2 comments about Shedding Years: Growing Older, Feeling Younger.

1. Take another trip with Mrs. Greene in which she continues to explain her world in ways which will add rich meaning to yours. Her insights into the "everyday" inspire a focus on living and experiencing and remembering. And through it all, your family, like hers, becomes a touchstone to the past and a lifeline to the future. The book structure is as unique as her perspective and her wisdom. Do yourself a huge favor and join her on her journey. You will think as you never have, dream with a boundless enthusiasm, love life more fully and find death less daunting. Bring on book number 3!



2. Phyllis Greene again invites us into her world, where every transition is viewed as an opportunity to experience, to learn, and to savor--and, of course, family is the touchstone to the past and the lifeline to the future. And what a treat it is to glimpse the snapshots given so candidly here. You might smile, you might laugh out loud, and you might cry. One result though, is not a "might". You will absolutely and without question understand anew that soaking up what is around you will make you feel your best. And you will be profoundly grateful to Mrs. Greene, and like me, anxiously wait for book number three.

5 comments about Longing to Tell: Black Women Talk About Sexuality and Intimacy.

1. 20 stories by 20 black women, 2 of them separated, 2 of them married, which leaves 16 single black women. of those 16 single black women, the number of them who have children...math is tiring, i don't want to do the work. so without pleading a problematic here, let's just say 'it is what it is'. still, might conclusions, for some folk, be reached, there are no good black men as husband material, and marriage isn't all that important for black folk? such conclusions remain a vicious circle. hopefully, her, rose's, book proves a starting point, an inspiration and a calling for and a telling of more stories.



2. I was interested in reading this book because I am a latino male who's been involved with African American women since I can remember. I watned to read this book to inform mysself about how it was like to be an African American woman in America. I've discovered that they are very strong and have gone through alot in their lives from the stories of the many women in this book. I had read this book about a two or three years ago and it was very informative, but I know that there is still much to learn.



3. When I say "Hard", I mean this book is so strong! This book took me a while to read because I had to take breaks in between each woman's story...I could identify with more than one woman's story (I'm sure a lot of people will be able to) and that's what makes this book worth every page...I recommend it to anyone who feels as though the struggles they deal with are only theirs...



4. Tricia Rose turns academic research into a literary masterpiece. She interviewed 20 African American females with various ethnic backgrounds, broad range of age, and socioeconomic upbringing. Rose organized the real life commentaries on sex, intimacy, relationships, and race into a narrative that will carry you through a broad range of emotions. The women speak truth to situations that happen in every day life but are considered taboo in the African American community. 
   Rose starts the book with a discussion about the negative stereotypes in regards to sex and intimacy that are portrayed about the African American female in the media. The purpose of the book was developed as an attempt to answer the question, "how has the history of race, class, and gender inequality in this country affected the way that black women talk about their sexual lives?" Rose answered this question and much more. Longing to Tell is a mirror image of African American female sexuality in contemporary society as well as an oral history that serves as a vibrant presentation for everyday readers and scholars alike. 
   The stories are captured and categorized into three different areas: Through the Fire; Guarded Heart; and Always Something Left to Love. The women, whose names and locations have been changed to protect their anonymity, openly discuss their sexual history; how they learned about sex, masturbation, orgasms, and experience of first menstruation, virginity, pregnancy, and motherhood; sexual abuse, rape, sexism, sexual fantasy and sexual orientation. Some of the tales in the book are horrendous such as incest, rape, domestic abuse and sexual harassment but while knocked down these women were not knocked out. Many tell about the love from friends, family and at times even the smiles of strangers brought them back from the depths of despair. The stories are all different and engaging as their experiences were dynamic while thought provoking. Does your definition of sexuality characterize how you live life? 
   Longing To Tell is an extraordinary account on how African American women survive despite the incredible odds against them. As an adjunct professor of African American Studies, I highly recommend this book as a study into the mind of black women. As an avid reader, I strongly encourage you to read this book as a motivational guide on finding your way out of the struggle. African American women are the cornerstones of modern society and this book proves that!
   Reviewed by M. Bruner for Loose Leaves Book Review



5. Take a literary journey with Tricia Rose, author of LONGING TO TELL,
   and read some revealing, heartbreaking, and inspiring narratives from
   a host of women of color who talk about sexuality, race, and their
   coming of age as a woman.

   Tricia Rose begins by sharing with readers the purpose and reason for
   this unusual project which opened up doors to allow these unknown and
   unspoken women of color to tell their stories. The women outlined in
   the book is of various ages, economic, and educational backgrounds. The extensive research and countless interviews propel this author's thought-provoking narratives from women breaking through a sexuality barrier that has always been unspoken of through generations of people of color.

   LONGING TO TELL rises to the occasion, orchestrating a context that speaks from the voices of women on their sexual relationships, and intimate clichés that thrust many into a naive state of ignorance and misinterpreting the art of intimacy.

   The women's names were changed along with other details to protect
   their identity due to some very graphic details in which they
   outlined their exposure to sexuality. It was a hard lesson for many
   and a rude awakening for others. They speak on growing up in
   dysfunctional surroundings, exposure to drugs, and going from one
   relationship to another. Several grew up with the pretense that if
   you had sex it meant love.

   They explain how their families and children had to endure their

   unorthodox and self-destructive behaviors that sometimes lead to
   tragic consequences. One woman speaks of how her young son was
   beaten to death by her boyfriend, and never realized the warning signs
   because she stayed in a haze of drugs. They speak candidly about their first sexual encounters with men and women. They speak on where they were and where they are today. They explain their process of healing along the path to finally taking control of their lives.

   All the women's narratives speak volumes on the depth and courage that made them survivors. In the end, the author sums up very eloquently the overall dynamics of the sexual ramifications that women of color encounter today.

   LONGING TO TELL by Tricia Rose is a well written book. Tears came to my eyes several times reading some of the stories, and I wanted to jump into the book and hug and congratulate each woman on revealing their personal journey. I applaud Ms. Rose for her insight and courage to develop, research, and talk with so many women who are sisters, mothers, aunts, wives, and friends offering them an outlet in which to speak. A must read for everyone because knowledge is the key to understanding and awareness. (...)

5 comments about The Language of Baklava: A Memoir.

1. A delightful book, filled with interesting stories about a larger-than-life bunch of characters and enhanced by recipes for the foods they eat. Meet a family pulled between Jordan and America, experience their tumuluous activities and sample (at least in imagination) the wonderful foods they are always eating.



2. Viscerally satisfying, moving, poetic...I can't get it out of my head...I wish it could have gone on and on and on....I want more....I want to cook with Ghasan...be fed rice from his hand...I want to hear more about how her Arab family loved Diana, and about her grown up love hinted at near the end of the book...how her sister's perceived the same world...I want to eat and sleep with Bedouin's in the desert by firelight...Please feed me more...



3. This is a miserable book. A few minutes in, it has a description of meat running with blood, then shortly later a detailed description of a botched, brutal slaughter of a baby lamb. That's when I tossed the book into the rubbish pile. I'd give it negative stars if that were possible, it certainly doesn't deserve even one star.



4. I loved Diana's humor and writing style. She made me very hungry but most importantly, she made me want to visit Jordan and be with Bedouins! She was very candid in criticizing what is wrong with the Arabic culture. I thought she did a great job and I recommend this book to all Americans but you'd better have an Arabic restaurant near you!



5. I just finished "The Language of Baklava" and loved the style, the honesty, the capture of nuances and details, and sense of humor. Having read many excellent food, travel, immigrant or multiethnic memoirists, this surpasses them all.
   As an Arab immigrant, I laughed out loud at the precise and non judgmental accounts contrasting Arab and American ways. I will strongly recommend this book to my American wife who is incessantly befuddled by my family's behavior when they visit or we visit them.
   This book is beyond food memories, it should be a classic of growing up as an immigrant's offspring. Diana Abu Jaber has a wonderful gift of making us feel with her and for her; of making us laugh and cry with her.

1 comments about The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton: The First Domestic Goddess.

1. Who'd think reading about a woman who wrote a book over 150 years ago would be so fascinating? Was I wrong!
   
   Isabella (nee Bella Mayson) married Sam Beeton--leaving behind her mother's "blended" family of nearly 21 children. She was the oldest daughter and had done much work around the house and with the children.
   
   Sam was a struggling magazine and book publisher. Isabella joined him, mostly out of necessity, and was listed as his editor. In her early 20s she started writing a advice and homemaking column in the The Englishwoman's Domestic Magazine. She also became very savvy about marketing.
   
   As time went on, Sam and Bella had two surviving children, but also numerous stillbirths and miscarriages. Apparently Sam had contacted syphilis before they were married--and Isabelle was never told (common tact with doctors of that Victorian era). She died at age 28, as a result.
   
   However, before her early death, she put her knowledge and that of anyone else she could adapt, and cobbled together a 900-page book, Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management."
   
   Written to the middle class, a growing group, during this Victorian period, they were hungry for advice on the correct behavior. Her readers assumed Mrs. Beeton was a wizened and experienced woman who had experienced proper dinner parties, how to train servants and everything needed about running a home.
   
   Author Hughes did a wonderful job of bringing all the facts of this amazing woman's short life--giving us interesting details about a smart women whom she obviously respected,
   
   We learn about the society then, religious attitudes, sexual mores, the rise of consumerism, advertising and marketing--and the people (and especially the woman's role). Mrs. Beeton was household then--and still is in England. If you thought you knew abut the Victorian era and the people who populated it, Hughes work might prove you wrong.
   
   A very impressive biography and peak that the England of the 1850s and beyond.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Mrs. Beeton lives on in Hughes' book and in the mind of the English.

2 comments about Dream Big: The Henrietta Mears Story.

1. Just finished this. It's wonderful to read about this godly woman who directly impacted so many women and men--many of who served all over the world as a result of her ministry. An incredible example of leadership, of staying relavant, remaining humble, always pursuing God... Do keep in mind, however, that her wonderful sister took care of all external (household) responsibilities so that Henrietta would be free to follow God's leading in her life. (That's for all of you women who might feel a little guilty after reading it :)) Either way, this book will challenge and inspire both men and women. Highly recommend.



2. The Henrietta Mears story is very inspiring. This is a wonderful book for anyone to read who is interested in being an impacting Christian leader. Women, if you are looking for an awesome role model for leadership, look no farther. I am a male, and this is one of the best books Ive ever read. Tells an awesome story about an amazing women.

3 comments about Great Jewish Women.

1. This book has a great amount of commendable material in it. It writes of Jewish women of great distinction in short yet clear autobiographical sketches. It however diminishes its own value but including a too large number of present- day celebrities and lightweight figures. It too displays a certain political bias and there are a number of very left- wing politicians here whose contribution to Jewish life is extremely questionable. I also would have like to have seen many more of the great Jewish women intellectual figures, and heroines like Avital Sharansky , Ida Nudel and others who risked their lives for the Jewish people. A very large share of the entries are of people who have no real positive connection with Jewish communal life, and who just happen to be born Jewish something a few of them are not so happy about.
   There is much good stuff here.But a work of this kind could have been done with far greater emphasis on real Jewish values.



2. While there are some genuinely great Jewish women in this book, there are too many whose claim to greatness rests solely on fame and left-leaning politics. How is Barbara Streisand a "Great Jewish Woman"? Is it because she is a great Democtratic fundraiser? And How does Shulamit Aloni get to be great? By being an anti-Israeli Israeli? Diane Arbus (eeww) hated being Jewish and would be uncomfortable to see her name in this book if she hadn't killed herself, and Estee Lauder became a Roman Catholic........not exactly a "Great Jewish Woman".

   If your idea of greatness is actresses and singers or anybody Jewish who managed to get her name in the paper than this is your book. Rosalind Franklyn and Judy Resnick constitute real greatness, while Goldie Hawn is merely famous. I would never put them in the same category.




3. This book makes a great graduation gift or other gift for any jewish woman, young or old. It illustrates the accomplishments of women and shows the adversity that they overcame to achieve greatness. Enjoyable for woman of any age.

5 comments about First Lady of the Confederacy: Varina Davis's Civil War.

1. Through her extensive research, much of which had not been used before, Ms. Cashin brings Varina Davis to life. The details of her marriage to Jefferson Davis, her serving as the First Lady of the Confederacy, and her life after the Civil War give the reader a great appreciation of Varina Davis and the struggles she faced throughout her life. This book is a must read for anyone who is interested in the personal stories of this critical time in American history. Bob and Cherie Allen-Authors A "Guest" of the Confederacy The Civil War Letters and Diaries of Alonzo M. Keeler, Captain, Company B, Twenty-second Michigan Infantry



2. interesting and informative study of a woman who was a northerner by birth and sympathies married to a complete and selfish maniac who didnt love her. she was much better educated and perceptive than he was, but she did her duty in every way. happy to see that she had some time to herself to pursue her own interests near the end of her life.



3. As has been mentioned in other reviews, there is a paucity of books on Varina Davis. Joan Cashin's book certainly fills that void. With all of the books on Mary Lincoln finally there is something about Varina Davis.
   Cashin has done her homework in research on her and clearly lays out her family's history and Varina's youth, exceptional education and marriage to Jefferson Davis. It is fascinating to read her letters to wives of famous men in history, some smuggled through the lines during the Civil War. She was well liked, well educated and certainly had mixed feelings about secession.
   Jefferson Davis does not fare well in this volume. He never appreciated Varina's intellegence or feelings. It seems then he needed her she was always there, but the opposite was rarely true. She endured her years in Richmond as some of her worst. After the war she suffered poverty and her husband's frequent trips. During much of his post war years he kept a semi-romantic relationship the a Mrs. Clay.
   Only after his death was Varina liberated from the imposed role of former Confederate First Lady. She moved to New York and established friendships with many former "enemies" such as Julia Grant, all to the distaste and chagrin of many former Rebel soldiers and the United Daughters of the Confederacy. A telling letter from about 1901, she related the the right side won the War.
   Varina endured all of this plus the deaths of many of her children with grace and dignity. It seems that maybe the Lincolns and Davis's married the wrong women. I enjoyed reading Cashin's very well book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the War or women in history.



4. A very disappointing book! Written by a feminist, 20th century liberal scholar intent on imposing her 20th century politically correct views on a 19th century subject, the book becomes a parody of what a truly historical biography should be. The author makes no attempt to maintain objectivity and interjects her own opinions, views and beliefs, trying to get the reader to believe that Mrs. Davis was the one who held them. I am truly glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't waste my money.



5. The author has thoroughly researched her subject, a most interesting woman, but has concealed her through her own 20th century views on women. Frequently, she refers to Davis' wit and writing style, but rarely gives us a direct quote so we can see for ourselves. She presents her opinion without letting us see how she arrived at it. It reads like a college class lecture from a professor who believes we'll never read the primary sources for ourselves. Mrs. Davis was right: Agnes Strickland would have been a better biographer for her.

5 comments about Forget You Had a Daughter.

1. Sandra Gregory takes us deep inside life in a Thailand women's prison and then into the Durham prison of England. Life was terrible for this woman who was arrested for drug trafficking a very small amount of heroin in her vagina. She truly did not deserve such a long and harrowing sentence. She is a hero in my opinion for having survived such an incredibly soul-destroying incarceration. God bless Sandy for writing such a critically-needed memoir. Her book should be on everybody's required reading list, especially high school and college-age kids. They could benefit from Sandy's horrible experience, and might be deterred from doing the same. Thank God she finally got released, but how terrible was her suffering in the mean time! A truly sad but unforgettable read.



2. This was a rather timely read given the current situation in South East Asia with Sharpelle Corby and the Bali 9. In this book, Gregory tells the story of how she set out from Britain to spend 8 weeks in Thailand, accompanying a friend of a friend she had no previous acquaintance with. Gregory loved Thailand so much that she decided to stay on, until she became seriously ill and distraught over the political situation at the time. Having no money to return to Britain and too stubborn to ask her family for financial support, she 'serendipitously' re-encounters her former travelling companion who offers her one thousand pounds to smuggle a small quantity of heroin for him. Desperately ill and under the impression her acquaintence has 'fixed' things at customs, she agrees. She is, of course, caught.
   
   The story describes her time at Lard Yao, known worldwide as the 'Bangkok Hilton' and the shocking conditions she was forced to endure. Following her transfer to a British prison, Gregory continues her tale, drawing contrasts between the penal systems of the two countries, and finding Britain to be the worse of the two.
   
   Of particular interest were Gregory's encounters with some very notorious offenders such as Rosemary West. She also speaks of the shadow of Myra Hindley in two of the prisons she was incarcerated in. I actually found the second part of the book, where Gregory was in British prisons to be more horrifying than her descriptions of Thai prisons.
   
   Gregory's book is very readable, honest and pulls no punches. However, at the end, you realise that Gregory's book is not so much about her physical survival, but her emotional survival and the evolution of her soul.



3. Gregory's book details her life from meeting the guy who offered her money to smuggle drugs, to her life in Thai prisons, adapting to the harsh way of life and finally moving back home to a British prison. The development of her character from beginning to end is evident to all through her concise narrative about her guilt and shame, especially when she speaks of her family members. All in all, this is a haunting real-life story that shouldn't be missed by anyone, especially Caucasians travelling for long periods of time in Southeast Asia. The temptation may be great when funds are running low, but the horrors of prisons in the less-developed regions are not exaggerated.



4. I live in Bangkok, less than 10 km from the prison Sandra was held in. I enjoyed reading the book for several reasons. One, as a ex-pat resident of Thailand, I could relate to and even walk past many of the places she described. Second, I'm a sucker for real-life dramas--the gorier, the better. And third, from reading the book,it was a shocking realization that as an ex-pat, one cannot necessarily rely on one's embassy to "take care" of any legal entanglements while in the Kingdom of Thailand (ex-pats living here are generally very spoiled and well-taken-care of). I also felt sorry for Sandra, as there are more heinous crimes than the one she commited every day herethat go unnoticed, unpunished (ie, sex-slavery, child trafficking).
   The prose is readable, enjoyable, but not beautiful nor well-crafted, However, anyone travelling to Thailand as a backpacker or as a tourist would be well-served to read this book. Many legal aspects of Thailand seem erratic or lackadasical compared to Western countries, but if you DO get caught doing wrong, the consequences are harsh indeed.



5. Having lived in Thailand for a gratifying 5 years, I am familiar with everything she describes and feels for the country. Thailand is a stunning country known as the "land of smiles" but numerous people don't realize that behind those smiles there is an entire different side to Thailand. That life I like most people have never gone through and do not realize how hideous it is. That is what this book is about, a book filled with fact stating the hideous side of Thailand. I was traumatized by some of the events not realizing that such a beautiful country has such a dark side too it when crossing the path of a good person to breaking the rules. I think it is definitely worthwhile reading, it touches your heart so much because you realize that as we speak about the harsh life in prison there are people out there in those hideous prisons which animals control who think they are gods and the prisoners are slaves. Even though Sandra Gregory made a huge mistake the reason for such was so understandable. Even though she smuggled the drugs I think she is a great and caring person helping others realize that you should think twice before smuggling drugs. This is one of the unsurpassed books I have ever read, it isn't an enjoyable book, where you can laugh, it is depressing and sad but so realistic because you know this is a true story, which a human being has been through. Some of the events disgust you but you continue to read because the book has so much gratitude to it.

No comments about Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl.

5 comments about Eyes of the Tailless Animals: Prison Memoirs of a North Korean Woman.

1. While printed by a Christian publishing house, Soon Ok Lee does not devote much space to her conversion to Christianity. I would like to know more about her rationalization of religion after growing up atheist.
   
   The book describes Soon Ok Lee's horrible life in North Korea's gulags. Born to a well-to-do family and given a good job, she is falsely imprisoned. She tells the horror stories that she and her fellow citizen-inmates went through. It's unfortunate that her story is consistent with other memoirs of North Korean citizens, because it shows the reality of the world's most isolated country.



2. EYES OF THE TAILESS "BEASTS" translates better. BEAST. BEAST. BEAST. ABUSING PEOPLE BEYOND WHAT WE CAN IMAGINE? yes. she has been there, seen it, experienced it by her FLESH. her calling is to write this book and tell the world about N.korea.



3. It's hard to say that a book like this is good. Perhaps HORRIBLY informative is a better way to put it.



4. The purpose of this novel is not only to reveal the atrocities that occur in the prison camps in North Korea, but also to explain the mentality of the North Koreans that enforce these crimes.
   The author explains that because all organized religion is banned in North Korea, the cult of Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il takes the place of religion. The North Koreans have no concept of God, and instead, they worship a man and consider his state policies to be the divine word: "...Several books of anecdotes illustrating the infinite wisdom and love for the people of the Great Leader Comrade Kim Il Sung ... are like books of stories about Jesus ... Obviously it aims at binding the hearts of the people to their leader to obtain their unquestioning loyalty and obedience and unite them in a common faith. The quasi-religious element has been explicitly acknowledged."**
   Soon Ok Lee's goal is not to explain her suffering in graphic detail, but to show what can happen in a society in which the morals of a mad-man are worshiped: Torture becomes acceptable, brutality becomes the norm, and no human life has value, except for those of the "Great Leader" and the "Dear Leader." [...]
   The author believes that the only way to combat the ignorance of the brainwashed North Korean people is to bombard them with bibles, for it will teach them to question the status of their "godly" leaders, while it will also instill in them a respect for humanity.[...]The author lived through this, we did not, and she offers insight, ideas, and solutions to human rights violations in North Korea -- [...]**Quoted from "A Year in Pyongyang," : http://www.aidanfc.net/a_year_in_pyongyang_p.html



5. This book opened my eyes about the true intentions behind the North Korean regime. This reclusive regime thought it could keep its political prisons secret to the world. However, thanks to such courageous survivors as Ms. Lee we now know what is really going on in the hermetic North.

   Those interested in human justice must read this book.