On With the Butter! by Heidi Herman is informative and thought provoking as it gives some ideas to self-help with retirement and living life to the fullest. Heidi gives us stories from those around her that are inspiring and full of wisdom, I mean just look at her 94 year old mother! She gives us something where activities and strategies can be used and that is purposeful not only for later in life but could be utilised now. It is something that is easy to read and a little fun. If you are at that stage where you are wondering “what comes next” grab a copy and have a read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jenni Bishophttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJenni Bishop2020-09-10 07:44:252020-09-10 07:44:25On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Jenni Bishop
Welcome to the life and times of John the Baptist, a Messiah, a prophet, a healer, a baptizer, a loner, a lover, a bringer of great news to the Jewish people and all others who listened. This is in no way a religious book. It is writen to clarify his life, his thought, his feelings and to set right a few wrongs.
Edouard, the philosopher, believes humans will always try to take over the things of souls and the things of God and when they do they misuse the word of God to fit their own needs for power and control. Edouard’s message was to listen to the word of God, love God as God loves you, live unconditional love, all are created equal.
In his lifetime there were no people in power willing to listen to him or his message. The mangods conspired to eliminate him. He died on the whim of a dancing girl who wanted his head on a platter.
Dr. Stu has always enjoyed spending time and conversing with souls desiring to make themselves known to him. He finds it quite normal to converse with them as he would a human. When writing with them he writes what they say verbatum or as close as possible to the desired meaning, he describes pictures they present and the emotions displayed. In his last book he wrote for the soul of Sarah Tarbell, a distant cousin of his describing the harrowing tale of her abduction at age fourteen and her growth to adulthood in a very different world. In this volume he writes for the soul Edouard who enlivened the body of John the Baptist. These works are subtitled, “As His/Her Soul
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/John-the-Baptist-Cover-Art.jpg1200764itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2020-09-09 07:12:442021-04-23 10:30:59John the Baptist: As His Soul Remembers by Stuart Ledwith
This book is a break from my normal genre. This is a non-fiction story. It presents a different attitude about living life to the fullest. There are suggestions in the book that can be a benefit. I will be looking into some of them. Yes, the suggestions are for retirement age but you can start it now. The title makes you want to read this book to see what it is all about. I highly recommend this book for some suggestions to make your retirement better.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Erica Fishhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngErica Fish2020-09-08 16:30:182020-09-08 18:29:36On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Erica Fish
Heidi Herman gives you a glimpse into the Icelandic life and the history of the saying “On with the butter!” Although this book is geared towards those who are retired or on the brink of retiring and looking to prepare for it better, I found it to be really helpful as well.
The book starts with an introduction to Heidi and how she learned about this saying and what it means to her and how it has impacted her life. The explanation is detailed, as is the description of what life can be like when this saying hasn’t been introduced into it.
The format is one that I have not seen used in such an effective way before, each chapter deals with a different aspect of life, there are her thoughts on it, a few anecdotes from her personal experiences and then there is a challenge to go along with it.
This book is a great read if you’re looking for inspiration on how to get the best out of life, giving the little kick needed to try out new things and why it is so important to keep your zest and enjoyment of life present at all times.
So take a chance to discover what it could be like to get on with life and “Spread more Living onto Everyday Life” by saying “On With The Butter” as well!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Roxsanne Lesieurhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngRoxsanne Lesieur2020-09-08 08:55:482020-09-08 08:55:48On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Roxsanne Lesieur
This was an interesting and informative book about living each day to the fullest.
The author writes in a clear and easy way so it makes it all easy to understand and relate to. It give you lots of examples and ideas to try your self and I like the check list of ideas at the end of each chapter.
The author relates the information to her own experiences which is a nice personal touch and shows she has experienced the stages she is speaking about.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2020-09-07 09:35:032020-09-07 15:44:24On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Kerry Carr
Wow, this was an emotional read made even more poignant by the fact that it is written by the author, Cynthia who is Ruth’s daughter. Part memoir and part fictionalised biography, ‘Finding Ruth’ tells the story of Ruth’s life. Ruth was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and so was unable to provide any insight into her life before she became ‘Mom’, and so the author literally turned detective to discover what her mothers life had been like before, as Cynthia says, “Alzheimer’s stole her memories”. The author begins the book by explaining how she came to write this novel and it was all down to the discovery of the eye catching photograph of Ruth taken in 1949 which is on the front cover of the book. The author had never seen this photo before and it only came to light as she was going through her mother’s possessions prior to her moving into a skilled nursing facility. This beautiful photo of a very glamorous looking young Ruth got her daughter thinking how little she knew of her mother’s life and being an author she did was she does best and put pen to paper to fill in the missing memories. The photograph had me intrigued before I had even opened the book and then once I began reading Ruth and Cynthia’s story I was hooked from beginning to the very last page. You can tell how much research has gone into this book, in reconstructing her mother’s life the author looked at photos, letters, public records and firsthand memories but you can also feel how much love and emotion has gone into this original and unique story. Ruth’s life reads as a novel, having dealt with ill fated relationships, heartbreak and also high points in her life. Remembering that the main character, Ruth, is actually a real person just makes the story all that more remarkable as is the women herself. As her daughter writes, Ruth always stayed strong and survived what ever life through at her even Alzheimer’s. The book covers sixty years of a life well lived and not only is it a wonderful story and a fitting memoir but both the reader and the author gain a much better understanding of Ruth herself. This is a heartwarming read and I recommend you have a box of tissues handy, but it is also inspirational and empowering and I can not recommend it highly enough.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Jennifer Gordonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngJennifer Gordon2020-09-05 16:33:492020-09-05 23:19:05Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Jennifer Gordon
Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton 4 Stars!!!!
I really found that I went through a roller coaster of emotions reading this book. I think that the author did a wonderful job of dealing with a very sensitive subject. There are many families out in the world that I am sure are dealing with different stages of this very scenario.
I found that I really got grabbed by this book and although not in my regular favourite genre really enjoyed it. The emotions that it brings to the surface really tug at your heartstrings. Alzheimers is a very viscous disease and this book really portrays how difficult and uncertain things can be when dealing with a relative with this illness. I like how the author was able to navigate the twists and turns that can be dealt with. I would definitely read more from this author in the future. Reviewed by @caraleeloonat View all my reviews
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Caralee Loonathttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngCaralee Loonat2020-09-05 16:06:152020-09-05 23:18:36Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Caralee Loonat
Wow! What a great job Cynthia Hamilton has done with her mother’s story! I was glued to the pages and I could feel the emotions in her words as I read. Alzheimer’s is a very difficult disease to watch someone you love struggle with this there are no words. I commend Cynthia Hamilton for doing research and piecing together her mother’s story I truly hope it helped her during her time of dealing with an emotional roller coaster.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Heather Harmonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngHeather Harmon2020-09-05 11:41:452020-09-05 23:14:48Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Heather Harmon
Finding Ruth is heartfelt story it is very engaging but can take time to get into. Ruth is a very strong woman and very independent. Very well written biography after witnesding many of her mother hardships of Ruth’s life. Her mother developed a disease later and this then changes her behaviors
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Piperhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngPiper2020-09-02 14:49:212020-09-02 15:35:29Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Piper Foster
On With The Butter by Heidi Herman is a book designed to help you make the most out of life and learn how to adapt your way of thinking. I liked how the author provided helpful suggestions and lists of how to implement what she was talking about. I’m not normally the type of person who will read a “self-help” book however this book I enjoyed. It didn’t feel like the author was lecturing on how you should do things and more regaling us with her own experiences and provided a basis for how we might learn from them and her. It was an interesting book to read and I found myself much more engrossed in the book than I expected. The tone of the book for me was also quite light hearted while also having depth which I think helped me enjoy this book more. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that wants to challenge their way of thinking.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Bakerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Baker2020-08-31 14:11:122020-08-31 14:35:29On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Kerry Baker
Finding Ruth is a very different book than I’m used to from Cynthia Hamilton. Cynthia delves into her mother’s past to discover the memories that Alzheimer’s has blurred, altered and in some cases removed completely.
Ruth’s story is a rollercoaster ride spanning over sixty years. The emotions bounce off the page through Cynthia’s writing and you want nothing more than for Ruth’s story to be a happy one. I found myself hooked, needing to know what happened next, so I can only imagine what this must have been like for the author to have been piecing together pictures and clues and memories to try and discover who her mother really was. The outcome of this is an emotional memoir about a real woman who made some difficult choices throughout her life. If you enjoy memoirs or non fiction stories then I would recommend this.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lianne Proberthttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLianne Probert2020-08-31 12:11:372020-08-31 14:34:09Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Lianne Probert
“We’ve all heard the popular expression YOLO—you only live once. We’re reminded to take advantage of the days we’re given, but how exactly do we do that? Some people focus on finding happiness, and while that’s not a bad idea, the definition of happiness is different for everyone, so we have to figure out what makes us happy. To do that, we need to experience life in all its glory—the exciting and the mundane, the good and the bad, the happy and the sad. The search might lead to peace and contentment, purposefulness, action and excitement, higher knowledge, or caretaking. We all seek these things to one degree or another, but there’s often one desire that becomes the primary focus. Before retirement, that focus is often our job or career. But after we retire, we discover that life changes and our primary focus seems to disappear. And that’s when the exploration begins again. That’s when we find new things that challenge us or just make us smile. As we get older, it’s easy to become consumed with our health and taking care of ourselves. We may change our diet, take prescriptions to treat medical conditions, and focus more on physical fitness. But while we’re working so hard to increase our life span, what are we doing to appreciate and make the most of that time? Those are the questions On with the Butter invites us to entertain.”
On With the Butter!: Spread More Living Into Everyday Life by Heidi Herman is in essence a self help guide full of useful tips and insights to living everyday to the fullest- especially for those who have reached retirement age. Full of wonderful anecdotes, personal thoughts/stories/and experiences- this book aims to inspire you with lots of ideas, challenges and activities- and also provides a list of resources to help you along the way. This was not only entertaining, but also thought-provoking, informative, educational, relatable, easy to read and understand, genuine, and interesting. It encourages the reader to embrace the thought of trying new things, stepping outside your comfort one, and challenging yourself- you may just find that these suggestions bring a little fun and purpose into your world, and enhance your life in the process. With each chapter focusing on a particular topic- there is plenty of ‘food-for-thought’ here. Things such as: Just Say Yes, Use Innovation, Walk on the Wild Side, Celebrate Family & Heritage, Take the Scenic Route, Keep Learning, Taste Life, Give Time, Be a Hometown Tourist, Enjoy the Simple Things, Explore Nature, Be Bold, Be Playful, Just Keep Moving, and Try Something New. So, what are you waiting for- grab a copy and…. On With The Butter!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Angela Hayeshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAngela Hayes2020-08-31 11:07:302020-09-01 07:32:32On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Angela Hayes
This was an emotional book for me. It was a very heartfelt and emotional story. This could not have been an easy story to write but I appreciate and applaud Ms. Hamilton for allowing us all into her most precious work. Writing about family can be emotional to begin with but when it is about your mother that takes it to another level of personal. Ms. Hamilton takes us on the journey that she and her mother went on with horrible dementia. You can not help but get emotional while reading and you will have tears. Thank you for allowing us into your life!!!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Lucy Bersonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLucy Berson2020-08-29 00:12:392020-08-29 00:12:39Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Lucy Berson
Cynthia Hamilton has once again transported us into another world with this read. I love following her crime thriller reads and this read just shows us another level of this author’s writing. This read was real, raw and totally heartfelt, heart-wrenching and heart-warming read all at the same time. This book showed the relationship and bond between mother and daughters, the ups and downs and the journeys they take. To know this read is based on this author’s own mother, it really makes you connect on a deeper level with the thoughts and feelings that are throughout this book. I loved following the journey our main character takes finding out all the ups and downs, trials and tribulations that her mother goes through in her lifetime. This read will hit you and take you on a never-ending emotional rollercoaster. I’m so glad I picked up this read, and can’t wait to read more from this author!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Chantelle Smithhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngChantelle Smith2020-08-28 04:50:502020-08-28 09:40:22Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Chantelle Smith
This was an amazing and emotional read. It was heartbreaking and inspiring reading Ruths story. It follows the story of Ruth who has always been a independent and strong women.
As she gets older and suffering from Alzheimer’s she finds life getting harder. Her daughter Cynthia supports her and doesn’t want to put her mum into a home. Upon searching through some old photographs they bring up question about Ruth in her younger years.
Cynthia wants to know who her mum actually is. The person she was and the things that happened in her life to make her the person Cynthia knows and loves. With Ruth memory failing Cynthia needs to dig through her memories and keepsakes to discover her mums past.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Kerry Carrhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngKerry Carr2020-08-26 13:40:032020-08-26 15:02:30Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Kerry Carr
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love Cynthia Hamilton. This book was so unlike anything I’ve read from her, I wasn’t sure how I would feel. The raw emotion portrayed in this book was heartwarming. It made for a fantastic read. I loved learning how a writer can go from one genre to another without any transition. It was flawless just as her other books are. This is a phenomenal story that is mostly factual but written as fiction as the way she writes. I can not wait for another book from Cynthia Hamilton- bring. It on.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Meg Tyrrellhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngMeg Tyrrell2020-08-25 20:42:222020-08-25 22:34:42Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Meg Tyrrell
This book served as a love letter to the author’s mother’s life and it’s so beautifully written as she makes her mother human. A human and mother I could relate to. As a nurse, we know how the disease affects others but not quite sure how a person’s life was until we look into their life stories and this book paints a vivid picture Ruth left behind. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to take a trip back in time, especially women who want to know how to overcome so much while balancing being mothers and in relationships. Great read!
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Faith Jacksonhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngFaith Jackson2020-08-25 19:24:332020-08-25 22:31:49Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Faith Jackson
Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton
This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I’ve got to say that I really enjoyed this. This won’t be the last book I’ll read by Hamilton.
This follows Cindy in her mom’s journey. She goes through her mother’s things to find who her mom was in the past. This hit close to home as a family member went down the same path Ruth did.
Ruth can no longer remember anything of who she once was. Finding herself over the years has stopped as she depends on her kids. Her past is no longer there and there are days she doesn’t know who she is. The quote I choose for Ruth is: “Do you see those trees right there? Would you believe, every day when I walked to school, I’d walk right by those trees…and here they are!”
I do highly recommend this for anyone who loves an emotional read.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Amanda Kimblehttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngAmanda Kimble2020-08-21 17:55:152020-08-21 21:20:56Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton – Review by Amanda Kimble
On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life By Heidi Herman 5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading the book On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman. It is a wonderful book that helps you to look at life in different ways. In it are personal experiences of both the author and family that are inspirational and a joy to read about. The book challenged me and my way of thinking about life and how l live it. I enjoyed the quotes that the author put at the beginning of the chapters as well as the lists of ways to implement changes that each chapter talked about. I normally don’t read a lot of self-help books however the way that that the book is written had me feeling like I was talking to a friend who wants to share the joys of how the information has assisted her and how it can help me. Don’t miss out on an amazing book that will keep your interest until the final page. I know I can’t wait to try the examples provided within the book. I would highly recommend reading it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Laura Furutahttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngLaura Furuta2020-08-18 18:08:082020-08-18 21:46:29On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Laura Furuta
I enjoyed this nonfiction book about life, the living, doing and moving. This book has a few stories about how to do this plus it also gives you steps for you to follow. I found this book easy to follow and read. It gives practical ideas for you to change your life and still keep the social distance. I loved the title of this book as it makes sense with what this book will do for your life. I know that I will be trying a few suggested ideas. It is geared more towards retirement age but I think it would be good for anyone who is looking to be inspired, motivated. I highly recommend this book to help you improve your life.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Bobbi Wagnerhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngBobbi Wagner2020-08-16 16:02:412020-08-16 16:02:41On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman – Review by Bobbi Wagner
Carry on, keep doing what you’re doing, forge ahead, and keep moving. Icelanders have a saying for it: Áfram með Smjörið – on with the butter!
If you’re looking for new ways to add zest to your life or have free time in retirement, this book offers a wide variety of activities and challenges, along with inspiring and heartwarming stories. Discover ways to explore, play, take, chances, try new things, make a difference, and have more fun in life. You’re the activities director, and On with the Butter! is your guidebook.
As we get older, it’s easy to become consumed with our health and taking care of ourselves. We may change our diet, take prescriptions to treat medical conditions, and focus more on physical fitness. But while we’re working so hard to increase our life span, what are we doing to appreciate and make the most of that time? Those are the questions On with the Butter invites us to entertain.
So keep moving, keep doing, and keep spreading more living onto everyday life. After all, everything’s better with butter.
Heidi Herman was born and raised in Central Illinois, but her passion and a common theme in her writing is her Icelandic heritage. After a 30-year career in business, where she authored magazine articles, white papers, and technical assessment reports, Heidi turned to fiction writing full-time, inspired by her mother’s example. In the winter of 2012, her mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, published a childhood memoir, which featured some of Iceland’s folklore. Heidi was immersed in childhood memories of the Scandinavian legends, lore, and imaginative stories. The myth of Iceland’s troll-like Christmas characters – Jólasveinar – sparked the imagination of many readers and led to Heidi writing her first book, “The Legend of the Icelandic Yule Lads.”
It was followed by two more books on Icelandic folklore: “The Guardians of Iceland and Other Icelandic Folk Tales” and “The Icelandic Yule Lads Mayhem at the North Pole.” In 2017, she co-authored and Icelandic cookbook, “Homestyle Icelandic Cooking for American Kitchens” with her mother, Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman, which won a US category in The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards that year. Heidi published her debut novel, “Her Viking Heart”, in 2018 and it was named the 2018 Foreward INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner – Romance Category.
Her newest work, “On with The Butter: Spread More Living onto Everyday Life” was inspired when Heidi worked to complete her mother’s final work, “Never Too Late.” Íeda Jónasdóttir Herman (1925-2019) was 94 years old and had completed a year of new experiences to prove a person is never too old to enjoy life. That message, along with her mother’s example, led Heidi to write this new motivational book with ideas and encouragement on how anyone can find those activities and experiences.
Heidi currently lives in South Dakota but snowbirds south in the winter to Arizona. In addition to writing, she loves Scandinavian festivals, cooking, photography, travel, and exploring the outdoors. She is a member of the Women Fiction Writers Association and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/On-With-the-Butter-FINAL-scaled.jpg1200800itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2020-08-14 00:02:322020-09-09 12:24:26On With the Butter! Spread More Living onto Everyday Life by Heidi Herman
As fiercely independent Ruth struggles to stay self-reliant at the age of 86, each day brings her closer to an event that will alter her life forever. While her author daughter shifts through Ruth’s possessions prior to her move into a skilled nursing facility, she discovers a previously unseen photo from 1949 and realizes how little she knows of her mother’s life.
As Alzheimer’s continues to warp Ruth’s once sharp mind, she can no longer shed any light on the past. Yearning to know who her mother was as a person in her own right, the author painstakingly reconstructs Ruth’s life from photos, letters, public records and firsthand memories.
What emerges is a portrait of a bright, beautiful woman who is propelled through decades of broken promises and heartache, bouncing from one ill-fated relationship to the next, but always staying strong, always surviving. Through a timeline going back sixty years, the author gleans a much better understanding of the woman she had known only as Mom.
Though I was always an ardent reader, I was convinced I couldn’t string sentences together if my life depended on it. Fortunately for me, when I was looking for something creative I could do from bed—if my mystery illness progressed to that point—I decided to try my hand at it. No pressure, no expectations. I didn’t tell anyone what I was up to. I just wanted to see if I could string sentences together and tell an interesting story.
I remembered a quote by Hemingway, “Write about what you know.” With this mandate, I chose the time spent living with my husband in the French Quarter of New Orleans as the backdrop for my story. I typed out my first two paragraphs on my forty-third birthday. I finished that book on my next birthday, and started my second the same day. I now consider those my “practice books”.
As my still-nameless illness progressed, I continued running the family business and continued to write. Nine years after my symptoms began, I finally received a correct diagnosis: Lyme disease, and more specifically, late-stage Lyme, because it had been allowed to progress untreated for so long.
Though the pain was almost unendurable, I clung to my writing like a life preserver. It allowed me to crawl up inside my head, out of my body, giving me brief respites from the vast array of pains.
Though I would never wish this disease on anyone, I can honestly say I am grateful for the path my life took, for it gave me the gift of writing. I now have nine published books, all of which have special significance for me. I write general fiction, mysteries and some nonfiction.
Once Upon a Lyme: The Tale of Two Journeys, is the detailed account of the path my mystery illness led me down as I sought help from over two-dozen doctors, and the gift of writing that was the unexpected upside of being so hopeless ill.
Finding Ruth was inspired by a previously unseen photograph of my mother taken when she was nineteen. I found it as I was going through her things prior to her move into a skilled nursing hospital. That gorgeous photograph of her looking so happy and full of promise made me realize how little I knew about her life before I came along. Because Alzheimer’s has taken away all her memories, I painstakingly reconstructed her life from public records, thousands of photographs, and what my brother, sister and I could remember. The message in the tribute to my mom is Ask while you have the chance.
As of this writing, I have just completed the fourth book in the Madeline Dawkins mystery series. I’m still in love with writing and I still squeal with joy to think that I’ve written eleven books and self-published nine of them. If there is a message in this, it’s Never discount what you are capable of achieving.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Finding-Ruth-cover-for-Amazon-scaled.jpg1200800itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2020-08-05 14:10:452021-02-22 10:14:23Finding Ruth: A Daughter’s Quest to Discover Her Mother’s Past by Cynthia Hamilton
Broken Pieces by Judith B. Pinkard was a raw emotional read, that not only pulled at the heart strings, it brought tears to my eyes.
I always find non-ficiton books are hard to review, especially ones like these, that depicted a moment in life that is both devastating and real. The writing was hooking, well articulated, and it conveyed the authors emotions in such a way that you couldn’t help but be carried away by them. This isn’t an overly long book, but it packs a mean punch to the heart and soul. I can’t even get all my thoughts together right now. This book is more than about loss, it’s about recovery, about going on. Faith, and hope are highlighted. The message is strong and this book fires up all the feels.
Overall this book is more than a must read, it’s a book you need to take a hard chance on. On that note, I’ll leave you with my super high recommendation and my golden stamp of approval.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.png00Emily-Ann Walshhttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngEmily-Ann Walsh2019-04-11 19:07:492019-04-12 05:57:16Broken Pieces by Judith B. Pinkard – Review by Emily Walsh
Crossroads are an inevitable part of life. But how do you navigate them when your life is not your own?
At 22-years-old, Michelle Onuorah was a bestselling author, former runway model, and recent college graduate with the world at her fingertips…Or so she thought.
In a matter of weeks which turned into months…and eventually most of her twenties, the God of the universe systematically revealed that He was also the God of her life – and she was not. With breathtaking candor, razor sharp humor, and bold vulnerability, Michelle shares the ten key lessons she’s learned about God, life and understanding both in the midst of ceaseless transitions.
In her words, “This book is for those of you who believed with all your heart that you would end up in one place and somehow, despite following God – or maybe even because of it – ended up on a completely different path. This is for those of you who, though you love God, sometimes wonder who He even is. This is for those of you who choose to believe He’s still good.”
Michelle N. Onuorah is the bestselling author of Type N, Taking Names, Remember Me, Jane and Atlas Died. WTF, God? is her debut non-fiction release.The daughter of Nigerian immigrants, Michelle grew up with a love of storytelling. At the tender age of thirteen, she wrote her first book, Double Identity, and self-published it the next year. For three years, she ran an independent magazine, MNO, and served as the main writer and editor-in-chief. Her writing has appeared in Vestiges Literary Magazine, Avalon Literary Review, and Medium.com among others.
A graduate of Biola University, Michelle is putting her film degree to use by producing a new teaching series under her company, MNO Media, LLC. The series, Life in His Light, is designed to help Christians who struggle with depression overcome it.
https://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Cover-1.jpg1200801itsybitsybookbitshttps://itsybitsybookbits.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/IBBB_2020_logo_sq.pngitsybitsybookbits2019-02-04 00:04:452020-04-06 09:11:28WTF, God?: Understanding God in the Midst of Transition by Michelle N. Onuorah
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