5 comments about Ultimate Judgment : A Story of Emotional Corruption, Obsession and Betrayal.

1. Ms. Clairmonte is a severely disturbed woman, who, when she found out she had been left out of the will of her step-father, destroyed the memory of a great man, making up horrible lies, and sued her own mother, leaving her mother broke and penniless. Shame on Ms. Clairmonte, how can she live her with herself?



2. I thought the book was great. I just wish they would have wrapped things up a little more at the end.



3. I am Ms. Meg Clairmonte's Ex Sister-in-law. I have heard for years about Meg's court case and book. My son, her nephew, just turned 18 and graduated from high school. I am a single mother and have struggled for years to support us and now we are trying to send him to Tech school in the fall.
   
   The only reason I am telling you all that is to say this...
   
   I just found out that Meg's step-father, Don had created a trust fund for my son. If the reason Meg sued for all that money was for "therapy" as her lawyer once told me, then why, pray tell, was it necessary to take the trust funds that were supposed to benefit my son and hers. (Yes, she took her own son's money, too. I guess she figured that he wouldn't need any money, either)? Did that additional sum of money make a big difference in her settlement? Well, I can tell you that it would have made a big difference in my son's life right now, when we are trying to scrape up the money for school.
   
   I know you can tell that I am very hurt by this. My guess would be that the reason she did it was because I would not be sucked into the law suit and testify on her behalf. My experience with Meg before Don died and she started telling the world about her life with him was that she was manipulative and spiteful. So, there you are, she has proved me right. And this time it was at my son's expense and hers, too.
   
   Just wish everyone who read the book and felt so sorry for Meg could read this, too. As I knew from the beginning, it was always about the money...



4. I've learned from personal experience that Meg is truely as strong and good hearted as she seems. I cringe at the thought of the horrible things she was forced to endure for so long and can only pray this book touches others as much as it has me. Meg's story inspires everyone to never give up or give in to the wicked people surrounding us. I thank the Lord everyday for the voice he has given her, and hope that others can find peace that have been through similar tragidies.



5. I met this wonderful person that this book was written about. She gave me this book when she learned that I too was abused. It is incredible how she has turned so much pain and suffering into something positive as she shows so clearly in the way she leads her life. I never thought in a million years there was so much abuse going on in our United States. It't time that abuse is stopped including verbal, mental,emotional and sexual. I pray that in opening the scarrs and barring her soul in her book that Megan will be continuely blessed and never forgotten. Your Friend, June

3 comments about The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich: A Son's Memoir.

1. This book was very well written and I was enlightened from the author's perspective. I am a granddaughter of a survivor, and can appreciate reading what I have only imagined all these years. My family didn't speak of what any family member went through in Nazi Germany. My mother came over in 1937 with her mother. As I grew up, little information came out in the family, and I was still not well informed unless I read from someone else's memoirs.



2. A touching memoir from the son of two Holocaust survivors, this book describes the author's childhood, setting the stage for his mother's eventual deterioration into severe PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) following the death of the author's father. Hoping to understand his mother's delusions, the author sets out to research the past that his parents only mentioned briefly on rare occasions. His search takes him to Eastern Europe and the scenes of a number of the Nazi atrocities during WWII, and leads him to a deeper appreciation for his heritage, the magnitude of the suffering in the Holocaust, and an richer appreciation for his parents' accomplishments.
   
   Unlike most books about the Holocaust, this one doesn't focus so much on the events during the Second World War themselves, but instead is more focused on the impact these events had on those who managed to survive the terrible suffering of the period. The psychic wounds suffered by the survivors would stretch throughout their lives, often crippling them decades later, and even crossing the generational lines to impact the lives of their children born after the war. Definitely an important book for anyone interested in the long-term impact of the Holocaust on those who actually survived it.



3. "The First and Final Nightmare of Sonia Reich" by Howard Reich is a very powerful memoir. Author Howard Reich writes about his mother Sonia Reich suffering from late-onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
   As gripping as the first part of this book is, (which talks about his background and the PTSD) I was shocked and upset when reading the second part, when Howard Reich goes to Dubno to find out what happened to his mother as a little girl growing up in the Holocaust. As a reader on books of the Holocaust, his description of the dead bodies and mass graves in Dubno was very upsetting. When he writes about Dubno, I felt as if almost I was there with him.
   This was one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time, and I encourage readers of Judaica, history, etc., to go out and get a copy of this book. Put it on your reading list.

3 comments about Determined to Win: The Overcoming Spirit of Jean Driscoll.

1. My son was in the hospital when I read this book, the Child Life Specialist asked if I would "look" at it. I read it in five hours (and I am not much of a reader)! It took off like a rocket and never stopped. Jean's story is not only an inspiring one, but it helps a parent of a child with Spina Bifida see from the child's point of view. That alone makes this book priceless. Thank you Jean, for laying it all out in the open. You have a graceful courage that any mother would be proud of.



2. Determined to Win was an excellent book. It sounded so much like what has happened in my life. Hopefully some day I'll be as sucessful as Jean in wheelchair racing but this book surely inspires me to push myself to ultimite limit in everything. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!



3. Determined to win is an absolute winner. This book flowed like an exciting best selling novel. I feel I've not only been into Jean Driscoll's head, but also in her heart.

1 comments about Against the Pollution of the I: Selected Writings of Jacques Lusseyran.

1. Jacques Lusseyran writes with a love that you can feel permeating you as you read his words. My favorite essay in this collection of 6 was "Jeremy," the story of a blue collar saint in Buchenwald. I found myself crying and feeling wonderful at the same time. This writing defies description.

1 comments about Surviving in Silence: A Deaf Boy in the Holocaust, The Harry I. Dunai Story.

1. I'm sorry, but this book just was not what I expected it to be. Though Harry Dunai did experience the Holocaust as a Jew, his deafness barely entered into it, except to maybe save his life. His typical experience of being sent away to residential schooling in Budapest probably saved his life, since his parents and brothers were collected and sent to the gas chambers.

   Dunai's life was not easy by any measure, but he had many protectors and many people who cared for him and did so much for him in the way of providing homes and jobs. I don't know if it is the translating of Dunai's own words through his daughter and ghostwriter, but Dunai comes across as a very self-centered human being, who often does not show either the gratefulness for his blessings and for those who do things for him, nor does he express much concern for others.

   Since I've read so many histories and biographies about those who did care on all sides, this one was very disappointing. The section on the war is short...mainly about how hungry he was. A lot of people starved to death...a lot of other people never had the people caring for them nor the opportunities for escaping a horrific existence that Dunai had.

   If you are looking for a good book on the Medical Holocaust as it affected the Deaf, read 'Crying Hands' about the Deaf in Germany who were targeted before and during WWII. This book is okay as a demonstration of deaf life during the war and afterwards in Europe, I guess. (...)

2 comments about Aidan's Way.

1. This book is not your typical book about a life of a disabled child. There are no miracle breakthroughs for Aidan, not moments of sudden amazing feats, nothing like that. Aidan is profoundly disabled, and that is not really the reason for writing this book. Instead, we are shown how his life, however it might seem to others, has affected his father, his classmates and the community, through his simply being. The author often quotes ancient Chinese writings, which I thought would not really be something I'd want to read, but instead, I found much in them to speak to me. My children attend an inclusion school. There are children in their classes with severe disabilities, and I can say wholeheartedly those children give my children much more than my children give them. This book is also about the power of thinking locally. Aidan brought his father more into his local community, and helped him bring about change for all children. A beautifully written book.



2. Every now and then a book comes along that wakes us out of our drab routine lives and makes us reevaluate essential questions: what is important? Am I doing something worthwhile with my life? What is life's meaning? Trite as it may sound, "Aidan's Way" does just that, but in a way that is subtle and avoids self-indulgent breast-beating. At its core, "Aidan's Way" is a resounding affirmation of life. Sam and Maureen Crane are the parents of Aidan, who is profoundly retarded mentally--he cannot walk, talk or see. At every turn, they face the possibility that he may die. Pneumonia assaults his lungs and grand mal seizures force him to rely on a feeding tube for sustenance. Adversaries come in human guise as well, with the Cranes heroically combating outrageous abuses by their HMO, doctors stereotyping Aidan as "one of THOSE kids," and a heartbreaking moment of frustration when an indecisive nurse fails to administer a drug in time to stop Aidan's seizures from permanently damaging his already fragile brain. There are heroes, too--a doctor with cerebral palsy who doggedly probes the causes of Aidan's condition while others write him off, a younger sister who brings hope and joy to the family, and countless therapists, journalists, and teachers. Aidan touches hundreds of people. There is even an amusing vignette about Aidan's role in a row involving his father and, of all people, the Singaporean Prime Minister.

   Crane's prose is saturated with vivid imagery and he effectively conveys both the heart-rending pain and sheer joy that is Aidan's way. Drawing upon ancient Chinese texts, particularly the Tao Te Ching and the writings of Chuang Tzu, Crane explores the lessons that Aidan offers to all who come in contact with him. We, the readers, follow Crane's journey as he struggles with ideas of science, human worth and purpose, and the dichotomy of active, rational analysis and intervention, and passive being.

   All in all, an inspiring book by a talented writer who has obviously poured into his words not only his heart, but also that of his son's.

4 comments about A Necessary End.

1. In recounting his parents final years and decline, Nick Taylor parallels the decisions and painful adjustments of many baby boomers. Each one of us must cope as best we can with family illness and eventual loss, but it is interesting seeing his ways of dealing with it.
   A slim 194 pages, so it's a quick read. Recognizing our parents personal needs, but constrained by financial and physical burdens, it will be hard to handle their slide from vital active people, into dependents.
   Reading individual accounts like this gives us some mental and emotional preparation.



2. I picked this book up at a garage sale, didn't really know what to expect. The author's story has helped me in my undertaking to be my Dad's caretaker. It shows how we all deal differently with this challenge in our lives. I didn't agree with some of the ways the author handled things, but it validates that we all have to find our own way. This book is a quick read, it's worth the time.



3. I was so engaged and moved by this account of Nick Taylor and his parents in their end years. I have been and am the caretaker for my mother, and I found that reading this book strengthened me to do better, and has helped me to be sensitive and accepting of my mother, and of myself. I can't recommend this book enough. It should not be allowed to be out-of-print!



4. This book could have been a tender and healing accounting the changes which aging brings to relationships. It could have been a thoughtful discussion of the practical aspects of nursing home decisions. However Taylor clearly considered it all an inconvenience and a hassle. I suspect he wrote the book as therapy. The woodblock prints were the best part.

5 comments about Finding Ben : A Mother's Journey Through the Maze of Asperger's.

1. I came across this book at the time when I was struggling with my boy who was exhibiting severe symptoms of Autism. I spent all my time and energy trying to 'fix' or 'rescue' what I felt was a 'broken' child and we both end up deeply frustrated and totally miserable.
   
   Then I came across this book by accident at a cookbook section of the library. This is truly god's miracle cos my boy has the SAME NAME. After reading this book I cried and cried and cried for days and then came the great awakening which totally transformed my life and my rel'p with my child.
   
   In this book you will not find secret ways or recipes to healing your child. Only one simple, powerful and life changing way - ACCEPTANCE. This book taught me how to embrace my child's uniqueness and focus on his strengths instead of his weaknesses.
   
   Today, with my acceptance and love, my Ben (age 5) who has SEVERE autism symptoms is doing so well in school and everyone we know tell us he's the happiest, smartest and sweetest little child they've ever met. I'm forever grateful to god and to the writer for this book.
   
   This is a book that everyone especially parents with special children should read. I wish this book would transform your life like the way it did for me and my family.



2. The book certainly was depressing but I kept reading it because the cover had promised a 'happy ending'. I'm sorry, but I did not see the happy ending. All I read about was Ben who had to struggle much more against rigid expectation than with his developmental disability. And his mother who went from "why is my son so different, I am disgusted by him" to "it is not my fault but he still disgusts me" to "look-at-me I can interact with my son without feeling disgusted and I am a 'tireless advocate for people with dissabilities'". I am sorry, but she needs to get over herself in the worst way. I know that is probably not entirely fair of me to say. I can accept Ben as a person with Aspergers and maybe I should accept that his mother is who she is. I would think that she is a Type A and going from trying to fix her son to 'I m an advocate - let's write a book about it', might be a huge improvement, but it is still the flipside of the same coin.
   I have a son with high functioning autism and I can related to having your heart sink every time you realize how different your child ticks. I am awake at night worrying how his life will be. But I always knew that my job was to love and protect. Parenting will teach you about yourself but at the end of the day it is about your child not you.



3. Reads like a novel. Very honest. I would recommend this book to everyone I know.
   I bought this book because my daughter suspected her child of having Asperger's syndrome. I knew nothing of the disease. This book not only helped me understand it, but it also gave me much insight into my own grandson's world.
   I liked the way it was written. Simple and honest. Much better than reading a lengthy, technical book on the disease.
   Read it, you'll gasp, laugh and cry.



4. Finally, a resonant voice in the mire of books on special needs that isn't overloaded with technical detail. What distinguishes this book from others is that Barbara La Salle lets her anger, regret, and fury fly forth --an honest voice amid the cries by everyone else to "hush up, be strong, compassionate, and a veritable pillar of strength" even though deep inside you are cracking up.
   
   Anyone with a special needs child faces frustration. Unfortunately, most of the books out there demand that you either take the countenance of Oprah Winfrey or Dr. Phil. Everything isn't okay, and Barbara LaSalle, who is both the mother of her son Ben and also a therapist, let's that old stereotype take a pounding. She talks about her regrets, her failures, and her slow acceptance that not everything about her son is her fault. Her son Ben also writes part of the book. His voice is important to show that people with Asperger's struggle, but have a conscience worth hearing and learning from.
   
   Her story is moving, and it is also honest and shocking. I'd recommend this to all parents, spouses of Asperger's patients, as well as Asperger's patients because they have to understand that until you can identify your own anger, you can never move beyond it.
   
   Nicely told, the only regret I have is that a bit more attention to editing and structure from a writing standpoint would have made it move a bit quicker and avoid some of the repetition that befalls it.



5. I have a high-functioning autistic son who is very like Ben in many ways, and I was horrified at this mother's attitude! While I applaud her for her honesty in admitting all her faults, I can't help but feel that Ben's life would have turned out very differently if she had accepted him as he was. This is the story of a great tragedy, the loss of 33 years of this young man's life.
   
   I was a "goody-two-shoes" when I was a child, always trying to please the "grown-ups" and fit their expectations. But as I grew up, I realized that I would have to make my own decisions, ESPECIALLY when it came to my child! Obviously, this mother did not. No matter what my family said, no matter that the doctors accused me of being an "overly protective Mom", I knew my child was this way because of something internal to him, and that his behavior was not his fault!
   
   When I finally found a doctor who recognized his autism (at age 4), I realized that the truism is correct; "a mother knows best." But even if I had not received the diagnosis, I would never have behaved the way this mother did. She betrayed her son because SHE wanted to fit in, to be a "good girl." This story broke my heart for the sake of Ben, and I am still depressed after reading it several days ago.
   
   I believe that most mothers will love and accept their chid, no matter how strange he is. And I believe that is one of the most important things we can do for them! If you want to see what NOT to do, this is the book for you!

5 comments about Walk on Water: A Memoir.

1. This is a penetrating story written gracefully and honestly by a courageous woman. Its compelling and essential messages are delivered with exquisite subtlety, so that our appreciation for the earth, for the people in our lives who lift us, for the waters that cleanse and renew us, and ultimately, for ourselves, is heightened and sharpened by each flowing page. What's more, Hemingway's Southern wit, charm, and guile make this book a heck of a lot of fun to read.



2. WOW! I didn't buy this book expecting much. Yes, I knew it was written by the granddaughter of the Ernest Hemingway and yes, I know it was about 'fishing'....but I really had no idea. Really..no idea how this woman's words would grab me. Knowing that she lives in the same city where I work, I'm hoping to one day stumble across her and just tell her how much impact this book had on me. A co-worker just went through alcohol de-tox and this book gave me some vague notion of what he went through. Thanks for that! I'm not a fisherwoman....but I love fish and I work with dead fish parts daily as a science-lady, and this book is full of fish-wisdom, honesty and beautiful, true words. This book is full of all that. Humor, honesty and love. Again, WOW!



3. Forget all that you've read about redemption and the bad girl made good, if you like to live in the real world and to fish, this book is for you. Not to mention that it's pretty damn well written to boot. Good Stuff!



4. For anyone who has ever witnessed a loved one do the slow dance with alcoholism, Lorian Hemingway's memoir is waiting for you. Yet another lesson that life is best described with four letter words: love, hate, hope and dirt. I laughed out loud at her hilarious drug hazed antics and cringed as she began her long drawn out fall. Her honesty is astounding: no regrets, no finger pointing, no pass off of responsibility of her actions. Thank you, Lorian, for this memorable book.



5. The book was recommended to me by a friend and I thought it would be a great lazy day reading book. Was I wrong! Once I started, I couldn't put it down. The book grabs your soul from the beginning and by the end, you can't believe it's over. It iis truly the ultimate in survivor stories and it proves the adage.."What does not kill you, will make you stronger." Obviously, the author is (at the end) a stronger, resiliant woman .

2 comments about Terri's Story: The Court-Ordered Death of an American Woman.

1. I have read this book last month. A friend lent me her copy but I had to give it back, so I just purchased one of my own to re-read since it contains valuable information. It is an insightful read that every person shopuld at least read once in their lifetime (like very soon!). Everyone at Word On Wheels dot org has read it since it came out, and they have said the same as I. She is a great author.



2. I have followed the Terri Schiavo story for many years and find this book one of the most well written accounts. This is an excellent book and I would recommend it. I am rating this book 5 stars.