tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post4890383130932140951..comments2024-03-28T20:58:09.810-07:00Comments on Musings of a Bookish Kitty: Review: Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead: The Frank Meeink Story as Told by Jody M. Roy, Ph.D.Literary Felinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-41633842394371419792010-04-19T05:43:36.829-07:002010-04-19T05:43:36.829-07:00Wow, Wendy, I missed this post before and just rea...Wow, Wendy, I missed this post before and just read it this morning. Wow, again! You did such a great job of explaining everything. I definitely want to read this! I normally stick to fiction but I'll make an exception for this one.Linda Jacobshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14459940700516084069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-46026959777667113832010-04-09T10:46:13.751-07:002010-04-09T10:46:13.751-07:00I completely forgot to mention how much research t...I completely forgot to mention how much research the author (Dr. Roy) put into verifying her facts. I was quite impressed with the lengths she went to. With the number of memoirs out there that turn out to be untrue these days, verification almost seems like a must. <br /><br />Frank Meeink founded a sports program called Hockey for Harmony which has proven to be a big success in bringing kids from different backgrounds together. I love that one of the stipulations of joining the program is that the kids cannot know how to ice skate ahead of time. That way, they all start on equal footing.<br /><br />Thank you for your comments! This was a difficult book to read on some levels--and frightening given how easily young people can be led to such a lifestyle. It seems a fitting book to read after having just read 31 Hours, where one of the characters became a suicide bomber. <br /><br />Amanda - I have seen American History X. It's a powerful movie. Frank mentions seeing the movie in this book, in fact, and says it is true to life. It could have been his story.<br /><br />Library Cat - I do hope you are able to add this book to the library. I think it would make a great resource.<br /><br />Aarti - No, I haven't heard of Thugs, but I'll definitely look for it now. <br /><br />Florinda - I haven't read Prose's book but I do have a copy in my TBR pile. I've been wanting to read that one for some time now. I'll have to pull it out and read it while this book is fresh in my mind.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-20632493930332468902010-03-31T19:13:41.999-07:002010-03-31T19:13:41.999-07:00As tough as these kinds of books are to read, I am...As tough as these kinds of books are to read, I am drawn to them. I can't help but wonder how people become these kinds of monsters. It sounds like he was unflinching in his honesty about who he was and I am glad to know that he "recovered" from his crazy way of thinking and his crazy lifestyle. Great review!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01739982274914536036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-62167908833818473582010-03-31T11:05:37.685-07:002010-03-31T11:05:37.685-07:00Wow.
i can hardly think of what to say.
I agree wh...Wow.<br />i can hardly think of what to say.<br />I agree what you have written is very powerful review.<br />Everyone wants to belong somewhere.<br />Sounds hard to read but i would like to give it a try.carlanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-81159719205996700602010-03-30T14:52:00.119-07:002010-03-30T14:52:00.119-07:00Excellent and thought-provoking post, Wendy! I thi...Excellent and thought-provoking post, Wendy! I think this book sounds absolutely frightening, but also riveting. I know that there is a lot about this type of lifestyle that would turn me off, but I think reading this book would make a huge impression on me and give me a lot to think about. I am going to be trying to get my hands on a copy of this book soon.Zibileehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05857638467064749190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-68727687967551245382010-03-30T14:38:23.316-07:002010-03-30T14:38:23.316-07:00This is a wonderful post, Wendy. I too would like ...This is a wonderful post, Wendy. I too would like to know where someone like Frank is coming from. I'd never accept or excuse racist acts, but I know that there acts are perpetrated by humans, not monsters, and I'd like to learn why.<br /><br />Also, the Museum of Tolerance sounds like a place I'd love to visit.Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-36205894710895079542010-03-30T14:14:07.667-07:002010-03-30T14:14:07.667-07:00I'm not sure I could bring myself to read this...I'm not sure I could bring myself to read this, but I appreciate that you did, Wendy. Have you read Francine Prose's <i>A Changed Man</i>? It's fiction, and I'm sure it's less intense than this book was, but the title character is a former skinhead. It could be an interesting compare-and-contrast exercise.Florindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09789402061034734894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-20204172671713588982010-03-30T13:16:36.270-07:002010-03-30T13:16:36.270-07:00Wonderful review of an important book. Once people...Wonderful review of an important book. Once people understand how easy it is to sway a young person with that type of background to their way of thinking then it should make us stop and think about ways we can help them out of that life style! That is why gangs exist...sense of belonging.Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-16559230334647352962010-03-30T13:06:14.076-07:002010-03-30T13:06:14.076-07:00Great post, Wendy! I have been thinking about thi...Great post, Wendy! I have been thinking about this sort of thing for some time, too. Have you heard of the book Among the Thugs, by Bill Buford? It is about the soccer fans in England and how skinhead-like they are. It was a frightening read, too.<br /><br />I think with the internet and so much cable TV and magazines and newspapers... it's now so easy for people to get access to only the information they want, only hear the things that they agree with, and thus never have to hear the other side at all. It is very polarizing and makes it so easy to be easily led down a really frightening path because you feel like everyone around you also thinks exactly the same way, since you aren't exposing yourself to anyone who feels otherwise.<br /><br />I don't know how hatred can be so honed, and it frightens me that it can now be used as a real political force.Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-35901029080267269182010-03-30T11:47:11.347-07:002010-03-30T11:47:11.347-07:00This is a very insightful post and one that is ver...This is a very insightful post and one that is very important to consider these days. The draw as you call it, and gangs and groups like these are sweeping up lots of children that have fallen through the cracks. <br />It was very brave of you to visit the sites. It's tough reading I'm sure. Thanks for your thoughts on this subject.Jaimiehttp://bunnystuff.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-44780438437811759812010-03-30T10:34:22.263-07:002010-03-30T10:34:22.263-07:00It's scary how much hatred is in the world. I...It's scary how much hatred is in the world. I think it's important to see both sides of the story, even if you don't agree or completely understand. Sounds like a fascinating book.<br /><br />--Anna<br /><a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-12135729111237787212010-03-30T07:34:45.091-07:002010-03-30T07:34:45.091-07:00wow, this sounds like an eye-opening book. I can ...wow, this sounds like an eye-opening book. I can totally understand how people would be drawn into these groups...they are preying on people in their weakest moments.<br /><br />Excellent review.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-13269375220521377772010-03-30T07:18:10.845-07:002010-03-30T07:18:10.845-07:00Amazing review of a difficult topic. I really lik...Amazing review of a difficult topic. I really like how you tied it to a real life experience - I work in a Curriculum Materials Library and we have many materials from the <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/what-we-do/teaching-tolerance" rel="nofollow">Southern Poverty Law Center Teaching Tolerance</a> program. I need to get a copy of this book.Library Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12948617904448139551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-18081317002268175452010-03-30T06:57:03.967-07:002010-03-30T06:57:03.967-07:00I can honestly say that I would never have given t...I can honestly say that I would never have given this book a second look if it were not for your book review. Now I feel like I should read it to gain a different perspective.<br /><br />Awesome review!Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08414201637917215413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-40124619346135861902010-03-30T05:21:03.643-07:002010-03-30T05:21:03.643-07:00I'm going to have to add this to my TBR list, ...I'm going to have to add this to my TBR list, as hard as it sounds to read. I have never been able to comprehend neo-Nazism in the slightest.Sarah at SmallWorldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15306137253094526922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-64295020810088951422010-03-30T05:20:40.335-07:002010-03-30T05:20:40.335-07:00Very powerful post! The book sounds like an impor...Very powerful post! The book sounds like an important one. Groups like that do prey on the weak, the poor and the uneducated. It's really scary!bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-10257769252726270892010-03-30T05:19:45.714-07:002010-03-30T05:19:45.714-07:00Wow, this book sounds so interesting. I've lon...Wow, this book sounds so interesting. I've long been intrigued by the Neo-Nazis. Have you ever seen <i>American History X</i>? If not, watch it.A Bookshelf Monstrosityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14674115889348650429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-54556104326327349062010-03-30T04:50:34.108-07:002010-03-30T04:50:34.108-07:00What a wonderful post Wendy! I'm like you...I...What a wonderful post Wendy! I'm like you...I crave to understand where the other guy is coming from. Not that I will agree with it, but how can we bridge the gap if we don't try to figure out what is going through their minds? I can completely understand how a troubled 14 year old would turn to a group that accepted him and protected him. The main thing is that he eventually came back around and understood as an adult the difference between right and wrong. This book would be right up my alley. Thank you!Sandy Nawrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31552114.post-20710241513929241192010-03-30T00:47:43.550-07:002010-03-30T00:47:43.550-07:00Hi Wendy, this is another book that captures my in...Hi Wendy, this is another book that captures my interest. After going through your review, the question posted by Elizabeth Wrutzel is also the very question that gets me interested in wanting to read the book. Just like you, I hope to gain a little insight. You articulated that so well. I also like the fact that it's raw and straight forward. So I'm going to hunt for this book and get it into my personal library. Thanks for the review!Alicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623394887320093229noreply@blogger.com