Review: The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again by Dr. Mary Claire Haver

The New Perimenopause: An Evidence-Based Guide to Surviving the Zone of Chaos and Feeling Like Yourself Again by Mary Claire Haver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  

Thank you Dr. Haver for writing this book.  I've been living in the zone of chaos for atleast 2 years and I wish this book had been available then so I knew what questions to ask and what was available as treatment.  I knew something was wrong and sought help over the last 2 years, but I kept getting the brush off, I was too young, needed to exercise more, lose some weight, had anxiety, was stressed, relax more, etc. As Dr. Haver explains these are the common answers women get when they try to seek help in middle age when they don't feel well and can't pinpoint why.   She goes on to explain that many women are gaslit at this stage of life either because of lack of training, lack of time, lack of research, and more.  My doctors certainly didn't look at all of my symptoms or me as a whole person or even try to understand why my labs suddenly changed after no change in routine and years of them being stable.  Dr. Haver explains this is a broad problem that women experience, when treatment is available and can prevent other more debilitating ailments as we age.

After finishing this book I feel so seen and validated.  I feel better prepared to have a real conversation with my providers and not back down with regards to my own care.  I am only 45 and have alot of life left and alot of things I still want to do.  You put the medical terms and science into examples that I could understand.  You reference real studies and give recommendations of things to try and discussions to have with your personal provider.  There are diagrams and charts for the visual learner to understand what is going on.  There are lists of blood tests and why and what they are looking for that you can take to your doctor and discuss.  This process doesn't need to be so hard and while there is more research and training needed there are things we can do now.  This phase of life can make us feel out of control and it isn't something we can control, however there are things we can do to make it easier.  I appreciate Dr. Haver laying out the options and discussions we can have with our providers 

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Review: I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right by Matt Kaplan

I Told You So!: Scientists Who Were Ridiculed, Exiled, and Imprisoned for Being Right by Matt Kaplan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

If you enjoy non-fiction of the medical or scientific nature give this one a read.  It is easy to follow and doesn't contain a ton of terminology a layperson like myself is unable to follow.  Kaplan, a scientist in his own right, who has turned to journalism writes about those who chose to challenge the status quo in their fields of expertise and where shunned for it only to be proven correct later on.  In some cases those brave souls were give credit for their findings, in others they never saw their ideas and findings do the good in their field.

Kaplans spends a good deal of time focusing on bias that is still present today in archeology, medicine, science, and other industry.  If you don't come from the "right" background and look like everyone else you can't possibly know what you are talking about.  Many women, and people of color (men and women), those of different religions backgrounds, or from different countries, etc, are still not respected despite how much education or expertise they possess in a field and are ridiculed and held back from making breakthroughs because it may bruise the ego of someone higher up the chain or challenge the status quo.  Kaplan points out the science and medicine have been held back for years because scientists and doctors don't like to be told that they are wrong and are slow to adapt to new methods that may produce better results.

I found this fascinating and was shocked to see that the hostility and bias that was present back in the days of Galileo is still rampant today across the world.  The scientific community hasn't learned it's lesson or grown from the many amazing discoveries that have been made from the diversity of minds and diversity of thought that have been brought forth since that time.  While marginally better the fact that any sort of racism, sexism, or -ism in any form is still occurring is unacceptable.  I think of all of the diseases that could have been cured or breakthroughs in medicine if that we could have had if humans weren't so stubborn, selfish and mean to one another.  While humanity has come along way, there is still much work to be done.

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Review: Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story by Jeffrey Kluger

Gemini: Stepping Stone to the Moon, the Untold Story by Jeffrey Kluger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided both an ARC and an ALC via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a fascinating  look into the early days of what would eventually become the NASA.  We learn about the politics, science and people that put their heart, soul and some their lives into the Gemini space program as the Unites States raced  Russia to be the first to put men on the moon.

This was well researched and puts some of the spotlight on those who are lesser known in the space race.  Many know about the Apollo program, but Gemini came first and without this program and the lessons learned from it the NASA of today wouldn't be what it is.  This book is very detailed and the author gives first hand accounts throughout keeping it interesting.  I did find that the pacing was a bit slow at times and the information was repetitive.  

Overall, if you are interested in the history of NASA, the space race, and the moon landing this is a great option.

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Review: The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel

The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I had no idea there were so many different types of bats.  While not a bat enthusiast myself, this was such a well crafted and detailed book about the creatures, their habits, habitats, and interactions.  The author is clearly passionate about their work and research and that shows through in the book.  I enjoyed learning about the various types of bats and how they are all very different.  I especially enjoyed learning about echolocation

At no point did I feel that the subject matter was too hard to understand or too academic.  I felt it was very well written to explain the science behind the research and any one could pick this up and learn about bats without needing a high level of understanding in science.  The author did a great job keeping the science content readable and interesting which I find is not always the case with non-fiction.

If you are interested in bats, or a very well written non-fiction about a topic you know nothing about this is a good one the pick up.  I certainly learned quite a bit of new information.  The audio is very well narrated.

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Review: Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths by Raven Oak

Voices Carry: A Story of Teaching, Transitions, & Truths by Raven Oak
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, and I won a copy via a Goodreads giveaway, as always my opinions are my own.

I always find hard to to rate and review a biography or memoir because it feels weird to rate review someone's life experience.  I want to be careful to not give opinions on the person's life and choices, but more about the writing style, personal enjoyment, and if I learned anything from the book and if I got to know the person the book is about.  I will attempt to do that here.

I previously read 2 of Oak's short story collections and really enjoyed them.  When I saw that they were coming out with a memoir I was intrigued, as most authors use their life experiences in their writing.  This doesn't hold back and really lets you into Oak's life.  There are some tough parts to get through but the author puts appropriate trigger warnings in the book so as not to harm the reader, should you need to skip a section to protect yourself due to your own experienced trauma.  The author has been through some things, between having a rough (understatement) childhood, quite a few medical issues, growing up during a time and place where anything but heterosexual identity was acceptable, and so many more things (go read the book).  I feel like I really got to know the author.

I actually really enjoyed reading this.  Oak pours their heart into this book when they talk about their time as a teacher and the trauma they experienced throughout their life.  Despite all of their hardships, Oak has still become a successful writer and a survivor.  I completely related to the struggles they experienced with getting a diagnoses when it comes to a medical condition no one can figure out and being passed from doctor to doctor until you find a competent one who cares and actually knows what they are doing.  I think there is something everyone can relate to in this book.  

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Review: The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal by Chris French

The Science of Weird Shit: Why Our Minds Conjure the Paranormal by Chris French
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I love weird stuff, especially if it has a paranormal spin.  I am also a believer in science and data driven analysis, so while I'm open to the possibility of the weird and unexplained, I am also a skeptic.  This book aims to explain coincidence, ghost and alien encounters, sleep paralysis, reincarnation, out of body and near death experiences and more with a scientific and factual approach.

The book is filled with lists, which doesn't translate well to audio.  I'm not sure if the final version will have an accompanying PDF, but that would be helpful visual for some readers as the narrator often reads the criteria used for debunking or classifying a certain type of event.  I found that hard to follow at times while listening.  I found myself often wishing I also had a copy of the print book to reference as I went along as there are alot of facts and lists I wanted to revisit.  I feel like this is a book I would have enjoyed more in print.

Overall, I found the concepts interesting but the delivery and presentation to be a bit dry.  I was expecting a bit more comedy from something with such a catchy title, and perhaps it was but the comedy didn't resonate with me.  

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Review: Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos by Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger

Alien Earths: The New Science of Planet Hunting in the Cosmos by Lisa Kaltenegger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both an audio and print ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Cassandra Campbell is a fabulous narrator, and is one of my favorites.  This is my first experience with her narrating a non-fiction audiobook.  I'm used to her voicing several different characters within a sci-fi or fantasy book, however she takes great care in ensuring the scientific words are pronounced clearly and correctly and if there is a non-English name or phrase it is also pronounced correctly.  

This was a great non-fiction book for anyone interested in science of discovering new planets and the investigation of space.  The author does a great job of mixing science, personal, experience, and pop culture in to the book without getting overly scientific.  She uses real world examples from her own teaching experience and research and references movies and books that readers may be familiar to explain her points about how scientists go about trying to determine if there might be life on other planets.  I felt like it was written as if she was having a conversation with you about her favorite topic which made if very approachable and easy to consume.  I've read other books on the topic and it can get very technical and overwhelming very quickly depending on how the science is presented.  You can tell the author loves her work and tries to make it fun and wants everyone to see the majesty in the cosmos as she does.  

I appreciated that the author took the time to write about her life and accomplishments.  She notes that it was not always easy being a woman in STEM, but because she had supportive parents and mentors she has had an impressive career.  This book would be the perfect gift for an aspiring young lady taking an interest in a STEM career.  

I would have appreciated pictures of some of the things Dr. Kaltenegger was referencing at times or links to Hubble images, as I was following along in the ebook.  The cover is fantastic, and I hope the final version that comes out in a few weeks does have images, but the ARC does not.  

Overall this is a great, easy to digest look at scientific approach to looking for habitable planets and potential life in the universe.  

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Review: The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder by Robert I. Sutton and Huggy Rao

The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and the Wrong Things Harder by Robert I. Sutton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided both the print and audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.  

This was great!  I deal with these situations in my day job every day.  We have situations where our executive team asks us to eliminate unnecessary processes and stop inviting 100 people to meetings that only need 5 people.  It is a very expensive meeting that could have been resolved with a 2 sentence email and resolved in about 5 minutes  What do we do instead?   We schedule a meeting to figure out how to schedule a meeting to figure out how to cut down the invitee list for the meeting we actually need to have.  My greatest hope is that the people causing the friction in companies actually read this.  Hopefully future friction fixers will read this and end up in positions of authority and be able to implement more efficient processes and make some of the changes the authors talk about in this book.  

The writing was relatable with examples of places where friction was eliminated to make companies more efficient and successful.  There were examples where patient care was improved and customer service was improved when friction aka the right stuff was improved and taken into account and the wrong stuff aka the stuff that doesn't add value and takes up time was eliminated.  I've experienced many of these types of situations first hand working on projects in my own career.  I think this is a great read if you are an up and coming professional or an aspiring leader.  As a individual contributor, these are all of the things I wish would change in the companies I've worked at and would like leadership to change.   

This book is a presentation of quite a few case studies.  There is alot of telling of friction filled situations and how friction fixers saved the day.  There isn't really a prescriptive checklist of how to make this work in your own industry or how to apply the examples to what you are doing today.    This books isn't going to make you a more effective leader overnight and solve all of your problems after you read it.  It will however make you think about places you can potentially look for friction and where you can look for efficiencies.  If you are a leader in an organization it will also perhaps give you some suggestions of who to talk to within your organization to get ideas of where the friction lies and how to make things work a little smoother for your employees and customers.

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Review: The Genius of Women: From Overlooked to Changing the World by Janice Kaplan

The Genius of Women: From Overlooked to Changing the World by Janice Kaplan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, however it has been on my shelf for so long I opted to listen to the audiobook.  Thank you to Dutton for providing me with an ARC, I'm sorry it took me so long read it.

The audiobook is narrated by the author and she does a wonderful job.  This was well written and well researched.  Given that Kaplan has experience as a reporter, producer, journalist, and writer it is no wonder that this was so well crafted and performed.  While I don't agree with all of the points that she  argues as to how we can make more women into geniuses, there is evidence to support that the women she interviewed became geniuses by doing those things she advocates for.  They in fact followed those steps to get where they are today, and in talking with my own mentors and industry leaders they followed similar steps.  It is unfortunate, but we shouldn't have to just work harder and put our heads down to get identified as smart and capable and advocate for change once we "make it".  We don't ask our male counterparts to do anything different.  I do agree that women who are supported and encouraged have better success in STEM fields or whatever they are interested in.  There is vast evidence to show that stereotypes and bigotry are learned behaviors, and this book shows several examples of places where women were held back and where they were allowed to flourish.  I don't think we need to tell kids of any gender that they can't be good at any subject.  They should all be encouraged to pursue whatever subjects they are interested and encouraged to pursue their passions and talents.

I enjoyed learning about the women who have contributed to their fields of expertise, but I hadn't heard of many of them.  That was kind of the point of the book though. Kaplan points out that throughout history, even through more recent times, women's accomplishments are overshadowed by their male counterparts and they are often unknown.  Men take credit for their work or leave their names off of documents that they contributed to or wrote completely.  Without the celebrity, the women weren't considered geniuses because no one knew who they were.

Overall, I enjoyed this book.  I learned a lot.  Much of what the author pointed out in this book really resonated with me.  I've experienced many of the scenarios in my life.  I think this is a great addition to your non-fiction reads when it comes to learning about women in history, bias, and some awesome women that are doing great things to break down barriers now.  

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Review: The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman and Mark H. Harris

The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar by Robin R. Means Coleman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book vi Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This book was published on February 7, 2023.  Thank you to Gallery / Saga Press / Simon & Schuster for providing me an early copy to review.

Let me first start this review by saying, I haven't seen or heard of many of the movies that were mentioned in this book. I tend to consume my horror via book instead of movie because it tends to follow many of the formulas mentioned some with and some without the racial issues brought up within this book. I have seen a few of the book to movie adaptations that were mentioned in this study of horror movies, and often they are poorly done. I did discover a few movies I'd like to check out after reading this book.

This book does a good job portraying and explaining the lack of people of color in movies, horror specifically, and the racial stereotypes that are portrayed in movies that do have people of color in them. In more recent years Hollywood has seen more diversity behind the camera in the writers, directors, and producers which has changed the casting and portrayal of people of color in movies and the roles they are cast in. There is still work to do, but there has been change in the right direction.

This book has a lot of great points to make about the lack of representation in the movie industry especially when it comes to the horror genre. The authors did a good job with the one liners to add humor to the book. You can tell that the authors are well versed in the horror genre and they did their research. They gave lots of examples of different stereotypes and tropes portrayed by the Black actors in horror movies throughout history. They also went into the various racial stereotypes that are portrayed in movies that hurt how people of color are seen in movies and in life and how the on screen portrayal is hurtful. People of color have often been portrayed as violent, promiscuous, and savage in horror movies or they are killed off early and often.

I did find that the repetitive nature of the format and the long lists of synopses that are repeated in each chapter take away from the message that the authors are trying to convey. I found that after about chapter 3 I started to lose interest because the same information on the same list of movies was listed multiple times. Given that the authors felt this information was important for the reader to have perhaps an appendix would have worked nicely instead of adding bulk to each chapter. I felt more like I was reading an academic research paper.

Overall, this was a very informative book. If you are a horror movie buff and interested in behind the scenes history, this is a great option.



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Review: Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan

Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance by Erica Dhawan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my second book by the author and I was really excited to listen to the audio version as it was narrated by the author. She does a wonderful job as a narrator. Her work as a professional speaker and coach really shines through in her narration. You can really tell she has a passion for the subject, and I really appreciated that she provided personal and professional examples in the book. This book is so relevant given our current situation with many companies working virtually due to the COVID pandemic. I worked from home several days a week prior to COVID and found so many points that were made in this book very relevant. I wish I had read this several years ago. I can't tell you how many times I have questioned the tone in an email I received or sent, and this book may have made translating it a little easier. It has become more and more difficult to network in my industry during this time when face to face events aren't happening, and the "return to normal" isn't clear yet. We have transitioned to a "zoom" meeting culture and getting involved can become difficult. There are some really good tips on how to manage that in here. Now that much of the workforce has proven the ability to work from home, I expect more and more flexibility from companies moving forward from the corporate sector. I believe books like this can really help many of us navigate this world of video chats, professional texting, instant messages, and deciphering tone in digital communications.

I liked that she discussed gender and age differences when it comes to communicating digitally. As we move to a more digital forum, what I feel is professional as a mid-career professional may seem blunt and cold to an intern who as accepted an entirely different way of communicating. I also liked that she pointed out that you have to tailor your communication to your audience and your business environment. As a seasoned project manager I have always had a communication plan for my stakeholders so this makes perfect sense to me. By adding a few more criteria to that plan I can be much more successful in communicating with others in and out of the workplace.

I was provided an audio arc via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This releases today May 11, 2021 and I plan on purchasing a physical copy for myself so I can reference some of the key points that the author made about punctuation and use of emojis as well as other ideas in this new digital world of communications. This would also be a great gift for new college graduates as they plan to enter the work force and head off into virtual interviews and crafting quality digital communications. I'll be recommending this to my professional colleagues as well.

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Review: 18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb

18 Tiny Deaths: The Untold Story of Frances Glessner Lee and the Invention of Modern Forensics by Bruce Goldfarb
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

You can tell the author put alot of time and effort into her research of Captain Lee, however this was not the book I expected.  The title indicates that it is about the invention of forensics, and it gets to that, but much of it focuses on Lee's life as a wealthy socialite and other people and topics that are sidebars that made have had an impact on her and her life, but they didn't feel relevant to the science and forensics.  If this had solely been about Lee then perhaps those chapters may have made a bit more sense but to package this as a book about the invention of modern forensics, some of the content didn't interest me.  I feel like in an attempt to honor Frances Glessner Lee, the author put in all of the information he had on her, and in turn the book feels a bit disjointed and overburdened by information.  Some will love all of the detailed information about her life as well as the science she devoted her life to.  It breaks up the more cold and clinical details of the forensics.  Personally I would have liked it to be a bit more focused on the science aspect.

The science and establishment of the Legal Medicine program at Harvard was very technical and detailed.  I had no idea that some of the issues that Lee was fighting then still exists today.  What we see on TV on popular crime shows isn't what really goes on.  I learned quite a bit about the establishment of forensics and what a medical examiner must do.  Captain Lee was a force to be reckoned with, she knew how to use her wealth and influence to get things done, and she accomplished so much in this field.  

Overall I do feel Goldfarb did what he set out to do, pay homage and honor Frances Glessner Lee by telling her story and letting the world know what she did for modern forensics.  It was well researched and well written.  I do wish it had been a bit more focused content-wise, but I did learn quite a bit.

I was provided a copy of this book through Sourcebooks Early Reads program in exchange for an honest review.   I did opt to listen to the final version of the published audiobook.

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Review: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was fantastic! This is one of the most fantastic books I’ve ever read. I think Trevor Noah is hilarious. His brand of comedy is funny to me, and I wish I had been able to get a hold of the audio version of this because the delivery of his one liners in this are so funny and perfectly placed. I can only imagine how funny it is to hear him narrate the story of his life. He covers some very heavy issues, but he diffuses each situation with comedy so you can pause, catch your breath, and move on. This was a hard read, but it is also important.  He has some great insights to race and how children see the world.  If only some of those things were actually true the world might be a better place.

This is one of those books, where you think “hey that guy is on TV, he has it all”, and then you read about the hardships and terrors he’s faced in his life. Trevor Noah did not have it all, in fact he had very little, and it’s a testament to his survival skills that he made it through his childhood in South Africa during apartheid. You read about some of the things he and this mother survived and it is amazing they both lived through it all. His very birth was a crime and the deck was stacked against him and his family for much of his life. Reading this was hard, but he laces his life story with his brand of comedy such that he takes something awful and he puts a joke in lighten tough situations. I got quite the education on the settling of South Africa, apartheid, and how gender and race are seen in another country.

This is a story about a defiant little boy who tested his mother’s patience as often as possible, a mother who loved him and did her best, a country that had very interesting laws about people of color, and survival. I highly recommend this book.


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Review: Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked this up for a reading challenge for a book involving a heist, though it could also fill the true crime heist. This is a non-fiction book, thought it is as the title suggests so audacious that it reads like fiction. It is hard to tell how much of the story is true and how much is poetic license. It has the feel that it is inspired by true events, but it definitely feels more like fiction than truth.

Thad Roberts, the main character, has a very conservative Mormon background. However, he has big dreams and those dreams lead to NASA. Thad rebels against his upbringing, and finds himself cast out of his family home, married at a young age, but with big dreams he won’t be stopped. He is determined to make it to NASA and hopefully someday to space. He is a persistent person, and portrayed with child-like tendencies as if he had no real understanding of consequences. Even after he was arrested for stealing the safe containing millions of dollars of moon rocks he never expected to be punished. His actions throughout the book were all selfish and self-serving. He was always angling to get to the top of the food-chain and make a name for himself. His motivations are success and love. It is hard to tell if the real Thad is truly like this or if the story just makes him out to be this way. He is doing everything for his lady love Rebecca (not her real name), whom he apparently wrote letters to during his time in jail. The letters are sprinkled throughout the book. They met, had a whirlwind relationship, and claimed he stole the rocks for her. He also took all the blame for her and his other accomplice. If you read the book, you will know that he had already put the plan in motion before he met her. The whole heist is ridiculous, but you just kind of have to keep reading/listening to know what happens in the end.

I listened to the audio book, which is fairly short and read by Casey Affleck. The narration is good and it has the feeling of listening to a movie. This book isn’t great, but it isn’t terrible either. It just just OK as my rating suggests. The characters are pretty unlikable, and the whole plot/true story if you can call it that just feels so unrealistic even if it is based in fact.


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Review: We Should All Be Feminists by Chimmamanda Ngozi Adichie

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this. I do wish it was a bit longer, then again it was based off of a TED talk, and I guess that is the point. I wanted more, so it should lead me to go and seek more which I see myself doing after reading this short little work. I have to admit that I really didn't know what to expect going into this, I know what feminism is supposed to mean by definition, and I know that like Adichie says in this book all of the negative connotations it has. I also know that like in everything there are always people who take things way too far to the extreme whether in support of their cause or in going against said cause.

Adichie says nothing that really isn't common sense here, everyone should be a feminist because it really is about just being a decent human. That being said decent also comes with gender equality. It means a dad could stay home with the kids while his wife works and there is no shame involved, a woman makes just as much money as her male counterparts at the same job without being told she is cold and ruthless, or a mom can stay at home with her kids because that's her choice and isn't made to feel bad about it. In today's modern culture where we are accepting of so much, we are still so set in our ways, and from this little book so many countries have very specific ideas of what men and women should do. Feminism is a dirty word. Adichie presents feminism in this book in a very consumable way, it isn't confusing or overwhelming, it just makes sense. I think this is a great conversation starter about feminism, and while I wanted more I think it was great place to start.

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Review: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I learned so much from this book. While medical ethics have improved since the days when Henrietta Lack's cells were taken without her knowledge, I don't think most people know what their rights are with regards to their cells and tissue. I certainly didn't until Skloot laid them out. I also had no idea what Henrietta Lacks and the HeLa cells have done for medicine.

While this is a compilation of the science behind the cells and what they've done for modern medicine, Skloot also tells the story of Henrietta and her family. She presents Henrietta to us as a person, which is how it should be. The doctors who used HeLa cells didn't see her as a person, they just saw cells and cultures, they forgot that she was an actual person with a family. Unfortunately, given the time that Henrietta lived in the color of her skin meant that she didn't get adequate medical care and when she did go to the hospital doctors took advantage of the opportunity to study her cells. My heart broke so many times for the wrongs done to Henrietta and her cells. Learning the hardships her children faced after her death was so sad. The Lacks children weren't the only people impacted by medical ethics injustices, and I was angered to learn how some of our modern "cures" have come about.

I wish the Lacks family could have gotten some sort of reparations for all of their suffering, but I understand how the legality of their situation doesn't allow for that. I guess I'm thankful for what HeLa has done for medicine, but I sure do wish the Henrietta and her family had received better treatment both personally and medically. This was a great telling of the Lacks family history, the evolution of HeLa, and medicine in general. I really enjoyed this.

On a side note, Cassandra Campbell and Bahni Turpin did an amazing job with the narration of the audio book.

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Review: As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is by far the most charming and wonderful book I think I've ever listened to. I love The Princess Bride, and as Elwes mentions in this Tale I've watched it since the 80's when it came out, shared it with my kids, and it is as good now as it was then.  My husband calls me Buttercup, hence the name of the blog, and it comes from this movie as we've watched more times than I can count.  It is one of our favorites to watch together, that and Monty Python and The Quest for the Holy Grail.  We often talk to each other in quotes from those 2 movies, and I think Cary Elwes would approve.

It was wonderful to hear all of the cast's input on how fun and wonderful an experience it was to make one of my favorite movies. It was also interesting to hear about all of the people that were considered for the various roles, and how it just wouldn't have been the same had anything been different than what the film is today.  Can you imagine Arnold Schwarzenegger as Fezzik?  Wallace Shawn is and will always be Vizzini, no one else could have played that part.  I loved hearing about how Cary and Mandy trained for the sword fight and I was stunned to hear that the cast did almost all of their own stunts.  In today's age with CGI graphics and pretty much everything being possible, The Princess Bride was pretty fantastic considering what they had to work with at the time.  I love watching older movies when things were simpler and while they may look a little funny to today's youth, they feel more real to me.

At times it felt like a love letter from the cast to Andre the Giant. He is one of my favorite characters in film, and it is so heartwarming to hear that he was as gentle a giant in his real life as he was in the film. His life was not without hardships, but he seemed to always keep his spirits up and make everyone around him smile. The world needs more kind souls like Andre in it.

I loved all of the behind the scenes insights and stories that Elwes told. I was stunned to hear that the movie didn't do well after its release knowing how much of a classic it is. I'm happy that the classic blunder make in marketing the movie in the theaters was made up for by the VHS market and now DVDs and streaming media and the movie can be shared for years to come.

If you are a fan of the movie I highly recommend the audiobook. You will just miss some of the charm from the cast actually giving their insight and the tone of their delivery that you will miss from the written word, though I understand there are photos in the book that you miss out on in the audio version. This is a beautiful nod to a wonderful story, and I'm so glad to have experienced it.  I've never read William Goldman's book version of The Princess Bride, Inconceivable, I know!  I think I might after listening to Cary Elwes sing its praises.  I also plan on watching The Princess Bride as soon as possible.

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Review: Will Love For Crumbs by Jonna Ivin

Will Love For Crumbs by Jonna Ivin
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked this up a few years ago when it was free on Kindle. The synopsis sounded interesting, and it had a ton of good reviews. I never got around too it, and I probably wouldn't have were it not for the reading challenge I'm working my way through. The prompt was to read a book about a difficult topic, so I thought this would be a perfect fit. This is a tale about emotional abuse, a traumatic childhood, dysfunctional relationships, addiction, her strange relationship with God, and poor decision making.

I had to keep reminding myself that this was a memoir, but it read like a fictional story. Many of the situations are very dramatic, and I just can't relate to drama like that. To quote a like in the book "No one's life is that dramatic" kept popping up in the back of my mind as I read the story Jonna painted as she tells the story of her life. Jonna says this to a group of Red Cross volunteers she is working with in reference to Chris, after hearing about his crazy yet very sad life. Chris and Jonna end up having a whirlwind relationship, and eventually end up together. Jonna learns that Chris is not who he says he is and he's been lying to her about everything. She stays with him because he makes her feel taken care of, which makes you want to shake her and yell at her because she is too old to be this immature and irresponsible. Her sister actually does this at one point and she still doesn't do anything. Many of Jonna's mistakes and poor decisions stem from growing up with an alcoholic mother and no father in the picture. She just wants some one to love her and take care of her like her parents never did. Chris enters her life like a freight train, large and in charge, and gives her the sense of stability and care she was always missing. Yet after she learns of his betrayals and bad behaviors, it takes her a long time to leave even thought she writes about doing it for several chapters. Its like she was addicted to him and his lies. I just can't relate to not learning from my mistakes and being in a position like this. I give Ivin credit for writing her story, it takes guts to put your story out there for people to read and criticize. I don't want to criticize her life and her choices,, but I do have thoughts on the actual technical writing which I think is a valid critique.  I wish she had a support system to tell her to get her act together and help her. I hope that she's gotten that since writing this.

I didn't care for the writing style at all. This was written in a disjointed chronology, which I really don't care for in general, but as the author is telling her life story it jumped around and she never closed the story. It just abruptly ends, leaving so many pieces of her life unexplained. Like whatever happened to Adam, he was in her life then he wasn't. What happened with Greg? A memoir usually closes with what the author learned as their life went on or where they ended up in the present. This just ends and you are left almost with a cliffhanger. There are alot of holes that left me scratching my head. As many other reviewers mentioned, this book could have used a good edit. There were so many mistakes, it was sometimes hard to read.

Review: Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly

Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of the African American Women Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
Narrated by Robin Miles
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this! It was an amazing history lesson of not only the African American women, but history in general. While it tells the story of racial segregation and sexism that the women of Langley faced as they fought to show just how capable they were, this story also gives a great history lesson as well. I really related to this story, as a woman who studied engineering and went into the military. Women were the minority in my studies and profession for many years of my life, and I've definitely had to work a little harder to prove myself because I'm "just a girl", much like the women of this book like Dorothy Vaughan, Katherine Johnson, and Mary Jackson. Having lived in Hampton Roads myself, I loved hearing about the area as Langley came to be the powerhouse of aeronautics and what would eventually lead to the creation of NASA. While Langley seemed to be a pioneer of breaking down racial segregation, it was slow to break through and allow integration to allow the brilliant men and women working at Langley to show their true capabilities. It took years before the first African American women who started as computers at Langley were recognized for their work at Langley even allowing them to received equal education and reasonable pay and job titles.

I really loved getting to know each of the women that were involved in the telling of the story, and Shetterly's writing is so poetic. With so much research and technical information, the writing is beautiful and I found it fascinating, then again I am an engineer at heart and have loved space since I was small. Having listened to the audio book, Robin Miles did such a wonderful job with the narration. I never wanted to stop listening. I was angry for the women when they didn't get equal pay and recognition for a job well done, or when they weren't allowed the same rights as the white men or women. I cheered when Katherine was finally recognized for her work with John Glenn. I learned so much from this, not just about these Hidden Figures, but about my country, history, inequality, and so much more. I feel that this book is so relevant to some of today's present political tensions, while we've come along way, we have so much farther to go.

I can't wait to watch the movie.  I hear it is also excellent, making this the perfect fit for my reading challenge prompt a book made into a movie in 2017.  This came out in January 2017.  This fits several categories, a book with a subtitle, a book about a difficult topic, a book by an author of color, and probably a couple of others.  I wanted to make sure I read this book for the challenge because it is an important book.  I may move it around, but I'm so glad I put it on my must read this year list.