Review Tales
Trusted Reviews and Author Features Since 2016
Books Bits and Bobs by Dan Abrahams (Book Review #402)
The concept of writing books which consist of various plots and are multi-dimensional have become a trend lately, and I think as a reader, that is a good thing. Not everyone wishes to wait for the next time they have a chance to read a book just to find out what happens next. These stories were long enough to read in one sitting, without having to take too much time and still provided the experience one seeks.
The author has prior experience as a professional writer and after reading his other book titled, the Wooden Heart, I had an idea of what I was going to be reading as literature.
The Wooden Heart by Daniel Abrahams (Book Review #328)
I recommend this book to people that enjoy reading thought-provoking short stories.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Wasted Time or Wasted Lime?
I absolutely love this quote because there are many times where I feel like needing a break, but then feel guilty for doing so. Now I can remember this quote and smile!
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The Judas Kiss by Jon D. Zimmer (Book Review #401)
It was effortless at first, to fall for Jack and his situation. Life indeed does not seem to be easy for him. His relationship with Jeffery Adamson was fascinating. The fact that Jack falls into so many situations simply because he wanted to save thirty dollars for a train fair was intriguing. The hope and goal were clear. He wanted to live with his aunt and uncle so he could find a job and go to college. What does he have to do to get there in one piece, is another story.
The storyline was Jack’s journey growing up and becoming a man. The literature was suitable for the genre. The pace was steady, and I enjoyed the descriptive writing that existed behind the scenes. The emphasis on hobos dominated the book, and as much as I admired the journey, it all seemed a little sad.
I believe the author has great potential in creating good literary work. Having known that he has written five other books, it is clear that writing is his passion. I appreciated the fact that the author did not fluff up the story just to please the audience. He was cut and dry, and that was refreshing.
I recommend this book to people that like to read historical fiction.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Penny: Hands I Passed Through…Things I Saw…Stories I Can Tell! by Peter Davidson (Book Review #188)
Penny is a non- fiction, short book, written about the coin we have mostly forgotten about. It covers some history, where it was made, what value it had and how it affected lives back in the days.
I particularly remember how much I loved to play with money. My mother would always tell me, “Be careful, You don’t know where it’s been”. I believe this book is an explanation for what my mother was trying to tell me when I was little.
The book actually begins with the Penny becoming the narrator, telling us stories about how it’s been treated and what it has seen. The collection of stories has been written in a very fun and witty way. Each story has a point and indicates an interesting fact about the Penny.
I found the literature to be written very well. I barely saw any editing issues and although the book was short, it actually had enough substance for the reader to ponder on the issue, once they finished reading it. It was easy to understand and enjoyable to read. I believe the author definitely has managed to grasp the attention of what has happened to the penny and in fact, I think, if we really do look and wonder outside the box, we can certainly see that a lot of other things have also become less valued.
I believe anyone that has an interest in finance; history and also wishes to read about this commodity will enjoy this book.
Written by Jeyran Main
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Oscar Wilde – Fragment of the Day
Oscar Wilde was an Irish playwright, novelist, essayist, and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is remembered for his epigrams, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, his plays, as well as the circumstances of his imprisonment and early death.WIKI.
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Instead of “Sorry” try saying “Thank you” – Written by Jeyran Main
We lead such hectic lives, and it is possible to miss some of those never-ending lists of things that need doing. Letting people down or being late for certain things may become a habit and before you know it, you realize that you are continually saying “I’m sorry” over and over again. Read More
Having “Your Bell Rung” – Bell’s Palsy by Dr. James Okun
It is time for James Okun to pick our brain and inform us on some important medical matters. You can show your support by buying his books or leaving a comment here if you like- Jeyran Main
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
Having “Your Bell Rung” – A Discussion of a Problematic Condition – Bell’s Palsy by Dr. James Okun
“A young George Clooney recovering from Bell’s palsy on his left side”
(derived from carolinafacialplasticsurgery.com)
Can you imagine from one day to the next that you are unable to smile or eat normally? That you have trouble speaking and eating? That you start drooling and your eyelid droops? What about work and taking care of the family? All of this can happen “out of the blue” with the same condition of Bell’s palsy that affected a teenaged George Clooney.
As you can see from the photo of a young George Clooney above, his face appears to be paralyzed and the corner of his mouth is drooping all on the left side of his face. At the time of this photo, George was recovering from what is known as Bell’s palsy.
Another person who also suffered from Bell’s palsy was BBC correspondent John Sudworth. After he reported on his own facial paralysis on the air, many viewers contacted him to share their stories.
One viewer, Debbie Johnston from Ireland, shared that her condition started after the birth of her son. She describes how she had to tape down her eyelid at night “for four months and drink through a straw for the same amount of time. At this time, I also owned a bridal store and had to return to work and with my face so disfigured I found it all very difficult and felt I had to explain to each customer what was wrong with my face.”
“My face is about 90% recovered …but “I still have a wonky smile, I can’t raise my right eyebrow and when I smile my right eyebrow lowers and when I close my right eye it pulls the right side of my mouth.” (Bell’s palsy: Your stories of living with half a smile (www.bbc.com).
Bell’s palsy is a one-sided facial weakness or paralysis that ensues suddenly often with an eyelid droop and often with the muscles on the same side of the forehead affected. The cause of Bell’s palsy has been determined to be an infection of the 7th cranial nerve (facial) with the herpes simplex type 1 virus.
The facial nerve controls the muscles of facial expression, production of tears from the lacrimal gland, production of saliva from the salivary gland under the tongue (sublingual) and the sensation of taste from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue
Because of the damage to the facial nerve from the HSV 1 infection, other symptoms reflecting impaired functioning can include facial muscle twitching, a change in taste, drooling, trouble eating and speaking and dryness of the eyes.
The facial nerve connects the brain with the muscles of the face to allow facial movement. When damage to the nerve occurs from infection, the normal flow of nerve impulses to the muscle is interrupted. This either causes spasm of the muscles or a complete paralysis.
Bell’s Palsy joins the ranks of other conditions caused by reactivation of a dormant or hibernating herpes simplex 1 virus inside nerve cells. For example, Alzheimer’s Disease has now also been linked in over 100 Scientific studies to recurrent HSV 1 infections in the brain (See – The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine Chapter 10 https://goo.gl/yYdgLJ).
As the most common cause of one-sided facial paralysis (70%), Bell’s palsy affects about 40,000 Americans each year and there is a 1.5% chance of a person being affected by this condition at some point in their lives.
The most common age range for this dilemma is from 15-60 with males and females both equally at risk (www.ninds.nih.gov).
Bell’s Palsy can be “self-limiting” lasting for only 2 to 4 weeks or so. In other cases, the symptoms can last for up to 6 months or never resolve at all. Other patients can experience recurrences after the initial episode.
Physical Examination and an EMG nerve study are the keys to a diagnosis of Bell’s palsy.
Treatments for Bell’s palsy include the use of steroids to decrease inflammation and anti-viral medications to treat the herpes infection. In resistant cases, nerve repair or grafts can be attempted. Eye patches and/or moisturizing eye drops may be needed to prevent corneal damage in the affected eye.
Those at increased risk for Bell’s palsy include diabetics, those with compromised immune systems and those experiencing a current upper respiratory infection.
Bell’s palsy can be a personal devastation totally disrupting one’s life with lingering residual effects. Like other conditions caused by members of the herpes virus family, taking measures to enhance natural immunity and decrease unnecessary stress remains the best course of action to try to prevent reactivation of this insidious virus.
James D. Okun, MD is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University and of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He is the co-author of The History of New Innovations in Modern Medicine: New Thought and the Threat to Traditional Medicine
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