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BOOK REVIEWS
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIR
The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson is the second in a trilogy that was written
and then picked up for publishing before the author died at the age of forty-seven. There
are some in Sweden where the story takes place and where Larsson lived and worked
that believe he was murdered due to his work on and for a number of anti-establishment
newspapers and magazines. Others believe he died as he lived hard drinking and killing
himself with cigarettes. Whatever the cause his loss to the literary world just as he was
getting started is heartbreaking and incalculable. It also reminds the reader to savor every
word written because they are wonderful and finite.
The Girl who Played with Fire takes place sometime after the events depicted in The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo. While Dragon Tattoo focused on Blomkvist this book spends
more time with Lisbeth a brilliant but troubled young woman with a past that is slowly
unfurled that helps to explain her reasoning and actions. The premise of the book is that a
young couple who were working on exposing corruption within the government are
suddenly killed with all the evidence pointing at Lisbeth. One of the few who believe her
innocent is Blomkvist and the way she contacts him and goes about clearing her name
deserves to not be told in a review and it makes for very good reading.
In this book you are also introduced to Lisbeth's lovers. It will be apparent to most
Americans who read this book that in many ways Sweden is much more permissive of
sexual relations and liaisons then what we see in America and yet some of the underlying
premises including discrimination against homosexuals is prevalent everywhere.
Throughout the book you will learn where the author stands on many of the issues facing
the world today so that while he is gone his thoughts and opinions stay with us and are
heard.
The story in the book takes place over a period of time and you get to travel from the
Cities of Sweden to it's countrysides and all places in between. Even the characters with
the smallest plots are fully developed. Larsson had the ability to give a fully informed back
story in five or six sentences setting the reader up to know enough to make assumptions
but not always enough to draw accurate conclusions. While this book can stand alone is it
my recommendation that you read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before reading this book. It
will help to put relationships into perspective and it is also an amazing read and a book
you will want to keep in your permanent library.
CUTTING FOR STONES BY ABRAHAM ZERGHESE
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is the first book that I read on the Kindle and I do
believe the Kindle did impact my relationship with the book, the words and the characters.
Cutting for Stone made a number of top ten lists for best books in 2009 and many times
while I was at the bookstore I had stopped and picked the book up. I liked the cover and
the way it felt in my hands yet I never purchased the book.
I am an avid reader and have been debating whether or not to purchase the Kindle for a
number of months. A dear friend got one for Christmas and she lent it to me along with the
offer of purchasing a book from Amazon. My friend is much more of an intellectual then I
am so while I one hundred percent appreciated her offer and generousisty I wanted to
make sure that I purchased something that she might also enjoy since it was her Kindle.
I picked Cutting for Stone. The story takes place mostly in Ethipoia but it is very easy to
forget this as the characters all live together at a mission hospital. It took me awhile to get
into the story, according to the Kindle about 18% of the book. That is one of the interesting
things about the Kindle is you do not know what page you are on you only know the
percentage you have read. I found myself on a number of occassions trying to figure out
when the percentage changed it for me it turned out to be between every five and six
"pages" I read on the Kindle but I digress.
The story is about a set of identical twins who are literally connected at birth by a flap of
skin and veins and artiries at birth. The babies are separated and then abandoned by
their father after their mother dies. A doctor at the hospital decides that it is a sign and the
twins are hers. The man who has loved her for years joins her and together they raise the
boys. How are the same and yet very different. Verghese is a doctor by trade and he does
a wonderful job of describing medical procedures that take place in the daily lives of the
characters as so many are doctors and nurses. This was one of my favorite aspects about
the book.
While the boys are raised by an amazing set of parents one of them is always on the look
out for his biological father and this impacts his story and his decisions which lead to a
satisfying conclusion. You will also learn some of the history of Ethiopia and the struggles
that have taken place over the last four or five decades.
While I may not have loved the Kindle experience I must say by the end I did love this book
and in fact I think that it is one that will stay with me for a long time.
THE MISTS OF AVALON BY MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley clocks in at seven hundred and eighty two
pages and was published in 1982 and in my opinion is the best book that has ever been
written about the legend of King Arthur. What separates this book from so many others
that it is told from the female perspective. Morgaine and her island of women are not
trying to ruin Arthur and Christianity what they are trying to do is to protect themselves and
all women and honor the God of olde. One of the other things that I really enjoyed was that
Guinevere who has a history of being pious and one who suffers for the cause with grace
is a pest and in many ways insufferable. Guinevere character added a whole other level of
depth to the story.
For anyone who likes science fiction and romance along with history and mythology not to
mention women's studies and the study of herbs and ancient lore this book is for you Ms.
Bradley does an amazing job of intertwining all of the stories and all of the history and
captures a time and a legend that will transport you back to the round table. Her
descriptions are full of such clarity and vision you will begin to see yourself sitting next to
your favorite character drinking a pint of Meade and being served a helping of venison and
then sneaking off with another to finish the night hidden away in a spot where one would
not be interrupted.
The relationship between Guinevere and Arthur and Lancelot is multi-layered and Ms.
Bradley brings in another element in the Arthur and Lancelot relationship that does not
exist in other books written about these legends. Another relationship that is truly explored
is the one between Lancelot and Morgaine and one is left to wonder if Lancelot had made
a different choice how would that have impacted Arthur and all of the knights of the round
table.
Additionally, Merlin is truly magical and is working both behind the scenes with Morgaine
and in front of them with Arthur to keep his history and his belief system alive. Ms. Bradley
also gives the reader insight into how many of the Christian rituals and holidays that are
practiced today arose out of pagan rituals and celebrations. This book is truly magical
and my words do not begin to do it justice all I can tell you is that I read at least three books
a week and I have been reading for decades and this book along with A Prayer for Owen
Meany by John Irving is ALWAYS in my top ten.
In closing if you like (or in my case LOVE) The Mists of Avalon I recommend that you pick
up the Trilogy by Susan Carroll which consists of The Dark Queen, The Courtesan and The
Huntress ( The Courtesan is the best of the three but they are all worth you time)
Coppola A Pediatic Surgeon in Iraq
Coppola A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq by Dr. Chris Coppola with a foreword by Guy Naz, an
NPR Correspondence should be required reading for all adults in America. It does not
matter if you support the war in Iraq or believe that is was the biggest mistake of the last
century this is a book about the impact of the war on the men and women who serve, their
families and the men, women and children of Iraq and the difference one man can make.
Dr. Coppola joined the service as a way to help pay for his medical training. He could
have incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt or give his country a number of
years of services as a doctor and surgeon in the Armed Forces. After doing the math Dr.
Coppola realized that taking out loans and then going into private practice would be a
better fiscal decision for him and his family but he felt a desire to serve so became and
Army Surgeon. One of seven pediatric surgeons who serve in our Armed Services. When
the planes hit the World Trade Centers on September 11. 2001 he knew that there was an
extremely high likelihood that he would be deployed and he was in 2005 and again in
2007.
This book tells the story about his deployment the people he met both American and Iraqi.
About how when one is draped in sterile blue cotton towels there is no difference and that
every person standing around that operating table gives everything in their power to save
lives. Through words Dr. Coppola allows those of us who do not serve to see into the
everyday life of a service member. The foods that they eat, the constant barage of noise
and sweat and sand they endure on a daily basis. The small signs of home a pizza hut on
the corner in the green zone or an impromtu garden outside of a sleeping trailor and that
while these are small pieces of home all they really do is remind one of how far away they
really are from the lives and their families.
You will also meet a number of Iraqi's in this book. Mainly children but also the parents and
grandparents who love these children and are doing their best to keep them alive while
war rages around them. The spirit of America shines through in this book. Time and time
again the best that we are and the best that we can be is demonstrated. The number of
children that are treated and saved by Dr. Coppola and the rest of his team and
colleagues gives one hope that what most of us want is the same. The ability to walk to
the store with our child and for our children to grow up and be safe and live.
This book does not delve into the politics of war the book is really about the human spirit.
It is a fast and interesting read and one that whatever your position is on the war reminds
you of the importance of supporting our troops and may also give you pause about what
you can do on a personal level to improve your community or our world.
Highly recommended.
GAME CHANGE - 2008 Presidential Race
Game Change, Obama and Clinton, McCain and Palin and the Race of a Lifetime by John
Heilemann and Mark Halperin is FANTASTIC. It is like reading the National Enquirer
without any of the guilt or secret pleasure. The authors are both seasoned reporters with a
lot of inside information and access to people that those outside of the beltway can just
dream about and they use their information and their contacts well.
I followed the 2008 Presidential Race very closely and I continue to pay attention to the
politics in Washington with a focus on Sarah Palin and this book further opened my eyes.
The authors take you back to the beginning. The time and place where all four canidates
decided they would run for president: Obama, Clinton, McCain and Edwards. Along with
way you catch small glimpes into Huckabee, and Romney along with Guilianni and Biden's
run. But the focus of this book is really Obama, Clinton, McCain and at the end Palin which
is fitting as she came in at the end and was a game changer. There is still much debate
about how she changed the game.
The information about John and Elizabeth Edwards would be heartbreaking if not for their
sense of entitlement and audacity coupled with arrogance and emotional instability. After
reading this book I will never look at Elizabeth Edwards as a poor innocent victim in the
scandal that rocked her husbands presidential bid.
The insights about Barack and Michele made me like them both very much but as we enter
2010 I must say that while great props must be given for the way the campaign was run I
fear that Obama is treating the Presidency as a continuing campaign and the reality is that
there is a very big difference between running a campaign and running a presidency. The
goal of a campaign is to bring people together so that you can get broadband support and
ride to victory. A president must lead especially in times of war and I do not believe that
Obama and his campaign managers many who are now his advisors have been able to
make the mental switch.
According to Game Change McCain's campaign was a disaster from the start. The
quailities that have allowed McCain to be a maverick in the Senate and stand for his
beliefs hindered him on the campaign trail. Also as the book explains his aides tried to
reel him in for the purposes of pandering to the extreme right, a group that has never liked
McCain and who McCain does not truly support. The book provides insidered information
that McCain wanted Lieberman as his running mate but that he was voted down and at the
last minute Palin was chosen.
The passages about Palin are some of the juiciest sections. I will admit right here I do not
like or respect Palin. Never had never will and this book does nothing but fuel the
speculation that she was in way over her head from the begining. According to the authors
there was no real vetting that took place before her nomination was public and once she
was on the ticket the team felt stuck. The authors expose the truth of Saral Palin that she
knew absolutely nothing about forgien affairs and the stilted interviews with Katie Couric
really were the real Palin. McCain's camp was panicked and did all they could to keep
Sarah under control.
A large part of the book talks about Hillary's campaign and the challenges that she faced.
Her campaign managers were fractioned from the start and everyone was afraid of the
role that would be played by Bill Clinton. Finishing the book you will have a greater
understanding of the relationship between Hillary and Bill. It truly appears to be one of
complete dedication with Hillary understanding and excepting that Bill is fundamentally
flawed but at the same time an extraordinary human being.
The final chapters do a nice job of sewing up the ending between Obama, Biden and
Clinton and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in politics or drama
or soap operas. It really does have something for everyone.
The Surgeons: Life and Death in a Top Heart Center
Published in 2007 and coming in at just under three hundred pages "The Surgeons Life
and Death in a Top Heart Center" by Charles R. Morris is a book for anyone interested in
medicine, heart surgery and the lives of surgeons in and outside of the hospital. The book
also features De. Mehmet C. Oz and the work he did before he was known as America's
doctor.
The setting is the state of the art Heart Surgery Center at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital
in New York. Morris was granted total and complete access to the staff and the patients
along with the administrators over the course of a year. He became such a fixture on the
scene that there were times when he blended in so well that he states he felt like he was a
fly on the wall. The book is really divided into two sections. The first talks about the daily
life of the surgeons and the patients that are served by Columbia - Presbyterian one of the
topped ranked heart hospitals in the County. This is where former President Bill Clinton
went when he required quadruple heart by-pass. The second section of the book talks
about the challenges facing today's health care crisis and while the second part of the
book does a very good job of describing the challenges and even offering some realistic
and reasonable solutions it does not hold the readers attention like the first section.
The first section is the nitty gritty stuff of surgery. How surgeons are trained, the amount of
time and energy one has to devote in order to be able to crack open a chest, remove and
repair a heart and the absolute grace and dedication needed to ensure that all that can be
done to allow the patient to leave the operating room alive is done day after day and
patient after patient.
Morris introduces you to both the doctors who are trying to save and extend lives and their
patients who are fighting to stay alive and regain their freedom and health. Sometimes the
doctors are successful and other times patients are lost. One of the things that most
impressed me in the book was the candor of the surgeons. They all have their egos but at
the same time know that sometimes what allows one patient to live while another dies is
luck or divine grace or something else that cannot be described.
This book will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in how medicine is practiced in
America today. Also anyone who is interested in going into this speciality should read this
book to gain and understanding of the sacrifices that will have to be made while at the
same time realizing the power they will have in changing the lives of not just their patients
but also the lives of all who love their patients. Finally if you yourself or a loved one is
facing a surgery this book will give you hope. The strides that have been made in heart
surgery are almost beyond comprehension and the comfort you will receive knowing that
the doctors who are caring for you believe in their work and so many of them are as
dedicated to their patients as if the patient was a family member. The doctors in these
pages know that they have been given great gifts and not one underestimates the
responsibility that accompaines their individual talents.
A highly recommended read.
SCATTERSHOT MY BIPOLAR FAMILY: A memior by David Lovelace
Scattershot a memoir by David Lovelace about growing up in a bipolar family is
interesting and very dark. I have read a number of memoirs written by individuals who
suffer from bipolar including Madness and Manic I liked both of these better then
Scattershot. I do not know if it is because Madness and Manic were written by women so
it was easier for me to relate to the stories (I do not have bipolar but like everyone else
alive and walking around with some insight I have my own insanity) or if it was because in
Scattershot there was a much greater focus on David's family and his interactions with
them and in fact his running away from the illness that really did rob him and the rest of the
family a younger brother and sister and both parents of a life that had any true peace.
The author writes a lot about his relationship with his father and also the relationship
between his mother and father. Lovelace's father is a very religious man,a fundamentalist
Christian who spends most of his life believing that he can cure himself and his wife (who
may be bipolar or may be schizophrenic they family is never really able to get a true
diagnosis) by prayer and through God. Needless to say this does not work out and the
book opens with Lovelace finding his mother on the floor of a very filthy apartment dying in
a state that can best be described as catatonic. The elder Lovelace had gone off of his
own medications and then altered his wife's medications, switching from pharmaceutical
prescriptions to B vitamins and soy protein shakes.
David's mother ends up at the hospital being treated for dehydration and something other
then a stroke. Once again the family is never really given a true diagnosis. Lovelace
spends a number of days trying to have his father committed which is much easier send
then done even with a telephone call from the family psychiatrist who informs the hospital
that the elder Mr. Lovelace needs to be committed. After a number of failed attempts
along with his father's increasing mania David is finally gets a involuntary commitment
order and his father is brought to the hospital by the police.
The book then goes back in time to when the author experienced his first depression and
subsequent mania. Being rightly terrified of what awaits him he escapes going to colleges
and Colorado and then down to Central America where he can feel himself slipping off the
edge but being unable to stop it. While one can imagine the horror going on in the author's
own head he spent months sitting in the sun and on a beach and while I am aware it does
not matter where you are if there is no quiet within your own mind it was a little difficult to
have sympathy for someone who had the ability to spend months sleeping in a hammock,
going snorkeling, having sex and smoking pot.
Lovelace finally has a full manic break and ends up committed in California. His father
arrives and brings him back home where he gets on some medication and meets a girl.
After a few months of medication Lovelace decides he can handle his disease without the
medication and moves to Manhattan and becomes part of the squatter movement.
Marijuana along with hard work and being surrounded by a bunch of crack heads and
others with significant mental health issues allows Lovelace to feel normal and he spends
more time ignoring his illness and self medicating.
Another break and he ends up back on lithium and this time with a good shrink and the
acceptance that yes he along with three others in his family suffer from bipolar and it is a
disease that must be managed and will never be cured.
I must say with his acceptance of his own illness comes an acceptance of his parent's
illness and with this acceptance a sense of responsibility and love. I do not know if I would
have the patience or the mental health needed to care for two parents who not only had
issues related to age but also issues related to bipolar/schizophrenia especially when
Lovelace was given limited tools to cope with life as a child.
If you are interested in mental health issues and how they affect individuals and families
then you need to read this book. With that said I would not say this book was uplifting nor
does it give a lot of hope. Lovelace does not have a life that I envy.
The Blue Cotton Gown: A midwife's memoir by Patricia Harman
The Blue Cotton Gown, a midwife's memoir by Patricia Harman is a beautiful beautiful
book. The book is two hunderd and eighty nine pages long and it is published by Beacon,
published in 2008 the book details Harman's account of working as a midwife and OB
provider to women in West Virginia. Harman along with her husband Tom who is a doctor
of obstetrics have opened their own practice to serve the women of their community. This
book documents their struggles, tragedies and soaring successes over the course of a
year.
Ms. Harman allows you to glimpse into her inner and outer life as you read about her
patients. Her hopes and dreams for herself and her family along with the hopes and
dreams of her patients. Struggles of motherhood and of being middle aged. Struggles
with insomnia and doing the right thing when it feels as if the forces of the universe are
lining up against you and your success.
The writing is amazing. You often feel as if you are sitting in the same room with Ms.
Harman and her patients. You can feel the weight of the conversations, walking with the
characters as they experience triumphs and unspeakable grief. Often you will feel as if you
are ready poetry. Ms. Harman has the ability to bring you down into the earth where you
smell the dirt and see the the first signs of spring. You will also sit with her in the darkness
of a still summer night. The smell of jasmine and the sound of peepers that transports you
to places beyond.
As you follow a number of patients throughout the year you will be reminded that we are
struggle with the same things. Whether we are rich or poor, undereducated or have
advanced degrees, married or struggling to claim our true sexual identity when we sit in
the exam room we are all women with the same hope and dreams and fears. We want
and need and pray for our children to be successful and yet when they slip from our hand
and our grasp we question where we went wrong. When faced with a diagnosis of cancer
or infertility we panic or stand stoic all the time wondering what we did to deserve this
curve ball that has been thrown into our already over-scheduled stressful lives. Yet
throughout the book Ms. Harman's reminds us to never give up hope. To never forget the
good and all that is wonderful about about live and love and relationships.
The book is written by a woman who is a midwife in West Virginia but the reality is that the
book is timeless. It is the story of women that has been told since the begining of time and
a story that will continue so long as women have children and lovers and hopes and
dreams. It truly is a beautiful book
The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller and
Amanda Bennett is a chilling account of one woman's struggle with schizophrenia. Lori
Schiller had a fairly ideal childhood. She was the oldest of three children and was loved
and supported by her parents. She was a straight A student and a member of many clubs
in High School. She went to one of the best colleges in the country and it was there that
she began to lose her mind.
Ms. Schiller lets us into her own private hell. A place where "the voices" take over telling
her that she is worthless and needs to die. When she first begins hearing the voices Lori
struggles to drown them out. Throwing herself into "normal" activities, trying to maintain
the image that she has carried with her throughout her life. When the voices begin they are
not constant they come and they go and in the periods of silence Lori is able to mend her
life long enough to put the pieces back together. After graduating from college the voices
return and this time they never really leave. Along with the voices Lori experiences visual
hallucinations.
Ms. Schiller takes us on a journey into the mind of a schizophrenic. Many of the passages
appear to be streams of consciousness. Many different voices saying many different
things none of them pleasant. Throughout the book the voices become louder and
stronger and Lori enters the revolving doors of mental hospitals.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is that her parents, brothers and one friend
contribute chapters. Lori shares her experiences and perceptions of time and events and
you then read how her parents and others experienced Lori's illness. Her father is a
psychologist and he has a very hard time admitting to himself, his family and his friends the
extent of his daughters illness. Her mother blames herself for Lori's predicament and
Lori's roommate gives an account of watching someone go slowly insane.
The book does not sugarcoat mental illness nor mental hospitals nor the impact that
mental illness has on a family. You will see the inside of the mind of a person in the middle
of visual and auditory hallucinations. Throughout the book you will read about different
treatments and clinical perceptions for schizophrenia. The book ends on a high note.
Eventually Lori, the doctors and her family find a way for Lori to begin to live with her
condition. With that said the book was written in 1994 and there is no further information
on Lori Schiller. My hope is that she continues to be able to live with her illness but one
does not know.
BOOK REVIEW - BETTER by ATUL GAWANDE
Better A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Doctor Atul Gawande is an absolutely
fascinating book on almost every level. This is Gawande's second book, his first was
Complications which was written during his residency. Better takes place after he takes a
position as a general surgeon at a Boston hospital. Gawande has a way with words. They
are infused with knowledge, insight and humility. Additionally he covers an incredibly
broad range of experience within two-hundred and fifty seven pages. The book starts off
with the importance of washing one's hands and how most doctors do not do this on a
regular basis but that if they did the number of cases of infections in hospitals would drop
dramatically.
He then moves on to his experience working with the World Health Organization ("WHO")
to eradicate polio just like small pox was eradicated decades ago. Gawande goes along
with a mop-op in India where the goal is to get all children under the age of five vaccinated
in a three day period. This is done with extremely limited resources a host of volunteers
and in all reality no real power. WHO organizes the mop op but they have no real control
over any of the players and yet they achieved a success rate of over 90% and were able to
contain the spread of the disease. If WHO keeps doing this the reality is that it is 100%
possible that polio will be eradicated within our lifetime.
The next section of the book deals with what surgeons are currently doing on the
battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan and how these decisions have lowed death rates to
less then ten percent even in injuries that should be life threatening including loss of limbs
and traumatic brain injuries coupled with bomb blast injuries. Gawande explains how
looking at the injuries that small changes have had big impacts two of the changes that
have been made is mandated that all service personnel wear their Kevlar vests. This is no
longer an option it is a requirement and the Generals are mandating this and holding their
commanders accountable. Another change was in the look of eye protection. Services
members did not want to wear that old glasses because they looked like they belonged on
seniors in Florida. The Army gave into the sense of fashion and redesigned the eye wear.
It is being worn and eye and facial injuries have dropped drastically.
Gawande also covers the treatment and follow up of cystic fibrosis - 20 years ago the
average life span was just over eighteen today many many patients are living into their
fifties with some having life spans of sixty years. All by opening up the process and
focusing on working with the patients and not being stuck abiding my standards.
As you read the book you will also learn about HMOS, medical care in third world
countries with a focus on a shift in treatments in India and other countries. Gawande also
touches on medical malpractice, doctors working in prisons and examining and treating
prisoners on death row including participating in executions. You will also get brief insights
into stand labor and delivery practice and at the end be challenged to be the best you can
in whatever field you practice and also live.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It should be read by anyone who wants to be
better and/or great at their job and their lives.
Peace
HARRY POTTER 1-7 - FABULOUS FABULOUS BOOKS
Harry Potter, seven of the best books written in my life time. I loved these books
and I am a middle aged middle class woman and I was at my local barnes and
noble at midnight for the release of the last three books. I was an active member
in a number of Harry Potter chat rooms. I checked J.K. Rowlings website at least
once a week to see if she had posted any updates. I was an insane Harry Potter
fan. Almost two years after the release of the last book in the series I still love
Harry Potter, everything about Harry Potter.
I love the world that was created by J.K. Rowling. The forbidden forest, Hogwarts,
Snape and Dumbledore, Hagrid and Dobby and Kreacher, flying cars and owls
that deliver mail, potions that grow bones and others that extend life. How life is
made up of choices and not just fate. That kids are taught that you can overcome
your biggest fears and that friends become family. I love that from the first book
until the last sentence in book seven the story is one of redemption and
resurrection that no one and nothin is beyond universal forgiveness. That
appearances can be deceiving that those who appear to be less then perfect may
be the ones who are the best and risking the most.
While these books are classified as childrens literature they speak to all ages from
little ones (I would start reading these books to children as young as seven) to
grandmothers and grandfathers. In fact these are some of the best books to read
as a family. The story will hold everyone's interest and there are a myriad of
opportunities to discuss choices and values and morals and life and death with
your children as you read these books. The reality is that children are interested
in the big issues. The issues of life and death of good and evil and we are the
adults and as adults we have a responsibility to answer these questions for our
children and Harry Potter is an easy way to start the conversation. Some people
have said these books are too dark for children, they are not. Others have said
that they promote evil and witchcraft nothing could be further from the truth. The
ultimate underlying message in each of these seven books is love - love is what
will sustain you and love is what will ultimately redeem you and that without love
the reality is we as living breathing feeling beings have nothing.
Go out and buy these books you will not be sorry.
THE GHOST WAR by ALEX BERENSON
The Ghost War is Alex Berenson's second book featuring John Wells an American Citizen
who infiltrates the Taliban in Afghanistan. Along the way Wells becomes a devout Muslim
forcing those back in Washington to determine if he is still on the side of the United States
in the War on Terror or if he has been turned by the men with whom he had been eating,
breathing and living. You find out the answer to this question at the end of the first book
"The Faithful Spy".
In "The Ghost War" Berenson and Wells are back and the focus shifts from the Middle
East to Asia, specifically China and North Korea and the very real behind the scenes
battle that is waging against the United States and the West. Berenson's books are in the
same genre as Tom Clancy, James Rollins and Vince Flynn. Well's is similar to Flynn's
Mitch Rapp the difference is that Mitch Rapp is not as conflicted as Well's and Flynn is not
as conflicted as Berenson.
All good authors bring a part of themselves to their characters. It is this honesty and
rawness that make characters come to life and allows readers to connect and become a
part of the story. Berenson does this and he does it well. John Wells is a man who has
dedicated the last two decades of his life to serve the interests of the United States. His
dedication has come at a great cost personally and professionally. However unlike Rapp
in the Flynn books Wells questions the role of the United States in the War on Terror and
whether or not the United States should be in the Middle East and other places that our
country has currently deemed a danger and this is where the reader's opinion on the
United States role in combating what has been deemed the War on Terror and the Axis of
Evil will come into play in determine whether this is a book that they will love or a book that
will never be on their top ten list.
The story is very good and very realistic. The writing is beautiful and it flows smoothly and
is easy to follow. The story is interesting. The question s what are your personal politics?
What are your personal beliefs? If you question some of the steps taken by the United
States and our armed forces then chances are you will really like this book. You will most
likely share some of the characters concerns while at the same time doing all that you can
to support our troops. If you believe that the steps that have been taken by the United
States Government and the armed forces have been necessary to protect the Country then
my expectation is that you will not love this book. You will not like the questioning, the guilt
and some of the hesitation.
I enjoyed both "The Faithful Spy" and "The Ghost War" and I will ready Berensons most
recent "The Silent Man" with that said in my opinion Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp are in no
danger of being removed from my favorites list.
The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson is the second in a trilogy that was written
and then picked up for publishing before the author died at the age of forty-seven. There
are some in Sweden where the story takes place and where Larsson lived and worked
that believe he was murdered due to his work on and for a number of anti-establishment
newspapers and magazines. Others believe he died as he lived hard drinking and killing
himself with cigarettes. Whatever the cause his loss to the literary world just as he was
getting started is heartbreaking and incalculable. It also reminds the reader to savor every
word written because they are wonderful and finite.
The Girl who Played with Fire takes place sometime after the events depicted in The Girl
with the Dragon Tattoo. While Dragon Tattoo focused on Blomkvist this book spends
more time with Lisbeth a brilliant but troubled young woman with a past that is slowly
unfurled that helps to explain her reasoning and actions. The premise of the book is that a
young couple who were working on exposing corruption within the government are
suddenly killed with all the evidence pointing at Lisbeth. One of the few who believe her
innocent is Blomkvist and the way she contacts him and goes about clearing her name
deserves to not be told in a review and it makes for very good reading.
In this book you are also introduced to Lisbeth's lovers. It will be apparent to most
Americans who read this book that in many ways Sweden is much more permissive of
sexual relations and liaisons then what we see in America and yet some of the underlying
premises including discrimination against homosexuals is prevalent everywhere.
Throughout the book you will learn where the author stands on many of the issues facing
the world today so that while he is gone his thoughts and opinions stay with us and are
heard.
The story in the book takes place over a period of time and you get to travel from the
Cities of Sweden to it's countrysides and all places in between. Even the characters with
the smallest plots are fully developed. Larsson had the ability to give a fully informed back
story in five or six sentences setting the reader up to know enough to make assumptions
but not always enough to draw accurate conclusions. While this book can stand alone is it
my recommendation that you read Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before reading this book. It
will help to put relationships into perspective and it is also an amazing read and a book
you will want to keep in your permanent library.
CUTTING FOR STONES BY ABRAHAM ZERGHESE
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is the first book that I read on the Kindle and I do
believe the Kindle did impact my relationship with the book, the words and the characters.
Cutting for Stone made a number of top ten lists for best books in 2009 and many times
while I was at the bookstore I had stopped and picked the book up. I liked the cover and
the way it felt in my hands yet I never purchased the book.
I am an avid reader and have been debating whether or not to purchase the Kindle for a
number of months. A dear friend got one for Christmas and she lent it to me along with the
offer of purchasing a book from Amazon. My friend is much more of an intellectual then I
am so while I one hundred percent appreciated her offer and generousisty I wanted to
make sure that I purchased something that she might also enjoy since it was her Kindle.
I picked Cutting for Stone. The story takes place mostly in Ethipoia but it is very easy to
forget this as the characters all live together at a mission hospital. It took me awhile to get
into the story, according to the Kindle about 18% of the book. That is one of the interesting
things about the Kindle is you do not know what page you are on you only know the
percentage you have read. I found myself on a number of occassions trying to figure out
when the percentage changed it for me it turned out to be between every five and six
"pages" I read on the Kindle but I digress.
The story is about a set of identical twins who are literally connected at birth by a flap of
skin and veins and artiries at birth. The babies are separated and then abandoned by
their father after their mother dies. A doctor at the hospital decides that it is a sign and the
twins are hers. The man who has loved her for years joins her and together they raise the
boys. How are the same and yet very different. Verghese is a doctor by trade and he does
a wonderful job of describing medical procedures that take place in the daily lives of the
characters as so many are doctors and nurses. This was one of my favorite aspects about
the book.
While the boys are raised by an amazing set of parents one of them is always on the look
out for his biological father and this impacts his story and his decisions which lead to a
satisfying conclusion. You will also learn some of the history of Ethiopia and the struggles
that have taken place over the last four or five decades.
While I may not have loved the Kindle experience I must say by the end I did love this book
and in fact I think that it is one that will stay with me for a long time.
THE MISTS OF AVALON BY MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY
The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley clocks in at seven hundred and eighty two
pages and was published in 1982 and in my opinion is the best book that has ever been
written about the legend of King Arthur. What separates this book from so many others
that it is told from the female perspective. Morgaine and her island of women are not
trying to ruin Arthur and Christianity what they are trying to do is to protect themselves and
all women and honor the God of olde. One of the other things that I really enjoyed was that
Guinevere who has a history of being pious and one who suffers for the cause with grace
is a pest and in many ways insufferable. Guinevere character added a whole other level of
depth to the story.
For anyone who likes science fiction and romance along with history and mythology not to
mention women's studies and the study of herbs and ancient lore this book is for you Ms.
Bradley does an amazing job of intertwining all of the stories and all of the history and
captures a time and a legend that will transport you back to the round table. Her
descriptions are full of such clarity and vision you will begin to see yourself sitting next to
your favorite character drinking a pint of Meade and being served a helping of venison and
then sneaking off with another to finish the night hidden away in a spot where one would
not be interrupted.
The relationship between Guinevere and Arthur and Lancelot is multi-layered and Ms.
Bradley brings in another element in the Arthur and Lancelot relationship that does not
exist in other books written about these legends. Another relationship that is truly explored
is the one between Lancelot and Morgaine and one is left to wonder if Lancelot had made
a different choice how would that have impacted Arthur and all of the knights of the round
table.
Additionally, Merlin is truly magical and is working both behind the scenes with Morgaine
and in front of them with Arthur to keep his history and his belief system alive. Ms. Bradley
also gives the reader insight into how many of the Christian rituals and holidays that are
practiced today arose out of pagan rituals and celebrations. This book is truly magical
and my words do not begin to do it justice all I can tell you is that I read at least three books
a week and I have been reading for decades and this book along with A Prayer for Owen
Meany by John Irving is ALWAYS in my top ten.
In closing if you like (or in my case LOVE) The Mists of Avalon I recommend that you pick
up the Trilogy by Susan Carroll which consists of The Dark Queen, The Courtesan and The
Huntress ( The Courtesan is the best of the three but they are all worth you time)
Coppola A Pediatic Surgeon in Iraq
Coppola A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq by Dr. Chris Coppola with a foreword by Guy Naz, an
NPR Correspondence should be required reading for all adults in America. It does not
matter if you support the war in Iraq or believe that is was the biggest mistake of the last
century this is a book about the impact of the war on the men and women who serve, their
families and the men, women and children of Iraq and the difference one man can make.
Dr. Coppola joined the service as a way to help pay for his medical training. He could
have incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt or give his country a number of
years of services as a doctor and surgeon in the Armed Forces. After doing the math Dr.
Coppola realized that taking out loans and then going into private practice would be a
better fiscal decision for him and his family but he felt a desire to serve so became and
Army Surgeon. One of seven pediatric surgeons who serve in our Armed Services. When
the planes hit the World Trade Centers on September 11. 2001 he knew that there was an
extremely high likelihood that he would be deployed and he was in 2005 and again in
2007.
This book tells the story about his deployment the people he met both American and Iraqi.
About how when one is draped in sterile blue cotton towels there is no difference and that
every person standing around that operating table gives everything in their power to save
lives. Through words Dr. Coppola allows those of us who do not serve to see into the
everyday life of a service member. The foods that they eat, the constant barage of noise
and sweat and sand they endure on a daily basis. The small signs of home a pizza hut on
the corner in the green zone or an impromtu garden outside of a sleeping trailor and that
while these are small pieces of home all they really do is remind one of how far away they
really are from the lives and their families.
You will also meet a number of Iraqi's in this book. Mainly children but also the parents and
grandparents who love these children and are doing their best to keep them alive while
war rages around them. The spirit of America shines through in this book. Time and time
again the best that we are and the best that we can be is demonstrated. The number of
children that are treated and saved by Dr. Coppola and the rest of his team and
colleagues gives one hope that what most of us want is the same. The ability to walk to
the store with our child and for our children to grow up and be safe and live.
This book does not delve into the politics of war the book is really about the human spirit.
It is a fast and interesting read and one that whatever your position is on the war reminds
you of the importance of supporting our troops and may also give you pause about what
you can do on a personal level to improve your community or our world.
Highly recommended.
GAME CHANGE - 2008 Presidential Race
Game Change, Obama and Clinton, McCain and Palin and the Race of a Lifetime by John
Heilemann and Mark Halperin is FANTASTIC. It is like reading the National Enquirer
without any of the guilt or secret pleasure. The authors are both seasoned reporters with a
lot of inside information and access to people that those outside of the beltway can just
dream about and they use their information and their contacts well.
I followed the 2008 Presidential Race very closely and I continue to pay attention to the
politics in Washington with a focus on Sarah Palin and this book further opened my eyes.
The authors take you back to the beginning. The time and place where all four canidates
decided they would run for president: Obama, Clinton, McCain and Edwards. Along with
way you catch small glimpes into Huckabee, and Romney along with Guilianni and Biden's
run. But the focus of this book is really Obama, Clinton, McCain and at the end Palin which
is fitting as she came in at the end and was a game changer. There is still much debate
about how she changed the game.
The information about John and Elizabeth Edwards would be heartbreaking if not for their
sense of entitlement and audacity coupled with arrogance and emotional instability. After
reading this book I will never look at Elizabeth Edwards as a poor innocent victim in the
scandal that rocked her husbands presidential bid.
The insights about Barack and Michele made me like them both very much but as we enter
2010 I must say that while great props must be given for the way the campaign was run I
fear that Obama is treating the Presidency as a continuing campaign and the reality is that
there is a very big difference between running a campaign and running a presidency. The
goal of a campaign is to bring people together so that you can get broadband support and
ride to victory. A president must lead especially in times of war and I do not believe that
Obama and his campaign managers many who are now his advisors have been able to
make the mental switch.
According to Game Change McCain's campaign was a disaster from the start. The
quailities that have allowed McCain to be a maverick in the Senate and stand for his
beliefs hindered him on the campaign trail. Also as the book explains his aides tried to
reel him in for the purposes of pandering to the extreme right, a group that has never liked
McCain and who McCain does not truly support. The book provides insidered information
that McCain wanted Lieberman as his running mate but that he was voted down and at the
last minute Palin was chosen.
The passages about Palin are some of the juiciest sections. I will admit right here I do not
like or respect Palin. Never had never will and this book does nothing but fuel the
speculation that she was in way over her head from the begining. According to the authors
there was no real vetting that took place before her nomination was public and once she
was on the ticket the team felt stuck. The authors expose the truth of Saral Palin that she
knew absolutely nothing about forgien affairs and the stilted interviews with Katie Couric
really were the real Palin. McCain's camp was panicked and did all they could to keep
Sarah under control.
A large part of the book talks about Hillary's campaign and the challenges that she faced.
Her campaign managers were fractioned from the start and everyone was afraid of the
role that would be played by Bill Clinton. Finishing the book you will have a greater
understanding of the relationship between Hillary and Bill. It truly appears to be one of
complete dedication with Hillary understanding and excepting that Bill is fundamentally
flawed but at the same time an extraordinary human being.
The final chapters do a nice job of sewing up the ending between Obama, Biden and
Clinton and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in politics or drama
or soap operas. It really does have something for everyone.
The Surgeons: Life and Death in a Top Heart Center
Published in 2007 and coming in at just under three hundred pages "The Surgeons Life
and Death in a Top Heart Center" by Charles R. Morris is a book for anyone interested in
medicine, heart surgery and the lives of surgeons in and outside of the hospital. The book
also features De. Mehmet C. Oz and the work he did before he was known as America's
doctor.
The setting is the state of the art Heart Surgery Center at Columbia- Presbyterian Hospital
in New York. Morris was granted total and complete access to the staff and the patients
along with the administrators over the course of a year. He became such a fixture on the
scene that there were times when he blended in so well that he states he felt like he was a
fly on the wall. The book is really divided into two sections. The first talks about the daily
life of the surgeons and the patients that are served by Columbia - Presbyterian one of the
topped ranked heart hospitals in the County. This is where former President Bill Clinton
went when he required quadruple heart by-pass. The second section of the book talks
about the challenges facing today's health care crisis and while the second part of the
book does a very good job of describing the challenges and even offering some realistic
and reasonable solutions it does not hold the readers attention like the first section.
The first section is the nitty gritty stuff of surgery. How surgeons are trained, the amount of
time and energy one has to devote in order to be able to crack open a chest, remove and
repair a heart and the absolute grace and dedication needed to ensure that all that can be
done to allow the patient to leave the operating room alive is done day after day and
patient after patient.
Morris introduces you to both the doctors who are trying to save and extend lives and their
patients who are fighting to stay alive and regain their freedom and health. Sometimes the
doctors are successful and other times patients are lost. One of the things that most
impressed me in the book was the candor of the surgeons. They all have their egos but at
the same time know that sometimes what allows one patient to live while another dies is
luck or divine grace or something else that cannot be described.
This book will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in how medicine is practiced in
America today. Also anyone who is interested in going into this speciality should read this
book to gain and understanding of the sacrifices that will have to be made while at the
same time realizing the power they will have in changing the lives of not just their patients
but also the lives of all who love their patients. Finally if you yourself or a loved one is
facing a surgery this book will give you hope. The strides that have been made in heart
surgery are almost beyond comprehension and the comfort you will receive knowing that
the doctors who are caring for you believe in their work and so many of them are as
dedicated to their patients as if the patient was a family member. The doctors in these
pages know that they have been given great gifts and not one underestimates the
responsibility that accompaines their individual talents.
A highly recommended read.
SCATTERSHOT MY BIPOLAR FAMILY: A memior by David Lovelace
Scattershot a memoir by David Lovelace about growing up in a bipolar family is
interesting and very dark. I have read a number of memoirs written by individuals who
suffer from bipolar including Madness and Manic I liked both of these better then
Scattershot. I do not know if it is because Madness and Manic were written by women so
it was easier for me to relate to the stories (I do not have bipolar but like everyone else
alive and walking around with some insight I have my own insanity) or if it was because in
Scattershot there was a much greater focus on David's family and his interactions with
them and in fact his running away from the illness that really did rob him and the rest of the
family a younger brother and sister and both parents of a life that had any true peace.
The author writes a lot about his relationship with his father and also the relationship
between his mother and father. Lovelace's father is a very religious man,a fundamentalist
Christian who spends most of his life believing that he can cure himself and his wife (who
may be bipolar or may be schizophrenic they family is never really able to get a true
diagnosis) by prayer and through God. Needless to say this does not work out and the
book opens with Lovelace finding his mother on the floor of a very filthy apartment dying in
a state that can best be described as catatonic. The elder Lovelace had gone off of his
own medications and then altered his wife's medications, switching from pharmaceutical
prescriptions to B vitamins and soy protein shakes.
David's mother ends up at the hospital being treated for dehydration and something other
then a stroke. Once again the family is never really given a true diagnosis. Lovelace
spends a number of days trying to have his father committed which is much easier send
then done even with a telephone call from the family psychiatrist who informs the hospital
that the elder Mr. Lovelace needs to be committed. After a number of failed attempts
along with his father's increasing mania David is finally gets a involuntary commitment
order and his father is brought to the hospital by the police.
The book then goes back in time to when the author experienced his first depression and
subsequent mania. Being rightly terrified of what awaits him he escapes going to colleges
and Colorado and then down to Central America where he can feel himself slipping off the
edge but being unable to stop it. While one can imagine the horror going on in the author's
own head he spent months sitting in the sun and on a beach and while I am aware it does
not matter where you are if there is no quiet within your own mind it was a little difficult to
have sympathy for someone who had the ability to spend months sleeping in a hammock,
going snorkeling, having sex and smoking pot.
Lovelace finally has a full manic break and ends up committed in California. His father
arrives and brings him back home where he gets on some medication and meets a girl.
After a few months of medication Lovelace decides he can handle his disease without the
medication and moves to Manhattan and becomes part of the squatter movement.
Marijuana along with hard work and being surrounded by a bunch of crack heads and
others with significant mental health issues allows Lovelace to feel normal and he spends
more time ignoring his illness and self medicating.
Another break and he ends up back on lithium and this time with a good shrink and the
acceptance that yes he along with three others in his family suffer from bipolar and it is a
disease that must be managed and will never be cured.
I must say with his acceptance of his own illness comes an acceptance of his parent's
illness and with this acceptance a sense of responsibility and love. I do not know if I would
have the patience or the mental health needed to care for two parents who not only had
issues related to age but also issues related to bipolar/schizophrenia especially when
Lovelace was given limited tools to cope with life as a child.
If you are interested in mental health issues and how they affect individuals and families
then you need to read this book. With that said I would not say this book was uplifting nor
does it give a lot of hope. Lovelace does not have a life that I envy.
The Blue Cotton Gown: A midwife's memoir by Patricia Harman
The Blue Cotton Gown, a midwife's memoir by Patricia Harman is a beautiful beautiful
book. The book is two hunderd and eighty nine pages long and it is published by Beacon,
published in 2008 the book details Harman's account of working as a midwife and OB
provider to women in West Virginia. Harman along with her husband Tom who is a doctor
of obstetrics have opened their own practice to serve the women of their community. This
book documents their struggles, tragedies and soaring successes over the course of a
year.
Ms. Harman allows you to glimpse into her inner and outer life as you read about her
patients. Her hopes and dreams for herself and her family along with the hopes and
dreams of her patients. Struggles of motherhood and of being middle aged. Struggles
with insomnia and doing the right thing when it feels as if the forces of the universe are
lining up against you and your success.
The writing is amazing. You often feel as if you are sitting in the same room with Ms.
Harman and her patients. You can feel the weight of the conversations, walking with the
characters as they experience triumphs and unspeakable grief. Often you will feel as if you
are ready poetry. Ms. Harman has the ability to bring you down into the earth where you
smell the dirt and see the the first signs of spring. You will also sit with her in the darkness
of a still summer night. The smell of jasmine and the sound of peepers that transports you
to places beyond.
As you follow a number of patients throughout the year you will be reminded that we are
struggle with the same things. Whether we are rich or poor, undereducated or have
advanced degrees, married or struggling to claim our true sexual identity when we sit in
the exam room we are all women with the same hope and dreams and fears. We want
and need and pray for our children to be successful and yet when they slip from our hand
and our grasp we question where we went wrong. When faced with a diagnosis of cancer
or infertility we panic or stand stoic all the time wondering what we did to deserve this
curve ball that has been thrown into our already over-scheduled stressful lives. Yet
throughout the book Ms. Harman's reminds us to never give up hope. To never forget the
good and all that is wonderful about about live and love and relationships.
The book is written by a woman who is a midwife in West Virginia but the reality is that the
book is timeless. It is the story of women that has been told since the begining of time and
a story that will continue so long as women have children and lovers and hopes and
dreams. It truly is a beautiful book
The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller and
Amanda Bennett is a chilling account of one woman's struggle with schizophrenia. Lori
Schiller had a fairly ideal childhood. She was the oldest of three children and was loved
and supported by her parents. She was a straight A student and a member of many clubs
in High School. She went to one of the best colleges in the country and it was there that
she began to lose her mind.
Ms. Schiller lets us into her own private hell. A place where "the voices" take over telling
her that she is worthless and needs to die. When she first begins hearing the voices Lori
struggles to drown them out. Throwing herself into "normal" activities, trying to maintain
the image that she has carried with her throughout her life. When the voices begin they are
not constant they come and they go and in the periods of silence Lori is able to mend her
life long enough to put the pieces back together. After graduating from college the voices
return and this time they never really leave. Along with the voices Lori experiences visual
hallucinations.
Ms. Schiller takes us on a journey into the mind of a schizophrenic. Many of the passages
appear to be streams of consciousness. Many different voices saying many different
things none of them pleasant. Throughout the book the voices become louder and
stronger and Lori enters the revolving doors of mental hospitals.
One of the most interesting aspects of the book is that her parents, brothers and one friend
contribute chapters. Lori shares her experiences and perceptions of time and events and
you then read how her parents and others experienced Lori's illness. Her father is a
psychologist and he has a very hard time admitting to himself, his family and his friends the
extent of his daughters illness. Her mother blames herself for Lori's predicament and
Lori's roommate gives an account of watching someone go slowly insane.
The book does not sugarcoat mental illness nor mental hospitals nor the impact that
mental illness has on a family. You will see the inside of the mind of a person in the middle
of visual and auditory hallucinations. Throughout the book you will read about different
treatments and clinical perceptions for schizophrenia. The book ends on a high note.
Eventually Lori, the doctors and her family find a way for Lori to begin to live with her
condition. With that said the book was written in 1994 and there is no further information
on Lori Schiller. My hope is that she continues to be able to live with her illness but one
does not know.
BOOK REVIEW - BETTER by ATUL GAWANDE
Better A Surgeon's Notes on Performance by Doctor Atul Gawande is an absolutely
fascinating book on almost every level. This is Gawande's second book, his first was
Complications which was written during his residency. Better takes place after he takes a
position as a general surgeon at a Boston hospital. Gawande has a way with words. They
are infused with knowledge, insight and humility. Additionally he covers an incredibly
broad range of experience within two-hundred and fifty seven pages. The book starts off
with the importance of washing one's hands and how most doctors do not do this on a
regular basis but that if they did the number of cases of infections in hospitals would drop
dramatically.
He then moves on to his experience working with the World Health Organization ("WHO")
to eradicate polio just like small pox was eradicated decades ago. Gawande goes along
with a mop-op in India where the goal is to get all children under the age of five vaccinated
in a three day period. This is done with extremely limited resources a host of volunteers
and in all reality no real power. WHO organizes the mop op but they have no real control
over any of the players and yet they achieved a success rate of over 90% and were able to
contain the spread of the disease. If WHO keeps doing this the reality is that it is 100%
possible that polio will be eradicated within our lifetime.
The next section of the book deals with what surgeons are currently doing on the
battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan and how these decisions have lowed death rates to
less then ten percent even in injuries that should be life threatening including loss of limbs
and traumatic brain injuries coupled with bomb blast injuries. Gawande explains how
looking at the injuries that small changes have had big impacts two of the changes that
have been made is mandated that all service personnel wear their Kevlar vests. This is no
longer an option it is a requirement and the Generals are mandating this and holding their
commanders accountable. Another change was in the look of eye protection. Services
members did not want to wear that old glasses because they looked like they belonged on
seniors in Florida. The Army gave into the sense of fashion and redesigned the eye wear.
It is being worn and eye and facial injuries have dropped drastically.
Gawande also covers the treatment and follow up of cystic fibrosis - 20 years ago the
average life span was just over eighteen today many many patients are living into their
fifties with some having life spans of sixty years. All by opening up the process and
focusing on working with the patients and not being stuck abiding my standards.
As you read the book you will also learn about HMOS, medical care in third world
countries with a focus on a shift in treatments in India and other countries. Gawande also
touches on medical malpractice, doctors working in prisons and examining and treating
prisoners on death row including participating in executions. You will also get brief insights
into stand labor and delivery practice and at the end be challenged to be the best you can
in whatever field you practice and also live.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It should be read by anyone who wants to be
better and/or great at their job and their lives.
Peace
HARRY POTTER 1-7 - FABULOUS FABULOUS BOOKS
Harry Potter, seven of the best books written in my life time. I loved these books
and I am a middle aged middle class woman and I was at my local barnes and
noble at midnight for the release of the last three books. I was an active member
in a number of Harry Potter chat rooms. I checked J.K. Rowlings website at least
once a week to see if she had posted any updates. I was an insane Harry Potter
fan. Almost two years after the release of the last book in the series I still love
Harry Potter, everything about Harry Potter.
I love the world that was created by J.K. Rowling. The forbidden forest, Hogwarts,
Snape and Dumbledore, Hagrid and Dobby and Kreacher, flying cars and owls
that deliver mail, potions that grow bones and others that extend life. How life is
made up of choices and not just fate. That kids are taught that you can overcome
your biggest fears and that friends become family. I love that from the first book
until the last sentence in book seven the story is one of redemption and
resurrection that no one and nothin is beyond universal forgiveness. That
appearances can be deceiving that those who appear to be less then perfect may
be the ones who are the best and risking the most.
While these books are classified as childrens literature they speak to all ages from
little ones (I would start reading these books to children as young as seven) to
grandmothers and grandfathers. In fact these are some of the best books to read
as a family. The story will hold everyone's interest and there are a myriad of
opportunities to discuss choices and values and morals and life and death with
your children as you read these books. The reality is that children are interested
in the big issues. The issues of life and death of good and evil and we are the
adults and as adults we have a responsibility to answer these questions for our
children and Harry Potter is an easy way to start the conversation. Some people
have said these books are too dark for children, they are not. Others have said
that they promote evil and witchcraft nothing could be further from the truth. The
ultimate underlying message in each of these seven books is love - love is what
will sustain you and love is what will ultimately redeem you and that without love
the reality is we as living breathing feeling beings have nothing.
Go out and buy these books you will not be sorry.
THE GHOST WAR by ALEX BERENSON
The Ghost War is Alex Berenson's second book featuring John Wells an American Citizen
who infiltrates the Taliban in Afghanistan. Along the way Wells becomes a devout Muslim
forcing those back in Washington to determine if he is still on the side of the United States
in the War on Terror or if he has been turned by the men with whom he had been eating,
breathing and living. You find out the answer to this question at the end of the first book
"The Faithful Spy".
In "The Ghost War" Berenson and Wells are back and the focus shifts from the Middle
East to Asia, specifically China and North Korea and the very real behind the scenes
battle that is waging against the United States and the West. Berenson's books are in the
same genre as Tom Clancy, James Rollins and Vince Flynn. Well's is similar to Flynn's
Mitch Rapp the difference is that Mitch Rapp is not as conflicted as Well's and Flynn is not
as conflicted as Berenson.
All good authors bring a part of themselves to their characters. It is this honesty and
rawness that make characters come to life and allows readers to connect and become a
part of the story. Berenson does this and he does it well. John Wells is a man who has
dedicated the last two decades of his life to serve the interests of the United States. His
dedication has come at a great cost personally and professionally. However unlike Rapp
in the Flynn books Wells questions the role of the United States in the War on Terror and
whether or not the United States should be in the Middle East and other places that our
country has currently deemed a danger and this is where the reader's opinion on the
United States role in combating what has been deemed the War on Terror and the Axis of
Evil will come into play in determine whether this is a book that they will love or a book that
will never be on their top ten list.
The story is very good and very realistic. The writing is beautiful and it flows smoothly and
is easy to follow. The story is interesting. The question s what are your personal politics?
What are your personal beliefs? If you question some of the steps taken by the United
States and our armed forces then chances are you will really like this book. You will most
likely share some of the characters concerns while at the same time doing all that you can
to support our troops. If you believe that the steps that have been taken by the United
States Government and the armed forces have been necessary to protect the Country then
my expectation is that you will not love this book. You will not like the questioning, the guilt
and some of the hesitation.
I enjoyed both "The Faithful Spy" and "The Ghost War" and I will ready Berensons most
recent "The Silent Man" with that said in my opinion Vince Flynn and Mitch Rapp are in no
danger of being removed from my favorites list.
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