No comments about A Daughter of Han : The Autobiography of a Chinese Working Woman.

1 comments about Il Duce's Other Woman.

1. Two words aptly describe this work - "boring" and "slanted." The authors have chosen to write a biography of a relatively obscure person from history, Margherita Sarfatti who was a prominent art critic in Italy during the 20's and 30's and who also happened to be one of Benito Mussolini's many mistresses. All other biographies of Italy's Il Duce barely devote a sentence or two to Sarfatti but this one paints her as the mastermind behind Mussolini's creation of fascism and his rise to power. Unfortunately, the documentation provided to support this thesis is virtually nonexistant. Mussolini is portrayed as a pure brute with no mind of his own, hell-bent on the aquistion of power and the elimination of civil liberties. No mention is made of the score of public works that Italian fascism enacted and that resulted in the substantial increase of pre-war Italian standard of living. Instead, an inordinate and excessive amount of pages are devoted to Sarfatti's relationship to the futurist painters of early 20th century Italy. What is not apparent is the reason for selecting Sarfatti as the protagonist of this book. Perhaps the authors find irony in her Jewish ancestry and Mussolini's later anti-semitic laws once the Axis with Germany was formed. I wound recommend this book only for those interested in the history of 20th century Italian artists. Those interested in an accurate and objective account of the socio-political factors leading up to and involving Fascist Italy are advised to look elsewhere.

5 comments about Gourd Girls.

1. Priscilla Wilson's "Gourd Girls" is a rich and honest account of a life lived well.
   
   The parallel stories of her struggle to live life to the fullest, both in her life and her life's work, are portrayed with honesty, humor, and sadness. You travel these twin journeys with her and her life partner Janice Lymburner and find yourself laughing with them as they learn the ropes of hoeing and gourd gathering and running a business as such delightful greenhorns, who are open to the lessons and generousity of their neighbors, friends, and some wacky strangers who all seem to become lifelong partners in the gourd life, as they call it. She also shares the sheer joy of life with her true love and the pain and fear of years in the closet.
   
   I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It inspires and instructs and makes human the whole public debate on gay marriage and rights. It is a beautiful book.



2. Gourd Girls by Priscilla Wilson is the story of Janice Lymburner and Priscilla Wilson, two young women whose decision to begin a business soon came to be their most favored pastime. Readers will follow the two girls as they are discovering themselves and their knack for the unexpected, giving Gourd Girls a great and powerful intimacy as the community, their families, and their friends join the girls to create an inspiring unity amidst such an unlikely business as the growing and selling of gourds. A remarkable tale in its vividly written in familiar story telling narrative style, Gourd Girls is very strongly recommended reading for anyone who aspires to have a business of their own one day.



3. Gourd Girls came in the mail from a friend who told me that because it was self-published it is hard to find in mainstream bookstores. It is a lovely book in every way, and I'm delighted to see it is now available on Amazon. The writing style is straightforward and engaging. There's a nice mix of narrative about becoming entrepreneurs, creative and spiritual growth, and dealing with the uncomfortable-ness of an alternative lifestyle in a rural mountain area. There's also a good bit of hilarity and an infectious appreciation of what "foolishness" can do to lighten our burdens. I think you will like this book as much as I did.



4. You'll laugh; you'll cry; but mostly you'll LOVE the gourd girls! You'll delight to discover the playful spirit author Priscilla Wilson and her partner, Janice Lymburner, bring to everything they do, even as they struggle with financial, social and political issues. Engrossing, well-written, and straight from the heart, this is a fine memoir.



5. Whether this book catches your eye because it's about the struggles and romance of making a living as a craft artist in a rural area, or because it's about two women who love each other, you'll find it well worth reading. My strongest impression is of the integrity and spiritual strength of the author and her partner. Sometimes it's a bit sad, reading the book, to see them deliberately turn away from a choice that would probably prove lucrative. (This happens at several points in the story.) Instead, they always choose what keeps their spirit most alive. This--and their deep love for nature and each other--is a great gift from the book. So do I recommend it? Yes, of course!

1 comments about A Muslim Woman in Tito's Yugoslavia (Eastern European Studies (College Station, Tex.), No. 24.).

1. Ably translated by Thomas J. Butler and Saba Risaluddin, A Muslim Woman In Tito's Yugoslavia by Munevera Hadzisehovic is the gripping and true story of a woman who observed first hand the horrific Serbian injustice toward Muslims; the callousness of the Communist Party toward a hard-working citizenry, as well as the detrimental and destabilizing effects of an intolerant state government. A gripping, dark, and forcefully honest presentation of social ills from a personal point of view, A Muslim Woman In Tito's Yugoslavia is recommended for inclusion in Islamic Studies, International Studies, and 20th Century European History reference library collections.

5 comments about Reclaiming the Sky: 9/11 and the Untold Story of the Men and Women Who Kept America Flying.

1. These personal stories of aviation employees whose lives changed after September 11th, 2001 makes for an outstanding collection of memories of those who acted courageously and behind the scenes. RECLAIMING THE SKY: 9/11 AND THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE MEN ND WOMEN WHO KEPT AMERICA FLYING offers stories of professionals who were on duty on that day: it makes for a passionate, involving set of experiences of ordinary individuals placed in unusual situations calling for action.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. What strikes me most about this book is the honesty, time and care taken by the author in ensuring that the story told is true to the maturing experiences of those involved. I am sure that it would have been relatively easy for Mr. Murphy to rush a book out, given his proximity to the people and events of that terrible day. But he didn't do that. This approach must have required great patience and absolute dedication, but these traits have in the end been richly rewarded in what is a unique account and a developed perspective.
   
   I think this is key. I myself was caught up in the '93 bombing. My experience was relatively mild of course - a bad scare and a long walk down from the 99th floor. But even in my case I've learned that it takes time and reflection to judge the true impact of these seemingly unreal events.
   
   I loved those towers very much. As a Brit in New York I was in "adult Disneyland" - perhaps the best 3 years of my life. Whenever I could, wherever I was in New York, I'd look for the towers, as if addicted to their beauty and iconic majesty. I didn't realise that '93 was just the start of a greater tragedy. My firm relocated and our space was taken by another firm. They were a client of mine and I loved working for them - such great people, with real character. When I left New York to return to London I was given a football by my boss, with signatures of those I'd been closest to in New York. Tragically, 4 of those signatures are from people that were lost on 9/11.
   
   Having left New York I was confined to experiencing 9/11 through a TV, remote and detached. For so long my '93 experience and also 9/11 have seemed and felt to me to be a work of fiction, something from the movies. The relevance of this to the book is that time and reflection have taught me not to gloss over or bury past events but to recognise that they were real, they did happen, it really was intended to topple the towers as I sat in them, that evil had its moment but that the memories of the spirit of the good and the great has in the end prevailed. Thank you Tom for allowing me to find my own maturity and honest perspective.



3. This book is structured around the stories of about two dozen aviation industry personnel at three airports (Logan, Newark, Dulles) and two airlines (American, United) who although not at ground zero on September, 11, 2001, were on the front line in every significant sense. Although many people rose heroically that day, these stories make a strong case that the performance of those in the aviation industry was second to none, not only on 9/11 but in the days, weeks, and months following. The author has long experience in the aviation industry, largely developing and running customer service training programs. Due to a cancelled meeting that morning in the North Tower he was heading home to the west coast earlier than planned and was among the last to see from the air the twin towers standing. But professional associations and personal friendships within the aviation industry gave him many other perspectives on 9/11 and its aftermath - perspectives that in variety and scope may well be unmatched.
   
   The stories are well told and woven together to show connections, both personal and professional, between people. In addition to their responses to the events of that day, we learn in some cases why they chose aviation as a career, their pride in the industry and part in it, and other aspects of what makes them "tick." The individuals range widely: a security agent, several flight attendants, a pilot, customer service reps, airline operation officers, to name a few. One of the more striking stories focuses on the general manager of the Newark Airport. Her sharp instincts, clear thinking, and ability to act decisively under considerable pressure illustrate leadership of the highest order. Not all these people survived that September morning but this book leaves no doubt that the memory and spirit of those who didn't are alive and well and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. These stories also give an inside look at the aviation industry beyond the gate agents and flight attendants that most of us are familiar with.
   
   But the personal tragedies of that day were just the beginning. The economic and emotional aftermath of 9/11 hit the aviation industry especially hard. Over 100,000 jobs were lost in the first post 9/11 year alone as funding priorities shifted dramatically, and those remaining in aviation took on additional burdens. How these people not only adapted and endured but prevailed - in essence reclaimed their lives - is the central question the author explores. The later part of the book sheds considerable light on this question and distills much of value from these people. Although individual paths to personal recovery varied common themes were unmistakable. Indeed this book is an excellent guide for anyone recovering from a loss of almost any kind or severity.
   
   At a time when the national discourse seems to dwell so much on the fearful, the negative, and the cynical it is refreshing to be reminded - as this book does - that this need not be so. Here are stories of a few, from among undoubtedly many and unsung others, who under crisis conditions were not paralyzed by fear, were able to act decisively, and were willing to reach out to others. And equally impressive they refused to become victims of that experience in the tough months and years that followed. This book provides an occasionally needed reminder of what seemingly ordinary people can do.



4. This book brings such a unique perspective to what happened on 9/11. There's this whole "world" of people who had to continue, not just for their own livelihood, but to help maintain one the freedoms that makes us who we are. I really enjoyed the down-to-earth way the author writes, and his honesty with how this has affected him and those around him. This is a great book that helps to explore some of the unspoken sorrows, while not replaying events we've seen so many times. Well worth it. Bravo to the author, and to all those people who kept us flying.



5. I didn't know it when I started reading it, but this book presents a truly unique perspective on the events of 9/11. Unlike many of the "featured" 9/11 books, Tom Murphy writes not as an outside pundit,partisan political hack or foreign policy wonk... he writes passionately from his position as a long time consultant inside the aviation industry. I was amazed when I read this very insightful book how much I took for granted when I flew both before 9/11 and after. RECLAIMING THE SKY will give you an "on the ground" feel for the what the aviation industry is really like...and what the events of 9/11 meant that fateful day and all the days since. I know you've heard it all before, but when I started it, I couldn't put it down: the book is rich in human detail, conversational and warm in tone, with a depth of compassion and support for those Mr. Murphy knew,worked with and cared deeply about. It's also not just a book about aviation; it's a moving story of Tom Murphy's personal journey as well. I think it's a great book...before writing this review I ordered 3 copies for friends.

1 comments about National Geographic Expedition Journal.

1. This is a really classy looking journal. Looks like real leather. I have no idea if it is. Inside are blank pages to write on and black and white/sepia pictures from famous expeditions. A ribbon is inside to mark your place. It has sewn in pages, which I really like. A neat, neat book.

No comments about Sacagawea: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

3 comments about What My Heart Wants To Tell.

1. Being born and raised in Eastern Kentucky, I took for granted the culture that I was surrounded with. When I was in college at Prestonsburg Community College, this book was required reading and then was more of a chore rather than an eye opening experience. After moving from Kentucky to Michigan, I yearned for home. I ordered this book from Amazon.com hoping that it would take me back to the home I longed for. And that it did. I cried when reading the book. Not because it had sad or heart breaking but because it took me back to the home I love so much. I have since sent the book to my dad and he agrees that this book is a must read. It should be required reading in all schools in Eastern Kentucky. Thank you Verna Mae for taking me back home.



2. Appalachia has gotten a bad rap...hillbillies, poor, ignorant, etc. Those who have lived there, or know people who have, know this is false. After all, Appalachians formed the bedrock of the union movement in this country (think United Mine Workers), fought much of the Civil War, and ran our steel miils.

   Ms. Slone does a powerful job of exposing the powerful inner strength developed by residents of these mountains over the generations. She makes you believe that "hillbilly" is not an epithet, but--as she says--an adaptation of the Shakesperean Wiiliam ("Billy") to the mountains--hence, hill billy's.

   A great book for anyone who wants to understand (or who already admires) this very important region in our country.




3. Simple and truthful. If you love the Appalachian South, you'll enjoy this one.

No comments about Mother of Bliss: Anandamayi Ma.

4 comments about Boris Karloff: The Man Remembered.

1. A beautifully written biography, the author explores with much affection the actor whose personal life was juxtaposed to "the monster" he is best known for portraying. A must-read for horror/terror fans as well as theatre/movie buffs.



2. This is a detailed review of the life of Boris Karloff by an author who performed a vast amount of research and who has a true fondness for the person he was writing about. The picture of Karloff presented in this book changed my perception of the man greatly. Very well done. I recommend it highly to anyone who is only vagurely familiar with Mr. Karloff and his work.



3. The other day I was fairly well sure I was going to be having a bad day. I had an afternoon appointment to see a medical specialist for an exam; I was on pins and needles with anxiety. (Turns out I'm fine.) But did I have a bad day? No. I had just gotten in the mail a new book that cheered me and entertained me--Gordon F. Shriver's BORIS KARLOFF: THE MAN REMEMBERED. I read it all the way through the same day I got it! The basic facts of Karloff's life won't be new to anyone who has read other bios on The King Of Horror. But Mr. Shriver has painstakingly assembled a large gathering of anecdotes and details of Boris' personal and professional life that WILL be new to fans of Karloff, and has provided as well as a few photos that won't be familiar at all to Karloff aficionados.
   
   Any Karloff kompletist will want this next to his/her copy of Cynthia Lindsay's DEAR BORIS. (I think of them as companion volumes.) You will know Boris better. You will also get a better sense of what Evie Karloff, Boris' last wife, was like, and for that we can be grateful as well. Really--if you like classic horror films, and enjoy biography, do yourself a favor and get this book!



4. Evidently, Gordon Shriver has been a big fan of one of the greatest actors (not to mention human beings, as we discover) of the 20th Century. Apart from a few too many typos and other printer's errors, this book is an easy to read and thoroughly indexed work for your movie masters' shelves. I was alternately thrilled and awed by the sheer number of people Karloff touched - professionally and personally. Gordon Shriver managed to meet or otherwise correspond with literally dozens of them; their kind and candid obseervations and charming anecdotes bring a fresh perspective to a movie star much maligned. In light of the most recent retrospective of Boris' work, shown at the Film Forum, NYC, this loving tribute will be most welcomed by karloff fans old and new everywhere.