Rated of 5
by Marjorie W. (Bonita Springs, FL) Bloom
I found this a difficult book to read - didn't enjoy the style in which it was presented. Having worked in the field of special needs children, as well as having such a child in the family, I empathized with the author - I was disappointed in the presentation of her memoir.
Rated of 5
by Angela S. (Hartland, MI) Bloom
Bloom is a memoir about a very difficult time in a family's life. I was hoping to read about the day to day struggles of having a baby with Down's Syndrome, and there was some of that. However, the book was very sappy and melodramatic. I found myself rolling my eyes and wincing when the author used words with capital letters such as Pain, Change or Sadness. It was difficult to finish the book, but I'm glad I did because there was certainly a change in the author towards her daughter and it was very positive. Overall the book was average, but could have been great if it had not been overrun with so many exaggerated emotions instead of just telling the story of how a mother fell in love with her new daughter who was not quite what she had expected.
Rated of 5
by Sue H. (Bronx, NY) Bloom by Kelle Hampton
As I'm sure many people will say, this is an inspiring book. But to me what is inspiring is not how Ms. Hampton handles life as a "special needs" mother, but rather how she handles life period. This may sound hokey, but the way Ms. Hampton embraces life, chooses to create celebrations, and appears to open her heart to one and all, is -- to someone with an innately different personality -- very much like reading about a different culture. And as often happens when I read about other cultures, it leads me to reflect on my own life and choices and, in this case, to make an effort to embrace the outside world more. Bloom is an easy and quick read. It often reads like an extended blog post, but is nonetheless enjoyable.
Rated of 5
by Mary F. (Muskegon, Mi) Bloom
Finding beauty in the unexpected is exactly what Kelle Hampton did when her second daughter was born with Down's Syndrome. This memoir shows the love and support of family and friends that Kelle needed as she came to terms with the unexpected. I enjoyed reading of Kelle's passion for life and dealing with it as it shows up. The photography really enhanced the memoir.
Rated of 5
by Melissa H. (Pittsburgh, PA) Aspiring to Live an Oscar Worthy Life
I laughed, I cried and came away with a deeper appreciation for life. The honesty of this memoir was refreshing. In a world which is so focused on what is "normal" and "perfect", this woman discovered that these terms are defined within your own life and not by society. It was beautiful to see this woman grow into a deeper and stronger person through the love of her two daughters. It also gave the reader perspective to appreciate the "wild and precious life" we have with all it's pain and heartache and beauty.
Rated of 5
by Susan J. (Twain Harte, CA) The Power of a Mother's Love
Kelle Hampton holds nothing back, revealing all her conflicting feelings about her Down Syndrome daughter Nelle's birth. Her support system of 28 "sisters" may seem overwhelming to those of us who handle emotions more privately, but there is no doubt that her story is gripping and true. The photographs are beautiful and speak for themselves of Kelle's love for her daughters. "Bloom" is an excellent read for all mothers and would-be mothers.
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Z, the novel about the life of Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald is at points charming and; like another reviewer, I kept thinking of the movie, "Midnight...
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Although heavy on the scientific details, which slowed down the story for me (OK, I admit, I was one of those liberal arts majors who skipped out on...
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Loved this book. Magical, quirky, enchanting I could go on. All books do not have to be literary fiction, sometimes it is just so comforting to read...
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British Parliament asks Amazon to clarify why it pays $9 million in income tax on $23 billion of UK sales.(May 20 2013) Amazon will be called back to give further evidence to members of the British Parliament "to clarify how its activities in the U.K. justify its low corporate...
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of 5
by Marjorie W. (Bonita Springs, FL) 
of 5
by Sue H. (Bronx, NY) 
of 5
by Susan J. (Twain Harte, CA) 
