Gasp!

Book Review: 1001 Ways to Relax by Susannah Marriott

My review of 1001 Ways to Relax by Susannah Marriott appeared in the Birmingham News on November 24. 

"The book contains a wide variety of ways that people can relax, depending on situation and personality. For example, people who are coming home from a stressful day at work could use suggestion number 325, a recipe for a purifying bath oil. To lessen relationship stress or loneliness, you can take suggestion number 619 and volunteer at a home for the elderly. Extroverts can try suggestion 576 and join a choral group."

Read the rest of the review.

Book Review: Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope

My review of Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope, appeared in The Birmingham News on August 11.  And what a story.

"On April 26, 2006, a truck slammed into a van carrying staff and students from Taylor University. Five people perished. A case of misidentification led the family of Whitney Cerak to believe she was dead. Instead she lay comatose in the hospital, being cared for by another victim's family. The story of the discovery and her recovery is told in "Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope."

Read the review here.

Book Review: Fit Mama by Stacy Denney and Kate Hodson

My review of "Fit Mama: A Real-Life Fitness Guide for the New Mom" by Stacy Denney and Kate Hodson was published in the Birmingham  News on December 1.

"Denney and Hodson's fitness plan is flexible, leaving new mothers lots of options to explore. They also give good advice on how to help juggle self-care and the baby's care. "Fit Mama" provides a wealth of information and reassurance to help new mothers navigate their way through post-partum recovery."

Read the review.

Book Review: Hi I'm Bill and I'm Old by William Alexander

My review of "Hi, I'm Bill and I'm Old: Reinventing My Sobriety for the Long Haul," by William Alexander was published in the Birmingham News on December 15.

"His book is composed of a series of essays, each with a lesson on the aging process. Alexander uses memories from his life to illustrate a point. With gentle humor and simplicity, the book delves deeply into the subjects of God, death and health concerns. Readers witness Alexander's evolution as he remembers an event and then rethinks it, extracting wisdom about the meaning of life."

Read the rest of the review.

Book Review: Why Good Things Happen to Good People by Stephen Post and Jill Neimark

My review of "Why Good Things Happen to Good People: How to Live a Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by the Simple Act of Giving," by Stephen Post and Jill Neimark was published in Birmingham News on December 8th.

"Contrary to other health books, these authors believe that the key to good health is in not thinking about yourself. Focusing on what you can contribute to family, friends, community and the world will increase the quality of your emotional and physical well-being. Post and Neimark use studies and anecdotal evidence to back up their claims."

 Read the entire review.

I'm Back

I've been "away" due to a death in my immediate family. Part of the delay in coming back to blogging has been my uncertainty about how to deal with what happened. Since I continue to be mixed about it, I'm opting to ice the discussion. I reserve the option to write about it at a later time.

Meanwhile, Gasp is back. Give me a few entries to scrub the rust off of my keyboard.

Thanks for your understanding.