Rating: 
Summary: not her best but still good
Review: And for a reader who is not hip to feminist thought or lit, this is a good soft entry. I enjoyed bell hooks analogies and statements regarding that women do seek love in so many ways and her most important point was that many women do not receive non-sexual love from men, which is necessary for balance in life, thus forcing them to seek it in so many other ways.
This book encouraged me to read and understand other bell hooks books that are phenomenal. I respect hooks for offering a wide spectrum on emotions, and reality
Rating: 
Summary: Definitely 3rd in the Love Trilogy
Review: bell hooks blew me away with All About Love and Salvation. Communion, however, left me wanting more. Although it was written in the typical bell hooks fashion -- I love her writing style, Communion didn't have the same passion, spirit and overall power that the previous two books had. I did like the way she weaved her own self into the topic. By doing so, she makes the reader feel closer to her and helps them relate better to their own search for love.
Rating:
Summary: Definitely 3rd in the Love Trilogy
Review: bell hooks blew me away with All About Love and Salvation. Communion, however, left me wanting more. Although it was written in the typical bell hooks fashion -- I love her writing style, Communion didn't have the same passion, spirit and overall power that the previous two books had. I did like the way she weaved her own self into the topic. By doing so, she makes the reader feel closer to her and helps them relate better to their own search for love.
Rating:
Summary: Love from a feminist perspective
Review: Communion is a discussion and legitimization of the pursuit of love from a mid-life feminist perspective. Hooks believes that the desire to understand how love works is a serious, important, and ultimately joyful life-work activity that should be studied and taught. The big question she attempts to answer is how to "find, keep, and make love despite the power of patriarchy."The best part of this book is that Hooks always tells the truth as she sees it. There is no glossing over or contriving to make a point. Sometimes her language is sexually explicit and blunt. She explains love from the perspective of her own personal life experience and through intelligent observation and study of our culture and gender practices. The impact of the feminist movement is woven through her assessment. Unlike many other feminists, however, Hook's voice is not militant. There is only one caution. The ever-present temptation for Hooks and for all of us is to find excuses why we cannot find love or be loving. From the ego's perspective, there is always a so-called justifiable reason for the rejection of another. In this case, the justifiable reason is patriarchy. However, unconditional love means that we undo the hate inour minds and extend love no matter what distressing disguise is presented to us.
Rating:
Summary: Love from a feminist perspective
Review: Communion is a discussion and legitimization of the pursuit of love from a mid-life feminist perspective. Hooks believes that the desire to understand how love works is a serious, important, and ultimately joyful life-work activity that should be studied and taught. The big question she attempts to answer is how to "find, keep, and make love despite the power of patriarchy." The best part of this book is that Hooks always tells the truth as she sees it. There is no glossing over or contriving to make a point. Sometimes her language is sexually explicit and blunt. She explains love from the perspective of her own personal life experience and through intelligent observation and study of our culture and gender practices. The impact of the feminist movement is woven through her assessment. Unlike many other feminists, however, Hook's voice is not militant. There is only one caution. The ever-present temptation for Hooks and for all of us is to find excuses why we cannot find love or be loving. From the ego's perspective, there is always a so-called justifiable reason for the rejection of another. In this case, the justifiable reason is patriarchy. However, unconditional love means that we undo the hate inour minds and extend love no matter what distressing disguise is presented to us.
Rating: 
Summary: Impressive!
Review: I have to admit that I was both surprised and pleased by this body of work. This book is the best out of the love trilogy. She challenges women to dare to love beyond the romantic/sex paradigm. Also, she is brutally honest about how hard it is to find a partner who is truly unshackled from the chains of domination. Kudos to bell for writing on a very complicated topic: love.
Rating: 
Summary: Tries, but terribly misguided
Review: I was a bit dismayed with Hook's book because in reality it just reiterates the cliche'd notions we all have about gender and gender relationships. Bell attempts to influence readers to adopt miandrists beliefs, albeit she does so subtly. Males do have emotions although perhaps we often don't see that, and Hook's insensitivity to the male gender is subtle, but still ubiquidous throughout the book. I cannot reccomend this book because like many modern works that attempt to persuade readers to "follow the inner self" this work actually harbors hate
Rating:
Summary: Self love radiating out to others
Review: Simply wonderful. Covers not only romantic, familial, and friendly relationships but focuses on the heart of the matter: women loving and respecting ourselves. Choosing appropriate relationships and nurturing them is only one part of that more important aim. bell hooks urges us to focus on being complete within ourselves - difficult for all women in our culture, particularly so for women of color. Her observations are wise. Her grasp of history is absolute. Her ideas stimulate intelligent and loving thought, conversation, and action. Read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Okay, but....
Review: this book is not good. It is the reason why men are so frustrated with much of the womyn's literature that is coming out. If you hate men and like womyn and are a womyn...read this book. If you are human and do not hate people...stay away...it is toxic...
Rating:
Summary: Tries to go the distance
Review: This book, I attempted to approach with feelings of wanting answers and wanting to feel safe and secure in our often harsh, demanding, and very male world. Unfortunately, I was unable to achieve those feelings of inner peace and turmoil dominated. I was hoping for an Oprah meets Holly Near meets Dame Edma book that was refreshing, and would allow me to blossom inside. Many of the passages make some sense, but the boardroom chapter may alienate some sisters due to the fact that most of us are struggling at jobs which are mundane and tedious. It is so easy for men though, all they have to do is look around and they get what they want. I am still looking for love and am tired of nights in the bubble bath, reading silly romance stories which reflect our harsh patriarchial society. I am searching for a book with the answers the way some people claim to search for soulmates. I am tired of the tv shows with loving couples and my cat which I am alergic to that scares all the men I know away. I want a book that I can relate to...one that works on my own terms...one that speaks to me and the women like me. Tell me if you find it
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