Category: Book Review

Lee Lipsenthal helped thousands of patients through his job as the medical director of Preventative Medicine Research Institute.  His job was to help those with serious diseases to overcome their fears of pain and of death.  Lee was extremely successful in making others feel comfortable in their time of greatest need.

Then in July of 2009, after a doctors visit it was discovered that Lee had esophageal cancer.  Shocked, a now numb Lee stumbled through the every day motions of making his wife feel safe and his two children secure.  Lee made a decision then and there that he was not going to stop living, just because he was dying.  Instead Lee continued to live life even fuller than before realizing that every bite of life counted…. every flower, every moment, ever conversation….. Lee learned to enjoy Every Sandwich.

For me it is this one self that is not identified with cancer, pain, or fear.  Cancer is just a physical event of the moment – it just is what it is.

Lee Lipsenthal

Late last year I read The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch  and this book reminded me a little of that one.  Lee, like Randy, had been given a terminal diagnosis…. and Lee, like Randy, decided that they were not just going to lay down and die… but choose to live each day as best they could. 

Lee chose to live by rules that each of us should apply in our lives anyway:

Make unconditional love a practice.

Fun stuff happens every day, embrace it.

Find joy in your work.

Be committed to make a difference.

I have to admit I struggled with Lee’s thoughts on God (or what he called the “God Neuroimagination”) and some of the different ways he experienced or pursued spirituality.  It did seem as though he did experience Jesus at one point and that I was thrilled about. 

I liked some of the things that Lee did or suggested.  Writing three things down each day that we are grateful for that happened that day before we go to bed?  I love that!  Who am I kidding?  I need that! 

Lee’s story is bitter sweet.  In his final year he reminds us that life is short for all of us.  It’s too short for fighting or separating yourself from family and friends, its time we all take a closer look at the things, the people we take for granted. 

I lost my entire immediate family by the time I was 29 years old.  I am a firm believer in experiencing the things you have always wanted to try, and to forgive because life is too short to carry the pain of grudge, anger, and resentment.  Lee reminds me that each flower is one of a kind and the smell of a spring day is one well worth taking the time to breathe into my memory.

Lee Lipsenthal:  August 13th, 1957 to September 20th, 2011.  This book was released to the public for sale on November 8th, 2011.

I have one copy of this book available for giveaway – to enter for a chance to win it, leave a comment here letting me know something you live by or wish you did (ie… always saying hello to people you pass on the street, holding door open for people, helping someone in need, never going to bed angry…)

Goodreads Review

I received this book through Big Honcho Media

Austin Parker knows he will never see his eighteen birthday.  The leukemia he had for years now has slowly eaten away his once strong athletic build and he is tired of fighting. 

Really tired.

Yet, before he goes… Austin has made a list of people he wants to talk with and places he wants to see.  With the help of his best friend Kaylee and her car that she constantly changes the name of, they take a weekend to right wrongs, to speak truth, to try new things, and to come clean about true feelings… no matter what the cost.

One of the songs from Austins play list:

When I went to BEA in 2010 I had the opportunity to hand with the Class of 2011 Debut YA Authors.  Let’s just say…. it was a blast and I had so much fun chatting it up with these authors who’s books were going to be released in 2011.  What a high energy group!!!   I loaded up on their books, read many of them… and still have more to get to!

So when the buzz was starting about the Class of 2K12 I became excited all over again!  Here was a whole new group of authors coming into the scene, and one of those authors happened to be Megan Bostic with her book here, Never Eighteen.

I had such a good time reading this book.  How do I describe it’s impact on me?  Yes, it is sad.  BUT it is also powerful, smart, important, insightful, kind, sweet, brilliant, thought provoking and a page turner.

For a YA read I was impressed how this book makes you think of the what if’s in our lives… and the relationships we have that are either broken, damaged, or there are words that need to be said… but the time never seems right.  What does it take to motivate us into action?  How could lives change if we were the ones to make the steps toward repairing, if we were the ones to point out truths that no one has been brave enough to say out loud? 

Seriously – keep an eye on Megan Bostic…

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

At the age of thirteen Gwen McKotch is at the beach with her younger cousin Charlotte.  As Gwen’s father passes by and glances at the girls he is shocked to see how small Gwen looks in her child sized bikini next to the younger Charlotte.  At this moment the McKotch’s get the first inkling that there is something wrong with their daughter and they soon learn she has Turner’s Syndrome; a genetic condition that stops the body from maturing trapping her forever in the body of a child.

Twenty years later, Gwen’s parents are now divorced.  Her older brother Billy is a cardiologist dutiful and dedicated  to a fault battling his own thoughts on what a relationship should be.  Her other brother Scott has struggled with drugs, a lousy soul sucking job, and a lousy soul sucking marriage.  And then there is Gwen, silent and emotionally aloof, bright and accomplished.  She has made peace with the hand she has been dealt and now in her early thirties she is falling in love for the first time.

Suddenly… the McKotch’s world is once again tipped on it’s axis.

Turner syndrome or Ullrich-Turner syndrome (also known as “Gonadal dysgenesis”^[1]:550) encompasses several conditions in human females, of which monosomy X (absence of an entire sex chromosome, the Barr body) is most common. It is a chromosomal abnormality in which all or part of one of the sex chromosomes is absent (unaffected humans have 46 chromosomes, of which two are sex chromosomes). Normal females have two X chromosomes, but in Turner syndrome, one of those sex chromosomes is missing or has other abnormalities. In some cases, the chromosome is missing in some cells but not others, a condition referred to as mosaicism^[2] or ‘Turner mosaicism’.

Occurring in 1 in 2000^[3] – 1 in 5000 phenotypic females,^[4] the syndrome manifests itself in a number of ways. There are characteristic physical abnormalities, such as short stature, swelling, broad chest, low hairline, low-set ears, and webbed necks.^[5] Girls with Turner syndrome typically experience gonadal dysfunction (non-working ovaries), which results in amenorrhea (absence of menstrual cycle) and sterility. Concurrent health concerns are also frequently present, including congenital heart disease, hypothyroidism (reduced hormone secretion by the thyroid), diabetes, vision problems, hearing concerns, and many autoimmune diseases.^[6] Finally, a specific pattern of cognitive deficits is often observed, with particular difficulties in visuospatial, mathematical, and memory areas.^[7]

Wikepedia

I knew I wanted to read a Jennifer Haigh book.  I have known this for over a year now.  When the opportunity presented itself to a part of a tour and I had choice of reviewing one of several titles, I asked for the book to be chosen for me.  The Condition is what was offered, and I accepted.

The Condition, after all, is right up my alley.  Books about families with real issues, real feeling tragedy’s and triumphs is something I enjoy reading about.  After all, in today’s world the family without struggles of some kind is extremely rare. Some of us are born with deficiencies we have no control over, others grow into habits and addictions brought on by may causes… and it is amazing how one family member can stumble, and the repercussions can tumble down for years and years to come.

So…. did Jennifer Haigh deliver?

When I sat down and opened this book one thing really impressed on me immediately…. I felt like I landed right in the story.  This is not one of those reads where someone says, “hang on… after page 105 it really gets good!”, no, this book grabbed me from the start.  In fact when I sat down that first day to start it, I only planned on checking out how it started, read a page or two to get the feel of it and then continue the next day. 

That is not what happened.  Instead, I was sucked in and each page made me want to read another.  Right from the start the story pulls at you, causing you to want to know more… to want to read more.  You can’t stop, because you are always in the “happening moment” and who wants to stop while stuff is happening?  😀

I am not going to describe a lot here as this is a book that is best left to the reader to discover.  I will say that I liked how Jennifer Haigh skillfully broke the narration into five parts and each of the McKotch family has a voice, all giving their take on the same event.  This was handled smoothly and allowed me to feel as though I knew and understood each family member.

At first glance, you would think The Condition is about Gwen’s diagnosis, but as you read you will discover that the condition, is part of each of them.

An intelligent read that I will continue to think about for a long time. 

Cinder is 17 and works in the market of New Beijing as a gifted mechanic.   In this new world Cinder repairs many things among them, androids.  When the handsome and kind Prince Kai’s stops by her booth in the market with a request for a repair, and sparks fly…. (in a good way)

What Prince Kai does not know that Cinder is not just a pretty girl who is handy with a wrench… she is actually a cyborg from the result of an accident she had as a child, lives with her step mother who treats her like hired help and has two-step sisters one she adores and one…. well… not so much…

What Cinder does not know is that her destiny and Prince Kai’s are about to collide.

Did I mention there is going to be a Ball?

Gushing flood gates……  “OPEN!”

The buzz around Cinder intrigued me…

and I wasn’t sure if it would be for me.  😯 

I am not sure if I have ever read a book with androids in it before… a little border line sci-fi for me…. yes the raves were out there and I could not ignore them.  Lenore at Presenting Lenore, Jill at Rhapsody In Books, and Reagan at Miss Remmers Reviews (just to name a few) all wrote reviews that made me want to read it MORE and read it NOW.

When I picked Cinder up a couple of nights ago, my plan was to just get a feel for the book before I went to bed.  But Cinder grabs you from the start and before I knew it I was 176 pages in and having to put the book down.  I finished it the next evening.

Cinder is the first  have read like this and I loved how incredibly well done the book is.  Marissa Meyer weaves between this Apocolyptic time and the storyline of the original Cinderella I am amazed at how she does it.  All the key elements are there, the crabby step mother, the prince, the ball, the dress, and even something orange to arrive in but I wont tell you what…. 😉

AND…. while all this is going on it does not feel forced but flows nicely and made me want to cheer “Go Marissa Meyer Go!!!”

Cinder is going to be a part of a series and it does leave you at an exciting point of …. “WHA???  WAIT!!!””  so I warned you….  I even went on-line to see if I could get an idea for the time line for the other books and here is what I found:

Cinder is based on Cinderella. Scarlet, the second book in the series, will be based on Little Red Ridinghood. Crest will be based on Rapunzel. And, Winter will be based on Snow White.  Cinder will be the main character in each of these books and you can count me in on this wild Apocolyptic tale ride 😀

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

Thank you Shelf Awareness!

 

I’ve experienced a whole lot the last few years and I have a lot to share. So I hope that you’ll take a moment to sit back, relax and enjoy the words I’ve put together for you in this book. I think you’ll find I’ve left no stone unturned, no door unopened, no window unbroken, no rug unvacuumed, no ivories untickled. What I’m saying is, let us begin, shall we?

Ellen

I have always thought Ellen Degeneres was funny.  When I seen she had this new book, it quickly went on my wish list.  I had not read Ellen’s two previous books and looked forward to trying one.

And Ellen is funny.

on page 91 she has a chapter called Answers To Frequently Asked Questions:

Yes.

Yes.

No.

One time in High School.

Three times in my twenties.

Rocks no salt.

Yes.

Four.

Never.  And how dare you!

I will take no further questions.

 

Is there such a thing as too much funny?  If so… I encountered it in this book.

In Ellen’s defense here (yes I am defending her over my opinion of the book…), she never came right out and said – this memoir will be about my life and how I got to where I am now.  I (me… all me) just believed that is what I was going to read.  The inside cover flap (flap-jacket as Ellen calls it) stated that a lot had happened in her life with her show, her marriage, and life… and that is what I thought I would be reading.

What I found in the book was funny – lots of funny… and chapters from a few sentences long to a few pages long.  She is witty – there is no doubt about that and I have always liked quick wit.

BUT…. (and man I hate using that word so let’s go with….)  HOWEVER…

I didn’t really learn much about her.  Even when she is talking about what could be a serious or real subject, she frames it in a way that it could be true… it could be half true… it could all be boloney.  Really?  I just don’t know. 

Last year was kind of a memoir year for me where I discovered I liked learning more about people’s lives and what makes them tick.  I read many interesting ones and learned much.  I know that was what I was looking for in this book, and therefore set myself up for failure. 

While this book was not what I thought it would be, I do still adore Ellen.  I am curious if either of her other two books are more of a real memoir, or if they are like this one.  I hope one day to find out. 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

 

I received this book for Christmas from my son, Justin

It’s 1996 and Josh and Emma have not only been neighbors all their lives, but also close friends.  When Emma gets a new computer and Josh brings over a free AOL CD they received in the mail to install on it.  Yet there is an error in the CD and when they log on it automatically loads up to something called Facebook.  Something that won’t be around for eight years.  And they see their future selves.

At first they are weirded out by the fact that people share so much about their lives.  After all, who really cares what someone is making for dinner, or how long it took them to get to work in the heavy traffic?  But more interesting is where they find themselves in the future.  While Josh is extremely thrilled that way it seems his life will turn out, Emma has concerns for her future self.  She learns that her decisions she makes today – can change her tomorrow…. and she tests that theory.  Yet when Emma changes her future, it also affects Josh’s and those around them.

My biggest draw to this book was author Jay Asher.  I really enjoyed Thirteen Reasons Why and felt it held some strong messages within its pages, so I was excited to see what The Future Of Us had in store.

The book is just smart.  For me, it was odd to think of the years before Facebook.  When Emma and Josh are surprised how open people are on Facebook, I was startled to remember that people were not always so open with their personal lives.  There was a time, not all that long ago when I did not know where my friends were going for dinner, or who was in town for the night, or who had a crappy day at work. 

When I thought about how Josh and Emma could see their future and yet change it in present day it reminded me of Back To The Future…. except trade the Delorean for an old school computer.  😉

Jay Asher did not let me down, The Future Of Us was not only entertaining it was smart and was a good reminder that no matter how old or young we are, the decisions we make today can effect our futures. 

I have not read Carolyn Mackler yet, but I think I need to make a point too. 

A great YA read with a good message.  I think all ages would enjoy this read.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads review

A gift from College son for Christmas

New Year’s resolutions, a healthy goal, commitments to do better…. almost everyone at one time or another has made a vow to make positive changes in their habits.  Of course, this is easier said than done, especially in today’s hectic world of too many time commitments, jobs, meetings, kids events…

What wellness coach Brett Blumenthal presents in this book is a way to motivate readers in the right direction by making one small change a week.  The changes are realistic from healthy eating habits, to stress relief, mental wellness, and even your home environment.  52 Small Changes is a step by step road map to a happier, healthier you.

I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to the New Year and “new me” promises.  This year, I started it with Team Kickin It and plan to be consistent in what I am doing to hopefully motivate others – as well as their input motivating me.  Is it easy?  No.  Some days I am a rock star… other days I am looking at the empty Burger King bag wondering why did I just do that? 

What I really like about 52 Small Changes is that each week is that not only is the change a small tweak in the way you do life already… but the chapter goes on to tell you the benefits of this change, how to do it, options and keeping it real….

For instance chapter one is called Drink Up!  Water is one we are all suppose to be doing, but few of us get the amount of water we really need daily. It goes on to give you a road map to success, accessing your needs, how to remind yourself, and keeping it real.  While you might think this is a no brainer, actually reading the chapter gave me tips to getting my water intake in each day as well as back up substitutes (like tea) or adding things to make it taste better – like fruit or cucumber slices.

Moving on, chapter 2 is about getting enough sleep, chapter 3 is about getting off the couch, and chapter 4 is about keeping a food journal, etc… etc…

I like that each chapter is doable, you stay on it for a week, then add a second one and so on.  Martha at Martha’s Bookshelf mentioned doing a group thing with this book and I like that idea. 

You can check out my take on this challenge by clicking on the Team Kickin It avatar below.

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

I received this book for review from Amazon Encore

Isabelle Bommarito is a mess.

She continuously picks up men… connects for a night and then disposes of them quickly.  As in now… as in LEAVE.

Cecilia Bommarito is depressed.  Her husband is having an affair right under her nose.  And so she eats… and eats… and eats while her anger boils over onto anyone in the way.

Janie Bommarito is a best selling author.  While shy and a loner in real life, her books are filled with heinous crimes that would make the strongest persons stomach churn.  She lives alone in a boathouse and counts everything out by fours….

The Bommarito sisters all have issues…. BIG ONES.  And if you met their mother, River Bommarito (one time stripper, dancer, child neglecter…. ) you may understand why.

Then comes Henry Bommarito.  Sweet Henry.  Sickly as a baby and later diagnosed to be mentally handicapped.

Honest to God, Henry is the only normal person in the family. 

The only one.

The Bookies book club read this for their January book pick.  It had been nominated before… and passed on.  This time, it won the vote.

The opening line:

I would have to light my bra on fire.

Hmmmm… potential?

When the sisters Bommarito’s are all called home to help take care of Henry while their mother goes into the hospital for surgery – there is, to say the least, reluctance.  The girls do not have fond memories of growing up with a mother who neglected more than loved… who at times layed in bed for weeks under the weight of her own depression leaving the girls to fend for themselves and Henry.  And now added to the top was their grandmother who had Alzheimer’s so severely she thought she was Amelia Earhart.

Yet the girls do go back, to care for Henry the brother they love, and to work in the family bakery while their mother is away. 

The result?  A touching story – at times hilariously funny… heartwarmingly sweet, and occasionally painful.  It was a book that put you on an emotional rollercoaster and left you in the end…

breathless.

As for the Bookies…. what a great review.  We had spaghetti and lasagna (two on Henry’s favorite meals).  Garlic bread and a chicken salad, and even home made cupcakes – to die for!!!!

We loved the book, no one rating less than an average read – more leaving towards the higher marks.  We discussed the sisters we felt we were most like, and Henry’s unwavering kindness to all.  We could all learn a little something from Henry. 

In the end, out of the 16 of us in the room, 9 admitted to bawling like a baby at some point in the book… present company included.

Henry’s Sisters is a book I personally loved – Cathy Lamb writes with a quick whit and a way that made me feel I was in the room with these quirky characters.  I highly recommend this read – it was touching and funny. 

Amazon Rating

Goodreads Review

I purchased this book from Barnes and Noble – read on my NOOK “Snooky”