I guess folks with a similar background would really like this book. I just kept waiting for her to say, "That was then, this is now," then grow up and stop whining. Some says she writes with "courage, honesty, and bold living." I guess I was waiting for the next chapter where she really comes to peace with what happened and goes forward with optimism. If it's in the book, I missed it. She does have a great voice that makes for interesting listening.

A good book for the right audience

I really tried to like this book, but just couldn't. I started it three times before I could get past the first few chapters and really get into the book. I do enjoy Toni Morrison's use of language and her word images. But I only marginally liked this book.

Disturbing

The audio book is read by the author, and very enjoyable to listen to. One of my favorite stories is about the year he had entire Christian and Muslem nations praying for him to cure an "ailment." There's lots of candor from this respectible gentleman!

Simple, pleasant reading

Gosh, was this a treat! It reminded me a bit of the Ugly Betty TV show. Smart girl, gets a job at a fashion magazine and feels somewhat out of place. She keeps her head while those around her go nuts.

There's a lot of good "fish out of water" goings on here. The characters are rich. The writing is quick. The humor is outstanding.

Fun!

I liked this book a lot. I think one of the reviewers, Aimee Bender, got it just right when she wrote this "is the kind of novel that, once you're done, you may go visit while wandering through a bookstore and touch on the binding, just to remember the emotions you felt while reading it."

Highly recommended

I'm not making excuses for Monica, because she was technically an adult and knew what she was doing. But do you remember what it was like to be in your early 20s, to be around people that had some form of power, and to get intoxicated by the situation when you were invited in? I do. Those are the emotions this book elicits. I had to cringe as I listened to Monica's words at times. I wanted to yell, "No! Don't go there!" I wanted to save Monica from herself.

It was a hell of a way to go through her 20s — under the scrutiny of the world.

If you like soap operas, this one's for you

This is the story of a copy writer, Owen Browne, who enters an around-the-world one-man sailboat race. It's also the story of the film maker who wants to tell Browne's story and how the two men's lives overlap in the person of Browne's wife, Anne. The story includes love, betrayal and self-doubt. On another level, it's about having the courage to follow one's dreams and be true to oneself, even if you are trying to fool most of the world at the same time.

Engaging story

Her stories about her work with Louis Leaky and later with the chimpanzees of Gombe are riviting. Her thoughts on social behavior are full of insight. It's wonderful to see the world through Jane's eyes and learn from her 60+ years of extraordinary experiences.

Teaches you; makes you think

Well ... I did learn a few worthwhile things from the book, like the importance of the middle and high school gifted child finding a mentor to give her someone to talk to, inspire her, and help her reach her goals. I also learned how a gifted girl having some time in an all-female high school or college will teach her some leadership skills that would be harder to learn in a mixed-gender school.

But most of the book was extremely dry, and reads like a doctoral disertation. As I read the book, I could picture in my mind the outline the author used to write each chapter. Not very exciting or engaging. But the summary at the end of most chapters was helpful because I found I could read the summary first, then decide if there was anything worth reading in the chapter.

Hard to slog through.

This is the story of two girls from opposite sides of the tracks who come to treat one another as sisters when rich Caitlin invites Vix to Martha's Vineyard for the summer. Each summer the girls grow closer and richer in experience sharing puberty, adolescence and young adulthood — along with all the angst that accompanys these ages: body development, first love, sexual awakening, school, travel, family relationships.

This is a light read, just right for young women leaving home and venturing into their own life adventures.

Quick fun read