No comments about Stolen Innocence: My Story of Growing Up in a Polygamous Sect, Becoming.

5 comments about Bionic Book Reconstructed.

1. As a die-hard (original) Bionic Woman fan, I anxiously awaited the delivery of this book. Once in my hands, I couldn't wait to get started. What a bionic disappointment. First of all, the book is small in size, not a large "coffee table style" that you'd expect. (it's about the size of a large paperback book)
   
   I found many typographical errors and "mis-factual" mistakes. (for example, the author states that actor Eric Braeden stars on Days of Our Lives. Eric Braeden has played Victor Newman on the Young and the Restless for almost 30 years).
   
   Beyond the cover photos (the only color pics), all of the photographs are very small and most are dark and grainy. The pictures are so dark that you can barely distinguish the subjects therein. Also the pictures aren't rare or exciting. Most of the pictures in the book have been in magazines, books and on the internet for years. In addition, the author did not secure permission from the copyright holders of the photographs. There is a note in the front of the book that states all of the photos are used "in the spirit of publicity". Wonder what Universal/NBC has to say about that? I'm guessing that is the reason there are no photographs of the new Bionic Woman show (although there is a mention of it). The new BW publicity pictures were readily available at the time of publication, as evidenced by a current picture (in the book) of Lindsay Wagner taken at this year's TV-Land Awards. The new Bionic Woman publicity pictures were out months before those awards.
   
   Much of the content of the book seems to be rehashed stories that I've heard or read for years. Maybe the stories and photos weren't so widely known at the time of writing, but now with the internet, a lot of what's in the book is available with a few clicks of the mouse. I find that many fan sites are far more comprehensive than this book (and they're free!)
   
   The episode guides, in many instances, appear to be virtually identical to those in Wikipedia. My guess is that they were written by the same person.
   
   Richard Anderson's forward seems forced and is lacking enthusiam. Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner's input (as well as the other stars) seems to have been very limited.
   
   All in all, I don't feel the book was worth the money. For as long as it took to write and produce this book, I expected so much more. As I said, much of what is in the book (pertaining to the actual TV shows and reunion movies) can be found on the internet, pictures and all.
   
   If you want this book, just so you can have a "bionic book" in your collection, then by all means, buy it. If you want it for rare photographs, stories, episode guides or interviews, save your money and use the internet.



2. The Bionic Woman is my all-time favorite TV show, and Lindsay Wagner one of the people I admire most, so when I discovered a book was coming out which promised to be a one-stop shop for all kinds of behind the scenes bionic info, I bought it right from the publisher's website. Unfortunately I found that as a diehard fan, I already knew most of what I learned in The Bionic Book.
   
   First off, covering both programs makes sense only in the abstract. It actually means by definition you're only getting 50% of what you paid for, right from the start. As mentioned in a previous review, the writing was mediocre and the editing nonexistant. But that's not my REAL problem with this book.
   
   No, the true reason I advise saving your money is that with one very touching exception related to a Season Two BW episode, the kinds of tidbits which are shared in The Bionic Book are mere surface details, mostly involving cross-crediting actors who appeared in multiple series, sharing technical intel on how the stunts were set up -- in short, the kinds of filler meant to make you THINK you're really gaining insight into these fabulous shows, when in fact the powers that be really don't want to tell you very much. It's as if the network and studio execs slapped gag orders on the cast and crew, forbidding them from really sharing their true FEELINGS about having been on these groundbreaking programs, as if for whatever reason, the people who did this book couldn't be bothered to probe the memories and impressions of those involved deeply enough to justify releasing it, but did so anyway so they could all get paid and go home.
   
   As the previous reviewer noted, much more meaningful info is available (at least for The Bionic Woman) online through such places as eBay, where I obtained two seperate substantial things addressing Lindsay Wanger as a person and actress, and the Bionic Woman show from several fascinating angles. As for pictures, there are several free sites with those, as well as any number of eBay sellers willing to run off high quality prints of Lindsay in several moods and styles.
   
   As to episode guides, the one I have on my own site is more detailled and comprehensive than that offered in this book! Perhaps had Pilato concentrated on fleshing these out with twice (or even thrice) as much insight/trivia and tried his best to get Universal to release at least three candid on-set photos per episode, plus a reasonable number of storyboard-to-screen composit drawings, The Bionic Book would have been worth about ten dollars or so. As it is, I suggest that if you're a Six Million Dollar Man fan you look elsewhere. If you're a BW junkie, try googling "Bionic Woman" or "Lindsay Wagner" and "Lawrence Singleton" together. If a story comes up about a teenaged fan of a Season Two episode which ties these very different search terms together, you'll no longer need to buy this book. Sorry to have to be so negative. Better luck next time, I guess.



3. I don't usually write a lot of reviews but I wanted to give some balance to the negative comments regarding this book. I just received it and spent most of the night reading it. I thought it was a blast. Kudos to Herbie J Pilato for taking the time and energy to put this together. Let's face it...when people my age (39) and over leave this earth, there isn't going to be anyone around who cares enough about these great shows to release a book like this. It's fine to say that the photos aren't the best and that one can find better pictures on the Internet. But I'm old school and I like to have an ACTUAL concrete book in my hands that I can enjoy at my leisure. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels this way.
   
   Sure there might be some factual errors. In fact, Pilato's book on "Bewitched" had some misstatements as well but that didn't stop people from finding it a useful resource. (For example, he stated that Billy Mumy made his first appearance on that show when he had starred in several "Twilight Zone" episodes well before "Bewitched" even hit the airwaves.)
   
   The one criticism I really don't understand is the fact that "Bionic Book" doesn't include anything on the new show. I couldn't care less. I guarantee you that this updated version will NOT be fondly remembered or talked about in 30 years. Mark my words.
   
   Also - the comment about the size is strange because most of these guides are about the same size. I have yet to see a coffee table-style book for these things.
   
   Is this the definitive work on "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman"? Who knows? Perhaps Ben from California will have the resources some day to write his own book. I'll certainly buy that one too. For now...if you're a fan of these terrific shows, you really can't go wrong with something like this. Episode guides and input from Lee Majors, Lindsay Wagner and Richard Anderson....what's not to like?
   
   Often when I order books on my favorite shows, I feel once again like a seven-year old in third grade (circa 1976) excitedly waiting for a package to arrive in my classroom from Scholastic. "Bionic Book" gives me that feeling and it's a lot of fun. A little expensive, but as any Amazon buyer knows...the price fluctuates so you might want to wait until it goes down to a more reasonable amount.



4. I have found this book to be useful for many reasons but the main one for getting it is the guides for all the episodes. I have the DVDs from the UK but they don't have descriptions for the shows. These guides have been reliable and helpful. They've also been educational since I never knew some of the behind-the-scenes stuff that went on in the making of the two series.



5. 
   As a fan of TV shows and a Lee Majors fan, I truly enjoyed this book. It brought back a lot of memories from the "good ole days" when TV was for family viewing and just plain fun. I enjoyed the background insight on the makings of THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN and THE BIONIC WOMAN. There are numerous quotes from interviews with the stars, writers, producers, directors and crew members. It is neat to see how a TV show is put together from concept to final product with all the bumps in the road along the way. The book also gives details about specific episodes and how they were produced. I also love all the many pictures throughout the book. Well worth reading. Enjoyed this book tremendously, even if some of the cybernetic words were a little heavy in the beginning, but I got used to it.

5 comments about Saffron Sky: A Life Between Iran and America.

1. Wonderful read. I couldn't put it down. I am marrying and Iranian born man after 10 years of dating (persians like to take their time, lol). I finally have confirmation into his world and family from long ago. He grew up in Mashed, felt the bombs rock Tehran and took vacations to the Caspian. When I read passages of the book to him, HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES AND A SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR!!! SO many of his stories of childhood were brought to light in such a descriptive and truthful manner by the author. Saffron Sky gives a brief yet complete history of Iran, family stories that anyone can relate to regardless of origin and a way to bridge the gap between East and West.
   WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!



2. This is an absorbing account of the author's divided identity as a Muslim woman who grew up in Iran in the 1960s-1970s and then remained in the U.S. where she was a university student at the time of the revolution. Now married to an American and working as a journalist, she is torn by her desire to return to the beloved Iran of her youth, its 3,000-year-old culture, and the large, loving family who still live there.
   
   The strictures imposed on women in the Islamic Republic (the rigidly puritanical dress codes, the denial of social equality for women) are only a part of the difficulties she faces as she begins a series of return visits to Iran in 1990. The dominance of the West in the material values of educated and upper middle class Iranians has been replaced by the tyranny of the fundamentalist and hard-line religious leaders who dictate social policy. The dominance of the West in controlling Iran's oil-rich economy through the CIA-installed monarchy has been replaced by the social and economic upheaval brought on by years of war with Iraq and isolation in the world community.
   
   With all this in the background, Asayesh articulates the human toll resulting from the revolution by describing its impact on the lives of the members of her family. She reveals this most vividly by contrasting her idyllic childhood against the realities of the present. Everywhere there is division, right down to her own efforts to recover a personal identity. Her sense of self is continually frustrated by the lack of continuity between the memories of her life as a girl and her current life in the West. Asayesh has a journalist's eye for detail that takes the reader beneath the surface of her subject and any easy generalizations about the Islamic Republic. It's an excellent book to read after Nafisi's "Reading Lolita in Tehran."



3. This book is presented as a collection of reminiscences from girlhood and womanhood between Iran and America. Gelareh Asayesh shares the inward labors of carrying two great yet incompatible cultures in her soul. Every vignette is a gem to admire at length, to laugh, cry or sigh over before even moving on to the next page.
   
   I picked up this book after enduring a heartwrenching goodbye with a compassionate Iranian woman of this same generation who felt that we could never last as a couple with our different cultural backgrounds. As an American, I truly believe that it's impossible for me to understand Iran. This book won't change that; it won't change you into somebody who knows and will even reiterate the futility of trying. But you will be left with a very emotional and meaningful sense of a world you CANNOT know.



4. To See and See Again: A Life in Iran and America
   Persian Girls: A Memoir
   Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
   Saffron Sky: A Life Between Iran and America
   
   The books came in great condition. Funny in Farsi is the most hilarious book I've read in a while and really portrays the experience of growing up Iranian in America. I am now reading Saffron Sky and have not read the others yet.



5. I read this book in one weekend and found it difficult to put down. The author's wonderful use of description and reflection made me feel as if I were on a journey with her, traveling back and forth between America and Iran. It seems to me that the sense of disconnection the author describes can resonate on many different levels, even for those of us born and raised in the States.

1 comments about The Bare Bones Bible® Bios: 10 Minutes to Knowing the Men and Women of the Bible.

1. The Bare Bones Bible Bios by Jim George is an excellent tool for Christians and non-Christians alike. Have you ever heard the name of a Biblical character and tried to remember who that person was? It happens to most of us at one time or another. The Bare Bones Bible Bios is a reference tool that will help nudge your memory.
   This is not an in depth study of the characters, it presents only the most basic of facts. Each chapter discusses a different character. There is a supporting scripture, notable quality, notable accomplishment, and location of the major text. George offers some background information and a personality sketch. My favorite part of each chapter is the Life Lessons. The characters discussed are well-known; I did not find any obscure names that I did not recognize. The information is presented in a simple, easy-to-understand form. This is an excellent book; I hope in the future Mr. Jones might consider writing one on the less known characters. Well done Mr. George.
   Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com

2 comments about Katherine Howard: A Tudor Conspiracy.

1. This book was somewhat disapointing not because of the skill of the author. The historical material is so thin, it is difficult to fabricate a story.



2. This thin account of the life of Henry V1's fifth wife is readable and enjoyable. The unwary reader may miss the obvious bias of the author against the Roman Catholic religion. Anne Boleyn was a good woman, religious, pious and wrongfully betrayed by Catholic partisans who are the bad guys.
   "Katherine had been raised as a traditional Catholic. In awe of the
   rituals, swayed by the mysticism and unquestioning theological
   doctrines. She lit candles for her dead parents, ate fish on
   Fridays and said her prayers by rote in the happy assurance that
   whatever she did would be forgiven in the confessional."
   This myth of the meaning of the sacrament of Confession betrays either a willful misrepresentation or a deliberate slur. The good guys are Reformers whose motives a pure and noble. Katherine Howard was a pawn of the same partisans and her wild sexual behavior was largely the fault of adult neglect during her formative years. According to this author. If you want entertainment then this is your book. If you want a more scholarly presentation of the issues of the day and the actors in this Tudor drama then look elsewhere.

5 comments about Fabulosity: What It Is and How to Get It.

1. Real life is the best classroom of all. Fabulosity is fabulous! Madonna was the real deal girl power (forget the Spice Girls) and now Kimora Lee Simmons is showing a whole new generation of women how to play the cards life dealt you with finesse and attitude. This is an autobiographical how to with no apologies about how Kimora created her life. Diva she is but brainy and beautiful too!



2. Well, first off, I had always been captivated by Kimora, and figured if anyone knows about being fabulous and could teach us a thing or two, it would be her. But right off after a couple chapters through the book, I felt vibes that it was more about her trying to clearly promote a certain image of herself, one apart from Russell, that she wants us all to have...carefully monitoring her words and repeatedly pounding an image of having "already made it big" in her teenage years way before her marriage to him. She spent so much time ranting and referring back to this great and extensive "50k-a year European modeling career" she supposedly had through high school, where she learned how to keep financial records conduct business, handle grown up problems,etc...Not too believable really, epecially when the age she repeatedly refers to is 13. Then looking at the provided photos in the book, I found it very curious that there was only 1 of her(pre-Russell Simmons) modeling years, a United Colors of Benneton ad, where she looks like an average pug-nosed teenager. So I Googled about 50 pages of Images for her and still found NOTHING of any modeling photos of her in that supposed successful modeling decade before-Russell that she continually touts. It became clearer and clearer that her REAL OBJECTIVE for writing the book was to convince everyone that she had "made it" way before her husband came into her life. (which I dont think anyone really cares about). I'm sure she was beautiful and fabby when they met, and Russell married her and elevated her into his monied life...so what? Now, I am interested and intrigued in the opulence of the rich & famous like anyone else, and I love to hear the anecdotes of the successsful, but Kimora just doesnt appear to really have any real depth from life's lessons, in that she went from being basically a teenager to marrying Russell, and at the writing of this book, where she is in her mid 30's, she still seems rather immature and self absorbed. Its easier to be beautiful and fabby with lots of money, and obviously any of her hardships were always easily overcome with their money. She doesnt portray that there was any real blood sweat and tears involved in anything she presented about her life, thus there was really nothing to teach or inspire us. Russell would probably have given us something with much more redeeming value if HE wrote the book!
   With the Baby Phat business, I'm sure she certainly must have gone through the guts of up-starting a business, but once again, the obstacles hurdled and the resolutions she implemented took MONEY to get through, (which she had, and which she did successfully), and so I dont think inspires in that regard either. I would have been more satisfied with the time I spent reading the book hearing about how money can solve alot of problems and how fun it is for a girl. There ARE some profound, inspiring quotes that she includes from OTHER celebrities, like: "The thing women have yet to learn is no one gives you power, you just take it"(Roseanne Barr). These made me want to read books by THOSE people.
   I think this book is best suited for early 20-somethings, who need to get a glimpse of how to present a certain image, and possibly maximize their potential opportunities in the business world, or if you just want to become more intrigued by Kimora's self-promotion. Not really for a more matured (not talking 'old' here)audience that is already comfortable in their own skin, but are just looking for inspiration for an "image makeover" out of the soccer-mom lifestyle.
   Overall, I came away feeling that Kimora was highly calculative and probably thinks most of her readers were easy to manipulate and that she either didnt care about giving us much, or that she is rather shallow, having lacked experience and maturity to offer us much.



3. Really impressed with the thoroughness of this book. A little redundant in parts but well written and informative. I don't know how some of the reviewers didn't get something from this book! I felt inspired to just be me, whatever that may be and tough cookies to those who don't like it. I have plans to use what I've learned to start my own company (small and from home) and found great information on how to do that. More power to Kimora!



4. Bought it as a present, and decided to read it first to get an idea of what Baby Phat brand is like. After reading the first chapter, it made me want to throw it out the window! This lady is very full of herself, and it's a bad read! DON'T BUY IT!!!



5. I am a twenty-seven year old aspiring entrepreneur. I read "self-help" and autobiographical books related to the subject for inspiration. I knew about Babyphat and Kimora Lee Simmons but never really considered myself a fan. I watched a few episodes of her reality show and became more interested in Kimora. Consequently, I researched her book. The reviews were on each end of the spectrum and not many readers were in between. It was love it or hate it. That intrigued me even more and I decided that I must read the book and draw my own conclusion. I went to Barnes and Noble and grabbed the paperback off the shelf, flipped to the introduction and read the first page. It told of a time, prior to her success in business, where she took out her checkbook, wrote herself a check for a million dollars and tucked it in a box with her most prized possessions. Her intro was about the fact that you have to dream big before anything grand can happen in your life. I was hooked. So hooked that I put the paperback back on the shelf and ordered a hardback copy from Amazon.com and I am so glad that I did. I was reminded of a lot of good principles to apply to business and life in general. I also developed a more accurate perception of Kimora and have come to respect her moreso as a business woman. Read as many reviews of this book as you choose but the most rewarding thing you can do for yourself is read the book...gather your own opinion.

4 comments about Object Lessons: The Life of the Woman and the Poet in Our Time.

1. Boland addresses the struggles of a poetess finding her voice in a society which seems to lack a place for her. Through seemingly circular reasoning, she approaches, considers, defines, and returns to consider the significance of the events of Ireland and the writing of others in her own unique and powerful voice. An enchanting read that reminds women of their own experiences while addressing the dichotomy that keeps them separate.



2. I first read Eavan Boland in an Irish literature class in college. Her writing is magical, lyrical, ethereal and forces you realize the power of identity, language, culture.

   Not just for Irish literature fans, but anyone who enjoys beautiful prose.




3. The author talks about how-- the history of her country (Ireland), her experiences growing up in London and New York, the culture of poets, and her process of self realization all influenced the development of her poetic voice. This isn't a book just for Irish poets or women, the issues she discusses go to the heart of why people write the poetry they do and what expectations they have in doing so as well as how it influences other poets.
   
   More than anything, her book shows the many ways in which we can find ourselves in different environments and roles throughout the course of our lives. She goes from daughter to exile to urbanite to rural to suburb to mother as well as exploring her own ancestry. She discusses the culture and politics of nations, poetry, and gender.
   
   A good read for people who aren't even interested in poetry.



4. I'm all for feminist discourse and when I began reading this collection of essays I was impressed with Boland's unique style, direction and many times thought that she in some ways compared to Virginia Woolf. Unfortunately as the collection progressed I found myself growing more and more bored, this I attribute to the "I" which Woolf spoke about in "A Room of One's Own". Boland puts I at the front and center of the poem, constantly accusing Irish male poets of turning the female into a symbol without allowing them to be an actual part of the poem. In turn this arguement gets repeated and repeated and repeated to the point that when you're reading you find yourself questioning if maybe you've backtracked and are rereading something again. With a little editing, proper education and enlightenment Boland could have written a fantastic collection but ultimately it falls short. Is it possible that the female is both symbol and subject simultaneously? Boland fails to consider this option and as a result I cannot take this collection seriously, stick to poetry.

4 comments about Miracles Happen : The Life and Timeless Principles of the Founder of Mary Kay Inc..

1. Mary Kay tells her story, from being a poor little girl with a mother who worked outside the home full-time and a sickly father to being a saleswoman who never felt appreciated by her male bosses. Learn the motivational story behind Mary Kay Cosmetics. This book completely expresses what a wonderful, amazing woman Mary Kay was. Very inspirational.



2. This is a must have book!
   
   Mary Kay has it right - Faith, Family and Career! You can't go wrong with this philosophy. This book really helps put things in perspective.
   
   Highly recommend this book to everyone!



3. Mary Kay Ash lived her philosophy of god first, family second, career third. I had the honor of meeting her as a Sales Director with Mary Kay and was priviledged to attend one of her leadership workshops at headquarters in Dallas, Texas. She was a brilliant leader. An inspiring teacher and most of all a woman who walked the talk. Her series of books when read closely reveals a business plan that is bold and forward thinking. It is simple in its application and most of all her plan is doable. I would advise women who want to become consultants with Mary Kay cosmetics to read all of her books. Listen carefully to the plan. Follow the plan, never ever giving up. She used to tell us that "its always too soon to quit!" Great book with great advice from a woman who made it to the top and beyond..........



4. This is a true story about how Mary Kay started her business, as well as how she lived her life. However, I could not do all that selling - I couldn't do any at all, but obviously it didn't bother her at all. It is inspiring and encouraging to know that she put God first, family second, and then career. It is also awesome to know that she treated her employees so good, that there is a long waiting list to work at her company headquarters, and that people can come there just to get away from it all.

4 comments about Sisters At Sinai: New Tales Of Biblical Women.

1. I loved Sisters at Sinai. The book consists of 23 short stories with a wide range of themes. But these aren't just any short stories; these are Midrashim, tales which weave in and around the text of the Bible. With some, Hammer takes a well-known passage in the Bible (Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt) and brings it to life. Others take a passage which even close readers of the Bible have probably overlooked and turns it into a gripping narrative. While Hammer writes from a woman's perspective, both the men and the women in the stories are treated with respect and are three-dimensional. The notes section at the end of the book grounds this modern rethinking of Bible with traditional (and modern) Jewish thinking about the Bible. This is Hammer's first book, and I can't wait to see more from her fertile imagination.



2. This is an amazing book, a must-read for all fans of Biblically-based fiction. Hammer's readings are wildly creative and revisionist but at the same time grounded in classical Jewish Biblical interpretation. Her background in Midrash gives this book a depth rarely seen in modern rewritings of Biblical stories. The stories work as stories, though - the Midrashic grounding is almost invisible unless you know the works she's quoting from. Her Biblical characters are compelling and memorable. If you are reading The Red Tent or Queenmaker, read this instead.



3. Sisters At Sinai: New Tales Of Biblical Women by Jill Hammer (licensed clinical psychology and an ordained Conservative rabbi) is a collection of 24 fascinating, illuminating, and inspiring short stories based on the women of the Torah, and the men they shared their lives with. These original and engaging stories reveal a new look at Lilith and Eve, Sarah, Hagar, Rachel and Leah, Miriam, Lot's Wife, and many more. A unique, amazing anthology that reinterprets ancient parables in a new light, Sisters At Sinai is a welcome contribution to the growing library of Judaic literature and recommended supplemental reading for students of the Torah in general, and the role of women in Israelite history in particular.



4. This is a wonderful book. Each story is carefuly crafted writing and very good reading. The Introduction and the Notes to the reader help give backround in Midrash for the unintiated and make the tales themselves more understandable.
   
   Havdala was terrific. The concept of pale Eve meeting dark Lilith in the Garden of Eden on the eve of shabbat and discovering her "womanhood" transported me.
   
   Reading Naamah was like chatting with and listening to the wise women who helped me through the rough times in my life.
   
   The Daughters of Tzelafchad reminded me that we each have to claim our share of worldy goods but we must be wise about how we do it.
   
   It had never occured to me to see Queen Vashti as another victim. The story opened my eyes to looking at things in a new way.
   
   If Jill Hammer wrote the book as a teaching tool it worked with me.

5 comments about On the Wings of a White Horse: A Cambodian Princess's Story of Surviving the Khmer Rouge Genocide.

1. This is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read. From the beginning of her life in a cave to the constant struggle for suvival, Oni describes her ordeal, an ordeal no one would have dreamed could ever actually happen. Her life could have ended many times if it were not for the caring people around her and for her own perseverance. Oni is one strong, determined lady and her story needs to be told to the world. If you only read one book a year, this should be the one!



2. This is a wonderful book and easy reading. I would recommend it to anyone and I am going to refer it to my friends. Take the time to read it, it's definitely worth your while.



3. A reading of Oni Vitandham's "On the Wings of a White Horse" is an inspiring experience to say the least. It is a tale of immense pain and suffering, yet courage in the face of failure and despair. It is the story of a life that may never have been but for the love of family and friends. A theme that seems often lacking in our world today. It is not an easy book to read. Indeed, it is often violently confronting. However, it is certain, that the reader will leave with a greater sense of compassion, love and hope for the future of humanity
   
   Oni's is a powerful, at times confronting and terrifying story that delves into the subjects that have all too often been left to the back pages of history. From the fall of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, to the Communist movements in Laos and Vietnam, and beyond to a new life in America, Oni's journey often reads like a political history of South-East Asia during the 1970s. For one young girl to be at the centre of some of the most desperate struggles of the decade, and to emerge not only alive, but also so incredibly empowered, seems almost beyond comprehension.
   
   Yet this is what makes Oni, and her story, so enthralling. To quote the saying, "whatever doesn't kill us, makes us stronger" seems almost inadequate to describe this story. Indeed Oni tells her life as it is, with little attempt to shield use from the intense pain and suffering that she herself has had to endure. At first this seems almost to hard to bear. However as even Oni herself tells us at the start of the book; these are her childhood memories. It is this thought enough that inspires the reader to continue on.
   
   Indeed Oni stands for an idea that is greater than her own personal story and even greater than her desire to see a prosperous and peaceful Cambodia. She believes in the right of all people to have the chance to grow up in peace and happiness. She believes in the power of the individual and the immense capacity that humans have for spreading happiness in their world.
   
   A reading of Oni's "On the Wings of a White Horse" will leave the reader inspired. Indeed it is a story that enters through the heart and leaves through the head. One cannot read it and not be inspired to get up and care about the plight of the millions of people who are so less fortunate than ourselves.



4. "And a child shall lead them" -- Oni Vitandham begins her real life story as a child, of resilience and survival surrounded by constant death, destruction, danger, and unimaginable horror. Although dealing with a conflict over 30 years removed, this book could not have arrived at a more poignant time. At its core, the political themes are as relevant today as they were then in stemming the flow of innocent blood.
   
   This book should further resonate with recently honed political sensibilities (per Abu Graib, Iraq, etc) and serve as inspiration to us all not only as citizens but as human beings to stand up for justice and equality (even in the face of dire political rhetoric).
   
   Oni's story reminds us how truly blessed we all are and of our universal responsibility to prevent these horrors from re-occurring.
   
   "Evil prospers because good men do nothing." Edmund Burke



5. Man's inhumanity to man never ceases to amaze me. The story is at once tragic then hopeful, despairing then spiritual. Oni has captured the essence of one of the 20th century's worst travesties in a simple almost childlike manner. Perhaps not brilliantly written, it is brilliantly told. This is the first Killing Fields book I've read (avoided for obvious reasons of personal discomfort, although I've read books on Armenian genocide, Holocaust and Dharfur) and I will now join those who work to build on the strengths of Cambodia and its people. I especially appreciated the brief history of Cambodia at the end of the book, and the sweet and simple photos. I felt this strong sense of peace at the end of reading, as if in fact Oni will achieve her goals and be part of a larger vital improvement for the lives of so many Khmer, both in America and in Cambodia.