Customer Reviews

True Love Waits: Essays and Criticism

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I have been an avid reader all my life. And I am grateful to whatever fates there be that I have finally discovered Wendy Kaminer. Even if it was a burst of unduly enthusiasm that made me say "the most brilliant person on earth" for the title of this brief review, I am going to stand by that statement. I don't think I have ever been in awe of a person's mind to the degree to which I am in awe of Wendy Kaminer's. A few days ago I didn't even know she existed, but by now I have two of her books in my possession, with a third one on its way and two more I have just ordered here.

Be that as it may, what I want to say here is that this collection of essays is just about the most exciting collection of essays that I have ever seen - and that includes the most famous of them all, the essays of Montaigne (and he invented the genre). What you will find in Wendy Kaminer's essays is that (as she herself says in another book) there are more than two sides to an issue. Her thoughtful explorations of whatever topic she chooses to deal with are nothing short of absolutely amazing.

And, according to her own admission, she is not even trying to change your mind, she is just trying to have the freedom to state her own opinions. Ah, but does she change my mind! Even if - as in most cases - I find that I have already agreed with her prior to reading her argument, I still find myself compelled to "change" my mind anyway, and to think (or try to) like she does.

I recommend this book to one and all; I wish the entire world read it, and read each essay in it more than once. I am now looking forward to reading more of her books (soon I shall possess five of them).

If you want to read great essays that truly deserve the name "critical" (in every sense of that word), read those in True Love Waits (and let me point out that the title is misleading - and surprisingly so). Your mind is going to thank you for it.

Steven C. Scheer, author (but humble in comparison)