I've Seen the End of You by W. Lee Warren, M.D.

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Dr. W. Lee Warren, a practicing brain surgeon, assumed he knew most outcomes for people with glioblastoma, head injuries, and other health-care problems. Yet even as he tried to give patients hope, his own heart would sink as he realized, I've seen the end of you.

But it became far more personal when the acclaimed doctor experienced an unimaginable family tragedy. That's when he reached the end of himself.

Page-turning medical stories serve as the backdrop for a raw, honest look at how we can remain on solid ground when everything goes wrong and how we can find light in the darkest hours of life.

I've Seen the End of You is the rare book that offers tender empathy and tangible hope for those who are suffering. No matter what you're facing, this doesn't have to be the end. Even when nothing seems to 

makes sense, God can transform your circumstances and your life. And he can offer a new beginning.

My thoughts-

I read through this book in just a couple of days. I have kind of been on a non-fiction kick and I have been flying through them all, but none like this one. It really resonated with me. It was refreshing to read a book both about someone who can believe in both science AND God and who admits that sometimes his faith waivers. Sometimes it is difficult when we go through hard times and feel like we have to still be this pillar of faith and it is refreshing to see someone say not only is it okay to waiver in those moments, but that it happens throughout the Bible too. It doesn't mean that we give up hope or our faith, it just means it is okay to not understand why something happens or even to not be happy about it, and I think in the end most times that I go through periods like this, in the end my faith in God ends up renewed and even stronger than before. I am thankful to Dr. Warren for such a vunerable look inside of his very difficult profession and personal life. I thought this was an excellent book. I recommend this book to anyone really.

The Miracle & Tragedy of the Dionne Quintuplets by Sarah Miller

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

When the Dionne Quintuplets were born on May 28, 1934, weighing a grand total of just over 13 pounds, no one expected them to live so much as an hour. Overnight, Yvonne, Annette, Cécile, Émilie, and Marie Dionne mesmerized the globe, defying medical history with every breath they took. In an effort to protect them from hucksters and showmen, the Ontario government took custody of the five identical babies, sequestering them in a private, custom-built hospital across the road from their family--and then, in a stunning act of hypocrisy, proceeded to exploit them for the next nine years. The Dionne Quintuplets became a more popular attraction than Niagara Falls, ogled through one-way screens by sightseers as they splashed in their wading pool at the center of a tourist hotspot known as Quintland. Here, Sarah Miller reconstructs their unprecedented upbringing with fresh depth and subtlety, bringing to new light their resilience and the indelible bond of their unique sisterhood.

My thoughts-

I love stories about spontaneous multiple births because I have spontaneous mirror image identical twin boys. There are some days I look at them at 9 years old, and I still can't believe that they exist. I will be honest, I didn't even realize it was possible to have quintuplets spontaneously, but that just added to intrigue of the Dionne family story to me. It makes me sad the things these girls went through throughout their lives, including their very strange beginning. While the doctor and nurses may have initially had their best interest at heart, their lives turned into a peep show of sorts for the gawking public. What makes the most sad is that they count those as some of the best times in their lives. As adolescence and adults they also went through some tough stuff. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in non-fiction. 

The Story Cure by Dinty W. Moore (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging For Books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions started are 100% my own.

About the book-

A collection of cures for writer's block, plotting and characterization issues, and other ailments writers face when completing a novel or memoir, prescribed by the director of creative writing at Ohio University.
People want to write the book they know is inside of them, but they run into stumbling blocks that trouble everyone from beginners to seasoned writers. Drawing on his years of teaching at both the university level and at writing workshops across the country, Professor Dinty W. Moore dons his book-doctor hat to present an authoritative guide to curing the issues that truly plague writers at
all levels. His hard-hitting handbook provides inspiring solutions for diagnoses such as character anemia, flat plot, and silent voice, and is peppered with flashes of Moore's signature wit and unique take on the writing life.

My thoughts-

I have been trying to write a novel for the past couple of years and getting a full length novel out of your head and on to paper is not at all as easy as it may sound. The Story Cure is a comprehensive overview of problems you can run into while getting your work onto paper and a solution for each problem presented. I like the breakdown of the book so if I am having a particular struggle, I can flip right to the page that discusses it, and easily apply the solution to my work. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in writing a book.

More Than Just the Talk by Jonathan McKee (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

The old ways of having "the talk" just won't cut it anymore. Sadly the number one place today's young peoplego to for answers about sex is Google. Meanwhile kids view nearly 14,000 seual references a year on television and 70 percent teenagers have enountered pornography on the Internet. If we want our children to know the truth about healthy sexuality, we need to cfreate a comfortable climate of continual conversations.

JonathanMcKee will show you how to move beyond the initial awkwardness of this subject into an ongoing communication with your kids about God's amazing gift of sex. He equips you wiht what you need to talk openly about dating, temptation, porn, and purity, and you will find the answers to tough questions and relevant Scripture on sexual issues.

It's normal for kids to be curious about sexuality, and they need to know that their parents are the most reliable source of information. Be the one your kids turn to on this crucial topic.

My thoughts-

I grew up in a house where sex was never spoken of and was treated as a forbidden thing. It led to really confused feelings as I was growing up because I was not well equipped to deal with anything at all relating to it. I made myself a promise that I would always be open with my kids and make sure that they know that they can always come to me regardless of the subject, I want them to feel comfortable in their own skin and with their own feelings. My oldest is currently only 7, but I know it will only be a few short years before the questions start. I think I am ready to handle some of them, but I know it never hurts to seek out other opinions and gain ideas. I found More Than Just the Talk a helpful book and I am glad to see a book saying yes DO talk to your kids about sex. Not just the one "big talk" but make it an ongoing conversation. I could not agree more. Kids need to know there is an open line of communication with their parents, if they don't they will seek to find their information elsewhere. I don't want that. I really liked the sections that talk specifically about sons and specifically about daughters. It is a good reminder that we should make our children feel valued and help boost their self esteem and the best way to do that is to spend time with them and make sure they know they are valued. Another section I found particularly helpful was chapter 12 which lists some of the questions that might be posed and reiterated where they might have been answered throughout the book. I do not think it would hurt any parent (or potential parent) to have this book on their bookshelf.


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www.thesource4ym.com/speakers/jonathan.aspx

Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Blogging for Books. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Sick of deeply personal accounts written in the first person? Seeking an exciting, interactive read that puts the "u" back in "aUtobiography"? Then look no further than Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography! In this revolutionary, Joycean experiment in light oof celebrity narrative, actor/personality/carbon-based-life-form Neil Partrick Harris lets you, the reader, live his life. You will be born in New Mexico, will get your big break at an acting camp. You will get into a bizarre confrontation outside a nightclub with actor Scott Caan. Even better, at each critical juncture of your life you will choose how to proceed. You will decide whether to try out for Doogie Howser, M.D. You will decide whether to spend years struggling with your sexuality. You will decide what kind of caviar you want to eat on board Elton John's yacht. Choose correctly and you'll find fame, fortune, and true love.  Choose incorrectly and you'll find misery, heartbreak, and a hideous death by piranhas. All this, plus magic tricks, cocktail recipes, embarrassing pictures from your times as a child actor, and even a closing song. Yes, if you buy one book this year, congratulations on being above the American average, and make that book Neil Patrick Harris: Choose Your Own Autobiography.

My thoughts-

I always loved the choose your own adventure books when I was younger, but I was terrible at adventuring through them. I would get to the page that gives you the two options and I would always hold that page with my hand and flip through to read both options. Apparently, I am no different as an adult, except that instead of flipping through to see both adventure options, I pretty much just read this book straight through. I think Neil Patrick Harris is one of the funniest, most talented actors of his generation. I loved watching him as a teen on Doogie Howser, M.D. and he was one of the funniest parts of  How I Met Your Mother, but beyond that, he is very good at hosting multiple award shows, holds his own on the Broadway stage and made one of my very favorite independent movies, Doctor Horrible's Sing Along Blog (if you haven't seen this, immediately look it up and watch it!). The book was great. It is obvious where the parts of the autobiography are made up and the parts that are true. I could tell I would like this book from the first few sentences where NPH talks about his parents and his brother. I loved learning about his time on set of Doogie Howser and I also really loved the several notes from people in the business he has worked with or befriended over the years. This is a happy book. It is nice to see someone in the industry so happy. Anyone who is a Neil Patrick Harris fan should read this book immediately! There are lots of really adorably awkward photos from his adolescence too and that is always fun! There were also some fun hidden gems throughout the pages- there is a "secret" page, a cryptic crossword puzzle, cocktail recipes and even a closing song. NPH is always entertaining and his foray into writing is no exception. I loved it.

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan (Book Review)

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

In Dad is Fat, stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan, who’s best known for his legendary riffs on Hot Pockets, bacon, manatees, and McDonald's, expresses all the joys and horrors of life with five young children—everything from cousins ("celebrities for little kids") to toddlers’ communication skills (“they always sound like they have traveled by horseback for hours to deliver important news”), to the eating habits of four year olds (“there is no difference between a four year old eating a taco and throwing a taco on the floor”). Reminiscent of Bill Cosby’sFatherhood, Dad is Fat is sharply observed, explosively funny, and a cry for help from a man who has realized he and his wife are outnumbered in their own home.

My thoughts-

I thought the title of this book was funny and I have seen a few of Jim Gaffigan's stand up acts, so I thought it might be a fun read. I didn't realize that the Gaffigan's have five children! I have been lamenting the fact that my husband and I become outnumbered in a very short period of time...while when my first baby was 13 months old, we tried and successfully became pregnant with our second baby...and our third baby. We had only planned on evening out the score and having two total, so having three kids, that are exceptionally close in age, it has been a pretty big adventure the last 5 years! I really enjoyed this book because I could relate to a lot of the scenarios Jim Gaffigan had mentioned going through with his children. I like that he can joke about parenting, the same way my husband and I do sometimes about our gaggle of kids. This book had me laughing out loud more than a few times. I could not even begin to imagine having more than 3 children and we live in a decent sized house in the suburbs with a nice backyard. Jim's stories about living in a two bedroom apartment in New York City, especially the stories that involve him getting 5 kids ages 8 and under down 5 flights of stairs to go anywhere, were super funny. I like this lighthearted book and I think most parents, especially parents of several kids could relate to it. In addition to all of the cute stories and self deprecating humor, I also really enjoyed reading how completely enamored Jim Gaffigan is of his wife. It is evident from the very clever theatrical like opening of the book where he lists her as having multiple "roles" in the book/family and all the way through when he consistently mentions her. It is refreshing to see a husband write so sweetly about his wife. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good laugh, but especially to parents...who need one.


Dad is Fat is available on Amazon.com.

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We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook by Becky Johnson & Rachel Randolph Book Review

*Disclosure- I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via the BookSneeze Blogger Program.  I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book:

With down-to-earth wit, charm, love and laughter, a butter and bacon lovin’ mama and a vegan bean eatin’ daughter share humorous stories about the differences that test them, the foods that entice them, and the love that binds them.
Becky Johnson and her daughter Rachel Randolph come from a long line of laughter. The female side of her family tree is dotted with funny storytellers, prolific authors, hospitable home cooks, and champion chatters.
In We Love, We Laugh, We Cook, Becky—a butter and bacon loving mama—and Rachel—a vegan bean eating daughter—share stories of their crazy, wonderful, and sometimes challenging lives as Rachel becomes a mother herself.
Becky is messy; Rachel craves order. Becky forgets what month it is; Rachel is an organizational genius. (At least before baby arrives.) Sprinkled throughout are the lip-smacking, nourishing recipes they love to make and share.
From food for a family reunion of thirty, to lunch for a party of one in a high chair, to a hot meal for a sick friend, the authors demonstrate grace, acceptance, and love to others through the bonding gifts of humor, attentive listening, and cooking … whether diners prefer beef or tofu in their stew.

My thoughts:

I was initially drawn to this book because I heard that it was a mix of a wide range of foods, including (but not limited to) vegan and vegetarian fare. As someone who tends to lean veg in a family full of carnivores, I can always use a good mix of recipes to try. As I started to read the story, I could tell I was going to really be able to relate to this mother/daughter team. My own mother and I are polar opposites, but as Becky and Rachel prove throughout this story love and time in the kitchen can bring families together no matter how different the people in them may be. I really enjoyed the parts of the book where Rachel gives birth to her little boy and Becky comes to help, there are some really cute and funny moments during that time in the book. And I was definitely dreaming of being on Nana's Island (that doesn't really belong to her, but where she has a home off the coast of Placida, Florida). The nice little island doesn't even have cars or stores, you have to get there by ferry. Sounds like just the perfect little piece of paradise! There are tons of great mother/daughter stories here, I am pretty sure that all women could relate to at least some of them. The thing that I love most about this book is Becky's willingness to dive in and try to create vegan meals for her daughter and son in law, even though she herself is a meat eater. That is someone who A. loves her family and B. LOVES to cook! The recipes included at the end of each chapter are really great. There are recipes for some many different types of things that I am not even sure which I will try first!  I would recommend this book to anyone who loves to have great recipe books in their pantry, but I would also recommend it to anyone who loves joyful stories. We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook is certainly a wonderful love story of a bond that can only be shared between a mother and daughter, but also a love of cooking that pretty much anyone could relate to.

We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook on Goodreads
We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook on Facebook


We Laugh, We Cry, We Cook will be available for purchase on August 6, 2013. You can pre-order the book on Amazon.com

Waking Up In Heaven by Crystal McVea Book Review

*Disclosure- I received a free copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are 100% my own.

About the book:

The remarkable story of a woman, plagued with guilt and skepticism, dramatically changed by the nine minutes she spent in heaven.

"God let me see me through His eyes. And in that instant I knew that God had always loved me, through all of those dark and difficult years when I doubted His existence, through every crisis and every heartbreak that made me turn away from Him more. I knew, in that instant, that His love was endless and boundless, and that if He loved me so much, how could I not love myself?" 

For most of her life, Crystal McVea was a skeptic whose history of abuse and bad choices made her feel beyond the reach of God--who questioned if God was even real. She had all but given up hope. Then came December 10, 2009--and the moment that changed everything.

For nine minutes that night, Crystal went into full respiratory arrest. She was unconscious and unable to breathe on her own, unaware of the crisis happening around her as the hospital staff rushed to save her life. Crystal doesn't remember the trauma or losing consciousness; she just remembers waking up in heaven, next to God.

Waking Up in Heaven invites readers to witness the relentless pursuit of God in a life that was broken and seemingly beyond hope, an awe-inspiring account of love, forgiveness, and redemption, and the healing power of God's presence.

My thoughts:

I think any Christian probably wonders what exactly Heaven might be like. Of course, it is beyond anything we can imagine, but there have been several books like this one out in the last few years and I am always interested to read about other people's experiences, what they remember of what they saw and what they have to say about it. I thought this was a very interesting account. McVea definitely had a troublesome past, starting with abuse at an age that she could not possibly have understood at the time. That seem to lead to a life of low self esteem and hoping from men to men as a result and also caused her to be a skeptic when it came to God. Still, she prayed. He was there all  along and for her, it took dying and meeting Him to understand and truly believe that. I read this book in just a couple of days and I definitely sympathized with McVea and the things she went through in her life, no one, especially a child, should have to go through the things she went through. However, I found the book to be 90% about her life and 10% about her account in Heaven. I know she was not there long and that her story needed to be told so we could understand where she was coming from and why it was a miracle for her to be able to experience Heaven. I do love that she is sharing her message and helping other victims of abuse get through the feelings they have to feel and embrace God. This was a fast and uplifting read, but I would not recommend it to the faint of heart, as there are some pretty heavy subject matters brought up that may make some people very uncomfortable. For those that like to read a story of someone who was down and out and has now figured out a way to use their past to help others, this is a book you will enjoy.

Connect with Crystal McVea on Goodreads
Waking Up In Heaven on Facebook

Buy the book on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/Waking-Up-Heaven-Story-Brokenness/dp/1476711879

One Woman Farm by Jenna Woginrich Book Review

Disclosure- I received a free e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book:

Jenna Woginrich’s inspiring journey from city cubicle to rural homestead has captivated readers of her blog and previous books. Now, in One Woman Farm, Woginrich shares the joys, sorrows, trials, epiphanies, and blessings she discovers during a year spent farming on her own land, finding deep fulfillment in the practical tasks and timeless rituals of the agricultural life.


My thoughts: Wonginrich's book about her life on her farm is set up like a diary. It starts in October of one year and end's in October of the next. It's like taking a peek deep into someone's soul. She shares exactly how her farm makes her feel (wonderful, fulfilled, full of love) as well as shares how each season on the farm pans out. You almost feel as if you are right there with her tending to chickens, learning how to milk goats, fulfilling a dream to get your very own horse. The only thing I didn't enjoy about this account of farming is the thought of raising animals for slaughter...of course, that is just part of farm life, but something I just couldn't imagine doing. That is very tiny part of Jenna's book though and I think anyone who enjoys a non-fiction book now again would love to read this story, almost romantic in it's delivery. This woman clearly is in love with her land, her animals, her new life. This story was a great escape for me. I constantly found myself thinking "Wow, she sure works hard, but I would love to go hang out for a day or two on this farm with her." Wonginrich is definitely self sufficient, but I loved reading the entries of the book where she would help other farmers or they would help her, it sounds like such a lovely community of people and I am sure some wonderful friendships have developed. This look into farm life has me pinning for fall, so I can go visit some of the local farms in my area!

Connect with Jenna Woginrich on Goodreads
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Jenna Woginrich's Blog "Cold Antler Farm"

One Woman Farm will be available on October 16, 2013. You can pre-order it today on Amazon.com

At Least You're In Tuscany by Jennifer Criswell Book Review

*Disclosure- I received a free e-copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

"At Least Your're in Tuscany." That's the mantra that Jennifer Griswell repeated any time anything went wrong when she decided that she would follow her dreams, quit her job as a lawyer, uproot herself from the United States and move to Italy. Armed with her dog Cinder, very little understanding of the Italian language and no job lined up, Griswell took the plunge and moved to Montepulciano. At Least You're In Tuscany is a memoir of her first year living in Montepulciano and all of the trials, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, that she encounters along the way.

I love to travel and I love to read, so a non-fiction book about a place I have always wanted to go but have yet to make it to was definitely a fun thing for me to read. Before I got married and had kids, I always had dreams of living abroad for at least a year or two, so peaking in on someone else's journey was quite interesting to me. Tuscany sounds just about as beautiful as I would imagine it to and Jennifer's first year there definitely seems to go the way I would imagine moving to a foreign country with a language your barely know is spoken. I loved her tales about her trips to the farmer's market and her neighbor who's adult sons still live at home with her, as well as a forbidden romance. This novel would make a fun movie! I felt sympathy for her when she had a hard time getting a job because of her lack of speaking Italian and her trouble getting her Italian citizenship approved. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves to travel or loves to read interesting non-fiction.

About the author- Jennifer Criswell is a lawyer-turned-writer who chucked her legal briefs to pursue her love of writing after a life-changing trip to Italy in 2001. Jennifer lives and writes in a small hill town in Tuscany with her sidekick of a Weimaraner, Cinder.

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