9 posts tagged “books i read in 2006”
I finished another book last night, Birth: The Surprising History of How We are Born by Tina Cassidy. After reading it, I am truly in awe that any of us are here.
The author decided to write the book after she ended up having an emergency c-section after several hours of labor. While still in the hospital she learned from the doctor that had this been 100 years early her child would have been removed (in pieces) and more than likey she would have died from infection.
While birth is a natural process, it is clear that over the years it has been subject to trends. It was pretty interesting to see how people jumped on the band wagon. For example, it is only in the last decade or so that it was determined it wasn't the best idea to hang a just born baby upside down and give it a smack on the rump. Now we believe that newborns should be handled with the utmost care. Also out are enemas and shaving pubic hair. Unfortunately c-sections are in.
The book certainly is not for the faint of heart. There is discussion of many of the intruments used over the ages to make birth easier (for the doctor in most cases). Pretty scary stuff.
But I do agree with the reviews, that it should be on the reading list of any pregnant woman. If nothing else, it may help prepare you for what to expect and what might work best for you. This is a new book and currently available only in hardback, but I managed to borrow it from the library.
The author was inspired by a book of photographs by a man who toured around the US in the 20's and 30's capturing circuses and the like on film. After reading it she went off and did a lot of research about life in the circus. And although the book is a work of fiction, she did use some of the more seemingly tall tales in her book.
The story is told by a 90-something former circus vet. The chapters switch between current day where he resides in a nursing home and his adventures in the circus. There are love triangles, good verses evil, dumb luck, and random coincidence along the way - everything you need to spin a good tale. And that's really what this book is.
I think it would make a great book club book. I so miss my book club.
I finished reading this book last night, and would recommend it to anyone with young children in their lives. There is detailed information about vaccine schedule recommendations as well as information that could make a difference not only in IQ but potentially avoiding a diagnosis of ADHD.
I will warn you that Dr. Purlmutter's tone can be a bit much at times. Not sure if it is just that this book has been reviewed by the legal department, or if it is just him. Also, he does recommend some of his own products (vitamin supplements). Nevertheless, here are a few things he preaches:
- Breast feed your baby for the first year if at all possible.
- Make sure Mom and baby are getting enough DHA (docahexaenic acid) and other nutrients.
- Feed your child organic fruits and vegetables.
- Introduce gluten between 4 to 6 months of age in the form of baby cereal.
- Children under one should not be given cow's milk.
- When introducing solid foods, start with vegetables, give one at a time, and wait four days before introducing the next.
- Children under 2 should not be exposed to TV or DVD's. Not even as background noise.
- Never use TV as a reward or punishment and keep the set out of your child's room.
- Children over 3 can be introduced to the computer, in small doses.
- At 4, music training should begin.
- Read to your child from day one.
- Let your child see you read.
- You should probably limit everyone's intake of tuna because of mercury levels.
- Avoid taking your child to a nail salon.
- Test your home for lead.
- Learn proper serving sizes.
- Avoid giving your child soda, especially diet (all chemical sweeteners should be avoided)
- There is no drug treatment for ADHD.
- Second-hand smoke should be avoided.
- Let your child be your guide.
- Interact with your child: talk, read, hug, kiss and play every day.
I feel like I missed some of the jokes or something. And yes, I have Magical Thinking - I just never got around to reading it before I packed it.
p.s. Not heading south now until Tuesday.
It wasn't as good as The Lovely Bones, but an interesting read. It shows that we have made strides in some areas, but still have a ways to go in terms of our attitudes and treatment of those with Down's Syndrome.
Amazingly I didn't hate the father. And think my deepest sympathies were with the brother, although I would have thought it would have been the mother. Anyone whose read it feel similarly? Differently? It would make for a good discussion, that is for sure.
Still I couldn't imagine living with such a secret.
A Is For Amy I don't think I could recommend this book to you.
Pamie has a
new book! I set out to read a chapter or two the other night and
ended up staying up until dawn to finish it. It was laugh out
loud funny! I just couldn't put it down. I think I actually
liked it better than her first book, Why Girls are Weird. Sophomore
books aren't supposed to be better.
There is a book signing next week in San Francisco. The last
time we met Pamie we drove out to the Borders in the middle of nowhere
LA, and were two of a handful of people that showed up. We thought it
would be mobbed and got there super early. The funny thing is B dropped
some money out of his pocket while we were sitting in the cafe and who
comes up to him and hands him back the bills he dropped - yep, none
other than Pamie herself. She rocks!
Well, technically I don't have a night stand,
but you get the idea. This is my current read. It's over
500 pages. It is about a girl who moves a lot.
It was recommended by Daily Candy and is also part of Border's Original Voices. So if you want a copy, it is 20% off at Borders.
Okay, I am going to go to the library now.
How can it be after 10 am already?!!
I read another chapter or so in the book I am currently reading, Finishing Touches. Will probably finish it today.
Am also pre-soaking some laundry. Hopefully should be
caught up on that as well today - as long as I don't run out of
quarters.
Still haven't been able to focus enough to sit down and write out a
to-do list. With a little luck, that should come soon. I
know that there is lots to do. Trying not to let anything fall through
the cracks.
Finished the leftover Thai curry we had for lunch yesterday. Sorry, B. It was quite good, although I prefer it with tomato and pineapple.
It isn't looking good that they are going to resolve the Internet
problem in the building today. So back at Argo Tea for us.
I wish I could say that his lack of Internet access has made me more
productive. But alas, it hasn't. I did finish The Pleasure
of My Company by Steve Martin. I agree with those who told me
that it was better than his Shop girl.
In other news, we are about 24 hours until the fireworks
display. In Chicago they do the big fireworks on July 4th
Eve. It is interesting. Better than Santa Monica where the
city put on the display at the crack of dawn on July 4th. Not
only did most people not want to get up that early, but for your
efforts you can't even really see anything because of the lights.
I need to make a big to-do list if I am going to get everything done
by then. As usual, I think I have very lofty ideas that are going
to get me in trouble. We shall see.
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