New Book Blogger: Parkinson's, Shaken, not Stirred by Elaine Benton

Sunday

Parkinson's, Shaken, not Stirred by Elaine Benton

Elaine's book "Parkinson's, shaken, not stirred" is a collection of poems offering support and comfort to fellow sufferers and caregivers, relating to their daily struggles. From personal experience she has written with stark raw honesty and humour, something patients nor doctors rarely get to read which has captured attention world-wide. Elaine has poured her heart and soul into this book, giving a fresh perspective from the patient’s view, which holds a strong message of hope, living a full happy life despite ill health and adversity, whilst raising greater awareness of these two diseases to the general public. https://www.amazon.com/author/elainebenton

Biography

Elaine was born in 1963, England, writing poetry and short stories since she was a child. Diagnosed at the age of five with Gaucher disease; a rare chronic inherited disorder caused by a genetic mutation, for which there is no cure. At the age of 44, she was dealt a second blow being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. As her life began to rapidly change, she began to write poems expressing what so many sufferers were going through but unable to put into words. With the desire to help others in the same situation, a book was born. Feeling she had something unique to offer, she also started writing a daily blog http://elainebenton.blogspot.com/ touching on varied topics all relating to living with chronic disease. Through public speaking Elaine is turning her hardships into something of value and purpose, contributing to society by speaking at various organisations and groups; her aim is to educate and inform. What started off as a book has spiraled into an entire project as she battles each day with determination, great spirit and humour.

12 comments:

KarynMay 13, 2012
Fabulous and inspiring; written with humour and insight about daily living with this disease.
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Jill SadowskyMay 13, 2012
This is an honest rendition of the author's health problems, told in a down to earth way, using humor. I am sure that she has helped many people, especially those suffering from the debilitating illness, Parkinson's.
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Aviva Shelter May 13, 2012May 13, 2012
A small book with an enormous impact. A must read for any person with a chronic disease. Give yourself a gift of laughter, tears with each uplifting poem
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GlynisMay 13, 2012
It is encouraging to see such positive comments. I am thrilled to say the author is a guest on my poetry site too. Inspirational poetry is a favourite of mine.
http://apoetsword.blogspot.com/2012/05/guest-poet-elaine-benton.html?showComment=1336908144647#c7507488918556916407
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Hilary Melton-ButcherMay 13, 2012
Hi Glynis and Elaine - this does sound a very interesting book to read and acquire - which I shall add to my list.

We all need to read these books that alert us to diseases, so should we - our friends or family - be caught up in the 'horrors' we can learn a way of dealing with it for ourselves, as well as for the patient, who is struggling through - and for the carers, often overlooked.

Eliminate a great deal of the misunderstanding ..

Thanks Glynis - great book to promote .. cheers Hilary
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AnonymousMay 14, 2012
You are a wonderful lady, truly an inspiration and source of help to so many.
Susan
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AnonymousMay 14, 2012
I hope you continue to go from strength to strength, and that the support and universal energy you continue to amass, fortifies your own strength and efforts to remain strong and keep the faith.
Love R.A.
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AnonymousMay 14, 2012
I'm sure those with Parkinson who read the book will get an uplift in their life.
Love B.
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anitaMay 15, 2012
I have had the pleasure of meeting Elaine last year at a wedding, not only is she beautiful, with film star quality, she also has a beautiful soul.
She bears her burden with great fortitude and dignity.
An inspiration to all who know her.
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GlynisMay 15, 2012
The support for Elaine and her book is lovely to see. Thanks for leaving comments.
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AnonymousMay 16, 2012
Having read Elaine's book, it is amazing that she has written with such humour and honesty that it gives great support to fellow sufferers and caregivers, it gives the reader an in depth understanding of how to live a full life despite suffering with 2 chronic diseases. May you go from strength strength.
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AnonymousMay 27, 2012
What an incredible lady you are! You are talented and gifted and so many people out there can learn from the very special person you are.
Your perception of life and understanding of the human being, your empathic expression is far superior to the average higher academic without doubt.
Elaine it is a rare and wonderful value you possess, thank G-d it has been recognized, you will definitely be able to heal many others out there.
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Maggie's Child

5* ... It is one o'clock in the morning and I couldn't go to sleep until I had finished reading this latest book by Glynis Smy. It has really captured my imagination with its intriguing plot and colorful characters. The book is real page turner and one which I would rank up there with Josephine Cox, Marie Joseph and Anna Jacobs, three of my all time favorite authors of historical fiction. It gives us a deep insight into the hardships of life in the nineteenth century. The heroine, Maggie, suffers dreadful cruelty at the hands of her miserly husband and through the love of her child, whom she cannot acknowledge she is determined to rise above it and eventually finds true love. This is a beautifully written book which I can highly recommend and I am really looking forward to the next book by this outstanding author.

4 & 5 Star Praise for Ripper, My Love

RIPPER, MY LOVE, by Glynis Smy, is in no way an ordinary historical romance. Full of twists, turns, and plenty of nail-biting suspense and scares, it seamlessly blends an emotional love affair with a shocking, history-as-it-might-have-been, crime story.

In late Victorian London, talented seamstress and designer Kitty Harper has benefitted not only from society's increasingly modern attitude toward women, but also from her father's and friends' encouragement and devotion. Despite her family's working class status, Kitty is educated, meeting regularly with a tutor, and has saved enough money to open her own seamstress shop. Although reluctantly, her father even allows her to move into the rooms above the shop. Exceptionally gifted in her trade, Kitty has the skill and ambition to design beautiful, fashionable clothing for upper-class women.

Focused on her career, Kitty holds several suitors at arm's length until she meets dashing farmer James Lockwood. Despite his country upbringing, the handsome Lockwood is gallant and attentive. He is quickly as smitten with Kitty as she is with him. But trouble is coming. These are dangerous days; Jack the Ripper has begun terrorizing London - especially Whitechapel, where Kitty lives and works.

Ms. Smy has created a wonderfully Hitchcockian novel; we readers know The Ripper's secrets nearly from the outset. Our characters - especially Kitty and her extended family - do not. We realize (à la Mr. Hitchcock) that the figurative bomb is on the bus. When will it go off? Who will live? Who will die?

One would not imagine any aspect of Jack the Ripper being sympathetic, but Ms. Smy has not only accomplished that devilish feat, she has also kept every loathsome bit of his villainy and treachery intact. We are never quite sure what will happen next, and as the novel progresses, pages get turned faster and faster!

Not only are the characters and plot absorbing, the details of life in London at that time are exquisitely drawn. Without letting the story get bogged down in detail, Ms. Smy creates fully populated, artfully dressed, and atmospheric scenes. The reader is so fully drawn in that one can almost hear the clopping of carriage horses' hooves and feel the chill, surrounding fog.

I highly recommend RIPPER, MY LOVE.

The writing style is excellent and all the characters are strongly drawn.

I was totally drawn into the world of this book.
***I found this book AN EXCELLENT READ,I did not want to put it down. It had a lot of unexpected twists and turns, If this was the Authors first book then I cannot wait for her next one.
***
From the first chapter there is excitement: a chase through London streets. I felt like I was there, back in time, a woman trying to get home, taking a short cut though a danger area.
***

Smy really delves deep into her characters and setting.
***
Before I began reading this novel, the honest truth was historical fiction never appealed to me. After reading this, I am now a fan! So, if you are not a historical-fiction fan, this isn't a typical, boring book with the non-essential details. It's a well-crafted novel with a good plot.
***

With compelling and yet believable characters and without saying much that would add spoilers, I recommend this to the highest degree.
***
First of all an amazing cover illustration !
Suspenseful , loved the character Kitty and she kept my attention throughout the book .
Her voice rings so clear and true and she make you feel the things she sees and does.
A joy to read , easy to get into and addictively plotted.
Beautifully written and a real page turner.
Will not give the story line away as a MUST to read.
Wonderful debut novel and cant wait fot the next by Glynis Smy
***If you enjoy historical novels with a bit of romance and a twist of evil, check it out!
***I obsessively turned pages to see who was going to live and who was going to die, and who Kitty was going to end up with. Overall I found this debut novel to be a "ripping" good story and look forward to the author's next book currently scheduled for December 2012
***
In Smy's fabulous debut novel, we grow fond of Jack the Ripper's love interest, Kitty. She's a strong, independent, compassionate person
***
I loved it because it was so evocative of Victorian England at the end of the nineteenth century (smell the swirling fog!) and the reign of the enigmatic Jack the Ripper with no punches pulled.
***What an awesome read! I felt like I was transported back to Old England to the impoverished section of Whitechapel. The imagery is so strong that you will feel as if you are walking through the dirty streets of London
***This is not your standard Jack the Ripper story. It's much more than that, romance, tragedy and thriller. It has the added bonus of having a twist to the tale and you don't even have to wait till the end for it.
***Ahh to fall in love with a story - this is exactly what happened as I met Kitty, Sarah, Arthur, James and Patrick. Kitty is the woman you just love to love and Sarah is too! I even fell in love with Sally...and then heartbroken at her situation. Arthur, James and Patrick are all vying for the affections of Kitty leading to a story that grabs your attention, holds it and delivers the warm fuzzy feeling as you read the last words....Now, I can't say too much more because then I would ruin it but I do have to say this: It is a wonderful story written by a talented writer - Good Job Glynis Smy on your debut novel! And I am looking forward to reading "Maggie's Child" later this year after it is released!
***
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was written in a way that made me feel like I was there at each scene, knowing the characters personally. I'm really looking forward to this author's next book.

New Book Blogger

Sunday

Parkinson's, Shaken, not Stirred by Elaine Benton

12 comments:

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