5 comments about The Lotus-Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava.

1. giving this book a bad review, is like giving a "thumbs down" to the Bible... it is the autobiography of a buddha; believers will see its merit... let us rate this book, with an infinite number of stars... The writings of Padmasambhava are extremely deep.



2. It is SO refreshing to read a book on Buddhism, a biography nonetheless, where we are not inundated with rationalizations, psychological justifications, or de-mystifications. If you read other biographies of Buddhist saints, you realize know how rare this is. Thank you, thank you... Sometimes you just want to read a book with some real, genuine, magical meat on the bone. Especially when you're hoping to get some insight into a totally different culture -- it's a good lesson for us westerners to learn how to let go of what can or cannot happen in a story.
   
   I love this book on many levels. There's also a great terms dictionary in the back, which I've referred to repeatedly.



3. It arrived safe and sound and very quickly. It is in perfect condition as promised.



4. This edition of 'The Lotus-Born' is a slightly oversized paperback with wonderful clear font of just the right porportions. Although there are 325 pages, the story of Padmakara is concluded in 209. the rest consists of Notes, Bibliography, Index, and a very useful and substabtial Glossary.
   The story itself consists of forty-one short chapters, so it is easy to read a little here and a little there. You might not want to, because the story is so captivating, but you could.
   The text relates Padmakara's origins, his transport to Uddiyana, subsequent expulsion to India, and eventual invitation to bring the dharma to Tibet. Along the way he is educated by the great Masters of the day and by the wisdom dakinis in various charnel grounds. Yeshe Tsogyal advises us, as the readers, to realize that Padmakara was not just another ordinary man, and it is helpful to keep this in mind. Indeed he is an emanation of the Shakyamuni Buddha, come to teach secret mantra, also known as tantra.
   Each chapter is remarkably entertaining and instructive of its own. Chapters 38 and 39 are exceptionally beneficial to this reader, as they describe the meaning of the Six Syllables of the Lord of Great Compassion, and the benefits attained by their recitation; benefits such as avoiding rebirth in the lower three realms. You have probably heard this mantra before, but are also likely not to have full understanding.
   This is a wonderful terma treasure. It closes with Padmakara leaving Tibet to go tame the rakshasa demons in another part of the world. Thus the later part of his life story is not related. But by finishing the book I am completely won over, and like the Tibetans, would have liked to have gone on with Padmakara and his Grand Adventure.



5. I actually ordered this from amazon and it is on loan to one of my Sangha sisters. I could not find it at Half Price books but I did find Yeshe Tsogyal's biography, which I enjoyed very much.
   
   This biography has quite alot of drama involving king's ministers, evil spirits, emanations of Avalokiteshvara (Compassion Buddha) and more. It seems to be told from a more "secret" perspective meaning that the events are described in very "mystical" terms which is how it was probably experienced by Guru Rinpoche. As such I need to get this book back from my friend and reread it - I feel I would understand more then a did before. I could probably reread it again in a few years and understand it even more! It's one of those books.
   
   This book is rich in meaning and at the same time would make a good entertaining movie. Sounds funny but it is a very entertaing read, at least to me.
   
   Interestingly, the origianl author of this work, a Nyingma monk I believe, wrote this 500 years ago or so and included a brief preface where he warned of the degeneration in his lineage that he saw at the time. Thus, we should be vigilant of our own motivations for practicing Buddha's teachings (Renunciation, Bodhichitta, etc) and not get caught up in just being "meditators" or "ritual junkies."

5 comments about Not the Religious Type: Confessions of a Turncoat Atheist.

1. If you've read any of the last few rounds of atheist books, you'll note one common approach: they're joyless books without any ray of sun. In fact, they're more like amusement parks rides: you strap yourself in, ride the ups and downs, and return to the place you started once it's over. The author remains tirelessly in control.
   
   By contrast, Not the Religious Type is a less of a polemic and more of a conversation starter. It's a book best discussed more than read by one's self. And Schmelzer even chats himself up -- arguing one conclusion for a chapter and then backing up, taking a contrapositive stance, and re-approaching the issue.
   
   It's breezy, accessible, and while it doesn't buttonhole conclusions in a 7 or 21 step fashion, there is course charted in the book that is not merely the playing out of a well-written first chapter. For that reason, perhaps the book is best read with a companion on the journey.



2. Great reading for just about everyone - believers, unbelievers, with faith, no faith, you name it! Dave's conversational tone is inviting. He is witty, yet quite profound and thought provoking. Like Jesus, Dave offers a non judgmental religious perspective. He successfully depicts a God who is pretty much alive and available to all who simply believe and seek Him.
   After reading this book you will know that following this God is much easier than a lot of religious and preachers impose. (Thank God for such a guilty free, pleasant "religious" perspective for a change!)



3. This book is a pleasure to read. Dave Schmelzer used to be a playwright and atheist, and he uses his skills to play out thoughts on the universe, God and happiness. As a now-pastor of a large church in Boston he understands the need to treat with respect those who hold different views from him and lay out his thoughts in easy language and relevance for everyday people.
   
   At the beginning of his book, Dave starts with a theory of Owen Barfield on the progression of human society. Initially, humans were caught up in "Original Participation" where we saw the entire world connected to us, including the gods in the sky and in the bushes. Next, we moved to "non-participation" where we got outside of the world and looked onto is as objective, dispassionate observers. According to Barfield, we will move to a third phase, the "final participation", which merges the first two stages and engages the rationalists with a universe that is personal and active.
   
   Dave builds his argument on this insight: people are much more interested in being "on to something" that is satisfying than ending up in discussion on what is right and wrong (which both his opponents - religious people and skeptical atheists - major on; and for which they pay the price of self-righteousness and sort of a gloomy vibe). Dave adds his insights from pop psychology (M Scott Peck's 4 stages), sociology (bounded vs centered sets), and movie theory (Joseph Campbell's hero myth) to his conversational writing and his many insights into Boston's academic culture.
   
   The strength of this book is in the mix of smart concepts presented in a fun way, paired with a lot of personal stories of how they work and the focus of "being on the something". For Dave, this a shockingly positive and loving God that is accessible and helpful to ordinary people. While smart books in the past (CS Lewis, GK Chesterton) were good in adding perspective and helping to dissect arguments, Dave moves on to propose a life that adds valuable experience to good thoughts. While great books help us see the world in a new light, this 174-page fun-read actually proposes something we can do (not in a self-help 7 step way) and therefore is the best book yet I have read on faith journeys in an intellectual environment.



4. This is a book for everyone. Whether a person of faith, or a person who doesn't feel as if they have ever spent time thinking about faith, you will be engaged (as I was) by the insights Dave Schmelzer shares. His perspective of having been an atheist for the first half of his life offers a unique perspective. The faith that Dave Schmelzer talks about isn't about being right/wrong or good/bad, it's about a connection with a communicative Jesus that offers a life that is more "joyful, purposeful, and connected"...something that I definitely can say I'd love to sign up for and have more of.



5. Pastor Dave breathes a warm, engaging tone into this book. It works well as a conversation with the reader, which is an impressive accomplishment given how thorny a topic he writes about.
   
   Reading this book was a spiritual experience for me. It helped me understand how transformative an experience it can be to surrender to God and devote one's life to the pursuit of goodness.
   
   The problem is that the book fails in its central effort: to convince the reader of the worth and necessity of Christian faith. The reason for the failure is that many of rhetorical devices that Pastor Dave uses do not withstand logical scrutiny.
   
   For example, Dave starts in one section from the assumption that any valid religion should harness the power of surrender to God. He then goes through a laundry list of religions, such as Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. He decides that only Christianity (and Islam) adovate for surrender. A point in favor of Christianity? Only if you can't spot the obvious fallacy: what about all the possible "religions" that haven't yet been invented? Why count only history's most popular religions? What about Zoroastrianism for example? Jainism? It's unclear how acknowledging the worth of surrender to a higher power necessitates that Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God and that he performed miracles and died for our sins.
   
   Dave's argument against absolute truth and support for relative truth also does nothing to argue for Christianity. Instead it just opens up an existential can of worms that led me to wonder how he can ever be sure of anything.
   
   And so it goes...I'm no closer to being Christian now than when I first read the book. It did make me see more clearly what my own attitude toward religion and spirituality is.

No comments about Light of Fearless Indestructible Wisdom: A Brief Account of the Life and Legacy of Kyabje Jigdral Yeshe Dorje, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche.

4 comments about Come Back, Barbara.

1. The father and daughter in this book openly share their journey of separation and reconcilliation after the daughter forsakes all the spiritual values her father held dear. This book is a must for parents who are struggling with how to relate to a wayward child. This is a true story.



2. This is an excellent book for parents raising teenagers. The format of the book is such that the reader gets the story from both the parent's side and the daughter's side. This gives the reader insight into the reasoning of the daughter, as well as the viewpoint of the parent. Although the subject matter deals with a wayward child and how the parents and family dealt with the issues involved with that, the principles given in relating to children are a benefit to all parents. I recommend it to everyone, whether you have children who have rebelled against your teachings or not. The principles of interpersonal relationships dealt with in this book are useful in many circumstances. A must read!



3. A group of my Christian friends and I are dealing with a close friend who has recently fallen away from the faith. I can't tell you how encouraging and perspective-renewing this book was for us to read, even though we aren't her parents!

   Jack Miller brings everything right back to the Gospel. The lessons that he and his wife learned showed me "what love looks like." None of us could put it down. It's been a God-send!




4. I cannot possibly recommend a book more highly for "parents in pain," i.e. parents whose children are now older and may have "bolted" from the flock (whether they are still at home or have left the "nest" as well as the faith). For parents whose children remain in the "far country" still unreconciled to their Father - the "Father of spirits) (and their earthly parents as well), this excellent foray into the life of one rebellious teen (Barbara) is very biblically oriented and therefore exceedingly helpful in learning to respond in godly ways to children who may have begun to tred some dangerous paths. There are no pat answers - C. John Miller will be the first to affirm this . . . but there are biblical directions, biblical prayer, biblical postures that parents can take toward their children who have, to one degree or another, rejected their parents faith. Miller is correct: the process of seeing our children return from the far country is an adventure. And God is just as interested in rescuing the parents (from their natural but harmful sense of and supposed need for control, among other sinful behavior patterns) as He is the wayward children. I would recommend this book to every parent who is struggling with the issue of their child resisting their godly shaping influences - even if they have not actually left with their "Father's inheritance" to squander it in riotous living

   Howard Eames, Kansas City, Missouri
   More about me www.faithcommunity.com/fca/

4 comments about Dorothy Day: Selected Writings.

1. A collection of Day's writing, it's a fascinating read, and one would hope a call to conversion for those who fail to see Christ in all around them, especially in the poor. Remember, we are told not to judge and to give freely to all who ask. Think about that the next time you're approached by a panhandler.



2. This was the first book by Dorothy Day that I ever read and now I have just finished it for the second time. It's fabulous! Informative and inspirational. I found my faith strengthened by reading this book. I highly recommend it for all.



3. Dorothy Day's life and writings challenge Christians to remember and serve the least among us. This selection of writings highlights a broad range of social, political and religious topics. In her time, Ms. Day's activism brought about much criticism and opposition. Today many remember her as America's Mother Teresa. Her purpose was to keep the Gospel alive through the challenge of service. Her voice continues to shine in the pages of this excellent collection. If you are interested in a call to social justice Dorothy Day's writings will be a source of continued inspiration.



4. Not a reader of biographies, I was hesitant to purchase the book but have found it to be a source of reflection in its simplicity and complexity. If Day becomes a saint, then there is hope for all of us because she was so much like us. So human and yet capable of so much divine. It's a wonderful read for rainy days and haunting souls.

4 comments about George Muller of Bristol (1805-1898) (Hendrickson Classic Biographies).

1. We can learn much from the true spiritual giants. GM was one of them. Through the Spirit and discipline he succeeded to serve God in spirit and in truth. It's doable!



2. This powerful biography gets to the real story behind the legendary sinner-turned-saint, George Muller. This bio is a reader's dream! The author has a masterful way of turning a phrase and more importantly he shows us how and what and who made Muller who he became--a man of God extraordinaire. I was deeply moved by his story. The faith that distinguished his Christianity from mediocre believers of his day was unclouded by sentimentality or mystical notions, it was steeped in Scripture and bathed in the love of Christ. A fiery life that I will refer to when I need an inspirational pick-me up. A wonderful book that truly brings glory to God!



3. The ultimate George Muller biography, written by a man who knew him, and the one approved by Mr. Muller's own son-in-law. This biography breaks down George Muller's life into sections and explores each section thoroughly. Tremendous insight is gained into why and how he became a great man of faith and prayer. And as if the unfolding of this isn't enough, there's the added bonus of author A.T. Pierson's insightful commentary on biblical principles for deeper-level Christian living. I am reading this book a second time just to take in and digest all he has to say about these things, especially in relation to following the call of God on one's life. I was not expecting this from a biography and all I could think while reading it was "Where was this man when I was starting out?" It's like sitting at the feet of your own personal mentor. While some of the writing style is a bit "too late 1800's" it does not detract from what is being said. This is an extremely rich read. (The DVD "Obstacle to Comfort" serves as a great companion to this book.)



4. I bought this book looking for anecdotes of some amazing ways God answered prayer in George Muller's life, especially ones that could be used as illustrations for teaching, sermons, etc... What I didn't expect was God to work in my heart so much while reading it. The book certainly contains many amazing accounts of how God provided for George Muller and his ministry, but more than anything the book is a powerful narrative of how God responds to faith and prayer. Muller's life goal was to show that God is a living God who hears and answers prayer, and God richly blessed this life of faith.
   
   The refreshing thing about this biography is that you learn just as much about the almighty God whom Muller served as you do about Muller himself. The author also often steps out of the narrative to help the reader to apply lessons from Muller's life. However, these asides never feel forced or interrupt the flow of the narrative, they only add to the reader's enjoyment and edification. I'm certain that the writing of this book itself was bathed in prayer, and it will show in the heart of the reader.
   
   As mentioned before in other reviews, the language is a bit formal, as was common style in the late 1800's, but it's still very accessible, even to High School students. I heartily recommend this book!

5 comments about Trickster Travels: A Sixteenth-Century Muslim Between Worlds.

1. TRICKSTER TRAVELS: A SIXTEENTH-CENTURY MUSLIM BETWEEN WORLDS could also have been featured in our 'travel' section for its fascinating travelogue entries; but is reviewed here for its value to any studying 1500s history. Al-Wazzan trveled widely as an ambassador and merchant throughout Africa in the early 1500s, was captured by Spanish pirates and presented to Pope Leo X, where he converted to Christianity while explaining Islam to his puzzled audience. The charged politics and turmoil of his life and times brings history to life, with history professor Davis using manuscripts of the times - including some previously unknown - to explore fully al-Wazzan's image and importance. Unfamiliar with his name? Try 'Leo Africanus', author of the first geography of Africa.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. One star, there being no zero. While the wish to explore the subject is understandable, the outcome is confusing and boring. Read it if you want to find out how an interesting subject can become dull.



3. To read a really excellent book about Leo The African, I recommend the far superior "Leo Africanus" by Amin Maalouf, a winner of several literary awards and an amazing book.



4. This book isn't really history or biography for that matter. Its an in-between kind of book that wants to imagine a past into existance based on speculation rather than evidence or fact. The factual details of the life of Leo Africanus would make a chapter. And even the facts we do have about his life are colored by a particular point of view which has to be questioned.
   
   Natalie Davis does her best based on all sorts of other material to imagine a public and private life for the man. As speculative fiction, it works. The only problem being that ignorant readers will begin to take this book as if were fact rather than a created story. The fault I find is that the book doesn't draw enough distinction about what is being imagined versus the actual facts of his life.
   
   The book is very good, but its not history or biography and should not be read as history or biography.



5. This book starts out with the mention of "King Manuel I of Portugal presenting Pope Leo X with a white elephant from India". I know that Professor Zemon Davis (ZD) didn't intent this as irony but it is. Most of this book, a white elephant in itself, is based on heresy, guesses and flights of fantasy. The only parts of the book that she is truly able to document are the nine years that 'Leo Africanus: Giovanni Leone" spent in Europe, with seven of those being in Italy.
   
   While in Italy he is purported to have written "Description of Africa" which was considered one of the few books written in Europe in the sixteenth century to document the Geography and sociology of North Africa. The book was written in Italian by the slave "Yuhanna al-Asad" who was born in Granada (Spain), brought up in Fez (Morocco) and captured by Christian pirates and given as a gift to Pope Leo X. This is the extent of what is known about our hero.
   
   ZD spends over two hundred and seventy pages telling us this story that could be contained in a paragraph. The rest of the book are her musing on the Roman Catholic Church and the machinasation of the church curia over how to counter Martin Luther and to recapture North Africa and the Holy Land from the Moslems.
   
   If your interested in this book read the Intro and the Chapters on Italy and the Comparison between Islam and Christianity, and skip the rest. As an example of the 'wistfulness' of this book, ZD spends sixteen pages on his 'return' after telling us that nothing is known about what happened to him after he left Italy.

5 comments about Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board.

1. This is a great story for all ages! It is about a girl who suffers from a shark attack and loses her arm. Bethany shows a great example of still going no matter how hard times may get. This is defidently a favorite of mine. I encourage you to read this book, it will inspire you as it did to me!



2. At just 13, Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm to a tiger shark, possibly affecting her goals and achievements dramatically in her life forever. But did that stop her from surfing? Of course it didn't! Bethany has been in the water constantly ever since she knew how to swim. She says, surfing is her life and has been since she was three. Her parents have been there for her every step of the way. Bethany has two older brothers, both surfers, and a best friend named Alana, another surfer. She mentioned that without her faith in God she would have never survived and He is the reason she gets up every morning. This book really inspired me to have goals and to achieve and never give up. Bethany Hamilton is a role model to many others and I. I am glad to say that now she is a professional surfer! The sponsor that stuck with her though all the hard times was RipCurl! Bethany is a wonderful girl, daughter, sister and friend to many and I am so glad that I picked up this book and was immediately drawn to it.
   Bethany throws her soul into surfing; she was born for the board. She may have lost her arm in the attack, but she could never lose her faith in God. He was and still is her greatest hero and model. I really think that her faith motivated her to get right back in the waves.
   Bethany Hamilton's first-hand account of the full-on fight to keep surfing is worth the read all the way. This teenage autobiography would interest any type of reader. I personally think that to everyone who has read this incredible book including me, there is no doubt that this book has made an impact on peoples lives. What a great book.



3. My daughter needed a book for her school's summer reading project. She picked this book off the list because she'd heard about the author who had her arm bitten off by a shark as an 11 year old, surfing. She was able to get through it quickly and she enjoyed it even though she is not an avid reader.



4. This is good book for any young person looking for inspiration from a positive role model in our modern world of spoiled pop princesses. Bethany has a rather matter of fact attitude to her predicament, taking it in stride. I read it last year on a trip to Oahu where I got a fin to the head and nine stitches, and as I lay there bleeding I thought how horrible it must have been for her and how my problem paled in comparison. While her attitude is based on her strong religious up bring, the message is not overly strong and is fine for any one's beliefs. It does need to be down rated a star for misspelling "Trestles." Shame on the ghost writer and editors for letting such an obvious mistake go: aren't there starving surfers who could have been hired for the job instead?



5. To be honest, this was an enjoyable and quick read. The writing style of the book was not difficult and had an easy flow to it. I did like how Bethany decided to focus the majority of the book around her life pre and post- attack. Only one chapter was really geared towards the actual attack, which wasn't described in much detail at all.
   
   By doing this, she focused on her personal faith in Christ and how that strong bond with her religion and family helped her through the ordeal. Rarely did the book come off as "preachy" or pushing her religious views, except for the ending chapter. This was a nice aspect of the book, because although her faith was a heavy part of the book, it did not discourage me from reading onwards. One part of the book even addressed the fact that many people think that her family may be too religious, but she countered that with the fact that this is just part of her life. Some people may not understand it, and that does not bother her in the least.
   
   It will be interesting to see how my students react to this book. I am asking them the question of the author's purpose for writing the book, and I will be eager to join that discussion. It is a strong lesson about following your drive and determination no matter what the obsticles, but I think they will focus more on the faith aspect of the book and say that trust in Christ was her main objective.
   
   Many of my students watched the news reports and have seen the billboards with Bethany's picture and story advertised, so it is definitely a high interest story for intermediate students. The format of the book is also reader friendly because it is sectioned into shorter chapters.

5 comments about The Dark Sacrament: True Stories of Modern-Day Demon Possession and Exorcism.

1. Folks,
   
   If you want to know the real deal, this book is it. Don't believe in demons? You will. Don't believe in the Devil? You will. Don't believe it can happen to you? It can.
   
   That's not sensationalizing. This book is my favorite among my collection of exorcism and spirit possession books. From my experience, the events in the stories ring true.
   
   The writers of this book, unlike others I own, do not seek to give a bias over Protestant or Catholic or their approaches to exorcism. And that's a rare find. They approach the subject with balance and facts, not on speculation from their own minds.
   
   Forget "The Exorcist". Forget any other Hollywood promoted film or book on exorcism. This is the real deal. No fluff. Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.
   
   Peace...



2. Don't read late at night or when home alone!
   
   This is the best book on demonology I have read since Malachi Martin's "Hostage to the Devil". It actually far exceeds that book.
   
   The cases are based in Britain and most are very recent. Everything is well researched and the entire book is absolutely thought provoking. The scariest thing is the truth that the authors convey--that the most ordinary circumstances may only be a sham for darker forces that invade our ordinary world.
   
   This is definitely a must read. Just not late, when you are home alone.



3. The authors appear to have done quite a bit of research on the individual stories, as you can tell from the elaborate details. I think most people who enjoy reading factual scary stories, opposed to the fictional type, will really find this book worth their while. If you like this, I would also recommend the book, The Demonologists, written about Ed and Lorraine Warren's many years dealing with demonology.



4. This book is awesomely scary and it takes alot to scare me. The things that have happened to these people are unreal but still believeable. The book leads the reader thru the beginning of the infestation all the way to the end, if there is one! After reading this book it makes you think how easily a person could fall into evil. It not only covers people possessed but also homes that are haunted by evil. This is not a light read by no means proceed with care!



5. Strangely enough the existence of demons and possession is not what makes this unbelievable. That part,one can believe. The human interactions, reactions to events and relationships simply are not credible. Some examples(SPOILER ALERT):
   
   - there is one situation where a male neighbor is raped and beaten for quite a while in his own front yard in front of his wife and other neighbors. He is hospitalized for days and is even visited there by the perpetrator but does nothing - informs no authorities despite the fact that this guy has young daughters. He ends up never doing anything and the neighbor gets away scot free.
   
   - Another situation involves a young woman whose husband reveals to her that he and his priest are lovers and that they together with his family have been victimizing children for years and will continue to try to ruin as many lives as they can. She ends up going to another priest for counsel and divorcing but nothing is ever done to this predator. The authors or good priest don't take this to the authorities either as far as we know.
   
   - There is the situation where a phantom spirit has rough sex with a woman for years while her husband sleeps soundly beside her. Of course, she never tells him and he is clueless that this is going on.
   
   - Finally, there is the demon that materializes in a young couple's house. A spiritualist comes and conjures it up with them in the room and it physically materilizes. Of course they keep their eyes shut and don't even take a peek at it. It gets in an arguement with the spiritualist and leaves.
   
   For the record, I am a catholic and a believer in some paranormal happenings, but quite frankly, people just don't behave in the ways described. Utter nonsense, even in modern day Ireland. This point drives me to call into question the credibility of the all the other stories in the book. And they are stories - many by admitted alcoholics, drug addicts, and other quirky people.

5 comments about After Long Silence.

1. From today's perspective, it is difficult to comprehend just why a couple who survived the Holocaust would hide their Jewish identify from their daughters for years, insisting that they are Polish Catholic refugees in the USA. This memoir, however, explains how their fear of a repeat pogrom drives them to deny their heritage, keep secret their loss of religious identify, and assuage their horrific memories and guilt at surviving.Fremont and her sister's quest to discover the truth causes their parents much pain, but the author is clear that the family's pain had dominated their lives since birth.



2. I have given this book as a gift to at least five friends. I couldn't put it down!



3. Imagine as a young adult, passionately involved in your career, you start pulling away the pieces of the facade your parents had created to protect you and your sister fom the truth about your own family. Like pulling a thread and unravelling your entire wardrobe to show your nakedness, Helen Fremont knew whe was dealing with sensitive, even explosive issues, but he could not stop pulling that thread.
   What she has done with this remarkable memoir is show her family's roots and branches in ways she never knew existed before she and her sister began discussing the "What if's?" It is a moving story packed with complicated relationships and the true history of her parents' lives and the terrors they went through during the Holocaust era in Europe. You finish the book wondering how such a powerful story could be supressed, and cheering for Helen Fremont for unearthing it. As with so many memoirs, you are also left wondering, "where are they now?" and hoping for a sequel.



4. I really enjoyed reading about the holocaust from the perspective of the second generation. The content was often not pleasant (what holocaust story is?)but the effect on the next generation and the family relationships made for a different story line that I appreciated. I definitely recommend this book!



5. I'm sorry but I couldn't finish it... so I did not get to the part of the author being lesbian (!) It was... funny, predictable, I read books like that before written by Jewish Americans, they all seem to use the same myths over and over and base whole book around them. You read one, you have a feeling like you read them all. Boring...