Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Needs a Feminist Revolution by Jennifer Block - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

I would like to say that nonfiction is not usually my thing, but here I am reviewing two nonfiction books in a row! I won a copy of Jennifer Block's book Everything Below the Waist: Why Health Needs a Feminist Revolution in a GoodReads ARC giveaway. Block's book is to be published in July 2019 and is all about women's OBGYN health care.  Because I have a uterus, I am very interested in learning about this kind of healthcare and from pads to pap smears, this book covers it all.

Women's health is complicated.  I mean think about it.  There's a lot going on down there that we can't see, don't really talk about, and don't fully understand.  This book helps to give an understanding to women's health care practices, it's history, and where we stand now as a society.  

Block brings up a couple of issues that really got me thinking.  One of which is birth control.  According to Block, birth control was first developed by a woman to help women embark on a  "sexual liberation."  But there's a whole slew of side effects that come with birth control, a major one being low libido.  How's that for liberation? This is one reason why a pill for men is not available.  Yet despite the side effects, pills for women are still being prescribed and pushed even if they're not really wanted.  

Another thing that Block brought up was the lack of post-postpartum care that women receive after giving birth.  There really isn't any.  Instead medical care is focused on the baby, and follow up appointments/care for the mother are pretty much non-existent.  I am not a mother, and I'm not sure how Jillian (who is) feels about this, but doesn't giving birth take a toll on a woman's body and mind both physically and hormonally?  Shouldn't they have follow up doctor visits like they did while they were pregnant?    

I thought about taking a #bookstagram of this book with a box of pantyliners, then I thought about photographing it with my bottle of water...I've been on a health kick drinking 66oz a day, but alas I did neither.   

So Dewey Readers, if your interested in learning about female health, look out for this read! I give it 5 out of 5 coffee beans.

Until the next read!
~Jessica 

Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, PHD - Reshelved Books

Hello Dewey Readers!

Today I am reviewing a piece of non-fiction, quite different from what we normally review.  My boyfriend's grandpa gave me a copy of Matthew Walker's Why We Sleep to read and it had such a pretty cover that I figured I would #bookstagram it and give you all a brief review about this informative work.  

So a few takeaways from this book.  Basically, sleep is important.  And the sleep that comes from sleeping aids, anxiety pills, allergy medication, and alcohol? It isn't the type of restorative sleep our bodies need.  And drowsy driving in our overworked and under slept society is one of the largest causes of death. 

Tips for falling asleep?  

• Limit the amount of screen time you have on devices before bed (I'm failing at this one as we speak
• Stay away from light at night (We are all vampires)
• And limit caffeine 

Now, I'm putting this 3 out of 5 Coffee Beans book to bed and going to sleep.  

Goodnight Dewey Readers! Until the next read!

~Jessica 

I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serritella

Hello everyone! I'm offering you a quick review on Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Serrritella's latest novel and mother-daughter series. 

I love Lisa and Francesca's books.  They are funny.  They are witty.  And they are absoutely and 100% what I look forward to every summer.

Can we take a minute to look at the title of their latest "chick-wit" book?

I Need a Life Guard Everywhere but the Pool

Isn't it just... awesome?  It's true, it's quirky, it's funny... And I LOVE it.  

So, for those of you who aren't familiar, Lisa Scottoline, who normally is known for her thrillers, collaborates with her daughter on a series they call "chick-wit." This chick-wit consist of short little blurbs about life, womanhood, and the mother-daughter relationship.  They are light, they are airy, and they are just wonderful.    

This book in particular focuses on life and learning how to become your own lifeguard.  To me, this book in particular focused a bit to heavily on the 2017 Presidential Election.  Scottoline and Serritella do not disclose who their candidate was or what political party they are affiliated with, but I have an inkling as to which way they sway.  For me, the focus on the election sort of lowered my rating of the book (if this were a longer review, it would be 4.5 or 4 coffee beans instead of 5).  However, the election was such a large and controversial part of this year, that it's only natural that it's a large part of this year's chick-wit. 

Over all I absolutely love this mother-daughter team.  Definitely check out this book or one of their other chick-wit books this summer!  You will NOT be disappointed! 

     

Aren't they fun!?