If you want to meet and get to know Aileen Wournos, read this book!
931054
So many people have opinions about Aileen Wournos...and books have been written by authors who have never met Wournos.  This book allows Wournos to speak and tell her stories, her perception of the world, her view of the justice system, and her account of events in her childhood. Wournos holds nothing back in her letters, and they reflect exactly what she was thinking and feeling with raw honesty. While her behavior may have seemed "crazy" and she may be perceived by some people to be unintelligent, her letters clearly show that she was bright and definitely not insane. Of course, being locked up for 10 years affects the mind, but it's surprising how coherent and perceptive she was despite her circumstances.  She does flip-flop in her opinions of people--first she loves them, then she hates them, but that is indicative of her personality, which comes through beautifully in this book.

I enjoyed getting to know Wournos as a person, not "the world's first female serial killer."  She demonstrated her caring, empathetic side, her sense of humor, and her vulnerability in her letters. I also enjoyed seeing her artwork, which was shown in the book.  What's not in this book is any description of her killing her victims, which is fine, as this has been covered in other sources. Wournos' description of her teenage years, especially the girls' school she was sent to and ran from, are priceless.

Wournos did kill 7 men, and that makes her a criminal. But she was also a person, a human being with thoughts and a lifetime of experiences. I'm so glad I was able to hear from Lee herself in this gem of a book!
4911016
I have read this book, and I am ordering another for a friend. It is a great read.  The fan stories are inspirational and interesting.  The author's style is engaging and the entire book is a treat for Aiken fans and those who are not.
3464116
I loved this book because of how much I learned about this magnificent woman, who is my age-mate. The stories of her experiences she had with sex discrimination resonated with me. Both she and Gloria Steinem's experiences validated mine, tho I do not put myself in their category! I closed the book and truly felt I had been reading about a sister! I could not respect any current figure in the public eye more! Have recommended to all my friends and now have a lending list for it.
4464462
I never give a 5 rating so this denotes for me an exceptional book, and an exceptional read (the two aren't necessarily the same).  I have been reading her historical books and enjoyed those. I note that this is her only contemporary book (I hope that means so far!).  It was fairly obvious that she was writing partly out of her own experience and thus her abused wife plot was so vivid.  But it wasn't just that character that was so real -each one of them was, even her old grandmother.  I think when you can sense a life behind the character, that is a real and rare find, and FL dies that admirably (I am thinking of the mother in this context). I read this book in one sitting - I just couldn't put it down.  I really wanted more of the same when it ended.  Such an enthralling and important book - thank you!  Maureen Rowland-Aitken, Johannesburg, South africa
2938479
A must read for Detroit area readers and beyond!
This is an engaging story about growing up in a large family in Detroit during the 40s and 50s.  The book shows how strong family ties can make life joyful and beautiful even during times of poverty and tragedy.  Female readers will relive the role of women during this period and gain an appreciation for these "pre-lib" women who made amazing contributions to their families and society.  Hats off to a brilliant writer.
1720430
I absolutely loved reading this book! It provided me with an insight into the life of Chanel including all of her successes and struggles. It really made an impression on me and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a good read to pick up this book. Not only was it very informative, it also provided a great story full of saddness, love, and many other touching and motivating elements.
776957
I LOVED this book! Having had great grandparents (1870's), grandparents (turn of the century),  and parents (1920's) who lived thru those early years and the Depression and told many stories of everyday life and hardships,  I could relate in an arm-chair way to the struggles of Francie and her family. Having had many relatives who suffer/ed from alcoholism, I certainly felt that  her experiences rang all too true. I am old enough to recognize some of the cultural connections, but at 71  too young to know the popular songs her father sang and that she loved. With iTunes I can look them up, and get that deeper connection. As a retired librarian, I would recommend this to everyone; but younger readers, especially teens, might appreciate some background information first to enrich their engagement with this book. Stellar story laced with bright nuggets of wisdom, charity and faith.
3159986
I loved this book!  Having spent my formative years (late 20's, 30's) in Berkeley hanging with half of the foodies mentioned in this wonderfully written story, I was so homesick for those days and inspired to get back into the "food" world.  Ruth captures the excitement of the hot chefs movement which was influenced by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. Of course Julia Child is the grande dame who really got all of these American chefs going but that's another story in itself.  I too visited M.F.K Fisher in her cute Sonoma house and she described the woman to a tee.  Couldn't put the book down, a fantastic read. Can't wait for more!  Also can't wait to go back for some Chez Panisse cafe meals.....and many more days in Paris....
Keep writing Ruth!
4392126
This book serves as my introduction to A.M. Hargrove. So glad to meet her! This book has everything you could want! Love, mystery, humor, thriller, humility, and passion!! This book left me wanting it to turn into a series because I couldn't get enough! The characters are extremely life like and endearing! I want to live in their town and be in their family! Its a must read!! I couldn't put it down!
2195706
Patricia Reis is a beautiful writer and a joy to read. She writes about her life with such total honesty that the reader can't help but be drawn into her story. Many of us have wished we had a wise aunt to guide us along on lifes journeys, and Patricia was lucky in that. And reading along, you see that her dear aunt was also fortunate to have  Patty. I felt like I was following along on her journey, comparing myself to what I was doing at that age and time - sometimes rooting for her and sometimes screaming, but always learning more about life's meaning.
2003709
This stunning memoir comes out of the death of Joyce Carol Oates's husband of 48 years.  As a long-time fan of Oates's fiction, I've always been curious about her husband.  Although he was a well-known editor and publisher, he never read Oates work, and I find that fascinating.  How can you be married to one of the country's most prominent novelists and also involved in the world of editors and publishers and not read your wife's work?  I knew there must be a deep and mysterious connection between Oates and Smith, and this lovely memoir reveals that connection as well as the searing pain Oates endures when the connection is unexpectedly broken.

With a combination of seriousness and humor, Oates navigates widowhood and gives us a portrait of her marriage and her understanding of death.  In my opinion, this memoir is one of Oates's strongest works.  People will inevitably compare this to Joan Dideon's A Year of Magical Thinking, but, for me, Oates's memoir is so much more personal and heartfelt than Dideon's.  Both are fantastic books, but this one is better, I think.
4868835
I first read a non-flattering review in The Washington Post. Then I read Coming to My Senses and loved it. Alice Waters has captured a feel for her generation in this autobiography. She is a genius for picking up little things that bring the era to life. I met Alice briefly before she started the restaurant. She was seated at the big table along with David and Bob Novack at David Goines' home. I was with my beau frere who was delivering the San Francisco Express Times. I worked for Harry Weineger installing drapes at the officers' quarters of the Alameda Naval Air Station, and while Alice mentions Harry in the book I never had an idea of him as a counter-culture figure. I've learned a lot from this simple and highly readable book. Like Alice, I'm a Francophile. I've lived 26 years in France with my French wife and daughter. For years I've had 3 David Lance Goines posters on my apartment walls. Undoubtedly, these connections make this story especially appealing. I'm glad Alice's co-writers spurred her into sharing her tale which so well evokes the memory of her times and the times of so many more of us.
1916804
I know the author superficially and wanted to know her better. The book certainly gave me more insight into her life and experience and her writing style kept me moving through several threads of her story. It has insights for almost anyone who would read it and in particular the importance of relationship in the life of a child and the need to discover one's own voice and learn from all people and situations. It is about values and finding courage to change yourself, rather than others. It is about healing the past and helping to move society from dominator to co-creator. It is also about connection as well as balance and creativity. I enjoyed it very much and read it in 2-3 weeks.  Barbara J. Williams
468291
I couldn't wait to read this book after reading an excerpt in the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution.  Patricia Williams has the intelligence, honesty and insight to tell the hard things with no need for embellishing or apologizing for anything. Her appreciation of the ironies in the circumstances she lived with and observed, her moments of insight, and her learning experience by experience and thus move through the harder times ever closer to a life that capitalizes on the grit of her story and the wit that makes her telling so rich.  There is much in this book that is a scary and painful, but her extra sharp sense of the irony makes her easy to identify with and helps her to communicate the disjunction with subtlety and humor -- sometimes sidesplitting!  I want to read all her books and listen to the podcasts she is featured in.
2333789
I recently reconnected with the author, Janet Shoaff, who was a high school friend of mine, and then we went on to become sorority sisters at different Universities.  Janet had told me that she had written a series of three books and a little about the theme. Now having known her well, so many years ago, I knew that she was a lovely person with a very good heart.  But could she write?  The answer is a resounding YES!! Stolen Legacy will keep your undivided attention because you want to find out what happens to these characters. It is a book written through a Christian experience and how the characters go through all of life's ups and down, and how they deal with these things. Some of the characters you will despise, others you will find intriguing, some you will love, but all are fascinating. I'll look forward to reading the series!  Buy this book you will not be disappointed.
4043437
Once again, Ardy has written a well researched book about u.f.o.s and sky people. It goes into great detail about  encounters and she writes so you feel like you know the person she is interviewing. I could not put it down and read it in two evenings. There were about 5 typos which annoyed me,  but it did not take away my love of the content and stories.
1275197
I met Julie in a restaurant in Campbell, CA -- A mutual friend of ours had invited me out to meet her.  She's amazingly bright and fun to chat with, very unassuming.  It wasn't until the end of dinner that she mentioned she'd written a book.  Such an amazing person!  While I enjoyed her entire story, her ten days of silence with the monks was particularly meaningful for me.  I've traveled many times myself, and I absolutely recommend this to anyone in search of themselves and new adventures.  Next stop, Thailand!