Book Review - The Plot Against America by Philip J. Roth

The Plot Against America is an unusual alternate history fiction novel by Philip J. Roth. It is set in an early 1940s, principally in Newark, New Jersey, (the time and location where Roth himself grew up), and tells the story of an America which is increasingly turning towards fascism and anti-semitism.The novel's main viewpoint character is a young Jewish boy named Philip. It is from his perspective that we see the rise of anti-semitism, but we also learn many other details of Philip's childhood. As a result, the book is not just about the changes to history, but also about growing up - and these details are one of the things that gives the book its very unique flavor.According to Roth, he was not aware of the alternate history genre at the time he wrote this novel, and while that seems surprising in many ways (and some reviews and critics have questioned this claim), it does seem possible that Roth's claim could be true, especially since there are a number of aspects of the story which don't follow the normal conventions of the alternate history genre. Perhaps the most obvious example of this is the ending (and what happens after America's fascist period) - which I won't reveal in this review - but which I am confident that anybody with even the slightest belief in the butterfly effect will find unbelievable and perhaps even contrived, and which in my opinion is more along the lines of secret history than alternate history. That said, I personally did not find the ending detracted from the novel as whole - because I felt the novel was really about what Philip's feelings and life in the situation described, rather than the specific historical details of the political background story.It is probably worth mentioning as well that the book has attracted some criticisms, especially from some sections of the conservative press, for its portrayals of real life characters (such as Charles Lindbergh), and for the apparent ease with which anti-semitism becomes common in th United States. Addressing the second criticism first, Roth has actually written in his autobiography about the anti-semitism that he himself encountered during his childhood, and many of the anti-semitic incidents he describes in the novel seem to be clearly based on the anti-semitism that he found in our timeline's non-fascist America. As for the portrayal of historical characters, I don't think that you would want to read any alternate history if you were highly sensitive about that sort of thing!Over all, this is one of my favorite alternate history novels, not in spite of the differences from most of the genre, but because of them. Yes, I could make many nitpicking criticisms about flaws that I perceived in the plausibility of the historical events described in the novel - but as I've already said, the book isn't really about historical events or even alternate historical events, rather it's a high quality work of literature, largely about growing-up, in which alternate history simply provides the background.If you're the kind of alternate history fan who is only interested in the historical details such as specific battles, weapons and leadership decisions, then this book is not for you. On the other hand, if you have a broader appreciation of good and interesting writing, and want something different from the glut of run-of-the-mill alternate history novels, then this books is for you. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

The Potty Boot Camp - Basic Training For Toddlers

Like many parents, I was overwhelmed and intimidated when embarking upon the toilet training process. Have you actually spent time surfing the web to find advice, books, and tips about potty training? A search on Google for the keywords "potty training" yields over two million results!I found so many options - from books that are hundreds of pages long to online training programs that cost $39.99. I found advice about why to train early, advice about why to train late, and advice that just did not make sense at all. I did not find what I was looking for. I was searching for a step-by-step, no-nonsense, brief, and to-the-point training program. I wanted something so concrete that I could even have a checklist or flow-chart to follow. Needless to say, I became pretty convinced that nothing like that existed.My next step was to go ahead and invest in some of the products I mentioned above. I spent $19.99 on a "train in three days" system online. I spent another $25.00 on books on Amazon.com regarding toilet training. After I started training and realized I needed even more advice, I spent another $19.99! It seemed to me that there just had to be an easier and more straightforward way.Finally, I was successful and my daughter was potty trained! It was hard work and I felt like I had actually figured it out - but only after hours and hours and hours of research and frustration. My final training method was a combination of my own preparatory work, the "toilet training in a day" methods, the timer method, and the "Naked and $75" method. For each of the programs, I found something I liked and something I did not. For example, the "Train in a Day" methods did no preliminary work - your child is supposed to just give up diapers one day with absolutely no warning! I took the best and most logical advice from each potty training theory and combined them all together.My daughter was young when I trained her - only 20 months old. At music class, gym class, and the playground I was asked over and over again how I had trained my daughter at such an early age. It finally dawned on me that I should write it all down. I spent hours of my time and a lot of my own money to get this point. It really would be a waste if I could not share my new found "expertise" with other parents. Thus, "The Potty Boot Camp" was born!"The Potty Boot Camp" is a brief (15 page), to-the-point, step-by-step potty training method. Much of what I learned is summarized in a book that is easily readable during nap time. It includes a shopping list, a flow-chart, and easy to follow instruction manual. It breaks down the training process into what to do on a daily basis - one step at a time. In addition, The Potty Boot Camp will not bore you with a lot of theory - only practical and logical advice. Think - your child could be enlisted, trained, and diaper free forever! dr seuss cat in hat history

Book Review - The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick is perhaps the most famous alternate history book that there is. It is also one of Philip K. Dick's most famous novels, and one of his best - because it is one of the most tightly structured and well-written - possibly because Dick had the luxury, unusually of him, of preparing several drafts before releasing the novel.The novel is set in an alternate United States that was defeated by the Axis in World War II, and which is divided between Japanese and German occupation zones (with an autonomous central region serving as a buffer).The story itself contains no single plot, but instead is a collection of interconnected story lines about various characters, many of these involving a fictional alternate history book called "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy". In the now familiar fashion for Double Blind What Ifs, "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy" imagines a world where the Allies had won the War - although, of course this imagined world is rather different from our own.According to Dick, he wrote the book using I Ching to determine plot events - Dick even blamed I Ching for those plot elements that he was unhappy with. This is mirrored in the novel itself, where I Ching is used by several Japanese and American characters to make life decisions, and was supposedly even used by Hawthorne Abendsen, the fiction author of "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy", to determine its plot.As with many of Dick's works, a persistent theme throughout the novel is difference between real and false realities. The most prominent example of this theme is "The Grasshopper Lies Heavy", but it also occurs in characters selling fake historical artifacts, characters travelling under false identities, and characters even seeing hints of our reality.There is a lot more that I could say about this book, but let me simply say this: get it. If really is not only one of the defining books of the alternate history genre, but also one of the best pieces of science fiction literature that there is. dr seuss cat in hat book

eBook Review - Natural Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia by Jane Thompson

If you think you or someone you know has symptoms indicating fibromyalgia, this ebook is a super starting place for information gathering. Natural Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia by Jane Thompson is a quick read for an overview of the current understanding of fibromyalgia. It will inform you and give you a place from which to start a dialog with your healthcare provider.
Thompson covers the symptoms and associated disorders that most people who have the illness experience in varying degrees and at different times. Muscle and joint pain, headaches, fatigue, "brain fog", and skin sensitivity are all possible symptoms that can occur gradually over time, or appear suddenly after a traumatic event that is either physical or emotional in origin.The possible diseases and disorders that may lead up to fibromyalgia and the risk factors that could indicate a likelihood of coming down with fibromyalgia are discussed. One of the closest links of fibromyalgia is with sleep disorders. Our bodies need deep and regular sleep so our nervous system can rejuvenate itself. The pain and other issues of the illness may keep the person with fibromyalgia from getting a good night's sleep, thus keeping the body from maintaining itself properly, and so misreading what the body feels.The natural treatment options fall into four categories that create balance in the body: exercise, diet and nutrition, stress management, and rest. Thompson gives a thorough examination in each category of various options available to help each person choose what is most appropriate for them. There are many different approaches suggested here and treatment would best be managed by a wellness professional in a comprehensive treatment plan.The author does cover the prescription medications most commonly used to treat fibromyalgia and their possible side effects. She highly recommends considering the natural treatment options before turning to medical therapy. The books ends with a medical disclaimer that this book is for informational purposes only and is not designed to provide medical advice.Included in the purchase of Natural Treatment Options for Fibromyalgia are four related ebooks: Natural Cure To Fibromyalgia Bonus Guide, Overcoming Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Relief Secrets, and Stop Acid Reflux Now.If you want to learn the basics of fibromyalgia and possible treatment options, this is the book for you. Its easy-to-read style and accessible format make it an excellent "go to" book for anyone who wants to know the issues surrounding this illness. dr seuss book collection

"The Mists of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley - Book Review

Arthurian Legends have been with us for a long time. Who hasn't heard of King Arthur, Merlin, Gwenhwyfar and Lancelot, or the Knights of the Round Table? What makes "The Mists of Avalon" so special, and my favourite of all the many books available on this topic, is that it is told from the perspective of the women, and especially Morgaine, otherwise known as Morgan le Fay.The story begins with Igraine, mother of Arthur, and takes us on her journey from the wife of Gorlois to becoming the wife of Uther, and High Queen of Britain. From this we follow the journey of Morgaine, Arthur's sister, and her arrival at the Isle of Avalon where she studies to become a priestess. She finds herself betrayed by the Lady of the Lake and leaves the Isle, though it will forever be her home and calls to her heart. We learn about Gwenhwyfar, Arthur's new bride, and slowly all the threads of the web come together and interweave into a tale of love, hope, faith, despair and pure beauty.It is the most complete Arthurian book I have ever read. Marion Zimmer Bradley spent a lot of time researching not only the other Arthurian legends and the factual data of that era, she also researched the different faiths and rituals of the time. All this hard work has paid off. I could envision myself in that time and found everything to be completely believable. For me, this is the book all other Arthurian stories are measured against.Aside from the research, the strength of "The Mists of Avalon" lies in the deep insights we get into the various characters. These are strong women but like all of us they have their doubts and insecurities, experience their losses and fears. They are easy to relate to, and though we may not always agree with their logic and their actions, as a reader we can understand where they are coming from and why they do the things they do.Another strength is revealed in the relationships between the characters. The love, the dislike, the heartbreak... all are realistic and we experience the various emotions along with them, hoping for the best and sometimes being rewarded in our hope, yet sometimes being disappointed because life is not always fair.I would recommend this book to anyone. It's not a light read and the book contains 1009 pages (soft back). But it's a read that is truly worthwhile. It's a story that will stay with you."The Mists of Avalon" made the bestsellers list. There are several other books related to it, including "Lady of Avalon" and "The Forest House".Unfortunately, Marion Zimmer Bradley passed away in 1999."The Mists of Avalon" was first published by Michael Joseph Ltd. The ISBN is 0-14-017719-1. seuss book collection sets cat hat

"Tall, Dark & Hungry" by Lynsay Sands - Book Review

It's not every day your cousin gets married. Terri decides that the best thing she can do is fly over from England to help with the final preparations. Besides, every bride can do with a bit of support.Unfortunately, her cousin needs to go away for work. It's an emergency. And her husband-to-be is going with her, leaving Terri stranded with his brother, Bastien. There's plenty of space available and sharing a place with a tall, dark, handsome man may be a bit awkward but there are worse things in the world.She is not the only one who is temporarily moving in. Whilst rushing through, her cousin has dropped off her unfortunate colleague, as he's broken his leg and has nowhere else to stay. And there's the strange actor, Vincent, who is pretending to be a vampire. To get into his role, presumably...And so Bastien, a self-confessed workaholic, finds his routine interrupted. He has to keep Vincent away from sweet Terri, has an unlucky editor to look after and Terri herself proves to be quite distracting... in a rather nice way.Whilst cousin Kate is out of town, everything that can go wrong is going wrong. There are all those last minute preparations that need sorting, and sorting fast. The four find themselves having to work together in order to overcome all the obstacles and ensure that Kate will have the wedding of her dreams."Tall, Dark & Hungry" is a lovely, entertaining novel. In true Lynsay Sands style, there are some very funny scenarios that have the reader smiling and, at times, laughing out loud.What I love about this book is that it's such a gentle read. Sure, there are all these things going wrong and they need sorting out, but on the whole everything is working out as it should. That does not mean the book is boring or lacking tension. On the contrary. It held my attention throughout and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. It's just nice that there is no nasty drama. Rather, it's all very believable and I could easily envision everything that happened.I adore the character of Bastien. If there was ever a fictional character a woman could fall for, it's him. He's a wonderful guy with good morals, and he's so very sweet and gentle. I wanted everything to work out for him. I wanted to give him a big hug. If he weren't fictional, that is. He's a credit to the author.And Terri is a lovely woman. She isn't your standard heroine. She isn't tall, with long legs and a tiny waist. She comes across as a real woman, with a warm, gentle nature. I felt for her and, again, I wanted everything to work out for her.The other characters are a great addition to the story. The poor, unlucky editor who had so many bad things happening to him turned out to be a good sport in the end. Vincent, the actor, is funny. I loved the scenes he was involved in. I wouldn't mind reading more about him in the future. I'm sure he will be a main character one day.I recommend this book to anyone who wants a nice and entertaining read. It's a true feel-good kind of tale and we all need one of those from time to time.According to the author's bio, Lynsay Sands has been writing since she was a child. She has a degree in psychology, enjoys reading both horror and romance and believes a sense of humor can "see you through nearly anything"."Tall, Dark & Hungry" was published by Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc. The ISBN is 0-505-52583-6. dr seuss cat in hat quotes

"Equal Rites" by Terry Pratchett - Book Review

This is the Discworld, supported by four giant elephants that stand on the back of the Great A'Tuin - a turtle, ten thousand miles long, making his (or her) way through space. This is a world where anything is possible. And on this world everyone knows what it means when an eighth son of an eighth son is born. That's when you have a wizard in your family.And so a wizard's staff is passed on to a particular newborn. Except that this eighth son of an eighth son is actually a girl. And everyone knows that girls can't be wizards...It's a lucky thing for the family that Granny Weatherwax is around, keeping a close eye on Esk and her staff. When the girl grows up and the magic is finding a way out, Granny decides to take the girl under her wing and teach her the witching. However, there are differences between witches and wizards, and for good reason. There comes a time when a girl must find her destiny, and that destiny lies in Ankh-Morpork, the home of the Unseen University, the place where wizards learn to be, well, wizards.But just because you have a staff and just because you have power does not mean that you will get accepted. Girls are girls, and ancient views are not easily changed. Until the time comes when you need to stand up for yourself and show that tradition is not always correct, just because that's how things were always done..."Equal Rites" is the story of a girl on a mission, a girl going against all odds to find out about herself and to claim her rightful place. It's also a story about tradition and how resistant people can be to change. And it's a story about respect, for yourself and for others.That sounds very serious, so I must not forget to mention that the book is funny and generally quite light-hearted. Terry Pratchett is a creative, inventive author and a delightful storyteller. No matter what mood you are in when you start reading this book, you will soon find yourself smiling.Pratchett has a way of bringing characters to life. His insights into human nature reflect the silliness in us all. Even the darker, more serious aspects we are all familiar with do have a place on the Discworld and are given a humorous spin.I would recommend this book to everyone, young and old.According to the author's bio, Terry Pratchett lives behind a keyboard in Wiltshire and says he 'doesn't want to get a life, because it feels as though he's trying to lead three already'. He was appointed OBE in 1998 and his first Discworld novel for children, "The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents", was awarded the 2001 Carnegie Medal."Equal Rites" was published by HarperTorch, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. The ISBN is 0-06-102069-9. dr seuss cat in hat history