Stephen Dau's The Book of Jonas is a marvelous, lyrical debut that examines the effects of war on everyone involved. Dau weaves together the stories...
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I read a lot of unforgettable books in 2010, but this is at the top of the list of books I find myself reflecting on. A nearly seamless weaving of a glimpse into the lives of people who all, in some way, are touched by the cellist who sits in the center of a bomb crater and plays one day for every person who was killed in that explosion.
I highly recommend this book for nearly any pregnant woman. The writers are not about making you feel guilty if you want an epidural or other drugs during your labor, or if you need to have an emergency C-section. They do want you to be able to advocate for the best birth you can have for you and your baby, and it tries to present details doctors or hospitals might not mention (or you might not hear) when the pressure's on. That said, it does make a strong case for having a totally natural birth if it's possible to do so safely, and the writers aren't unbiased--they're huge fans of midwives, doulas and homebirths (and after reading this book, you might be too).
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(2 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
Whoever said this book reads more like a novel than a memoir wasn't kidding. Harman writes with blunt honesty of herself, her medical practice (which she runs with her husband), her marriage and family, and her patients. I was fascinated with her career as a midwife, and I simply couldn't put this book down.
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(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
This is a book for cat-lovers and supporters of libraries. It made me wish our library had a cat. Myron spends a little more time than I'd have liked (coming from a small farming community myself) detailing life in Spencer, Iowa, past and present; also, the language of the telling gets a little redundant. But this isn't supposed to be a literary masterpiece; it's a work of love for Dewey and Spencer, Iowa, and as such, it accomplishes its purpose admirably.
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(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
I read this book several times when I was in 6th-7th grade (but with a different cover--the cover I remember had a Ferris wheel on it). I wish it had been given a more memorable title--this book pops up on "What's the Name of that Book?" groups everywhere. Isn't it funny that so many people remember the story but everyone has a hard time remembering the title?
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(5 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
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Jena has commented on (142) products.
The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
Jena, January 23, 2011
I read a lot of unforgettable books in 2010, but this is at the top of the list of books I find myself reflecting on. A nearly seamless weaving of a glimpse into the lives of people who all, in some way, are touched by the cellist who sits in the center of a bomb crater and plays one day for every person who was killed in that explosion.Your Best Birth: Know All Your Options, Discover the Natural Choices, and Take Back the Birth Experience by Ricki Lake
Jena, June 20, 2010
I highly recommend this book for nearly any pregnant woman. The writers are not about making you feel guilty if you want an epidural or other drugs during your labor, or if you need to have an emergency C-section. They do want you to be able to advocate for the best birth you can have for you and your baby, and it tries to present details doctors or hospitals might not mention (or you might not hear) when the pressure's on. That said, it does make a strong case for having a totally natural birth if it's possible to do so safely, and the writers aren't unbiased--they're huge fans of midwives, doulas and homebirths (and after reading this book, you might be too).(2 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
The Blue Cotton Gown: A Midwife's Memoir by Patricia Harman
Jena, June 20, 2010
Whoever said this book reads more like a novel than a memoir wasn't kidding. Harman writes with blunt honesty of herself, her medical practice (which she runs with her husband), her marriage and family, and her patients. I was fascinated with her career as a midwife, and I simply couldn't put this book down.(4 of 6 readers found this comment helpful)
Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
Jena, June 20, 2010
This is a book for cat-lovers and supporters of libraries. It made me wish our library had a cat. Myron spends a little more time than I'd have liked (coming from a small farming community myself) detailing life in Spencer, Iowa, past and present; also, the language of the telling gets a little redundant. But this isn't supposed to be a literary masterpiece; it's a work of love for Dewey and Spencer, Iowa, and as such, it accomplishes its purpose admirably.(4 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
Into the Dream by William Sleator
Jena, May 10, 2010
I read this book several times when I was in 6th-7th grade (but with a different cover--the cover I remember had a Ferris wheel on it). I wish it had been given a more memorable title--this book pops up on "What's the Name of that Book?" groups everywhere. Isn't it funny that so many people remember the story but everyone has a hard time remembering the title?(5 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
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