Shmirshky

February 7, 2011
Penned with her son, Jack Dolgen, the authors arrive with an entertaining and informative account of the surprises that await the woman reaching menopause. While many writers approach the topic with reservations, or don't approach it at all, E uses word creation, substitutions, and abbreviations to add a fun factor to the sticky, often embarrassing terms. Not only does E keep the book free of filler but she also includes the practical information about menopause that many women will want to know, including instances of depression and sleeplessness, and practical advice on the importance of getting a thyroid checkup and hormone level testing. Pocked with footnotes, charts, a mini dictionary, and further reading advice, E approaches her subject like the enthusiastic leader of a self-help seminar. And anecdotes sharing the disparate menopausal experiences of E's friends and acquaintances add to the book's charm. E tackles her topic with grace, humor, and a youthful but knowledgeable attitude. By intertwining guidance and jest, she's created an unexpected page-turner.

February 1, 2011

E (the pen name of Ellen Sarver Dolgen) collaborated with her son, Jack Dolgen, on this lighthearted yet informative book about menopause, revised from the self-published 2010 edition. She uses the words "shmirshky" and "erlick" to refer to female and male genitals and to women and men themselves. In a chapter titled "Shmirshky Party Alerts," E shares friends' experiences with menopause, and she includes fun "tickle-your-feet notes" as footnotes. In addition to chapters about the lack of sleep, hot flashes, and doctors, there are also sections on thyroid conditions, hormone-replacement therapy, and suggested test-result ranges. The last section includes glossaries, types of hormone therapy and brands, and a daily-symptoms chart. A resources and notes section has links to further information on menopause, the thyroid gland, researching doctors, and more. The author encourages readers to be "Sumo Free," i.e., to ignore the negative voice that brings them down, to proactively seek the right doctor for themselves, and to recognize that each woman's choice of therapy and experience with menopause is different. VERDICT This book will empower women in menopause to feel more comfortable talking about their experiences.--Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

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