5 comments about Merry Hall (Beverley Nichols Trilogy Book 1).

1. Beverly Nichols, author of MERRY HALL says the love of gardening involves the love of art, the love of love, and the love of death. Following his experiences in WWII, Nichols retired to the English countryside to restore himself mentally, physically, and spiritually. He doesn't inform the reader directly of his background (I know this from having read some biographical material from other sources), but he had another life before he bought the house and grounds describes in his trilogy beginning with MERRY HALL. He was a journalist and writer, and during WWII he spent some time abroad in His Majesty's Service.

   To the unknowing, Nichols narrative may seem a bit too cheerful, frivolous, or shallow, but his book is intended to entertain the reader--this is gardening mind you not the aftermath of war. To the extent he able to do so, Nichols kept the events in the DAILY MAIL out of his gardening books. As a result, some readers today can mistakenly think him an English prig who had no concern for life outside his own back yard.

   MERRY HALL begins one afternoon when Nichols and his 'man' Gaskin stumble across a derelict Georgian manor house and it's grounds. Nichols is overcome with a desire to restore the house and rebuild the grounds. He has been living in London and until that fateful day was more or less settled, but now he wants to "move beyond the Tudor world" and into the world of the Georgian Manor House. He buys Merry Hall and thus begins his adventure.

   MERRY HALL was written about six years into the project. By that time Nichols had undertaken the restoration of the foul smelling pond just off the music room and won the support of the able Oldfield, the gardener who came with the house and grounds. The book is an interesting mixture of personal anectdote, observations about the various neighbors who have their own opinions of what Nichols ought to restore the house and grounds, insights into elements of garden design, practical advice about various bulbs, shrubs, garden ornaments such as urns and benches, and observations about greenhouses and cats.




2. I first read Merry Hall over 30 years ago, and having recently re-read it I was impressed by how much an impression it had made on me. Many a time I have unknowingly quoted from the work, thinking the quote apocryphal!

   You must read for yourself how to deal with an overgrown holly hedge, and how to plant hundreds of trees without buying them, and what berberis can do for you, and why you should cultivate periwinkle...

   I'm sure you'll be delighted with the finely drawn sketches of the real people populating the story: the characters of gardeners, society ladies, and men who work for the government in a clearly covert and somewhat sinister capacity. You'll enjoy the cats, the lilies, and how to create an English country garden from a neglected and ill directed site.

   The gentle humor reflects the gentler times before the horrors of World War 2 brought violence, destruction, and death into the hearts and homes of most of Britain.

   This book is a keeper!




3. Just as Trollope passed the literary torch to Angela Thirkell, so did E. F. Benson pass his to this good fellow! Mr. Nichols' trilogy about Merry Hall is so entertaining, even though at times he comes across as a bit "twee". As you get to know him and his neighbors through the books, you come to realize that yes, some things are more important in your own blinkered surroundings than in the big wide world. I would recommend these books to anyone who loves gardening (on a grand scale), gossip, and the minutiae of life.



4. The first volume of a trilogy about the author's time at Merry Hall, this book is more humorous garden writing than strict autobiography. We know (primarily from the dust jacket) that Beverley Nichols was a widely-travelled journalist and prolific author, but aside from the occasional mention that he needs to keep working (hard) to pay the (very high) bills, Nichols doesn't mention his life outside of Merry Hall or, more specifically, its garden.
   
   The book begins after WWII, when Mr. Nichols returns from "a job" in India to a ravaged London and develops an overwhelming urge to move to the country and get back to nature in the form of a hopefully large and preferably derelict garden that he can "rescue". After a daunting (and amusingly described) search he miraculously finds what he considers to be a dream property - a Georgian manor house on 5 acres of truly hideous landscaping.
   
   With wry wit Nichols tells the story of acquiring the property against the better judgement of friends, and of what is involved in making a run-down manor house habitable, and in dismantling, re-ordering and re-planting 5 acres of gardens. Along the way we meet Oldfield, the very talented but taciturn and somewhat difficult gardener; Gaskin, the long-standing and nearly superhuman manservant; Miss Emily and Our Rose, nosy and perpetually disapproving neighbors; and the beloved cats One and Four.
   
   Although avid gardeners will no doubt love this book as they mentally compare notes with the author, one need not have ever dirtied one's hands with compost to enjoy reading it. The narrative meanders like a leisurely stroll in the garden, and Mr. Nichols' faith in the therapeutic powers of gardening is reminiscent of that in The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett). The author's fond and poetic descriptions of the various aspects of his garden, intermingled with his sharp social observations and dry British humor make this a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have already ordered the other two books in the trilogy.
   
   An additional note: this is a facsimile of the original 1951 edition; it contains lovely line drawings throughout, and is printed on the nicest paper I have encountered in a long time.



5. I want to give my honest opinion of this book. I have never read anything else by this author. While it was entertaining, I found it to get just a little more drawn out than I would have liked. I also did not like his viewpoints on some of the different plants. I guess you just need to take it in stride, but when he characterizes some of your favorite plants as nuisances (or more), etc. it is a little irritating. I did enjoy it, but I don't think I'll read him again. I wanted to give this review, since everyone seems to have LOVED this book but me.

5 comments about Sage-ing While Age-ing.

1. I love Shirley and she does not disapoint in this new book.
   I want saging with aging part 2, 3, and 4..
   There is so much she covers and some pretty far out stuff.. but I am right there with her in my beliefs about the topics covered.
   If you are a fan, this is a must have addition to your collection.
   I am ready to re read it and all my friends want to borrow it.



2. I have love Shirley since her TV movie, 'Out On a Limb." I have always appreciated her bravery in coming forth with her beliefs in a time when most people would say she was crazy.
   
   I enjoyed her book 'Sag-ing While Age-ing' as I have enjoyed all her works. She shares her insights and experieces freely and there is much to learn about ourselves. There are no better gifts that someone could give to another, then the gifts love and knowledge. I feel both from Shirley.



3. Don't be put off by the title of my review. I love reading Shirley MacLaine's books. They are as entertaining as they are informative. It's just that I was a professional advertising writer for more than 30 years (a spiritual author now), so I was trained to keep my writing as focused as possible. Shirley tends to go down any avenue that crosses her mind, and there are many of those avenues in this book. She writes about everything from holistic medicine, to the nature of synchroniticies, to her favorite topic of "star beings." I learned quite a few new things from this book. And I especially applaud her eloquence in describing our relationship to the divine (which is the focus of my work). But what I like best about Shirley is that she never comes off as a "know-it-all." You can tell that she is always open to knowing more than she currently knows. In fact, most of the ideas that she puts forward in this book are phrased as questions. Shirley will inspire you to question your own beliefs, as she has been questioning the nature of "reality" her entire life. Enjoy!
   
   Steven Lane Taylor, author of Row, Row, Row Your Boat: A Guide For Living Life In The Divine Flow



4. Shirley still has alot to say and says it well. It seems I knew a good deal of the information but some political details were "whew". Read it with an open mind but not with a hole in your head.



5. At seventy-four years of age, there's a good chance that SAGE-ING WHILE AGE-ING will be Shirley MacLaine's last book about her own life and the spiritual journey that she's been on for the last two-and-a-half decades. In many ways, this new book sums up what was begun in OUT ON A LIMB, DANCING IN THE LIGHT, and GOING WITHIN. The author continues with her diligent research into mind, body, and spirit, while attempting to answer the most important questions about life and why we're here. This isn't to say that her journey for understanding is over. No, not by a long shot. Ms. MacLaine will continue to ponder the mysteries of the universe right up until the very moment she dies and then maybe after.
   
   SAGE-ING WHILE AGE-ING covers a large number of topics that prove to be rather interesting for those who are consciously on the their own spiritual journey. In it, Ms. MacLaine discusses the hatred and anger that seems to permeate most societies in our world today, wondering if this aspect of humanity is necessary in order to have love and insight and a strong desire to know God. The pondering of this question enables her to look at her own fears with regards to growing older and perhaps even dying alone, which in turn leads her to examine the field of alternative medicine in relationship to her own health problems and what needs to be done to insure that everyone receives the best possible health care in the world today. But, that's isn't all. Reincarnation is discussed as well as the heavy UFO activity on our planet and how every country except the United States seems to accept and acknowledge these somewhat friendly visits from other solar systems. The author also takes a hard look at religion and spirituality and the affects that both have had on humanity over time and what changes may be necessary in order for mankind to survive.
   
   Needless to say, I found some of the subjects to be fascinating and thought provoking, while others did little to stir my interest. I think most readers will encounter this. You'll have to pick and choose what's of value for you. I have to admit to enjoying her discussion on synchronicity and how it has affected her life and work. The chapters on the famous 1947 Roswell crash in New Mexico and UFO activity around the world since the late forties also proved to be an eye-opener. I didn't, however, care much for the information about alien abductees, nor the secret code to the Bible and the unusual event that seems to be coming in December of 2012. Still, I would recommend this book to those of you who've enjoyed Ms. MacLaine's previous books just to see where she's at in this particular stage of her spiritual growth. Whether or not you agree with her views, Ms. MacLaine definitely lays it on the line as she once again goes out on a limb to discuss the subjects that seem to be gaining in popularity. This is certainly a book that will have you asking your own questions before the final page is reached!

5 comments about Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency.

1. Before I get harsh, I will say that there are definately some good points and ideas that you will go away with from this book. However, the author could have said it in fewer words, and clearer. If you're reading this, I'm sure you've read all the cliche mangerial types of books. This, to Tom's credit, is different than your average manager book, with a different perspective on the surviving the coporate world... but its also a stretch. Much of the points in the book are not only subjective, and not backed with real-life anecdotes and testimonials (there are few, but they are far between), but the analogies are weak, and the diagrams and graphs are subjective and border-line bogus (not constructed with real points of correlated data; they are more like guess-sketches). If you looking for a fresh, quick, to the point book that will keep your attention and that you can't put down, then this is not that book.



2. If you've read Peopleware, this book is the next logical step.
   You may get a sense of deja vu since this book reiterates and indirectly references Peopleware in places. However, even in these sections, Slack goes deeper. Peopleware tells you that certain things are bad, and Slack tells you exactly why it is bad and what you can do to avoid it.



3. I agree that this is simultaneously a great screed on the inanity of most corporate management, and also a powerful indictment of the tendency of IT management to just go along, accepting a premise that is false and on most projects, is life-threatening.
   
   I totally disagree with the one bad reviewer who claims the book is below the bar of even anecdotal, and boring. On the contrary, much of what is argued here is a logical, or purely rhetorical position, but that is the part that is the most refreshing! Whereas Peopleware may be more comprehensive, it is also less bold and rhetorically less daring. I love to see someone like DeMarco, who has proven all he needs to, instead of just churn out another episode in his established realm, provoke, argue, and show the amount of passion this book contains. Only someone who considers rhetoric sinful could find this book boring.
   
   That said, this book is also not from left field: it owes a lot to Lean, et al, on the biz and IT process side, and it is also of a piece with other writings like Mythical Man Month. Personally, I think the most important thing about this book is that it is original in its approach and size, etc.: computer science, folks, is not a science, and the fact that it has been controlled by science people all these years, is one of the reasons it has denied many of the hugely important aspects of its reality, e.g. psychology, sociology, etc. We desperately need more books like this that are broadly rhetorical, small, quick reads, that can penetrate into the more densely forested parts of the realm.



4. What's in your workplace?
   Efficiency or flexibility?
   Tom does a fine job reminding us of the difference.



5. Look around, do you notice how certain people get work done (and done well), hit deadlines and still have time to chat at the water cooler. These are the most valued people in any organisation. The 20% people out of the 20/70/10 rule, when given 'slack', over produce, everytime. This book explains how they can do this.
   
   Read this book, it will only take a few hours; which includes long pauses for "hmmm" and chin scratching moments. You'll be glad you did. Then implement what you've learned.

4 comments about The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and The Gospel of Wealth (Signet Classics).

1. Andrew Carnegie played the game of life to perfection, which is how he ended up the richest man in the world. He had so much amazing wisdom. He made very wise choices starting from the earliest age up to the end of his life. Many people gain some wisdom as they grow older, but what's even more amazing about Andrew Carnegie is that he was wise even as a child and a teenager. Perhaps his parents and other elders taught him very well. It seems like Carnegie always made the best and wisest business decisions. The few times something went wrong, it wasn't his fault and it didn't set him back much. Lately I've been learning a lot about business, marketing, and success. I've gotten a lot of great advice about success. And when I read Carnegie's book, I got to see all these success principles in action. Carnegie's life is full of great examples of what you should do to be successful as a person and as a businessman.
   
   I've seen some claims that he was just another ruthless robber barron, but I think that is a very unfair depiction. I think he did a great job of leading the steel industry and making sure that it took advantage of the most advanced technology available at the time and did things on the most efficient and secure basis. He had a great ability to get along with people and I believe he did treat people very fairly. And by the time he died, he had given away 90% of his fortune to benefit the world through education, culture, etc. I think that is a large piece of evidence showing that he was a well-intentioned, good-hearted person.



2. The autobiography gives a good (but sometimes slight) overview of Carnegie's rise from a bobbin boy to one of the richest men in the world. The autobiography doesn't tell you "this is how to become rich", but instead shows Carnegie's values and approach to the working world. The Gospel of Wealth is an interesting idea: the rich got rich by being the most talented and hard-working and deserve their wealth. Since the rich are the smartest and most talented of us, they should best decide how their money gets distributed so that it will best help all of mankind. If money was given to the poor, instead of put into public works and trusts, the poor would blow it because they don't know how to handle money. If they did, they'd be rich! I like this idea, but rarely, if ever do I see it practiced. The rich aren't always the most talented, intelligent, or hard-working people, rarely do they use their wealth for the public good (unless it's a tax write-off), and most of their money gets passed on to their children. I definitely recommend this book. Try these ideas out for yourself.



3. I read this book as a recommendation from the book "Success through a positive mental attitude" and it is a good read. It is a bit slow at first and its written in an older style of English. Once you pick up the style though the book becomes very interesting, I often read it before sales calls to motivate myself.



4. Andrew Carnegie offers an intriguing look into his life story that chronicles his ancestry in Scotland to his journey from child to business tycoon in the US. Carnegie writes in a style applicable to the times, thus there is inevitably a period of acclimatization with the material; however, within a short period of familiarizing yourself with this style of English, you will find it hardly represents an encumbrance.
   
   Carnegie has a knack for being very productive with his abilities as well as often finding himself in the right place and time. Much of his success could be perceived as lucky; however, it will not take long for any reader to see that the effects of his always going the extra mile permitted Carnegie to stand out as a result of his own principles, hardly dependant on luck.
   
   Carnegie exemplifies what one hopes to find among great men; integrity, honesty, hard work, and a passion for profit. Carnegie's giant success is only matched by his good will to human kind. Carnegie explains his thoughts on why he felt the most immoral thing a man can do is to die rich, thus he spent his retirement giving as much of his wealth away as possible. The evidence of Carnegie's lasting name and historical significance provides ample reason to read this Carnegie autobiography. His candidness and honest approach make this book even better.

5 comments about Dead Men Do Tell Tales: The Strange and Fascinating Cases of a Forensic Anthropologist.

1. Considering the gruesome nature of Dr. Maples' work, this is a remarkably delicate and poetic book. While the scientific descriptions are detailed, they at no point talk down to the reader. The photographs are tasteful and relevant, and I appreciate that Dr. Maples treats his subjects with respect due to the other human beings who are so often objectified into "human remains" or "evidence". Fascinating work, and great writing - I devoured it!



2. I recieved this book as a gift when I was in high school. I loved it then. Since I've recently finished a Masters in forensic anthropology myself, I decided to pull it off my shelf and give it another run through.
   
   This is hands down the most honest and truthful illustration of what it's like to work in this field in a market flooded with a glut of products dedicated to the likes of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs. Every Bones/CSI fan needs to read this book and learn about the un-glamorous parts of these careers. I went into my career as a forensic anthropologist with a realistic understanding of the job because of Dr. Maples' great prose. While the CSI wannabes whine about the maggots and the smell, I do my job.
   
   This is a great book for anyone who is interested in forensic science and should be a required read in introductory courses.



3. My oldest son is going into his senior year in college. He will be working on Forensic classes and I purchased a few fun reads for the summer. He loves the book.



4. I had the pleasure to work with Dr. Maples on several occasions and he was always the most pleasant and personable colleague imaginable - in stark contrast to many of the prancing prima donnas in the field. I think that the relative shallowness with which some of the topics are dealt is due mainly to the wide range of subjects with which he deals and the obvious desire to make it an 'approachable' book.



5. In addition to becoming one of the world's authorities in the field of forensic anthropology, William Maples was a solid storyteller. It seems rare that a scientific mind can produce a thoughtful, sensory written work, but Maples, with his co-author, did just that. Readers are treated to the inner workings of his mind - his work was not for the sqeemish - and his mind is a fascinating one. Maples worked high profile cases in the field of forensic anthropology, and that surely was a thrill for him, but it was equally thrilling, if not more so, when he could discover a new detail on a little known forensic case and provide some closure for a family or a town or an investigation team.
   
   The book was completed long before the CSI's and Bones television programs and one can be assured that Maples was not working with the latest and greatest laser or computer technology throughout the majority of his career. A panel of cow bones cut by every sharp tool imaginable hung in his lab for comparison purposes. No fancy computer overlays or National Databases - just a careful, trained eye.
   
   The work contains no cliffhangers or mad dashes to the courthouse or red phone telephone calls from the Governor's office. Instead, the narrative tells a story of a fascinating career in the scientits on words, which are warm, feeling, and suprisinginly human. But perhaps that should not be so surprising at all.

5 comments about Steps in Time: An Autobiography.

1. Fred Astaire tells his story in the same way he dances, with integrity and grace. I have been a fan of Mr.Astaire's for many years. The first movie of his I saw was "Daddy Long Legs." I was fasinated with the way he danced. When I found out that he had a biography I snatched a copy up. What I like about this book is that Fred Astaire wrote it himself. I found myself laughing at times, and after reading the book I felt as if I knew him personally. The best thing about this book is that it has 47 black and white photos. This book is a must for true fans of one of the greatest dancers who ever graced the big screen.



2. This book is actually one big anecdote, peppered with little things like Mr. A's first punch, trying to figure out a title for the book, and meeting his wife, Phyllis.

   However, Fred Astaire does not offer much insight on how he got from point A to Z, or what made him do this and that. In other words, people who want the whys (and plan to psychoanalyze Mr. A's actions) will not find what they are looking for.

   It's still a great read though, and real entertaining.




3. This book reveals as much about Fred Astaire in what it doesn't say as in what it tells. He was a shy man, of Austrian descent, very little formal education, and was eclipsed by his funny and attractive older sister in his days on the stage. These things shaped him into the perfectionist we saw on film. He had an incredible work ethic and was always looking for a new gimmick or dance style because he was not confident the audiences would keep on coming. He is not a natural story teller and sometimes leaves us wanting to hear more (e.g.can tell you he and a famous person had a lot of laughs together but not what they did or said that was funny). Still it is a good companion to the TV biography the BBC did about him a few years ago. All the best American composers of the day wanted to write for him (He and Gershwin were young unknowns together) and his evolution from vaudeville to Broadway to film happened during key times of all of those media. I do recommend the book if you want to know more about Fred Astaire, but not as a stand-alone source.



4. Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was, quite simply, a dance genius. He appeared on stage, often with his sister Adele, in such landmark musicals as LADY BE GOOD and FUNNY FACE; he graced at least 43 films, 31 one of which were musicals; he is, for all practical intents and purpose, American dance, and he worked with artists no less legendary than he. But for all this, his 1959 autobiography is most notable for being, well, utterly mundane.
   
   STEPS IN TIME is essentially a catalogue of the various shows in which Astaire performed, ranging from Vaudeville (with sister Adele) to SILK STOCKINGS with Cyd Charisse. He always loves his leading lady; he always likes his director; even when the show was not as good as it could have been he finds something nice to say about it; and he never, ever offers the least bit of insight into his private life, his work, or the many with whom he worked over the years. Indeed, Astaire actually has more to say about his love of the racetrack than he does about any of his films or specific dance routines.
   
   Fans of Astaire and the Hollywood musical will certainly want to read STEPS IN TIME, but even the most ardent fan will likely be disappointed by the superficial quality of the work. One can only hope that a future biographer will give Astaire the full portrait that he himself could not.
   
   GFT, Amazon Reviewer



5. Prior to purchasing this item I read a review that said the book didn't say anything about Fred Astaire's personality. After reading this book, you can tell about every section of Fred's life, his up and downs, his feelings, his experiences. Mr. Astire writes in the style he lived...Elegantly written. I couldn't put the book down because it was exciting to read.

5 comments about Epileptic.

1. Deep inside, every creator wants to complete a single, definitive piece of work which encompasses all of his or her greatest skills - something by which he or she will be remembered. If they're lucky, they will manage this task and have the completed effort lauded and shown much support and respect. For L'Association's David B., Epileptic is doubtless the artist's coup de grace. The concept of the book stuck in Monsieur B.'s head for twenty years prior to its publication, and this incubatory period is quite evident in the reading.
   
   Epileptic is unapologetically autobiographical. Young David B. (née Pierre-Francois) grew up in France with a younger sister and an elder brother, the latter of whom was diagnosed with epilepsy from about the age of seven. During this time, very little was known about the disease outside of medical circles, so David's brother Jean-Christophe was doubly-cursed; He would fall down in the streets of Orleans (or Bourges, or Paris), and would face harassment from passers-by to police officers, who thought the child was simply "fou" (crazy) or on drugs. Eventually, he was abandoned by his friends and certain non-immediate family members.
   
   His immediate family, of course, held on to whatever hope was offered. Going beyond the traditional medical field of the time, Jean-Christophe's parents involved the children in a multitude of holistic healing approaches: Macrobiotics, acupuncture, massage... practically anything being offered in 1960s France held a glimmer of hope for the suffering child and his family. "It was the only thing we had left," says Mrs. B. "We soon realized that we had far fewer means than many to care for Jean-Christophe... I was blindly groping for an answer."
   
   However, Epileptic isn't merely 350+ pages of self-indulgent pity. It is the story of one child's management of the illness of a close friend - his brother. The book details the life of an entire family, inextricably infected by the illness of the eldest child. On display are the bouts of depression induced by helplessness, humiliation, and disappointment. Also shown are the small glories of life, the insights provided through introversion, and the rebirth of one boy's self-image time and time again. Though the book covers the artist's life from the year 1964 through 1994 (with the primary focus on his earliest years), the narrative flows in such a seamless manner that the passage of time does not become obvious until Jean-Christophe moves away from the family, his frequent seizures and psychotic impulses becoming too much for the family to handle, toward the book's conclusion.
   
   That said, it should be noted that - from time to time - the natural flow of the book is impeded by verbose descriptions of the various holistic treatments and theories surrounding the attempted cures of Jean-Christophe. Sometimes, such a descriptive passage will extend for several pages, only to have the actual "treatment" itself abandoned shortly thereafter. Was this a deliberate attempt by the author to frustrate the reader in order to trigger some inate ability to empathize with his own despondency? Perhaps, though the author is too subtle to admit it.
   
   As a whole, though, Monsieur B. allows symbolism to speak those things for which there are no words. The lingering sense of loss after the passing of his grandfather, for instance, is symbolized by the spectral appearance of a "goony bird" in the mind's eye of the author's childhood. The struggle of his family facing the ostracization of "polite" society is represented in the child's multitude of battle drawings, from the Algerian War back through the days of the Samurai. Jean-Christophe's epilepsy is seen on some pages as a mountain to be scaled, and as a wicked demon on others. The symbols can be as fluid as the impressionable mind from which they stemmed.
   
   Though not without its flaws, Epileptic is a shining point within the autobiographical graphic novel genre. This is one to be read over a period of several sittings because, just as the concept lay within the author's head for quite some time before it was made manifest, the material requires time to ferment within the readers' minds as well.



2. the only prior experience i brought to this reading of a graphic novel was 'jimmy corrigan: the smartest boy in the world,' which is why amazon recommended it to me. ultimately, i think that the genre is all that connects them. this book is much more intimate, personal, passionate, and chilling. all things 'smartest' wanted to be but only got 4/5's of the way there.
   
   i myself am an epileptic and there are fewer diseases that this book relates to than just ones that are 'out of control.' the effects of epilepsy are far more psychological than physical. where a cancer victim is at the mercy of the disease and body, the epileptic, like many schizophrenics is affronted by dark and sinister shadows, lurking demons. however, it's one thing for an epileptic to be able to voice this. i find it amazing that David B., the brother and author, found so many ways of accurately depicting the demons' influence and sympathetically already fighting in his own way to overcome them with the tools of a child. both graphically and through the course of the story you learn of the ways the family and David B. adapt to confront the shadow, though the epilepsy ultimately remains intractable.
   
   another thing about this book that opened my eyes, is that for the epileptic, the story is told in first, second, and third person. for the family member, where it may always seems superficially to be a disease to which the family remains a third party, one may realize the struggles endured that were ignored. if i were to ask my mother how it felt for her to go through many of the struggles faced in this book, she might not think much of them. but upon reading and seeing the struggles afresh, she might realize that she had much more at stake than anyone, even herself, gave her credit.
   
   this book is so moving and deep because of David B.s ability to so comprehensively annotate each of five family members struggle. the autobiographical aspect takes a backseat to the chronicling of a dark disease that is never cured, much like alcoholism, but only ever treated and hoped against. the ending is particularly potent on this point: it is a tenuous grasp that is held to consciousness, and a varying relationship any of us have to reality, but when we hold together we arent scattered below. .mfg



3. None of the individuals portrayed in this story emerge intact, including the author David B. I was left with the impression that either David B. is so fully aware of this that he purposely (and perhaps brilliantly) avoided communicating how messed up everyone in his family is, or that they are so messed up that he has no idea how messed up they are. Clearly he is angry at his family for spending his entire childhood revolving around his brother and his illness, but that's perfectly normal for someone who has grown up with a seriously ill family member. But David B's self awareness seems to end there. The damage is more extreme and disturbing because his family's approach to illness and guilt is more extreme and disturbing. This book is not "light reading" in any sense - There were times when I was only able to take in a page or two in a sitting. The art is so rich and complex and the story is so complicated, I needed to take breaks or I wouldn't know what I was reading anymore. The book is brilliant, beautifully translated from French, and like nothing I've ever read.



4. This book blows me away and I don't usually read this artform. But the book got great reviews, and has only recently been translated into English (from French). It's original. It's unscathingly truthful. I hope David B. gets the recognition he deserves.



5. I purchased this book because I suffer from epilepsy. This book is authentic and I recommend it to all, epileptic or not. Filled with family trials and very skilled illistrations.

5 comments about To Our Children's Children: Preserving Family Histories for Generations to Come.

1. As a member of the DAR, preserving my family's history is extremely important. This book asks questions most people might never think about, such as "can you remember any stories you heard about your grandparents when they were children?" It is important to document our pesonal heritage for our grandchildren, and this book makes that easy. I would highly recommend it. In fact,I have purchased several copies for other family members.



2. This book (purchased 4) is an excellent guidebook for my customers
   whom I film as I video their life histories. Customers use this as a tool
   to to revisit memories they'd like to share with their families. Some folks not sure what to talk about, yet when they read through the many questions they really reconnect with how faceted and fascinating their lives' really are!



3. Simple and easy questions to guide anyone through writing details about their life. I interviewed my parents using this book and was surprised at what I learned. Mom, when asked if she lived on a busy or quiet street as a child, said "It must have been a busy street because I remember hearing the traffic light change." That very detail bespoke of an era -- a time when traffic lights had arms that popped up to say STOP or GO and would ding in the process. I've recommended this book to many people and have given it as gifts.



4. To Our Children's Children Book A stranger told me about this book and I became interested in purchasing a copy. Recently cleaning out my father's house found old pictures, WWII, Boy scouts, VFW memorabilia. I am fortunate to be able to ask my dad a lot of the questions in the book. It is an excellent start to preserving those precious family histories for other generations to come. Now I am taping and writing down the information which will be placed in archivalbe scrap book to be tresured for years to come. Pleas take the time to pick this book up and start own family history.



5. Not only is this a thoughtfully written and organized book, but this is also a handy little book. It's small size easily fits into a backpack or overnight bag. I put the book and a really good gel pen and a pad of paper into a gallon-sized Ziplock-type baggie so that I can write anytime, anywhere. I always take it with me to the beach and often take it with me on overnight trips, too, finishing one question per trip. I randomly open the book, choose an appropriate question, close the book and start writing whatever comes to mind about the subject.
   It is surprising how the questions in the book really make one think back. One time I took my 18-year-old son to the beach with me. I showed him the book, we each chose a question and wrote for over an hour, sitting amongst the grasses in the sun and wind. I discovered he was definitely not too young to write down his history! Yes, I hand-write the entries and then transcribe them later with a word processor. A workbook or journal would be too space-restricting for me, and no way can I do a question per day!
   I'm okay with not answering all the questions in the book. It is nice to know that even if I don't get very far in the book, my three children and my siblings will know me a lot better than if I never answered one. If I had no children, I would write anyway because you just never know who would be touched by your life. This is a must-have book for anyone wanting to pass some history down because it makes it so much easier to do. This book made it easy enough for me, the single mom with two jobs, to start a personal history!

5 comments about She Said Yes: The Unlikely Martyrdom of Cassie Bernall.

1. In this book, a girl named Cassie Bernall had got shot at her very own school. But she was only one of the many who were killed . Her mom ,Misty Bernall, wrote this book in memory of her loving daughter. In this book, it tells how Cassie grew up and what memories she has left of her daughter. Her mom also interviewed Cassie's friends and put what memories they had left of her, too. Cassie was always writing notes to her friends about how bad her life was and how she wanted to run away. In this book, she shows the notes she had writen them. But in the last note she ever wrote, she gave to her friend right before she died. It had said that she had belived in God. Right before she got shot, she said the same thing. I look up to Cassie Bernall because she is a strong person who sticks up for what she belives in. I know that if I were in her situation, and they had asked me if I belived in God, I probably would have said, "I don't know" and just cooperated with them. But then again, everything does happen for a reason. So maybe she was meant to go. If I had to rate this book out of 10, it would be a 10. I think this book should be required to read because it is a true life story, and it could happen to anybody. I would also love to see the movie.



2. In this book, a girl named Cassie Bernall had got shot at her very own school. But she was only one of the many who were killed . Her mom ,Misty Bernall, wrote this book in memory of her loving daughter. In this book, it tells how Cassie grew up and what memories she has left of her daughter. Her mom also interviewed Cassie's friends and put what memories they had left of her, too. Cassie was always writing notes to her friends about how bad her life was and how she wanted to run away. In this book, she shows the notes she had writen them. But in the last note she ever wrote, she gave to her friend right before she died. It had said that she had belived in God. Right before she got shot, she said the same thing. I look up to Cassie Bernall because she is a strong person who sticks up for what she belives in. I know that if I were in her situation, and they had asked me if I belived in God, I probably would have said, "I don't know" and just cooperated with them. But then again, everything does happen for a reason. So maybe she was meant to go. If I had to rate this book out of 10, it would be a 10. I think this book should be required to read because it is a true life story, and it could happen to anybody. I would also love to see the movie.



3. I feel that even if it wasn't actually Cassie that said I believe this is still so important to show the humanity of the people that were killed. I definately would NOT say it's a Christian myth that the shootings were at least partly blamed on religion. The boys did ask the girl beside her if she believed in God. And what about Rachel Scott. She was shot after confessing her faith. This was not just about trying to kill jocks or popular kids. These boys hated religion and mocked God and basically were saying if you believe in God let him save you. By letting the other girl survive it's almost their sick game of playing God and deciding who lives and dies. It's a terrorist scare tactic. But Cassie did believe in God and right before she was shot she was praying to God out loud to just let her go home. Then one of the boys pounded on the table she was under said peek a boo and shot her. If you don't believe her killing was motivated by her beliefs read Rachel's Tears and be assured it played a big part in who they killed.



4. Because I'm in school to study some form of criminology, I started to research the Columbine shooting about 2 months ago. Having read roughly 500 pages of the Columbine Report (which is basically an 11,000 page report containing interviews and such from the teachers and students that were present at Columbine High School on April 20th, 1999), I knew that Cassie Bernall was NOT asked the infamous "Do you believe in God?" question so when I saw the title of this book, I was a bit curious as to why Cassie's mother would sort of "cash in" on the rumors/myths surrounding the shooting death of her daughter. I bought the book in hopes that it would answer my question. And here is what I learned.
   
   The truth is (and believe me, I'm not trying to preach about my views on religion... I'm trying to express my views on this book by debunking the Columbine myths that make this book not credible), a girl named Valeen was asked the "Do you believe in God?" question. She at first said no, then said I don't know, then said yes. When asked by Eric Harris why she believed in God, her response was something along the lines of "Because that was how my parents taught me". She was shot but survived. The only thing that was said to Cassie was "peek-a-boo". It is highly disturbing in my opinion that the ignorant public (led on by the media) including, apparently, Cassie's mother (in the book she says "People say that nothing happens without a purpose--that perhaps Cassie was fulfilling a divine plan, or that in standing up for her beliefs, she was being used by God to further His kingdom. At a certain level, I take comfort in these thoughts. They give meaning to what others have called a "senseless" tragedy, and remind me that a life cut short need not to be a wasted life."), attempt to make Cassie's death more admirable than the other 12 innocent victims. If Valeen had not survived, I'm sure that people would disregard the fact that she said "no" at first. Because, apparently, being religious makes one's death more honorable than those who are not religious.
   
   Look, the book isn't written badly. However, the title of the book and the deep inferences that suggest Cassie died because of her religion honestly disgust me. Those who do not know the truth behind her death will be lead to believe that she WAS asked the question, said yes, and ultimately paid the price by losing her life. This book is NOT supposed to be fiction. So to write it the way it was written make parts of the book lies.
   
   That being said, had the book been mainly about the alleged question she was asked and her answer, I would have easily given this book 1 or 2 stars. But because Misty explains everything from the highlights AND the lowlights in Cassie's life (including Cassie's struggles with wanting to murder her parents) and she admits that Cassie would be upset that people are labeling her a martyr, I found myself able to get through the book rather quickly. Further, "She Said Yes" made me think about my own life and what I would want people to remember me for. For that, I chose to give this book 3 stars.
   
   I'd recommend this book if you want to learn more about the Columbine massacre. The average person must know, however, that although Cassie might've said yes if she was asked the question, the fact is that she wasn't.



5. The book annoyed me in the following ways:
   1. It's not true, from everything else I've heard and read. Another girl was asked if she believed in God. Not Cassie
   2. She could of made it more exciting, more intense. So we could feel her pain as Cassie's mother, but I felt nothing
   
   I did like it because I did learn about Columbine and how parents figured things out.

5 comments about Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys.

1. Having read a lot from Gemini-thru Apollo, this is by far the best book yet. Collins and the writter do such a great job on details and made for an very interesting read. I wish he would have gone into more detail about him being the only one in the CM when Armstrong and Aldren were on the surface of the moon. To me, that had to be a very interesting place to be. I thought it was great Charles Lindberg wrote a few things in the front of the book. I can add, in addition to this book having read "Failure is not an option" by Gene Krantz add a back drop of technical data to support what these guys did. Seeing how this all works from mission controlls end is a good knowledge to have. Again, a great read and highly recomend it for your library.
   
   Micheal Collins, you were the ticket home.
   
   KLD



2. I've read a fair number of books on Apollo, but not very many astronaut biograpies. I chose this one mostly because of its good reviews on this page!
   
   It's definitely well written, surprisingly humorous, and full of fascinating details on the Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 mission that I had never heard about. (His short descriptions of the other astronauts are particularly funny.)
   
   His book really answers the question: What would it really be like to fly critical missions during the space race? To work with other famous astronauts (not just Neil and Buzz but also John Young)? He makes his nuanced and deep emotions clear throughout, giving the book an "everyman's" perspective.
   
   Can't recommend this one enough.



3. The best (and one of the earliest) book by an Apollo astronaut. Very witty, with candid appraisals of other astronauts. Actually written by the astronaut himself. A must for anyone interested in the Apollo program.



4. I was reading Deke! By Donald K. (Deke) Slayton and Michael Cusset. Deke Slayton was the highly respected chief astronaut and godfather to the astronauts of the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions; In this book, I noted a positive reference to Michael Collins's book Carrying The Fire so I figured this as a must read.
   Michael Collins takes the reader through the stages of astronaut training and spaceship design and his own flights of Gemini 10 and the pioneering Apollo 11 with self- depreciating humour and irony. He manages to present a great amount of technical detail in an easily understood fashion in an articulate, intelligent, flowery, almost British manner.
   With a forward by Charles Lindbergh himself, this book is nearly 500 pages but seems only half that by the man who stood station 60 miles above Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on that historic first lunar landing.



5. Of all the astronaut bios & autobios this one is the best. Michael Collins' style is natural and funny.