4 comments about Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847 (Yale Western Americana Paperbound, Yw-3.).

1. It is with some awe in my own breast that I write a review for this remarkable little book, which is a "Historical Diary" and therefore of importance to those who would study history from the human element rather than strictly through footnotes. I offer a quote taken from her that struck me as one of the most unique I have heard uttered - flowing from the mind through the pen and on to posterity from of one of the Pioneers; the raw honesty springing from the personal epic she never designed for others other than family to ever see:
   
   "There is such Independence, so much free, uncontaminated air, which impregnates the mind, the feelings, nay, every thought, with purity. I breathe free without that oppression and uneasiness felt in the gossiping circles felt in the settled home."
   
   The writer is not polished; but her work was never intended to be published. What makes it so intriguing is that she managed to capture the moment, the time, complete with names, descriptions of the country and the peoples as she was thoughtfully living it, something most of us would either not think of doing, or be distracted in the monumental tasks of everyday work in such an environment. Which brings me to the crux of the matter in a hurry: this woman, though very young, was educated, had married a mature, much older man man who had a thriving, though fraught with danger Trade business established on the fringes of the frontiers. She was pampered throughout the journey; yet never seemed to take it for granted. As a result, she could write enthusiastically of events and gather wildflowers at will, almost as a scientific mode arising unintentioned from the moment; this free, unencumbered freedom from heavy responsibility obviously was one of the things that allowed her to devote her time, energy and full attention to matters of the day that were happening around her, while her servants did the mundane work. This alertness is felt throughout the book, even in the midst of the terror of Mexican and Indian attacks that came within miles of their supply train. I don't know how much of this she went back and wrote with a steadier hand, but it appears that she was in full self-control at all times, even during these times of high stress.
   
   Her devotion to her husband is genuine, and is felt in a way much different than many diaries I have read. It seems as though their union was one of love, companionship; yet comprised of a strong sense of individualism, another idea that was rare within that era of female domination. She describes the grass, the cold, sweet limestone water, the suffering of the animals when lack of feed and water arose - it made no difference - the wagons must travel on.
   
   In short, she wrote what is possibly one of the most accurate, historical accountings, unembellished of the Santa Fe Trail at that time simply because she didn't know she was doing it.
   
   If you love old Southwest history, American Frontier History of any kind, you will enjoy this book.



2. I am an author. I am writing a novel based on my grandmother's life. I'm using this book as a guide to writing her story. She was born in 1863 in Clinton, Iowa and traveled west. The route she took is not know but this book gives a vivid account of the trail and its tribulations and high points.



3. 
   Many journals of travelers along the Santa Fe (and Oregon and California) Trail have been published, but Susan Magoffin's ranks among the best of them. Susan Magoffin was born of a wealthy family in Kentucky and had recently married the successful Santa Fe trader Samuel Magoffin. They had spent six months on a honeymoon trip to New York and Philadelphia (about which Susan also kept a journal, though to my knowledge it has not been published), and now, two months after their return to Independence, Missouri, she was to accompany her husband on a caravan transporting goods along the Santa Fe Trail to northern Mexico. She was 18 years old.
   
   Magoffin is as charming as any 18 year old could be, and it's a joy for the reader to share her sense of adventure. She is obviously having the time of her life, despite the inconveniences of broken wagon bows and stormy weather. We also get a view of what life was like for typical travelers on the trail. There is also intrigue to a degree: Samuel's older brother James was on a mission for President Polk preceding Stephen Kearny's troops during the initial stages of the Mexican War, and news about James enters the journal at certain points, including once where he was robbed by the Apaches but somehow escaped with his life. After the trading caravan reached Santa Fe, the Magoffins contined on into Mexico, spending time at Chihuahua. The journal ends on September 8, 1847, and does not include her contracting yellow fever at Matamoras where she also gave birth to a son (he died a few days later). The couple then sailed across the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi River and to Susan's family in Kentucky. (Susan would live only another eight years, dying of childbirth at age 27.)
   
   It's a wonderful first-hand account. My only complaint is that I wish editor Stella Drumm had identified locations (camping sites, geographic sites, etc.) mentioned by Magoffin in the journal. Other than that, it's a chronicle that can be read often and always seem fresh and exciting. A must-read record of an important and lively adventure.



4. Magoffin was a name familiar to the Mexicans who had trading relations with Susan's husband for years before he married her and took her with him from the states on an expedition to Chihuahua, Mexico. She kept a diary from which she drew her information for the only book I know written by a woman, young and pregnant, whose fate it was to die in her 26th year, at home. Accounts from her perspective at such a crucial time in relations between the United States and Mexico, in a venacular peculiarly her own, make her work one of considerable importance to the serious student of the time. Revealing also are individual encounters with men, some from her own country, and her opinion of Gen. Stephen Watts Kearny, commander of the U.S. Army of the West stationed in Sante Fe. Susan was a young lady of class the exercise of which makes the reader proud, and whose elegance charmed all who came to know her.

5 comments about Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan.

1. It's rare for a book to inspire so much ire within me that I feel compelled to write a review. However, with the majority of positive reviews already compiled at Amazon, I felt cheated after buying this book.
   
   Hillary Carlip's memoir starts out interestingly enough (and I loved the fact that the essays incorporated real life pictures and diary-like entries). However, the farther I read, the more irritated I became. Initially, I was drawn in by my interest to hear Ms. Carlip's stories about "befriending" musicians such as Carly Simon and Carole King. Yet, as the novel progressed (and even though I love gossip as much as the next girl), I found so many instances of name-dropping that I could barely make myself plod through the rest of the novel. Yes, getting to experience a semi-charmed California life must be exciting -- getting to rub elbows with the occasional celebrity must be a thrill. The problem is that when these encounters happen to *you*, they're exciting. When reading about it, it comes off as though the author is simply trying to impress you with all of the celebrities (!) that they've (barely) interacted with.
   
   Certain celebrity encounters were interesting and integral to Hillary's life story. The meeting and "befriending" of a famous musician or appearing on a game show were important (and interesting) enough to be worth the dedication of a chapter to each. However, learning about the author being partnered with Valerie Harper during one communication exercise or that her girlfriend was once friends with Keanu Reeves could be interesting... if there was a further story beyond that. Instead, we're literally given one sentence to let us know which celebrities the author found herself somehow connected to at that point in time. There are honestly so many instances of these types of one sentence mentions (that add nothing to the story except a sense of some kind of celebrity mania) that I truly lost count. I was tempted to go through and highlight all instances of this in my copy, but: 1) I didn't want to waste the time and 2) I was afraid I would be highlighting the majority of text in the book.
   
   The ultimate case of this that left a bad taste in my mouth was when the author starts off each "chapter" by stating the year and all of the important events going on at the time. Current events of 1991 per the author's order: Being in a sauna with Jodie Foster!, Rodney King being beaten by police offers, having a garage sale with Daryl Hannah!, oh, and Iraq states that it has no biological weapons program. The order of important events seems a little screwy to me and gave me a sense of what this author found important.
   
   Yet, we're also shown a side of the author in which she seems to really care about feminism and even volunteers to teach creative writing to disadvantaged teen girls. However, this isn't what becomes the prevalent theme throughout the book, and I wish it would have been.
   
   Overall, I was disappointed in this book because I expected so much more and saw flashes of potential in between the name-dropping. My favorite story was "The Case of the Inexplicable Birthday Treasure Hunt" in which we hear just about an entertaining and unique experience in the author's life -- no celebrities present!



2. A fun, funny and entertaining read. I liked all the celebrity anecdotes and thought Hillary's adventures were very fun to read about. It's a quick, easy read and a pretty good one at that.



3. Great memoir -- very funny and unique. I love how the author inserts pictures to back up her words. You almost wish the author was older so the book was longer. Unfortunately, I now have the Buffy song stuck in my head.



4. `Queen of the Oddballs...' is an endearing , witty and sometimes downright hilarious book detailing the "regularly scheduled" brushes with fame and antics of Hillary Carlip, an angst ridden young girl/woman growing up in the shadow of Hollywood. Each chapter is written as if Hillary Carlip is making a new entry in her diary, and lucky us!, we get to be front row to her hi-jinks and pratfalls along the way. Hillary Carlip, with her amazing ingenuity, "Forrest Gumped" her way through her childhood, adolescence, teenage years and beyond. Her ability to re-create herself time and again enabled her to have experiences made mostly in dreams. Although it seems the Gods of Luck shone down on her, it wasn't luck at all; it was Hillary creating images of herself that gave her the "gumption" to make these wonderful things happen. Each chapter is a unique story, imbued with sarcasm, ridiculousness and underlying sadness. Hillary also writes about her struggles with her homosexuality, although that's not what the book is mainly about. She juxtaposes pictures with receipts, autographs, concert tickets, and diary notes, giving us a true glimpse of her world growing up in the 70s in Beverly Hills surrounded by fame. There's an air of regret, but mostly happiness, as she shares her incredible experiences and pokes fun at the incongruity of it all. Although today Hillary has a thriving career, thanks to this book, she is more remembered for her zany antics in her youth. Bottom line: `Queen of the Oddballs...' is a terrifically funny and good natured look at one person's sometimes absurd, but always interesting, life.



5. This Queen inspires us to cross the line between fantasy and action, to come alive, to unabashedly be who we really are. Her directness is endearing, her daring causes us to step up and stride right along with her. Hillary possesses a self-acceptance and giddiness that charms us into feeling good about ourselves. In an "us-them" culture, she gives us the gumption to strike out and make it happen! I loved what she did for my spirit!

5 comments about The Bipolar Advantage.

1. Iam 60 years old and just learned I am Bipolar because one of my sons is.I raised 3 teenage sons as a single parent. I was the Black Sheep of my original family. Sure, this fellar is out there sometimes but we are supposed to be. God wants us to be what he meant us to be... that is different. WE ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THE SAME. AND HE WANTS US TO ENJOY WHAT HE GAVE US!!! I DO ALLOW MYSELF TO ENJOY AND I ALLOW OTHERS TO ENJOY BEING DIFFERENT. I do not feel the badness in me now. I used to tell my mom at 3 years old, I'm just NO GOOD! I never knew why I felt so BAD. Also the author would be voted into office if everyone knew the SECRET HE TELLS ON HOW TO LOSE WEIGHT!!! Tricking your body DOES WORK! I lost 53 pounds and being BiPolar I like the tricking part and that is OK. You be you and I'll be me. It is just a different POINT OF VIEW.
   
   
   Trish McKown



2. I cannot tell you how excited I was to happen upon the book THE BIPOLAR ADVANTAGE. The idea that someone had written a book with that title seemed enough, but I figured since Tom Wootton had gone to the trouble to write and publish more than just that phrase, I should give a read to something as dear to my heart as what was implied by his title.
   
   I am a 56-year-old, 6' 11" (sic), bipolar, gay male. I was first diagnosed in 1978 at the age of 28 (and committed), and later (1990) jailed for 14 weeks until my parents hired a lawyer who filed a Writ of Habeas Corpus to force the judge to deal with my case. That was it. I resolved to take care of myself, and I have not lapsed once since then.
   
   The two bipolar support groups I joined in 1990 were composed almost exclusively of people who jumped on each other to hear the latest rumors of new medications that might "cure" all their ills. They gave nary a thought to how changing their habits of thought might help in the meantime, regardless the degree of effectiveness of their current medication. While my heart went out to them, it was too depressing for me to continue with them. (I'm very glad to read that Tom's experience/work with support groups has been so much better than this.) I also found the published literature to dwell on the down side almost exclusively. This was not good enough for me.
   
   I had already studied New Thought: thoughts become things--a new one can change your life--and later the Abraham-Hicks spiritual material, and have based my pragmatic beliefs/approach on their ideas that resonated with me. I have begun work on a memoir about my own experience. Like Tom's, my mind-work rests on a foundation of proper medical care and medication--something I learned the hard way by trying it first without proper care and having my life blow up completely. My adventures include delusions and adventures/misadventures proportional to my height--but reading about Tom's adventures, you might think he is taller than I am.
   
   However, have you ever seen a sex-crazed, 7-foot giant in high mania?
   
   Four years ago, after 14 years of feeling trapped by my illness, I decided that despite everything, I would have to learn to trust myself and follow my dream--to write. So through a lot of mental work in line with Tom's exercises (which I had not yet come across), eight drafts, and 3.5 years, I taught myself to write and completed a manuscript on a different subject. I now have an agent trying to sell that book to a publisher.
   
   I have been so encouraged by discovering THE BIPOLAR ADVANTAGE and the positive, practical emphasis of the book--as well as what I have read on Tom's website about his workshops and lectures. I have begun some of Tom's exercises--they fit perfectly with what I've already proven to myself, and are the perfect step for me to take now. There really is an advantage to bipolar illness, and Tom's book is both a chronicle of his groundbreaking personal turn-around and a practical guide to the beginning of the adventure of a fulfilling life that awaits those who learn to love themselves--and their illness.



3. This book gave me one man's positive insight into living with a mental illess, which usually is a sentence to a life of pain and confusion. Tom Wootton realizes that there is a reason for everything and everyone in this universe, it's up to us to find how to cope and enjoy ourselves and others in our lives.



4. Tom Wootton's personal experience of bipolar and his career path have led him on an interesting road to discovery, recovery and wellness. Quite a good read with lots of food for thought. Along with the right medications and treatments there's something in his theories to really think about. Enjoy the read on your road to recovery!



5. In this book and in his life, Wootton has made an impressive breakthrough in how bipolar people can begin to view themselves in a new and startlingly life changing way.
   
   But, this book is more than a single new observation. It is a step-by-step guide detailing how to move from experiencing bipolar as a dreaded disease to a condition that can be managed in fruitful ways.
   
   Wootton's basic premise can be summed up in the age-old adage, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
   
   For the reader not familiar with bipolar condition this book may well seem brash, even offensive. But, for the reader who is familiar with the condition, Wootton's insights become powerful, hopeful and real. and, it is a well focused view into the interior life of bipolar folk.
   
   Everyone who is bipolar should read this book as should the family, friends and colleagues of those associated in any way with anyone with a bipolar condition.

5 comments about Finding Amelia: The True Story of the Earhart Disappearance.

1. Ric Gillespie has clearly presented the never-before accumulation and coordination of the many aspects of AE's last flight. The radio messages especially, received after her disappearance, when compiled as Gillespie has done, point to a quite different conclusion than the US Navy/Coast Guard one of 1937. Any student of AE's disappearance needs to study this book.



2. This book covers Amelia Earhart's final flight in far greater detail than any other book. The author has obviously done his research. I would recommend also buying Amelia Earhart's shoes to read after you are done with this one. It starts where this book leaves off, detailing research as to where exactly she landed. The authors of that book and the author of this one belong to the same organization (TIGHAR) which has research the Amelia Earhart disappearance for years.



3. I first became interested in the Earhart mystery after seeing a National Geographic special on the subject. Wanting to learn more I decided to purchase this book.
   
   The main premise of the book is that Earhart crash landed her plane on Gardner Island (south of Howland Island) and for a time survived. This book is fascinating reading because the author spends the majority of the book taking the reader through the exhaustive search conducted after Earhart failed to arrive at Howland Island and presents evidence that radio siganls likely from Earhart, converged on a spot near Gardner Island. A CD with supportive evidence is included with the book
   
   I find the theory presented by Mr. Gillespie as a very plausible explanation of Earhart's disappearance. The only other alternative being that Earhart ran out of fuel and ditched at sea.
   
   As one reads this book, the depth of the tragedy becomes apparent because if the radio transmissions were from Earhart, then there existed a window of opportunity to rescue her.
   
   Overall, Fascinating reading and well presented.



4. The subject of Amelia's last flight is smothered in rumor and theory. The great thing about this book is that the author presents the facts in detail. Lots of footnotes and a comprehensive collection of all the known tidbits. You can draw your own conclusions on the basis of those facts you happen to believe. An honest presentation of facts about the missing pilot and navigator, what an idea!



5. By limiting himself to what is truly known, the author builds an excellent case for how he thinks Amelia died. The book is thoroughly researched and written like a detective story. Several involved parties come off poorly, most of all Amelia, whom the author reveals as a poor pilot and a publicity seeker. Also coming off poorly is the United States Navy, though not for want of trying. Radio communications in those days was simply awful, and the use of Morse code necessitated brevity. However, as Einstein said, things should be as simple as possible but not simpler, and the Navy made its communications simpler than they should've been. As a result, not everyone was singing from the same hymnal and confusion reigned. I won't go so far as to say this is the "definitive" work on the subject, but it comes mighty close.

5 comments about LOBSTER CHRONICLES, THE: LIFE ON A VERY SMALL ISLAND.

1. In her debut memoir, The Hungry Ocean, Greenlaw recounted a monthlong swordfishing expedition off the coast of Newfoundland and discussed what it takes to be the world's only female swordfish boat captain. In this second memoir, Greenlaw confronts the joys and perils of living at home. Over forty, with her biological clock ticking, she returns to Isle au Haut, the tiny Maine island that is her birthplace. With hopes of reaffirming ties to her parents and starting a family of her own, she invests in a lobster-fishing business because it is a much "safer" career than swordfishing. But lobsters are scarce, and eligible men are even more elusive. Greenlaw writes about island life with the same plainspoken lyricism and self- effacing humor that elevated her first book to bestselling status. In the middle of the book, she begins to address her fear of loneliness and old age without a spouse or children, as well as the loss of her mother to cancer and the quickly dwindling island population. Unfortunately, she bails out before fully developing any of these compelling themes.



2. I laughed alot! Anyone who has ever lived in a small town will relate to this book. If not you will wish you lived in a small town just for the comedy of it! Linda is a good writer. If you have red any of her other books you already know this! I highly recommend this book!



3. I bought and read this book because my Grandfather, Asbury Arthur [Bob] Gray, was borned in Stonington, Maine; just behind the Opera house on Highland Avenue. His Aunt Millie's stove is still on displayed in the General Store and when I walked through the town for the very first time back in 2001, there were people who looked strangely like my Grandfather all over the place. He was a dear old man, with terrific story telling capabilities, many about the sea since he, like Linda Greenlaw, come from a long line of fishermen. There were tales of exploration, and of terror (like the Great Storm of 1873 where his Grandfather, James H Gray, and the crew of the DH Webb survived by hiding out in the Bay of Chaluer, off the coast of the Prince Edward Islands), and of family (although he lost his mother when he was only 10 and was forced to move to Bath and work in the Iron Works because his Dad and his two brothers were at sea). This book is every bit as good as a conversation with Grandpa Gray, the humor and the charm shines right on through. So does the boredom and the chowder... Thank you Linda for letting us share your little island and your great big hospitality! I enjoyed it immensely.



4. This book chronicles the life of Linda Greenlaw, the author, during a lobster fishing season. Living on a small island off the coast of Maine, the author allows us into her downeast life. We learn some great information on the lobster fishing industry, as well as the lifestyles of the residents of Isle Au Haut.
   
   Some funny anecdotes and a glimpse into life off the coast of Maine make up this short, quick read, book. Being a resident of Maine, myself, I always like to read authors from here. I have yet to be disappointed.



5. I read this after I read F/V Black Sheep because it was also about lobster fishing in New England. It was entertaining and had some very funny moments but it wasn't especially exciting. I liked her stories about the strange characters who live on that island but when it was over I thought she seemed like a lonely person

5 comments about Fighting Weight: How I Achieved Healthy Weight Loss with "Banding," a New Procedure That Eliminates Hunger--Forever.

1. This book was suggested to me by a member at a bariatric surgery meeting I attended who had the lapband surgery. This book gives a personal account of someone who had a successful lapband surgery. It also gives information provided by the writer's doctors which is very helpful and useful. Highly recommended for anyone considering lapband surgery like I am. I hope to have my surgery within the next month and plan on re-reading this book when I actually have the surgery.



2. This book was recommended to me after I had my surgery. Since I had done a lot of research prior to the event, the book was just a good read for me.
   However, I feel that Ms. Ali wrote a very informative book and managed to keep it entertaining. Had I the opportunity to have read it before my proceedure, I think that it would have eased some of my fears. I saw Ms. Ali on Dancing With The Stars, and after reading this book, I must admit that I would have never thought she had a problem at one time with weight.
   I have since passed the book on to another lapband candidate.



3. I was consideration the Lap-band and had a lot of doubts. After reading this book not anymore. I almost cried when I read it. Never knew anyone felt like I do. The medical issues are written in a different font by two expert doctors in the field: Dr. Fielding and Dr. Ren. Highly recommended!



4. I originally bought this because it was one of the few books available about Lap band surgery. I'll admit I was prejudiced against it at the outset because the writer is a celebrity, so how much similiarity to my own experiences could she possibly have? Well, I was wrong in my preconceived notions. Khaliah's journey before the Lap Band is similiar to those of many overweight folks - though I am thankful that mine wasn't as prominently displayed in the limelight as hers. Her story is very personable and I found that learning about her failures and learning curve in obtaining and living with the band were the most informative sections of the book. Her doctors interject their chapters in between hers and are very informative as well. I found a goodly bit of information that's available in other books, but it was Khaliah's personal journey that I learned the most from. I hope that she comes out with a second book for living with a lap band - something with her average menus, receipes, workouts, eating out experiences, etc. Thank you for writing this book, it was a very pleasant read indeed! :^)



5. I highly reccomend this book for anyone who is thinking about Lap-Band surgery. I had my surgery on May 21st and I found this book very interesting from a story point of view and a learning experiance. Get the book!

5 comments about The DIVA Principle®: Secrets to Divine Inspiration for Victorious Attitude.

1. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's nice to read about women in the Bible and how you can apply their story to your practical day to day living. I especially appreciated the "diva confessions." This was a simple, quick and easy read. I have passed it on to a girlfriend of mine. I would recommend to any woman looking to start living a more spiritually fulfilled life.



2. The first thing that people need to realize when they read material like this is this is a testimony of what God has done for someone else that can help someone else in ways that only that person can describe.
   
   Second, Hammond's approach is necessary in these times. Too many women, men and children get caught up in the Hollywood lifestyles and "reality" television. But, what's going on in your life? Where can you seek true guidance? All of the women...Divas...Hammond chose were from the Good Book and of all walks of life. It's something in this book for every woman...big, small, successful, struggling...all women.
   
   Third, you're going to get what you pay for. Each woman that is talked about are an inspiration and there are tips and guides for how to see and be encouraged to embrace the victory(ies) being described.
   
   Fourth, it's really a "help yourself" book, so....HELP YOURSELF! Be Blessed.



3. The book contains some valueable information about how deal with life but it is written so poorly, its hard to get through the book. It is written somewhat like a bad account of a conversation with the author.



4. This is a terrific book. I have taught her principles at a class this passed year and it was life changing for some of our participants. We gained a lot of knowledge and thought provoking ideas to apply to our lives. I would recommend this book to all women.



5. It has helped me to re-think what being a D.I.V.A. is. It might help you too.

5 comments about It Seemed Important at the Time: A Romance Memoir.

1. It is quite irritating to read and re-read comments about Gloria Vanderbilt being unloved by her mother, her 'less than lucid' mother, or being harmed by a self absorbed mother. Perhaps those who believe these descriptions would do well to read "Double Exposure" by Gloria M. Vanderbilt and her twin, Lady Thelma Furness. This autobigraphy relates her mother's side of what happened at the custody trial (when wealthy, connected Aunt Gertrude 'won' little Gloria she no longer had an interest in her), the court allowed heresy and libel to colour testimonies and soil the reputation of mother and widow Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt as 'unfit'. Gloria M.'s own mother, Laura (little Gloria's grandmother) testified against her daughter at this trial with outrageous lies and unmotherly love. Read more about Grandma Laura's unstableness, selfishness, and self absorbsion (she left her oldest daughter at school in Paris during WW1 bombing seige). Grandma jetsetted around Europe shuttling her children to various boarding schools; she allowed her twins to move into a Manhattan apartment by themselves at age 16 to live there basically unsupervised. This was in 1922. Modern medical knowledge would most likely diagnose Grandma Laura as suffering from a neurological disorder. One wonders if it was passed down through the genes.
   Learn of Gloria M's motherly love and pain of being torn away from her only daughter and the lies spun on both sides to keep them apart. "Double Exposure" should be offered in tandem with any Gloria Vanderbilt autobigraphy. Both sides of the story should be known before one can truly pass any judgement, and even then pause and ask yourself if either one is truly glorious and deserving of gushing praise for a life of having a 'good time' and 'getting lots of lovin'.



2. This book lacks depth and leaves the reader feeling that we still don't know Gloria Vanderbilt. Also, why does she give the impression that she only has one living son? What kind of mother would disregard her two older children? Very sad.
   
   A much better book on the Vanderbilts is "Fortunes Children". I recommend it.



3. I never received this book. A notice was sent to me saying the book was unattainable at this time.



4. The book was much shorter than I thought, and the writing was a bit too scattered, too many side notes - but good. I would average it out to be a 3.5 and you will find it funny, interesting if you know the characters or have read much about them. When you think of them as people it becomes harder to grasp, but characters seems a more realistic yardstick to use. I love Gloria Vanderbilt, I admire her and feel that she deserves applause and praise, but this one didn't do it for me. Maybe a good book to take traveling.



5. Dear Gloria Vanderbilt, i am enjoying reading your wonderful book. Thank you!! sincerely,
   Joan Clement

5 comments about Anna and the King of Siam.

1. I really liked this book because it was really exciting. I also liked how it taught you about different traditions and religious beliefs. I have never read another book that took place in Siam, so that was really interesting. I liked how when after someone said something in the language that people in Siam speak, they would also print in English what they were saying. Anna the main character's, bravery and courage was great. I admire how she could stand up to a king without being scared.
   
   The story is about a widowed school teacher from England who travels to Siam to teach the king's son and Prince Chuklalonkorn along with his many brothers and sisters. The king's many children are eager to start their lessons, as is Anna, but little did they know that they would become more like friends than like a school teacher and her young pupils. In the beginning Anna and the king are always bickering and disagreeing with each other, but they too, soon become friends.
   
   I think that anyone who is interested in adventure should read this book. This book is for someone who loves to learn new things such as languages, religions and or monks because one of the Ladies in the palace is in love with a monk named Balat. The king also travels to different places for business and sometimes has dinner parties that involve people from different places. If I could be in Anna's place that would be great.
   I think that is a great adventure!



2. "Anna and the King of Siam" is really a great book. Even though a lot of this story is fictional and based on some facts, its still fascinating. The book is very in depth, with a lot of detail. The story does become dull at times, particulary after Tuptim's death, but the book still picks up again. It was interesting to see how many more characters there are, their weren't used in all the movies of this story.

   This book is definetly a great book for anyone interested in finding out more of the story of Anna and the King.




3. I can only adequately describe this book as dull and downright boring. Historically it needs to be taken with a grain of salt, although I accept that some of it is pertinent. As Jodie Foster's character in the recent remake of this saga posits, "England's ways are the ways of the world." Landon, with fervent missionary bent in hand, shouldn't have stayed in Thailand for so long given her contempt for their way of life.

   Ultimately the books so called historical authenticity is the very thing you question. The idea of underground torture chambers or cellars, granted that Bangkok is at best marshy swamp and 6m above sea level, is ludicrous. And we are talking about the area of ratanakosin, one of Bangkok's lowest points vis-a-via the water. Also, did Landon not bother to look at Siamese history prior to her arrival and reposit the politics of the harem against contemporary Siamese history? Was she so blind to the success of Mongkut, and certainly Chulalongkorn, not to question the integrity of what Leonowens (a reinvented woman, if ever there was one) was writing?

   The book just drags on about the role of women (a worthy issue nontheless) and the perfidous Siamese. It doesn't offer any insights into why the Siamese are this way, supposedly, and it smacks of neurotic Christo-centric 19th century morality, which bugs the hell out of most people. I can only reiterate that its ugly moralism and at times, often poor narrative, kill what could have otherwise been an interesting read.

   Save your money and don't get the latest cinematic representation regardless of how well dressed up it might seem.




4. "How old shall you be?"
   "I am 150 years old, your Majesty."
   "In what year shall you be borned?"
   "Seventeen hundred and twelve, your Majesty."
   "How many years should you be married?"
   "Several, your Majesty."
   Pause.
   "How many grandchildren shall you have by now? How many? How many? How many? Ha! You do not answer that so quick. I make better questions than you answers, hmm?" (pages 58-59)
   
   This is Mrs. Anna Leonowens (an English governess's) first introduction to the eccentric 59-year-old King of Siam, King Mongkut, in the 1860s. Margaret Landon's `Anna and the King of Siam' is an intriguing, historical tale based on ancient, Siamese records and the secret diaries, letters, and conversations of Anna in Bangkok that reads like fiction but is amazingly genuine [some parts]. Anna, along with her six-year-old-son Louis, embark on an erratic odyssey through a foreign land of a cryptic culture that will, in a few months, become traditional to them. Yet there are some seemingly barbaric issues to be cleared up. Among them are slavery, the King's concubines in the harem, and the unjust treatment of several subjects. While Anna may have altercations with the King, she comes to revere his intellectual methods of attempting to create Siam a scientific nation in modern times but expresses severe criticism on needless occasions. As a governess, her duties are to instruct the royal children (of which there are more than 67; however, only the eldest participate) and aid the King in composing extraordinary letters to renowned world leaders, such as Abraham Lincoln and Queen Victoria. Prince Chulalongkorn, Anna's most prominent and smartest pupil, is heir to the throne on account of being the eldest; she attempts to steer him onto the positive path of ruling the country justly. Also bestowing color to Anna's experiences, including misadventures, other than irrelevant talks with the King on that of Moses and ethics is a cast of supporting characters: Tuptim (the slave), Lady Thiang (the King's head wife), Lady Son Klin, and countless others. Across Anna's remembrances, a message is conveyed: despite one's differences they must master the skill of understanding the outsiders and point them to salvation, excluding falsehood by supplanting it with truthfulness. 'Anna and the King of Siam' is a fascinating web of Siam's (now Thailand's) superb past filled with rich descriptions for a journey neither the reader or Anna will let sink into oblivion even until the breaking end. --P.J. Persad



5. The history of Anna and the King of Siam is as romantic as the story itself. Author Margaret Landon found what may have been the only copy of Anna' book, The English Governess at the Siamese court while she was a missionary in Thailand. Later, she located the Romance of the Harem in a second-hand bookstore in Chicago. She paid a $1 for the book, which turned out to be a fine investment. Landon combined the two books and added fictional elements to create a skillfully written novel.

   The exotic setting and romantic story so impressed the wives of both Rogers and Hammerstein that they convinced their husbands to write a musical based on the book. And thus we get the musical The King and I, plus several movies, most recently one with Jodie Foster.

   Landon wrote other novels (Never Dies the Dream) based on her missionary experience but never achieved the same greatness as in Anna and the King of Siam. This is a well structured novel, with a lot of drama. The death scene of the Fa-ying is incredibly touching. Anna is believable; sometimes annoyingly persistent, other times selfless and very very brave.

   The actual writins of Anna Leonowens are also available. It's fun to read Landon's book and then the source material she used. You may agree with me that Landon's skill as a novelist took Anna's story and made it unforgettable.

5 comments about Just a Sister Away: Understanding the Timeless Connection Between Women of Today and Women in the Bible.

1. Renita Weems is outstanding! She weaves these wonderful stories of women in scripture known to many of us who are familiar with Bible stories. What she is so excellent at doing is helping us see these women in a richer, deeper way and managing to bring them to life for today. We can use our imaginations as we read between the lines and see these women in the context of the cultures in which they lived. And, beyond that, she helps us to imagine how women today can relate to them and brings relevance for us as we strive in relationships in our everyday lives. Reading the Bible as history is one thing; helping us see why it is important for us today, sister to sister is what makes Renita Weems important for us all. Read Renita Weems and be the richer for it!



2. We used this book for our church women's group. The idea was to read the entire book and then meet for a review session. Ha...so far we've been meeting every two to three weeks and have only managed to cover three chapters. Weem's provides such thought provoking characters and insights that one chapter at a time is all you can process in a two hour discussion session. Each character and chapter causes you to delve ddep into your personal thoughts and experiences. If you have an earlier version, go ahead and purchase this one, which has four additional chapters to stir your thoughts.



3. My book club really enjoyed this book. We had a great two-hour discussion about the stories in this book. The author touched on Bible stories that many of us had never studied before. Overall, it was a fast read and very educational.



4. This book is a book for soul searching. You will never look at yourself or any other woman the same. This book will make you do a self assessment and take inventory on your life. Sisters in Christ should read this book together in a group setting or for a women bible study. This book is also a book that can be given as a gift and should be very much appreciated.



5. If you've ever thought about or wondered how closely connected today's women are the Bibical women, then this is the book for you. Tastefully presented, thought provoking, and easily understood by any woman of today.