We Love Memoirs discussion

The Devil's Teeth: A True Story of Survival and Obsession Among Great White Sharks
Author: Susan Casey

3 Stars = It was okay. I don't regret reading it.

(The may not be, technically, a memoir, but it sure reads like one, as it focuses on Susan quite a bit.)

I liked this book ... not too sure I would like the author, though. Her actions caused severe, negative repercussions for the biologists, and the research program.

The parts where she focuses on the sharks, the history of the islands, and local characters, was good. The parts that focus the spotlight on Susan ... who is a bit of a drama queen ... not so good.

If you like sharks, if you like learning a bit of history, then you'll find things in the book to enjoy.

The following spoiler will enlighten you as to Susan's actions I mentioned earlier in this review.
(view spoiler)[A quote from ScienceBlog, "Unfortunately, the author's selfishness and immaturity turn what could have been an otherwise educational and informative story about sharks and shark research into a tale of obsession -- an obsession that results in a 60-foot sailboat being lost at sea, seriously compromising one scientist's career and destroying the other's, and ruining the Great White Shark Research Project as well as radically altering the course of valuable and much-needed research into the lives of these mysterious and misunderstood animals. It made me wonder if the untold obsession was on the part of the "shark guys" since they inexplicably risked their careers to invite a silly, superstitious drama queen into their midst on the islands -- illegally. Curiously, Casey does such a poor job developing the scientists' personalities beyond describing their perfect muscle tone and passion for surfing that Pyle and Anderson were sadly interchangeable throughout the entire account -- like furniture, actually."
https://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientis... (hide spoiler)]

One Woman's War and Peace: A Nurse's Journey in the Royal Australian Air Force
Author: Sharon Bown

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

Pretty good book about a nurse in the Australian Air Force. She is deployed to East Timor, Bali, and Afghanistan. She also faces a lot of personal challenges, including being in a helicopter crash. She was even asked to speak at the 2014 Australian War Memorial's ANZAC Day Dawn Service.

If you like military memoirs, especially from a woman, or a nurse's, point of view, you may enjoy this.

Lucky Man: A Memoir
Author: Michael J. Fox

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

“The ten years since my diagnosis have been the best ten years of my life, and I consider myself a lucky man.” ~ Michael J. Fox

This is Michael's first memoir. It was published about 4 years after he announced to the world his diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease. By the time he told the world, he had already been dealing with it for 7 years. It is a memoir about Michael, not a book about Parkinson's Disease, but you will learn facts about PD, and the hard choices he had to make as he dealt with it.

The book covers his childhood, alcoholism, marriage, kids, TV/movie career, and the 10 years he had spent with Parkinson's Disease. He seemed to be very sincere, honest, and totally upfront, about his life.

Thanks for your honest review!

Susan wrote: "Thanks for your honest review!"

You're welcome.

Holy Ghost Girl: A Memoir
Author: Donna Johnson

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

I both liked, and disliked, this book. I liked it because I admire anyone who shares their evangelist Pentecostal upbringing with the world. Most folks have no idea what goes on under those big tents, or inside those tongue-talking churches. Well, I do, having spent far too many years allowing myself to be held in that doctrine's sway.

I disliked the book because I was hoping it would be a much deeper exposé of this type of church, and its inner workings. Donna barely skims the surface. As with any group of fanatics, a lot of harm is done in the name of 'religion'. If you're raised in it, you're already facing an uphill battle to free your mind from the dogma. I am very glad I am no longer affiliated with, nor influenced by, these people.

Reunion in Barsaloi
Author: Corinne Hofmann

3 Stars = It was just 'okay'.

This is the third book in Corinne's trilogy about her life in Kenya, Africa. I've read the first two, The White Masai, and Back from Africa. In a nutshell, first book = she marries a Masai in Kenya, second book = she leaves her husband, and Kenya, with a daughter from the marriage, third book = after 14 years, she visits Kenya (without the daughter), and reacquaints herself with family/friends there.

I didn't find any of her books very compelling, but they were interesting enough for me to finish reading them. As I said in my review of Back from Africa, she's got a money-making-machine going, who am I to tell her to stop writing?

Blacktown
Author: Shane Weaver

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

Shane Weaver grew up with an abusive father. Thankfully, he also had the love of a strong woman, his mother. Shane wrote this when he was in his 40s, looking back at his childhood, his Australian boxing career, his alcohol and drug use, and how he eventually managed to turn his life around. In fact, he became the creative director of one of the world's biggest advertising companies.

A Child Called 'It': One Child's Courage to Survive
Author: Dave Pelzer

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

I know there is a controversy as to whether Dave is telling the truth in this book, or not. I know his brother wrote a book (A Brother's Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse) that corroborates Dave's memories. On the other hand, some of his relatives say that he was the problem, not his mother.

It is written from the viewpoint of Dave as a child, which may be why some readers find the writing to be childish. Not sure if he intended it to be that way, or if he truly is just a terrible writer.

Almost everyone I know was abused as a child, including myself, and, yes, unspeakable things do happen that when written down make some folks say, "Oh, that couldn't have really happened!". I beg to differ. It can, and it has, to far too many children.

So, if Dave suffered even 50% of what he wrote, he was still horribly abused. If every word is the truth, then he's lucky to be alive, and fortunate to be sane.

A Mighty Heart: The Brave Life and Death of My Husband, Danny Pearl
Author: Mariane Pearl

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

"The task of changing a hate-filled world belongs to each one of us." ~~ Mariane Pearl

A very moving book written by Mariane Pearl, the wife of murdered Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl. She, and her husband, both journalists, were dedicated to the idea of making certain that the public be an informed public. Sometimes that involved taking risks to get a story. Sadly, one day in 2002, Danny gave his life for that dedication.

Mariane's prologue says it all.
"I write this book for you, Danny, because you had the courage of this most solitary act: to die with your hands in chains but your heart undefeated.

I write this book to do justice to you, and to tell the truth.

I write this book to show that you were right: The task of changing a hate-filled world belongs to each one of us.

I write this book because, in suppressing your life, the terrorists tried to kill me, too, and to kill our son, Adam. They sought to kill all those who identified with you.

I write this book to defy them, and in the knowledge that your courage and spirit can inspire others.

I write this book to pay tribute to all the people who helped and supported our family through terrible times, creating an emotional bridge for us to stand on.


I write this book for you, Adam, so you know that your father was not a hero but an ordinary man. An ordinary hero with a mighty heart. I write this book for you so you can be free."

Monsoon Rains and Icicle Drops
Author: Libby Southwell

3 Stars = I liked the book.

First of all ... beautiful cover! Libby is an Australian who goes on a journey, after she experiences the death of her fiance, and other friends. She visits China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Tibet. The book is as much, or more, about her thoughts/feelings than it is the travel.

African Nights
Author: Kuki Gallmann

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

Kuki also wrote I Dreamed of Africa, which I gave 5 stars. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much. Almost ... so, it gets 4 stars. This book is a collection of stories of her experiences in Africa. I do like the way she writes. An intriguing storyteller. She has a great attention to detail. Her emotions are shared clearly, outlined sharply, and speak to my heart. She clearly loves life, and Africa.

Justice for Bonnie: An Alaskan Teenager's Murder and Her Mother's Tireless Crusade for the Truth
Authors: Karen Foster and I.J. Schecter


3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

After Karen's daughter, Bonnie, was murdered, she went through 17 YEARS of hell trying to get a straight answer from the police, trying to keep Bonnie's case fresh in the minds of the public, not to mention the grieving that she, and her family, suffered. This is one mother who never gave up. Very compelling read.

Also, Alaska changed their DNA Laws to "Collection of DNA on All Felony Arrests" in 2007 in honor of Bonnie (Bonnie Craig Amendments).

Bonnie Craig, Karen's murdered daughter

The Silent Twins
Author: Marjorie Wallace

3 Stars = I liked the book. I'm glad I read it.

Interesting biography of identical twins, June and Jennifer Gibbons. They spoke only to each other, using a secret language. All their movements were synchronized. Things became stranger, and stranger, as they matured. Eventually, they ended up in a psychiatric facility in Berkshire, England, called Broadmoor Hospital.

Through interviews and the twins' diaries, novels, poems, and short stories, the author tries to understand who these young women were. Their prison diaries were filled with minuscule, perfectly neat writing, each page held about 4,000 words! (see photo)