book reviews
Reviews of books that explore the complexities of family throughout history and across cultures.
Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng; a book review
I'll admit I started the first episode of the Hulu series " Little Fires Everywhere" before I started the book. To be honest, the series didn't draw me in and the characters seemed standoff-ish. None the less I started the boo. Maybe if I had continued the series Hulu series I would have saw the depth of the characters that I saw in the books, but I doubt it. These characters didn't fall flat nor were they perfect. Every what seemed to be one unjustifiable act after another,there was also the subtle explanation of their fears and their fragile humanity.
By Belle Denka5 years ago in Families
'Royals at War: The Untold Story of Harry and Meghan's Shocking Split' Book Review
A new book about the royal family will be released on June 30, 2020. The book is not just a book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their split from the royal family. It is a tell-all book written by Dylan Howard and Andy Tillett.
By Margaret Minnicks6 years ago in Families
Dorie, The Girl Nobody Loved.
This is not a philosophy, idea, or concept. This is a true story about a little girl that, literally, nobody loved. The story of a girl who desperately wanted to be loved by her mother and father. Who wanted to be loved by anyone, just one person to look past her outward appearance and love the girl inside. This book is called, Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved, by Doris Van Stone. The first setting starts out in a dark, dumpy, apartment. Seven year-old, Dorie and her younger sister, Marie, are there while her mom is out. Dorie’s mom loves Marie, but not Dorie and she told her many times why. You are ugly Dorie but your sister is pretty, and when her mother would go out for the day she would threaten Dorie. “If any harm comes to your sister, you will regret it!” That was Dorie’s life, but not for much longer. Evidently, Dorie’s mom wanted to be rid of her for good. Talking kindly to them, she led them to an orphanage. She hugged and said “I love you” to her youngest daughter then walked away leaving the two there. After this orphanage, there is another, and foster home after foster home for Dorie. Her sister was cute enough to be adopted, but not Dorie. Nobody wanted her. This young girl cried herself to sleep at night and felt rejected from every angle. At some point, she is put in a foster house where she is treated like a dog. She is fed scraps and bones leftover from the meal and beaten fiercely any time the foster parents are angry. She slept on the floor hugging herself, crying from rejection and the painful bruises and welts all over her body from the belt. She is passed on yet again because the authorities soon discovered the abuse of Dorie from her school teacher, who found the marks on her back, neck, and legs. So the story goes on is a similar manner of misery. After a while, Dorie even finds her mother she loved so much that dumped her at an orphanage, working at a restaurant. She goes in to tell her “I’m sorry, Mom. I love you!” and there in front of everyone she disowns Dorie saying “You are not my child!” Heartbroken yet again, Dorie gets shuffled away. When I read this book I can’t help but cry for this little girl, who all her life has known pain, misery, rejection, uncertainty, and flat out hatred. My heart aches for her every time she is cast aside and let down, beaten and yelled at, and denied the love she very much needed. But reading this has also brought a new light to my life. It brings out for myself to see, how loved I am by my family and by my friends. Dorie was not loved or cherished by anyone until towards the end of the book when she is taken in by a pastor and his wife who loved her dearly. They bought her nice clothes, gave her a bedroom of her own, fed her as if she were really one of their own children. As wonderful as that is, her story doesn’t end there. More pain is yet to come when she finds her father, who loves her for a time, then despises her and then too, disowns her. At this point I look at my own parents. They love me. They never treated me with ill will or hatred. This book, Dorie, the Girl Nobody Loved, really makes me feel grateful and accepted. I never had to deal with all the things she did. If there is ever a time that I feel like nobody cares about me, reading this book educates me in a whole new way, every time. I highly recommend this story to you! You may feel as though nobody loves or cares for you or maybe you just need something to lift your spirit up a bit when you are feeling down. Either way this book has been eye-opening. It has taught me love comes in many forms and we all need it. If you aren’t one of the many who have read this book, I do suggest that you should definitely consider giving Dorie’s story a try at warming your heart and bringing out all the love in your life! It has answered my question on the days I am down. “Does anybody love me?” The answer is yes! Sometimes we just over look it. I hope that this helps you in the same way is has helped me! You can find this book on Amazon as a book or ebook. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Dorie-Nobody-Erwin-W-Lutzer/dp/0802422756
By Autumn Brown6 years ago in Families
Want to Raise Socially Conscious Children? Read These 7 Books as a Family
Martin Luther King Jr. called on us to judge others by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin. When it comes to raising children, however, attempting to teach “colorblindness”—that is, to ignore physical and cultural differences in an effort to treat everyone equally—can have adverse effects. That’s because kids don’t necessarily care about the color of someone’s skin, but they do recognize when it’s different from their own. Avoiding talking about it at home can make them feel like physical differences are taboo subjects, rather than something to be celebrated.
By Liz Biscevic 6 years ago in Families
You Cheated Death—Now What?
Since the release of my book “Five Years to Live,” I have met with dozens of families who have received and had to deal with the phone call every dreads; “There has been an accident and your son/daughter is paralyzed.” Now what? What does the family do? Who do they contact? When will they know something? How badly is he/she hurt? How do they get to the hospital? Who can take them to the airport? Where do they stay? How do they cope with the shock, grief, and the major overhaul of their life?
By Frank Zaccari7 years ago in Families
The Many Forms of Unconditional Love
What is unconditional love? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines unconditional as without conditions or reservations; absolute. Most of us will admit we hope to find someone to love and who will love us back without conditions or reservations for the rest of our life. Usually, we are referring to a spouse or a significant life partner. We want the “happily ever after story.” As much as we hope and look for unconditional love, it is very hard to find. Yet the difficulty does not deter us from the quest. The search for unconditional love is so powerful that Valentine’s Day, has become one of the priciest holidays in the US. Those in love or seeking love are set to spend $20.7 billion this year for Valentine’s Day, says the National Retail Federation, beating the 2016 record of $19.7 billion.
By Frank Zaccari7 years ago in Families
The 10 Best Books for New Parents to Read
When it comes time for your first child to enter the world, you're going to feel unprepared. It's simultaneously one of the most rewarding and difficult experiences of your life, and you want to be as prepared as possible. From sleep deprivation to diaper rash, learning milestones to first laugh, this will be an exciting but challenging time.
By Nicola P. Young7 years ago in Families
The 10 Best Parenting Books for Kids with Autism
Many of us do not fully comprehend Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Asperger Syndrome. Even if we are surrounded by individuals who land on the autistic spectrum or have children with special needs, it is difficult to understand the thought process and perspective that they have on the world. You see, kids with autism have a unique way of thinking. This perspective can make life either incredibly interesting or incredibly difficult for those who have been diagnosed with the disorder. For those of you who are raising children with autism, you know the type of parenting that comes with it, but most of the time, that doesn't mean you're an expert by any means.
By Stephanie Gladwell7 years ago in Families
