Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
literary

The Painter From Shanghai

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Jennifer Cody Epstein
Publisher: W.W. Norton
Genre: Biographical Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-393-06528-2
Pages: 416
Price: $24.95

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Pan Yuliang, one of China’s finest and most controversial painters, lived in the early part of the 20th century. Forced into prostitution when her uncle sold her to pay for his opium habit, she is later unexpectedly rescued by a man who comes to love her and make her his second wife. Though she is only a concubine, he treats her with love and respect, and encourages her to study painting, both in China and in France.

“…no matter how we long for the past, we are rooted in the present,” Pan Yuliang tells her husband, Pan Zanhua. Jennifer Cody Epstein brings this concept home to us in her use of present tense in telling Yuliang’s story. Based on the limited knowledge of the painter’s life, she has captured this turbulent time period in China, and some of the experiences she imagined Yuliang may have had.

The Painter From Shanghai pulls the reader into Yuliang’s life, sharing the horrors of Hall life, the joy in discovering her ability to paint, and the hunger and loneliness of her life in France. Though most of the public never understood her need to paint nudes, Epstein suggests her monsters were what produced her art. In creating beautiful female bodies on canvas, she may have been able to deal with the memories of offering her body in a way no fourteen year-old girl should.

Haunting, compelling, and masterfully written, The Painter From Shanghai invites the reader into Pan Yuliang’s world. Although this a work of fiction, you’ll feel you’ve had a glimpse into the life of this intriguing and talented woman.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, memoir

Becoming a Superhero

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: William D. Smith
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children’s
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2071-1
Pages: 118
Price: $13.95

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Billy is a ten year-old boy living in a Pennsylvania coal mining town at the end of World War II, and he wants to be a Superhero. He’s read about Superman in his comic books, listens to the Shadow on the radio, and wants to save the world just like they do. But first he has to learn how to fly.

Becoming a Superhero is the semi-autobiographical first-person narrative of his year as a sixth-grader. In it, Billy shares his thoughts, adventures, and mis-adventures as he grows up during this turbulent time in US history.

In the style of “A Christmas Story,” Billy seems to find trouble at every turn. Dared to climb onto one of the coal company’s catwalks, he runs into problems with the law. A camping trip turns into an evening of night-fishing in the outhouse. And he never does figure out how to fly. But in the end, he becomes a hero in a way he never intended.

A well-written coming-of-age story, Becoming a Superhero is an enjoyable read – not just for children, but also for adults who haven’t yet forgotten how much fun it was to be a kid.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health

The Empowered Patient

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Dr. Julia A. Hallisy
Publisher: Bold Spirit Press
Genre: Medical / Health & Fitness
ISBN: 978-0-6151-7791-5
Pages: 351
Price: $25.95

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If you or a loved one have ever had an extended hospital stay or been treated for a long-standing illness, you’ve likely run into problems in the medical establishment. Author Dr. Julia A. Hallisy has experienced many of these incidents in the ten-year treatment of her daughter’s cancer, and she shares the wisdom she acquired in The Empowered Patient.

The first step in becoming a savvy medical consumer is knowing who you’re talking to. Therefore, she begins by introducing all the titles of the various personnel you’re likely to encounter in a hospital, along with their roles and responsibilities.

those who are ill are more susceptible to infection, so one chapter is devoted to prevention of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections. Along with the precautions family and hospital staff can take, reporting infections to the right hospital personnel can help prevent future problems. Although much of this information was helpful, as a “green” reviewer, I was disturbed by the author’s insistence that only toxic and harmful chemical disinfectants should be used. If I were a patient, I would not find the spraying of toxic fumes around me to be helpful in my recovery.

Errors occur more frequently than most of us would feel comfortable with, so the patient and family members need to be extra vigilant in making sure all care received is appropriate. Second opinions are encouraged for diagnoses and treatment options, to be sure the patient is comfortable with the procedure he’s signed on for.

Hospital paperwork can be daunting, so the author explains exactly what a consent form allows the hospital to do, and how you can be sure your needs are met. And if you need to see or even alter your medical records, she explains the procedure to handle your request.

Dr. Julia A. Hallisy was able to help others navigate the medical scene during the time she cared for her daughter, and now she’s sharing her acquired knowledge with the rest of us in The Empowered Patient. Reading this well-written and well-researched book before you face a crisis will surely prepare you to get through one as smoothly as possible.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

finance, self improvement

The Wealth Manifesto

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mark T. Rafter
Publisher: New Knowledge Press
Genre: Self-help / Personal Growth / Success
ISBN: 978-0-9796682-0-3
Pages: 214
Price: $17.95

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How do you define wealth? Do you even know, or do you just assume it has something to do with how much money you’ve managed to accumulate? According to Mark T. Rafter, money is only part of the wealth equation, and The Wealth Manifesto shows you what makes up the missing pieces.

This book, along with the downloadable companion workbook, helps you define a lifestyle that will ultimately make you wealthy, through a series of thought-provoking exercises. The first section looks at the path to wealth – how you define wealth and what you need to make you happy. The second section invites you to determine your own value and competencies, as you offer your services to the world. And the third section explores the accumulation of wealth through the concept of building systems.

If you’ve ever read The Science of Getting Rich, you may have felt the author left out a key element of how to get rich. Focusing on metaphysical elements has its place, and it certainly helps us to stay on course as we plan our future. The Wealth Manifesto explores those metaphysical concepts and takes them a step further, explaining exactly how to create systems that can generate wealth for us long into the future.

Creating wealth can feel like an insurmountable task, but Mark T. Rafter makes it seem simple and effortless. Follow the directions as laid out, and you’ll be inspired to take action and become wealthy yourself. I highly recommend this well-written and motivational book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

health, self improvement

The Lifestyle Fitness Program

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Debi Silber
Publisher: Morgan James
Genre: Health & Fitness / Healthy Living
ISBN: 978-1-60037-426-5
Pages: 218
Price: $17.95

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A mom has so much to juggle each day that her own self-care is often the last thing she thinks about. But can a mom be effective taking care of others if she hasn’t met her own basic needs? Debi Silber doesn’t think so, and that’s why she’s created The Lifestyle Fitness Program to guide moms in looking, feeling and living their best.

This guidebook is divided into six sections: Nutrition, Fitness, Relationships, Emotions, Spirituality, and Stress Control. Each section is then further divided into chapter sub-topics, with goals set for each chapter. The author encourages moms to set only one goal per week, with the intent to create new healthy habits as these small changes become part of their lives.

Silber has a light and breezy style of chatting with the reader, almost as if she’s in a personal coaching session in her role as the “Mojo Coach.” But because she covers so much material in such a short book, the individual chapters don’t go into any real depth. Instead, they’re more motivational than informational. The author also provides an on-line forum at her website for readers to discuss the challenges and successes they’ve had in working this program.

If you’re looking for bite-sized chunks of information that will help you make small incremental changes that will lead to a happier and healthier life, you’ll find the guidance in The Lifestyle Fitness Program a valuable resource.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance, teen

Amor and Summer Secrets

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Diana Rodriguez Wallach
Publisher: Kensington
Genre: Young Adult
ISBN: 978-0-7582-2553-5
Pages: 296
Price: $9.95

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Mariana Ruiz doesn’t know why she’s being exiled to Puerto Rico for the summer. She should be at home, helping her best friend, Madison, celebrate her Sweet Sixteen. Instead she’s sent to visit relatives she’s never met before, most of whom don’t even speak English.

Mariana is part Puerto Rican and part Polish, but the only Spanish she’s ever picked up has been from her classes at school. Her cousin, Lilly, speaks English, but Mariana doesn’t trust her motives, and keeps her distance, despite Lilly’s attempts to be friends. Instead she helps her aunt plan Lilly’s Quinceanera.

An unexpected romantic surprise awaits Mariana at Lilly’s party, and soon she finds she’s enjoying the summer she never wanted to happen. But along with amor, she also finds out about a family secret that shocks her.

This fast-paced and tension-filled story pulls the reader into Mariana’s world, as she experiences her first adventure off her own turf and finds love. Amor and Summer Secrets is an enjoyable read, and once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down. The first of three books, it will leave you wanting to read more from this talented new author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cats

Chloe Anne – Force of Nature

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Valerie Oblath
Publisher: Three C’s Publishing
Genre: Memoir / Cats
ISBN: 978-09800623-2-8
Pages: 148
Price: $17.00

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Meet Chloe Anne – a voluptuous, long-haired kitty. Full of curiosity and charm, she knows she’s “too beautiful for words.”

Chloe Anne begins life as Penny, before being incarcerated at the Big House, and before author Valerie Oblath adopts her. Living with her new Mom and sister, Chloe Anne never runs out of ways to amuse herself and find trouble. But despite her mischief, she’s secure in the knowledge that her Mom loves her, and she’ll never have to worry about ending up in the Big House again.

This humorous tale of Chloe Anne’s adventures is a joy to read. Even though it’s impossible to tell what a cat is really thinking, Valerie Oblath has created a convincing chat with this delightful feline. But even more than that, she shares her own warmth and devotion to the cats who share her home.

Anyone who’s ever lived with and been loved by a cat will enjoy reading this book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

business

Awake at the Wheel

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff
Publisher: Morgan James
Genre: Business & Economics / Entrepreneurship
ISBN: 978-1-60037-295-7
Pages: 117
Price: $13.95

Author’s website
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Og has an idea. A really Big Idea. But what is he going to do about it? Awake at the Wheel shows us how Og conceives of an idea and then attempts to bring it to the tribe for acceptance.

Like many of us who’ve come up with big ideas only to have others shoot us down, Og makes some mistakes. But in the end, he presents his “wheel” to the tribe so they can all benefit from it.

This motivational book is divided into three parts. First is the humorous tale of Og and his Big Idea. Next are the things Og learned from his experience. And last is a set of tools that will guide you in your own Big Idea generation.

If you’ve got a really Big Idea already – or if you just want to come up with one right now for your business – Awake at the Wheel will show you what you need to do to get your idea “rolling.”

Mitchell Lewis Ditkoff is the founder of Idea Champions, specializing in leading creative thinking and team-building sessions. This fun and information-packed book shares some of the techniques he’s developed in his years of experience working with Fortune 500 and mid-sized companies. I highly recommend it for any business person who wants to be more creative and successful in developing new ideas.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

spirituality

Dancing With Life

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Phillip Moffitt
Publisher: Rodale
Genre: Spirituality
ISBN: 978-1594863530
Pages: >352
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Why do you suffer? Is there a purpose to your pain?These questions come up for all of us at some time, as they did for the Buddha 2,500 years ago.In his wisdom, he developed a way through suffering, which he called the Four Noble Truths, and he left us the Twelve Insights to guide us through them.

Using examples from his own life and those of his students, and the step-by-step process of the Twelve Insights, Phillip Moffitt shows us how we can walk through our suffering to a path of joy.First we learn to embrace suffering through the First Noble Truth.In the Second Noble Truth, we learn there is a way to stop clinging.The Third Noble Truth shows us cessation of suffering is possible.And the Fourth Noble Truth offers us the Noble Eightfold Path to happiness.

Pain and suffering come to all of us, and at times can feel overwhelming. But Moffitt gives us clear and compelling reasons to believe that these Twelve Insights are the way to handle suffering and create a life filled with joy.Though at times the path won’t be easy, there is hope that we can learn to live with our pain and still enjoy our dance with life.

A profoundly spiritual book, Dancing With Life is a must-read for all those who want to find deeper meaning in life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

The Backyard Bird Lover’s Field Guide

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Sally Roth
Genre: Nature/Outdoors
Publisher: Rodale Inc.
ISBN: 1-59486-602-3
Pages: 336
Price: $19.95

Buy it at Amazon

“When you identify birds by name, they feel like friends.

That is Sally Roth’s assertion, noted on the back of her very pleasant book, The Backyard Bird Lover’s Field Guide. If you are accustomed to the usual suspects utilized for bird identification, such as the Peterson’s guide or Sibley’s, Roth’s work will give you a refreshing, simple alternative. And if you’re a novice birder, it’s just what you need.

Roth begins by describing a bit of bird-watching history along with personal reasons on how and why one should pursue such an activity. She writes with a casual, light-hearted style that makes it seem like you’re reading notes from a familiar acquaintance. The large number of vivid photographs adds additional life to her homespun tales.

The author gets to the heart of solving the avian identification riddle by describing specific geographic regions around the United States detailed with native birds in mind. The information is especially handy for those who enjoy traveling or are just curious about common bird populations around the country.

The book provides easy directions for identifying a variety of well-known species. What are your “First Impressions” of the bird in question? “Details, details,” and “Listen up!” are just a few of the categories one should consider. Roth even tells us what seeds they will eat from birdfeeders and the types of vegetation they prefer. Each page is capped off with a short recollection or insight of the featured bird.

The focus and style of Sally Roth’s field guide make this a valued addition to any bird lover’s collection. It may be slanted to newcomers, but it’s a great way for anyone to become friends with the birds.

Reviewer: Gene Berger