The Faces of Grief: A Woman's Bible Study

Author: Marian Talley-Cunningham
Publisher: BJU Press
Price: $7.95

Reviewed by: Brandee Musiala

There are many faces of grief and just as many ways to deal with it. Yet when Marian Talley-Cunningham found herself widowed for the second time, it was scripture that really helped her.

This bible study will arm you with helpful passages and advice as you begin to navigate your way through the loss of your loved one. So if you find yourself dealing with denial, anger, bargaining, depression or even acceptance, this is a great resource for you.

A Homeopathic Guide to Partnership and Compatibility: Understanding Your Type and Finding Love

by Liz Lalor (2004)
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Price: $18.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Although we see the effects of illness physically, there are mental and emotional factors that run alongside it. Homeopathy takes into account the simultaneous forces at work within us.

Lalor not only looks into the underlying emotional component that affects one's health and well-being, but even goes further by linking self-knowledge to finding your ideal partner (unlike previous uses and methods of homeopathy). There is a stronger connection than you may think.

“Homeopathic constitutional analysis is based on the assumption that when you know who are you are, you also know what fulfills you emotionally,” she says.

Studying movies as examples, from The African Queen to American Splendor, Lalor looks at character and emotional personalities, as well as relationship types. By observing individualized and custom approaches to life, the author is able to categorize a number of constitutions. By seeing where you match up, the result is self-understanding and finding what makes you feel fulfilled in a relationship.

“A constitutional analysis encompasses who you are, how you operate in the world, how you interact with people, and, most important for this book, what you are like in your relationships.”

A truly unique application backed up by research and experience, Lalor's book takes self-knowledge and compatibility to a whole new level.

Angel of Light: A Personal Journey Through Imagination to Find the Spirit

by Richard James Cook (2001)
Publisher: Fountain Publishing
Price: $16.00

Reviewed by: Brandee Musiala

Few of us can't imagine anything more tragic than the death of a child. In the face of such a tragedy, Richard James Cook managed to channel his grief into the poems and artwork that are of Angel of Light: A Personal Journey Through Imagination to Find the Spirit.

Not to be read without a box of tissues nearby, Angel of Light chronicles the short life of Cook’s daughter Laura who was diagnosed with a rare heart disease in her first year of life. The Cooks’ were then faced with the reality that Laura would need a heart transplant. Unfortunately, despite the transplant, Laura passed away when she was just four years old.

When his journaling gives way to poems, passages and paintings that helped Richard James Cook work through his loss, the spiritual closure is evident. The paintings in which Laura is depicted as living on in heaven are especially telling.

As emotionally charged as this book is, I believe it is the depictions of Laura living on that may help someone in a similar situation. All in all, bittersweet.

From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself Into a Weapon of Mass Reduction

by Carole Carson (2007)
Publisher: Hound Press
Price: $14.95

Reviewed by: Brandee Cote

From The Biggest Loser to Village on a Diet, it seems that we can’t get enough of a great weight loss story. Not only are they inspirational, but for the subjects themselves, the shows' popularity brings accountability. For those of us who have struggled with weight loss, we know all too well that in those moments of weakness, it’s harder to give in when you have a weight loss partner to answer to.

Carole Carson’s weight loss journey is a great testament to that. Tired of the self-loathing, she courageously spoke publicly about the shame of being obese in her local newspaper. She also made a commitment to continue to be open about her weight loss. So as Carole went from 'fat to fit', she took a community with her and after two months of encouraging each other, they collectively lost 8,000 pounds!

If you’re about to start your own weight loss journey, I definitely recommend reading this book and pairing up with a friend for support and motivation.

Happy Days, Healthy Living: From Sit-Com Teen to the Health-Food Scene

by Cathy Silver
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Price: $18.95

Reviewed by: Olivia Worobec

Cathy Silvers is most known to audiences as “Jenny Piccolo” on television's Happy Days, but now she is doing something to make sure our days stay happy by speaking on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.

Her book is divided into distinguishing parts of her life.

i) There are passages on growing up, with plenty of stories on Cathy's father (Phil Silvers, the famous entertainer and comedy actor), along with how the influence of show business, the experience of public speaking in school competitions, and her talent led her to win a role on Happy Days, becoming a successful actress in Hollywood right off the bat.

ii) There is Cathy's adult life: going to college, getting married, projects she took on (such as helping the homeless in form of fundraising when she was living in Washington, D.C.), having kids, a health scare, and how she was led from being a “fast food mom” to changing her lifestyle for the better.

iii) The end features insight from leaders in healthy living – from the fields of nutrition, beauty, health, and environment.

Forewards by Garry Marshall (creator and executive producer of Happy Days) and Ron Howard (Happy Days, now a famous Hollywood director), and other passages by former co-stars (Erin Moran, Marion Ross, and Henry Winkler), give a nice inside perspective of their experiences with Cathy. All mention her unrelenting energy and charisma.

We always hear about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This book takes it even further, revealing facts that most individuals aren't aware of and would be shocked to hear. It shakes the reader out of their reverie to realize their lifestyle and diet is not good for them. Even more importantly, it inspires thinking for the better – helping to conduce real change.

Live Longer, Live Better: Taking Care of Your Health

by Peter H. Gott, M.D. (2004)
Publisher: Quill Driver Books
Price: $14.95 or $23.50 (CAD)

Reviewed by: John Worobec

Dr. Gott, America's most popular medical columnist, addresses health concerns (in an organized manner) to assist those seeking information and interesting possibilities for their medical issues. Besides the clinical side of medicine, Dr. Gott does mention things that are naturalistic in methods and natural/herbal aids, but also warns about the quantity and/or use that could be detrimental or non-existent in value to health. (Note: It is not a replacement for a personal one-on-one medical advice from a qualified physician).

Each chapter fields a definitive topic in which Dr. Gott explains possible situations/scenarios that could play out based on his experiences, and his views from a medical perspective, as well. The index in the back of the book is very comprehensive in finding a more specific need. Therefore, there is no need to read the whole book or chapter(s) to become knowledgeable about a specific affliction.

All in all, it is a guide for taking charge of your health.

Breakfasts with Archangel Shecky: And His Infallible, Irrefutable, Unassailable, One-Size-Fits-All Secrets of Success

by Gene Perret (2008)
Publisher: Quill Driver Books
Price: $19.95

Reviewed by: Brandee Cote

Who doesn’t love a good success story? Written by three-time Emmy Award winner, Gene Perret, this hilarious portrayal of a guardian angel attempting to turn a Philadelphia wannabe comedian into an entertainment star is hard to put down.

“Is Shecky really an angelic visitor from the other side? Or is he just a blowhard deadbeat who’s trying to con a few free drinks and a meal or two from a kid who wants desperately to make it in the comedy profession? Well, that’s part of the mystery that makes this tale so captivating.”

This book is a light-hearted, fun read that will have you applying Archangel Shecky’s advice to your chosen goals!