MY LIBRARIAN MISTY – Batavia Public Library

My Librarian Misty

If you truly love a book, you should sleep with it, write in it, read aloud from it, and fill its pages with muffin crumbs.

—Anne Fadiman

I confess, I did not grow up with a love for books. In my youth I struggled with focusing and retaining the material in them; therefore, books intimidated me. And now I’m surrounded by them!!! So then, how do you not fall in love with or want to read them?!! In my adult life, I have found that I love reading psychology books written from a religious aspect. I especially favor books authored by Henry Cloud and John Townsend. A couple of my favorites are Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No, to Take Control of Your Life and Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give up in Order to Move Forward, both by Henry Cloud. I also like to read books that focus on leadership training, such as The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping-Stones for Success, and Becoming a Person of Influence, which were all written by John C. Maxwell. And most recently, I’ve discovered that I enjoy reading biographies for four reasons: they promote self-discovery, they allow you to see the world in new ways, and can sometimes serve as an inspiration and/or mentors at a distance, and whether you admire or revile the individual they’re about, I personally want to know how a “normal” person became a world-changing figure.

On Misty's Bookshelf

Dirty Secret by Jessie Sholl
Judge & Jury by James Patterson
No Cares About Crazy People by Andrea Bain
Do You Have Kids? by Kate Kaufmann
Consent by Donna Freitas

Misty's Favorite Books!

The Body Keeps the Score explains in detail the brain's reaction to trauma and how it effects the body focused around Dr. van der Kolk's work throughout his career on the issues of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as it relates to combat veterans, victims of accidents and crimes, abuse victims, etc.

This book is a real eye-opener. It gives several accounts of men and women who were sexually assaulted on college campuses and what happened afterwards. Institutions they thought would support them and guide them turned their backs on them.

Please be safe while reading this book. It's full of people courageously sharing some of the most difficult life experiences anyone can go through. If you want to understand what leads someone to want to take their own life or what life is like for the friends and family members of those who have, this book will do that.

This book addresses the enormous and complex journey that survivors of traumatic events face when they begin - as all survivors must - coming to terms with what has happened to them.

If you feel at all insecure in your relationship with God, or if you've ever questioned how He really feels about you, I urge you to read this book. Joyce has an uncomplicated, straightforward writing style that is easy to grasp. This book is for you, and for me, and for anyone who doubts God's unfailing love.

I highlighted half of this book. Touch is such a vital part of our lives, yet it's astonishing how little we’re aware of it. The great news is that the science of touch has been growing in recent years. Linden does a brilliant job of communicating the science behind it.

This book shares practical examples and sample conversations to help you navigate some rather dreadful situations. It's also funny, easy to read, and certainly a book you can go back to every time you need suggestions on how to love people well through tough times.

I listened to the audio version of this book. The book was gripping and difficult to pause. There were SO MANY twists and turns in the plot until it was impossible to distinguish who could be trusted. At the end, Brown wraps everything up in a well-ordered, satisfying way.

Christian Living

Liz Curtis uses examples of "bad girls" from the Old and New Testaments to show how bad choices and actions can affect our lives, and how we can be healed and forgiven by God despite them.

This album spoke to me in the deepest of ways regarding forgiveness, redemption, restoration, TRUST, and freedom from guilt. Lauren also has a very distinctive voice. She sounds like a mix of Adele and Amy Winehouse, which for a contemporary Christian artist is refreshingly rare.

This album spoke to me in the deepest of ways regarding forgiveness, redemption, restoration, TRUST, and freedom from guilt. Lauren also has a very distinctive voice. She sounds like a mix of Adele and Amy Winehouse, which for a contemporary Christian artist is refreshingly rare.

If you feel at all insecure in your relationship with God, or if you've ever questioned how He really feels about you, I urge you to read this book. Joyce has an uncomplicated, straightforward writing style that is easy to grasp. This book is for you, and for me, and for anyone who doubts God's unfailing love.

If you feel at all insecure in your relationship with God, or if you've ever questioned how He really feels about you, I urge you to read this book. Joyce has an uncomplicated, straightforward writing style that is easy to grasp. This book is for you, and for me, and for anyone who doubts God's unfailing love.

This book is a great tool for explaining all areas of purity - emotional, mental, physical and spiritual. It focuses on putting God first, has realistic advice and applies to young people over the entire spectrum of the purity matter.

The "It" in The Girl's Still Got It refers to value, significance, or worth - which God reaffirmed in Ruth's life. No matter where you've come from or what you've done, God still loves you and He has a plan for your life.

This CD is a recording of a "live" performance which made it feel more like a spirit filled and worshipful experience for me. Kari connects with people through her music as if she knows exactly where you are emotionally. These songs have very strong symbolism of all that Christ has done for us, His finished work, and above all God's unconditional love for us all.

Natalie wrote this album while she was feeling hopeless and overwhelmed. She shared that, "Hurricane' broke open wide the creative dam for me and began the process of knowing I could have hope that a better day is coming."

Home Run is unapologetic about bringing to light real-life struggles and the message is as plain as day – faith in Jesus Christ matched with a daily commitment to sobering up is the best way to find healing and beat addictions. Based on thousands of true stories, HOME RUN is a powerful reminder that with God, it's never too late...freedom IS possible.

These “declarations” are powerful messages and reminders of our potential. They offer encouragement to trust in, and use our God given talent and to stay on track with our dreams.

God has used this book to set women free. Shame is something that we all carry. Caine shares some of her darkest struggles to help the hurting reader identify with her and find hope that will change what we believe and how we feel about ourselves.

Ten different biblical figures from the Old Testament each run a mile with you. They each encourage you in their own way to “lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is before us." Hebrew 12:1.

Healing IS Possible

This book documents the healing journey of numerous trauma survivors. Written for the general public, it provides an intimate view into the healing processes of people treated with EMDR.

It explains how the disorder is diagnosed and describes the symptoms --- both physical and psychological. It also covers the various disorders that can accompany and worsen PTSD: things like depression, substance abuse, and generalized anxiety disorder.

This book provides a courageous, inspiring, and radical message of the human capacity for self-healing. Mollica blends historical information, religious and spiritual practices with medical and psychiatric knowledge.

I found this book to be one of the best ones written on the loss of a pet. It covers every aspect of the grief process. I recommend this book for anyone having a challenging time with the loss of a best friend.

Everyone has some form of hurts, habits or hang-ups that they need help identifying. This book helps you do that in such a way that while you are identifying your flaws and character defects, you still feel encouraged and know that there is hope and freedom.

This book is a collection of letters, essays, and poems, written by survivors of sexual violence, to encourage and support survivors. There is healing within this book because it speaks to victims in a way that lets them know it wasn't their fault and that they are understood and validated.

Just as every trauma is different and every person's reaction to trauma is personal, treating and overcoming that trauma must be personalized. This book provides an array of ways to finding your way back to sanity after a significant traumatic experience.

This is not your usual psychologist version of defining grief, nor does it attempt to stereotype feelings and emotions. I found it to be extremely helpful, a comfort, and could be used as a road map for anyone suffering with grief or in a care-taking situation.

This book is brilliant for survivors of sexual trauma, no matter how long ago your horrible experience was and no matter what age you are. I particularly liked how the workbook not only gave a lot of helpful information and advice about depression, PTSD, sleep, nutrition, etc. but how it also gives the reader assessment quizzes and writing exercises to help with the process of recovery

This book acknowledges your loss and guides you in how to recover while still honoring the loss of your furry family member. It takes you through stages of grieving in this unique circumstance and how not to feel judged by those who couldn’t possibly understand the depth of your pain

As Miller says in her book, it's easy for people to watch the TV show “Hoarders” and judge “those people.” However, hording is a disorder; just as obsessive-compulsive behavior is. They can't help themselves, and people like that deserve help, not ridicule.

I really valued that the workbook not only gave a lot of helpful information and advice about depression, PTSD, sleep, nutrition and wellbeing, but how it also gave the reader activities in the form of assessment quizzes and writing exercises to help with the process of recovery.

This book provided an awareness into the struggles of trauma and the rewards of living through them. The stories, the research, and the courage illustrated in this book are all well thought-out for a read that is appropriate for any audience.

The Celebrate Recovery Bible is a remarkable recovery tool for anyone who struggles with any kind of hurt, habit, or hang-up. This bible has great daily devotionals, great biblical character stories and everyday people’s testimonies of how God and Celebrate Recovery has healed and changed their lives.

God has used this book to set women free. Shame is something that we all carry. Caine shares some of her darkest struggles to help the hurting reader identify with her and find hope that will change what we believe and how we feel about ourselves.

The Royals

Margaret Beaufort fiercely sets her heart on assuring that her son reigns on the throne of England regardless of the cost to herself, to England, and even to her son. Margaret devises one of the greatest uprisings ever recorded.

The story begins with a young girl Jacquetta who meets Joan of Arc. She forms a friendship with Joan which sadly ends in her witnessing Joan's execution. The story goes on to include forbidden love, arraigned marriages, characters being exiled, battles, and the drama of court.

The Kingmaker's Daughter is the story of Anne Neville and her road to becoming queen. In Gregory's account, Anne emerges as an endearing and intelligent heroine, caught up in the snares of her father's politics.

Elizabeth, Henry VII's wife/queen has always known she would be a pawn in some way. So when Henry VII defeats her lover Richard III in battle and takes the title of king, she knows it will be her job to marry the victor.

This is the first of a trilogy taking the reader through Marie Antoinette's life and death. Told in the first person (mostly) from Marie's point of view the reader is submerged in history.

The White Queen is the 3rd book in the Plantagenet and Tudor series. Gregory’s books are always meticulously researched and often contain extensive bibliographies. By using the first person, she fills in the thoughts of Elizabeth as well as the behind the scenes dealings in the king's court.

The King's Curse takes you into the world of Margaret Pole, the Countess of Salisbury. The author weaves true historical facts and events with her own exhaustive research concluding ideas of what may conceivably have been the backstory, thoughts and actions of the women of that time period.

This book brings to life the little-known story of the sisters of Lady Jane Grey, Katherine and Mary. Their stories are told in first person which makes for a fascinating read and makes clear the difficulties of survival of women in those troubled times.

True Stories

This last book was my favorite. It has a very redeeming ending to the horrible true story of Dave Pelzer's childhood. This book series truly helps us to delve into the mind of the traumatized child and their emotional and mental journey into adulthood.

This book definitely needs a mature audience. Alice Sebold discusses what no one really wants to; that sometimes as a society, people don't want to be near those who have suffered terrible events for some unknown reason.

Lisa Beamer is a courageous woman with a strong faith in God. She shares her testimony of how her walk with the Lord has profoundly strengthened her and continues to guide her as she and her children carry on their lives without her husband, Todd.

This book is the true story of one child's life and the abuse he experienced growing up. While reading this I could feel the pain and fear this little boy was feeling. Pelzer has so much courage to tell his story, and he does it so well.

I read this book after reading the first book in the trilogy. Dave Pelzer has a way of connecting with the reader, especially those who have been through child abuse of some form.

Listening to this book, read in her own voice made me feel as though we were talking over a cup of coffee. It primarily covers her journey living through her second bout with cancer.

Be a Leader, Not a Boss

What endears the late Mary Kay Ash far beyond cosmetics, business genius, or financial success is her role as a champion of women. In 1963, Mary Kay Ash embarked on a journey to change women's lives for the better. She wrote this autobiography to provide a personal perspective on that remarkable journey.

The basis for this book is the advice of the apostle Paul. He provides a list of thoughts that, he states, with God’s help, if we choose to focus on them, we can either maximize our God given potential, misuse or even ignore it.

Life experience has subconsciously taught people that inappropriate line crossing is a part of daily life and almost every relationship. Often it can be a painful lesson to UN-learn. This book is a tool to help people with boundary struggles learn where the line is, how not to cross it, and how to defend it.

Henry Cloud uses a great mixture of neuroscience, years of first-hand experiences, and tangible steps to guide leaders into lasting strategies for success. Readers will be primed to lead their business, their teams, and themselves in a way that will energize and strengthen them, not deplete them.

"True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are." - Brown. This might sound a bit unfamiliar, but the book develops this idea in wonderful ways that will appeal to every reader.

Even if you’re not a procrastinator by nature, the tools Bennett teaches make complete sense and are easy to acclimate. Loaded with information to help you in every aspect of your life this book is one of those that you read and tell people about because you can’t believe the simplicity!

This book really uncovered the importance of asking the right questions at the right time. Questions are not only key to learning and furthering your personal growth as a leader and as an individual, but they also facilitate building relationships and establishing trust.

When it comes to ending things in our personal or business lives that no longer bear fruit, we find reasons to tolerate rather than end something. Dr. Cloud gives undeniable arguments that encourage the reader to end such things and practical insights to know when something can be restored to value.

I highly recommend this book to everyone who thinks they are not good enough the way they are. This book is a wonderful reminder that God specializes in using broken people, but more than that, it shows you how.

This is one of the best books on leadership I have read. This is a fantastic book for anyone inspired to learn how to lead others. It offers specific examples and motivational thoughts on what it takes to live the life of a leader.

Jen Sincero is authentic, witty and real about what it takes to realize the greatness within you and create a life you love. She takes self-improvement to a whole new level of entertainment!

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