5 comments about Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple.

1. I read this book in 3 days. I couldn't put it down. It keeps you wanting to know more! It made me sick how many people were involved with such a mind-freak! They didn't even recognize what was going on. This is a must read!



2. 
   Book came within a short time and was in the shape that seller told it was in and even better.



3. Originally bought as a source for a research paper, i had come into this searching for a simple first hand account of the Jonestown incident. However, once i began reading, Seductive Poison evolved into much more than just a primary source. What sets this book apart from any other literature on the accounts of Jonestown is Layton's honesty. She provides the reader with a background of information leading up to joining Jim Jones and finally wraps up with the eventual mass-suicide. Instead of focusing primarily on the final events of Jonestown and the actions of Jim jones himself, Layton tells her story, from beginning to end which will help others understand why anyone would have gotten up and followed a man such as Jim Jones.
   Before beginning this book, i was skeptical. I had many questions about the followers of Jones, their motives, their mental state, what they believed in and I was worried that Layton might try to sway the reader in one direction or another. However, that is not the case. Seductive Poison provides the reader with facts, journal entries, letters, and most importantly, Photos of the loved ones she describes throughout the entire book.
   Often the writing of memoirs such as this involving such an emotional attachment don't live up to the story itself. However, Deborah Layton is a talented writer which allows the reader immerse themselves in the content rather than focus on the pros and cons of the writing. From her steady attention to detail to the heartfelt commentary, Layton has truly pulled off a winner. Because of her first hand situation in the Peoples Temple, Seductive Poison is informative. Anyone interested in seeking the ways and workings of a cult, how cults come-to-be cults, why anyone would join one or just looking to read of a women's personal journey of coming into her own, should give this book a chance. I did, and I'm thrilled with my choice.



4. This book is an insider's view of the rise and fall of the Peoples Temple. Ms. Layton was one of Jim's most trusted aides and as such knows more about what went on in the temple than the average member. She describes how she got sucked into the cult, her activities after being sucked in, what life was like in Jonestown, and how she came to see the truth and escape. At the end of the book she gives updates on many of the people who were significant to her, whether they survived or died, and, if they survived, how.
   
   I give it 4 out of 5 stars only because I read the book Escape right before this book and it was a more riveting read.
   
   The book is autobiographical in nature. Ms. Layton talks about all the things she was involved with in the Peoples Temple - the illegal bank accounts, her first time being raped by Jim Jones, how and when Jonestown went from a paradise to hell on earth (when Jones came, it completely changed), and the continuous brainwashing from when she first came to the temple to when she finally escaped. The escape itself completely absorbed me and it was hard to put the book down. Ms. Layton also gives insights into Jim Jones, his charisma, and his character.
   
   I was only 7 1/2 years old when Jonestown occurred and the book helped fill in so many details that I had never known. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to know more about Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple.



5. Something I always have a hard time grasping is: how does a person get sucked into something so clearly unhealthy, and what keeps them in? It's so hard to understand because it's such a gradual process, and many of us feel we are perhaps too "smart" to get hooked into any kind of cult. In reality, it takes months or years for cult brainwashing to reach levels where it really does feel impossible to escape, and even highly intelligent people are caught up - this is not easily conveyed in ANY medium, be it a 2 hour documentary or a 300 page book.
   
   But Layton takes a really good shot at it, and does an excellent job. The first two chapters of the book are somewhat slow and give background information on Deborah before she even finds out about the Temple. They describe her troubled childhood, and help understand how she could view the Church as a positive force in her life. Then, in great detail, she recounts how Jones continually manipulated, re-divided and controlled all the people within his organization. You really feel the stress and fear of the people trapped within. She makes it easy to understand everyone's plight.
   
   Some things really struck me about the book. One thing I liked was Layton's strong desire to tell the truth. I felt it shine through in her measured descriptions of events, honest retelling of her less-than-perfect childhood, and disinclination to "play the victim" or sensationalize her experiences. I also liked that she didn't attempt to provide historical information on events she didn't experience herself - like the Church years before she joined, or the actual events of Nov. 18 in Jonestown where she wasn't present.
   
   I also really appreciated the fact that this factual memoir was still interwoven with a good message. The parallels Deborah drew between her experiences and those of her Grandparents in WW2 concentration camps were interesting. I really liked the way she pointed out the choice she makes in what to share with her daughter, compared with what (and how) her mother shared with her: it helps to reassure that Deborah's experiences were not in vain.
   
   For anyone interested in the history and facts behind life in the People's Temple, this is an important read. It's the most detailed account I've yet heard, and the story itself is quite riveting. I do not know how well it would serve someone who knew nothing about Jonestown whatsoever, but as a supplement to e.g. a documentary (or some other very historical look at the People's Temple), this makes an excellent read.

5 comments about Gladys Aylward: The Adventure of a Lifetime (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Christian Heroes, Then & Now).

1. I love this book. It is down to earth and very clear for the younger children to understand. It gives a clear picture of Gladys' life. I definitely recommend this book to all young readers. The life of this missionary is exciting and leaves you feeling inspired!



2. I read this to my children a few weeks ago, and I found it incredibly moving. I am not one to get sentimental over books, but I found this story so inspiring and really incredible. The book begins with Gladys being told by the head of a missionary school that she would never make it on the mission field. She isn't cut out for missionary work. She is urged to go back to being a professional housekeeper. Instead, Gladys stubbornly chooses to pay her own way to China. God uses her in a mighty way, eventually bringing the mandarin (similar to a governor) to faith in Christ. I was so touched by how God was able to use her in spite of what others thought that it brought me to tears.
   
   I've come to the conclusion that any book by these authors is worth reading -- every book I've read of theirs is excellent.



3. Gladys is my heroe. I was spellbound by not only her difficulties but her tenacity to stay the course when circumstances said to throw in the towel. I've never had a book grab my heart like this one. I immediately bought two other versions of her story and the movie, 'Inn of the Sixth Happiness' based on her story. Lord help me to be as focused as Gladys was.



4. It is incredible to think that a single young lady could accomplish so much in such a short lifetime. Only someone sold out to God could be used in wonderful ways like this. Thank the Lord that people like Gladys Aylward do answer the call to spend their lives serving Him. She gave up all of the normal comforts of western life and totally followed God's will. She even sacrificed the hope of a husband and family, but God gave her a bigger family than she could have ever imagined! She dared to head off into the unknown with nothing but her faith in God. It proved to be more than enough and God blessed her with spiritual fruit beyond our understanding. You must read this book! It is so well done and inspiring! It would be great for the whole family. I pray He will call out many more people like Gladys Aylward into the dark corners of the world.



5. This biography of Gladys Aylward takes as resources all of the other biographies. It is written at a level so that children 9 and up can enjoy and benefit from. Gladys' life shows how God can do great things through a submitted and willing servant. Gladys started life as a servant for wealthy families, but God had other plans for her. While at a revival meeting, she became convinced that he was leading her to China. Even though she knew no Chinese, had no contacts in China and flunked out of China mission school, Gladys saved up her money and bought a one-way ticket to China. The adventures and close escapes she had keep you glued to the pages, all the while glorifying God and all that He did for the Chinese people through His humble servant. Well recommended for home-schools.

5 comments about Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not by Sight.

1. A friend recommended this book when I was going thru a very difficult time. I have since bought it to give to others during hard times.
   
   Jennifer tells her story of coping with blindness and getting on with her life and how depending on Jesus is the only way to go thru life.
   
   She is honest and open with her fears and thus you can connect and relate to her no matter what your present situation is.
   
   Very encouraging book that will build your trust in Jesus.



2. I loved this book. As it teaches us how people with vision problems have to go though. I have worked with the visual handicap and believe me they can do alot of things you think they cant. A big thanks to the author Jennifer Rothschild. Everyone should read this book.



3. Loved the book! Inspiring! Unique "look" at the lessons learned from loss of sight! I loved the "play" on words!



4. Jennifer Rothchild touches our very souls with her encounters with God and his majesty. We begin to "see" for the first time just how powerful and mighty our Heavenly Father can be to his children. While we listen to her stories dealing with her family and her life as a vibrant mother and lecturer, we often forget she is doing all these wonderful things under the cover of darkness. We forget because there is no darkness in Jennifer's soul. Each chapter, enriched by a personal poem or song, introduces us to the holy love and power of Jesus Christ. Uplifting and encouraging, this book begins a journey for us, and we want to walk alongside this amazing woman for the rest of our days. There is no doubt how much she loves the Lord, and this love enables her to make some wonderful connections to his power and light. I loved this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to "see" the big picture when it comes to religion, overcoming handicap, emotional triumph, and even awkward moments of victory. As Jennifer runs across a busy street, our thoughts go along with her. Jennifer may have learned lessons in the dark, but she walks in the light of the love of the lamb. That light touches the souls of her readers and transmutes us all to her own special way of seeing. I cannot wait to read more books by this wonderful author.



5. Jennifer Rothschild writes to make us SEE! She is a wonder and a role model for anyone and everyone. Courage is her badge and the word NEVER enters her life. I honor her and hope to have as much courage and endurance in my life as she does.

5 comments about Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott.

1. If you are looking to find more of the story beyond the cold, hard details of the Columbine school shootings, and you don't mind poor writing and structure, this book provides a somewhat sacred and voyeuristic look behind the tragedy.



2. Rachel's Tears Amazon Book Review
   
   
   Rachel's Tears is a very emotional book. Rachel's Tears is a Biography written by Rachel Scott's parents Beth Nimmo and Darrell Scott. This story tells the spiritual journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Joy Scott. Rachel's Tears features excerpts from Rachel's private journals. This tragic and true story explains how Rachel knew that her and twelve others would die. Out of the thirteen people that died one of them was a teacher and twelve of them were students that attended Columbine High School. Among the thirteen people that died nearly two dozen more were injured. And hundreds more were traumatized by the sights and sounds of that day. This horror was caused by two troubled teens who were overcome with hatred and desire for revenge, so they lashed out at the people at Columbine High School. Columbine High School is located in Littleton, Colorado. Littleton is located eight miles Southwest of Denver. Colorado. After this event occurred the two teens committed suicide. This makes the total death count at fifteen people. Rachel Scott was the first one who died on April 20, 1999. So when Beth and Darrell found out that their daughter was one of those thirteen people who died that day their lives changed forever! In Rachel's private journal's she writes and draws about God, and how Rachel is not going to live a lot longer. On page 111, there is a letter to God from Rachel. The opening statement says "why do I feel dry in your spirit?" This passage is only one out of many passages that has to do with Rachel and God. The authors purpose of the story is to explain how Rachel's relationship with God was one that he sent her messages explaining that something bad was going to happen. I would highly recommend this book to anyone in middle school and above. After the murders Rachel's friends and family started a program called Rachel's challenge to find out more on this program go to [...]



3. This young lady was a beautiful soul. It is a sad story but one of hope as well.
   Her parents did a wonderful job describing the tragic story.
   Anyone interested in the Columbine event should read this.
   Excellent.



4. i was so blessed by the words of faith that your little girl has shared.Its very rare to see such faith in anyone.Thank You for sharing her story. It has really blessed me.



5. This is an awesome book. I wept more than once while reading it. For those of you unfamiliar, this book is about the story of Rachel Joy Scott, a young girl, deeply committed to Christ who was martyred in the infamous Columbine High School massacre. I learned a lot about this horrible event, and the wonderful life of this girl who knew, as evidenced by her journals, that she would die young. After reading this book, I became convinced, as Darrell Scott was the morning of the killings, that this was a spiritual event. It is interesting to note that prior to the killings of April 20, Klebold and Harris had turned a school project detailing their dark fantasies, and no on seemed to have picked up on this. I gave this book five stars not based on quality of writing, which could have used some thorough editing, but on the story, which blew me away. I think everyone who has children should read this book.
   People who claim that the demonic music,tv,video games have no impact on their children should definitely read this book. I also agree with Darrell Scott's opinion that is clear these children(the murderers) opened themselves up to spirtitual influence that were beyond their control.Klebold and Harris deliberately targeted Christians on that day, and they had made tapes prior to the event that illustrate their intense hate and dislike of Christians. I ######### this book, but don't be suprised if this book changes your outlook on things!
   Thus says the LORD,
   "A voice is heard in Ramah,
   Lamentation and bitter weeping.
   Rachel is weeping for her children;
   She refuses to be comforted for her children,
   Because they are no more

5 comments about The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir.

1. As we Boomers are pushing our kids out of the nest, we are finding time to write. And what better topic to write about than ourselves? Bill Bryson adds his personal, perceptive and funny reminiscences of an Iowan boyhood in the 50s in the form of "The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: A Memoir," a fast-paced romp through a typical 50s childhood. Bryson combines solid period research, mature reflection, genuine memories and (too often?) outrageous exaggerations of fact into a memoir of a his wild childhood. He touches all the generational bases -- polio, the Red Scare, Sputnik, A-bomb drills, TV and comic book heroes as well as the personal ones about clueless parents, trying to get in to see the strippers at the fair, petty theft at the candy store, local brands of soda, hocking looeys in the Tunnel of Love and harassing managers when the lights dimmed at the movie house. Given the title of his memoir, it's surprising that his alter-ego -- The Thunderbolt Kid -- makes so few appearances in the book and seemed added almost as an afterthought or marketing ploy.
   
   Nevertheless, I got a kick out of The Thunderbolt Kid, and it made me think back on my own childhood at the end of the 50s. Bryson's comments as funny and often on the mark. His short takes on 50s for black Americans, on the Army-McCarthy hearings and on the US's hapless late-50s space shots were educational. I found that Bryson's fictional swings actually diminished the effectiveness of the book -- it was sometimes hard to tell where reality left off and mendacity-as-entertainment began. No matter. An age in which kids spent their summers outside and unsupervised, in which neighbors were invited over to see the new fridge, and in which church suppers and county fairs were the major means of entertainment, and in which causal racism was pervasive and barely noted is increasingly difficult to recall. Bravo to Bill Bryson for helping us remember.



2. As always, Bryson is informative (the Thunderbolt Kid is really an excellent history of the 1950s and '60s in the U.S.) and wonderfully amusing (as in laugh out loud).
   
   He's also an excellent narrator of this audio book.
   
   Just one caveat. While the book is funny and interesting throughout, from my vantage point, at least, little about Bryson as a teenager was appealing: he essentially opted out of high school life, chose to spend minimal time with his family, was a petty thief, and starting at age 14 smoked like a chimney and drank a lot of alcohol. If you can't tolerate hearing about a kid like that, don't get this book.



3. Bill Bryson's story of growing up in Iowa is a terrific book. I bought it in large print for my mother, who can read only large print, and who has difficulty hearing too, so this is the only way she could enjoy the book. She too adores Bill Bryson. We love his facility with language, and his many ways of making us laugh. He's a marvelous storyteller.



4. This was a wonderful book, which also deviates here and there into politics and general history.
   
   I really came to enjoy Bryson's observations about how "the good old days" were also fraught with some significant downsides, which we've gratefully grown beyond.
   
   One carp: Bryson himself reads the audio edition, and he's not the most gifted reader I've ever heard. He's so laconic that the material really has to carry itself.
   
   H'mmm - maybe that's not such a bad thing after all...anyway, you'll enjoy this book in any form.
   
   PS - if you like this, you'll love the writings of Jean Shepard, too.



5. Bill Bryson is by far the funniest, most insightful, travel writer today.
   Here his travels are temporal, instead of spacial as he takes us back to his childhood - and what a childhood it was. His writing is so personal and open that you can't help but feel that this book was written specifically for you.
   
   
   It is both a very middle class North American tale, set in the fifties and a Calvin archetype (as in Calvin and Hobbes) visioneering a rich and adventurous landscape, that none of the adults could see.
   
   May The Thunderbolt Kid ride again.
   
   David Cale

5 comments about Color Me Butterfly: A True Story of Courage, Hope and Transformation.

1. I am amazed at how this book was put together from a real true story. It was great to read. I am sorry her father never got to understand his personal life how he became so evil and I do not blame the kids for not wanting to see him or talk with him. Some of the horrible treatment he gave their mother and his children and only think he got was nothing.



2. Color Me Butterfly is a very inspiring book. It lets one know that generational curses are real. It also shows that through strenght and perserverence that generational curses can be overcame. L.Y. Marlow did an excellence job in showing the struggles that takes place in so many african-american family. Whether it is domestic violence,teenage pregnancy or whatever the curse may be it can be broken.



3. Color Me Butterfly is truly a soul stirring book. There were times when reading this book that I flinched. I believe the author told her story in a remarkable way and that it is a testament to both the strengths and weaknesses of women who find themselves in the midst of domestic abuse. The generations went through such violence and immeasurable pain--- yet still "they rise"!! Although painful, Color Me Butterfly exposes the profound truth that abuse can be generational and that suffering in silence brings about more pain and dysfunction. I would highly recommend this book to all in the hopes that it will inspire the "silent sufferer" to break the cycle.



4. Color Me Butterfly is phenomenal!! It touched my heart and hurt me at the same time. An inspiration to all who had to struggle with domestic violence, forgiveness and letting the pass rest. It encourages a child that is facing this situation that they are not alone, and it is okay to talk about it. Definitely a must read for the year!



5. THIS BOOK WAS MOST DEFINATELY 1 OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER HAD THE CHANCE TO READ........

5 comments about Blueberry Summers: Growing Up at the Lake.

1. It takes a special type of person to embrace an adopted child as if they were one's own. "Blueberry Summers: Growing up at the Lake" is author Curtiss Anderson's reminiscence of his family life as he grew up in 1940s Minnesota. Focusing on the coming of age stories that riddle all of our lives and turn us into the people that we are today, and serving as a memorial to his adoptive parents, "Blueberry Summers: Growing up at the Lake" is a top pick for those seeking to look back at a childhood much like their own and for community library memoir collections.



2. What a pleasure to read an old-fashioned, heart-felt, utterly sentimental memoir with the power and poetry to evoke the innocence, happiness, and yes, disappointments of childhood and growing up in a family that...mattered. Anderson captures the essence of the whole experience in language that flows effortlessly and often lyrically from the first joyous to the final rather sad pages. What ever happened to no-nonsense writing like this?



3. In my memory, summer always stretched out like a lazy dog. I read books in a sacred spot under the canopy of a cottonwood tree, rolled in freshly-mown grass, and ran against the chinook wind, spreading my arms wide and hoping to fly. Anderson's book brought back those magic moments. I read it slowly, savoring my own memories as inspired by his.



4. Curtiss Anderson has done for the Minnesota Lake Country what Peter Mayle did for Provence and Frances Mayes for Tuscany -- transported me there on winged words and introduced me to the sights, sounds, and scents not to mention characters both comical and crochety. Of course the Lake Country of Anderson's youth ('30s and '40s) is what gives this memoir its particular magic plus the author's own poetic prose:
   
   "Nature would always challenge, threaten, protect, and entertain us with its sweet and sad surprises," Anderson writes. "Things would happen that had never happened before and would never happen again. That is the essence of wilderness and wildlife."
   
   Who can forget Clara Johnson and her famous doughnuts (Anderson shares that recipe on page 27), dear old Great-Aunt Ingaborg who was "Norsk to the bone," or young Sarah Schumacher who in the adolescent Anderson's eyes "was the most exquisitely created human being who ever lived?" Each of them is as unforgettable as the entire cast of characters from Anderson's extended Norwegian family.
   
   Anderson's coming-of-age summers beside a northern Minnesota lake will resonant with everyone who grew up in the age of FDR, rumble seats, and water pumps constantly in need of priming. As for the younger generation, I'd make BLUEBERRY SUMMERS required reading if only to prove that it's possible to have fun deprived of play stations, paintball fights, and virtual TV.



5. This was a delightful,carefree book to read for summer enjoyment. The insight into Curt's boyhood and his relationship with his parents and their friends was so well done. You just felt like you were on the lake fishing sometime.
   I recommend.

5 comments about Absent Memories: Moving Forward When You Can't Look Back.

1. "Absent Memories", is a great read. Our existence can change in a day. Rebecah may not have intended to become an advocate for people with memory problems, but she is. I wish this author continual success.



2. While reading Absent Memories, I had to pause several times to absorb what the author went through. After five hours I finished. This is one of those books that once you start you can't put down.
   
   Until reading this book I never really thought much about memory. I took it for granted. When I thought about it, I recalled that when family members get together past memories always come up. When friends gather memories of the good old days are hashed over and over again.
   
   It was hard to imagine not being able to remember my parents, or how much fun my brothers and sister had growing up.
   
   I was amazed by how quick she had to learn how to make a living, let alone cope with a strange new world. She lived alone but couldn't remember her past work experience or education. I can see why there would be fear and panic. It must have been horrific to wake up each day with such feelings.
   
   Absent Memories helped me to understand that people with disabilities are ordinary people like everyone else and are capable of doing anything if given the opportunity and support.
   
   This a very well written book and a must for all to read.



3. A facinating book that reveals insights into patterns of human relationships we all learned as children but to which we no longer attend. But what happens if those patterns are suddenly removed?
   
   What if your diplomas and certifications suddenly become meaningless; you can't remember anything you were taught? References to Watergate, Nixon, the Beatles, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-in, hold no memories and no meaning. Yet, for a strange reason you can't recall, you have those albums and tapes.
   
   Worse, you're shown a stanger and told the man is your father, but you can't remember him? More mystifying is his emotional attachment to you! Sisters you can't remember seem upset with your past, lost to you, though they obviously remember. And you can't even miss growing up with your father or sisters just like you can't miss the guy or girl you didn't marry at school; because you have no memories of something that didn't happen. How do you grieve over something you can't recall?
   
   For this author, Ms. Propst, all of the above is not only true, but honestly discussed. The author shares her questions at each phase of her sometimes difficult re-education. After all, at 47, she was as inclined to believe there was a "free lunch" as not. She soon found plenty of unscrupulous people willing to teach her.
   
   The writing is tight, the prose short but sprinkled with the occasional verbal garnish. "Crises will march into our lives like Huns bent on destruction," is but one example. The read is shorter than you might think at 120 pages, but very intense as you almost constantly view her world from behind her "new" eyes.
   
   In fact, this story reminded me of the Jason Bourne movies - suddenly you wake up and can't remember who you were. And Ms. Propst found adult reality and re-education almost as fast, difficult and sometimes cruel as the CIA trying to reel in a rogue agent. Inspiring, insightful and ultimately optimistic, this book deserves a home in most libraries.
   
   Brad R. Leach



4. I enjoyed readiang Absent Memories. I am always amazed when I learn about a unique obstacle someone has had to face. Beki's story is a moving testament as to how such obstacles can be overcome. It makes one look at one's own life obstacles and how they can be dealt with in a more positive way. Absent Memories is a good reminder that persistence and faith in oneself can overcome most any difficulty.



5. Absent Memories
   
   What would it be like to wake up one morning and discover that the door into the memories of your past was closed to you...not just closed, but locked? It is hard to imagine such a thing.
   
   "Absent Memories" is a profile in courage. It is the chronicle of one woman's effort through tenacity and force of will to "just get on with it" when there was no foundation of experience to build on.
   
   It is a march done in fear and trembling; but done with humor and joy at each new find. There in lies a tale with lessons that all of us can learn.

5 comments about Breathing the Fire.

1. I read this book thinking, "I am not sure if I can relate to this". War stories are not my reading genre of choice. But, I had met Kim over the phone one day and so received an e-mail from her letting me and all her address book addressees that her book had been published. So, I ordered one from Amazon not quite knowing what to expect. This book is so NOT a war story. It is the courageous story of a woman with a goal who achieved that goal, a goal which led her into combat where a life-changing event changed her life forever, as well as so many other lives. I was drawn in the moment I started reading. Kim's writing is clear, concise, factual, with just the right amount of emotion and personality. She lets people in to her very personal yet very public experience without a hint of self pity or any reference to a "poor me" attitude. The book is an inspiring one about a woman of intelligence, bravery, dedication, and love who dared to follow her dream, went through a nightmare, and is today a source of strength to people chasing a dream or living with their own struggle.



2. Remarkably unflinching - Kimberly Dozier's narrative voice in "Breathing the Fire" describes her road to recovery after being seriously injured on Memorial Day 2006 by a horrific car bombing in Iraq which killed four others, including the CBS cameraman and soundman she worked alongside. In meticulous detail, Dozier dissects the details of the bombing and day-to-day decisions around her medical care and rehabilitation, and punctuates them with her observations and feelings, allowing a rare peek into the mind of someone who has survived an extremely traumatic experience. Even after she learns how to walk again and returns to the newsroom - the author learns that there is no textbook for adjusting to a "new normal" and how to respond to people as they react to seeing a walking miracle. The book sheds light on the experiences of many struggling to recover from the wounds of war. You also learn what drew her to journalism and led her to be a foreign correspondent in a war zone. Readers are introduced to a wealth of supportive people who played pivotal roles in her recovery - from Iowa National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Jeremy Coke who tied the tourniquet on her leg after the bombing that saved her life, to her friends at CBS, innumberable medical and rehab personnel, her parents, and her boyfriend, Pete. Destined to become one of the critical memoirs chronicling the Iraq War.



3. I started reading this book and could not put it down. It is an inspiring work. Ms. Dozier has given the reader an honest appraisal of her experience to heal herself and heal the many others broken by the ravages of this war. Her story is told in a bipartisan manner, not at all political and should be read by all soldiers and all who care about our soldiers.



4. We all know war is not pretty and people get injured and killed. This book really brings home the reality of how those catastrophic injuries affect the lives of the injured. It also shows the incredible courage of Kimberly and her family as she recovers from her injuries and made me think we are not doing enough for our injured vets.



5. I would not have read this book had my husband not seen an interview on TV and bought it for me. What a loss that would have been. Kimberly puts you in Iraq, in the hospitals and therapy plus shares exactly what it was like for her both mentally and emotionally. I am definitely passing this book along to friends.

5 comments about The Dinner Diaries.

1. This book has great advice with lots of humor and wit---it's a fun, easy read with awesome tips to help create healthier eating for your family (and bonus! a healthier environment too). The key tips are pulled out in the book and there's a great reference area in the back---chapters focus on daily life of eating with children (and a picky husband to boot!) and what to do about fish, meat, produce, plastics, sustainability, fair trade and much more---it's all thoroughly researched but focuses on what a busy mom wants---the bottom line! The author and her family are very real and very relatable---whether you have picky or very healthy eaters or somewhere in between, you will truly benefit from this book...and laugh.



2. After finishing "Dinner Diaries" I quickly ordered several copies for friends. This book is a must read for anyone who has ever thought twice about the real nutrional value of family meals. I've admired The authors writings from her Boston Globe days. How great to see her go from food critic to food sleuth. The research is astounding, from dietary nutriontists to the Marine Stewardship Council. The expert advice is all woven into an extremely funny mom on a mission narrative, I devoured it.



3. A fantastic read written by a mom that is passionately concerned with the
   health of her kids and the health of the planet. But, forget those preach-y
   'you should' books - this one will have you laughing out loud out as you
   follow our heroine's adventures and misadventures (a day of cooking
   authentic colonial food, a lice outbreak before the girls 'n grains dinner
   party) on her journey toward a healthier, more sustainable diet. Her can-do,
   realistic attitude is a breath of fresh air. Yes - eat food, not too much,
   mostly vegetables - sage advice. But throw in a couple kids, school lunch
   cafeterias, Halloween, a picky husband and the challenges of eating local in
   a cold climate and it gets just slightly more complicated. The triumph of
   this story is that she pulls it off - with humor and imperfection - and
   shows all of us out here in the trenches that doing the right thing when it
   comes to food is possible, enjoyable and absolutely essential to the health
   of our kids and our world.



4. Well, I had all but given up on my efforts to encourage healthy eating in our family. I am a tired, older mom of 2 kids who would be happy with mac and cheese and fishsticks for dinner every night, as long as it included a sugary dessert. I was giving in to their food "choices" more and more frequently, and then I read this book. Not only did it make me laugh and feel like I wasn't the only one being bamboozled by my kids, it has re-energized my efforts to steer us all back to healthier and more delicious eating habits. Reading this book felt like I had lots of support from a mom who knows exactly what I'm going through every day as we swim against the tide of our culture's eating habits. It's readable, relatable, and relevant, and I thank Ms. Block for being able to share her journey with such humor and candor.



5. She quotes Michael Pollen's Omnivore's Dilemma several times, but perhaps she needs to read his more recent In Defense of Food. While some may find her seemingly random meanderings entertaining, I considered it agonizing.
   
   She rips the "Certified Organic" movement a new one on page 19, yet her "Dinner of Her Dreams" at the end of the book contains "calcium added organic orange juice, organic peach and apricot juices..."
   
   By the way, what do the terms "calcium added" AND "organic" mean together? Oh and "Certified fair-trade chocolate". She sounds more like a well marketed to mom than someone who's gone through any type of a journey.
   
   I'll admit I skipped about 50 pages, but man, Eat Food, Not Too Much, Mostly Plants. Michael Pollen started your journey; you should have just waited for his next book to end it, sparing at least this reader the details in between.