I am just finishing up reading this book and will be releasing it in the wild soon! So far I think the book is ok. It has some good parts and some not so good parts. In some sections I think he is really arrogant and then in other parts he may write something that I totally agree with. Being that I am not a film buff, and had read this as part of a book club read, I didn't enjoy it as much as some may. But don't let that stop you from enjoying this read! Even though this is not a favorite it still was a worthwhile read!

The bookray journey is beginning on 4/24/07. First stop Caridad!

How the bookray works:
* Someone will PM you for your address, PM them back and provide your address
* When you receive the book, please make a journal entry letting everyone know that you received it
* Put the book at the top of your TBR pile (under other rings/rays that arrived first)
* Read the book (take your time and enjoy the book, don't feel rushed to finish it)
* When the end is in sight, check the book's journal and PM the next person to get their address
* Finish the book, make another journal entry and let everyone know what you thought of the book
* Send the book to the next person on the list (please use the cheapest shipping method available), make release notes (Controlled Release) or journal entry to let everyone know that it's in the mail
* END OF THE RAY, The last person on the ray could try and continue the ray or just give/mail the book to someone else who might like to read it, perhaps a RABCK - look at cliff1976.com wish list web site, or release it into the wild.

Bookray list as of 4/24/07

1. Caridad - Florida, USA - Done
2. Bug2004 - Nebraska, USA
3. Tenneh - Nebraska, USA
4. Megan2112 - Tennessee, USA (US only)
5. Bluestocking88 - Washington, USA
6. AnnieMacFan - Washington, USA (international)
7. Kobie03 - Canada (international)
8. Bookworm-lady - Spain (Europe)
9. Isabelopes - Portugal ==>here<==

RELEASE NOTES:

Got it today. Will PM next victim of ray for mailing address. Thanks liz-z!

This wasn't the best memoir I have ever read, but I enjoyed reading about him and his struggles. He had a lot of similarities to the way my mother was raised, who happens to be a big fan of his. I saw the arrogance you mentioned, liz-z. It just shows our human frailities. Thanks for sharing.

Mailed from PO today. Enjoy BUG2004.

Rec'vd today! Anxious to read this one!!! I have a couple in front of it, but will get to it asap. Thanks for sharing!

I really loved this book. I found it to be interesting and inspirational...may have to pick up a copy of my own. :) Thanks so much for sharing!!! I will get it off in the next day or so!!!!

Sent off to tenneh today.

Received today, will get to it right away.

I thought this was a good book about a very interesting man. Thanks for letting me read it.

Megan2112 has asked to be skipped, so I'm PMing the next person.

RELEASE NOTES:

going to Bluestocking88

Arrived safely today. Thank you!

I was put off by this for some reason, maybe the arrogance but I'm not sure that's the word. I had to let it sit for a bit to get some perspective. I didnt' mean to let it sit that long though. I apologize for the stall. I will either finish it or give up and have it in the mail by Monday. I have AnnieMacFan's address, so the only thing holding it up now is me.

I started this book loving the first chapter. I got bogged down a few times, and at several parts kept reading only because I felt I should because it was a bookring. I know that may sound silly, but if it was a library book I likely would not have finished. Something about this book made him seem very arrogant. However, as Mr. Poitier is largely uneducated, the book is so fluent and well written, I imagine he had a ghostwriter. I wonder how much of the tone was set by the writer, and how much by the subject.

It was difficult figuring out what I did not like, but I think I missed out on a sense of the MAN on the cover. After 243 pages I am not sure I know Mr. Poitier as a person--he's more of a philosphy machine. I mean, what does Mr. Poitier like for breakfast, what does he do for fun, is he kinder, softer, or more generous because of his initial poverty? What is his family like? I would have like more memories of those early years in New York. At any point he could have gone home to Cat Island, why did he prefer an isolated poverty in New York to poverty with family? I felt I got a big dose of the political philosophy of an amazing, yet uneducated, actor that had a fascinating childhood.

He mentions the value of education, but has very little. His criticism for those that aren't as true to their values (or his believe of what they should be) was troubling for me, as he abandoned his wife and children for another woman, and ignored his family for a decade after coming to the United States. He mentions his mistakes, but I felt it was in a way that glosses over the hurt he caused by his occasional lapses of integrity. He is right on about many things, such as the importance of ideals and the equality of opportunity. It still amazes me that segretation was so recent in our country's history--and I appreciate how he not only overcame but succeeded in such a world.

I'm glad I finished it. Thank you for including me on this ring. The post office is closed today for yet another holiday only the Government gets to celebrate so I will mail it out to AnnieMacFan in tomorrow's mail.

Received this book yesterday. I need to finish the bookring book I'm almost finished with; then I'll start this one.

I enjoyed this book for what it is, but felt it was incomplete for some reason. I could see the arrogance (or pride)that everyone else has seen and I think it's the same thing seen in the man during interviews over the years. Even though I didn't get a real sense of the man he's become in later years, I did enjoy reading the philosophy of life he's developed and tried to live up to. I'll try to mail this off to Kobie03 tomorrow (or it may be Mon).

Sorry it took so long. I got ill, but I finally got to the post office yesterday Nov 8th. Book is on it's way to Kobie03.

Book arrived today. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for sharing.Remembering being so impressed with his movies To Sir With Love and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner in the sixties, I enjoyed reading how he developed his philosophy of life.
It's off in the mail tomorrow toBookworm-lady

I received it on Tuesday.
Wow! It took a long time to reach me!
Thanks for sending it, Kobie03... and thanks for sharing, Liz!
Looking forward to reading this one...
Eva

I am currently reading it.
So far, I really like his account of childhood in the Bahamas.
I have Isabelopes' address (she seems to be always next in line!), but I will contact her anyway...
Thanks for sharing!

Well, I finally finished it last night.

I agree with previous comments: some parts are quite arrogant and sanctimonius (to use his own words), and others (like the last chapter) are quite difficult to read, at least by myself...

I liked his childhood's account and his relationship to his parents, and his brief paragraphs about his friendship to Carl Sagan (a great hero of mine!).

I think his six daughetrs must have had a hard time growing up with him; I would really resent him if he decided to retell a private phone call where I am asking for financial help!!

Thanks for sharing it; I still love his movies...

I will soon send it to Isabelopes, in Portugal.

Sent this evening to Isabelopes, in Portugal, togeteher with "The Loch". Enjoy!

Got it today... with 4 more books... I have a huge pile of TBR... thank God I'm the last one. Thank you Bookworm-lady for sending it and thank you liz-z for making it a Bray!