Category: Books



The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of DepressionThe Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don’t know who recommended this book for me. Whoever, thank you! This was so interesting!

Having borrowed the Libby audio narrated by the author, I now hope to buy the book someday.

The thing is, this is more than a book about depression, or even one person’s account of his own journey. This book includes a bit of history of the diagnosis and treatment for centuries. It also includes how the disorder affects different socioeconomic sets of people.

I highly recommend this for anyone who has gone through depression or know of others who might be suffering. It leads to not only a deeper understanding, but medical issues and ways to find health.

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Life in BitsLife in Bits by Harper Bliss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mothers and daughters, family relationships, strokes, photography, charity, wealth, and war. These are some of the topics this lesbian May/December romance covers. For the most part I loved the whole story.

However. The grumpy old lady and the perfect ingénue trope was quite upsetting. It seems a dysfunctional relationship in the making.

Still, there is enough meat to the story to keep the reader interested. And the erotica was kept to a minimum just spicy enough to feel real.

I always want to know what happens afterwards. How will they make the relationship work?

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Angel MagicAngel Magic by Lucia Ashta
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Two things ruined this book for me. The first is such a big one that I may not read anything else by this author. I HATE CLIFFHANGERS! If I like characters and the world enough, leave me in a safe place, I’ll be back for more!

The second problem was that way too much helpless romance in both the main character and her love interest. Ugh! How about using that energy to find out her abilities. A part angel part mermaid could have made it quite interesting, but, no, we have to have romance take over and make the pair helpless once again. Ugh!

But maybe I am too old to get the need to be helpless? I think romance should happen between peoples’ strengths. Then the romantic interaction is so much more appreciated. This is a young adult book. But why do we need separate categories? A good book is fun for all!

Still, plenty of people loved this series so try it for yourself.

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Life in the Fasting Lane: The Essential Guide to Making Intermittent Fasting Simple, Sustainable, and EnjoyableLife in the Fasting Lane: The Essential Guide to Making Intermittent Fasting Simple, Sustainable, and Enjoyable by Jason Fung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I borrowed this audio copy from the e-library on Libby. I have had a lot of fun listening to this book. Even though it is non-fiction, I found it hugely entertaining.

The narrators, Brian Nishii, Courtney Patterson, Piper Goodeve, had me fooled as I truly thought they were the authors. Their voices were energetic and friendly. I have heard Doctor Jason Fung on YouTubes. By the way, look him up; fascinating and informative videos.

The three authors give you different views of Intermittent Fasting. The Doctor gives scientific, medical information. Megan Ramos gives the advice she gives to her clients, and Eve Mayer talks about her weight loss journey. I like having the book broke up that way. It’s nice not getting overwhelmed by the medical data, or too much advice told in one spot, or too much of a person’s journey without knowing the science of why certain things happened.

Okay, maybe I didn’t explain this well enough. This might show how much I enjoyed this audiobook. I plan to buy this so I can revisit it from time to time. Glad I got to borrow it from the library first.

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KetoFast: Rejuvenate Your Health with a Step-by-Step Guide to Timing Your Ketogenic MealsKetoFast: Rejuvenate Your Health with a Step-by-Step Guide to Timing Your Ketogenic Meals by Joseph Mercola
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hmm. This book seems to have a lot of differing reviews. I seem to be in the middle ground. I didn’t hate the book. I did find some interesting information here. The most coming from a documentary he recommends, Stink! Which is less about Intermittent Fasting and more about additives in foods and everything else in our lives. I rented it from Amazon. I was interesting, yet it made me feel a bit helpless.

As for the book, some things are explained better than Doctor Fung’s books but so few in comparison that I’d advise that you just read Dr. Jason Fung’s books. The thing is, Intermittent Fasting should be easy and not cost anything. But nearing the end of Joseph Mercola’s book, there are so many things a person should purchase to keep all the elements working to optimum health. Even a sauna. Nah.

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Guardians of the Trails: Secret Agents of the Wilderness Volume 1Guardians of the Trails: Secret Agents of the Wilderness Volume 1 by Ron Guiley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I recently went to the eye doctor. Yes, the one that didn’t give me new glasses as he is setting up cataract-removal surgery for me. I can’t wait! It will be so nice when I can read all books again. Until that operation happens, I guess children’s books or Kindle and Audible are my only way to read. As the doctor and I discussed how I couldn’t even see the big E with my left eye, I told him how important it was that I be able to read. “I’m a writer!” I said as I pointed to my 2020 NaNoWriMo winner’s T-shirt. He pulled out his bookmark to prove he not only wrote but actually had published his masterpiece. I couldn’t wait to get it and read it.

Luckily, this book is a wonderful picture book. The poodles pictured in the book are the doctor’s own. He enjoyed taking them on hikes and snapped pictures. A story evolved with the pictures, as with children’s books, the writing is large enough for most of us to read. And the illustrations are adorable. Don’t think for a minute it is just a bunch of poodle pics. The story is fun. The poodles are secret agents solving nature puzzles. I can’t wait to see what they get up to in volume 2!

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The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight LossThe Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss by Jason Fung
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After reading
The Cancer Code by Jason Fung
and
The Diabetes Code Prevent and Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Naturally by Jason Fung
through the library Kindle version, I found I had a credit over at Audible and was able to get this one. After watching many YouTubes with Doctor Jason Fung, I was surprised that the author didn’t narrate his book. Still, Brian Nishii did an excellent job narrating. If you are concerned about seeing graphs and other illustrations, you can pick up the PDF of those if you get the Audible version.

I think I read these books out of order. And there was a lot of information that was repeated from one book to the next. So maybe that doesn’t matter in the long run. Doctor Fung does explain the purposes, past, and practicalities of fasting. I have since bought the paper version of the Cancer Code and the Diabetes Code. I know I will want to revisit a lot of the information after I get better at fasting. I want to do all this with my greatest health in mind. This has been quite the learning experience above and beyond the written page. I do have my own doctor along for the ride to make sure. For those who are curious start reading any of these three books or The Complete Guide to Fasting by Jason Fung, MD. If you can’t afford them, your library may have them. If an actual checkout date is too far off check out his YouTubes.

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The Morning Star: A gripping, emotional and heart-warming story about a mother and child.The Morning Star: A gripping, emotional and heart-warming story about a mother and child. by Gita V. Reddy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Gita V. Reddy is getting better and better at telling a good story, at developing characters full of human emotions. This was probably my favorite of all her books.

In this book, Gita’s main character, Sudha, must take care of a baby while fighting her own demons. Not her baby. And during the pandemic’s early days.

There are so many layers of psychological, cultural, and personal issues brought to the reader. These keep them wondering at the woman’s sanity. Or is this crazy deep, protective love vital for this case?

I love the people that Sudha meets along the way and the friends that become family.

Please send prayers to Gita and her family and all of India as the pandemic continues to ravage that country. I so look forward to the day when the world can go back to health.

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The Boy Who Was Left BehindThe Boy Who Was Left Behind by Gita V. Reddy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Can you remember things that happened in childhood that impacted you? Did you interpret what was said or done around you? I can remember my aunt was trying to get me to eat. I was always a picky eater. Still am. So she pointed down the street of my grandmother’s house toward the dairy, “If you don’t eat, you’ll dry up and fly away, and the cows will eat you!” I ate.

I remember interpreting from a bedtime tale that castles were dragons. The nightmare that night caused me to scream out that there was a castle under my bed. Children can misunderstand words and deeds. The Boy Who Was Left Behind presents that theme. Here’s the blurb on the GoodReads and Amazon pages:

“Vimal lives with his grandmother. His parents, who are NRIs – non-resident Indians – leave him with his grandmother when he is two. Vimal grows up in Jaipur, happy and secure in the loving care of his grandmother. His parents are a blurred memory made up from short visits. When Vimal is eight, a phone call in the night turns his world topsy-turvy. His grandmother leaves him with relatives and goes to London.

Once again, Vimal is left behind – this time with a secret that is too big for a young boy.”

This book would be a great read-aloud for parents/teachers/counselors, and children. It could instigate conversations of help and healing.

Rarely do I share another review. Not because mine is so good, but rather I don’t want to overwhelm myself or others. If I put it out there, the readers would find others to read for themselves if it struck interest. But Grady’s Review on Amazon and GoodReads is super and tells what I feel about the author.

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UnFinished Friday


The above socks sans cuffs are among many projects not finished this week. Three days of appointments, two of which were out of town (two hours each way), kept me from my usual machinations. I had to look up that word. I’ll stick with it as it might make those who know me have a giggle. There are no evil schemes afoot—just my knitting, writing, and editing.

Dare I say this? COVID19 has made doctor visits more efficient. I take along
reading material and knitting for those sitting times. So far, that hasn’t happened
at all. Walk-in. Temp check. Empty room with empty chairs to fill out forms.
Then call to a solitary room—everyone with masks and lots of hand sanitizer. I
felt safe, and the jobs were done quickly and like a well-oiled machine. And no
uncomfortable waiting in a room of ill people. It is as though they have
figured out how to take care of individuals. I think that is a good thing. Now,
will they be able to maintain the good when things go back to ‘normal?’

Still, no time to sit and read or edit or knit or write while waiting.
Talking with my husband and singing happened. Those don’t have a finish line,
do they? I hope not. Well, soon enough, I will have new eyes, and I will be
able to read real books. I miss the tree books!

Well, back to knitting as I watch Doctor Who. Did you know that the first of
Christopher Eccleston’s Who is on HBO Max? He was my first Doctor Who. Though
David Tenet is my favorite. Had better writers been used, Jodie Whittaker would
have been. The actress did the best she could with what she was given.

By the way, if the URL shows up in the podcast, I’m sorry. I’m still
learning how to do this.

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