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Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies!  Okay so I know that it's Saturday, and this post is a day late, and I apologize.  Unfortunately, Shanley Belle has been very sick.  She has a severe kidney infection that is antibiotic resistant, and I had to take her to her appointment yesterday for an IV infusion.  She has had a history of kidney infections her entire life, and this one is scary.  Plus, she is moving to Baton Rouge in a couple of weeks to begin her doctoral program at LSU.  We will do all we can to help her move and get settled.  Hopefully she can get some much needed rest this weekend.

When we got to the lake yesterday, the Internet wasn't working properly, but it is this morning and I'm able to post this review.

The irony is that American Gods is Shanley's all time favorite book, and she would be very sad to think that I forgot to post this yesterday morning because I was so focused on her.  She loves mythology and lore, especially Norse mythology.  I think I'll order her Neil Gaiman's book on Norse mythology because she doesn't have that one yet.  She will love it!





About American Gods

Paperback: 576 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; The Tenth Anniversary Edition, with TV Tie-in jacket art (March 28, 2017)

Now a STARZ Original Series produced by FremantleMedia North America starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane, Emily Browning, and Pablo Schreiber | Premiering Sunday, April 30, at 9pm EST

Locked behind bars for three years, Shadow did his time, quietly waiting for the day when he could return to Eagle Point, Indiana. A man no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, all he wanted was to be with Laura, the wife he deeply loved, and start a new life. But just days before his release, Laura and Shadowís best friend are killed in an accident.

With his life in pieces and nothing to keep him tethered, Shadow accepts a job from a beguiling stranger he meets on the way home, an enigmatic man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A trickster and a rogue, Wednesday seems to know more about Shadow than Shadow does himself. Life as Wednesdayís bodyguard, driver, and errand boy is far more interesting and dangerous than Shadow ever imagined. Soon Shadow learns that the past never dies . . . and that beneath the placid surface of everyday life a storm is brewing an epic war for the very soul of America and that he is standing squarely in its path.

PLUS: don't miss American Gods: The Official Coloring Book, featuring illustrations by Yvonne Gilbert, Craig Phillips, and Jon Proctor. Indulge your inner artist and revel in the stunning imagery of the gods and people, places and artifacts of Neil Gaimanís American Gods.







Shadow Moon and Mr. Wednesday from the American Gods Coloring Book



 

Purchase Links†for the TV Tie-in Paperback

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble






Photo by Beowulf Sheehan

About Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, Anansi Boys, The Graveyard Book, Good Omens (with Terry Pratchett), The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and The Truth Is a Cave in the Black Mountains; the Sandman series of graphic novels; and the story collections Smoke and Mirrors, Fragile Things, and Trigger Warning. He is the winner of numerous literary honors, including the Hugo, Bram Stoker, and World Fantasy awards, and the Newbery and Carnegie Medals. Originally from England, he now lives in the United States. He is Professor in the Arts at Bard College. Find out more about Neil at his website, find all his books at his online bookstore, and follow him on InstagramFacebooktumblr, Twitter, and his blog.


My Review:

This is a new edition of American Gods, and I wish I could compare this one with the original, but honestly I read the original so many years ago I can't determine what wasn't in the first because I only remembered the basic storyline from before.  I did read that this is the edition Neil Gaiman is the most proud of, and it is also an improvement of the tenth anniversary edition.

Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite writers.  Our daughters love him, too, and when the youngest was in sixth grade and the oldest in the eleventh I took them to see Gaiman speak in Tuscaloosa.  We had so much fun, and both were thrilled when he answered their questions during the Q & A session (notecards had been distributed before his talk and he chose which questions to answer).  Anyway, I digress about Gaiman's rockstar status in our home.  On to my review...

American Gods is social satire at its best.  Basically it's about a war between the old gods from European lore (the ones immigrants brought with them to America) and the new ones indigenous to America:  freeways, internet, TV, etc.  The old gods have lost much of their allure and power when following their native folks to the new world, and they have been reduced to petty criminals like grifters and prostitutes.  But a Norse god has determined that the old gods must win at all costs: Apparently the oncoming "storm" of a battle is for America's very soul as a nation.  Shadow, the protagonist of American Gods, has some humorous and sometimes disturbing run-ins with the "new" gods as he works for Mr. Wednesday.  By the way, Wednesday's name is a big clue to his true identity.

Honestly the character that makes me the most uncomfortable more than any of the other (very colorful) characters is Laura.  Her blasé attitude toward everything is cringe-worthy.  Readers love Shadow: How could she?  How could she have betrayed his trust like she did?  But unfortunately, Shadow's devotion to Laura is what landed him in prison to start with.  What men will do for....well....you know.... *sighs*

I couldn't help but wonder if the story would have been any different if Gaiman had written after 9/11 and the advent of social media.  I kept thinking about that while reading this new edition. Unfortunately, I think it would have been very different with a much more disturbing ending.  I'm happy he wrote it when he did.

The story is a difficult one to follow with all the subplots, and the language definitely has an R rating. But still it is literary worthy and I highly recommend it.  And if you've never read Neverwhere or The Graveyard Book you really must read them.  There are characters in both books I shall never forget.  If you'd like to read a few of my reviews of Gaiman's other works, use the search widget on my sidebar.

Disclosure:

I received a copy of the above edition of American Gods from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.




Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill







Literary Friday: American Gods

Saturday, May 27, 2017




Happy Literary Friday, My Lovelies!  This week I read one of my favorite books of the year so far, Close Enough to Touch by Colleen Oakley.  Y'all must add this title to your Summer Reading List: It's the *perfect* lake or beach read!


According to Goodreads:

From the author of Before I Go comes an unconventional love story perfect for fans of the emotional novels of Jodi Picoult and Jojo Moyes.

One time a boy kissed me and I almost died... 

And so begins the story of Jubilee Jenkins, a young woman with a rare and debilitating medical condition: she’s allergic to other humans. After a humiliating near-death experience in high school, Jubilee has become a recluse, living the past nine years in the confines of the small town New Jersey house her unaffectionate mother left to her when she ran off with a Long Island businessman. But now, her mother is dead, and without her financial support, Jubilee is forced to leave home and face the world—and the people in it—that she’s been hiding from.

One of those people is Eric Keegan, a man who just moved into town for work. With a daughter from his failed marriage who is no longer speaking to him, and a brilliant, if psychologically troubled, adopted son, Eric’s struggling to figure out how his life got so off-course, and how to be the dad—and man—he wants so desperately to be. Then, one day, he meets a mysterious woman named Jubilee, with a unique condition...

Close Enough to Touch is an evocative, poignant, and heartrending exploration of the power and possibilities of the human heart.


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Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble



Connect with Colleen

Website | Facebook | Twitter






My Review:  This book appeals to my inner book nerd.  Jubilee is an avid reader, and she earned her online degree in English Literature.  When she's forced to leave her home for the first time in almost a decade, she runs into Madison, one of the mean girls responsible for "humiliating near-death experience in high school," at a convenience store.  When she learns that Jubilee needs a job, Madison uses her influence as a member the local library's board of directors to secure her a one there.  I confess that I enjoyed all the book/literary references and discussions throughout the book, especially the chick lit Eric reads in order to connect with his daughter.  The book also appeals to my inner comic book nerd: There are plenty of references to the X-Men Comics, and as many of my loyal readers know I am a Marvel Girl!

I love the characters in this book.  Jubilee is so inspiring...I admire her bravery and capacity to love the people she encounters in her very small world.  Eric's world is much larger and even more complicated. He is trying very hard to connect with his wayward teenage daughter, and he's determined to help his adopted godson Aja deal with his grief over his parents' tragic deaths.  Aja is such a fun character: He is precocious and extremely intelligent.  He and Jubilee bond over many things, including the X-men, books, and trivia.  

Needless to say, I also enjoyed the story.  It's heartwarming, uplifting, and enthralling.  I read it in an afternoon: I couldn't put it down!  If you enjoy family dramas, romance, and chick lit (Madison and Jubilee form a strong friendship), you will love Close Enough to Touch.  

Disclosure:  I received a copy of Close Enough to Touch from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.



And now on the the Giveaway...

Use the Rafflecopter widget below for a chance to win a copy of Close Enough to Touch.  Good luck!








Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill



Literary Friday: Close Enough to Touch *PLUS* a Giveaway!

Friday, May 19, 2017

Happy May, My Lovelies!  I keep meaning to write a post sharing with you all the exciting things going on with me and my family.  I promise to catch you up via a longer post soon, but first I'm very happy to share with you one of the most important health books I've ever read: The Plant Paradox by Dr. Steven R. Gundry.  I am so grateful for TLC Book Tours allowing me to be a part of this tour.  (As you know, I typically review literature and historical fiction; I rarely review nonfiction.)  

Please read this review.  It will change your life!




About The Plant Paradox

• Hardcover: 416 pages

Publisher: Harper Wave; 1 edition (April 25, 2017)

“Dr. Gundry is a true trailblazer, always at the forefront of scientific knowledge. The Plant Paradox shows the world what pioneer thinking is about and is a must-read book for anyone interested in being as healthy as nature has designed them to be.” —Alejandro Junger MD, New York Times bestselling author of Clean, Clean Gut and Clean Eats

The Plant Paradox elegantly explains how plants defend themselves from being consumed by humans, and how eating the wrong ones at the wrong times immeasurably hurts our health. An eye-opening read.” —Mehmet Oz, MD, Professor of Surgery, New York Presbyterian/Columbia University

Most of us have heard of gluten—a protein found in wheat that causes widespread inflammation in the body. Americans spend billions of dollars on gluten-free diets in an effort to protect their health. But what if we’ve been missing the root of the problem? In The Plant Paradox, renowned cardiologist Dr. Steven Gundry reveals that gluten is just one variety of a common, and highly toxic, plant-based protein called lectin. Lectins are found not only in grains like wheat but also in the “gluten-free” foods most of us commonly regard as healthy, including many fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and conventional dairy products. These proteins, which are found in the seeds, grains, skins, rinds, and leaves of plants, are designed by nature to protect them from predators (including humans). Once ingested, they incite a kind of chemical warfare in our bodies, causing inflammatory reactions that can lead to weight gain and serious health conditions.

At his waitlist-only clinics in California, Dr. Gundry has successfully treated tens of thousands of patients suffering from autoimmune disorders, diabetes, leaky gut syndrome, heart disease, and neurodegenerative diseases with a protocol that detoxes the cells, repairs the gut, and nourishes the body.

Now, in The Plant Paradox, he shares this clinically proven program with readers around the world. The simple (and daunting) fact is, lectins are everywhere. Thankfully, Dr. Gundry offers simple hacks we easily can employ to avoid them, including: · Peel your veggies. Most of the lectins are contained in the skin and seeds of plants; simply peeling and de-seeding vegetables (like tomatoes and peppers) reduces their lectin content. · Shop for fruit in season. Fruit contain fewer lectins when ripe, so eating apples, berries, and other lectin-containing fruits at the peak of ripeness helps minimize your lectin consumption. · Swap your brown rice for white. Whole grains and seeds with hard outer coatings are designed by nature to cause digestive distress—and are full of lectins. With a full list of lectin-containing foods and simple substitutes for each, a step-by-step detox and eating plan, and delicious lectin-free recipes, The Plant Paradox illuminates the hidden dangers lurking in your salad bowl—and shows you how to eat whole foods in a whole new way.


 

Purchase Links

HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble




Photo by Drea Castro

About Steven R. Gundry, M.D.

Steven R. Gundry, MD, FACS, FACC, is the director of the International Heart and Lung Institute in Palm Springs, California, and the founder/director of The Center for Restorative Medicine in Palm Springs and Santa Barbara. Find out more about Dr. Gundry and his work at his website, and connect with him on Facebook.


My Review:

I have read many health and diet-related books over the years, but never one like The Plant Paradox. Dr. Gundry combines history, chemistry, and biology to explain why and how certain plants were never meant for us to eat.  However, don't let this dissuade you from reading the book because it does not read like a dry, academic journal piece.  I also think it's important that his research has been peer reviewed, and his endnotes are extensive.  Much of what he writes about he's known for years to be anecdotally true, but some of the science like "immune system scanners" is relatively new science: the description for these scanners won the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2011 and the discovery of the receptors (G-spotters) was awarded the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2012.  These new discoveries help explain the patterns Dr. Gundry has noted in the immune systems of his patients.

What's really disconcerting is how physicians and the media have erroneously encouraged the consumption of whole grains and other "super foods" that are not healthy at all.  Gundry explains why these foods are dangerous to our immune systems, and he lists them so they can be avoided.  But the good news is he's included a list of healthy options as well as recipes to get the reader started on a path to a healthier life.  Also included in the book: anecdotes from patients who struggled with varying health issues and how changing their diet changed their health drastically for the better.

I don't mean to get off topic, but this book reminds me of my grandfather: He was one of the artists for Jenny Craig's "You Are What You Eat" campaign back during the 80s, and I can remember one of his drawings was a beautiful giraffe made entirely of leaves.  While we may not literally be like the giraffe and look like or "become" what we consume, we can certainly be constrained by eating lectins found in so-called "healthy" foods.  So instead of "You Are What You Eat," this book teaches us why "You're Sick Because of What You Eat."

I am currently purging our pantry and restocking it with the good choices found in the book.  I truly believe that it will make all of us feel better, and I will update my family's progress from time to time here on the blog.  I hope you will read this book, and I'd love for you to share your thoughts with me either below in the comments section or via email.

Disclosure:

I received a copy of The Plant Paradox from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.



Until next time...

Happy reading!
Ricki Jill



Book Review: The Plant Paradox

Wednesday, May 3, 2017


Hello!

I'm Ricki Jill. Welcome! I'm honored that you're reading my blog. I enjoy sharing my creative lifestyle @ The Bookish Dilettante. For more information about my blog, please read the Start Here page. Thank-you for stopping by, and I hope you'll consider following me via email.

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