3 comments about When the Phone Rings, My Bed Shakes.

1. Excellent autobiography & well worth reading. I should explain here that I prefer biographies that do not indulge in psychoanalysis of the biographee. For this reason, I often prefer those that are written in first person & those that are written by the person himself/herself.

   Zazove does an excellent job. His writing is very clear & flows well. His life story is interesting, if for no other reason than to dispel so many of the hearing people's assumptions about those who lack hearing.

   I did find the chronology a little hard to follow, as he jumps back & forth between his current practice in Utah & his childhood & academic career. He says little about his childhood, probably because it was very normal with little by way of shocking or horrifying events. Highly recommended for those who like biographies/autobiographies and for those who are interested in the life of a deaf doctor.




2. I am going deaf due to a tumor and this is the best book I have read yet. It is not easy going from hearing to deaf at 39 and
   I am trying to understand what it is I will be going through in the next couple of years and this book has been of great help.
   I wish Philip, MD Zazove would wirte more books.

   I recomend this to anyone who is hearing or Deaf or HOH.
   He explains everything in simple terms and he is very funny.
   He wrote about things I never would have thought of.
   I am glad I found his book.




3. The author rambles a little bit, and the story jumps back and forth between the present and the past, but it's still an interesting book.
   
   Hearing parents of deaf children would probably find comfort in this book. Understandably, they may be worried about what the future holds for their deaf child. Here you will read the first-hand account of a deaf man who became a doctor, a husband and father, living a completely normal life. Most hearing people have never met a deaf person in their life, and this adds to the confusion for hearing parents who have just been told that their child is deaf. Reading this book should bring some peace of mind to those parents, and hope for their child's future.

4 comments about No Time for Tears: Transforming Tragedy into Triumph.

1. I have an aunt with Guillain Barre Syndrome and she couldn't wait to get her hands on this book. Dorris' story is hopeful and inspirational, appealing to those who think that the disease is necessarily a dead end road. In my opinion, No Time for Tears is an excellent book for the patient, friends and family members of anyone suffering from any kind of debilitating illness. Dorris teaches you how to fight back!



2. In No Time For Tears: Transforming Tragedy Into Triumph, Dorris Wilcox tells her compelling story of combining aggressive self-education, massive doses of positive thinking, a barrage of nutritional supplements, with an unshakable faith in God's healing power to over come Gulillain Barre Syndrome (a potentially lethal neurological disorder) and experience a 95% recovery. No Time For Tears also provides sufferers from any and all debilitating affliction the spiritual and emotional tools to acquire and maintain a positive mindset so necessary to triumphing over adversity regardless of any particular medical outcome. Highly recommended reading.



3. This book is an inspiration to any who has had any major illness. Part of it hit home for me since I also have Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Ms. Wilcox is full of energy and never gave up during this horrible illness. She provides reference materials that I would have not know about. No Time For Tears was easy to read compared to other Guillain-Barre Syndrome books.



4. This book is an inspiration to any who has had any major illness. Part of it hit home for me since I also have Guillain-Barre Syndrome. Ms. Wilcox is full of energy and never gave up during this horrible illness. She provides reference materials that I would have not know about. No Time For Tears was easy to read compared to other Guillain-Barre Syndrome books.

No comments about White Rabbit: A Doctor's Story of Her Addiction and Recovery.

5 comments about Only When I Sleep: My Family's Journey Through Cancer.

1. Only When I Sleep: My Family's Journey Through Cancer is an intensely personal, candid, and compelling account of then 24-year-old Lisa Shaw-Brawley's battle to overcome Hodgkin's disease and give birth to a child. This superbly written and presented biographical account is an inspiring testament to the human spirit in overcoming adversity and striving for a dream against all the odds. Highly recommended reading.



2. This is a wonderful book. It will make you cry, but will also bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. It makes you realize the "choices" Lisa and her family had to make to survive where very hard for her and her family. You will admire her strength, courage, and her determination to beat this. You see first hand how it effects everyone in her family. How the love of her husband, parents, family members and friends are unconditional. It shows us how the small things we all take for granted can be taken away from us in seconds and our world can be turned upside down. How Lisa never gave up and if you "believe" anything is possible.

   I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those dealing with cancer. There is a "lesson" for everyone to learn from Lisa's experience. It's a WONDERFUL story of love, courage, faith and determination of a young woman who is fighting to survive cancer.




3. This is a wonderful book. It will make you cry, but will also bring joy to your heart and a smile to your face. It makes you realize the "choices" Lisa and her family had to make to survive where very hard for her and her family. You will admire her strength, courage, and her determination to beat this. You see first hand how it effects everyone in her family. How the love of her husband, parents, family members and friends are unconditional. It shows us how the small things we all take for granted can be taken away from us in seconds and our world can be turned upside down. How Lisa never gave up and if you "believe" anything is possible.

   I highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those dealing with cancer. There is a "lesson" for everyone to learn from Lisa's experience. It's a WONDERFUL story of love, courage, faith and determination of a young woman who is fighting to survive cancer.




4. Lisa is a brave and intelligent person. The words she writes of her cancer experience are from inside her soul, they are real. She dares to speak of her fear. You can hear her fear and her courage to fight fear. She insists on explaining this life changing event. She describes cancer's potential and how paraylzing an experience can be. I myself am a (2) time Hodgkins Disease survivor. I can relate to Lisa in many, many ways. The title, "Only When I Sleep," says it all. I strongly encourage anyone to read this book to hear words of a cancer experience and the meaning of a cancer survivor. Those who have experienced cancer and read this book will applaud Lisa for her strength to overcome adversity and commend her for not letting her experience go unnoticed. That yes, Cancer is life changing, it will try to take you down, but for many not without a fight. With a loving support system, you can overcome.
   Thanks Lisa, and happy healthy - life to you and yours.
   Patti Nowak



5. The pouty look on the author's face on the cover of the book should be enough for anyone to know exactly how the book will read.
   As a current Hodgkin's patient, I was highly disappointed in Only When I Sleep. I kept reading it only because I wanted to be able to write a review here to counter those that convinced me I should buy the book. I am experiencing how personally devastating cancer can be, however, I am ashamed (and a little bit angry) that people might think that all cancer patients behave like spoiled children, moping around in search of pity and verbally abusing those who love them.
   There are certain emotions and ideas about cancer which the author writes about that I do agree with; however, it's mind-boggling why someone would want to actually put their selfish and immature behavior on display like this. Shaw-Brawley wasn't happy unless everyone was coddling her; she had to see everyone cry over her before she was happy. Her poor parents and husband deserve some kind of award for putting up with her--they were probably exhausted by the time her treatments were over. I agree that families experience cancer right along with the patient--there's no denying that--but none should have to suffer like Shaw-Brawley's.
   I don't doubt that keeping a journal throughout her ordeal was beneficial and cathartic to Shaw-Brawley, it was not something I feel she should share with the world. In no way am I saying that what she was feeling was wrong or that she should have kept it bottled up...it just wasn't worth publishing. Journals are meant for personal reflection and should be kept in a box in the back of the closet.
   I gave the book two stars only because it must have took some kind of gumption to show this side of herself in a book. Do yourself a favor and don't buy this book...neither the writing or the editing is that good anyway.

No comments about Are You Smarter Than a Flying Gator?: Gator Mikey over Florida.

2 comments about Of Time and Change.

1. In this well-written memoir, Frank Waters shares intimate details of his friendships with many of the artists who lived in Taos, New Mexico during the Mabel Dodge Luhan era. A pulitzer prize-winning author, Waters uses his talent with the pen to acquaint the reader with his artist friends in Taos and tell his own life story. Waters also shares his exploration of the history of Native Americans in the Four Corners area. If anyone is qualified to write about the art world in Taos at that time, it is certainly Frank Waters. A must-read for those interested in the Southwest.



2. While I agree with Steffanie Gibbons' view that the Waters' memoir is well-written, in that it flows with the pen of an accomplished writer, but I cannot not agree with a rating of five stars. The "intimate" picture portrayed gives a thin image of his artist friends. Moreover this picture is one of, somewhat desperate, people seeking to be significant as artists, but coming off more like hangers-on. After reading the book, Taos has lost much of the well manicured luster as an artist center, and comes off more like a tourist trap.

5 comments about No Ordinary Heroes: 8 Doctors, 30 Nurses, 7,000 Prisoners and a Category 5 Hurricane.

1. This is a powerful book. I would suggest everyone in New Orleans and the surrounding areas read this book. These doctors, nurses, and deputies worked themselves silly. Theses people are one of a kind with hearts as hugh as the state of Louisiana. They thought of others before themselves. They are really what it takes to survive a hurricane or anyother disaster. They thought nothing of jumping into waters filled with sewage and snakes to try and help others. They put themselves in danger every time they tried to help a prisoner, but they did it without any thought for themselves. They were there to help others first and themselves last. Thank you! Thank you! For your heroic actions. When others left these people stayed. This is a book that needs to be read. It is great. I have told everyone about it. It gives you information as to how bad things really were after the storm and how great these people were. You can see images on the tv but this book gives you a feel like no other.



2. A must read for anyone interested in Katrina OR medical dramas. Dr. Inglese puts you in the midst of unimaginable conditions and keeps the action coming. I'd like to see a movie made from this book with Russell Crowe playing the lead.



3. My emotional reaction to this book was sadness and anger, tempered by the realization that in the same situation I doubt I would have acted any better. I expected this to be a tale of a doctor selflessly caring for the prisoners he was charged to keep well. Instead I read of a doctor who took care of himself, his co-workers, the prison guards and their relatives while the prisoners, with few exceptions, were left to fend for themselves. The doctor's dogs were treated much better than the prisoners - at least they were given food and water from the doctor's private supply. In one sickening scene, a prisoner was given CPR through the prison bars because the doctor and guards were so afraid of angry prisoners. As soon as he was breathing again, they left him in the cell. Of course it is so easy to criticize someone else when I have never been through such a difficult situation, but I still felt very sad. It was as if the jail staff considered the prisoners as less deserving of what little food and water was available. It was fairly well-written.



4. Amazing story. I am in the medical field and my mother works in corrections. I felt like I was right there and could relate with what they were, or were not dealing with. It was hard to put it down. Love it!



5. This book is so well written - I could not put it down! The bravery and dedication Dr. Inglese and all the other hard-working people showed in this nightmare - for five days! - is nothing short of awesome. Great job, doc!

No comments about The Brow of Dawn: One Woman's Journey with MS (B& B Personal Wellness).

2 comments about Reflections of Gratitude.

1. I'm grateful for this book. It's an uplifting story, superficially about Mr Seymon's personal struggles, written without remorse and with sincere gratitude. But it is a book for every human that has to go through this life. He demonstrates that the everyday things that we often believe we can't live without are often not the most important things in life.
   I recommend this as a good book to read when you need a lift. Keep it on the shelf, because you will need it sooner than you think.



2. A good story of a young mans life and determination to overcome & conquer lifes many twists and turns and finally find lifes most rewarding prize "LOVE". Very entertaining and a very good read.

No comments about Charles Darwin's 'The Life of Erasmus Darwin'.