American Jewishness is becoming more and more integrated into mainstram American society, Chana Landau does an amazing job juggling both cultures and maintining both modernity and tradition. It is interesting to see the cognitive differences that seem relative to each culture, suggesting that cognitive differences are not universal (despite what theorists say). I loved the book, I recommend it to Jews, non-Jews, old, young- everyone. Im a college student, and Flamboyant was one of my most favorite novels yet. Its a must read.

This book was wonderful. It was unusual and entertaining with a great message. Elizabeth Swados developed real life characters who I ended up caring a lot about. I very much enjoyed reading this novel.

Ms. Swados captures the idiosyncratic natures of an orthodox jewish and young woman and her relationship with Flamboyant--accent pronounced -a yet younger prostitute who is a student athe Harvey Milk School. Ecah sentence pinches the reader-me with the sheer use of words and idioms and sterotypes twisted on its head. The humor is black but never at the expense of the two characters but perhaps at the expense of their environments. A magical tour of New York and two very different people. Ms. Swados has a one of a kind voice--

Fantasy meets thriller for 8 to 12 years old. (And frankly I am 3 times that). I think the zaniness of inventing grapefruits for mankind and the funny narrative is a must for young teenagers, It's fantasy makes you explore the inner mind of a dreamtective in a community where Cobra solves mysteries by going into people's dreams.It's fantastic !

Swados, Elizabeth. The four of us. The story of a family. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, c1991. (Book review)

In the history of disease is there any other that wreaks as much havoc on family life as does mental illness? Elizabeth Swados, a successful author and musician, shares her story of a family torn apart by dysfunction, culminating in dual suicide. The family's inability to cope with the symptoms of schizophrenia, "with severe paranoid tendencies" of Elizabeth's older and talented brother (Lincoln), serves as the cornerstone for this memoir. By devoting a separate chapter to each family member, Swados succeeds in conveying the effect of Lincoln's illness on individual family members and, ultimately, on the family as a whole. In attempting to come to terms with her mother's depression, which has rendered her "unreachable," Swados observes that "research in mental illness hadn't come up with an explanation of schizophrenia that might have lessened some of the blame on her." This criticism of psychiatry 's inability to relieve the feelings of frustration and helplessness experienced by family members, while harsh, is not uncommon.

While this memoir may be fraught with tragedy, the Swados family is, in many respects, representative of all families. Thus, the child, Elizabeth, remains blissfully unaware of her brother's "struggle with hospitalizations and medications" over an extended period of time. Her admission that "what I knew at the time was that my brother went to college and never returned" is a reminder of the extent to which families go to protect the innocence of youth. It also suggests that one of our major tasks as adults lies in reconstructing our family histories, based on our own memories and those of others.

I just finished the book... it was so curious, so well thought out, so rich in detail. It tells the story of Rikki Nelson, a young, mute American Girl, whose father leaves her to live with an experimental theatre group/gypsy caravan/one of a kind....family. The characters are wonderful. I fell in love with Charles, Rikki's gay 'mother' and brother to the troupe's director. The troupe performs plays and travels to exotic countries. Sasha, the director, blazes trails for the troupe in terrifying new ways.

First off, I'm a poet. Secondly, I've just finished writing my first children's book. So, naturally, I went to the bookstore, hoping to gather a bit of information on publishing my children's book. I picked up & purchased this book based on its' topic (and because I love Joe Cepeda's illustrations).

The illustrations never fail. The children in this book seem to come alive. However, the poetry, the illusion of a storyline, just never seem to mesh with the awesome pictures.

I gathered that these children have fun rhyming in the streets, but this is not the best introduction to poetry. The basics are covered, such as all poems don't have to rhyme. But if I was a child, I would still close this book thinking "what exactly is a poem" or "what exactly is a poetry slam". (I mean, why have "poetry slam" in the title, but not give a basic description of what it is?)

Unfortunately, the poems -- dialogue -- do not compliment the fun and extremely colorful illustrations. The silly name poem was cute, but really had no purpose in the middle of the book. The poems about the aunt, rain, ice cream, etc. just seem random, and contributes to books overall confusion. Realistically, I wouldn't purchase this book for another child solely out of my belief that (s)he wouldn't read it again, that is if they get through it the first time.

I don't want to give the illusion that I'm just trying to be negative. My honest opinion is based on my volunteer experience: workshops I've done with kids (not including this book) about writing and reading poetry, and based upon children's reactions to "storytime books" I read, etc.