No comments about Sylvia, Queen of the Headhunters: An Outrageous Englishwoman and Her Lost Kingdon.

5 comments about The Day Diana Died.

1. I found this book to be incredibly informative and a fascinating read, which I read almost in one sitting. Instead of the usual tawdry gossip of most Diana biographies, it describes exactly, and in fascinating detail, about the events that led up to her death, the day she died, and the ensuing mourning that followed. We are made privy to details we never knew, and they are very essential details, in my opinion.

   To me, the most interesting and ironic part of this entire tragedy is that Diana lay in the hospital in Paris, dead, with nothing to wear. Prince Charles and Diana's two sisters were on their way from London, and the world's most famous and well-dressed woman literally had nothing to wear. The clothes she had been wearing when she died had been torn from her body by doctors who were attempting to revive her. Her luggage had been whisked back to London by a paranoid Mohammad Feyed. And, here was the world's most glamourous woman, at death, being forced to wear a dress donated by the wife of the English Ambassador to France. This irony is just one of many sad ironies and twists of fate in this account.

   We learn of the behind-the-scenes machinations leading up to Diana's funeral, the conflict between Prince Charles and his mother, the Queen, and how Diana's boys reacted. Prince Charles is definitely painted in a much brighter light than ever before. I was absolutely fascinated by this book, and I think it is well worth reading.




2. When I first heard about this book coming out, I was afraid it would be a tasteless and exploitative piece of paparazzi trash exploiting the death of a beautiful woman. However, I was more than impressed and pleased with the way the author combines hour by hour events on the day Diana died with background on her life and relationships. Diana was one of my favorite celebrities ever, not just for her beauty and elegance but for what she survived through and the fact she was such a good mother. This book combines all of those elements and also gives us a window into what happened on the day she died. One of the only tasteful and well-written books to come out after her death...



3. "No single event in history had ever been witnessed by so many people at one time. Across the globe, an audience of more than 2.5 billion watched the solemn progress of Diana's cortege through the silent streets of London and the funeral service at Westminster Abbey."
   
   This aspect gives the book a little gravitas -- the sheer impact of her fame and her death's interplay with her influence worldwide. This book was a fast read (2 days). The real value of the book comes, I think, from Andersen's reportage of the details in the opening of the book of what happened in the hospital in Paris right after she died: how Prince Charles reacted to viewing her body, how no one could find any clothes to put on her (since her pants and top had been cut off her in the ambulance and Mohammad Al Fayed had had all of her things immediately removed from Dodi's Paris apartment) so in the coffin on the way back to England she wore a dress from the British Ambassador's wife's closet, how the hospital had taken privacy precautions against the press, etc. The second part of the book that is interesting here distinctly is the last section, which dissects the events leading up to the crash (the driver Henri Paul's drinking problem and psychological state), the explication of exactly how the crash happened, who came on the scene first, how Diana was treated at the scene, her injuries, what she may have said (according to Andersen, her last intelligible words were, "Oh, God, what's happened?"), and how a variety of interplaying factors led to the deaths of Paul, Fayed and Diana. For example, if she had been wearing her seatbelt, which she almost always did, she probably would have walked away from the accident, and how, ironically, of all the people who got in the car that night, she was probably best qualified to drive it. This section and the first seem to contain the real reportage of the book.
   
   The middle section about her life appears to have a lot of recycled material in it, that if you've followed Diana stories and books, you've probably read this before (and to be fair, this may be just because I've read this six years after its publication). Morton's earlier Diana: Her True Story is quoted along with other somewhat accepted sources on the subject of her life. There are some tidbits, such as the assertion that Diana was set to star in a second Bodyguard movie with Kevin Costner, and that whilst Dodi was preparing to propose to her, no one who knew her well believed she would have accepted. While Andersen seems pretty objective in not portraying the princess as a saint, noting that she cut people out of her life when they said something to her she didn't want to hear, he does leave out of his book some well-traveled stories that paint her in a bad light (such as the comment she made to princes William and Harry's nanny post divorce that hinted that the nanny had had an abortion), or he glosses the negative trends in her life, living too much by (bad) instinct, her immaturity, etc.
   
   I thought that this book was going to be more serious reportage on the accident. While it did contain that element, it was really a book about her life, with all the usual suspects included. Really, the stuff that's new here is about the day Diana died. The rest seems somewhat tired.



4. The book has a gossipy tone, and it portrays Queen Elizabeth II in an extremely poor light. For example, the author makes a big deal over the flagpole at Buckingham Palace and the Queen's alleged initial refusal to fly the flag at half mast. That flagpole is for the Royal Standard. When the Queen is home, the Royal Standard (not the Union Jack) flies full. When the Queen is not home, the flagpole has nothing on it. Merely following that tradition is not a sign of disrespect, except in the minds of people who are not knowledgeable.
   
   The book describes Diana and Mother Theresa as "two humanitarians." Give me a break. Mother Theresa did far more for the poor in a day than Diana did in her whole life. Shaking hands with an AIDS patient (as a lawyer meeting clients, I have done that lots of time) or spouting the liberal view on land mines does not qualify a person as "humanitarian." It is a genuine shame that Mother Theresa, after a lifetime of dedicated service to the poor, had the misfortune to die in the same week as Diana, and, as a result, be virtually ignored.



5. I usually don't go for all the books about Diana, Jackie, and other celebrities. However the author has written a concise book about the making and death of a Princess. It details how Diana fell in love with Charles, and then how the marriage soured. Then it details her after marriage relationships with other men including Dodi. The last half of the book details the relationship with the press, and how the accident fell in place after a number of variables. These include a defective car, a drunk driver with emotional problems, and Dodi trying to escape the grasp of the press. The accident resulted in the death of three of the occupants of the car.
   
   This is a surprisingly good read. The flow of the book was excellent, and Andersen went through and connected all the pieces. The author places all the information into a easy to read account of the death of Diana.

5 comments about My Life as a Dog.

1. This book had me rolling on the floor! It is wonderful to know that a dog with such a difficult beginning can become the star he is today. Ms. Decagny had her work cut out for her when taking Moose on, and it seems her work has paid off. The little Moose-isms in the book alone make it worth reading. Fabulous book.



2. What a joy and relief this adorable, witty book is during these trying times! Anyone who loves Moose on Frasier will just not be able to get enough of this delightful tome, which continues the show's wit onto the printed page. I was simply enchanted from cover to cover. Truly!



3. I love this book I have read it so many times. I just can't get enough of this book. It is such a good little story. I am still reading it again in my 8th grade class and i still love it.



4. I expected more from this book and thought Moose would be a fascinating character. It was an "okay" book but I wouldn't recommend. I would have liked more depth to the story.



5. If you loved Eddie on the TV show "Frasier" or if you just love Jack Russell Terriers in general, then you will love this book. I have read it several times and still enjoy it each time. This book makes you smile, laugh and cry all at the same time! This book has even given me a better insight on my Jack Russell Terrier, Suzy!!! Great book!!!

1 comments about The Legendary Mizners.

1. I think that before anyone moves to Florida, or does business in Florida, they ought to read this book. If you've spent any time there this book will be very funny. The Art Basel enthusiasm which has made Miami hot in recent years has a distant echo in Mizner's clients for whom he created charming amalgams of various Spanish styles.
   At least they got a big house out of it, whereas what those who purchased at Art Basel acquired is open to some question.
   This book clearly shows that a certain kind of classy hucksterism is endemic to the Florida experience of art, or architecture. But it does it by telling a very amusing and in the end, sad story. Appropriately enough Boca now has Mizner Park, which is naturally is not a park at all, but a shopping mall. The Boca Museum is in there too, and the many works-on-paper contained therein, as well as drinking-fountains with their own dedicatory plaques from benefactors, show that Mizner's spirit of genial elitism continues.

No comments about Toughest Men in Sports : Looking for the Mental Edge.

5 comments about Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography.

1. I had read Jorgensen's book and this is a great reissue of her very polite autobiography originally published in 1967. Susan Stryker's introduction adds a great deal of insight into Christine as she truly was: ambitious,tough,witty, and truly talented. Jorgensen was not a successful nightclub performer because of her sex change, she had taste and talent. She strived for more such as films and theatre. She was successful in the latter a few times. This new edition has great photographs never seen before. Jorgensen had written, at least in part, a new auto-biography that did not hold back intimate information which she felt the audience of the 1960s were not ready for. Why Christine Jorgensen has been largely forgotten (she made TV appearances into the 1980s and died far too young in 1989)is something that I don't understand. She was constantly in the newspapers throughout the 1950s and when this book was originally released, she was on several talk shows. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand transsexualism. Christine was not the first, but she was the first major celebrity sex change. The lady had class, dignity, intelligence, and a great wit. It is an intriguing read of a shy lad who was troubled and catapulted into a celebrity status and become very comfortable with herself. One cannot help but to admire her courage. If the reader wants to find out about her love life,back issues of such periodicals as The Advocate will have to be perused.Details of her three surgeries are not described indepth. Nevertheless,she was a phenomenon who is often left out of books on the 1950s. The reissue of her book will enlighten many, bring back memories to others. It will also cause several to wish someone would do a biography on Christine Jorgensen.Susan Stryker's introduction evokes great intrigue and I wish it had been much longer and filled in the many gaps which Jorgensen's publishers persuaded her to leave out. A very worthy read of an all but forgotten lady of history! I highly recommend it. Christine Jorgensen unintentionally moved the sexual revolution along. She caused society to re-evaluate what gender is during a politically conservative climate. If you have never heard of her, it is a must. If you heard of her but forgot her, revisit her. It is worth the time to get to know Ms.Jorgensen.



2. This is a must read book for those interested in gender identity issues, as well as for those who enjoy memoirs. Ms. Jorgensen was the first American to have a sex change operation and undergo such public scrutiny. Though she never intended to have her transformation become public knowledge, it was leaked to the press, and from then on, her life was never the same. In the cultural milieu of the nineteen fifties, Ms. Jorgensen's sex change was big news.
   
   Starting her life out as George Jorgensen, she never quite felt that she fit in and became a loner by inclination. One striking issue in the book, however, is that she came from an extremely loving and supportive family who always unconditionally accepted her as she was, both before and after her metamorphosis. Not every transgendered individual is as lucky as Ms. Jorgensen appears to have been with respect to familial relationships. Perhaps it was because her parents were of Danish descent, and Scandinavian people tend to be more accepting of these issues.
   
   Relentlessly upbeat, the book is a flattering and politely idealized memoir, as if anything too dark were exorcised from its pages. The chapters which cover Ms. Jorgensen's time in Denmark, where her change took place, are somewhat superficial and non-clinical. There is no real indication of any personal struggle or self-doubt with respect to her decision to undergo a life changing transformation. One has to remember, however, that this book was originally published approximately thirty five years ago, when the public's sensibilities on such issues were far more delicate.
   
   What does come across in this autobiography is that Ms. Jorgensen had the courage to make a decision that for the time was somewhat unique and cutting edge, as there was virtually no literature available for the general public on transsexualism, and gender identity studies were still in their nascent stage. Ms. Jorgensen essentially paved the way for others by bringing to the public consciousness issues that had not before been the subject of public discussion. In bringing these issues into the public domain, she was subject to a torrent of abuse, as well as discriminatory practices, and seemed to be the endless butt of jokes. She took these problems in stride, however, and always managed to have the last laugh. Laughter, indeed, appears to have been the best medicine.
   
   Ms. Jorgensen, an attractive natural blonde, who personified the stereotypic feminine ideal of the time, became an entertainer. Given her notoriety, her career options were limited, as she gathered a crowd whenever her identity became known. Playing the hand that was dealt her, she parlayed her notoriety into a successful club act, digressing into acting. She managed to make a success of herself, living a life that was interesting, but hardly scandalous. While this is an intriguing memoir, it is not an in depth profile of Ms. Jorgensen. The reader comes away knowing about Ms. Jorgensen, rather than knowing her. Still, all in all, it is a worthwhile read.



3. I had read this book before. I am a gay male, 48, and i first read it about 15 years ago. I now have a trans-gendered friend. I never understood transexuals until I read Christine Jorgensen's story. Then, I did. She is candid, very forthright, and a good example for everyone. I recommend that anyone who is inquisitive about the subject, first read this book. It is excellent. She was a pioneer, perhaps and American heroine.



4. Equal parts Snow White, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, the Christine Jorgensen story, as cheerfully recounted in her 1967 autobiography, demonstrates the ideological attractiveness of the passive reinvention of the persona. There's no shortage of 1950s Prince Charmings in shining armour here: Jorgensen's primary doctor informs her "No, I would not charge you anything" for HRT or SRS. In gratitude, she names herself after him. Later, another Father-Knows-Best magic man sweeps Jorgensen off her feet - a talent agent who grooms her for a lucrative show business career. Presto - Sleeping Beauty awakens upon the American Idol stage. This is the fairy godmother of all TS memoirs - the loveliest, silkiest read ever.
   
   [This edition has a solid preface by Susan Stryker and updated, occasionally 'naughty,' photos.]



5. EXCELLENT BIOGRAPHY, EASY READING, THOUGH INFORMATIVE AND FUNNY AT TIMES. I HIGHLY RECCOMEND THIS BOOK ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE INTERESTED IN PEOPLE. THIS CASE ILLUSTRATES THE IDEA THAT EVEN THOUGHT FACED WITH ADVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES ONE CAN OVERCOME ALL ODDS IF ONE IS HONOST WITH ONE'S SELF AND DETERMINED. THIS STORY IS AMAZING.

No comments about Mistress of the Arts: The Passionate Life of Georgina, Duchess of Bedford.

2 comments about AC/DC: The World's Heaviest rock.

1. Angus, Brian & and the boys from the DC have spent their careers hewing pure uncompromising rock from the Mountain from whence all rock doth spew. Toiling nonstop they form the rock into blistering music that is like a blunt mallet crashing into your girating skull. This book chronicals the long careers of the lads who feel just as comfortable rocking out as hanging about in the stroh with their mates. This book will assault you like taking dope,speed,coke, two shots of bourbon and afterword you will say right I'm ready.



2. I DON'T HAVE THIS & DO NOT GET INTO BOOKS BUT, BECAUSE THEY ARE MY FAVORITE BAND I'LL GIVE IT A 5 STAR rateing

1 comments about Elvis Presley: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies).

1. This biography is part of a series of biographies aimed at high school students. It is a good, basic biography of Elvis, although it is not very long and covers only certain aspects of Elvis' life. Earl Greenwood is used as the main Elvis source. A good portion of the book is devoted to Elvis' childhood, high school years and the beginnings of his music career. Presumably this was done so that the target audience of high schoolers would be able to relate better to Elvis' trials and tribulations as a youngster and teenager growing up dirt poor in a dysfunctional family.
   
   There's a lot of discussion of family dynamics in this book--how smothering, possessive and controlling Gladys was of her only son, which affected the way Elvis viewed the world and his relationships with women; how Vernon, being lazy and unambitious, was content to just get by, going so far as allowing the young teenage Elvis be the breadwinner in the family until a high school counselor intervened. There is much discussion about Elvis' promiscuity and his numerous one-night stands, feeling that no woman could measure up to his mother Gladys. After Elvis was rejected by Dixie Locke, he would never completely trust women again or love them unconditionally, and each and every one would be subjected to the Gladys Comparison Test and always fail.
   
   I wish this book had been longer and discussed all aspects of Elvis' life--that is why I give it only 4 stars instead of 5. But this is a good, well-written general biography of the King. What is good about this biography is that it avoids much of the dish and gossip that you find in many Presley biographies.

No comments about Charlie Chaplin - The Little Tramp (Biography).