Editorial Review

The language and form of this searing book are as powerful as the life experience that inspired them. In a series of essays that cohere into a spiritual autobiography, the author writes prose that's deceptively simple yet rich in metaphor. An wild horse living in the parking lot of a Navajo school becomes a symbol for living creatures' intrinsic wildness, tamed only at a terrible cost. "We are all runaway horses" is one constant refrain, as is the reminder "you are your history." The author's history is painful: born in 1950 the son of an alcoholic Native American woman and a white cowboy father who "would sell my mom to other migrant men for five dollars," Nasdijj grew up a "mongrel" and an outcast, contending with his violent father's demons while his mother beguiled them with Indian stories. Living on a reservation, never fully accepted because of his white skin, he adopted a baby boy with fetal alcohol syndrome who died at age 6. The book's most beautiful passages meditate on Tommy Nothing Fancy's short life and express his father's love. Nasdijj has been homeless, he has taught Indian children on a reservation, he has retraced with a historian friend the dreadful forced march to Bosque Redondo, where the Navajo and their culture were nearly exterminated. These and many other ordeals are related in the agonizingly lucid words of someone who has turned to writing as a lifeline. This remarkable memoir has its share of bitterness and anger, but Nasdijj transcends both in his acceptance of the world that made him and in the knowledge that "the reservation runs like blood through a river of my dreams." Read more

Reviews (30)

I give this book three stars knowing it is a fraud
This book has to be the worst and most sickening case of cultural apropriation in the history of the US.The fact that it was writen by a white man is further proof of the emperialist and colonialist mentality that still exists in this nation twords the Native American Community.However when I forst read this book Nasdijj was still a navajo within the eyes of the public.At the time the book mooved me deaply.Nasdijj's use if diction and the storytelling nature of his narative was beutifle.It made me want to learn more about the status and problems facing the Plains Indian community and work bring about change.That meens somthing to me and despite what I know now that initial responce when I first read this book stays with me to this day.I urge those who are going to critisize this book to read it first if you have not, and when you read it, do so with eyes un clouded by the trouth.

One Fraud Too Many
It's a shame that because of works like this, not to mention the Forrest Carter (Education of Little Tree) scandal a few years back, many unknown and undiscovered--but authentic--Native American writers will probably have to struggle that much harder to become published. Well-established American Indian authors are already naturally suspect of any newcomers on the scene; the sad fact is that for some reason Native American culture and identity is misappropriated by more misguided white writers--whatever their individual agendas might be--than any other race or ethnic group. The sad truth is that, for every Forrest Carter and Timothy Barris who manage to secure a publishing contract, there are dozens of truly deserving Native voices that are going unheard.And thanks to these imposters making the buying public- as well as agents and editors- increasingly suspicious of anyone claiming to be Native American-their chances to be read and heard are only going to diminish.

The Joke
To hold the power to move people with words regardless of the validity of those words is a very impressive art. With the exception of one specific actor, no one in history has made a powerful film about his or her own life. There is no reason to believe that written works shoud be treated differently from movies in this respect. Obviously this writer has realized that human deception is an important method of eliciting an emotional response from an audience. By reading the responses from readers prior to the false exposure of the true writer, it is clear that this man or woman is light years ahead of current authors when it comes to manipulating the human brain into believing a story, factual or not. With the increasing pace of desensitization of the mind in recent years, obviously new techniques must be made available to entertain an insatiable public. To say that this author's amazing work is only confined within the pages of the book is downwright ludicrous. Everything, including the monikor and real identity of "Timothy Barris" is part of a larger piece of fiction that may be even further exposed as time passes. After this "identity" was unearthed, opposite and even stronger emotional responses were elicited from readers, demonstrated in print on these very pages of Amazon.com. Is it not true that disgust and outrage are also emotions that sub-par authors struggle to touch in their works? "The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams" is such an example of a work of writing and deception that is capable of plucking each string of human emotion in such a way that has never been attempted before. There is a larger picture.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Ethnic Cultures - Native Americans    5. General    6. Parental Memoirs    7. Specific Groups - Special Needs    8. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (102)

Ten Thousand Sorrows
Ten Thousand Sorrows was an overall great book. I wish the author had given some dates throughout the book so we could get more of an idea of when the events were taking place. But then again, dates may not have been important - just the fact that the events happened.
Ten Thousand Stars for Ten Thousand Sorrows
Anger rises within me when I read negative reviews on Elizabeth Kim's Ten Thousand Sorrows. What motivated me to choose this remarkable book out of the library was the fact that it was about a Korean war orphan. Like Kim, I am a Korean adoptee who did not have a father. I have disabilities that I have to deal with for life, and I know how Kim felt with her share of tough times. Like her, I idolize my birthmother that I never knew. Some complain about how Kim viewed her mother as "perfect with no flaws." Everyone has weaknesses in life, and I'm sure she knows that. But the reader has to realize when Kim was living in Korea, her mother was all she had and they loved each other deeply. The pair was already outsiders in society because there was no father in the family. It was very admirable that they spent the few years they shared together with a very close relationship, instead of adding to their misery and having a unhealthy bond.
The Sad Truth
What a life! I commend this women to have come out of it all and have the strength and love for herself and her daughter. It opened up my eyes about what goes on in other countries and the prejudice within ones own race. It was very quick to read and I am happy that I did. It was an exellent book and I really liked it. The only thing I didn't like is she elaborated to much on the christian beleifs that she was raised by. I am not religious and don't know much about religion and I was somewhat lost when she kept going on and on about it. From what I understood from it was that her parents abused her and used the religion and God as an excuse. Hence.. the reason why I am not religious. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Abuse of    2. Adoption    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography And Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Discrimination & Racism    9. Kim, Elizabeth    10. Korea    11. Korean American women    12. Orphans    13. Specific Groups - General    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / Women    16. Reading Group Guide   

Reviews (1)

A great read
Great read, goes into many areas that have up in till now been unknown.Gives insight to Massino's family life, his Crime life and how he got where he did.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Criminals & Outlaws    3. General    4. History - General History    5. Organized Crime    6. True Crime    7. History / General   

Reviews (2)

Camilla & Charles:A Selfish Love Affair
While I felt that this was an interesting read I felt the author painted an unfair portrait of Diana.She portrayed Diana as a crazy, unstable shrew and yet it was Charles refusal to end his relationship with Camilla that caused Diana to be so unhappy and angry.I don't think there are very few women on this planet that would be happy and accept the fact that their husband has a mistress for 20 years that he refuses to give up after marriage.It proved to me at least, that Diana was justified in her ending her marriage and giving up the throne.The author paints Charles and Camilla as 2 poor lovers who go through hell just to be together.I felt no sympathy for either of them.But it is an engrossing book none the less.

Think of England
An even and informative tale about Camilla Parker-Bowles, a poor little rich girl who may someday get her prince.Read more

Subjects:  1. 1947-    2. 1948-    3. Biography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Camilla,    7. Charles,    8. Duchess of Cornwall,    9. Great Britain    10. Great Britain - History - 20th Century    11. Historical - British    12. Prince of Wales,    13. Princes    14. Relations with women    15. Charles    16. Parker Bowles, Camilla    17. Sociology, Social Studies    18. United Kingdom, Great Britain   

Reviews (69)

You've got to read this book!
I received this book as a gift. There are quite a few books on this subject on the market and this one is the best. I too could not put it down and finished it in 3 days. It's a huge book, a great resource that is well researched and written.. I have a few friends who've purchased this book and really loved it too. I can highly recommend this book.
This book wasn't that terrible, but...
It wasn't very good, either. The gist of the book is this:
Very Nice
I can't say any other adjective for the book, other than it's nice. It seems sugar coated to me, because obviously she has suffered more than she leads on. OK, i see that the results are fantastic, but still, i just can't believe everything she says. But I hope that's exactly what she went through, because it's very motivating. (I think, because for those people who didn't lose as much weight, it can be pretty stressful) As for the recipes, I didn't try them yet, but other than that I think it's good resource. But not for the Gastric Banding! Only for Gastric Bypass. Though some suggestions may apply to both. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Cooking / Wine    3. Diet/Nutrition    4. Diets - General    5. Gastric bypass    6. Health    7. Health & Fitness    8. Health & Healing - Weight Control    9. Healthy Living    10. Leach, Susan Maria    11. Overweight women    12. Popular works    13. Stomach    14. Surgery    15. United States    16. Health & Fitness / Diets   

Editorial Review

When the editors of the Read more

Reviews (385)

Intriguing!
This book is great in that it's both a very personal story about Minor (the "madman") and Murray (the "professor") but also about what went into making the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). For the most part, I was more interested in the latter because of the detail and, surprisingly, community that went into creating The Dictionary. It was certainly not the work of a few posh men sitting in an attic; rather, the entire nation (as well as the United States) were involved in scouring works in the English language to contribute samples to go in the OED. That to me was the most fascinating part.
And you thought dictionaries were boring!
Winchester takes an academic subject and makes it read like a Victorian thriller.He weaves together the lives of two strange and complex men to tell a story that has touched the entire English speaking world-- the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary: THE authority on the progression of the English language over the past millenium.If you love history, language, literature, and tragedies this is a book for you.Beware, this book will make you want to run out and buy your own OED -- well, a full set will run you at least $1000!There are compact and CD-ROM versions available for under $200.I guess I'll just add it to my amazon wish list and hope....

An excellent story excellently told
Some readers, I know, dislike Simon Winchester's conversational, discursive, sometimes off-on-a-tangent narrative style, but I for one find it richly rewarding. I first discovered it in "Krakatoa," his book about that Indonesian volcano where it's even more in evidence than it is in this title. But even here, reading Winchester is like settling into a chair, or around a fire, to listen to a talented storyteller weave an entrancing tale. If your taste in history runs to deliberate, just-the-facts reportage, then Simon Winchester probably isn't for you. But if you're willing to trust the author and follow where he's leading you, I predict you'll find reading "The Professor and the Madman" a most satisfying experience.
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Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Historical - British    5. Historical - General    6. Historical - U.S.    7. Lexicography    8. Linguistics    9. Literary    10. Specific Groups - Special Needs    11. Biography & Autobiography / Historical   

Reviews (5)

Well intentioned, good quick read
I just read this while on vacation last month and what a great beach read this book was. What Tommy may lack in sophisticated prose he certainly makes up for in genuine charm. Throughout the book Tommy jumps back and forth between his early life (focusing somewhat specifically on his childhood) and the events leading up to and including his incarceration. Curiously, he does not talk about his comedy career that much, so those looking for insight into his relationship with Cheech and the movies they made together might be a bit disappointed.The book is short, and actually could have even been even shorter. Tommy tries hard to fill up the 224 pages with material as he tends to drift off topic with various tangents and the occasional spiritual rant.This is all fine though because, as usual, Tommy's heart is in the right place at all times and he comes off as being so likeable that I enjoyed reading whatever he had to say.Tommy seems to be a pretty simple guy with a somewhat utopian outlook on life, but this actually serves as a nice contrast to his grim situation. The most important thing is that the subject matter regarding his whole "Operation Pipe Dream" ordeal was always fascinating.I might also add that his prison experience, or more specifically, his approach to the experience was very interesting, and quite frankly refreshing. The positive attitude that Tommy maintained throughout his unjust situation could serve as an inspiration for many. Highly recommended.

So glad he wrote this book
I remember the head line of when they arrested Tommy Chong. I couldn't help but wonder why the federal government would persue Tommy Chong. This book answered my question with Tommy Chong's honest portail of his life and arrest.
A good book with a lot of everything..
Tommy had a lot of things to say about his bust and the government in general when he was putting this book together. He's still mad as hell. He wants to show and tell you his side of all the problems he had in 2003 with the stupid "bong bust". Yes, he did get taken for a long expensive ride on the Bush railroad, no question. He did his time and has come out of it clean and (for the moment) dried out. The book is full of a lot emotion and contradiction. The Chong brain is firing away in all directions with every page... Tommy is a very spiritual guy but not in the flaming christian sense. He believes, as he states in his book that life for you is so much easier if you put your enemies down and forgive them. Then you don't have enemies anymore. I believe that he believes that with all his heart and soul. Except for one area. If he could punish all the people involved for his bust, I think he would do it. He's still hot about it. I think he's having a tough time putting that part of his present day life aside.. This book, no doubt is part of that therapy.On to the lighter stuff; Tommy talks a good bit about his upbringing in Canada, giving a lot of space to his mother, father and brother. He is insightful about his career. His recommendation to any actor wanna-be's is to know when you are and when you aren't. Acting that is. AND I think thats the problem we ALL (Including the Feds) sort of have with Tommy. He is so good that we were never exactly certain where the stoned hippy-dude started and stopped. He's no dummy. He's done great for himself. He lives in an LA neigborhoodwith many of the Hollywood fluff-and-puff set. My problem with this book is that it wanders a lot. Lots of good stuff about prison life, his past, refelections... then BOOM, off on another rant about the government. Nine months in even a lightweight prison like he was in can do that to you I guess. His following of "I CHING" was interesting and has no doubt sparked a few search engines to life looking for information. Tommy talks about a lot of things in this book besides the main topic. He's a smart dude man...Very quotable. I'd like to see another book from Tommy when he calms down a bit more. If anything, there's still a lot of good thoughts in the head of that 66 year old hippie. It won't likely happen but it would be fun to see him and Cheech do another......anything together. Cheech gets lots of mentions in the book too by the way. Rock on Chong! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Comedy (Performing Arts)    6. Criminals & Outlaws    7. Drug paraphernalia industry    8. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    9. Prison Life    10. Prisoners    11. United States    12. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (25)

Not So Much
I had been looking foward to reading this book for quite a while. From the great reviews I've read here and Laurie Notaro's thumbs up (Inside the book), I thought I had picked a winner. Like another reviewer stated, I may have cracked a few smiles but it just was not that funny to me...and I am southern! Bless her heart.

On the Mark
S. Murphy was wrong to give this book only one star!The South does have niches of different culture - if you'll notice, this book also portrays many facets of living in the South!Many of which are RIGHT ON THE MONEY!
Extremely Disappointing
I feel compelled to get in touch right now to let you know that if you have not obtained a copy of We're Just Like You, Only Prettier, I recommend that you do not go to the trouble.This book does not begin to live up to the positive reviews that were listed on Amazon.Having read the book, I am puzzled as to what the title refers.In my opinion, the blather of this book has nothing really to do with being "southern" except for every 10 chapters or so making an oblique reference to "southern".It seems to be rather just a collection of the ramblings of a sort of lazy, not-nearly-on the ball, "rednecky `wannabe' and proud" type person.There's nothing wrong with that, but I am disappointed that this book is/was marketed to be representative of southern culture and literature.I'm no expert on "being Southern".In my opinion, there are no experts on this because each area and region of the south has different characteristics.For what it's worth, I grew up in South Carolina and North Carolina. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American wit and humor    2. Anecdotes    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Form - Essays    6. Humor    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Rivenbark, Celia    9. Social life and customs    10. Southern States    11. Women    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (131)

Beautifully Written
Those of us who have a story to share should do so, and this story is beautifully written; WHAT REMAINS is a unique one, worth telling, and would be even if it did not involve America's single most famous family. The details Carole Radziwill reveals are intimate, yet never give away more than those connected and still living would find intrusive. At times her pain is almost palpable, and she seems still slightly bewildered about her life and the tragic turn it took during the summer of 1999. The very fact that she did live it and came through it gives her every right to tell about it, and I am glad she chose to do so.

A Moving Memoir Of Love & Death
This is not the memoir of Carole Radziwill. It is a memoir for each person who reads the moving story.
In the end, did they have in common besides ABC news?
In one of what appears to be Carole Radizwill's not-so-subtle jabs at her mother-in-law (and at many of the extended family), she implies Lee wondered what exactly her son saw in Carole ... something along the lines of "how much do they have in common beides ABC?"After finishing this book, I have to say I have no idea what, if anything, they did have in common, nor, more importantly, what it was that first caused them to fall in love.While I can understand and appreciate the author's reservations about revealing too much of their personal relationship, I think she fails to convey why they even had any relationship in the first place.As has been commented on by many reveiwers, she sounds much more passionate when she writes of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (again, not in a lesbian way, but in an idealized school-girl crush way).I found myself wondering if they really were as close as Carole portrays, or if this book is a rather sad attempt to publicly attach herself to Carolyn forever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1959-1999    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Personal Memoirs    8. Radziwill, Anthony,    9. Radziwill, Carole    10. Rich & Famous    11. Television journalists    12. United States    13. Women    14. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Biography: general    17. USA    18. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (9)

Best Peace Corps memoir I've read...but it's so much more than that
I'm always looking for books written by Returned Peace Corps volunteers, having been in the Peace Corps myself.This book is a fantastic and moving memoir of Kris Holloway's two years in the Peace Corps in a small, impoverished village in Mali.The book recounts the close friendship of two women (Kris and her Malian counterpart, Monique) from very different worlds, a friendship that continued after Kris returned to the U.S.It also very respectfully portrays the day-to-day lives of African villagers...the good, the bad and the ugly.I read the book in one day, often with tears in my eyes.I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Africa, or to anyone who would just like to read an entertaining (yes, it does have plenty of funny moments!) and moving story.

unlikely friends on a powerful mission
I love the music of Mali. Love how the songs of Ali Farka Toure and Boubacar Traore are about community --- farming and water and schools. And a passionate, exciting CD called Divas of Mali taught me that however poor Mali is --- and it's the fifth poorest nation on the planet --- women in Mali are encouraged to sing. And is that not positive as well?
This book opened a new world for me
My niece sent me "Monique and the Mango Rains" - what a marvelous book!What a glorious memorial to a great woman.The whole book moved not only me, but also my husband, who read it first. Monique was made so real to us. The other thing that so impressed me about this remarkable book is the way Kris has told the truth as it is, all the way through!A very brave decision and so well carried out. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - General    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Humanitarians    4. Social Science    5. Sociology    6. Women   

Reviews (3)

EXCELLENT!!!!!!!
I bought this book from Amazon after seeing it at a local bookstore.Once I read one page, I couldn't put it down.In fact, I didn't.I read it from front to back in one sitting.This book is so well written and theaccented pictures are just beautiful!I believe any woman can relate tothis book on one level or another.

great gift book
I bought this for a female friend of mine from college who is going back to medical school. I think it is a great gift book, with many different types of happy, successful women discussing their lives.

"Chicken Soup" for women finding their career path
I read this book, thinking I'd dip into one story, but I was hooked.I couldnt put it down.The stories oflwomen who have overcome incredible odds to connect with work they love are inspiring, directionla, tutorial.The book is lovely and strong.I shivered as I read it..That's when I realized, "This is the Hope book."Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Employment    3. General    4. Inspirational    5. Inspirational - General    6. Social Science    7. Sociology    8. Sociology Of Women    9. United States    10. Women    11. Women in the professions    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Social Science / Women's Studies   

Reviews (4)

Hilarious!
If you like to laugh, you will enjoy this book--it doesn't matter if you are red, yellow, black, white or blue--Ms. French's commentary on diversity in America will have you rolling on the floor.

A Must Read for All!
The misadventures of a southern girl who ventured into "blue state" territory will have you laughing out loud-whether you are a conservative or a liberal! I can't wait to read more from Nancy French!

Truly made me laugh out loud
Nancy French makes me laugh out loud while reading and that's not an easy thing to do.She blends southern charm and her aquired northern tact for a book that brings out the best from all sides.Whether you are a political junkie or just a fan of fun books, this is one to be enjoyed and shared.I hope we'll be reading much more from this Southern Liberty Bell who has a knack for being able to throw in a zigger right when it's needed! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 21st century    2. American Journalism    3. Authors, American    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. General    9. Humor    10. New York (State)    11. Pennsylvania    12. Personal Memoirs    13. Philadelphia    14. Political culture    15. Women    16. Women In The U.S.    17. Women journalists    18. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (8)

A Very Inspirational Book
What a great book, a great lady, who had a great business philosophy.A must read for anyone who wants to do their own thing.

AWESOME AND POWERFUL
I AM A MARY KAY CONSULTANT.I WAS A DEVOTED CUSTOMER FIRST.ONCE I WAS ON HER CUTTING EDGE COSMETICS, I DECIDED TO OFFER THE OPPORTUNITY TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS BOOK GIVES YOU ALL OF THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO MAKE IT IN ANY BUSINESS. SHE GIVES YOU INSPIRATION AND MINDSET YOU NEED TO MAKE ALL OF YOUR DREAMS A REALITY. IF YOU BELIEVE IT, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT. I AM DOING THAT RIGHT NOW.REDUCING MY DEBT, INCREASING MY SELF ESTEEM AND SELF WORTH.DEFINATELY A MUST READ

anonymous
Mary Kay Ash is truly an inspiration to all women.Not only does she succeed she lets you know that there will be obstacles to overcome, but you can and will succeed if you keep your priorities in order GOD,Family, and career and work hard.Nothing comes in life easy and through perservence and a dream and goal setting there is nothing you can't do. I LOVED IT!!! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Business    3. Businesswomen    4. Entrepreneurship    5. Executive Management    6. Inspirational - General    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Success    10. Success in business    11. Women In Management    12. Women's Studies - General    13. Religion / Inspirational   

Reviews (27)

Leaves you wanting more....
This book is such a page-turner that at 3am I had to force myself to stop.It is a wonderful memoir about her growing up and her various media jobs.I enjoyed the sections on her family as much if not more than the sections on her interviews with stars, musicians, etc.I appreciated that it was not a tell-all or flaunting the witnessing of the seedy side of the celebrity lifestyles.It was simply written to engage the reader with the warmer side of those covered in Rolling Stone, US Weekly, etc. and to see how the girl-next-door gets caught up in the party til dawn lifestyle and yet she was broke the downward spiral to return back to herself.In spite of that, this is not a depressing book, rather an very fun and fast ride.If you want something that shows you the real side of stars you've grown up with but can do without the vulgar language, sexual exploits, sensationalism and dirty laundry then this is the book for you!I sincerely hope there is a sequel!!

Highly enjoyable!
In "But Enough About Me: A Jersey Girl's Unlikely Adventures Among the Absurdly Famous," Jancee Dunn wrote about how it was for her to work as a reporter/columnist for Rolling Stones magazine, where her biggest responsibility was to interview famous celebrities. The book read like a memoir of her growing her in New Jersey, never finishing college and somehow landed a job in Rolling Stones. She also chronicled her career from then on and besides writing about her career, she also provided details about her love life (or sometimes the lack of it).
Pleasant and irreverant memoir
Let me state upfront that I had never heard about Jancee Dunn before, but when I saw this book, and reading the inside flap teaser about her writing for Rolling Stone and other magazines, I just couldn't resist picking it up.
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Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Celebrities    7. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    8. General    9. Journalistic Writing    10. Journalists    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Rolling stone (San Francisco, Calif.)    13. United States    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (3)

The best emotional and spiritual support for artists
I read this book so long ago but still reference it often. This book explains how to live with many universal feelings and experiences of being a writer/artist. Cameron's writing has helped me make crucial decisions, bolstered me when motivation waned, taught me that insecurity comes with the territory, shown me to contain my work until it's ready to withstand critiques, when group support is not supportive, and how to set boundaries to improve productivity. I'm grateful to Cameron's generosity in teaching many things I didn't have to stumble over myself until I figured them out.
The Next Step
I read and completed the exercises in THE ARTIST WAY about ten years ago--and it changed my life. I'm an admitted self-help junkie, but Julia Cameron goes way, way beyond the typical self-help hype. Her words resonate like a tuning fork against my sternum.
THIS BOOK IS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED
Get this book if you are STUCK. Or even if you just need something new to inspire you in the wee hours... For me, it was like a tonic after a long period of not feeling very creative. After reading only the first few chapters, I realized that I WAS feeling creative, but I had definitely stifled my impulses. I read The Artist's Way years ago and loved it, but "poo-poohed" the morning pages (oh no! more work! who needs that! yuk...). Then, after reading the first chapter of Cameron's sequel,I got up one morning and sat, practically pouting in my pajamas with pen in hand. "Ha!" I thought, "I still won't have anything to say!" And then the stuff started pouring out in my scrawls. Then, toward the end of my three pages, I was using ALL CAPS to express repressed wishes and hopes. That same day I began to take action out of the energy and innate confidence, and believe it or not, things began to "happen." I continue to find the book very motivating in this very way...it makes me want to get on with things and stop hesitating. There is a bit of magic in doing what she proposes that is something that you won't be able to explain. And, this book is not only for artists--it is for anyone who wants to move forward. She emphasizes what we all know but may have forgotten...that the big begins with the small. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Creation (Literary, artistic, etc.)    3. Creative Ability    4. Creativity    5. Death, Grief, Bereavement    6. Personal Memoirs    7. Religion    8. Special Subjects In Art    9. Women    10. Body, Mind & Spirit / Personal Transformation   

Subjects:  1. African American Novel And Short Story    2. African American poor families    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Fiction    5. Literary    6. Pittsburgh (Pa.)    7. Short Stories (single author)    8. Social life and customs    9. Women    10. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (129)

A very special read - I related to every word Firoozeh wrote
This book was a gift from a colleague; at the time I was reading 3 other books - business and biographies - I had to put them down as I started reading Firoozeh's stories. It was truly as if she was writing my experiences, my stories, my sadness, my happiness, my joys and my disappointments, but most of all my gratitude over the years, as I grew up Iranian in America....! This book brought me to tears and made me laugh, and now my husband is reading it. I was so moved I emailed Firoozeh, to which she responded in less than 1 day - she was just as wonderful in email as I had imagined her to be from her stories. The stories will stay with me. This is truly a special read. I so highly recommend for everyone.

Funny Funny Funny in any Language
Families are just plain funny!In Funny in Farsi, Ms. Dumas shows us the hilarity of growing up Iranian in America.
worth reading
As an Iranian 24-year-old graduate student in Tehran, inclined to come to the US for further studies, I think it is a remarkable book in general. However, it has some defects.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Ethnic Cultures - General    6. Immigrants    7. Iranian American women    8. Iranian Americans    9. Personal Memoirs    10. United States    11. Women    12. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Editorial Review

At the age of 5, Malika Oufkir, eldest daughter of General Oufkir, was adopted by King Muhammad V of Morocco and sent to live in the palace as part of the royal court. There she led a life of unimaginable privilege and luxury alongside the king's own daughter. King Hassan II ascended the throne following Muhammad V's death, and in 1972 General Oufkir was found guilty of treason after staging a coup against the new regime, and was summarily executed. Immediately afterward, Malika, her mother, and her five siblings were arrested and imprisoned, despite having no prior knowledge of the coup attempt.Read more

Reviews (226)

Absorbing and real
I found the book exciting and moving. Of course any book can not describe all events in great detail . But what it chooses to describe, it does well in a straightforward approach. The narration is simple and to the point, which is what I like.

A GREAT STORY BUT POORLY WRITTEN AND POORLY EDITED...
This is a book that on its face held a lot of promise. Any story in which a mother and her children, as well as faithful family retainers, are unjustly imprisoned in squalid conditions for twenty years for an ostensible crime comitted by the familial patriarch would certainly be of interest. Wrong! This is a tepid and disappointing book, poorly written and, most certainly, poorly edited. It is so filled with contraditions and inconsistencies, as to create somewhat of a credibility gap for the reader.