It All Changed in an Instant: More Sox-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure- Smith Magazine (ed)

It All Changed in an Instant: More Sox-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure

Smith Magazine (ed)

Harper, Jan 5 2010, $12.00

ISBN: 9780061719431

This is a fun, often irreverent, with many poignant entries in this entertaining succinct memoir collection.  The selected contributors use six words to describe their “thoughts”.  With commentary like Edward Doerr’s “Age twenty-tree, scored pallbearer’s hat trick” or “Wife away, pizza today, diet tomorrow” by David Logan, the audience will empathize or laugh with some as for many of us they hit home.  Others are sad like Noema Abbott’s profound “Tiny son dying in my arms”.  Best read leisurely over several weeks, It All Changed in an Instant is entertaining yet deep as summed up by Lisa Anne Auburch’s “Everything I touch turns to mold” and Brooke Marie Gorman’s “Story of my life? bad timing” as compared with the ultimate optimist Phil Skversky when he says: “Alzheimer’s meeting new people every day”.  Readers will appreciate the short and snappy deep collection that includes classic concise Yogi-isms while making up their own – even the shopping list, I critique.

Harriet Klausner

Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour

David Bianculli

Touchstone, Dec 1 2009, $24.99

ISBN: 9781439101162

Although the biography primarily focuses on the famous TV show that nuked the then boundaries of television, there is more to this solid look at this groundbreaking show.  David Bianculli opens with a section on the childhood and early steps of the brothers entering the entertainment world until their key appearance on the Jack Paar show.  However, it is the deep look into each show and the battles with CBS and with other members of the show over what can be said or used on the air that makes this a fascinating biography.  Finally the ultimate tribute to Tom and Dick Smothers besides bios like this one is how far they opened TV with current satire that tore into the establishment.  The show was killed in its third season in 1969, but Mr. Bianculli makes a strong case that its influence remains stratospheric today in Stewart, Colbert and Maher.

Harriet Klausner

We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals-Gillian Gill

We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals

Gillian Gill

Ballantine, Feb 23 2010, $18.00

ISBN: 9780345520012

 

This is a fascinating biography that turns upside down the love story of Queen Victoria and her consort Prince Albert as they cherished one another while battling for dominance of their relationship, which denoted dominance of the British Empire.  In other words the early period until Albert’s death could easily be labeled Albertan-Victorian age.  Prince Albert was a classic example of employing a defense mechanism of being everything his family was not and not being anything they were.  Thus he came across as prim, proper and starched, which ironically set the future’s look back at the Victorian Age are his belief on how a ruler should behave.  He kept his Queen seemingly pregnant all the time and was a major supporter of science and technology.  When he died in 1861, Victoria grieved her loss for several years.  However, when she finally moved on, the Victorian Age blossomed as if the student had learned from her late master while she described his virtues and buried with him his faults.

 

This is a terrific biography of the nineteenth century’s most powerful “power couple” as each thrived in their love and rivalry, especially Victoria.  Gillian Gill makes a strong case that Albert was in some ways her mentor as much as her partner.  With numerous illustrations and letters included, fans will relish this profound fresh look at We Two: Victoria and Albert: Rulers, Partners, Rivals.

 

Harriet Klausner

Heart of Darkness-Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne and Susan Krinard

Heart of Darkness

Gena Showalter, Maggie Shayne and Susan Krinard

Harlequin HQN, Jan 2010, $7.99

ISBN: 9780373774319

 

“The Darkest Angel” by Gena Showalter.   Lysander is well known for being unemotional and perhaps the best demon slaying angel.  He is one of the Elite Seven warriors of the One True Deity.  His current target for death is Bianka Skyhawk, a daughter of a Harpy and a phoenix shapeshifter, but mostly a killer who is of Lucifer’s bloodline, but he must remain patient until she breaks heavenly law.  Instead his desire for her is killing him as he has never wanted anyone for the many millennia he has lived; yet she is inside his soul.

 

“Love Me to Death” by Maggie Shayne.  Twenty-two years ago in Port Lucinda, Maine, the teens (David, Brad, Kevin, Randy  and Mark) were drinking cheap booze near the abandoned old Muller Place and commiserating about being dumped or their girls being away when they set it on fire. They did not know that Sierra Terrence took shelter there and died in the inferno. Now over two decades later someone who seems to be Sierra from the grave haunts the five men who killed her and their loved ones.

 

“Lady of the Nile” by Susan Krinard.  In 1890 London, the memories of ancient times have led Lady Tameri to believe she is the reincarnation of an Egyptian princess.  Leo Erskine knows she is wrong and plans to prove to her she is just a lovely Victorian lady.  However, neither the believer nor the skeptic is prepared for the prophecy that ties them in love forever.

 

This trilogy of urban romantic fantasies with differing spins will elate fans especially with the bonuses of a Lords of the Underworld tale and a sequel to Ms. Krinard’s Lord of Sin.

 

Harriet Klausner

The Angelic Way: Angels Through the Ages and Their Meaning for Us-Rami Shapiro

The Angelic Way: Angels Through the Ages and Their Meaning for Us

Rami Shapiro

BlueBridge, Nov 2009, $15.95

www.bluebridgebooks.com

ISBN: 9781933346199

 

Rabbi Rami Shapiro looks deeply at angels in religion and mythology.  The major religions share in common several similar traits though has some differences.  One thing the Rabbi emphasizes that is common amidst the world religions is the role of angels is to help guide people closer to God and with one another as everyone is linked with everyone else.  He also provides an intriguing chapter on Satan The Fallen Angel who “existed” a full millennia before Jesus anchored as a key part of the Zoroastrian religion with his being God’s opposite ( assort of Yin and Yang – pardon the mixing of  beliefs).  As fascinating is the chapter on humans going the opposite way by ascending to heaven rather than angels descending to earth; people like Enoch, Elijah, Isaiah, Rabbi Ishmael, Mary and Muhammad are some of those included.  In the Old Testament, angels play major roles as God’s agents including Satan whereas Christianity takes the position that Satan is evil trickster able to fool people to act in his image.  With other chapters including angelic sightings by key figures of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, this is a rounded fascinating look at what angels have meant over centuries though the prime emphasis is on the Hebrew; as the author is a rabbi.

 

Harriet Klausner

Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage-Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Remember How I Love You: Love Letters from an Extraordinary Marriage

Jerry Orbach and Elaine Orbach

Touchstone, Nov 2009, $23.00

ISBN: 9781439149881

 

This is a combination memoir and poetry book as Elaine Orbach tells the audience about her marriage to the late actor Jerry Orbach, starting with how they met in the first half of the biography.  That section is interesting but nothing extraordinary.  The latter half of the book consists of short poems that for the most part are lighthearted ditties that the late actor scribbled on a cat calendar before a shooting.  His wife Elaine would read and enjoy them before tossing them into a tureen.  At his funeral several were read in loving memory and eventually led to the book.  Is this great literature?  No as some of the entries are inane, others poorly written and few complex beyond simple rhyming.  Yet the poems are inspiring and enjoyable.  Readers will who appreciated Law and Order will relish seeing another side of the actor; his love for his beloved Elaine as the couple reminds us how important it is to tell your loved ones you care while they still can appreciate the mental hugs.

 

Harriet Klausner

 

Grace After Midnight-Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grace After Midnight

Felicia Pearson and David Ritz

Grand Central, Nov 13 2009, $13.99

ISBN: 9780446195195

In Baltimore, Felicia Pearson was born to a drug addict.  Although the infant mortality rate is high for that class of baby, she survived overcoming illness.  She was raised by foster parents who cared about her, but she could not accept their loving kindness.  Instead she turned to the streets where she worked the crack trade under the tutelage of “Uncle” and “Father”.  At fifteen she killed a woman in self defense but spent several years behind bars.  At the same time Uncle is killed street style and father goes to jail for life.  Not wanting to emulate them any longer, upon parole Felicia accepts work on an assembly-line but her criminal past kept her from going straight.  The Wire saved her in a Hollywood only happy ending as Felicia Pearson keeps the hope alive fueled by the regrets of the harm she had caused.

 

This autobiography pulls no punches as Felicia Pearson tells her past with an open eyed honesty; not often seen in memoirs.  Using street vernacular, Ms. Pearson leaves nothing to the imagination as she explains her street life childhood in spite of a loving foster mom and Pop.  Profound and profane made even deeper by the street vernacular, Ms. Pearson has in deed come a long way from working the corners to Hollywood, but has not lost who she is.  Grace After Midnight is inspiring for it’s in your face from the heart honesty.

 

Harriet Klausner

Rules of the Game-Neil Strauss

Rules of the Game

Neil Strauss

!T Books (HarperCollins), Oct 2009, $16.99

ISBN: 9780061911699

Although the book is focused on becoming a successful pick up artist, it actually is a well written relationship primer on interrelation dynamics regardless of gender and scenario.  The book is divided into three sections.  The first “The Stylelife Challenge” consists of breaking bad habits and replacing them with good routines.  This needs to occur over thirty days so as Mr. Strauss points out follow the instructions strictly and read each day the applicable section over the month in order to kick out the bad and bring in the win.  The second chapter “The Routines Collection” is perhaps the most applicable to the male PUA as it describes different pick up scenarios.  To us targets, this section is amusing as women will recognize some of the trite devil spawned pick up tries and some new at least to this retired target.  The third and final chapter “The Style Diaries” once again is useful to kick any bad habit as keeping score is critical regardless whether it is to meet women or diet.

Not for everyone but more than just for those penis envy wanting to play the Game played at the level of a master PUA, Rules of the Game gives easy to read and applicable tips though difficult to achieve dynamics. A successful relationship depends on get ridding of the bad habits by replacing them with good ones.  Mark Twain said: “It’s easy to stop smoking. I stopped a thousand times.”

Harriet Klausner

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me Lisa Fineberg Cook

Japan Took the J.A.P. Out of Me

Lisa Fineberg Cook

Downtown, Oct 20 2009, $15.00

ISBN: 9781439110034

Jewish American Princess Lisa F. Cook accompanied her husband when he accepted a teaching position in Japan.  Used to the pampered life of the wealthy of Beverly Hills, Ms. Cook was in for culture shock following the business flight from California.  First instead of a luxurious private residence, they moved into an apartment.  Second she suddenly became a domestic engineer struggling with things like laundry and cooking she took for granted that someone else was paid to do back in Southern California.  Adjusting proves a nightmare even when she is rewarded with nirvana, a washing machine.  Ultimately, Ms. Cook begins teaching English as a second language, which she finds satisfying.

Although much of the memoir reads like an uneven diary with fits of jerky input; when Ms. Cook digs deep beyond the trials and tribulation of a Yank in Japan into how she feels about aspects of the Japanese culture, the book contains profound passages.  Overall, readers will mostly enjoy the efforts of the author and her husband finding ways to make both of them contented with life as a self anointed J.A.P. trying to initially survive but ultimately thrive in Japan.

Harriet Klausner

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress: A Memoir of Going Home

Rhoda Janzen

Holt, Oct 2009, $22.00

ISBN: 9780805089257

This is a fascinating memoir of a woman at forty who was still recovering from a car accident that disabled her from lifting her right arm over her head.  However, that proved minor to her husband Nick dumping her after fifteen somewhat volatile years together.  He ended their marriage to be with Bob, who he met on the Internet.  Realizing with his departure that she was a co-dependent who encouraged his behavior because she could not leave, Rhoda Janzen moved back into the home of her Mennonite parents.  There she creates her 12-step program to help her move on even as she looked back to the religion she was raised in but abandoned.

This is a terrific memoir that uses self deprecating humor to both enlighten the reader on helping oneself through tough times and most critically lighten somewhat the emotional strain and stress of difficulty with jocularity.  Rhoda Janzen does so by taking the audience back to her Mennonite roots as only a skeptic can appreciate chilled borscht as a gourmet dessert instead of a soup served cold.  Although the appendix “A Mennonite History Primer” seems an awkward padded addition that feels out of place, Ms. Janzen proves you can go home when loved ones are there to welcome you with mental and physical hugs as long as you are remember the unwritten unmentionable criticality of what is expected from you: “polish your floor with your ass”.

Harriet Klausner