Information and Resources from the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center

Our Picks for a Mental Vacation

 

Books

The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant - recommended by Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse

A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini - recommended by Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse

The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition, by Caroline Alexander - recommended by Tony Collins, of the Clinical Trials Office

Eat. Pray. Love: One Woman's Search for Everything across Italy, India and Indonesia, by Elizabeth Gilbert - recommended, particular in audiobook form, by Jennifer Lewis, administrative assistant

To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee - recommended by Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse

The Time Traveler's Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger - recommended by Melissa Hill, multi-site clinical research project manager

A New Earth: Awakening Your Life's Purpose, by Eckhart Tolle - recommended, particular in audiobook form, by Jennifer Lewis, administrative assistant

Editor's Picks:

Black Swan Green, by David Mitchell

The Blade Itself, by Marcus Sakey

Public Enemies, by Bryan Burrough

Specimen Days, by Michael Cunningham

Eat, Memory: Great Writers at the Table, edited by Amanda Hesser

Here Is New York, by E.B. White

Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri

Devil in a Blue Dress, by Walter Mosely

Netherland, by Joseph O'Neill

The Devil's Candy: The Anatomy of a Hollywood Fiasco, by Julie Salamon

Civilwarland in Bad Decline, by George Saunders

The Russian Debutante's Handbook, by Gary Shteyngart

State by State, edited by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey

Seabiscuit: An American Legend, by Laura Hillenbrand

What It Is,by Lynda Barry

Want more? Newsweek put together a list of 100 books based on 10 top reading lists -- from the New York Public Library to Oprah. Newsweek's Top 100 Books

Movies & DVDs

Fluke - recommended by Lori Pimlott, outpatient office assistant

The Hangover - recommended by Nancy Burke, dietitian

Mama Mia - recommended by Mary McCully, volunteer services coordinator

Remember the Titans - recommended by Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse

That Thing You Do - recommended by Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse

Poirot (PBS television series) - recommended by Dorothy Hastings, RN-C

Miss Marple (PBS television series) - recommended by Dorothy Hastings, RN-C

Editor's Picks:

Bourne Identity

Block Party

Bringing Up Baby

Election

Inside Man

The Iron Giant

The Jerk

Millions

Midnight Run

Notorious

Once

The Producers

Sullivan's Travels

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Wire" (Television series)

Zodiac

Want more? Visit the American Film Institute's top movie lists.

Other Media

Newspapers:
Don't forget your friendly newspaper. Buy one on Sunday and read it all week. The New York Times Magazine, which is part of the Sunday edition, is worth the price of admission alone. Besides the crossword puzzle, you get well-written, in-depth feature stories, an entertaining ethics column and a regular food column that never fails to tantalize. If you've moved from your original hometown, consider ordering a single copy of the Sunday paper by mail. It might be fun to catch up on the news of your old haunts.

Magazines:
You read about Harper's Weekly already. Other titles to check out: The Believer, the newly redesigned Newsweek, The New Yorker, Edible WOW (a Washtenaw-based food magazine), Salon.com, Slate.com.

Consider subscribing to a news aggregator so you can track the news from your favorite publications via the Web. News aggregators are simple to use and can be linked with mobile devices for portability. Two popular sites are Google Reader and Yahoo News.

Video Games

Editor's Picks

"Braid"

"Call of Duty" franchise

"Cubis"

"Fuzion Frenzy"

"Guitar Hero" franchise

"Katamari Damacy"

"Little Big Planet"

"Ratchet and Clank" franchise

"Rock Band" franchise (Play along with The Beatles this fall.)

"Tetris"

"Zuma"

Remember, lots of video games are available online for free. And, if you have a video game system like Xbox 360, lots of the inexpensive downloads are at least as fun as the brand new $50 titles.

Confused about game systems? Check out these reviews.
Want reviews of the latest games? Visit G4tv.com.

More Ways to Take a Break

Dietitian Nancy Burke spends time imagining herself at the ocean, "hearing the waves and feeling the sand between my toes." She also finds that running her dog relieves stress.

"I have found that coming back to my home and sitting in peace and quiet as I clear my mind of any extraneous thoughts and business of the day, provides me with a mental vacation and actually improves my thinking and concentration. It is an easy and free way to take an escape and concentrate on a place (in my mind) that is comforting to me," says Susan Daron.

"I typically play with my puppy outside or work in my garden as a means of de-stressing," says Jessica Doletzky, child and family life specialist.

"I love to play Scrabble!" says Annette Schork, Cancer AnswerLine™ nurse.

"The thing that ALWAYS works for me is listening to my favorite music and/or "dancing it out" (whether seated or standing)! Laughter Yoga is awesome too!" says social worker Toni Spano-English.

"Go for a run. Any type of vigorous physical activity helps," says Laurie Zyczynski, physician assistant. (But always check with your health-care team first to make sure it's safe for you.)

 

return to top of page