2 comments about Lucrezia Borgia (Phoenix Press).

1. lucretia was a kind ,loving and smart woman ,who was use by the men in her family for political reasons.the borgia men wanted dynasty more than lucretia happiness.her father alexander the pope sold her recieve power he need at that moment.her brother murder the love of her life.also murder their own brother.she was trap in a family control by addiction to getting power.



2. There are few portraits as sharply drawn as that depicting (or considered to depict) Lucretia Borgia: smart, beautiful, edgy and dangerous. The illegitimate daughter of Roderigo Borgia, who reigned as the most notorious Spaniard of the High Renaissance, Pope Alexander VI, she spent her most adult life (and great swathes of her childhood) being ferried from fiancé to fiancé, husband to husband and lover to lover as the Borgias sought to establish an Italian dynasty. Originally written
   in the 50s, this is the leading biography and is fairly sympathetic to both Lucretia (whom it paints as romantic, literate and cultured) and also Alexander (whose worst abuses are excused as acts of an oversolicitous father). There is no sympathy whatsoever for Cesare Borgia, who is ascribed responsibility not only for murdering Lucretia's
   lovers but also his (and her) own brother.

5 comments about Playing Catch: A Midwife's Memoirs.

1. I think I'm not the only one who thought this book was a memoir/biography, especially since the word memoir is in the title of the book. Nope--it's a novel, and not a very well-written one. Characters aren't developed fully, story isn't developed fully but told in a general way. Not until I finished the book completely (thinking to myself, wow, this book wasn't very informative) did I finally notice that it was a work of fiction. And then I was even MORE disappointed, since I love a great read and this was a poor excuse for a novel. Extremely disappointed, wish I had my money back.



2. This is probably the most hilarious book I have ever read! I laughed out loud numerous times while reading about Sarah and Moe's adventures in nursing school, as nurses, and finally, as midwives. As a L&D nurse (and future midwife!) I can relate to so many of these vignettes that Miss Urang has written. Very well-crafted, superb writing. Would love to see a sequel to this book!!



3. I read a lot of books about birth and midwives. I was so looking forward to reading this book, but was extremely offended by the abundant foul language and crude descriptions of the author's sex life. The good, decent, informative parts of the book were so surrounded by the sewage that I could never recommend this book to anyone. My copy will go in the garbage.



4. I loved the book and it was hard to put down. It's nice to see a book that shows many sides of the profession, the inspiring, the scary, the dark and wonderful stories. I admired the fact that she went to another country and took the time to learn a new laguage. As a student I appreciate the honoring of the midwife mentor, it is important that we all have someone to look to. The humor was a breath of fresh air too, I enjoy reading midwifery/birth books (Baby Catcher and Spiritual Midwifery are great too) and this is a delightful addition to my collection. I look forward to the next book:)



5. this book is full of inaccuracy, and portrays midwife-assisted birth (and doulas) unfairly. most of the novel is just that-- total fiction. if this were someone's ACTUAL memoir and the events in it happened the way they did, it might be useful. the overall quality of writing is pretty lousy, and the plot is sort of pathetically primetime. it really is like watching ER or Gray's Anatomy, with sensationalized medical scenes, helpless patients, and most of the real drama coming from the very troubled characters. Having read the awe-inspiring, life-changing memoirs of actual midwives, I was very dissapointed to discover that this is fiction (subtitle would seem less false if it said something like "a story of..." instead of "memoirs of...") It wasn't worth my time as a novel, and does a disservice to midwives and doulas by presenting itself, however vaguely, as a factual account or even based on fact. It's not as bad as an outright attack on midwifery, but it's subtly close. Don't waste book money on this trash. Note: if, somehow, this even resembles the life and practice of a nurse midwife, then it worries me even more. If you really want to read a midwife's memoir, try A Midwife's Story, Listen to me Good, or Vagina Politics. Or anything written by Elizabeth Davis or Ina May Gaskin; these women's practice philosophies shine through their writing.

5 comments about The Power of Being a Woman: Embracing the Triumph of the Feminine Spirit (Hammond, Michelle Mckinney).

1. Powerful book - I loved the text. Great use for all women who are struggling to come out of our societal box.



2. This young lady had some good points and some bad points. She is very opinionated. Since I am a writer that writes to bring healing to women in the church, that have suffered through abusive and violent relationships, I believe she should be more balanced in her inference that a woman can "make" a man be what she wants him to be. He has the responsibility to meet the criteria that the bible sets for godly relationships.A Letter to My Sisters: The Way Out



3. This book deals with the hard hitting facts of women. Embracing the true woman God has placed inside you and the power He has given you. This book is truly amazing and will step on your toes along the way. Michelle gets straight to the root of the matter while, at the same time, using a little sense of humor to soften the blow.



4. This is an insightful read that will challenge woman to exam their relationship with God, men and themselves. With skill, the author uses biblical scriptures to demonstrate the correlation between our behavior (men and women), from " In the beginning God created......." to how those innate behaviors play out in our relationships with one another today. Using real-life, modern day examples, the author is clear and concise. We know exactly where she stands as it relates to her role as a women and her thoughts on the feminist movement.
   
   For all of the "Independent Women" out there, single or married, with children or childless, this is a great opportunity to put aside titles and credentials for a moment and reflect on the type of women/mate/sister/wife/mother/friend you are and/or aspire to be. In the end, it's up to us to define ourselves.
   
   Although I didn't agree with all of her points, this book will challenge you to think and leave an impression you, whether its admiration in agreement or disgust in disagreement. If a book can evoke a feeling or thought, once the reader has put it down...the author has done their job. If you're open minded, this is a must read.



5. Buyer beware if you do not agree with God's stance when it comes to marriage and biblical principle you will not agree with Michelle's stance on this either, definately something to consider when buying this book.
   
   Yet I must say I do have mixed feelings about this book, Michelle has a way of using the bible and marrying it to today's time in a very down to earth kinda way that every reader can relate to and I love that. However in this as with other books by her I feel she puts a weight on the shoulders of women that aren't truly for us to bare. For instance women are called to be a help to their husband which will cause them to be better men it isn't the woman's job to MAKE them men. I recongize her goal to call women to live in holiness and relationships as God intended however I'm not in agreeace with her translation of certain things. For instance there is a point in the book where she says men who beat their women are doing so out of frustration for women stepping into the male role (not exact wording). However for all the God fearing women who happily allow her man to wear the pants in her household and still get beat down or mistreated in any way, that statement is a slap in her face no pun intended.
   
   Secondly her stance on a man cheating because the woman isn't fulfilling her role again not quite ministering to the woman who was cheated on and did all the right things in her marriage. There were basic points in these two statements that one should definately take heed to, however it's as if she is telling the reader get everything right with you and everything will be right with your man and that's just not true. Men have a responsibility as well.
   
   Yet I must say, the things that I agree with in the book was worth the buy and I'd buy it again even with knowing these comments were in here. I just strongly recommend chewing the meat and spittin the bone as far as you possibly can!!!

5 comments about Portraits of the Toughest Job in the Army: Voices and Faces of Modern Army Wives.

1. I enjoyed reading this book. As a military spouse I can relate to a lot of the stories.
   
   After reading the reviews, I was under the mistaken belief that this book was mostly photographs, and as an avid photographer I was really looking forward to some stunning images. The book is in fact mostly text, with only a few images. That's OK - the writing is good. I just would have liked more images and for them to be showcased better.
   
   I rate this 4 stars due to the quality of the printer. The binding is good, and I like the hardback format, however the pages are cheap paper (common with self published books unfortunately). The paper stock didn't do the photographs any justice at all. They weren't able to hold any detail and looked a bit "blah". Not the authors fault, just cheap printing.
   
   Overall, a good book. Worth the read if you are a military wife, or want to understand more about our world.



2. Excellent book. I could totally relate to the stories published. It was great to read about others going through the same problems or situations as I and not feel alone like I am the only one experiencing that. Great ideas to implement into my own life. Looking forward to reading more by the author. Easy reading.



3. I read this book in 3 days, thats how good it was. The homecoming part was very emotional for me since I lived it and will live it again.



4. I just finished reading "Portraits" and loved every page! Each story moved me to tears with the overwhelming emotions these amazing women deal with on a daily basis, year after year. It is an intimate look at the real people inside of the world's greatest military - a must-read for all Americans, civilians and military alike!



5. I have only read Part 1, but am moved beyond belief, by the words and God-given strength these wives have and the love for their husbands they share. I believe all wives should read this book, no matter what occupation their husband is in. These women share lessons of loving their husbands that the whole world can hear.

5 comments about Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh.

1. A good book, although the author seems to be more interested in discussing the various ideas and conceptions involving Hatchepsut than in the reign of the female king herself. If you are not already a student of Pharoanic Egypt then this is not a good book to jump into, despite the chapters which outline Egyptian history in general and the 18th Dynasty specifically. Tyldesley does not buy into various conspiracy theories involving the reign of this female king but instead discusses the mindset of the historians and archeologists and how their attitudes resulted in many modern concepts. An interesting book.



2. Joyce Tyldesley provides us with a thorough examination of the evidence surrounding the pharaoh Hatchepsut. She discusses issues such as the disputed order of succession, the conspicuous over-use of propaganda by Hatchepsut to legitimize her power and the question of exactly who attempted to erase the name of Hatchepsut from the monuments and why. Her arguments in each case are based on a judicious weighing of the evidence and the reader is always provided with alternative interpretations from other scholars. Tyldesley systematically dismantles the prevalent opinion that many of the actions of both Hatchepsut herself and her stepson Tuthmosis were motivated by a deadly enmity. On this issue she suggests that Tuthmosis was relatively accepting of the co-regency his stepmother imposed on him, but fails to suggest a convincing motivation for this. The one real disappointment in the book is that Tyldesley does not provide us with any real suggestion as to how Hatchepsut was able to succeed in establishing herself as pharaoh. She emphasizes that Hatchepsut would have needed both an acceptable reason and widespread support among the powerful men of the kingdom to be able to go against maat (the Egyptian concept of tradition and balance) and establish herself as king, but does not provide us with a plausible suggestion as to what such a reason may have been or whose support may have been responsible for her success. Admittedly, there are unlikely to be definitive answers, but these questions are barely raised. All in all, the book is an intriguing and insightful portrait of the world's first truly powerful woman.



3. With a use of the historical and archaeological evidence from various places in Egypt and beyond, an Oxford-educated Joyce Tyldesley has written a well-detailed biography book entitled "Hatchepsut: The Female Pharaoh." The book, as similar to her Nefertiti: Unlocking the Mystery Surrounding Egypt's Most Famous and Beautiful Queen, drives the general readers to experience and to understand the story of the female Pharaoh named Hatchepsut, her historical family background, the history of her memory after her death, and theories of historical scholars who have studied. There are eight chapters in the book with the addition of the "Introduction," which highlights Hatchepsut as a preferred King of Egypt, addresses a brief history of the Dynasty periods, and introduces Manetho who preserved the memory of Hatchepsut.
   
   What came as interesting to which this book explores the relationship between Hatchepsut and her father, Pharaoh Tuthmosis I. There does not appeared to be any negativity between them, and was seen as very positive. Throughout the years of her rule, Hatchepsut honored her father "in every way possible" in order to preserve her direct link to Tuthmosis I as a rightful heir to Egyptian throne (p. 117-8). Since she was born to both Tuthmosis I and Queen Ahmose who were of a royal blood, Hatchepsut believed that she had a direct royal bloodline because her brother-husband, Tuthmosis II, was born to a mother who was not from a royal bloodline. Therefore, she believed that she had a right to rule Egypt regardless of what her gender was. An impression that comes to one's mind from the book is that Hatchepsut needed to rule Egypt in the honor of her father and not for her personal agenda.
   
   Tyldesley also pointed out the creation of Hatchepsut's "divine birth" story as well the role of women in the Theban royal family as evidence for Hatchepsut to be a rightful ruler of Egypt.
   
   The author holds the readers' interest with a clear writing and vivid understanding when it comes to historical biography and theories. The book is well-organized with the visual aspects of maps, figures, and pictures. She has presented a historical analysis that was not dry or technical, and it should be a good advantage for readers' ancient Egyptian knowledge. Tyldesley's book is recommended to both the general readers and historical scholars because the author brought forth a readable and very interesting book.



4. The layout of the history leading to the story of Hatchepsut is very informative. I enjoyed knowing what is believed to be the events leading to her acension and the contributions she made during her reign. very interesting reading and well constructed.



5. The book is highly readable and certainly interesting in content about the first Pharoanic female "who would be king." The problem with it lies in the evidence or, more accurately, lack thereof. Because there is so very little known about Hatshepsut and her time, writing a book that isn't almost entirely speculative is rather difficult and becomes, by necessity, more of a historical novel than a discussion of historical fact. Redundancy is also unavoidable as the author tries to present the very little information that we have in enough pages to fill a book. All the content could have been condensed quite easily into a chapter rather than a book. Having said that, it IS fun reading, and the lack of evidence certainly allows the reader's imagination to take over and recreate a past that may or may not have existed. Hatshepsut the ruler certainly lived, but much more than that, we just can't know at this time, so that this author's guesses are as good as any other Egyptologists.

5 comments about I'm Still Hungry.

1. First, I admire Carnie Wilson. She is talented, gutsy and outspoken, as well as intelligent and poignant, not to mention very humorous. She prides herself on telling it like it is, which I really appreciate. She's been through a very public ordeal with her weight (and is still going through it, and probably will for as long as she remains in the public eye). I find Wilson's weight struggles to be fascinating, and some of that is because she is almost brutally honest about her failures (as well as her triumphs), not to mention her extremely complicated, extremely deep dependence for, and love/hate relationship with food. I can certainly relate to much of what she has gone through.
   But, the fact is, "I'm Still Hungry" is, at heart, a very shallow book. I have to ask myself why, since Wilson, herself, is anything but shallow. I can only conclude that Wilson, having undergone the very drastic, life-altering surgery of gastric bypass, must now feel that it is simply Not possible to allow herself to view this operation as anything but wonderful. Oh, sure, she Does talk about several of the downsides of the surgery, but she always gets back to how *great* it was to have it, and have *fabulous* it is to now be so much thinner (despite some conflicts). I believe her - but not completely. Her giddy tone cannot hide something even more trenchant: the deep and abiding love of food she (still) harbors. Weight-loss surgery has *not* taken this love away, nor, one feels, an even more troubling desire to binge on the very goodies she is not really permitted to have anymore, save for the tiniest of amounts. The book's title says it all: Carnie Wilson is *still* hungry and, lest you believe the form this hunger takes is mainly symbolic (for new life experiences and so forth), the book opens with a striking dream Wilson had, in which she is running through fields and streams of...food. I've had similar dreams, myself (prior to going on major bingeing sprees). Not only that, but Wilson dedicates her book to the "old fashioned buttermilk donut". She's tongue-in-cheek about it, which, for me, only serves to undermine her seemingly flippant, jokey dedication. The fact is, Wilson is strongly attached to food, always has been and, I think, always will be. Therefore, I take great interest in her struggles and the road she is on. She chose gastric bypass because she truly felt she had no other choice. I honor that, of course, (and the courage it took) but I also think that for a person who loves food as much as Wilson does, it might end up being a decision that comes back to haunt her. Perhaps WLS was the Only decision that she *could* make, if she wanted to survive (Wilson's first book, "Gut Feelings" definitely paints this portrait). "Gut Feelings" is, in many ways, a much more serious, in-depth book than this one is. Yet, Wilson is much further along on her gastric bypass journey at the time that this book came out. She knows, in fact, that she really Is still hungry (very hungry), and frankly, all the glee and glamour (and dishy photographs of Wilson) in this book Cannot disguise a sense of something very much like desperation coming through. A woman who is desperate to control and reign in her driving appetite for food. A woman desperate to believe that she really Really has made the absolutely Right decision by going for the surgery (and, perhaps she Has, but the right decision does not always mean that things, in fact, will always turn out just right - or even close to it). Yes, she lost the weight, but now she must eat really tiny portions - much more so, than if she had been able to lose weight by being not bingeing on food. Of course, without this operation, she probably would not have lost 150 pounds. Or got to pose for Playboy (I'm certainly ambivalent about this particular "triumph", but I can well understand a formerly fat girl's desire to "show them all" that she can be beautiful and desirable...and *thin*). I'm sure she honestly believes that the surgery has been completely worth the pain and setbacks. I really hope, for her sake, that it will continue to be so. She is now, at the time of this review, struggling to stop gaining more weight, and trying to lose the weight she has already gained. Clearly, gastric bypass does Not take away cravings - not for life, anyway. I came away from this book with a hollow feeling inside. It's almost like the after-effects of a food binge. There is crazy/giddy energy, and then: a real let-down. Carnie Wilson truly got to have the thin body she always wanted (it must have often been hell to always be the "fat sister" next to slender, fashionably-attired Wendy, whom she loves dearly, it must be noted). Carnie Wilson got to pose for a famous men's magazine. Moreover, Carnie Wilson knows what it is like to lose half a person, in terms of weight. But now, Wilson has to struggle with regain (something whcih almost All morbidly obese people experience after weight loss) and she also has to force herself to eat like a mouse. For life. This, for a woman who could and did eat with gusto. She is *still hungry* and I think she always will be, even if she manages, somehow, to get back down to her lowest weight, after the surgery. Gastric bypass is, after all, at the end of it, just another diet. And we know that diets more often fail than not. I think her story, far from being the bon-bon of glee this book tries to present, is, instead, a very sad one in many ways. I think Carnie Wilson is a strong, strong woman and I admire her for that. However, I wish that someday, medical science will have alot more to offer fat people than the miseries, compromises and limitations of gastric bypass surgery.



2. Great book. Carnie Wilson's experiences, obstacles, bariatric suggestions and emotional ups and downs are presented. It gives a realistic view about what to expect, how to feel and the journey after weight loss surgery. Highly reccommended!



3. I recommend this book to anyone interested in WLS surgery, or knows someone who is having it. Carnie gives great information on what to expect after surgery, how she coped with issues the doctors don't talk about and kept me uplifted and excited about having my surgery. It was a quick easy read and I plan on having my husband read it so he will understand how and why I am choosing to do WLS.



4. As with her first book, I was dissappointed. There is little quality in this book when it comes to GBP. While there is information in there about some struggles and what it was like for her, the "meat" of the book was about her posing in playboy, and being in love. The crude language remained, although it was not as bad as her first book, "Gut Feelings." I was going to sell these on eBay, but I think I will just give them away!



5. I really enjoyed reading about Carnie's experience because I have also had WLS. She offers great ideas, although I caution you that one should always talk to his/her own Dr. and not just taking her advice. Anyway, my complaint with her book is that she is sooooo inlove and sooooo happy all the time. It seems as if this was a panacea. Yes, I am happy and I have had great results from WLS, but it isn't all peaches and cream. In fact, there are many days that I don't even want to face the world. She seems to glamorize the surgery too much and she talks about her wonderful, fantastic, amazing husband too much! Enough already- we get it you're happy!

5 comments about Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World.

1. I read this book while on climbing outings in Joshua Tree and Bishop. It really inspired me to take my climbing to a new level. Lynn's small size and tiny hands (see the actual size of her hand on the back of the cover) made me quite determined that I too could climb hard since she and I are the same height. If you are a complete non-climber, you may find parts of the book difficult to understand. Even though she does try to explain the technical language in simple terms, some of the concepts could be better understood if the reader has actually experienced climbing. If you have climbed, you will love this book and be inspired by it. And if you haven't climbed, this book will certainly inspire you to give it a try!



2. i find the book fairly exciting to read and i finished it quickly. unlike many adventure, mountaineering or climbing books which there are the long treads in the middle, this book doesn't suffer from that. ok, rock-climbing is a much faster sport than mountaineering, but many of Lynn Hill's climbs lasted for days. Fortunately, she had so many stories to tell that she didn't need to stretch the parts decribing certain climbs. of course she still wrote in more details how she achieved certain climbs and overcame certain cruxes.
   
   Lynn Hill was one of the greatest rock-climbers ever (male or female). it is also interesting to learn from the book how she attained that greatness:
   1. obtain the necessary abilities, skills and knowledge by appropriate training and studies. (for e.g. Hill started running regularly to improve her aerobic endurance).
   2. do the things that you are passionate and excited about, and have fun doing it. know what your talents are.
   3. do not give up. work hard.
   4. identify goals. then plan the steps to achieving them.
   5. turn weaknesses into strengths. (for e.g. Lynn Hill turned her small physical frame to her advantage).
   6. find the right partners.
   7. be a nice person.
   
   these lessons are so generic that all great men and women seem to practise them; the rest of us know about them but seem unable to follow through.
   
   if i have one small complaint about the book, it is that Hill was quite repetitive about her reasons in choosing rock-climb over say other possible pursuits that came her paths (such as gymnastics, weigh-lifting, track running, etc). she said more than a few times how she couldn't understand the risks that mountaineers are taking, and that mountaineering is not what she would happily do. rock-climbing may be the best sport for Lynn Hill; but it is not the best sport for everyone.



3. I utilize this book as the text for my Winter Adventure Skills course at the Adventuresports Institute of Garrett College. Very entertaining and full of wonderful winter camping tips. Not just for backcountry skiing, useful for all aspects of winter backcountry travel.



4. I read this book and I found Lynn's story fasicinating and different. I thought it was inspiring how she tried to overcome the boundaries she faced as a woman rock climber. As a rock climber myself, I found this book particulary interesting but I think is a good story for anyone. I agree with many who wrote reviews of this book: the book is missing something. The writing itself would be better it had more emotion, flavor, texture...whatever you perfer to call it. Overall however, this was a good book. I particularly liked how there were pictures included in the book too.



5. Lynn Hill is well-known for her remarkable climbing feats in recent years, but this book opened my eyes to her amazing accomplishments from the first time she set toe & fingertip to rock.
   The book offeres a glimpse of the mind-set that makes her natural athletic abilities turn into athletic performance that exceeds nearly everyone around her. She introduces us to numerous other climbers we know from climbing history tales, but we get more of a picture of who they are as people and as friends.
   This is a fascinating and very inspiring story about a truly amazing woman.

4 comments about Lutheran Church Basement Women.

1. As I read this book, and browsed through the recipes, I remembered when I happily consumed many of these delious edibles (as well as tactfully avoided the equally noxious ones) in blissful ignorance. I still consume many of these traditional Lutheran dishes at church functions, now usually held in the Lutheran School building. Today, though, I am required to feel guilty about consuming them, can very nearly HEAR them clogging arteries. That basement holds many fond memories of more innocent times!



2. At one time a Lutheran and now a Catholic--I know these women and they are alive in every church kitchen in the world,and we have a sense of humor!!!!! The recipes send my mind scurrying back to my home town of Ada, Minnesota and I can once again enjoy the companionship of my family.



3. My grandmother was a Norwegian immigrant who lived in a apartment down the street from our Lutheran church in Wisconsin. This book covers every recipe and nuance I remember from life in the Lutheran church, right down to the aprons. The explanations and footnotes about life as a Lutheran church basement woman are accurate and delightful. The descriptions of rituals and preparations for events are accurate to a fault, right down to the dead spreads. The hints about gossip and the social structure of these women are perfect. This book is a joy!!



4. A light hearted look at the traditional role of women and their work in Church kitchens. While I am a lifelong Lutheran, I appreciated it more after moving to the Midwest. The only book I have seen that pays homage to red Jell-O.

   On a more serious note, I am glad that the mores honored here are changing. At my church the men join in the cooking and cleaning, and the women have many other roles too.

5 comments about Name All the Animals: A Memoir.

1. This book was in a batch of books someone gave me. It started slow and never picked up speed. I kept waiting for something to happen (OK, something happens but I just don't care), and now, 50 pages later, it's beginning to dawn on me that it's not going to get any better. I don't need a plot if there is character development or the writing is just beautiful. None of that here. Sorry.



2. Ms. Smith invites her readers to experience her coming of age teen years, the same time she traveled through the process of grieving her older brother's death. Such a vulnerable in anyone's life, her family's religion and the loss of her brother tangle into her adolescent stage and threaten to swallow her up. This is a loving look at a very intimate and raw experience.



3. I really enjoyed this memoir by Alison Smith. I thought she did a wonderful job describing her grief over the death of her older brother and how she dealt with it. I thought she told her story with a strong, clear voice. Her descriptions were very vivid and real. I think part of why I enjoyed this book so much is that Alison Smith and I are about the same age and I could relate to her experience growing up. I didn't realize until I was reading the book that she grew up in Rochester, NY. For me there's always a little bit of an affinity for stories about places I know. Similar chronology and common geography aside I thought this was a great book.



4. Alison Smith read at the West Side YMCA's Writer's Voice on May 14, 2004. This is from my introduction to the event.
   
   Alison Smith's "Name All the Animals" manages a very difficult balancing act. It is, to me, a tri-partite story. The main story of the terrible grief of losing a loved one, the events and impact of a strong religious faith both being practiced, tested and transformed, and the emerging sexual identity of a teenager, all during the period of grief following a great tragedy.
   
   If Alison Smith failed to make any of the three legs of the story stand convincingly, the whole book would've toppled over. And it's to her great credit that she brings out clearly the people in her life, making them completely three-dimensional in their weakness and in their strength. Throughout the book, the most powerful presence is that of her brother, who flits like a ghost around her, yet is more present in many ways than the people left behind to mourn, and those who surround her in her day-to-day life.
   
   Alison Smith makes art out of tragedy, and throughout the book you feel a sense of connectedness to her story that is unforced, and natural, beyond that of the natural empathy one feels when confronted with someone else's sorrow. It's a powerful and moving book.



5. Growing up, Alison Smith and her brother Roy were so close their mother called them both "Alroy." They had their scuffles, but when it all came down to it, the two were one another's best friends.
   
   Then one morning when Alison is 15, she learns that 18-year-old Roy has been killed in a car accident. All of a sudden, her world is turned upside down. The dynamics within their closeknit family are destroyed forever.
   
   Alison quickly learns that the tragedy also means no one in the community will treat her the same way again. The nuns at her private school essentially let her get away with anything, and the kids she's known her entire life don't know what to say.
   
   Then Terry comes to school, and Alison's thrilled. Not only is Terry an intriguing artist, but she's also someone with whom Alison can have a clean slate.
   
   As time progresses, the two girls become more than just friends. Their secret is exposed, and Alison's teachers and family express their disgust. How *could* she?
   
   This story is a fascinating look at the aftermath of grief; what happens to a person when everything they've ever known is gone? It may be that they become unafraid to let their true desires known...

5 comments about Around the Bloc: My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana.

1. My mom and I both recently read this book and our reactions were the same as we discussed our thoughts. When we were finished with the book, there was a sense of something missing. The sub-title of the book - "My Life in Moscow, Beijing, and Havana" - is misleading. It should have been "My Visits to Moscow and Beijing and My Spur-of-the-Moment Holiday in Havana." Ms. Griest didn't really have a life in any of those places. It would be like me writing a book called, "My Life in Thailand, Germany,and Puerto Rico." All places I have spent some time, but my "life" is where I have resided for many years. I agree with the reviewer who said this should have been a MySpace page - which is exactly where I put the (amusing and insightful!) tales of my adventures in foreign countries.
   
   Don't get me wrong, this book is not without some merit and Ms. Griest does relate some interesting experiences. The most interesting part to me was her short trip to Havana. Cuba is a mystery to most of us and I was surprised to hear that the people aren't quite as depressed and miserable as I had imagined. When they can't do anything about it, people tend to make the best of whatever situation they are in. But, all in all, it was just a light-weight travelogue for us.



2. I could not put this book down. Her voice is refreshing and honest. I learned a lot about all of the places she lives in. I found the part about the censorship in China to be especially revealing.



3. This book energized me. Reading this book was almost as fun as traveling. I can't wait to visit Cuba. But this story is not just about travel. It's also about identity, family, language, and everything else important. Every traveller and every young woman must read this book. Keep your eye on this author! She's going to make it big. She's going to show us the world with fresh eyes.



4. I guess when you're 59, like me, you shouldn't be buying books written by people under 25. Around the Bloc is sort of the tale of somebody's junior year abroad. Unfortunately, it takes more than a year to learn anything valid about somebody else's culture. So here's a woman who's reaped the affirmative action benefits of being Mexican in gringo America, and when a Cuban asks her what country she's from, she says "Canada." That's when I tossed the book into the box for the used book store. This woman needs to go live in the third world someplace for 15 years, without the benefit of a paycheck from the US. Then she can write a book.



5. 
   Ay, caramba!
   
   AROUND THE BLOC is more than a coming of age story, dear Readers.
   
   The following is a laundry list of what you're genuinely missing when you ascribe such facile titles to this amazing little read:
   
   1) The wonderful (and many) impactful lines of prose that emanate from the pen of someone so young, yet with so much on the ball (at the time of writing, that is -- the "young" part, not the "on the ball" part). Griest is possessed of an awareness that few individuals of mixed ethnicity and/or race choose to properly acknowledge. Inside the pages of this book, Elizondo Griest attacks this concept with a doggedness and reckless deliberation that's so downright inspirational! I would like to travel in her wake.
   
   2) There were several passages which I came across where I just had to place the book down beside me to take a deep "resetting" breath. How author managed to touch so many sensitive chords within me, I'm positive the effect was similar on the others. Ms. Elizondo Griest doesn't hold punches. When she refers to things like love, lust, heartbreak, depression, devastation, and sex, she does **precisely** that. When Griest refers to how pained she was when the man who meant everything in her life dropped her for the second time (in as many chances), you hurt right along there with her. If you don't, you don't have much of a emotional bone within your body. Someone so outspoken and delightful doesn't deserve to get hurt like that. At least this was my initial reaction.
   
   3) This is a young woman who has criss-crossed the world and back again, all in an attempt to seek the answers for the most essential life-donning questions which those of us who take such things for granted are never inclined to ask. Essential burning questions of indentity. Of the need and desire to understand who she really is at her core--not as a by-product of some consumerist collective--or where she really came from. By dipping into the collective unconsciousness of several nations of which she herself wasn't a descendant (Russia, China)...then beginning to relate these lessons to the things she knew and loved about herself (which came about more in Havana). Just gorgeous. In several spots the narrative, the author delivered up this story with a dramatist's expert flourish.
   
   ~~~~
   
   The pages just turned. I never **once** felt a need to stop reading (the only time I had was because I'd been interupted by something other than the read).
   
   Intentionally, I believe, Griest constructs the narrative with a rising crescendo. The story commences in Moscow, Russia and moves through Beijing, China. As the journey concludes in Havana, Cuba, in a country closest to her US home, Stephanie comes face to face with a daemon which has been dogging her for most of her early adult life.
   
   When she least expects to find the answer which has been plaguing her mercilessly, as she describes it, it confronts her hard. It hammers her when she finds herself doing an activity which one might consider enough to pull her thoughts away from such critical existential questions. Dancing the rhumba, or talking with a couple of Cuban college students on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean.
   
   Rather than writing AROUND THE BLOC and ending things with a question mark, Elizondo Griest is even more convinced by the book's end about the righteousness of her choice of having travelled around the entire world, steadfast in her desire to want to know more about her essential self.
   
   Like a highly sympathetic character in a novel or a film, you really want this person to succeed--dareisay win (?)--because the righteousness of her mission is just so important. It becomes as important to you as it initially is to Stephanie.
   
   Haven't we all had such dilemmas in our life?
   
   In this age of mixed identities, to be able to claim a purity of a connection to one's ancient or not-so-ancient culture is indeed a complicated decision, rife with paradoxes.
   
   Even those who are "so-and-so"--how much of that "so-and-so" can they really be in the face of an environment which pulls them into defining themselves as something much more general than merely the binding specificity of one particular race or (former?) nation-state?
   
   There are so many things which lay claim to our selves, at our cores. Griest cannot be blamed for having been sucked into this simplifying evening-out vortex, too. So deep has she been submerged into the commonality of the "Western experience," that it has become a compelling struggle to pull herself out. Like it is for others in her situation, who have written about things similarly.
   
   It has been an honour and a privilege to follow her along her path. I can't thank her enough for having made me a part.
   
   It's been to a gift to witness the changes, as she wrote about them, and as the book appears to be the culmination of many months and years of introspection and sometimes piercing self-doubt.
   
   I've cherished each and every one of these pages. Thank you Stephanie.
   
   If there ever were a sixth Amazonian star, it would go to Stephanie Elizondo Griest.
   
   --ADM in Prague