book reviews
Reviews of books that explore the complexities of family throughout history and across cultures.
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
Best Books for Expectant Parents (And the Ones You Should Avoid)
As an expectant parent, there are a million questions you'll face about pregnancy and how to raise your children. Navigating all of the conflicting information, statistics, and opinions can be overwhelming. With such a vast number of resources, from pregnancy apps to books to videos to articles, how do you know what sources can you trust? Where can you find help?
By Alicia Springer8 years ago in Families
Beloved
“Anything dead coming back to life hurts.” There is no experience that could possibly match that of being a mother. Valued for all they are, mothers have been created by the media to be the loving, nurturing type, but are never truly depicted facing the trials of what it means to be a mother in its entirety. Beloved, a love story rooted from the sincerest of love, is a Toni Morrison classic following the life of a woman found in the two greatest minorities: being a loving mother, and a slave. Throughout the novel, Sethe, the mother of four, is in constant turmoil after relentless abuse and mistreatment. It is this collection of experiences and her painful past that cause Sethe to face the most difficult of decisions as a mother. With the goal to provide and sustain a happy life for her children, her choice to kill one and attempt at the others was rooted in her love for each child.
By Kayla Starr8 years ago in Families
