Review: Shrapnel

SHRAPNEL 
By William Wharton
William Morrow
May 2013
Hardcover, 272 pages
(US) 9780062257376
(US) 23.99

William Wharton died in 2008, but the memoir he wrote about his experiences in World War II will live forever.  These are intimate letters, personal and unfiltered.  He reminds the audience that many of his stories were kept secret, even from his family; his book was released posthumously. Shrapnel is a short work but nevertheless a strong and robust accounting of his relationships, fighting experience, and deepest sentiments. He never wanted to be a soldier, never felt compelled to throw himself in harm’s way, but regardless became a decorated veteran.

I must admit, I had doubts about reading about WWII from a personal perspective. However, this is a rare and candid portrayal of war, unembellished and humble. I am impressed with the author’s storytelling ability, as each page compels the reader to continue. Although there are many WWII books available in print, Shrapnel should be required reading for any students of American history. It is at once shockingly modest and highly inspirational.  Wharton bares his soul and shows how the war theater played out as one of America’s greatest tragedies.

Disclosure: Copy provided at no charge by HNR for review in August 2013 issue. 

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2013]. 

Across Many Mountains, A Memoir by Yangzom Brauen

ACROSS MANY MOUNTAINS
A Tibetan Family's Epic Journey from Oppression to Freedom
Yangzom Brauen
St. Martin's Press
978-0-312-60013-6
October, 2011-304 pp









 ACROSS MANY MOUNTAINS is the journey of three women, grandmother, mother and daughter from March 10, 1959, the day marked as Tibetan Uprising Day (considered the day when the Tibetan turmoil began).  This memoir is written from the point of view of the daughter, Yangzom Brauen.  It is a multigenerational approach that begins with the author’s grandmother and ends with her own story today. It is an astonishing narrative that provides the reader with the gripping history of her family, Tibet, Buddhism and the Dalai Lama. It is an eye opening read that delivers a message of determination, strength and understanding. As the Tibetan people and the government of China continue to clash, the Dalai Lama provides spiritual wisdom and hope from India.  The author skillfully assumes the persona of mother and grandmother to testify on their behalf. ACROSS MANY MOUNTAINS just might tempt the reader to pursue further reading about Tibet and Buddhism as it did for this reviewer. I applaud Yangzom Brauen for telling this remarkable family history.

This book was sent to me for review by Library Thing/  Early Reviewers.  My review is my candid and unbiased opinion of this memoir.


© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Starred Review-I Shall Not Hate, by Izzeldin Abuelaish

I SHALL NOT HATE
A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity
by Izzeldin Abuelaish
Walker and Company
January 4, 2011
$24.00, 256pp.
978-0802779175

My Review

Many times I have asked myself, if there was a person I would like to meet, who would it be? After reading I Shall Not Hate, I can honestly say I would consider myself blessed if I were ever to meet Izzeldin Abuelaish. Dr. Abuelaish was born in 1955. He lived in Gaza, a Palestinian forced to live in a refugee camp that was under a blockade, a highly restrictive environment. He grew up living in extreme poverty but his dream was to become a doctor. He pursued education with an unwavering determination. He is now a highly respected doctor and specialist in his field. He also received a masters degree in public health from Harvard. When he lived in Gaza he worked in Israel, an unusual scenario being a Palestinian. On top of this his daily border crossing commute to work was arduous and exhaustive.

Until I read this book, I would not have realized the incredible obstacles he faced each day in order to practice medicine in an Israeli hospital. That he was deeply committed to helping his patients, regardless of their nationality and religious beliefs becomes evident. He is an infertility expert and he also works promoting women’s education.
Dr. Abuelaish has an enormous heart of compassion and the Hippocratic oath is embedded in his credo. It is so inherent that he sees medicine as the bridge and the example of lasting peace. Yet, this is not what makes this man so remarkable.

His book, I Shall Not Hate, is more than a title on a cover, it is his life’s canon. Three of his daughters, Aya, Bessan, and Mayar and his niece Noor were killed when an Israeli tank decimated his home in Gaza. Other members of his family were seriously wounded and getting them to a hospital was a monumental challenge. His words, his desperate pleas and cries shortly after the attack and discovery were broadcast live on Israeli television and captured on You Tube.

I ask myself, “Why does Dr. Abuelaish not hate?” To answer that you need to read his book. I can’t even begin to feel or describe his pain, it is so terrifying and unimaginable.

In his words:

“Hate is a chronic disease, and we need to heal ourselves of it and work toward a world in which we eradicate poverty and suffering. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich from hating one another.

First, we must join together to fight our mutual enemy, which is our ignorance of each other. We must smash and destroy the mental and physical barriers within each of us and between us. We must speak and move forward to achieve our brighter future; we are all living in one boat, and any harm to some people in this boat puts us all in danger of drowning. We must stop blaming each other and adopt the values of our, us and we.” ~Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish (pg. 230)

Dr. Abuelaish is a brave and sensitive crusader of peace and human rights. His reflective and emotional memoir shows deep despair, yet it also reveals his inspirationally optimistic outlook to forging peace and understanding. Highly recommended as a 2011 memoir to read.

His website and foundation can be found at: http://www.daughtersforlife.com/

Walker and Company

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book by Library Thing as part of the Early Reviewer program. This review is my unbiased honest opinion.






© [Wisteria Leigh] and [Bookworm's Dinner], [2008-2011].

Jantsen's Gift, by Pam Cope

JANTSEN’S GIFT
A True Story of Grief, Rescue and Grace
by Pam Cope, with Aimee Molloy
Grand Central Publishing
Hachette Book Group
April 2009
978-0-446-19969-8

If you have ever wondered if one person can really make a difference, then you have not read Jantsen’s Gift by Pam Cope. After the tragic death of her son, Pam, a self described hairdresser, wife and soccer mom was unsure how she was going to live through each day. She was desperate, full of self-loathing, her grief was so enormous, she had no idea how she would ever get out of bed to carry on life without him.

One day, desperate, unable to cope, desolate with grief she has a chat with God,

“I cannot do this anymore. I cannot live this life....I cannot forge a life of meaning from this sorrow. Please, just take me. Or at least tell me: What do you want from me.”

Having learned from her husband Randy that the memorial fund established in her son’s name had grown to twenty five thousand, Pam decides to take a trip to Vietnam with a friend in order to visit orphanages. This initial leap of courage to take a trip that required traveling across the globe away from the comfort zone of Neosho, Missouri was the impetuous that Pam needed to begin her healing.

On her visit she met Vinh Thien a small infant boy, who had been abandoned by his mother. Despite all the many children Pam and Randy had met during their visit, Vinh stood out and without any explanation, she just knew she wanted to take him home. He would ultimately become Van Alan Cope. It was a long arduous process complete with red tape and bureaucratic double talk, but one that would help to show Pam what her path in life was to be. She was never, or seemingly never daunted by the insurmountable odds against everything she tried to implement. Her tenacious will seemed to be driven by a purpose unseen until her son’s death. Through Jantsen’s spirit she learned to live differently, perhaps that was his gift.

Throwing all her energy into saving children, Pam took on nascent roles of speaker, fund-raiser, administrator, Mom Pam (adopted mother), politician, and social worker and director to defend, protect and rescue neglected and abandoned children. She saved hundreds of children from the streets of Vietnam by providing shelter, basic needs and an education.

Pam founded the Touch A Life organization, it’s mission to help save at-risk youths globally. After reading an article in The New York Times in 2006, Pam headed to Northern Ghana to help save children forced into hard labor as slaves. Even though laws against child trafficking are in place, the practice continues without interference from authorities.
Brutally honest, inspirational without preaching, you feel the author’s pain and anguish, you feel her surrender and release, you feel her acceptance and grace.

In her words,

“I never thought that Jantsen’s death would lead me to grace, and it is my hope that nobody ever has to go through what I went through to arrive there. Even writing this book feels like another step away from Jantsen. I do take comfort in the idea that even one more person will get to know a little about him, but the fact that I can write about his death without crawling to my bed and staying there, curled up in my grief for weeks, shows how far I’ve come.”

Highly moving and emotional story of one woman’s struggle to endure loss. Pam Cope’s story is gut wrenching and sad yet offers hope for all of us who look for life’s purpose and what truly matters. Jantsen’s Gift should be on everyone’s wish list.

Disclosure: Thanks to Anna Balasi at Hachette Book Group for this review copy.

Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls, a True-Life Novel

Half Broke Horses
A True-Life Novel
by Jeannette Walls
Scribner
October 2009, 272 p.
978-1-4165-86289





Walls is shaping up to be one of this decades most fascinating storytellers. The adventures of her family in The Glass Castle were mesmerizing and truly an unforgettable read. With a pen that glows with brilliance, her writing in Half Broke Horses is bedazzling. In her words, this is the true life novel of her grandmother, Lily Casey Smith who died when she was eight. Half Broke Horses portrays her grandmother’s life told through all of the many stories she heard as a child.

The novel is told in first person from the point of view of her grandmother. The opening chapter begins, “Those old cows knew trouble was coming before we did.” However, no matter what trouble faced Lily Casey Smith, she would have the intelligence, the determination, the answers and always the faith in herself that she would survive.

As the story opens, faced with the onslaught of a flash-flood, Lily has presence of mind to gather her two siblings together and hoists them into a cottonwood tree, where they hang on precariously during a harrowing overnight until the morning. Lily is ten and when her mother sees her three children coming home the following morning, she praises the Lord, the guardian angels and her constant prayer for saving the three.

Lily is perturbed and says to her dad, “There weren’t no guardian angel, Dad.” She knows their survival had nothing to do with prayer and she is quick to explain it was her vigilant fight to save her brother and sister that kept them alive. Lily is a realist, and she believes there was no guardian Angel up in that tree. It was Lily Casey Smith, one tough kid, who was up in the tree making the right decisions.

One other time early in the book, Walls relates a story about her grandmother, when she was fifteen and accepts a job as a teacher. Lily has no degree in teaching, but has enough education to satisfy the school district’s needs. The town is over five hundred miles away, but Lily needs a job. Lily must make the journey on her horse Patches to Red Lake, Arizona, by herself and so she sets out on her trip with a fearless, spunky spirit of adventure.

Walls novel is a touching honest portrait of an idiosyncratically warm and loving grandmother, mother and wife who was raised on the wild side of nature. She was in my opinion “a hoot”. You will love this woman and come to understand that there is absolutely nothing in life that could stand in her way when she sets her mind to it.

Half Broke Horses is an inspirational memoir, and true life-novel that will make you chuckle, weep and simply savor like a warm cup of tea. The greatest challenge in this book I found was not being able to put it down. With my predilection for Jeannette Walls’ writing I eagerly anticipate future releases as my cup of tea is getting cold.

William Kamkwamba, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

This is an astonishing story not to miss! I hope after reading my review and watching the You Tube Video, you will want to read William Kamkwamba's book, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. In my opinion, he is an exceptional person. His book comes out on September 29, 2009 and he now has a blog. Please read what William says at the end of his book,
"I hope my story finds its way to our brothers and sisters out there who are developing their own ways to elevate themselves and their communities, but who may feel discouraged by their poor situation. I want them to know they're not alone. "




REVIEW
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer
October 2009
William Morrow
978-0-06-173032-0
$25.99.288 pages





Many have goals that require hard work and persistence. Many have setbacks that often delay the realization of their goals. Many give up. Many succeed. When you read “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind”, you will read the memoir of William Kamkwamba, who had a dream, had a goal to help his family and did not give up.

William believes, “If you want to make it, all you have to do is try.” He was born in Malawi the son of a farmer in the town of Dowa. As a young boy famine strangles the country choking the harvest. William’s family is faced with the daily struggle to survive. Each day becomes harder and harder as their meager meals shrink to barely a spoonful at each meal. Meals are often skipped entirely. Ropes tie up pants as the body shrinks, muscles deteriorate and weakness replaces strength. Stealing, violence and desperation become the norm among the Malawian people.

William must drop out of school when his father cannot pay the fee for tuition. But William has an idea. He visits the library and begins to read a book he discovers, Explaining Physics. He comes up with the idea to create electricity by making a windmill. He believes “ a windmill means more than just power, it means freedom.”

William scavenges for materials to build his windmill by visiting the local junkyard. Imagine his mother's chagrin when his bedroom begins to look like another scrapyard with batteries, engine parts and pvc pipe strewn around. He learns and applies the physics required and then must find parts that will work together. People in the village think he is crazy.

Despite setbacks, he won’t give up as he learns, reworks and perfects his creation. After all he says, “Any new invention is going to have its share of problems.....” His windmill tower looks primitive as he uses PVC pipe, tires, old rubber, bottle caps and other recycled finds. It is creatively artistic, but most importantly, it works, capable of generating power for his family. “Look” someone said, “He’s made light.”

This memoir is much more than a story of a boy building a windmill. It is a miracle of wonder that “something good can come from something bad.” William’s story is very special. Through his eyes you witness the harsh reality of poverty. Lives that depend on the fickleness of weather and the emergence of malaria and other life-threatening illness for survival. Read about William Kamkwamba, a remarkable boy whose self determination and willful nature would not let any obstacle block his education.

VIDEO

Review-Tone Deaf in Bangkok (and other places)

Tone Deaf in Bangkok and other places
by Janet Brown
Photographs by Nana Chen
Things Asian Press
9781934159125
$12.95/C$13.95, 155pages






I don’t read too many travel essays or travelogues, but when I heard about Tone Deaf in Bangkok, something made me want to give it a look. Fortunately, my instincts were solid and on target, because this is a delicious combination from two points of view. One, you experience Bangkok as a tourist. Second, the author decides to adopt Bangkok as her home and will assimilate over time. When she does her life in Bangkok is entirely different and we are the beneficiaries.




This is the story of Janet Brown who moves to Bangkok to teach English. At first she is a tourist unable to truly see Bangkok, then in her words,

I slowly realized that Bangkok, with its peculiar mixture of hedonism and industriousness and joie de vivre was where I was meant to be.

This is the story in a series of vignettes of her life and observations as she transitions from tourist to permanent resident.

Janet Brown loves her independence and can easily travel alone or with a couple of friends. She will make plans and take you on day trips to visit Cambodia, and places of picturesque countryside that only few will ever see. It was sobering to read about her visit to The Killing Fields, leading me on a quest to research more information about this time in history.

Her biggest challenge is the language, a miasma of tonal changes so minute, her title, Tone Deaf in Bangkok, only begins to describe her difficulties trying to decipher the subtle changes that reflect meaning. She describes how using a word that sounds the same, except for a slight variance in pitch, will alter the meaning in a drastic and often embarrassing way.

I found myself laughing hysterically as she describes her first encounter with durian, a food that smells enough to make you nauseous but tastes so delicious the contrast is bittersweet. This and more fascinating foods await Brown. Ubiquitous deep fried foods like whole birds, rats and various other delights are served.

Janet Brown’s writing is humorous and honest. She writes from her heart as you come to understand her independence her animistic beliefs, her reverence for exquisite beauty in all she sees.

“The road took us through flat,open fields that were a waterless under an unbroken sweep of sky. Grassland held haystacks that looked like giant wasps nests,small temples that were Grecianly chaste in their simplicity, and trees that were so picturesquely placed that it seemed as though they had been positioned by a landscape architect. Emerald green rice paddies were contained by borders as precise as picture frames, and a huge pond filled with lotus filled the horizon.” (119)

Tone Deaf in Bangkok is a collaboration that includes the remarkably candid and fascinating photography of Nana Chen, who captures glimpses of daily life in Bangkok with a talented eye for split second action.


Bangkok has never been on my list of places to travel, but I certainly feel I have learned more about the culture and country vicariously through Janet Brown.
Perhaps her claims of being tone deaf are true, but her melodic phrasing and lyrical prose makes up for all her language learning deficiencies.