Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance

Book Description

In this lyrical, unsentimental, and compelling memoir, the son of a black African father and a white American mother searches for a workable meaning to his life as a black American. It begins in New York, where Barack Obama learns that his father—a figure he knows more as a myth than as a man—has been killed in a car accident. This sudden death inspires an emotional odyssey—first to a small town in Kansas, from which he retraces the migration of his mother’s family to Hawaii, and then to Kenya, where he meets the African side of his family, confronts the bitter truth of his father’s life, and at last reconciles his divided inheritance.

Customer Reviews:

warning.......2007-10-09

great read, but once you're done there's no way you could look at this man the same way again.

"PT 109" for the 21st Century.......2007-10-08

As my readers will know, I am a tough critic, but I can find precious little about "Dreams from my Father" to criticize. Of course, the book will not appeal to those who don't care about race in America, or who have extremely fixed ideas about the subject. I like to think though that the majority of the reading public at least (if not the general public) are both engaged with and to some extent open-minded about our nation's central bugaboo/crisis/character flaw.

An editorial review mentioned that Obama's mother is almost absent from the book. To some extent he may have taken her somewhat for granted -- unlike his father or himself, he always had a good idea who she was and what she was about. In the preface to this edition, Obama mentions that she has died of cancer between the original publication and his nomination for U. S. Senate from Illinois, and that if he had known she would not be around to see that, he might have written a different book, spending more time hailing her for having stood by him. In the introduction to the first edition (written in 1995), he admits that he can't speak for everyone in the world. This is the most ironic part of the book, since it was only a year after that that he first ran for the Illinois state legislature. Thereafter, he has increasingly been compelled to try to do just that.

Although finding oneself has become a cliche, especially in the literary world, it was Barack Obama's mission for the first thirty years of his life. Defined as a black man, he sought to make his race more than a social construct, but something central and ineffable, and at the same time not cut off his ties to the rest of humanity, particularly his white mother and grandparents. He doesn't take his mother completely for granted -- he spends thirty to fifty pages talking about her background and that of her parents, who moved from Kansas to Hawaii, seeing it as the last frontier, when she was about to start college. Another one hundred pages or so explore his life with them in Hawaii (with a short stint in Indonesia, where his mother married a man who had studied in America and gave birth to Obama's half-sister Maya).

Readers of any race will be overwhelmed by the sheer power of Obama's writing. I choked up reading this several times. That is ultimately the best reason to read it, not the fact that Barack Obama has become a serious candidate for the presidency. This book also helps you figure out how he did that. The only thing he feels more keenly than his own hopes and fears are the hopes and fears of everyone around him. At the end of the book, having learned the whole story of his father's and grandfather's lives, he stands over their graves and weeps, feeling what they must have felt at each turning point of their lives. Although Obama is quintessentially American, I somehow would not be surprised, given the epiphany he had there, if he chose upon his death to be buried in Kenya alongside them. But perhaps my sympathy is making me romanticize the man.

This book leaves me with two regrets and one big hope. First, it is probably unfilmable. Second, there is one man running with even more vision and courage than Barack Obama, so I won't be able to vote for him in the primary election (although I will in the general if he is the candidate). My big hope is that Obama will write a third book in 2017, having waited eleven years between books as he did between his first and second, that will combine the autobiography he did with this book and the political manifesto he did with "The Audacity of Hope" (a phrase which you have to read "Dreams from my Father" to know Obama doesn't take credit for). Although I haven't finished the latter book, there is basically no way it could top this one. I give it my highest recommendation.

Moving, eloquent and inspirational..........2007-09-26

Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama is a moving, eloquent and honest book that was originally published in 1995. This is an amazing story, and not just because he is a presidential candidate. Although autobiographical in scope, it is not intended to be a complete history of the author's life. Instead, it is "a boy's search for his father."

Barack Obama had a most unusual childhood. His mother was a white American living in Hawaii. His father, Barack Obama Sr., was a brilliant black Kenyan who received a college scholarship to the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two, his father graduated college and received a scholarship to obtain his PhD at Harvard. Unfortunately, the scholarship did not include living expenses for his family, and this proved the end of the marriage. After that, Obama only saw his father one more time before being killed in an auto accident when Obama was 21. Obama's mother subsequently married a man from Indoesia, where Obama lived for several years. But that marriage also ended and Obama returned to Hawaii to live with his grandparents. Dreams from My Father also includes Obama's college experiences, as well as the work he did as an organizer in Chicago.

The most moving part of Dreams from My Father involves his trip to Kenya for the first time several years after his father died. As a youth, he describes the reaction of others when they discover his background "Privately, they guess at my troubled heart, I supposed--the mixed blood, the divided soul, the ghostly image of a tragic mulatto trapped between two worlds." In Kenya, he meets his African family including grandparents, half-brothers and sisters, step-mothers, aunts, uncles and cousins. At the Kenyan airport, an airport employee recognizes his name and knew his father. "For the first time in my life, I felt the comfort, the firmness of identity that a name might provide, how it could carry an entire history in other people's memories...My name belonged and so I belonged." I was also moved by Obama's discovery of faith.

Even if Obama was not a presidential candidate for the 2008 election, Dreams is still an eloquent and inspirational story about his search for his father and his efforts to reconcile the histories of this white and black families.

A worthy memoir of Obama's complicated early life.......2007-09-06

Due to its multi-section arrangement, falling into three precise stages, this book feels like a well-paced coming-of-age novel, an impression buoyed by the fact that, to a degree that is unusual for politicians, Obama can actually write well. If you are looking for information on what policies Obama would support as a presidential candidate, you should look elsewhere. However, the book does give the impression that the writer is unusually forthright, both about himself and his beliefs.

Watching Obama's attitudes on race evolve is one of the key points of interest in the book, and the reader comes away with a picture of a man who is both reflective and self-critical. It is somewhat apparent that the author was not running for office at the time the book was written, and yes, it (very briefly) mentions his now infamous flirtation with cocaine use. However, if you want to read a portrait of the man, if not his political platform, and interested in the struggles of someone growing up in between two different cultures, this book is well worth reading.

just great.......2007-08-17

Obama wrote his memoirs of his growing up some years ago (and with his political career I expect he'll be writing them again in twenty or so years). It is an honest book about a remarkable man who had a remarkable life. Nothing political about it.

DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES, A: MY STORY

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Story
Fresh, lively writing and colorful anecdotes
Relatively engaging, but missing a lot
I ACTUALLY WANT THE MOVIE ON TAPE OR DVD
One Of The Best Books I Have Ever Read

DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES, A: MY STORY
Annette Funicello
Manufacturer: Disney Editions
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786860200

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Story.......2005-05-28

I have the audio cassette of A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes, and it is beautiful. I've listened to it several times in my car. I don't tire of it because it is a human story. Annette Funicello suceeded on her own -- her father was an auto mechanic and her mother stayed at home. This is an inspiration to children and even adults.

Fresh, lively writing and colorful anecdotes .......2005-05-06

Surprisingly absorbing and lively recollections from Annette Funicello, one-time Mouseketeer and Disney darling who was the only teen-mouse to graduate to the big screen via "Babes In Toyland" and the "Beach Party" and "Merlin Jones" comedies. Annette comes clean about being the only Mouseketeer kept on contract by Walt Disney after MMC ran its course, and she contemplates why that was and how her co-stars struggled without Disney's guidance. She is very upfront, but also a little indifferent to her own good fortune, embarrassed and innately shy about a career that just fell into her lap. She says she never aspired to fame, but got it regardless. The book continues its interesting narrative even after Annette marries and retires, cleaning the house the day she heard Walt Disney passed, and eventually realizing her marriage was out of gas. Fate dealt Annette (and all her fans) a bitter hand when she was diagnosed with MS, which she still continues to fight, but her inspiring conclusion to the book gives all of us hope.

Relatively engaging, but missing a lot.......2002-10-12

As a fan of the "pop" movies and music of the 1960's, I've had a long term interest in the author. So I opened up this book not just curious, but perhaps somewhat already knowlegable about Annette, particularly her "post-Mickey Mouse club" career and life.

And perhaps that's why I give this book at best 3 stars.

Annette and Patricia Romanowski (perhaps the names should be the other way around, one gets the sense reading this -- given much of the vocabularily used and the quality of the writing -- that Romanowski, not Funicello wrote most of it; nothing against Annette, but I have a hard time believing a woman with just a high school education writes this well) really cherry-pick way you learn about.

Fine, I understand that's the nature of celebrity "autobiography," but this one goes too far. It over-focuses heavily on certain stories (her adolescent relationship with Paul Anka, making it out to be a lot more than it probably was) and completely ignores others.

As example, some of the messy "politics" that went on in the cast of the original Mickey Mouse club -- everything is warm and fuzzy in Annette's version -- remain unmentioned.

The book also glosses over Annettes entry into the American International Beach Party movies. In the book, Annette implies Walt Disney simply offered her a script one day for a film named "Beach Party." Well, the story isn't quite that simple:

Annette's entry in the series came partly because she and Walt Disney knew she desperately needed a change in career direction. By early 1963, Annette was 20 and had clearly grown out of her "kiddy" positioning as a Mouseketeer. Walt did his best, but could only find so many internal opportunities for a "grown up"" Annette. She'd appeared in a handful of live action movies for Disney, and still made occasional appearances on his Sunday TV show, but this wasn't leading to any starring role opportunities outside of his company. Also, a pop singing career that started in 1959 and produced a handful of hits had slowed down (by early 1963, Annette hadn't charted in almost 3 years). As a result, when AIP approached Walt, looking for an affordable, beautiful brand-name leading lady who could sing for their new, trendy "surfing" movie, he immediately saw an opportunity to fix his "what-do-I-do-with-Annette" problem. With his blessing (Annette was still under contract to Disney,) a deal with AIP was quickly finalized.

But you'll never hear about any of that in this book.

Also, Annette repeats an infamous "urban legend" about the Beach Party series.

Since she was still under contract with Disney while appearing in these movies, Annnete claims Walt Disney insisted in negotiations with AIP that she never be involved in any "suggestive" sequences. Specifically, she says Walt insisted she could not be filmed wearing anything that "showed her navel." Annette goes on to state that through the course of 6 Beach Party movies, she never wore anything that showed her navel "out of respect" for Mr. Disney.

Well, irrespective of what Walt supposedly requested/desired, Annette apparently forgot about the bathing suits she wore during early scenes in both Muscle Beach Party and Bikini Beach: in the former, a white supposedly "tummy-covering" two piece, and the latter an honest to goodness blue and white bikini. Both of these at times clearly left her navel 100% uncovered and readily viewable to anyone who isn't asleep (the "navel appearance" is brief and somewhat subtle in Muscle but obvious and extensive in Bikini, particularly in the scenes where Annette first gets involved with Avalon's "Potato Bug" character). As far as navels go, Annette's is nice, but hardly anything to get all hot and bothered over (particularly in the context of the distraction produced by all the other undulating, bikinied females floating around in those scenes). Frankly, one is really left wondering what all the fuss was about.

The book also completely ignores Annette's post Beach Party career at American International Pictures, an intriguing period that had a lot to do with her "retiring" from acting when she did.

Botttom line: one ends up respecting the author - she is indeed is the class act and lady you always presumed - but frustrated, knowing there's a lot more to her story.

I ACTUALLY WANT THE MOVIE ON TAPE OR DVD.......2002-01-30

This is the very touching autobiography of Annette Funicello. It is acurate because she is in it and so is Frankie Avalon and some other people played themselves, too. Linda Lavin does a good job playing her mom. It is very well acted and detailed.

One Of The Best Books I Have Ever Read.......1998-12-31

Since I've been a fan of Annette ever since day one on the Mickey Mouse Club, how can I not rate it as number one. She's the best.

Average customer rating:

Sittenfeld's pretty honest
The tragedy of unfounded hopes
A late summer read that speaks volumes
Ultimately unsatisfying
Painfully Accurate

The Man of My Dreams: A Novel
Curtis Sittenfeld
Manufacturer: Random House Trade Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0812975391
Release Date: 2007-04-10

Book Description

“Being raised in an unstable household makes you understand that the world doesn’t exist to accommodate you, which, in Hannah’s observation, is something a lot of people struggle to understand well into adulthood.”–from The Man of My Dreams

In her acclaimed debut novel, Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld created a touchstone with her pitch-perfect portrayal of adolescence. Her prose is as intensely realistic and compelling as ever in The Man of My Dreams, a disarmingly candid and sympathetic novel about the collision of a young woman’s fantasies of family and love with the challenges and realities of adult life.

Hannah Gavener is fourteen in the summer of 1991. In the magazines she reads, celebrities plan elaborate weddings; in Hannah’s own life, her parents’ marriage is crumbling. And somewhere in between these two extremes–just maybe–lie the answers to love’s most bewildering questions. But over the next decade and a half, as she moves from Philadelphia to Boston to Albuquerque, Hannah finds that the questions become more rather than less complicated: At what point can you no longer blame your adult failures on your messed-up childhood? Is settling for someone who’s not your soul mate an act of maturity or an admission of defeat? And if you move to another state for a guy who might not love you back, are you being plucky–or just pathetic?

None of the relationships in Hannah’s life are without complications. There’s her father, whose stubbornness Hannah realizes she’s unfortunately inherited; her gorgeous cousin, Fig, whose misbehavior alternately intrigues and irritates Hannah; Henry, whom Hannah first falls for in college, while he’s dating Fig; and the boyfriends who love her more or less than she deserves, who adore her or break her heart. By the time she’s in her late twenties, Hannah has finally figured out what she wants most–but she doesn’t yet know whether she’ll find the courage to go after it.

Full of honesty and humor, The Man of My Dreams is an unnervingly insightful and beautifully written examination of the outside forces and personal choices that make us who we are.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Sittenfeld's pretty honest.......2007-09-30

I should have reviewed Prep after I read it, but I didn't, so some of this will compare the two.
Hannah, the main character of The Man of my Dreams, is a young woman trying to figure love, and more specifically, men, out. Hannah is extremely average, even mediocre. Like Lee, the main character in Prep, she doesn't seem to have any hobbies, interests, or even friends. Both of these characters lack confidence to a degree that astounds me. I enjoyed The Man of my Dreams a lot more than I did Prep, mostly because Prep feels like a slow drowning- Lee is thrown into the swimming pool at Ault and you watch as she sinks to the bottom over four years. That Lee is thoughtful, intelligent and even at times, funny, does not make up for the tragedy that unfolds during the course of the book... The Man of my dreams is less of a tragedy than Prep- Hannah grows (instead of regressing) and learns, but I found her to be not as smart or as funny, or even as nice as Lee, and I didn't think Lee was particularly nice when I read Prep. When Hannah takes up with the cheating Oliver, part of the attraction is that she can be mean around him and he'll be okay with that. If Hannah was wickedly funny, I don't think I'd care that she's not particularly nice, but she's not (the narrator, on the other hand, gives some laugh out loud moments).
In the end, the thing that makes Sittenfeld's writing so special, and it IS special, is her honesty. I don't think I've ever read books where the author was so willing to balance on a high wire in front of the world. What's funny about it is that she's observing things that probably half the world notices, but the rest of us think we're the only ones and therefore would never say it out loud. Sittenfeld's either completely fearless or she KNOWS that she's not alone- either of these qualities would make her pretty rare.
If you're not afraid of truth, read her books.

The tragedy of unfounded hopes.......2007-09-24

Although The Man of My Dreams is a really banal title, the concerns of the novel it represents are at times profound. But then its author, Curtis Sittenfeld, is such a contrarian writer that quite possibly she wanted the title to cut both ways: on the one hand to be seen as ironic, but on the other to be seen as so wildly hopeful that both her fans and her new readers would immediately know that if ironies follow sorrow, then hopes (and above all unfounded hopes) precede it.

Sittenfeld's novel is certainly all about unfounded hopes, and for her protagonist, Hannah Gavener, the man of her dreams is Henry, a former boyfriend of Hannah's beautiful cousin Fig. Sittenfeld astutely captures Hannah's long adoration of Henry as well as Henry's alternating layers of uncanny emotional awareness and casual dishonesty. But Henry could also be what Hannah has always most truly desired: "a man who will deny her; a man of her own who isn't hers."

The man of Fig's dreams is a man we never meet, we only see her planning to fly out to California to spend time with him, and in a much later chapter we see her reveal two things that startle Hannah: (1) that she no longer remembers this man; not his name, not his profession, not anything about him, and (2) after years of being the object of stunned worship from multitudes of men, Fig has fallen in love with a woman.

But this novel suffers a kind of death when it's reduced to a story line; the real news about Sittenfeld is that she is such an honest and usefully detached writer that it can be an extreme pleasure reading her dissections of sex, first sex, humiliation, resentment, wistful envy, rueful ire, and the formal surprises that come with forgiveness.

She also writes more perceptively about adolescent sexual shyness than any other novelist I've ever read, accurately conveying all the ways it makes a certain kind of anxious and inhibited young woman (in this case Hannah) grab apprehensive control of sexual situations, even though she's so inexperienced that she imagines she's being considerate rather than withholding when she's in bed with her mystified boyfriends.

In this sense, Hannah resembles Lee Fiora in Sittenfeld's first novel, Prep. They are also both fourteen years old at the beginnings of their respective novels, but while Lee's story covers four years at an elite New England prep school, Hannah quickly grows older, goes to university, goes to work, moves from city to city.

The Man of My Dreams also aims to have a wider and deeper social resonance than Prep in the sense that it is bookended by two narratives concerning tragically afflicted male children. In the first chapter we meet Rory, an eight-year-old cousin of Hannah's who has Down's Syndrome. In the final chapter, set in New Mexico, Hannah is teaching at a school for autistic boys, news that we learn from a letter she writes to her former psychiatrist. This letter ends the novel and feels too rushed and convenient a way to respond to too many unanswered questions.

But in spite of the shortcomings of this final letter as well as an opening paragraph that comes across as boring chick lit (it begins the novel with the words "Julia Roberts is getting married..." then a few lines later tells us that the bridesmaids' shoes are "Manolo Blahnik, $475 a pair")--The Man of My Dreams soon begins to move much more swiftly than Prep did. It also feels looser, bolder, less claustrophobic and so, inevitably, more free. There are also more scenes set in the open air, and these scenes are the most alive and memorable sequences in the book.

Hannah's trip to Alaska with her sister Allison, Allison's boyfriend, and the boyfriend's "alarmingly handsome" and unbearable older brother is the best chapter of all, giving Sittenfeld the chance to brilliantly catch what's most socially awkward, unbearably damp, openly hostile, and truly catastrophic about camping in the wild.

There's also a great scene where Hannah gazes at a glacier from a boat sailing on Prince William Sound and realizes that she has always imagined a glacier as "clear and glittery and neatly edged, like an oversize ice cube from a tray, but this is more like a field of ruffled, dirty snow. It has a blue tint, as if squirted with Windex."

Whether Sittenfeld means for the glacier to be a defiled image of our ruined world or a metaphor for the difference between what's romanticized and what's real, it works spookily well in this novel. As does the scene, a few days later, when Hannah loses her glasses in the middle of a drenching Alaskan downpour. Her glasses are never found, but for a long time after her return home she sometimes pictures them on the floor of the North Pacific. "It is dark and calm down there; fish slip past; her glasses rest untouched, the clear plastic lenses and titanium frames. In the stillness without her, the glasses see and see."

Those lost glasses could very well also symbolize Hannah herself, ardent about love although too often asexual about sex, a woman whose detachment (so like the inspired detachment of her creator) also allows her to see and see.

*******************************************************************
This review first appeared, in a slightly different form, in Toronto's Globe and Mail....

A late summer read that speaks volumes.......2007-09-11

I came across "The Man of my dreams" at a display of "Summer beach reads" at my local library. I figured it would be a great read for the last summer read, yet reading it, I thought it was possibly the most well written 'summer read' I've ever had the pleasure of. I had yet to read "Prep"
The main character, Hannah, is a neurotic, lonely, girl(reminds me of someone I know all to well at that age). The book starts when she 14. Her parents break up due to her father's anger problem, and Hannah is sent to live with her Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Darrach(a very colorful character).
The whole teenaged section is only a short part of the book but we see Hannah as someone who just doesn't feel like she fits in and is often alone. FAst forward to college, and she is still very much a mixed up girl but she's also very smart. You never really get a sense of what she looks like, as there is never much of a physical description, but with Curtis Sittenfeld's beautiful prose, we get to know her. Her hopes, her dreams, her true thoughts on everythign around her. I think many of us probably have many of these same feelings, and that makes her seem all the more real to me. I'm actually glad i read her books out of order because usually when you get to a second novel you EXPECT the same as the first. IT certainly is different than the first book, but I love both. Her writing is intense, thought provoking, and engrossing. I just started "Prep" yesterday and my family is probably ready to kick me and the book out...it's taken over my existence. Her writing is addicting.
BAck to "The man of my dreams". Hannah, starts to work on her nonexistent love life. Never having had no dating experience, aside from a short brush with a druggie teenager early in the book, she definitely puts her guard up. Already being an unhappy person, Hannah sees her new life as a jumping ground towards the end of the rainbow.
She has a sister, Allison, who is getting married. Her parents are divorced, and after a really ugly meeting with her dad, she stops speaking to him.
Reading this was like stepping into someone's life, and like life, it isn't perfect nor does it always end happily in the conventional sense.
Hannah truly comes of age as she goes through her adventures with her boyfriends, friends, sister, and family.
This isn't a beach read by any means. It is a novel about life, and a search of the pursuit of happiness. Sittenfeld is a brilliant writer, and I am loving every minute of "Prep" as well. She has officially become my favorite writer.

Ultimately unsatisfying.......2007-08-27

Sittenfeld is a talented writer, there's no questioning that. However, I feel like this novel is a step back from the wonderful "Prep" in that it rehashes many of the same character traits from the protagonist of the previous book. Insecurity and self-awareness are always great traits in literary characters, but there is such a thing as overkill and this book crosses that line pretty blatantly.

There are some very funny moments, but this book ultimately loses its steam because of the inherent weakness of Hannah. I hope that Sittenfeld's next book will feature a character that isn't the same insecure, hyper-analytical types she's used for her first two offerings. It's time to branch out a bit.

Painfully Accurate.......2007-08-10

The author has a very unique gift in that she taps directly into the heart of the anguished, overly self-concious and terribly introspective protagonist. This character description and development makes up for the lack of gripping plot.

The ending was the only disappointment as it felt like someone made a sloppy and half-hearted effort of tying up loose ends. WHile it was somewhat convincing, it would have been more worthwhile to have been granted a few more chapters and years of personal growth on the part of the main character.

However, any faults this book might have are completely hidden beneath the truly superb narrative.

The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams

Average customer rating:

I give this book three stars knowing it is a fraud
One Fraud Too Many
The Joke
A shameful fraud
plagiarist, Navajo wannabe, fake

The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams
Nasdijj , and Nasdijj
Manufacturer: Mariner Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0618154485

Amazon.com

The language and form of this searing book are as powerful as the life experience that inspired them. In a series of essays that cohere into a spiritual autobiography, the author writes prose that's deceptively simple yet rich in metaphor. An wild horse living in the parking lot of a Navajo school becomes a symbol for living creatures' intrinsic wildness, tamed only at a terrible cost. "We are all runaway horses" is one constant refrain, as is the reminder "you are your history." The author's history is painful: born in 1950 the son of an alcoholic Native American woman and a white cowboy father who "would sell my mom to other migrant men for five dollars," Nasdijj grew up a "mongrel" and an outcast, contending with his violent father's demons while his mother beguiled them with Indian stories. Living on a reservation, never fully accepted because of his white skin, he adopted a baby boy with fetal alcohol syndrome who died at age 6. The book's most beautiful passages meditate on Tommy Nothing Fancy's short life and express his father's love. Nasdijj has been homeless, he has taught Indian children on a reservation, he has retraced with a historian friend the dreadful forced march to Bosque Redondo, where the Navajo and their culture were nearly exterminated. These and many other ordeals are related in the agonizingly lucid words of someone who has turned to writing as a lifeline. This remarkable memoir has its share of bitterness and anger, but Nasdijj transcends both in his acceptance of the world that made him and in the knowledge that "the reservation runs like blood through a river of my dreams." --Wendy Smith

Book Description

A searing book as powerful as the life experience that inspired it, THE BLOOD RUNS LIKE A RIVER THROUGH MY DREAMS transports readers to the majestic landscapes and hard Native American lives of the desert Southwest. Born to a storytelling Native mother and a roughneck, song-singing father, Nasdijj has always lived at the jagged-edged margins of society, yet hardship and isolation have only brought him greater clarity -- a gift for language and a voice of searching honesty. "In a prose style that could almost be chanted" (New York Magazine), Nasdijj writes of his adopted son, Tommy Nothing Fancy, and of his own chaotic childhood; of his struggles between two cultures and his pursuit of the writing life -- as a lifeline. A powerful, unforgettable memoir, THE BLOOD RUNS LIKE A RIVER THROUGH MY DREAMS will "wash over readers and often take them by surprise" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram).

Customer Reviews:

I give this book three stars knowing it is a fraud.......2006-04-24

This book has to be the worst and most sickening case of cultural apropriation in the history of the US. The fact that it was writen by a white man is further proof of the emperialist and colonialist mentality that still exists in this nation twords the Native American Community. However when I forst read this book Nasdijj was still a navajo within the eyes of the public. At the time the book mooved me deaply. Nasdijj's use if diction and the storytelling nature of his narative was beutifle. It made me want to learn more about the status and problems facing the Plains Indian community and work bring about change. That meens somthing to me and despite what I know now that initial responce when I first read this book stays with me to this day. I urge those who are going to critisize this book to read it first if you have not, and when you read it, do so with eyes un clouded by the trouth.

One Fraud Too Many.......2006-03-16

It's a shame that because of works like this, not to mention the Forrest Carter (Education of Little Tree) scandal a few years back, many unknown and undiscovered--but authentic--Native American writers will probably have to struggle that much harder to become published. Well-established American Indian authors are already naturally suspect of any newcomers on the scene; the sad fact is that for some reason Native American culture and identity is misappropriated by more misguided white writers--whatever their individual agendas might be--than any other race or ethnic group. The sad truth is that, for every Forrest Carter and Timothy Barris who manage to secure a publishing contract, there are dozens of truly deserving Native voices that are going unheard.And thanks to these imposters making the buying public- as well as agents and editors- increasingly suspicious of anyone claiming to be Native American-their chances to be read and heard are only going to diminish.

The Joke.......2006-02-16

To hold the power to move people with words regardless of the validity of those words is a very impressive art. With the exception of one specific actor, no one in history has made a powerful film about his or her own life. There is no reason to believe that written works shoud be treated differently from movies in this respect. Obviously this writer has realized that human deception is an important method of eliciting an emotional response from an audience. By reading the responses from readers prior to the false exposure of the true writer, it is clear that this man or woman is light years ahead of current authors when it comes to manipulating the human brain into believing a story, factual or not. With the increasing pace of desensitization of the mind in recent years, obviously new techniques must be made available to entertain an insatiable public. To say that this author's amazing work is only confined within the pages of the book is downwright ludicrous. Everything, including the monikor and real identity of "Timothy Barris" is part of a larger piece of fiction that may be even further exposed as time passes. After this "identity" was unearthed, opposite and even stronger emotional responses were elicited from readers, demonstrated in print on these very pages of Amazon.com. Is it not true that disgust and outrage are also emotions that sub-par authors struggle to touch in their works? "The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams" is such an example of a work of writing and deception that is capable of plucking each string of human emotion in such a way that has never been attempted before. There is a larger picture.

-AK

A shameful fraud.......2006-01-28

I read this book last year, and was moved by it, though I often found it rather fuzzy on certain details, and the chronology seemed to jump around. Now, I learn this guy is a total FRAUD: He's not Indian and Tommy didn't exist. He's apparently lazy, too: I've read that his descriptions of Navajo culture don't fit with reality, either. This is disgraceful, both his lying about his heritage, and inventing this sick child, as well as the other people he made up. What a waste of time.
So many literary frauds have been exposed this month (Jan 06). Now, I'm wondering about a few other memoirs that have been popular the last few years. I'm rather disinclined to buy any memoirs these days; and I bet I'm not the only one who feels this way. I bet these scandals hurt sales of this book genre.

plagiarist, Navajo wannabe, fake.......2006-01-28

I haven't read any of "Nasdijj"'s writings, and I don't expect to do so, but as a REAL Amerind (Cherokee), I am disturbed and indignant at Navajos being used as a publicity hook by a white sado-masochist. Don't take my word for it. Read an exhaustive exposé at
http://www.laweekly.com/index.php option=com_lawcontent&task=view&id=12468&Itemid=47

Average customer rating:

Sasha Lord does it again!
Intriguing Characters and Interesting Plot
Loved this book , looking for other books from the same author
charming medieval romantic fantasy

In My Wild Dream (Signet Eclipse)
Sasha Lord
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451220641

Book Description

She is Kassandra, a fey dreamer who is innocent of society's rules and too reckless to follow them anyway. In her nighttime visions she sees a powerful Scottish laird with whom she is destined to share a passionate bond...if she can save him from a hooded murderer. For him, she will travel to the king's court, risking ridicule and confronting treachery in her quest to claim the man of her dreams.

Customer Reviews:

Sasha Lord does it again!.......2007-04-03

This is the second book by Sasha Lord that I have read and I have to say one of my favorites now! This book was really good! Get it if you haven't already!

Intriguing Characters and Interesting Plot.......2007-03-28

Kassandra, a young fey woman who lives in the forest, dreams since childhood of her heartmate and when these dreams change becoming sinister, she feels she must search for her man to warn him of danger. She goes to court with her sister where she meets Cadedryn...although her senses buzz when she is around him she doesn't at first think he is the one she is dreaming of because when they are together they irritate each other. Cadedryn's mother died when he was a young teen and his father decided to send him to foster with a neighboring lord. His father lost his titles when he married for love and not to forge alliances like the king wanted him to...Cadedryn vows to never fall in love and do what it takes to regain his families title even if it means marrying someone he doesn't like....before he goes to his foster home, Cadedryn finds his father dead by his own dagger. Years later at court, Cadedryn meets Kassandra who intrigues him with talk about her dreams of them being lifemates. Even though he is enchanted with the sweet young lady, he will let nothing stand in the way of his regaining his title so he plans to marry Lady Corine Fergus.

Kassandra is warned by her sister at court to hide her red hair and to not talk about her dreams to keep the superstitious people from thinking she is a witch...when she gets bored and sneaks off for a ride without her disguise where she meets up with Cadedryn. He is intrigued by the beautiful redhead and believes her to be the [...]sister of Kassandra, Katlyn and they make love. Cadedryn is confused by his feelings for both Kassandra and Katlyn, but knows neither can make him change his mind about marrying for a title. Kassandra is infuriated when she as Katlyn hears Cadedryn admit he wouldn't marry her because he intends to marry Corine. Kassandra continues to have dreams which reveal that Cadedryn's father was murdered and the murderer is now planning to kill him. When Kassandra's dreams start proving true, Cadedryn starts doubting all his plans and wonders if he shouldn't listen to his heart. Soon he and Kassandra must take a stand or else all will be lost.

This was a wonderfully written, passionate book. The only problems I have with it is the part of Kassandra being fey and living in the forest is a little out there. The other thing is Kassandra's age, 16. I know that was common marriage age back then but it still kind of bothers me. Otherwise it was a wonderful book. Kassandra was interesting, not too stubborn or too meek. Cadedryn was great, a lot of books write about the characters marrying for advancement but they always seem blind to the hateful women. Cadedryn is realistic, he doesn't pretend that Corine is an angel he knows what he's getting. He also isn't so stubborn not to know when to change plans and go with his instincts.

Loved this book , looking for other books from the same author.......2007-03-14

This book never sagged. This was fast paced and kept my interest throughout. Her characters were strong and fun.

charming medieval romantic fantasy .......2007-02-11

Living off the Scottish coast, Kassandra has dreamed of her soul mate as well as the hooded killer who will murder her beloved unless she intercedes and changes destiny. By 1076, she knows she must act or her love will be doomed to end before it can begin. She leaves her safe haven Loch Nidean Forest to journey to the court where the aristocracy will treat her as a fey freak.

Kassandra meets her cherished Laird Caededryn, but instead of falling into his arms, he rejects her and her dreams. He has a quest to regain his family's stolen lands taken when his mother remarried. However, he finds himself dreaming of making love with Kassandra and soon cannot resist her fey lure. Still he denies her contention that an assassin plans to kill him if they fail to uncover the identity of the hooded shadowy figure and prevent the treachery in time.

IN MY WILD DREAM is a charming medieval romantic fantasy starring a fascinating heroine whose courage readers will admire and whose fairy-like skills will astonish the audience as Sasha Lord makes Kassandra believable. Caededryn believes he has no time for the spirited female who somehow gets inside his padlocked heart even as he rejects her affirmation that they are fated to be lovers albeit for a short time unless they act now. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this eleventh century sequel (see the Wild tales such as UNDER A WILD SKY and BEYOND THE WILD WIND, ETC.) freshened up by the paranormal elements.

Harriet Klausner

Upon a Midnight Clear : A Delightful Collection of Heartwarming Holiday Stories : The Teacher / Christmas Magic / Jolly Holly / If Only in My Dreams / White Out

Average customer rating:

Cute stories to inspire the Christmas spirit!
A failed Chirstmas romance anothology
just skip this
For "White Out" only
Linda and Jude carry it all....

Upon a Midnight Clear : A Delightful Collection of Heartwarming Holiday Stories : The Teacher / Christmas Magic / Jolly Holly / If Only in My Dreams / White Out
Jude Deveraux , Margaret Allison , Stef Ann Holm , Linda Howard , and Mariah Stewart
Manufacturer: Pocket
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0671019880

Book Description

A spirited Irishwoman comes to a rugged Colorado town to govern a young ruffian and learns a love lesson from the boy's father....In the midst of a blizzard, a snowbound woman offers shelter to a mysterious stranger....Home for the holidays, an artist proves opposites can attract when she falls for an unconventional doctor....A holly berry-picking contest in the California hills brings two determined hearts together for the greatest prize of all....A lively family reunion on a Montana ranch brings on a flurry of memories for a beautiful young writer -- and a winter storm that rekindles an old flame....

Customer Reviews:

Cute stories to inspire the Christmas spirit!.......2006-12-26

1. The Teacher by Jude Deveraux: Wow - I can't recall a character in any western historical who displays the courage and grit of Kathryn! One can only admire the way she confronted even the hardest of people and stood up for what she believed in. I have a bit of a problem believing that the highly disagreeable Cole made the conversion into a kind and decent man, but I suppose only Kate had the power and charm to tame even the beastliest man.

2. Christmas Magic by Margaret Allison: Margaret Allison is the only author in this anthology with whom I wasn't familiar. I really like her style - the story flowed nicely and the dialogue was realistic and respectful. The theme of reconciliation between an estranged father and daughter is a wonderful illustration of the Christmas spirit, and showed how forgiveness and understanding are keys to inner peace and healing.

3. Jolly Holly by Stef Ann Holm: A magical story about the value of treasures that money cannot buy and the joy that can be found in sharing! The plot and the characters were quite unique, as was the setting, which was a refreshing break from the usual storyline formula of most romances.

4. If Only in my Dream by Mariah Stewart: I have two pet peeves concerning romance novels. One is the use of bickering dialogue representing conflict and sexual tension. On the contrary, this story was so delightful because of the respectful and loving way the characters interacted with each other, and I congratulate the author for brilliantly presenting the story in this manner! These were warm and likable people I admired immensely. My other peeve are conflicts that could easily resolved, or avoided entirely, if the characters simply communicated more openly and clearly with each other. Unfortunately, that was the case in this plot. Still, the story was highly enjoyable and quite relaxing to read, especially to this believer in the lasting qualities of true love between soulmates.

5. White Out by Linda Howard: Linda Howard is known for writing lusty and erotic scenes, so the graphic sex shouldn't have been such a shock to me, except that the previous 4 romances were comparatively sweetly romantic because the sexual aspects were left up to the imagination. I didn't like how the characters were nearly unconscious when they first came together, because it was so careless and animalistic. However, I like how the story opened, describing the lakefront property in such wonderful detail, as though it were a showcase home on HGTV. The blizzard was also described in such remarkable detail that it almost felt as though the storm was swirling around me too! This attention to visual and sensual detail is what makes Linda Howard's brilliant to me, not the gritty sex. This particular story redeemed itself from the off-putting erotica by ending with a dramatic flare of action, drama and mystery-solving.

A failed Chirstmas romance anothology.......2005-12-27

From the back cover:

New York Times bestselling authors Jude Deveraux and Linda Howard are joined by Margaret Allison, Stef Ann Holm, and Mariah Stewart in a delightful treasure of stories that sparkle with "a definite touch of holiday magic" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

"The Teacher" by Jude Deveraux: A spirited Irishwoman comes to a rugged Colorado town to govern a young ruffian and learns a love lesson from the boy's father: there is more to the man than meets the eye...

"Christmas Magic" by Margaret Allison: Home for the holidays, an artists proves opposites can attract--and make sparks--when she falls for an unconventional doctor...

"Jolly Holly" by Stef Ann Hom: A holly berry-picking contest in the California hills brings two determined hearts together for the greatest prize of all: a true and lasting love...

"If Only in My Dreams" by Mariah Stewart: A lively family reunion on a Montana ranch brings on a flurry of memories for a beautiful young writer--and a winter storm that rekindles an old flame...

"White Out" by Linda Howard: In the midst of a blizzard, a snowbound woman offers shelter to a stranger, a man who is an expert at covering his tracks...

And my review:

When I was browsing the book section in my thrift store years ago, I picked up this book, leafed through it, then put it back on the shelf. Years later, I came across another copy of this book, and decided to give it a try. I wish I hadn't wasted my money.

"The Teacher" was the first story by Jude Deveraux that I was actually able to finish, so that's saying something for it. It was quite an interesting story - up until the heroine starts kissing a man she doesn't even know. What do romance authors think this is enjoyable, let alone plausible? Would any of us readers ever start kissing a total stranger? If we did, I think we'd get locked up in a nuthouse!

Also, this was a historical story that didn't state what year it was, which is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to historical stories. How hard is it to give me a year? I did finish this short story, but didn't find it very good. The hero's hellion son did a behavioural about-face waaay too easily, and everything seemed to be resolved without much of a struggle. Two stars.

"Christmas Magic" by Margaret Allison had potential, but didn't live up to it. I didn't see anything unconventional about the hero. And if he's a surgeon (and chief of thoracic surgery, no less), the heroine would just have to face it - there are times when he's just going to get paged and have to leave during important moments. It's one of those hardships the wives of doctors and soldiers have to deal with, and complaining about it won't help. This story never felt fully developed, and I ended up giving up halfway through. One star.

"Jolly Holly" by Stef Ann Holm was another story with lots of potential. The clashes between the leads was interesting, though I found the premise of adults engaging in a holly-berry picking contest kind of silly. Unfortunately, this was a story where I could see every plot twist from a mile away. The romance wasn't very well executed, and I had a lot of trouble connecting to the characters. Two stars, as it started off well.

"If Only In My Dreams" by Mariah Stewart fell back on another romance staple: the Big Misunderstanding. I felt that the author tried to use a rather silly misunderstanding rather than real issues to keep the characters apart. Sorry, but if this had happened to me, I never would have given up so easily on the relationship. I would have phoned the guy and yelled in his ear. Then of course, the truth would have come out and everything would have been resolved. But of course, we can't have people communicating in a romance novel, can we? Also, I felt that the hero was far too easy on his son's bad behavior. If I had been breaking lamps and vases I would have been in big trouble. Does the twin's father say anything to them? Nope! He just takes them out for a walk to wear them out. Doesn't anybody ever disipline their kids anymore? Also, this author was really bad for "head hopping", jumping from his point-of-view to hers and back and forth throughout the scene. Distracting and annoying. One star.

"White Out" by Linda Howard can be summed up in one word: disgusting. Actually, there are other words for it, which include offensive, revolting, repulsive, pornographic.... Basic synopsis: lonely woman takes in man from blizzard, strips him naked, climbs into bed with him to warm him up (who would do this with a stranger who could be an axe murderer?) and wakes up to find him having sex with her before he's even fully awake. Ewww! If I wanted this kind of "entertainment", I could rent a porno movie! (Which is something, of course, that I'd NEVER do!) One star. I've yet to be impressed by anything Linda Howard has written, and this piece of trash put her on my "do not buy" list.

There is not a single story in here worth the money or the time it takes to read it. Do yourself a favor and skip this one.

just skip this.......2004-10-13

I agree quite thoroughly with the reviewers who expressed extreme dislike for Linda Howard's "White Out." It was sickening. Some of us read romance for the romance, not for explicit descriptions of sexual relationships which begin before the hero (and I use the term loosely) is even conscious.

As for the rest, Jude Deveraux's hero is a paternalistic town despot. Margaret Allison and Mariah Stewart tell fairly ho-hum stories about creative, artsy types going home and falling in love, one with a (supposedly) unconventional doctor and the other with her first love, with whom she had lost touch through a lame misunderstanding--don't you just hate it when these people don't TALK to each other?

The star goes to Stef Ann Holm for "Jolly Holly"; though not a total classic, this story does introduce a handful of very memorable minor characters, especially an intriguing couple of "elves" named Yule and Tide.

For "White Out" only.......2001-03-26

I only read the Linda Howard story "White Out," so I can't give a review of the others. But, that one alone is great. Yes, the premise of the Price's and Hope's relationship--and fabulous sex--is not something that can be applied to reality. But, so what? The story is still cute, fun, and very sexy. Plus, Howard has a true talent for making almost any scenario plausible with her skilled writing (e.g. anyone read "Son of the Morning"?). If you don't want to buy the anthology, I recommend settling in at Borders with a cup of coffee and reading "White Out" right there. Very Entertaining!

Linda and Jude carry it all...........2000-09-28

Ok, first of all, I personally love Jude and just about everything she writes (notable exceptions would be High Tide and Legend- both of which were poorly written) but, this short story just doesn't make me go "hmmmm.." Maybe because I didn't like Legend I was a tad biased against this story since it picks up where Legend left off. Again, it wasn't as poorly written, but there was just no magic. Likeable, but not memorable. However, I REALLY liked Linda's little tale. Her tale starts out like so many dates that we have and just choose not to talk about..but, this time, instead of showing the guy the door, we show a little more. The chemistry in this is just phenomenal. And, hey, let's face it..this is why we women read romance novels and especially why we read Linda Howard..THE SEX!! I have never wanted to be a character as bad as I wanted to be that girl. One word describes this tale...GRRRRR. The rest of the stories are fluffy and sweet, but if you want REALLY good dreams, ditch the rest and just read Linda.

Average customer rating:

Mixed Fantasies
THE HUNT IS ON !
Cool book
Fantasy Men Run Amuck
Bang Bang and More Bang

Man Of My Dreams
Dave Benbow , Jon Jeffrey , Sean Wolfe , and Ben Tyler
Manufacturer: Kensington
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0758206151
Release Date: 2005-10-20

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Fantasies.......2006-11-13

I gave this book four stars, but I do not rate all four novellas equally well. Dave Benbow's story about the two boyhood friends finding as adults that they had always loved each other was moving and fun and deserves a strong rating. Ben Tyler's "Spanish Eyes" was hot, sexy, deeply romantic and moving, but it spent too much time in Italy and England and not enough time with the two lovers. The ending, however, was deeply moving and satisfying; it brought me to tears and was my favorite story in the book. Too bad both Benbow and Tyler haven't each made a full length novel from these two stories; both would benefit from a lengthy development of the characters and the conflicts inherent in the story lines.

Jon Jeffrey's story about the rock star was quite good, too, and I loved the ending! However, I felt it worked just fine as a novella; he fully developed the characters and plot line in the space he used.

I was, however, DEEPLY disappointed in Sean Wolfe's story "Bad Boy Dreams," not because it involved a young man falling for a much older man (I'm middle aged myself; far be it from me to find fault with such a plot line). But the idea of a middle aged, heterosexual man, twice divorced, with numerous children uncharacteristically falling in love with his own son's lover/boyfriend, knowing his son adores and wants to marry his boyfriend, well, give me a break! That just doesn't make sense nor is it credible or moral. I enjoyed the first two thirds of the story, thinking that Wolfe was going to use the relationship between the "Bad Boy" and his boyfriend's father to show him how much he loved his boyfriend. Or, maybe for some other ending. But I simply could not swallow the ending. Talk about a "home wreaker"; the story involved two home wreakers destroying two homes, and the few lines pooh-poohing such a result didn't work for me. If asked to recommend the book, I'd do so for the first three stories, but not for the last one.

THE HUNT IS ON !.......2005-03-28

MAN OF MY DREAMS is a fun examination of how gay men go about seeking for and find the man of their dreams. Presented in 4 novellas, the plot lines are both serious and erotic. Each author addresses his subject in a unique fashion. Indeed, one of the authors carries characters from one of his novels into the plot line of his novella. I thought that was a really nice touch. I think of all of the stories, I found SPANISH EYES the most sensual, because it smolders with sexual anticipation. This is most assuredly very light reading and would be perfect for beach or pool reading.

Cool book.......2004-11-08

When I first saw this book in the bookshelf, I didn't even bother to read at the back of the book to see what the stories inside will be like coz when I saw the name Dave Benbow, no second thought needed. I've just finished his Daytime Drama book and I'm impressed. This book too, in the first story, I know it's all fantasy and everything but who cares as long as u've got big smile when u finish each story? FIrst story, my fav, is about the college jock and a geek which in the story took place later when they are in their 30s, great story, great sex scenes too..... The second one is the most confused story of all four, I hardly understand the story but anyway the third story is so romantic, about a american guy looking for Mr.Right in Europe where he encountered the English man, the Italian, the AMerican in Italy and at last but not least coz he's the most important, the spaniard. COol! The last story is about a teenage guy who's been having bad boy dreams since he was a kid and the story also tells us his childhood life. Then he finally met the guy in his dream.......

Fantasy Men Run Amuck.......2004-03-03

Who of us doesn't enjoy fantasizing about meeting, falling in love, and spending our lives with the Man of Our Dreams? This collection of short stories by 4 terrific authors indulges those fantasies and helps us believe, if only for a short while, that they can become reality.

"Out of Bounds" by Dave Benbow deals with the sports hero fantasy. An old childhood friend who now happens to be the biggest NFL star of the day reenters Wade Smith's life and changes it forever as the two old friends discover they have held torches for one another for the last 20 years. Wade is as out as one can be, and Colton is just discovering his real sexuality. Obviously coming out for a big NFL star is no easy task, and Benbow does a good job of showing the struggles he faces. Not as much sex as some of the other stories, but the sex that is there is well written.

"Sex and the Single Rock Star" by Jon Jeffrey explores the common rock star fantasy, of course. This is my least favorite of the bunch, not becuase it's badly written, but for several other reasons: 1) It doesn't really deal with the man of the main character's dreams, but more accurately with the man of his ex's dreams, and he is only extracting revenge on the ex; 2) Not much sex at all, but only allusions to sex; and 3) This story was already told, and much better, in the movie Almost Famous.

"Spanish Eyes" by Ben Tyler is a very good piece, and I enjoyed it very much. It follows Brad as he bounces all around Europe searching for the love of his life. Along the way he meets, temporarily falls in love with, and has incredible sex with a few Mr.-Not-So-Rights that provide temporary comfort from the pain of being dumped by his ex-lover back home. Then he encounters Marco De la Vega in Spain and his dreams become reality. Very well-written and very sexy.

My favorite piece, though, is Sean Wolfe's "Bad Boy Dreams". Not that it's any better or worsely written than any of the others, but because Wolfe was courageous enough to step out of the typical gay man's dream mold of younger, gorgeous twinks as the object of our lust, and acknowledged the sexiness of the more mature generation. Plagued (or blessed) by what his repressive grandmother calls "Bad Boy Dreams" about naked and sexually active older men, Erique finds himself unable to hold back his desires for the sexy older man as they cross the country together. Wolfe's descriptions of Erique's dreams of the older man are among the best erotica I've read, and I love the highly supernatural element he uses in these scenes. I don't want to give too much away, but if you're a fan of erotica, you MUST read this story. It will stimulate your ... um ... imagination. It's well written, imaginative, very sexy, and most of all, bold because it steps outside the box just a little.

All of these stories are well-written and fun to read. If you want to escape the humdrum of your real life and indulge in a little fantasy...this is the place to start.

Bang Bang and More Bang.......2004-02-26

Once again, Kensington Publishing gives us four novellas centered on one basic theme, in this instance the ideal man. Of course what is an ideal man for, if not to have tons and tons of sex with, and this book certainly does not slouch on that score. Each one of the four stories has its fair share of graphically described banging. Sometimes it fits integrally with the plot but more often than not, it is simply gratuitous. Mind you, I have no problem with gratuitous sex, especially when it is well written, but I do think it behooves a reviewer to point it out. This collection is defiantly not for the pornographically-challenged. OUT OF BOUNDS by Dave Benbow, in my opinion, is far and away the best of the four novellas. This is a beautifully told tale of an old desire finally fulfilled. Of all the stories, I think this is the one most easily related to. Wade was an over-weight teen geek with a massive crush on Colton Jennings, the star quarterback. It's twenty years later and Wade has blossomed into a very successful real-estate selling hunk, all set to show his former school chum Colt, the professional football player, a few houses to consider buying. But is a house the only thing the recently divorced grid-iron star is shopping for? The sex here is by far the most erotic because it plays a very real part in the love story. Also, the issues involved in coming out as a gay athlete are extremely well handled. In my opinion this wonderful novella sends a strongly needed message to gay men. Happy endings are possible, and we have every right to want and expect them. Bravo to Dave Benbow for having the courage, in the face of the kind of gay cynicism we see every day, to deliver this message. I would give this story 5 stars by itself

My Dream of Martin Luther King (Dragonfly Books)

Average customer rating:

Beautiful cover
Facinating book on Martin Luther King Jr.!
Beautifully illustrated and well written
Outstanding!
a unique approach to telling the story of MLK, Jr.

My Dream of Martin Luther King (Dragonfly Books)

Manufacturer: Dragonfly Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0517885778
Release Date: 1998-12-07

Amazon.com

Faith Ringgold had a dream about Martin Luther King. Simply narrated in her own voice, Ringgold--award-winning creator of Tar Beach and Aunt Harriet's Underground Railroad in the Sky paints a vivid, powerful picture of King's childhood and strong family life, along with glimpses of prejudice, segregation, and protest. Her vision blurs dreamily into King's adult life--from his family, to protests of Rosa Parks's arrest, even to his assassination: "This time we had come to mourn Martin Luther King's death by trading in bags containing our prejudice, hate, ignorance, violence, and fear for the slain hero's dream. We emptied the bags onto a great pile, and as the last bag was dumped, the pile exploded into a fire so bright that it lit up the whole world. There, emblazoned across the sky, were the words: EVERY GOOD THING STARTS WITH A DREAM." Illustrated with Ringgold's dramatic folk-modern paintings, My Dream of Martin Luther King is one of the most creative, successful, accessible tributes to Martin Luther King for children that we've seen. (Ages 4 to 8)

Book Description

Now in Dragonfly--from the acclaimed creator of the Caldecott Honor Book Tar Beach comes a personal and captivating portrait of the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful cover.......2007-01-12

I have used this book, My Dream of Martin Luther King (Dragonfly Books)
by Faith Ringgold, from my book box that my daughter labeled "The Wonderful African American Experience" for a long time and in various settings. I've read it in South Oxnard, CA at Hathaway School where children are mostly Mexican American first or second generation Americans now, and in the smallest of school districts in the San Diego mountains that services two reservation schools where the children and more established teachers seemed oddly (a couple years ago) worried about my month of Black American Awareness teaching but where the children were absolutely intensely involved in the work. [...] Teaching children in 1st grade through a piece like this is a very interesting construction. For one thing I talk to children embedded within a poverty setting and they are talking about things they find rather amazing. Skin color, past histories...it becomes a platform to discuss the way it is, the way it was, in different places, times, with a wide variety of realities to honor and reveal. I so recall my own daughter who went to Hathaway school at five years of age never really knowing about skin colors as they are seen in a greater world of comparisons based on skins...and having been called "olive" for her Italian complexion, always colored her self-portraits so very dark, returned home from Kindergarten to tell me about a book she read on King in the library. She stated, "Mom he was shot for what he did, people were hosed and dogs set on them and some had separate schools. Mom what kind of place is this"...and I had to tell her I recalled these things, it was America's story, and she just stared at me. Today a class of 6 year olds just stared the exact same way. Try it, get this book, go read to a 1st grade and see what they tell you. How we go from this kind of truth to the insanity of this world is something I can never fully understand. [...]

And as you teach, work on and refine how to talk to these issues and to honor, to learn and to attempt to reach for the truth, you see your limits and you see the palpable ignorance that is what we do. It's a very important job; I do not take it lightly nor see it enough as a part of the dialogs going on in so much of the "schools of the future " work blasting on about the global economy. And that's a crime against all children, an invalidation, this holiday stands to talk to us about much that needs to be done. Education stands with trans formative power. It stands as a public responsibility and a way to shape the future. Not make everyone a millionaire and thus be immunized. It is a way to share our history so we are not condemned to repeat it. This book helps in that quest.

[...]

In my lifetime I have had the opportunity to see so much. I was able using this book and so many others in literature based instruction today to revisit some of my truths. And in that to honor memories and people, to stand once again upon the shoulders of those who made a difference both known and the thousands unknown to the greater world except inside the leaders and good people who make America what she is at her best.
[...] Golden rules are lived constructs not platitudes on plaques. I lived and heard King. I saw these times chronicled by Ringgold. I recall the speeches. I know what it felt and sounded like to live in the 60's. I recall the struggle for human rights and know what the content of character was/is about. I know what it is to teach in places that are more dangerous than you know, for the kids that live there everyday as their reality-and they live in this in this land of the free. I have been able to see the disparity in America. I know all children need to be filled with "the dream". And I know all children are gifted and all essential to our survival. I know talking to my class of children today about the issues raised in this story of prejudice, hate, separate but equal...with their questions and amazement....I know there is still an unspoken separate and call it equal. I see it done through NCLB, real estate, and corporate control in our country. Today in a teacher meeting I heard a few peers state things about kid's potentials as limited by their poverty and ignorant parents not seeing themselves as dream givers but dream enders...I consider myself a person so lucky to teach in so many realities, in Appalachia too. For I know that my life has shown me so much so many lack living a life about getting, holding and securing for self. I know what it is to dedicate myself to the hope for a better day. Because I am a witness, and a teacher. I have worked in poverty and seen what lack of healthcare looks like, what ignorance brings, what it is to lose hope. I know. And that is something with great meaning. And these things come to classroom in the form of leadership. And that is what a teacher does. They decide to lead. Knowledge is power and children need to learn about slavery, history, unfairness, prejudice and hate. It matters so much.
I know that there are ways to make a street in Watts where 93rd Street school sits, seem as if it sat so far from your reality you never worry for 5 seconds about the children without crayons, safety, food. I taught a little girl there Phyllis, never even sure she had more than a pair of flip-flops and a coat. I saw no sign of a home. She negotiated a place to stay daily with other kids. She was 8. I've seen what social service looks like for kids in CA. I've seen what it is like when a child in my room doesn't have enough to eat and after writing a compassionate story about her my brother in law suggests it's her problem if her family is too stupid to go to a charity. I know that we are a long, long way from the days we can say that this is a fair world.

But I do think a book like Ringgold's helps. It's important to have a way to begin to share our thoughts. It's so interesting how she talks of having a dream herself and this is the thread running through her book a waking dream of memories of the life of King. Children in first grade struggle with the Dream notion...what does this mean.... a dream quest, a vision. She talks of a dream where she sees all the peoples of the world holding bags of their hate, anger, prejudices going up stairs to trade the bags for love and peace. In this she briefly sees shifting through the dream the events often told of King. The rejection of the neighbor child, the learning big words, the teacher of King's made to stand on the bus, the marches and jailing. I find at my level a need to stop as I read and contextualize a little bit. But I do have very young children. It's fair to say that I wonder if children up the road in wealthier, affluent areas are reading this book too with their classes to prepare for our upcoming holiday. I wonder.

Ringgold always produces books to hear. And no different today. My students did very much enjoy going along in her first person narrative. I would like to complete this with the children writing Dream poems.

Facinating book on Martin Luther King Jr.!.......2002-01-19

Students were very absorbed in this book. They found the story exciting and it stimulated a great discussion. The idea that someone could dream about Martin Luther King Jr. and see him as a child and then as an adult allowed students to think about how different dreams are from reality. Students were anxious to borrow the book and share it with their families.

Beautifully illustrated and well written.......2000-08-13

This beautifully illustrated and well written book was a must have for my daughters library. She's a new teacher and a lover of good books. What a delight to buy this book for her!

Outstanding!.......2000-06-07

This is the best picture book I've come across concerning the Civil Rights movement of the 60's. The previous reviewer is correct in that the abstractness of the imagery is difficult for younger children, but that is precisely the beauty of the book. With a little explaining, my third grade class was still touched by the struggle of African Americans in this country. My class consisted of numerous minorities (Asian & hispanic) and they were able to come to see that MLK was fighting for them also. The way it is told is very moving and makes the book excellent for older children as well.

I still get choked up whenever I read it.

a unique approach to telling the story of MLK, Jr........2000-04-20

I'm a huge Faith Ringgold fan. This book is very good as expected, but my only complaint is that it is a little too abstract for the target age group (ages 4-8). For example, the kids were confused at the picture of MLK in jail as an infant and the people burning their "baggage". BUT, unique it is... just definitely in need of adult commentary.

Dancing with My Daughter: Poems of Love, Wisdom & Dreams

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The Mother-Daughter Dance
Dancing with Daughters
A lively dance with a poet

Dancing with My Daughter: Poems of Love, Wisdom & Dreams
Jayne Jaudon Ferrer
Manufacturer: Loyola Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Inspirational & Religious | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Motherhood | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0829417680

Book Description

Dancing with My Daughter addresses the unique experience of being a mother to girls. In chapters named for dances, Ferrer explores the different stages of a daughter's life.

Customer Reviews:

The Mother-Daughter Dance.......2004-03-31

Mother-Daughter Dance

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer possesses an unmatchable wit and precision of language which shine through in her latest collection of poems, Dancing with My Daughter: Poems of Love, Wisdom and Dreams. Breaking down the stages of her daughter's development from infancy to adulthood, each phase is represented by a dance: Waltz, Jitterbug, Tango, Samba, and Freestyle.

In the first section, Waltz, she shows a warmth and willingness to raise her daughter with dream-like wonder. Toddlerhood emerges in Jitterbug, and the dreams are less surreal. She tackles reality head on, for instance, in the poem "Mother Magic," which speaks to the heart of motherhood. Ferrer describes her daughter's foul mood as she awakens from her nap. With great triumph, she pulls her daughter out of her "royal huff." All the while, she acknowledges her own mother strength. Her daughter, the "Royal Highness" breaks out of her mood, declaring her ability to break the magic spell "because I am a Princess and I can do anything!" Ferrer looks on and replies inwardly, "Well, well. I am a mother, and I can, too."

Tango and Samba are both heart-breaking and witty. We know our daughters will say they hate us, but we dread the day it arrives. Ferrer removes the chrage of her daughter's emotions with supreme love and banter. Pressing her daughter clean her room, Ferrer treats this common issue with such grace and fun: "fill your ears with the mighty music of the vacuum cleaner, your lungs with the derelict dust of this dreadful domain." The reader can virtually smell the odiferous wet towel seeping mildew into the carpet.

Freestyle witnesses a mother's mixed emotions of letting go and wanting to hold on tight forever. The wisdom she imparts to her daughter as she prepares her wedding is telling of her love and affection. Ferrer's desire to give her daughter the world is palpable throughout the collection. She manages not only to offer up a "place you call Home" for her daughter, but a poetic respite for her readers, too.

The cadance of her poetry resembles a dance. Sometimes it is a Western swing, other times a true waltz. Harmony and discord meet in her lines. Mothers and daughters clash, cry, yell, and console each other through life's passions. Dancing with My Daughter is a wonderful companion for any mother or daughter who dreams big dreams, lives life with passion, and seeks the very best that this world has to offer.

Christine Louise Hohlbaum, American author of Diary of a Mother (2003), SAHM I Am (2005), and "American Housewife Abroad" at AnotherChapter.com, is a freelance writer living near Munich, Germany, with her husband and two children. Visit her Web site at: http://www.DiaryofaMother.com

Dancing with Daughters.......2004-03-21

I do not usually read poetry. This book was incredible. Each poem hit the mark. The words just flowed. Jayner Ferrer is exceptionally intuitive and a joy to read. I bought this book for my mother and sisters.

A lively dance with a poet.......2004-03-08

Jayne Jaudon Ferrer is one of those unpretentious poets that zing words straight to the heart. Her poems are very much aimed at the moment, but their lines will linger far beyond the grade school years of our children.

Cleverly arranged in chapters named for dances and dance styles, her newest book plays on the rhythmical interaction between mothers and children. A favorite, "Table Talk," sets up the poem like a multiple choice test, beginning with "Dear Daughter," and offering options in lines like "a)you are not talking to me this week,"/b)there is a telephone in one ear and an earphone in the other..." Most parents on reading lines like that experience an immediate, "I've been there, done that."

Another poem, "Send-off," sets up a premise all parents understand. "I have only two requests:/come home without holes/in your body/(beyond those given you by God),/and keep in mind/that old saying about/nice girls/and newspaper headlines..."