5 comments about My Friend Leonard.

1. I loved this book! It was just as good as James first book. The story is very compelling and I read it in a weekend, could barely put it down.



2. AWESOME BOOK! It's entertaining, touching and a beautiful sequel to one of my all time favorite books. I don't care what Oprah says, this author is amazing. His style is relatable, and the content makes every book a page turner. If you're looking for a raw, gripping novel, I highly suggest picking up a copy.



3. I read this on the heels of A Million Little Pieces, which I loved. If you read it without reading a Million Little Pieces I think it falls flat. It's an okay book, but not one that I find even slightly credible. Even if everything Leonard said and did is for real, or if everything is fiction, it's still not much of a story and not terribly interesting.



4. Utterly outrageous. A treacly, horrible work containing no more literary substance than a pork rind does nutritional value.



5. This might just be the best book I have ever read. It's a great story, a great 'sequel' to "A Million Little Pieces". I definitely recommend this book to anyone!

5 comments about Drinking: A Love Story.

1. What a powerful story! And according to the NIH (National Institutes of Health), half of all American families "have at least 1 or 2 active alcoholics in them". My family is one of them. And over 75% of the caseloads of therapists are problems that arise from living with alcoholism. Most of the people in A.A. have still-drinking alcoholics they go home to. The book that I use over and over, with my counseling clients is "Getting Them Sober". Getting Them Sober: You Can Help! (Getting Them Sober) It's sold over a million copies and endorsed by 'dear Abby' and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, Harvard University's employee assistance program.....and has literally hundreds of effective solutions for sobriety and recovery. Most of my clients report that their family lives change for the better within days of reading this book.



2. While I read the book I felt hollow, like I was taking in the words but I felt nothing. It's not that I didn't understand what she was saying, the words just seemed devoid of the human aspect of dependency. I could have done without the first half of the book completely. It was tedious and I never connected with the author's plight. The second half was a little better for me. I saw a friend of mine in the second half and that helped a little...because I could put a human experience with the narrative. And that's what the book lacked. A feeling that someone, a caring human with feelings, was writing it. I never connected with the author no matter how much I wanted to understand her story. I felt like I was reading a weak story about someone written by a third person. It would have been a one-star if not for the second half.



3. This book was great. I am 24 and I think that it was for an older audience. A slow start, but once I was in the story I didn't want to put the book down. She writes her song and dace about alcoholism to help the reader out, but I don't think it would make someone put down their bottle. Though they might take a step back and look around and see that there could be a problem. I like that she still loved the drink even after all it did. She can make it seem that a classic working drunk like herself is not so bad, but towards the end it's all bad. Even if you go to work everyday, don't get a DUI, and pay your taxes. An eye opener on that respect.



4. I loved this book. Caroline Knapp's description of why she drank rings true for casual drinkers as well as alcoholics. It is a wonderful memoir--well written and insightful.



5. I'm not going to go on and on about how I analyzed this book and pretend like I'm an expert, but I will say that I loved it. I read it for a health and behavior class intended for exercise science majors. It is an excellent book for females to read and I know many females will be able to relate and feel comfort in Knapp's words, whether or not the reader herself is an alcoholic.

5 comments about Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began (Maus).

1. Spiegelman continues the story of his father's life, through Auschwitz and afterwards, and his feelings about what has happened to him.
   
   The story is told using animal forms for the people within, different classes of people are represented as different animals. Mice, obviously are used to represent the prisoners.



2. At first glance, Maus might seem like yet another attempt to spin the genocide of the Jewish people into something demeaning. I have seen people turn and walk away from the selection because of that, and when I suggested this as required reading in a class it was initially met with hostile responses. Looking into the reading changed the way people saw the thing being constructed here, however, and by the time the class had finished they felt like I did about the book because they were more than taken. They were moved and then some.
   
   Far from words like "stereotyping," Maus tells a story that people see as disarming at first by casting the Nazis as cats and the Jewish people as mice. This makes it seem like it is approachable in ways that humanity isn't, and it also brings about a medium that people of all ages can understand. While it might be painful for someone really young to read it can still be read by kids, and the story doesn't look like a history book at first glance so the "what" and the "why" can be seen with fresh eyes. This leads to being able to take in the characters for what they are; individuals with individual lives and not vast amounts of statistics that lost the ability to live because of a word like "holocaust" or "Nazi." To me that is one of the most important things that the book does because, amidst it all, we can see reflections of people we know. The book takes the time to painstakingly make sure we never lose sight of that; unlike other books it neither glorifies the terrible nor does it make the miniscule mundane. Here, everything matters and the results hurt. The first book take a lot of tie exploring this and the second book, here, furthers that by picking up the pieces and showing you what happens when suffering continues to dig its claws into the fabric of lives.
   It works well at what it does and then some and makes me happy I could introduce both portions to people that would otherwise miss out on it.
   This collection of two actually found my face streaked with tears and the conversations we had about the read garnered much of the same response.
   
   Much can be said about Spiegelman's work and how the characterizations are explored but the reality of the book is that it takes a hard-to-approach subject and shows it to everyone willing to explore. This means that a society hardened to the plight of something that seems so far removed can feel the pulse of something too monstrous for description.
   I highly recommend and utterly respect both volumes of this work and cannot give it enough praise.



3. In Maus II, Art Spiegelman continues his father's horrific story of persecution and imprisonment in Auschwitz during WWII. Mr. Spiegelman has an enviable talent for simple drawings that convey complex ideas and feelings. Scenes with his father seem all too real - both amusing and a bit sad. Great series, I'd recommend it to anyone.



4. When I included this and Maus 1 & Persepolis I was informed that they are not graphic novels and that I could not have one free. AMAZING! Of course after I asked for the distric manager's name/number there was a sudden change of heart BUT NOT a good instore experience from BORDERS at ALL. The GRAPHIC NOVEL is great. Borders are not.



5. One (two actually since there are two volumes) of the best submissions about the Holocaust which is designed to reach a broad audience. Maus and Maus II are written in the vernacular, personalizing the experiences of a camp survivor who is interviewed by his son. Excellent supplement to any Holocaust discussion.

5 comments about Confessions of a Video Vixen.

1. I will admit that when I first read the book, I was in tears when Karrine talked about the abuse she suffered from her mother (shame on her mom for not believing her when she was raped, etc.). And I'm sure that her life experience should be a wake-up call to all of us, especially in the Black community, about the negative portrayals of Black men and women in hip-hop and the devastating results of the lifestyle led by the author.
   
   However, in light of recent interviews on radio and in print, it is very difficult for me to believe that she is a better person than the one she describes in her book. The only difference I see is that she is determined to make a more regular profit from her sexual exploits. She continues to have affairs with high-profile men (including Bill Maher and Darius McCrary), doesn't believe in traditional marriage (she had a 'committment ceremony' recently with Darius), and glorifies her sexual abilities on some of her radio interviews (ex. the Jamie Foxx radio show) How is this a good example for young girls? How can this possibly inspire them to do better?
   
   Are the men she slept with to be held accountable for their shabby behavior? ABSOLUTELY! For most of the men mentioned in her book, Karrine was certainly not the first woman they slept with, so they are no saints. I feel terrible for every decent, kind, loving, self-respecting African-American man (my wonderful husband included) who is misrepresented every day by these hip-hop pimps (what else can they be called?). They make it ten times harder for other black men to get respect in this country.
   
   But I also worry about what this book (and others like it) says about us as black women. Will this add to the stereotype of black women being money-hungry, sex-crazed savages and irresponsible baby mamas? I hope not! We have it hard enough already.



2. I feel sorry for Karrine Steffans, but she CANNOT write! Her editor sucks! She should have had someone else edit her work because neither she nor her editor can proofread. She brags about being a novelist without going to college...that's BS. She clearly should have gone to college or taken some type of writing class, but since she didn't her book turned out like this. I felt like she kept saying the same thing over and over again...and I couldn't even finish the book. I was so bored with the content and the way in which it was delivered. This girl needs help...I do feel bad regarding the horrible things that have happened to her. However, she needs to get a life and this type of nonsense is not the way to go...I'm sure the second book was just as useless as this one...Let's get it together people!



3. This book was full of gossip, she ratted out almost everybody in hollywood that she had been intimate with! She is a prositute and proud of it, if you like hearing about who she has been with sexually, this is the book for you, I didn't learn nothing that I didn't already no, I would'nt get her newest book!



4. Karrine Steffans is a highly unlikable character, which is kind of hard to imagine since I usually feel a lot of empathy towards people who have been reportedly abused and also raped. Not one word from her ilicited anything but disgust from me. Yes, this is an entertaining read, but this book did not make me care about her. She says she wrote this book as a cautionary tale, but when asked, in an interview, would she have lived her life diferently if she got a second chance, she said that she would not, that she would have chosen the same path. I would not suggest this book unless you just really need to know about what some of the celebrities are like behind closed doors



5. I thought that her back story was interesting. But I also think this really became a tabloid story because she never called out a lot of celebs.
   
   She exposed a lot of people for the dirt they did. And while if you're doing wrong in the dark, things eventually come to light, the way she did it wasn't impressive. I did like how she didn't tell on that one specific person, although that got out anyway. But I couldn't blame all the people she mentioned if they didn't have anything to do with her ever again.
   
   The book wouldn't have been interesting at all without the name celebrities she mentioned, though, so that's why they are included.

5 comments about The Dance of the Dissident Daughter: A Woman's Journey from Christian Tradition to the Sacred Feminine (Plus).

1. Sue Monk Kidd has created a beautiful masterpiece in Dance of the Dissident Daughter. Her personal and touching story of a woman who became slowly disillusioned with the male patriarchal church which surrounded her, and her own feelings of guilt and pain through her journey is intensely touching. So many novels treat these journeys as solitary paths that we can tread at our own pace, but Sue's real life story encompasses the realities of her husband, her children, and her extended family - and their reactions to her rejection of the tradition patriarchy that held sway over her. Her journey is an inspiration to us all, and should be read by men and women alike (men can and are oppressed by the patriarchy of the church, too!).



2. Finally, a book about the female goddess written by a woman with great knowledge and wisdom AND amazing research. The research allows us to believe that we are NOT being duped by a woman...like we've been duped by all the men.
   
   This is an excellent book with such profound insight into a woman's soul. Every woman should read this. Sue should write another book filled with even more research!!!



3. Sue Monk Kidd expertly and openly shares her most intimate experience in finding the Divine in this well written and referenced personal account.



4. Sue Monk Kidd's journey resonates for me as I have long struggled with the way we tend to ignore or excuse the masculine priority that surrounds women's lives. Ms. Monk explores and ennunciates the "stacked deck" of everything from language and religion to the ingrained assumptions of women's secondary status in the world. True the balance has shifted somewhat, but as long as there are places where men have a "right" to beat their wives, where it is against the law for women to be educated, where it's a BIG DEAL to have a woman run for president, where we criticize a woman for being today's connotation of the word FEMINIST for speaking simple truths; we have a problem. Not one to be trivialized or ignored. Can you imagine the hue and cry that would erupt were we to refer to all humanity as "whitekind"? Ms. Monk is shining a light on the endemic prejudice women live with every day of their lives by sharing her journey, her questions, her fears, and confusion with us. I am grateful to her. I don't feel so alone.



5. Sue Monk Kidd captures the reader with her openness about how she became a feminist, almost by accident. This is a very personal account describing her experience of moving from accepted Christianity to feminism. I found the story fascinating and finished it in only 3 days. For the most part, the author simply told her story and how she interpreted the events she faced along the way. However, at various places in the book she began to generalize her experiences to all women, which made me agree with the reviewer who said her journey is not my journey.
   
   What I found a bit disconcerting is that the author states that she made a living as a writer for Christian and inspirational magazines and yet on page 83 says that she suddenly realized that the Bible focuses primarily on masculine rather than feminine attributes of God. Actually, the primary message throughout the Bible is that the God who created the universe wants to have a personal relationship with his creatures, both female and male, and how that is achieved. Even the author would classify relationships as a domain which is more in the feminine rather than mascuine realm. Likewise, the majority of the 10 Commandments deal with relationships and in Matthew 22:36-39 Jesus said the 2 most important commands were loving God and loving your neighbor. I don't see how anyone can miss these more feminine qualities of God.
   
   Maybe the fact that America is a much more egalitarian society than when the book was written in 1996, and maybe some of the recent books that I've read, like The Female Brain, which highlights some of the hormonal and internal changes that women undergo explain why I disagree with the author and don't view the elements of patriarchy in society as something that needs to be attacked. Also, Kidd identifies many identity issues as struggles for girls and women, which I believe are universal struggles regardless of one's gender.
   
   However, even with these complaints I believe the book is important to read if one wants to understand and interact knowledgably with a feminist.

No comments about Posthumous Keats: A Personal Biography.

5 comments about Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography--The True Story of a Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa.

1. A truly heartwrenching tale of what life was like growing up under the oppressive system of apartheid in South Africa. Great resource for history classrooms and an excellent read, Mathabane relates a story that was hard to put down.



2. I picked up this book after watching the movie "Tsotsi". I was looking for a book about apartheid in South Africa and stumbled upon this one. And I am so glad I did. The author has done a great job in detailing his childhood and the struggle he and his family went through. Half-way through the book I found it extremely depressing and decided to stop. Later that night I realized that people have courage to actually go through and I can't even complete reading the book? People in Africa still go through horrifying experiences...Yes, it was a depressing read but a definite MUST. An absolute eye opener...



3. Stark and poignant, Mark Mathabane shares his autobiography of life under South African apartheid until the miracle of his escape to the United States in Kaffir Boy (Free Press, 350 pages). Mr. Mathabane's story is told in three parts. The first, The Road to Alexandra, offers a description of the appalling squalor and violence found in a black ghetto under fourth-class citizen status. How children learn to survive, let alone attempt to carry on any type of hopeful existence, defies any common understanding of humanity and pulls at the reader's heartstrings. The challenges, frustrations, and sacrifices that confronted Mr. Mathabane and his family are documented throughout the second section, Passport to Knowledge, where education, religion, and tribal affiliations swirl as possible solutions to combat the Influx Control Law and other forms of white-minority separatist rule. Passport to Freedom, the third section, narrates Mr. Mathabane's discovery of tennis and the difficulties of making dreams come true.
   
   Despite the repetition of incidents and the infusion of seemingly inconsequential moments, Mr. Mathabane's autobiography is readable and moving. It is hard to imagine anyone living through the impoverished conditions he describes. Confrontations with his tribal father, local gangs, missionaries, and white authorities suggest hope of a better future is nothing short of a lottery ticket. The most effective sections of the text share Mr. Mathabane's inner turmoil in deciding his place as a black South African and an agent of change. The tumultuous history of apartheid is drawn with an effective narrative voice as violent uprisings and responses are juxtaposed with tender sacrifices and determination. With the assistance of liberal whites, Mr. Mathabane turned hard work and good fortune into a plane ticket to freedom. Kaffir Boy joins Cry Freedom and Master Harold & the Boys as yet another powerful depiction of South African life.



4. KAFFIR BOY is a must read for anyone interested in what life was like for a young boy coming of age in Apartheid South Africa. Mark Mathabane describes in vivid detail the horror of poverty and brutality which was a way of life for black children and families living in the squalor city of Alexandria near Johannesburg, the affluent suburb in South Africa. His account is heartbreaking. Yet, Mark was able to do the unthinkable. He was able to escape (thanks to the support of men like Stan Smith), and lived to write about his horrifying experiences. KAFFIR BOY is interesting and important because Mark Mathabane writes in a style as if he is talking directly to the reader, thereby allowing the reader to fully understand what it was like coping with the cruelty and injustice of apartheid.
   
   I thought that parts of the book could have been penned more concisely. Also, it was difficult at times to understand the character of Mark's mother and father. Yet, Mark Mathabane's powerful and profound account/message of life in Apartheid South Africa far outweighs the minor flaws of this book. I highly recommend this book.



5. I really enjoyed reading about this mans triumph to overcome the odds and to follow destiny (getting to America).

5 comments about Paula Deen: It Ain't All About the Cookin'.

1. This book is surprising, funny, and you won't be able to put it down! I absolutely loved it.



2. I am not the type of person who enjoys biographies/autobiographies. I bought this book because I am a fan of Paula Deen's and thought that it would be an interesting read.
   
   I love this book. I cannot help but smile at her honesty and wit. The book is written in the true Paula style- you can almost hear that gorgeous Southern accent shine through the words on the page. She includes recipes at the end of every chapter and simply reading them will make your mouth water!
   
   What I enjoy most about this book is that she is so human. She did not come from a rich family who gave her everything. She had to work, really work, for what she has today. She has strength, determination, and a will that accomplished her and brought her to where she is today. Life was not always peaches and roses for her and she reflects upon the bad times with humor. While she has certainly done things in the past that she regrets (we could all right a book on our own experiences!) anyone reading this book will be inspired. What is your dream? What is holding you back? Read this book and you will learn that your only boundaries are the ones you are placing on yourself.
   
   I highly recommend this book. She notes in the beginning that she thought people would not like her or not respect her as much. After reading this book, I like her and respect her even more. She becomes more of a person vs a TV icon.
   
   By the way, there are some juicy parts in this book, but told with the honesty and hint of naughtiness that Ms. Deen is know for!
   
   Viva la Paula!



3. Paula Deen Is One Of My Absolute Favorites On The Food Network.I Have Several Of Her Cook Books,And I Enjoy Watching Her Show.Her Personality Is One In A Million. So Down Home & Warm.Her Openness,Being Frank,Along With Having Fun Cooking A Recipe,She's Always Laughing,And Her Southern Draw,i Love It !! She Opens Up About Her Life & Family In It Aint All About The Cookin.She's Definately One I'd Give Anything To Meet,And Share A Recipe Or 2 And Cook With In The Kitchen.It Aint All About The Cookin Is A Great Read And Well Worth Your Time Reading It.



4. Honestly, this is one heck of a book! Paula Deen is obviously human, full of mistakes and regrets, but ultimately, more than all of that, she is a woman full of strength, loyalty and sheer determination! Reading this book was at times, tough, few people are as candidly honest as Paula is, but truthfully, it just made me respect her more! Her truthfullness is un-apologetic and real, and very hard to find now a days! She makes it clear that she's far from perfect, a risk-taker and not always so nice; she cusses and demands a lot of herself and those around her, a shrewd business woman she is! However, after reading this book, I admire her more; for her strength, her honesty, her genuine regrets about her life (we ALL have them) and her love of food and family! She is an inspiration for any of us who have not always done or said the right thing, but risen above it all in the long run! I think the success and happiness she has today was well-earned and very deserved! I would reccomend this book most definately, just keep an open mind and don't expect a water-downed, sugar coated version of her life...but hey, honesty from the any star themselves is like a breath of fresh air! I'm glad Paula shared her story and it's one I'll reccomend and remmeber for a long time to come!



5. Paula Deen, I just love you girl. You are amazing. I love your family too, and I am so glad you found your "neighbor." Thanks for writing your story. You are a living inspiration to anyone down on their luck. Just look how things can turn around if you keep a positive outlook and aren't afraid of hard work. (You did have a lot of luck too, I might add, and that really keeps the reader hooked.) Thanks for sharing all the pictures, too.

5 comments about Breaking Through.

1. ANTHONY JOHNSTON
   JAN. 11, 2007
   
   "BREAKING THROUGH" BOOK REVIEW
   
   
   The book is "Breaking Through" and the author is Francisco Jimenez. The main person in the book is the author. It is a true story. He has a mom, dad and brother. His brother's name is Roberto. I thought it would be a good book because the first sentence was "I lived in constant fear for ten long years."
   
   
   
   You shouldn't read this book because there are a lot of Spanish words. The book is very long. It has 195 pages in the book. The Spanish words are very hard to read and you can't understand them.
   
   
   The characters were papa, mama; Roberto and Francisco. They live on a farm or tent. Papa and mama are the mom and dad. Roberto is the brother. Francisco is the author and character in the book.
   
   
   
   There are pictures of the author in the back of the book. The Jimenez's lived on a farm or tent. They grew up poor in America. They lived in a tent in America.
   
   
   
   
   This book is very hard to read and it's long. The whole book is Francisco's life. I'd liked to sum up by saying I still don't like the book because I couldn't understand the words. In less you like reading Spanish you shouldn't read this book.



2. 
   
   Book Review on Breaking Through
   
   
   Hi, this book Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez is a sad book. Why is it a sad book? A boy named Francisco struggles through life trying to keep his family together. He works and goes to school, also trying to keep his grades up. This book is a good book because of the Theme, believable charters, and a nice setting.
   
   The theme is, heart breaking. It's heart breaking since a boy and his family have to face many difficult obstacles. The obstacles are not easy for Francisco and his family. They have to pay bills but they don't have any money. So the whole family except mom and the youngest ones have to work.
   
   Besides the heart breaking theme there are nice believable charters. The charters sometimes where confused. They where confused because they didn't have money. No one to help them, and struggled to keep food on the table.
   
   There also was a very good setting. The setting took place in many different places. Like school, fields, gas company, Twitchel and Twitchel. There are many different places. So that means that the family is all over the places.
   
   So this book has a great theme. Wonderful setting that makes you feel like your there watching it all happing. Also nice believable charters that do things that you could relate to. So if you like heart breaking novels then this is the book for you.
   
   
   The End



3. I bought *Breaking Through* without realizing that it was a sequel to *The Circuit*. Nonetheless, you aren't lost if you start with *Breaking Through* I loved this memoir because it was one of the best portrayal of a migrant family.
   
   This memoir chronicled the life of Francisco Jimenez from the time that him and his family entered America from Mexico to his entrance into college.
   
   The Jimenez family saved up some money and entered into Mexico illegally. They were soon caught, after a time, and deported back. However, they were able to get papers and return. Despite living in the land of freedom and opportunities, the family has to work hard in order to survive. They worked in strawberry fields, lettuce patches and cleaned buildings.
   
   Francisco is loving school yet struggled to stay on top as he also has to work. His older brother did well in school but worked nearly as much as their often-ill father did. The mother stayed home and took care of the children. However, she often substituted in their work when needed.
   
   *Breaking Through* is a story of a family working together. It's also a story of one finding one's own identity in America. It's also a story of one trying to achieve the American dream.
   
   You'll laugh. You'll cry. If you don't understand the Mexican culture, you'll find yourself puzzled at some things. Coming from a Hispanic family, I found myself nodding and taking strolls in memory lane.
   
   Overall, it's easy reading for a great book.



4. This book gave me a real insight as to how our migrant children really live! Thank You!



5. I am an ESL teacher who works with 7th and 8th grade, primarily male, Latino and Hmong students. We first read The Circuit which told about Francisco Jimenez's family's first years as migrant farm workers in the United States. This autobiographical account relates the struggles the family encountered during Jimenez's early years in school. The older children and the parents picked fruit, vegetables, and cotton. The family moved according to the agricultural schedule in California. Everytime Francisco would start to feel "at home" in a school, the crop would be harvested and they would have to move to the next farm, hence the name The Circuit. The story ends when La Migra comes to pick up Francisco and his older brother at school. My students were anxious to find out what happened next. Would the family be deported or would they be allowed to stay in the U.S.? To find out we then read the second book, Breaking Through, which we are about half way through now and we're still enjoying every chapter. The books have spawned a multitude of conversations that have bonded us together. The kids can relate to Jimenez's life and he is a role model to them. He shows that hard work and determination lead to success. Personally I think everyone who is interested in immigration questions should read these books.

5 comments about Forward From Here: Leaving Middle Age--and Other Unexpected Adventures.

1. I always feel a book is worthwhile reading if you take something away from it that strikes a chord within you. Two things resonated with me. On page 26 she speaks of loss: "...I carry my lost loved ones with me...I have learned over the years that I can do this, that love continues beyond loss." Further on she says: "My experience has also made me understand that loss is inevitable, and that loss too, continues forever, right along with love." So beautifully stated and so true. The other bit of philosophy we could all profit from is: "I don't believe in 'rehearsing trouble,' advice given to me years ago ('Don't rehearse trouble, Reeve!') by Helen Wallace..." Everyone reads from their own perspective. Certainly Reeve Lingbergh has experienced life differently from me, but so have many of my friends. I cannot identify with everything in her book, but I think she is a person that would be nice to know.



2. Reeve Lindberg is a sensitive, wonderful writer. The subject she chose for these essays are pertinent to us over 60 and beyond. I'm recommending this book to all my lady friends.



3. Forward from Here is Reeve Lindbergh's best book yet. Funny, tender, compassionate, profound, Lindbergh reveals herself to be an accomplished and graceful writer--something you might already suspect if you have read her earlier books, Under a Wing (about growing up Lindbergh, with two extraordinary parents, Charles Lindbergh and Anne Morrow Lindbergh) and No More Words (about her mother's decline and death). In this book, Lindbergh (an author of books for children) explores the happiness and hazards she encounters as she journeys from middle age into her sixties--the "youth of old age." "I might as well enjoy the view as I travel along from my birth to death, inhabiting this being I call myself," she writes. "I may be a passenger on the journey, or I may be the vehicle itself, but I'm definitely not the driver. I'm here, but I'm not in charge."
   
   Maybe, but she's not just along for the ride. In this collection of nineteen personal essays, she laughs at the pleasures of her rural Vermont life--the joys of reading, writing, raising lambs and boys and encountering turtles--and takes a sober look at the challenges of living in an aging body. The vanities of youth are gone (she quotes her beloved sister Anne, now dead of cancer: "After a certain age, there's only so good you can look.") and she is making "friends with reality." Not sure that she wants to wear purple, with a red hat that doesn't go, she looks back on a time when she wore lavender eyeshadow and white lipstick (do you remember doing that? I do) and laughs at herself. In fact, she knows that's the best thing to do: "laugh at myself when laughter is called for, weep when I need to, and feel all of it, every bit of it, as much as I can for as long as I can."
   
   As far as feeling all of it goes, the most remarkable essay is the "Brain Tumor Diary," an account of the months (July 2006 through May 2007) when Lindbergh was dealing with a brain tumor--benign, thankfully, but large, intrusive, undeniably there, and needing to come out. It was a difficult time for her and her family. The saving graces were her writing and her focus on daily life: "Dailiness outlasts despair," she says. "For a while the rhythms of daily life may seem to be submerged, even drowned in disaster, but that is never true." The "Brain Tumor Diary" is a report from the front lines of daily life, lived in the face of possible disaster.
   
   The Lindberghs are no strangers to life on the front lines and in the public eye. Reeve and her siblings have had to deal with as many as fifty men who have claimed to be the Lindbergh child kidnapped in 1932. But there is more, and in her final essay, she writes movingly about the way she felt when she learned that her father, the picture of rectitude, a "stern arbiter of moral and ethical conduct," had three secret European families and seven children. Indignation, anger, rage at her father's deception and hypocrisy, shame--it's all there. But in the end, there is compassion, and even humor:
   
   I certainly could have done with his [my father's] endless lectures on the Population Explosion...A man who fathered thirteen--I think, I still have to stop and count us!--children, haranguing one of his daughters about world population figures? Give me a break!
   
   And in the end, knowing her father to be at once "deeply intelligent and incredibly energetic," and "angry, restless, opinionated...obsessed with his own ideas and concerns," she has to admit that the multiple families made a certain kind of sense: "No one woman could possibly have lived with him all the time."
   
   "I'm hoping that as I get older I'll get braver," Lindbergh writes at the close of this splendid and moving book. I'm hoping that Lindbergh will take us with her as she bravely explores her future, forward from here, and that soon we'll be able to read the next chapter of her journey.
   
   by Susan Wittig Albert
   for Story Circle Book Reviews
   reviewing books by, for, and about women



4. What a pleasure to read! I am not quite finished with this Kindle book and the more I read it, the more I'm enjoying it. Lindbergh is a sensitive, thoughtful, writer and I can relate to her experiences on so many levels. I, too, am a woman of a certain age, a mother, grandmother, potential (me, not her) writer. Her perspective on life, the natural world, her family just drew me in and I found myself wishing she were my friend.
   
   Thank you, Reeve, for a lovely reading experience. I'm recommending this for all my friends and if they don't buy it, they're getting a copy for their birthdays or Christmas/Chanukah.



5. FORWARD FROM HERE will delight you if:
   
   --you remember with great fondness the writings of Reeve's mother, Anne Morrow. Making allowances for the generational differences, their styles and subjects are similar: family, nature, the written word per se, etc.
   
   --you have read and enjoyed Reeve's other books. I found her UNDER A WING more tightly focused and thus, to me, more engaging; and NO MORE WORDS more frank and moving. But FORWARD FROM HERE has much of the charm of a lovely, simple dessert,what Anne Morrow Lindbergh called "something sweet at the end of the day." I was happy to have this book waiting at my bedside table for several nights, and only wished it a little longer.
   
   --you are actively engaged in "moving forward" from 60-plus. The book deals honestly but cheerfully with a generous handful of the standard challenges of ageing. We are also offered time-tested insights on matters such as parenting, reading, writing, and modern drugs(pro and con).
   
   --you want to know a bit about Reeve's reactions to her father Charles Lindbergh's three secret simultaneous mistresses and families. (The "Lone Eagle" indeed!) Of course this long-hidden aspect of Charles Lingbergh's otherwise much-celebrated life might well be the subject of a complete and probing book of its own, written not out of prurience but with the intent to better understand the puzzling psychological and emotional temperament involved. But Reeve Lindbergh will not, I think, be the one to write such a book.