5 comments about In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown Country.

1. This book was heart-warming and enjoyable. I sent it to all my sisters. Thank-you to the author.



2. Incredibly moving and beautifully written.One of the best books I've read recently.



3. I loved this book! Being an avid outdoorsman I ordered it by the title because I expected to learn something of living in the wilderness. In that regard, the book did not disappoint, but there was much more. Kim Barnes also shares an astonishingly honest story of another kind of wilderness - Pentecostal fundamentalism. Having grown up in a very similar religious tradition, I can vouch that her story does not exaggerate. Barnes pulls no punches in revealing human foilables, but without passing judgment on the sincerely held beliefs of others.
   
   Those who enjoy "In the Wilderness," will definitely also want to read "Growing Up Pentecostal" by J. Stephen Conn. Conn's book has a very different setting but also gives a disarmingly honest view of classical Pentecostalism.



4. This book is beautifully written, with her early years happening in a kind of Idaho Eden, but what impressed me most was the author's fairness. She presents such a kind, loving, balanced view of the church, her family, their larger church family. She illuminates the glory of charismatic faith and accepts the presence of faith-based miracles. But when she explores what is lacking for her, what was missing as she tried to imagine taking her place as a wife in a Pentecostal family, the reader's heart breaks. Her questioning mind will not let this simple faith stand. As someone with no personal experience with this kind of religion, I was astonished by the rigidity of the church, appalled at how unforgiving a faith supposedly born of forgiveness could be.
   
   Highly recommended.



5. In the past I have read memoirs about girls growing up 'in the country' and what a challenge it was for them (and their family) This book is a good book to read that covers that theme very well.

3 comments about Spy Princess: The Life of Noor Inayat Khan.

1. I thouroughley enjoyed reading this book,a story about courage, devotion ,espionage and the life of this insperational young woman Noor Inyat Khan. Born into a Sufi family, taught the Sufi values of service , truthefullnes and pacifisim, Noor volenteers to serve as a underground radio operator in occupied France during the second world war. This book went some way to answering the question Iwas asking myself. Why would a young lady bought up with Sufi values, who studied music and child phycology at the Sorbon volanteer to undertake such a mission? With such obviousley conflicting values and rolls this young lady served the Allied countrys with strength and fortatude rarley seen in the toughest of soldiers letalone a diminitave girl of her nature.A wounderfull insight into an extrondary life. Well reserched but is some of the facts are in conflict with the ABC and Wicapedia, none the less well done to the author. MICK GUILFOYLE



2. Noor Inayat Khan was a SOE agent, working as a wireless operator in occupied France. This is an interesting read about her childhood, how she became a spy, and the aftermath. Through the story of one agent and her family, you realize the magnitude of the war, where the mission became far more important than family ties. A musician and student of child psychology, who writes stories for children, eventually finds herself running from house to house in Paris, evading the gestapo. Shrabani Basu's writing is full of details but dull at times, but the power of the human spirit comes through.



3. I had read this before and am delighted to have my own copy. My Sufi teacher gave me her name as a spiritual name. I am honored.

5 comments about Predators, Prey, and Other Kinfolk: Growing Up in Polygamy.

1. I recently discussed this book with a friend whose an avid reader and an active participant in a women's book club. She was afraid the younger women wouldn't care for the book because it lacks dialogue. Such a shame and yet I wonder if it's that glamor and glitz that so many autobiographers interject into today's books (such as James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces") that contemporary readers look for and are disappointed when it isn't provided.
   
   I, on the other hand, found this a fascinating tale that really delved into the mindset of those involved, regardless of how they were involved, in polygamy. Dorothy Allred Solomon, the daughter of a polygamist, writes about her experiences and recollections of life on the compound that expands into a detailed historical account of the polygamist movement, the fight to disband and abolish polygamy, the covert movement in the polygamist following and the shame that the by-products of polygamy, which includes Dorothy, had to come to terms with as they began blending in with monogamist families to escape the persecution that ensued.
   
   The author writes the majority from the viewpoint of when she was a child, so I felt there was a fair amount that may have been influenced by the age she was when these events occurred. As the author recounts events that occurred later in her life, I felt some important elements may have been left out as it became devoid of the detail, bereft with the emotion that pummelled the first portion of her life and the book.
   
   Yet, it's still a moving book that while it's dry in dialogue, allows the reader to get a good sense of what the author's family and the author herself had to deal with whether it was raw emotions and confusion or the outward reproach of society.



2. What a scintillating assertion of a lifestyle so foreign to most people. People are often in awe of the idea that such practices are still observed. This book matches personalities to the unnamed faces so often seen in the media relating to polygamy. Losing the idea of "polygamy is good/polygamy is bad," Ms. Solomon does an excellent job of turning individuals into protagonists and antagonists, making these characters live for all readers.



3. The book is not a sitting by the ocean summer read. However, if you are interested in this subject, it is a wonderful book that enlightens you to another side of the story.
   
   Dorothy Solomen tells the story of growing up in a polygamous family in an honest but compassionate way. The book brings the reader into the homes of each of the wives, how they had to move about while being hunted down by police, and how they leaned on one another for support.
   
   Unlike many books on this subject, the wives of of Allred made a conscious decision to enter into polygamy, with the sister-wives being supportive of one another. If this were possible, this family seems to have been as functional as any family except for frequent moves in order to hide their lifestyle from the authorities, and the burden of caring for so many children. Life was not easy for this family, but it was not full of the abuse we read about in some of the modern groups. One of the sons was suspected of sexually abusing his sisters: however, this happens even in molygmous families.
   
   After finishing this book, I found myself wondering if the family could have have had a more peaceful life if they had not had to hide their lifestyle. Since our country was founded on freedom of religion, one must ask if this is a violation of that given right. This family had a deep religious belief that their lifestyle was the only one that would guarantee being alowed to enter into celestrial heaven at death. They did not receive welfare, and for the most part were taken care of by the father, who was a Dr. Although the visits to each family were once a week, he devoted himself to each child during those visits.
   
   At times the book is confusing as she intertwines stories, events, children and wives. However, in the end I felt like I had been there watching the stories unfold.
   
   Solomom does touch on the story of a corrupt polygamy group who were responsible for multiple murders, including her own father, and how they were able to avoid prosecution. The fact that the crimes were happening to those practicing polygamy caused family members to be hesitant to bring forth evidence that could incriminate themselves.
   
   I would recommend reading this to anyone interested in learning about this lifestyle.



4. The book is worth reading to further expand your exposure to a person's first-hand experience with Polygamy in America. (By the way, this book is the very same as one by the same author entitled "Daughter of the Saints: Growing Up in Polygamy". I didn't know that, and bought them both.) For me there are two main issues, in general, with the book(s).
   
   I thought the narrative at times bogs down and becomes boring and tedious as I try to keep track of all the great-great, vs great, vs grand, vs. half-sisters, etc. members of the cast. I would have appreciated some kind of easy-access family tree to help keep track of everyone as I read. But it is her story and she is free to tell it the way she wants.
   
   The other issue is that having to face a story about polygamy caused me to have to face the underpinnings of Mormonism in particular, and religious beliefs around the globe in general. I believe this kind of inquiry is healthy. You might be surprised to read what Mormonism's founder said about polygamy, and how the church handled federal and state pressure over polygamy decades later. Are the fundamentalists/polygamists really the TRUE Mormons, or not? If this kind of thing interests you, I strongly suggest you do this reading on your own, and come to your own conclusions.



5. This is just "more of the same" from her other book. As a matter of fact, it's almost an exact repeat. Save your money - don't bother.

No comments about Women in the Old Testament.

5 comments about Hungry Lightning: Notes of a Woman Anthropologist in Venezuela.

1. HUNGRY LIGHTNING by Pei Lin Yu
   
   Hungry Lightning is one of the most delightful books that I have read in years. Although Doctor Yu was in Venezuela studying the Pume hunter gatherers on a grant from the Leakey Foundation for research purposes this book is ANYTHING but a dry academic tome. I'm certain that the rigid data filled, theory drenched, anthropology journal language encrusted, esoteric conclusion oriented version of this trip exists somewhere in the halls of academe - but this isn't it.
   
   This is a wonderful working of Pei Lin's journal from a year and a half of observing the hunter gatherer Pume Indians. Pei Lin not only observes but becomes emerged in their lives.
   
   First a synopsis: Pei Lin is asked by her long time friend (and lover?) Rusty to accompany him on a one and a half year project to gather data on a group of hunter gatherers in the remote Venezuelan grasslands. There are not many people like the Pume left in the world, and the few that are still living the traditional hunter gatherer lifestyle, I would imagine, are probably constantly being followed around by film crews from the National geographic and other similar organizations. These Pume folk, though, are still pretty original - if you catch my drift. Pei and Rusty have their daily duties of observing everything these folks do, cataloging and weighing their daily food intake, taking "anthropometric measurements," and what not.
   
   But more than that Pei Lin is a keen observer of their personal lives, their humor (yes, there is a small section on stork hunting jokes), their religion and their dance ceremonies. In addition to that it is Pei's personal story. While they were there Pei and Rusty "went native" (my term, not theirs) and lived not only WITH but AS the Pume. They ate what they ate, (interestingly Pei Lin went from a nearly lifelong, well fed vegetarian to a half-starved wisp craving a tasty hunk of crocodile tail or anteater steak), drank what they drank, feared what they feared, and so on.
   
   Pei Lin encounters death and illness in the Pume and nearly died herself from parasitic infestations. The subtitle of the book suggests that this book is from a woman's perspective and that it is. Pei gossips with the women while Rusty hobnobs with the men and participates in hallucinogenic rituals. When he accompanies the men on hunting expedition she accompanies the women on root and mango gathering trips, or stays at camp to help care for the children. She also aids a battered woman; participates in a tragic birth (wherein one of two twins dies, but the other survives); and must adhere to some strange menstrual rituals (no fish may be eaten while she was restricted to the menstrual hut - even if fish was all there WAS to eat on a given day.) And Pei has a particular fondness for observing and describing the old women in the group.
   
   The book also includes some fascinating (but too brief) descriptions of Pei Lin's dreams while she was in Venezuela, and some descriptions of the day to day frustrations of life that follow one anywhere.
   
   I LOVE THIS BOOK. This book is not only fascinating, it is tremendously fun and as a bonus he book is peppered with Pei's splendid illustrations. This book is for everybody, not just academic types, and has my absolute highest recommendations



2. Reading Hungry Lightning for an intro anthropology class, I groaned at having to plow through another boring account of some ancient culture's way of life. But then I opened the book, and entered a whole new world -- the world of the Pume. Vivid descriptions make their world come to life, and the reader is able to learn about their culture - and thereby extrapolate how other hunter-gather cultures would have lived millions of years ago. In addition, we see this culture from a female point of view, something lacking in many anthroppological studies. I would recommend this book to anyone - not just someone studying anthropology. This book enables someone to step back in time - and then realize that this culture still exists TODAY...and realize that without our help, this beautiful culture might disappear along with all the others that have preceeded it.



3. Pei-Lin Yu has done a wonderful job with this book and study of the threatened Pume of Venezuela. I, too, was assigned this book for an anthropology course and was not looking forward to it. I was expecting another dry, pompous read from some aging professor in Ohio, but instead I got a fascinating look at a culture I was completely unaware of. Yu makes you care for these South American Indians the way you care for your favorite characters in a novel -- actually, this field journal reads more like a novel than what is truly is. It is a true page-turner, with vivid descriptions, great illustrations by the author throughout, and an interesting and gripping plot (I use "plot" for lack of a better word -- the book is all true). If you enjoy reading -- anything -- you will love this book. It transcends a genre and is accessible and enjoyable to all. P.S. The professor (Ben Passmore) whose course I read this for is actually one of Pei-Lin's colleagues at SMU and says she is a wonderful, intelligent woman, and though I have yet to meet her, her work would lead me to believe the same.



4. As a former student of Ms.Yu's, I can say with absolute conviction that she is a truly remarkable and brilliant woman. Her journal, "Hungry Lighting", is typical of her tremendous ability as a first rate writer and story-teller. The passion with which she writes, to bring to life her Pume Indians, is contageous and begs the reader to continue their arm-chair journey into the lives of these remarkable people. Ms.Yu's easy style, gorgeous prose and personal accounts are captivating, exciting and truly heart-felt. Her adventures are nothing short of thrilling. This book is an absolute must for anyone who wishes to step, even if for a few precious hours, into the amazingly complex, always on the edge world of Pei-Lin Yu and the Pume Indians.



5. As valuable as it may be as raw documentation, the author should have spent more time researching a little more about the society she was visiting. It is impossible to avoid societal preconceptions, but the picture she paints of Venezuela from the moment of her arrival (or South America, as she interexchangeably refers to it) is shallow and uninformed, like a grotesque caricature.
   
   Key sources of such lack of research are demonstrated in mediocre references to Spanish (most words are incorrect in spelling, use and context), and incredibly poor information on population distribution in Venezuela or the true socio-economical situation at the time of the study. It is unfortunate that so much bias goes into what could have otherwise been an interestin study.
   
   I tried picking the book back up time and time again, but it's hard to read through the condescending, uninformed background of the author.

5 comments about The Dream of a Thousand Lives: A Sojourn in Thailand.

1. This is a wonderfully insightful look into Thai culture. The narrative of the author's personal experience is well crafted and straightforward leaving the reader with a true sense of life in Thailand.



2. This book truly uncovered the beautiful, bucolic experience of the heart of Thailand. This book is not about the fascinating big-city life in Bangkok, so ubiquitous in other travel books about Thailand. In contrast, this book takes you to a Thailand not frequently experienced by tourists...shouldn't be experienced by tourists with little respect and no other expectation beyond "fun" ........ should only be ventured by those willing to absorb (or should I dare say love) a culture and a lifestyle so different that at first, austerity and beauty are not immediately distinct to the mind conditioned to the comforts of "modernized" cities or suburban living (whether in Asia or the West). As a Thai who was educated in the West, this book actually imparted to me a "piece of heart" about my birth country that I did not previously believe to be a possible endeavor for written pages. Thanks Karen....... for doing the impossible! "Kob Kun Mak Krub" for the sincerity so salient throughout every description.



3. From what I've heard people who've known me a long time say I'm "well read". That's easy, for reading is my favorite pastime.
   I'm now over 50 and may have read thousands of books in my lifetime, only 2 of which I read from start to finish without stopping. "The Dream of a Thousand Lives" is one of those two books.
   
   Karen Connelly has a style of writing that can only be described as "a gift" (if not genius). Little wonder that she's won so many prestigous awards at such a young age. This is the first book I've read from her as author. It was such a pleasureable experience that I was almost angry went her story came to its end. The first thing I did afterwards (true) was get on Amazon.com and order more of her work. I can hardly wait for it to arrive!



4. Althought the story has merit, it was hard to read for all the poetic descriptive language. If I were looking for poetry, I would have loved it. I was, however, looking for a good story about Thailand, and had to wade through a too much flowery description. By the end of the book, it was almost a joke.



5. A young highschool girl takes a huge risk on going on a one year Rotary exchange to rural Thailand.Initially the change in culture is beyond her understanding. Rather than bailing she decides to stick it out and the reader gets the pleasure of following along on her adventure. Karen Commelly is able to let us smell,taste, hear and even feel the real "Land of Smiles" and begin to understand its enchantment. My wife and I had just returned from a month in Northern Thailand where we also had begun to understand this strange and wonderful land.

No comments about Reborn: Journals and Notebooks, 1947-1963.

1 comments about Following the Curve of Time: The Legendary M. Wylie Blanchet.

1. "The Curve of Time" written by M. Wylie Blanchet is one of my favorite books so I am very pleased that Cathy Converse has written a terrific biography about "Capi" Blanchet--captain of the Caprice, adventurer, mother and unique individual.
   "Following the Curve of Time" is well written and researched by an author who has also explored by boat the inside passage waterways of British Columbia. Having done some boating myself around the Gulf Islands and Desolation Sound I am very impressed that Capi and her children overcame the challenges of having spent the whole summer cruising aboard a 25 foot motor boat with 1 adult, 5 children and a dog.
   It is a testament to the beauty of the B.C. coastal waters and the spirit of Capi and her children that they returned to go cruising every summner for 12 years. Capi's love and memory for those summers resulted in the classic "The Curve of Time".
   Cathy Converse's book is a wonderful biography of Capi Blanchet and I think would be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates the beauty of the B.C. coastal waters. I enjoyed the pictures (some taken by Capi herself) and the First Nations information. There is also navigational information that boater's will enjoy including the extreme tide and currents in some areas that require precise navigation. Capi had to contend with these as do boaters in the area today.
   Thanks to "Following the Curve of Time" there is now a biogrphy about the author of "The Curve of Time". Now if only a movie could be made. Katharine Hepburn would have made a wonderful onscreen Capi. Gosh, how about Cate Blanchett in the starring role. Blanchett playing the role of Blanchet! That's a movie I would like to see.

1 comments about Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the <i>King and I</i> Governess.

1. What a wonderful book! So full of information, so well-written and easy to read, I couldn't put it down. Author Susan Morgan not only brings Anna Leonowens's remarkable life to life, she makes the reader see why Leonowens made up so much of her "official" life story, and why the (false) image of blond Anna (a lie) dancing with King Monghut (played by Yul Brynner) in The King and I, has had such a powerful grip on our imaginations. Anna Leonowens could do a lot more than dance, and Susan Morgan can really tell a story.

No comments about Diary Anne Frank.