Last week I came across an opportunity, thanks to Tammy, to review a book for Dan E. Burns. The book's name is "Saving Ben". The pic with this post, is, of course, me proudly holding my copy of the book.
I prefer to begin my review with my impression of the book itself and the author. The name of the book drew me to it. The cover is what made me want to immediately open the book and begin reading. When I got the book in the mail, I was excited. When I opened the package to reveal the treasure within, I couldn't wait. I read 57 pages that day before I had to tear myself away to take care of other responsibilities.
The author being a man made me curious as to the side of a father in the rearing of a child. Women have no problem expressing their views on child-rearing. Fathers tend to have a problem with their emotions and with expressing their thoughts. Dan Burns may have had a problem when he first thought about writing this book, only because of all it revealed, but he certainly grabbed the bull by the horns and got the job done.
I was thoroughly impressed that Dan could expose himself in such a raw fashion and allow us into his personal thoughts and experiences as a father and a human being. As many of you who have been following the blog know, I am not the parent of an autistic child. I am a guest author who is learning what these parents must endure. "Saving Ben" could not have put it more plainly and more clear.
Dan could grab the hearts and attention of parents across the globe simply because he wrote the book from a father's point of view. But he didn't just write the story...he wrote the story incredibly well. He poured himself into it and gave us a raw and aching view of his and Ben's lives. I had no problem at all following his explanations, empathising with his situation, and feeling as though I needed to be there personally to give both Dan and Ben a hug and cheer them on. Dan E. Burns is an amazing author and an awesome Dad.
Please don't read the book just because you might have or know an autistic child. Any parent can gain from the loyalty and love of this parent to his child, from their pitfalls and determination. I highly recommend "Saving Ben" to any book lover.
Giveaway is for 1 book, Saving Ben. This Giveaway will run from September 14, 2009 to September 27, 2009. There will be 1 winner. The winner will be announced on September 28, 2009. This giveaway is for USA only. Below are rules for entering this giveaway. Good luck.
• MAIN RULE – Leave a comment telling me why you want this book. This gives you one entry. Make sure you leave your email for me to contact you.
For additional entries, you can do any or all of the following:
Please make each entry a separate comment because I will be using a random generator to select the winners of this giveaway.
* 1 Extra Entry – Leave a comment on a non-giveaway post (come back here and leave a comment telling me which post you commented on)
* 1 Extra Entry - Twitter this giveaway and leave your twitter name in a separate comment
* 1 Extra Entry - Subscribe via email to my feed and let me know in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry - Follow my blog let me know in a separate comment
* 1 Extra Entry - Put my blog button on your site and let me know in a separate comment
47 comments:
I would love to read this book! I work with children diagnosed with autism, and I love reading any material I can, not only for my benefit, but to also have an abundance of reading materials to loan out to parents! Thanks!
dauphin55 at hotmail dot com
For a friend whose son was recently diagnosed.
I would love to read this book! Being a childcare provider I have had the pleasure of having 2 autistic children in my care throughout my 14 years in this profession, but most recently my nephew, who I also provide for was recently diagnosed. I would gladly lend it to his parents and then pass on to others.
Thanks so much for a chance!!
I would read this and pass it on to a friend who has a child with autism.
I commented on the "Bake Sales for Autism" post.
I tweeted (@couponlover16).
I subscribe via email to your feed.
i would love to read this book, i have a grandson with autism!!
As a mom, I love stories of parent/child bonds. This sounds like a good one.
janemaritz at yahoo dot com
i am a speech therapit. would love to read and share this book
i would like to read this.my son has autism,so i am always reading. cdmarteny@mywebdesk.com
I have a special needs daughter. She is not autistic but she is mentally handicapped! I think the story sounds very good and very interesting!
As a mother with 3 on the spectrum. I love reading books that have anything to do with autism and autism specrum disorders.
I would love to read this book. My son is on the spectrum.
firstrosegrrl@yahoo.com
I have an autistic daughter who is now 21. She is living in a residential school since she is about 13. People often ask me what is like having a child like this. I feel bad having sent her away so young but I visit her all the time. It was hard raising her particularly alone without the help of her father, my ex who was in denial. My son who is 2 years younger had suffered from this experience is now 18. He says he understands why I tried so long to hang on and keep her home even with all of her aggression at the time. Over the years she has become calmer with a little bit of a set back recently due to a employee now fired for spitting spitballs at her and who knows what else. I would love to read this and also pass it on to some of my friends to read it as well.
My son was diagnosed with autism at age 3 and I want to read this book. Thanks
letessha@yahoo.com
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follower
I like learning whatever I can about autism. wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com
Great read, great contest!
Christina - xristya@rock.com - I'd like to win this book because I'm interested in the "saving" quality of the title!
Many of us work to overcome or learn to live with and manage disabilities. We strive to even turn them into blessings. I, myself, have lived with a disability. I work with students. I'd love to create lessons and read parts of this book to them. I'd then love to include it in their classroom library. Knowledge is very powerful. The more we kno, thw better equipped we are to live positively and make a difference in the world.
bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to win this for my sister, who currently teaches children with autism and loves reading and learning everything she can on the subject. This looks like a wonderful book.
Commented on the Wordless Wednesday post
tweet http://twitter.com/Jessilyn82/status/4413008076
I subscribe
I follow
I like the personal aspect of this book. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
I am an email subscriber. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
I am following. Thank you
candieluster(at)gmail(dot)com
i would love to read this book....i am the mother of a 14yr old autistic son, i also have a 4 yr old grandson that is autistic
cpsnsamples@aol.com
I would like this book to learn more about autism
I am a Dad of a son with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis. And while my son seems to be past "The Terrible Twos" finally (he IS eleven now) there's still a lot of learnin'-and-growin' left to do. Thanks for the opportunity!
To better understand what autism is
aunteegem@yahoo.com
email subscriber
aunteegem@yahoo.co
I want to win this because it is not very often that you get to read a book like this that is written from a fathers point of view and that is something that is special for a father like myself.
titletowntreasures(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
y 28 year son is autistic, and my 20 year old daughter has aspergers.
I would like to read this book. My husband and I like to read in our spare time. I have 2 autistic children and I would like to read this book from a father's point of view. Thanks for the giveaway.
cthompson1477@gmail.com
I would love to read this book. I am a mom with three children on the autism spectrum. Thank you!!
As a parent I would like to learn more about Autism.
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I Tweeted about this giveaway
Twitter ID: @NancyeDavis
http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/4432248964
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I subscribe via email
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Follower
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I love to win this book for my sister. She is a great teacher that works with children with autism.
jswandrn @ gmail.com
I want this book because it sounds very interesting!
lilyk@mail2world.com
I subscribed by email.
I would give this to my sister-in-law who has an older brother & a 4 yr old son with Autism
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