An Autobiography of Oral Roberts
920112
I was drawn to the title because I want to "see the invisible so I can do the impossible",  The title gave me no clue that this was basically an autobiography of Oral Roberts. It is good and I have learned from it but it was not what I was expecting based on the title. I understand some things that happened in his ministry much better now.
4142372
stardom in New York City and Provincetown. And from Barbara Jean Davis to Norris Church Mailer.

The problem with autobiographies is they are often less-than-honest appraisals of the writer's life. Disagreeable "things" are often white-washed or left out all together. The reader can only ASSUME the writer is telling the truth - or a good deal of it - when reading an autobiography. One of the most honest - and therefore, compelling - autobiographies I've read was by Katherine Graham, late owner and publisher of the Washington Post. Her writing of her life - peopled with difficult personalities like her mother and her husband, Phillip Graham - seemed like almost a psychiatric session. Extremely good writing by Mrs Graham, made even better by her apparent honesty in telling her story.

Norris Church is almost as compelling a teller of her life as Katherine Graham. The sixth, and last, wife of novelist Norman Mailer, she is also the mother of two grown sons (one by an early first marriage) and step-mother of seven other children. She was "plucked from obscurity" by Mailer in the mid-1970's when they met in Arkansas at one of his book tours. But the thing is that Norris - or Barbara Jean as she was still called - was not a little nobody in her surroundings. She had grit and the determination to make something of herself, using her brains and her beauty and her artistic skills, and probably would have wound up in the big leagues on her own.

Marriage to Norman Mailer could not have been easy. Philanderer supreme, Norris was cheated on numerous times by Mailer. Fights - fisticuffs and verbal - were part of the Mailer marriage. Norris ran Mailer's life, making his day-to-day existence very easy for the writer. She raised their children - both her own and his - and was the backbone of the household. But if life with Norman Mailer was difficult on a daily basis, it seemed to be rarely boring. The Mailers were a "glamour couple", and traveled widely both in the US and internationally. They were always in the limelight - either making the news or being by-products of it. One of the more interesting parts of the book is the John Henry Abbott "saga". Norman Mailer - and others in the NY literary community - championed a convict - Abbott - who had written his memoirs in prison. How naive they all were when Abbott was released from prison and found it impossible to live in the world Mailer and his friends put him into. Abbott killed a waiter while in a rage and ended his life back in prison. She also recounts her own on-going battle with uterine cancer.

Even as Mailer's partner-in-marriage, she still managed to carve out a career of her own as writer of novels and plays, and as a director of plays. She's a very good - and seemingly honest - writer and her autobiography is really very good.
1221563
This is a wonderful book; a memoir by a wonderful man, now in his 90th year. If you are interested in the newspaper business and/or the news of the world and how we learn about it, you will be fascinated by this memoir. Bob Phelps, among other pursuits, was the news editor for the NYTimes Washington Bureau.  He recounts experiences at the Times and gives a vivid picture of how his personal ethic helped him make decisions.  It is always nice to read about good people.  Bob Phelps is a good man! His dry wit is an extra. Enjoy the read.
3760548
Dr. Judy had an interesting life.  Her autobiography would have benefitted from a good editor.  Much of it seems like memoir writing from an adult education writing class.
893498
This memoir is a perfect blend of autobiographical information in the Bush political life, and the characteristic humor that defines the former First Lady. Mrs. Bush takes the reader through her early days, her courtship with the future President, and their lives all the way through the White House years. The book is part diary entry, part commentary, part, autobiography. It is a must read for any history buff, Bush fan, or any person who enjoys a light hearted read.
566874
President Grant wrote this memoir while a patient in a hospital; he was dying and needed to earn some money for his heirs.  That said this two-volume history of his life is a measured view of American life in the mid-nineteenth century.  Grant tells you what people looked like, how they dressed and what they ate.  He grew up in rural Ohio; his father turned over the responsibility of the farm's horses to him when he was nine years old.  He lived a life of responsibility forever after.  He went to West Point doing poorly in academics.  His classmates turned out to be his opponents in the Civil War and he knew their faults as well as their strentghs.
He was a Union commander at the the battle of Shiloh and was accused of being drunk at the battle.  When Lincoln promoted him his detractors reminded the president of this.  Lincoln, weary of his timid generals, stated find out what he drinks and I'll send a  barrel to my other generals.  General Grant was a dismal president; he was dazzled by power and too trusting of the financial titans who flocked to the White House in search of favors.  His administration was rocked by spectacles of greed and corruption.  He made no money himself and was left penniless.  If you like America History this is a must-read.
416808
I picked up Marion Harlands Autobiography because I read that her true name was Mary Virginia Hawes Terhune; married to Edward Payson Terhune. Now, some of my favorite childhood stories were about the intrepid collie, Lad of Sunnybank, which were written by Albert Payson Terhune. I thought there had to be some connection, so began reading the autobiography.

I found the book to be quite intriguing. As Marion writes, this is a story of the Old South and of a life that has ceased to be Born in 1830, Marion opens with a family history beginning with the American Revolution.

She became a prolific writer, understanding her audience and the literary market of the time, and her Common Sense in the Household sold 100,000 copies in 10 years.

But I loved her stories of daily life; daily housewifery; customs and unpretentious philosophy no longer practiced nowadays. The writing is somewhat formal, and there are frequent biblical and poetic references unknown to me, but you have to consider the age in which she grew up.

An age without telephones, automobiles, television or radio; where children were home schooled; where people died from cholera and other now-managed diseases; where nightly entertainment was devised by the families; where slavery was the norm.

She did not live on a plantation, but in cities, which makes her story all the more interesting. Her family had servantsslavesand she relates events leading to the Civil War, from the feminine viewpoint. I realize autobiographies are not for everyone, and this one is definitely slanted toward women/for women, but as an authority on life in the 19th Century Old South this book is wonderful.

Oh, Albert Payson Terhune was her son, and no information is given about his adulthood, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of his mothers autobiography.
4058721
The book is an easy read and recounts the life of the author, who excelled despite the odds.
4164754
As Americans we have heard many tales, true and false, of tales of, and about, those brave souls who migrated across the country in wagons and on foot in the 19th century.  Beverly's LTD has recorded The personal diary of one such woman, Margaret A. Frink.
Mrs. Frink, along with her husband, whose first name we never know, and a boy named Robert leave their nice home in Martinsburg, Indiana, for the riches of the California territories.  It's not only the promise of gold that spurs this couple on, but of the riches available to those who make the arduous trip.
Mrs. Frink keeps a detailed diary of the daily distances traveled (how did they m ark this?), the price of provisions along the way, the weather, the many people they run into, and an acute observation of the fashions on the trail.  I found that quite interesting, those detailed descriptions of fashion, in clothing, transportation, and supplies, and the daily traveling distance.  I also found myself amazed at the mileage the wagons were able to make each day and the price of provisions along the way.  In 1851, one onion costs the Frink's one dollar, which is astronomically even in the 2002 market.
Susan Baxter, an actress at the Creede Repertory Theatre in Colorado, gives life to Margaret.  By the tone of voice she uses, I suspect that Margaret is a bit of a snob, but she handles the travails of the trail with remarkable good humor.
It is particularly interesting that the diary does not end with their arrival in Sacramento, but gives a hurried account of life for their life as hotel owners and diary farmers. It is also interesting that the home they dismantled in Indiana and ship by boat, arrived in the new state at almost the same time they did.
Thanks to the publication of this diary, I have a whole new appreciation of the Old West!
4262607
.
Hosea Stout was, of course, a big VIP in the early days of the LDS Church.  His diaries have proven to be of great import to scholars because of his important positions and copious and daily record.  Especially  noteworthy may be his entries during his time spent in the Utah  legislature--for some time as the speaker.  But most interestingly to me  (being a student of literature more than history),  is the pathos he  expresses in the moments of tragedy--so common in the terrible years of  Mormon persecutions.
I paid $85 dollars for my copy and consider it a  fantastic deal.  They're worth whatever you may find them for.  Consider  them recommended.
3406996
In this unusual presidential memoir, the 43rd president looks at crucial "decision points" in his life and presidency, rather than delivering a blow-by-blow, day-by-day account.  He covers his early drinking problems, executions in Texas, the 2000 election, 9/11, the decisions to go into Afghanistan and Iraq, Katrina, the successful surge in 2007-2008, and the efforts to avoid another depression in 2008.  The book is quite good and quite honest.  Bush is highly critical of himself, which is quite a refreshing departure from other post-presidential memoirs, namely Clinton's and Carter's.  For example, he wrote that while he didn't regret his Katrina decisions, he regrets not making them fast enough.  The most talked about excerpt comes where he verbally devastates the Democrat mayor of New Orleans and Democrat governor of Louisiana, because neither seemed to be in charge of the situation.  While G. W. Bush often mangles spoken English, sometimes with relish, he has always been lucid and pointed with the written word.  This book is further proof.
4280037
I like this book and I would recommend it.  It is not an autobiography in the traditional sense.  It is vignettes about Burt's friends and people he has met in his life.  I thought the most tender chapter was the one on Dinah Shore.  I recommend it.
3856137
I enjoy reading about a person's life and IN VOICES IN THE MIRROR, the autobiography of Gordon Parks, I found his story interesting, edifying and at times inspirational.  Mr. Parks was born into a life where the world made differences in people based on the color of their skin and not their character.  However, instead of using their biases as a crutch to not succeed, he worked hard to make his dreams come to fruition.

Mr. Park's life spans many decades, wars and social climates in America.  At age 15, he was homeless and living a depressing existence.  He worked menial jobs to survive.  He persevered and went from working on the railroad to being the first African-American photographer for Life and Vogue magazines.  His life's adventures took him all over the world to cover some of the most politically disturbed countries, America's civil right's struggles, as well as Third World areas where poverty was rampant, all which were captured for posterity with his camera.  He also composed a musical concerto, wrote books and penned poetry.  His first novel, The Learning Tree was made into a motion picture, where he was the director and executive producer, which was an unknown anomaly during this period of time.  Let's not forget he was the director of Shaft. His stories and pictures touched the hearts of many Americans, and during his life he received many accolades for what he enjoyed doing.  So from the dirt roads of Kansas, Mr. Parks graduated from the school of hard knocks but lived a life that is and was so illustrious, fulfilling and awe-inspiring.

This autobiography presents itself as an honest rendition of Mr. Park's life.  He tells his story eloquently and allows readers to feel the emotions he was experiencing in each particular time of his life.  He tells readers how powerful a picture can be and the pictures interspersed throughout are a testament to this truth.  Readers get a glimpse into his marriages, children and even grandchildren and he shows us he is fallible as well.  I truly enjoyed every aspect of this autobiography from the private conversations with Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali; to showing the people in his hometown he indeed was successful, because his life is a history lesson.  He made great strides for African-Americans, and no matter how angry and depressed with the situations he faced, he continued to move forward.  When the final door shuts on his life, his legacy will always remain.

Reviewed by Cashana Seals

of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
2151179
"Of Life, Love and Family" by John Tracy Wilson is a memoir.

The author tells of his relationship with his father, how it shaped his life, the things he wanted to do differently with his children, and struggles to be the man he knows God wants him to be.

This book includes lyrics to some of the songs the author and the stories behind the lyrics. The book is written from a Christian point of view, but some of the songs the author sings are not Christian per se such as ones about being an officer of the law, one which is about the love a dad has for his little girl written at the child's birth, and one that is speaking about not passing on the bad things learned from parents down to the next generation.

Note: I won this book (and a separate CD which goes with the book) from a Good Reads contest.
470304
A well written chronological autobiography of the life and times of William F. Cody which almost makes me wish I had been born to live those same days.
140749
I like this book very much not because Mrs. Roberts is Robin's mother, but because she carries a piece of interesting history and decided to share it. Too many of our elders are passing away without their stories being written down for other generations. Everyone a loss piece of history. It is educational to hear their challenges, successes, struggles, disappointments, joys from their prospective. All of us should make more of an effort to have our elders stories written down.
4411678
Similar to other books in the "Images of America" series, but because of the narrow focus, the text reads more like a oral history.  Tells the story of the Syrett family and the history of Ruby's Inn at Bryce's Canyon.  Filled with nostalgic narrative and photos of the past.  Although, it was a special interest to me because I have family from the area, I think it would be interesting to anyone that has visited the Bryce's Canyon region.  I read the Kindle Ebook version on an iPad.  The most enjoyable part of the electronic books is the ability to zoom in on the pictures and explore the small details that are easy to miss in the hard copy.  The "images of America" books are casual histories and not intended as serious reference material. They aim for a general audience from specific cities or regions.  But, if you have an interest in that geographic location, then you will find something of interest in them.