Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. People of Color    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. Specific Groups - General    7. Black studies    8. USA   

Reviews (2)

Immigrants - Why?
Read this book if you want to make sense of what is happening in the world today - It is funny, magical, strong and sometimes bewildering.Why do some immigrants find it hard to become Americans?Read it and find out.

People need to have this kind of experience
November 17, 2003 Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Dublin    6. General    7. Ireland    8. Irish American families    9. Irish Americans    10. New York    11. New York (State)    12. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    13. Women theatrical producers and directors    14. Family history    15. USA   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Childhood Memoir    3. History    4. History: American    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. United States - General    7. Biography & Autobiography    8. USA   

Subjects:  1. History / United States / State & Local    2. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    3. Social History    4. Social life and customs    5. Sociology    6. United States - South Atlantic - Virginia    7. Virginia    8. Virginia - Local History    9. Country life    10. Rural conditions    11. United States - State & Local   

Reviews (3)

A Man of Conviction; A Poor Biography
John Cardinal O'Connor was undoubtedly a man of conviction. He was a colorful poltical heavyweight; a significant player in worldwide Roman Catholic politics and in American affairs in general. Sadly, while O'Connor might be commended for his loyalty, he is not a man who should be exalted as one of the great spiritual leaders of the 20th century. Lovely book, terrific writer,fawning memories
John O'Connor,late Cardinal Archbishop of New York, was a large figure on the political and religious landscape for almost 17 years. One time Hawkish military chaplain{his pro military stances influenced many of the documents that came out of the bishops conferences],he became bishop of scranton, Pa.,then very quickly{I mean real quickly} Archbishop of the largest archdiocese in North America. He sparred with polticians early{Publicly berating democats Mario cuomo and Geraldine ferraro for their pro-choice stands}though not republicans{though he did criticise R Guliani 's policies as viscious against the poor}, so often putting his foot in his mouth that all three of the major dailies began putting reporters at the Sunday 10 am mass. This collection, has nomne of that. O'connor was a vociferous supporter of the state of Israel, and is warmly remembered as such. He was also an avowed opponenet of homsexuality, and some of his worst moments came in trying to defend his position. He was also a man of great generosity, refusing to close any schools{no matter how poor they were]. begging, literally, begging some of the moneybags catholics{Simon, Grace, et,al. } for donations.He opened doors of catholic hospitals to aids patients{while condeming thier lifestyle. }In short, a man of immense contradictions, who died a slow, painful public death, and did so with great dignity, and without some of the macabre operatic flourishes of so public a demise. The best of these remembrances come from ordianry folks,not the politicians nor clergy{what on earth do youthink a priest of another bishop would say about him? Now if they gave archbishop rembert weakland of Milwaukee a free hand to discuss OConnors lack of support for him with this problems with rome, that would have been interesting]. In all, a well done,though curiosly unsatisfying collection, too much warm fuzziness, not enough exploration.For those who admired him,a very good book. see also Nat Hentoff's ear;lier Biography{also very flattering] for more sources. A loyal soldier of the church.

Enduring devotion has made me biased
I am admittedly a very devoted friend of the late Cardinal. I miss him greatly as a former regular Mass-goer at St. Patrick's Cathedral in the late 90's. I miss him still more as my old guardian angel who did more than one favor for a skinny little kid from Brooklyn, without recompense. Nor did he seek it, except for my soul, and the hope that I would always love Jesus. So if you ever admired this man, his honesty, his frankness, his gift for trying his best in every circumstance, even if you did not agree with everything he said, you will indeed like this book. He was, as his friends reminisce, a mensch. You will hear his words, recognise his wit, recall his stature. I miss him too much, this man who fought tooth and nail, for whatever he thought was truly important for the well being of body and soul of his flock. But then, anyone in New York, or anyone in his line of sight was his flock. Oh, I miss him, and I am glad to hear from him again. Requiescat in pace. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1920-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Bishops    7. Cardinals    8. Catholic Church    9. Christianity - Catholicism    10. O'Connor, John Joseph,    11. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    12. Religious    13. United States    14. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (1)

Simple home spun stories
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (5/06)
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography / Historical    2. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    3. Biography & Autobiography / Religious    4. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    5. Baltimore    6. Catholics    7. Childhood Memoir    8. Humorous Stories    9. Roman Catholicism    10. Topic - Family   

Reviews (9)

A Family Story Told With Much Love
SQUIRE'S LEGACY is a story told with so much love of the author's family.It is a true story that any of us who have grown up in the mining communities of West Virginia in the 30's,40's and 50's can relate to in many ways. When I started reading this book,it touched my heart like no other. I read this book aloud to my husband. Being a native New Yorker, I knew he might not relate to the book as I did,and I wanted hime to know what my life was like growing up in southern West Virginia during that time. We were both held captive by this book,from beginning to end. We laughed together and cried together at their joys and their tragedies.In this book,the authors JAMES AND ELLIE WHITE have caught the very essence of what family is all about. Theirs is truly a love story told with much love and tenderness.

The Life and Struggles of Clifford Earl White
Many have tried to portray the lives of the coal camps and the trials the people endured.This one succeeds highly. Just Like Home!
My husband and I grew up in the same area as portrayed in this book. We felt the honesty, storytelling, and details of the lives mentioned were just like we remembered. We laughed, and cried and wished others would read and apply the values taught in this book. It reminded us of hard times, hard work, the love and lessons we grew up experiencing. We would recommend this book to any and all who long to be inspired. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    7. USA   

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Farmers & Ranchers    4. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Technology   

Reviews (1)

A heartwarming story
I really enjoyed this book -- it made me feel warm and cozy. I loved the way he interspersed his hunting stories with funny stories from the taxidermy shop. The book definitely had some serious moments, but the author always managed to balance them with a little bit of laughter. I got way more engrossed in the hunting stories than I would have expected; he really knows how to tell a hunting story. And finally, it was easy to read because you could put it down for a couple of weeks and pick it up right where you left off without having to remember a complicated plot. It was great. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. Childhood Memoir    7. Fishing stories    8. Hunting stories, American   

Reviews (4)

An honesty and humor that's rare
Francis Connelly's BY REASON OF CHILDHOOD is a frank remembrance of a youth spent on Brooklyn's sidewalks. While reading it, I was struck by how Mr. Connelly's book was a sort of male version of Betty Smith's A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN. The impossible task of coping with an alcoholic father, the toughing it out in the streets, the quick allies and enemies of childhood, all come together in this open and, often times, funny narrative. Qualities you don't find very frequently these days. The fact is, you have to learn to laugh at life, especially when it tends to frown at you; this is the subtext of BY REASON OF CHILDHOOD. It is a powerfully taught lesson which, to Mr. Connelly's credit, is conveyed to us through this wonderful book.

A touching and real memoir
I just finished reading this book, and spent as much time crying as I did laughing. It's basically a really engaging collection of episodes from an Irish youth spent making the most of a situation marked with the sadness of an absent, alcohholic father. I read Angela's Ashes several years ago, but found this memoir to be so much more refreshing because it's so much less "literary" and so much more personable. The voice with which the stories are told is more common than McCourt's (in my opinion almost contrived) loftiness, and the image I most often had in mind was Connelly as my own father, telling random stories from memory as they occurred to him, and as he remembered them. In spite of the hardships he was faced with, this guy was a champ at finding the fun and wonder in the simple things he had before him. I live in Brooklyn today, but Connelly made me wish for some of the Brooklyn of yesterday.

Touching and Inspiring
Once you get started reading this book, you won't want to put it down!This is the story of what it was like for a young Irish boy growing up in old time Brooklyn.You'll share in his triumphs and sorrows. The author has a certain charming wit that just about everyone can identify with. If you're a fan of true life stories - you must add ...by Reason of Childhood to your reading list. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Childhood Memoir    4. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    5. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. People of Color    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. Women    7. USA    8. Women's studies   

Reviews (1)

A most interesting memoir of New York in the 20's, and 30's
Writing of growing up as a Catholic with a Jewish ancestry in upper West side Manhattan, Fred Garel paints a fascinating childhood picture.He works hard at many jobs gettingeducated by all the characters who maintained the big apartment buildings and taught him how to work for rich people who allowed him to bring sumptious left-overs "home to mother". His experiences with a serious bout of Polio (infantile paralysis)left him a cripple who with loving care and his own tenacity allowed him to experience and tell of a rich, devoted and extremely varied life thru the great depression, WWII and on.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Church work with the poor    6. Garel, Fred    7. New York    8. New York (State)    9. Patients    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Poliomyelitis    12. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic   

Subjects:  1. Bacon, Margaret Hope    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Christianity - Quakers    6. Maryland    7. Non-Classifiable    8. Pacifists    9. Psychiatric aides    10. Quakers    11. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    12. Religious    13. Springfield State Hospital of    14. United States   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Biography/Autobiography    3. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    4. Biography: general   

Subjects:  1. Fiction    2. General    3. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    4. Sociology   

Reviews (3)

Looking for real people
I am the author of this book A Breath of Fresh Air!
This review is long overdue. I picked up Al's book almost a year ago at a local book sale. I'm not a big reader, but having met Al in person led me to buy the book. I began skimming the book later on that night. Eventually, I stopped skimming and began reading. The profiles in this book are interesting. Yes, these are 'everyday people', but Al's insightful writing sheds electricity onto their lives. It was really like a breath of fresh air to read about the lives ordinary people lead. It's not everyday, in this fast-paced world of ours, when you take the time out to sit down and learn about the strangers who come and go. I highly recommend this pleasurable read.

Sullivan: gritty realism, a pure reading pleasure
If you ever met Al Sullivan, the last thing you'd do is picture him as a dashing young soldier long ago at the height of the Vietnam war - much less baby sitting a bunch of freaky rockers outside his helicopter at a place called Woodstock. Yet, that's one of the duties he 'volunteered' for.Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. General    6. New Jersey    7. New Jersey - Local History    8. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    9. United States - State & Local - General   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Ethnic Cultures - General    3. Personal Memoirs    4. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Ethnic studies   

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. General    5. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    6. Biography: general   

Reviews (1)

A 19th century career with new millenium overtones.
John Wanamaker: Philadelphia Merchant is a fast paced, well researched account of one of America's premiere retailers. The author, Herbert Ershkowitz ascribes Wanamaker's success to beliefs critical to newmillenium themes. The importance of business to the community. Advertisingas the key to marketing success. Religion as the foundation of society.Must reading for the biography buff; the marketing major; the proactivecapitalist and the budding fashionista. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1838-1922    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Business    7. Businesspeople    8. Department stores    9. Historical - U.S.    10. History    11. Merchants    12. Pennsylvania    13. Philadelphia    14. Regional Subjects - MidAtlantic    15. Wanamaker, John,    16. Biography: general    17. Biography: historical