When Someone You Love Has Alzheimer's: What You Must Know, What You Can Do, and What You Should Expe

My mother was recently diagnosed with 'early stage' Alzheimer's, and this book has been a great starting point for my family to figure out where we go next. It covers the whole gamet of the disease, and has just about everything you'd ever want to know about what to expect as the disease progresses.

An easy read too -which is good because this means that even the person diagnosed with the disease can read and learn from it.

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Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife

After reading this book, I will never look at midwives, childbirth, or my body in the same way again. This honest, authoritative memoir, by a woman who started her career as an obstetrical nurse, liberates women from the embarrassment that starts in adolescence with a budding female anatomy.

In her memoir, she presents the miracle of birth and shouts aloud those things that some of our mothers could only whisper and blush about. Immersed in bodily fluids up to her elbows, Peggy checks a cervix as naturally as a mechanic checks the oil. She demonstrates that, regardless of differences in race, belief, life style, or age, birth is a celebration of life. She welcomes each new soul and stands in awe at nature's magic--birth.

The writing is warm and welcoming, with a storyteller's enthusiasm and a savvy eye for the humor and irony of every situation. Peggy crafts a must-read for every woman who ever thought about childbirth. Men will discover...they'll gain insight into the intimate world of women and the men who stand with them. A truly strong debut book that fills a remarkably empty niche on the bookshelf....

I love reading about other women's birth experiences, and the view from the midwife was both informative and emotional. While I would never attempt a home birth due to known cardiac issues with my children, it made me wish that I could have had the experience. A balanced view of the home birth experience, without condemning those of us who have to opt for the hospital birth.

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Although I am a strong advocate of midwife assisted home birth, I probably wouldn't have bought this book myself. That would have been my loss. My wife had borrowed it from our midwife, and I had run out of things to read, so I decided it would be a good way to pass the time.

Mrs. Vincent's story is not only the story of herself, but it is the story of midwifery in the late 20th century in general. The early portion of the story, chronicling her time as a nursing student in the early 60s when natural childbirth was not at all accepted, serves as a pretty good summation of the things that my wife hated about our first daughter's hospital birth, and the reason we chose to have our second at home. In short, the ideological conflict between midwifery and hospital birth is this: Mrs. Vincent and those like her believe each labour should be treated as normal unless some serious complication presents itself. Obstetricians see labour as an inherently dangerous medical condition requiring their intervention.

We follow the author through her career as she becomes a certified nurse midwife, gets privileges at a prestigious Bay Area hospital, and develops relationships with patients and doctors along the way. This also gives us a fascinating and humorous glimpse at the way American culture has changed over the last 40 years. For whatever reason, home birth seems to attract a greater percentage of unusual people than one might find in a random sample of the population. They're all here: people who have pets at their birth, recovering drug addicts, hippies making the transition to suburban yuppie life, families with complicated emotional dynamics.

The stories of individual births are great, and many are very uplifting, but the book as a whole is something of a downer. This is due to the time of its writing. In the early 90s, after many years of phenomenal gains, home birth had a dark period as the ability of midwives to secure malpractice insurance was severely constrained. Mrs. Vincent's own story provides a particularly tragic example of this. Thankfully, the situation has improved a point she makes in a brief epilogue.

The book also has a few helpful appendices indicating what supplies one ought to have at a homebirth, cost studies of midwife assisted vs. physician assisted birth and so on.

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I have been looking for a book about natural/gentle childbirth written by someone more like, well, me. I am not really a hippie (although I am a wanna-be, admittedly), I do not use crystals or herbs for healing, I don't hate the modern world with its technology and such, and neither does Peggy Vincent. She provides a very grounded view of natural childbirth, and is not afraid to point out the flaws in herself, and in what she sees others doing in the obstetrics arena. She is just very real, and she provides TONS of information about childbirth in a way that is totally NOT textbook. For those "unenlightened" ladies like me out there, trying to learn all I can about the best way to birth a baby, this is one of the most trustworthy books I have read. Thank you, Peggy!

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As a student midwife and mother of three homebirthed babies, I have read every book out there regarding birth. Peggy's book is such a delight! What I love the most is that she imparts so much information and wisdom, not through preaching or lecturing, but through storytelling. Any one of the chapters could stand alone as a short story. It is equally compelling as a memoir and as an informative birth preparation resource. It is destined to become a classic in a genre glutted with how-to and how-not-to birth opinion pieces. Peggy embodies a concrete sense of trust in the birth process. As readers we can take that trust on as our own, since we feel that we are experiencing every birth right there with her! This would be very valuable reading for any expectant mother (or father!)

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The Witchery of Archery

A gentle book telling tales of archery in the deep south of USA, poetic and visually descriptive of the slower life of holiday adventures and the enjoyment shared by two brothers with the bow and arrow during the late 1800's, don't be put off that it is a photocopy book of an out of print edition, the print might be bad, but the content is good. Good bedtime reading.

Wish I had an original print of this gem. Two fellow Hoosiers, deprived of their firearms following the civil war because they served for the Confederacy, take to their old friend stick and string. If you are an archery nut like me this is an absolute must read. This is the book that started it all. The Tri-Fecta: The Witchery of Archery by Maurice Thompson, Hunting the Hard Way by Howard Hill and Hunting With The Bow and Arrow by Saxton Pope these should be in every archer's bookcase.

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This book presents quite a romantic perspective on archery and hunting with bow and arrow, something which can kindle interest in the sport, but also bring up sadness for a way of life that at the present time is largely lost and gone. One of the great ironies of the book is that while the author condemns those who would plunder nineteenth century wildlife with the lowly shotgun, (which required so much less skill to use than the longbow!)he himself tells story after story of going out into various American wildlands and shooting dozens of herons, cranes, woodpeckers, and pretty much any number of any bird that the whim of the moment inspired in him, including the now-extinct Ivory-Billed Woodpecker. Which just goes to show that one can be as irresponsble with a bow and arrow as with a gun, in spirit if not by numbers. Yes, Maurice Thompson, many a US citizen who in this day and age attempted to find himself a place to live out your beautiful stories of the grand old days when boys had plenty of space to explore and camp and dream, would be saddened to find himself limited to the tiny spaces left between ever-increasing private property holdings and restrictive US Fish and Game laws. And if he tried to imitate your adventures, he might well end up in jail. NOt that it isn't valuable to dream. And the romance of archery can certainly be kindled by this sweet book with its delightful nineteenth century flavor. The book also has an appendix on the concrete specifics of building a bow, fletching, string and shooting techniques.

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Overall I found this to be an enjoyable collection of hunting stories that so well reflects what some might consider a deplorable period in our history. After all, the writer shots anything that moves (while crticizing the users of modern shotguns of the same), he beats his dog, uses woodpeckers for target practice, and holds to many of the stereotypes that were common of the time. But historical nuances aside there is something nostalgic and endearing about the chance to gaze at a simpler golden era of the sport, especially when told with such detailed passion. Mr. Thompsons love for archery and the wild places of late 19th century U.S. are palpable and moving. And all the while one can't help but pick up a tidbit or two about the art even raising a chuckle here and there at the craziness of some of the adventures told. This makes the book both a pleasurable read on its own and a must read for any toxophilite or lover of traditional archery. I recommend it without hesitation, especially now that it is in eBook form. Enjoy!

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Having friends who crossbow hunt, I thought it would benefit me to understand bow hunting from the beginning. The fundamentals of any kind of bow is in this book. It's a great book with a story.

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Honey, Garlic and Vinegar: Home Remedies and Recipes

I was very disappointed in this book. The instructions for the remedies were vague to say the least i.e. mix vinegar with liquid soap...IN WHAT AMOUNTS? And some sounded downright dangerous...i.e. put crushed garlic up your rectum. Much space was devoted to anecdotal, unsubstantiated tales and very little to even scientific-sounding advice. I will not be able to use this book for much.

Suffice it to say i had high hopes for this book but the author didn't even come close to meeting them. Anyone interested in these three foods already knows the basics of their good qualities and probably purchase this book to learn more. The author isn't very scientific and just offers a dumb-downed read. If you are looking for a basic book on these three foods, with some recipes, this book is for you. If you are looking for a deeper scientific read, look elsewhere.

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This book is tremendous as it give the wholesome greatness of these three ingredients all that have been available for centuries. I used several of the recipes included in this book for our social hour at our church. They all enjoyed sampling foods that were available during Bible times. There are many healthful suggestions given in all three ingredients and great book.

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This book alows the reader to get "back to basics" with information to go "green" and not harm anything in the earth or aid. Easy to read with loads of information for everyone.

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I liked the book but it wasnt quite what I thought it would be. I thought it would have a better layout of the rememdies.

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Mother Nature's Herbal: A Complete Guide for Experiencing the Beauty, Knowledge & Synergy of Everyth

This book is perfect for the kitchen witch, or for anyone who enjoys folklore and herbal remedies. Great read, and great advice!

I found this book to be most helpful. It covers everything from basic herbs and their uses to what plants work best together in your garden. Not to mention the tons of receipts for every herb mentioned throughout this book...and there are a lot of herbs in this book. I highly recommend this to book to anyone that uses herbs to grow, cook with or for medicinal reasons.

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I purchased this book from a local bookstore in hopes of supporting a local author and fellow gardener. Mostly, it is an interesting read, but much of it appears to be a review of other previously published compilations of herbals. From a stodgy point of view, my reservtions about this book and the author came from the utter lack of good references. For example: the author states that the dutch oven was invented by Dr. Benjamen Franklin. A simple internet search would tell you quite a different story. Many of the "facts" presented in this book's narrative are done without any references. With that foremost in my mind, I wonder about the information presented regarding health and herbal tonics. I am being most generous with my rating because much of what she has compiled is useful; however, it can be found in other respected accounts with solid, verified references. I now wish I had just purchased it used instead of paying full price!

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This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 5/17/08.

Those of you who know me, know that nature and I do not get along. I am allergic to just about anything that grows: trees, flowers, grass, and hair on all the cuddliest of pets. This may cause you to ask, why in the world would I ask to review "Mother Nature's Herbal" by Judith Griffin. Easy, I never developed any food allergies and this girl loves to eat! I was excited to learn what things I ate and drank that may already be beneficial and if there were any other yummy options out there to try.

Well "Mother Nature's Herbal" met, and exceeded, my expectations. After being out of print for nearly ten years, I can understand why it has been brought back. Firstly, the book is a visual dream. The cover has a beautiful aged Victorian appearance, and there are delightful vintage illustrations throughout. Enough about the visuals though, because books are to be read!

This book is insanely thorough. I've read my fair share of "herbals" before, and the amount of information here buries all of them combined. Section one is entitled "A Cultural Herbal" and man she isn't kidding around! Native American, Mayan, colonial America, medieval era, Indian, Oriental, Mediterranean, and other cultures are all represented here. Unlike other books, Griffin doesn't just give you a list and move on. Each chapter gives you a lesson in the culture and history of herbal use of the region, along with the author's personal experiences of learning and working with the herbs. In addition, the big pay off for me...recipes! For instance, want to know how to make a colonial Thanksgiving turkey, pesto genovese, or paneer? Then buy this book! Now, not only can I justify my love of Indian food because of its herbal health benefits, I can try making some of my favorite dishes!

The second section of "Mother Nature's Herbal" is "Grow and Use Your Own Herbs". Not being the hands in the earth kind of gal, this part wasn't nearly as exciting. That said, it was detailed, but written plainly enough, that even a indoors gal like myself could clearly understand how to grow a garden. Griffin covers just about anything you may want to know: how to grow your herbs organically, landscape plans for themed herb gardens, using old roses, and so much more.

After that, she advises you on what to do with your herbal harvests, such as herb vinegars, no salt herbal blends, teas, and again, much more. There is also a section devoted to the use of essential oils and flower essences that you may make out of your harvest. There's even a growing guide, nutrient guide, and purchasing guide in the appendices.

"Mother Nature's Herbal" is a fabulous resource, whether you're a gardener, or just someone who likes to learn more about the food you eat.

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Saw this in my local public library and had to have it! Love it! I use it as a reference everyday

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