I found that I could only read this book in short bursts; the amount of childhood trauma and, candidly, neglect that Mary Trump endured was a lot to dI found that I could only read this book in short bursts; the amount of childhood trauma and, candidly, neglect that Mary Trump endured was a lot to deal with.
This book is part biography (Trump deals with her parents and extended family) and part memoir about what it was like growing up in the wealthy but cruel family of Fred Trump ... and how the faily's functions rotated around the egomaniacal (even as a child) Donald. This book is only tangentially about Trump's famous uncle; it really is about how the family was controlled, abused, and manipulated by grandfather Fred.
Trump is candid about the physical and mental health issues she lives with due to adverse childhood events (which seems like a mild way to refer to a lot of what happened to her). She shows that financial privilege doesn't equate to love and caring (quite the opposite, in this case) and in the process helps us understand how certain monsters are built.
As a child, I devoured Marguerite Henry's books. I am pretty sure Misty of Chincoteague was the first one, read to me one chapter at a time before bedAs a child, I devoured Marguerite Henry's books. I am pretty sure Misty of Chincoteague was the first one, read to me one chapter at a time before bed. I moved on to King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian and numerous others.
In other words, my path was similar to that of author Susan Friedland ... except that I never embarked on writing a biography of the author who was so beloved of horse-crazy girls everywhere.
This book is about more than Marguerite Henry, though; it's also Friendland's memoir of the time she spent with other Misty fans, whether at Pony Penning Week or in the library, and people who had actually known Marguerite and even ridden the most famous Chincoteague Pony of them all.
This book charmed and delighted me at every turn, bringing back happy memories of reading beloved books and imagining having a horse of my own....more
This book was a tough one to get through on many levels. Miss Pamela is a gifted biographer, and she sprinkles each chapter with her own recollectionsThis book was a tough one to get through on many levels. Miss Pamela is a gifted biographer, and she sprinkles each chapter with her own recollections where they are pertinent (hence both a biography and a memoir). But she's also unflinching, showing us the seamy side of the music business in these stories.
Examining personalities as varied as G.G. Allin and Gram Parsons, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Sid Vicious, and more, Miss Pamela shows us the tragedies and suffering experienced by those who didn't handle success as well as they might have hoped. The book was originally published in 1996; some of those still living when the book was written (e.g., Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis) are no longer with us either. Some, like Axl Rose, are still around.
The book is not for the faint of heart; it deals with addiction, sexual abuse, and more. I won't be able to "unsee" some of what I read.
Still, for those who still think that the music business is all sunshine and happiness, this book is a much-needed antidote and dose of reality....more
Kunal Nayyar (Raj, on "The Big Bang Theory") brings us an utterly charming memoir about how he became an actor, his college years, how he met his wifeKunal Nayyar (Raj, on "The Big Bang Theory") brings us an utterly charming memoir about how he became an actor, his college years, how he met his wife (a former Miss India) and more.
As a former theatre kid, I found Nayyar's struggles completely relatable. He is truly challenged during his initial years in the US until he find a home in his university's drama department. Nayyar is candid about how long it took him to grow past anger and jealousy if he didn't get lead roles, and how that jealousy drove him to work harder in the "comedic sidekick" parts that initially frustrated him so much.
Talking about everything from food to dance to badminton, Nayyar also gives us a look into the Indian culture that many people might not otherwise receive.
And, unsurprisingly, his authorial voice is charming and funny. I loved this....more
I split the categories on this book between biography and memoir; it's the transcripts of author Jeff MacIntyre's interviews with Wally Amos. Wally's I split the categories on this book between biography and memoir; it's the transcripts of author Jeff MacIntyre's interviews with Wally Amos. Wally's reminiscences are bracketed by Jeff's commentary about events they're discussing, so it's a little of both.
The book isn't long, but it is entertaining. I learned things about Wally Amos that I never knew, such as his time in the entertainment industry prior to creating his cookie empire. I enjoyed Wally's anecdotes, and the photos included in the story were delightful.
I've admired Dr.Jane Goodall since childhood, always enjoying the National Geographic specials that showed her working with chimpanzees. In the many yI've admired Dr.Jane Goodall since childhood, always enjoying the National Geographic specials that showed her working with chimpanzees. In the many years since, Goodall has not only continued to work with her beloved chimps but has also become a passionate speaker on climate change and environmentalism.
This book, undertaken slightly before and during the pandemic, is a set of conversations between Goodall and co-author Douglas Abrams on the subject of hope. Goodall lays out her four reasons for hope, and expounds on them with anecdotes and research to make her case.
As one might expect if one has heard Goodall speak, the book is positive, intelligent, and gentle. Goodall and Abrams encourage all of us to do our part, but also to never let go of the spark deep within us....more
This is another book that took me two months to read. I have to be honest: I could only handle so much of it at a time. The brutality endured by FanniThis is another book that took me two months to read. I have to be honest: I could only handle so much of it at a time. The brutality endured by Fannie Lou Hamer and other civil rights activists as they tried to exercise their right to vote was horrific.
Hamer was the child of sharecroppers in rural Mississippi. She was not well-educated and seems an unlikely figure to have become a leader in the civil rights movement. Yet, she was active in several organizations, like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (the NAACP did not want her, as they preferred well-spoken men to represent their cause), and helped found Freedom Schools to teach Black people what they needed to know in order to complete voter registration.
Hamer was one of the Freedom Riders as well; she was arrested, beaten, and raped in one small town simply for getting off a bus at one of the stations to ask why white police officers were detaining Black people who wanted to use a theoretically integrated restaurant. The book does not shy away from the horrific events experienced by Hamer and others. Losing one's livelihood was the least of one's worries; several of her friends lost their lives.
She was not universally loved, even in the movement, but she was relentless. Even as she became seriously ill with the breast cancer that eventually claimed her life, she continued her work. She was instrumental in the eventual integration of electoral college delegations from Mississippi and other states in the deep South, among other accomplishments.
This biography is an important, if sometimes painful, read. Highly recommended....more
This is one of those fascinating combinations of biography and memoir that one happens across from time to time. Author Sarah Smarsh, who grew up in pThis is one of those fascinating combinations of biography and memoir that one happens across from time to time. Author Sarah Smarsh, who grew up in poverty in Kansas, intertwines her biographical study of Dolly Parton with recollections of her own childhood.
Part of what I found so interesting about this book is the way Smarsh relates Parton's songs, philanthropy, and business sense, as well as the strength of Smarsh's own grandmother and mother, to feminism. None of the three women would, according to Smarsh, call themselves feminists and yet they all chose to walk away from patriarchal, misogynistic systems that would prefer that they be kept down rather than allowing them to rise and flourish.
Don't get the idea that this is some kind of polemic; Smarsh's authorial voice is both entertaining and relatable. The book feels like a friend is telling you stories of her life and what she learned from them.
It took me a long time to finish this book, not because of its length but because I spent a lot of time reflecting on what I read.
Julian Bond wrote hiIt took me a long time to finish this book, not because of its length but because I spent a lot of time reflecting on what I read.
Julian Bond wrote his lectures out longhand, and updated them whenever he had new information to add. Thus, his estate was able to assemble them into a history of the civil rights movement -- from Prof. Bond's perspective. He was, after all, one of the leaders.
Reading about the establishment of the Southern Christian Leadership Council and the Student Non-violence Coordinating Committee from one who was at the table was enlightening. Bond provided new information on the women who were active in the civil rights movement, as well as an insider's perspective on leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, and Stokely Carmichael. He showed where the movement sometimes split into factions and the resulting challenges.
The book also includes Prof. Bond's annotated bibliography, for those who wish to learn more.
Honestly, it was a book that I needed to read ... and a whole lot of other people do, too. These challenges are not, in fact, behind BIPOC, but challenges they continue to face daily. With voter suppression and disenfranchisement once again in the news, we all need to take a lesson from the past....more
We meet Dean and his buddy on their planned bicycle trip around the world. The two part company at oneThis book was utterly charming.
There, I said it.
We meet Dean and his buddy on their planned bicycle trip around the world. The two part company at one point, and Dean goes on his way. While in Bosnia, he finds a tiny kitten near the road. He can't bear to leave her behind, and so he tucks her into his jacket and proceeds.
Before long, the idea of being without little Nala is just not on. He makes a basket for her on the front of his bike, and the two proceed on their adventures. Along the way, Dean starts sharing photos on Instagram ... and then the folks at The Dodo arrange to do a little video about them. Dean doesn't figure anyone will watch it, but soon the two are internet-famous.
Nala is the star of the show; people recognize the cat before they recognize Dean ... and this often leads to some serendipitous experiences -- especially as Hungary locks down due to COVID just as Dean and Nala are in Budapest (no real spoiler here, friends).
Along the way, Dean realizes he can use his fame to help raise funds for small rescue organizations in underprivileged parts of the world -- and he does just that, many times over. There is a whole lot of pay it forward *and* back about his generosity, which I loved.
Of course, I'm also an animal lover ... so seeing how much Dean was willing to go through for Nala was heart-warming.
Early in the book, I remember thinking "This feels rushed." Well, at the end of the book I learned that it's part of a QuickReads series, rather like Early in the book, I remember thinking "This feels rushed." Well, at the end of the book I learned that it's part of a QuickReads series, rather like the Reader's Digest Condensed Books of old. So, I wanted to get that out of the way right off.
In this book, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay gives us a look into his life, from his childhood up until 2010 (when the book was published). We learn about his volatile father, his brother's heroin addiction, Ramsay's dreams of being a professional footballer, and more. We also see him working his way up through the restaurant world, starting as a dishwasher and then getting training along the way with some of the finest chefs in Europe.
Through it all, what we get is a picture of a guy who's been through hell and come out the other wide -- but not without both literal and figurative scars to show for it.
I need to find a full-length bio to read and find out what I missed....more
I had the very good fortune to hear Marty Sklar speak once, about the 1964 New York World's Fair and Disney's involvement therein. I found him charminI had the very good fortune to hear Marty Sklar speak once, about the 1964 New York World's Fair and Disney's involvement therein. I found him charming and delightful.
The first draft of this book was completed before Marty's death, and his family decided to polish it up, add several lovely tributes from colleagues, and publish the work. I'm so glad they did. We get a new insights into Marty's belief in the power of imagination, and why it's important to support it in those around us.
Some of the stories were not new to me, but many of them were. I found myself hearing Marty's voice in my head as I read; his personality came through beautifully in the text.
Those interested in new ways to think about business, imagination, and innovation are sure to enjoy the book on those levels alone. Disneyphiles will love this look at a true Legend who is greatly missed. Highly recommended....more
Anya Seton is the author who made me love historical fiction, more years ago than I care to recount. Her Green Darkness is the first book I remember rAnya Seton is the author who made me love historical fiction, more years ago than I care to recount. Her Green Darkness is the first book I remember reading in the genre, and I was hooked.
This biography is based largely on Anya Seton's own journals, to which the author was given access by family members. Using these primary sources, as well as interviews with family members, press clippings, and other material, Lucinda H. MacKethan takes us into a world peopled by the wealthy and privileged classes. Anya, the daughter of Ernest Thompson Seton, seems always to be competing with her father's reputation while still trying to establish herself as an author.
Sadly, Anya is not taken seriously by those around her until after the sale of My Theodosia ... and even then it's questionable. Her work is dismissed by the more serious literati even as she begins to provide a then-significant percentage of the household income.
We also see Anya's difficult relationship with two spouses, her children, her parents ... she seems o have been fairly tempestuous. Alcohol and pill abuse were also a big part of her life, even by her own admission.
That Anya Seton was able to write as many well-researched and entertaining books as she did under numerous circumstances is surprising, to be honest. I'm not sure I could have stood up under the various pressures myself. This book was often a hard read because of the subject matter. Still, fans of the author are sure to enjoy an insider view of her life....more
One of the hardest things about shelter-in-place, for me, has been that I cannot travel. Nor, it appears, can those of us who hold US passports, go muOne of the hardest things about shelter-in-place, for me, has been that I cannot travel. Nor, it appears, can those of us who hold US passports, go much of anywhere for an indeterminate amount of time. So, I find myself doing the next best thing: armchair travel.
In this book, Rick Steves shares essays based on his travel experiences over the years (some of which we see in his exceptional PBS series). We not only get to see the sites, but also meet some of the people he's encountered along the way. The book is not only a delightful text, but is rich with photographs.
The travelogues take us not only around the more familiar locations, but also to remote towns and villages that are not on most itineraries. Steves' fondness for getting off the beaten track allows us to see aspects of Europe that we might not otherwise consider.
I have been a fan of the Jeopardy quiz show since I was a kid ... which means I have seen a few hosts come and go. None of them has been quite as enteI have been a fan of the Jeopardy quiz show since I was a kid ... which means I have seen a few hosts come and go. None of them has been quite as entertaining or well-prepared as Alex Trebek. Suffice it to say, I'm a fan.
This memoir is set up in an unusual fashion; it's not a chronological narrative, but a series of essays on numerous subjects that also happen to touch on Trebek's life. The chapter titles are phrased in the form of a question (not too surprising, if you are familiar with the show's format).
Trebek's thoughtful exploration of various subjects, and his no-holds-barred discussion of his life and circumstances, provides an inside look at not only a popular television host but a man of compassion and concern.
Trebek has clearly made peace with the fact that his time is short due to cancer ... and I'm grateful to him for sharing his thoughts with us....more
There was a time in my life when I would have devoured a 300-page rock biography in the space of a weekend. Instead, this one took me three and a halfThere was a time in my life when I would have devoured a 300-page rock biography in the space of a weekend. Instead, this one took me three and a half months.
Mind you, it's an excellent book. There is a ton of information about Iggy Pop that I didn't know ... and I'm a long-time fan. Despite that fandom, though, I found that I could only take Iggy's antics in small doses. Thus, I would go a long time in between reading chapters and pick up something a little less ... manic.
The book is beautifully researched, replete with interviews, discographies, and more. But it is a *lot* to take, even for a fan. Consider yourself warned. It's worth every one of the five stars, but it's kind of exhausting....more
This scholarly book (the bibliography and end notes are extensive and impressive) took me a little while to get through. I'm satisfied with that, becaThis scholarly book (the bibliography and end notes are extensive and impressive) took me a little while to get through. I'm satisfied with that, because I wanted to absorb it properly. I picked it up in the bookstore at Herculaneum earlier this year, but I am confident in its wide availability elsewhere.
Historian Robert Knapp takes us deep into the world of the lesser known Romans ... the everyday people. He shows us what their religious beliefs were, their social mores, and so on. Not only does he look at the everyday person in general, but certain specific groups like slaves, bandits, gladiators, and prostitutes ... all of whom were common in ancient Roman times.
The end result is that we get to see a more complete picture of what life was like for the ancients than we might by reading about the various emperors, senators, etc., who were less common but more wealthy.
Understanding the proverbial "man on the street" is crucial to historical research. This book is an outstanding secondary source that I would highly recommend to anyone studying ancient Roman life (as I am presently doing)....more
As a former journalist, I was interested in an opportunity to look at how Jerry Mitchell's investigative reporting for the Clarion-Ledger led to re-opAs a former journalist, I was interested in an opportunity to look at how Jerry Mitchell's investigative reporting for the Clarion-Ledger led to re-opening four of the most important unsolved cases of the civil rights era. The "Mississippi Burning" case, the murders of Medgar Evers and Victor Dahmer, and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing are all examined through the eyes of his interviews with witnesses and participants who, in many cases, were more than willing to boast of their involvement.
I was appalled at the casual racism displayed by many of the police officers, prosecutors, and judges during the 1960s and well into the 2000s as the cases first occurred and were subsequently tried. The book presented a solid case for why we are not doing nearly as well in matters of justice and equality than many of us would like to believe and, in an epilogue, addresses the current rise of white supremacy and the causes of that.
The book is brilliantly written, which one might expect from a journalist of Mitchell's caliber. It's fascinating and disturbing, and concerns an important part of US history that we ignore at our own peril. Highly recommended....more
The Weavers were one of the most influential folk groups in music history, both together and individually. Fred Hellman, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, andThe Weavers were one of the most influential folk groups in music history, both together and individually. Fred Hellman, Lee Hays, Ronnie Gilbert, and Pete Seeger wrote (or collected) and performed songs that are common sing-along refrains but were at the time considered revolutionary.
And dangerous.
All four members of the music group were the focus of the House Unamerican Activities Committee, due to what informants called their "subversive influence" on their fans.
This book was a fascinating look into the group's history, from the late 1940s up until the present day (the last member passed away in 2018). We see the politics of the Cold War and its attendant "red scare," as well as how the folk music trends grew and changed right along with the Weavers themselves.
Some of the book was a little dry, but it was nevertheless an exceptional read. The author included an extensive bibliography, as well as interview notes and photographs.
Highly recommended for those who enjoy folk music and wish to know more about its history....more
When I was given the opportunity to read and review "Churchill's Menagerie," I imagined a more biographical/chronological take on the animal-loving siWhen I was given the opportunity to read and review "Churchill's Menagerie," I imagined a more biographical/chronological take on the animal-loving side of a gifted politician. And while I did get that on some levels, it just wasn't what I expected.
Not that this is bad, mind you.
What I got instead was a bestiary, laid out from A to Z, with a look at how Churchill either loved or reviled particular types of animals, and how he employed them as metaphors in his speeches and writing. I knew that he loved cats, dogs, and horses but, for example, I had no idea that he was an avid aquarist.
The book was easy to pick up and put down as chapters were only a few pages. This is probably why it took me a while to get through, despite being only about 300 pages.
I enjoyed it, and got a new look at an interesting personage. Recommended....more
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