Women Books

I just stumbled across this book in the Birmingham Museum of Art and what a delightful surprise! What a showcase of Alabama women's writing talents. From silly to serious, this book covers it all, from crib to cradle. It left me asking when's the next one coming out and where can I get it!

What an excellent display of the talents of Alabama writers! Alabama is often the brunt of "good ole boy" jokes, skipping over the intelligence and versatility of the abundance of talent found in Alabama. Anyone can relate to this book---from grandmothers and grandfathers and "hard times" which are displayed profusely. Hats off to the contributors to this book and for the editor for taking the time to introduce these poems to America!

Ordinary and Sacred as Blood makes me feel at home among writers--Alabama women writers who have shared their inmost thoughts from every cranny of the state. The variety of their experiences and the ways they have chosen to express them are appealing--poetry, memoir, essay, story. I'm still reading, and I've enjoyed every one--from our wonderful just-retired poet laureate Helen Blackshear to Helen Norris to Susan Murphy and Nabella Shunnarah, from Anne George to Natasha Tretheway to others whose voices are new to me. I look forward to the next chapter from this group.

Alabama authors have stepped forth to share short stories, poems and quips that will lift the heart of the reader. Ordinary & Sacred as Blood, authored by Alabama women, will trigger your every emotion. It truly promises and delivers something for everyone. You'll treasure this book forever. Delightful, thoughtful way to remember those on your gift list.

wonderful, folksy reading with home folks. Alabama Christmas by Charlotte Miller very sweet.Mamie was a Slave by Helen Blackshear gives insight into other days.

I was drawn in to this story, and couldn't put it down until it came to a conclusion. The author's style is natural and flowing. I loved the insights into a writer's methods. One side of my family is Italian so I could easily relate to the family relationships portrayed in this book. I plan to read "Painting the Invisible Man" again, for the courage to research a death in my own family history, a death that still has many unanswered questions around it.

This is a must read! I'm normally only a "mystery / who done it" type of reader, but I found this book to have it's own intrigue of mystery. It was hard for me to put it down. I would highly recommend this book.

Rita Schiano's Painting The Invisible Man tells the story of growing up in a family connected to the mafia. What is different about this story is the recollection as an adult the experiences of a childhood that was anything but normal. The book brings the main character to a depth of understanding about her father, showing a range of emotions that ultimately leads to forgiveness.
This book is both entertaining and thought provoking. Recommended to all, especially those of you who like mysteries.

Painting the Invisible Man by Rita Schiano is a story about the resilience of a young girl in dealing with her Italian family that is caught up in the world of organized crime. She repeatedly demonstrates flexibility and optimism in making the changes that she feels she must make to honor her commitment and bond to her parents and family. She is a master of dealing with adversity and bouncing back. As a young woman, the main character with courage shows us that it is never too late to go back and put closure on the past. The story is well written. The characters have depth. It is suspenseful and a page turner. I would enjoy seeing it used as a tool to teach these skills and attitudes
- Ron Breazeale Ph.D.
clinical psychologist and author of Reaching Home

Painting the Invisible Man is a must read! I found Rita Schiano's writing style creative, fun, poignant and the story line interesting and thought provoking. From the moment you pick up this book you are captured until it's end. I highly recommend this book!

I literally breathed in every word of this book! It is absolutely the most informative, up to date, thorough and readable book I have read thus far on postpartum mood disorders. As an RN who has worked with postpartum moms for 15 years, and as a mom who suffered from severe ppd, I am always eager to research new literature on this subject. This book reached my soul deeply on both levels - the clinical RN and the vulnerable mom. Thank you, Dr. Shoshana.

Ginger Law
Registered Nurse, Speaker

I just finished reading "Postpartum Depression For Dummies". It is an absolute "must read" for mothers suffering from any aspect or degree of postpartum depression. Their partners and families must read it as well. It is clear, it flows, it's well written and easy to understand. It leaves no question unanswered, every aspect and element of this condition is covered thoroughly. I would not hesitate to call this book a "life saver". The author, Dr. Shoshana Bennett proves herself to be a well versed leading authority on this topic, and a compassionate, kind and caring person who is available for telephone consultations. A huge thumbs up!!

This book is a must have if you are suffering from postpartum depression. I am in recovery from this illness and believe me I read a lot of books on this subject as soon as I was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression. But Postpartum Depression for Dummies gave me more detail on the subject than the others. It helped me to understand the illness, what my options were, and how to deal with my feelings. It also helped my family know how to help me. It guided me step by step and encouraged me not to give up and that these awful roller-coaster of feelings I had were going to pass. And they did.

Gaby

I have read every word of this book and feel so strongly about it that I have wrapped it in a receiving blanket to give to New Mom's at their Baby Showers!! This is a must to have in a household where there are kids. The humor, the tips, the resources, the written...easy to read quality are exceptional! Shoshanna does not preach, she tells it like it is. Where was this book when I gave birth to our first. Congratulations, Shoshonna on spreading the news that woman can take their life back during postpartum. Sallie Felton, Life Coach and International Talk Radio Host, www.salliefeltonlifecoach.com

I suffered PPD after the birth of my second son. As a stay-at-home mom caring for two small children, I felt overwhelmed and lost. I was suffering, as were those around me. After reading Dr. Shoshanna's book, I was able to make positive changes to bring balance to my life and overcome my PPD. I stopped beating myself up for not being able to "do-it-all." I started caring for myself by putting good nutrition in my body, taking breaks to have "me" time, and asking for help with housework and childcare. By doing these things, I saw changes immediately and I feel better than I have in a long time. And this book helped my family understand how I was feeling and how to support me. I wish I would have read Dr. Shoshanna's book before I had my first child. Now that I am pregnant with my third child, I plan to continue with the changes I've made and have a much happier experience with my newborn and my family. Thank you Dr. Shoshanna for writing this book and for helping so many women. All mothers (whether first time or not) should read this book.

Great read!!! Not only is this full of scriptures, but it has wonderful ideas to put into action for your family. My only problem is that sometimes the author assumes all of the readers are married with children, thus leaving out us single moms, but I still got a lot out of the book.

This is a wonderful book. A most read for all moms who want to encourage their children to be positive and to live a Christan life. It is an easy read and very uplifting!

There were some good things in this one. I did keep it after I was done reading it but it wasn't as deep as I had hoped it would be.

This was our first book we read for our newly formed Bible Study/ Women's Book club at our church. It was a hit and everybody thoroughly enjoyed it. There was a chapter or two that was just "ok", but the rest of it made a lot of sense. Our book club is mostly new moms or moms with younger children.

While nothing in the book was a huge revelation ("your kids model themselves after you," "take care of yourself," "take care of your marriage," etc.), it was all a good reminder -- and it was nice to have the Biblical citations to back up the principles. Ladd is a great writer, making the material very easy and entertaining to read.

Not only does Michelle McKinney Hammond tell about and how to handle the feminine mystique, but how to use it glorify God and not for selfish gain. The Strength of Vulnerability is the best chapter to me. Learning how not to react to men but respond to God's voice. All women should read this book.

Michelle explains how to be effective while not conforming to the world as it is today and not using the old feminine whiles of manipulation. The book was a joy to read.

This book is wonderful. The author reinforces that we are not weird to want to be feminine. As expemplified in the Bible women have a tremendous power in their femininity and as someone that is happy to be a woman, I found this a very enjoyable read. I also strongly reccommend this book to those that ? the strenght of allowing the doors to be open & acting & being treated as a feminine being. This will give you a new outlook on that. Being feminine does not make you a mental weakling, but when used under God's wisdom it is a momumental force. I Highly reccommend for all females of all ages! I also recommend for men & women alike Ms Hammond's book Where are you God.

In this day and age of the feminist movement, this book is a refreshing breath of air. It reinstates the power we have as women IF we will operate in the role that God ordained us to walk in. As usual, Michelle's humor helps get her point across in such a way that it finds a lodging place in the heart. Once we as women realize just how "special" we are, look out! We are WOMEN, God's special creation, and we roar because of the power of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.

This is definitely a must read for the Christian woman whether single or married. As a single woman in my twenties, this book has really opened my eyes to the power that I have. I especially loved that part of the book where Michelle wrote of the damage we can inflict to the devil's plans when we go down in prayer. I have a stronger desire more than ever to really seek God in prayer for changes not only in my life, but in the lives of my family and friends. Read it -- you'll be blest!

I'm really surprised at all the positive reviews this got. She did give some guidelines which are nice, but I found it very hard to drum up much sympathy for the author, who seemed very full of herself and self-focussed. Her life was, in general, not a struggle; she seemed to get everything she wanted easily and more than most people can dream of getting. She had a few bumps and now she's back on track and that's why she wrote the book. I would not recommend it.

After reading the article about Ms. Whaley in the April 2006 issue of Black Enterprise Magazine, I immediately bought and read her book. I could not put the book down. Whaley tells a story that most of us can identify with. I was so inspired by her book. She difinitely sparked me to re-evaluate my own choices and start living my life for me and not everyone else. I recommend this book to everyone.

I read about Lisa in the September issue of Essence Magazine and immediately bought the book. I was so moved by her story. This is a book that is a must read for everyone.

I read this week over a weekend. It was funny, moving and inspirational. So much to learn from... thank you!

Lots of things you will think about as you read this book. Most women will probably see themselves in parts of this story. This woman took her life back and it took a lot of courage. A terrific read. Enjoyed it very much.

Excellent book!!!!!
In my opinion the beggining of the book was a little boring, but when I was around page 100 the story became very compelling, a page-turner, full of action, suspense and even romance !!! I highly recommend you to read it.

When Carina DeGratia finds out her fiancé has been unfaithful, she leaves her beloved Sonoma, California and heads for Crystal, Colorado. With the deed to her dream house in her hand and little else, she quickly finds out things are not always what they claim to be. Once in Crystal, Carina grabs the attention of two men. One a town leader, the other a man she just as soon wished she'd never met. Again, Carina learns a hard lesson in trust when she begins to realize neither man is who he seems. When violence begins to escalate in this small mining town, Carina must decide who it is she will turn to for help.

THE ROSE LEGACY, the first in a three part series, was a very enjoyable read. I'm glad I already have book two so I can plunge right in and see what else is in store for Carina, her husband, and the town of Crystal.

I have looked at Kristen Heiztmann's books on the bookstore shelves for years now, and never once bought one, thinking they were just the run of the mill historical Christian fiction, with not much meat in them. However, when I recently bought her books Secrets and Unforgotten when they were on sale for half price, I couldn't put them down! Upon finishing those two, I immediately took the Rose Legacy series books out of the library (whose storyline precedes that of Secrets and Unforgotten), and had them read in less than a week (ignoring other important tasks at times!) I love them even more than the first two I read. The characters are real and it was easy to hear the voice of the Lord in my own ear as I read their words. The Lord knew when and where I needed to read these!

I hadn't read Heitzmann before tackling this series, and I've got to say: she's good. The names struck me as a mite corny, but what did I expect from a historical, romance series? Once I got over Quillan, Flavio, etc I thoroughly enjoyed reading the series.
Only buy it if you're ready to put in the time though, cause you won't want to put it down for anything mundane like eating or sleeping:-)

Kristen has begun a new and certainly interesting series set in Colorado. Carina is running from a broken heart and hate for her sister. Instead of the "home" she has purchased, she finds herself in a tiny, canvas stall-type room and working for a dubious person, the only one who seemingly was willing to help. But, he had a motive. A dark one.

Quillan, both hero and scoundrel at times, plays a huge role in Carina's life. He harbors and lives a secret too painful to face. His only real friend is one legged Cain, a truly powerful Christian man whom Quillan would love to call his dad.

Mae and Emie become friends of Carina and she also finds some comfort in the priest and livery hands, but is forced to be near a horrible man she cannot figure out.

This book is set in the historical era many call the rush for silver and gold and lust and debauchery are in their heyday. Carina wonders if she has lost her mind trying to re-establish her life by coming to this small mining town. Some strike it rich while others become paupers, a few remain truthful while a sizable group become rogues and take orders from a ruthless man.

Throughout the entire book, Carina is constantly drawn to the Rose Mine/tunnel, riding there, spending time there, and trying to figure out the mystery this hole contains and why it has such a hold on her. "Wolf" figures to be part of the entire series but so far, not much is known about him.

The author does a great job of leading you straight to book 2. Thanks for a new twist to a Christian, historical, fictional book Kristen.

Daughter of a full-blooded Navajo father and white mother, Lori Arviso Alvord grew up on a New Mexico reservation in a family that took pride in its native heritage, but followed few of the traditional ways. She attended Navajo schools but never learned the language; she knew her clan relationships and enjoyed the security of tribal connections but seldom attended ceremonies or understood the depth of meaning in the Navajo concept "Walk In Beauty."

Such a person might expect to shed the remnants of tribal culture on leaving the reservation to become a high-powered surgeon, a career that by its very nature flies in the face of Navajo precepts like privacy and self-effacement.

Indeed, throughout her memoir, co-authored by Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt, Alvord seems to straddle two worlds separated by an uncomfortable gulf. She first looked upon the deepness of that gulf at Dartmouth.

"For a girl who had never been far from Crownpoint, New Mexico, the green felt incredibly juicy, lush, beautiful and threatening." Unable to see the horizon, she felt claustrophobic. But the culture shock was worse. "I thought people talked too much, laughed too loud, asked too many personal questions, and had no respect for privacy." Navajos do not put themselves forward and cooperation is valued over competition. Not a good prescription for success at an Ivy League school.

At Dartmouth she began to feel her tribal identity more strongly and wonder if a kinaalda ceremony (a celebration of womanhood) would have helped empower her in such alien surroundings. But not until after medical school at Stanford, where she was forced to break numerous taboos (Navajo never touch the dead, for instance) and joined a profession where it is essential to ask prying, intimate questions and invade another's personal space at will, did Alvord really begin to explore the philosophical grounding of Navajo culture.

Becoming a surgeon at the Gallup Indian Medical Center, close to the reservation, Alvord notices that her patients do better when they are calm and relaxed, that harmony - even in the operating room when the patient is unconscious - is important for recovery.

She grows more interested in the Navajo philosophy that "everything in life is connected and influences everything else." To "Walk in Beauty" a person strives to live in balance, symmetry and harmony with everything and everyone else.

While this is an ancient precept, held in common with many other cultures and enjoying something of a renaissance in American medicine today, Alvord comes up with a particularly striking example. One of her surgery patients, a young woman, was the first to die of a strange illness that swept through the Navajo nation, killing 11.

A doctor working for the Centers for Disease Control, Ben Muneta, visited a medicine man, a hataalii, who told him "the illness was caused by an excess of rainfall, which had caused the pinon trees to bear too much fruit." There was "a significant deviation from the natural harmony of the world."

The medicine man showed a sand painting of a mouse and said that twice before in years of excess rainfall a similar disease had struck. " `Look to the mouse,' " he said. Weeks later the CDC determined that the Hantavirus was contracted from the droppings of infected deer mice. The deer mouse population had surged due to an excess of pinon nuts. "It was the rain."

Alvord's tone is quiet, reserved. It does not seem easy for her to describe the alcoholism of her charming father or the difficulties and generosity of her (married at 16) mother. Though she takes us to a nightlong ceremony for the sick and celebrates the strength her patients draw from medicine-man visits, she never explains why it takes her so long to visit a hitaalii during her own pregnancy. Or why she never approaches a medicine man to discuss cross-cultural treatments despite her growing conviction of the efficacy of the "whole body" approach.

While most of the book concentrates on her work and her struggle to reconcile cultures, she provides a wide, sad look at reservation life, beset by poverty and "white mans'" diseases. The long grief of history resides in the alcoholism and the self-loathing of so many - a balance that can never be put right.

At last Alvord leaves. Seeing it as the next natural step in her own "life trail", she returns to Dartmouth as a surgeon and a dean of minority and student affairs. At Dartmouth, she hopes, she can teach the Navajo "Walk In Beauty" principles to new doctors as well as working within the established system to bring better care to her own people.

I am full-blooded Navajo, I was taught to believe in my traditonal ways and it disappoints me that she has talked about very scared ceremonies.

Lori Arviso Alvord walks in two worlds. Raised on the Navajo reservation in New Mexico -- "the rez" -- she is the daughter of a Navajo man and a white woman. Carrying this dichotomy into her education and career, she went from the reservation high school to Dartmouth College, then found her path to Stanford University School of Medicine and a surgical residency in New Mexico.

As the first Navajo woman surgeon, she learned to integrate the science-based world of medicine and the spirit-based Native American culture. The importance of the singing cures, native healing practices, and other spiritual traditions was brought home to her when she observed her patients' outcomes. Surgical skill was often not enough when delivered without respect for the language, culture and spirituality of the Navajo patients.

The main focus of this memoir is Dr. Alvord's path to acceptance of the first Navajo principles: balance, harmony and wholeness, known as "Walking in Beauty." Along the way we learn a great deal about Native American history and culture, sensitively presented.

Dr. Alvord speaks of the cultural bases for Native American alcoholism and the prevalence of gang culture, monumental threats to the health and well-being of her people. The healing of these ills will never be achieved in the operating room alone, and many patients' stories illustrate this lesson effectively.

The outcome of Dr. Alvord's journey is signaled from the beginning, as is often the case with a memoir. While this may dilute the dramatic tension of her story, we're rewarded with a thoughtful and inspiring look at one woman's life and work, in all its contexts. I recommend this book to readers young and old who have an interest in the cultural aspects of medical care.

Linda Bulger, 2008

I picked up this book and I could NOT put it down. What a wonderful journey described here....how she interlocks traditional medicine with Navajo, how harmony and positive spirit is such a process in the healing world. You will not be disappointed with this read. I have shared this with all those close to me. Make it part of your list

--Dr Alvord writes about her journeys as a Native American student and physician. The book seems clearly designed for non-technical readers rather than the professional medical community, and there's little medical jargon. She uses her own difficult pregnancy and the death of a beloved grandmother as case studies in integrating Western medicine and Navajo ideas.
--On the one hand, it's worth reading this book just to hear such an inspirational story from such a role model. Dr Alvord tells her story with dignity and courage and she has many good ideas about listening to patients and integrating Balance and Harmony in our profession (although these ideas don't seem as radical or as rare within the medical community as she seems to imply, and I don't think she does anyone a great service by implying they are).
--On the other hand, the authors remained disappointingly abstract, even given the limitations of confidentiality and space. The stories of Navajo healing barely scratched the surface and the book was pretty scanty with practical advice that would help non-Native healers understand Native American patients. I'd love to have heard her perspectives on the magnitude of Native American health problems, how she handled the constant pressures of time and funding, or how she successfully used traditional Native American methods to help manage serious medical-social problems (i.e. alcohol use, diabetogenic diets, family pressures, basic compliance and responsibility issues, etc). In short, I'd like to have heard more about her successes.
--The book's perspective gives a good counterpoint to those who criticize Western medicine as too impersonal/sterile/uncaring/whatever, while they fail to demonstrate how to predictably improve things and still efficiently deliver technically competent health care to people with different levels of motivation and understanding. Western medicine works beautifully in its own niche, but it will be made to work less efficiently if we mess around with the wrong things. Perhaps medicine will improve if we balance the responsibilities of patients to live a healthy lifestyle with the responsibilities of healers to carefully listen to patients and then help them heal.
--This book did not practically help me to do this, so I cannot give it five stars despite my respect for her credentials. I do look forward to a sequel.
--Other books which may be of interest include Blessings (by Dr. A. Organick), The Dancing Healers, and Primary Care of Native American Patients.

In our lives, we each encounter rare works or a rarer person that enrich our soul as well as our practice. SCRAPPY PROJECT MANAGEMENT is such a work, and Kimberly Wiefling is such a person.

SCRAPPY PROJECT MANAGEMENT is as much about who we can be as it is a humorous and practical Baedeker to project management practice. As you are pulled into it, you gradually discover that the "project" is "you" as much as anything else.

Any well-accomplished project - and "you" work - will involve bumps, overwhelming joy, lurches, sheer terror, excitement, and likely a couple of barf bags. You must be this tall to ride but if you are, SCRAPPY PROJECT MANAGEMENT is the book for you.

Excellent book with a very practical & fun approach to Project Management. Whether you are a seasoned project manager or a novice,this book is guaranteed to give you a new perspective on project management. Most of the people (including myself, I used to but not any more) think of project management as a boring dull job with lengthy project plans and long status meetings but Kimberly's approach makes it much more fun with main focus on people rather than processes.

Would recommend to anyone in a heartbeat.

Months after finishing this book I still reference it. Expect to laugh and prepare to learn. Obviously Wiefling did her homework in the school of hard knocks. Can't wait to read more books from her!

Kimberly talks from real life project experience. She prepares you for what is actually coming in a project and gives you ways to build a path, and to stay on track to get you through it.

I have read a number of project management books. This includes several PMBOK exam prep manuals among others. The difficulty lies in knowing what is really important. There are a lot of trees in the forest and they do look the same. I have been searching for a book that would really tell me the key things on how to run projects better.

What this book highlights are what key things you need to do and keep in the forefront of your mind. It tells where the pitfalls are that often still catch projects and how to avoid them.

I recommend this book.

This is a great, easy reading book that really tells it like it is and talks at a level that a wide variety of people can understand. Great job, Kimberly.

PS - I loved your YouTube video.

Maybe my hopes were too high due to the previous reviews, but I found it a little dull.

I loved the McKettrick's, every book I have picked up I cant put it down until I have read through, and cant wait till he next.

I love all the McKettrick Series stories, they are all different, but many of the same characters throughout. I really enjoy these type of books because it's almost like a continuation of the same story that I liked in the first place! Currently I am reading The Last Chance Cafe by the same author, and it is not about the McKettrick's, but is a wonderful story that's different but in the same style as the others.

One of the best books I have read, I have read the Trilogy and loved all three.

This is great book if you read the other two books of the McKettrick family you will enjoy it. Dont forget to read about the last or should I say first brother of the McKettrick Cowboys. Title: "McKettrick Choice".