5 comments about Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World.

1. If you know next to nothing about Italy, are never planning to visit, and are perfectly content to allow your impressions of the country to be informed by *Under the Tuscan Sun*-like romanticism and shameless, treacly sentimentality, then *Four Seasons in Rome* is the travel book for you. Otherwise, Doerr's constant doses of high-sugar, low-fiber commentary about his and his family's year in Rome are only going to have you reaching for your insulin pen. Are we really (I mean, are we REALLY??) still at the stage where someone can publish a book about Italy in which his entire contribution to the genre is to rehearse postcard stereotypes and Merchant-Ivory clichés? Call me simple, but I'd truly have thought the market was completely glutted with sixteenth-of-an-inch thick observations on how "wonderful" and "beautiful" Italy is--made by people who don't speak the language, who never stop being tourists, and whose apparently unlimited financial and other resources insulate them entirely from the realities of Italian life. Being a casual visitor is a fine and respectable pastime, but it doesn't qualify you to write a book. Doerr, however, is undaunted, awhirl in whimsy and wide-eyed wonder. From his innocent astonishment that tomatoes actually taste good (he does live in Boise, Idaho, after all) to his tired (and tiring) insistence that he and his wife never saw a badly dressed Italian--or a fat one--to his second-rate tour-guide rhapsodies over the Pantheon, Doerr never lets a bromide or a platitude get away from him. When a Roman waiter makes him and his wife wait 90 minutes for their dinner check, Doerr's only reaction is to go all dewy-eyed over how "relaxed" and "laid back" people are in Italy. Please, Anthony. The waiter was rude. There's no great mystery to it. It happens all the time in Italy, especially to tourists, especially in Rome, and especially to people who are willing, as the Italians say, to fare il fesso--that is, let someone else make an a** of them. Gird your loins as well, Gentle Reader, for page after darling, cooing page about the marvel of Doerr's one-year-old twins and for detailed descriptions of just how darn difficult it was to try to wheel them around Rome in a double-stroller that I can only imagine was a special treat for all the people who had to contend with it on buses, down sidewalks, and in museums. But let's give credit where credit is due: Doerr's prose is pretty, even poetic. The trouble is, that's often all it is: a Fabergé egg, a festoon, the rich-and-creamy icing on a cardboard cake. In his 220-plus pages on Rome, there's almost no there there. (Don't be misled, either, by the subtitle's promise of information about "the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World"; Doerr didn't actually attend, and most of what he knows about it he saw on television.) In more than a few passages, he gets so carried away making perfect little netsuke sentences that he forgets he's supposed to be transmitting actual meaning in the process. Yes; I admit it. I have a bone to pick: Doerr has nothing particularly interesting, profound, insightful, or new to say about Italy. That sure didn't keep him from getting a book contract, however, which suggests that attending the right cocktail parties is a sure shot to success. Merit, while appreciated, is not required. And *Four Seasons in Rome* is yet more evidence that, when it comes to anything with the word "Italy" stamped on it, the American public is all too willing to fare il fesso.



2. I thought it would be a tale of The Great Man writing about being the father of twins whilst the drudgery of actually caring for the babies is in the background. But, being a tragic Italophile, I knew I had to read it eventually. Am so glad I did. The author is a truly devoted parent, yet still possesses a sweet innocence himself towards this beautiful, new-to-him world of Rome. Just as one of the boys is wide-eyed over a taste of chocolate, the author seems reborn at the sight of the glorious skies Rome (apparently) has, the food, the poetry of the language. The writing is gorgeous but not in the artificial MFA manner (maybe he has one, I don't know)--it's genuine and vivid and...tangible. It reawakened in me a desire to not just read more American fiction, but to pull my old drafts off the shelves and see if I, too, could conjure up some similar magic. In one sense my prejudice was correct, though--with his love of family and openness and sense of humor about the world and himself, Four Seasons in Rome did turn out to be the tale of what seems to be a [lower case] great man. (One commentator "denounced" the author as "liberal"; what Doerr seems to be, of course, is humane.)



3. 4 Season's in Rome, is essentially a story within a story. Doerr struggles day in and day out with trying to write his next novel, while living in a foreign land, and raising his first TWO children (they're fraternal twins). Throw in the death of one of the greatest religious figures of the 20th century and it makes for a very interesting time spent abroad. In the end, his next novel, becomes this story about trying to to write his next novel.
   I think if you've been to Rome and lived there, this book will invoke those memories of a magnificent place. You can sympathize with what he has gone through.



4. As an American who moved to Rome to have a baby, I can relate to this book. My experience is different. I live with an Italian and all my friends are Roman, but I still found Doerr's observations lyrical and prescient. As a new father, I actually enjoyed how he was learning the city as he became a parent, an experience I know and grok completely. It was useful to see how someone had to endure a lot of the same difficulties that I have experience. How often do you get to read something parallel to your own life? I also enjoyed his descriptions. For me they came quite close to my own observations, as distant as they may be (a fact that he acknowledges). I read the book on a the train from Rome to Turin, so it's something that is quite fast and easy on the mind. Additionally I enjoyed his sense of impermanence and how that is a character of Rome. Bravo!



5. In "Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World," Anthony Doerr accepted a fellowship with the American Academy of Arts and Letters in Rome, Italy and together with his wife, Shauna, and their newborn twins, they moved to Rome. The author wrote about his experience in Rome, trying to adjust to the way of life there as well as having to manage two babies. He also spent some time talking about Rome in a more unconventional sense (different from a travelogue) focusing on the history and literature.
   
   This was an okay read for me as I had hoped the author would focus more about the culture and people in Rome. It almost felt like he was writing about his own experience as a new father having to deal with both work and that Rome was just the backdrop of all that was happening. He spent a considerable time talking about authors and literatures which were not very interesting for me. The most fascinating part of "Four Seasons in Rome" was his coverage of the Pope's funeral and his observation of the people who adored and loved the Pope. It was just an average read for me - if you are looking for a travelogue type read, this would definitely not be in. This is more of a part memoir, part travel type book.

No comments about Tim Russert, We Heartily Knew Ye: Wonderful Stories from Friends Celebrating a Great Life.

1 comments about The Pillow Book (Penguin Classics).

1. Relatively little is known about Sei Shonagon's life. We know she was a court lady in tenth-century Japan, at the pinnacle of the Heian period.
   
   And she left behind a glimpse into her culture's period in "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon." It's a sort of mishmash memoir -- gossip, reflections, lists, and personal recollections are all mingled together, with a light, poetic delicacy that still is striking today.
   
   The story behind the Pillow Book is that when Shonagon (possible real name: Kiyohara Nagiko) was serving the Imperial Family, the Empress Teishi received a bunch of notebooks that she couldn't use. As they were too valuable to discard, she gave them to Shonagon to use as she chose.
   
   And so Shonagon basically poured her thoughts into her "Pillow Book" -- she offers brief reflections on the world around her, diary-like recollections of things that happen among the ladies in waiting, essays on court life, lists, poetry, and pretty much anything else she dreamed up.
   
   One of the most intriguing things about the Pillow Book is the glimpse into tenth-century Japan that it gives. Shonagon's stories are about little things like flutes, disobedient dogs, clothes, and the Empress's ladies betting on how long it would take a giant mound of snow to melt (no, I'm not kidding). Somehow, it leaves the past seeming a little less distant.
   
   Normally these stories would be curiosities only. But Shonagon -- despite her tendency towards snobbery -- had a special knack with prose, and and a bright, shimmering wit. Her charming love of beauty is often enchanting; she often lists things that she finds pleasing, such as moons, summer nights, flowers and willow trees. Her words were almost as pleasant, since she littered her writing with jokes, metaphor and wordplay.
   
   Not that her recollections are without negatives -- she listed her pet peeves (such as parents worshiping a very unappealing child -- something we've all been annoyed with), and things she found depressing or annoying. A stickler for form and ettiquette, she had very precise ideas about how things should be done... right down to how love affairs should be conducted.
   
   If there's a problem with this, it's that Shonagon -- in the manner of her time -- tends to gloss over the more important, unpleasant details of life. And her own anecdotes show that she could be very cruel, as when she gave a mocking poem to a newly-homeless peasant, instead of a promissory note. It may have been typical of her class and culture, but come on.
   
   "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon" opens a little window into the scented world of Heian-era Japan, and leaves behind the impression of a spunky, sharp-witted lady who would have stood out anywhere.

5 comments about Split: A Memoir of Divorce.

1. Suzanne Finnamore tells a story we've all heard before; her husband deserts her and their young son after a few years of marriage for the charms of another woman. So what makes Ms. Finnamore's account any different from the dozens you've heard in your lifetime? For certain, Finnamore's story is a sad one. However, her therapeutic memoir is loaded with hilarious anecdotes, honed by a sharp wit, which will bring a smile to you face and pain to your heart. Of particular interest is her ability to turn a phrase, create an impactful metaphor or simile and, most importantly, tell a compelling story. As I made my way through "Split," I kept thinking how interesting it would be to read her ex-husband's account of the same situation. Hmmm.



2. In her Anger section (Stage II) she says, "The snag about marriage is, it isn't worth the divorce. My new doctrine is, never marry. I won't ever again. It is absolute swill. It's not just my marriage. It's all marriages except a handful. Marriage is a conspiracy from Tiffany's, florists, the diamond industry, and Christian fundamentalists. The only thing good about it is the diamond ring, the wedding gifts, and the honeymoon. A, (the name she gives her son in the book) I could have gotten anywhere. I could have gotten A from a turkey baster and a lovely gay man with a college education and a pleasant disposition. IF ONLY I'D HAD THAT MUCH SENSE AT THE TIME. I'm sending turkey basters to all my single girlfriends, with holly tassels, for Christmas."
   
   In Bargaining (Stage III) she says, "Sorry is the two-dollar bill of words. It's worth something, but in the end it's ridiculous, a souvenir at best."
   
   Section IV: Grief, she says, "Grief, I understand with icy clarity, is simply information I allow myself to know."
   
   And she says this, when wondering what she might say to her son one day when he asks about divorce: "I will say: 'You enter into - well. You enter into a kind of madness. You will make discoveries, not all of them happy. And the surprises are not staggered or regularly spaced, they are coming at you at light-speed, all at once, and you have to continue. You don't get to stop and say, I'll pick this all up in a year or so, when it isn't so difficult or painful or scary. When I'm ready. No no no. You have to go back in daily, until. Until it passes, or something happens to lessen its dark brilliance. you never know when this will be. You just have to keep meeting it. And gradually it disperses, leaving a small tear in your heart. A little hole, an aperture in you, as in a camera lens which, in the right light, can be perceived and accepted as a perspective-enhancing hole.'"
   
   You don't have to be divorced, almost divorced, thinking about divorce, or even know someone getting divorced, to appreciate this book - it's about grief. And aren't we all grieving something, or someone? Or both?



3. In any break-up, especially one precipitted by deception, one would excuse any level of bitterness. Yet, Finnamore manages the difficult balance of anger, humor, hurt and bewilderment. She gives hope to those in the same unfortunate situation.
   
   Plus, I loved imagining the second wife's realization that she snagged a man who will never seemingly stop cheating.



4. I have read every book on this subject (divorce). Although it came out a bit late in the day (decade) for me - or rather for my own divorce - it still provided still needed succor. Funny and beautifully written and studded with sentences you will want to write down. Highly recommended.



5. I left my husband 25 years ago this month, at his request. The child we shared was biologically only his, so I felt he needed to keep the house - and the law figured he needed to keep our daughter. This book - oh, my, it nails it! Every emotion, all the way! I, too, have been blessed - the child was 11 at the time, and my ex allowed me to have joint custody. Today we share a pleasant friendship, chatting occasionally by phone and enjoying family events together. But all those other chapters - I remember them well, and Finnamore couldn't have described them better!
   
   Which, by the way, is another beauty of this book - her great writing style!
   
   If you've been there, if you're there now...if you want to understand what someone you care about is going through - Split is perfect!

5 comments about The Two Kinds of Decay: A Memoir.

1. Sarah Manguso, afflicted at age twenty-one (in 1995) with a Guillain-Barre-like syndrome called CIDP, wrote The Two Kinds of Decay after seven years of remission from her illness. (p 2) "For seven years I tried not to remember much because there was too much to remember, and I didn't want to fall any further behind with the events in my life." Of the disease, the reader learns (p 19) "The condition may resolve spontaneously, relapse and remiss indefinitely, or progress and terminate in death." Talk about an uncertain future. In this succinct, simply-written story of a life, Ms. Manguso tells all: of her initial symptoms (numbness in her feet); treatment (and mis) including hours spent undergoing apheresis (p 10) "the process of separating blood into its components" and the painful procedure of having a permanent line surgically implanted in her chest (the apparatus shown on the cover); interactions with hospital staff, friends, family and complete strangers; the effects of the various treatments on her body; and just plain living with a rare, rotten, debilitating condition. Of a doctor, who tries to quantify her high level of suffering, she writes (p 83, 84) "he didn't understand yet that suffering, however much and whatever type, shrinks or swells to fit the size and shape of a life." Near the end of the book she shares (p 171) "Having spent my twenties expecting to die, I turned thirty and arrived in the afterlife with nothing left to do." She's done a lot since then, notably: running, writing, living and loving. She ends with a line explaining the title (I won't spoil it) and shares what she learned from years of agony, (p 183) "This is suffering's lesson: pay attention." The nine sentences that follow are equally excellent. Also good: Lucky Man by Michael J. Fox, Mountain Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder and There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene.



2. This is a short book about Sarah Manguso's experience with a strange autoimmune illness, which began suddenly during her freshman year at Harvard. You could easily read it in an afternoon, but it might take longer since there are so many beautiful passages to go back and read again.
   
   She has said that she intentionally did not write about the disease after it began; it must have been too difficult. In reading this book, I got the impression that as she wrote, she was actively rediscovering and redefining her illness and what her life became in the wake of being sick.
   
   Ms. Manguso is an award-winning poet, and the fantastic writing alone is worth the price of admission. The chapters are often only a page or two, the paragraphs only a few lines. The writing is simple and insightful--whether she is discussing a mundane detail, humiliating experience, or a scientific technicality. She is capable of being heartbreaking in one sentence and uplifting in the next.
   
   I should admit that I am a medical student (final year), so perhaps I got a double benefit. Her description of illness is fantastic. If I had learned about this disease from a textbook, it would have been just one of hundreds of cold facts in my brain. But from her description, I began to imagine a mysterious illness that went beyond mere words. I am sure that I now have a better understanding of patients with long-term disease. Moreover, for anyone who has to deal with illness, Sarah Manguso has likely put into words some of the complicated, frustrating feelings that accompany repeat trips to the doctor and hospital.



3. 
   An elegant little prose narrative of a rare fatal disease, told by the patient, a poet, who has been in remission for 7 years, and who seems to be a very bright young woman with a clear knack for writing, and for understanding. I bought this book entirely because my hero Garrison Kieller reported in a column that he was reading it. Then I found that the rare autoimmune disease described was almost the same as the one my wife suffered through 5 years ago - now 2 years in remission. The treatments have improved significantly in the short time between, and Sarah's were much more experimental. Written in almost poetic style, with short chapters and short sentences of well chosen word, spaced for effect, this worthwhile little book is a special sharing of the life of an extraordinary young woman, told with humor and candor at a time of sadness, fear, pain, love, and learning.



4. This book is a compelling read. It's a testimony to one woman's resiliance when the terrible thing happens to her, not to some stranger.
   
   Manguso has the courage to revisit her devastating illness, and the wisdom to find the ironies, the lessons, and even the humor in her experience.
   
   Through her sharing of the story of those terrifying sick years, she lets us see the indomitable spirit and the sense of humor that enabled her to survive them and heal.
   
   She juxtaposes pictures of illness against the lyrical beauty of her writing. I find new treasures whenever I reread it.



5. Ms. Manguso has written a medically graphic but affecting account of her battle with an auto-immune disease. Written in brief paragraphs with short chapters, the author is clealy recalling a bad dream that she rather not recall. A poet, her writing is lyrical and conversational. Once the reader starts her story, you will not put it down and it is easily read in one sitting. But it is a book that you will come back to.

5 comments about Learning to Fly: The Autobiography: The Autobiography.

1. After reading this book, you really know what she went though and you learn things about her that you never knew. I loved this book!!!!



2. Becks might have the looks and that will fade...
   BUT Posh is HILARIOUS and she'll always be.
   
   Often considered the second best Spice autobiography (Melanie B's is in the first place), it's really well written with delicious witty humor all over it...
   
   Even VB haters will love it.
   David fans will love it even more!



3. i first decided to get this book because i'm a fan of victoria beckham. when i read the book i was really pleased with it. it was well structured and it gives you a better idea of what victoria beckham is really like. supposedly there's all these speculations about her being a diva, but after reading this book i really don't believe those stories anymore. by reading the book, it seems as though your listening to a long time friend's life story. i really like this book and reccomend it. i seriously didn't want it to end and wish she came out with another autobiography.



4. This book is great. Victoria is truly open about her life. It makes you see a different side of the person you see in all the tabloids. She allows you to peak into her world. It is heartbreakingly honest. She doesn't try to skip the hard parts of her life. We can see how the Spice Girls developed and how the girls got along. Victoria allows the reader to take a peak into a marriage (and romance) that has overcome many obstacles to raise 3 kids and lead a happy life. She even reveals how it felt when people accused David of cheating on her.
   
   I didn't know what to expect when I started the book but I couldn't put it down. I read the entire book in one night (staying up until 4:00 in the morning). I have a new respect for Victoria Beckham that I wouldn't have had otherwise. I have always admired her fashion sense but I have a new respect for the person behind all the photographs. It is a must read for anyone who wants to learn more about Victoria Beckham.



5. The book was amazing. Victoria talks to you like you are her best friend and she's just letting it all out. I have always been a huge fan and after reading this I respect her even more.

5 comments about Best Damn Garage in Town: The World According to Smokey.

1. Goddamn! One of the best books I have ever read!
   
   Get it!



2. Simply put this is one of the best books about racing I have ever read. Smokey's stories are entertaining, hilarious, and insightful. His kind will not be by this way again! If you like racing of any kind, this book is a must read. It is well worth both the time and the money.



3. Extremely fortunate to have worked with Smokey during our years at Circle Track Magazine and all his years at PRI (Performance Racing Industry).
   THIS IS INDEED THE BEST DAMN BOOK IN TOWN. You'll love it.



4. Excellent reading. Very informative and it kept me interested the entire time. I would recommend for anyone!



5. Smokey tells it just like he sees it. No political correctness here. If he thinks something stinks, he says so. He has no love lost for Bill France and company, but respects many others.

   His writing style is straight to the point, amusing and raw. But it's the way he sees things...and he repeats that point...that it's just his opinion and urges the reader to make up their own mind.

   I highly recommend this set. And I salute you, Smokey.

5 comments about My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One-Night Stands.

1. This book is really funny, the way she tells stories is hilarious. Her other book "Are you there Vodka It's me Chelsea?" is really funny too. I wish she had more books.



2. I am not very familiar with Chelsea Handler but I bought this book because of the reviews. I found this book hard to put down, it was hilarious from the 1st chapter. I am looking forward to reading her other books!



3. I never received this iteam, and there was no where I could find to help track it down, get a refund, or anything. So I am pretty upset about this entire transaction.



4. As Chelsea's first book, it was ok, but it was not as good as her latest one, "Hello Vodka, It's Me Chelsea". If you are going to read them both, read this one first and then Hello Vodka. If you read it, the other way around, you may be disappointed.



5. This book could very well be the funniest book that i have ever read. I def. recommend it for a funny read!

5 comments about How To Lose Friends And Alienate People: A Memoir.

1. Young steers clear of discussing the occasional exquisite political journalism for which Vanity Fair is known--e.g. articles about the Nixon Watergate affair, exposes that led to the prosecution of Big Tobacco, and today several columns documenting the unmitigated disaster of the Bush Years--and gets right to the sex and the city, New York version. (Indeed, Young comes along at just the time that Candace Bushnell is writing her column in The New York Observer that would become the famous HBO series... and now, the movie (which I review here). They're friends.)
   
   He's sort of a testosterone-and-alcohol-afflicted male version of Carrie Bradshaw, and more doggedly politically incorrect.
   
   ...
   
   For my complete review of this book and for other book and movie
   reviews, please visit my site [...]
   
   Brian Wright
   Copyright 2008



2. Hands down, this is the funniest memoir I have ever read. Young's ability to make fun of everything around him and himself at once makes an otherwise trite set of instances over the top hilarious. I will be going to this movie, as I have no doubt it will be every bit as funny as the book. The ordering a stripper, Vanity Fair Oscar Party and interacting with Graydon scenes alone could carry a whole movie.
   
   If you don't take yourself seriously and can abide a very funny fool, you'll love this.



3. This is one of those few books that you really want to root for, that the hero/author somehow learns from their errors and does a 180. This is not that book. I wish I could get back the time I spent reading this book. I will probably end up using it to light some winter fires. It is not even worth donating or passing it along.
   
   Toby Young (at least in this book) loves the sound of his own voice (even it is just whining or using his parents' credentials to give him meaning) and never truly admits just how self-indulgent, arrogant, and downright oblivious he is.



4. I thought that this was a very entertaining book. Toby is not always a very likable person in this story but he is brutally honest about himself and that is part of what makes the book so entertaining. At times I did find it droned on too much about facts on who is who in the fashion industry which didn't interest me so much but it was still a fun read.



5. The top five things I hate about Toby Young's book:
   5. The writing.
   This book was seriously dull. His anecdotes and his writing lacked any kind of insightful spark. With access to Vanity Fair bigwigs and Candace Bushnell's inner circle, you'd think he would have more to report than the fact that they all hated him.
   4. Any sentence Young wrote about himself.
   They usually started out as self-deprecating and quickly eased themselves in self-pitying. "Then I got fired again haha...I'm so underappreciated." "
   3. His conclusions about the nature of America and New York City.
   While I appreciated that Young did his research and made interesting statements based on Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, I was astounded that he was deluded enough to believe that Americans did not appreciate his boorish and asinine sense of humor because they are too uptight and PC. What made him think that British people were more accepting of his sense of humor if the entire book was about him trying to escape his failure in Britain?
   2. His attitude toward women.
   To say the least, I was completely repulsed by Young's treatment of women throughout the book. He is a skeez who judges women only on their looks (bonus points are given to women who make a living on their looks), yet he constantly whines that women are shallow for turning him down due to his baldness, mediocre looks, lack of gainful employment, or any combination of these charming factors. Ugh.
   1. The fact that I waded through the whole thing despite reasons 2-5.
   I must be a masochist.

5 comments about Love Sick: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Addiction.

1. Love Sick: One Woman's Journey through Sexual Addiction is a beautifully written account of one woman's journey through sex addiction. It's not meant to be a clinical self-help book, but it does encourage intraspection. It also helps readers understand exactly what sex addiction is about. It's not about the sex. Sex is more like a drug of choice to numb the pain. Sue makes this clear in a riveting manner in this great book. I highly recommend it!



2. I read lots of books on addiction and recovery.
   
   All I kept thinking about when reading this book was - what the heck was the point of writing this book? In most cases, these types of memoirs are usually written as part of the recovery - however, this book read more like a manifesto of all the men this person has gone through.
   
   There is no warmth, no explanations, no sympathy and NO honest attempt at recovery or even of really finding out what is happening to this woman.
   
   Also, this book is sooooo slow - every once in a while, an intersting tidbit, then back to boring again.
   
   The only saving grace is a look at the 12 steps.
   
   Skip this one.



3. I loved this book. i couldnt put it down and got so attacthed to Sue. Shes a great writer. Supposdly a lifetime movie is coming out on the book sometime in April



4. Sue William Silverman's LOVE SICK is the author's first person account of her experience as a sex addict. This book written by an amateur writer wanting to share her experiences could have been excruciating. Silverman, however, is clearly a professional author, and the book is written professionally. She presents her work in segments which alternate between the retelling of episodes from her years of sexual addiction and her rehab hospitalization, in her early 40s, as she finally makes an attempt to overcome her addiction and at the same time to save her life. I feel there are both positives and negatives in the book.
   
   On the positive side, Silverman presents herself in an honest and open manner. This is commendable as it must have been very difficult to provide to a readership of strangers the truly painful details of most of her life; although it also seems to be a part of her recovery program.
   Also, I gained a lot of understanding about sexual addiction, one of the most intersting points being that, according to Silverman, she and apparently many other addicts do not actually enjoy sex; rather the addiction seems to be more about the feeling that being able to attract someone sexually validates to the addict that he or she is attractive and worthwhile. And, I confess to some personal ignorance. I was never really sure that sexual addiction was actually a real phenomenon, having believed to a great extent that it was merely a convenient excuse used by people caught cheating on their significant others. After having read LOVE SICK I no longer doubt the reality of sexual addiction.
   
   On the negative side, the writing, though professional as I mentioned, seems somewhat histrionic. I realize that this subject is highly and painfully emotional to Silverman, but from a reader's perspective I would have preferred a little less drama and more straight reporting, particularly in the segments dealing with the author's month in rehab. The parts of the book (probably two-thirds of it) which deal with Silverman's hospital experience become repetitive. I imagine that the days themselves of her stay were quite repetitve, but that does not translate particularly interestingly to a written account.
   
   To summarize,I found this book, while informative and interesting at times, to be somewhat dramatically overblown at others; and it became repetitive enough that I skimmed the hospital scenes over the last half of the book. Not bad, not real good, 3 stars.



5. I usually do not write book reviews, but I thought it was important to add a review of this book so that other people don't waste their money. This is the worst book I have ever read on addiction. Basically, the author describes her pain regarding her sexual addiction and describes scenerios she encountered in detail. The book reads more like [...] than a self-help manual. If you are looking for a self-help text or a text to assist patients with this problem, this is definitely not the right text!!!!!