5 comments about Washed by Blood: Lessons from My Time with Korn and My Journey to Christ.

1. To the people saying it's the same as his first book... this was well documented and announced well in advance:
   
   "Also on June 24, 2008, Harper Collins Publishers will simultaneously release the young adult version of Save Me From Myself, entitled "Washed By Blood". "
   
   It's basically the same book but re-written for younger adults. Still worth reading.



2. It is so encouraging to read about the miraculous change that Jesus Christ made in Head Welch's life. I recommend this for any non-believer you know... especially teens and young adults who struggle with belief and/or with drugs and alcohol. Its an amazing story and I know God used this book to change my life and will use Brian greatly for the Kingdom! This book is REAL....



3. 
   Okay, everyone has been rating this a 1 JUST because they think it's the same book with a differnt name. It is the same, but a kid friendly version with less description with the drugs and stuff. Rating this a 1 because they didn't do the research is pathetic. They are lowering the score making other people think it's not a good book...yet they were buying it because they liked the one they had so much..does not make sense! People help out and give it a 5 (just 3 people) to average it out from the bad reviews over "it being the same book". Remember, you are reviewing it so that other people who haven't read it can determine if they want it.



4. I have not read this specific book, but I listened to an interview with Brian Welch on the radio recently and he said this book is the same autobiography as "Save Me From Myself" but it leaves out some of the more in depth details making it more appropriate for a younger audience than the other version. So do not purchase both books! But if you are looking for a book for your teenager, this version may be a better fit.
   
   I hope this helps clear some of the confusion on these books.



5. Like many others, I purchased both books thinking that they were different ("Washed" being the sequal), but as you know from reading the other reviews, they're basically the same book.
   
   My initial reaction was frustration. I felt like I had been duped by the publisher....especially since the front cover of "Washed" says that it's by the author of "Save Me From Myself" and the back cover says "You think you've heard this story before but you haven't". Yes, I have! It was called "Save Me From Myself"! I think that instead of giving different titles and cover pictures to the books, they should have simply released them as the same book; one being the "Adult" version and the other being the "Teen" or "Young Adult" version with a simple explaination of the differences.
   
   Upon closer comparison, I felt a bit better about "Washed" leaving the vulgar language and graphic details out, but in essence still delivering the same message. I also like how at the end of each chapter there discussion questions. I lead a small group for the Jr. High boys at our church, and each semester we study books together and meet once a week to do discussion questions on what we've read. Most of the teens in the group are really into music, and I think a book like "Washed By Blood" would hold their attention a lot more than some other books. Also, I would never encourage them to read "Save Me From Myself", but "Washed By Blood" on the other hand is clean, slightly abridged, and the discussion questions make this a book that i'd definately like to study with them. So there's a good possibility i'll be ordering several more copies of "Washed By Blood" to use for our group study, but even if we don't end up doing it together i'd still highly recommend it to them.
   
   So if you know a teen who loves music, or even an adult who might not want to read all of the graphic details about sex and drugs, this is the better choice of the two books to recommend to them.

5 comments about My Family and Other Animals.

1. Not many adults ever reminisce about their childhood dreams. Those who do, generally label these as wishful thinking and sigh them away. Rarer are those who live lives of fulfilled dreams. Gerald Durrell, an eminent author, naturalist and expeditionist, was one of those uncommon individuals whose life's entirety was one long childhood dream come true. "My Family & Other Animals" is his most famous work, and is the first of his Corfu Trilogy.
   
   The kid Gerald Durrell, or Gerry, was eight years old when his family moved from England to the Greek island of Corfu. Through the eyes of the young, fauna-loving and ever-inquisitive Gerry, Corfu seems to be the strangest place on Earth, and all humans, whether inhabitants of Corfu or not, appear to be strange people. The book describes Gerry's meticulous observations and detailed experiences in Corfu amongst dogs, cats, toads, snakes, scorpions, owls, magpies, gulls and other creatures he keeps as pets in his house, and his family members who are bemused as well as troubled by Gerry's love for these animals and insects. Young Gerry's mother and siblings stay engrossed in their own worlds, leaving Gerry alone to spend his days as he wishes, free from burdens such as going to school and being nagged by elders. Thus begins Gerry's exploration of Corfu, starting with the garden in his villa, and eventually his domain of knowledge crosses over to the neighboring islands.
   
   The book will make you roar with laughter right from the preface itself. Descriptions of animals are unconventionally funny. Humans also are not spared. Imagine an entire family changing residence from one villa to another, just because one of them foolishly invited his friends so many that they would not fit in the current villa. After animals and humans, the third elaborately portrayed element is nature. Detailed descriptions of fig trees and setting suns create a Wordsworthian aura. Once Gerry sets on describing some of these, he can be drawn back only by some exquisitely crafted squirrel or a raucously howling dog.
   
   The best way to savor the book is to read it over several sittings, by allowing the excessive laughter to brighten many a dull day. An enlightening perspective of the work can be seen through Gerry's eyes. Animals, unlike humans, know exactly what they want. They are easier to please and easier to be understood. Most importantly, animals are easily befriended and are almost always loyal. When the book ends, it feels as if an intimate and jocular friend has left you forever.
   
   "My Family & Other Animals" is a beautiful comedy, and is highly recommendable for reading by people of all ages.
   
   http://readsafe.blogspot.com



2. This book, ironically, was on one of those horrible "summer reading" lists so many of us are forced to do in high school. It's the only one I was ever forced to read that I truly, genuinely loved. I laughed out loud literally every two or three pages, and though I have no natural interest in animals (especially insects), Durell makes his descriptions of the nature on Corfu as gripping and as touching as his descriptions of his family.
   
   It's been ten years since I first read this book, and when I get together with my old friends, we STILL argue about our favorite scenes, the best character, the most troublesome pet. This is a book you won't be able to put down the first time you read it, and will want to re-read the moment you finish it.



3. Ever wonder what kind of person takes such an interest in every form of flora or fauna there is? One who is hyperobservant, apparently. And when Gerald Durrell turns that eye on the eccentric characters in his family and around him on the island of Corfu, you'll absolutely love reading his words.



4. All of Gerald Durell's writings are terrific, but the ones about his family are truly laugh-out-loud wonderful! This is a book I have enjoyed over and over, and have given as a gift many times.



5. I have never written a book review, and I am hesitant to do so now as whatever I say will certainly be redundant. But I am so enthralled with this little book that I can't contain my enthusiasm.
   
   This is a quick read, but that is not to indicate any superficiality in the story or story telling. The author reveals a world of discovery in his life on Corfu. Far from dull, his time there is filled with small adventures and big lessons. There is nothing the least preachy or even "teachy" in the story line, but the learning for the reader takes place in such a pleasant fashion that you don't realize until the end how much knowledge you have gained.
   
   His eccentric family provides light and very humorous moments, but, for the most part, I found them and the stories about them quite unnecessary.
   
   The author's curiosity about the animals, amphibians, birds and world around him drive the story. His observations of human kind, especially the island people he meets, are equally compelling.
   
   I could not put this book down and, as it was lent to me, I am now on a quest to purchase my own copy.
   
   It only makes me wonder why children in modern day society need the enormous amount of stimulus and involvement to be content. Young Gerald Durrell spent much of his time alone, save the companionship of his "zoo", and was quite happy. No soccer games, no little league baseball, no hang-outs at the mall necessary. Oh, for the simple life.

5 comments about A Primate's Memoir: A Neuroscientist's Unconventional Life Among the Baboons.

1. This is a beautiful, poignant, fascinating and enlightening read. It's also a bit heart-wrenching. Despite the fact that it is ostensibly about baboons, each sentence within this book contains more humanity and feeling than a typical week of day to day living on our strange modern worlds.



2. This is a fun recollection of Sapolsky's experiences in Africa.
   
   Somebody looking for data might want to avoid it as the information is more about things that struck him through his observations with his baboon troop. Some would be reminded of Goodall's earlier books when he writes about his interactions with the baboon.
   
   There are many chapters on what he went through and the people he meet and interacted.
   
   Some are great such as Thomas who had the great ability to pull endless fish out of a river but it was offset by his other great ability to attract buffalo. As Sapolsky wrote: "Buffalo would scamper in from miles away to nail Thomas, toss him over their shoulders, and send his fish sailing into mudholes, thorn bushes, high into trees." Sapolsky comments about looking for him and find him cursing and spitting and cackling at some buffalo, threatening it with his trademark an astounding pelvic grind, as the monster approached.
   
   That whole imagery made me laugh.
   
   His own personal reflections of living in Africa are rather interesting as he interjects himself into the community. Some of his comments bring another picture to the Masai who many times are pictured as the noble warriors and yet they do questionable things.
   
   Probably one disheartening thing is the corruption that existed and probably still exists. As he prided himself on being a New Yorker; he finds himself being conned and regularly pressed for bribes. And yet, he himself takes to conning people when his money runs out.
   
   An outbreak of Bovine TB ravishes a Baboon troop and eventually hits his troop. Sapolsky finds himself unenviable task of killing Baboons as he tries to discover what is killing the Baboons and where is it coming from. Eventually, he figures it out and it involves corruption and the Masai. He can't even tell people about it because wealthy British hotel owners are against it and the local government is against it as it would hurt the tourist trade.
   
   One thing I thought was interesting was his comments about Fosse. He is not a fan.
   
   Overall it's a fun read.



3. This book is an excellent insight into the 20 year life of a biologist who grow as a person while studying baboons and navigating the up and downs of life in Kenya.



4. This book is hard to classify: Is it autobiography? Primatolgy? Travel adventures? Humanist philosophy? Humor? Basically it is all of these and more. It is a real page turner. Sapolsky has a truly marvelous sense of humor that includes knowing how to laugh at himself. I rank it with in the top 10 favorite books I've ever read. Bravo!



5. I needed this book immediately for school. It arrived in time and in good condition. Before ordering I compared prices and this was the best deal. All around everything turned out perfectly.

5 comments about Archimedes and the Door of Science (Living History Library).

1. Placing scientific theory in historical context is a concept that sounds dreadful. My children loved it. They adore the comic stories of Archimedes. My eight year-old son couldn't put it down. As a parent of a boy to 'hates to read,' it was AMAZING to hear my son giggling and laughing out loud while studying history and science on his own. What was even more thrilling, was listening to him apply the knowledge to everything from playing with Knex to a catapult.



2. My 12 year old and then my wife have read this nifty little book before I got to read the father's day present. I generally like less-than-one-hour biographies with pictures, particularly of inventors.
   Great book for readers at 4th grade level and above.
   For adults, if you admit to liking cliff notes, I would recommend this book on Archimedes first, before buying something more scholarly.



3. This book is about Archimedes' life. He found out how to measure a circle and the principle of buoyancy. He invented the Archimedes' screw. He moved a ship full of cargo with one hand and a machine he built. And he did all this without electricity. I think that you will love this book.



4. This book has a lot of good information about how math concepts were discovered over time by Archmedes. Some of the concepts are involved, but it is written at a level that allows young children (8 yrs and up) to access the ideas. The text could easily be used to branch off to classroom/home study science or math explorations. An excellent introduction to the possible depths of mathematics/science study in a light manner that children will find engaging.



5. EVERYTHING that Archimedes is supposed to have "discovered" already existed in Africa, thousands of years before "WHITE" Greeks existed. The Ancient Egyptians "THE MASTER BUILDERS" had already discovered "ALL" of the Arts & Sciences. The Greeks & Romans were students of the Ancient Black Egyptians, before they destroyed the Egyptian Civilization by raping the women, killing the Priests, forbidding the speaking of the language & burning the Library of Alexandria. Ask yourself this question, if the Greeks were such Great Mathematicians why did they go all the way to Africa to set up this Library, and where are their Pyramids? Huh?
   
   Africa & Africans were the fountainhead of knowledge, at a time when the Whites had recently emerged from the Caves of & Hillsides of Europe, where they were walking on all fours and eating their meat raw, not having the knowledge of fire. Go back and read the ancient historical accounts by Herodotus, where he describes not only the Scientific Wonders of the Ancient Egyptians, but also describes their race as being of "Burnt Skin & Woolly Hair, & that they describe themselves as "THE" Most Ancient of Peoples.
   
   WHY ARE THERE NO ANCIENT RUINS IN WHITE CIVILIZATIONS BUILT BY WHITE PEOPLES? (Stonehenge and other monuments in Europe were built by Blacks who peopled what is called Europe millions of years before the first Whites arrived. Google "Grimaldi Negro", the first inhabitants of Europe. Also see "The Making of the White Man" by Paul Guthrie & "Black Spark, White Fire".
   
   THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF RACIST LOGIC THAT POSITS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA, WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BOTH INDIANS & BLACKS WERE HERE FIRST, BUILDING PYRAMID CIVILIZATIONS.
   
   For further edification read: "The African Origin of Civilization" by Cheik Anta Diop (Renowned Senegalese Physicist & Linguist), "Stolen Legacy" by George M. James (Greek Scholar) & "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal (which shows that Early Greece was peopled by two successive waves of African colonization who laid the foundation of both Minoan & Greek Civilization. Take a close look at the Minoans, they are of African stock, as were the early Greeks prior to the invasions of the Barbaric White Dorians, who brought no Civilizing influence to Greece.
   
   Racist White historical analysis cannot replace cold hard facts such as the Pyramid Civilizations appearing only in Black Civilizations such as Egypt, Mexico etc. The Pyramid culture in the Americas begins with the Thick Lipped, Broad Nosed, Wooly Haired Olmec Civilization, "THE MOTHER CIVILIZATION" of the Americas.
   
   FURTHERMORE, WHOSE TO SAY THAT ARCHIMEDES WAS WHITE, AS GREEK CIVILIZATION AT THAT TIME, HAD BLACKS AS WELL AS WHITES.
   
   Truth crushed to Earth will Rise Again!!!

5 comments about Hope's Boy: A Memoir.

1. A wonderfully written book. I could hardly put it down. I enjoyed the book from the beginning until the end. This book has a message that isn't only about foster children, I think seniors should take heart. As I read the book I started to realize that my 90 year old mother who passed away last year experienced similar treatment by the social worker profession and it was a great challenge for me to deal with them over my mother's care. I think this book should not only be read by those interested in a very good read, or about by those who want to understand the plight of foster children, but also should be read by children of advanced age seniors to see how the social worker group functions.
   
   A must read!



2. I am a fan of PBS, particularly Tavis Smiley. It was on Tavis' show that I listened to Andrew Bridge talk about his story and his book. His comments were so genuine, so heartfelt, I couldn't get him out of my mind. Although I don't normally read memoirs, I knew I wanted to read his book.
   
   I don't know much about foster care, but I do know about being adopted back when records were sealed and information was hidden. I suspected there may be some shared experiences and feelings between the two, and I was right. As I read Bridge's account, I was moved to tears many times when he said that he never forgot his mother and he never stopped loving her. He writes with such depth and feeling, but also with such simplicity and honesty about growing up in a foster family that may have shared space, but never shared love.
   
   His story is one of triumph, over his circumstances, and over an uncaring system. He is now an advocate for children and for change, and I believe is a remarkable writer and human being. I could not recommend this book any higher, it is a masterpiece.



3. Hope's Boy is the most courageous and beautifully written book that I have read in a very, very long time. The story challenges us all to do better for those around us and reminds us of the possibility for change and of a better world. Hope's Boy is a simply written story of never giving up, never forgetting the hope that we have in all of us.
   
   EVERYONE OUGHT TO READ THIS BOOK.



4. Hope's Boy by Andrew Bridge is a remarkable and inspirational story of one child/ man's resilency in surviving ( and thriving) under America's foster care bureacracy. Andrew Bridge was that boy and he has gone on to not only achieve but never to forget his own childhood nightmares by advocating for children today.



5. Read this book and the way you think of young mothers and children will never be the same. The way you think of struggling families will never be the same. Your response to the latest newpaper headlines or television exposes on foster will change. Hope's Boy is a clear and couragous account of how much better we can do as a country to support and care for our fellow citizens. Modest and free of the self-promotion and self-pity that plagues so many books of struggle and triumph, Hope's Boy is a reminder of how much better we can and need to do as human beings -- a reminder that we live in a society and ought to have obligations to one another. READ THIS BOOK.

5 comments about Lost Boy: My Story.

1. Greg Laurie grabs your attention from page one. A wonderful book with lots of humor. A nice book to share with friends who are not believers. Anyone would find his story inspiring and fascinating. I highly recommend buying/reading this book.



2. Great book. Probably liked it most because it mirrored a life I'm personally familiar with. It's an easy read, with humor and sadness.



3. I enjoyed this autobiographical sketch of Greg Laurie, a Christian Pastor, especially well-known for his stadium Harvest Crusades in Southern California. One thing I learned about him was his passion for drawing cartoons and how this talent served the first church he attended. Easy- heartwarming read describes his difficult childhood abusive background, yet culminated in a complete character change as he came to understand Biblical teaching. He could have been lost to addiction, etc. This story was especially meaningful to me because of a recent tragedy in Greg Laurie's life (not covered in this book). He lost his boy, his adult, married son in an automobile accident this summer of 2008. His response to this grief is an inspiration to all of us who have or will lose someone we love. I bought this book so I could know the background of this man, Greg Laurie, who is modeling courage along with his tears.



4. Years ago I reviewed another book Greg Laurie wrote called "The Great Compromise". I noted that Greg is an honest and engaging writer and speaker, one who does not water down the word of God, but delivers it straight. I am so glad to have had the opportunity to discover how God worked through Pastor Greg, from his early, sad life, through the transforming power of Jesus Christ and onto to what he is today; a man of God who reaches thousands for Christ. And how he came to be that honest, Godly teacher.
   
   The book has a picture of Pastor Greg at one of his Harvest Crusades and the caption reads, "many people experience, when Greg speaks, he is talking just to them." That is how this book read for me. I felt so badly for the child who was pulled to and fro, through a life of instability, and I was astonished at the complete transformation once Jesus gold ahold of this young man. I felt like he was sitting next to me telling me his story. A very personal experience.
   
   I read this book in 24 hours, I simply could not put it down. It's a heartfelt journey. So many times I found myself near tears in gratitude for the restoration of his life. You know, there is just no limit what God can do with a heart that gives itself over to His leading. And Pastor Greg is a living example.



5. Anyone growing up during the 60s will relate to this personal story, especially if they did "the scene" during this time. See how Greg Laurie was "experienced" and not only survived, but came to know and share His saving grace!

5 comments about Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music (Vintage).

1. I'm a jazz guitar major at a university, and our semester assignment was to read this book. I found it to be very artful in its descriptions of being a classical guitarist in the modern world. Though I could have done with out the twenty or so pages of guitar history, Dr. Kurtz does a wonderful job of laying down the realities of being a musician in a world that doesn't necessarily need them. However, I wouldn't suggest this book to just anyone. It is more suited to people who love and can relate to art music such as classical or jazz. Overall, very nice writing!



2. Like the author, I too have hit two playing-ending walls and have regained my ability to practice. I really appreciate the author's insights into the various voices that can inform and jade our ability to play.
   
   I'm so appreciative to have found this book.



3. To previous reviewers: Yes, the book has a lot about the guitar's history, maybe too much. Yes, the book rambles at times. Yes, I wish that he had discussed more about technique and his technical growth; what were some of the "ah-ha moments"? Yes, it does have an unhappy ending. And, yes, in my opinion, Kurtz is wrong to think of guitar as having show-stopper limitations. But, then, we weren't in Kurtz's shoes when he made the decisions that he made, were we?
   
   This is a one-of-a-kind book and if you have a serious interest in the classical guitar then this book is a must read; other kinds of musicians might find it tedious. I found that I could not put it down.



4. Kurtz's book is a true journey not TO the heart, but THROUGH the heart of a musician. However, please be aware, non-guitarists need not "fret" (ha-ha). This book is for anyone seeking inspiration, seeking to draw fresh wisdom from their life's experiences, no matter the passion. The reader easily learns from, and cherishes, Kurtz's fluid yet uncluttered prose. This book is a treasure for any age, for any person seeking to know themselves and what they believe in, be it music, the arts, recollections of childhood, family. It doesn't matter. Kurtz's highly personal journey will take you far into the back reaches of your own mind and memory. I will have to read this a second time, slowly.



5. Kurtz's book is an enjoyable one, largely spent describing his early journey through a music conservatory and his hope of becoming a professional musician. This partial musical biography is filled out with reflections upon history of genre of classical guitar and also the meaning of music. While the story contains interesting anecdotes and observations, in the end it hints at but does not clearly spell out the resolution that I would hope for, namely the recognition that the drive to perfection in artistry is inherently problematic, and the discovery of a way to live a life in music that is not perfection-driven. Kurtz tells the story of giving up on music altogether for many years, and then, without being clear about just what the difference is, speaks (all too briefly!!) of taking up music once again with a different attitude. I really want to know more about what attitude works better for him now. As I, an amateur musician, read the book, I could clearly see deadly perfectionism, the love-of-music-destroyer, for what it was. What keeps me playing music, is the uncritical attitude I bring to my endeavor: that I DO NOT have to improve: I can enjoy whatever I can do: even if I can only play three notes: wonderful! Those three notes sound so great! This book is an example of how the world of music is still too influenced by an orientation to performance and virtuosity, and suggests that a more tolerant, enjoyment-oriented, less perfectionistic and improvement-oriented attitude may be the key to a truly enduring life in music.

2 comments about Lake Effect: Two Sisters and a Town's Toxic Legacy.

1. I rarely read a book in one sitting, but this one I could not put down. Nancy Nichols has put together a beautifully written and robustly researched book about her sister's - and her own - struggle with cancer, and her investigation into the links between these cancers and the contaminated lake of their childhood. What I love about the book is that it is as emotionally powerful as it is intellectually honest. There seems voluminous evidence to suggest a link between her old neighborhood and her family's cancers, but she does not let her writings resort to impulsive finger-pointing. She is journalistically rigorous, while being human, real and, at times, quite funny. A truly exceptional book - something for the heart and mind.



2. Nancy writes an amazing environmental memoir. It combines the rigorous research of a journalist with the touching honesty of a woman. This makes a great read for all: the scientist, the humanist, and the regular bloke like me.

5 comments about Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription: Notes and Asides from National ReviewPM.

1. Perhaps the most delightful book I have had the pleasure of reading in a long, long time. I'm convinced my flat-mate thinks me crazy for doing nothing but laughing out loud in my room for two evenings straight.
   
   Whether you're a conservative or liberal, you will howl in appreciation of Buckley's inescapable charm and wit.
   
   Perfect for an evening of enjoyment after a long day or as a source of infuriatingly brilliant quotes and hopelessly esoteric language.
   
   Oh! to have only known the man...



2. With the publication of the wonderful Florence King's Stet, Damnit! in 2003 and WFB's "Cancel Your Own Goddam Subscription" in 2007, National Review books are breaking new ground in the use of profanity in titles. Which is not a field in which I would have expected them to show such leadership. But since we have Buckley's own assurance in these pages (page 33, to be precise) that "goddam," as used, is profane but not blasphemous, sensitive readers should not be troubled.
   
   William F. Buckley's books can be categorized, broadly, in two ways: books of conservative theory and practice (his collected columns, The Unmaking of a Mayor, etc.), and what could be termed personal indulgences (Overdrive: A Personal Documentary, the spy novels, and so on). This book is unquestionably an indulgence, and people who have little patience for Buckley and his well-established personality and voice will probably find this book, as they found him, infuriating. But for those of us who had great respect for the man and enjoyed watching him perform (no slight intended by use of that word), even when we may have disagreed with him, "Cancel Your Own..." is a joy to read and a foretaste of how much we will miss him in the future.
   
   As the subtitle indicates, "Cancel Your Own..." is made up of excerpts and highlights from WFB's long-running "Notes and Asides" column in NR. The book, like N&A itself, included selected correspondence, sent and received, memoranda, and other comments and exchanges WFB considered worth sharing with a wider audience. As you'd expect from a collection he assembled himself (with the help of researchers acknowledged in the text), it shows Buckley at his best, whether smacking down a critic with airy ease, refusing to tolerate misquotation or mistranslation, or simply conducting internal or external business.
   
   While personal favorites of mine include his ukase on the use of the serial comma, exchanges with Eric Alterman, and a magnificent letter from my hero Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn listing no fewer than 20 errors or linguistic or cultural solecisms in Buckley's Who's on First: A Blackford Oakes Mystery most any Buckley fan will be able to come up with their own list. On the other hand, Art Buchwald's strange obsession with Hertz rental cars, which he apparently thought was funny and about which he wrote WFB frequently, I found merely tiresome.
   
   As many of his recent obituaries noted, WFB seems to have recognized in his final years that the rightist movement he did so much to create was already in its own final years and was being replaced by a very different kind of "conservatism." So much of Buckley's work now is mostly of historic interest (who reads Four Reforms: A Program for the Seventies or United Nations Journal: A Delegate's Odyssey for contemporary relevance any more?). Perhaps ironically, it's now those "indulgences" that draw us most strongly. I think "Cancel Your Own..." is a book people will keep returning to, and justly so.



3. This is a collection of material from the "Notes & Asides" section of Buckley's journal, "National Review." It was a sort of grabbag section and could include office memos, speeches or whatever took Buckley's fancy. Mostly, however, it was where Buckley personally responded to some of the letters to the Review, often either unusually vitriolic ones or ones received from well-known denizens of the political world (including both actual political figures and those who wrote about them). Many of the letter writers shared Buckley's conservative views but some did not. Mostly the book is a showcase for Buckley's famous facility with words and his wit.
   
   The material is at its best when his correspondents can match, or nearly match, Buckley's ability in both areas. Over many years this happened often enough to provide a number of interesting exchanges. Buckley tended to be formally polite to everyone most of the time, although he occasionally unloads on some hapless soul, and he is also occasionally condescending to those who fall short of his standards of intelligence, education or decorum. Once in a while Buckley really goes after someone who has tried his patience badly, the salient case being Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., who comes off looking like a pompous jerk (and an overmatched pompous jerk at that) in the exchange. Buckley is all surface politeness with Schlesinger but leaves him bleeding from more puncture wounds than St. Sebastian the Martyr.
   
   The book is entertaining light reading. If you are looking for Buckley's deeper thoughts, however, look elsewhere.



4. This book is a delicious trove of correspondence that shows WFB's sense of humor and wall-to-wall good nature. He spars with critics and detractors, tweaks friends like Art Buchwald and spreads his trademark wit, logophilia and his positively infectious joie de vivre over the decades. My favorite line is from a 12 or 13-year old asking for advice on life. WFB's response: never grow up. He was a man who very obviously cherished and loved God, family and country and his loss is acutely felt. This book is a delightful snapshot of the many facets of his personality.



5. Although Buckley tends to get carried away sometimes with his own pomposity and ego this is still a good read. He was humorous and was to the point, although I believe his vocabulary was acquired in an attempt to get people to contact him. How do you review Buckley? This is a compilation of some of his best; and read in an occasional manner, (that is not all at once), it is certainly entertaining. A good reference book for put-downs.

5 comments about Tales of a Female Nomad: Living at Large in the World.

1. I just finished reading Rita's book for the second time and loved it even more. I often give a copy as a gift to girlfriends with courage and determination to pursue their dreams, as Rita did (and continues to do). It takes true gumption to live as a nomad and the payback in magical. She's an inspiration! I'd love to meet her one day... hopefully in some far away local learning from the locals. If you've ever considered stepping out of the safety box, give this book a read and see where it takes you.



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, so much so, that I read it straight through in only a couple of days. Some of the reviewers criticize Ms. Gelman for casting her opinions about some of the culture issues, but I think she demonstrates that she clearly wrestled with this as I think most of us would if we suddenly tried to fit into a foreign (to us) culture. Personally, I was rather horrified by some of the brutality of other cultures and these are places I have no desire to visit. I enjoyed the first part of the book more than the second, because I could really identify with her motives for wanting to get out on her own and see the world and likewise, her struggles to go it alone. I do think some of the writing in the second half of the book seems a bit choppy and does not flow as well as the beginning of the book. But this could also be an editing issue. I appreciated Ms. Gelman's honesty about her motives, her feelings, her learning that her children have missed her and her struggles in getting in shape, etc. Most of us would have painted a pretty little picture and have nixed the honesty. Overall, if you are looking for a book that demonstrates it's possible for a woman to travel on her own and participate in the activities of different cultures, meet people and make new friends a long the way, this is a great book.



3. Especially for those who are thinking of travelling alone or following a dream, this author encourages us with her adventures.
   I enjoyed his story and her guts to begin something new at an age when it's easy to get stuck!



4. I agree with some of the reviewers that the book is rather slow. I started the book and really enjoyed the first few chapters before I misplaced it while moving. When I found it again I was beginning the section on Indonesia, but found myself not as enthused about the book. The chapters on Indonesia, Thailand and the States were too tedious to read straight through, so I would entertain myself by reading a few pages of Ms. Gelman's adventures before going to bed.
   
   Despite the slowness, I enjoyed the book because Ms. Gelman shows that an adventure abroad doesn't have to be diving into dangerous waters, bungi jumping off of bridges, or being one of the few people to climb a high peak. She shows that the adventure lies in the natives' mundane lives and the quiet, unassuming landscape. Although she used her title as an author to create friendships, Ms. Gelman gave the impression that if you just show people that their lives are important, they will treat you kindly and will happily invite you into their lives.
   
   Ms. Gelman also is very honest about the sacrifices that comes with living in foreign cultures, the isolation, losing connections with family, and not having many possessions.
   
   This book chronicles a brave person who shuns commercialism and lives her life very simply. In my opinion, Ms. Gelman's life is fuller from her travels than a person's whose mansion is filled with the most expensive furniture and art.



5. I was terribly disappointed in this book. Although the story should have been fascinating I really just didn't care.
   The use of the present tense ("The next morning I arrive early. Already the lobby of the hotel meeting place is deserted. I introduce myself to to the coordinator of the trip...") is something that works fine in conversation, but when used in prose, especially when glossing over details, sweeping through time and scenes so fast, does not express feelings or emotion. Even when describing colorful scenery it comes off a little flat. And for that reason this book felt like it had little heart. It was clear this was a deeply meaningful experience for the writer, but I felt so removed from it I really didn't care what happened next.
   Large events are glossed over, characters are left undeveloped, I never felt fully involved or invested in what was going on. It was somewhat interesting, but at the same time, not very moving.
   I can see how Gelman might have been a great writer of children's books (where the writing is pure story, all about what happens next ) But this book, which should have been engrossing, left me cold.