4 comments about Cellars of Marcelcave: A Yank Doctor in the BEF.

1. Gallagher was a freshly minted physician when he volunteered for the British Army ahead of the American mobilization for World War One. Fortunately for us his narrative skills matched his surgical abilities.
   He was attached to the Gloucesters in the Somme sector, and, despite his misgivings, quickly became an effective battle surgeon. His remarkable adventures, his relations with the English (for whom he had no great love), and, especially, his descriptions of Great War surgical practices make for fascinating reading.
   The experienced military history reader may notice a few historical inaccuracies, (the U.S. 11th Engineers were not from the Missouri National Guard; Gallagher's decoration was the Military Cross, not the Military Medal, a different award), but these don't detract seriously from the immediacy and impact of one of the best memoirs by an American serving with the British Army.

   (The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)




2. dr gallagher's second book reflects a remarkable talent as a story-teller. In Cellars, he makes the reader feel like a member of the family as he relates the tale of his grandfather's experiences in World War I. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to his next story.



3. Gallagher's memoir is a combination of clinical observation and vivid prose which provides one with a unique view into the March 1918 Offensive which should become a classic of that nearly forgotten generation. His detail and imagery are phoenominal. Factual in the extreme, his reference to the obscure 12th. U.S. Engineers of Missouri railroad men only serves to enhance the credibility of his experience. I have not, yet, seen a medical memoir of any war to compare. We are fortunate that this account has been published rather than lost in the archives of some facility.



4. Dr. Ben Gallagher's account of WWI is one of the most compelling books I have ever had the pleasure to read. Between his medical background, self-reflection and observation this is perhaps one of the most complete views of war and humanity ever committed to paper.

   Inbetween his own story, Dr. Gallagher also relates the stories of the people around him, including one of the most remarkable escapes from a POW Camp I have ever heard. He also includes the stories of his patients whose courage is both humbling and inspirational.

   I am grateful that this account was published and I am only too sorry that more readers have not found this hidden treasure. Don't miss out. This is one of the best personal accounts you will ever find!

1 comments about The Tears and Laughter of a Physician.

1. Dr. Anthony Sterling's short story autobiography brings you directly to the center of trauma and the surrealism of being a New York City orthopaedic surgeon...In the face of insurmountable tragedy, Dr. Sterling's compassionate personality and hopefulness are profoundly interwoven throughout his professional and personal endeavors. Written with intense passion, Dr. Sterling literally brings you to the brink of tears and leaves you feeling at times melancholy yet genuinely hopeful... You will want to read this again and again for personal inspiration!

No comments about Every Second Counts: The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart.

No comments about You Don't Have to Be Your Mother.

5 comments about The Healing.

1. In this fast-paced, high-tech day and age, a terminal diagnosis for a loved one can bring "the world" to a screeching halt. Perspectives change. Time and disease become antagonists. Where can one turn for help...for hope? Twenty-six years ago Gloria and Joe Stargel faced this situation. Joe's surgeon told them that "medically speaking, nothing can be done for Joe." A rare and deadly cancer had its grip on his body. THE HEALING tells of the Stargels' journey in Faith. The surgeon and oncologist only provided a protocol that might give Joe a bit more time, but no cure. So Gloria turned to the Divine Physician. God answered her prayers. Gloria has written a beautiful, sensitive account of the most difficult time in her life. She has sprinkled poetry and inspirational quotes throughout her story. She has demonstrated her deep faith...without being "preachy". I recommend THE HEALING to anyone who seeks a "Second Opinion", to anyone who seeks reassurance that God still heals today.



2. Cancer has affected nearly every family in some way, including mine. What you need when the doctor says cancer is a friend who has gone through it. Someone who can offer hope. The Healing is the story of Gloria Stargel's cancer journey and how she found hope for her husband (the cancer victim) and herself.

   But it was a pilgrimage full of denial, defeat, and anger. Gloria's book reads like a diary of these emotions. Emotions experienced by everyone touched by cancer. At one point she wrote, "I felt as though we lived in a phantom `world between'---that we had been sentenced to a world inhabited only by those not fully alive and not fully dead."

   Yet interspersed with the despair, it is obvious that God began ministering to her...almost without her realizing it at first. Tidbits of scripture and other quotes throughout the book show the roller coaster she was riding, and the hope offered at every turn. When Gloria surrendered their situation and herself to God, an internal healing began that was no less miraculous than the physical healing experienced by her husband.

   If cancer is a part of your life, especially in the here-and-now, you need to read The Healing. You'll feel that you have a friend, someone who's been this way, holding your hand. And like Gloria, you'll know that whatever may come, there is one Hand that will never let you go.




3. This wonderful book is an inspiration to those faced with this challenge and also helps others to relate better to those who are. We are pleased to have Gloria's work under consideration for our book-in-progress, Chicken Soup for the Volunteer's Soul.



4. The Healing is an inspiration for anyone who has experienced a family illness and needs to find hope and faith for the future. The family photos create a feeling of friendship and closeness that adds to the uniqueness of this book. Ms. Stargel's journey of faith and trust can help all of us to prepare for such a jouney now and in the future.



5. Gloria Stargel's "The Healing" is as much needed now as it was when she first wrote it some years ago. Anyone facing the agony of cancer will find encouragement in reading it. Even better, anyone having to stand by while a loved one is suffering with life-changing circumstances will easiy find a friend in Gloria as she walks alongside her husband. And best of all, "The Healing" will turn the reader to the source of all peace, encouragement and ultimate healing, the Lord Himself. Highly recommended.

5 comments about Into the Green: A Reconnaissance by Fire.

1. Into the Green by Cherokee Paul McDonald is a great book. Into the Green is filled with action, suspense,and interesting clues as to what a soldiers life is like. This book is perfect for males like myself who require some action, and lude humor to keep them tied to a book. Not only does the book portray an accurate picture of what soldiers experienced during the Vietnam war,it also does so in a way that will make you feel as if you were there. McDonald's short, yet deep chapters are filled with emotions like fear, and anger, which are hard to find by simply reading a book, but he pulls it off. McDonald uses impressive imagery when describing the lush jungles of Vietnam. Cherokee Paul McDonald's struggle through the jungles of Vietnam is a rough awakening to the effect war has on a soldier. Overall this a very well written, interesting novel which will keep you hooked the whole way. I highly reccomend this book whether you are an avid war reader, or have never read a book about war.



2. It seems the book was written in haste?. Two instances of this that easily come to mind are these: On the back flap (as well as in the editorial reviews here) it states that the author spent three years as an FO in Vietnam. According to the author (in the book)he spent three years in the Army and 11 months as an FO in Vietnam.

   Secondly, In the last story he talks about his friend that was killed in 1969 and reflecting on their youth at the funeral that they were both only 19. But in the beginning of the book he says he joined the service one year out of high school in 1966 and did three years. The numbers don't match.

   Things like this along with every poular cliche associated with the Vietnam experience being included in the book lead me to believe that this book is perhaps a non-fiction intertwined with a creatively abstract writers flare.

   It leaves you quite unable to take it to heart.




3. I'm not sure what the reviewer 'sctty' read, but it wasn't this book. The back flap says McDonald spent time in Vietnam, but doesn't say how long, and in the last story no where does it say his buddy was killed in '69. Also, I think 'sctty' missed the inference. When McDonald made the comment in the end that he and his buddy were 19, I believe he meant that's how old they were when they joined up, which would make sense, being one year out of high school. But enough on that.
   Read this book. Taste it, feel it, hear it. It is not, as has been said, a typical chronological history of a soldiers time in combat. But it is a collection of the thoughts, images, feelings he was left with. As one other reviewer said, you don't turn through most of these stories. McDonald very effectively writes in such a way that you are left trying to catch your breath, either from sheer anger, sorrow, or laughter. It's a rollercoaster of emotions that is sure to please. I know I've enjoyed it quite a bit.
   A heartfelt thanks to McDonald and all the other military veterans past and present who have served this great country. We owe them more than we can ever possibly hope to repay.



4. War is war. The one difference between one war and the next are the people that are involved in them. The experiences during any one war are going to be largely the same, because they involve the same boundries, but that should in no way diminish the individual efforts and experiences of any one man who lives through a war. What Cherokee does in this book is remind us of the sobering realities of war (something the news media and Hollywood have done a good job of desensitizing us to), by digging deeply and passionately into his personal well of memories and experiences of his war. If you want to better understand the trials and tribulations that all men and women who engage in war endure, then I suggest reading this book, and coming to a better understanding of war.



5. This short read was truly worth the time. I finally found a book that didn't make me feel guilty about our involvement in Vietnam. The reality of war was quite evident in the author's retelling of his experiences in the Vietnam War. He did not hesitate to describe the tragedy and horror, but was equally proud and unapologetic for his role in a cause he thought worthwhile and winnable if not for certain dishonorable types such as reporters (and politicians).

5 comments about Remind Me Who I Am, Again.

1. I listened to Linda Grant on National Public Radio, Fresh Air program yesterday. Very interesting and moving.

   I can relate to it as my father went thru a similar decline over a 3 year period. He suffered from TIA "mini-strokes" that slowly diminish selected brain capabilities, many times without the victim's or family's knowledge. Linda relates a similar experience. It's frustrating in not ever really knowing what is going on inside his ticker when you speak. It's frustrating to know that each person loses different capabilities at different times. It drags you down, with everything seeming so one-sided. It's frustrating that modern medicine is essentially powerless to stop this degeneration, with no effective tools or strategy.

   Linda is much more articulate than I could be in describing the same experience I went through.

   If it does nothing more, it gives those of us a comparative basis by which to judge our own decisions in similar circumstances.

   For those who have been thru this, it gives us someone to relate to. For those who have not, it prepares you. As a boomer, I've finally graduated to what I call 'adulthood': where we are sandwiched between two generations who both depend upon us. Calling the experience overwhelming only begins to describe it.

   Worth the read.




2. If you've ever had a relative or loved one slip away into dementia, this book will strike home. And if you've had a friend going through this experience, this book will help you to understand what they are going through. This book, like the experience of living with dementia, is at times funny, at times tearful. It's an honest picture of what it's like to be with someone who is rapidly losing who they were.



3. I bought this book after hearing the NPR interview with the author, because a close friend was coping with a similar situation (mother slipping into dementia, angry outbursts, fighting to get out of nursing home). This book is a fascinating portrait of the author's parents, their good points and bad. Very readable. I didn't want to put it down.



4. Linda Grant, a feature writer for the Guardian [UK], has written a memoir about memory, focusing both on the loss of her family's history as the older generations die off and the deterioration of her mother's mind due to Multi-Infarct Dementia [MID], which stifles short-term memory and gradually scrambles older recollections. The book is also a intensely personal struggle against the guilt and helplessness one feels when making the necessary decision to commit a loved one to an institution.
   
   Grant is descended from Jewish immigrants who arrived from Russian and Poland and settled in Britain and America before the Second World War. (Many of her family's relatives who remained behind were, of course, killed by the Nazis.) A somewhat rebellious daughter during the heady and reckless Sixties, she soon realizes that all those stories that used to bore her as a child will soon be lost forever: "My mother, the last of her generation, was losing her memory," she mourns. "In a hundred years there will no one left alive who remembers her, who can tell you who she was.... Without the past we're nothing, we belong to nobody." All that remain are a few scattered photographs and letters lacking any basic context and the occasional recollection that her mother summons up out of the blue and whose authenticity Grant can no longer verify.
   
   The second aspect of the book is the most moving--and the most laudable. Grant recounts the frustrations and the episodes that led her and her sister to intercede and commit their mother to a care center, and she describes the legal and bureaucratic obstacles that nearly prevented them from making this step. What makes this decision particularly difficult--and, to some strangers, hardhearted--is that her mother is capable of periods of perfect lucidity and social grace. Grant describes how, while her mother's domestic conditions and intellectual capacity deteriorated to the point where she became a danger to herself, she retained an acute awareness of how she appeared to others as well as "the basest, most acquisitive part of ourselves"--the urge to go shopping: "So we shop together, outside time, mother and daughter united each in our own purposeful quest to do what we have always done, and which to her goes on making sense."
   
   What keeps this book from surrendering to guilt and self-pity is Grant's admirable sense of humor--some of her sketches are heart-achingly funny--as well as the research that lends its framework an aura of objectivity. "Remind Me Who I Am, Again" certainly provides comfort and advice to relatives of those with aging family members, but it is also a valuable read to anyone who cares about individual memory and family history.



5. I thought this was a thoughtful, touching memoir written by a daughter about her Mother. I wish she would have written more about the two of them.

No comments about Alphabet Blessings: Conceiving with In Vitro Fertilization.

No comments about The Diary of Thomas Giordani Wright, Newcastle Doctor, 1826-1829 (Publications of the Surtees Society).

5 comments about Last Wish.

1. Breast cancer survivor and journalist Betty Rollin, who wrote the classic First ,You Cry, has written another classic here, the story of her mother's failing battle with ovarian cancer and the suicide that Rollin and her husband, Ed, helped her mother, at her mother's insistence, to implement. I don't greatly approve of the suicide alternative nor of stories that, by making it sound so feasible, give encouragement in this direction. Not that I think God does such a great job of carrying people off; who would need suicide if that were the case? The problem is rather that the delicate boundary between personal choice and a choice brought on by social pressure gets breached as soon as a cultural movement toward the suicide option starts taking shape in the public mind. Indeed Rollin's book, whether she likes it or not, adds one more little increment to the assisted suicide ambience, an ambience that every family facing a situation becomes aware of. This being said, Rollin's mother's choice was so clearly her own and Rollin's book is so elegantly and perfectly written, without melodramatics and with just the right leavening of humor, that my impulse is to show it to everyone who might have the faintest reason to be interested! Rollin has an impeccable eye for the emotional, the medical and the legal complexities of the situation. In one episode, while she and her mother work out the plan, a chance remark sets off Rollin's tears: "Please, sweetheart, don't be upset," my mother said. "I'm doing what I want to do. I don't feel the least bit sorry for myself. I'm lucky I can get out of this. The people I feel sorry for are all the people who want to and can't. Please, sweetheart." I wiped my face with the back of my hand. "I know what you're saying, Mother, and I agree with you. But you can't expect me not to be upset. I think it's right what you're doing, but - but I love you. How can I not be upset?" She listened quietly when I said that. With some unsteadiness, I got up and blew my nose and came back and sat down. Then we resumed our plotting.

   In another we find the plotter's coming up against the impasse of mother's failing digestive system: "What did you find out?" she asked. "Maybe these," I said, picking up the Dalmane. "How many?" "Probably around fifteen...or more." ...She looked at the bottle again and frowned. "How will I be able to take fifteen pills?" "That's the problem," I said, "But we're gathering other ideas." "What other ideas?" Oh God, I thought, please stop. She sighed and turned her head to the wall. "Maybe you could take me to the roof of this building. I hear it's nice up there." I looked down at my hands. It was getting hard to tell when something was a joke. "Your digestion could improve, Mother. That could happen." She nodded. "So I can't die until I feel better."

   Staying on the safe side, legally, meant making mother's suicide seem unassisted, and this involves Betty and Ed in detailed mental shuffling. Who will discharge the night nurse? Will the next day nurse be able to handle finding her patient dead and will she wonder why no night nurse met her at the door? How to keep a certain relative from calling that night? Who can be found to check in the night and make sure mother has not re-awakened in distress? Etc. Rollin learns, as she puts it, "A new respect for the intelligence of criminals." This book could, in all fairness be used to help families decide against assisted suicide as well as for it. In the end, Rollin's mother recovered sufficient digestive powers to keep her death potient down, and it was her continued mental lucidity and canny social skills - it was she who got the doctor to prescribe, it was she who rescheduled the nurses and fobbed off innocent relatives - that were the key to bringing it off. She ate a bite of food 6 hours before the appointed time; took a Compazine 1 hour before; then at the appointed time, 20 tiny 100 mg tabs of Nembutal, chased by 5 Dalmane. All washed down with soda water. There you go, folks.




2. "Last Wish" is the true story of the author, Betty Rollin's mother, a health concerned and loving woman in her mid seventies. Betty tells the story of her mothers experience with ovarian cancer and her own experience having a mother who is dying. This book shows the hardships of cancer, chemotherepy, and assisted suicide on both the cancer patients and their family and friends. Betty Rollin does a wonderfull job telling her story with great emotion and truth. I recommend this book to anyone close to someone who is a cancer patient, cancer patients, and anyone interested in or researching cancer.



3. "Last Wish" is the true story of the author, Betty Rollin's mother, a health concerned and loving woman in her mid seventies. Betty tells the story of her mothers experience after being diagnosed with ovarian cander and her own experience being related to someone with cancer. This book shoes the hardships of cancer, chemotherepy, and assisted suicide on both the cancer patients and their friends and familys. Betty Rollin does a wonderfull job telling her story with great emotion and truth. I recommend this to anyone suffering with cancer, being close to someone with cancer, interested in or researching cancer.



4. Betty's first book, First You Cry, tells of her own battle with breast cancer. This one tells of her mother's battle with ovarian cancer.
   
   As any daughter would want to do for her mother, this book plays a magnificent, loving tribute to a dying woman. However, I just could not get into the book. Maybe it was because I, too, have cancer (breast cancer,) but this book to me was depressing, long-winded and did not hold my interest. It was a chore to flip each page. The story could have been told in a few chapters. While the events are, without doubt, signicant to the family, they were rather predictable and uneventful to the reader. I respect the author's compassion for her dying mother, but the book did not stand out as a literary work of art.



5. This is a beautifully written, affectionate portrait of a much-loved mother, by her adoring daughter. Part biography, part memoir, part autobiography, Betty writes with candor about her relationship with her mother and about her mother's battle with ovarian cancer. We should all be so lucky as to have someone who makes sure we get our last wish. Bravo to Betty and Ed.