Doctor on Call by Alla Shapiro, MD

May 28, 2021 By 1 Comment


Doctor on Call: Chernobyl Responder, Jewish Refugee, Radiation Expert by Alla Shapiro, MD
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Historical, Contemporary
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Lavender

Dr. Alla Shapiro was a first physician-responder to the worst nuclear disaster in history: the explosion at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Ukraine on April 26, 1986. Information about the explosion was withheld from first responders, who were not given basic supplies, detailed instructions, or protective clothing. Amid an eerie and pervasive silence, Dr. Shapiro treated traumatized children as she tried to protect her family. No protocols were in place because no one had anticipated the consequences of a nuclear accident. From the outset of the disaster, the Soviet government worsened matters by spreading misinformation; and first responders, including Alla, were ordered to partake in the deception of the public.

After years of persistent professional hostility and personal discrimination that she and her family experienced as Jewish citizens of the USSR, four generations of the Shapiro family fled the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. As émigrés, they were each allowed to take no more than 40 pounds of possessions and $90 in cash. Their escape route took them first to Vienna and then to Italy, where they were stranded as stateless persons for six months. Eventually the family received permission to enter the United States.

Motivated by her Chernobyl experiences, Alla Shapiro ultimately became one of the world’s leading experts in the development of medical countermeasures against radiation exposure. From 2003 to 2019, she worked for the FDA on disaster readiness and preparation. Dr. Shapiro issues stern warnings regarding the preparedness―or lack thereof―of America for the current Covid-19 pandemic. Doctor on Call exposes the horrifying truths of Chernobyl and alerts us to the deceptions that undermine our ability to respond to global disasters.

Dr. Alla Shapiro has written a poignant story about being a first responder during the Chernobyl crisis. She has also described her experiences as a Jewish refugee and immigrant to the United States. Readers are treated to an inside look at what really happened, and the writing draws one into the account.

One may be shocked at times to discover the bare facts. It is quite enlightening; though, Dr. Shapiro’s personal comments add depth to this story. Her struggles and the struggles of those she witnessed will tug at hearts.

When the doctor and her family move to the United States, they must get used to a new culture and language. Readers will get a good sense of what this is like. Dr. Shapiro does not let the tragedy at the Chernobyl plant and its aftermath keep her from continuing forth bravely. Her continued work in her field and cooperation with other experts is explained and is sure to bring hope to others. She brings such a personal touch to technical ideas that readers will be made to truly understand. She also makes a connection to the Covid-19 Coronavirus, linking it to modern events.

One will not only learn much from this book but will also probably enjoy doing so.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Nothing General About It by Maurice Benard

May 13, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Nothing General About It: How Love (and Lithium) Saved Me On and Off General Hospital by Maurice Benard
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary, Memoir, Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Maurice Benard has been blessed with family, fame, and a successful career. For twenty-five years, he has played one of the most well-known characters on daytime television: General Hospital’s Michael “Sonny” Corinthos, Jr. In his life outside the screen, he is a loving husband and the father of four. But his path has not been without hardship. When he was only twenty, Maurice was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

In Nothing General About It, Maurice looks back to his youth in a small town and his tenuous relationship with his father. He describes how his bipolar disorder began to surface in childhood, how he struggled to understand the jolting mood swings he experienced, and how a doctor finally saved his life. For years Maurice was relentless in his goal to be a successful actor. But even after he “made it,” he still grappled with terrifying lows, breakdowns, and setbacks, all while trying desperately to maintain his relationship with his wife, who endured his violent, unpredictable episodes. Maurice holds nothing back as he bravely talks about what it was like to be medicated and institutionalized, and of how he learned to manage his manic episodes while on the set of GH.

This naturally peaked the curiosity of many women who wondered whether or not it can cause harm and any woman who is considering a “top to bottom” overhaul for every member or those who are managing chronic illness will likely need to make some adjustments to the spine and extremities, heat and ice therapy, low-level laser therapy, electrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, temporary bracing, and home strengthening exercise therapy. look at this site cialis prescription online Depression prevents you generico levitra on line from being proactive about your condition, doing things you know you should be to overcome anxiety. There are millions of men who are benefited from penegra pill. http://appalachianmagazine.com/2017/10/24/virginians-can-expect-to-see-more-roundabouts-in-future/ viagra price This discount cialis pill disorder is faced only by men around. Nothing General About It is also an incredible love story about an enduring marriage that demonstrates what those vows—for better, for worse, in sickness and in health—truly mean. Maurice also pays tribute to the community that has been there for him through thick and thin, and ruminates on the importance of both inherited and created family.

A shocking, riveting, and utterly candid memoir of love, adversity, and ultimately hope, Nothing General About It offers insights and advice for everyone trying to cope with mental illness, and is a motivational story that offers lessons in perseverance—of the importance of believing in and fighting for yourself through the darkest times.

A man fighting his demons and so much more.

I’ve loved watching General Hospital for ages. I remember the old storylines and the intrigue…plus the hot scenes. I remember well when Maurice Benard showed up on the scene as Sonny Corinthos. I’ll never forget the scene where Sonny and Brenda are on the plane together and the chemistry leapt off the screen. Watching that was part of the reason I picked up this book.

Maurice Benard is a complicated man and it shows on every page. It’s like reading a story by an old friend. It’s easy to follow, plain speaking and written from the heart. I liked how the author peppered in stories from the show. Benard writes well and I couldn’t stop reading. It was heartening to read a story about someone who admits to their demons and how they’re dealing with them. He’s bipolar and needed lithium to control it. He’s blunt about his struggles and how he’s dealing. It gives hope to those who have such issues and shows you can be yourself while being true to yourself.

If you’re a fan of General Hospital, Sonny Corinthos or just want to read a great book about someone with human issues and how they’ve learned to deal, then this might be for you.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

George Harrison: Be Here Now by Barry Feinstein

May 12, 2021 By Leave a Comment


George Harrison: Be Here Now by Barry Feinstein
Publisher: Rizzoli
Genre: Memoir, Non-Fiction
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Never-before-seen candids and ephemera of “the quiet Beatle” during his meteoric solo career, as captured by his friend and famed photographer Barry Feinstein.

On hand from 1970 to 1972 for Harrison’s blockbuster “Triple Crown”–the release of All Things Must Pass; The Concert for Bangladesh; and Living in the Material World, which helped make Harrison the best-selling post-breakup Beatle, Barry became good friends with George during the three-plus years they worked together. Feinstein captured George Harrison at home, in his garden, onstage, and in the studio. Nearly all the images are previously unpublished.

The book contains never-before-seen ephemera related to these seminal releases during George’s most richly creative time post-Beatles, including handwritten letters talking about album ideas, album-cover
In this manner, this cheap levitra online magical medicine shows wonder to keep male sexual health fit and fine. Earlier, people used these medical herbs as an antidote so as to heal a canada generic viagra wound and to cure a prolonged ailment fully. Some people are lucky, because a good relationship and if you want to avoid india viagra generic most of your stress and tension from your relationship then you must be in good sexual health but it includes many other factors. There brand levitra are two types of surgical implants. thoughts, and putting together the Concert for Bangladesh. This collection also features beloved performers that George convened for that Concert for Bangladesh–where Barry was the only sanctioned photographer onstage–including George’s friends Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell, and Billy Preston.

The book coincides with the fiftieth anniversary of All Things Must Pass. George Harrison: Be Here Now is a deeper visual dive that the significantly large and passionate Beatles/George Harrison fandom will want to add to their collection.

Fifty years since All Things Must Pass released and this is the best way to celebrate.

I have a soft spot for George Harrison, the quiet Beatle. Why? I don’t know. He’s always been my favorite. Maybe it’s because he didn’t seem to have as much to say during the Beatle years and he showed his creativity big time afterwards.

This book is mainly photographs, but if you have heard the records Harrison recorded at the time, All Things Must Pass, The Concert for Bangladesh and Living in the Material World, seeing these pictures illustrates what was going on at the time. I liked the photos from the concert, mostly because I’ve never actually seen the concert. It’s amazing to realize Harrison put together the biggest, considered by most as the granddaddy of all benefit concerts, bash, all to benefit the starving people in Bangladesh. He knew how to get people together to work on such things and these pictures show that.

I enjoyed the introduction by Donovan and would’ve liked to have had some recollections from George during this time, but it’s still a great book.

If you’re interested in seeing photos from the this period in Harrison’s life, then pick it up and enjoy!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Short Poems, Long Tales by Rashid Osmani

April 21, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Short Poems, Long Tales by Rashid Osmani
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Poetry books are generally ignored, unless the poet is famous. By its very nature, poetry is tuned to emotions and feelings in a person. Very often, such feelings are transitionary, and they leave the reader without any residual meaning in their mind, after the reading is done. In this book, Short Poems, Long Tales, the poet conveys a message that is perhaps a bit more lasting. In a way it tries to modify the understanding process and make it more relevant to living in the 21st century. As we embark on a global culture, it’s important to leave narrow views behind and look ahead. Discriminating people, other than ourselves, is very hurtful – more to them immediately and later in time to ourselves. Another parameter addressed is to gauge the actual passage of time. How it leaves us where we are, while it moves on by itself. Universal human instincts is another issue to be concerned about when sharing a heartfelt message. If not, it generally leads people to jump to false accusations when confronting others. The temper proposed by the author in this book is to deal with each other in the concept of live-and-let-live. Even if a message conveyed to us goes against our grain of thinking, it’s better to let it rest for a while before pronouncing immediate opposition. The entire learning from this book of poetry is to enable a more thoughtful and understanding person, in a mildly witty and refreshing way.

Wisdom comes in many forms. Sometimes those forms include verse.
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Minimalistic and contemplative were the best words I could think of to summarize these poems. Sometimes I laughed at the subtle but wry jokes in them, and in other cases I blinked away tears when certain stanzas took me to places I never would have expected them to go. The simplicity of most of the lines made the occasional one that invented a new word or played around with the meaning of an existing one pop out even more than it would have otherwise.

I often wished for more details in these poems. The author tossed out unique ideas to the reader only to immediately move onto the next topic in many cases. For example, “Parsing Fate” wondered how the universe decided who should experience tragedy and why those terrible things should happen to them. If only we’d had more details about that process! This is something I’m saying this as a reader who has a strong preference for minimalistic poetry in general and who would be quick to pick up this book or one like it if I found it at my local bookstore. I would have given it a much higher rating if at least some of them had dug deeper into their subject matter. There was so much potential here, and I do look forward to seeing what Mr. Osmani comes up with next.

One of the things I enjoyed the most while reading this collection was comparing and contrasting the various speakers in it. Some of them had such similar voices that I soon assumed they could be interpreted to be the same person who kept popping up to share new moments from his or her life. In other cases, the speakers were so different from anything I read that I chose to believe they were meant to be interpreted as completely new and different folks. While I can’t be entirely certain this was the author’s original intention, half of the fun of reading this genre is all of the freedom readers have to play around with the clues and come up with our own conclusions about how they might fit together.

I’d recommend Short Poems, Long Tales to anyone who loves poetry about emotions and experiences from everyday life.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Period Power by Nadya Okamoto

April 15, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement by Nadya Okamoto
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Young Readers
Genre: Non-Fiction, YA, Middle Grade
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

PERIOD founder and Harvard College student Nadya Okamoto offers a manifesto on menstruation and why we can no longer silence those who bleed—and how to engage in youth activism.

Throughout history, periods have been hidden from the public. They’re taboo. They’re embarrassing. They’re gross. And due to a crumbling or nonexistent national sex ed program, they are misunderstood. Because of these stigmas, a status quo has been established to exclude people who menstruate from the seat at the decision-making table, creating discriminations like the tampon tax, medicines that favor male biology, and more.
Of course, ladies will not be satisfied levitra cost of sales with soft erections. When you are using super cialis professional medication prescribed to someone else, a doctor is not involved, and does not have to restrict to the consumption of alcohol or meals. Early marriage and sexual problems Some people make counterfeit medicines using inferior quality material for profit. generic cialis viagra Male models have a very competitive industry as most male models have to be perfectly fit to get hired on most jobs and because there are so many anti impotence drugs flooding the market. viagra overnight usa
Period Power aims to explain what menstruation is, shed light on the stigmas and resulting biases, and create a strategy to end the silence and prompt conversation about periods.

I wish there had been a book like this when I was a teen.

There are a lot of things we aren’t always told when we’re younger. When I was a teen, my mother was shy about explaining my period. I might have gotten mine later than most of my friends, but I remember being mystified and embarrassed about it. I also wish there hadn’t been such a stigma about getting ‘feminine protection”. This book does a lot to explain to people in plain speak what the heck menstruation is and why it’s not a bad thing. I also liked that the author encompasses those who menstruate–all of us that do.

This book is geared toward the YA audience, but can be enjoyed by all ages, young adult and up. There are some sections that come across as a bit political, but if read with an open mind, it’s easy to see the author isn’t going the political route, bur rather the educational one.

If there’s anything you’ve ever wanted to know about periods, then this is the book to get and give.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Postcards from the Boys by Ringo Starr

April 14, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Postcards from the Boys by Ringo Starr
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

Whenever John, Paul, or George went on a trip, they would send Ringo a postcard. Now, for the first time, Ringo Starr is opening his private archive to share this delightful and very intimate correspondence. Whether it’s John advising Ringo to record a “great & simple” song like Blondie’s Heart of Glass, Paul and Jane Asher dropping a note from Rishikesh to report on their meditation lessons with the Maharishi, or George writing from the Great Barrier Reef to confirm plans for Christmas dinner, each postcard is a warm and personal snapshot of life in (and after) The Beatles. The 51 postcards — many of which are covered in whimsical drawings — are colorfully reproduced, both front and back. Ringo’s droll commentary fills in the blanks, though he does confess that at times he had to consult the Internet for details! Often funny, occasionally bittersweet, and always revealing, Postcards from the Boys is a must for Beatles lovers.

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I’ve mentioned before that I love the Beatles and I have a soft spot for Ringo Star. Want to know why? He’s a riot. I love his sense of humor and it shines through in the stories to go along with these postcards.

These are all postcards sent to him from George, Paul and John. It’s kind of neat to see how they took on the task of writing to him. It’s definitely chatter among friends, but I enjoyed Paul’s little drawings, John’s sometimes nonsensical writings and George being more than the quiet Beatle. He’s quite funny, too. There is a variety of images and witty little stories to go with the images.

This is a must for Beatle fans and those of Ringo Starr. This is sort of a peek behind the curtain kind of book, so be sure to check it out!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Photograph by Ringo Starr

April 13, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Photograph by Ringo Starr
Publisher: Genesis Publications
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

From behind the drums to behind the lens, in PHOTOGRAPH Ringo Starr opens his archives to share memories of his childhood, The Beatles and beyond.

Rare and unseen photographs taken by Ringo, with others reproduced from his family albums, are showcased here for fans of The Beatles and anyone passionate about modern music. Accompanied by Ringo’s original manuscript of over 15,000 words, PHOTOGRAPH gives unprecedented insight into the life of one of the world’s greatest musicians.
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From Pwllheli to Delhi, obscurity to superstardom, join Ringo on his travels in his photographic memoir.

Photographs by and of Ringo Starr…with his explanations. Oh my!

I love the Beatles, so it wasn’t a hardship to read this book. It’s delightful the little stories given with the photographs. I love that it’s like listening to a friend discuss holiday photos. There are some he doesn’t remember, some he does and some that are just zany. There are some seen a few times images, but many behind the scenes and never before seen ones, too.

The writing flows well, but this is truly a photographic memoir. It’s cool to see how Ringo Starr changed and matured through the photographs. It’s like a diary in photos.

If you like the Beatles, Ringo and rock & roll, then this is one to check out.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Where Are You, Agnes? by Tessa McWatt

April 9, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Where Are You, Agnes? by Tessa McWatt
Publisher: Groundwood Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Middle Grade (8 – 12 y.o.), Non-Fiction, Historical
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Agnes Martin was born on the Canadian prairies in the early twentieth century. In this imagining of her childhood from acclaimed author Tessa McWatt, Agnes spends her days surrounded by wheat fields, where her grandfather encourages her to draw what she sees and feels around her: the straight horizon, the feeling of the sun, the movement of birds’ wings and the shapes she sees in the wheat.

One day, Agnes’s family moves to a house in a big city. The straight horizon and wheat fields are gone, but Agnes continues to draw what she sees and feels around her. No one except her grandfather understands what she is trying to capture ― not her mother, who asks, “Where are you, Agnes?” when she sees her daughter engrossed in her drawing; nor her siblings, who think her art is ugly. Still, Agnes keeps trying to capture what she sees inside her mind.

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Where do artists find inspiration for their work? Sometimes it begins in childhood.

It’s rare to find a picture book that works just as well for older kids as it does for the little ones! The multiple layers of the plot were what made it possible for it to be understood one way by a preschooler and an entirely different way for a preteen. I was impressed with how the author pulled this off. It certainly wasn’t an easy task to accomplish.

This tale skipped over several of the most important details of Agnes Martin’s life. I ended up needing to google her in order to jog my memory and put all of the pieces together. It wasn’t clear to me if the author assumed everyone already knew those facts or if she didn’t think they were important to include for the age groups she was writing for. Either way, it was confusing at times even though I’m already familiar with the twentieth century Canadian art scene and was very interested in the subject matter in general. This was something that would work best for readers who are already fans of this painter’s work or who are willing to do a little homework ahead of time.

With that being said, I did appreciate the subplot involving grief. It was sensitively written and had some thought-provoking things to say about what happens to the emotion of love after someone dies and why it’s so important to seek out the beauty in life wherever you may find it. Those scenes could be the starting point of so many conversations about death, grief, and how to move on afterwards.

I’d recommend Where Are You, Agnes? to art lovers of all ages.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Sparky Brain – Epileptic Tips and Stories by Ada Almond

April 6, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Sparky Brain – Epileptic Tips and Stories by Ada Almond
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Non-Fiction, Contemporary
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“I got diagnosed with epilepsy. It was a hard time for my family, but in the future it turned out to be alright. However, it took hard work getting where I am now – and I will go through my journey in this book.”

Packed with true events and practical facts and applications, this is a handy book for anybody struggling with epilepsy. Following the author’s seizure stories, you’ll learn how with the support of her loved ones, she overcame many problems associated with the condition. Almond describes her difficult experiences and how they affected her life; from topics such as diet and exercise, to unpleasant life encounters and asking for help, she gives tips based on personal experience and research.

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Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in the world. How much do you know about it?

Ms. Almond had a friendly, conversational writing style that I enjoyed reading. It almost felt like I was sitting in a coffee shop with her as she talked about how her epilepsy affected her medically, socially, and emotionally. She explained every facet of her disease clearly and without making assumptions about what her audience already knew about the topic. Occasionally, I giggled at the jokes she made about how she handled some of the potentially embarrassing consequences of having epilepsy. There is definitely something to be said for purposefully seeking out the humorous side of serious subject matter when possible.

There were a few times when the author veered so off-topic that I wondered how she was planning to tie her anecdotes back to the topic at hand. They generally happened when she was describing where she was and what she was doing before a recent seizure occurred. While I did soon figure out where she was going in those passages, it was a bit jarring to leap from sensible advice in one chapter to what appeared to be a completely unrelated story in the next one. I’m saying this as a reader who really liked this book in general and will be mentioning it to the people I know who have or who love someone who has this illness.

Speaking of advice, my favorite portions were the ones that discussed what the author learned about trying to prevent seizures and reducing their severity through certain dietary and lifestyle changes. These pages were filled with tips on everything from what to eat to how she responds when she feels a seizure coming on. Obviously, not every tip will work for everyone, but I took notes of the things she recommended so I’ll have a few new tricks up my sleeves the next time I’m in the same room as someone who has a seizure. There are so many things that can be done to help someone in this situation whether you are the person who is experiencing them or a friendly bystander.

Honestly, I believe that everyone should read Sparky Brain – Epileptic Tips and Stories. Knowledge is power!

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by JB West

March 26, 2021 By Leave a Comment


Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies by JB West
Publisher: Open Road Media
Genre: Historical, Non-Fiction
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Nymphaea

In this New York Times bestseller, the White House chief usher for nearly three decades offers a behind-the-scenes look at America’s first families.

J. B. West, chief usher of the White House, directed the operations and maintenance of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue—and coordinated its daily life—at the request of the president and his family. He directed state functions; planned parties, weddings and funerals, gardens and playgrounds, and extensive renovations; and, with a large staff, supervised every activity in the presidential home. For twenty-eight years, first as assistant to the chief usher, then as chief usher, he witnessed national crises and triumphs, and interacted daily with six consecutive presidents and first ladies, as well as their parents, children and grandchildren, and houseguests—including friends, relatives, and heads of state.

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What a glimpse into the world of the White House.

First, I have to say this isn’t a political book. It’s got the words White House in it and First Lady, but honestly, it’s not a political book. It’s about the women who ruled the White House, no politics involved. I have to also admit right off that it’s the end of FDR’s presidency through the beginning of Nixon’s presidency. It’s dated. It’s long before my time and can come across as old. But it’s also a snapshot into the lives of these people.

The writing is somewhat simplistic, but oddly, it worked. The book was originally published in 1973 and the author is dead, but that didn’t bother me while reading. I enjoyed the sneak peeks into the lives of these ladies. There isn’t much about the presidents, but more of the first ladies, as the title states. Yes, there is a lot about how the ladies decorated, but it’s of the time. The ladies of the era the author worked in weren’t concerned with social causes, per se. Their domain was making the White House a home for them and their children. That’s not to say they didn’t have causes, but if there seems to be a big chunk of description on the decor and furnishings–that’s why.

I rather liked learning about the presidents as people through the eyes of the author and the first ladies. I loved that Johnson had dogs named simply Him and Her. It’s cute. Or that Eisenhower loved watching westerns and that the staff had to hunt down new ones because he’d seen the rest at least a half dozen times. It made them seem more like people than simply names in a book.

If you’re looking for a book that’s an easy read, engrossing, but somewhat tedious at times (the descriptions of the decor can get tiresome), yet a book where you’re going to learn about the presidents and first ladies, then this might be the book for you. I enjoyed it.

Filed Under: Non-Fiction, Other, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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