Beyond Soap

I was diagnosed with psoriasis when I was five.  It was 1985 and at the time psoriasis was a condition that was seen mostly in the elderly, so for a five year old little girl from Texas to have this disease was baffling not only to my family but our family physician and many local dermatologists.  I was passed from specialist to specialist, each marveling at my age and condition.  I hated every second of it.  Having psoriasis changed my life forever and I still struggle daily with its effects.

At the time of my diagnosis the reasoning behind my having the disease was genetics even though neither of my parents or grandparents showed any signs or symptoms.  It wasn't many years later that my dad was diagnosed that I felt somewhat better about my ordeal but I've never felt like this was the whole story.  I am practically allergic to everything under the sun and though I am extremely careful about what I come into contact with, and use on my skin, I have often wondered if the products I've so carefully chosen are aiding in the ever-constant battle that I have with the psoriasis symptoms they are supposedly supposed to help alleviate?  That's what dermatologist Dr. Sandy Skotnicki wanted to find out.

In Beyond Soap Dr. Sandy Skotnicki lays it all out for you.  She explains the different types of skin, gives you a brief history lesson about bathing and makeup rituals through the generations, and then goes on to explain why our society is having the skin issues they are having.  A lot of the information are things that you most likely have heard before but it is a good refresher and Dr. Skotnicki's writing style is so fluid that you will breeze right through many parts of the book.

Dr. Sandy Skotnicki has done her research and it shows in every chapter of the book which makes it a wonderful resource for anyone who struggles with skin issues like myself.  The main premise of the book is less is more.  We are living in a society of overindulgence and that includes what we put on our skin.  When you read about the history of skin care Dr. Skotnicki provides it is obvious that we are "too clean" and using way too many products which are doing more harm than good.

I highly recommend Beyond Soap for anyone who has any type of skin ailments.  I have already begun to use some of Dr. Skotnicki's recommendations and I can already tell a difference.  In my opinion it is a must read!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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All the Answers

The tragedy of many child actors is one that our generation is very well familiar with.  They shine bright but as they mature into adulthood many are haunted by their theatrical pasts.  Some turn to drug or alcohol abuse but many choose to spend the remainder of their days living happily in obscurity, shying away from the spotlight.  

When I think about child stars I always think of them in the context of movies and television but there was an entire era that before this that also included child stars: the radio era.  In the time of radio there was no "child prodigy" more famous than Joel Kupperman, a young boy that could do complex mathematical equations in his head on the show Quiz Kids.  All the Answers is a graphic novel written by Joel's son, Michael Kupperman, a memoir that not only preserves his father's past before dementia completely robs his mind but also allows Michael a glimpse into why his father was the way he was.

I have never been into graphic novels before but the premise for this book instantly intrigued me and I am so glad that I took a chance on it.  To see pictures without seeing the actual photos took me a few pages to get used to but once I did I flew through this book within an hour.  Michael includes his own views on certain parts of his dads story as well as direct quotes from an interview that he did with his dad a few years back and also his aunt, who was also on the game show for a short period of time.  Your heart breaks for both Michael, who had struggled with why his dad was the way he was his entire life, and for his dad, who has fought his entire life to escape this stigma.

Photo Credit: The Daily Postcard

Not only is Michael Kupperman a talented artist but I can confidently say that he is a decent writer as well.  Though this graphic novel is short, and not eloquently written, it still packs quite the punch with a mix of emotions that you can tell comes from the heart.  What I fell in love with the most was the historical aspect of the story.  Joel was on Quiz Kids when it was on radio, during the second World War, and continued on when it transitioned onto television.  He was only the show from ages 6-16, having spent his entire childhood in front of an audience and all because of his mothers aspirations of a life on the stage and not his own.  So sad.

Before reading All the Answers I had no desire for the radio era but I admit that my curiosity has now been piqued.  Sadly there is not as much information out there as you would think which is why I am so thankful to Michael Kupperman for writing this wonderful memoir.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery 13 and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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Room on the Porch Swing

I have always been a fan of Amish fiction, which is why I am shocked that I have never read any books from Amy Clipston, and was anxious to read Room on the Porch Swing.  This is the second and final book in the Amish Homestead series and though I have not read the first book, A Place at Our Table, I was in no way lost when I started reading.  Room on the Porch Swing had my attention from the beginning.

I cannot imagine being a widow, much less a widower with a two-month-old baby to care for, but that is exactly where Allen Lambert finds himself after tragically losing his wife, Savella.  They have only been married for a little over a year and Allen is still a newcomer in a lot of ways in the small Amish community in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania.  

Allen is lucky to have wonderful in-laws who share the pain of this tragic loss and his mother-in-law, Irma Mae, offers to help with baby Mollie while Allen goes back to work repairing and reselling buggies, his own business, which just happens to be booming at the moment.  When Irma Mae has a nasty fall that ends up requiring surgery she can no longer care for Mollie which leaves Allen once again struggling to get by.  

It seems as if everything in Laura Riehl's life is dramatically changing as well.  It's only been a few months since she's lost her mother that she loses her best friend, Savella.  Her and her boyfriend, Rudy, were close friends to both Allen and Savella, and Laura wants to do everything she can to help her best friends husband.  When Irma Mae becomes unable to care for baby Mollie Laura seizes the opportunity to help, much to the disapproval of her long-time boyfriend.  Allen is more than grateful for the help and before long their relationship grows into a close and caring friendship and then all the feelings start to confuse their once clear intentions with each other.

Though this book is predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Room on the Porch Swing.  The character development and depth is wonderful and you truly feel the emotions coming through the pages.  There is quite a bit of "will they won't they" which did start to get a little old but I am so glad I persevered until the end.  There were a few nail-biting parts that were real page turners, which I appreciated, and the story does pick up at the end.  It is a sweet and easy read and only took me a few days to get through it all.  

Wonderful and sweet story of loss, faith, and love!  Highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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The Innkeeper's Daughter

Being transported to a time and place is the magic that is contained between the covers of a book and very few authors captivate readers and bring those worlds to life better than Michelle Griep.  In The Inkeeper's Daughter you are taken to Dover, England in 1908 where we meet Officer Alexander Moore and Ms. Johanna Langley.

Alexander is on an undercover mission to expose a traitor to the crown and Johanna is doing everything she can to keep her family business afloat.  Despite their focuses being on their respective tasks they cannot fight the feelings that quickly blossom between them.  After Johanna makes herself vulnerable to Alexander he wants to reciprocate but cannot afford to bring to light his dishonesty and has to choose between his love for Johanna or be loyal to his mission.

It pains me to say this but this is the first book by Michelle Griep that was incredibly hard for me to get through.  Though the plot was decent it was a very slow and painful read for me.  Every time I picked it up I fought to get through each chapter.  However there were gems throughout this book that cannot be ignored.  I found the characters quite charming, especially Alexander, the writing style drew you to that era, and I did enjoy the ending. 

I really wanted to love this book but I think the parts that lagged fought to hold my attention and made for a laborious read for me.  If you are a die-hard romance addict I think this would be an enjoyable read because Alexander is easy to fall in love with.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.

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