Front Row at the White House

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but meandering
Review: The subject of Ms. Thomas' book, her decades at the White House, assures that this book will be interesting. I was, however, disappointed at the lack of organization; the book reads like a conversation with a person who keeps remembering things to throw in and that can be inordinately distracting. There are also a number of factual errors in the book, which I would have thought a careful editor would have found and corrected. I have read a great many books written by reporters (Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, David Brinkley, Lesley Stahl, Sam Donaldson, Charles Kuralt) and this was the only time I found myself distracted by the lack of organization of the writing. In the end, I found the book interesting, but not well-written.

Rating:
Summary: wonderful insight into the press!
Review: This book lets you vicariously live the life of a reporter! Filled with wonderful personal accounts of the exciting - and not so exciting - ways that reporters track down their stories! A great read!!

Rating:
Summary: Lively Reading
Review: This book was a great read! As a long time UPI correspondent on the political stage, Helen Thomas has some stories to tell and she tells them well, in a positive and upbeat way. Yes, there was some 'jumping around' in the book - the events and antedotes Helen Thomas describes aren't written up in strict chronological order - but she can certainly turn an apt phrase and does so often in this book. I thought she portrayed the events and people in her life in a mature, insightful and entertaining way, without petty or grumbling judgements. She's upfront and proud of being a hard-eyed reporter out to get the facts - but notes in her book that quite a few of those individuals who fall under her scrutiny don't hold it against her. After reading this book, you'll know why.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed very much but was disturbed by the inaccuracies.
Review: Thoroughly enjoyed the personal insights found in this book. I was troubled by some of the inaccuracies,however. For example,on page 228 when she talks about Roosevelt and the entry into World War2, she sites the date of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor as Dec.7, 1940 and that the President addressed the nation on that date. I believe that the "Day of Infamy" speech was delivered on Dec. 8, 1941.For a review of history over the past forty years, I feel the book should have been better edited.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Insights From a First Class Lady
Review: Wonderful to read this chronicle of the life and times of Presidents and how they deal with the White House Press. Great sense of continuity of the office and challenges across several different presidential styles and terms. I understand what the author means when she writes that she is in awe of the office but not of any particular holder of the office (her description is much better). Her writing style is informative and warm. Had quite a number of laughs and new understandings during the reading. Great Book! Well Done!! Read every word, raced through it! Must reread.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Insights From a First Class Lady
Review: Wonderful to read this chronicle of the life and times of Presidents and how they deal with the White House Press. Great sense of continuity of the office and challenges across several different presidential styles and terms. I understand what the author means when she writes that she is in awe of the office but not of any particular holder of the office (her description is much better). Her writing style is informative and warm. Had quite a number of laughs and new understandings during the reading. Great Book! Well Done!! Read every word, raced through it! Must reread.

Rating:
Summary: very informative
Review: Written by a professional,told like a story teller on the front porch somewhere in a small town. The experiences of eight presidents and the insight she brings to you make a great story in itself. The other part of the story with her views intertwined make this a great book that sometimes sounds like fiction but we all know is fact, sometimes to our disdain. Read it and enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: helen, helen, helen...
Review: you have so much to offer yet you recoil when i think you will strike. yes, you have spent your life covering some of the most fascinating people in the world. and yes, you have great stories to tell. but you fail in opening your personal self to the reader when relating your incredible experiences. it seems like you give us the tip of the iceberg about your experiences and leave the rest to the imagination. we get a glimpse of your views as a reporter, but what about helen thomas the person? how did you PERSONALLY feel about the people and incidents that occurred during your tenure? what was your gut instinct as a woman about international crises and happenings during your career? you give us a nibble when we have prepared for a buffett. this book reads like a history book when it should read as a memoir. i leared quite a lot about dozens of issues and people that i was not aware of prior to this publication. unfortunately, i feel that i didn't learn as much about helen thomas, the person, as i wanted to as well.