Editorial Review

At age nine, Lucy Grealy was diagnosed with a potentially terminalcancer.When she returned to school with a third of her jaw removed, shefaced the cruel taunts of classmates.In this strikingly candid memoir, Grealy tells her story of great suffering and remarkable strength without sentimentality and with considerable wit.Vividly portraying the pain of peer rejection and the guilty pleasure of wanting to be special, Grealycaptures with unique insight what it is like as a child and young adult to be torn between two warring impulses: to feel that more than anything else we want to be loved for who we are, while wishing desperately and secretly tobe perfect ... Read more

Reviews (74)

It had Potential...
Avoid this book like the plague.
Achingly honest and touching memoir from a real human being
Many reviewers have beautifully reviewed this haunting memoir. I just wanted to add how touched I was by Lucy's struggle, not to be special, but to be normal. Her memoir describes acutely the psychic distress of finding oneself outside the norm in society. Despite Lucy's struggle for acceptance and normalcy, she still displays true wisdom and strength from her "outsider" perspective. Some think her stance toward others is unsympathetic, I found her to be as unflinching in revealing her thoughts and found her level of awareness of herself refreshing, if self-oriented, at times. There is something about standing out in an unwanted way that can create a barrier between us and the rest of the world and perhaps Lucy had a protective barrier that closedher off from others. Who am I to judge, I just stand in awe of the courage she displays time and again.Other reviewersalso criticize Lucy for not overcoming her need for acceptance, or normalcy. I can only thank Lucy for incarnating and being who she was, so honestly, so vulnerably, and for offering us an uncensored, heart-breaking, and ultimately revealing view of her experience of the world. I am sure many will resonate with the experience of being "outcast" and feel we have a friend and supporter in Lucy. Thanks Lucy, for not putting any masks on in your writing but allowing us to see youin your true complexity. I salute you wherever you may be.
The Spiral Staircase Revisited
This book was much better written than Karen Armstrong's The Spiral Staircase but it was the same whining and self-pitying all over again. The author had no real feelings about her father's death yet she can't understand how people lack compassion for her deformity. When a woman who had had a mastectomy spoke to her about her own deep feelings of ugliness and loss, she dismisses the other woman's feelings because no one else's suffering can be as great as her own. It seems like she could only think of herself, her own feelings and her complete misery at being "ugly" without the slightest inkling that other people might have feelings and tragedies in their own lives.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Cancer (Psychosocial Aspects)    6. Diseases - Cancer    7. Disfigured persons    8. Ewing's sarcoma    9. Medical - General    10. Patients    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Specific Groups - General    13. United States    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

When reality got "too dense" for 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen, she was hospitalized. It was 1967, and reality was too dense for many people.But few who are labeled mad and locked up for refusing to stick to an agreed-upon reality possess Kaysen's lucidity in sorting out a maelstrom of contrary perceptions. Her observations about hospital life are deftly rendered; often darkly funny. Her clarity about the complex province of brain and mind, of neuro-chemical activity and something more, make this book of brief essays an exquisite challenge to conventional thinking about what is normal and what is deviant. ... Read more

Reviews (399)

A Funny and Heartbreaking Memoir of a Girl, Interrupted
Girl, Interrupted is about an eighteen year old girl named Susanna Kaysen, who attends McLean Hospital- a psychiatric place for teenage girls. Her new therapist sent her there because he said that she had a personality disorder. Along the way to recovery, she meets new people with problems of their own.
not for me....
In my opinion this was not a good book. If it hadn't been such a short read I probably wouldn't have been able to finish it. Maybe the movie is better.

Country Club living
In one of the reviews found on my edition states that "Girl, Interrupted" is a writer's book" (Boston Phoenix Literary Section). The Philadelphia Inquirer' review states, "Remarkable....In prose lean and mean," and "it avoids the romantic inflation that most other sufferers of psychoses fall into when they describe their experience". Kaysen simply lets us know, with spare prose, what it is like to have a life interrupted by madness." These reviews praising Kaysen's book are the main reasons why I didn't care for the book as much as would have liked to. Because of that sparse and lean prose the book lacks depth. It reads more like a series of unrelated vignettes rather than a cohesive novel. The reviewer praises Kaysen's book for avoiding "romantic inflation," while I feel it shows the exact opposite.
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Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Kaysen, Susanna,    7. Literary    8. Massachusetts    9. Mental health    10. Psychiatric hospital patients    11. Specific Groups - Special Needs    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    14. Kaysen, Susanna    15. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (37)

You have to read this!
As a young person who is baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I can relate to some of the things that Simone has to go through, like persecution at school (although never anywhere NEAR the degree she faced.) I couldn't believe what she had to go through. I was moved to tears many, many times throughout the book. Simone's strength is incredibly encouraging to me. Even if you aren't one of Jehovah's Witnesses, this book will still capture you. I would recommend it to everyone!

A must read!!
This book was truly amazing!!I enjoyed every word, and as a person who does not do a lot of "pleasure reading" I was amazed that I could not put it down, I finished it in 2 days!!Those who have accepted pure worship, and have come to understand the truth from God's word the bible will have appreciation for this little girl who at such a young age decided to accept Jehovah as the only true God, and to worship him to her death if necessary.The truth in the Gospels shone through when she and her mother aquired a bible of their own and realized that the teachings they were learning at church were not accurate.Her strength and conviction and complete trust in Jehovah is an example that we all do well to follow as the end of this system draws ever so close, we do well to keep examples like Sister Leibster in the front of our minds as we enter into our time of persecution.This book will strengthen any person no matter what religion or background you may be, I am glad that I had the chance to read about a fellow believer who stayed faithful, and I am reminded too, as we all should that African American decendents, Homosexuals, Gypsies, the mentally and physically disabled, Jews, Jehovah's Witnesses and many more suffered together as a human race.We hear so many accounts of certain religious groups being tortured under Hitlers regime, this book reminds us that not just one but many groups suffered, and we may feel inclined toward the suffering of one group over another, however, they were all people, strong people, and this book reminds us that the ones who suffered were mothers, fathers, someones sister or brother, child or grandparent!!That is what you should remember when you finish reading this book!!

MC
This is an outstanding book. It shows how important it is for parents to train the children early in the way they shoud grow up. This girl was not baptised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses but she conducted herself in an a manner that showed she had dedicated her life to God, (Jehovah)> ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Childhood Memoir    5. Historical - General    6. Historical - Holocaust    7. History / Military / World War II    8. Women    9. Biography & Autobiography / General    10. Childhood and youth    11. History    12. Jehovah's Witnesses    13. Liebster, Simone Arnold    14. Military - World War II    15. World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (6)

Queen Emma and the Vikings
It is difficult to write a positive review of this book. I would not call it good. The writer begins each chapter with a fanciful, novel- style account of what Queen Emma might have felt and done, which, in my view, is out of place in a scholarly work. This is not to be confused with actual historical fact. Also the book is permeated with slang terms that irritate. In addition there is a great deal of detail on subjects that have nothing whatsoever to do with the Queen, such as cures for pimples and warts. These sorts of reminiscences are more in line with a book on the life and times of Anglo Saxon England than with Queen Emma herself. Historical fact on the Queen is thin and is hidden in a lot of extraneuous detail. It is a mildly interesting book, once you get past all the irrelevant detail, but no more than that. In short, the author could have written the details of the Queen'slife in half the words she has used.

Kudo's to the Authoress
I absolutely loved this book, and I am confident that any fan of European, British, or medieval history will love it as well. The authoress deserves praise not only for her research and captivating writing style, but because she refreshingly tackled a new subject by writing a biography of a relatively now-obscure queen who lived a millenia ago but whose story deserves to be told. To someone such as myself who enjoys reading history and despairs that the farther back in time one goes the less information there is to read about, Miss O'Briens biography is a
Queen Emma
I have not been able to give this book my full attentioin as yet, but in browsing through it appears to have the sort of info that I expect to find on the period in question.So I really cannot give the book a fair rating until I have read it.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. England    6. Great Britain    7. Historical - British    8. Historical - General    9. Normans    10. Queens    11. Royalty    12. Vikings    13. Women    14. World - General   

Editorial Review

Preceding the phenomenal success of Mitch Albom's Read more

Reviews (20)

Touching View of Humanity
Reading Tuesday's With Morrie touched me deeply, since I struggle everyday with a congenital heart problem--and I never know when the next day may be my last.Morrie's wisdom, humor and expriences is brought through from Mitch Albom's terrific writing.Morrie's words cannot be more insightful and wise as my body is beginning to break down....I re-read his book quite often, so I can feel uplifted.
Morrie:In His Own Words
If you've read Tuesdays with Morrie, then this has to be a companion read.They cover the same material but In His Own Words definitely makes you, as the reader, think of your own immortality and how to better yourself so that in the end, you will have contributed all that is important to you.

Wise advice for the dying, plus a little bit for the not-so-dying
Schwartz, the protagonist of Mitch Albom's Tuesdays with Morrie, gives candid, helpful advice about making the most of your remaining days or months or years. I read Tuesdays with Morrie and thoroughly enjoyed the insights into listening to and caring about others. Albom did an effective job of culling out those parts of Morrie's advice that applied most readily to those of us who don't feel that our deaths are imminent.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Death, Grief, Bereavement    3. Self-Help    4. Social Science    5. Sociologists    6. Sociology - General    7. Specific Groups - General    8. Self-Help / Death, Grief, Bereavement   

Editorial Review

As with most books written by politicians while in office (or at least aiming for one), Read more

Reviews (689)

profile of a president wanna be
I just thought I was a detailed person - Hilary has me beat.Easy enough reading, but felt I was being prepped for her future presidential campaign.

Not a page turner.
Don't get me wrong. I like Hillary. Anyone who was a first lady pushing broom behind Bill, then deciding that wasnt enough and got elected to the Senate to reperesent people from New York has to have nothing but guts or a lot of stupidity. The latter she most certainly is not. A writer...? Not really. At least in the autobiographical sense. This book is too too too full of sweet and syrup and praise and love and admiration and high regard and laughter and tears of joy and feel good and hugs and and and and and... Doesnt anything really piss this woman off?? I know it does but you wont see it in this book. I KNOW that a sitting Senator and perhaps Presidential candidate is going to be real carful about what people and issues they talk about. Positive or negative. Politicions writing books about themselves and their professions are done so that no one gets offended or forgotten. Husband Bills book is full of that. Not that were looking for sex and drugs and rock and roll. We'll get all those after they leave office and retire. Hillary has a style that is very good reading if warm, fuzzy and cuddly is what you want in a "its all about me" book. It just didnt leave much of an impression about the person on me. It was more like reading (or being read to) a childrens book for adults. I'd rather Hillary rewrite this book so we can get a look at the real person, not a lot of translucent fluff. If it was TV, it would have come off like a 10 hour interview with Katy Cuoric. Sorry folks to be so negative on this one but the book really did end up reading like a political campaign speech. A good speech though.

Living, Lying, and Reconstructing History
Remember, this is the woman who is an attorney, and didn't follow the Sunshine Rules when trying to coordinate a national healthcare program.She is also a woman who couldn't remember a thing about the billing records from the Rose Law Firm she had misplaced in her private quarters.She also served on the board of directors of Walmart for many years, then when it was politically expeditious to do so, blasted their policies, which helped earned her fees.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. First Ladies    5. General    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Political    8. Biography & Autobiography / General    9. Women legislators    10. Political    11. First Ladies   

Editorial Review

Any book that can give voice to the voiceless should be celebrated. No one feels this more strongly than Wally Lamb, editor of Read more

Reviews (47)

'can't keep this to myself'
I have been an admirer of Wally Lamb for quite awhile now.But when I read that he was volunteering his time to conduct writing workshops at York Correctional Institution, I was so very impressed and moved.I couldn't put the book down; it was so full of life -- and living.Even under the worst circumstances.The writings demonstrate what we -- and the "officials" -- have always known:that most molestations of children are conducted by close friends or relatives.And that kind of betrayal can never be undone. But I was so disappointed when the book was over and I had no more to read from the group.I could have gone on reading much more from these remarkable women, who have lived such violent, difficult lives.And this is not to excuse the crimes they committed, but merely to acknowledge that they are not only their crimes, but complete lives of individuals who evolved to where they are today.As much as I have admired Wally Lamb and his writings before (I only read two books of his), I admire him even more and eagerly await his next book.And I hope there will be another volume from his Women of York workshops.

Disturbing butoften hopeful
I am glad that I read this book as it gave me a bit of an insight to what life is like in prison for woman incarcerated at a maximum prison. This book certainly helped me to appreciate the freedoms that most of us take for granted on a much larger scale of understanding. I usually keep my reviews pretty short, but I have to add that these short stories these courageous women wrote in this book are very worth while reading and I learned quite a lot from these woman who were willing to share their lives with us.Being someone who worked at a maximum facility for men, I always wondered what the female experience in jail would be like, and I believe that this book gives you a pretty good idea. None of the incarcerated women make any excuses for their crimes, they accept full responsibility, and then give us a bio of their lives, as far as what may have led up to their crimes.Yes it was disturbing for me to read at times, but yet a book I just could not put down. What disturbed me was clearly hearing about how much violence these woman as children sadly grew up with, and how no one was there to help them, or assist them out of the nightmare of child abuse, and domestic violence. The beginning of the book is interesting as well as Wally Lamb talks about his life just a little bit and what led up to his other book, "She's Come Undone", which is another book if his I couldn't put down.
One of the best books I've read in awhile
I must confess, I did not open this book without some bias.I volunteer at a prison and have a deep interest in women's issues, and after reading the other Amazon.com reviews, I was pretty sure I would love this book.(I was right.)What I didn't expect was a strong desire to share it with just about everyone I know.Don't get me wrong, this is no "Chicken Soup for the Soul" -- there are some hard stories in this book.But the writing is outstanding, and in reading each story I was captivated by the author's personality, struggles, hopes, and essential humanity.This book was, for me, a powerful aid to compassion and understanding.I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American literature    2. Composition & Creative Writing - General    3. Connecticut    4. Language    5. Language Arts & Disciplines    6. Penology    7. Prisoners' writings, American    8. Sociology    9. Women    10. Women authors    11. Women prisoners    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Language Arts & Disciplines / Composition & Creative Writing   

Reviews (2)

Rewarding Faith and Love will come to you...
EXCELLENT book. I am not the best sometimes at reading nor finishing a book, however this one...I could not put it down. This book was great and she made it very easy to understand. Sometimes the Bible can be a bit hard to understand for some people so they just avoid and don't read. Reading this book will put it all in perspective for you in understanding these great women of the Bible. They all have stories in what you can relate to even in our times now. Its awesome and you will greatly enjoy it and it will greatly strengthen your faith in what God has for you. Its a great book for a womens Bible study group, I highly advise it. Sometimes you don't need all the fancy big books to get what you need out of it....

Big Disappointment
We purchased this book for our moms' Bible study group and are very disappointed by this book's peppy, shallow nature.For example, the chapters on Sarah's remarkable faith fail to mention Hagar and Ishmael.We will be abandoning our study of this book for one with a more complex and in depth discussion of the triumphs, struggles, and failures of women in the Bible ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible    2. Bible - Biography - General    3. Bible - General    4. Bible - Topical Studies    5. Christianity - Christian Life - Women's Issues    6. General    7. Religion    8. Religion - Biblical Studies    9. Women And Religion (General)    10. Women in the Bible    11. Biblical studies, criticism & exegesis    12. Christian life & practice    13. Religion / Christian Life    14. Religion: general    15. Women's studies   

Reviews (226)

Fan-f***ing-tastic.
I love love love this book. I'm a major chick-lit reader, and after reading Bitter, I'm addicted to it, and her website. I would gladly be a citizen of Jennsylvania.

smartass's rock
This book is amazing!! However, reading this in public may get some strange looks when you are constantly laughing out loud. The pro in this being that you may get a seat all to yourself. This book tells a riches to rags story (true) in a hilarious truthful way that I think everyone can relate to. I love this book and even though I got this from the library I plan on buying it.

love it, love it, love it!!!!!!!!!
This is one of those books you can curl up with and have a good laugh, a good cry and feel better about yourself with Jen's poignant tale of life after the dot-com bubble burst.She comes out a changed woman in the end and very relatable.All in all, a great book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Fiction - General    8. General    9. Job hunting    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Unemployed women workers    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (10)

Very Happy Hours
This is hands-down the BEST "mommy" book I have read.Forget all the parenting magazines, forget all the girlfriend guides...anyone who has become a mommy and wonders where the wild girl she was before went MUST read this book.I listened to the audiobook and it had me in stitches.Thank you Brett Paesel for your brutal, raw, and much needed honesty!

Best Book
This is the funniest, best book I've ever read about the thoughts and emotions of new mothers.Brett Paesel has had the courage to publish thoughts that I don't even admit I have.Even my husband, who endured my reading it aloud to him, enjoyed it and totally relates to the scenarios Brett paints about her own husband.
A very funny, refreshingly honest, well-written tale of new motherhood.
Any adult can relate to the core story: How does one resolve a decision your heart knows is right, but which threatens the rest of your being? Here, Brett knows having a husband, child, and family was the right choice, but she'd like a second opinion. What follows is a story of a woman searching for the answer she knows it out there. The answer that is, "yes. Yes. Yes!"
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Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. California    7. Character actors and actresses    8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    9. Individual Actors And Actresses    10. Los Angeles    11. Motherhood    12. Mothers    13. Parent And Child    14. Personal Memoirs    15. Women's Studies - General    16. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts   

Reviews (122)

I want more!
I loved this book! The art is simple, yet powerful. The story, informative, heartwarming and compassionate. And all done by one person, which is not all that common. I actually FELT for the characters, I felt like I knew them. That's a sign of great storytelling.
Touching, Humorous and Entertaining All at the Same Time
This is a really good story of a young girl that would be inspiring to anyone of any age and is told in a particularly interesting way. It's definitely one of my favorite graphic novels, especially since it's such a different sort of topic than most. I liked the black and white images...it was the perfect way to present them.

Unique eye-opener.
This was my summer reading assignment before my freshmen year of college, so I naturally assumed it would be a long, boring novel. I was pleasantly surprised by the comic book format, and even more pleased to actually be reading a story. This is a humorous, interesting, eye-opener. I found some chapters to be confusing and a little boring, but overall, I enjoyed the read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1969-    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Childhood Memoir    7. Comic books, strips, etc    8. Ethnic Cultures - General    9. Fine Arts    10. Literary    11. Middle East - General    12. Satrapi, Marjane,    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Women   

Reviews (19)

Inspiring
I bought this book about 6 years ago. It's one of those books that you pick up and cannot put down. I was totally enthralled with it from the first few pages and every chapter became more and more inspiring. I was not a Christian when I read this book, so it's not just for believers. Rather it is a book for those who long for something more in their lfe, to walk in a deeper yet more 'simple' way. All of the chapters such as the ones on prayer, love, faith etc touched me deeply and even though it's been several years since I read it, I would read it again most definately. I lent it to someone and have never been given it back. I may just have to buy it again! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

A good reminder
This book is a good reminder of how to love. Many of us discuss, debate and guess at what real love looks like. This book reminds us that love can range from serving to just holding someone who is living their last days. This book often wisely suggests that we could preach less and serve more. Inspiring.

To understand, rather than be understood.
The book is perfectly titled. Mother Teresa's biographical information is minimal and the book does not canonize her. Apart from introducing the thoughts of volunteers who work with the Missionaries of Charity, her own words are few. What we find are simple views of a simple path, and beauty in simplicity. This is not the story of a famous nun, it is the story of a way of seeing ones world and of living without self-focus. Mother Teresa, and those who work in the missions that she and others have established and conducted, convey an attractive invitation to service to others. The path has been set before us in the Gospels of Matthew (25:34-40) and Luke (10:30-37). This small volume contains no rancorous sectarian, philosophical, or theological arguments. The themes are peace, love, joy, and fearless devotion to the welfare of others. The simple path is well summarized in the words of St Francis of Assisi:
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Subjects:  1. 1910-    2. 1910-1997    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Calcutta    7. Christian Life    8. Christianity - Christian Life - General    9. Humanitarians    10. India    11. Missionaries of Charity    12. Mother,    13. Nuns    14. Religion    15. Religious    16. Teresa,    17. Women    18. Religion / Philosophy    19. Teresa   

Reviews (240)

Absolutely gripping, this story had me in tears -a must read
Betty Mahmoody married an Iranian, who had been naturalised to America for more than 20 years.Yet when Khomeini led the Islamic revolution, he began to talk more and more of 'home'.While Betty had fears about going to Iran, she thought she must, as she did not want to file for divorce and risk her husband's wrath, and worse, that he could take her daughter who she might never see again.
Amazing Story
This is one of the few books I read in a couple of days.It is an amazing story and was refreshingly honest about a different culture without all the politically correct stuff that is usually in books!I highly recommend it!

A Great Book for High School Students
I first read this book when I was in high school. I loved the book so much that I had to have a copy for myself. This is a very compelling story and Betty shows herself to be strong and always thinking of her daughter's safety more than her own.I think that if high school students had a chance to read this compelling story then they would understand the hardships that some Americans go through when they go to foriegn countries or marry foriegners who end up kidnapping them once they get them into their native land. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Ethnic Cultures - General    4. Iran    5. Mahmoody, Betty    6. Movie-TV Tie-In - General    7. Movie/Tv Tie-Ins    8. United States    9. Wife abuse    10. Women   

Reviews (12)

So Very Disappointed
I had reservations about it when my small group decided to give this book a whirl, and although I was game and tried to like it, I just couldn't.
Great for Bible study
Our church's women's ministry used this book for our Bible study and enjoyed it tremendously. I could relate to so many of the characters and was so horrified by some of the others! I enjoyed reading about the many relatively obscure Biblical women. We had several elderly ladies in our group who were surprised to read stories they'd never remembered reading before. I liked that Higgs focuses on Biblical women who were strong leaders, even if they were bad for a season.
An Excellent Kind of Bible Study, Different and Good
I have to say Liz Curtis Higgs sheds new light, at least for me, on a lot of those women in the Bible. You know, I've read about all these women in Ms. Curtis's book before, but somehow when I read my bible I missed a whole heck of a lot. I don't know how, because when I read this book I wanted to slap myself upside the head plenty of times. Duh, I'd mudder, how come I didn't see that? How come I didn't get it? Well I'm getting a lot of it now. As a Bible teacher, Ms. Curtis really excells and she makes it oh so interesting. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bible - Biography - General    2. Bible - Stories - General    3. Bible - Study - General    4. Bible - Topical Studies    5. Biography    6. Christian women    7. Religion    8. Religion - Biblical Studies    9. Religious life    10. Women    11. Women in the Bible    12. Religion / Bible / Study / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (161)

A Driveling Story of Self Pity
Despite my profound love of literature, I could not bring myself to enjoy "The Woman Warrior".The monotonous writing style as well as the bland anecdotes did nothing but block me off from being immersed from the story.I felt myself yawning everytime I had to start a new chapter, and would have been estatic when I finished the book had I contained the energy to feel in such a way.I closed the book feeling drained, bored, tired, and unfulfilled.And if that was what I was aiming for while I read, I wouldn't enjoy the skill at all.

Not a must-read, but a should-read
As a student of literature, I have had to read Kingston's "No Name Woman" numerous times as it is widely anthologized. This story represents the first of five sections in "The Woman Warrior."
Amazing
I just finished reading this book as a requirement for my research in Folklore and Mythology class. At first, I wasn't exactly thrilled at the opportunity to read it, for I'm sure that anyone can relate with the pains that go with required reading. However, I was truly blown away.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. California    6. Chinese Americans    7. Ethnic Cultures - General    8. General    9. History    10. Minority Studies - Ethnic American    11. Social life and customs    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Biography: general    14. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Editorial Review

Snow White's stepmother looks like a pussycat compared to the monster under which Adeline Yen Mah suffered. The author's memoir of life in mainland China and--after the 1949 revolution--Hong Kong is a gruesome chronicle of nonstop emotional abuse from her wealthy father and his beautiful, cruel second wife. Chinese proverbs scattered throughout the text pithily covey the traditional world view that prompted Adeline's subservience. Had she not escaped to America, where she experienced a fulfilling medical career and a happy marriage, her story would be unbearable; instead, it's grimly fascinating: Read more

Reviews (320)

Falling leaves return to their roots.
Adeline Yen Mah was born in a well-placed, moneyed Chinese family prominent in the elite of Shanghai and later on in booming Hong Kong. Her mother died shortly after her birth, and she was always blamed for her death. Her father then married Niang, a beautiful Eurasian who is evil (particularly to Adeline), but nonetheless a formidable force in the Yen household.
Do some people just like abuse?
It is difficult to feel sorry for this woman.
Falling Leaves
This book was very interesting and a easy read. I love the fact that the author conveyed historic events. I would say that she could have went into to more details about her life with her second husband. How did the latter events affect her marriage and family? I would love to read about what has happened since the death of the stepmother. Good Book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1937-    2. Asia - China    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. California    8. China    9. Chinese Americans    10. Ethnic Cultures - General    11. General    12. Mah, Adeline Yen,    13. Social life and customs    14. Women    15. Women physicians    16. Biography & Autobiography / General    17. Mah, Adeline Yen   

Subjects:  1. Chemistry - General    2. Economics - General    3. General    4. History    5. Physics    6. Science    7. Science/Mathematics    8. Fascism & Nazism    9. Germany    10. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    11. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    12. Science / Physics    13. Second World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (28)

One of My New Favorite Books
Before beginning this review, I read the reviews of others; good and bad.I'm shocked at the venom spewed by people who called Erik Weihenmayer an arrogant jerk based on what they read.I had the opposite impression, but grant that the essence of an individual cannot be captured in the pages of a book.Many, many biographies have been written, yet, all fall short of completely describing the individual.Erik displayed unabashed love for his family, his wife, his friends, even his guide dog.He spent equal time describing his failures and his triumphs.He exposes his frailties by describing the trial and error involved in learning to effectively teach sighted children.He points out that the road to his successes were not his alone, but his, his family's, his wife's, his climbing partners', even his young students who were insightful and helpful when it came to his teaching.I especially liked that he described the antics, the pranks and the everyday 'slice of life' moments.I thouroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I can't imagine how anyone could NOT like it.But, there are all kinds people in this world and we all make it go 'round.I'd give it a perfect five, but it stops short of telling about climbing all seven summits.I'd prefer he'd waited until then to write his bio.

Soar to New Heights
I just finished reading the most wonderful book I have ever read.It's personal, it's a journey, it's an inspiration.And I don't even know how to make a tribute to the author.He seems like one of the more wonderful people in this world.The fact that he did what most of us couldn't is phenomenal; the fact that he enjoyed it is more. I was absorbed with this book from beginning to end.
Touch the Top of the World
I met Erik years ago and remember admiring his job.He was a blind man, on his own, teaching children.He cracked up over my high pitched voice.I could go on, but years later, we got in touch and I read his book.You see, this guy never complained or showed what he had been through.He was confident, independent...yet searching.