Book Description
In the tradition of Jo Ann Beard's "Boys of My Youth" and Mary Karr's "The Liar's Club," Paula McLain has written a powerful and haunting memoir about the years she and her two sisters spent as foster children. In the early '70s, after being abandoned by both parents, the girls were made wards of the Fresno County, California, court and spent the next 14 years in a series of adoptive homes. The dislocations, confusions, and odd pleasures of an unrooted life form the basis of one of the freshest memoirs to be published in recent years.
McLain's beautiful writing and limber voice capture the intense loneliness, sadness, and determination of a young girl both on her own and responsible, with her siblings, for staying together as a family.
Customer Reviews:
couldn't put it down.......2005-12-14
Paula McLain's account of her childhood is compelling reading. I am deeply concerned with the dismal state of the foster care system and the impact of it on our community's children. I have also been a foster parent. Ms. McLain's writing is powerful and personal, a beautiful and touching memoir allowing the rest of us to experience the abysmal consequences of parenting taken too lightly (by biological parents or misguided fosters or officials entrusted with responsibility). The reader does not have to have a specific interest in this topic to be moved and gain value and insight. Ms. McLain takes full responsibility as an adult to have her own life work, even with the vestiges of her childhood forever present. No whining here, which makes it all the more powerful. A quick read, highly recommended.
One of the best books ever written telling the story of a tough childhood.......2005-07-31
Paula McLain's book is excellent. It deals with an extremely tough subject in an honest, heart-wrenching, sometimes funny, but never "feel sorry for me" manner. It was well worth every second I spent reading it.
Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses.......2005-03-01
Paula McLain's Like Family is a riveting story of three girls' lives as they move from one house to another in the Fresno, California foster care system. Many altering factors lead to the girls' entry in the foster system, including the imprisonment of their father, the abandonment by their mom, and the incapability of their grandma to take care of them for long. The girls deal with many different obstacles in their foster homes including strict rules, sexual exploitation, and deprivation of water! The life-altering events are written in extremely descriptive and graphic detail that capture the reader's attention and don't let go. I'm not normally a reader of non-fiction novels; I generally find more interest in fiction books. However, as soon as I opened this book to the first page, I discovered that even non-fiction books could be entertaining and enjoyable. I couldn't put the book down, from start to finish. It was a dramatic, funny, emotional book that I would recommend to any girl or woman (Guys wouldn't like it much, I'm sure!).
Terrible Story Wonderfully Written.......2004-12-28
What sad, sad childhoods the three sisters in Like Family had. This compelling tale may break your heart or inspire you to become a GOOD foster parent; what it won't do is leave you unmoved. Read this beautifully written book and weep.
American foster care nightmare with a bittersweet ending.......2004-10-26
Poet Paula McLain's memoir of growing up among foster families because of her ex-con unreliable father, and a mother who took off for the movies for sixteen years, is an American tragedy with a bittersweet ending.
McLain's characters, the people she meets during her harrowing journey through a foster-care system increasingly gone mad, are both abusive and pitiable, criminally unfit to be their own children's parents, and yet as adrift as Paula and her two sisters, Penny and Teresa. McLain's prose is a long-overdue love letter to her wry, spunky, strong personality, the children and families rebelliously proud of their differences in mainstream America, the love coming from real parenting such as McLain's father's ex-wife Donna, McLain's churchgoing Granny, and the kindly Fredericksons, a foster family for the McLain girls, the forgotten Americana of the 1960's and 1970's, the heartbreak of teenage girls looking for love in sexual embraces, and most of all, the unbreakable bond between McLain and her sisters, Penny and Teresa, who are as fascinating as she is.
Even McLain's absent mother, who returns miraculously out of the blue, as often happens in real life, gets sympathetic treatment. A brilliant, complex memoir.
Book Description
Hailed as a memoir of unexpected beauty and arresting power, LIKE FAMILY tells the story of three young sisters who are abandoned by their mother and father and raised as wards of the Fresno County, California, court. McLain's unflinching recollection of being shuttled from foster home to foster home across 14 years manages not only to skirt self-pity but-astonishingly-to strike a universal chord, capturing the loneliness, uncertainty, and odd pleasures that are the very essence of adolescence.
Book Description
Andy Russell, two-time Super Bowl champion and seven-time Pro Bowler with the great Pittsburgh Steelers' teams of the '70s, writes about his career and his teammates on those great teams. Russell writes, "The stories about my teammates are not a recounting of their many records, awards, and other sporting achievements, but instead recollections of some of my personal interactions with them." Lynn Swann, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Chuck Noll, Jack Ham, Rocky Bleier, Jack Lambert, Franco Harris, and others are included.
Customer Reviews:
Devoted Steeler Fan.......2000-05-03
Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!
Devoted Steeler Fan.......2000-05-03
Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!
Devoted Steeler Fan.......2000-05-03
Being a Steeler Fan, I have read both Terry Bradshaw's and Rocky Bleir's books, and while I found them interesting, I didn't get quite the feel for the individual as well as the game from their books as I did from Andy Russell's. I am not just a fan of the sport of football, but a fan of the players. As a fan of the individuals, I like to know as much about them as possible. Everything from their childhood and family life, through high school and college, because all of that has an effect on their football career and what they bring to the game. Andy's stories about his life after football give us a perspective on the good effects that the commraderie and competitiveness of football can have on the rest of your life. I particularly enjoyed the chapter which tells of his visits to combat areas in Vietnam. The American soldiers in the various hospitals had the same reaction to American football players. I totally understand that reaction - meeting A Pittsburgh Steeler so far away from home helped the soldier forget the harshness of war for just a few moments and go back to all that is good in the world - good old American Football!
The Christmas Present of the Year for sports lovers........1998-11-11
This is the story of a former NFL All Pro linebacker going on a journey of self discovery after retiring from the game. Along the way he reminisces about his famous teammates: Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Jack Ham, Rocky Bleier and others. He and his Steeler pal, Ray Mansfield, take Lynn Swann and Mel Blount around the world, giving speeches from Hong Kong to London, and sports clinics for young people from Singapore to Jeddah while still finding time to develop his international investment business. Two stories tell of dodging bullets on a USO tour of Vietnam and Thailand with ex-congressman Jack Kemp, Bobby Bell, John David Crow and Bill Brown. Along the way the adventurer team of Russell/ Mansfield test themselves on a wilderness canoe race in Canada, on mountain tops in Nepal and barely make it out of the Grand Canyon. The writer, a sensitive sort, who struggles to find himself after leaving the game gives the reader a first hand look of what it was like to be on the field with the world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. This book is an easy read--one that will keep the reader rivited to every story.
Average customer rating:
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Andy Russell: A Steeler Odyssey
Andy Russell
Manufacturer: Sports Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Memoirs
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Football
| Biographies
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Biographies
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Football (American)
| Sports
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1582615950 |
Book Description
Limited Leatherbound Edition. Limited to 500 copies. Signed by Andy Russell, Joe Greene, Rocky Bleier, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham and Mel Blount. Includes certificate of authenticity. Andy Russell, two-time Super Bowl champion and seven-time Pro Bowler with the great Pittsburgh Steelers' teams of the '70s, writes about his career and his teammates on those great teams. Russell writes, "The stories about my teammates are not a recounting of their many records, awards, and other sporting achievements, but instead recollections of some of my personal interactions with them." Lynn Swann, Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Chuck Noll, Jack Ham, Rocky Bleier, Jack Lambert, Franco Harris, and others are included.
Average customer rating:
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The Cinema Of Gosho Heinosuke: Laughter Through Tears
Arthur Nolletti
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Direction & Production
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
History & Criticism
| Movies
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Japan
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Special Groups
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Performing Arts
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 0253217253 |
Book Description
Who knew…that the original name of The Rolling Stones was The Brian Jones Blues Band, or that some members of ABBA couldn’t speak English and had to learn their songs phonetically? No rock fan will be left singing “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” after reading this! Twenty-five lists reveal those groups with the oddest names, haircuts, hit songs, and even deaths as well as insider’s gossip on such things as the most outrageous demands made by divas and bands.
Customer Reviews:
What fun!.......2002-10-23
This is a fun book with great stories. I enjoyed the writing and the selection of events in "history."
This definitely my stocking-stuffer for the holidays.
Ordered several copies.......2002-08-25
i enjoyed this book so much, I just ordered copies for all of my music-loving friends. Very fun read.
Book Description
Help Ryo continue the quest he began in Shenmue!
·Detailed maps of every area
·Walkthrough of every vast locale that Ryo visits
·Complete moves and combat list with hit points and damage info for Free Combat mode
·All item locations
·Solutions to all puzzles
·Killer minigame strategies
Customer Reviews:
Shenmue 2 .......2006-02-07
Pretty good. I dont think its as good as the Shenmue 1 book, but still good enough. Gots all the tips and side events in it. All you could want to know and beat the game! Very good and recommended. Worth the buy.
Good guide overall.......2002-12-13
Having trouble with Shenmue II for XBOX or deciding to play through it again to see the things you may have missed the first time around? If this is the case, I'd recommend this strategy guide. It does a good job of detailing the various events and side-quests that may not be immediately obvious when you play through the game yourself.
Where this guide loses points is that it does not compare to the phenomenal Prima guide that was published for the previous game in the series (Shenmue 1 for the Sega Dreamcast). That guide was ultra detailed, packed with photos and bios for EVERY single character. While Shenmue II is a much larger game, for whatever reason there are only character bios for the main characters, no photos of the special items, and some pretty sparse details as far as fighting moves and how to beat some of the tougher bosses are concerned. While this may not be a big deal for gamers who just want to finish the game, many Shenmue fans will be turned off as this is a VERY deep series with many complex plot developments and interesting characters.
While it isn't the guide I had initially hoped for, I would still recommend it as the authors do a good job of breaking the game down chapter by chapter and also offer some helpful strategies that will help you maximize the money you earn in the game and so on. Seeing how this is the only guide for Shenmue II, there really is no other choice.
Book Description
Shenmue is the must-have stunning epic adventure from Sega's creative genius, Yu Suzuki! Shenmue promises to up the ante for all adventure games to come. Featuring gameplay elements that include RPG, adventure, and fighting, Shenmue breaks all the rules as you follow Ryo Hatzuki's investigation of his father's murder.
Shenmue: Prima's Official Strategy Guide offers complete strategy, including:
A rundown of each character's story
Step-by-step instructions for each event
An inventory of all items, by type and location
Strategies for all mini-games
Fighting tips and techniques
3D maps with all areas and items mapped out
A sealed secrets section which includes the game's dramatic ending
Customer Reviews:
Shenmue Strategy Guide.......2006-02-07
Really good. I bought this after I beat the game. And used it to find all the "Side Events" and extras. Its good for people that want or need help during the game and for people that want to find the extras etc. One cool thing is that in the back you can see ALL the characters in Shenmue and it has a little description on them. So its good. Very good walkthrough book. Definately worth the money.
THE GREATEST GAME EVER.......2001-06-16
this game has a five star graphics, gameplay, and plotline. the graphics are like real people. the fighting scenes are great. in this game you can go to an arcade and play those games!! the plot is great and if fun to go to the city and get info and find all this stuff about the murder of ryo's father's death! this is a must bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Must have for SHENMUE fans.......2001-05-06
This is a great strategy guidebook for SHENMUE. It really covers a lot of information in the game. I've already played SHENMUE all the way through and I thought i had covered everything in the game. Wrong! There is a lot that I misssed! There were things in the game that you could get that I just didn't know about. For instance you can win a couple of Sega Saturn games as prizes for Ryo's Saturn at his house!
I recommend you to read this book after you've already gone through SHENMUE at least once. You'll be suprised at how much you may have missed. It may even make SHENMUE even more rewarding the second time around.
If you loved SHENMUE as much as I did, then this book is a must have!
A class-act guide by Prima.......2001-03-24
I've had a lot of issues with Prima not delivering a guide with all the info that it could of had. Prima's guides frequently do not deliver all but the bare essentials and can be poorly put together, but the Shenmue Official Strategy Guide does not follow tradition. From start to finish, the guide is absolutely packed full of information regarding the game and solutions to the many puzzles within it. Full, complete, well designed color pages document each event as it should happen with exact date, time and location, along with full color screen shots. It also includes complete index's of all the bonus items you can collect throughout the game and where to obtain them, as well as a full index of all note-entrys that can be imputted into Ryo's journal. As well, it features complete biographys taken from Shenmue Online, that include virtually every single individual you see in the game, regardless of weither you're ever able to interact with them or not. This is not a guide to pass up, and even if you're not one for cheating, it's virtually impossible to see all there is to see in Shenmue without this kind of a guide. A must have.
Excellent Guide.......2001-01-08
This one is one of Prima's top guides. It is very well put together and it did exactly what I buy guides for: To help me when I am really really stuck.
The amount of information in this book really is staggering. There are individual profiles for just about every character in the game, right down to their blood type!
But what really makes this guide great is the vast amount of extras! From strategies for the arcade games, to a complete list of the mini-collectibles, this guide is loaded. It also includes a very clever "sealed section" which I greatly appreciated.
The bottom line is that if you like Shenmue, this is the ultimate companion
Book Description
How to Be Your Own Literary Agent takes the mystery out of book publishing for any writer, published or not. Richard Curtis -- a top literary agent for more than thirty years -- provides a comprehensive practical overview of the publishing process, from submissions to contract negotiations to subsidiary rights to marketing, publicity, and beyond. He also gives away trade secrets and invaluable wisdom -- candid advice that can be found nowhere else. Now completely revised and expanded, How to Be Your Own Literary Agent is essential reading for all writers. * Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, e-publishers: how to keep up in a rapidly changing business * The new breed of busy literary editors: how to find them and know what they're looking for * What the electronic revolution means to you, and how to take advantage of it * How to know your "publishing" rights and negotiate effectively * How to have a say in your book's design, jacket, and promotion * How book chains and superstores have altered publishing -- and what that means for you
Customer Reviews:
Great Book for New Writers Breaking In.......2007-09-19
This is a wonderful book that describes the business side of literary agencies, publishing houses and the relationship between the two that makes the publishing wheel go round. He offers loads of contractual tips and explainations of your rights - which is very important.
I read his book when I was shopping my own book Never Trust A Man In Alligator Loafers. I still refer to it and brush up on contract knowledge and rights.
If you're wondering if you need a literary agent - my answer is yes!
An essential for writers .......2007-05-12
The title is a bit misnomered since in effect an author cannot be his own literary agent and to access editors at the major publishing houses the screening of a representative is now required by most. That aside, the book is a treasury of essential insider information for not only the newbie but for an author like myself who after having seven books published is still struggling to get his work into print.
Very Informative, Packed with Information.......2006-03-27
Writers, find out about the business-side of writing with this easy read.
Find out how Agents decide which projects to take on and which to return with note: "sorry, not interested." And if a publisher wants to make a deal with you, find out how to understand the contract.
Best,
Shalla
www.shalladeguzman.com
To help writers understand the publishing industry.......2005-07-30
The title "How to be Your Own Literary Agent" may be misleading for some people, who may take it to mean that by reading this book, one can skip the need of querying for agents. It doesn't help you get published; it says you still have to have agents to get into big publishing houses, but it does give an insider detailed view of the agent business and the publishing industry.
For the aspiring writer, most of the information is interesting but not useful, as the book itself admits - who in the world dares to bargain with the editor anyway, when he is ready to kiss the editor's feet for agreeing to publish his first book? However, for people who wish to become professional writers, such knowledge will certainly come in handy after one becomes published.
The book reads smooth and is extremely funny, making it a pleasurable bedtime reading. I finished it around 3 a.m. with a sore neck. For example, Mr. Curtis mentions this client who claimed to be a mafia hit man. As a result, he had little trouble getting his royal check on time - he'd simply call the publisher and say "if my royalty check ain't ready by noon tomorrow, I'm gonna marry you to a plate-glass window." (p.114)
As one can imagine, the publisher was quick to meet this guy's special needs. Then one day the poor guy was found shot dead outside some motel. Mr. Curtis didn't think the publisher did it.
I highly recommend this book to any writer.
If you write.......2005-07-28
If you write and consider selling your work this is a must read.
Books:
- Lilibet: An Intimate Portrait of Elizabeth II
- Madame de Pompadour: Mistress of France
- Marie Antoinette: The Journey
- Marie Antoinette: The Last Queen Of France
- Mary, Queen of Scots: Pride, Passion and a Kingdom Lost
- Merchant Prince: The Story of Alexander Ducan McRae
- Michael and Natasha: The Life And Love Of Michael Ii, The Last Of The Romanov Tsars
- Money Secrets of the Rich and Famous
- Mrs Keppel and Her Daughter
- Nicholas And Alexandra: The Last Tsar And Tsarina
Books Index
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Like Family: Growing Up in Other People's Houses, a Memoir
ORPHANS OF THE LIVING : Stories of America's Children in Foster Care
A Child Called "It": One Child's Courage to Survive
Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China
The Shadow of the Wind
