5 comments about Neil Diamond: His Life, His Music, His Passion.

1. Very nice book. My wife loved it.



2. This is not a biography. This is how the author thinks he feels about his life, his music, his passion.



3. I received the above mentioned in great condition, and once I started reading I couldn't put it down!!!!!!!!!!! I am a huge fan of Neil Diamond and this book brought me closer to the man himself. Fantastic reading for any Neil Diamond fan.



4. Don't Judge this book by its Cool Cover. I LOVE NEIL but this is a puff piece, way to much of the authors opinion of what Neil thinks. Her opinions of the bands and the era's is a joke. It's like written by the church lady. I hope I can find another book with a more Neilistic view.
   
   I did learn some things but overall I was kinda disappointed and Wanting a whole lot more.



5. I have been a fan of Neil Diamond's since the 1960's and I try to read everything that's written about him.
   
   A good deal of the information in the book I read previously but there was some new information and the author gave a different slant in presenting it.
   
   For a true Neil Diamond fan they will find the book a good read.

1 comments about House of Wits: An Intimate Portrait of the James Family.

1. I loved this book. It is a great read. I could not stop turning the pages. Fisher is an amazing storyteller. I am impressed by his ability to capture scenes and characters.Not only did I learn about the James family, I also learned about this period in American history. Fisher weaves incredible details into his narrative. This book is a delight.

5 comments about Rena's Promise.

1. In my personal opinion, I don't like the Holocaust. When I was assigned to read this book, I just wanted to die. When I was reading it, everything seemed so repetitive. At 4 a.m., Raus. Raus. Then you stand in line to get counted, afterwards you receive your food, and back in line to go work. I'm pretty sure that this is what was really going on at the time and that made me really like the way the story was written. One could really get engaged in the story because of this. The way the author wrote made the readers get into the lives of the workers.
   At the beginning of the story, the reader is reading about an interview that is taking place with a reporter and a holocaust survivor, which is a dead giveaway that the prisoner was going to survive every tragic event that would occur. There can be no surprises because we already know that the main character will always live to tell the tale. There are also pictures of the main character and her sister side by side at a very old age in the middle of the book. By the time the readers get to this point of the novel, the main character's sister seems as though she will get killed at any moment and it is at a very climactic point of the story, but the pictures ruin it all.
   There are also some events in the story that seems a little suspicious and unbelievable. Throughout the entire novel, there is a scarce amount of food, but Rena, the main character, is always giving her food away or sharing it with everyone. Rena always remained looking fit and healthy, even though there was a lack of food intake.
   Being as unbiased as I can be, the book does have its good points. If you are a holocaust fan, you would thoroughly enjoy this story because you really feel like a prisoner. The repetition and the boredom they felt, you will feel. Reading how gruesome the murders took place, your stomach will cringe. The sadness they were going through, you will empathize.
   Personally I didn't like the book, but this was already known because I don't like the holocaust in general, but I still would recommend this novel to anyone. This book was very educational with footnotes of facts that acted like a timeline as the story went on. It is an easy read and very easy to become captivated. If you are a Holocaust enthusiast, I highly recommend this for your collection. If you are like me and don't care for the Holocaust, then this is a book you can do without.



2. I had to pick holocaust memoir book for a college report and while all my classmates did memoirs of men I wanted something different. I found this book at my local bookstore & wasnt too sure about it but decided to try it anyway. I fell in love with it. Her discribtions make me feel like I'm with her in her horror. I felt her emotions as I read the book. I would spend many nights up late reading wanting to know what was going to happen next.



3. I came away from Rena's Promise with a new found respect for people who have experienced racial discrimination. Rena Korneich Gelissen and Heather Dune Macadam did an excellent job of reconstructing Rena's life prior to the Holocaust and what happened as the Allied Powers were beginning to win. Although I never read a novel about any historical issue, Rena's Promise seemed to portray an acquire example of many historical events within that time period. Even though I came away from the novel very pleased, it did possess some limitations. In my opinion the pictures within the book should be at the end of the novel because it takes away from the suspense of surviving her terrible ordeal. If this was put into thought, then the reader would have enjoyed her escape or her survival even more. I also enjoyed the author's use of diction because the reader is able to learn Polish or German words while they are reading, although they may have been hard to pronounce. Nevertheless this is an excellent book about a courageous young lady who went through some horrendous events during the Holocaust, although it was a little far fetch.



4. This is an incredible story of sisters in a concentration camp. I've done a great deal of research into the Holocaust, but never have I come across a book quite like this one. It literally changed my life. I found myself thinking about it for days afterwards, little things reminding me of Rena's story--eating a potato, walking outside with a coat on, seeing a young child playing. I found a distinct connection with Rena, even asking myself if I could do what she did.
   Rena is an astonishing woman who is responsible for her sister surviving Auschwitz. The critic got it wrong when s/he said that Rena's promise was made to her mother to protect the baby; Rena's promise is to her sister, that if her sister is to die in that terrible place, she will not die alone. Rena went through a terrible ordeal to keep them both alive, and to attempt to recount it here would be a great injustice to Rena's story and spirit.
   Read the book. It will change your life.



5. I just started reading this book yesterday, and I must say I am completely intrigued! I do like this type of memoir reading and I love to read about the atroscities of the holocaust. This book is a very easy read and it really captivates you; I haven't wanted to put it down yet!!

5 comments about Out of Sync: A Memoir.

1. As a huge NSYNC fan during their heyday, I had to get this book. I was surprised when Lance announced he was gay, so I was really interested in reading about his experience in the group and how he felt having to hide his true feelings from his fans and bandmates. The book is a very quick read, and doesn't really have any major revelations. A large part of the book talks about the group's formation, their problems with Lou Perlman, etc. and quite frankly, anyone who's a fan of the group has already heard that story numerous times. Still, it's nice to read Lance's perspective on everything in his life. I just got the feeling that he never really delved too deeply into anything, it was more of just "scratching the surface". Then again, he's not even 30 yet, so maybe we can't really expect a deep, life memoir yet.



2. If you like Lance Bass, you will like him even more after reading this book. A refreshing, straight forward memoir of a young man confronting his sexuality. Well written, almost like sitting next to Lance while he tells you about his life up until now.



3. I received this book as a gag gift and read it purely to out-gag my friends (because who really uses gag gifts?). Knowing the book hasn't sold well, I dove into my reading with low expectations. It's possible that I enjoyed the book merely because I wasn't expecting much. Overall I felt that the writing was a bit juvenile, but it was a quick and easy read not without insight. It was interesting to get some perspective on the world of pop stardom- in the midst of teenage obsession it's easy to forget that the objects of one's affection are actual people with actual feelings and emotions. And while pop stars are somehow different from we normal folk, there were some parts of Lance's story that seemed so totally normal and down-to-earth as to make it impossible to ignore the fact that he, too, is human.
   
   I have to agree with other reviewers that I was expecting to read more about Lance being gay and coming out. On the other hand, perhaps it provides hope for equality in society if he can present his coming out and dating life as merely part of his story rather than the whole piece of it.
   
   As a side note, I saw Lance on a float in Mardi Gras. I yelled "I read your book!" in the hopes that that would give him incentive to throw me some beads; alas, it was not to be. So Lance, if you happen to read this... could you throw me something, mister?



4. I must say thank you, thank you, thank you Lance Bass for this fantastic read. Allowing us insight to your world is greatly appreciated. Not once was I bored with this thoughtful book. From start to finish Lance kept me interested and inspired.



5. If you read the review titled "Good Little Read" from October 2007, that pretty much says exactly what I would. Short book, didn't say a lot, kept it clean, didn't provide a lot of details, etc.
   
   I was surprised how short the book is. I got it out of the library Friday evening and finished it in a one and a half days-probably could have finished it less if I hadn't of been working. I thought that this book shouldn't have even been a hardbound, it should have been a supermarket paperback sold at the checkstand. Geez, anybody who pays $25 for this is spending a lot.
   
   I hope he uses his money well, as he will most likely fade into the past and find a second occupation as SO many stars have since the Golden Age of Hollywood and the Big Band era. No different now, except this generation seems to get screwed up easier. Hopefully Lance won't fall into that pit.

5 comments about Miles.

1. MILES reads like a discography with transcribed, unedited interviews; however, a few fantastic observations manage to show up. For example:
   
   "'Bird of the Cool' became a collector's item, I think, out of a reaction to Bird and Dizzy's music. Bird and Diz play this hip, real fast thing, and if you weren't a fast listener, you couldn't catch the humor or the feeling in their music. Their musical sound wasn't sweet, and it didn't have harmonic lines that you could easily hum out on the street with your girlfriend trying to get over with a kiss. Bebop didn't have the humanity of Duke Ellington. It didn't even have that recognizable thing. Bird and Diz were great, fantastic, challenging--but they weren't sweet. But 'Birth of the Cool' was different because you could hear everything and hum it also."
   
   MILES could have been 200 pages shorter and only focused on Davis' thoughts about music--perhaps as a musical memoir?--and it would have said a whole lot more.



2. Not enough can be said about the Music of Miles Davis and it's impact for the rest of time. This book will give any Jazz fan an insight into a fabulous era in Jazz as well as it's evolution. I absolutely love all of his music, the Bands that he put together over the years, and the Musicians that he literally discovered who went on to infamy. But I have to be honest, I just wish that there was a little more to the man in regards to human qualities.



3. Although conventional wisdom may indicate a pathway to genius as a strait line, point A (prodigy) to point B (fame and renown), it's actually one motherf****er of a zigzag. It ain't a matter of black and white neither, although Miles Davis would have you believe that he was in the middle of a race war conducted at his expense where his climb to glory was clouded behind a storm of white critics, corporate America and the perceptions of white Americans (he became the highest paid jazz performer in history). The picture that does come to focus is one of focused dedication, unique intelligence and an astonishing series of musical visions which carry a young dentist's son from East St. Louis to worldwide fame.
   
   Miles takes us on his journey in his own colorful vernacular from day one to the year before his death, a rare, delectible treat in an autobio. Redacted are specific musical methods and cumbursome jazz theory, but the discussion is generous in his crediting others who have come in and out of his bands and contributed to the music he made: Gil Evans, John Coltrane, Dizzy, Bird, Shorter, Hancock, even his own nephew, who he eventually fires. The man is not the loner one might think and thrives in the company of musicians and artists but sadly succombs to the artist's best friend: drug dealers.
   
   His mistrust of the world around him was exacerbated by prodigious drug use and sad realizations of who got what for the art form he helped create. Elvis is tossed aside, "lazy white musicians" performing crap, but he's at his most loquacious when describing his visions of a musical chart for his art and his heartfelt recollection of collaborators gone by, many lost to the same drugs in which he wallowed, many white. The language goes into full bloom as he recounts the many women he either married, had children with or simply bedded. He claims to have never gone after another band member's lady, but anyone else was fair game.
   
   What makes Miles, the book, most appealing is his humanity, his stark feelings on his fellow man and the insight one gets from hearing a smart guy tell his tale of an artist's circuitous journey to legend. Not once do you hear a dishonest note and we're party to a vibrant blueprint that now, after his passing, makes me Kind of Blue.



4. Miles: The Autobiography by Miles Davis and Quincy Troupe *****
   
   
   Miles Davis has always been a fasinating character to me so when I realized that there was an autobiography of him I tracked it down and bought it. While and after I read the book I didn't know what to think. I mean it is not your typical autobiography. It doesn't talk about most of the stuff you would expect him to talk about and when he does talk about it it's very brief and not in depth in the slightest, but at the same time it is still very interesting. The drug addiction, the women, the violence, the racism, everything the man went through is here. Not much is said about his children how ever, I'm not sure if that is purposeful or not but he does say that his sons are "screw ups" so it is all possible that he just didn't give to nothings about them, though when he briefly mentions his daughter he seems very proud of her. So all in all Miles is a great and interesting tale of one of the most important, original, and influential musicians of all time.
   
   My only complaints are that Miles comes across as an ego maniac though he claims he is not several times in the book. The other one is that Miles Davis is one of the biggest and most racist men in all of history. Everything he says about being treated like nothing because he is black is the same way they he treated white people and the saddest part was that he couldn't even see that he was doing it. He claimed that blacks did everything better and white people stole everything. I will admit white people steal a lot, whites are essentially the `vultures of culture' but blacks did not invent everything, whites, Mexicans, and every other race invented things, and just because some one was influenced by it doesn't mean they copied it like he claims. Also just because someone invented something does not mean they do it the best, to even say that applies prejudice. It depends on the person not what color they are. As a musician Miles is killer, but as a person he really just sucked.
   
   So if you can get past this then Miles is a great and interesting read.



5. excellent choice if you want to know the true story. it is amazing how well written (for a musician) it is and how Miles remembered things with an awesome precission.

5 comments about The Paths We Choose.

1. I love this book and I would totally recomend this to any Godsmack fan rock and roll fan or anyone who reads I've always respected Sully Erna as a musician but I now respect him even more as a man because he survived a very bad childhood and he ends up having his dreams come true, this book proves to me and anyone out their if you have the drive and the will you can do anything. totally worth a read anyone who is a reader will love this book. the only downside to the book to me is I just wish he would have had someone re read it because their are so many punctuation, capitalization, and spelling errors that to me is the only problem with the book that aside worth a look no question about it. can't wait for the next book.



2. I know being at an APO, you can't guarantee a timely delivery, but i ordered 4 items at the same time and this was the last to get here, even though it was first shipped. It took 6 weeks to receive this book, i got everything else from my order in 2 weeks or less. To be honest with you, i completely forgot i ordered the book because i gave up and was planning on writing amazon asking where it was at. I have ordered many things from amazon and for the most part they get here very quickly. This is the second time that i had to question why i hadn't received my purchase.



3. I really enjoyed this book. I usually don't read any non-fiction, much less memoir or autobiographies. But Godsmack is one of my favorite bands, I wanted to read this book. Sully takes you through all the ups and downs of his life from early childhood to the early days of Godsmack. I never knew what Sully went thru as a child growing up in Lawrence, Mass. But those events defintily shaped as he grew up into a wil, drug-using rocker. His personal conflicts spilled over to his music, both in good and bad ways. And all of this combined led to Godsmack.
   
   A must-read for any G-smack fan, but also an interesting read for anyone trying to understand the thigns that happen to you happen for a reason, and shape you for the future.



4. Very intense reading. The book makes you want to meet Sully Erna in person. He seems to be a very fascinating figure! Also, the book can be very inspirational. It appeals to any person, in my opinion.



5. The Paths We Choose This book is raw and inspirational. Sully tells his story in an "in your face way" as he brings you along with him on his ride to superstardom. A must read for aspiring musicians and Godsmack fans.

5 comments about Healing from the Heart: A Leading Surgeon Combines Eastern and Western Traditions to Create the Medicine of the Future.

1. This book provides healing for the heart in many ways. It helps patients cope with many illnesses while recuperating among other things.
   
   Click on each hyperlink that follows to check out other excellent books for your reading pleasure and education. Fluctuating Life Let's Talk Africa and More Quest for a Dream: A Life Committed to Progress



2. My parents are fans of Dr. Oz thanks to his being on Oprah frequently. My father had open heart surgery last year & while his heart is healthy now, his health has taken some dips. I bought him this book for support & education regarding his heart health. My dad is 80 years old & only reads the sports page & obits now, but he loves this book - likes the format, language, and explanations. It's given him some comfort & answered some concerns his cardiologist didn't address. Recommended.



3. a real insight into how complementary and integrative medicine works in the hands of a master



4. Gee an open-minded surgeon willing to consider alternative medicine for the benefit of his patients. What a novel idea...and a sad commentary on the current state of Western medicine. It's interesting that in some of the cases the patients were reluctant to try any Eastern techniques. But once they did, both the patient and Dr. Oz found them helpful and healing. This book should be required reading in medical school. If I ever need a heart surgeon, this is the guy.



5. Dr. Oz really has compassion as well as expertise. His medical credentials are superb and his feelings for his patients override everything. I loved reading this book. It fills one with hope.

5 comments about Cosmic Trigger I : Final Secret of the Illuminati (Cosmic Trigger).

1. I was amazed at several of the reviews here which give this book a low rating. They say it was "unreadable", "silly" "garbage" and other such put-downs, just because they were unable to comprehend it. This book has so many levels to it that many people WON'T get it (unfortunately) but just because quantum equations look like a bunch of scribbles to me, I don't go around referring to quantum physics as "silly" "garbage".
   
   This is one of the best books on ontology and the nature of reality for the layman which has ever been written (or at least in the top ten). Please keep in mind, all who would criticise, that just because you yourself were not properly equipped to understand and enjoy this volume, that does not make it drivel. R.A.W., one of the best, at his best.
   
   Rest in peace Mr. Wilson....



2. After reading this book, I tuned in another reality tunnel (you'll understand what I meant after reading the book).
   
   What can I say, I recommend this book to ultimate freedom seekers and the ones(probably the same people) that enjoyed Carlos Castaneda series( especially Journey to Ixtlan).
   
   Great writing, great man, great insight. I'd have to write a book just as a review for this one so I'll stop here :-)



3. "Cosmic Trigger" is worth reading both for its historical value and its relevance today. Many of the important figures of the 60's and 70's, like Tim Leary, J Edgar Hoover and Robert A Wilson, are dead and gone, but the problems they represented are still with us. Permit me to quote one paragraph:
   
   "Paul Watzlavik, among others, has performed classic experiments in which totally sane people will begin to behave with all the irrationality of hospitalized paranoids or schizophrenics - just because they have been lied to in a calculated and systematic way. This sort of 'disinformation' matrix is so typical of many aspects of our society (e.g. advertizing and organized religion, as well as government) that some psychiatrists, such as R.D. Laing, claim it is the principal cause of psychotic breakdowns. When the politics of lying becomes normal, paranoia and alienation become the 'normality' of the day. The government, as the principal liar of the 1960's, was, of course, more deluded than anyone else, since its reality-map had become a classic disinformation system. The establishment began looking around for the villains to blame for the escalating social disintegration. Tim Leary got elected, by unanimous acclaim, Villain #1."
   
   Nominations are now open for Villain #1 of this decade. Osama seems to be leading.



4. Robert Anton Wilson is a very strange man. Here he writes about all
   sorts of things, conspiracies, magic, the occult, weird happenings and
   how lots of things like this tie together and are meaningful. The other
   funny thing is the whole numerology bit, where the number twenty-three
   is seen as being very important, and turns up in all sorts of places.



5. Yes, "far out" are the first and last words that come to my head when I think of this most unique experience of a book.
   
   It's one of my favorite books as I am at a complete loss to classify it. More books should defy categorization like this does. Other reviews will give you details of what it contains.
   
   I'm just going to express my awe at the facility with which Robert Anton Wilson can jump from one subject to another and still consistently hold my interest.

5 comments about To America: Personal Reflections of an Historian.

1. Very good book of brief compilations by a premier historian. What I liked most about many of his brief writings was that Ambrose introduced many contrary, often undiscussed sides of various historical events in history. For those of you interested in reading in depth on many US historic topics, this is a good book to see the flip side of many of the "biased" teachings others may discuss on a topic. What mean by biased is the current school of thought on a subject. Many historians write of America's conquests of the continent as taking away and exploiting the native indians. Ambrose introduces another side through his dealings directly with many native Americans namely that the indains in which the land was taken from, had at one time taken that land from others. Another topics is many of present day hold our founding fathers in contempt of being slave holders. Amborse discusses that this was the norm of the time and some of the founding fathers did trouble over this issue. He continues to say in light of this issue, there were many great things these men did that should never be cast in a shadow.Many of his brief writings in this book will be kept in the back of mind as I continue to explore US history and contrast mainstream train of thought as I read further. Ambrose is also a great story teller often bring that personal touch to each subject which greatly helps the reader relate.



2. It is a shame Ambrose died of cancer. I looked forward to his yearly books in the nineties. Although his last book was clearly a very readable book, it is not his best. It is summary history of what he learned throughout his life. He states his dislike for Nixon, but also states that what he did in holding the country together demonstrated his abilities. His admittance of some of his mistakes shows a truly great historian and gentleman.
   
   If you have read his other books, this is basically a rehash of all his other books. Since I have read many of his books, I did not learn much, but it was a pleasure to read his summary history. This was a quick read on a well liked and great author and historian.



3. This is my favorite book by this author, which is saying a lot since I have enjoyed almost everything he has ever written. This particular book was written a couple years prior to when it died and it gives his honest reflections about America's history. I absolutely love this book. It's not a long read and it's so interesting since Stephen E. Ambrose was such a great historian. His reflections are honest and I agree with a lot of what he says. A great book.



4. I have loved many of Ambrose's books, but this one really brought home to me the debt we have to those who went before. He's not afraid to say someone is not absolutely perfect (i.e. Jefferson) or absolutely evil (i.e. Nixon). But what he does show is that the American way, with a sense of right and wrong, has prevailed up to the end of the 20th Century, and by implication, that sense of right and wrong need to be there for us to continue into the 21st Century.
   
   Thank you, Mr. Ambrose, for this goodbye card to America.



5. Stephen E. Ambrose writes in a descriptive and knowledgeable, yet fun tone that continues to draw readers back to each of his compelling books. "To America" is no exception to this as it shows an interesting view on main historical happenings in the United States from foundation to present day. After reading this book I was left with many new details and actualities about our nations' history. Ambrose sheds a new light on historicalfigures such as the Founding Fathers, Nixon, Theodore Roosevelt, and Andrew Jackson. He gives details about battles so descriptive that the reader feels like they could have been there.
   
   As I read "To America", I gained valuable knowledge that was never covered in any history class. Ambrose explains misunderstood ideas of quite a few important people, often going deeply into detail about their lives and careers. Besides obvious stories and events given about America, Ambrose also writes about his own life as an historian and author.
   
   Anyone who reads this book will feel that they have a new set of facts about American History. With each story told, Ambrose gives the facts that are often skipped over in textbooks or lectures. Ambrose ties this book together with a powerful sense of nationalism and American spirit.
   
   I would recommend "To America" to any reader who is looking for a new, more detailed view on U.S. History. I give it a 4 out of 5 because although it is somewhat long, any reader breezes throughwhile enjoying Ambroses confrontation of Americas successes and it failures. The reader also is able to much better understand the career of a famous and influential historian.

5 comments about When Heaven and Earth Changed Places: Tie-In Edition.

1. I chose this book because, being Vietnamese and having left the country since I was 5, I knew little about the experiences of the war. This was an eye-opening book, and its message of peace and forgiveness, from the very chapter to the last, should be the advice we all must take out of it.



2. Not having lived a very memorable life, my own writing has leaned toward fiction. Nevertheless, I tend to judge memoirs--and this is a good one--by the same standards I use for great literary fiction. One of those standards is the opener, or first line, in this case, "SUFFOCATE HER!" the midwife told my mother when I came into the world.
   
   This is what we in the business call a 'zinger,' the equal of Camus' "Mother died today." or Melville's "Call me Ishmael." What a beginning! On trial for her life right from the git-go. This opener effectively signalled the continuous trials and potential consequences Le Ly would face for the rest of her life. She would have to come from stern stock if she were to survive, and her mother held her genetic end up with her smokin' response to the midwife, "I will bury her when she stops breathing. Now get out of here."
   
   I have been a student of the Vietnam War since I first joined the Army as a chopper pilot in 1967--ironic because I've never set foot in that unfortunate land. I suppose I'm motivated by survivor's guilt. Anyway, Le Ly's fine memoir anchors a good bit of my newly won understanding of that longest and strangest of American wars. Coming from a Republican military family and growing up in the Cold War as I did, I believed at the time that everybody knew about and accepted the Domino Theory. And with my father a Korean War veteran (as well as WWII and Vietnam) I believed that any communists that were brazen enough to encroach from the north could be pushed back with a proper dose of American military muscle. I served in S. Korea myself many years after that war and things seemed to be plugging along rather nicely, thus preserving in my mind the validity of the Domino Theory. Then came Vietnam and the awful realization that we were not invincible. Hell, we got our butts kicked! Initial study from an unbiased source--General Westmoreland--suggested that America didn't lose the war, the South Vietnamese did. And he was right in a sense. Marvin the ARVN was quite content to sit back and let Joe slug it out with the VC and the NVA. I couldn't understand this. How could they take such a lackadaisical attitude about the fate of their nation when they had so much at stake? Did this mean they were for communism??? How could anybody with half a brain be FOR communism? I am not and never have been a practicioner of 'Jane Fonda logic' wherein if America makes a few mistakes, then the injured party must be lily-white, Q.E.D. I could see what rats the VC and NVA were. I knew they were just a front for a repressive dictatorship. Why couldn't the South Vietnamese see that? I was baffled.
   
   Well, along comes a nice lady with the incongruous name of Le Ly Hayslip, who writes a book about those very South Vietnamese who didn't care about their government, or their nation (at least as we Americans tried to define it for them), or to my great surprise, communism or democracy or freedom (again as we defined that term). All they really cared about was getting the rice crop in and raising a few sons to do the same. Then the VC came into their village and beat everybody up, so they felt obliged to follow communism. Most of them didn't really know what that meant, but if the VC would stop beating them up, they'd learn a few songs and dig a few bunkers, then get back to the rice crop. The VC would leave and the Vietnamese Republicans would come in and beat them up again. So they were obliged to pay a few bribes and act 'patriotic' so the new bully would go away and again they could get back to the rice crop. This bizarre pattern only seemed normal to them. Throughout their recent past they had always been plagued by one bully or another--the French with their Morrocan allies, the VC, the NVA, the Republicans, the Americans--they were all the same to them. There was always somebody trying to get between them and their rice paddies. Deep down inside they were as apolitical as the grains of rice they were so diligently trying to harvest. You can eat rice. you can't eat dogma. The rice had fed them for generations. The VC et al. only fed them baloney. I get it now, Le Ly. Thank you.
   
   --Ejner Fulsang, author of "A Knavish Piece of Work." Aarhus Publishing, 2006



3. Le Ly Hayslip has gone through one of the worst wars in American history. And she has lived. Past the rape, past the sexual inequality, past the emotional destruction of her family, past the threats and brushes with death. Le Ly Hayslip now is an accomplished author and owns several real estates throughout California.
   
   This is a powerful memoir and I will not rob it of that. However, the only reason I gave it 3 stars (an "It was OK" rating) instead of 4 is because I feel that Hayslip could have cut out about... maybe 1/6th of the book out and nothing will have been missed. Not that it didn't relate to the story, but Hayslip does occasionally go off about this or that, her re-arrival back to Vietnam as an adult also heads towards the digressing end of the spectrum a lot of time and sometimes she goes from reporting her troubles and potential sympathy to just plain whining. Perfect for the college kid looking to dig as much quotes and intangibles to write an essay (as was I) but as a reader I felt it was too much.
   
   Overall, still an excellent read.



4. An honestly told story by an author able to see both sides. This is a also a story of forgiveness. Her story is a heroic journey and the author gives the reader a perspective into the many ways the Vietnam War has affected Americans and Vietnamese Americans.



5. Recommended by my Vietnamese tour guide in October 2007, this book describes the dreadful plight of those Vietnamese families living on the border between North and South Vietnam in what the Vietnamese term the "American War". During the day, the villagers had to demonstrate allegiance to the South and at night the VC demanded their loyalty. The families would not leave their land as their ancestors are buried there. The authors, Le Ly Hayslip and her son James, describe her experiences in surviving the hell imposed upon her family by the opposing forces and her eventual emigration to the USA. The sequel, "Child of War, Woman of Peace", describes the difficulties she experienced as a Vietnamese in the USA.