Point to Point Navigation is (according to the author's note) utilizing landmarks and points as guides when you are out at sea and unable to view the moon and stars.

I love Gore Vidal, so reading his second memoir was very easy. This is what has happened since he last blessed us with a memoir -- Palimpsest. In this memoir, Vidal tells us about his family's history. He regals us with stories about his famous friends, including one that left Barbara Cartland with egg on her face to the amusement of Vidal and Princess Chumbhot. He tells us, too, of his companion, Howard Austen's death. Vidal and Austen were together some fifty-three years -- a remarkable timeline, especially in this day and age.

The memoir gives the reader the inside track to Vidal's mind, as well as stories that can only be told by the one who was there. While reading this book, I could hear Vidal's voice in my head, as if I had a scheduled private reading. My only regret is the fact that I don't have a signed copy, nor do I know just how to obtain one.

If you enjoy Vidal as much as I do, you will enjoy this book.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review, Gore Vidal, Memoir, Point to Point Navigation

I just started reading this book and it is fascinating.  Ethel J. David has done more and seen more in one lifetime than some people could do in two.  The book goes back and forth between tales of Ethel's life and chapters from her co-writer Cheryl Grady Mercier regarding Cheryl's interviews with Ethel.  I have only been putting it down to work.

Because I'm enjoying this book so much, I had to write my review even before I finished reading the book!

Get yourself a copy of My Lover the Rabbi, My Husband the Doctor: What more could a Jewish girl want? sit down and read it from cover to cover.  You'll be glad you did!

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Somehow, this ended up not in Reviews, but on my signings page...Sorry for the delayed Review.

According to Mark LaFlamme, eighty years from now, cars will drive themselves and most of California will be gone, but Baseball, that all American game, will still be played. There will still be statiums to go to, but no hotdogs. Mr. LaFlamme frames the ideas of the future in a story told by a grandfather to his grandson.

In many ways, this story is reminicent of Shoeless Joe Jackson.

But, don't take my word for it, read it for yourself.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Well, I'm back from vacation and ready to begin writing more reviews. I promised this review quite a while ago, but with everything going on, I didn't have time to finish reading the book. But, after a terrific vacation in Door County, I'm done reading and ready to review.

Club George is a quirky book. Bob Levy has written a book that is part bird-watching tale, part birdwatching manual. With short chapters, Levy brings us into the tale of a red-winged blackbird named George. Admittedly, I'm not a birdwatching type person, but even I found the tale intriguing. I did find some of the descriptive and informative background information a little tedious.

My recommendation: The book is worthwhile, especially if you are a birdwatcher or a New Yorker.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

I'd like to start this by saying, I love Elvis. I really do. I love the energy you get just by watching him in Elvis: That's the Way It Is. It feels like he's going to pop out of my TV and entertain me in my living room. When an Elvis tune comes on the radio, I never, ever change the station.

Now, I haven't been to Graceland and I don't really own a lot of his "Elvis" products. The books about him I own were given to me as gifts. I'm not an Elvis collector. But, if someone would recreate one of the rings he actually wore, I'd stand in line to buy it. Actually, the shop at Elvis.com did offer such a ring, but at the time, I couldn't afford the purchase. I don't believe in celebrating August 16th, as that's the day we lost the guy I consider to be the greatest entertainer to ever live. Personally, I believe that had he had a better manager, Elvis would've been better and achived more in his young life than he did. I believe he wouldn't have become the shell of a man he became in his later years. On my list of people I wish I could've met, I would have loved to have stood in a room with him just once. Just once.

On the other hand, I feel sorry for Elvis. He was the first of his kind. Fans didn't really go that nuts about music stars, like they did movie stars until Elvis came along. He never really got to be himself, I believe, ever. Could you imagine not being able to feel safe enough to be you? Top if all off by the fact that Elvis was really just a poor country boy at heart and he was lonely.

Anyway, the reason I started this post was to ask the question, do we really need another Elvis book? Jerry Schilling, whom I'm sure is a nice guy, has written Me and a Guy Named Elvis. But, do we really need to read one more version about Elvis and his life? What new ground can Mr. Schilling cover?

Well, you know when it makes it to the Racine Library, I'll check it out and read it, but that's only in the interest of passing on the details to you, my gentle readers.

Until then, I recommend getting yourself a copy of Elvis That's the Way It Is. Watching Elvis in action is way more fun than reading about him.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

General William "Billy" Mitchell predicted a major attack on US soil. He criticize the government for their lack of innovation in aviation. Then, the Army court martial him.

Current news story?

No. This is the story of a man who spoke the truth and received a court martial as a thank you in 1925. Which only proves that loyalty was an issue throughout our history.

General Mitchell won medals for his bravery during WWI. He proved in 1921 that attack planes could sink a battleship. He went on to predict the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese. The man was way a head of his time.

This book touches on his past that rose him in the ranks and then follows the trail to how General Mitchell found himself in a courtroom in the Emery Building. Then, the book follows the trial and the aftermath.

I haven't finished reading this one, which I usually don't do reviews on books I haven't finished, but due to the nature of the book, I found myself compelled to write this review, as I believe it touches on a lot of issues that we have today.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Here's a book I wish my brother, Scott, would read, because it finally outlines what I've been saying all along, George W. Bush is NOT a conservative. Even better than agreeing with me -- and I have a slight liberal bent -- it is written by someone who knows what a true conservative looks like -- Bruce Bartlett.

The book is well written and concised. It is for anyone who is interested in politics .

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

You have to read this book. Right now, go to the library or bookstore and get yourself a copy of this book. Sit down and begin to read.

The book was written by Julia Fox Garrison. Julia suffered a stroke on July 17, 1997 that changed her life. She was a software support manager and now she is a motivational speaker.

I read about her in last week's People Magazine. I filed the name of her book into my memory and went on my way. Then, this past week, during my normal library visit, there was her book on the new non-fiction shelf. I knew I had to pick it up and I knew I had to review it.

Julia has gone through an experience I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Worst than that, she, while trying to stay postitive to get well, is accused of suffering from denial by her caretakers -- doctors and nurses. She finds that she can trust them to truly care for her and her needs.

This book puts you in the driver's seat. She has written nearly the entire book in second person (I think that's what its called). Anyway, I highly recommend that you read this book. If you're not grateful for all that you have when you're done reading it, read it again.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

I hate to jump on any bandwagon and the James Dean bandwagon is no exception. As a kid, I had posters of just two men up on my walls -- James Dean and Elvis Presley. Both of which died before I was a teenager and one died before I was even born. The whole thing creeped my mother out a little, but that's okay. I was a kid.

Now, I'm almost forty and I still love Elvis and James. I'm not too keen on all of the merchandising that happens with both men, so you won't find Elvis Teddy Bears or lifesize cutouts of James Dean in my home. I try not to purchase anything I find too insulting to their memories, but that's just me.

Anyway, I'm always skepical when I see a book that proclaims the author to be the best friend of Elvis or James. In this case, William Bast isn't lying. He probably knew James Dean better than anyone else ever did.

In "Surviving James Dean," Bast lets you view James way before he became the legend he now is. You see the struggling actor in a light that sometimes shines so brightly on his flaws that you almost don't like him. Bast brings James back to life in a way that reminds those who hero worship him that James Dean was just human.

If you're a James Dean fan, I totally recommend this book.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Okay, so this is a website about books and I really shouldn't review movies here, but in my own defense, I haven't had time to write a review about any books in quite a while AND the movie is based on a book.

I should preface this by saying that I loved the movie "Speed". I loved watching Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves act together. They make such a cute couple that you would root for them in anything, which explains why I went and saw "The Lake House" last night.

I wasn't disappointed in their acting. Ms Bullock and Mr. Reeves were good, as they always are, but there was something missing in the movie. I don't know if it was my inability to suspend belief that two people two years apart could communicate through a magic mailbox. Or, since I would like to believe that there is magic in the world, perhaps it was my inability to stop thinking, "Hey, why don't you look him up on Google and find out where he is in 2006?"

That said, I don't regret the nearly two hours I spent at the drive in watching this movie. Since you get two movies for the price of admission, I didn't overspend. But, if you want to see Ms Bullock and Mr. Reeves in action, attend the matinee or rent the DVD whenever it comes out.

Better yet, read the book.

Happy Viewing!

Labels: Book Review

Yeah, I know -- Kid's book, but hey, look at Harry Potter. Kids book, but a good kids book. Angie Sage isn't in quite the same class as J.K. Rowling, but she's pretty close. Her descriptions make you feel as if you can see the characters and the story grabs ahold of you and makes you want to finish the entire book in one sitting.

I'm sure most readers will figure out the plot twist fairly quickly, but the book as a whole is a good fast read.

Labels: Book Review

The Seduction of Water...

I just finished listening to The Seduction of Water by Carol Goodman. I recommend it, especially if you are like me and will be listening to the story, rather than reading it.

Iris Greenfeder is an almost everything. She's almost a published writer, she's almost a college professor and she's almost married to her boyfriend of ten years, Jack. Iris's mother, who died when she was ten, wrote two books and no one can find the third. The book is told in first person and is a terrific summer read.

The book is romantic, as the Irish tales Iris's mother, Kay, used to tell her are woven into the story, as well as suspensefull. Will she find her mother's third manuscript, was there one at all? And, how about the hotel she lived in and her parents jointly ran. Will it survive it's fate as the current oweners are thinking of selling it?

Labels: Book Review

Dragon: Hound of Honor

I just finished reading this book by Dame Julie Andrews Edwards and Emma Walton Hamilton and I highly recommend it. Not only is the book a fast read (well, it is a children's book), it doesn't talk down to children like some of them do. The book is recommended for children ages 9 and up. There is some violence, which might bother younger children.

The story is based on the true story, "The Legend of the Dog of Montargis", which should set any curious young reader off on a search for more information about this amazing dog. Dragon, a beautiful Wolf Hound, is present when his master is murdered. He, also, "names" his master's attacker is a most amazing manner. Further, Dragon must battle his master's murderer to the bitter end.

The book contains enough mystery to keep any young reader (and, perhaps their parents) interested to the end.

Labels: Book Review

Team of Rivals

I just started reading this book, but I do like it. This is a different sort of biography of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Kearns Goodwin tells the story of President Lincoln, along with three of his rivals for the 1860 Republican nomination. President Lincoln, showing a genius that I'm sure we won't see in a president again, choose these three men (William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates) to be members of his administration.

Seward was appointed Secretary of State. Seward was attacked in an assassination attempt on April 14, 1965 -- he was the second of the Lincoln conspirators victims. (Vice President Johnson was the third target, but his attacker lost his nerve.) In a further twist, Seward had numerous American citizens arrested during the Civil War for disloyalty. Many of these citizens were not told why they were arrested and no trials were held. Interesting.

Chase was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. Chase is the coiner of the phrase, "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men." He firmly believed in the abolishment of slavery.

Bates, the oldest of the four men, was chosen as Lincoln's Attorney General. Bates served under Lincoln from 1861 to 1864.

The book tells more than I cared to learn about the history of Seward, Chase and Bates, but the rest of the book discussing how they worked together in what was probably our nation's most turbulent times is fascinating.

If you are at all interested in Civil War era -- don't skip reading this book.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do

First, I should say that if I express any bigotry at all, I express it in my choice of fiction reading material. I pretty much stick with books about white women in their 30's and preferably gay women.

Well, Pearl Cleage changed all of that for me quite a while ago. I was in the book mobile when the librarian said, "Hey, why don't you read the new Pearl Cleage book?" At that time, Ms. Cleage had just released "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day". Well, I took it home, read it and came back with a new look at books.

You can't just read about those people and places you all ready know. You can't just stick to one race over another or one age group or sexual orientation over another. You have to expand your mind and reach beyond your own limits with a book.

But, I'm getting off track.

Some Things I Thought I'd Never Do is about Regina Burns who is getting her life back on track after a bad breakup and a major drug addiction. Now, I should admit that I didn't actually read this book, I listened to it. Angela Forrest's voice would wave over me and add a real dimension to MS Cleage's all ready descriptive words. I could see the big black man with eyes the color of the ocean. I could almost taste the collard greens being described. I think this is the best way to "read" this novel.

The title, Some Things I Thought I'd Never Do, refers to the fact that Regina finds herself working for the woman who caused the bad breakup. Regina never thought she would even speak to this woman again, but Regina's need for cash to save her ancestral home means that she now has to go to work for Beth Davis.

If you're looking for a good novel for some summer reading, Some Things I Thought I'd Never Do is a good place to start.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review

Night

Elie Wiesel once said that Night was the one book he was meant to write. All of his other books are marked by Night.

How could he say anything else?

(I know Oprah just put Night on her bookclub list, but I read it long before her suggestion.)

Night, in case you don't know, is the story of a young boy's survival in the Nazi camps during World War II. It is a tough read -- not in the fact that it is hard to understand, but in that you want to scream out, run, run, run!

I have both read the words for myself and listened to CD read by George Guidall. I recommend both, yet, if you have a long drive, I recommend the book on CD. Mr. Guidall's voice is haunting and brings the horrors to life in a way the written word cannot. It is as if the young boy, now grown into a man, is sitting across from you, replaying the horrors in his mind as he tells them to you. Mr. Guidall's voice is similar to Professor Wiesel's and it sometimes feels as if you are really listening to Professor Wiesel.

Labels: Book Review

I saw the movie on TV with Rosie O'Donnell. I liked it, so I got the book at my local Half-price bookstore. It's really good. It delves more into Beth's life and her family's involvement and decisions regarding her life. Plus, the backstory is interesting.

This one comes highly recommended.

Labels: Book Review

Labels: Book Review