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gwstoryqueen32's reviews
81 reviews
Ghosted: Dating & Other Paramoural Experiences by Jana Eisenstein
5.0
A deeply hilarious and poignant reflection of bad dating from the perspective of a modern millennial woman. The author recounts each failed date with candor, and she is not afraid to challenge herself to recognize her own shortcomings on picking the "right guy." Members of our generation will be able to relate to that prolonged state of yearning while waiting for another text, or that uncertainty about how serious a relationship is before coming to an untimely end. This reader couldn't put the book down until the final page! Anyone exploring the ghosts of Jana's dating past will gain a new perspective on Tucson, Spanx, and Funfetti cupcakes. The story concludes on a hopeful note, a trace of optimism that there will be many more adventures to come. I would enjoy seeing this book adapted into a romantic comedy film, as long as the producers don't "fix" the ending with a perfect boyfriend for the girl, some stories don't need to be wrapped up with with a perfect "beau."
The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott
5.0
A truly hilarious and heartfelt story! Without giving away any spoilers, some of the standard character archetypes (the bride, the groom, the in-laws, etc.) appear to be standard until the author flips those archetypes and subvert the readers expectations at the resolution. A charming story with cute characters.
Heartsongs by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
5.0
A deeply moving collection of poems from a young peace activist. Mattie's verses filled with stars, flowers and rainbows are interwoven with verses about dancing after storms and contemplating mortality. These poems teach us all how to celebrate all the special things in life. This poetry collection is great for all readers! Also recommended for anyone working with patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in all hospitals. The author's observations on his situations can be soothing for child patients that feel anxious or afraid of their own mortality. My favorite poems from this collection are the following titles:
1. VERY SPECIAL CANDY
2. WHEN MY FEET ITCH
3. ON THE MOUNTAIN OF TREE-STARS
4. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
5. ON BEING THANKFUL
1. VERY SPECIAL CANDY
2. WHEN MY FEET ITCH
3. ON THE MOUNTAIN OF TREE-STARS
4. THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
5. ON BEING THANKFUL
Journey Through Heartsongs by Mattie J.T. Stepanek
5.0
A deeply moving collection of poems from a young peace activist. Mattie's verses filled with stars, flowers and rainbows are interwoven with verses about dancing after storms and contemplating mortality. These poems teach us all how to celebrate all the special things in life. This poetry collection is great for all readers! Also recommended for anyone working with patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in all hospitals. The author's observations on his situations can be soothing for child patients that feel anxious or afraid of their own mortality. My favorite poems from this collection are the following titles:
1. ABOUT ANGELS
2. FUTURE ECHO
3. THE TIGER FIGHTS A DRAGON IN THE PURPLE SUN
4. PIRATE CANDY
5. BEWARE OF THE EVER-WOLF
6. AT LONG LAST
7. THE LEFT-OVER CHILD
8. ANNIVERSARY REFLECTIONS
9. INTENSIVE SENSE
10. THE HOLDING-ON FAMILY
1. ABOUT ANGELS
2. FUTURE ECHO
3. THE TIGER FIGHTS A DRAGON IN THE PURPLE SUN
4. PIRATE CANDY
5. BEWARE OF THE EVER-WOLF
6. AT LONG LAST
7. THE LEFT-OVER CHILD
8. ANNIVERSARY REFLECTIONS
9. INTENSIVE SENSE
10. THE HOLDING-ON FAMILY
Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs by Jeni Stepanek
5.0
I am going to give you three reasons to read this book. An introspective exploration of a mother and child in equal parts heartwarming, tragic and often humorous and optimistic. The reader gets to see Jeni and Mattie through birthdays, interviews, surgeries, summer camp and beachside chats on the pier. The main point of the narrative was not two people with disabilities (dysautonomic mytochondrial myopathy) coming to terms with their condition or trying to "fit in" with the healthy majority like we have seen in so many cases, but to foster their own tribe of loyal and responsible friends that supported them in every way. Even the doctors and fellow patients in Mattie's hospitals become part of the Stepanek's family community.
1. Jeni Stepanek - A courageous, loving and humorous woman and mother of 4 children, Katie, Stevie, Jamie and Mattie. She instilled her son Mattie with values that shaped his character and career as a peace advocate and author. After Mattie's passing in 2004 she has continued his work and serves as a mother figure and a leader to her entire community, not only local friends, but international friends as well. From her, I learned how important it is to find good friends that fully embrace every aspect of you and your life.
(Chapter 3 Pumpkin Season Page 57).
"From there my friendship with Sandy grew. It wasn't just that we were both studying for advanced degrees, and it wasn't just that we both had less than ideal marriages that eventually ended in complicated divorce cases. For me it was that, unlike so many other people, Sandy didn't try to swoop in and make things all better like a hero, and she didn't run when my children died.
It's extremely lonely being the mother of dying children. You can't share any of the normal milestones, the normal sense of community with other mothers. And people either want to solve the problem, which they can't or they want to leave when the situation becomes too difficult. It's not out of callousness. It's out of pain; watching children die is hard. But Sandy tried to neither fix nor flee; she just wanted to be my friend. And she helped in very real ways."
2. Mattie J.T. Stepanek - A boy wise beyond his years, but also sentimental with a crafty sense of humor. I was often laughing at some of Mattie's antics and words (which I won't spoil, please read him yourself). A strong intellectual and playful child, he met with presidents, poets and actors. He lived a full life with all the 14 years that he had. He touched the lives of everyone that knew him.
(Chapter 7 Mosaic of Gifts Page 112)
"When Shelly brought the tapes to Chicago, she managed to convince the Oprah Winfrey Show staff that Mattie's segment needed to be more than how his disability felt. She told them she had been struck by how an eleven-year-old placed a higher priority on being a father someday and on relationships than on guns, cars, or the typical fantasies of a young boy. She that she went to our apartment to get "What is it like to suffer, to have your dying wishes granted?" and came back with "What is it like to be a peacemaker?"
3. Heartsongs - Unlike other medical tragedies like A Walk to Remember or My Sister's Keeper, it doesn't gloss over the difficulties of living with a terminal condition. The Stepaneks are "inspiring" but not only because they kept fighting to survive everyday. Rather, they are inspiring because they strive to enjoy a normal experience of life in between frequent trips to the hospital. They manage to reconcile their unique circumstances with the day to day aspects of living. Jeni's recollections of Mattie's life are interspersed with family photos and verses from his Heartsongs poetry. This remarkable memoir is a story that is not to be missed.
1. Jeni Stepanek - A courageous, loving and humorous woman and mother of 4 children, Katie, Stevie, Jamie and Mattie. She instilled her son Mattie with values that shaped his character and career as a peace advocate and author. After Mattie's passing in 2004 she has continued his work and serves as a mother figure and a leader to her entire community, not only local friends, but international friends as well. From her, I learned how important it is to find good friends that fully embrace every aspect of you and your life.
(Chapter 3 Pumpkin Season Page 57).
"From there my friendship with Sandy grew. It wasn't just that we were both studying for advanced degrees, and it wasn't just that we both had less than ideal marriages that eventually ended in complicated divorce cases. For me it was that, unlike so many other people, Sandy didn't try to swoop in and make things all better like a hero, and she didn't run when my children died.
It's extremely lonely being the mother of dying children. You can't share any of the normal milestones, the normal sense of community with other mothers. And people either want to solve the problem, which they can't or they want to leave when the situation becomes too difficult. It's not out of callousness. It's out of pain; watching children die is hard. But Sandy tried to neither fix nor flee; she just wanted to be my friend. And she helped in very real ways."
2. Mattie J.T. Stepanek - A boy wise beyond his years, but also sentimental with a crafty sense of humor. I was often laughing at some of Mattie's antics and words (which I won't spoil, please read him yourself). A strong intellectual and playful child, he met with presidents, poets and actors. He lived a full life with all the 14 years that he had. He touched the lives of everyone that knew him.
(Chapter 7 Mosaic of Gifts Page 112)
"When Shelly brought the tapes to Chicago, she managed to convince the Oprah Winfrey Show staff that Mattie's segment needed to be more than how his disability felt. She told them she had been struck by how an eleven-year-old placed a higher priority on being a father someday and on relationships than on guns, cars, or the typical fantasies of a young boy. She that she went to our apartment to get "What is it like to suffer, to have your dying wishes granted?" and came back with "What is it like to be a peacemaker?"
3. Heartsongs - Unlike other medical tragedies like A Walk to Remember or My Sister's Keeper, it doesn't gloss over the difficulties of living with a terminal condition. The Stepaneks are "inspiring" but not only because they kept fighting to survive everyday. Rather, they are inspiring because they strive to enjoy a normal experience of life in between frequent trips to the hospital. They manage to reconcile their unique circumstances with the day to day aspects of living. Jeni's recollections of Mattie's life are interspersed with family photos and verses from his Heartsongs poetry. This remarkable memoir is a story that is not to be missed.
My Fairy Stepmother by Jason Prince, Marni Prince
4.0
A simple, lighthearted read. The little girl in the story has a stepmother that helps her manage her anxiety about shadowy monsters in the dark. A good stepmother bonding story that will help many children struggling with moving between separate homes and sharing separate lives with each parent. Recommended for early readers.
The Totally NOT Wicked Stepmother by Neha Rawat, Samantha Berger
5.0
A humorous and heartwarming read. The little girl in the story is expecting her stepmother to do all the horrible things she heard from the fairy tales. This book references the three iconic fairy tales that codified the "wicked stepmother" (Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella and Snow White), but surprisingly, this aspiring princess does not get extra chores, poison apples or get lost in the woods. This book is good for readers looking for a cheerful story about a blended family. The little girl has an accident but the stepmother is ready to help her in recovery. The little girl begins to see that her stepmother is a better woman than the stepmothers from her fairy tales. The biological mother is not mentioned so her fate is open to interpretation from the reader based on personal experience.
There are many descriptions of the stepmother Holly's talents and fun things that she does for her family, but I also wanted a description of sharing chores and responsibilities as well. Children need to learn that some chores like cleaning might seem boring but it is important to practice responsibility so that all family members are taking care of each other. Other than that, this book is recommended for early readers that need an uplifting and positive story of a stepmother bonding with her family.
There are many descriptions of the stepmother Holly's talents and fun things that she does for her family, but I also wanted a description of sharing chores and responsibilities as well. Children need to learn that some chores like cleaning might seem boring but it is important to practice responsibility so that all family members are taking care of each other. Other than that, this book is recommended for early readers that need an uplifting and positive story of a stepmother bonding with her family.
Able-Bodied Like Me: Navigating & balancing cultures from the seat of my pants by Matt Glowacki
5.0
This book is recommended reading for anyone looking for a deeper understanding of life from the perspective of a person with a disability, in this case, a wheelchair user born without legs. The author recounts navigating life through his childhood, college, employment and relationships. He speaks with candor and shows a sarcastic sense of humor. Each chapter includes a question to prompt reflection from the reader. All people whether they are disabled or abled have their own dreams, conflicts and fears and their own ways of facing them.
The narrative takes us through the life of a man growing up before the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Common issues Glowacki faced were accessibility to buildings without ramps or elevators, doubtful doctors, anxious parents, and a wide range of responses from confused classmates, strangers and even friends. Glowacki rightly points out the personal bias and misconceptions that he has had to ignore or correct when facing new people, and how easy it is to want to "pass" as normal rather than address fifty questions about his condition. He has mastered all the essential parts of living a fulling, romantic and adventurous life. He acknowledges his own mistakes and how they helped him develop his character. The bottom line is that he doesn't internalize his identity as a person with a disability. This book should be recommended reading in all schools and colleges. Even if people with disabilities have legal protections now, the hardest part is changing social attitudes about a person's physical and intellectual capabilities.
The narrative takes us through the life of a man growing up before the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Common issues Glowacki faced were accessibility to buildings without ramps or elevators, doubtful doctors, anxious parents, and a wide range of responses from confused classmates, strangers and even friends. Glowacki rightly points out the personal bias and misconceptions that he has had to ignore or correct when facing new people, and how easy it is to want to "pass" as normal rather than address fifty questions about his condition. He has mastered all the essential parts of living a fulling, romantic and adventurous life. He acknowledges his own mistakes and how they helped him develop his character. The bottom line is that he doesn't internalize his identity as a person with a disability. This book should be recommended reading in all schools and colleges. Even if people with disabilities have legal protections now, the hardest part is changing social attitudes about a person's physical and intellectual capabilities.