1 comments about The Pillow Book (Penguin Classics).

1. Relatively little is known about Sei Shonagon's life. We know she was a court lady in tenth-century Japan, at the pinnacle of the Heian period.
   
   And she left behind a glimpse into her culture's period in "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon." It's a sort of mishmash memoir -- gossip, reflections, lists, and personal recollections are all mingled together, with a light, poetic delicacy that still is striking today.
   
   The story behind the Pillow Book is that when Shonagon (possible real name: Kiyohara Nagiko) was serving the Imperial Family, the Empress Teishi received a bunch of notebooks that she couldn't use. As they were too valuable to discard, she gave them to Shonagon to use as she chose.
   
   And so Shonagon basically poured her thoughts into her "Pillow Book" -- she offers brief reflections on the world around her, diary-like recollections of things that happen among the ladies in waiting, essays on court life, lists, poetry, and pretty much anything else she dreamed up.
   
   One of the most intriguing things about the Pillow Book is the glimpse into tenth-century Japan that it gives. Shonagon's stories are about little things like flutes, disobedient dogs, clothes, and the Empress's ladies betting on how long it would take a giant mound of snow to melt (no, I'm not kidding). Somehow, it leaves the past seeming a little less distant.
   
   Normally these stories would be curiosities only. But Shonagon -- despite her tendency towards snobbery -- had a special knack with prose, and and a bright, shimmering wit. Her charming love of beauty is often enchanting; she often lists things that she finds pleasing, such as moons, summer nights, flowers and willow trees. Her words were almost as pleasant, since she littered her writing with jokes, metaphor and wordplay.
   
   Not that her recollections are without negatives -- she listed her pet peeves (such as parents worshiping a very unappealing child -- something we've all been annoyed with), and things she found depressing or annoying. A stickler for form and ettiquette, she had very precise ideas about how things should be done... right down to how love affairs should be conducted.
   
   If there's a problem with this, it's that Shonagon -- in the manner of her time -- tends to gloss over the more important, unpleasant details of life. And her own anecdotes show that she could be very cruel, as when she gave a mocking poem to a newly-homeless peasant, instead of a promissory note. It may have been typical of her class and culture, but come on.
   
   "The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagon" opens a little window into the scented world of Heian-era Japan, and leaves behind the impression of a spunky, sharp-witted lady who would have stood out anywhere.

5 comments about Confessions of a Carb Queen: A Memoir.

1. Meet Susan Blech, a former 468-pound woman who backed on the pounds despite being healthy and fit as a kid and then a bodybuilding in young adulthood. But, as she says in her book, LIFE happened and the rest was history. Thankfully, at the age of 38, Susan took back her life and lost 250 pounds. But it wasn't before some rather humiliating circumstances in her life woke her up to this grave problem that she had been trying to deal with since the weight came pouring on. Anyone who has ever been obese will relate to these stories because they hit home. Susan moved to Durham, North Carolina to lose the weight...how did that go? This little square book reads like a riveting suspense novel and will entertain, educate, and motivate you to start doing some confessing of your own.



2. This is not a cut and dry book on how to lose weight. Those looking for self help books on weight loss in general should probably look elsewhere. This book is mainly a memoir, and many parts of it are not pretty. If you have a compulsive eating problem or extremely low self esteem, you will be able to relate to it. There is so much guilt and sadness and despair behind feeling out of control of your weight... you can really feel it through Susan's eyes when reading this book.
   
   I bought this book because I am often inspired by weight loss stories. I have lost about 65 pounds (and counting!) since 2003 myself, but I was never as big as Susan Blech was to begin with. I can tell you that I related to feeling unattractive and tired all the time, as well as the comfort found in greasy fast food. If you are squeamish, watch out for the somewhat graphic entries on "fat sex" and the borderline porn-esque descriptions of her marathon fast food binges. After Susan begins treatment for her eating habits and eventually starts to work out and really see herself change, that's when it gets inspiring.



3. I read this book in 3 days. I found it be be courageous, inspirational and real. I feel like I know Susan for many years. I find myself thinking about her and her story when I have the urge to not eat healthy and then stop...and make a better choice! I wish I could infuse an ounce of Susan's courage in my brain!!!! Thank you Susan and Sister Caroline for putting your story into words!!!!



4. Susan Blech was on a downhill path. In her late 30s, she weighed an amazing 468 pounds. This amazing book is about the path she took to get to that place, what life was like in that place, and about the steps she took to lose over 268 pounds without surgery. I call this book amazing because I probably had my mouth open the entire time I was reading it. You won't believe what this girl used to put in her mouth every day. That someone could eat this much and still be alive is amazing. For all her lack of self control, Susan must be a very strong woman. She was still alive and able to turn her life around. Some people never get that chance.
   
   She used to go up and down both sides of the street picking up gigantic bags of food from every fast food place, eat it all in her car, and then dispose of the bags, convincing herself that it didn't count if she ate the food in her car. Some weeks she would spend $300 to $400 dollars on fast food.
   
   This was especially interesting to me because she lost the majority of her weight at a weight loss center in Durham, NC called the Rice House. That's only about an hour from my house.
   
   Susan talks about her life. She grew up in a house with no mother since hers was in assisted care after a stroke. She ate as a form of self-medication for the pain she felt. She talks about her friendships, boyfriends, and siblings.
   
   Anyway, this is a fascinating read. Susan also includes recipes of low-calorie, low-fat foods. I have been trying some of them, and they are good.



5. Susan was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo transparent about her binges. I could relate.. Very open about the hardships of finding romance when one is a overweight woman.. The part that I most related with was the relationships she had with her mother and father..I really appreciate that she wrote this book. This will help me to lose the "last 40lbs"...

5 comments about Becoming Jane Austen.

1. 
   If you are looking for every detail of Jane Austen's life and works, this is the book for you. For me, there was so much detail that it made for slow reading, but if I was an Austen fanatic (instead of an enthusiast), this would be the book for me.



2. A well-written, well-researched biography of our beloved, complex spinster. While the book doesn't annoyingly dwell on its far-fetched claim to be the "true love story that inspired the classic novels", it does often try to make some leaps of faith (most notably the weight it places on the character names of novels as evidence). Some of the interpretations of her novels are equally improbable. But this is an engaging, interesting biography woven with Jane's letters and her novels. It is the story not only of her life and her times, but also of the people who surrounded and influenced her. It is a story of how she saw the world, of her complex character, and how the woman in love with marriage chose her novels to be her children. Well worth the read. Grade: B+



3. I bought this book because I'm preparing to teach a Jane Austen class. Spence makes some interesting points and does a good job of backing them up. I don't think we can take everything as fact, but he does support his arguments very well. Unfortunately, there is so much left up to guesswork when it comes to Austen. When it comes to Austen biographies, this book is very easy and enjoyable to read. It reads more like a novel than a biography. The movie that is based on this book takes a few more liberties than the books does. Considering all of the books that I have used in preparing my class, this is one of my favorites.



4. I really enjoyed this one! I read it right after taking a course on Jane Austen's novels, and still learned even more. This book really helped to point out the parts of Jane's life that made it into her books. It is a great read for a Jane Austen fan.



5. 2003's "Becoming Jane Austen" is Jon Spence's highly readable biography of romance novelist Jane Austen. Spence is almost novelistic himself in his treatment of her life and literary work.
   
   Spence believes the characters and events in Austen's novels can be traced back more or less directly to persons and events in Austen's life and those of her extended family. This premise leads to an intriguing mixture of biography and literary criticism, mingled with an exploration of Austen's evolving views about her life and writing. In some cases, the connections seem obvious and plausible; in others, a bit of a leap. Spence finds, for example, that Austen's rather exotic relative Eliza de Feuillide is the basis for several characters stretching from the Juvenalia to "Mansfield Park" and that Austen's stories were in effect her way of weighing in on family controversies.
   
   Easily the most interesting theme of "Becoming Jane Austen" is Spence's claim that Austen's infatuation with Tom Lefroy at Steventon in January 1796 was deep, mutual, and lasting. He interprets Austen's surviving correspondence to indicate that she expected Lefroy to return for her once he was in a position to marry. She was obviously disappointed in this expectation; Spence sees indirect indications of Lefroy's continuing hold on her imagination in her novels. Spence's interpretation is neither impossible nor necessarily implausible; it is simply impossible to prove on the basis of the very limited biographic material available at this remove of time. Other biographers are far more skeptical of the extent of the relationship.
   
   "Becoming Jane Austen" was the basis for the very charming period romance "Becoming Jane," starring Anne Hathaway as Jane Austen and James McAvoy as Tom Lefroy. Spence is quick to note in his introduction that the movie screenplay exceeds even his admittedly generous interpretation of the record.
   
   "Becoming Jane Austen" is highly recommended as an energetic, enjoyable, and intriguing life of Jane Austen. One need not agree with Jon Spence's every interpretation to appreciate his enthusiastic presentation.

5 comments about The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood.

1. Of all the many books I've read since childhood about pets and animals, this one left me cold. Nothing the author said about this pig was at all out of the ordinary and if he had a special personality the author was not up to the task of convincing me of this. Ok, so he would pull a strawberry out of his slops and savor it and he loved to have his belly rubbed but what exactly made him special? The book has gotten good reviews but I just felt sorry for the author's mother and annoyed at her shameless self-promotion and narcissism. I've saved all my other books on animals to pass down to my grandchildren but this one is already in the recycling bin.



2. This book was an absolutely disappointing read and it took everything I had to keep going in hopes that something would improve. The characters were never developed nor was the writing very descriptive. The author could have written everything she wanted to say in one or two pages. This might be somewhat interesting to a reader who never raised farm animals that escaped periodically or never had neighborhood kids come by to visit them, but for those readers who have grown up in the country around animals, this book is review of the ordinary. The author is far too self-aggrandizing and proud of herself for her chosen lifestyle, which is actually not that unusual or extraordinary. What I found particularly frustrating about this read was the author's blindness to the fact that Chris, though he is a pig, is just a beloved pet like your dog or my donkey. He is not extraordinary, nor was his life. It reminded me of parents who gloat about their child as though s/he is actually better than everyone else's child. I personally am very contrite and apologetic when my donkey escapes; I do not think it is cute at all, nor do the police. I was really hoping for a book with some insight or humor, but found neither here.



3. this book was an easy read with lots of laughing throughout. I enjoyed the information peppered throughout as well from Sy's background information and experiences as well as the associations her premise for the book was. I disagree that the pig was 'nothing special' as some poor reviews stated because it wasn't really about the pig but rather about the pig as part of a larger phenomenon.



4. This book was given to me by a friend as a birthday present.
   She gave it to me because I have a pig as a pet and she knew that I could probably relate to it.
   
   She was right. The Good, Good Pig is a very touching story. It made me laugh and it made me cry.
   
   My only criticism would be that Sy Montgomery got a little lenghthy on some explanations but I would still recommend this story to anyone who is an animal lover or especially to anyone who has a pig.
   
   I love my pig. My pig is a pot bellied pig. She is such a character. She inspired me to write my own story. Unlike Sy Montgomerys story, my book is fiction. A children's picture book entitled "Bubbles the Little Pig."
   
   Since becoming a pet pig owner, pigs have become very near and dear to me. They will always have a special place in my heart.



5. The author being a self-described "naturalist," I thought this book would have some sort of insight into the nature of pigs. Nope. Mostly a lot of boring, self-indulgent tripe about how the author and her husband overfed this runt pig, whom they named Christopher Hogwood (how cute! -- NOT!), and Hogwood grew into something Montgomery calls "beautiful" but would more appropriately be called "grotesque." (She even admits letting him eat ice cream until he can barely move and becomes overweight). The author is what she calls "child free" (which one can fully support) but fails to see how her many animals are in fact substitute children. In one stunningly ignorant passage, she claims that the pig Hogwood is an "adult" and therefore her relationship to him is not one of adult to child. Hullo? It's a PIG for cryin' out loud. You can't converse with it, plan an event with it and (yes, just like a baby) you have to make sure all its poop is cleaned up and that it's taken care of.
   
   I lost count of the boring passages in the book about how Hogwood made the author closer to her neighbors and taught her how to "play with children" (gag). If you enjoy that type of sentimental fluff, this book is for you. Personally, I was very sad at the end. Not because Hogwood died, but at the waste of perfectly good meat! (they buried him...sob!)

5 comments about Riding the Bus with My Sister: A True Life Journey.

1. Okay, so maybe not the most original title in the world, but the story sure is. The author decides to spend some quality time with her mildly retarded sister, Beth, (whom she never fully understood). Simons basically takes a very long leave of absence from work and totally immerses herself in Beth's world - which consists mainly of riding the bus system in an unnamed Pennsylvania city. But this is not just a simple journey. She experiences how Beth has carved out a life for herself, the people she has connected with, the joyful outlook she has on life, and realizes that maybe Beth's life is fulfilling in its own way. This is also a journey through her childhood as she
   reflects on her memories, her relationship with her family as well as her sister. By slowing down her fast-paced existence and taking the time to experience a year with her sister, Simons certainly discovers a lot about herself, and comes away with a different, more appreciative view of her life. Hopefully you will too. I know I did.



2. This book isn't for everyone, but anyone who lives with a mildy retarded family member will see this book as an eye-opening and touching memoir of the highs and lows of living and coping and dealing with a person such as Beth, the author's sister, with whom she agrees to ride the city buses with over the course of a year.
   
   The chapters are beautifully interweaved with flashbacks to the author's childhood with Beth, who is 18 months younger than the author. The parents' coping with Beth, and how the rest of the family deals with this headstrong and independent girl without once ever mentioning the words "mild retardation" and yet determined to keep together as a family in the early 1960s bring this book to life for many Babyboomers. Rachel did a lot of research on the subject to write for this book, and inserts statistics at logical moments without ever tiring the reader.
   
   Along with the encounters on the bus are small vignettes of the various and varied drivers who deal with Beth on a daily basis. Bus drivers are profiled coming from all aspects of society. Some like Beth, others do not, and many came forward to talk about Beth and her incessant chats while sitting in the front of crowded buses with strangers all around her. Bus drivers are her friends, are her mentors, are her romantic interests and Beth at times reminds us of our girlish teenage crushes...and she is 39 years old while the story takes place.
   
   Although this book mostly deals with Beth and her daily bus rides around town, the author also talks about her own failings; her recent break-up, her move to a new apartment, and we see how dealing with Beth, and talking with bus drivers, help Rachel find the answers for her own troubles.
   
   This book may not be for everyone. One must have a close experience with a person such as Beth to understand the many detailed and sometimes long-drawn-out episodes of city bus travel to truly appreciate this book. Beth is beautifully portrayed in this book, and with all her flaws and handicaps we can see a bit our ourselves through her daily bus journeys.
   
   Read this book with patience and understanding for the mildy retarded people in our society. We all know and have dealt with our own Cools Beths.



3. I found this book to be very interesting and moving. It has really made a mark on my heart. I have a special needs child who unlike "Cool Beth" is not treated differently by many, yet sees some of the same prejudices. It was nice to read a book that shows how a person can live on their own and have the same things that so called "normal" people can. I appreciated that Beth knew right from wrong and is not afraid to express that to the world around her. We can all learn from that. The annoyance that Rachel gets from Beth is such a tough feeling for a sibling/parent, but a genuine one and written with such truth. This will not be enjoyed by all, but all can learn from it.



4. This is not a book I would have chosen, but I read it for my book club and was pleasantly surprised. When I saw an endorsement from Rosie O'Donnell on the front cover of this book, I was expecting something more sentimental, along the lines of a Lifetime Channel movie, to lie within the pages. Instead, I found a powerful tribute to people on society's fringe and a meaningfully insightful story.
   
   The story centers around a workaholic writer/teacher, Rachel Simon, who runs out of ideas for her newspaper work and decides to spend a year shadowing her mildly mentally retarded sister, Beth. Beth has chucked working and living in a group home for a hedonistic life in her own apartment, filling her days happily riding the city's busses. Simon takes what could be a boring or sappy story and makes something marvelous out of Beth's mundane, repetitive life by her keen observation and analysis of the details of this routine. She does an excellent job of looking at life through Beth's eyes and of showing how the mentally challenged are at times similar to the rest of us and yet at other times vastly different and difficult to comprehend.
   
   Naturally Beth's efforts to live independently in the manner she desires create enormous frustration for her family and even the professionals involved in her "case." How to help someone in Beth's situation is complicated. How much help can family and professionals give versus how much help should they give? How many decisions can she safely, competently make on her own? Simon shows us that there are no easy answers, as she attempts to establish her own place in her sister's life.
   
   The book is beautifully written, hard to put down, and filled with insights and wisdom that would make Irma Bombeck proud. The author was surprised at how much she learned from Beth's limitations and her world, and you will be too.



5. This book is an engaging, fast read. I was especially interested in Rachel Simon's flashbacks. We learn what caused her mental retardation, we see her experiences and Rachel's, we also suffer with the children as mom continues in a downward spiral. All of these flashbacks, distinguished by italic font, are worthy of a book all their own.
   
   Beth Simon is hard to like. She is loud, immature, unhygenic, and self-centered. She is also capable of holding down a job- she just chooses not to. What makes it worse is that she tells her fellow passengers that she doesn't work because she doesn't want to- always reminding them of her disability check. What type of endurance would you need, if you were riding the bus with Beth, heading to your job? Many people can't handle it. And Beth is oblivious to the reasons why people dislike her- she's a capable woman who won't better herself.
   
   In Rachel's relationship with Beth, the story is not sugar-coated. Rachel gets very annoyed with Beth: ' Damn it Beth, shut up! my dark voice erupts. Look at you- same expression, same seat, same stupefying conversation.
   and
   "When I started riding the buses, I remember, I thought of the people who didn't like Beth as insensitive and narrow-minded. Now I find myself more sympathetic to their point of view. Yes, some of them are coarse and offensively vocal. But she is so loud. And she talks all the time. About nothing. I know many of us babble on about nothing, too, but she does it over and over and over- and over and over and over- and it's really eroding the limits of my endurance. Dad used to tell us he came to dread their car rides to work for precisely the same reasons. That was twenty years ago."
   
   However, Rachel's interaction with every bus driver are so profound. She always seems to be learning something from them. And it's always about how they changed their philosophies so they could lead happier lives. Ugh, it was too corny and simplistic for me!
   
   Further, I was uninterested in how Rachel changed in relations to men and other people. I only wanted to see her relationship with Beth. Yes, Rachel Simon gives Beth and the bus rides credit for changing her life- but I really have no desire to know anything else about Rachel Simon in the late 90s (when the story takes place). Tell me more about Beth, including more altercations with drives and passengers, more about her obsessions with the drivers, more about her self-centered domination of every bus ride.
   
   " Beth is ignoring the parade of costumes in the street and gazing adoringly at Cliff- and with a jolt, I know what scares me.
   It's not just the same old crush with a new face, or the same olf song with the same wrong words. It's not just the pattern she doesn't see, or care about, and therefore cannot or will not change.
   It's that Beth seems to need a cataclysmic event for her to change in any way- an event like our mother's complete abdication of her responsibility to protect her own child, Juanita's rejection, or Rodolpho's abandonment. This seems true whether she's being called upon to develop resorucefulness, assertiveness, or just basic self-restraint. I look at her and feel a clutch in my throat. What will it take now?
   Is this all there will ever be to her life? "

5 comments about My Way Out: One Woman's Remarkable Journey in Overcoming Her Drinking Problem and How Her Innovative Program Can Help You or Someone You Love.

1. I have read every book I could find on alcohol recovery and addiction and I can honestly say that this book is the one that changed my life. I never considered myself to be an alcoholic but I knew I was a problem drinker, and the beauty of this program is that it allows for either abstinence or moderated drinking. It addresses the one issue that I found lacking in so many other recovery programs and that is feeding the brain the nutrients and amino acids that we have depleted from our bodies and brains from overdrinking. I found that once I fed myself what I was lacking the cravings for alcohol reduced dramatically. The other aspects of the program described in the book have also been so important in my journey for moderation including the hypnotherapy CDs and light exercise.
   
   I cannot recommend this book enough if you are wanting to make a change in your drinking habits. Really great stuff!!



2. I have purchased from Amazon for years and this is the first time I have been compelled to leave a comment on a product.
   This book was absolutely worth every penney. The way these women were described and how alcohol dominated their life described me exactly.
   There are suggestions made for prescriptions and supplements and I didn't need all that. Reading the book got me started on the right track.
   Thanks a million to the author.



3. Do not waste your life, or your loved one's life, on this book. 'My Way Out' (MWO) puts you on the wrong path. I wasted $[...] on MYO's recommended self-hypnosis CDs, which were no help at all (and for which I cannot get a refund).
   
   I wasted hours of my time listening to these CDs, only to end up feeling despair because the CDs did nothing either to stop the cravings or end the depression. Talk about anguish! I began to believe there was 'No Way Out' for me, only for other people.
   
   It turns out I'm hypoglycemic--and if you crave alcohol, sweets or caffeine, then chances you are too, or else you are on the fast track to getting there--and the routine physical at your doctor's office doesn't test for hypoglycemia, so don't feel safe simply because your doctor tells you you check out okay. If you have energy highs and lows during the day, then like it or not, you're on your way to trouble. I didn't want to believe it either, but truth is truth.
   
   Larsen's book (Seven Weeks to Sobriety) has real answers. Self-hypnosis isn't one of them.
   
   
   .



4. This book is nothing but a short booklet telling you why you should buy her $500 hypnosis CD set. There is barely any inspirational story at all behind it! DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!



5. This is a good book, insightful and helps you out if you hace a problem. The only bad part is she oushes her own vitamins. I did the whole program.
   It gives you the runs, but like anything, takes willpower. I would buy this book if you are at wits end but will do anything.

5 comments about Rosa Lee: A Mother and Her Family in Urban America.

1. This book made me incredibly angry. In a nutshell, it is the horrifying story of one woman's life and legacy of ignorance, immorality, illegality, and vice. It's a very compelling read and well-written in terms of the subject matter, but there is a consistent theme throughout the book of "failure of the system," which I found insulting considering Rosa Lee and her family's grave manipulation, exploitation, and abuse of every helping hand extended.



2. If the measure of a good book is that it exposes you to new information and makes you think, then this a great book! I enjoyed Mr Dash's even-handed writing style, it wasn't overly critical or sympathetic. Rosa Lee has made some very poor decisions in her lifetime, ones that will have far-reaching effects on the generations that come after her. The book gives you the insight as to why she made those decisions without excusing her actions. I came away from this book with more questions than I had when I started reading. It's almost a "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" scenario...it makes you wonder if Rosa Lee created her own problems or if her problems created her? As a Sociologist I have always been interested in urban blight and deviant behavior and try to read as much on the topic as possible, and I must say that this is one of the better books that I have read. I would also highly recommend "The Corner" as another book that explores the issues facing the urban underclass. Thank you Mr. Dash for daring to uncover an ugly part of America that some people wish would stay hidden!



3. Rosa Lee: A Mother and Her Family In Urban America shows what can really happen if an individual does not require a successful education. The problems of Rosa Lee were dropping out of school because her own mother says that education is a waste of time and gets her nowhere in life. Other problems were growing up in the projects selling and shooting heroin, tricking, and shoplifting her way through life. The biggest problem of Rosa Lee were knowing six out of your eight children are doing the same activities as herself. Her number one quote of getting through life, "To Survive", is the worst way to live through life as a poor individual. Leon Dash really shows what it's like growing up in one of poorest ghettos of Washington D.C. The Rosa Lee book is astonishing and I encourage everyone to read it so they are influenced. I give it two thumbs up!



4. This book draws you in, in every way. Exceptionally writen to the point where you feel a true connection to the story whether or not you agree or disagree - it will bring out emotion either negative or positive from its reader. Dash delves deep into the real lives an urban family and their struggles and sheds light on situations that many don't realize are the everyday lives of some Americans. This book will make you think deeply about poverty and the decisions that some are forced to make on a daily basis. Whether you agree or disagree with the issues in the book, it is DEFINATELY worth reading.



5. This was required reading for a nursing class. I was completely engrossed in Rosa's story and the system. It really gives the reader a terribly rude awakening to a completely different world within our own country. Maddening and enlightening at the same time-

5 comments about Twist of Faith: The Story of Anne Beiler, Founder of Auntie Anne's Pretzels.

1. I really enjoyed book. It was a bit confusing going back and forth between time lines, but book was well worth re-reading to catch timing.



2. This was a great book and it was exactly what I expected.
   Everyone should read this book. I could not put it down.I loved it.



3. Anne Beiler's inspiring story of her life made it a very worthwhile book to read despite the layout of the book with mixing the past and present. The story about the tragic loss of her daughter cuts to the heart of any Mom. What I loved most was the tenacity to keep moving forward despite the many difficulties and challenges that she faced.
   
   As a Christian, I love the fact that she is not shy about expressing her faith in God and crediting Him for helping her through all the ups and downs in her personal and professional life. This isn't just about how the best pretzels on earth came about (although that part is fascinating) but it's about family, faith and finding fortune by persevering.
   
   After reading this book, what I realized most of all is that it's the journey that counts (not fame or fortune) and that's where you'll find your greatest blessings. Often they are right under your nose.



4. Book arrived in time and in excellent condition. I really enjoyed reading it, too. Not all that well-written it is still a fascinating - and amazin - true story of one woman's struggle to succeed.



5. I loved TWIST OF FAITH written by Anne Beiler. It was a great story of courage and faith. I would recommend it to everyone.

5 comments about The Other Woman: Twenty-one Wives, Lovers, and Others Talk Openly About Sex, Deception, Love, and Betrayal.

1. This is a fabulous book of personal essays. It gives every point of view on being the other woman, from being the betrayer to being betrayed, as well as offering interesting takes on the subject. One writer's story of incest and the reality of being the "other woman" to her aunt was incredibly poignant. Other stories are very funny, some quite sad. The range of writers, their writing styles, and their stories make this a great read on a timeless topic. I'm looking forward to seeing more collections like this one.



2. Though I usually go more for erotic-type fiction of this sort, such as Playtime, the title intrigued me. After reading these twenty-one beautifully writter and insightful essays/stories, I have to say I am so glad I did! It's really opended my eyes and really made me think about a few things. Don't pass this one up!!!!!



3. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, and often times both, this terrific collection of essays is to be savored. Among my favorite reads here: Pam Houston's "Not Istanbul" (do read this is you need a good laugh!), Jane Smiley's "Iowa was Never Like This," and Lynn Freed's "Running the Smalls Through."



4. This is an amazing book I read it in a weekend I read the book because I was the other woman my husband was married and had two kids I was married and had 3 kids we meet feel in love and broke up 2 families my ex husband has moved on and has forgiven but his ex wife even though married to a doctor (my husband is a lawyer her ex husband) is extremly bitter and is hateful and everything imbetween. I got this book in order to read it and somehow get an idea of where she is coming from so we can stop the hate we have for each other. I often compare us to Mary Jo and Tori Spelling that is our story we meet and new we were soulmates from the second we saw each other. I have no regrets I love my husband and am glad we found each other but I can move on from hating her for not accepting responsibility for her part in the break up of her marriage This is AMAZING I would recommend it for anyone who is the other woman, thinking about being the other woman, or has another woman in their lives.



5. "The Other Woman" presents an eye-opening look at extra-marital affairs and the devastation such affairs can wreak on all parties involved.
   
   I don't usually gravitate towards non-fiction but I read an excerpt of Mary Jo Eustace's essay, "Palm Springs," in People Magazine and was completely hooked. I ordered the book the next day and found it to be a quick and enjoyable read that offered interesting and varied points of view. I expected to read the book and find myself disgusted with the "other" woman but instead found myself empathizing with each woman's feelings and conflicts.
   
   Of particular note is Dani Shapiro's essay "The Mistress" and Mary Jo Eustace's essay (which I mentioned above). Mary Jo's account is incredibly touching and full of strength and humor. I do hope she has been able to reclaim love since the Tori Spelling debacle!

5 comments about Alice Waters and Chez Panisse.

1. This is living proof that if we would only eat what is fresh and in season, we would experience flavor and taste, and "better for you" foods, as the food is FRESHER---this remarkable chef has treated food with respect-no contrivance here. Read and eat!



2. I enjoyed reading this because of the subject's devotion to fresh, local, sustainable food, but was disappointed in the writing. The book is mainly a compilation of quotes from Alice Waters and her friends and people she's worked with - there's no synthesis provided by the author, no insight. It seems on the surface to be giving an honest portrait of the woman and her restaurant, but I just felt that there was a lot left unrevealed and unanalyzed. Instead of giving a clear-eyed assessment, this book fit into the mold of every project Alice has embarked on: She handpicked her biographer and gave him full access to sources so that it feels like a community effort, but she also made sure the book only carried the tone she desired - the tone she envisioned it should have - and was too impatient to provide or allow any introspection.



3. ...book about a woman and her restaurant - constantly on the verge of going broke in the early days but went on to become the most influential and inspirational person in the American restaurant business. A must for all foodies (although Alice doesn't like the word!)



4. I just finished the book and although I was engaged in the story the first half of the book, the 2nd half really dragged. Maybe if you have had the great pleasure to dine at Alice's restaurant, perhaps the story would have kept your attention better than mine. It's interesting to learn about the evolution of fine dining in this country and the recent movement for slow food. Alice Waters is a hero for her work way beyond the walls of her restaurant. However, the writing was inconsistent.



5. The author explores an important chapter in American culinary history and examines a unique contributor to that history. Once I fought my way through the book, I learned a few things:
   1.)the food world has always been full of adventurous and idiosyncratic people and Ms. Waters is no exception.
   2.)while her contribution and commitment to evolving the national palate is significant, it is wildly overstated. I am reminded of Jacques Pepin's reaction in his autobiography of their first meeting and listening to her overly serious discourse on her food: what's the big deal?
   3.)her single minded drive is typical of all zealots- they are surrounded by acolytes and squish like bugs many of those who they have used, typically by having others do the dirty work. Her exploitation of her ex husband for breeding was notably offensive.
   
   Despite all, Mr. McNamee would have rated 4 stars were it not for execrable writing, filled with inexplicable whining and adulation. Many anecdotes were intended to be revelatory but were mostly perplexing. Sentences were often poorly crafted, with grammar that escaped the editor's eye. Sorry, but a few more drafts would have resulted in a much better book.