More MS news articles for July 2003

MSS Book Reviews

July, 2003
Multiple Sclerosis Society

Life on Cripple Creek- by Dean Kramer

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what_is_ms/latest_books/cripple_creek.html

Review

If you are after a book that lets you peek into the life of someone else
living with MS - this is a must read. It describes the emotional changes brought about within oneself through the experience of MS. Using humour, we accompany Dean through her failures and victories to learn that by laughing at MS, one may even manage to befriend it. It's an extremely well written book that's divided into neat, easy-to-read chapters. I could not put this one down.

Hema Raval

Review

"Life on Cripple Creek" is a rare gem of a book. The cover synopsis suggests a series of essays on the emotional side of living with MS. In itself, this would be a valuable addition to the mass of literature on the disease. However, it doesn't mention what I think is the most important use of this book: It's a book to lend to your friends ! As well as being well written and humorous, it's friendly, warm and highly readable. There's no list of symptoms or obscure medical terms, just the descriptions of events that have happened to Dean, described with an ironic humour. By the end of the book, she's documented many common symptoms of MS , but without alarming her readers.

Meg Kingston

A Baby Boomers Journey- by April Hamilton

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what_is_ms/latest_books/baby_boomer.html

Review

Seldom does a book capture my attention as quickly as this one did. It follows Joan's life from the late 1950's and serves to remind us that, while we may not be entirely happy with 'our lot' these days- the old fashioned ideals that Joan had to live with , had a lasting impact on her life and are a far cry from what would be tolerated by society today. Despite enduring heart disease, a brain tumour and MS Joan remains positive and determined to live life to the full. A book I could not put down- highly recommended.

Sue Holloway

What Colour is your Hoover?- by Will Garnett

http://www.mssociety.org.uk/what_is_ms/latest_books/what_colour_hoov.html

Review

I found this book difficult to get into. It is written from the husbands perspective and for me, the background of how the couple met and what they did with their lives went on too long. However, once it got to recent times where it tells of life with coping with MS, it became very hard to put the book down. It was very funny in places but sad in others. The MS described in the book is quite advanced and the symptoms described could be frightening to those newly diagnosed.

Sue Holloway