August 2017 Review Issue
A Few Minor
Adjustments
Cherie Kephart
Bazi
Publishing
978-1-947127-01-2 (Paperback) $15.95
Epub ISBN: 978-1-947127-02-9 $
4.99
MOBI ISBN: 978-1-947127-03-6
CherieKephart.com
A Few Minor Adjustments is a memoir about healing and transformations, and tells how the young adventure traveler author was struck down in the prime of her life with a mysterious illness, forever changing the direction of her life.
Cherie Kephart's thirty-third birthday introduced the major challenge of chronic illness into her world, beginning with the unexpected sharp twinge in her neck that led to a crushing pain.
As a hospital waiting room triage moves into a survey of her very active world travels, readers are treated to a sharp contrast between the events that would limit her world and her carefree, adventurous soul, gaining all the background needed to understand the course of her life and why her chronic ailments were such an unexpected diversion from everything Cherie experienced.
One
striking aspect of her story is how the medical system consistently
failed to
address her chronic issues; from an emergency room triage situation set
up for
heart attacks and accidents but not for unexplained attacks of intense,
chronic
pain to puzzled doctors who range from incompetent to helpless.
Insights into
myths about the medical system's effectiveness permeate her story ("I had believed the one place a
person who felt scared
and who was in extreme distress could go to for help was the emergency
room. Of
that, I was no longer certain."), offering much
food for
thought.
As psychological and physical changes evolve, Kephart moves into "becoming more herself" and brings readers into a process that traverses chronic, undiagnosed illness, encounters with medical systems and personnel, and a struggle to understand the source and true nature of her illness.
Readers who have struggled with the challenges of diagnosis and medical conditions will powerfully relate to Kephart's circumstances and will be inspired by not just her quest to diagnose and resolve her physical challenges, but by the accompanying psychological changes that bring her to new realizations.
This memoir isn't just a survivor's story: it recounts a transformative process which begins with extreme, life-challenging adversity and moves neatly into the realm of a very different kind of adventure as she faces and acknowledges that both life and death are ever-present.
Her epiphany - "I realized there wasn’t one thing in particular that helped me begin to heal; it was a hundred." - is inspiring reading for any on their own paths to recovery and enlightenment, making A Few Minor Adjustments a 'must have' chronicle of perseverance highly recommended for anyone!
A Few Minor Adjustments
Return to Index
Finding
My Badass Self
Sherry Stanfa-Stanley
She Writes Press
Print ISBN: 978-1-63152-290-1 $14.95
E-ISBN:
978-1-63152-291-8
$ 9.95
www.shewritespress.com
Finding My Badass Self: A Year of Truth and Dares documents a year of 'The 52/52 Project' in which Sherry Stanfa-Stanley participated in one new experience a week. But if readers think these involve extreme sports or high-octane adventure, be advised that these challenges lay more in the psychological realm and deeply probe beliefs, reactions and responses, and life connections.
Most people, for example, wouldn't go on a road trip with an ex-husband (much less his girlfriend), or would be a mime in front of strangers, to name a few scenarios. Why undertake such adventures? Because in challenging preset notions, boundaries, and abilities, Sherry Stanfa-Stanley uncovered new abilities, passions, and purposes to her life from experiences that lay well outside her comfort zone: "I then realized this wasn’t just about taking on a weird lark of an experience; it was about succeeding at being funny and crazy and clever. If there was one thing I’d learned in the past several months, these new life experiences didn’t mean much if I didn’t give them my all."
From the results of changing her appearance in public to something less staid ("...how others reacted to my appearance still bothered me more than I cared to admit. In most situations over the past months, I’d learned to handle humiliation and to brush off others’ opinions. Yet when it came to my appearance in more everyday circumstances like these, it seemed I still wanted to appear physically attractive or at least normal. Whether it was due to an engrained sense of vanity or a bit of insecurity, it made me wonder: As I grew older, would I grow more—or less—self-conscious about my appearance?") to confronting patrons while taking up bartending during St. Patrick's celebrations, the variety of ways in which Stanfa-Stanley confronts her self and her world make for an inspirational read filled with exciting possibilities for readers thinking about breaking their own molds and more fully acknowledging unrealized potentials.
While all this sounds like serious stuff, it should be advised there's a distinct and marked sense of humor and wry observation that runs through the entire work. This key component takes a potentially dry, serious topic and adds a lightness that makes it not just readable, but amusing and involving.
The result is an uplifting, fun, quirky, and most of all, thought-provokingly powerful memoir highly recommended for any woman who would gain new perspective about her life and its direction and choices.
Finding My Badass Self
Return to Index
20
Women Changemakers Taking Action Around the World
Pamela Burke and Patricia Caso, Editors
The Women’s Eye
978-0-9977054-5-4
$16.00
www.thewomenseye.com
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/20-
IndieBound.org: https://www.
BN.com: https://www.
20 Women Changemakers Taking Action Around the World gathers the biographies and achievements of selected women who have contributed major effort to seeing positive change in societies around the world, reporting on how these women work for good to make a difference in individual lives.
This is more than a profile of powerful women, however, but serves as an activist's handbook, illustrating how each woman undertook her project, why she choose it, and the ideals supported through each effort.
Another notable feature is the global emphasis and scale of this collection, which profiles projects ranging from how a photographer and chef decided to bring soup to Syrian refugees to Gulalai Ismail's struggles for girls’ rights in Pakistan.
Why profile these particular women, from a global arena? Patty Chang Anker discusses the roots of her huge project and goal: a commitment to helping people face their fears. For Patty, the project evolved into a passion for revealing the good forces at work in the world, fostered by women who decided to make a difference in more than their own immediate lives. Burke says: "I felt a real need to pursue stories with a female voice as they were not getting the attention and the exposure that I thought they deserved. With that premise, The Women’s Eye emerged. Now, all these years later, we have been able to do interviews with and cover hundreds of stories about outstanding women whose accomplishments are making the world a global community of sharing and positive purpose."
These particular women's work (often conducted under seemingly impossible circumstances of poverty and prejudice) came to the book editors' attention in various ways: through global nonprofits such as Echoing Green, which awards seed funds to social entrepreneurs working on bold ideas for social change, to a retired Southern school teacher who knew that technology needed to get into underserved neighborhoods, and who created a 'Brilliant Bus' as a literal vehicle for change.
Interviews with each woman successfully reveal their inspirations, the sources of their ideas, and the challenges they faced in seeing their ideals for improvement come to fruition.
The result is a powerful, in-depth survey of exactly how complex projects emerged, development issues were tackled, and lives changed by women determined to make a difference.
This inspirational anthology should be a 'must' acquisition for any collection strong in women's issues, social change, and social justice. There's simply nothing like it on the market: 20 Women Changemakers moves far beyond biography and into the nuts and bolts of how ordinary individuals can make a difference.
20 Women Changemakers Taking Action Around the World
Return to Index
Diabetes:
The Real Cause and The Right Cure
Dr. John Poothullil
New Insights Press
Print:
978-0-9984850-0-3
$11.95
eBook: 978-0-9984850-1-0 $ 7.95
www.newinsightspress.com
Amazon: http://a.co/h2B9iLF
Diabetes: The Real Cause and The Right Cure: 8 Steps to Reverse Your Diabetes in 8 Weeks states its main case right on the cover, clarifying the approach Dr. Poothullil takes in a book that maintains that diabetes is a curable condition: "Type 2 diabetes is not due to insulin resistance; it’s your diet. See how you can stop taking medication or injecting insulin."
This perspective is especially intriguing for Type 2 diabetics because it focuses on a very different medical explanation for the cause and reversal of high blood sugar and diabetes than other diabetes books offer. It also places more control over the condition in the hands of readers who could change their lifestyle choices in order to eliminate the disease. The book is not for Type 1 diabetics, where the pancreas is actually damaged; but Type 2s will find it packed with specifics that contrast old theories about diabetes with the author's new perspective on its causes and why certain medicines only appear to work if insulin resistance isn't really the cause of the Type 2 diabetic's problem. The chapters make a strong case for eliminating grains from one's diet and taking better control of one’s eating choices. The 8 steps offer a relatively easy-to-implement program most will find easy to follow.
Aware that such a simple program promoting a 'cure' could be seriously questioned, Dr. Poothullil addresses initial concerns right from the beginning ("If you think that diabetes is your destiny because one or both of your parents had it, you will learn that what you have inherited is only a potential. If you think Type 2 diabetes cannot be “cured,” this book will show a completely different picture."), advocating a self-help program that requires only a willingness to self-assess in order to prove successful: "To avoid Type 2 diabetes, your goal must be to take back control of your body and rediscover or reconnect with your authentic weight. You know when your weight is right for you because your brain knows when your fat cells are not full and your blood is not full of fatty acids and glucose."
The book is a no-brainer must-read for any Type 2 diabetic who truly wants to change, and who is open to consider a new scientific equation for understanding their diabetes along with different approaches to not just control it, but eliminate it from one's life. All that's required is a willingness to change lifestyle choices.
Diabetes: The Real Cause and The Right Cure
Return to Index
Diptych/Diptico:
Bilingual Poems/ Poemas Bilingues
Gilbert Luis R. Centina III
CentiRamo Publishing
978-1544951737
$12.99
Website: www.gilbertluisrcentinaiii.com
Ordering Link: http://amzn.to/2rsR50h
Useful
URL: http://
Gilbert Luis R. Centina III's bilingual poetry collection includes an excellent Spanish translation throughout which makes his poems about a person's struggle with daily life a deeply philosophical and psychological inspection that can be readily accessed and appreciated by English and Spanish speakers alike.
The verses are meant to reflect both universal truths and religious reflections in the course of examining life, offering nuggets of succinct, thought-provoking inspections that poetry readers will find both spiritually rich and deeply evocative.
Some poems narrow their focus to the daily rigors of little encounters in life: "Morning is a glass of liquid truths/− viscous, circumstantial, unrehearsed −/When dream rolls back like condensed milk/And the weather settles down like seminiferous maze./So this is also sainthood..." while others offer broader inspection as the "everyman" narrator makes his way through a maze of life encounters: "I have to walk all seasons alone,/Knowing that friends can be fickle like/Cigarette butts; knowing that this sojourn/Is a constant wrestling with time./I have seen so many pawns aspiring to be queens,/I have known so many kinships that end in death./I court loneliness..."
Perhaps the singularly most powerful feature of these reflections lies in their ability to draw connections between personal experience and higher-level thinking. Poets should be warned that there are no light stanzas, here: each poem represents a world within itself, existing as both a nugget of individual detail and as a contribution to a bigger spiritual picture which embraces and represents the evolution of Diptych/Diptico.
Spicing the Spanish translation on each facing page is original black and white artwork by Basque multimedia artist Vicente Jáuregui Presa and by the poet's sister, Louella Centina Garnado. These supporting images enhance and broaden Gilbert Luis R. Centina III's words, and the end result is a beautiful synthesis of poetry, philosophy, spirituality and psychological inspection that is well illustrated especially recommended for poetry readers who seek a journey from individual inspection to universal spiritual truth: "To love God I must suspend our covenant/While I seek him among those falsely accused./Weasels bend the truth and misuse/Their cushy seat of power, relishing/The perks of evanescent authority./They keep justice at bay, move the light away/And conceal cold facts under the apron of spineless casuistry."
Diptych/Diptico: Bilingual Poems/ Poemas Bilingues
Return to Index
Investigating
the Alt Right: Richard Spencer in America
Marcus Verhaegh
CreateSpace
ASIN: B071F62TM4
$8.00
http://a.co/a4hzyyW
Investigating the Alt Right: Richard Spencer in America examines not just a new buzzword for a nationalist movement, but the myriad of figureheads representing it; most notably Richard Spencer, who is not just a major figure but holds close ties to the White House.
Under another hand it would have been all too easy to reiterate press reports about the movement and build its history from third-party analysis; but Marcus Verhaegh goes a step further in questioning the underlying objectivity of news reports and in drawing connections between alt right philosophies and their activities. In doing so, he provides not just an investigation of a movement or group, but a thought-provoking and intense consideration of media reporting and how reality itself is shaped, and the role of ideology and philosophy in the political arena.
This unusual approach stems from the author's background: as a doctorate candidate in philosophy whose dissertation incorporated political thinking into its focus on Kant, he questioned the perceptions of "right wing" equaling political conservatism. Years later, he became aware of the "alt right" movement and was personally attracted to some of its concepts: "I looked forward to the development of new politics and political philosophies outside the strict libertarian orbit… whatever their placement on the so-called ‘political spectrum.’"
Readers receive a good degree of scholarly references in the form of footnotes which support the history and research of this movement: "So, originally a ‘neoconservative’ was something like a recent, moderate convert to ‘conservatism’ – i.e., to the thinking of pro-free market types, of Burke, of Russell Kirk, etc. – but by the end of the 1980’s the term meant: a proponent of mass immigration from the developing world and a staunch ally of Israel, who nonetheless did not feel at home in the Democrat Party."
As chapters unwind, not just the history but the underlying values and evolution of the alt-right movement in general and Richard Spencer in particular receive close, studious, and lively attention unexpected in a book that blends politics and philosophy. One also doesn't expect the degree of psychological and social insight that are woven into this survey, which consider religious, cultural and social system evolutionary processes alike: "Perhaps Spencer attempts with discussion of political issues, a therapy for the psyches of Modern human beings. There may be a non-white psychology that finds threats, in what is simply young whites puzzling, why their situation is so greatly deteriorating. In general, our young white male just want to be alone with a younger white female – ‘separatism.’ "
While some minor grammatical flaws are peppered throughout, these do not significantly detract from the overall strength and message of the book, which provides a satisfyingly unique and powerful examination no reader of politics, sociology, or American history should ignore. This wide-ranging investigative piece is a top recommendation for any contemporary social studies reader who would completely understand not just the concepts of the alt-right and how they relate to historical precedent, but the movement's evolution and underlying philosophy and attractions.
Investigating the Alt Right: Richard Spencer in America
Return to Index
Eat
Real Vietnamese Food
Lien Nguyen
Golden Lotus Publishing
ISBN print:
978-0-9862520-3-7
$32.95
ISBN eBook: 978-0-9862520-4-4 $15.99
www.EatRealFoodOrElse.com
There are already many cookbooks about Vietnamese food on the market today; so why the need for yet another introduction to the subject? It will quickly be evident that Eat Real Vietnamese Food is different, with an unusual approach presented in a project that began as an effort to gather family recipes before they were lost, and turned into a wider mission to 'immortalize' the vanishing cuisine of a nation by capturing a piece of it in this book.
Vietnam's history of its migrating peoples are an essential part of understanding this process, and as Lien Nguyen details the differences between traditional and 'new' culinary adaptations, the book's introduction clarifies the need for a book such as this.
Each recipe receives a historical overview and cultural notes which places it in perspective of Vietnam's peoples and culture, offering notes on which dishes were consumed as popular street food or changed from region to region in the country (such as Bánh Xèo - Sizzling Crêpes - which holds a similar version in Central Vietnam, and an adaptation for those who can't afford the crêpes and choose to eat them with herbs, instead).
The vibrant color photos throughout leave nothing to wonder for those new to Vietnamese cuisine: step-by-step small but excellent quality images are often accompanied by vintage photos of Vietnam's peoples and images of countryside and city alike.
The illustrative embellishments alone far exceed what most typical Vietnamese cookbooks offer, while the cultural and historic notes for each dish provide the necessary background for understanding how classic, traditional dishes are produced. The book's layout is particularly notable, juxtaposing boxed, at-a-glance recipes with preparation tips that are photographed in full throughout, leaving nothing to wonder either about the process or the finished dish's appearance (which is always featured at the top, above the recipe).
It's almost a shame to call the result a 'cookbook,' because the inclusion of historical detail elevates it far beyond the usual recipe collection and lends it a magnificent depth that explores the country's flavors, textures, preparation techniques and cultural influences for newcomers and prior enthusiasts of Vietnamese cuisine alike.
Very,
very highly recommended. If only one authoritative Vietnamese cookbook
were to
be considered for a collection, it should be Eat
Real Vietnamese Food.
Eat
Real Vietnamese Food
Return
to Index
Looking
for Humboldt
Erika Schelby
Lava Gate Press
978-0-9891216-0-6
$12.99
https://www.amazon.com/Erika-
Looking for Humboldt & Searching for German Footprints in New Mexico and Beyond is a powerful blend of memoir, travelogue, and New Mexico genealogical exploration covering the author's quest to find her roots. In the process of forging new paths to historical understanding and making a new home, Erika Schelby creates a history that blends New Mexico's heritage with her own: "To make a home along the Rio Grande, I had to look, listen, pull back the layers of history, put things in a frame of reference, and fill in some of the empty spaces. This book is a record of doing this."
The first notable aspect of Looking for Humbolt is its wide-ranging blend of geopolitics, geography, history, and personal exploration. One simply doesn't expect maps, biographies of early explorers, and historical references in a personal, selective discussion of events that tie into one life. This satisfying approach, however, personalizes the broader notion of 'history' and brings with it a flavor of early German immigrant experiences and a sense of juxtaposing the familiar with the unexpected, expressed in a delightful quote that served as the author's own source of inspiration for viewing new concepts and processing them based on her own perceptions: "The real problem of a critique of our own cultural models is to ask, when we see a unicorn, if by any chance it is not a rhinoceros” (Eco, 1988)"
In adopting this approach to personal history, geography, and New Mexican culture in general and the figure of Humboldt in particular, Schelby's coverage documents movements, the turbulence of social and political events in the state, early experiences of Germans in the New Mexico Territory, and the evolution of social, political and legal processes affecting German immigrants in America: "The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the verdict 4:2, stating that the harmful effects of letting immigrants educate their children in their mother tongue was hostile to our own safety. Well, the one-room schoolteacher was a fighter, and so was his attorney, Arthur Mullen. The case went up all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States. Meyer won. In his decision, Justice McReynolds explained to the Nebraska courts, “Mere knowledge of the German language cannot reasonably be regarded as harmful” (Meyer v. Nebraska, 1923)."
Given the 46 million present yet invisible Americans of German descent in this country, and the effects of Brexit, this documentary should be of special interest to more than a few.
She neatly traverses the line between personal experience and historical reference, including healthy doses of each to the point that a reader looking for a more linear production that is either history or memoir alone might find themselves immersed in more than they'd bargained for on either end. By that point (not too far into Schelby's journey), it should be more than evident that this book is not a singular production.
The personal travelogues, references, and insights are just as powerful as the historical background and provide many thought-provoking moments: "Summers in southern New Mexico are very hot, but winters are usually mild, often more like early spring. When passing near the Trinity test site where the first atom bomb was exploded, I have the eerie notion that here is an axis of our contemporary world."
The result is neither fish nor fowl, but a satisfying mixture of cultural experience and heritage and New Mexican history that will attract readers of both history and autobiography, especially recommended as a powerful 'must have' acquisition for any collection strong in New Mexican literature or German immigrant experiences in America.
Looking for Humboldt
Return to Index
Francesco
Augustine Bernadone: A Brief History of Our Tomorrows Francesco
Augustine Bernadone: A Brief History of Our
Tomorrows is a sci-fi novel with a
difference, incorporating
spiritual, survival, philosophical and even horror and romance elements
into a
story that crosses genres without getting stuck in one particular
box. In
2026, Francesco lives in a future of virtual gamers, artificial
intelligence,
zombies, and violence. It's
also a world which holds unexpected threads of ironic observation in
descriptions which juxtapose disparate impressions of this odd future
(i.e.: "Louis
Armstrong’s “What a
Wonderful World” played overhead...." and "His hands were zip-tied in front
of him and the shiny
stainless steel collar was padlocked around his neck. Yellow duct tape
(decorated with the Batman logo) covered his mouth to prevent him from
speaking.") In
such a world, Francesco lives a life poised on the brink of poverty in
the real
world and on the cusp of danger in his virtual life, contemplating new
hope for
his life from the virtual reality game Jacob's Trouble, which offers a
living
for thousands who play the game. Can Francesco help his beloved Clare,
who
suffers from breast cancer, by winning real world money in a virtual
game about
zombies? Readers
move through the sights, sounds, and smells of this world as Stan
Faryna uses
captivating language to reveal its violence, poverty, and beauty alike
- always
with that touch of irony that sets a scene then gives it a gentle nudge
of the
unexpected: "Francesco
stopped to look
up at the green and blue aurora lights in the sky. Auroras over Rome,
however
beautiful, were problematic...Francesco, a man of math and science was
fascinated by the anomaly. Gazing upon the lights above, his face
received a
wet bird dropping." The
world is troubled, but Francisco seeks a 'win'. He's a kind man
navigating a
world of little kindness, and he rejects the atmosphere of fear and
despair
around him, negating it with little things from origami butterflies to
gifts of
philosophical hope and love. As such, he stands out from the crowd and
leaves a
positive impression on those around him who struggle with their own
feelings of
helplessness and despair: "Francesco
was more than a janitor and more than an old man. Francesco was more
than his
pain, loss, troubles and failures. He was a man as a man should be." As
the story unfolds and Francisco participates in Jacob's Trouble, he
comes to
question just how far he will go to achieve his financial goals. At
what cost
is winning - and is it ultimately a blessing or a curse? The things
he's seeing
in virtual reality are poisoning his perspective about the real world,
and as
he struggles with a haunting game about a future Romanian
capital
(Bucharest) overrun by flesh-eating zombies and savagery, he discovers
the
troubles and challenges of that world far outweigh his real-life
tribulations. Francesco
Augustine Bernadone: A Brief History of Our
Tomorrows is a powerfully rendered
vision of a future
teetering on the uncertain bridge between a dismal real-world life and
a
depraved virtual reality world; both of which challenge the
protagonists and
players with tests of their moral and ethical strengths. Especially
notable is the creation of a realistic world made frighteningly
familiar by
elements in modern-day atmospheres and events. The nature of lifestyle
choices,
the impact of poverty, and the nature of a world in which dreamers
seeking
glory and wealth instead find depravity and horror their rewards make
for a
thought-provoking flight through fantasy and reality as Francesco faces
challenges to his belief system and life. In
a world where characters perceive love to be overrated and fear to be
the true
life force, what chance does a loving man stand? Readers should expect
many
graphic moments of violence and horror peppered into a story line that
takes a
deep breath of compassion, then expels it into a universe steeped in
terror and
angst: conditions accepted as part of everyday living by those who
participate
in the playing fields of this future real and virtual-tinged
universe. The
result is a hard-hitting, surreal story of players, prizes, and hearts
won and
lost against the greater backdrop of a world gone wild. Francesco's
goal is to
get Clara into treatment. But, at what cost? And can God work through a
video
game? Readers
who appreciate futuristic scenarios which grasp and twist the ideals of
good,
evil, and love, where the elderly moving past their 'expiration dates'
are seen
as expendable and sympathy and love are rare, will find this a powerful
work
revealing the foundations of an all-too-possible future world: "He knew a man with no love in
his heart was a man who
could not be trusted. Not even with the smallest thing." Very
highly recommended as a powerful novella with a hard-hitting character
and a
perspective on life's purposes and costs that will leave readers
thinking far
beyond its conclusion. Holy
Crap! The World is Ending! It
should be evident by the title alone (Holy
Crap! The World is Ending! How a Trip to the Bookstore Led to Sex with
an Alien
and the Destruction of Earth) that readers are
in for a real treat;
for this isn't your usual story of alien abduction, but a funny
fictional
survey of the end of the world which is loaded with humor and fun, and
wry
observation alike: "... at
the age of
seven, I had convinced myself that those things wouldn’t happen to me,
and that
it was instead my destiny to one day rescue the planet. I am talking
about a
Will Smith in Independence Day style rescue (except I imagined myself
with a
breadstick in my mouth instead of a cigar). In one childhood fantasy, I
used
only a butter knife and my badass Barbie Mobile to defend the residents
of my
neighborhood from a rampaging, genetically mutated, alien-giraffe
hybrid that
had escaped from a secret government lab. (Kids, if you ever want your
mom to
get fired as the president of the PTA so she doesn’t embarrass you in
front of
your class, simply run down the street with a butter knife screaming
about
man-eating giraffes in the rich suburb of Irvine, California. Trust me,
it
works like a charm.)" There's
much to be said about an unexpected story that promises to be one of
the most
creative fictional discoveries of the year; not the least of which is
that it
embraces many genres without neatly fitting into any singular box. From
apocalyptic adventure and romance story to sci-fi, Holy Crap! embarks
on a comedic romp through mankind's
possibly final moments and sweeps readers into a tale that is packed
with
hilarious twists and turns. Because
its introduction concludes with a sassy comment about dreaming too big,
readers
are compelled to continue the read to uncover just what the protagonist
meant:
"But it is one
thing to dream it, and
an entirely different thing to live it. Had I been smart and heeded the
advice
of the Pussycat Dolls when they warned us to “Be careful what you wish
for,
’cause you just might get it,” then maybe things would have played out
differently. I wished it. I got it. And now I’m about to die."
And, be forewarned: it's a rollicking good yarn, indeed. There
are, of course, aliens. There is also a paranormal romance with a sexy
alien, a
mission to save Planet Earth, refreshingly unique dialogue supercharged
with
action ("I
kinda have no choice,” I
said. “Because of this whole prophecy thing, will I need to get
approval from
your leader or whatever?” Inanna leaned against the wall next to me.
“No one
will oppose your using the communication device. If you are the
catalyst, this
is one way to find out. And frankly, it saves us the hassle of
neutralizing you.”),
and a fun approach to the entire save-the-Earth-from-alien- One
prerequisite for the successful enjoyment of this story is a prior
appreciation
of irony. This is a thread that permeates every aspect of the story,
from
human/alien encounters to chapter headings which are anything but staid
("Horrible
Accents, Even Worse Accents,
Superpower-Wielding Soulmates For Sale At Target, And More Terrible
Accents"). If
it's a refreshingly unique voice, a feisty heroine grappling with love
and
life, and an alternate, funny view of an alien invasion's impact and
purpose
that is of interest, it should be noted that Holy
Crap! is not just recommended reading - it's a
'must read' for
anyone who wants a delightful frolic through future events. Price
of Eden Price
of Eden represents the final book
in
the Aquarius
Rising trilogy; and
because it's the culmination of events and tensions raised in prior
volumes,
it's recommended for prior followers of Brian Burt's series who will
appreciate
the smooth continuation of a story that revolves around a civil war
that erupts
in an underground kingdom after a series of carefully crafted plagues
are let
loose. Ocypode,
an Aquarian Atavism, has successfully foiled a deadly plot; but he's
ultimately
charged with bringing together two very different factions in a race
against
time and political alliances, and his perceived destiny as a mythic
peacemaker
may be an impossible role for him to accept. Familiarity
with the prior books in the series will lend to an appreciation of
Ocypode's
agony and conflicts as he strives to achieve the impossible in an
underwater
realm which may be the last enclave of a much-changed world. From
restless spirits with psychic harpoons to terrorism's barbaric but
effective
choices, high-stakes encounters between Humans and Aquarians, Guardian
friends
who watch over Ocypode and prevent him from making stupid mistakes, and
the
slaughter of innocent humans through competing bioweapons, Price of Eden
provides a fast-paced romp
through a world that holds different, competing options for survival,
considering both the sacrifices of war and the impossible circumstances
of
continued existence. As
moral and ethical questions about friendships and associations permeate
a
larger story of this war's impact on all involved, Price of Eden
evolves beyond bloodlust and outrage to walk a
delicate line between a survival piece and a political sci-fi thriller.
Descriptions of advanced technology used for warfare (nanomechs and
viral
mutagens) and the price to be paid for choices that result in dubious
'win'
situations for only some contribute to a story line charged not just
with action,
but with thought-provoking dilemmas. Fans
of his prior books will appreciate the unexpected directions Brian Burt
takes
as he ultimately considers the real nature and definition of 'Eden' and
the
price all will pay to forge new paths towards peace. The
Price of Survival The
Price of Survival: from the Historian Tales
blends an account of an invasion force with sci-fi and social
commentary in a
saga captured by an ageless immortal protagonist whose purpose is to
witness
events and write great stories about them. In
this case the tale revolves around many different characters, from Kip,
an
emotionally damaged ex-soldier and victim of an all-embracing conflict
("It was one of
those game-changing wars, the kind
optimists and fools call a war to end all wars.")
to the
Historian, who gathers facts, picks up and puts together pieces, and
documents
world-changing events as they occur through time. The social
observations
peppered throughout add depth and interest ("...as is usually the case, the dead
are the lucky ones. It’s the survivors
that must struggle on with broken bodies and minds in a world that
doesn’t need
them anymore.") as it traverses alien and slum
worlds alike,
surveying magic, refugees, hope, and the pressure points and
motivations of
civilizations in conflict. As
men at war with aliens face world-altering forces and terrible defeats,
military confrontations and strategies power a plot that races towards
the
inevitability of destruction as the Historian observer struggles to
document
events without changing them. Stories
are sacred to the Historian's kind. But sometimes outcomes beg to be
altered.
As readers become immersed in the Historian's dilemmas, a wide-ranging
tale is
crafted that successfully immerses its readers in a gripping, original
view of
power's responsibilities: "I
couldn’t
interfere in the story to such an incredible degree. Even my most
intense
effort could only make minor shifts. There was no way I could outright
eliminate a character of such importance." Readers
who seek more than action stories from their alien invasion scenarios
will
relish the different approach posed by a history observer charged with
documenting an event he's forced to participate in himself, with
unexpected
repercussions for all, in a tale that is vividly fast-paced and packed
with
unexpected moments and thought-provoking dilemmas. The
Price of Survival is highly
recommended
for the sci-fi fan who wants a different take on clashes with alien
invaders. Prophecy
of the Awakening Prophecy
of the Awakening is recommended
for readers of urban fantasy who enjoy stories of struggle, gods, and
prophecies affecting modern society and revolves around Greek gods who
return
to Earth despite the beliefs of the Vatican and a modern Christian
world. Prophecy
in this book predicts this event; but many are unaware of these
possibilities,
leading lives that have little to do with celestial matters. These
lives are
nicely depicted and juxtaposed with the concerns of fortune tellers and
Christian leaders alike. What
does this have to do with Amber's blossoming new relationship, a
kidnapping,
and the Church's incongruous efforts to destroy a child? As the story
evolves,
readers are treated to a satisfying blend of Vatican politics, a
mystery and an
investigation, and a prediction about an antichrist that challenges
belief
systems and science alike. By
keeping his story firmly rooted in contemporary society with its twists
and
turns, Daniel A. Willis creates an involving, engrossing story that
eschews any
predictable focus on Greek mythology in favor of modern characters and
dilemmas
that focus on both their choices and the impact of an impossible
forecast. When
Greek gods begin to appear and intervene in the world, it's this
thorough
grounding in a realistic society and its concerns that keeps Prophecy of the Awakening
a powerful,
revealing tale with believable protagonists whose lives intertwine
nicely with
the fantasy elements crafted to fruition, as the chapters
evolve. The
result is thoroughly engrossing and highly recommended for readers who
enjoy
fantasies about prophecy and belief which have their foundations firmly
rooted
in powerful protagonists and their lives, relationships, and
motivations. Watermelon
Snow Climate
scientist Dr. Kate Landry never expected to make a
revolutionary discovery
in the process of researching a melting glacier in the Washington
wilderness,
but what she finds must be kept a deep secret: something nearly
impossible
given that she must hide it from the colleagues working alongside her
in
general and from a pesky behavioral scientist assigned to her in
particular. Indeed,
Dr. Grant Poole quickly suspects something is awry because his training
has
equipped him with a sharp eye for uncovering evasive
behaviors. His dual
struggles with a harsh environment he found more challenging than he
had
imagined and a colleague determined not to let him in on a secret soon
pale in
the face of a deadly illness that sweeps Kate's crew in the research
station,
even as they are isolated from the world by a superstorm—perhaps a
fortuitous
turn of events, considering that this illness could threaten humanity
if
unleashed. An
attention to solid climate science facts interwoven with a mystery and
investigation lend thriller elements to the story without sacrificing
scientific accuracy. Watermelon
Snow
carefully balances its real-world foundations with psychological
interactions
and developments that engage an audience on many levels, inviting
different
readers to enjoy a story filled with twists and turns as a relic from
the past
threatens the world. Ice
tunnels, dreams vanished in an instant, alternating perspectives, and
even a
touch of romance create a fast-paced adventure that is hard to put
down. Central
to matters are rapidly changing environments, hearts, and minds all
struggling
to cope with unprecedented transitions, fueling Watermelon Snow
with an excellent blend of intrigue and
science especially recommended for fans of "cli-fi" (climate change
science fiction) and newcomers to the genre alike.
Stan Faryna
Independently Published
9781521278505
$5.00
http://a.co/aTPnHyw
Francesco
Augustine Bernadone: A Brief History of Our Tomorrows
Return
to Index
Anna-Marie Abell
Alien Abduction Press
Paperback: 978-1-947119-01-7 $15.99
Hardback:
978-1-947119-02-4 $28.
Epub ISBN: 978-1-947119-03-1 $
4.99
Mobi ISBN: 978-1-947119-04-8
http://www.writtenbyanna.com
Holy
Crap! The World is Ending!
Return
to Index
Brian Burt
Double Dragon eBooks
ASIN: B072M662S2
$5.99
http://a.co/bYGnRFc
Price
of Eden
Return
to Index
Lance Conrad
Dawnstar Press
978-0-9910230-8-0
$13.99
www.dawnstarpress.com
The
Price of Survival
Return
to Index
Daniel A. Willis
Bygone Era Books
978-1-941072-48-6 (for the paperback edition)
Price: $17.95/paperback $6.99/ebook
Order link: https://www.
Prophecy
of the Awakening
Return
to Index
William A. Liggett
Sandra Jonas, Publisher
9780997487107 $14.95
www.sandrajonaspublishing.com
Watermelon
Snow
Return
to Index
Egyptian
Pyramids Revisited, 3rd Edition
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-81-5
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The expanded third edition Egyptian Pyramids Revisited (of the second edition, entitled Pyramid Handbook; which was an update of the first edition, Pyramid Illusions: A Journey to the Truth) adds to a set of books discussing ancient Egyptian peoples and places, and is especially recommended for Egyptologists, researchers, architectural historians, and any with a specific interest in how the pyramids fit into Egyptian belief systems.
As with other books in the series, this book's intention is to unravel common misconceptions and fallacies, and uses source material to indicate the true nature and circumstances of early Egypt in general and the pyramids in particular.
Chapters represent a vast expansion of previous editions and photos have been added to enhance the survey's visual perspective.
One delight here is the focus on specific pyramids and their architecture. Where other books would lump the pyramids into one general discussion, Moustafa Gadalla takes the time to consider individual pyramids and their construction (as in the unique stepped “Pyramid” of Zoser) and considers the form variations of the Egyptian masonry pyramids. From cosmic energies and spiritual meaning to physical construction, chapters pursue directions which will be new to most casual readers and many serious researchers alike.
The focus on the early Egyptians' intentions on building these pyramids and how these goals were achieved in the Fourth Dynasty, leaving some potential builders and buildings out of the picture, makes for a thought-provoking analysis that presents many technical references to sources in archaeological evidence which scholars will find delightfully specific: "Records about the source of the arsenic minerals that were used to manufacture the stone are found in Sinai, such as at Wadi Maghara."
Because a focus on detailed construction is offered, pairing Egyptian history with in-depth architectural specifics, Egyptian Pyramids Revisited is especially recommended for readers who harbor intense, prior interest in the subject; and who are already well versed in traditional Egyptian and architectural studies. This audience will relish a revisit which is at once enlightening and thought-provoking for rethinking the origins, manufacture, and meaning of the pyramids in early Egyptians' lives.
Egyptian Pyramids Revisited, 3rd Edition
Return to Index
The
Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-61-7
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The expanded edition of The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture revises the original book published in 2000 and 2003, Egyptian Harmony: The Visual Music, and further focuses on the general role of ancient Egyptian architecture and its connections to spiritual concerns in Egyptian society.
While some of this was explored (albeit in a different manner) in Egyptian Pyramids Revisited, this wider-ranging discussion isn't about pyramids alone, but about architectural choices that show how spirituality in early Egyptian lives was reflected though their structures and construction choices.
By connecting Ancient Egyptian architecture to Egyptian perceptions about their environment and the relationship of spiritual forces they perceived in that environment, Moustafa Gadalla succeeds in creating a powerful and unusual link between metaphysics and construction. This theme carries through this entire book, from building design choices and geometry to the specifics of roofing forms and Egyptian approaches to construction and placement: "The Ancient Egyptian framework was usually a square, representing the manifested world (squaring of the circle)."
While some of the earlier books in this series set the foundation for a discussion quite accessible to lay audiences, the mathematical and builder's approach of this spiritual and architectural examination makes The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture of special and particular interest and recommendation to architectural historians and students of early Egyptian cosmology alike.
The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture
Return to Index
The
Egyptian Hieroglyph Metaphysical Language
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-97-6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
No discussion of ancient Egyptian history would be complete without a survey of its hieroglyphs, so after laying the foundation for a more complete inspection of early Egyptians with books geared to lay and scholarly audiences alike, Moustafa Gadalla narrows his focus to the metaphysical links between hieroglyphs and language and broader Egyptian perceptions of the universe.
An interest in linguistics history and early Egypt is required for the appreciation of the depths to which Moustafa Gadalla has gone to present non-experts with a thorough coverage of the language issues involved in deciphering early Egyptian hieroglyphs.
It also represents a big departure from traditional methods of viewing these writings, because Egyptian hieroglyphics have commonly been approached as primitive form of writing with individual sound values. However, Gadalla points out that: "The Egyptian Hieroglyphics are ideograms which are different and has nothing to do with the Egyptian alphabetical system."
As chapters begin to connect the dots by linking Egyptian imagery with metaphysical concepts, readers gain a more complete understanding of not just the linguistics challenges and misconceptions involved in deciphering the hieroglyphics, but the underlying metaphysical significance of these presentations and why Egyptian depiction choices were deliberately skewed to support their spiritual view of the universe.
Hieroglyphs weren't the drawings of a primitive people; but an advanced method of portraying and reflecting their belief in the divine and its various manifestations.
The analysis goes beyond images alone and delves into how the forms are positioned and the symbolic meaning of their interactions.
Scholars with an interest in early Egyptian history in general and hieroglyphics in particular will find this more than another 'dictionary' of interpretations, but a specific, close examination of why analysis often fails: "The primary function of these Egyptian Ideograms is to represent thoughts. This means that one must be searching for both the Figurative (an object stands for one of its qualities) and the Allegorical (an object is linked through enigmatic conceptual processes)."
The result will especially appeal to and is highly recommended for thinking scholars who want a probe of underlying meaning more than a casual interpretation of imagery alone.
The Egyptian Hieroglyph Metaphysical Language
Return to Index
The
Enduring Ancient Egyptian Musical System Theory and Practice
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-71-6
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
It's unusual to see a title that will appeal into the dual circles of musical scholars as well as Egyptologists, but Enduring Ancient Egyptian Musical System Theory and Practice holds many specifics of interest to music history researchers and should be considered by both these audiences, even though these are disciplines which rarely intersect.
This incarnation is a revised second edition of the originally published book Egyptian Rhythm: The Heavenly Melodies: as such, it offers a depth and expanded information that makes it a worthy replacement of any older copies of its predecessor.
Chapters are filled with technical music scholarship, definitions, and explorations as they consider both the cosmological meaning of ancient Egypt's musical heritage and the measuring units, tonal systems, lyrics and themes, and performance of music in Egyptian society.
Perhaps the most notable feature of this coverage is its attention to exploring the facets of early Egyptian musical heritage which continue to influence Egyptian society to this day: "Ancient Egyptian texts show that Egyptians spoke and sang in musical patterns on all occasions and for all purposes—from the most sacred to the most mundane. Present-day Egyptians are like their ancestors—they love to sing about anything and everything. There is nothing that is too insignificant or too large to sing a song to (or about)."
However, readers should expect many specific details about early instruments, how playing is depicted in various tomb drawings, and how different rhythms and playing methods were incorporated into Egyptian music: "The Egyptian clapping with hands and stamping with feet has turned at an early time into a finely graded, dynamic and varied means of expression, and thus acquired an additional significance in Egypt where it turned into a high art in their culture of music."
As with others in this series, the real heart of discussions lie in precise identifications of where traditional Egyptian scholarship goes awry, when scientific findings are influenced by Western prejudices that ultimately obscure truths about these peoples: "In order to ignore the role of Ancient Egypt in the history of music, Western academia tells us that out of thin air the Arabized people possessed a musical system of rhythm and mensural values, as early as the 7 th century CE. This system did not come out of thin air, but it was an actual existing system. The content and style of such musical treatises leads us to one source—Ancient Egypt."
The discussions in every book vastly expand perceptions of early Egyptians and their connections to modern times; and by focusing on music development and techniques, Enduring Ancient Egyptian Musical System adds to a blossoming and powerful collection that continues to examine and refute popular fallacies.
It's highly recommended not just for prior readers of this series, but especially for any collection or reader strong in ancient musical history.
The Enduring Ancient Egyptian Musical System Theory and Practice
Return to Index
Egyptian
Musical Instruments
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-74-7
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
While discussion of Egyptian musical instruments was included in Egyptian Rhythm: The Heavenly Melodies, readers interested in further details about Egypt's musical history will find Egyptian Musical Instruments offers a narrower focus that examines the range of early Egyption musical instruments and their playing techniques.
Where the prior book closely examined the cosmology that forms a foundation for Egyptian music, this book is especially appropriate for music history readers interested in instrument development and technique, offering a closer inspection of the process of early Egyptian musical developments.
Chapters use archaeological evidence and visual depictions from relics to consider not only the makeup of these early instruments, but how they were played and how performances were crafted. They discuss various musical instruments recovered from Egyptian tombs and residing in museum holdings around the world, reviewing the distinctive rules of the Egyptian musical profession.
Black and white and color photos throughout provide visuals of early illustrations and musical instrument relics as discussions consider the specifics of how they were played and integrated into society: "Ancient Egyptian tombs and temples yield several series of choreographic, rhythmic and melodic hand signs that correspond to certain signs of chironomids. The tones are presented by different positions of the arms and fingers (forefinger against the thumb, the stretched out hand, etc.), resulting in an absolute correspondence between tonal steps of the Ancient Egyptian musical system and hand signals."
Egyptian Musical Instruments is a 'must' for any serious collection on world musical heritage in general and Egyptian ancient history in particular, providing a specific focus that answers many questions and provides readers with a powerful grasp of not just early Egyptian musical history, but reasons why that heritage has not been fully explored before.
Egyptian Musical Instruments
Return to Index
The
Musical Aspects of the Ancient Egyptian Vocalic Language
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-85-3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The Musical Aspects of the Ancient Egyptian Vocalic Language considers the philosophy, aesthetics, and science of ancient Egyptian language and its connections to music, and is a revealing and scholarly examination recommended for linguistics history holdings as well as collections strong in ancient Egyptian history.
Written for specialists and lay readers alike, The Musical Aspects of the Ancient Egyptian Vocalic Language lays the foundation for understanding the connections between music and language in early Egypt, considering the principles shared between "...music and the Egyptian alphabetical vocalic language. It will show that the fundamentals, structure, formations, grammar, and syntax are exactly the same in music and in the Egyptian alphabetical vocalic language."
From historical examinations of early Egyptian linguistics and how the Egyptian alphabet was derived from tonal sounds to sound sequencing in syllables, verbs, and overall language development, this study contrasts theory with history in musical and linguistic studies and provides a clear set of insights into the functions and forms guiding early Egyptian language.
The result is recommended for three specific audiences: linguistics studies, musical scholars, and readers of either the past books in this series or Egyptology works in general. These audiences will all relish the specifics and the connections Moustafa Gadalla makes, which go beyond singular genres to delve into the foundations of how the early Egyptians communicated.
The Musical Aspects of the Ancient Egyptian Vocalic Language
Return to Index
Egyptian
Romany The Essence of Hispania
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-94-5
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
Egyptian Romany The Essence of Hispania considers the Egyptian origin of the Romany peoples and draws important connections between Iberian history and Egypt, making it a recommended read for both Egyptologists and those interested in either Romany or Spanish roots.
This edition revises, expands, and adds much new information to the original 2004 publication Egyptian Romany: The Essence of Hispania as it differentiates the Egyptian Romany from other nomadic peoples and draws close connections between spiritual concepts of Egyptian and Spanish peoples.
The
typical histories of Iberia virtually eliminate any reference to
Egyptian
roots, especially some of their early settlements in Asia and Europe
and the
migration process that led Egyptian culture to permeate European and
Asian
societies; so this coverage may also be seen as an essential
reinterpretation
of the interactions and influences of early Egyptians in the European
and Asian
arenas.
One might expect this kind of radical revisioning to come from conjecture or speculative roots; but archaeological evidence correlates activities in Iberia with Ancient Egypt, and Moustafa Gadalla offers a close attention to detail as he incorporates archaeological evidence into a new view of the supremacy and influence of ancient Egypt.
From the mass migrations of ancient Egyptians and influences on their travels and choices to the many fallacies surrounding the history of the Moors/Moslems/Arabs in the region, this wide-ranging survey is packed with historical references, supported by research, and is a solid work of scholarship highly recommended for any serious European history collection.
Egyptian Romany The Essence of Hispania
Return to Index
The
Ancient Egyptian Universal Writing Modes
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
Print ISBN: 978-1-931446-93-8
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The Ancient Egyptian Universal Writing Modes will appeal to English and linguistics collections as well as early Egyptian history readers as it surveys a surprising subject: the subjugation of thousands of early Egyptian alphabetical writings in favor of Arabic and a Western-fabricated approach to Egyptian writings.
While this may initially sound like an unverified conspiracy theory, Moustafa Gadalla provides careful, reasoned research to back his contentions and provides a close inspection of the development of the early Egyptian alphabet and its organization and writing styles. His inspection thus comes from scholarly foundations designed to illustrate the profession and evolution of Egyptian writings and scribes, discussing it in relationship to the development of European languages as a whole.
As chapters make the case for the fact that the Egyptian Alphabetical language is indeed the root of all language in the world, they refute many popular and long-standing ideas such as the notion that alphabetical letter-forms were derived from pictures, considering language diffusion patterns to Asia, Africa and Europe, the pre-existence of the proclaimed “Greek” alphabetical letter-forms in the Ancient Egyptian system, how Egyptian scripts came to be identified as “Greek”, and more.
Linguistics students should expect to find their world history of language turned upside down by the ideas in this book, which are strongly supported by scholarship and archaeological evidence throughout. While it's accessible to lay readers, the subject and attention to detail makes The Ancient Egyptian Universal Writing Modes a particularly strong recommendation for students of world history and language.The Ancient Egyptian Universal Writing Modes
Return to Index
Sweet,
Sweet Stories, Some Sweeter Than Others Sweet,
Sweet Stories, Some Sweeter Than Others
is a collection of short tales that aren't always 'sweet' in the sense
of light
pleasure, but which always hold messages and food for thought in a
collection
especially recommended for short story readers who like their vignettes
sharp
and intriguing. One
doesn't anticipate that suspense, drama, metaphysical topics and
powerful
psychological works will fall into the category of 'sweet,' but all
these
themes meld in a form of autobiography and reflection that succeeds in
crafting
powerful tales of angst, healing, relationships and life's chance
interactions. Take,
for example, 'O, Ye of Little Faith'. Here, a nursing home sojourn
among the
barely-living turns into new revelations about life and death as an
isolated,
lonely man who wants to die confronts the reality of imminent demise in
those
around him. Or
consider 'Asylum?' in which a woman who processes immigrants who are
seeking
asylum finds a way to reconsider her own role in decisions about who
lives or
possibly dies in the country they're fleeing from. The
overall strong impact of these satisfyingly diverse pieces cannot be
denied and
are recommended for short story readers who seek contemplative,
involving
vignettes about life encounters and moments of transformation.
Daniel Curzon
l’Aleph Sweden/Wisehouse
978-91-7637-349-1
$11.70
www.wisehouse-publishing.com
Sweet,
Sweet Stories, Some Sweeter Than Others
Return
to Index
Living
on Earth
Roser Segarra
Alba Dase Publishing
9780998700427 $4.99
http://amzn.to/2qldtEy
Living on Earth: A Guide to Help You Achieve Health, Happiness, and Success is a spiritual assessment of life purpose and experiences for new age or self-help readers, and discusses reincarnation, the spiritual laws of the universe's influence on finding one's life's purpose on Earth, and physical and mental self-healing tools.
Within these discussions are references to a wide range of topics, from understanding spiritual universal laws (primarily laws of creation, karma, and attraction) which can be tapped to create a better life to employing the powers of gratitude and forgiveness to add depth to one's life perspective, and using healing tools to resolve issues.
Living on Earth contains numerous tools to help the reader achieve success and heal body and soul, however, this process won't be for everyone: it takes an inquiring, open mind to undertake the kinds of exercises, recommendations, self-inspection and spiritual and philosophical analysis provided in Living on Earth.
Readers already on the path to this journey of living a better, more meaningful life will find Living on Earth is packed with directions on how to tap into the unconscious power of the mind, how to understand one's higher self and soul as it relates to both physical body and the world at large, and how to employ techniques to encourage mindfulness, action, and alternative paths to healing and health.
The discussion is an excellent recommendation for alternative health, self-help, new age, and spiritual thinkers alike.
Living on Earth
Return to Index
Ocean
of Self
Mark N. Spencer
Mark Spencer, Publisher (info@oceanofself.com)
978-0-9954138-0-1
$6.60 (ebook)
www.oceanofself.com
"Some memories pull you back again and again. It's like being drawn to certain pictures on a wall, down a corridor that represents life's journey." Similarly, some books hold the same draw with an ability to bring evocative memory to life and pair it with an enthusiasm and appreciation for real-world experience. In the case of Ocean of Self: An Ocean Diver Explores the Nature of Consciousness, this life passion is the ocean, which the author plumbs as a dedicated scuba diver.
As readers surf through the diving career, friendships, and expanding skills of Mark N. Spencer, they are treated to vivid stories of ocean encounters that range from freshwater cave diving to wreck-diving and underwater photography, all carefully balanced with a dental career and educational process.
The author's photos pepper a story which is about adopting and employing life skills whether they involve career, spiritual growth, or learning about shifting consciousness and exploration.
Ocean of Self isn't just autobiography; nor is it a story of deep-sea diving experiences alone. Readers quickly come to understand it's also an exploration of the nature of consciousness and how spiritual forces underlay reality, offering ties to the sea that quickly expand into a surprising blend of history, science, and the lessons learned from the author's various dives and encounters with sea creatures and self alike.
What does the sea have to do with metaphysical reflection? Plenty: within exploration there is fear of the unknown, discovery, efforts to understand choices and how the world operates, and some of the sea's best-kept myths, such as the legends surrounding mermaids and their basis in dugongs and manatees.
As literary references, lovely color photos of sea life, and discussions of sea lore and psychology evolve, readers are treated to a thought-provoking series of links between physical and spiritual worlds: "To dive into this "ocean of consciousness", we don't have to don heavy breathing equipment. All we need is an effective and proven technique of quietening the mind - meditation. The results - like diving into the watery ocean - are far from fear-provoking. The opposite, in fact, awaits - the discovery of a realm of our own nature that is peaceful, silent, alert, encompassing, integrating, beyond any notion of time, and promising of all possibilities. We don't fear what we learn through direct experience, as opposed to what we learn second hand or what we conjecture."
Like Proust, Spencer takes the time to fully describe the intricacies and beautiful moments of both worlds. Readers who come along for the ride, whether they are from scientific or spiritual backgrounds, won't be disappointed in the blend of diving experience, science, and metaphysical reflection that links seemingly disparate worlds and unifies them.
Ocean of Self is highly recommended for scientists who like their science mixed with higher purpose and new age readers who appreciate their spiritual reflection well grounded in a form of science that celebrates facts, beauty, and stories about consciousness and depth in man and beast alike.
Ocean of Self
Return to Index
Devil's
Pets
Alex Siegel
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B072JJ7P96
$2.99
http://a.co/dRv5rph
Alex Siegel specializes in fast-paced series titles, and prior fans of his style have much to anticipate in his newest, Devil's Pets, which opens Book 1 in the Paranormal Enforcement Administration and describes yet another agency devoted to battling supernatural forces that threaten human lives.
As in some others in Siegel's series titles, this involves an elite team led by a charismatic, effective individual with a special ability (to turn his skin into stone), who oversees a mission to destroy evil in the world.
In this story, the perp is a Satanist and serial killer who kidnaps and tortures children, and who has several evil assistants-in-training in his bloodbath against innocence; one of which, Stony is convinced, can be turned away from her deadly occupation.
One thing to note about this story is that it's not for the queasy. Gruesome descriptions of the murdered children are not overdone and are an intrinsic part of the story line, but are quite graphically portrayed.
Another facet to mention is the story's satisfying blend of supernatural intrigue and character abilities paired with a detective-style investigation that leads readers to enjoy a vivid blend of action and descriptions of extraordinary powers on the part of different team members who share a common passion for justice.
As deadly dogs, shapechangers who can slip into animal form and vanish, and the special powers of a cat woman enter into the fray, readers are treated to an exquisitely crafted blend of action and reaction that describe a range of supernatural encounters while considering psychological baggage, physical confrontations, and psychic attacks on many different levels.
The result is especially recommended for readers of Siegel's prior investigative adventures and for fans of urban fantasy and supernatural detective works who will find the fast-paced blend of action, animal connections, and a brave, talented panther woman's conversion process to be engrossing and filled with unexpected twists.
Devil's Pets
Return to Index
Impulse
Spy
Carrie Ann Knox
Xotolithic Press
978-0999003206
$11.99
http://a.co/h40Opwo
Impulse Spy is part of a 'Sonic Sleuths' series, but just because it's about sleuthing doesn't mean that anything about it is ordinary. Take the protagonist, for example. Quinn is not a professional sleuth but is an audiology student and a curious young woman whose special form of escape is detective novels. When she meets a dazzling female investigator and a man who leaves a mysterious note for her after hinting at surveillance, her life begins to change.
Her amateur sleuthing skills fire up as she smells a real-life mystery and becomes involved in a puzzling trail of clues that stretch before her like bread crumbs, enticing her to a diner, a bookstore, and beyond. The girl from the bookstore and a series of events lead Quinn far from her studious objectives and into a world she'd only experienced vicariously in her mystery novels. Impulse Spy neatly sums up the dilemma of an aspiring student who finds something in the real world to lure her away from her goals and dreams, and Quinn becomes involved in surveillance, undercover operations, challenging subterfuge, facing dark warnings that Sloan's operations may ultimately prove deadly.
Impulse Spy is all about situations which arise to lure Quinn from her carefully planned path in life. As Sloan's cases increasingly pull her away from her academic career, Quinn finds in them an alternative that shakes up her life, challenges her deductive skills, and involves her in a mentor who has little to do with Quinn's prior objectives in life.
The lively interactions both between the characters and in their investigative encounters makes for a dynamic survey that introduces new scenarios and puzzles into a satisfying mix that keeps events fast-paced. And while the action is ever-changing, it's not so much that readers lose track or engagement as the plot thickens with the addition of setups, special company deals, family backstabbing, and mysterious messages. Because Impulse Spy excels at building tension with a myriad of subplots while staying nicely on track with intrigue and character development, readers are treated to an exceptionally involving, unpredictable story involving two feisty females who face a host of possibilities and dangers.
Impulse Spy especially excels at portraying how Quinn's sideline of mystery investigation eventually changes her own goals in life ("My future awaited, and it was no longer going to include worrying about my hypercritical coworker or trying to blend in with the background."), making for a winning recommendation for any enthusiast of detective stories which also profile personal growth and change.
Impulse Spy
Return to Index
Rasputin's
Legacy
Lee A. Jackson
Stonewall Publishers, LLC
978-0-9898025-0-5 ebook: $4.97; paperback: $16.95
myBook.to/RasputinsLegacy
Atcho is a covert spy operating at the highest levels on the planet, privy to the trust of both the President of the U.S. and the General Secretary of the Soviet Communist Party. Decades earlier, the influence and subsequent murder of the mystic Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin in 1916 set into motion events destined to transfer a Russian nightmare to a global arena; one which will embroil Atcho in some of the deadliest encounters in his career.
The current situation and its roots in the past is summed up in a classified White House memo that opens the story: a succinct and fine approach which does an outstanding job of setting the stage past and present for events to come.
From a worsening situation in Cuba in the 1960s to a man (code named 'Atcho') who emerges as a resistance leader and is both a KGB and CIA recruit, readers are quickly brought up to date and swept into a tide of events that returns him from the dead and from prison into a much-changed world twenty years later, in the 1980s.
Changed circumstances have him pursuing a deadly lunatic who is on track to receive Soviet nuclear launch codes unless Atcho can stop him. With few resources to back him up, his job feels like a suicide mission.
Thriller readers who enjoy stories of espionage, subterfuge, and a charismatic, resourceful investigator and spy whose past alliances provide little support in a much-changed world with new purposes will find high-octane action throughout Rasputin's Legacy, with the special note that its exceptionally swift pace does not translate to an iota of confusion, and its conclusion is absolutely stunning.
It takes a deft hand and clear mind to weave past and present events together in such a manner that several possible future paths become crystal clear, but the main strength of Rasputin's Legacy lies in its ability to introduce a cast of characters that swirl around Presidential politics and dangers without becoming confusing or overly complicated.
From church involvements and Moscow politics to military subterfuge and families held hostage by deadly threats, these personal and political arenas contain characters that move deftly between them, playing elusive cat-and-mouse games that will keep readers guessing and on edge.
Fans of tense thrillers about madmen with trigger-happy fingers on the ultimate button will find Rasputin's Legacy a completely engrossing thriller from start to finish.
Rasputin's Legacy
Return to Index
The
Trial of Prisoner 043
Terry Jastrow
Four Springs Press
9781946241153
$12.95
www.fourspringspress.com
The Trial of Prisoner 043 is a political novel based on real events and opens with former President Bush's kidnapping in Scotland, where he confronts a court of international law in an indictment over his illegal war with Iraq.
As court proceedings involve a savvy prosecutor, a talented Iraqi attorney, and a president forced to defend the notion that his actions after 9/11 were not intended to support a personal vendetta, readers are treated to a cast of characters who range from real political figures such as Condoleezza Rice to fictional political and legal figures who raise many questions, from the legal authority of an American president to wage a war that violates international law to its presence and pressures upon political systems in other countries.
By now, it should be clear that The Trial of Prisoner 043 is no ordinary political thriller. The kinds of questions it raises, its careful ability to toe the line between real facts and higher-level thinking and questions, and its mix of intrigue with court proceedings place it on the level of John Grisham, but with a deeper attention to political detail and broader ethical and moral considerations that make it especially intriguing for political-minded readers.
As bloggers, regulators, political personalities and special interests coalesce in the courtroom, readers are treated to a tense exploration of American choices, rights, and challenges in a story which is hard to put down.
Readers
of both political and legal thrillers are in for a real treat with such
a mix
and its close attention to fictional and nonfiction detail and the
kinds of ethical
questions raised by high-level political decisions.
The
Trial of Prisoner 043
Return
to Index
The
Webster Nexus
Jay D. Gregory
Delta G Press/Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing, Inc.
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-942545-90-3 $14.95
eBook ISBN: 978-1-942545-92-7
www.wyattmackenzie.com
Mick has lost his beloved grandfather in the opening of The Webster Nexus: an especially traumatic situation because Mick is a little different, and his grandfather understood and encouraged him. Mick 'sleepdances' - a spastic condition that follows him from childhood to adulthood and preoccupies his nocturnal hours - and it's a condition that only lends to his odd differences as the world evolves and comes to need him.
As connections evolve between weather events and human behavior, conspiracy theories and power grids, and Kevin's search through Midwestern experiences to uncover the nexus of events that surround Mick, readers are treated to a winding story that links the evolving 'Webster Nexus' to the life of one Michael Eldritch.
Is Mick an evil genius or an ordinary man caught up in scientific phenomenon impossible to define? And can an experiment to improve Mick's inherent skills as a 'dancer' bring forth the true extent of his latent powers? As Mick experiences inter-dimensional cycling and a revised vision of his place in the world, everything changes.
The Webster Nexus offers a satisfying blend of science and a visionary prescription for healing as it presents a slowly-evolving story that is both methodical in its clear descriptions and increasingly compelling in its twists and turns. While readers seeking high-octane thrillers replete with swift action and charged confrontations may find its pace less dramatic than some, the purpose of The Webster Nexus isn't to imbibe characters and scenes with artificial haste, but to create a powerful story through precise interactions between science and everyday lives.
A visionary, metaphysical tone enters the discussion to make for a read that goes in unexpected directions, involving its readers in what turns out to be a compellingly unexpected experiment on the human race.
Fans of climate sci-fi, visionary fiction, and hard science stories alike will find this a powerful tale that begins with a somewhat extraordinary boy and follows him to a manhood that holds anything but an ordinary life, adding dashes of insights about faith and enlightenment for good measure.
The Webster Nexus
Return to Index
The
Devil's Dragon
Jason F Boggs
Mill City Press
9781635054811
Paperback: $13.88; ebook: $6.14
www.thedragontrilogy.com
Nelson is a military cadet who falls under the leadership of a fascist dictator in a world changed by alien invasion, and though he enters his duties with enthusiasm, the political realities of the new world he lives in quickly become apparent and pull him in a different direction in this futuristic sci-fi story of a young man newly at odds with his mission in life.
The Devil's Dragon uses various methods to explore Nelson's dilemmas as he faces the impact of his choices and the dictator who uses the invasion as an excuse to launch his own battles and foster his own special interests. One of these is a host of characters who interact with Nelson and provide him with different viewpoints of his world.
Another is the addition of political powers and perspectives which surveys the impact of rhetoric and methods of drawing peoples together for a unified greater purpose at odds with their own special interests even as alien perspectives are introduced which follow their plans for Planet Earth: "I fully intend that the humans see our arrival, they will know that we haven’t given up on the system and for the moment at least they’ll be outgunned, from there I shall await your orders to launch the attack”."
At the heart of the story is Nelson's own evolutionary process as he considers why he enlisted and how it affects his goals when he discovers that the political milieu is not what he'd (idealistically) expected: "...the only reason he still wore the uniform proudly wasn’t for Freeman anymore, wasn’t for Jessie or even to save the world, it was for his own reasons, he wanted desperately to avenge his father’s death and to kill those who caused this unholy chaos from the outset, the Aesini."
Better editing would have made for a smoother read: grammatical errors peppered throughout ("...he recalled long ago hiding in all kinds of cupboards and boxes whilst his dad’s looked for him...) hamper the progress of the story, while the passion of his observations and impressions are stymied by run-on sentences that would have delivered better impact through more appropriate sentence structure: "Somehow, he does remember how freedom felt though and it felt good, stronger than youth, more liberating than the last day of school, more enlightening than a piercing epiphany, a feeling that he longed for, he knew that when he felt it, he was in his element, like the conductor of an orchestra in flawless harmony, no, it was more primal than that, like a thirst that could only be quenched by...what?"
These mentions aside, it should be noted that the basic power and passion in The Devil's Dragon lies in Nelson's growth as he confronts personal and social change and is forced to more closely inspect his own ideals, passions, and purposes in this strange new future; and in the close inspection of human and alien purposes as they barrel towards an inevitable clash.
Fans of alien invasion stories who appreciate a military perspective will find this a powerful tale indeed.
The Devil's Dragon
Return to Index
For
the Love of Thomas Amore
Charles H. Roberts III
NFB Publishing
978-0997831702 $14.95
https://www.nfbpublishing.com/
For the Love of Thomas Amore opens with a bang: homeless Vietnam vet Thomas Amore struggles to survive in a shelter, faces the loss of a box of precious mementos, and decides to take his chances on the cold streets during winter. He owns little other than this box and his memories, and his future is devoid of plans or hope. Even though he has a history of facing adversity head-on, it's all come to this.
Enter Dr. Peterson, who feels like his own life is incomplete despite the work he's done and the contributions he's made to society. Even a Nobel Peace Prize doesn't yield the inner satisfaction he longs for. He's become complacent - until homeless stranger Thomas enters his life and challenges his core values.
Tom is the "most honest person" he has ever met. And Tom holds the key to his own reinvention even as he lives close to the edge and cultivates a candid honesty and approach to life that the good doctor hasn't experienced before.
The juxtaposition of these two personalities and their passions and survival tactics create a novella replete with powerful moments and psychological inspection. It's a story that documents how new lives are built and how unexpected encounters between disparate individuals can change both.
For the Love of Thomas Amore follows the degeneration and re-emergence of two very different men who move from the hopes and dreams of their youth to reinvented lives in later years. Its story of struggle, hope, and transformation is especially recommended for novella readers looking for powerful stories of redemption, change, and the long road to self-acceptance and fulfillment brought about by coming to grips with past, present, and future dreams.
For the Love of Thomas Amore
Return to Index
The
Guardian of Deceit
William H. Coles
Story in Literary Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9961903-0-5 (softcover) $11.95
ISBN: 978-0-9961903-1-2 (hardcover) $22.95
ISBN: 978-0-9961903-2-9
(ebook) $
1.99
https://guardianofdeceit.com/
Mature teen to new adult fiction readers will find in The Guardian of Deceit a compelling story exploring seventeen-year-old Darwin's journey as he leaves his dying aunt and guardian to go live with an unknown cousin; a new custodian who is both rich and a famous sports figure. Luther harbors some serious personality defects, however, which make him anything but the perfect guardian, and through Darwin solidifies his desire to become a doctor and pursues his dream, Luther seems determined to thwart this goal.
As obstacles mount - not the least of which are involvements in drugs, money, and lures to a lifestyle that seem to counteract any dreams for something bigger - Darwin finds himself in a downward spiral where his dream seems ever more elusive.
From Sweeney Pale's relationship to Luther and Darwin and the messy circumstances which arise from attraction to the choices and conflicts faced by young adults on the cusp of adulthood with the possibilities and pitfalls starkly laid out before them in a maze of challenging uncertainties, The Guardian of Deceit weaves a story that is complicated at times by characters who not only come and go from Darwin's world, but who bring with them their own challenges and angst. Readers looking for simpler, more linear productions may feel confused or challenged by the wealth of characters and directions proffered by a mercurial story line, but the result is actually more reflective of the vast changes young adulthood often introduces to those in this age group.
In true form for those on the cusp of adulthood, Darwin makes both good and bad decisions for some of the right and wrong reasons, and readers are swept into a whirlwind of circumstances often out of his control.
New adult and mature young adult readers will find The Guardian of Deceit an involving story of sex, family interactions, social circumstances, and personal ambition that follows a young man's evolution as he conversely rockets towards success and encounters many failures and conundrums along the way.
The Guardian of Deceit
Return to Index
Offenbunker
A.G. Russo
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B071ZQN2JQ
.99
http://a.co/fwFXG7A
Offenbunker is a Cold War novel with a difference: it tells of the moral and ethical conundrums faced by a young nurse and decorated general's daughter who finds herself in a tumultuous relationship with a man who has a special mission in mind for her.
As subterfuge, espionage, and special interests form the foundations of a powerful story that revolves around the bunker, Russian influences, secrecy, and a romance turned into a nightmare, readers are treated to a changing series of events that considers a timid daughter's dangerous position as a pawn in a deadly game.
Offenbunker is a satisfying blend of intrigue, political subterfuge, and quasi-romance set against the realistic backdrop of Cold War atmosphere. Readers receive a chilling story of how a secret bunker is designed to save selected Americans and how forces at work against the U.S. try to gain information that will lead to its downfall.
From KGB operatives to the Wall's horror for the German peoples divided by its presence in Berlin, A.G. Russo excels in capturing not just events of the times, but social and political perceptions of those caught up in a whirlwind of Cold War cat-and-mouse games.
The result is a satisfyingly engrossing story that provides a truly unexpected, satisfying conclusion that leaves readers thinking.
Offenbunker
Return to Index
Profane
Fire at the Altar of the Lord
Dennis Maley
Jublio
9780986115844
$15.95 paper; $5.95 Kindle
www.jubliobooks.com
Profane Fire at the Altar of the Lord is a historical novel about dwarf David, a self-proclaimed prince of a lost tribe of Israel who might even be the Messiah. He's a somewhat unlikely candidate in many ways (stature notwithstanding) because he also trades in deceit and indulgences - his suggestion of being the Messiah being just one of the roles which gives him lucrative pleasures and payback.
The atmosphere of his Roman world, the approaching clash between Muslim and Christian forces, and a warlord in France who has lost his family fortune and whose actions land him in the unlikely role of joining forces with his sworn enemy in Rome makes for a series of encounters between disparate individuals and circumstances that together weave a powerful tapestry of Roman history, religion, social challenges, and the influences of lies upon belief systems.
David is at the heart of a changing political and social milieu that will forge new alliances and break apart long-held convictions even as it weaves together new treaties and forces.
A prior knowledge of European history is not required, but will enhance reading of a story which adds insights into encounters between Muslims, Christians as it crafts historical precedence for character actions: "These filthy Turks are menacing Venice, and the threat grows worse each year. For five hundred years, we have fought them. Beaten them back time after time with Crusades. Christian kings have driven them out of Spain. Out of Italy. But the tide us turning against us."
Having an engaging (if not immoral) character at the center of this maelstrom of change is one of the powerful features that bring the history to life in Profane Fire at the Altar of the Lord.
Readers may not agree with or completely appreciate the protagonist, David, and his perspectives on life and achievement; but one thing is certain: his actions, reactions, and wily way of coming out on top against all social and political obstacles adds an intriguing tone and perspective to a story that brings history to life in an unexpected manner.
Kings, infantrymen, Imperial armies that storm the world, powerful Afghanis who own young boys, and more bring the Crusades and their meaning and impact to life in a way few others achieve. The result is a powerful historical novel that weaves fiction and fact in such a way that any reader seeking to understand the roots of Muslim and Christian strife would do well to attend to this story.
It's an especially recommended read for those who look for a liberal dose of historical background to their fictional reads.
Profane Fire at the Altar of the Lord
Return to Index
Raven’s
Rise
Elizabeth Cole
SkySpark Books
9781942316213 (ePub) / 9781942316220 (Print)
$4.99 (ebook) / $14.95 (paperback)
http://elizabethcole.co/
Raven’s Rise is the third book in the 'Swordcross Knights' series set in 1144 England, and continues a historical romance saga. Because it flushes out scenes, characters, and settings so deftly, it's especially recommended for prior fans of the series who will appreciate this new expansion of events.
Lady Angelet has been dutiful and obedient all her life; but it appears that her reward is to be sent to a nunnery, after she becomes a widow. Escorted to her banishment by a handsome and attentive knight who invites her to be his consort, Angelet finds herself with an unexpected new lover and defender even as she's on her way to the culmination of a chaste, obedient life.
Changed by their relationship and the forces that work against them, Angelet and Sir Rafe find themselves fighting for freedom, their lives, and each other as a seemingly straightforward journey and assignment turns into a series of deadly encounters.
Medieval Britain's world comes alive under Elizabeth Cole's hand, and readers should expect scenes of passion and purpose mixed in with the blossoming story of a romance fueled by immediacy and danger. There are subplots and intriguing additions to the tale, from Angelet' struggles with epilepsy to political and religious influences and the price of romance in a world fraught with deception and change.
The result is a powerful journey through more than the woods in an encounter that keeps its characters and their relationships at the center of an evolving maelstrom of personal and political transformation.
Fans of historical romances that neatly juxtapose passion with a flavor of the times, and especially those who have followed the previous Swordcross Knights series additions, will relish this new title, which documents how hearts are won and champions influenced.
Raven’s Rise
Return to Index
The
Spirit of Want
William H. Coles
Story in Literary Fiction
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-7-8 (softcover) $12.95
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-8-5 (hardcover) $22.16
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-9-2
(ebook)
$ 1.99
https://thespiritofwant.com/
The Spirit of Want provides the story of a lovely lawyer who falls in love with an unlikely prospect: a client accused of rape. As Lucy's involvement with this "bad boy" causes her to lose her license, her family, and her mind, she follows him on his flight from justice to Africa; there to learn that sometimes one can go home again - only in a different way.
The first thing to note is a similar comment to some other stories of William H. Coles: it should be forewarned that this is not a linear, staid story, but keeps its readers challenged through a host of characters and situations that keep the tale fast-paced and moving. It'll be easy to become lost if attention is not paid to the details Coles crafts in both introducing and connecting his characters; but those who appreciate changing perspectives and subplots will relish the depth that these facets bring to the overall bigger picture in The Spirit of Want.
Another thing to realize is that this story of a savvy professional woman's downfall is not an impossible fiction, but a hard-hitting story based on what too often happens to otherwise-smart females who find themselves falling for an obvious bad influence.
As Coles crafts the kinds of rationales and experiences that follow Lucy from success to failure and everything in between, readers are treated to a chronicle that leads in some unforeseen directions. While this process may seem multi-faceted and even confusing at first, ultimately it succeeds in portraying a woman who falls in love with a man who is either a fraud or a savior, depending on perspective. As Lucy comes to question her lover's self-perceptions of his worth ("She sensed the pulse of anger in him. "I helped more than I didn’t.”), she begins to locate the path towards her own realizations and the truths about her choices - and so does a man who circles in her orbit, Luke, who is involved with Lucy's sister Elizabeth.
As the story becomes more about Luke than Lucy's choices, it takes some completely unexpected turns with a story line that will especially satisfy fiction readers looking for something refreshingly different.
The Spirit of Want
Return to Index
The
Surgeon's Wife
William H. Coles
Story in Literary Fiction (IngramSpark)
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-4-7 (softcover) $10.95
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-5-4 (hardcover) $24.00
ISBN: 978-0-9976729-6-1
(ebook)
$ 2.99
https://thesurgeonswife.net/
Set against the backdrop of New Orleans society and its medical community, The Surgeon's Wife is the story of two physicians: one an aging aristocrat and surgeon, Clayton Otherson, who begins to injure patients as his skills and mental abilities decline; the other younger partner Mike Boudreaux, who is placed in the bad position of having to point out these errors and discipline his own mentor.
One doesn't expect romance to further complicate a professional relationship already standing on shaky ground; but when Mike falls in love with Clayton's young, beautiful wife, the trouble between them threatens to spill over into the personal and professional lives of everyone involved.
It's difficult to imagine that a short novella could capture so many facets: New Orleans culture and society, the dilemmas faced by a compassionate younger doctor and his increasingly impaired mentor, and the underlying desire for love that creates ethical and moral conflicts; but The Surgeon's Wife deftly weaves these disparate threads of interest into a story line that is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining.
Readers with a special affection for romances which spring from unusual circumstances will relish the attention to detail exploring how a colleague's wife becomes tempting: "She climbed up the stage stairs gracefully, with the controlled steps of an athlete, and walked to the podium. For the first time ever, he found her striking. She knew her worth as a woman. He’d not been around her enough over the years, when her role had been always as a hostess or as Clayton’s devoted companion, to see it before. But here, on this stage, presenting to this group of arrogant cynics, her confidence was obvious and appealing."
William H. Coles takes the time to explore and develop this process, and this care shows well in a production that moves beyond professional boundaries and how they are overstepped into the lives of two compassionate individuals who find in each other an unexpected connection.
As events give rise to some unexpected scenarios, readers are in for a treat because what is anticipated to be a set course of love evolves into something quite different.
While the story's unexpected conclusion would seem to belay the evolutionary direction of the rest of the novella, the result is a satisfying turn of events that will keep readers guessing right up to the end in a story recommended for romance readers who want the added attraction of professional and ethical conundrums added to the mix.
The Surgeon's Wife
Return to Index
Valley
of the Purple Hearts
Rick DeStefanis
The Word Hunter
9780996534239
Kindle Edition $3.99, Paperback Edition $15.95
www.rickdestefanis.com
Vietnam veterans are often noticeably different from other American veterans of war, a facet that has observed by friends, family, and acquaintances alike. Why? Rick deStefanis' novel helps explain and explore this in a manner few other Vietnam fiction stories can equal.
Valley of the Purple Hearts is a novel which closely examines the Vietnam experience from different perspectives that go beyond the usual approach; not the least of which is from a (secondary) female protagonist's viewpoint, and is recommended reading for any who appreciate military stories in general and Vietnam novels in particular.
The first thing to note about this story is that it's filled with life-changing encounters between different age groups and people, with the backdrop of war just one of the facets affecting their changing perceptions, development, and lives.
Buck
Marino is only eighteen when he enters the war, meets Sergeant Rolley
Zwyrkowski, and an army nurse who may prove the love of his
life. Under
another hand, events might have focused on conflict and confrontation
in the
field, but Rick DeStefanis sets out to show how these experiences
intrinsically
change psyches and perspectives, and so his story winds through battle
scenes
and death to consider how personalities are challenged and changed by
the
trauma of combat.
As the Second Squad moves through the steamy jungles of Vietnam, the characters each evolve their own coping methods and revise their ideas that change from a notion of adventure to one of survival and gritty determination against all odds.
It should be cautioned that this is no light read. Real-world military terminology is used, and a glossary of terms is provided which non-military readers are advised to review first, to make their reading smoother. DeStefanis takes time to explore the differences between imagining a foreign environment and the realities of culture shock, which are often surreal and alien in nature, and he pulls no punches, whether exploring constant encounters with death or deadly decisions that provoke sudden reflections on the past: "Less than a foot away was enough explosive to send him into eternity as a fine mist. Removing his helmet, he set his sixteen aside and pulled the C-4 from his pocket, but the craziest thing kept running through his mind—a memory from high school."
Another notable aspect to the story is its visceral descriptions, which place the reader directly in the Vietnam jungle as they follow Buck and his company on impossible missions: "Buck sucked in the dank jungle air through his nostrils. Sometimes you could smell them before you saw them—an odor of wood-smoke, defecation, or even the rotted fish sauce they called Nuoc Mam. For now, there was nothing but the odor of the rotting vegetation on the jungle floor."
'Nam's aftermath brings nightmares to its survivors - but most of all, it changes them intrinsically, forever. Valley of the Purple Hearts documents this process, standing out from many other military novels about Vietnam to probe at the foundations of purpose, courage, survival, and the consequences of military engagements, and is highly recommended reading for any who would understand the Vietnam experience from the eyes of an idealistic young soldier who finds his world irrevocably changed as a result.
Valley of the Purple Hearts
Return to Index
When
God-Fearing Women Put On Boots: The MisAdventures of Miss
Lilly, Volume
Four
Kalan Chapman Lloyd
Rebelle Press
978-1543033588
14.99 print/7.99 ebook/ 24.95 audio
www.kalanchapmanlloyd.com
Fans of the feisty character of Miss Lilly, whose exploits were introduced and followed in three previous books, will be delighted to see the arrival of the fourth in her adventures, When God-Fearing Women Put On Boots. To summarize the recipe of Kalan Chapman Lloyd's success: readers should anticipate a liberal dash of Southern sassy humor, a tablespoon of charm, and a story line replete with mishaps, sex, and ironic observation that opens with a bang (so to speak) and proceeds to deftly trace the spicy life and heritage of a Southern belle gone awry.
But don't expect to find a familiar setting, because Miss Lilly has gone to Vegas, where her antics and those of her friends are just as ribald and sassy in Sin City as they were elsewhere. The girlfriend 'posse' faces a long road to Vegas fraught by many disasters along the way and enhanced by Miss Lilly's quirky 'can do' attitude ("I’d poo-pooed this trip all the way to takeoff, but it was part of my personality to try to right the ship once adrift.")
Lilly
observes that Vegas is "weird," and her astute first impression is
solidified by further events that teach her she has much to learn about
the
town and her place in it, her relationship with men and friends, and
how she
can find a companion who will look past her zany persona and
friendships to
uncover the deeper aspects of her psyche: "I think it takes a strong man to
be genuinely attracted to the crazy
that Tally and I can create. Someone solid who both finds us
entertaining and
recognizes that there’s more beneath the surface. I think that’s why it
could
never come to real fruition with Cash, and ultimately failed with Van;
they
liked the package, and were entertained by me, but neither one of them
could
understand that although I was tough and driven and bright and shiny,
deep
down, I was deep and feeling."
As in the previous books, readers should anticipate a healthy dose of wry insights and observations not only about Lilly's world, but about her personality and past: "While my legal briefs, in their submitted glory, are well-researched and a step away from color-coding, they never start out that way. My natural personality is to make messes into masterpieces, in my humble opinion. I’ve been praying for God to do just that with me, so it’s aptly suited."
These insights juxtapose nicely with a story line that, for Lilly, pits romantic potentials against a potentially boring life. The result is an iconic mix of fun, madcap escapades, serious life reflections, and an assessment of the risks of romance which come alive in a satisfyingly vivid continuation of Lilly's adventures.
When God-Fearing Women Put On Boots is very highly recommended for both prior fans and newcomers who look for sassy, vivid personalities fueling fun stories of road trips and revelations.
When God-Fearing Women Put On Boots: The MisAdventures of Miss Lilly, Volume Four
Return to Index
The
Golden Rule
Jessica Marie Baumgartner
Eleventh Hour Literary Press
9781943755196
$16.99
www.eleventhhourliterary.com
The Golden Rule is a lovely picture book story about faith, prejudice, and differences in belief systems, and offers an important lesson in tolerance and understanding from the first-person viewpoint of a child whose family celebrates different holidays.
The narrator's family is Pagan, which is the first major difference between the message of this book and other picture book stories about tolerance and belief systems. What rules do pagans live by? As the young narrator explores the concept of The Golden Rule and its guiding light, readers are treated to the idea that those holding different beliefs are "...more alike than we think. Even though we don't have the same faiths, they say a lot of the same things."
Adults seeking a read-aloud that forms a solid introduction for discussion on tolerance, understanding, and the similarities guiding societies will relish the wide-ranging approach of a book that comes from a different perspective, contrasting Hindu, Confucian, Taoism and other belief systems as it examines the difference between philosophy and belief.
This may seem heady reading for the younger picture book fan; but with appropriate parental assistance, The Golden Rule opens the door for meaningful discussions and goes where few other books about faith can lead as a young narrator considers the various rules to live by and how they apply to a child's view of the world.
The
Golden Rule is very
highly
recommended as a starting point for assimilating beliefs into a more
accepting
worldview.
The
Golden Rule
Return
to Index
The
Little Lilly
Dimitris Lamproulis
Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B071P2MDZV
$2.99
http://a.co/5o2Q3vq
The Little Lilly presents kids ages 6-12 with a gentle story of a pretty little ladybug who is too young to fly. She has many attributes besides her beauty: she's strong, sociable, cheerful, and talented in many ways, and she looks forward to the day when she grows enough to be everything she desires.
Nothing really bothers her in her life, and she seems flexible and able to enjoy almost everything until her mothers falls ill with a rare disease that only strikes ladybugs. There's only one doctor who can help - and it's up to Lilly to do something she's never done before.
As she journeys far beyond happy experience and her beloved bug village, Lilly finds there's more to life than taking the easy path and leading an unchallenged life, and kids will experience with Lilly the magic of parades, Goofy's play home and laboratory, and more.
At times the words and paragraphs feel stilted ("Lilly would often dream herself to visit nice and exotic places." and "Lilly's father was missing to one of those business trip that Mr. John used to do..."): light editing would help the language flow better for native English readers.
Ethical values and educational insights abound in a story that sounds like it should be embellished with picture book illustrations, but reads with an easy depth and detail that 6-12-year-olds will appreciate, and makes for a light-hearted story that leaves readers with a warm, positive feeling.
The Little Lilly
Return to Index
Lotus
Saga
Nimai Agarwal
Street to Street Epic Publications
Paper ISBN: 978-1-938609-37-4
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-938609-26-8 $9.99
www.StreetToStreet.org
www.EpicCenterStories.org
Rook is a young scribe who leads a quiet life in a small village until he's charged by his mentor with leaving the comfort of familiar surroundings to journey to another teacher, there to learn swordsmanship and survival skills. Chafing at a task that would change his world and place in him unfamiliar territory, Rook resists the task. He now lives a good life as a scribe and student, compared to his old one as a starving beggar on the streets; and he doesn't wish to change anything.
When Rook encounters the magical Lotus Sword, he begins to understand the powers he could wield even as his old mentor comes to realize that this orphan boy may hold the key to the Order's future by fulfilling a prophecy that will keep alive not just the Order, but the world.
It should be evident by this point that in some ways Lotus Sword is a magical Sword in the Stone re-enactment; but with several differences. Even though the Sword has apparently chosen Rook, there are other forces at play in his life and world. These include some truths about the legends surrounding swords and heroes, mystic elements that influence choices and experiences, the idea that such mystic powers can't be taught but should be discovered through experience, and a mental link between boy and Sword that goes beyond mysticism and becomes an intrinsic part of growth and discovery.
As an Indiana Jones-type plot evolves, replete with confrontations between forces of good and evil, young adult to adult readers receive a fantasy that includes many satisfying philosophical moments: "Every candle is a life. Throughout its existence, the candle burns away – some slowly, and some in a flash. And then the cycle starts anew, and a fresh candle is born from the melted wax of its predecessor." A startling thought struck Rook. Somewhere in the midst of those millions of candles, was his candle. And Len’s. And the Twins’. Everyone Rook knew, was but one insignificant candle, and could be easily snuffed out. The whole order could be snuffed out in a moment."
What beings are monsters, and which are beneficial? Will the missing puzzle pieces reveal new truths that place all of Rook's beliefs in a new light? And should Rook resist the visions that could guide him?
Strong characterization leads readers to care about Rook's world and his place in it while strong action contributes to an adventure story that weaves Rook into familiar and unfamiliar worlds. As the truth about a horrible plot emerges, Rook finds that everything he's known is called into question, injecting a satisfying evolution of moral and ethical conflicts into the story line.
Multi-faceted and wonderfully crafted, it's amazing to note that Lotus Sword was written by a young homeschooled author who has been working on it since the age of 12. Now 18, Nimai Agarwal's work has come to fruition to provide fantasy readers in grades 9 and older with a strongly-written saga that deserves its place alongside the genre's classic works.
Lotus Saga
Return to Index
The
Whizbang Machine: Tunney's Curse
Danielle A. Vann
Waldorf Publishing
978-1-945174-54-4
$14.95
www.WaldorfPublishing.com
The Whizbang Machine: Tunney's Curse is Book 2 in The Whizbang Machine series, and opens with a bang that makes it hard to ignore the fact that much has gone on in Book 1: "A single wisp of smoke traced up my nose and clung to the back of my throat. My lips parted, breaking the Whizbang machine’s electric kiss of death. My heart drummed out the rapid beat of fear, reminding me I had changed history. I had beaten Tunney’s vloek. I could feel it. I was alive, trembling, and soaked in perspiration.
Still, somewhere in the back of my mind, I wished I hadn’t listened to my father’s pleas and had welcomed death with open arms. It would have been simpler in the long run. I held still and waited for a sign, for someone, a sound, a clue as to where I was, anything. None came."
It's like entering a story mid-highlight and wondering what transpired before its crescendo - but one of the pleasures of Tunney's Curse is that it doesn't leave newcomers hanging for long, after inviting them in with such a captivating opener, and thus the narrator, who experiences her world falling around her and her initial perceptions of well-being failing, brings newcomers and old fans from middle school to advanced teens along for a rollicking, swift ride that grasps action firmly and doesn't let go.
Curses, family secrets, a girl who clings to life after disaster, and a danger that rages out of control, affecting families, destinations, and a detective's investigation, all blend into a story line that is fraught with a power struggle over a machine that can change the world.
As an old-fashioned, formerly quiet Netherlands town faces a curse that moves relentlessly through time and space, Elizabeth, her grandfather, and other characters struggle with themselves and their impossible odds of success in a fantasy that blends time travel, supernatural influences, and mystery into a solidly engrossing read packed with twists, turns, and well-drawn characters.
While all these facets may sound complicated, Danielle A. Vann draws them all together by imbibing her protagonists with realistic concerns and personalities, weaving the setting and premises of the prior book into a new adventure accessible to all readers.
The result is another powerful story that builds from the first without alienating new readers: highly recommended for fantasy enthusiasts looking for the added attractors of a complex mystery, a supernatural curse, and a family's involvement in saving a sleepy town.
The Whizbang Machine: Tunney's Curse
Return to Index