Till the Cows Come Home by J.T. Blakemore

Till the Cows Come Home by J.T. Blakemore

From the Goodreads Synopsis: For those of us who sometimes feel that the light at the end of the tunnel really is an oncoming train, J.T. Blakemore is living proof that we don’t have to simply stand on the tracks and be run down. This is the story of a man who faces down a great deal of adversity and lives to tell the tale. 

In 1963, J.T. took an ill-advised ride in a ’59 Hot Rod Chevy and regained consciousness twenty-eight days later. He was 21 years old. “You might say I threw my life away for a dozen cans of beer. My bell was rung really well, and I’ve had one I gigantic hangover ever since. The prognosis was simple: brain damage. The effects were not so simple. Not by a long shot.” 

J.T.’s past provides him with the tools he needs to meet the challenges of learning to walk, talk, and see all over again. The product of a tempestuous couple who met and married on the same day, J.T.’s often humorous journey from orphanage to U.S. Marines and beyond teaches him that adversity is a fact of life. His unflinching description of his ongoing recovery and his unique insights into the thought processes of someone with “drain bamage” will be uncharted territory for most readers, but well worth the trip. In spite of his many obstacles, this consummate storyteller is one of the most positive, enthusiastic men you will ever meet. 

“Damage to my big USMC pride would be an ongoing occurrence. On more than one occasion, I have found myself, for no apparent reason, sitting squarely on my posterior. But I have learned two positive things about falling. First: getting back on my feet has become easier with every fall. Second: living with embarrassment won’t kill you.” 
His belief in “patient, prayerful, persistent perseverance” and an unflappable faith in God have served him well during his unusual journey. He has gone on to earn several college degrees, meet and marry his wife, and raise two equally strong and determined children. At first glance, you might think he’s just an average guy. 

Till the Cows Come Home is an inspiring account of triumph over adversity — the sort of triumph that J.T. sincerely believes could be achieved by anyone of us if we have faith, a healthy sense of humor, and (although he never comes right out and says it) a certain level of practicality. 

“I have had to learn to accept the fact that everything is constantly changing, and, in many cases, remains different and difficult. That sounds almost normal. Doesn’t it?” 

*********

My review:  A fairly solid but quick read, interesting in many places, dry in a few, but not enough to interrupt the flow of the book as a whole.  The success the author has has in overcoming his TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) to be able to write a book as lucid as this one is wonderful and a tribute to his 4 p's  [if you want to know what they are read the book! :) ] I also found it unique that he put the addendum sections at the end.  I found them interesting but not everyone necessarily will so that leaves it up to the reader if they want to read them or not. good job J.T. Blakemore! Keep up the good work.

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall

Forty Autumns: A Family's Story of Courage and Survival on Both Sides of the Berlin Wall


From the Goodreads.com Synopsis:  In this illuminating and deeply moving memoir, a former American military intelligence officer goes beyond traditional Cold War espionage tales to tell the true story of her family—of five women separated by the Iron Curtain for more than forty years, and their miraculous reunion after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Forty Autumns makes visceral the pain and longing of one family forced to live apart in a world divided by two. At twenty, Hanna escaped from East to West Germany. But the price of freedom—leaving behind her parents, eight siblings, and family home—was heartbreaking. Uprooted, Hanna eventually moved to America, where she settled down with her husband and had children of her own.

Growing up near Washington, D.C., Hanna’s daughter, Nina Willner became the first female Army Intelligence Officer to lead sensitive intelligence operations in East Berlin at the height of the Cold War. Though only a few miles separated American Nina and her German relatives—grandmother Oma, Aunt Heidi, and cousin, Cordula, a member of the East German Olympic training team—a bitter political war kept them apart.

In Forty Autumns, Nina recounts her family’s story—five ordinary lives buffeted by circumstances beyond their control. She takes us deep into the tumultuous and terrifying world of East Germany under Communist rule, revealing both the cruel reality her relatives endured and her own experiences as an intelligence officer, running secret operations behind the Berlin Wall that put her life at risk.

A personal look at a tenuous era that divided a city and a nation, and continues to haunt us, Forty Autumns is an intimate and beautifully written story of courage, resilience, and love—of five women whose spirits could not be broken, and who fought to preserve what matters most: family.

Forty Autumns is illustrated with dozens of black-and-white and color photographs.

**********

My Review:

I loved this book, riveting and pulled you along, waiting to what would happen next.  We all know to some degree from news stories about East and West Germany and the Berlin Wall, but I had never gotten around to learning more about this particular piece of history.  This book is an excellent way to do that and also learn about East Germans as a people and the experience they went through, so not just through the political lens. Told through the interconnected stories of 5 generations of women in one particular family in East Germany and their experience, from Stalin taking over after WWII trying to spread Communism the building then the tearing down of the Berlin Wall, built not to keep dangerous people out but to seal the East Germans in so as to better control and propagandize them. The Communist Party promised them the world, that resources would be shared and prosperity among all, when in reality they took all the best and gave them the scraps, leaving the people in dire straits. One of the few 5 stars I have given! If you like history you will like this book! I was given this book as an Advance Reader Copy in return for an honest review, which in no way influenced my review! This is an excellent book. True, like one of the previous comments left on Goodreads, the transitions from one persons story to another are a bit abrupt but it only marginally took anything away from the enjoyment of the book.

Condo Makeovers: Inventive Ideas for Vertical Living by Ashley Rooney

Condo Makeovers: Inventive Ideas for Vertical Living by Ashley Rooney

From the Goodreads.com synopsis: For those interested in creating a one-of-a-kind

home in a condo or apartment building, this book offers a voyeuristic peek at the

way people design, construct, and accessorize these often challenging spaces.

Thirty beautifully photographed projects illustrate how their designers overcame the

constraints of high-rise living to enhance the owners' comfort. Learn how one

architect brought elusive light into the center of a condo in Washington, DC's

Dupont Circle neighborhood, visit the "stair bridge" in a Vermont ski condo, and

observe the visual tricks used to open a Florida penthouse to ocean views. See how

designers are raising the bar on an increasingly popular housing type, whether it is

an urban pied-a-terre or an airy condo on a California beach.

******

My review:  This was a surprisingly fun coffee-table style book. I don't plan on

designing or building a condo but it was fun to "window shop" :)   There will be

some spoilers in this review. Some designs I distinctly didn't like and some I loved a

lot, but there were features in each one that I liked, so that no one design

completely put me off. The photography was outstanding, large high definition

pictures, with wonderful detail.  Definitely plenty of eye-candy throughout. And

some of the captions explaining what is involved in renovating a condo were

informative.  Many, many times they used windows and white paint to direct the

light back into the darker areas of the home. These next ones are done in order as they appear in the

book so you can follow along with the book if you wish.

***

Now, for specifics:

53 Unique Residences
CetraRuddy Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 280,000 square feet (unit sizes vary)
Landscape architect: H. M. White
Lighting designer: Kugler Ning

I didn't like this one that much as a whole, except the skilled use of light, but I did

like the white marble dining table.  I also did not care for the square, long, trough -

style bathroom sink.

***
Cooper Square Loft
Desai Chai Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 5,000 square feet
General contractor: Giovannitti
Structural engineer: Donald Friedman, Attila Rona
Mechanical engineer: Simon Rodkin Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Christine Sciulli Light + Design
Audiovisual: WTB Associates

A nice loft condo, but the placement of furniture felt cold and incoherent to me,

didn't say "come, relax".  The furniture also looked uncomfortable to sit in. Color

scheme also not very warm and inviting, a cold atmosphere. Lots of grey and

metal, the kitchen reminded me of a slightly aesthetically better navy mess hall at a

military base, cold an impersonal. Definitely not my style, I don't do modernistic

very well. Also , if this were my house I wouldn't feel very uncomfortable with port

holes in the walls to the bedroom, I would never feel relaxed changing clothes or

sleeping, as someone could easily look in.  And again, with the square long trough sink

in the bathroom. I did like the large deep pretty tub though. Sorry, didnt like this

one very much.

***

Tribeca Skylight Penthouse
George Boyle Architect
Location: New York
Size: 4,000 square feet
General contractor: AJS/Matrix

The use of light in this one was skillfully done. Light is life to a home when done

right. using the stairs with open slats works well and lets more light through from

the large windows to the back areas. The designer used quite a lot of what

opportunities they could to let as much light in as they could, the stair design, the

use of white paint, cut-outs in various ares and the use of clear unbordered glass

for the guardrail overlooking the foyer.  The patio with its pampas grass was

gorgeous!  Just the kind of bit of nature to relax in the fresh air and sun and read.

***

Mount Snow Ski Condo
LineSync Architecture and Planning
Location: West Dover, Vermont
Size: 1,111 square feet
Furnishings: 2 Sisters Home Furnishings
General contractor: Fred & Fred Jr. Builders

The use of wood was nice but this one seems a bit busy to me.  I like the wood and

I like the spice rack at the back of the stove.  I don't care for the placement of the

microwave directly above the stove eyes. The mudroom looks nice, and practical.

***

First Avenue Apartment
Mojo Stumer Associates, PC
Location: New York
Size: 7,000 square feet
General contractor: Tennis Planning/Automatic Group
Engineer: Kam Chiu
Expeditor: Praxis Workshop Inc.

Overall nice clean look, but not my style.  The dark stone added some warmth but I

would have liked the stone better if not quite as shiny, a bit distracting.  Love the

large plate glass window with the great view of the city in the living room and the

contrast of the dark pillows on the light couch, but again the too shiny stone on the

walls detracted from the overall serenity. Love the dark blue couch in the family

room. Atrocious light fixture outside the wine room though.  Bathroom, again didnt

care for the square bathroom sinks and the bathtub with the chaise lounge type

shape seems funky to me. And with no shade in the shower, yes the city view is

magnificent, but I would worry someone in a high-rise opposite would be watching

me with binoculars.

***

Apartment 24
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 2,750 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney
General contractor: Added Dimensions

Ok, but, not my style and again kind of cold in its personality.  I did love the

generous library, as I am an avid reader.  Again, the square tub and bathroom

sinks, not a fan.

***

Sky Loft
KUBE architecture
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 1,300 square feet
General contractor: Metrix Construction
Glass: Gaithersburg Glass
Millwork: Mersoa Woodwork

The cut-out in the ceiling of the living room with the frameless glass railing I liked,

leading to the office/master bedroom upstairs, letting in lots of light.  Also the

frosted glass wall of the bedroom, allowing privacy and light both.

***
Pied á Terre
A4 Architecture & Planning
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Size: 660 square feet

They claim the original before renovation was dark and dank, and the new look is

definitely not that, but the chandelier and the kitchen backsplash are a little too

"blingy" to me and could use a few pops of color.  Great view of the harbor though.

***

West Side Loft
Office of Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 3,000 square feet
General contractor: Sohome
Design Collaborator: Push
Kitchen Systems Consultant: Fellini Designs
Shades: Advanced Window Coverings Associates

Like the warmth and personality of the wood throughout and the retaining of the

original structural poles.  Nice combination of light and dark.

***

W24 Loft
Desai/Chia Architecture
Location: New York
Size: 4,000 square feet
General contractor: Giovannitti
Mechanical engineer: Simon Rodkin Consulting Engineers
Lighting: Christine Sciulli Light + Design

This renovation seemed odd to me. Odds and ends of various furniture style that

didn't gel with one another. The structural posts look unstable though I'm sure

they're not, like the roof could tumble down on you, and would make me feel

uneasy living there.  The curvey couch looks like it should be in an airport to me. In

fact a large portion of the whole layout feels that way, a somewhat impersonal feel.

More like a commercial building than a home.  I do like the large bank of windows

looking out to the other buildings. And nice use of light, natural and fixtures, except

that odd pineapple looking light fixture.  And...again... with the square bathtub.

Not a relaxing look.

***

Sycamore Penthouse
George Boyle Architect
Location: Tribeca, New York City
Size: 2,200 square feet
General contractor: J. Kemp Construction

This is one of my favorites so far, possibly my favorite of the whole book!  So much

warm, warm wood and lots of character.  Lovley brick accent wall, appropriate

balance of wood, marble , brick, metal, and the stairwell draws daylight from the

master suite above.  And nice use of different kinds of wood instead of all one

kind.  The stairs are especially nice, caption says is Douglas Fir, though the effect is

simikar to cedar.  The semi-mudroom idea is a good one but could use a medium

area rug so wet shoes etc dont damage that nice wood flooring. And the Outdoor

space with the couches and pampas grass is just more icing on the cake. A great

zen spot to unwind. Very few things I didn't like on this one!

***

Watergate Apartment
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 1,250 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID
General contractor: Added Dimensions and D. Anthony Beale LLC

Not that big on the design itself, but the views of the river and the Francis Scott Key

Bridge are outstanding.  The slit cut in the wall between the living room and the

bedroom reminds me of a bunker, though the glass is electrostatic glass which can

be switched to frosted to allow privacy in the bedroom.  Again with the square

bathroom sink...I'm seeing a trend here...

***

Riverside Apartment:
An Answer to Tropical Storm Irene
LineSync Architecture and Planning
Location: Wilmington, Vermont
Size: 775 square feet
Interior designer: Interior Furnishings by Nona
General contractor: Todd Gareiss

Nice roll armed couch and wood furniture but the corrugated metal walls take

away from its warmth to give more or a warehouse feel, though decision could have

been made because of it being in a potential flood zone. Also didnt care for the

exposed cracked beams and pipes. Liked the warm tilein the bathroom but not the

metal corrugate.

***


Leather District Loft
Studio Luz
Location: Boston
Size: 1,200 square feet
General contractor: Aldor Corporation
Millwork: Mystic Millwork,  Infusion Furniture

Lots of warmwood and the flooring is gorgeous! Not a fan of the bedroom raised up

on a platform but love the arched brickwork.  Nice exposed beams in the ceiling.

Overall nice loft.

***

Perimeter Loft
Höweler + Yoon
Location: Boston
Size: 1,800 square feet
General contractor: Evergreen Group

Nice clean look with lots of light and the white helps contribute to that but could

use some more pops of color, too much all the same palate and not enough

contrast.

***

West Village Apartment
Mojo Stumer Associates, PC
Location: New York, New York
Size: 9,450 square feet
General contractor: Built Rite Contracting
MEP Engineer: Stanislav Slutsky, PE, PC
Structural Engineer: Robert Silman Associates

Love the artistic window, display cases and lighting in the entry hallway.  Family

room looks comfy but would have brought the couch a little closer to the

fireplace/tv.  Stairs with the clear glass is a nice touch.  The plush red dining chairs

I like as well.  Cant say I like the claw looking light fixture in the kitchen.  The study

definitely screams masculine. I like the bedroom if there are drapes you can pull

across the wonderfully large windows with the city view when you wish to.

***

Family Loft
ZeroEnergy Design
Location: Boston
Size: 1,750 square feet
General contractor: Ralph S. Osmond Company
Kitchen: Clever Green Cabinets, Gaggenau
Fixtures: Hansgrohe, Laufen, Aquabrass
Finishes: Creative Materials, Neolith

Not big on this renovation. Just not my style at all, from the furnishings to the color

choices, etc.  The brick wall with the fireplace was so-so, and I do like the bathroom

color choices and the round tub, but again with the square trough sink. Creepy light

fixture over the dining room table (The Little People chandelier).

***

Naval Officers Club Condo Conversion
Robert M. Gurney, FAIA Architect
Location: Washington, DC
Size: 3,250 square feet
Interior designer: Therese Baron Gurney, ASID
General contractor: Added Dimension and D. Anthony Beale LLC

Nice use of unused area cutouts and plate glass windows to let in light. Nice

collection of books!  :)  Bedroom too minimalist for me and quite empty. Makes it

feel cold and devoid of personality. Platform bed lloks like it wouldnt be

comfortable.  Bathroom?...what can i say, the sink looks like it came out of a

restaurant kitchen. I'm not trying to be unkind, I've just worked a lot of restaurants

before I got into my current profession and it looks like a commerical sink.  On a

good note, I love the outdoor space, cozy and inviting!

***

Timber Loft
George Boyle Architect
Location: New York
Size: 2,200 square feet
General contractor: J. Kemp Construction Inc.
Metalwork: Official LLC

Love the use of the original wood structural posts and beams, and the antiqued

brick wall. The kitchen stools seem odd to me, wouldnt be my first choice, as well

as pull straps on the kitchen drawers.  I like the natural wood fruit bowl.  Almost

too much wood in the bathroom though, styles arent balanced. And,  I've never

seen a square toilet before!  Seems stylish wise a little awkward.

***

Central Park West
Chango & Co.
Location: New York
Size: 2,300 square feet
General contractor: Fox Force Five
Millwork fabr ication: Mason Woodworks

I like this one quite a bit, definitely says city. Warm dark wood floors , nice throws

and pillows contrast nicely with the white couch. Although seemingly to contrast

with the main style, I like the antelope skulls!   I love the deep blue color of the high

armed couch and the nice wood floor.  The breakfast nook looks practical and

useful, don't care for the light fixture.

***

Downtown Boston Penthouse
Haddad Hakansson Design Studio
Location: Boston
Size: 1,300 square feet
Torso wall sculpture: Rainer Lagemann, sourced by DTR Modern Galleries,
Newbury Street, Boston
Living Room Sectional: BoConcept
Kitchen: Liebherr refrigerator; Miele induction cooktop, oven, hood, and
dishwasher; Pennville Custom Cabinetry

I like this one also quite a bit, especially overall scanning of the room gives me a

pretty relaxed feel.  Muted blues and greys, wood and tasteful furniture overall,

though I'd pick a different coffee table.  Great stairwell with phenominal city view, if

you remove the light fixture, I don't care for it and it distracts from the lovely view.

There are some lovely art pieces throughout, especially in the office! Nice spot on

the terrace to relax.

***

Florida Condo Renovation
Pineapple House Interior Design
Location: John’s Island, Florida
Size: 2,550 square feet
General contractor: Parent Construction

Lovey dark wood in the foyer, and furniture is nice but I wouldn't choose that much

white, harder to keep clean.  The coffered ceiling is a nice touch.   The white marble

countertop is pretty with the dark wood to balance the white of the kitchen.  The

bedroom, again with too much white, the designer must have love white. I like it,

but paired and balanced with other colors for more pop and contrast.  Nice view of

the ocean from the bedroom, dining room and living room!

***

Gotham Views
Higgins Design Studio
Location: New York
Size: 900 square feet
countertops: Caesarstone #2003 Concrete
bath porcelain tile: Daltile CL65 City Lights

Love the slight whimsy of the Polar bears print and I like the dark grey suede love

seat with a great view of the city.  Nice kitchen with soothing under-counter lighting

and nice balance of darks and lights and metal. I like the bedroom layout, with the

built in storage, television nook and city view. The bathroom tile is a nice color but

too flashy for me, a bit blingy. Nice just regular tub without trying to be so avant

garde.

***

Del Mar Loft
James Glover Residential and Interior Design
Location: San Clemente, California
Size: 729 square feet
General contractor: James Glover Residential and Interior Design

If I hadn't been told I would still have guessed either Florida or California. Nice

liveable little bungalow but a tad busy in the design/decore. I like the deck space,

looks relaxing. I'm Not too big on the noir style paintings, a bit too big and

ostentatious for the space, but everyones taste is different. Overall quite nice on the

furnishings, choice of colors, kitchen layout. I'd live here. (But what is it with the

square bathroom sinks!??), Otherwise the bathrooms nice.

***

East 87th Street
Keogh Design Inc.
Location: New York
Size: 3,000 square feet
General contractor: Peter DiNatale & Associates
Custom cabinetry: Scanga Architectural Woodworking
Custom rugs: Carini Lang
Custom sofa s: Keogh Design Inc.
Den sofa /coffee tables: Ligne Roset
Dining table and chairs: M2L

The entryway is super! (except for that curly-Q light fixture).  Overall this condo is a

winner, most especially the rockin' library!

***

Aventura Loft Style Residence
RS3|Designs
Location: Aventura, Florida
Size: 1,400 square feet
General contractor: Critical Path Construction
Millwork: Arlican Wood
Glass: MDV Glass

Winter in a room design.  The furnishings are nice and the work is quality but it

color palate is cold.  Need some pops of color or wood to add some warmth to the

living room, kind of like the wood accents that was added to the kitchen warms it

up nicely.  The second bedroom with the sliding door is quite nice, very inviting,

especially with the brown rug to balance out the white.  Balcony view off the master

bedroom is fantastic! I like the tub in the master bath, looks like I could relax there

for hours, but not fond of the sinks.

***

Monmouth Beach Condo
Sheila Rich Interiors
Location: Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
Size: 1,700 square feet
General contractor: O.C.C. and Associates
Finish carpentry: RLK Home Improvements

Nice pops of color with the purple wall and the personal paintings of the resident.

Love the coffered ceiling too, a great touch with the molding white and the inside

painted grey to give it more depth.  I like the contrast of color on the tile backing of

the kitchen island. Nice balance of colors, chrome and acrylic (the range hood)  in

the kitchen, and nice balance of wood, glass and the blue painted wall in the

dressing area. Master bedroom is ok. but I might have liked some wood molding to

offset what seems to me to be a bit too much blue.

***

Prewar Upper West Side Apartment
Chango & Co.
Location: Upper West Side, New York
Size: 2,300 square feet
General contractor: Reece Restoration

Nice family space, and I like the cubbyhole style shelving.  I wouldnt have chosen

that wallpaper, but gorgeous dining table as well as the hall table. Nice touch with

a whimsical play area of their own for the kids.

***

Peaceful High-Rise
Higgins Design Studio
Location: New York
Size: 1,500 square feet
countertops: Silestone Amarillo Sand
kitchen and bath fittings: Dornbracht Meta.02
The gallery-

Thr furniture is pretty nice but the feel of the comdo as a whole is exactly as

intended, "designed as a tranquil refuge and fundraising space and to
showcase the client’s art collection."  So as such, it has a commercial feel to it that I

personally wouldn't call home. But for what it's designed for it looks nice.

***

High-Rise Beach Retreat
Pineapple House Interior Design
Location: New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Size: 2,700 square feet
General contractor: Del Mar Construction

Fresh beach front design. Great views from the wrap-around windows in the dining

and living rooms.  Dining chair covers a little busy for me but overall like the layout,

 with a lovely wood sideboard.  Definitely too loud on the kitchen back splash tile,

but the rest of the kitchen is pretty nice overall. The shower in the master bedroom

is pretty as well. I really like the guest room with the bunk beds and nautical theme

and reading space.  Has a touch of whimsy to the space and enough room to sleep

5 people in not much room.

***

Well, hope you enjoyed my review and hope it wasnt too lengthy, the idea being it

is done in order of the book , so you can follow along, a tour if you will, highlighting

various main points. I enjoyed my little tour through this book very much!  Excellent

coffee table book, 4 stars! ***I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy

from http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/ in return for an honest review. ***

When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys by Thomas Maier

When Lions Roar: The Churchills and the Kennedys by Thomas Maier

From the Goodreads synopsis: The first comprehensive history of the deeply entwined personal and public lives of the Churchills and the Kennedys and what their “special relationship” meant for Great Britain and the United States

 When Lions Roar begins in the mid-1930s at Chartwell, Winston Churchill's country estate, with new revelations surrounding a secret business deal orchestrated by Joseph P. Kennedy, the soon-to-be American ambassador to Great Britain and the father of future American president John F. Kennedy. From London to America, these two powerful families shared an ever-widening circle of friends, lovers, and political associates – soon shattered by World War II, spying, sexual infidelity, and the tragic deaths of JFK's sister Kathleen and his older brother Joe Jr.  By the 1960s and JFK's presidency, the Churchills and the Kennedys had overcome their bitter differences and helped to define the “greatness” in each other. 

 Acclaimed biographer Thomas Maier tells this dynastic saga through fathers and their sons – and the remarkable women in their lives – providing keen insight into the Churchill and Kennedy families and the profound forces of duty, loyalty, courage and ambition that shaped them. He explores the seismic impact of Winston Churchill on JFK and American policy, wrestling anew with the legacy of two titans of the twentieth century. Maier also delves deeply into the conflicted bond between Winston and his son, Randolph, and the contrasting example of patriarch Joe Kennedy, a failed politician who successfully channeled his personal ambitions to his children. By approaching these iconic figures from a new perspective, Maier not only illuminates the intricacies of this all-important cross-Atlantic allegiance but also enriches our understanding of the tumultuous time in which they lived and the world events they so greatly influenced.

 With deeply human portraits of these flawed but larger-than-life figures, When Lions Roar explores the “special relationship” between the Churchills and Kennedys, and between Great Britain and the United States, highlighting all of its emotional complexity and historic significance.

*****

My review: Well researched and thoroughly fascinating book. Not a quick book because there is so much to absorb, in a good way, some meat and potatoes if you will, wonderfully educational, great book about history, without being dry! This is one I will likely read again and again. This was an Advanced Reader Copy provided by Bloggingforbooks.com in return for an honest review.

Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show by Daniel de Visé

Andy and Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show by Daniel de Visé

From the Goodreads synopsis: A lively and revealing biography of Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, celebrating the powerful real-life friendship behind one of America's most iconic television programs.

Andy Griffith and Don Knotts met on Broadway in the 1950s. When Andy went to Hollywood to film a TV pilot about a small-town sheriff, Don called to ask if the sheriff could use a deputy. The comedic synergy between Sheriff Andy Taylor and Deputy Barney Fife ignited The Andy Griffith Show, elevating a folksy sitcom into a timeless study of human friendship, as potent off the screen as on. Andy and Don -- fellow Southerners born into poverty and raised among scofflaws, bullies, and drunks -- captured the hearts of Americans across the country as they rocked lazily on the front porch, meditating about the simple pleasure of a bottle of pop.

But behind this sleepy, small-town charm, de Vise's exclusive reporting reveals explosions of violent temper, bouts of crippling neurosis, and all-too-human struggles with the temptations of fame. Andy and Don chronicles unspoken rivalries, passionate affairs, unrequited loves, and friendships lost and regained. Although Andy and Don ended their Mayberry partnership in 1965, they remained best friends for the next half-century, with Andy visiting Don at his death bed.

Written by Don Knotts's brother-in-law and featuring extensive unpublished interviews with those closest to both men, Andy and Don is the definitive literary work on the legacy of The Andy Griffith Show and a provocative and an entertaining read about two of America's most enduring stars.

****

My review:  I thoroughly enjoyed this book! One of those ones that you have to tear yourself away from to go to work, with regret. One of the most beloved shows on the air, and hugely popular in the South (this book review coming from a small town in Alabama), they play episodes so much here. Though not totally surprising, as I read more and more about famous actors and public people, it was saddening to read the humble and traumatic beginnings of both actors.  Don was slapped around by his schizophrenic father, who would chase him around the house with a knife, and an older brother would bully him and slap him as well. His Christian Fundamentalism he was raised under, fire and brimstone preaching, kept him worried about if he was saved or not, finally driving him to agnosticism.  He worried a lot that since he never had a rush of the Holy Spirit, speaking in tongues and jumping around, that he wasn't saved.  It bothered him greatly. He also had a tendency to illness, turning over time into hypochondria, so he was often ill even when he wasn't, and in denial when he really was ill.  The human mind is an odd thing sometimes. Nonetheless, he used comedy, as many an actor with difficult childhoods, as a protection.  If he was bullied at school, because he was thin and sickly, he would make them laugh and gain a friend instead of an enemy and thus survive.  He spent many hours at his uncle's barbershop, which he was able to draw on to ultimately contribute into Floyd's barbershop on the Andy Griffith Show.  His father passed away when he was 12, allowing him to then begin to grow and blossom.

Also of interest is his joining the army.  He tried to get out of it, not enlisting until he was drafted, he thought he would get a waiver because he was 1 lb. underweight, but was horrified to find out later that he had gained 10 lbs. and would not be exempted! He then started trying to find the safest options of where to go, and thought he had a way out when he was sent to Detachment X, the Army's version of the USO, where various army men were drawn from the different branches that had a background in entertainment. They were to go to the front lines, just after an attack, to try entertain the soldiers and raise morale.  It rained constantly much of the time, mud was in abundance, bombing from the Japanese all around, so when sirens would sound they would stop performing, dive into foxholes, then continue the show.  He eventually feared for his sanity and wondered if he was turning into his father, until he was sent for a while to Australia, where it was warm and dry, to rest, and restored his spirits.

The book goes back and forth between Andy and Don's stories throughout. Andy was a mamma's boy, she dressed him in hand sewn clothes and exerted her influence on him greatly, pampering him  and pretty manipulative, and he tended to be more private, staying at home, as she did not approve of him going out and getting dirty.  She could do more for him than some other families could for their children because he was an only child as vs. to some of the other boys that came from a family of say 8 kids, and the budget was much more stretched, so he was poor but they were poorer. This caused him to be bullied as an outsider since he didn't run outside wild getting dirty and staying out late with the other boys, especially as he was somewhat shy and naturally clumsy.  He felt second-class most of the time due to this and took what actions he did to try to get out of his home town. He also learned to use humor to his advantage, turning the tables and getting his antagonists to laugh with him and not at him.

Andy and Don were extremely close, more than they were with anyone else, even their wives.  Andy felt little jealousy in playing straight to Don's comedy, which was unusual for him. He could be jealous, suspicious, and have an explosive temper.  He also could hold a grudge for 50 years. But when it came to his friendship with Don he was willing to make the sacrifice most of the time, in fact if he was given a great joke and he felt in read-through that Don could do it better, he would give up the joke for Don to do.  And he was a man of many emotions and character, in the words of Andy's nephew, "Andy was famous, but he was also a decent fellow, the sort that would hand you a $20 bill and the car keys on a Friday night".

The book also goes into both men's full careers and brief meanders into many of the Mayberry characters such as Howard, Gomer, Goober and Aunt Bea.

Well researched and thoroughly pleasurable, delightful book, 4 stars.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley.com

Growing up Alaska: Memories of a Town, a Time, a Place, and a People Planted in a Little Pocket of Wonderful by Niki Breeser Tschirgi

Growing up Alaska: Memories of a Town, a Time, a Place, and a People Planted in a Little Pocket of Wonderful by Niki Breeser Tschirgi 

Take a glimpse back to a unique time, place, and people in the interior of Alaska where "normal" was attending school at -60°F and so was carrying a flashlight to the bus stop both in the morning and afternoon.
Join Niki as she reminisces about her childhood in Tok (pronounced "Toke"). There was no internet or cell phones; TV and radio consisted of only one station, but none of that mattered. What did matter was the people, the experiences, and the memories they created together. Discover Bucky the Moose, Mukluk Land, colorful school memories, and the ups and downs of life in an isolated land. Laugh, and maybe cry a little, as you read about the community of Tok, and the people that made it special.
Here's to remembering childhood....Here's to Growing up Alaska.

****

My review: Good book! Enjoyed the personal photos as well. Finding a place that stays in your heart is special in so many ways and the support of a close community is a wonderful thing!  Learned in what ways Alaska is much the same as elsewhere in the country and what makes it uniquely special.  -38 degrees though! yikes. Lol.  It would have to be some special, hardy people to live there and make a go of it. Thanks for sharing your childhood with us.

I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy through http://bookreviewbuzz.com/ in exchange for an honest review.

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

From the Goodreads synopsis:  The New York Times bestseller, and one of the most talked about books of the year, Nickel and Dimed has already become a classic of undercover reportage.

Millions of Americans work for poverty-level wages, and one day Barbara Ehrenreich decided to join them. She was inspired in part by the rhetoric surrounding welfare reform, which promised that any job equals a better life. But how can anyone survive, let alone prosper, on $6 to $7 an hour? To find out, Ehrenreich moved from Florida to Maine to Minnesota, taking the cheapest lodgings available and accepting work as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson. She soon discovered that even the "lowliest" occupations require exhausting mental and physical efforts. And one job is not enough; you need at least two if you intend to live indoors.

Nickel and Dimed reveals low-wage America in all its tenacity, anxiety, and surprising generosity -- a land of Big Boxes, fast food, and a thousand desperate strategies for survival. Instantly acclaimed for its insight, humor, and passion, this book is changing the way America perceives its working poor.

*******

My review:  A solid book that makes some excellent points. Has the feel of a 20/20 news article in its flow, with some self reflection intermingled. I feel she did the subject justice even though didn't go that deep into the subject; the book serves as a conversation starter, excellent introduction to the problem that hopefully gets people talking. Unless someone brings it up, the problem will continue in the same direction it always has. The author I believe did well and I would be willing to read more by her.  Spoiler alert in the below paragraph, a portion of the evaluation in the last chapter of what she's learned from her experience:
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From the book:  "I grew up hearing over and over, to the point of tedium, that "hard work" was the secret of success: "Work hard and you'll get ahead" or "It's hard work that got us where we are." No one ever said that you could work hard - harder even than you ever thought possible - and still find yourself sinking ever deeper into poverty and debt.

When poor single mothers had the option of remaining out of the labor force on welfare, the middle and upper middle class tended to view them with a certain impatience, if not disgust. The welfare poor were excoriated for their laziness, their persistence in reproducing in unfavorable circumstances, their presumed addictions, and above all for their "dependency." Here they were, content to live off "government handouts" instead of seeking "self- sufficiency," like everyone else, through a job. They needed to get their act together, learn how to wind an alarm clock, get out there and get to work. But now that government has largely withdrawn its "handouts," now that the overwhelming majority of the poor
"social contract." According to a recent poll conducted by jobs for the Future, a Boston-based employment research firm, 94 percent of Americans agree that "people who work fulltime should be able to earn enough to keep their families out of poverty."57 I grew up hearing over and over, to the point of tedium, that "hard work" was the secret of success: "Work hard and you'll get ahead" or "It's hard work that got us where we are." No one ever said that you could work hard - harder even than you ever thought possible - and still find yourself sinking ever deeper into poverty and debt.

When poor single mothers had the option of remaining out of the labor force on welfare, the middle and upper middle class tended to view them with a certain impatience, if not disgust. The welfare poor were excoriated for their laziness, their persistence in reproducing in unfavorable circumstances, their presumed addictions, and above all for their "dependency." Here they were, content to live off "government handouts" instead of seeking "self- sufficiency," like everyone else, through a job. They needed to get their act together, learn how to wind an alarm clock, get out there and get to work. But now that government has largely withdrawn its "handouts," now that the overwhelming majority of the poor are out there toiling in Wal-Mart or Wendy's-well, what are we to think of them?

Disapproval and condescension no longer apply, so what outlook makes sense?

Guilt, you may be thinking warily. Isn't that what we're supposed to feel? But guilt doesn't go anywhere near far enough; the appropriate emotion is shame - shame at our own dependency, in this case, on the underpaid labor of others. When someone works for less pay than she can live on-when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently-then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life. The "working poor," as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else. As Gail, one of my restaurant coworkers put it, "you give and you give."

A lot of the reviews were scathing, I'm not sure why. She made it clear in the intro that she had advantages others actually in the situation didn't have. That she had options to fall back on. But she did give it all she had in my opinion to make the experiment a go without resorting to "cheating" as she put it unless she was in danger. : " The idea was to spend a month in each setting and see whether I could find a job and earn, in that time, the money to pay a second month's rent. If I was paying rent by the week and ran out of money I would simply declare the project at an end; no shelters or sleeping in cars for me. Furthermore, I had no intention of going hungry. If things ever got to the point where the next meal was in question, I promised myself as the time to begin the "experiment" approached, I would dig out my ATM card and cheat.
So this is not a story of some death-defying "undercover" adventure. Almost anyone could do what I did - look for jobs, work those jobs, try to make ends meet. In fact, millions of Americans do it every day, and with a lot less fanfare and dithering.
I am, of course, very different from the people who normally fill America's least attractive jobs, and in ways that both helped and limited me. Most obviously, I was only visiting a world that others inhabit full-time, often for most of their lives. With all the real- life assets I've built up in middle age-bank account, IRA, health insurance, multiroom home-waiting indulgently in the background, there was no way I was going to "experience poverty" or find out how it "really feels" to be a long-term low-wage worker. My aim here was much more straightforward and objective-just to see whether I could match income to expenses, as the truly poor attempt to do every day....Certainly I made no effort to play a role or fit into some imaginative stereotype of low-wage working women. I wore my usual clothes, wherever ordinary clothes were permitted, and my usual hairstyle and makeup.....To state the proposition in reverse, low-wage workers are no more homogeneous in personality or ability than people who write for a living, and no less likely to be funny or bright. Anyone in the educated classes who thinks otherwise ought to broaden their circle of friends.....There's no way, for example, to pretend to be a waitress: the food either gets to the table or not. People knew me as a waitress, a cleaning person, a nursing home aide, or a retail clerk not because I acted like one but because that's what I was, at least for the time I was with them. In every job, in every place I lived, the work absorbed all my energy and much of my intellect. I wasn't kidding around. Even though I suspected from the start that the mathematics of wages and rents were working against me, I made a mighty effort to succeed......I make no claims for the relevance of my experiences to anyone else's, because there is nothing typical about my story.

Just bear in mind, when I stumble, that this is in fact the best-case scenario: a person with every advantage that ethnicity and education, health and motivation can confer attempting, in a time of exuberant prosperity, to survive in the economy's lower depths."

I think she did well in opening the subject up for conversation and hopefully someone will use it to improve things for those that suffer in poverty. Judging by the reviews, I somehow don't think so but maybe, just maybe, the one right person will see what she's attempted and realize this country could do more to help bridge the gap between the well fed and the not so well fed people in our society.  Everyone has to live and eat. Those that are able to do that with some to spare need to give a better hand up to those of our fellow humans that struggle to get even the basics.

Babe in the Woods: Building a Life One Log at a Time by Yvonne Wakefield

Babe in the Woods: Building a Life One Log at a Time by Yvonne Wakefield

from Goodreads, about the author:

At the age of 18 Yvonne built a log cabin in the Oregon mountains, and is currently working on a series of three books about this and subsequent experiences of building with logs and living in the wilderness. Like Suitcase Filled with Nails, these books will include print on demand images of her art work, a concept Yvonne is pioneering in the publishing world.

Yvonne divides her time between this log cabin, a studio built in a renovated apple ware house and a home/studio on the Columbia River in The Dalles Oregon.

****

My review: This is an awesome book, that kept me fully engaged from the 1st laugh-out-loud chapter to the end.  Yvonne has a wonderfully descriptive writing style that enables you to see the places and people in her book.  I found it so interesting and well written, I read it in a couple of days.  Her dream of a cabin at age 14 was a fixed point and dream for her to focus on that helped her get past the death of her parents. It was a way to heal, even in the midst of the difficulties she encountered actually moving her dream out of her head and into concrete realization.  There were also the very real emotional struggles, the process of working through them, as we all must in this messy world.  I am eagerly waiting for books 2 and 3!  Her dogged determination is wonderful and inspiring.  We can all learn a lesson in not giving up in the blackest of times, the sun will always shine again and healing does come.

Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again by Donald J. Trump

Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again by Donald J. Trump

From the Goodreads synopsis:
Look at the state of the world right now. It’s a terrible mess, and that’s putting it mildly. There has never been a more dangerous time. The politicians and special interests in Washington, DC, are directly responsible for the mess we are in. So why should we continue listening to them?

It’s time to bring America back to its rightful owners—the American people.

I’m not going to play the same game politicians have been playing for decades—all talk, no action, while special interests and lobbyists dictate our laws. I am shaking up the establishment on both sides of the political aisle because I can’t be bought. I want to bring America back, to make it great and prosperous again, and to be sure we are respected by our allies and feared by our adversaries.

It’s time for action. Americans are fed up with politics as usual. And they should be! In this book, I outline my vision to make America great again, including: how to fix our failing economy; how to reform health care so it is more efficient, cost-effective, and doesn’t alienate both doctors and patients; how to rebuild our military and start winning wars—instead of watching our enemies take over—while keeping our promises to our great veterans; how to ensure that our education system offers the resources that allow our students to compete internationally, so tomorrow’s jobseekers have the tools they need to succeed; and how to immediately bring jobs back to America by closing our doors to illegal immigrants, and pressuring businesses to produce their goods at home.

This book is my blueprint for how to Make America Great Again. It’s not hard. We just need someone with the courage to say what needs to be said. We won’t find that in Washington, DC.

********

My review:

Good book, smart man, don't believe everything the media tells you. This book outlines his thoughts about what is wrong with this country, why he believes this and why he chose to run for President when he didn't initially want to and resisted the idea. Definitely worth a read. Don't let the media be your only source of information, get both sides before making a decision, a lot of what they're reporting is falsified. What he wrote here makes a lot of sense. He's done well in business and seems to be intelligent, disciplined and well organized, and has done well in raising his children.  Compared to what is in the White House now, I believe he could do better as President.  Four stars!

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew

God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew

From the Back Cover:
A true-life thriller that will leave you breathless!

As a boy, Brother Andrew dreamed of being an undercover spy working behind enemy lines. As a man he found himself working undercover for God. His was a mission filled with danger, financed by faith, supported by miracles.

Told it was impossible to minister behind the Iron Curtain, Andrew knew that nothing was too hard for God. Crossing "closed" borders, he prayed, "Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see." And they never did.

For thirty-five years, Brother Andrew's life story has inspired millions to step out on their own journeys of faith. This young Dutch factory worker's near-incredible adventures testify of God's step-by-step guidance and hour-by-hour provision--available to all who follow His call.

Far from being over, Brother Andrew's current adventures are his most challenging yet. In a new prologue and epilogue, his story is carried into the new millennium with an account of Andrew's work in the "closed" societies of Islam.

****
My review:  I read this as a child and was excited to read it again. It was a foundational book for me.  The part where he asked God to "make seeing eyes blind" I remember from back then, even now that I'm 46 years old.  He exercises his faith over and over, and God never fails. This uplifting book should be read by every Christian as an example of what God can do with the weakest, poorest of souls that is willing to let Him work in them.
As he is wrestling with God's will in becoming a missionary, you can see him searching for the truth:

"And still I hung back. I seemed to have so many points against me. I didn't have Kees's learning. And hide it though I might from others, I had a crippled ankle. How could I be a missionary if I couldn't even walk a city block without pain!

Did I really intend to be a missionary-or was it only a romantic dream with which I indulged myself? I had often heard Sidney Wilson speak of "praying through." He meant by this, sticking with a prayer until he got an answer. Well, I was going to try it. One Sunday afternoon in September, 1952, I went out on to the polders where I could pray aloud without being embarrassed. I sat on the edge of a canal and began talking to God casually, as I might have talked with Thile. I prayed right through coffee-and-cigar hour, right through Sunday afternoon, and on into the evening. And still I had not reached a point where I knew I had found God's plan for my life.

"What is it, Lord?" What am I holding back? What am I using as an excuse for not serving You in whatever You want me to do?"

And then, there by the canal, I finally had my answer. My "yes" to God had always been a "yes, but." Yes, but I'm not educated. Yes, but I'm lame.

With the next breath, I did say "Yes." I said it in a brand-new way, without qualification. "I'll go, Lord," I said, ... Whenever, wherever, however You want me, I'll go. And I'll begin this very minute. Lord, as I stand up from this place, and as I take my first step forward, will You consider that this is a step toward complete obedience to You? I'll call it the Step of Yes."

Later you can see him begin to grow in his relationship with Jesus:

"I turned through the gate at the school. Above me was the reminder "Have Faith In God."

That was it! It wasn't that I needed the security of a certain amount of money, it was that I needed the security of a relationship.

I walked up the crunchy pebblewalk feeling more and more certain that I was on the verge of something exciting. The school was asleep and quiet. I tiptoed upstairs and sat by the bedroom window looking out over Glasgow. If I were going to give my life as a servant of the King, I had to know that King. What was He like? In what way could I trust Him? In the same way I trusted a set of impersonal laws? Or could I trust Him as a living leader, as a very present commander in battle? The question was central. Because if He were a King in name only, I would rather go back to the chocolate factory. I would remain a Christian, but I would know that my religion was only a set of principles, excellent and to be followed, but hardly demanding devotion.

Suppose on the other hand that I were to discover God to be a Person, in At the chocolate factory I trusted Mr. Ringers to pay me in full and on time. Surely I said to myself, if an ordinary factory worker could be financially secure, so could one of God's workers."

God would test him in this, and leave his needs unmet until the very last moment , to see if he would have faith enough to trust Him to take care of his needs, and God proved Himself over and over again.

I turned through the gate at the school. Above me was the reminder "Have Faith In God."

That was it! It wasn't that I needed the security of a certain amount of money, it was that I needed the security of a relationship.

I walked up the crunchy pebblewalk feeling more and more certain that I was on the verge of something exciting. The school was asleep and quiet. I tiptoed upstairs and sat by the bedroom window looking out over Glasgow. If I were going to give my life as a servant of the King, I had to know that King. What was He like? In what way could I trust Him? In the same way I trusted a set of impersonal laws? Or could I trust Him as a living leader, as a very present commander in battle? The question was central. Because if He were a King in name only, I would rather go back to the chocolate factory. I would remain a Christian, but I would know that my religion was only a set of principles, excellent and to be followed, but hardly demanding devotion.

Suppose on the other hand that I were to discover God to be a Person, in the sense that He communicated and cared and loved and led. That was something quite different. That was the kind of King I would follow into any battle.

[in a later conversation with friends] ..."But how would I go about strengthening anything?" I said. "What kind of strength do I have?"

Mr. Whetstra shook his head. He agreed with me that one lone Dutchman was scarcely an answer to the kind of need I had been describing. It was Mrs. Whetstra who understood.

"No strength at all!" she answered me joyously. "And don't you know that it is just when we are weakest that God can use us most? Suppose now that it wasn't yo

 but the Holy Spirit Who had plans behind the Iron Curtain? You talk about strength...."

And thus began his journey around 1955,  his work smuggling bibles into a dozen countries or so where God is not welcome and God's workers have to take the church  Underground (out of sight), who's work continues today in an organization called Open Doors.

https://www.opendoorsusa.org/about-us/

His writing style is very easy and descriptive, and his journey entertaining and rewarding as well. He had difficult times and funny times, happy and sad, and he writes them all with clarity.  4 stars!

The Long Hello: Memory, My Mother, and Me by Cathie Borrie

The Long Hello: Memory, My Mother, and Me  by Cathie Borrie 

From the Goodreads Synopsis: A stirring memoir of a daughter caring for a mother with dementia that is sure to become a touchstone for many others.

The Long Hello explores the emotional rewards and challenges that Cathie Borrie experienced in caring for her mother, who was living with Alzheimer’s disease, for seven years. Between the two, a wondrously poetic dialogue develops, which Ms. Borrie further illuminates with childhood memories of her family, and her struggle to maintain a life outside her caregiving responsibilities. The Long Hello demonstrates how caregiving creates an opportunity to experience the change in a relationship that illness necessitates, one in which joy, innocence, and profound intimacy can flourish.

Written in spare, beautiful prose, largely in the form of a dialogue, The Long Hello exquisitely captures the intricacies and nuances of a daughter’s relationship with her mother.

Additional Info:
In this shimmering jewel of a memoir, "The Long Hello The Other Side of Alzheimer's," author Cathie Borrie traverses rich terrain as she unearths the hidden and often painful treasures of a life well lived: the shadows and joys of childhood, the relationships that leave us both illuminated and bereft, the love, longing and loss that surge to the fore when a parent is ailing. Memory, and the losing of it, serves as a powerful guide, and Borrie follows her mother's eccentric and poetic lead into the past, transformed by the unexpected brilliance of the elder woman's shifting dementia mind. A paean of redemptive beauty, "The Long Hello" cherishes the bond between mothers and daughters, and creates a startling change in society's perception of those journeying through Alzheimer's.

******

My review:  Well done! Gut wrenching and poignant. Appreciated it being written from the mindset of both mother and daughter to experience the emotional process of both. As a caretaker of multiple family that are disabled, I resonated with many emotions felt by the author, the weariness and helplessness as well of not being able to change what simply is.  I was impressed and touched by the patience shown toward her mother when she would say something that didn't make sense, and did not belittle her for it, knowing that even if her mind would say the wrong words, those words still had worth. From one caretaker to another, I salute you. Read this in one sitting, within a few hours.  Riveting!  4 stars!   **received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Edelweiss**

Adventures on the Queen Mary: Tales of a Teenage Crew Member

Adventures on the Queen Mary: Tales of a Teenage Crew Member

From the Goodreads synopsis: Take an exciting trip back in time to the Golden Age of Ocean Travel on board the world's favorite liner -- the RMS Queen Mary. Enjoy a visual feast of new and archival photographs, many never before published. At 16 years of age, in 1957, Dave Wooders worked as a bellboy on the Queen Mary!


*****
My review:  A great slice of history! A sweet, straightforward telling of a young mans coming of age working as a bellboy then various other positions as he went into higher jobs aboard ship. Especially enjoyed explanations about the inner workings of the ship crew and the part about the ship and the experience of being at sea in rough weather. (for example there was a line/rope with a clip that you would use to prevent the chairs from sliding in bad weather, and the fact that they would dampen the tablecloth to prevent the plates etc from sliding around when the ship was badly rocking.)  Also of note was that the author of the Poseidon Adventure book (then made into classic movie), had taken a trip on the Queen Mary and they had rough seas tossing around waiters trays and dishes, etc,  which caused him to muse "what would happen if the ship flipped completely over" and it became his next book.  Lovely little book, solid 3 stars and recommended to all readers of any age.  Full of nostalgia and perfect for lovers of history, told in a unassuming, honest style of a regular Joe.
**I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley.com**

Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays

Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays
by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory

From the Goodreads Synopsis:  Marvelously illustrated with more than 200 rare images from the silent era through the 1970s, this joyous treasure trove features film and television's most famous actors and actresses celebrating the holidays, big and small, in lavishly produced photographs. Join the stars for festive fun in celebrating a variety of holidays, from New Year's to Saint Patrick's Day to Christmas and everything in between. Legends such as Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, and Audrey Hepburn spread holiday cheer throughout the calendar year in iconic, ironic, and illustrious style. These images, taken by legendary stills photographers, hearken back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, when motion picture studios devised elaborate publicity campaigns to promote their stars and to keep their names and faces in front of the movie-going public all year round.

******
My review:  The curators of the book were big lovers of vintage film. The majority of the photos in this coffee table style book were too far back for my tastes. I love old movies, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, etc but a large number of those in the photos I simply knew little about . and were not of much interest to me until it got into later actors/actresses, Audrey Hepburn etc. I'm sure those that like to go way back to say the Mary Pickford era might recognize more actors , especially in the first 5 chapters or so. I did enjoy quite a few but had to go through many pages until I found one here and there I liked. The composition and layout was only ok.  The photos themselves were of excellent quality but the book as a whole held little interest. One final note, I would not have put in the captions negative anecdotes about the actors, those who died of drug overdoses etc. In the light of the holidays , no matter which one, the somber subject of death doesn't blend well with the light-heartedness of a holiday. Sorry, only 2 stars on this one.
**I received this Advanced Reader copy from Netgalley.com**

Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging by Dick Van Dyke

Keep Moving: And Other Tips and Truths About Aging by Dick Van Dyke

From the Goodreads synopsis page:  Beloved Hollywood icon Dick Van Dyke will celebrate his 90th birthday in December 2015. He’s an established legend, having starred in Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and The Dick Van Dyke Show. And yet he’s still keeping himself busy, entertaining America on television, movies, the stage, and social media. Everyone wonders, “How does he do it?” For the first time, Van Dyke shares his secrets and tips on old age: Just keep moving.

In a fun and folksy way of addressing readers, Keep Moving serves as an instruction book on how to embrace old age with a positive attitude. The chapters are filled with exclusive personal anecdotes that explore various themes on aging: how to adapt to the physical and social changes, deal with loss of friends and loved ones, stay current, fall in love again, and “keep moving” every day like there’s no tomorrow.

*******

My review:  I will be putting some of my favorite anecdotes and quotes from the book in this review so if you don't like spoilers you may wish to look away or leave the room...  Now. This was one of those gems that you breeze through and relish every bit.  I read his first book, My Lucky Life in and Out of Show Business , your pretty straightforward autobiography, of an icon; the tone of this new one is different, part autobiography part self help, but that doesn't really do it justice. Little tidbits he gifts to the reader about how he maintains so much joy at the age of 90.  Life doesn't have to end at 60-70, it could be the best time of your life. Dick Van Dyke proves it can be done.  This quote from the book shows part of the way he manages to do so:

 "I am a child in search of his inner adult, though the truth is that I’m not searching too hard. I don’t recommend anyone doing so. That is the secret, the one people always ask me about when they see me singing and dancing, whistling my way through the grocery store or doing a soft shoe in the checkout line. They say, “Pardon me, Mr. Van Dyke, but you seem so happy. What’s your secret?”
 What they really want to know is how I have managed to grow old, even very old, without growing up, and the answer is this: I haven’t grown up. I play. I dance with my inner child. Every day.
 There.
 Now you know the secret too."

A sense of humor is important, and resilience and flexibility dealing with the normal changes that come with getting older, and forging ahead anyway:

"These are lyrics I rewrote to the classic Disney song “The Bare Necessities” by Terry Gilkyson from the 1967 movie The Jungle Book. I hope you enjoy singing them as much as I do.
 I’ve got that old senility,
 that simple old senility.
 Forgot about my trouble and my strife.
 I mean that old senility.
 I lost my old ability
 to recognize my neighbors or my wife.
 Wherever I wander,
 wherever I roam
 I go too far yonder
 and can’t find my way home.
 My glasses may be on my head.
 I look everywhere else instead.
 And then I look behind the door
 and find the pair that I lost before."

He can get around better at 90 than sometimes I can at age 46  :)    The idea is to keep moving, hence the title of the book. Stay active. Interact with your world and your fellow man. Stay curious:

"Stay involved in the world—and with other people. It’s important to keep up with current events. I watch the news every night—both sides—in case one of them is right. I argue with the right and the left and sometimes the middle too. But staying involved in the world also—and more importantly—means connecting with other people. Loneliness and isolation are major problems for people over sixty-five and typically lead to declining health, depression, and other serious issues. I am not an expert, but I do know the easiest and most meaningful way to counter this is to volunteer. Whatever you give, you get back many times over, including a sense of purpose, a profound sense that your presence in this world matters. For the past twenty years I have been involved with the Midnight Mission, a Los Angeles–based facility dedicated to helping men, women, and children who have lost everything return to self-sufficiency. I spend every holiday there; I don’t get the Christmas spirit until I am at the Mission. Early on I approached a large, mean-looking man and wished him a merry Christmas. The menacing look on his face disappeared—he smiled. “People look through us,” he says. “Or they look past us. Nobody sees us. But you’re looking right at me. That is one helluva gift, man.” His smile was an even bigger gift to me. And it has been that way ever since    .......   The way we interact with people is what defines us and how we come to be defined. How we spend our time with them is what gives life meaning. You can look in the mirror to see the way you look on the outside. But the way family and friends regard you is a real measure of the way you look on the inside.  ......   It is so much easier to help. It’s the easiest thing in the world. Help can mean writing a check. It can also mean sharing a smile or saying hello. One time when I was serving food to the homeless at the Midnight Mission in downtown L.A., a man seemingly in his forties recognized me and asked, “Why are you here?” It bothered me that we live in a world where he had to ask. “Why wouldn’t I be here?” I said."

****

He has always has struck me as so kind and indeed happy, and his role as Rob Petrie has solidified his being categorized as the ultimate family man,conservative, self-deprecating father and husband of suburbia. One surprising revelation in this book is (as I also thought), most people think he is a conservative.  I would politely agree to disagree with him,  as he is supporting Bernie Sanders. Every man must vote his conscience and maybe he knows something I don't. And each man must also choose his own path.  Dick Van Dyke in this book strikes me as a thinker, always looking for truth. This is evident in this next passage:

"As I have grown older and, hopefully, wiser, I’ve come to see that there are no sure answers, only better questions—questions that get us closer to the truth about whatever it is we want or need to know. Just knowing you don’t have the answers, in fact, is a recipe for humility, openness, acceptance, forgiveness, and an eagerness to learn—and those are all good things.
 .....  It’s important to ask questions. Questions matter. Good questions matter even more. If you don’t have any questions, here are some to carry around in your pocket:
 Why not me?
 What can I do to help?
 How can you be so sure?
 Can I do better this time rather than next time?
 What don’t I know that I should know?
 What do I need to do next so that I don’t worry about not having done it?
 Do I have everything I need as opposed to everything I want?
 Am I using my time productively?
 How can I use it better?
 Do I like my work? If not, what would I like to do?
 What’s missing? How can I fix that?
 Am I okay with myself? If not, why?
 Am I doing better?
 How can I help other people do better?
 Is my heart open?
 Have I said I’m sorry to those who need to hear it?
 Have I said I love you to those I want to tell?"

"The gift I have been given is the ability to make people feel good, and I can’t begin to describe how that has made me feel. I understand why people commit to a life of service—nothing brings more joy than making someone else feel good."

Pretty good advice, and wonderful ways to love your neighbor as yourself. When you serve and help your fellow man you are serving God. To try to improve yourself is taking good care of the body and mind that God entrusted to you. I don't know if he is a religious man or not, or to what degree. He brought it up in places but more in a " I know there is a higher Being that I respect" kind of way and leave the character building up to himself. I'd say, from what I've read, overall  he's done a pretty good job in that department. Life wasn't all peaches and cream, as is no ones, but it was what he did with his life when he would hit those times. He would mope only so long then "keep moving". A lot of difficulty one has when one gets older is stagnation. And ageism from the younger generation as is seen in this next passage:

"As I passed the Tommy Hilfiger store something in the window caught my eye. I went inside for a closer look but quickly got the impression that the store wasn’t used to customers my age. Otherwise, I can’t imagine why the young saleswoman, after seeing me looking around, would have approached me and said, “Sir, I don’t think you’ll find anything here that you’ll like.”
 It was not my first encounter with ageism, but it was the most blatant. Typically the remarks are subtler. Someone will come up to me and say, “Wow, you look good.” What they really mean is that they are surprised I am alive. Nobody said I “looked good” when I was thirty-five. Or someone will ask whether I have trouble remembering my lines or need cue cards written in EXTRA-LARGE TYPE or require a wheelchair getting to the elevator. Then there are the jokes we’ve all heard: “What were Adam and Eve like?” “Do you need help blowing out your birthday candles?” “At your age, I bet your back goes out more than you do.”
 I get it. I’ve heard them—and more. And most of the time I laugh. But it’s time people got over the jokes, the fears, and the discrimination. Old age isn’t catchy. I understand the media is obsessed with youth. Fine. But there isn’t anything wrong with getting older. It happens. It’s healthy. And it is a reality—our reality. As the ranks of seniors and elderly grow, we should think of it as the new normal—a desirable new normal that does away with ageism and commands respect. How does this happen? I think we may need a revolution. We have gone through the Women’s Movement, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Gay Rights Movement. Why not the Gray Rights Movement? .......I have a feeling that Baby Boomers get this, and they’ll rewrite the rules, making the concept of old age as it has been known obsolete. Stereotypes of old people as frail, forgetful, boring, cranky, sick, unattractive, and unproductive will be replaced by pictures of eighty-year-olds scaling mountains, starting new businesses, going back to school, creating great art, discovering new talents and passions, and figuring out new ways to improve life’s twilight years."  ......

"Philosopher Alan Watts said as much in The Wisdom of Insecurity, a favorite book of mine that postulates that security does not exist, not in life and definitely not in the way people want and spend their time trying to ensure it—my younger self included. Watts argued what he called "the wisdom of insecurity.” He said that in order to live with less anxiety and a freer mind, you have to accept that insecurity is the rule. The best you could do, he said, was be fully present in the here and now—and get ready to be surprised."


"Other Tips and Truths About Old Age
TIP: Forgiveness is the best sleeping pill.
TRUTH: Yes, you wasted too much time worrying about things that didn’t matter
TIP: New experiences are the only things you can collect in life that end up being worth it.
TIP: Easy Street doesn’t exist. Stop looking for it or wishing you had found it."

You will find references through the book and videos on Youtube that he still dances as good as ever, albeit a little slower. Music and dancing are things that have helped to keep him young and to reach out to others. We are a social people, connections are important. Bolstering each other through the human touch is very important.  We all share this same life with its same struggles and its so much easier when you don't have to do it by yourself:

"Listen to Bach, Benny Goodman, or Cole Porter, and then try to tell me music doesn’t make life more delightful, delicious, and de-lovely. I know for a fact it does. A few years ago I was singing with my quartet the Vantastix at a children’s hospital on the East Coast. We went from room to room, singing songs to groups of kids, roommates, and families. If we found a kid, we sang.
 Doctors, nurses, and the kids themselves said the songs were the best medicine they had received, adding fun to the otherwise dreary and depressing routine of their hospital stay. The last room we entered was nearly dark, with just a small shaft of light sneaking in behind the drawn shades. A boy who looked to be about fourteen years old was lying on top of the bed, a single IV attached to his arm. He was painfully thin and bald. His eyes were closed. He was obviously very sick. Even though it seemed as if we might be disturbing him, the nurse who led us into his room nodded that it was okay to sing. We did a couple of songs, singing very softly, our voices careful to soothe and not disturb. He didn’t respond, didn’t open his eyes, and didn’t stir until we finished and started to tiptoe out. Then we heard a quiet voice, barely a whisper, say, “Would you please sing another one?” That alone is why music matters."

This next one shows his appreciation for the services rendered by his fellow men and women, I believe this quote was given in a speech when they were giving him a lifetime achievement award:

"I have lost track of all the award shows where Hollywood gives life achievement awards just for going to work and doing our job. I am not complaining or criticizing, but there is a long list of those who do the same thing and don’t get the accolades. Teachers. Doctors. Inventors. Nurses. Parents who ensure that their child will be the first in their family to get a college education. Volunteers. People who hold sick babies in the hospital. The list goes on."

And, last but not least a few miscellaneous passages that struck me as interesting:

A conversation between Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner:

"ME: What advice do you have for younger people?
 CARL: Be who you are. If you can, if you can afford to, do only things that please you.
 ME: Unfortunately so many people don’t like their jobs. They hate their work. If you love your work, it’s like play.
 CARL: That’s right. If you can’t do what you love in order to make a living, find a hobby that you can’t wait to get to after work. You need passion and joy in your life. Family. Love. Passion. And joy."

"In a way I applied my principles to my work, making it a rule long ago not to work on any projects that my children couldn’t see."

How many have the the following opportunity!?:

"About ten years into my first marriage we moved to a two-hundred-acre ranch in Cave Creek, Arizona, an area north of Scottsdale. Today Cave Creek is fully developed, with homes and shopping malls, but back then it was empty desert almost as far as you could see. Our house was in the middle of nowhere. A creek ran past on one side, and the other side was a wall of sandstone cliffs. The entire mesa, nearly as far as I could see, was part of the ranch. I used to ride a minibike straight across the rugged landscape when I needed to touch base with civilization.
 One day when we were hiking, one of my kids spotted a shiny rock. A few minutes later we unearthed an ax head. The digging commenced then and there. The whole family got into it. We noticed partially exposed rocks that were pretty geometric; they turned out to be pottery. Over several years we dug down about five feet until we uncovered an entire village."

This was a solid 4 stars, deeply engaging and uplifting book. Any and all Dick Van Dyke fans would love it and even non-fans would too. Good advice but  not too deep, he kept it positive, light, cheery about like his softshoe dance.  :)   One final parting quote:

" If you are already old, congratulations, you now know what I know! There is no finish line. Stay open to whatever happens. Don’t be scared of dying. Be more frightened that you haven’t finished living. Make living a life achievement."

I couldn't have said it better.  Kudos, Mr. Van Dyke and a job well written.


**I received this book as an advanced reader copy from Netgalley.com**

Kookooland

Kookooland by Gloria Norris

From the Goodreads Synopsis: In the tradition of The Glass Castle and With or Without You, a bracingly funny and chilling true crime memoir about a girl's gutsy journey to escape her charismatic yet cruel father's reign - an unforgettable story of violence, love, and, ultimately, triumph.

It's the 1960s in Manchester, New Hampshire, and little Gloria Norris is growing up in the projects. Her parents are Jimmy and Shirley, her sister is Virginia, and her cat is Sylvester. A photo might show a happy, young family, but only a dummkopf would believe that.

Jimmy's a wiseguy who relies on charm, snappy wit, and an unyielding belief that he's above the law; as his youngest daughter, Gloria is just like him. Or at least, she knows that she needs to stay on his good side so he doesn't brain her one. Jimmy is violent: he's passionate about hunting, horse races and slasher flicks, and he's prone to outbursts that have him screaming and reaching for his shotgun. Shirley, mild and meek as she is, tries to protect the girls from Jimmy's most brutal moments, but the thing with Jimmy is that it's his way or the highway. Virginia, older and wiser, tries to stand up to Jimmy. Gloria just wants to make him happy.

He takes Gloria everywhere. Fishing, hunting, drive-ins, and to his parents dingy bar - a hole in the wall with pickled eggs and pickled alkies. The only place Gloria can't go is the dive where Jimmy bets on horses. It's there, as she sits and waits for hours on end, that she imagines a life different from her own. Gloria's favorite of Jimmy's haunts? Hank Piasceny's gun shop. While Hank and Jimmy throw good-humored insults at each other, Gloria talks to Hank's daughter, Susan. Smart, pretty, kind, and ambitious, Susan is Gloria's idol. She represents everything Gloria wants to be - and can be, as long as she tries as hard in school. Just like Susan tells her too.

It's only when Hank commits an unspeakable act of violence, that Gloria and Susan suddenly find themselves on different paths. Hank's violence and Susan's grief serve as eerie warnings of a life to come, especially as Jimmy falls into a depression that has him making threats and reaching for his guns more often and with greater relish.

Against all odds, Gloria's fiery determination takes shape and she sets herself on a path away from the cycle of violence whirling around her - in her home, in the projects, in her small New Hampshire city and even in the national landscape where the assassinations of President Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the brutality of Vietnam underscore the tragedies she witnesses up close.

Gloria Norris's unconventional coming-of-age memoir jangles with electricity and suspense. The life of this gutsy young girl is unforgettable and inspiring, wrought with dark humor and tenderness. From the darkness her irrepressible pluck and determination emerges and Gloria triumphantly carves out a good life on her own terms.

*********

My review:  This book was very engaging and pulls you along to find out what happens next, you root for Gloria the whole way, indeed you root for all the characters.  I read the book in just a few days.  The resilience of a child came through clear in the beginning, well, through the whole book really, but especially her earlier years, willing to justify her father's actions to avoid repercussions and still in the "daddy is my hero" time period. Humorous and sobering at the same time.  And in his defense, her father had moments where he would take them fun places and try to have a family life, but simply did not know how to control his demons nor the trappings of his generation, nor the trappings of his upbringing.  Its easy to sit back and judge him, but you do see glimmers of humanity under all that anger and prejudice, and suppressed pain there as well.  A slice of humanity in all its sometimes warts and ugliness and what coping mechanisms were used to survive.  A glimpse into a side of life I, fortunately never had to experience.  How many homes deal with this scenario that never come to light?  The telling of her story was also deliberately not sugar-coated and a glimpse into her searching for meaning, the beginnings of who she thought Susan was, from the naive mind of a child, her longing to have a friendship with her, her discovery that her belief that Susan was doing better than she was in error, the ultimate truth that Susan was struggling with her own life's challenges, and her own dysfunctional family,  her wish to become her friend finally coming to fruition but after many hard roads for both of them and years of searching for her. Gloria skillfully weaves the individual stories of each person, herself, her father, her mother, the grandmother, Susan and each individual member of her family, into a coherent whole and how each life intertwines the others. You feel the palpable pain of each one.  You pull for each person, your mind hopes and prays, maybe this one or that one will finally come to their senses. The intertwining theme is each person surviving the current abusive situation figuring out whatever coping mechanism they can, struggling against despondency, discouragement, and hopelessness that they can ever finally get out of the situation. That feeling of being trapped with the abusive tendencies of her father.  Gloria determined one way or another that she was going to get out, out of the projects and away from her father, but was torn because she knew it would cause an explosive reaction from him and would cut her off from her mother.  The mother's story and her struggles were very poignant as well, and Gloria's ultimate discovery of her mother going back to her father, in the face of all the ugliness, being a better choice than leaving him.  He struggled with mental illness, and though abusive, for her to leave him alone to his own devices, no telling what that would have meant for him, she in a way, by being willing to be controlled, was keeping him under control, kept him from losing his temper in worse ways and perhaps shooting someone and ending up in prison, etc. I know this review is a bit random and rambling but there was a lot to digest in this book. My mind returns to it once in a while. I would definitely recommend it, especially if you like to read about people, in all their frustrating, puzzling fascinating complexity, and are searching for what makes them tick. You think, how could she stay, the mother, how could Gloria miss her father sometimes, even after she had managed to get away, why did she feel compelled to go back and make sure they were ok sometimes. Family ties, no matter how horrible the family is sometimes, or how bad the situation, are strong. Her father would verbally, most often , and sometimes physically abuse them, but hurt or insult one of his family members and he was ready to "knock their block off".  A lot of "meat and potatoes" to this book, I  will likely go back at some point and reread it as well. A skillfully written slice of humanity. Kudos to the author, and I would like read more by her if she decides to write more in the future. Great descriptive style, no dry spots. **I received this book as an Advance Reader Copy from Netgalley**