EFR REVIEWS

REMEMBER THE TIME A compellingly candid memoir that details Jackson's life in seclusion, by the bodyguards who were with him in his final days  - with a new introduction to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Michael Jackson's death . Hounded by the tabloid media, driven from his self-made sanctuary, Neverland, Michael Jackson spent his final years moving from city to city, living with his three children in virtual seclusion - a futile attempt to escape a world that wouldn't leave him alone. During that time, two men served as the singer's personal security team: Bill Whitfield, a former cop and veteran of the security profession, and Javon Beard, a brash, untested rookie, both single fathers themselves.  Stationed at his side nearly 24/7, their job was to see and hear everything that transpired, and to keep everyone else out, making them the only two men who know what 60 million fans around the world still want to know: What really happened to the King of Pop? ...

To get the backstory on  Gone With The Wind , I read  Southern Daughter  by  Darden Asbury Pyron.  This bio is great for those academically interested in Mitchell and her writing process but as far  a s casual, leisure reading? Wooooo, is it dry! Still, I did get some interesting tidbits here and there.  "Georgia Peach" Margaret Mitchell came into the world on the day of her parents 8th wedding anniversary, November 8th, 1900. Mitchell was born into a family of book lovers, though some preferred to read only serious, non-fiction works. As a child, Margaret's mother was advised by Margaret's grandfather to focus on history and philosophy selections "to edify the mind" and "not waste your time in those little novels". Margaret pushed for more freedom in her reading choices while her mother tried to instill the same rigidity she was raised on, even trying to pay Margaret to read her classics: "Mother used to give me a nickel for eac...

Whenever I feel my mind becoming cloudy with stress, frustration and the like, nothing seems to make me better faster than stepping away from all my "modern conveniences" (ie. tv, internet, cell phone, etc) and just sitting outside with a quiet kind of book and my dog or taking said dog for a long strolling walk. The answer always seems to be in the quiet of the woods around me. I do love living in the mountains! :-) Whereever I settle throughout my life, there better be at least one good rock formation somewhere nearby! These books today, one a nonfiction account of a real life person, one a novel, feature people letting go of modern technology (either by choice or out of necessity) and letting the land guide them as it did for our earliest ancestors. "Alaska is not the best site in the world for eremitic experiences or peace-love theatrics."  ~~ writer Edward Hoagland INTO THE WILD -- JON KRAKAUER You may recognize Krakauer's name from h...