5 Minutes for Books – Chocolatherapy Review and Giveaway
Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books and congratulations to last week’s winners…
The winners of the Get a Hobby! book are:
Becca at Becca’s Blank Slate
Tina at She Plants a Vineyard
Jessica B
Kelli at Holding the Mirror up to My Soul
Jodi at Mama Jodi’s WorldThe winners of the bilingual alphabet book from Sweet Arts Design are:
Heidi at Butterfly Mom
Erica at Butterfly Kisses
Janne at Janne’s JabberwockyToday’s review is written by Jennifer. To win a copy, make sure you leave a comment at the end of the post. (This week’s contest is open to US and Canadian shipping addresses.)
Chocolatherapy – Satisfying the Deepest Cravings of Your Inner Chick
This week’s book, Chocolatherapy by Karen Scalf Linamen, speaks to the needs of so many women. The book’s subtitle sums up the real focus of this lighthearted look at serious issues: Satisfying the Deepest Cravings of Your Inner Chick.
No, the truly fattening truth is that–if your life is anything like mine–you get handed daily servings of stress and crisis, not to mention chaos, change, heartache and headache. I don’t know what your favorite binge-food happens to be (if it’s celery, close this book immediately and give it to a normal friend), but when I’m on an emotional eating bender, I reach for the chocolate. . . . It’s dawning on me that I’m probably not really craving chocolate. At the risk of dissing my faithful cocoa friend, I’m realizing chocolate is often just a quick fix. Chances are good that I’m longing for something else. Something healthier. Something deeper.
Chocolatherapy, pages 9 – 10
Chocolatherapy is not about emotional binge eating or the excess weight that often comes along with it. The author, Karen Linamen, has battled both of these problems, but early on she reminds the reader that other women’s cravings in response to stress include shopping, working out, surfing the net, or cleaning–anything that we do to excess to avoid our real problems.
Each chapter address one of the things that we really crave when we reach for the carbs (or other binge of choice):
- visibility
- escape
- community
- sleep
- clarity
- control
Throughout the book, Ms. Linamen sprinkles nuggets of truth and encouragement regarding her own experiences with parenting, divorce, friendship, adult ADD, body piercing, and worry. Yes, I said body piercing. This book is written from a Christian perspective, but it is definitely not one of those “perfect-Christian woman” type of books that do not address the reality that many of the women (Christian or not) who read them are facing.
Karen Linamen comes across as insightful, but not untouchable. I am thankful for women who are willing to be this open so that we can learn from their positive experiences as well as benefit from the knowledge that they have gained from their not-so-positive life choices.
At the end of each chapter there are questions to deepen the reader’s ability to relate the concept to her own life. Entitled “Living the Sweet Life,” they encourage or challenge the reader to think a little bit more personally about what she’s read so that she can take action on the “a-ha’s” that she might have had while reading. The end of the “Escape” chapter features these questions:
- What kinds of events or stresses make you crave escape?
- Describe two of your favorite escapes: one that puts on the pounds and one that is calorie free.
Because of these questions, and the common nature of all the needs described in this book, it would make an excellent book to read for a book club (as long as people were open enough to share fairly personally), or for a selected group of girlfriends to read and discuss (over chocolate desserts, of course!)
I enjoyed this book and, because of the conversational tone and the fact that it’s only 173 pages, it was a quick read as well. A busy mom could easily read a chapter while waiting in the carpool line, or sitting outside while the kids are playing (as I did this beautiful Spring week.)
What’s your temptation–sweet or salty? What’s your favorite pig-out food?
If you would like to win a copy leave a comment by Saturday. Winners will be announced next Monday. (This contest is open to Canadian and US shipping addresses.)
Jennifer Donovan blogs at Snapshot
95 Comments
My favorite things are definitely sweets, either chocolate chip cookies or mint chocolate chip ice cream
Sounds like a delicious read! I would love to win!
My favourite treat is Lindt Chocolate truffles. This book sounds very interesting.
I am a sweet lover! I always go for the chocolate and the bottle of Virgil’s microbrewed rootbeer. This sounds like a great book for me!
Count me in on this one.
Chocolate?!! Count me in!
Cheryl
Now I’m wanting chocolate, but still, I want to read this one. Please include me. Thanks
Wow, I won! How cool! What do I need to do?
I love chocolate! I want to win!
Okay, how do some authors do that…figure out who you are and what you do without ever meeting you. It’s uncanny. That’s why I love authors and collecting signed copies of their books. They just amaze me. I’d love to read this!
I’d love to win this book. Throw my name in the proverbial hat please.
I wanna win the book. I use real chocolate therapy all the time!
I’m in!
Very interesting!
I’m now going to take more notice to the things that trigger my cravings.
looks like another must have, must read!!
Wow! Thanks!!!!
This book sounds great too…
This sounds like a great book with lots of insight to help me get through everything. I don’t read much but I think this one to add to my small library.
Sounds like a wonderful book! Count me in! My cravings are almost always sweet, and usually of the dark chocolate variety…
This sounds like a book for me! I do have cravings, and chocolate is one of them!
Yes please! I can scarf a truckload of carbohydrates in a heartbeat. And all I truly need is a little visibility and a nap….
Sign me up please! Thanks!
I usually crave something sweet. Chocolate is a favorite but I also love caramels. I like Bullseyes and Cow Tails, the best of both being chocolate Cow Tails. If I’m in pig out mode, I go for McDonalds french fries and a chocolate shake. I do not turn away from a Steak&Shake banana shake either.
Definately chocolate – anytime, anywhere! Stressed or not – I just love chocolate! Great giveaway!
I LOVE Karen’s books…anda this sounds like a goody!!
Interesting book. I’m trying to lose weight so chocolate craving or not I haven’t indulged. . .
Although I love chocolate, I’d say I’m a salty girl! Give me nachos and I’m happy!
Sounds interesting.
I could really use this book! Please enter me. Thanks!
count me in! Thanks
I struggle with various time-wasters from time to time and would love to get a fresh new look at how to handle life!
I’m interested in any book with “chocolate” in it! Seriously, sounds awesome. Please enter me!
wow tough questions *snicker snicker*… depends on the mood.. if I’m pregnant with girls it’s all about the chocolate, if it’s pregnant with boys it’s all about the dill pickle chips! hehe I’m serious about that too! Though on a whole I’ve never found a piece of chocolate I haven’t liked (well, except the stale one the kids lost behind the couch, but that doesn’t really count does it? )
I crave both salty and sweet foods, back and forth. (oh, and I love Dill Pickle chips!!! Old Dutch is way better than Lays!)
I pig out on whatever I can get my hands on. Pizza, chicken, chips, M&M’s…….. I really need this book. I also pig out on computer time.
This book sounds right up my alley! :v) I enjoy Karen’s books so please enter me! I usually crave potato chips. Sometimes a certain kind of pizza.
What a great review, and what sounds like the greastest book! I want in!
sounds interesting. count me in.
Great review! Count me in, please!
Wow, this sounds like a book that I need to read (even if I don’t win the give-a-way!). I usually crave sweets (love, love, love dark chocolate) or time by my self with a good book or the TV. Thanks!
Sounds like a great book! I’m always craving chocolate!
Sounds like an interesting book! My biggest temptation is chocolate baked goods- brownies, cookies, cake…I can eat a whole batch of one of those!
Sounds great! Add me to the mix.
Sounds like an interesting book. My cravings vary. The worst is the chocolate chip cookie one. For PMS, there’s nothing like a big plate of garlicky pasta. For stressed out times, there’s always the Golden Arches (fries and hot fudge sundae with extra fudge). Hmmm…..time for a snack!
Hello,
Chocotherapy looks like an absolutely awesome book!
My downfall is Snickers and Hershey bars.
Lori
That book sounds amazing, and exactly the type of book I love to read. It sounds like a really nice, short, simple but positive read. I cannot wait to get my hands on it.
To answer your question…My temptation is sweet…ALWAYS. I’m most certainly a chocoholic and will pick chocolate over most things, most days. Yum! My new most favorite “pig-out” food, which really I don’t pig out on, I just really, really enjoy – are the new Reese’s Crunch Bars. YUMMY!!!! I love them frozen! LOL
What I am blessed with is definitely a sweet tooth…in fact may be a set of sweet teeth..to be more precise
I pi -out on scoops of chocolate vanilla icecream!