5 comments about Arabian Sands (Penguin Classics).

1. I live most of the year in Saudi Arabia and saw this book at a local bookstore. I was attracted by the cover, reviews, inside photography, and the author's opening comments. I purchased it hoping I would get a greater understanding of the world I live in before the influence of Western luxuries/conveniences. I also thought it would be an enjoyable true-life adventure story.
   
   Thesiger was drawn to the bedu setting from of his disdain for the onslaught of technological progression which has been infiltrating every corner of the earth. And no doubt, I benefited from the book with learning more about the bedu culture/mentality as well as their relationship with each other and other Arabs and the degree of attention that they gave to Islam (or "cultural" Islam, not to be confused with Islam as it truly is). But make no mistake, those fascinating points are very SPARSELY scattered throughout the text.
   
   Since the book contained rich descriptions and I did learn a few interesting things from it, it would be unfair of me to give only 1 or 2 stars. But why didn't I give it 4 or 5 stars? Of 287 pages, it seemed that nearly all of it consisted of traveling in the sands, occasionally visiting a town to get permission from a Shaykh to travel therein, and then OCCASIONALLY noting interesting observations from his traveling companions. That's what it was, from beginning to end. There was little to no plot, just the author's love for basking in asceticism. However, even THAT is lacking because there is very little personal reflection of life from the author in the midst of his surroundings. We don't have a page where he looks up into the sky and ponders the creation of the universe or anything of that nature. Quite simply, the book is a narrative of dealing with camels, searching for water, and getting dinner invitations. A few times throughout the book he mentioned some important historical points about Islamic history (it's spread and how it propelled Muslims to be the most advanced civilization of their time) and he concludes that this is because of the bedu participation/influence--yet even these observations, if brought together, could not cover a single page. Although the journey was a true-life "adventure" -- there was danger from thirst, lack of food-source, etc -- and sometimes it seemed that the author, as a Christian, would be in a tough bind, yet none of those scenarios ever greatly escalated, which of course is good for the author(!) but boring for the reader.
   
   For those of you who do choose to purchase/read Arabian Sands, my advice is simple: find a cozy spot where you can read it without any distractions or any impending time engagements. If you don't, the pleasant writing style will slip by unappreciated and your enjoyment will be even less.



2. Not only a magnificent travelogue chronicling travels in in a harsh, surreal landscape, here we see the age-old yearning of the explorer to discover the things which cannot be found among the comforts and conveniences of civilization,chief of which is a knowledge of what kind of man he will prove to be when tested to his utmost. Though Thesiger never promotes his undertakings as spiritual experiences,it becomes evident that surely they have as much right to be called so as any other avowedly represented accounts. His fascination with the ascetic lives of his Bedu companions with their fierce nobility and many customs of traditional Arab culture shows the desire of a searcher for meaning transcending the materialism of the modern West. It is a tribute to his integrity that, despite his admiration, he also realizes he is bound to his own heritage and could never be truly one of them. His descriptive powers are outstanding,both of people and places. This is the best adventure/travel book I have read to date.



3. After you read this, you'll never think the same of the "Empty Quarter" which encompasses much of the south of the Arabian Peninsula. First of all, you'll find it's not so empty, with the nomadic Bedu plying the dunes and oases of the region as they have for centuries. In fact, this story is primarily about the Bedu who are incredibly tough but also incredibly principled. Their moral code could teach us a lot. Their love for their camels, who literally enable them to live in their hostile geography, and for their fellow man is humbling. The author, an intrepid explorer of these desert sands, does an outstanding job of bringing the Bedu culture to us. If you want to more fully understand the nomadic Arab mind, you could do much worse than to read this outstanding book.



4. The Rub Al Khali, the Empty Quarter, or as the Arabs called it, The Sands, is one of the most inhospitable places on earth, and one of the least populated as a result. Like Mt. Everest, or the South Pole, each of which became the obsession of some men, sometimes costing them their lives, the Empty Quarter became an obsession of Wilfred Thesiger. He was not the first Westerner to cross it, Bertrand Thomas was, in the `30's, and then Harry (Abdullah) St. John Philby after him, but Thesiger is deservedly the most famous, due to this wonderful account that is difficult to put down. His birth and childhood in Abyssinia, in 1910, the son of the first British Ambassador, seems to have marked him for the "path less traveled." To fully appreciate "Arabian Sands,' it helps to have read "The Life of My Choice," his autobiography.
   
   The first part of "Arabian Sands" covers his youth in Africa, and his initial desert trips in Dhaufar, and in the Danakil country. The end of the book involves his travels in then "forbidden" Oman. The heart of his story though, is his two epic crossing of The Sands. Unlike other Westerner explorers, he was unsupported in his efforts, by other Westerners, save for the financial support of the British Anti-Locust Board. He had to live by his wits, establishing firm and trusting relationships with his beloved Bedouin (Bedu) who were the essential element in his success. In so doing, he developed an understanding of the conditions of their very harsh life, and enthusiastically emulated them. In addition to coming to terms with the "ship of the desert," the camel, and adapting to the rhythms of desert travel with such transport, he also had to stay one step ahead of central authorities, and deal with the tribal politics, which invariably meant that some tribes would be hostile to both him, and his traveling companions solely for tribal reasons. Furthermore, since he was not a Muslim, he had to deal with those individuals and tribes who were hostile due solely to his non-adherence to their religion and beliefs, but Thesiger was wise enough to realize that much of the hostility resulted from the fact that all the other Westerners who were exploring were looking for oil, and the natives feared a loss of their land - it was hard for them, or even most Westerners to understand his motives of doing it solely "because it was there." After his second crossing he was arrested in the town of Sulaiyil by adherents of the Ikhwan, the fundamentalist brotherhood that very well may have made an "example" of him, "to encourage the others", and executed him. It was only the direct intervention of his friend, Philby, with the Saudi king, Abdul Aziz, which secured his release.
   
   The book contains numerous excellent maps, which outline his trips, as well as the tribal areas. It also includes some excellent black and white photographs, many of them of his traveling companions. On a personal note, he inspired a passion to visit Yabrin, on the northern edge of the Empty Quarter, and I was able to see it develop into a significant town, over a 23 year period, a far cry from the absolute absence of people at this oasis when he passed through in 1948.
   
   I couldn't give the book a 5-star however. As one other reviewer indicated, it would help if we looked a bit at the man himself, and his reference frame. The book was written around 12 years after the events, and he admits to not maintaining accurate notes, so how much was changed in his memory? Certainly he experienced "comradeship," like men do in war, but does that mean we should have wars for this experience? It seemed that he unduly romanticized the hardship, and bemoaned that the bedu would loose their remarkable way of life with the coming impact of the modern world. And there is no question that there are only a few real bedu left on the Arabian peninsula, as they have enthusiastically embraced the conveniences of the modern world in the subsequent 60 years. It should be noted that Thesiger carefully picked the timings of his travels, to do so only in the winter. If he had spent a couple of summers with the bedu, I strongly suspect that much of his romanticism would have evaporated, and the hum of an air-conditioner would be much appreciated. Also, there may have been more than an aversion to the modern material world behind his passion for the remote areas of yore - throughout his life, including his days in Kenya at the end, there was always a youthful companion with him.
   
   Setting aside these caveats, and realizing that the prism may be distorted, his achievements are remarkable, and we are fortunate to have an enthralling narrative of this vanished way of life.



5. I had heard this was the definitive work on the desert country but never had gotten around to reading it. I now have and it is terrific - every thing it's cracked up to be. I had read Michael Asher's biography; I had been in Ethiopia, Oman and Yemen; I traveled in the Hadhramaut -- all of this over fifty years later but still there is the flavor of Thesiger's days. His writing of crossing the Empty Quarter was a precursor of Asher's more recent writings about desert travels. He writes well and keeps the reader completely caught up with his trek. There is a sadness, on Thesiger's part (and mine), that as progress has affected the Bedu life, the stability of the old days is no more. But for a loving report on life as it used to be with the Bedu tribes, I whole heartedly recommend Arabian Sands. (I should not Rory Stewart's introduction was worth the price of the book)

5 comments about No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life.

1. The next time you think that life has dealt you a bad hand, you should pick up this story about Kyle Maynard, the congential amputee athlete. I found the story very inspirational and motivating. While I was hopeing that Kyle would talk more about other aspects of his life, like career, it was impressive reading about how he trained for football and wrestling. There is also the amazing amount of faith and caring from Kyle's friends and family.
   
   Next time that you get self-conscious over a blemish or do not feel like exercising, take a few minutes to flip through this book about an amazing human being.
   
   Doug Setter, author of Stomach Flattening



2. Kyle's story is one that helps you to believe in love of family and power of the human spirit.



3. This book is truly inspiring!
   Read it, with a box of Kleenex tissue handy. This book will put iron in your spine!
   Then buy copies for everyone in your family . . . and friends . . . and.
   Do not! Repeat- Do not miss out on the rich blessing this book delivers.



4. It is a great book. It proves that the mind can overcome any physical disablilities.



5. Very great story. It's one thing to tell a kid that they can do anything they put their mind to when they're born with a body that's not "normal".
   
   But it's another thing for a man like Kyle to SHOW people that it's possible. He's served as an inspiration to at least 2 of my patients and their families, because they can see the possibilities of life as an adult, defining and projecting who you are as a man, rather than letting society tell you who you are supposed to be.
   
   Excellent read. Highly recommended.

5 comments about To End All Wars.

1. I assume that this book is similar if not the same as Ernest Gordnn's original work, Through the Valley of the Kwai. I read the original 3o years ago and became a disciple of Jesus Christ as a result. No other work better illustrates how the love of God affects man than this work.



2. This was one of the most moving Christian testimonies I have read. It is the amazing biography of Ernest Gordon, a British POW in Japanese occupied Thailand. The book is more than that though. The personal and historical account of To End All Wars provides the reader with tremendous hope born in the midst of suffering. In the same spirit as Corrie Ten Boon's the Hiding Place, this work writes about the difficulty of finding and protecting the value of human life through the power of God's love and forgiveness. Such was the key to Ernest Gordon's end to the war and for many of his fellow inmates, and it is a message that is repeated throughout the account. There are many moments when such self-sacrificing love is put to the test. One defining moment was when the prisoners administered aid to wounded Japanese soldiers who were previously their captors at the very end of the war. The title of my review comes from a quote from Mr. Gordon taken from this event. The book itself is a testament to the grace and mercy of God, which offered these defeated men a restoration of their souls through forgiveness rather than maintain in their hearts the bitterness of hatred despite the cruelty they suffered. A truly powerful and soul-stirring book!



3. My wife and I had watched the movie a couple months ago (be warned: it is incredibly brutal) and been moved by the power of the story. Unfortunately, as it turned out, the book and the move are not the same story. In fact, other than the similarity of the major premise (a British officer in a Japanese POW camp during WW2), they had almost nothing in common.
   
   However. . .
   
   That was only disappointing insomuch as I kept waiting for certain events from the movie to show up. The movie had colored my expectations for the book, which meant I couldn't take the book on its own merits. Which is too bad, because, upon completing the book, I would say it is as powerful as the movie, perhaps even more so. But you have to let the book speak for itself. The story is truly miraculous, as this band of prisoners devolve into a wild bunch of animals at the hands of their captors, only to be transformed by the Spirit of Christ into a true Community of compassion and care. Somehow, in the midst of hell, these men found the power to love each other, to care for each other, to even forgive their Japanese tormentors. When people ask "Does Christianity work?", the story of this book says "absolutely!" And in a day and age of spiteful attacks, divisive language, polarized religions and selfish money-grubbing politicians and religious leaders, there is a real lesson here about what being a True Follower of Christ is all about.



4. This is one of the best books I've read so far... Though it may appear repetitive at times (there's really little else the author could write about beside what's happening in the POW camps along the Kwai), the reflection on the human condition and the supreme virtue of self-sacrifice in the footsteps of Jesus Christ is written with much poignancy and profundity. The epilogue is a tour de force for its penetrating criticism of the 'civilised' society the author returned to after the war. The reverse culture shock he experienced is a haunting reminder of how that still small voice can be so easily drowned out in the cacophony of modern society.



5. It's a difficult, but true message. The author takes an unflinching look at the evil that men are capable of through his own personal experience in Japanese prison camps and carries you through the experience on to the brilliant hope on the other side of his own personal pain. The underlying truth you discover is the genuine potential to be found in one man's selfless, sacrificial care for another. It's an excellent read.

5 comments about Emergency Sex: And Other Desperate Measures.

1. As others have noted. This is a whiny tell-all by spoilt white kids about travels paid for by the UN and other hapless organizations. The Aussie guy actually seems okay, but the other two are hopeless. They have somehow convinced themselves they "changing the world!"
   Do something more constructive with your money and give it to a homeless person. This is awful. It gets a one star because the spelling is acceptable.



2. Interesting account of what it takes mentally to do humanitarian work. Slow at first but a good read.



3. The title is enough to make you inquire the story. Don't be disappointed that it's not a contempory Kuma Satra. The real characters and subject matter are too compelling not to read. It's a real life account of events we all saw on the news from a viewpoint you may not expect. It's quite well written with appropriate character/story development, told from each of the 3 player's point of view. Their maturation through the story lends hope that the need for people with extrodinary talents and passion can be utilized in a world more dignified. They lived it and survived, as did their friendship. As friendships do; on mutual respect & trust. I know people like them. You do too!



4. I have read more than my fair share of travel books, and this is by far one of the most accurate accounts of the lives of relief workers I have seen yet. It shows both the positive and the negative, and does a great job of illustrating the intensity found in these types of emergencies. As someone who has spent some time working in the field, I would STRONGLY recommend this to anyone considering going into a career in crisis environments. Really fantastic.



5. Saving lives while putting yours under risk sounds like the perfect material for a compelling memoir and the juicy title of this one sounds like it would deliver in spades. However I was ultimately disappointed by "Emergency Sex".
   
   The book is written by three aid workers: Ken, a recent Harvard graduate; Heidi, a social worker from New York; and Andrew, an idealistic doctor from New Zealand. The three meet initially when they are all working in Cambodia and their stories intersect as they work together and separately on assignment in various `90s trouble spots: Somalia, Haiti, Rwanda, Bosnia. The book is written by each of them in turn and the pace is quick and lively. Parts are exciting (the description of being in Somalia when the Black Hawk helicopter was downed) or very moving (the description of the terrible atrocities in Rwanda and Liberia).
   
   So it's an interesting read but somehow it failed to grab me. The book does convey what its like to be an aid worker: alternating fear, adrenalin, exhaustion, hopelessness, cynicism and only very occasionally the sense that you've made a small difference to the world. It certainly gives the flavor of how terrible things were in these places and how the UN could have done things better. However the three personalities never rang true for me. I didn't feel that I got to know these people. As another reviewer has commented, they all sounded curiously alike and I got the sense that Ken perhaps penned all three stories. Heidi's story was too much Ken's fantasy of the girl with the limpid eyes and the active sexual appetite. Andrew's story was also Ken's fantasy of the heroic and noble doctor who windsurfed in his spare time. I'm not saying that these aren't real people, just that they never leapt off the page and became real to me.
   
   Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because the nature of aid work is such that it's one long grind, the book dragged along for me. While I didn't mind it, I never felt the urge to pick it up and read more. I felt several times that I could have skipped 100 pages here or there and it wouldn't have made much difference. Really, you could flip open the book in a bookstore, read a few pages here and there, and get the flavor of the entire piece. It's not a bad book by any stretch, but it could have been better with judicious editing.

5 comments about Steve & Me.

1. What a guy Steve was, and nobody knew it better than Terri and the children.Terri tells us about the Steve, we all came to know from watching his exciting adventures in the animal world ,played out on our TV screens;better than anyone could;for the simple reason nobody knew and loved him more.
   What a great shock it was to learn about Steve's so untimely death.It happened so quickly and unexpectedly;that those of us who knew him only from watching his unbelievable handling and love of wild animals,that when we heard of his death;we were tempted yo ask ourselves;"was he really for real?"
   In this wonderful book ,Terry opens up to all of us, what a fantastic person Steve was.If we thought we knew him;she shows he was even a much greater person than we realized.
   Steve's unrestrained and unlimited love for animals, and his concern for their threatened futures gave him the strength to carry on and do more for their well being than one could imagine possible for one man.
   When one hears or thinks of Steve ,the scene of him gently holding a small, beautiful but venomous snake in his hand ,in some remote place in the wild,comes to mind. A snake he has never seen before,the locals are terrified of;and Steve lifts it to within a couple if inches of his face.Steve and his newfound "friend" seem to be as one ,without fear on either's part. One also thinks of Terri,a few feet away,watching it all going on,with love,admiration and what must have been a bit of trepidation. Steve, just as easily entertained and amazed us tackling a crocodile or mingling with a herd of wild rhinocerous or staring down a poisonous spider.
   And did he ever enjoy it all; and just as important was his desire to share it with the rest of the world.
   What a terrible loss Steve was to everyone who came to know him;but more importantly what a tremendous loss he was to the world of nature.It seems his life's work was just getting started and we cannot even imagine all the other great things he would have accomplished ,had he been able to continue.No doubt about it,he was a Giant in many ways;and still he was just beginning to accomplish what he dreamed of.
   Steve still managed to accomplish much and his efforts will continue to benefit wildlife beyond anything that could be expected from one person.
   Thanks,so much Terri, for sharing your life and love of Steve with us.



2. Readers looking for Steve Irwin's life story in depth may be disappointed. It is condensed and captured by Terri Irwin, but more as a loving tribute. Their relationship was an unpretentious union built around wildlife conservation. Terri simply explains who the Irwin family is, and what they do best--teaching their children and ours about wildlife. If nothing else, the reader will walk away better understanding what the word passion truly means.



3. This is one of those can't put down books. A book which makes you cry with sadness and happiness, one that makes you laugh and also makes you angry at the injustice to animals and the people trying to protect them.
   
   Whilst we all know what a wonderful guy Steve was with his wildlife conservation and admire and love him for it, this also shows that Terri was equally dedicated.
   
   A beautiful love story, and what a beautiful family! This book made me realize that it really took a special woman to match Steve's vigor for life.
   
   What a unique couple, makes me even the sadder that their love story was cut short and that their two beautiful children do not get to grow up with such an amazing man!



4. Terri Irwin has written a biography and tribute to her soulmate, Steve Irwin. Known to millions all over the world as the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin (along with Terri and their kids and the staff of the Australia Zoo) have inspired millions to care about the environment and animals that have been killed out of ignorance or fear. Contrary to what some reviewers wrote, you do get to know Steve better than you did through the television shows. Terri was actually quite open, sharing many personal stories with the reader in a way that drew you into the narrative. I felt the pain that Steve Irwin felt when he was the subject of the media witch-hunt regarding the "Baby Bob" incident. You laughed along with them, and felt their sorrows and triumphs. The "cult of personality" is too real a force in our world. People spend far too much time concerned with what some singer or athlete or actor says or does. Here is a subject worthy of such notice, and a story well-told. Thanks, mate.



5. Stellar writing by Terri Irwin. She made you feel like
   you were right there with them.

5 comments about Carnet De Voyage (Travel Journal).

1. With "Blankets", Craig Thompson established what I think will remain as a landmark in the book/comics/cartoon world. With this one, I expected basically just a sketchbook filled with random drawings and what not.
   
   The truth is that the book was a lot more continuous than I expected, and it does read like a story. The best of this is that originally this notebook wasn't supposed to ever see print, it was Craig's private sketchbook, but as it grew, people expressed interest and suggested that he publish it. And thank God that he did!
   
   "Carnet de Voyage" is a fascinating book. It's more raw than "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" and different from "Blankets", but in its very own genre, it definitely achieves something memorable. And the intensity of the emotion is as strong as ever. I found myself laughing here, and being very concerned about Craig there. Indeed, I don't think I was ever made to care so much about someone I never met before Craig Thompson. The man is simply saintly in that sense. He is a mix of gracious humility and honesty, and his truth-like art is just mind-blowing.
   
   So what will you find in there? The telling of his travels through France, Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, and the Alps. Thompson's artistic vision shows through that book and one can sort of get an idea of how he functions. And one certainly gets to see how tortured poor Craig really is. That unpretentious notebook will make you feel closer to him, because he is so genuine in his art, doesn't hide his life from his work, and as a result, you get a window to his soul.



2. and it doesn't pretend to be, but I found it very worthwhile. I like CHUNKY RICE and I think BLANKETS is one of the great American novels, graphic or otherwise. I felt I needed a Thompson fix, and hoped this would help while I wait for the Next Book. Thinking it would be bedside reading, a few pages at a time, I read it in one sitting. His voice is as true as ever and his art is wonderful. You will meet many interesting people and suffer through his mishaps with him. It was just what I had hoped it would be, a good solid Craig Thompson fix.



3. Craig Thompson is fantastic. If you like his work, you'll love this collection of musings, sketches, and stories of life on the road in Europe and Morocco. This book provides insight into Thompson's inner life, what drives him, and what he yearns for. Side by side this there are sketches that are so accurate and evocative that I felt like I was back in Morocco myself. Thompson experiences all the highs and lows of travel on his trip and very openly shares them all. For anyone who's traveled alone, but wished for company this book will ring true. But, Thompson also shares with the reader the exhilaration of new places and new people that can be found out in the world. A fantastic quick read and visual journey.



4. Craig Thompson's epic 600 page graphic novel, BLANKETS is one of the most beautiful comics I've ever read. I was astounded at the breadth and depth of the book and wondered how someone in his mid twenties could have crafted such a massive achievement so early in his career.
   
   With the publication of CARNET DE VOYAGE, I now understand a little bit more about Thompson's work habits... he is a nonstop drawing machine. But no... machine is wrong... there's nothing mechanical about his work. Art flows out of Thompson's brush pens with the organic fluidity of a true master. He may well be the greatest natural cartoonist of his generation... hell, even a handful of others.
   
   CARNET DE VOYAGE wasn't even supposed to be a book. While traveling through France, Barcelona, the Alps and Morocco last Spring to promote BLANKETS, Thompson's omnipresent sketchbook suddenly became his next project. In his introduction, the typically self-effacing artist dismisses it as "a rather self-indulgent side project."
   
   Yes, there's lots of self-indulgence, but no more than any other writer or artist's work is self indulgent. Smarting from a recent breakup, suffering from crippling rheumatoid arthritis exacerbated by nonstop signings, sketches and portraits of locals (many of whom demand money for the privilege of being models), Thompson's travelogue is filled with the kind of subjective experience that's only interesting to others if it's told well.
   
   And in CARNET DE VOYAGE, it's told beautifully. Mixing his two styles, the cartoony whimsy of GOODBYE, CHUNKY RICE with the more naturalistic impressionism of BLANKETS, Thompson allows us to experience everything he does: The homesickness, the culture shock, the thrill of the new and the comfort of other people. His passion for beauty, be it architectural, arboreal, feline, culinary or (often) feminine is all delineated with an artistic embellishment that's more effective than any photograph could be.
   
   That's the power of comics; They can be (in the right hands) surreal and realistic at the same time. Thompson is as much a master of capturing the empirical world as he is conveying his inner demons (and he's got a lot of `em... this boy is one tortured, sensitive artiste). He may dismiss CARNET DE VOYAGE as "not (his) next book," but it's the richest, most rewarding graphic novel I've read since... well, since BLANKETS.



5. This was actually quite good, but it ends way too abruptly, with Thompson informing his audience afew pages before the end that he was only given 231 pages and then stopping right in the middle of his tour. I hope this might mean that there's a second volume, possibly? I was especially affected because I am an Oregonian as well ( though I was born here, as opposed to having moved here like Thompson) and because I lived a year of my life in Montpelier, where he stopped on his tour. It was cool seeing stuff I recognized. I also enjoyed Thompson's whiny, self-pitying and -criticizing tone which reminded me of Crumb or Pekar. It was just good.

5 comments about Heart in the Right Place.

1. I hardly know where to begin. This is a beautiful story of a loving family and a very special community. It is a story of a woman who finds her truest self.
   
   Carolyn Jourdan was a high profile attorney who worked on Capitol Hill. She drove a Mercedes, and had a high profile circle of friends. She knew all of the important people, and they knew her.
   
   A family emergency sent her back to the hills of Tennessee, for a few days. It wasn't easy. She missed her place in DC from almost the first moment she was away. Her best friend was there. Her life and work were there. She was somebody there...or was she.
   
   As the days and then weeks passed, far longer than she had expected or planned, Carolyn began to see things just a little differently. She had always wanted to help others, but had seen it more as a grand scheme. Helping many at one time. Making a difference . But is is more important to make a difference to many people at one time than it is to do so one by one. That was a conundrum she had trouble solving.
   
   I loved each and every one of the people I met in this book. There were tears in my eyes more than once. A story filled with compassion, love and faith that will have a firm place on my small self of books that are to be read again and again.



2. Carolyn Jourdan thought she had left her hometown of Strawberry Plains, Tenn. in her rear view mirror. When her mother has a heart attack, Jourdan leaves a job as a high profile attorney in Washington, D.C., to care for her mom and help her dad at his small medical office.
   
   Jourdan's warm memoir, "Heart in the Right Place," chronicles her experiences at the front desk of her father's office and the adjustments she makes to life in a small town.
   
   The book has gathered a basket full of honors, including "A Best Book Club of 2007-2008" by Book Sense, "A Best Book of 2007-2008" by The Literary Guild and "A 2008 Top Summer Read" by The New York Public Library.
   
   Jourdan's opening chapter spotlights her quick wit and sharp sense of humor as she recounts her first day on the job.
   
   As I unlocked the front door of the office I could hear the phone ringing. I hurried inside and stretched across the reception desk to answer it.
   "Dr. Jourdan's office," I said, out of breath."
   "Do y'all wash out feet?" a woman shouted.
   ... "Excuse me?"
   "Wash out feet! Do y'all wash out feet?"
   "I ... I don't know." I sent up a silent prayer that we did not.
   "Well she needs her foot washed out! How much do y'all charge for that?"
   
   Jourdan's easy writing style moves the story right along. She makes you care about her mother's rehabilitation, her father's heavy workload and the health and well-being of the patients that cross her path.
   
   Her stories prove that people in small towns all across this country care about one another enough to make significant sacrifices. And that's a good thing.
   
   Enjoy!



3. A wonderful and humorous story about a daughter who returns from a high powered position in the United States Congress to be the receptionist for her father's country physician office. The cast of characters and their many illnesses, real and imagined, provide wonderful insight into the human condition. You will laugh at the antics of the country patients, friends and even the animals that Carolyn's daddy treats in his small town Smokey Mountain office. Carolyn Jourdan recounts it all with humor, pathos and spirituality. Don't miss this one!



4. Why would a high powered Senate lawyer suddenly decide to become a country doctor's receptionist? Because her family asked her to. Carolyn Jourdan's 70 something mother who normally does the job for Carolyn's father, the small rural area's only doctor, has had a heart attack and family duty brings Carolyn to the rescue "for a few days". This delightful memoir tells us all what it's like to escape a life only to be dragged back in--and finding it much more fulfilling the second time around. Full of anecdotes about life in a country doc's office (where you can keep someone from dying AND x-ray a miniature goat in the same day) we can delight in the complicated simplicity of life East Tennessee through the eyes of one of is very own daughters. This book is hilarious, touching, and above all, honest.



5. You can zip through this in the bookstore. Wholly lacking in character development and spiritual depth.

1 comments about First Darling of the Morning: Selected Memories of an Indian Childhood (P.S.).

1. I bought this book after reading and falling in love with her fictional work, _The Space Between Us._ I've read many books by Indian authors (Rohinton Mistry, Amitav Ghosh, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai) and am not sure why Umrigar isn't as well-known as these other authors (yet). _First Darling of Morning_ is a book about growing up in Bombay. I enjoyed it because it gives a wonderful snapshot of what life in Bombay was/is like, but also because her book is so real. She writes honestly about many topics that are taboo and sometimes avoided in Indian literature, such as unhappy marriages, conflicts with in-laws, the long-term effects of tuberculosis, and class divisions.
   
   I think this book would speak to anyone interested in India (especially Bombay) or about growing up. Definitely one of the better books I have read about the struggles of adolescence, and the conflict between being what one "should" be versus what one dreams of being.
   
   Loved it. I'll be diving into _Bombay Time_ or _If Today Be Sweet_ next. Spread the word.

5 comments about Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story.

1. All I'm gonna say is this:
   
   In the book, Shawn says one reason he became upset at Bret was he felt Bret was being paid too much, or actually, Shawn was jealous that Bret was making more than he was. Why? I don't know really, because Bret had been in the WWF A LOT longer (going back to before Wrestlemania 1!), had held the tag title, IC title, and World title and had been the face of the company for a while now after Hogan had left....so exactly why was Shawn feeling Bret was making too much??? Why didn't Bret deserve his salary??? Shawn never answers or explains this, and instead felt he should be making the same if not more than Bret.
   
   BUT, Shawn had no problem with the Undertaker (seemingly the only guy he was afraid of backstage) making the amount of whatever his salary was (it could of been more or less than Shawn's). Shawn says in the book he had no problem with the Undertaker contract, that was between him and Vince...but he does have a problem with Bret's???? Again, that logic is never explained, and only leads to reader to conclude that Shawn is/was jealous of Bret and had it out for him. He's a total hypocrite, enough said.
   
   AND to rub more fuel to this fire....Shawn didn't wanna drop the belt to Bret at WM13, so he forfeits the title....but when Bret didn't wanna drop the belt to him at Survivor Series 1997 (and Bret was fine in doing this as his contract gave him CREATIVE CONTROL over his character the last 30 days of his contract) all of a sudden Shawn goes on and says Bret was hurting the business and doing the wrong thing. Once again, only word that comes to mind is HYPOCRITE.
   
   Screw Shawn. Go try to brainwash someone else because I see right through you.



2. This guy is a jerk and always will be a jerk The people Shawn Michaels screwed over is a long list. He was never a big draw as champion and had a mediocre arsenal of moves. Grant it Michaels was a good punching bag like Ricky Morton of the Rock N Roll Express. But could never carry a match like Hart, Sting, Flair or Steamboat.
   
   He blames Bret well hell he made Bret insane with his antics. HHH as well is responsible with his daddy in law Vince for Montreal. I'm glad his body is falling apart. He wants to come across as a so-called Christian. He's like most religous people full of it. He just does to keep his ex-stripper wife around. This guy is pure trash!!!!!!!!



3. I have had a crush on Shawn Michaels for close to 20 years, and this book gave me insight into the life of the Heartbreak Kid. I laughed and cried and laughed again. This has to be one of the greatest books I have ever read. A true wrestling classic.



4. Excellent read for any fan of modern day wrestling. The Montreal Screw Job, the birth of Attitude, The Kliq - it's all here - the man who lived through the booming 90's of wrestling. I have read most major wrestling books of the past 10 years and this one is excellent. Shawn Micheals is honest and revealing in this great account of his life. I cannot suggest this high enough. Great book.



5. This book is really amazing. Once I received it, I couldn't let it down. Like honestly, I think that every Shawn Michaels' fan needs to get this book.
   I love Shawn & I am sure you do to. So come on people! Buy the best book ever.
   
   Shaikha =]

5 comments about Strides: Running Through History With an Unlikely Athlete.

1. The joys of running are probably incomprehensible to those who don't indulge, but Benjamin Cheever does a manly job of explaining them. He also tells some great tales of runners throughout history, from the first marathoner, Pheidippides, who brought news to Athens about the Greek victory on the plains of Marathon, to U.S. soldiers who brave all sorts of horrible things to run in Iraq today.
   Cheever also draws on his own experiences running in dozens of marathons around the world and covering the scene as a writer for Runner's World magazine as well as the pleasures of a simple morning run around the neighborhood where he lives.
   I had a tough time getting through the book for a perverse reason: I happened to have picked it up the day my doctor told me my own running days were over. Back and foot problems coupled with nerve damage meant that I was sidelined for months if not forever.
   I may not be able to enjoy the sport in the first person any longer, but I can at least experience it with frequent re-readings of this chipper, well-expressed memoir.



2. I'm sorry Mr. Cheever doesn't have a personal website to where we could direct fan mail, so maybe this will do. This likable literary sextagenerian has composed/compiled a marvelous collection of personal essays on recreational running that will honor and touch all of us who lace up our shoes most mornings. Touching, inspiring, thought provoking and (most importantly) identifiable tales of the recreational runner and all he/she endures in the mutually identifiable compulsion for personal achievement.
   
   Such a nice book for the runner's collection. Thanks, Ben!



3. This is one of the best running books I have ever read! Mr. Cheever is an average, dedicated runner but he is a superb writer. He mixes his personal history with running with the history of the sport. He shares his personal journeys both physical (Kenya, France, Greece, Boston, etc) and emotional. I think one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much was that we are about the same age and have traveled similar paths in our running lives (but he's a lot better runner). This book is thoroughly researched and he draws on a wide variety of material. A plus is the book's Appendix which includes a list of his favorite 26.2 running books of all time. This a book for the runner and non-runner alike. It moves to the top of my best running books list. A GREAT READ!!!



4. this was an excellent, amusing, and educatioonal read for me who have been running for over 30 years



5. I could not put this book down and was sorry to get to the last page. A brilliant read.