Customer Reviews

Cast a Giant Shadow: The Inspirational Life Story of Sandy Allen "The World's Tallest Living Woman"

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I must confess that I had not heard about Sandy Allen before I read the book. I was truly overwhelmed by her - despite all the difficulties that she has faced in her life, Sandy remains a warm, sensitive and upbeat person. Whenever Sandy neglected to share some important facts with us in her own words, particularly because of her modesty, Jack Kleiman told us "the rest of the story." As far as I am concerned, Sandy should also be noted as the person with the biggest heart.

I expected this book to be more sensational. I was pleasantly surprised that it is the simple, honest story of an amazing woman. The book filled me with admiration for this woman who has a very serious difficult physical condition. Admiration because she is loving, caring, and down-to-earth despite the amount and the kind of attention she has received throughout her life. Although, as she describes, much of the attention has been pleasant (e.g., her appearances on TV with Maury Povich and Sally Jessie Raphael), some of it has been very unpleasant. The writing is not stylish or polished at all. The explanation of her condition and the effects it has had on her life are told in a very personal way. But what really comes through very well is Sandy's personality. That's what makes this book worth reading.

I knew Sandy when she lived across the street from my Grandma Stafford. I was raised by my mother's Mom and Dad and I spent a lot of time in the neighborhood. Sandy was a normal kid growing up and we spent time playing around the neighborhood and on more than one occasion I was invited in to her home for a cold drink on those hot summer days in Indiana. We went to the same schools and I watched her play basketball for a short time.

I lost track of Sandy when I was in high school but she was one of the sweetest people you will ever meet. I never realized she was growing taller than me while we grew up because I saw her every day and I was always very short until my last years in high school.

Read this book. Let Sandy tell you about her life and get to know her a little better. You'll be glad you did. I moved to Phoenix a long ago but I'm sitting in a hotel in Shelbyville as I write this. I've just said goodbye to my father and for the last few days I've been riding around town and visiting some of my childhood hangouts. I stopped by my Grandmother's yesterday and I made a point of pausing by the home where Sandy grew up.

It brought a smile to my face.

I feel that John Kleiman failed in helping Sandy to tell her story. I liked the fact that it was in her own words, which really made the book more personal and genuine. Where I feel Kleiman failed however was he should have encouraged her or suggested to her that other things should also have been included.

If this was to be the story of her life, then it should have been more detailed. Such as where it tells of her mother not raising her, but having other children later. Other than one brother mentioned in the book, what happened to the other siblings? And while it mentions Michael living with Sandy on and off, it doesn't tell what happened to him. What was her relationship with all of her siblings?

While reading about the many personal appearances she made over the years was interesting, they were too detailed and I saw them as nothing more than filler. I think the story of her life could have been elaborated on more and would have made the book more interesting. It was too little info and too short in length.

Ms. Allen came to our town in 1975 to meet "our" tallest man who stood at 7' 2". She was personable and seemed very sweet and kind. One of our local newspapers did a very nice memorial tribute upon hearing of her recent passing. May she rest in peace.

Yes,I too have read this book. Yet there is so much more to SAndy we were room mates for a few years and i would not have traded them for anything in the world She has the kindest heart of any human on this planet, this is true. However she also carries with her sadness, frustration, and bitter feelings torward some individuals who have taken advantage of her on numerous occations....I won't name name's but one day i will.So you know who you are..........Bottom line is Sandy still needs help. If you know her ...call her write her..send money. be a REAL friend......she needs us all.