About Book Marks
Recent Reviews
Nina Totenberg
Positive New York Journal of Books Totenberg created a great work, sharing her relationships across all political parties, enhanced by her nearly 50-year loving bond with RBG.
Jenny Pentland
Rave The New York Journal of Books Pentland has a snarky gift of words. Clearly, Pentland, who could have easily filled a lengthy memoir by the time she was a teen, wisely waited until now for this gem. This Will be Funny Later—the best memoir this reviewer has read in many years, is a biting, bittersweet, and absolutely brilliant MUST-READ, chock full of life lessons. JENNY PENTLAND, YOU ARE A SUPERHERO!
Jamie Foxx
Positive The New York Journal of Books Expect full comic delivery throughout the book, and frequent boasting of Foxx’s winning an Oscar. Also, quick scenes that jump from Foxx’s youth, paralleling with raising his daughters and how they intertwined. After a while the jumping back and forth becomes tiresome—chronological events are often more easily followed ... an excellent, tell-it-like-it-is, no holds barred memoir and modern-day parenting guide, but more accurately, it’s a loving tribute to his two cherished daughters.
Willie Nelson
Positive New York Journal of Books Partly autobiographical, often funny, and entirely insightful from a cannabis-loving man who’s fully experienced every one of his 88 years, Willie Nelson’s Letters to America is a beautiful read for all.
Julianna Margulies
Positive New York Journal of Books One empathizes with Margulies’ rough childhood and marvels at her sheer resilience over her mother’s erratic behavior. Children of divorce rarely have it easy. Overall, Sunshine Girl is a fascinating, quick read.
Sharon Stone
Positive The New York Journal of Books Often shocking, Sharon Stone’s life has been difficult from birth, but one senses her immeasurable growth as an intelligent, empathetic, well-traveled feminist. The Beauty of Living Twice is a powerfully written and enlightening read for Sharon Stone fans, cinephiles, and lovers of glitzy, yet down-to-earth memoirs.
Cicely Tyson
Positive New York Journal of Books Though Just as I Am is a bit wordy at 400+ pages, understandably angry, and often soapboxy, Tyson’s gift of long life was one of the legacies she left for readers.
Dolly Parton and Robert K. Oermann
Positive New York Journal of Books The book’s format typically follows one page of lyrics, with the opposite page of either story or photos about those lyrics. Also, while most chapters are written in first person by Dolly, the occasional chapter is written by her co-writer, Robert K. Oermann. The reader should note that the lyrics begin in chronological order, but later jump back between the 1970s and recent songs. Though many people are Dolly fans, readers may feel too many lyrics were tossed in. The book could have easily ended at 300 pages instead of 380. In addition to Dolly’s compelling life story, the reader will delight in the many color, and black-and -white photos, as well as hundreds of lyrics from Dolly’s songwriting career.
Willie Nelson and Bobbie Nelson with David Ritz
Rave New York Journal of Books Written in gritty, unapologetic Texas jargon, in short chapters alternating between Willie and Bobbie, Me and Sister Bobbie, a poignant, beautiful, heartfelt co-memoir, delights and astounds.
Alex Trebek
Mixed The New York Journal of Books The reader will note that each chapter is titled with an answer, replicating the game show, Jeopardy, in which questions are answers, and answers must be in the form of questions. Each chapter title, or answer, is delightfully followed by a corresponding tale from Trebek’s colorful life. His legacy might be, \'The world is a better place in which to live and a safer one, too.\'
Loretta Lynn
Positive New York Journal of Books With an outstanding Foreword by Dolly Parton, Me & Patsy Kickin’ Up Dust delivers enjoyable short chapters jumping in and out of stories from Loretta Lynn’s heart, written in Loretta’s own, unedited, authentic, rural mountain voice. Patsy Cline helped Lynn get started in Nashville’s music scene. She even groomed Lynn, teaching the then-country bumpkin how to dress for the stage. A lovely, quick read for classic country music fans.
Alan Zweibel
Positive New York Journal of Books Zweibel is long-winded in his descriptions at times, but Laugh Lines is, overall, a well-written, enjoyable, often rambling, and funny memoir by an accomplished comedy writer.
Woody Allen
Mixed The New York Journal of Books With grammar and punctuation not 100% proofed, the reader would guess that the transfer from Hachette to Arcade/Skyhorse might have made Skyhorse jump to release the book before it was ready ... a long, nearly 400-page, disjointed ramble intended primarily for boomers who will recognize Allen’s name-dropping of celebrities whose paths he’s crossed since the mid-20th century. Younger movie buffs and film school majors will also relate well to this tome, written by a 20th century cultural icon.
Bess Kalb
Positive New York Journal of Books This memoir is a quick read written in Bobby’s voice and covers Bobby’s colorful life in minute detail, as told by Kalb, in sweet quips and quotes ... It is gleaned from the author’s meticulous documentation of voicemails, photos, postcards, and other cherished memorabilia that Kalb saved over her 30-some years ... a charming memoir to enjoy for a quick beach read, or lately, when quarantined at home.
Elton John
Rave The New York Journal of Books Everything in Elton John’s roller coaster life has been done in a big way—costumes, stage sets, recordings, shows and celebrity friends. Me by Elton John is a wonderful, truthful, everything-you’ll-ever-want-to-know memoir about a kind-hearted, caring superstar with a delightfully smutty sense of humor.
Jill Biden
Positive The New York Journal of Books Throughout this memoir, the reader feels Biden’s fierce caring, yet independence ... It is clear this is a book of observations—how Biden views life, her children, her husband and the world ... a warm, lovely, and often remarkable story of one of the most popular second families in modern times.
Victoria Riskin
Rave New York Journal of Books Riskin is generous with the beautiful story of her wonderful life with her mother, who passed away in 2004 at the age of 96. And equally as generous with details of her brief life with her dad, Robert Riskin ... bountiful ... Victoria Riskin’s lovely style of alternating entire chapters between Fay Wray and Robert Riskin remained through a good portion of the book, up until Wray met Riskin at a 1940 Christmas Eve party in Hollywood. And the rest, as they say, is history. Chapters and their subjects merged as Fay and Robert became a couple ... A comprehensive work of the formation of Hollywood studios’ labor unions, politics, the post-WWII communism scares, personal and professional photos, the many movie posters from, as well as information about, every film both Fay Wray and Robert Riskin ever made, grace this memoir ... an abundant account of what it’s like to be the daughter of Hollywood’s original power couple, and a must-read for fans and others with celebrity stars in their eyes.
Isaac Mizrahi
Positive New York Journal of Books \"For the reader, less \'fluff\' and the addition of photos or even fashion sketches might have made I.M. the perfect memoir about brilliance and creativity. If you enjoy glitterati and costumes, do not expect any photos here. But you will taste the true grit of the glamorous life in New York City from the 1960s through the present time. I.M. by Isaac Mizrahi is a long, but admirable read for fashionistas and lovers of memoirs alike.\