The Glass Castle: A Memoir

Amazon.com

Jeannette Walls's father always called her "Mountain Goat" and there's perhaps no more apt nickname for a girl who navigated a sheer and towering cliff of childhood both daily and stoically. In The Glass Castle, Walls chronicles her upbringing at the hands of eccentric, nomadic parents--Rose Mary, her frustrated-artist mother, and Rex, her brilliant, alcoholic father. To call the elder Walls's childrearing style laissez faire would be putting it mildly. As Rose Mary and Rex, motivated by whims and paranoia, uprooted their kids time and again, the youngsters (Walls, her brother and two sisters) were left largely to their own devices. But while Rex and Rose Mary firmly believed children learned best from their own mistakes, they themselves never seemed to do so, repeating the same disastrous patterns that eventually landed them on the streets. Walls describes in fascinating detail what it was to be a child in this family, from the embarrassing (wearing shoes held together with safety pins; using markers to color her skin in an effort to camouflage holes in her pants) to the horrific (being told, after a creepy uncle pleasured himself in close proximity, that sexual assault is a crime of perception; and being pimped by her father at a bar). Though Walls has well earned the right to complain, at no point does she play the victim. In fact, Walls' removed, nonjudgmental stance is initially startling, since many of the circumstances she describes could be categorized as abusive (and unquestioningly neglectful). But on the contrary, Walls respects her parents' knack for making hardships feel like adventures, and her love for them--despite their overwhelming self-absorption--resonates from cover to cover. --Brangien Davis

Book Description

Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.

For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

TO INQUIRE ABOUT SCHEDULING JEANNETTE WALLS FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS PLEASE CONTACT:

Keppler Speakers

Dustin L. Jones

Associate, College & University Division

703.516.4000 (P)

703.516.4819 (F)

Customer Reviews:

The Glass Castle.......2007-10-18

This is an amazing book. The life experiences of the author and her siblings really makes you wonder how they turned out as well as they did. It also raises the question of whether the parents suffered from mental illness, were criminally neglectful of their chilren or just truly outside of the box thinkers.

Courageous But Sad.......2007-10-18

Wow...this book is just amazing, i cant believe all the stuff this woman had to go threw as a child...and I'm glad i do not have Rex & Rosemary as my parents....Truly great book and made me cry half of the time.

If I hadn't read this book I would not have thought of what its like to those who hardly eat and are with no money.

This story is amazing and took an impact on me...and I will always remember this amazingly courageous sad story...

Glass Castle.......2007-10-17

Wow... haven't we all held out for the moment we commence to build our Glass Castle? "Just as soon as".... we get the perfect plans, enough time, money, etc. FABULOUS book that was written (just like I'd like to write one!) to give us glimses into our own grandiosity, missed opportunities, fixed beliefs, and rationalizations. I saw EVERYONE in my family in this book; maybe the whole human race makes an appearance, but it definitely will come alive for anyone raised by alcoholics. Couldn't stop reading it and now can't stop talking about it.

Writing on eggshells.......2007-10-17

I read all memoirs with a grain of salt mainly because I have a terrible memory and I don't understand how people can remember things they said when they were 3 yrs old (before the digital photography age of course). As far as memoirs go, this one is very interesting and does move fast. It also poses very interesting questions about parenting because the kids turn out okay despite growing up poorer than "po," in environments I shudder to think about, and with completely self-obsessed neglectful parents. It also put a new interesting face on homelessness.

However, the author is horrible about maintaining a believable/easy to follow timeline in the first half of the book. It seems she was 3-5 yrs old for much of that time. How reliable is a 3-5 yr old's memory? There were also several places where the writing lacked transition. That just annoyed the schoolmarm in me.

My main complaint is that the author seemed to be trying not hurt anyone's feelings as she wrote. Maybe she's a better person than me, but I don't understand how she could be so free of resentment despite the upbringing she described. She tried to show every family member in a positive light up until the end. I can understand forgiving her parents for neglecting, starving, and generally abusing her and her siblings, but I'm not sure she told the whole truth about her feelings. Then again, maybe half truths are par for the course when it comes to memoir.

Overall, I did like this and would recommend it.

The Glass Castle.......2007-10-16

One of the best books I have ever read. I just could not put it down. One life event while growing up just tops another.To rise above her circumstances and make a postive life for herself is just a tribute to the strength she has within her spirit. It was so inspiring to see them make the best of themselves even thou the example they had was so poor. My hat is off to Jeanette Walls and her siblings.

Average customer rating:

The Anatomy of Grieving
Just Okay
A Journal of Grief
Loss
The Year of Magical Thinking

The Year of Magical Thinking
Joan Didion
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400078431
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

From one of America’s iconic writers, a stunning book of electric honesty and passion. Joan Didion explores an intensely personal yet universal experience: a portrait of a marriage--and a life, in good times and bad--that will speak to anyone who has ever loved a husband or wife or child.

Customer Reviews:

The Anatomy of Grieving.......2007-10-14

Joan Didion's husband of 40 years, the writer John Gregory Dunne, died of a sudden heart attack during a quiet evening in their Manhattan apartment in 2003. They'd just returned from visiting their only daughter, Quintana, in a coma and septic shock at Beth Israel North Hospital.

As the doctor delivers the news of her husband's death, he characterizes Joan Didion as a "pretty cool customer"-and it's clear throughout this book that she characterizes herself that way, too. In her memoir chronicalling the year following his death, Didion grapples to maintain this sense of self-identity amidst the inclement emotions of grief, anger, and loss. Using her graceful and level-headed prose, she dismantles her emotions: consulting texts ranging from Freud to Emily Post, she looks at grief objectively in order to understand it, and perhaps, exorcise it. She reads medical books and the autopsy report, employing the "magical thinking" of the title to see what she can do to fix them and make life as it was.

When this method fails, readers experience her sense of marvel at her lack of control over memories and sorrow. She describes it as a "vortex" when one stray thought leads her through a tunnel of memories. She carefully tries to avoid these, but, of course, can't. Readers learn about their wedding, places they lived, trips they took-all peppered with refrains like incantations against remembering.

The book captures her constant struggle between remembering and letting go (recognizing that her husband won't need his running shoes when he comes back, for example). She avoids characterizations and descriptions of her husband and daughter, and rather focuses on her very personal memories. Magical Thinking is a personal process for Didion, and readers are witness to her method of maintaining control-one that is heartbreaking, and characteristically elegant.

Just Okay.......2007-10-12

With a topic like death, you almost have a sure winner. There will always be readers who react strongly (and sympathetically) about death.

Although there are parts in the book I felt were poignant and written well, overall I felt the book was egotistical and self-serving. In more than one instance, there are allusions to the many accolades and milestones the author has garnered. There are allusions to celebrities and her involvement in elite social circles. This, I felt, detracted from the topic of death and grief.

I don't regret reading the book and would recommend it to someone who has recently lost a loved one. But there are many more books worth reading other than this one.

A Journal of Grief.......2007-10-09

I probably don't need to write a review for this book, but I did want to put my opinion out there.

I wanted to read Joan Didion because of her reputation and this was the most readily available book. I have read a few of her individual essays but this was first exposure to a full length work by Ms. Didion. The writing in all of her work is strong. This book, however, seems almost to be missing something.

With that being said, what a terribly hard topic to write about and still write well? I would still recommend this to anyone dealing with the loss of someone close to you, but I think there is other work by Joan Didion that is a better example of her expertise.

Loss.......2007-10-06

I have just finished reading, "The Year of Magical Thinking". I was unable to put the book down, once I started it. I have been a health care professional for 30 years. I have dealt with personal experiences of death and loss, and have also had the privilege of observing people, dying patients, and their grieving families, who have undergone the same experiences. The author was able to convey the tremendous sense of loss that a person goes through when a close family member, or friend, dies.
It is almost as if an arm or a leg, or, even, a heart has been excised from the person who has been left to cope. I have found that the only thing that really alleviates the pain, is time. There are people who are so afraid of losing a loved one that they live their entire lives without being open to love because they fear the inevitable loss. I would recommend this book to everyone because, in a lifetime, we will all be called upon to cope with death, loss, and grief. When we experience our own "magical thinking", we will at least be able to understand that we are not alone. There are others who have felt the same way we do and have reacted in the same ways as we have.

The Year of Magical Thinking.......2007-10-01

A well-written book and a good sharing of personal emotions. Sometimes seemed like name-dropping at it's best (or worst) but I suppose if you know all the best people you mention them and their effect on your life.

Average customer rating:

Sloooow shipping.
BEST SHOPAHOLIC BOOK YET!
library material - weaker than the first books
Shopaholic & Baby
Typical for the series

Shopaholic & Baby (Shopaholic)
Sophie Kinsella
Manufacturer: The Dial Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385338708
Release Date: 2007-02-27

Book Description

Becky Brandon (née Bloomwood) is pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed–especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery . . . to the latest, coolest pram . . . to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be her husband Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky's perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two . . . but are there three in her marriage?

Customer Reviews:

Sloooow shipping........2007-10-17

I was very disappointed to wait ten days to receive this book. Another book ordered the same day from another vendor was received four days earlier. What was the delay? I will go with the more efficient vendor in the future.

BEST SHOPAHOLIC BOOK YET!.......2007-09-23

I absolutely LOVED this book...I thought it was her best book yet! it kept me smiling and laughing throughout the whole book!

library material - weaker than the first books.......2007-08-23

In my opinion, this is not the best Kinsella's work, even though it has enough funny moments to keep you entertained. And it's not even because Becky didn't "grow up", as some other reviewers suggested. In the real life, women understand what had happened to them only after the baby is born, and so many of us just love to be not practical when it comes down to "baby stuff". So, I wasn't bothered by the fact that Becky continues to behave as if she is still 14 years old (that's certainly part of the charm, and one of the reasons for me to read these series).
It's simply that in "Shopaholic & baby" the humor of most situations wears down, the plot follows the main line of the previous books, with the variation of Luke's ex-girlfriend coming to the scene... and some of these "funny" situations actually made me cringe because of their absurdity.
In addition, I began to be annoyed by the fact that Luke is so absolutely perfect and understanding. Sophie Kinsella attempted to make him less perfect with all this "affair" story, but somehow it did not work for me - any normal guy that I know would immediately see the difference between friendship and flirt... and probably be more than a little upset about his wife's 16 offshore overdrafts!
I was able to re-read the first books in the series, when I needed to relax and rewind, but not this one. I suggest borrowing the book from the library and waiting for the next installment.

Shopaholic & Baby.......2007-08-23

Just finished reading Kinsella's latest enstallment for Becky Brandon (nee: Bloomwood). Was as funny and entertaining as all of the other books in the series. If you're a fan of Becky Brandon, I'd suggest reading this latest additon.

Typical for the series.......2007-08-16

I enjoyed the first few Shopaholic books. But this one I started to get a little annoyed with the main character. Hasn't she learned her lesson YET? How can anyone be that much of an idiot with money? Well, maybe there are people out there like that, sadly. Anyway, the book was entertaining at times. I am probably just tired of the series.

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)

Average customer rating:

A must for any little girl!
Printed in China XXXXXX
A very "posh" book!
MISSTELV
"I LOVE this book!"

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy (Fancy Nancy)
Jane O'Connor
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060542136
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

Fancy Nancy is back! And when her family decides to get a dog, she's certain she can be fancier than ever. After all, a papillon—a small, delicate, fluffy dog—is the ultimate accessory. But her family wants a large, plain dog. How unglamorous!

With Fancy Nancy's trademark humor and warmth, Nancy discovers that real fanciness does not depend simply on appearance but more on a genuine joie de vivre, which is a fancy phrase for having lots of fun.

Customer Reviews:

A must for any little girl!.......2007-10-02

I got my daughter her first Fancy Nancy book when she turned 2, and now everything that is girly she calls fancy Nancy, shoes, purses and anything sparkley! Great to read for bedtime too. I can't wait for the next books to come out!

Printed in China XXXXXX .......2007-09-26

I Can't understand why the first book was printed in the USA and this one is printed in CHINA! Is there lead in this book like many of their toys??
I think Amazon should list this if this is the case

A very "posh" book!.......2007-09-26

I purchased Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy to go along with the original Fancy Nancy book for my 5 year old granddaughter . . . I had them sent directly to her house while I knew I would be visiting so we could open them together and start reading. My granddaughter loved them and I had to read them several times during our first sitting! The story is very cute and age-appropriate, and the illustrations and colors are perfect for little girls her age. I wish these books had been out when my girls were little! I love the word "posh" because I was born in the country where it's most popularly used.

MISSTELV.......2007-09-25

I bought this for my 4 year old grandaughter. She loves to dress up and play she is Fancy Nancy. The book is simply written and wonderful illustrated. I highly recommend it!

"I LOVE this book!" .......2007-09-15

That title is the opinion of my six-year-old granddaughter. She and her mom re-read it every night.

FEMININE MISTAKE, THE: ARE WE GIVING UP TOO MUCH?

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Please read this book
Use of Ancedotal Evidence Left Me Frustrated and Confused
SAHMs Beware
Wise Counter Argument to Stay at Home Mom Phenom
A Relevant Warning to Women

FEMININE MISTAKE, THE: ARE WE GIVING UP TOO MUCH?
Leslie Bennetts
Manufacturer: Voice
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1401303064
Release Date: 2007-03-28

Book Description

Women are constantly being told that it's simply too difficult to balance work and family, so if they don't really "have to" work, it's better for their families if they stay home. Not only is this untrue, Leslie Bennetts says, but the arguments in favor of stay-at-home motherhood fail to consider the surprising benefits of work and the unexpected toll of giving it up. It's time, she says, to get the message across -- combining work and family really is the best choice for most women, and it's eminently doable.Bennetts and millions of other working women provide ample proof that there are many different ways to have kids, maintain a challenging career, and have a richly rewarding life as a result. Earning money and being successful not only make women feel great, but when women sacrifice their financial autonomy by quitting their jobs, they become vulnerable to divorce as well as the potential illness, death, or unemployment of their breadwinner husbands. Further, they forfeit the intellectual, emotional, psychological, and even medical benefits of self-sufficiency.The truth is that when women gamble on dependancy, most eventually end up on the wrong side of the odds. In riveting interviews with women from a wide range of backgrounds, Bennetts tells their dramatic stories -- some triumphant, others heartbreaking.The Feminine Mistake will inspire women to accept the challenge of figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives in addition to raising children. Not since Betty Friedan has anyone offered such an eye-opening and persuasive argument for why women can -- and should -- embrace the joyously complex lives they deserve.

Customer Reviews:

Please read this book.......2007-10-03

I am a female attorney who has been practising family law for 26 years.
When I first started out, I represented many women who were married in the 1940's, 50's and 60's, when society felt that every woman's place was in the home. As a result, many "displaced homemakers" suddenly found themselves facing poverty in their old age. My own generation (the baby-boomers) all seemed to gravitate towards careers, so the displaced, poverty-stricken homemakers would be a thing of the past, right?
Wrong.
I am stunned to discover how many women in their 20's and 30's (the so-called post-feminist generation) are opting to become stay-at-home moms.
What is the problem, you ask?
In one word - DIVORCE.
And don't say it'll never happen to you. After all, I'm sure you buy smoke detectors, don't leave matches within your children's reach, don't leave candles or a stovetop unattended - but I'll also bet you also have homeowner's insurance, in case the unthinkable happened and your house caught on fire.
I've known so many women who tried so hard to be terrific wives, great mothers - and still found themselves divorced. Making sure you always have marketable skills so that you are able to support yourself and your children is like buying homeowner's insurance.
Of all the divorced SAHM's I've known, very very few are able to return to the workforce and earn enough money to support their families in the same lifestyle they enjoyed during the marriage. Sure, you can always get a minimum-wage job as a sales clerk or a waitress, but it will not buy you a middle-class lifestyle. Well-paying jobs will go to either a) recent college graduates, with newly-learned marketable skills or b) people who have spent the last 5, 10 or 15 years working their way up the ladder.
This book is a must-read, especially for young SAHM's who are confident that their marriage will last forever and that they will have no trouble re-entering the workforce any time they choose. I do have two criticisms, though: one, it is repetitive (one needn't repeat the same thing over and over to make a point) and it focuses almost exclusively on upper-middle class women, who are only a minority of the population.
Actually, upper-middle class SAHM's often suffer the worst, financially and emotionally, from a divorce, since they tend to have the most unrealistic expectations about the workplace (especially those who never worked outside the home at all) and they experience the biggest drop in lifestyle.
The men, on the other hand, tend to do very well after the divorce, simply because they have always had a well-paying career, without interruption, and after the initial financial hit (splitting the assets and paying child support) they keep on earning a high income, year after year.

Use of Ancedotal Evidence Left Me Frustrated and Confused.......2007-09-27

I would not recommend this book. It's a shame really, b/c I think Ms. Bennetts has a good message. Unfortunately she seems to base many of her points on ancedotal evidence. The writing style was a bit choppy and I couldn't figure out if Ms. Bennetts simply chose the wrong ancedote each time or if she truly wants women to not only support themselves, but to drive fancy cars and live in fancy houses.

Her apparent emphasis on material wealth repeatedly seemed to undermine her intentions. And the use of ancedotal evidence just compromised her authority. Perhaps I should have been tipped off at the start of the book when she used her mother as an example of a woman that was able to balance family and work successfully without reprocussions. (Too bad she doesn't emphasize the fact that her grandmother provided the childcare.)

Another example is when she put down a stay-at-home mom for driving old cars in order to live in a wealthy neighborhood with a good school system. Ms. Bennetts seemed to imply that the mother should go back to work so her family could afford new cars and other such luxuries. Surely this wasn't her point, or was it?

I was looking for a book that would support my decision to remain a working mom; however, examples like these throughout the book left me questioning the true message of the book and left me frustrated.

SAHMs Beware.......2007-09-27

Women do bash each other too much, but that's probably because we are all trying to be good at so many contradictory things -- and are afraid we're failing at all of them.

This book has jumped right into the "mommy wars," and been bashed accordingly.

Even though young women want to do life differently than their mothers did (who - trust me - wanted to do life even more differently than THEIR mothers did), we all keep circling around the same problem: We want our families to flourish. We just don't want to become penniless and futureless doing it.

This highly readable book argues that combining work and motherhood is tough but possible and even rewarding. Bennetts contends that depending on husbands to earn all the family money is very risky, and she is quite believable when she describes the many ways that this way of life can go wrong.

Bennetts is also not buying many of the "reasons" that have become fashionable for mom's total surrender of jobs, money, and benefits. She is at her most entertaining when she dissects today's version of the weary cult of motherhood, in which only mom's incessant hands-on attention is presumed to create conditions in which an infant can even survive.

Entertaining and thought-provoking.

Wise Counter Argument to Stay at Home Mom Phenom.......2007-09-10

As far as this topic goes, I've always been a live and let live kind of woman, although I would personally not be comfortable totally relying on a man to support me financially. All the women in my family have worked. I grew up with a working mom, who was a stay at home mom, until she found herself widowed with an 11 month old daughter. When I would hear those "I didn't even know where the checkbook was" stories from women who had either been abandoned or did the abandoning, I always thought...where the heck was your brain? Even if you are a housewife/full time mother, you are and ADULT in your home and should share in the responsibility of guiding your family's financial future. I have a very dear friend who is a stay at home mother and home schools her children. She does part time sales, but guess what..she does the books! Her husband wouldn't dare make a financial move without her and it works for them. Conversely, I have friends who also have husbands who earn a good living, but they work, because they feel they are able to contribute more. As a single woman, it is sometimes daunting to think that I am fully responsible for my financial future..but after reading this book, it reminded me that even if I were married, I would still be fully responsible. I'm also a fairly conservative person, but I have to say, I've seen the church and conservative politicians try to hammer home that the BEST solution for families is to have the mother at home while the father worked. But even GOD allows for personal choice, and if I remember my Bible correctly, the Proverbs 31 woman worked both inside and outside of her household. To me the best solution is to do what works for you. If you feel that you should stay home, then stay home. If you feel that you should work, then work. Each choice, like most choices, comes with its pros and cons. However, whatever your choice, in life, you should always make it a priority to educate yourself and develop a skill.

A Relevant Warning to Women.......2007-09-07

This book serves as a warning to all women who have children or are thinking about having children, that you can't always depend on a man to support you. For women who are thinking about dropping out to raise children they need to think of the long term consequences of their future earning power.

Average customer rating:

perfect
book "Fancy Nancy"
Great Read
Great children's book
A very "fancy" book

Fancy Nancy
Jane O'connor
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060542098
Release Date: 2005-12-13

Book Description

Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy.

How Nancy transforms her parents and little sister for one enchanted evening makes for a story that is funny and warm -- with or without the frills.

Customer Reviews:

perfect.......2007-10-18

this book is perfect for any litle girl who likes to dress up and be a princess. Our daughter absolutely loved the book-as it fits her perfectly!!

book "Fancy Nancy".......2007-10-02

WOW - the book came in just a few days. Great service. The book was in good shape and packaged well. THANK YOU!

Great Read.......2007-10-01

My 3 year old absolutely loves this book. The first time we checked it out from the library I didn't really think she cared for it much. But, then I happened to order it for one of her little friend's birthday and she was sooo excited! She ran around saying, "it's Fancy Nancy mommy!" It took some convincing to be able to wrap it up for her little friend. Everybody needs a little "fancy" in their life.

Great children's book.......2007-09-30

I bought this book for my four year old grandaughter and it is now her favorite book. We are now going to have a 'fancy' party at a local restaurant just like Fancy Nancy did. Well written with nice illustrations.

A very "fancy" book.......2007-09-26

I purchased two of the Fancy Nancy series for my 5 year old granddaughter - she loves them! When the book arrived, along with it's counterpart "Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy", she couldn't wait for us to read them together. She loved the story and the illustrations, and was attracted to the "girly" colors and the "before" and "after" drawings of Fancy's Nancy's bedroom! I think my granddaughter may be a "fancy" girl at heart!

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health

Average customer rating:

Excellent resource!
Info for Every Woman
Necessary Book for all Women
TCOYF is Awesome
Thanks to this book I have my baby!

Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health
Toni Weschler
Manufacturer: Collins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0060881909
Release Date: 2006-10-31

Amazon.com

This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method). Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place. Fertility awareness is therefore useful for not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives. It will be of special interest to those women who have suffered from infertility; many FAM practitioners have told the author that by filling in the detailed charts in the book, they've realized that they were chronically miscarrying, even when their doctors told them they weren't conceiving at all. As the book explains, by charting body temperature, it's simple to tell when pregnancy has occurred--and when there's danger of miscarriage. Taking Charge of Your Fertility also explains how to choose the sex of your baby by timing intercourse according to certain fertility signs. It also features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, along with fertility tests and treatments and their long- and short-term side effects, plus a topnotch resource section. Recommended for any woman who wants to better understand her body. --Erica Jorgensen

Book Description

Celebrating 10 years of helping hundreds of thousands of women achieve pregnancy, avoid pregnancy naturally, and gain better control of their health and lives, the 10th Anniversary Edition of the classic bestseller will include:

•New 'Preface to the 10th Anniversary Edition"

•Updates on new fertility technologies

•Natural approaches to conception

•Updated Resources and Books

For any woman unhappy with her current method of birth control; demoralized by her quest to have a baby; or experiencing confusing symptoms in her cycle, this book provides answers to all these questions, plus amazing insights into a woman's body. Weschler thoroughly explains the empowering Fertility Awareness Method, which in only a couple minutes a day allows a woman to:

•Enjoy highly effective, scientifically proven birth control without chemicals or devices

•Maximize her chances of conception or expedite fertility treatment by identifying impediments to conception

•Increase the likelihood of choosing the gender of her baby

•Gain control of her sexual and gynecological health

Customer Reviews:

Excellent resource! .......2007-10-18

My wife and I are very impressed by the knowledge in this book. There are many ideas and topics that our Dr. did not cover regarding being in good health, getting pregnant and going the distance with the pregnancy.
My wife and I now feel very enlightened about the whole process thanks to this book.

Info for Every Woman.......2007-10-06

Whether you are trying to get pregnant or trying to avoid it, this is information that every woman should know about her body.

Necessary Book for all Women.......2007-10-06

This book was recommended to me by my doctor. It reads easily and is very interesting, even funny at times. The advice inside is easy to follow, and the results are empowering. I believe it's an essential for all women, so they know their own bodies better than anybody else does.

TCOYF is Awesome.......2007-10-05

The book is amazing... It's everything your health teacher and your mother never taught you! And Amazon got it to me quickly.

Thanks to this book I have my baby!.......2007-10-05

This book is wonderful - it's very simple and easy to follow with lots of example to illustrate more complicated concepts.
I have so called "lazy ovaries" and only menstruate around 4-5 times a year. With a better understanding of how my body works and how to know the best time to conceive, we bingo'd on our first try to have a baby. Enough said!

Average customer rating:

Danielle Steel is THE BEST
Excellent, until a too sudden, too sugarcoated ending!
Sisters
Too Fluffy too perfect !!!
Should have been a short story - not a novel

Sisters
Danielle Steel
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Sisters | Women's Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0385340222
Release Date: 2007-02-13

Book Description

Four sisters, a Manhattan brownstone, and a tumultuous year of loss and courage are at the heart of Danielle Steel’s new novel about a remarkable family, a stunning tragedy—and what happens when four very different young women come together under one very lively roof.

Candy–it’s the only name she needs—is blazing her way through Paris, New York, and Tokyo as fashion’s latest international supermodel. . . .

Her sister Tammy has a job producing the most successful hit show on TV, and a home she loves in L.A.’s Hollywood Hills. . . . In New York, oldest sister Sabrina is an ambitious young lawyer, while Annie is an American artist in Florence, living for her art. . . . On one Fourth of July weekend, as they do every year, the four sisters come home to Connecticut for their family’s annual gathering. But before the holiday is over, tragedy strikes and their world is utterly changed.

Suddenly, four sisters who have been fervently pursuing success and their own lives—on opposite sides of the world—reunite to share one New York brownstone, to support each other and their father, and to pick up the pieces while one sister struggles to heal her shattered body and soul. Thus begins an unscripted chapter of their lives, as a bustling house is soon filled with eccentric dogs, laughter, tears, friends, men . . . and the kind of honesty and unconditional love only sisters can provide. But as the four women settle in, they are forced to confront the direction of their respective lives. As the year passes and another July Fourth approaches, a season of grief and change gives way to new beginnings—as a family comes together to share its blessings and a future filled with surprises and, ultimately, hope.

With unerring insight and compassion, Danielle Steel tells a compelling story of four sisters who love and laugh, struggle and triumph . . . and are irrevocably woven into the fabric of each other’s lives. Brilliantly blending humor and heartbreak, she delivers a powerful message about the fragility–and the wonder—of life.

Customer Reviews:

Danielle Steel is THE BEST.......2007-10-07

My mom and I have been reading Danielle Steel for years and years. We collect all her books. Her stories take you all over the world. She has lived(in real life) in many different parts of the world. And her stories make you feel, as though, you have been there too! And the way she describes her characters in her stories, make you feel as though, you personally know the person. Her books are ones, that you don`t want to put down. You want to finish the story, so you can start another one of her books.She has a new book due out in February 2008. Mom and I can`t wait to read this one!!!!!

Excellent, until a too sudden, too sugarcoated ending!.......2007-09-14

In Danielle Steel's latest novel "Sisters", the story starts out with the usual trademark fairytale quality.

Four sisters with highly successful and interesting careers, are scattered around the world; New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Florence. Hardly your average bunch of ordinary lives.

But that's the beginning. The surface. The setting. Until tragedy strikes and man's vulnerability cuts through whatever glamourous lifestyles the sisters may seemingly enjoy.

Life is turned upside down. Reality is as unexpected, harsh and as far from a fairytale as can be. The best part of the book describes the developments straight forward, honest and with much warmth and insight.

That a happy ending awaits, is Danielle Steel's trademark. However, the way tragedy all too quickly literary turns into happiness is a bit too easy to give the story balance. The pieces of the puzzle fall into place so fast and conveniently for all the family members that the situation is hard to fathom even for the most soft-hearted.

Tragedies ARE overcome but usually it takes time and hardship to build up a new future.

This book could actually have been longer. A more natural development of the situation and not the lightening quick wrapping up of loose ends during the last fifty pages or so, would have given the story more credibility.

Happy solutions are nice, but the turning of events in "Sisters" is simply too sweet and sudden even for a fairytale.

Sisters.......2007-09-06

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. Being one of three sisters I could definatly understand the sisters.

Too Fluffy too perfect !!!.......2007-08-28

Although I did enjoy this book, I found the characters too perfect. The relationships between the sisters seemed too false. All the sisters were beautiful, with great jobs, and would do anything for each other, and they hardly ever had a fight, blah, blah,blah. Most sisters do not get to live like the girls in this fluffy type fairytale.

Should have been a short story - not a novel.......2007-08-20

I have not read DS in many years and now I remember why. This book repeated the same ideas and even the same phrases so often it was annoying. She could have written this book in just a few pages and not missed anything important. I anticipated the predictable story ie. tragedy, depression, find a man fall in love, live happily every after. The rape story seemed thrown in and was all wrapped up too quickly to add anything interesting to the story.

The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition

Average customer rating:

The Best and Only Nursing Book You Need
Great breastfeeding book-one of the best!!
Great Book For First Time Moms!
Invaluable living overseas
Great Reference

The Nursing Mother's Companion: Revised Edition
Kathleen Huggins
Manufacturer: Harvard Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 155832304X
Release Date: 2005-03-01

Book Description

Breastfeeding may be natural, but it is not always instinctive. The 20th Anniversary Edition of this classic guide to breastfeeding, beloved by a generation of women, has been completely revised and updated to provide even more practical, reassuring advice and support for today's expectant and nursing mothers. Easy-reference survival guides help identify and resolve problems at each stage. An appendix on drug safety is a unique feature among breastfeeding books.

Customer Reviews:

The Best and Only Nursing Book You Need.......2007-10-01

Super informative, easy to understand, great resource section. I have 1 other book--the AAP book--and it is not 1/2 as good. Great layout, natural order of progression. And best of all, no hidden agenda, or platform to proselytize from. I read it over and over again, nearly wore it out, used every inch of every page of it. You cannot go wrong buying this book. It's like having a lactation consultant 24x7. Buy it! :-)

Great breastfeeding book-one of the best!!.......2007-09-04

Are you a new mom? Do you desire to breastfeed your baby but find yourself lost? Are you a seasoned mom who has breastfed before? This book has something to offer for every type of parent! I found it invaluable while I nursed my son. Especially for those parents who do not have a readily accessible lactation consultant or La Leche League group in your area. Best book to add to your parenting library!

Great Book For First Time Moms!.......2007-08-15

I purchased this book just a few days prior to having my baby, and was so happy that I had my copy with me at the hospital. It has been a great reference from day 1. I took a breastfeeding class at our hospital, but they did not address the challenges of breastfeeding at all. I was not prepared, and thank goodness I had this book handy to help me through engorgement, latching, pumping and storing. I highly recommend it to any mother who is even thinking about breastfeeding.

Invaluable living overseas.......2007-08-06

I don't write reviews often, but I had to for this book because of the help and comfort it has given me.

My husband and I are living overseas in Germany. We speak the language but not to such a specific extent which makes problem dr. visits more challenging for us. This book has been my saving grace. It helped us with many things from getting off to a good start with the latch, how to keep baby awake to feed, medicines ok to take during nursing, breast infections (I've had 3), sore nipples (now that baby is teething), all the way to starting solids. I wouldn't feel so comfortable in my nursing practices living over here without it.

There is a great deal more to breastfeeding than I ever thought and this book addresses it all. I brought it with us to the hospital and I'm still referring to it today - baby girl is 6 months already. I can't say enough about this book.

Great Reference.......2007-07-26

This book contains comprehensive, solid information to help you become a successful nursing mother. I recommend buying this while you are pregnant to read up on what to expect and plan for those early weeks and beyond. I still use it for reference if I have a question.
We are still nursing at 11months and plan to continue for a little while longer.
So That's What They're For is also a great nursing book if you are looking for something that is a little more casual in tone.
Above all, I think a determination to succeed and confidence that you are giving your baby the best start in life are what helps the most.

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women

Average customer rating:

The BEST inside Info Book out there
All around good
For Men Only
Just What I Needed
Undserstanding a Woman

For Men Only: A Straightforward Guide to the Inner Lives of Women
Shaunti Feldhahn , and Jeff Feldhahn
Manufacturer: Multnomah
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Interpersonal Relations | Relationships | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1590525728
Release Date: 2006-04-03

Book Description

FinallyâYou Can Understand Her!

Women: complicated and impossible to understand? Do you love and want to please the woman in your life, but just can’t seem to figure her out? That was before For Men Only. Now at your fingertips is the tool that will unlock the secret to her mysterious ways. Through hundreds of interviews and the results of a scientific national survey of women, this book demonstrates that women are actually not random and that they really can be systematized and âmapped.â In fact, much to men’s delight, this book shows that women are actually quite easy to understand and pleaseâas long as you know what it is they need. This simple map will guide you to loving your wife or girlfriend in the way she needs to be loved.

Finally.

You Can Understand Her!

Women: complicated and impossible to understand? Have you given up trying to âgetâ the woman in your life? If so, you are in for a pleasant eye-opener: She can be understood. Even betterâyou can make her happy. Which will make you happy.

The bestselling author of For Women Only teams with her husband to offer men the key to unlocking the mysterious ways of women. Through Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn ’s national scientific survey and hundreds of interviews, For Men Only reveals what you can do today to improve your relationship. And believe it or not, as Jeff assures men, âIt’s not splitting the atom.â

What makes her tick? What is she really asking (but not actually saying)? Take the guesswork out of trying to please your wife or girlfriend and begin loving her in the way she needs. Easily. For Men Only is a straightforward map that will lead you straight into her heart.

And for every guy who rarely reads a manual:

Quick-Start Guide Included!

âWhen we featured Shaunti’s book For Women Only on FamilyLife Today , the phone rang off the hook! When Shaunti and Jeff come back on our broadcast, I’m buying some more phones. This is fresh and relevantâgood stuff for every marriage. Read it!â

Dennis Rainey

President, FamilyLife

Story Behind the Book

âAs I was writing For Women Only to help women understand the inner lives of men, over and over I heard that men wished there was a way to understand their wives, but they felt it was probably impossible. I heard from them, âYou are writing this little slim volume about men, but if it was about understanding women, it would have to be the size of an encyclopedia! Women are random and complicated!’ These men were surprised and encouraged when I assured them that women are neither random nor complicated, and we can be understood. Men just want to love their wives well, and For Men Only will help them do that.â

âShaunti Feldhahn

Customer Reviews:

The BEST inside Info Book out there.......2007-10-17

I bought this one as well as the companion, "For Women Only" Well being a man I can only assume that this book matches what women really feel but in my experience it seems like it does.

Being a man, I know for a fact that "For Women Only" is EXACTLY what us guys are like. I highly recommend both books!

All around good.......2007-10-17

This gives a very broad well explain idea of women, but if you have read a lot of different books on the topic, then their is nothing really new. I gave the book 5 stars because everything that I read over a life time was explained in this book.

For Men Only.......2007-10-11

This is a must read for the women who wants to understand why men act the way they do. It will not change them, but it will make you not want to change them, and appreciate them for the way they are made!

Just What I Needed.......2007-09-25

I got this book at a friend's recommendation. I'm getting married soon and I was hoping for some help. The book was very helpful and informative. I liked it for not being biased or a 10 step program. It's literally straightforward information on how most women think. It's already drastically altered the way I relate to my fiancée and it's helped us grow closer together. I'd recommend it to any man that wants a better relationship with his lady. This is a great book to help newlyweds get started out on the right foot.

Undserstanding a Woman.......2007-09-21

The Feldhahn's bring humor and wisdom into an amazingly complex topic - understanding a woman. While my wife certainly is mysterious to say the least, this book provided insights into why she says what she says, reacts the way she does to my words, and what I have done to build walls that she gave up trying to climb. I found that many of her problems could be influenced for the better by my willingness to understand her and speak to her on her terms. This book has helped me help my wife love me more fully. Humble yourself and read it!!

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