Category Archives: Biography

American on Purpose: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot (Audiobook)

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51-B5b8TfNLAmerican on Purpose CD: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot written and read by Craig Ferguson is a journey through addiction, punk rock, and early Scottish comedy clubs.

Craig takes us through his three marriages, various attempts at careers, and the birth of his son while bringing his unique comedic flavor to all. Some bits are a bit treacly, but that is to be expected in any autobiography that is, at least, a bit about redemption.

We learn about Craig’s time as a punk rock drummer. His living with enemy cats, and a character called “Bing Hitler.” He takes us through his childhood fascination with music and entertainment all the way to how he ended up on late night television.

There were many detours along the way. Some of those detours were darker than others. This is the story of a man who took his time finding out where he belonged – at least for now.

Through all of American on Purpose CD: The Improbable Adventures of an Unlikely Patriot, Craig unfailingly talks of his love for America (USA). His was a lifetime love affair that led him to New York and California.

I recommend this audiobook. There is nothing like listening to a Scot talking about his life – especially when said Scot is a great comedian.

My Life In France

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Julia Child’s biography, My Life in France (Movie Tie-In Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books), captures her life with her beloved husband, Paul Child, and her introduction to what would become her life’s work.

After living through the Pacific theater during World War II as an OSS agent, Julia found and married Paul Child beginning a life in the Foreign Service that led them, fatefully, to Paris, France. There, Julia found Le Cordon Bleu – with all of its grandeur and warts – where she learned the love and work that makes French cooking quintessentially French.

51zxFhTyLvLThis is a story of a couple who found joy in living despite setbacks and heartbreaks that are only hinted at throughout the book – as well as the story of how a woman comes to her life’s calling. Julia and Paul came late to marriage, and dealt with all that that implies. Surviving the post-WWII European economy on a government salary with the stress that the post-war fear of communism brought within government circles was certainly not for the faint of heart. Without stating it, the support and love Julia had for Paul – and vice versa – shines through the pages.

Le Cordon Bleu was only a gateway to friendships that brought about the creation of The Art of French Cooking – Julia Child’s first major cookbook. Not a wealthy couple, Paul and Julia chose to befriend the local Parisians and find their way into the hidden treasures that only the bourgeoisie would know, after all, who can really afford to eat grand cuisine every day?

The fact that Julia’s major accomplishments were as a cookbook author, teacher, and tv personality, shows within this book that has no actual recipes. As she describes the various meals that were failures and successes it is as if the aromas overcome your senses. The descriptions of the food, ingredients, and cooking experiences – even without the recipes – are a major strength of the book. Of course, science has shown that smells are the fastest way to our memories. There are few things as amazing as the aroma’s wafting from a master cook’s kitchen – even if only in the imagining or remembering.

My Life in France (Movie Tie-In Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books) was written in conjunction with Julia’s nephew who had to complete the book after her death. This book looked only at France and the beginnings of the series The French Chef. It barely touches on time in other European countries leaving a desire to know more of the Child’s adventures.

One unexpected pleasure are the many photographs by Paul Child interspersed throughout the book. The photos captured the sense in each chapter of what was happening to the couple and Julia. This is one of the times where photos were very well used within a non-fiction book. I admit to believing some very fine thought was put into the selection of which photographs would be included.

My Life in France (Movie Tie-In Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books) is a book that anyone who wants to be inspired should read. It really shows that when we are open to possibilities there is no way of knowing what life might bring. How many women in their 40s find their life’s calling? Julia Child did and serves as an inspiration to anyone who finds a passion in life.

Silent Sorority : A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found

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Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos Silent Sorority: A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found is the book to hand your family and friends when they think fertility treatments are guaranteed to work – and you learn they don’t for you.

Now, a disclaimer, I read a couple of earlier drafts. I may be biased to like the book because of that.

The book has three basic sections. The first section is about who Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos is. Starting with her growing up in Metro Detroit and going all the way through the blow-by-blow of fertility treatment at Stanford’s REI. She begins to convey the effects these procedures and their failure take on a couple. She also manages to convey the difficulty of choosing to continue or stop treatments.

51HBgjGEW0LMs. Tsigdinos describes the seeming eternal hope of success that a procedure with only a 20 to 30% success rate (depending on the patient population measured) brings. You experience all of this with Ms. Tsigdonos. Her high hopes that turn into devastation with each successive treatment failure.

Silent Sorority: A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found finds the voice so familiar to readers of Ms. Tsigdinos’ blog http://www.coming2terms.com/ in the second and third parts of th book. The second part of the book examines the emotions that surround being childless through infertility in a society that is baby obsessed. She conveys the feelings of being the outsider always looking in at those who have managed to have children – some even now having grandchildren – that those who were unable to have much wanted children feel.

Ms. Tsigdinos addresses why people make the choices not to pursue other family-building options by simply telling stories that demonstrate rather than tell why something may be right for one person but not another. Her story about friends who have built their family through multiple adoptions shows that adoptive parenting is not the same – it is not lesser – as genetic parenting. There are additional issues that not everyone is prepared to tackle, nor should they be pressured into them. The book conveys the deeply personal nature of family-building choices.

Pamela Mahoney Tsigdonos’ take on the ‘Momzilla’ phenomenon is demonstrated by the fading of a friendship when the friend cannot separate her identity from her children. When asked to talk about the things that are about her, she continually reverts back to the stories of her children. Why is it impossible for a certain breed of even career women who happen to be moms to talk about something other than being a mom? I have friends who are stay at home moms who can engage in adult conversations that do not involve their children. Tsigdinos’ stories don’t berate, they show.

The final part of the book, Silent Sorority: A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found, goes into how Pamela Mahoney Tsigdinos reclaims herself from the devastation of infertility. Her blog, http://www.coming2terms.com/, is the vehicle for her recovery. It attracts women from all over the world who were not successful in conceiving. Many are grateful for finally finding a safe place to open up about not being the perfect IVF or adoptive parent. No, these are those who failed in those endeavors and had to redefine life after decades or more pursuing an elusive dream. Some have lost careers, others have even lost marriages. Luckily, Tsigdinos found strength from her husband who has stuck by her through all of this, and, it seems, their marriage bond has become even stronger.

Yes, Silent Sorority: A Barren Woman Gets Busy, Angry, Lost and Found is the book to hand to those who think ART always works and being a childless couple is always a choice.

Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair

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Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair
Crazy Aunt Purl, the blogger, has written a book many middle-aged women can relate to – even if they are not drunk, divorced and covered in cat hair. Crazy Aunt Purl’s Drunk, Divorced, and Covered in Cat Hair: The True-Life Misadventures of a 30-Something Who Learned to Knit After He Split is one of those books that will not take long to read. It talks about how women reinvent themselves and make both bad and good decisions.

Laurie Perry does not repeat her blog here. It is a different take on her growth from divorced and defeated to single and soaring (with knitting needles). Truthfully, from other reviews, I expected more. I am not a follower of the Crazy Aunt Purl blog – or the Yarn Harlot, for that matter. The book did keep my interest though while I was on bed rest.

There are two parts to the book, the biographical story and a series of patterns. I was, honestly, disappointed in the patterns. You can find very similar patterns online for free. I would have hoped for something a bit more challenging or, at least, unusual. I probably will not be using any of the patterns, but that is not the reason for grabbing this book.

Laurie effectively shows the friendliness of the knitters. Even coming out to California for medical stuff I had to go to local yarn stores and every single one had friendly customers and staff. (You cannot keep a knitter or crocheter from yarn.) The women who knit will be your true blue friends if you let them.

I know that my own Michigan Craft Night group is a varied group that still manages to provide support for all of us. Even with very different life paths and goals! Now, not all of us are knitters, but there is something about crafters that make them supportive of one another. I’m glad Laurie’s friend made her discover knitting and the world of crafty women (and men).

One of the nicest features of the book is the list of book discussion questions she provides.  It is interesting to see how Laurie sees herself within the confines of the book and its discussion – and how she expands it to include larger issues.  This would be a fun book for a book discussion at a Craft or Knitter’s Night.  We all gossip at our get-togethers, why not knit and discuss books?