A Cancer Experience Turns into a Page-Turner

Title: Getting It Off My Chest, A Journey Through Breast Cancer
Author: Sandra Fikus
Author's website: www.sandrafikuswrites.com
Genre: Autobiography/Health
ISBN: 9781456885052
Reviewer: Matt Joseph
Link: matt@josephlaw.com

Originally reviewed by Matt Joseph at Amazon. Rating: 4.0

You're cruising through life young and healthy, managing a busy and complex family, you have a career, children, are a success and you have a great future. Out of the blue one morning, "I brushed my hand across my chest and felt a lump."

Thus begins the engaging book "Getting It Off My Chest," a past-paced
chronicle of one Canadian woman's experience with Stage II breast cancer and its lingering aftermath. Sandra Fikus lives in Vancouver, B.C., and
seemingly has it all. She has no family history of breast cancer. She's done
all the right things and she's made all the right choices.

Then, discovery of a lump in her breast one day after Christmas in 2007
upends her life forever.

"Getting It Off My Chest" is presented in a diary format. Day-by-day, week
in and week out, the author describes, in often humorous and earthy
language, her immediate shock at first, her formal diagnosis, the vast
support system she depends on, the grinding treatments and her subsequent
healing. While there is perhaps more than we care to know about her family's internal dynamics, we learn much about the biology of cancer. Fikus is deeply grateful for her doctors, but the reader watches her dissatisfaction
with the traditional medical profession grow stronger with each passing day.


As the author recounts her story, there are interesting and important
detours along the way. We learn about nutrition, wellness, spirituality, and
yoga. We come to value second chances, and how surviving a serious illness
allows one to reevaluate the way they live and care for themselves. Fikus
raises many important questions about cancer. The answers to her questions
are beyond the scope of this book - or any book, really.

This was one of those rare reads I simply couldn't put down. A slim 165
pages, I finished "Getting It Off My Chest" during a single cross country
flight. My own family has been devastated by cancer and I could strongly
relate to this story. Fikus's testimony should be read by men as much as by
women. Hers is the voice of our mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, aunts,
nieces, cousins and friends. Through the gritty challenges of one breast
cancer patient and survivor, we can perhaps better understand how the women battling cancer in our own lives are doing - what they may be thinking, feeling, and how they are coping.

~Review Matthew Joseph is a lawyer living in San Mateo, CA.  Learn more about him at www.josephlaw.com
-----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Literary Novel is Sci-Fi, Too

Twin-Bred

Karen A. Wyle

Author's Web site: www.karenawyle.net

Genre: Fiction: Science Fiction

ISBN: 978-1463578916 on CreateSpace,

E-book 978-1-4661-7456-6 on Smashwords

Amazon ASIN of B005VDVHQ2.

Reviewed by R. Lee Holz, originally for Amazon

Twin-Bred is one of the best science fiction novels I've read in decades. It is literary fiction as well as S-F. While the author mentions (and thus pays homage to) Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land and Rebirth, John Wyndham's 1955 classic, Twin-Bred is anything but derivative. To the contrary, it is one of the most original stories I've ever read, not an easy thing given the countless variations on human/alien encounters and relations already published. In addition, the book is beautifully written and riveting. The complex, flawlessly structured, plot evolves logically, but continues to surprise to the very end. There is appropriate dramatic tension throughout. Highly recommended for lovers of both cerebral S-F and literary fiction.

Learn more about the author at www.facebook.com/KarenAWyle.

 -----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Help Yourself with the Swiss Cheese Theory of Life

The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life:

Subtitle: How To Get Through Life's Holes Without Getting Stuck In Them!
Genre: Nonfiction: Psychology/personal devlopment/self-help

     

 

Each of us has the ability to find within ourself the seeds of resilience to overcome obstacles, rise to life challenges, and convert failures into success. But just how do we do that? The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life: How to Get Through Life’s Holes Without Getting Stuck In Them! (PESI, ISBN 0982039891, Softcover $19.99, Self-Help, 247 pp.) will show you how. With both authors having over 30 years each of counseling and wellness speaking experience, this book unlocks loads of practical tips and tools for a happier life.

Using the analogy of Swiss cheese as a metaphor for life itself, this “user-friendly” self-help book serves up practical tips to its readers, using case examples, self-tests, inspirational quotes, mini-lessons, and current psychological research packaged in digestible “bites.” Psychological lessons are distilled and she crystallizes findings from many prominent experts in the self- help field.

The underlying analogy of this whimsical yet informative book is based on the concept that life is not smooth and predictable like American or Cream Cheese. Life has holes, and it’s how you get through them that counts! Instead of wishing the holes away in our lives, the book’s ten self-help slices show readers how to get through life’s pitfalls without getting stuck in them! In fact, it is the holes in our lives that give us character and make our life rich in meaning, just as the larger the holes in the Swiss, the sweeter the taste of the cheese. Thus, we need holes in our lives to become who we are, and this book shows us the way to navigate them successfully!

This book makes an ideal book club book for women who enjoy self development and sharing with other women about issues that are important to them.

Empowering people to transform negativity into optimism and turning obstacles into opportunities for growth underlie the books mission. On the Swiss Cheese Theory web site we pose The Swiss Cheese Challenge to our viewers:

-Are you trying to make changes in your life, yet you find yourself digging deeper into a hole?

-Do you know better but can t seem to get out from under your unhealthy patterns or habits?

-Do you often have why does this happen to me thinking?

-Are you looking for happiness in all the wrong places?

-Are you ready to make healthy changes in your life ... physically, emotionally, spiritually?

If you answered yes to any of these questions help is here!

And whatever you do, don’t forget to “SMILE AND SAY CHEESE!”

Below are what some of the expert reviewers say:

An engagingly fun 'cookbook' of recipes for self-discovery. Tips, tests, tool-kits, and clever insights make for a practical handbook for harnessing your emotions and fulfilling your life-goals. --Neal Roese, Ph.D., Northwestern University, author of If Only: How To Turn Regret Into Opportunity

This book shows you how to take complete control of your thoughts and emotions, and live a wonderful life! --Brian Tracy, International Motivational Speaker and author of No Excuses! The Power of Self-Discipline

We often struggle to make sense of the bad hand that life sometimes deals us. The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life offers a simple, refreshing approach to helping us reshuffle the deck' and tap into that inner resilience that we need to achieve a more fruitful existence. --Frank M. Dattilio, Ph.D., ABPP, Harvard Medical School, author and editor of 18 professional books

"Even if you are lactose intolerant 'The Swiss Cheese Theory of life', will offer you some really valuable advice to help you get through difficult times and live life in a balanced way." - Sophie Keller, Happiness Expert and Author of 'How Happy is' book series.

“Smart, concise and clever, The Swiss Cheese Theory of Life offers brief therapy for dealing with disappointment, loss and leftovers from a dysfunctional childhood.”
- Jane Adams, Ph.D., Author of Boundary Issues and I’m Still Your Mother

~ Co-Authors Judy Belmont and Lora Shor are both psychotherapists, each with over 30 years of experience. They are professional speakers on issues relating to Resiliency and Wellness, and are both members of the National Speakers Association. They offer wellness presentations and trainings to a variety of corporations, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. They also speak on a variety of wellness topics for organization and association conferences. Visit their web sites at www.theswisscheesetheoryoflife.com or contact them at info@theswisscheesetheoryoflife.com

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Goodreads Reviewer Recommends New Mystery

Willowtree A Bruce DelReno Mystery

by Mike Bove
Author's Web site: http://www.mikebove.weebly.com
Genre: fiction, mystery
ISBN: 9781463720032

Reviewed by Pauline Tilbe, originally for goodreads.com

This was an enjoyable read. Mike Bove's first book, and the story behind the story is almost as good as the book itself.

I'll let you learn the details about Mike on your own, I'm here to review Willowtree.

Set in a small Arizona town, Bruce stumbles upon some bones. I know, you're thinking, dead person from long ago..nope, dead animal bones. It's AFTER he finds the bones that the real mystery starts. Bruce is retired and his wife is working a lot of hours, so he keeps himself busy and his mind sharp by helping the police, sort of..when he's not playing golf or giving gratis golf lessons to his friends.

It's an interesting cast of characters and the story is told by Bruce. It reads just like a narrative conversation you would imagine having over a cup of coffee, if Bruce was telling you the story in person. I don't think you need to know a lot about golf to read this, but if you know anything about golf, you will find this book quite interesting and "get" some of the underlying humor. I can't play golf worth a lick but I still "got" it.

It kept my attention. It's suitable for all adults and young readers also. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing the next Bruce DelReno adventure.

-----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Twenty-Five Heroes for Young Adults

Title: They Stood Alone!: 25 Men and WomenWho Made a Difference

Author: Sandra McLeod Humphrey
Author's Website: http://www.kidscandoit.com
Genre/Category: M-G/YA Nonfiction
ISBN: 9781616144852

Reviewed by Grady Harp, Amazon Top 10 Reviewer

Originally for Amazon. Rating: 5 Stars

 

Hats off to Sandra McLeod Humphrey for synthesizing the lives of famous people in a book that can be enjoyed and stimulate the minds of her intended audience of 9 to 12 year olds. In her introduction she states the reasons for her choices of role models: 'They were people of vision who saw life form a different or a new perspective; they were pioneers of a sort who were willing to question the conventional wisdom of their time; they had the courage to step out away from the crowd and take a risk; they believed in themselves and pursued their dreams i spite of societal opposition; and their revolutionary breakthroughs changed their world and ours.'

What follows is a series of minibiographies of 25 men and women who fill the qualifications Humphrey has established. Each biography begins with a photograph (or other image) of the person, a quote form them, and then the information begins with 'Imagine this:' and what follows is a brief setting of the background of the person presented and a superb brief description of the discovery or change that person made for the world. All of this is offered in a very readable and erudite manner, fit not only for younger readers but for any reader at all!

The people she discusses are Christopher Columbus, Leonardo da Vinci, Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Henry David Thoreau, Harriet Tubman, Clara Barton, Elizabeth Blackwell, Nikola Testa, Booker T. Washington, Marie Curie, Mahatma Gandhi, Orville Wright, Albert Einstein, Amelia Earhart, Margaret Mead, Marian Anderson, Margaret Bourke-White, Rachel Carson, Mother Teresa, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, and Neil Armstrong. And after this excellent survey of just some of the important minds of our history and our time Humphrey address the reader with the challenge to believe in yourself and to overcome obstacles to follow your dream. Included at the end of the book is an excellent bibliography - surely a fine resource for all teachers - and a source of her notes. And as a final gesture she has re-printed the Robert Frost poem 'The Road Not Taken.' This is a terrific book, as strong a 'behavior modification' substitute for aimless youngsters who think they have nothing to offer the world as anything published. Parents may want to borrow this book to refresh their memories about the Heroes lives, too.

-----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Children's Christmas Book in Time for Giving

Santa and the Little Teddy Bear
By Cheri & Peter John Lucking
Fiction: Children's/Holiday 

"This is the most beautiful Children's Christmas Book I've seen personally in years!" ~ Stacy Sanders/Sales Manager Borders Books, Colorado
"The artwork is a Magical Kingdom of Vibrant Color, a must see. Original art now
showing at the Kirkland Museum!" ~ Hugh Grant, Director/Curator Kirkland Museum

This 2011 Indie Excellence Award Winning book is intended to be brought out at Christmas time year after year; creating a holiday tradition. Sing carols, each chapter is a bedtime story, delight in the incredible artwork. Peter, the Indie Excellence award winning author and illustrator, has personally experienced each place in the book, (except the North Pole of course). Yes there is even a place called "Last Banana", where the author actually lived as a child. The story leads us through a magical kingdom of color. Carols and traditions are interwoven into Santa and Bilbo's adventure, revealing the meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.

Teachers will enjoy this book in the classroom. The book contains many opportunities to read, sing and interact with kids. Santa and Bilbo travel the world visiting strange and wonderful places on Christmas night. This book is an excellent tool for building vocabulary, the author is a wordsmith. If you love the English language and the spirit of Christmas this is a book that all the class and teachers will enjoy.

Peter's wife Cheri is an inspiration for his writing, painting and illustrating. Together, their wish is to touch the lives of many children through their generous donations from the proceeds of sales from this book.http://youtu.be/dcqvOOe7tSQ

~Submitted by Denise Cassino, publicist and book marketing specialist:
skype: denise.cassino
www.wizardlywebdesigns.com
www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
Follow me on Twitter @DeniseCassino
Friend me on Facebook Denise.Cassino

-----

The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Geri Spieler Calls Self-Help a "Surprisingly Important Book"

Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude, and Attitude for a Polite Planet
Publisher: Skylight Paths
Author: Sarah Hacala
Author's Web site: www.savingcivility.com

Self-help/Personal growth

ISBN: 978-1-59473-314-7

Reviewed Geri Spieler originally for the New York Journal of Books

When did civility become old fashioned, irrelevant, and archaic? Why are good manners considered unnecessary for survival in today’s social milieu?
As a society, being polite to one another was considered good form, sophisticated, even elegant. Yet, somewhere in the 1960s evolved a pushback to what was considered oppressive by the establishment; it equated etiquette with tyranny. It became fashionable to use bad language, disregard another’s sensibilities, and brandish blatant disgust for anything civil.
 
Oh, to enjoy a civil discourse once again.

The notion that civility, politeness, and consideration for another’s comfort were disingenuous swept the nation at a time when values were under scrutiny and our nation was at war with itself. The Free Speech Movement, the Vietnam War, and a U.S. president, Richard Nixon, who resigned from office—all took their toll on society. The populace was angry and so went anything “establishment,” including polite, thoughtful, and generous treatment of others.

Yet the presence of civility can tame even the angriest of individuals. When baited with enraged behavior, a calm and courteous response defuses—at some level—the continuation of an inflamed engagement.

So it is that Sara Hacala’s timely book, Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude and Attitude for a Polite Planet, is timely—more necessary now than ever.
This is not a how-to book by any means. It is an easy, well constructed series of chapters dealing with a range of considerations adoptable that apply to our everyday interactions with one another.

Civility is so much more than good manners. Civility allows people to engage in meaningful dialogue, honesty with oneself, and delving into tough subjects with others (think: religion, politics)—all while paying attention to the little things in life that matter.

Who would have thought that simple civility could make such a difference? Moreover, civility can reduce blood pressure and headaches and improve interpersonal relationships—including marriage.

The simple acts of being polite, paying attention to each other’s comfort, and waiting for someone to finish a sentence before jumping into the middle of a conversation actually smooth out the rough edges of day-to-day distress.
On the smallest of actions—that of saying “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me”—Ms. Hacala highlights the difference in how everyday behaviors can reach far further than just the person to whom they are addressed: sort of a pay-it-forward theory of good manners and their effects.

Considerate, polite behavior replicates itself from one recipient to another. The same happens in reverse in terms of rude and inconsiderate actions—plus, rudeness begets resentment in addition to aggressive or otherwise uncomfortable responses. Ms. Hacala makes the point by saying, “In failing to acknowledge an act of generosity with simple gratitude, we are not only telling people that we take them for granted, but also that they mean nothing to us.”

This simple act of paying attention to everyday kindness—or everyday disregard—is not inconsequential. A skill that makes a big difference in the success or failure of negotiation is paying attention to others’ behavior—and acting accordingly.

Journalist Diane Sawyer said, “I think the one lesson I have learned is that there is no substitute for paying attention.”

Ms. Hacala encourages readers to “elevate their social antenna, which, like radar, picks up on the social cues of others.” Sometimes what is not being said is more important than the words spoken aloud.

At the same time, while encouraging listening to others, she logically reaches the conclusion that it is easier to just be nice than otherwise. Niceness has fallen victim to same fate as civility. Niceness is catching, asserts the author, and it makes life so much more pleasant. Nor does it take a lot of effort.

Being nice can pay off in unexpected ways, according to Ms. Hacala. Being nice to everyone encountered at the office could ostensibly result in positive comments to those who can make a difference to your status in the workplace. Treating everyone with the same level of pleasant behavior can turn a bad day around for all the employees. Yes, a smile can make a difference.

Common misconceptions of etiquette are that it is reserved for special occasions or phony behavior by elders. In fact, the definition of etiquette is about “rules that make social interactions and events flow more smoothly,” according to Ms. Hacala.

There are rules of etiquette all around us. In sports, there are rules on the golf course, on the tennis court, or in a yoga studio. There is accepted behavior at weddings, in movie theaters, and at the workplace. Yet most people don’t consider behaviors that occur in these venues—especially those related to sports—as rules of etiquette.

A contributing factor to the decline of civility can be blamed on the anonymity of the Internet. Writers can spew vulgarities and hate from a safe place behind a computer with no threat of personal retaliation. Such isolation contributes to intolerance in the real world.

Unfortunately, those who participate in such behavior are deaf to the call for a civil society.

Ms. Hacala makes an impressive case that civility is a lot more than just good table manners. She covers a wide expanse of topics beyond what most would consider in the realm of rudeness.

Her perspective takes into account paying attention to a tone of voice, being more patient, being less judgmental, liberally using forgiveness, and finally, celebrating life.

This is a surprisingly important book. The call to action to pay attention to how we treat one another should be required reading for our society. It is a reminder that it is so easy to just step back and behave properly and act considerately in a world that has disregarded the simple things—things that make our personal interactions so much more pleasant.

~Reviewer Geri Spieler is the award-winning author of Taking Aim at the President: The Remarkable Story of the Woman Who Shot at Gerald Ford (Palgrave Macmillan, 2009). She is also a member of the National Books Critics Circle.

Blurb:

"This is a surprisingly important book. The call to action should be required reading for everyone in society." ~ Geri Spieler

 

-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :