2 comments about Chelsea: The Story of a Signal Dog.

1. This is a warm, wonderful story about a very special dog and the family who owns her. It depicts the temperament of a well-bred Belgian Sheepdog completely; Chelsea's devotion to her family and her job is 100%. A great read for dog lovers and those seeking a better understanding of the deaf community. As a bonus, the ending is a happy one!



2. If you love dogs and the help they give humans, you will love this book. It speaks of independence gained living with a trained canine, the dedication of the trainers of these dogs and humans, and has some humor. It speaks of the importance of recognizing these dogs as working dogs and not pets, and of allowing them the access they are legally entitled to. I couldn't put it down and wanted more.

No comments about Companions in Courage.

5 comments about April Fool's Day: A Modern Love Story.

1. APRIL FOOL'S DAY was the hardest book Bryce Courtenay ever wrote, and it's also one of the hardest books I ever read. I started it (the first time) on a Friday evening and did nothing but read (and occasionally try to sleep) until I had finished it -- I couldn't imagine stepping out of the middle of the story into my own life. I've read this book, given it away, bought it again, several times: it's not a book you can forget.
   
   Courtenay's son Damon was born in Australia with severe haemophilia. Along with the moving story of an afflicted but strong-spirited boy, Courtenay paints a bitter and angry picture of the Australian medical community at that time, steeped in paternalism and political expediency.
   
   Several times a week Damon would bleed into his joints, and his father would take him to the hospital for infusion of Factor VIII to induce clotting. In other countries families were allowed to stock Factor VIII and infuse at home, minimizing both disruption to the family and permanent damage to joints. This was not permitted in Australia, to the extreme detriment of haemophiliacs and their families.
   
   Worse than this, the screening and fractionation of donated blood in Australia did not at that time meet safety standards known and required in other countries. Damon contracted AIDS from the contaminated Australian blood supply and died of that disease on April Fool's Day in 1991.
   
   The book is saturated with the author's bitterness, and the reader can't fail to walk his angry path with him. You WANT it to have been different, you WANT to find a justification or at least an exculpation for the medical mismanagement of Damon and the entire cohort of haemophiliacs in that time and place.
   
   You'll find a celebration of Damon's spirit and his family's faithful support. You'll find love that fights tooth and nail for Damon. But you won't find forgiveness or exoneration, and if you're like me you'll think you should, and keep reading the book again looking for it -- in yourself if not in the author.
   
   Courtenay's work (THE POWER OF ONE, TANDIA, WHITETHORN, etc) appears not to be well known in the United States, although he's highly regarded in his birth county (South Africa) and adopted country (Australia). APRIL FOOL'S DAY should be more widely known. It's a challenging read with a personal message the reader has to translate and tease apart. Read it for that challenge.



2. I gotta say one thing; WELL DONE BRYCE!!!! first, i didn't cry; i'm not real sentimental, but i was very touched and i think that damon was a man of steel; going through 24 years of pain and suffering. i wanted to cry when damon's friends came over. well done, courtenays.



3. This book affected me so deeply and has stayed with me since I first read it years ago. Having lost a loved one to AIDS I could relate to Bryce Courtenay's pain and I could feel the anger and passion he felt writing this book. Through Bryce's amazing talent for telling a story I felt I really knew Damon and his family. When I got to the last page I let out a deep sigh and cried for Damon, for my own loved one and for everyone affected by AIDS. I thank Bryce for having the courage to write this important book and for sharing Damon's life with us all.
   
   I've read several of Bryce Courtenay's books and every one is a gem. I'm only disappointed that his books are not published in The United States and not readily available in our local bookstores.
   
   I highly recommend this book to everyone and I know you'll be hooked on Bryce forever afterward.



4. I am a fan of Bryce Courtenay, and have read all his books. This one tells the true story of his last son, Damon, who was born with haemophilia and went through a very hard life, still one full of love and joy. I found myself crying for what happened to Damon, from the purple head episode in hospital to the AIDS he caught during a blood transfusion. And I do completely agree with what Damon said, whatever your problem is, HEALTH is a gift, the most precious one we possess, together with LOVE. The book is about love against the odds, the prejudice, the injustice of a health and political system in Australia in the 1980s; it is full of details and vivid images, and I can imagine how hard it was for the author to write about his own experience, and the suffering in trying to explain in a clear way what exactly happened to him and his family those days. Everyone who has been through a quite serious illness will love this book, as I did. Thanks, Bryce.



5. I bought this book when we lived in Australia from 1993/1994. I have since read the book over and over again and have lent it to family and friends under the strict mandate that they must return it to me upon completion. This is the most moving book I have ever read and it will be one that I will keep forever. I cried, I laughed, I cheered and I was inspired by Damon's courage and determination to not only live a normal life but to overcome the stigma associated with HIV/AIDs. Bryce Courtney has written a beautiful testimonally to his son's life. I hope every parent loves their child as much as the Courtney's did to not only let him live his life but to also allow him to die with dignity. His girlfriend, Celeste, was also amazing. How many of us could stand by our significant others knowing what she did about the ultimate outcome.

   This book is a must read on everyone's list, I am only sorry that it is out of print.

2 comments about A Reason to Believe: The Blaise Winter Story.

1. Blaise tells a very inspirational story about his life and all the challenges that he was able to overcome to follow his dream. Blaise used football as a way to communicate when he was unable to talk plainly. He tells how he never gave-up and continued to believe in himself when no-one else would. Blaise had a vary successful football career and is now a successful speaker. I would highly recommend this book.



2. This book is a great illustration of where heart and determination will get you in life. Blaise Winter, from day one, had to overcome many problems. From his cleft palate to his stubborn high school principle and coach, Blaise battled against all who didn't believe and reached his life-long dream....playing in the NFL. If you are feeling down on yourself or have little confidence, read this book and allow Blaise Winter to inspire you.

5 comments about A Season in Hell: A Memoir.

1. Marilyn French is honest. Her observation of the cancer treatment establishment rings true. She hones in on the irony that in order to live, given the extremity of the treatment, she almost had to die and she remains considerably handicapped after the chemo and radiation have done their damage. Still, she is happy with the bargain that she made to keep living. She does not expect any afterlife, so it is not surprising that she is happy to be alive. She observes that most people want to continue to live at any cost. However, those costs are not entirely her own. She has to rely on her family and on the medical system. Does her life place an unfair burden on the people around her? This question will be multiplied by the millions as all of us aging baby boomers prolong our lives.
   
   Marilyn had money, and her family and friends were all willing to help. My question may answer itself. Those more fortunate will have care and live longer and those less fortunate won't. Many of us, though, will have to be concerned about how our needs impact the lives of our children and others who care about us. I think it would deepen Marilyn's book if she had given more consideration to this question.



2. I picked up this book to read as it looked to be an interesting medical tale. I knew nothing about the author before reading it. I found it to be well-written, and I am intrigued enough that I am going to seek out more books by French, but this particular work I found to be overally self-centered. French's recovery was indeed quite remarkable, but she doesn't really put it into any kind of context---the book reads to be an endless list of all her suffering and pain. I found her to not seem to really appreciate how blessed she was to be able to afford all the help she did, and to have family that seemed endlessly devoted. She talked about all her children must have spent to be able to do all they did for her, but didn't mention reimbursing them, although she did mention having a Porsche and a NY City apartment with 5 bathrooms. I guess this book was totally honestly written, and I can appreciate that, as it honestly didn't make the writer too likable.



3. I was drawn to this book because my closest friend was diagnosed with esophageal cancer at age 52 in fall 1998 and was offered only palliative care initially until she appealed to be removed from her HMO. She was then treated at Georgetown but even after aggressive treatment she died in January 2000. Ms. French's book profoundly captures the essence of these devastating diseases and the roller-coaster ride for patients and their families. She ultimately proclaims a victory, not out of hubris, but instead with a new perspective on life. Outstanding!



4. Although not familiar with Marilyn French I read the book because the subject of a woman fighting and surviving esophageal cancer intrigued me. Marilyn is not just any woman but an intelligent author and world traveler. She gives an excellent picture of the real world of cancer. Things like waiting forever to see the doctor, enduring the chemo aftereffects, and making decisons that can either bring life or death are treated with candor and sharp honesty. She made me understand her experience as I cried with her and cheered with her. The best part of the book was reading of the support and love she received from some of her famous friends. I did not agree with her belief system but I cherished the strength I felt in the ritual of just "being " with someone. As a women's health care nurse it made me a whole lot more sensitive to how I treat patients and families



5. As I read this this grim memoir of a cure almost worse than the disease I kept comparing the author's wealthy and privileged situation to that of the rest of us women who don't have millions of dollars, marvelous famous friends, apartments convenient to top New York city Cancer Centers, and medical friends who can help us find the very best specialist.

   As miserable as the author's sufferings are (and they ARE miserable) they pale in comparison to what a person would go through who had the same disease but could not afford around the clock private nursing, medical consultation after medical consultation, and the occasional retreat to a pleasant summer home the author describes.

   This is not in any way a slam of the book, which I thought was a very accurate and revealing portrayal of what happens to anyone who suffers a serious health crisis that puts them at the mercy of unknown doctors and huge, impersonal hospitals. Instead I thought that this book would probably be a good reason to read this book before you sign your next HMO contract since it shows you just how dangerous it would be if you got a serious disease and were prevented from accessing top specialists and having the benefit of nursing and adequate rehabilitative services.

   I have personally experienced the same kind of supercilious negative treatment from doctors that French details here, as well as suffering from dangerous misdiagnosis, having doctors ignore painful and crippling symptoms, and being left with permanent damage from misprescribed drugs, so I knew what she was talking about. I greatly respected her for telling a story in public that most people don't want to hear.

   This is not your usual disease-of-the-week tearjerker nor is it a "how I saw God through cancer" memoir. It's a brutal, step by step documentation of how the quality of life erodes as a result of serious disease that makes all of us think about what we'd want to do if it were to happen to us--which it could and very well may.

   The author isn't a saint and unlike other reviewers here I found her bleak honesty about her emotions refreshing. Life does this and it is hard as hell to deal with. I'm grateful that this woman, obviously a writer to her very (damaged) bones, made the heroic effort to write down for us this record of her journey towards physical dissolution--and as a writer myself, I'm particularly impressed that she was able to produce a work this polished while dealing with the physical limitations she describes.

3 comments about In Search of My Husband's Mind.

1. I find this book very inspiring. She's a very strong woman



2. If you are a little suspicious of the medical profession and if you fear the day when you have to take a loved one to a hospital please read this. Or better yet, give it to whomever might be taking you. This is not only alarming but it is a wonderful personal love story. It puts it all in perspective. If you want to read a great book that nobody seems to know about, this is a great discovery.



3. When we're sick, we need to think the doctor knows enough, and cares. But something went horribly wrong in the medical treatment of Monroe Hirsch. The change in his personality was sudden, unexplained, even denied by the health professionals who did know the reason.

   This is a love story and true, told by Monroe's wife. Seeing the man who'd loved her replaced by a beligerent and distrusful stranger, she tells how she sought to find answers, and any way at all to help him.

   Winnie had every reason to expect competence and honesty from doctors, having seen it at work for so long. Monroe was an eminent optometrist, Dean of the School of Optometry at the University of California at Berkeley. Winnie had worked with him in his practice and knew the demanding standards he set for himself. But professionalism is like every other form of goodness -- an ideal to build again every day. The best of us admit to falling short somehow, daily. This story reminds us that some don't admit to falling short.

   Deliberate lies and false hopes make dirty wounds. The cruelest aspect of the deceit Winnie faced was that it turned her own strengths against her. In situations of alienation, fair-minded people look first to themselves. In the face of difficulty, responsible people try harder. With intelligence and courage, Winnie battled alone and lonely, often against herself, for something already lost.

   There's redemption here too. Winnie did find answers, and did have some last months of better knowledge and a kind of peace before her husband died. And now her story carries a powerful message. Even in a medical crisis, we must trust our own persistent convictions. And we're entitled to stay in control.

   I was moved by this book -- angered, inspired, saddened and empowered. I wish everyone, particularly every woman could read it.

1 comments about Insights from an Out-of-Sight Guy.

1. You don't need to be blind to benefit from the insights provided in this great "little" book (only 111 pages!) It is clearly written, easy to understand, and perfect for all ages. The author is a great public speaker, and now, an equally great writer!
   
   A few years ago I heard him speak at a conference, and was inspired to get out of my rut and begin living the life of my dreams...without the self-imposed limitations and negative and defeating "self-talk" that I was not even aware I was doing...and it was easy! I always wished his stories were available in a book that I could tuck into my bag and read in snips and starts during my day. Well, this is that book! In Insights, Colbert cuts right to the truth of why we struggle with constant change, and explains in everyday, nonthreatening words how our attitudes, emotions, and ideas keep us from experiencing life to the fullest.
   
   Insights contains a dozen funny and inspriational short stories, all set within the very personal story of a blind man learning to "see" his life. Every page...and just about every paragraph contains something meaningful, motivational, and thought-provoking, but this is not just another "how to feel good" or "pump-you-up" self-help guide. This is a "real life" story of a "real life" person, just like you and me, and will help you think about your life and the simple choices you make everyday...and begin making decisions and choices that bring the happiness and joy you deserve.
   
   There's a BIG message in this wonderfully put together "little" book, which you're sure to turn to again and again for a little comic relief, a gentle kick in the right direction, or a good dose of "get over yourself." I recommend it for everyone, no matter where you are on the journey of self-discovery, but especially for people, young and old alike, who are struggling with a sudden and dramatic challenge or change in their life, and those who need a little inspirational "jump start" out of one of life's many little ruts.

5 comments about The Vow: The Kim and Krickitt Carpenter Story.

1. Has anyone else noticed that he didn't address this? The double standard lives on, IMHO. One star deducted for this.
   
   Otherwise, it's a beautiful story of love that triumphed over enormous adversity, and yes, they are still married. A movie is in the works and the Carpenters now have two children: Danny, born around the time the book was released, and Lee Ann, born in 2003.
   
   Even if you leave the religious aspect out of it, they stayed together for one reason: They wanted to.



2. A newlywed myself, I bought this as an "airplane book" after seeing the Carpenter's story on "Today" and "Dateline." Not only is the story inspiring, it's also very easy to read. (I'm not the fastest reader in the world, but finished this book in 3 short sittings over a weekend!--it never made it to the plane)

   In a day when the "D" word is an "easy out" this is a great example of how two people put their faith in God and each other to keep a promise.




3. I purchased this book for my wife after seeing the Carpenter's story on NBC's "Dateline". It is a touching story of how one man will go to regain his wife back.

   I have yet to read the book, but I can assume my wife loved based on the fact that she finished the book in one day.




4. The Vow is one of the most amazing TRUE love stories that I have ever read. In our disposable society today, it is so refreshing to read about true love, faith, and commitment.

   Kim Carpenter's wife, Krickitt, was not expected to survive massive head injuries sustained from a head on collision with a truck. Miraculously and against all odds, she did survive. Her faith in God, along with the unrelenting adoration and help of her husband and family (and of course all of the doctors!) helped pull Krickitt back into a functioning world. Unfortunately, Krickitt lost all memory of her brief marriage, engagement and courtship with her husband. Kim held on steadfast to his marriage vows and never, never gave up, despite the unsurmounting odds of their marriage ever surviving such tragedies.

   It is so humbling to read of their devout faith in God, which pulled them both through some incredible life challenges, if not providing miracles in their lives, time and time again. Kim's heartfelt love for Krickitt comes through strongly and I do so admire his integrity, his devotion and the love he has for his wife. This story is a huge testament to the power and bond of love and marriage. I do believe that many men in his position would have walked out and not stood by Krickitt's side.

   The Carpenters renewed their wedding vows for a second time, as Kim had to woo Krickitt all over again, as she had no memory of her husband at all. Their lives will no longer be what it was before the accident and Krickett is not the same person she was before, as is Kim. Both have grown and both have a deeper commitment and love for one another.

   Living a nightmare in every conceivable way, the Carpenter's faith in God gave them the strength and will to persevere. God often gives us challenges in life and we do not understand why, and only later do the "lessons" or the meaning of all become clear to us. The messages imparted in this heart-felt story will hopefully ignite the love shared in all marriages and to help to heal those marriages in trouble and cement even further those solid marriages.

   This story will have you crying and cheering as well as have you questioning what is "really" important in our lives and how faith in God can pull us through even the darkest nightmares. Love and undying faith is what it is all about!

   Kim Carpenter you are one heck of a guy - the world needs more guys like you! Thank you both for a wonderful book - I recommend everyone read this book, especially couples that are engaged.




5. This is a beautiful story of love and commitment. In a world where so many couples get divorced for the sake of convenience, it's nice to read about a couple who stood by their vows (and each other) in the face of tragedy. Some of the chapters with Krickitt's journal entries get a bit long, but over all I loved it!

1 comments about Knowing Stephanie.

1. "My body and soul do not function as separate parts. I pieced together a new self, unified and wonderfully alive." ~Stephanie Byram
   
   "Knowing Stephanie" is a beautiful gift and I am amazed at how a woman I will never meet in this life has affected my life in a profound way. I am also deeply touched by the sheer beauty of the souls who surrounded Stephanie during a time when she became so very human and vulnerable.
   
   Stephanie had a dream for her life. She was pursuing a career and wanted to start a family when her life turned into a nightmare instead of the dream she had envisioned.
   
   After becoming concerned about a painful, swollen breast, all the tests showed the presence of a tumor. At the young at of 33, she was diagnosed with a highly aggressive breast cancer. Doctors said she only had a 50 percent chance of surviving five years.
   
   Stephanie refused to see this situation as an obstacle to her dreams. Although she struggled with cancer for eight years, she decided to get married, buy a home, earn her Ph.D. and even travel the world. Stephanie didn't give up on life because life decided to take her on a path that would show her the limits of her own endurance.
   
   Knowing Stephanie is a combination of Charlee Brodsky's photographs and Stephanie Byram's words. There is also an wonderful essay by Jennifer Matesa to give us a story of the medical journey without being overly clinical.
   
   In "Reconstructing a Life" we learn how Stephanie found out about her cancer and how chemotherapy works. We finally understand what causes the nausea and why patients undergoing chemo go bald and experience neutropenia.
   
   In this collaborative effort, you will meet Stephanie and learn about her struggles. You will see how she took charge of her own life and relive the experiences of chemotherapy and doctor visits through photographs. There are also beautiful notes from her mother, father and niece. She makes of list of everything her friends and family did to help her including telling her is was "OK to cry."
   
   Stephanie had weaknesses and strengths and both are portrayed in this story. We are invited to share her love of gardening, the feelings she experiences as she wondered how men would accept her after her surgery, how she is suddenly confronted with her mortality and how she uses the experiences in her life to heal instead of withdrawing into the darkness of despair.
   
   A portrait of a woman who refused to see cancer as anything less than an opportunity to embrace life in all its beauty and sadness and learn from the experience. Her optimism and determination is an inspiration to us all.
   
   "What is my future: love, laughter, gardens, family, friends, spirituality, travel ...more of what I love in life. I surround myself with positivity, gentleness, challenge, and hope. I be, I am, until I pass, as we all shall." ~ Stephanie Byram
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Breaking Autism's Barriers: A Father's Story.

1. I think this book is amazing because it let's you go into the mind of the author who is a man full of love for his son. He writes this book as if he is sitting in the room talking to you, and I like that. It's easy to read and easy to understand. And that is what people look for especially on Autism. I applaud this man and his family for doing wonderful things for the Austism Society and I'm proud to say that I'm a part of his world. I hope more people will read his books and get to know the love and suffering he and his family have been through. If anything he should get a medal in his honor.



2. Bill is so candid in his telling of the Davis family's life with Chris. He gives so much of himself and asks nothing in return. He is constantly out in the community advocating for not only his child but all children and adults with Autism. I'm proud to say I know him and I throughly enjoyed his book. If your child has been diagnosed you really should read this. Some parts will make you cry but many will make you laugh and say "Oh my god I'm not the only one!" It's an excellent book told from a point of view many never get to see. -Tracy Gipe, mother of a ten year old with ASD and his two younger siblings without.



3. When starting this book I felt it would be a technical rendition of an Autistic child's life. Boy was I surprised to read the heart felt story about a father, a mother and two children caught up in the baffling world of Autism. From the diagnosis, through the stress of daily life the commitment between these family members was so touching and compelling forcing me to reexamine my own life's priorities. The Davis' obstacle ridden devotion to further education and community awareness of this disease is nothing less than admirable, and hopes that through Mr. Davis' advocacy work he can compel others to open their eyes. I would encourage everyone to read this book, you will never regret or forget it.



4. When starting this book I felt it would be a technical rendition of an Autistics child's life. Boy was I surprised to read the heart felt story about a father, a mother and two children caught up in the baffling world of Autism. From the diagnosis, through the stress of daily life the commitment between these family members was so touching and compelling forcing me to reexamine my own life's priorities. The Davis' obstacle ridden devotion to further education and community awareness of this disease is nothing less than admirable, and hopes that through Mr. Davis' advocacy work he can compel others to open their eyes.



5. You can't miss the hard-headed commitment, the dogged won't-take-no-for-an-answer determination of this father in his loving and relentless pursuit of appropriate services for his son with autism. Bill Davis "tells it like it is" -- no wishy-washiness, no pie-in-the sky, no empty promises or fairy tale endings. His book makes clear the unfathomable depth of his love -- his passion -- for his beautiful son Chris, and the unyielding belief that no work is too hard, no frustration too crippling, no sacrifice too great if the goals are to provide for his son avenues by which this child with autism can make sense of our complex, swirling, overstimulating world, and find ways to express his own rich perceptions, ideas, and wit.

   Read this book if you have a child with autism. Buy it and give it as a gift (as I have twice already) to someone you know who has a child with autism.

   Read this book, too, if you have or know a child with ANY disability, for in Bill and Jae Davis' story of working with educational authorities, "working the system", "fighting the system" , improving the system, and not "settling" for halfway measures is a model for all parents of ALL kids with so-called special needs.

   But read this book if what you're looking for is just a good love story. The love that springs out of every page is real and unsentimental. The whole story is here -- the love of Bill and Jae for each other despite fatigue and frustrations and fights, the love for their daughter Jessica and Jessica's love for Chris, and the loving personality of Chris himself, the true hero of the book.