5 comments about Facing The Extreme: One Woman's Story Of True Courage And Death-Defying Survival In The Eye Of Mt. McKinley's Worst Storm Ever.

1. The more you know about mountaineering, the funnier you'll find this book. There is little to like, but much to laugh at in Ruth Ann's utterly unselfconscious self-portrait.
   
   If this were a comic novel it would be a dead-on parody of a certain strain of self-glorifying mountaineering literature. Think Nicholson Baker writing "Into Thin Air" from the point of view of Sandy Hill Pittman. And it starts with the twenty-two-word long title!
   
   Warning: if you're not in the mood to laugh, be prepared to be annoyed!



2. This book was awesome. I couldn't put it down. Ruth is awesome too. Aside from being in the death zone at 17,200 and thinking that she might walk off the six thousand foot drop while shoveling snow off her tent at the ice shelf at 14,200, my favorite part was when she said that Bradford Washington has the first ascent of Mt. Denali. Thats awesome. To set the facts straight the first ascent was in 1913 by walter harper as a member of the hudson stuck expedition. and bradford WASHBURN has the first ascent of the west buttress in 1951. This is an awesome book.



3. This book is a great companion read to "Into Thin Air" and the lesser books from that 1996 moment because it, in a refreshing and unique way, exposes the folly and incredible stupidity of some of the people climbing mountains now days. Kocour gives unforgettable and near-comical insights into some of the characters she found herself among on a serious mountain expedition. But this is not a light-hearted book. You'll forever remember the fellow-climber who claimed to have been a tour guide on a particurally famous mount, only to accidentally reveal later, while lacking oxygen, that he'd only been a tour-guide at a recreation of the mount at DisneyLand.



4. Ruth Anne Kocour, the greatest female climber of all time documents her extreme valor in saving all souls on the mountain. Climbers live by a certain code, we help each other. Ms. Kocour apparently believes she is above and beyond helping the sick and dying climbers. She believes that "the best thing mountaineers can do for others is to take care of themselves". When sitting in camp, not even a particularly high camp at that, climbers help one another. The summit is the goal but it is not what is most important. Ms. Koncour could not find the time to help out a climber who was in need of medical attention because she was busy clearing snow from her tent, something she did every few hours. she could not help this wretched soul? Remember she is only at 13,000 feet. While this may sound high, it really is not. Conditions in a storm of the magnitude experienced that half week on denali are not fun, but the situation is not like K@ or Everest where medical help and resupply may be an impossobility depending on ones altitude. THe height that Ms Koncour refers too is still well within range of airplane and helicopter support. What we learn from this book and Ms. Koncour is that if ever we are on a climbing team with her, find another team, you wont regret it. Based on rep alone, i would not climb with her.



5. Facing the Extreme, by Ruth Anne Kocour was a welcome addition to my growing collection of mountaineering stories. Unlike most 'epic' stories, I found this one to offer a little more insight and to be a little more personal than other stories I've read.

   I didn't pick up this book because it was a woman's story, although it WAS nice to read a mountaineering adventure from a woman's perspective. I suppose that it's inevitable that I would find myself identifying more strongly with a woman but I think that men will really get a lot of of this story too. I suspect that we all share similar dreams, fears & emotions where mountains are concerned. Kocour just seemed to be able to articulate the experience better than most.

   That being said, there is certainly no shortage of technical information... much of which was new to me. I enjoyed learning some of the inner workings of a high altitude mountaineering expedition. Facing the Extreme was more comprehensive than most books in this regard.

   The challenges and tragedy faced by this group during the worst storms to ever hit Denali were incredible. What I particularly appreciated was the way that (I believe) she remained true to the experience and did not get caught up in sensationalizing the event. Even more surprising is that I never felt that the story was too slow. Detailed descriptions of day after day of being trapped in a cramped, frozen tent could have been almost as torturous to read as it was to experience but not in this book.

   Rather than breezing over these parts of the adventure, Kocour described with honesty I'm not sure I could summon, her personal struggles, thoughts & feelings & her observations of team mates' experiences.

   This is a wonderful, personal & unpretentious story. Anyone who has experienced the seductive, almost gravitational pull of a mountain will appreciate & enjoy the experience of reading it.

1 comments about Confessions of a Fasting Housewife.

1. REMARKABLE! I want to thank the author for inviting me into her personal thoughts and feelings as she humbled herself and sacrificed so personally for our lovely Savior. I was so touched and moved... I've thought of this author several times as I have fasted and sought God. Great book.

No comments about Memoirs of an English Governess at the Siamese Court - Six Years in the Royal Palace At Bangkok.

No comments about Women of Valor: Stories of Great Jewish Women Who Helped Shape the Twentieth Century.

No comments about To Love Delilah (The women's series).

3 comments about Lonesome for Bears: A Woman's Journey in the Tracks of the Wilderness.

1. Linda Hunter's book about bears attracted me because I live and often hike alone in black bear habitat of SW Washington, so I felt it was important to increase my knowledge of bear traits and habits in preparation for a possible bear encounter on a backcountry trail. My read was delayed, however, by my husband who grabbed the book, read it cover to cover, and declared, "Great story! Gutsy lady!" Strong praise from a crusty, old woodsman. And I soon wholeheartedly agreed. For me, the strength of the author's detailed insights into bears came from observing the same creatures on numerous occasions, under diverse conditions, as they engaged a variety of activities, year after year. While scientists often observe bears briefly; she closely studied the same bears from birth to maturity. By the end of the book, I had developed an intimate bond to specific bears...the indifferent mother, the brothers bent on mischief (her story of the too-big bears wedged inside a too-small outhouse was a HOOT!), and the bear who wanted to be people. Her wilderness tales blend first-hand experiences of face-to-face bear encounters, some delightful, some fear-provoking, with practical, proven, survival methods, essential for anyone traveling in bear country. If I ever meet a bear face to face, I'll be damn glad I read this book. And hope like crazy I remember what Linda Hunter told me about the importance of "casually' walking way.



2. What makes this so fascinating is the way the author skillfully combines essential information about wild bears with entertaining anecdotes (which are, at times, laugh out loud funny). The reader will learn so much about these amazing creatures -- how they interact with each other and with humans; why they are at risk; what we can do to protect them and their enivronment etc. -- while enjoying every word. Highly recommended for animal and nature lovers every where.



3. Whatever you think about bears, cuddly or fierce, you're probably going to come away from this book with a new perspective, and a smarter outlook on their place in the world. This remarkable book gives us a close-up view of brown, grizzly, and black bears that cost its author many seasons of hard toil as a guide in an Alaskan wilderness lodge to obtain! Her insights and observations about both human nature and bear behavior are keen and funny, surprising and moving, and probably unique in all the bear literature out there.
   
   Personally, I'm bear-phobic; the sight of a grizzly snout sends physical sensations through my body that just aren't to be desired. But after reading Linda Hunter's tales of Alaskan summers spent a few feet from mothers and teenagers and cubs and aggressive males, and learning about bear-body-language from her thoughtful observations and experiences, I can honestly say that, where once I would have done everything to encourage a bear to reinforce my fears, now I have a chance of doing everything right, if I should perchance encounter one. And since I've recently moved to a black-bear state, that's not too far-fetched. I am no longer so afraid to venture into Michigan's northern woods. I'll be armed with pepper spray for emergencies, but also with a new respect and understanding for all the different types of bears & behaviors out there.
   
   Make no mistake; this is no cuddly wishful thinking reminiscence about bears we'd like to have as pets! Ms. Hunter's book is a wise and carefully considered collection of observations that sometimes defies what "experts" have written before her. She may be "Lonesome for Bears," but she's also a trained animal tracker and sharp observer. This is the book to read if you can't afford the thousands of dollars it would cost you to visit these bears in their natural world; you'll gain several seasons' worth of wisdom, gathered and retold in delightful story after story of close encounters of the bear kind. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) She made me laugh and she made me cry, and perhaps most important to her way of thinking, she made me respect. Fear, which leads to unnecessary violence, isn't part of her ideal equation for humans and bears.

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.

3 comments about Canary in the Courtroom: How Pesticide Poisoning Changed a Woman's Life and Forced Her into Civil Action.

1. This book is one that you know you should read, but are a little afraid of the awareness you might gain from it. After all, life can be little more complicated when we actually have knowledge about the unseen dangers in our every day life. Jessie McLeod makes it easy, she did the research and then presents her well written experiences in a way that keeps you reading to the end. What you get is not only new knowledge, but hope. This is one of those books that gives you courage to live up to your values. This author sure has!



2. Canary in the Courtroom is a book that is hard to put down. Ms. MacLeod has separated fact from fiction and exposed holes in several programs designed to protect the public from harmful chemicals. The book is a treatise on how individuals are lead to believe in the safety of chemicals and how one person fought for the truth to be told. For the sake of future generations health, lets hope we can learn through Ms. MacLeods ordeal! Rachel Carson would be deeply distressed to think pesticide poisoning is continuing on the human level.



3. This book has a few problems with repetition in the beginning as the author justifies writing an autobiography in third person. Once you get into the courtroom scenes, though, you are hooked. This story is all the more riveting because it is true. This well-written book will make you cheer for "the little guy" (or gal in this case) and then make you run to your cupboards to start reading labels.
   
   Buy it. Read it. You won't regret it.

5 comments about American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country.

1. THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST AMAZING BOOKS OF ITS KIND THAT I HAVE READ IN A LONG TIME."AMERICAN HEROINES" IS A VERY SPECIAL BOOK AND REALLY SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING IN MOST HIGH SCHOOLS SO MOST STUDENTS CAN GET TO KNOW WHAT GREAT DEEDS THESE WONDERFUL WOMEN PERFORMED TO SHAPE AND MOLD THIS GREAT NATION OF OURS. UP UNTIL NOW ALOT OF THESE WOMEN AND THE GREAT THINGS THEY HAVE DONE HAVE GONE UNOTICED BUT SEN. KAY BAILEY HUTCHISONS BOOK "AMERICAN HEROINES" HAS GIVEN A NEW LIGHT TO ALL OF THESE WONDERFUL WOMEN AND WHAT GREAT THINGS THEY DID. IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A GREAT GIFT FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL:A FRIEND, FAMILY MEMBER, A SOLDIER SERVERING OVER SEAS THEAN GET THEM "AMERICAN HEROINES" BY KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON IT WOULD MAKE A PERFECT GIFT FOR THAT SPECIAL SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE. AND WHO EVER YOU GIVE THIS BOOK TO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT SOME VERY SPIRITED PEOPLE HELPED SHAPED THIS GREAT COUNTRY.



2. Senator Hutchison is a woman who has risen above stereotypes to become the first woman in Texas elected to the Senate. That says a lot in a land where men still open doors for women and call women "ma'am" or "miss" even though you may be a complete stranger. Put aside your political beliefs and you will have a book highlighting women who conquered the "glass ceiling" despite what was the norm of the times. These women may be from Timbuktu for all we know, but they are women whom our daughters can learn how to reach beyond gender stereotypes. Of course Senator Hutchison will include more women from Texas than from elsewhere, she grew up in Texas. These are women who influenced her and helped her achieve the "first" status as well. Again, putting aside politics, this book is a good book on the power of women who can rise despite criticism and social norms.



3. In reading Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's (R-TX) book, American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country, I found a large error. The error was in her reference to NASA astronaut, Dr. Sally Ride;
   
   1. On page 207, 2nd paragraph Senator Hutchison writes: "Fast forward to June 18, 1983, and Dr. Ride became the first female astronaut for a mission into outer space."
   
   2. Continuing on page 207, 3rd paragraph: "In 1983, she became the first women in space..."
   
   Dr. Ride was not the first woman to fly in outer space; she was the first "American" woman to fly in outer space and the third woman in outer space. The two other women that preceded her were Valentina Tereshkova (Vostok 6 in 1963) and Svetlana Savitskaya (Soyuz T-7 in 1982), both from the former Soviet Union. Some may argue that it is correct to say that Dr. Ride was the first women "astronaunt" as the former Soviet Union women were referred to as "cosmonaunts." I do not agree, still incorrect information.
   
   One review of the book said that Senator Hutchinson's "combines biography and social history to shed light on what she calls the indomitable spirit of American women which has shaped both the country's history and its society." Dr. Sally Ride's contribution to space flight and American women should be celebrated and she is an important a role model for women but it is also important that her accomplishments be presented correctly.
   
   It is unfortunate that this information was not researched more thoroughly or corrected by the editor. Several online encyclopedias contain the correct information.
   [...]



4. Traversing the diverse footprints of America's influential women seems a daunting order for one book. American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country by United States Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison navigates the lives and accomplishments of America's remarkable women, spanning from Mary Austin Holley to Sandra Day O'Connor and Amelia Earhart to Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The book reads like a collection of short stories, so it's perfect for the reader-on-the go. Read a chapter an evening, and be enlightened by a brief biography of an influential American woman, then commentary on the significance of her historical impact. Hutchison keeps the narrative light and lively, and she infuses the biography with her perspective on her subjects' lasting contribution.
   Diversity of subject strengthens this book. Senator Hutchinson groups the chapters into similar sections, such as "Pioneers and Preservationists," "Education for Everyone," "Conquering the Skies," and "Public Lives, Public Service." While Hutchinson is a political conservative, her biographical praise crosses back and forth across the ideological aisle - she gives equal admiration to Geraldine Ferraro and Madeline Albright as she does to Elizabeth Dole and Condoleezza Rice. And, her esteem reaches beyond politics. She commends healthcare pioneer Clara Barton, astronaut Sally Ride, and artist Mary Cassatt.
   The colloquial writing proves a little distracting. One more word-cutting and cleaning edit would have improved the work. However, Hutchinson voice is the book's finest attribute, and that remains clear throughout the biographies. Her admiring observations provide a personal touch to the history. An extraordinary woman herself, Hutchinson is the first woman to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. The book highlights her own resourcefulness and intelligence and reveals her affection for her home state. She's a little partial to the ladies of Texas in her subject choice, but what Texan isn't?
   Don't read this book if you're looking for a challenging and intellectual dose of history - go buy a textbook instead. But, read American Heroines: The Spirited Women Who Shaped Our Country for an enriching, entertaining and comprehensive tour of the lives and accomplishments of 45 outstanding American women.



5. Think of this book as more of a reference book than a cover-to-cover read. The book is made up of the heart-warming life stories of a collection of famous women in America. The book's index is available on Amazon where you can find all of the women who are covered in this book.

1 comments about Women at the Time of the Bible.

1. This book has wonderful photographs of, and information on, an ordinary woman's life in biblical times: betrothal, marriage, mothering, divorce, etc. It also includes sections on the clothing and jewelry women wore, occupations such as professional mourning, prostitution and sorcery, and women's more public roles in society: worship, leadership, dance, etc. It covers the entire Bible, not just Jesus' time.
   
   The information is not as thorough as her splendid book on food in biblical times, mainly because it is not much bigger (100 pages), and the subject is far more vast. For example, there are twenty pages on the various stages of marriage - which is great, but when you factor in romance, betrothal, the wedding, married life, divorce and widowhood, over a span of thousands of years, the information is just detailed enough to satisfy a somewhat curious layperson - which is probably its goal. If so, it does a fantastic job.
   
   Curious about betrothal and marriage, generally speaking? This book has it, complete with outstanding pictures. Want to know the exact difference? Buy something else, because while this book covers weddings in Jesus' time, it doesn't tell you that when Mary was betrothed to Joseph, they were technically married, and by Jewish law - not by custom - they could have sex. If he died, she was widowed and treated that way financially. If she had sex with another man, it was adultery.
   
   Curious about what women spent their time doing? This may be the perfect book for you - there are seven pages on `Women's Work.' Want to know how they cleaned wool? Buy a book on ancient technologies - you probably won't even find it specific to Palestine, actually.
   
   If you want information on any particular woman in the Bible, search for something else.
   
   The pictures are outstanding, and very useful. If you don't mind giving a paperback, it would make a nice gift for someone interested in women at the time of the Bible.
   
   For alternatives, see my Listmania! list of `Women in Jesus' Time,' which you can find by clicking `Emily Jamison' above and scrolling down to my ListMania section.