Personal and Intriguing
599420
Shadow Divers gives a different perspective to Chowdhury's "The Last Dive".  This is also a must-read if you are a diver on the east coast.  The personal stories of the two overly dedicated men that gave everything for a WWII wreck makes for an unbelievable read.  Great book.
3526910
Reading this book after having visited Dachau in Germany added a human touch to the history. It's one thing to learn of the horrors of the past from a museum decades later; it's another to get a glimpse into the personal side.

The author doesn't dwell on the grisly details of the Holocaust, but neither does she gloss over the atrocities. Instead, she has written a book that recognizes history and the fact that life goes on, in some form, for the survivors. She has done so with compassion, insight, and subtle humor.

I found that I got so involved with the story that it was hard to stop reading. The characterization of I. Joseph Kellerman's patients is spot-on. Each one is a distinct personality so familiar, I'm sure I've met them all at some point in my life.

From the perspective of the psychiatrist's office, we get to see the vulnerable and troubled side of both patient and doctor -- the side hidden from the outside world. As we watch, the patients talk, the doctor appears to listen, and the receptionist is ever-present.

This is an engaging novel that serves as a reminder that the people around us each have their own private stories that have contributed to who they are, for good or for bad, but in the end, there's hope.
1975630
Personal Musings was an easy read. Very enjoyable and left me with the strong desire to reread it again soon. At less than 80 pages, its a quick read with clever story telling as the author recalls major events in her life. I recommend it highly.
1227569
Fascinating look into a part of the private life of two people and the circumstances of another period in time.
4115241
This was a fascinating and moving book. There are three separate stories that gradually come together.

At first there is an unidentified woman in a coma who remains unidentified for months and the efforts of her doctor, Charlotte, to keep her alive after others at the hospital who were advocating taking her off life support. Keeping her alive and trying to identify her became an obsession for Charlotte. Then there was the story of Raney and Bo who became childhood friends under difficult circumstances. Their relationship is quite touching. Charlotte has a boyfriend/lover who is a writer who also has a background of a difficult childhood; their sometimes emotionally distant relationship and the reasons for the ambiguity also are gradually revealed.

The intriguing and emotionally touching descriptions and plots of their lives really pull the reader into the story. In the end we learn of a surprising physical/medical condition that is essential to solving the mystery of the identification of the comatose woman.

I don't want to reveal more, but if you both like mysteries and reading about the complicated lives of people as they grow up, you will surely like this book.
3778337
This is a deeply personal and powerful memoir about Scott's complicated and disappointing relationship with his family, primarily his father and how his choices have affected everyone else. In addition to being a compellingly told story, it asks some profound questions and makes some keen observations regarding the relationships we all have within our families and whether we are living up to our own ideals. Scott's unflinching look at his own journey and willingness to share the experience may just give you the insight and courage to face your own questions and doubts.

I backed this on Kickstarter and received a pre-release version which I read in a single sitting on a long plane ride. It made me think, and it made me feel.
904751
I Enjoyed the personal story telling aspect of a horrific disabling event of realistic portions! Intriguing self reflection while reading.
1955988
I really enjoyed meeting "Perfie" and being an insider as she grows up, finds love, and becomes the strength of her family as she struggles through the great depression, Worlkd War II, racism, and the trials of leaving the safety of her home and family to make life better for her young family.  She meets some interesting people along the way and these together with the faascinating members of her extended family makes an enjoyable read.
3374550
I was immediately drawn in to the story of Dianne, as told by her husband, children, lover, and friends.  The revealing of many intimate details, normally not told outside the family, was very well handled and quite captivating.  When it concluded, I was left with a desire to know more about Dianne and her relatives.  Would highly recommend for anyone interested in examination of family relationships.
4013071
Reading source material provides an intimate look into a person's life, without filtering (except, of course, for what documents have been chosen by the editor and the filtering the writer does when putting thoughts down on paper.)  These letters show you how long it took for Julia's first book to be published, and how much work she and her co-author put into the project.  But this was most interesting to me to learn more about Julia's personal life, as well as that of Avis, through their friendship.  And it made me very curious to learn more about the McCarthy era of 50's US politics, as well.

I recommend this book not only to cooks, home and professional, and chefs, but also to anyone wanting an intimate glimpse into the friendship of two interesting women during a dark period of US history.
958596
An intriguing look into the behind the scenes personal life of Jefferson and his extended family - as it might have been. I normally read non- fiction, but this book grabbed my attention right from the start. I could not put it down, a literary treat.
3036102
Not only does the writer take us on an interesting journey of relationships (with his wife, his adolescent son) with details of individual natures, but also on the journey he takes us which the husband hopes will repair his marriage and persuade his wife to stay with him. A fascinating journey through cities and countries where we share his angst along with the galleries, monuments and sometimes amusing, sometimes rather tragic scenarios. Another page turner, as long as you don't get too frustrated with the husband being a little pathetic at times.
3195287
I don't want spoil anyone"s journey thru this story.  It is worth the read.  A very personal glimpse into growing up and growing as a person.
1542853
i was not able to really follow the story, and that was a little frustrating, but i came away grateful that i had the opportunity to glance into the most personal depths of a man's mind.
drescher's images conjure up dark feelings, yet they are fascinating in their seeming honesty.
I recommend this book for people who enjoy personal looks at artists.
3063510
A well written and rivting account of a young woman's journey to free herself from the shackles of a traumatic past. The writer simultaneously tells a moving and deeply personal story inside an important and intriguing historical story while providing a map for deep healing of family relationships.

Highly recommend.
2996540
About halfway thru this book I didn't want to read farther because I was getting bored by the book, but I'm glad I pushed thru to the end.  The last hundred or so pages are both intriguing as the author uncovers more and more about her parents' past, and a wonderfully compelling story about a daughter's love for parents and family in the wake of revelation upon revelation that things were darker than they seemed.  Reviewing a book like this where the element of surprise is a key player in the narrative constrains what one can write compared to discussing the book with someone else who has read it.  So while I won't go into specifics, I will say that the book starts out by depicting a putatively normal life. Unfortunately while Mascia is a gifted writer, her gift is not for narrative writing.  I never got a sense of time or place as she describes her family and childhood; rather it seemed like a jumble of stories and observations.  It is only at the tail of the book that her wonderful writing ability can be seen, when she both unravels a mystery and weaves within a searingly honest and touching essay on family and love.
1753454
Very intriguing! A personal insight into a history of China's one child policy. Not something I normally read , but the perspective and history grabbed my attention. Would recommend.