I can't imagine why this book ever went out of print. It is the most lucid, best organized, most cheerful book imaginable, with fantastic, fool-proof recipes. Check out the shrimp scanpi and the spinach pie (though I can't think why it doesn't call for dill; add a fistful of the fresh stuff and be sure to keep a moist towel on top of the phyllo while preparing the dish). Even my husband, who can't find the kitchen door, had success with this book.

Written in the early 70's Mike McGrady's year as a househusband is a hoot. The emerging feminist movement and the confusion that reigned as people scrambled to make sense of the new roles for women and men is delightfully detailed in this loving and honest memoir. If anyone has questions about the way things were before fast tracking, dual income families, and the Internet should try and find this book.

I was very surprised when I read the other reviews of Linda Lovelace's autobiography on this site. The crimes committed against this woman were horrible. And for those who say she's lying, you are just trying to pretend that we live in a world where the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus make everything chirper. Reading this book could help protect some young girl from being victimized by the porn industry or men in general the way Lovelace was. Go ask any woman you know. Probably every one can tell you an experience she has had where some dirty old (or young) man has tried to paw her just because he thinks it's ok. If you want to be outraged that this kind of sexual abuse happens then you must be willing to take a stand against the sexual mistreatment of women in all forms.

In 1972, with the release of "Deep Throat" the most famous porno film ever made, Linda Lovelace was known as an open-minded, attractive and liberated young lady who enjoyed sex and wasn't afraid to say so. ORDEAL chronicles the real truth of her life. She was the victim of a violent, manipulative mentor who insisted she prostitute herself and perform in sex movies for easy money. This book doesn't disparage the actual movie "Deep Throat" which is still considered one of the best adult films for its unusual storyline and quirky humour. What the book does do is expose the horrific tactics used to manipulate a woman into doing this movie. Lovelace's life would not be unique but neither would it be every porno stars story. Despite her fame, much of her life was sour - abusive partners, poverty, and being the subject of crude jokes and staring. ORDEAL covers all of these aspects as does the books excellent sequel "Out Of Bondage". ORDEAL is a good book because it sets the record straight. Hopefully, it serves the dual purpose of Linda Marchiano getting her true horror stories off her chest and drawing attention to the fact that such a chain of events can happen to other young women. One is absolutely sympathetic to Lovelace throughout the book, despite the fact she makes herself a TOTAL victim. That's questionable. I read a novel version of "Deep Throat" which intended to pad out the movie. Naturally, it made Linda a cute and sexy gal that just loved to please. Many a mans fantasy I suppose, but this real account of the stars life continually reinforce the message - "It's a fantasy story. Sex, humour and willing to please girls cannot exist without darker emotional undercurrents." Read ORDEAL for a well-written, intelligent but disillusioning true tale.

This book about poor Linda Lovelace is worth a read if for nothing else but the description of what happened inside the theater of the Playboy Mansion between herself, Chuck Trainer and Sammy Davis Jr., I guess old Chuck ended up showering for about a week after he caught a glimpse of what was really going on. The dog story is pretty wild as well. Linda drops some really big names in this book, you will be surprised, I guess they were afraid to sue her thinking that that would garner even more unfavorable attention. The period of time in her life covered by the events of this book paint a hellish picture, I am glad that the later part of her life before she died was much happier. RIP Linda.

In the first book Linda Lovelace gave a history of her career in porno movies. In this book she declares her innocence of her former career.Much of the blame she places on her former companion and manager Chuck Traynor. This book definitely was not as interesting as her first book. I considered this book to be a letdown.I you want to listen to 1,001 excuses this is the book for you. Otherwise read "Out of Bondage".

...Out of Bondage seems to rehash the facts in Ordeal. The same scene of Linda's initiation into prostitution is repeated several times in this book and probably several times in Ordeal. It is a one-sided story of how she prepares to write her first book. So it is a story of how she tells a story. It is Linda's story, her view, her perspective, her feelings. Out of Bondage does not present a counter argument and it doesn't need to. This is one woman's experience with the porn industry that seems to have a track record of profitting for men, lead by men, while using women in a sex role that is considered dirty or demeaning by mainstream society.

After reading "Ordeal" by Linda, I had to check out "Out of Bondage," and while it was, in many respects, a flashback to her first book, it did speak to the events which took place prior to Ordeal being written, as well as after Ordeal and after Deep Throat. Unlike a previous reviewer who thought she was "full of it," I heartily disagree, and maintain that she has always taken full and complete responsibility for her actions. What she went through was completely reprehensible, and for any man to say that it was a "female problem,"...well, he has the problem instead. The scene in Out of Bondage where the judge allows Deep Throat to be viewed in the courtroom was appalling, and not only should he be disbarred, but all the ones who were responsible for Deep Throat should be investigated, if not imprisoned. Chuck Traynor, for example, with the mistreatment, torture, and rape of Linda should be incarcerated for a long time. Not to mention that Linda said his idol was Charlie Manson. That's not surprising. But in any event, the book is totally enthralling, and that she takes up with the feminists is another thing, but they were supportive of her, as were the DA's who interviewed her. They believed her. And as far as her admission that she found God...well, she admits that she is not a born-again Christian, something I found to be disappointing,... But she states that when she left Traynor and remarried, she felt like she was born again, and she believes in God. I believe there is still hope for her. The book is highly recommended, but read it to learn of the horrors of what she went through, and what people still think when they hear the name Linda Lovelace.