Book Description

Unfulfilled by city life, Amy Blackmarr, then in her mid-thirties, sold her thriving paralegal business and returned to her Georgia roots. She passed five years in her grandfather's remote "old scarecrow of a fishing cabin" beside a South Georgia pond, where she immersed herself in her surroundings and in her writing. With warmth, charm, and humor, Blackmarr mixes vignettes from her past with reflections on the present, describing the surprising generosity of strangers; life without hot water; her two dogs, one a "lush" and the other a cave builder; the occasional visit from an alligator; her days as a two-stepping cowgirl; pheasant hunting with her third ex-husband; and the life and death of her grandmother.In the tradition of Kathleen Norris's The Cloister Walk and Annie Dillard's Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, Going to Ground is Blackmarr's ode to romance, to the beauty of nature, to the joys and fears of solitary life, and to one woman's discovery of herself. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Nice place to sit back and relax
Young South Georgia woman gets off the fast train, returns to family's shack by the pond, then delivers us a way to enjoy her experiences and reflections. The sparce prose of Amy Blackmarr lets you sit back and relax awhile. You'll also enjoy the sequel, House of Steps, where she moves to a peculiar little house out in Kansas. Her outlook on life is quite refreshing. Both books are short, too, so they're great for summer trips to the beach, or weekends out in the backyard.

Wow - What a writer!
I was very pleased with this book - Amy Blackmarr's style really impressed me. Each chapter is a short story of it's own, yet they are all about her life & experiences with the same place. I enjoyed every chapter, every story - There was even one which I loved so much, found it so profound, that I immediately reread it & then later read it outloud to my husband.
Great work, Amy! Thank you! I can't wait to read your other works.

Refreshing
Young South Georgia woman gets off the fast train, returns to family's shack by the pond, then delivers us a way to enjoy her experiences and reflections. The sparce prose of Amy Blackmarr lets you sit back and relax awhile. You'll also enjoy the sequel, House of Steps, where she moves to a peculiar little house out in Kansas. Her outlook on life is quite refreshing. Both books are short, too, so they're great for summer trips to the beach, or weekends out in the backyard.

Provocative and deeply spiritual
Kudos to Amy Blackmarr for a gently ironic, sometimes funny, touching and always honest look at the questions about life, death, and living that we all grapple with every day. She turns the ordinary experiences of her life at her grandfather's Georgia cabin into delightful, searching stories that I find new surprises and new meaning in every time I read them. Full of sensual details and images that take me right to where she is, standing on the back steps of a tarpaper shack, sipping coffee, looking out over a pond, or striking through the swamps watching for snakes and alligators! A great, fast read.

Bravo!
Not for everyone, but those that understand will want to say to Ms. Blackmarr, "Thank you and good job." ... Read more

Reviews (12)

pure lack of intellect and judgement
I don't know how someone could be so naive and promiscuous to beleive that OJ is a good man. Before reading this book, i read the 'reader reviews' to see what others thought of it. I read how bad this book was, but i was curious as to how naive this woman really was, i loaned the book from the local library. Even with the heads up from the reviews as to how much this book was lacking, i was still shocked at its content. i could not bring myself to read the rest of the book, therefore i only read the first half. so if the second half makes up for the first half's pure lack of thought, i give Paula credit for writing a good book...on second thought, even if the second half of the book made up for the first half, i still would not give her any credit for writing this...literature..if you can call it that. she didn't lose money from all of this, (as much as i would like to think this is not true) she earned 3 million dollars from it. if i were in Ms. Barbieri's shoes, i know one thing i would do is take my $3million, buy a private island and keep as far away from civilization as possible, to avoid any further humiliation from the public. and i would burn any of these books i owned to keep warm on my island, thats about the best use they have.

No remorse except for herself
This book is amazingly poorly written; Ms. Barbieri should have pursued her original plans to attend law school.Her writing perpetuates the myth that models and actresses are extremely self-centered.Never once does she mention any sorrow or remorse that a woman and man were murdered.Her pity is all for herself and how she "gave herself up" to falsely defend her lover and, in effect, to commit "perjury by silence and presence."Although it's true that nobody asked her if she'd left a "Dear OJ" e-mail on Simpson's voice mail just before she flew off to meet another man, she knew that this was crucial evidence.She also explains why she lied under oath about whether or not O.J. had ever been violent with her; she had "amnesia." What the book does provide--and that's why I read it--is a glance into the ultimate in dependency.I've always wondered why horrible killers, such as Ted Bundy, manage to attract women even after the world is pretty aware of what they've done.Paula Barbieri's book illustrates the strange magnetism that sociopaths can have when they find the right victim(s).

Re-Inventing the Past + Sins of Omission
To believe that Paula could ever tell any truth except for the way she perceives it and uses it for her own benefit is ludicrous. The omissions of the physical abuse and trips to the hosital have conveniently been left out. And, in order to move on, she has left all the people who not only supported her emotionally but financially and truly believes that she alone created her 3 million dollar fee for this book.

Thank you Paula Barbieri!
THE OTHER WOMAN is an important contribution to all of the O.J. Simpson books...I would rank it right up there with Raging Heart and Faye Resnick's book as far as revealing what was going on BEHIND the scenes.

I am so thankful to Paula for writing this book.It helped me understand so much, not only about O.J. and why he may have committed the murders, but also about a woman's heart, and how important the little choices are that we make in life...Paula doesn't hide the mistakes she has made in her life on her journey toward self-awareness...

I do wish that Paula would have been MORE specific about the "Dear John" phone message she left O.J. on the night of the murders...Did she mention Nicole's name in the message? Why was Paula feeling so guilty, then?

Also, Paula relates an interesting recurring dream, and it makes me wonder if she actually felt guilty for "provoking" O.J.'s rage, and therefore felt that she was responsible for "CAUSING" O.J. TO LOSE HIS BELOVED NICOLE...

Paula is a wonderful and spiritual lady, and I hope she finds the happiness she deserves in life.

Give Paula A Break
I live in Panama City, FL and I know Paula personally. I read excerpts from this book and I feel Paula speaks the truth. As a Born-Again Christian myself (and an Assembly of God lay minister), Paula told me her testimony.To this day, I belive O.J. was innocent (I'm white, by the way), but I feelhe had no one to blame but his own self; for the civil downfall. Paulatells the true story and I commend her for it. ... 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

Amazon.com

Just hours before her impending and much feared circumcision and days before her marriage to a polygamist, 17-year-old Fauziya Kassindja flees an oppressive life in Togo, seeking political asylum in the United States. But her troubles are far from over once Kassindja arrives in the place where she hopes to find her freedom. The harrowing tale of Do They Hear You When You Cry? depicts the agonizing months spent behind bars waiting for her release.

Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph (Sister Act II, Distinguished Gentleman, Designing Women) delivers the audio version of this passionate and vivid story. Using a variety of accents, intonations, and diction, she develops distinct voices for the dozens of people who come into contact with the young woman. Through her creative, melodic performance, Ralph provides the biography with energy and enthusiasm. Listeners are quickly drawn into Kassindja's frightening world and the ordeal surrounding her desperate fight for freedom. Do They Hear You When You Cry? is a profoundly moving story of strength and perseverance. (Running time: six hours, four cassettes) --Gina Kaysen ... Read more

Reviews (42)

From CBA Book Club: "Our Passion"
"Do They Hear You When You Cry" is an excellent novel on the struggles that woman had to face. It was very insightful into the Afican culture and the Muslim faith of that particular tribe. Most people see America as a "justice for all" type of country, but this surely opened my eyes to the struggles that people have to go through to escape any kind of unfair and unjust treatment in their own countries. Tina Duke
"Do They Hear You When You Cry" is a gripping account of human suffering. Fauziya Kassinga's candid style gives life to not only her own story, but to the story of millions of women around the globe. On cannot read this book without feeling the horror of genital mutilation and its impact on the lives of so many women. But you also close the pages with an incredible sense of being blessed to be whole both in body and in spirit. This is a story that must be told! Leone Samuels
I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It brought about many different emotions. I was sad, happy, angry, and anxious. It really demonstrated the strength of a woman despite some very difficult times. It also demonstrated the commitment to a cause and despite all the setbacks perseverance prevailed in the end. Tammy Richardson
Extremely thought provoking. I found myself making comparisons to the way black families in the western hemisphere still have traces of their African roots in the way they raise their families today, and this is what has made us the people of strength we are today. Lisa DeSilva
"Do They Hear You When You Cry" had me spellbound for hours. It was difficult to put down as I prayed for Fauziya's release and the end of her torture. I find it difficult to believe that as recent as 1995 something so horrendous could happen to people seeking asylum. What was even more amazing are the statistics on ethnic groups who are imprisoned for their desire to live in what is considered the greatest and freest country in the world, as they attempt to seek freedom from persecution. This novel gave an insight into African culture, that in some aspects was frightening, but at the same time demonstrated a familial tie that many of African descent should aspire to. Female Genital Mutilation is a horrendous act against all women. If one woman suffers, all women must fight against it. Gina E.E. Davis
I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was an easy smooth read. I really felt for Fauziya and tried to picture myself having to go through something like that and wondering if would I have the strength to do it. The book held my attention. I initially thought that I would find it difficult to read because I wasn't in the mood to read anything too heavy. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked the book so much, that I gave one to a friend as a Christmas present. She too, is enjoying the book. Lisa Dailey
This was an excellent and inspiring book. It determined that if you have enough faith, and if it is the Lord's will, he will see you through the most difficult times. Fauziya was courageous and indeed faithful. The family was close knit, but what I liked most, was the relationship that Fauziya had with her father. They had a bond that was so special, not even her mother could come between. Mrs. Wonderful Wade
Thus far, I although have not finished the book; the little I have completed has been touching, horrifying, loving and eye opener for respecting and believing in God. Also, it is allowing me to appreciate all that I have. Certain family aspects are very close to my heart...of course; I was a little emotional with all the wedding stuff, because I soon will legally (marraige) be leaving my family; with whom, I am very close. Nicole Douglas
A fascinating story about a young woman's strength and endurance to acquire freedom in American. Neecheka Trott
"Simply incredulous and inhumane." How hypocritical of us to view America as a place of freedom. The same opportunites given to America's forefathers should have been afforded to Fauziya. A heart-wrenching story from start to finish. Fauziya teaches us the real meaning of faith and courage.
Shernette Wolffe
I am interested in the book and enjoying learning more about African Muslim culture. I was very anxious to read on. Wendisha Phillips
"Do They Hear You When You Cry" is an eye opener to the realities of the world. You can't help but feel her pain, sorrow and suffering. It almost felt like you were living with her during her period of adversities There is no place like home... Bermuda! (I think that statement says it all.) Kim Lightbourne

An amazing, inspiring, touching yet horrifying journey...
There are some books that are so wonderful, so intense, that I simply get lost in them for the few days it takes me to finish them, and once I'm done, I want to share it with the world. This is one of those books, a truly moving, inspiring, fascinating, terrifying, heart-breaking and rewarding tale.

Fauziya Kassindja is a Muslim African woman raised by a father she adored who did not adhere to many of the more restrictive Islamic customs relating to women. Upon his death, however, Fauziya is faced with a forced marriage and forced female circumcision and flees first to Germany and then to the United States, where she is promptly locked away in prision, initially denied asylum and kept imprisoned for an unbelievable amount of time.

The story itself is both fascinating and heart-breaking, but Fauziya tells it with such detail and brutal honesty that it becomes even more powerful. She creates a beautiful picture of her childhood in Africa and life with her beloved father and family, and she conveys clearly and easily her naivete about laws and customs as she went first to the strange land and then to the literal and figurative prison of America. Her ambivalence about America - as the land of hope and escape turned jail - is understandable and she describes why a return to the horrors that awaited her at home suddenly seemed better than remaining in the series of prisons to which she was assigned.

What makes Fauziya such a compelling figure - a real heroine - is her honesty and her struggle to stand up for her beliefs. She personifies the adage that courage is being scared but 'doing it anyway.' I grew angrier and angrier at the way in which women are treated here and around the world, that forced mutilation is not 'political' nor grounds for asylum, that gender has such an impact on how people are treated. Her faith in her religion, her love of her family, her wish to give in despite the horror that would greet her return to Africa all made her such a human, touching figure. This is not a book to be missed - everyone should read it - but for those concerned about the treatment of women and female circumcision - and far too many women have to deal with the brutality of it - this book is absolutely essential. When I finished, I wanted to learn more about Fauziya and what happened to her. I certainly hope that she has found the happiness and peace that she so deserves.

Told by a natural storyteller
Fauziya Kassindja grew up in an idyllic environment in Togo but her world was turned upside down when her father passed away. Her father had denied tradition by refusing to allow his daughters to be circumcised and he believed in providing his daughters (especially Kassidja) with an education. After his death, Kassidja's aunt and uncle took charge and decided to have Kassidja marry a successful older man (who already had 3 wives) and to have her undergo female circumcision in order to please her husband. With the help of her family, she escapes to Germany and decides to start a new life as an asylum seeker in the United States. However, when she stepped off the plane and onto American soil, the true horror began.

"Do They Hear You When You Cry" is a very personal account of Kassindja's ordeals and her ultimate triumph. It is as though Kassindja is in the room with you, telling you her story. While this may not make the writing style especially sensational, it makes it come to life for the readers. I couldn't put the book down! Kassindja, coming from a culture where privacy and modesty are valued, goes out of her way to share what she has gone through in order to educate (about female circumsion and about our immigration policies) and to drive people to action. While her story can break your heart, it can also give you an immense hope in the will and kindness of people, and shows how people can prevail.

I believe that everyone has a right to tell their own story, and Kassindja's story is one that should definitely not be missed!

I can't even imagine
I'm appalled by the readers of this woman's story who have the nerve to "rate" another persons horrifying ordeal with one, two and three stars. It's not a fiction, it's someone's life, no matter how it is written. You might not like the way it's written, but that's not the point in this book.

I find it horrifying what still goes on and is allowed to go on in this world in the name of religion, God, and love.

This book had my crying, it took me a year to finish because of it.

Her story is a heartbreaker to say the least. I can't even imagine trying to live through what she escaped, and what she went through to escape it.

Read the book. Please. And pray for those who didn't escape it, those who lived through it, and those yet to live it.

Do They Hear You When You Cry?
One of the best works I have ever read. I must read for all women of compassion and for all skeptics of the justice system. This book will makea significant impact on the lives of all those who read it. ... Read more

Book Description

When Anita Hill was ten, she was picking cotton in rural Oklahoma. One of thirteen children, she grew up amidst a loving family who ran a small farm. By the time she was twenty-five, she was a graduate of Yale Law School and less than ten years later, she was sitting in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the subject of some of the most intense scrutiny and horrible vilification that anyone has experienced in modern times. She never wavered from her path.

Only now do we meet that young farm girl, and the woman she is today--one of the most controversial figures in 20th century American history. Second-guessed by politicians on both sides of the fence, indicted by the media before she'd even had the chance to testify, Anita Hill nonetheless stood firm in a battle she never asked for. Now, after six years of hearing everyone else tell her story (often erroneously, frequently in slanderous terms), she has decided to tell it herself.

During the Senate hearings, the press gave four times as much column space and air time to Clarence Thomas and his supporters as it did to Anita Hill and hers. Now it's her turn to be heard. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Anita Hill And Her Family Are True American Heroes
I can't do justice to Anita Hill's calm account of her testimony before the Supreme Court confirmation hearings (Sen. Biden did nothing to stop the railroading.) I am outraged by the way the University of Oklahoma and our politicians treated Dr. Hill after her ordeal. Her reminiscences of growing up in rural Oklahoma are fascinating. Anyone who has questions about the credibilty of Hill's reluctant testimony against Judge Clarence Thomas should read this book, along with "Strange Justice," and Brock's very late mea culpa, "Blinded by the Right" to fully comprehend what this brilliant woman, her family, friends, and colleagues were put through.

Spin-doctoring of the highest level

Ms. Hill certainly can spin a tale. It's interesting tocontrast Anita Hill in 1997 to the Anita Hill we were presented backin 1991.

Is this the same Anita Hill who told the Judiciary Committee that her only motivation was to tell the truth, and that she would not profit financially from the Clarence Thomas situation? She also categorically denied that she would profit from any book deals.

Fast forward to 1997. Anita Hill has this book on shelf and another in the works. She commands speaking fees in the thousands per speech. What does this say about her credibility? Perhaps "Speaking Truth to Power" should be reclassified as fiction.

The Greatest Book Ever Written
This is the greatest book ever written. True, it is powerful, and the power lies in the truth, but truth contains no lies, and that is the very essence of power, which is rooted in truth, and the the truth is very powerful, indeed, just as powerful as it is true, and as true as it is powerful.

She Continues to Deeply Touch My Life
When this book first came out, I was drawn to the cover, because I knew that there were many messages for me in this book. Yet, I hesitated to read this, because I had not voiced what I felt about those hearings.

I actually looked over my shoulders, when I glanced through this book, before buying it, because I had decided that so many people around me demanded my opinion of this tragedy.

When I watched the hearing, while I sat next to others, for whatever reason I waited to say whether or not I believed Dr. Hill. I wanted to process it all, in the privacy of my own space.

Watching her, on many levels I related to her. Yet, I had some unanswered questions that reading this book, along with other books that reference this tragedy helped me to make my own decisions about what happened.

Dr. Hill put a voice to many of the challenges that I had, as professional African-American woman, who wanted to speak about many issues that too high a number of African-Americans refused to communicate. Before reading this book, I wanted to be free to speak against some socialized rules that I grew up with, that are common in African-American families. But, I wanted to communicate that I am proud of being African-American.

And as a result of reading this book, I gained tremendous courage to fully live my life's mission, which is to guide women and girls to earn trust in themselves.

To this day, as a journalist, if an editor argues against Anita Hill, I refuse to write for that paper.

Thank you, Dr. Hill.

a dignified and intelligent lady
I am so glad I read this book - it gave me insight into what a wonderful woman Anita Hill is in explaining the ordeal she went through in testifying at "the hearings." I must admit that at the time, I didn't believe Hill's testaments; she appeared nervous and uncertain whereas Thomas appeared very sure of himself, was outraged, and even went so far as to cry before the Senate Committee and television cameras. Of course, I now realize that was just an act.

Anyhow, I thought that after the hearings were over, Anita Hill went back home to Oklahoma and went on with her life, the ordeal forgotten. After reading this book, I had no idea that Hill endured further harassment from students at the university where she taught, faculty, the media, and people who never knew her nor she them. It was downright outrageous and disgusting.

Hill writes eloquently about her roots, her upbringing in Oklahoma, her years at Yale Univ. Law School, and her job at the EEOC where she worked under Clarence Thomas and the harassment she endured from him, her subsequent career change all the way up until the hearings. It's all interesting and worth reading.

Anita Hill is the catalyst for which the laws of sexual harassment have changed and claims for which are now taken very seriously. It is very unfortunate that she had to take such torment and emotional brutality as a result of it, as if harassment from Thomas wasn't enough in and of itself.

That Thomas is now sitting on the highest court in the land for life, knowing the content of his character and demeanor, is indeed disturbing. But I hope that deep inside he is sorry and feels the utmost remorse and guilt for his mistreatment of Anita Hill and all his other victims.

The truth always come out - maybe not today or tomorrow - but eventually it does. Thomas knows what he did, and the world knows what he did despite his "categorical" denials.

It is my hope that Anita Hill finds the peace and happiness she deserves. Her life will never be the same, as she herself admits, but unfortunately almost all movers and shakers's lives were and are forever changed.

An insightful and honest book, I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Book Description

The remarkable honest and inspiring story about the

struggle and triumph of raising a child with learning

disabilities will be an encouragement to any parent in this

situation, and instructional for those who seek to understand

how to better help both these children and their families. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful
As a man who grew up with LD, this book hits the mark!

A remarkable woman--Anne Ford!

Dignity and Respect
Anne Ford has written a remarkable book. This is tremendously helpful for all parents that have children with learning disabilities. Also, it is a great lesson that shows the rest of us to reach out to others with love, patience and dignity.

I cannot recommend a book more highly than this!
When a child is born, parents are filled with positive dreams for his or her future. These typically include success in school, supportive friends, good health and a life filled with joy. If the child were a painting, it would have bright colors, sharp focus, every detail in place. But that fairy-tale existence is just that --- a fable. We are imperfect, and so are children.

And then there are families that get an extra helping of imperfection. Instead of dreams, they get challenges which can either pull them together or fracture them. In Anne Ford's case the "perfect world" dream dissolved when she learned that her daughter Allegra had learning disabilities. While they were not visible to the naked eye, what was going on inside Allegra was impeding her development and her ability to learn. It's never easy to accept a dark, definitive verdict, especially when it concerns a small child. To her credit, Anne did. And then she became Allegra's advocate and cheerleader, as well as her mother.

Few books have moved me as much as LAUGHING ALLEGRA. While the story of our family is different from Anne's, I do know what happens when the picture gets blurred. What works about this book is that Anne writes this memoir with candor and feeling --- right from the heart. She captures the swirl of emotion that surrounds this diagnosis, the questions that every parent asks and the path through what is always uncharted territory, as each child is his or her own mosaic. At the same time, she offers concrete information that parents of learning-disabled children need. Most important of all: Anne Ford shows us, beat by beat, how she helped her daughter build a world in which she could laugh instead of cower, succeed instead of fail. She empowered Allegra and along the way empowered herself as well.

The book is by no means whitewashed with only upbeat anecdotes. In her writing you can feel the pain that filled many of these years, as well as the uncertainty. The book took four years to write and along the way Anne had to dredge up some feelings that readers will see are still raw. There is no quick patch when you have watched your child hurting; clearly, she ripped the bandages off to write this.

Often when people learn that things are not "perfect," there is a natural feeling of being overwhelmed with the unknown. For parents who have found themselves either on the cusp of the diagnosis, or grappling with its meaning, or even those who are further along the path and want to read how another family grew with this, I recommend LAUGHING ALLEGRA. I also recommend it for parents of so-called "normal children," who may want to understand rather than dismiss the schoolmate their child knows who is different, or special.

Anne's book stresses that this is a family issue as it affects the entire family. She was a single mother, but also had a son, Alessandro, whose role as Allegra's older brother took him on a journey that he also had not expected. The effect on him is spoken about with enough depth to ensure that readers realize that that all people in the family must grapple with the challenge.

One thing to note here. Allegra is now thirty and living independently. As I read I thought about the great strides that are being made every day in the diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities. Anne and Allegra came to tackle many of the challenges without the tools that are now in place. This, as much of any of Anne's stories, can bring parents great hope.

The back of the book has appendices with list of resources and excellent guidelines on such topics as Questions Parents Ask, Mothers and Fathers Understanding Each Other and Your Legal Rights. They are as well-written as the rest of the book, and provide more nuts and bolts information.

I cannot recommend a book more highly than this. Halfway through I found myself making lists of people who would enjoy it. I encourage you to pick it up --- and then spread the word.

--- Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald ... Read more

Book Description

The Camera My Mother Gave Me takes us through Susanna Kaysen’s often comic, sometimes surreal encounters with all kinds of doctors—internists, gynecologists, “alternative health” experts—as well as with her boyfriend and her friends, when suddenly, inexplicably, “something went wrong” with her vagina.

The title comes from Luis Buñuel’s film Viridiana. Some peasants are at a banquet in a country mansion. They ask a maid to take a group snapshot, and she obliges, lifting up her skirt and using the “camera” that’s underneath.

Kaysen’s The Camera My Mother Gave Me observes what happens when sexual pleasure is replaced by pain. “When eros goes away,” she writes, “it’s as if I’m colorblind. The world is gray.” But is this a problem of body, or mind? And can clinicians tease out the difference between the two?

Spare, frank, and altogether original, The Camera My Mother Gave Me challenges us to think in new ways about the centrality and power of sexuality. It is an extraordinary investigation into the role sex plays in perception and our notions of ourselves—and into what happens when the erotic impulse meets the world of medicine ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Excellent! Someone speaks up!
'The camera my mother gave me' is a fabulous read about Kaysen's experience with Vestibulitis - a condition that of the vulva that is rarely spoken or written about due to its intimate nature - despite the thousands, perhaps millions of women who suffer from the disease - mostly in silence.

This book is wonderfully written in a sarcastic, witty manner that will appeal not only to people with Vulvar Pain conditions - I'd recommend it to anyone. As a fellow Vestibulitis sufferer, I related to all her experiences, especially her frustrating attempts to find the answers from various health proffesionals who lack the knowledge to treat this terrible condition - mostly due to the lack of research and the wide variety of causes and symptoms.

I must warn all Vesitbulitis/Vulvodynia sufferers NOT to seek the answers from this book!! I made that mistake. I was devasted to find that the book ends with Kaysen calling off her search for the solution and resolving to live with her condition. Although that was a perfectly suitable ending to the book, it is not the answer I was looking for. I refuse to live with this condition and will not give up until I find the cure. So, laugh and cry along with Kaysen, celebrate her courage in writing this book, be encouraged in your efforts to speak up about your condition, but turn instead to support groups for companionship along your journey. I hope more and more women will speak up and demand a better understanding of vulvar pain disorders among the medical community and the public. We need answers!

Thank you Susanna Kaysen!! I hope you are rid of this awful condition!

grateful to Kaysen for sharing
My opinions about Kaysen's books are shaped largely by the fact that I suffer from the same malady this book describes, vulvar vestibulitis, a form of vulvodynia (literally "painful vulva"). It was an overwhelming relief to read this book, to hear another woman talking about her experience with this disorder and facing many of the same challenges I have faced. Among the two largest of these are trying to talk to friends and family about a disorder that few people know about and that very few feel comfortable discussing (how many friends can you talk frankly about your genitals with? think about it) and trying to have an intimate relationship with someone when sex is painful, difficult, or downright impossible.

The book is well-written and very readable. Kaysen even manages to be funny. The novel focuses on Kaysen's personal experience, and does not claim to be a medical guide - this is what makes it an interesting read for anyone, not just those affected with vulvodynia. I disagree with Kaysen's attitudes about potential treatment (she seems to dismiss some things out of hand, in my opinion) but I'm overwhelmingly grateful to her for sharing her experience.

Some statistics say that 15% of women have some form of vulvodynia during the course of their life. If more women with vulvodynia - and more who, like Kaysen, are already in the public eye - would speak out about their experiences, the rest of us would not feel so isolated.

easy to digest medical memoir
This is a lighthearted memoir of Kaysen's struggle with a little-known about medical condition she referred to as vestibulitis and a medical field that still has plenty of research to do. Kaysen's sarcastic sense of humor makes for an easy anf un read and lessens the chance of the reader cringing and putting the book down due to society's discomfort with sensitive subjects like this. Kaysen also doesn't gel over her difficulties with the medical field and her boyfriend accepting that her condition wasn't all in her head and the lack or care of knowledge, which anyone has had to deal with can appreciate.

Kaysen invites the world to be her gynecologist
A very odd book, this is a memoir of Kaysen's experiences with an, um, inimate health problem. I now know a lot about her sexual problems and confusion, but little about her as a person - not even how finds the money to support herself. Does she jump out of bed and start writing every day? Does she teach a class? Does she simply live of the profits of her earlier, enormously successful memoir, "Girl, Interrupted"?

While the author is clearly very bright, in dealing with her illness she's made a lot of stupid decisions and come to some stupid conclusions. Why, if she wasn't satisifed with the surgeon she consulted, didn't she press him for answers or even get a second opinion? Why did she persist in going to doctors and then rejecting the treatments they proposed? Why *wouldn't* she discuss her medical problems with her boyfriend? Why *wouldn't* she allow him to speak to her doctors? And why, when after a year of enduring her rejection, he finally - in an act of frustration and desperation - becomes more aggressive, does she panic, flee, and describe his actions to all of her friends as "attempted rape"?

The book is startling in its frankness about sexual matters, but provides little insight into any other area of the author's life. While I now know a great deal about her inner parts, she never revealed her inner life. At the end, I couldn't say that I ever understood or even liked the author. I guess the best way to summarize it is to say that in this book, Kaysen invites the world to be her gynecologist - not her friend.

Sex, Interrupted
I'm grateful to Kaysen for writing this book, and I found it a fascinating read. Yet, there is something about it that rings *disservice* to so many women with the same medical problem. Although the term 'vulvodynia' is never actually mentioned (a technicality), what really bothers me is that the book is almost entirely devoid of the one thing I kept expecting to find at one point or another: HOPE. The tone is quite dark and--while I can understand the author's desire for consistency--as someone with the very condition she writes about, I kept wondering when she was ever going to get around to landing upon something that actually helped her. No such luck.

It also fails to truly convey the frustration of having to forage through the medical thicket with a condition so poorly understood. Her sarcasm rings through, but she appears to have unusually effective relationships with her doctors (perhaps this was worked over in the drafts?). While that might be an inspiration to women who need to garner a little more assertiveness while on the examination table (something difficult to do when you're half-naked in stirrups!), it comes across as SHE being the difficult one, in her resistance to a real commitment to getting better. Meanwhile, her rocky love relationship is documented with poignance and heartfelt confusion.

This is a book meant to be read for entertainment, period. There are a few scant explanations of certain theories and treatments, so thumbs up for that, at least. However, the fact that one of the central themes is a painful condition is second to the use of imagery and brevity of dialogue in creating a story that centers more around a woman's psyche in relation to her sexual self. Nothing wrong with that, and it certainly makes an insightful case. The last third of the book engaged me more than the rest, but even throughout all this thought-provoking work, I got a little irked. These are just my own personal observations:

1. She doesn't seem to give the treatments half a chance to work. And, she misspells oxalate as oxylate.

2. Pessimism reigns supreme, which probably explains #1. I question some of the other critics' assessments of the lack of any real self-pity, too. It's just more insipid and veiled through a constant filter of the ongoing meter of her sexual desire and functionality. Sure, most of us want to have sex quite often and enjoyably. But she never seems to glean any real emotional lessons whatsoever from all her trials & tribulations, and that is a disappointment.

3. The 'Why I Am Opposed to Antidepressants' chapter. While I don't disagree 100% (I've never taken them myself), her attitude strikes me as using it for secondary gains--to avoid life's other difficulties. And she even admits this avoidance to wanting to feel better, but the assumption is that it's widespread and therefore 'normal.' While it may be fashionable in this day & age to whine with semi-masochistic angst about the Disease du Jour, anyone with any degree of experience with said Problematic Vagina will probably see through the literary tactics and question the helpfulness of publishing a book that follows the herd in that aspect of medical mentality.

4. The shift in focus to the 'inequality' of older women vs. older men seemed a little out of place. The association of that to her chronic pain only one year later (while stating she's not going through menopause) reads as a dire prediction for anyone over the age of 40, and suggests that a woman's entire attractiveness is dependent upon the health of her vagina.

5. There are no dates given, so the reader has no way of knowing the author's age and whether this was early on in the treatment & research (10-20 years ago), or just recently!

In the end, Kaysen closes with a note on the mind-body connection, stating, "disease is one of our languages. Doctors understand what disease has to say about itself. It's up to the person with the disease to understand what the disease has to say to her. My vagina keeps trying to get my attention. It has something important to say to me. I'm listening. I'm still listening."
I couldn't help but wonder that if she wasn't listening so much to her vagina, maybe her mind would let her take the treatments more seriously! But maybe hoping for a thoroughly happy ending is a bit unrealistic.

If you're still listening, Ms. Kaysen, my question to you is: Are you better yet? ... Read more

Reviews (4)

In Hell
"The Past is Myself" is the story of an Englishwoman who married a German then went to live with him and raise a family in Nazi Germany.

It is often a moving account, giving glimpses of German life of the time. Quite how much Christabel Bielenberg's views provide an accurate picture of the everyday lives of the majority of German people must be open to doubt, as the Bielenbergs were well-off and moved within the higher reaches of professional society. Intellectual analysis as well as moral outrage formed the basis of their resistance to the regime. And I doubt whether the majority of Germans could have afforded to escape the bombing by moving to the Black Forest.

This is not to disparage Christabel Bielenberg's account, or the heroism of those who resisted, whatever their place in society. The horrors of the regime were felt at a highly personal level - Christabel's husband Peter being imprisoned for a lengthly period, and some of her friends were executed after the July plot. Terrible choices had to be made, such as whether or not to give shelter to a Jewish family.

The book is an episodic account, telling in depth of major incidents rather than being a straightforward "family history". It benefits from that, as she is able to recall emotions and impressions with more detail than would otherwise be the case.

A thumping good read - I couldn't put it down!
I read this book a few years ago, when living in the United Kingdom, and wanted to recommend this book to my Book Club in the USA for our next discussion. What a disappointment to find it is out of print, as this is one of the most readable and insightful autobiographies I have read! Dear Amazon team, please campaign for it to be reissued!

A Wonderful Story of real life drama.
I am so sorry this book is not available. It is a fasinating story of a woman's ability to survive and keep her family in tact in WW II Germany. I met Mrs. Bielenberg a few years ago and she is still as interesting as she was in her book.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I am surprised that nobody has reviewed it and I am also dissapointed to find out that it is not available to buy at the moment. I read it a few years ago and when I get the time, I will definitely read it again. Once you start you can not stop and it is a book you will remember for the rest of your life. Read it! ... Read more

Book Description

In the late 1960s, the author spent nearly two years on the ward for teenage girls at McLean Hospital, a renowned psychiatric facility. Her memoir encompasses horror and razor-edged perceptions, while providing vivid portraits of her fellow patients and their keepers. "Searing . . . captures an exquisite range of self-awareness between madness and insight."--Boston Globe. ... Read more

Reviews (366)

Girl, Interrupted
Susanna Kaysen, the main character and author of this book, simply went for a doctor's appointment one day and the doctor, not letting her know what was going on, shoved her in a taxi and sent her to Mclean Hosptial, where her stay was about 2 years. Through that year, she experienced many new friends,yet problems, but also discovered new paths and a new way of life which led her to a world of seeing the real Susanna. Susanna entered the mental hospital still having no idea why she was there, but what she soon came to realize was that she was the most normal one out of all that were staying there. The hospital was a very strict facility with locked everything. There was no leaving the hospital except for when the nurse would take 6 lucky patients to get ice cream, but that was hardly ever. Nurses checked on you every 10, 20, or 30 minutes, depending on your behavior and diagnosis. Susanna also had a therapist, with whom she met weekly and told him about her problems and thoughts about everything. Susanna's diagnosis was something having to do with depression, and even though she was in an environment full of friends like Georgina, Lisa, and Cynthia, she felt out of place because they all had seriuos problems and she didn't. All the other characters made the book so lively and humorous, even though it was talking about a serious issue. Susanna was a big thinker and this book showed great analyzation of her every thought. It was so greatly analyzed that it not only taught her something, but everyone reading the book. What happens at the end of the book is for you to find out. Don't miss reading Girl, Interrupted by Susanna Kaysen. It shows such good -real experiences and how some people just don't have life so easy as others and how they deal with it so well.

Deceptively simple
I saw the movie version of "Girl Interrupted" when it came out last winter in spite of the mostly negative reviews it received. I loved it, mainly because it highlighted how women can support each other through the toughest of circumstances. I then bought and read the book. The differences between the two are startling: the setting and most of the characters are the same, but the tone is quite different.

The book is mesmerizing from its first paragraph. Susanna Kaysen uses deceptively simple language to describe her experiences and the people she knew during her 18 months stay at McLean's mental hospital. We slowly come to understand the lack of humanity showed to these girls, and the confused world they came from. Ms Kaysen's spare, poetic prose is interspersed with copies of actual hospital records written at the time she was a patient. The records appear as confused as the patients they detail. They seem to detail Susanna's social interactions and levels of ease with others, as if this alone depicts signs of strong mental health. Some of them appear incomplete and neglected. One is left to wonder what exactly the professionals at this hospital were looking for: mental health or acceptable female behavior?

The book is brief, and leaves the reader with more questions than answers. How have we changed in the way we view certain types of female behavior? How have we changed in the way we view those suffering from mental illnesses? Do patients need to be cured or does the world need to be cured?

This is a remarkable book. It manages to raise awareness without giving in to self-pity. I would recommend it to anyone.

IF YOU'VE SEEN THE MOVIE YOU SHOULD READ THIS!!
I read the book after I'd seen the movie and was disappointed in the movie. It left a lot of things out, added some stuff and really obscured the timeline.
The book however was captivating, I really had a hard time putting it down, and it's a very easy read. I enjoyed delving more into Susannna's mind learing what she was thinking during certain events in her life. It also puts a light onto early psychological techniques, which thank God have improved. One of my favorite parts in the book is were she starts to see her hand withouth bones, something that was mentioned shortly in the movie. The characters are thoroughtly mentioned in the book and even some you didn't seen in the movie, the funny thing is that Lisa the Angelina Joeli character didn't seem to play as big of a role in Susanna's life there. The movie seemed to focus maybe too much on the character since she was the more practical Hollywood mold, while the book of course is focused on Susanna.
Anyway, it was a fun book to read and an easy one too, if you liked the movie you should read the book to learn more about what really happened to Susanna during her stay at the hospital.

Understanding a Mental Illness
Right from the beginning of Girl, Interrupted the author introduces herself as an eighteen-year-old named Susanna Kaysen. She encounters a session with a psychiatrist she's never met or spoken to before in her life. The beginning of the book is thrilling and exciting because you're not exactly sure where you're going to end up. Susanna is then sent away in a taxi, which takes her to McLean Hospital. It becomes very real and clear about what is going on if you've had similar experiences in life.

She stays in a ward for teenage girls in a psychiatric hospital for the next two years of her life. By this point you really feel like you're right there with the writer. It all becomes very real and a little hard to read. This memoir of Kaysen includes horrible things that go on in the ward and at the same time she gives the readers a very clear description about the other patients in there. In the end the book brings you to a conclusion between mental illness and recovery. This book really showed me that life isn't as bad as I perceived it. I learned that when you think you've got it bad, you might not really know what you've got coming for you-because as you get older the real world can sometimes catch up with you.

I would recommend this book to anyone that is struggling with a friend or family member that has a mental illness. It helps you to understand what pain they're going through and why they say and think the way they do. This was by far one of my favorite books I've read this year and at the same time it was my biggest life saver.

Girl, Interrupted Book Review
This book gives a truthful look into the mind of a disturbed young woman who finds herself in a mental hospital due to a struggle with her inner emotions. Ms. Kaysen makes no effort to sugarcoat the conditions or situations involving her and the other patients at the hospital. Everything she writes is honest and extremely vivid. One account in which we see a frightening and true depiction of a patient's situation is in the chapter entitled, "Calais Is Engraved In My Heart." After a girl named Alice Calais has a severe mental breakdown she is sent to maximum security. The other girls go to visit her, and what they find leaves the reader with an unsettling vision of the lives of these young women. Kaysen makes no excuses for herself, or anyone else, she simply tells her story the way it happened. Another aspect of Ms. Kaysen's writing, that separates her from the rest, is her ability to covey abstract thoughts and theories in a very personal way. Using unique metaphors, symbols, and her own experiences, she is able to address such topics as the inner Id, the cause and effect of her condition, and the thin line that divides normality from insanity. In a place that seems so dark and unhappy Kaysen manages to insert light and humor. One of Kaysen's fellow patients, Lisa, while extremely disturbed, is also very witty and sharp. Kaysen herself also has a very humorous side. A weaker point of the novel is that in some cases Kaysen's writing becomes so internal that it seems scattered and is difficult to follow. Another point that may turn readers away is the extremely graphic and unapologetic accounts of the effects of illness in the hospital. However, this book was an informative, creative, and groundbreaking piece of literature that is certainly worth reading. ... Read more

Book Description

Lita™ -- see her just once in the ring and you can never forget it. The breathtaking off-the-top-rope fearlessness that she shows keeps you on the edge of your seat. You simply can't believe she's going to be able to pull off the move, and then Lita™ takes it to the next level. That's her reality, that's why she is a WWE™ Superstar.

Taking unexpected risks, daring to do what no one has done before, that's the reality of Amy Dumas, the remarkable woman behind Lita™. Amy found people who saw her determination and her heart, and agreed to train her. Among them were two local North Carolina stars who had just signed with WWE™ -- Matt and Jeff Hardy. Amy formed an instant bond with the dynamic Hardy Boyz™, whose spectacular style and high-flying bravado inspired her own bold in-ring style.

It wasn't long before Amy -- now Lita™ -- joined Matt and Jeff in WWE™, and the three friends become international sensations as Team Extreme™. Lita™ proved a true pioneer in women's wrestling, daring to get in the ring with the boys -- including Triple H™, Stone Cold Steve Austin™ and The Rock® -- and never backing down. It took a broken neck suffered on the set of a television series to stop her...but only temporarily. Lita™: A Less Traveled R.O.A.D-The Reality of Amy Dumas is the stirring tale of one young woman's amazing journey to the top of the wild, wonderful world of WWE™. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Informative
The history of Amy "Lita" Dumas has been a somewhat mystery -- no pun intended. This book, is written by Amy and Michael Kraugman ( who also helped write Exist 2 Inspire ). While the "stringing together" of the words is not exactly complicated English and while this is not exactly a literary masterpiece, the actual content is quite a read. Many people tend to put down this book due to that fact that Lita has only been in the rasslin' business since early 1998 and that she has not been around long enough to write her life story, but well, I can tell you this much, from the story of her life so far; it's quite amazing.

I am wrestling fan, I was born one and I will die one; so reading wrestling biographies comes naturally to me. It seems like I have been waiting a lifetime for this book, and I was not at all dissapointed. This is a feel good story, it is a story about making your way to the top and seeing your dreams come true by hard work, dedication and maybe a little bit of luck.

So here we have a woman who's lived all over the United States of America, ( Atlanta, Florida, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia ), she's graduated from high school and she has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She plays in a couple of bands, travels to Europe, does the whole finding herself cliche, but eventually, she does. She finds her passion, she finds wrestling.

This book explains everything from her relationship with her on/off boyfriend of the last four years, fellow wrestler, Matt Hardy, her passion for the business, her days as a rocker and her love for animals. Everything you wanted to know about this young woman is present in this autobiography -- and more.

If you are a Lita fan; you'll love this. If you are a wrestling fan; you will appreciate this. If you are a reader; you should read this.

This WWE Diva is back and better than ever in the ring, she is at the top of the ladder of success, and she is still climbing and enjoying every moment of it.

Book Worth The Travel
Young Amy Dumas is known to millions under the WWE Franchise as Lita, the high flying, risk taking, dare devil of a woman who is well known for not only her skills against the women, but against the men as well. I grew up not really liking wrestling, but I would occasionaly watch it with my Uncle who is a big fan. But as I would watch...this young lady would stick out like a sore thumb.

Within this book Amy Dumas (Lita) describes her road to becoming the professional wreslter she is today, as well as her journeys after. She has went through a great deal, being nearly homeless after highschool, working as a stripper, taking judo lessons, as well as the carreer threatening neck injury that took place on the set of t.v. show Dark Angel. This novel is well worth every penny to anyone who is slightly interested in the life of this inspiring younge woman.

Lita's Fan
This the best book i ever read. I am a big fan of Lita and of this book. Once you start to read this book you will not want to put it down. You think it will be about her becomeing a wrestler, but its so much more. It tells about her first job and her first house. Then it tells about her love, her dog, Cody. I loved it so much. I recommend this book for everyone.

Best WWE Biography
A lot of people try to trash this biography because they don't like Lita personally. If you'll notice Lita is very rarely praised for her work. But this book is easily the best WWE Biography I've read. It's the first one that doesn't read "I've loved wrestling my whole life. Wrestling is my life. Blah blah blah." Lita loves wrestling but she doesn't only talk about that. She actually tells the story of her LIFE. Not her story of becoming a wrestler.

Why was this even written?
This is one of the worst books ever written in the now infamous wrestling autobiography genre. I don't understand why Lita wrote an autobiography. What has she done? Its like I broke my neck so buy my book. This is a useless poorly written book about some girl with a man tattoo who stalks punk bands across the story. It is a very painful read. I don't recommend this book to anyone unless you are a fan of punk band stalkers who write poorly.

Seriously I understand that it is a new fad to write a book now. People change their socks these days as fast as they write books and some of them are just pure crap. This is one of them. ... Read more

Book Description

In the novel that introduced Anne Rice to the world, Interview with the Vampire, a reporter seeks out the facts behind an extraordinary life.In the years since that publication, Anne Rice has become one of the world's bestselling authors and has herself been the subject of countless interviews, profiles, and a full-length biography.Yet who Anne Rice is, and the beliefs, fascinations, desires, fears, and passions that inspire her work, remains an endlessly fascinating topic.

Now, for the first time ever in an audio format, Anne Rice discusses -- with her longtime friend, Michael Riley -- everything from her latest novels to her relationship to some of her characters; from the relationship of movies and music to her work to issues about gender, eroticism, religion, personal freedom, adolescent sexuality, and more... ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Snore
A clear indication of why you shouldn't interview you friends. No question is challenging, no question is controversial, and the net result is a boring suck-up-athon. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In April of 1989, a young woman was brutally assaulted and raped while jogging in New York’s Central Park. The attack captured headlines around the world as the anonymous "Central Park Jogger" fought to recover from massive injuries that left her near death. Fourteen years later, in this first person account, Trisha Meili broke her silence to discuss the incident in her own words and reveal who she was before the attack and who she became as a result of it. Meili tells the story of a competitive and driven young executive at a finance firm whose life was destroyed, and how she ultimately rebuilt it. Passages where Meili is reunited years later with the doctors and nurses who saved her life are especially compelling, as are her accounts of testifying in court and her first run after the incident. While her candor is remarkable and certainly moving, it’s worth noting what this book does not include. Meili can provide no detail of the actual attacks (she has no memory of them), she has little to say about the racial controversy her case ignited, and she only briefly mentions the fact that, during the writing of this book, the convictions of her attackers were vacated after another man confessed to the crime. But these are not necessarily omissions; they are simply not central to Trisha Meili’s highly readable story of tragedy and, ultimately, triumph. I Am The Central Park Jogger is not just a book for New Yorkers curious to finally hear from "The Jogger"; it’s an inspirational tale of overcoming enormous obstacles and getting back on the road again. --John Moe ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Tenderness from the most unlikeliest of places
A truly inspiring book, and one of the most tenderly expressed sagas I've ever read. It is amazing that such tenderness could result from such a brutal and ghastly crime. Remembering those "dark" days of 1989 NYC could make a person's blood boil. I will never think of the author as simply "the Central Park jogger" ever again. David Kane Mindenhall, Paso Robles, CA

Excellent
I found this a very honest, sad and inspirational story.

As for the prosecutions being overturned, the boys let of jail had previously confessed to the crime and re-enacted it on video tape. They also had confessed to committing other assaults and robberies earlier that night.

So it is not at all clear they were in fact innocent. And to characterize Ms. Meili as anything but a victim an heroic survivor is perposterous.

A Beautiful Portrait of Courage and the Power of Positivity
Trisha Meili's account of her life and ordeal is moving and touching, but in a surprising way.Trisha does not make herself out to be a hero, nor does she overly dramatize her close encounter with death and the slow and painful recovery process she went through.In the expression of who she is before she was violently attacked and who she after, she is humble and shows her own vulnerabilities.True to her own personality, she shows her strength by showing her healing process in hopes that others will learn from her own discoveries; it succeeds at being both an emotional and an intellectual account.

Trisha's very personal account of her ability to find happiness in a world that is often cruel is interesting and insightful and solidifies that she is a great a role model and teacher to others.Her ability to love and give has not been hindered by her misfortune, instead it has been strengthened.Perhaps this observation is something we all should pay attention to, as Trisha's great attitutde and happiness seem to be directly related to her view that it is essential that she uses her talents and gifts to continue to add value and meaning to her own life.

Realistic account of how to bounce back
The same age as Trisha and working in NYC when she was attacked, like millions I felt an evisceral identification with and compassion for the Jogger. And like others, I had a hidden voyeuristic desire to know more about her. What can she teach us? How DOES one bounce back?

Yet I applaud her determination to remain anonymous in this age of "instant celeb" for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead, she focussed on what really matters: her life.

By the time Trisha "came out," she has the perspective to produce a useful book. It's a must-read for anyone who has problems to conquer.

She's practical and real, a bright person and yet just like any one of us, who was thrust into extreme circumstances. How she recovers is a story in being grounded.

Ironically, many parts are funny--like when a psychiatrist is disturbed that she's not weeping enough. Her answer: I can't remember...there's no "there" there to weep over.

But her psych keeps writing her up. Being the "A" student-type and wanting to please, she briefly considers catering to the psych's textbook definitions. But then Trisha realizes she's just too tired to expend effort comforming to her psych's expectations and needs to focus on her physical rehabilitation. Buoy for her!

Trisha also shares poignant moments, such as when she gave testimony in court. She was so focussed on recovery that to her prosecutions' dismay, she tried hard to walk without limping to the stand, talk coherently, and even take pride in the work she was able to accomplish at her company.

The moment illuminates the complexities we don't get from newspapers: the defense benefits if the victim appears functional. But becoming functional is her hourly goal. The media coverage empathically reports that she's a little, pathetic figure badly damaged. She is horrified at this description. But her attorneys are pleased. Ouch.

It's a great book, a mature, telling, inspiring, grounded story of recovery that's one step forward, two steps back, year after year. People who're looking for easy, quick answers won't find it here. Instead, Trisha treats life as a journey in a way we can all benefit from.

Tells of her life before and after the encounter
In 1989 a young woman went for a job in New York's Central Park - and was brutally beaten and left for dead. Her survival under nearly impossible odds and her recovery over the years is charted in I Am The Central Park Jogger, her strong memoir, which tells of her life before and after the encounter, and the long healing process she had to undertake. ... Read more

Book Description

In one of the most original books of the year, the inimitable Joan Rivers couples a hefty dose of her trademark humor with heartfelt compassion: Bouncing Back is a no-holds-barred, candid look at how comedy's brightest star survived everything that life threw her way, and made it back to the top again after hitting rock bottom. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Well-meaning, but misses the mark
Though Joan Rivers has gone through some rough times, her qualifications as a motivational speaker/self-help guru are lacking. She instructs people who have gone through major life crises (i.e. the loss of a spouse, major illnesses, etc.) not to wallow in their pain for more than one weekend. How can a person possibly get over the loss of a loved one in just one weekend? This book, with its one-liners, trivializes people's pain and suffering by saying that you have to "snap out of it," and suggests that redecorating the house will make one feel better. Rivers should stick with what she knows best -- insulting people.

JOAN RIVERS IS AN INSPIRATION!
I was stunned to read all the negative reviews others have posted regarding this book! I found it one of the most inspiring things I have come across in a long time. I actually have the audio version of this book, which might make quite a difference. I try and listen to it at least once a week. To hear Joan's familiar and unimitable voice recount her tragedies and how she fought her way back to happiness give "Bouncing Back" a much more personal touch. I will be the first to admit that most of the psychological advice is standardized info that could be obatined in any of thousands of other self-help books. But to listen to Joan's unique voice and hear her apply these psychological theories to her own experiences makes what otherwise be just another self-help book a truly uplifting journey. THANKS JOAN!

Very uplifting
Joan has some helpful advice on how to overcome obstacles in life. While she is not a psychologist, she has been through many painful things in her life and has always "bounced back."

Pitiful
Joan Rivers presents herself as the most put upon victim in the world, the ultimate survivor. Heartrending. I