Reviews (4)

A 69-year-old mystery is one step closer to being solved
Everyone knows that Amelia Earhart did not finish her around-the-world flight in 1937 - and that is about the ONLY thing that anyone interested in finding out what happened next can agree on. Did she and navigator Fred Noonan crash at sea? Were they executed by the Japanese after a secret spy mission? Did Amelia somehow survive and end up living in the US under an assumed name? Was that Star Trek: Voyager episode the true solution?
A Fact-Based Theory About Amelia's Last Flight
Unsolved mysteries are a surefire way to get published and possibly turn a fast dollar or two.All it takes is a theory about what happened, bolstered by assertions presented as facts and some talent for writing the story.That's why the market is saturated with books that promise the reader "the True Story".
You Gotta Read This Book!!!!
I have been obsessed with finding out what really happened to Amelia Earhart for a number of years, and have read at least 20 -30 books written about her disappearance.
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Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Aviation - History    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. History    6. History: American    7. Pacific Area    8. Search and rescue operations    9. United States    10. United States - 20th Century    11. Women    12. Women air pilots    13. Aerospace & aviation technology    14. Aircraft: general interest    15. Biography: historical    16. USA    17. World history: from c 1900 -   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. American Letters And Correspondence    3. Authors, American    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Correspondence    6. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    7. Journalism    8. Journalists    9. Letters    10. Literary    11. Literary Collections    12. Literature: Classics    13. United States    14. United States - 20th Century    15. Women - 20th Century History    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

When Rita Golden Gelman traveled to Mexico during a two-month separation from her husband, she hoped to satisfy an old craving for adventure and, in the process, rejuvenate herself and her marriage. Little did she know it was the beginning of a new life, not just as a divorcée, but as a nomad of the world. Since 1986, Gelman has had no permanent address and no possessions except those she can carry. She travels without a plan, guided by instinct, serendipitous opportunities, and a remarkable ability to connect with people. At first her family and friends accused her of running away, but Gelman knew she had embarked on a journey of self-discovery and a way of life that is inspiring and enviable.Read more

Reviews (89)

Anti-American arrogance
The author leaves a rocky marriage and her twenty-ish year-old children and sets out for frugal nomadic adventures around the world.While in Mexico, she litters with the locals, trying not to offend and to fit in.In Nicaragua, she finds out that the American journalists had it all wrong.The Sandinistas are the people.The war is "Reagan's War," and she feels anger towards his policies.Although raised in a Jewish household, a trip to Israel stirs up no spiritual feelings.In the Galapagos Islands, she lucks out on getting a cut rate on an expensive cruise, but the boat breaks down, resulting in her booking a more economical cruise, so she reminisces about a past boat trip, where everyone (including herself which she fails to mention) can afford the high price.Unfortunately that was with ugly Americans of which one-third tended to be especially irritating.The mostly European econo-tour environment is better.In Indonesia, she drinks from the skull of a sacrificed neighboring tribe member and feels the taste of...cannibalism???She foists herself on the busy, arrogant orangutan studier, Dr. Galdikas, but ultimately loses out when the doctor treats her poorly.The book she insists on writing with and for the doctor is never published and you can feel the sour milk of her words.A wonderful prince tells her he's done the things in life that he was meant to do and is ready to die and that (even so) he will teach her and show her Bali from the inside.She arrogantly claims that his words mean that her education is his final duty in life.
Inspiring!!
I read this book quickly because I was fascinated with the adventures of this bold woman. I liked her narrative voice and felt like she was someone with whom I would want to travel.

This story is movie worthy
If you've ever been interested in traveling the world, this story is a must read.I met Rita as she made one of her 'pit stops' to the United States.She came to our school on the Navajo Reservation to present her children's stories.She is authentic, and even her visit to the rez contained a story worthy of the many you find in this book.I am waiting for the second volume to this amazing tale, as she continues to travel the world.You must read this! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Essays & Travelogues    3. Travel    4. Travelers    5. Women    6. Travel / Essays & Travelogues    7. Travel writing   

Editorial Review

Esmé Raji Codell has written a funny, hip diary filled with one-liners and unadorned thoughts that speak volumes about the raw, emotional life of a first-year teacher. Like Ally McBeal in the classroom, the miniskirted and idealistic Codell sometimes fantasizes her career is a musical. Her inner-city Chicago elementary school fades to black as the lunch lady strikes an arabesque or a struggling student performs the dance of the dying swan, all set to her interior soundtrack. (Tina Turner's "Funkier Than a Mosquita's Tweeter" echoes whenever her idea-stealing, dimwitted principal harangues her.) She's a rash, petite, white lady who roller-skates through the halls and insists that her fifth-graders call her "Madame Esmé." But it's not all fun and games: she introduces us to children who fling their desks and apologize in tears, and at one point, after reporting a disruptive student to her mother, who subsequently thrashes the young girl, she dry heaves into her classroom's trash can. Read more

Reviews (127)

Remember...It's a diary....
Simply -- I loved this book. I agree with many of the "less positive" reviews of this book where readers stated that Esme seemed overly smug BUT what you have to remember is that this is titled a DIARY. I know she wrote it to be published as a book but at the same time, she wrote it in the same style one would write a diary entry. I can guarantee you if anyone read MY diary, they would probably think the same things about me...how often do we accurately capture the "other side of the story" when we're writing how we feel in a journal or diary?

Enjoy
I laughed out loud and agreed with her so many times.It is refreshing to see someone at the beginning of a teaching career with this savy perspective.

Great book- fun read
I really liked this book- it is great for those considering going into the teaching profession, and also for those who are already teachers. It is funny and insightful. At times, there seems to be some exaggeration, but overall I thought this book was great. Also, it is a very quick read. I definitely reccomend this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Chicago    3. Diaries    4. Education    5. Educators    6. Elementary    7. Elementary school teachers    8. First year teachers    9. General    10. Illinois    11. Teaching Methods & Materials - General    12. Women    13. BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Educators    15. Biography: general    16. EDUCATION / General    17. Teaching of specific groups    18. Teaching skills & techniques   

Reviews (13)

More revelations
I just finished reading this book and it was a wakeup call for more than jsut the 911 families.After reading this and the roadblocks put in their paths to get this commission formed...then to read subsequently some fo the highlights from Bob Woodwards new book "In Denial", and the same Condaleeza Rice staffer who stonewalled and hid information about some briefings prior to 911 that he was involved in...really makes clearer the misinformation and coverup of this commission. Thank you Kristen for telling us your struggles and accomplishments in the wake of so much tragedy. Now if the rest of America will wake up and vote....and if we can ever get accountability back to answer all those 'unanswered' questions they would not even dignify with a response.
Her firsthand account of what she experienced is eye-opening.
I can feel her agony and frustration with the group on Capitol Hill.I am so glad that I took the time to read this book because Kristen Breitweiser gave a voice to so many of my feeling about our current political situations

Complacent Housewife. Activist Widow.
I believe Kristen Breitweiser's account of her life following 9/11 is very aptly named, "Wake-Up Call: The Political Education of a 9/11 Widow." In this straightforward and easy-to-read book, she reveals not only who she is and where she came from, but also her focused and driven reasons for maintaining a position in the public eye. It hasn't been for fame, money or glory. It has been to get to the bottom of how and why the terrorist attacks on 9/11 happened and how to prevent them from happening again. Through raw pain and unspeakable grief caused by the murder of her husband, she shares her love story and her motives. One can't help but admire her for her courage, strength, intelligence, endurance, and most importantly, her honesty.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. New Jersey    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Personal narratives    8. Political    9. Political Terrorism    10. September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001    11. Terrorism victims' families    12. Widows    13. Women    14. Women In The U.S.    15. 21st century    16. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    17. Biography & Autobiography / General    18. Biography: historical    19. Terrorism, freedom fighters, armed struggle    20. USA   

Reviews (7)

Stirring Art
Etta Clark scores with Growing Old is Not For Sissies II.Her book is filled with beautiful photography and a second look at some of the subjects from her first book.With frank honesty, she captures the essence of her subjects once again.An excellent book of art for any fan of photography.

A Must for Anyone Working in Gerontology
This book is a must for anyone who works with older adults.It is a photographic essay of some very special people....people who embrace the robustness of life, and who are disciplined to maintain their capabilities as long as possible.Our world is steeped in ageism, that is, believing that older people are only capable of doing things that are "appropriate" for their age.This book shatters those beliefs and provides living examples of people who continue doing what they love to do physically.I wish that Etta Clark would revise this book with a new set of photos every year!I have seen some of these photos over and over again in lectures that people give about aging.It is a book to be owned, not borrowed.

So inspiring, I think I'll run a marathon!
Just one look at the photos and all your excuses for being a couch potatogo out the door.This book is filled with inspirational photos of seniorathletes.Helen Zechmeister, age 91, works out 3 days a week, deadlifts200 pounds and can do the full splits.A competitive swimmer, MarieWilcox-Little at 73 has a much better figure than I could ever hope to have(I'm merely 30).My favorite: Ivor Welch,(Volume 1)was never active until83 when his wife his wife passed away.To mourn her death he startedwalking, then running, then running marathons.By the age of 90 he ranfive marathons and 2 half marathons!If Ivor can do it, by golly, so canI!A must have for anyone who wants to enjoy life to its fullest! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Exercise For Older Adults    5. Gerontology    6. Older athletes    7. Portraits    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Specific Groups - General    11. Sports - General    12. United States    13. Biography: sport    14. The Arts: General Issues   

Reviews (9)

Very well done bio
This is a very good biography of Alice B. Sheldon, an incredibly talented female SF author who did the only thing she could do to survive as an intelligent woman in a world of follow-alongs--she adopted a male persona. James Tiptree, Jr. (Alice got the name "Tiptree" from a jar of jam) wrote some of the most accomplished science fiction the world had ever seen. She wowed Harlan Ellison, Bob Silverberg, Barry Malzberg, Ursula LeGuin, and many others who were at the top of their game during the sixties, seventies, and eighties. No one had seen anything quite like Tiptree's work. The male speculative fiction crowd admired her talent, though some could not figure why "James" had no interest in participating in the male bonding and back slapping that was so much a part of the SF scene. Many writer's and fans admired Tiptree as a sensitive man. Tiptree/Sheldon was so sensitive that some (particularly LeGuin) started to suspect that Tiptree could be female. The mention of a family death--and the connexions that followed--finally lead to Alice being outed as Tiptree. From this moment on, Sheldon's work seemed to suffer, and she finally ended her life (and her husband's) in a murder/suicide.
Sheldon's work rises up forever...
This is a wonderful, intimate and extensive biography of a complex woman and her unique life and writing. By the end, I felt I knew both Alli and her persona Tiptree as people rather than distant historical figures.Sheldon's life and the gender issues she raised as Tiptree are an intriguing story unto themselves and familiarity with her writing or any other science fiction is not required to enjoy this warm and sympathetic portrait. The exchange of letters with SF heavyweights such as Le Guin and Russ are a fascinating glimpse back in time.
Fascinating. Disturbing. You don't need to be a Tiptree fan to read this.
I read a few stories by James Tiptree Jr., but I never went out of my way to do so. If you're wondering how much you'd get out of reading this biography if, like me, you didn't know enough to be a fan... don't worry. The book is fascinating enough on its own.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Literary    9. Tiptree, James    10. Tiptree, James - Prose & Criticism    11. Women    12. Biography & Autobiography / Women   

Editorial Review

Madeleine Vionnet's greatest distinction as a designer was her discovery of the bias cut. Cutting patterns along the bias forces the fabric to cling to the body and move with it, which created her trademark look of draped, form-conscious clothing. When designer Issey Miyake first saw a Vionnet dress, it was like the first time he saw Read more

Reviews (17)

Fashion Architect
Being an architect (of buildings) I appreciate Madeleine Vionnet's approach to clothing "architecture."It is a pleasure analyzing the patterns and looking at the results in the gowns.Some of the gowns are very contemporary-looking and would be appropriate on today's "red carpet" events.It is a worthy and significant addition to any library

Designer skilled beyond belief
I have always admired photos of Vionnet's gowns.Not until I read this book did I have the slightest inkling of the genius in her work.She was truly an architect of clothing for the body.The book shows photos of each garment accompanied by pattern illustrations to show how the garment was constructed.Pure amazement.A wonderful book to give to anyone working with fabric, from fiber artists to homemakers.
Inspiring!
Though I have not read this book through I have paged through completely and it is a wonder visually.It has amazing photos along with patterns and history of many of Vionnet's creations.This book can be enjoyed by pattern makers, designers, history buffs and clothes horses.
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Subjects:  1. Art    2. Art & Art Instruction    3. Biography    4. Commercial - Fashion Design    5. Dressmaking    6. Fashion    7. Fashion design    8. France    9. History    10. Patterns    11. Vionnet, Madeleine    12. Women costume designers    13. Biography: general    14. Photography / General   

Reviews (12)

I hope every nurse reads this
I was inspired to become a nurse by stories of the "lady with the lamp" but it took more than 30 years before I found this book and learned just why Florence Nightingale deserved to be my inspiration.The pictures alone are worth the price of this book, and the story too is well told.

Profound and inspiring
Dr. Barbara Dossey, founder of the American Holistic Nursing Association, has written an inspiring and insightful biography of Florence Nightingale that has much to teach us about being bold, tough minded, task oriented, creative, passionate andcompassionate.Nightingale conscientiously developed the strongly focused conceptual, organizational and networking skills that contributed to her formidable accomplishments in the fields of nursing, housing, sanitation and statistics and did it all despite chronic illness, criticism, sexism and other major life challenges.Most of all, we learn that Nightingale was a visionary and mystic, whose life story challenges all of us to know, accept and realize our God-given purpose in this world.

A Most Inspiring Book
I knew of Florence Nightingale's nursing activities before reading this book but had no idea of the extent of her self-discipline, dedication and accomplishments.She was a systems analyst, administrator, networker and mystic who devoted her life to doing God's work.She was also a prolific writer of books, lay reports, pamphlets and thousands of letters.The author provides a wealth of background material describing the historic times and placesassociated with Florence Nightingale. One of the things I appreciated about this book were the many maps and photographs appropriately placed near the text about the person or places. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1820-1910    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. England    7. Medical - General    8. Medical - Nurses    9. Nightingale, Florence,    10. Nurses    11. Nursing (General)    12. Nursing - Management & Leadership    13. Women    14. Biography: political    15. Medical / Nursing / Issues    16. Nursing    17. Social forecasting, futurology    18. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (12)

Great Read!
This is exciting stuff! I enjoy the honest portrayal of Columbus, showing his strengths and weaknesses and how he was both an opportunist and a victim of the system. The narrative is spell binding and gripping. It is a great story and very well written. One thing the reader should be aware of is that the first half of the body of the book is background information. It interesting and important information to have before you read the account of the voyage, but there is a lot of it and the title may mislead you into thinking that the body of the book primarily consists of the account of Columbus's fourth voyage, when the account is really about half. Secondly, I wished that there were more maps marking the important places the book mentions in Spain, Africa and the New World. There is a map of the New World and the lines marking Columbus's four voyages, but not enough of the important points are included on that map. Having that would have aided my mental picture of what was happening. Also, one of the other reviewers mentioned the lack of source citations. I have noticed the same thing about other recent reader's-history books lately. I wonder if it is becoming a trend to cite less, in order to prevent distraction to the reader. I hope not. Citing sources is an important part of validating one's research and it reassures folks that undue embellishments are not being made. Nonetheless, these are all nit-picky points compared to the almost magical way that Dugard draws you into the story. Buy the book! You won't be able to put it down you will be amazed at what Columbus and his crew endured.
Very good but a few problems for historians
Martin Dugard's riveting account of Christopher Columbus's last voyage in the New World is not without its flaws. Though the book is very compelling and a great read it suffers a bit from a jumping narrative in the first section to a lack of citations regarding sources throughout.
Enticing, energetic
Whereas the first half of this book is a summary of Columbus' prior three voyages and the Spanish political arena of those days, along with tales of other adventurous voyagers scouting the New World, the remaining half of the book plunges into an exciting examination of his fourth and final voyage.
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Subjects:  1. Adventurers & Explorers    2. Americas (North Central South West Indies)    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Discovery And Exploration (General)    5. Expeditions & Discoveries    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. History: American    9. History / General   

Reviews (21)

Five Royle Grand Duaghters
This book is an amazing look at five of Queen Victoria's Granddaughters that would themselves be Queens of five countries and affect the course of history.
Fascinating history book
It was always interesting to see how Queen Victoria ruled the world and reading of her granddaughters who became queens,is very fascinating!!! A part of history that will probably not be repeated except for the present Queen of England.
A good book to read if your familar with Queen Victoria.
This is a good book to read if you are extremely familar with Queen Victoria. There are two problems with this book, (1) The author did not focus or give enough information about Queen Maud's life as she did with the other grandaughters. (2) It's lacking information in certain places.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Europe    6. Historical - General    7. Queens    8. Royalty    9. Russia    10. Victoria,    11. Women   

Reviews (104)

Confusing
Ann, an aspiring writer, knew of Lucy, an aspiring poet, when the two of them were students at the same college.Actually, everyone knew of Lucy.She was the one who'd had cancer as a child and whose chemotherapy treatments had left her with a severely disfigured face that continued to need surgery after surgery until the end of her life.
How to read this novel...
Reading through previous reviews, many people have pointed out: (a) Lucy was a selfish person (b)Ann must have had some problems to put up with it. What these people are missing is that in a true friendship, you have to accept the totality of the other person's character because your love for them necessitates it. This is one of my favorite books because it reminds me of my relationship with my best friend. We both have Lucy and Ann characteristics, and we both lend each other the splendor of our lives when the other needs it. Don't read the book as a moral/ethical novel, but as a window into a beautiful and fruitful friendship. Lucy and Ann may have respectively had a few problems, but who doesn't? It is the way that they connect the moments of life together in their writing that is important here.

Where are the Critical Details?
I read and reread this book.To be frank, it gave me the creeps.Ann and Lucy have a weird, co-dependent relationship.Ann is clearly obsessed with Lucy, an obsession that began when they lived together in graduate school. Even after they moved apart, the obsession continued.Ann and Lucy dated men, but the two women enjoyed a deep bond--a bond so deep that that Ann seemed "depressed" when they were apart--and Lucy fell into a series of promiscuous relationships with men.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Cancer (Psychosocial Aspects)    6. Disfigured persons    7. Ewing's sarcoma    8. Female friendship    9. Friendship    10. General    11. Patients    12. Personal Memoirs    13. United States    14. Women    15. Women In The U.S.    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (81)

The One Book
This was the second book I read in my Holocaust Literature class and it's excellent! Gerda describes everything perferctly, taking you back in time. She remembers both the good and the bad with extreme clarity, something I wish I had (I have a horrible memory). The actual story being told is extremely sad though and I almost feel that it's wrong to tell of something like Gerda went through and saw, but the courage and strength she has gained in life is unbelievable (an epiloge is included in the back showing this). Gerda is such an inspiration and I hope that there are more people like her in the future. If I could only bring 1 holocaust book with me to a desert island, this would be it! Highly recommended.

Amazing
I read this book for an eigth grade English project last year.It is truely touching and amazing to think how the world once was, and still is in some areas of the world.When I read this book, I could hardly put it down.Even now, it makes me remember the pain the war caused.This is a good read that speaks the truth.

Life, Hope, Survival
It may have been serendipity that the author survived the German labor camps.This book, however, is about more than serendipity--it's about character, and the ability of a survivor to heal and find beauty, purpose and love in the aftermath of great personal tragedy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1924-    2. Bielsko-Biaa    3. Bielsko-Bia±a    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Conscript labor    9. Germany    10. Historical - Holocaust    11. Holocaust    12. Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)    13. Jews    14. Klein, Gerda Weissmann,    15. Personal narratives    16. Poland    17. Women    18. World War, 1939-1945   

Reviews (46)

Ah, at long last! Perfect pick me up.
I love this book for so many reasons--
Funny, funny, funny!
I absolutely adored this book. I was flying back home for weekend vacation so I scoured the bookstore for something light, fresh, funny and in paperback. I hit the bull's eye.
Good Mindless Reading
There were certainly some funny parts... Ms. Notaro is clever and wry.I'm not going to run out and tell all my friends to read it, but if you need an entertaining break from heavier literature, this would make a good pit stop. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Form - Essays    6. General    7. Humor    8. Humorists, American    9. Notaro, Laurie    10. Women    11. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (17)

I was drawn in from the start
This was the first Chicken Soup book I had bought.I AM a proud Military Wife and I couldn't put this book down.I laughed, I cried and it was easy to relate to the emotions and events.Yes, we are in a different time than most of the stories but time hasn't really changed what it's like to be a military wife.I look forward to a sequel.I will buy it the day it comes out, as I bought this one the day it was released too.I now have several Chicken Soup books.What can I say, this book made me a fan.

Satisfied Army wife
Well, I guess we're one of those typical young Army families. On May 15, me and my husband graduated college and he was commissioned. We were married the next day, and less than a week later drove cross-country to our first base. This book has provided encouragement for me so far. I enjoy the stories, especially the ones about missing the guys when they're in the field or deployed. Some of the stories are cute or funny, and others are really sad and touching. This kind of book lets you know you're not alone. I'll admit there are more Army, USAF, and Navy stories and not many USMC stories. Perhaps there will be a volume 2 that is more balanced?

wow
I've always loved the Chicken Soup series, and now as an Army wife, I just loved this one. I laughed and cried and just wanted to hug every woman that contributed their experiences to the book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Conduct of life    3. Inspirational    4. Military spouses    5. Motivational & Inspirational    6. Self-Help    7. Spiritual    8. Spiritual Healing    9. United States    10. Women and the military    11. Self-Help / General   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (143)

Great Idea, Poor Execution
In a nutshell, this book stinks.It's more about the trials and tribs of a 30-year-old in a dead-end job in New York than it is about Julia Child or cooking or food in general.And the whole book is larded with profanity which serves no purpose, except perhaps to bolster the author's hipster creds.But at the end of the read, where are we?Roughly the same place we started, except in need of a shower.Because of the book's great potential, I think it's fair to call the book a huge failure

Maybe it's a generational thing
Firstly, yes, if you're bound and determined to ride the Republican train into the ground, or if you're afraid of potty words, don't read this book.It could say stuff you don't like.Most the folks I know are real tired of that sort of holier-than-thou posturing.
Know what you're getting
Like many other readers, I thought this book was going to be about food. I don't do Julia Child-style gourmet cooking; it frustrates me more often than not, but I do like a good bit of food writing and this is not it. It's a memoir of sorts and a vent for the writer's self-absorbed angst. Not that most people don't have similar moments, but most people don't write about them either. The pettish slaps at Republicans(otherwise kind, intelligent people who still vote Republican? please) get old after about three such intervals and the frank discussion of friends' sex lives as well as her own-well, it's just not what I was looking for. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography And Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cookery    7. Cookery, French    8. Cooking    9. Essays    10. General    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Powell, Julie    13. Women cooks   

Reviews (110)

Heartfelt
In reading "Life and Death in Shanghai," I gained great insight into life during Mao and the Cultural Revolution. This knowledge was coupled with emotional understanding for the people. Be careful when you read this book, you will want to read more about the life and times of the people of China, present and past.

Makes you realise how lucky you are
I lived in Shanghai for six years recently, and reading Nien Cheng's book after my return to Australia made several things clearer to me.It gave me some background as to the reticence of Chinese to speak directly about things, it made clear the way many older people love to talk in "n step solution" terms of "1, 2, 3" whenever addressing a problem, and it shed light on the "trust your family but not your neighbour" situation that is apparent over there.
honestly the best book i have ever read
This book I can honestly say is the best book I have ever read. It is so beautifully written you never want to stop reading it. The raw emotions it inspired in me shocked me. I was driven to tears at the descriptions of certain events and shouted with glee when hapinness came her way. This is definitely a must read for anyone. It was easier to follow having known and already understood the politics of the time, but anyone should read it. It is a life changing story and everyone should definitely read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1915-    2. 1949-1976    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Cheng, Nien,    7. China    8. Cultural revolution, 1966-1976    9. General    10. History    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Personal narratives    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Women    15. Cheng, Nien   

Reviews (22)

Irresistible
There may be something to the idea that interesting geography creates interesting lives.Young Catherine Gildiner certainly "hit the ground running" in her nascent life.A photograph preceding one of the chapters shows a precoc