5 comments about Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany.

1. Joel Agee's Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany offers a hilarious and universal account of the passage from boyhood to manhood. Enjoying this book does not require an interest in its unique setting. Never mind that the entire work occurs between 1948 and 1960 in the Stalinist dictatorship of the German (un)Democratic Republic; or that the author's Jewish American mother is living with her children and second husband in the anti-fascist Soviet Satellite of the only recently vanquished Third Reich; or that the author's biological father is Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, James Agee; or that his stepfather is an East German writer whose socialist themes become less relevant the more the dictatorship he lives in takes hold. Joel Agee so powerfully conveys the challenging and exciting passage of a male from age eight to twenty, that distinctions of place, time, name, and circumstance meld into a broader truth.
   
   By page thirteen, the book's ever more ironic and outrageously funny form takes shape -- the fibs to Mom, friendship mischief, the struggle to fit in with peer groups, and the stirrings of sexual awakening that should have long ago made this work a classic.



2. "Twelve Years: An American Boyhood in East Germany" is a fascinating memoir. Eight-year-old Joel Agee was brought by his mother and stepfather to the Soviet zone of Germany (what would become East Germany) in 1948 and lived there for the next 12 years. As Agee's stepfather, Bodo Uhse, was a prominent Communist, Agee had the best that East Germany could offer: a villa with servants, summers at the Baltic Sea, and numerous opportunities to recover from his dismal performance at school. Agee does provide an insight as to how the Communist intelligentsia in that country thought -- their explanations for the closed border, their view of the Stalinist (and Soviet-bloc) purges in the early 50s, and their conflicting views of Khruschev's revelations. This memoir is also a coming-of-age story, filled with teenage angst and sexual frustration. What distinguishes this from many other memoirs is that it is exceptionally well-written. Although Agee was never able to get his bearings in the East German school system (or was, as we would say today, a "slacker") his descriptions are almost poetic. Well worth reading.



3. I too have been urged by friends to write a book about my youth. In 1981, at the age of 18, I decided to reunite with my father and immigrated from the USA to the DDR. I was later expelled in 1986 for political reasons and lived elsewhere in Europe until my return in 1991 following the Fall of The Berlin Wall. I remained there until April of 2000 at which time I returned to the USA.
   This book brought back some memories despite the difference in time. (The Author went to the DDR in 1948 at the age of 8. I went to the DDR in 1981 at the age of 18) I had no idea that there had been any other Americans that shared an even remotely similar story and Joel Agee does a great job of telling his story with far more emotion and prose than I ever could.
   The book is a wonderful insight into life in a country that no longer exists...from the view point of an American child/young adult. I especially recommend it to anyone who has grown-up or lived in a country where they felt they did not belong. In my opinion, Agee entered the DDR in its infancy and left just as its darkest period began. I entered The DDR at the height of the Reagan Era and witnessed its collapse from within. Two historic phases. I only wish that both of us could have witnessed more.



4. I read Joel Agee's book "Twelve Years. An American Boyhood in East Germany" in German and in English and tried very hard to get a used copy of his first american edition - without any success. Finally, he is back again with a new edition, and allthough my english is not as good as it should be, I just want to write down some words abaout this book. For me who always lived in Western Germany it is one of the most interesting books about the communist part of Germany, the GDR (in german it's DDR). It was not meant to be a political book, but it has become one anyhow. The reader is not only enabled to follow a very private story of growing up as a boy (including all the problems most man - since they have been boys - know and prefer not to talk about it), but to understand how culture and everyday life had been transformed by the communist ideology in a way that could be critizised only by children: some simply laughed about it and learned, that even only to laugh could have negative consequences. And getting some idea of how adults did discuss the political penetration of everyday life makes you feel glad to be grown up in a non communist state - but still you can understand that this adults they had their living like others had, and that they were fathers and mothers having everyday problems like others had. This book indeed touched and pleased me. It is a marvellous written autobiographical kind of literature. If you'll read it, it will take a part of your heart and your intellect to. You'll have to love it.



5. I'm delighted to see that Joel Agee's memoir is now available again, and I look forward, with pleasure, to re-reading it. In beautiful prose, Agee not only reveals the pains and pleasures of his growing up (it could be anywhere), but gives us a portrait, from an unusual angle, of life in the newly formed German Democratic Republic, i.e.,communist East Germany, during the period 1948-1960. The historian will find the book of particular interest, but so will anyone else who enjoys entering the unsual world of a sensitive young man with a terrific eye for detail, and who is frank about his inner life.

   Agee returned to the U.S. just as the amazing 60s were about to roll their thunder, and I can't wait to read his follow-up memoir, his "American Manhood" in another world far removed from the East Berlin of his youth.

2 comments about A Childhood in the ABRUZZI: A Memoir.

1. i order this book because i am from abruzzi,what i did not know that mr. zavarella and i both comes from the valle peligna. i laughed and cried at his stories of his childhood because, like the author i went to the madonna della libera, when was her feast,and mr zavarella come to my city sulmona to see the funeral of jesus at holy friday and at easter to see the madonna who runs on the square.
   it is a wonderful book,i want my childrens to read it, in fact all the abruzzesi should read it.
   
   bravo art zavarella



2. I have just finished reading a great book by Art Zavarella PE, entitled "A CHILDHOOD in the ABRUZZI," released recently by PublishAmerica of Baltimore.
   
   Art Zavarella was born in Italy as Artorige Pelino Zavarella and came to America at age twenty-six with a few dollars in his pocket and a diploma as a civil engineer. After struggling for a couple of years doing menial work while mastering the English language he finally found professional employment with a consulting engineering firm; and, later, he obtained the license to practice professional engineering from the University of the State of New York.
   
   When he first returned to Italy after an absence of more than 32 years, he noticed with great pains that hardly anyone, there, remembered the village the way it was before the war. So, on account of this, he decided to compile this book to bring back to light the memories of the village the way it was during his childhood. And he does it well recounting events and things with brilliant descriptions, and his passion of it can be perceived in every paragraph. He loves the valley where he was born, surrounded by beautiful mountains dotted here and there with picturesque villages; some perched upon rocks; and the farm of his grandfather on the foothill of Monte San Cosimo. He describes well local traditions carried down from generations to generations unchanged since pagan times, and places of historical importance that he had visited from time to time; the hard life of the villagers with their fears and superstitions still believing in witchcraft, werewolves, omen, fortunetellers and the power of the Evil Eye. He recalls his school years with great emotions, while striving to learn Latin, Italian Literature, Math, History and other important subjects. Not to mention the hardships caused by a war that brought so much destruction to the land he loved.
   
   The book is as delightful as compassionate and reminds me of the famous Italian movie "Cinema Paradiso," and deserves to be rated at 5 stars.

5 comments about The Color of Love: A Mother's Choice in the Jim Crow South.

1. What a riveting story of an era that I, too, was born into but on the other side of the fence than Gene Cheek. It makes me so sad to realize that I had the same sentiment as all the "rogue" whites because I was also taught to dislike those that looked different. And in my town the only ones that were 'different" were the less fortunate blacks. I am sorry for my generation and my race that this burden was placed on the Gene Cheeks of the US. I couldn't put this book down until I had completed it. Thank you Gene for sharing your story and again I apologize to you and your family and am so thankful for your Grandma and Mama---people that everyone would love.



2. A sensitive and heartfelt memoir. I enjoyed reading the book. However, it is important to remember the Jim Crow South did not have a monopoly on racism. Racism is racism. I grew up in eastern NC, where my mother and father taught me to respect all people. I had an entirely different experience. When I took a job north of the Mason-Dixon line in the 90's, I could not believe the racism prevalent there. The difference I saw was the jokes and stereotypes and wink-winks were done behind closed doors. I was disgusted. Racism in the South during this era was ugly. But it was not restricted there, never has been.



3. I am a native of Winston-Salem, NC where the accounts in this book took place. It was so exciting to ride through the neighborhoods where Gene and his family lived. Some of the houses are still standing; I think I saw the house he grew up in during one of my "history searches". I thought this book was enlightening, refreshing and a testament that not all people buy into "traditions" their family's try to hand down. There are many people like Gene's mother, grandmother and step-father who are more attentive to how you are as a human, than what color your skin is and I was fortunate enough to know them and become friends with many people who shared this mindset. I enjoyed reading the touching story of the love between a mother and son, and although I applaud his unselfishness and love of his brother, I can't help but think that he might have been a little less understanding in real life. But then again, I am only expressing how I would feel. The campus I work for (mentioned in the book as Winston Salem Teacher's College, now WSSU), is requiring all freshmen to read this book. I am happy that they are. It is, again, a wonderful, yet painful account and it is history that needs to be told.



4. Gene's book is absolutely the best book I have ever read. He speaks with such eloquent words that go straight to the heart. He writes in his "about the author" section that he has "lived an unremarkable life" - as you read the book you realize the opposite - he has lived an exceptionally remarkable life which he unfolds for the reader with great authenticity and care. It is a profoundly moving book that is written in an exceptional manner. All you can think of as you read it is "please don't let this be the first and last book you write." For those of us who can remember the days of the very segregated South, this book will resonate with you. For those of you who are not old enough to remember this book is a must read, as we must never forget our history.
   We should all be grateful to Gene for giving us such a gift as he has - I know I am.



5. I too was driving home from work when I had the good fortune to learn of Gene Cheek's boyhood experience while listening to NPR. In a world that continues to struggle with hatefulness, I encourage anyone and everyone to meet Grandma "Pearl" Anderson, Jesse Eugene Cheek, and the gracious, strikingly patient gentleman - Mr. Cornelius Tucker. The historical implications of this young man's socio-political recollection of pre-Civil Rights America encourages us all to embrace courage, love, and strength, instead of relenting to fear when confronted with difference. I've chosen to use this literary work in my Freshman English class; my students won't part with it. They have been captured by the emotion, the characters, and the voice of a boy who lost a portion of the child inside. Gene Cheek should be acknowledged for taking the risk to write and share this experience. There's hope, if this book is able to reach a readership willing to make a difference in the world.

No comments about Farewell Babylon: Coming of Age in Jewish Baghdad.

4 comments about You Ain't Got No Easter Clothes: A Memoir.

1. I loved this book; it was moving and written with an elegant grace, despite its dark content. It's difficult to write about mental illness with humor and charm, but Laura Love succeeds here where many others have failed. Excellent.



2. I love a good memoir, and this book is among my favorites. The story of Laura Love and her sister Lisa is one I won't soon forget. Held hostage by a mentally unstable mother, the girls learn to tolerate a childhood of extreme poverty and insanity. The author has such a way with words, you feel as if you know her. With parts so emotionally overwhelming; I literally burst out into uncontrollable laughter, for lack of more appropriate emotions. A must read for all women or all races. A breathtaking glimpse into hell.



3. This book was like nothing I had read before. When I first picked it up I thought that I wouldn't be interested in it, however, once I started reading I couldn't stop. The things that happened to these little girls just breaks my heart and I had to know where their lives ended up.



4. I've always found Laura Love's music and song lyrics to be thoughtful and profound, so it was no surprise to find this was a shocking but gripping true story. Frankly, I couldn't stop reading until finished and wished she had written more.
   
   It's not a story for the fainthearted reader, because she tells all - warts and all. It's amazing that a woman could live through these experiences, yet end up with such a warm and compassionate sense of self! I also found it interesting to read about the times of Bobby Kennedy's assassination, the effects of race riots, and so many memories of the `60s and `70s from her perspective. Truly enjoyed the baby boomer nostalgia type memories. I would highly recommend this memoir!

5 comments about Crazy in the Kitchen: Food, Feuds, and Forgiveness in an Italian American Family.

1. I usually do not put aside a book before finishing it. In this case, I got about a third of the way through and just skimmed the rest and could not bring myself to read it in detail. I purchased this book hoping (despite prior reviews) that it was more food lit than self analysis. However, the strength of this book is in its description of tense family relationships, and indeed not in its descriptions of food in Desalvo's life. If you are interested in it anyway, good luck - there is a lot of emotion in it.



2. This book is the first in a very long time I've read word by word. Even when I could set aside her subjects, the vitality of DeSalvo's writing style was irresistable for me--elegant, layered, a bit vulgar, self-indulgent, complex, musical, heartbreaking, self-effacing, beautiful.
   My maternal grandparents were Italian immigrants to California; my mother and her sisters born in the U.S. DeSalvo's exploration of the Italian culture both here in the States and in the Old County gave me a handhold among my mother's family as no other source has.
   You'll either hate this book immediately, like tripe, or inhale it like the best cannoli.



3. OMG....I forced myself to get beyond page 13 and just had to give it up. There really isn't any 'food'in her repetitive writing, but a lot of angst squished up into a white bread samich that apparently NO one wants to eat, each for their own screwed up, twisted reasons.... what this book did for my stomach was put it in knots..... BASTA!
   This book makes me happy I am Sicilian NOT "Italian-American".



4. I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The descriptions of food were mouthwatering. I appreciated the view into the lives of Italian immigrants and their lives in Italy. The family interactions were well described. Each chapter was a gem of an essay. Unlike many memoire writers, this author sustained the high level of writing and self-exploration to the very end. I really admire her ability to dig into her real feelings and to try to understand her parents and grandparents. I plan to look for other books by this author.



5. I picked up this book to read thinking it was like so many other books I have read about Italian-Americans in an attempt to better understand my husband's family---a light-hearted look at the "crazy" antics of a close knit, pasta eating bunch of eccentrics. However, this is not at all what this book is, and what it actually is helped me more than any book I've read in understanding the family I have joined.

   When Desalvo says "Crazy in the Kitchen", she is not kidding. Her mother and much of her family really does have seriously crazy tendencies---fury, cruelty, irrational financial habits, long running feuds, etc. And the kitchen is where many of these things are played out---from her mother's poor cooking to her step-grandmother's good but steep in unbreakable traditions cooking, to the cooking and eating of her ancestors in Southern Italy, or the NOT eating---for I finally understood what drove so many Italians to come to America. I had no idea how awful conditions were for the peasants of Italy. What they were subjected to honestly reminded me of accounts of places like Cambodia or China, during the Great Leap Forward.

   I learned a great deal about Southern Italian culture from this book, and found myself reading many passages to my husband, a first generation Italian-American who spent much of his youth in Sicily visiting, and who had parents who spoke only Italian, and even he was stunned to find out much of what I read. I now understand my late in-laws much better than I did before this reading.

   The writing style of this book took a bit to get used to, until I let myself fall into it. It's written like so many stories told by my in-laws---in a bit of a circular way---you find out a bit here, and a bit there, and it all adds up in the end.

   I want to thank Ms. Desalvo for this book. I look forward eagerly to reading the rest of her works.

5 comments about A Child's Christmas in Wales.

1. A Child's Christmas In Wales CD: And Five Poems
   Hurrah! Now I won't have to wait for the radio to play Dylan Thomas reading his wonderful Child's Christmas every Christmas. Truly a beautiful recording of the other poems as well.



2. My goodness, these illustrations are ugly. They completely detract from the beauty of the language. Either read it out loud to a blind person or stick with the version illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman.



3. This reading of A Child's Christmas in Wales is tops! It wouldn't be Christmas for us without hearing Dylan Thomas tell his story. He recounts a holiday of simple, family and neighborhood doings, and paints a picture of snowy, seaside Wales of the 1920's.



4. I love this story, as do all my children, who, from their earliest years, have not much struggled with the density of the language nor the scatteredness of the story. 5 of my 8 great-grandparents are from Wales, and the remaining 3 have the blood in them as well, so maybe it is like drinking water for us.:-D Our minds are all scattered, and words, even English words ;-D, fall on us in clumps....which makes it doubly hard to keep a clean house. LOL
   
   The sort of prose-poetry imaginative way of seeing and describing the world unique to Welshwomen and Welshmen and Welshchildren, which does not seek to keep up the pretense that history can be separated from myth, story and desire, and which requires loving with eyes wide open to [and eventually embracing] one's own and others' bumps, bruises and idiosyncracies included, is extraordinarily well represented here. So, by the way, is speaking and listening to the close and Holy darkness!
   
   My favorite version isthe one illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. To me she has captured the complexity of the Welsh personality best, though i have nothing to say against the other illustrators praised in these reviews. I DO have a warning for you: there are some skinny versions flying about which do not have the poem-story complete and correct. This sort of work cannot suffer removal or modification, IMHO.
   
   gbg



5. If you have read A Child's Christmas in Wales, you know that it has to be a classic. But you can't fully appreciate it until you have heard Dylan Thomas read it. What a deep, expressive, poetic voice. For years, I have listened to the recording on a Caedman record. It is wonderful to have it on a CD.

4 comments about Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight.

1. Alexandra Fuller tells a story about growing up in farms in Zimbabwe as it became independent and then in Malawi as her parents worked to make a living among expats and natives. She went to a white school which emptied out of the white students at independence and then filled with the black children of the neighborhood. They had a servant who was a gifted tracker. She was invited into the home of a very poor black family. As a child she was able to see and do things the adults couldn't. Alexandra has a wonderful recall of the details of childhood.
   Lisette Lecat has a perfectly clear and delightful voice with a British accent that makes hearing the details a pleasure.



2. I have to say, I was certainly looking forward to reading this book, having heard much about it from family and friends (I'm from Zimbabwe). Perhaps it is the fact that I am not a white Zimbabwean, but from the first pages, I had a bitter taste in my mouth. I admired the writing, but that was about it. The overwhelming impression that we had of whites growing up in Zim became manifest in this book, and I was transported back to those days. The most disturbing thing for me was the lack of remorse...no, redemption, by the author. She would relay stories about her racist parents, her upbringing and such, and did not transmit any sense that all this was not right, not humane. Strange how the same words can be read by different people and evoke such divergent responses.



3. Alexandra Fuller is such a talented writer. I have read "Dogs" twice as it reminds me of my own African childhood. I have given it to friends who have loved it, so I decided it was time to listen to it on audio CD. I enjoyed it tremendously. Lisette Lecat's accents are wonderful and I could picture a young Bobo Fuller even more vividly than when I'd read the book. I found myself laughing in my car at times and couldn't wait to get back into the car so I could continue listening to Bobo's fascinating childhood story. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I am currently listening to Scribbling The Cat on audio CD.



4. I could hardly put this book down. It's the memoirs of a British girl growing up in Africa. Her story is absolutely fascinating. Highly recommended

No comments about My Mother Wore a Yellow Dress.

1 comments about Benazir Bhutto: From Prison to Prime Minister (People in Focus Book).

1. This book is a very simple and basic book about Benazir Bhutto, the assassinated former (and, for a while, hoped-for-future) Prime Minister. She was the first female Prime Minister of any Muslim nation, and the Pakistani equivalent in many ways of Indira Gandhi, including, unfortunately, the manner of her death.
   
   This book does not give much insight into the various controversies and scandals of Bhutto's life -- being written more as a school-book variety biography, it gives basic facts about Pakistan, about Bhutto's family and her own life, and gives a few bits and pieces of her own quo0tes and writing. Unfortunately, there aren't many books available on Bhutto (and somewhat ironically, there is an upcoming autobiography due to be released in April 2008).
   
   One would do just as well at the moment to scan the various internet sources for information about Bhutto, but for younger people who should remember this person, who in many ways was inspiring and hope-ful, it could be worthwhile.