Book Description

Hardship, sacrifice, determination and ultimate triumph make up Blind Faith, the frank and compelling biography of Lula Hardaway, mother of superstar musician and singer Stevie Wonder.

A motherless child born in a sharecropper's shack in Alabama, Lula was passed from relative to relative, unwanted and unloved. As a teenager she was sent to Chicago where she married a much older man who abused her and forced her to work as a prostitute. Determined to build a better life for her children, she eventually made her escape to Detroit.

Although Stevland Judkins was blind virtually from birth, Lula noticed that this little boy impressed everyone with his outgoing personality, his intelligence, charm, and his incredible musical talent. Berry Gordy dubbed the boy Little Stevie Wonder and launched him into musical history when he signed Stevie to his Motown label.

When Innervisions won a Grammy award for Album of the Year in 1973, Stevie Wonder refused to accept the award unless Lula walked with him to thepodium where he proclaimed, "her strength has led us to this place."

Indeed, it was Lula's drive and her willingness to sacrifice the now for the future that saw them through. Blind Faith is not only the story of the birth of a superstar, but a stirring testament to a mother's love ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great read but too little about Lulu after Stevie's success
I am almost done with Blind Faith. It's a fast book to get through and was well written by two journalists. At times, the writing style reads more like a magazine article than a biography, which took me some time to get used to. But after a while, I could rarely put it down.

The story about Lulu Hardaway is very inspiring for struggling single parents and parents of children with so called disabilities. The book gives a great lesson on post World War II Black history. My only issue is that the second half of the book is basically the Motown story that I've read about so often. I did not mind the history lesson because I enjoy reading about developments in American music, which Motown played an important part.

In the book, Lulu's story fades to a point where we learn little about how her life developed as Stevie Wonder became famous. I did not learn how Lulu and Stevie's relationship was affected by his fame or what happened in the lives of her other children. It's almost as if she did not have much to talk about post Stevie's fame, or maybe Stevie and her lost touch due to his constant music career traveling.

The book is well written, interesting and entertaining. I applaude Stevie's life. It would have been interesting if the book was written by Stevie himself, or from his perspective.

Courageous
Stevie Wonder and Lula Hardaway showed courage in telling this deep, sensitive and great story. Stevie WOnder owes his mother more than just a thank you and so do we. It is one of the most fascinating biographies I've ever read. It made me cry.

Interesting Story
Lula's story was truly heartbreaking. She endured so much adversity in her life. Stevie's success was really a "blessing" for the entire family to come out of proverty and for her to accept the fact that his visual impairment was not a hindrance to his happiness.

Stevie's story is remarkable as well. He began an extremely talented young boy that just wanted to play his music and enjoy his life the best he could. I am truly proud of his accomplishments. One thing that could have been better for the story overall is a better ending!

It ended somewhere in the eighties for Stevie and did not mention what ever came of his siblings. A good read though, and gives a pretty good overview of how Stevie came to be the great artistic genius that he is

amazing,courageous,determined...AWE STRUCK
Belinda Sampson,

This has got to be one of the best books I have read about a child that grows into a woman with so much courage and determination in her character no matter what was put upon her shoulders. Mother to the famous Stevie Wonder or not, this woman is an inspiration within herself for all of the pain she has went through. The book speaks of a hard life, a hard childhood like that of Nightmares Echo-a memoir. It also reminds me of a couple of other books such as A Child Called It and Running With Scissors. I am just in utter amazement with this book. Pride shines in my eyes along ith the tears I shed while reading this wonderful book.

Amazing story of Stevie Wonder AND his mother
Loved  the taped version of BLIND FAITH: THE MIRACULOUS
JOURNEY OF LULA HARDAWAY, STEVIE WONDER'S MOTHER
by Dennis Love and Stacy Brown . . . it is an authorized biography
of Wonder and his mother, based on interviews with the both
of them.

I had listened to Wonder's music over the years, but did not know
too much about his background . . . how he achieved the
success that he did is nothing short of amazing, especially
given his blindness.

He comes across as a talented worker not fazed by his blindness,
along with being a loving son, a prankster and a womanizer . . . his
mother's tale of devotion was particularly moving, though I would
have liked to have heard more about what happened to her
after her son's success . . . I'm also curious as to what
happened to his brothers since very little information is given
about them.

The narration by Viola Davis was excellent; so much so, in fact,
that I want to find more about her . . . I'll be curious to find out if

she has read other books and/or appeared on screen. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A real believer
Maybe Tomorrow was a fabulous book. I was into Boori magnificent tale right away. I was about to say i feel his passion, but i could never feel the amount of passion that Boori has, and spreads throught the Australian land. I knew ther were many problems with Aborigonals in Australia, but never quite so bad. I thought people just didn't have any real respect for them. which made it hard fort them to get on in life. But i never knew of any of the harsh treatments they go through. Especially abuse from Police. The way he lived his life, and told his stories made me want to read on. I'm also into Djing and Basketball like Boori which caught my attention more. The other day I was thinking how great it would be to go and visit this man and his family in the Bush. I come from the same area as him too. I would love to see the way the traditional Aborigonals go through their days, preferably without hassle of 'white Australians.' Overall, definately an insperational book, and a must read for many people. Humerous, yet serious problems in life. Well done Boori(Monty)Pryor!

A peak into the Aboriginal mentality
Boori Monty Pryor's "Maybe Tomorrow" is a delightful, thought-provoking book, full of insightful stories (both humoristic and tragic) about Aboriginal and non-Aboriginals' interactions in Australia. It is easy reading, told in a vivid, story-telling language, and the stories mostly revolve around Boori's experiences with school children, when he talks to them about his Aboriginal culture, traditions, the Aboriginal situation today, etc. "Maybe Tomorrow" brings up a lot of prejudices that many non-Aboriginals unfortunately have against Aboriginals. Boori gives his side of the story in a neat, creative, non-bitter, and understandable fashion.

I would definitely recommend "Maybe Tomorrow". It gives you a great picture of Aboriginal culture, traditions, mentality, etc. It also helps give this amazing people the respect and appreciation, they so much deserve. In addition, I think that Boori's messages not only apply to Australian Aboriginals, but may also give an idea as to why other indigenous peoples across the planet live the way they do, in their attempt to adapt to non-indigenous (or white) society. ... Read more

Book Description

In 1955, Rosa Parks, an African American seamstress, had no idea she was changing history when, fed up and tired, she refused to surrender her seat to a white passenger on a bus in segregated Alabama.Today, she is immortalized for the defiance that sent her to jail and triggered a bus boycott that catapulted Martin Luther King, Jr. into the national spotlight.Who was she, before and after her historic act, and how did that act sound the death knell for Jim Crow? Historian Douglas Brinkley brings mid twentieth century America alive in this brilliant examination of a celebrated heroine in the context of her life and tumultuous times.Here is the quiet dignity, hope, courage, and humor that have made this every-woman a living legend.

"An eye-opener of a book for students of history, politics, the black experience, and human nature."(amazon.com) ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Wanted: Equality!!
Walking into restaurants and shopping malls, I see short and tall people, young and old people, and black and white people. You may be thinking, "Well, DUH!", but think about it for a minute...were black people always allowed to eat with and shop where white people did? I don't think so! I mean if it weren't for certain people such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, black and white people wouldn't even be able to drink out of the same water fountain, let alone shop and eat among each other.

After reading the book entitled Rosa Parks, written by Douglas Brinkley, I realized that life today isn't at all the same as life was 50 years ago.

Rosa Parks is mainly an autobiography of Rosa Parks. It does although mention other great people such as Susan B. Anthony and Sojourner Truth. All these people helped create equality throughout all of the human races.

On December 1, 1955, a 42-year old black woman, named Rosa Louise Parks, refused to give up her seat to a white man. You see, back then, white people had the privilege of sitting in the front of the bus, due to their so-called "superiority" over blacks, and blacks were sent to the back. Rosa Parks' refusal set off a 381-day boycott led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and is now considered to have been the beginning of the American civil rights movement.

Rosa Parks' case was different from many other people who disobeyed the laws. Rosa Parks had this biblical quality, which made her a saint, somewhat divine. Also, Rosa Parks only spent 2 hours in jail, while others were in for days, weeks, perhaps even months.

This book not only recognizes some of the most influential people of all time, but also tells exactly how black people were treated and how they reacted.

If you are interested in finding out more about Rosa Parks and other interesting people, I highly recommend this book.

Excellent, inspirational telling of an American Icon's story
Douglas Brinkley brings out the essence of Rosa Parks' humanity and her role in the Civil Rights movement. This short, highly-readable book provides useful background on Mrs. Parks' parents, early childhood, and introduction to the NAACP.

The impact of Rosa Parks' actions on her family and friends was among the most revealing aspects of the book. The web of support, before and after her refusal to give up her seat, is truly inspirational.

The author explores in detail the involvement of Mrs. Parks in the NAACP, church groups, and other activist organizations during the early-to-mid '50s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s first national exposure in the movement is interesting for those not having read "Parting the Water..." and other such works.

Douglas Brinkley's telling of the Rosa Parks story is not the first - and certainly not the last - but is the best!

Satisfying and Inspirational
This biography of Rosa Parks presents a very well balanced, fair description of its subject. Regrettably, as with Martin Luther King Jr., social activists and historians have all too often exalted the heroes of the Civil Rights movement beyond the bounds of human existence. This deification is both degrading and unfair, as it not only deprives our heroes of the right to live - and die - as normal human beings, but it also places many of them out of reach - discouraging many to whom them would otherwise serve as excellent role models.

In refreshing contrast to that destructive tendency, this book does an excellent job of peeling back the aura around Rosa Parks and depicting her as the simple, virtuous woman that she is. Brinkley's depiction of her is refreshingly human and honest, and he does a magnificent job of describing her in the simple, straightforward way that so characterizes her.

Also worthy of note is Brinkley's willingness to include so many of Rosa Park's circle of acquaintances in his narrative. From her hard-drinking yet loyal husband to people who have met her only briefly, he touches on their influences on her life, their reaction to her, and what they all mean within the greater scope of her place in our history and society.

Regrettably, whites - with a few notable exceptions - are seen as oppressive, racist boors with a permanent vendetta. Even at that time, that was not true.

Overall, this book is an excellent, enjoyable, and enlightening read - and one that does refreshing justice to the woman and warrior that Rosa Parks is. Vivid Portrait of an American Heroine
Written with an eloquence and grace more often associated with poets than with academic historians, Douglas Brinkley's biography of Rosa Parks (part of the highly-touted Viking 'Penguin Lives' Series) is a moving portrait of an iconic American figure. 'Rosa Parks' relates not only the climactic moment of Ms. Parks' courageous refusal to relinquish her seat on a segregated bus one winter day in Montgomery Alabama, which triggered one of the seminal events of the Civil Rights Movement, it also weaves together a compelling narrative of one woman's path from the struggles of her youth in Tuskegee, Alabama to her post-boycott experiences in Montgomery and Detroit. Brinkley's research for the book is remarkable. He obtained rare interviews with Ms. Parks herself, and presents illuminating new details about her life and the Civil Rights Movement of which she was a part. Brinkley's depiction of Ms. Parks' encounter with Nelson Mandela alone will move even the most jaded of readers. Intended for lay readers while invaluable for scholars, Brinkley's exquisite literary craftsmanship has resulted in a work that will stand as a classic, not only in the fields of African-American and women's history, but among the great works of American history and biography as a whole.

UNAPPRECIATED ACTIVIST
Rosa Parks is a name we should know. As an icon of the civil rights movement, her legendary refusal to give up her seat on the segregated bus started one of the greatest revolutions since the Civil War. Many of us a familiar with this non-assuming woman who was the catalyst in inspiring the careers of Martin Luther King, Jr. and other famous civil rights activists.

We are comfortable with the image of the mild mannered Christian woman who always stayed in the background. Ah, but just how much do we really know about Rosa Parks except for the myth created? Are we really appreciative and aware of this woman who has been ignored only to be thought of again when politically expedient for others? Douglas Brinkley, in this short concise biography, removes the shroud of obscurity and myth about Rosa Parks. For the first time we are shown that the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement" was more militant than we suspect. A highly intelligent and organized person, Mrs. Parks was an activist long before her famous bus ride and was very informed about what was going on in the movement locally as well as globally.

The Rosa Parks presented in this text had a great aura of spirituality, strength and dignity that exuded calm during a period of unrest. Misunderstood by her peers and her friends Rosa Parks emerged as the underlying spirit that enabled the movement to begin its course of action.

We learn about the Rosa Parks who was a quiet young woman but had a fierce anger against injustice. She stayed an activist throughout her life inspite of the personal hardships in her marriage and with her mother.She is a woman of great spiritual strength and power. Brinkley presents us with a portrait of a woman that we never knew and have come to rediscover. ... Read more

Book Description

Are You Somebody is a moving and fascinating portrait of both Ireland and one of its most popular and respected commentators. This gem of honesty and insight had its first life as the introduction to a collection of Nuala O'Faolain's Irish Times columns that became a number-one bestseller in Ireland. It now stands alone. Ireland has fallen in love with this memoir of an Irish woman of letters, and now this country will too. ... Read more

Reviews (67)

middle-aged conventional man finds Nuala valuable
You either love this book or find it a tedious whine. Why would a conventional, middle-aged English teacher like myself find it worthwhile, even riveting? It helps that I have visited Ireland several times in recent years, and have gradually seen beyond the Irish Tourist Board conception of the emerald isle. And I have enjoyed Dublin, despite its scruffy character. I also have spent most of my professional life working with single women, and though none of them have faced life situations as tough as Nuala's, I still found connections with her life and their's. I also teach English, and I love her affection for poetry and books. But most of all, I love her truth-seeking, and despite some of the personal complaints on this list of reviews, this is a crafted book that never left me confused. We all have parents, and conflict between us seems to be just a part of living we can't altogether avoid. I thank Nuala for bravely writing her memoir. I read it straight through in two chunks of time over two days.

A fascinating view of Irish women of a certain age
I was quite moved by this book, by O'Faolain's honesty about her sexual development, failed relationships, and her struggle with the life of her parents and their effect on her and her siblings. It helped me understand present-day Ireland better, and also some of the religious strife - for example, the fact that as a college student she was "shocked" to discover other religions beyond catholicism that had similar tenets. It's hard for us to imagine being so sheltered from the rest of the world.

I admired her courage in examining why she is alone and how she feels about it. The postscript was particularly interesting. When I finished this book I started reading it over.

sad and so very true
I have once again made the mistake of reading the other customer reviews before writing my own review. Generally when I happen onto a one or two star review that really comes down on a book that I like, I will go to the "See All Reviews" page and order the reviews from "Lowest First". I will then read through review after review by readers who simply wanted this to be another book rather than the one it is.

I suppose that my repeated exercise of this masochistic procedure is part of my own Catholic background, which was far less complete, administered twenty years after O'Faolain's and in the New World rather than isolated, entrenched Ireland. Perhaps it helps to be Catholic when it comes to understanding Nuala O'Faolain's nearly continual struggle to lead a full and worldly life and not feel badly about it.

A lot of readers still seem to expect a 'Whig history' from a memoir with triumph leading to triumph, interspersed with set-pieces of 'struggle' to make it interesting. Are You Somebody? is something much braver, truer and scarier: an honest recollection.

O'Faolain very clearly describes the historically maintained cultural institutions that caused her to have certain beliefs and take certain actions that led her repeatedly into disaster. Forty years before her, Virginia Woolf had described the need for women to make lives that were expressions of their own desires rather than fulfillments of the needs of men. O'Faolain is acutely conscious, looking back in middle age, that she had not internalized Woolf's wisdom and that her dysfunctional relationships with men were a direct result.

She is also at pains to describe the slow awakening of her consciousness of her Irishness and she is quite frank about how her failure to think of herself as Irish, even though the BBC thought of her as an Irish woman, caused to make mediocre documentaries about contemporary events in Ireland.

In chapter after chapter O'Faolain shows us how hidebound patriarchy made it difficult for a woman to enjoy or trust worldly success, how the medieval nature of Irish Catholicism made for complete confusion about sex and female independence, and how a deep-seated disinterest in Irish culture among the educated classes of Dublin made one's identity peculiarly rootless. As if that weren't enough, there is much more in this book.

If you find this book pretentious and depressing, then I suggest that you stop going to Starbucks and paying $3 for a cup of coffee. Life has not always been the way it is now. A lot of things were harder for women, particularly Irish women, not so long ago. If you don't want to hear it, then you're part of the problem.

Not a winner
I read this book as part of a book group. I found it boring and pretenious. The author would have done a much better job if she spent more time on a specific event, rather than racing through general situations. She skipped around a lot so it was very difficult to remember who was whom, or to even care.

Resonates with all women who came of age in that era
One of 9 children in your typically urban Dublin Catholic household, Nuala O'Faolain made it out. A physically absent father and emotionally absent and defeated mother didn't prevent O'Faolain from somehow finding her path through the medium of books. It was actually her near disastrous mistakes with 'boys' that, oddly, fostered her escape. To save Nuala's immortal soul, she was sent to a convent - and then with a scholarship, on to Oxford and a career.
Career. Not a word usually found in the same sentence with 'woman' in Ireland in the 50s and 60s. The fact that O'Faolin chooses not to bear children, finding solace in books, literature, and writing, does not always settle well with her compatriots - and indeed, she herself admits that it wasn't always the best situation as she struggled with alcoholism and depression.
Ultimately, however, Are You Somebody emerges as a sociological expose of Irish women and the choices they are too often forced to make.
Not just 'another Irish memoir.' It's more than the sum of its parts and well worth a careful read. ... Read more

Download Description

Shackleton tells the story of his last expedition (1914-1917) when his ship was crushed by pack ice. He sailed 800 miles in an open boat and then hiked twenty miles through the mountains in order to save his men. ... Read more

Reviews (31)

A modest, factual account of extraordinary leadership.
This a story of a "failed" cross continental expedition and its aftermath. It gives a continuous account of the unbelievable experiences of Ernest Shacleton and his crew of 27 men from the time their ship, the Endurance, is frozen in pack ice until their final escape some 20 months later. This unbelieveable feat was accomplished without a single loss of life!

The character and leadership abilities of Ernest Shackleton are impressive and facinating as he and his crew are pitted against forces of nature beyond the experience of most mortals.

I found much inspiration for dealing with life's everday experiences and challenges from reading this account. I have also read Frank Worsley's account of the "open boat" escape and a biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton. I will continue to expand this list of readings as I am able to find more accounts on the subject.

The lure of the Antartic and the study of these extrodinary adventures grips me as no other topic has for a long time.

A Gripping Tale
Ernest Shackleton has always been one of my heroes. The story of the Endurance and how the Shackleton Expedition kept body and soul together and made it safely home after losing its ship in the Weddell Sea ice pack is one of the most heroic episodes in the annals of human adventure. Hollywood could not write a more compelling epic.
I bought the book because I wanted to read a first-hand account of the Expedition, despite being somewhat afraid of its being bogged down in technical details. It was not. Once the scene was set, what the reader gets is a fast-moving, easy-to-read, and very gripping tale of the attention to duty, the guts, and the undying optimism it took to overcome what must have seemed like insurmountable odds. Shackleton's wry sense of humor and his willingness to take calculated risks and make hard decisions undoubtedly helped to inspire his men to work as a team.
You will sit on the edge of your seat as you read of the harrowing voyage in the tiny dinghy across the raging seas as Shackleton and a chosen few set out from Elephant Island in a desperate attempt to reach South Georgia. You will feel the weariness and the agony of his party as they seek to find a way to the other side through what had been considered inaccessible territory. And you will feel the sense of relief and triumph as the party stumbles into the whaling station where it was able to organize a rescue for the comrades left behind on Elephant Island.
That is really the climax of the story. Some readers may find the second portion of the book a bit anticlimactic, and it is, but that does not take away from the main story. The second part merely recounts the trials and tribulations of the other half of the expedition. The story of those men and their ship is interesting in its own right and is included here only because Shackleton, as overall commander of the expedition, included their story in his journal.
Sir Ernest Shackleton's story is an inspiration to me. His heroism shines in a world that produces too few heroes. I highly recommend this book to all who like a good story. Perhaps you will be inspired too.

the straight-ahead momentum of an ice breaker
His party stranded on an ice floe hundreds of miles from their destination, beyond the reach of the outside world -- even had the outside world known they needed help, or where to look -- his ship crushed by countless miles of pack ice and supplies running low, Ernest Shackleton spent not a moment in lamentation. He set about saving his crew and himself. They made their way to a small, desolate bit of island shore, from which Shackleton and five men journeyed 800 miles in a 22-foot open boat across the most dangerous sea in the world. A trek through miles of snow-covered mountain wilderness finally brought rescue. And everybody survived! Shackleton's is an epic tale of true adventure and derring-do, and he tells it with the straight-ahead momentum of an ice breaker diving into the pack. He sees beauty in the Antarctic, and he carries a touch of poetry (Browning, anyway) in his soul. He is also a detail man, and his flights of descriptive eloquence bog down amid facts, figures, wind speeds and diatomous striations. But this piling-on of minutiae proves riveting in the action sequences (most of the book). We feel like we are there. Having told his own party's tale, Shackleton gives a useful if anticlimactic account of the Ross Sea wing of the expedition - a story with its own generous measure of adventure, heroism and poignancy.

Poor Shackleton
Poor Shackleton. In all his life it seems he allways came late or second, allmost made it or, as in this story, did not reach his goal at all.
Most amazing in his last expedition is that no lives were lost, though probably encountering the worst circumstances of the expedions I know of.
Most remarkably are the stunning photo's by Frank Hurley. The negatives were either transported over ice and sea, or (no book provided me with that information) were allready developed on the ice. In my copy of this book (printed probably around 1935), but not found in all later editions, one of these negatives is in good quality full-colour, made in 1914!

Quite a tale of human survival
I want to dispell a couple of myths that seem to be pervading a handful of the reviews for this book. First, this book is NOT a cure for insomnia. This book is unbelievable exciting, and if it puts you to sleep so quickly, then your attention span has obviousley been severely warped by television or some other dumbing-agent. Secondly, the language, though written 80+ years ago, is not that challenging. I'm no linguist, but I didn't notice a difference between Shakleton's phrasing and word choice and the writing of today's writers. The fact that it was written so long ago does not make it boring. I think his book has aged quite well.

Was it the MOST exciting book I've ever read? Of course not! (That award likely goes to Helter Skelter) But Shakleton was not aiming to create an edge of the seat thriller (although he did come close!). He was only trying to, as acurately as possible, tell his heroic tale of survival in as much detail as he could provide.

The book's only shortcoming: I wish it included a much more detailed set of maps with which I could follow Shakleton's moves. I was constantly referring to the basic map at the beginning of my book only to be dissapointed by its lack of detail. There were countless references to islands that were not marked on the map in my book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In this 1987 Pulitzer Prize winner, David J. Garrow, through extensive interviews, and access to F.B.I. transcripts, delves deeply into both Dr. Martin Luther King’s leadership role andhis private life. He attributes King's moral and physical courage to his religious faith: King believed that he had literally been called to do the Lord's work. But from 1965, when the F.B.I. taped King in sexual encounters and sent the tape to S.C.L.L. headquarters, his associates noted a "spiritual depression", even a "death wish." Fear that exposure would ruin his public work dogged him until his assassination in 1968. While documenting the F.B.I.'s dirty tricks, Garrow never loses sight of King's achievement and vision, nor of the poignancy of King's belief that "the cross is something that you bear and ultimately that you die on." ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Blah blah blah
Ok, Garrow gets five stars for a staggering amount of research.Hands down, this mam did his homework.But other than that, I cannot understand why he would get a Pulitzer for it.

There is no real over-arching narrative here.He tries to let the facts speak for themselves, but doesn't really line them up.One moment we are discussing King's wife, and then we are talking about the book he is writing, as if he was always writing it.Then we change topics one paragraph later.What book was King writing?Oh, we find that out forty pages later.

At every mention of King's Ghostwriters, I couldn't help but wonder why Garrow didn't get one for himself.

The heavy burden of being a hero
BEARING THE CROSS is a very detailed book on the life and times of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., American hero, civil rights activist, preacher and admirer of Ghandi and his nonviolent approach to social change. King came to the forefront of the mid-century civil rights movement when Rosa Parks, a seamstress, refused to move from her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. It wasn't the first time a black woman had been tossed out of her seat in the Black section of the bus when a white customer needed a seat. Along with the removal usually went insults and threats and Ms. Parks just wasn't having it that time. The local activists asked King, a new preacher at Dexter Baptist Church, if he would take on the responsibility. Reluctantly, he agreed to do so and thus began the legend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Over the years, Dr. King has taken on an almost mythical position in the civil rights movement. Those who were present at the time find themselves wondering if the Dr. King they remember is the same man that is now raised in the American consciousness. He is frequently given a saintly aura that leads children reading about him in history books to believe there was never anyone like him before and that there can never be another like him again. David J. Garrow dispels those myths as he lets us in on the life of the man who led this country to reconsider its segregationist behavior. We see Dr. King when he is depressed and feeling unworthy of his position in the movement, when he is being a chauvinist about his wife, those moments when he smokes and drinks too much and Garrow gives credence to the rampant rumors that he had women in his life other than Coretta.

In addition to the very humanness of King, we also get to witness the foibles of the United States as it dealt with its Black citizens. We get to know the actions of three presidents of the United States, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson, as they vacillated about the civil rights movement. None of them wanted to upset the Southern voting population so they tended to send mixed messages: on one hand they knew that Blacks were being treated unfairly but to offer help through legislation, federal troop protection for besieged nonviolent marchers or verbal support for the movement was beyond where they wanted to go. The levels to which the FBI stooped to discredit King are by themselves, phenomenal. Each of the presidents was definitely aware that King's rights as a citizen of this country were being abused as his home, his phones, his motels, hotels and friends were wiretapped. The agency also used the illegally acquired information to terrorize and blackmail Dr. King. Not one of them objected to this horrendous invasion of privacy.

BEARING THE CROSS is a definite must read for every caring citizen of the United States who has a desire to understand and appreciate the civil rights movement, the life and times of Dr. King and the role that the country has played in keeping some of its citizens in bondage. I would also recommend it as a reference book for the civil rights movement.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of the RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

Very good biography on MLK
This Pulitzer Prize winning biography proves to be superbly reseached and well written (although bit dry for some) account of the great civil right leader. However, the book seem to be geared around his public life and his involvment with the Civil Rights movement of SCLC. Although this part of his life seem to be well documented and covered, the book don't tell us much about King's private life, his relationship with his family, or his sexual indiscretions and his own relationship on the personal level with so many of his fellowers, friends and rivials.

But its a superb coverage of King's Civil Rights involvement and actually tell a sad story of man who was definitely over reaching the limits of his own personal, mental and physical endurance. A good example would be how MLK's venture in the Vietnam War which definitely overextended his reach when so much still needed to be done on the Civil Rights front. This distraction also cost him friends and allies who could have helped him on that issue which should have been the main focus of MLK. I guess he lost focus in the end. I am bit surprised that the book didn't make any commentary on the legacy of MLK or anything like that. The book stopped with his death which almost sound like a blessing for MLK who seem at the end of his life, an unhappy man, totally stress out andoverwhelmed by his burdens.

But as biography goes, I thought this book was honest and interesting picture of a man. And thats good in my opinion, MLK was a man with combination of greatness and flaw that the book clearly points out with a great deal of objectivity. I thought it was kind of an ironic statement when the author stated that the only people who really knew MLK were his closest friends and the FBI who wiretapped him.

I should note that this may not be an ideal chocie for first time reader of MLK since there are overwhelming amount of material in this book which may create an information overload for some people.

My paperback book didn't have any photos which I thought to be bit strange. Book like this need photos. But overall, this is the best biography I have read on MLK regarding his public life. Will there ever be one of his private life??

Marked Black History
This is the most comprehensive MLK book you can get and it helped me through the 20th century as I wrote a short-short on Black history entitled "Who is We?" available @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/singinsagg. The book spans black history and the agonizing period of slavery from 1441, all across the Americas.It brings you to the period of segregation and tell of the arts that blacks are known for and traces the life of MLK, blacks in film, musical emerges such as gospel, blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, reggae, and hip-hop (rap).

required reading
Although not completed I already have the idea that it should be required reading for Seniors in High School and/or a Freshman College requirement. After all it is a most significant event of modern day history along with the civil war and both world wars. David Garrow simultaneously celebrates and condemns human nature by revealing the courage and strength of Dr. King and his followers even as his wife and daughter are attacked with fire bombs by the hateful white mobs. A very compelling beginning story of Rosa Parks... the injustices and inhumane treatment she suffered at the hands of a hate filled people...sets the stage for a work that could begin a lesson in tolerance and unity for our next generations. I unfortunately believe we are still condemned to live our hateful existence in America and the world until works like this can get the attention they deserve. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Laughably unprofessional
I must first commend Fidelman for his relatively thorough documenting of Ella's recordings, concerts, and television appearences; if this book is at all worthwhile, it is to learn more about the lady's career.

That being said, the author has here penned one of the most unprofessional works of biography ever published. He sets the tone early, recounting the ways he was denied access to Fitzgerald's inner circle with all the righteous, catty anger of the dorky girl excluded from the popular group in middle school. He punctuates various passages with tangents that have little or nothing to do with Fitzgerald's life and legacy, including a plea for record labels to reissue the works of the great stars of the mid-twentieth-century, and mentions of his having written liner notes for certain Fitzgerald releases. The majority of the book's narrative is written in a silly tone which belies any attempt by Fidelman to cast himself as a serious biographer. His insight into Fitzgerald the woman is nil. This is all in addition to his highly questionable and tabloid-esque recounting of a tragic interview with Joe Pass, suffering from terminal cancer, which seems only to be included due to Joe's saying he doesn't know why he's telling Fidelman this - perhaps an attempt by GMF to indicate some sort of personal relationship with the legendary guitarist.

I would not go so far as to tell Fitzgerald fans to avoid this book, nor would I send them running to Stuart Nicholson's dull, fact-heavy tome; a compelling, authoritative biography of the great jazz singer has not yet been written. I would instead advise possible readers to approach "First Lady of Song" with very low expectations, and then purely from an informational standpoint.

Unworthy Bio of the First Lady of Song
This alleged biography of Ella Fitzgerald is seriously flawed and not recommended. At its most basic, the book is simply not a serious biography written in a professional manner. For example, the author CONSTANTLY interupts the narrative to give the reader HIS opinions of each and every song she sings, her weight and even her wigs. Even the captions to the photos are annoying ("Still hiding her figure for Verve"..."Oh those awful wigs") This is not acceptable or serious writing for a biography. He also seemingly attempts to convince the reader that he knew Ella personally, sometimes referring to her (annoyingly) as "Miss Fitz." Another complaint: the author talks knowingly about live recorded concert albums leading the reader to believe he has some inside knowlege of a concert, when in reality he is simply relating what is on the actual album for everyone to hear. He also refers to others he supposedly interviewed by their first names ("Keeter" Betts, "Danny" Kaye). Was he really on a first name basis with these people? Of course, we don't know who he interviewed, or when he interviewed them, because there aren't any notes in the book to prove it. If you want a serious bio of the great singer, instead of this thing, I recommend the much-respected "Ella Fitzgerald" by Stuart Nicholson. ... Read more

Book Description

A riveting tale of Bess Myerson's life before and during her reign as the only Jewish Miss America. It recalls the post WWII era, a time filled with pride and hope, as well as bigotry and exploitation. Narrated by Bess Myerson herself, along with New York musical star Adam Grupper, with an introduction by TV and theater personality, Hal Linden ("Barney Miller," "The Rothschilds"). ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A CROWNING SUCCESS. EVEN AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
There she goes, Miss America. And Bess Myerson was America's first (and still only) Jewish Miss America, an groundbreaking achievement that makes for riveting cultural and social history. This is not a new book --- it is the first paperback edition of Susan Dworkin's landmark collaborative biography that was first published in 1987, and it is still an important one. Dworkin weaves together oral histories, research and commentary to present not only a vivid portrait of pre-feminist America in the '30s and '40s, but one of Jews, of women, of the anti-Semitic riddled Miss America pageant and of Myerson's own life. A crowning success. Still.

A superbly produced, highly recommended audiobook.
Ably narrated by Bess Myerson and Adam Grupper, Miss America 1945 is Susan Dworkin's engaging rendition of Bess Myerson's memoirs of her self as a naive Jewish girl from the Bronx, a scheming beauty pageant promoter, and rampant anti-Semitism within the context of a national post-war euphoria. What is particularly fascinating is Myerson's candid revelations of what it was like to be the first (and only) Jewish Miss America and her emergent political activism that resulted from her experiences with the beauty pageant. This abridged-by-the-author audiobook edition features flawless production values and has a running time of 5 hours, 10 minutes. Miss America 1945 is an ardently recommended addition to personal and library audiobook collections.

Fascinating story!
Absolutely intriguing portrait of a truly fascinating and remarkable woman, not to mention a unique era in history. Bess Myerson symbolized so much, at a very important time in American history. Well worth reading/listening to! ... Read more

Book Description

The classic, Edgar Award-winning biography, published to celebrate the centenary of Hitchcock's birth with a new introduction by the author.

This is the definitive life story of Alfred Hitchcock, the enigmatic and intensely private director of Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, The Birds, and more than forty other films. While setting forth every stage of Hitchcock's long life and brilliant career, Donald Spoto also explores the roots of the director's obsessions with blondes, food, murder, and idealized love-and he traces the incomparable, bizarre genius from Hitchcock's English childhood through the golden years of his career in America as one of the greatest directors in the history of filmmaking.

"Absolutely compulsory reading."-The New York Times Book Review

"A real page-turner, and as complete a picture as we are likely to get."-Variety

"The finest book about a filmmaker yet. Sensational in its revelations; at the same time, a biography of unassailable integrity. I could not put it down."-Gregory Peck ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Interesting tedium
Took a little time to get going but once it did I read the book in two days. Extremely well researched and insightful. Have always been a Hitch fan, but was never aware of what a disturbed and internalized individual he was. The depth of this portrayal of the subject is surprising. Typically, a story like this will delve into relationships in the subject's life but Hitchcock really didn't have any. The author does a nice job of explaining the probable reasons for this. I recommend this book to fans of Hitchcock the man because it goes a long way in explaining why he made the films he did. Not to be confused with a technical "anthology", it's more like a psychological analysis into the twists and turns of the inside of Hitchcock's head. He was a strange dude!

Extremely informative, interesting
Donald Spoto has done a tremendous work in obtaining first-hand accounts from Hitchcock's friends, colleagues, family, and even Alfred, himself. There is not one iota of information about Hitchcock left out of this monumental work.

He traces the ghosts of psychology that haunted Hitchcock from a very young child on until his pitiful death. Hitch's wants, desires, insecurities, and love affairs (one-sided) are intricately outlined and analyzed in a biography that has few contemporaries. This truly is the ultimate work on Hitchcock's life.

The Man Who Knew Too Little
Spoto has done an admirable job at putting together 500 compelling pages of reading. Unfortunately, he mentions the fundamental problem with this book in the very preface...that Hitchcock left few records and let his guard down for few individuals. The Hitchcock most knew was no more personal than what we know from his television persona. So right away, we have a biography that doesn't have much basis. So Spoto tries to compensate by drawing conclusions about Hitchcock based on his films. Kind of silly, really. Spotos analysis of the films could be interesting, but it's very uneven...he'll spend 10 pages on one film, and barely mention the existence of another. And the only revealing passage on anything regarding Hitchcock's life itself is on his Tippi Hedren years.

However, my chief problem with The Dark Side of Genius is Spoto's tendency to excuse Hitchcock when convenient. It's ridiculously facile. EVERY time Spoto reached an unsuccessful Hitchcock film, he explains how Hitchcock was preoccupied, depressed, or altogether uninterested in the that film. Can't we allow that a genius is fallible? His classics were the product of passion; his failures were due do lack of interest. That's way too black and white a stance for any serious biographer or film scholar to promote. He never allows that Hitchcock tried and failed at times. To Spoto, when he failed, it's because he didn't care.

By far the most useless book on Hitchcock
This is one of the most influential and most useless books on Hitchcock. The book is very telling, not of its subject matter, but of the author. Sadly, the book received a lot of undue attention and its misconceptions have still not sufficiently diappeared. Absolutely horrendous.

It's torturously and sadistically good!
Awesome read! During the spring 2002 college semester I attended a film class where we, the students, had the opportunity to study Alfred Hitchcock the whole semester length. This was one of the books my teacher had us use as a resource book for our reports for the class. The book is well written and in depth. It covers it's bases through different perspectives/aspects of Hitchcock's life from birth to death. It's a good solid read for anyone. As Hitchcock would probably love to hear -- it's torture to give up such a good book. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (8)

I would give all of his books more than 5 stars if I could!
If you want a book that will take you back to the country life and its people with all their foibles and admirable qualities and love animals then his books will be pure enjoyment! I love the way he tells his stories. In his stories, he doesn't ever claim to be the best veterinarian around (I think he underrated himself), but you know he is a wonderful, kind, animal and people loving person. The way he speaks about the people and animals he comes in contact with, come to life and you feel you are right there with him. You will laugh, maybe cry, and cheer him on as you read. If you have animals, or raise them, you will love his books, although you don't have to own any to appreciate them.

A Gem!
My first experience with the late James Herriot's inspirational books took place in a bookstore in Singapore, in the 80's. I was barely 14 & had not heard of this writer/vet. But as soon as I started reading All Things Wise and Wonderful - my very first JH book, I knew I had to get the rest of the series.
Through his poignant, funny, sensitive and Yorkshire-accented writing, I relived his world as a practising vet. His was a world where decent, civic minded people lived with much love & respect for their pets and farm animals. A world where I wanted/want to be in.
It is true how one book reviewer put it: every chapter will have you either laughing out loud or shedding a quiet tear. To this day, I still remember some of his stories that touched my heart. The courtship years when a young JH was trying to impress Helen (who eventually became his very supportive wife); the timid little black stray cat, who with her last breath, would placed her one surviving kitten into the hands of a caring family; the endearing 'beggar' dog; the bored, pampered & misunderstood pet dog of a wealthy spinster...I could almost touch and see JH's characters through his vivid writing. I even felt his pride when his daughter also became a vet, & his son a doctor.
I am sorry that there were not more of his wonderful tales.

The Unabridged Audio Set Is Wonderful!
The reading on the audio cassettes is done by Christopher Timothy, the actor who plays James Herriot on the BBC series "All Creatures Great And Small". He does a magnificent job of Sigfried, Tristan and all the dales farmers. It is truly a delight to listen to this series of tapes - it takes you into another world.

(Note: there appears to be an error above, listing Edmund Stoiber as the reader.)

In this set, James has joined the RAF to support the war effort, though fate has other plans for him. We follow his attempts to get in shape and become a pilot, as events and people remind him of his many experiences back in his vet practice.

Perhaps because of the War Years, some of these stories are slightly more edgy, such as a rash of dog-poisonings and an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that is uncomfortably reminiscent of recent events. But overall there is that sweetness of tone that pervades all of Herriot's work.

I think my favorite story was the old farmer fetching two gallons of the local pub's best beer in a milk bucket in order to warm a mother pig to her new family. Of course he saved a "drop" for himself and his mates. The amazing thing about these books is that there is never a repeated story throughout the whole series.

Another favorite
James Harriot has that amazing ability to transport you into his world, take you into his confidence, and offer you his friendship.....all through a series of heartwarming stories taken from his life as a Yorkshire vet. It's so refreshing to read books that are not strewn with violence and sex...yet which captivate your attention. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some good wholesome entertainment and an occasional chuckle.

A wonderful end to a fabulous series of books!
I have read each of James Herriot's books many times (including this one) and still enjoy them every time I read them! This book is one of my favorite books of the series, and is highly recommended by me. If you have read the other books you will love this one just as much if not more! If you have not read any of the other books, this book would also be a good one to start off with. After reading it I can assure you that you will want to read all the others. NOTE: I also have all five of these books on audio tape (by Christopher Timothy) and would recommend these as well! It is great to listen to them while you do hobbies since you can actually do two things at the same time, and Christopher Timothy (who played James Herriot in the BBC series) really brings the characters to life, using different voices and accents. ... Read more

Book Description

A warm, personal collection of holiday stories that give a look at Christmas in a simpler time.Recorded live in concert, Maggi shares Christmas memories from her childhood in Northern Ireland and some of her favorite tales for Christmas, all with her usual touch of Irish humor and insight.From the story "Uncle Nelson, Belfast" to the moving story "Lest We Forget," she captures the special sense of belonging that was such an intimate part of the Christmas she remembers. ... Read more

Book Description

" How did Sammy Sosa, who never played an inning of organized baseball until he was fourteen, go from a life of crushing poverty to superstardom in the major leagues? In SOSA, Sammy tells his story in his own words. The result is a moving, intimate chronicle of a man whose charisma, joy, and sportsmanship-combined with awesome talent-make him a favorite of baseball fans everywhere, an unsurpassed hero in his homeland, and a true international ambassador of the game.

Here Sammy sets the record straight and reveals the forces that shaped him as a human being. We read about a boy who, after his father's death, must drop out of school to help put food on his family's table. We meet the American businessman who bought Sammy his first baseball glove and knew that Sammy's work ethic and determination would be the key to his success. We watch Sammy's numerous attempts to get signed to a pro contract, with one rejection after another. And when he finally gets his break, we follow Sammy as he leaves behind his tearful mother to become a rookie speaking only Spanish in the lowest levels of the American minor leagues.

Sammy's first years in the big leagues were exciting seasons. His eagerness to succeed made him an impatient hitter, and here, for the first time, he tells the inside story of his rise to stardom...a journey that culminated in his hypercharged slugging battle with Mark McGwire in 1998, when his simple love of baseball captured the hearts of fans and nonfans alike. A story of courage, generosity, and humility, SOSA is the autobiography of a man who transcends his game." ... Read more

Reviews (8)

sosa
The book I read was Sosa and it was great.It was all about sammy Sosa and I think they did great job on an autobiography about him and telling what Sammy Sosa was like when he was a little guy,growing up. A professional athlete,it was amazing how he was a little kid to an adult. He is a great and this book was excellent. I also liked the pictures and the information that they have. I would recommend this book to others.

A Latino Hero
Sammy Sosa is arguably the greatest Latino player in major league baseball. His magnificent 1998 home run race with Mark McGwire captivated the nation. Afterwards he was invited to the White House and made a special Ambassador to his native country, the Dominican Republic. However, what few people know is how hard Sammy Sosa worked to reach stardom.

"Sosa an Autogiography," is a special story. In fact, it is inspiring. Sammy Sosa grew up poor. He was skinny and initially wanted to be a boxer. However, his talent for baseball came out from urging of his older brother and the support of his devoted mother.

Co-author Marcos Bretón details the early years of Sosa's early major league career in Texas and then with the Chicago White Sox. It was a difficult time for Sosa, going up and down from the major and minor leagues. Nevertheless, Sosa worked hard and never lost hope. The trade to the Cubs and his rise to stardom was the result of a strong dedication to excellence.

Perhaps, the greatest part of this book is Sosa's loyalty to his family, the people of the Dominican Republic, and the fans of the Chicago Cubs. Although Sosa has reached great heights he still wants the fame that is associated with winning the World Series. This is a great book for kids and adults alike...the bottom line is "hard work works."

A NICE LOOK AT A GOOD GUY
SOSA IS A BOOK ABOUT ONE OF GREATEST THE RAGS TO RICHES STORIES IN RECENT YEARS. SAMMY DOES A GOOD JOB TELLING OF HIS LIFE IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS A CHILD AND TEENAGER. HE THEN GETS INTO HIS TREMENDOUS RISE TO ONE OF THE MOST FEARED SLUGGERS IN THE GAME TODAY. I ADMIRE HIS MODESTY, VALUES, CONFIDENCE, AND INNOCENCE. HIS LOVE FOR HIS MOTHER IS TRULY ADMIRABLE. SAMMY IS TRULY A GOOD PERSON AND A GREAT PLAYER. SAMMY HAS MANY VALUES AND BELIEFS THAT ARE TRULY NEEDED BY MOST OF TODAYS ATHLETES. SAMMY IS TRULY A BREATH OF FRESH AIR IN HIS ENTHUSIASM AND LOVE OF THE GAME. THE BOY IN SAMMY IS ALIVE AND KICKING. I ADMIRE SAMMY A LOT MORE NOW THAT I HAVE READ THIS BOOK. A MUST READ FOR ALL BASBALL FANS AND FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED SOME GRATITUDE AND HUMILITY IN THEIR LIFE.

Poignant and powerful -- it's a human story
Sammy Sosa is not a robot. He, like you and me, is a fallible human being who is largely the product of his upbringing. In "Sosa: An Autobiography," readers have the opportunity to gain insights into not only Sammy Sosa and professional baseball, but the larger American culture and each of us. A superficial read of this book may leave some wanting more. And certainly there is more to tell. But Sammy's smart enough to know there's a time and there's a place. This book, at this time, is neither.

But to those who recognize the implications, there is plenty of meat: (1) Has baseball exploited Latin players? What should baseball be doing differently for them? (2) Should all players on a team -- all people in any organization -- be treated the same despite their different personalities, their different backgrounds, their different perceptions? (3) What is the value of trust, respect, fairness, honesty, loyalty?

Speaking as someone who spent five years as a Major League scout and 2O years coaching baseball, on a more baseball specific level, how can someone like Walt Hriniak be a Major League hitting coach and try to force everyone -- Sammy Sosa and Ozzie Guillen -- to hit the same way? Someone like that shouldn't be coaching baseball at ANY level. Why aren't all Major League coaches and managers as insightful as Cubs' hitting coach Jeff Pentland? As any excellent teacher or coach knows, whether you're teaching Shakespeare or the circle change, you're not teaching a curriculum, you're teaching people.

Reading Sammy's story allows the intelligent reader to see that Major League baseball is as political as Congress and just about as effective in dealing with real people. Sammy demonstrates that lack of trust and lack of respect will destroy any relationship, any organization. But mutual trust and respect will allow any relationship, any organization to thrive.

If you want everything spelled out for you, buy a dictionary. If you want something to think about, buy "Sosa: An Autobiography."

Great player, so-so storyteller
A quick and pleasant read (REAL quick if you skip the stats that comprise about thirty percent of the text). Autobiographies seem to fall into three categories: (1) "tell it all before someone else tells on you" (Billie Holiday's LADY SINGS THE BLUES), (2) "getting even with one's enemies" (Nancy Reagan's MY TURN), and (3) "Gee, I can't believe people pay me to do what I love" (Xaviera Hollander's THE HAPPY HOOKER).

Cynically, you could say there's a fourth category--the market-driven, "strike while the iron is hot" autobiography. Sosa's book probably falls into this last category, though it is presented as a "Gee, I can't believe it" type (but with touches of the defensiveness found in "getting even" types of autobiographies). Hispanic journalist Breton had done a good job of interviewing people in Sosa's life and arranging testimonials in a way that keeps Sosa's story moving. Baseball fans will probably enjoy reading what Sosa has to say about how he improved his batting technique, how he handled the disappointment of being sent back to the minor league, how he viewed his home-run competition with Mark McGwire in 1998. Young people looking for a sports hero will benefit from what Sosa ("Mikey" to his friends and family) has to say about loyalty to family, remembering where one comes from, learning from ones mistakes, handling gossipers and nay-sayers, believing in oneself, and giving back to one's community. People looking for a profound psychological portrait of the author or an insightful take on the business and game of baseball will be disappointed. While no-one would expect someone as guileless as Sosa to trash his teammates and fellow ballplayers, the book could have used a few more clubhouse anecdotes. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

COULD'NT PUT IT DOWN!
I received my copy in the mail from Amazon.com today and I'm already on page 149. This book is something else. Everything from suicides, various children out of wedlock, STD's to Katherine, Janet, and Randy marching in Joe's office and beating his mistress bloody. And I'm not even half way done yet, This book is EXPLOSIVE. A great read and a must have for Jackson fans and collectors who want a glimpse into the REAL life of the Jackson clan.

Memories of Margaret's Madness
Honestly, I don't know what does this woman think. She has no respect for others or for herself, and if you read her book neither will you feel any respect for her. She begins her story by writing about her teen years spent as a drug addict, now I don't want to judge her by this, nobody is perfect, but it doesn't make me have a high opinion about her. Then she wrotes about how her relationship with Mr Jackson began. Without feeling any shame she describes how she dated a man who was MARRIED with children, then writes about the birth of their first son (Jermaine Jackson was still married to Hazel Gordy then). Now I don't know about Ms Maldonado's standards but if I had morals like hers at least I wouldn't publicly announce it in a book. (I don't say everything is only her fault, though. The book reveals that BETWEEN the births of their two sons Mr Jackson also had a child by his wife.

From the book we get some interesting tidbits about the Jackson family, but those you can find in other books too. We also learn that she is suffering from the infidelity of her common-law husband (I guess nobody has ever told her that what goes around comes back around), then they finally break up. From then the whole book is about Ms Maldonado's endless wailing about not getting any money and her trying to pose as a good mother. She's badmouthing the whole Jackson family, with the exception of Michael (who -- what a strange coincidence -- is the only one who supports her financially).
This book was written as a revenge against the Jacksons. If you love them, don't buy it. Don't support this woman. Go and buy "My Family, the Jacksons" by Katherine Jackson, or if you want a less varnished one, try the unauthorized biographies, maybe not everything is true in them but at least their pages aren't filled with hate towards our beloved entertainers.

Confused and Wondering
This book left me kind of confused and wondering about some of Ms. Maldonado's statements and motives. First, why does she use the last name Jackson? Jermaine never married her. Second, I don't understand why she didn't use some of her producer's fee she received from the miniseries to move herself and her children from the "house of hell". Instead of paying Jermaine's back child support, storage fee, etc., which was well over $65,000.00, she should have used the money to leave. Third, she claims to have suffered physical, mental and emotional abuse, then why did she stay in this relationship for so long? There were organizations that she could have turned to for help. When she first found out that Jermaine was still a married man, that should have been her clue not involve herself any further. Not only did she have one baby by this married man, but she allowed herself to become pregnant the second time! I think she thought she would live the life of glitter and glitz when she found out who Jermaine was, but unfortunately, she didn't prosper as well as she thought she would because he was not the Jackson with the money ... Michael was.

Ms. Maldonado sounds like she is extremely bitter, vindictive, suffers from a bad case of low self-esteem and in desperate need of cash (as she alludes to in the closing lines of her epilogue). She is also a notorious name-dropper and this book was filled with many typos and grammatical errors. Some of it just didn't make sense and I question some of her accounts. She REALLY tried to make herself sound like a saint! Hmmmmmmmm......

I presume her telltale account of some of the Jacksons' private affairs and "dysfunctionality" did little to heal her relationship with the Jackson family. I think her overt viciousness only served to further distance the Jacksons from her boys ... how sad for the children.

This family needs SERIOUS prayer and counseling!
I've been an admirer of the Jacksons for many years, and it's so sad to hear of the layers of dysfunction that exist in this family. At the very least, this book talks about the other Jacksons besides Michael, which is a refreshing change. It is also the story of a woman who discovers that even celebrities are not immune from problems, and that fame and fortune are no substitutes for a healthy home life. What is WRONG with these folks? According to the author, it seems that Marlon and Tito are the only ones among the 'other' Jacksons who have made a life for themselves apart from sponging off of Michael and Janet (thank God Marlon and his wife Carol are still together; the smartest thing they did was to leave the whole dysfunctional bunch to themselves at Hayvenhurst!).
I have seen Jermaine Jackson on Feed the Children Informercials, defending his famous brother in interviews, and heard of his supposed conversion to Islam. I sincerely hope that by now he has dealt with his issues of abuse and womanizing, and that he is paying child support for the two sons he had with the author. I would love to see Margaret Maldonado write a revised version of this book, with updates as to whether or not things have improved between her sons and their father, as well as how she has rebuilt her own life.

Margret tells the story's of the "Memories Of Madness
This is a wonderful story on how Margret tells the tails of her ''memories of madness'' while being married to Jermaine Jackson and her experiences while living in the Jackson Family home in Encino California. For people who are or have always wanted to know what it would be like to live in the Jackson family home or who have always wanted to know what the Jacksons are like,this book is a must read for you. I am 13 years old and was still intrested in it. So if it can please me. I am absolutly,positivly sure that you will like it too. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Martin Luther King: a great man of great achievements
Harry Harmer achieves a great deal in a short space, covering the life of Martin Luther King largely by headline and the well known events of the day. The reading style of the narrator is very acceptable but not up to the standard of a professional actor. Harmer's style is factual and concise, and gives a coherent overview and analysis of King's driving religous philosophy and practical politics. Much background detail and human interest element is necessarily ommitted, but the overall effect is brisk and not too dry. King's one-line critique of Marxism is quoted to great effect. Harmer shows that King acheived the near-impossible - a radical, and radically effective, moderate political position which harnessed wide support and led to massive lasting social change for good. The proof of his rightness is strangely most evident in the opposition that King received. Neither the extreme Black Power groups who advocated violence, or the spineless wet appeasers who protested that he should temper his words and stick to preaching, came near to harnessing the lasting, positive, and effectual driving force for social justice that King did. Harmer mai