Review: Law Man: My Story of Robbing Banks, Winning Supreme Court Cases, and Finding Redemption

Author:  Shon Hopwood (with Dennis Burke)

Genre:  Memoir (2012)

About:  Shon Hopwood was a good kid from a loving family. He played high school basketball, had friends and attended church.  After serving in the Navy and bored at home with no job prospects or money, Shon enlisted the help of his friend to rob a bank. The thrill of the first robbery led to more. Four more, as a matter of fact. At age 23 he was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison. While there, Shon worked in the prison law library and learned of his knack for learning the laws (not just breaking them!). He soon received respect - and requests for legal help - from his fellow inmates.  

Thoughts:  I enjoyed this.  My only annoyance was in Shon's discounting the seriousness of the robberies he committed.  He may as well have been recounting a trip to Disneyland.  Otherwise, his story is  positive and uplifting, and I can't help but think that his life circumstances - of robbing banks, serving time, working in the prison law library, becoming interested in law, having the right people placed in his path to continue law after prison, AND falling in love with a woman who stuck by his side through it all  - were orchestrated by God. Although he does mention a religious aspect to turning his life around, it's not a main focus of the book. One more thing...the pictures. I always love pictures to help me relate to the story and there were lots! 

Rating:  4/5 

*Thank you to Crown Publishing/Random House for this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review: January First: A Child's Descent into Madness and Her Father's Struggle to Save Her

Author:  Michael Schofield

Genre:  Memoir (2012)

Descriptive Words:  Childhood schizophrenia, hallucinations, imaginary friends, hospitalization, violence

About:  Michael Schofield gives a heartbreaking and shocking glimpse into parenting a schizophrenic child. His 6-year-old daughter, January (Janni), is diagnosed with childhood onset schizophrenia after two years of misdiagnoses and inpatient stays, and being discharged despite lack of improvement. The family's journey is wrought with desperation and denial. Told first to simply provide "tough love" and stricter boundaries, the Schofields were forced to face the reality of schizophrenia when Janni indicated the constant presence of imaginary friends and demonstrated a desire to harm her newborn brother, with a clear inability to control herself.

My thoughts:  If not for life interrupting, I'd have finished this almost 300-pager in one sitting. Still, I read it in two days. Schofield's writing had me completely riveted. Having worked in Adult and Child Psychiatry for 15 years, I appreciate immensely the difficult task of loving a child with schizophrenia. I saw only from the perimeter what Schofield lived every day. Parents vacillate from wanting to help their child to wanting to institutionalize them, primarily because of the violence inflicted on themselves and others. With no cure in sight for this nightmarish illness, parents and families of loved ones afflicted should be applauded; there is no harder job in the world.

My friends and family rely on me for 5-star book recommendations so as not to waste time on less than stellar reads.  I'll be recommending this - my favorite book of the year so far - to everyone I know.

Rating:  5/5 

Thank you to Crown Publishing/Random House for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Signs of Life

Author:  Natalie Taylor

Genre:  Memoir (2011)

Descriptive Words:  Widowed and pregnant at 24, accident, single mother, tragic, witty, high school teacher, challenge, triathlon.
About: True story of Natalie, a 24-year-old, 5 months pregnant girl whose 27-year-old husband Josh dies after hitting his head while carve boarding (kind of like skateboarding).

The book covers the time of the accident and up to 16 months afterwards. She discusses a little about the actual accident and how she found out, but mostly about the funeral and after, and dealing with being a widow after only a year of marriage as well as the prospect of single motherhood. At her young age she doesn't fit into the typical grief groups for widows, and because of her recent marital status, doesn't fit into typical single mother groups. She is also a high school English teacher and talks about going back to work after the funeral and incorporates life lessons for her students from several classics such as Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men, and To Kill a Mockingbird. Her sister "Moo" encourages her several months after Josh's death to take on the challenge of a triathlon.

Rating and Thoughts:   5/5

I don't know why I liked this book so much, but I did. Her writing is different. Mostly it's taken from her journal so it's real life, what she was thinking at the moment, rambling writing, but I could not put it down. Simply fascinating. Probably because I don't know many pregnant 24-year-olds whose husbands die, and I was enthralled with the emotional process of dealing with such a tragedy. She's also very witty and funny. Elizabeth Berg's quote on the cover, "Sit down with this book. See if you can stop after page one." is so true. Loved it.

There's only one part that made me cry, and I know those of you who can't read sad books will never read  it after this (lol):  

"Now that I'm a parent, I am beginning to understand that I have no idea what Deedee [Josh's mother] is going through in dealing with the loss of her child. Not a clue. I knew Josh for four years in college, then we dated for a year, and then we were married for a year and a half. Because I'm twenty-five years old, that seems like a lot of time. But Deedee grew him from a seed.

When Josh was in the hospital after his accident, I saw his body once, and then I had to leave. I never went back. Deedee stayed at the hospital for days. Long after he was pronounced dead, he had to stay so they could remove his working organs. She stayed by him until they wheeled him away for his final surgery. I couldn't be there because to me he was gone. That body wasn't him. But as a mom, I know why she had to stay. When you watch something grow from a seed, you have a very different relationship with it than the rest of the world does.

I know Deedee spent those days staring at his body, taking in the last images of the body she had watched for twenty-seven years. Dead or alive, that body was too special to leave in an empty hospital room. She had been by his side since the day she brought him into this world, not to mention the nine months prior to that. You better believe she would be there on the day he had to leave. Right up until the last second."

Source:  Library

Review: Crystal Clear : The Inspiring Story of How an Olympic Athlete Lost His Legs Due to Crystal Meth and Found a Better Life

Author: Eric Le Marque with Davin Seay

Genre: Memoir (2009)

Descriptive Words:  Addiction, Crystal Meth, Snowboarding, Lost on Mountain for 8 Days, Legs Amputated, Healing, Hope

About:  Eric Le Marque, a former Olympian and pro hockey player becomes addicted to crystal meth after his playing days are over. While snowboarding on Mammoth Mountain and high on crystal meth, he gets lost and isn't found for eight days. Due to severe frostbite, both legs are amputated at the knee.

The story covers mostly his time lost on the mountain and his physical recovery, as well as a chapter or two at the end about his emotional/drug recovery and meeting his wife Hope.

Rating and thoughts:   5/5

I loved the story and pictures, which included some from the actual rescue and hospital stay. The ghostwriter, Davin Seay, did a GREAT job of getting inside Le Marque's head and relating details and emotions. Very talented writer. I'd like to read more of his work.

"For the rest of that day, I never left the shelter I had dug. The sun rose, clouds rolled overhead, and the hours unwound as morning turned to midday and moved steadily on into the afternoon. It all passed me by. I may not have been dead yet, but it was hard to tell the difference. I had passed into a state of sleep so heavy and profound that nothing - not cold, not hunger, not thirst - could wake me. If I stirred during that long silent interlude, I don't remember it. If I had dreams, they drifted by unseen. If I realized that where I lay might well become my grave, I didn't care. For all I knew, I was already petrified, my blood frozen and my flesh turned to stone. There was no difference now between me and the environment against which I had fought so long and hard. The mountain had prevailed and I had become a part of it."

Source:  Bought

Review: The Source of All Things

Author:   Tracy Ross

Genre:  Memoir (2011)

About:  The author was molested by her stepfather from ages eight to 14, at which time she ran away from home and confided in a family friend about the years of abuse. The police were called and she was removed from her home. Her stepfather, because he admitted to everything, received only 8 weeks of court-appointed group therapy and 10 months of abstinence from Tracy. She was later sent to boarding school and eventually returned home to live with her mother and stepfather.  


Unbelievable. Her family refused to believe or accept that the husband/stepfather was capable of such a horrific act, and if a small part of them did believe it happened, they just wanted to sweep it under the rug and move on.  Her mom constantly pushed Tracy into uncomfortable situations with her stepdad despite all he did to her! I didn't understand their behavior at all. I even felt that Tracy herself at times downplayed the atrocity of what he did.

In addition to the details of the abuse (touching and fondling only), much of the book focused on her relationships, including a failed marriage, and how the abuse affected them.

Rating:  4/5   I wanted to give this fewer stars because of the content, i.e. the stepdad's crime, as well as the dysfunctional behavior of everyone involved, but it is what it is and I can't judge the book based on what happened.  I enjoyed the writing, even though it was difficult to read. The jobs she had as a young adult and the adventures she experienced were fascinating.  She had an interesting life after she moved out of her house.  But how in the world she forgave her creepy, pedophiliac (that's not a word, but...) stepfather for what he did is beyond me. She even thanks him at the end of the book for "having the grace to let me tell this story."

Source: Library

Why I chose:  I read about this - along with the book Tiger, Tiger, another child abuse memoir I'm now reading - in Oprah or People.

Recommend?   You decide. Definitely not for the faint of heart.

Review: Poser: My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses

Author:  Claire Dederer

Genre:  Memoir
After reading the first couple chapters of this book I thought I was going to love it. Dederer made me laugh, and I was reminded how much I enjoyed the few yoga classes I've taken.  Despite my minimal experience, I can attest to this paragraph: "The idea was, you got better, looser, stronger while you were at yoga, and then you exported that excellence to the rest of life. You learned how to act right at yoga, and then you acted right, or righter, when you were in your car, or at the grocery store, or putting your children to bed."

Dederer's writing is casual and inviting, like talking with a friend; I actually went to a yoga class when I finished the book and plan to continue.  Beyond the yoga stories, though, it didn't hold my interest. I started skipping over parts of her personal life that I didn't care about, such as her marital relationship, her moves to different cities, and the births of her children. (Some friend I am, huh!) I've read of comparisons to Eat Pray Love, which I didn't particularly like. I won't be recommending Poser to my friends, but I know many people will enjoy it just the same.

Rating:  3.5 / 5

Has anyone read this?  Heard about it?  Plan to read it?

Review: Without a Word: How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything

Title:  Without a Word:  How a Boy's Unspoken Love Changed Everything

Author:  Jill Kelly

Genre:  Memoir/Christian Biography (September 2010)

About:  Football star Jim Kelly and his wife Jill find out their infant son has a rare, fatal illness and is expected to survive for only 14 months. This is the story of how Hunter Kelly, who succumbed to Krabbe Leukodystrophy at the age of 8, changed their lives forever.

Thoughts:  Absolutely loved this story. Jilly Kelly does a fabulous job of opening her heart, her life, her marriage, her struggles, and her reality to readers. Several pages of pictures are included, which is always my favorite part. I'm a visual person, so to be able to read the story and see the pictures made it all the more heartbreaking and inspirational. The book is faith-based, and I enjoyed reading about Jim Kelly's transformation from philanderer to faithful servant.

Source:  Library

Why I Chose:  This was everything I love in a book all wrapped in one - medical-related, sad but inspirational, lots of pictures, memoir, sports.

Recommend?  Yes, definitely.

Rating: 5/5

Reading Now:

Up Next:

Review: Choosing to See: A Journey of Struggle and Hope

Author:   Mary Beth Chapman

Genre:  Memoir (2010)

About:  The wife of Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman talks about her life and of the death of her 5-year-old daughter, Maria, who was accidentally run over by her 17-year-old son, Will.

Thoughts:  I remember when this happened.  All I could think about was how in the world was this 17-year-old kid going to live with this for the rest of his life?

All my questions about the accident were answered and then some.  Mary Beth Chapman wrote not only about what happened that day in May 2008, but also about meeting her husband at age 19, getting married, having their three children and later adopting three little girls from China. What a loving, faithful family. The story and the writing were wonderful, and I love how many pictures there were.  I looked at them over and over. 

Source: Library

Why I Chose:  I was curious to know exactly how the accident happened and how the family was dealing with everything.  I always thought Will was backing up and hit Maria, but he was driving into the driveway as she was running towards the car.  She was excited he was home because she wanted him to lift her onto the monkey bar that she couldn't reach.

Recommend? Yes.

Rating:   4.5 / 5

Reading Now:  A Prayer for the Dying by Stewart O'Nan

Up Next:  Ape House by Sara Gruen

Abandoned:  A Small Furry Prayer by Steven Kotler.  I read 211 pages of this and gave up.  Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't.  The good parts kept me reading for as long as I did, but finally I didn't care anymore and didn't want to finish the final 78 pages.



Review: Kicked, Bitten and Scratched: Life and Lessons at the World's Premier School for Exotic Animal Trainers

Author: Amy Sutherland
Genre: Memoir (2006)
About: The author follows students at the Exotic Animal Training and Management program at California's Moorpark Community College.

Liked...I loved this book. It had me hooked by page 2 when it said "every student must break a pigeon's neck with her hands, what they call pulling a pigeon, or gas a rat before she can graduate." I know, disgusting, but it's like driving by a car accident, I couldn't stop looking reading. Besides talk about sperm, vomit, pee, poop, and maybe some frozen chopped animal parts, that was about as gross as it got. Most people probably won't read this book, but if you have any interest at all in animals, it really is good.  It's like being a fly on the wall and learning the inside scoop of a place you'd more than likely never go.

The writing style was wonderful.  The author focused on enough students and animals to get a realistic picture of what goes on, but not so many that it was hard to keep track of them.  And it was so real.  Not only did a few animals die, not surprisingly, but so did one of the students.

*Wanna know why they have to pull the heads off pigeons and gas rats? It's because birds of prey and reptiles must have fresh prey. They can't hunt at the school facility, obviously, because they're in captivity, so the student caretakers must do it for them. How'd you like to have to do that for a final exam?

Didn't Like...I was disappointed there weren't any pictures and a few typos were distracting. That's it.

Source: I bought this at the Goodwill for 75 cents. A 5-star book for 75 cents...gotta love it.

Why I Chose: 1) I love animal books 2) for a minute when I was younger I wanted to be a dolphin trainer 3) I had never seen a book on this topic.  So basically it was on the shelf calling my name.

Recommend? If you like animals and/or are curious about what all goes on at a school for animal trainers, I absolutely recommend this book.

Rating: 5/5

Next Up:

I just started this last night and the writing is so choppy I'm having a hard time getting used to it.  I'm pluggin' away though, trying to adjust.



Reviews Cruise - Join Me! / Denial ~ Asta in the Wings ~ Knowing Jesse

Reviews stockpiled?  Bored with the same 'ol same 'ol?  Love reading but not too keen on writing reviews? Yeah, me too. So I thought I'd go on a Reviews Cruise to liven things up, relieve the pressure, and make more time for reading.  Short but sweet and a few at a time.  Sounds like a vacation, doesn't it? 

(Want to cruise with me?  See details at end of post.)
Denial

Jessica Stern is the author of this memoir published in June 2010.  It's about the author's rape at age 15 by a stranger at gunpoint in her own home.  Her 14-year-old sister was also raped. The police were skeptical of their story and the rapist was never caught. Interestingly, the author now works as an expert on terrorists and terrorism.  Overall I thought the book was okay.  I liked the psychological and PTSD aspect of the story, as well as the how, when, where and what happened. I liked how she related her father's trauma and after-effects of his being a Holocaust survivor to hers. PTSD is real, and I'm intrigued by the way people process trauma and how it shapes their lives forever. It was interesting that the author became a terrorist expert because, as she says, she was "fascinated by the secret motivations of violent men, and I'm good at ferreting them out." After the violent rape at age 15, she experienced an unusual reaction to fear; situations that most people would find terrifying caused her to retain her composure, become curious and empathetic. This "ability" created a perfect environment for making terrorists feel comfortable and getting them to talk. What I didn't like was how the author came across. I know it has much to do with the rape and subsequent PTSD - but her resentment, mostly towards her father, made her come across as unlikeable and emotionless. I felt bad for her father against whom she obviously still holds a grudge for not coming home from overseas immediately after the incident. He admits he didn't know what to do or how to help, but it happened 30 years ago. There's nothing he can do to change that. I also didn't like that she dragged him into the book so much at the end, detailing their "interview", when he obviously wasn't happy she wrote the book in the first place. I do hope she found healing from writing this book.

I won this book from NerdGirl in a contest, which I entered because I had seen the title around, heard good things about it and was interested in the topic.  I don't know if I'd recommend this book to my friends.  For me it was just okay and I rated it 3.5 / 5

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Knowing Jesse:  A Mother's Story of Grief, Grace, and Everyday Bliss


Marianne Leone is the author of this memoir published in September 2010.  It's about a woman and her husband and life with their son who was born with severe cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, was unable to speak and had severe seizures.  He died suddenly at age 17.  Overall I loved it.  I liked her writing style and the emotional, honest story she told. She admitted her shortcomings and came across as real but likeable. The love she had for her son was overwhelming, protective and beautiful.  She fought courageously for him to receive the best medical care, the best support system and caretakers, and the best education available.  There wasn't anything about this book I didn't like. 

I got this book from the library and chose it because of the synopsis and because I love memoirs.  I'm a sucker for stories about mothers and their children and how they are able to see the blessings in a situation others may see as a burden.  I would definitely recommend this book to friends and I rated it 5/5.
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Asta in the Wings

Jan Elizabeth Watson is the author of this novel published in February 2009.  It's about a 7-year-old girl and her 9-year-old brother who are kept in their boarded-up home by their mentally ill mother, who tells them she is protecting them from germs and "the plague." The story is told from 7-year-old Asta's point of view.  Overall I really liked it.  I liked how the mother encouraged her children to have a rich and creative imagination. She was cool in a weird way. Or weird in a cool way. Her children were "home-schooled" by watching and reciting line after line of old movies on TV, stemming from the mother's desire - and fueled by her delusions - to become an actress. She was quite a character :)  I loved Asta's spunk and determination, her willingness to overcome obstacles, her love for her brother, Orion, and her unconditional love for her mother, who did the best she could for her children despite her mental illness.  At first I wasn't sure I'd like this book. It was quirky and a little bizarre at the beginning. But once I got to know the children better and fell in love with the writing - the author paid great attention to detail but kept everything so on track - I didn't want it to end.  The only thing I didn't like and what kept it from being 5 stars was the ending, which was too abrupt for my taste.

I got this book from the library and chose it because Rebecca from ccq designs, a friend on Goodreads, gave it 5 stars, something she rarely does.  I had to check it out.  I also chose it because I'm intrigued by all things related to mental illness, child abuse and social issues.  I would recommend this to any of my friends, especially if they like quirky little books that normally they wouldn't pick up.  I rated it
4.5 / 5.

I don't have a button, but feel free to "take" your own Reviews Cruise and link up if you'd like.  Just mention my blog at http://lynnesbookreviews.blogspot.com  (copy and paste that there url). You can use my review format (provided below) or your own.  Remember, this is a stress-free, no pressure cruise, so make it simple and easy.   I'm button-challenged so this cruise is button-free :)

____________ is the author of this _______(genre) published in _____________.  It's about _______.  Overall I _______.  I liked ____________.  I didn't like __________.  I got this book from _______ and chose it because ___________ I would/wouldn't recommend this book.  I rated it ___________.

No cruise?  That's okay.  Would love to hear comments about the books I reviewed.

Review: What We Have: One Family's Inspiring Story About Love, Loss and Survival

Author: Amy Boesky

Genre: Memoir (August 2010)

About: All of the women in the author's family have died before the age of 45 from cancer. She and her two sisters grew up knowing they were in a race against the clock...they would have to hurry, get married and have children and decide whether or not to have elective surgery in order to have a chance at life.

Overall: Loved it!

Liked:  Everything.

I know, another sad someone-gets-cancer-and-dies book.  But it's so much more than that.  If you can handle - and felt a connection to - Still Alice, about Alzheimer's, you've got to read this.  I gave it 5 stars not because of the story itself but because of the connection I felt to it.  Isn't that what reading's all about? :)  Amy Boesky's writing was engaging and real and I cannot wait to read more of her work.

The relationship Amy and her sisters had with each other and their mom reminds me so much of my family...the way they'd get miffed if one of the sisters found out something before the others. "Why didn't she call ME first?" Also, the way their mom kept things about her illness from the girls to protect them is exactly what my mom would do. And how the sisters would call each other each day when she was sick, "Did you talk to mom today? Didn't she sound really bad to you?" I imagined my sister and I doing that and also trying to figure out - together, the way these sisters did - what to do about their inherited cancer gene and what their own children would likely face in the future.

Don't miss this one.

Source: Library

Why I Chose:  The premise of all the women in a family dying from cancer by age 45?  I had to know why and how and who and...yah, I'm nosy that way.

Recommend? Absolutely, yes!

Rating: 5/5

Review: One Dog at a Time: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan

Author: Pen Farthing

Genre: Memoir (2009)

About: While serving for the Royal Marines in Afghanistan, the author intervenes when he comes upon the scene of a local dog fight. One of the freed dogs finds his way into the Marine compound where Farthing is staying and eventually so do several other strays. Farthing, with a soft spot for dogs, can't resist caring for them, some of whom are pregnant, and as his tour of duty comes to an end he enlists his wife's help to rescue them.

Did you know...that dogfighting, a centuries-old tradition, is one of Afghanistan's most popular sports, and that owners cut off their dogs' ears and tails with a knife (no anesthetic) so no superficial wounds will be inflicted because of a torn ear or tail and the fights can then last longer?

Overall:  It was okay.

Liked...the courage the author showed in standing up to the dogfights and in caring for the dogs at the Marine compound, as it was not exactly in line with the rules but because he was a higher rank he got away with it. I liked the dramatic ending the best, when he had to organize the dogs' difficult trip out of Afghanistan. I also liked the few pictures on the front and back inside covers.

Didn't like...that it dragged on. Yes he had a huge heart and yes he went to a lot of trouble to save a few dogs in the compound when his duty was over, but not enough content to warrant a book. 

Source: Library

Why I chose: The cover. I couldn't resist. And of course the subtitle: Saving the Strays of Afghanistan. Always a sucker for animals. Especially strays.

Recommend:  Eh.

Rating:  3 / 5

Review: Bonobo Handshake: A Memoir of Love and Adventure in the Congo

Author: Vanessa Woods

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: The author's life while working with bonobos in the Congo.

Did You Know... that bonobos are an extremely endangered ape that share 98.7 percent of our DNA? ...that chimpanzees live in male-dominated societies and resolve conflict with violence and war, and bonobos live in female-dominated societies and resolve conflict with sex? ...that bonobos live only in the Congo?

Overall:  Enjoyed

Liked... reading about the author's bond with the bonobos. Many of them died after she'd become emotionally attached; I can't imagine how that must have felt, especially because they were so human-like. I also liked reading about how she met her husband while doing bonobos research and some of the difficulties they had as a couple, as well as dealing with war and disease.

Didn't Like...the war and politics in the book. I was bored and skipped over a lot of it. Also, because bonobos are extremely sexual creatures, the talk about clitorises and penises and orgasms and rubbing was a little overboard. I know, it is what it is. They're animals. What are ya gonna do.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: I've seen this book around the blogosphere and I love animals. Easy choice.

Recommend? Yes, if you would be interested in reading about bonobos and how much they love sex. Just kidding. It really is fascinating how they resolve conflict with sex and what a peaceful, loving species they are.

Rating: 4/5

I plan on reading Sara Gruen's Ape House, now that I'm on a primate roll.

Review: Glimpsing God

Author:   Rachel Alkire

Genre:  Listed as Biography/Autobiography

About:  The author tells of several tragedies in her life:  her own near-death experience, her daughter's skull being crushed by bullies, a car accident in which her oldest son is rendered unconscious, and the diagnosis of three of her five children with an irreparable genetic brain disorder.

Descriptive Words:  Enduring faith, unbelievable trials

Thoughts:  Most of us go through trials in our lives, but thankfully not to the extent that Rachel Alkire has. 

One incident after another left this Christian author questioning God's purpose and reasoning.  Why was she being tested so severely?  What did He want from her?  First her heart stopped during a C-section.  Then her daughter's skull was broken when a child hit her with a baseball bat.  Then she was in a car accident with four of her children and her son was left unconscious.  Soon after, three of her children were diagnosed with a genetic brain disorder.  What next?

I enjoyed this honest, heartfelt story.  The writing flowed and was easy to read.  I felt sympathetic towards the author and connected with her.  Her courage to question God while enduring one incident after another - yet remaining faithful, knowing God is omniscient - was inspirational. The only aspect I didn't like was the dialogue between her and God.  It worked at first, but soon became monotonous.  "Is he dead???  No, this cannot be!  NO!  He is our promised son!  God, you didn't give him to us to take him away like this!"  Take the seat belt off. (God's voice).  And when she wasn't talking to God she was talking to herself, which, again, was fine at first but became slightly annoying by the end. 

For the most part, though, Glimpsing God was enjoyable, and I liked her conversational writing style.  I would read this author's work again. 

Source:  Arielle Roper at Bring It On! Communications -  I was not paid for this review but was given a free copy of the book.

Why I Chose:  I enjoy reading about others' misfortunes and how they are strengthened by them in the end.

Recommend?  Yes, if you like to read about others' tragedies and how their faith helps them through.

Rating:  3.5 / 5

Author's Blog

Review: I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy

Author: Angie Smith

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: The author finds out when she is 18-weeks pregnant with her fourth daughter that the baby, Audrey, has conditions which leave her "incompatible with life." She decides to carry the pregnancy to term for as long as the baby lives. Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith, a singer in the Christian group Selah. She has a popular blog called Bring the Rain.

Descriptive Words: Cope, loss, hope, peace

Thoughts: I ordered this book from my library just because of the title. I had no idea that the author was the same person whose blog I found a while back. You know...one of those you find by clicking on one blog who mentions another blog, so you click on that, and so on? In her blog Bring the Rain, Angie Smith chronicles her pregnancy with Audrey and the devastation of finding out the baby would not survive. The blog was so popular - and her writing so beautiful - that it's not surprising she turned her story into a book.


Boy, did this make me cry. I know my blogger friends won't be picking this one up any time soon, but I loved it. The pictures, the scripture, the writing, the love, the honesty, the emotions... Mmm... Beautiful. I like reading books that make me cry. To me it means the author did a great job. Obviously the premise of the book is sad, so to most people it wouldn't take much to make them cry, but I'm a tough cookie because of all the memoirs I read. Angie Smith is talented. If you like books that are sad but inspirational, this is a good one.

Source: Library

Why I Chose: The title of the book sucked me right in.

Recommend? YES, if you can "do" sad. (Don't you like a good cry every once in a while?)

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:


5 Minutes for Books
Book Nook Club
Blessed

Review: Cut in Half: How God Mended Me With 23 Miracles

Author: Ana le Roux

Genre: Memoir (2010)

About: A woman, her husband and their two children, ages 3 weeks and 3 years, are in a violent head-on collision and the woman is cut in half.

Descriptive Words: No descriptive words needed after that synopsis.

Thoughts: "Hi, I am Ana le Roux. I am a South African living in New Zealand with my husband, Nico, and two children, Trinita and Christian. It is pretty remarkable that I am able to write this book. I was scheduled to die on the fifth of January 2003." Quite an attention-grabbing first sentence, isn't it? Despite the title, the author was not really cut in half; she had temporary paralysis and severe internal injuries to her kidneys and intestines because of her lap belt.

Each chapter is divided into three sections. The author tells her story in the first part; in the second part she has a section called "Food for Thought," where the reader reflects on the story; and the third section is called "Soul Searching," where the reader is invited to reflect on the ways God has shown Himself in his or her own life.

While the story was interesting, and I appreciate that le Roux felt moved to share her religious experience via the "miracles" God bestowed upon her, I didn't feel her writing was professional enough to substantiate a book. Some of the miracles were truly examples of God intervening and working on her behalf (which I believe He does!), but others seemed a little far-fetched. For example, Miracle #20: During the accident le Roux was sitting in the back seat between her two children. At the time of impact she put both arms out to brace them (which most moms do on instinct). Now whenever she thinks of the accident she sees herself in that position and thinks of a cross and "By not erasing the memory, but by changing my perspective of the memory, God has turned it into one of my all-time favorite recollections." Really?

I enjoyed the religious aspect of the book and the Food for Thought and Soul Searching sections. Example of one chapter's Soul Searching section: Have you ever been in a situation that you absolutely dreaded, just to have the opportunity of hindsight to see a positive angle? And this: There is always a purpose in everything. Even when everything seems to be going wrong, the purpose of it is still in motion. And: God knows every person on this planet, and he knows exactly who to send on your path. Value your acquaintances, family, and friends. They're not there coincidentally!

Source: Bring It On! Communications was nice enough to send this to me for review. Except for the free copy of this book, I did not receive compensation for my opinion.

Why I Chose: I love to read about others' tragedies. Sorry, just being honest :)

Recommend? Yes, if you like to read tragic memoirs and enjoy spiritual books, but the narrative prose is not the best.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review: Disrupting Grace: A Story of Relinquishment and Healing

Author: Kristen Richburg

Genre: Christian / Memoir

About: A mother and father with two children, who adopt a child from Thailand after a difficult second pregnancy, discover that adoption does not always have a happy ending.

Descriptive Words: Heartbreaking, emotional, abusive, attachment disorder, relinquish custody

Thoughts: What a sad story. I loved it. I'm weird that way. There's a reason I worked in Psychiatry for 15 years...it was fascinating.

This loving, educated couple - the mom had a degree in social work and the dad worked in special education - did everything they could to love their two-year-old adopted daughter Emma. For four years they tried to love her, not knowing that she was incapable of receiving that love because she was neglected and probably abused as a baby.

There were red flags from the beginning. When the Richburgs went to the foster family's house in Thailand to take Emma, neither she nor the family had any emotional response to the separation. The Richburgs thought she just needed time and lots of love, of which they had plenty to give. But love, and years of visits to therapists and other specialists in attachment disorders, couldn't break the barrier erected by the lack of bonding during the crucial developmental time between ages 6 months and two years. And it only got worse as time went on. At age 6, Emma began to vomit and to poop in her pants in defiance, after being potty-trained for years. She tried to strangle the family dog. She tortured her two siblings to the point that the Richburgs finally had had enough.

There was a news story recently where an adoptive mother returned a child to Russia after being unable to handle his behavior. Before anyone judges her - and let me say that it was wrong of her to put him on a plane by himself - do you know how difficult children with attachment disorders can be? While working in Psychiatry, I saw several children adopted from Russian orphanages who had attachment disorders, and although it's not the children's fault, obviously, it's extremely difficult to parent them. Pooping and smearing it on the walls was a common occurrence, as was torturing animals and other siblings.

The Richburgs did everything they could to help Emma, but at the expense of their entire family. The author's reluctance and heartbreak at coming to the decision to relinquish Emma is so apparent in the book. She felt like she was giving up on Emma, letting her down. But she also knew that her other two children's lives (yes, lives) and mental stability were at stake. This, along with Emma's nonchalant reaction to being turned over to her new family, reassured her that she was doing the right thing.

Source: This book was given to me by Arielle from Bring It On! Communications for my honest review; I was not compensated nor did receipt of the book reflect on my opinion in any way.

Why I Chose: How could I pass up a story like this?!

Recommend? Yes

Rating: 5/5

Other Reviews:

Book Nook Club
Books and Needlepoint
Semicolon Blog

Review: Where's My Wand: One Boy's Magical Triumph over Alienation and Shag Carpeting

by Eric Poole
Memoir (May 27, 2010)

My Synopsis

Hilarious memoir about the author's life growing up with a mom who was an obsessive clean-freak, a dad who gladly let her wear the pants, and the author's desire to wear her dress. Or something like that.

My Thoughts

I saw this book highlighted in People magazine and then read The Girl from the Ghetto's review , and I had to get it. Since I've been reading so many depressing memoirs lately, I was ready for some humor. So ready, in fact, that I spent full price on it at Borders. $24.95 plus tax. (Why is it that when I have a coupon I don't want a book, and when I want a book I don't have a coupon?)

Murphy's Law - which also applies to the above coupon dilemma - says that if I buy a book at full price I usually end up hating it. But this one was good. Some people may find the one liners a bit much, but it was just what I needed.

Eric Poole is from St. Louis, and I had fun reading about his high school, his hometown (Florissant), the street he lived on, and the local hospital where my son was born. It felt homey :) But besides that, the stories he told were hilarious. My favorite story was when he and his sister went camping with their aunt and found out they had to poop where the bears poop. Poole also makes fun of his gay-ness, his mom's OCD-fueled rants to keep the shag carpet raked at all times, and his unpopularity in school. Really, you can't help but laugh.

He has been mentioned along the likes of David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs. I agree with the Augusten Burroughs comparison; Sedaris I have not yet read (I know, I know...accepting title recommendations in comments).

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

I bought my copy from Borders.

My Rating

4/5 (I enjoyed it)

Other reviews

The Girl from the Ghetto

Beth Fish Reads - Not a review but she highlights it here

Review: Spoken from the Heart (Laura Bush)

by Laura Bush
Memoir (May 2010)

My Synopsis

Former First Lady Laura Bush writes about her life - as a child, a teenager, and wife of a President.

My Thoughts

I saw Laura Bush speak a few weeks ago in St. Louis. Her sweet Southern accent and easy-going demeanor made her likeable. She took questions from the audience and was down to earth. When someone asked what she was reading, she said she just finished "My Name is Mary Sutter" and loved it. (She needs to become a book blogger and be our friend. She would fit right in.)

I started the book a few days later, and because I had just heard her speak, her Southern accent was fresh in my mind and I felt like she was reading to me.

I was surprised at how much she talked in her book about books and reading. That was probably my favorite part. She mentioned Stephen Ambrose, Mary Higgins Clark, Carol Higgins Clark, Alexander McCall Smith and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency series, and many others. She definitely knows her authors. And you know that she was a librarian, right? What I didn't know was that she initiated and helped organize the National Book Festival, which debuted in Washington, DC, on September 8, 2001.

Sadly, three days later, the world changed forever. She talks about what she was doing at the time of the terrorist attacks and what happened in the days and weeks after. A couple of times she and staff members had to go to the underground shelter of the White House due to terrorist false alarms.

I loved all the inside scoop. For instance, before a state dinner at Buckingham Palace (I think that's where it was), someone told her that for fun she should peek into the dining room to see what goes on in preparation for such a dinner. She did, and there walking on TOP of the enormous table were numerous staff in clean white socks, setting the table and using measuring tapes to measure the distance between each place setting. Isn't that crazy?

And I love what she says here in defense of her husband: I wondered if Barack Obama, who spent far more time attacking George than he did his opponent, John McCain, would want to amend his words once he discovered the reality of the White House and was himself confronted by the challenges and crises that hit a president every day, all day. It's so true. It's like I told my brother, who doesn't have kids and who used to give me advice on how to parent my son - it's easy to parent when you don't have kids! He agreed. And he backed off. lol

Besides books and reading and her time in the White House, former First Lady Bush discusses her passion for advocating for women's rights and women's health in Afghanistan and the Middle East, with which she still is involved.

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

I bought my signed copy at the author event.

My Rating

4/5

Review: Alex and Me

By Irene Pepperberg
Memoir

My Synopsis

Alex is an African Grey parrot bought by the author for research, and becomes an unexpected, beloved friend.

My Thoughts

The book was a little slow in the beginning, but when Pepperberg provided more detail about Alex's personality, I fell in love...

At one point Alex was sick and needed nebulizer treatments, where he had to sit in a vapor-filled crate. Each time the vet put him in the crate he would say, "Wanna go back....wanna go back," asking to be put back in his regular cage. When the treatment was over a timer went off. He figured out the routine, and as soon as the timer went off he said, "Come here. Wanna go back!" If the staff was busy and couldn't get to him right away, he would yell, "Pay attention!", which he learned from the students who said that to him during research training.

After Alex had been through a few months of training, another parrot, Griffin, was brought in for additional research. If Griffin had difficulty answering a question, Alex would prompt him. For example, if the answer was "7," and Griffin hesitated, Alex would say "ssss..." "ssss..." as a hint, as one would to a kindergartner learning to read. Also, if Griffin didn't speak clearly enough, Alex told him to "say better."

During one training session the author had different colored numbers laid out and asked Alex, "What number is green?" Instead of answering her question he kept asking for a nut. She said, "Alex, I'll give you a nut when we're finished." Pepperberg asked him again, and again he said, "Wanna nut." After going back and forth a few times and thinking maybe she didn't understand, he said, very slowly, "Nu-uh-t." (Can't you just imagine? Like, duh lady, do I have to spell it out for you?)

And for anyone who thinks parrots don't have feelings? How about this exchange between Alex and the author, which was their usual goodbye as she left the lab for the night...

Alex: You be good. I love you.

Pepperberg: I love you, too.

Alex: You'll be in tomorrow?

Pepperberg: Yes, I'll be in tomorrow.

Do I Recommend?

Yes

Source

Bought from an indie store called Sue's News.

My Rating

4/5

Other Reviews

Bibliofreak
Rhapsody in Books
A Bookworm's World
Book Slut