5 comments about The Pumpkin Patch: A Single Woman's International Adoption Journey.

1. The Pumpkin Patch: A Single Woman's International Adoption Journey is Margaret Schwartz's true account of her travels to Ukraine to adopt two boys from an orphanage there.
   
   Written in journal style, Schwartz presents a day-by-day account of the little joys and heartbreaks along her long journey in search of her "forever children". Loaded with detail, the adoption process is laid out from the first decisions through the travel to Ukraine to Schwartz's first months as a single mom. Along the way, she deals with foreign cultures, labyrinthine bureaucracy, political corruption, and unexpected health and emotional complications.
   
   This is a very personal book, and Schwartz has invested a great deal of emotion into it. She captures the little joys and disappointments wonderfully, and it's hard to take issue when she lapses into sentimentality, although she does so quite frequently.
   
   International adoption is changing so rapidly that it's impossible to hold up any one experience as "typical", so readers (myself included) who are considering adopting a child should not look to this book as a guide to what they will experience. It is, however, an inspiring story of courage and perseverance in the face of adversity, and contains wealth of little insights about parenting.



2. This book called to me as I sought information as part of my decision making process on whether to adopt a child as a single-parent. Determining whether to adopt as a single draws out many unexpected emotions and concerns, and it is often a lonely process with few people who truly understand the magnitude of the decison and of the bureaucracy. The author described herself and her emotions--grappling with concerns about how to raise children alone, finances, and the potential for future relationships. Her concerns were similar to my own, and undoubtedly to many singles considering adoption. Yes, the author was a bit naive in working without an agency and also in adopting two toddlers at once on her own. However, she also had developed and nurtured a strong social network, was incredibly strong and was endearing in her positive hopes for herself and her world. The book also shared some unexpected lessons to me about not sharing adoption plans too widely too soon, the real financials of adoption (post-adoption medical expenses, time off without pay, and also thousands of $$ cash while traveling), the medical issues encountered, and certainly about the depths of love a child brings into your life. From her beginning description of a successful, single, professional in her forties, I felt a connection



3. My husband & I are prospective international adoptive parents (also through Eastern Europe). As we go through the preparation, gathering paperwork, etc, it is helpful for us to gather real stories from people who have actually been through it. With this book, I had hoped to read a detailed account of firsthand experiences, and I was not disappointed. Of course, each family's journey is unique, but there will undoubtedly be some common ground. I am glad that Ms. Schwartz did not end at the point of bringing her boys home but continued to describe the process of growing together as a family back in America.



4. It always strikes me that most memoirs about the adoption process feature the struggles of people who entered into the process blindly, innocently, and naively then were amazed at the difficulties they encountered. This book is no exception to the pattern. What is surprising is that the author seems to have had a good outcome despite her near ignorance of what she was doing.
   
   She has a compelling story to tell. Unfortunately, her choice of writing the book as a journal leads to alot of repetition of thoughts and emotions. No doubt she experienced them every day, but reading the same brief description many times over is not as interesting as if she described the thought process just once in detail (ex: giving thanks to her sister almost every day). The book ends quite abruptly, without any closure.
   
   Having just adopted 2 toddlers from Russia last year, I was looking forward to reading someone else's journey. I was left quite dissappointed, however.



5. The Pumpkin Patch is an insightful "how to" tool highlighting the financial and emotional hidden costs and practices of Ukrainian adoption as well as a touching and facinating true story of one single woman's journey to "instant" motherhood. This is a "must read" for anyone either contemplating adoption in the region or simply interested in sharing a modern woman's quest to find a family in order to fill an emptiness inside her that hard work, success, travel and other personal realtionships could not.

5 comments about Soul Picnic: The Music and Passion of Laura Nyro.

1. When this book came first came out four years ago, I was delighted to see it on the stands. Finally, Laura Nyro was getting her due, or at least SOME of her due. But oddly enough, I didn't find myself rushing out to buy it despite my being a fan of long standing. I wasn't so sure I really wanted to know all there is to know about Laura Nyro. I mean, sure, I had read dozens of magazine articles and reviews back in the day. I knew the rough outlines of her life, certainly, but her relative inacessability as a "public figure," made Laura Nyro "the artist" all the more intriguing as far as I was concerned. It may sound corny to some, but she revealed herself so completely through her music that it wasn't clear how necessary it was to know ALL the details.
   
   I needn't have worried. SOUL PICNIC does not rob Laura of her mystery, does not seek to explain away her allure. Author Michele Kort is plainly a fan, but she did not know Laura personally, and doesn't try to create the impression that she has (or IS) the last word on all matters Nyro. There's still plenty of mystery to go around. But, like any good journalist, Kort pigues your interest about her subject. You come to know Laura Nyro a little bit better maybe. You also come to realize that you can never know her as intimately as you might wish.
   
   I occasionally heard gossip about Laura Nyro back in the day. Even as a teenager growing up in a small town in Maine, some of my friends said knowingly (usually while taking a deep drag on a cigarette) that Laura was "gay" or "bi-sexual, doncha know?" How else could you explain that back cover on ELI & THE THIRTEENTH CONFESSION? There was even a former runaway in one of my English classes, a girl recently returned from a crash pad in the East Village, who claimed to know Laura and had these little snippets of gossip to impart. It was all very interesting, but even at age 16 I knew that was NOT the point Or at least, not the whole point.
   
   Michele Kort's book actually implies that Laura did not actually have a relationship with another woman until quite late in her all-too-short lifetime. There was always those ambiguous lyrics to "Emmie," of course, and apparently she hinted to high school friends that loving another woman might be but one option open to her, but there is little evidence that even experimented much in that direction as a young woman.
   
   Does it matter? Well, it does suggest that Laura, who was still in her teens when she started her career in the music biz may NOT have been leading the intense boho lifestyle that my runaway friend had depicted. On the other hand, what she was conveying in her music, even at that tender age, was as wild and free--and ultimately, as revolutionary--as anything coming out of the West Coast at the time. It may have just taken a little while for her life circumstances to catch up with her inner reality.
   
   And for a few short years in the late 60s and early 70s, there was no one making music as intense or as vital as Laura Nyro. Unlike the early Joni Mitchell, she was only minimally influenced by folk music, even though her records often ended up in that section of the store. (Where else did you file a solo female singer-songwriter in those days anyway?) And, of course, Peter, Paul and Mary had covered "And When I Die" already, but anyone expecting a Joan Baez clone or a "Sweet Laura Brown Eyes," was in for a surprise. Nowadays it comes as no surprise when a woman refuses to be dainty and to play it safe, but to sing with the unbridled passion that Laura Nyro brought to her early work was pretty darn revolutionary in '67-'68. Sure there were other women breaking down sound barriers at the time, Janis Joplin and Tracy Nelson were belting the blues in San Fran and, of course, even during the folk scare days of the early 60s, there were not-so-ladylike powerhouse singers like Judy Henske who were stomping the blues when they weren't churning out Childe ballads.
   
   But what Laura was doing was different still. It was less blues based than Philly Soul and Motown influenced. And throw in a dash of jazz, of Broadway, gospel--and OK, OK, some folk and classical influences, and you get the idea. Laura was the very embodiment of 60s eclecticism. You could even say that she was influential in getting Joni Mitchell to loosen up a bit, musically--although I have to say that while the latter artist admits that she took "some direction" from Laura, her roving sensibility have eventually led her in a more experimental direction anyway. But Laura actually got there first, and it's a crying shame that she is not more widely acknowledged as the innovator that she was, or for that matter, that nowadays she's scarcely acknowledged at all.
   
   So Michele Kort's book offers something of a corrective to that sorry state of affairs. And it does so, by focusing as much on Laura Nyro's musical life as it does on the her biography. And believe me, I am fine with that. Had the book been more gossipy, I really would have felt that I was violating the privacy of one of the most elusive artists of her day, of any day really. I have to take issue with the capsule review from LIBRARY JOURNAL included above. When the anonymous author of same writes, ... there is perhaps too much minutiae regarding studio sessions, musical arrangements, chord variations, personnel changes, and industry infighting," I find myself shaking my head in amazement. The creative process, good sir or madam, the MUSIC is the thing. Yes, some might find such matters as her "ambiguous" relationship with David Geffen more, uh, "interesting" I suppose, but it wouldn't have mattered much if Laura Nyro's WORK weren't the product of genius.
   
   Michele Kort's focus is really just right. It is her love of and feeling for the Art of Laura Nyro that makes her life's story so important. Laura was always true to her muse. And she deserves our love and respect for that. And Kort deserves our thanks for this compelling, generous and warm look at the life and art of one of the 20th century's great songwriters.



2. = Laura's song
   Reviewer: jane from USA
   A very thoughtful, well researched, and sensitive book describing the music and style of Laura Nyro. This book uncovers Laura's musical journey. It reveals a unique and uncompromising artist, whose drive toward emotional and musical honesty surpassed any desire for fame. Laura's unique sensibilities and moralities about her musical gifts were clearly integrated in an unusual style. The book reveals and integrity of spirit, while a quirky, unrelentingly controlling musical direction, that could drive others crazy. A great book for those seeking a greater sense of Laura's creative journey.



3. In my opinion, Laura Nyro continues to be one of the most underrated songsmiths in the history of American Music. While some record stores still file her under "Folk Music", Nyro's primary musical inspirations were pop, jazz and the vocal R & B and doo-wop stylings of the 50's. She also had an affinity for show music and her circle of friends included Broadway Icons Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Her poetry was unique, as well. No woman before her had explored so many controversial and personal issues in their lyrics as Nyro did. Since little has been written about this Great American Artist, Kort's book is a welcome read and fills in alot of the spaces that fans have been wondering about regarding this very private person. The book is a little light on depth, however, and it reveals itself as more of a record of rememberings by people that were part of her personal and music business worlds, either fleetingly or for long periods of time. Kort treats her subject with great respect and reverance, however, and her affection for Nyro as an artist and as a person is reflected throughout this book. Although this book will, mainly, be of interest to Nyro's longtime supporters, hopefully people who are curious about who this woman was, and the art that she created, will go out and buy her music. If you have never heard her before, nothing can prepare you for CD's like New York Tendaberry or Christmas and the Beads of Sweat. She was a shining star, a visionary, and a pure artist who paid dearly for her musical vision. We will never see the likes of her again. Love you, Laura, RIP.



4. From the first time I heard her on the radio singing "Save The Country", I have been enamored with Laura Nyro. I loved her voice, piano and songs, and thought her work on New York Tendaberry was some of the best and most unique work I had ever heard. I also liked her looks and her demeanor. I liked her so much, I wrote her an affectionate letter via Columbia Records in 1969, but, to my regret, she never answered.
   
   Michele Kort, in her outstanding biography of Laura, has made me feel like I did get a chance to meet her, afterall. Her writing pulled me in from the first page, and I felt like I was right along side of Laura as I relived her ascendancy to musical greatness. Ms. Kort informs the reader of many interesting facts, such as Ms. Nyro having been named by her musician father after the song from the classic movie, Laura, and that she had lots of training in voice but had fairly limited piano training.
   
   Ms. Kort takes us through all Laura's albums, what was going on in her life when they were being conceived, developed and recorded, who produced and engineered them, who the other musicians and vocalists were, and the various negotiations Laura engaged in with the record companies to get the result she wanted. I found this information of great interest and I would not have minded at all if the book had been another three hundred pages.
   
   Most gratifying was that Michele Kort has written a quite detailed book which gives the reader a very good sense of Laura and some of her idiosyncrasies, but she always treats her with the greatest respect. Over and over, through the many people who knew Laura and are quoted, one realizes that Laura was a genuinely sweet, kind person who was steadfastly more interested in the integrity of her music than any commercial success that others may have urged her toward.
   
   I fully recommend this book to anyone, particularly to those who are Laura Nyro fans. After reading it, I feel even more sad that she passed on so early, but I at least feel like I got to know her a bit. While she never answered my letter those many years ago, I feel like I finally got to meet her and know her, and I'm even more enamored with her than before.



5. Considering the lengths Laura Nyro went to to keep her private life out of the public eye, it's amazing that we have this book at all, let alone that it's as well put-together as it is. Michele Kort does a first-rate job in showing the evolution of Nyro, her music and her outlook on life, which was always key to how her muse took hold. What you end up with is a portrait of a woman steadfastly true to herself, no matter the cost to her career. I'm left with admiration for her, admittedly tempered by a feeling that not every choice she made was a good one. No matter; this is a well-drawn biography of an interesting and uniquely talented person who made some unforgettable music.

5 comments about Polygamy's Rape of Rachael Strong.

1. This book tells little about Strong's actual story and is mostly filled with FLDS History and Case Law. Not very interesting, it jumps around too much from chapter to chapter and I didn't finish it.



2. Interest book. I had watch the TV show Big Love, but this book show the real side of Polygamy. This is a book all American women should read.



3. Not a very well written book and there are many typos. I think the author assumes the reader is knowledgeable of the Mormon religion, which may not be the case for some. The title leads you to believe this is a story about a young woman and her struggles. Author wrote more about the Utah district attorney, Principal Voices (pro-polygamy women's group), and polygamist men. Because of the title, I wanted to know more about Rachel Strong and her life and how she is doing now. If you want to write a book that's anti-polygamy, then do that. If you want to write a book about Rachel Strong, then do that. Don't mix the message! I bought this book after seeing the author highlighted on HBO's Big Love outtakes. I would not recommend it to anyone. :-(



4. This book presents a lot of information, but it really isn't that interesting if your looking for a good polygamy book. It reads kind of like an encyclopedia. Informative, but boring.



5. I saw Mr. Llewellyn on the HBO special for the series Big Love. I am a huge fan of the show and have become fascinated by the way polygamists live their lives. The Rape of Rachael Strong is a good, quick read filled with instances and examples that help you understand how dire the situation (especially on compounds) are for women and children and how this sexist society breaks and creates the rules according to what's convenient for them. I was shocked, amazed and offended by much of what Mr. Llewellyn brought to light.
   
   I would recommend it.

5 comments about Waiting on the Weather: Making Movies with Akira Kurosawa.

1. Teruyo Nogami, "script girl" to Kurosawa-as of this writing is still alive-and is one of the last close associates of Akira Kurosawa to be able to tell us about the man, his working methods, and the conditions of making some of the 20th century's finest films.
   
   This charming book is written with respect, and the conviction that Kurosawa was a great filmmaker. There seems to be a lot of repetition in the stories told about and by Kurosawa, but there are some new bits and pieces, too. It is fascinating to hunker down in the cold with Miss Nogami, as she helps in the filming of "Dersu Uzala", for example. She is able to make you feel as if you were there, with her simple, clear descriptions.
   
   An absolutely delightful book, and a necessary part of your Kurosawa bookshelf!



2. This book is obviously quite useful to studying the personality of one of the most influential filmmakers in the world. The author is sincere but somewhat naive by Western standards. A devoted assistant to Kurosawa, she was with him throughout the most significant years of his long career and certainly knows more than anyone else could of his personality and professional behavior. There is an extraordinary amount of repetition in the text, so that one is constantly feeling one is rereading the same pages over and over. Still it is essential reading if one is offering a course on his films - as I am - or preparing a report for a class.



3. This is a biographical book by a Japanese woman who worked with one of the greatest directors of all time,Akira Kurosawa. She was his script girl and friend, so she saw him at work, as well as in the midst of intimate moments.
   
   In other words, she was poised to tell us some profound things about the man, but she fails to do so. There are some funny moments, some touching moments, but the supposition that this book gives you an in-depth look at how he actually worked is a lie. It only recalls a few different anecdotes from his sets, out of a possible million.
   
   On the technical side, this is light reading, so those of you who want to start exploring Kurosawa could start here. On the other hand, this could bore you because a lot of this is about Nogami's feelings. Also, be prepared to be surprised by the Japanese sensibility: as his subordinate, she really viewed Kurosawa as being better than her.
   
   If you really want to understand HOW Kurosawa worked (multicamera set-ups, telephoto lenses), read the books by Stuart Galbraith IV and Stephen Prince, not this one. Shut up, Martin Scorsese. I hate you and your recommendations.



4. My Kurosawa library is pretty full. Heavy, academic tomes like Stephen Prince's "The Warrior's Camera" and informative and personal showcases like Donald Richie's "The Films of Akira Kurosawa" can do a lot to deepen one's appreciation for the master filmmaker. Only "Waiting for the Weather" can make you smile, make you feel like you are sitting right there, caught up in the whirlwind of genius holding on for dear life and enjoying every minute of the ride.
   
   Teruyo Nogami is a familiar face to most Kurosawa fans, having appeared in the 2001 documentary "Kurosawa" as well as lending her insights to the various Criterion Collection releases of Kurosawa's films. I can't picture her as anything else than a pleasantly smiling elderly woman, little realizing the will-power and strength that must have been necessary to serve as an assistant for the fierce personality of Kurosawa for so many years. Nor did I realize that she helped raise Juzo Itami, one of the greatest of Japan's modern filmmakers, best known for his comedy "Tampopo".
   
   In "Waiting for the Weather", Nogomi, or Non-chan, as Kurosawa called her, waxes nostalgic about all the trials, tribulations, exaltations and boring down-times that went into creating some of the greatest moments ever caught on film. Her entry into the film world came through correspondence with Mansaku Itami, a famous director in his time although now somewhat forgotten, and then continued organically until her being hired on for an experimental new film called "Rashomon", which would change her life forever. From then on, she was a constant presence on Kurosawa's set, staying with him even during the dark times of "Dersu Uzala" and all the way until his final film "Madadayo" and his death. She was never a great mover or shaker, just someone who helped get things done, and was an essential piece of the Kurosawa machine.
   
   There are so many scenes and memories in this book that put a human face on Kurosawa, and that are so pleasantly described, that it would be impossible to pick out a favorite. Imagine Kurosawa and his team taking a break from intense work of filming "Rashomon" to climb nearby Mt. Wakakusa and engage in some impromptu late-night dancing and stripping down to their underwear. Imagine sharing a laugh when the cages holding the crows for the climatic scene in "Dreams" were thrown open, and the black birds just sort of wandered around instead of taking off dramatically. This is the kind of nostalgia that Non-chan shares, and every word paints a vivid picture of affection and love for the human being behind the legend.



5. What do you do when you stand next to greatness? And? You are possessed of an unassuming wit and courage, strength, loyalty and passion? Why you wait until the Master is gone and then write your memoirs to share with the world and you get the single greatest Western observor of your nation to write the introduction, thats what you do, then you get a super cool Canadian to get a wonderful small press in California to publish it in English for you!
   
   That is what No-Chan, as The Sensei always called her, has done and anyone who loves film and or Japan must be deeply grateful to her and the peerless Donald Richie for bringing her recolections of Kurosawa to us in an excellent translation. Run, do not walk, to purchase this warm, honest, intelligent, funny and sad volume!

5 comments about Paper Daughter: A Memoir.

1. Although much of the focus of Elaine Mar's memoir could be written by anyone who experienced childhood teasing, discrimination, loneliness, poverty, low self-esteem; it is important to find the core of her plight, a battle with parents resisting a change into their new country. But even that story can be retold by many.
   
   Two countries in one household.
   Elaine was very young upon arriving from Hong Kong with her mother to join her father. The parents didn't accommodate to the U.S. well. They didn't learn English or customary ways. Her mother was mentally and physically abusive and spoke to her daughter in a degrading manner, and often repeated to the daughter that it was a waste of their time raising her.
   
   I didn't feel what she had to say was any different that what many people experience as children. But then, I understood the conflict being raised as an American, but challenged by Hong Kong parents with their strong ties to that culture and beliefs.
   
   Money vs no money.
   That she could not buy the right clothes to fit in was moreso, poverty vs. money rather than a cultural aspect. And many Americans are forced to work in the family business their entire youth; it is not just a Hong Kong thing.
   
   Unanswered Questions
   I was left with questions unanswered. Her parents worked in a restaurant with relatives, and a feud caused them to leave the home (basement) and the father to be out of work. She never elaborates on what caused this feud that forced them to make changes and how did the feud end, since there was a reunion.
   
   Also, aside from some typographical errors, toward the end, there is a chapter titled "When Father Lived in Wichita", but it has nothing to do with the content. The father lived there before she came to the U.S. Another chapter regarding college life is titled TASPS, but nowhere do we get an explanation what this stands for.
   
   Graphic Detail - the sexual experience.
   We learn of her sexual experience with a white boy from the restaurant, and I do say; we learn this through graphic detail for several pages.....several. A page would have done for me.
   
   Well-written, holding my interest, living in Denver, and, my fascination with a different look at how two cultures collided.
   
   One has to admire her tenacity to get where she did! ......MzRizz



2. Some people who've posted reviews here feel this book is not significant but I think we can all relate to being teased at school and trying to get by as a child. I loved this memoir and recommend it to anyone else who also loves memoirs or autobiographies.



3. I read somewhere that the events in a person's life are only interesting to that person. So true in this case. Yeah, yeah, Asian girl picked on my American classmates. Asian girl must learn proper American table manners. blah blah blah. The flowery, overly-detailed descriptions were lame and contrived. It could have been a good story if it wasn't so full of self-pity and a narcissistic attitude. Poor child, auntie won't hug her. Poor dear, she can't date outside her ethnic background. It seems more like the diary of a confused and angry adolescent. Now, Amy Tan, that's an interesting writer!



4. The book opens with a sensuous description of a Hong Kong child eating chicken bones, crushing them between her teeth to release the clotted marrow within. The author later contrasts this earthy and primal experience with the manner in which Americans eat fried chicken, delicately nibbling away from the bone, oblivious to the rich marrow within. I found this broad metaphor thought-provoking, contrasting the sterility of American suburban life with the riotous, crowded Hong Kong environs where the author lived her earliest years.

   I was very impressed with the sensual detail in the book, the descriptions of textures and scents hinting of mystery, such as the jars of dried mushrooms and spices that her mother stored in the tiny room that was the author's first home.

   The criticism that many reviewers have expressed is that the memoir fails to be reflective. I did not find that to be the case. I prefer to have the author use metaphor and selectiveness of memory to present her view, as she deftly does, than to read pages of exposition detailing why she felt her mother treated her coldly. I believe the author is trusting to the intelligence of the reader to puzzle out the motivations of each character. It would be less than artful to be as obvious as some readers apparently wish.

   That said, I did not always sympathize with the author, especially as she grew into adolescence and became increasingly disrespectful of her parents. However, it took courage for the author to sometimes portray herself in a less than attractive manner. One was left to wonder if her adolescent angst would have been similar if she had never left Hong Kong.

   I felt the memoir's legitimate focus was her childhood and formative years. Some have expressed the wish that the author would have continued, describing her college years in greater detail. I disagree, as that would have moved the story away from the focus on family. Family is used to define the author throughout the memoir; as she seperates from her family, the story ends. Therefore, I found the break logical.

   My one criticism would be that it is slightly facile to believe that a Harvard education somehow has elevated the author beyond her family. The first severing was one of language. Education was secondary. I disliked the implication that the education she strove for somehow delivered her from an intolerable life. The author seemed to be overly impressed with herself for being accepted into Harvard, as if this were the grandest achievement attainable. She also failed to criticize, or if she did, it was too subtle for my tastes, the adolescent mentalities and delusions of genius, which were apparently common amongst the students at the Cornell summer program she attended. Nor could I tell if she felt the psychiatrist who interviewed her for the program was rather pompous and shallow, as I did. My assumption, though, is that the author has chosen to leave this unsaid and that this scene was yet another instance of her trying to fit into one sub-group or another, posing as an intellectual rather than as a typical American teenager.

   The author progresses from dutiful Chinese daughter, to bewildered immigrant, to essential interlocutor for her family, to sullen teenager, to burgeoning "intellectual". I felt that most of these transitions were beautifully described and that the varying experiences and motivations of the different family members contributed greatly to the richness of the story. I was a little off-put by her eventual move to Cambridge and Harvard, because I felt that the author's motivations were more about belonging to an "elite" group and progressing socially than any educational goals. However, my opinion is belied by the elegant and moving memoir that she later wrote, which implies that her maturity has progressed greatly beyond the last stage described in the book, that of a self-centered teenager eager to break from her family.

   Overall, I found this memoir to be very worthwhile reading.




5. Mar's memoir may be a better read for someone not accustomed to reading about the Chinese-American immigrant experience, but those well-read in the field are unlikely to be impressed. Mar does not use hindsight to explain things that confused her in her childhood, such as the significance of speaking Toisan instead of proper Cantonese. Her childhood experiences are not so different from those of American-born Chinese, or frankly of smart children in general. Her experience with the joy of being around other smart kids is more closely tied with the "smart" experience than the "immigrant" experience. And her tango with anorexia, along the same vein, has more to do with the "type-A female" experience then with the immigrant experience. Overall, this book is a good memoir of one woman's life, but there are too many ideosyncratic facets for this to tout itself as a good representation of the modern Chinese immigrant experience in America.

3 comments about Irina: Ballet, Life and Love.

1. Even for those with little knowledge of ballet this is a sparkling book. It tells a fascinating story of an extraordinary life.



2. I'd be tempted to write this off as endless gossip if it weren't for the fascinating cast of characters involved. A good look at history, too: the golden years of the Ballets Russes in its many incarnations. A delightful memoir from an enchanting lady.



3. Several years ago, I had occasion to visit the village on Long Island where I grew up. I visited its small museum and viewed an exhibition - " Russians in Sea Cliff" - chronicling a history of families of Russian descent who settled in the 1930s, built two Churches and accounted for about 10% of its population of 5,000. (My mother was born in Moscow and spoke mainly Russian with her neighbors.) I noticed that there was no mention of Sea Cliff's most notable Russian, Irina Baronova, and pointed this out to the curator who never had heard of her. This inspired me to try and contact my beautiful neighbor.I had a good idea that she was still living and after a few phone calls, I was able to get her address in Australia and wrote her. She is in her late 80's and is 17 years older than myself, so my memory of her was very hazy as I was between 5 and 10 years old when I met her and her gentle parents. At the time, Irina was a prima ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre and spent most of her time in New York City. In my letter, I asked her to join a charity as an Honorary Director. I quote part of her replies, which clearly show her vivid memory and keen intellect.
   
   Received Feb. 10, 2004
   "Dear Volodia,
   What an unexpected, happy surprise receiving your letter! So many memories sprang back in my mind, Sea Cliff, a truly Russian village, your parents across the street, your brother, and you, funny, at times solemn little boy! And now, you are in charge of a great, humanitarian organization helping all these poor children. My hat is off to you all.
   I am touched that you thought of me, and gladly say "yes" to your request. I embrace "little" Volodia of my memories, and send a big hug to you, "big" Volodia, with much affection.
   Irina"
   "Dear Volodya,
   Thank you for your letter and may I say again what a wonderful organization you are heading and what a brilliant job it keeps doing around the world. I feel honoured to join it, if only in name.
   In great haste, I found your photo in the newsletter and must agree with you that you have not changed much except for your spectacles which I do not remember you wearing when you were a child... but the same cozy rotundness. We were friends then, although you were a bit shy of me as I was much older and I know now we would be friends without shyness! - Big hug, dear Volodya.,Much love,Irina
   
   These letters are to me a great delight and her memoir is filled with the same charm, goodness and intellect of her most exceptional life. Born in St. Petersburg in 1919, leaving as a little girl and settling in Paris after going from elegance to poverty as a result of the civil war, it is a fairy tale that she debuted at the age of 12 for the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo. Known as one of the "baby ballerinas", her life was totally devoted to ballet until she retired at the young age of 30 after marrying Cecil Tennant, the agent for Lawrence Olivier. She had two children of which the more well known is the actress Victoria Tennant. After reading this thoroughly enchanting book, one should see "Ballet Russes" a wonderful film with interviews of Madame Baronova and others about those incredible times which is thankfully out on DVD.

No comments about Breaking the Code of Silence.

1 comments about Enduring Lives: Portraits of Women and Faith in Action.

1. What an intriguing title! Is this book about immortality? The cover of Enduring Lives intimates a book about Catholicism. But it would be a mistake to catalog this book under Religion. Enduring Lives belongs more with Women's Studies, an evolving discipline in which Carol Lee Flinders breaks new ground.
   
   Speaking generally, men are not keen readers of Women's Studies. However, if they can overcome this disinclination, in this book they will uncover a new perspective on women's sexuality and social organization. For, who best to understand the role sex hormones play on a woman's psyche than those who are denied a sexual partner, either involuntarily or by intent? The question may be: How are biological impulses transmuted into a socially acceptable existence? Scientists often look at aberrations to discover the boundaries of what we assume is the norm. In Enduring Lives we look at some of these boundaries.
   
   There is much to be learned from this well written, edited, and designed book. On the surface, Enduring Lives is a set of distilled biographies of four women who, at first glance, have nothing in common; not in the times they lived, the location, not their religious upbringing, nor in their contribution to our society. Only a scholar with the knowledge of Carol Lee Flinders could weave the biographies of a concentration camp victim, a Ph.D. from Cambridge who studied the Chimpanzee, a recluse from Tibet who started life in war-torn London, and a woman whose work was featured in the movie Dead Man Walking, into an exciting, cohesive account of the amazing evolution of human spirit. The author is informed by her own scholarship, a well argued (non-defamatory) critique of Catholicism, and most of all by a deep understanding of how spirit allows us to survive in a troubled world that seems increasingly to deny opportunity for our very existence

5 comments about Healed by Horses: A Memoir.

1. Healed by Horses is a wonderful book that gives hope and encouragement to anyone who reads it! It reaffirms the fact that life is a gift, and, if you allow it, struggle can make you better. As Carole states on page 230: "It's working with horses that heals, by developing discipline, courage, patience, and perseverance. You may come to horses -- as I did -- unable to walk, unable to cope, disfigured and in despair, but what I learned is that horses do not judge by looks or class or reputation. Still, you must earn their trust and cooperation, and out of that comes self-esteem."



2. Healed by Horses is a must-read; a fantastic book that leaves readers entertained, educated and... changed.
   
   Page by page, this memoir delicately, and sometimes dramatically, shows the true story of Carole Fletcher. Its inspiring message touches readers of all interests, ages and spectrums.
   
   The book, on the surface, is about a burn victim whose life is turned upside down after a near-death experience in a gasoline explosion.
   
   Underneath, the storyline is even stronger and deeper, as Carole Fletcher delves into the meanings of inner and outer beauty, self-worth, "a never give up mentality," inspiration and other life lessons.
   
   Carole shows us how horses, who never judge our outer appearances, dragged her out of a near suicidal state and, ultimately, launched her career as an internationally respected trick horse trainer and author.
   
   I've had the pleasure of meeting Carole Fletcher at her Reddick, Florida, home. She is a true gem; a delightful, strong woman who sees each day as a gift. Her book -- and her story -- are a gift to us.
   
   Healed by Horses gets TWO THUMBS UP!
   
   Summer Best
   Ocala, Florida



3. As a fan and student of Carole Fletcher's Trick Training techniques, I was familiar with the bio behind this book before reading it. So it was with a literary mindset that I opened the cover, expecting to view the entire book with a critical eye; curious, mostly, to learn just what did Larry Scanlan do to bring the ashes of Carole's past back to life.
   
   My resolve to be largely unmoved lasted maybe two pages. I was totally captivated. Through Larry Scanlan's ability to weave pertinent and insightful personal details through the charred remains of Carole's past, Carole emerges as she truly is: human, rather than a string of incredible facts. People everywhere can relate some situation in their life to what Carole has endured and draw courage from her story. Her hospital ordeal was gut-wrenching; the stories about her horses have the same effect on your heart. There were plenty of details to whet the appetites of horse people, but there is message and metaphor for every one, everywhere; lessons for all of us on overcoming obstacles, achieving goals, healing relationships, feeling real compassion, looking for the true beauty in every one and everything around you, finding meaning in life.
   
   Through 'Healed by Horses', Fletcher and Scanlan have made a tremendous contribution to society.



4. I have had the privilege of meeting Carole through a neighbor. Just in meeting her I feel blessed. Her book speaks honestly of her accident. Naturally, I wish that it never happened, but she is so positive and continually reaching for new goals. Her attitude throughout the book illustrates how she appreciated the people and animals around her. The relationships in her own family were exposed and then nurtured. Her blessings are many and suddenly, I could see how she not only turned her life into a survival story but a platform to help others. Anyone that reads this book will understand how Carole found the strength to go on and love deeper. This book truly is the way Carole is everyday. Read and enjoy how horses can be so much more than an animal to ride. I know that I will see horses differently now and think of how they kept Carole being a person who lives from "within" her heart and soul, instead of one who lives "without".
   Lou Petty
   Quarter Horse competitor and breeder



5. Carole's book Healed By Horses is absolutely awesome!! It touches many areas of all our lives!!! You don't have to love horses to enjoy and to be inspired by Carole's book!!! And if you do love horses you will be totally in awe of this woman's courage and will relate with the deep heartfelt draw to the beautiful four legged friends that she talks about!!! Carole Fletcher is a true inspiration and I am very thankful she shared her story with all of us!!!

5 comments about I Could Have Sung All Night: My Story.

1. Great walk through the 20th century. This woman's life arc hits all of the pioneering moments in musical entertainment from the great depression to present day. The back stories in Hollywood are a particular good read. At last there's a face and story to all of the great songs I've listened to over the years.



2. About 2/3 of this book is fascinating--the other 1/3 is dull and has too much personal information. Most of it you can hardly put it down--Marni Nixon describes her part in dubbing some of the greatest film musicals of the 50s and 60s. BUT the other 1/3 of the book (mostly the last part of the book--after she no longer dubs films regularly) is filled with her self-confessed affairs that detract from her professionalism.
   
   It's a great book for anyone who loves movie musicals and Hollywood history. She started in movies as a child and has great behind-the-scenes stories of old Hollywood. Her descriptions of dubbing for Kerr, Hepburn and Wood are well-detailed and worth getting the book. But once she details "My Fair Lady" (and even her work on "Mary Poppins"!), the only other thing worth reading is her short time with "The Sound of Music." After that it would be best to put the book away and enjoy the memories of this sparkling star--instead of reading on about her cheating, her ignoring her kids and her search for significance. She certainly has a story to tell but she doesn't appear to understand that the fame she looked for is diminished by her exposing all of her off-stage problems.



3. I had long known about Ms. Nixon's film work, dubbing for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Wood and Audrey Hepburn, but this memoir filled in a lot of gaps. I really enjoyed it.



4. If you have ever wondered who sang Kerr's songs in KING & I or Wood's in WEST SIDE STORY, then this is the book for you. Marnie Nixon was the dubbed voice of many non-singing stars'in some of their best roles. Here she tells her story and while at times it drags a bit, I found it very interesting and entertaining. The chapters about her work in film are espcially engaging.



5. Enjoyed this book so much.It was fun to read about all the colleagues she had worked with during her career. A very pleasant read.