5 comments about Stripped Naked.

1. For those of you who actually believe she went through all this, and think that anyone who speaks against her like she is some kind of saint, look for yourself, everything about her is unreal, she wrote another book claiming to be Raped, abused and forced into satanic rituals, then she claimed to be a concentration camp survivor. I understand that these books she has written may have touched a lot of people but there is no proof other than her own words, that she is who she claims to be.



2. Apparently, the late Laurel Wilson (a.k.a. Lauren Stratford, a.k.a. Laura Grabowski) wasn't satisfied w/fooling a willing public twice (first in "Satan's Underground", where her wildly untrue stories of SRA first came to light, and then again in "I Know You're Hurting", where she tries to offer counseling to actual victims), and decided to go for the trifecta...even if it were true, the book itself is poorly written and drawn out in many places.
   
   Oh, and to the anonymous reviewer who attacked the very first one, I don't believe everything I hear (just look at my posts to the Media Matters for America forum, LOL), nor do I avoid questioning the government (considering the shape our country's in, how can I not?)...it seems to me like *you're* the one who's in denial by refusing to accept that Stratford wasn't who she said she was and had a history of lying about abuse. Why do you think her first book, the aforementioned "Satan's Underground", was later pulled by its original publisher? And how do you justify her later attempt to portray herself as a Holocaust survivor and accepting donations intended for REAL survivors?
   
   As for the other anonymous reader, no one's denouncing her story because they don't want to believe it's true, they're doing so because it's NOT true...read the Cornerstone expose if you haven't already, or even her Wikipedia bio. Aaron, perhaps you'd like to check it out and see if you still think the negative reviewers like myself are "engaging in a deliberate misinformation campaign"...more importantly, can you tell me where anyone said anything about Willson/Stratford/Grabowski that wasn't true?
   
   In short: Don't waste your money. Grieve for the late Ms. Stratford and how different things would be if her untreated psychological problems had been dealt with at an early age, but refrain from furthering the lies and outrageous claims that should be left to die along w/her unfortunate legacy.



3. One hates to speak ill of the dead. However, the late Ms. Stratford successively claimed to be a survivor of "Satanic ritual abuse", a survivor of the Holocaust, and someone with multiple personalities.

   (In fact, some of the "ritual abuse" she discusses in the book "Satan's Underground" and some of the "concentration camp experiences" she related in appearances with pseudo-survivor Binyamin Wilkomirski "took place" simultaneously--it would be a remarkable feat for Satan himself to place his victim in Washington State and a Jewish children's detention center in Krakow, Poland at the same time!)

   It's hard to separate the knowledge of Ms. Stratford's tragic delusions from a reading of her prose, which is incoherent and disorganized. The heartbreaking truth is that she would have been better served by psychological and spiritual counseling that brought her closer to reality than by gullible acceptance of her wild stories.




4. THE ABOVE REVIEW SAYS:

   "Lauren Stratford has been investigated by a number of Evangelical ministries and has been shown to be a writer of fiction."

   Yeah, and you are someone who blindly believes everything you hear, have others' beliefs for your own, never question the government...etc. You are what's wrong with this world---Sit in judgement, all the while being a foolish follower. You tell us not to believe everything we read---and yet, you believe these 'Evangelical ministries' that 'proved' her story to be 'fiction'. Sorry, but the only fiction here is people who try to be something they're not...




5. It's very sad when those who have been abused are sought after to be discredited. It sure makes it hard to be a vicitim and not be belived because people are always out to discredit things they don't want to belive happen. Stripped Naked is a testimony of one woman's walk through Mulitiple Personalites.. a ray of hope for others like her out there.

3 comments about The Seeing Glass.

1. I am Jackie Gormans niece. I am friends with my cousin Kelsey and Ben and they visit a lot. And i have visited them. i am kylie mcbride.i have a brother william gorman mcbride and a sister emily woods mcbride. . i am sally's daughter. i am ten years old. i love this book because i know all of the characters and it was really good to know about jackie's life. it helped me understand some things.



2. As the parent of an autistic child this book touched every nerve in my body, from the mother who is tormented to the children (siblings) who don't understand, to the grandfather who says Robin must go to an institution to save the rest of the family. For a short time, the author goes blind (of course, when and if her sight returns is not known while she is struggling through this terrifying bout of blindness). While she is trying to navigate her own new world with her family, she dreams of her brother. While her world is black and white, she dreams in color and has vivid recollections of growing up with an autistic brother in a time when nothing was known about autism. I have had people tell me they cried at the end of the book from an overwhelming sense of sadness. But, I felt oddly at peace that this sister was able to develop a full blown appreciation for her brother and now, as an adult, has a tender memory of him and for his place in the family.



3. Jacquelin Gorman was born in a special family; her grandfather had been one of the world's best eye doctors, she has one brother and three sisters, all of the children on her family have watery blue eyes, and her brother, Robin, was [mentally handicapped]. This book is consisted of how Jacquelin recovered her eyesight and of valuable memories that has to do with Robin. Jacquelin had been scared of the dark ever since she was a little girl. After she lost her eyesight, Jacquelin went crazy. She had first tasted how it feels to be isolated. In the total darkness, she followed the footsteps of Robin's childhood by dreaming things that happened to Robin. She experienced several heart-breaking and heart-warming events that brought hope and light into her darkness.
   I don't really understand some of the feelings that the author described in this book, but I am sort of touched by some of the scenes that came up in her memory. Through these scenes, I can see a little bit of how [mentally handicapped] people are treated in real life. They are despised, treated unfairly, and always seem to be the target for bullying. But, I can also see how people can still be so passionate and nice even when they are [mentally handicapped]. I learned that being [mentally handicapped] is simply having to learn slower than most other people. Being [mentally handicapped] doesn't mean that one loses his or her ability to care and love other people. It also doesn't mean that a [mentally handicapped] person doesn't need to be loved and cared for.
   I think the best part in this book is when Jacquelin recalled a memory of Robin being taken away into Rosewood, a mental hospital. One time, Jacquelin witnessed the way Robin was brought into Rosewood hospital. At first, her mom drove Robin to the entrance of the hospital. Then Robin started to scream, trying to show how much he hated this place, but after a while, he calmed down. After he got out of the car, he said to Jacquelin, "I love you." But right before they entered the hospital, Robin screamed once again and ran back to the car. He told Jacquelin to unlock the door so he could get in, but her mom told her to keep Robin outside. Just when Jacquelin was about to open the door for him, two men came of the hospital and wrapped Robin in a big, white jacket; then they poked a big needle into his arm, which caused him to stop his struggling. Jacquelin didn't have the chance to tell him that she loves him too.

5 comments about Dancing on Quicksand: A Gift of Friendship in the Age of Alzheimer's.

1. Marilyn Mitchell has done an extrodinary job depicting the life and heartwarming stories of David Touff. Marilyn focused on herself just enough; not too much, but enough to let the reader understand her as the loving caregiver that she is. As the reader becomes acquainted with David throughout the book, they feel wrapped up in every emotion he experiences. My father has Alzheimer's and there is never "one size fits all" formula when it comes to caregiving. From the time I finished this book, I am still carrying David in my heart!

   Marilyn is an extrodinary person and writer. She gave of herself far beyond what the average caregiver or family member could even imagine doing. David was blessed indeed to have had the years with her as his close friend.




2. I came to this delightful book from the perspective of a daughter helping to care for my dear mother in the last 5 years of her life with Alzheimer's. Oh, how I wish I had read the book 7-9 years ago for its insights about relating to someone with dementia. Yet I think readership of this book should not be limited to people interested in this growing health problem. The book is a guidebook to enjoying life more fully, especially in the city/area where you live, as the author and David did with the many field trip pleasures of Denver. If you feel that a key ingredient of a good story is how people transform one another through their relationships, you will find yourself instantly captivated by Marilyn's and David's encounters and ensuing bond. They each possess charm, wit, and intelligence. Marilyn has an endearing ability to put herself in David's shoes, trying to understand his shrinking world and helping him uncover his genius. Marilyn's gift for language and her perceptiveness gives this book an energy that carries you to the end and leaves you regretting you're on the last page. You counter the regret by sharing this gem with others.



3. Dancing on Quicksand was an incredibly inspirational book. Reading it has made me want to be a better person, listen more carefully, to love others unconditionally, to work harder at loving others where they are. In a culture where we want to get rid of anything difficult, it was refreshing to see what Marilyn Mitchell gained by sticking with David and loving him through his illness. Although this is a book about a person who has helped someone with dementia, it is far more than that. It is a book about what real love looks like. I am just about to open up my copy one more time and read it again. Thanks Marilyn for sharing this rich experience with us!



4. Mitchell's remarkable account of her relationship with David Touff reminds us, regardless of whether dementia is involved, to be respectful and mindful in our relationships with each other. This well-told story is inspirational and informative, and is of especially great use to anyone dealing with how to relate to anyone whose faculties are fading.



5. Mitchell's remarkable account of her relationship with David Touff reminds us, regardless of whether dementia is involved, to be respectful and mindful in our relationships with each other. This well-told story is inspirational and informative, and is of especially great use to anyone dealing with how to relate to anyone whose faculties are fading.

1 comments about The Dance Goes on.

1. A friend of mine who knew this family gave me this book. I couldn't put it down. This is one of the most inspirational books on the subject of a special child that I've ever read. Roberta's daily walk with God for almost thirty years revealed the blessings her son gave to her life. It showed how a boy who couldn't even talk and had to be fed and cared for daily could give more love, kindness, innocence and laughter than the outside world could ever provide. I have a much better appreciation of what families with special children struggle with, yet, if they rely on God for help, will reap the many blessings. God bless this family!

5 comments about Equal to the Task: One Family's Journey Through Premature Birth.

1. I cried with him and laughed with him through out this book. We also have a child that spent the first few months of her life in NICU. We adopted our daughter and did not know her until the week before she was dismissed from the hospital. From the information that the nurses gave us, we know that she was on one of those rollercoasters the whole time she was in NICU. Reading Mr. Cantrell's book helped me to picture the rollercoaster ride we would of been on if we had the privilege of meeting our daughter sooner than we did. My heart aches when I think of her going through that by herself. We have had many ups and downs with our daughter and her health since she has come home. Mr. Cantrell's honesty about the ups and downs in his faith helped me to know that I am not the only one that can be so strong in my faith one minute and then question God about how much I can endure the next. I thank Mr. Cantrell for his open and honest book on such a hard time in his family's life. I thank him for allowing me to share this experience with his family. I know that no two NICU stays are the same. None the less this allowed me a glimps in the first few months of my daughter's life. I thank him for that glimps.



2. We all wonder how we would "act" if faced with the reality of life's potential dark moments. I read this non-stop after just wanting to peruse it for a moment. It is informative factually but, more importantly, it let's you know you are not alone in feeling a range of emotions you might never expect when faced with adversity. It is also a love story even if it had not had a happy ending.



3. Althought the book shared a difficult and personal battle against adversity, i unfortunately found it to be dissapointingly weighed down with a dependence on religious faith for the fortunate outcome. Although this is a suitable and sufficient option for some, i personally found it to detract from the book for what it was...a tale of survival against the odds. Uncompelling and light in its narative style and format ... would not recommend to friends in a similar situation. Just one more light-weight text "for the soul".



4. I read Dail Cantrell's book and at times I found it almost impossible to put down. Cantrell is incredibly honest. Not many of us have the courage to address our most personal doubts and fears and then write about these deep, dark, unspeakable thoughts, particularly when someone else will read them. But the book is also informative, inspirational, and funny. Cantrell told about the day-to-day events that go on in the NICU and about how life somehow goes on even during incredibly stressful times. Sometimes I actually laughed out loud. It's my opinion that the book will provide information, hope, and inspiration for anyone facing prematurity or a child's illness.



5. Equal to the Task is emotionally involving, honest and informational. I had planned to read a little before going to bed, and found myself still reading at 2:30 a.m. Mr. Cantrell uses self-deprecating humor to tell his at first very frightening story of Benjamin's birth and struggle for life. I found out a lot about what one would expect to see in a neonatal unit. I especially liked Mr. Cantrell's references to music and the signifcance they play in our lives. I recommend this book for anyone who wants a good read, knows someone who has been through a similar experience, or might be facing one. It will provide both information, reassurance and hope.

No comments about Legwork: An Inspiring Journey Through a Chronic Illness.

2 comments about The Sound Of A Miracle.

1. This book was so riviting that I read it from cover to cover in four hours straight. I am a mother of a four year old high-functioning autistic boy. With the miriad of treatments now available I sometimes feel lost in my search to help my son. Reading Sound of a Miracle and other books told by mothers of autistic children and their struggles has helped educate me on what treatment options are available and where to focus my tedious research efforts. The author makes it clear that AIT does not produce miraculous results in every child, however, it did for her daughter and that's a story worth being told and read!



2. Georgiana (Georgie) was born on May 24, 1965. She made all developmental milestones within normal limits as did her older sister, Dotsy. Speech was the only major milestone that Georgie did not make during her early years. She was nonverbal until she was 4.

   Georgie's mother had many overwhelming issues - a divorce when the girls were quite small; Georgie's aversion for any sound, music included and Dotsy's being diagnosed with leukemia at age 4.

   Annabelle naturally has Georgie tested and sent to early intervention programs. The only place where Georgie appeared to have thrived was at Bellevue Hospital because, as Georgie explained years later, "it was quiet there." Dotsy's health plummets and she dies at the age of 8 in 1971. Georgie, then 6, was sent to a residential facility identified as "Childville."

   Childville sounds like a genuine Chamber of Horrors. Georgie complains about the noise and staff dismiss her complaints. She is overmedicated and complains about how the medicines make her feel. She becomes hostile and displays aggression because she cannot tolerate noise. A social worker who sounded cruel and incompetent from the telling, identified as "Judith" seems determined to block and undermine any and all progress on Georgie's part. When Georgie shows an unusual balancing ability and begs for a skateboard, Judith refuses, telling Georgie's mother that Georgie is "overcompensating a fear." Fortunately Georgie gets her skateboard and is quite proficient on it.

   Georgie is fortunate enough to have summers free of that institutional wasteland. Luckily for all, Annabelle marries Peter, a gentle, loving man. That union produces a brother and later a sister for Georgie. Peter has grown daughters from a previous marriage and it is in this loving, blended, extended family that Georgie blossoms.

   Annabelle decides that Childville is just not the answer and withdraws Georgie in 1976. Peter had accepted a job in Switzerland, and naturally Georgie wanted to join her family. Childville staff threaten to keep Georgie by refusing to release her (how could this legally be done). Judith invokes just about every Freudian cliche possible to block Georgie's withdrawal from Childville. Fortunately, Peter and Annabelle withdraw Georgie and move to Switzerland. The medications are discontinued and for the next several years Georgie flourishes in Switzerland. She learns to ski, is mainstreamed and explains that her aversion for sound is due to having a heightened auditory sense. Luckily, she has been treated by several very humane doctors specially trained in Auditory Integration Therapy (AIT) and this treatment is continued during her years abroad. One can't help but cheer when Georgie dances in the rain, explaining that the rain "doesn't sound like a machine gun anymore." Georgie said AIT literally saved her life.

   After several years abroad, the family returns to the United States. Georgie's records "mysteriously vanish" because the cruise ship she was on met with a disaster and several cartons had to be discarded. The disaster turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

   Free of previous baggage, Georgie attends a public school in Connecticut. She graduates as class valedictorian in 1984 and is currently happily married. She is now fluent in 6 languages including Arabic; is a gifted artist and very spiritual. Georgie is also an author. She has chronicled her life story in "Overcoming Autism," in which she promises readers that upon reading her book they will have a very clear understanding of what it means to have autism. The book is currently available on her web site, but it is worth reading. It is a book you will cherish.

3 comments about Finding a Different Kind of Normal: Misadventures With Asperger Syndrome.

1. I feel that these authors included the "Asperger Syndrome" subtitle simply to find a market audience. I think "Misadventures With Poor Parenting, Drugs, and Poor Choices" is more appropriate.
   
   I am trying very hard not to come across as judgmental, because I actually liked the "Jeanette Purkis" character in this story. She is both strong and honest, and I like that.
   
   I am not a mental health professional of any kind but my daughter and I have both been diagnosed with Asperger's and our lives have not even remotely taken the scary path outlined by these authors.
   
   This being said, the book is extremely well written and quite fascinating. The human touches Purkis includes are brilliant. For example, I think Jeanette was wise to become a lesbian, and foolish to choose such poor partners. This kind of foolish wisdom, found throughout the book, makes her story very touching and very believable.
   
   Want to find out about Asperger's? Look elsewhere. Want to read a marvelous autobiography? Look no further.



2. With all due respect to another reviewer here, I would not describe this as a humorous book. The themes of violence and drug addiction don't naturally lend themselves to comedy. Personally I think you'd have to be a bit sick to laugh at the author's very painful story. It definitely does not show "the fun side to having Asperger's Syndrome". If anything it is quite the opposite. Sorry Beetlebangs1964 but did you actually read this book?
   
   The author has succeeded in describing her life before she knew she had Asperger Syndrome and resisting the temptation to apply retrospective wisdom, capturing perfectly what it is like to see everything going wrong in your life and not knowing why. Neither does she shy away from dark thoughts and feelings... in that way most typical of people on the spectrum she is frank and honest, confronting the reader with sometimes harsh realities. A book like this should change you a little bit, and this one does.
   
   That said, this is still an accessible read and is ultimately very positive and hopeful. It proves that no matter how big a hole you get yourself in to or how desperate things may seem, there is always a way forward. I don't think you can underestimate what a big step it must have been for the author to talk so publicly about these most difficult times in her life, and hopefully her generosity in sharing her experiences will help others who have faced similar challenges.
   
   As with any auto-biography this is the story of part of one persons life, not a description of Asperger's syndrome, and I cannot stress enough to the casual reader that Asperger Syndrome does not cause or result in criminal or violent behaviour and is not at all characterised by such. The author explains herself "I tend to think we are all given a set of circumstances to deal with and that we have to do the best with what we have at our disposal". She has just happened to have a "somewhat dark and bizarre life". You probably have to already have some knowledge about what Asperger Syndrome is I think to see how it fits in to that picture, but nonetheless this is a very worthwhile read.



3. This book shows the fun side to having Asperger's Syndrome. Asperger's Syndrome is a neurobiological condition that is the spectrum partner to autism. As with any spectrum, there will be overlapping behaviors. Purkis does an exemplary job of describing those overlaps.
   
   This is a book that will make everyone, regardless of whether or not they have a place on the a/A spectrum laugh. Neurotypical and a/A alike will find plenty of humor and much to commiserate with and identify with in this book. I recommend this along with Kenneth Hall's book entitled "Asperger Syndrome, the Universe & Everything: Kenneth's Book."

No comments about Dying for a Home.

5 comments about Running With Walker: A Memoir.

1. This is a great story of what it's like to live, day to day with autism. I prefer this type of book to the type in which parents take credit for their children's miraculous recoveries. This book struck a chord with me. It feels real and true, and is not preachy. This father is an advocate for his son. These parents choose to home school their son rather than put him in a placement that they feel would not be the right fit for him or, in some cases of places they toured, places that would be harmful to him. I wish I had read this book before we accepted services from our local school district, which our son's speech therapist later called the worst program she'd ever seen. The wrong services are better than no services at all. These parents read their son's behavior and cues and persevere to find the best services for him. This book shows that people affected by autism are capaple of forming connections with others. I am hoping for a sequel.



2. Faith, hope,courage,easy words to say ,even easier to aspire to, but Running With Walker tells of a family who lives these ideals as a matter of course.I read this book ,or rather devoured it, in a day and a half,its' story as compelling,its' characters as real as any best-selling novel.Running With Walker far exceeds the specifics of a family coping with an autistic child. The humor,warmth and some-times painful honesty of the fathers' narrative,the mom's undaunting hope and determination, the younger brother Davy's compassion and love in the midst of an unusual and difficult situation can speak to any of us in a heartfelt and profound way.
   Walker, as the focus of the story,is revealed as a joyous , energetic and loving human being who happens to be autistic.Because his family sees the real boy and not the autistic label, we can too , and join the Hughes'in their struggle to provide a satisfying and fulfilling life for both their sons and each other.I know I will reread this book many times for its' insight and uplifting message and recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone who appreciates a true story about family love.



3. I began reading "Running With Walker" after brunch one Sunday, and didn't put it down until I finished it later that evening. I hope that peple don't make the assumption, as I did at first, that this is a "medical" book about an illness. This is no more a book about autism than "The Da Vinci Code" is a book about art. This is a story about a family and how they used thier stregnth and love for one another help them to overcome adversity. Hughes puts such a lighthearted, often humorous spin on events that many would have a hard time seeing the silver lining in, and you walk away from his story feeling that you have new good friends in the Hughes Family.



4. Care providers in Early Childhood and Developmental Delay need to see this book, for their own professional good. The author is an incredibly perceptive parent. He vividly draws the story of his son's experiences in the hands of a range of professionals. In doing so, Hughes shines a hard light on what appear to be the worst and best possible practices in today's arena. His descriptions elicit gasps -- of consternation or admiration -- page after page. Heart-rending frankness here is lightened by a saving sense of humor. As a fellow parent of a special-needs child, I am left in awe.



5. As I read this memoir-I was struck by the intelligence and compassion that informs it. Of course-it is about a family with an autistic child. But it is also filled with insight and practical wisdom-about parenting and loving and guiding and coping and persevering. A superbly crafted book, "Running With Walker" is perceptive, imaginative, witty, poignant, humorous-all at the same time. Hughes has created remarkable portraits-not to be missed-of his family-even his city-and especially-of himself.