No comments about Memory Stories II.

No comments about No Problem: The Story of a Cornishman Part II (Isis (Paperback Large Print)).

5 comments about Vernon Can Read! A Memoir.

1. I listened to the unabridged audio cassette version of Vernon Can Read! This is a wonderful book. It has many dates and events in African American history of which Mr. Jordan contributed to, experienced and/or witnessed. These events are not only significant in the life of Mr. Jordan but also in the history of African Americans. The book is well written and easy to read and/or listen to. I told my five year old son about the experience of young Vernon Jordan and Mr. Maddock. It was inspiring to my son and we often listen to that portion of the tape while driving home from school. Mr. Jordan wanted the book to inspire his children and grandchildren and I suspect that it has. The book has also inspired my son. I highly recommend this book.



2. This book is an unfortunate piece of near puffery: much form, much superficiality, little substance. But what does one expect from a Power Broker? Truth or Dare?

   In keeping with the unwritten Power Broker Creed, Mr.Jordan reveals very little about the inside mechanations that made him who he is (as opposed to who he was). That is to say, the book speaks volumes about those life experiences that made Vernon Jordan the moderate civil rights leader he was years ago, but says exactly nothing about the transition from that leadership role, to the man who had the president's ear (not to mention the man who kept his secrets)and the ear of the REAL powerful people in this global econonmy: the corporate mavens for whom Vernon was (is?) paid handsomely to dish out advice and counsel to.

   We never hear in any detail about how Jordan quietly but persistently accumulated the power he achieved and, indeed, what motivated him in this pursuit. And no, I was not interested in any Monica dirt: Monica and the whole presidential thing, was (and is) beside the point when it comes to a rigorous Jordan analysis. That whole episode merely served as a template (and not a particularly good one) for the kind of back scratchery at high level that Jordan has been doing for years.

   But then again, what does one expect? People like Jordan (and mind you, I am a big fan of his)live by the aforementioned unspoken creed: power is best accumulated and exercised quietly. Thus, one does not reveal the secrets of the kingdom to just any average reader (by the way Vernon, what really does go on at those Bildeberg confrences?).

   We will not get the whole unexpurgated version of Jordan's life until some biographer decides to swim against currents and put one together.

   Those of us interested in reading something much more telling than Jordan's superficial telling of the story of his life will have to wait. Just as we similarly anxiously awaited biographical treatments of other quiet power brokers in the Clark Clifford, Tommy "the cork" mode (the wait is soon over for those of us interested in Tommy the cork and, thanks to the same author, was over several years ago for a good analysis of Clifford's life. CLifford's own biography, Counsel to the President, left much to be desired, too).

   As a high school to college level autobiographical treatment of the life of an important figure in post-world war II america, Vernon Can Read suffices. As anything deeper, it does not.

   Vernon can certainly Read, but what Vernon wrote certainly leaves alot to be desired.




3. Read this book. Mr. Jordan not only provides insight and anecdotes about many events and individuals in American civil rights history, his words also give us a glimpse of the workings of an incredible mind. His memoirs are filled with stories and recollections proving that desire, determination and accountability to self and others are crucial for success in any of life's endeavors. Simply stated, I'm inspired.



4. I also never heard of Vernon Jordan before the Lewinsky scandal. I am very glad I read this book. It is a shame that many Americans never heard of his interesting and enlightening story about coming of age in the civil rights era. That seems to me to be the theme of this book, that the civil rights era opened the doors to places of power not dreamed of before, if only one had the ambition and the character to find them.
   
   Like a few other reviewers, I also wish that the author revealed more about the period between when he was in charge of the Urban League. This period is when he made his contacts with very many powerful people in charge of corporations and institutions, received a fellowship at Harvard Business School, and started on his way to become a 'power broker'. I guess if you read between the lines the corporate/foundation contacts made him beholden to the business community, and then retiring from the Urban League to work for a powerful Washington law firm gave him a 'power broker' title. But its not really enough to make the connection, is it? And what about those Bilderberg meetings, Vernon? We would like to know more.



5. A fantastic book detailing the magnificent journey of a tremendous American! This book is packed with historical facts about the lives of Black people in America. Vernon Jordan was born in 1935 and although he did not live through slavery, he certainly lived through the Jim Crow days. However with a good father and a strong mother, he didn't just survive - he flourished. Yes, Vernon could and did indeed 'read'. The names of people mentioned in this book are dizzying. This man dealt with a wide range of people in his career.
   I loved the potent messages that came through with great clarity. Such as "never expect defeat before making an honest effort" pg.2 or pg. 277 his beliefs in concerted efforts..."each person or group using their abilities, contributing what they can to move things forward." I must also mention how happy I was to note Jordan's love for the women in his life; his mother, his invalid wife Shirley - who died at age 48, and his daughter Vickie - the apple of his eye.

No comments about The Private Life of Napoleon Volume VII [EasyRead Large Edition].

1 comments about Bookends: Two Women, One Enduring Friendship.

1. If you haven't already read "Old Books, Rare Friends" by the same authors, then you may enjoy this title.

   However, if you've already read "Old Books, Rare Friends," you'll probably be very disappointed. "Bookends" is a much shorter work, and much of it simply repeats "Old Books, Rare Friends."

   "Bookends" leaves out most of the stories concerning the authors' book collecting and instead focuses on their relationships with others (e,g,., men they didn't marry, mothers, dogs).

1 comments about Three Cheers for the Next Man to Die (Reminiscence).

1. The Law Of Land Warfare is quite clear, in that ANY person fighting in uniform, who surrenders, is to be afforded Prisoner Of War Status under the Geneva Convention.
   On page 157 he relates how four captured Germans "in uniform" were ordered by the Battalion Commander..."to be stood against the playground wall and shot".
   On page 158 he relates..."The oldest could not have been more than sixteen, and the youngest probably only fourteen."
   The author/witness does not relate that anyone.....
   ANYONE!... even raised a peep of protest, objection, or argument to these murders of children who legally should have been afforded Prisoners Of War Status under the Geneva Convention.
   No legal justification is provided.
   In 1983, when this book was published, and this veteran "told all",
   had it been Germans executing adult Partisans fighting out of uniform,
   all hell would have broken lose,
   with crininal investigations of any and all surviving members of the self-admitted War Criminal Glider Battallion, (British) Sixth Airborne Division.
   But this was not even that...
   These ...were...C H I L D R E N !.....WHO... WERE... IN ...UNIFORM !
   Ahh, the "Good Guys"...what unabashed hypocrites!

1 comments about Buddy Boys: When Good Cops Turn Bad (Curley Large Print Books).

1. I couldn't put this book down. What a great look into the mind of your average New York City cop. I was very sympathetic with them. They really seemed like nice guys! I felt their sense of self-disgust that they had to rat out their fellow corrupt cops. It puts you right inside the patrol car and you feel like you're a corrupt cop going along for the adventure. This is one of the best true crime books I've ever read. If you want a look at New York City when it was bad, look no further than this book about New York's "finest." Whoa!

2 comments about Pacific War Diary, 1942-1945: The Secret Diary of an American Sailor.

1. I was given a beat-up Avon paperback from 1963 and became thoroughly engrossed. Often repetitive but never dull, this day-by-day account by a Seaman First Class of three years of action on a light cruiser in the Pacific afforded me a new appreciation of what my father endured in the same places at the same time. Highly recommended to any American.



2. I, too, have a copy of the 1963 Avon paperback that I have been lugging all over the country for the past 30+ years. I read this in a high school history class in the early seventies, and immediately realized it was one of the best true war stories I had ever read. I have read my very tattered copy several more times since then, and have enjoyed it more with each reading.
   
   The book is the diary of a young seaman aboard the USS Montpelier during action in the Pacific from 1942 through 1945. He kept the diary a secret because it was against Navy regulations to keep such a document and it was only printed years after the war ended.
   
   Written in the language of a sailor, it is gritty and real. It does, at times become repetitive, but then again, life aboard a ship during the war was just that....days of sheer terror followed by weeks on endless boredom.
   
   Read this book if you want to get a great perspective of the war from a sailors point of view. And, just read it if you want a fantastic read!

5 comments about Are You Hungry, Dear: Life, Laughs, and Lasagna.

1. Doris Roberts seems to be a very hearty, generally happy woman at least that's what the book conveys. A fabulous collection of her very personal memoirs and stories and advice, it's almost like having a conversation with the archetypical grandmother. But far from old-fashioned and foppish, Miss Doris is downright hilarious at times and speaks with the energy and zeal of somebody less than half her age (in fact, she puts most young people to shame when it comes to fully embracing and enjoying life). Her stories, taking place everywhere from New York theatre to Los Angeles tv to her bedroom, are all colorful and more entertaining than fiction ever could be. You can't make this stuff up! She opens herself up admirably, sharing her personal struggles and her darkest times as well as her triumphs and good days. Throughout, the conversational style of her and Danelle Morton's writing makes you feel more like you are spending time with a friend than reading a book. If you want advice from somebody who has been there before, or colorful tales from the world of entertainment, or a touching autobiography, or an endless source of laughter, or just some fabulous recipes (which the book is peppered with) then this book is for you!



2. In this gritty crime novel, author Doris Roberts tries to conjour the ghosts of the pulp greats of the past. Unfortunately her characters are wooden cliches and the action turns gruesomely violent quickly. Roberts attempts at stylish atmospheric flourishes are, frankly, laughable, and the whole thing smacks of the amateurishish ramblings of a freshman creative writing student. A for effort, D- for result.



3. Are You Hungry Dear is an easy read. Doris shares an inside peek of theatre, her early life as well as some recipes she recommends. I enjoyed reading about her childhood, complete with cold grandparents and a busy, absent mother. Her grit and determination to make a life for herself is truly inspiring.
   
   She also shows just how very self-centered actors are, with no apologies. They crave the attention of everyone and always want the limelight. I would have loved to have read a little more about her son. I found there was not an over abundance of details about her personal life, more on the show business side of things.



4. I've never watched an episode of EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, but I nevertheless found it easy to recognize Marie Barone as actress Doris Roberts describes her character. Marie Barone is someone she loves, understands, and appreciates; but she's also who the real-life Doris Roberts flatly refused to become. Although she married at 18, desperately wanted a child and eventually had one, made homes for two husbands, and raised her son, she never once let go of her dream. She became not just an actress, but a Broadway actress. And then, when television called her name, an international star. That's the role in which I learned to appreciate her work: Mildred Krebs, secretary to Remington Steele.
   
   What makes this actress, and her autobiography, so different from those of most other stars who decide to share their life stories? I'd say it's quite simply that this woman never lost her true, genuine self to the make-believe world of her career. She's lived a full and wonderful life as Doris, and that makes her book infinitely more interesting than others in the same genre. Its final segment, in which she takes on the myths that both show business and American culture in general perpetuate about aging, is one of the funniest and yet most telling discussions of this subject that I've ever read.



5. Doris Roberts writes about her childhood in New York City. She didn't have a smothering mother like Marie but probably wishes she had. She writes about her father's abandonment and the estrangement relationship with her mother at times. She writes lovingly about her Uncle Willey who came to live with her mother and stepfather. She writes about her friendship and relationship with actors like James Coco, Roddy McDowall, and Ruth White. It was Ruth's death in 1969 when she decided to compliment her peers in the business. She writes about her two marriages including her second marriage to writer William Goyen who died. She writes about growing old in America where roles are scarce to find for women her age even now. Doris reminds me a lot of my own mother who is 70 years old and still cuts the grass. We should treat our elders better.

5 comments about What Zizi Gave Honeyboy: A True Story About Love, Wisdom, and the Soul of America.

1. This book is a must read for anyone that grew up as an american italian and cares about our future. It reminded me of what we are missing today and what is really important.



2. This is a quick read, but a heartwarming one, sure to spark memories in many Italian-Americans about life the way it used to be, in the days when several generations often lived together under one roof, when life was hard but laughter somehow came easy anyway. The photos which accompany the text will touch your heart.
   But this isn't just a trip down memory lane but an examination and critique of modern life, as seen through the eyes of Zizi, a wise and loving Italian aunt. She happens to be author Gerald Celente's aunt and it is clear that she has been a pivotal figure in his life, offering support and comfort as he went through a traumatic divorce, dispensing wisdom and love as needed. In the hours Celente spends with his aunt, talking and enjoying the meals she prepares (some of the recipes are included in the book), he begins to think about life past and life present and takes the reader along for the ride.
   After reading this book, you may find yourself thinking about the pitfalls of modern life and what has been sacrified in the pursuit of progress. You may also think about what the future holds for each of us.



3. I liked the book! I had heard the author interviewed on NPR and was so impressed and intrigued by the premise of the book that I decided to order it here.I appreciated the semi autobiographical way in which Celente presented the conversations he had with his aunt. And, not being Italian myself, I found the insights into Italian-American culture of the thirties throuh the present very interesting.Zizi is presented as neither omnisciently wiser than anyone else, nor as a caricature. Her life experiences are presented from the viewpoint of a typical person of her era, living, learning, and doing the best she can throughout her long life. I would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in sociological history, or just warm conversation with an older, wiser relative.



4. OK, that may be a little exagerated, but I couldn't put the book down - and thoughts of "The Prophet" DID cross my mind at times. I only bought it for an easy read - it was that and more. It's a book that I expect to re-read and (selfishly) I won't loan it out - not for a long time. However, at the current price, I might buy extra copies to give away. Unlike one reviewer, I appreciated the author's commentary (and the statistics) using real life examples to illustrate ZiZi's wisdom. ZiZi (and the author) put into simple words what many of us have thought many times while observing present day events and then, the author's commentary and statistics, add new perspectives. I'm not Italian - and this book didn't make me wish to me. Plain & simple - it's a delightful book who's author (and his aunt) just happen to be Americans of Italian descent- and the book wouldn't be the same if they weren't. I'll definitely try out ZiZi's Anise Cookies recipe - maybe today!



5. In this book, Gerald Celente pays tribute to his remarkable Aunt Zizi. In a series of conversations, the two make important points about our world today and the challenges of living in it. If you've wondered if the "good old days" really are better, read WHAT ZIZI GAVE HONEYBOY, and you'll not only be armed with information, but you'll be ready to do something about it. I buy up remaindered copies of the book and give them to my friends, who share my opinion of it once they've read it. It's a real "find" and a provocative and often very amusing read.