1 comments about I Will Be Cleopatra: An Actress's Journey.

1. Having just journeyed to Melbourne (from Sydney) to see Miss Caldwell in Durenmatt's "The Visit", which is part of the Melbourne Theatre Company's 50th anniversary season (she was also in their first production in 1953),I chanced upon her "semi-autobiography" in a local bookshop. This covers the first half of her dazzling life. Her prose is like her acting: direct, simple, intelligent, moving, riveting and unforgettable. Anyone even remotely interested in the theatre should take the opportunity to read this marvellous book. And if there is ever a chance to see the lady on a stage, RUN, don't walk, to get in line. A great book by a great artist.

No comments about Women Artists of the American West.

5 comments about The King, McQueen and the Love Machine.

1. The book was interesting,since I am an Elvis Presley fan, this is what made me buy this book.
   I did not like the nude photos of her in the book, I saw no reason for them.....



2. Anyone who saw "Junior Bonner", and was entranced by Barbara Leigh's performance as Charmagne, cannot help but find this partial autobiography absorbing and rewarding reading. Similarly, anyone who saw and enjoyed the best of Elvis and Steve McQueen will be immediately attracted.
   
   This book is written from the heart; it is devoid of both the taint of the popular media and casual hype. The style is almost conversational, as the writer follows different related paths in recounting her various adventures with the three titular protagonists. From her tough childhood to the loss of her son, and the failure of her marriages, you cannot help but respond; if you can keep that lump out of your throat you are a better man than I, Gunga Din.
   
   It provides new insights into the worlds of movie-making and top-class entertainment; legendary director Sam Peckinpah needed a lot of convincing that Barbara was right for the role of Charmagne, and treated her abysmally , whilst Elvis' treatment of his lady friends and his entourage will no doubt surprise many of his fans.
   
   As a London-based Francophile, I would have been interested to hear more of her life in Paris with Roger Vadim, and in London with her husband, but these were all incidental to the title of the book.
   
   But be warned - this is no kiss-and-tell lurid account of an aspiring actress/model's encounters with three of America's successful men. As I said earlier, it is a candid review of part of Barbara's life which will provoke a response in the heart and spirit of any reader. I want to read it again, but my eldest daughter, a devoted Elvis fan, decided she wanted to read it first. OK, I can wait.
   
   Thank you, Barbara Leigh, for sharing your experiences with us.



3. I recently finished Barbara Leigh's book The King, Mcqueen and the Love Machine. As an enthusiastic fan of Elvis and Mcqueen, her book was utterly fascinating.
   
   There are rare, vivid insights into how Elvis lived in Vegas in the early 70s...how he demanded a very regimented world of nightly shows, post-show dressing room audiences with worshipers, late night parties back in his suite with the Memphis Mafia, a bevy of beauties, and one special girl each night ...who he took behind closed doors at the end of the night.
   
   You'll enjoy a strange, enticing glance behind those bedroom doors: how he was a child, a rock star, a manipulator, a gentleman, an addict, a friend, and a deeply talented but utterly-flawed human. How obtusely insecure he was...and how he couldn't be left alone...insisting his woman sit next to him until he went to bed. How he doled out pills. And shower her with gifts.
   
   Mcqueen meets Barbara at a casting and later lands her a part in his film Junior Bonner, where they begin an affair under the Arizona sky and the disdain of Martin Ritt. Mcqueenloves her in many ways (asking her to move in with him as his marriage to Neil collapsed), and again, Barbara sincerely tells it how it was with a "supe". While Elvis insisted on dresses, Mcqueen chugged brews and loved her in blue jeans. He was raw, and unpolished...but always running from his childhood of abandonment and poverty. Barbara even played a captivating role as messenger between Ali Mcgraw and Mcqueen, until she no longer wanted part of the deception.
   
   There are thrilling moments in LA bars, Palm Springs, New York, on commercial shoots, in France, Mexico at Sinatra's...and much much more.
   
   Also fascinating...all three men knew of each others involvement with Barbara, and were drawn to her, not only because she was stunningly beautiful, but because she was honest with them...and had her choice of the cream of the A-listers. They saw her as a sincere friend, who wouldn't settle down. She was in ways, like they were...living larger than life.
   
   The photos of Barbara illustrate why these men were so captivated by her...she was the embodiment of raven-haired, flower-child beauty. Couple that with her sincerity and hunger for adventure and she was the angel so many men create in their mind.
   
   Finally, Barbara saw all three men once more, near the ends of their lives. Each of these men had fallen tragically towards the end...hard for us to imagine since they are forever burned in our minds as legends. Nonetheless, this book offers unique insights into their outlooks near the end.
   
   I highly recommend this fresh and revealing look at some of the greatest stars. Honest. Romantic. Sexy. Sad. it's all in here.
   
   And her new 2008 audio biography is just as amazing with real people playing the parts. Check it out here on amazon!!!



4. If anyone ever lived a fast-paced and adventurous lifestyle it was Barbara Leigh during the 1970's. Her story is unique, one-of-a-kind and will never be duplicated. I wanted to read her book because I was always a big fan of Steve McQueen, and on that score, her chapters on Steve are informative, exciting and moving. Although these men are some of the most charismatic and powerful people of their time, it is Barbara Leigh who leaves the most lasting impression. Fame and fortune cannot compete with her kindess, inner-beauty and loving nature. Her story is well-told and is a real "page turner".



5. As a die-hard Elvis fan for the last 40 years, I bought Barbara's book solely to read about her relationship with him. But I was quickly captured with her entire life story, from her first recollections of her traumatic childhood, to the death of her beloved son, through her overcoming spirit of today.
   
   I easily have 30+ books on Elvis and without a doubt, this is in the top two or three. I was riveted by her memories of Elvis and her relationship with him. Barbara was blessed to know him and she often speaks of what a good heart he had. She writes about Elvis with love, loyalty and admiration. At the same time, she does not sugar-coat the drug use, mood swings and other human frailties.
   
   Beyond her physical beauty, one can readily see why Elvis was attracted to Barbara. One comes away with the clear sense that she is a loving, kind and nurturing person. The fact that Elvis kept in touch with her through the years is a testament to that fact. There are undoubtedly only a handful of women in his life who can make that statement.
   
   As the title of my review states, I bought this book because of Elvis but ended up loving the entire story. I invite all Elvis fans to do likewise. Barbara writes with candor, emotion and detail, the good and the bad, the bitter and the sweet. But she is never bitter. I felt as if I were right there with her through her entire story.

No comments about Hide & Seek: How I Laughed at Depression, Conquered My Fears and Found Happiness.

3 comments about 100 Christian Women Who Changed the 20th Century.

1. Helen Kooiman Hosier gave me the beautiful gift of enabling me to get to know and understand the hearts and genius of 100 Christian heroines
   
   Every person on the planet over 12 would benefit from reading this book. Imagine learning the stories of women whose names you have heard, but don't know where they came from, how they got to make a difference in our world, and why they made the choices they made.
   
   I was amazed at the deep faith of women heroines I never knew were Christians.
   
   Here is one example of a name that I have heard all my life: Florence Nightengale. One patient in a hospital said this of Florence Nightengale's impact on him as she made her nightly rounds with her lamp to light her way: "What a comfort it was to see her pass even. She would speak to one, and nod and smile to as many more; but she could not do it all, you know. We lay there by hundreds; but, we could kiss her shadow as it fell and lay our heads on the pillow again content."



2. This collection of brief biographies of 100 women from different walks of life, living in different places, periods and cultures, who each served God in her own unique way is incredibly inspiring and motivational. My 8 year old daughter, who insisted that I read parts of this book to her, actually said this was a "cool" book. My only disappointment is that Oprah Winfrey, who is one of the most high profile God loving women in recent times, was not included.



3. One of the few books that I read that gave me an incredible feeling at the end. You know, when you finish the book, close it, and sit still for about 30 minutes in a world of wonder. I never knew that women invented so many important tools that play a major role in our lives. I especially enjoyed reading about Mother Teresa whom I came to know as a totally incredible person. Her good deeds, kindness, and wisdom are great examples to follow and live by. Thank-you Helen Kooiman Hosier for a wonderful and inspirational book. My only regret was that I bought this book at a nearby bookstore and paid almost twice as much as I would have compared to Amazon.com.

No comments about Narratives of Mexican American Women: Emergent Identities of the Second Generation.

3 comments about Lady Day: The Many Faces of Billie Holiday.

1. The reason this book is so powerful is the perfect
   melding of photographs and text.

   The author's rich, empathetic text makes plain Billie
   Holiday's genius as an artist and, unlike some of the
   so-called biographies of her life, don't simplify her to
   the point of caricature.

   Mr. O'Meally focuses on what makes Billie Holiday special:
   her total mastery of her craft and her ability to share
   her vision of the world through song.




2. Tired of all the treatments of Holiday's life in film and print that forget it was her music that made her special, I was delighted to find Professor O'Meally's book. Fascinated with Holiday's life as musician, I had been routinely disappointed whenever I picked up a book or movie in hope of discovering more about her musicianship and less about the tragedies in her life. The book never loses its focus in this respect, making it quite unique.

   What made this book even more enjoyable for me to read is that almost ten years ago I was fortunate enough to have taken a class taught by Professor O'Meally. His book conveys the same enthusiasm and passion he had for the subject matter and classes he taught and, no doubt, passed on to his students.




3. Probably one of the best all-round bios of Lady Day, covering the personal and professional. Pays attention to her musical preferences and reasoning behind her unique recording style

3 comments about Thunder's Grace: Walking the Road of Visions With My Lakota Grandmother.

1. What I like the most about this book is that Mary Thunder tells us all about her mistakes that she made walking this path. It is a very honnest book and the writer shows us what it means to be a Human Being.Even when we are a Spiritual Person, she shows us we are not perfect. A very personal book, I could not stop reading so I finished it at once. There is a lot of funny stories in there.



2. It is highly uncommon to find an humble visionary, but that is exactly what you will find in this book, coupled with a witty and sharp perspective that strikes home to us all. A real Native American Medicine Woman's life adventure, coupled with a good dash of her own teaching for those of you who are wanting to learn. A New-Age must for all who are seeking a way to reach beyond what you can see, into what you know is really there!!!



3. With this book ,Mary Thunder reawakens the heart. Her life is a model of endurance and faith ,in addition,her training as a Lakota warrior is the kee that opens the doors of awareness.

2 comments about Emma.

1. In all honesty, I've avoided reading Zinn's "Emma" (and his "Marx in Soho") for years because my experience with literary pieces written by scholars is that they're usually didactic and lifeless. This was stupid on my part. After all, the eloquence of Zinn's You Can't Be Neutral on a Moving Train brought tears to my eyes on several occasions, and one of the things that makes his People's History a classic is the beauty of his style.
   
   So reading "Emma," when I finally turned to it, was pure pleasure. The play is divided into 2 acts with 23 scenes between them. The first act tracks Emma's life up to Alexander Berkman's assassination attempt on Henry Clay Frick. The second focuses on Emma's life up to her arrest (and eventual deportation) during World War I, with special emphasis on her tumultuous love affair with Ben Reitman.
   
   Zinn wants to pull off two things in "Emma": give the audience a good (although necessarily impressionistic) portrait of Emma Goldman the person, and also tell the audience something about her anarchist ideals and lifework. He does a good job of both, and especially manages to get across Emma's sheer love of life--"I realized my life could be...ecstatic," as she says at one point (p. 48)--that frequently set her apart from more dour, humorless fellow revolutionaries. (What might the Russian revolution have become if Lenin and Trotsky had loved life as fervently as Emma did?)
   
   Zinn also succeeds, without being heavy-handed, in showing Emma's ongoing relevance (something he also pulls off with Marx in "Marx in Soho"). At one point in the second act, for example, Emma gives a speech on patriotism. "What is patriotism?" she asks her audience--that is, us. "Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot consider themselves better, and nobler than the living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die to impose his superiority upon all the others. Patriotism is the nourishment of war." A member of the audience shouts in protest that "patriotism makes us a united people!" "Yes," replies Emma, "it unites us, against others!"
   
   "Emma" is guaranteed to whet one's appetite for more, and it sent me scurrying to reread old favorites--Kropotkin, Berkman, and Emma herself--who I haven't read in ages. I'd be ecstatic if I could actually see the play performed on stage. In this day and time especially, it merits a wide audience.
   _________
   * Emma to Berkman, Act 1, scene 9



2. Zinn does an excellent job of introducing readers to Goldman, Berkman, Most, Reitman and others. Readers get an accurate sense of their personalities and concerns, a consequence of Zinn's ability to adapt actual source material in the dialogue.

   The problem with play is that its intention seems to almost entirely consist in introducing readers to Goldman et al. Although that is a worthy aim, the play itself lacks the dramatic tension necessary to lend cohesion to its snapshots of Goldman's life. The play seems loosely organized around Berkman's incarceration and Goldman's erotic relationships. Because these events happened over several years, the play attempts to cover too much time and, consequently, lacks the dramatic intensity of a shortened time frame.

   Still, for anyone who loves and studies Goldman (as I do), this is a must read. It's clear that Zinn fully appreciates the greatness of this much-neglected radical.

No comments about Portrait of a Woman Used by God: Lessons from the Life of Mary of Nazareth.