The Man Who Couldn't Eat

The Man Who Couldn't Eat by Jon Reiner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am always fascinated about learning about new things and I really do try to do this from reading a variety of books. I'm not one of those people that reads one genre and that's it. I read absolutely everything so when I saw the title of this book (The Man Who Couldn't Eat) it quickly drew my attention and I was like, “What's that about?” The book is about a man that is living with Crohn's disease, and for those that don't know, it is an inflammatory bowel disease that can cause huge problems for people and even death. While the book is about the man having to go to great lengths to deal with, all he really wants to do is EAT (amazing food) and he can't. He gets put on NPO which is no food by mouth for quite a few months and it's torture. He's around his family eating whatever they want and when he has to do grocery shopping there's all this tantalizing food around that he can't even try or barely look at, just smell and what a downer that is. While he is on NPO he gets a treatment called TPN which is basically feeding your body via IV fluids. The TPN treatment is administered at night and he is up all night going to the bathroom and having to do all sorts of things that are side effects of the TPN. (I kind of found it bizarre that they wouldn't give the TPN during the day so that at least he is up and it's not a big deal having to go to the bathroom 10 million times, but during the night he was only able to get sleep in 1 hour or less increments due to the TPN.) The story does take place in the USA and therefore once his insurance ran out he had to start footing the bill for all these things himself. He considered disability but it wasn't going to even be worth it for him so he chose not to apply. He does have a serious surgery at the beginning of the book where he ends up having part of his bowel removed and put back together, which is quite common for people that suffer from Crohn's disease.

Before reading this book I had little to no knowledge about what people with bowel diseases go through so this was a very eye opening and interesting read. Sadly the end of the book fell short. Reiner decides to look in to and start living on a macrobiotic diet, which is so restricted and supposed to be one of the better things that someone with bowel disease should consider. In the 10th chapter of the book, the word macrobiotic was probably used at least 50 times and the person he met with that was helping to get started, I found very annoying. She just kept harping on things that he should be eating everyday and it was to the point that she was a naggert. I have to admit that I found the relationship between Reiner and his wife very strange and the fact that they tried to keep their children so sheltered regarding his illness was bizarre. A prime example was when the wife and kids still went on family vacation while Reiner was home NPO and receiving TPN and had not been out of the hospital for that long. To me that sounded selfish and there wasn't really a back up plan in case something happened to Reiner.

For something new to read this was sort of biographical with a medical twist and we all know that I love reading about anything medical. Even though the ending fell short I would give this book a solid 3.5 but since I can't do that I will ere on the side of caution and stick with the rating of 3 stars.

A Dog's Journey

A Dog's Journey by W. Bruce Cameron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a continuation of A Dog's Purpose which I have reviewed before, I really liked the concept. While this was along the same lines it was more a story of a dog following his human through different lives. I know that sounds really confusing but if you read the book you will understand what I mean. Following the main character through her life there are many ups and downs and it shows how much she values the companionship and love of her dog. I found this story very touching and special and enjoyed the slight difference when compared to Cameron's first book. The descriptions were great and I really felt like I was right there in the dog's character able to see and feel what he/she was feeling. The dog's voice was pleasant and curious which was very realistic.

NB – I was having the hardest time finding a book that was not published by the five major publishing houses, which is part of my 52 book challenge. I had searched every book I had and one day I was looking in the grocery store and the book made itself apparent. I wanted to read it because it was a continuation but also it fit my challenge just by a stroke of luck. So if you are looking for a book that isn't from the top five publishing houses, I will make it easy for you. This is one!

Confessions: Murder of an Angel

The Murder of an Angel by James Patterson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to say that I find James Patterson books are usually the same and very predictable. When I picked up this book I was expecting the same thing that I usually get but I had a hard time figuring out who was the bad guy. It was obvious for one character but when you find out who the other one is it's like WHOA. The main character was annoying and everyone thought that she was having hallucinations and when in reality things were actually happening to her. There were a few scenes in the book that Patterson described beautifully, in particular the brother's piano concert. It was quite magical. I don't really have much to say about this book, it wasn't that fantastic and it just was. Overall I would give it a 2.5 stars but that's not available so I guess I will give it a three.

RANT - TrumpCare = Boo/ Thumbs Down

I am really quite saddened by what is going on with the American Healthcare System. In the last few days certain health conditions have been considered pre-existing conditions that would allow insurance companies to deny coverage or charge an increased rate.

The pre-existing conditions include: AIDS/HIV, alcohol or drug abuse with recent treatment, Alzheimer's/dementia, anorexia, arthritis, bulimia, cancer, Cerebral palsy, Congestive heart failure, coronary artery/ heart disease/ bypass surgery, Crohn's disease, diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, hepatitis, kidney disease/ renal failure, Lupus, mental disorders ( incl. Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, depression, OCD, Schizophrenia), multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, obesity, organ transplant, paraplegia, paralysis, Parkinson's disease, pending surgery or hospitalization, pneumocystic pneumonia, pregnancy or expectant parent – includes men, sleep apnea, stroke, transexualism.

If you didn't think that was enough, these issues are also included : acid reflux, acne, asthma, c-section, Celiac disease, heart burn, high cholesterol, hysterectomy, kidney stones, knee surgery, Lyme disease, migraines, narcolepsy, pacemaker, postpartum depression, SAD, seizures, “Sexual deviation or disorder', ulcers.

Oh yeah and I forgot to mention that rape, molestation and domestic abuse are also considered pre-existing conditions (but for some reason this may not become apart of the bill, there's some stickiness). How the FUCK is that a pre-existing condition? No one chooses to be raped and should not have to re-relive it constantly just so they can dodge being dinged with a higher insurance rate. One quote stated, “Now women are going to be avoiding reporting rape just so they don't have to pay higher insurance rates.”

Thankfully I am in Canada, but I do suffer from quite a few of these and I just want to note that even though these are considered pre-existing conditions some of them actually are not (they can be triggered or something can cause them to form. Examples of this would be cancer, mental disorders and kidney stones just to name a few.

I caved and watched Jimmy Kimmel's monologue regarding his son's congenital heart disease emergency surgery and he was very careful to thank very nurse/doctor/ etc that was involved in the situation. Kimmel made the following quotes and they really struck a chord with me-

“If your baby is going to die and it doesn’t have to, it shouldn’t matter how much money you make. I think that’s something that whether you’re a Republican or a democrat or something else, we all agree on that, right? I mean, we do.”

“We need to take care of each other. I saw a lot of families there and no parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child’s life. It just shouldn’t happen. Not here.”

Making America Great Again is supposed to be working towards common goals and helping each other out as well as achieving some of the plans that Trump set out. With pre-existing conditions pretty much covering everything under the sun that is only making TrumpCare affordable and appealing to the rich/entitled, as well as those that may have a considerably influential or powerful position. This is wrong and has my brain in a tizzy. The future is looking grim at this point for Americans, that's for sure. My sympathies to those of you having to deal with this.

Stories of Your Life and Others

Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a collection of short stories. The main reason I bought it was because of the “The Story of Your Life,” which is what the movie Arrival (2017) is based on. The recommendation I read said that if you read the story and watch the movie it totally brings everything together full circle. There are a few differences when comparing the two but it did essentially bring them together. The other short stories in the book I enjoyed were A) Understand, B) Hell is the Absence of God, C) Liking What You See – A Documentary. While none of the stories are officially linked, I was able to find certain meanings that were in all of them. Some were core values while others were as simple as don't give up on your faith. All the stories had a different narrator voice, which is hard work so I really appreciate how good Chiang is at his craft. This book was a very pleasant surprise as well as a very thought provoking read towards the way you operate within the parameters of your life.

The Children Act

The Children Act by Ian McEwan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I was recommended this book and I was leery to read it because I thought it would be a really heavy read filled with law jargon and law stuff but to my surprise I liked it so much I finished it in 4 days. Even though the author clearly states it is a work of fiction and that yes there may be some things that ring true, in real life there have been instances where the courts have taken over and made a decision based on the best interest of the child or person. I never really understood why Jehovah's Witness people didn't take blood transfusions and found it very interesting the meaning behind it. Do I agree with it, NO, but as you already know I'm not religious and I think that if you really need one then you need one. Having to be a judge and decide that for somebody is a very interesting twist with lots of turns involved. I thought the writing was on point because the main character didn't seem to be a upbeat kind of woman, she seemed very sombre and serious. (To be honest, if I was her hubby I would have left her but that's another story of its own.) The ending is kind of bittersweet but sorrowful as well. Don't worry I'm not going to give it up, you have to read the book (or listen or whatever you do) to get it. I was thoroughly interested in this book all the way, loved the writing, pretty much loved everything about it.

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy

The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

NB – This is essentially the other half to the Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

This story is told from the perspective of Queenie Hennessy. I have to admit right off the bat that I was not overly impressed with this book. It wasn't half as good as Harold Fry. I guess the thing that got to me was Queenie is in an assisted living home due to major health issues. She has memories of the past and has this purpose to write Harold Fry a letter since she finds out he is making a pilgrimage to see her. There is excitment in the assisted living house and the other residents are looking forward to meeting and greeting Harold Fry. The depressing part is that it is a long pilgrimage and slowly but surely the residents that Queenie has built relationships with, die. I found that part really depressing, especially the way that Joyce wrote about it. I know it's not meant to be happy or anything but it was sad because these people were so excited to meet Harold. There were a few characters which I really disliked in the book and yes you were probably meant to dislike them but they were just really annoying and entitled. The small descriptions of Queenie's home on the seaside were lovely but there wasn't really any other descriptions except for what the home was like and the garden at the home. I don't know Rachel Joyce, I kind of expected your next book to be the other half of the story but I sure hoped it would be as good as Harold Fry. Disappointing.

A Mother's Wreckoning - Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy

A Mother's Reckoning: Living in the Aftermath of Tragedy by Sue Klebold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

NB- This book is written by Sue Klebold who is the mother of Dylan Klebold who was a shooter along with Eric Harris in the Columbine School Shooting. I want to say that even if you think/wish terrible things on the Klebold's because of Dylan's actions (which I hope as humans people would not do but I'm a realist so I know it will happen), please try and give this book a read. Try not let your judgment cloud what a powerful message this woman has to say, it's so very important.

I have read a lot and researched a lot about the Columbine Shooting so I feel that I am fairly knowledgeable on the subject. One thing that I never thought was that, “How could these parents know their children so well and not notice the signs that something terrible was going to happen.” This book is not Sue Klebold playing the victim or saying woe is me, she says how was she supposed to know something was odd when everything pretty much seemed normal. Only after the fatal incident did she start to become aware of things that MAY have been signs and even still nothing could predict such a huge incident of the Columbine Shootings. The reason she became aware after was she has spoke with many psychologists, etc in an effort to learn what she did wrong ... which in the end was nothing. Using her new found knowledge, she has become an advocate of promoting mental health among teens and young adults. One of the most profound things in the book that she admits and, I find it really sad, is she said, “Like mothers all over Littleton, I had been praying for my son's safety. But when I heard the newscaster pronounce twenty-five people dead, my prayers changed. If Dylan was involved in hurting or killing other people, he had to be stopped. As a mother, this was the most difficult prayer I had ever spoken in the silence of my thoughts, but in that instant I knew the greatest mercy I could pray for was not my son's safety, but for his death.” (pg. 17, Klebold) As a parent to have to think that is a very saddening and unfathomable thought and she wasn't being selfish either, she was being selfless. I found reading this book that Sue Klebold has done so much after the incident and suffered so much that she still is trying to help society and contribute in her own way. She tried to write letters to the victims families knowing that there could be back lash. She had to sit by quietly when crosses were put up, one for Dylan also, and then watch his be taking away and ripped apart. Even the simple act of burying her son was destroyed because of having to think people are going to degrade/destroy a public headstone and a funeral has to be in silence with only a short few people knowing and being welcome. In this media circus, Sue contracted breast cancer and yet she still fights every day to promote a positive message surrounding the brain health for teens and young adults. Kudos to you Sue, you are a champion in so many ways yet most people will never give you the credit you deserve. I will though 100%.

Life Without Limits

Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have followed Nick Vujicic for quite some time so if people are reading this there is a heavy religious content to this book. I was able to read the book, enjoy it and not have the religious content take away from the message.

This book was about his life and certain challenges he had to face since he was born with no limbs, only his 'chicken drumstick' as he says. He has not let his disability hinder the way he lives his life one inkling, which was empowering bc I was (and still am) going through a rough time in my life and reading this book I thought would give me some chutzpah to start making a difference in my life. Almost immediately I was making goals with my therapist, meeting said goals and some times even surpassing them, so I felt this book really did give me some hope. Nick reflects throughout the book that he is “Ridiculously happy,” and that is something I want to be but even just plain old happy would be just fine for me! There were sad parts in the book that he discusses and mentions and it really made me think about the situations that he went through. Now he is happily married and has two kids. He's been skydiving, scuba diving, surfing and so much more. (He learned to surf from Bethany Hamilton who is a legend in the surfing community herself). When he discusses learning how to do things for the first time there is so much enthusiasm, it's almost infectious. This was a great book to read.

Nb - Even though he didn't recognize this when he wrote the book, there are a lot of examples and demonstrations of using the DBT Principles and Skills. I found this really great because I go to DBT therapy and use it throughout my own life, so if you are looking for a good read about DBT Skills (without even knowing it) this would be your book.