Gasp!

Book Review: Once a Marine by Nick Popaditch with Mike Steere

My review of "Once A Marine: An Iraq War Tank Commander's Inspirational Memoir of Combat, Courage and Recovery"  by Nick Popaditch with Mike Steere was published in today's edition of The Birmingham News.

This was one of those books that made me wish I had more column space. In all, readers get a clear view of Marines - the training, the values, the reasons why someone would join. He makes it *understandable*, even to those people who have no family members in the service.

Anyway, Popaditch was wounded in Fallujah. He writes:

"'After the ssst, the whole world goes blinding white like I'm inside a camera flash," Popaditch writes. "Then comes total darkness and a horrible electric-sounding hum in my ears. ... The RPG -- a four-pound missile going 300 miles an hour, more or less -- hit and blew up on my helmet.'"

Read my review here.

DVD Review: Dance Off The Inches: Country Line Dance with Amy Blackburn

My review of Dance Off The Inches: Country Line Dance with Amy Blackburn was published in today's edition of The Birmingham News.

"From the moment Amy Blackburn says, "Hey, y'all!" you know that "Dance Off the Inches: Country Line Dance" will be a hoot. Armed with an infectious smile and a super-short denim skirt, Blackburn makes fitness a whole lot of fun. "

Read the rest. ¶

Book Review: Suture Self by Leo Cullum

My review of "Suture Self: A Book of Medical Cartoons" by Leo Cullum was reviewed in today's edition of The Birmingham News.

An excerpt:

"People will recognize Cullum's drawings. His cartoons have appeared in The New Yorker since 1977. His work relies on the juxtaposition of normalcy and the ridiculous.

For example, a doctor tells the Scarecrow from 'The Wizard of Oz': 'We can do a brain transplant but you seem to have become a big celebrity without one.'"

Read the rest.

CD Review: Everyday Meditation by KRS Edstrom

My review of KRS Edstrom's CD "Everyday Meditation" was published in today's edition of The Birmingham  News.

An excerpt: "Edstrom gently guides listeners to mentally scan each portion of their anatomy. After noting how each region feels, the listener can imagine tightness or discomfort dissipating."

Read the rest.

Book Review: Larry's Kidney by Daniel Asa Rose

My review of "Larry's Kidney" by Larry's Kidney: Being the True Story of How I Found Myself in China with My Black Sheep Cousin and His Mail-Order Bride, Skirting the Law to Get Him a Transplant -- and Save His Life, by Daniel Asa Rose was published in today's edition of The Birmingham  News.

"Larry Feldman had been on kidney dialysis more than two years and needed a transplant. Since he was on a list behind 74,000 others looking for the same organ, Feldman decided to try his luck in China... Rose and Feldman had been estranged more than 15 years. Reuniting over Feldman's ill health, Rose reluctantly meets him in Beijing. Because it is against Chinese law for Americans to receive organ transplants, the two cousins must dodge the police and government spies to save Feldman's life. Through a series of coincidences and clandestine meetings, a hospital in a town outside of Beijing agrees to perform the illegal surgery."

Read the whole thing.

Book Review: The Little Book of Pandemics by Dr. Peter Moore

My review of The Little Book of Pandemics by Dr. Peter Moore was published in today's edition of The Birmingham News.

An excerpt:
"Inspired by the avian flu scare several years ago, Moore set out to write a guidebook about these illnesses. Using simple language, he describes the origins, symptoms and treatment of such maladies as influenza and hepatitis A. Moore also outlines the possibility of each disease being used as a bioweapon."

Can you tell that I'm totally into pandemics? Read the whole thing.

Book Review: American Girl's 'Is This Normal?' by Erin Falligant

My review of American Girl's new book, "Is This Normal?" by Erin Falligant was published in today's edition of The Birmingham News.

"Girls have a million questions about puberty, many of which are too embarrassing to ask. It isn't easy to think about breasts and bras, especially when your body is growing in ways you never thought possible."Is This Normal?," edited by Erin Falligant, teaches girls how to care for their changing physiques."

Read the whole thing.

Book Review: Mymedmanager by Infinisity, Inc

My review of Mymedmanager by Infinisity, Inc. was published in today's edition of The Birmingham News.  In print, it appears on the second page of the health section. 

"Providing doctors with the correct medical history, prescription and allergy information is pivotal to receiving proper care. Remembering it all is the difficult part. Infinisity, Inc. has created Mymedmanager, a booklet that will help you organize your medical and health care information."

Read the rest. 

Book Review: 'The 5-Factor Diet' by Harley Pasternak

I'm late in posting this, but my review of Harley Pasternak's "The 5-Factor Diet" appeared in last week's Birmingham News. 

"Very few would dispute that basing a diet plan on the number five is a gimmick, but it does make it easy to remember the rules."

Read the rest here. 

Book Review: Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult

  My review of Jodi Picoult's new novel, "Handle With Care" is today's edition of The Birmingham News.

"Months before their daughter is born, Charlotte and Sean O’Keefe learn that she suffers from a genetic disorder called osteogenesis imperfecta. Because of a collagen deficiency, Willow will fracture hundreds of bones in her lifetime.
 
Jodi Picoult’s new novel, “Handle With Care,” vividly depicts a family emotionally and financially challenged by the daughter’s disease. "

The story worked for me, up until the very end. Read about it in my review.

Book Review: Match Day: One Day and One Dramatic Year in the Lives of Three New Doctors by Brian Eule

My review of Match Day: One Day and One Dramatic Year in the Lives of Three New Doctors by Brian Eule was published in today's Birmingham News.

An excerpt: "After four long years of studying medicine, new doctors enter residency programs to train under the watchful eyes of experienced colleagues. Pairing new physicians with these programs is a complicated process in which neither the students nor the hospitals have ultimate control.

Brian Eule's new book, "Match Day: One Day and One Dramatic Year in the Lives of Three New Doctors," is a dynamic look at three female physicians beginning their careers."

 Read the whole thing.

Book Review - The Body Broken: A Memoir by Lynne Greenberg

My review of The Body Broken: A Memoir by Lynne Greenberg was published in today's health section of The Birmingham News.

"While on her way to a party at age 19, Lynne Greenberg was nearly killed in a car accident. The vehicle flipped and dropped more than 30 feet into a cornfield. Greenberg's neck was fractured in a delicate area near the brain stem and spinal cord. Miraculously, her neck appeared to heal and she went on to have a normal life. Twenty-two years later, a sudden onslaught of neck pain and headaches consumed her. Greenberg writes about her experiences with chronic pain in "The Body Broken: A Memoir."

Book Review: Senior Smart Puzzles by Lindy McClean, illustrated by James Cloutier

My review of "Senior Smart Puzzles: Mazes, Hidden Objects, Same/Different Puzzles" by Lindy McClean was printed in today's Birmingham News. Why wasn't it published on Monday? Because now they publish the Health Section on Thursdays.

"McClean and illustrator James Cloutier have incorporated aspects of history into their games. Drawings consist of such luminaries as Babe Ruth, Betty Grable and the original Musketeers. Female and male figures wear fashions from the '30s, '40s and '50s. Cars, soda fountains and objects such as telephones also appear as they would have in days gone by. "

Read every last part of it.

Update: I've gotten a few questions about how to order this book. Here's a few ways how to buy a copy:

Through Amazon

The author's website

Your local bookseller should also be able to order a copy for you.

Book Review - The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella by Michael J. Ellis

My review of "The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella" appears in the March 2nd edition of the Birmingham News.

"Once upon a time, an herbal supplement called Metabolife 356 was the biggest weight-loss product in the country. Millions were made on the tablet. Michael J. Ellis, inventor of the product and co-founder of Metabolife International Inc., was on top of the world -- until it all came crashing down. Ellis explains his downfall in "The Metabolife Story: The Rape of Cinderella."

Read all about it.

 

DVD Review: Element: Tai Chi For Beginners, with Samuel Barnes

My review of Element: Tai Chi For Beginners, with Samuel Barnes appeared in yesterday's Birmingham News.

"The slow, flowing movement of tai chi looks inviting. This ancient Chinese martial art is said to reduce stress and improve balance and flexibility. Master teacher Samuel Barnes shows how to perform beginning tai chi postures in his DVD, "Element: Tai Chi for Beginners."

It also appears in the Birmingham News Living blog. Feel free to snoop around, as they regularly post some damn good stuff.

Book Review: Creative Recovery by Eric Maisel and Susan Raeburn

 My review of Creative Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity by Eric Maisel and Susan Raeburn appeared in the February 16th edition of The Birmingham News.

"Some speculate that creativity fuels addiction, but psychologists Eric Maisel and Susan Raeburn believe it can be used for recovery. In "Creative Recovery: A Complete Addiction Treatment Program That Uses Your Natural Creativity," the authors describe techniques that can assist creative people in pursuit of abstinence."

Read the rest

Book Review: Herschel Walker's book, 'Breaking Free'

My review of Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder, by Herschel Walker with Gary Brozek and Charlene Maxfield appeared in February 2nd edition of The Birmingham  News.

It went something like this:

"Football star Herschel Walker knew he had a problem when he considered murdering a man who failed to deliver a new car on time. Ordinarily this might seem like a spoiled celebrity temper tantrum, but Walker wasn't given to having diva-like moments. As a born-again Christian, such rage was unacceptable to him. Coupled with hearing voices in his head encouraging him to commit the crime, Walker knew that he to find out what was wrong."

Read the rest

Book Review: Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow? by Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff with Andrea Ditkoff and Julia Ditkoff

My review of "Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow?: Curious Questions Kids Ask About the Human Body" by Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff with Andrea Ditkoff and Julia Ditkoff was published on January 26 in The Birmingham News.

"You are in line at the grocery store. Suddenly, your daughter spots a woman standing nearby and cries out: "Why does that woman have a mustache?"

After the initial embarrassment subsides, you may be stuck trying to answer an awkward question about the human anatomy. When Dr. Beth Ann Ditkoff's children began asking such questions, she decided to write a book that would have all the answers. The result is "Why Don't Your Eyelashes Grow?: Curious Questions Kids Ask About the Human Body."

Book Review: Surviving Ben's Suicide by C. Comfort Shields

My review of "Surviving Ben's Suicide: A Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery," by C. Comfort Shields was published on January 19 in The Birmingham  News.

"When her boyfriend, Ben, shot himself in the head, Comfort Shields felt like her life had ended. The 18-month romance was fraught with difficulties, but she had no idea it would end so tragically. In "Surviving Ben's Suicide: A Woman's Journey of Self-Discovery," Shields poignantly discovers that she didn't cause Ben to kill himself; nor could she have healed him from his troubles."

A completely unrelated review  was published on January 12 in the Birmingham News. It was the oddest book/video combo I've seen in a while. My quibbles are in the review.

Book Review: I Bet I Won't Fret by Timothy Sisemore

My review of  "I Bet I Won't Fret: A Workbook to Help Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder," by Timothy Sisemore was published on January 5 in The Birmingham  News.

"Children experience anxiety throughout their lives, but for some it is a constant problem. Pervasive fear becomes a daily struggle, making it difficult for them to talk to friends or go to school. Young people who experience this type of anxiety will find solace in Timothy Sisemore's book, "I Bet I Won't Fret: A Workbook to Help Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder."

Book Review: The No Bull Book on Heart Disease by Joel Okner, M.D. and Jeremy Clorfene

My review of "The No Bull Book on Heart Disease: Real Answers to Winning  Back Your Heart and Health," by Joel Okner, M.D. and Jeremy Clorfene was published on December 29, 2008.

"The pressure in your chest and shortness of breath are terrifying. An ambulance rushes you to the hospital. After an emergency bypass operation, you learn that you need to make lifestyle changes, but you still don't understand what has happened or why. In Dr. Joel Okner's and Jeremy Clorfene's book "The No Bull Book on Heart Disease: Real Answers to Winning Back Your Heart and Health," readers learn what to expect during and after treatment for heart disease."

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.

Book Review: T.O.'s Finding Fitness

My review of Terrell Owens' book: T.O.'s Finding Fitness: Making the Mind, Body and Spirit Connection for Total Health, co-authored by Buddy Primm and Courtney Parker, was in Monday's Birmingham News.

A snippet:

"Rather than focusing on fitness, Terrell Owens concentrates on Terrell Owens. He includes X-ray pictures of his broken bones, with captions such as "What happened next: Moved to Dallas, became a star!"

The pictures of him demonstrating workouts are shot in a suggestive manner. There is also a full-color gallery of Owens in various poses. It is fair to say that this is the only fitness book on the market that features the author eating candy out of a bowl."

In other news, the ongoing discussion of culture and the economy will continue shortly...

The Whole World is Watching

Courtney Haden interviewed me for this week's Birmingham Weekly, the city's alternative paper. We talk about the 1968 Democratic Convention, the 60s in general and Project 1968 in particular. More tomorrow...

Book Reviews: Dr. Bernie Siegel & Yosaif August, and 40 Weeks +: The Essential Pregnancy Organizer

I filed my book reviews before I left for my Honeymoon. If all goes well, they will continue to appear while I'm gone.  

My review of Dr. Bernie Siegel and Yosaif August's book "Help Me To Heal: A Practical Guidebook For Patients, Visitors, and Caregivers" appeared in the Birmingham News last week. It was picked up by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution yesterday.

"A hospital room is no different than a hotel room —- it's yours as long as you pay for it," write Dr. Bernie Siegel and Yosaif August in their book, "Help Me to Heal: A Practical Guidebook for Patients, Visitors, and Caregivers" (Hay House, $19.95). While hospital stays are no vacation, they could be viewed as a rest stop on the road to wellville."

My review of "40 Weeks +: The Essential Pregnancy Organizer" appears in today's Birmingham News. Look for it in the Health section, second page, top left... Where you will find my book reviews each week. Here's an excerpt:

"Pregnancy can feel like an overwhelming task. Most expectant mothers have little time to contend with minor details, such as shopping lists, child-care options and birth announcements. For women who need help keeping it together, Dani Rasmussen and Antoinette Perez have created "40 Weeks+: The Essential Pregnancy Organizer."

Book Reviews

My 60th book review for the Birmingham News was published yesterday. Hard to believe that I’ve written that many book reviews. Even harder to believe that they've published them.

Anyway, "Truth, Lies, and the O.R.," Dr. F.W. Ernst and Dr. William G. Pace III can be found here.

“A patient wakes up in the middle of surgery, paralyzed. Although he is fully conscious, he can't communicate to the doctors and nurses around him. He feels the pain of metal screws being inserted into his leg, but he can't flinch. In "Truth, Lies, and the O.R.," Dr. F.W. Ernst and Dr. William G. Pace III describe worst possible scenarios and ways to avoid medical disaster.”

My 59th review was for a less than stellar book. In the past, I’ve opted not to mention these types of books, but I’m reconsidering that policy. As you can see, the fact that the author is a popular blogger didn’t warrant a mention in the review. Why? Because it had nothing to do with anything, though I’m sure there are a few 20th century book critics who will find a way to slam her for having a blog.

My thoughts on number 59? She attempted to squash five summers into one. It shows.

And then there’s “Comfort” by Ann Hood. Upon re-reading the review, I can tell you that it comes off a little more positive than I felt at the time I wrote it.

“Rather than being a meditation on sorrow, "Comfort" is a literary portrait of a deceased daughter, drawn by the hand of her grieving mother. Many books will tell you how grief feels, but Hood's book honors a memory.”

Not a bad book. Some people will love it. It’s got an Oprahesque quality. It’s hard not to compare it to Joan Didion’s tome on death and grief. But that’s not fair to the author, so quit thinking like that.

Book Review: Healing from the Heart by Timothy Dawes

My review of "Healing from the Heart:  A Practical Guide to Creating Excellent Experiences for Patients and Their Families" by Timothy Dawes was published in the Birmingham News. 

This one was a more of a workbook-type of thing for those in the medical profession. 

An excerpt: "Difficult patient relationships can lead to burnout and malpractice lawsuits. "Healing from the Heart: A Practical Guide to Creating Excellent Experiences for Patients and Their Families" by Timothy Dawes instructs nurses and doctors on how to communicate effectively with patients and co-workers."

A shortened version of the review also ran in the  Kalamazoo Gazette.

Book Review: Who Are You and What Do You Want by Mick Ukleja and Robert Lorbe

Time to catch up on book reviews. 

My review of "Who Are You And What Do You Want: A Journey for the the Best of Your Life" by Mick Ukleja and Robert Lorbe ran a while back in the Birmingham News. The review was also picked up by a South Carolina Mountain Region paper. Though it says I'm an AP writer, they got the review through Newhouse. A truncated version of the same review also ran in the Atlanta Journal Constitution last weekend.

An excerpt: "If you know who you are and what you want but are afraid to get it, this book won't be very helpful. But if you'd like to rediscover your true path in life, be sure to sharpen your pencils because there's plenty of work ahead."

Book Review - Manic: A Memoir by Terri Cheney

My review of Terri Cheney's book, "Manic: A Memoir" is in today's Birmingham News.

"Very little insight is given to these embarrassing situations until late in the book. Chapters resemble cocktail stories, with small doses of horror and humor. But in the end there's a payoff. Cheney wraps this string of situations into a thematic bow that makes complete sense."

Read the rest here.

Book Review: Final Journeys - A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life

I'm late in posting this but...

My review of "Final Journeys: A Practical Guide for Bringing Care and Comfort at the End of Life" by Maggie Callanan was published in the Birmingham News.

"Sensitively written, Callanan outlines in precise detail what a family should know about saying goodbye to a loved one. It is a deeply compassionate and moving book."

Read the rest here.

Book Review: The Book of Blah

I reviewed Pamela Aye Simon's "The Book of Blah: Random Thoughts for Boring Days" several weeks ago for the Birmingham News.

“Simon's book is filled with free-verse poetry on the peculiarities of modern life. Her topics are diverse, ranging from technology to clothing, diet and the aging process…The theme throughout the text is of loss and compromise. The narrator is conflicted between her inner life and external circumstances. This underpinning accounts for the sadness that occasionally overwhelms these verses.”

Officially, it falls under the “humor” category, and that was my main quibble with it. Books like “The Book of Blah” are tough to categorize – not quite humor, not quite literary, not quite… You get the idea.

The free verse form fascinates me because of its economy - taking the most important words in the sentence and cutting out the rest. I think my eyes do that quite naturally. Using too many words dilutes the impact of a statement.

Anyway, read the review here.

Book Review: The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood, by Judith Uyterlinde

My review of The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood, by Judith Uyterlinde was in yesterday's Birmingham News. An excerpt:

"I know that I have had a miscarriage, but I cannot comprehend the meaning of what has happened. All I feel is physical relief. I stand up to look, but I cannot identify an embryo in the glistening bloody mass." So begins Judith Uyterlinde's journey into infertility. Her book, "The Baby Void: My Quest for Motherhood," describes what it feels like for a woman to gradually lose her ability to conceive a child.

Her family and friends speak in whispers as, one by one, everyone around her begins to bear children. Meanwhile, Uyterlinde tries to conceive with her husband. As the book progresses, she experiences one miscarriage, two ectopic pregnancies, four failed in vitro fertilization attempts and the removal of her only functional fallopian tube.

Read the entire review.

Book Review: Distorted

My review of Distorted: How a Mother and Daughter Unraveled the Truth, the Lies, and the Realities of an Eating Disorder, by Lorri Antosz Benson and Taryn Leigh Benson was published in Monday's Birmingham News

"The book is told as a dual narrative, with each author recalling the same events from a different perspective. This structure provides readers with a grim view of this disintegrating relationship. It is hard not to admire their honesty, as well as their eventual forgiveness. This is an important book for families battling this illness."

Read the whole review... or not.

Book Review: The Genie in Your Genes

My review of The Genie in Your Genes: Epigenetic Medicine and the New Biology of Intention, by Dawson Church was published last Monday.

"Citing more than 300 medical studies, he proposes that DNA can be altered through the power of belief."

It's a bit heavy into the physics, biology and science realm. If that's your thing, then check it out. The most fascinating passage in this book dealt with the idea of "retrospective prayer," meaning you can pray for someone today and it might've helped them 10 years ago. Wrap your head around that one...

Book Review: The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets

My review of The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets by Kym Douglas and Cindy Pearlman was publishing in Monday's Birmingham News.

"Kym Douglas and Cindy Pearlman know the value of a guilty pleasure. "The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets" is both naughty and bold."

Click happily and try not to feel too guilty.

Book Review: The Chase for Beauty

Monday was so last year, but I'll post it anyway. My review of The Chase for Beauty by Robert Mendelson was published in The Birmingham News.

The book reminded me of one of those Saturday night true-crime shows. Here's an excerpt from the review:

"Hurwitz's life took a shocking turn when his daughter was savagely murdered in the family backyard. The case shook Pittsburgh and made Hurwitz question his faith in God and himself. Before that terrible night, he was a supremely confident surgeon with innovative approaches to difficult cases. In grief, he wondered what was left of a family after their only child is taken from them. On top of that, Hurwitz was then hit with a controversial malpractice suit. He lost, and it almost bankrupted him."

All the reviews in the world!

Maybe, almost.

I'm trying to wrap up 2007, and it looks like I forgot to post links to a few of my Birmingham News book reviews. Some of these are not web-formatted, so they look a little weird. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Ready?

"Grief's Courageous Journey: A Workbook," by Sandi Caplan & Gordon Lang appeared November 12th in the health section.

"Unlike other books that only talk about the grieving process, the authors gently guide readers through journey. It's a necessary trip."

"New Stories from the South: The Year's Best - 2007," editor Edward P. Jones appeared on the book page November 25th.

"In "New Stories from the South: The Year's Best - 2007," editor Edward P. Jones looked for stories that would leave a lasting impact. "I should confess," he writes in his introduction, "that I did not feel I could choose any story that seemed to have been built solely around some anecdote, a story of one note, as it were." His selections for this annual anthology resonate, and together, the stories describe an area of the country in transition."

I didn't like this book, so no free advertising on Gasp. NO SOUP FOR YOU either. Readers should proceed at their own risk. It appeared November 26th in the health section.

"You've seen those prescription drug commercials on television: Medical terms, scary symptoms and statistics mingled with small talk, as if it were normal to rattle off complex data while eating croissants. That's exactly what it's like to read..."

And finally, on page 2D of today's Birmingham News, "Living Well: 21 Days to Transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health and Feel Spectacular," by Montel Williams.

"When talk show host Montel Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis he thought his life was over. Doctors told him to quit his show, avoid stress and all physical activity. Instead of preparing to die, he learned to manage his disease through healthy living. His book, "Living Well: 21 Days to Transform Your Life, Supercharge Your Health and Feel Spectacular," provides a sound plan for people looking to drop weight and feel great."

Review: The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size by Julia Cameron

Two months before getting my MFA, I envisioned a door shutting. It was the door to my own voice. Three difficult years followed. I could edit my poems, and I could write in my journal. I made an attempt at writing short stories. Playwriting, my most comfortable creative outlet, was a completely closed door.

Whenever people talk about writer's block, they usually think that it has something to do with a lack of discipline. "Just do it. Sit there and write." But it wasn't that easy. For me, the block had a slew of extenuating circumstances that went far beyond discipline. It had to do with violence and identity, being in hiding and worthiness. The past, the "back there." I didn't want to do anything that reminded me of who I was previously, and I certainly didn't want to found.

Still, when you silence yourself - whether by choice or fear - the part that remains will continue to speak. It will chase you down the street, slide into bed with you at night and wrestle you until you listen to it.

That's how I became familiar with Julia Cameron's work . Her books on creativity, coupled with attending a meditation and healing school, got me writing plays again. Once I allowed myself to do the exercises in The Artists Way, it freed my voice enough that I could yell out a primal scream on the page.

So is her newest book,The Writing Diet: Write Yourself Right-Size as good as The Artists Way? Read my review and find out. It appeared on newstands in Monday's Birmingham News.

Book Review: I Won't Survive... I'll Thrive! by Aurea McGarry

I forgot to mention that along with the big diet and fitness article, there's a book review on the second page of the Health section in today's Birmingham News: I Won't Survive ... I'll Thrive! How I Overcame Domestic Violence, Cancer, And Much More, by Aurea McGarry.

An excerpt from the review:
"She and her brother both survived their illnesses, and McGarry learned a few lessons along the way. Rather than relying on visualization or unconventional methods, McGarry focused on prayer, faith and the Bible. She shares her experiences with the confidence of a wise teacher. "

Buy a copy or read more about it here

Going on a diet for the New Year?*

On the front page of the Health Section in today's Birmingham News, I review five diet and fitness books. The name of the article is "Work off that Santa belly: Diet, exercise books are the gifts that keep on taking off the pounds. "

The chosen five are:

• The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain To Think Like A Thin Person by Judith S. Beck, Ph.D
  
• Extreme Fat Smash Diet by Ian K. Smith, M.D
  
• Goal Digger Fitness: Look, Feel, And Perform Your Best With A Breakthrough 14-Day Exercise Plan by Eric Harr With Alexa Joy Sherman.
  
• The Four-Day Win: End Your Diet War And Achieve Thinner Peace by Martha Beck, Ph.D
  
• Men's Health TNT Diet: The Explosive New Plan To Blast Fat, Build Muscle, And Get Healthy by Jeff Volek, Ph.D And Adam Campbell.

Also mentioned in the article:

• The Cardiologist's Wife's Chocolate Too! Diet: No Sugar, No Fat & Luscious by Joyce and Robert G. Schneider, M.D.
  
• The New Rules of Lifting for Women: Lift Like a Man, Look Like a Goddess by Lou Schuler
  
• The Calorie King Calorie, Fat & Carbohydrate Counter 2008 Edition by Allen Borushek
  
• Younger Next Year for Women: Live Strong, Fit, and Sexy - Until You're 80 and Beyond by Chris Crowley & Henry S. Lodge, M.D.
  
• Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Workbook: The 6-week Plan to Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person by Judith S. Beck, Ph.D.

*This is strictly a rhetorical question. I am not implying that you need to lose weight. Don't be silly. You look fabulous!

More Thoughts on Mailer

Here are a few more thoughts on the death of Norman Mailer from around the net.

• James Wolcott, contributing editor of Vanity Fair, quoted my Mailer entry, along with his own thoughts.

• Wall Street Journal’s Terry Teachout didn’t like him then and hasn’t changed his mind. I don’t think he’s mean-spirited in the timing of his entry. Though I will add – respectfully – that I was under 40 when I got turned on to Mailer’s work. I’m still under 40 and I still have a more realistic appreciation for it.

• Christopher Hitchens on Mailer for Slate. Fabulous.

Jethro probably has the most succinct thought of all: "I don't have an opinion on Mailer, except that I'm sorry he's in hell right now."

If I've missed something, let me know.

Book Review: Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous by Esther Blum

My review of Eat, Drink and Be Gorgeous: A Nutritionist's Guide to Living Well While Living it Up, by Esther Blum was published in Monday's Birmingham News.

"The essence of the book is about enjoying your body and your life. No puritanical outlooks and no lectures. Just straightforward and practical advice for those who like to live fast and delicately."

Read all about it here.

Review Reprise

The Houston Chronicle published my review of Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge's book Picture Perfect: What You Need to Feel Better About Your Body in their Sunday Life section. Very cool.

I got word today that Amazon mistakenly recommended this book for girls 9-12. It is actually for teens as well as preteens. Or, as I stated in my review, “Instead of looking for external cues, Picture Perfect tells girls to look within themselves for approval. That's a special statement for all ages.”

I think the book struck me as being good for preteens due to my own appearance insecurities at that age. I remember them quite vividly. Several years ago, I watched my niece go through similar problems. I would never want to go through those horrible years again. I can’t even imagine what it’s like these days.

Thank goodness I’m old enough to drive.

Book Review: Picture Perfect by Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge

I'm sick today. Oh, the horror. But in between feeling sick and being sick, I figured I'd post my latest health book review.

"Mothers will wish that Jill S. Zimmerman Rutledge's book, "Picture Perfect: What You Need to Feel Better About Your Body," was published when they were young. It would've spared them plenty of angst."

I'm not just saying that either. Read the rest of it here.

Review: Head Games by Christopher Nowinski

Paging pro-wrestling fans... My review of Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis by Christopher Nowinski was published in last Monday's Birmingham News. As usual, I forgot to post it.

"Christopher Nowinski's pro-wrestling career ended when Bubba Ray Dudley kicked him in the chin. The concussion he received that night was exacerbated by his previous head injuries. Nowinski's book, "Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis," offers stunning new information about concussions and their long-term effects."

Visit al.com for the total experience.

Book Review: Coming to Terms with Aging

My review of Coming to Terms with Aging: The Secret to Meaningful Time, by I Michael Grossman was published in Monday's Birmingham News.

Someday I'll remember to post these things when the review is actually published. That would be helpful.