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TWO BOOK REVIEWS
Available at www.galactosemia-mn.com "My Brother...He's An Angel" Children’s books for special interest groups may not hold general appeal like Dr. Seus or If You Give a Moose a Muffin. But if your family is affected by any of the many metabolic disorders or loss of a child, it’s 100% interest for you. Savannah Leyde and Barbara Bense know firsthand how these events turn families on their heads. Savannah lost her baby, Taylor Jeffrey Gerald, due to placental abruption. Her book, My Brother…He’s an Angel, reveals the joy with which his brother looked forward to having a baby brother and then how the family dealt with the sadness when the baby died before birth. Savannah, a professional licensed childcare provider, offers her first book as an instrument of healing. “My Brother…He’s an Angel serves as a tool for families to establish communication between parents and their children regarding a loss,” she says. The book is soft cover, 8 ½ x 11, and also illustrated by Savannah. The text slips in and out of rhyme and has inconsistent rhythm but would, nonetheless, be a good conversation starter in situations of loss. Barb Bense’s first child, Collin, was born with galactosemia, a rare genetic metabolic disorder. Blood tests detected his condition as a newborn during early screening tests. If diagnosed early, galactosemia and some other metabolic disorders, though not curable, can be treated and their more serious symptoms avoided. “Dairy doesn’t necessarily cause stomach upsets like lactose intolerance. Consumption causes deposits in the brain and mental retardation, cataracts, and affects the liver,” says Barb. Other symptoms develop over time. The ABC’s of Dairy-Free Foods is an alphabetic narrative of foods that are allowed in a galactosemic child’s diet. It points out, in a fun way, what to watch for in ingredient lists and offers delicious alternatives for foods that contain lactose and galactose. Illustrations in the book were made by children who have galactosemia along with their friends and families which make it appealing to young readers. Recipes for allowable treats and main dishes fill the last five pages.
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Susan Hohlen
Available by contacting the author at www.anneipsen.com “Running before the Prairie Wind” is a sequel to “Karen from the Mill, a novel from the golden age of sail.” However, there is no need to feel stranded if you have not read its predecessor. The author expertly weaves the past and present together in an eloquent manner. The story resumes in 1890, the ten-year anniversary of the Larsens’ immigration to the United States. The former sea captain gave up his ship for farming the generous soil in southwestern Minnesota, feeling the prairie wind in lieu of the sea breeze. Having done quite well for themselves as newcomers to a big and intimidating country, they come prepared with determination and hard work. The same fortune isn’t bestowed upon all immigrants as we read of the struggles and consequent tragedy of a neighboring immigrant family. Karen shows once again she is ahead of her time with her leadership skills and savvy business vision. She could, in essence, have been the founder of the term “au-pair” by housing young women, preparing them for the future. But even the strongest of women can succumb to weakness and have her inner brick house crumble. A ghost from the past is slowly but surely consuming Karen and in turn poisoning her relationship with her husband. There is neither Prozac to ease the pain nor a Dr. Phil within reach from a remote control for a quick fix for life’s sometimes bumpy road. There is no requisite to be a Minnesotan to enjoy the book. It holds its own and is a wonderful heartwarming story of overcoming obstacles, grieving, crying, and laughing along with the characters and historically interesting. |
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Nancy Leasman
Available by e-mailing the author directly at lbreene@q.com. Central Minnesota Women readers may take advantage of a 20% discount and receive a personally autographed copy when they mention this review. It’s not a smooth trail for Ingrid Johansson, a daughter of Swedish immigrant parents who believe that farming in Minnesota is the best opportunity for prosperity in the new world. Ingrid wants an education. When she meets the son of a St. Paul, Minnesota railroad man, she’s in danger of being derailed from both her father’s dreams for her and her own dreams. Author Leslee Breene’s great-grandfather farmed Minnesota land as does Ingrid’s father in Hearts on the Wind. He also worked to lay the tracks for the early Northern Pacific Railroad. Breene drew on family and railroad history to weave a tale that brings late 19th century progress to life. Equal parts historical fiction and romance novel, Hearts on the Wind reveals both charming and frightening aspects of establishing rail travel in Minnesota. Ingrid’s quest for education and her love for the young Norwegian railroad man build steam for the engine that drives a memorable novel. Other books by Breene include Foxfire (2001- Author House), Leadville Lady, and Miss Kitty’s Journal, Colorado’s Official Tea Room Directory. She lives in Denver, Colorado where she’s a member of Colorado Romance Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Women Writing the West
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Nancy Leasman
Available at at www.amazon.com, and in Barnes & Noble and at www.strategicpublishing.com/TheFalcon.html Roxanne Packard has created a strong female character for her first book. Set in fantasy medieval / Victorian era, Dantaelian, who was raised by her uncle to follow in his profession as an assassin, learns she is a princess. Torn between her duties as a contracted killer and love for the son of a man she killed, Dantaelian attempts to get on with her life. But love and duty dictate the direction her life will take. Packard skillfully develops the characters as she spins her tale of competition among the ruling class. The story is well crafted and carries the reader along with equal amounts of dialogue and action. Inconsistencies within a specific historical period is a weak point in the book as readers set a time frame and have certain expectations within that era. References to newspapers and reporters instead of a town crier, obituaries and undertakers when those entities wouldn’t have existed, and time references by the minute when sun dials were the most accurate method of measuring time may, puzzle readers. Packard is sure to refine her research techniques as she completes a degree at St. Cloud State University. With a goal of continuing as a fantasy writer, Packard has produced a strong first book. She lives in St. Cloud with her husband and two young sons. She is working on more books including a fantasy that, like The Falcon, has a strong female lead and a juvenile fiction trilogy.
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Natalie Miller Rotunda
Dr. Alice Howland, mother of 3, brilliant Harvard psychology professor, wife of John, brilliant Harvard science professor, is 50. She teaches, lectures nationwide, mentors doctoral candidates - a fulfilling, fast-paced life. Life is good, with one exception: youngest daughter Lydia and their relationship. Lydia is an aspiring actress, uninterested in college. Therein lies the rub. Alice strongly insists that her daughter obtain a college degree. Then things slowly unravel for Alice when seemingly insignificant, certainly explainable incidents given her busy schedule, intrude. The mental toll the episodes take finally forces her to see a doctor. The diagnosis: early onset Alzheimer’s with rapid mental decline. Staying dedicated to her exercise routine will, she’s told, help delay that decline somewhat. “Still Alice” is a gut-wrenching, deeply moving fictionalized story of one woman’s battle with the greatest mind-stealer of all. Watch her journey, see her improved relationship with Lydia, anguish over her struggles with the knowledge that her once-brilliant mind is crumbling. This book is a must-read. First-time author Genova writes Alice’s compelling story from her work as a Harvard professor of neuroscience, and her online work with the National Alzheimer’s Association which gives high praise to the story Genova weaves. |
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Nancy Leasman
Available at at www.northstarpress.com , www.amazon.com, and in Barnes & Noble in St. Cloud and www.barnes&noble.com., at independent book stores and in some libraries. Candace Simar’s book, Abercrombie Trail, a fictionalized account of the Sioux Uprising of 1862, is inhabited by the 19th century settlers of west central Minnesota. It centers on the life of her fictional character Evan Jacobson, an immigrant Norwegian stage coach driver. The stops along Jacobson’s stage line reveal the families who live along the trail between Fort Snelling and Fort Abercrombie (just south of Fargo) and their ultimate fate in the, until now, untold story of the northern fringe of the 1862 Sioux (Dakota) Uprising and the siege of Fort Abercrombie. Jacobson struggles with learning English, falling in love and fulfilling his dreams while living with events of the war in the South and the one threatening on the next horizon. Simar, a prolific writer of articles, poems and inspirational bits, followed her passion for history and began a literary project in 2001 that culminated in the release of her first novel in May of 2009. “History has been my life-long passion and frequently family vacation destinations have been linked to museums and historical spots. I’ve visited multiple Minnesota museums and spent countless hours at the Family History Museum in St. Paul, reading old letters, newspapers and books.” She also drew on her own Scandinavian family history to flesh out her characters. Simar who lives at Pequot Lakes would be happy to travel to meet with book clubs in the area that are interested in discussing Abercrombie Trail. She can be contacted through her website www.candacesimar.com
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Natalie Miller Rotunda 21st Annual Minnesota Book Award Winner Available at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Compassionate-Carnivore/Catherine-Friend/e/9781600940071/?itm=2 Read an excerpt at http://www.compassionatecarnivore.com/excerpt.htm Catherine Friend is an unabashed meat-lover. She’s also an unabashed co-owner of a Southern Minnesota sheep farm with her partner, Melissa. Can she happily co-exist with such a dichotomy? Absolutely! Friend takes fellow meat-lovers, flexitarians and vegetarians behind the scenes, showing us how it’s possible to love animals and eat meat. From her unique view, Friend serves up platefuls of information presented in a warm-often-funny-always-honest style most readers will digest with ease. She dishes out facts sufficient to help her readers decide, on their own, whether they’ll steadfastly remain carnivores, or switch sides. Her intent is to inform, not sway, readers either way. Friend brings a crucial point into focus in the chapter entitled, “A Seat at the Table.” Her thought-provoking point is this: If we expect to maintain a ready supply of humanely-raised meat, we’d better take our ‘seat at the table’ now while this source is still available. Without voting with our food dollars, safe, healthy meats will pass from our midst.
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Natalie Miller Rotunda * Available at amazon.com, or In just 144 pages, local author/veteran gardener Linda Larson inspires readers to get down and dirty and grow their own food. In the Introduction, Linda shares her recipe for good soil, the critical ingredient for any successful garden, why we rotate crops, how to attract insects---the beneficial ones---in this 2005 Ben Franklin Award-winning book that will surely be the go-to reference throughout the growing season. Novice and veteran gardeners alike will find a bounty of useful advice and tips. Arlene Gardinier and Jessica Allen Johnson’s color photographs and illustrations are certain to delight readers as they learn how to plant, thin, harvest, prep and store their fruit and vegetable crops, and/or their culinary and medicinal herb crops. Recipes follow. Wild Things (crabapples and dandelions are two examples), Flowers, and Challenges for the Expert Gardener all have their own info-packed sections. Larson lists Helpful Resources to close out the book. Soak up this storehouse of information from a gardener who knows her stuff. A second edition is in progress. |
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Natalie Miller Rotunda Anyone who doesn’t have a special-needs child can't truly know where the daily roller-coaster of emotions will lead them. Feelings of isolation, desperation, fear of the now and the future are common, and constant, companions. Knowing how to deal with those emotions, and juggling how to be there for everyone---themselves, their special child, their family, their friends, their employer---is key to getting through each day. Local author Lisa A. Edelbrock found a way to effectively deal with that riot of emotions: she wrote poems about her journey with her non-speaking autistic son, Shelby, who was also diagnosed with epilepsy. Some entries are gut-wrenching; all are poignant. Lisa hadn’t written them with the intent of publishing them. That came later, at a friend’s suggestion. In her self-published book, Lisa reaches out to others journeying through their own darkest moments. She provides insight into her world, letting readers know they’re not the first to experience those feelings. The book is arranged in six passages, with a section at the back of the book to record reflections. Shelby graduates from high school next month. Lisa is writing a sequel to celebrate the road to that milestone. Reflection Sometimes it is hard to see, The forest through the trees. Sometimes we need a little help. Hope enters The gift in front of me! May 2002 |
