No comments about The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer: My Life at Rose Red.

1 comments about Diana vs. Charles: Royal Blood Feud.

1. I read this book in the fall of 1997 and just recently looked at it again when rearranging book shelves. Was so surprised to see that no one had reviewed it before!

   Whitaker had observed Charles and Diana for years and he comes to insightful conclusions about the self-centeredness of Charles such as "... it never occurred to him that maybe his life should alter when he married." and "For the first time in his life he was upstaged and...he did not like what was happening." Diana didn't stand a chance against the men in grey or the ever present Camilla.

   This was published in 1993 before the sad ending to Diana's life. I recommend it highly to anyone who wants the view of a working journalist. Coverage of the Royal family was excessive during the Diana years, and I'll admit I read almost everything about her, but I believe this a very balanced view of the sad situation that the Royal family is in. They are outdated and unnecessary.

No comments about Up from Slavery Chapt. 1-5.

5 comments about Every Woman Has a Story: Many Voices, Many Lessons, Many Lives.

1. I find the stories short and sweet! They are very inspirational. They are perfect for women that have a busy life and don't have time to get into a large novel. It is great to just pick it up and read a little and put it down. I am having trouble putting it down though.



2. I loved the book so much! It was so intriguing to read all the different stories that women wrote about. I've only read it once but now I'm going to go out and buy it!



3. "EVERY WOMAN HAS A STORY" is a delightful read. I was impressed with the clever and yet simple idea of compiling a collection of personal stories, crossing socio-economic, ethnic, levels of education and age bounderies. The stories are as different as the women who wrote them, and yet the common thread is that of poignancy, honesty, a struggle to survive and grow, and a touch of humor thrown in for good measure. Some of the stories are simple, others more complex. I found them all to be human, tender and touching. I was particularly moved by Paula Silverberg's "LEAP AND THE NET WILL APPEAR". The charming tale of a young woman whose courage and determination in addressing a childhood disappointment, prompted her to face the "failure", muster the challenge, and, as an adult, emerge triumphant. A lesson for us all - "Feel the fear, but do it any way". As an added bonus I found the size and shape of the book to be reminiscent of a personal journal, and reading its content made it so much more endearing. Bravo to the ladies as well as the compiler! May we expect another collection soon?



4. Daryl Ott Underhill has done a fabulous job! This collection of heartfelt, intelligently-selected essays by women from all walks of life should not be considered a "women's book." Everyone over the age of fourteen -- if not younger -- can derive pleasure and benefit. Because it is a collection and the stories are short, it can be read at odd moments, but the reader is apt to find hi/rself continuing to the end out of pure enjoyment. Phyllis Green, Chapel Hill, NC [Author of Spinning Straw: the Jeff Apple Story]



5. These are the things we all feel and think at times in our lives about everyday life experiences. These women let us know we are not alone.Great reading to close your day contently.

No comments about Betsy Ross: Designer of Our Flag, Library Edition (Ready Reader).

No comments about The Last Lion: Alone Part 3 of 3.

No comments about Flashing Before My Eyes: 50 Years of Headlines, Deadlines and Punchlines.

5 comments about The Fire Inside: Firefighters's Lives in Their Own Words.

1. In The Fire Inside Steve Delsohn got firefighters to candidly speak about their most dangerous job. They tell of the trauma of dealing with the victums of fire, the misery in the strret, but the comaraderie they find with other firefighters. Highly recommended to anyone interest in firefighting.



2. Fires and firefighters have fascinated people since the days of the bucket brigade. In this book, Steve Delsohn has taken the time to get behind the scenes, and talk to the men and women who do the backbreaking, dirty work that is firefighting.

   This is a closed society, just because no one else can understand what it is we see day in and day out. Among us are the Samaritans wishing only to help others, the adrenaline junkies who groove on the rush you get going in to a burning building, and the guys who just like the days off.

   A lot of people try to get on the job, and not many make it. This is your chance to see what it's like, and who the real people are who man (person?) the firestations around this country. After reading it, you'll understand why I'm proud to call all of them my brothers.




3. I love this book! I am a volunteer firefighter and I am also going to college full time. I chose to read this book for my book report, and I must say that it has really touched my heart. I know where most of these people are comming from. I hope that everyone who reads this review will get the book and read it. Happy Reading!



4. I have wanted to be a firefighter for a long time.When I started to read this book I thought It was good,but when I finished it I thought it was great.The Fire Inside realy inspired me to do the most I could to be a firefighter.I think everyone who whants to be a firefighter should by this book.



5. One of the best books about firefighting by firefighters. Reading the stories of theses heros really brings their job into perspective.

No comments about The Days of Rondo (Borealis).

5 comments about Autobiography Of Benvenuto Cellini.

1. This autobiography resembles a popular life in the American wild west (not what one would expect of an iconic Renaissance sculptor/goldsmith), or so it seemed to me when I read this translation in the early 70's.
   
   It's a rare, remarkable work that remains memorable over the years. The saga of a vibrant genius (and the pleasure of reading this work) still remains.



2. If youre a fan of picaresque autobiography, this book is the best. Crimes and misadventures galore. Benvenuto uses his talent to win the patronage of the pope and king of france and then runs the favoritism into the dirt through paranoia, murderous rage, and a viscious slandering tongue. artists, and writers will find much to love in this book.
   
   this is not a history book. but a book from history. a real historian would know the differance and would appreciate it appropriately.



3. Benvenuto Cellini was a leading figure of the Italian Renaissance. He was close to the Florentine court and participated in royal intrigues. He was a major artist in a period of major artists, creating numerous works of beauty that can still be seen today. (His most famous work is the statue of Perseus holding the head of the Medusa, which stands in the piazza outside the Palazzo Vecchio. His description of the making of this work is one of the highlights of the book.) He had numerous love affairs with titled women and numerous feuds with powerful men. He was also a murderer and an unconscious sadist. And he wrote it all in what is one of the great autobiographies of all time. Parts of the book are chilling, such as when he regrets having beaten his beautiful model, not out of guilt or remorse, but because the beating had left her so swollen and bruised that she was no good to him as a model now. Other parts are disgusting, such as when he describes a parasite he vomited. At other times one wonders if he really thought he could get away with such tall tales as swearing that while under the protection of a necromancer he saw the Colosseum full of dancing devils. Cellini was a complex man and a great artist and a great writer. His autobiography is essential reading if one wishes to understand the Renaissance. I consider Cellini's autobiography to be almost as essential as Homer and Shakespeare. Five stars, of course.



4. It's a bit annoying to listen to Cellini talk about himself for 400 pages in such a manner. He's not a literary genius, so it's a bit hard to get through. But, Cellini's life is anything but boring. I also found him very witty and amusing. You have to be into the Renaissance, or history, to enjoy it.



5. This review is for the audio book version of this amazing autobiography. Cellini is an incredibly arrogant individual, but his story is entertaining and gives a fascinating look at the Renaissance and many of its major characters. Even though he is not the most likable man in the world, there were many things to admire about his strength of character. It is easy to see why he had so many enemies, though I'm not sure he understood why. His descriptions of the courts of Italy, France, and the Church give us priceless information on how they functioned. I noticed that historians like Durant referenced this work a lot in their histories. This also affirms to me that human nature has always been the same.
   
   The reader for this audio book is Robert Whitfield, whose characterization is exactly what I would imagine for Cellini. He had that touch of arrogance in his voice one would expect from a major braggart, but it was not too grating and easy to listen to. The translation by John Addington Symonds was also excellent and very easy for a modern ear to understand.
   
   I highly recommend this audio book for anyone that loves a good story. It has action, adventure, romance, intrigue, and about anything else one would look for in a good book. The audio book is 15 ½ hours long, and the time went by quickly.