Audible Book Review: Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

This is a surprisingly touching listen!

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie
By: Jordan Sonnenblick
Narrated by: Joel Johnstone

Series: Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie, Book 1
Length: 4 hrs and 21 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 02-20-11
Language: English
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Teen & Young Adult, Cancer, Diseases, Humor
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0 Overall; Story 5.0; Narration 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
Thirteen-year-old Steven has a totally normal life (well, almost): He plays drums in the All-Star Jazz Band, has a crush on the hottest girl in school (who doesn’t know he’s alive), frequently finds himself sitting across from his school counselor (who bribes him with candy), and is constantly annoyed by his five-year-old brother, Jeffrey (who is cuter than cute). Oh, Steven has parents, too (the kind that embarrass him). But when Jeffrey gets sick, Steven’s world is turned upside down as he is forced to deal with his brother’s illness, his parents’ attempts to keep the family in one piece, the band, overdue homework, girls, and of course, Dangerous Pie (yes, you have to listen to the book to find out what that is).
In a debut that has won raves, Jordan Sonnenblick digs deep into the heart of a family in crisis with humor, hope, and impressive sensitivity.
©2005 Jordan Sonnenblick (P)2011 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Steven is a ‘mostly’ normal 13-year-old with two working parents and a sort of pesky younger brother, 5-year-old Jeffrey. Steven plays drums in the school jazz band, stares at the back of the popular girl he’s crushing on and he finds friendship with the young piano player who is always kind to him. Things are going along fine in eighth grade until Jeffrey is diagnosed with Leukemia.

Steven’s mother has to leave work and the family struggles with treatments, care and costs. His parents don’t have much time for Steven who continues to put forth a good front. But in truth Steven is shutting down at school where no one knows why. His teachers send him to the school counselor who bribes him with candy to encourage him to talk. The only time Steven gets away from his thoughts is when he is in the groove playing his drums.

Then one day Steven’s mother gets sick and he and his dad have to rush Jeffrey to the hospital. Now Steven sees a whole new view and starts to open up to his family and friends.

This wonderful story is told in pitch perfect first person. Jordan Sonnenblick does a remarkable job developing the characters, especially Steven. The story is extremely touching and even brought tears to my eyes. Don’t judge this by the cover or the title – it is well worth picking up and reading/listening!

Audio Notes: Joel Johnstone does a perfect narration. Just as the story is pitch perfect, the narration is pitch perfect. I am very glad that I picked this up on Audible.

Source: 4/30/2017 Audible Daily Deal $1.95. This qualifies for 2019TBR and 2019Audiobook goals.

Book Review: The Cancer Solution: Taking Charge of Your Life with Cancer by Jack C. Westman M.D. M.S.

This book is full of thought provoking arguments and practical recommendations.
The Cancer Solution: Taking Charge of Your Life with Cancer
by Jack C. Westman M.D. M.S.

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: ArchwayPublishing (January 15, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1480813087
• Genre: Nonfiction
• My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 8, 2015
This book should be read as a requirement for anyone diagnosed with cancer. It will serve as a tremendous practical guide for cancer patients and their families.
—Thomas N. Seyfried,
Professor of biology at Boston College and author of Cancer as a Metabolic Disease: On the Origin, Management, and Prevention of Cancer.
...

Review:
I am glad that I received this book for review. I took a bit of time reading it so that I could absorb the depth of information.

The author lays out his data and rational arguments in distinct sections with clear support and references. The information is presented in direct fashion that makes it understandable, even by a lay person. I appreciated all of the information but particularly the explanation of the nature of cancer as neoplasia, a decease of cells that take a turn from normal deterioration to a mutated deterioration that results in cancer. This would explain why there are so many different types of cancer. As the author explains, unfortunately the focus of research has most often been on treatment of the symptoms without determining a way to stop the cause.

There is an interesting discussion on the definition of cancer that implies that there is a large incidence of over-diagnosis resulting in over-treatment. But what is a patient to do? Does the patient take the advise of the doctor (the expert) or risk refusing the “standard” diagnosis and the “standard” treatment recommendations? This is a major dilemma facing many patients, including me when my cancer was diagnosed. As much as I appreciated the information gathered and provided by Dr. Westman, this book doesn’t resolve that patient dilemma.

I liked the chapters presenting nutrition therapies and known factors (ultraviolet light, smoking and others) that stimulate neoplasia. I would certainly seek to choose foods that strengthen my immune system while minimizing those negative factors in my life. The chapter on Taking Charge of Being a Care Recipient or Caregiver offers positive and practical suggestions for coping with either situation. It is important to realize that caregivers have a special role and they often need support too.

As Dr. Westman notes, a known problem with Chemotherapy is that it not only attacks malignant cells but it attacks good immune cells that every person needs to fight off other deceases. I was aware of this negative factor which was a reason I hesitated on agreeing to the Chemo. Although I appreciated the important information shared in this book, if I had read it before my experience I think my decision would have been even more difficult.

I would recommend this book as a source of data to understand the nature of the decease of cancer, alternative approaches to diagnosis, treatments, research and the current state of affairs relating to these issues. There are good practical details that would help any person facing a situation involving cancer. The information is helpful even if it might not help make a final decision regarding personal treatment. That involves a lot of uniquely individual factors, professional provider advise and personal character and faith.

I received this book for an honest review through The Cadence Group.

Audible Book Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This is a beautifully written and poignant story of brave teenagers falling in love.

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Narrated by Kate Rudd

    LENGTH    7 hrs and 14 mins
    RELEASE DATE    01-10-12
    PUBLISHER    Brilliance Audio
Genre: Young Adult
4.75 of 5.0.

Publisher's Summary
Audie Award Nominee, Best Teens Category, 2013
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning-author John Green’s most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.
©2012 John Green (P)2012 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Review:
Hazel is a sixteen year old teen who would love nothing more than to be a “normal” teen. Instead she has lived with cancer for several years and has to have a portable oxygen tank to help support her weak lungs. She resents her condition, resents the goodwill of her parents who watch over her so carefully and resents the youth support group. The support group is their for encouragement but also brings the stark reality of their illness and mortality to the participants.

One of her group friends is Isaac whose cancer will soon cause him to loose his eye sight. He brings a friend to group one day, a hot looking guy named Augustus. Augustus, a confident teen a few years older has lost a lower limb but has been clear of cancer for a few years. He is immediately smitten by Hazel and young love blooms. They share a love of reading and exchange books.

The book that is Hazel’s favorite was about a young girl who had an illness and lived with her intrepid mother. They are helped by the mother’s boyfriend who Hazel isn’t sure is for real or a con. But the book just ends abruptly... presumably when the girl dies. Hazel is obsessed with learning what happened to the mother and boyfriend. The author has never written anything else and now lives a reclusive life in Netherlands. Augustus reads the book and manages to make contact with the author. Then Augustus uses his wish to arrange a trip to take Hazel to Amsterdam to meet the author and try to get answers to her questions. The trip is an adventure and discovery. But there is heartache in store.

This started slowly for me but it soon became engrossing. The writing is incredibly impressive, thought provoking, touching and poignant. The plot deals with cancer which touched home a bit. But it made me see illness issues in a different perspective - both from the viewpoint of the youth and the difficult position of the parent caregivers. It also reminded me of the brilliance of life. This is a YA romance but readable and meaningful for any age.

Audio Notes: Kate Rudd does an excellent job conveying the illness, rebellion, confusion, hopes and angst of teenage Hazel Grace. She handled the other characters perfectly well too, complete with accents. The narration brought the characters to life and made the story a bit easier smoother.

I picked this from my Audible Library.

A GREAT WONDERFUL GIVEAWAY! PLUS DONATION FOR CANCER RESEARCH!

Author Nancy O'Berry has a new release that is coming out November 26, 2009.  It is special because all of the proceeds are being donated to Cancer research!

Here is the donation information:

All the proceeds from this book are being donated to the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Tidewater fund. If you would like to make a donation or get in contact with them, please use the following website and address:

http://www.komentidewater.org/

119 S. Witchduck Rd., Suite 85

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

Komen’s National Breast Care Helpline:

To speak to someone about breast health and breast cancer concerns, please call 1-877 GO KOMEN (1-877-465-6636).

Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without normal control. It is a widespread and random disease, striking women and men of all ages and races. It is the most prevalent cancer in the world today, with about 1.3 million people diagnosed annually. The exact cause of the disease is unknown, and at this time, there is no cure.

But there is hope.

Thanks to heightened awareness, early detection through screening, improved treatment methods and increased access to breast health services, people have a greater chance of survival than ever before.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure national website, komen.org, offers comprehensive information about breast cancer risk factors, early detection and screening, diagnosis and treatment. Developed in conjunction with the Harvard School of Public Health, the site offers a one-stop resource for all the latest information on the disease.

I saw Nancy's announcement and told her this was wonderful as my own dear mom died of cancer when I was only 21.  She was a young 48.

Nancy offered to do a Giveaway to encourage others to buy the book! Let me give you some info on the book then make sure you check out everything in this GREAT PRIZE PACKAGE below the book blurb!!

STORMY WEATHER

Nancy O'Berry

Mainstream Romance: Contemporary

ISBN: TBA

Cover Artist: Nancy Donahue

Editor: TBA

Word Count: 17,460

Release Date: TBA

Nancy's Red Rose Publishing Link

As a woman, Lauren Phelps has suffered the worst life can throw at her. The loss of her breast, the rejection of her husband, a divorce can she pick up the shattered threads of her life and continue?

Cole McGuire met Lauren Phelps through a mutual friend, his mother. When Lauren took a medical leave of absence, he wondered if he would ever see her again. When she returned to Teague and Marshalls, he made sure she was transferred to his office. Now divorced, he wondered if he stood a chance to woo her.

Can Lauren learn to love again after the storm?

Sounds like an interesting story right? Now here is the prize package that Nancy has so graciously offered!

    *  A CD that contains pdf copies of not just Stormy Weather, but three more of Nancy's books: Holding on to Hope, Giving in to Charity and Destination Daytona!

    * A Print copy of Having Faith, the first book in the Sweetbrier Series.

AND

    * A Pink Canvas Book Tote with the Stormy Weather cover on it.

Isn't that a GREAT WONDERFUL Package!

Here are the lovely covers!

THANK YOU NANCY!




PLUS for every ten entrants I will pick a winner at the conclusion of the Giveaway to receive a download copy of Stormy Weather provided from me.  International entries will be accepted for these extra Giveaways so please let me know if you are overseas and entering for the extra Giveaway instead of main prize package!  International entrants will be counted toward the "ten" entries but eliminated for the main drawing. 

TO ENTER:

1. Comment here telling me your favorite charity. Please include your email address, so I can contact you if you win.

2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For another entry, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

4. Leave a separate comment for each entry or you'll only be entered once. (This method is used to make it easier to put the entries into the random generator!)

5. Visit Nancy's Blog and leave a comment there and come back and tell me you did.

(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close Midnight (Central) on November 26, 2009. The winner will be randomly selected from all non international entries.