2 comments about Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss.

1. I got this book July 1st AM (the day it was released) and once I started reading it I couldnt put the book down.
   
   What I like about the authors style is he never sits on one subject too long and there isnt a moment that I feel like saying "oh this is getting boring".
   
   Being from Brooklyn NY and reading the local newspapers all the time I thought I knew everything there is to know about gaspipe but this book really blew my mind, real stories real crimes that happened not too long ago and the author is very strict about giveng details like street names and other data bringing the book to life even more.



2. ***************************************************************** ANTHONY "GASPIPE" CASSO, FORMER HEAD OF THE LUCCHESE CRIME FAMILY IS CURRENTLY SERVING *THIRTEEN* CONSECUTIVE LIFE-SENTENCES "PLUS" 455 YEARS IN THE ADX FLORENCE PRISON, THE SUPERMAX PRISON IN FLORENCE, COLORADO.
   ******************************************************************
   
   Anthony was born into the "life", a synonym for being a Mafioso. His Father, Michael Casso's nickname was "Gaspipe" because he always carried an eight-inch length of lead gaspipe that he used like a blackjack, or held in his fist to add additional destructive power when he threw a punch. Anthony inherited his Father's nickname and it was attached to him for life. His Father took him everywhere with him including the mafia "social-clubs" where he learned firsthand how a man of "respect" was treated. Anthony said "his best friend in life was indisputably his Father." It was only natural that while other kids his age dreamed of being doctors, lawyers, or firemen, Anthony dreamed of being a "made-man". "Gaspipe" became part of an organization filled with men with names like: "Kid Blast", "Crazy Joe", "Ducks", "Mad Dog", "Blackout", "The Horse", "Sally Dee", "Beansy", "The Bull", "Fat Pete", "The Bug", "Pep", "The Iceman", "Quack Quack", "The Chin", and countless others.
   
   "Gaspipe" grew from an independent criminal with his own crew originally specializing in "B&E" (breaking and entering) into a full-service killing/torturing/bank-robbing/money-making machine whose talents were highly coveted by all the mafia families. Despite offers from multiple "families" "Gaspipe" chose the Lucchese family. In rapid fashion "Gaspipe" became known as a man of his word who shouldn't be messed with, as he would just as soon kill you, as allow you to become a bothersome loose end he may have to fret about. Just as important as all of that, is the fact that he became an envied "EARNER". By the very nature of the way the mafia did business, it would be logical that the La Cosa Nostra would be infested with cold-blooded murderer's... but within this select group Casso stood out, and was feared and respected as a "SECRET SWEEPER." "GASPIPE" KILLED THOSE WITHIN THE MAFIA'S COMMUNITY WHO NEEDED KILLING. HE WAS "A-KILLER-OF-KILLERS". Concurrently with the rapidly growing number of murders, Casso like most other "made-men" were loving Fathers and husbands, and families were always of utmost importance, creating perhaps the greatest dichotomy within the La Cosa Nostra.
   
   The mafia commission did not want any of the families involved in drugs. Not because of any altruistic values, but because the punishment was too severe. One mafia member "faced twenty to twenty-five years in jail-basically a life sentence" for selling a pound of coke. The old-school mafia leaders felt men so condemned, would be tempted to turn on their own. Despite the mafia ban on drugs, many members sold drugs "off-the-record", and none did it more successfully than "Gaspipe"! He was selling so much grass, cocaine and heroin, that "he bought three shrimp trawlers to bring more grass over from South America, and trucks with secret compartments to transport the grass. He even bought a 707 cargo plane to bring drugs over from South America. This was in addition to his growing fortune from his B&E crew, loan sharking, drug dealing, no-show jobs at the docks, and an interest in five after-hour clubs.
   
   The mafia was starting to change, as unauthorized internal "hits", such as the John Gotti organized murder of Gambino boss Paul Castellano highlighted; century old rules were being broken. A power struggle between Gotti and "Gaspipe" that involved respect and old-school ways, as much as anything else, led to a failed assassination attempt on September 16, 1986 when Casso was shot six times, but "Gaspipe" escaped death. "Gaspipe's" plan of "REVENGE" included mafia "owned" cops and mafia "owned" FBI agents leading "Gaspipe" to the failed assassin. Twenty-two days later the "mafia-cops" delivered a car to Casso with a package in the trunk. Casso drove the car with his gift in the trunk to a "safe-house" and opened the trunk. "Trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey was a big, blonde-headed man. His wrists and ankles were cuffed tightly, his mouth taped shut. When he saw Casso, his eyes nearly popped out of his head, cartoonlike." Casso lifted him out of the trunk, carried him into the house, and laid him on a tarp covered floor. "Gaspipe" would not rest till he found out who ordered the "hit". "He took out a knife and cut off the victim's clothes. He drew out a 16 shot .22 automatic fitted with a silencer. He didn't want to kill him, but he wanted to make him suffer, make him talk." "With a hand as steady as a diamond cutter's, Casso began the torture. The first bullet he put through the victim's left kneecap, the next through his right knee, and the third through the space midway between his ankle and knee. POW! POW! Suddenly there were bullet holes in each of the victim's shins. He then took aim at the space where Christ had been crucified, the area just above the metatarsals, and fired. The man furiously twisted and turned to no avail. The amazingly well-placed .22 slugs continued to drill holes in him-the left and right elbows, the wrists, and the shoulders were pierced. Satisfied that he had hit most of the major bones of the man's body, Casso moved on to his large muscles. He shot holes in the biceps, the calves, the thick thigh muscles. He then scrupulously took sight of the folded mushroom that was his "manhood". He pulled the trigger. The man's shriveled up sex organ seemed to explode. It was suddenly no more. Calmly Casso reloaded the gun. He would leave the man alone for a while; he'd allow the wounds to swell and fester, the symphony of pain to begin... a Beethoven's fifth of suffering." "Silently, with the quiet stealth of a large cat, Casso turned and walked away, feeling whole and complete for the first time since he'd been shot. When, several hours later, Casso returned, be began the questioning... "WHO", he demanded in little more than a growl, "hired you?"
   
   Today the mafia is basically no more. What happened? The simple code... the entire heart... of what the entire mafia had been built on... oh so many years ago... the most powerful word in organized crime for generations... **** "OMERTA" **** "THE CODE OF SILENCE"****... existed no more! More Mafia rats began "singing" in the last decade-and-a-half, than had sung in every opera since time immemorial. If only all the "made-men" and their associates had truly taken to heart the old organized crime mantra:
   
   ********************************************************************
   "IF ALL THE FISH IN THE SEA KEPT THEIR MOUTHS SHUT, THEY'D NEVER GET CAUGHT!"
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5 comments about A Rare Breed of Love: The True Story of Baby and the Mission She Inspired to Help Dogs Everywhere.

1. Baby's story is a must- read for dog lovers everywhere. Unfortunately, her story is not unique, it is the story of all the pure-bred dogs and designer dogs you see all over the place---the ones from the pet store or the internet seller. The truth is they are from horrific puppy mills. Thank goodness Jana Kohl has not only given Baby a wonderful life, but she has been inspired to write a poignant and moving account of her journey from being a prisoner of greed in a canine supermax prison to a loving home.
   
   Bravo Jana, for writing such a beautiful book. I know it will inspire millions of people to make the only ethical choice when bringing a companion animal into one's heart and home, to adopt a four-legged friend from your local shelter. We all salute Baby on her national book tour and wish her the success she deserves!
   
   Carole Raphaelle Davis
   www.hollywoodjinky.com



2. Jana Kohl is a hero and is such an inspiration. I would never go into another pet store after reading her book. Everybody should read this book; besides being educational it is extremely well-written. I think if enough people are enlightened by her book, it can really make a difference in the lives of so many dogs and cats, and other animals as well. I'm buying this book for all of the animal lovers I know!



3. A Rare Breed Of Love is a beautifully written book, one that WILL touch your heart each and every time you turn the pages. This book is a wonderful tool for education about the cruetly of puppy mills. Give this book to everyone you know who loves dogs. Reach out to stop this horror. I was lucky enough to meed Baby and her 'Ma', what an incredibly beautiful and sweet girl. This is probably one of the most important books written about animal advocacy.



4. I purchased this book on a trip to Costco - having no intentions to shop other than routine groceries --- then the CUTE dog on the cover compelled me to open and browse. Not only did I stop and look inside - I purchased 3 copies to give to my fellow animal lover friends.
   
   This canine biography works on so many levels with the endearing photos of pro-animal activists and citizens - but most of all - telling the story from the point of view through Baby's eyes brings home the agony of the suffering caused by puppy mills. Credit should also go to the Oprah show for devoting air time to this sad subject giving it the attention it deserves with Lisa Ling's in-depth puppy mill profile. I believe Baby was a featured guest on that show - so I was moved to see the photos in this book.
   
   Jana - Keep up the good work on your mission to educate people to the suffering inflicted by our fellow humans - I agree with Andy Rooney's quote - "the average dog is a nicer person than the average person" - how sad but true!
   
   Buy this book to share with family and friends ... most of all don't forget to spay and neuter your pets.



5. One of the best stories I have read in a long time, I highly recommend it.

5 comments about Persepolis Boxed Set.

1. I was really expecting the film that came out of this book and I have finally seen it. It is one of the greatest disappointments I have lived in a movie-theater for quite a while, all the more because I was expecting a lot from it. But I should have known better. The subject is too serious to be treated so lightly, yes lightly. What are her father and mother doing in Iran for them to have that much money, that comfort if not luxury, that durability that enables them to survive all regimes, all revolutions, all coup d'etat, when it is not simple religious putsches, and where did they get the money to enable her to live for several years in Vienna? The whole film becomes a collection of clichés, most of them purely existential. Let me give a couple. Cliché, the quotation of Lenin or Bakunin or some other names that bring nothing to the mind. Cliché, her boyfriend in Vienna who discovers he is gay and the relation is finished because of it: you have to be seriously concentrating on sex and only sex to make friends with someone and drop him as soon as he discovers himself unable to fulfill the sexual part of the relation. What about his personality, his originality? What about love and friendship in all that? Then the next one is seen in two directions and each one is a cliché: on one side he is a saint who ends up in bed with another girl; on the other side he is a monster who exploited the girl all along. She sure was a sucker and a dummy. But what does it bring to the film, to the story, to the ideas the film conveys, if it conveys any articulated idea? The point is not to say that the West sold weapons to both Iran and Iraq. That's normal since we are in a market economy and business is business: if I don't sell my weapons, my neighbor will sell his. So, what must I do? After all a French exocet missile was very effective in the Falkland Islands war in the 1980s ... against the English. If Kellog refuses to sell his corn flakes to me, I will buy the corn flakes of any other brand. But what were the causes of this war? Why did Iran and Iraq manage to start a war between them two instead of finding a normal solution through discussions and negotiations? The film seems to express some kind of nostalgia for the good old days when there were two clear cut sides. Unluckily the old USSR has disappeared, but not one word about the support Iran provided, along with the CIA among others, to the anti-soviet fighters in Afghanistan. This film is simplistic but it deals with extremely important issues, so it does not have the right to be that simplistic. Politics cannot be reduced to that superficiality. And the future of Iran is not in Paris. It is Tehran.
   
   Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris Dauphine & University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne



2. I read these books consecutively - having bought them as a box set - and I really enjoyed them. It gives us a genuinely intimate portrait of what life was like growing up in Iran, first under the Shah's right-wing dictatorship, then during the Islamic revolution which led to a clerical state and through the war with Iraq. The two-part memoir takes us from 1980 when Marjane was 10 years old through the 1990s when she's become a woman who had endured exile at a young age and a return to her country.
   
   Because these are illustrated novels there isn't as much depth as there would be in a traditional novel. The characters aren't fleshed out in the narrative because we have the visual element available. And the visual element is wonderful. Through the relatively simple drawings the fear, turmoil, frustration and even humor of Marjane and her friends and family are easily identified and enrich the story tremendously.
   
   At first I had a problem with the writing style - with the direct and simple prose. However, the more I read the more I became comfortable with the style, pacing and rhythm.
   
   I would definitely recommend that these books be read together as a valuable introduction an overview of the history and traditions of Iran, as well as for the wonderful story of a little girl growing up in an impossibly complex and frightening environment.



3. In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi tells a story in words and pictures of her life in Iran. The first book covers Satrapi's life from early childhood, until 14, when she leaves to study in Austria, and the second book covers her time in Europe, and her return to life in Iran up to her late 20s. This period covers the last years of the Shah, the revolution that overthrew him, the consolidation of the Islamic Republic, the war with Iraq, and through to the present. A tumultuous time indeed.
   
   You would expect any account of growing up in Iran in the last generation to be heartbreaking and terrifying, and Satrapi's story is, but it is also funny in a grim sort of way that can only be told from inside a nightmare. Most impressive is that the author does not spare herself. She writes as unflinchingly about her own flaws, petty cruelties and bad decisions as she does about those of all those around her. The lessons learned are not idealized, and sometimes they are only partially learned, so her travel through life feels very real and very human.
   
   Part of the appeal of the story to Westerners, of course, is that Marjane is a very modern Iranian woman. Raised in a very modern family that is upper middle class by Iranian standards, she struggles with social mores and the education system and we root for her because Westerners (particularly Americans) love stories about individuals overcoming adversity to become their own person. But that doesn't explain all of the story's appeal. What makes it so satisfying is the insight into the issue of modernity, and how it manifests through the life of a interesting and all too human character. We come to understand that being modern and being Western aren't the same thing. The West is an undeliably strong influence on Marjane and other modern Iranians, but in the story, simply copying Western ways proves unsatisfying at a minimum, and sometimes disasterous.
   
   Ultimately, the story is about finding -- actually creating -- a life that is both modern and Persian. It is a tortorous path, and one that Marjane often has to tread alone. Marjane's friends follow the regime's draconian moral code in public, but break out the party life in private. Yet Marjane eventually comes to see this as a kind of adolescent rebellion against a parental force that cannot, at present, be overcome. An incident that illustrates this is her revelation to her closest friends that she's having sex with her boyfriend. Their shock and disapproval jars her into the realization that modern is a relative concept even amoung modern Iranians.
   
   Marjane weathers her trials and emerges with a sort of wisdom. We admire her for it because she earned it the hard way. But we also hope, fervently, that people like Marjane will thrive, for they are the ones who will lead Iran into the future.



4. I loved every minute reading this book. Being a comic or graphic novel, whichever one prefers, I was both invested in the life of Marjane Satrapi as well as the illustrations. The drawings really brought the whole story to life with her incredible enthusiasm of how the expressions on the faces really matched what was being said. The story of her life is so compellingly told that one is caught up in her passions and pains.
   
   I just loved it! I laughed with her. I cried with her. I cheered her on! She is a woman with a unique voice, both in her experiences of standing up for herself by being straightforward and blunt (and quite rational in her reasoning), but also in her own narrative. It is swiftly told, but not leaving it too general or to overlook any of the details. Being a Westerner and having little knowledge of Persian history, it was actually a very welcome introduction to what has happened in the Middle East. She is roughly my age so I identified with her and the time period she grew up in (despite the social climates being so different).
   
   Satrapi tells the story of things from her point of view. What I did enjoy about it was that she was fond of her own country, but also recognized its own shortcomings. Her fears were real and she stood up to them when she felt it most necessary. She challenged authority at every corner. And, if you ask me, she won!
   
   But I think what also moved me was that is was told in a graphic narrative. The illustrations, as I said, were spot on. I think her style of art supports her story and helps relate the happenings much better than if were just a book. To me it made the book more enjoyable and humorous.
   
   It has just been released as a movie and I am excited to see the film as it matches the style of book perfectly. I don't see anyone who reads even the first 20 pages would be able to stop. I am glad someone suggested the books for me to read as I now want to buy a copy for myself.



5. What a fantastic graphic novel! If you normally don't read graphic novels (or comic books), don't be afraid, the pictures won't hurt you and the stories are only enhanced by this format. Buy the box set because the first book will only leave you wanting more.
   
   The books are composed of short stories of events in the author's life. Some of them seem really simple, but they all have an underlying message. It may be simply pointing out the joy of moment's of rebellion (getting an Iron Maiden poster was a huge deal to this girl!), or much more serious commentary on the imprisonment and execution of family or friends. Each story is short but each provides a picture into life in Iran in the late 1970s and 1980s.
   
   I confess to know nothing about Iran or its history. These books have introduced me to a culture that is both old and new. A lot of the extreme conservative movement is really quite young as you learn in this book and the stories show you that the people of Iran are like any other. Marjane wants what any young girl wants these days - freedom to pursue her dreams and self-expression. It is surprising to find that many Iranians felt this way in the 1970s. You also start to understand the patriotism that people in Iran have - not necessarily for the tyrants in charge but for the culture that has existed for so long. It is similar to how many feel today in the U.S. - you can be a patriot despite disagreeing with the policy of the country's leaders.
   
   The illustrations are very simple in form but have a great impact. For example, you feel the oppression that beards have when drawn as almost a wall of black bearded chins. The emotion is conveyed very well in these simple drawings.
   
   I recommend this book to anybody, even if new to the idea of graphic novels. By the way, some of the best literature comes out in this format.

5 comments about Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story.

1. Dr. Ben Carson came from humble beginnings. The story provides a easy read of Dr. Carson's rise to his position at John Hopkins. He was influenced by role models and discussed in detail how his Mother with a grade school education didn't give up on her sons. She provided the platform for her sons to succeed. Dr. Carson discusses his own struggles as a youth of "fitting-in" with the in crowd and eventually changing his disposition to become the best student he can be.
   
   The book elaborates on the goals he obtained, his med-school experience and his more memorable cases during his tenure at Hopkins. Dr. Carson explains his walk in Christianity and as a faith-based Doctor, prays for direction and understanding through surgical procedures and the healing of his patients. He is a true role model and embraces his position to help others to achieve their goals. You can't help but to feel motivated and move toward your goals and dreams after reading this book.



2. One wouldn't expect someone who came from a poor, single-parent home, and with failing grades in school, to eventually become one of the greatest neurosurgeons in history. Gifted Hands, written by Ben Carson with Cecil Murphey, chronicles that man's journey, the journey of Ben Carson. Throughout the book, his captivating style and amazing story make his determination to be the best contagious.
   
   What stands out most is how he tells his story. He begins by telling narrative of what was happening and what he was thinking, and then switches to dialogue at key moments to allow us to imagine these incidents and characters as if we were really there. This approach to storytelling gives the book an easy-to-read quality that is hard to resist. It is his positive outlook on life, an "I can do anything I set my mind to" attitude, however, that makes his book truly irresistible. To hear the odds he was up against, the determination he had to conquer them, and the vast level of success he achieved inspires one to always do his best in everything, too.
   
   The book Gifted Hands proves that Ben Carson is not only gifted with his hands. He is gifted with his words too. This book captures Ben Carson's humble spirit and attitude as he accomplishes feats no man thought possible, yet never considers himself any more than an ordinary man who uses what he has for God's glory. I highly recommend this book.



3. Gifted Hands by Ben Carson is an autobiography about a young man from the ghetto who, with the help, the guidance and prayers of his mother, was able to excel in college and medical school and become the Chief Pediatric Neurologist at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. His strong faith is a testament to how we can rely on the Lord.



4. This book has not only allow me to change my outlook on life, but I have also developed a more positive attitude towards myself. This is a very inspiring book and I wish there were more books on the market like it. These are the books children should be reading in class to help build their self-esteem.



5. Amazing, this man knew what he wanted to do at an early age, with his Mother's hard work, he was able to fulfill his dream.

5 comments about Possible Side Effects.

1. I love this guy's writing style. Very entertaining, comfortable reading, very funny. I just hope some editor does not screw up his conversational writing style.



2. I was a little worried when I started reading "Possible Side Effects," because the first couple of chapters are kind of slow going. However, I am a big fan of everything Augusten Burroughs has ever written, and this book is no exception. It didn't take long for the pace to pick up and for me to start laughing my ass off. This book isn't a full-length memoir like "Running with Scissors" or "Dry." It's a collection of humorous stories, very similar to "Magical Thinking." Burroughs shares stories from his disturbing childhood all the way through to his present-day, slightly more normal (but still incredibly quirky) life. The stories aren't arranged in any particular order, and there are some really, really good ones in here. My hands-down favorite chapter is "Moving Violations," which describes the author's experiences driving around with his friend Druggy Debby during his teenage years, startling bad drivers by flashing them with enlarged photos of hard-core porn. (I laughed so hard reading that part, my husband actually stepped away from his computer game to see what the hell what was so funny. That is HUGE.)
   
   If you want to read a book written by America's funniest and cleverest writer, "Possible Side Effects" is for you.



3. I am sure that this was a writers device, but right about when the stories got really interesting, they ended. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.



4. This is by far one of the funniest books I have ever read. After reading Possible Side Effects I decided to buy as many books by Augusten Burroughs as I could.
   I highly recommend this book to anyone with a twisted sense of humor. You will laugh out loud and repeat the stories to your friends, I promise.



5. I own a copy of this book and found it hilarious, so I thought it'd be fun to listen to it while I'm working out or doing housework or whatever. I was wrong.
   
   While Mr. Burroughs writing style is breezy, sarcastic, and hilarious, he can't read worth a damn. It's not his fault. He's never purported to be an actor, but for some reason here he is. I guess it's supposed to be a selling point that an author reads his own work, but what about when the author reads adult material as if he's reading to a group of schoolchildren? (And not ironically, either.) It's like a jr. high school play, where you sometimes have to strain to understand what the speaker is saying. Even though it's in English, words are sing-songy or run together, the pauses plentiful and misplaced, and emphasis is placed on every second or third word.
   
   JE-sus.
   
   I wish someone had had the sense to be honest with Mr. Burroughs and suggest hiring voice talent after hearing the first set of his recordings. As it is, I had to give up somewhere in the middle of the second essay. I couldn't stand to hear his excellent source material bungled so badly.

5 comments about Comfort: A Journey Through Grief.

1. How can one recommend a book that is so sad? Many people would shy away from reading a book about the death of a child. But by not reading Hood's journey through grief, one would miss so much.
   
   Hood's journey, like that of every parent who has lost a child, will never end. It will just get less raw, although at times it will still overwhelm. I do not think I have ever read anything more heartfelt, more eloquent, more full of what a parent goes through when the worst has happened.
   
   Hood's voice is so real and so compelling. I read this book in one sitting, until 2 AM, and was so worn out when I finished. Not because it was 2 AM but because of the emotion I had experienced. I wished that I was able to reach out an hold this grieving family in my arms and make it better. But it will never get better for them.



2. If you have ever lost a child or know someone who has, this is a must read. It is the real deal, no sugar and its not one of those books that says to simply turn to God and you will be alright or go to therapy and you'll be cured of your pain. Read this book and you will feel better about how you are feeling and dealing with the pain of losing your child. Its been 8 years since we dealt with the death of a 10 year old to leukemia and this was the best book I've read.



3. This book is written by a mom who watched her daughter die, of a rare bacterial infection, after only two days. It is powerful, honest, raw, and wise. I am social worker who often works with dying children and their parents. I learned a great deal from the author, as Hood shared, in vivid detail, so much about her experiences, her needs, what she longed for, what did and didn't work and what would have been helpful to her. Hood spoke about the pain she experienced in the hospital, such as her child being ripped away from her and screaming at her child through the glass of her hospital room. There are many other vivid details I will not share, since I do not wish to spoil the book!! Readers will feel as if they were walking through the experience of Hood's loss and her child's death. Readers will also feel as if they were experiencing Hood's healing. Hood does not write about her healing as if it were some magical experience. She does not pretend there are easy steps to take. She is realistic about grief and the intense toll is takes on one's life. She is realistic about the time it takes to begin any type of recovery. Hood speaks directly about the pressure grievers experience to "get better" or to "get over" their grief and the damage this can cause in relationships and within the griever. Her words can be very validating to the bereaved. I think any reader will learn a great deal from Hood. Her book is moving, humbling, and inspirational. It had a wonderful ending, with some amazing surprises. I could not book this book down and I am passing it along to many friends! I strongly recommend it to you!!!



4. I have read three of Ann Hood's books and "Comfort" is her best. She is a very good writer, making small moments (like eating pasta or singing Beatles' songs) poetic and uplifting. Her unique gift is that she can write about horrific moments (she has experienced a lot of loss) with an evocative touch. This book has the beauty of a well delivered eulogy. The obvious comparison is to "The Year of Magical Thinking," but in some ways I liked this book even more. It is one of the best I've read this year.



5. I have always enjoyed Ann Hood's contributions to magazines as well as her books. This book on loosing Grace is a heartbreaker. She gives us insight to her grief, and how people try to climb back out of this deep,dark hole. Grace was a special child and so grownup in ways! A womanchild, I suppose. I could not help but to love her also.

5 comments about Thunderstruck.

1. Thunderstruck, by Erik Larson, reviewed by Sandy
   
   Once again Erik Larson manages to weave two seemingly unrelated stories into one compelling and suspenseful narrative. A work of non-fiction, Larson paints a graphic picture of England between 1900 and 1910, during the short reign of Edward VII. The beloved Queen Victoria is dead, the memory of Jack the Ripper still sends shivers up the spine, new inventions create both fascination and fear, and there is the threat of war against Germany.
   
   Against this backdrop, Guglielmo Marconi brings his wireless invention to London and begins the long process of proving the validity of wireless telegraphy, finding funding, and attaining his goal of sending wireless messages across the Atlantic. There are many competitors with greater scientific background than Marconi, and he has made some enemies who would delight in seeing his comeuppance. This alone would make a fascinating story, but the addition of a murder mystery heightens the suspense.
   
   Hawley Crippen, trained in homeopathy, has come to London to further his career in the development of patent medicines. His bugged eyes accentuated by thick glasses and his gentle, soft-spoken manner make him a man easily passed over. His wife, Cora, having unsuccessfully pursued fame in musical shows in America, eventually joins him in London. She takes the stage name of Belle, and again tries her hand a variety shows. A large, voluptuous woman, her public demeanor is one of great cheer and friendliness. Few are aware of her bouts of unreasonable anger directed at her husband. When Belle suddenly disappears, her friends doubt the story Crippen gives, and once Scotland Yard gets involved, a murder victim is discovered - or rather, various parts of. What remains cannot be identified as male or female, but there are clues. Could this be Belle? Is it possible that the meek Crippen is capable of such a methodical and thorough dismemberment?
   
   And how on earth do these two stories become one? Read for yourself. This a book you want to buy and pass on to friends.



2. I've come to watch for Larson's books as I've enjoyed his past histories. This one came highly recommended, but it wasn't as good an entry as his other books.
   
   The book looks at a murder that occurred in the late Victorian Era in England, and the impact that the advent of the wireless had on closing this case. Larson spends a good amount of time giving the background of both the people involved in the murder, and the development of the wireless by Marconi. Marconi's work and attitude are interesting, as he really wasn't a scientist, but rather a tinkerer/inventor who managed to create something that proved vital to the communication needs of the world. Unlike Edison, who invented a variety of things most of his life, Marconi only did the one, and he didn't try to understand the science behind it...and that cost him.
   
   The work done by the police in England was phenomenal. It's important to appreciate the amount of sheer dogged investigation that was done to bring Crippen back to stand trial. In our current world where everything must be immediate (like processing DNA on CSI), we forget how much time and effort was spent by both policemen and physicians in proving a case.
   
   The book was a bit confusing, as one chapter would be on Marconi's work, and the next on Crippen and his wife. But the 'timing' of each chapter would be off. Larson would have to go back to explaining how the technology of the wireless was achieved, while the Crippen case would run ahead. A bit disconcerting...
   
   Karen Sadler



3. Did you see my review of Erik Larson's "Devil in the White City"? Every superlative used there goes double for "Thunderstruck". There are some shortcomings, of course.For example, Larson spends a great deal of time fleshing-in his characters,but little time fleshing-in the history of telegragh technology( the conventional telegraph was developed after Hans Christian Oerstead discovered electrical magnetism could move a charged needle, in 1820).He mentions Morse code, but little about the man it's named for( Samuel F.B. Morse made the first practical telegraph in 1837, using a code that used dots and dashes to indicate numbers, groups of which indicated letters, NOT the system that bears his name).



4. The stories of Crippen and Marconi are disappointingly disconnected. Larson fails to achieve the suspenseful story-telling that made The Devil in the White City a hard book to put down.



5. Larson takes forever to get to the story, which is a stretched point, at best. He spends way too much time on painstaking details for setup, most of which go nowhere, and very little time fleshing out the climax of the story, which he fairly breezes over. Haven't read his other book, but judging by this effort, the man does not know how to tell a story. Painfully and woefully disappointed! Hours of my life I'll never get back again.

5 comments about Lucky: A Memoir.

1. This book is powerful. I think every high school student should read it, boys and girls. The topic of rape needs to be discussed and understood by young and old people alike. This book really portrays all parties in a "human" light and it's truth is what makes it so powerful. I can't say enough good things about the writing style and the ease of reading, all the while, it draws you in and keeps you interested. Fantastic book!



2. Lovely Bones led me to this book. I really didn't want to read a book about rape, but I'm glad I did because it is so much more. The story is delivered masterfully and written with skill. Read this book for the writing.



3. 
   I don't recommend this book to anyone who enjoys prose or literature. Sebold's use of a stripped down, matter-of-fact tone desensitizes her story. Though her rape was a traumatic event, I couldn't feel for her. Perhaps it was her intent not to draw out feeling to avoid pity but personally, I think it was uneffective in conveying her complete story because a memoir needs an emotional plot as well.
   
   I wanted to put down this book before I was even half way though there were still many unfinished subplots like the conviction of her rapist.
   
   I would expect this book in the children's/ preteen section if it weren't for the detailed account of the rape.



4. Lucky is a thought provoking book that helps readers understand rape from the victim's perspective. Written in an honest manner, it explores the rational and sometimes irrational reactions of everyone involved - whether victim, friend, or family member.
   
   Seabold opens the book with a vivid description of her brutal rape. Initially, this makes it a difficult read because it forces readers to live through a brutal act. However, it also helps to expose a reader's preconceived notions and biases. Seabold describes her struggles to return to a normal life and she honestly discusses societal issues that favor the criminal and penalize the victim. This is a good read for anyone looking for some insight into a difficult issue.



5. From the opening pages, Sebold tells the reader a truly horrifying story of her rape in accurate and quite graphic detail. And whilst horrified at what she has endured, you want to read more - to see how someone survives an attack like that, and what life is like for a rape victim in the hours, days and week afterwards. I couldn't put this book down - a combination of great writing and admiration for the author, made this a compelling read.

5 comments about Shattered Dreams: My Life as a Polygamist's Wife.

1. I struggled throughout the entire book to find some empathy for Irene and her situation. I never found it. She made a choice to marry into a polygamous relationship, and she spent about 375 pages too many complaining about it. She forever complained about not being the special wife, the favorite, and so forth, but does she forget that she was Verlan's second wife?? It should make for a very short discussion at our book club.



2. This is one of the best books I've ever read and I've read alot. I felt like I was right there with her going thru the joy the pain and anger of being trapped in her religous hell. I kept wanting her to see the light and get herself and her babies and get out of there. I also found myself feeling somewhat sorry for her husband at times because all and all he was somewhat caught up in the trap also along with the other wives. I would definely recommend this book to anyone who likes a down to earth author with warmth and humor.



3. Irene's account of polygamy in general and how she survived and overcame it is an incredible life story. A talented producer and director need to get together and turn this into a blockbuster movie for the world to see and understand what happens to people when their lives are planned from the minute they are born, and their thinking controlled. I agree with another reviewer that this book should be in all book clubs.
   Should any movie producers be lurking, my choice for Irene would be Jennifer Garner....and not only for the facial resemblance. I believe she has the talent to take the viewer from the lowest of Irene's trials to the heights of her exuberance, and everything in between. I also think Jude Law, if he would dare, could excellently portray the sometime witty, charming,religious,strict,overbearing,cold,and kind Verlan LeBaron. If anyone should want to make this book into a film, they must not deviate from the story and its locales. To do so would ruin it.



4. This was the first of 3 books about the FLDS I have read recently. I constantly had to remind myself that the events took place in the 50s when "woman's place" and "role" were entirely different from today's. I got so angry with Irene Spencer at times for just not "kicking his backside" from here to eternity! I found this book extremely interesting not for the fact of Irene's questioning or rebellion, but for the mindset and the thinking of an FLDS woman. It gave me a great deal of insight into a timely topic that I knew little about except what I had seen on TV.



5. I read this book hesitantly. Do I really want to know about all the suffering in a lifestyle so alien to me? Irene did such a wonderful job, I was angry, in tears,and ended with just complete joy and tears in her new found faith which came as such a surprise. What a story of human suffering and perserverance and complete triumph. Truly wonderful, would definitely recommend a hundred times over!

3 comments about Alpha Dogs: The Americans Who Turned Political Spin into a Global Business.

1. In the early 1980's, I remember walking into the Manhattan offices of Sawyer Miller on East 60th Street, and wondering what went on beyond its reception desk's wall of television monitors. Were they part Madison Avenue, part CIA and NSC? Who were these green beret alpha dogs who parachuted into campaigns to save the day? How did a Mayflower descendant/son of a shoe company exec (Sawyer) team up with the son of a shoe salesperson (Miller)? How did Miller, the man credited with "Coke is it," "Have a Coke and a Smile," and "Great Taste, Less Filling" end up selling candidates to American and international voters? Now I know. James Harding explains the history of modern political consulting, and gives detailed accounts of the growth of the self confident Sawyer Miller Group, its tactics, clients, successes, speeches, ads, and failures, and its growth around the world and effects on international elections. It is a fascinating read. At times their negative ads turned off voters, but engaged others; some were informative, others were created to "relate" to the voter, and sometimes their clients political and corporate clients lost, proving that ads are not always magic potions. As for going negative: the author tells us that even Thomas Jefferson went negative against George Washington in 1796, and Cicero, in 63 BCE, wrote about how it is delicious to go negative against your opponent when running for political office.
   
   The author writes on how Sawyer Miller's clients ranged from the Dali Lama and Vaclav Havel to Lech Walesa, Shimon Peres, Puerto Rico's Colon, Chile's Valdes, Ecuador's Borja, Bolivia's "Goni,"and Corey Aquino, and from Chris Dodd, Jane Byrne, and Scoop Jackson to Bruce Babbitt, as well as saintly domestic clients and international rogues known for alleged torture tactics. They worked for Amex, Drexel, BAT, Goldman, Resorts Intnl and more. The consultant who penned Newt Gingrich's Contract With America, also penned documents for Tony Blair, Boris Yeltsin, and Silvio Berlusconi. The author explains how politics became tactics instead of ideologies, and candidates were packaged like consumer products. In Harding's hands, we learn about the machinations of Black, Manafort ,Stone; Squier, Napolitan, Garth, Schwartz, Wirthlin, McCleary, Grunwald, Carville, Sawyer, Miller, and more.
   
   Chapter 1 tells the story of the birth and growth of consulting by framing it within an exciting fly on the wall account of consultant Ned Kennan's (aka Nadav Katznelson) meeting with Boston's multi term mayor, Kevin White. Kennan, who focused on the driver's of voter behavior, loved to give bad news to the powerful, which he did to White, who was 20 points behind in the latest polls. In Chapter 2, we watch as Sawyer learns the limits of consulting, polls, personalities when he heads to Venezuela and tries to turn a pussycat of a candidate into a tiger. Chapter 3 relates the story of New Coke, its political-like battle with Pepsi, and the lesson it has for understanding polling results. By far my most favorite chapters were Chapters 4 and 5, which tell the stories of American political consulting in Israel and the Philippines. The account of Mrs. Aquino, the downfall of Marcos, and the roles of Cardinal Sin, Reagan, the U.S. media, certain Senators, and "American" consultants were so enlightening and suspenseful that I read that chapter a second time.
   
   Briefly, to K.I.S.S. and Keep on Message, I recommend this as a lively informative and necessary read in this Presidential election year.



2. With only a limited understanding of political campaigning, mostly garnered from an appreciation of Josh in the The West Wing, I thought this book was a well-intentioned but ultimately misguided gift from a friend which might, at its most useful, end up being re-gifted. But from the first few pages I found myself completely sucked into this authoritative and beautifully written account of Sawyer Miller, a political consultancy firm which sold the art of American politics to the rest of the world. A must read for anyone who wants to read between the lines of political spin - and about the people who wrote them. Outstanding.



3. Any regular watcher of Jon Stewart and 'The Daily Show' will recognize this author, who made a hilarious appearance there a few days ago to talk about this book. The surprise is: the book behind the author is actually quite good.
   
   It's about the political spinmeisters who brought behind-the-scenes image consulting into its modern form. James Harding bores in on one particular political consultancy, Sawyer Miller. It's an excellent choice. The opening story about Sawyer Miller's counseling of Kevin White, the Irish mayor of Boston, is equal parts funny and insightful. ("Voters don't like you!" the consultant tells the candidate, while devising a strategy that helps him win anyway.) The consultants go around the world -- helping Cory Aquino oust Marcos in the Philippines, another riveting story -- and in and out of countless elections and boardrooms to find ways for candidates to get out the right message. It is not always pretty, what goes on out of view of the camera. From bare-knuckled fighting to seat-of-the-pants improvising, the tactics of a campaign invariably tell a memorable tale.
   
   Harding is a knowing, graceful guide. He has a sensible grasp of politics and the unpredictable dynamics that rule virtually every campaign. His writing weaves subtle observation and sharp insight into the narrative with seeming effortlessness. He always offers just the right amount of historical background to any episode. He never gets bogged down in more policy than you want. Yet I really appreciated his smart, illuminating explanation of the politics in any situation his protagonists wandered into, and they did wander far and wide.
   
   A highly enjoyable book.