Meredith Vieira Books

On the surface, Nancy Draper's story of her mother's battle with AIDS is a story about facing death from a dreadful disease. But looking deeper A Burden of Silence is really a story about choosing to live with compassion and empathy for others.

In a world where many live daily with fear as a companion - fear of pain, fear of what others will think, fear that they will be the recipient of prejudice - this story shows us that we can choose to live with hope, that even though we are just one person we can make a difference. Nancy has given voice to her mother who thought her only choice was silence.

The book is a loving memorial and a celebration of a life.

Nancy Draper, author of A Burden of Silence, held an audience enthralled at a recent Maine library program as she spoke about her mother's battle with AIDS. Everyone there purchased a copy of her book.

Her first person narrative conveys an intimacy between the reader and the author. It is heart wrenching when Nancy relates how her mother was infected with HIV through a blood transfusion during heart surgery. People usually think that if they have protected sex, this could not happen to them, but Nancy points out that it can happen to anyone. Her mother was an innocent victim who felt a deep shame for having a "dirty" disease. This book explains how a seemingly ordinary family handled this tragedy.

Imagine how hard it must to keep such a secret, when one has every right expect support from outsiders. Think how degrading it is to an elderly woman when her own doctor would not touch her, but made his nurse take blood. This sense of despair is what the author communicates to anyone wise enough to pick up a copy of her book and read it.

The author valiantly attempts to control her emotions, to give an unbiased account of how her family coped. Nancy's mother spent the first five years after her surgery not knowing why she always felt sick. When she was finally given the blood test that determined that the blood bank gave her HIV infected blood, she was devastated. She lived a short three years after the diagnosis.

The decision was made to keep it quiet. Nancy's mother felt that most people would not understand, and perhaps she was correct. Society tends to judge people without all the facts.

Near the end of her mother's life, Nancy and her father applied for hospice care, which turned out to be a blessing. Wintering in Florida, they would have been alone without hospice. Hospice made the last days easier to bear for this brave woman who had so much thrown her way.

Not only has Nancy Draper written remarkable narrative of coping, but she comes from a cohesive family unit. Her husband, present at the program I attended, exuded incredible support, which must make living with this tragedy a bit easier, as her own health suffered during this ordeal. Today her travels take her throughout the country in her work to reinforce AIDS awareness.

This book educates people to a greater AIDS awareness than any professional lecture could accomplish. As Nancy states, AIDS is not a dirty word, and through her participation in the AIDS memorial quilt, perhaps more people will come to realize the wisdom of her words. This book is a must for everyone.

"A Burden of Silence: My Mother's Battle with AIDS," is a gripping and tender account of a daughter's love for her dying mother due to a tainted blood transfusion. In this heartwarming book dealing with a nightmarish subject, Nancy succeeds in revealing her story with courage, compassion, humor, and unwavering love. Through this story, Nancy hopes to erase some of the stigma surrounding AIDS. Nancy explains the importance of keeping her mother's memory alive through the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. I highly recommend this book.
Richard H Frishman "Rick Frishman"
www.plannedtvarts.com
www.author101.com

Nancy Draper writes a deeply moving account of her family's pain, shame and suffering during a time when AIDS was a new mysterious disease that had the medical profession baffled and caused grave public misconceptions. A must read book.

After reading the many positive reviews on Nancy Draper's book "A Burden of Silence" I am at a loss to add anything more worthy. So I would like to go at it from a personal point of view. I have just recently met the author, but I was acquainted with her parents for quite awhile. It pleased me greatly when Nancy told me her mother liked me very much, and that she liked my writing.
The secret was kept from me as well as most everyone except the family. I only knew that this lovely, frail lady was not very well. After her death, my husband and I joined Nancy's dapper, and personable father for breakfast on several occasions following church. We still did not know what had caused her death. Now, this gentleman is gone too. I am blessed that because I knew them, I now am getting to know Nancy Draper.
This little woman is incredibly strong and resilient. She has bravely taken on many health problems of her own as well as those of her family. I can understand how doubly-difficult it had to be when she carried the burden of silence, when one of things she needed most, was to confide in others and unburden her own heart. But this was her parents' wish, at a time when AIDS was just entering our vocabulary and was so very mis-understood. This is an important, warmly written book. Susan "Sam" LeGree. Author of "Champagne in a Plastic Glass" and "Old Girl Talk"

This book give practical advice on how to have a healthy weight family. With children being overweight at an increasing number each year this book should be read by all parents and the techniques put into practice. School administrators need to read it as well so they can understand why school's need to have a physical education program.

I wasn't sure if I should get this book. I almost felt like I could write the book on healthy meals for my family. But, the price was right and I am always looking for a new tip. I'm about half way through the book and am really enjoying it. The advice is good and realistic. And, yes, I have learned a few new tips.

I wasn't really sure what I was getting when I ordered this book. The book is based on a new program being piloted now by Weight Watchers. The program, in limited areas now teaches parents on how to encourage a "Healthy Weight" home. What surprised me is how different this program is from the one designed by Weight Watchers for adults as part of their nationally available program. For one, they strongly discourage parents from placing all but the most obese of children on a diet and then only with the close supervision of a physician.

The book trains parents on the "5 Simple Rules."
1. Focus on wholesom, nutritious foods.
2. Include treats.
3. Aim to keep nonhomework screen time at two hours (or less) per day.
4. Try to be active an hour per day.
5. The Rules apply to everyone in the home.

While that should tell you all you need to know about the program there is so much more. My daughter 4, does not currently have a weight issue, however as an over obese person since childhood I watch her closely to attempt to prevent her from having the same weight issues I have. I was shocked to learn all of the things I am doing wrong. Everything from what snacks/treats I give her to forcing her to clean her plate, and at least a dozen other things.

One of the things I loved about this book it there was no encouragement to make drastic life altering adjustments to your life. In fact, the book encourages gentler simple steps your family can carry out. It doesn't tell you what order to complete the rules in, but to start with the ones you know you can do. The book offers real life concerns and solutions that even the most out of shape family can take to heart.

The book also discourages you from weighing your children more than when they are at the physician's office or even discussing weight in front of them. If anyone in your house struggles with their weight this book is a must have. I wish it had been available to my parents when I was young, I only hope I can learn enough from it to prevent the same mistakes in my children.

This book was well organized, easy to read and understand, and gave good basic information. The healthy eating solutions are easy to implement in daily life. I learned some new things and remembered some things I already knew.

This is a great book to help families learn how to eat better and get healthier!
Lots of information and on suggestions on how to make it a family effort!
I totally recommend it!
One of the best books WW's has put out!

While the book is well-written, there are no answers here. There are women who need to stick to their priorities and accept the tradeoffs that come with them (Meredith Viera) and who need to take a realistic look at the choices they've made (Rachael Worby). These are women having trouble making a career and family function despite having no real financial constraints, yet they still can't do it. I suppose this should make the rest of us feel better, but I found it quite depressing.

I adored this book. The stories of Meredith (of THE VIEW)and others touched my heart in ways I never imagined. I couldn't put it down.. a must read!

I've read alot of magazines on women in the working world; but, none of them ever step thru the decision making process this well. These are people facing extremely tough challenges, usually alone (or with friends who are not actually in the same "trenches", but are looking at the challenge from afar.)

These are brave people, on their own - working thru challenges; How else will i learn about the challenges i have yet to face but through stories like this. I do not learn from tv or movies - nor from newspaper articles or magazines - i do not see these types of stories anywhere. There is room for them and there is a big need for them. Women with daughters should read this; women with a passion for their careers should also; women debating whether or not to have children at a later point in their life should read this.

It is written with tolerance for other opinions which so many stories and people today are lacking. It was really enjoyable...

I'm writing this review primarily to refute Milly's poor rating of this book. While I completely agree with her comments about Meredith and Rachel, I feel the author did an excellent job portraying all the women for who they truly are. It is a relief to see that people who seem to have it all really are like the rest of us and struggle with the same issues we do. It is also wonderful to see the different ways these women deal with their issues, whether they do so in a healthy manner or not.

This book helped me realize my life isn't so bad and that I do ok dealing with my own issues. Thus, I recommend this to all working women as you are bound to benefit from it in one way or another.

The struggles in this book touched my soul. Perhaps because I'm a journalist, I could totally relate to Meredith Vieira. And even though it has been four years since I've read it, I can still recall vividly the image of her crying at her kitchen table. Balancing work and the roles of wife and mother is a minute-by-minute-challenge for almost every working woman I know! If working women had more time on their hands, this would be a best seller! Buy, borrow, or steal this book....