C'mon Papa: Dispatches From a Dad in the Dark by Ryan Knighton

Stars: *****

Knopf Canada, a division of Random House (2010)
Nonfiction: Memoir/Biography/Parenting
272 pages

Summary: C'mon Papa is Ryan Knighton's heartbreaking and hilarious voyage through the first year of fatherhood. Becoming a father is a stressful, daunting rite of passage to be sure, but for a blind father, the fears are unimaginably heightened. Ryan will have to find novel ways to adapt to nearly every aspect of parenting: the most basic skills are nearly impossible to contemplate, let alone master. And how will Ryan get to know this pre-verbal bundle of coos and burps when he can't see her smile, or look into her eyes for hints of the person to come? - from Random House

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be blind AND a parent? Wonder no longer. Ryan Knighton tells us the good, the bad and the ugly in his most recent memoir. The book switches from educational, to humourous, to breath holding moments, to sympathy inducing.

I learned about blindness in general as well as parenting while blind. I already knew that blind people keep things in their house in a certain spot so they can maneuver around but it never occurred to me that a blind person could have a job. (I apologize to all blind people who work.)

I think this is a much needed memoir that more people should read. Most of us don't really know what it's like to live with a special need let alone how to be a parent with a special need. Ryan Knighton is the perfect author as well, he tells a great story.

However he does include just a few swear words.  I am turned off my swear words and could have done without them but there were only a few so it was easy to just ignore them and continue reading.

Links of Interest: Ryan Knighton, Ryan Knighton on Twitter,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy C'mon Papa at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Confessions of a GP: a year of life, death & earwax by Dr. Benjamin Daniels

Stars:*****

HarperCollins UK (2010)
Adult Nonfiction/Memoir
336 pages

Summary: A woman troubled by pornographic dreams about Tom Jones. An 80 year-old man who can't remember why he's come to see the doctor. A woman with a common cold demanding (but not receiving) antibiotics. A man with a sore knee. A young woman who has been trying to conceive for a while but now finds herself pregnant and isn't sure she wants to go through with it. A 7-year-old boy with "tummy aches" that don't really exist. These are his patients. A witty insight into the life of a family doctor, this funny and moving account will change the way you look at your doctor next time you pop in with the sniffles. - from Good Reads

This book was quite funny, interesting, sometimes gross and once, so funny I was laughing so hard I was crying, (although to be honest, that part wasn't written by the author, but was a chain mail that went around online - I even remember getting it once and I'm pretty sure I laughed that hard then too.)

I must say though that reading a book written in the UK is quite challenging as a Canadian. Yes we both speak English but here in Canada, especially so close to the US where I live, we speak a version of English that is much closer to US English.  There was also some UK Spelling which in my part of Ontario at least, we use a bit of (like Colour and Neighbourhood) but some we use the US spelling of (like Tranquillizer - not Tranquilliser like it is in the book.) I knew most of the UK words as I love words but had to look up one of the medications mentioned. E.g. surgery (meaning emergency department) or stroppy (easily offended or annoyed), row (argument), trolley (streetcar) and paracetamol (mentioned often - it's acetaminophen)

There are two controversial areas of the book that I want to mention. If you are able to read about ideas you may not agree with, then this isn't a problem. But if you will dislike the whole book because of one opinion, I'd rather you know before you pick up the book.

The doctor sees a patient with measles because his mom chose not to vaccinate him. She believes she just needs to strengthen his immune system with healthy foods and such. Doc explains that's not how it works. Doc explains his frustrations with those who choose not to vaccinate. Specifically because it puts those children who are unable to vaccinate (because of allergy to vaccination or they are deathly ill) at risk too.

The other has to do with alternative practitioners. The doctor sees a patient who has a simple problem but chooses to see many different alternative practitioners first who do everything but examine the problem area. She ends up back at Doc after having spent lots of money. So Doc makes a comment (not to patient) about his dislike of alternative practitioners.

I did appreciate that all the stories are only a few pages long. It's good for a quick reads (like in the bathroom)

Links of Interest: NONE YET

Other Reviews: Naomi's Book Reviews,

Buy Confessions of a GP at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Guest Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

While not intended to be a parenting manual, Yale Law School professor Amy Chua's memoir, focusing on her trials and travails of mothering, is sure to go down in infamy. Having generated a considerable amount of controversy, Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother details, and, in some cases, promotes, an extremely strict parenting style that she attributes to her Chinese cultural background.

The media storm that followed the memoir's publication provides ample fodder for a review itself. But instead of analyzing what others have said about the book, I decided to crack it open myself to see what all the fuss is about. Of course, many of Chua's parenting dictates--not allowing children to attend sleepovers, participate in extra-curricular activities of their own choosing, and accepting nothing short of a straight-A report card--can be considered a form of child abuse. However, Chua is not quite the "Tiger Mother" the media have made her out to be, and the memoir has its moments of poignancy that extends beyond the extremist parenting.

The book traces Chua's relationship with her two daughters and husband Jed, an academic whose American-Jewish background views parenting in a much more benevolent, laissez-faire way. Some of the more alarming anecdotes, like when Chua dismisses her daughter's homemade birthday card as not good enough, or when she forces her child to play a tricky piano piece over and over, threatening her in the process, until she gets it right, may turn off many readers. But at the end of the day, Chua demonstrates a sense of humor that softens her fierce competitiveness. That her children seem to have turned out to be "normal", happy teenagers indicates that the accusations of child abuse among Chua's detractors are a little overblown.

While I would never actually employ the style of parenting that Chua seems to advocate, the professor and mother makes an interesting case against what she calls "Western" parenting. The heavy emphasis on self-esteem at all costs may indeed produce children who are satisfied with mediocrity and who begin to feel entitled to everything when they are older. Still, in my opinion, parents can strive for a happy medium. After all, teaching children that they must work very hard for success and recognition is a lesson that should, by all accounts, be instilled early.

Although Chua's memoir is by no means perfect, it is an interesting account of alternative parenting styles. What's more, any parent will be able to empathize with its basic themes of family, no matter how much they disagree with how Chua approaches raising children. Despite its imperfections, Chua's book is a worthwhile read for parents who struggle with anxiety over their child-rearing decisions. For more information, check out this excerpt, published in the New York Times.

By-line:
This guest post is contributed by Alisa Gilbert, who writes on the topics of bachelors degree.  She welcomes your comments at her email Id: alisagilbert599@gmail.com. 

Speed Reviews - Mental Illness Memoirs

Some more really old reviews that just never got done. They are short since it's been a while but if the book sounds interesting, check out the links to other reviews to get a more detailed review.


Hurry Down Sunshine: A memoir by Michael Greenberg
Stars: ****

Summary: Hurry Down Sunshine tells the story of an extraordinary summer when, at the age of fifteen, Michael Greenberg’s daughter was struck mad. It begins with Sally’s visionary crack-up on the streets of Greenwich Village, and continues, among other places, in the out-of-time world of a Manhattan psychiatric ward during the city’s most sweltering months. - from Random House

All mental illness memoirs bring out emotions in me as I can identify with parts of it although my experience wasn't nearly as severe as Sally's. I remember this being a fairly quick read as I wanted to know what was going to happen next. The author is Sally's father and so it's written from his point of view. It must have been very hard for him to have to deal with. If you are curious what life is like for a family with a child who is in and out of psychiatric hospitals, this is a good book to read.

Other Reviews: Linus's Blanket, She is Too Fond of Books, Frequency of Silence,

Buy Hurry Down Sunshine at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews


A Promise of Hope: The astonishing true story of a woman afflicted with Bipolar Disorder and the miraculous treatment that cured her by Autumn Stringam
Stars: ****

Summary: Autumn and her brother Joseph inherited the family bipolar disorder, a severe mental illness that led to their mother's and grandfather's suicides. Autumn, at 22, was in a psychiatric hospital on suicide watch; Joseph, at 15, was prone to violent episodes so terrifying his family feared for their lives. But after they began taking a nutritional supplement - based, incredibly, on a formula given to aggressive hogs - their symptoms disappeared, and today they both lead normal, productive lives. - from back of the book

Unlike the previous book, this one is written by the mentally ill patient. If you are interested in alternative treatments for bipolar disorder, this book will definitely interest you. I found a few parts of the book a bit slow but overall I enjoyed it and was intrigued with the alternative treatment. You see the background of their family's fight with mental illness and Autumn's journey through it but you also see how the treatment was thought up, tested and found to work.

Visit AutumnStringam.com for sample chapters, bipolar info and more.

Other Reviews: The Indextrious Reader,

Buy A Promise of Hope at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*Both books were received in exchange for a review if I finished them. All opinions are honest and are my own. 

The Chimp Who Loved Me And Other Slightly Naughty Tales of a Life With Animals by Annie Greer & Tim Vandehey

Stars: *****

Diva Press (2010)
215 pages
20% of sales go to the ASPCA!

Summary: The Chimp Who Loved Me is a collection of true stories from the life and times of Annie Greer, a veterinary chiropractitioner, animal healer, radio host, speaker, farmer's wife and all-around magnet for bizarre animal behavior. [...] if you crave twisted tales of sex, poop, pee and death, where apes throw donuts at chefs during dinner parties and stoned veterinary students dispense bizarre advice to puzzled dog show contestants, then you won't be able to put The Chimp Who Loved Me down...until it hits you in the nose because you're reading in bed. - excerpted from thechimpwholovedme.com

This Book is Hilarious!

No, seriously. I'm so glad I review self-published books or I would have missed this one. To think all these stories REALLY happened to Annie Greer. Oh My Gosh. She really IS a magnet for weird animal behaviour. I must warn this book has some mature language. However it's not in an excessive, totally not needed sort of way. It's also not so much swearing as adult language such as sexual terms, although there is some swearing. Normally I hate swearing but if I was in that situation, I think I would swear too!

I cannot decide which story is my favourite, they were all great. I chuckled or laughed out loud a few times. I wanted to read passages to my husband but he hates when I do that so I restrained.

I'm not sure what else to say other than buy and read this book. I hope it gets picked up by a bigger publisher and gets put on amazon so it's more readily available.

Links of Interest: The Chimp Who Loved Me,
Other Reviews: NONE YET

The Chimp Who Loved Me is not available on Amazon.com [UPDATE: It will be on amazon.com in January, I will provide a link when I get it.] but you can buy it through Lulu. Remember: 20% of sales go to the ASPCA.

You Better Not Cry by Augusten Burroughs

Stars: ****

St. Martin's Press (2009)
224 pages

Summary: You’ve eaten too much candy at Christmas…but have you ever eaten the face off a six-foot-stuffed Santa? You’ve seen gingerbread houses…but have you ever made your own gingerbread tenement? You’ve woken up with a hangover…but have you ever woken up next to Kris Kringle himself? Augusten Burroughs has, and in this caustically funny, nostalgic, poignant, and moving collection he recounts Christmases past and present—as only he could. With gimleteyed wit and illuminated prose, Augusten shows how the holidays bring out the worst in us and sometimes, just sometimes, the very, very best. - from GoodReads

Did you read the summary? I have no idea what gimleteyed is but the stories were pretty funny but more in a "I can't believe that happened" sort of way. I received this book almost a year ago for review but due to the crappy mail system, it came AFTER Christmas, like in February and I didn't feel like reading a Christmas book that much after Christmas.

Augusten Burroughs is the author of the popular Running With Scissors (along with other books.) This however is the first book by him I've read. Augusten had a very interesting life and certainly seems to be cursed during the holidays and I'm not even sure I believe in curses.

I'm not usually a lover of short stories but for some reason I don't seem to mind them at Christmastime. However I have to warn that not everyone will enjoy this book. The stories are dark, about alcoholism, AIDS and death. Also although it doesn't matter to me, the author is gay so his relationships are with other men. I know this bothers some people.

PS - I looked up gimlet-eyed... it means sharp sighted according to Merriam-Webster.

Links of Interest: NONE YET
Other Reviews: Reviews by Lola, The Girl from the Ghetto,

Buy You Better Not Cry at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

The Psychiatrist Who Cured the Scientologist by Aaron David Gottfried

Stars: ****

Pandora Press (2008)
Memoir

Summary: Step inside the misunderstood world of mental illness and the underground secrets of Scientology in this first-hand account of a walk on the extreme side of both. [In the book], get a look at a life lived not on one side, but in the middle of the battlefield. This true story of a teenager trying to seek truth, finds himself going completely backwards in a downward spiral of curiosity, rebellion and fanaticism. The end of the beginning starts with a total loss of reality in order to realize what is true. - from back of book

While I knew the book covered mental illness and loss of reality, I was not prepared for the amount of talk about suicide. As a past suicide-attempter, it was a bit upsetting to read. That's why I'm mentioning it first, to warn anyone who may be upset by it.

However it was a very good book that I read straight through in under 2 hours. The mental illness talked about is Bipolar. I'm not sure why the book never mentions that's what it is but I don't think saying that is spoiling it. Anyone familiar with Bipolar would recognize what is is right away.

As for the Scientology aspect, I knew nothing really about Scientology before reading this book and I feel much more knowledgeable about it now. For some reason I was thinking Scientology was not believing in God but in science but boy was I wrong. They believe in God and in fact seem to ignore some basic science, such as some mental illness needing medication. It was against the authors Scientology background to take any kind of anti-psychotic or even anti-depressant. It was all very enlightening.

As a sufferer of Bipolar, although a different kind than the author, I found it shocking the way Aaron was treated. I try to be open-minded about different religions but if they had been open to medication and proper visits to a psychiatrist he would have been diagnosed sooner.

Recommended for lovers of memoirs and books about mental illness, other religions or leaving Scientology.

Links of Interest: Aaron Gottfried,

Other Reviews: NONE YET

Buy The Psychiatrist Who Cured the Scientologist at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

Everything Sucks: Losing My Mind and Finding Myself in a High School Quest for Cool by Hannah Friedman

Stars: *****

HCI Teens (2009)
Teen Nonfiction (Memoir)
264 pages

Summary: Hannah Friedman's life sucks. So she sets out to change it. After a strange early and middle childhood she enters one of the country's most prestigious boarding schools on scholarship and transforms herself into everything she is not: cool. By senior year, she has a perfect millionaire boyfriend, a perfect GPA, a perfect designer wardrobe, and is part of the most popular clique in school, but somehow everything begins to suck far worse than when she first started. Her newfound costly drug habit, eating disorder, identity crisis, and Queen-Bee attitude lead to the unraveling of Hannah's very unusual life. She manages to put it all back together but it's not easy.


When I was approached by the author herself to review this book, the title and summary brought me back to my high school years. I realize they weren't all that long ago but I enjoy reading of others adventures in high school. I was a little unsure about the book, not sure if it would be good or not but I'm glad I accepted because it was awesome!

I just LOVE the chapter titles. They each have the work suck in them such as: Family Sucks, Periods Suck, Diets Suck, Love Sucks etc.... I zipped through the book in a few days because it was engaging. I remember telling my husband about the book too which I don't do often because he's not a reader and usually could careless. However if I really enjoy a book, I ramble on and on about it to him. The fact that on Amazon.com it has a four and a half star average rating and NO ratings below three (as of this post anyways) tells me that I'm not the only one to enjoy this book.

The writing style is what kept me captivated. It was almost like the author was sitting across from me telling me her story, which to me is a sign of a good memoir. Her stories were funny but also in some ways amazing. A few times I was wondering if something really happened to her, it just seemed a bit extreme. The story, even thought it's true, carries some important lessons about being who you are, and not who you think you should be. Hannah finds out the hard way that being cool isn't everything. I think hearing this from a true memoir drives the point home more than a fiction novel with the same lesson.

Recommended for Ages 14 and up, including those who are not in high school anymore but enjoy reading about it.

Links of Interest: Hannah Friedman, Hannah on Twitter, Hannah on YouTube, 

Other Reviews: Book Addiction, Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic, Shooting Stars Mag, Write for a Reader, Pop Culture Junkie, Presenting Lenore,

Buy Everything Sucks at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for a review. All reviews are honest and are not affected in any way by how I came by the book.

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali with Delphine Minoui

Stars: *****

Three Rivers Press (2010) - division of Random House
Memoir
188 pages


Summary: Nujood is married off at age 10 to a man three times her age. He promises to not touch her till the year after she has her first period but does not keep his promise. He also beats her. Fed up with this life, Nujood runs away to the courthouse to get a divorce. This is the first time a young wife has ever done this and she sets a standard for Yemeni women.

The story is told in alternating chapters going from the past when she was married off and early marriage life to the present when she is filing for divorce, including court proceedings.

It's a short read but includes everything you need to know about Nujood's life, marriage and divorce. It's a bit hard to read at times but the most shocking part of all is for those of you who have or know of a 10 year old girl, to imagine her in Nujood's circumstances.

Nujood's story made me proud to be a woman and sad that women and girls in other countries are being treated the way they are.

Sidenote:
Her story caught the attention of the press around the world and Glamour Magazine gave Nujood Ali the Woman of the Year Award alongside others such as Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice.

All is not necessarily well though: Child bride Nujood Ali's life after divorce.

Links of Interest: A 10-year-old Divorcee Takes Paris (TIME), (Unofficial) Nujood Ali on Twitter, Nujood Ali and Shada Nasser: Woman of the Year (Glamour),

Other Reviews: 5 Minutes for Books,

Buy I Am Nujood: Age 10 and Divorced at amazon.com and support SMS Book Reviews

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

Stars: *****

Summary: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the immensely engaging and inspiring true account of an enterprising African teenager who constructed a windmill from scraps to create electricity for his entire community. William Kamkwamba shares the remarkable story of his youth in Malawi, Africa. A nation crippled by intense poverty, famine, and the AIDS plague—and how, with tenacity and imagination, he built a better life for himself, his family, and his village. The poignant and uplifting story of Kamkwamba’s inspiration and personal triumph, co-written with Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has already won ringing praise from former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore as well as Paolo Coelho, internationally bestselling author of The Alchemist.

This incredible book was published October 09 by HarperLuxe, a division of HarperCollins. I fully intended to review it in October but things didn't work out that way. I love reading about life in Africa and reading stories of people who are very poor come into their own and succeed makes me hope for the future.

The book is not only about how William made a windmill but starts from when he was younger and spending his days playing to as he gets older and tries to continue his schooling, through a famine, spending his days reading books from the library, learning about electricity, trying things out for himself, working his way up to a windmill, getting electricity into his home and eventually getting noticed. The last few chapters cover what people noticed him and what was done afterward.

The story was very interesting and I rooted for him when he was figuring things out and feeling sad and worried when his city was going through the famine. William Kamkwamba is a remarkable man and I bet his parents are so very proud of him. I fully agree with the following testimonial about the book:

This book should be required reading in our schools where far too many students drop out because they, apparently, do not value education. Mr Kamkwamba doesn't just tell about the windmill and how he built it, he describes life and culture in Malawi, the struggles and horrors of the hunger season (which puts faces and hardships on the word, famine) and because of the famine the lack of fees that would allow him to continue in school. He foresaw that life could be different-better and pursued his dream to completion. This is a wonderful, positive story. Thanks for giving me an early opportunity to read it, learn and have hope in young people again.

Dorothy @ Books & More in Albion, MI

Dorothy Dickerson

Thanks to HarperCollins and Shelf Awareness for the opportunity to read this book.

Links of Interest
Browse Inside or View Discussion Guide or visit The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
On Twitter? Follow the book @malawindmilbook or the author @wkamkwamba

Buy The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind on Amazon.com

Other Reviews
Ramya's Bookshelf, The Novel World, Killin' Time Reading, Starting Fresh (talks a lot about what the author is up to now)

Short Review of Many Books

I don't like doing this because I feel I owe a full review to those who sent me books to review but I read these all months ago and got behind on reviews and I just don't remember enough about them to write full length reviews. That's part of why it's taken me so long to get to them. If I don't write some short reviews, I'll never catch up.

Understand that just because I'm putting a bunch of short reviews in one post, doesn't mean these books weren't good or weren't memorable.

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

This book is exactly what it sounds like, a memoir of a therapist's life from thinking eating seeds will make him pregnant to accidentally locking himself in a psych ward rubber room. Hilarious!

You can read a small excerpt of the book at the author's website.


Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Stars: ****

I think most people have heard of this book by now. You can read all about the most famous library cat and all his adventures in the book. You can also check out the webpage. I really enjoyed the book although I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would because it's not only about Dewey but about the library and the people who run the library too and I guess I felt it should be only about the cat.

Not Remembered Never Forgotten: An adoptee's search for his birth family by Robert Hafetz
Stars: ****

This is a true story, not too long at only about 130 pages. I enjoyed reading it though. The idea behind the title is that although he doesn't remember his birth parents, he's never forgotten them. I think it's quite a poignant title.
A quote from the introduction about why he wrote the book:

"One pictures the smiling baby held by his adopted mother, hugged, nurtured, cherished and kept safe from harm. My adopted family loved me as their own. I coudln't have asked for better parents. What more could a human being ever want? Their love and affection sustains me, and gives me what I need to grow and survive but it doesn't replace what has been lost. I want what others have; a name given at birth, a heritage, and a memory of my mother's face. " - pg. 8

I've read quite a few adoption books, from all different points of view (the adopter, the adoptee, the birth parents) but this is the first one that really made it clear why an adoptee may not be content with not knowing his or her birth parents, no matter how much he or she loves the adopted parents.


Outside the Lavender Closet by Martha A. Taylor
Stars: ***1/2

This is a collection of stories about homosexual women (I don't really like that term but not sure what is the preferred term, hope I haven't offended anyone.) It's really more than that though. The author wanted to get some answers to the age old questions such as "What is it that makes us straight or gay? and Are relationships between two women really all that different than heterosexual ones?"

The stories were mostly quite interesting. One was a bit too long but for the most part, I learned a lot about women to women relationships and it was very interesting. I realize this book is not for everyone but I feel like it helped me to understand these women more.

Indigo Awakening; A Doctors Memoir of Forging an Authentic Life in a Turbulent World by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

This review is part of a book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Tomorrow SMS Book Reviews will be featuring a Guest Post by the author!

Stars: ****

Summary: Dr. Janine Talty, today a successful osteopathic physician, as a child found herself bewildered by a world full of challenges that she could not understand. She felt isolated, unable to cope with the regular life issues that other children managed easily. She could not comprehend math or spelling—yet she could see energies that others could not see, and had levels of awareness than no-one around her possessed. She exhibited unusual artistic and healing talent. She spontaneously remembered and drew pictures from “old memories” of places her family had never visited. Only as she grew into adulthood, painfully learning to cope with her challenges, did she realize she was an "indigo," one of a generation of people with unusual talents and abilities, yet who rarely fit neatly into societal roles.

This book is the inspiring story of how she overcomes these challenges, finds her voice and identity, and discovers a channel for her healing abilities as an osteopathic physician. She speaks directly to the experience of fellow indigos, and shows them that some of their biggest challenges can be their most powerful gifts. She reveals that much of our personal physical suffering is actually clearing the way for human transformation, and that there is meaning and purpose to the events in our lives—even when we can't see this. Indigo Awakening is one of the first books to be written by an adult indigo, telling the experience of indigos from the inside out, and showing how their puzzling and painful experiences are paving the way for the emergence of a new way of being, in harmony with self, other, the world and the universe.

I don't normally give such a detailed summary but I wasn't sure how to shorten it and still make sure it would be understood. I had heard about Indigos in the 90s although I haven't heard much about them lately. The idea of being different for a good reason was appealing and I wished I were an Indigo. This book however has shown me that being an Indigo is NOT easy and although reading Janine's life story has helped me understand a little bit better, I still cannot imagine most of what she is talking about. She does a good job of trying to explain it though.

At the beginning of each chapter is paragraph about Indigos and then follows a chapter in the life of Dr. Janine Talty, DO. Some were more interesting than others but from reading the book we see that she has accomplished a LOT in a short time. It was eye opening (good choice of book cover) but took some concentration to understand and follow the book. This isn't a bad thing, it's just some books need more concentration than others.

Honestly I'm not sure what to say. This is the first published book written BY an Indigo. If you don't understand what they are, want to know more about them or think you may be one, read this book. There is a quiz at the back of the book to see if you or someone you know exhibits signs of being and Indigo. I know that some people will not believe there is such a thing as and Indigo, who will not be open minded enough to believe but those people just shouldn't read the book, it's a simple as that.

[Guest Review] Ambulance Girl: How I Saved Myself by Becoming an EMT by Jane Stern

*This review is by Sarah at Puss Reboots*

Jane Stern is a contributing editor for Gourmet magazine. She's also a volunteer EMT. She's been nicknamed "Ambulance girl" by the community she serves. Ambulance Girl chronicles her journey from hypochondria and depression to finding purpose as an EMT.

Each chapter reads like a short story, often focusing on similar training or rescues. Although depression played a huge role in Stern's life she doesn't dwell on it in this upbeat memoir. She also doesn't over state her part in any rescue and never makes herself out to be the hero.

Reading this memoir made me want to get myself recertified with my first aid training. At a previous job I volunteered as an EMT for the company (two were needed per floor). While my training was no where near as rigorous as Stern's I have needed some of that knowledge when my kids have gotten hurt. As Stern points out in the book, it is reassuring and calming to know what to do in an emergency.

Ambulance Girl has also been adapted into a TV movie but I haven't seen it.

Other books that might be of interest:

Blood, Sweet and Tea by Tom Reynolds
Choosing to Be by Kat Tansey

Another review:

Gather Books

Published 2003

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Visit Puss Reboots for more book reviews!

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

Stars: ***1/2

Summary: This is the amazing story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, editor-in-chief of French Elle magazine and the father of two children, who found himself completely paralysed and speechless. He was only able to move one eyelid but he managed to "dictate" this book.

I recieved this book from Harper Perennial, an imprint of Harper Collins. The premise really intrigued me, a book "written" by someone who can't write.

It's a fairly short book at 139 pages but I'm sure you can imagine how long it must have taken to write even a book of that many pages, using just one eyelid. I think Mr. Bauby's story is amazing and the fact that he found a way to share his views is commendable but I did find myself losing interest in the actual text. I think it's the way Bauby "talked." It's hard to describe, it's just not my style.

You can Browse Inside the book to read some of the book and see if it's for you.

The book was made into a movie directed by Julian Schnabel and starring Matheiu Amalric. You can find out more here: http://www.thedivingbellmovie.co.uk

Other's Reviews

Bookopolis
Book Reviews by Bobbie

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