The SECOND Post of BOOKMAS!

Season's greetings...

...and welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!

It's time for POST TWO of the TWELVE DAYS OF BOOKMAS.

What IS Bookmas, you ask?

Great question!

Bookmas is similar to Christmas, except it brings tidings of great reads, holiday gifting suggestions, and just about all the bookish fun you can imagine from across the genre spectrum.  It's all in one place at one time (sorta) and ready to help you get out from under the yuletide stress, and get back to enjoying the season...one page at a time.  

Just why is it the "Twelve Posts" and not the twelve books?  Simple...I have WAY TOO MANY titles for you to consider, peruse, and read all about to limit it to twelve titles.  These posts are intended to highlight some great titles, give you ideas for your gifting this year, and help me clear up my "read-it-but-need-to-review-it" teetering stack.  Triple focus...yes siree!  So, ready or not, let's get this sled on the road as we unwrap today's featured titles....

Code 7:

Cracking the Code for an Epic Life

by

Bryan R. Johnson

9781940556000

Candy Wrapper Inc

A short but sweet collection showcasing the life and times of several youngsters striving to be the change they wish to see in the world...they just don't know it yet. From well-intentioned money-making schemes gone wrong to artistic challenges grown larger than life, and a little bit of everything in between, these kiddos remind us that taking the easy way out has its own set of consequences, and that the big picture really and truly is bigger than us all. While imparting their messages to us, they also learn the power of many versus one to solve a problem, to be selfless with their time to reap the best rewards, and to never back down from a challenge because without those willing to fight the good fight, nothing would ever change.  An inspiring pick for readers of all ages.

The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek Library

by

Linda Bailey

Illustrated by

Victoria Jamieson

9780062440952

Greenwillow Books

How can you NOT love a book reading/writing little bug out to save the school library? Exactly. Eddie is a bug living the life, or rather trying to rescue Aunt Min, stop his bitty buggy brother from being squished, and experience the wonders of the library before its too late. The new librarian, if one could even call her that, is nothing short of an enemy of the written word. Good thing there's a ghost of a chance of putting her in her place before it's too late. I mean, who else would the mysterious stickies have been left/written by? Certainly not anyone so small and easy to overlook as a bright green little bug with a penchant for the classics....certainly not indeed.

A great reminder that "a person's a person, no matter how small"...well said, Stuart Little...and very applicable here as we see the might and power of one teeny tiny voice against the forces that be.

Brave Red, Smart Frog:

A New Book of Old Tales

by

Emily Jenkins

Illustrated by

Rohan Daniel Eason

9780763665586

Candlewick Press

A collection of tales we know and love through new eyes...and with the interconnecting piece added, it certainly makes you wonder why ANYONE would EVER venture into or near a frozen forest at ANY time.  Seriously...NOTHING GOOD EVER HAPPENS THERE...well, for the most part anyway.  Think about it...Snow White meeting her untimely end (temporarily)...a prince being cursed to life as an amphibian...a woodcutter turning his wife's nose into a sausage...need I go on?

A great pick for Children's Fiction fans of the middle grade set and beyond...the beyond will especially enjoy the frankness in the telling of the stories as well as the snark that is imparted.

Special thanks to Candy Wrapper Inc, Greenwillow Books, Candlewick Press, and FSB Associates for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on these titles, the authors, or the publishers, feel free to click through the links provided above.  Be sure to check back for the next BOOKMAS post tomorrow for more bookish fun!

Happy holidays and happy reading!



Beyond Bedlam's Door by Mark Rubinstein, MD

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're sharing a recent Non-Fiction read that I found myself between the pages of thanks to Anna at FSB Associates.  It's a sequel, of sorts, to the author's 2016 release, Bedlam's Door, which introduced us to Mark Rubinstein, M.D. and the world of afflicted minds that he inhabits.  So, if you're ready to reaffirm that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction, join me as we discover...

Beyond Bedlam's Door:

True Tales from the Couch to the Courtroom

by

Mark Rubinstein, M.D.

9781941016251

Thunder Lake Press

About the book...

What drove a psychiatrist to enlist a patient in a plot to murder six people?

What was the secret bargain struck that allowed a 104-year-old woman to live such a long and productive life?

Why would a woman refuse to emerge from the confines of her bedroom? And after treatment liberated her, why did she suddenly take a turn for the worse?

In Beyond Bedlam's Door, former practicing psychiatrist Mark Rubinstein takes you outside the hospital and into his world of private patients, nursing home residents, and the challenging legal system in which he worked as a forensic expert. As in Bedlam's Door, great lengths were taken to preserve people's anonymity, but the raw truth of each story remains intact. The resiliency of some individuals and the venality of others are laid bare in these pages.

Beyond Bedlam's Door invites you to meet twenty-one unforgettable people. Some stories will disturb you, others will make you smile, but all will give you a deeper appreciation of what it means to be human.

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Here, we have a mixture of minds, attitudes, afflictions, and something other, that take us into the inner workings of a handful of souls encountered in the author's lifetime.  From the boy who couldn't get enough attention to passing judgment on whether a perceived threat was handled according to best practices, the housewife that needed a life to the artist that needed a hand up not out, there are many stories between the pages, both expected and non, that will have you nodding in agreement, shaking your head in sympathy, or fired up with the desire to avenge the wronged.  It runs the gambit for certain, but there are always those that stand out most.

For me, I was most drawn to three stories in particular; two for the better, one for the worst.  First and foremost, his unexpected office addition, even if only temporarily, of four legged friend.  The therapeutic nature of animals has long been debated, but on the whole, I'd say the decision is definitely in their favor.  It was wonderful to see everyone open up under the attention of that unconditional love, providing our dear doctor another avenue to reach their troubled minds.  Second on the list, the gentleman struggling through surviving the 9/11 attacks.  He was actually IN the building when it occurred, and the story he shares is so heart wrenching, so unbelievable and yet impossibly true, you can't help but feel for him and marvel at the strength of his character even as he relays the continuing trials he faces on a daily basis.

One that I actually found most disturbing wasn't even a patient or client scenario, but a clandestine conversation between colleagues...though the latter term I use quite loosely.  It seems one person in particular that was in the role of doctor, craved to cross that line between the patient and themselves.  Grant it, it was a person whose particular "issues" ran the line of shall we say exposition, but people (well, most anyway) go in search of professionals in this field generally after searching themselves for answers and finding none. They are seeking help, not a continuance of what they are trying to lay to rest.  I must say I was rather pleased with the response the author as well as his associates gave to this "Lothario's" conundrum...and took a small measure of pleasure in something that fell the "good doctor's" name later in life.

In the end, it was another curious walk through the psyches of patients and clients, that reminds us that while we may all experience life differently, we're all a part of the human race. The stories are shared with enough tact to prevent sensitive information from being exposed yet with enough depth that you can truly see behind the eyes of those seeking his audience.

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About the author...

From author's 'About Me' page...

Mark Rubinstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. He dreamed of playing baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers since his all-time hero was the Dodgers’ first baseman Gil Hodges. Rubinstein played high school baseball and ran track. His love of sports led him to read sports fiction, and soon he became a voracious reader, developing an enduring love for all kinds of novels.

He entered medical school at the State University of New York’s Downstate Medical Center. As a medical student, he developed an interest in psychiatry, discovering in that specialty the same thing he realized in reading fiction: every patient has a compelling story to tell. He became a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in New York City.

SITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to Anna at FSB Associates for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or those promotions on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title celebrated its book birthday May 2017 via Thunder Lake Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Define Normal: BEDLAM'S DOOR by Mark Rubinstein

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

It's OCTOBER...can you believe it?

I mean, where DID September go exactly?

I don't know about you, but despite the calendar's fast march towards the winter holidays, I'm excited.  I LOVE OCTOBER!  Autumn has arrived (mostly), Halloween is around the corner, my family has a few birthdays and anniversaries to celebrate...basically it's a busy month but filled with heart and fun so yeah, basically, I love it.  ^-^  Oh, and let's not forget the plethora of seasonal reads available now, most particularly, the SPOOKY, SCARY ones....

Today's title fits the seasonal category, but not in the classic sense.  It's a non-fiction title that explores the boundaries of the mind, and just what exactly "normal" is (and to whom for that matter).  Doesn't sound scary, or spooky, right?  Right...but fact CAN be scarier than fiction and as these are based on true stories from the doctor that experienced them himself, it's certainly chilling.  Ladies and gents, here's comes today's book of choice...

Bedlam's Door

by

Mark Rubinstein

9781941016237

Thunder Lake Press

About the book....

Why would a man born in Hungary and living on Manhattan’s Lower East Side run down Delancey Street ranting “I’m king of the Puerto Ricans”?

What would compel a physically healthy woman to persuade surgeons to operate on her more than a dozen times?

How was it possible for a man wearing a straitjacket to commit suicide within a locked psychiatric ward while in the company of a well-trained guard?

Though these and the other stories in this volume read like fiction, each is true.

Former practicing psychiatrist Mark Rubinstein opens the door and takes the reader deep into the world of mental illness. From the chaos of a psychiatric emergency room to the bowels of a maximum security prison, the stories range from bizarre to poignant and the people from noble to callously uncaring.

        

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This is a fascinating walk through the minds of several patients Mark encountered on his journey through the hallowed halls of several institutions, hospitals, and the like, but at the same time, a walk through his own psyche.  After all, one can't deduce abnormalities and unusual occurrences in others without learning more about yourself.

Some cases were more interesting than others...

..."King of the Puerto Ricans",.. what WOULD cause a man to run naked through the streets shouting this?  It's not simply a mid-life crisis, or drug induced moment, either.  It stems from something long ago that he had no control over, that's back to visit him once again...

..."A Dirty Little Secret"...I've never really understood OCD, I mean in the literal sense, not the one where someone says it casually about Suzie's or Johnny's need to organize the office, just so.  I was interesting to see how this one came about and progressed.

..."Dr. Boris Papalini"...this one really makes you wonder just how often this happens!  Scary thought, I'm telling you...

...while others simply left me in stitches...

..."The Head Doctor"...a perfect case for CLEAR COMMUNICATION.  Ha!

..."A Short Memory"...so the circumstances as to why this case came about aren't funny, but what finally gets the guy in question to change his ways totally is.

...but every one had something to gleam from them, a message to take with us from the laymen and doctoral side of things.

I have to agree, it's a book ripped from the pages of life that reads like fiction and yet manages to impart pointers, suggestions, and scientific facts along the way that are both fascinating and informative.  It sheds a different light on those suffering from mental afflictions, one that calls for learning, care, and action versus reaction, while reminding us that it can happen to anyone for any number of reasons.  So you see, defining normal isn't all that easy after all...

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About the author...

Mark Rubinstein was born in Brooklyn, New York. He dreamed of playing baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers since his all-time hero was the Dodgers’ first baseman Gil Hodges. Rubinstein played high school baseball and ran track. His love of sports led him to read sports fiction, and soon he became a voracious reader, developing an enduring love for all kinds of novels.

He graduated from New York University with a degree in business administration. He then served in the army and ended up as a field medic tending to paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was so taken with these experiences that after his discharge, he re-entered NYU as a premed student.

He entered medical school at the State University of New York’s Downstate Medical Center. As a medical student, he developed an interest in psychiatry, discovering in that specialty the same thing he realized in reading fiction: every patient has a compelling story to tell. He became a board-certified psychiatrist practicing in New York City.

In addition to running his private practice he developed an interest in forensic psychiatry because the drama and conflict of the cases and courtrooms tapped into his personality style. He also taught psychiatric residents, interns, psychologists, and social workers at New York Presbyterian Hospital and became a clinical assistant professor at Cornell University’s medical school.

Rubinstein lives in Connecticut with his wife and as many dogs as she will allow in the house. He still practices psychiatry and is busily writing more novels. Mad Dog House, his first novel, was named a Finalist for the 2012 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Award (Thriller & Suspense) and The Foot Soldier won the Silver award for Fiction at the 2014 Benjamin Franklin Awards.

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Special thanks to Anna at FSB Associates for the ARC for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or those promotions forthcoming, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title released just last month via Thunder Lake Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!