In order to make the best use of our limited posting space, instead of writing full reviews we will share "Short Takes" on some books that come across our desks. These are most likely books that interested us, but just didn't "wow" us. Maire is the first book of The Fires of Gleannmara Series. Set in 15th century Ireland, it's the tale of Christianity's spread and the battle between two warriors who join together to follow God. In Latter-Day Cipher: A Novel, a Utah heiress turns up dead. Her corpse is marked by strange carvings, and the killer's note is written in a 19th century code that implicates the Church of the Latter-Day Saints. Journalist Selonnah Zee lands the assignment, and finds more murders and even stranger clues. Will she be able ...
Category Archives: Health
The Vaccine Answer Book
If you have children, then you likely have questions about vaccinations. Enter: The Vaccine Answer Book: 200 Essential Answers to Help You Make the Right Decisions for Your Child. I was excited to see this book because I do have questions about the safety and health benefits/dangers wrapped up in vaccinations. Sometimes I wonder if the benefit is not overwhelmed by the risk and since we have a family history that contains some bad reactions to vaccines, we've been pretty cautious with our children. This book was written by Dr. Jamie Loehr, M.D., F.A.A.F.P. and in the introduction to the book she tells you straight up that she is pro-vaccination. She supports what she calls the "herd immunity" approach which is pro-everyone being fully vaccinated. That said, she also says that she ...
The Unhealthy Truth
I was intrigued when I heard of the book The Unhealthy Truth. The premise was interesting, plus I live in Oregon where eating "green" is the rule, not the exception. I married into a vegetarian family (my mother-in-law was vegan) and when I first moved to the state (from Texas - where good food is fried or barbecued!) I lived with some close friends of mine -- also vegans. I figured the information that was in The Unhealthy Truth would not really come as a surprise, but more of a reminder. (As an aside, as I was reading this book, written by Robyn O'Brien, (founder of AllergyKids), I couldn't help but notice the similarities between her writing style and ...
Smart Mama’s Green Guide
Becoming a parent brings on a whole new world of things to give thought to. Beyond the daily life changes (showering becomes optional in those early days, it seems), there are also the bigger picture issues to consider. Jennifer Taggart has put together a great resource in Smart Mama's Green Guide: Simple Steps to Reduce Your Child's Toxic Chemical Exposure, especially considering how confusing all the information out there can be. With chapters focusing on certain home areas such as the kitchen, the nursery, and the bathroom, Taggart gathers and deciphers what is known about the toxicity of the available products that may very well be a regular part of your life. Other chapters give attention to the governmental agencies that are commissioned with overseeing the regulation of the vast amount of chemicals that are all around us, as ...
The Hot Mommy Next Door
When I was pregnant with my first child nine years ago, I relished in the thought that I was free to eat what I wanted-- I was eating for two, after all! I had the joy of being in my early 20's and was moderately in shape, but not as a result of any regular exercise regimen. Those nine months of eating for two (or at times, seemingly 22) really left their mark on my ever-expanding body. Once the baby was born, man oh man, could I have used Alison Fadoul's new book, The Hot Mommy Next Door: A Quick, Easy, and Effective Way to Drop Your Baby Weight and Achieve Your Personal Best After Pregnancy. After the birth of a child, there's just so much that's turned upside down in your life, it's definitely a challenge ...
Breaking Everyday Addictions
I don't have any addictions. Nope, not single one! How 'bout you? I thought not. This book, Breaking Everyday Addictions, by Dr. David Hawkins focuses on the "other" people with the significant addictive behaviors (i.e., porn, alcohol, gambling issues, etc) as well as the people with the "every day" addictions. You know the sort . . . the other people who can't seem to function without their daily caffeine fix. The people who are always reading blogs. (Ahem.) The people who run around with a blackberry in their back pocket. Yeah, you know the ones. Hawkins talks about the stages of denial: rationalization, justification, minimization, procrastination, victimization and other -ations. He also spends a significant period of time talking about how we just need to own up to things and ...
Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister’s Memoir
Sixtyfive Roses: A Sister's Memoir sat in my to-be-read pile for almost two months, in spite of the fact that I was really excited to read it. Why? Well, it's fairly thick for one thing (433 pages), and with other deadlines, it was easier to focus on shorter books; but the other reason was more personal. It's the reason that I was drawn to the book in the first place. My long-time boyfriend (for a year in high school and a year in college) had Cystic Fibrosis, so I wasn't sure how I would react to it. How did I react? Read my entire review, and enter to win your own copy at 5 Minutes for Mom today.
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Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor -
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