Anthropology of an American Girl: A Novel by Hilary Thayer Hamann

Born and grew up in a very conservative country until after college when I came over for graduate school, I was curious to learn about how American girls grew up in the relatively conservative decades. Will this novel represent the rite of passages of American girls from girlhood to womanhood in the 70's? I am not sure that it does since I didn't grew up here. It would be a hard way for girls to grow up if this novel does represent the culture. I felt sorry for the heroine, Evie.

This novel is long, from Evie's first love in high school, the turns and twists of her relationships, her financial struggles while in college, and her realization of her place at the end. I wouldn't say this is a classic, only time will tell. However, it's a novel worth reading if one has the patience.

In the Grip of Bereavement, by Dr. Chaim Licht

When it comes to deal with the loss of loved one, everyone grieves differently and every culture has its own unique custom as to the proper way of mourning.

Dr. Licht's daughter didn't live to see her thirtieth birthday. In his grief, he turned to Jewish literature of the Aggada to explore the responses of the sages to similar situation. In this three-part book, he meticulously analyzed the ten aggadic stories on death and bereavement from Jewish perspective.

Initially, this book didn't hold my interest as I have had very little exposure of ancient Jewish history and literature. It took me awhile to finish reading it and I am glad that I did. I feel that I just took an ancient Jewish literature course.

While this book may not be for me and I am neutral about it, however, I believe that for Jews or those with deep knowledge of ancient Jewish history and literature, this book would be a nice addition to their book collection.

Restful Insomnia, by Sondra Kornblatt

I sleep like baby, so I was not very thrilled when LibraryThing notified me that I had won the right to review this book. However, as I was reading this book I felt very sorry for those who suffer from insomnia. Not only sleep doesn't easily come by for them, but also the complicated techniques and tips to deal with sleepless weaving throughout this book that I had hard time get it.

I am neutral about this book. Maybe someone else with chronicle sleep disorder will find it useful.

Prime-Time Health, by William Sears, MD

This is a great book that covers head-to-toe, inside-and-outside of how human body changes as we age. Based on scientific evidence, his own medical practice, and his own experience as cancer survivor, Dr. Sears, in a easy to understand and sometimes humorous way, presents a wealth of information as to what to do, what to eat, and how to do it so to live a healthy, happy life in prime-time as we age.

I couldn't put this book down when I was reading it. Though I have already maintain quite a healthy diet and exercise program for may years, I find that I can fine tune my ways based on the information that Dr. Sears shares in this book.

I highly recommend this book without any reservation.

Guernica, by Dave Boling

Hiking in the Basque country is one of the hiking vacations that I want to do, so I was eager to read this book. However, it took me awhile to get into it, but I couldn't put it down when Boling started telling the devastating German bombing of Guernica, the heart of Basque country, on the eve of World War II.

In "Guernica", Boling skillfully weaves the histories of Spanish Civil War, World War II, and the creation of a mural Guernica by Picasso with the lives of fictitious characters from two families, the Ansotegui and the Navarro. He makes learning history less boring, at least for me.

The Song of Songs: A woman in love - Translation & commentary by Benjamin J. Segal

When I was in college in the early 70’s, I attended the regular Sunday services and youth activities in a Presbyterian church in Taiwan, where the culture was very conservative then, romantic love between man and woman was seldom openly discussed. My pastor focused on the Christian’s devotion to God when he mentioned the “The Song of Solomon”, he sort of avoiding the implied relationship between a man and a woman.

Rabbi Benjamin Segal translated and commented the “The Song of Songs” in a way that I had never thought of then. The title “The Song of Songs: A Woman in Love” clearly speaks that “The Song of Songs” is the book in Bible that celebrates the unconditional romantic love, it’s not just a book that emphases divine love to God. I found Rabbi Segal’s interpretations very interesting and liberating.

Natural Treatments for Tics & Tourette's by Sheila J. Rogers

This book is my crash course about Tics & Tourette Syndrome. It clearly explains what the disease is, how it impacts the patients and people around them, the possible causes from environment and diet, the different treatment options that focus on natural remedies and the management of environment and diet. I am not a medical professional, but I always pay attention to what environment and diet can impact my health personally and that of my loved ones. If this disease struck myself or any of my loved ones, I would seek every treatment options, including the natural remedies described in this book. Coincidentally, shortly after I finished reading this book, ABC aired an episode of its 20/20 programs, "Teens Take on Tourette Syndrome" that reinforced my understanding of the disease, on Friday, 05/22/2009.

The Last Gifts, by Jillian Brasch

My Dad was very ill for 7 months before he past away in 2005. When he was dying, I was looking for books that would give me practically ways, in addition to pray, to take care of him during the final journey of his life, but I found so little available. I finally realized that in the American culture that people in general are not comfortable around someone who is either dying or whose loved one is dying. It's very different from the culture in Taiwan where I was originally from. I felt so lonely and isolated then, wishing that there were more supports out there for me while I was dealing with the illness of my Dad.

I appreciate Ms. Jillian Brasch's contribution in this scarce field in a practically way. I highly recommend her book to anyone who needs it.