Editorial Review

"I fell for the great American dream, female version, hook, line, and sinker," Marya Hornbacher writes. "I, as many young women do, honest-to-God believed that once I Just Lost a Few Pounds, suddenly I would be a New You, I would have Ken-doll men chasing my thin legs down with bouquets of flowers on the street, I would become rich and famous and glamorous and lose my freckles and become blond and five foot ten." Hornbacher describes in shocking detail her lifelong quest to starve herself to death, to force her short, athletic body to fade away. She remembers telling a friend, at age 4, that she was on a diet. Her bizarre tale includes not only the usual puking andstarving, but also being confined to mental hospitals and growing fur (a phenomenon called lanugo, which nature imposes to keep a body from freezing to death during periods of famine). ... Read more

Reviews (366)

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
I never truly left this book until it was done. I stopped at points and it took perhaps a week to finish, but it was always on my mind. I rolled over her story in my head as I went about my days (or daze).
Excellent, witty and very honest book
I've read a few lame teenage oriented, moralistic, politically correct books about eating disorders, but THIS is something completely different! Not only because Marya is a real, tallented writer, but even more because her writing is so honest, detailed and yet humorous in some strange way. She doesn't whin about her situation, she doesn't blame all the world and society, but she neither powders herself with ashes. She just tells her story, a story of a very seriuos, determined, tallented and unique girl who decided to become really thin and pushed her dieting obsession to its very limits, to the very edge of death. Details of her starving and purging practices, and of her inventive, deceiving methods to convince her family, friends and medical personel that she's fine, are scary, but this brutal realism makes you really think about eating disorders. Her eating disorder is not just a disorder, it's a real full-time job, a lifestyle, a dedication, and it's extremly frightening. I found her comments about her recent life very good and revealing too.
Fantastic Book
Marya Hornbacher paints a real and vivid image of her experience with anorexia. This is the best book on anorexia and bulimia I have ever read. I keep coming back to this book- I could read it again and again just because of Hornbachers talent for writing. She truely has a gift!
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Subjects:  1. Anorexia nervosa    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Bulimia    7. Eating Disorders - General    8. Patients    9. Psychopathology - Eating Disorders    10. Specific Groups - Special Needs    11. United States    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Medical    14. Biography: general    15. Coping with eating disorders   

Editorial Review

Karen Armstrong speaks to the troubling years following her decision to leave the life of a Roman Catholic nun and join the secular world in 1969. What makes this memoir especially fascinating is that Armstrong already wrote about this era once---only it was a disastrous book. It was too soon for her to understand how these dark, struggling years influenced her spiritual development, and she was too immature to protect herself from being be bullied by the publishing world. As a result, she agreed to portray herself only in as "positive and lively a light as possible"---a mandate that gave her permission to deny the truth of her pain and falsify her inner experience. The inspiration for this new approach comes from T. S. Eliot's Read more

Reviews (80)

Wonderfully Touching and Powerful
Thank you Karen for recording your experience in such a truthful and therefore powerful way. Your courage and determination in the face of inhumanity is a familiar drumbeat that we would all do well to march to. Your stories of survival with compassion and mercy are a shining-light to those of all faiths and of all languages. Your language of love and hope is universal and you are a true friend. Thank you.

excellent
Karen Armstrong is a great writer, with quite the story to tell.The Spiral Staircase recounts the most powerful and change-filled years of her life--it concentrates mostly on the few years following her departure from life as a Catholic nun.She tells her story so honestly and openly that you really get a feel for Karent Armstrong the person, not just the successful writer.I read The Spiral Staircase before I read any of her other works, but since then I've enjoyed both her biography of Buddha, and "Islam: A Short History."Her memoir is candid and her prose is neither too emotional nor too academic.

Describes temporal lobe epilepsy with Grace
Another reviewer, a nurse who has interest in temporal lobe epilepsy and thought that Armstrong did not adequately explain temporal lobe epilepsy, has obviously never experienced a temporal lobe seizure. Karen Armstrong's descriptions of her temporal lobe seizures were spine-tingling, and nearly brought me to tears with the feeling that "Finally! Someone has put it into words! Someone understands!" Her plight out of the darkness of religious life is inspiring and her experiences with epilepsy make a remarkable backdrop. I recommend this read for people who have never questioned their faith as well as those who have. I also recommend it for families and friends of people with epilepsy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1944-    2. Armstrong, Karen,    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Ex-nuns    8. General    9. History    10. Literary    11. Personal Memoirs    12. Religion (General)    13. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    14. Religious    15. Spirituality - Women's    16. Women    17. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs    18. Reading Group Guide   

Editorial Review

The most honest, wildly enjoyable book written about motherhood is surely Anne Lamott's account of her son Sam's first year. A gifted writer and teacher, Lamott (Read more

Reviews (133)

new moms: read this now!
This book will help new moms (and dads, too) see that it's entirely normal to have periods when the baby makes you crazy, times when you think you just aren't going to figure it all out, and also moments of total bliss. It's all part of the new mom experience, and Anne Lamott can help you see that you truly are not alone. I read this while pregnant and then again after my daughter was born. It's just fantastic: moving, sad, funny, the works.

A baby is a little miracle.Now shut up.
Reading this book felt like being stuck next to a new parent on a long plane trip.Either you're bored because you don't have kids, or you're bored because it is never your turn to talk about YOUR kid, or you are so kid-oriented and passive that you simply LOVE to hear all about the mundane ordinary pleasures that someone else gets from THEIR kid.If you are in the latter category, or you are perhaps a single mom in recovery and born again in Christ, you will enjoy this book.Otherwise, skip it and go spend some time with your real-life friends who have kids.They need the company, and the baby stories are all pretty much the same.Lamott's diary style offers 'reality' but little art.

Saved my sanity
When I was a new mom this book saved my sanity. I realized that maternal feelings weren't all cotton candy happy. They ran the gamut. Anne let me laugh at myself even when I was angry, frustrated and confused. I learned that motherhood is real. The book is far cheaper than therapy and a must for new mothers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Child Care/Parenting    3. Family & Relationships    4. Life Stages - Infants & Toddlers/Infants    5. Parenting - Child Rearing    6. Parenting - Single Parent    7. Women    8. Family & Relationships / Child Care   

Editorial Review

Elizabeth Wurtzel writes with her finger in the faint pulse of a generation whose ruling icons are Kurt Cobain, Xanax, and piercedtongues.A memoir of her bouts with depression and skirmishes with drugs, Read more

Reviews (318)

Save yourself the time.... Xmarks the worst book
Save yourself the time, money, and paper and simply find a friend who likes to tell their life events in a melodramatic and neurotic way. Listen to that person jab for 5 hours and you've officially read the book! This book asserted my wish to NEVER be a therapist because I would simply tell patients like her as one of her therapist did to kill herself.It's harsh but my goodness after this book I just felt like a leech sucked all the life out of me.

Wurtzel seems to enjoy her misery
I read Prozac Nation because I had heard it was a good book and I myself have been struggling with depression for a lifetime.I have a family history of it (brothers and grandparent's suicides), plus traumatic childhood.
Please shut up
Anyone who has experienced severe depression for decades will not be willing -or able, in some cases -to put up with Wurtzel's whiny memoir.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Depressed persons    5. Depression    6. Depression (Psychology)    7. Mental health    8. Specific Groups - General    9. United States    10. Women    11. Wurtzel, Elizabeth    12. Fiction / Fantasy / General   

Editorial Review

If you enjoyed Read more

Reviews (20)

Beautiful memoir!
Through this well written memoir you get to learn a lot about Africa, specially about Rwandas history. Rosamund's life story is very interesting, the choices she made, the oportunities life offered to her and that she took. It's great to see all the good deeds she made and the things she achieved inspite of all the caos Rwanda has gone through in the last decades. She takes care of lots of orphan kids and shelters them at her property. She does her best to help these kids become the best they can be even they live surrounded by danger. I enjoyed the book very much and learned more about Africa and about humanity as well.

50 years are artfully packed into this memoir
What a well-written book! It reads like the memoir that it is, and memoirs require special storytelling skills when they cover an entire 50 years.And this is what the book does--covers 50 years of the author's life and Rwandan history.
Fascinating look into Rwanda's history
My interest in Rwanda was spurred by watching the movie "Hotel Rwanda" and reading "The Poisonwood Bible" (which is set in next door Congo).This book follows the life of a young woman that marries an African adventurer and goes there at a fairly young age.She winds up spending practically the rest of her life there, and provides a unique and interesting perspective on Rwanda's history.Watching "Hotel Rwanda" gave me only a snapshot - leading me to think that Hutus were crazy blood thirsty savages going after Tutsis.Well, many of them were, but this book gave me a little of the background as to why the Hutus are so crazy and militant.Rwanda certainly has had a turbulent history.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Carr, Rosamond Halsey    6. Central Africa - History    7. Country life    8. Description and travel    9. Ethnic Cultures - General    10. Historical - General    11. Rwanda    12. Social life and customs    13. Travelers    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / General    16. Biography: general    17. Travel writing   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (177)

Brilliant writing, laugh-out-loud humor, a touch of the supernatural
". . . Real magic doesn't come from achieving the perfect appearance, from being Cinderella at the ball with both glass slippers and a killer hairstyle. The real magic is in the pumpkin, in the mice, in the moonlight; not beyond ordinary life, but within it." - Martha Beck, Expecting Adam
a wonderful exploration of life and living
Martha Beck has written a stunning memoir of her journey from driven Harvard grad student to delivering and parenting a child with Down's Syndrome. And yet, Beck's story and lessons apply far beyond pregnancy and having a child with Down's. She explores and challenges the premise of modern life, which is hurry up and constantly do more, without taking time to appreciate and enjoy. Her account is honest and insightful, making it all the more valuable as a vital life lesson. The loss of dreams and expectations, when faced and acknowledged, is transformative, and Beck openly shares the difficult and painful twists and turns that redefined her identity of wife, mother,and indeed even woman. She deftly weaves the love and joy Adam brings into the background of her life. Beck doesn't take the easy way out by proselytizing-instead, she openly admits the heartbreak of being judged and found wanting for choosing to continue her pregnancy when it was discovered that her son had Down's. This is thankfully not an anit-abortion story. It is the ultimate pro-choice testament-and what a testament it is. Beck has the courage to describe her struggle to move beyond reason and logic, which are innate to the Harvard culture, and reside comfortably with intuition and a sense of something bigger than the concrete, visible world.
Went on too long...
Kinda felt like 9 mos. had passed while I read this book, she really could have used a better editor.I did learn a lot about Down's Syndrome from Ms. Beck, which was interesting.Got bored with the constant Harvard references--enough already.Was distracted *SPOILER* by what has happened to the Beck's since this book was written--both spouses have "come out" and live with same sex partners.How that all came about would be an interesting book to me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Literary    5. Parental Memoirs    6. Specific Groups - Special Needs    7. Women    8. Biography & Autobiography / Literary   

Reviews (8)

What a delight!
To view the artistic talent of this amazing young lady is in itself a great pleasure, but to read her story, her rapport with God, to know that these parents have been stewards of such a great gift in such a way that Akiane remains humble and focused ... This lady and this book are simply one of the most enjoyable experiences in my life, and a bargain at this price, a temptation to send lots of gifts so that others can also enjoy this young lady's wonderful gifts.

Amazing Insight
This is one of the most amazing stories! Akiane's art and poetry show insight from our Heavenly Father that we can all use. Akiane is an inspiration to Christians of all religions. God is working through Akiane, trying to tell us all something about faith and forgiveness. This book is excellent and I can't wait until her next book and more paintings!
Akiane: Her life, Her art, Her Poetry...Awesome book
A friend showed me this book.....Came home - checked Amazon...there it was for a far better price than the book store...shipped direct - no shipping fee....came within about 3 days.....Have told everyone I know about this amazing young girl and her gift....also told the ones that I did not give it as a gift to.....go on Amazon and buy it there.....best buy anywhere....Thank you Amazon...You never let me down...darlene johnson ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American - General    2. Artists, Architects, Photographers    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Child artists    8. Children's poetry, American    9. Christianity - Christian Life - General    10. Drawing    11. Gifted children    12. Literary    13. Poetry    14. United States    15. Women    16. Biography & Autobiography / Artists, Architects, Photographers   

Reviews (49)

Too long a journey for me....
The author, a writer and professor, spent a year riding the buses with her mentally retarded sister, Beth, in Pennsylvania. Cool Beth, as she'd sign off her letters, enjoys riding the buses and gets to know the bus routes, schedules and drivers very well. Sometimes the other passengers are mean to her, even to the extent of asking the driver to kick her out of the bus but some drivers become firm friends with her. She even has a crush on one of them! I can imagine what a challenge it must be for the drivers to become friends with a mentally retarded person who talks loudly in the buses and almost letting all her secrets out in the open. It's also a challenge I think for the author to take the bus rides with her only to find that there are passengers on board who did not think that Beth deserves compassion and friendship. Some even demand that the driver checks Beth's bus ticket to ensure that she is not getting a free ride.
Not for everyone
While this book seems to have little but rave reviews, I can't say I was overly impressed by it. Frankly, I felt that I'd read the story before. Just because it's a true story doesn't mean that it can't be hackneyed and annoying, and this certainly was. Rachel was your typical clueless, booksmart girl, and Beth was your typical wise-beyond-her-years-if-retarted inspiration. The story itself is episodical--don't read this if you're looking for a coherant plot. It reflects real life, which appeals to some, but not to me. "Riding the Bus" is very well-written, which at some points was its only saving grace. But even the style can't save the disaster that was an epilogue, that completely threw me out of the story and had my head shouting "where did that come from!?" Overall, it may be someone's cup of tea, but not everyone will enjoy it.

Lessons Learned
Life cannot be easy for developmentally disabled adults. It's alsonot easy for their families. The reader sees both sides of the coin in Simon's story of spending 12 months with her mentally retarded sister, doing what Beth loves best -- riding the city's buses.
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Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Authors, American    3. Biography    4. Family relationships    5. Inspirational    6. Motivational & Inspirational    7. Pennsylvania    8. People with mental disabilities    9. Personal Memoirs    10. Self-Help    11. Specific Groups - Special Needs    12. Women    13. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (1)

better than film school!
As an aspiring producer, I have long looked up to the indie queen Christine Vachon, and I was interested to read this book after having read her excellent SHOOTING TO KILL.I read that book when I was back in college, but this book is better.It's definitely more personal - in a way it reads like a memoir.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Movie Directors    7. Film & Video - Direction & Production    8. Independent filmmakers    9. Individual Directors And Producers    10. Motion Picture Industry    11. Motion picture producers and directors    12. United States    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Entertainment & Performing Arts   

Reviews (1)

Reviewfrom Parul & Arvind Narain (California)
I just got this book after waiting for a few months and was quite thrilled to see familiar names and places mentioned.Being a distant family member, I am probably prejudiced but I think this book is a fascinating read, especially for someone brought up in Delhi.The book even has a family tree in the beginning, going back to the 1500s.As in all her books, Madhur Jaffrey manages to give her recipes a very easy to do feel and very helpful hints for people like us living in the US and I am dying to try out the recipes.Enjoy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - India    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Childhood Memoir    7. Cooks    8. General    9. History    10. India    11. India - History    12. Indian Cookery    13. Regional & Ethnic - Indic    14. United States    15. Women cooks    16. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (24)

Makes You Wish You Had Known Him
This is a good story about a pig who lived a good 13 years with a loving family of hens, a dog, his guardians - Sy and Howard, and most of the town in which they lived. I enjoyed the story of Christopher the pig.It is a very heart-warming book.The only negative criticism I have is when the author gets off onto a different path from the story of Christopher, stories of her travels and such. Mostly the book tells the story of Christopher, how he affected so many people with his wonderful personality. I found myself laughing and crying throughout. I didn't want the story of Christopher to end.But Christopher lives on in his story and his life continues to affect people who read about him as you can see in the reviews. As for me, I prefer not ever eating pork again. I can't imagine killing a soul like Christopher just for a piece of meat. I would rather all the Christophers in the world live and enjoy the life God gave to them too.That is how his story affected me. All in all, this is a very good story.

The Blah Blah Pig
I found the story to be somewhatflat.I finally gave upand put the book down permanently around Chapter 7.That said, I found the reviews to be over-rated both on here and elsewhere.
a truly wonderful love story
This is the kind of book that makes you wish it would just keep going and going.It's the kind of book that you enjoy picking up and leaves the reader feeling good after putting it down.Hopefully it will make people more aware of how beautiful and intelligent these animals are, and give them the respect they deserve instead of treating them like inatimate objects and sending them to slaughter.I was a vegatarian even before reading this book, but the book just justifies what I already know.Sy is a wonderful author and very compassionate person.She totally gets the concept of animals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anecdotes    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography And Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. General    8. Human-animal relationships    9. New Hampshire    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Pet owners    12. Swine as pets    13. Women    14. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Editorial Review

The roots of alcoholism in the life of a brilliant daughter of an upper-class family are explored in this stylistic, literary memoir of drinking by a Massachusetts journalist. Caroline Knapp describes how the distorted world of her well-to-do parents pushed her toward anexoria and then alcoholism. Fittingly, it was literature that saved her: She found inspiration in Pete Hamill's Read more

Reviews (132)

AMAZING!!!
Words can't even express how grateful I am to Caroline Knapp for writing this book. I've never seen my own thoughts and emotions over alcohol put into words and expressed so freely. I never really thought about my inner monologue before, or how I rationalize my drinking and subconsciously always make sure it is available. I've been seeing a counselor and have tried several times in the past to quit drinking. I don't think I had the strength to do so 100% until after I read this. I honestly feel like she followed me around w/ a video camera and electrodes hooked up to my brain to read my thoughts for the past 15 years! It allowed me to take a good look at myself and truly be honest with myself about my drinking and beahviors. This book was so powerful to me, and I urge any woman who is struggling w/ their own alcohol addictions to read it. You'll realize you're not alone!
R.I.PCaroline Knapp
CAROLINE KNAPP, who for 11 years worked for the Phoenix newspapers - first as a staff writer and editor, and then as a contributing columnist - died on Monday, June 3, from complications arising from lung cancer. She was 42.
Relationships
This book is for women who enjoy reading about relationships, in repetitive, excruciating, detail.Her mother, father, sisters, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. etc. and her drinking.Guys will find this hard to keep open. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alcoholics    2. Alcoholism    3. Biography    4. Biography & Autobiography    5. Biography / Autobiography    6. Biography/Autobiography    7. Case studies    8. Knapp, Caroline,    9. Recovering alcoholics    10. Specific Groups - Special Needs    11. Substance Abuse & Addictions - Alcoholism    12. United States    13. Women    14. d. 2002    15. Self-Help / Recovery   

Reviews (7)

refreshing
I read this one right after finishing Julia Child's memoirs. What a great decision! I fell in love with Julia then fell in love with Julie. This is a funny book, meant for those interested in cooking and for those who never will put a pan on the fire but just like a good underdog story. You won't get direct recipes (though you will get loads of good advice, like stay away from aspic) but if you're looking for detailed directives you should go to the source anyway and order Mastering the Art of French Cooking. This book is about accomplishing what you set out to do. It sounds simple, but most of us wallow in excuses and self-pity, things Julie tries valiently to avoid.

A fun, irreverent read
I read this book under the old title, too-- still not sure how folks might have mistaked it as a cookbook!Or a "serious" food book.The author has an irreverent, caustic, yet accessible style of writing that I could really relate to and enjoy-- even though I do not at all aspire to ever attempt a similar project in my life.However, it has inspired me to look at my life and perhaps attempt to do something which might not make a bit of practical sense, but may enrich me in unforeseen ways as the Julie/Julia Project did for the author.This woman reminds me of a close friend which helped me to enjoy it all the more.It does seem aimed towards a "younger" crowd.

Fun
This book had its ups and downs, but mostly it was a fun read. The author is young and disillusioned, and she expresses a lot of anger in the book that she was feeling at the time. But I found it to be about living a weird life in New York City at a weird time, doing a weird project. It is certinly not a cookbook as some reviewers have mistaken it for, and it is really not that much about cooking. Be prepaired for angst. I liked it. It also uses a lot of bad language, which I liked at times, but others may not. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Cooking    3. French Cookery    4. Personal Memoirs    5. Regional & Ethnic - French    6. Women    7. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (31)

Great Book For Me!
I wasn't diagnosed officially with Bipolar II until Wednesday, March 27, 2003, but I'd already had this book for almost ten years at that point...because I'd suspected that I was a manic-depressive since 1991, after seeing a segment about both Bipolar and ADHD on ABC's "20/20" and the follow-up on ABC's "Nightline" that same night.
The reality hurts
The reality of living with manic-depressive illness, whether it be you or someone you love, is driven home by Patty Duke's extreme symptoms of this disorder. This book is basically an autobiography of her life but it is also much more. It is very easy to read and informative on the types of bipolar mood swings, the different medications and how they work, which is very helpful to the average person who doesn't understand medical terminology! (like me).I never cared much for The Patty Duke Show, but now have a profound respect for her after reading her history and how she survived. Toward the end of the book are important chapters for spouses, siblings, children, friends and anyone who lives with or cares for a person with bipolar disorder on effective ways to help cope with the stress and therapy. Cases are cited in detailed on "victories" and "failures".It is easy to see where one can work on changing their own reactions to helping the one they care about. This is the first book I have ever seen my husband read in 2 days; he could not put it down. Afterward, he looked at me and started treating me in a new light. I think we will be one of the "victories!"

Great Book for Everyone
I think this book will reach out best to middle-aged women as Patty Duke writes from that perspective.However, I was 18 when my father and I read it together.One of the virtutes of the book is that it isn't just about Patty, but also about the rest of her family.This allows for even the non bipolar afflicted to understand what is happening and how they can help.The fact that Patty Duke is well known is both a positive and a negative:positive because we all know her and negative because how many people live like a star?I think this book presents an accurate portrayal of a colorful illness in a digestible format.I think the book is a good read that will teach you about bipolar even if you aren't trying to learn. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Duke, Patty,    5. Entertainment & Performing Arts - Actors & Actresses    6. Manic-depressive psychoses    7. Mental health    8. Popular works    9. Specific Groups - Special Needs    10. Women    11. Biography & Autobiography / General    12. Biography: general   

Reviews (2)

"Our Eastern Affairs are Complex Beyond All Words"
History is useful not only for revealing the past, but also in foreshadowing what the future might hold.In the case of Iraq, this is a very important matter.This book by Liora Likutz, a scholar who is currently at the Truman Institute in Jerusalem, describes the making of modern Iraq through the life of one the two key protagonists who drew its boundaries on the map following World War I.Those two individuals were T.E. Lawrence and Gertrude Bell.While the broad outline of Lawrence's life and exploits in the Middle East are well known to many, Gertrude Bell remains more of a mystery.This book attempts to pull back that veil.Anyone who seeks to understand the currents and tides swirling underneath modern Iraq needs to understand how this country came to be, and the complex life of Gertrude Bell is a good place to start.
Understanding Irak
Facinating and exciting point of view of Irak through Gertrude Bell's life.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Colonial administrators    5. Great Britain    6. Historical - General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Iraq - History    10. Middle East - General    11. Middle East - History    12. Sociology    13. Women    14. Women Middle East specialists    15. Women's Studies - General    16. 20th century    17. Asian / Middle Eastern history: from c 1900 -    18. Asian studies    19. Biography: historical    20. Imperialism    21. Iran   

Subjects:  1. Beverages - Wine & Spirits    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Cooking / Wine    5. Personal Memoirs    6. Marriage, family & other relationships    7. Non-Classifiable    8. Wines   

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Diet / Health / Fitness    5. Editors, Journalists, Publishers    6. Entertainment & Performing Arts - General    7. Radio broadcasters    8. Self-Help    9. Television personalities    10. United States    11. Women   

Reviews (94)

average
This book was engaging at times, and very honest.But for the most part, I found Stephanie Klein to be very self-absorbed, and just not all that interesting.

Can I Get My Money Back?
A friend who read the author's blog fanatically reccomended the book to me, so I picked it up a few days after it was released.
Rode Hard and Put Away Fried.
Actually, the best title for this book would have been "Me! Me! Me!" as that's Stephanie Klein's real focus during the tale. What we have here is an infantpiece devoted to self-absorption. There appears to be little she is capable of noticing about the external world which does not directly concern her. This young lady's emotions and perceptions appear to be an end in them self. Our self-described artist states that she is frighteningly open, but this may well be due to there being nothing of substance to hide.
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Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Dating (Social customs)    3. Family & Relationships    4. Family/Marriage    5. Interpersonal Relations    6. Literary    7. Love & Romance    8. Man-woman relationships    9. Mate selection    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Sex Relations    12. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs