2 comments about This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer (Civil Rights and the Struggle for Black Equality in the Twentieth Century).

1. Mills' biography is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature on the civil rights movement. The well-documented work explores the life of Ms. Hamer, an important figure in the '60s Deep-South struggles whose name may be unfamiliar to some.

   Fannie Lou Hamer was a poorly educated woman who, like most of her contemporaries growing up in pre-Depression Mississippi and beyond, endured virtual apartheid for a good portion of her life. Voting rights were essentially unknown to African-Americans in the state, which was controlled for decades by opponents of civil rights locally and through the state's federal representatives, most notably James O. Eastland, a senator who consistently stalled civil rights legislation through his control of the Judiciary Committee.

   Ms. Hamer was among the first African-Americans to challenge Mississippi's voting registration practices, which were designed to bar blacks from voting. For her troubles, she was arrested, detained in a small-town jail and beaten so severely that she sustained injuries that eventually shortened her life.

   Mills paints a vivid picture of Ms. Hamer's indomitable spirit, which was symbolized by her powerful singing voice, frequently employed to boost the courage of her local comrades and of the black and white workers who came to Mississippi during the Freedom Summer of 1964 in an attempt to challenge the white supremacists who ran the state.

   Nowhere does her spirit come through more clearly than in Mills' account of the 1964 challenge Hamer and others leveled at the Democratic delegation sent to the presidential convention in Atlantic City. The challengers persuasively claimed that they represented thousands of disenfranchised African-Americans who had been denied their right to participate in the political process. The Democratic presidential candidate, Lyndon Johnson, and his running mate, Hubert Humphrey, Mills recounts, dragged their feet on addressing the challengers' claims, only belatedly offering a weak compromise that Hamer and some others fiercely opposed.

   "I question America," Hamer memorably said during hearings on her group's challenge of the white-only delegation. Mills is careful to explore the arguments and motivations of those within Hamer's delegation who argued in favor of accepting the compromise, but it is clear that her heart lies with Hamer's courageous stand.

   In the end, the 1964 challenge failed, but in 1968 another challenge succeeded and Hamer was seated, along with others, at that year's presidential convention. The victory, which deserves special mention in American history, was tempered and largely forgotten due to the street violence for which the 1968 convention is now largely remembered.

   Mills also does a fine job of relating Ms. Hamer's attention to the plight of the poor and her attempts to build political power for the impoverished. One gets a strong sense of the sacrifice that Hamer made to live a life committed to political struggle.

   It is only when Mills attempts to summarize the major events of the civil rights movement that the book's strength flags. I found the first couple of chapters negligible because I'm familiar with the big events of the movement and frankly they've been done better elsewhere.

   When she turns her attention to Ms. Hamer, however, Mills delivers a story worth telling in strong prose that reveals her admiration for her subject without sacrificing her critical judgment.




2. A well writen documentary of an inspirational woman. This book gives life to significant events taking place in the fight for civil rights. In particular, reading about her Freedom Ride on a bus through the American South gave chilling reality to the ordeal. Fannie Lou Hamer is a pivotal figure in American history.

5 comments about Leap Days: Chronicles of a Midlife Move.

1. If I lived in Manhattan, I would want Katherine Lanpher to be my next-door neighbor. She radiates self confidence and conviction worthy of a motivational speaker. Yet, she is fallible, human and privately insecure. As you read her casual autobiography, Leap Days, you feel like you are spending a memorable morning with a long lost friend. In one short book, she invites you to visit nearly every facet of her soul. I read her book in one three-hour plane ride. I didn't want the flight to end!
   
   Leap Days was written as a therapeutic vehicle. In 2004, Katherine accepted a gig, on a lark, as the side-kick to comedian Al Franken on the Air America radio network. To begin this new chapter in her life, she quickly moved to New York City after spending most of her life in Middle America. Finding herself newly alone in a big city, she sat down and wrote her heart out to us. You'll wish she had sooner. This lady certainly knows how to write.
   
   Throughout the beautifully crafted passages of her book, Kate's stories paint realistic portraits of all the important times in her life. I often felt as if I had been by her side. Most memorable were her recollections of her tumultuous marriage to an irresponsible Frenchman and her indoctrination into the world of journalism in Minnesota. Being someone who also began their professional career in a newsroom in the 1970s, I felt great empathy for her. As for the Frenchman, Kate, we all make mistakes!
   
   I especially enjoyed her description of her premiere broadcast on radio. Maybe you've had this nightmare: Someone leads you into an announcer's booth, points at you and says 'You're on!' I love the way she can tell a story. You'll have to read the book to see how it turned out!
   
   Katherine is a dyed-in-the-wool journalist who has never given up on herself. In Leap Days, she shares her childhood, her family, her career and her loves. It is comforting to know we are not alone in the trials of life. I wonder how she found the courage to reveal everything in her heart. I am glad she did. Her book is cleansing for both writer and reader. Take her hand and enjoy her journey. You'll delight in every page.



2. If Katherine Lanpher's touching, funny, brave and darling book doesn't quicken your heart and make you want to add her to that imaginary list of dinner guests - seated right between Einstein and Cary Grant (or is it Wallace Shawn and Paul Lynde?), then I suspect you're not old enough to vote and you've probably never risked anything bigger than a bagel.
   
   Katherine's move to New York from the Midwest at Midlife has a pioneer spirit that could stand up to anyone's idea of a covered wagon on a trip to the Promised Land. I am a born and bred New Yorker and my family has barely moved more than 200 blocks in nearly 400 years, but that journey loomed large in our family story and I believe I recognize a Pilgrim when I see one; where the limb you climb out on may, indeed, be your only reward, but also, the only reward you really want.
   
   Let me take a moment to cheer,"Buy this book!" --- for everyone you know who's frightened of the road ahead; or brave and daring and not looking down; or settled snug, perhaps forgetting that their journeys may not have flown over miles but over roadblocks that appeared on the maps of their own imaginations. And buy it for yourself. You won't regret a page you spend with her.



3. I didn't know Katherine Lanpher, I simply read the book because I love New York. I had no idea she was connected to Liberalism or any of the other -isms that disgust men in general. Her experiences were typical of first-time New Yorkers and the culture shock they endure. Her style is simple yet poignant, and it really picks up halfway with her chapter on feminism ("That Girl") and how she struggled finding her way in the world of journalism.



4. I was drawn to this book by its premise--a mid-life move to New York--expecting witty fish-out-of-water anecdotes, and, yes, Ms. Lanpher delivered. But what I also got was a beautifully written, thoughtful, compelling memoir, insightful, funny (yet poignant), foody, and self-deprecating. I really loved this book and have been recommending it to all my friends.



5. Easy to identify with many feelings expressed by this author. Interesting adventures. I recommend this book as a quick read that leaves you thoughtful. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout.

2 comments about It's My Turn (Billy Graham Library Special Edition).

1. Each page gives rare and frank insights from the wife of Billy Graham about being mother and wife in the home of the world's most famous evangelist.

   It is one of my favorite books! The pages are tattered from use. She applies her faith in real life situations. She is funny, "real" and transparent.

   Each chapter is a short story with a truth she has learned and now shares. It is a quick read or a daily devotional.Almost every mother and wife will be able to identify with her wonderful anecdotes.




2. "It's My Turn", shares the battles, joys, questions, disappointments and hope of a woman in the limelight. The struggles of raising children....part time alone. I read it on the phone to my elderly mother at night.....but read so long, it only lasted 2 nights ! Hilda of South Carolina

5 comments about Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats: From Welfare Cheat to Conservative Messenger.

1. A short response to J.A. Carroll on her/his review of Mrs. Parker's book: If Christ can't be invited into our mess, where can He be welcomed? That's what He became a man for? And Christ judged ALL the time! Remember the Pharisees...? We MUST judge the actions of others plus our own. God judges the intents of the heart. So be careful: With forgiveness comes accountability, then responsibility. And remember liberalism is a sin. Re read the book, and think this time.
   
   J.B. McKay 5/24/08



2. I am so tired of "Christians" in the media wrongly defining Christianity. New flash, Ms. Parker: Christ was about compassion, not judgement. How does a born-again Christian possibly support so many conservative views? Is she kidding? I'm an African-American born-again Christian who is a liberal. How can that be? Well, I believe that people should be hired and advance on their jobs based upon their education and experience, so I support Affirmative Action programs that ensure fair hiring practices. I don't like the idea of abortions and I do believe that life begins at the stage on conception, but I would never stand outside of an abortion clinic and judge the women who choose to exercise their constitutional right because I don't know what their story is and what brought them to the clinic that day. I pray for their social and mental healing instead. I believe, as Christ expressed when He was here on earth, that salvation is possible for anyone, even murderers. Therefore, I do not support the death penalty. In fact, I'm not sure how any Christian can settle injecting another person with a lethal combination of drugs. Didn't the Lord say, "Vengence is mine"?
   Ms. Parker has a right to her opinions and to write all the books she wants, but let's not confuse her views with that of Christian beliefs. Christ is about love, grace and forgiveness. So, Ms. Parker, with your foreward by of all people, Rush Limbaugh, please stop dragging Christ into you mess!



3. Hahahaha I wonder how many "Christian Women" reviewing this book are welfare cheats, ho's and drug users as well as chronic gamblers playing lotto and the illegal church run numbers rackets. She is exposing you and your phony christianity and you hate her for it. You cant sleep with a new preacher or drug dealer every night then jump into your church outfit and play god on the weekend to make amends with your conscience. This has been the game for too long and it has led you to more drinking and carousing as well as thousands of unwanted children.



4. Star Parker began life as an Air Force brat. She hung with a bad crowd and ended up on welfare. With the moral support of friends she got out of all that and made something of her life. Star Parker is proof that welfare is not for generations to live on, but with a little personal ambition and responsibility for one's self you can be someone.



5. All i can say is that how can a christian woman have this as a title to a book

5 comments about Shadows of a Princess: An Intimate Account by Her Private Secretary.

1. Except for money, what is the point in writing a book several years after someone's death detailing each and every one of their faults. The book is a complete loss since it only tells the reader one side of Diana's personality and that, as he writes, is completely horrible. The writer is so busy telling us why he disliked her, he completely loses his direction and is hard to follow. Don't spend your money on this one.



2. From someone who knew her well, this book is one that should be read. It shows the two sides of Diana that people have been told existed. She was sweet, however, she was manipulative, too, and her private secretary does a great job explaining the two sides of Diana.



3. I couldn't help but feel the author was not quite fair at all in his relentless hate for the Princess. Like noted in another review I also believe this was some sort of therapy for the author and that he himself had issues and he also had judged the Princess way* too harshly at times*. Key word here is at times. While Diana's downfalls certainly showed through in this book a few times with pure shock it was clear Diana wasn't quite given a fair break from ol' P.D. Jephson.
   
   This book details that the Princess was very vindictive and one who enjoyed playing mind games. It also shows that she could be quite self centered and she was not quite the full humanitarian that so many other books and movies have made her to be. However, while she may have had other motives besides just being the saintly person she worked so hard to be Jephson could not bear to even give her a compliment or say anything nice about her at all without some kind of smart, sarcastic remark to follow. While, this book was telling and confirmed much of what I thought it was very much the opposite of what so many other videos and books about the Princess. So many media outlets portray the Princess as some sort of saint that was harshly mistreated. I have always found that quite hard to swallow since none of us are perfect and we all have our downfalls. This book fell on the other side of the spectrum- I am sure Diana had many negatives and flaws in her own personality but this author did not give her a break and simply made of fool of himself by constantly attacking her instead of showing what I believe would have been a completely real account of her... someone that loved people and sought out to help those that suffered but one whom also had many of her own issues to deal with. The book "After Diana" has so far been the only book that has seemed to have been fair by showing both sides and balancing that as a human Diana was inherently good at times but also had her issues as well. I hope P.D. Jephson gets some therapy because Diana didn't deserve his brunt of anger that harsh and I think that is why the Royal Family and her sons stood up to say they were upset about this book. I do not recommend it.



4. This is the worst book I have ever read. I am surprised it was published. So poorly written and so hard to follow, it is just plain boring and really does not even say anything. For all the words in the book, ultimately, it does not say a thing! A waste of time!



5. Maybe I'm biased, but I can't and won't give this book "Shadows of a Princess: An Intimate Account by Her Private Secretary" a positive review.
   This is not really a book, but a vehicle for P.D. Jephson to spew uncensored hate at Diana, Princess of Wales.
   If you overlook the gutter nit-picking of the Princess' appearance, etc, and overlook the double-standard Jephson used for Charles and Diana, and his obvious dis-like of the princess, then there is nothing left to read.
   Whenever there was an issue of Diana versus "Whomever" it was no surprise Jephson took the side against the Princess. There is also a power struggle. Jephson showed unhealthy anger when for example: the Princess did not deliver his speeches "as written" or ask others for advise. You would think he owned the princess.
   P.D. Jephson---by his own testimony(this book)---was two-faced.
   To Diana's face he was loyal to her; but behind her back, he was tipping off Charles staff and "giving friendly warnings" about Diana's real or imagined antics.
   The simple facts are that Charles, Prince of Wales and the "Establishment" deceived Lady Diana.
   Diana's life would have been so much easier and happier had she been leveled with from the start.
   Don't you think?
   Instead she was surrounded by lies, deception, double-standards, coldness, inmaturity, jealousy, back-stabbing and so on. In addition to this Diana was constantly being followed and photographed, written about, forced to go on royal tours and be seen. All this while suffering from Bulimia and knowing her husband was cheating and no one objected to the arrangement but Diana. For her efforts she was again branded as being paranoid.
   Jephson showed no genuine dismay when Charles' staff leaked "unflattering" newsy items to the media about Diana's "grooming bills".
   He was too busy finding fault with his employer's(Diana) every move.
   Both sides had their "friends in the media" who they used to present favorable information to the public.
   Conveniently Jephson and the other media branded Diana as "manipulative" if she used Richard Kay as her media mouth-piece. All the while ignoring Charles' PR tactics and whispered assaults on Diana's character.
   In life Diana did not believe she could trust her staff. She felt they were against her.
   I believe that is true. And I submit this book(written by her Private Secretary) as state's exhibit number 1.

5 comments about I Have Lived Before: The True Story of the Reincarnation of Shanti Devi.

1. Over 50 years ago, I remember reading a passing reference to Shanti Devi and her experiences in a past life. How I could remember her name after all these years I'll never know, but I decided to get the book and read it. I could hardly put it down.
   
   As a Christian, I have never accepted reincarnation--although I have wondered about it from time to time. If this book isn't proof of reincarnation, it comes extremely close. How she could have known all those facts were it not for reincarnation seems to defy logic. But then, trying to understand the spirit world is something beyond our ability to comprehend anyway.
   
   It is an excellent book, relatively short, and easy to read. Quite frankly, it blew me away!



2. I came across a brief introduction to Shanti Devi in "The Idiots Guide to Hinduism". The story fascinated me and given I was eager to learn more about her past and present lives, I bought the book and couldn't wait to read it! Reincarnation is a concept which have been exposed to me but I've never come across a story as legit and real as Shanti Devi's experience! The facts gathered are amazing! One needs no scientific evidence to accept the fact that this case is legit, genuine... real! The author did a terrific job composing details, outlining details from her present life and past memories, as well as delving into other religions such as Christianity and explaining more about it, such as how it reincarnation was once accepted. This is a must read book for any individual interested in reading an initial true story about reincarnation and learning a little more about Hinduisim in comparison with other religions!



3. Since friends know I'm interested in yoga and meditation, they often ask if I believe in reincarnation. I advise them to read I Have Lived Before by award winning Swedish journalist Sture Lonnerstrand, and make up their own minds.
   If you only read one book on reincarnation, this should be the one. Shanti Devi's story is the most thoroughly researched case of reincarnation in modern India. The details of this account will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about the nature of the soul.
   Don't miss this book; it's a mind blower.



4. Having grown up in Delhi, we had heard of the unbelievable story of Shanti Devi Mathur from my father and other relatives who grew up at that time in the same neighborhood in old Delhi.
   
   There has never been any doubt about the absolutely truth of the story in minds of anyone growing up in old Delhi at that time. The facts in the book are completely in line with what I have always heard from family. These facts may be hard to accept for many, but do yourself a favor and read the book.....it's 100% true!



5. According to many investigators Near-Death Experiences suggest at least the probability of life after death. In this respect, they are connected to other experiences that do so, such as memories of a previous life.
   One of the most famous early cases in this field concerns the Indian girl Shanti Devi. In the 1930s she spontaneously claimed to have been Lugdi Devi, the wife of Kedar Nath Chaubey from Mathura. This woman had died while giving birth at the young age of 23.
   The numerous details that Shanti mentioned about her previous incarnation were verified as meticulously as possible by Indian researchers. Many of them concluded that the statements and behaviours shown by Shanti Devi could not be explained by mainstream scientific theories.
   One of the first westerners that thoroughly investigated the case was the Swedish author Sture Lönnerstrand. He travelled to India as a skeptic and became convinced by the facts he discovered there. His book Shanti Devi, en berättelse om reinkarnation is a moving, easily accessible biography, illustrated with photographs of Shanti and other persons involved. It is very positive that this English translation was finally issued in 1998.
   At a later age, Shanti Devi told Lönnerstrand what she could recall of her death as Lugdi. She still remembered that she consciously observed how a physician, a nurse, her husband and her mother had jointly decided that her body should be immediately transferred to Mathura to be burnt there. Ultimately she entered a spiritual world of Light and from there she finally returned to earth.
   This book by Sture Lönnerstrand fulfills the important function of spreading reliable information about a typical, classic case of memories of a past incarnation. Scholarly reincarnation research is not an artifical 'invention' of Ian Stevenson, but it studies a natural phenomenon of all ages and regions.

5 comments about Simple Gifts: Lessons in Living from a Shaker Village.

1. This book is NOT just for those with an interest in the Shakers. I picked it from the library shelf at random while looking for something else, and I am so glad I did. Those who enjoy learning from their elders, those who are trying to make sense of religion, and those who love a good memoir may want to give this book a try. I loved the author's positive outlook. She treats her subject with great sensitivity, warmth, and attention to detail.



2. I was looking through the library for a book on the Shaker way, specifically, what it might be like to be a Shaker, what goes on in their minds, and why they live(d) the way they did. This book is a truly engaging read from cover to cover -- the warm, conversational tone of the narrative kept me reading, and the insights into the Shaker world are priceless. Rather than taking a dry, anthropological view of the vanishing sect, or waxing new age, the author simply tells her own story beautifully, evoking the feeling of what it would be like to visit that time and place. I know very little about Shaker ways, which is why I picked up this book, and I'm very glad I did. From the humorous visits with the neighboring miniature makers to the serene white-washed (and even pink!) walls of the buildings to the gentle smiles of the Sisters, this memoir was charming and a great read. I couldn't put it down.



3. I grew up close to the only surviving Shaker village in the world and my interest in this interesting people is alive and well. I enjoyed this book for the glimpse of people who remain alive within the pages of books written by those who lived and worked among them. I would agree, this book is meant for those with an interest in the people and their everyday lives. It is a great way to prelude a visit to the Canterbury Village where everything is made real.



4. Well, there isn't much to say about this book other than it was a cozy, meandering read that doesn't take a lot of energy or concentration to read. Nothing happens in this book, either. However, I learned something about the Shaker way that I hadn't known before. It was entertaining in that respect, but nothing more. Would probably only appeal to those interested in Shakers.



5. June Sprigg is a perceptive, compassionate, and poetic observer of Shaker life as she shared it in the early 1970's. Her representation is sympathetic but doesn't "whitewash" the human frailties of the people she encountered. Her descriptions of the beauty of the natural surroundings in which she lived and worked are superb, delicate, and rich. The work is further enhanced by her sweetly simple pencil sketches of the village and the Shakers she grew to love. Perfect reading for summer--or any other time.

No comments about Cassandra.

2 comments about Apricots on the Nile: A Memoir with Recipes.

1. This was one of my favorite all-time books. I purchased one as a gift for my sister also. I love to read about other cultures, and this was an enjoyable read.



2. I really enjoyed reading this book - even though I will probably never try the recipes. I read the whole book through in one sitting (although, to be truthful, it's a small book.) Besides being an interesting memoir of the author's childhood in Egypt during WWII, in a wealthy Jewish family, it's also an honest account of her alienation from her mother, which really spoke to me. The author is a good writer, which makes the book easy and rewarding to read.

5 comments about A Little More About Me.

1. This book is a collection of essays by outdoors writer Pam Houston. The essays included range from backwoods adventures in Alaska and Pennsylvania, travel narratives from Bolivia to Bhutan, as well as personal analyses on self-image and childhood memoir. There are stories about lovers, an ex-husband, and lots of dogs.
   
   I almost put the book down as soon as I started it--oh no, I thought--not a book of dog stories! Being allergic to dogs, I can't be a dog person, so I have very little patience for those who can't seem to find anything else to talk about besides their dogs. Fortunately, Houston takes up many more topics besides dogs in this book, and she even has a few interesting things to say about her dogs. More interesting for me, though, were her essays exploring why she seeks out danger, and why she is dissatisfied with her body. Although I love being outdoors and many types of outdoor activities myself, like hiking, camping and skiing, I never could understand what makes some people think outdoor activities need to be dangerous or physically challenging in order to be enjoyable. Isn't it enough just to be out there, breathing the fresh air and listening to the sounds of the forest? Not for Houston, at least not in the past. She always felt compelled to push the envelope, hiking in grizzly country after dark without a flashlight, dangling on ropes from pinnacles, rushing down impossible white water courses. These essays have provided me with insight into what risk-takers are looking for when they venture outdoors (I loved the tale about the experienced mountain climbing instructor who couldn't identify a grouse or tell the difference between a bull or cow moose). Now I much better understand why certain impossibly dangerous trails or remote campsites seem to attract so many outdoors people, even when safer trails and campsites with equal or better locations or views are readily available.
   
   Houston also delves into questions of bodies and self-images. Apparently, she considers herself fat, a condition that would seem highly unlikely given all the physical activity that she engages in. She relates how her mother always used to nag her about her weight, and how she internalized the notion that she was fat as a result. Her descriptions of what it is like to feel fat in a thin world are quite insightful. Sure, everyone, or at least every woman, has some aspects of her physical appearance that she is not satisfied with. The difference with overweight, however, is that other people seem to have less sympathy for overweight as an aesthetic defect, since overweight people are assumed to have control over the weight, control that people with other aesthetic problems like crooked teeth, oddly shaped noses, thin hair, etc. do not have. It was striking to hear how often Houston worries about her appearance--surely others don't notice her apparent defects because they're too busy obsessing about their own. But perhaps she's right--perhaps overweight people have a more accurate idea of how others judge their appearance after all, sadly enough.
   
   Just about any woman will find topics of interest in the book. Some essays may be more interesting than others for certain individuals, but overall, the essays are generally well written and go beyond simple travel or adventure writing to present some insightful thought as well.



2. "Cowboys are my weakness" is one of my favorites of all time...this book just doesn't show the same sparkle. I gave it 3 stars because Pam Houston not at her best is still better then many predictable novelists (the romance novels and thrillers that are a dime a dozen).
   Some of the descriptions seemed dry and uninspired, but overall makes you wish you could be there. Of course there is a self-centered theme throughout. At first it was a little annoying, but she certinally does have a reason to share her life. Her adventures makes you think of things differently and the fact in modern society we really don't have much to justify complaining about. We may learn a thing or 2 from those in less developed countries about happiness and history.
   Definitely an ecclectic mix of stories and people. Moments of brillance... Worth the read, but just don't expect it to be like her fiction.



3. A rambling collection of essays that indeed reveal much about the author of her quirky books. Provides insight into who she is, why she would risk life and limb just to prove a point, how she defines 'home,' her relationships with men and dogs and trucks...
   Goes down easy.



4. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, and oh, did I forget ME?



5. Houston's description of the Ardeche region in France in "Waves Every Color of Harvest" was enough to make me hail the next taxi to the airport - and I HATE to fly. This collection of essays, of which many have already appeared in various popular publications, covers the gamut from adventure travel to self-analysis to the love of a good dog. Read this if you're stuck at your boring 9-5 desk and dream of life on the open road. And then rejoice in the convenience of indoor plumbing.