Book Review: While the Gods Were Sleeping By Elizabeth Enslin

WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING
A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal

By: Elizabeth Enslin

Published: September 23, 2014

Publisher: Seal Press

Non Fiction/Memoir

Elizabeth Enslin begins her memoir with the story of her son's birth in a small village in Nepal in 1987. After a long labor that wasn't progressing, she takes off through the rural roads of Nepal to the nearest hospital, which was her last choice in her options for giving birth. As Enslin reflects on this day, she sees her 6 years in Nepal in a whole new light and takes the readers through her arrival and years in Nepal. She eventually returns to the states, even spending a brief time in Iowa City while her husband studied at the University of Iowa. This memoir explores her journey as an anthropologist, as a wife of a Nepali, and as a mother.

Elizabeth Enslin and her husband Pramod travel to his home country Nepal as anthropologists.  She meets his family for the first time and moves in with his parents and their extended family. She learns the cultural restrictions and norms for women and daughter-in-laws, and adjusts to the primitive lifestyle. Her doctoral study takes on a new focus and through her life in Nepal we learn much about the challenges for women in Nepal, the strong family ties and love of culture, and their resilience for a better future.

Enslin's memoir is quite fascinating, yet parts of it read like a research paper.  Some sections were more readable than others. I preferred the parts of the book where she shared snippets of emotion and real life in Nepal. I ended up skimming sections that were heavy in political and anthropological notes where she ventured deep into the research and less into the stories. I also became frustrated with the political piece, especially when much of it wasn't resolved. The constant battle between men and women, between cultural and religious expectations and the different castes were constant road blocks in making any progress. I was especially interested in the tales of pregnancy and delivery, women's issues, the realities of domestic violence, the harsh living conditions, and the various cultural restrictions for women in Nepal. Hearing real concerns, stories, and descriptions of daily life remind me to appreciate the freedoms and choices we have here in America.

I was disappointed that there wasn't some sort of "update" at the end of the book related to the many members of their family. This book was written about her life in the late 1980's and early 1990's. I am curious to know how some of the family fared, especially Aama, the author's mother-in-law. What has happened to the author and her family now that they are living in the US? What has happened to Pramod's family and the culture for women in Nepal now that it is 2014. The only information we have on Enslin is that she is living in a strawbale house in Oregon.  A brief epilogue at the end of the book would have given the reader a update on the people of Nepal twenty years later. Maybe this is something that could be offered on the author's website.

If you find learning about other cultures, women's studies, and travel interesting, WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING might be a book for you.  A portion of the processed from this book will be donated to the Rural Health Education Service Trust (RHEST) for projects dedicated to improving women's reproductive health in rural Nepal.

Elizabeth Enslin - source

Elizabeth Enslin, author of WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal, grew up in Seattle and went on to earn her PhD in cultural anthropology from Stanford University in 1990. While a graduate student, she married into a Brahman family in the plains of Nepal. Inspired by local women, especially her mother-in-law, she researched women's organizing, poetics, politics, and agroecology. Her academic essay, "Beyond Writing: Feminist Practice and the Limits of Ethnography," still inspires conversations about feminism and the ethics of research and activism.

Enslin returned to the Pacific Northwest in 1995 and earned her living as a high school and college teacher, a grant writer, and an independent consultant. She has published creative nonfiction and poetry in The Gettysburg Review, Crab Orchard Review, The High Desert Journal, The Raven Chronicles, Opium Magazine, and In Posse Review and received an Individual Artist Fellowship Award from the Oregon Arts Commission and an honorable mention for the Pushcart Prize.

She currently lives in a strawbale house in the canyon country of northeastern Oregon, where she raises garlic, pigs, and yaks. WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING is her first book.

For more information please visit http://www.elizabethenslin.com, and follow the author on Facebook, HERE and Twitter, HERE.

To purchase a copy of this book, please click the photo below:

Thanks to FSB Associates for sending me a copy of this book. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase a copy of this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Book Review: Your Life Isn't For You By Seth Adam Smith

YOUR LIFE ISN'T FOR YOU
A Selfish Person's Guide to Being Selfless

By: Seth Adam Smith

Published: September 22, 2014

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

Non Fiction



You might possibly be one of the 30 million people who read Smith's blog post titled, "Your Marriage Isn't for You" or one of the millions that saw him and his wife talk about that post on The Today Show, Fox and Friends or Good Morning America  to name a few. If so, then you will want to check out his book. In it, he describes how his selfish life led him into a deep depression, then to attempting suicide, and ultimately realizing that his life is to be lived for sharing love with others. In his famous blog post, he shared that marriage is really all about making and keeping your spouse happy. Marriage, like life, is about love. If you love others, you will ultimately love yourself.

Through sharing snippets of his life as a missionary in Russia, to his return to the states and his suicide attempt, to his work in an outdoors teen camp, and his eventual return to Russia, Smith realizes how his life is meant to be lived for others. His family and friends were also key in Smith coming out of his depression and finding meaning in his life. Without their love and support, he wouldn't have been able to learn how to share that compassion with those he came in contact with.

Smith reflects on a childhood story his father shared with him and finds ways to parallel his life with the story of THE SELFISH GIANT by Oscar Wilde. In Smith's life he built up his own wall around his heart much like the giant built one around his garden. Once he started letting people into his heart, especially after his suicide attempt, he realized his life was to be lived for others. This revelation led him to see the world in a whole new light.

Smith's book is a short book and can be read in just a few hours, but the words inside are profound. In it he reminds us that the smallest of kindnesses and token gestures can tear down the walls around our hearts and make the world a much better place.

Check out the book trailer for YOUR LIFE ISN'T FOR YOU:



At the end of his book, Smith shares a short story that came to him as an inspiration one night while camping in Arizona. He hopes this story will inspire you and if it does, he encourages you to share it with others. The video of his story THE LEGEND OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS is below:

Seth Adam Smith - source

Seth Adam Smith is an internationally acclaimed, Alaskan-born writer whose blog posts have been shared worldwide and translated into over twenty languages. He frequently writes about relationships and self-improvement on Huffington Post and on his website, SethAdamSmith.com.  You can also find him on Twitter, HERE and Facebook, HERE. 

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, click the photo below:

Thanks to FSB Associates for sending me a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase a copy of the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Books to Movie: Tracks Movie Debut Today

A few months ago, I reviewed the book TRACKS by Robyn Davidson.  Now that book is a movie, debuting in the US today! To see my review of the book, TRACKS, click HERE. 

TRACKS is the inspiring true story of an incredible adventure across the Australian desert

from the producers of The King's Speech. Starring Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre) and Adam Driver (HBO's Girls), and directed by John Curran.

Praise for TRACKS: 

"A superb adaptation.... 

Evocatively rendered."
—Hollywood Reporter

"Beautiful, thrilling, and ferociously brave....
Robyn Davidson's timeless story of her astonishing journey gripped me from the
first page to the last. Tracks is an unforgettably powerful book."
—Cheryl Strayed, bestselling author of WILD, who incidentally has her own movie premiere for WILD in a few months. 

I can't wait to see TRACKS, I just need to find a few hours to do it! Check your local theaters and go see this inspiring, emotional story of resilience and fortitude of one woman's trek across the Australian desert.  Be sure to let me know if you go see it!

Children's Book Review: Lady Emma in Her Land of Wonder By Martha M Harrison

LADY EMMA
In Her Land of Wonder

By Martha M Harrison

Published: August 8, 2014

Publisher: Incanto Press

Fiction

Does your daughter love fairy tales?
Is your daughter full of imagination and wonder?
Then Lady Emma is just the story for her. Based on ALICE IN WONDERLAND and THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, Harrison brings you an imaginative story for young girls to enjoy.

You can follow along in the whole series of adventures with Lady Emma beginning with this book. Lady Emma is full of imagination but also gets herself into blunders. As she grows she finds her own personal strength and determination to get out of mishaps. We meet her as a young child and follow her all the way through to a young woman who finds her prince.

My photos do not do the illustrations justice. The pages are vibrant and full of detail.

Every character just jumps off the page. 

Your child will want to look at the pictures as much as hear the story.

Lady Emma learns to be independent and she learns she can do anything she dreams. This book shares excellent qualities to reinforce with your children. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has to offer. It is really a delightful book. 

Martha M Harrison

Dr. Martha M. Harrison’s previous books have all had an academic focus on language play, reading, children’s books, and the integration of the arts across the curriculum. She has trained over 2000 teachers in teaching reading and writing to children and young adults in grades K-12 and served as a designer of reading and writing curriculum and assessments for the State Departments of Education in Tennessee, Mississippi, Florida and California. For the past two decades, her passion for literacy has guided her teaching of children’s and young adult literature and her successful authoring and implementation of reading and writing curriculum in education. She is a member of the Association of Children’s Literature (AChL) and the International Reading Association (IRA). Her scholarly articles have been published in Florida English Journal, a scholarly journal of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE); The New Advocate, a scholarly journal For Those Involved with Young People and Their Literature; and the National Education Association Library Series (NEA). She has conducted numerous workshops on comparing the works of Maurice Sendak and Theodor S. Geisel, “Dr. Seuss”. She is currently teaching a course on Arts Integration Across the Curriculum at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California near San Francisco. Among her many scholarly publications is an early 1990 article entitled Teaching Thinking Skills to Gifted Children Using Children’s Literature and The Arts. For more on the author, click HERE.

To purchase a copy of this book, click the photo below:

I will be linking up with other bloggers on Booking Mama's Kid Konnection. Check it out HERE on Saturday for other great reviews of children's books.

I was provided a copy of this book for review. This book is my honest opinion. I was not compensated for this review. If you choose to purchase this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Lavender Oil Review

I am new to the essential oil community. But, I am slowing starting to use oils and am finding great comfort and benefits from using them.  I'll be sharing my experiences soon, but today I am sharing about my use of Lavender Oil.

Healing Solutions sent me a bottle of Lavender Essential Oil. This particular essential oil is Kashmir Grade Lavender Oil which is a rarer grade of lavender oil distilled from a lavender plant located in the Himalayas. It has a sweeter smell than lavender from other regions. 

Honestly, I had been avoiding purchasing Lavender Essential Oil because I have never cared for the smell of lavender. I have gotten different pillow sachets scented with lavender and haven't cared for them. When I was offered a bottle of lavender essential oil to try, I figured I had nothing to lose. Surprisingly, I have loved using it. The smell is different than I remember. Maybe purer, or sweeter, as I mentioned above. 

Lavender Oil is said to reduce stress and anxiety. It can eliminate headaches. It can be used to relieve joint and muscle pain. It can help reduce the itching of bug bites. It can help calm you and improve sleep.

I have been using the Lavender Essential Oil for the last two weeks. I have applied it to bug bites, to my hands for joint pain (I have arthritis in my fingers) and to my pulse points right before bed or when I need to reduce my anxiety.  I've been keeping the Lavender Oil right on my night stand so I can easily apply it right when I go to bed.

I am quite pleased with my results from using the Lavender Essential Oil. I was surprised that the scent didn't turn me off as much as I expected it to. I found I almost crave it when I go to bed. After applying it to the inside of my wrists, I find that I lay in such a way that I can breathe in the scent and instantly feel relaxed. Sleep has come quickly for me and has been more restful. I also found it eased the itching from a bug bite and reduced the pain in my fingers. On days when life is a bit stressful, just opening the bottle, taking a quick smell, and sitting for a moment can calm my mind and help me focus on the tasks ahead.

I am quite happy with my Lavender Essential Oil and will be using it for quite a long time. If you would like to purchase Healing Solutions Lavender Essential Oil, click the photo below:

Disclaimer: The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or diagnose any diseases or conditions. If you are suffering from any disease, illness, or injury it is your responsibility to consult with your physician.

I was provided a free bottle of Lavender Essential Oil for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. If you choose to purchase the oil through the above link, I may receive a small commission from your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Book Review: What Your Heart Needs for the Hard Days By Holley Gerth

WHAT YOUR HEART NEEDS FOR THE HARD DAYS
52 Encouraging Truths to Hold On To

By: Holley Gerth

Published: September 2, 2014

Publisher: Revell

Non-Fiction

Holley Gerth finds a way to hit at the heart of what women are dealing with emotionally as they try to balance a career, a marriage, being a mom, and everything else that goes along with it.  Holley has written books to encourage and offer hope just when women may feel like giving up. In WHAT YOUR HEART NEEDS FOR THE HARD DAYS she has written a devotional that can be read regularly, or just when you need some focused encouragement. 

By taking 52 truths, you can find one to read and ponder on or read one each week of the year. In my review of this book, I looked at the various chapter titles and read ones that hit at my own struggles. I found chapters on anxiety, high expectations, and feeling alone to speak right to my needs. Each of the chapters covers about 3 pages of insight beginning with a Bible verse. Your short devotional covers a story and promise for how to get through this particular "hard time". Each devotional ends with a beginning of a prayer than you personalize and a space for you to write your own thoughts from a couple chapters in the Bible. 

This book would work perfect as a personal or women's group study. You can read each chapter in order or pick and choose the chapter that meets your particular needs that day. Some of the truths I found in my reading included:

• Pinpointing my anxious thoughts and replacing them with faith instead so my emotions can change too.
• God is present in the whole process. He is there in the beginning. He is there in the middle. He will be there when it comes to an end. God wants me to praise Him during the whole process.
• I don't have to be as strong as I think I do. I don't have to pretend. I don't have to put up a front for God. He can handle where I am at today. I can tell Him the truth because He already knows it.

If these few items spoke to you, I highly recommend you read WHAT YOUR HEART NEEDS FOR THE HARD DAYS. You may not feel like you are in the midst of a "hard or difficult day", but Holley gets right at the realities of daily life and lets you know you aren't alone.

Holley Gerth - source

Holley Gerth is a bestselling writer, certified life coach, and speaker. She loves connecting with the hearts of women through her popular blog and books like You're Already Amazing,You're Made for a God-Sized Dream, Opening the Door to Your God-Sized Dream, andYou're Going to Be Okay. She's also cofounder of (in)courage and a partner with DaySpring. Holley lives with her husband, Mark, in the South. Learn more at www.holleygerth.com. You can also find Holley on Twitter, HERE and Facebook, HERE. 

If you would like to purchase this book, click the photo below:

Thanks to Revell for sending me a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you paying a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Book Review: My Mother's Secret By J. L. Witterick and a Giveaway

MY MOTHER'S SECRET

J. L. Witterick

Published: September 2, 2014 (reprint)

Publisher: Berkley Trade Paperback

Fiction/Historical Fiction




Every time I read a story based on the Holocaust, I am riveted and in awe of the horrific acts perpetrated on the Jewish people. Every story I have read has left me distraught but also so grateful for the few glimpses of hope and kindness that were shared during such an evil point in our history. MY MOTHER'S SECRET is just that kind of story.

J. L. Witterick was captivated by the true story of Franciszka and her daughter, Helena, a simple family with a farm in rural Poland.  After hearing about their selfless act of hiding 15 people in their simple home during the war, Witterick knew there was a story to tell. In MY MOTHER'S SECRET, Helena begins telling us about her life growing up in Germany with her parents and brother, Damien. As Hitler emerges as the new leader, her father takes Hitler's side and life at home becomes more difficult. At 16, Helena and her brother leave with their mother to move to Poland, leaving the abusive father behind. Through the many contacts and friends they meet during their time in Poland, Francsizka's kindness is remembered. Those connections prove to be quite valuable as war breaks out. Moving through the book we read the personal stories of the people Francisizka chooses to hide and keep safe while war and horrors take place all around them. Of those who take refuge on the farm, we meet a German soldier who can't bear to participate in any more of the horrible acts required of him, a doctor and his family whose wealth can only protect them so long, and finally, a family who can't bear to suffer another loss at the hands of the Germans.

The novel is written in a way that it can be shared with your teenager or your grandparents. The chapters are short and even though the pain of the words are difficult, it is a quick read. There are many lessons to learn while reading this book, including living without regrets, giving selflessly to help others, and that acts kindness will be rewarded. Even when Franciszka should have given up and been as angry as any other person who had suffered during the war, she found a way to give to others, to keep hope alive, and choose to do the right thing when she had so much to lose.

This would make an excellent choice for book clubs or for schools to use in their Holocaust studies. Discussion questions are included in the back of the book, but even without them, you will find much to discuss in the stories of Franciszka, Helena, and the families they meet. MY MOTHER'S SECRET is an amazing story and one that should be shared with generations to come.

J. L. Witterick

Originally from Taiwan, J.L. Witterick has been living in Canada since her family's arrival in 1968. Today she works as President of Sky Investment Counsel. MY MOTHER'S SECRET is J.L.'s debut novel. She lives in Toronto with her husband, and their dog and cat. For more on J. L. Witterick, visit her website, http://www.mymotherssecret.com/.  You can also find her on Facebook, HERE. 

If you would like to enter to win a copy of MY MOTHER'S SECRET, fill out the form below. You may enter only once. This giveaway is open to US residents only. The contest will end at 11:59 on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. I will choose a winner on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, using Random.org and will contact the winner by the email address provided. The winner will have 48 hours to contact me or I will choose a new winner. I am not responsible for undelivered prizes but will do my best to make sure they are delivered. 

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. 

Thanks to all who entered to win. Kathryn was the winner.