Against Medical Advice

Against Medical Advice: A True Story by James Patterson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Okay so I guess I am on a medical kick right now. I actually picked this up at the library without really knowing what it was about. I just know I like James Patterson and was in a mood for that type of a book. Well, this wasn't his typical book. It definitely is not a murder/mystery, detective like book. But it still was really good!

James Patterson partnered with Hal Friedman for this book. Hal's son, Cory, has been suffering from Tourette's, OCD, and severe anxiety for 13 years. Hal decided he wanted to tell Cory's story and the difficulties that he and his family have had to face. This is a true story and is told in the son's voice. I can't even imagine the things he went through. Not being able to control your body, what you do or say. I just felt for this little 5 year old boy when he felt the need to spit in his sisters and then father's face. He felt so bad and didn't want to do it, but he had to. His parents had so much patience and faith in Cory. And I can't believe how many medicines and treatments he went through.

Anyways, this is a really good book. And a pretty fast read. The chapters are super short (I love this about James Patterson), and the story is really interesting.

Happy Reading!



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The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If I could I would probably rate this a 4.5. This was such a fascinating book! I never really new about HeLa cells, never really given medical research much thought. This book tells the story of Henrietta, a woman whose cells taken without her knowledge have made some important and life changing advances in medicine. She has been dead for more than sixty years, yet her cells are still alive. They were vital in research for the polio vaccine, in vitro fertilization, and cloning, and has helped us learn more about cancer, virus's, and much much more. I really enjoyed how this book was written because I tend to get bored with books that just list facts after facts. But the author has tied in the interesting story of Henrietta, her family, and politics surrounding her cells. I definitely learned a ton reading this book and am very glad I know about this now. I think it brings up a lot of issues that thankfully the medical field have realized and have taken steps to fix and address. I would definitely recommend this book! If you are interested in history, racial issues, the medical field, research, or anything really, you will enjoy this book.

Have you read this book, what did you think?

Happy Reading!



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The Reader

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I have to say this was a interesting story. I really liked how the story was told and the confusion of emotions the characters experienced.

The book is set in post WW2 Germany. 15 year old Micheal is on his way home when he falls extremely ill. Hanna, a woman twice his age, comes to his rescue. Once Micheal is well he goes back to Hanna's home to thank her. What follows is a passionate, odd and sexual relationship between the two. Then Hanna disappears. Fast forward to Micheal in law school following a case. He then sees Hanna who is on trial for a hideous crime. Hanna does not defend herself and Micheal is not sure what to do or think.

I just saw that this book was made into a movie in 2008, so I will have to check that out too.

Happy Reading



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City of Bones

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow! This was a really good book! It is a series (the first book in the Mortal Instruments series), and I am so excited to keep reading and find out how everything turns out.

Anyways, the book follows Clary, an average 15 year-old, at least that is what she thought until her whole world was turned upside down. One night she finds herself seeing people, and creatures, that no one else can. The next night her mother is kidnapped and she is attacked by a demon. Clary finds herself teaming up with a group of teenagers who call themselves shadowhunters. They explain to Clary that they hunt down and kill all different types of demons. The shadowhunters are extremely curious of how Clary all of the sudden as the "sight" (ability to see the demons, shadowhunters, vampires, etc.). The book follows Clary on this amazingly weird adventure to find her mom, and understand more of her past.

So I am definitely going to keep reading this series. And the best part is that there area 3 other books already out, so no waiting!!!!



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Dining with Joy

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Meet Joy, a cooking show host who can't cook. I know, what is that about. Her father was a amazing cook and died suddenly after just getting the show popular. Joy takes it over to make her dad happy. She tries to bring a new fresh and comedic way to the cooking show. It works for awhile, but her secret is eating away at her. Here she is, almost 30 and living a lie. She has no husband ( or prospects), no children, and no passion. Enter Luke, a handsome chef who is hired on to co-host the 4th season of the show. The rest of the book is about romance, life, passion, struggles, fears, lies and of course, yummy food. I really enjoyed this book. It was almost like I was watching a chick flick (which I love)!



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Breathless

Katie Kitrell is a sixteen year old girl who is having to deal with some tough family problems. After she is shipped off to boarding school she chooses to keep her families drama a secret.
In doing so she lets it slip that he brother died recently,
when in fact that is not true.
Her older brother has some difficult psychological issues,
her mother has a drinking problem,
and her dad is a workaholic.
Katie doesn't know how to deal with all of this so at her boarding school
so she decided to ignore them and try to live a different life.
Luckily she fits in pretty well,
especially since she is a amazing swimmer.
She feels most alive in the water and thrives on the swim team.
But the pressure of her family and swimming is getting to her
and she is making some wrong choices.
Will her secret come out, how will her friends react?
I really enjoyed this book!
Katie deals with and gets into some difficult stuff
and I enjoyed getting to know her and the other characters in the book.
I would definitely recommend this one.

Happy Reading

The Good Thief

Ren is a twelve year old orphan who is missing his left hand.
He doesn't remember how he lost it or who his parents are.
Ren wants a family badly, and has been desperately trying to figure out his past.
One day a man named Benjamin appears at the orphanage.
He claims to be Ren's brother and persuades the monks at the orphanage to release Ren.
Is Benjamin really Ren's brother?
The book follows Ren on his adventure to find out what his true past is.

I really enjoyed this book!
It was a little different from what I normally read,
which is what made it so fun.
I like how Hannah Tinti put together this book
and look forward to reading more of her work.