5 comments about Inconceivable: A Woman's Triumph over Despair and Statistics.

1. Although the author is struggling with secondary infertility she still is suffering, as we all are. I saw I was not alone in what I was feeling and she opened up my mind and heart through her journey. I found it very helpful and I read in 24 hours cover to cover.



2. I bought this for my sister-in-law, but since I'm a pregnancy/birth junkie I read it before sending it to her. I think it's a wonderful reminder that western docs do not know everything there is to know about fertility and infertility, but they tend to act like they do and present no alternatives.
   
   My sister-in-law just had her first baby a few months ago after 10 years of trying. The few years of Western fertility treatment did not work and she hadn't yet gotten around to the acupuncture I was urging her to get. It happened naturally after they came out to visit my hubby and daughter and me.



3. I stumbled onto Julia's books and her website while browsing on Amazon. She had commented on someone else's book, and it brought me to read about her books and website. I am generally a slow reader and rarely finish a book. I started reading "Inconceivable" and found it an easy read and highly enjoyable! I carried this book every where I went and read, read and read. I finished it in one week! - which never happens for me. In general, we eat very healthy and organic, but this book, Julia's story, brought me to another level. It is soooo worth the reading! Now, I am almost halfway through "The Fertile Female" her second book, and again, am carrying it around with me every where I go! It's one of those books that you can sit down and really, really get into and you feel like you're right there in the story, too. I highly recommend BOTH of Julia's books. I've also ordered her Imagery CD and some Conference Tapes from her website Fertile Heart. They just arrived yesterday. I have not been struggling with infertility, but more "obstacles" in trying to conceive our second child. I've had a miscarriage and my second ectopic pregnancy this time around, meanwhile, I'm just getting older... now 42! So, anything I can do to preserve my fertility, and in general just be the healthiest I can be - is well worth doing. Besides all of that - I've just really, really, really enjoyed reading her books and following the exercises. They're very peaceful exercises - I LOVE IT!!!



4. I wanted someone to connect with, someone who's been where I have, I suppose. While I felt for her and her husband, it's just her situation which didn't match with mine. I thought I would be reading about someone who went through IUIs, IUIs with meds and IVF cycles.
   The author is much older than me and has a specific situation with FSH levels. For most of us women in our thirties that's a non issue.
   The healthy diet and nutritional information sparked my interest however I still believe everything in moderation is key.
   If you're on a journey where male infertility is an issue or your on the IVF path, this is not for you.



5. This book, is great !!! I read it in two days, I couldn't put it down is just what I needed to know, all I can say is that so far I lost wheight, my allergies are gone, my sadness and anxiety are better, no babies jet .. but I feel am getting closer to my miracle....

5 comments about In an Instant: A Family's Journey of Love and Healing.

1. What would it be like to have one's brain blown open and body sheared by an IED to the point where everything shifts physically, mentally and emotionally? How does one and one's family deal with the aftermath with all the possible implications of possible infection, complications, recovery and/or death? In An Instant is that story, described by Bob as a reworking of the brain, "...like seeing the top of a mountain from a path, but without the ability to find the way up...by taking one step at a time, little by little, I realize I can still get there..."
   
   Lee and Bob's story is starkly told from two perspectives not only of voice but also interweaving the past with the present. Their story begins with the devastating event that so dramatically changed their lives, the explosion of that IED on an Iraqi road where Bob was working as an embedded journalist/anchor for ABC News. Lee is a respected public relations executive and freelance editor whose career has evolved with the multiple changes of Bob's career from high-paid lawyer to executive anchor man for a top notch news service.
   
   Bob and Lee do a superb job of carrying the reader through history as Bob's teaching law stint in China allows him to enter the world of journalism as a "fixer" during the Tiananmen Square crisis and numerous other smaller and larger historical, pivotal events including 911, the war in Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and more. They are skilled writers who know how to convey the excitement, peril and significance of these events.
   
   At the same time, In An Instant is the story of the "Landstuhl survivors," a group of family members trying to deal with the multiple demands of a challenging career and now of a devastating crisis enough to break the toughest spirits. Their story is told with honesty, intelligence and a specificity that renders the reader humbled and highly respectful of this daunting experience that has reshaped not only the Woodruff family but continues to affect numerous other families of soldiers and journalists serving in Iraq.
   
   The best nonfiction work this reviewer has read in a very long time!
   
   Reviewed by Viviane Crystal on March 5, 2008



2. As a longstanding fan of Bob Woodruff, I felt such sadness for him and his family when he was injured. I followed his progress as much as possible through the general media. Thank you to both Lee and Bob for sharing their stories and more importantly their feelings. As a nurse having cared for patients with brain injuries, I am delighted to see him doing so well and his family adjusting to the "new normal." Please continue your work with research and families struggling through the same ordeal. It is much appreciated!



3. This book tells the serious story of the tragedy and triumph shared by Bob Woodruff and his wife, children, friends and co-workers when he was devastatingly injured while reporting in Iraq. The trauma of his head injury is explained in a very detailed manner, and his subsequent recovery is followed mainly from his wife's point of view, describing the horrors they all went through. The ability to deal with all of this makes this book a very moving and uplifting tale of how Bob and also our brave soldiers are coping with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and why it is important for all of us to become aware and understand this signature war injury of Iraq and Afghanistan.
   
   The poignant and matter of fact telling of the process to recovery is sprinkled with humor and makes a great read for those interested in learning how to move through this difficult situation.



4. This story recounts the miraculous survival of news anchor Bob Woodruff. More importantly, it exposes the fear, frustration, and fatigue that Woodruff's family experienced as they guided him through months of trauma.



5. This is a memoir written by Bob and Lee Woodruff. The passages are divided between Bob and Lee, each giving their recollection of the way certain events unfolded. I found Bob's accounts to be gripping and interesting, maybe because he is the one who received the traumatic injury. I found Lee's writing akin to reading a bad soap opera script. It was almost unreadable at times. I understand that she is facing hardships with her husband in a coma, but it nothing like what your typical family has to face under the same circumstances. At one point, this Colgate educated woman wonders how she is going to pay the bills with her husband in a coma? When I read this, I got the feeling that she didn't know how to pay the bills, i.e. write out a check and mail it. I don't think money is an issue for this Westchester County, NY family. It was passages like that which detract from the book. I found Bob's account of his therapy and what he had to go through to get back to himself very interesting but too brief. In the after forward, Bob mentions he is working on a documentary about his journey and the journey GIs have to make in recovering from traumatic brain injuries. I don't know if this has come out yet, but it would be an interesting show.

5 comments about Let Me Hear Your Voice: A Family's Triumph over Autism.

1. THIS IS THE SECOND BOOK I READ AFTER MY GRANDSON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM. IT IS EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN AND FILLED WITH INFORMATION ALL PARENTS/FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF A NEWLY DIAGNOSED AUTISTIC CHILD SHOULD KNOW. IT WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A NEW SENSE OF HOPE AND DIRECTION TO FINDING AND PROVIDING THE BEST INTERVENTIONS/TREATMENTS TO RECOVER YOUR CHILD FROM AUTISM. I HIGHLY RECCOMMEND IT!



2. I know aba does wonders for some forms of autism and I know this book has been a big part of getting the word out.
   Like the author I have three kids though my son's autism was present from birth. One theme that is a huge issue for many families and was absent from the book: lack of resources. We are a middle class family with one car living in a fixer-upper and debt.And compared to many we do very well. Her senario of having a nanny and paying out of pocket for lots of therapy are way way beyond our means. Our insurance does not cover any therapy and they run at $140 per hour. Anytime I work with my son I have to find & pay someone to watch my twin toddlers. This runs steep pretty fast and her descriptions of traveling, affording 20+ hours a week of kid therapy, seeing scores of doctors (a one-time evaluation by a neurologist costs 5 thousand dollars in our city) and having time for her own self and nannies just left me marveling. Most families affected by autism do struggle enourmously financially and logistically from day to day. And most kids are not as responsive as her kids were to the therapy.
   I am very happy for her success and glad she is spreading the word on ABA but I think she misses how most families have to struggle with the basics .



3. Exceptional book. Not just for those with autistic family members. A must read.



4. the most honest look at her story and the trials and tribulations that came with it. EXCELLENT READ



5. Maurice enlightens the mind to the real world. The struggles that her family endured to help their children and the future of autism on research development. She writes this from the time when blame was placed upon the mother. She tells how she dealt with her emotions of that blame. This is an excellent book for a parent of a child with autism or an educator alike.

5 comments about Death Be Not Proud (P.S.).

1. Death Be Not Proud is a story written by John Gunther about his son, Johnny Gunther, who developed a brain tumor when he was just the young age of seventeen. Throughout the time of Johnny's months with his tumor, his professors at Deerfield Academy, friends, and family are impressed by his courage and patience through the worst times. From the time when Johnny first finds out about his illness, and the likelihood that it would never be cured, Johnny has the strength and courage to go on with his studies and act as if his illness is not affecting him, even if the tumor is worsening. This book shows the struggles and the hardships of a family and their son, who is "slowly being taken by Death," (Johnny's mother, Frances Gunther) while maintaining a positive outlook. Overall, the book was fantastically written and the father and the author, captures every moment of this time in Johnny's life. The book is almost like a series of pictures. John describes everything with such rich detail that I feel that everything could be expressed in a series of photographs.
   John Gunther writes "Johnny died at 11:02 P.M. Frances reached for him through the ugly, transparent, raincoat-like curtain of the oxygen machine. I felt his arms, cupping my hands around them, and the warmth gradually left them, receding very slowly upward from his hands. For a long time some warmth remained. Then little by little the life-color left his face, his lips became blue, and his hands were cold. What is life? It departs covertly. Like a thief, Death took him." This quote shows how much Johnny meant to his family, and later letters sent to his parents showed that the accomplishments Johnny made while he was sick, would surely never be forgotten by the ones he knew and loved with all his heart.
   After reading this story, I found myself contemplating the thought of Death stealing me or one I love away. Johnny Gunther not only gives me the strength to go on with life if you loose someone you love but also has become my hero. Hearing about the challenges he faced, and how much of an inspiration he was, I believe that there is no other way to die; to be at peace knowing the your loved ones are safe, and will go on remembering you.



2. "Death Be Not Proud" could have been the worst book ever written. Consider: John Gunther, Jr. loses his only son to a brain tumor in 1947, when the boy is just 17. And Johnny was no ordinary boy --- he was brilliant, caring, funny. The kind of kid about whom, after his death, people say, "He was loved by everyone he ever met."
   
   And that's just the summary. In fact, this kid was off the charts. He did original thinking in mathematics and wrote to Einstein --- and Einstein wrote back to encourage him. Unable to attend his boarding school because of his tumor, he got all his work done, aced his college admissions tests and would have gone to Harvard had he lived. And, through his 15-month ordeal of operations and treatments and diets and doctors and hope and despair, he never showed his parents how much he was afraid.
   
   Here's how amazing: When his surgeon told Johnny he had a brain tumor, his immediate response was "Do my parents know this? How shall we break it to them?"
   
   Imagine having a kid like that. Your only kid. And then sitting down and typing 150 pages about him.
   
   Only the geezers among you will recognize the author, but John Gunther was, in his day, a megastar journalist. Just after World War II, he published a book called "Inside Europe," and it was so successful he went on to write a series of "Inside" books. His novels flopped, but no matter. He was a born journalist --- he knew how to tell a story with style and economy.
   
   And "Death Be Not Proud" is the proof.
   
   "Johnny came home for the Christmas holiday in 1945, and he looked fit and fine." That's the first sentence of Chapter One, and it's a model. You know the boy is going to die. You know you're in for an emotional wringer. But you also know this father is going to serve it up straight, adult to adult --- he's inviting you to rise to his level.
   
   Big ideas? They're offered as sparingly as adverbs: "What I am trying to tell, however fumblingly and inadequately, is the story of a gallant fight for life, against the most hopeless odds, that should convey a relevance, a message, a lesson perhaps, to anyone who has ever faced ill health." What he doesn't need to say: That's you, dear reader, that's all of you, later if not today.
   
   This is the story of an emergency --- can the Gunthers find a cure for the tumor before it takes their son? --- and so the writing is, correctly, terse. Over this non-fiction medical thriller Gunther lays a story just as exciting: Johnny's effort to preserve his intellect, to make his mind triumph over his body.
   
   Of course there is no hope. Of course --- cruelly --- Johnny gets better. Several times. Only to relapse. Each time, Gunther just lays it out. You can feel him fraying as he writes, reliving how he frayed as he lived it. But he didn't crack then and so, if only for accuracy, he won't crack now.
   
   There is a scene in this book that should be required reading for everyone who ever has to write. It occurs at the end, when Johnny leaves his bed in New York to attend graduation at Deerfield Academy in Western Massachusetts. He's desperately ill --- he'll die just eight days later --- but he's determined to walk into chapel with his class and grasp his diploma in his left hand, just like his friends.. Gunther takes you through that walk, step by step, the chapel rocking with cheers --- good luck forgetting those pages.
   
   And then the end. The doctors are --- let Gunther have this metaphor --- "helpless flies now, climbing across the granite face of death." The world contracts. Now it's mother, father, son, in the saddest of scenes:
   
   "Johnny died at 11:02 P.M. Frances reached for him through the ugly, transparent, raincoat-like curtain of the oxygen machine. I felt his arms, cupping my hands around them, and the warmth gradually left them, receding very slowly upward from his hands. For a long time some warmth remained. Then little by little the life-color left his face, his lips became blue, and his hands were cold. What is life? It departs covertly. Like a thief, Death took him."
   
   An epilogue follows, but that's it, really. What can I say? Emotion doesn't come cleaner. You could throw a coin against those sentences and it would bounce back --- there's not a weak thought, an excess word.
   
   "Death Be Not Proud" was published in 1949. It isn't likely to go out of print any time soon. The saga of a boy dying? Sure, it grabs you and holds you. But that's because the broken, grieving man who wrote it was so professional he got out of the way and just... told the story.



3. A journalist and occasional novelist, John J. Gunther (1901-1970)was best known for the series of geo-political books he wrote during the 1930s and 1940s; today, however, he is best recalled for DEATH BE NOT PROUD. Published in 1949 and subtitled "A Memoir," it is a short work describing the final months of son Johnny Gunther, who died of a cancerous brain tumor in the late 1940s. Over the years many people have recommended this book to me, describing it as poetic in style, deeply touching in story, philosophical in content. Having at last read the work, I find the descriptions of it largely inaccurate and myself sharply unimpressed.
   
   To hear his father tell it, Johnny Gunther was an entity without flaw, a seventeen year old who was charming in his shyness, brilliant beyond his years, corresponding with Einstein even as he bemoaned his lack of skill at sports, the perfect child, a paragon beyond paragons who endured great suffering with a smile. While I can easily accept the brilliance and integrity and strength of character--such people do exist--the portrait quickly becomes cloying; Gunther elevates Johnny to the level of plaster saint and it is tiresome in the extreme.
   
   Gunther's prose is not in the least poetic; it is in fact the workman-like writing of the journalist he was. As for philosophical tone, this seems to consist of asking the time-honored questions about life and death and little more. In the end, DEATH BE NOT PROUD is the emotional purging of a grief-stricken parent who considers his loss to be unique instead of universal and therefore lacks the scope that one would really wish of this sort of memoir. Recommended, but primarily for the details it offers of the way in which cancer patients were treated in this era.
   
   GFT, Amazon Reviewer



4. My Mom had me read this old classic when I was about 10, only the book was not all that "old" then. I've reread it several times, and introduced my two kids to it at a young age, though certainly not at 10. This is WAY too heavy for the average youngster; fortunately, I've got pretty good reading ability.
   
   John Gunther was a well-known author and journalist of the 1930's thru the 60's, famous for his "Inside" books; in April, 1946, his only child, Johnny, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor....he lived 15 months, most of it miserable, with small doses of hope thrown in. Gunther and his ex-wife, Frances, joined forces and did all that could have been done.
   
   This is the story of Johnny's courage and determination. No child is as great as Gunther paints his son, but a father can be forgiven. The events surrounding Johnny's high school graduation somehow make the fight worth it. That Johnny fought without the comforts of religious faith is, of course, tragic...still, he fought.
   
   An excellent picture is given of cancer treatment in the late 1940's, with introduction to Wilder Penfield, and other grand master neurosurgeons of the day. Chemotherapy was in its very infancy; diagnostic imaging was far different, and often brutal, with CAT scans and the MRI far in the future. We get to meet Max Gerson, and his controversial diet; I believe it's still in use. Cancer treatment is much different now, and the results for many types of tumors much better, but one irony is that the prognosis of glioblastoma multiforme is essentially what it was 60 years ago. And radiation therapy and neurosurgery are still rough.
   
   My Mom was right about one thing; this book is still around long after John Gunther's other work is dated, and forgotten. A father shared his grief...I forgive him his excesses, and still recommend the book.



5. I was in the Barnes and Noble on Broadway and couldn't find "Death Be Not Proud." I was looking in the biography section and needless to say I was surprised on not finding it. I called an older clerk over and he looked too. He knew the book and he knew Johnny's story. He, too, was shocked.
   We went to the computer and found out that it was classified as Biography, but as "Literature."
   That started a conversation between the clerk and me. I told him that I just got back from Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale, NY and seen Johnny's grave. I wanted to buy a copy of the book as a remembrance. He took a break and we had an interesting and thoughtful conversation about it.
   More than a biography, more than a piece of literature, Death Be Not Proud is a celebration of life which is also a celebration of one particular life. The book is written by Johnny's Dad and tells the story of the last year of Johnny's after he developed a brain tumor. The humanity and decency of his parents, his doctors, but mostly, Johnny comes through on every page.
   I was reading a critique by someone who thought that the book was pablum and a failure. They just don't get it. Johnny the whole time he is dying is keeping everyone else's spirits up. There can be no greater act of selflessness, than cheering up those who love you while you fight the good fight, even when you know that you aren't going to win. I think Johnny knew he was dying from the beginning and he dealt with it by "filling the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run."
   A few weeks before he died, Johnny received notification that he had been accepted by Harvard. Over a year of suffering but he still attain his greatest goal.
   Johnny Gunther was a man and, to me, "a man for all seasons."
   I know that it is highly unlikely, but I wish everyone who faced death had a father, brother, sister, mother or friend like Johnny's Dad. Thanks to John Gunther Sr., Johnny will live forever.
   And that is only right.

5 comments about Puppy Chow Is Better Than Prozac: The True Story of a Man and the Dog Who Saved His Life.

1. There aren't enough good things I could say about this book and the author's remarkable personal journey he shares with readers. It touches the soul on so many levels. The story is a beautifully written biography of a man whose dog helps to improve and save his life after he is diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. True dog lovers will appreciate his relationship with man's best friend. If you or someone you know suffers from a personality disorder, you'll find comfort in his words and ideas. If you're just an avid reader (or not-so-avid), you're going to simply find pleasure in his prose. You'd be foolish to pass this one up.



2. I saw this book and immediately grabbed it up, as I absolutely love dog stories like this and was excited to begin reading. It was great to see how Ozzy was able to be such a saving grace. What a great story! HOWEVER, I was not prepared for and did not appreciate the excessive use of bad language in the book (especially the f-word). I think the story could have been told just as well without it. I would have given this many more stars had it not been for the language.



3. I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend this book. Can't understand why it didn't make the best seller list. The author writes with such emotional candor that you are caught up with page one. Such a wonderful example of the strong bond between dogs and mankind. The author writes with a great warmth and wit, eventhough he is dealing with such mental torment. The combination of the two makes an interesting and compelling ride for the reader. Can't help but worry though what will happen when the great Ozzy must cross over that inevitable Rainbow Bridge. Hopefully that won't happen for a loooong time, but if there is ever a dog that should be cloned, my vote is for Ozzy!! Move way over Marley!!



4. When I read about this book I did not know what to expect. Being a dog (having 2 black labs, a pug, and a basset hound myself) lover and a victim of an anxiety dissorder I knew I had to read this. Well - I read a chapter yesterday and finished it today. The story really takes off when Bruce gets Ozzie and all the emotions and how he starts to feel better little by little every day. The first couple of chapters are slow, but they have to be because we have to get to know Bruce before we can get to know Ozzie and how they really are meant for each other. Bruce does have some great wise aker comments that make you giggle even in the high stress moments.
   
   Great Story!!!! Keep us updated on you and Ozzie Bruce!



5. If you are an animal lover, you will love this book.
   As the parent of a retired seeing eye black lab, I had a special interest in this wonderful story. Once again, it proves that animals can much improve our lives.
   If your pet has given you the unconditional love that only an animal can give, you must read this book!!!!!

5 comments about It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive.

1. I read Time on Fire when a colleague was dying of lymphoma. I found the book extraordinary, and it hit me hard--and the situation, and especially his anger, though frightening, were riveting.. Sadly, this new book is anything but on fire--it's boring as he goes from relationship to relationship. I liked him better when he was angry--he had more interesting things to say. Yet I'm glad he has survived, thrived, and is finally happy.



2. I read Evan Handler's new book the week it came out (MySpace was abuzz with it's empending release for a while). It was wonderful. I was expecting a self important, "this is me after cancer, pity me!" type of book, but was pleasently surprised. It is full of humorously self depricating, truly hysterical essays that draw you in to the book. They are not presented in a "first this happened and then this happened" progression. Like the author explains in the intro, he wants it to be like getting to know someone, you find out things about them randomly and out of order. My favorite moment in the book was, after describing some truly terrible behavior, Mr Handler reminds the reader that he had had cancer. Sounds odd? You have to read it to fully appreciate why I had to set the book down for a few moments to laugh myself silly. I also had my eyes opened to the fact that Americans have dirty butts. We do, and the authors wife knows this. I haven't been the same since! Mr Handler is a remarkable writer and this book shows off his talents beautifully. I was drawn into his mind and was pleased with what was presented to me there. Honest, raw emotions and dark humor. Each essay brings you further to what I see as his point: Life is not easy, even if you're supposed to appreciate it a little more than others. I firmly suggest anyone read this book. It is like talking to a really good friend you haven't seen in years. Catching up on all you've missed. Being entertained by his self expression. This book is worth the price and then some. Read it!! You'll thank me!



3. Getting a catastrophic illness at a young adult age is like an earthquake: its most dramatic and obvious effects are felt during it, but the more subtle, and largely psychological, aftershocks that follow can be just as far-reaching and dramatic. And they often persist for a lifetime.
   
   As a fellow leukemia and bone marrow transplant survivor, I understand the life-questions and dilemmas that confront this author. We surface from the rubble not knowing how to approach falling in love, our professions, our family, marriage, and having kids, among other things. Issues that aren't a big deal to most of our peers become huge, profound, moral, or spiritual as we grapple with our considerably more uncertain futures.
   
   This theme nuances every story, and in instances where it is more obvious, Mr. Handler plays it out with impressive honesty and grace. You won't find behind-the-scenes "Sex and the City' anecdotes here. What you will find -- elegant reflections on finding love, connecting with other people, and investing in one's life in spite of its uncertainties -- is so much better.



4. ....to gain an understanding of what Evan went through. I wrote an extensive review of his first book on Amazon in 1998, and received a lovely email from Mr. Handler thanking him for my kind words. The review was later deleted (not sure why) but I wrote another short one back in 2000 to make up for it. And here is why: it's a phenomenal story about what it is like to be young and on the cusp of success before it is snatched away from you. Make no mistake - this man should be dead. The survival rates for his type of leukemia in the 1980's were dismal at best. His navigation through treatment and all it's emotions is striking, and made this nurse think twice about how healthcare is delivered.
   So what happens when you beat the odds and have to live? You press on. And so he has, and has gained success again in the process - although not nearly what he should have. It should be noted that Evan was on his way to a major acting career when he was young. Matthew Broderick and a host of other young 1980's actors have basically had better careers because he had to drop out of the business for treatment. He should have won his Tony by now...if not his Oscar.
   So - the new book. Of course, it's not about his time on Sex and the City. That's only a small portion of what he's been doing since his recovery. So those looking for some insight into that character should read something else. It's about trying to gain self-identity as something other that a patient. Living a life you weren't expecting to have. It's anecdotal (most good writing is) and funny. The story of selling his engagement ring back to Sotheby's made me cry, because beating cancer doesn't preclude you from failed relationships.
   As a new mom, I love that he has embraced fatherhood - he's lucky he could have kids after all his treatment. And it was nice to catch up with his progress after all these years. I loved it.



5. It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive
   
   I could not put this book down:) Thank you Evan, After not being able to read for almost 8 years after going through Lung Cancer. I picked up A Time On Fire by Evan Handler. I just could not put this book down. When "IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY" CAME OUT HAD TO RUN OUT AND PICK UP MY COPY:)
   Absolutely awesome reading. I have never read a more honest telling on ones self in my life. I laughed till I cried. HYSTERICAL, HONEST, FUNNY TO A FAULT, SAD, WITTY, EMOTIONS RUN HIGH. With a happy ever after ending:) Now waiting for the next......And how about a movie combining both books? Shirley Rhodes

No comments about The Voice: A Memoir.

5 comments about His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina.

1. A heart warming story of a stuggle of the heart. This mother and son had a bond so deep it was like they were one. Excellent reading and praise to the author for sharing her life!



2. This was my first Danielle Steel book. I am not a lover of fiction, so that is one reason that this was my first experience with Danielle Steel. I enjoyed this book. It was slow in spots, and a bit difficult to follow, but overall a good story. I wish that every person that suffered from mental illness had the ability to have the funding to live a more independent life. As an individual that has had a career working with children and adults with mental illness, I hope that this story will help try to find more resources for individuals with bipolar disorder.



3. I have read this book in curiosity as to what Bipolar might look like in infants and young children. It is very interesting to read about Nick's personality and high unusual intelligence. If I remember correctly, he was using full sentences at age 15 months old and was arguing with his mom about what he was going to wear at 15 months old, so this is like reading about one child who was eventually diagnosed as Bipolar, but in looking back, there were many signs, so if you are concerned about a young child who might show signs this book is a good read, not a diagnosis, but has many interesting scenes of the young Bipolar child.



4. I give five stars plus to Nick's soul and one star, at best, to the book itself. By Ms Steel's own admission throughout the book, she recognized Nick had problems from a very young age. Perhaps if the author had spent more time doling out love and attention to her young child, and less time pumping out volumes of romantic fiction with a vain desire to increase her wealth, this book would never have been written. Money does not buy happiness; a son's smile does.
   
   The book is sad and heartbreaking, but so was Nick's life. In my opinion, the book came across as a vain attempt by the author to relieve her own guilt, as opposed to a tribute to her troubled son. Much of our adult life and who we become is formed within the first six years following birth. It is too easy for society to simply "blame the drugs" for many of today's wrongs. If a child, from a very young age, is nutured, loved, disciplined in a fair and loving manner, instilled with self-worth and self-esteem, the chances of that child turning to negative solutions to find happiness or whatever is missing in his/her life is greatly diminished.
   
   The book comes across as if the author is suffering from a "poor me" symdrome. Of course, she has a right to grieve, she lost a son, but what were the contributing factors? What was missing from Nick's life? The only one who truly knows the answers is Nick and, unfortately, he is not here to tell us or write his side of the story. Ms Steele will have the opportunity to continue on with her life, turn out best-selling novels faster than bees produce honey and make millions of dollars in the process. Unfortunately, Nick will not have that same opportunity.



5. This really is the greatest nonfiction story I ever read with such a tragic ending. His life was so troubled, but it is truly inspiring. It makes you look inside yourself and those you love, and realize that there are some things we can not change. Those things that we can change, however, are often overlooked when the cries for help are accidentally ignored. This happened to Nick Traina. I do agree with other users that it seems that his mother, although full of love, does feel a lot of guilt. No one could have told his story better than himself, of course, but it seems unlikely that anyone else knew him better than his mother. Very touching, and I am happy that his legacy continues to inspire and live on. R.I.P. Nick.

5 comments about Expecting Adam: A True Story of Birth, Rebirth, and Everyday Magic.

1. I know it sounds inappropriate to describe a book about a mother finding out she is carrying a Down's syndrome baby as hilarious - but there you are. Also heartwarming and spicy! And I would love to know Adam.



2. She makes me laugh out loud - she is a fantastic writer.
   
   I read this book while I was pregnant - by accident - it really got me into my pregnancy. Her experience "carrying Adam" was AMAZING.
   
   I HIGHLY recommend all of her book. ALL OF THEM!



3. My wife insisted that I read this book. I would not have chosen it myself. Martha Beck tells a story about her son with Down's syndrome, a child that she was advised to abort. Her story is one that many will not believe. She has dreams that predict the future. She gets messages from her son through a medium. She receives aid from angels, or something very like angels. Through all of this, she remains down to earth, and freely admits the difficulty that she has with belief in such things. I, who am not inclined to believe in such things, believe Martha Beck.
   
   Her writing style is fluid and clear. She is a good storyteller. This book is easy to read, and not easy to put down. She tells their story with tremendous verve, and with love. The description of life at Harvard is accurate. I spent four years there. She writes well enough to make me suffer flashbacks.
   
   This is the story of a chance taken, a decision that the world disdains as foolish. In Beck's narrative it is a life affirming move. I responded to this book in an emotional way that surprised me. Her son teaches her more about living than Harvard ever could. If you read this book with an open mind, he will teach you too.



4. As the mother of an inspirational young son overcoming a rare musculoskeletal condition, I first ran across Expecting Adam excerpted in Exceptional Parent Magazine. I went on to read Martha Beck's memoir, which I found intriguing, thought-provoking, and full of the consolations of humor. Beck's book prompted me to write my own son's story, a book endorsed by Isabel Allende, Anne Lamott and others known for chronicling life's twists and turns with humor and hope. I am hoping that readers familiar with Martha Beck's memoir might consider reading Finding Magic Mountain: Life with Five Glorious Kids and a Rogue Gene Called FOP, a book meant to share hope, faith, humor, and raise disability awareness.
   
   Carol Zapata-Whelan



5. I almost wish I hadn't found out more about Martha Beck's life before writing this review. If I hadn't I'd say this is a very good book, with some great messages and inspirational content. I thought she was bit rough on Harvard and seemed to stereotype people who seemed to wrong her. On the other hand, I really liked the message to live your life simply, enjoy the little things, and know there's more to life than just the workaday narrow view.
   
   I had some problems with how much she talked about the morning sickness, and how Harvard people are, etc. Give the reader more credit. I got the picture pretty quick, and it just seemed to drudge on. But it was worth it, because Beck's a very good writer, with an excellent sense of humor and wry wit. All in all, I'd recommend the book.
   
   Now, back to her personal life. I won't go into details, but it sort of detracts from the credibility of this book. Sounds like she might have fabricated other stuff in her life, covered it up, or maybe exaggerated it. Too bad, because I'd really like to believe what she went through. There are just too many bizarre and questionable things in her bio for me remain in total acceptance of the book's contents.

5 comments about Brilliant Madness: Living with Manic Depressive Illness.

1. I just finished this book, and I thought it was very readable and an excellent memoir describing issues related to bipolar. The honesty with which the book is written is commendable. I highly recommend it for anyone wishing to learn more about this disorder and how helpful appropriate treatment can be.



2. If you want to know some of the unbelieveable, unbearable pain and suffering of an un-treated manic-depressive, read this book. How Patty Duke lived to tell her story is a miracle. Thank God she finally found her way out of her madness She gives hope to her fellow sufferers. From the perspective of gut-wrenching pain just reading her account, the book works wonderfully. But as a narrative, I found it hard to follow. I felt jerked around from eposide to eposide. There didn't seem to be a timeline I could follow to know what happened, when. Also, it was very distracting to have to plow through the pages of medical, technical information that were dispersed throughout the book. Overall, it's a fine description of the illness, but frustrating to read.



3. Celebrities who come out about a physical or mental illness help us get past shame, but Patty Duke does a lot more in this autobiography where she alternates her memories with professionally written chapters about bipolar illness. As a mental health advocate, I recommend this book especially to give to people with the illness who aren't ready for technical or self-help books.



4. Can someone please give this book to Britney Spears? I'm not joking. I first read this book about 9 years ago when I was studying psychology in college and it was always one of my very favorite books on this subject. Because Ms. Duke is able to speak to the reader in such simple (yet interesting) words. Except for the old-fashioned term "manic depressive illness" (according to the APA, the correct term is bipolar, which sounds way more PC) this book is totally on the money. Another great book I recommend is Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface. In 2008 it seems rather common for celebrities to discuss their dementia, and anything else that the public wants to know. So it may seem hard to fathom that less than thirty years ago none of this was discussed publicly because it was considered "career suicide." But Patty Duke was the very first star who candidly discussed her own mental illness in her autobiography . In my eyes, she is a true shero.



5. Anna ( Patty Duke), is a great lady! This book, An excellent and sad look at what a bipolar person goes through with and without help, I*m so happy that there is a name and treatment for this very sad illness. Anna tells it like it is and does it with class! May God Bless Anna Duke!