Two books at my door step

Last week I found two books between the doors on Friday afternoon when I came home from shopping. One was dropped off and one was shipped from Amazon.

The first one I recognized as I had actually taken out of the library years ago. Thanks to my friend Judy I am rereading it again from a much different place. The Dr Susan Love Breast Book-4th Edition is a classic, as it says on the cover, ” The Bible for women with breast cancer.” It is filled with great general  information about the breast as well as specific information about every kind of problem you could have and then some. it also talks about all types of treatments and emphasizes taking your time about deciding with treatment to select for your particular case. There are charts and statistics galore. This type of book you read, skim and skip chapters and parts that do not pertain to you. On Saturday I devoured quite a bit of it.

The other book that I received on Friday from Amazon was sent by my friend Sandi is titled Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. Simple Abundance is a book of 366 evocative essays-one for every day of your year-written for women who wish to live by their own lights. In the past a woman’s spirituality has been separated from her lifestyle. Simple Abundance shows you how your daily life can be an expression of your authentic self … as you choose the tastiest vegetables from your garden, search for treasures at flea markets, establish a sacred space in your home for meditation, and follow the rhythm of the seasons and the year. Here, for the first time, the mystical alchemy of style and Spirit is celebrated. Every day, your own true path leads you to a happier, more fulfilling and contented way of life-the state of grace known as… Embrace its gentle lessons, savor its sublime common sense, dare to live its passionate truth, and share its extraordinary and exhilarating gift with every woman you encounter: the authentic self is the Soul made visible. I started reading it from June 1 and am reading month to month. It is a charming and delightful read which makes me want to clean out my closets and organize my house more. I do believe we live our authentic life in the daily things we do. Let’s do it beautifully!!

After reading so much of Dr Love’s book, I realized she updates her book every 5 years and that there is now a 5th edition! So on Sunday I ordered it from Amazon. Here is what they say about it:  The landscape of breast cancer has changed. New, non-invasive diagnostic techniques, new knowledge about prevention, new genetics, new treatments, new alternative and complementary resources are beginning to turn breast cancer into a chronic and perhaps preventable disease. Dr. Susan Love, whose earlier work has won the trust of women all over this country and abroad, has entirely revised her indispensable guide to reflect the very latest information. Readers of Dr. Susan Love’s Breast Book will learn of the recent breakthroughs in genetic research, of Dr. Love’s own work in developing a less invasive and highly accurate diagnostic technique, of the latest studies into preventive measures such as tamoxifen and dietary strategies, and of promising outcomes from new treatments for metastatic cancer. In the same warm, supportive, and often delightfully candid tone that has brought confidence to millions of women, Dr. Love helps each reader plan her own path through diagnosis, treatment options, and the changing world of HMO’s and insurance. She also offers sound advice about combining alternative self-care with topnotch medical help.

I look forward to comparing what is in the new edition to the one I have.

Thanks to my friends for the gifts of books!! I love to read and share what I read with others.