“I Beat the Odds 

   From Homelessness to 

THE BLIND SIDE and Beyond”

 .....By Michael Oher, with Don Yaeger.....

2011 Book Review #79

      Book Cover

An offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, Michael Oher is the young man at the center of the true story depicted in The Blind Side movie (and book) that swept up awards and accolades. Though the odds were heavily stacked against him, Michael had a burning desire deep within his soul to break out of the Memphis inner-city ghetto and into a world of opportunity.

While many people are now familiar with Oher's amazing journey, this is the first time he shares his account of his story in his own words, revealing his thoughts and feelings with details that only he knows, and offering his point of view on how anyone can achieve a better life.

Looking back on how he went from being a homeless child in Memphis to playing in the NFL, Michael talks about the goals he had for himself in order to break out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family for so long. He recounts poignant stories growing up in the projects and running from child services and foster care over and over again in search of some familiarity.

Eventually, he grasped onto football as his ticket out of the madness and worked hard to make his dream into a reality. But Oher also knew he would not be successful alone. With his adoptive family, the Touhys, and other influential people in mind, he describes the absolute necessity of seeking out positive role models and good friends who share the same values to achieve one's dreams.

My Thoughts:  It is the part of the story not told by the ‘The Blind Side’ movie and book.  Oher tries to inspire and give direction to those in need of assistance getting their lives on track.  He gives hope to those who have not had hope in the past!  There is a lot of repetition in the chapters of this book, but, I think it is because Oher wants, so earnestly, to get his point across.

Suggestion:  Get this book to anyone you know who might be inspired by it!   If you have not read the book, ‘The Blind Side’ or seen the movie…you might want to check it out!

“Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls

Review #118

“The tale of a boy and his best friends, two remarkable hunting dogs who teach him about life, loyalty and trust against a wild woodland back drop where adventure waits just around the bend.” The story is narrated by Billy as an old man remembering his dogs. This book was written for children but, I know adults who consider it one of their personal favorites.

Where the Red Fern Grows is a very emotional book. The story is about a ten year old boy named Billy who lives in the Ozark Mountains some time in the early part of the 20th century. Billy wants 2 coon hunting dogs more than anything else in the world. His folks are poor and coon dogs cost money. So…for two long years, he does whatever he needs to do to earn money, saves it and on his own, buys two small red hound puppies.

Once he gets his dogs, Billy teaches them to hunt by dragging an old coonskin all over the woods near his home. Old Dan and Little Ann are great hunters and work together as a team as they try to outsmart the coons that are trying to outsmart them. Little Ann's brain complements Old Dan's brawn, and the two dogs work together as "one." Their loyalty and love for each other (and toward Billy) is inspiring, as is Billy's respect for his dogs.

Quite a number of events keep the story interesting. Billy enters himself and his dogs in a championship coon hunt. He enters into a bet with neighbor boys, Rainie and Rubin that Billy and his hounds can't catch the "ghost" coon. That was a night to remember, with a lesson! And you will never forget the Mountain Lion that Little Ann and Old Dan trees!

WARNING!
Even though this book was written for children and is considered a classic, there are a few things in this book that might bother some adults, let alone, a sensitive child. A young boy dies while running with an ax in the woods, a rather upsetting scene. There are a lot of raccoons killed; animal lovers might find this a little too much for their taste. I'm risking spoiling the book for you, but the two dogs die toward the end of the story. And..lastly, Billy cuts down a lot of trees just to get to the coons…Green Peace wasn’t around back then.

“Robinson Crusoe” by Daniel Defoe

Review #79

As far as we know this was the first novel ever written, (1719). Daniel Defoe is said to have based “Robinson Crusoe” on the true adventures of Alexander Selkirk (who spent four or five years on an island in the South Pacific) and on accounts of other castaways of the time.

The first-person narrative begins with the universal quest: the young man in Britain, torn between his safe home and his hunger for adventure, breaks away from his loving father and sails away into the unknown. After a series of harrowing escapes, he's shipwrecked on a desert island. The narrative shows how his intelligence and education help him survive for more than 30 years, and how he uses technology, including guns and tools salvaged from the ship. He sets up home, reads the Bible, finds a parrot as a pet, (a dog and 2 cats survive the wreck with him) and even devises a calendar to keep track of time. Then one day he finds a human footprint: was it someone who could save him and take him back to civilization? Or was it a “savage” who landed here?

When some "savages" arrive in several canoes, he uses his guns to get rid of them, and he rescues one of their captives, a handsome fellow with very dark skin. Delighted to have a companion at last, Crusoe names the newcomer Friday (since Crusoe saved him on Friday). (I wonder why he had to name a grown man. Didn’t he already have a name?) Crusoe teaches "my man Friday" to speak English, fire a gun, carve a canoe, and clothe his nakedness, and they live happily together. Later they rescue a white man and Friday's father from a group of "savages," and, eventually, they all return to their homes. The survival adventure is still enthralling.

I read this book as a child and decided to read it again. As a child it was a book of adventure. As an adult, it is, also, something else! An adventure, yes, but this time I found… racism and slavery indicative of that era… man finding religion but, keeping the racism…and…comedy. Read it again and see what you think. ;)

I discovered a new audio medium at the library. This book was on "Playaway". It is a credit card sized audio book. You plug in earphones and put the device in a pocket. Then, you are free to go anywhere you like while listening to the book! It's wonderful...try it! They are very expensive to buy, so check with your library. You supply the earphones.

THE MAN WHO PAINTED INDIANS                       By Nancy Plain
Review #17

Biography of George Catlin.
A 42 page juvenile book.

This is a short biography of the painter, author, and ethnographer who devoted himself to recording Indian life, not only in this country but in South America and Asia.
George Catlin was an extremely interesting man. His travels to American Indian Territory took place in the 1830's. He traveled to South America, first looking for gold and then painting the Indians of the South American jungle.

When he stopped traveling, he settled in Europe to write books and paint. Catlin put together The Indian Gallery which is at the Smithsonian today. He returned to the United States in 1870 at the age of 74. He died in 1872.

There are many of the artist's paintings in this book and I think any child interested in art and Indians will enjoy this book.