Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #4: Herbal Remedies, Spirituality, Health and Cookbook

 Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #4: Herbal Remedies, Spirituality, Health and Cookbook 

Dr. Sebi Bible Ancient Wisdom and Holistic Pharmacist by Kai Omari

For Rick Sterling 

Dr. Sebi Bible’s Ancient Wisdom and Holistic Pharmacist is an insightful and educational guide towards holistic practices that are meant to give physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. 

The volume is six books in one. The first two books are introductory defining what holistic healing is particularly Alkaline diets. Book 1 discusses what natural healing actually is and why it serves as a contrast to conventional healing practices such as pharmaceuticals. For example, natural remedies address and manage the root symptoms, not the causes. They also allow them to be filtered out naturally instead of being suppressed. The book also addresses causes like food, environment, and stress. The book focuses on specific parts of the body like the gut and mucus and how they can be affected by a weakened immunity. 

Book 2 addresses The Alkaline Mindset and Lifestyle. This is a gradual approach that requires belief, and long-term consistency and commitment. The book discusses the long-term transition steps like eating alkaline foods like leafy greens, cucumbers, avocados, alkaline water. Besides trying healthy foods, the book offers other suggestions like meditation, writing a gratitude journal, engaging in meaningful activities, and having a supportive community. The book covers various processes like eliminating toxic and acidic substances like processed foods and additional additives and chemicals. Daily and monthly detox schedules are included such as enhancing kidneys function with electrolytes and drinking herbal tea for dandelion, milk thistle, and ginger tea. Monthly detox such as creating an action plan for purchasing the right foods and making time for meditation. 

Book 3 is an Encyclopedia of various herbs arranged by healing properties such as Sarsaparilla for Blood purification and detox, Pau D’Arco for Immune Support System, Ginger Root for Digestion and Gut Health, Devil’s Claw for Anti-inflammatory and Pain Relief, St. John’s Wort for Antiviral and Infection Defense, Nopal Cactus for Blood Sugar Regulation and Diabetes Support, Vitex for Hormonal Balance & Women’s Health, Ashwagandha for Energy and Stress Relief, Cayenne Pepper for Heart and Health Circulation. Each chapter includes a description of the benefits of the herb, traditional uses, where they can be found, how they can be used and stored, step by step instructions on how to prepare them, potential contraindications, results over time, and recipe variation. 

Book 4 consists of Alkaline recipes including Alkaline Coconut-Quinoa Porridge for Breakfast, Alkaline Cucumber-Avocado Salad for Lunch, Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Sauce for Dinner, Spiced Apple Crumble for Desserts, Banana Date Energy Balls for Snacks, and Carrot Turmeric Cleansing Juice for Smoothies. 

Book 5 includes Herbal Remedies beyond food. Each section describes what the remedy is, how to prepare it, various techniques, and the uses of essential remedies, and tips including dosage, storage, and safety. Recipes include Echinacea Root Tincture for Tincture, Pau D’Arco Bark for Decoction and Syrup Recipes, Chamomile Poultice for Skin Irritation for Poultices and Compresses, and Peppermint Eucalyptus Steam for Herbal Bath and Steams. 

The final book, Book 6 discusses the Detoxification Protocol and its foundations. It illustrates how mucus is a key factor in health problems. The Alkaline diet, herbal support, and lifestyle changes like exercises and short-term intermittent fasting combats and eliminates mucus build up.Various detox pathways are mentioned like liver, kidneys, and the lymphatic system. Each section is described with functions, suggested foods, hydration, and other suggestions on how to optimize good health into these specific important organs. The final section recognizes the importance of detoxification to the skin.Therapeutic approaches including gentle cleansing, hydration, nutritional support, emollients and moisturizers, exfoliation, and lifestyle practices such as physical activity, sweating, ultraviolet protection, and sleep are incredibly important.

The Dr. Sebi Bible’s Ancient WIsdom and Holistic Pharmacist tells Readers everything that they need to know about natural remedies, Alkaline dieting, and living a holistic healthy life. 

The Books of Enoch (Audible) 

For Rick Sterling 

The Books of Enoch is a fascinating Biblical ancient apocalyptic religious text. It is mythology mixed with spirituality. It is entirely told from the point of view of Enoch, who the Bible describes as “one who walked with God” and ascended to Heaven without dying. 

 It focuses on many details that are minimized in the Canonical Bible such as putting more emphasis on the story of the fallen angels. They were punished for lying with human women, breeding half-human giant children, and teaching them forbidden knowledge.

 It also includes details about Noah's youth and relationships with his father Lamech, grandfather Methuselah, and great grandfather Enoch. His strange appearance such as eyes that lit up at night caused Lamech to question his paternity ( Methuselah told him that his features were signs of being divinely inspired and that he was biologically human and Lamech's son.)

Unlike the Canon Bible which puts the apocalyptic visions in the end of the Bible with the Book of Revelation, The Books of Enoch puts it right at the beginning. The placement of the Apocalypse in the first chapter of the first book shows how important these visions are to the text. 

The Audible version is narrated by James Burke. His is a soothing calming voice that reads the Books with deep understanding, wisdom, and faith in the text.

The Beginner's Trigger Point Self-Therapy Protocol by Grant Lawson 

For Book Square Publishing 

This book will help Readers with chronic pain identify and treat the trigger points where the pain begins and keep it from spreading. 

The book explains what trigger points are located and how they develop usually by stress, overuse, and inactivity. It also explains how traditional methods don't always work. It also talks about when to use self-treatment, its benefits, and when the pain is so bad that it requires medical attention.

The tools needed are objects to provide balance and stress relief. Also a comfortable environment with satisfactory room temperature is important. Steps are included that help find the trigger points and begin treating them. There are pictures and diagrams which name the specific areas where pain is triggered. Each section identifies the trigger point, what caused it, where it is located in the body, and how to release it.

The book features a 4-week recovery and prevention plan. Week 1 is for Resetting and Releasing. Week 2 is for Expanding and Restoration. Week 3 is for Integration and Rewiring. Week 4 is for Sustaining and Prevention. It also includes basic stretching exercises such as Neck Tilt, Seated Spinal Twist, and Foot Massages. These activities will increase mobility and can easily be integrated. Other routines such as Restorative Positions, Somatic Release Techniques, Diaphragmatic Breathing, and Guided Body Scans for Deep Intention and Tension Awareness.

The Trigger Point Therapy book is a thorough look at how trigger point therapy can be used to monitor and minimize pain and become healthy.

The Super Easy Zero Point Weight Loss Cookbook for Beginners by Diayunati Brayutuer

For Michael Cheng 

This book provides healthy meals for those who are interested in losing weight and living a sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle.

The introduction explains that the zero method focuses on foods that are low in calories but high in nutritional value. They are designed around ingredients that your body processes efficiently keeping you full and energized while promoting healthy weight loss. The nutritional foundations of the diet such as high fiber content, lean proteins, and low glycemic index are revealed. It also offers benefits and how to integrate the diet into daily meals. 

The recipes and meals include Bite-Sized Chocolate Chip Muffins for Breakfast, Zesty Grilled Chicken for Poultry, Easygoing Meat Loaf for Beef, Pork, and Lamb, Louisiana Shrimp Gumbo for Fish and Seafood, Low Carb Fathead Crackers for Snacks and Appetizers, Green Bean Bacon Bundles for Vegetable and Sides, Mediterranean Style Pan Pizza for Vegetarian Mains, Double Chocolate Brownies for Desserts, and Hearty Tomato and Basil Parmesan Soup for Stews and Soups.

This book provides a step by step process to integrate healthy eating and weight loss into Readers’ daily lives.

Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #3: Cookbooks, Study Guides, and Personal Development

 Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #3: Cookbooks, Study Guides, and Personal Development 

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

ATI Teas Exam Prep by Deborah Stanford 

For Amazon Book Readers 

This guide will help prepare any future nurse for their education. It includes practice questions and answers, content review, effective test taking strategies, and study plans. It will help inspire confidence in students as they improve their study habits and teach their best scores.

Zero-Stress Diabetic Cookbook by Mark Primitive

For Amazon Book Readers 

This cookbook will help those who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes monitor their blood sugar levels and the meals that they can eat. They can make healthy meals that help monitor their levels. Best of all, they don't have to sacrifice taste, creativity, or variety for health. They can eat healthy and love what they eat.

Women! Wake Up. Step Up. Speak Up! By Julie Greggs 

For Amazon Book Readers 

This is an important message that all women need to get behind. Women have been told to be polite and accommodating. This book encourages women to find their voices. Women will learn that they don't have to strive for perfection and that they can set boundaries, they don't have to apologize when they haven't done anything wrong, and can confront toxic behavior. Women can be assertive and speak up.

The 15 Minute Anti-Inflammatory Slow Cooker Cookbook by Paxton Chisholm 

For Amazon Book Readers 

This book provides many healthy options for an Anti-inflammatory Diet. The meals reduce inflammation and restore energy. The recipes provide good health and mouthwatering meals. Readers will delight in the healthy delicious simple food choices.

The Definitive US Citizenship Test Study Guide by Crestline Press

For Amazon Book Readers 

People who are planning for their US Citizenship will want to read this book. It includes explanations of the various questions on the exam, instructions for filling out forms, advice on how to prepare for the interview and the exam, and practice tests. The naturalization process is given this step by step process so readers can follow it thoroughly.

NREMT Study Guide by Oliver Bowen

For Amazon Book Readers 

This book gives important information for those studying to become EMTs. The book provides protocols for EMS operations, a glossary of medical terms and emergencies, information to address breathing difficulties, critical steps to take during emergency situations, and practice tests with various questions. EMTs will be prepared for their exams and chosen career.

The Ultimate 20 Minute Carnivore Diet Cookbook for Busy People by Joshua Donaldson 

For Amazon Book Readers 

This book provides a great diet for people who are often busy and love to eat meat. The recipes are simple and require only 20 minutes to prepare. The cooking techniques save time and need little equipment. The meals are packed with protein and are meant to maximize testosterone, energy, and mental clarity. The meals are healthy and delicious time savers.

Carnivore Diet Cookbook for Beginners by Charlie Tokebon

For Amazon Book Readers 

Those who want a healthy balance of meats and proteins in their diet, may want to try this book filled with recipes to please the most carnivorous.

The book includes over 100 recipes and a 28 day meal plan to make the most of them. There are various bonuses such as wins pairings for meals, a diet meal prep and storage guide, and the ultimate condiment and sauce guide. This cookbook will help Readers enjoy a full healthy and hearty meal. 

Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #2: Home Repair, Computer Software, Cookbooks, Personal Finance

 Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #2: Home Repair, Computer Software, Cookbooks, Personal Finance 

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

This is the second part of my current project of writing short reviews for various publishers and groups. The pay isn't much separately but together it's better than the nothing that I mostly make.

The Complete HVAC Bible for Beginners by Bryan Allen Lawson 

For Read & Review 

The Complete HVAC Bible for Beginners is a handy guide for identifying, installing and repairing an HVAC system.

The book is a simple step by step process that explains the essential components of the HVAC system like the condenser and air filters. It also tells what they do individually and how they contribute to the whole system.

The highlights of the book involve the installation and repair process. For example, it discusses the key differences and challenges in installing the system and the post-installation checklist to determine whether the system works or needs improvement. 

There is also a section for common problems. It identifies what to inspect and work on when the air flow is weak or insufficient. It also says what to test and replace when the compressor won't start.

The Complete HVAC Bible for Beginners is helpful if someone wishes to DIY their HVAC system. They know what to install and how to repair it.

Microsoft Office 365 Bible by Zen Tasker Publishing 

For Rick Sterling

Microsoft Office 365 Bible is a fascinating guide to the various programs that the cloud-based productivity suite and how they help users complete tasks and organize files.

The book breaks down each platform, what they do, and how they enhance one's files and workspace. Chapters include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, Skype, Teams, OneDrive, Forms, OneNote, and Publisher. 

Each chapter takes users step by step through the platforms, their functions, and benefits. For example Word’s chapter describes the initial interface and features like the ribbon and status bar. It also offers suggestions for text formatting and document visualization. There are also extra touches like graphs, tables, visuals, and tables of contents. 

Microsoft Office 365 Bible is a simple guide for using MS Office and making the most of this productivity suite.

The Ninja Slushi Cookbook for Beginners by Makilunape Kokiyuope 

For Michael Cheng

If  you are looking for an icy treat especially in the summer, you might want to create one of the recipes in The Ninja Slushi Cookbook for Beginners.

The introduction talks about the treat's versatility as being useful year round focusing on different recipes, some with a creamy blend just like icy chill. It also emphasizes creativity as culinary experimentation is explored.

Recipes and meals include Dreamy Blue Raspberry Fruit Punch Slushi for Fruit Slushi Recipes, Fresh Ginger Ale Soda Slushi for Soda-Based Slushi Recipes, Fruity Run Spiked Slushi for Spiked Slushi Recipes, Easy Matcha Latte Frappe as Frappe Recipes, Quick Cherry Frozen Juice Slushi for Frozen Juice Slushi Recipes, Special Blueberry Iced Tea Slushi for Tea-Based Slushi Recipes, Lime-Infused Daiquiri Spiked Slushi for Sugar-Free Slushi Recipes, and Sweet Vanilla Cream Milkshake for Milkshake Recipes.

The Ninja Slushi Cookbook for Beginners will lead Readers to some tasty smooth icy delicious treats.

Dr. Now's 1200-Calorie Diet Plan by Ian S. Garrett 

For Michael Cheng 

Dr. Nowzardan’s Weight Loss Formula has been discussed, praised, debated, and practiced. This book is an example of the diet. It specializes in nutrient-dense foods with essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients. 

The introduction focuses on maintaining a positive mindset and creating a supportive environment. These attributes along with routine and preparation and maintaining flexibility and balance help people stay focused on dieting.

The meals and recipes include Whole Wheat Toast with Avocado and Tomato for Breakfasts, Chicken Fajitas with Bell Peppers and Whole Wheat Tortillas for Main Dishes, Nutty Quinoa Pilaf with Vegetables for Side Dishes, Creamy Smoothie Blended with Blueberries and Protein Powder for Snacks, and Decadent Coconut Macaroons with Dark Chocolate Drizzle for Desserts.

Dr. Now's 1200 Calorie Diet Plan will provide Readers with a goal and step by step process on how they can diet their way to good health.

Smart Money for Kids by Dreamdrift Publishing 

For Paid Readers Club 

Many kids and adults need help with how to manage their money. This book provides that much needed assistance. 

The book walks Readers through the process of earning and saving money. While kids are limited on ways to earn money, they can find chores or services. Kids are also encouraged to create a saving plan for a goal, say an expensive gift and to put money into that goal instead of spending recklessly.

Saving and spending are important themes in this book. A budget helps kids control, divide, and manage their money. Chapters are also devoted to discerning the difference between needs and wants and whether it's appropriate to spend money and how much.

While kids hopefully won't have issues with debt or bad credit, the book still provides information for what they are and how they can be avoided. You are never too young to learn not to pay for something that you can't afford and may have trouble paying back later and to be careful when using credit for emergencies only.

The Smart Money Guide for Kids is an important tool that teaches about a subject that many need to learn about no matter their age. 

Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #1: Cookbooks, Coloring, Healing, Languages

Nonfiction Short Review Extravaganza #1: Cookbooks, Coloring, Healing, Languages 

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

I thought that I would show off my most recent projects. I have joined or been asked to join various book review sites for pay. Mostly, I review short Nonfiction books, post the reviews and that's it. Reviews are also shared on Amazon.

The Anti-inflammatory Diet for Diabetics by Evelyn Sophia Harper 

For Read & Review

The Anti-inflammatory Diet for Diabetics is an excellent book that provides recipes for readers with diabetes to lower their inflammatory foods rate. 

The introduction describes which anti-inflammatory foods are preferred like leafy greens and fatty fish and which to avoid like added sugars and processed meat. The book also includes tips on structuring meals for blood sugar stability such as the balanced plate method for diabetics of 50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% lean protein, and 25% healthy fat low glycemic carbs. 

The recipes include Tumeric and Cinnamon Chia Pudding for Breakfast, Lentil Soup with Garlic and Cumin for Lunch, Mediterranean Baked Eggplant and Tomatoes for Dinner, and Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberries for Snacks. 

The Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Diabetics is a great book to help people plan, prepare, and eat delicious meals that will give them good health and make dining a pleasant experience. 

 

DMSO Healing Protocols by Alexander Reid

For Read & Review 

The book DMSO Healing Protocols is a great guide on how to use this sulfur based component for therapeutic and healing properties. 

The book explains what DMSO is and the benefits for its use like for pain relief and as an Anti-inflammatory agent. It addresses myths and misconceptions like that DMSO is illegal and unregulated. In fact it is frequently recommended for joint pain, arthritis, and inflammation and is carefully monitored.

The most interesting parts are the case studies of people who tried DMSO and how it worked. Examples include Daniel who used DMSO in magnesium oil and daily stretching for his sciatica pain in his lower back legs. He experienced a reduction in his nerve pain within ten days.

The DMSO Healing Protocols provides good and helpful assistance for those who are ill or in great pain and need a path to holistic wellness. 

Easy Italian Phrases Book for Beginners Next Level Publishing 

For Read & Review

If readers are planning on visiting or working in Italy or any country where Italian is the dominant language, they might want to take the Easy Italian Phrases Book for Beginners. 

The book goes from how to pronounce letters and sounds, to translating important words and phrases, and continues with suggestions on how to begin small conversations and dialogue. Readers will learn that a is pronounced like in “Father.” They will learn phrases like “Grazie” which means “Thank you.”

The phrases are arranged by context and topic. For example, asking how much a ticket costs for public transportation is “Quanto costa un biglietto?” Readers will also learn many of the hand gestures which are a part of Italian culture such as the “I don’t care” gesture which involves bruising the underside of your chin with the back of your fingers. 

Yes, even swear words and expressions are described in the book.”What the heck” is “Ma che cuvalo.” “Piove sul bagnato,” it rains on the wet, means,”bad things often happen to the same people.”

Besides learning how to speak words and phrases, the book offers some points about Italian culture and what one can expect. This is particularly highlighted in the chapter about workplace etiquette and behavior. The book includes points that meetings often start late (though workers must try to be on time regardless) and that it is quite common for long discussions to occur during meetings. 

The Easy Italian Phrasebook is the perfect companion to enjoy the beauty, history, society, traditions, culture, and language of Italy. 

Epic Vehicles Bold & Easy Coloring Book

For Paid Readers Club

This is the perfect coloring book for any child who is fascinated with cars, trucks, planes, boats and anything that can travel on land, water, and air.

The pictures are bold and easy to color making it appropriate for a 3-5 year old audience. Also each page comes with a description or fact about the vehicle pictured so the child can learn while coloring.

For example the page with a rocket includes a coloring page and a paragraph that reads “Did you know?. Rockets are so powerful they can travel over 17,000 miles per hour to break free of Earth's gravity. That's fast enough to go around the Earth in just one hour!”

This coloring book will help kids learn about and color their favorite vehicles as they dream about the day when they might drive, steer, or fly them themselves. 

The Freshly Milled Flour Bible by Anita Miller 

For Book Square Publishing 

The Freshly Milled Flour Bible is a great book for those who love to eat bread and many other grain products.

The introduction reveals the process of milling grain and how this process offers benefits like strength and stretch and how it impacts gluten development. Tips include how to keep milled grain fermented and how protein affects dough strength and rise. It also offers a step by step guide on making the perfect loaf of bread such as adjusting hydration, making kneading and shaping easier. 

Bread varieties are included like red hard wheat, soft white wheat, barley, and rye. The book includes the bread’s traditional uses, baking behavior, gluten strength and baking performance, milling and hydration, and adjusting recipes from commercial white flour. There are also recipes for products like soft sandwich bread and light and fluffy muffins. 

The Freshly Milled Flour Bible guides Readers through milling and preparing grains as well as making excellent meals from them. 

April-May Reading List

 April-May Reading List 

Last month was pretty good but I also received plenty of job offers and interviews so I am doing quite a bit along with my reading and reviewing.

Mantis Equilibrium (Book 2 of The Mantis Gland) By Andrew Adams Johnson

Folded Steel (The Forge Trilogy in The Shadow Guardians Series Book 3) by G. Russell Gaynor 

From Emoji to Empathy: Mastering Customer Service in The Digital Age by Susan Williamson 

For Those Looking For The Light by Victoria Pen 

The Corsico Conspiracy by Raphael Sone

Beyond Tomorrow's Sun by Ronald McGuire 

All Silence Must Cease (The Peacebringer Series Book 2) by Raymond W. Wilkinson 

Blunt Force Rising (An Angela Hardwicke Science Fiction Mystery Book 4) by Russ Colchamiro 

Reaping By Numbers: A Dead End Job by Nicole Givens Kurtz 

 Justified Anger by Jennifer Colne

Charming Tomorrow by Conor Jest 

Con and Consequences by Ian Lazarus 

Secrets at The Aviary Inn by MaryAnn Clarke

Losing Austin by Michael L Bowler

Visage to Moros by Tamel Wino

The Mantis Corruption (Book 3 in The Mantis Gland Series) by Adam Andrews Johnson 

Ismene and The Voice by Juniper Calle 

Paper Castles by Ellie Ember 

The Lindens by Barney Jeffries

Life Into Death by E.S. Sibbald 

Survive The Cursed by Ashton Abbott 

Dead People Anonymous by Loraine Hayes

Cease to Exist by Ian Lazarus

If you have a book that you would like me to review, beta read, edit, proofread, or write, please contact me at the following:

Bluesky

Facebook

Goodreads 

Instagram

LinkedIn

LitPick

Reedsy Discovery

Threads

Upwork

Email: juliesaraporter@gmail.com 

Prices are as follows (subjected to change depending on size and scope of the project):

Beta Read: $50.00-75.00

Review: $50-100.00**

Copy/Content Edit: $100-300.00

Proofread: $100-300.00

Research & Citation: $100-400.00

Ghostwrite/Co-Write:$200-400.00

*These are books reviewed for LitPick and will only feature a summary and a few paragraphs. The full review is on LitPick's site.

**Exceptions are books provided by Henry Roi PR, Coffee and Thorn Book Group, LitPicks, BookTasters, Reedsy Discovery, Voracious Readers, and other noted book groups. Payments are already arranged through groups like Michael Cheng and Books Validator.

Payments can be made to my PayPal, Payoneer, or Google Wallet accounts at juliesaraporter@gmail.com

Well that's it. Thanks and as always, Happy Reading.

 

Lunch Ladies by Jodi Thompson Carr; A Pleasant Dining Experience With Lovely Characters on The Side

 Lunch Ladies by Jodi Thompson Carr; A Pleasant Dining Experience With Lovely Characters on The Side

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: Jodi Thompson Carr’s Lunch Ladies is a tasty delightful treat that pays tribute to the unsung heroes of every school dining experience, the cafeteria workers. Through their cooking, serving, and cleaning up, they make sure that every kid has at least one hot meal a day. Now with Free Lunch programs being held under scrutiny, their role within academic settings is even more important and should be all the more recognized. This book is a lovely pleasant experience of a few weeks spent exploring the inner lives of various characters, particularly three protagonists who work at the Hanley School District’s lunch department in Hanley, Minnesota.

It's almost time for the 4th of July festivities during the Bicentennial of 1976 and the women of the lunch department are preparing for this event while serving daily meals and dealing with their own problems.

Crystal has an unusual hobby. She scours obituaries mentally matching the recently deceased up with the living, therefore creating couples in her imagination. Her active fantasy life and imagination is a distraction from her conflicts with her aging grandmother and troubled niece.

Coralene is happily married to her husband, Jasper. Her simple life is about to become complicated when her wayward nephew, Tanner moves in.

Sheila lives a life of routine, eating at the same places, watching the same shows, and indulging in her independence and predictability. That predictability goes through a severe change when she reunites with a former acquaintance only to find herself falling in love with him.

Lunch Ladies is one of those types of novels that isn't really about anything. Well no, it's about various things like love, separation, family, and death but the focus is not so much about what happens than who is affected by these circumstances. It's a few months in the lives of these characters as they deal with the various shake ups in their lives. There's enough quirky charm and harsh drama to make the Reader like, even love, these characters as they go through these shake ups.

It's the kind of book that has details that are almost too precious to be ignored like character names for example. Coralene and most of the female members of her family have names that are variations of Cora-Cora, Coralene, Coravelle, DeCora, etc.-I would comment some more but the names “Edsel” and “Jean” are frequent on my mother's side of the family, the Riopelles. 

Crystal’s late mother's name was Pearl and she had a twin sister named Ruby. Crystal's grandmother and niece lucked out by being named Leonora and Darcy respectively. (Too bad, Emerald and Sapphire or Diamond and Amethyst would have been pretty.)

There are three sisters on the Bicentennial parade committee nicknamed, Hi, Lo, and Glad. Sheila catches the attraction of a named Tom Downlane (He joked that he's “Tom who lives Down the Lane.”) One of Crystal's obituary projects is named Roger Squirrel. The names reveal the idiosyncrasies of the characters.

The characters have little traits and quirks that make them stand out and Readers infer and learn who these people are just by their thoughts and mannerisms. Crystal's obituary reading/matchmaking is certainly very strange but leads to much speculation. Perhaps she is a firm believer in life after death and wants some sign that it's possible. Maybe she is obsessed with death and wants to meet it head on. The strongest possibility is that she is in search of a story. 

Crystal is unable to take any type of charge in her life. She works at a hard job with little recognition or pay. Her mother and aunt died. Her grandmother is losing her faculties. She is at odds with her niece, Darcy who calls her out on her lack of attention to the real world around her. Crystal’s only means of escape are inside the little matchmaking fantasies inside her head. They are the only ways that she can connect and truly feel like she contributed something to someone. Inside her head is where she finds freedom and involvement.

While Crystal’s headspace is where she finds comfort, Coralene looks more outward. She wears loud printed pants suits to be seen as more modern, willing to change but still do her job. She is a very central force within her family and community. She is a warm nucleus that draws others in, particularly Tanner.

Tanner has had a difficult life with his neglectful parents. He can be polite and soft spoken but also carries a lot of anger and resentment. This attitude plus his dubious reputation adds some strife into Coralene 's home, life, and marriage. He has never been close to someone who has natural warmth like Coralene so he doesn't know what to do with it, nor does she know how to react to it. However, Coralene and Tanner are both decent enough people that the love is present even when they are at odds.

Sheila is the oldest of the trio and probably the most regretful. She is a former English teacher who had a previous romance but now has a rigid private life. She goes to the same Denny's every day to the point that she befriends Lexi, the young server. She corrects the girl’s grammar, answers her questions about life and love, and gives her anecdotes from her teaching career. That she has a close intergenerational friendship with someone who would normally be a casual acquaintance shows Sheila’s awareness that her independent life comes with strings like loneliness and emotional instincts that are aching to be filled.

Her late in life romance should be a breath of fresh air, a late flaming roar of passion. Instead it unnerves and confuses her, asking more questions than answers. It forces her to confront her feelings of love and mortality. For a woman whose life became rigid routine and living vicariously through acquaintanceship with others, Sheila can't handle the deep emotional chasms, the countering attachments, and rapid disruptions that this relationship brings to her.

The Hanley setting leads a lot to the book’s characterization. It's a small town where everything, even the seemingly most minor issues become big deals. Everyone is involved with the Bicentennial from designing floats, preparing catering services, planning themes. The changes in the lunch department becomes a source of conflict as Sheila wants to survey students and faculty over the food choices and portions. This book shows that line between networking and annoyance where it's nice to have a support system when one needs help but it can also be suffocating because everyone is in everybody's face and in everybody's way. 

Also while Hanley looks idyllic, that might be on the surface. Some characters like the slow pace and friendly neighbors but others are just used to it. Characters like Crystal and Sheila are so used to their routines, hobbies, and mindsets that they don't have any desire to aspire for something different. Why dream of getting away? There are bills to pay, shows to watch, kids to raise, committees to join, lunches to cook, and obituaries to read. Hanley is a comfort zone that they benignly accept. It's not a bad place, just ordinary, regular, typical, nice, and pleasant.

There is an edge to the book that keeps it from being too copying or schmaltzy. That edge is hinted at in some of the character's subplots though not deeply explored until late in the book. Something terrible happens that jolts the characters out of their complacency and personal conflicts. It seems to come unexpectedly though, it was subtly hinted throughout the book.

 This incident forces the characters to come out of those benign comfort zones that they built around themselves, to make great changes, and to reshape their lives. Like many hard times, the characters’ strength and resilience comes through because of the events around them.

Lunch Ladies is filled with memorable characters and a setting that can be sweet and harsh, funny and tear jerking, vulnerable and strong, charming and realistic, beautiful and tragic. It is a delectable feast of great emotion.

Chomp, Press, Pull by Elaina Battista-Parsons; Sensate Memoir About Sensory Issues

 

Chomp, Press, Pull by Elaina Battista-Parsons; Sensate Memoir About Sensory Issues

By Julie Sara Porter 

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: Sensory dysregulation can be a very difficult condition to live with. The body has trouble processing and interpreting sensory information from the environment leading to unusual or uncomfortable responses. It can lead to oversensitivity or under sensitivity to stimuli and difficulty distinguishing different sensory inputs. The person with it could respond by having emotional meltdowns, anxiety attacks, motor coordination problems, and often avoiding certain environments or activities. It is caused by Neurological disorders such as Autism, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, trauma, and early life experiences. Occupational therapy, environmental modifications, sensory integration activities, and medication can be used to treat it. 

As with many neurological and psychological conditions, it is something that causes people to view the world differently but can be controlled or diminished if too overwhelming. Unfortunately, this was not always the case as Elaina Battista-Parsons reveals in her amusing and moving memoir, Chomp Press Pull. When she grew up in the 80’s, her condition was barely understood or treated. Battista-Parsons’s book is rich in personal experiences and sensory detail from someone who had to look at the world in her own way.

The Introduction gives us a compelling glimpse of what it's like for someone to live their daily life with such a condition. In 1995, Battista-Parsons sat in her classroom, sweated, and shifted uncomfortably because of the class’s heater. Despite her objections, the teacher wouldn't let her leave the room or open the window in January so she had to endure this miserable time in class growing ever more uncomfortable and barely paying attention to the dull lecture on Jack London.

When she was very young long before she was diagnosed, Battista-Parsons used a variety of means to deal with the sensory complications like chewing and biting on anything whether it was edible or not, pressing down hard on things such as crayons to paper, and pulling on objects like hair and string. She also had various comfort objects to hold and take comfort in their texture. Chief among them was a Mork doll from the sitcom, Mork and Mindy. Battista-Parsons carried Mork around so often that she referred to him as “(her) husband.”

Since Battista-Parsons spent much of her childhood in the 80’s, the book refers to many of the trends of the era. She describes banana clips on big hair, Swatch watches and neon bright colors, going to the mall, dancing to music videos like “So Emotional,” “Control,” and “Rhythm of the Night,” and scented merchandise. A delightful chapter is devoted to that favorite fad of many 80’s girls: scratch and sniff stickers. Battista-Parsons loved and collected them, probably because they gave off a nice smell that isn't too overpowering for her. Among her favorites were plump strawberry, pizza slice, and two bananas. This chapter showed that despite her sensory difficulties, Battista-Parsons was able to find delight in things despite or even maybe because of these issues.

Because of her awareness of senses, Battista-Parsons associated senses with certain times and places. She had a love for apartments and sometimes stayed overnight at her grandmother's. The taste and smell of tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, braciola, and olive oil filled those days and reminded her of her grandmother's apartment and other small spaces. Small apartments and sheds gave her a sense of coziness that still resonates within her.

Battista-Parsons’ sensory dysregulation gave her the ability to focus on and be aware of people and things that others are not. While Christmas can be a fun time of togetherness, it was also a draining time. Her very large and noisy family’s voices were exuberant but cacophonous. The Christmas music was present and merged with the voices of her family. This is a reminder that not everyone processes events and places in the same way and although they might be having a good time, they can also feel anxious and overwhelmed. It takes great understanding, acceptance, and accommodation to live with such a condition for the person who has it and those who are near it.

As with many young people, Battista-Parsons explored the concept of sexuality, something that her body, particularly her senses, made her very aware of. She cites Billy Idol’s music video for “Cradle of Love” with its beautiful alluring female protagonist for introducing her to the concept of sex. She recognized the power that the girl had in the video over a male onlooker and that a female body can spark certain feelings and turn people on. The sight of “Cradle of Love” and other videos became gateways into Battista-Parsons ' understanding of sex which culminated in various dates and losing her virginity at 19. 

The book is a cornucopia of associating senses with past interests and experiences. She associated linoleum floors and Hela Young reciting lottery numbers on television with her family room. Her father’s green tree air freshener made her nauseous and though he told her that she would be fine, he took her to the nearby hardware store where sawdust and cedar wood were a reliever from the artificial plastic odor from her dad’s car. The sight of figure skaters dressed in their beautiful costumes, skating on the cool ice impressed her enough to imitate them on the living room floor. The taste of sugar bubble gum recalled a babysitter who indulged her interest in the tasty treat. Her mother’s hands touched store fabrics with great care like they were the finest silk. The book is definitely about someone who had no choice but to experience the world strongly and share with others how it looked, smelled, heard, tasted, and felt to her. 

Even though the book is largely about how Battista-Parsons coped with sensory dysregulation throughout her life, that is not by any means her sole focus. She takes several opportunities to recall other important times through her life, many that any reader would relate to. She discusses familiar issues that many Readers understand like conflicts with her family, first crushes, and academic struggles with other kids and teachers. One whole chapter is devoted to many anecdotes that illustrate her various teacher’s specific sense triggers, and sometimes more objectionable behavior like telling bawdy jokes, groping and flirting with students, or dividing classrooms by gender or ability.

Her experience with her first love, Gregg, combines early romance with her sensory details. Gregg inspired her to enjoy various musicians, particularly female musicians but he became very possessive and jealous of her. Her overdeveloped sense of smell attracted her to his cologne and the wood in his parent’s house. Because she associated people with certain scents, she often caught the odor in other boy’s much to Gregg’s chagrin and lack of understanding towards her condition. After about a year, they broke up in the usual pattern of early boyfriends and girlfriends falling out of love as quickly as they fell in.

Battista-Parsons had brilliant clever ways of writing about her sensory issues. One whole chapter describes alphabetically some of the difficulties that her condition caused. Her arm hair felt uncomfortable so she constantly shaved it. Biting fingernails and cracking air pockets became sources of stress relief. Certain colors like green and gray were soothing while red was too overpowering. Anything as simple and innocuous to others like Play-Doh, dry lips, zippers, suitcases, lemons, and sandals could help or hinder her.

Identifying her condition, understanding the symptoms, and realizing that she was not the only one with such problems, helped Battista-Parsons learn about and treat her condition. She attributed many different techniques including Reiki and chiropractic methods as huge factors in helping her treat her sensory issues. She also holds no animosity towards her family for dismissing her problems. It was not discussed or identified much throughout her childhood and if medical professionals didn’t understand and study it, then her parents wouldn’t have been able to let alone herself. 

The chapters describing the research, diagnosis reveal how liberating it can be when you learn about a condition and how you can master it.