This Can't Be Normal

This Can't Be Normal by Diana Estill

When one experiences a moment of introspection and delves deeply into his or her past, there can only be something similar to an implosion within the general zeitgeist of a time that can never be repeated. It is the mind's own ceremonial expungement of the past that stubbornly holds on. This can be something that happened anywhere from five minutes to fifty years past.

Such is the humorous and dramatic sequence of events that makes up This Can't Be Normal.

The author, Diana Estill, grants the reader a peek at certain pieces of her life as only she can narrate. Don't be fooled, this is not a run-of-the-mill, sappy, lesson learned autobiography. It is a quirky, detailed compilation of life stories that holds elements of tribute, community, reinvention and epiphany.

"And even after I’d turned around, I had to travel a long distance in the opposite direction before I could make another U-turn and retrieve my disgruntled passenger. What if he thumbs a ride with a trucker, gets picked off by some nut case, and I have to explain my way out of a murder rap?"

As the story unfolds, Estill offers a special look at her own family and friends, that causes a touching moment for the reader, allowing everyone into intimate parts of her own life for a short period of time.

"Hubby squinted and looked at the recipe card. 'Yep, it says two cups.' He blended the ice cream and then gave me a bowl filled with what looked like frozen baby poop... I studied the disaster and made a face. Then I scooped a teaspoonful of his creation into my mouth. It tasted like chocolate spinach with a mild fruitiness and a hint of Bermuda grass."

This book is a scathingly honest articulation of a southern woman and her insight into the layers and layers of the soulful dynamics of married life, child rearing, and social interaction; all wrapped up and, to a large degree, depicting emotional nuance.

Estill, by far, holds an incredible voice within her writing. The central theme remains concrete, whilst the story continues to multiply and jump from one scene to the next. This Can't Be Normal is a quick read, full of simple, engaging stories that beset meticulously complex meanings. The essential affection and altruism within the average American family is not lost here. It is celebrated.

This Can't Be Normal by Diana Estill, 2013 ebook

Blood Pressure Down

Blood Pressure Down: The 10 Step Plan to Lower  Your Blood Pressure In 4 Weeks Without Prescription by Janet Bond Brill

For years, society's love affair with poor dietary habits and very little exercise has contributed to a rapidly growing problem in the United States. One of the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. is a sudden and silent killer called High Blood Pressure. Going beyond the national data that nearly two-third of the nation is obese or overweight, any sort of solution often goes ignored.

Why, you ask?

Because people live their lives accordingly. Not only are people busy, often over-worked, dealing with the stresses of a bad economy, freewill is something built into human DNA. So when human beings are faced with an overload of statistical data, restrictions, and this-is-for-your-own-good guidelines, it is natural to rebel.

The key to functional success with long term goals is not deprivation. It is knowledge.

Blood Pressure Down is the ultimate tool chest that provides a wealth of ideas and information on how to lower blood pressure and take less prescription drugs. This is not a quick fix, or band-aid, or an ultimate cure-all. It gives a straight forward way to understand what is potentially damaging and how to tweak bad habits without going to the extreme.

"When you are buying packaged foods, read and use the information on the food labels to allow easy comparison between brands. Always check the ingredient list for sodium, MSG, baking soda, and other sodium-containing compounds. You will be surprised at the tremendous difference between products in terms of sodium content. Only buy boxes, cans, and bags of food with the words "low sodium" or "sodium free" on the front."

There are sensible nuggets of wisdom that can be incorporated into daily life without ridiculous crash diets.

"...bananas are Mother Nature's sweet blood-pressure-lowering medicine because of their potassium content..."

"Coffee is... linked with reduced risk of developing a number of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's. Coffee is loaded with magnesium..."

"Eat yogurt..."

"Eat chocolate..."

"...drinking a small amount of red wine daily with food is part of the lifestyle prescription for preventing the onset of high blood pressure."

Of course, everything should be in moderation. But for those individuals needing a little more guidance, the author has produced sample weekly optimal BP-lowering strategies that combine food and exercise, all the way down to guided meal and snack suggestions, calorie counts and mineral consumption. The book also contains delicious recipes for meals, snacks and desserts, with nutritional information broken down so all the reader needs to do is cook, eat, and enjoy.

Brill's clever approach and deft knowledge has taken on both the psychological and physiological factors of a healthier lifestyle to deliver the most comprehensive, sustainable and empowering program. The approach can be personalized to each reader's needs; whether a person is already on a different plan, has a prescription or is under therapy, it is incredibly modifiable.

Never has it been easier than what is laid out in Blood Pressure Down, it's time for every individual to take responsibility and acknowledge when enough is enough.

Janet Bond Brill, Ph.D., R.D., LDN, is a nationally recognized expert in cardiovascular disease prevention. She has been a nutritionist in private practice for many years.

Blood Pressure Down by Janet Bond Brill, 2013 ISBN 978-0-307-98635-1

The Forth Conspiracy

The Forth Conspiracy by Thomas Thorpe

Human nature gives individuals the drive to complicate simple matters. Further delving into the psychology deeply embedded into our brains comes two instinctual reflexes: one of greed and the other of survival. This is not a scarce concept, but it may be a challenge to moderate.

The Forth Conspiracy, which takes place in the 1830's, presents this on a grander scale.

The reader is introduced to William and Elizabeth Darmon of Kent, the proprietors of Mayfair Hall, a historic landmark, are caught in an incredible complication. A new bill has been introduced into parliament entitled the "Writ of Confiscation".

"...the Writ may apply to any property without a recorded deed on file. That could qualify as abandonment."

Any sort of justification for the State to make in order to seize of property to fund their own coffers is up for grabs. Mayfair, a place that has been handed down through the generations of William's ancestors, is one of the first properties listed for confiscation unless the Darmons can produce the original deed.

William and Elizabeth, along with their relatives Charles and Emily Bagwell, are met with a journey that takes the two men around the world.

"The Deed is within our Reach
When judgement day is at hand
Lion will lie down with lamb 
Who can tell what wealth we gain
From ancient Egypt to Charlemaine

As Abull Hull lies fast asleep
God will save us from his keep
Our treasure is in heaven now
If we but escape Satan's vow"

As the men race against the clock to the Mediterranean, Elizabeth and Emily must continue an embittered battle at home against the imposing Forth family; who wish to lay claim to Mayfair. It didn't help matters that a member of the Forth family had been found dead on their property.

"The Forth's are seeking a map to the deed, which they believe John Forthwait gave to Victoria. I have discovered that Forthwait was actually Steven Rothwild. You must find the map and send it to William at once."

The complex patchwork of clues provides the book with a story full of rich historical detail. Thorpe's astute and knowledgeable tone of the time period, along with his attention to detail lends a winning salvo to a complicated mystery.

The Forth Conspiracy is the second book in the Darmon Mysteries. It stands alone as a genuinely entertaining read.

Thomas Thorpe has written six historical mystery thrillers of the Darmon Mystery series.

The Forth Conspiracy by Thomas Thorpe, 2013 ISBN 978-1-61296-163-7

The Voting Machine: A Temo McCarthy Mystery

The Voting Machine: A Temo McCarthy Story by Dmitri Ragano

Losing a grip on the constituents of Sin City, aka Las Vegas, is a treacherous perch for an able bodied politician hoping to clean up in votes from a crucial swing state. Strange as it may seem, casting a vote has never been so dangerous. The Voting Machine is an unflinching atmospheric murder-mystery.

Temo McCarthy is the main character who has a connection with the murdered voters. The FBI decide to include Temo in the investigation of the mysterious deaths of two voters. Perhaps channeling the naysayer of doom, the book begins with a simple statement from Temo.

"My father always told me that no good deed goes unfinished. Try to do the right thing and sooner or later, it's going to bit you. Of course I hated to agree with anything he said, but in this case he had a point. I was in trouble again."

He obviously has a point.

As the story ensues, Temo finds himself between jobs. The usual kind let-down of "over-qualified" or the castigation of "not enough experience" constantly comes up as he is plagued with feelings of inadequacy. The author's raw emphasis on such a situation gives the reader pause. Most readers will feel an even deeper connection and identify with the plight of the main character.

"I felt more worthless with every passing day. A man who cannot provide for his family is really not a man at all. I hated myself intensely, because that's what losers do. It was just like I had always feared: deep down inside, a loser is always a loser, even if he wins once or twice along the way."

But it doesn't stop there. The plot intensifies as two voters are murdered inside a voting booth without any sort of visible agitation. An investigation reveals something even more sinister, and a simple murder-mystery is turned upside down.

Right or wrong, true vs. false is thrown out the window. There is a sliding grey scale that each character in this book must venture and decide upon. It is a realistic point in certain aspects, such as Brenda with her PTSD and Anabelle's rehabilitation centers. The reader is drawn into a provocative story line that is honest and gritty.

This is the second book in a series of Temo McCarthy stories. I have never read the first book, but The Voting Machine stands well on it's own. I did not miss any character subplots or extraneous references that would have muddled a great book.

Ragano is an exceptional storyteller; it is evident in his eloquent summation of detrimental circumstances that paints an intriguing landscape for heroes and villains alike. It was indeed quite a pleasure to read such a well executed book.

Dmitri Ragano is an ex-journalist and technology consultant in San Francisco and Tokyo. He currently resides in Irvine, California with his wife and daughter.


The Voting Machine by Dmitri Ragano, 2012 ISBN 978-0-615-65940-4

Murder Under The Microscope

Murder Under the Microscope by Jane Bennett Munro

What can possibly be preserved when everything around you is completely altered?

How do you fight accusations from your own peers, including the police?

Jane Bennett Munro has orchestrated the ultimate novel to answer such puzzling dilemmas. In the world of Dr. Antoinette Day, a pathologist at Perrine Memorial Hospital in Twin Falls, Idaho, reputation is everything. Never has it been more crucial to necessitate the preservation of her professional integrity than the present.

The appearance of Dr. Shore, a temporary replacement for a regular resident, begins the rapid decline into strange occurances such as misread reports and missing patient data. The sudden onslaught of murder doesn't help matters. It seems that practically overnight, Dr. Day has become the focus of a police investigation that places her as the prime suspect.

"Oh, no. I broke out in a cold sweat. My knees felt as if they were going to buckle under me."

But her professional life isn't the only thing threatened. Antoinette and her husband, Hal, are thrown yet another twist, they are being stalked within the privacy of their home.

"I opened my mouth to answer, but before I got a word out, Hal took the phone away from me and hung up. I was so angry I was shaking. Hal put his arms around me and held me without saying a word. I buried my face in his shirt front. We stood there like that for a long time."

It is an intriguing tale of murder, deceit and, strangely enough, faith. The author's background lends a deeper perspective into the medical world, illuminating and merging complicated data into an intelligent and appalling story. Munro demonstrates her talents of narration throughout the book.

If there's any downside here, it is that I wish the antagonist who was thought to be the villain, had been given a longer lifespan; after all, I do love a horrible nemesis. Perhaps it was Munro's way of presenting a murderous intent, so deeply hidden, it projected the ultimate sinister unknown presence.

Jane Bennett Munro, MD, has been a hospital-based pathologist for thirty-three-years. She is now semi-retired, residing in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Murder Under the Microscope by Jane Bennett Munro, 2011 ISBN 978-1-4502-9862-9

Khantara

Khantara by Michelle Franklin

The beauty of a song, a poem, a story...

Khantara evokes the feelings that quite often lie dormant in the reader's heart.

The country of Haanta invades Thellis. It is an act of reprisal by an old enemy looking to make a direct statement of intent.

The rank of Khantara is an honor only given to the greatest warrior and tactition. The current Khantara, with all of his imposing stature, excellent credentials, and incredible aptitude for domination is the ideal candidate to represent Haanta and occupy Thellis. Ironically enough, Khantara did not like war; instead, preferring peaceful and non-violent methods.

"It could not be denied that war was something Khantara did rather well, though he had little taste for battle. Overshadowing and overpowering others was an easy office for him to fulfill, and he often preferred allowing his opponents to escape rather than using the extent of his immense strength to subdue them."

As Khantara and his imposing fleet of Haanta warriors invade Thellis, there is surprisingly very little resistance from the local populous. The sheer size of the Khantara was enough to quell any oppugnancy.

 "He could not but observe their wide eyes and their trembling forms as he approached to address them. He bowed to them, assured them that they were not here to harm them, but they would not attend; they were too fixed on the giant’s gargantuan form and immense army to hear his explanation."

Thus begins the occupation.

Enter Anelta. A slave whose owner and "husband" barely provides for her, leaving Anelta to starve and live in her impoverished state. She is categorized as one of the Marked, and is regarded as a sub-species to the Thellisians.

"He had heard of Thellis’ self-oppression but had never conceived of its going this far. For a nation to refuse education to their own was to diminish the value of its people... To keep one so eager as ignorant, regardless of situation and consequence in society, was an attestation of Thellis’ unbidden 
malice."

From Khantara's own sensitivities, stems a sense of compassion for the impoverished Anelta. She is not only at the very bottom of society's ladder but her inhumane treatment draws Khantara closer to her; the great warlord finds himself in a difficult predicament.

Michelle Franklin has created a touching story of love and war. Her writing flows in a poetic composition that wraps around the reader like a warm blanket, it is captivating and persuasive.

I was at a loss upon first view of the cartoon-ish cover. It reverted back to some type of Japanese comic book. But upon reading the story, I found a book well-written, detailed and flowing with calm sense of prose.

This was my first experience reading a Michelle Franklin book, but it will most certainly not be the last.

Khantara by Michelle Franklin, 2011 ebook

Coming Through The Fog

Coming Through the Fog by Tami A. Goldstein

Unless one is in direct conflict with such issues, no one can realize the heartache and worry a parent goes through when a daughter or son is diagnosed with any sort of disorder.

Coming Through The Fog is a triumphant memoir of Tami Goldstein's personal journey as a parent whose daughter was eventually diagnosed with High-Functioning Austism, Asperger's Syndrome. Heather, along with her daughter Tami, must take on a slow-moving medical institution with various diagnoses to weed out questionable "professional" opinions and useless medications.

"...Asperger's is a developmental disorder so I wanted to know if he had even looked at that possiblilty. Why wouldn't he look at that? His response was to dismiss us as patients and tell us to seek help elsewhere... At this point, we had three diagnoses... and none of the prescribed medications were working. I don't want to speak for this doctor but I think he was surprised when he saw Heather's decline."

The pain, anger and frustration in Tami's writing comes through loud and clear. Though she gives valuable advice as she continues to walk the reader through the tumultuous path of a decidedly set institution, it's absolutely astounding that the system continued to fail Heather.

"During these ten minutes, she didn't ask me a single question. She didn't look at or ask Heather a single question. This woman told me that I was a bad mother who was using Heather like a specimen and that she didn't have AS... I asked her if she had read the medical records which I had delivered from the Waisman Center. She informed me that she didn't have to read them... I received a letter from the Therapist/Social Worker terminating therapy 'due to the medical complexity of the case'."

This book is a glimpse at a deeply tangled and nightmarish process. Heather's education was also an uphill battle. Not being diagnosed properly, and having had very little supplemental data and progress, the school system was apt to grade Heather on a contradiction of information. Eventually, after being diagnosed properly and even given the proper paperwork and diagnosis, the administration refused to acknowledge Heather's issues; instead, opting to find loopholes in a medical professional's usage of certain terminology.

"Here's the semantics game: In the medical domain, a doctor writes a recommendation or a protocol to follow. The educational domain does not recognize these words as required for education... We could not have this undermined by a group of teachers unqualified in Autism and Sensory Processing Disorders... I had to protect the people who were helping us and still function through this crazy school system."

There is a sense of frantic scrambling as Tami and her husband try to find a way to navigate their way through an incredibly daunting learning curve.

I was amazed at the entire account of Tami's persistence and never-say-die attitude. No parent should feel that they are alone. There is a helpful list of tips and resources in the book for readers who must approach Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder in their own lives.

To be completely fair, the book cover looks like a mother-daughter photograph from the mantel. Even the font of the title would not have been my first choice. There were a few spelling errors throughout the book. But those things aside, it was a compelling and engrossing read.

Tami Goldstein's writing is straight-forward and informative. She is State and Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Certified in CranioSacral Therapy, and continues to advocate for children and families.


Coming Through the Fog by Tami A. Goldstein, 2013 ISBN 978-1-4787-1413-2