Anything Goes-Lucy Moore

A biography of the Roaring Twenties is the sub title for this book, and what fun it is. I think I was born at the wrong time. I was fascinated by the stories and could not put it down!

Full of many short vignettes, about Hollywood scandals, the KKK, Sacco and Vanzetti, most of the important aspects of the 20's are covered.

The writing is fresh, and the chapters are thorough, with characters from Al Capone to Harry Crosby, the Algonquin round table to the Crash. This book hits on a decade that was both amazing and terrible.

Freedom in the form of Lucky Lindy's flight, flappers, movies and the assembly line brought some Americans to heights and distances they could never have imagined.

When it all came tumbling down, things changed quickly, but OH while it lasted, it looked like such fun! What a fun look at a time when so many of us wish we were there. I recommend it to anyone who has even the slightest interest in the 20's. It is funtastic!

I got this book from my local library.

The Man in the Rockefeller Suit-Mark Seal

On a much higher note, "The Man in the Rockefeller Suit" was an excellent read! Mark Seal, through interviews and meticulous research has written the story of, Christian Gerhartsreiter, a German immigrant, who came to America and wormed his way into communities, homes and businesses, resulting in fraud, kidnapping and murder.


I think the fascinating thing to me, was the ease with which he was accepted by the smartest, wealthiest people in several different communities, by simply using the name Clark Rockefeller. That people could be so easily swayed by a famous name, backed by what they thought was a huge fortune, simply amazed me.


He stole money, property and quite possible the lives of two of his victims. It seemed that he believed his own lies, nearly believing that he was an actual Rockefeller. He married a very smart woman, had a child with her, took her money and stole her child, when things started falling apart.


Extremely smart, very personable, he rode a wave of conning people, who accepted him without question. The impostor collected art, and people as he constantly improved his mannerisms and speech, so he could continue his charade.


This book works as a true crime story as well as a case study of a very disturbed personality.


I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a who done it as well as a why did he do it.


I received this book from NetGalley for review. Thank you!

EWWWWWWW

Did you ever read a book that made you feel like you needed a shower after you red it? This was my shower worthy book.

I downloaded this from the library, after half reading the rather murky description. It said it was about a fun loving socialite......I should have checked it out. ICK...her nickname is "Superhead". Of course I did not find that out until I was halfway through. Karrine Steffans was apparently a fixture in the hip hop world, a world I don't visit. She is misunderstood, so she says, after her first book "Confessions of a Video Vixen" hit the NYT  best seller list. So she is apparently a bestselling author. She writes like someone who doesn't do much reading. She claims to be offended by people who are not interesting, and not as smart as she is.

Hmmmmm...I guess she sold some books because she names names, I guess she has a nice house and fancy cars, she survived off of the kindness of the men she slept with, and she is so proud of herself. And she has a child that she is raising in this atmosphere, and oh, she was on Oprah. It is just sad.

While I am far from perfect, this behavior is not something I feel should be put out there for anyone to read. If I want sleaze, I will read Hustler.It does not make me wish I was a skank when I was young. I guess this book was not for me, no way , no how.

Just being reminded of this makes me want to go shower......I wish I could wash my brain.

I cannot recommend this book to anyone!

The Girls from Ames-Jeffrey Zaslow

This is a wonderful book about women and friendship. I have written before about not having many friends, but this book made me want to call all of my friends from school and catch up!.

The book takes place at a reunion for a group of girls who became friends as youngsters and teens, now in their 40's. They shared the usual angst as children, with petty squabbles. hurt feelings, joy and that closeness that it seems only young girls can achieve.

Remember saying we will be friends forever? We will be in each others weddings? We will live next door to each other and have our kids at the same time?  I remember all of those things. This book brought it all rushing back.

When they grew up and moved for marriages and jobs, they still kept in touch, through letters and then e-mails.Meeting regularly let them stay close, and they were always there for each other.

The book showed the difference between the way men and women make and keep friends. I wish I could have maintained my friendships the way these women did. I envy them!

This book is for anyone who has friends, wants friends, and has lost friends....in other words.....for everyone.
Heartwarming, funny, sad, this book really affected me. I miss what I have lost.

I got this book from my local library.

The Woman Who Could Not Forget-Ying-Ying Chang

Iris Chang was an amazing writer. This book, written by her mother, is a wonderful tribute to her work and her life.

Iris grew up, wanting to do her best, she worked very hard and ended up writing one of the most heartbreaking, true books I have ever read, "The Rape of Nanking". Growing up, she heard her grandparents speak about the atrocities perpetrated by the Japanese on the Chinese people during World War II. She was compelled to write her book after seeing a photo exhibit about the crimes.

Iris grew up, wanting to work hard and please her parents, doing well in school, wanting to write. And write she did! She listened to her teachers, and became one of the best writers I have come across.( I think I was so affected by her writing because at the end of World War II my Dad was in China. He saw what had happened there, and always told me how wonderful the Chinese people were.)

Her first book, "The Thread of the Silkworm" was about a blacklisted Chinese scientist, and went on to write her most famous book.

After writing her highly acclaimed book, she traveled endlessly, lecturing, researching further, writing and along the way she married . I was somewhat confused by her marriage. Her Mother did not say too much about it, except that she was happy, but it seemed to me that they led separate lives for much of the marriage.

Iris and her husband were both very driven to succeed. She became depressed when her son was diagnosed with Autism. I am not sure but it seemed to me that all this couple did was work and move from one home to another. Iris wanted to keep her fight alive, and she did not want the "second holocaust" forgotten.

As her fame grew, she started taking anti-depressants, suffering a serious breakdown while on a lecture trip.
Not long after, she took her own life. Her Mother believes it was caused by the medications, but we may never know.

A true voice was silenced, but Ying-Ying Chang, will not let us forget her daughter and her contributions.

This was an obvious labor of love and a tribute to an amazing woman.

I recommend it to anyone who has read "The Rape of Nanking" and to anyone interested in the life of it's author, Iris Chang.

I received this e-book from NetGalley for review.

Surviving the Angel of Death- Eva Mozes Kor , Lisa Rojany Buccieri

Eva Mozes Kor was 10 years old when she and her twin sister Miriam as well as her parents and two older sisters were taken to Auschwitz. Joseph Mengele was known as The Angel of Death. His "medical" experiments were among the most horrific ever conducted, in the name of science. Twins were among the most sought after victims. These twins were the only survivors of their family.

This is a book that is geared to the YA audience. The story of Eva and Miriam is told with compassion and in terms that a middle schooler could relate to. While it is not terribly explicit, there is enough to suggest that a parent looking to let your child read this, might want to read it first.

I found it to be very straight forward, and informative. How the girls survived, and learned to forgive is just an amazing story. Harrowing in some parts, their story is one that has to be remembered. By writing for a younger group, Eva has done a service to both survivors, and the people who read about them.

Very well written and I recommend it to anyone interested in the Holocaust. In the end it is a story of hope, forgiveness and finding peace.

I received this E-Book from Net Galley for review. Thank you!

Fabulous Faces-Peter A. Adamson M.D.

Not so much.....I should have read the description a little better. This is a book for people who want to have plastic surgery. On their faces, duh.  I had a really hard time with this book. It wasn't the writing, which was fine, it was the subject matter. The more I got into it, the more I got the willies.

It was exactly what it was supposed to be, a guide for someone looking to have facial surgery. It talks about what to look for in a Doctor, what different fillers do, and offers testimonials from very satisfied people, who were unhappy with their looks.

 I just couldn't wrap my mind around it. The fact that everyone can afford it, (not) that so many people are hating their faces, was just a huge turn off for me. I think of my mothers face, soft as silk, wrinkled (each one earned), of Georgia O'Keefe, how different she would have looked with a face lift, the beauty of an older face, and I weep for our youth obsessed culture. I am far from beautiful, but I earned this face, and I plan to keep it.

The small section about the good works done by plastic surgery (cleft palates,injuries, etc) was very good but it was far too short.

If you are planning to "fix" something you hate about your face, then this is the book for you. It was not the book for me.

I received this book from The Cadence Group for review. Thank you!

The President is a Sick Man-Matthew Algeo

This is the story of Grover Cleveland and the hard working reporter who told the story of a secret health matter, only to be branded a liar.

Cleveland had a cancerous tumor in his mouth. Ulysses S. Grant had just died a public and painful death from the dread disease, cancer. Cleveland feared the country, in the midst of a depression, could bot handle another medical disaster in their leader, so he wanted to keep it a secret.

A group of doctors and a dentist were sworn to secrecy, and put aboard a yacht for the Presidents operation.
While the President was recovering, his people were assuring reporters that he was resting from the strain of office, and a slight dental issue.

The press has a choice, report the rumor of cancer, or report the offered story. After much debate, they agreed to report the vacation, dental story. This is one example of the difference between the press of 1893 vs. the press of 2011, who would have never covered up anything. They would have exploited it beyond all recognition.

One intrepid reporter, EJ. Edwards, discovered the truth and reported it. He was branded a liar, a label which followed him throughout his career, and life. The truth did not come out for 24 years.

The way the President is protected, was amazing to read, living in today's climate, and this was a fascinating story. When the truth was finally told, and medical forensics finally caught up, it was discovered that the tumor was an stunningly slow growing cancer, and that the operation that was so successful, given that it was done on a moving ship, was way ahead of its time.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about previously unknown pieces of history. The storytelling is excellent and the characters are real.

I received this book from Net Galley for review. Thank you!

Doctor Confidential-Secrets Behind the Veil-Richard Sheff M.D.

I took this book for review with some apprehension, because I have read many books about medical training, and I was afraid it would be the same old thing. I was pleasantly surprised when I read about his feelings for his patients. Dr. Richard Sheff is someone who was interested in psychiatry, but switched to family medicine, while in training.

The stories of his patients were uplifting as well as heartbreaking. His personal struggles are documented as he goes through medical school, internship, and residency on his way to becoming a family practice doctor. He is tired, sometimes confused and always compassionate. His love for the people he cares for shines through with each story, and this love threatens to break his spirit.

His initial idea was to go into psychiatry, but when he heard the phrase "what does love have to do with it?" he changes his path. Every doctor should have his compassion.

Every patient deserves a doctor like Dr. Sheff. Someone who cares for medicine, and someone who is not afraid to care for his patients, on a personal level.

I recommend this book to anyone who is considering a career in medicine, and anyone who is a patient.(and isn't that all of us at one time or another?)

I received this book from Rebecca at The Cadence Group for review. Thank You!!

Changing Shoes-Tina SLoan

Actress Tina Sloan has written a fun, gossipy book about how we can "Get Older-NOT OLD,with Style, Humor and Grace".

"Changing Shoes" is the metaphor she uses for the life stages we go through. From high heels, to low heels, to flats, and in my case slippers. her advice is sound and she really hits home with many of her stories. Her career in  soap opera, Guiding Light, was very successful when she was younger, but as she aged, as we all do, her role changed, from the sexy nurse in heels, to the nice older nurse in tennis shoes. What a great way to show how our society views aging women!

Sloan withstood the youth crazed audiences by being solid and steadfast.She also believed we owe it to the generation coming up to share, and to be generous with her knowledge and to share what we have learned through trial and error. Maybe we can make it easier for them.

I found this to be a fast and easy read. Light and funny, with moments of sadness, when writing about her parents decline.

Tina was generous with her advice, and her humor, even when writing about tough subjects. Her grace shines through.

I would recommend this book to younger audiences, as well as we older gals. I think there are lessons here for all of us.

I received this book from Leyane at FSB Associates for review. Thank you!

American Rose: A Nation Laid Bare, The Life and Times of Gypsy Rose Lee-Karen Abbott

AH, Gypsy Rose Lee. I remember watching her on TV when I was a kid, with her protruding front teeth, and her big personality, I was charmed. I saws the movie Gypsy when I was a teen and she looked so glamorous, but I never saw her act. This book made me aware that her whole life and persona was an act.

Starting in vaudeville at a very tender age, Louise as she was called, was the ugly duckling sister to her beautiful sister, Baby June. Her mother Rose was not the funny stage mother character, she was much, much worse, a monster.

It made me sad to read about all of the things working against her, and even some of the things she had going for her. She constantly had to deal with her overbearing mother and her jealousy of her sister. Gangsters ruled and she did what she felt she had to do to survive as a burlesque queen.

Queen she was! At one time she was the hottest ticket in town. An author, a sometime movie actress, Gypsy wanted fame and fortune. Growing up in terrible poverty, on the road, and playing second fiddle to her sister, all contributed to the character Gypsy became.

She was funny as hell on the talk show circuit. What a dame. They don't make them like her anymore, dammit!

I downloaded this e-book from my public library.

Sunday Salon-Some Times I Feel Like A Nut

Jill Kargman has written a funny, ironic book that says what we think, but do not say. The essays cover everything from mice in her apartment to becoming a "Spinning" addict. Funny as hell, I think she is a very good writer. Dealing with the competetive "Momzillas" of Manhattan with 3 kids of her own to contend with, as well, she maintains her sense of humor and makes us laugh with her.

Kargman is afraid of vans and clowns (I can relate-thank you Stephen King). She writes about her va-jay jay, again I can relate, and just the everyday things that can make you nuts.

So whether you like your candy with nuts or just the coconut, I recommend this book. It is fun, ironic and irreverent. Enjoy!

I received this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers. Thank you!

Most of this weekend has been spent in bed with my knee messed up and resting on a pillow. I hate not going outside, since it is supposed to snow again this week. CRAP!! Time to make more appointments with therapy, I guess, though it looks like it is time for a knee replacement (on Both sides) YIKES!!!

I did read an interesting book "The Edge of Reason" by Melinda Snodgrass. I think I am stalling on review books, since nothing is really grabbing me right now. Sigh...reading slump? I hope not!

Just Kids- Patti Smith

Reading this book was like listening to a wonderful song. It is so lyrical, and well done, it felt like poetry.

"Just Kids" is the story of two artists, Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe. Patti met Robert when they were both young, and broke on the streets of New York City and formed an unbreakable bond. From tiny apartments to the Chelsea Hotel, and on to fame, they stayed together through thick and thin. Lovers came and went, jobs, apartments and struggles followed them, but they pursued their art, each in their own way, but always together, keeping a vow they made when they were just kids.

The combination of art, music and poetry is irresistible. And oh the people they knew. It is just amazing to read the stories of people we have known about for years.

I loved this book, and found myself stalling as I neared the end, wanting it to go on and on. Patti Smith made me want to go back to being young and to join them in the joy and amazing times they shared. This book won the National Book Award, and it was well deserved. Bravo!!

I purchased this book from The Tattered Cover, my favorite bookstore.

Lost Lustre-Josh Karlen

Josh Karlen has written a terrific memoir about the lost days of decades, not so long in the past.

From his terrifying childhood in the projects of Alphabet City, to the dives where he followed music, Karlen writes beautifully. Remembering a friend, a musician and writer who died too young, his words are heartbreaking. Even though they had not been in touch for years, the death greatly affected him.

When Karlen writes about his first love, it made me remember those feelings, long forgotten.

Looking at photos, finding himself wearing a hat he has no memory of, he finally remembers his hat.

The way he writes expresses how I feel as I get older, how memories are tricky. Having a sudden revelation about his forgotten hat, is like finding a memory, hidden and thought to be long lost. Memory is funny that way. Good or bad, suddenly something comes flashing back, and it is ours again.

I received this book from Library Thing Early Reviewers. Thank you!!

Ask ME about Mary Kay!

In the 60's women had few choices. Mary Kay gave them more choice and oppurtunities they had never considered.

Selling cosmetics came easily for Jackie Brown. As one of the first sales people, she was able to rise quickly through the company, becoming a second tier director with many salespeople under her. Her income grew immensely, but there was trouble in the pink paradise that was Mary Kay land. It started with the secret spiking of a punchbowl, and ended in lies, danger, law suits and tragedy.

As a former Mary Kay lady (unsuccessful) I found this to be a fascinating and sad story. The lies we were told, we passed on to our customers, and recruits. It seems like they have cleaned up their act and are still hugely successful, but was the lying and cheating really necessary?

I recommend this book for anyone interested in "true (almost) crime". Who knew? I was simply stunned !

I received this book from Bostick Communications for review.

Sigh...

I must confess, I loved "Eat, Pray, Love". It was fresh and a wonderful trip. (I still travel through books) I caught the DVD over the weekend, but I thought it was disappointing. Still I was interested in Elizabeth Gilbert and her last relationship in the book, so I downloaded it from the library and started reading.

Whining about failure and how resistant to marriage she was got really old, really fast Reading about Gilberts love story was what I was after, a dry history of marriage and how unsure she was to commit is what I got. I have been married for over 35 years and I do not need advice or a history lesson. I have my own history!

I really wanted to hear more about her romance with "Felipe" She did write about their struggles with immigration, and what seemed like a little about their travels while waiting for his approval, but I longed for the more personal touch she used so deftly in "Eat,Pray,Love".

Needless to say, I found this book whiny and somewhat boring. Maybe she will find her personal voice again. I hope so.

This was a download from the Library.

Darkness Visible-William Styron

This is a tiny book, but it is one of the most powerful descriptions of depression I have ever read. "A Memoir of Madness" is the perfect subtitle for this book.

In October of 1985, Styron is in Paris to accept an award, when he realizes he is plunging into a deep, dark depression. He ends up hospitalized, and with the help of many professionals, he regains his sanity.

With the use of actual suicides, from Randall Jarrett, the poet, to Abbie Hoffman, he examines the causes and the effect it has on the mind. The despair that grows deeper with each hour, until it seems there is no end to it.

Styron stopped drinking, and blamed his rapid descent into the deep dark hole of depression on this fact.

As one who has suffered and battled with depression, I fully understood his despair, and the thoughts that tormented him. I applauded his recovery, and was cheered by the thought that there is a light at the end of the tunnel (and it's not the oncoming train).

I received this from Net Galley for review. Thank you!

OH! I want one…

"The World Made Flesh-Literary Tattoos from Bookworms Worldwide" is so yummy, it made me want to run to my tattoo guy and get more ink! Eva Talmadge and Justin Taylor have assembled some of the neatest tattoos I have seen for a long time.

From quotations, author portraits, to actual images from books, this is a really neat look at the bookish among us tattooed folk, some telling stories behind their ink.

Yes, it hurts, and yes it will be with you forever, and when you get old and wrinkly it might look really weird, but there is something about ink, that draws me.(and on me)

I was really inspired by the pictures in this book, and now I have to get one, if only I can decide what to get.

I received this book for review from Erica at Harper Perennial.

Technorati Tags: nonfiction

Stretch-The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude

With the best of intentions, I found myself sick as a dog, after the Readathon. Coughing, sneezing, the whole enchilada! I so badly wanted to be timely with my reviews, but life got in the way. All I wanted to do was sleep, of course, and that I did. I am feeling a little better today but I am so far behind, it is scary.

On with my review-

Neal Pollack was a bad boy L.A. writer who was on a path of self destruction. Drinking too much, after a little success, spreading insults, generally misbehaving, he alienated his friends and colleagues. He was willing to try almost anything to get his life back on track. Enter Yoga-

Out of shape, and not really motivated yet, Neal struggled as he tried to master the positions. To his great surprise, he actually felt better. He took more and more classes, becoming rather fanatical about his new activity. (His family and friends were not sure where this was leading, but liked the kinder, gentler Neal.)

While I was reading in a Readathon, his story told of a Yogathon, which just cracked me up. I felt his pain!

Funny and touching, Neal writes about his success, and failures, as he finds himself wanting to become a Yoga instructor. (much to his wifes chagrin)

I really liked this story!! Neal Pollack is a terrific writer and funny as all get out.

I received this book from Erica at Harper Perennial for review. Thank you so much!

Readathon update

Stretch by Neal Pollack is a funny, thoughtful exploration into the Yoga life. Full review to follow, after the Readathon. 320 pages.