is seldom brought to our attention. It is amazing and lucrative. McMurtry's knowledge of the movers and shakers and history of the industry is impressive. I would love to visit his bookstore/library!



5. McMurtry provides an interesting peek into the life of a "bookman", a person who collects and deals in valuable books. He describes his beginnings in a bookless household and how he developed a love for reading and writing, and how he moved into the world of book dealing. Bookmen are a unique lot and one wonders how they manage to make a good living consistently, although one can see how the more established bookshops would be able to do this. Nevertheless, McMurtry and his colleagues do manage, for the most part, to make a living, although clearly McMurtry's must be vastly supplemented from royalties from his own books and his successful screenwriting career (he doesn't state this, and I am assuming it, but I think it makes sense).
   
   There are fascinating stories about individual bookmen and book collectors, the latter mostly coming from moneyed backgrounds. They're the ones who pay thousands of dollars for rare books signed by authors. This milieu at times makes the book read like a literary version of the lifestyles of the rich and famous.
   
   For those of us who are bibliophiles, books like these are like literary aphrodisiacs, wetting the appetite to read more, to acquire more books and to learn more about books themselves, and to imagine owning a vast library like McMurtry's (28,000 books). The photo on the dust jacket - bookshelves filled with books - is a delectable appetizer to the main dish of the book itself.

5 comments about Hope's Boy: A Memoir.

1. I was moved and touched by Mr. Bridge's story. I admire the work that he does and respect the life that he had led.



2. Read this book and the way you think of young mothers and children will never be the same. The way you think of struggling families will never be the same. Your response to the latest newpaper headlines or television exposes on foster will change. Hope's Boy is a clear and couragous account of how much better we can do as a country to support and care for our fellow citizens. Modest and free of the self-promotion and self-pity that plagues so many books of struggle and triumph, Hope's Boy is a reminder of how much better we can and need to do as human beings -- a reminder that we live in a society and ought to have obligations to one another. READ THIS BOOK.



3. Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge is a remarkable and inspirational story of one child/ man's resilency in surviving ( and thriving) under America's foster care bureacracy. Andrew Bridge was that boy and he has gone on to not only achieve but never to forget his own childhood nightmares by advocating for children today.



4. Hope's Boy is the most courageous and beautifully written book that I have read in a very, very long time. The story challenges us all to do better for those around us and reminds us of the possibility for change and of a better world. Hope's Boy is a simply written story of never giving up, never forgetting the hope that we have in all of us.
   
   EVERYONE OUGHT TO READ THIS BOOK.



5. I am a fan of PBS, particularly Tavis Smiley. It was on Tavis' show that I listened to Andrew Bridge talk about his story and his book. His comments were so genuine, so heartfelt, I couldn't get him out of my mind. Although I don't normally read memoirs, I knew I wanted to read his book.
   
   I don't know much about foster care, but I do know about being adopted back when records were sealed and information was hidden. I suspected there may be some shared experiences and feelings between the two, and I was right. As I read Bridge's account, I was moved to tears many times when he said that he never forgot his mother and he never stopped loving her. He writes with such depth and feeling, but also with such simplicity and honesty about growing up in a foster family that may have shared space, but never shared love.
   
   His story is one of triumph, over his circumstances, and over an uncaring system. He is now an advocate for children and for change, and I believe is a remarkable writer and human being. I could not recommend this book any higher, it is a masterpiece.

5 comments about Mindfreak: Secret Revelations.

1. Criss is very descriptive and he gives you the sense of being there with him through each illusion, trick, and Mind Freak.



2. I haven't the faintest idea of why my 12 year old granddaughter likes this guy, and even less of an idea of whether this is good or bad, but Amazon keeps pestering for a review... All I know for sure is that she likes him, and that since he is on network TV he can't be all that objectionable (although to tell you the truth, what is acceptable today for prime-time audiences would have been banned by the Hays Office, and you can Google it if you are a lot younger than I am).



3. Two things I really loved about this book are that you get to read about Chris' life and learn about how he became the magician that he is. He's a very special person and he shares a lot of himself in this book. Second is that the back of the book is filled with magic tricks that ANYONE can learn. I say that because I've never tried learning magic before and had a blast with these tricks. I got a huge kick out of showing the tricks to people and seeing them freak out trying to figure out how I did them. Way cool!



4. One of the best magician in the world. In this book, takes us on a personal tour of his surreal world, a special place where he seamlessly blends illusion and reality. Prepare yourself for a stunning look into his mind, life, and philosophy.



5. I purchased this book from the MINDFREAK store in Luxor, Las Vegas. Less of a mindFREAK than a mindNUMB... This was one of the very worst books I have ever read, and I wasn't expecting much (he is, after all, a magician and not a writer).
   
   The book was rambling and contained very little meaningful discussion. Instead, Angel spends page after page (after page...) lauding himself and his self-reported "laser-like" focus on his goals, his amazing imagination, and his laughable "signature poses". The "biography" portion of the book is thankfully short, with the balance of the book consisting of 40 "Mindfreaks" -- Magic 101-level tricks complete with photos of an "intense" looking Criss (who mostly just looks silly).
   
   I actually felt LESS smart after reading this book. The real magic is how Angel makes your money disappear without providing you anything worthwhile in exchange.
   
   Avoid this book.

5 comments about Journals.

1. It's fun to flip these pages. You'll see a lot of writing, less of art. There is no story telling or even coherence in this published work. Really cool to own, sometimes you'll get a glimpse of what was going on in his mind.



2. If you are a fan of Kurt Cobain and or Nirvana, then this book is a MUST read. I've not finished the book just yet, I got it this morning and I am already on page 205, I just can't seem to put it down, and I rarely like to sit and read anything.



3. I can definitely see both sides of the issue of the moral quandary concerning this book. However, I think it's really pathetic that people on both sides are trying to assume what Kurt would or wouldn't want. I don't think that by reading these journals you somehow aren't a true fan of Nirvana just as not reading them somehow makes you a true fan. That's absurd. I will say, though, that in my personal opinion this book is a blatant and disgusting invasion of privacy. I think that it's rather obvious that Courtney Love is lacking scruples with her obviously cavalier attitude about releasing things that probably should have stayed private. I'm sure she will suffer some sort of karmic retribution (if she hasn't already) for doing so.
   
   Regardless, I personally have never read these journals, nor will I ever do so. I'm not trying to be elitist by pretending to have any kind of moral high ground. It's a personal choice. I'm genuinely not interested to see what is in them. I think that the music kind of speaks for itself. That is, after all, why I personally am a fan of Nirvana and of Kurt. I don't think that reading some personal journal entries is going to suddenly give me or anyone insight into his genius or what led to his death. The story surrounding his death is tragic enough without crap like this being commercialized and his overall image being exploited and sold, which is really why he despised being famous to begin with. I think stuff like this is further evidence that far too much attention is being paid to the personal lives of celebrities as opposed to their work. This is precisely why people like Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are famous.
   
   I don't think that by reading these journals anyone is going to be less of a fan or suffer any karmic retribution. I think that will be reserved for the person who allowed it to be released to the public in the first place. Regardless, I can also definitely understand the curiosity that people have and I don't think they should be judged for having a thirst for more information about a very important and brilliant musician.



4. This book is simply great. I'm very impressed with its quality and have learned a lot about this iconic figure by reading Kurt's entries. I hope everyone picks up a copy! = )



5. great product, fast shipping. Shipping package ripped when received. Slight scratches and bending. shipper may want to consider better packing method for shipping but, all in all a good experience!

5 comments about A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere.

1. Puppy mills are terrible and I support any book that shows the true horror of these operations. However, I had a hard time thinking about all of money this author wasted flying all over the country (she states some flights were donated) to take pictures of her dog with celebrities, when that money could have been donated to a shelter for food and vet care for the real victims of puppy mills. She pats herself on the back over and over again for rescuing this puppy mill dog (1st time she rescued a dog, previous pets were purchased), but she even flew across the country to pick up this particular dog - when I'm sure there are thousands of unwanted dogs in her own hometown. I just don't like how she comes across as some sort of animal advocate, when all she did was write a book.



2. What a wonderful book and story.The pictures are fabulous. Everyone should read this. More books such as this should be published and read. Thank you for this wonderful story. I highly recommend this book.



3. After meeting Baby and Jana in person, I just had to read more. This book has the painful story but shows the many people who are trying to make a difference by bringing awareness about puppy mills to the public. A must read for a heartwarming cause!



4. This book sucked me right in. I am so happy someone has finally stepped up to the plate about puppy mills. Jana Kohl did an amazing job telling people the truth about puppy mills and pleaded with anyone getting a dog to save one and NOT to buy from a store or from a breeder. Although there are responsible breeders many are not and she asks people to become aware and to ask questions, visit and demand to see where their puppies live. I was touched by many of the stories. It was a wonderful book to read and to share. Once you read it you will want to pass it on to others to enjoy the book and hopefully get the word out! Thanks Jana for doing a great job!!!!!



5. This is a wonderful book. I don't usually read books about things like puppy mills because it is too painful. But this book, although it deals with the tragic suffering of animals in puppy mills, was written in such a way that love and compassion come through too. The author took Baby to visit with famous people and politicians around the country to get their support to end the horrendous abuse Baby suffered and many other dogs suffer all day every day of their lives in puppy mills. The overwhelming support she received is a testament of humanity at its finest. And it's impossible not to fall in love with Baby!

5 comments about My Story: Illustrated Edition.

1. This is the story of Marilyn Monroe, told in her own words, which is raw, refreshing and sad. She talks about her childhood, and how her life was extremely hard as a child and how it shaped her entire life. Marilyn also talks about trying to become an actress and the colorful cast of characters she meets along the way. I found her insight into the world around her very interesting. She really wasn't the dumb blonde everyone thought she was. And when she found that she was lacking in something she decided to improve herself. Marilyn did this by taking acting/singing lessons and reading the books that would cultivate her mind. Littered throughout the book is Marilyn's wit and sense of humor, and her ability to see the world for what it really was. The book helped me understand the woman behind the movie star and gave me an opportunity to see the real Marilyn Monroe.
   
   For those who are unfamiliar with Marilyn Monroe's story they might find this book a little difficult at times. I will confess I did not know all the players in her life. I had to do my own research and find out who she was writing about. But for those who know Marilyn's history this shouldn't be a problem.
   
   The pictures are great. There are color and black and white photos throughout the whole book, which I think adds a nice touch.
   
   It is a short biography that does end abruptly as others have said. It left me wondering why it ended the way it did. I wish I could have read more but I was thankful for the chance to read Marilyn's thoughts.
   
   Marilyn Monroe fans should pick up this book. For those who have a passing interest in the movie star I strongly encourage them to read this as well. This book was an amazing journey into the mind of one of America's most tragic stars.



2. I have always been a fan of Marilyn Monroe. I finally decided to read a little more indepthly about her and thought there would be no better place to start than with her own words.
   
   The book is just fascinating. Although parts were miserable (mostly about her childhood), it was such a brief glimpse that her light spirit remains intact. This book was a real treat since I find her absolutely fascinating.
   
   The eerie entries that almost seem to foreshadow her gradual demise are so coincidental, I wonder if that was not her friend Ben Hecht embellishing after the fact. And even though some people say she could not have written this, I see her voice in the phrasing and choice of words. My only complaint that the book, like her life, was too short.
   
   Highly recommend.



3. Lately I have been on a Marilyn Monroe reading Jag (I do recommend "Misfits Country") that was brought on by watching most of her films. This book offers unique insights as it is Marilyn in her own words. She covers everything from her early childhood, to her rise to stardom, and her rocky marriage to Joltin Joe DiMaggio. There are nuggets here that explain much about how she went from Norma Jean to Marilyn Monroe, and some interesting foresight as to her demise. The books only weakness is that it is way to short, there is so much more I wanted to hear Marilyn talk about....



4. This book is amazing!! Marilyn vividly descirbes her good/bad expierences and her dreams of becoming a famous actress. When reading the book it feels like your going back in time and watching Marilyn grow into one of the most memorable, sensitive, and discredited actress of all time. During some parts I have to admit, I felt chills up my spine and was a little spooked. I have never been able to complete this book because I know that it will not have a happy ending and will forever be incomplete and that Marilyn will never have a chance to try some of the things that she longed for. I would highly recomend that you would read other books on Marilyn before reading her autobiography. You should know some of the people and events in her life because there are no explainations and a reader my get confused.



5. I was so impressed with this book I brought a copy for my friend, this book is really easy reading (great for bedtime) and quite an insight to Marilyn Monroe's own personal biography, the pictures are fantastic and this is a must for any Marilyn Monroe fan an absolute must for any fan's collection. Most enjoyable, if I hadn't broughtit already I'd buy it again.

5 comments about Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz.

1. This was a story that I had been waiting to read about for years. Once I got this book I couldn't put it down, and I finished it in one day. Though I knew the tragic ending, I didn't know a lot of the little details in between. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Randy Rhoads, or rock n' roll in general. It's a sad reminder of what could have been had Randy not made the fateful decision to get on that plane. God only knows what kind of music Randy would be making today.



2. Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz Board and take a ride on the Crazy Train in 2008! Prolific rock bassist Rudy Sarzo had penned an entertaining, sometimes hilarious, sometimes emotionally gripping auto-biography of sorts. He recounts the rock band tour experience of Ozzy's Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman tours, specifically the Randy Rhoads' experience. Rudy has no ulterior motive in sharing his story- he's not out to make a buck or pull any skeletons out of the closets. I believe he just wants the honest story out there- about Randy- a phenomenal classical guitarist and human being. His account is an easy read, lots of concert encounters and between shows antics pulled from the journal he kept on the tours. Thanks, Rudy for the memories! Although we know all too well the sad memory of Randy's fate, what a priviledge to have seen a glimpse of the human side of him. This book is an excellent read for any fan of the relationship between true friends, and a must have for any 80's rock fan's collection!



3. First off, I'd like to say that I have been a big fan of Randy Rhoads since the early 80's. I have nothing but the upmost respect and admiration for his accomplishments as a teacher and guitarist and his inspiration to others. In this review, I will attempt to address some of the major flaws in this "updated" version of Off the rails, Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz by Rudy Sarzo.
   I found Rudy Sarzo's approach and writing style to be too sophomoric. It almost felt like I was reading a teenager's dairy. In a recent interview he did explain that this book wasn't really a tribute to Randy Rhoads, but more of just a travel log or journal of his time touring with the Blizzard of Ozz Band. For the majority of the book he really only briefly talks about his time with Randy. He seems to have spent more time "documenting" Ozzy's on and off stage shenanigans and personal problems rather than his time spent with Randy visiting various places, like shopping malls and clubs.
   I feel that, instead of just documenting verbatim from Rudy's travel log, he should have, at least, attempted some bonafide research. For example, interviewing his band mates from Quite Riot and Ozzy days, Randy's Guitar tech and Rany's fiancé, Jody! I would love to hear from some of these people that have rarely, if at all, been interviewed since Randy's death. I think it would help verify and elaborate the information in the book. One example would be the day Randy Rhoads died in the plane crash. On Page 213, Rudy mentions that he had spoke with Don Airey, the keyboardist with Ozzy at the time, that Don had been taking pictures of the plane just before it crashed into to bus. This begs the question: Where are the photos? If Don was indeed questioned by police, along with all the other eye witness that day, where is his disposition? Isn't standard investigating procedure to collect ALL evidence in a case? After reading this book, I felt that there were more questions than answers.
   It also would have been nice to hear from Randy's father. Rudy all too briefly mentions Randy's encounter with his father. It is common knowledge, with Randy Rhoads fans, that when Randy was about seventeen months old, his father abandoned the Rhoad's family. According Rudy, he asked Randy about his brief encounter. Randy responded that it wasn't as weird or strained as he thought it would be. And that was that. If Randy's father is still alive, I would love to hear what he thought about Randy's success and untimely death.
   One final flaw with this "tribute" book, Rudy seems to bog the story down with unreferenced newspaper or magazine reviews of the various concerts during the two tours with Ozzy. Rudy puts the reviews in quotes, but no reference to who wrote it or where it appeared. Rudy also interrupts the continuity of the story by ratting off a series of concert dates. Some of these take up an entire paragraph! What a waste of space! Maybe use that space to reflect on that time. What it meant to Rudy to be in the same band with Randy or some outside events taking place around them as a reference to what the environment was like at the time.
   With some many flaws on what could have been a true tribute, I would NOT recommend this book, for even the diehard Randy Rhoads fans. If you want, wait until the Randy Rhoads film comes out next year!



4. Rudy Sarzo's "Off The Rails" is an enjoyable look at the short period of his association with Quiet Riot, Randy Rhoads and two tours with Ozzy until Rhoads' subsequent death. This book is not a career overview but a brief glimpse into the beginnings of Quiet Riot and Ozzy's solo outings and Sarzo calls this his tribute to Randy Rhoads.
   
   My only complaint with this book is the simplistic dialog he uses between himself, Rhoads and other members of Ozzy's camp. I understand that Sarzo cannot write conversations verbatim that took place more than 25 years ago but the dialog seems stilted and unnatural. Sarzo also either did not lead the typical rock-n-roll lifestyle or decided to leave out tales of excess, groupies and other indulgences. Also, I feel that he has a lot more to say about Ozzy, Sharon and Don Arden during this period. It seems their antics and outrageousness were only briefly touched on and glossed over in an attempt to not besmirch his relationship with the Osbornes, which I can understand.
   
   Sarzo comes across as a genuinely good person as does Rhoads and drummer Tommy Aldridge. The chronicles of life on the road during the Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman tours are interesting, albeit a bit bereft of the "gory" details. Hearing his perspective on the fateful day of Rhoads' plane crash in Leesburg, Florida was heartbreaking yet interesting as the Osborne's rarely comment on it.
   
   Sarzo is not only a good bassist but an adequate writer and definitely has another book in him. With the passing of Quiet Riot frontman Kevin Dubrow, Sarzo should set his sights on telling the tale of his years with them. Overall, this is a worthy addition to any rock aficionado's bookshelf.



5. I would recommend this book to ALL Ozzy fans, Randy fans, Rudy fans, and just any Rock fans in general.
   
   There were two huge reasons why I wanted to read this book: the obvious reason - Randy Rhoads! I wanted to know more about him personally, and this book definitely answered any questions I had earlier. The other huge reason - Rudy Sarzo! Rudy has been one of my very favorite bass players since the Ozzy days. And I'm sure that I should be paying Randy's family for the lessons he's STILL giving me on my guitar to this day!!
   
   Not only do I feel like I've learned so much more about both of these two hero's of mine musically, (not to mention Tommy Aldridge); but I've learned that these two guys were both the stand-up guys that I had always built them up to be in my imagination. I've been a guitar player/musician since I was a very small boy. Over the years, I've supported MANY national acts in some of my own bands, just to find out that they were NOT very nice people; (putting it mildly). These two guys were exactly as I had always thought (or hoped) they'd be! I even played with Rudy and Quiet Riot back in 2001, and when I met Rudy, he really was a nice guy!! (Don't think he believed me when I told him he was my favorite bass player, though.)
   
   I have even more respect for them now, knowing that they were regular guys, not all caught up in drugs, alcohol, girls, and fame like so many other Rock Stars and famous people. (Ozzy, on the other hand.....Well.....!)
   
   I started listening to "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman" all over again because of this book, and it's like hearing them for the first time all over again.
   
   In another important note, Rudy is a Christian man, and this deepens my respect for him even more; being a Christian myself! Rudy goes to proove that you do not need to be a crazy, drug-induced egomaniac, or a "non-Christian" to be a Rock and Roller. A++++++
   
   Todd A.

5 comments about Night.

1. A horrifying account of one man's survival of the concentration camps during the Nazi regime. This book is quite short--maybe 50 pages or so, but in those few pages Wiesel's words are chilling, devestating and horrifying. And I hope that anyone who reads it might then get a small insight into the worst crime against humanity in the western world and say "never again."



2. Wow...every page is like a sock in the gut, and like many memoirs full of twisted events, I find myself hoping it isn't true. But what's most remarkable is Wiesel's legacy, how he survived and lived to tell about it as a respected intellectual (this isn't a part of the story). Historically relevant, brutally tragic, painfully morbid. A true story about hanging on to life, and literally losing everything but. It's small enough to read in a day, and that might be the best way to go about it. I read it in small, painful chunks. As I read it, I often felt ashamed of humanity for it's self-destructive cruelty. This story includes the extra detail they didn't put in your history book.



3. I received this item in a timely matter in great condition! Would do business with again!



4. As an English teacher, I have my ninth graders read this memoir every year. And every year, I am moved to tears. Not only does Mr. Wiesel tell of his devastating experience of dehumanization in the Holocaust, but he tells it with such eloquence and mastery of the English language, that one would wonder if he was always a writer. This is his first book and it reads like a story written by some of the greatest writers of the literary canon. Be forewarned that his story will change your perspective on life and will most likely you move you to tears as well. If it doesn't, than as my Pastor would say, "your wood is wet."
   
   You may be asking yourself, "why would I want to read something that will just get me upset?" My answer to that is that if we don't get upset, how can we facilitate change? Ignorance leads to bliss? No way--it leads to destruction. Furthermore, antisemitism hasn't gone away. And in the midst of the violence and hatred exploding in the middle east 63 years after Hitler was defeated, there are millions of people who once again want to annihilate the Jews and are devising plans to do just that. So this memoir must be read. Mr. Wiesels' story must be heard.



5. From the moment we had began on this book in our classes it was truly an eye opener. Words cannot describe the misery that was felt in each and every word this book had within. The book itself had casted night over all of us, especially me as we listened intently on what could be known as the most heart striking tale. From the start of the camp to the death marchings in the snow, the story gives a full eye account of the horror that was seen in the Nazi war. No story ever has been written so amazingly nor dramaticly as this. Yes, it touched me darkly and it burned deeply but this story, this story is something everyone should read because no one should forget what happened so long ago. You cant go your whole life without reading this book, its something that you should not miss.
   
   I give it a rating of five stars and I hope you, the reader, can also find that too.

5 comments about Standing Tall: A Memoir of Tragedy and Triumph.

1. I received the book in a very timely manner, it came exactly as it was stated it would. I would purchase from this seller again.



2. I was so moved by C. Vivian Stringer's account of her rise to stardom in the competitive world of college athletics. The predjudice and personal tragedies she endured and her ability to keep balance in her life and focus through it all is truly inspiring. She is an amazing woman.



3. There are 2 things I absolutely HATED about this book...I hated having to put it down, and I hated when I finished it! Vivian Stringer's story is truly an example of courage in the midst of challenges. It's not just for sports fans. Anyone can be inspired by it.



4. I enjoyed the book. Not life changing but there are some life lessons to be learned through the reading



5. This book was absolutely fantastic. I'm not really into sports but have enjoyed basketball from time to time. Though, I've never really been into college basketball and didn't even know who C. Vivian Stringer was before the Imus incident, I was able to gain a tremendous insight into the life of a strong, confident, and resilient woman and the women she lends a hand in raising. To learn all that she has been through and how she mustered the courage to "Stand Tall" through every adversity was so inspiring, and not just for Black women but for every woman and human being. I certainly recommend that every person take the time to read this incredible story.

5 comments about One Drop: My Father's Hidden Life--A Story of Race and Family Secrets.

1. As a member of a vast cousinage with four living generations, I can't imagine not knowing even one of my people. So, I understand fully Bliss Broyard's climb down her own family tree to discover her father's roots and,thereby,her own. On this journey, she went back further than her great-great-grandfather - who "passed" for black - to unearth and reveal a complex, conflicted history of her family in America. By accomplishing serious detective work, she straightens the twisted narrative of a distinct cultural mix. The in-depth study and analysis of Creoles - a joyful fusion of African, European and Native American - is a profound rendering of the symbolic melting pot. Outside of Louisiana and the emigrants who carried the culture to other environs, Creole (with a capital "C") is generally unknown or little understood. Thanks to this book, we learn that it is so much more than spicy cuisine and an elegant patois. Even the view and impact of placage relationships, so romanticized in novels, is explored. Like anyone who denies his birthright for any reason (there are reasons other than ethnicity)and reinvents himself, Broyard sacrificed much. The saddest part of the story is not Broyard's repudiation of his complete lineage. It is his failure to recognize the great gift of his inheritance and share it with his children. While this book is not an example of great prose, the strength of the author's narrative is her forthright assessment of her own beliefs about race, her unintended prejudices and her reactions to new-found kin and friends. She acknowledges her father's racism, exacerbated by his reliance on stereotypes. Anatole doesn't cross the color line solely for financial and social advantage. In part, he denied the One Drop because of his acceptance of the wrong idea of inherent white superiority. This is not surprising given Creoles' centuries-long separation from their black brethen. Already separated from the larger black community by language and culture, the Broyards' move to NYC solidified the rift: the uneducated Broyards could not be embraced by the black professional class (whose very existance belied the notion of inferiority). Notwithstanding their appearance, class as defined by academic achievement and relative wealth trumped the Broyards' ability to pass the brown bag test. Todd Broyard, who gets limited coverage, seems to have grasped this effect on his father's choices, which Bliss explains, "(F)or Todd, the relevant problem was the 'class line, not the color line.'" Perhaps, and maybe rightly so, Anatole Broyard did not believe he could be accepted into the right class if he carried the baggage of the wrong color.



2. I liked this book. Not so much b/c I was interested in Anatole Broyard, but rather I found his family history and his daughter's struggles to come to terms with her father's and her own identity much more compelling. Bliss Broyard did a wonderful job of detailing her paternal history all the way back to 18c Louisiana. I felt her need to connect with her new found family and her pain when her family (while polite) did not fully embrace her. Highly recommended.



3. Bliss Broyard is amazing, and I am so glad that she wrote this book. I discovered her existence seeing an excerpt from African American Lives and became curious about her journey. I had just had my own DNA testing done to confirm or dispel a family story about us being American Indian and Scottish, instead of Irish as we'd been told. When my results came in, showing a strong subsaharan African and Egyptian Berber influence (in addition to the Scottish and American Indian parts) I was startled and surprised. I didn't know what to make of it, or how to incorporate this new knowledge into my self-identity. So, reading Ms. Broyard's book was amazing for me, because I'd gone through many of the challenges she spoke of. I was somewhat jealous of her ability to connect to relatives and gain so much genealogy information, as I've been doing these searches for 10 years and not gotten so much. Her book is a testament to rethinking the memory of her father and making meaning for herself. Her writing is exceptional, and she's honest, sincere. I wish there were more authors (or people in general!) like Ms. Broyard. Good for her for publishing this! I've passed on my copy to other friends who struggle with their multiple cultures and identities, and gifted a copy to a friend who's interested in his own genealogy. Go Ms. Broyard, and bless you for the courage it took to write this book!



4. Bliss' voyage was very special to me. I felt her pain and confusion and unfortunately could relate too closely to her tale. Her account is so honest and self-reflective that it was embarassing at times to be privvy to her thoughts. As a mother,I wanted to hug her and explain to her all the racial garbage that American society dumps on us. As a Creole of Color whose mother, grandmother and God knows how many other relatives passed while I couldn't, I can relate to her family stories and pain. Yet, this young lady taught me so much with her amazing historical research. If I ever drag myself back to Louisiana to my maternal home, I will have lots of tips to learn more about my family. For example, who is my Italian grandfather and does a great grandfather's portrait as a judge still hang in a county courthouse? I'd love to have her help me retrace my roots. I am amused at her stories of people discovering their black ancestry and I laugh at the thought that if people in the 30s only knew that my red-headed grandmother, a magazine cover girl, was actually black/Negroe/Colored/Creole or that my mom, the lady in the 60s Wonder Bread commercial, wasn't white. But the scars still remain with all of us. The lies, the denial of self still haunt the family. I am sending this book to my mom who prbably to this day experiences some guilt about not raising her eldest daughter because she couldn't pass in her white expatriate world.



5. I just finished reading a novel called Passin', by Karen E. Quinones Miller, and Broyard's father was mentioned in that book. What little I learned from Miller's book intrigued me, so I hurried up and purchased One Drop. It was a decent book, but not as interesting as I might have hoped.
   
   She had me mesmerized when writing about her father's life, but then when she goes on her own journey to learn more about her African-American roots my interest began to wan. I tried to figure out why, and then realized it was because she was writing about it almost as a disinterested character herself! She never drew me in, because she wasn't that drawn in. So why did she bother with this odyssey to find her roots, I wonder? Maybe to write this book?
   
   Also, and I saw this mentioned in a few other reviews, she seems to have some (residual?) racist views herself about blacks . . . and you out and out feel that she thinks it ironic that she's now part of a group she and her friends have always considered inferior.
   
   If anyone ever writes a full biography on her father, I'd love to read it. But this memoir left me feeling a little on the exploited side, myself.