Life in the Land of IS by Bette Lee Crosby

Life in the Land of IS
by Betty Lee Crosby
Publisher: Bent Pine
Publication date: March 15, 2012
Non-fiction 

Buy:Amazon

Life in the Land of IS…the Amazing Story of Lani Deauville is a memoir of the woman who is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the World's Longest Living Quadriplegic.

When Lani Deauville was seventeen, she fell victim to a diving accident that broke her neck, injured her spinal column, and left her a quadriplegic. That happened back in the 1950’s, when it was believed that a person with such injuries was unlikely to live for days, and most certainly not for over fifty years. But Lani willed herself to live and she did.

In the years that followed, Lani worked, paid her way through college and then through Graduate School. She became a Rehabilitation Therapist, worked for the Governor of Florida and was instrumental in the legislation that mandated all state-owned public buildings have handicapped access. She ultimately got married and, in her forties, adopted an infant and raised him. She also established her own health food supplement company and built it into what is now a thriving business…and all this is merely the tip of the iceberg.(synopsis from Goodreads)

Life in the Land of IS..the Amazing Story of Lani Deauville is a memoir written by Betty Lee Crosby about the life of Lani Deauillle.  Last year I reviewed Betty’s novel Spare Change and loved it. When Betty approached me to review this, I was a little hesitant. I don’t particularly read non-fiction and especially something that might make me cry. I will always be thankful to Betty for asking me to review this. It is truly an inspirational story, of human courage and the power of living in IS moments. I laughed more then I cried, and Lani’s story touched me.  It is the kind of story that stays with you.

When Lani was seventeen a diving accident left her a quadriplegic. This occurred in the fifty’s when Doctor’s knew little of the illness and most suffered from other infections and died. Lani not only lived, she changed the world she lived in, loved and was successful in so many areas of her life.

Lani and Crosby take us through Lani’s life beginning with her teens.  Lani’s childhood was unique and had both beautiful moments and ones that made me cry. I laughed at her antics, cried for her loss and wavered back in forth in my opinion of her mother. We travel with Lani as she goes from hospital to hospital. We witness first hand as she learns to feed and take care for herself.  When Lani finally returns home, she maps out her life. Some in her position might be tempted to spend their day watching television and holding pity parties. Lani took on the world and her story will inspire you. 

Crosby delivers Lani’s story to us in such a way, that it feels like you and Lani are sitting at a table sharing a cup of Joe. The tale slips beautifully between past and present and kept me enthralled. Lani shares the good and the bad of her childhood. As a mother some of her actions made me want to scream and at other times I wanted to hold the child Lani. She so desperately needed to be loved and was passionate about animals. Crosby skillfully painted Lani’s life, inspiring us. Each time Lani had a setback, she dusted herself off and began again. Lani lived(lives) her life in moments and fully appreciates everything. She gave back to the world, her community and the people she loved. I cannot thank her enough for sharing her life with us from the past to the present. Lani I hope you see a hundred. 

I find myself looking for IS moments and appreciating them, no matter how big or how small. I highly recommend this inspirational memoir to everyone.  For anyone who has ever said, “It cannot be done” or “It’s too hard.”  Look to Lani and her story, because it can be done.  The Land of IS, is currently available on kindle.  

I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. 

I gave this book 5 coffee cups out of 5. 

Betty Lee Crosby

Website

Lani Deauville 

Treasure Hunter by W.C. Jameson

"There are not many left, we dreamers and wanderers...We are a breed of men addicted to danger, adventure, and the quest." Thus begins W.C. Jameson's account of one intrepid man's efforts to find the lost treasures of North America and beyond. Jameson and his partners piece together centuries-old histories through documents, maps, and stories passed down from one generation to the next, facing life-threatening danger time and again. These riveting stories, told with humor and candor, are a portal to another time, and are a testament to the spirited independence of risk-takers, a few of whom still exist in what we think of as the modern age.(Synopsis from Goodreads)

Treasure Hunter by W.C. Jameson, is a fascinating look at the adventures of a modern day treasure hunter. I have always enjoyed watching and reading about history, conspiracies, mysteries and lost treasure.This book contains all of these elements.  This memoir offers a close hand look at the challenges, danger and excitement that treasure hunters face.

W. C. Jameson’s is an award winning author with an impressive biography. He has over 70 books, 1500 essays and 300 songs published. He consulted for the television show Unsolved Mysteries and was an advisor for the film, National Treasure.  He has been interviewed by the History Channel, PBS, Travel Channel and Dateline. The list of credits to his name are impressive.  I would love to sit down and have a drink with this man; just think of the stories he could share.

In his memoir Treasure Hunter, Jameson shares with us his treasure hunting adventures. I absolutely immersed myself in this memoir.  Jameson’s writing style grabs you from page one. I immediately felt like I was a part of his posse in search of lost treasure. Each chapter depicts a specific quest and the events that occurred.  Jameson and his team have been shot at, bitten, threatened and have looked death in the eye.  The wealth they obtained and the treasure they sometimes were forced to leave behind was fascinating. The bits and pieces of history entwined in the stories were interesting and I found myself sharing these adventures with my family and friends. 

One of my favorite chapters was, Guadalupe Mountain Gold. Jameson shares with us his first treasure hunt. He conveys the tale in such a way, that you can feel yourself lying there with him between the strawberries bushes, climbing the hills and getting up close and personal with a snake. Another adventure I enjoyed was, The Curse. Jameson shares details about a group of young men who found a cave with stacks of gold bars. The three men became violently ill. Two of them ended up dying. The third convinced of a curse, shared these details with Jameson. Jameson and his friends set out to find the site and the tale that unfolds will mesmerize you.  I actually read this one aloud to my eighteen year old son, and he sat captivated by this tale.  

Treasure Hunter delivers history, adventure and a glimpse at the man who loves the quest, perhaps more than the treasure. I highly recommend Treasure Hunter to fans of quests, mysteries, history and adventure. I encourage you to check out more of W.C. Jameson’s work. Treasure Hunter is the perfect coffee table book; as each tale can be read in one sitting. This would also make a great gift for non-fiction readers on your holiday shopping list.

I want to thank the publicist for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. 

I gave this book 5 coffee cups of out 5. 

Buy here: Amazon or here: B&N

Author's Website: W.C. Jameson

Breaking the Code: A Daughter's Journey into Her Father's Secret War by Karen Fisher-Alaniz

On his 81st birthday, without explanation, Karen Alaniz's father placed two weathered notebooks on her lap. Inside were more than 400 pages of letters he'd written to his parents during WWII. She began reading them, and the more she read, the more she discovered about the man she never knew and the secret role he played in WWII.

They began to meet for lunch every week, for her to ask him questions, and him to provide the answers. And with painful memories now at the forefront of his thoughts, her father began to suffer, making their meetings as much about healing as discovery. Thus began an unintended journey—one taken by a father and daughter who thought they knew each other—as they became newly bound in ways that transcended age and time.

Breaking the Code is a wonderful true story of a daughter’s quest to transcribe WWII letters written by her father.   What started out as a gift to her children, became a journey of learning, healing, self-discovery, bonding and understanding.

 I enjoyed this book immensely. It was told in first person by Karen, the daughter of Murray Fisher. She speaks in a no-nonsense way that keeps you turning the pages. The book contains Murray’s letters, postcards, photos, and some official documents. For war and history buffs, this is a rare look into the daily life of a Navy solider during the war.

 I found the places, activities and Fisher’s job(s) during the war to be very interesting.  Karen Fisher-Alaniz offers us a rare glimpse into a very special, humble man and his struggle to deal with the memories.  Breaking the Code was an emotional journey, and I found myself laughing and crying.  I recommend this to all.

This would make the perfect holiday gift for anyone on your list.

I want to thank netGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC, in exchange for my unbiased review.

I gave this book 3 coffee cups out of 5.

 to purchase: B&N
 author's website: Karen Fisher-Alaniz