Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 11, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba B6 editor Morley Walker / 697-7307 email books review of my life by Bill Clinton Knopf 957 pages $50 reviewed by Geoff Lambert h of will history regard Bill Clinton unfortunately for him his contemporaries associate the 42nd president More with scandal and Dishonour than with his positive achievements. Autobiographies Are Seldom places to look for objective truth. So Many potential readers will be Content just to quickly Check the Index to see if Clinton mentions Gennifer Flowers yes Paula Jones yes or Monica Lewinski of course. And does Hillary a reaction get a mention yes. As one might expect the sex president is very Coy about the details of his various amours. He is also so very very contrite. Doubleday to publish Book of mormon one almost weeps for him when one reads of his temporary banishment from Hillary a bed. No doubt he spent those sad nights in the Lincoln bedroom on the rare occasions when it was not in use by offshore Campaign donors. Perhaps predictably he blames most if not All of his problems on a conspiracy involving the right Wing republicans and their allies in the Media. Indeed it is this obsession that colours much of the discussion. But while it is said that even paranoids have ene Mies Bill Clinton does not appear to be unduly Para noid. There is absolutely no doubt that relations Between the White House and Congress were poisonous during Clinton a time in office especially when Newt Gingrich held Sway As speaker of the House. Clinton a initiatives in several areas such As his attempt to introduce a near Universal health care sys tem in the Early Days of his administration were thwarted by the gop. The Republican right Wing was and is outdone by nobody in its self righteousness and sense of ideological and moral purity. They saw in Clinton a misdemeanours a Means of disabling the democrats for a Long time to come. The notion that his various sexual and financial Faux Pas were such As to Merit impeachment and removal from office was however ridiculous. The principal criterion ought to have been whether or not his conduct diminished his ability to do his Job. There is Little evidence that it did apart from the wasted hours consumed in organizing his defence. As Many have suggested Cen sure might have been More appropriate. Yet despite his shortcomings there Are Many who regard Clinton t he Book of mormon is set to be published commercially for the first time since it was originally published in the Early 1800s. Publisher Doubleday has been allowed to print the Book typically Given out for free by the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day saints according to Usa today. It will be the first time a Trade publication Dis tributes the Book outside of the Church. The Book of mormon already has millions of copies in print with the full text available in Over 70 languages. The Book will be published in november. Despite saying he would never write his life Story Oscar winning actor Sean Connery has signed a contract with Harper Collins to write his autobiography. The scottish actor is Likely to discuss his child Hood in Edinburgh As Well As his later Fame in the role of James Bond according to the Irish examiner. The Book is set to be published in the fall of 2006. Howell Raines former editor of the new York times has a new Book Deal with Scribner. Raines lost his Job with the times following the plagiarism scandal involving writer Jayson Blair. With affection and respect. He is highly intelligent open to new ideas charming has excellent recall and was Strong on some areas of foreign policy and on civil rights. Not for nothing do Many african americans regard him As the first Black and let us not forget he presided Over the . At a time of its longest period of expansion and Prosperity for generations. He had the Good sense to get out of its Way. One might also note that the Book is interesting Clear and As a thousand pager ought to be full of detail and anecdote. Indeed one can be overwhelmed by the names and dates and so Forth that flow in a Cas Cade from his pen. It is obviously Clinton a purpose to Frame the record for posterity. But one doubts if he will Ever be regarded As one of the great presidents in the company of the likes of Lincoln or for. This is not to Sug Gest that the potential for such a status was beyond him but More that he did not preside Over his country in heroic times. Great presidents Are people of vision men so far who can unite the Ever patriotic american people and Lead them sometimes through mighty crises and who leave behind them a glorious legacy. Bill Clinton Sim ply does not measure up. Finally it is always interesting to note any powerful mans observations and assessments of his Peers. Here Canada does Well. Both Kim Campbell and Jean Chr Tien Are favourably reported and Clinton gives a hint of a decent understanding of Canadian politics. Geoff Lambert teaches american politics at the University of Manitoba however the Book wont do much delving into his editing position reports Usa today. Tentatively titled catch and release the Book will be a sequel to Raines bestselling Book Fly fishing through the midlife crisis. No release Date has been announced. Madonna s third children a Book will debut at no. 7 on the new York times bestseller list tomorrow three weeks after it was first released says her publisher. Titled Yakov and the seven thieves the Book debuted on june 21 and was released by Callaway arts & entertainment. Madonna s two previous books the English roses and or. Peabody s apples both debuted at number one on the new York times list. Indigo books & music wants Young Book lovers in Canada to sign up for the Chance to share their opinions with readers across the country in the company a Junior Booklover contest. Readers aged 10 to 16 Are asked to submit one or More Book reviews to indigo on a template available at . Winners will be crowned Junior Booklover and will receive prizes including a $1,000 gift card from indigo and a trip for two to Toronto. Contest deadline is aug. 17. Famed lexicographer and one time editor of the Oxford English dictionaries Robert Burchfield has died. The 81-year-old died on july 5 in Oxfordshire England. Burchfield was chief editor of the Oxford English dictionaries from 1971 to 1984. In that time he broadened the dictionaries to include words from around the world including Australia South Africa India Pakistan and the Caribbean. New in paperback. A Home at the end of the world Picador us Aby pulitzer prize winning author Michael Cunningham looks at two boyhood friends whose adult relationship is complicated when a troubled woman becomes their Roommate. A Young woman struggles with her past after memories resurface of her childhood in a Small fishing Village in Village of Stone Chatto & win dus by Xiaoyu Guo. Comedian Dave Gorman a obsession with Google hacking when two words Are typed into the search engine with Only one result takes him on a world Road trip in Dave Gorman a Google whack adventure Vintage Canada ;