5 comments about Faith Under Fire: Betrayed by a Thing Called Love.

1. I'm very glad this book exists; it's proof this kind of thing can happen. I read this quickly, not because it's going to win a Pulitzer, but because the reading level is not difficult and the subject is so timely and juicy.
   
   1. THE DL MAN'S FAMILY WAS COMPLICIT IN THE CHARADE!!!! So many women in the Black community think the DL is just another example of lying, no-good men. The author here suggests that her husband's mother and sisters were complicit in promoting marriage and keeping the secret just that. When people receive counterfeit money or foreign coins, they often try to pass it off on other gullible people, rather than throwing it away. This book proves that many families of DL men are more than happy to make a Black woman's life miserable if her presence will be a cover for the family. I always say, "Notice how parents don't want their straight daughters to marry gay men, but they'll tell their gay sons to 'get married and cut all this foolishness!'" This book shows Black women who knew full well their DL relative was having unprotected sex with another Black woman and they did nothing, absolutely nothing, to stop it. So much for womanist unity!
   
   2. THE ACTIONS HERE WERE SPECULATIVE WHEN THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. Late in the book, the author says, "I still don't have proof that my husband was on the DL." She even suggests that he wouldn't have been honest about it if she had confronted him. HOWEVER, she never did confront him. Some women are very good doing private investigation; "Divorce Court" shows tons of examples of sistuhs doing that. The author herself never sniffed around. She never asked friends if her man was on the DL. She never went to his HIV-positive ex-wife and asked her for questions.
   There are several books and articles saying, "How to see if your man is on the down low." I think many of them are unscientific, salacious, and homophobic. But here, the author kinda admits that she turned a blind eye. This book will not help women ask those difficult questions. If you want to not see the pink elephant in the room, sometimes you will. So this book didn't tell me more info about DL men. It's kinda scant in a way. The explosion in which a DL man has to come clean never happens here and maybe DL men purposely play women because they know they don't really want to see the truth.



2. The writer does an excellent job telling the story, betrayed by a thing called love. It was a difficult book to put down , once starting to read it. La Joyce should be an inspiration of hope and faith to all people especaially women. She really opened up her soul and poured it out in this book. I am amazed that she remembered so much of the hurt, deception and pain that she had gone through. What was so interesting to me was the fact that she continue to love and care for husband right up until the time he died of aids. What she endured was truly faith under fire. It's worth buying and reading.



3. Tjis is a must read for all females young and old to read. AIDS IS A DEVASTING DISEASE!



4. This book was awesome. I read the book in a day in a half. This book was passed to me from my Aunt. I learned a lot from ready this book. Just to wait and listen closely to what Jesus has to say. Don't jump into relationships without seeking Gods face first. From this day forward my life will never be the same. I will continue to be more observant of that gut feeling that we get, they are not always butterflies but Jesus trying to tell us something. LaJoyce Thank You So much for sharing your life with all of your readers. This is definitely what God ordained you to do. I was always taught that God allows us to go through things so that we can help others that may face similar situations and so that we can have a testimony to share with others.
   
   Be Blessed and Highly Favored



5. This is one I borrowed from the library but definately will buy to add to my collection. I read this leisurely in 4 days staying up pretty late on the 4th day trying to finish it. It is amazing what someone can get through when God is carrying them. I am astonished and happily excited by a story like this one. Thank You for sharing Mrs. Brookshire.

5 comments about Classic Feynman: All the Adventures of a Curious Character.

1. A interesting view of life through the eyes of a down to earth genius.



2. This is a wonderful read....a chance to listen to a great scientist with a wonderful quirky mind. It is all interesting, some of it very touching, but the part on the investigation of the Challenger explosion is a classic study in bureaucratic malingering.



3. The stories in this book gave be belly laughs, and they also made me think.



4. This autobiography of the great physicist Richard Feynman should appeal to all those readers who want to know about his private life and scientific activities in detail.However, most of the material is taken from two previous books, "Surely you're joking, Mr Feynman" and "What do you care what other people think?". Some of the "adventures" were already related by James Gleick in his biography of Feynman, "Genius".So people who own these books can do without this one, unless they are real Feynman fans(like me!).
   Another feature of this book is the CD which comes with it, and which contains a recording of a lecture by Feynman, covering most of the material of the Chapter entitled "Los Alamos from Below". I found this CD both entertaining and very useful, as it gives the listener a taste of what a lecture by Feynman sounded like. In fact, all the book, in its simplicity, sounds more like a series of lectures;and Feynman, in his distaste for "humanities", seems to enjoy "talking" to the public, with not a hint of literary artifice in his style!Of course, this could be seen as unbecoming such a brilliant mind, but Feynman keeps reminding the reader that he has no respect for anything but science(at one place, he talks about finding the professors of the philosophy department at Columbia particularly "inane").Some will also find his philandering a little exaggerated: but he is honest enough to admit that there is nothing he loves more than a "beautiful woman", and who could blame him?
   Finally, it is worthwhile noting that, if some top-notch scientists had also literary gifts (two major examples being Poincaré and Einstein, whose writings are literary gems), Feynman couldn't care less: he even boasts that he does not give any importance to spelling mistakes, as long as the reader (or listener) understand what he is talking about! However, after reading his Nobel Banquet Speech , I was agreeably surprised with a much better style, which he even admits in the book. Talking about this speech, he says(p.343):"But then I said I received, all at once, a big pile of letters - I said it much better in the speech- reminding me of all the people that I knew; letters from childhood friends who jumped up when they read the morning newspaper and cried out 'I know him!he's that kid we used to play with and so on...'".Feynman seems to be quoting from memory, because this is not exactly what he said in the speech:"...victorious cries of 'I told you so' by those having no technical knowledge-their successful prediction being based on faith alone..."(see Nobelprize.org for the complete speech).



5. I was introduced to "Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman" 10 years ago by a friend of mine. I read with delight that marvelous book many times ever since. I am glad that Mr Leighton took the time to put together all the adventures of that charming and "curious character". In doing so, he allows us the pleasure of reading them in a chronological order, giving us the possibility to brush a better picture of the man behind the adventures...
   
   A absolute MUST!

5 comments about Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball.

1. Vindicated? This book drips with Revenge and self justification as the unholy goals of this scumbag drug pusher. Once Jose Canseco was duly blackballed, he is marketing this filth as his way of dragging everyone else down to his Clintonian level. I confess it's always interesting to learn scandalous details, true or not. It's a page turner, but it leaves one with the impression that most of our baseball "heros" are horribly humanly flawed. Drug pushers like Jose should serve time in prison for his crimes. There should also be established a "Jose Conseco Hall of Shame", with his face on the door mats, toilet seats and urinals. That lie about trying to clean up baseball is just another guilt dodge. Still it was captivating reading to see how many lives he has ruined.
   -- Donald C.



2. The only thing I found really interesting was the amount of censoring out of Roger Clemens' name the big media allegedly did at the time of Canseco's first book. Jose wonders in "Vindicated" if that wasn't deliberate, a GOP plot. Well, given Clemens' testimony before the House this spring, and the partisan division over whether Clemens or McNamee was lying, Jose may be on to something. Or he may not. He gives no reason WHY a conspiracy like this would develop. (Please, no third book about that.)
   
   The only other thing that was in any way news to me was his alleged degree of steroid relationship with Magglio Ordonez.
   
   That said, the before-and-after pics of various actual or alleged juicers, paired with the before-and-after stats.
   
   It's a borderline 2/3 star, leaning toward 3.
   
   Just don't write a third volumne, Jose. We'll know that that one is all about the money.



3. Vindicated: Big Names, Big Liars, and the Battle to Save Baseball It's so interesting when you've read not one, but two books filled with the type of self-serving truth Jose Canseco has so freely given us...all after the fact, of course! These two offerings might have taken on an entirely different tone had Canseco not allowed his huge ego interfere in very paragraph. Senor Canseco acts as though he is the second coming of an Omnipotent god rather then a simple baseball player who blew it for himself and many others by "Juicing" it up. He has excused himself everything while blaming everyone else on and off the field for his miseries and stunted career. My only hope is that the "Steroid Era" is marked in every book on baseball stats that is of importance. Their stats should not stand along those that were earned by hard work, sheer talent, practice and guts. None of the players he mentions, including himself, deserve a place in the Hall of Fame. Grow up Jose and lose the ego that got you where you are today. I used to be a fan...now I can only tell you how much you disgust me.



4. Tells the truth (as far as I can tell)...
   Pats himself on the back constantly...
   Absolves himself of all personal responsibility for taking steroids...
   Absolves himself of all personal responsibility for injecting steroids in other players...
   Collects big $ for writing a tell-all book...
   
   Baseball, like all other pro sports, is saturated with cheaters. And nobody (who's cheating or benefits by the cheating) likes a rat. That's why most players, agents, team management, & media claimed Canseco lied in his book "Juiced" (which I never read). "Vindicated" is merely his *I told you so* follow-up.
   
   



5. I agree with Watty's review. Way too much rehashing of the best from JUICED. Tedious court testimonies and questions from lie detector tests.
   
   The only real interesting new stuff is about the refusal of the networks and media to accuse Roger Clemens of juicing up. Also of interest--Magglio Ordonez' almost certain steroid usage, and A-Rod's interest in 'roids and Canseco's ex-wife. Check this one out at the library.

5 comments about Elliott Smith.

1. This Elliot Smith book is really cool. It has tons and tons of pictures, but not a whole lot of text. It also comes with a awesome live cd with around five songs.



2. Coming from Autumn De Wilde, This book gets as close as it gets to Elliott Smith's photographical side. There are a lot of formal dedications including a foreword by Beck. I also enjoyed the 4 song live CD that was included with the book. I wish the CD had more tracks on it.



3. The pictures in the book are so incredible and definitely bring you back to XO times. It took me awhile to finally buy it, but I would not hesitate. This is a great purchase!



4. Elliott Smith was perhaps the greatest Indie singer/songwriter of his generation. His unresolved murder/suicide at the age of 34 in 2003 catapulted him into iconic status. It abruptly ended a career that had begun to take off. Autumn DeWilde shared a personal friendship as well as a professional working relationship with Smith, released Elliott Smith, which is basically a series of intimate and touching conversations between Elliott's close friends and family that we have the privilege to listen(read) in on. Many speaking for the first time since his death. Because DeWilde was a personal friend of Elliott's, I think that we have to respect the fact that this is her book, not ours. It is going to read more like she is relating to Elliott because she knew him, and not just an informal biography about Elliott. After understanding that it is easier to appreciate and understand the book's perspective. Complementing the text are glossy black and white and color photographs that DeWilde shot of Smith throughout his career. Extremely fascinating and revealing, this book provides a unique perspective into the man whose music many have come to appreciate and love. DeWilde directed Smith's Son of Sam music video, and shot the cover art for his fifth album Figure 8. For a man many know only too well through his music, this book brings a fascinating "behind the scenes" perspective to his life. Besides his music, this is perhaps as close to the man that we will come to know. Reading about his friends and family talk about Smith, you begin to feel like you knew him as well, that you're sharing stories with old friends reminiscing about the night before he appeared on national television for the Oscars, the stories behind the music, or specific conversations that you had. Like his music, this book is a collection of memories, priceless memories. For those unfamiliar with his work, this book will not be as powerful or interesting as it will be for fans. Smith was a complex artist and human being, his personal life and music were not separate, they were one. This is not a biography on Smith, it is a series of conversations and interviews between Smith's closest friends and family. For fans familiar with his music, this book is a must have. I walked away after reading this book with a ton of information that I didn't know before. Considering that I never knew him personally, I even felt like I understood him a (little) better. The beautiful photographs alone are worth the price of the book, containing never before seen images of Smith. Haunting portraits that capture the man in all his glory; the photo shoot from the Figure 8 cover shooting; even handwritten lyrics on the backs of receipts. Yet we also get a series of revealing interviews and conversations that begin to flesh out the man and gives deeper insight into the life of this deeply troubled and gifted artist. The book is a celebration of their friendship and perhaps brings some closure to their relationship as well. I respect that, and I think we are fortunate DeWilde chose to share these at all. Thanks. DeWilde lets us in on this event. Looking at the haunting and beautiful images of Smith, there are many images that come to mind. Silently looking at Smith, you can hear his music playing in the background. This book because it leaves you with a tasted wanting more. Among those interviewed are: Beck Hanson, Ben Gibbard, Chris Walla, Autumn De Wilde, Joanna Bolme, Sam Coomes, Neil Gust, Ashley Welch, Margaret Middleman, Larry Crane. It is no secret that Elliott Smith lived a troubled life. I feel that this book gives you just enough without getting overly personal with respect to Elliott Smith and his family and the problems that he had in regards to drug abuse/depression. I think that this book could have gone a certain way in violating his privacy and instead it shows a tremendous amount of respect. I know that it is the gritty details that are the most fascinating, but I think that there is a fine line to respecting what someone else would like and what people are comfortable talking about. This book balances that perfectly. Contained within the book is a previously unreleased compact disc recording of Elliott Smith "Live at Largo" in Los Angeles. Contains four tracks: Angeles, Between The Bars, Clementine, Clouds(Quasi cover), All My Rowdy Friends Have Settled Down(Hank Williams Jr. cover). Intimate, touching, fascinating, and perhaps like his music- timeless. Recommended.



5. At first I was hesitant to purchase this book because I thought it consisted of nothing but photographs. It's not that I have anything against that, but I also like to have text accompanying the pictures. For a few months, I kept contemplating purchasing it when it saw it in various bookstores. When I actually made the opportunity to flip through the book, I discovered the author also conducted interviews with people who worked with Elliott and were in his life. I was also highly encouraged by another fan to purchase the book because he said it was spectacular, so I did just that. As soon as I purchased it, I went home and started looking at the photographs, which are exquisite. I also really enjoyed reading the interviews. An extra bonus included a CD consisting of five live tracks, one of them being a cover of a famous country song. I urge any fan of Elliott Smith to purchase this book, especially those who think they already have "everything" in their collection. "Elliott Smith" by Autumn de Wilde is a delight!

5 comments about Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris.

1. Being French, but having moved to The US when I was young I wanted to see if I could relate to this book. And yes I could. Sarah Turnbull really hits it right on. It is so refreshing to read a book that is fun, easy and accurate in it's description of a different culture. I really enjoyed reading this book.



2. I really enjoyed reading this book! It is true that it might not have been very deep, but Sarah's comments on Paris made me feel like I was there again. Very therapeutical. Also, I recommend reading this book slowly, a couple of pages at a time, so you can really absorb every comment. If you read it all at once, it is easy to overlook small details. Read a page, laugh at her comments, think about how they are very true. Put the book down. Pick it up an hour later. I think you will get the most out of it if you pace yourself. In all, I recommend this book to anyone who longs for Paris.



3. Very well written. Entertainingly true story of an Austrailian journalist who moved to Paris and eventually adapted to her new life with the help of her French boyfriend. Of course, there are many missteps and misunderstandings along the way. Turnbull presents these in a way that shares both the frustration of the moment and the amusement of looking back from a more enlightened future. Provides an interesting outsider turned near-insider's perspective of French culture.



4. The French are a fascinating people, their culture sometimes mysterious, sometimes frustrating. Having lived in France for a while myself, I was very drawn to this story of a young woman living and loving in Paris and other parts of the country. Having first gone to Paris on a whim (since she was in Europe anyway, and the young man who invited her was so attractive, why not?), she then decides to stay. It does seem remarkable that someone would do that in these days of madmen and terrorists.
   
   Her story starts out somewhat disjointed and jerky and parts of it continue that way. There are gaps in time that aren't quite transitioned. And some events are incomplete. For instance, when her friend Sue comes to visit from London, the reader expects a life changing or confirming event. The build up to it certainly leads one to think that this is a big part of the entire experience. However, Sue comes, leaves, and that's that. We're given no reaction on her part to Frederic, the French lover, no discussion between the two on Sarah's decision to stay in Paris, nothing.
   
   Sarah's visits with Frederic and some of his friends are, of course, awkward. Unless one has experienced the same thing, it is difficult to believe how important things are in social intercourse, but how no one ever thinks to explain them ahead of time. Being Australian, Sarah had certain expectations when it came to dinner and parties, but the French people she met had different expectations. It always seemed that she was expected to conform to their expectations, but whether that was only her perception is not clear. Perhaps she should have learned from the first and following experiences to ask more questions each succeeding time.
   
   The edition of the book that I read is the 2002 edition, published either in Australia or Great Britain and I do not know if the 2004 edition was edited differently. I'd hoped to enjoy this book and to learn how to enjoy living in another country. The most important lesson seems to be to try to not have expectations.



5. This is not a book I would have picked up on my own; and I only grudgingly ordered it from amazon.com because it was the selection for out next Book Club meeting. I'm loving it! I'm only a tiny way into it and am enjoying the chuckles that are ellicted throughout; well, so far, anyway. Turnbull writes very well, she has a marvelous sense of humor, and she is able to laugh at her own foibles. Can't wait to finish the book, can't wait for our meeting.

1 comments about Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity.

1. John W. Loftus has written an important book that should be read by every Christian who cares about truth and reality. This is not the angry rant of some disgruntled former believer with an axe to grind. Loftus is thorough, fair and convincing. As a former Christian minister and apologist who became an atheist, he knows both sides of the belief question very well.
   
   The insights and detailed information contained in this book make for enlightening reading. There is much for everyone, from believers who are courageous enough to think more deeply about their faith to nonbelievers who want to better understand the arguments Christians make in defense of their religion. I highly recommend this book.
   
   
   
   --Guy P. Harrison, author of 50 Reasons People Give for Believing in a God

5 comments about The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal.

1. I rarely have any time for reading, but I made the time for this book. I finished it last night around 3:00 am. Jonathan Mooney is honest and insightful and isn't afraid to set aside his perspective in order to uncover the capacities and beauty and communal connection of others. Ok, now that I have waxed philosophical, let me say that I have a child who has Down Syndrome and this book made me a better parent, not necessarily because of my child's "disability", but because I now have a better understanding of every person's right to a place in my community, in your community all over the world, every person. After reading this book it will be harder for anyone to justify extreme prejudice or segregation, which is more alive and well in our country and any of us would care to admit. Thank You Jonathan.



2. This author came to speak to my son's class in Oakland. My son came home raving about Jonathan and how he "really really gets it." I ordered this book and could not put it down. As a parent of twins with LD, I can tell you, he really, really gets it. My sons have had the same type of classes/teachers described in the book, and yes, they are out there and they do exist. I know,let's blame the parents for abdicating responsiblity and basically being the problem. All parents of special needs kids have heard the same responses from the employees of the public system. The system "sucks" and we/they continue to deny it. I plan on giving this book to all my friends for Christmas. Read it. Even if this is not your kid, I can attest to the fact that there are millions of these "lost kids" out there with no heroes out there to rescue them.



3. What a must-read for all of us! And I do mean all of us. In The Short Bus, Jonathan Mooney travels far outside his own experience and across America to discover for himself (and us) what it means to experience life in America if one is not "normal." His journey and the conclusions he draws from it provide profound contributions to America's self view as a society and culture. It offers a much needed look in the mirror.
   The short bus for Jon, and for all students labeled LD, symbolizes the well intentioned but nonetheless painful humiliation administered daily to the children relegated to it. Our children were labeled and then separated from their peers and their classroom because they didn't fit or belong in the classroom with the "normal" kids. Hoping to rediscover and heal from the pain inflicted by these experiences, Jon tours some of America's other labeled individuals: a deaf and blind student who curses her teachers in sign language, an eccentric man with Aspergers who creates his own community connections in remarkable ways, and a young woman with Down Syndrome who is so unforgettable, her story continues to both haunt and comfort me long after putting the book down. With each individual, Jon explores his own feelings of wariness, prejudice and confusion that most of us experience but rarely admit when we confront folks who are clearly "not normal" or "disabled." He comes to know each of them, overcoming his feelings and soon understands their incredible gifts and how important they are to us as a community. We see, as he sees, the important and precious place each holds in the fabric of society. As we become increasingly engaged with our new acquaintances and learn to appreciate them in inimitable ways, we begin to cry out against "the tyranny of normalcy" because we discover how thoroughly the notion of "normalcy" threatens the heart of humanity.
   It is a coming of age story, to be sure, but The Short Bus is far more important and much bigger than a personal journey. In addition, Jon's research and analysis provide us with a historical, medical and sociological context for the labels assigned to each of the marvelous individuals we meet on the short bus. Jon's voice is always honest and questioning, his insight intelligent and boundless, and of course, the book, like the author, is rich in humor.
   The Short Bus is ultimately a celebration of life, providing a roadmap to empowerment and a deep appreciation for diversity, underscoring society's need to do so. It's an honest, painful, humorous and always engaging journey, and it's well worth the ride.



4. I didn't ride the short bus; I came from a previous generation. However, Jonathan's experience rang true. I didn't hear any false notes. Getting my doctorate didn't take away the scars from the educational system. But I came from a different era. That's why I couldn't believe my eyes when I read the one negative review posted by J O'neil.
   
   Certain words have an emotional impact and are only said to hurt. To publically shame a LD person for mispelling something is familiar and one of the most abusive things we can experience. It's a not-so-sublte way in our culture to win an agrument or to announce to the world that you think someone is stupid. Spelling is a gift that many LD people don't have, even though we possess many marvelous gifts. Yet O'Neil, a principal of a LD program no-less, did this. What is most disturbing is that this person seems blind to the irony. There are good teachers who fight this sick system, where these attitudes are tolerated. Thanks to J O'neil, the problem is all there in a paragraph--everything that Jonathan articulated. As I said, I found his insights about school true and I thank him for expanding the conversation.
   
   Jonathan also takes on the issue of "normal," something that gets kicked around loosely but seldom discussed in depth. His reflections allowed me to look beyond myself, again, to the bigger question of how we all fit in this larger community. He does this in a way that's both fair and sensitive. Thanks.



5. I thought this book was going to offer some hope and practical wisdom.
   Rather, its a chronicle of the author's search for validation that offers no real insight into how one can deal with ADD (unless railing against norms helps.) Though the heart of his "success" story is to have graduated from Brown, he does not actually seem to have overcome anything to do so - its just another adventure on his way to who knows where. He's a likeable character and the stories of his trip across country are amusing enough. But I was pretty sick of his obsessive musings about his girlfriend and seriously worried about the families that reached out to him for advice and encouragement for their own "beyond normal" children. He was admittedly not equipped for either, other than to say: I was once a "tard" on the short bus but now I'm here!! I wish him all the best anyway.

4 comments about The New Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New Revised Standard Version.

1. If you are searching for a study Bible that focuses on the best modern
   scholarship around concerning the texts that make up the Bible, you will
   soon find out from most reviews on Amazon (as well as from other places
   such as universities) the best of the more objective ones are The New
   Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, Augmented Third Edition, New
   Revised Standard Version - this augmented edition with added new maps,
   charts, diagrams, and updated introductions, the HarperCollins Study
   Bible (just revised in 2006), and the New Interpreter's Study Bible. All
   three come with the New Revised Standard Version, generally accepted by
   scholars as the most accurate English translation. All come with the
   Apocrypha, though the New Oxford Annotated Bible is available without
   it. If you can afford it, I recommend all three.
   
   The New Oxford Annotated Bible (NOAB), if compared to the HarperCollins
   Study Bible, is a larger tome, mainly because of a more expansive layout
   and larger font (very comfortable on the eyes), and the chunk of essay
   material that is present in the back is one of the most helpful parts of
   the NOAB (much more extensive than the others), though the HarperCollins
   appears to have more extensive notes at the bottom of the biblical text
   in tiny print. In addition to the essays in the back, the NOAB has very
   good introductory essays to the major sections and individual books, as
   do the other two bibles.
   
   The NOAB is not a conservative work, and looks at the bible as
   literature, from a more historical-critical viewpoint, much as the
   HarperCollins bible does. The New Interpreter's (NISB) is usually
   expressed to be an amalgam of the two Bibles mentioned above, and
   sometimes recommended in place of the other two because of additional
   material that can be found offset from the notes that goes in depth on
   particular subjects of interest in the text. It is certainly the largest
   of the three volumes (HarperCollins being the most compact), but the
   binding of the NISB itself appears lowest in quality. The New Oxford
   Annotated Bible is my overall favorite of the lot at this time, though
   it lacks section headings, which are available in the others.
   
   As with any study Bible of any persuasion, blind acceptance of the
   notes, commentary, or essay material should not occur; it does not hurt
   to gain the insights of the best scholarship available today, no matter
   what your beliefs are about the nature of the Bible, and whether you are
   in agreement or not. Valid beliefs should stand up under scrutiny; so I
   say scrutinize.



2. Nice Bible Easy Reading Love the translation



3. This study Bible was a gift for my sister-in-law. She is very happy with it, as she had requested it. Shipment was very prompt.



4. I just started using this in a bible study on Tobit. I found the notes to be quite readable and very informative. I know I'll get a great deal of use out of this bible.

5 comments about My Lobotomy.

1. 
   Mostly because his stepmother didn't like him, Howard Dully received a lobotomy from Walter Freeman at the age of 12. Like many people, I was distressed and outraged as I read this story. It is an honest and fascinating memoir of a man who overcame the trauma of a devastating childhood and who searched relentlessly to ultimately understand his life.
   
   What strikes me is that Howard is the one who had the lobotomy, yet his parents and psychiatrist are the ones who seem devoid of any human feeling. As I read the story I more than once wished a lobotomy on all three of them.
   
   Today, I have read, lobotomies are "rare". Yet, with anti-psychotic medication, psycho-stimulants and electroshock, bio-psychiatrists who insist that mental illness is caused by a "chemical imbalance" are still damaging the brains and souls of children in dysfunctional families.



2. I am a big fan of reading memoirs and just the title alone on this book had me intrigued. This is a painful, yet beautiful story about a 12 yr old boy who just needed more affection and love in his life. Instead, he was given a lobotomy. The story tells about what happened after the lobotomy and how in his 40's he went searching for answers and in the end finally finds peace.
   
   I almost didn't finish the book, as I felt some chapters were a bit choppy and yet other pieces of the story were unnecessarily long. I'm glad that I stuck with it, because the end of this story makes it worth the read.



3. Howard Dully is an incredible, brave man who has endured the unendurable. This memoir is well-worth reading. Not only do we get a closer look at the life of a lobotomy survivor, but we also get to see a close-up of the monster himself - Walter Freeman. This look at Freeman reminds us that evil is often banal.
   
   Howard's earnest desire to forgive his father, to bond with him, even after all the abuse Howard endured, is truly amazing.
   
   Someone make a film of this story!
   
   - Christine Hamilton Johnson



4. This book was very well put together. I'm glad he shared his painful story and I'm thankful he was able to help other people by doing this.



5. I loved this book! I just cannot fathom that a young boy went through all of this. I am so happy Mr. Dully has a good life now.
   
   I found this book fascinating in many ways. Just the fact that a "doctor" could even think of doing an ice pick lobotomy baffles me!
   
   Go on Howard's journey through life to find out the answers on 'why' this happened. The reasons will shock you.
   
   I loved this book so much I have written a more in depth article review on this fascinating book on another site.
   
   Thank you Howard for sharing your story.

5 comments about Belle de Jour: Diary of an Unlikely Call Girl.

1. Really one of the books I couldn't stop reading it. No pauses, a continuous 2 days reading. It was very interesting and attractive. Honest and straight, the writer has the ability to present the moment, the most interesting happening, the most notable thought. Initially I did know that it was from a blog. But even when I figured that out, I didn't regret with the book. It was very interesting and far more different from reading a blog from a computer screen. Highly recommended!



2. Sex books from blogs are the thing of the future. As writers reveal their secrets and put them on the web, it is inevitable that the best of them are turned into books. The two best I've read so far are this one and Abby Lee's Diary of a Sex Fiend: Girl with a One Track Mind. Both are English. Both are sexy. Both are "stimulating" and honest.



3. This book is so amazingly sexy!! and smart.
   Much better than what american counterparts write about sex and life and oldest profession.
   the cover - woman in fishnet with purple spot on her leg is just horrible.



4. I hadn't heard anything about this book prior to coming across it on amazon, and I was very impressed. It was a fantastic read that I have suggested to many of my friends



5. This is a good book. A lot of books by former call girls just show that they hate men. Perhaps for good reason, but who wants to read about women who hate men? But Belle de Jour is different - the lady obviously respects her customers. Beyond that, it is well written.
   
   If you're interested in prostitution and/or sex tourism, you might also enjoy Naked in Haiti: A sexy morality tale about tourists, prostitutes & politicians. This novel, narrated by a customer, is also not especially kind to men - but the women come out looking fine. Really sexy, as a matter of fact. Check it out.