Tag: Book Review

  • Overcoming Insurmountable Odds

    In life, we have sunshine and rainbows and clouds and storms,” says Liane K. Chong on her website. It is a apt introduction to her inspirational autobiography, Hope Inspires Strength: How One Woman Overcame Insurmountable Odds. She tells readers how she faced challenges with courage, the right mindset and by finding hope where none seemed to exist. It’s a moving, powerful story about strength, focus, perseverance and determination.

    Liane and her husband and daughter were living an enviable life in Hawai‘i. Hardships began.

    She suddenly lost her father at the young age of 54. Soon after, her mother developed a debilitating disease that left her paralyzed and in need of constant care. So at age, 31, Liane took over the daunting task of caring for her mother. Then, a few months later,  they found out that their newborn baby boy had cortical blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, and might never walk or talk.

    Liane chose not to give up. She chose to succeed. Not only did she survive, she thrived, becoming a successful entrepreneur.

    The author’s story will surely refocus anyone feeling like life has become too overwhelming. Her legacy of hope is bound to help you find your strength.

    For more information and to order the book:
    www.lianekchong.com | lianekchong@gmail.com
    A 30-minute interview with Liane: https://youtu.be/C85ga3F5Y7s

    In life, we have sunshine and rainbows and clouds and storms,” says Liane K. Chong on her website. It is a apt introduction to her inspirational autobiography, Hope Inspires Strength: How One Woman Overcame Insurmountable Odds. She tells readers how she faced challenges with courage, the right mindset and by finding hope where none seemed…

  • Book Review: 65 Things to Do When You Retire

    Generations Magazine - 2013-06-07 - Book Review - Image 01When you think of retirement, you may dream of spending carefree days traveling with friends or loved ones. If you’re at that stage of life, 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel can help you steer toward a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, whether you are looking for physical adventure, a spiritual journey, or to go sightseeing in far-flung places.

    In this book, more than 65 writers and travel experts reveal their own personal adventures and offer practical advice about how retirees can have the time of their lives, whether traveling with a group, with a spouse or partner, or on their own. Their fun and informative essays describe glorious getaways, the best places for retirees to visit — and relocate — and how to plan for a “great escape” without breaking the bank.

    The contributors cover such fascinating trends as:

    • Taking a “golden gap year”— a new twist on the common practice of high school grads taking a year off to travel before college, only this time it’s the boomers who are taking a year to explore the world before settling into their retirement.

    • Going “glamping”— This fusion of glamour and camping is for those travelers who love the outdoors but want to travel in comfort.

    • Living nomadically — Lynne Martin caused a stir when The Wall Street Journal published her article about how she and her husband sold their home, put their valued possessions in storage, and set off to see the world as “senior gypsies.” Her account was immensely popular with WSJ’s readers, obviously touching a chord with many who dreamed of doing the very same thing.

    65 Things To Do When You Retire: Travel is a 5.5” x 8.5”, 400-page, soft cover book, and retails for $16.95. It’s available in bookstores and at www.sellerspublishing.com. Or, call Sellers Publishing at 1-800-625-3386.

    When you think of retirement, you may dream of spending carefree days traveling with friends or loved ones. If you’re at that stage of life, 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel can help you steer toward a fulfilling and enjoyable retirement, whether you are looking for physical adventure, a spiritual journey, or to…

  • Book Review: A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order

    How to prepare for the worst case scenario.

    A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order - Generations Magazine - October-November 2012Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before they or a loved one dies. Being prepared protects families and loved ones, and alleviates stress for everyone involved.

    A few years ago, Karen O’Neil, a certified wellness counselor, flew to the Mainland to her children’s aid to help cope with the passing of their father — her ex-husband. Not only did the family grieve together, but they had to work together to get all of his affairs in order. His passing was just four weeks after the terminal diagnosis of several months, and they barely got everything tended to.

    Now as an author, publisher and speaker, Karen has developed the workbook, A Guide to Getting Affairs in Order. The workbook helps families have peace of mind by guiding them to communicate and to avoid an unfortunate situation during grievance. Her intent is to take the scary and uncomfortable out of the conversations people need to have so they may begin to understand the importance of organizing documents and letting their last wishes be known. There is some solace knowing someone is doing everything exactly as it was wanted.

    To order a copy of the workbook, visit www.gettingaffairsinorder.com or contact Karen at (808) 782-3879.

    How to prepare for the worst case scenario. Grief does not discriminate. No matter who you are, losing a loved one can be an overwhelming life experience. Imagine dealing with looking for important documents and organizing burial wishes while dealing with the loss. Many people don’t realize the need for getting affairs in order before…

  • Book Review: MOSAIC MOON

    Unique caregivers book helps ease the burden of Alzheimer’s

    Mosaic Moon - Generations Magazine - June - July 2012Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry is a unique resource for caregivers by noted poet and educator Frances H. Kakugawa. Mosaic Moon, which grew out of poetry workshops conducted by the author for the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter, is both an extraordinary collection of poems and a how-to guide to help individuals and groups create their own poetry support groups.

    Besides offering hands-on writing and organizational tools, the book includes inspirational poetry by the author and five graduates of her workshops, reflecting both the trials and small triumphs of caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease. Mosaic Moon traces the lives of six Alzheimer’s patients, their struggles with the disease and their evolving relationships with their caregivers – the poets Kakugawa, Irene Asato, Lynne Halevi, Lani Kaaihue, Jody Mishan and Setsuko Yoshida.

    This culturally diverse group of caregivers — women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s – spans the Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Buddhist faiths and a rainbow of ethnicities: Japanese and Hawaiian to Russian and Polish among them. In Mosaic Moon, they learn to express their hope, helplessness, humor and despair, as they strive to recapture the dignity and human spirit often lost amid the day-to-day rigors of caregiving.

    Kakugawa, an award-winning author, has also written two children’s books that help keiki cope with aging elders – Wordsworth the Poet and Wordsworth Dances the Waltz. Both books feature a little Hawaiian mouse named Wordsworth who loves poetry and finds comfort in writing poems that express his confusion over the changes in his beloved grandparent and the fond memories he has of her more vibrant days.

    All three books are available in bookstores, from Amazon.com or directly from the publisher at www.bookshawaii.net. Or call toll-free at 1-866-900-BOOK. $16.95, softcover.

    A portion of the book’s proceeds supports research for Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders.

    “I’m better prepared to care for my mother after reading your book, knowing what you went through truly helps. You’ve prepared me for caregiving.”

    ~ Kay Yonemori (Hilo, Hawai‘i)

     

    “Years from now when Alzheimer’s is finally conquered, this book will stand as a testament to bravery and to love.”

    ~ Maxine Hong Kingston, author of The Woman Warrior (Berkeley, California)

    Unique caregivers book helps ease the burden of Alzheimer’s Mosaic Moon: Caregiving Through Poetry is a unique resource for caregivers by noted poet and educator Frances H. Kakugawa. Mosaic Moon, which grew out of poetry workshops conducted by the author for the Alzheimer’s Association Aloha Chapter, is both an extraordinary collection of poems and a…