Book Review - The Secret (The Secret #1) by Rhonda Byrne

The Secret (The Secret #1) by Rhonda Byrne

Summary:
Law of Attraction. Be positive, grateful.

Review:
Skeptical? Doesn't harm to try / believe.

Questions:
Has anyone tried and what was your experience? It was fun reading some real-life stories on their site here.


Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century by Claire Prentice

The Lost Tribe of Coney Island: Headhunters, Luna Park, and the Man Who Pulled Off the Spectacle of the Century by Claire Prentice

I don't know anything about Coney Island, or the Igorrotes - "a group of “headhunting, dog-eating savages” from the Philippines, who were transported to New York in 1905 to appear as “human exhibits” alongside the freaks and curiosities at Coney Island’s Luna Park."

But I was curious to learn more about amusement parks after reading Joyland by Stephen King. Of course, this book was more about the Igorrotes, than amusement parks... you could tell the author did a lot of research on the topic, and that it wasn't easy to piece everything together.

Overall it wasn't a bad read - maybe a little bit long as I really just wanted to find out what happened to the Igorrotes but there was quite a bit of history in between. I also appreciated that the author did a wrap up of what's happened to the different characters in the end. The story also make me think about the "cultural" tours I'd enjoyed - visiting the Amish village or the Native Canadian Indians village... is it right to visit these sights?



This is part of the TLC tour - check out the other tour stops!

Claire Prentice’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, October 13th: Sophisticated Dorkiness

Monday, October 13th: Booksie’s Blog

Tuesday, October 14th: Kahakai Kitchen

Tuesday, October 14th: Time 2 Read

Wednesday, October 15th: Patricia’s Wisdom

Monday, October 20th: Wordsmithonia

Tuesday, October 21st: Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Wednesday, October 22nd: She Treads Softly

Thursday, October 23rd: 50 Book Project

Thursday, October 23rd:  Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Friday, October 24th:  Dwell in Possibility

Monday, October 27th: BookNAround

Monday, October 27th:  Mental Foodie

Tuesday, October 28th:  girlichef

Tuesday, October 28th:  Lisa’s Yarns

Wednesday, October 29th: A Bookish Affair

TBD: Padre Steve

Note - A free advanced copy of the book was given in exchange of an unbiased review as part of the TLC tour.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky

Heads in Beds: A Reckless Memoir of Hotels, Hustles, and So-Called Hospitality by Jacob Tomsky

I like reading about other occupations. So when someone said they enjoyed reading this book about a guy who worked in hospitality, I thought it'd be a fun read, especially since I enjoy traveling (which means, mostly staying at hotels).

I was a little disappointed that the author had only worked at a couple of hotels, though he did work in a few different positions from valet to front desk to manage of housekeeping. There were some good to know do's and don'ts for guests (especially if you want "free" upgrades), and made you appreciate the hard job the staff has to do (especially for housekeeping!) But I don't know if this needs to be a full book size as I got a bit bored in the middle.

Not bad, but not the best memoir out there. 3 Stars.



Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley

A vibrant, food-themed memoir from beloved indie cartoonist Lucy Knisley.

Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a
gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her
obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and
funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus
far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons
learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is
bookended with an illustrated recipe—many of them
treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy's original
inventions.

A welcome read for anyone who ever felt more passion
for a sandwich than is strictly speaking proper, Relish is a
book for our time: it invites the reader to celebrate food
as a connection to our bodies and a connection to the
earth, rather than an enemy, a compulsion, or a
consumer product.

I love reading about food. I love reading memoir. But I haven't read a lot of graphic novels, but I am very glad I read this!

This is a refreshing and cute book. And the author/artist reminded me of myself a bit, especially with her views on food - she loves the exotic/gourmet food, but her guilty pleasure is French fries from McDonalds... yes I know they are bad for you but they are probably one of my favorite fries (given that I only eat them once a year at most, I don't feel so bad about it...) The biggest difference between us is that she actually cooks/bakes in the kitchen, while I dream that I can.

It was fun to read about her relationships with her parents and their impact on her regarding food. Her other stories about food and friends are also heartwarming. At the end of each chapter there are also recipes she drawn - very cool.

My favorite though, has to be the last chapter when she drew about her behind-the-scene experience at one of the best restaurants in the US (if not the world) - Alinea in Chicago. If there's just ONE restaurant I can try in the US, this is where I'd pick (read about the memoir written by the chef and business partner of Alinea I'd reviewed earlier here). Apparently she got invited to the kitchen after one of the owners saw her drawings about her actual eating experience at the restaurant (which I want to read!!). I was so jealous that she got to see the action! Though it seems there were equal amount of cooking and cleaning back there - which is good... who wants to eat from a dirty kitchen?

4 Stars (this is more like 4.25... not quite 4.5 because it just lacks a bit of depth, but it was a very enjoyable read nevertheless.)


Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

Book Review - My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

From Goodreads:
You only think you know this story. In 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer—the most notorious serial killer since Jack the Ripper—seared himself into the American consciousness. To the public, Dahmer was a monster who committed unthinkable atrocities. To Derf Backderf, “Jeff” was a much more complex figure: a high school friend with whom he had shared classrooms, hallways, and car rides. 
In My Friend Dahmer, a haunting and original graphic novel, writer-artist Backderf creates a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of a disturbed young man struggling against the morbid urges emanating from the deep recesses of his psyche—a shy kid, a teenage alcoholic, and a goofball who never quite fit in with his classmates. With profound insight, what emerges is a Jeffrey Dahmer that few ever really knew, and one readers will never forget.



I am quite fascinated by true crimes and serial killers - what makes them tick and why they kill. So when I heard about this from another blog, I quickly added it to my TBR. Because I'd been very busy lately, I thought I'd end the year with something light - not the subject matter of course, but that I'd read graphic novels instead.

Sometime between 1996 and 2002, I read a book on Jeffery Dahmer - I didn't blog back then obviously so I do not remember much about it apart from some of the sickening details of his crimes. This book gave us a glimpse of what he was like in high school, which may or may not have provided some insight on why he did what he did. 

The author/artist, who went to school with Dahmer, did say so in the beginning that "pity him, but don't empathize with him" (p11.) I agreed with his sentiments - you kinda wondered "what if"... but it really didn't excuse all his wrongdoings.

The author/artist also did some research to fill in the holes of the story - mainly with stories and interviews from the media (interviews with Dahmer and his parents etc), as well as memories of a few who went to school together. It was quite an interesting to read his research/reference notes at the end, which I appreciated. 

I would have to say though, the title, "My Friend Dahmer" is a little bit misleading because I really did not think they were friends. Acquaintance,  yes. Friends, no. Dahmer was more his (and his actual friends') object of amusement. Though it seemed like Dahmer did enjoy the short-lived "friendship, probably because that was one of the few occasions where someone would pay attention and talk to him, even if it was not with the best intentions. 

3.5 Stars




Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff

Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job by Jon Acuff

From Goodreads:

Have you ever felt caught between the tension of a day job and a dream job? That gap between what you have to do and what you'd love to do?

I have.
At first I thought I was the only one who felt that way, but then I started to talk to people and realized we're becoming the "I'm, but" generation. When we talk about what we do for a living we inevitably say, "I'm a teacher, but I want to be an artist." "I'm a CPA, but I'd love to start my own business."
"I'm a _____, but I want to be a ______."
All too often, we hear that dreaming big means you quit your day job, sell everything you own, and move to Guam. But what if there were a different way?
What if you could blow up your dream without blowing up your life?
What if you could go for broke without going broke?
What if you could start today?
What if you already have everything you need to begin?
From figuring out what your dream is to quitting in a way that exponentially increases your chance of success, Quitter is full of inspiring stories and actionable advice. This book is based on 12 years of cubicle living and my true story of cultivating a dream job that changed my life and the world in the process.
It's time to close the gap between your day job and your dream job. 
It's time to be a Quitter.



Ummm do I really know the answer to this question?

"I'm a_________, but I want to be a ________."

There are so many answers I could give to the 2nd blank... but there isn't really just one answer for me though... If you don't know the answer, the author suggested your could ask yourself these questions:

• What is your dream?
• What's something that makes you feel alive that you wish you were doing?
• What do you hope is true of your life in 6 months? A year? 3 years?
• Do I love doing __ enough to do it for free?
• When I _____ does time feel different?
• Do I enjoy doing _____ regardless of the opinions of other people?
• If I pursue __ and only my life changes, is that enough?
• Is this the first time I've loved _ or is this part of a bigger pattern in my life? 

One thing that I have always loved all these years without fail (while other hobbies come and go), is reading. But hey can you be a professional reader and get paid for it? :) 

At times, the book feels a bit repetitive. And some of the materials I already know from my own experience, but I guess it's good to read as a reminder. And if you don't know, then it has some good takeaway. 

Some insights for me:

• Don't forget your family when you pursue your dream> E.g. I have to work like crazy right now, so my family can be better off later - the problem is that kids don't believe in later, kids believe in right now. 
• "If I really wanted to", "It would be easier if..." are such toxic phrases. They really do hold you back
• One idea I really want to try - email yourself about what you have learned today as a warning to your future self - set the time so that the email will be delivered a year from today. I mean, I have read people writing a letter to their younger self about what they wish they knew at the time. But since we can't go back in time, why not write to your future self so that you won't repeat your mistake, or remind your future self about something you think is important today? 

3.5 Stars

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Mammolina: A Story about Maria Montessori by Barbara O'Connor, Sara Campitelli (Illustrator)

Mammolina: A Story about Maria Montessori by Barbara O'Connor, Sara Campitelli (Illustrator)

Describes the life and achievements of the Italian woman doctor who developed a revolutionary method of educating children.

I have always been interested in education, and have heard about Montessori before, but haven't really looked into it. Now that we have a kid, I have to start paying attention so I started doing some research. I am still very busy at work, so don't have much attention span to read books that require a lot of brain power - thus when I found out there is a children's book about Maria Montessori, I thought it would be a great cliff note version :)

I really enjoyed it - it was written in a simple manner and held my interest. And what a remarkable woman! Whether you agree with her philosophy on children education or not, she was one fascinating woman - I didn't know she was a doctor before she was an educator, and she became a doctor because she did not want to be a teacher in the first place (one of the few professions that women could be back then.) It interested me enough that I wouldn't mind reading more about her :)

4 Stars.

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Awakened Leadership: Beyond Self-Mastery by Alan E. Shelton

Awakened Leadership: Beyond Self-Mastery by Alan E. Shelton

Transformational leadership books and processes have delivered us to the era of self-mastery. But how do we move from being effective leaders to being awakened leaders? By situating leadership in the nest of the seeker's journey toward truth, you can now stand on the shoulders of the visionaries who have come before, and become conscious of your own position within Source.

Leaving behind charts, maps, and graphs, “Awakened Leadership” is a portal to direct experience via pointers and personal stories that will help you recognize the gift of being who you really are. Then your leadership essence will effortlessly manifest not only in the boardroom, but in all facets of your life.

While I am not in a leadership role (as in, I don't have any direct reports) in my job, I do have to lead projects so I am often interested in learning about how to be a better leader. So when I was contacted to see if I was interested in reviewing this book, I said yes. 

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book when the author talked about his childhood, his mission trip to Peru, and building his business. However, he lost me when he went to India to become a Seeker to "seek the truth"... there were many talks of the ego... I was a psych major in college so the concept of the ego is not new to me. When I was reading about this journey, it reminded me a bit of the "Pray" part in Eat, Pray Love... I have no doubt that this was a significant journey in the author's experience, but perhaps to be enlightened, one really needs to experience it, and just can't read about it? Or maybe I am just not ready for this journey yet (my ego is in the way :) ) 

I do really admire the author's drive and passion - when he was my age, he was already a very successful business owner. So my review is NOT to say his thoughts of leadership is wrong, but that I didn't quite get as much out of it as I thought I would. Though now that I am a mother myself, I do agree wholeheartedly about this - "I realized that being a full-time father again meant that interests higher than my own needed to be served" - I definitely have to put myself aside and think for my son first. Maybe it is something I need to keep in mind when I lead others.

2.5 Stars. 

Author Bio:

Alan Shelton is a leader who colors outside the lines, a corporate executive

mentor with an entrepreneurial spirit and a gripping speaker who engages his audiences. 

With a reputation like that, it is no wonder that his book, “Awakened  Leadership: Beyond Self-Mastery,” has become so successful. Shelton graduated from Brigham Young  University (BYU) in Utah after completing missionary work in Peru. By 1977, Shelton had landed his first big gig in the corporate  world at PricewaterhouseCoopers, now PwC, where his clients included IBM, Sunkist, Beckman Instruments and Toyota Motor Sales. His journey continued through 1990  when he sold his CPA firm, Shelton, Smith and Townsend, and turned to leadership training. Since then, his client list has grown to include the University of San Diego,  Wrangler, VF Corp., The North Face, Celgene and many others.

“Awakened Leadership,” published by Red Hatchet Press in May 2012, has taken the 

leadership world by storm. The book is the winner of a 2013 National Indie Excellence 

Book Award as well as a 2012 USA Best Book Award.

Shelton advises and facilitates workshops for international businesses in Oceanside, 

Calif., where he lives in a refurbished fire station with his loving wife, Justine. He has 

two children, Kristin and Michael, who earned business degrees from the University of 

Southern California and the University of Arizona, respectively.

Awards:

Indie Excellence Winner 2013

USA Best Book Awards WInner

Book Information:

Hardcover $24.95

ISBN: 978-0984712502

Motivational, 220 pages

Red Hatchet Press, May 2012

Author Links:

Author Website: http://alanshelton.com/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5751092.Alan_E_Shelton

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alaneshelton

Twitter: @AlanEShelton

Note - A free copy was given to me from http://www.jkscommunications.com in exchange for an unbiased review




All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - How to Fix Your Novel by Steve Alcorn

How to Fix Your Novel by Steve Alcorn

From Goodreads:

Have you started a novel, only to get part way into the manuscript and find yourself stuck? Or do you have an idea for a novel, but aren't sure where to begin? Have you completed a first draft, but feel it doesn't quite have the luster of professional writing? 

In this lively and fun-to-read guide, Steve Alcorn shows you the remedies you need to achieve success. Step by step, you'll breathe life into old manuscripts, create new novels that read like bestsellers, and put the spark back into your writing life. 

Topics include: 

Story Structure 
Character Building 
Viewpoint 
Tense 
Voice 
Setting 
Conflict 
Suspense 
Mystery 
Dialogue 
Writing Big 
Beginnings and Endings 
Getting Published 

Whether you're a first time novelist still planning your story, or an experienced author looking for ways to bring your fiction to life, How to Fix Your Novel is the ideal prescription.

Not too long ago, I reviewed another novel writing book - The Mashall Plan (see review here) - I was curious to read other novel writing books just to see what other approaches there are. I know there are no right or wrong ways, but I merely just want to know how others formulate their novels. 

This is an easy read, and I learned much from it! If there is one big take away, is it the difference between STORY and PLOT:

Plot = the physical journey / action
Story = the emotional journey / reaction

As simple as that! What a lightbulb moment! Now I know why I prefer some novels over another - for the ones that I love or have staying power, it really has to have a good balance or both. A lot of the murder/mystery that I read - they have great plot, but hardly a story, hence I had fun reading it (action packed!) but hardly remembered it afterward. I don't care much for character-driven novels, because it so focuses on the emotional side of the story that it doesn't have enough action! 

It also uses examples from other books/movies to illustrate the different aspect of a novel. I also like that, when it comes to writing from different voices, the author wrote the passages 3 times using 3 different voices to show the differences (e.g. the protagonist as an adult, the protagonist as a child, a 3rd person narrator), which in turn, will help the writing to decide which view point is the strongest. 

The author also listed the steps that worked for him to finish a novel. So it provided a great guide, with some easy steps to follow! The methodology used in this book is more flexible, less structured, than that from the Marshall Plan. I can't say one is better than the other, but both give me some great ideas. Maybe this year I would be able to do NaNoWriMo?!


4 Stars - a few chapters didn't quite give me the lightbulb moments than the rest. But I am definitely glad I read this - even if I don't end up writing, this sheds some lights for me when I read.  I wish I had taken a novel writing class back in college! Not that it was offered... 




Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall

The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing by Evan Marshall

Okay I admit it. I am a writer wannabe.

Except, I haven't even written anything :p (school work didn't count).

A couple of years back I wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo, and I wrote 100 words (or was it 50?) Yeah, you get the picture. 

I have all these ideas in my head, but as soon as I tried to put words on paper (or rather on the computer screen), it just did not work. My biggest problem I think was plotting - how do you weave the storyline together that's not boring? How do you write 300 pages when I could summarize it in 500 words?! So I went to research on books that help you with plotting, and I came across this one.

From reading the reviews, some people may find this plan too structure. From what I'd read, some writers are "pantsters" (can write by the seat of their pants) and some are "plotters". Now when I write blog posts, I just write without any outline/drafts, but I can't do that when I tried writing a story. Normally though I am not into big structure either, but I think this book offered me some good insights about plotting in general, and I may give it a try (no, haven't started yet... work had been very busy, and with a teething 10 month old, I am choosing sleep when I could.)

There are other books on plotting but I haven't read them yet so I don't know how they compare. Ultimately though, there are really no right or wrong way, but I love hearing about how others write. So if you do write, I'd love to hear how you do it!

Some reviewers did say this book applies more to books like thrillers, and I don't know if it's true or not. But I do notice more about plotting when reading novels now :)

4 Stars - did learn something new and may be useful!


Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Butterfly Tears: Stories of Entrapment and Enpowerment by Wil Drouin, Jennifer Thomas

Butterfly Tears: Stories of Entrapment and Enpowerment  by Wil Drouin, Jennifer Thomas

When I was asked if I'd like to join the tour for Butterfly Tears (http://www.butterflytears.net/), I said yes right away because I love reading inspirational true stories. This is a book about 9 women who transformed their lives from their shattered past, whether it be abuse, neglect, addiction or despair.

I am the 3rd stop on the tour. And I don't think I can tell her story better than Ashely sharing it herself. Here's a brief summary:



"Like many alcoholics, my drinking career started with my first sip of alcohol at age fifteen. I didn’t take into account my alcoholic dad, or all the fear and pain his addiction had caused me growing up. I just wanted to fit in, and alcohol made me feel cute, confident, and popular. I immediately began drinking to excess, blacking out, and sleeping around. With the death of my father, an abortion, and further family dysfunction, my substance abuse spiraled to daily pot use and other drugs, to numb myself from the pain of everything around me.
 
Finally I could no longer stand the false life I was leading. I got sober, and through Pathways to Independence, I got the therapy and loving support I needed to face the root of my problems in an honest way. That was the really hard part: facing all my feelings and fears. Today, I am seven years sober, and a credentialed teacher. My passion is to help children recognize all their opportunities in life and to boost their self-esteem. I want to show them, and everyone, that if you are confident, you can achieve what you want to, and that you can invent—or reinvent—your life the way you want it to be. It’s never too late."

~ Ashley





I recently read an article about authentic leadership, and one of the essential qualities is self-awareness - how you learned from your past and make the most out of it. As I was reading Ashley's story, I kept coming back to that article. It takes tremendous strength to pull yourself out of the hole, and stay out of it.



So congrats Ashley on your achievement! I can't even begin to imagine what she had to go through. And I love that she is now helping other children!


If you want to hear the other 8 women's stories, stop by the other blogs on tour!
http://www.jkscommunications.com/virtual-book-tour-for-butterfly-tears-stories-of-entrapment-to-empowerment/

May 30
Author/Activist Cheryl Rainfield: http://cherylrainfield.com/blog/
Sharing Kaysie’s story

May 31
Books a La Mode: http://thestephanieloves.blogspot.com/
Sharing Paige’s story

June 1
Mental Foodie: http://mentalfoodie.blogspot.com/
Sharing Ashley’s story

June 2
Celtic Lady’s Reviews: http://www.celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/
Sharing Lin’s story

June 3
Literary Lunes: http://literarylunes.webs.com/
Sharing Sara’s story

June 4
Bookerella Reviews: http://www.bookerellareviews.com/
Sharing Annie’s story

June 5
Stuck Between the Pages: http://stephanysbookreviews.blogspot.com/
Sharing Veronica’s story

June 6
Kary Annalysis: http://kariannalysis.com/
Sharing Kimberly’s story

June 7
As I Turn the Pages: http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.com/
Sharing PepperFanne’s story

Note - A free copy was given in exchange of an unbiased review



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You by Jennifer Baumgartner

You Are What You Wear: What Your Clothes Reveal About You by Jennifer Baumgartner

I borrowed this book thinking this book was about fashion and how to be more stylish. I don't know why I thought that, because well, the title didn't say that did it?

In fact, this book was more about what we buy the clothes we buy instead. There are many examples in the books, but these women usually have a deeper problem (e.g. shopping addiction, buying clothes just because they are on sale, only buy designer clothes, buying clothes that don't fit your age etc.) and the author offered some tips on how to avoid such problems.

It was an interesting read, but just not what I was expecting to read.

3 Stars.

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Other End Of The Stethoscope - 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care by Marcus Engel

The Other End Of The Stethoscope - 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care by Marcus Engel

Brutally honest account on how the author, who was 18 years old at the time, was treated as a patient after a serious car accident that almost killed him.

Anybody who works in healthcare should read this - this is a short read that is straight to the point. Even though I am not involved in patient care, it still made me cringed as I hope I hadn't committed any of the "mistakes" he experienced.

Note - bought the Kindle version



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy by Susan Spencer-Wendel, Bret Witter

Until I Say Good-Bye: My Year of Living with Joy by Susan Spencer-Wendel, Bret Witter

I don't think I'd teared up so much while reading a book. How could you not, when you read about Susan, who has ALS, deteriorates over time. You are touched by her strength, her courage, her positive attitude, and her love and joy for life; but yet, you can't help but feel sad for her and her husband and her 3 children. I know she wouldn't want us to feel sorry for her, so I won't.

I definitely appreciate this book more now that I have a child. And I can't imagine what I'd do if I was in her shoes.

In a way, this book reminded me of  The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, Jeffrey Zaslow a bit that both Susan and Randy wrote their respective books as a gift for their children, because they know they won't be around when they grow up. And what a gift. It is also a love tribute to her husband, as you can read between the lines the love they have for each other.

An interesting tidbit - because of ALS, Susan who was a reporter, cannot type or write anymore. So she pretty much wrote her whole book using an iPhone with one thumb that she still has control of. She couldn't even use an iPad because the keyboard is too widely spaced for her to move her thumb. Can you imagine.

Go read this one. I have dog-eared so many pages that I would have to read those passages when I feel down in the future. Then I'll remember how lucky I have it. Sometimes we need a kick in the butt like that.

4.5 Stars.

Note - The ARC was given from HarperCollins free in exchange for an unbiased review



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath by Mimi Alford

Once Upon a Secret: My Affair with President John F. Kennedy and Its Aftermath by Mimi Alford

Since I didn't grow up in the US, I am not very fascinated with Kennedys (though I love Jackie O's style!) This was a book club read, or I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

It is an easy read, as it reads like a gossip magazine. It is interesting to read about the behind-the-scene details at the White House.

There were some controversies in the book, so that made it a good discussion for the book club. Fun to read, but not my favorite memoir.

3 Stars.

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Lessons From Madame Chic: The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living In Paris by Jennifer Scott

Lessons From Madame Chic: The Top 20 Things I Learned While Living In Paris by Jennifer Scott

After having a baby, you can't blame me for wanting to look put together again, despite the comfort of living in yoga pants and t-shirts at home.

I have to say though, I haven't really learned many new things from this book, probably because I have read about the tips from various sources before. Though it is nice to have them altogether. At times, the author sounded a bit snobbish (though she said she wasn't trying to be... so she realized that she might sound snobbish or she wouldn't have said so!)

The two tips that stood out to me were - the minimal number of clothing items French people have and how they make it work; and also, the food they eat - now I'd read a little bit about French's meal/food habit from another book last year (French Kids Eat Everything: How Our Family Moved to France, Cured Picky Eating, Banned Snacking, and Discovered 10 Simple Rules for Raising Happy, Healthy Eaters by Karen Le Billon... which I haven't reviewed yet...) but this goes a little more details into how the adults eat too not just the kids. I don't think I'd have trouble adopting their eating habits if I live in France! Though I do like snacks every so often...

Not a bad read, just didn't get as much out of it as I'd hoped. I thought the whole book is about fashion/clothing, but that's only a small portion of it so I was a bit disappointed.

3 Stars.


Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Art of the Sale by Philip Delves Broughton

The Art of the Sale by Philip Delves Broughton

I read the author's first book, Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School back in 2008, and really enjoyed it. I just finished my own MBA back in 2007 so it was interesting to read about the differences between Harvard, and my non-Harvard school. So when I found out he had a new book out I was curious about it - especially since I felt the same way as he did, why isn't sales part of the MBA program. I know salesperson (think car salesperson, insurance salesperson) usually get rep, but sales really is all around us, just that we usually associate sales with profit. But it really is all around us - including "selling yourself" when you are at a job interview.

Unlike his first book, this one is not a memoir. This is also not a how-to book either. This book includes stories of different top salesperson and what makes them successful. Some believe that they shouldn't sell ice to Eskimo ("we'll sell them jackets or heaters instead!"), while others have a different philosophy - e.g. one hiring manage asked the candidate what he'd spend the money on if they suddenly came across a large amount of money. If the candidate answered "paid off debt, saved it...", they won't get hired. If the candidate answered, "I'd go buy this luxury car" or something to that effect, then they'd be hired because they understand the the desire to spend the money. I found that reading these stories rather interesting as there really is no one-size-fits-all.

If I have one feedback, I wish the book is organized differently - Right now there are 8 chapters based on some broad categories. I wish each chapter is the story of a one sales person, so that each chapter is shorter, and easier to go back to for reference.

I am not going to rate this book for the time being - only because due to my pregnancy, I am not absorbing the information as much as I usually would, and I don't have as much attention span, so I will likely rate this lower than what this book is worth (it seems like even with fiction, I can only do YA right now... haven't touched an adult novel for almost 2 months, which is unheard of! And those were books of my favorite murder/mystery genre too!) But I know I won't be giving this book away anytime soon, I'd like to revisit this book in the future when my pregnancy brain is back to somewhat normal :)


Note -  I got a free copy of this book as part of the TLC Tour. Check out all the other reviews on this tour! :)

Thursday, April 12th: Patricia’s Wisdom
Friday, April 13th: 800 CEO Read
Monday, April 16th: Mental Foodie
Tuesday, April 17th: Ed Roach: The Branding Guy
Wednesday, April 18th: Nanxi Liu
Thursday, April 19th: Business Growth Strategies
Tuesday, April 24th: Man of La Book
Wednesday, April 25th: Balance In Me
Thursday, April 26th: Less Ordinary Living
Wednesday, May 2nd: The Mom Renewal Project
TBD: Dave Stein’s Blog


All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters by Jeffrey Zaslow

The Magic Room: A Story About the Love We Wish for Our Daughters
by Jeffrey Zaslow


I photograph weddings (well I am on a sabbatical right now) so this book intrigued me as the book was set at this bridal shop in a little town in Michigan. I also had a long engagement (4 years) so I got to try on lots of dresses before the wedding :) I pretty much tried on every style there was, and in the end, I chose what I'd thought I'd choose right from the beginning - a simple bias dress with no beads or lace. Though I had a dramatic necklace and a long veil. The dress was easy to transport (rolled it and threw it in the suitcase from Australia to the US, as we had to get married within 90 days after I landed in the US, so no time for gown shopping then!) but it was very me.

As I was reading this book, it brought back memories of my own wedding dress shopping. And what it went through my mind as I prepared for that next chapter of my life - not just about getting married and being a wife, but also having to leave my family and friends behind to live in a new country.

The book was more than about buying a wedding dress. It talked about how Becker's Bridal Shop got started, and how this family business and been passed on from one generation to another; and how the society had changed regarding marriage and wedding dress and wedding dress shopping. What did not change was "the love we wish for our daughters" - as the subtitle suggested. The book really was a book of stories - of the current owner, and several brides who went dress shopping at Becker's - of how they found love, of what wanted in their life, and also of the bond between the brides and their family (mostly mothers, but there were some exceptions like grandmothers and daughters.)

Some of the stories were quite touching and I got a little teary. However, I am not sure if I like the way the book was organized - it talked about Person A (part 1), then Pearson B (part 1), Person C (part 1), Person D (part 1), Person A (part 2), Person C (part 2), Pearson A (part 3), Person B (part 2)... okay this wasn't the exact order, but you got the gist. So it was a bit confusing to go back and forth among the different persons. If I read this book fast (within a few days) I probably would have remembered everyone's stories a bit better. But since I am reading at a much slow pace right now, I read this over 3.5 weeks, and I forgot a lot of the back stories... The only nice thing about this structure was that at the end, it talked about each bride's wedding day so everything came together... The book also included some pictures of the brides and dresses, though I wish the pictures showed the dresses a bit better! :)

You might remember about 1.5 months ago, I found out that the author died in a tragic accident (see post here). It was kinda coincidental that this was his last book - this book had such an emphasis on the parent-daughter relationship. I am sad that he won't get to walk his three daughters down the aisle or get to see them grow or get to meet his future sons-in-laws or grandchildren. I couldn't even imagine how his daughters would feel - that their dad's last book was written to them. For them.

3.5 / 5 /


Note - I received a free copy of the book as part of the Crazy Book Tours.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down by John P. Kotter

Buy-In: Saving Your Good Idea from Getting Shot Down by John P. Kotter

Read this for my work book club. The first half of the book was one of those business story / fable. It was a little awkward but you know going in that this is NOT a fiction book, and the story was just for illustration purpose. I mean, you have character's name such as Heidi Agenda ("Hidden Agenda") and Pompus Meani.

The 2nd half of the book listed the different strategies to counter the attacks if someone tries to shot down your ideas. It listed 24 different type of attacks, and their responses. This is rather useful, but I'd imagine this works better as a reference book, as there is no way I'd remember everything listed.

This was a quick read. I'd recommend it to those who needs help dealing with nay-sayers in a diplomatic way.

3.5 / 5 .
Good reference book.



Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.

Book Review - Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives by Brian L. Weiss

Many Lives, Many Masters: The True Story of a Prominent Psychiatrist, His Young Patient, and the Past Life Therapy That Changed Both Their Lives by Brian L. Weiss

I am intrigued about the concept of past lives. I don't know if I really believe in it or not, but many Chinese believe that what you do in this life, will affect your next life, e.g. if you do a lot of good deeds in this life, then you will have a good next life. If you have really bad luck in this life, it's probably because you did a lot of bad things in your past life. Or if in this life there is a person who treats you badly but you still care for that person a lot, it's probably because you did something really bad to that person in the past life, so it is now your turn to pay.

Anyway, I was interested in this book since this was written by a psychiatrist, and I totally agree with its opening sentence, "I know that there is a reason for everything."

There were some interesting parts:

• the author's patient knew the author's father's name or why the author's son died when both weren't common knowledge.
  
• "We must share our knowledge with other people, our debt and ability can carry over (to the next life)."
• People are in a coma "are in a state of suspension, and not ready to cross into the other plane... until they have decided whether they want to cross or not. If they feel they have no more learning in physical state, then they are allowed to cross cover. But if they have more learning, then they must come back, even if they do not want to. This Si a rest period of time, a time when their mental powers can rest. (p69-70)" 
• But if people know that "life is endless; so we never die; we were never really born, " then this fear (of dying) would dissolve. If they knew that they had lived countless times before and would live countless times again, how reassured they would feel. (p122)
• There are different levels of learning, and we must learn some of them in the flesh. We must feel the pain. When you're a spirit you feel no pain. It is a period of renewal. Your soul is being renewed. When you're in physical state in the flesh, you can feel pain; you can hurt. In spiritual form you do not feel. There is only happiness, a sense of well-being. But it's a renewal period for us. The interaction between people in the spiritual form is different. When you are in physical state, you can experience relationships. (p124)
• Wisdom is achieved very slowly. This is because intellectual knowledge, easily acquired, must be transformed into "emotional," or subconscious, knowledge. Once transformed, the imprint is permanent. Behavioral practice is the necessary catalyst of this reaction. Without action, the concept will wither and fade. Theoretical knowledge without practical application is not enough. (p209)

However, this was mostly the account of just one patient. There was a person that the author was supposed to teach him something, but it was never mentioned again, so it felt incomplete. The author briefly mentioned 12 other patients but did not provide much details, apart from the fact that some were not able to go back to their past lives. He didn't offer an explanation of why not.

The biggest criticism for most people (myself included when I first read it) was this sentence that the patient spoke of when she went back to a past life, "People are writing all day, making a library. It is 1536 BC" (p39) - would people really say BC back then, before they even knew they were in the BC?! I supposed the author could have use BC to clarify the time frame for us, but he never clarified whether that was the case or not.

The author also stated that he's scientific and skeptical due to his medical training, so it was very difficult for him to believe about the past live business in the beginning, but he kept an open mind, and in the end the patient seemed to be "cured" for her many psychiatric issues due to knowing what had happened in her past lives.

It was an interesting story, but I still don't really know what to believe in. I guess it is one of those things you have to try it out yourself to really believe in it? I guess I wouldn't oppose to talking to the author to see if I do have any past lives :) So, really, it is difficult to rate this book, but I'll give it a 3 - an "okay" rating since I don't love it or hate it, but I am still intrigued.

3 / 5 .

Note - The book was borrowed from the library.



All reviews and posts are copyrighted by Christa @ Mental Foodie. Please do not use or reprint them without written permission.