1 comments about Memoir of Mary Ann.

1. This is an incredible true sweet tale of a little girl born with a physical disfiguration. Flannery O'Connor wrties a brilliant introduction and the story of this innocent little girl is irresistable.

5 comments about Sounds Like Home: Growing Up Black and Deaf in the South.

1. I could not put this book down! A well written and extremely discriptive story! I felt every emotion!



2. I really enjoyed this book. The author described every moment in her life with such detail, it felt as if I were there with her. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants inspiration.



3. This book desperately wanted to be "Having Our Say" by the Delaney Sisters. Perhaps, if it had an editor, it would have been. As it stands, it provides a historical perspective of African American Deaf culture, but its text does not flow very smoothly.



4. that I found this ... well ... boring? I suppose, on the one hand, I should be glad that Ms. Wright had a relatively uneventful and happy life, despite growing up both black and disabled in the mid-20th century rural south; but, frankly, happy and uneventful lives don't make for very interesting reading.



5. I really loved this book.I couldn't put it down.She made a lot ofdeaf friends at the school.She also made some blind friends.I laughed and cryed with her.You should get this book.

No comments about All the King's Men.

5 comments about Angles of Reflection: A Memoir of Logic and a Mother's Love.

1. I read "Angles of Reflection" for a graduate course on untraditional history at Brown University, and as Joan Richards is our graduate advisor, she came to a class to discuss the book with us. The thing that struck me the most was that she said, "I just HAD to write this book". After you read it, you realize this book is a healing process, a way to come to grips with the whirlwind of drama that faced the Richards family as Ned's two medical mishaps came to light, and Richards' struggles as an academic and as a devoted mother. This book identifies the hardships academics face when the responsibilities of work and the devotion of family clash head on. I too highly suggest this book for those seeking careers in the academic field, but it is also a superb read for all. By the way, Ned is doing great, we too wondered about this :)



2. I just spent the past Saturday afternoon reading _Angles of Reflection_ by Joan L. Richards and was quite moved by it. For anyone who has had to grapple with balancing work and family -- including in academics where one's schedule is flexible but at times consuming and unpredictable -- this book is a must read along with other similar volumes, such as _Divided Lives_ and _True North_. Richards's depictions of "mother's time" and "professional time", as well as the conflict between the two, could very well have been a chapter in Alan Lightman's _Einstein's Dreams_. German culture is not a very hospitable environment for working mothers, but Richards navigates skillfully through maternal care, professional meetings, and daily annoyances like sharply abbreviated hours for grocery shopping. Her depiction of the German medical system, a form of socialized medicine, might be looked upon as idiosyncratic and Byzantine by all except those of us who have to deal with American HMO's on a regular basis. Past and present, as well as life and art, overlap in this deliciously engrossing volume: as she cares for her son, Richards works through the intricacies of her biographies of Augustus and Sophia De Morgan and finds in their child, Alice, a parallel story of parental concern. Richards's story reminded me of a statement attributed to Jackie Kennedy Onassis: when asked about raising her children, she is supposed to have said, "If I fail at this, nothing else matters." Above all else, Richards's love and care for her two boys shine through this volume, even on pages dense with Newton, the De Morgans, and probability theory. This book, written in the tradition of Jill Ker Conway, is required reading for anyone, but especially for those curious about how the thinking lives of academics intersects with the practical and emotional lives of the everyday world. Highly recommended.



3. I found this book to be very well written, and at the beginning I had high hopes that I would like it very much. However, I found that as the book went on, I was less and less sure what point the author was trying to make and just what the focus of the book was supposed to be. What the author's son Ned went through with two unrelated and severe medical problems was compelling to read about, but not really enough to carry the book. The math history parts of the book often seemed quite unrelated to the main tale. Perhaps the book was a way to expose the many uncaring or distant medical professionals the author encountered, but this was not tied together into a real message. Or perhaps the author was telling her story to justify her decision not to return to the States with her son once he ran into medical troubles in Germany---which in my eyes didn't really need justifying---I would not see Germany as having less competant medical care than the US. In any case, I found the ending a bit unfinished---I didn't really see how all of a sudden Ned's elbow was fixed, and we were not told much about the final outcome of his seizures or his brain surgery, although the book was published at least 3 years after these problems started. I feel there could have been a much better book here with more focus and more of a unified point. However, I did finish the book and am still thinking about it--a sign of something worth reading.



4. I have read this book twice, and recommended it to several friends, and find it a most complex and multi-faceted tale. On the one hand a poignant account of a sick child,and an examination of the difficult decisions everyone has to make under uncertainty, it is much more than that as it weaves Newton, Leibniz and Augustus de Morgan and the choices they made into the story. It was in many ways a brave decision of Joan Richards to write and publish this book, and those who read it can judge for themselves her success--I found it riveting, and even better on the second reading.



5. I want it for my mom she is and angle and she should be in this book!!!

5 comments about A Biography of Mrs. Marty Mann: The First Lady of Alcoholics Anonymous.

1. I enjoyed Marty's story so much. She was such an intelligent, attractive, successful woman, and yet alcohol brought her to a point of utter despair and poverty. I could truly relate to how it feels to have so much and yet not be able to save yourself from alocholism. With the help of AA I have found my life again, and continue to grow in all areas of my life. Reading Marty's story was so good for my self esteem and confidence. It truly emphasizes that alcoholism is a disease and not a moral issue. I enjoyed this book so much I stayed up until 2am the first night I started reading it. This has been a good read for me! I would recommend it to females in AA especially.



2. I loved this book. It is well-written, expertly researched and completly honest.As a recovered person myself, I thoroughly enjoyed the the weaving of historical accounts of the early days of AA and NCA. Even without that, the story of Marty Mann was impressive and powerful. The account of the founding, growth, growing pains and success of NCA was a primer on how to get an impossible job done. Many other historical facts that were intertwined throughout the book provided a sense of reality about developments in our country that are rarely discussed.
   
   My thanks to the authors for writing a book I will treasure it and make it a permamnent part of my personal library.



3. This was written with the language of the heart... and was informative, fascinating, and well done in every way. I enjoyed the pictures too. I felt privileged to see inside this fabulous woman's life.



4. Riveting and educational! A page turner! Marty Mann was an incredible woman and we finally get to read about her life in detail. This is a must read for those who are recovering from alcoholism, those affected by alcoholism, social service and public health providers and legislatures. We have much to learn from Marty Mann and we must continue her mission today.



5. As its title implies, A Biography Of Mrs. Marty Mann, The First Lady Of Alcoholics Anonymous is the uplifting life story of a singularly strong and incredible woman - one who crusaded to teach all of America, men and women, that alcoholism is a treatable disease. Her life, which spanned most of the 20th century encompasses despair, hope, and redemption through crusading to battle the pernicious evils of alcoholism, and perhaps just as bad, ignorance about the nature of alcoholism. In Marty's own words, "People who dislike the terms 'alcoholic' and 'alcoholism' should consider the alternative of not knowing what was the matter with them and could believe only that they were hopelessly insane." An unforgettable biography of one of America's most fervent public-health reformers.

4 comments about Beyond the Steps and Stares.

1. I went to high school over 30 years ago with the author. I do not have a handicapped child, but she sent this book to me as I have recently been diagnosed with cancer and she thought that I would find it uplifting. I don't even know who told her I was ill or where she found my email-as I live in another state. But I loved this book. I could not put it down. It is very easy to read and I read it in two days. I am ordering it now for other friends that are teachers and nurses. It is very inspiring and funny and heartfelt. As I read it, I could hear her voice from high school saying many of the same expressions. Great Book!



2. In this book, Raina Futrell tells the story of her son, who has spina bifida. The successes that Cody has are inspiring. Mrs. Futrell's book is excellently written.



3. Wow! What an excellent book. This is a great heart warming story that will have you laughing and crying. It is full of emotion and makes you appreciate everything that you have. The author does an excellent job of telling the story. Highly recommended!!!



4. Raina Futrell wrote a heartfelt story of her journey with her son, Cody, who has spina bifida. As I read this story, I felt I was right there with their family, experiencing every joy and sorrow, every up and down.
   
   This well-written story was one of those books that once you started reading it, you couldn't put it down. Since my daughter has spina bifida like Cody, I really related to the entire book.

2 comments about On The Outside Looking In: One Mother's Journal of Her Family's Battle With a Mood Disorder.

1. This book helped me understand my grand-daughter. The author opens up her life to the readers. She describes her mistakes, frustrations, good ideas and not so good ones. As you read you feel as though you are in the room with them. The words and descriptions are powerful and raw. Just when you don't think you can take another bad moment, the author offers up some humor. I loved the book, I couldn't put it down. It offers a different perspective from the usual medically based text. I highly recommend this book!



2. In this book, the author holds nothing back. You feel as if you are there with her, enduring sleepless nights and anxious days. When she throws in a little humor, you want to laugh in frustration through the tears with her. For anyone who has suffered this disease, has a child, relative, or friend suffering, I highly recommend this book. You understand her frustration, you understand her fiance's side, and you want to understand the poor child enduring the mental illness. Unlike most other books on this subject, she's not afraid of admitting she is afraid. She also offers some valuable resources to people suffering from mental illness. The book offers no answers (as none can be found anywhere), but a shoulder to lean on by knowing you are not the only one who is caught up in a whirlwind of a life.

1 comments about Knowing Stephanie.

1. "My body and soul do not function as separate parts. I pieced together a new self, unified and wonderfully alive." ~Stephanie Byram
   
   "Knowing Stephanie" is a beautiful gift and I am amazed at how a woman I will never meet in this life has affected my life in a profound way. I am also deeply touched by the sheer beauty of the souls who surrounded Stephanie during a time when she became so very human and vulnerable.
   
   Stephanie had a dream for her life. She was pursuing a career and wanted to start a family when her life turned into a nightmare instead of the dream she had envisioned.
   
   After becoming concerned about a painful, swollen breast, all the tests showed the presence of a tumor. At the young at of 33, she was diagnosed with a highly aggressive breast cancer. Doctors said she only had a 50 percent chance of surviving five years.
   
   Stephanie refused to see this situation as an obstacle to her dreams. Although she struggled with cancer for eight years, she decided to get married, buy a home, earn her Ph.D. and even travel the world. Stephanie didn't give up on life because life decided to take her on a path that would show her the limits of her own endurance.
   
   Knowing Stephanie is a combination of Charlee Brodsky's photographs and Stephanie Byram's words. There is also an wonderful essay by Jennifer Matesa to give us a story of the medical journey without being overly clinical.
   
   In "Reconstructing a Life" we learn how Stephanie found out about her cancer and how chemotherapy works. We finally understand what causes the nausea and why patients undergoing chemo go bald and experience neutropenia.
   
   In this collaborative effort, you will meet Stephanie and learn about her struggles. You will see how she took charge of her own life and relive the experiences of chemotherapy and doctor visits through photographs. There are also beautiful notes from her mother, father and niece. She makes of list of everything her friends and family did to help her including telling her is was "OK to cry."
   
   Stephanie had weaknesses and strengths and both are portrayed in this story. We are invited to share her love of gardening, the feelings she experiences as she wondered how men would accept her after her surgery, how she is suddenly confronted with her mortality and how she uses the experiences in her life to heal instead of withdrawing into the darkness of despair.
   
   A portrait of a woman who refused to see cancer as anything less than an opportunity to embrace life in all its beauty and sadness and learn from the experience. Her optimism and determination is an inspiration to us all.
   
   "What is my future: love, laughter, gardens, family, friends, spirituality, travel ...more of what I love in life. I surround myself with positivity, gentleness, challenge, and hope. I be, I am, until I pass, as we all shall." ~ Stephanie Byram
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

3 comments about A Case of Brilliance.

1. This mom struggles with what to do with her musically gifted kids. She becomes pretty consumed with developing their skills. This book encouraged me to take a more active role in working with my own musically gifted child. However, it also vividly illustrates the dangers of becoming a "music" mom. Overall, I didn't enjoy the book but think it gave me new direction and perspective to my own situation.



2. I don't usually write reviews, but this book is an exception. It is a deeply moving account of a mother's discovery of her children's giftedness, and along the way the discovery of her husband's giftedness and her own. I also have two gifted children, and although they are not profoundly gifted as Ms. Hein's family, much of what she wrote made sense to me.
   
   I took this book out from the library, but I'm going to recommended it to my family, friends and school contacts.



3. This book expands the horizons of literature on profound giftedness. It is an engaging parental account of one family's discovery of their children's extreme asynchrony leading ultimately to the author's discovery of her own. In their struggle to understand the complex and unusual needs of their children, Rebecca Hein and her husband Ellis must also learn how to best meet those needs. This journey of discovery reveals much about their own lives, bringing them full circle to a greater understanding of themselves and what is required for them to live their lives most fully.

   Rebecca Hein details with clarity and insight the unusual ways her children learn, perceive and think. She chronicles the family's home schooling as she finds new ways to teach the children, all the while relating these to her own experiences as both student and teacher. Through Rebecca's keen observations, we accompany her family through this journey and in doing so find a familiar understanding of their experience.

   This book can further the understanding of that experience for educators and professionals working with profoundly gifted children. It makes a compelling case for both the unusual educational and emotional needs of this population, and for the reasons these needs must be served. Even more important, is the book's value for those families who might see themselves in its pages and know that they are not alone. There is both comfort and optimism to be found in the ways this family chose to meet their challenges.

5 comments about One Tattered Angel: A Touching True Story of the Power of Love.

1. I first heard a part of this story from my Mother when I was young. I found it again later in life, read the whole story, and fell in love with Blaine's story all over again.
   
   Miracles are all around us if we just open our eyes and SEE all that God has revealed to make man's life better!
   
   One Tattered angel is a very great witness that miracles do happen and God is the God of all..... even the little ones.



2. This awesomely well-written little book is one of the most inspiring and humbling books I have read in a long time. I have given several as gifts and will give more. My sister's comments were that it "should be required reading for everyone." That pretty well sums it up. Highly recommended.



3. i was on the island of st. martin recently, staying at a small hotel on the beach; to pass some time, i'd noticed they had "used" books on the shelf in the lobby to borrow and saw this little book called "one tattered angel". i started reading it and couldn't put it down. it affected the rest of my trip & my outlook on things, especially the power of prayer. i wanted to take the book with me - i was going to ask the hotel if i could buy it, just in case i couldn't find it anywhere. however, i noticed that it was signed by the author! i realized that the book needed to be left right there, so someone else could have the pleasure of reading it, like i did.



4. This book touched and inspired me so much that we named our daughter Charity after the subject of this book. This book helps us to better understand what our Heavenly Father expects of us, how very much he loves us and how he compensates for the weaknesses we have been given. There are blessings, even in the toughest of trials. Don't hesitate to buy this book. It may (and should) change your life.



5. This book is truly touching. I finished reading it today for the 10th time within the year I have gotten it I believe. It is a true story of how even though times get rough, our Lord Jesus is always by us and so are his tattered angels.