Unfinished post (book review)....now finished

Who was it that asked about my reading material, Jane I think. Dartford Warbler asked if I have read Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. Is that fiction DF, because if it is no I haven't, I don't read fiction. My choice to read non fiction limits me to a small section in the mobile library, I go through every title to find something which takes my fancy. Ocassionally I will have a blitz through the main library, and bring even more books home as there is a much wider choice.

So, it's biographies and auto biographies, crafting, gardening, diy, diet, medical, walking, travel books, food nutrition, art, home making, excercise, psychology, relationships, and true history stories. So, anything what happens for real, not made up :o)

I usually have eight books out of the library at one time, they live on my table in the living room or on my bedside (ironing board) table. I pick bits out of them whenever I want a quiet wind down moment. I find it hard to read from cover to cover, my attention span is not long enough as all kinds of thoughts are darting through my brain, I am constantly thinking 'what next'.

So, a brief run down of what I am reading at the moment. Fitness has always fascinated me, and what better example of this is Arnie. I also like stories of the meek and mild pulling themselves up by the bootstraps and making something of their lives. Mr Schwarzenegger was a scrawny boy from an Austrian village, who went on to be the greatest body building champion in history. He became a big movie star, then married Maria Shriver, and went on to become the Republican Governor of California.

Laurence Leamer writes a very graphic account of how the young Arnie was single minded and driven towards stardom. Along the way he used his charm and charisma to get anything he wanted, women were falling head over heels in love with him and he took full advantage of that. Indeed, later on his colourfull past gave him cause for concern, as his credibility came into question many times. All his skeletans in the cupboard came back to haunt him.

I haven't reached the end of the story yet, but I have read in the press that his sexual behaviours eventually put a big strain on his marriage as it emerged that he fathered a love child many years ago. Reading his story I am not surprised one bit that Maria thought about leaving him, there are some men who just won't be tamed. A fascinating insight into the world of fame and glamour.

There is a lot of humour in Bill Tarmey's story. Of course we all know him as Jack Duckworth from Coronation Street. There is an account of his early days before the Street, how he was a night club singer and host, then became an extra on the Street, and then offered the part of Jack.

He has had a few health scares along the way, but always managed to inject a sense of humour into his accounts of this. It's nice to read some background stories of Coronation Street, what happens off camera, and discover a bit about the other people playing the parts of the characters we know so well. What comes over in the book is that Bill looks back on his past with great joy, and is eternally gratefull for the life he has been blessed with.

This might seem a strange book to pick up, unless you are a person who is battling with cancer. It's an 'everything you need to know' pocket guide, though you would need a big pocket with almost 300 pages. As I mentioned, I am interested in food nutrition and how different food affects our bodies, the reason for me reading this book.

The Author, Dr David Servan-Schreiber, is a clinical professor of psychiatry. He was treated twice for a malignant brain tumour, which was first diagnosed almost twenty years ago.

Excuse me while I take a few moments to compose myself, I have just googled his name and found out that he passed away on 24th July 2011. It has taken me by surprise, I didn't expect that. I've got to walk away for a few minutes. Knowing what I have read about him in his book, and knowing he is no longer with us, I am gutted.

Sorry for that blip, I have had my lunch and I'm ready to continue. That was very strange, I don't even know him. Oh heck there I go again, I didn't even know him, but there are things in his book which really struck a chord. He describes natural methods of healthcare that contribute to preventing the development of cancer.

People who want to protect themselves should seriously reduce their consumption of processed sugar and bleached flour. He also talks about some foods which are cancer promotors and fuel their growth, and other foods which are anti promotors, they block the mechanisms necessary for cancer growth, or force the cancer cells to die.

Throughout the book Dr David tells of hard scientific facts that back up all his research, so you don't get the feeling that it is all mumbo jumbo. You don't need a scientific brain to understand it, I am not clever but it makes good sense to me. Try googling his name, there is a lot out there about him.

Here he is telling his own story. RIP Dr David.

There was another book to review, but I can't find any more words.