5 comments about Colors of the Mountain.

1. Chen Da's bestselling COLORS OF THE MOUNTAIN is one of the more entertaining memoirs I've run across in recent years.
   
   In this volume, Chen recounts his life, growing up amid the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, through his acceptance into college. In the writing of autobiography, certain liberties are par for the course (memory is never impeccable), but I was overall rather impressed with Chen's determination, and his detailed, direct way of attempting to illuminate the day-to-day texture of life in an out-of-the-way part of China.
   
   Chen's approach is gentle - both accessible to Western audiences, and attentive in its' detailed depiction of his family's life, accomplishments, and the troubles those accomplishments brought (during the Cultural Revolution years); the occasionally mentioned poems of his grandfather were one of Chen's major motivators, and their eloquence was the model this entire memoir was constructed upon.
   
   Perhaps not the most literary, or the most historically rigid autobiography, but definitely one of the warmest.
   
   -David Alston



2. One wonders why the communist system was swept into the dustbin of history. Da Chen tells you why. Intellectuals were purged in Mao's society and people learned very little. In fact, school was not even required of everyone. Only after Mao joined Lenin in a masoleum did intelligence and ability matter much.
   Da Chen relates his early life story about his early Chinese childhood in the rural south of China. He was discriminated against because he was a son of a former landlord. Peasants lorded it over him and his family. Da Chen relates his experiences of the Cultural Revolution and how the school system was devastated by the purges and reeducation.
   Da Chen escaped this poverty by using his intelligence to shine in the reform education system after Mao's death. He received a state education in English and went on to emigrate to New York. A nice rages to riches story and the tyranny of the Communist system.



3. I read a lot of memoirs precisely for what I received from this book, inspiration. The sentence that galvanized me was this one, "I had been studying an average of fifteen hours a day for the last ten months."
   
   Other reviewers have explained Chen's story, so I won't reiterate it. But I will say that when I think about what this man accomplished in pursuit of his dream, I realize once again how easy it is to excuse our failures as a matter of fate or luck.
   
   Da Chen teaches us otherwise.



4. This review refers to the abridged audio version of this book --
   
   UGH. I am fascinated with books about China and life under Mao. However, I couldn't get through the first tape of this book, for two reasons.
   
   One was the reader, Daxing Zhang. His stilted, halting and monotone delivery made it unpleasant to listen to. He evidently is not a professional narrator and it shows. Even a great book can be ruined by a poor reader.
   
   And, believe me, this doesn't even come close to being a great book.
   The storytelling is dull and self-pitying and the language is, in turns, overblown and cliched.
   
   My biggest problem, however, was the author's attitude. Don't get me wrong: I abhor what Mao and his "cultural revolution" did in China. But it's more than a bit ironic when someone from the upper classes (the author's family were landlords and owned several buildings) complains when their property, power and status is taken away.
   
   The author's stated contempt for farm work, for instance, shows the type of elitist attitude that spurred the revolution in the first place.
   
   Never once (at least in the part of the book I managed to listen to) did Da Chen appear to have any empathy for the working classes that were oppressed under the pre-revolution days.
   
   Again, I must emphasize that I do NOT agree with the goals of or methods used by Mao's Communist regime, but nor can I generate a great deal of sympathy for once-rich whiners who feel, for the first time in their lives, the sting of poverty and disenfranchisement.



5. This book really taught me about what cultural impacts Mao Ze Dong had on the Chinese population. It was an amazing book and I suggest everybody read it.

5 comments about A Lion's Tale: Around the World in Spandex.

1. A LIONS TALE IS PROBALY THE FUNNIEST,MOST ACCUARATE ,MOST ANTISIPATED PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING BOOK IVE EVER READ,AND IVE READ THEM ALL!CHRIS JERICHO'S ACCOUNT OF HOW WRESTLERS SEE THE WORLD AND HOW THE WORLD SEE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLERS IS AMAZINGLY FUNNY.HE GAVE LOOK INTO WRESTLING THAT DOESNT DEPICT ONE OF DRUG USE AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE,WHICH ALOT OTHER PRO WRESTLING BOOKS ARE SADDENED BY.I LOOK FORWARD TO JERICHOS SECOND BOOK DUE OUT IN 2009.BUT UNTIL THEN.A LIONS TALE IS THE BOOK FOR ANY WRESTLING FAN,ANY CHRIS JERICHO FAN,HE IS TRUE AMAZING!



2. Fozzy....All That Remains Reloaded.......the greates musical recording in the history of recorded music. A Lion's Tale....the greatest literary work ever unleashed upon mankind. Ok, but it is a great CD that took me completely by surprise. I had the book as a present for Christmas, and while surfing Amazon stumbled on the reviewer mentioning Fozzy...I got the CD and I have nothing to say besides it's a great, catchy CD.All That Remains Reloaded (W/Dvd)



3. I was tired at work for a week because i had to force my self to stop reading each night! The book had good stories and really lets you know where Y2J came from and how he paid his dues. One of the better Wrestlers Autobiographies i have read!



4. I highly recommend this book! After eagerly awaiting it for a month I finally got it and read it in 3 days, it is funny, face-paced, witty and an easy read. You'll laugh out loud several times and almost pee yourself if you read this book. I highly recommend it to all the Jeriholics out there and even if your not, its still a great read. Buy it!



5. This was a good book. It was pretty well written and the pace kept me turning the pages. Lots of fun stories about life on the road as a wrestler. I was glad to read about some of my favorite wrestlers from a new perspective. I have to admit that I am a total mark for Jericho. Good stories and a nice look at his journey to being a true superstar. I don't know if someone who didnt like wrestling already would enjoy it though. But I sure liked it.

4 comments about Turtle Feet.

1. I finished Turtle Feet last night before bed, and I dreamt all night about one of the characters--the eccentric, ribald, rebellious and loveable alcoholic womanizing Bosnian ex-monk called Tsar. I never expected that this book would make me laugh so hard and dream so vividly. I chose the book because I was curious to know what could make a handsome, gifted young man with so much musical talent--who had only just managed to get out of Bulgaria to the States--decide to give up everything and enter a Tibetan monastery. I didn't expect that Grozni's monastic world would be so down to earth, filled with so many quirky, damaged, endearing, curious, intriguing, and truly sympathetic characters. I had not expected to encounter sexually frustrated monks, nuns on the verge of nervous breakdowns, weary adventurers plagued by loneliness and longing, competitive chess players brawling over matches, and most interesting to me--people who struggle, as I do, with the question of whether they have chosen the right path. Is what they are committed to meaningful and worthwhile, or of it is just another farce, another man-made construction in this absurd world? This was a great book! Moving, enlightening and damn funny. It is definitely a must read if you are interested in Tibet and monks and spirituality... For me though, I loved it because it gave me a clever, irreverent, sometimes hilarious insider's peek behind the curtain into a secret world--a world that I had no idea was scandalous as often as it is spiritual and serene.



2. Are you tired of reading Buddhist books about serene, serious, saffron robed monks sitting on cushions mediatating on the nature of emptiness? Then it's time for 'Turtle Feet' a raucous look at what Buddhist life is really like.
   
   Author Grozni, a Bulgarian music prodigy studying jazz piano at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, decides to chuck it all and go to India in order to learn the meaning of life. He travels to Dharamsala, home of the Dalai Lama in exile and thousands of Tibetan refugees from Communist China. There Grozni becomes a monk newly named Lodro Chosang.
   
   The streets of Dharamsala are teeming with life as thousands converge there from all over the world to study the dharma and perhaps get a glimpse of the Dalai Lama. Grozni's account of his life of poverty there is vivid and his assortment of friends fascinating. Grozni lives with a Bosnian war refugee with no passport named, Tsar. Tsar is an ex-monk, having violated one of the Buddhist precepts and having had sex with a beautiful Israeli girl. Other members of the household include Mona Lisa, a huge green snake, a plethora of rats (one named Thomas Edison) and various other wild life large and small.
   
   While Grozni studies at the nearby monastery with an emotionally abusive Geshe (Geshe being the Ph.d of the monk world), attempting to memorize sacred texts and master advanced debating techniques worthy of samurai warriors, Tsar carouses, plays chess for hours, smokes dope and ruminates about how to get out of India with no passport.
   
   Years go by, friends come and go and Grozni learns that to understand something clearly one must give it up. His Buddhist journey is wry and wise.



3. While the author of "Turtle Feet" is a very talented writer, (when he is describing the beauty of his surroundings, he sometimes verges on the poetic) in this book, he spends way, way too much time detailing the exploits of his manic, foul-mouthed, Bosnian, ex-Monk friend, Tsar. Grozni's religious/spiritual experiences as a novice monk take a back seat to Tsar's theatrics.
   
   People in India - like people everywhere - all share certain human traits. You get a bunch of young men living together in a community (even a Tibetan Buddhist community) and there are going to be some there with bad tempers, some with mental problems, some who swear like sailors, some who love to talk about sex, and some who use drugs. Maybe the author thought it was important to let us know this. But there is so much more that he could have shared with us - things unique to his life in India - that he did not.
   
   While the book offers a glimpse into a far-off world, it left me wishing the author had "waxed poetic" on more occasions and spent less time on his friend's passport/housing/woman troubles.
   
   
   
   
   
   



4. I can't say enough good things about this wonderful, exciting book. It has everything in it: vivid descriptions of horrid conditions, cuddly rats, snakes named Mona Lisa, very insightful passages about Buddhist teaching presented in a non-dogmatic way, linguistic trivia and examples, and of course extremely vibrant human characters. You might think that if Tsar, the Bosnia ex-monk who is constantly playing chess, fighting, making love and planning to escape India, is the central character, and he is, that the author couldn't paint others in as realistic a light. And yet he does. Vinnie, the crazy 70-year-old German who pisses on the floor of the kitchen and whose feet are oderiferous in the extreme, comes across in full living technicolor. But surprisingly, the author paints himself as a real human in no-less detail, which was really really neat. I almost feel as if I know him. I certain feel as if he and I share the same common human traits of desire for englightenment, and everything baser. But it is more than that. The book's details and word painting are just staggering. Excellent job! I wish I could read Bulgarian in order to enjoy your other books. You (Mr. Grozni) are one superb author!!!!

5 comments about The Frontiersmen: A Narrative.

1. After picking up our pots in Seal Bay we ran over to Port Williams for a few days before continuing on around the northern tip of Afognak Is.We lay overnight at Bluefox Bay where my sister was then living.She lent me her copy of this book,of which,at the time,I thought to be rather a large chunk of reading.However,upon returning to town for more supplies,we were stuck there because our skipper ran over himself with a snowmachine.Now I had much time to read,and read I did! Non-stop.This is history as it should be presented.Real people.Red,white and foreign.Simon Kenton,the man who is the common thread throughout the book,is one man I had never heard of,in history or elsewhere.
   The words "WOW!";"AWESOME!":"UNBELIEVABLE!" have lost their power in our current age from over-use,but their original applications do fit this book.
   The above trip took place in early 1978 and from that time I have kept my eye out for this book.All inquiries were met with either "Out of Print" or exorbiant pricings of a collectors' item.While I was not looking for it this recent order,by long habit, the title matches for the search criteria were imprinted in my mind and the book is now part of my collection....CliffThe Frontiersmen: A Narrative



2. I first became acquainted with Mr. Eckert's books a few years ago while shopping for a gift for my son-in-law who loves local history and someone recommended one of his books. I took it home and while wrapping it, read a page. I was hooked, I went out and bought one for myself. We live in an area rich in history and his books cover our area extensively. I only wish all the history classes I took in high school and college had been this interesting. Our whole family now enjoys Mr. Eckert's books.



3. I was assigned to read this book for my 10th grade American History summer reading. I loved to read as a teen. I loved history -- I went on to get my degree in it. This book threatened to change all of that.
   A ponderous piece of agonizing minutiae, this book brought me to the breaking point. I read it -- the whole thing. As a fifteen year old. I think it actually made me cry, I hated it so much. It's well researched, but seemed almost masturbatory in its envisioning of the motivations of frontiersmen. And excruciatingly long. Some people obviously enjoy this book. To each their own. But for the rest of you, it is okay to hate it. Really. You know you want to.



4. Eckert has written a truly engrossing book on an amazing figure in American history. Simon Kenton, like Daniel Boone had the lust to wonder the woods for days and both had a immense memory for the scope of the land he wondered. The narrative writing is excellent. It puts you back in the 18th century when America was truly wild. It was a harsh land when one false step led to an early death, often times gruesome. The Shawnees were none to compliant to give up their lands and sold it at a high cost of human life. Tecumseh also emerges here, also one of the greatest figures in history. A Sorrow in Our Heart, which is about Tecumseh is also a must read. In the Frontiersman, the Ohio River flowed blood red with hatred for intruders. There are captivating stories here of the many clashes that took place between whites and indians. It was a time period of two cultures clashing, one wanting to hold on to a way of life etched into the land through balance and harmony, aganst a culture that produced men who were determined to see new vistas and experience the thrill of blazing a trail that many would soon follow. But it was this migration which ruined the very thing they loved most, the feeling of true wilderness. This book captures it all. A must read for those who find history a fascinating subject.



5. Wow, what an interesting, exciting, factual book! Just as engaging and excitingly written as any Louis Lamour or Zane Grey novel, except very factual. Based on tens of thousands of pages of interview notes taken from those who lived during this period of history. You will learn a lot of American history and enjoy it, to boot, if you read this book! Don't miss this one!

5 comments about My Losing Season.

1. During his senior season at The Citadel, a tough-nosed, all-male military academy, Pat Conroy's squad stumbled its way to an 8-17 record, falling two points short in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament due to John DeBrosse's blown fast break layup. In true Conroy form, the self-depreciating point guard blames the loss on his own lack of hustle in pursuing the missed shot. Regardless of who was at fault there, it was this miscue that brought about the writing of My Losing Season: "When DeBrosse found me in Dayton, it was the first indication I had that the 1966-67 basketball season could cause perpetual hurt to any other person besides myself." In this masterfully written memoir, Pat Conroy reconnects with memories of his dysfunctional basketball team from a season impossible to forget, one that shaped his view of the world and his direction as a writer.
   
   I was sold on Conroy after his first line in the book: "I was born to be a point guard, just not a very good one." A sentence beautiful in its witty simplicity, I could instantly relate to Conroy as a mediocre athlete myself; more importantly, this one line sums up Conroy's character as a whole. He portrays his passion and reverence for the game of basketball, a humble ethos and skill at his craft of writing.
   
   The truth is he was a very strong player, finishing his senior season as captain and MVP of the Bulldogs. However, in his eyes, he was always an unrelenting member of the Green Weenies, the scrubs of The Citadel team, overcoming obstacles including his lack of height and talent, his manic father, who suffered severely from a superiority complex, and his unappreciative, old-school coach. His proudest moment came when his coach noted, "that kid gets more mileage out of his talent than any other player I have ever coached." Conroy took those words to heart and applied them to his future as a novelist: "I soared upon them, gathered strength from them as I stormed out to my life as a writer who wanted to create winged and roaring sentences, the kind that would set language free."
   
   While his team was hitting its lowest lows, Conroy began to appreciate the power of his experiences. He finally detached from the bond that latched him to authoritative figures, learning to trust himself and disregard outside influence. This liberating realization led to the conclusion that "loss is a fiercer, more uncompromising teacher, coldhearted but clear-eyed in its understanding that life is more dilemma than game, and more trial than free pass." Culminating in his career as a writer, this season gave him ample stories and lessons to fuel his passion for literature. Ultimately, we learn that Conroy's writing salvaged his relationship with his father before it was too late, a man who led the typically docile Pat to once "dream of spitting on his body in the mortuary...again and again, until my mouth was dry." Conroy's basketball experiences provided him a voice and courage as a writer; if this contributed at all to mending his relationship with his father, than the losing season was surely worthwhile. Pat Conroy serves as an inspiration to me as a gritty athlete, a crafty writer, and model human being.



2. What a great coming-of-age book, whether you like basketball or not! I thought that this, I guess, non-fiction work was far superior to Conroy's fictional "Beach Music."



3. A rough life is an understatement for young Pat Conroy. His abusive father and enabling mother help make it an enduring test of character for Pat. He walks away a strong person and also a wise one. Mel Thomason awaits Conroy as yet another test of will power for Pat. Mel is a stubborn man looking to rule a team of basketball players. His ways of braking down a player only to rebuild them and smash them down again, is a test of just how much a man can take. Pat endures a very painful character building period.
   
   Pat Conroy tells a story like a god. Throughout the book Pat is inquisitive about what he will be after basketball is over for him. He lets us know that he has always known he was a great writer but was unsure of himself. He was at a loss for what it was he was meant to do. This book is not only about basketball, but also of self-inquiry. It is a journey of Pat's search for his life road.
   
   Along with Pat's struggles came reward. Pat felt as though he was coming into himself. He discovered life lessons and set life goals. He believes he learn more about himself his senior year at the Citadel then any other single year he as lived. Life is full of self-discovery, especially for Pat.



4. Growing up Catholic in the 1960's and 1970's and playing basketball every day because we didn't have the money to go on vacation, are two of many drivers that singles out Pat Conroy's "A Losing Season" as the most talked about book among my friends in our New York suburb.
   
   Mr. Conroy's ability to balance brutal honesty with a sensitivity toward young men of our era, dwarfs my favorite writers such as Tom Wolfe in nailing the complexities of being innocent in a period that was conflicted with our feelings of supporting the beliefs of our fathers who were from WWII and the realities of the 60's and 70's.
   
   When a writer as strong as Pat Conroy takes on young men growing up in the 60's and 70's trying to figure out their catholic up-bringing, clashing with their generation's challenge to conventional beliefs - the result is explosive. Don't miss the best read of your life.



5. Amazon.com Book Review
   My Losing Season by Pat Conroy
   
   The difficulty and pain that military basketball players go through are shown in My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. Pat Conroy writes about his life as a Southern college student at The Citadel during the 19676 basketball season.
   Pat Conroy's father grew up in the South. His father is in the military and is constantly being sent to work at different places. This causes the author to attend many different high schools during his teenage years. These years are filled with the beatings from his father to his entire family. Pat Conroy is able to put everything he was into the basketball he plays at high school and college. These games and practices help keep Pat from killing his father during one of the many depressing times Pat has. After high school, Pat accepts a basketball scholarship at The Citadel, a military college. His first years at The Citadel are filled with the harsh practices from his coach, the sweat parties during plebe week, and the constant reminder of his father. When the author is a senior he doesn't start the first basketball games and isn't picked as a captain. Instead, he rides the bench with the Green Weenies. Pat battles with his coach, his father, and his college throughout his time at The Citadel.
   As time progresses, Pat goes through numerous challenges. The author is faced with the conflict of depression, and does whatever he can to survive the painful time it brings. Conroy is forced to deal with his father and his basketball coach. He is constantly beaten by his father. Pat is also benched by his basketball coach and yelled at for doing nothing. Pat has to somehow go through the challenge of living his own life happily. The author shows the pain his father caused him when he says, "The game kept me from facing the ruined boy who played basketball instead of killing his father" (6). Along with Pat's father, Conroy has to deal with his basketball coach, Mel Thompson. Mel forbids dates, laughing, or any fun a basketball player could have. This causes pat to go through most of life unhappy and causes him to do whatever it takes to become happy. The basketball that he played was one of the few things that solved his conflict.
   Pat Conroy is able to write in a way that makes one feel that they are attending the events that Pat Conroy is talking about. He is able to write in a way that shows what his life was as a child, but still make it interesting and exciting for the reader. He is able to show the things that he is feeling and the suffering he has as his college. Pat Conroy shows his writing when he describes his team when he says, "I felt my team coming together at last, the way teams are supposed to feel, the ones who you would go to the wall for, dive on the floor for, and shed your blood for" (331). Pat Conroy has the writing style that is very descriptive. The way he writes makes me feel I am watching a movie, instead of reading a book. I am able to see and feel the pain, depression, and rare happiness during the story.
   I felt that this is one of the best written books that I have ever read. This book made me keep reading and kept me from putting the book down. I felt that Pat Conroy did a very good job of writing about his college basketball career in a way that anyone would like it. I liked how he made his own life interesting and true. Also, I liked how nothing was hidden, and he told the truth like a clear jump shot from the corner.

5 comments about Inconceivable: A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics.

1. Although the author is struggling with secondary infertility she still is suffering, as we all are. I saw I was not alone in what I was feeling and she opened up my mind and heart through her journey. I found it very helpful and I read in 24 hours cover to cover.



2. I bought this for my sister-in-law, but since I'm a pregnancy/birth junkie I read it before sending it to her. I think it's a wonderful reminder that western docs do not know everything there is to know about fertility and infertility, but they tend to act like they do and present no alternatives.
   
   My sister-in-law just had her first baby a few months ago after 10 years of trying. The few years of Western fertility treatment did not work and she hadn't yet gotten around to the acupuncture I was urging her to get. It happened naturally after they came out to visit my hubby and daughter and me.



3. I stumbled onto Julia's books and her website while browsing on Amazon. She had commented on someone else's book, and it brought me to read about her books and website. I am generally a slow reader and rarely finish a book. I started reading "Inconceivable" and found it an easy read and highly enjoyable! I carried this book every where I went and read, read and read. I finished it in one week! - which never happens for me. In general, we eat very healthy and organic, but this book, Julia's story, brought me to another level. It is soooo worth the reading! Now, I am almost halfway through "The Fertile Female" her second book, and again, am carrying it around with me every where I go! It's one of those books that you can sit down and really, really get into and you feel like you're right there in the story, too. I highly recommend BOTH of Julia's books. I've also ordered her Imagery CD and some Conference Tapes from her website Fertile Heart. They just arrived yesterday. I have not been struggling with infertility, but more "obstacles" in trying to conceive our second child. I've had a miscarriage and my second ectopic pregnancy this time around, meanwhile, I'm just getting older... now 42! So, anything I can do to preserve my fertility, and in general just be the healthiest I can be - is well worth doing. Besides all of that - I've just really, really, really enjoyed reading her books and following the exercises. They're very peaceful exercises - I LOVE IT!!!



4. I wanted someone to connect with, someone who's been where I have, I suppose. While I felt for her and her husband, it's just her situation which didn't match with mine. I thought I would be reading about someone who went through IUIs, IUIs with meds and IVF cycles.
   The author is much older than me and has a specific situation with FSH levels. For most of us women in our thirties that's a non issue.
   The healthy diet and nutritional information sparked my interest however I still believe everything in moderation is key.
   If you're on a journey where male infertility is an issue or your on the IVF path, this is not for you.



5. This book, is great !!! I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down is just what I needed to know, all I can say is that so far I lost wheight, my allergies are gone, my sadness and anxiety are better, no babies jet .. but I feel am getting closer to my miracle....

5 comments about When We Get to Surf City: A Journey Through America in Pursuit of Rock and Roll, Friendship, and Dreams.

1. Bob Greene's 'When We Get To Surf City' is for everyone who loves warm summer weather, hot dogs, pretty girls and great music - not necessarily in that order. Over more than a dozen years, Greene wound up with what for many would be a dream job - playing great music with some of the idols of his youth. This is the story of those years on the road with the legendary Jan and Dean.
   
   Opening up this book is like slathering on the sunscreen and sitting in a beach chair listening to the sounds of the ocean. The reader gets a first-hand look at a rather sad fact of life - namely, that untalented headliners (I could name a ton) hit a stage and rake in piles of cash, when people like Jan and Dean - who, like the Beach Boys and countless other groups, provide the template for the music that other artists blatently steal - wind up flying coach, staying in Motel 6s and considering themselves lucky to have a meal provided them before a show. Much like corporate radio's complete disregard for the Oldies format, it's sad to see what groups that once sold out halls across the country doing their time, usually outside in hot summer weather, just to make ends meet. Nobody in these groups travels by private Lear Jet and scarfs caviar. That, in a word, is obscene.
   
   But, lest I digress further, this in no way diminishes the joy Greene expresses throughout the book. As a professional musician myself, I can completely understand how the fatigue of travel and sometimes difficult circumstances all go right out the window the minute the lights come up and the crowd reacts. That makes it all worth it. Greene's book is a completely absorbing, yet easy, breezy read. I kept having to remind myself that the events in the book happened over a period of years; it seems like the book takes place over one long, glorious, never-ending summer - and that's probably exactly what it felt like.
   
   Throughout the book, Greene never really has a bad word to say about anybody - although the band crosses paths with other Oldies artists on occasion, some of whom are less than professional. There's always one in a crowd. From gig to gig to gig, the reader feels like nothing so much as a ghost roadie, and the whole book serves as a testament to a life and a sound that is disappearing way too fast.



2. Bob Greene has yet another winner with 'When We Get to Surf City'! Mr. Greene has such a wonderful writing style. You honestly think you are there on tour with those guys as you read it. I highly recommend this book to anyone. You don't need to be in a band, you don't need to be of the surfer song era, you don't need to be a musician OR a guy, to enjoy 'Surf City'. You will laugh and smile and be moved to tears...and what a journey it will be!!! 5 STARS!



3. Do you remember "Jan and Dean"? Do you remember those "surf songs" that were/are so much fun to dance to and sing along with? Do your kids remember these songs? This book, so easy to read, gives us one man's remembrance of what it was like to tour and sing/play with the various and ever-changing group inspired by the original Jan and Dean. What a wild and wonderful ride they all had...
   
   This was a fascinating read for me and I was amazed about so many details of "life on the tour" that Bob Greene remembered. For all I know, he may still be on tour...
   
   You might also like reading one of Bob's other recent books, And You Know You Should Be Glad. He has a gift for being able to write about how it felt growing up in a (fairly) small town in the 50's/60's and has a way about explaining feelings that he had as a teenager and those feelings of his friends. Things were sure different then and young people today might enjoy seeing how one particular guy saw things. When I have read his books, I have said to myself, "yeah, I know what you mean," but have not been able to put it into words. He talks about the importance of sustaining friendships and not all of us have been able to keep such long relationships. His recounting of those times also kept me laughing, it was not all seriousness. In fact, I think the humour is what kept the whole thing going in both of these books.
   
   Sincerely,
   Diane Commendatore
   loudotcomm@comcast.net



4. Bob Greene takes fans of 60's music through an insightful story from behind the scenes as he tells of his travels with Jan and Dean. His observations as one of the back up musicians reveal little known things about musicians and how concerts work. He also has many anecdotes about Jan and Dean after Jan's "recovery" from his terrible accident. Some of them are humorous and some rather sad. Reading this book led me to buy other books by Greene that I hadn't read so far in addition to buying another book about Jan and Dean. A good read.



5. This is a great book. I especially enjoy reading about Gary Griffin....he's a real cutie. It's interesting to find out that life on the road isn't all glamor. A wonderful inside view of the people and songs that we all remember.

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

1. "Rita introduces the normal housewife and career woman to the nomadic lifestyle. Her choice to leave a lavish world of Hollywood parties and famous friends for a backpack, muddy flipflops and no how-to map for foreign travel was to say the least, CRAZY. But it works. It is encouraging, exciting, uplifting and inspiring. Couchsurfers of the world will embrace this novel. "



2. Interesting places and I really wanted to like this book. I love inspirational books about adventerous, unconventional females! But the author was so self-absorbed that I had to force myself to finish it, and I did so with increased annoyance and anger.
   
   Everything revolved around her and what she can take from people. Everywhere she went, she expected freebies, special treatment, and go-to-the-head-of-the class opportunities. And she always got them by men who rescued her and solved all her problems, offering her food, shelter, transportation, companionship, most of the time while insisting she go out with them to boot. One even said "maybe wife die and we marry"!! When she was not able to get onto a flight that had a very long waiting list, she said she was just trying to figure out "how to get around the system" (WHY does she feel special enough to feel she can get around the system???), when lo and behold - of course a man miraculously appeared and solved all her problems - even ahead of missionaries who were there to help hungry people.
   
   The author, who seemed to be in a full-blown mid-life crisis, seemed to create this new life and title (Nomad) for herself to flag a sagging ego and career. However it somehow seems wrong to go to these countries with only an agenda of her own. Her other foot is firmly planted in her independently wealthy safety zone with no real desire to offer any long-term assistance to these people she took so freely from. It would have seemed way more valid if she had been a Peace Corps volunteer, but then I suppose it would not have appealed to her had she been one of a group of many, and to not be able to be such a novelty and queen bee. It also would have been nice to hear that she chose to direct some of her royalties from her experiences to these countries as well, especially the starving children she speaks of but does nothing to help except offer English lessons.
   
   And what is with leaving her mother and kids? I feel that there is a time and a place for everything and when we have responsibilities on the home front, those must come first before our own whims. Her kids were only around 20 and certainly still needed some normalcy; and the treatment of her sickly mother is appalling!! OK so she hired a woman to live in and take care of her - and that woman had family and they all became one big happy multicultural multigenerational family..I'm sure the mother was just "thrilled" with that while battling sickness and old age. And one of the most egotisical things of all was when the author claimed that the mother actually timed her death to the author's advantage.
   
   When she moves to Canada and Seattle, again she places herself as the recipient of everyone's charity as all of her MANY friends (she painstakingly lists them all MANY times) scramble to furnish her living quarters since she only had a bag of clothes and she wanted to do LOTS and LOTS of entertaining with her many, many friends.
   
   This is a woman who likes to hold court, be the center of attention, and I suspect that is the motivation for all of her "nomadic" activities in a "Wow! Look at me!" kind of way. And that continual bragging makes for some pretty boring reading.



3. It is very likely that I will not be a world traveler till I am much older since I have two little ones still at home. But that doesn't mean that I cannot enjoy another's travel stories. This one is full of stories, but it is lacking in some respect. I was expecting a little bit more information on the cultures of the people that the author has talked with and perhaps a little bit more on the politics of the countries she has traveled.
   
   Rita Golden Gelman finds herself at a crossroads in her life where her marriage fell apart and her children have left the nest. She takes a trip to Mexico to figure out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. She decided to be a world traveler and visit the places she has always wanted to see. She did not want to travel the normal touristy routes, so she chose to see the back regions of countries that she has only heard of or read of. Her first place was in a Zapotec village and thus the wanderlust was developed.
   
   The places that she visited seem to be so remote and so far away. It was so much fun to read about different places that I'd love to go someday. However, I am questioning one thing. If some of the places that she has revisited have taken a downturn in economic woes, why didn't she bring back food that might actually help the people that she claims to love? I understand that people give gifts better than accepting, but still, couldn't she have found a way to distribute powdered milk for kids who need it? It's just a thought.
   
   Also, I am not sure if I think she is blessed to have so many friends where she can borrow their houses temporarily or if she is a moocher. Maybe she is the combination of both. Another thing that does disturb me in this book is her lack of responsibility in taking care of her mother in her last days. There are quite a few things in this book that makes me question her decisions, but it is her life.
   
   This is an armchair travel book and while I didn't agree with everything in this book, it is well-written and the travels are fascinating, even if she is a bit self-absorbed. (I have yet to read a memoir where the author isn't self-absorbed, other than "Glass Castles by Jeannette Walls and "The Three Dog Life by Abigail Thomas.) The author has whetted my appetite to see New Zealand and learn more about that country, more than any other country that she has mentioned in her book. The descriptions of food are beyond belief. I am not a fan of Thai food but sure wish I could eat some right now based on her descriptions. And she does provide some interesting insights to different people of different cultures, even though she admits at the end that she's always weaving something and loving it at the same time.
   
   So if you like to travel, this book is great for you. You won't be able to put this one down.
   
   6/22/08



4. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not only is the author's unique path in life inspiring, but the experiences described are a much more intimate look at people from other cultures than what you typically find.
   
   Gelman forms relationships with the people she meets - mainly because she lives among them and isn't traveling as a tourist.
   
   Even if you don't end this book wanting to buy a backpack and a one-way ticket to anywhere, this book will remind you that people are the same everywhere, just the clothes, customs, and food are different.
   
   I had to edit my review after reading some of the surprising comments about Gelman's ego/arrogance, America-centric viewpoint, etc. The jaundiced tone of these reviews doesn't gel with my impression of the book - or of the author.
   
   I was fortunate to meet Rita recently and found her very down-to-earth. A group of us had a delightful lunch, talking, asking, listening. As for the criticism that the book is very America-centric in its assumptions about the rest of the world, I don't see it. Gelman is very respectful of other cultures, exactly what most Americans abroad are not.
   
   And my favorite section of the book was Bali...the section of the book that seems to have received the most negative comments. I was completely drawn in to the story of those years.



5. Other reviewers have summarized the book's premises, so I'll just add my perspective.
   
   I was blown away by Rita's ability to handle herself in all sorts of situations. Living with someone else's family is tough under the best of conditions. Rita lives in rooms, shacks and houses. I'm trying not to think about the bathrooms. She eats whatever she's served.
   
   Rita doesn't spare herself when she describes her mistakes and missteps as she makes her way from one place to the next. She doesn't just present a travelogue: she shares her own identity questions, especially in the chapter on Israel.
   
   What I got from this book is: You have to be a very special kind of person to go on this type of journey. Rita seems to have a low need for solitude and privacy.
   
   Eat dinner alone? No way. She looks for people. I felt a little embarrassed when I read about her first efforts to connect with others.
   
   Finding herself alone in Seattle, she heads to REI for shopping. Shopping? Seattle is filled with bookstores, libraries, museums and just beautiful places to walk. But I can see wanting to take part in the quintessential American shopping experience.
   And REI is a landmark.
   
   Bottom line: Rita is one of the most other-oriented people we'll meet in a book. She loves being with people and she has a gift for getting others to help her. I don't think she's manipulative - just naturally friendly and authentic. Life coaches would say she's a natural attractor.
   
   That's the kind of person you need to be if you're going to explore other cultures from the inside out. I read somewhere that he best Peace Corps volunteers are those who can enjoy the present moment.
   
   Besides a gift for people, Rita's got two amazing kids. She says they missed having her around while she was adventuring, especially in the early years. I say, "Too bad!" Who wouldn't want a mom like this one? What a role model and sometime travel partner.

5 comments about Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest Scientific Problem of His Time.

1. Prior to 1773 navigation and mapping were hampered by the difficulty of determining longitude on open sea. Determining latitude, the angular distance north or south of the equator, was easy; it only required being able to measure the angle of a star above the horizon. Determining longitude, the angular distance east or west of an arbitrary meridian, required the ability to keep time. Until the advent of an accurate timekeeper the only way a navigator could fix his longitude was to estimate the distance he had covered.
   
   The accuracy of the hypothetical timekeeper was critical. For a ship to arrive within about ten longitudinal miles of its destination on a voyage of three months, sometimes the difference between life and death for the crew, the timekeeper could neither gain nor lose more than one second a day. The problem became a national quest in eighteenth century England where a "board of longitude" offered the modern equivalent of twelve million dollars for a solution.
   
   The problem was finally solved by John Harrison, a Yorkshire native who never saw the inside of a school. His life-long struggle to build a sufficiently accurate clock and to win the monetary award despite seemingly insurmountable political obstacles is one of the most inspiring stories in the history of science.
   
   Dava Sobel is master science writer. Although other writers (Lloyd Brown, for instance) wrote engagingly on this subject, LONGITUDE is the first comprehensive book-length treatment for lay readers. It flows as smoothly as a novel. Don't expect footnotes and diagrams; it's not a scientific monograph. Don't expect instructions on navigation or clockmaking; it's a popular narrative, not a Popular Mechanics article. Expect tight, efficient writing and a window into a fascinating episode from centuries past.



2. The last years of the seventeenth century and the first years of the eighteenth century saw the rise of significant global commerce. With few land routes and none capable of handling large amounts of cargo, the only option for shipping was via the oceans. As long as the ships stayed within sight of land, they generally knew where they were. However, that had its' dangers as it was always possible that a storm would dash the ship onto the land. Furthermore, many of the new voyages required movement across vast areas of ocean, and to do so safely it is necessary to have an accurate way to determine the location of the ship.
   Fixing the latitude was easy, as long as the position of the sun could be determined; it was possible to determine the latitude. Therefore, only the most overcast of days prevented the navigators from computing the latitude. However, fixing the longitude was much more complex and several ways were put forward. All involved some form of timekeeping, if you knew your local time and the time at a fixed point or longitude zero, the difference could be used to fix the longitude. Determining the local time was again easy and also involved determining the current position of the sun. Unfortunately, keeping the time of longitude zero was very difficult.
   All of the timepieces of the era were inherently inaccurate and grew even more so when they were jostled about by the rolling of a ship. Since being off by even a few minutes could be critical, it was necessary to have a clock that was sturdy and accurate. The problem was considered so significant that in 1714 the English Parliament offered an enormous reward for a solution.
   John Harrison believed that a solution was possible and after years of effort, he developed one. In the process he solved some very complex mechanical problems. Due to the wide range of temperatures that the clock would be exposed to, the expansion and shrinking of metals would cause the clock to vary. His solution was to put two different metals together so that the changes would offset each other. This strategy is the basis of the modern thermostat.
   A second problem was one of lubrication. If the moving parts were not lubricated, the friction would cause wear that would lead to imprecision. If a lubricant were used, the changing temperatures would lead to a change in viscosity and also lead to imprecision. His solution was to use a wood that secreted a lubricant and his end result was a clock that was extremely accurate and very sturdy.
   This is a fascinating story of mechanical genius that has probably never been equaled. Harrison's clocks kept a time so accurate that it was not superseded for centuries. It is a demonstration that humans are so intelligent and resourceful that when a major problem exists that must be solved, a solution will be found. That is a comforting thought as the human race continues to face increasingly greater and more complex environmental problems.



3. I won't bother telling you what the book was about, as a few hundred people have already explained it in their reviews, so I will simply explain what the book got right and what it was missing.
   
   First, it was an excellent popular-level introduction to John Harrison, the longitude problem, and the invention of the watch sturdy enough and precise enough to measure time with extreme precision aboard a ship to allow for the calculation of longetivity. Sobel presents the information in a very clear way (for the most part), and does not (often) delve into technical discussion which the average reader will not understand. I personally learned quite a bit from this book, as it was my first exposure to the longitude issue and John Harrison. I did not know that either existed before reading this book, and now I think I have an adequate grasp of both, so this book was a success.
   
   However, it could have been better. Much better. As other reviewers have noted, this book REALLY needed some pictures, or diagrams, or something. A description of an incredibly complex clock/watch does NOT really help the average reader know how it worked, or even what it looked like. There were a number of times that Sobel would describe what Harrison did to his invention, and I wouldn't really understand exactly what was happening. I fail to understand why some diagrams or illustrions were not included, as their absence is glaringly obvious and irritating.
   
   Other than that, my only complaint is that it was a little short and could stand to have a bit more detail. I understand that it is a popular book, but it was still a bit on the skimpy side when it came to details. It seemed to spend lots of time giving details about the longitude problem, then the last part of the book just sped through the life and inventions of Harrison without really getting into detail. It had a somewhat rushed feel, and I really think the book would be significantly better if it had about another 25 pages or so added to the Harrison section.
   
   In short, the only things that separate this good book from being a great book are the lack of diagrams/illustrations and the slightly annoying lack of detail toward the end of the book. It's not as good as Galileo's Daughter, but it's a pretty good book I'd recommend reading, especially since it will only take a few hours.
   
   Overall grade: B+



4. Although this book is small, the material still had to be stretched to get as far as it went. For anyone interested in a look at 17th and 18th politics, science and nefarious dealings, however, this book is for you. And it's a one day read. I would recommend this book for a high school or undergraduate level science project; the book does presuppose some knowledge of plane geography. You also get some interesting by-products of the quest for the way to determine longitude on the high seas.



5. Dava Sobel's Longitude manages to be both entertaining and enlightening. It's hard to imagine a book based on such a taken for granted historical landmark could prove to be such a good read. Personally, I must to confess a preference for historical issues, and John Harrison proved to be an engaging figure if for nothing else than his single mindedness to the task at hand. He spend the larger part of his life trying to solve a single riddle, and in the process, solved many others.

5 comments about Indestructible: The Unforgettable Story of a Marine Hero at the Battle of Iwo Jima.

1. I am a retired Marine and I generally read several books on the Marine Corps each year; I had never heard of Jack Lucas before this book. But, I came to believe that his discplinary issues, has resulted in the Marines excluding him from the general USMC history, we teach our young Marines at recruit trainng or OCS.
   
   I am glad I bought the non-abridged audiobook edition (part of daily commute). Its audio quality was pretty good. It is a good recounting of history, but someone should have listed to it before it was finalized on CD. There were repeations of several sentences which made we wonder if my CD player was on the blink. In addition, references to "126" should have redone they should have been redone as "1st Bn, 26 Marine Regiment". Better for non-Marine listeners.



2. There can be little doubt that this book wouldn't have been written if this aging hero had not been singled out by President Clinton during his presidency in a nationally televised State-of-the-Union address. Mr. Lucas was the President's special guest for the occasion, and one can understand why. While Lucas is an unquestioned military hero, he was less of a hero to his children and his first wife. (Those who were on the receiving end of his quick and violent temper may not view him in the hero light either.) A self-described womanizer, Lucas was the perfect foil for the Clinton plot to bolster the President's image by profiling a man who is living proof that no matter how badly you conduct your private life, it doesn't have to interfere with your service to country. This book will read like a poem to Clintonites, but may blanch a bit to the few of who still believe personal morality matters to whatever task you set yourself to.
   
   Lucas is a hero, and his professions of faith in the Lord who protected him not only on Iwo Jima but in several other major life crisis redeems this book and makes it worthwhile. But if your looking for the ALL American hero, better look elsewhere for reading material.



3. Mr. Lucas has just spent 212 pages doing nothing more than patting himself on the back and telling the public how big a hero he is. He also spends a great amount of time in stating how he relishes the limelight he is in and will go to any length to exploit the Medal of Honor to his own use. From some of key phrases in the book, the reader would think he was the only Marine on Iwo Jima. While I highly respect him for the action for which the medal was awarded, I do not respect the idea of using it to ones advantage. The author also seems to think that what he cannot accomplish with the Medal of Honor around his neck, his two fist will get for him.



4. Despite what some other reviewers had to say, it should be noted at the outset that Jack Lucas didn't finish high school, and obviously didn't go to Columbia for a writing degree. He simply lied his way into enlisting in the Marine Corps at the age of 14, and ultimately conned his way into frontline units until he finally reached combat at Iwo Jima. Having wanted to be a Marine and fighting since he was 11, his dedicated pursuit of his goal seems impossible to believe, but it did happen, and this is his story.
   
   Having met Jack, he is exactly like what the story sounds like. He is proud, patriotic, and unabashed in his belief that his actions that day were less significant than those who never returned. I found the story of his life after the war to be interesting, especially what his own wife would attempt later.
   
   This is not going to tell the story of the whole war, and isn't a literary work that rivals Shakespeare, but it is one man's story, and well worth the time to read it.



5. This book is full of self praise and a large ego. Not a humble word in it. The author talks of his buddies, roommates, and other people with barely mentioning a name or how they influenced his life. He does mention his family and the influence of his mother and deceased father. What he did on Iwo Jima was heroic and highly commendable but, he just keeps on about himself and his Medal of Honor. His claims of coming from a valiant military heritage are unsubstantiated. He should have something to back that he is the descendent of veterans of the American Revolution (fighting the British), the Civil War, and two awardees of the British Victoria Cross. There are two Irishman named Lucas who were awarded it but, both lived from the 1850's to the early 1900's in Ireland.
   It does seem that he writes the book as if he is the only Marine on Iwo Jima. There is little mention of the names of the Marines that he served with and his interactions with them. Every Marine has a history. You will receive the impression that he wasn't very well liked by his peers and was insubordinate to superiors. I believe that commanding officer that let him stay on the ship after deserting his unit in Hawaii had no choice but to attach him to a battalion and send him into the fight. It would have been an even bigger hassle to send him back to Hawaii. That unit was going to war and they were not going to think twice about giving that kid a rifle and putting him on that beach.
   His time in the brig and driving a trash truck leaves the reader to question: "Was he up to high standards of being a Marine that he says he was?" The sentence he received from a court marshal (yes, I said court marshal) seemed too hefty for just roughing up a guy. The recount of his first sexual experience just after he tells the story of shoving a broom handle into the "offending orifice" of a mule, named after a girl he was afraid to talk to, should have been left out. This book should have been written by a non-bias author that is willing to do some research. His reason for joining the Army almost sounds like an excuse. He submits to the reader that it was his undying desire and primary mission in life to be a Marine and kill the Japanese.