3 comments about Out of This World: A Journey of Healing.

1. I lived in the same general area as Swander describes although I know nothing about living among the Amish. I appreciated her comments about having to relearn eating again.



2. Feeling in need of healing myself, I read "Out of This World," with delight. It's an Iowan's book, or a Midwesterner's, and it helps to live near an Amish community. Swander can depict the Amish people as individuals, because she interacts with them and respects their simplicity and spirituality. I especially enjoyed the description of her Christmas celebration and of her animals' lives. To me, she writes like E. B. White crossed with Annie Dillard--the domestic life interwoven with the natural, seamlessly.



3. My copy of this book is titled "Out Of This World: A Woman's Life Among The Amish", NOT "Out Of This World: A Journey Of Healing". I was disappointed. I was expecting a cultural anthropology of an "English" woman's experiences living in a primarily Amish neighborhood. True, there was some of that in the book. But it was mostly a rambling, self-absorbed personal memoir. The author was writing about her trials in coming to terms with her Environmental Illness. By the end of the book, I was thoroughly bored with her hypnotherapy sessions, her dreams about eating, the many frog legs she actually ate (including details on their capture and slaughter) and exactly how she chewed her yucca. In addition to not being the type of book I was expecting, it appeared to be written in more or less a "stream of consciousness" style, with no logical organization or chronology. In other words, I didn't particularly enjoy the book and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

2 comments about Dear Cancer,.

1. I enjoyed reading this book very much. I know Laura personally and reading it made me just understand exactly what shes going through. I highly reccomend!



2. This is an all around wonderful book! It's easy reading - the poems are inspirational and comforting. The way that Laura writes about her experiences is so true to life with a touch of humor. I recommend this book to anyone with cancer, any family members or friends who have a loved one fighting cancer, and especially those of us who have metastatic breast cancer.

3 comments about Revelaciones / Revelations: Mis amargas experiencias con Gloria Trevi, Sergio Andrade Y Mary Boquitas / My bitter experiences with Gloria Trevi, Sergio Andrade and Mary Boquitas.

1. No lo he leído ni lo pienso hacer, menos aún perder el dinero en semejante estupidez. Y ojo que no defiendo a la tal Gloria que no es más que una cómplice y coautora de varios horribles delitos!! Por favor, lean algo más productivo y dejemos que sea la justicia la que se encargue de castigar a estos criminales. Ojalá tanta exposición en los medios sirva para que los padres se dejen de ingenuidades y ni si quiera piensen en la posibilidad de dejar a ir a sus hijos (as) con el primer vividor que aparezca.
   Aunque claro, cuando se vive con malos salarios y aparece una "soñada oportunidad" para que tu querubincita salga del anonimato y se convierta en estrella, que puede esperar que decidan gentes sencillas, que no saben nada de la basura que hay en el medio artístico! Cuántos pobres padres habrán caído en este tipo de problemas por tratar de cumplirle el sueño a sus hijas en un país como México, donde todos quisieran ser estrellas de Televisa!



2. It's imposible to read this book without feeling so many different things... you get nervous, scared, annoying, disgusting, excited... in fact I don't know who is telling more lyes or (somehting?!?) true in this story. But something is really sure... no one is saint here. Gloria has her faults, the girls like Karina too... but this is a really incredible story to think about and I think inlude to be studied by psiquiatras. It's certain that Sergio Andrade is the biggest monster here. But so intelligent. So crazy history...



3. I think this books really express what the author was thru and it make to the people who read it to feel all the pain and also make us to hate them more (gloria and her band) because I really belive to this girl

No comments about West with the night: And related readings (Literature connections).

5 comments about Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy.

1. 
   I first heard about Theodosia Burr while visiting Charleston, SC, earlier this year. The tour guide mentioned she was Aaron Burr's daughter, a woman educated like a man and raised to be future Empress of Mexico, who disappeared at sea and was rumored to be stolen away by pirates. I was fascinated and determined to learn more. When I looked up Theodosia on Amazon, Richard N. Cote's book came up. I bought it immediately.
   
   I was not disappointed. The biography "Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy" by Richard N. Cote was a fun ride through history. While the book could use more editing, the story itself was intriguing. A Revolutionary War hero and infamous duelist, Aaron Burr raised his only child to be female version of himself: a sophisticated, intelligent, free-thinking prodigy who socialized with French nobility, Native American Chiefs, and quite a few famous Americans, including President George Washington and Dolly Madison.
   
   What I discovered reading this, however, was that Theodosia herself did not interest me as much as her father. In fact, something about her turned me off. I found myself skimming sections about her to learn more about her charismatic father, Aaron Burr, whose mercurial career in politics and wild scheme to conquer Mexico made for a much more interesting story.
   
   All in all, "Theodosia" was a great book in terms of history. I learned quite a bit about our Founding Fathers and what life was like after the War in the newly formed US. I also enjoyed satisfying my curiosity about Theodosia's education and death, as it is an interesting footnote in history. But more importantly to me, I was pleased to learn so much about Aaron Burr, the third Vice President of the US. He is the true hero of this book.



2. I entirely disagree with the reader below me. (Everyone owned slaves back then, except for, notably, Alexander Hamilton, who hated slavery, and yes, he wasn't the only one. But still, the focus of the book was Theodosia, not Aaron.)

   I came across Theodosia while I was watching the PBS Home Video "The Duel" (which I recommend if you are interested in Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, the duel itself, or politics in that time period). I wanted to know more about her and purchased this book. I'm glad I did! This biography seems more like a novel because of the incredible, fast-paced journey it leads you on into the past. I especially liked the last few chapters, when the author explored Theodosia's possible fates and the "mystery of the Nag's Head portrait." This whole book never had a boring moment, so if you are interested in this great yet unknown woman or her infamous father, read this book ASAP!




3. I hate to rain on the parade of all these glowing reviews, but this book is a product of shoddy, lazy, amateurish research. A full 59% of the footnotes are based on secondary sources, & a full 25% of those are from one source alone which the author himself admits is unreliable. The section on Aaron Burr's mother is based on a "source" well-known for decades to be [untrue]. The discussion of Burr as a "slave-owner" is totally misleading, based on assumptions for which there is no evidence, & completely overlooks Burr's well known anti-slavery record. I could go on & on, but you get the picture. The book is full of factual errors, misleading assumptions, & faulty logic. Theodosia Burr Alston needs a good biography, but this isn't it.



4. What an in depth and at times riveting account of Theodosia, the beautiful and very gifted daughter of Vice President and scheming traitor, Aaron Burr. This is a story that has been told before but never brilliantly as in Mr. Cote's sweeping tale. The author brings to life the romantic and tragic heroine, Theodosia, so vividly that the reader truly feels her joys and pain. From her privileged upbringing by a father who was a brilliant but flawed man to her marriage into South Carolina's wealthiest family and eventually to her mysterious death at age 28, this is a story that carries us through the ballrooms and political intrigue of the 18th and early 19th Century. Theodosia, the most well educated woman of her time, was destined by her ambitious father to be empress of Mexico in a scheme both treasonous and ultimately ruinous. Theodosia vanished at sea in 1812 leaving behind a haunting portrait that washed up on a North Carolina beach and a story so intriguing that it lingers in the heart and mind long after the book is finished.



5. There is little doubt that Vice President Aaron Burr was the single, most important person in the world to this young, and impressionable young woman: and why not? He was, after all, her father, the person most likely to offer her his best nurturing protection, validate her worth, and interpret the world as he would like her to see it, educating her for what he perceived it to be, in its complexity as well as its simplicity. As his most unconditional admirer, she apparently did the same for him, and as his trusted confidant, the author spectacularly preserves and presents their special relationship of father and daughter with reasonable success despite the number of rumors, accusations, and hype that usually accompanies infamous figures in history, allowing us to appreciate the complexities of political environments, personal relations, and complex events in a very readable and eloquent fashion, in today's conjecture of thought and reason as best he can from a 200 year old antique history. An insightful account of a very colorful period of American history. While certain presumptions may well be far fetched, certainly the inquiry is a valuable contribution to what can only be called one of the very few accounts of the importance of females in the lives of historical figures.

1 comments about Sylvia Plath: A Literary Life (Literary Lives).

1. This book is an excellent look at what Plath wrote, her beginnings as a writer, the climates that she worked in and how her relations with her mother and her husband helped to shape her writing. While I would have liked to see more of how Plath's favorite authors influenced her, there is enough new material (letter and journal excerpts, as well as the author's observations) to make it a worthwhile addition to the ever-growing pile of books on the legendary Sylvia Plath. A good study for beginners and scholars alike.

No comments about Rosa Luxemburg: A Revolutionary for Our Times.

5 comments about Living The Dream.

1. This book is a must read for any aspiring softball player, or any female athlete! I knew who Dot Richardson was before, but reading this book really introduced me to her personal life, and i cold definetly relate. In this book, Dot tells of her journey to the top, and her struggles along the way, starting from when she was a little girl right up to winning the gold in atlanta. Her stories are inspiring, some funny, others very touching. Any serious softball player or athelete can relate to her experiences some way, and that, along with wonderfully entertaining stories are what makes this book a true 5 star must read!!



2. I would recommend this book to any female that likes sports and softball in particular. It tells of the struggles that Dot and women around the country went through to play sports. She is one of the most inspirational people in sports today. I couldn't put this book down once I started reading it and i was finished in two days. Dot is an exceptional athlete and human being, and one of my heroes!



3. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK FOR ANY FEMALE ATHLETE, OR THE PARENTS OF ANY FEMALE ATHLETE. DOT RICHARDSON IS A PHENOMENAL SOFTBALL PLAYER, ATHLETE, AND PERSON. SHE HAS SUCCEEDED IN MANY ENDEAVORS WITH HARD WORK AND PERSEVERANCE. I HAVE A TEEN-AGE DAUGHTER INTERESTED IN SPORTS AND THIS BOOK EXPLAINS MUCH OF WHAT A FEMALE ATHLETE GOES THROUGH. A YOUNG GIRL READING THIS BOOK WOULD HAVE TO COME AWAY EDUCATED, REFRESHED AND READY TO TAKE ON THE WORLD! ASIDE FROM ALL THAT, IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING READ AND A GREAT SPORTS BOOK. I HAD A TEAR IN MY EYE WITH ALMOST EVERY CHAPTER. TO REPRESENT YOUR COUNTRY THE WAY DOT DID WOULD HAVE TO BE THE GREATEST HONOR IN SPORTS.



4. The only reason that it took two days to read this book was because of how short and transparent it was. Yes, it was a very easy book to read, but it was an insult to all intellegent people out there. If you want to by a book for your child than this is it because no adult would find any joy in reading this boring book



5. When I got this book, I read it in just a few days and I didn't want to put it down. It tells about Dot's struggles and all that she went through to be the awesome softball player she is today. It is the best book I have read in a long time. I think not only softball players, but anyone would enjoy reading it. I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Do Not Go Gentle: My Search for Miracles in a Cynical Time.

1. Once I got into the book I had a hard time going to work, or doing anything but reading it morning, noon and night. I liked it a lot.



2. *Spoilers*
   
   Ann Hood's "Do Not Go Gentle" has good intentions. It is a sad story: the author's beloved father is dying and the author goes off in search of a miracle. She believes she gets one when blessed dirt from New Mexico seems to cure a tumor. Sadly, the tumor's disappearance isn't enough to save him. He dies anyway.
   
   The book works best as a portrait of fathers and daughters. I'm not sure I've ever read about (or experienced) a father/daughter bond like this one. But at times the memoir reads too much like an overly idealized eulogy. It's hard to believe anyone could be as perfect as Hood makes out her father to be. There is also a poignant section on the author's deceased brother. Unquestionably she has suffered unimaginable loss. But, I'm sorry to say, that doesn't make this a good book.
   
   My biggest complaint about this book is that its conclusions seem forced. Hood ties a family trip to Italy with a belief in St. Anthony... she prays to him and finds her contact lens. You've got to be kidding me. A faith journey of 1000 miles begins with this single step? I doubt it. More likely the author wants to end the book on a high note.



3. This book is the memoir of an Italian-American woman's emotional, difficult quest for faith. Strong themes are family, the death of her father, the supernatural, the Old Country, and miracles. The story is engrossing and educational with some slight repetition, especially toward the end, that could have been done away with by a skilled editor. Recommended.



4. I had a hard time extrapolating the author's experiences into a useful context. She is a talented writer, and her prose is easy to follow. But her accounts are a bit too personal, and at times i felt almost like i was reading her diary. I was most disappointed at the end, when her search for explanations to her father's death takes her around Europe. For one thing, how could she pretend to find answers for faith? What really killed me was the episode with the contact lens: "If you believe it is there, you will find it". I couldn't help but think about Kevin Costner: "If you build it, they will come".



5. I met Ann Hood one November night at Baker Books in Dartmouth, MA, when she came to give a reading of "Do Not Go Gentle". It was enjoyable. As an Italian, I could identify with Mama Rose, and her methods to ward off the effects of "mal'occhio" (evil eye) for my grandmother did the same thing, only with drops of olive oil. Nonna passed away last April, but the memory lingers. As a religious priest, I could identify with her Catholicism, and I am sure the Franciscan brothers also present had much to share with her that evening in that regard. I regret that I didn't spend some time with her. After her dialogue with the Franciscans, I just stepped up, asked her to dedicate the brand new book to me, and left. I had not read the book yet. Feeling dumb, I did not pursue a conversation. I enjoyed the work. It reads smoothly, like a river. The text is not taxing to the reader, but is easy to follow, taking the reader to many places, stories and ideas. The story is the faith journey of a woman, who is trying to square the death of her father with her faith system. Faith is more than a packaged set of beliefs. Faith is that sometimes. Dogmatic faith. Other times faith is dynamic. Ann Hood's faith journey is to answer the question about how her father's death relates to her sense of meaning. And journey she does to many places, externally and internally. It is a human journey, maybe at times a little wrapped up in a sentiment, or in magic, or superstition. Still it is a human journey. And a theological journey, if we can remember that the classical definition of theology is "fides quarens intellectum" (faith seeking understanding). I finished the book hoping that she would at some point visit her Catholicism again. I am grateful for her portrait of Italian life. I like her sense of humor. I would have liked to read more about her mother. While I am taking basic Italian classes on Federal Hill every Saturday morning until June, I hope to run into her at Tony's, or Dolce Vita or Venda Ravioli. Now I have a few questions to raise. They would go well with some bruschetta and red wine.

1 comments about Of Una Jeffers: A Discovered Memoir.

1. Una Jeffers, the amazing wife of poet Robinson Jeffers, had the kind of charisma that drew people to her. I recently visited Tor House in Carmel, CA where Una and Robinson lived. A docent told a funny little story of how Robinson wrote in their bedroom on the second floor and Una, sitting at her desk on the first floor, would pound the ceiling with a broom handle to jolt him back to work if she noticed he was not concentrating on his poetry. I know that I was drawn to her simply by the stories the docent told, which prompted me to buy this book.
   
   This memoir is lovingly written by her good friend Edith, the second wife of Una's first husband, Edward Kuster. While married to Edward, Una met and fell in love with Robinson Jeffers. Edward discovered the attachment and asked Una to go to Europe to think through her feelings. In Europe, Una realized she was lost without Robinson, but was torn because she still loved Edward and didn't want to hurt him. Her problem was solved when a friend wrote to Una informing her that Edward had fallen in love with a young woman, Edith, the author of this memoir. Una was relieved that Edward was happy and in love. She returned to the U.S. and Robinson. After a time Una and Robinson and Edith and Edward became truly close friends.
   
   Una was the force behind Robinson and kept him focused on his writing. He became one of the most famous poets of the mid twentieth century. He is mostly forgotten now which is distressing because his poetry is extraordinary. Edith's memoir is short but packed with rich descriptive memories. It's written in sort of a free form with one memory sparking another later memory as Edith describes Una's love of nature and English bulldogs, the heartbreak of losing her firstborn, the trials of motherhood raising twin boys, economically keeping her home and inspiring not only Robinson, but all who entered her life.
   
   Edith downplayed her own fascinating life. Luckily James Karman, who wrote the forward and edited the original memoir, provides some detail about Edith. She studied modern dance at the legendary Denishawn School and was classmates with Martha Graham, one of the most influential figures in modern dance. Edith's dances seem to have inspired several of Robinson's poems. Edith also worked in her father's law firm, an almost unheard of opportunity for young single women in the early twentieth century, even for the daughters of lawyers.
   
   This book also contains several photos of Una, Robinson, Edith, Edward and the Jeffers' twin sons as well as few poems by Robinson, that were unpublished at the time the original memoir was published in 1939. There is also and index of selections from Edith's rough drafts. The book and the index offer an intriguing glimpse into their lives.