Book Description
"My son's illness is eight years old and has no name. It started when he was fourteen. He is now twenty-two. It is taking away his ability to walk and to reason. It is getting worse, some years more rapidly than others."
These words begin the first section of Blue Peninsula, a narrative of a son's degenerative illness in thirty-three parts focused around poems that have provided companionship and sustenance to the author. When multiple diagnostic avenues delivered no explanation for the worsening disabilities of her older son, Ike, Madge McKeithen "became a poetry addict--collecting, consuming, ripping poems out of magazines, buying slender volumes that would fit in my pocket or pocketbook, stashing them in loose-leaf notebooks, on shelves, stacking them on the floor. In the midst of all this grief, I had fallen in love. With words. Poems, especially. And just in time."
McKeithen draws on a wonderfully wide ranging group of of poets and lyricists--including Emily Dickinson, the Rolling Stones, Paul Celan, Bruce Springsteen, Marie Howe, Walt Whitman, and many others--to illuminate, comfort, and help to express her sorrow. Some chapters are reflections on friendships and family relationships in the context of a chronic and worsening illness. Some consider making peace with what life has dealt, and others value intentionally reworking it.
Not written to suggest easy solace, this powerful work aims to keep company, as would any individual whose loved one is on a course in which the only way out is through.
Customer Reviews:
book.......2007-01-20
Item arrived in just a few days. I was pleased with the condition.
The solace of poems.......2006-06-21
I never really liked poetry. No, let me correct that. I never understood poetry. Blue Peninsula is an alluring work about poetry that bridges the gap. Madge McKeithen's book is an extraordinary, powerful journey through the author's struggle to cope with her son Ike's undiagnosed, degenerative condition. Throughout the terrible ordeal of Ike's illness, Ms. Mckeithen found solace in the words of others. Poetry became her confidant, her guide, her therapist through an overwhelming labyrinth of painful tests, pointless doctor visits, and inaccurate diagnoses - none of which provided the medical help she so desperately wanted for her son.
Gorgeously written in a style that is almost poetic on its own, the chapters of Blue Peninsula are divided into the various issues brought on by Ike's illness: the grief, the frustration, the unbearable anguish a parent endures when she is impotent to stop her child's awful suffering. Most chapters begin with a poem - a poem that carries the reader into the thinking heart of the author. There, through the words of the poets, Ms. Mckeithen discovers another way of perceiving the maddening worlds of sadness, anger, loss, powerlessness. In Blue Peninsula the reader begins to realize that poems are not the secret property of an "intelligensia." Poems are what the poets intended: insights into ourselves and our worlds - they are the shared understandings of our very human lives. Whether the reader identifies with the awareness that comes to Ms. McKeithen through poetry, or whether the reader finds a new, personal wonder in poems, Madge McKeithen's Blue Peninsula is an extraordinary experience.
A book I couldn't put down.......2006-05-14
Blue Peninsula, its author Madge McKeithen says, "is not about resolution, but about connection." McKeithen turns to poetry to make some kind of sense of the chaos that has engulfed her world since her son Ike was diagnosed with a degenerative, but unnamed, illness nine years ago. The poems include favorites that I too might have chosen--Whitman's "A Noiseless Patient Spider" and Rilke's "Sunset"--as well as surprising choices that taught me deeper ways to think about the griefs and complexities of life--poems, for example, by Alan Michael Parker, Kenneth Koch, and Carl Phillips. One of the most moving, especially in the context of Ike's illness, is Elizabeth Bishop's "One Art."
But it's not just the poetry. It's McKeithen's honesty, her skill as a writer, and her determination to tell the story that had to be told--that's what makes this a book I couldn't put down until I read it all the way through.
Grief, poetry and courage in a wonderfully readable book. .......2006-04-20
In this amazing book, Madge McKeithen not only uses the poetry she loves for her own comfort, but to help inform her own understanding of a life that has broken off from the one she intended to live. Her son, Ike, is ill. No one knows what to call the illness, no one can predict its duration nor offer treatment. A mother alone in the wilderness of emotions and yet stuck in the daily grind of obligations, work, and relationships in the face of the dreadful, terrifying illness of her child.
McKeithen's book is astounding and courageous, beautiful and fresh.
Breathtaking and fierce.......2006-04-14
Blue Peninsula is an intimate, thoughtful, and breathtakingly fierce book.
McKeithen faces down a subject that must pain her heart every day - her oldest son's illness - and finds balance and delight contemplating poetry by authors as diverse as Sharon Olds, D.H. Lawrence and e.e. cummings.
McKeithen writes that "poems... lend themselves to fragmentary reading and re-reading," and encourages readers to dip in and out of Blue Peninsula that same way. I couldn't help but read the book straight through. Blue Peninsula will stay with me as a compass for a very long time.
Amazon.com
Some losses are particularly hard to bear, partly because we have no formal rites to grieve them. Miscarriage marks the death of dreams as surely as it does the death of a baby months before it was due. "We counted our lucky stars and you were it," one woman in this collection writes sadly. Another notes, "You can publicly mourn someone others have met, someone people were expecting, someone who looks like a child. I mourn children who most people never knew about, never expected, who never looked like children." These stories and poems are anguished and touching. Paradoxically, they offer comfort to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage.
Book Description
Anyone who has been touched by miscarriage will want to read and share this book.
Customer Reviews:
I'm not alone.......2000-09-06
I am so thankful that I found this book! Although no one story exactly matched my experience with my miscarriage, I could relate to portions of almost every story, so that instead of feeling alone and lost I felt comforted, heard and understood. (I was doubly comforted by the fact that many of these women were from my geographical area!) I'm slowly coming to grips with the technical aspects of my miscarriage, but dealing with the emotions has been hard. Reading others' stories has been remarkably healing for me and has encourage me to share my story with others as well. I very highly recommend this book for those struggling with the emotional roller-coaster of miscarriage.
Deeply healing.......1999-10-27
After the loss of my first pregnancy, I found this book. I was touched to my soul by the pain I found mirrored in the stories I read. I felt less lonely and more hopeful afterwards.
Deeply healing.......1999-10-27
After the loss of my first pregnancy, I found this book. I was touched to my soul by the pain I found mirrored in the stories I read. I felt less lonely and more hopeful afterwards.
A wonderful book to help with your healing.......1999-07-08
Having just suffered my first pregnancy loss, I was having a hard time understanding the grieving process. This book was such a wonderful insight for me. It has helped me to turn to poetry, journal writing and talking openly with my spouse. I learned that everyone grieves differently, even though we have all suffered a loss. I will recommend this book to anyone I know who suffers a miscarriage.
It's comforting to know I'm not alone in my grief.......1999-01-25
This book was very helpful in allowing me to cope with my miscarriage. I have read our books regarding miscarriage that we very technical, leaving me feeling worse about my lose, this book is different. It's stories of grief have been a comfort to me, putting words to my feelings. It has also helped me communicate my feeling to my husband, who didn't quite understand why it's been so hard for me to get over it and just move on. Anyone who has expereinced a miscarrriage should read this book.
Book Description
Every thought produces a neurochemical reaction that in turn affects the way we feel. With this in mind, author and counselor Douglas Bloch developed a daily program of self-care strategies to enhance one's mood. Based on his best-selling book Words That Heal, WORDS THAT HEAL THE BLUES uses the power of daily affirmations to alleviate the painful symptoms of depression, anxiety, addiction, and other mood disorders. Each day includes a self-care lesson, a series of affirmations, and an activity to help transform the lesson into positive action. These healing words will comfort and inspire you to let go of fear and worry, and let wellness and harmony into your life, one day at a time.
Book Description
With the last will and testament, our culture has a way to settle estates and material possessions. But we don’t have a ritual for bequeathing messages of love, forgiveness, life lessons, hope, and personal legacy. Now, Nothing Left Unsaid is the first-ever nondenominational guide—at once practical and inspiring—that shows how to craft “Final Words,” a last communication to leave behind for a spouse, parent, friend, son, daughter, or grandchildren. These final healing words offer our survivors a sense of tangible closure—whether in the event of a sudden death, terminal illness, or the end of a long and well-lived life. Legacy Letters similarly provide a way to express sentiments to loved ones as they approach the end of their lives. Both legacies ensure that nothing is left unsaid.
Book Description
Enriched by numerous case studies and years of client experience, this book guides readers to move beyond the tangled web of stories they tell themselves and others about their lives, relationships, illnesses, and disruptive life patterns. Step-by-step, the chapters uncover the origins of behaviors and feelings such as drug or alcohol addiction, failed careers, and depression. Hidden loyalties to people and ideas are introduced as the underlying causes of these obstacles, which cloud the path to success and cause people to believe the stories they tell themselves, eventually losing touch with the truth. Through the examples in this book, readers will learn to acknowledge and embrace truth, spelling out the explicit facts and rejecting the fictions they have created to excuse their failings.
Customer Reviews:
Are You Telling Your Truth?.......2007-05-02
Are you telling your truth? Whether you are or you're not, your soul knows the answer. And if the story you are telling the world is not your authentic one, this could not only affect your health and your relationships, but the future of this and all generations to come. How do we know if we are telling our truth? By listening to the language of our soul. It is here we must answer the hard questions. The deep questions. The questions that answer what created the pain we may be experiencing in the first place. And this pain can run the gamut, from destructive behaviors, deep feelings and addiction to career challenges, relationships and depression.
In his book Language of The Soul, author, metaphysical teacher and personal coach, John L. Payne, helps readers with this soul work. In the book, he uses the help of "human characters" to bring forward the truth. Once the truth is out in the open and the source is discovered, the wounds can be healed. The Language Of the Soul does its work by using what Payne calls a family "constellation." In my assessment a constellation is a chosen team representing core family or human members active in the roles that stand between us and our truth. Once chosen, Payne creates a sort of "reading": a tuning in to the channel of the soul to learn both what it wants and how to best express its truth.
On the outside, this all seems confusing at first. Yet, after reading the Language of the Soul, I found its immediate take home message: we must all take a personal responsibility to heal the wounds that plague our selves and our families. Payne's book can help. For in healing our own souls, we can help our past, present and future generations. Payne explains here the depth of this work, as well as gives readers the tools they need to heal their wounds for good.
The Language of the Soul.......2007-01-10
In The Languge of the Soul, John Payne touches the depth, meaning, and healing of self. Through this work the healing goes beyond self to families and nations. I see the power and gift of this work, how it brings healing to patterns that disrupt the natural flow of love, AND how one willing to do the work is given the opportunity to bring that order or language of love into a more balanced state for the healing of past and future generations.
Average customer rating:
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Moving the Stars with your Words
Harold Davis
Manufacturer: Trafford Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1412027721
Release Date: 2006-07-06 |
Product Description
Shows readers the steps to achieve exactly what you want in life.
Average customer rating:
- faith IS the victory
- Faith in Action
- How to apply the word on God in your life
- Book packed with bible living techniques
- Excellent Read!
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How to Get Your Husband to Go to Church with You
Vivian D'Arezzo
Manufacturer: Great Revival Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Christianity
| Religion & Spirituality
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Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage
ASIN: 0978777603
Release Date: 2007-03-05 |
Product Description
In "How to Get Your Husband to Go to Church With You," the author shares powerful biblical principles on how to turn a marriage around so a husband may find God and consistently go to church with his wife. As a saved spouse with spiritual knowledge, God can use you to facilitate His will for your husband to attend church. The author includes anecdotal information based on her own struggle with her husband going to church. If your husband has never gone to church, if he has not been in years or attends only occasionally this book is ideal for you! God's Word does not change; He will do what seems impossible for you by changing the heart of our husband to become church goer. Jesus died on the cross and paid the price for our sins. He also purchased redemption for every area of our lives, including our marriages. God gave us a covenant of love sealed with the precious blood of His Son whereby we can live victoriously. This book will show you how to enforce the victory Jesus already won for you the victory of your husband going to church with you - the victory of your husband going to church with you!
Customer Reviews:
faith IS the victory.......2007-07-31
As a husband whose wife does not go to church with him, I read this book from the perspective of a man having a similar problem but with his wife - the same spiritual truths apply to men! If a man would implement what this book instructs, he too could learn to operate in faith and allow God to move on his situation. Armed with knowledge of the scriptures and an understanding of the actions I can take, I have every expectation that my wife will soon be going to church with me! This book provided me with the hope and tools that not only this situation but any situation I may face can be turned around by God
Faith in Action.......2007-06-25
As a single woman, never married, I was not sure how this book would apply to me. I found this book to be an outstanding account of "Faith in Action." The biblical references and examples of standing in faith for God's promises apply to all of us. I was moved by the honesty of the author to share her experience and the willingness of her husband to allow this story to be told. I also learned a lot about the importance of respecting your husband, standing on the promises of God (regardless of how the situation looks) and faith that the Lord will accomplish his plan for our life if we don't give up. It is a story of hope, perseverence and victory! I highly recommend it.
How to apply the word on God in your life.......2007-06-22
When I started reading this book I could not put it down. I was astounded by its practicality to my every day life. The principles used in this book can be applied to any situation. The book is a loaded with scriptures and also real life experiences which gives you hope that you are not alone. Loved the book, and greatly recommend it.
Book packed with bible living techniques.......2007-04-27
This book is packed with little known bible techniques to help carry out God's plan for you and your family. Don't let your denomination hinder your exploration of God's Word.
Excellent Read!.......2007-04-12
This book lends instruction on how to get the promises of God to manifest in your life. The best kind of prayer is ANSWERED PRAYER. It is a read that will get you excited about what is truly available to you through the scriptures. I have never read a book that offers instruction on 'How to be baptized in the Holy Spirit'. These principles apply to anything that you are praying for, not just a husband who isn't going to church. It's worth its weight in scriptures!
Average customer rating:
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When a Lifemate Dies: Stories of Love, Loss, and Healing (Healing With Words Series)
Manufacturer: Fairview Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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I Wasn't Ready to Say Goodbye
ASIN: 1577490568 |
Book Description
Authentic stories of loving, losing, and healing.
Customer Reviews:
A breath of fresh air.......2000-01-02
When my husband died, I spent a lot of time reading hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pages of "how to" books to help me through the predictably wretched time that followed.
I found more useful comfort in this book through the amazing words of these other people who had suffered a similar loss. While the "how to" books serve a useful purpose, they did not reach me or comfort me -- my emotional self -- nearly as much as reading about the reactions and emotions of those who contributed to the book.
I now give these stories of love, loss, and healing to people when I learn of that they have suffered a similar event. I also recommend it to siblings and friends of such people when the discussion turns to an imminent, or recent death.
Great job!
Book Description
With over 150,000 copies in print, the Daily Word series has proven appeal. So many turn to it for compassionate, supportive words to guide them through both ordinary and extraordinary moments in their lives. This unique new installment offers timeless wisdom to help readers accept and transcend sickness and trauma and, ultimately, open the door for healing to take place.
Although drawing upon Christian themes throughout history, Daily Word for Healing speaks a universal language universal. The book recognizes the fact that healing is God's gift to everyone, no matter how he is celebrated. Daily Word for Families will help those suffering from illness, those dealing with emotional upheaval, and even those lost in confusion and worry to take away messages of hope, inspiration, and healing.
Books:
- Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant
- Boys Will Put You on a Pedestal (So They Can Look Up Your Skirt): A Dad's Advice for Daughters
- Busy Bugs (All Aboard (Kingfisher Board Books))
- Coaching Youth Softball: A Baffled Parent's Guide
- Conquering Carpal Tunnel Syndrome : And Other Repetitive Strain Injuries
- Cops Don't Cry: a book of help and hope for police families
- Counting Kisses: A Kiss & Read Book
- Creating Effective Boards for Private Enterprises: Meeting the Challenges of Continuity and Competition (Jossey Bass Business and Management Series)
- Custody for Fathers : A Practical Guide Through the Combat Zone of a Brutal Custody Battle
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR Fourth Edition (Text Revision)
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