5 comments about Currahee: A Screaming Eagle at Normandy (G K Hall Large Print American History Series).

1. Note: This review is for the hardback 1999 edition.
   
   I first read this under the title of As Eagles Scream back in 1977. Having completed a re-reading of it (actually have done it several other times) I wanted to put my review down for others.
   
   Currahee! Is Mr. Burgett's account as a paratrooper from induction thru Normandy serving in A Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. There are four sections; Training for Combat, Waiting for Combat, Combat, and Afterward. All parts give Mr. Burgett's experiences at that particular point in his career. Focus is always on what he sees and experiences, not the "big scene" around him. The Afterward was written when Currahee! was a stand alone book.
   
   My Likes:
   Wow, where to begin. Seldom have I read a personal account of warfare that contains the details this book has. Mr. Burgett's memory is exact and to the point. In telling his story he mixes no bones and calls what he did. If he screwed up, he tells you that he did and what the effects were from it. The descriptions are detailed, down to telling you minute details (one of my favorites from when I first read the book was his telling of breakfast in training to be a paratrooper; cornflakes and coffee, either eat the cornflakes dry or wet with coffee. Btw, that was after their morning run). The best section for these details was the Combat section. Here Mr. Burgett shines by describing is drop (in excellent detail), his experiences upon landing, and the running battles with the Germans thru his wounding. Of particular interest is his description of how Dead Man's Corner earned it's name.
   
   My Dislikes:
   OK, I have one; I wish Mr. Burgett would have divided the Combat section into two to make for easier reading. The only other possible dislike is that the story cuts off after Normandy and we have to buy The Road to Arnhem: A Screaming Eagle in Holland (World War II Library). There are minor problems with him referencing non-airborne weapons (a M3/M5 Stuart is references as a M3 Lee/Grant and few problems with German equipment).
   
   The Rating:
   Five Stars! An Ab Fab writing with a great personal story. I'd love to have toured Normandy with Mr. Burgett. But then reading is book is almost like touring his fight with him. I highly recommend reading this book if you're interested in what the 101st Airborne did during Normandy, particularly from the individual's point of view. There are some excellent photographs, only two maps (I wanted more), the second one is nicely detailed.



2. Donald Burghett is our everyday guy; on his toes and not a blowhard about his own heroics.....down to earth Warrior of the highest caliber. East to follow,tells Easy Co of the 502d, 101st Airbourne and their OVERUSE and most americans don't know OUR guys were put under "Love HIMSELF" MONTGOMERY, known for wasting his OWN soldiers lives.....Montgomery a blowhard, Patton loud and lost a lot of men but got results and without any doubt along with Easy Co and the rest of 101st & 82nd Airbourne as well as the Brit, French and Polish Airbourne beat Hitlers best, the SS
   
   A very realistic read GARY R TOMS SR War history student for 55 yrs



3. Very well written book, hard to put down, when reading book you feel like you are actually with the soldiers fighting in France.



4. Good work. A truly remarkable story. Well written and told up to standard. Anyone who has pulled on "risers" will appreciate this book.



5. This is one of the best war books I've ever read. It is a first hand account of a 101st Airborne soldier telling when he parachuted into Normandy on D-Day.The Author did a really good job putting everything into detail from training to combat and the horrors of war. He talks about people being blown to pieces and mg42 machine guns almost tearin soldiers in two. He talks about a bayonet charge they did on the Germans. This is an excellent book full of intense action. You can't do a whole bunch better than this. I can't wait to read his sequals,Road to Arnhem A Screaming Eagle In Holland,Seven Roads to Hell A Screaming Eagle In Bastogne,and Beyond The Rhine A Screaming Eagle In Germany. I'm Sure these are great books to. If you like world war 2 books buy this. You won't be sorry

5 comments about A Severe Mercy.

1. Not only is this a beautiful story, but it is a rich and profound study in the theology of joy, on par with C.S. Lewis' 'Surprised by Joy'. Really, the book is a fleshing out of Lewis' theology of joy through the life and mind of Vanauken. It is so moving and so well done that I snatch up used copies whenever I see them to give away as gifts. If you enjoyed this book see also Peter Kreeft, 'Heaven: The Heart's Deepest Longing'; Humphrey Carpenter, 'The Inklings'; G.K. Chesterton, 'The Everlasting Man'; and, of course C.S. Lewis, 'Surprised by Joy'.



2. (I gave away this latest copy I bought, but did read it a few years ago.)
   Great reading material for any couple starting to develop and defend their own shining barrier around their love as well as for anyone with a serious contemplation about what faith in God really means.
   Makes a great gift or discussion topic.



3. A Sever Mercy by Sheldon Vanauken is perhaps my favorite book. It is a autobiography of the author's life, focusing especially on his relationship with his wife, Davy, and how it evolved throughout their conversion to Christianity. An English professor and poet, Vanauken is a terrific writer who will have you alternately laughing and crying. The story is beautiful, and the message is timeless. It is definitely worth buying and reading. Note: this is a Christian book, from a Christian point fo view, so don't buy it expecting just a romance story. It is theologically deep, and quite moving. It will give you a new frame of thinking about one's relationship to both Christ and one's spouse.



4. I have to be honest, I'm kind of a book snob. I buy a lot of books, read a lot of books, and dislike a lot of books. Rarely does a book catch my heart and my mind as quickly and as totally as this did. Many times when my husband and I were dating and even in our earliest days and weeks of marriage we talked about protecting our little delicate love and we set up ground rules in order to help our love endure. This book puts into words what we felt as we were trying to set our "no plan B" marriage into motion. This love story is love found on many levels and I plan on picking it up again and again in years to come...
   If you want a honest and beautiful and well-written story of love and marriage, buy this book today.



5. Breathtaking... Read the ideal dream of love, read your deepest fears, wear your most passionate tears.
   
   A true story, an autobiography of a Love, written by the husband after his wife's untimely death. The wife's death was the destiny of a jealosy the husband felt for his wife's love for God that arose from their unity in pursuit of beauty. It was a severe mercy for God to take her, to save their love for eternity.
   
   This book is ripe with poetry fruiting from the Tree of Love. This book is truly the miracle concealed in the years of their marriage, their child. This book is the banner of romance, to war the apathy that complacent love dies from so frequently.
   
   I raised my teacup and said, "If it's half as good as the half we've known..." and she said "Here's 'Hail!' to the rest of the road." We drank to that in Darjeeling.
   
   Many will read this book because of the letters from C.S.Lewis. Some will read it because of the story of their conversion from "pagan lovers" to Christians. But, I pray you read it for the Adventure of Love.

5 comments about Me (Random House Large Print).

1. I first became curious about the life of Katherine Hepburn after seeing how she was portrayed in the wonderful film, The Aviator, starring Leonardo DeCaprio. So, when I found her autobiography, ME, available on CD read by Katherine, herself, I jumped at the opportunity to buy it. Anyone who has respect and admiration for Katherine Hepburn should treasure this recording. Particularly endearing were the chuckles in her sweet voice as she read; her childhood memories of tree climbing; her memories Howard Hughes landing a plane on a golf course and finishing out a round of golf wth her; and her undying love for Spencer Tracy. The CD ended beautifully with one of the most touching descriptions of love this 52 year old man has ever heard. Her admiration for "Spence" has provoked me to explore his movies. Boom Town starring Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, and Heddy Lamar came on TV the other night and I would have never thought to care for it had it not been for this CD. The movie was a delight! I am now a Spencer Tracy fan thanks to Ms. Hepburn.
   
   I highly recommend this CD for anyone who enjoys reflecting on the fascinating people who made their mark in society and helped to make our lives more enjoyable. In my opinion, Katherine Hepburn should be regarded as a national treasure.



2. Listening to Ms. Hepburn's audiobiography now, what a witty and charming lady she was! We always knew she was so talented, and now we get to hear from her, herself, in her own words. She's a true star -- in every sense of the word!



3. Her life and her stories are so interesting and the way she tells them makes you almost hear her voice while reading the words. Her phrasing is almost like stream of consciousness (not like Virginia Woolf-stream of consciousness, just very fragment-y, incorrect grammar, etc.) I got the feeling that what she allows the reader to learn about is only a small fraction of what she really knows and has experienced in her life, not to mention that the stories are more than likely a little one-sided at times, as if the other person in the story, if you could talk to them, would have a completely different version of the same event. But that's part of the attraction of the book for me.
   Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot on Spencer Tracy, and leaves a bunch to the reader's imagination in that department (Spencer was married to someone else the entire time they were a "couple" and she alludes to the fact that they spent time living together; how did this work?). But you definitely pick up on her absolute reverence for the man and their relationship, which is why she doesn't reveal much.
   Overall it's a fascinating glimpse inside the workings of one of America's most famous, most talented, most enigmatic actresses with SO many quirks and interesting ideas and beliefs about life.



4. Katharine Hepburn was an amazing American actress and icon. Although you wouldn't think so reading this book, Kate doesn't think of what she does as anything to be ashamed of or boast about. I could still see her in the documentary after this book came out. She said Oscars are nice but they won't garden for you or something like that. She was a remarkable human being. I just have one criticism. She left out the Golden Pond but she also left a very nice page to her devoted platonic secretary, personal assistant and companion, Phyllis. I thought it was so touching that she wrote something so nice about her. It can kind of gives you goosebumps to the amazing person that she was. Sadly, she discovered her brother's dead body from a suicide. Her struggles as an actress and her relationship with the love of her life, Spencer Tracy, is also there for the audience. She clearly loved him so much and yet, they could teach today's celebrities a thing or two about being discreet but they were truly movie stars and gifted actors beyond my comprehension. Katharine, we miss you and this book provides us some of your voice.



5. One of Homer Simpson's favorite books, along with TV Guide and Son of Sniglet.

5 comments about The Diana Chronicles (Random House Large Print (Cloth/Paper)).

1. I had just returned from a dinner. The media was rife with the coverage: black metal gnarled from the unforgiving concrete pillars in a Parisian tunnel on a humid August night. A princess whose fate was unknown. With bated breath, I kept the news on as the "princess of the people" was laid to rest.
   
   Three years later, I rode through the very tunnel, overwhelmed at the lives ended in this seemingly innocuous location.
   
   The difficulty when reading a biography--or an autobiography, for that matter--is discerning fact from fiction. Tina Brown's The Diana Chronicles, however, whether 100 percent accurate or not, seems to ring true in that she does an excellent job in making Diana three-dimensional.
   
   We see Diana the lover, the mother, the humanitarian. We also see her as the woman--the princess--who knew how to groom the media to further her status. This affair became tragically toxic one night in a Parisian tunnel.
   
   The Diana Chronicles, now available in paperback, enjoyed success on the bestseller lists upon its initial 2007 publication.
   
   Tina Brown, who met Diana 10 months before her untimely death, has become an expert on the royals, candidly uncovering the prevailing attitudes and dalliances of Britain's monarchy--and those in close proximity to its power.
   
   Brown didn't need much help in spinning a tale thick with twists: Diana's life reads more like a soap opera script. We see Diana, the doe-eyed child, abandoned by a mother and raised by English nannies. Diana the teenager, who captivated a young Prince Charles. Then there's the bride who captivated the world with her real-life fairy tale wedding turned sour divorce when the roving-eyed Charles falls back into the arms of Camilla.
   
   Throw in a handsome Egyptian playboy, a handful of paparazzi and extravagance. Lies, betrayal, affairs -it was all a recipe for tragedy--a tragedy that made two rosy-cheeked blond children casualties in the war of the Windsors.
   
   The bottom line is: Even more than a decade after Diana's death, the princess of the people still has the ability to captivate.
   
   Armchair Interviews agrees.



2. Tina Brown's book combines history with pop culture and brings the reader a whole new presentation of Princess Diana. I was wary about purchasing it at first, fearing that it would be too gossipy but instead I found that I was touched by her story. The attention to detail is remarkable and covers the life of Princess Diana with a true journalist's touch. I highly suggest it for anyone who has even a remote interest in Princess Diana or the current British Royal Family in general.



3. I started THE DIANA CHRONICLES by Tina Brown by reading it in the store in parts. I figured it was ANOTHER Diana book, and I could pass some pleasant hours in the bookstore sitting in a chair going over some familiar ground. But I was surprised: Brown is an insightful, clear and unflinching writer who has the ability, due to her experience in print journalism, to view the famous through a cynical but knowledgeable media lens. This book was so good, that when I got 300 pages in to the 500-plus-page book, I bought it. It was getting hard to find, and I NEEDED to finish it.
   
   The plotline of Diana's life does not need to be repeated here. What this book is good for is the way it examines her life and her responses to the events of her life as influenced by the media and the media coverage of the her every move. It's as if it weren't Diana and the media professionals who were in a relationship, but Diana and the media coverage who influenced each other. This study is a fascinating examination of how media attention can become a character in the narrative of a famous person's life. According to Brown, Diana made decisions not just in response to the other people in her life, but in reaction to press and how her actions might be reported and perceived. She lost the goal, at some points, of how press attention can influence individuals and became focused on the press itself.
   
   This book presents a strong narrative, a plotline of a life that is compelling and cogent. Though we know the story well, Brown's reportage is complete and portrays not only a whole Diana, but a complete Charles and other royals who had to orbit her star while she was alive.
   
   This was a fascinating book to read as an examination of a woman of fame who could not help but respond to the expectations of women in the times in which she lived. Reading THE DIANA CHRONICLES, one cannot help but think of the price some women pay to be the feminine, compassionate women the world wants them to be. When that world is personified by papparazzi and reporters in fragile woman's day-to-day life, her response can be astonishing.



4. This is an even handed, rich portrait of a very complicated young woman. I purchased the audio thinking it was a fluff piece I could listen to while working out, but found the book fascinating and was sorry when it was over. Tina Brown presents each of the major characters in this tragedy as multifaceted individuals, making this not the usual tabloid nonsense, but a sociological study of a very interesting and often self-destructive family.



5. I really enjoyed this CD about the life of Diana... It seemed to give me closure about her death and unhappy life. Tina Brown gives little known facts about her life and death in a captivating style. It is a natural follow up to other books written about Diana. My only wish was that the book was longer!

5 comments about On Our Way to Beautiful: A Family Memoir.

1. I actually stumbled across this book in a local Wal-mart Store. It was the only one on the shelf and after reading just a few paragraphs was captivated. This book was the absolute best book purchase that I have made in years. It's a book that is so well written by an author that is so real and spiritually wise that it can allow you to escape in its pages whether you are in the office break room or laying on the beach. Each chapter begins with scripture and ends with such impactful truth. It was a book that I truly hated to reach the end of, and when I did was brought to tears. I purchased a copy as a gift for each of my 10 Jr. Women Mission State officers and gave my own personal copy as a gift to a family member. I'm now looking forward to purchasing another (hopefully autographed) copy for myself.



2. As a whole the group struggled with the discussion of the book because the group struggled with the book, itself. The group discussed what they thought the meaning behind the title. The author went through a phase in her life as a child where she did not feel beautiful. But as the author evolved along the way she began to feel beautiful on the inside. The group also discussed how important it is to have dreams and how one has to believe in themselves to make those dreams come true. But at the same time, there `are not enough chairs in life for all of us.' Therefore, we have to understand that not everyone will get their dreams fulfilled because there is not enough room for all of us.



3. Reading this book was like taking a trip down Memory Lane. Ms Young tells her story of growing up in Louisiana. She learns life lessons at the feet of her great grandmother, Big Momma, at the table with her grandmother, Honeymoon, and through encounters with her own mother. The author takes each lesson learned and tells a related story that pertains to her childhood. We watch as Yolanda grows up and makes some mistakes such as buying $500 worth of designer clothes to fit in with her classmates. She learns about following her dreams and not letting dreams die. She learns the value of family as she sees her family stick together through all kinds of adversities.

   Often times when a not so famous person write their memoirs, I wonder why they think their story needs to be told. In this memoir, I think the author gives just enough information to make a person look back and reflect on their life and see how life lessons help shape who they are as adults. This book brought a lot of memories as I can relate to many of the same experiences in one way or another. I can remember Sunday evenings in Bible Training Union, going skating after church on Sundays, singing in the youth choir. The difficulty of trying to fit in with the other children at school, and still trying to maintain your strong Christian values and upbringing. Most of all I can remember conversations with my grandmothers and mother that I credit for shaping my life.

   This is a wonderful quick enjoyable read and highly recommended!

   Jeanette Wallington
   APOOO BookClub




4. I just happened to pick this book up in the local library recently. Yolanda Young grew up in a completely different environment than I did, however, her stories cut to my soul. The chapters tell stories of her life and at the end of each there is a 'punch' that almost caught me off guard - quite profound. Though our stories may vary widely, there is common ground in our lives that crosses racial barriers. I just kept thinking, "Wow, this woman can write!" I love this book!



5. Yolanda Young has written a memoir that will make you laugh and cry and think. It took courage to write this book because it's not all sweetness and light. Her father nearly killed her mother. Her uncle was killed and another uncle committed an apalling crime. She's frank about these things and her family's experiences with racism and snobbery. On the lighter side, she's not ashamed to admit some of the foolish things she did as a girl. This book is filled with light and love. The words of her great-grandmother, Big Momma will stay with you for a long time.

   Kimberley Lindsay Wilson, author of 11 Things Mama Should Have Told You About Men

5 comments about Einstein: His Life and Universe (Thorndike Paperback Bestsellers).

1. Walter Isaacson has done a masterful job of retracing Albert Einstein's life, including his earliest childhood, his miracle year of 1905, the development of general relativity and his political activism. This book is an erudite yet thoroughly readable and entertaining look at the man.
   
   His genius was in being able to see physical meaning to equations; to him an equation was a representation of physical reality. His weakness was in not accepting quantum mechanics, to which can be attributed his famous quote about God and dice. Most enjoyable about the book were his exchanges with the quantum scientists such as Max Born and Niels Bohr. Isaacson was completely objective, illustrating his strengths in science, his weaknesses in relationships, and his naïveté in politics.
   
   The author also was able to communicate the difficult scientific concepts necessary for understanding physics today. Indeed this is the clearest book I have read on the subject but possibly also the least detailed, although these may go hand-in-hand. I suggest, if you are making a new foray into reading about the history of physics, that you start here. This book will give you a good foothold into reading other books such as Kip Thorne's "Black Holes and Time Warps: Einstein's Outrageous Legacy."



2. I liked learning about his life and what he did for fun. This was an amazing book. It went well with me after reading The Black Swan. Similar stuff in a way. [...]



3. A wonderful biography of a unique, fascinating and enthralling person. The author brings freshness to this much-written subject by drawing on voluminous personal correspondence that remained sealed for 50 years following Einstein's death. The book is a remarkable achievement by being both highly readable and accessible, and providing scientifically sound explanations for the lay person of complex concepts of physics. As a history of science, of the early 20th century, and as a perspective on one of the most engaging and innovative personalities ever, this book is total education and refreshment. Especially moving is the fundamental thread of Einstein's personality as a lifelong quest for unifying principles, married to unsentimental devotion to reason, logic and a faith in the comprehensibility of the universe. (Good luck with that one.)



4. I had a mild interest in reading about Einstein, but frankly put off reading this biography for the simple reason that it seemed thicker than my interest. But what a wonderful read it is. Isaacson does a graceful job of keeping the pace moving, and an estimable job of explaining the science (to us non-scientists) without letting it bog down the story.
   And, quite simply, Einstein is also a fascinating person to read about, especially his later life as an internationalist and world icon. Highly recommended.



5. Very interesting book. Easy to understand. A fascinating overview of WWI and WWII. Well-written, informative and enjoyable to read. Hard to put down.

5 comments about Counselor LP: A Life at the Edge of History.

1. Counselor was very much what I expected., having heard a radio interview between Bob Edwards and the erudite Mr. Sorenson. Bordering on hero worship but honest and informative, this book confirmed what I always felt about JFK, that he was one of a kind and American politics has not and possibly may not see his ilk again.



2. Ted Sorensen's 2008 Convention Speech
   Tuesday, August 26, 2008 at 03:20 PM
   
   "In my more than 50 years of national conventions, this is one of the most important. Our 8 year national nightmare of mendacity, mediocrity and economic misery--with millions of Americans losing their jobs, their savings, their homes and their hopes--will soon end with the election of Barack Obama.
   
   I have long dreamed that our party would produce another president matching John F. Kennedy's intellect and integrity, his capacity to inspire justice at home and peace around the world--and this week my dream is coming true. Once in a lifetime, said the poet, hope and history meet in one extraordinary man and movement--I thank the good Lord that I've lived long enough to meet and help such men twice in my lifetime, John Kennedy and Barack Obama.
   
   Kennedy at 43 proved that age matters in the White House. His energy, appeal to other young world leaders, calm under pressure and openness to new thinking, well served our nation. Denounced as a candidate for lacking executive experience, he displayed sound judgment in leading a successful nationwide campaign, choosing a top-notch team, negotiating with difficult leaders, and out-organizing and out-th inking his adversaries--just as he would as president, particularly when, with prudence and courage, he induced the Soviets to withdraw their nuclear missiles from Cuba without the U.S. firing a shot; and the world gave thanks that the more experienced Richard Nixon had lost that close election.
   
   In 1960, Kennedy, like Obama today, facing a Republican tied to a failed past, looked to a future of new ideas and opportunities. As president, he did not send the Marine Corps to preserve America's oil supplies, he sent the Peace Corps to preserve America's global standing. Confronting a Soviet military advantage in space, he made all Americans proud by literally reaching for the moon.
   
   Today, we need new leadership. We have lost our way, lost the respect of our allies, lost the confidence of our investors and consumers. Are we to be the first generation of Americans to leave to our children a country in worse condition than we received it?
   
   In short: this year, my friends, the fates will try us; erase all trace of fear and bias; we have the man we need at last to embrace the future, not the past, and to dispel eight years of pain and shame. Barack Obama is his name! Call the roll!"



3. A fascinating look at a fascinating time from a unique perspective, Ted Sorenson. Sorenson's own words & voice inflections are preserved for future generations. Anyone interested in the Kennedy Presidential era should add this to their collection. A must!



4. Should fairly obscure and relatively little known people write autobiographies? Answers to this question will vary, of course, but if the person's name is Theodore C. Sorensen, my answer would be 'definitely'. Indeed, Sorensen is one of several persons I identified several years ago in a category I labelled "I hope he writes and I can read his life story". [In case anyone is interested, the other two were/are musicians: Frederick Fennell (1914-2004) and Mitch Miller (1911- ).]
   
   Ted Sorensen is one of those figures who essentially went from nowhere to become one of the closest aides to President John F. Kennedy. Readers of this memoir will be most interested in Sorensen's life between 1953 and Novemeber 22, 1963, during which he served as one of JFK's closest advisers ("Special Counsel" was his official title from 1961 to 1963) and his top speech writer.
   
   There are many ideas a reviewer of this book could comment on. I will mention a few that especially interested me.
   
   So, according to Sorensen, the following are accurate:
   -- JFK was the person who conceived and was the main writer of his famous "Profiles in Courage" book, though he did receive lots of assistance from Sorensen.
   --Kennedy "showed no courage" in avoiding voting on the censure of Senator Joe McCarthy during the 1950s.
   --JFK did err (in accepting assurance of success from CIA leaders) in the Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, but he recovered, learned from his experience, and was brilliant during the Cuban Missile Crisis, especially in triumphing over his hawkish associates.
   --Kennedy took greater initiative in civil rights than any of the presidents before him.
   --We really don't know what JFK would have done with respect to US involvement in Vietnam.
   
   Here are a few additional revelations. Sorensen was responsible for the faux pas JFK made in his famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" speech in Berlin. The Kennedys and Lyndon Johnson really did not get along well, and JFK thought LBJ was just about useless as Vice President. There was much friction between Sorensen and JFK associates/advisers Ken O'Donnell and Richard Goodwin.
   
   Regarding the JFK assassination, Sorensen was, along with many of JFK's close associates, too shocked and numbed by his death to give much thought to the question of who did it. But over the decades Sorensen has come around to accepting what most of the American people have believed: more persons than Lee Oswald were involved in this unsolved and unpunished crime.
   
   The epilogue is extremely useful as a concise summary of Sorensen's view of JFK's strengths, weaknesses, triumphs, failures -- both personal and as a public figure. If one does not read all 530 pages of the book, at least read this epilogue.
   
   I believe the book justified my hopes expressed in the first paragraph of this review. The writing is superb, for the most part candid, and full of humor. If the 1950s and and 1960s interest you at all, this is a book to investigate.
   Tim Koerner
   August 2008



5. 
   I am an Irish Catholic, born six months prior to JFK's murder; the admiration for JFK as lost leader has been a backround to my life, and is deeply felt in my society. I have been thrilled on the speeches - `A man on the moon this decade' represents, for me, the it audacity, ambition and directness that I associate with the USA -so I am up for the whole Camelot ticket. I admire what Ted Kennedy has done for the Irish Peace process, and am willing to go along with the Obama endorsement. So I bought this book looking for an insight into JFK's character and the philosophy that backed it up. It gave me neither.
   What I had previous known about Ted Sorensen was limited, though I knew he played some part in writing the speeches. In fact it turns out that he was JFK's right hand man for most of the 1950's and special counsel to the President during the Kennedy presidency. However I must admit that when I started the book, I skipped straight to the second section which describes the time that Sorensen started to work with Kennedy, guiltily, I later returned to the first section for the sake of completeness. One of things that struck me about the narrative is Sorensen's complete sublimation of his personality to Kennedy his statement that his role in the speeches and in writing Profiles in Courage, were to express Kennedy's own thoughts, because he, Sorensen, had come to know them so well. I found this a bit creepy.
   Another source of guilt for me is the fact, mentioned in the Epilogue, that Sorensen is dictating this book ( to Obama's speechwriter, if I'm not mistaken) having had a stroke in 2001, leaving him with blurred vision, unable to read or write clearly. For a man who is so clearly well read, whose profession and interest centre around reading and writing, this must be devastating. Sorensen has shown remarkable fortitude to deal with this cruel blow.
   Despite the above, I didn't enjoy the book. I felt that the view of Kennedy was too deferential, only grudgingly admitting that JFK had any faults, acknowledging only those weaknesses which are now public knowledge - womanizing, the pressure on the New York Times to remove their Vietnam correspondent - " I know of no other instance where he made such a request to another newspaper". Sorensen tells how high-minded Kennedy was in pursuit of policy matters, even to the point of political disadvantage. This to me just did not seem realistic, I do think he showed great courage is tackling the Civil Rights issues associated with desegregating the Southern School system - however I also think its realistic to say that he came to this issue quite late. Even Lincoln came late to Emancipation. His handling of the Big of Pigs was hesitant, of the Missile Crisis was deft. So I think its ok to say that he learned on the job.
   At the same time as JFK is venerated, almost held in aspic, I felt a curious lack of human detail. What made him such a leader? There are flashes of his winning humour - to overcome rumours that his millionaire father was funding his campaign (which was true) JFK read out, at a press gathering, a (false) telegram from his father saying " don't buy one more vote than necessary, I'm damned if I'll pay for a landslide". But what attracted such a talented team, how did JFK overcome his relative youth, his privileged backround and administrative inexperience to become such a courageous leader? There really isn't much clue in this book, I'm afraid.
   Sorensen's own view of the team and his role in it is too rosy also. He seems to be surprised to find out that Ken O'Donnell, another Kennedy advisor ( Played by Kevin Costner in the movie Thirteen Days) disliked Sorensen intensely. Indeed Sorensen seems to have been unaware of personal animosity and tension within the Kennedy team at all. I think this is unbelievable, tensions among ambitious people under pressure is inevitable. It is incredible to me that Sorensen won't acknowledge its existence. He quotes a Boston Globe editorial (from 1977) which describes Sorensen as " never a well-loved man with his icy brilliance and his hard eye for competence". Why not own up to this? His contempt for President Johnson is just beneath the polite surface, he quotes Jackie's comments on the references to LBJ in Sorenesen's biography of Kennedy "You must know - as well or better than I - his [JFK's] steadily diminishing opinion of him[LBJ]...", the book would be better if we got more of this flesh and blood feel of what it was like to live through the interaction of these characters. There is, however, a classic anecdote which summarises Sorensens view of the contrast between JFK and LBJ - JFK's speech's would quote and reference all manner of classical sources, but when LBJ received a draught speech referencing a quote from Socrates, he crossed out the ancients name and replaced it with `my granddaddy', you can almost see Sorensens nose wrinkle.
   Sorensen practised law in New York after leaving government service, occasionally being drawn back into the political life, once tragically with Robert Kennedy, once, sourly, as a potential Carter appointee to the CIA. His candidateship ran into rough water in the Senate, and he was very bruised by fellow Demoncrats and abandoned by Carter. His stories about his international law practice left me a bit cold - He helps found the South Africa Feed Election (SAFE) fund to help South Africa get ready for its first election after Nelson Mandela's release. Anthony O'Reilly is the co-chair of SAFE and Sorensen tells of explaining the work of SAFE to Mandela while flying back to New York from O'Reilly's estate in the Bahamas, on O'Reilly's private plane. Anthony O'Reilly is one of Ireland's richest men, formerly CEO of Heinz, he is a media-magnate who has developed significant media businesses in the new South Africa.
   He mentions working to develop a pipeline in Panama in 1976, the agreement was worked out between General Torrijos, Panama's leader (unelected) at the time and the company's president Harold Bernstein. Sorensen takes some pride is stating that thirty years later he returned to renegotiate the deal between Torrijo's son, Martin, then President of Panama and Jay Bernstein, president of the company. I think the feel of the elite going about their business makes me quite uncomfortable.
   In truth there are many fine attributes to the book, Sorensens loyalty is evident, his eloquence is breathtaking, his advice on speechwriting and the US political process is acute. I think what I disappointed me most is the absence of a clear political philosophy. His loyalty to and admiration of Kennedy are commendable, his loathing of the current administration is palpable. He is very comfortable with a president who knows the limits of the feasible, even for a superpower. But I can't discern an overachieving philosophy that will guide those who wish to follow his hero's footsteps. Conservatives have fashioned a credible philosophy around Liberty - which justifies a belief in small government, looser regulation, lower taxation, it is also (at a stretch) used to justify the Iraq invasion. It is most exposed on issues of personal morality. Progressives (or Liberals or whatever) don't seem to me to have a comprehensive set of beliefs - presumably it could be fashioned around Equality - though US policy in regard to Healthcare, Infrastructure and International Co-operation definitely needs some work. I don't get that some this book.

5 comments about Julia Child (Thorndike Press Large Print Biography Series).

1. This was a very intimate story...it revealed Julia's character for the
   reader in a very personable way. I feel like Julia has become a very
   dear friend after reading this book, and her love of food has become
   contagious. Julia shares her discoveries about food, life and love...
   and the happiness each provided her. This book filled in the gaps
   of fact and fiction about Julia. Bon Apetit to all.



2. Did you know that Julia Child was a devout atheist? There are many details about Julia Child's life that her adoring public did not know. This small but comprehensive biography is an excellent overview of her long life and successful career. I had heard about her work during World War II, but I didn't know the details of her training, how her acclaimed first cook book came to be, or what went into the success of her TV shows. All these things and more are included here.
   
   What shocked me the most was her siding with the food industry when radical changes in production came to be. She was against organic food, calling it "even worse than health food," and was quoted: "There is no room for the cult that regards `natural methods' as good, and all improvements on nature as bad." She called the genetic engineering of food "one of the greatest discoveries" of the 20th century, and spoke out in favor of irradiation while calling opponents "nervous nellies." She supported the food industry on changes such as pesticides, hormones in beef, and antibiotics in chicken. I would have imagined someone so enamored of food in its natural state would have been at the very least leery of such radical changes
   
   To her credit, she encouraged new young female chefs, and did all she could to advance their careers through publicity and by funding scholarships for these female culinary students. As she advised all her students, she believed love for the food that went into preparing it is what made an exceptional meal. Interestingly, later in her career, she turned to more convenient methods, such as using frozen foods. She was a great fan of the American supermarket, and believed a good cook could create fine meals with all ingredients from a supermarket.
   
   This little biography is a wonderful look into the life of this fascinating woman, and includes much about her exceptional qualities as well as her more controversial views. Laura Shapiro has created an enlightening narrative which gives a complete picture of our one and only Julia Child.



3. This book was exactly what I was looking for. It has just enough about Julia's background to let you know what lead her to become The French Chef without being overwhelmed with minutiae. The book focuses mainly on her love affair with food & its preparation and her drive to get people to go into the kitchen and cook. If you enjoy watching Julia, you'll enjoy this book.



4. A delightful book that renewed my interest in food and got me browsing through the Julia Child cookbooks I own. One sees all the effort and hard work that she and her dedicated husband put into her TV shows. My husband and I enjoy cooking and since reading this book, we have regained some venture and enthusiasm in trying new dishes. And even if things don't always turn out, neither did Julia's. One learns from mistakes, goes on and tries again.



5. This short biography, one in the wonderful Penguin Lives series, is an excellent overview of Julia Child's life. Laura Shapiro writes well and keeps the narrative flowing. It was a joy to read.

5 comments about The Education of Little Tree (G.K. Hall Large Print Book Series).

1. If you've read any of the other reviews before this one, then you know the story behind this book. If you haven't read any other reviews, then don't until you read this book.
   
   I was leading a group of advanced readers in my 3rd grade class and this was one of the books the librarian recommended. Being that I was teaching in a Christian school, I had to read the book first to make sure it was appropriate. I began by simply skimming it which lasted maybe a paragraph before I was totally taken in by the story. I finished the story four hours later in the middle of the night. I could not put it down. The book moved me so intensely that I immediately went to the computer to research the author and find any other works. What I found literally caused me to grieve. I was hurt and felt betrayed. There I go, almost ruining it!
   
   But instead of telling you everything involved in this drama, I recommend that you read the book. I went on to read the book with my ninth grade literature class two years in a row. It was too mature for the third graders and the older kids were reading modern works. It was one of the most powerful lessons I have ever given.
   
   The background and spectacle caused by this book is a perfect example of the ad hominem fallacy. An individual's personal choices do not necessarily make their work null and void. I had my students fall in love with this book before I gave them the background of its author. Most of them came to the same conclusion: this man was changed somewhere along the way. Whatever he was in previous years, he had had an experience that gave him the ability to touch our lives in such a powerful way that he MUST have been changed. But the argument rages on.
   
   I encourage you to read it for yourself and allow it to teach you. Though it is not a Christian book, it has much truth in it that is borrowed from a Christian worldview. Much of it is even prophetic in a very convicting sense for Christians. It helps us look in the mirror to see ourselves anew.
   
   I quoted this book extensively in my podcast, Christian With A Brain. It set the tone for a discussion I did on Understanding the Atheistic Heart. Don't let the drama scare you off, this book is well worth reading.



2. Nutshell review - Not withstanding the controversy surrounding the authenticity of the story and author, there are two ways to read this story; (1) with your mind, or (2) with your heart. The first way will gain you little. The second way will truly touch you.



3. Some of the reviewers here seem unfamiliar with Cherokee History. Forrest Carter was of Cherokee ancestry and was a fiery Southerner with racist views. These facts are not so mutually exclusive as one would assume. The Cherokee nation was allied with the Confederate States during the war. Colonel(later General) Stand Watie led the Cherokee Mounted Rifles. Aside from the Cherokee, there were Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole tribes fighting with the Confederates as well. So you see, Forrest Carter (or Asa if you like) was more than likely a product of his times. Not an evil man, just wrong. But he did write a great book.



4. A 5-year old orphan named Little Tree is raised by his Cherokee Grandma and Grandpa in a small mountain home during the days of the Depression. Little Tree learns about the Cherokee tribe and history. He also learns about the importance of love and respect for the land. His grandparents struggle to survive under difficult conditions however they show incredible compassion and love as they raise Little Tree. There is considerable debate over whether this book is fiction or non-fiction. Whatever it happens to be, this is good heartwarming story that is worth reading and having your children read.



5. I first read this 20 years ago, before I "knew" the author's history. I loved it. I just re-read it with my 10-year-old. (Beware, adult language and material. We probably should have waited a year or two.) Now I know about the author. And I still love this book. The author may have been a drunk and may have done some awful things, but this is a beautful and wonderful book and I can't find any racism or anti-semitism in it. I'm Jewish and appreciated the author's head-on confrontation of a common sterotype. Perhaps in his writing he tried to make up for what he did in his public life? Who knows, but I believe your life will be enriched by reading this book.

No comments about Marilyn: The Last Take.