Tale of an Army Nurse afflicted with a debiliating disease

The Butcher's Daughter: The Story of an Army Nurse with ALS by Sandra Lesher Stuban

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
An Ivy-League educated person in tip-top shape notices that she begins having difficulties climbing stairs. Little did she know that this would causer her life to change radically, as it was the beginning of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Stuban does a marvelous job at telling her life as a highly energetic, focused nurse in the army driven to high standards and community improvement, referring often to her country morals from growing up in Elizabethville, PA. While her narrative is tough to read at times as she retells losing one ability after another, Stuban will inspire you not to pity her and others with ALS, but instead to live each day to the fullest and contribute to your own community. Stuben recounts the difficulties transitioning from a caregiver to a patient in a new community and in a chaotic healthcare system. This is required reading since we never know if we, or a loved one, may be diagnosed with a debilitating illness like Stuben.


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Latest Book - Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think this book was amazing. I have a funny story about it. While I was studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina I started this book in Spanish--my first libro en español. It was hard reading in Spanish, but I managed through two sections of the book until it was stolen on my trip to Northern Argentina when I had the last section--Love--to finish.



I just finished it and I'm really impressed with her writing style. I think its a book for anyone who's trying to search for life's purpose(s). I really am impressed with how she communicates to the reader the potpourri of emotions she feels throughout her year long voyage. I relate with her right now as I'm facing with pivotal life decisions post grad.



I recommend people to read this is they're facing a huge obstacle in life or would like to reflect you on life's obstacles. I know this book really challenged both of these chapters in my life.


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Book Review - The Bonesetter's Daughter

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up at a book exchange in Iguazú Argentina for the bus, and it really had me spell-bound. I read 200 pages on a long bus ride and reserved the last 100 for my last week in Buenos Aires. Tan is a phenomenal author at developing characters that are easy to relate to.

LuLing is Ruth's mother and immigrated from China to the US. We learn through Ruth during the first part that life has not always been easy for LuLing, and as she ages, Ruth has more burning questions about her past.

Ruth, on the other hand, is a strong woman who is a provider for her family. She is caught between the abuse her mother and her partner's children give her. I fell in love with Ruth's character because I relate to her desire to hold her family together. At the same time I also relate to her grand emptiness that sometimes is experienced while doing everything for everyone else.

I certainly will be reading more of Tan after this amazing novel.

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