3 comments about Crowned in a Far Country: Portraits of Eight Royal Brides.

1. Crowned in a Far Country contains seven chapters about eight royal brides, covering their life from childhood and family background through marriage to later years. It provides a number of interesting details about them.
   
   It reads well. The author is Princess Michael of Kent, who is herself a member of the British Royal Family and who probably has a different point of view on royal marriages than other authors of similar books.
   
   I can recommend it to anyone interested in the subject.



2. I found the book to be informative, easy to read yet the writing was somewhat simple, without depth. What I mean is, that the stories were interesting (to me or any other royal watcher) yet I wasn't captivated.
   It was a book which gave me information, but I can't say "I couldn't put it down"



3. image coming to new country to married someone you never met.dealing with person who is now your husband.this book show how each women find a place in new country ,husband world and the royal family.how they had to deal with court life.

5 comments about Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon.

1. Thoughtfully written biography of an intriguing woman author. All the "interesting" details present without dropping into lurid. Many would consider this a "dry" reading book, but in the context of that specific time in US history she really broke ground, both professionally and personally.



2. It's no small task to create an enchanting picture of an adored figure in children's literature. Unfortunately, Leonard Marcus was not up to the challenge. The biography is too linear, too literal, and written too much like a graduate school study. Still, the segment about her studies at Bank Street College of Education (I'm a grad) was interesting, as was the description of her evolving sense of child development as it affected her story crafting.



3. The bizarre bohemian-preppy life of Margaret Wise Brown captured by Leonard Marcus in "Awakened by the Moon" is an excellent enjoyable read comparable to Andrew Wilson's "Beautiful Shadow" biography of Patricia Highsmith. The only flaw is Marcus did not interview Albert Clark, the chief beneficiary of Brown's will and the inheritor of the royalties of "Goodnight Moon."
   
   This is a highly detailed book, and so it is more "by a writer, for writers" than a general or curious audience.



4. This is one of my favorite books in the genre of literary biography. I found the details to be fascinating and Wise's life to be quite bohemian and a fascinating study. For me, it WAS a page turner and worthy of anyone's time. In fact, I chose to use it as the basis for an hour long presentation for various book clubs. Everyone was familiar with GoodNight Moon and enjoyed hearing about Wise's life. I heartily recommend this book. It's just that good.



5. I used this book for my report on Margaret Brown. It was helpful, but theres a lot to read.

5 comments about Thanks for the Mammogram!: Fighting Cancer with Faith, Hope and a Healthy Dose of Laughter.

1. Breast cancer is a big deal. Serious stuff. Many women die from it. Other women endure masectomies. Why make light of such a heavy topic? Simple: humor is healing.
   
   Laura Jensen Walker has something to say about breast cancer. She's a survivor. She has faced this beast, and now is able to articulately help readers smile in the midst of a tough time.
   
   In "Thanks for the Mammogram!" Jensen tells her story. Most of the book details a narrative of her diagnosis, treatment and how she survived. However, in reflecting through the most difficult of moments, she draws us in ala Erma Bombeck into candid silliness. It is as practical as it is funny.
   
   Boldly bringing humor into a discussion of cancer marks this book as a standout among its peers. Having lost my mother to lung cancer and flipping through too many solemn tomes of pop-psychology, I read through Jensen's book refreshed. I wished my mom could've read this book. At a certain point, cancer is cancer, and anyone with any cancer would enjoy "Thanks for the Mammogram!"
   
   Each page is a different view of her situation. For example, she spends a delightful chapter on the end of her chemo, and how she and her husband (a 'Disnoid') celebrated this landmark at Disneyland. We read of her struggle to find a decent book to read (unless Mickey Mouse's various adventures appealed to an adult woman, that is).
   
   The chapters are in very chewable chunks--none too long.
   
   With chapters like, "To Baldly Go Where I've Never Gone Before" (a consideration of Capt. Jean Paul-Luc Picard, Michael Jordan and other sexy baldies, she looks for the upside of a hairless head), you, like me, might find a new way of seeing what so many people go through.
   
   She admits her fears, but pushes also the benefits of having a realistic, yet positive view of dealing with breast cancer. Jensen explains her husband's point of view in the whole matter (even letting him write a chapter, "Her Body, His Pain"). She walks the reader through the process, citing how she related to people who had or didn't have cancer.
   
   I fully recommend "Thanks for the Mammogram!" by Laura Jensen Walker. It is a very worthy gift for those whom you love who have cancer, or know someone who does.
   
   Anthony Trendl
   editor, HungarianBookstore.com



2. I have never been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I am certain anyone facing this disease would want a copy of Laura Walker's "Thanks for the Mammogram." Mrs. Walker remarks that this book was the hardest thing she ever had to write. Like any good memoir, it takes in the uncomfortable, even embarrassing moments as well as the lighter and uplifting ones.

   Walker includes a lot of detail, from procedures like reconstruction, chemotherapy right down to the day-to-day patient care and how she felt emotionally. But this is not a gruesome story--instead it is intended to help anyone else along the road to recovery. The best chapter "Where do I go from here" gives eight important points (such as taking charge of your treatment, talking to your family, dropping the Wonder Woman cape for women who do it all) and also useful addresses and a list of books.

   This book is interesting reading for any woman, but if you have a loved one facing this challenge or if you are a woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you should get this book. Nothing I have read comes close to this book for frankness and assistance.




3. This is an incredible book. Laura Jensen Walker has beautifully and sometimes humorously, written about her breast cancer journey. I read this book in the hospital following my breast cancer surgery (3/01) and have been very inspired by Laura's writing. This is the first book I loan out to others when they are first diagnosed. I highly recommend "Thanks For The Mammogram" !!
   Karen Lange, Asst. Mgr., FriendsInTouch.net (an online breast cancer support site)



4. "Almost everyone - whether it's your friend, neighbor, coworker, wife, mother, or sister has been touched by breast cancer. The cancer survivors I've talked to over the years say that what helped them through their ordeal was faith and often humor." ~Laura Jensen Walker
   
   What is more healing than laughter when you are faced with a situation you can't control? Even science has shown the healing power of laughter. Cancer isn't funny, but somehow the author finds a way to heal through her own vibrant wit. Many of the chapters are rather serious until the end when she gives the punch line.
   
   This is a book about courage, hope and humor. Laura Jensen Walker demonstrates her ability to face the challenge of cancer and fight it with faith, hope and "mild/laid back" humor.
   
   I learned a lot about reconstruction, chemo and was amazed at how Laura's husband stood by her through the entire process.
   
   "How to Lose Thirty Pounds in Thirty Days: The Chemo Diet Way. The original Slim-Fast liquid diet. (But not one I'd recommend.)" was an interesting chapter to be sure. This spells it all out, tells you what chemo is all about and it isn't fun especially if your nurse forgets to give you "zofran." Yes somehow Laura finds a way to appreciate the effects of rapid weight loss even when it is the result of chemo.
   
   If you want to understand what a cancer survivor goes through, this is the book. I recently read "Knowing Stephanie" which I can also recommend for the detailed information and pictures.
   
   The last chapter on what really matters was also quite inspirational.
   
   You may also enjoy:
   
   Mental-pause
   Through the Rocky Road and into the Rainbow Sherbet: Hope & Laughter for Life's Hard Licks
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. This book is awesome! I had breast cancer over 3 years ago. Several friends tried unsuccessfully to find "good reads" to help me along my road. I found this book recently and loved it! It is an actual experience with truth, humor, and insight. I have gone to Amazon to find as many copies as I can. I want to be ready to hand someone a copy if the need arises. Be prepared to shake your head in agreement, laugh outloud, heavy sigh, and cry.

5 comments about Savage Summit: The True Stories of the First Five Women Who Climbed K2, the World's Most Feared Mountain.

1. As a man, I came looking for a story of risk and adventure from a woman's perspective. I too wanted to understand what drew these pioneers to the high and lonely places. The stories of the five women were gripping and well written, but I found the harsh and unrelenting criticism of the male ego tiring. The men and women of the climbing community share the same desire to conquer and to be tested. I had hoped for a story of shared desire, not of bitter divide between fraternity and sorority.



2. I could not put this book down. I knew nothing of alpine climbing to begin with, but became engrossed by the descriptions of the mountains that inspired the lives of the first five women who climbed K2. Myself, I am inspired by the strength of these women. One reviewer commented that the author seemed to have something against male climbers. I did not get this feeling, but rather felt that she was descrbing things as they were, with men often resenting and feeling threatened by these women's accomplishments. As other reviewers have said, these women were indeed complex. I was struck by the pattern of some of their deaths: continuing on when weather was bad for example, or underestimating their need for gear in their summit bids. But then, at 8,000+ meters in freezing temperatures and with little food to eat and scarce oxygen in the air, one can understand how decisions would be difficult! I suspect that these mistakes are not unique to women, but have claimed the lives of many a climber, male and female alike.
   
   A wonderful read, an inspiration, and a tribute to the awesome power of nature and the strength and fragility of human life.



3. Jennifer Jordan is an outstanding writer and somebody who knows mountaineering inside and out. Because of her background, she makes the tragic stories of the first five women who climbed K2 (Wanda Rutkiewicz, Liliane Barrard, Julie Tullis, Alison Hargreaves, and Chantal Mauduit) come alive. These women were all complex individuals, but they all had what I consider an insane drive to achieve something few people would bother to achieve. And in the end, like so many other top mountaineers, they ended up dead.
   
   Some may romanticize their deaths as something they would have "wanted," that the manner of their deaths was better than rotting away from Alzheimer's, cancer, or getting killed in other, more mundane accidents, but in the end this reader was totally appalled by their foolhardiness, their stupidity even. Just in case the reader may think I am sexist, I also think it is idiotic for men to engage in high-altitude mountain climbing. Sooner or later, there is a very real chance a person will die from it. And for what? For bragging rights? Talk about pointless.
   
   Nevertheless, this is a great read, almost as good as Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.



4. "Savage Summit" - it seems that every author who writes about K2 feels the need to write IN BOLD the difficulty of climbing the world's most dangerous peak. Or is it a weakness for climbing cliches? It is difficult to find well - written mountaineering books, and Jordan's lack of climbing experience (or is it writing experience? Or both?) marrs this attempt.
   
   The climbers she covers are all exceptionally interesting, and Jordan does do an adequate job of depicting the difficulties encountered by female alpinists in the hyper macho, competitive and male dominated world of Himalayan climbing. Especially interesting to read about are Mauduit and Rutkiewiecz, opposites in their personal style in the Himalayas. But I do agree with other reviewers - too much juvenile male-bashing here. And given the arena, its not hard to find easy targets.
   
   But her attempts to resurrect the psychological states of these five dead climbers can be awkward, and sometimes just inept or embarassing. The writing in general is unexceptional, too amateurish, and sometimes I wondered how much she really knew about the climbers, or climbing in general. In the end, it comes off as an attempt to write a feminist critique of Himalayan climbing by trying to show that there was some general feminist motive shared by all five of these climbers. And as they are all dead, we can't ask them, but Jordan founders in this respect. In the end their only shared legacy is a love for the highest ranges in the world.
   
   Overall, worth reading. Not worth buying.



5. There just aren't many books by women about high-altitude climbing so this one was a welcome addition to the pantheon. Jennifer Jordan (who is not herself an Alpinist) has written an interesting but slightly flawed book about the lives and deaths of the first five women to summit K2.
   
   Everest may be the world's tallest mountain, but K2 with it's unpredictable weather systems, isolated location, avalanche danger (made more prevalent by global warming), technical complexity and colder climate is considered the more difficult climb. At the time this book was written, out of the nearly 200 people who had summited, only five were women who are all now deceased (there have been a few more women who have successfully summitted in the time since.) Three had died on the descent, the other two later on subsequent climbs. In the group were two Frenchwomen (Chantal Mauduit, Liliane Barrard), one Pole (the legendary Wanda Rutkiewicz) and two Brits (Julie Tullis and Alison Hargreaves.) Jordan has researched their lives as best as she could given some (particularly Barrard) left little in the way of autobiographical information. Along the way, they deal with sexism-both from the Pakistani government as well as, more depressingly, their male climbers-as well as certain advantages of biology (women seem to be less prone to high-altitude sickness and frostbite although the reasons for this are still speculative.)
   
   Jordan has lots to say about sexism in mountaineering that was quite illuminating. Additionally, she is a worthy voice for these women who are not near as famous as their male counterparts. She clearly liked some of the protagonists better than others but she does make the effort to portray them as the complex, flawed and original women that they were. There is lots of information about the history of mountaineering both in the Karakoram and on Europe's summits and some great anecdotes about the women's early climbing experiences.
   
   What was less enjoyable was Jordan's thesis that there is a curse on women who climb K2 (the mythology being that K2 is masculine energy as opposed to Everest's feminine energy.) With a 1 in 7 chance of a climber dying on descent, it is sad but not surprising some of the first women to climb K2 did not make it down. As many men in the book survive K2 only to die on a future summit as well (Michel Parmentier, Rob Hall and Benoit Chamoux to name a few), Rutkiewicz and Mauduit's later deaths are indeed tragic, but also not unexpected. High-altitude climbing is a hobby with high mortality rate. No mystical reasons need be sought and I think it does something of a disservice to the climbing community-female in particular-to spread superstition. As some other reviewers, I also found Jordan's habit of speaking of the dead's thoughts in their final days as disconcerting since some, such as Hargreaves who died in a storm on her descent from the K2, could not have left a record of her thoughts on making the summit. While Jordan mentions in the beginning she took "Perfect Storm" liberties, it was mildly off-putting.
   
   Despite these complaints, I still did enjoy this book. It is for the most part well-written and gives attention to a chapter in mountaineering that is sadly marginalized. Read it and learn about the pull of the Death Zone, the history of K2, and the victories a small group of exceptional women experienced in a male-dominated sport.

3 comments about Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 (Second Edition): A Woman's Life on the Mormon Frontier.

1. I must admit that I am a bit biased, since Mary was my wife's great grandmother. A touching book, and does not white wash the trials experienced.



2. A fascinating peep into the everyday life of one woman who, along with many others, braved the trail west. Her story is told simply and factually - it has the feel of sitting down with an old friend you haven't seen for a long time and catching up on the news. Whether you're of the Mormon faith or not (I'm not, but enjoyed the book for its historical content), you can't help but admire the hardy spirit of this pioneer woman in the face of death and hardship and rejoice with her in the simple delights that come along just often enough to make it all worthwhile. Though the title sounds like the book focuses mostly on the trail experience, it actually tells her story through the rest of her life.



3. Recollections of a Handcart Pioneer of 1860 (Second Edition): A Woman's Life on the Mormon Frontier
   
   As a Gr Granddaughter of handcart pioneers, I've wondered what could have driven them to such extreme efforts, but my ancestors left very little in writing. This book was a small window into a culture that is difficult to understand. I only wish she had gone into more detail. Her calm acceptance of polygamy, and her courage in raising 7 children in such a desolate place, almost single-handedly, leaves much unsaid.

3 comments about Virginia Woolf: An Inner Life.

1. Briggs biography of Virginia Woolf follows a form that makes perfect sense for a biography of a writer. That is, it is a "biography" of her books as much as it is a biography of Virginia Woolf herself.
   
   Not a great deal of time is spent going into Woolf's pre-natal background and infant years. The text quickly gets to the task of looking at the formative influences of Woolf the writer, and the circumstances and stimuli that influenced the creation and formation of each of her books.
   
   A chronological approach is followed. We begin with the first efforts of writing, the first novel, and proceed sequentially through each of her books. A full chapter is given to the period in which each book was written and published. Each chapter concludes with details on the actual book, including such items as the novel's original cover illustration (usually done by her artist sister Vanessa), the size of the print runs, the critics responses, and how the book fared over the years, even up into the 1990s. Honestly, I found information like this very interesting. For one, it was interesting to see how first print runs increased as Woolf gradually grew in popularity.
   
   What I most like about Brigg's approach is that you come away with key insights that any appreciator of Woolf should cherish. One learns a great deal about the process that Woolf went through in creating her works as well as about the life of Woolf herself.



2. Julie Briggs is an amazing author and biographer. She is an ENglish prof at DeMontfant University in Leicester, England. She was the general editor for the Penguin UK reprint series of Woolf's novels so knows Virginia's work very well...I think this knowledge of the work and the structure of the work makes this rather indepth analysis of the famous author's motivation for writing the novels, personal circumstances surrounding the writing, her marriage, her friendships and her ever-declining health and mental problems is what makes this book so fascinating...It's no ordinary bio-- it concentrates on the work and the impetus for the work. Reading this book is like being allowed inside the writer's head and her 'office' while and after she creates her many volumes. Don't I wish I had read this book in college-- it really makes you understand not only writer motivations but the implosion the world around makes on the writer and his/her works. Great for any Woolf fan or for use in teaching Woolf or for any writer or would-be writer. Fabulous for use in women's studies programs...and fascinating for anyone struggling with their own creativity or stifled dreams/goals.



3. this book as a biography or as a series of critical essays of Virginia Woolf's novels and other works. I lumped this book with the other three biographies of VW that I have read this past year (Quentin Bell's, Hermione Lee's, and James King's) but Julia Brigg's "biography" is actually quite different, and probably should stand alone, not be compared with the other three. Each of Briggs' fourteen chapters covers one specific work by VW. For example, chapter 4 is "Jacob's Room"; chapter 5 is "The Common Reader"; chapter 6 is "Mrs Dalloway"; and, chapter 13 is "Roger Fry." Briggs provides an exhaustive look and interpretation (sometimes, almost too exhaustive) of each of VW's works, and uses these works to explore VW's psyche. VW was intensely interested in psychoanalysis (as was Gertrude Stein) and one could argue that Briggs has used VW's works as a way to psychoanalyze her. Briggs is well qualified in this endeavor: for many years she was professor of Woolf studies at Hereford College, Oxford, and is currently the editor of the Penguin UK reprint series of Woolf's novels.

No comments about Things I've Been Silent About: Memories.

No comments about Plantation Mistress on the Eve on the Civil War: The Diary of Keziah Goodwyn Hopkins Brevard, 1860-1861 (Women's Diaries and Letters of the South).

5 comments about Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World.

1. I read this book and I found Lynn's story fasicinating and different. I thought it was inspiring how she tried to overcome the boundaries she faced as a woman rock climber. As a rock climber myself, I found this book particulary interesting but I think is a good story for anyone. I agree with many who wrote reviews of this book: the book is missing something. The writing itself would be better it had more emotion, flavor, texture...whatever you perfer to call it. Overall however, this was a good book. I particularly liked how there were pictures included in the book too.



2. I utilize this book as the text for my Winter Adventure Skills course at the Adventuresports Institute of Garrett College. Very entertaining and full of wonderful winter camping tips. Not just for backcountry skiing, useful for all aspects of winter backcountry travel.



3. i find the book fairly exciting to read and i finished it quickly. unlike many adventure, mountaineering or climbing books which there are the long treads in the middle, this book doesn't suffer from that. ok, rock-climbing is a much faster sport than mountaineering, but many of Lynn Hill's climbs lasted for days. Fortunately, she had so many stories to tell that she didn't need to stretch the parts decribing certain climbs. of course she still wrote in more details how she achieved certain climbs and overcame certain cruxes.
   
   Lynn Hill was one of the greatest rock-climbers ever (male or female). it is also interesting to learn from the book how she attained that greatness:
   1. obtain the necessary abilities, skills and knowledge by appropriate training and studies. (for e.g. Hill started running regularly to improve her aerobic endurance).
   2. do the things that you are passionate and excited about, and have fun doing it. know what your talents are.
   3. do not give up. work hard.
   4. identify goals. then plan the steps to achieving them.
   5. turn weaknesses into strengths. (for e.g. Lynn Hill turned her small physical frame to her advantage).
   6. find the right partners.
   7. be a nice person.
   
   these lessons are so generic that all great men and women seem to practise them; the rest of us know about them but seem unable to follow through.
   
   if i have one small complaint about the book, it is that Hill was quite repetitive about her reasons in choosing rock-climb over say other possible pursuits that came her paths (such as gymnastics, weigh-lifting, track running, etc). she said more than a few times how she couldn't understand the risks that mountaineers are taking, and that mountaineering is not what she would happily do. rock-climbing may be the best sport for Lynn Hill; but it is not the best sport for everyone.



4. I read this book while on climbing outings in Joshua Tree and Bishop. It really inspired me to take my climbing to a new level. Lynn's small size and tiny hands (see the actual size of her hand on the back of the cover) made me quite determined that I too could climb hard since she and I are the same height. If you are a complete non-climber, you may find parts of the book difficult to understand. Even though she does try to explain the technical language in simple terms, some of the concepts could be better understood if the reader has actually experienced climbing. If you have climbed, you will love this book and be inspired by it. And if you haven't climbed, this book will certainly inspire you to give it a try!



5. I did not receive my product yet.
   
   Please have a look where was stopped my order.
   
   Regards
   
   // Laurent Garnier

1 comments about Confessions Of A Berlitz-tape Chicana (Chicana & Chicano Visions of the Americas).

1. The star tab isn't working for me, so my last few reviews note the number of stars. This book is a collection of prose and poetry from Martinez. For the most part it's provocative and at times hilarious. Some of the pieces are more serious and thoughtful.
   
   My favorite excerpt is the one where she explains how Latinos choose to self-identify in the US: Chicana/o, Latina/o, Mexican, Mexican-American or Hispanic. And, with each category she says more. This two - three page section had me smiling.
   
   The book's audience are those who fit the above demographics and others interested in discussions of race, sexuality, and feminism. The author is a published author of a few books of poetry and is/was a reporter for a Catholic newspaper.