Of the many literary biographies I've read, only Peter Ackroyd's "Dickens" seems to me as "definitive" as Ms. Lee's terrifically compelling book. One finishes it with the sense, however illusory (see Janet Malcolm's extraordinary "The Silent Woman" for a convincing argument that it must be), that the Virginia Woolf found in its pages is essentially identical to the actual woman who lived and wrote and died. Anyone with even a slight interest in her must consider this book essential reading. I found it a real page-turner throughout its considerable length despite being unconvinced of Woolf's literary eminence (except for her sparkling correspondence) and finding her character unattractive (i.e. snobbish, frigid, a false friend, etc.) even by the usual standard for writers.

Probably the best bio of Woolf we are likely to see for some time. Lee has succeeded brilliantly and gracefully in that most elusive and troublesome task of capturing the "spirit" of another human being and then conveying that without simplification or reduction. What is most moving is that Lee allows Woolf her complexity and contradictions, her courage and cowardice, her generosity and meaness, without indulging in a sort of inconoclastic glee in smashing received images of Woolf as victim or feminist icon (or any other of the several and various "Woolfs" to be found these days.) Lee's bio is a stunning feat of sympathetic imagination and rational scholarship which ranks with the other "best" bio of the last 20 years or so, Deirdre Bair's marvelous and beautiful "Simone de Beauvoir." I am grateful to both of these writers.

I am taking this book slowly and am nearing the end. It is terrific and I find, on the days I take off from reading it, that I miss Virginia Woolf and want to go back to the "place" that is her life. I thank Ms. Lee for giving me a closer intimacy with Virginia Woolf.

First of all, this is a great book. Reading this book is like chating with an old uncle talking about his life. He is not a hero by any means, but an ordinary hard-working family man, who is politically naive like most of us. Yet his two-year ordeal involve extraordinary heros (e.g Judge Parker) and shameless villains.

The Wen Ho Lee case is a classical example of power-abuse by those individuals who work in the government. The government prosecuted Dr Lee in the name of "national security". However, the national security was badly damaged during this long and painful trial, by those people with power. Millions of dollars of tax-payers money was wasted. Credibility of FBI and the counter-intelligence officers was damaged. Real spies like Robert Hanson escaped or have been overlooked for 20+ years. And most of all, the terrorists had successfully launched their deadly attack against the nation on Sept 11th right under FBI's nose.

To me, it's those government officials that we need to be careful for the potential damage of our national security, as well as the civil rights of each individual citizen.

This was the first book I've read in a long time that I couldn't put down. I completed it in two sittings. It is very disturbing to me that an ordinary American citizen can be incarcerated for 278 days and never have committed a crime. This book decribes Dr. Lee's view of what happened and how. The local FBI had determined that there was no evidence to suggest that Dr. Lee might be a spy, but the DOE persisted. His description of solitary confinement is upsetting and frightening. It's enlightening and terrifying, but at the same time, it creates respect for the American legal system and the lawyers who fight for justice.

I was anxious to read this book. Here my government, meant to serve and protect me, was using the very laws to do that to punish someone because he fit a racial-profiling matrix. I am not denying Dr Lee committed a security infraction, but other government officials have committed worse errors without punishment. I am floored (but not surprised) by the outrageous actions of our so called protectors. From the FBI to the White House, powers were completely, if not illegally, misused. This was nothing more than a present day witch hunt. Unfortunately, Dr. Lee was the supposed "witch." As I am in the computer industry, I completely understand Dr Lee's purpose of making backups and backups of your backups. The way the FBI, congressman, senators and others twisted the facts in this case should make every American concerned.

Stella is a Korean American girl facing the all-too-familiar struggles with popularity in junior high school. Lauren Lee accurately captures the tormented atmosphere of pre-pubescence, where more often than not, popularity is determined by wealth and traditional (i.e. "white") standards of beauty. Throughout the book, Stella is embarrassed by her family and her Korean background, but she eventually discovers pride in being Korean despite her frequent encounters with racism. As a second generation Korean American woman, I found the book to be reminiscent of the painful nastiness of the world of adolescence, as well as a reaffirmation of my culture. I highly recommend this book for young Korean Americans who are facing the same struggles.