Book Review - Angelo E. Volandes, M.D.'s The Conversation

A few weeks ago, I read an article regarding Doctor Angelo Volandes's book, The Conversation: A Revolutionary Plan for End-of Life Care and I bumped it to the top of my TBR pile. 

PLOT - In his non-fiction book, Volandes explains how years of working with terminally ill patients, plus personal experience with his own father, have made him realize the need for patients to create an end-of-life plan for themselves, while they are still healthy and competent to make their wishes known. Volandes noticed that this was a topic that everyone, including doctors, want to avoid, creating issues where patients do not understand their options or their wishes are ignored. As part of his efforts to communicate this issue, Volandes spent years creating a video to show patients their options for end-of-life care. In The Conversation, Volandes recounts the experiences with a variety of patients and their families, which led him to push people to open the dialogue.

LIKE - The Conversation is an important book and although it's not an easy topic, everyone should discuss their end-of-life wishes with family, friends and doctors. In recent years, I've been  in charge of the medical decisions for both my mom and aunt as they were dying. This was so, so tough and honestly, even though I knew their wishes on paper, we never had a real conversation about it. I had to make some decisions, without knowing what their exact wishes would have been. Having that important conversation was just too difficult to have. 

What I liked most about The Conversation, is that Volandes never pushes one idea. He recognizes that end-of-life decisions are different for everyone and that it can be based on a number of issues, like family, culture, religion, and even a patients own fears. One patient was a young mother dying of advanced cancer and she wanted the doctors to do everything possible to keep her alive, so that she might make it to one more Easter with her family. Other patients would rather have pain management, than aggressive treatment, picking a potentially shorter life with better quality, over the need to be kept alive at all costs. The main message of the book was a greater need to understand the options and for patients to have the power to choose the best option for them.

The title of the book includes the words "revolutionary plan"...this is a bit tongue and cheek, as the revolutionary aspect of it, is simply the shift in perspective, getting people to open the dialogue. There is nothing that changes having to die or the types of options that we have at the end, it is a revolution in the way that we communicate. 

DISLIKE - The book was very short. The personal stories of the patients were so interesting, that Volandes could have included more. In an effort to drive home his important message, there was repetitiveness in the book, especially with the appendix section, which is filled with tips on how to have the conversation. This information was more than clear throughout the book and it was repetitious at the end. However, I can forgive the repetition, as the message is so important.

RECOMMEND - Yes! Everyone needs to read this book and have those conversations. My own life was plagued with doubt and stress, after family members died and I was left feeling like I may have not followed their wishes. I wish that I could go back in time and have that discussion with them, get clarity. Even if you don't want to read this book, check out Volandes' website and watch his video. Take control of your health and care desires. 

http://www.acpdecisions.org/about/

Book Review- Laura McHugh's The Weight of Blood

When I go into a bookstore, I nearly always browse in the "New and Recommended" section first. This marketing technique totally works for me. I like to see what's trending and in particular, what people who work at the store are promoting. Bookstore employees seem to universally be bookworms themselves.

A few weeks ago, I found Laura McHugh's debut novel, The Weight of Blood, on the front table in Vroman's Bookstore. Honestly, if this book had not been on the front table, I'd likely have completely over-looked it. The cover ( not the one pictured here), was a bit cheesy and it looked like a pulpy crime drama. However, something told me to pick it up and take a closer look. I was immediately grabbed with the first few paragraphs and the premise, so I decided to chance it.

PLOT - Set in the Ozark Mountains, The Weight of Blood , begins with the river bank discovery of  body parts belonging of a young local girl, who has been brutally dismembered. The girl is Cheri, a childhood friend of Lucy Dane. Lucy can't shake the idea of her friend being murdered and she begins to piece together the truth of what happened to Cheri. The story is half about the murder mystery and half about Lucy's mother, who mysteriously disappeared when Lucy was a baby. The town of Henbane has some dark secrets that are waiting to be spilled.

LIKE - McHugh is a powerful writer. There were many moments that I just stopped and reread passages, because they were so evocative and beautiful. She did a great job at putting me right into the middle of the action, even when the moments were uncomfortable and squirmy. I found the plot to be compelling, especially towards the beginning of the story. These characters have strong motives and terrible secrets, making for a juicy story. I liked the setting, which is its own character. I'd read a blurb that compared The Weight of Blood, to the film, Winter's Bone. I loved Winter's Bone and with regard to place and characters, there are strong similarities. The overall tone is similar in both.

DISLIKE - The Weight of Blood had a very strong opening. I was gripped. However, I began to lose interest by the middle of the story. I think that there was too much going on here, especially with it being told through multiple perspectives. There wasn't a good twist or surprise, as the story was very clearly laid out. It's easy to understand how Cherie was killed early in the story and the mystery switches to Lucy's ability to expose the murderer, without getting killed herself. This is far less interesting than the initial mystery of what happened to Cheri. 

RECOMMEND - Maybe. There is so much in The Weight of Blood that is well crafted, but I didn't enjoy the entire story arc. However, I did enjoyed reading McHugh's writing, which will definitely prompt me to seek out her future books.

Book Review - Mary Pilon's The Monopolists

I love board games nearly as much as I love stories, so when I saw Mary Pilon's book on the sordid origins of Monopoly, I immediately wanted in on the scandal. Thank you to Bloomsbury USA for an advanced copy of The Monopolists in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT - In The Monopolists, Mary Pilon investigates the origins of arguably, America's most popular board game. For years, game manufacturer, Parker Brothers, has perpetuated the myth that Monopoly was created by Charles Darrow as a diversion for his children when their family was poor during the depression. Darrow sold the game and the fantasy to Parker Brothers and for years this story was printed on all Monopoly boxes.

During the 1970's, Ralph Ansbach invented a game called Anti-Monopoly and was sued by Parker Brothers for copyright infringement. It was a David and Goliath battle and Ansbach never backed down, eventually winning the case on an appeal. During the trial, it came out that Darrow was not the original creator of Monopoly. Pilon's book explores the origins of the game, the cover-up by Parker Brothers and Ansbach's court battle. 

LIKE - The best part of the book was learning about the origins of Monopoly. Pilon is a deft writer and this book is well researched, but really the material is so interesting that it would seem it could practically write itself. The phrase, "You just can't make this stuff up" comes to mind.

The origins of Monopoly are just crazy, especially when the story focuses on the Ansbach lawsuit and the Parker Brothers reaction. I enjoyed learning about Atlantic City and how it relates to the spaces on the Monopoly board. Also interesting, were the notes by the champion players on winning strategies. As mentioned in the book, most people ( myself included), play by their own set of rules. I was surprised to learn that if played by the rules, the game usually lasts 90 minutes. I've never had a game last less than half a night! I need to try playing by the rules next time. It was fascinating to learn that the origins of the game are against monopolies and that it was devised as a economics teaching tool. I left having gained a solid History lesson and a new appreciation for Monopoly.

DISLIKE - Overall, I enjoyed The Monopolists, however there were times when it was a bit of a dry read. This was especially true during the Ansbach trial, where I caught myself skimming, rather than engrossed in the text. 

RECOMMEND - I'd recommend this for board game fans and History buffs. If you read The Monopolists, I guarantee that you'll never look at a Monopoly board the same way again.