tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28515031201194087502024-03-18T13:48:04.775-04:00RYCJ's Book ReviewsOEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.comBlogger275125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-80995548094647009922024-03-18T13:44:00.004-04:002024-03-18T13:47:20.782-04:00Top Billin’ by Bill BellamySynopsis: Personal testimonies of a celebrity American Comedian and ActorWriting Style: Direct. Straightforward. Entertaining.Pacing: FAST!Personal Highlights: As Bellamy pointed out in his memoir, I was among the group not watching MTV and thus not very familiar with his work. This is what amazed me, cursorily thinking this was going to be a good book. I was spot on!What personally stood out wasOEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-77969083826518569312024-03-09T16:12:00.012-05:002024-03-09T16:19:04.140-05:00In Order to Live by Yeonmi ParkSynopsis: Personal testimony escaping North KoreaWriting Style: Soft, but Direct Vivid Storytelling. Pacing: FAST!Personal Highlights: A little over ten years ago I read ‘Nothing to Envy’, a collection of narratives edited by Barbara Demick. This was my initial familiarity about North Korea. Yeonmi however, born in 1993, memorializes a protracted view of what living in vast darkness, OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-44451318761802248872024-02-20T11:02:00.006-05:002024-02-20T11:22:18.750-05:00Bullwhip Days: The Slaves Remember, edited by James MellonSynopsis: An annotated “compendium” of oral slave memories.Writing Style: Direct. Edited to ‘pick up’ the narrator’s cadence. Pacing: Fast.Personal Highlights: This collection of ex-slave narratives captures more than “29” full narrations relaying (just prior to emancipation) how the slave business operated. More than tactfully edited accounts recounting how slaves were bred… the OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-19138358840575445462024-02-10T11:18:00.001-05:002024-02-10T11:18:10.314-05:00 The Undiscovered Paul Robeson by Paul Robeson, Jr.Synopsis: Biography of Paul Robeson written by his son.Writing Style: Eloquent. Stately.Pacing: Pleasing.Personal Highlights: What a remarkable account of Paul Robeson’s life and work. Wow!I so adored the writing. Nothing over dramatized, stretched or preachy. From the start Paul Jr. (Paul’s son), makes clear his purpose. He wants readers to have a comprehensive understanding of a notable figure OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-78727196968123913142024-01-01T00:21:00.001-05:002024-01-01T00:21:52.857-05:00RYCJs 2023 Top Ten Reading FavoritesOEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-20183173104827512512023-12-31T15:00:00.005-05:002023-12-31T15:11:52.120-05:00HAPPY NEW YEAR!Favorites read this year!!! Thank you memoirists, readers and fans making my year. Will share a personal thank video a little later. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-80396660912168550852023-12-23T18:20:00.000-05:002023-12-23T18:20:25.834-05:00How Y'all Doing? by Leslie JordanSynopsis: American Actor and Comedian's personal testimony.Writing Style: Sensitive, Picturesque, Familiar 70's Humor Pacing: Moderate.Personal Highlights: When I first came by this little book I knew it was going to be a relaxing fun read. Just seeing Mr. Jordan sitting crossed-legged on his book cover spelled this out.I wasn't disappointed. What a treat! I didn't know Leslie prior to OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-28683563701631843522023-12-03T20:19:00.003-05:002023-12-03T20:19:31.664-05:00 Behind the Laughter by Anthony Griffith and Brigitte Travis-GriffinSynopsis: Personal testimonies from an American Comedian... and his wife.Writing Style: Straightforward. Passionate. Warm.Pacing: Fast.Personal Highlights: For starters... the clean humor, and Anthony and Brigitte's take on life (marriage and morality vs. getting paid humor) was refreshing to read. The sneakers (gym shoes) jokes really landed. Too funny. I liked the Lexus joke and was tickled by OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-78970672580643550402023-10-19T10:39:00.000-04:002023-10-19T10:39:02.163-04:00The Unwanted by Kien NguyenSynopsis: A personal testimony of an Amerasin's immigration to America.Writing Style: Straight-forward. Novelish.Pacing: Fast.Personal Highlights: This is a really good book! Initially I mistook this memoir of a young (part American and part Vietnamese) boy retelling how he and his family went from solvency to poverty, for a novel. Much of the narration (dramatic… and “quoted”), created a unique OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-26945017892407747512023-10-10T17:30:00.043-04:002023-10-12T18:48:13.483-04:00Rabbit by Patricia WilliamsSynopsis: The personal testimony and redemption of a young teenage mother turned popular comedian, actress and writer.Writing Style: Straight-forward.Pacing: FAST!!!Personal Highlights: Admittedly this was one of the books I put aside a few years back. But it was never out of sight. No matter how many times I moved this book from shelf to shelf, it stayed within sight!Welp, opened this book the OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-24653983464617083452023-09-30T15:39:00.003-04:002023-09-30T15:39:17.388-04:00Chasing History by Carl BernsteinSynopsis: Memoir of a kid falling in love with chasing stories around the D.C. corridors and landing a professional career in journalism.Writing Style: Commercial Journalistic Pacing: Semi-fast to ModeratePersonal Highlights: The historical purview of 'Chasing History' lured me in, but most engaging was following 'the kid's' excitement (before finishing high-school) working for the 'Evening OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-6002277781525956442023-09-19T07:16:00.011-04:002023-09-21T08:00:12.821-04:00Little Failure by Gary ShteyngartSynopsis: A personal writing journey...and testimony. Writing Style: Poetic. Commercial Literature.Pacing: Moderate.Personal Highlights: The writing grabbed me first..and foremost. Lyrical, tight, rigidly risible the long winding...and winded choleric sentences took me on a page-turning ride through wintry Russian culture and a balsamic childhood largely comprising of blips and clips OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-22118036389882532062023-07-27T11:27:00.005-04:002023-07-27T11:27:26.000-04:00You Carried Me by Melissa OhdenSynopsis: Personal testimony about abortion and adoption.Writing Style: Clear. Emotional, but Organized.Pacing: Fast.Personal Highlights: This is a deeply personal account. Reminds me of so many other unique stories where decisions are made without the ability to consider the possible outcomes, as Melissa attests to, and even encounters through her work with Social Services programs.In the OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-21106851376125853362023-07-27T11:18:00.011-04:002023-07-27T11:23:19.693-04:00Straight Shooter by Stephen A. SmithSynopsis: Personal testimonies of a Popular Sports Journalist.Writing Style: 1st person. Pacing: Moderate.Personal Highlights: This turned out to be a very interesting reading experience, one I have not experienced before. Prior to reading this memoir I only (at a distance) heard of 'screaming Stephen'... aka the 'Provocateur' 🠈(oh, I so loved that word). No pun intended, it was hard OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-36996780164385244452023-07-13T15:34:00.003-04:002023-07-13T16:06:16.129-04:00 Just Tyrus by TyrusSynopsis: Personal testimony of a WWE Wrestler and political commentator's rise to fame.Writing Style: Undressed. Organized. Clear. Sounds Just Like Tyrus. Pacing: FastPersonal Highlights: Best title yet. Loved the pacing. While the clipped 'no big deal...nothing to see here' sentences came across brave, his hard knock (literally) beginnings were challenging to read. I was really OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-37108560794943654142023-07-13T15:29:00.025-04:002023-07-14T20:33:42.243-04:00A PROMISED LAND by Barack ObamaSynopsis: Chronicle of President Barack Obama's ascent to the White House and his early years governing from the Oval Office.Writing Style: Jocular. Polished. Commercial. Pacing: Panoramic. Verbose. Personal Highlights: For starters, this is a president who believes in dotting all his i's and crossing all his t's. This absolute is right away apparent by the pristine OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-1283693334781705682023-06-28T12:58:00.005-04:002023-06-28T12:58:47.646-04:00 My Grandfather's Son by Clarence ThomasSynopsis: A personal testimony leading up to the nomination, and installation of Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas.Writing Style: Direct. Concise. To the point.Pacing: FAST.Personal Highlights: Already impressed by how much ...and deeply... Justice Clarence Thomas reads legalese, and after catching a documentary about him, is what led me to want to know about the man who raised him. OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-37573353745587385552023-03-14T21:39:00.002-04:002023-03-14T21:41:43.425-04:00When You Look Like Your Passport Photo, It's Time To Go Home by Erma BombeckSynopsis: Celebrated Humorist Travel MemoirWriting Style: Humor! Satire Galore.Pacing: SUPER FAST!!!Personal Highlights: This memoir contains many pluses. The writing, in and of itself, is a delight. The pacing, the short chapters, its organization, plus the sheer volume of humorous insight and knowledge to glean makes for an incredibly enjoyable reading experience. I haven't read anything OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-40623090789174568552023-03-14T21:29:00.009-04:002023-03-15T10:10:56.506-04:00Spare by Prince HarrySynopsis: Personal journalistic testimony of British Royalty.Writing Style: Crisp. Curt but warm. Passionate.Pacing: Moderately FastPersonal Highlights: I was warned: "This memoir is REALLY good." The advisory turned out 100% accurate.I greatly respect the way Prince Harry relayed his personal testimony. The reading however, began moderately paced. He describes his upbringing affectionately;OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-56172783295342744992023-03-14T21:16:00.003-04:002023-03-14T21:16:31.677-04:00You've Got to Laugh by Alison HammondSynopsis: First person testimony of popular British TV personality.Writing Style: Upbeat. Positive. Brit Lit.Pacing: ModeratePersonal Highlights: I'm always looking for upbeat memoirs to read, which was how I found Alison's book. I took one look at the cover. Read the title. And bought it! Early into the reading however, I did Google Alison, not realizing she was a British personality.OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-34783416975547940042023-02-28T09:26:00.003-05:002023-02-28T09:26:18.041-05:00America Made Me A Black Man by Boyah J. FarahSynopsis: The personal experiences of a young man born in Somalia and raised in part in Nugaal Valley (Somalia) and in part the New England region of the U.S.Writing Style: Novelish. Passionate. Pacing: FAST.Personal Highlights: Most striking was the writing, which I enjoyed. Farah is a lover of words and it shows in the poetic way he retells his story, moving back and forth OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-38509377031874783242023-02-03T13:16:00.001-05:002023-02-03T13:16:59.399-05:00Top Ten Favorites Read in 2022! OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-80727456379457014062022-12-29T18:50:00.009-05:002022-12-31T12:42:36.406-05:00Bleachers by John GrishamFinally! I finally read a Grisham novel!Although not the greatest sports' fan, I nonetheless enjoyed this novel. In concise, dialogue heavy script I was pulled into Messina and the reminiscences of residents reliving the town’s (40-year) high-school football program, and the man who coached those players. Quickly the question became, who really was Coach Eddie Rake, and what had he done? It took OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-41965036801046113292022-12-29T18:44:00.006-05:002022-12-30T17:45:50.645-05:00True Tales of TWA Flight Attendants by Kathy Kompare and Stephanie JohnsonThis collection of ‘flight’ tales is full of historical vignettes...such as "the look"... as in the nails, the hair, attitude, mannerisms, dress and grooming all hostess/stewardess/fight attendants (prior to the 80's) were expected to exude. I remember those days. My aunt began her career as a TWA stewardess in the 60's (one of the first black females to earn her flight wings). Our family adored OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2851503120119408750.post-87198953569661053292022-10-31T21:36:00.000-04:002022-10-31T21:36:20.315-04:00Uphill by Jemele HillSynopsis: Reflections and Experiences of a Popular Sports JournalistWriting Style: Passionate. Pacing: FAST.Personal Highlights: Wow. I first learned of Jemele when she was doing His & Hers with Michael Smith. I'm not into sports, but my husband is, which was through him with the TV blaring in the next room, while I was trying to write, that led me to investigate whose balmy voice OEBookshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02764044543216365261noreply@blogger.com0