"H: A NOVEL" BY BARBARA DINERMAN

After being infected with herpes, Joan Halprin, a single woman in her mid-thirties, feels untouchable. She spent her youth enjoying worldly experiences in New York and other cities, but now it’s time to start a serious career as a copywriter for a Fort Lauderdale advertising agency. Despite feeling like a pariah in her personal life, Joan is anxious to prove herself professionally.
Fort Lauderdale in the 1980s is experiencing a real estate boom. Joan’s parents have moved from Boston to a retirement community in the area, and her brother and his thrifty wife have settled nearby. But even with the presence of her family, Joan feels isolated with her “H” problem, despite knowing that one in four women, and one in five men, are similarly afflicted.
Her irascible, rotund new boss certainly isn’t helping her regain her self-esteem. But with her irrepressible humor, Joan concocts an extraordinary solution to most of what ails her. Will this creative project work?
“H”: A Novel is an amusing and original tale of office politics, sex, and one woman’s search for her true identity.

THIS IS A FUN AND HIGHLY ENTERTAINING NOVEL. THE MAIN CHARACTER, JOAN, IS WITTY, SMART, AND REAL. SHE IS ACTUALLY A CHARACTER YOU COULD SEE BEING SOMEONE YOU WOULD MEET IN AN EVERYDAY SITUATION. THE WAY SHE REACTS TO SITUATIONS IS THAT OF WHICH MOST PEOPLE WOULD.
I ALSO LIKE THAT EVEN THOUGH THE TITLE OF THE BOO IS "H" THE HERPES IS JUST A MINOR CHARACTER THAT IS KNOWN THROUGH OUT BUT JUST ADDS TO THE STORY AND DOES NOT OVER TAKE IT. I ALSO REALLY ENJOYED THE CHARACTERS OF THIS NOVEL EACH IS UNIQUE AND FUN, EVEN WHEN THEY ARE BEENING MEAN. I DO LIKE THE LITTLE TWIST AT THE END. TO ME IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS THE AUTHOR'S FIRST NOVEL, AND I CAN'T WAIT TIL SHE PRODUCES MORE WORKS LIKE THIS ONE!
I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO MANY. ITS A VERY EASY READ. IT IS ONLY 118 PAGES SO ITS ALSO A FAST READ. IT RETAILS AT $10.95 AND YOU CAN GET IT VIA THE WEBSITE ABOVE AS WELL AS AMAZON.

ADULATION BY TIANA WILKINS

ANOTHER CINDERALLA STORY WITH A TWIST. A MUCH NEEDED TWIST. AS A READER ONE OF THE MOST OVER DONE STORIES OF ALL TIME WILL BE THAT OF CINDERELLA OR ANY VARIATION OF IT. THIS STORY IS ONE OF SUCH WITH A YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL GIRL CASSIE WHO LOSES HER FATHER ONLY TO BE RAISED BY HER "EVIL" STEPMOTHER WITH HER TWO DAUGHTERS. CASSIE IS FAILING ALGEBRA; HER MATH TEACHER'S NEPHEW IS A MATH WIZ WHO GOES TO THE LOCAL UNIVERISTY. HER TEACHER GETS HIM TO TUTOR OUR YOUNG CASSIE IN THE SUBJECT AND OMG THEY FALL FOR EACH OTHER. SHOCKER!!! ONE TWIST TO THE STORY, BUT HAS BEEN SEEN IS THAT OF HER STEPSISTERS CAUSE THEY ACTUALLY TURN OUT NOT TO EVIL. ONE OF HER STEP SISTERS IS THE SKINNY YOU GUESS PRETTY SINCE SHE IS SHALL WE SAY A TAD LOOSE AND IN THE BEGINING DOES NOT LIKE THE MAIN CHARACTER SO DOES NOT TREAT HER VERY WELL. THE OTHER IS OVER WEIGHT AND HAS LOW SELF-ESTEEM THAT IS ONLY MADE WORSE BY HER MOTHER AND SISTER SO SHE BEFRIENDS CASSIE. THE OTHER TWISTS WILL JUST HAVE TO BE FOUND OUT WHEN YOU READ THE NOVEL SINCE IT WOULD PROBABLY TOTALLY RIUN THE STORY IF I WAS TO TELL THEM SINCE IT IS TOWARDS THE END. THIS TWIST I WILL SAY FOR ME WAS A FIRST IN THE VARATIONS OF THE CINDERELLA STORIES, IT HAS A GRIMM FAIRYTALE FLAIR TO IT!

OVERALL THIS STORY WAS A ROLLERCOASTER FOR ME IN THAT THE FIRST 50 PAGES FLEW BY THEN THE NEXT 40 WERE REALLY SLOW. THEN NEXT 30 AGAIN WERE FAST PACED AND FULL OF EXCITEMENT AND PLOT TWISTS... THEN THE LAST OF THE BOOK WAS SLOW CAUSE IT WAS ALL "HAPPILY EVER AFTER THE END" TYPE STUFF. SO WOULD I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK? SURE IT IS ONLY 139 PAGES SO IT DID NOT TAKE ME LONG TO READ IT AND IT IS A SWEET LOVE STORY UNDERNEATH. THEN THE REVENGE CERTAIN CHARACTERS GET IS PRETTY SWEET TOO!

BUT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT I FIND ANNOYING OR OFF TO ME IN A WAY, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT FOCUS ON THEM LIKE I DID...... SUCH AS THIS KID, CASSIE, IS IN HIGH SCHOOL NO MATTER IF SHE IS A SENIOR OR NOT SHE IS 17 AND THE "PRINCE CHARMING" TUTOR CHARACTER IS IN COLLEGE AND OVER 21. OTHER IS CASSIE WAS SUPPOSILY A VIRGIN, BUT SHE WAS ON BIRTH CONTROL... WHY? AS WELL AS THEY DO IT ON THEIR FIRST REAL DATE?!?!?! YEAH OKAY.... THAT'S ALL I WILL SPOIL FOR YOU LOL

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT BARNES AND NOBLES AND AMAZON.COM IT COST RANGES AROUND $17.99 (WHICH FOR A PAPERBACK I DO FEEL IS A LITTLE STEEP).

SO HAPPY READING!!!!

P.S. TO THE AUTHOR TO ME THIS WOULD MAKE A COOL MOVIE!

BODY PARTS: A COLLECTION OF POEMS ABOUT AGING

THIS IS A COLLECTION OF 50 POEMS ON AGING JUST LIKE THE TITLE SAYS. THEY RANGE FROM THE EARS AND HEARING TO THE KNEES AND BENDING, BUT THEY MUCH MORE THAN THAT SOME EVEN BRING UP THE TOPIC OF AGING IN THAT WHEN YOU REACH A CERTAIN AGE PEOPLE CALL YOU ELDERLY, YET AT TIMES YOU DO NOT FEEL ELDERLY. I ENJOYED MANY OF THESE POEMS IN THIS COLLECTION, BUT I DO GOT TO SAY I CAN NOT FULL GRASP THIS SUBJECT COMPLETELY SINCE I AM ONLY IN MY 20S. I RECOMMEND THOUGH THAT IF YOU HAVE A MOM, DAD, AUNT, UNCLE, OR GRANDPARENTS IT WOULD MAKE A GREAT GIFT TO THEM CAUSE THEY MOST CERTAINLY WOULD ENJOY THE SUBJECT.

THE ONLY REGRESSION I HAVE AGAINST THIS COLLECTION IS NOT ONE AGAINST THE WRITING ITSELF OR THE AUTHOR IT IS THAT I WISHED MORE WERE FUNNY, CAUSE SOME WHERE A TAD SCARY TO ME IN THAT THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEFT TO FACE WITH MY BODY GIVING OUT.

WITH THIS REVIEW I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A SMALL SPOILER IN THAT I WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE MY TWO FAVORITE POEMS FROM THE NOVEL SO YOU THE READER CAN SEE THAT THIS NOVEL IS BOTH HUMOROUS, YET SERIOUS. SO IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE ANY PART SPOILED PLEASE STOP READING HERE......

THE FIRST IS TO ME A MORE HUMOROUS ONE:

MEMORY LAPSES

Several dozen years ago

I was on a TV show.

I won a car and lots of money

"Great Books" and chairs and jars of honey.

My Mind was sharp, right on the mark

I knew I couldn't lose.

These days I'm really lucky

If I can find my shoes.

When I need to park my car

I let the valet mind it.

If I parked my car myself

I don't think I could find it.

Often I see people

I know that I once knew.

But how or where or when we met

I haven't got a clue.

What happened to this memory

That once I often flaunted?

Now when I go get something

I forget what it was I wanted.

(page 2)

AND NOW ONE WITH A MUCH MORE SERIOUS TONE.....

TIME TO DIE

I want to die with dignity.

Not how the system plans for me.

Not in a hospital bed

With many tubes about my head

My body undergoing tests

When all I really need is rest.

For I'll know when and I'll know why

The time has come for me to die.

(page 50)

FROM THESE TWO EXCERTS YOU CAN SEE HOW THIS COLLECTION RANGES.

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE AT AMAZON.COM AND OUTSKIRTSPRESS.COM/BODYPARTS. IT IS $10.95, BUT ALL THE AUTHOR'S PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THIS BOOK GO TO THE CSULA EMERITI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP WHICH WAS SET UP IN THE MEMORY OF HER SON DAVID CAMERON FISHER. SO NOT ONLY WILL YOU GET A GREAT COLLECTIONS OF POEMS ON AGING YOU CARE GIVING TO A GREAT CAUSE!