March 2009 Review

These are the books read in March 2009. PB means picture book. Picture books aren't counted towards total pages read.

e.g. Title by Author (Challenges/Review Copy) (Pages)

NOTE: All the following books that aren't picture books are being counted towards the 100+ Reading Challenge and some of them are for the A to Z challenge.

Start Talking by Mary Jo Rapini and Janine Sherman (Review Book) (198)
Thou Shalt Not Whine by January Jones (Review Book) (189)
Shattered Reality by Kimberly Cheryl (Review Book) (160)
The Polygamist by Ndabaningi Sithole (Book Around the World, Well-Seasoned) (178)
The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland (Review Book, Book Around the World, Well-Seasoned) (216)
The Junk Food Companion by Eric Spitznagel (N/A) (213)
Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips (Review Book) (295)
The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Domonique Bauby (Review Book) (139)
Hurry Down Sunshine by Michael Greenburg (Review Book) (256)
Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm by Michael J. Rosen (Review Book) (144)
Not Remembered, Never Forgotten by Robert Hafetz (Review Book) (133)

Total Books: 11
Total Pages: 2121
Fav Read: The Polygamist by Ndabaningi Sithole (but they were all awesome reads)
Least Fav Read: The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Domonique Bauby

Other Fun Facts:

Every book I read this month was under 300 pages
I managed to read two books that weren't review books this month (that's really good for me at least in 2009)
I've only posted reviewes for 6 of those books so far. I'm behind :(
I finished two challenges this month: Well-Seasoned and Soup's On

DAY 2: Interview with Mary Jo Rapini & Janine Sherman

Day Two - Interview

I interviewed the authors of Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever. Check out the answers below and then come back tomorrow for a Guest Post!

First a little bit about our authors:

Mary Jo Rapini, MEd, LPC is an intimacy and sex counselor and a certified anger management therapist. She's been featured on TLC's new series, Big Medicine and is a contributing expert for Seventeen magazine (referenced twice in their 9/08 issue) She was quoted in an article about body image in First magazine (7/21/08) and is a frequent expert for relationship articles in the Houston Chronicle. A mom with two daughters, her passion is helping all girls become strong women. She is also host of The Mary Jo Show on a local cable access channel and is also the author of Is God Pink? Dying to Heal.

Janine Sherman, MSN WHNP-BC is an OB/GYN nurse practitioner. Both her patients and her two daughters come to her for answers to their biggest questions about health and sexuality. She is a popular presenter on mother-daughter isssues. Sherman is quoted in Girls' Life magazine (Aug/Sep 2008) in "Taking Chances", a GL Special Report.




SMS (SMS Book Reviews): It says Start Talking is part of the Talk at the Table series? What is that about?

MJR (Mary Jo Rapini) :The talk at the table concept came from the fact that Janine and I are both Italian. When we discussed having girls and mom's get together and talk we thought of our Italian heritage. Most conversations are done at the kitchen table over a biscotti and hot milk or espresso. It was a way to bond and get things out in the open. After we ate, laughed and shared our thoughts we felt more connected and supported. That is the feeling of the book.

JS (Janine Sherman): This refers to sitting down and talking comfortably. It is a metaphor and your table can be anywhere a ride in the car, shopping together etc.

SMS: What spurred you to create a book about girls and moms communicating about serious issues?

MJR:I had a TV show on Cable that dealt with high risk girls. The shows intention was to have girls discuss issues like sex, bullying, rape, pregnancy, school pressure, etc...As the show progressed I begin to hear from the mom's asking for guidance in addressing these issues. I met Janine at a party and she was seeing some of the same issues in her practice. From there we became good friends and the book concept was born.

JS: In my private practice, I see a large number of young girls having very little knowledge about their body and making poor sexual choices due to this lack of knowledge.

SMS: This book seems to be created for both moms and daughters, what are some ways they can go about sharing the book?

MJR: One of the ways I think it works the best is if mom's and daughter's schedule time to talk and discuss the book. Both parties read chapter one and then schedule in time to discuss it. What did they feel about it? Do they know friends or celebrities that are dealing with these issues? How do they personally feel about these issues. This helps take the embarrassment out because it is almost like having a "mini book club". Yet...if there is something one of you are worried about it is an opportunity to bring it up.

JS: When daughters bodies are beginning to change it is a good time to get the book and start explaining the changes that are As she get a bit older, it is great to read it together to help spur conversations about difficult topics.

SMS:Why do you think moms and daughters have such a hard time having serious conversations with each other?

MJR: I think daughters many times sense that mom is embarrassed. In a manner to help relieve mom's embarrassment the daughter tells her "I know all of that stuff". Many times mom's aren't involved in the day to day events of their daughters so to begin with sex seems to intense. Much better for mom's to bring up news events first and build a relationship and then the talk can grow into more intimate discussions. Mom's feel out of touch a lot of times with sexuality and what their kids are doing. This should never be an excuse for not teaching your daughters about sex. This book could be read by mom's first so they are educated and then discussed with their daughters.

JS: For generations mothers and daughters have found it extremely difficult to talk about sex an it can set up a pattern of discomfort. As a mom if you become more comfortable with the topic, your daughter will sense that and be more open

SMS: Can you give us a few examples of some beliefs some girls have had that weren't true, about their body, sex or other health matters?

MJR: Many girls think such things as you cannot get pregnant when you have your period...not true, or they believe if you give oral sex you cannot get a STD...not true. They also believe if a boy is possessive and wants you with them all the time it's because they love you so much....PLEASE...NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

JS: One of the most common myths that I hear is that you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex and they have limited knowledge about ovulation and what actually happens during the menstrual cycle. Another common myth is that sex is defined by an act that can actually make you pregnant, every other intimate activity is not sex. Young women can have casual sexual relationships and not feel some sort of attachment to their partner. Their brain is to immature in an adolescent to really understand the psychological ramifications of a sexual relationship

SMS: How much should I tell my daughter about my own sexual life? What's important? What's off limits?

MJR: You should only relay what happened to you with your daughter if you think it is going to help her. If you are telling her to get it off your chest, much wiser to get a friend of your own. Your daughter is not your friend. She is your child to raise and your job in raising her is to guide her so she can be the best possible person she is destined to be. This is done by engaging with her and making her very aware that you will always be there to love and support her because no one will ever love her as much as you do!!!

JS: Remember you are mentoring your daughter so you should try to set a good example. This means that you can say that we all will make the wrong choice at some point but you do not need to give details. Especially if you were very promiscuous do not share details.

SMS: What is the most important thing you can tell girls and their moms?

MJR: Daughter's don't want mom's to be there best friends. They want their mom's to be mom's. They want their mom's to believe in them and to guide them with their concerns and issues. Daughters don't want to live Mom's life and they don't want their mom's to live their life's. They need a mom who will mentor by being a strong, capable woman who is passionate about her own life and wants her daughter to explore her own interests and passions. Daughter's need to know their is nothing they cannot tell their mom.

JS: Having an open relationship about sex and their body will NOT make them more likely to become sexually active at an earlier age, in fact it is just the opposite. Let this time in your daughters life be time that brings your relationship to a new and better level.

SMS: Care to share any details about the upcoming books in the Talk at the Table Series?

MJR: Our next book is going to be about menopause and how to make it the most exciting and best understood time of a woman's life.

JS: Our next book is about the peri-menopause-menopause period in a women's life. The goal of this book is to help women understand the changes that their bodies are going through and embrace this new phase life.

Links
http://www.maryjorapini.com/
http://maryjo.mymethodistblog.com/
http://bayoupublishing.com/
http://www.startalkingbook.com/

Start Talking: A Girls' Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever by Mary Jo Rapini & Janine Sherman

Day One - Review

Stars: ****1/2

Non-fiction
Bayou Publishing November 2008
ISBN: 978-1-886298-31-6

200 pages
Book One of the Talk at the Table Series

Ages 10 and up

Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever [an inside look at the details even she doesn't know] is a guide for a teen or preteen girl and her mom to read together and discuss together. The following is from the Press Release:

"To help girls - and their moms, psychotherapist Mary Jo Rapini (of TLC's new series Big Medicine) and OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner Janine J. Sherman have assembled more than 113 questions girls (and their moms) routinely ask - or should be asking - about topics ranging from periods and sex to self esteem and dating. In Start Talking: A Girl's Guide for You and Your Mom about Health, Sex or Whatever, Rapini and Sherman share succinct yet lively answers, sample conversations, and real life stories that will help open the door to better mother/daughter communication." - Press Release from KSB Promotions

I was quite impressed with this book. For each subject, the authors talk to both the daughters and the mothers and encourages each to read the other's section too. One quick note that is very important: Although this book says it's for mothers, it works just as well for whoever the main women may be in a family. If a girl is being raised by a Grandmother or Aunt or Foster Mom, it doesn't matter, this book is still right for that duo.

The book covers sensitive subjects such as periods, sex, birth control, dating, rape, how our body works, STDs, having "sacro" relationships, following your passions

With each section, you will find cover information, then Daughter Questions (questions from real daughters with real answers), then Mom Questions (ditto), then Table Talk (an example of how a conversation might go) and then discussion questions (questions to help you get the conversation going.) All throughout this are real life stories and illustrations as needed.

The authors talk as one. What I mean is that they don't identify who specifically is talking throughout the book. At first I didn't think this was a good idea but now I do. You don't want to be thinking about how this information came from a nurse and this came from a sex therapist. You just want to focus on what the information is. Both authors know what they are talking about and together, they make an excellent duo.

The sample conversations are really good, for the most part, even if the answers don't come out exactly like the book shows, you will know where to go from there. That's why the book is called Start Talking. It's designed to "set the table" and get you to "start talking" with your daughter/mother about these serious issues. There were a few times though that I thought the mom or daughter in the book was taking things way too easily.

"This book has made me stronger. It gave me back my mom, because it made her stronger, too." - Elen Eisner, High School Student

That quote was from some early praise for the book. I think the authors stumbled upon this idea at a great time. In the 21st century, we are becoming more accustomed to discussing what used to be sensitive matters. However we seem to still have trouble talking about these issues with our family, those who are closest to us. We can joke about sex and periods with our friends but when it comes time to talk seriously about them with our family, forget it.

For now I'd like to leave you with the link for the book: http://starttalkingbook.com/

Enter for your chance to win

Click on Enter Today for your chance to win:

1st Place: $100 Amazon.com gift certificate
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3rd Place: $25 Amazon.com gift certificate
4th-6th Place: Your choice of any autographed Cynthia Eden book. (And you know what? This choice–it does include the option of receiving an ARC of Niol’s story, MIDNIGHT’S MASTER.)

Shattered Reality by Kimberly Cheryl

Stars: ***1/2

This review is part of the Pump Up Your Book Blog Tour.

Shattered Reality is the story of when the author found out her daughter was being sexually abused by an Uncle. Although we hear from the daughter at one point, the book is mostly by the mother. It starts on the "Day of Disclosure" and ends in the present, while waiting for some closure. After the story is many pages of information on Sexual Abuse and PTSD.

I read this book in 2 1/2 hours with a few stops in between to put children to bed and make a snack. I haven't done that in a while. Unlike other books about abuse, this one is written as if the author is standing on a soapbox in front of a group of people, stating her case and trying to convince us of something. Which in a way she is. The last few chapters and the startling statistics at the end show up what a horrible job the U.S. Judicial system is doing with sexual abuse cases. (I'm guessing it's not much better in Canada, but please enlighten me as I don't know the specifics.)

The way Kimberly writes, it really draws you in and gets you upset too. In fact as someone who is struggling with mental health myself, it probably wasn't a book I should have read, only because of the strong emotions that were brought out.

Pages 113 - 160 are all information. It started off well with statistics and answers to common questions such as what are the signs of CSA (Child Sexual Abuse), why don't the children tell someone about CSA, destructive behaviours as a result of CSA (how they react when they are older), how to minimize the risk of CSA in daycare and most importantly, what to do if your child discloses CSA.

However the second section continues on, and on, and on with medical information on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I understand it's a common issue with those who have gone through abuse but I don't think it was this book's job to go over the common treatments for PTSD and in such detail. Honestly the last 20 pages bore me. If I'm reading Shattered Reality because I have an interest in abuse cases, the PTSD does not apply to me. If I'm reading it because I or one of my family/friends has been a victim of CSA, then knowing about PTSD may be important but I would go to my doctor to find out more about it. I just think the last 20 pages were unnecessary.

With that said though, I think it is a good story to read, especially if you are victimized, know someone who was victimized, are a parent of someone who was victimized, are planning on working in the field to help those who were victimised or are a member of the U.S. Judicial System (or someone who is in a position to change it.)

About the Author: The author is also a marketing professional with a few other books under her belt and is founder and managing partner of Executive Defense Technology, LLC an anti-victimization firm. You can find out more by going to http://kimberlycheryl.net/ , http://execdefttech.com/ or http://myshatteredreality.com/ The third website has all kinds of information you may find helpful.

Win Prizes:
SHATTERED REALITY VIRTUAL BLOG TOUR '09 will officially begin on March 2 and end on March 31. You can visit Kimberly's blog stops at http://www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com/ in March to find out more about this great book and talented author!
As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

Free Children's Asthma Book for U.S. Residents

Yeah I know I was hoping to get one to review it and then donate it but no such luck for this Canadian resident.

Go to the Asmanex website if you live in the U.S. to order your FREE book.

"Breathless Bethany Buttercup tells the story of a little girl's experience with asthma and helps parents and children openly discuss asthma and the importance of establishing an appropriate treatment plan."

The Flavor Bible by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg

Subtitle: The Essential Guide to Culinary Creativity, Based on the Wisdom of America's Most Imaginative Chefs

Stars: ****1/2

UPDATE: The Flavor Bible is a James Beard Award Nominee!

This isn't your average cookbook. Instead of recipes to follow to the letter, this book contains charts to help you find flavor combinations. See the book trailer for The Flavor Bible.

Chapter 1 explains that Flavor = Taste + Mouthfeel + Aroma + "The X Factor". It also explains what all that means.

"Mouthfeel = what is perceived by the rest of the mouth [other than taste buds]
"The X Factor" = What is perceived by the other senses - plus the heart, mind and spirit"

Chapter 2 explains that Great Cooking = Maximizing Flavor + Pleasure by Tapping Body + Heart + Mind + Spirit. This chapter discusses factors such as weather, seasonality, weight, volume, function and region.

Chapter 3, which is most of the book (340 pages) is full of charts of flavor combinations. For example, one looks like this: (... means there is more in the list I'm not showing)

GARLIC
Season: year-round
Botanical relatives: chives, leeks, onions, shallots
Function: heating
Weight: light-medium
Volume: moderatoe (esp. cooked) - loud (esp raw)
Techniques: grill, raw, roast, saute

almonds
anchovies
bacon
barbeque
basil
bay leaf
...
cayenne
cheese, Parmesan
chicken
chili peppers
...
Italian Cuisine
Korean Cuisine
lamb
leeks
LEMON: juice, zest
lemongrass
...
TOMATOES AND TOMATO SAUCE
vegetables
Vietnamese Cuisine
VINEGAR, esp. balsamic, red wine
wine, white
zucchini

So what's with the occasional bolding and captials? Each item in the list follows a key:

Those in regular type are pairings suggested by one or more experts.
Those in bold were recommended by a number of experts.
Those in BOLD CAPS were very highly recommended by an even greater number of expertrs
Those in *BOLD CAPS with an asterisk (*) are "Holy Grail" pairings that are the most highly recommended by the greatest number of experts.

There are TONS of these charts and not just for well-known ingredients. You'll find lists like the one above for Garam Masala, Georgian Cuisine, Frisee, Fennel, Chestnuts, Achiote Seeds, Beer, Buttermilk, Sauerkraut, Sauvignon Blanc and much, much more.

Also along with these charts are examples of dishes using these combinations (i.e. Marinated Fresh Sardines with Caramelized Fennel and Lobster Oil - Mario Batali, Babbo (New York City)

There are also lots of quotes from different chefs about the ingredients.

Savory is an herb that is very compatible in the same way fresh thyme is. You could use savory in dishes that call for thyme. - Marcel Desaulniers, The Trellis (Williamsburg, Virginia)

One last thing, the book is peppered with professional photos of real dishes from restaurants. For the most part, they look really good but there were some that didn't look appealing to me, but then I'm picky when it comes to food.

As you can see, this book truly is a FLAVOR BIBLE. This book is recommended for those who don't want to follow ready-made recipes anymore but create their OWN recipes.

Other's Reviews

Bermuda Onion's Weblog
B&b Ex Libris
Wendi's Book Corner
Books Ahoy

"Examining" the Point of Book Reviews

I was alerted today of an article at The Book Examiner titled: What is the purpose of a book review? And are book reviewers writing anything useful?

"The shocker came when I realized, with the same sort of cold horror I experience when the bottle is empty and it's still 24 hours until grocery shopping day, that the majority of book reviews -- I'd say at least 95%, and this is including mine as well, folks -- don't say anything useful at all."

"I don't mean that they are badly written -- some made me sick with envy at their turn of phrases -- or that the reviewers hadn't read the books. What struck me again and again was the feeling, after reading a review, that I still had no idea what the hell the book was about. Not necessarily the bare bones of the plot, but what the writing was like, which other author the writer's work resembles, the book's atmosphere and feel, which other books that, if I like them, I'd be sure to at least be passably interested in this one: in short, everything that determines whether I want to read a book or not.

All this was left out in nearly every review I read -- including mine."

You need to read the full article to understand where she's coming from and what she's doing about it but I thought it made a good point and one we should discuss (come one now, discuss it with me, I want to see thoughts in the comments!)

According to The Book Examiner, a book review should contain:

"1. A brief, accurate, and unbiased precis of the setting and plot of the story without giving away what the rabbit in the hat looks like

2. A specific evaluation of the author's writing ability, including which writers the author's style resembles, and, as the exalted John Updike recommends in his Six Rules for Book Reviewing, a taste out of the author's pot with a few moderately lengthy and representative quotes

3. Which works this particular book most resembles in both plot and feel.

4. How the book compares to the authors previous works (if any) and to other books cut from a similar cloth

5. A final verdict on the book stated clearly and unequivocally and with the particular reviewer's caveats laid out for consideration."

What should a review contain? Are we as book bloggers fulfilling this?

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Stars: *****

Summary: Being a Greek god is not all it once was. Yes, the twelve gods of Olympus are alive and well in the twenty-first century, but they are crammed together in a London townhouse-and none too happy about it. And they've had to get day jobs: Artemis as a dog-walker, Apollo as a TV psychic, Aphrodite as a phone sex operator, Dionysus as a DJ. Even more disturbingly, their powers are waning, and even turning mortals into trees--a favorite pastime of Apollo's--is sapping their vital reserves of strength. Soon, what begins as a minor squabble between Aphrodite and Apollo escalates into an epic battle of wills. Two perplexed humans, Alice and Neil, who are caught in the crossfire, must fear not only for their own lives, but for the survival of humankind. Nothing less than a true act of heroism is needed-but can these two decidedly ordinary people replicate the feats of the mythical heroes and save the world?

Gods Behaving Badly was hilariously funny! I knew it would be a great book right near the beginning in I believe chapter 2 when I read something so crazy and ridiculous I was bursting out laughing and RAN into the other room to tell my husband what happened even though he never reads. I'm dying to tell you what had me so hysterical but I don't want to ruin the surprise.

On that same note though, I must warn you that if you have a problem with sex in a book, do NOT read this book. It's not romance or erotica but there are some sex scenes. I mean Aphrodite is in the book, remember?

I think what made the book so funny was that we are imagining these Almighty Greek Gods as everyday people in the 21st century. I'm not great at reviewing fiction (which is why I focus on non-fiction) so here are some great quotes and be sure to check out the other reviews linked below.

"So there was Apollo and Aphrodite, and Artemis, who was rather more of a hands-on boss than Alice was used to, and Eros and Hermes, both of whom looked at her with a good deal more curiosity than she was comfortable with, and Ares, who always put her in a bad mood for some reason, and Hephaestus, who was so very ugly that she felt sick every time she saw him [...], and Dionysus, who made her nervous because he was always drunk, and the other two women, Athena and Demeter, who ignored her so completely that it was almost like noticing her - all of these people who were so perplexing and whom she couldn't talk about." - pg 82

And this next quote is part of a funny spot in the book. Apollo got advice from one of the other Gods to apologize if he feels guilty because that's how you get rid of the feeling.

"You do not apologize because you feel guilty and you want the feeling to
go away," said Neil.

"You don't?" said Apollo.

"No. You apologize because you feel guilty and that guilt is how you know that you've done something wrong. And then you want to make amends. You don't apologize because you wan tot make yourself feel better. You apologize because you want to make the other person feel better."

"But why should I want to make you feel better? said Apollo. He was
beginning to uncurl. "I couldn't care less how you feel."

"Yes, I think I gathered that." - pg 208

The copy I reviewed has a Reading Group Guide inside as well as a short essay by Marie Phillips on writing fiction and Marie Phillips Top 10 Books That Make Her Laugh.

You can check out this YouTube video on Gods Behaving Badly. Check out the Marie Phillips website and her blog.

Other's Reviews

Book Reviews by Bobbie
Booking Mama
Care's Online Book Club
Book-a-rama
Jenn's Bookshelf
A Novel Menagerie
A Reader's Respite
Savvy Verse and Wit
Diary of an Eccentric
Becky's Book Reviews
The 3 R's: Reading, 'Riting and Randomness
Sophisticated Dorkiness

The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

Stars: ****1/2

Teen Nonfiction

Ages 14+

240 pages

ISBN 13: 9781554511594
Softcover $12.95

Summary: As a child in a small rural village in Sierra Leone, Mariatu Kamara lived peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Rumors of rebel attacks were no more than a distant worry. But when 12-year-old Mariatu set out for a neighboring village, she never arrived. Heavily armed rebel soldiers, many no older than children themselves, attacked and tortured Mariatu. During this brutal act of senseless violence they cut off both her hands. [read more]

The Bite of the Mango is another case of the book I should have picked up earlier than I did. When I first received the book I didn't realize it was a true story. This is a very sad story. I will tell you that the ending is pretty happy. I mean it's not like all her wildest dreams came true or something and I don't want to specify exactly what happened (so as to spoil it) but a lot of sad and disturbing things happen in this book.

The only thing that bothered me at all with the book was the cover. As is mentioned in the summary, Mariatu's hands were severed. Yet it is hands holding a mango on the cover. I thought this a little odd, maybe it's just me. I did like that the title of the book is mentioned in the book and it makes sense. There is nothing worse than a book with a bad title, one that doesn't make sense.

The book doesn't only address the war that went on in Sierra Leone and the casulaties of that war. It also addresses what little has happened to help those still in the country. Mariatu wrote this book to get the word out about what was happening and to clear up some misconceptions that were in some articles about her.

"I mulled over the teacher's comment as we drove home that evening. She
wasn't the first one to suggest a book about my life. I couldn't imagine many
people would want to read such a book, even if I could figure out how to write
it. At least, though, I fell asleep thinking, a book could dispel the myths that
had built up around me." - pg 196

Here is a book trailer which shows real photos from Sierra Leone and shows the author as well.

For More Information about the book, check out Annick Press.

For More Information about the plight of Sierra Leone and how Mariatu is trying to help, check out The Mariatu Foundation.

Blog Redesign Coming

I just wanted to let everyone know I will be fiddling with my blog layout tonight, March 23rd after 8pm EST. So if you come to visit my blog then, it may look REALLY weird and keep changing. I'm warning you now.

Be sure to check back on Tuesday to let me know what you think.

What are you reading on Mondays?

This is a new event from J. Kaye's Book Blog. We talk about the books we finished last week, what we're reading now and what's coming up next.

Just Finished:

The Junk Food Companion: The Complete Guide to Eating Badly by Eric Spitznagel

This was hilarious! Look for the review this week.

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

I read this in two sittings and it would have been one if I hadn't needed to take some meds that knocked me right out! I haven't read fiction that fast in a while!

Reading Now:

The Bite of the Mango by Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

This is a review book from Annick Press (publisher of Robert Munsch) and it's AWESOME! IT's very sad though. It's a true story of a girl in Sierra Leone who gets caught up in the war and gets her hands chopped off. It has a happy ending I believe but there is lots of sad things before that ending. This is my third book for the Well-Seasoned Challenge which is ending very soon.

Up Next:

Not sure yet but will pick from:

Millionaire Babies or Bankrupt Brats? by Jim Fay & Kristan Leatherman

The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Domonique Bauby

Life Against All Odds by Alfred Cave

The i Tetralogy by Mathias B. Freese

Mailbox Monday - Mar. 23

Oops I missed a couple weeks of Mailbox Monday! Sorry everyone.

I hope you all got wonderful books in the mail. Here's what I received in the mail since the last time I did a MM post. Most if not all of them you've probably already seen in other posts.

Check out other Mailbox Monday posts.



Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist's Memoir by Daniel J. Tomasulo

from Graywolf Press but I received it through Phenix Publicity.
It looks really good! It's supposed to be a humorous memoir.


Picking Cotton: Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption by Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton with Erin Torneo

I received this through The Book Reporter Network. It's like a true crime book almost.
Read more about Picking Cotton.



Life is Like a Line: A Memoir of Moods, Medication and Mania by Cynthia M. Sabotka

I remember writing this book on my TBR list and I even emailed the contact on their website but never heard back. Now thanks to AME I got a copy!




The Side-Yard Superhero by Rick D. Niece

Another one from Phenix Publicity. A wonderful story about a man's friendship with a boy in a wheelchair.




A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

You don't see fiction on my Mailbox Mondays very often. I must say this one sounded more interesting when I read a summary on the computer than it does now but I'm sure I'll be surprised. I know a lot of other book bloggers have read this too. Thanks to HarperCollins.

Thou Shalt Not Whine: The Eleventh Commandment by January Jones

Subtitled: What We Whine About, Why We Do It and How to Stop!

Stars: ****

Summary: Stop Whining – Start Winning! It’s not just you. Anyone who goes shopping, watches TV, or has children knows there is a world-wide epidemic of whining that is out of control! January Jones surveyed a wide cross-section of people to find out why they whine and what they whine about. Armed with this information, she wrote Thou Shalt Not Whine, a humorous look at why people whine and how to cure it. January reveals the top ten whines from all age groups and shows you how to deal with them using cures that work. Thou Shalt Not Whine is guaranteed to make you laugh at yourself and others. For anyone with family, friends, or foes who complain, this book is a must-read!

This is a hilarous book but it does have some good pointers too. If you're thinking that you don't whine, then you better think harder. Was your coffee not hot enough this morning? Did your kids take too long to get ready for school? Did the baby cry just when you were about to...., was the store out of what you went to get? EVERYBODY whines, it's who we are, but we CAN do something about it!

Thou Shalt Not Whine is part humour book and part advice book. It's separated into whines heard from the following groups of people: children, teenagers, parents, couples, singles, baby boomers, seniors, women, men, best friends and grandparents. At first I thought that meant that I'd go to the parents, couples and women section and read what I whine about and how to

stop it but no, that's not how it works. You read the section based on who's whining to YOU.

(e.g., you read the teenager section if a teenager is whining TO you, not if you ARE a teenager.

With the couples one this work both ways because if the other half of your couple is complaining to you, you're probably complaining about it too. It's more how to stop others from whining (which I suppose would eventually work with you.)

For example the couple's qualm about closet space:

Whine A: Your stuffs on my side.
Whine B: How many shoes do you need?Cure: The "separate closet" cure is the one and only one that works for most couples.

I didn't much like the layout of the whines though. Each one is as shown above but there is an explanation after Whine A and none after Whine B, only the cure. It's a little confusing.

For the most part I found January Jones to be funny but there was a "joke" I took a bit of offense to:

"Like most girls, I was born a natural whiner." - pg xii

However her next comment had me laughing:

"My second qualification [for writing this book] is that I'm a woman, which
means that i can be anything I want to be - and change my mind about what that
is whenever I feel like it." - pg xii

Again, for the most part, I liked her cures. Some were better than others but there was one (mentioned a few times) that I believe she should take out of her book for safety reasons:

"There are all sorts of great cures for turbulence [from an airplane] besides
saying your prayers. I have tried them all and my favorite one is the "pass out"
cure. You can accomplish this most expediently by taking sleeping pills or
getting drunk. I recommend the pills because they are quiet and painless." - pg 12

Now that I have read The Survivor's Club by Ben Sherwood, I know how dangerous this is.

Other's Reviews

The Book Zombie
A Peek at my Bookshelf

The Polygamist by Ndabaningi Sithole

Stars: ****1/2

Summary: Seven wives share Menzi Dube, head of a Rhodesian tribal village, on a rotating basis. And although they enjoy all the benefits of a rich and progressive husband, they are less than satisfied with having to share him sexually. When one of the tribe's young wives goes astray, having found the several weeks' interval between her husband's visits unbearable, the other women are most sympathetic. This provokes extensive and spirited debate over the mutual plight as female "victims" of the age-old custom of polygamy.

Ndanda, Dube's eldest son, who has been away for many years, returns wearing European clothes, as most of Dube's family has been longing to, has been educated in missionary schools as a teacher, and plans to marry a girl from a Westernized family... just one girl. Dube vows to save his son from the certain disaster of monogamous union, but Ndanda resists, determined to bring his people into the "modern age."

I picked this book up at a local thrift store because the title caught me. This was an incredibly interesting book and fairly well-written, considering it was written by a man in a Rhodesian prison. It was published in 1972 by The Third Press which seems to be defunct*. You can't even buy it new on amazon although there are some used copies, most for $40 - $90 though depending on publishing date.

Even though the book is fiction, the characters all follow typical Rhodesian cultural practices at the time. It's quite thought provoking because you see the up and down sides to polygamy as well as their other cultural practices. Also the polygamy that is/was practiced in Africa isn't the same as the polygamy families in the U.S. and elsewhere. Following is a quote that shows another of the cultural practices:

"A little girl entered the hut. She carried a wooden bowl of water. As soon as
she approached Dube, she knelt down and then placed the bowl on the circular
hearth which was made of mud. "There's the water, father," she said rising to
her feet. "That's all right, my child" acknowledge Dube tenderly [...]She rose
to her feet and soon left the hut. Custom observance was very strict at Dube's
village just as it was at other villages. The little girl had to announce
formally, "There's the water," to indicate that it was her pleasure to bring
that water, and that it was now at their disposal. The formal announcement had
the effect of releasing the water from her, so to speak, so that it could be
used freely."

Similarly, here's a quote regarding polygamy:

"...and so each of the seven wives had a special attribute which endeared her to
Dube. They were beautiful, hardworking, and obedient and, with the exception of
Manyati, they all had children. [...] But if the younger wives of Dube secured
his goodwill with their youthfulness and beauty, the older ones held the
executive and political reins on his estate."

In the chapter that's from, he explains each wife, where she was found, how many heads of cattle was paid for her, what he likes about her and how many children she has born for him so far. It's very evident that he truly loves ALL of his wives and for different reasons and that he treats them all fairly.

The ending was really enjoyable and I wish this book was available to a wider public because I most definitely recommend this to everyone.

* Third Press, Joseph Okpaku Publishing Company Inc. (New York, 1970; ceased publishing in 1986 - from wikipedia

Watchers by W. Lyon Martin

This review was first published at The Well-Read Child.

Stars: ****

Watchers is based on a poem by Kelley 'Duckee' Magee. It's the story of a little boy who is being watched while he sleeps. He can see figures moving but he's not sure what they are. He thinks they must be monsters and he vows to catch them one night. He sets up a trap and waits and sure enough he catches something. What he caught isn't what he was expecting at all. They aren't monsters but fairies and they are there to help him, to watch over him while he sleeps.

This is a cute little story for believers in fairies. The writing is lyrical as it was originally a poem, and it rhymes:

"At night they surround me when I sleep.
So I plan to catch them where they creep.
I'm always falling asleep too fast,
But tonight I'll stay awake at last."

The illustrations are sweet, with lots of purples and dark blues and bright eyes for the fairies. The shadows of unknown creatures on the wall are shown very well and it reminded me of when I was a child and saw scary shapes in the shadows.

My only reservation with the book is the depictions of what the boy thinks the "monster" might look like. I'm afraid that this talk of monsters would frighten a child. If your child hasn't experience the "monsters under the bed" phase, then don't read this book or it might plant the idea in his or her head. If your child is already in that phase, then this would be a good book to alleviate those fears.

Ralphina, the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler

Stars: ***

I received this book from the author through Bostick Communications.

Ralphina, The Roly-Poly is a hardcover picture book about a little Roly-Poly named Ralphina. Roly=Polies are also known as Potato Bugs which is what I know them as. I must say I can't think of a single book that has a potato bug/roly poly as it's character!

Ralphina is lonely and wants the little boy who lives in the house to be her friend. What can she do to get him to notice her? Well she succeeds at that and proceeds to tell her new little friend all about Roly-Polys. I must say I learned quite a bit!

The story is really cute and at the end you'll find more facts about both roly-polys and rainbows (Ralphina paints the tulips all the colours of the rainbow.)

Claudia Chandler wrote and illustrated the book and so the illustrations are very sweet drawings, done in coloured pencils I believe.

Also be sure to check out the author's website: http://www.claudiascustomcreations.com/

Other's Reviews

Booking Mama
Book Dads
Write for a Reader
Book Critiques

Book News as of March 9, 2009

Here are some book news I found floating around the net. All text is quotes from the articles. They come from all over the world, not just one country. The 6th article may interest those of you who read author's blogs and the first two should interest those with Kindles. I will post more book news as I so choose.

Read Me a Story, Mr. Roboto
When Amazon's new Kindle debuted a month ago, Jeff Bezos proudly showed off a killer new feature—a robotic voice that can read back any passage from any book, like an automatic audiobook. The company sees the feature as a way for busy readers to catch up on books while driving or making dinner; the publishing industry saw it as lost opportunity for revenue.

Fear the Kindle
It's hard not to love Amazon's new e-book reader. For starters, it's gorgeous. Unlike its bulky predecessor, the redesigned $359 Kindle, which came out this week, is light, thin, and disappears in your hands. If you think there's no way you could ever get used to curling up with an electronic reader, you haven't given the Kindle a chance.

Great Book, Bad Movie
Why does Hollywood take our favorite novels and turn them into crap?
This isn't an original complaint: Liking the book better than the movie is a middlebrow rite of passage. And novels are a constant, renewable source of stories for Hollywood, with ready-built brand appeal—from the kiddie franchises (Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Narnia) to the airport bangers (Da Vinci Code, the Bourne etceteras).

HarperCollins Publishers Launches Online Sales Catalog
HarperCollins Publishers is announcing the development of an interactive, electronic sales catalog, the most advanced catalog available from a major publisher. The catalog will offer booksellers an up-to-the minute online tool enabling them to order books.

Lost Mark Twain Stories to be Published
The title of the collection, Who is Mark Twain? is a reference to Twain's essay Frank Fuller and My First New York Lecture, included in the book. In the essay, Twain relates how – anxious that no one would attend – he plastered New York with advertisements to promote his talk. He later observed two men looking at the ads. One asked, "Who is Mark Twain?", to which the other responded: "God knows – I don't."

Release The Fans
A writer's engagement with readers via blogs and websites creates a real relationship and unleashes the demands – sometimes angry demands – that go with it

Our Guilty Secrets - The Books We Only Say We Read

George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four comes top in a poll of the UK's guilty reading secrets. Asked if they had ever claimed to read a book when they had not, 65% of respondents said yes and 42% said they had falsely claimed to have read Orwell's classic in order to impress. This is followed by Tolstoy's War and Peace (31%), James Joyce's Ulysses (25%) and the Bible (24%).

Cell Phone Stories Writing New Chapter in Print Publishing

Yume-Hotaru's first novel was a best-seller in Japanese bookstores, and he wrote it entirely with his thumbs. The 22-year-old who would rather be identified by his pen name than his real one (Yume-Hotaru means "Dreaming Firefly" in Japanese) started composing the novel on his cell phone in 2007.

Book Giveaway Winners

So who won My Little Red Book and The No-Cry Nap Solution?


I had 5 copies of My Little Red Book to giveaway, so here are the winners:


Here are your random numbers:

38 - Demmie
33 - Ellie
17 - Shooting Stars Mag
26 - Holly
16 - velocibadgergirl


Timestamp: 2009-03-09 17:44:46 UTC


I had 2 autographed copies of The No-Cry Nap Solution to giveaway, so here are the winners:


Here are your random numbers:

19 - Fran - I had to rechoose, my mistake, winner is shelburns but Fran will get a consolation prize
13 - Beth Y


Timestamp: 2009-03-09 17:47:37 UTC


All winners will have 3 days to contact me. If I don't hear back from them in time or they aren't eligible for the book for whatever reason, then I'll pick another winner.


Thanks to everyone who entered and I'm sorry you couldn't all win!

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World: Fun and Easy Eco-Tips by Melanie Walsh

This review was posted first at The Well Read Child.

Stars: ***1/2

10 Things I Can Do to Help My World is a picture book for ages 3 and up that is designed to teach your child some "fun and easy eco-tips."

"I use... both sides of the paper. If everybody did this, it would greatly reduce the number of trees we use to make paper."

The book is a little bit unusual in that the pages aren't all the same size and square. First of all in the 0 of the 10 on the front cover is an upside down light bulb cut right out of the cover. Also the page that shows exhaust from a car, you turn the exhaust to see the rest of the picture. One page shows garbage and recyclables and compost and bins on the opposite page with their openings cut out. So when you turn the page, the proper items are in each container (compost, cans, glass, paper, plastic.)

The book is really neat and has great ideas. I'm only not sure about one of them. It says to remind your parents to unplug the TV when we are not watching it. First of all if the child decides to unplug it themselves they could hurt themselves. Second of all, who really does that?? I don't know about you but I'd waste more personal energy pulling the entertainment stand out each time to plug and unplug the TV than I would electrical energy by leaving it plugged in.

To top it all off, the book is made from 100% recycled material.
I plan to use this book to help teach my children about helping the environment and recommend that you do too.

Saturday Search - Mar 7

Okay so let's try this one more time. If there's not much interest though I'll stop it as I have an idea for a different "feature."

So what were people searching for when they came across your site?

Post a list of a few of the search terms used to find your site. Especially any very interesting ones. You can also include a blurb about where to find the item if it is on your site or what you think made the search engine drop them off at your site or any other comments. See mine below.

If want to participate, write up a post and come back here to leave your link in the comments. Make sure you link to the ACTUAL POST for your Saturday Search and not to your main url. Then go visit the others!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Searches

sms book
Could it be that people are searching for my blog or is it another unrelated sms search?

Judith's small picture frame hidden away at the bottom of her trunk unleashes a powerful force that seems determined to bring the secret
At first I was like huh? Then I realized that's from Jade Green.

LOVE sms book
Why thank you!

Do you walk read?

RobAroundBooks is chatting about reading while you walk. Below is the part of my answer that has to do with walk reading specifically. But head on over there to see the rest of the conversation and add your input!

"You know with all the questions going around about book habits I never thought of that one! Yes I book walk! I love walk reading. It can be dangerous and I’m sure some people could never watch their peripheral vision and remember what they’re reading but I can. Thanks for bringing that up"

Booking Through Thursday - Best Books

"We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.

What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?"

Well there are LOTS of "best books" I haven't read yet. Here's just a small list:

The Memorist
The Reincarnationist
The Book Thief
Twilight Series (but I don't plan on this one)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society (not sure if I'll read this one)
Dewey (most definitely will be reading this one)
The Heretic's Daughter (I own it, it's on the list for this year)
The Heretic Queen
Nefertiti

or many of the other ones that EVERYONE else talks about.

A lot of them I do want to read, I just have been reading all my review books and library books and TBR shelf books.

A Child's Journey Out of Autism by Leeann Whiffen

Subtitle: One Family's Story of Living in Hope and Finding a Cure

Stars: *****

Summary: When Clay Whiffen was diagnosed on the autism spectrum, his parents didn't know where to turn. They refused to believe that he could not be cured, and began to try every therapy they could afford - and many they couldn't.
Frantically they worked, knowing that Clay slipped further away every day. When intensive medical testing revealed that Clay no longer fit the criteria for any condition on the autism spectrum, the Whiffens' wildest dreams were realized. Clay had conquered autism.

*Skip this next paragraph if you don't care about my personal interest in autism*
I have been interested in autism since I was a young teen even though no one I know personally is autistic. I don't know what it is but I've always been intrigued by it. I've done personal research on it and I love to read books on it. Perhaps some day I'll work with autistic children. Most of the books on autism I've read were before this blog but perhaps someday I'll reread them and then I can review them.

A Child's Journey Out of Autism is different than the rest because the child's (Clay) autism diagnosis was REVOKED! That's right, he was cured of his autism.

I won't lie, this book was very hard to read, most of the time. I got right into it, felt like a part of the family, felt like it was my little brother who was going through all this. Leeann's writing style just pulls you right in. Many times throughout the book I had to put it down and read something else before I started crying hysterically. I am a very emotional person but if you are at all like me, you'll have the same trouble. Even if you aren't overly emotional, you'll still feel empathy for the Whiffens.

The book actually doesn't read like a memoir. It's fast-paced and suspenseful. I couldn't read it fast enough, I wanted to know what was going to happen next. Would a treatment work, would he fall back into his prior behaviours?

The Whiffens tried almost every treatment designed for autistic kids from ABA to biomedical treatments (medicines and vitamins) to RDI to a Gluten/Casein free diet, as well as CARD and services from a local place for kids with disabilities. If you don't know what these terms mean, you will you read the book. It's all explained very well as you listen to the experts explain it to Leeann and Sean (the husband.) Especially when it comes to ABA, I've never read a better story that helped explain how ABA really works. Not a scientific explanation but a real down to earth, this is how it is one.

The basic thing is that this book provides hope. Hope that children with autism can be helped and hope that even if these children can't be totally cured like Clay, they can get better.

Links of Interest: Leeann Whiffen's website. (Be sure to check out the very moving book trailer on the main page, narrated by Clay Whiffen himself.), Leeann Whiffen's Blog, Clay's Law Video, Interview with Leeann Whiffen (from Maw Books),



Other Reviews: Maw Books,

Buy A Child's Journey Out of Autism at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

February 2008 Review

These are the books read in February 2009. PB means picture book. Picture books aren't counted towards total pages read.

e.g. Title by Author (Challenges/Review Copy) (Pages)

NOTE: All the following books that aren't picture books are being counted towards the 100+ Reading Challenge and some of them are for the A to Z challenge.

Cheerios Cookbook by Betty Crocker (Soup's On) (98)
Ian's Walk: A Story about Autism by Laurie Lears (N/A) (PB)
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen (N/A) (PB)
The Flavor Bible by Karen Page, Andrew Dornenburg (Soup's On, Well-Seasoned, Review Book) (380)
Getting There by Marla Stewart Konrad (Review Book) (PB)
Hello, Good-Bye by Arlene Alda (Review Book, Naming Conventions) (PB)
Bradley McGogg The Very Fine Frog by Tim Beiser (Review Book) (PB)
I Love Chocolate by Davide Cali (Review Book) (PB)
Baron Things Dogs are People Too by Laurie Dean (Review Book) (PB)
Families by Uwe Ommer (N/A) (108)
The Book of Nonsense by David Michael Slater (Review Book) (234)
Choosing to Be by Kat Tansey (Review Book, Naming Conventions) (138)
For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn (Review Book) (145)
For Women Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn (Review Book) (145)
The Lost Da Vincis by Don and Aneladee Milne (Review Book) (167)
The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizbaeth Pantley (Review Book) (240)
The Kids Multicultural Cookbook by Deanna F. Cook (Soup's On, Review Book) (155)
My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff (Review Book) (225)
A Child's Journey Out of Autism by Leeann Whiffen (In Their Shoes, Review Book) (320)

Total Read: 19 (12 not picture books)
Total Pages Read: 2235
Fav Read: I can't decid between My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff and A Child's Journey Out of Autism by Leeann Whiffen
Least Fav Read: Baron Thinks Dogs Are People Too by Laurie Dean

More Fun Facts:
2 fiction (not counting picture books)
10 nonfiction
15 are review books

Mailbox Monday - Mar. 2

So it's been another week. This week I got 4 books. They aren't that long so hopefully it won't take me too long to get through them.

See what everyone else got here.

My Buddy Butch: Confessions of a New Dog Dad by Jeff Marginean

It's a true story of how a little Boston Terrier gave Jeff a new perspective on single fatherood, unconditional love and learning to slow down. Animals and Parenting, it doesn't get much better than this! (From KSB Promotions)

Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm by Michael J. Rosen

This is a kid's book with lots of photographs. It's to show city kids like me what it's like to live on a farm.

Yum! Your Ultimate Manual for Good Nutrition by Daina Kalnins, MSC. RD.

This is a nutrition book for teens.

Now here is where I mention that I remember asking for Our Farm and Yum but I cannot figure out where I got them from. I don't seem to have an email from a publicist or anything and they're from two different publishers. I feel so ashamed. If anyone knows where I got them from, let me know! I don't know where to send links when I review them.

Shattered Reality by Kimberly Cheryl

This is for an upcoming Blog Tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotions. It will be my first with them. Come back at the end of March.

GIVEAWAY: My Little Red Book by Rachel Kauder Nalebuff

Have you read my review?

Here's a quick summary:

To Enter:

I have FIVE copies of the book to giveaway to five lucky winners. This contest is open to US/Canada but NO P.O. Boxes, sorry. (Sorry to those who came from Book Giveaway Carnival, I accidently listed this giveaway as worldwide.)

All you have to do to enter is comment on this post. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you or you won't be eligible. If you win, I'll contact you and you'll have 3 days to get back to me or I'll pick another winner.

No extra entries this time. One entry per person.

Be sure to check out Bookroom Reviews during the week of March 2 - 8/09 for more giveaways to enter!

GIVEAWAY: The No-Cry Nap Solution by Elizbeth Pantley

Have you read my review?

Here's a quick summary:

The No-Cry Nap Solution offers you a proven formula to ensure that your baby, toddler, or preschooler gets daily restorative rest. You'll learn gentle, loving, tear-free techniques, developed by world-renowned parenting expert Elizbeth Pantley and tested by hundreds of families around the world, guaranteed to help you: convince any child to nap every day, effortlessly settle your child for naptime in his or her own bed, turn short and fitful naps into long and peaceful ones, establish a nap schedule that works for you and your child and confidently deal with sudden changes, nap strikes and travel.

To Enter:

I have TWO AUTOGRAPHED copies of the book to giveaway to two lucky winners. This contest is open worldwide!

All you have to do to enter is comment on this post. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you or you won't be eligible. If you win, I'll contact you and you'll have 3 days to get back to me or I'll pick another winner.

No extra entries this time. One entry per person.

Be sure to check out Bookroom Reviews during the week of March 2 - 8/09 for more giveaways to enter!