1 comments about The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Vol. 3: 1925-30.

1. Of all of Virginia's diaries (there are five volumes), volumes 3 and 4 are perhaps the most interesting, if only because they span the period in which she wrote her classics such as Orlando, To The Lighthouse, and The Waves (which itself literally spans the period between Vol 3 and Vol 4.)

   If you read the collected Diaries and Woman Of Letters by Phyllis Rose, you will gain a vital series of insights into the life and thoughts of this most haunting of female writers.

   Whenever I think of Virginia, I always think of the lines from "Vincent" by Don Maclean...

   This world was never meant
   for one as beautiful as you...

   If you have never read any Virginia Woolf, I would respectfully suggest you rent a copy of Sally Potter's Orlando. While Sally takes artistic license with the novel, she has created a very sympathetic work of Art.

   This diary above all gives you many insights into her thought processes and her writing career, including her reactions to the publication of her works and their reception by the public and the sub-species known as Critics.

   Recommended.

5 comments about Gilded Lili: Lili St. Cyr and the Striptease Mystique.

1. Gilded Lili is the fascinating story of a woman, famous in her time, but little known today. Kelly DiNardo recounts her life in lively prose that traces the history of burlesque in America through one woman's experience. Lili St. Cyr's life was tragic in many respects, and could serve as a cautionary tale for many of today's current crop of celebrities. Ms. DiNardo's book put's into precise historical context Lili's struggle to remain independent, both personally and financially, in a time when women had few options to reach the level of success she managed to achieve and sustain for 20 years. Her choices, both good and bad, reflect the dramatically changing attitudes towards sex, women and relationships during the first half of the 20th century.



2. Enjoyed Gilded Lili hugely. Very enlightening presentation of context; considerably broadened my understanding of societal issues in first half of 1900's, while acquainting me with a real and warm person who made a life for herself against huge odds in a much misunderstood and maligned field. Thanx, Ms DiNardo!



3. I've been waiting for a book about Lili St. Cyr since reading her obituary in Life magazine 8 years ago. When I finally heard it was being written, I was cautiously optimistic. I've read many biographies, and they can be overly fond of their subjects, poorly researched, tabloid-esque, or just plain dry. My fears have been assuaged as Kelly DiNardo proves to be professional, with class. She's pulled out all the stops, and you don't have
   to be a researcher yourself to pick up on the laborious amounts of work put into this book.
   Fellow burlesque fans may tire of the history of the striptease being detailed once again, but it is necessary in hopes of the story reaching a wider audience. The life story of Lili St Cyr certainly deserves such widespread recognition, for the reasons previously mentioned: her rise to fame, clashes with the press, independence, squandered fortune, troubled personality and ultimately dissappointing final years.
   Her story is not an entirely happy one. Her choices were not all admirable. So I guess at worst that places her in good company amongst sex-symbols of the century.
   DiNardo has sandwiched Lili's life events and choices within the history of the burlesque and striptease industry, as well as the changing social mores that affected it. The book contains a great deal of historical context, perhaps in an attempt to speculate at the true inner motivations and feelings of Lili St. Cyr. For a woman who was not afraid to shock the press with a sordid opinion or two, her true "intimate secrets" will always remain elusive.
   The elaborate research Kelly DiNardo has done is sure to remain the best summation of the story and person that was Lili St. Cyr.



4. I really enjoyed the book--it is extremely well written, clever and tender in its narrative (particular in the end). It sheds so much light on only on Lili but on the context of the times she was living in. I also thought that Lili's life story and the surrounding growth and decline of burlesque was also well researched and referenced. My favorite part was perhaps the epilogue though, where I felt Kelly DiNardo really cast an appreciative, sincere light on what Lili achieved during her lifetime and applauded her for her authentic sensual humanity :)
   
   I highly recommend this to all people who are looking for a thrilling, entertaining read with brains and empathy behind the narrative.



5. It is very obvious that this author did a tremendous & thorough amount of research on this star of a by-gone era. The male social mores of the movie industry are illustrated, as is the role of women in that generation. An excellent story as well as a history of the time. It would make a terrific movie.

3 comments about The Vienna Paradox: A Memoir.

1. Marjorie Perloff, the noted and prolific literary critic and comparativist, has written a thoughtful introspection about the intersection of her life with the complexities of the fading Vienna of the 20's and thirties. It's a dizzying array of contrasts and passages: not only her (and her family's) adjustment to American society of the 1940;s and 1950's, but the passage of Arnold Schoenberg, and the contrast of John Cage and Schoenberg. Perloff sheds a personal light on the ambivalences towards Jewishness and the imperatives of conversions. The photographs of girls in dirndls and her prestigious grandfather in morning suit are stunning reminders of the power of illustration and the evocation of period. Though this is memoiristic, Perloff remains a literary critic and there are efforts to re-address Adorno and Gombrich (for example)in terms of their own refugee pasts. Marjorie Perloff changed her name from Gabriele to Marjorie, her school from PS 7 to the fashionable Fieldston, her academic address from Catholic University ultimately to Stanford. The book is about what change means, how it reiterates, to someone whose life was abruptly forced, by the Anschluss, into a totally new mode of looking at the world and thinking about it.



2. 
   I picked up a copy of The Vienna Paradox: A Memoir, by Marjorie Perloff because the idea of a memoir about Vienna intrigued me, and because I've always been enthralled by the critical mind of this noted and innovative literary scholar. After I'd read it, I ordered some more copies to bestow on friends, most of whom have no particular interest in Vienna whatsoever.
   "Why are you giving me this book?" one of my more suspicious friends asked me. "What is there about this book that sets it apart from all the immigrant narratives, from all the nostalgic recounting of `old Vienna,' from all the other autobiographies that people turn to when they begin to realize that time is passing and whatever they don't set down will be forgotten?" The central distinction is this: Perloff doesn't just record her own experiences or those of her family and friends, she uses those experiences - the experiences of her extended family, experiences of other famous emigrants from Vienna, together with information about books, museums, websites, as well as restaurants, street guides and all kinds of other information - for other purposes than telling about her self. She's not seeking her own `roots,' but draws on those roots to examine some of the important and pressing questions that only a critic of the world with great experience, perspective and expertise can ask.
   What Perloff is exploring with her delineation and examination of the civilization in which her family was nurtured and from which it was expelled is far more complex than just where she comes from, or even what really were the negative effects of the Holocaust. She is asking what are the functions, the potential and the limitations of civilization: what should we value in culture, what should we discard, what can we know, what can we improve, and what are the individual limitations. At one point Perloff quotes Wittgenstein
   if we think of the world's future, we always mean where it will be if it keeps going as we see it going now and it doesn't occur to us that it is not going in a straight line but in a curve, constantly changing direction. (33)
   The lessons from history are not imperatives for the future, and therefore every detail must be examined, and it is the role of the artist and the critic to perform this examination, and to edify . Therefore Perloff delineates the achievements, on all sides, of her family - their successful careers in Austria and elsewhere, their connections, their accomplishment throughout - but she also notes their failure to perceive and/or act within Austrian society to counter or prevent what was to come. Except for some foreign bank accounts that came in handy for the family after their escape in August of 1938, there seems to have been little understanding of the dangers inherent in the historical situation. If Grandfather Schuller was allowed into Italy because of a welcome from Mussolini to his former negotiator, it was not political foresight that made Schuller prepare an escape route for a Jew, but belief in Austria transcending personal considerations that saved him.
   The technique of postmodern pastiche is everywhere, but it is not here an indication of the eradication of values. Perloff is an expert at weaving together associations, websites, museums, biography, memoir, gossip, lunch, poetry and making sense of them all. This pastiche is born from the sensibility of the multicultural, world-wise individual, comfortable everywhere in the universe. Perloff, in opposition to the refugee, the outsider, really believes in a society, but it is an ur society, which incorporates and transcends the differences. Her criticism of European disdain for American society, and American naiveté as to European society, is an attempt to bring the two together.
   More than anything else, there is a love story in this autobiographical account -- it is a love story with America, that country that whatever its cultural limitations in comparison to the hoch kultur of Vienna, gave her and her family shelter and opportunity to thrive to such an extent that politics could be safely and comfortably ignored. Written after September 11, when the US is besieged not only by enemies without but also by the intelligentsia within, this book serves as a reminder of perspective. So that although it begins with the story of Arnold Schoenberg who despite his appreciation for the United States, never found in it a lasting and appreciative audience, it concludes with Adorno, who longed for the taste of European culture and returned there after the War.



3. Marjorie Perloff's memoir was a complete pleasure from start to finish - it was a lucky accident for me that I came upon this gem.
   
   Absolutely delightful - charming in all ways, along with being particularly outstanding in combining the author's areas of professional expertise as a first class literary critic with her memories of an earlier Vienna and the traces that remain. This is not meant to slight at all her sharp remembrances of the events of growing up and the succinct clarity with which she describes them.
   
   Her memoir has many sections that point the reader to new areas for exploration: the Neue Gallery in NYC with its scintillating art collection (Schiele and Klimt), Arnold Schoenberg's writings and music, and the brilliant Austrian writer Thomas Bernhard, just to mention a few.
   
   The other reviews do a thorough job of providing more details about this book. I'll add that Ms. Perloff, the complete professional, includes an excellent index, helpful notes to accompany the text, and thoughtful illustrations that augment the memoir. A quote from the book jacket's inside cover is particularly apt: "This is, in other words, an intellectual memoir, both elegant and heartfelt, by one of America's leading thinkers, a narrative in which literary and philosophical reference is as central as the personal."

1 comments about Never Sang for Hitler: The Life and Times of Lotte Lehmann, 1888-1976.

1. To date this book is the "definitive Lehmann" biography. Previous books did not have access to sources now available, or were oriented to Lehmann, "The Beloved Voice". They really cannot be compared to this, as they had other agendas in mind. Thus we do no find detailed analyses of her roles or her recordings, something thoroughly done by Lehmann herself and others, but much more about her personal life. There is more space devoted to Lehmann in exile, her pupils, her family life, and a fuller account of her behavior towards the Nazis, and the famous meeting with Goering. Not all of this is complimentary, far from it. This is about Lehmann, an intelligent but fallible human being making her way thru a competitive profession during a turbulent era. But when all is done, Kater does tell us what is that makes Lehmann still a beloved icon by many, even those who know only her records. It is not just the unique vocal timbre, but her ability to personify each piece she sings so that we encounter the "Ewigweibliche" of German song, with her uncanny and natural gift to infuse all she sings with the most deeply felt tones. I can only think of one or two others who can compare with her in this regard. That is what Lehmann's greatness is all about.

5 comments about Whose Child? : An Adoptee's Healing Journey from Relinquishment through Reunion ... and Beyond.

1. This book is not just about adoption. It is about overcoming incredible abuses, making a success of your life, and learning to love and let go. I am not adopted and I could not put the book down. I heard they are thinking of making a movie of this story. I can't wait. I am also an incest survivor and I hope I can meet Kasey some day and tell her how her book changed my life.

   I also recommend Kasey's second book: "Adoption Forum" and Lori Paris's book: "Follow Your Heart"




2. Once I started reading Whose Child?, I could not put the book down. I am an adoptee who has searched, found and reunited, like Kasey, only to find more obstacles to overcome. It helped me to know that I wasn't alone. From her childhood abuse and through her search for her birthparents, and a rocky reunion, she is a shining example of a true survivor. I commend Kasey for sharing her personal story as it gives much insight into the world of the closed adoption system and the damage that secrets and lies can do. To all members of the triad, and anyone who has been touched by adoption, this is a must read. Thanks Kasey!! P.S. I also recommend "Adoption Forum" by Kasey. Very insightful information on all positions of the triad members.



3. As an adoptee I felt so much for the author, her strength is unbelievable. It is so well written and brutally honest. Its an amazing journey, you won't put this book down.



4. This is the best book I've read so far on adoption. It's the closest book to reality I've read. A lot of books have sugar-coated adoption issues. I tried to e-mail the author to no avail. I've read about 20 books so far this year on the issue, so this is a good testament to the writer.



5. As an adoptee, I could relate to Kasey Hamner's book in very many ways. I almost felt like I had written it in some parts. Knowing that she went through the same events/issues that I did was comforting, especially the fact that she conquered them and is a healthy, productive citizen. Too many people only view adoption as a wonderful thing, something that every infertile couple (or fertile) should do. But have they ever asked an adoptee or read any of the books? I'm not saying that adoption is a bad thing, but for those of us whose birth mothers were forced by societal influences,or by family to give us up, there can be terrible results.
   
   I wish that everyone who knows an adoptee could read this book, especially adoptees who have reunited with birth family members, as I have. No one really understands unless they have been through it. It is a frightening and wonderful experience. Read this book and find out what it was like for her.

4 comments about Images & Shadows: Part of a Life (Nonpareil Book, 82).

1. I turn to this memoir whenever I need perspective on what matters in life. Origo, despite her privilege and access to many of the great figures of the 20th century, never lost sight of what mattered: the people that she loved. This is how she introduces her memoir: "It has sometimes been pointed out to me that I have had a very varied and interesting life, have lived in some extremely beautiful places and have met some remarkable people. I suppose it is true, but now that I have reached `the end game', I do not find myself dwelling upon these pieces on the board. The figures that still stand out there now are the people to whom, in different ways and in different degrees, I have been bound by affection. Not only are they the people whom I most vividly remember, but I realise that it is only through them that I have learned anything about life at all. The brilliant talk that I heard at I Tatti in my youth, in Bloomsbury in the thirties, in New York and Rome in later years, has lost some of its glitter. All that is left to me of my past life that has not faded into mist has passed through the filter, not of my mind, but of my affections. What has not warmed by them is now for me as if it had never been."



2. This a charming and moving account of what on the surface appears to have been a very privileged life; however the author tells her story (which at times is very sad) without 'showing off' at all.

   For those who have enjoyed this book, I recommend Kinta Beevor's A Tuscan Childhood and, also, although it is about an English childhood, James Lees-Milne's Another Self. Both manage to evoke the magic of childhood in the early 20th century in settings that are closer to, say the 17th century, than to today's world.




3. This well-written memoir is an opportunity to get a first-hand peek at a whole different culture, society and way of thinking. The author is not pretenuous at all in the almost matter-of-fact style that she uses to describe a privileged life where money was always available to provide the necessities and the luxuries. Here we see a glimpse of the reaction of the privileged class to the horrors of war when it made its way to the door steps of their salons.

   The best part of the book though was the insight into the author's opinions about the philosophy of writing. Here the modern middle-class American is allowed into the thoughts and opinions of one who was raised with all the advantages of tutors, exposure to the best art in the world, and variety of influential and interesting characters who sailed through her life.

   The book would have been much better had the author allowed her emotions to shine through when writing about the deaths of her loved ones. This is the only flaw in the book and this failure leaves the reader with a longing to have had more opportunity to learn the complexities of this intelligent lady.

   Anyone who enjoys reading about the aristocracy will enjoy this small, spare book.




4. I read both the Origo books many years ago and found her company delicious. One really feels honored to enjoy the refinement and intelligence of such a writer.

5 comments about Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan.

1. This Queen inspires us to cross the line between fantasy and action, to come alive, to unabashedly be who we really are. Her directness is endearing, her daring causes us to step up and stride right along with her. Hillary possesses a self-acceptance and giddiness that charms us into feeling good about ourselves. In an "us-them" culture, she gives us the gumption to strike out and make it happen! I loved what she did for my spirit!



2. `Queen of the Oddballs...' is an endearing , witty and sometimes downright hilarious book detailing the "regularly scheduled" brushes with fame and antics of Hillary Carlip, an angst ridden young girl/woman growing up in the shadow of Hollywood. Each chapter is written as if Hillary Carlip is making a new entry in her diary, and lucky us!, we get to be front row to her hi-jinks and pratfalls along the way. Hillary Carlip, with her amazing ingenuity, "Forrest Gumped" her way through her childhood, adolescence, teenage years and beyond. Her ability to re-create herself time and again enabled her to have experiences made mostly in dreams. Although it seems the Gods of Luck shone down on her, it wasn't luck at all; it was Hillary creating images of herself that gave her the "gumption" to make these wonderful things happen. Each chapter is a unique story, imbued with sarcasm, ridiculousness and underlying sadness. Hillary also writes about her struggles with her homosexuality, although that's not what the book is mainly about. She juxtaposes pictures with receipts, autographs, concert tickets, and diary notes, giving us a true glimpse of her world growing up in the 70s in Beverly Hills surrounded by fame. There's an air of regret, but mostly happiness, as she shares her incredible experiences and pokes fun at the incongruity of it all. Although today Hillary has a thriving career, thanks to this book, she is more remembered for her zany antics in her youth. Bottom line: `Queen of the Oddballs...' is a terrifically funny and good natured look at one person's sometimes absurd, but always interesting, life.



3. Great memoir -- very funny and unique. I love how the author inserts pictures to back up her words. You almost wish the author was older so the book was longer. Unfortunately, I now have the Buffy song stuck in my head.



4. A fun, funny and entertaining read. I liked all the celebrity anecdotes and thought Hillary's adventures were very fun to read about. It's a quick, easy read and a pretty good one at that.



5. It's rare for a book to inspire so much ire within me that I feel compelled to write a review. However, with the majority of positive reviews already compiled at Amazon, I felt cheated after buying this book.
   
   Hillary Carlip's memoir starts out interestingly enough (and I loved the fact that the essays incorporated real life pictures and diary-like entries). However, the farther I read, the more irritated I became. Initially, I was drawn in by my interest to hear Ms. Carlip's stories about "befriending" musicians such as Carly Simon and Carole King. Yet, as the novel progressed (and even though I love gossip as much as the next girl), I found so many instances of name-dropping that I could barely make myself plod through the rest of the novel. Yes, getting to experience a semi-charmed California life must be exciting -- getting to rub elbows with the occasional celebrity must be a thrill. The problem is that when these encounters happen to *you*, they're exciting. When reading about it, it comes off as though the author is simply trying to impress you with all of the celebrities (!) that they've (barely) interacted with.
   
   Certain celebrity encounters were interesting and integral to Hillary's life story. The meeting and "befriending" of a famous musician or appearing on a game show were important (and interesting) enough to be worth the dedication of a chapter to each. However, learning about the author being partnered with Valerie Harper during one communication exercise or that her girlfriend was once friends with Keanu Reeves could be interesting... if there was a further story beyond that. Instead, we're literally given one sentence to let us know which celebrities the author found herself somehow connected to at that point in time. There are honestly so many instances of these types of one sentence mentions (that add nothing to the story except a sense of some kind of celebrity mania) that I truly lost count. I was tempted to go through and highlight all instances of this in my copy, but: 1) I didn't want to waste the time and 2) I was afraid I would be highlighting the majority of text in the book.
   
   The ultimate case of this that left a bad taste in my mouth was when the author starts off each "chapter" by stating the year and all of the important events going on at the time. Current events of 1991 per the author's order: Being in a sauna with Jodie Foster!, Rodney King being beaten by police offers, having a garage sale with Daryl Hannah!, oh, and Iraq states that it has no biological weapons program. The order of important events seems a little screwy to me and gave me a sense of what this author found important.
   
   Yet, we're also shown a side of the author in which she seems to really care about feminism and even volunteers to teach creative writing to disadvantaged teen girls. However, this isn't what becomes the prevalent theme throughout the book, and I wish it would have been.
   
   Overall, I was disappointed in this book because I expected so much more and saw flashes of potential in between the name-dropping. My favorite story was "The Case of the Inexplicable Birthday Treasure Hunt" in which we hear just about an entertaining and unique experience in the author's life -- no celebrities present!

5 comments about No Mountain High Enough: Raising Lance, Raising Me.

1. Funny, sad, interesting, well-written, inspirational. I have great respect and admiration for Linda Armstrong Kelly. She is a remarkable woman with an incredible ability to adapt to any situation life throws her way. What a great woman!



2. A very well written book bringing the reader the life of an adoring Mother and her son. Neither would give up on their individual dreams in their respective pursuits of happiness in their lives. Enjoyable, insightful reading start to finish. Many congrats to both, and a special congratualtion to Lance for winning his seventh Tour deFrance.



3. I am glad Lance's Mom decided to write her story. After I read It's Not About the Bike, I was inspired and eager to learn how a seemingly super-human came to be. Now I know: his Mom exudes energy, enthusiasm, and optimism without bounds: who could lose with such incredible and selfless support screaming in your ear on each lap of the race.
   
   This is a book that focuses primarily on Linda Armstrong Kelly. Lance plays a pivotal but supporting role in the story. She is honest and forthright about the men in her life; other women have just shriveled and become bitter. She is unabashedly supportive of her son, in spite of his adolescent fixation with speeding and dangerous shenanagans with his pals. And... she raised a smart son who loves and respects his mother, especially shielding her from some of the pranks that would drive many parents to pack their son off to some military academy. The fireballs come to mind as I write this.
   
   She is a mom that celebrates Mother's Day, everyday. Now, if she can figure out a way to bottle and sell her optimism and energy! Enjoy the read.



4. Linda Armstrong started out with enough strikes to doom most to a mediocre life - daughter of divorced parents and a drunkard father (stopped drinking when Lance was born), married at 16, mother at 17, expelled from high school for being pregnant, and abused by husband whom she eventually left. Instead, she raised (inspired, cheered, protected, funded, and assisted his early development and becoming a champion, and then added her inner strength to Lance's during a devastating cancer encounter) a world renowned bicycling champion and major force in cancer research and support.
   
   At the same time Linda went on to complete her GED and worked her way up to a high-level position within a large communications firm. It was not all success for Linda, however - she also had to go through two additional failed marriages (a philanderer, and a drunkard), before finally finding her "true love."
   
   After reading the book it is clear that both Lance Armstrong AND his mother, Linda, are very exceptional and inspirational individuals. I wish I had read this book myself before becoming a parent - my approach and perspectives would hopefully have greatly improved.



5. Reading Linda's story I instantly knew I'd want to lend this book to my Mum after I'd finished it. Are high achievers born or made? You won't find the answer in reading this book, but you'll see how a determined young woman who had every reason to fail succeeded and raised a champion. More importantly I feel - this story isn't just about Lance. It's definitely hers, it's quirky and charming, easy to read and definitely gives you a feel for her character. I preferred It's Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life - but I definitely recommend this as a great follow up read.
   Kirsty Dunphey, Author Retired at 27, If I can do it anyone can

5 comments about North of Ithaka: A Granddaughter Returns to Greece and Discovers Her Roots.

1. As a half-Greek American, I was moved when reading "Eleni" and "A Time For Us," two books by Eleni Gage's Dad (Nicholas Gage) that detail the atrocities committed against her family during the Greek civil war, which was fought immediately post-World-War-2. Eleni's grandmother (also named Eleni) was ultimately murdered by the communists who were trying to take control over Greece during that war (thank God they did not win) -- she was executed for the crime of helping her children to escape war-torn Greece and ultimately to emigrate to America. "North of Ithaka" is a timely follow-up to this family's story.
   
   Eleni recounts leaving her lucrative job in New York City (around the 2001-2002 timeframe) to move to her family's remote village of Lia, in the province of Epiros in northwestern Greece. There, with financial backing from her Dad, she undertakes rebuilding her grandmother (and namesake) Eleni's home, which was used as a prison during the Greek civil war and had fallen into disrepair over the years.
   
   This book illustrates how even small village life can hold love and meaning to modern, cosmopolitan Americans. I do recommend reading her Dad Nicholas's book "Eleni" before reading "North of Ithaka," since many events discussed in "North of Ithaka" relate to the story of her grandmother's murder, to her family's hardships in Greece, and to their eventual emigration to America. However, it is not essential to read "Eleni" prior to reading this book.
   
   As a bonus, there is a collection of traditional Greek recipes at the end of the book. I bought a briki (Greek coffee pot) and now make 1-2 cups of traditional Greek coffee every day! As Eleni mentions, we call this coffee Greek, never Turkish.



2. The star is still her grandmother, Eleni, killed during the Greek Civil War for trying to save her children. In a word, it's the story of Eleni returning to Lia, the family village, to remember her grandmother close up and rebuild the family house. Without the memory of reading ELENI by her father, Nick Gage, I would never have read or understood NORTH OF ITHAKA. So that's the review: first read Nick's book about his mother, most likely the most riveting and compelling of my 55 year reading career. You should read ELENI, and you must have to understand NORTH OF ITHAKA.



3. This book is a rare treat.
   
   I loved reading it - I was mesmerized by it and during this snowed-in weekend when I read it, I was transported to Lia, where I lived under its magnificent sky with the changing sunset colors (enjoyed from the vernada of the Haidis house); observed up close the house reconstruction project; and came to know an entire village, feeling if not a Liotan myslef, at least like a frequent visitor.
   
   What also springs out of the book, perhaps more than Lia and its people, is the author herself: nice, smart, mature, perceptive and talented.
   
   And a note to her father: you're a great author but she is at least as good a writer as you, not to say better. So please give up the comparisons with her at the Thanksgiving table, there are genetics out there and there is also evolution -- and she has both aplenty. I'm sure you glow with justified pride having her as a daughter. Anyone would!
   
   Bottom Line: A SUPERB BOOK - NOT TO BE MISSED!



4. As a Greek-American, I've been looking for a memoir about the Greek-American experience that I could identify with. Over the past few years, I've read several memoir-style books, but none really hit home...until now. Even thought my family is not from Epiros, I did not grow up in Massachusetts, and my family did not have such a traumatic post-WWII experience, I could totally identify with Eleni Gage's story of straddling two countries and exploring the duality of her persona. This struggle to "fit in" in both Greece and America is something that I have dealt with and am continuing to deal with, and Eleni is able to describe the emotions and process more eloquently than I ever could!
   
   Eleni's elegant prose makes this book easy to read, and I especially enjoyed the sprinkling of folk lore and traditions that she included. By the end, I wanted to read more, to find out what happened afterwards...always a sign of a great book!
   
   I will recommend this book to all my friends, Greek and non-Greek alike! Bravo, Eleni!



5. I had high hopes for this book in view of the rich experiences of Nicholas Gage and his two fine books so worthy of that experience. Sadly, this book struck me as superficial and, as often happens these days in writers who drawing on personal experience, narcissistic. I gave the book a chance, but really had to stop before I was half finished.
   
   It's not enough to be a good writer; you need to have a mature sensibility and not leave the impression that you've spent too much of your life shopping. Disclosure: I am of Greek descent and we need more worthy attention to be paid to Greece in the modern era, books like those by Miller and Patrick Leigh Fermor are an antidote to this one.

1 comments about The Obstacle Race: The Fortunes of Women Painters and Their Work.

1. I think it interesting that this book does not surface when you search by title but rather the out of print hardcover version of its original publication in the late 70s.

   This Book is another one of Greer's mind bending efforts. As a woman artist myself I have had a life changing experience by reading this book. One can not help but comprehend the thoroughness of the research and sharpe historical observations of the course of women artists throughout history. I have nothing but admiration for all of these women who prior to reading this I had absolutely no idea existed. The book runs the gamet of history in women's art from the Cloisters to the 19th century... One only hopes that this generation will have something to say for itself in its artwork with substance and enduring principles as its guide. I recommend this book for everyone but particularly women artists who should be in touch with their heritage...