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Category: Health, Mind, & Body

"Getting It Through My Thick Skull" by Mary Jo Buttafuoco

[ 0 ] December 20, 2009

Reviewed by Denise G.

Getting It Through My Thick Skull is the true story of Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s life before the fateful day in 1992. Mary Jo became an instant celebrity the day she was shot by her husband’s teenage lover on the front porch of her home on Long Island. The unbelievable news traveled like lightning – a 36-year-old wife and mother, who by all accounts was the picture of domestication, gunned down for sins that she did not commit. Initially, no one believed that her loving husband, Joey, had anything to do with the shooting, or the young girl who tried to kill his wife. As time went on, it became apparent that just the opposite was true; Amy Fisher was convicted of attempted murder and Joey Buttafuoco of statutory rape.

The memoir is written very candidly, sometimes even with a degree of humor which contradicts some of the dark material contained in it. (Just take a look at the title and the humor becomes evident.) Mary Jo gives us a good deal of background on the Mary Jo and Joey we didn’t know, the before Buttafuocos, which helps to answer some of the questions the public has always had.

Getting It Through My Thick Skull is very unique because Mary Jo’s story is so unique. Many other memoirs have been written, and continue to be. Mary Jo’s life was altered irretrievably in that split second when she answered the door and a crazed teen was there with a gun. In her book, she does not whine or complain, but rather states the facts and lets the reader draw his or her own conclusions.

The memoir was excellent for me as a reader, and I’m sure very therapeutic for Mary Jo. I’d often wondered out loud why she stayed with that man instead of moving on, and this book gets to the heart of the matter.

For more information, please visit Mary Jo Buttafuoco’s website.

With a diverse but unsatisfying career background, Denise made the decision to pursue what she loves: writing! Her first novel, of course, is in the works. More info about her is available at her blog http://makemoney-writingonline.blogspot.com.

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Blog Tour & Giveaway: "When She Flew" by Jennie Shortridge

[ 0 ] December 8, 2009

Reviewed by Jennifer R.

When She Flew, a fictional story based on true events, is told in alternating narratives by two of the main characters. The third person narrative is used to tell the story from the viewpoint of Officer Jessica Villareal. A divorced woman in her late 30′s, with a sadly distant relationship with her daughter and grandson, “Jess” devotes herself to her work as a police officer.

The second narrative is that of the child, Lindy, and is told in first person. Lindy has a fascination with birds, and one day while observing a blue heron in the woods where she lives, she is noticed by a fellow bird watcher. Up until that point, Lindy had been living in the woods with her father, an Iraq war vet, who saved her from the care of her unstable mother. The bird watcher reports the girl and the police start a search to find the child.

Jess joins in on the search and helps find Lindy and her father. The officials decide that Lindy needs a safe shelter in a foster home, and attempt to separate her from her father. However, Jess is touched by the love she sees between the father and his daughter; she takes matters into her own hands, breaks the rules, and stands up for what she believes is best. What follows is the story of what Jess does and the subsequent consequences.

The writing was, in general, engaging. For the first 100 pages, I wasn’t sure if I’d really get into the story, but around that point I became hooked and wanted to read more. Of the two, I definitely enjoyed the first person narration of the young girl better; hers seemed more genuine and less forced. The situation the characters found themselves in was intriguing, but I was somewhat disappointed with the ending. It wasn’t bad, but it just seemed anti-climactic.

In addition, though this didn’t really affect the story much, I found some inaccuracies in the author’s description of events. One example would be obtaining an arbitrary sexual assault exam on a child when there are no allegations of such. At least in the state I live in, this would never be done. Even when they are, the lack of findings can not rule out sexual abuse, as the majority of exams on those who really were abused in this manner yields no results. Another thing I wondered about was the lack of child protective services despite it being integral to the storyline.

What I believe the author aimed for is a story about two different “women” (one woman and one girl) and how they each “flew” and took on a challenge or experienced something different. In that sense, the author accomplished her task and provided good female role models. I found it interesting that the author took an actual news headline and added her own background and story to it. When She Flew is a book that touches on some serious topics that may induce some interesting, and possibly heated, book club discussions!

Jenny is a social worker in her late twenties who lives with her husband and Jack Russell Terrier in the central Florida area. In her “free” time she loves reading books of all genres. She also reviews books on her book blog TakeMeAway.

Please visit Jennie’s website and follow along on her blog tour with TLC Book Tours.


Giveaway
I have 1 copy of When She Flew to give away, courtesy of the author!
For the first entry, comment on this post with your e-mail address.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.

Deadline to enter is midnight on December 25th.

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"Love in Translation" by Wendy Nelson Tokunaga

[ 1 ] November 27, 2009

Reviewed by Poppy J.

Wendy Nelson Tokunaga’s Love in Translation is a novel about discovering how a person’s past does provide meaning and relevance to her future.

The story begins with Celeste Duncan’s quest to find her roots after the death of a close relative. Celeste travels to Japan to live with the Kubota family, in a modified arranged home stay agreement. Although she is much older than a typical exchange student (she’s 33 years old), she is just as inept at adjusting to the local Japanese customs, and routinely finds herself embarrassed and ashamed at her gaffes and faux pas with her host family. Her singing is her saving grace, and she is able to win over her host family, and later many more admirers, with her ability to capture the spirit of what it means to be Japanese – as depicted in the way she sings her songs.

Celeste-san, as her Japanese host mother fondly calls her, is desperately trying to piece together the puzzle of her heritage. As she works diligently to locate her long lost relatives, she is actually hoping to find out who she really is. Her quest leads her to potential real love (with her homestay “brother” Takuya), true friendship (with her wacky Japanese instructor Mariko) and an understanding of her relationship with her disinterested state-side boyfriend (Dirk).

Through learning about the Japanese culture, Celeste learns about her real-life connection to her mysterious past. The book has just enough excitement to keep the reader guessing what will come next. What I enjoyed was that the story was fresh and not a bit predictable. There were several twists and turns, with just enough action to keep me reading.

Love in Translation plays on the theme of a movie by a similar name. It is a book for all ages, and is an appropriate read for teens and adults alike. I’d recommend this book to anyone who wants a good read about a family secret, and a girl determined to find her place in the world no matter the cost.

Please visit Wendy Nelson Tokunaga’s website for more information about her and her books.

Poppy graduated with a JD from the Michael Moritz College of Law. She worked in several NYC law departments before realizing she’d rather be teaching. After a decade of teaching Business Studies courses, she decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, managing client content from comedy to marketing, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.

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Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas

[ 0 ] November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I know most of us will be loosening up our belts on Thursday and getting our fill of delicious turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casseroles and whatever else our families prepare for Thanksgiving. Here are 10 equally delicious lunch ideas to offset the “damage” of the Thanksgiving feast. These recipes were taken from Eat Your Way To Happiness by Elizabeth Somer, which we reviewed here.

10 Day’s Worth of Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas


1. Wrap It: Fill a Mission Life Balance flour tortilla with 2 ounces of turkey breast meat, 1⁄2 cup shredded romaine lettuce, 2 tablespoons grated carrot and 1 tablespoon low-fat Caesar salad dressing. Serve with a glass of 1% milk and a piece of fruit.

2. Salad Fixings: Top 3 cups of baby spinach and/or romaine lettuce with 1⁄2 cup berries, 1 tablespoon pecans, 1⁄2 cup broccoli florets, 1⁄3 cup kidney or black beans and 2 tablespoons low-fat dressing. Serve with 100% whole-grain bread and a slice of low-fat cheese.

3. Pocket It: Fill a 100% whole-wheat pita with 1⁄2 cup black beans, 1⁄4 cup grated carrot, 1⁄4 cup chopped cucumber, 1⁄4 cup diced red peppers and 2 tablespoons light Italian salad dressing. Serve with Rachel’s yogurt and a glass of 100% juice.

4. Burgerville: Top a 100% whole-wheat burger bun with a vegetarian burger, 2 tablespoons low-fat crumbled feta cheese, 1⁄3 cup baby spinach leaves, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Serve with a piece of fruit and a glass of 1% milk.

5. Chicken of the Sea Sandwich: Top 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread with 2 large romaine lettuce leaves and a mixture of 2 ounces drained, water-packed tuna, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon fat-free mayo and 1⁄4 cup diced celery. Serve with a side salad or piece of fruit and a glass of soy milk.

6. Take-out Desperado: If you must go, then order a kid’s cheeseburger, a side salad with fat-free dressing and apple dippers, or Wendy’s Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich (hold the mayo), a carton of low-fat milk and a Mandarin Orange cup.

7. Soup ’n’ Sandwich: Have a bowl of Campbell’s Healthy Request Savory Chicken and Long Grain Rice soup and add extra frozen vegetables. Serve with fresh fruit and a grilled cheese sandwich made with 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese and cooking spray instead of butter or oil.

8. Veggie Broil: Cut in half and toast a 100% whole-grain English muffin. On one side, put 2 tablespoons mashed avocado, 1⁄4 cup alfalfa sprouts, 1 thin slice red onion, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds and 2 teaspoons low-fat ranch dressing, and top with 1 ounce grated, low-fat cheddar cheese. Place under broiler and heat until cheese bubbles. Remove and add other side of muffin to form a sandwich. Serve with tomato juice and a side salad or fruit.

9. Campfire Crunch Sandwich: Mix 2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese with a dash of lemon juice, lemon peel, 2 tablespoons dried tart cherries, 1⁄4 cup grated carrot and 3 tablespoons trail mix. Pile onto a slice of 100% whole-grain bread, spread evenly and top with second piece of bread to form a sandwich. Serve with 1% milk and a piece of fruit or a salad.

10. Bagel Sandwich and Slaw: Spread 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard on half a 100% whole-wheat bagel; layer red onion, cucumber, red pepper slices, spinach leaves and low-fat cheese; and top with the other half of the bagel. Serve with broccoli slaw made with broccoli-coleslaw mix, low-fat coleslaw dressing and dried cranberries.

The above is an excerpt from the book Eat Your Way To Happiness by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way To Happiness

Author Bio

Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way To Happiness, is a registered dietitian and author of several books, including 10 Habits That Mess Up a Womans Diet, Food & Mood and Age-Proof Your Body. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of Shape magazine and editor in chief of Nutrition Alert, a newsletter that summarizes the current research from more than 6,000 journals. She appears frequently on NBC’s Today and other national television shows.

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"Eat Your Way To Happiness" by Elizabeth Somer

[ 0 ] November 22, 2009

Reviewed by Carly L.

Elizabeth Somer is an expert on the effects food has on our bodies and minds. She’s written numerous books on the subject, including Age-Proof Your Body, 10 Habits That Mess Up a Womans Diet, and the popular Food & Mood. I was excited about her newest book, Eat Your Way To Happiness, but I couldn’t help but wonder what else this author possibly had to say on the subject…

Happily, Somer’s newest book did not disappoint. The chapters are divided into diet “secrets” and each secret provides guidelines for living a healthier life by making the connection between changing your behavior and creating positive change in the way you feel throughout the day. The recommendations are easy to understand and flexible enough to be adapted and effective for any lifestyle.

One of the best features of the book is the variety of personal stories and experiences that the author has scattered throughout the book. In each chapter, the reader hears the voices of people who have been there and made the changes themselves. The stories talk about frustration, issues in confidence, the outside pressures of balancing a healthy lifestyle with demands from work and family – all obstacles that any chronic dieter has become deeply familiar with. It is simply impossible not to feel hopeful and inspired when reading that someone else made a few changes and dramatically changed their life.

As someone who has experienced the frustrations of finding a healthier lifestyle, I’m constantly on the lookout for a fresh, yet simple, approach. After reading this book, I’m armed with all sorts of tools and ideas to make positive changes in my life and I’m feeling better already. I’d strongly recommend this book to anyone whose looking for a big push to get them started or just some helpful hints about raising their quality of life. In the vast sea of diet and fitness guides, this book is a winner!

Carly lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their two cats. Her favorite thing to do is to curl up by a window with a library book. When she isn’t reading, she’s usually writing on her blog at www.beingcarly.com.

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"Cleopatra’s Daughter" by Michelle Moran

[ 1 ] November 17, 2009

Reviewed by Vera (Luxury Reading)

30 BC: Kleopatra’s and Marc Anthony’s forces are crushed by approaching army of Octavian. Hearing rumors that Kleopatra is dead, Marc Anthony commits suicide. And as Caesar’s troops rush towards Alexandria, Kleopatra and her children – twins Kleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios, and young Ptolemy – await their uncertain destiny in the mausoleum.

Tricking Kleopatra into taking her own life, Octavian shows some compassion for the young orphans (having already killed their two older brothers), and brings them along on the voyage back to Rome. Only Selene and Alexander survive the trip and are given over to Marc Anthony’s second wife and Octavian’s sister, Octavia, to be raised alongside her children.

Despite being betrayed by Marc Anthony, who left her for Kleopatra, Octavia becomes a motherly figure in the twins’ lives and their staunch supporter. Attractive and intelligent, Selene and Alexander are treated with deference and awarded the same privileges as other children of royalty. However, their position in Rome is uncertain and Selene wonders what will become of them once they come of age and are no longer useful, or deemed a threat to Caesar. Will they be married off as prizes to an old man and an aging widow, or be eliminated at a wave of Octavian’s finger?

Narrated by Selene, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating look into the world of Roman intrigue, and the lives of children who walk the line between being guests and prisoners of Octavian. With the exception of a few secondary characters, the people and events are rooted in actual Roman history, and Michelle Moran does a superb job of re-creating this once-great empire. (I watched a History Channel special on ancient Rome after reading Cleopatra’s Daughter, and found myself already familiar with the various sites mentioned heavily throughout the book) Moran’s writing is fluid and compelling, and she easily crosses the line between young adult and adult historical fiction. Cleopatra’s Daughter is part a historical account, part a love story, and part a book you will not be able to put down.

Visit the website of Cleopatra’s Daughter for a trailer of the book.

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"The Last Will of Moira Leahy" by Therese Walsh

[ 0 ] November 13, 2009

Reviewed by Sophia C.

Therese Walsh’s debut novel The Last Will of Moira Leahy is a poignant tale of family bonds, self-discovery, forgiveness, and international intrigue. The title character grows up in the shadow of her identical twin Maeve in the coastal Maine town of Castine, but is gone when we meet Maeve nine years later. She lives an inhibited workaholic life as a young professor of languages in a small university town, estranged from her family and her considerable talent as a saxophone player. Maeve’s present and the twins’ shared past are interspersed, fueling a deep curiosity for the reader to find out what exactly is the defining event by which Maeve labels life as Before and After.

A whim brings Maeve in possession of a keris, a Javanese dagger. The dagger soon draws both mysterious attention in the form of books and notes nailed to her office door, and a rise in nightmares, visions, and music haunting Maeve’s consciousness. During winter break, Maeve decides to follow the leads to Rome in order to discover the draw of the keris, and is joined by her best friend/love interest Noel in the Eternal City.

As the timelines draw closer together, one realizes that Maeve has reached a breaking point in her life: things simply cannot go on as they have. However, since she is so entrenched in her present circumstances, the transformation starts and stutters as one expects. This journey endeared me to Maeve who is struggling with grief, although it might be frustrating to witness her jagged progress as she sheds her inhibitions towards the past, Noel, and living fully.

Similarly, Moira’s adolescent vulnerabilities are beautifully and realistically portrayed, so one cringes when anticipating what might have traumatized this family–but it’s not exactly what you think. Although there are some extraneous plot lines and some underdeveloped points, Walsh keeps the reader engaged in a well structured story which crescendos to a powerful and satisfying close. Moira Leahy –and Maeve– stay with you after the last page, which is perhaps as the title implies.

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Blog Tour and Giveaway: "White Picket Fences" by Susan Meissner

[ 0 ] November 9, 2009

Reviewed by Amanda S.

In White Picket Fences, Neil and Amanda Janvier feel obligated to take in the daughter of Amanda’s estranged brother. Tally was staying with her grandmother when she passed away suddenly, and Tally finds herself with nowhere to go since her dad is out of the country and hasn’t contacted her. What will it be like living with her Aunt Amanda? Will they force her to tell why her dad went to Europe, a secret she promised to keep?

Do I want to know the truth of what happened all those years ago? If I find out the truth, how will it change me? These are the questions that Chase Janvier is asking himself regarding an incident that happened when he was four years old. Not knowing what to do, Chase keeps his secret to himself. That is, until Tally shows up at their house. Tally can tell that something isn’t right about Chase after they start working together on a Holocaust project. They interview two Holocaust survivors in a nearby nursing home and Tally notices Chase reacting oddly to certain parts of the story they are being told.

Amanda also begins to notice some pretty dramatic changes in Chase that cause her to wonder if he really does remember what happened all those years ago. But if he remembered, he would tell them, wouldn’t he? Should she ask him about it? What kind of damage would she do if she brings it up and he really doesn’t remember? Clearly, though, something is wrong and Amanda just doesn’t know what to do or which direction to turn.

Will they all be able to handle the truth when all the secrets are revealed?

As always, Susan Meissner does a wonderful job weaving a tale of deception, secrets, and twisted paths. The characters in this story have a serious problem with trust…trust in each other and trust in God, which unnerved me throughout the story. When I first picked up this book, I was intrigued by the cover: a white picket fence with a cobweb near the top. It’s so easy for people to look like they have it all-together on the outside with their pretty houses and white picket fences. But on the inside, all families have secrets and cobwebs hiding from the real world.

I always enjoy reading books my Meissner, and White Picket Fences was no different. Her books always challenge a person to really take a hard look at themselves, deep inside, to discover their true character. She caused me to ask myself how I would handle the truth if some long-ago family secret was revealed to me? Would I let it weigh me down or would I allow it to cause me to grow as a person?

Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband and two boys. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book to read!

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Giveaway
I have an extra copy of White Picket Fences to give away!
For the first entry, comment on this post with your e-mail address, or contact me directly.

Extra Entries (please post each entry separately, i.e. 2 posts for subscribing):

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This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only.
Deadline to enter is midnight on November 27th.

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