An inspiring and optimistic chronicle of illness, recovery, and familial sacrifice.
A father chronicles his struggles with kidney disease and his son’s priceless offering in this memoir.
In a book dedicated to his son, Steve, whom he calls “a true hero,” Minnesotan Simenson dramatically recounts his experiences as a father of two teenagers who falls desperately ill. After battling a rare inflammatory blood disease as a child, the author practiced taekwondo for decades and became a third-degree black belt, but his kidney function had been gradually diminishing for decades. At 49, he was suffering mysterious leg pains, fatigue, and cramps and was diagnosed with kidney failure. After consultations with nephrologists, the author was told that he would need a kidney transplant as soon as possible. The family bonded as they never had before, as Simenson’s wife, son, and daughter thought over how to restore his health. Steve immediately offered to donate one of his own kidneys; it turned out that he was a viable donor match, and the book progresses through the numerous surgeries and intensive aftercare and recovery processes for both father and son. It also chronicles the emotional connection they shared and the challenging years after the surgery, which were filled with trepidation but also fulfillment, compassion, love, and respect. Through it all, Simenson’s prose is amiable and often humorous, as when he tells of making strides toward being medically discharged: “One small pull of a catheter, one large step forward for a man.” In addition to offering an uplifting story of a family’s devotion, the book also effectively addresses tougher material: intimidating and painful medical procedures, unscrupulous physicians, details of how transplants are performed, and the risky side effects for both donors and recipients, which the author frighteningly experienced firsthand. This candid, unvarnished journey, while harrowing in spots, will be informative to those who find themselves in similar situations.
An inspiring and optimistic chronicle of illness, recovery, and familial sacrifice.Pub Date: April 27, 2020
ISBN: 9798627224862
Page Count: 267
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2023
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
The lessons to draw are obvious: Smoke more dope, eat less meat. Like-minded readers will dig it.
The chef, rapper, and TV host serves up a blustery memoir with lashings of self-help.
“I’ve always had a sick confidence,” writes Bronson, ne Ariyan Arslani. The confidence, he adds, comes from numerous sources: being a New Yorker, and more specifically a New Yorker from Queens; being “short and fucking husky” and still game for a standoff on the basketball court; having strength, stamina, and seemingly no fear. All these things serve him well in the rough-and-tumble youth he describes, all stickball and steroids. Yet another confidence-builder: In the big city, you’ve got to sink or swim. “No one is just accepted—you have to fucking show that you’re able to roll,” he writes. In a narrative steeped in language that would make Lenny Bruce blush, Bronson recounts his sentimental education, schooled by immigrant Italian and Albanian family members and the mean streets, building habits good and bad. The virtue of those habits will depend on your take on modern mores. Bronson writes, for example, of “getting my dick pierced” down in the West Village, then grabbing a pizza and smoking weed. “I always smoke weed freely, always have and always will,” he writes. “I’ll just light a blunt anywhere.” Though he’s gone through the classic experiences of the latter-day stoner, flunking out and getting arrested numerous times, Bronson is a hard charger who’s not afraid to face nearly any challenge—especially, given his physique and genes, the necessity of losing weight: “If you’re husky, you’re always dieting in your mind,” he writes. Though vulgar and boastful, Bronson serves up a model that has plenty of good points, including his growing interest in nature, creativity, and the desire to “leave a legacy for everybody.”
The lessons to draw are obvious: Smoke more dope, eat less meat. Like-minded readers will dig it.Pub Date: April 20, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-4197-4478-5
Page Count: 184
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 5, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
A heartwarming and inspiring story for animal lovers.
The third volume in the Elephant Whisperer series.
In this follow-up to An Elephant in My Kitchen, Malby-Anthony continues her loving portrait of the Thula Thula wildlife reserve, which she co-founded in 1998 with her late husband, South African conservationist Lawrence Anthony, who published the first book in the series, The Elephant Whisperer, in 2009. Following his death in 2012, Malby-Anthony sought to honor his legacy by continuing his vision “to create a massive conservancy in Zululand, incorporating our land and other small farms and community land into one great big game park.” At the same time, the elephants gave her “a sense of purpose and direction.” In the Zulu language, thula means quiet, and though the author consistently seeks to provide that calm to her charges, peace and tranquility are not always easy to come by at Thula Thula. In this installment, Malby-Anthony discusses many of the challenges faced by her and her staff, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. These included an aggressive, 2-ton rhino named Thabo; the profound loss felt by all upon the death of their elephant matriarch, Frankie; difficulty obtaining permits and the related risk of having to relocate or cull some of their animals; the fear of looting and fire due to civil unrest in the region; and the ongoing and potentially deadly struggles with poachers. Throughout, the author also shares many warm, lighthearted moments, demonstrating the deep bond felt among the humans and animals at the reserve and the powerful effects of the kindness of strangers. “We are all working in unity for the greater good, for the betterment of Thula Thula and all our wildlife….We are humbled by the generosity and love, both from our guests and friends, and from strangers all around the world,” writes the author. “People’s open-hearted support kept us alive in the darkest times.”
A heartwarming and inspiring story for animal lovers.Pub Date: April 25, 2023
ISBN: 9781250284259
Page Count: 320
Publisher: St. Martin's
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2023
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