Breaking News Books

This was a candid autobiography by Greg Louganis. It discusses his struggles with coming out of the closet, being pushed to the limit by his father and diving coach, an abusive relationship, prejudice, being tested HIV positive, and other ordeals he had to live thru to get to where he is today. I learned a lot about Mr. Louganis by reading this book and hope you will too. It was that good.

Breaking the Surface is an autobiography of Greg Louganis's life. Louganis talks about the problems he encountered throughout his life and how he had to overcome them. He also talked about his accomplishments. His friends and family were there along the way, to protecting him from the world and the ones who tried to manipulate him. In this book Greg Louganis displays acts of courage and a true sense of self.
Louganis did a nice job writing his autobiography because he discussed his ups and downs. He didn't try to make himself look better than what he was. He just told the truth even if it was dissatisfying. Breaking the Surface has its flaws, like reading points of his life that maybe you didn't want to know about. Many people can relate to this book and Louganis was a one of a kind athlete that should be honored and held high. After reading Breaking the Surface you will appreciate your life and have more respect for other people and what they go through.

This book was about an Olympic diver that overcame many life difficulties such as is sexuality, depression,ect.. As an athleate Greg Louganis was the best diver ever in U.S. history. I thought this book was very interesting because i got to see how homosexual people view life. This book is easy to read and i think many people could relate to this book such as athletes or just people.

The reason that I first read this book was that I wanted to read a book written by a gay author. I knew nothing about Greg Louganis or the fact that he smacked his head during the Olympics. All I knew was that he was gay and was a swimmer. I checked it out from the library and ended up reading it in two days, which is a record for me because I procrastinate.

Greg and Eric put together Greg's story very well, never once causing me to wonder what was going on. From the very beginning I was amused by Greg's thoughts and concerned although he was talking about something that had happened over a decade ago (seven years ago when the book was written). Greg did not tell his story from a casual perspective. He was upfront with his emotions and I felt like I really got to know who this guy was and I came to care a great deal about him.

Greg Louganis is the sort of person that should be admired and respected not only for his athletic and acting (let's just think about Jeffrey here...) accomplishments but for his strength and courage. For someone who used to have such a distorted self-perception he grew into a rather wise and very beautiful man. He tells his life story with such compassion, humour, and care that it's difficult to believe he used to think so poorly of himself.

This man is one of my role models and I highly suggest that anyone and everyone read this book.

It took a lot of guts for Greg Louganis to reveal his gayness to his family and to the public. I remember when it happened, how surprised I was. A little angry too- I didn't approve of such a lifestyle at the time. Reading these memoirs made me appreciate the struggle he and other gays go through. As an African-IN-America, I have my own struggle, so I could certainly relate. The book is inspiring because with all the hardships, Greg Louganis has found happiness. All struggles should yield such results! Power to you Greg!

Breaking the Girl is a wonderfully romantic read. It is very well written. The sex scenes were a bit scant, but the lead ups and the plot will keep you reading this book.

My eyeballs were burning, cause I could not put this book down. It was so damn good. I'm a freaky gal in bed anyways and when I read this it struck a cord inside me. After I finished this book I sent it to my husband in Iraq and believe me, when he came home on R&R we had some fun. The book has HOT sex, great story, and it just flows. And I love Frank! I dream about that man, he loves her so much. At the end, I was just moved by the love between them. BUY THIS BOOK...NOW!

when i first looked at the book i thought neah this won't be good, but when i started reading it, it blew me away. if your into bondage, and the man taking all control of you, this is a book that will press your buttons. very good, it brought my imagination to life. I read this book over and over again. You'll love the different places. the domination that she doesn't really know is taking place. It is just one of those books that you can't put down when you start to get into it.

Received this book in the mail tonight and truely didn't mean to start reading it. I just started flipping through the pages, fully thinking it would be something I would read for this coming weekend. But no Kim Corum dragged me into this story from the first page and wouldn't let me go. There was only one scene I was truely uncomfortable with and that was the section titled Bad Girl. I feel it really crossed the line. A woman vomiting from a spanking definitely means stop. In fantasy land, fine. But in reality if your girl is doing all this to get away STOP. You could go to jail. Other than that, the rest of the book was riveting and thoroughly entertaining.

But I did! This was my first reading foray into BDSM and I must say that I liked it. I enjoyed it enough to plan to check out the other books by the author.

Definitely a hot read.

A real eye opener for anyone interested in the future of our country (and the world). This book clearly illustrates how the United States has become the least democratic country in the western world. It is the responsibility of every U.S. Citizen to read this book, something the Democratic and Republican parties do not want you to do. After reading this book, you will know how to make your vote really count!

I don't think the founding fathers had an iron-clad 2 party monopoly based government in mind when this country was founded. In fact in was thought that the most intelligent and creative citizens would volunteer their time and energy to run the government and then return to their real vocation. What a distance we have traveled since those ideas. Robert Roth really tells it like it is, not like we hear it from the political parties. Our government is way out of control, when it cost $40 million to run for a primary in California's gubernatoral race and when big business can buy legislation almost on demand. It's time for change, and Roth's book sheds all the light we need to see how crucial and timely that change is needed. What an extraordinary book he has written and what a must it is for all of us to read it.

For anyone interested in third party politics, this book offers a good snapshot of the Natural Law Party, which, along with the Libertarian, Reform, and Constitution parties stands as one of the "major minors" -- often on the ballot, with a fairly professional operation. That said, much of the book drags, as Roth preaches about NLP views on several issues at great length, and gives short shrift to the party's actual plans for future electoral action. Perhaps silliest -- though most telling about what a minor party must face -- is a lengthy section about the creation and publicity of just one press release.

This is a very humorous and readable indictment of our political process. It manages to clearly present the ways in which our democracy is not in the least democratic, without whining or complaining. It also presents the startling and surprisingly realistic proposals of the Natural Law Party.

Bob Roth has done us all a great service with his highly readable, timely book that offers us a vision of a simple, practical way out of political gridlock and incoherence and into a more harmonious age. The new millennium is upon us. It is time we thought in new millennium terms, not in an obsolete paradigm that is bringing us down. Bravo for this book and the courage and promise it holds.

This workbook is worth the little money I paid for it. It is a must read over and over.

Excellent book and service from Amazon. Book arrived within the week in perfect condition.

The authors of this book set out to create a clear, understandable, up-to-date guide to assist those with OCD through the process of embarking on behavioral change. They begin by providing an overview of OCD symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. However, as they themselves state, the "heart" of the book lies in Part II, which outlines a self-help program for OCD called exposure and response prevention (ERP). Based on cognitive behavior therapy, the key components of this program include exposure to feared stimuli combined with response prevention of compulsive behaviors. The authors strongly focus on tailoring the intervention program to the individual. Various worksheets are used to help readers create exposure lists, prepare for response prevention, and maintain daily progress logs; both real life (in vivo) and imaginal ERP techniques are discussed. In addition, many examples are provided in order to address the differing presentations of OCD from one individual to another.

As a clinical psychologist, I believe that The OCD Workbook provides a well thought out, structured, and practical approach to managing Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and its often debilitating symptoms. Ideally, this work would be performed in conjunction with a therapist, but for readers who are self-motivated, this workbook is definitely likely to provide both concrete guidance and real benefits.

As a social worker, I'm working with an OCD client, and this book has been very helpful. We read it together and discussed the chapters. The book is comprehensive, easy to read, and has a healing tone -- not a pathological put down. This book can also be used by people not diagnosed with OCD. There are helpful hints on how to have a less stressful life and be more compassionate. You don't have to have OCD to be working too hard at some task and this books helps all with this dimension of living.

I've got the 1st edition when I was a Clinical Psychology trainee. And now I got this second edition after years of clinical practice. Changes weren't drastic ones, but they were nice one and vital ones.

User-friendly for practisioner, trainess, patients, or those who wish to get over the hard times with people having OCD.

WOW! What a great book! Stephanie tells her story with courage and grace. Her story is the story of everyone who experiences seizures or any disability for that matter. Her honesty and clarity are to be admired. She has hit the nail on the head when it comes to what it is like to live with seizures. I am one of those who can relate to the meaning of seizure confinement. But her book emphasizes the faith and restoration that can come when you act on your personal courage. If you are looking for a book to give you courage to encounter the fear of the unknown then this is the book for you. A MUST READ!!!

As Ms. Sawyers husband, I am repeating my previous review and changing my review up from 4 * to 5* Even since "Facing Me" was published, I have become more aware of the role societal influences, drug effects, and psycho/social effects play in the person struggling with epilepsy. My earlier 4 star (repeated below) allowed room for others to advance the review. They have appropriately done so, and I acknowledge the rightness of the 5 star rating.

For anyone struggling with epilepsy, either as a patient (as my wife) or as someone who loves an epilepsy patient, this is a must read. For anyone affected by a chronic medical condition, either as a patient or as a family member, it is a must read.
For the one carrying the heavy burden, you will hear the voice of one who has "been there." For those of us who deeply love one so afflicted, you will learn much of what it means to be in your partners shoes (something you must learn).
Twenty years ago, we would have given almost anything to hear this story from another. You should listen.

Here is my original review:

"An excellent tale of struggle with epilepsy (which mostly means struggling with society's view of epilepsy) and the self-accepted stigma which often accompanies it. This is not a technical medical story, as much as it is a patients account. As such, it is less involved with precise medical details than "what is it like" to go through metamorphosis. As the tale continues through brain surgery, and the author's effort to understand her place in the world without epilepsy, there is a freshness and genuineness which comes from a patient's point of view, illuminated by her faith in God's active presence.
A great read for anyone with a chronic medical condition, those in relationship with them, and for anyone who could use a dose of hope."

R. Eric Sawyer

Facing Me is the story of Stephanie S. Sawyer's struggle with epilepsy, a medical condition that takes many forms. Stephanie struggles with daily seizures that leave her feeling disoriented, humiliated and depressed. While she struggles to hold her world together, she starts to have a spiritual awakening that gives her the strength she needs to endure societal pressures and being fired from her job.

During a time in her life when she needs the most support, she endures misunderstanding, a lack of support from her community and overwhelming nights of the soul. After undergoing surgery she has new challenges, unexpected surges in her creativity and entire new worlds to explore. She is mentally unprepared for all the changes that start to occur, and as the seizures disappear, an overwhelming depression threatens to undermine all her previous efforts at healing.

Will her faith in God give her the strength she needs to overcome her fear and discouragement? Will the surgery be a success and will she be able to live a fulfilling existence and find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation?

Stephanie S. Sawyer's story is fascinating because she reveals many aspects about epilepsy that are essential for understanding the fear, struggles and discouragement this invasive challenge presents. Stephanie's writing is vivid, inspiring and informative.

Since 181,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year and ten percent of the American population will experience a seizure in their lifetime, this book is essential reading.

~The Rebecca Review

Facing Me is one of those books that you cannot start without finishing. If you put it down to go to sleep, the first thing you'll do in the morning is pick it up again.
Even if you're not much of a book reader, you'll find yourself clutching Facing Me, which details Stephanie Sawyer's personal struggle with Epilepsy. She displays incredible courage dealing with the disorder, the brain surgery she endured and the post-operative experiences that followed.
Epilepsy is a frightening disorder. It strikes anytime and anyplace. It can leave you exhausted and embarrassed and its threat is something the epileptic never forgets. The epileptic is on-guard every minute of every day attempting to hide a constant concern.
But in spite of the never-ending challenges, the author never gives up. She maintains a positive attitude, refuses to give up and has brain surgery. With the surgery comes depression, a dark and frightening ordeal when the simplest task can be overwhelming.
Five years after the surgery - just as Stephanie was certain her seizure disorder was gone for good - she had another seizure. The thought of another seizure after certain victory had to be devastating, but Stephanie didn't give up. She continued to share her musical talents, graduated from Moores School of Music in 1999 and has proven an incredible inspiration.
I know about Epilepsy and I also know about the surgery. I, too, suffered from the disorder and had the same surgery as Stephanie. That said, I can say first-hand that Facing Me is a phenomenal book written by a spirited and courageous person who has refused to give up against all odds.

Mike Henle, author

I had intended to save Stephanie Sawyer's Facing Me to read on an upcoming road trip, but I made a couple of mistakes. First, I took it out of the box; next, I opened it. Once I did this, I couldn't lay it down. This book is so compelling I had to keep reading. I think everyone at times feels inadequate, but to have had to overcome the stigma that this woman faced as a child and into adulthood, gave me a new insight into how much prejudice hurts. That she should have triumphed over this thing, which was so shameful her own family refused to name it, hiding it and her away until she could be "normal" again, gives hope to all who suffer from being "different," whether it's because of some physical or emotional impairment. Not only has the author overcome her epilepsy, she has used her experience to become the remarkable woman she is today.

A great insight into the world of the 'forgotten superheros', the people who deliver the news of the tragedies that occur. This is very interesting, giving lots of different points of view from across the affected area. It could have done with more pictures and photos, but the stories of the pressure-filled newsrooms paint a good enough picture to keep you interested throughout this book.

The authors do an amazing job of letting the stories stand on their own in providing readers with a rare and engaging look at how the press responded to a national tragedy. Even just one year later, Running towards Danger, is already an important piece of American history.

The photographs and the reporters' accounts of their September 11th experiences are a piercing and necessary reminder to all Americans of why the war on terrorism must be won.

From Library Journal Reviews ; October 1, 2002 Tuesday By Audrey Snowden
The Newseum, an interactive museum of news located in Arlington, VA, was operating as usual on September 11, 2001. After seeing smoke billowing from the ravaged Pentagon, its staff members immediately closed the museum and worked through the night assembling an exhibit of wire service photos from around the world. This book is the outgrowth of that initial exhibit. What sets it apart from the plethora of books on 9/11 is its focus. Told chronologically through 100 first-person vignettes and 75 powerful color and black-and-white photographs, the book covers the varied experiences of members of the press. Big-name anchors weigh in, but the stage belongs to the reporters and photographers who usually work behind the scenes. Authors Trost, a former Wall Street Journal reporter, and Shepard, award-winning media critic, provide a firsthand - and very human - look at the process behind the coverage, revealing how the immediacy of ongoing television and Internet coverage helped journalists, photojournalists, and anchors shape a nation's perception of a tragically unique day. A valuable addition, especially to school libraries. - Audrey Snowden, formerly with Clark Univ., Worcester, MA
Newseum with Cathy Trost & Alicia C. Shepard. Rowman & Littlefield. 2002. c.256p. photog. ISBN 0-7425-2316-0.

This is a round of fraternal applause for American journalists, who earned everyone's sincere respect on September 11th. Journalists from all levels of the profession who were on the story are interviewed. Their tales are then spliced up and laid out in chronological order, from onset to post-traumatic jitters. The professionalism on display here is absolutely superb. Most people have some idea of how hectic the job of getting the news produced each day is. Here we have the spectacle of these brave professionals getting the job done minus most of their familiar tools and surroundings, and plus a soul-sucking fear that they or their colleagues are about to die. No smirks, no condescension, no "women and minorities hardest hit" credentializing.

So is this book an adequate tribute to them? Yes. Can't go wrong. The text is punchy and hot-off-the-presses, and the photos really crackle. There is a problem, though.

The book seems to discriminate against Foxnews. Apart from a screenshot of Shepard Smith and a photo of a correspondent at the Pentagon, Foxnews is excluded from this collection. This is very strange, since Foxnews is based in New York and is the number four American news network, behind the networks and ahead of CNN. Could it be that the Newseum staff who edited this book don't consider those eeeevillll conservatives to be *real* journalists? That's a nasty thought, but what other explanation could there be? Even a reporter from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, in town for a fashion show and caught up in events, is quoted multiple times. To be sure, staff from the Wall Street Journal are quoted extensively, as their offices were hardest hit.

Apart from that, the book is gripping. The journos' professional instincts snapped into action. Taking to bicycling when traffic congeals, giving the cordon police the slip, phoning Mom to relay a report second hand, the ingenuity and dedication is impressive. There's also a seldom-reported sensitivity. Some reporters pitch in with relief efforts. Some cry along with the sobbing victims they are interviewing. There's only one case of a reporter getting the bum's rush, from some firemen who were trying to catch their breath.

We get all meat in this book. The actual TV broadcasts that day were teeming with hastily miked-up guests experts, helping the gabbling anchors fill air time until actual news got into their earpieces. But ever the pro, Peter Jennings signaled for silence on the set when the towers came down. No comment was necessary.

It might have been nice to include a story or two from a West Coast news outlet. When the attacks happened, I couldn't get into any of the national news websites. I finally connected to the Sacramento Bee's site. The webmaster was frantically posting up wire photos and rolling copy through, with what must have been a small, sleepy crew.

And then in a few weeks things were back to normal. NPR's Loren Jenkins blurted in an interview that he would "smoke out" and disclose the location of any U. S. troops on a secret mission, if it meant getting the story. The TV news people harrumphed at Fox for wearing lapel flags, fearing that the sight of the national flag on the set would signify support for the Bush administration and not the country as a whole. Reuters insisted on calling Arab terrorists "militants", and putting "terrorism" in skepticism-implying quotation marks. The liberal pundits covered the Afghan war like children in the back seat whining "Are we there yet?" New York Times editorial page editor Howell Raines concluded that the war on terror was Vietnam II, and used his page of that august newspaper to try to block further retaliation. But even with all its faults, the American press is mano-a-mano the greatest in the world. It's inspiring to see this record of how great it was on a day when it laid its faults aside.

As the Fleet Intellegence Officer of Admirals Kimmel and Nimitz Edwin Layton was in a unique position to see and to understand what was going on regarding the battles at Pearl Harbor and Midway. This welcome reprint to the 1985 book has to be considered one of the more definitive books of the couple of hundred on the subjects.

Layton was a language officer stationed in Japan before the war to learn Japanese. He followed Japan and the Japanese developments closely. He was at Pearl before the attack and remained there throughout the war. He was on the Missouri at the Japanese surrender.

There are a series of revisionist history books that propose such things as Roosevelt and Churchill conspiring to let the Japanese attack at Pears. Yes there is evidence that we had some intelligence pointing to the Japanese attack. But you have to look carefully at how much material there was, how many messages had been intercepted, how few had been translated and you come up with the basic understanding that it just hadn't been put together. A lot like the situation with 9/11, Monday morning quarterbacking is much easier than being in the midst of the game.

Layton was there, he knew what Kimmel and Short knew, indeed he had briefed them with the material on hand. Could they have been better prepared, yes, Layton says, if Admiral Richmond K. Turner had forwarded the information. But like any inter-departmental power struggle, Turner held the information to himself.

I was also surprised by the relatively little animosity shown towards the Redman brothers who bounced Rochefort and Safford out. Indeed Layton points out that the do it themselves style of Rochefort and Safford probably wouldn't have done a very good job of managing the Navy Radio Intelligence activities that grew to almost 8,500 people by the end of the war.

All in all, a must read for anyone interested in what happened at Pearl and Midway.

And I was there.
This is a great book by one who was there, Adm Layton. He was Adm Kimmels intelligence officer at Pearl Harbor.
He shows how the incompetence of the Navy in Washington led to the surprise attack at Pearl, by the Navy, specifically adm Stark and Kelly Turner, not giving Pearl the vital information they had about Jap intentions, but refused to give Pearl. The Navy also had 2 intelligence groups fighting for the information, and control, evaluating, and dissemination of the information. This too sabotaged the intelligence efforts, and does to this day.
Gen Marshall is also responsible for the debacle. He was reprimanded, but Roosevelt set aside the Congressional verdict on him.
Kimmel was judged not guilty of any wrongdoing by the Navy, but found derelict by Congress, a tragic miscarriage of justice, due to lies under testimony by Stark, and Turner.

The Redmon brothers are faulted too for ousting the most brilliant Navy intelligence officer, Rochefort, who correctly guessed the time and location of the Midway battle.

Another tragic aftermath of Pearl, was the loss of Wake Island. Kimmel had a carrier task force sailing to resupply and relieve the garrision that was under attack by the Japs. This would have surprised the Japs and could have sunk many Jap ships, saved Wake Island, and kept open the supply lines to the Phillipines. Unfortunaely, Kimmel was relieved, and Adm Pye replaced him Pye lost his nerve and cancelled the mission.

MacArthur is noted, as being in charge of the Phillipines, and being under orders to attack Formosa with his B17's when Pearl was attacked. He had a 9 hour warning after Pearl had been attacked, and had been told to attack. It was not until years after this book was published that the records of why Mac did nothing in the Phillipines were found. He was paid $650,000 by Pres Quezon of the Phillipines to do nothing, as he wanted to be neutral. MacArthur lost the Phillipines, a far more important strategic outpost than Pearl, as well as half the B17's we had, and 1/5 of our fighters, on the ground, just as what happened at Pearl, only 9 hours later, after he had multiple phone calls from Washington to attack the Japs.

The battle of Guadalcanal and other Pacific battles is also gone into in some detail
It was Nimitz, not Mac Arthur that devised the island hopping idea.
A great book by a hero who was there.

First and major portion of book covering Pearl Harbor is excellent. However, after Layton's death, the book was continued from his notes and descriptions of campaigns after Pearl Harbor suffer in quality by comparison.

Before you jump on some revisionist books about Pearl Harbor, like Stinnet's Day of Deceipt, you should get it from the horses mouth! Layton, et al, tell a little known side of the war in the pacific. His opinions of some famous naval personalities like Stark and R.K. Turner will really have you thinking about how war is run when powerful, ambitious officers are running the show. It's a shame that lives had to be wasted while the U.S. got its act together to finally win the war in the pacific, but Layton's tale will give you a new perspective and supports much of what was previously written, like Prang's "At Dawn We Slept", about the debacle of Pearl Harbor and the genius that followed at Midway. Buy it!

Edwin T. Layton served as Fleet Intelligence Officer for Admirals Kimmel and Nimitz. He, along with the other members of station Hypo, were assigned the task of breaking into Japan's secret codes, especially their JN-25 cypher. Through exhausting efforts by its members, they were finaly able to penetrate enough of the JN-25 code to make reasonable assumptions as to what the Japanese navy was planning. "Magic" was the term used for the intercept and decryption of these secret codes.

However, no decoding was actually done at Pearl Harbor, because there was no "Purple" decoding machine there. All intercepts had to be sent to Washinton for decryption, and Hawaii relied on Washington for their information. Layton's thesis is that Pearl Harbor was denied vital intelligence which, if issued in a timely fashion, could have alerted Pearl Harbor to the impending attack which occurred on December 7, 1941. Although I agree with some of his thesis, I also believe that the Pearl Harbor commanders made terrible mistakes of their own which also contributed to the unpreparedness of Pearl Harbor.

One message that Washington failed to send Pearl Harbor which I believe, along with Layton, could have alerted the fleet to the attack was the so-called "bomb plot" message. In a nutshell, this message divided Pearl Harbor into several sections and placed ships in each section; almost like laying an invisible grid over the harbor. Of all the messages that Pearl Harbor failed to receive, this was probably the most important.

However, with this stated, I also believe that the commanders made grievous errors of their own. On November 27, 1941, a "war warning" message was sent to both commanders at Pearl Harbor. Both seemed perplexed and unsure of the course of action to be taken. Why was this? Both Admiral Kimmel and General Short were high ranking members of the military, yet they both dragged their feet when they received this message. Short simply ordered defense against sabotage instead of ordering an all-out alert, while Kimmel failed to order any further long-range patrols, plus he didn't order the battle force to sea. They seemed incapable of making any independent judgement of their own. Instead, they needed to be told directly what to do. These omissions are unforgivable.

Inter-service rivalry also played a role in the failure. As pointed out by Layton, there was very little inter-service cooperation or sharing of messages, so most of the time, one usually didn't know what the other was doing. Further, during the Midway operation, a rivalry betwen station Hypo and the Washington-based intelligence unit nearly cost us the battle, but fortunately, Layton and commander Joe Rochefort were able to convince Nimitz that Hypo, not Washington, was correct.

I thought this was a good book, but I disagree with Layton's assertion that Kimmel and Short were scapegoats and had no clue what was happening. Granted, there was some intelligence that was definitely denied to them, but they should have been able to interpret events on ther own, namely the war warning message. This book is a good counter-argument to other works, such as "At Dawn We Slept". The information about the battle of Midway is especially interesting, plus the story of the codebreaking activities was well-done.

A brilliantly-written, moving book about the takeover of British-occupied Singapore by the Japanese in WWII.
This story is ingeniously told through masterful writing which is at times poetic, at times cryptic and always beautifully descriptive.
The superbly-drawn characters are utterly human, believable and many-layered. No cliches or stereotypes here.
This novel is political, historical, psychological, and deeply emotional. It seems to transcend time and place.

In the middle of "Breaking the Tongue", Vyvyane Loh repeats Somerset Maugham's warning that:

"'A work of fiction ... is an arrangement which the author makes of his experience with the idiosyncrancies of his own personality.' In other words, if someone messed with him, he'd write him into a story."

It seems that most of the ethnic groups in Singapore must have "messed" with this Malaysian author and she's written them into a mean-spirited parody of life in the island state during the 1940's.

At the center of the action are the Lim's. Father Lim is a sadistic snob, who evicts a homeless family from their temporary shelter in his drainage ditch. Mother Lim is a mentally unstable self-mutilator with the morals and varnished claws of a cat. Junior is a whiny adolescent. Little Sister doesn't have a speaking part, but her Confucian saint of a grandmother makes up for it by reciting large tracts of Sun Tzu at the drop of a hat. The various members of the family detest each other and that is the only part of the book that truly makes sense.

Alert readers will have noticed by now that "Breaking the Tongue" is a farce, not a literal history of Singapore. It didn't take any `courage' to write, just a lot of spleen.

Breaking the Tongue is a courageous, daring and unflinching account of the fall Singapore under Japanese invasion. Weaving the personal with the historical, Loh, has written an absolutely devastating account of the fall of the "the diamond shaped jewel of the Far East." The narrative centers on a young Chinese boy Claude Lim, who has been bought up along with his little sister to be totally British in action and thought - his family can't even speak Chinese. Claude is ashamed, uncomfortable, and quite mortified at his own traditions. His father, Humphrey, a banker, a man born to serve, and his decorative, wife Cynthia spend their time cow towing to the British rulers, and insisting that the family climb as far as they can up the ladder of British acceptance and colonial authority. They crave tradition, ceremony, and aristocracy, and they are forever grateful to the British "for their unfailing leadership, their unflappable disposition." Watching them with an air of authority, and traditional judgment is Grandma Siok, who surreptitiously tries to get Claude to accept his Chinese heritage, while constantly peppering him with advice and excerpts from the ancient Art of War.

Claude's life changes forever when he encounters Ling-Li, an elusive young Chinese nurse, who is acting as a spy for the British, and the stately Jack Winchester, a disparate traveler who has fallen maddeningly in love with the sites, sounds and smells of this colonial outpost. Jack and Claude form a formidable friendship, which is further cemented when Jack becomes sick, and Claude, on the eve of the Japanese invasion, with the "bombs falling and the claxons wailing" has to get urgent medical attention for him. When Jack and Claude stay to help Ling-Li with the sick, and war torn in a local medical center, both are led inadvertently into a web of intrigue, stratagems and safeguarded secrets. When the British and Australian forces crumble, so does Claude - "he loosens his hold on the world and falls." Finally, beleaguered by treachery and facing the horrors of torture he is forced to "grow up" and "face a lie of existence he cannot deny."

Loh paints a portrait of a colony undergoing enormous upheavals. On the brink of multi-ethnic unrest, Indians, Malays, the Fifth Columnists and the Chinese are all vying for political superiority and are all intent on furthering their own agendas. This is a newly forming world where everything else is coming into being or disintegrating into fragments, transitions and struggle. Racism is also rife as the occupying British laud it over the native Chinese, employing them as servants and restricting them to particular areas. "It's like sorting rice - white-not white."

The final part of the novel details the horrors of the Japanese invasion and the retreat of the mighty Britannia. The invasion leaves a landscape of battered fields, blackened villages, a setting fetid with corpses. In Singapore there are burning death houses, the disbelieving are maimed, the air is singed, and the Harbour is bombed and torched. Claude runs from a world "distinguished only by shades of charcoal and light." Breaking the Tongue seduces us through beautiful, stark and uncompromising language. There is a grace and simplicity of voice in the narrative that is impossible not to like. This is a gorgeous, ambitious, larger-than-life story - a real literary and artistic achievement. Mike Leonard April 04

An American reader confronted with a passage of Chinese characters might think: "Well, this is Chinese text so if it were read aloud it would come out as Chinese." This however is completely false. The tens of thousands of incredibly complex Chinese characters are ideograms, they represent not sounds but meanings such as man, flower or war. As a matter of fact, there are many Chinese languages such as Mandarin, Cantonese or Hokkien. All of these spoken languages sound entirely different but they are all written in the same set of Chinese characters. A long time ago the Japanese also adopted Chinese characters to write their language which is of course completely different from Chinese. The practical Japanese use an alphabetic script as well, so in practice a passage of Japanese writng might consist of a mixture of Chinese ideograms and alphabetic symbols. It is clear therefore that if you were erudite enough you could write any language including English in Chinese characters. Conversely, if you were to read aloud a passage of Chinese text you could do so in any language including English. Chinese text in other words is sound-independent, language-independent or as we might say tongue-independent.

In this book, near the end, the English text is occasionally replaced by passages of Chinese characters which are of course incomprehensible to the average American reader. This does not mean that the author has switched from English to Chinese but only that she has abandoned (or broken) the tongue. This is one meaning of the book's title, but only the metaphorical meaning.

There is a literal meaning as well. At the end of the book, the main character Claude Lim cuts out (or breaks) his own tongue. This operation is described in very clinical detail reminding us of the fact that the somewhat intimidatingly brilliant author is in fact a practicing physician who writes Nobel Prize quality novels in her spare time. The reason Claude cuts out his tongue is that he is an "English educated" Singaporean Chinese which meant in the colonial pre-war period that he was taught only English and could not speak a word of Chinese. After the Japanese conquest in 1942 and related personal events, Claude rejected his English education and wished to revert to his Chinese heritage. Since he could speak only English he accomplished this by cutting out his tongue ao that he could no longer speak any language but make only grunting sounds.

The reader may be pleased to hear that in modern independent Singapore Claude Lim's linguistic dilemma can no longer occur. English is now the primary language of education for all Singaporeans but each ethnic group is also taught their "mother tongue" whether it be Malay, Tamil (a southern Indian language) or (Mandarin) Chinese. So there are four official languages in Singapore and every Singaporean of normal intelligence is at least bilingual.

Well, it has taken me the space of a longish Amazon review and I have managed to explain only the title. To explain the body of the book as well is obviously beyond the scope here. But perhaps you can see what I mean when I describe this book as of Nobel Prize quality. I do not mean that Vyvyane Loh will receive the Prize in the near future since the Swedish Academy will not award it for a first novel. What I mean is that there is not the slightest doubt in my mind that she will receive the Nobel eventually. This book has the literary quality and the depth that would be expected. It is also has the exotic setting that is evidently much liked in Stockholm. So congratulations Vyvyane, a great literary future for you is assured.

In BREAKING THE TONGUE Vyvyane Loh successfully brings to life the myriad of cultures and languages resulting in a rich tapestry of colors and flavors of Singapore, situated at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. The days of the British Empire are numbered as the Japanese threaten to invade Singapore in the days leading up to Second World War. Within the unstable economic and political landscape is Claude Lim, a young Chinese boy who was raised to only speak the language and admire the mannerisms of England. His parents taught him that the Chinese along with other non-whites are barbarians; the British are much more civilized and cultured. There is little uncertainty that the British will succeed in protecting Singapore from the Japanese menace.

Despite their initial beliefs the Japanese experience minimal difficulties advancing south through Malaysia towards Singapore. After his family flees to the relative safety of the countryside Claude is left behind to resume his studies. However, shortly after their departure the routines of everyday life are interrupted when the bombings begin and war becomes more apparent. Claude along with Brit Jack and Chinese Ling-li who strive to survive day by day while running a defunct medical clinic. They dodge bombs and the chaos of the streets to buy food and run the injured to the hospital without knowing when or if any type of normalcy will return to Singapore.

One of this novel's strengths is the manner in which Loh highlights and exposes the issues of cultural identity and belonging. There is Claude who is a devout Anglophile and who has essentially turned his back on his cultural identity, Jack who is British but is interested in the peoples of Singapore, and Ling-li who is strong pro-China. These three divergent individuals bunker down and explore their own cultural identity. Throughout the course of this book Claude slowly realizes that all his father taught him is not necessarily true. He begins to regret not knowing the various Chinese dialects and opens his eyes to the futility of his parent's choices.

BREAKING THE TONGUE is a book that is well worth seeking out and reading. It is filled with mystery, intrigue, and action and there's much to enjoy.

The theory this book is based on is that women are taught from childhood to live by the Code of Goodness. This Code ends up making women feel used and powerless and leads to many relationship and self esteem problems.

The beginning half of this book was a little tough for me to buy into. I don't completely agree with all of the theories on why women have a tendency to be "too good", but there was enough helpful insight that I thought it was well worth the read. I don't think you have to completely agree with the author in order to get something out of this book. It was easy to read and well organized.
NOTE: I think many men also suffer from being "too good" and that they would also benefit from this book. Unfortunately, it could turn them off because of the way it is written so directly to women.

I have suggested this book to many of my clients, who have found it very helpful. This book explores the painful side of being good and doing good. Some of these ways of being and doing good include always being attractive, being a "lady," being unselfish, making relationships work, and being competent without complaint. There are anecdotes about women who felt better after they stopped trying to meet others' standards of being good. To use the authors' words, these women woke up from "the trance of goodness." I recommend this book highly; it is refreshing, practical, and rings true.

I thought I was the only person who felt this way. I started reading this book and thought the authors were writing about me! In the process of ending a 20+ year marriage, I am searching for answers about myself and have found at least some of them in this book. My husband and I have both seen separate counselors to deal with our loss, and his counselor sent the book home for me to read. I will be forever grateful. Not only that, I will recommend it to my friends (and my teenage daughter).

Ms. Bepko finally answers the question of why I keep trying harder only to be less satisfied with the result! A must-read for women [and men?] who feel overwhelmed and under-appreciated. I've already given away the first copy I bought, because that reader also felt it helped answer a lot of 'why's about frustration and guilt.

The authors promise no easy fixes, no magic wand. But by explaining the burden under which many women labor in trying to keep everything balanced, they help us understand why we feel the way we do. With understanding comes choice - and the reader can choose how to implement this new understanding into everyday life.

Read it soon! It may change your life! This book is making a major contribution to my own recovery from clinical depression.

I wish I had read this book years ago. It is a must read for every woman going through divorce, child rearing, or troubled interpersonal relationships. For centuries women have been told how to behave and what their roles should be in the family and society. Seldom have we been taught how to acheive what is good for ourselves or the importance of personal happiness. As women we have been told since we were children that as long as everyone is satisfied we will be satisfied. Then we are mystified as adults when we constantly give but the satisfaction never comes. This book explains why and how to stop the cycle. If you have a little girl in your house, read it now and teach her how to still give without deteriment to her own dreams, needs and wishes. You are never too old to learn!

As a person who suffered from anorexia and bulimia in my younger years, I find Dr. Ira Sacker's book on eating disorders wonderful. It contains powerful information to help sufferers of eating disorders gain insight on their condition and heal themselves.

According to the author one of the factors that trigger anorexia are the judgments that one has on oneself, the belief that one is "not" perfect and the quest for never attainable perfection. The persons afflicted with the disease are plagued with the idea that they are flawed and that life will only get better when they reach an ideal weight.

This "cursed" way of thinking is not only symptomatic of people who suffer from an eating disorder. For me, what made all the difference was finding a place of acceptance of myself where I stopped working on myself and striving to reach unrealistic goals. The book Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation by Ariel and Shya Kane really supported me in discovering that place and transformed my life. The Kanes bring the message that we are perfect just the way we are and that if we can stop listening to those delusional conversations in our heads about our imperfections, life can transform instantaneously into an exciting adventure.

If you are or have been suffering from an Eating Disorder and are looking to strengthen your ability to be yourself, experience satisfaction and live free of neurotic behavior, I urge you to look into the work of Ariel and Shya Kane (they have written 2 other books How To Create a Magical Relationship and Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment). They bring a very real and instantaneous possibility for Healing that very few people have had the chance to experience.

Take an appearance-fixated society, add an individual with an obsessive personality, a dash of anxiety and a measure of perfectionism, and you have the perfect recipe for an eating disorder. Dr. Ira Sacker has been treating people with eating disorders for more than two decades and thoroughly understands the dynamics of this devastating condition. He's cooked up a compassionate, interactive therapeutic approach to healing that reaches past the boundaries of food, weight and calories. People suffering from eating disorders become their disease, focusing solely on it as their identity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The author's premise is that the way to usurp this "eating disorder identity" is to develop a real, healthier identity based on discovering and pursuing your passions. If you or someone you know is battling an eating disorder, getAbstract suggests that you will find hopeful information in this book. It certainly serves up food for thought.

Dr Sacker has addressed the essence of eating disorders in "Regaining YourSelf". He has shown how the eating disorder is not about food or weight but rather about a lost, or more correctly, an undiscovered self. He has demonstrated by presenting the theoretical along with the personal how he has successfully touched the lives of numerous patients. This book is a valuable resource for the professional as well and for the patient and family members who would like to gain from Dr Sacker's years of success treating eating disorders.

Ira Sacker's approach to treating eating disorders is indeed a bold new one. His refreshing approach known as PIRT (Personal Interactive Rational Therapy) takes the focus away from the food and the eating and shines the spotlight where it is most needed--on the individual's path of self-discovery. PIRT transcends traditional approaches to treating eating disorders as it provides the client the safety, space, and support to discover her own identity, independent of the confines of her eating disorder.

This book presents a comprehensive overview of eating disorders in such a compelling, fascinating, and illuminating way. Ira demystifies the lure of eating disorders by explaining how they can serve as ways (albeit unhealthy ones) to help individuals relieve their anxiety, while also giving them a sense of identity. His therapy focuses on helping the individual redefine themselves in terms of their passions and interests--and not by their body shape and weight.

Regaining Your Self is filled with compassion and understanding for those suffering from eating disorders. Ira stresses that effective treatment is one that respects the individual's difficult journey of giving up the eating disorder identity and replacing it with their newly discovered personal identity. This journey is beautifully summarized in a quote by Anais Nin that appears in the final chapter of the book:
"...and the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom..."

I have been a compulsive overeater for twenty-five years. I can't calculate the damage this has done to my life. I have been to four therapists, attended Overeaters Anonymous, and read scores of books on diet, exercise, overeating, and compulsive behavior. All of them have provided clues, but none of them taught me the comprehensive overview of why I behave the way I do and what is needed to recover that this book has done.

It has answered all of my questions, and several more that I didn't know to ask. It showed how a great deal of my strange behavior is not just a quirky personality, but the direct result of my disease. The book has shown me the way to real healing. I am very grateful to the author for making this information available.

Yes, the book focuses on anorexics and bulimics. Yes, sometimes the book seems to be addressing patients and other times therapists. Yes, some of the book does not seem to relate to me. But this is probably necessary given the books objectives and, as I said, it addresses every concern I had and more.

I am now looking for a therapist who is willing to read the book and work through its approach with me. This book is a life changer.