Well-written and honestly told.
350124
Excellent book!  As good as - if not better than -"Nothing to Envy". Highly recommended reading for people of all ages and backgrounds.
1608033
This book is so well written - it lets the story speak for itself, which is especially appropriate given the subject matter.
3602562
written from a good point of view and touched on what really went on.
4254456
The story is not particularly polished but it is very real.  I enjoyed reading it and felt it was an organic honest book written from the heart.  Would recommend it.
3183480
Very telling tale from an outsider close to the source.
451118
Very realistic account. Well written and human
3923420
Not the tried and true heartwarming tale of a young woman and her dog, this book succinctly illustrates the real-world difficulty and weighty responsibility of sharing life with a less than perfect dog. The work also captures youthful impetuousness and its inevitable consequences. It also conveys the depth of a hard forged relationship between human and canine, along with the comfort it can provide. No excuses or explanations, the author simply shares her story. The book is unblinkingly honest.

The life lessons contained in this memoir are revealed largely through actions necessitated by being the young guardian of a badly behaved dog. After being raised by a less than present mother the author does not have a solid life blueprint to follow when it comes to caregiving.

But, she does not gloss over or round-off the corners to make her story more palatable. Instead, she quietly yet precisely presents the method by which we humans, sometimes painfully, learn and grow through a series of mistakes and missteps. As I read I sometimes cringed but hoped she would find her way through, but part of the way through the book I stopped worrying.

The work is somewhat dark but compelling reading and valuable if for no other reason than this story may result in fewer dogs finding their way into unstable situations through casual acquisition. I found the artwork engaging and the perfect accompaniment for the story. If an issue, there is a small amount of obscenity. Perhaps better suited for an older teen, but like all books it is best to choose based on the individual recipient.
1656052
Well told, detailed story that pulls no punches nor seemingly glorifies some actions over others. Really appreciate the humble perspective of the author. Thanks for being real. Every real man I know would aspire to those same sentiments.
1020704
Very well written and brought back to mind a personal experience.
3549590
Mustaine tells the story of his life. I got the sense that his life story is told here honestly to the best of his ability. This is a serious book, though without pretense.

Mustaine describes himself in a plain matter of fact way. Poor decisions and stupidity are noted, but not wallowed over. The alert and intelligent reader will have no difficulty understanding the positive and negative features of the man.

The book succeeds I think mainly because Mustaine is able to be honest with himself. He speaks without hesitation about his motives and beliefs, making good reading but very likely disappointing many fans.  The reader may finish the book disappointed with Mustaine understanding clearly his intellectual limitations, but this for me is a sign that the book has succeeded.

For most readers myself included, there is more of psychological interest in the earlier parts of his life than in middle age. I am glad I read through the entire book, though motivating myself to do so wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

The voice acting in the audio book version is superb, A +, everything I expect from a narrator and nothing more. A very memorable effort by Tom Wayland as narrator.
296378
A well written story told from a new perspective
129934
This is a hearfelt personal account of a family's journey with a child who is gender non-conforming.  It's honest, uncomfortable at times, and really speaks on an accessible level.
4915065
I have not read the author's other two books on his Vietnam experiences; I read this one because I served in a sister battalion in the 173d Airborne Brigade in close to the same time frame. This book very accurately portrays the physical hardships, the difficult terrain and the beautiful if spooky misty Central Highlands. I don't feel the author took any excessive literary liberties in this memoir, which is certainly not the case in several other "memoirs" I have read (see review of "Headhunter One Kilo"). I believe this is a well-told tale, and very unpretentious in its writing. This is a worthwhile read. "Airborne!", Mr. Holland, and thanks for your service to our poor, foundering country.
Jaguar Six
4272318
While the author seems to know not the art of "writing", she really lays the truth on you, bringing many realities to life. The straight and unabashed truth. It illustrates the courage of one individual to have their story told.
3742890
Andy Robinson is a wonderful actor and a talented writer. I read this book and almost immediately reread it. The story of his childhood is raw and his telling of it is painfully honest, and this holds true throughout. I highly recommend this book.
3425588
Mark has written an authentic first-person account of his journey up and down the mountain.  It's good to see genuine feelings here, honesty for what was seen and regret for what he could have done.  Given how much climbers rely on help, it's ironic how little thought or support they're able to offer their fellow climbers. But that's self preservation for you, I guess.  It's also terrifying to read the proximity these climbers have to actual dead bodies littering the route, and yet they pass struggling climbers with little thought - as though their deadened minds can't connect the dots.  I feel like you've provided the 'emotional truth' lacking in many other narratives, many of which portray climbing and summitting with a sort of gung-ho gusto.  Enjoyable authentic read with many compelling  photo illustrations.
866812
Before reading this book I had a pretty clear picture in my mind about how an abusive relationship forms - generally starting long before the abused and abuser meet, by way of an abusive background for one or both of the parties involved. This story reminded me that the "why" of a situation can't always be easily squared away in a nice, neat little stereotypical package. I feel there very well may have been some abuse in Ed's background that contributed to his issues later in life (along with the possibility of inherited addictive tendencies), and while there wasn't any obvious sign of abuse in Dan's background, there appeared to be signs of mental illness - another "no-brainer" contributor to an unhealthy relationship. These observations can possibly "explain away" the abuse on the male side of the equation. But how did Kathy find herself in these hurtful, unhealthy relationships? I found myself in a similar marriage, but with a chaotic and abusive upbringing, there was little question as to my "why"; I fit neatly into the mold. What reading this story made me realize, is that finding the answer to that "why" question is insignificant in relation to finding the answer to HOW to stop the cycle. Kathy has done a beautiful job sharing with us her journey to enlightenment. I commend her on her courage to share with such honesty. These difficult lessons, unfortunately, are not typically learned quickly and easily (as often portrayed in fictional tales). Real life includes the nasty, nitty-gritty of the learning process - much more time than we want, stumbles, missteps, frustrations, distractions, and wavering faith. It is only with the honest sharing of tales such as this that others can learn from our experiences AND find hope that even if they're currently struggling along their own path, they, too, can find their answers and prevail. While I was heartbroken for the woman who suffered through too many trials in her younger life, I left with a strong hope. Any woman who can share such a beautifully written, honest tale certainly communicated just as well with her children, thus ensuring foundational growth of their own abilities to communicate, create healthy boundaries, and lead the dance of their own relationships. Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your very important story with us!