Whiplash by Catherine Coulter
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2 1/2 Stars... The first chapter was not impressive, but I did keep reading and it got a little better. It's not one I would recommend necessarily. It read like a trainer on the "evil pharmaceutical companies" and I don't like it when a book or movie comes across with such an obvious agenda (even though I didn't disagree with the critique of that industry). I also didn't appreciate the occasional language. Can't writers write without that?? It's totally unnecessary and degrades the quality of the book.

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Eat, Taste, Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook for Modern Living by Thomas Yarema
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the philosophy of Ayurvedic living, but what do you do when you overlap into multiple types and the recommendations are conflicting? I found it wasn't clear cut enough for me, but for those who are clearly one type it would be nice to have a guide for healthy living like this. It's a beautiful book, contains lots of tools for assessment, guidelines for eating and lifestyle, and even recipes.

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More Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: 200 Brand-New, Budget-Friendly, Slow-Cooker Recipes by Stephanie O'Dea
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Her first book was more fun to read, but this follow-up is also filled with some great looking crock-pot recipes, many of which are grain free, or easily adapted.

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The Art of Non-Conformity: Set Your Own Rules, Live the Life You Want, and Change the World by Chris Guillebeau
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked some of his ideas. I particularly liked his "one-year, self-directed, alternative graduate school experience." He recommends a 14-point list including such things as reading every issue of the Economist, reading the basic texts of the world's major religions, traveling to several of the major world regions, keeping physically fit, joining Toastmasters, and reading 30 nonfictions books/20 classic novels. Sounds like a good New Year's goal!

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Political Woman: The Big Little Life of Jeane Kirkpatrick by Peter Collier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting to read both the professional/political side of her life and some of the the personal/family side.

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When He's Married to Mom: How to Help Mother-Enmeshed Men Open Their Hearts to True Love and Commitment by Kenneth Adams
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting book. I wasn't overly impressed with the author, but the concepts he presented make sense.

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Can You Get Hooked on Lip Balm?: Top Cosmetic Scientists Answer Your Questions about the Lotions, Potions and Other Beauty Products You Use Every Day by Perry Romanowski
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I picked this book up from the library on an impulse because my daughter is hooked on lip balm and reading the title was what made me consciously realize this. The book is written by a couple of cosmetic industry scientists. I was disappointed in how biased they were in discounting health risks of cosmetic products. I may have learned a few interesting tidbits but overall I wouldn't recommend the book. I might have recommended it to a teenage audience if it weren't for the bias, but I wouldn't want teens believing the slanted acceptance that cosmetics are harmless just because a couple of "experts" say so. Skin is a very large organ and absorbs the toxins that it comes in contact with, whether from lotions, treatments, makeup, perfumes, cleansers, etc. Constant exposure certainly raises the likelihood of harm, so using products conservatively makes sense.

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Energy Medicine for Women: Aligning Your Body's Energies to Boost Your Health and Vitality by Donna Eden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Warning: Do not watch the video first! :) This author is rather "interesting" and in reading the book it is easier to be objective and accept/reject things you don't need. I have it on good authority that watching the companion video first may leave you with the desire to run quickly in the other direction. Thank goodness the video wasn't available when I got the book, because I really like the idea of energy medicine and despite the style of the author I loved most of what she teaches. At some point I will get the video so I can see her demonstrate techniques that are harder to master from written descriptions in the book. Until then, I am enjoying the benefits of a very accessible alternative health technique without spending a penny on an expensive provider.

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Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So happy to find a really wonderful book written by an LDS author. Usually I give up something when I read an LDS author, but not this time. What a pleasant surprise for those who enjoy Jane Austen. The style is far more straightforward and moves at a faster pace, but you still get a satisfying, well-written story. Very entertaining!

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Mighty Be Our Powers: How Sisterhood, Prayer, and Sex Changed a Nation at War by Leymah Gbowee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Very interesting memoir by a Liberian woman. Although she was luckier than many, she experienced many challenges during and after the civil war, and eventually got involved in helping to create some very much needed societal change. She is human and admits her own weaknesses, but you look at the whole package and admire what she has accomplished and her willingness to pursue worthy goals in very adverse circumstances.

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Girls Uncovered: New Research on What America's Sexual Culture Does to Young Women by Joe S. McIlhaney Jr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is written by a male doctor, and a female doctor, so you have both perspectives. It also has a chapter toward the end that you can invite your teenage daughter to read if she's not interested in reading the entire book. A variety of topics are covered including current statistics on sexual activity in young women, detrimental emotional and health consequences of pre-marital sexual activity, and general information that today's parents of boys or girls would want to know.

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Wittgenstein's Poker: The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument Between Two Great Philosophers by David Edmonds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Interesting. Not what I usually read, but I liked getting some philosophy context without actually having to read philosophy.

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The Wisdom of Menopause: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing During the Change by Christiane Northrup
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My edition was revised in 2006. This is a hefty book, but it is very readable and I found most of it interesting. Parts of it were a little too interesting, such as her use of tarot cards and a couple of other things. But she was otherwise what I would consider a good combination of a medical doctor with a good open alternative mind. Some of her nutrition/supplemental recommendations seemed a little canned, but hey, you can't be an expert in everything. Overall I was glad to have the information.

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Make It Fast, Cook It Slow: The Big Book of Everyday Slow Cooking by Stephanie O'Dea
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun to read. I enjoyed "The Verdict" of each recipe. I am looking forward to trying many of these. Added bonus, they are gluten-free.

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Eve and the Choice Made in Eden by Beverly Campbell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent book about Eve and her insightful choice which benefited us all. There are some good quotes by modern prophets which shed light on what happened in the Garden of Eden, and also on the role of women. It would be very helpful for both women and men to have a better understanding of the role, value, strengths and gifts of women.

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For the Strength of Youth by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always loved and been inspired by this booklet, and I loved reading the newly updated version. If there ever was a handbook that if followed would bring happiness and success, this is it. And it's not just for youth!

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The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points That Saved the World by Chris Stewart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is by the same authors as "Seven Miracles that Saved America," and I knew what I was in for. I don't really like their writing style, but I appreciated getting the content. The seven events that are covered range from 1876 BC to 1940 and the Battle of Britain. It was quite interesting, and it inspired a desire to read more history, both ancient and modern. It reaffirmed my feelings of gratitude for being born in this modern time, in the United States. Of all the people who have ever lived, so few have enjoyed the blessings of freedom that we have. We owe our gratitude to those who sacrificed to make this kind of a life possible for us, and we ought to do whatever is necessary to preserve it for future generations. There is also no way to deny the hand of God in many situations throughout history.

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Adam Bede by George Eliot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Four stars is slightly generous, but it's much better than three! For me this book falls somewhere between the writing of Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen. Although Thomas Hardy is a great writer, his works have a bit much of the depressingly tragic for my taste. Jane Austen's books are much lighter, and although the characters face trials and challenges, you are left with an uplifting story overall. George Eliot seems to fall somewhere in the middle. She is a talented writer and I enjoyed the book once I got established in the story.

The ending seemed rushed, which surprised me, because there were times when I wanted to rush the author a bit to find out how the story was going to unfold. But at the end, even though I liked the circumstances of how it ended, I wished that she had filled out the details like she had in the rest of the book.

This was not a quick read, but I enjoyed it very much.

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Life Without Bread Life Without Bread: How a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Can Save Your Life How a Low-Carbohydrate Diet Can Save Your Life by Wolfgang Lutz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Maybe 4 stars is a little generous, but this book did help round out some understanding that I needed. I first read "Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet." "Life Without Bread" was also recommended by a friend. It has some interesting information on the many health benefits of a low carb diet. It also has a guide in the appendix which will help you determine your total carbohydrate intake.

I do not follow health fads, so it took a bit of convincing for me to change my mindset on what I felt was a potentially dangerous diet that many people used to lose weight. I am following a similar diet to help with ulcerative colitis, and it definitely does help. I don't have a grain allergy, and I don't have celiac disease. I also have never noticed any negative physical symptoms after eating bread. But after following a limited carb diet for over a month I feel much better (I actually started feeling better almost immediately).

The authors recommend 6 bread units per day (or 72 grams total utilizable carbs). This is pretty limited carbs, but technically would allow bread and other starches, fruits, vegetables, and sugars, as long as it is within the allowed amount. The diet I follow is slightly different in that it doesn't allow any grains, sugar, starch, or liquid milk. It does allow other carbs, such as vegetables and fruit, honey, etc. My diet doesn't specifically limit the grams, but suggests a healthy, balanced variety of foods. I have appreciated reading "Life Without Bread" because it introduced the idea of how important it is to limit the amount of carbs. I think both aspects are really important to be successful in healing intestinal disease, if that's your goal.

One complaint I have of the book is the emphasis on evolution, and the authors' attempt to tie that in with how well we digest grains, etc. I don't believe we descended from apes, therefore the authors lost some credibility with me.

I did appreciate the authors' review of many studies, and their explanation of how these have sometimes been used to mislead the public regarding health advice, such as doctors recommending a low-fat diet for someone who suffers from heart disease. I learned that the heart functions almost exclusively through the nutrient of fat, and the importance of animal fat in our diet. I've always been sceptical of foods with "fake" fat and "fake" sugar. I've also never bought into the "dangers" of eggs, butter, and other foods that are natural. So I enjoyed feeling validated in some things that I have always believed.

I admire those who are willing to go against conventional beliefs despite the harm that often comes to their professional reputation among those in the mainstream. There is a lot of good health and nutritional knowledge to be gained if you go to the right sources, and do some thinking for yourself. The best advice is not always the most convenient to follow. And just because we see news headlines making health claims, it does not mean that they are true. No big surprise there.

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Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health Through Diet by Elaine Gottschall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elaine Gottschall wrote this book because of her desire to help the many people who suffer from intestinal diseases. Her daughter was one of those people. The author eventually was led to a doctor who was able to help her daughter through diet, and she completely recovered after following the diet strictly for several years. Elaine Gottschall devoted her life to furthering her own education in this field, adding to the existing research, and spreading the information to as many victims of the disease as she could. Thousands of people have benefitted from her selfless service, despite the fact that the medical field still does not give any (or enough) recognition to the role that food has in all of these diseases.

Although the book was written years ago, it has been reprinted many times and has been translated into several languages. The author died in 2005, but her contribution continues to help people. Those who are interested in addtional support can find several websites referenced in the book which are quite active with support groups, recipes, resources and information, such as www.breakingtheviciouscycle.info.

I've been following the recommended diet for a little over and month, and I was able to see improvement almost immediately. I love a comment that the author made (quoted in a different book) about the reality of either living with the disease, or making the commitment to follow the diet plan -- she admitted that you will spend a lot of time in the kitchen, but isn't that better than spending all your time in the bathroom?! I would have to agree. She also says that unless you are willing to follow the diet with "fanatical adherence" you might as well not bother. It's really an all or nothing undertaking. For the intestinal tract to heal it needs to be totally free from the foods that cause the problems to be perpetuated (sugar, starch, grains, certain dairy products, etc.). Eventually, once there is complete healing (after 1-2 years, or more) many people can reintroduce grains and other foods into their diet. I'm hoping that includes me!

I heartily recommend the book, and wish anyone well who is working towards a healthier and happier existence!

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To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson by Heidi S. Swinton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The book is inspiring and at times made me laugh and cry. I'm glad to learn more about Pres. Monson's life. I loved the chapters on East Germany, and I enjoyed many of the stories and experiences throughout the book. I would recommend it as overall very worthwhile and enjoyable to read.

But specifically, I was less impressed with the author's writing style, although it didn't ruin the book for me (but it was distracting). I didn't like the way sometimes each paragraph was a unique story, and there was no separation between that and the next story; you thought you would be reading more detail about something, but it jumped right into another unrelated experience. And often the phrases she used were very cliche. Also, I would have enjoyed a bit more insight into Sis. Monson and her personality and influence, but it seemed to be purposely avoided.

Despite the drawbacks, I loved the way the book made me want to be better, and do more for others. Pres. Monson is a wonderful man and a wonderful prophet, and he doesn't miss opportunities to do what he is on this earth to do.

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Prologue: The Brothers by Chris Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setting is the pre-existence, leading up to the war in Heaven. The author has some interesting ideas, and I found this novel thought provoking. I would have given it 3 1/2 or 4 stars, but the quality and style of writing just wasn't that impressive to me, and it could have used another round of careful editing. This is the first in a series of three books.

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Walt Disney: An American Original by Bob Thomas
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A really interesting look at Walt Disney's life. I was impressed with his determined and optimistic vision, his drive to work hard, his standard for excellence, and his desire to keep expanding his accomplishments beyond each success he achieved. Also, this book dispelled a myth I had heard that upon his death he had his body frozen, hoping that some future medical breakthrough would extend his life. He was cremated.

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Counseling With Our Councils: Learning To Minister Together In The Church And In The Family by M. Russell Ballard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Elder Ballard illustrates how councils within the church and family should work. This book is filled with inspired guidance which can benefit couples/parents and all church members as they strive to be more effective in their callings. Should be part of the church handbook!

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Daughters in My Kingdom: The History and Work of Relief Society by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found it inspiring and uplifting to read this book. I had new insights and couldn't help but turn down the corners of a few pages. It was also great to get little glimpses into the lives of Relief Society sisters from the past, and to learn some new things about what Relief Society sisters and leaders were involved in over a span of 170 years.

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Seven Miracles That Saved America: Why They Matter and Why We Should Have Hope by Chris Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great book with a great message. God has not given up on America, and the authors use seven situations dating from Columbus to Ronald Reagan to illustrate the point. Within each of the chapters is a dramatized "story" retelling some of the events, and my only complaint about the book was that sometimes (not always) I found this distracting/annoying. Other than that, I loved it. Definitely a book worth recommending to teenagers to get a more interesting and insightful analysis of history than is found in textbooks!

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Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See my general review of the series under "The Hunger Games."

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Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See my general review of the series under "The Hunger Games."

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'll briefly compare The Hunger Games series (which I liked) to the Twilight series (which I didn't like, and only read the first one and three-quarters books because my daughters wanted to read them so I wanted to see what they were like). Twilight has a lot of negative "emotional baggage" issues wrapped up in it (would you really want your daughter to emulate the main female character??), and the quality of the writing was disappointing. The main female character in the Hunger Games felt far less dysfunctional to me, although of course the setting is a futuristic nightmare, and she was necessarily dealing with less than desirable circumstances. I found the themes of The Hunger Games more interesting, the characters more whole (yet very human), and the subject matter more appropriate for younger readers than Twilight. It's not that I absolutely loved the books, it's just hard not to compare the two, and to me there's an obvious winner and loser. I just hope the upcoming movies honor and do justice to the books, not exploit them.

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Complete Mystery Novel Collection of Agatha Christie Vol 1 (Special Edition) The bestselling author of all time Agatha Christie early works by Agatha Christie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I enjoy reading Agatha Christie for fun/relaxation. I don't have to worry about the content, and since I've never taken the time to look up other mystery writers who may also be reliably appropriate, she's my old (and only) standby.

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Seven Men by Max Beerbohm
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars

Interesting short stories, very well written. I often find short stories to be a little odd and unsatisfying. I read this because of a reference to Oscar Wilde and others in that era. I really enjoyed "The Importance of Being Earnest" (the play and the movie were both good). So I thought I would give this a chance. I'm glad I did. These stories were a bit odd, but they were also satisfying, some more than others.

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Prophet's Prey: My Seven-Year Investigation into Warren Jeffs and the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints by Sam Brower
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars

Very disturbing. It's sad that some people think this group is associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm glad to be more informed about the practices of this cult, which I can hardly call a church. It is shocking that law enforcement efforts are sometimes so lax or uncoordinated that the practices go on unchecked. Almost nobody in authority really wants to deal with this complex and difficult issue.

Despite the fact that Warren Jeffs is behind bars, almost nothing has changed in the day to day lives of the people who follow him (or whoever the next "prophet" will be), and other break-away groups of the same nature. So many lives have been devastated, and continue to be. Why is human sex trafficking openly tolerated in this country???

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Our Heritage: A Brief History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought this brief history of the church was very well done. Great to read for yourself, or offer to someone who wants a better understanding of the modern restoration of the gospel, and how the church has progressed to this point.

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It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita by Heather B. Armstrong
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by the unique title(!), and the fact that the author lives in Utah and was raised LDS, although is no longer participating in the church. She deals with emotional/chemical imbalance and chose to go off all medications during her pregnancy for the health of the baby. She openly shares the challenges of what I categorize as mental illness, but I can't remember if she actually uses that term. She's honest and humorous.

I found it worthwhile, partly because I have friends and family who deal with related issues, and also because when my children were babies and toddlers, I dealth with health problems that triggered depression. At a time when you have among the most demanding of situations you'll ever deal with, you may feel least capable of dealing with it well. It's a very important topic, with probably some sobering implications.

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EntreLeadership: 20 Years of Practical Business Wisdom from the Trenches by Dave Ramsey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really appreciate the principle-based approach to leadership, business, and money management, but it was also hard for me to read this book without hearing the annoying southern accent of the author in every word. Because of his radio show which happens to be on in the car occassionally, it's forever stuck in my head!! By the way, I like many southern accents, just not his. :)

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Christmas with the Prophets by Laura F. Willes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! There is a chapter on each modern prophet, and it was easy to read just one chapter at a time when I had a few minutes. The book itself is lovely, with glossy pages, paintings and/or photographs of each prophet (plus other photos), and interesting and personal stories relating to Christmastime and what it was like for each prophet at various times in their lives. Many of the stories reflected the hardships they experienced, and offered a window into history, showing some of the things that shaped the lives of these faithful men.

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Empty-Nest Parenting: Adjusting Your Stewardship As Your Children Leave Home by Linda Eyre
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book as much as I thought I would. Just a few observations... There are lots of comments throughout the book from empty-nest parents, and from children who have left home, including some of the authors' children and "in-law" children. Many of these are insightful and helpful, but many of them are so extreme that I found them to be ridiculous, whether from over-involved parents, or totally hands-off parents. Also, some of the comments from the chilren (sometimes even the author's children) were suprisingly resentful. I felt like they used this public opportunity to punish parents for what they felt they had done that wasn't helpful. It just surprised me. Not that some of their resentments weren't justified, but it left me wanting them to go work things out and come back when the issues were resolved so we could get on with the book.

The authors' (mostly Richard Eyre's) approach isn't exactly my style, but the topics and comments gave me some things to think about, and a better awareness of how to prepare for this very important phase of parenthood.

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The Collaborative Habit: Life Lessons for Working Together by Twyla Tharp
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Quick,interesting read by a choreographer, who shares how her experiences in collaboration with individuals and institutions relate to successful life experiences for each of us.

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