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Martha R. - , - Reviews

1 to 10 of 10
Can't Help Singing: The Life of Eileen Farrell
Can't Help Singing: The Life of Eileen Farrell
Author: Eileen Farrell, Brian Kellow
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 9/3/2010


Enjoyable, frank, fun memoir by an American opera diva, equally accomplished in opera and jazz.


In My Own Voice : Memoirs
In My Own Voice : Memoirs
Author: Christa Ludwig
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 9/3/2010


Fascinating, warm memoir by the great Christa Ludwig about her life, her operatic roles, conductors, houses. She's generous to her colleagues and true to herself.


Mosby's 2009 Nursing Drug Reference (Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference)
Review Date: 10/12/2011


Lots of interesting and useful information, including information about reactions between prescription drugs and herbal rememdies. Concise, accurate information.


Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition
Nanda Devi: The Tragic Expedition
Author: John Roskelley
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 8/23/2011


For anyone addicted to books about Himalayan or mountain climbing adventures, I would recommend this book. There are interesting descriptions of the lower terrain on the climb that are usually not included in this sort of book. And I don't knoew of any other books describing a climb of the beautiful Nanda Devi.

But this particular expedition was rife with interpersonal conflicts and rivalries, and erratic behavior of team members. I felt that Roskelly talked way too much about this, and was quite judgmental of most of the climbers. Certainly this kind of friction and lack of teamwork occurs in other expeditions, although I doubt that it is as prevalent as what Roskelly describes in his expedition. I would much rather have read more about the climb - technical aspects, views, etc. Still it gives a picture of at least one climb that you rarely see - I would not take this experience as an example of every climbing expedition.


Plain Truth
Plain Truth
Author: Jodi Picoult
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 659
Review Date: 9/3/2010


My least favorite Picoult book so far. Intriguing story, but I didn't think the writing was very good - the dialogue seemed artificial - I don't think people talk that way in real life.


The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
The Psychopath Test: A Journey Through the Madness Industry
Author: Jon Ronson
Book Type: Hardcover
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 17
Review Date: 9/9/2011
Helpful Score: 1


This is a somewhat strange book. It begins and ends with a "mystery," that seems to have nothing to do with the rest of the book. I guess that I feel the book promises more than it delivers. It talks about the author's expereince with an instrument, a checklist, that purports to identify psychopaths. I have only an average layperson's knowledge about psychology, and there was nothing in this book that I didn't already know from reading popular literature - "psychopaths lack empathy." The author discusses his meetings with and impressions of three people - one of these is a corporate businessman. But there is not anything in the book that would bring us to the conclusion that most of America's corporate businessman are psychopaths, as the advertising claims. Could be possible, but you can't know from this book.

The author's encounter with Tony, a man who is imprisoned at Broadmoor, England's famous hospital for the criminally insane, is interesting. But in general I found the book very unsatisfying and wonder why Ronson wrote it - it was not even well-written.


The Rough Guide to Opera 4 (Rough Guide Reference)
The Rough Guide to Opera 4 (Rough Guide Reference)
Author: Rough Guides
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 9/3/2010


Very helpful, loads of suggestions for recordings.


Seven Summits
Seven Summits
Author: Dick Bass, Rick Ridgeway, Frank Wells
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 22
Review Date: 5/15/2011


I also did not think that this book was particularly well written, but it was a very interesting account about two businessmen who realized their dream of climbing the seven summits - the highest peak on each continent, and how they grew personally in the process.


The Tiger's Child
The Tiger's Child
Author: Torey Hayden
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.2/5 Stars.
 93
Review Date: 9/18/2010
Helpful Score: 1


Fascination continuation of One Child.


Women, Art, and Society (World of Art) (Expanded Edition)
Women, Art, and Society (World of Art) (Expanded Edition)
Author: Whitney Chadwick
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 1/14/2014


This is an excellent book, very interesting, full of hard to find information, and the author's unique perspectives on her subject. I think it would be most interesting to students and historians - it is quite dense, packed with information and views about a large number of women artists. I found it a good jumping off place for researching various women artists, movements, trends.


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