Bruises Books

The people who inhabit Lisa Glatt's perfectly disturbing but often hilarious collection suffer from a common human failing. They lie to themselves (and often others) and, in the process, they tend to lose grasp of their identity sometimes leading to tragic consequences. In all, Glatt's stories are finely-painted little portraits of human frailty. Often with dark humor and always with a sharp eye for detail, Glatt makes us think about the lies we've told ourselves and, at the same time, forces us to ponder whether, given the opportunity, we would be strong enough to face the truth. [The full review first appeared in The Elegant Variation.]

The Apple's Bruise is a unique collection of strangely disturbing vignettes;(stories usually have a beginning and an end, while these little gems only consist of "middles"). The subject matter ranges from benign to perverse and everything in between. It won't take you long to read this slim volume, but it will take you longer to forget the oddities within.

I couldn't put it down! Her characters are quirkly, sad but inciteful, without the stereotypical cast of characters. Several stories leave a lot to the imagination. Instead of a beginning, a middle and an end, Lisa Glatt mostly shares just the middle with her readers as to how the characters will turn out. I loved it!

I loved this book. The quirky and wonderful people that populate these stories will break your heart and make you laugh and make you look at life in a new way. From the zoo animals dying to the little girl getting hit by a car to the mother who is attracted to her teenage son's friend -- the images and characters Glatt creates stay with you long after you've finished the book. Buy it, borrow it or steal it -- but read it!

Whenever I'm in a public place (a street, a shop, a diner) and I fall witness to the nakedness of some stranger's life (a raw argument, a flailing stumble, a too-much-information cell phone call) - I get this rigidness in my spine, feel a flush in my neck - like embarrassment or sideways guilt or even a funky kind of angry. Being that close to other people's unhemmed emotions (the ones they'd most likely prefer I weren't hearing and watching) well, it's just too real; ouch real. I hate it. But it thrills me, too, because somehow in those subverted slices of voyeurism - I feel less alone. I feel less awkward. I feel humbled and grateful, for reasons I cannot explain. I feel on the inside of a secret I can't quite puzzle out. A dangerous but delightful secret. I manage to be both "in the know" and still on the razor's edge of heightened mystery. (My favorite place to be!) Lisa Glatt's character's are this kind of authentic-unsettling, this brand of I-can't-not-look wreck. There isn't a single story in The Apple's Bruise that could evoke the remark: oh, it's just like That story by soAndso. Because each tale, each character, is utterly unmet in anything you've ever read before.

Purchased this book for my son, now almost 3 years old, about a year ago. He loves it. Great pictures and he really likes touching all the boo boos and playing with the band-aid on the front.

This is the sweetest book about Boo Boo's and how to ake care of them.

Need to ease the trauma of a bloody elbow? Loosen up over the loose skin of a bulging blister? This book is for you!
Who knew scabs and blisters could be so irresistibly touchable? From the delightfully witty-and informative-verse, to the sticky, picky, bubbly, and band-aided catalogue of injuries, this is a must have for parents with a sense of humor and a desire to make every moment a learning experience. We received this as a gift for our toddler. After he got that first scraped knee, we took the book out and opened to the "SCRAPES" page, featuring a teary-eyed girl with a scraped knee. Big deal right?...but on further inspection, the scrape on her knee is in fact a sticky, red "boo boo." We all touched the scrape and screamed with delight as the page clung to our fingers! My son was instantly won over. It is certainly a favorite (not just for him...
The entire book is interactive-you can lift a flap of a cast to see an x-ray of a fractured arm, weave a ribbon to mimic stitches, connect the dots of a rash... you pick the injury, they have created a clever way to discuss how the body heals and what it looks and feels like.

Move over, Pat the Bunny. The Boo Boo Book has arrived. Through this delightfully interactive board book, young children can learn about the various minor mishaps that sometimes befall them. Many pages provide clever ways for children to explore further. For example, under the cast is an x-ray; beneath the hand is a real Band-Aid.

When I read this book to my four-year-old granddaughter, she told true accounts of her own "boo boos". We had a grand time recalling occasions when we had skinned our knees, ended up with blisters on our feet, and bruised our arms. We also talked about being brave when we get hurt. More importantly, The Boo Boo Book provided me with the opportunity to talk about being careful and "playing it safe". Children of all ages will love this welcome addition to their library.

As a pediatrician and a mother, I have been delighted with the Boo Boo Book! My four year-old daughter was given a copy and she is fascinated by this engaging, rhyming tale of bumps and bruises. I like reading it with her because the explanations are clear and kid-oriented. My daughter loves the interactive illustrations. Her favorite is the sticky red "blood" and I think the x-ray of a broken bone under the lift- a- flap cast is extremely cool.

Joy Masoff has hit upon a topic that is truly interesting to kids of all ages--and her rhyming explanations are both educational and entertaining. A great book!

Magdalena Zurawski's new debut novel, "The Bruise" recently came out thanks to The University of Alabama Press. Zurawski examines the precincts of truth/honesty, writer/speaker, reality/dream, traditional/experimental narrative, and more. Her prose consists of tightly woven rambling sentences that detail the minute nuances and fantasies that make up the narrator M-'s reality, the details progress the narrative forward, constantly blurring reality and fantasy.

M- is a neurotic, obsessive lesbian that is terrified of her obsessions because she understands all actions change and determine ones reality. Because of her attention to change and fear of change, the novel centers on M-'s slow paced acceptance of the hard fact - a person cannot be in control of everything and consequentially must learn how to interact with a world that is full of unforeseeable events. Like Virginia Woolf before her...[...]

A hypnotically rhythmic, profound and lyrical novel. As much a work of poetry as prose, with a winningly neurotic, love-hungry and loving narrator whose off-kilter insights about her own internal world, her imagination, the world around her, literature and art give new life to once-familiar objects.

This book is a great book--I have read it several times and let others borrow it. The way that Carroll writes is the way that he is no beating around the bush. He gets down to the truth that many people don't talk of.

This short read is characteristic of the author himself: simple, to the point, focused on its theme, and honest. To be perfectly fair, the book is on the dry side, but the truth contained in its pages is hard to ignore. It focuses on the discreet (and not so discreet) ways the adversary of Christianity can damage an individual on a psychological level. Things in a person's past that said adversary may inflict with the goal of preventing a relationship with the Creator. If God uses the simple to confound the wise, then this simple volume could solve a lot of complicated problems.

Being thrust into adulthood is usually how we find ourselves, all of a sudden, grown up. Trials and tribulations, panic attacks and calm responses, all add up to how we behave as adults. Getting through the lessons of early adulthood is a trying and memorable thing. Sometimes it is so helpful to know that people have been there, done that and are still breathing to talk about it.

Leigh Platt Rogers has compiled stories from her own plunge into adulthood and offers them to readers in the book, "Bumps, Bruises and Bouncing Back!" in hopes that young adults everywhere will take some comfort in her tales. This motivating book will make readers laugh, think, sigh in the contentment that someone else has done a crazy thing, and maybe even understand themselves just a little bit more.

A collection of deep insight. The poetry in this book is riviting. Upon reading it I felt that I delved into the spirit of the author, felt the pain of her relationships and experienced life through her eyes--both the desire to love and be loved. Balanced with a good sense of humor, her poetry deals with issues that we as a culture do not openly express and that is why it is so valuable. After reading this book, I realized the power poetry has in the world, it changed me spiritually and now I savor the images and meditate on the insights. A must for raising one's consciousness!

Not a bad read at all- I thought there would be more about the actual Raiders antics, but there was a lot of insightful information around the struggle between the Doctors and internal politics of an Al Davis team
Overall had some good parts and some funny parts as well. Very good inside information from the authors perspective around the use of Steroids and the ulimate death of Lyle Alzado....

If half of what the Doctor says in this book are true, then maybe we as fans should stop and think about who we revel as heroes and for what. Dr. Robs book is a great read, I finished it in two days, It should be said that this could apply to any team in the NFL. Al Davis loves to win and will go to any length to get there but that applys to every owner and head coach (With the exception of the Bidwill's (Arizona) of course) I find it fascinating that players go to such extremes but that is all part of the glory, The deaths of Mike Wise and Lyle Alzado remind us that the game is everything to these men and some cannot handle being without it or are a casulty of what happens when the cheering stops.

This book takes on more meaning in light of recent injuries and player's petitions for more health care after retirement. I bought it because it deals with the Raiders mostly, but the same medical issues could be from any team in the league.

Doctor Rob Huizenga (MD) puts us on the sidelines as recounts his job as team internist for the L.A. Raiders from 1983-1990. Huizenga describes what he saw, including acohol abuse, steroid use, plus how some NFL players need pain killers to get through the season. The doctor describes treating players on the sidelines, injecting them with pain killers during breaks in the actions, and arguing with the team orthopedist about the extent of player injuries. Readers may smile at the author's description of colorful defensive lineman Lyle Alzado, but not at receiver Bob Chandler's hospitalization for an injured spleen. Chandler (46) and Alzado (43) both died young, the latter attributing his cancer to steroid usage and warning others to beware. We don't know if football caused their demise, but Dr. Huizenga quit his job due to conflicts between medical ethics and the needs of his team.

This eye opening book makes us fans face the darker side of football. I liked that the author had suggestions for making the game safer, and one suspects that weight limits, better padding, and banning steroids might help.

For anyone interested in pro football and medicine this is the book for you. Not only is this book chocked full of behind the scene stories but there are enough humorous stories about some of the outrageous things that go on to fill a second book. The author also describes the problems with starting a medical practice, the lenghts teams will go to be sure their players are on the field, steroid abuse, his disgust at some of the things he witnessed. Over all the book has the propensity to change the way an individual watches pro ball. This was an informative, sometimes shocking, sometimes funny, sometimes sad account of life as a professional football player.

I read the book "Bruises". This book was recommended to me by one of our libraians at school. This book will get you from tears to a smile. In the book a little girl named Judith . Judith has some darks secrets about her life it not so easy , she has hardly any friends at school . Everyday after school Judith has the responsiblity of picking up her little brother everyday after school, and before shcool she has to take him to the daycare.later on in the school year a new boy named Micheal . And he becomes Judiths new friend

This is an incredible book. The main character, Judith, is a young girl with great responsibilities and secrets to bear. Judith takes care of her younger brother, their home, shopping, and her schoolwork all at a tender age. Her mother seemingly cherishes her son, but despises Judith despite her every effort to do things the right way to please her mother. Nothing is ever enough and the abuse rains down on Judith. She endures more than one thinks she can and continues to try to do the impossible- please her mother. A bright spot in her life is her friendship with Michael, a boy in her class. He invites her over frequently for lunch and she sees what a loving home looks like. As is common in cases of parental abuse, Judith keeps her secret. But in keeping the secret she has to miss school to hide her bruises. This attracts the attention of her caring teacher who attempts to meet with her mother to no avail. When Judith moves away unexpectedly, all appears lost. A nosy neighbor tells Michael the shocking truth and he is on a quest to find Judith- to save her.

Bruises, was very insitefull. It was a very heartfelt story. going from the very extreames of the emontiions. One minute your smilin along with the main character. but in a split second your crying along with them. This story had an amazing ending which gave hope that everything will be okay in the end.

This book is about a girl whom gets beaten by her mother. Even though Judith doesn't do anything wrong her mother finds an ecuse to beat her. When Judith meets micheal, they become good friends. Micheal has secrets about his family too. Judith hates the fact that she can't tell Micheal the truth about her mother. She hates lying to Micheal. Micheal may just be he strength Judith is looking for.
I enjoyed reading the book Bruises. It was a very interesting book. Every time you would think that you were going to lose interest in the book then it would catch your attention again. I like that at the end of every chapter it would end so that you would just want to keep readng. Each chapter ended with a mystery it ended so that you would want to know what happens next. i think that this book has a good message. The message is tht a good friend will stick by you no matter what happens.

I liked the book Bruises, by Anke De Vries. It kept my interest throughout the whole book,there was never a dull moment, I could hardly put it down. I liked the fact that the book was so intensified, it was like a real life situation. Abuse like this happens every day and not many people realize it. While reading the book, I felt like it was coming to life around me, it became a part of my life. I felt sad when Judith was sad, and I became emotionally involved in the book with all of the different situations. I didn't like the way the book ended. I was expecting more to the ending, I actually flipped back through the last chapter thinking I'd missed something. I wish the author would have elaborated. Where did Judith go when she left the train station in her old city? It left me wondering if she moves in with Michael and Aunt Elly or if she finds her Aunt Ria. I also wanted to know if her brother, David, stays wih their mother or does Judith tell the police. Do they take David away from her? The book made me question what happened; and I was so interested that it disapointed me not to know. My favorite part was when Judith finally adjusted to being important to Michael and becomes used to Aunt Elly welcoming her with a kiss at lunch eveyday. The part that I disliked the most was when Judith's mother cuts the bear up that Michael bought Judith on his vacation to America. I would highly recommend this book for teenagers, male or female. I believe it will help a lot of teens that are in this situation, if they're not, it may help them understand other friends around them better. Many children are cruel to their classmates because they don't understand what's going on with them.

This book is exactly what it says - it is written in a kid friendly way, with great examples and how-tos, and interesting information.

This book is perfect for kids and not bad for adults either. It is very clearly written and has outstanding illustrations. The health strategies and tips provided are done in the context of prevention... But things happen, accidents occur, kids get hurt. This book helps you and your children learn/know what to do in these situations. A fun, interesting, read.

I have 2 young children (ages 5 and 9 yrs old) myself and helping them understand what happens to their bodies when they hurt themselves is tough to do. Not to mention what to do when they are injured. Sometimes it is more "scared about the unknown" than anything. This book really helps the child research and learn how their bodies tell them when they are hurt and how to take care of the simpler injuries themselves. Plus,the format of the book draws them into learning about their bodies before an injury occurs. The illustrations are funny and help drive the points home in a kids kind of way. Great book and my daughter is already trying out the different first aid techniques in advance. Teach the child and you have taught the adult forever!

This was a pretty good book - I almost gave it 4 stars. The book has some useful info and the advice is sound (based on other 1st aid books I've read), so I don't think it would be a waste of anyone's money. The stated reading level is 9-12 but I felt it was a little too ambitious for most kids under 12 and too simple for kids over 12. I read this book to my 7 year old and most of it was over her head and had too many "steps". MY 12 year old also read it and she too thought there were too many "steps" in the instructions on what to do in an emergency. The sections in each chapter called "GET HELP!" were confusing to both kids. If you're looking for a Safety/1st Aid book for someone under 12 I would highly recommend "The Safety Book for Active Kids" (also sold by Amazon). If the reader is someone over 12 then a Red Cross First Aid Course and an adult first aid manual might be a better use of your money.

Scars of the Soul Are Why Kids Wear Bandages When They Don't Have Bruises is divided in two: Memory Lanes and Gun Hill Roads (Part I), and The Def of Hip-Hop (Part II). In Part I, author Miles Marshall Lewis takes a hip-hop Slouching Towards Bethlehem approach, explaining his own life in terms of hip-hop culture. Before breaking down his dad's addiction to cocaine and heroin in "The Suckerpunch of My Childhood Files," Lewis alludes to the fact that the fathers of Nas and Jay-Z both struggled with coke and heroin, and that a greater understanding of MCs and men of the hip-hop generation in general can be reached when we understand the fathers' influence (a brilliant observation).

Like Woody Allen in Zelig, Lewis seems to be present at many key moments of the golden age of hip-hop: waving his hands in the air at the Krush Groove X-Mas Party concert; dancing in a Doug E. Fresh video; smoking herb with Erykah Badu in Fort Greene, Brooklyn; signing the Hip-Hop Declaration of Peace at the United Nations alongside hip-hop's pioneers. These details were fascinating to me, particularly because 1) my first hip-hop album was Doggystyle by Snoop Dogg, 2) I'm white, and 3) I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, nowhere near the birthplace of hip-hop. Scars is highbrow, researched, and really quite witty.

Scars is great on several different levels. First, it's one of the first hip-hop memoirs (certain not to be the last). It reminded me of last year's Random Family but told from the perspective of Miles Marshall Lewis, a Bronx-born "bohemian B-boy" (his words) who also happens to have a Sociology degree. Any readers interested in books that chart what the young black man in America goes through will dig this, the same as Black Boy, Makes Me Wanna Holler, Finding Fish, Manchild in the Promised Land, etc. Hip-hop was bound to produce its own and here it is. Straight outta da Bronx, Miles Marshall Lewis sprung out of the same place and time as hip-hop did and he lays out the correlations well.

Then, it reminds me of the plot to "Brown Sugar" as well: a XXL magazine editor (MML was once one, like Sanaa Lathan's character) gets fed up with hip-hop (aren't we all?) and writes a book about it. Scars is that book. As music journalism, Lewis digs a little deeper than the magazines he's known for writing for by taking KRS-One's popular "I am hip-hop" perspective and injecting personal tidbits of Bronx flashbacks.

Finally, his few insights on spirituality (the "Soul" in the title is no accident) and independent thinking are also noteworthy, above and beyond hip-hop. Scars was a good one. I expected maybe yet another "hip-hop rules! take us seriously!" book, and was pleasantly surprised.

In movie-pitch terms, this 1st book by Miles Marshall Lewis is a cross betweeen Antwoine Fisher's Finding Fish and Charlie Ahearn's Yes Yes Y'all, with a little Best American Essays flavor. Lewis's details about his dad's bout with heroin, his birds-eye view of hip-hop bubbling outside the South Bronx neighborhoods he grew up in, and the book's "hip-hop is dead" thesis make for an engaging and often hilarious reading experience. If that little kid from The Boondocks cartoon grows up to become a music journalist, he'll be Miles Marshall Lewis. Strongly recommended for those who feel like hip-hop has gone down the toilet and wonder what happened, as well as people who dig memoirs like Richard Wright's Black Boy.