For a world of devoted readers, a much-awaited new volume of absorbing stories and inspirational wisdom from one of our best-loved writers.Dedicated to the daughter she never had but sees all around her, Letter to My Daughter reveals Maya Angelou’s path to living well and living a life with meaning. Told in her own inimitable style, this book transcends genres and categories: guidebook, memoir, poetry, and pure delight.Here in short spellbinding essays are glimpses of the tumultuous life that led Angelou to an exalted place in American letters and taught her lessons in compassion and fortitude: how she was brought up by her indomitable grandmother in segregated Arkansas, taken in at thirteen by her more worldly and less religious mother, and grew to be an awkward, six-foot-tall teenager whose first experience of loveless sex paradoxically left her with her greatest gift, a son.Whether she is recalling such lost friends as Coretta Scott King and Ossie Davis, extolling honesty, decryin...

#Deep Harsh and Truthful (2008-11-20) An inspirational life changing story, that give truth and a look at reality all at the same time. Changed my view of life and my entire demenor.

#Above what I expected (2008-11-18) Letter to MY Daughter, was a great read. I wasn t expecting to read about Maya Angelou s personal life, but I am very greatful that she felt it within her heart to tell women of all races and cultures some of her lifes experiences. Thanks for considering me your daughter!

#Prose, Poetry and More! (2008-11-15) I have never heard of or read the writings of anyone with the honesty and creativity of the one who penned this book. Yes, I knew she was creative because I heard the poem she wrote for Bill Clinton s inauguration. Yes, I knew her presence on that platform meant she walked with, even if she didn t keep company with, the elite and powerful. But it was only when I read this book that I knew her humility and grandeur as a human being and poet. Her biography says she is more -- a cook, a funeral preacher, professor, musician, accomplished linguist...

#Read, be inspired and be courageous! (2008-11-14) This is the perfect book! At only 166 pages, it is short but every single page is filled with interesting stories and valuable advice. I recently read a quote that said, Timid women don t make history. Maya Angelou lives her life boldly and with courage and has been making history for many decades. There are too many inspiring stories to mention them all but below are some of the lessons that I will carry with me as a source of inspiration. * You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduce...

#Letter to my Daughter (2008-11-12) I ordered several copies of this book to share with friends. It was an easy read that is full of wisdom, and is worth re-reading. Maya Angelou never disappoints--she is thoughtful and insightful.

This beautifully written, heartfelt memoir touched a nerve among both readers and reviewers. Elizabeth Gilbert tells how she made the difficult choice to leave behind all the trappings of modern American success (marriage, house in the country, career) and find, instead, what she truly wanted from life. Setting out for a year to study three different aspects of her nature amid three different cultures, Gilbert explored the art of pleasure in Italy and the art of devotion in India, and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. By turns rapturous and rueful, this wise and funny author (whom Booklist calls “Anne Lamott’s hip, yoga- practicing, footloose younger sister”) is poised to garner yet more adoring fans.

#Reading this book was just a waste of time and money! (2008-11-23) I really expected a lot more from this author as her book was advertised all over and became popular. I thought it can teach me something I don t know. But the whole thing was about this woman s shallow thoughts and feelings here and there and her boring journey with her exaggerating some unimportant happenings in her life and making an annoying cliche out of them. I forced myself to finish this book and could easily throw it in the garbage afterwards. I don t recommend it to anyone.

#Full circle (2008-11-20) This is brilliantly written in that it captures the emotion of the author giving the book substance. The narrative from beginning to end is clear. This is a book about transition , and none the less transformation , and solitude in the arm s of non medication, meditation. We see Elizabeth Gilbert transform from none the less a convoluted neurotic woman disturbed by a life awakening, a relationship break-up, to a very calm and peaceful soul by the end of the book. This book goes from low to high. Highly recommended.

#An Insult to Thinking Women Everywhere (2008-11-20) Sadly, the fact that this book is by a woman mostly aimed at women is embarrassing. This book was planned by the publisher and by the author, it was no true journey of the soul but more like a carefully crafted publicity angled journey. Gilbert has a problem with the Bible, but easily accepts the doctrines (teachings) of her Guru, the Balinese medicine man, and others, including written Hindu scripture like the Upanishads. The only doctrine Gilbert has any problems with is that which denies that there are many ways to God or tea...

#Love Hate Relationship (2008-11-17) I was loaned this book from a neighbor who also told me that the author was a selfish, self absorbed sorry excuse for a woman. . . but she also added it is very interesting because of her travels. . . Thus began the love hate relationship for this book. . . The authors style is witty but sometimes on the verge of droning. You want to read more about the mozzarella but then you endure through the self pity. The descriptions of Rome are enchanting as are the thoughts of leaving your life to simply learn a new language and indulge in a romantic cul...

#Not for everyone but highly recommended for some of you! (2008-11-17) I really enjoyed Eat Pray Love. I was shocked by how open the author was about her personal story. It s obviously not for everyone (see the range of reviews here) -- I think people who identify with some of the author s experiences will enjoy it more. I recommend giving it a try, if you do connect with her you ll probably find the story, and its lessons, very appealing and maybe even life-changing.

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Vowell explores the Puritans and their journey to America in The Wordy Shipmates. Even today, America views itself as a Puritan nation, but Vowell investigates what that means -- and what it should mean. What was this great political enterprise all about? Who were these people who are considered the philosophical, spiritual, and moral ancestors of our nation? The people she finds are highly literate, deeply principled, and surprisingly feisty. Their story is filled with pamphlet feuds, witty courtroom dramas, and bloody vengeance. Along the way she asks:• Was Massachusetts Bay Colony governor John Winthrop a communitarian, a Christ-like Christian, or conformity s tyrannical enforcer? Answer: Yes!• Was Rhode Island s architect, Roger Williams, America s founding freak or the father of the First Amendment? Same difference.• What was the Puritans pet name for the Pope? The Great Whore of Babylon.Sarah Vowell s special brand of armchair histor...

#Interesting history, but a bit too wordy (2008-11-20) I ve been a longtime fan of Sarah Vowell. Unfortunately, this isn t my favorite book of hers. What I really love about her other books is that I can pick them up, read a chapter or two, put it down and come back to it a couple of weeks or months later and read a little more. The chapters tend to be self-contained little stories. She dives in for a little taste of something, explores it, add some anecdotes and then moves on. This book is different in that it s all one in depth look at the Massachusetts Bay Puritans, well, more...

#Great for lovers of Vowell, the rest should give her a chance (2008-11-20) I have listened to other audiobooks by Sarah Vowell have enjoyed them all. Her voice can be a little jarring for those who have only listened to honey-toned narrators of audiobooks. What makes it so important to hear these books in her voice is the obvious love of her subjects. Vowell s specialty is bringing to life what were previously obscure moments in history. In the Wordy Shipmates she tells the story of 17th century New England Puritans and their battles with themselves and the native Americans. She ...

#Sarah Vowell Explains It all To You! (2008-11-20) By All I mean the Puritans, the founding of the Massachussetts Bay Colony, and the subsequent role these events had in the development of the United States and the strange and wonderful notion of American Exceptionalism. And she manages to make it funny and interesting, no mean feat in my opinion. I became interested in this book after seeing her on The Daily Show. I thought she was amusing, and Jon Stewart was clearly smitten with her, so when the opportunity arose for me to listen to The Wordy Shipmates, I jumped at the chance. ...

#Entertaining History (2008-11-20) As a descendant of the Puritans I was glad to see Sarah Vowell follow-up her wildly successful Assassination Vacation with a book about these founding fathers. As a fan of Vowell s work on NPR I knew I d be in for a fun read. But don t go thinking this is just a narrative history book. If kids could learn American history from books like this, they d be enthralled and never skip class. Vowel somehow manages to weave present day rock stars such as Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones into 17th Century New England history. She ha...

#Not my cup of tea, but I appreciate the effort involved (2008-11-18) I ve seen Sarah Vowell on the Daily Show and thought she was pretty funny. I always planned to buy one of her books but never got around to it. This may have been the wrong choice for me because I am not a history buff at all. But I can totally appreciate the effort and knowledge that went into writing this book. I give her four stars for the work alone. I found the subject matter pretty boring, and I never would have finished this in book form. But since I could listen to this audiobook on my commute to wo...

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children s imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn t stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an excitement addict. Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the fami...

#Deeply Disappointing (2008-11-21) After reading so many positive reviews for this book, I was deeply disappointed by the content and writing style. The four-word sentences and atrocious punctuation were torture for me. The author may have wanted the memoir to be from a child s perspective but the childish writing style was simply too much to bear. And this from a professional writer? Easily eighty percent of the commas could have been deleted from this book with only beneficial results. Also I found the book to be completely incredible. Walls describes in detail lighting he...

#One of the best books I ve read in 2008 (2008-11-20) Walls writes with a keen eye and a warm heart, I could not put this book down. Easily on my top 10 list, I plan to give this book to those readers on my Christmas list. Highly recommended!!

#an amazing story of courage and perserverance. (2008-11-18) This tear jerking tale was one that brought tears to my eyes. The fact that the tale is true is just as amazing as Janette Walls herself. Many people go through times in their lives where they need courage, and if they are lucky they find it. Janette Walls had a childhood and adult life that have both called for an abundance of courage. Infact it seams that was the one constant in her life, she is a person of amazing strength in both living her life and telling this humbeling story. I will keep this book forever and read it...

#Cant put it down!!!! (2008-11-18) Cant stop reading it and I am totally carried away by the value of Wall s family. The story is so touching and full of energy. Thumbs up!!!

#Best Book all year (2008-11-15) The Glass Castle is the best book by far I have read all year. I couldn t put it down one of those I can t believe she survived books! It is a wonderful story, tear-jerker, a must read and a great book club book, you will definitely come away with your own sense of thankfulness for your own well-being.

Author Barbara Kingsolver and her family abandoned the industrial-food pipeline to live a rural life—vowing that, for one year, they’d only buy food raised in their own neighborhood, grow it themselves, or learn to live without it. Part memoir, part journalistic investigation, Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is an enthralling narrative that will open your eyes in a hundred new ways to an old truth: You are what you eat.

#Pretentious and preachy (2008-11-13) I really wanted to like this book. I agree with the author in that as a culture we ve clearly gotten out of touch with living off the land and have become a fast food society. But I struggled to even get through the first chapter. The tone of the book is much too preachy and pretentious giving it a holier than thou feel. It s hard to get past that.

#You Take the Good, You Take the Bad (2008-11-07) I m only halfway through Kingsolver s book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, so it s possible I will have a skewed opinion. Anyway, Kingsolver opened my eyes to the plight of America s food problem. I d heard of things like HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), but I d never given it much thought. I sure will now. I appreciated her discourses about the garden, the cheesemaking, etc. The information about transportation costs, etc. given in the sidebars by Steven Hopp was excellent. I will, without a doubt, make many considerations in re...

#True Inspiration (2008-11-01) This book was a complete inspiration to get better connections with our food. As years go on, it seems we ve gotten further and further away from thinking about where our food comes from. This completely dials you in to the locavore movement, and just enjoying cooking/gardening again or in a new light. A great read for anyone who cares about what they put in their body!

#Don t Believe the Hype (2008-10-27) While the author makes many valid points about the benefits of consuming locally grown food, she is guilty of one (literally) fatal error: eating animals for food is neither necessary nor healthy for humans, the environment, or, of course, the animals themselves. Moving from a vegetarian diet to a flesh-based diet is not progress, either physically or spiritually, and teaching children that slaughterhouses are bad, yet killing and eating animals whom they know is perfectly acceptable, is unconscionable. Not only is our flesh-based diet destroyi...

#Terrific book! (2008-10-24) Barbara Kingsolver has struck a wonderful balance among educating readers about gardening, slow food, food science and telling a great tale of a family s adventure of local eating. The recipes are great, too!What a revelation to learn that we have all been anesthetized by the large corporations, whether they be the corporations that produce processed food, or the seed companies with their genetically modified terminator genes in the seeds. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and we have already made changes in our food shopping. Wish this great book were still ...