Great Insights Into The Next President

I read the first couple of chapters of this book and then listened to the bulk of the book as an audio book on my I-Pod. Obama won a grammy award for "Spoken Word" and it is clear why. He makes the story very easy to understand and engaging with a variety of voices and dialetcs portrayed in the text.

This book does a great job of delineating Obama's racial journey from Hawaii through his early political career. Even if you don't support his politics, this book is an excellent read into understanding the man and his racial journey. After reading this book, you'll understand why there is no need for him to talk about race in his presidential run. (May 2008)

This book was recommended to me by a friend from church and I am the better for having read it. I am not a homosexual but have wrestled with reconciling the kind of lifestyle or stereotypes associated with homosexuals with the bible. I still have those questions but received a great education from E. Lynn Harris and Raymond Tyler. The book hooks you with engaging characters and realistic situations. As as heterosexual, I was rooting for an ending in line with my orientation and even though it did not turn out the way I expected, Harris ended the saga with me wanting more. The book puts a human face on those who remain 'in the closet' and reminds us all that there is an 'invisible life' in each of us that we don't want anyone else to know about. We all have deep issues with which we struggle during life's journey.

I have always enjoyed good movies but what is even more interesting is the process that takes place behind the camera. Couple that interest with a fondness for the Star Trek phenomena and the book Star Trek Movie Memories is the result. Shatner does a remarkable job of telling the stories of how the 5 Star Trek Movies came to be. Most revealing was the persona of Gene Roddenberry who seemed to have no idea of how to translate the franchise from television to the big screen.

Personally, I thought that Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan was the best of the ST movies. It was a joy to see that the making of that movie was as much fun in its creation as it was to see it on screen. Shatner gives some good insight to the happenings behind the scenes especially his own feelings over the death of James T. Kirk in Generations (did Kirk really die?).

Such is the focus of this riveting novel by John Grisham. This is the 2nd Grisham novel that I've read and this one grabs you by the throat on the first page and takes you on a rollercoaster ride from the rural cities of Brazil to the hallowed political halls of power in Washington, D.C. to the local happenings of Biloxi, Mississippi.

The story is an easy read and has more plot twists than a soap opera on the networks. This story is more of a thriller than an action/adventure novel which is why this work will probably not be translated to the big screen. The story moves along at a very good pace and concludes with an ending that I still find unbelievable and downright upsetting in my opinion.