Reviews (27)

Bettie Page Uncovered
A very sad tale of a woman broken by her fame and tortured by her problems.Wonderful pictures of Bettie in her prime and overall a very good book.I will agree that it is written in a tabloid style -it's not war and peace but it is a good read about an american icon.

READ NO MORE REVIEWS, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE YOU NEED TO READ- A PATHETIC AUTHOR MAKES UP CRAP ABOUT BETTIE
This is the only reveiwer who can seriously keep it real for any of you potential buyers of this Bettie Page book.Everything in this book is horribly written, and ENTIRELY made up, it is EXTREMELY easy to see that, just look at the sample (if they still have it, if not, don't dish out a single penny of yours for this book, it's not worth it in any way.)For any of you idiots who believe this stuff- GET A LIFE!! This book actually wants you to beleive that at some point in the recent years of her life she-having made millions and million of dollars from her career, and still making money from her legacy- is so poor that she moves in with some stranger to room with in a tiny house, and out of the blue trys to kill her roommate one night because she's so crazy now? That is THE biggest load of crap I have ever heard. This book is not worth anyone even considering buying. All it is is media hype (that was never in the real media, might I add) that some sad pathetic liar poor excuse for an author who doesn't even know how to write past a fourth grade level wants you to believe!If any of this crap was true, don't you think it would be easy to track down Bettie in the real media and expose her on tv and in newspapers?? The only place you will ever hear any of this stuff is in this horribly written, made up pile of lies. It's a waste of time to read this book, and anyone who believes this crap is almost as pathetic and in need of A LIFE as the author is. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS BOOK THAT IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WAY TOO LONG TABLOID WRITTEN BY A FOURTH GRADER!!

All too human Bettie Page
I used to see Bettie's picture nearly everywhere : magazines, books, albums... I knew about her and always thought "that's too much, she's too beautiful, a female jaguar with black hair, perfect face, perfect body"... This book shows the very human side of Bettie page and I was immediately drawn to her as a human being. This book showed me that she was all human and struggling to make it in Hollywood - but she stood her ground and did not fall prey to the infamous casting couch.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    5. Regional Subjects - South    6. Women    7. Biography: general   

Reviews (37)

Crazy but interesting
I would never do what this family did, however I can't put the book down.When I felt the urge to read the story a second time, I decided to buy the book.I also enjoy other books such as "Into the Wild", and survival stories of Everest climbers.If these are of interest to you, this may be a story you would enjoy.

Enjoyable Read
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was refreshing to read one of these frontier books from the woman's perspective. I've been reading a lot of Alaskan frontier non-fiction books and this was one of the most entertaining in its style and POV.

A great read!
This is an inspiring tale of the hardships one family endured to homestead in Alaska.The Cobbs face many hurdles, but with a stauch heart, faith in God, and a LOT of hard work managed to do exactly what they set out to do. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. General    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Regional Subjects - West    8. Alaska    9. Biography    10. Cobb family    11. Frontier and pioneer life    12. Minook Creek Valley    13. Minook Creek Valley (Alaska)    14. Nature / General    15. Social life and customs    16. True stories of endurance & survival   

Reviews (13)

A Fairly Common Tragedy
This book has haunted me for 10 years now.For Roger Dennis Hansen, there was the terrible pain of being in the closet for as long as he recognized he did not have feelings for girls that the other boys did, and that society said he should.And remember, in those days, you were some kind of monster for having same sex yearnings - take a look at the statistics.
Calvin Trillin's guilt trip, should have been kept private
I am of mixed feelings about this book.Part of me feels sympathetic towards the subject, Roger (Denny) Hansen.It is quite sad to read of his downward spiral which led to his suicide.Hansen seemed like a nice fellow. "Big Chill" at Yale
The book is a whatdunit: what caused an Ivy League golden boy with a million dollar smile to commit suicide at age 55.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. General    6. Hansen, Roger D    7. International relations specialists    8. Personal Memoirs    9. Policy scientists    10. Regional Subjects - New England    11. Social Sciences (General)    12. Social scientists    13. Trillin, Calvin - Prose & Criticism    14. United States   

Editorial Review

Loosely the story of how a divorced, middle-aged Jewish professor of English moved from San Francisco to rural Sonoma County, California, and found fulfillment in the ups and downs of garlic farming, this intensely personal narrative describes the interplay of generations and cultures in Northern California. It should have particular appeal for garlic heads, would-be writers, middle-aged men in transition, feisty septuagenarians, and touchy-feely types. Along with fiercely prejudiced discourses on garlic, Chester Aaron presents his sentimental story in crisp, no-nonsense prose loaded with Woody Allen-esque asides and self-deprecating observations. The book ends with 40 recipes. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great book
I have had the pleasure of interviewing Chester on my gardening show on a couple of occassions and found him charming, enlightening and certainly passionate about his garlic. I was thouroughly pleased when I found the book to be an extension of his interviews. This man at 80 something is more full of life than most twenty year olds and he exudes this energy and love of life into print in a way that makes you feel that you are in the field talking with him rather than reading a book. The recipies were devine. An absolute must for the Garlic aficionado.

The title says it all.
This is an autobiographical slice of Chester Aaron's life as he waas intoduced to garlic growing and became a garlic devotee. Aaron and his cat take the reader into the world of garlic,its many varities, and how to best grow these bulbs of life. At the end of the book are thirty recipes for tasty garlic dishes. It is a very readable primer on garlic growing. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aaron, Chester,    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. California    6. Cooking    7. Essays    8. Farm life    9. Farmers & Ranchers    10. Garlic    11. Garlic growers    12. Regional Subjects - West    13. Aaron, Chester    14. Cookery by ingredient   

Reviews (8)

The Ralph Moody Collection

A family on its own
When Ralph Moody's father dies in the early spring of 1910, he's eleven years old, the senior boy in a family of five, and determined to support his mother and siblings.It's a rocky road, for his mother, even though she declares she'll "depend on" him as "her man," is equally determined that he must stay in school--which means he's restricted to nickel-an-hour boy-jobs for most of the year.And so, despite the title, this book is less about Ralph's helming the family than about the family's pulling together to support itself.They start a "cookery route," selling Mrs. Moody's New England food to neighbors; the children pick fruit, and Ralph rides in match races, breeds rabbits, and hires schoolmates with horses to keep the cattle from the incoming trail herds out of the residential lanes, as well as discovering that it's possible to supply the family's entire need for coal simply by picking up what has fallen off the tenders of passing trains.Like his father before him, he proves to be a shrewd trader and a clever inventor who comes up with a device on which to dry and repair the lace curtains from Denver's Brown Palace Hotel when his mother gets the idea of offering her services as a contract launderer.And he and his brothers and sisters get a surprise when, six months after their father's death, their mother has a sixth baby.
Great Biography Series
This is a great true story for ages 6-105.A little bit of cowboy language but going to the park is far worse.Action, adventure, joy, hardship, love of family & friends,... it's all there.Very eye opening.I'm so glad audio versions are coming out so we can enjoy them together on long car trips or when sick in bed.Worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1898-    2. 20th century    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Colorado    6. Colorado - Local History    7. Family    8. Fiction    9. History    10. Moody Family    11. Moody, Ralph,    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Ranch life    14. Ranchers    15. Regional Subjects - West    16. Westerns - General    17. Local history    18. Moody, Ralph   

Reviews (8)

Important historical testimony
This book is a good antidote to the familiar modern view of all American Indians as proto-flower-children.The fact is that some tribes were not at all nice and, in fact, worked hard at deserving the term "savages."Unfortunately, the public is not encouraged to distinguish among tribes and cultures.There is gross irony in modern liberals and pacifists championing an idealized memory of thorough-going warrior cultures, in which the principal measure of one's stature was how many scalps hung from one's accoutrements.
Interesting read but be careful
I finished the book in just a few days and was excited to begin reading after seeing the reviews on this sight. Shortly into the story I was bothered by some of the descriptions and terms that conflicted with all the other information I have come across regarding Apache life. I don't doubt that Mr. Lehmann was taken by and lived as an Apache or Comanche but some of the information he relates is inaccurate or too generalized in my opinion. I'm not trying to rehash history but it's important that the average reader not make an opinion on all Apache tribes with the decriptions that Mr. Lehmann relates.
Nine Years Among the Indians
A first rate true story of a young man's life among the Apaches and Comanches.A rare glimpse of how tough the life of an Indian was back in those days.If you enjoy history as told by one of the actual participants you will enjoy this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1859-1932    2. Apache Indians    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Comanche Indians    5. History    6. History: American    7. Indian captivities    8. Lehmann, Herman,    9. Native American    10. Native Americans - Southwest    11. Regional Subjects - South    12. Social life and customs    13. Texas    14. United States - General    15. United States - State & Local - General    16. American history    17. Indigenous peoples    18. Lehmann, Herman    19. North America    20. USA   

Reviews (11)

New York Public Library Award winning biography
"Keeper of Lime Rock" was recently honored by the New York Public Library as a new listing in its 2003 Books for the Teenage. It is listed as one of only seven new listings under the category of "Remarkable People." Although not originally written for a teen audience, it has clearly found appeal among that market and I couldn't be more thrilled.

The Keeper of Lime Rock
I have to say that more in depth information would have been good.The only reason I say this is because I am the great, great, great grand-daughter of Ida Lewis and I have Just recently found this out, I think more about the family and life of Ida Like when she use to pull the plank so that my grandmother could not get to the light house, because Ida wanted to be alone.We have the certificates that were presented to my grandmother from the president of the united states, after her death.So much was missed for a bioagraphy.

This book is a joke
I would prefer not to give this any star at all.I can't imagine how any self-respecting publishing company accepted this book and then released it without ever having an editor work on it. Ms. Skomal needed an editor in the worst way.The book was so full of awkward sentences, childish constructions and misused words that sometimesI laughed out loud.Perhaps the problem arises from the fact that the book is mercilessly padded.There's good magazine article here and nothing more. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. Historical - U.S.    6. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    7. United States - 19th Century    8. Women   

Reviews (6)

Great Book! Vegas History from a New Point of View
A really fascinating little book, with a very rare quality... it's really the first time this story has been told. Other Vegas books are good, some are great, but most in one way or another repeat the stories we've read before (another exception: Fly on the Wall by Dick Odessky).

Complete disappointment
This is a sketchy at best account of a powerful man during his time.The book is short and did not give me enough details to his insight on Vegas except that he was a gambloholic.It left me wanting to know more about this man and his rise to power.Honestly I enjoyed more his accounts as the publisher of the Hollywood Reporter and the power he had there than his accounts of trying to build the Flamingo.I thought the book would give more insight on early Vegas but to me gave more to early Hollywood.

A GAMBLER GONE GOOD...FINALLY
Whatta story!If Mr. Wilkerson only had control of his addiction there is no telling what he could have accomplished.This is a talented man who had half the world by the tail, but couldn't get that 2nd half.He was able to accomplish a lot and was the creator of modern casinos in Las Vegas.This is a short story, but filled with interesting information.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Criminology    3. Gambling (Social Aspects)    4. Gambling - General    5. History / United States / State & Local    6. Organized Crime    7. Regional Subjects - West    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. True Crime / Murder    12. United States - State & Local - General    13. History    14. History / United States / General    15. Las Vegas    16. Las Vegas (Nev.)    17. Murder    18. Siegel, Bugsy    19. True Crime    20. United States - State & Local    21. Wilkerson, Billy   

Reviews (1)

A pub crawl across Wisconsin in times gone by...
Thanks to a abberation in drinking age laws between Minnesota and Wisconsin in the late 70s, I spent a GREAT deal of time in Wisconsin taverns in my late teens, so I consider myself something of an expert on the subject.This book is a fantastic, politically incorrect primer on the taverns of the land of cheese, beer and Packer fans.Come on - if you think of beer, Wisconsin automatically comes to mind, doesn't it?If you're somewhere else in America, say San Diego or Charlotte, and have never spent a frigid January Saturday night getting tipsy in a little hole-in-the-wall in the woods surrounded by earflapped yokels who have that "yah, shure!" accent just like in the movie "Fargo", this book is as close as you're gonna get.The pages bring you back to another time, before globalization and homogenization and satellite communication where "local flavor" (good or bad) actually meant something.It's obvious that this is a labor of love for the authors - they laugh along with you at the bizarre promotional ideas some of these taverns had, yet, deep down, you know they admired their threadbare earnestness.Each tavern a unique, flawed jem (well, OK, some are just plain rocks) with story after story.This is a natural for anyone interested in breweriana, Wisconsin, or a swig of the barley pop over the third Ole and Lena joke of the night - a classic! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Regional Subjects - Midwest    3. United States - State & Local - Midwest   

Reviews (2)

Good Overview of this Industry!
Shaner takes you inside to the very center of the brothel from the women who work there, to the customers to the mundane but necessary operations that keep the whole thing afloat.She even dares to tackle the subject of systematic racism in this industry, which is something I have NEVER seen done in any other book on this issue.The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars is because in the beginning, Shaner uses a lot of obvious puns and one-liners that are irritating and distracting to read. Once you get past that,however, this is a very informative book.

Well Written-Passionate, Daring and Totally Unconventional!
A fantastic book! A book of insights and deep dark secrets, offering the reader the most sumptuous feast of a novel to ever emerge from this "other" side of life. A true roller-coaster of emotions evoking laughter and compassionate tears at the same time. I devoured each page, staying up 'til the wee hours of morning with this one-of-a-kind find. Where has this author been all my life?? Read this book and be prepared to discover stories which have never previously existed in the world of literature! They're delicious, funny, sensual, painful and some are outright unbelievable! Overall, it's an outstanding contribution to our real understanding of the deeper processes that shape all our lives, because it reveals the human side of prostitution. Like others, I thought of prostitutes as dirty, misguided and low-life's. Those who patronized them were just as despicable in my mind. But of course, I knew nothing of the real facts until I read Madam. I had never thought about the disabled, disfigured, paraplegics or the mentally retarded who may never experience the human touch, a hug or being held in a woman's arms,except when they visit bothels and the women/prostitutes who are with them emotionally as well as physically. Most women I know, myself included, would not have the level of compassion it would take to hold a severely retarded man in her arms, while he drooled and jerked all over her! The book paints both sides of the story, the good, the bad and the ugly. It's all so very fascinating and a real learning experience. I felt like I was watching the entire brothel operation through the Madam's eyes and heart. Thank you, thank you for an unforgettable experience and life-lesson! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Business    5. Regional Subjects - West    6. Women    7. Western & Pacific Coast states    8. Women's studies   

Reviews (2)

Down-to-earth, sincere
These diaries of Mary Walker and Myra Eells bring to life the early day pioneer struggles to maintain survival and sanity during the years 1838-1848.Being recently married wives of missionaries, both Walker and Eells maintained excellent daily diaries of their arduous overland journey from Missouri to Washington.In company with two other missionary wives (Gray and Smith), they were the second group of women to cross the continent.These overland diaries are an entrancement to read, depicting day to day life along the Oregon Trail while riding side-saddle for 1900 miles.Mrs. Walker was oftentimes dismayed over both the long journey and the uncertain and questionable love of her husband (she was also pregnant during this journey). An impressive compilation of our past.
I am very impressed with this new release of Mary Walker's Diary.I am a direct decendant of Mary and Elkanah Walker and am very proud that there is such a wonderful book with her's and Myra Eells' diary entries.It givesus a view of how women's lives were, how people's views about the NativeAmericans were at that time, and shows us the hardships of pioneer life.Iwant to thank the authors for keeping this piece of history alive.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Correspondence    4. Diaries    5. Historical - General    6. History: American    7. Northwestern States    8. Regional Subjects - West    9. U.S. Local History - Western United States    10. United States - State & Local - General    11. Women    12. Women In The U.S.    13. Women missionaries    14. Women pioneers    15. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    16. Biography: general    17. Eells, Myra Fairbanks    18. USA    19. Walker, Mary Richardson   

Reviews (23)

One Teacher's Story, for All Teachers
I first bought and read The Thread tht Runs So True when I taught in California because our superintendent recommended it as his favorite book.I understand why - in addition to a fascinating story of Stuart's success in making a living classroom out of an empty building (which I had to do as a first-year fresh-out too), the book explores the motivations, challenges, and victories of teaching, anywhere. I used Stuart's life lessons while I taught, and since. Every teacher deserves to read this book -- for perspective, for purpose, and to see the universality of the teaching and learning experience. Read it!

wow what an inspirational book
This book was so inspiring that I went to Kentucky and got a teaching certificate and began teaching to really creeped-out rednecks and "hillpeople" and they loved it and they all went from D students to A students except for Chainsaw Gremp who was a real class comedian. When Stuart says (on page XII) that he would "rather eat horse poop than shake a mexcin's hand" I really believed it as it was very powerful and that is why I licked this book and you should like it too.

Lower Than Low
After finishing The Thread That Runs So True by Jesse Stuart, I sit here to give you my review on this book. Even though the book didn't catch my attention that much it had its ups and downs.The only thingthat caught my attention while reading this book was how he fought back against the "man" and got his job back, but then he stuck it to them at the end. As for the down points of the book it would have to be the rest of the book. I could not in a million years honestly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1906-1984    2. 20th century    3. American - General    4. Authors, American    5. Biography    6. Biography & Autobiography    7. Biography / Autobiography    8. Biography/Autobiography    9. Educators    10. General    11. Kentucky    12. Literary    13. Regional Subjects - South    14. Stuart, Jesse,    15. Biography & Autobiography / Educators    16. Biography: general   

Reviews (7)

1st rate biography
Over the past 25 years I have read dozens of biographies. Most are not much more than a chronological listings of a person's accomplishments with little depth or analysis. This is one of the few biographies I have read that helps us understand the person which is what a real biography should do. But it is more than a biography. It helps us understand the life and the times of Tom McCall. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to get to know Tom McCall, Oregon political history of the mid 20th century and the environmental movement.

Tom McCall's Story Is Oregon's Story
More than two decades after his death, almost three decades after he left the governor's office, Tom McCall remains the defining figure of Oregon politics. It was during his tenure in office (1967-1975) that Oregon gained its reputation as a national leader in innovative public policy. Where have all the Tom McCall's gone??
This biography of the modern day father of Oregon, makes this native long for days past.For days when Oregon was a leader on the national politcla/cultural/social scene.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Political    5. Regional Subjects - West   

Editorial Review

In books such as Read more

Reviews (23)

LIKE READING SOMEONE'S DIARY
Basically a series of anecdotes.Like reading someone's diary.
I Hate Myself
I hate myself for having read this book right to the end.It was like reading aspecial double issue of Vanity Fair, packed full of scabrous gossip about a bunch of people I never heard of efore and never will again.The so-called "celebrities" who flicker through the pages of the book were just flying in, they don't live in Palm Beach, and who's left?Well, Donald Trump and a few others, all of them deadly dull.
Interesting read but not earthshattering
I initially picked up this book because I thought that life in Palm Beach would make for an interesting story.I was wrong.Dead wrong.Instead I find tales of deceit and lies interwoven to form a web of snobbery, elitism, and low self-esteem. Yes, low self-esteem.For if one really reads betwen the lines and asses the information in Kessler's book, one will find that the people are lacking inmany ways that money cannot fix.Overll the book was interesting.However, I feel that Kessler indeed got bogged down with too much namedropping and with too many vague and uninteresting characters.The story could have flowed a bit better and perhaps would have been more interesting had he gone more indepth about the bigotry that currently inhabits Palm Beach.Still, this was not Kessler's best work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Florida    4. Florida - Local History    5. Non-Classifiable    6. Palm Beach    7. Palm Beach (Fla.)    8. Regional Subjects - South    9. Rich & Famous    10. Rich people    11. Social life and customs    12. Sociology    13. United States - State & Local - General    14. Places & peoples: general interest   

Reviews (4)

A real "keeper" of a book

wonderful collection of stories
If you've ever wanted to just forget city life and pack up and move to the country, read this book.It's a great collection of non-fiction writing about Drake's life in rural wine country, raising sheep and making wine.

Truly lovely writing!
Barbara Drake has written a sweet and lovely word-picture of her life on the Oregon farm she shares with her husband and their motley group of animals. Although she writes with a tender love for her land, and all that is on it, it is never saccharine, and is actually quite informative for anyone thinking of undertaking this type of lifestyle change.The book is written as a collection of brilliant essays,each filled with pathos,tenderness,and a deep understanding of the dramatic lifestyle changes involved in delving into farming.We meet, and learn to love, her sheep, geese, the sheepherding dogs,and the colorful neighbors. And even her warm and adoring father,who has an especially hilarious relationship with the hugely protective gander who patrols the gaggle of geese on the property, becomes someone you wish you could have met in person. This is one of those truly magical reads that leaves you with an afterglow of satisfaction after it's done. This is a must-read for anyone who appreciates the beauty and the magic of nature, the relationship of animal friends, the satisfaction of self-reliance and independence, or just someone who loves simply-beautiful prose. Barbara Drake is a poet at heart. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Country life    5. Drake, Barbara    6. Farmers & Ranchers    7. Oregon    8. Oregon - Local History    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Regional Subjects - West    11. Social life and customs    12. Willamette River Valley    13. Willamette River Valley (Or.)    14. Women   

Reviews (4)

The old Wild west
I read this great book after visiting the wild horse sanctuary in South Dakota, what a blessing!I was traveling back from the Tetons, where my father(74 yrs old) and I had been working for the forestry service riding mustangs.What a great book to read after my experience in the wild.It must have been GREAT living back then.ENJOY the book, great read

Review of Pastures of Beyond
A wonderful collection of stories about the life of cowboys and indians during the 1930s, 40s and 50s.The author provides a look back at a period of time in the American West that is now gone.

Delightful Stories, Well Told
I don't know if you'd exactly call this a biography or not. It's a series of stories, loosely connected, ordered somewhat in a timeline. And fascinating stories they are. He lived in a time when the west, and indeed the world was changing. Then again, I guess it's always changing. I had dinner last night with a young man that seemed a lot like Hawk Hyde must have been 40 years ago. Forehead white as can be, the rest of his face well tanned. Not a dimestore cowboy. He even made the same comments about rodeos, he competes in the local ranch hand rodeos, but the big money circuit is not for working ranch hands.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1925-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Historical - General    7. Hyde, Dayton O.,    8. Oregon    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Ranch life    11. Ranchers    12. Reference    13. Regional Subjects - West    14. Yamsi    15. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (6)

Misleading title
A fellow book club member said that he would give this book one star just for the fact that the author was actually able to get it published.Building on this theory, I am willing to give it another star because I did find many of the anectdotes interesting and/or funny.If it were't for those 2 things, I don't know if I would have given this book any stars.
It Happened In Omaha
An entertaining tall tale from the heartland.I didn't believe one thing in the book, which isn't good when you're supposedly writing non-fiction.A lot of the book takes place in the city where Rips Senior lived, Omaha, and at a second rate hotel, the Congress, populated by a gang of absurd down-and-outers a la Wim Wenders' Million Dollar Hotel.When Nick Rips dies, his son Michael finds some art photos of a black woman among his dad's papers.This book is his account of how he tried to find out the identity of this mystery woman.Ii involves a lot of white guilt.
Rich in History
Though I generally dislike mystery's, I really enjoyed this book. This is and was a man's life, a real story was being told. What a great book. From the first page I was sucked in. Rips is a wonderful storyteller, knowing just the right amount of humor to throw in. Who knew that Omaha's history was so interesting. I felt that I was sitting i history class ( I love history) drinking up facts about Al Capone's ties to Omaha, brothels and slaughter houses. There were parts of the books that lagged a bit, but its still worth the read, Rips finally finds the naked woman and he finally knows the man that was his father. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - General    5. Jews In The U.S.    6. Nebraska - Local History    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Regional Subjects - Midwest    9. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

Slapped with a libel suit after an appearance on a talk show,Malachy McCourt crows, "If they could only see me now in the slums of Limerick, a big shot, sued for a million. Bejesus, isn't America a great and wonderful country?" His older brother Frank's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Read more

Reviews (198)

Strange
Frank McCourt wasn't really perfect. He drank quite a bit, left his wife and child. And yet, despite all of that and his affairs he is somewhat endearing. He also went on to become a teacher struggling to teach teenagers who had their minds on other things.
Run Frank Run!
Mallachy gives Frank a run for his money or should I say book. I cannot believe the talent in Angela's family. I will not spoil the story for you. Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The excesses, the humour, the wit, the heartbreak, the wasted youth, all of it. Kudos McCourt!

An alternative look from a second McCourt brother
Malachy McCourt brings a unique perspective to his life and the lives of immigrants struggling to get by years ago.His wit and his disregard for people who don't want to hear the truth are the primary reasons I couldn't put this book down.I am now reading it for a second time - it is the kind of book you can pick up and read again and again.This book has so many details and situations which can be read several ways, and each time I read a piece of the book, I read it again and this results in a new way of looking at his life but I come away with the same appreciation for it.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. United States - State & Local - General    7. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (1)

Fantastic journals of a tough breed,lifestyle and adventure
I own originals of Hobson's three books and re-read them every few years.His ability to vividly portray the life that he and The Top Hand and later Mrs. Hobson had in the interior of British Columbia is to have been there.It is hard in today's comfortable way of life to envision the situationsand dangers that were simply a part of how it was back then. Having grownup in the mountains of the U.S. West, I can only marvel at the abilities ofthese adventuresome pioneers in the cattle country of B.C. To have met RichHobson was of great interest to me... I simply waited too long and he hadpassed away. The travels and travails through Hobson's life would make anawsome story for a movie. Note: Make sure you read the three books insequence... and enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Canada    3. Canada - General    4. General    5. History    6. History: World    7. Regional Subjects - West    8. Fiction / General