December 2022 Review Issue
Literature
Mystery & Thrillers
Island Eight
M.Z. Medenciy
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-534-3
$24.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Island
Eight is a sci-fi story of a
tyrannical king, a
woman who works as an entertainer seeking peace in her world, and
circumstances
which threaten to duplicate the cataclysmic choices that nearly ended
the world
long before Sophia's time.
As Book 1 of
the
Ataraxia series, Island Eight both
sets the stage for the war to come and introduces a series of
characters that
arrived at an uncertain peace after the legacy of murder and death
introduced
in the story's prologue.
Sophia and
her
husband Gabriel are entertainers working in the largely peaceful small
town of
Salinas when their lives change. The town is a bastion of positive
invitation
in the world, which attracts a large creative group of residents: "Salinas was very welcoming, they
didn’t expect its members to believe a singular belief, and didn’t
force its
people to live a certain way. All they asked of you was to contribute
to the
town and not cause harm to one another. People would come from all
corners to
be enthralled by the sights, sounds, and sensations of Salinas."
The King and
his
castle goons are also attracted to Salinas, tapping it for increasingly
regular
entertainment for their pleasure, even as they are up to no good.
Sophia is no
fool,
but she has chosen to maintain peace in her life over the coming
adversity: "...she knew staying off the
King’s
radar was the only way to ensure happiness. At least she could fool
herself
into believing things were okay. They say ignorance is bliss and Sophia
was
perfectly content living like that to achieve her quiet life."
Eventually,
though,
the struggle lands on one's doorstep. In this case, Sophia is forced to
forego
her happiness and contentment when the winds of war land on her
doorstep to
whisk her into the center of conflict, taking her far from home and
everything
she loves about her life.
M.Z.
Medenciy creates
a realistic and compelling character in Sophia, portraying both the
social and
political whirlwinds that take her away from everything familiar and
following
how her latent talents for entertaining and perseverance translate to a
powerful ability to weather these changes to assume a position of power
in the world.
This
portrait of a
young woman who steps up in unprecedented ways encourages intriguing
discussions of choice and opportunity, the violations of women, and
what
evolves when the very different worlds of fantastic creatures and human
ambition collide.
Sophia's
character
powers the story, but Gabriel and others exhibit equally forceful
traits that
draw readers into the simmering hearts and brewing action of a world
gone
frighteningly awry.
The action
is nicely
paced between emotional and physical confrontations and realizations
about
underlying truths and motivations on the parts of all the characters,
who find
themselves immersed in both a life-changing struggle and a battle for
freedom.
The result
is a vivid
fantasy story that works well on psychological and action-packed
levels.
Libraries will find it an appealing addition to fantasy collections
strong in
world-changing prospects and events that reach into young women's lives
to
change their motivations and perspectives about the future and their
place in
it: "We are creating a new path; we
are going to fight for the Green and the survival of life here in a way
no one
has in the past."
Return to Index
Jophiel’s Secret
Johanna Frank
Marrow Publishing
978-1-7777317-6-2
$5.99 ebook
Website: www.johannafrankauthor.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Jophiels-Secret-Lifeline-Fantasy-Book-ebook/dp/B0B6DGR5QQ
Jophiel’s
Secret is the second book in the
Lifeline fantasy
series, but serves as a standalone read for newcomers that requires
neither
prior familiarity nor interest in becoming involved in an entire series
in
order to appreciate the strengths of this story.
It tells of angel Jophiel, who falls
to earth and is born as Joppha. Joppha's disappearance results in a
struggle
between two forces (Kingdom Authoritarians and the Rebel), with
Joppha's
immortality the crux of the issue.
The Kingdom
holds
many pleasures and possibilities, but as Joppha's fate becomes entwined
with
the Kingdom's business and strife, a host of characters find their
worlds
colliding in an arena that embraces dark forests, imprisonment, and
transformation.
One note to
the story
lies in the strength of Johanna Frank's descriptions, which toe the
line
between a jaunty contemporary tone and a world-building fantasy. She
embeds her
story with the atmosphere of a world that comes to life through various
eyes
and actions:
"Matthew ducked his head forward, tunneled his way
through slush
and waved his way through the mosquito cloud. He had entered the dark
forest. Trudging
several more steps, his arms were out wide to feel the way through
trunks of
trees, some brittle, some slimy. All with an eerie lust for the living
yet
hanging onto a mother called death. Still spring, budding growth hadn’t
overgrown yet, and Matthew wondered, does
anything green even grow in here? Ugh. He shivered and
affirmed quietly
that he was a fresh, open-air kinda guy. This was not his scene."
This juxtaposition between contemporary tone
and extraordinary setting is unusual in a fantasy that is directed by
the
desire to regain home and the forces set on preventing that effort for
various
reasons.
Joppha/Jophiel's growing up, coming of age,
and influences on the wider world makes for an engrossing tale that
moves
beyond the usual trappings of vying forces and into a milieu that
embraces both
spiritual and psychological growth.
The characters are well done, from Pipiera's
dilemma to the moments that define transition points in relationships: "At
one point, Aivy had to console Pipiera, reminding her that weeping on
Earth may
last for a night, sometimes even a season, but will inevitably be
followed by
joy. There were appointed times for every matter, and she assured her
that she
hadn’t left her family and friends to be alone."
The result is a compelling fantasy about
revised connections, hope, and transformation that contains a
rollicking good
read about good and bad intentions and life impacts, but expands its
fantasy
scope with moving family interconnections.
Libraries looking for fantasy stand-alone
stories that can appeal to a wide age range will find Jophiel’s
Secret a
solid pick; especially since it can stand alone as well as dovetailing
with its
series.
Return to Index
Republic Under Siege: Threat from Within
Michael J. Brooks
Independently
Published
9781737929345
$9.99 ebook
www.authormbrooks.com
The second book in the sci-fi series Wars of
the New Humanity combines elements of thriller, social inspection, and
sci-fi
to produce a riveting, refreshingly original story. It tells of
humanity posed
on the brink of war in a battle between an Eden-like society and a
dystopian
world of government workers who live in poverty and servitude.
Republic
Under
Siege: Threat from Within
considers the specter of a civil war between these already-divided
worlds as
seen through the experiences of nineteen-year-old Akane Sugimori, an
"immigrant" between two worlds of which she is a part.
There are the gunfights and battles one expects
from a book about siege, but it's important to note that the main
conflict
takes place not during war, but in its simmering aftermath.
Here, rebellion, oppression, and new
opportunities assume a different guise as Akane considers her
unprecedented opportunity
to throw off the yoke of oppression and realize her dreams of living a
vastly
revised life.
However, adversity isn't always easy to
overcome. The immigrant brings with her life experiences, perspectives,
and
influences that hold the ability to change her future through past
experience.
And so Akane encounters much prejudice because of her immigrant status,
many
new obstacles that stem from conflicts within as well as leftovers of
struggles
in society around her, and becomes involved in a search for a killer
that leads
her to question her own background and goals.
From a grisly vetting process into the
activist group RISE to new friendships, lights against the darkness,
and a host
of characters who each contribute to Akane's growth process, Michael
J.
Brooks crafts a fine story of struggle. The tale comes from the
perspectives of
realistic young adult characters who engage with each other and
internally to
envision and realize new outcomes from adversity and social inequality.
Rage and
hate play as
central a role in the story as budding romances and character growth,
creating
a humanistic examination narrated from different perspectives as
immigrants,
haves, and have-nots clash.
Illustrator
Ann's
drawings of Akane brings her to life as Brooks creates a story packed
with
moment-by-moment reactions to pain, surprising twists and turns, and
journeys
towards healing and revised destinies.
Libraries
seeking
solid sci-fi replete with social and psychological inspections that
move from
the aftermath of world-changing war into the motives and experiences of
young
people who would forge new lives and worlds will find the social
inspections in
Republic Under Siege: Threat from Within compelling. It will attract a wide age range, from
young adult to
adult readers.
Ideally, book clubs will also consider Republic
Under Siege: Threat from Within for its many enlightening
moments about the
kernels of social change as individuals experience healing,
transformation,
loss, and novel opportunities.
Return to Index
Requiem for a Queen
Kaylin Mcfarren
Creative Edge Publishing LLC
9798434809993
$13.95 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/REQUIEM-QUEEN-Gehenna-Kaylin-McFarren/dp/B0BBJTR8BD
The third book in the Gehenna series, Requiem
for a Queen, expands the occult dystopian world presented in
the previous
books in the series, and is especially recommended for prior fans who
can
anticipate another story of eroticism, supernatural influences, and
horror and
suspense.
Kaylin Mcfarren's ability to traverse all
these subjects with a dexterity that brings readers into newly evolving
conflicts is evident in this continuation of the saga of newly-crowned
Queen of
Hell Samara Daemonium and her powers as a half-angel,
half-demon.
From the opening scenes that depict an
unusual friendship between a Shapeshifter and a Changeling to Lucinda's
determination to gain control of her father's throne by kidnapping the
heir who
might replace her, Mcfarren creates a series of interlocking lives.
Each life
opens to reveal pieces of a puzzle already well-steeped in the prior
series
titles' events.
Samara's
struggle for
survival forces her into an unholy relationship with Lucifer and places
her in
the middle of conflicts that rock preset notions of these worlds. This
leads
her to confront a closely held secret, to reconsider her origins and
purposes
between two disparate worlds, and to walk a fine line between
self-preservation
and bigger-picture thinking.
Mcfarren's
ability to
add just the right doses of complexity, tension, and character
evolution to her
story results in a fine study in contrasts and changing purposes as
each
character finds their preset notions changed by circumstances beyond
their
control.
Expect the
unexpected
as a series of tests evolve, whether it's events directing Samara's
search for
her son, which prove shockingly enlightening, or in her survival of a
witches'
inquiry that provides her with keys to her future choices: “Trust your instincts and intuition, Samara. They
are far stronger and
more powerful than you might believe.”
The result
is a
gripping fantasy best absorbed by prior fans of the intriguing Gehenna
series.
It straddles the lines between fantasy, horror, and paranormal occult
fiction
while providing a rollicking good read steeped in strong character
development
and evolutionary processes.
Libraries
looking for
something different will welcome all these books as examples of
superior
characterization, fine tension, and action that rely as much on
psychological
transformation as it does revised worldviews and paradigms.
Return to Index
Literature
The Best I Can Do
John Branning
Pusillanimous Books
978-0-9970773-9-1
$14.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
Website: www.JohnBranning.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Best-I-Can-Do-ebook/dp/B0BH33FBXR
The
Best I Can Do:
A Panoply of Humorous Essays and Light Verse
is a lighthearted presentation of satirical writing that does justice
to the underlying script, talents, and ideals of humorous expression.
Prepare to be entertained; whether by black
and white visual photos of snafus and ironies of life, verses, or
essays. The
attention to detail even extends to the hilarious self-portrait of the
author
that precedes the written words, the acknowledgement that includes "the
cats that own us," and the perfunctory quote that is accompanied by a
wry
side note from the author: "Laughter is the sun that drives
winter from
the human face." - Victor Hugo
If that’s true,
then please apply sunscreen before reading any further."
Its whimsical table of contents even
includes such chapter headings as "To Sleep, Perchance to Snore" to
the self-effacing chapter "Pooh Pooh Pulitzers" which opens with the
observation that "I’ve just completed a quick scan of the
2019 Pulitzer
Prize winners and did not notice my name so immortalized. Bummer. There
are
fourteen journalism categories and I didn’t even make it to the
finalist stage
in any of them. Of course, the fact that I’m not a journalist may have
played a
part there. My chances were perhaps better under “Letters, Drama
& Music,”
which includes a number of brackets that are right in my wheelhouse:
Fiction: When my
wife comes home from work and asks me what I’ve been up to all day, I
spin
elaborate fictions to rival the greatest found in literature.
Drama: Once I
admit how I actually spent my day, drama ensues.
History: The
pathological need to camouflage and embellish my daily routine goes
back
decades."
John Branning's special blend of satire is
remarkably astute and always hilarious. It gives much cause for thought
and
laughter, whether it arrives in essay form or in free verse.
Subjects are as wide-ranging as husband/wife
relationships, bathroom innovations, and ironic commentaries on life
experiences, platitudes, and reporters.
The result is side-splitting from start to
finish and delivers what it promises: a wry inspection of the satirical
form as
it relates to modern life and relationships within it, whether internal
or
external.
The
Best I Can Do is very highly
recommended for any
collection strong in satirical writings and humor. It's by far the most
hilarious read undertaken in 2022. If not 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Return to Index
Ghost House
Sara Connell
Muse Literary
9781958714034
$24.99
Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-House-Sara-Connell/dp/1958714038
Ghost House blends occult fiction with
literary twists and turns,
overlaying its short stories with a sense of psychological depth and
feminist
inspection. This makes for a delightful collection of diverse
perspectives on
ghosts and haunted lives.
From
childhood, Sara
Connell has been enthralled by ghosts and the occult. Her early passion
for
haunts almost got her banned from the sleepover party circuit, as her
embellishments and storytelling prowess captured vivid horror scenes
that
chilled her peers.
Thankfully,
she never
'grew out' of this fascination for the spiritual realm and its haunting
possibilities. Thus, Ghost House
represents not just a lifelong pursuit, but a literary collection honed
with
the trappings of creative horror embellishments and tempered by adult
perspectives on traumas that haunt and heal at the same time.
Not every
story in
this collection features the conventional ghost. One of Connell's
talents is to
tackle the traditional image of the specter and its haunting
capabilities to expand
the notion of otherworldly encounters.
The
collection opens
with the title story 'Ghost House' and the delightful prospect of a new
home
where the husband buyer sees opportunity and his wife senses adversity:
“The thing about it is,” Caitlin’s husband
whispered in her ear, “the
sale of the Powell piece alone would cover the down payment. I could
renovate
this place and double our investment.”
“The thing about it is,” Caitlin wanted to reply, “a ghost house is a
terrible idea.”
Few buyers
are purposely
looking for a ghost home. This couple's choice represents not just a
bad
decision, but good intentions gone awry. Mostly because the ghost does
not like
Caitlin.
Each story
harbors
and evolves a different definition of and sense of a ghostly encounter.
Each
provides readers with a spooky experience laced with a
thought-provoking
psychologist twist that turns the staid story or anticipated ending
upside
down.
The result
is a
powerful literary work that offers the delightful juxtaposition of
ghosts and
unexpected insights and reflections.
Libraries
that choose
Ghost House for its promise of
occult
entertainment will find the collection evolves beyond the usual
supernatural
focus. It offers many satisfying points of discussion that book clubs
will want
to consider, whether they be focused on literature, supernatural
fiction, or
women's writings, experiences, and issues.
Return to Index
Melody in
Exile
S.T. Brant
Atmosphere Press
978-1639884988
$16.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Melody in Exile's special brand of poetry
pays tribute to the
intersection between literary and spiritual reflection, and is
recommended
reading for audiences who look for such rare entwinings of two
often-disparate
subjects.
It opens
with "The
Soul," a consideration of darkness, color, the "cosmology
of you" and "...the new melody made
when a song/lands in the sea."
The
perspectives
presented in this poetry gathering aren't just those of the author, but
represent a chorus of insights, from Adam and Eve to timeless love
connections
that traverse time, space, and nature: "Her
windy song collides my heart. It dusts; it seeds the universe:/Adam up
from
dust."
Each poem
represents
a microcosm of world perspectives, visions of love and life, and the
presence
of literary and spiritual revelations that wind through experiences and
observations: "Adam, Eve, light’s
embassies, and I/Talked our visions, our limits. In Eden I was happy
but for
the/loose bee in my heart."
With these
selected
quotes, which but graze the surface of the metaphysical and
metaphorical
prowess demonstrated by S.T. Brant, readers gain a sense of the depth
of
examination promised and delivered in free verse explorations.
Libraries
seeking
contemporary poetry collections that sing and ring with
thought-provoking links
between history, spiritual, and emotional forays into the world will
find Melody in Exile's lyrical,
philosophical
examinations a compelling representation of modern contemporary free
verse
poetry at its strongest.
Return to Index
Tricia Stafford with Annie Stafford
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-601-2
$17.99
www.atmospherepress.com
The Apparition: A
Mother-Daughter Reckoning with
Madness and a Brief Study on Hearing Voices chronicles
a mental health journey undertaken by the mother/daughter
authors of this book when Tricia's then-seven-year-old daughter began
suffering
bouts of crippling anxiety that mirrored her mother's struggles with
the
condition.
Annie's
struggles with OCD and depression and her mother's concurrent rising
anxiety
were further challenged when, at age twelve, Annie began hearing
voices.
Readers receive an intriguing story of mental illnesses and family
interactions
that skirted the edge of madness.
Readers who anticipate the
usual progression of mental
illness and the struggle to find resolutions to problems will be
surprised at
the turn the story takes, making the label of 'mental illness'
questionable.
The writers become involved
in the Hearing Voices
Movement that goes beyond conventional psychiatric thinking and labels.
This
requires a revamp of the entire diagnosis and prognosis progression as
the
writers use their experiences to explore this movement and its
potential for
healing and growth.
The prologue sets the stage
for what this story will and
won't embrace:
"There
are no
government conspiracy ramblings, no messianic babblings to family and
strangers, no sudden decampments in the dead of night or extended
flights of
psychosis, but there are other departures from the benchmarks of
sanity. This
is, instead, a rather hushed tale of a mother and daughter’s private
agonies.
In fact, I never imagined a day I would speak of these things, never
wanted to
burden my children with memories of their mother’s terrible anguish or
flaunt
the severity of my daughter’s own trials, but today I elect a different
course."
This cautions that the
contents of The Apparition
will prove something out of the ordinary
for even the most avid of mental health memoir followers.
Mother
and
daughter employ descriptions and insights not to be found in other
mental
health memoirs: "Her ability to throw herself into
performance art was
a joyfully outgoing way to distract herself from doom and gloom, but
her
powerful anxiety eventually won out, dousing that glorious youthful
effervescence.
Anxiety thwarted most of Annie’s ambitions."
Most
intriguing
of all (which sets this memoir apart from most other psychological
explorations) is the exploration and details about the Hearing Voices
Movement
and those therapists and individuals who harbor a different perspective
about
mental distress and growth:
"Some voice hearers
experience psychosis as part
of what is called a psychospiritual crisis or “spiritual emergency,”
which can
be prompted by a wide variety of physical or emotional causes.
Psychotherapist
Christina Grof and her husband and psychiatrist Stanilov Grof coined
the term
spiritual emergency to convey both the sudden appearance of the crisis
and the
emerging opportunity to ascend to a higher level of spiritual awareness
and psychological
health. According to the Grofs, many of the conditions diagnosed as
psychosis
are not “manifestations of an unknown pathological process” but the
“result of
a spontaneous movement in the psyche that engages deep dynamics of the
unconscious and has healing and transformative potential.”
The result
is a
powerful growth-oriented testimony not just to the challenges of mental
distress and diversions, but the possibilities that lie within them for
not
just resolution, but evolution.
Readers who would
gain a different perspective on the problems, solutions, and ultimate
revelations of survival and life will find The
Apparition a
powerful reckoning which goes far beyond the
usual mental health story to venture into uncommon territory.
Libraries
will
find The Apparition a satisfying adjunct to the
usual mental health
memoir or family story, while book clubs interested in stories of
mental health
will find it holds much fodder for discussion.
Return to Index
Feathers at My Feet
Barbara Pearson
Indigo River Publishing
978-1-954676-30-5
$16.95
Website: https://indigoriverpublishing.com/books/feathers-at-my-feet/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Feathers-At-Feet-Barbara-Pearson/dp/1954676301
Feathers
at My
Feet: A Memoir of Enduring Friendship belongs in libraries
strong in
women's literature, biographies, and artist relationships. It describes
the
meeting and evolution of a lifelong friendship between art teacher
Barbara
Pearson and fellow teacher and artist Phyllis
Bosco, whose drive and passion led her to be both an influential
Florida artist
and an activist.
Serendipity
may have
brought Phyllis and Barbara together, but it was mutual shared
interests and
growth that sparked a friendship that not only endured, but changed
them both.
The
foundations of
this relationship and, in particular, the growth process it created
with
accompanying new revelations and opportunities constitute the heart of Feathers at my Feet.
Their
encounter
portended magic from the start: "...somehow,
I had crossed a threshold from my ordinary life into something
spectacular."
As readers follow Barbara
into the evolving relationship
which grows, results in a shared house (complete with a resident
ghost), then
dissolves again, the swings of women's friendships and connections are
displayed in a memoir that includes insights into the Florida art
scene,
activist pursuits, and a tragedy that changes everything.
Their story represents a
road trip through many worlds
and shared growth experiences that spark transformations as the world
ebbs and
flows around them and time passes.
Readers will find their
story nearly impossible to put
down, painted with the loving hand of recollection and connection
steeped in
cherished memories and adventures that conclude with no regrets.
Libraries that look for
standout literature in the fields
of artistic and women's biographies should place Feathers
at My Feet at the top of their acquisition lists. Not only
will it attract a wide audience, but its subjects of women's
friendships and
shared connections makes it choice for book club discussion groups
interested
in themes ranging from women's relationships to the process of not just
surviving, but thriving amid life's adversity and challenges.
Return to Index
I Sang That: A Memoir from Hollywood
Sally Stevens
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-551-0
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
I
Sang That: A
Memoir from Hollywood isn't just
another starlet's exploration of the industry, but a music-oriented
probe of
some sixty years of Hollywood film scores, television music, sound
recordings,
commercials, and concerts.
Sally Stevens was a vocalist from the 1960s
onward, working with such famous personalities as Nat King Cole, Burt
Bacharach, and others. In reviewing her early industry experiences as a
teen,
she mentions how she entered into a world that supported her dreams and
vocal
efforts: "...somehow along the way I stumbled into working
successfully
in the music business as a singer, vocal contractor, and lyricist for
film and
TV scoring, sound recordings, concerts, and commercials—with and for
some of
the best people in the business—for the next sixty years."
From auditions and tours to industry changes
over the years, anyone interested in the back-stage history of film
production
and the evolving Hollywood milieu will find this memoir especially
inviting,
with its historical review of transition points that affected
participants and
audiences alike:
"Today,
several things have happened that have resulted in dramatic changes in
our
industry. First, technology --- which has allowed for voice-over
commercials
and singer tracks to be done from home studios to instrumental tracks
sent from
a music house or a producer. Those can be done as auditions or as
finals – but
there is no person or office involved to send along a contract or
confirm what
the rate should be, or even specify that it must be on a union
contract. For
some reason, advertisers seem to have become terribly intimidated by
the idea
of dealing with the union. So they offer “buyouts” – sometimes at
figures which
exceed the cost they would incur if they did do the spot on a union
contract.
It is a somewhat complicated pay structure, because the fees depend a
great
deal on what the airplay ends up being, and sometimes that is not known
at the
time the spot is recorded. Maybe there needs to be a simpler system
worked out.
And with new media --what streams currently on internet, etc. – it’s
almost
like the wild west out there."
These kinds of insider observations are
invaluable, and part of what makes I Sang That so
unique. The broad time
frame of decades spent in this changing world translates to important
insights
into the workings and evolution of Hollywood as a whole. This will
prove
especially compelling to readers seeking a broader perspective than
most memoirs
and analyses can offer.
The result is a powerful survey of the vast
changes that affected Stevens and fellow artists in Hollywood,
detailing these
transitions through a music-centric focus that follows the changing
sounds of
the industry.
Libraries seeking additions to music history
collections which are thought-provokingly revealing will find I
Sang That
a lively, informative introspection peppered with black and white
photos
throughout.
Return to Index
Once There
Was a
Child
Darlene Pscheidell Kwarta
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-540-4
$12.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Once There Was a Child is a memoir of a
teacher and a child that
opens with a child's death and the special challenges faced by working
with
severely handicapped, abused, and dying children. Inspired by the Helen
Keller
story, Darlene Pscheidell Kwarta
sought to work with and change the lives of "forgotten children" who
struggled with emotional and physical trauma.
Readers who enjoy stories about aspiring
teachers succeeding against all odds will relish Kwart's memoir for its
poignant portraits of needy students and the efforts she makes to bring
them
new possibilities in life.
These challenges are outlined in specific
scenarios that move the heart, educating readers about the special
situations
that develop from working with special needs kids. One example is a
field trip
that poses some unusual problems:
"Group
three
kids were hysterical when they saw the escalator and yelled and signed,
“Stairs
are moving, stairs are moving”! David and Joey looked at the
fast-moving stairs
and stared at me like I was crazy. Both had had no training for
stepping on the
first step without falling all the way down. “No problem, gentlemen,
we’ll take
the elevator,” I said.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
It seems that most of them had seen movies where the cable breaks, the
elevator
drops, and the people plunge to their deaths."
These experiences offer unexpected moments
of comic relief as well as important insights into not just the
teacher's
efforts, but the child's thoughts and fears:
“What’s
wrong,
Joey?” I asked.
He signed,
“Animals—not breathing—dead?”
“Well, they used
to be alive, but they died and were stuffed so we can see them in a
museum.”
“Who killed them?”
he sobbed.
“I don’t know.
Maybe they died because they were very, very old. Hey look, there’s a
zebra.
Pretty cool huh?” I signed.
Soon most of the
kids were crying or asking to find a policeman so they could report the
crime
and find the killer."
As Kwarta
moves
through these disparate young lives, many insights about teaching and
learning,
creative problem-solving on the fly, and adapting to unusual
circumstances come
to life to both entertain and educate readers.
At the end
of the
day, Kwarta has made a difference not only in young lives, but by
publishing an
engrossing account of working with youth who hold every bit as much
potential
as any of their able-bodied peers.
Libraries
looking for
personal, lively accounts of teaching special needs children that
embraces the
realities of the job with an unusual combination of humor and
enlightenment
will find Once There Was a Child a
fine addition to collections that have seen popular patron attention
from works
by Torey Haden and others whose teaching efforts are nothing short of
extraordinary.
Return to Index
Bollywood
P.I.:
California Dreaming
Priya Khajuria
Joyful Life
Mastery
978-1-990669-13-2
$16.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.bollywoodpi.com
Mystery
readers
who look for stories that embrace mysteries, misfits, and
Indian-American
culture will find Bollywood P.I.: California Dreaming
an enlightening,
fun foray into a health clinic worker's life.
Jita Patel
is a
clinic worker by day, a potential bride that her mother works to make a
suitable match for, and a wanna-be P.I. whose first case drops into her
lap
with a cousin's disappearance, landing her a missing persons case
replete with
emotional baggage and close connections.
As she is
joined by a
cast of odd fellow misfits who have reason to pursue the truth
themselves, Jita
finds herself involved in much more than a missing relative as she
unearths a
strange crime operation that undercuts the peace and purposes of a
California
lifestyle.
Jita is not
your
usual woman looking for love in right and wrong places. She's a smart,
proactive, determined personality who seeks the truth—even if it is
disguised
under layers of adversity and criminal activity; and even if it
threatens her
own concepts of the future.
Solid action tempered
by psychological depth and a fun, sassy nature that swings full circle
to
embrace readers and perps alike make Bollywood
P.I.: California Dreaming
a compelling story, but what really stands out is
the blend of humor, inspiration, and explorations of Indian culture.
These
elements are thoroughly steeped in and reflected by a heroine so
absorbing that
even readers with little prior knowledge of Indian culture will be
motivated to
learn more.
Themes
of
racism, social expectation both in her family and the wider community
at large,
and dreams tempered by danger emerge, while the action-packed story
lures from
its opening lines: "I leapt backwards and fell to the ground,
rolling
down Vinod’s driveway. The car backed into the road and headed towards
me with
a screech, the sun flashing ominously off the windshield."
Priya
Khajuria
juggles all these seemingly-disparate themes with an attention to
detail and
fun that creates a compelling story as Jita confronts not just danger,
but
romance, presenting unusual reactions to both:
“So, what do you
think about that drink?” he asked.
This is what I thought about that drink:
Naughty Jita: Woohoo! It’s about time! Let’s go, chop
chop!
Nice Jita: I’m not ready.
Naughty Jita: Why not? He’s yummy and there’s an
attraction.
Nice Jita: Slow down, I don’t know him at all.
Naughty Jita: Asti de Tabarnac! At this rate, you’ll
be buried with your chastity pants on."
Bollywood P.I.:
California Dreaming's spicy,
proactive female character is
thoroughly engaging and likeable.
Libraries
looking for P.I. stories that stand out from the crowd with their vivid
characters, action-packed scenes, and juxtaposition of adventure and
cultural
revelations will find Bollywood P.I.: California Dreaming
outstanding,
as will the book clubs that choose it over others as they discuss
Indian
culture, women's choices, and mystery and romance problem-solving.
Return to Index
Cosmic Trap
Matt Cost
Encircle Publications
978-1645994251
$17.99
Website: www.mattcost.net
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Trap-Wolfe-Essex-Mystery/dp/1645994252
Cosmic Trap explores a UAP (Unexplained
Aerial Phenomena) experience, the concurrent mystery of a
missing woman who may be connected to this sighting, and the
involvement of
Seagull Aviation, a governmental defense contractor.
When
local
agents Clay Wolfe and Baylee Baker are tapped to investigate these dual
puzzles, they find not only unexplained connections between them, but
equally
inexplicable human threats. Targeted by assassins, they come to realize
that
every person who has witnessed a UAP has vanished.
The
story opens
with a lobsterman witnessing what appears to be a translucent aerial
lobster
trap. When he tells his story at the bar, predictable scoffing ensues:
“I know what I saw.
You can all fuck off.” Warren
tossed back his beer, got up, and walked off.
“I’ll put it on your tab,” the bartender called to his
disappearing back.
“Best have him pay now before the aliens whisk him
away,” another onlooker added with a chuckle.
“Pluck him from his boat with one huge lobster claw
and take him back down under the ocean to make a stew of him,” greasy
hair
said.
Warren went down the stairs followed by raucous
laughter at his expense."
Clay just so happens to be in the bar when
this story is told. It's unusual to find a professional investigator
throwing
back whiskeys at the local watering hole, but there is much about Cosmic
Trap that lends it an aura of more realistic believability
than most
mysteries.
Baylee, his business partner and possible
romantic interest, also becomes involved. The realistic dilemma of the
dynamics
between them add to and enhance the story as both find their lives on
the line
and their concern over their latest case (and each other) growing.
Matt Cost's prior mysteries
Wolfe Trap, Mind Trap, and
Mouse
Trap introduced Clay's P.I. skills, and this standalone
follow-up adds
further tension and deeper understanding as Clay and Baylee become
involved in
yet another dangerous puzzle.
The draw of a typical mystery lies in
unfolding the layers of a puzzle. The true lure of a superior mystery
lies in
an equal attention to understanding the layers of relationships that
unfold in
response to adversity, and the choices and actions of the characters.
Cosmic
Trap creates the dynamics for a
series of
personal, interpersonal, and social revelations. These entwine with the
mystery
component to create a wonderful tension based on characters who exhibit
realistic flaws as well as compelling attributes.
From conspiracy theories and misplaced files
to attacks that seem random (but which Clay knows are somehow
connected),
readers receive a rollicking good read that careens through situations
that are
truly unexpected and challenging.
Libraries looking for mysteries that are
solidly cemented in realistic scenarios and characters who live and
breathe to
problem-solve in creative new ways will find Cosmic Trap
serves equally
well whether purchased in conjunction or after Wolfe Trap,
Mind Trap, and
Mouse Trap, or as a stand-alone story. Either way,
the tale shines and
proves entertaining, intriguing, and vividly compelling from start to
finish.
Return to Index
Ghost
Hunter: The
Hollow Men
Peter J. White
Independently
Published
979-8847577519
$14.03 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://peterjwhite.weebly.com/
Ghost Hunter: The Hollow Men blends a
novel of suspense with a
mystery and occult overlay that will attract a wider audience than
these genres
usually invite. Its presentation of ex-special forces soldier Max
Sinclair
(whose latest charge involves seeking justice for ghosts) creates a
gripping
account that moves through Max's visions of the dead, perceptions of
righteousness, and quest for redemption—both for his ghostly visitors
and
himself.
Max's entry
into a
bar after a motorcycle ride opens the story with a touch of something
different
as he surveys the scene and realizes that something odd stands out: "What
the hell is it with dead women and red? Do women attracted to danger
and bad
men like red? Did their men dress them before they killed them?"
Max doesn't
just see
spooks. He gives the creeps to those around him by his ability to
acknowledge
what others do not, introducing possibilities others don't want to see.
As his
investigations
and search for truth turn up horrible contemporary disasters and
immerse him in
a quest to set free the dead who have returned, readers come to realize
that
Max's motivation is more than quelling uninvited visions.
He needs to
also
quash the accompanying evil that threatens to absorb his own heart and
mind.
Ghost Hunter: The Hollow Men is the first
novel in a projected
series about the visionary vigilante, opening with a bang of solid
action and
intrigue that moves far from formula writing and into arenas of the
unexpected.
The
characters are
nicely done. Max is a completely compelling protagonist whose concerns
and
strengths are constantly tested by forces both human and supernatural,
beyond
his control, and the story's tension is nicely paced and developed.
The result
will prove
of special appeal to occult fiction readers who normally don't choose
mysteries, as well as mystery readers who have been appreciating the
budding
new genre of paranormal mystery writing.
Peter J.
White and
his Ghost Hunter: The Hollow Men
should be at the top of that list and profiled on library book
recommendation
lists as a standout.
Return to Index
Guilty
Susan Fleet
Music & Mayhem Press
978-1-7321301-3-5
$15.00
Paper/$2.99 ebook
Website: www.susanfleet.com
Ordering: https://mybook.to/Guilty-thriller
Fans of Susan Fleet's prior
Frank Renzi crime thrillers
will welcome the latest addition to the series, Guilty,
which tells of a sadistic serial killer specializing in
kidnapping and murdering women who are unfaithful to their husbands.
From its opening lines, Guilty captures the essence of a man who
metes out his own special
brand of warped justice: "He
couldn't decide what he liked best. The delicious anticipation or the
magnificent feeling of power. He was in control and she wasn't. A bit
like
watching a movie for the second or third time."
Homicide
Detective
Frank Renzi finds clues scarce in his desperate search for the killer
that is
terrorizing New Orleans. All he has to go on is photographs sent by the
killer
to loved ones of his deceased victims. Were they taken before or after
the
murders? Because the latest photo brag to land on his desk is of his
boss's
daughter, saving her becomes the last desperate push by the police to
rescue
one of their own against increasingly impossible odds.
Guilty is about more than a murder
mystery and investigation.
Ultimately, it considers matters of fidelity and honor, both by the
victims and
the criminal mastermind who has appointed himself judge and jury over
their
choices and actions.
Fleet does
an
excellent job of capturing the myriad dynamics of all kinds of
personalities as
they become entwined in the killings.
It turns out
that the
New Orleans murders weren't the perp's first ones, but add to a pattern
of
"Guilty photographs" that mark his modus operandi in other places.
This makes Renzi's job even more complex as he unravels the clues to
follow the
killer's path and purposes.
Fleet crafts
her
story in a manner designed to appeal to both past Renzi readers and
newcomers
to his New Orleans world.
The
cat-and-mouse
game is exceptionally well done, taking time to portray the psychology
motivating all characters. The New Orleans backdrop comes steeped in
local
culture that brings the events to life, while tension is exquisitely
honed and
nicely developed: "He edged forward.
Still no sounds. Flickering light coming through an open doorway to his
left.
Silently, he inched toward the doorway, arms extended, his finger on
the
trigger. No one visible from this angle. He chanced a quick peek around
the
doorjamb. Saw no one, alive or dead. The flickering light came from a
big-screen television set opposite a sofa, the sound muted."
Guilty is an excellent addition to the
Frank Renzi crime series,
yet stands nicely alone as a fine police procedural that comes with the
added
value of a moral and ethical quandary.
Libraries looking for
suspenseful police procedurals that go above and beyond in portraying
both
sides of the story will find Guilty
a
fine acquisition.
Return to Index
He
Deserved to
Die
Anna Ruth
Worten-Fritz
Fulton Books,
Inc.
9781638608776
$13.95 Paper/$9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Deserved-Die-Anna-Ruth-Worten-Fritz/dp/1638608776
He Deserved to Die blends racial inspection with a mystery designed
to capture young
adult interest, with its eye-catching cover attracting initial interest
through
an engaging photo and a title not usually directed to this age group.
Mature
teens who
choose this book receive an immediate graphic portrait of a morning
killing in
a driveway which comes with the victim's thought that "Someone
finally
got the moxy to follow through with one of the many threats I've
received over
the years."
Indicating
(on
Amazon) that this book is for teens and young adults does the story a
disfavor,
in that its broader inspections of murder, racism, and neighborhood
connections
and disconnects would best be absorbed by mature teen into adult
audiences.
These readers will especially appreciate Anna Ruth Worten-Fritz's
attention to
dovetailing a whodunit with broader inspections of life.
The
juxtaposition between the interactions of adults and young adults,
friends and
neighbors and newcomers, and different segments of society and belief
systems
is presented in such a way that the story assumes the special form of a
police
procedural as events play out before, during, and after the murder.
A
deadly game
that turns into a nightmare to implicate neighborhood residents creates
a
different kind of plot and story line that young adults typically don't
receive.
As
adults guide
young adult readers through the detective work that surrounds evidence,
motivation, and entangled lives, the task of identifying the perp and
understanding circumstances of irony and mystery join together with
clues to
keep young audiences engaged and wondering until the end.
Worten-Fritz's
survey of witnesses, victims, preconceptions, and hatred should ideally
garner
attention and lively discussions from mature young adult book club and
reader
groups.
Adults
who
choose to lead such inspections, and libraries that include He
Deserved to
Die for its blend of detective work and social inspection,
will find its
higher-level thinking a plus.
Return to Index
Nature's Bite
Mark Anthony Powers
Hawksbill
Press
978-1737032946
$16.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook
www.markanthonypowers.com
In Nature's Bite, Dr. Phineas Mann is no
ordinary physician, but is assigned to investigate a novel asthma drug
treatment developed by the pharmaceutical corporation SynMedical. It's
a drug
too many will die for in more ways than one, as Phineas and fellow
doctor Marie
Porter find out the hard way.
Deeply wound
into the
story are the political struggles and conflicts of a Republican
president in
his final year in office, the climate change warming that is triggering
increases in asthma and other medical issues, and the special forces
that have
led the FBI to Dr. Mann's doorstep.
In many
ways, Phineas
is just a country doctor. He's operated away from the political
quagmire that
has overtaken the country and cultivates a rich home life with wife
Iris, a foster
beagle, and the more laid-back job a 70-year-old physician should be
enjoying
as a teacher supervising interns and residents.
The last
thing he
should be doing at this point in his life is tackling a medical
conundrum that
holds its roots in politics, climate crisis, and subterfuge.
But,
thankfully for
readers, he does. And Mark Anthony Powers's attention to details of
personal
and political milieus carries readers into the story with a vigor and
attraction that mystery genre formula writing productions too often
lack.
Phineas may
be a senior
citizen now, but he's clearly not ready to hang up his medical
expertise or
investigative skills. Both are demonstrated in a story replete with
exquisite
action, solid attention to the details and conundrums of a personal
lifestyle
that butts heads with an edict to investigate a new drug, and the
ethical and
moral issues which arise as he uncovers new truths that place him in
uncomfortable positions both personally and professionally.
Powers has
created a
medical mystery that goes above and beyond the usual medical dilemma to
add a
special focus and flavor surrounding the ironies and inconsistencies of
politics.
Its special
blend of
satirical reflection and heart-pounding action makes Nature's
Bite not just a cut above the ordinary for mystery libraries
seeking medical thrillers, but worthy of recommendation to book club
readers. This
audience will find much food for thought and discussion, providing
opportunities to contrast its world-changing themes with other genre
approaches
to medical suspense writing.
Return to Index
Particles in the Air
Jenna Podjasek, MD
Bancroft Press
978-1-61088-538-6
$25.00
https://www.amazon.com/Particles-Air-Mallory-Medical-Thriller/dp/1610885376
Readers of medical thrillers
who look for powerful female
protagonists will find Particles in the
Air the strong story of Dr.
Mallory Hayes, a CDC investigator who tackles the sudden spread of a
puzzling
disease after a tsunami hits the coast of Southern California.
Mallory's
discovery
of a strange new virus and its properties are only the beginning of the
story,
because soon she is tasked with understanding not just its incarnation,
but its
origins. And these involve a strange series of uncommon associations
between
scientists and madmen which portend doom to the world if the virus is
not
contained.
Dr. Jenna Podjasek employs
medical knowledge, processes,
and her knowledge of disease progression to create a winning
combination of
authoritative real-world knowledge and fictional drama.
Medical facts interspersed
with the plot create a
realistic backdrop that define and educate readers about the parameters
of the
problem: "Bartonella causes a rare
type of local bacterial infection associated with lymph node swelling.
It is
known in the medical community as “Cat Scratch Disease” and is usually
treated
easily with antibiotics. In comparison to patients with a normal,
functioning
immune system, immunodeficient patients exposed to certain strains of
the bacteria
experience a more widespread, potentially serious infection."
Pair this with an attention
to creating strong,
authoritative characters and women in positions of power who must
translate
their problem-solving abilities to an unprecedented medical threat, for
a
gripping story of subterfuge, intrigue, and drama that holds twists and
turns
many won't see coming.
One of the special strengths
of Particles in the Air lies in its
concurrent subplots of a
professional woman considering a relationship in the midst of what
evolves to
be a terrorist threat.
As the nation unites, so
does her heart. New
possibilities expand plot and person to create a vivid, memorable read
backed
by a professional immunologist's consideration of disease and health
processes
and possibilities.
Libraries looking for
medical thrillers with powerful
social and psychological backdrops will find Particles
in the Air an outstanding choice.
Return to Index
A
Portion of
Malice
Lloyd Jeffries
Buckminster
Publishing
979-8-9855269-0-5
$2.99 ebook
Website: www.lloydjeffries.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/gp/r.html?C=2Z24ENUUAEWUK&K=DSMJXZ5Z919B&M=urn:rtn:msg:202209251633099fea2bffa5bc4cebad1ae3675510p0na&R=KQU2OID8NI88&T=C&U=http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG8ZPY7D?
Book
1 of the
new Ages of Malice series, A Portion of Malice,
gives thinking thriller
readers a run for their money and a discourse on possibilities as it
surveys a
dark mystery, a secret society, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Emery Merrick,
who is just about to
commit suicide when he is drawn into a situation that injects magic
into his
world.
Think a Dan Brown (The Da Vinci Code) novel, but with a
foray into suspense that creates the back story of "a
simple man mixed up in things about which he should never
know."
Emery's
journey
into apocalypse, redemption, and beyond brings readers into a tightly
constructed story packed with satisfying twists and turns with an
attention to
detail and discovery that turns religion on end (even though it isn't a
religious
novel per se) and revamps history itself.
While
Emery's
introduction sets the stage for the novel's multifaceted approach, the
opening
scene is set in Jerusalem at the time of Christ, when events between
Cain and
Christ create a scenario of anguish, redemption, and visions of a
bloodthirsty
god that exacts a terrible price for salvation.
The
portion of
malice which is the subject of this story and the underlying foundation
of the
series begins here, evolving into a first-person journey beginning in
Dubai in
the United Arab Emirates, where the first-person protagonist confronts "the
memories of the one guy in recorded history whose sins are so vast they
can’t
be forgiven."
As
contemplations of Gods, vampires, and insanity cross the narrator's
mind,
readers are drawn into a scenario spiced by events of the past and dark
portents of the future.
Is
humanity on
its way out, and can one man change its destructive trajectory?
Lloyd
Jeffries
creates a special blend of political and paranormal thriller which will
delight
even seasoned suspense readers with its unexpected twists and turns,
which
appear throughout the story as surprising, haunting potentials.
His
ability to
firmly cement past and present events with future danger, his attention
to
crafting realistic characters and dilemmas which hold world-changing
possibilities beyond their individual concerns and lives, and his
facility for
injecting spiritual contemplation throughout ("I think about
the
implications of Cain as God, of Abel, of predestination, of
omniscience, and of
all Cain has revealed.") results in a story that grabs
attention and
doesn't let go.
It's
difficult
to sustain a uniform sense of tension and delightful surprise with so
many
elements intersecting, but Jeffries dances through these disparate
special
interests and lives like a ballet dancer, juxtaposing logical thoughts
with
impossible scenarios.
The
result is a
thought-provoking adventure that offers a foray into supernatural
territory and
pits humanity against apocalyptic history and forces that would destroy
it.
Thriller
and
paranormal fiction readers looking for action-packed scenes that are
surprisingly thought-provoking in their outcomes will find A
Portion of
Malice simply outstanding.
Libraries
who
choose it for their thriller collections will want to recommend it not
just to
the usual thriller audience, but to book club discussion groups
interested in
powerful fictional journeys into philosophical, spiritual, and
political
territory.
Return to Index
Tell Anyone
You Want
That I Was Here
Gordon MacKinney
Trailmark Media
979-8985736823 $14.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMDC67TD?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860
"In the newspaper business, it's better to be
annoying than
forgettable."
Nikki
Hightower is
determined to make an impression to land the job of features reporter
at the
Chicago Tribune, moving up from being a crime reporter. The lunch date
which is
part of this interview seems to portend her success, which she's about
to
cement by making an unforgettable impression.
However,
when offered
the opportunity, Nikki realizes it's a catch-22, as the crusty
newspaperman
serves her an edict: "I want one
idea that you're willing to bet your career on."
The events
that
unfold are more than Nikki bets her career on. She ups the ante by
betting her
life.
Readers of
suspense
and thriller stories who look for plots powered by a proactive young
woman's
relationship with her father, loss, and investigation into
circumstances which
test her reporter's tenacity will find Tell
Anyone You Want That I Was Here a study in psychological
suspense and
intrigue. The story firmly rests on Nikki's opposing emotions as her
life
careens away from its set course and goals, thrusting her into
mercurial,
dangerous waters.
As she moves
away
from success and back to the questions that lie in the small town of
Willigsville and in her past, Nikki ventures into territory at once
familiar
and alien as she tackles "perfectly flawed" people to arrive at
buried truths that shake her world and its convictions.
As an
ex-military
woman, Nikki harbors the regimented response to adversity that keeps
her courage
and initiative high. As a controversial reporter, she's honed a sharp
eye to
uncovering uncomfortable and hidden truths, exposing them to the public
eye
with a finesse that led to her success in the newspaper world.
As a
daughter, she's
now tasked with moving outside her comfort zone and into crime scenes
that
involve dangerous risks and life-threatening encounters.
Readers
receive a
constant barrage of satisfyingly unexpected twists as the story evolves. Gordon MacKinney excels in
crafting just the right
degree of tension, paired with psychological inspections, to keep
readers
immersed in a changing mystery and deeply involved in the quagmire
Nikki keeps
sinking into as she pursues different goals and difficult answers.
The
psychological
connections between Nikki and other characters bolster the action to
keep
readers thoroughly engrossed in dilemmas that range from professional
ethical
and moral challenges to personal heartache.
As Sheriff
Joe and
others become part of the equation (and, sometimes, the problem),
readers
receive an engrossing story that spins a fine yarn of intrigue and new
possibilities.
Libraries
that look
for powerfully-written thrillers which excel in both suspense and
psychological
connections will find Tell Anyone You
Want That I Was Here a solid read that explores the
revelations shaping an
aspiring reporter's life.
Return to Index
Umbilical
Jane Kay
Atmosphere Press
978-1639885312
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Umbilical opens in modern-day Namibia, where a small
chartered plane's crash involves an undocumented baby and a nun hiding
the
child.
Thirty years
is a
long time to percolate the mystery surrounding this event, but it
ripples
forward to enfold future generations in a surprising manner, and that
is one of
the hallmarks of strength of Jane Kay's Umbilical.
Seasoned
mystery
readers will quickly come to find that Umbilical
is not your tradition whodunit. It's a literary suspense story of
actions,
consequences, and inheritance that drives a powerful series of
interactions and
revelations between seemingly disparate characters that are somehow
linked by a
singular event that cannot be readily explained.
As the
ripples
through time continue to unfold, readers are treated to a suspenseful
story
that embraces love, rage, and circumstances which reveal each
character's
simmering years of secrets: "Ella
breathed fast, anger boiling up from the deep places where she’d stored
it for
decades. How she detested his entitled authoritarian manner, which made
him the
only one who was above reproach and everyone else somehow less worthy
and
therefore fair game for judgements and criticisms purely because they
weren’t
born the mighty Jack Moore. She felt as if she was about to choke on
her
anger."
Kay's
attention to
contrasting cultural and social differences as the story unfolds
creates an
especially thought-provoking milieu. “African
sentiments are not Western sentiments...” it is cautioned as
special
interests and cultural influences clash.
The result
is a
mystery steeped in Southern Africa which embraces family angst,
generations of
behaviors and codes of ethics, and choices that lead to attempts to
make peace
with the past in order to move ahead in the present.
Readers and
libraries
looking for suspenseful mysteries that supersede genre definitions will
find Umbilical as
powerful in its story of revelation as
it is in its exploration of close-held secrets and answers to ongoing
shame and
questions.
Return to Index
The
Whispering Woman
Trish MacEnulty
Prism Light Press
978-1-7375751-7-7
$17.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Whispering-Women-Delafield-Malloy-Investigation/dp/1737575175
The Whispering Woman pairs the
investigative activities of Louisa
Delafield and Ellen Malloy, two young women who never saw themselves as
investigators, much less connected to one another by circumstances
beyond their
control.
Trish
MacEnulty
presents a satisfyingly original take on the mystery and murder
thriller genre
from the start in creating historical fiction set in New York's Gilded
Age and
tackling the concurrent themes of class, gender, and economic status.
These
work alongside puzzling events that reach out to grasp the story's main
characters and their readers alike.
The turn of
the
century world of 1901 opens with a headline reporting the murder of an
ex-pillar of society (now financially bankrupt) whose body is
discovered in a
hotel room.
The scene
quickly moves
to Louisa's consultation with a lawyer who informs her that the
family's
inheritance money has been exhausted. Louisa readily admits that she
hasn't
been paying attention ("Too busy
with work, she had told herself, but the real reason was that she
didn’t want
to face the truth. She much preferred the illusion that their small
well of
money would magically refill itself the way it seemed to do in all the
wealthy
families.").
Nor has she
been
paying attention to the fact that her station in life has been dipping
steadily, and that the Delafields are now poor. Marriage, the usual
solution to
maintaining one's wealth, is not an option because her father's actions
have
tarnished the family name, as well.
Given all
this, the
relationship that evolves between Louisa and Ellen, who comes from a
different
social class herself, is unexpected and unusual, fraught with insights
each
faces as conundrums force them to work together under extraordinary
circumstances.
MacEnulty's
ability
to contrast these disparate personalities and their experiences to
bring forth
the underlying strengths and attitudes of each character is one facet
that sets
this historical mystery apart from many others.
The social,
political, and investigative story makes for thoroughly engrossing
reading,
powered by two equally capable young women who find their lives changed
by
their association, actions, and their consequences.
Also
especially
thought-provoking is the fact that other opportunities belay the usual
mystery's focus on non-investigators who are somehow intrinsically
drawn to the
life of a P.I. In this case, the women are reluctant participants who
also have
other choices, as in Louisa's contemplation of her other options: "It seemed that her readers enjoyed
hearing about the seamier side of life. She supposed she could find
more topics
like that, and the raise had improved their financial situation
somewhat. She
should be satisfied. There was no need to go chasing after doctors and
abductors."
The result
offers
more of a flavor of history and psychology than most stories about
women
sleuths, injecting realistic and thought-provoking insights about not
just
their investigative prowess, but the kinds of options they face in
re-envisioning their lives.
The
Whispering Woman is described as a "Delafield
& Malloy Investigation,"
which also defines not a newfound career path so much as a course of
action. It
will attract beyond the usual genre of women investigators with its
special
focus on social status and the struggles turn-of-the-century women
faced, and
is highly recommended for libraries seeking exceptional acquisitions in
not
just mysteries, but women's literature.
Return to Index
White Wolf
Cary Allen Stone
Independently
Published
979-8843277468
$9.99 Paper/$.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/WHITE-WOLF-Cary-Allen-Stone/dp/B0B7QR5CC4
White Wolf is a political thriller that
pits a SEAL team against
forces that would take over the U.S. government. More is at stake than
a
singular terrorist operation—democracy itself is teetering on the edge
of civil
war.
Sound
familiar? White Wolf mirrors the
atmosphere,
concerns, and clashing forces of modern times in America, embedding the
political component with action-packed scenarios that will feel eerily
familiar
as forces on both sides square off.
"The White House was the symbol of the power and
majesty of
America." It also represents the promise of freedom—but not
its
definition, which is also under attack by forces that would change this
definition of the notion of "freedom for all."
From a
president who
would return "by any means" to the office to create 'Thorneland' to
abolish the Constitution, Congress, and all symbols of a democracy to
accusations of a stolen election which features dangerous
undercurrents, White Wolf
represents a thriller that
has roots in real possibility.
And that's
what makes
it so powerful. That, and the attention of Cary Allen Stone to
incorporating
present-day events into fictional backdrops that then extrapolate a
future
seething with confrontation, power plays, and unusual twists from
different
directions.
Both liberal
and
conservative readers will find White Wolf
scorchingly action-packed and hard to put down. It contrasts the
diverse
perspectives of all sides concerned with not just democratic processes,
but
their own special interests.
The assaults
and
battles on American soil are reminiscent of events in war-torn nations
around
the world, but they're taking place here, in an arena challenged not
just by
modern visions and interests, but past precedent and ideals.
Through
these vivid
scenes, readers receive a barely-disguised fictional survey that
prompts them
to think further about bigger pictures, underlying forces at work, and
the
motivations and actions of individuals who affect and direct the course
of a
much-revised nation.
The
depiction of the
actions and conundrums of the Delta Team that finds itself tasked with
not only
saving the President, but the nation, makes for a particularly
involving set of
scenarios that simmer with vitality and social and political
examination.
Libraries
and readers
seeking thrillers that mirror modern events but take an extra step into
futuristic confrontations will find White
Wolf a thoroughly engrossing scenario of a future America in
which nobody
is safe.
Return to Index
Yesterday's
Over
Becky Flade
Tirgearr Publishing
ASIN: B0BFXJJ67C
$1.49 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFXJJ67C
Yesterday's Over is the third book in the
romantic suspense Philly
Heat series. It explores the evolving passion and intrigue surrounding
two very
different individuals: Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Trudy Beasley
and
Forensic anthropologist Benjamin Roberts, who are drawn together when
bones are
unearthed under a row house after an explosion.
Their
related jobs
are linked by disparate approaches to problem solving. Trudy relies on
gut
instinct as much as her investigative and legal savvy, while Ben views
the
puzzle quite differently.
It feels
unlikely
that these two will wind up in love as well as professionally entwined,
but
opposites sometimes attract, especially when cemented by a growing
dilemma that
tests both their personal attraction to one another and their
professional
mettles.
The story
opens with
the aftermath of the explosion. Trudy is at the helm in a morgue,
determined to
employ her skills to unearth answers from smoky remains: "She
couldn’t bring back the homes they lost, the lives destroyed,
the memories buried under cindered rubble, but this she could do and
would
without complaint."
Her job is
to find
impossible answers. In fact, death is her job (as is stated in the
opening
lines of her story). Her task is also to maintain professional
distance. But
Ben's entry into the case and his inquiries place Trudy in a hard
position both
personally and professionally as events unfold to not just embrace them
both,
but threaten their perceptions and relationship.
Becky
Flade's ability
to craft a story that reflects romance and intrigue alike demonstrates
a
prowess at depicting both. Strong, compelling characters demonstrate
their
abilities and their vulnerabilities as death and adversity marks their
passage
through past and present conflicts.
Her
dialogues are
particularly astute, contrasting the emotions and interactions between
these
main characters with often-passionate encounters that reflect their
individuality as much as their evolving connections:
"I didn’t mean it when I said thank you for the new
sofa. I can
choose and buy my furniture. I’ve been doing those things for myself my
whole
adult life before meeting you. I don’t want to be coddled. I’m a woman.
A
grown-ass woman.”
“I see that. Believe me.”
“Everybody keeps checking in on me. Like you, being polite, using soft
tones like I’m a skittish kitten hiding in a wheel well. Alonzo, Buzz,
Kylee,
Lexi, Mike, even Sadie and Ellie. No one wants to tell me what’s going
on with
the investigation. I’m the one who said from the beginning this was a
big deal.
You would’ve been completely content studying your bones, writing a
report, and
calling it a day. Hey, can’t upset the hysterical female. I’m not
hysterical.
I’m pissed. And I feel bad for your damn cat.” She wiped the tears from
her
face. “I’m not crying because I’m upset. I’m crying because I’m
furious.”
Flade
utilizes just
the right blend of tension and emotional connection to give her
characters
authentic, strong, realistic responses to their pleasures as well as
their
challenges.
The result
is a
suspenseful romantic story that operates on more than one level. Yesterday's Over will especially delight
readers who look for stories of already-powerful women who evolve not
because
of male attraction, but in conjunction with what life throws at them.
Libraries
seeking
stories of romance and intrigue will find Yesterday's
Over stands nicely apart from the series with its
Philly-steeped atmosphere
and portrait of investigators who must solve the puzzles of yesterday
in order
to move ahead into their futures, both as individuals and
professionals, and
with one another.
Return to Index
All is Fair
Michael Kenneth Smith
Independently Published
979-8353656456
$14.99
https://www.amazon.com/All-Fair-Michael-Kenneth-Smith/dp/B0BGSV51V1
All
is Fair
opens in Poland in 1938, setting the stage for the history and
experiences
affecting trainee fighter pilot Jan Orlinski, who witnesses the
invasion of his
country by German forces in 1939. He finds himself far from both his
home and
his love when he is shot down in England and captured by Germans.
From Jon's initial passion
to become a fighter pilot and
his training to his graduation as an airman, his blossoming
relationship with
Sophie, and the interjection of war which changes everything, Michael
Kenneth
Smith creates a moving, memorable account of World War II which
personalizes
the times and military experiences through Jon's eyes and his growth as
both a
pilot and an individual.
Whether actively fighting or
in captivity (twice!), Jon
maintains his sense of purpose, person, and survival instincts which
serve him
well under many changing conditions.
Jon's encounter with all
manner of people and ethnic
backgrounds introduces him to various situations and perspectives which
hone
his own ethical and moral outlook on life and its inhabitants: “We are very much alike, you and I,” the
little man continued. “You are wanted by the German police, and I soon
will be
too. You see, I am a Jew. Any day will come a knock on the door from
the
Gestapo. They will take me and my wife away, never to be seen again.”
As Jon struggles to survive
his concentration camp
experience and envisions a normal life in a world that has been ravaged
and
changed by war, readers gain a more personal perspective of life during
these
times than most stories offer. Strong characterization and an attention
to
details of place and communities bring these milieus to life in a
manner most
military fiction can't match.
While its focus on military
engagements and war make it
highly recommended for libraries strong in military historical fiction,
All is Fair's concurrent examination
of
not just survival and conflict, but matters of the heart open this
world to
non-military-fiction readers, as well.
This audience will gain a
full-faceted perspective of the
war's effects on all kinds of people and ethic groups, and will better
understand the European arena that changed, on so many levels, from the
war's
experiences and participants.
Return to Index
The American
Outsider
Homa Pourasgari
Linbrook Press
978-0-9779780-3-8
Hardcover: $22, Trade
paperback: $15.95, ebook: $7.59
http://www.theamericanoutsider.com
The American Outsider is a novel about
Tessa Walker, a
forty-year-old vet who has long been concerned about animal welfare.
Her charge
to help
animals was instigated by her witnessing the slaughter of dolphins when
she was
sixteen, but lately that incident has been replaying in her mind,
sparked by
modern events that portend the same violence. And so she journeys to
Japan on a
mission of activism to prevent something she was helpless to stymie as
a
teenager.
Tessa is
passionate
about her calling, even as others try to dissuade her from her purpose.
She
still suffers from panic attacks and nightmares from that long-ago
experience,
carrying the scars of it into her adult life as new visions of
slaughter buffet
her world. Events in Japan lend to this future possibility,
supercharging her
determination to become a more effective protector of animals: "She covered her ears to block out the
cries of dolphins. In her head, she saw images of Japanese fishermen
driving
them into a cove to slaughter them. She heard their screams when she
woke up;
she heard their screams when she went to bed."
As readers
explore
Tessa's vivid nightmares and rationale for injecting herself into
another
country's culture and affairs, the novel spins a compelling voice of
protest
and change during which one woman learns she can make a difference—but
only if
she takes a big step into unknown waters.
In some
ways, Tessa
has been preparing for this moment all her life. In others, she is
making moves
to become even more active, because the protests she's a part of are no
longer
changing reality: "...not much had
changed in Taiji to the chagrin of activists around the world. All
their
demonstrations had not produced the result they had hoped for."
Readers
interested in
novels about political awakening, animal welfare issues, international
relationships
in general, and Japanese culture in particular will relish Tessa's
journey as
she steps into a role she'd never imagined being in.
Libraries
that look
for stories replete in examples of activism and involvement will find The American Outsider as well-steeped in
Japanese-American relationships and perceptions as it is about evolving
animal
welfare issues. The result is a vibrant story highly recommended for
its review
of obsessions, relationships, and struggles with panic attacks and love.
Return to Index
Aren
& Élise
Ettenig Sayam
Writer’s
Branding
978-1-63945-541-6
$TBA Hardcover/$TBA
Paperback/$TBA ebook
Website: https://ettenigsayam.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Aren & Élise retells the biblical story of Abraham and Sarah
using quite different
contemporary, older figures. It revolves around single, fifty-year-old
New
England teacher Élise Douchet and widowed sixty-two-year-old engineer
Aren
Karajian, who meet under unexpected circumstances to evolve an equally
startling relationship in their later years.
Relatively
few
novels address the subject of romance and relationship-building outside
of
youth, but Ettenig Sayam crafts a thought-provoking story of the kinds
of
questions that arise over later-life commitment and relationships.
As
readers
follow Aren and Élise's journey and the anticipations and concepts that
are rooted
not in the naiveté of youth, but the presumptions and experiences of
older age,
they will find many revelations come into play as the two contemplate a
surprising twist to their lives.
One
of the most
compelling aspects of this story lies in its ability to grasp the
thought-processes of the mature mind as it considers new opportunities:
"I’m
not trying to poison you against him. It’s just that you have high
expectations
of people, and I just want to warn you that not everyone can live up to
your
ideals. It doesn’t mean they’re bad or that they’re trying to harm you.
Just
open your heart and be ready to forgive—if this guy deserves it.”
These
two adults
already have forged relationships, experienced love, and then moved on
into
life as singles. Their friendships, family, and influences are much
more
studied and aged than those of typical younger lovers, and thus their
reactions
are much more seasoned, influenced as much by experience as they are by
spontaneous reactions.
As
the evolving
couple faces another unprecedented twist that should theoretically not
be
possible later in life, readers receive a foray into maturity, new
realizations, and decisions that belay the wisdom of years and move
into realm
of spiritual enlightenment.
Ettenig
Sayam
embraces all these growth elements with a fine attention to exploring
the
prospects of growing old together as a couple faces many late-in-life
transition points.
Libraries
and
readers seeking novels replete in discovery and growth will find a
lovely
portrait of both in Aren & Élise, a study
in love and life lessons
that arrive come at any age.
Return to Index
The Dove is
Dead
John Uttley
Independently
Published
9798847657624
$10.38 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dove-Dead-Unholy-Trilogy/dp/B0BGQNLB85
The Dove is Dead tackles a late-in-life
crisis experienced by two
men, Bob Swarbrick and Richard Shackleton, who are in their seventies
and on
the cusp of the greatest change in their lives. These contrast with the
reflections of younger Amy, who also is on the cusp of very different
realizations.
Readers who
choose
this concluding book in The
Unholy Trinity, which presents
the social history of the working and lower middle class in Britain,
might
think themselves at a disadvantage for not reading the book's
predecessors. But
one of the pleasures in this title is that one can enter it without
prior
knowledge and still receive a rich foray into the lives and shifting
perspectives of three generations of a close family.
The story
opens from
the perspective of a college girl Amy Shackleton: “You
can be woke and still be sensible,” I’d say. “It’s all about being
alive to the wrongs of the past, which isn’t everything in history.”
And then
I’d add as a joke, “But that includes everything that’s happened in the
West
since the industrial revolution started.” No, nobody ever laughed. I’ve
never
wanted to rebel against my upbringing in a big way though. It had been
good.
More than anything, I’d hate to be seen as a poor little rich girl,
when I know
that what I should feel is both privileged and grateful."
This
contemporary
observation dovetails nicely with the prior novels, presenting a recap
that
easily educates newcomers with a quick outline of characters and
history. It
opens the story of an family that experiences turbulence, love, and
changing
social conditions that test their values and perspectives.
As scenes
evolve in
movie-like staccato play, readers receive thought-provoking insights
into family
relationships and ideals that teeter on the cusp of social and
psychological
evolution: "...this was the time of
the Black Lives Matter campaign, which I strongly felt that the whole
of
Britain should take to heart. It was one of the things I disagreed with
Dad on,
who saw it as just one initiative among many that had taken place
during his
life."
Although
British
politics are part of the discussions that evolve between adults and the
next
generation, there is no requirement that readers be familiar with or
understand
the nuances or history of any of these events. The smooth reflections
incorporate these facets as needed to create a thoroughly engaging,
understandable milieu.
Readers who
enjoy
stories of generational attitudes, social change, and how relationships
are
tested and shift under the quicksand of political and social struggle
will
particularly appreciate John Uttley's attention to creating dialogues
that
clarify and change hearts and minds: "In
the outside world, there was a terrible murder of a young woman walking
home in
London. I was so angry about it, telling Dad that all men were rapists
at
heart. I was surprised that he didn’t totally disagree. “I don’t think
you can
ever change all men for good, however much you educate them. We try to
make it
better, but the devil will always be in the mix.” That wasn’t an
acceptable
answer to me."
Through
solidly-constructed, believable protagonists are tempered by the
first-person
opinions and observations of Amy, readers gain insights into both the
later
years of thinking processes that are tempered by time and experience
and the
ideals and illusions of youth.
As faith,
community,
life, and death touch Amy's world, readers are drawn to the
interactions
between individuals who embrace different facets of change in disparate
manners, growing to appreciate their loved ones all the more for the
impermanence of life itself: "I
looked at Mum and Dad and realised how much they meant to me. They
wouldn’t be
with me forever."
The result may be a
fitting end for prior readers of The Unholy Trinity, but will prove an exceptional beginning for
new readers dropped into this pursuit of meaning and purpose from life,
politics, relationships, and growing older.
Libraries interested in
fiction that embraces a powerful
sense of place, faith, and family will find The Dove is Dead a
thought-provoking contrast between generations as British society
shifts. Its
insights about truth, identity, hope, and family legacy will linger in
the mind
long after the story's conclusion.
Return to Index
Ginger
Star
Diana McDonough
Independently
Published
978-1-7337319-1-1
$19.99
www.dianamcdonough.com
Ginger Star
opens in Ghana in 1719, where Amari and Kwasi are enjoying a friendly
hunting
competition when they run into a Fante warrior who works with the slave
ships,
capturing souls for servitude.
Their
capture
and journey to Jamaica is fraught with battles between ships and crews.
Their
introduction to various forms of privilege and prejudice will keep
readers
thinking about the incarnations of both as the story unfolds against
the
backdrop of pirates, settlers, and those who consider other human
beings as
fodder for trade and abuse.
While
Amari and
Kwasi open the story, a host of other characters are introduced to add
a
full-bodied flavor to the tale from different perspectives.
Cabin
boy Ronnie
Shepherd and Marshall Fergusson of Ramble House Plantation are
juxtaposed
against Adria's life of advantage in Jamaica and the secret she harbors
against
all odds. The hopes, dreams, and heirs to the Ginger Star plantation
intersect
on various social and cultural levels to evoke change in not just one
other,
but the world around them.
Diana
McDonough
crafts a novel replete in Jamaican history, the atmosphere of the
piracy that
swirls around disparate lives and changes them, and the follies of men
and
women.
Guilt
and the
reality of closely-held secrets that will ultimately prove impossible
to keep dog
Amari's increasing involvement with the Maroons, a tribe of escaped
slaves and
Taino Indians. The Maroon’s type warfare threatens not just freedom and
the
status quo of plantation life, but the fabric of colonial society whose
expectations and perceptions keeps the story riveting and multifaceted.
Ginger Star's
story of prejudice, redemption, time and love is highly recommended for
libraries interested in thought-provoking tales of the Caribbean and
lives that
evolve into new possibilities.
Ginger Star is a story of struggle,
strife, and the rejuvenation of a
stowaway’s life who finds a home
and hope against all odds. Ginger
Star is the
powerful
story of grief, courage, and optimism.
Return to Index
Hospital!
Kyle Bradford Jones
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-090-9
$17.95 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Hospital-Medical-Satire-Unhealthy-Proportions/dp/1685130909
Hospital!:
A
Medical Satire of Unhealthy Proportions opens with a pointed
chapter title
("Dr. Camus is a Jerk") that displays satirical and metaphorical
strength from its opening sentence: "When
Dr. Camus powered down the hallway of The Peloton Forward Crescendo
Care Amicus
Health Priority Catalyst Wellness Code Blue Memorial Hospital of Her
Motherly
Excellence (slogan: “We are a hospital”), the tail of his rumpled white
doctor’s coat trailed behind him like the cape of an angry
nineteenth-century
magician."
With one vivid scene, Kyle
Bradford Jones displays a
prowess at capturing both the ironies of long-winded medical center
titles that
attempt to include metadata for Internet search engines to find and the
persona
of a doctor who may be a jerk—but is possibly a magical one.
The scorn and superiority he
emits is succinctly
described not just by his countenance, but by probes of an attitude
which is
typical of too many doctors: "Camus
didn’t just want you to know how much he despised you. It had to be
joined with
the absolute certainty that he was better than you in every way, even
though he
was a man of few genuine talents."
The insights into the
political, social, and
psychological structure of the medical community come to light
throughout this
book. It's a satire of medical humor sure to attract anyone who has
either
worked in or interacted with medical personnel.
Jones adopts a delightful
tone as he reviews a host of
medical conundrums, adding his own voice as 'observer' to these matters
to
spice the exposé:
“The problem is that the hospital simply
can’t afford typical intensive anger management therapy for you,”
Rosencrantz
the CEO said as he put his custom-made Sutor Mantellassi-shoed feet on
the
mammoth, imported-mahogany desk that consumed less than one-sixteenth
of his
office. [Narrator’s aside: In case you don’t understand what the
previous sentence
says about this character, it means that he wore very expensive
clothes, had a
large, exquisite desk, and had an enormous office. I mean, come on, do
I have
to spell out everything? Really? Do you know how hard it is to be a
narrator?!]"
From the esteemed doctor's
downfall and reappearance as a
new man to a psychiatric patient's escape and the escapades which
follow an
attempted hypnotism by the Amazing Ralph to change undesirable
behaviors, Jones
creates a romp through a world both believable and extraordinarily
ironic.
Readers looking for solid
examples of contemporary
satire, as well as those more than lightly experienced with the
hospital system
and the doctors who operate on inflated egos, fantasy, and
self-important
perceptions, will find Hospital!: A
Medical Satire of Unhealthy Proportions offers non-stop
laughter alongside
thought-provoking inspections.
Libraries looking for modern
satirical novels that take
an extra step into entertainment value will find Hospital!:
A Medical Satire of Unhealthy Proportions a unique and
fun choice.
Return to Index
The Journey
of
Karoline Olsen
Ann Hanigan Kotz
BookPress Publishing
978-1-947305-51-9
$24.95 Hardcover/$7.95 ebook
www.bookpresspublishing.com
The Journey of Karoline Olsen is a novel
about an extraordinary
undertaking made by a woman whose husband dies in 1905, prompting her
to bring
his body on a long journey via wagon as she recalls their marriage and
move
from Norway.
At this
point, it
should be noted that Karoline Olsen's fictional journey is based on the
author's family stories and experiences. This lends the account an aura
of
authenticity created by the author's personal connection to her story.
It
should be read as fiction, but this foundation lends to an immersive
experience
that comes to life for Karoline's readers.
From the
beginning,
one of the striking notes of this story is the sense of time's slow
passage
which is reflected in journeys by wagon across prairies and wilderness.
Descriptions of these processes are solidified by insights into the
trials produced
by even the simple process of bringing a body home for burial: "The frozen blocks were packed around
the body, which was wrapped in a heavy canvas tarp to keep it from
deteriorating until she could put him into the ground. Karoline had
traveled
more than two weeks to make the trip from Soldier to Cedar Falls to
retrieve
him. Now, she needed make the journey home."
From solo
trips
cross-state to acts of kindness and support which enable Karoline to
achieve
her goals, Ann Hanigan Kotz cultivates a personal perspective to the
character's actions that embraces her thoughts and experiences about
love,
marriage, and survival: "Making her
way home, carrying her husband’s body, Karoline had nothing but time to
think
about her husband, her marriage, her life. The last time she had seen
him, just
as he was walking away from her to start his trip, he had broken her
heart for
the final time. There had been no words since then. And there would
never be words again."
As her life
unfolds,
Kotz is especially attentive to creating passages that describe
Karoline's
expanding world both within and outside her marriage: "Their
conversations always started with something less personal
but then evolved into their questions about men and marriage as well as
their
own pains and scars as wives and mothers."
Whether
speaking of
the process of an immigrant journeying to a new country and home,
making
friends, raising family, or surviving marriage and death, Kotz captures
this
world of changing lives. She profiles Karoline's cleverness in trying
to
protect daughter Betsi's reputation and life as well as the progression
of 22
years of Karoline's often-stormy marriage to Kristopher.
Kotz winds
history,
love, and survival issues into a thoroughly moving story that will
especially
appeal to women who look for history-based novels that come alive with
the
quickening of both relationships and survival tactics. The result is a
story
that winds through early 1900s America and the trajectory of a woman's
heart.
Libraries
looking for
solid representations of these lives and their struggles, whether from
choices
and circumstances or changing interpersonal relationships tested by the
rigors
of new worlds and opportunities, will find The
Journey of Karoline Olsen a compelling recommendation.
Return to Index
Just City
Olga Tymofiyeva
Independently
Published
979-8-3507-0178-4
$10.00
Website: www.olga-tymofiyeva.com/just-city
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLJ3X1QZ?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420
Just City is a novella that teens, new
adults, and adults can all
enjoy. 21-year-old Nathan dreams of creating a successful start-up
company; but
to do this, he needs money.
The lure of
such
draws him into a scientific experiment involving a virtual reality game
in
which he can literally see the world through another person's eyes and
experiences. It all feels like easy money until Nathan discovers the
downside
to the game, and the reality of its impact.
As Nathan
navigates
both his dream of pitching a successful idea to New Entrepreneur
Incubator, the
most prestigious incubator of start-ups in the San Francisco Bay Area,
and the
nightmare of the cost of making money to do so, readers will find his
world all
too familiar and frightening.
For a young
man, both
his goals and ideals are lofty: "I
imagine myself moving my body by pulling invisible strings to
accomplish
things, driven by my willpower. I can do anything I want if only I put
my mind
to it. I reflect on my school successes and how my life has been a
solid game
so far and will be even better soon. I feel the power. I imagine being
recognized at parties as one of the “top 10 entrepreneurs under the age
of 25”
and feel an adrenaline rush."
The
adrenaline rush
he anticipates from being a quick and early success is mitigated by
that he
experiences from becoming immersed in technology that is clearly over
his head.
And in it.
Between
family belief
systems and his determination to earn his own money to seed his dream
to the
values that have driven and formed his young life which are duly tested
in Just City, readers of all ages
receive
an inspection which is more thought-provoking than most: "The
joy of seeing someone in need being helped was profound. I
wished all defective, lonely toys could be found, helped, and cared
for. I
thought I would have done the same as that girl. My biggest inner wish
was to
help those who were lonely. Somewhere along the way, that desire was
suppressed
by the thought that not everyone deserves help. But the memories of the
joy
from reading that book always stayed with me."
This special
brand of
higher-level thinking is atypical in novels directed towards this age
group, but
seeing the world through Nathan's eyes and ideals creates a compelling
story
whose draw lies not in technological challenges, but matters of the
heart and
soul.
Readers who
choose Just City and libraries that
decide to
stock it will find the story replete in situations which can spark many
different questions and debates among book clubs and reading groups,
from the
nature of reality, love, and experience to the intersection between
science and
belief which is challenged by Nathan's venture into unfamiliar
territory.
Conversations
with
his wise grandmother are particularly enlightening and represent
inter-generational insights and dialogues that encourage young readers
to think
about their own relationships with adults and the adult world around
them:
“Grandma, I used to have a set of principles but
then… I changed my
mind. Is it a sign of weakness?” I ask.
“Nathan, just as in science, changing your mind if your knowledge is
updated is not a bad thing, but a very good, very important thing. This
is what
being grown up means to me.”
Libraries
that choose
Just City for patrons of all ages
should also place it on their recommendation lists for book clubs
interested in
debates about many facets of choosing and pursuing adult dreams.
“Is the point to say that even though we choose our
actions all the
time, the ‘chooser’ hasn’t chosen themselves?"
The point is
that Just City's compelling
exploration is
not just suitable for a broad audience of thinkers young and adult, but
is very
highly recommended as a spark point of debate and higher-level thinking.
Return to Index
The Key to Circus-Mom Highway
Allyson Rice
The Total Human Publications
978-0982185544
$17.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook/$19.99 Audiobook
https://www.amazon.com/Key-Circus-Mom-Highway-Allyson-Rice/dp/0982185545
Imagine being forced to confront and
interact with an estranged sister over a family inheritance and a
newly-found
brother. The Key to Circus-Mom Highway presents a
road trip prompted by
a posthumous edict by a birth mother to renew broken family connections.
Sisters Jesse Chasen and Jennifer
McMahon find themselves embarking on a prearranged journey across
America to
touch base with their mother's friends. The conflicted interactions
between
these disparate individuals who have been thrown together for the sake
of
finding a lost key to the past makes for an engrossing story. It
contains
shades of Kerouac's On the Road,
but
brings the adventure home with interpersonal revelations about family
and life
connections.
As the trio encounter a series of odd
characters who each played a part in their mother's life, they unravel
answers
to questions they didn't even know they had. These answers, in turn,
affect
both their individual psyches and their relationships to one another
and the
world.
Allyson Rice creates a rollicking good read
that is filled with humor, wry life observations, and odd family
interrelationships as these shared experiences evolve. She is
especially astute
at presenting contrasts in perspective and perception within these
encounters.
Each of her three characters experience
life-altering circumstances and changes that prompt growth as well as
angst.
Their adventures are as much psychic as they are physical reminders
that lives
can dovetail and entwine in unexpected ways, especially if one can walk
out of
one's routine and into new areas of experience and realization.
The result is a fictional portrait of
sibling drama and life events which excels in the unexpected, teaches
(by way
of example) how disparate personalities can come together; and offers
thought-provoking scenes of disconnection and connection.
This will attract not just libraries seeking
good leisure reads about sibling relationships, but book discussion
groups
focused on family trauma and drama.
Return to Index
The
Lighthouse
Karin Ciholas
Atmosphere Press
978-1639885930
$19.99
www.atmospherepress.com
The Lighthouse is a historical novel and
Book 1 in The Cyrenian
series, and is set in first-century Egypt, which resides under Roman
rule.
Physician
Simon's
life as a Jew is increasingly tenuous in this world; but when his
sister is
kidnapped, Simon embarks on a journey into the slave markets in
Alexandria and to
Jerusalem to find her.
Ironically,
he is
tapped by Roman soldiers to carry a crossbeam for a stranger even as he
feels
the swell of vengeance rise in him. Determined to track down her
kidnapper
Meidias and exact justice for his family and people, the good physician
finds
himself at odds not only with society, but his own edict to heal
others—not
kill them.
His personal
journey
becomes political as the tides of the first pogrom against the Jewish
people in
Alexandria rise to place him and his choices in the cusp of
world-changing
events.
If The Lighthouse seems unusually
well-steeped in a sense of place, that's because Karin Ciholas embarked
on a
journey to the countries she depicts (Italy and the Middle East) to
bring them
to life.
Of course,
she
couldn't travel back in time—that must be left to the imagination. But,
backed
by solid research into historical fact and insights into social and
political
currents of the times, Ciholas creates a vivid, memorable story powered
as much
by strong characters as by the forces that influenced this world's
directions.
Her
descriptions are
memorable and hard-hitting, embracing not just Simon's perspective, but
the men
and women who circle around him in various ways:
"Aurelia moved quietly in order not to disturb the
sleeping
Claudia. Claudia was five years younger than Aurelia. Her dark lashes
rested on
her cheeks still red from crying, and in her hand she clutched an
amulet on a
silk ribbon. When Aurelia bent to look at the amulet, Claudia turned
and moaned
softly in her sleep. The amulet depicted the face of Juno, goddess-wife
of
Jupiter. Bitterly, Aurelia shook her head and thought that all prayers
to her
had truly been in vain."
Whether she
writes of
love, death, or travesty, Ciholas creates a memorable saga that rests
firmly on
the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people moved by changing
social and
political influences.
The beacon
served up
in The Lighthouse is highly
recommended reading for any historical fiction library seeking
powerful,
memorable explorations of friends, enemies, and the forces that twist
the two
together.
Return to Index
Man Wanted
in
Cheyenne
Richard C. McPherson
Unleash Press
979-8-9862743-5-5
$17.99
www.unleashcreatives.net/shop
Readers
looking for
Western novels with the flair of literature against a Nevada backdrop
will find
Man Wanted in Cheyenne more than a
cut above the ordinary Western production.
Jake enjoys
movies
almost as much as he enjoys his solitude. So when a Hollywood
production team
plans on using the ranch he's employed at, Jake is open to "teaching
them
cowboying" and participating in their filming efforts.
What he was
not
expecting was the intrusion and changes this effort would bring to his
formerly-peaceful life, which has evolved slowly in the fifteen years
since his
beloved Sarah died. It feels more than ironic that the movie actor
which Sarah
idolized is coming to the ranch to be part of this new production. It's
also
more than incongruous that Jake's observations of the characters
participating
in and directing this effort often place him at odds with those who
would bully
him to take charge of and change his little piece of heaven.
As the movie
crew's
actions lead to disaster, Jake faces further challenges, from health
threats
that could devastate the cattle herd and new relationships with the
small but
growing bison breeding community to journeys to New York, Montana, and
places
far from the ranch he once called home.
Richard C.
McPherson
juxtaposes filming efforts with this Western backdrop of a cowboy set
adrift.
These add to the realistic feel of the plot as events evolve to change
Jake's
life: "Jake knew this scene was shot
on the studio lot, like most of the first half hour. There had been
glimpses of
the Circle J, what Rob called establishing shots. They’re supposed to
give a
true sense of the setting, not just the way a place looks, but the way
it
creates a world with its own reality. So far, he had only seen the
ranch in
frustrating glimpses, like a ghost flitting past him, gone before he
could
focus on the details."
The author's
research
into cattle and bison also inject educational notes into the tale as
Jake's
world expands to embrace new ideas and environmental lessons about
living in
the modern West.
The result
is a
full-flavored contemporary Western novel that takes the usual specter
of the
lone ranch hand cowboy and moves it in unexpected directions. Jake
navigates
unfamiliar terrain. Readers will find themselves avidly following him
wherever
he goes.
Libraries
looking for
appealing Western stories that place the cowboy in the position of
reinventing
his life in a changing modern world will find Man
Wanted in Cheyenne an intriguingly different story that
employs
the usual backdrops of the West, but with a satisfyingly original eye
to
introducing contemporary issues affecting the land and those who live
on and manage
it.
Return to Index
The Pulse
Owen Garratt
Runding Pelham
Publishing
978-1-7777810-3-3
$16.99
https://OwenGarratt.com
The Pulse is disaster fiction at its
best, and opens with the author's
caution that if violence, cursing, and death are disturbing to readers,
they
should look elsewhere. Then, again—what disaster novel doesn't
incorporate some
or all of these elements?
The second
cautionary
note is that medical procedures performed "on the fly" by characters
are not to be imitated. Owen Garratt's special brand of humor is
evident from
these introductory notes: "This is
not a “How to” book. The author sweated himself to a husk to make it
realistic,
but that doesn’t mean you’d have the same results if you tried to pull
this
stuff off. You’re not Jack Broderick."
And, with
these
opening notes, the reader enters a world that opens with the
first-person
narrator's experience of a plane crash which is anything but normal,
also
presented with a humorous overtone of ironic inspection.
Jack has
just
survived the plane crash. But the opening salvo of adversity has just
begun,
because the power is out and so are the human traits of tolerance and
civility.
As Jack
navigates an
extraordinary world made unfamiliar in the blink of an eye, readers
follow him
through a strange new world as infected by wry wit as it is new
survival
challenges.
Many miles
from his
family and facing a world afire, Jack faces changes in his own heart
and
relationships as he navigates unfamiliar territory and struggles to
survive
many new situations: "She wasn’t
flirtatious or coquettish. Maybe a little coquettish, as in shy, but
not erotic
or cheap. No teasing or tantalizing. It came from a place of nurturing,
of
taking care of someone. It was thoughtful. It was appreciative. It was
kind.
And it had a vibe like a Japanese tea ceremony."
Garratt's
ability to
wind ironic humor into his end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it scenario sets
The Pulse apart from other disaster
novels. Its special brand of apocalypse comes with intriguing side
notes as
Jack contemplates walking across the ravaged nation to return home to
his
family, facing assailants and possible new connections in the process.
The result
is far
more realistic than most genre reads because its attention to adversity
pairs
nicely with moments of comic and personal relief in which Jack employs
his
various strengths to not just survive, but move forward.
It matters
not that
his family is estranged and separated. His motivation to find them
against all
odds becomes one of the driving forces of a strange new life that is
just
getting started here, in Book One of the series.
Libraries
seeing
patron interest in apocalyptic books will find The
Pulse of particular interest, with its juxtaposition of
survival and reflections on the cost of that effort:
"The only thing worse than questions with no
answers is the times
when there are answers. The cost of the answer is, most often,
unbearable. And
because it is unbearable, it is unheeded."
Return to Index
Tales of
Political
Infidels: Trump's Lickspittles and Lackeys
Rainer Link
Bowker
979-8218064921
$13.95 Paper/$5.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Political-Infidels-Lickspittles-Lackeys/dp/B0BDNZZZNF
Tales
of Political
Infidels: Trump's Lickspittles and Lackeys may sound like
nonfiction, but
its satirical novel of absurdity eschews many of the trappings of
political
reporting in favor of identifying the ironies and inconsistencies of
the Trump
phenomenon.
Its focus is on how people
are duped, reality
manipulated, and insanity propagated in populations that remain
acquiescent
about a special form of exploitation that comes from higher-up
ineptitude and
control.
Yes, Trump's presidency is
at the heart of the title; but
the extrapolations which evolve are both fictional in circumstance and
thought-provoking. Whimsical events identify underlying truths and
ironies in
the Trump administration.
The narrator's tales of
these years pinpoint these
obsessions and fallacies with unerring wry wit. Scenarios develop as
Copper,
The Whistler, Dave, and others intersect with the narrator to add their
two
cents to the story of how outcasts and heroes become part of the public
eye—and
the political game.
The atmosphere and formation
of Trumpian
Washington DC comes to life in a collection of stories that dovetail
disparate
interests and romp into a degenerate world of facts and fancies that
mirrors
events of real history—but in an oddly twisted way that forces readers
to
inspect their own motivations, perceptions, and ideals.
The
result excels in political inspection and satirical re-creations of
these years. The novel is highly recommended for libraries seeking a
literary
overview of political ironies and inconsistencies inherent in the Trump
years.
Return to Index
The
Two-Headed Lady
at the End of the World
Mark Miller
Montage Press
978-1-957010-22-9
$17.95
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Headed-Lady-End-World-Thousand/dp/1957010223
The Two-Headed Lady at the End of the World
blends romance with
ribald adventure and humor in a novel that promises to attract a wide
range of
readers to its unusual escapades and odd characters.
Think
conjoined twins
who exhibit unusual traits beyond their physical connection, who
present an
intriguing skill set and connection from the novel's opening lines:
"Miranda Morgan recognized the verdant meadows and
dark lines of
pine towering over either side of the interstate as her hometown. The
image
surfed a wave of electrochemical current down her optic nerve and into
the
occipital lobe of her brain, where it sloshed around and registered as
the
savory smell of her mother's biscuits and gravy. She always saw the
world as
scents and had given up trying to explain it. For instance, the cab
driver
looked like aftershave and beef farts. But she also knew that if asked,
she
would say, “He looks like a greasy, sun-burnt lizard named Darryl.” It
was
easier that way. Amanda, her sister, conjoined with her since puberty,
slept on
her shoulder, her breath rhythmically pushing across her neck. She
considered
how comforting it was to always have her closest confidant at her ear.
It was
also annoying. Amanda smelled the world as sights. Their synesthesia
was an odd
by-product of “the incident.”
Their
connection was
not forged at birth, but was created by a government snafu involving a
particle
collider project hidden underneath the family farm. The Morgan twins
are on the
path to adulthood, facing romantic attractions complicated both by
their physical
connection and their separate outlooks on life and men.
Mark Miller
also
injects end-of-the-world drama into this story, which comes with
unexpected
differences. One example is two men ensconced underground in a survival
bunker
for 30 years who discover attraction for one another and reasons for
not seeking
a return to civilization. This is paired with a newly sentient CPU who,
lonely
for love, seeks a romantic connection with a fax machine at the
Pentagon.
Singularity never looked like this before. Nor has love.
As events
evolve,
these disparate characters assume the flavor of Dr. Strangelove mixed
with a
heady rush of hormones that returns a high-octane romance on steroids.
Expect the
unexpected, because that's one delightful strength of The
Two-Headed Lady at the End of the World. It ultimately
examines
the end of worlds, the beginnings of new worlds, and the promise and
rush of
romance under extraordinary conditions. A heady injection of social
inspection
with references to cis-gendered white male privilege, American
patriotism gone
awry, and a shockingly definitive conclusion ices the cake of both fun
and
serious social and political analysis.
Libraries
and readers
looking for a mix of romance, sci-fi, and relationship-evolving
characters (and
machines) will find The Two-Headed Lady
at the End of the World's creative
blend of humor and conundrums to be involving, unique, and satisfyingly
unexpected.
Return to Index
The
Unmooring
Ken Fireman
Black Rose Writing
978-1-68513-058-9
$24.94
Paper, $7.99 Kindle
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Unmooring-Ken-Fireman-ebook/dp/B0B7SQF12K
Publisher: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/historicaladventure/theunmooring
The Unmooring is a novel of political and historical fiction
that examines a war
within a war during the Vietnam era. It's a conflict that literally
comes home
to roost as the McMaster family finds the battlegrounds of dissent in
their own
home with the traditional divide between elder wisdom and youth's
impulses becoming
one of revised notions of conviction, ideals, and strength.
Michael
McMaster
is young and glowing with enthusiasm, as the story opens. He has worked
on John
F. Kennedy's campaign and seen the young man become president, he holds
a taste
for adventure and new possibilities, and he's increasingly convinced
that the
attitudes and political involvements of his staid parents are too
conservative.
His
taste for
life leads him to become involved in civil rights and a relationship
with a
young black actress, and he becomes a journalist as passionate about
truth as
he is about the world around him.
As
Vietnam
politics further change his family connections and challenge
relationships new
and old, Michael finds himself on the front lines of a battle he never
saw coming—one
that reaches into not just his relationship with his parents, but his
new home
and world.
More
so than
most stories about the 1960s, Ken Fireman's The
Unmooring captures
the ideals, promise,
energy, and tumultuous social, political, and psychological
transformations of
the times.
This is evident in
passionate passages that capture
Michael's moves from civilian to Army life and back, and the nature of
a milieu
which continues to prompt massive life changes.
Of particular note are the
descriptions of racial divide
and changing relationships between civilians, military men, and those
who
operate in auxiliary positions as the social conflict in America rises,
such as
this passage about the National Guardsmen sent to Detroit during the
1967 unrest:
"Every
one was
white. Some were Vietnam vets, but at least half had done their
overseas Army
duty in Korea or Germany and had never seen combat. They were suburban
or
small-town guys who worked at civilian jobs during the week and
gathered on
weekends to fulfill their Guard obligation. When Detroit erupted, they
were
taking part in an annual drill in rural Camp Grayling, hundreds of
miles from
inner-city Detroit in physical distance and light years away in social
experience. Between Michael’s Army service and his time in Vietnam, he
had an
idea of what military professionalism looked like—and these guys looked
nothing
like it."
More so than most books
about these times, Fireman's book
adds a depth of social inspection that expands the feel and nature of
the
characters and the perceptions that buffet their world.
The result is a powerful
novel of social and political
transformation.
Return to Index
What’s Not
Lost
Valerie Taylor
Aspetuck
Publishing
979-8-9865995-0-2
$16.95 Print/$9.95 ebook
valerietaylorauthor.com
What’s Not Lost is a novel that adds to
Valerie Taylor's
"What's Not' series with a focus on romance and women's lives.
Here, the
first-person cat Topher sets the scene with a reflection on mother
Kassie
O’Callaghan, his adoption, and the life they live together.
Kassie is a
widow,
newly engaged, yet still searching for life's meaning. Her world is
seemingly
coming together with her engagement, expanding career moves, and a
solidifying
home life when she discovers that her fiancé's ex-girlfriend is
pregnant.
All her
plans and her
newfound stability in the world fall from her shoulders and Kassie
makes the
only logical choice: to run away from her fiancé and Boston for a new
life in
Paris, where a job beckons.
Even though
Paris is
known as the city of love, Kassie doesn't expect to find additional
connections
and romance in that town. But the lure of wine, a sexy Greek man, and
the
process of recovering from the past while cultivating a newfound
independence
leads her into matters of the heart that she had never fully
contemplated
before.
As she and
Topher
embark on self-imposed challenges and find they are unable to truly
give up on
past possibilities even as they are influenced by the lure of a new
future,
readers come along for a wild ride. It careens through not just
romance, but
the obstacles posed by Lexi and Sarah, two women who are both her
nemesis and
impetus for change, and the ultimate redefinition of happiness itself.
It's
important to
note that What’s Not Lost is not
just
a novel about love. It's a story of growth, acceptance, and evolution
that
embraces the idea of moving towards revised visions of life as well as
moving
away from past reactions and perceptions.
In the end,
the act
of defining what has not been lost
proves just as important as realizing what has vanished.
Libraries
looking for
contemporary women's fiction that's as centered on growth as it is on
love's
changing currents will find What’s Not
Lost an inviting, thought-provoking read. It should ideally
receive
attention from women's book club readers, who will find plenty of
entertainment
value alongside numerous topics of debate.
Return to Index
When We Lost Touch
Susan Kraus
Flint Hills
Publishing
978-1953583369
$16.99 Paperback; $2.99 Kindle
www.susankraus.com
Since the advent of COVID,
many books have attempted to
capture the sense and experience of the pandemic years. Few hold the
power and
ability to immerse the reader in this experience as strongly as When We Lost Touch, a novel that comes
from the perspective of therapist Grace McDonald, who returns home from
a
cruise to find life vastly changed.
Zoom and online meetings
have replaced college and
in-person encounters. Life is locked down. Grace's best friend Katrina
has contracted
COVID, but isn't recovering. Nobody knows why, nobody knows what will
happen,
and life is at a standstill.
The fact that Grace is a
therapist helps reinforce the
vast psychological changes buffeting the world during this pandemic,
adding to
a story that serves as both a history of these times and a reflection
of the
experiences of those living through them.
Through the pandemic creates
the overlay of a revised
life, life goes on. Issues of prejudice and racism, social discord,
psychological trauma, and the ethics of narcissistic, self-serving
actions are
profiled against this pandemic backdrop to lend a sense of evolutionary
process
to the characters' lives.
Susan Kraus doesn't shy away
from political inspection,
either. The policies and decisions of the Trump administration and the
perceptions and interpretations of these political choices by the
general
public are included as a myriad of characters confront COVID on many
different
levels.
More so than most novels
about these times, When We Lost Touch
captures the chaotic
nature of fast-paced events that take over ordinary lives.
Historical context notes are
injected throughout to lend
a sense of reality to the timeline of events in the story. This helps
ground
the experiences and changes that occur over the years, serving as good
reminders of the novel's foundations in real experiences and lives.
The insights from various
characters as they await a
cure, a solution, and the return of their old lives are particularly
well
written:
“What
are your ages
again?” Grace asked. “And what are the breakdowns by age for the
tiers?” She
was trying to back away from going down the Trump rabbit hole. Or was
it Trump
quicksand? It was a harsh moment when they did the numbers. For some it
would
be a few months. For Kayla, the youngest in the group, it could be as
late as
summer. They knew that every
damn day until then, any one of them could get infected, suffer, and
even die
while protection was almost within
reach, almost, just around
the
corner. Like drowning when you could see the Coast Guard coming. Just
not soon
enough."
The result is an
authoritative fictional documentary of
the COVID years that will both resonate with those living them now and
educate
future readers about the psychological, political, and social turmoil
the
pandemic introduced into nearly every facet of life around the world.
Libraries looking for potent
fictional representations of
these times need look no further than When
We Lost Touch for a powerful saga grounded in the reality of
shifting
lives.
Return to Index
The
Celeste
Experiment
Omar Imady
Villa Magna
Publishing, LLC
978-1-940178-59-2
$9.99 ebook
www.villamagnapublishing.com
When
Michael
Sargeant's wife Celeste is diagnosed with terminal cancer, they embark
on a
world-wide healing journey to beat the odds. The Celeste
Experiment
chronicles both endings and new beginnings and opens with a literary
reference
to the art of documenting this process:
“Who,” he responds
contemptuously, “would be in the
least interested in reading words written down by me?” A white
heterosexual
male living in one of the decaying urban voids of the third millennium.
A
woman with a
vendetta and the history of oppression weighting her decisions, a man
with
everything and nothing left to lose, and an experiment that poses
ethical
dilemmas as much as it promises redemption are only a few of the themes
contributing to the strength of The Celeste Experiment,
which delves
into spiritual, psychological, and historical "juxtapositions of
splendour
and decay."
Readers
who look
for magical realism tempered by literary allusion and devices will find
a
powerful tale of fierce, undying love in this story. Omar Imady
captures not
just present-day passions but historic approaches to life, repression,
and
opportunity as Michael forges ahead with his mission and involves Hamida Begum in a human experiment that
holds as much promise as it does danger.
The Celeste
Experiment opens as a love story,
evolving into a suspense piece and, finally,
into an examination of how the pursuit of love and life can drive a
good man to
make bad decisions.
The
disparities
between the opulence of Paris and Michael's world and Hamida's
encounters with
poverty are well-done and wrenching: "...it was not the
contrast
between the glaring wealth of the city they’d travelled through and her
home,
but between the skyline and the streets."
The
social,
psychological, political, and ethical conundrums woven into The
Celeste
Experiment drives a story as laced with thought-provoking
passages of time
and intention as it is with literary reflection and metaphorical
examination.
Imady's
novel is
not a light journey. It's a heartfelt inspection of spiritual
enlightenment,
love, and signals of revelation and intention that introduce Michael
and Hamida
to new possibilities both within their disparate lives and outside of
them.
Readers
and
libraries seeking reflective literary works that delve into matters of
love
connection and spiritual exploration will find The Celeste
Experiment a
powerfully-rendered saga in which various characters participate in a
storm of
discovery that sweeps through the story to change everything.
The
Celeste Experiment's hard-hitting
plot and the intersection of Michael and Hamida's lives
will linger in the mind long after the reading.
Return to Index
Conversations
Across
America
Kari Loya
XK Productions, LLC
979-8-9861258-1-7
$29.95
www.xkproductions.com
"Where did you start? Wow! VA?! Just the two of
you? Did you fight
a lot?"
Conversations
Across America: A Father and Son, Alzheimer's, and 300 Conversations
Along the
TransAmerica Bike Trail that Capture the Soul of America
follows a
father/son cycling journey undertaken in 2015 by a 75-year-old father
with
early-stage Alzheimer's and his adult son.
It's remarkable not just for
the physical effort, but for
the mental revelations that accompanied and affected their relationship
as the
miles and time passed. The effort afforded father and son both a long
goodbye
and new observations of 2015 America through conversations with
ordinary
Americans from all walks of life.
Three decades of a shared
dream culminated in an
experience that broadened the lives of both participants, leading them
into new
territory both in their relationship and in their perception of a
changing
nation.
Their epic adventure will
attract a wider audience than
the usual father/son memoir, Alzheimer's reader, or cyclist adventure
bookworm.
Packed with photos of the
two cyclists as their journey
evolved, as well as the individuals they encountered and write about,
readers
ride through the concurrent transitions of different parts of the
American
psyche and the interactions and efforts of father and son as they
connect with
one another and those around them.
This concurrent gift of
revelation both personal and
social examination makes for a journey like few others: a testimony to
love,
perseverance, understanding, and experience that captures the real
reason for
undertaking a road trip—to live life at its fullest, experience
surprises, and
ultimately cultivate deeper understanding.
The quotes, visual
reinforcement, and opportunity to
visit, via this book, the byroads of America and taste the values and
beliefs
of a disparate population make for an immersive experience highly
recommended for
audiences beyond the usual memoir reader alone.
Ideally, Conversations
Across America will be chosen by book clubs interested in
discussing a
variety of topics, from early-stage Alzheimer's to worldviews and
emotional
connections from all walks of life.
Its conversations capture
the purposes and perspectives
of ordinary Americans and how they live their lives with gusto.
Return to Index
Dancing in Their Light
Debbie Chinn
Strange Fate Publications
9780578355993
$30.00
www.debbiechinn.com
Dancing
in Their
Light: A Daughter's Unfinished Memoir chronicles the
as-yet-unconcluded
life of a daughter of Chinese immigrants who was born and raised on
Long Island,
New York.
Her family's successful
restaurant was a family effort as
the House of Mah Jong proved both her playground and her training
arena,
leading her to perform as a Polynesian dancer through her teen years as
she
evolved dreams and goals which moved far from the successful
nightclub/restaurant
world.
Under another hand, Dancing
in Their Light might have ended at this point, with
furthering her parents'
dream; but Debbie Chinn had other goals, and eventually become the CEO
of a
non-profit arts group.
Her family's journey that
led her to this point is
chronicled in a memoir that celebrates her heritage through history and
explorations of the expanded Mah Jong family circle. Black and white
and color
photos of family and the restaurant/nightclub business liberally pepper
the
story to add visual attraction to her chronicle.
Along the way, readers also
absorb circumstances of
Chinese and American interactions, cultures, and perceptions that lend
the
memoir the added value of a cultural education as the family's
fascination with
Hawaii translates to an endeavor most Chinese immigrant families did
not
undertake.
While the blossoming
restaurant business takes center
role in this story, of equal interest is her family's background
history and
transformations as they moved between and within very different
cultures,
assimilating some of the best of both to present new opportunities to
their
inner circle and the community around them.
In a nutshell, Dancing
in Their Light is about how values, experiences, and
perceptions translate
between generations to affect and change outcomes and birth a legendary
cultural icon.
Whether readers come to the
story for its Chinese roots
and heritage; its restaurant business insights; or for the evolution of
a young
woman who followed family tradition in following an unexpected path, Dancing in Their Light will reach a wide
audience of followers with its engrossing juxtapositions of past,
present, and
future worlds.
Ideally, it will find a
place not only in libraries
strong in business and Chinese family memoirs, but in book club
discussion
circles looking for titles about immigrant experience, Chinese family
history,
and a daughter's lessons that led her to her own successes.
Inspirational and
enlightening, Dancing in Their Light
is a memoir that is hard to put down.
Return to Index
Dear Joey:
Letters From Prison
Michael A. DiVicino
Independently
Published
9798437376690
$9.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Joey-Letters-Prison-Book/dp/B09WZMBLL2
Book 1 of Dear
Joey: Letters From Prison
recounts the experiences of inmates in the prison system, and comes
from a
fellow inmate who turned his life around while in New Folsom Prison,
then
decided to help others.
Dear
Joey
gathers evidence of this effort, compiling letters written by inmates
who
describe their experiences and the events that landed them in state
prison.
In an ideal world, Dear
Joey would be assigned reading in middle and high school
classes studying
social issues, justice systems, and creative writing. It can be
featured as
examples of all three of these topics, as the compilation chronicles
the gritty
consequences of crime, being caught, and doing time.
Descriptions go above and
beyond the norm, providing
insights into how each inmate fell into a life of crime and landed in
prison.
They chronicle the missed opportunities created by these choices,
informing
readers of all ages about the impact of criminal behavior and the
choices and
circumstances that evolved these choices.
The candid revelations are
exceptionally hard-hitting: "When you read
this letter all you can
think is this isn't me. This guy is just some loser in and out of jail
but I
shared all the bad stuff first on purpose so I could show you all the
things I
lost in the end."
But for chance,
circumstance, and choice, the narrators
of these letters could too easily be the young readers of this
collection.
The result is a passionate
set of diverse stories that
explain not just how the writers got to this point, but what they lost
in doing
so, and which moves could have prevented them from being in prison.
Any library collection
strong in accounts of social
issues, prison experience, youth conflicts over gangs, drugs, or life
direction, and the consequences of bad choices needs Dear
Joey to hold up a mirror of possibilities.
Its hard-hitting revelations
provide the important
message that many a young adult reader could ultimately become a
letter-writer
from prison, themselves, and reinforces the message of making better
choices in
life no matter what one's influences, abuses, or struggles.
Return to Index
Dirty Dealing
Jeffrey Allan Grosso
Permuted Press
978-1-63758-297-8
$28.00 Hardcover/$9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Dealing-Miramax_Waging-Weinstein-Screenplay/dp/1637582978
Dirty
Dealing:
Grosso v. Miramax―Waging War with Harvey Weinstein, and the Screenplay
that
Changed Hollywood explores
screenwriting and copyright law via a memoir that chronicles Jeffrey
Allan
Grosso's landmark suit he waged against the Hollywood giant Miramax. In
it, he
accused the company of stealing his screenplay, using it as a
foundation for a
best-selling movie which gave him no credit for the idea.
Grosso unfolds a case that is tinged with
the flare and drama of fiction, but is all the more compelling for its
solid
roots in reality.
The twists and turns of cat-and-mouse games
between creative artists and industry influencers are captivating as
they wind
through courtroom proceedings and issues that embrace social,
political,
financial, and ethical concerns.
The variety of subjects Grosso tackles
within the scope of his lawsuit will spark lively debate among any
performing
arts or creative writing groups that make Dealing a
subject of
discussion.
In true David vs. Goliath form, Grosso
tackled the impossible by taking on not just one company, but the
entire
Hollywood system.
Anyone interested in issues of creative
rights, writing protection, and Hollywood production needs to
place Dirty
Dealing at the top of their reading list. It
combines a memoir with
industry insights and contrasts legal processes with poker-like
precision.
Readers receive a passionate account that
pulls no punches right from the start: "...I believe
that, without
my Shell Game script, there never would have been a Rounders or any of
the
dozens of poker movies and shows that limped along in its wake. And if
you’ll
give me half a chance, I promise that I can prove it to you well beyond
any
reasonable doubt."
Readers might anticipate that the meat of
the title lies in a series of legal moves; but actually, the event's
aftermath
is just as chilling and riveting as the way it plays out. It presents a
bigger-picture survey of corruption and greed that embraces subjects
well
beyond Hollywood culture and experiences. This is why Dirty
Dealing should move beyond performing arts audiences
and into the
hands and minds of the general reader interested in corporate
shenanigans and
graft.
Return to Index
Extraterrestrial
Alien Visitations and Other Unworldly Phenomena
Thomas Sawyer
Living History
Publishing House
978-1-7327371-9-8
$11.11
https://www.amazon.com/Extraterrestrial
Alien Visitations and Other Unworldly Phenomena/dp/1732737193
Thomas
Sawyer began
investigating aliens in the 1950s when, after doing a two-year stint in
the
military in the UK, he returned to school at UC Berkeley; there to
experience a
late-night encounter at a diner. Thus began his belief in alien
visitations and
the decades-long research that would expand concepts of alien
visitations and
clarify otherwise-inexplicable phenomena.
In Extraterrestrial
Alien Visitations And Other Unworldly Phenomena, Sawyer explains the feeling that he was
being contacted by these aliens, visiting Berkeley's "Observatory Hill”
at
a little past midnight to follow a compulsion that led to further
communiqués.
As he discovers that his
friend Frank and others have had
similar experiences, his worldview expands about the realities of
aliens and
their influence on human affairs—represented here in a discussion of
phenomena
that broadens to embrace the notion of a guardian angel and other
influences on
the course of his life.
Sawyer
blends
autobiography with these close encounters, juxtaposing foreign posting
experiences with incidents of "unexpected happenings." This is not
what one might expect from a military man's life, and provides a
satisfying
contrast in experience from those who adopt more staid approaches to
UFOs and
life experiences.
Throughout his domestic and
foreign military
assignments, Sawyer explored military and civilian experiences. Given
the
latest news about military documentation of UFO experiences, those who
question
some of the conclusions will find this military man's experiences
especially
enlightening, and much more thought-provoking than "official"
studies.
Speaking of this, it should be
noted that,
stylistically, Sawyer employs quote marks liberally, and with words
readers
might not ordinarily associate with needing such punctuation: "My
wife and I soon relocated to the “West Coast.” (Our “relocation” had
nothing to do with the “Death Threats,” but rather with a preferred
“change of
scenery” and “lifestyle.”) We subsequently retired in the “Southwestern
Region”
of the United States."
While this
often
gives pause for thought, the meat of the book—a CIA agent's close
encounters
with alien thoughts and guidance—provides a satisfying alternative to
the
typical military take on UFOs, aliens, and extraordinary phenomenon.
The
otherworldly encounters that result in Sawyer's revised mindset about
the world
will appeal to readers of extraterrestrial events, who will find the
combination of a CIA agent's experiences and a memoir about his life to
be
engaging on many levels.
Readers of
extraterrestrial nonfiction will find much to like in this survey of
close
encounters that shows how otherworldly encounters have been documented,
but
continue to stymie logical investigative processes.
Return to Index
Halo around
the Moon
Matt Ritter
Pacific Street
Publishing
9780999896051
$24.99
Ordering Link: https://pacificstreetpublishing.com/shop/halo-around-the-moon
Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Halo-Around-Moon-Matt-Ritter/dp/0999896059
Halo around the Moon may sound like
sci-fi, but it's a novel that
blends a murder mystery with a wider-ranging story of nature, history,
and the
bizarre circumstances connecting two disparate men's lives.
The first
thing to
note about Matt Ritter's story is that it comes steeped in atmosphere
and
absorbing description from the start. This gives it a literary flavor
that will
elevate its appeal beyond genre readers to attract audiences looking
for solid
contemporary literature: "The
mutilated bodies of dead trees smell nothing like the mutilated bodies
of dead
humans. When a tree is torn apart and begins to rot, the air fills with
the
melancholy perfume of molasses and soil—the tangy smells of an old
violin or a
wet forest. By comparison, the human body is a disgusting thing. In the
days
shortly after death, the atrocious odors of a lifetime of accumulated
sulfur
and nitrogen bubble out in morbid flatulence."
A gruesome
murder
connects Professor Marcus and detective Jack to events which move
quickly
beyond either's area of expertise, embracing facets of life and death
that
challenge each character's trajectory and beliefs.
Ritter's
ability to
place science and observation at the heart of this story lends it an
attractive
atmosphere of discovery, whether it's probing history, circumstantial
interactions, science, or psychology.
As other
characters
swirl their lives and special interests around the professor and
detective,
readers receive a compelling series of social and scientific
examinations that
tangles history with old family secrets against a Los Angeles backdrop,
resulting in thought-provoking passages and intriguing developments.
Perhaps the
greatest
strength of Ritter's novel lies in its mercurial aspect, which doesn't
conform
strictly to the usual murder mystery progression, but adds elements of
other
disciplines to both heighten tension and educate readers in areas they
won't be
expecting.
The result
is a
powerful story which has the uncommon ability to reach out to mystery,
novel,
historical, and scientific literary readers alike.
Libraries
seeking
exceptional works for their collections which defy either pat
categorization or
light entertainment value alone will find Halo
around the Moon a top-notch acquisition.
Return to Index
How Can I
Take My
Life Back From My Phone?
C.J.S. Hayward
C.J.S. Hayward
Publications
979-8354818877
$19.99
Hardcover/$11.99 Paper/$2.99 Kindle
https://cjshayward.com/phone/
"We have created a situation where it is possible
for ordinary
people to casually and without malice kill innocent lives. If we return
to the
three ethical questions, namely how ships can avoid bumping into each
other,
how they can internally stay shipshape, and what destination they are
meant to
reach, we are seeing terrible collisions that sink ships because
unrestrained
and trusting use of cell phones has devastated what little was left of
their
being shipshape."
How
Can I Take My Life Back From My Phone? A
Guidebook for Orthodox and Others is about pursuing life outside of technology. It
is highly recommended
reading for any modern person who would link theological thinking to
the
dilemmas of managing modern devices that both distract and offer a form
of
engagement that's often the antithesis of spiritual reflection.
What do ethical and
religious questions have to do with
technological use? They translate more reasoned purpose into device
usage,
creating a dialogue that stems from Hayward's exploration of “What kind of guidance would someone like
St. John Chrysostom offer in using technology, if our technology were
around in
his day?”
From philosophical and
historical citation and reflection
to guidelines for employing technology in a more positive, purposeful
manner
that doesn't put it in the driver's seat of decision-making, Hayward
provides a
thought-provoking discourse that will especially lend to book club and
discussion group pursuit.
Chapters tackle everything
from Internet porn to missed
connections and the altered states of mind and soul created by
addiction to all
kinds of screens: "He asked me if I
had ever observed that an hour after seeing a movie, I felt depressed.
I had
not made any connection of that sort, even if now it seems predictable
from the
pleasure-pain syndrome. Now I very rarely see movies, precisely because
the
special effects and other such tweaks are stronger than I am accustomed
to
seeing; they go like a stiff drink to the head of the teetotaler. The
little
pleasures of life are lost on someone used to a rising standard of
special
effects, and the little pleasures of life are more wholesome than
special
effects."
C.S.J. Hayward has produced
many a thought-provoking
work, but How
Can I Take My Life Back From My Phone? may arguably be one of
his best.
This is
because he
links a modern social, psychological, and spiritual issue to guidelines
on how
better to take charge of that technological lure that too often creates
in its
user an emotional and spiritual void.
These topics
wind
neatly into Biblical passages, analytical reflections on the
Scriptures, and
notes and footnoted references to a wide range of religious thinking
that
contrasts nicely with the ethical and spiritual topics under
consideration.
Hayward also
adds
autobiographical notes into the inspection. This personalizes his
citations and
the experiences of loosening technology's allure and distractions.
The result
is both a
how-to guide and a spiritual work of Christian Orthodoxy which holds
the rare
power to reach beyond Orthodox audiences alone and into the general
public. This
topic should hold widespread interest, and ideally will be debated and
discussed among many circles.
Christian
libraries,
in particular, will find How Can I Take
My Life Back From My Phone? a thought-provoking reflection
and a "must
have" addition.
Return to Index
Inspired,
Not Retired
Dr. Burl Randolph
Jr., DM
MyWingman,
LLC
978-1087904665
$21.00
Paper/$17.46 Audio/$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Inspired-Not-Retired-Leadership-Lessons/dp/B09RQ6DC3D
The audio
version of Inspired, Not Retired
provides a flavor
the written word misses: the sound of emphasis and clarity which embeds
written
word with its own drama for an inspirational listening experience.
"Retirement is in the eyes of the beholder."
Narrator
Jerome Ware
opens this survey on leadership and life meaning with Dr. Randolph's
admonition
that the traditional view of what constitutes retirement may be skewed.
It's not so
much
about quitting as about re-envisioning the type of work and life
purpose that
serves as an inspiration to one's remaining years and influences those
around
us. Few have embraced this idea more heartily than retired colonel Dr.
Randolph, whose vision of retirement as putting his feet up and turning
off his
cell phone proved quite different, in reality.
His
experiences
involved a foray into leadership that would pass from father to son and
between
not one, but several generations.
Dr. Randolph
realized
he was "...just not built to relax.
Nor was I ready for retirement." The reality was that,
married to a
working wife with two teenage sons to raise, he was merely entering
into another
phase of life where he would have the freedom to more readily choose
and direct
his path and life work. Thankfully for listeners interested in
leadership
subjects, he chose the motivational guide route.
Thus, this
audio
(which also appears in paperback and ebook formats), which considers
the
challenges of retirement, leadership, a father's influences on his son,
and
lessons learned "in the oddest ways."
Part memoir,
part examination
of leadership, and thoroughly backed by Dr. Randolph's changing
experience and
vision of retirement years, this audio would be the perfect retirement
gift for
that hard-to-please retiree who enters into this new phase of life with
little
vision of what his future will look like.
Between
selflessness,
preparedness, and hard work (which feels like a startling contrast in a
retirement guide; but which actually reflects part of the preparedness
component when it comes to recreating one's later years), Dr. Randolph
pursues
a revised vision of retirement and injects his father's life lessons
into his
discourse.
Subjects of
respect,
pride, obedience and responsibility may seem reflective of military
training
(indeed, they are), but they apply in surprising ways to views of
retirement
and life choices.
Motivational
listeners who look for listening that enlightens, pushes, and admits
readers
into the wellsprings of the author's own life influences will find Inspired, Not Retired a compelling
lesson in contrasts between leadership assets and becoming a role model
in a
child's life.
While it
might
initially be chosen by those looking to retire, Inspired,
Not Retired is not so much about how to relax, as how to
become an effective leader and mentor in life.
This message
will
reach motivational listeners in all walks of life; from business people
to
those who would be positive role models for others.
The audio
version
lends emphasis and quiet power to Dr. Randolph's story, making Inspired, Not Retired a top
recommendation for libraries interested in motivational listening for a
broad audience.
Return to Index
Living the Practice: The Way of Love
Rohini Ralby
Bancroft Press
978-1-61088-576-8
$17.95 Paper/$9.95 ebook
www.bancroftpress.com
Living
the
Practice, Volume One: The Way of Love, comes from a writer, artist, and spiritual
teacher who dismantled her
worldly life in 1975 to find what she calls “the bottom line of
existence.”
Rohini Ralby learned spiritual practice
one-on-one from her Guru, Swami Muktananda Paramahamsa (informally
known as
Baba), of whom she was a close personal disciple until his passing in
1982. In
this book, the first of two volumes (the second is to be published in
2023,
also by Bancroft Books), Ralby takes the unusual and effective approach
of
using multiple media to convey for readers what it means, in practical
terms,
to pursue spiritual practice. Readers will encounter not only essays
but also
poems and paintings, all of which serve to communicate what Ralby wants
to
share: the experience of a living, authentic spirituality.
The intentions of this book are nicely
summarized in the introduction that gives readers both background
history and a
sense of what The Way of Love has to offer: "The
Guru turns the
ignition key, and is also the one who adds fuel as needed and guides
you—the
student driver—in what direction to go and what hazards to avoid. Baba
continues to do this for me. This book and its sequel will convey much
of what
Baba taught me, and continues to teach me, about breaking the mirror of
delusion and re-cognizing the true Self."
While Ralby’s first book with Bancroft
Press, Walking Home with Baba: The Heart of Spiritual
Practice (2012)
included more biographical as well as instructive elements, Living
the
Practice is, as its title suggests, pointedly about the
continuing work of
spiritual practice itself. This first volume covers the guru-disciple
relationship and the special circumstances which foster spiritual
awakening,
transformation, and deeper connectedness.
Ralby provides a clear conceptual framework
for spiritual practice, but, importantly, goes beyond concepts to
convey the
actual process of developing both discrimination and non-attachment.
She also
provides tools she has developed to facilitate readers’ understanding
of how
their own unacknowledged attachments and illusions actually operate in
their
lives.
These discussions revolve around important
fundamentals, such as that revealed and discussed here:
"Ultimately,
we have to surrender our shrunken self; no one else, no matter how
powerful and
loving, can do that for us. The Guru will guide us, God will guide us,
but in
the end we have to remove the final veil by conscious, active surrender
to God,
the Self of All. We must break the cup and merge back into the ocean.
Our
individuality that was formed with the Fall has to be consciously let
go."
What emerges is a powerful exploration of
not just Ralby's own spiritual awakening and influences, but also the
teachings
that led her from being a disciple to serving as a guru herself; and to
writing
books about how we as individuals can work to clear away the
“obstacles” within
us that keep us from being who we truly are (for Ralby, the one Self of
All).
This powerfully-rendered account provides
readers with a clear and panoramic entry onto the path of spiritual
practice.
Its exploration of the guru-disciple relationship, as well as the
actual
methods and tools of practice, creates a guide that can speak to
different
kinds of seekers. It also interrogates the notions of
self and enlightenment that tend to hold sway in the current spiritual
marketplace.
Spiritual libraries looking for powerful
presentations of these journeys will welcome the voice of experience
and advice
that makes The Way of Love both accessible and
enlightening.
Return to Index
The Man Who Screams at
Nightfall and Other Stories
Rush Leaming
Bridgewood
978-0999745670
$12.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Man-Screams-Nightfall-other-stories/dp/0999745670
The
Man Who Screams
at Nightfall and Other Stories presents interconnected short
stories of
travel, self-discovery, and mental illness. Rush Leaming explains, in
his
introduction, that these stories originated as independent short
writings
produced during the 1990s to early 2000s. Only when he looked back at
their sum
result did he realize that they actually served as a cathartic
examination of
self-discovery, mental illness, and life.
Think Herman Hesse's classic
Siddhartha, if it appeared as a
series of interconnected life
inspections in short stories that followed a mental journey. That's the
flavor
of this collection, which piques reader minds and hearts with powerful
inspections. At this point, it is appropriate to caution that some of
these
inspections arrive with graphic violence and angst. This is not a
collection
for the faint-hearted, but a flowing river of examination that prompts
anguish
and understanding alike.
Take the opening title story
"The Man Who Screams At
Nightfall." The story takes place in Zaire, where the first-person
narrator daily passes local fix-it man Kachamba.
“Bring
me something
to fix,” he said.
I said I couldn’t
think of anything I had at the moment that was broken."
By day, Kachamba fixes
things. At night, he attacks
himself, screaming with the effort. The vivid portrait of a man who
both
repairs others and finds a way to heal himself is striking:
"Spinning,
swirling, shouting, and screaming—Kachamba’s face, so calm and happy as
I had
seen it earlier that day, was now knotted and twisted like a grotesque
carnival
mask, like some gargoyle sprung from the lowest depths of hell. The
glow of the
fire cut fierce shadows and gorges in his face, adding to the haunting
vision
that I saw.
For a long while,
Pumbu and I hid behind the honeysuckle bushes and watched Kachamba
shriek and
wail and try to push back the night, until suddenly, all at once, he
just
stopped. Suddenly, he just stood still and quiet and stared at the sky.
I
followed his gaze and saw another shooting star."
As the narrator tries to
reconcile these dual visions of
a placid man with a knack for fixing life with the insanity of the
beast
spinning before the night fire, screaming, readers receive a vivid saga
of the
dichotomy of a gentle soul who is also a madman.
As the tales evolve, so do
world travels and life
connections. "Agora Dogs," for example, is a story of life, love, and
death that takes place in Greece. Is the narrator just a romantic
loser, or a
murderer? The story provides evocative visions of growth and change
that mirror
those tales that come before and after, following the narrator on world
journeys and matters of the heart.
The result is a short story
collection that excels in its
sense of literary psychological growth and discovery.
Libraries looking for
interconnected short stories that
represent life journeys and revelations will find The
Man Who Screams at Nightfall and Other Stories an appealing
acquisition that promises much fodder for discussion to book club
readers
interested in fictional blends of psychological and social revelation.
Return to Index
No Plaid
Suits: How
Not to Have a Boring, Normal Life
Amrita Rose
Atmosphere Press
9781639885886
$16.99 Paper
www.atmospherepress.com
Self-help
readers
interested in inspirational accounts of growth and leading a vivid life
will
find No Plaid Suits: How Not to Have a
Boring, Normal Life a lesson in possibility that embraces the
thought and
process of living one's best life.
Its
combination of
joyful reflection and admonitions for honing out-of-the-box creative
thinking
and action represents a refreshing breeze of originality as Amrita Rose
encourages readers to walk a more holistic pathway towards realizing
their true
selves no matter what the reaction to their choices and appearances.
As chapters
review
the processes of becoming independent and self-directed, the directions
will
appeal to all levels of reader; but especially young adults
establishing
themselves in the world with many 'firsts'. These range from opening a
bank
account to understanding the difference between a career versus a job,
and
choosing healthy eating choices.
If No Plaid Suits were to be given as a
high school graduation gift, it could not find a timelier or better
home. Those
on the cusp of adulthood who seek or require guidance on the process of
avoiding common pitfalls and growing into their best selves and lives
will
receive a combination of practical advice and psychological
growth-oriented
insights on how best to navigate life.
This essay
collection
on developing personal resilience and life perspective may stem from
Amrita
Rose's own experiences, but it ultimately imparts a wide range of life
lessons
that will save new adults from re-inventing the wheel, allowing them to
move
forward more quickly into their own lives.
Ideally, No Plaid Suits will also reach adults
who feel stuck or who look for refresher courses on life purpose. While
this
audience may skip the introductions on how to venture into adulthood,
there
remains plenty of food for thought on how to best lead and develop an
unstoppable course in one's life.
Libraries
looking for
self-help books that go beyond giving advice to encourage readers to
step into
their individual needs and talents will find No
Plaid Suits lends to book club discussion as well as
individual
enlightenment; especially for new adults on the cusp of leaving the
nest.
Return to Index
Objective
Prosperity
Roger D. Blackwell and Roger A. Bailey
Rothstein Publishing
978-1-944480-77-6
$31.99
Paper/$21.99 ebook
www.rothsteinpublishing.com
Objective
Prosperity: How
Behavioral Economics Can Improve Outcomes for You, Your Business, and
Your
Nation is a study in
contrasts between wealth management processes and business and
individual
pursuits of prosperity.
It poses some hard questions
that encourage readers to
analyze not just their business and wealth objectives, but the
wellsprings of
their perception of and drive towards prosperity and success.
This book comes with a
caution. It will make even the
determined or successful businessperson think about wealth and strategy
in new
ways that can also be uncomfortable. Those on track to achievement
rarely take
the time to consider the underlying meaning and influences of that
word's definition,
but Objective Prosperity doesn't
just
encourage this extra layer of thought—it demands this of its readers.
The analysis embraces the
notion of prosperity for
everyone rather than just a few, supporting this vision with a series
of
real-world examples that receive enlightenment through research
studies,
analysis, and models of the kinds of business activities that lead to
and
redefine success.
During this process,
Blackwell and Bailey provide
insights that support these revised business and personal visions of
achievement: "The way to think of
your product is the total utility of
the bundle of attributes designed to solve a problem. The
more pressing
a problem, the greater the opportunity to sell a product solving that
problem.
Your product must scratch where people itch! To prosper as an
entrepreneur, you
must truly deliver the utility from solving their problem and do it
repeatedly
and consistently. That is why some people (both entrepreneurs and their
employees) prosper – because their products continue to sell, grow
revenues,
and expand segments served. Selling a product is not the same as
fulfilling a
need."
The studies of individuals
and businesses acknowledge
that the process of attaining success is not equally available to all.
Many
contrasts are provided to illustrate diverse paths to prosperity: "The reality is that even people born
poor, values such as knowledge and
discipline in their life can
help them rise from the bottom to the top. Of course, this requires the
opportunity to acquire knowledge, which data clearly shows is not
equally
accessible to all people at birth. While this is certainly something to
discuss
as a barrier to prosperity, it is worth noting that there are sometimes
ways to
overcome these barriers. Reading books from local libraries was the way
out of
poverty for famed neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson as he describes in
several of his
books including Gifted Hands.
Moreover, not everyone has the desire to attend a university to obtain
the
knowledge from a university degree, but there are many other paths to
prosperity."
By now, it
should be
evident that Objective Prosperity
operates on different levels: as a personal examination of the
strategies and
values involved in defining and reaching for prosperity; as a business
consideration
of consumer needs and how growth and success may be obtained by
matching
products and services to their visions; and as a social analysis that
considers
issues of equality, poverty, wage equity, and more associated issues.
Objective Prosperity is not intended to
provide a set of simple
answers. It lays the foundation for individual reader analysis no
matter what
path they walk in life, improving the reader's critical thinking
capabilities
by expanding the limits and definition of prosperity in all kinds of
situations.
Business
libraries
looking for wealth strategy and entrepreneurial advice books will find
so much
more in Objective Prosperity. Its
vision of defining and analyzing the elements that constitute success
needs to
be part of a range of book club discussion groups, whether they are
focused on
business, personal achievement, or social inspection.
Return to Index
Patients in
Peril
Gregg Coodley
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-626-5
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
Once upon a
time, the
family doctor was the central force in medical treatment. 'Specialists'
were
only for very specific ailments, and the family physician was a bigger
gateway
to medical care than anything we experience today in America.
Patients
in Peril: The Demise
of Primary Care in America
pinpoints the history and peril of healthcare changes which have
increasingly
picked apart the role of the traditional family physician. It's a study
that
needs to be in the hands of anyone interested in modern healthcare,
whether
they are doctors or patients.
The demise
of the
primary care physician is evident not just in the current services
provided (or
not), but in the majority of medical school graduates who choose
specialization
over generalization.
Primary care
is
becoming an industry shortage and a rarity as primary care physicians
retire
and are replaced not by new generations of doctors, but by medical
processing
centers designed to reduce cost, eliminate wasteful approaches, and
devote a
minimum of or limited amount of time to the patient.
Gregg
Coodley charts
the history of this trend, identifying economic, social, political, and
medical
influences on its incarnation and, more importantly, investigating the
problems
created by the demise of the primary care doctor in America.
When
insurers take
over doctoring, real healthcare wanes—including the compassion of the
physician
for his patients, home visits, and ultimately the quality of care.
Replacing
and second-guessing physicians are administrative processes that tax
healthcare
efforts instead of enhancing or improving them.
As Coodley
tackles
the subjects of prior authorizations, medical training dysfunction, the
rise of
fee-for-service arrangements, and the disparities created between
physician and
patient by systems put in place to oversee both, readers gain a solid
insight
into the problem, its history, and, in conclusion, some possible
solutions.
The latter
is not the
focus of this book. Its attention to the details of how this demise
happened
and is incarnated in modern medical services and patient/physician
relationships provides an invaluable look at a bigger picture of
problems than
most realize. This makes Patients in
Peril a top recommendation for health libraries, whether in
public library
or medical school settings.
Ideally, Patients in Peril will be assigned
reading to medical school students and would-be healthcare
professionals in
present and future generations. Its food for thought should ideally
spark
debates, discussions, and active changes and considerations beyond
individual
enlightenment.
Return to Index
Questioning
Spirituality
Eldon Taylor, PhD
O-Books
978-1-80341-301-3
£13.99
|| $17.95
https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/o-books/our-books/questioning-spirituality
Considerations
of
faith and science and the connections and disparities between them form
the
foundation of Questioning Spirituality: Is It Irrational to
Believe in God?, which ideally
should be made part of any
secular or religious discussion group on the subject.
Eldon Taylor provides an astute,
thought-provoking consideration of the question that embraces tenets on
both
sides as he probes the different ways in which spirituality is
questioned, and
the foundations of belief.
Anyone who struggles with such questions
will find much food for thought in this book, which surveys two
contrasting views
of the world and the points at which they intersect.
It matters not whether the reader is a
believer or an agnostic. Questioning Spirituality's
method of
analysis offers the opportunity to consider (or reconsider) the
foundations
which can support or deny religious convictions. Chapters range from
considerations of free will and indoctrination processes to examining
notions
of truth, belief, and ways of living.
Quotes from other thinkers (both religious
and secular) support many of this book's contentions: "It
would seem
that many believers are intentionally alienated from reasoning about
their
beliefs by some of their leaders. In the words of the sixteenth-century
German
priest Martin Luther, “Whoever wants to be a Christian should tear the
eyes out
of his reason.” Or in the words of St. Ignatius Loyola, “We should
always be
disposed to believe that which appears to us to be white is really
black, if
the hierarchy of the church so decides.” Religious insistence on
abandoning
reason is possibly the number-one cause of religious rebellion. It’s
akin to
insisting on magical beings whether they are creatures such as the
Easter Bunny
or the Unicorn. By arguing that reason has no place in our enquiry,
religion
disqualifies itself from the world of the rational. That said, not all
spiritual systems or practices share the denial of reason. Even among
the more
classical systems such as Judaism, Catholicism, Buddhism, and more,
there are
those who ignore the edict insisting on the denial of rational
processes. For these
people, there is a more mystical meaning to the so-called literal
teachings
found in their doctrinal literature."
These passages offer related food for
thought and the opportunity to reflect on the back-and-forth dialogue
between
believers and non-believers.
By presenting both sides of various
arguments, Eldon Taylor cultivates bigger-picture
thinking about the
diverse issues involved in defining the spiritual domain and the
rationality of
its possibilities.
Taylor also
injects
personal feelings and reflections into this mix of intellectual debate,
creating a warm, revealing tone of acceptance that encourages readers
to think,
rather than judge from knee-jerk precedents or reactions.
The result
is more
than just another analysis of whether or not there is a God. It's a
survey of
the process of belief, validity, and reality itself that helps thinking
readers
consider the foundations of their own life experiences, religion, and
philosophy.
While
spirituality
and philosophy libraries will, of course, be the logical recipients of
this
debate, Questioning Spirituality
should ideally take a more active role in book clubs and discussion
groups
where science and spiritual subjects intersect.
Its use as a source guide for such debates
is even more important than its recommendation to libraries seeking
appealing
materials suitable to different audiences of questioning thinkers on
both sides
of the discussion.
Return to Index
The Science
of
Getting Rich for Women
Sara Connell
Muse Literary
978-1-958714-23-2
$29.99 Hardcover;
$18.99 Paperback; $9.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BCKDPPNJ
The Science of Getting Rich for Women
points out that not only have
women traditionally earned less than their male counterparts, but
they've lost
more money during times of financial crisis and have too often opted
for
choices that garnered less financial rewards than their male
counterparts.
Sara Connell
points
out that the bulk of money advice and management books assume a
decidedly male
overtone that embraces white male privilege over the experiences,
attitudes
towards and special concerns of women. She seeks to rectify this in an
advice
guide specifically tailored to female readers.
One might
wonder
about how such financial advice would differ, but Connell's own
motivation for
writing this book (which isn't the first to offer money advice to
women) sets
the stage via her own experiences: "After
decades of unconscious replaying of patterns of lack, unworthiness,
underearning, undervaluing myself, moving from struggling to make
$20,000 a
year as a writer and coach to making $1,000,000 in a year as a writer
and coach
did not happen in a day, or by reading one book. It took a full
life-makeover
approach."
Her
hard-hitting
messages open with an acknowledgement that conscious and subconscious
social
messages create patterns of expectation and judgment that often direct
a
woman's drive for financial success: "I
was living out old family messages and cultural programming that said
pursuing
money or having abundance was bad, that it was unspiritual to care
about
material things, that caring about money meant I was greedy or a “bad”
person,
superficial, wrong. The truth was, I was broke and disempowered with
money,
because I’d guzzled cultural, religious, familial, ancestral societal
and
gender “Kool-Aid” from my earliest cell development that said I was not
allowed, that I shouldn’t, that I wasn’t worthy, wasn’t capable, didn’t
deserve
and wasn’t good enough to have it."
By now, it
should be
evident that The Science of Getting Rich
for Women isn't just another "one size fits all" set of
money-making or financial management strategies. Nor does it represent
Connell's singular success (though that is intrinsic to the story).
It's a key
to a personal makeover that flavors insights about the process with
case
histories and experiences of other women who have faced their inner
dollar
demons and come out richer for the effort on not just financial, but
psychological levels.
As readers
learn
about these diverse successes, they will be prompted to examine their
own
approaches to business, money, and independence. This requires of
readers the
willingness to do so and the flexibility to absorb statements and
messages that
defy the common picture of women's financial worlds and motivations: "As women of wealth, we face a
challenge that many act as if it is external—the belief that it’s a
man’s world
and it’s somehow harder to be successful if you are a woman. That’s a
popular
opinion, but I don’t believe it. Having lived through rapes and sexual
harassment and unfair treatment, I can tell you that the only reason
someone
isn’t as successful as they say they want to be is because they don’t
believe
they can be."
Women who
choose The Science of Getting Rich for Women
will find "rich" defined as more than monetary wealth. It documents
attitudes, misconceptions, influences, and approaches to money and
success that
ideally will receive book club and women's group attention and
discussion. Its biographical
profiles should also spark lively debates among such circles.
The Science of Getting Rich for Women is
highly recommended not
just for libraries catering to women who look to improve their
financial or
business status, but for collections interested in powerful women's
issues for
discussions and bigger-picture thinking that expands the notion of
wealth and
riches to psychological understanding and social and business
transformations.
Return to Index
Spiritual Constipation
Stephen Ladd
Apocryphile
Press
978-1955821872
$20.00 Paper/$6.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1955821879
Spiritual
Constipation: Discover Your True Nature & Get Shift Moving
pairs two
words typically not seen together ('spiritual' and 'constipation') to
illuminate readers about the process of being stuck, getting unstuck,
and
moving ahead both in life and in spiritual circles.
Readers should prepare to be
surprised, informed, and
perhaps sometimes lightly offended by the references to bodily
functions, from
the start: "Do you smell that? Just
to be safe, let’s clear the air.
I
don’t
know
shit.
Rest assured, this
is not my lame attempt to feign humility. On the contrary, I suppose it
may be
closer to a false bravado. For let there be no doubt, I forget daily
that I’m
still quite full of it; and by “it” I mean knowledge. For the better
part of
four decades, I was a collector, perhaps borderline hoarder, of
seemingly
pertinent information."
Being a self-confessed
"information junkie"
meant that Stephen Ladd pursued spiritual considerations with as much
enthusiasm for the quest and acquisition of different concepts as he
did with
life trivia. The result mired him in confusion rather than enlightening
him—but
perhaps that was for the best, because the process of becoming unstuck
and
finding a way through the contrasting, often conflicting, paradigms and
spiritual pathways forms the foundation of his powerful Spiritual
Constipation.
When too much information
has been amassed, the result
can overwhelm rather than enlighten. In such circumstances, a course of
'unlearning' may be pursued to move aside the morass of confusion and
arrive at
nuggets of insights to form a foundation of belief, revelation, and
progression.
As Ladd navigates this
process without a road map,
readers will benefit from his ability to create such a blueprint for
others. He
synthesizes the process of letting go in order to achieve psychic and
spiritual
balance, but his book applies to more than those already on the road to
spiritual understanding.
Surprisingly, this process
led him to become a corporate
speaker, offering seminars that applied his technique to business as
well as
life pursuits.
Whether the reader's purpose
is one of improving business
teamwork and collaborative efforts, or self-examination, Spiritual
Constipation's principles and discoveries apply equally,
across the board, to life.
Readers may choose this book
for its spiritual promise,
but will find it delightfully applicable to much broader topics. It
also comes
flavored with a dash of ironic humor that enhances some of its more
serious
contentions.
The result is a discourse in
self-discovery that requires
of its readers only the ability to self-inspect and analyze, and the
flexibility to learn about, process, and admit new avenues of growth
and
understanding. This is a key prerequisite because some of Ladd's
contentions
defy the conventional routes of understanding, and ideally will be
recognized
for their promise of deeper realizations and growth:
"Project
Mayhem’s goal, at least ostensibly, is to alleviate the suffering of
their
fellow human beings. Their modus operandi is vandalism and the eventual
destruction of the symbolic structures of corporations and consumerism
that
keep people trapped in the illusion. I would suggest this is a
misunderstanding
of how change happens. Tyler is preaching destructive action to wake
people up
and set them free. This is a popular stance today and throughout
history, but I
would put forth that it has had marginal longterm success. I’ve not
found
destructive environments the most conducive to awakening and don’t buy
into the
perspective that anything need change in the external world for people
to
become free. Freedom is an inside job."
Libraries looking for
spiritual, self-help, and
motivational titles to add to their collections will find an unusual
flare of
candid life inspection in Spiritual
Constipation. Its title prompts readers to take a second
look, then choose
a book that stands out from the crowd.
Return to Index
There's More
Bodies
Out There
Rick Porrello
Next Hat Press
97809662508-1-8
$16.95
www.rickporrello.com
A
fine line
separates true crime fact from fiction. Few authors or investigative
researchers walk this line as carefully as Rick Porrello.
There's More Bodies Out There: The True Story of a
Mafia Associate and a Cop Who
Emerge as Suspected Serial
Killers is a study in strange attractors. It presents a true
story based on
written correspondence with Richard Henkel; government reports;
newspaper
articles; books; and personal interviews, leaving no stone unturned in
the
process of revealing the truth.
While some
of
Porrello's conclusions are based on conjecture, their roots in facts
presented
here also lend to a feel of authentic research and postulations backed
by
evidence.
Porrello, a
former
police chief, is a master at synthesizing research into the drama of
daily
life, capturing the incarnation, growth, and associations of a
sociopath and
his progressive actions. Porrello's attention to specifically
pinpointing
places in the story where conjecture was made (included in a reference
section
of Endnotes) creates an unusually specific attention to the fine line
between
fact and possible fiction that researchers will find especially
important.
The truth
about
Henkel's associations is starkly portrayed from the story's opening
lines: "Under a convincing veneer of normalcy
lurks the real Richard Henkel. Federal parole authorities deemed the
incarcerated bank robber psychologically
stable and ready to make positive contributions to society. They got it
wrong.
Henkel operated within the underworld of the 1970s—the well-entrenched
Mafia with
their interstate connections and a loose network of drug dealers,
burglars, and
pimps."
Rick
Porrello traces
these associations with the dogged and determined processes of a good
researcher. He brings readers along on the research ride, foraying into
little-charted
territory as he surveys Henkel's con artistry, victims, and the lawmen
who
pursued justice and this dangerous killer.
An
unexpected
whimsical feel is provided in the first chapter, which chooses "lead
characters" to provide a short list of major players and their
connections. This creates a user-friendly atmosphere which reduces any
confusion about these relationships while outlining the milieu of
Pittsburgh,
the Gemini lounge girls and their upscale clientele, and the makeup of
the
Henkel family as their children come of age and move into Pittsburgh
society.
Richard
Henkel's
early arrests for petty crimes set off a lifetime of surfing the
underworld
with ever-darker intentions. His story and those of the victims reads
with the
drama of fiction, yet firmly rests on a foundation of facts that are
gripping
and methodical in their progression and presentation.
As Henkel
moved from
bank heists to darker exploits, readers receive a story that also
outlines
disparities between his criminal activities, concerns about his home
life, and
his seeming good behavior: "While
Richard Henkel was in Marion Penitentiary, he often expressed concern
for his
son. Some administrators found him to be intelligent and polite. He
participated in various educational courses. He joined the prison’s
historical
society and the Jaycees (United States Junior Chamber of Commerce), a
civic
organization that provided training in business skills and leadership."
But, he wasn't turning over a new leaf. He was plotting his next move.
As the
action and
investigation moves beyond Pittsburgh, a methodical drama emerges that
is even
more riveting than fiction for its factual yet emotionally alluring
presentation.
Libraries
looking for
vivid true crime stories that take the extra step beyond research to
present
their stories in a thoroughly compelling manner will find There's More Bodies Out There a solid
acquisition.
Its insights
into
investigative procedures, crime revelations, and the cat-and-mouse
games that
connect investigators and criminals provide "you are here" moments
that prove impossible to put down, and vividly frightening.
Return to Index
To Venus and
Back, One Man's Quest to Rediscover Love
Turner Grant
Stones River LLC
979-8-218-00424-8
$29.95 Hardcover/$17.95 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.ToVenusAndBack.com
To
Venus and Back, One Man's
Quest to Rediscover Love
is
a memoir that reveals the different nuances of dating in one's 50s.
After
twenty years of marriage and raising children, Turner Grant's wife died
suddenly, leaving him a widower adrift in a sea of challenging new
dating
possibilities that came with his revised status and new ways of
searching for
connections decades after his marriage.
As he becomes involved in
the online dating milieu of
Washington, D.C., Grant finds himself encountering a range of women who
exhibit
unusual (and often crazy) traits and tendencies. This belays the notion
that
online dating is filled with opportunity, providing the cautionary note
that it
is also rife with insanity and oddness.
As Grant navigates this
strange new world, he describes
his encounters with a tongue-in-cheek, wry wit that will lead his
readers to
laugh even as he educates them about the potentials and pitfalls of
online
interactions in middle age.
Re-envisioning his life
after his wife's death came with
both a personal price tag and the benefit of this book, which explores
online
dating from the (relatively rare) male's view of the dating scene.
In this, To Venus and Back
represents a study in
unique approaches to life as well as distinctive experiences that will
allow
men and women further insights into the psychological and social
conundrums
facing middle-aged people who want to find romance.
This
three-year
odyssey represents meetings with over fifty women who reside "on
Venus" (the author bows to the classic book Men
Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus in both his title and
references), profiling over half of them with stories flavored with the
sense
of a remarkable and very different milieu from those married men
experience.
Perhaps
surprisingly
(to those unfamiliar with this world), the very act of entering online
dating
requires a form of self-examination which Grant found both inviting and
challenging: "Every ounce of my
heart and soul had been about being the husband to my wife, even now, a
year
after her death. But the encounter foreshadowed more discomfort the
following
year when I dared to fill out an online form for a dating feature in The Washington Post. I had to answer
questions about who and what I was from a dating perspective and those
were
incredibly difficult questions to answer. Who
was I?"
Candid
self-examination is one of the strong points in this memoir as events
unfold: "Had my newly altered filters of life
in the aftermath of my wife’s death become too fine to a fault? Could I
not
enjoy and appreciate people, life, and regular stuff anymore? Worse
still, was
I somehow broken from my experience? Or perhaps I was now some sort of
I-know-life-like-you-all-don’t kind of snob. It was a soul-searching
exercise
that went on for the rest of my time on Venus. I was fully back in
life, but it
seemed like I was still set apart
too."
His probes
of
vulnerability, fear, sexting, and different types of relationships with
women
results in a survey that is inviting, revealing, and starkly candid: "You know the feeling you get
sometimes? You want something so-o-o much
that you throw everything you have into it? Then either gradually or
suddenly,
you realize it’s never going
to
happen? Disappointment and failure wash over you, and you become so disillusioned when you finally
figure out that what you were doing—what you thought was the right
thing—was a
path to nowhere or worse? Okay. Good. Now you know how I felt about
women and
dating after Ava."
Here is a
man
unafraid of exposure and willing to not just learn from experiences,
but
closely examine (in public) their successes, failures, and life
lessons.
Readers interested in the special milieu of mid-life dating in modern
times
need to consult To Venus and Back
not
just for its intriguing (and sometimes ribald) explorations of the
dating
scene, but for its intriguing inspections of what makes men and women
different, and how to navigate the stormy waters of relationships.
Libraries
looking for
thought-provoking and engrossing memoirs that represent honest
self-inspection
and enlightening relationship insights will find To
Venus and Back a delightful, compelling journey through heart
and soul.
Return to Index
Viila and
the
Doomsday Affair
Roger Danchik
Atmosphere Press
9781639886203
$18.99
www.atmospherepress.com
At first
glance, Viila and the Doomsday Affair
would seem
to fit in the fantasy category. Where else would a rollicking ride to
save the
universe appear? But then, there's the odd cast of characters, from a
vampire
and a cat to a rabbi and his son and a demon. And a chapter which opens
with
the title "An Erotic Scene!—And Wild Monkey Sex." And a mystery that
is wound into compelling scenarios which defy any attempt at pat
categorization.
So evolves a
story
that would rival Douglas Adams for its world-hopping foray into
characters and
settings which are anything but predictable in their countenances or
actions.
As the story
opens,
Rabbi Benjamin is having a mild erotic fantasy prompted by his wife's
cooking.
His planned marriage was not of his choosing, but produced satisfaction
beyond
his wildest dreams. Especially since he'd been prepared for a life
without
marriage and sex.
At this
point it
should be emphasized that eroticism plays an intrinsic part in the
story that
evolves. The humor that overlays many of these interactions replies on
it: "Rabbi Benjamin looked up very
impressed and, in a strangled voice, asked, “It was you who slept with
the
giant Og?”
Viila shrugged and looked a little embarrassed, “Someone had to step
up, and in case you haven’t noticed, I am very flexible.”
An ancient
gong
rouses the Master, then contemplates a "long infinity" when its job
is complete; Queen Pharaoh sports the ability to pose and glare so that
her
reputation means she never has to actually fight; and interactions
between the
Teraphim, Rabbi Benjamin, Viila and the merry band of misfits makes for
a plot
replete with humor and thought-provoking confrontations.
The dynamics
of this
unlikely group are as intriguing as their confrontations as rules of
engagement
fade and cease to exist, challenging each character to assimilate
different
relationships and survival tactics than in their pasts.
Roger
Danchik's romp
involves a quest and revelations that accompany the effort. His
audience will
appreciate both the ribald characters and their changing perspectives
about
their place in the world and their mission.
Think
Douglas Adams,
but with far more sexual humor.
Libraries
that choose
Viila and the Doomsday Affair will
find its special combination of fantasy, intrigue, and adventure will
attract
audiences capable of absorbing a healthy degree of erotica in the
overall yarn
that evolves a rollicking good tale with the undercurrent of a Greek
comedy and
the contemporary feel of irony.
Return to Index
The Adventures of Max and Maude
John Losee
Independently Published
978-1-7368387-0-9
$9.45
Paper/$4.95 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Max-Maude-Humorous-Loveable/dp/1736838709
The
Adventures of
Max and Maude is recommended for
animal lovers who enjoy dog and cat escapades. It tells of
golden-haired
Persian cat Maude's experiences with brown and black
shepherd-terrier-boxer mix
Max, who comes to live with the family.
Unbeknownst to him, the new house comes with
house rules created by the cat, which are not always to his liking:
"Maude
sought
to impose some house rules:
1. My food bowl is off
limits, likewise my water
dish.
2. All horizontal surfaces
above the floor are
mine.
3. No barking is permitted at
any mice found on
the premises. These prey are mine.
4. Barking during my morning
or afternoon naps
is expressly forbidden.
5. Any disturbance of my
litter box will be
dealt with severely.
Max
was
unimpressed. “For a creature whose behavior shows no respect for rules,
you
sure seem keen to invent and apply them. Be advised. I am a dog. Dogs
do not
recognize rules invented by cats.”
And so Max
begins to
form his own rules, and a funny set of interactions between the two
pets is
created which will attract all ages with its blend of fun color
drawings of cat
and dog and entertaining encounters between the two.
From the
start, John Losee adopts a light-hearted
tone that
enhances a portrait in relationship-building achieved by both the
animals'
interactions with one another and the house humans that present
sometimes-puzzling challenges.
One example of a hilarious and fun encounter
is a cuckoo clock that poses numerous problems. Losee anthropomorphizes
the
animals' dialogues and perceptions of their world's puzzles and the
process by
which they join forces to confront them:
"Every
hour
the cuckoo emerged. It made a noise no bird would recognize. The
situation was
made worse by the fact that the cuckoo performed on the half-hour as
well.
Maude found that, after being assaulted by one cuckoo cry, she came
fully awake
waiting for the next. She was unable to sleep for more than twenty
minutes at a
time. Maude shared her frustration with Max. “Max,” she said, “you know
how
grouchy I get when I don’t get enough sleep. This clock has thoroughly
disrupted
my rhythms.”
The result is an engaging dog/cat story that
the whole family can appreciate, whether it's chosen for family
read-aloud or
pursued by all ages.
Losee's ability to bring Max and Maude to
life creates a vivid story nicely steeped in diverse adventures and fun.
Return to Index
The
Adventures of
Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls
Tom Durwood
Empire Studies Press
978-1-952520- 27-3
$13.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ruby-Geometry-Girls-Mathematics/dp/1952520274
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Geometry Girls
provides teen and
young adult short story readers with a math-centric collection of five
adventure stories; each centered on linking geometry to problem-solving
applications.
This
represents the
missing link between math entertainment and education that young
learners have long
needed, in more than one way.
First, in
couching
these applications with fictional adventure components, Tom Durwood
adds compelling
leisure read interest to the educational process.
Ruby Pi and
a host of
characters tackle problems that are outlined both in chapter headings
and
through the conundrums that test their knowledge.
Examples of
numerators and other math concepts juxtapose with history, science, and
challenges embedded into even the vocabulary Durwood chooses to prompt
young
learners to expand their knowledge in different mathematical and
problem-solving areas.
As for the
stories
themselves: they excel in a special type of troubleshooting intrigue
that
reaches out to involve young readers in a mystery that isn't just
served up,
but requires reader thought to thoroughly understand.
These
stories are
challenging, and don't 'dumb down' a young reader's abilities. The
introductory
'Case of the Old Carthusians', for example, presents rising
mathematician Ruby
P's involvement in repairing the cathedral at Charterhouse School, when
sabotage leads her to uncover a long-buried secret.
The blend of
intrigue
and mystery opens in 1877 Surrey, moves to South Africa, then leaps
ahead to
Ruby's participation in 1897, as she becomes involved in an engineering
firm's repair
bid in an unusual way that tests her math capabilities and
problem-solving
skills alike.
Each short
story
moves through different layers of mystery and math insights with an
attention
to educating and entertaining. Each provides lessons that readers can
use to
apply their blossoming math knowledge to real-world situations.
The result
is an
invaluable addition to any library appealing to teens and young adults.
Especially
for those that feature writings that draw through leisure interest, but
ultimately support mathematical knowledge.
Return to Index
The
Adventures of
Ruby Pi and the Math Girls
Tom Durwood
Empire
Studies Press
978-1952520266
$13.99 Paper/$6.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Ruby-Math-Girls-Mathematics/dp/1952520266
The Adventures of Ruby Pi and the Math Girls
provides five in-depth
mystery short stories for teens and young adults which reinforce basic
math
concepts by applying them to mysterious situations.
From
predictions to
code-breaking endeavors and mastering rates of change ratios, Ruby Pi
and her
team face a range of situations that rely on important math-based
problem-solving skills.
This book
and its
companion, The Adventures of Ruby Pi and
the Geometry Girls, are the prefect examples of what happens
when
real-world math is applied to problems to challenge all ages of reader.
The books
both
entertain young mystery fans and educate them about the possibilities
of
applying math to many different kinds of real-world situations, whether
they be
puzzles or life circumstances.
The stories
are as
diverse as their characters; from a life-saving effort by Jayani which
requires
a big gamble and an understanding of the odds involved, to a Mayan
tablet that
requires extraordinary code-breaking skills from siblings who struggle
with one
another.
The blend of
action
and adventure, psychological insight, and strong characters pairs
nicely with
the embedded math concepts, while the story also introduces new
language and
explorations designed to challenge and educate young readers in
different
areas, as well.
Both books
should be
considered "must have" acquisitions for middle-grade collections
seeking fiction that also rests firmly on educational opportunities.
The strong
characters, diverse and compelling mysteries, and history and
math-based focus make
these books top recommendations and winnings acquisitions.
Return to Index
Ameera's Song
Hareena Kaur
Little Blue Peacock
978-1-7376086-0-8
$13.99
https://www.amazon.com/Ameeras-Song-Hareena-Kaur/dp/173760860X/
Ameera's
Song
is an Indian story designed for read-aloud and discussion between
parents and
young listeners, and captures the dilemma of a king and his three
daughters.
The youngest, Ameera, is
nothing like her sisters. She
eschews being a princess in favor of outdoors adventures and active
play, until
one day a plan to journey through a forest to visit their grandmother
leads to
an adventure none of them can resist.
Aided by Bear, Monkey, and
other forest denizens, the
three sisters locate their grandmother, only to find her home and
habits
puzzlingly indicative of a hard-working life.
The sisters pitch in, with
one of them going with
Grandmother to help her at work. When she doesn't return, a sense of
disaster
looms which only increases when a second sister also vanishes. What is
young
Ameera to think about her family ties and these disappearances?
As the story reveals further
surprises, parents and young
listeners receive a fable steeped in Indian culture with interactions
between
all ages and creatures.
Lessons about kindness and
paying it forward come to
light as the story progresses, making for an involving tale filled with
surprising twists and turns that keep kids and adult readers engaged
and
reflective.
With its bright, colorful
illustrations and
thought-provoking adventure, Ameera's
Song will provide many nights of listening pleasure and the
opportunity for
interactive dialogue between parents and kids. The words of wisdom and
enlightenment evolve into a fine adventure containing an important
underlying
message.
Libraries seeking picture
book fables representing Indian
folklore roots and attractive messages alike will find Ameera's
Song a winner.
Return to Index
The Angel of Santo Tomas - The Story of Fe
del Mundo
Tammy Yee
Tumblehome, Inc.
9781943431748
$16.95
Website: https://tammyyee.com/angelofsantotoms.html
Ordering: https://tumblehomebooks.org/book/the-angel-of-santo-tomas/
The
Angel of Santo
Tomas - The Story of Fe del Mundo
is a picture book story that takes place in Manila in the Philippines.
It opens
with the funeral of young Fe's older sister, who wanted to be a doctor.
Fe decides to fulfill her dead sister's
ambitions by stepping into that dream herself, finding a mentor in her
physician uncle after her mother passes away.
As the picture book story tells of how she
achieves her dream and then moves beyond its initial boundaries to
become not
just a doctor, but the first person of Asian descent to attend Harvard
Medical
School, young readers receive an involving tale of how an ambitious
young woman
who cared for others created a lifesaving institution, Santo Tomas, to
provide
a sanctuary for children.
Tammy Yee's inviting, full-page color
illustrations power this plot, adding visual attraction and emphasis as
Fe del
Mundo moves beyond her initial vision of helping others to become an
influential force in children's' lives.
It's a biography that will not only lend to
student papers for assigned reading, but gives enthusiastic support to
the
notion that a child can grow up to make a difference in the world
through
thinking of a bigger picture for helping others.
Adults who choose The Angel of Santo
Tomas for read-aloud will find plenty of topics to discuss
beyond the
book's initial and powerful biographical sketch.
Libraries that feature it will fulfill their
mission of providing early readers with stories that emphasize Asian
women's
strengths and ability to achieve their dreams.
Return to Index
Angry Octopus
Lori Lite
Stress
Free Kids
978-0983625681
$21.98
Hardcover/$13.95 Paper/$4.95 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Angry-Octopus-Management-introducing-progressive/dp/0983625689
Angry Octopus: A Relaxation Story blends
a nautical fantasy
adventure with real-world tips to picture book readers on techniques
for
calming down and relaxation. It's the perfect item of choice for adults
seeking
to introduce the concept of relaxation techniques which enhance calming
results.
A sea
merchild
confronts an angry octopus who receives lessons from her on how "to be the boss of his own feelings,
body, and anger."
This key
message,
accompanied by lovely, colorful illustrations by Max Stasuyk, is firmly
rooted
in ocean ecology as the octopus faces an invasion of his home
"garden" by careless lobsters that have bumped into his
carefully-arranged seashells and rocks.
Lori Lite
offers
compelling scenes that capture emotional responses to adversity: "The more he looked at the mess, the
worse he felt. He got madder and madder, and he felt his body get
tighter and
tighter. His muscles were tense and his stomach was rumbling like a
volcano. He
looked around at his ruined garden, and his face started to turn red
with
anger. He knew what was happening to him, but he did not know how to
stop it.
He was so angry that he thought he might explode. And he did."
Adults who
choose Angry Octopus as a
read-aloud will find
it holds plenty of opportunities for exploring anger and its
management.
Familiar feelings come to light as the octopus loses his temper and
control,
and a passing sea child tries to help him identify the results of his
choices: “Why are you so angry? Why are you
sitting
in a dark cloud on such a beautiful day?” The octopus answered that he
didn’t
know why he always did this when he got angry, but he did know that it
didn’t
feel good to lose his temper, and it always made his problem get worse."
Angry Octopus goes above and beyond most
psychological stories for
the very young in not just exploring feelings, but introducing basic
calming
techniques that kids can employ to regain control over their emotions.
When
accompanied by
parental or adult interactive experiences, kids receive specific
guidelines for
exercises that encourage them to better understand not just their
feelings, but
the routines they may employ to manage them.
Libraries
and adults
seeking picture books that take the extra step beyond understanding and
into
introducing proactive behaviors and emotional management strategies
will
welcome Angry Octopus for its
appealing, practical insights on handling anxiety, stress, and anger.
Return to Index
Artemis
Sparke and
the Sound Seekers Brigade
Kimberly Behre Kenna
Fitzroy Books
9781646033133
$9.95 Paper/$8.45 ebook
https://fitzroybooks.com
Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade
is a story recommended
for grades 4-7, and tells of a girl who becomes involved in trying to
save a
beloved shoreline salt marsh refuge, which is dying. Her determination
to
change its future leads her to not only confront bullies and her
stuttering
problem, but to better understand nature and human relationships.
Even though
Artemis
is more than fed up with the latter, she comes to realize that human
influences
on natural habitats are something she has the ability to change, even
at her
young age.
As Artemis
and a
group of friends (including deceased ecologists) rise to the occasion,
more
controversy is created as they uncover the likely perp involved in the
marsh's
demise, only to realize that his connections to her mother make him
formidable
in a personal way.
It's unusual
to find
a middle-grade read that deftly navigates both peer relationships and
the
politics of adult interactions, but Artemis
Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade addresses both worlds as
it evolves a
mystery's clues and the ramifications of a discovery that could save
one facet
of Artemis's life, but rock her world in too many other ways.
The dilemma
is
well-done and will appeal to young readers, while the lively ecological
and
social threads that run through the mystery offer many
thought-provoking
moments. The total impact of Artemis
Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade is a strong story that
moves from
mystery to bigger-picture thinking about intentions, power struggles,
disability, and ability.
Libraries
looking for
a vivid adventure story that holds opportunities for broader class and
peer
discussion will find Artemis Sparke and
the Sound Seekers Brigade an appealing acquisition.
Return to Index
Ask Uncle Neil: Why Is My Hair Curly?
Neil Thompson
Teach the Geek Kids
978-0692157275
$11.99 Paper; $4.99 ebook
www.askuncleneilbooks.com
Picture book readers and read-aloud parents
who look for stories that embrace self-acceptance, the possibilities in
changing appearances, and Black pride will find Ask Uncle
Neil: Why Is My
Hair Curly? the perfect item of choice for discussing
appearances and
science alike.
The latter proves an unexpected accent to
the story, which opens with a young boy's conversations with his mother
about
possible new hair styles and evolves into the question of why his hair
is curly
in the first place.
The solution is to consult scientist Uncle
Neil, who often knows the answers to intriguing puzzles.
As mother and son embark on a shared journey
for answers, readers receive a warm story spiced with nice drawings as
the
story surveys Black heritage, genes, and their influences on physical
developments and attributes (such as curly hair and its properties).
The result is a discourse that works on many
levels: as a lesson in Black pride; as an example of scientific inquiry
applied
to basic life puzzles; and as an example of how science can explain
everyday
life.
Libraries looking for different picture book
explorations of any of these topics will find a lively, positive,
welcoming
tone to Ask Uncle Neil: Why Is My Hair Curly? It
ideally will be used by
adults to open conversations about a myriad of subjects with young
picture book
audiences of all races.
Return to Index
The C.A.P.E.
Crusade
Billy Lombardo
Muse Literary
9781958714140
$10.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/C-P-Crusade-Application-Personal/dp/1958714143
Many books for teens
and college applicants discuss the application form, SATs, and other
influencers on college acceptance, but The C.A.P.E. Crusade: Your Guide to a Great
College Application Personal Essay narrows the focus to what often proves the
determining factor between
acceptance and rejection—the essay.
While it can be said that
this, too, is a subject covered
elsewhere, what sets Billy Lombardo's title apart from others is its
attention
to injecting some of the excitement and potential into the effort,
which will
inspire students to write their best.
Lombardo emphasizes his
different approach from the
beginning, presenting his view of how and why a student essay should
not assume
the regimented formula approach that other books too often recommend: "They include sections such as “there
are four types of this,” “five easy steps to this,” and “these are
topics never
to write about….” But there aren’t just four types. There aren’t just
five easy
steps. And there aren’t topics “never to write about.” There are topics
you
should probably be very careful with, of course, but a great writer
could write
a great essay on any topic. And the best topic in the world can turn
into a
terrible essay."
With this encouragement in
mind, students are led into
the world of college essay writing with a different, more creative
mindset that
remains open to all possibilities of subject and presentation.
Pre-writing exercises,
examples of topics designed to get
students testing their skills and hand at writing tasks, and advice
tailored to
encouraging creative inspiration over regimented requirements adds to
this
process by encouraging students to set pen to paper and free flow with
creative
responses: "Obsess over word count
now, and I guarantee that you’ll never get to the discoveries necessary
for a
great essay. Imagine that you’re secretly competing with your
classmates to
write a ten-thousand-word discovery draft. If you come back to shore
with more
than ten thousand words, we’ll sift through the flotsam and jetsam and
worry
about the word count later."
The
C.A.P.E.
Crusade is filled with good advice, inspirational and
motivating lessons,
and cautions about the kinds of input that reduces rather than accents
creativity and good writing. The result is a highly inspirational,
motivating,
different college application advice title filled with rich exercises
and
examples of work well-done.
Billy Lombardo admits
from the start that he never had to write such an essay to gain entry
into college,
and never even took a SAT. What he did
do was hone the approaches to writing that support creative efforts and
ultimately lend to outstanding results.
Any library strong in
recommendations for college-bound students, as well as creative writing
sources
for inspiring essay writing, will find The C.A.P.E. Crusade a standout and a winner for not only its
encouraging approach, but its specific contrasts between what makes for
staid
and dull writing and the contents of great prose.
Return to Index
The
Dragon and
the Unicorn: The Magic of Friendship
Charly Froh
Independently
Published
978-3-910542-19-8
Price: TBA
Website: https://www.charlyfroh.com
Ordering:www.amazon.com
Charly
Froh's
picture book story The Dragon and the Unicorn: The Magic of
Friendship receives
lovely, colorful illustrations by Zuzana Svobodová as it explores the
land of
the Emerald Kingdom, which is inhabited by magical unicorns and fiery
dragons.
The two live in separate, very different environments: the dragons in
Cloud
City and the unicorns in Sparkle Land.
Little
Dan the
dragon is powerful, intelligent, and caring. He has everything he needs
from
life. Or, does he?
His
counterpart,
smart little unicorn Fran, also enjoys her life and seemingly needs
nothing
more.
When
a blustery
blizzard strikes the Emerald Kingdom, Dan and Fran are taken away from
their
familiar worlds to encounter not only each other, but a very different
milieu.
Parents
who
choose this picture book story for the very young will find the
compelling
illustrations and lessons about appreciating very different people
impart
important insights about diversity, inclusiveness, and friendship
between
seemingly disparate entities.
The
bright,
alluring drawings reinforce the tale and add magic to the adventure,
which
attracts on many different levels.
Libraries
looking for picture book stories that hold both adventure and
opportunities for
broader discussions will find The Dragon and the Unicorn: The
Magic of
Friendship an alluring, original acquisition.
Return to Index
Elvia and
the Gift of
Passion
Ruthy Ballard
WhipSmart Books
9780997853216
$12.95
www.WhipSmartBooks.com
Elvia and the Gift of Passion gives
middle grade fiction readers a
science-based STEAM story of adventurous Elvia Hill, who is all about
taking
risks, in contrast with her more cautious parents.
Caution is
thrown to
the wind when her mother wins a lottery for a wildlife safari and Elvia
finally
gets to join in on a real adventure. It's a mother's nightmare come
true when
Elvia vanishes and a lion is suspected as the reason for her
disappearance. But,
in true Elvia fashion, she hasn't been eaten. She's just on another
adventure,
sailing on a stately submarine in another world and taking the safari
expedition a step further.
Black and
white
drawings pepper a high-octane adventure that will attract middle
graders
looking for a blend of fantasy and science-based fact.
Ruthy
Ballard creates
a spunky, proactive character in Elvia that comes to life through her
determination to succeed even in realms that are alien to her: "Elvia processed the word
"emergency" and, though she was annoyed by the nickname "little
sailor," she let it pass. She wanted to suit up immediately and get on
with the lesson. She was finally going to learn to swim. It was about
time. All
her friends knew how."
From
submarine sailor
lingo and explanations of the water environment to an adopted boy who
joins her
in the adventure, only to face death at the age of twelve, the tale
grows to
embrace others who are also committed to a voyage of discovery.
Ballard
cultivates a
voice that involves middle graders in a delightful, quirky story that
is part
of the 'Tales by Moons-light Series.' It takes swashbuckling to a new
level,
but grounds these fantastic journeys with a sense of science-based
reality that
educate readers in a subtle, informative, compelling manner.
Another
unusual facet
is that Elvia doesn't remain a child throughout, but matures to enter a
different life, herself.
The result
is a
compelling saga replete in action, adventure, and discovery that offers
leisure
readers an opportunity to absorb emotional and scientific details.
Teachers
seeking
STEAM-based stories to recommend as leisure choices that lend to
further
discussion and insights will find Elvia
and the Gift of Passion takes an unusual leap, linking
emotional and
educational growth in proactive young people who don't just explore new
environments, but enter and change them with gusto.
Return to Index
Ember
Sara Gibson
DartFrog Plus
978-1-951490-70-6
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Ember-Sara-Gibson-ebook/dp/B0B643K3Y6
Young adult
readers
who choose Ember for its promise of
fantasy adventure will find the story replete in action-packed pages
that
juxtapose intrigue with atmospheric descriptions. The story opens with
a solid
sense of place: "Ra’s rapiers
emerged from the sea and set the undulating water on fire. In an
instant, the
sun banished the dark emperor’s minions to remote corners where they
shifted
and scattered throughout the day, eschewing the light and waiting for
their
master to summon them once again at dusk. The sun’s rays reached a
perfectly
manicured golf course, awakening the sleepy earth and transforming the
dark
landscape into a canvas of chlorophyll green, sparkling dewdrops, and
warmth."
It then
unfolds with
a decidedly quirky set of encounters with appealingly strange
individuals that
lead young adults into an engrossing dilemma when college student Ember
literally falls into a book, trapping her within its world.
Has she
slipped into
another dimension? Has her body split into atoms like Cinder's did?
The quirky
fun of
books that both present new worlds and answer dilemmas makes for a
fantasy
flavored by whimsy and driven by powerful encounters.
As Cinder's
story in
the book closely follows Ember's experiences, leading her further into
a
strange realm, readers will enjoy the delightful humor that overlays an
atmospheric tale that literally reaches out to grab Ember from her
life: "Ember put the book down and joked,
“Will I get sucked into my book, too?” Thunder boomed so loudly that
her entire
house creaked. “Okay, okay! I’ll read on if you cut that out!” The
thunder cut
off abruptly."
Young adults
who look
for lively fantasy sagas (especially bookworms whose noses are always
ferreting
out new situations and experiences) will find Ember
an attractive choice that poses intriguing, unexpected
dilemmas and a special form of compelling action.
When is a
book not a
book? When it captures other worlds and injects the reader into them as
a
protagonist against all odds and efforts to challenge this
transformation: “The author began writing
this stupid story
over twenty years ago. I infiltrated her Hotmail account and deleted
the file.
Like an idiot, she started the story again,” Eris replied. “I allowed
her to
find a hard copy of the old story, hoping that she would be so confused
she
would stop. Then she merged the stories, creating parallel universes!
I’m going
to keep throwing writer’s block at her until she goes crazy, so this
stupid
story will never be published!”
The result
is a
vibrant, refreshingly original, fun tale that embraces a love for
books, other
worlds, and situations that challenge reality itself. Ember's character
and the
whimsical forces she encounters in these other worlds create literary
and
social conundrums that are unexpectedly fun.
Libraries
and adults
seeking unique and strong recommendations for young adult
fantasy-reading
bookworms will find Ember the
perfect
choice.
Return to Index
Eye of the
Stormlord
Laurel Colless
Peter Blue Press
978-952-94-6058-8
$18.99 Paper/$7.99 ebook
www.laurelcolless.com
Eye of the Stormlord's eco-sci-fi story
offers an adventure that
young adults will appreciate as they absorb the dilemma of
eleven-year-old
Peter Blue, who attends an exclusive school for eco-talented, gifted
children.
His father was part of an organization that tackled big-scale world
eco-problems, but he's gone missing. With him goes family connections,
but as
Peter comes to realize the real source of the world's storms and the
concurrent
turbulence in his heart, he also comes to understand the real nature of
the
world and his place in it.
Laurel
Colless
creates a compelling saga that rests in the arms of fantasy, but
incorporates
many messages about family, life connections, and good and evil.
It also
incorporates
social and political messages, often delivered with a wry wit that
young
readers will find unexpected and compelling: "At Big Garbage,
we’ve
expanded across England up to the north. Thanks to a big idea from
yours truly,
we bought a bunch of old collieries. Unbelievable space they have for
garbage
dumping, especially chemicals from our big company clients. Garbage is
the gift
that keeps on giving, eh, Peter? And between you and me and the
gatepost, it
pays very well. Wink wink, say no more."
If Peter
can't thwart
the "baddies," then everyone he cares about is going to die.
Colless
spins a
powerful yarn that, on its surface, appears pure fantasy adventure,
replete
with good/evil clashes and characters that learn more about a
surprising world:
“Are
you still
there, light boy? Let me hear your voice.”
“Yes,” said Peter.
“That’s good. We have an understanding, you and I.”
In his outer vision, Peter saw the demon’s shoulder twitch.
“Watch out!” It was Roly, arriving behind him. Too late, the
demon had Peter’s neck in his grip. Squeezing his throat.
It was like a fierce hug, but the Stormlord’s purpose was not from a
place of
love."
Within its
overlay of
action, however, lie many lessons about ecology and interconnectedness
that
educate young people about the forces in communities and outside them
that let
Trojan Horses in, to disrupt life.
As warriors,
demons,
and stormlords clash, readers receive a delightful blend of adventure
and
education that will lend to group discussion as well as individual
reading.
Elementary-level
libraries looking for rollicking good fantasy adventures that offer a
dose of
something more serious in the way of life and ecological inspections
will find Eye of the Stormlord an
attractive
recommendation for pre-teen to teen readers. It stands alone nicely,
but also
adds to The Sleeping King,
a
prequel which introduced Peter, Spiral Hall, and the special milieu in
which he
operates.
Return to Index
It's Okay
Not to Know
Brenda Do
Peanut Butter
Publishing
978-1-59849-322-1
$19.95
www.brendado.com
Picture book
readers
and read-aloud parents who choose It's
Okay Not to Know for its inviting title will find that Brenda
Do and her
illustrator C.S. Fritz have crafted a formula for better
self-acceptance and
the importance of making mistakes in life.
That's
right: the
loveable little monster that is the focus of this story does everything
wrong,
from spilt milk and missed ball catches to not knowing the answers to
everything.
The story
begins with
a wordless series of fun illustrations about several mishaps, then
moves into
admonitions read-aloud adults will find particularly inviting for
sparking conversations
in the very young: "When you don’t
know something…Or you make a mistake…It’s easy to feel down. But not
knowing
and having uh-oh’s are good…When you turn things around."
As the
appealing
little character learns that "Not
knowing gives you a chance to learn something new," young
listeners
and readers receive a golden opportunity to explore the positive
aspects of
seemingly-apparent failures in their own efforts and lives.
Adults who
choose It's Okay Not to Know will
find in it an
outstanding opportunity for dialogue and growth.
Return to Index
Let Your
Inner Golden
Sparkle Shine
Sarah Vie
Muse Literary
978-1-958714-20-1
$21.99
Hardcover/$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Inner-Golden-Sparkle-Shine/dp/1958714208
Let
Your Inner Golden Sparkle Shine: The
Little Girl Who Never Stopped Believing in Herself is a warm picture book story that gives
youngsters advice and insights on overcoming life obstacles.
Narrated through the eyes of
Little Vie, the author's
Inner Child, it shares a sense of magic and discovery over the notion
of an
Inner Sparkle that is unique to every individual.
The book gently embraces the
notion of recognizing,
tapping into, and supporting this Inner Sparkle through actions and
choices
that solidify its presence and ability to guide youngsters through life.
Juliana Brykova's lovely
large drawings are an added
bonus, creating appealing images and scenarios that support the notion
of inner
beauty and unique outward appearances.
Typical child dilemmas, such
as feeling excluded by
others or feeling different, are addressed through repeated admonitions
to take
a breath and "notice the magic
beating of your heart."
The same meditative approach
can be used to address
fears, worries, and life challenges.
Adults who choose Let Your Inner Golden
Sparkle
Shine will find its messages of positivity and
self-acceptance offer
uplifting and early lessons on acknowledging and tapping inner strength.
Kids who
receive this
lesson early in life will find within themselves a form of resilience
that
allows them to face the world with more confidence and connection
between who
they are and their unique place in the scheme of things.
While
elementary-level libraries will find Let
Your Inner Golden Sparkle Shine appealing, it's the parent
or adult
read-aloud participant who will find it especially relevant to
discussions
about independent thinking and self-assurance.
Return to Index
The Lonely
Toadstool
Kristin Addington
Culpepper
Weave
Sunshine Publishing
979-8985777215
$18.99
Hardcover/$12.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
Website: https://www.weavesunshinepublishing.com/copy-of-about
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BFTSZ5TD
The
Lonely
Toadstool: A Children’s Books About New Friends That Come as
We Find Our
Voice is a celebration of growth
that begins with Kristin Addington Culpepper's depiction of isolation ("One
toadstool stood all alone
On the forest
floor."). This grows to
embrace the world when a lonely toadstool's cry of despair reaches a
host of
forest creatures that all put down their busy tasks to answer his call.
Anyone who has been lonely or isolated, and
any child who has felt the pain of such, will find The Lonely
Toadstool
a study in how to be a friend as well as how to
accept and interact with
others.
Gorgeous
illustrations by Ruthie Arthur illustrate how a myriad of fanciful
creatures
and forest animals embark on a search for the source of that lonely
whimper,
determined to help.
Through the
lonely
toadstool's feelings and reactions, children learn the importance of
expressing
emotion, asking for help, setting boundaries, and being more inclusive
in their
friendships. They also learn how to be givers via the example of these
disparate forest friends who come together to answer a call of need.
The
importance of
this lovely message, well-paired with the equally lovely forest
illustrations
which represent whimsy with a colorful flair, makes The
Lonely Toadstool a top pick for discriminating read-aloud
parents and elementary-level libraries looking for explorations of
emotions for
the very young.
The
top-notch
combination of simple subject and supportive reflections on friendships
makes
for a tale that all ages (including adults) can learn from. Ideally, The Lonely Toadstool will also be used
in discussion groups with kids to explore themes of isolation,
friendship,
giving, and cooperative efforts.
Return to Index
Longevity:
The
Awakening
Caleb Smith
Independently
Published
9798634979960
$14.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
Website: www.ctsmithwriting.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Longevity-Awakening-Caleb-Smith-
Longevity:
The Awakening opens
in Scotland in
1286 A.D., introducing Alastair Ramsden to young adult readers.
Alastair has
survived being an orphan and coming of age during the Scottish War of
Independence. Part of his survival skills stem from an unusual oak tree
that
grants him the power to cross over into the 4th-dimensional elemental
kingdom
of Akasha.
Now on the
cusp of
teenage years, Alastair faces an ongoing journey between two worlds as
he
grasps the key to both adulthood and his own special talents.
Young adults
who
choose Longevity:
The Awakening will find the
juxtaposition of
fantasy and history to be compellingly presented, cemented by a young
protagonist whose will to survive allows him to grow into his powers
and
realize the special options affecting not just his future, but the fate
of
mankind.
Some scenes
introduce
angst and violent overtones as Alastair struggles with past lessons and
future
choices: "Donnan
witnessed his son’s reaction towards the task and grew
more actuated to speed up the process. It wasn’t easy for a man to
break a boy
from his soft habits."
Alastair
relives
these pivotal points of his past with the help of spirit guide David,
reviewing
the influences and outcome of his family and life events: "With harsh lessons relearned like that
of his first kill, it astonished him to watch his growth and
development from a
boy to a preteen adolescent."
The
juxtaposition of
past and present lessons brings enlightenment and understanding to
young adults
who choose Longevity: The Awakening for its fantasy adventure component,
only to realize that its
underlying lessons are as much about growth as they are about survival
and
escape.
Caleb
Smith's strong
attention to atmosphere and character development gives Longevity: The
Awakening a powerful sense of place,
time, and extraordinary
events. Both Alastair and his followers contemplate the choices and
consequences that befall them in life, directing the evolving adult
persona
that will eventually make life-altering decisions.
Elementary-level
libraries looking for fantasy histories that offer the possibility of
bigger-picture thinking about psychological growth and overcoming
impossible
odds will find Longevity: The Awakening lends
not just to
leisure choice and entertainment, but to teen book club discussion
groups.
Return to Index
A Pixie's
Transformation
Faith D. Eilertson
Beaver's Pond Press
9781643439105
$19.95
Website: www.faithdeilertson.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Pixies-Transformation-hardcover-Eilertson-August/dp/1643439103
A Pixie's Transformation will reach ages
7 and older with a fantasy
tale of mystery and magic, weaving an alluring story surrounding a new
home and
a pixie's atonement.
Pixies are
typically
naughty. But some cross the line of mischief and must make amends for
their
annoying jokes.
Evelyn and
Reed's
journey of learning about this process and the magical world of pixies,
fairies, and others who inhabit their new home is embedded with life
messages
that young readers will absorb in the course of the fantasy.
Faith D.
Eilertson's
depiction of this learning process is nicely woven into the adventure
component
of the plot: "While fairies view
life with positive thoughts and energy, pixies have chosen to
contribute to
mischief."
Human
siblings Evelyn
and Reed Gunderson add their own growth and reflections to the process
of
realization, healing, discovery, and transformation: "I
guess jealousy is common to all forms of life. I just wish
people could find happiness in themselves with whatever gifts they have
to
offer."
Black and
white line
drawings by Kari Vick introduce each chapter with a simple yet
plot-reinforcing
image that adds to the story's attraction.
Kids drawn
to stories
of fairies and magic will discover much more going on than action
alone. Woven
into the mystery are thought-provoking, growth-inducing moments that
give pause
for thought about friendships, self-image, good and bad choices, and
the
transformations that accompany them.
Libraries
and adults
looking for attractive stories that sport deeper reflective life
lessons will
find A Pixie's Transformation supplements
its guise of a fantasy adventure with an equally compelling story of
growth.
This makes for a top recommendation and a standout above other genre or
children's reads.
Return to Index
The Shepherd of
the Stars
Tricia D. Wagner
Independently
Published
979-8358818583
$3.99
ebook; $11.99 paperback
www.amazon.com
The Shepherd of the
Stars is a young adult story
about the aftermath of an accident that stymies
healing and recovery.
Fourteen-year-old
Swift Kingsley's world has changed. Forced to assume adult roles (and
thinking)
while still a teen, Swift is injured in more than body. His family is
coming
apart, his dreams of a medical career are in jeopardy, and Swift feels
that
he's lost so much, he wonders if he'll ever have a meaningful life.
That's
why a
respite trip to the rugged Welsh Pembrokeshire coast seems particularly
appealing: it's a chance to get away, recover and heal, and move far
from
reminders of what could have been but for one devastating moment.
Swift
didn't
expect the mystery and intrigue that develops from this move—and
neither will
the reader. This is one of the strengths in a story that opens with a
seemingly
set theme, then moves into unexpected realms much in the way life
offers major
twists, opportunities, and challenges.
The
story opens
with this changed life as Swift contemplates the location of The
Shepherd of
the Stars, a book of sea shanties and power that has been
hidden by his
brother.
Swift
needs
"warmth and quiet" to stay well. But, just as essential for healing
is the sense of purpose and excitement that this book offers. The
effort to
find it carries him into realms where he is newly empowered and must
make
decisions that hold wide-ranging impacts on his future.
At
odds with his
brother over this mysterious book's meaning, Swift makes choices based
as much
on its possibilities for redemption as the reality of its impact: "What
insights might it keep that could help him understand the Star of
Atlantis, and
his place in its mystery?" The book's secrets may be the only
path
back to Swift's ultimate goal of building a future in medicine.
Tricia D.
Wagner
creates a fine young adult read that builds on her Star
of Atlantis story, yet will prove accessible to newcomers, as
well.
The book's
secrets
offer numerous puzzles as Swift probes its impossibilities: "Mendeleev created his tables in the late
1800s; tables that included gaps that anticipated new elements, then
still
undiscovered. And yet in The Shepherd
of the Stars, those elements were included—the noble
gasses, argon,
helium, and others. “How could this be?”
Octavian had concluded by surveying the ink and paper that the Star of Atlantis was older than the
late 1800’s."
With its
juxtaposition of supernatural intrigue, mystery, and personal
evolution, The Shepherd of the
Stars represents a
heavy draw for young adults who look for all these elements in their
stories.
Swift's
discovery of a legacy that can empower him to reach for newly
impossible dreams
creates a dialogue that is compelling, rich in friendship and family
probes and
revised destinies that all receive warm and detailed inspection.
Libraries
that
choose this story for its powerful adventure components will find so
much more
in a tale that spins off additional insights into friendships, trust,
healing,
and self-empowerment: "How wondrously Cynfael and Chance
spoke of
destiny, how closely they appeared to know Swift by what they claimed
to have
foreseen. They were all at once the most profound enigma Swift had ever
encountered, and the closest and most trusted friends he could imagine.
Why
their paths had interconnected with Swift’s and what destiny awaited
them
all—these questions, he was anxious to explore."
Return to Index
Unknown
Waters
Cynthia Bordelon
Independently
Published
978-0-578-28972-4
$7.99 Paper; $3.99 ebook
Website: www.cynthiabordelon.com
Ordering: https://amzn.to/3f1OjJp
Unknown Waters:
Sara Full of Wonder gives young
readers ages 7-9 a compelling
adventure that follows Sara and her family on a vacation on the Cayman
Islands
in the Caribbean Sea. The children have never seen the ocean, so this
represents a special thrill and a venture into the unknown.
Appealing
black
and white illustrations by Mariya Prytula accompany a compelling
profile of a
special place which is "better than TV," populated by wondrous
creatures.
Sara
suffers from
anxiety and harbors an inherent fear of many things—including the
water. So, a
beach vacation isn't exactly her idea of a good time. Not if she has to
venture
beyond the beach and into unknown (and likely dangerous) waters.
Sara
realizes
that the fish surrounding her are "poetry in motion," and as she
tackles both an environmental education and the challenges it
introduces to her
perspective and choices, young readers receive a story that ideally
will not
just earn a place on library shelves, but will become the subject of
peer and
interactive discussions with adults, too.
A
glossary of
terms, coloring pages at the back of the book, and the message of
Sara's
growing interest in ocean issues and ecology creates a vibrant story
juxtaposing wonder with life lessons.
"If you look at life as an adventure you are open to new things. Sometimes doing something hard can be so wonderful. We just have to take the first step and see where it takes us.”
Sara is taking these first steps in Unknown Waters bringing elementary-grade readers along for a journey which embraces growth and environmental awareness.
Unknown WatersReturn to Index
Why Can't
Dating Be
Like Pizza?
Andy V. Roamer
NineStar Press
978-1-64890-490-5
$14.99 Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.ninestarpress.com
Why Can't Dating Be Like Pizza? presents
the fifth book in the
Pizza Chronicles series for teens and young adults, profiling the next
series
of conundrums in young LGBTQ RV's life as he navigates his sexuality,
coming-of-age dilemmas, and the looming challenges of college and the
future.
RV's wise
high school
counselor pushes him to assure his future success: “Colleges
want the total person, RV. The total person.
Someone who’s not only smart but is industrious,
has community spirit, thinks outside the box, steps up to the plate,
works well
with others, shows he can lead others when necessary, and is willing to
help
out and solve problems instead of just complaining about them. Are you
that
person, RV? Are you?”
In order to
achieve
his goals, however, RV will have to do something he's never wanted to
do
before: stand out. But, does this effort mean compromising who he is,
or
augmenting it to make himself more attractive to others?
Why Can't Dating Be Like Pizza? examines
a high school junior's
expanding trajectory in not only his college aspirations, but his
personal life
and his identity as a gay young man.
The story
opens with
the pressure this period of time introduces into his life, carrying
that theme
through the experiences that shape his desires and future course. But
RV isn't
the only one experiencing pressure in this story.
His friends,
too,
feel the impact of changes that portend drastically altered futures: “It’s horrible,” Mark went on. “It’s like
it’s up to me to hold everything together. But I’m not doing a good job
of it.
Sometimes I want to leave and never see my family again either. And I
hate my
brother for causing all this. Isn’t that terrible?”
Andy V.
Roamer
provides a powerful series of insights as RV struggles with his choices
and the
forces affecting his loves, friendships, and future.
The
first-person
experiences are compellingly realistic, while the influence of mentors,
friends, and family coalesce to create a story that evolves different
insights
from daily events: “Did you want the
movie to turn out differently?”
“I never thought about it.”
“Yeah, that’s what makes it good. When we don’t know how it will turn
out.”
Like its
predecessors, Why Can't Dating Be Like
Pizza? Focuses on a series of conundrums facing a young man
who is on the
cusp of adulthood and discovering what his future will bring.
RV's ability
to come
full circle to see what is good about life's changes and the pressures
surrounding decisions makes for a thoroughly engrossing read that is
recommended for libraries strong in both coming-of-age and LGBTQ+
romance
stories of love and change.
Return to Index
Yves, or the
Man Who
Wasn’t
L.N. Mayer
Oslo & Bangs
Publishing
978-2-9569463-4-2
$11.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Yves-Man-Wasnt-Tell-Trilogy/dp/295694634X
"The only constant is change and the only thing
that changes is
how much you hate something."
Yves, or the Man Who Wasn’t presents
young adults with Book 2 of
The Tell Trilogy, following the coming-of-age of a young man who
becomes
involved in forces beyond his youth or control.
The reasons
for
people coming together over something they hate forms the foundation of
examination in a story which maintains that "struggle is a fool's
chore," supporting that introduction with the further adventures of
William Teller, whose legend involves a propensity for getting into
trouble.
Tell is an
outcast
who just won't go away. And that's part of the problem.
L.N. Mayer
crafts a
follow-up story best appreciated by prior fans of Tell,
or the Adventures in Themiddle. This audience will fall
easily
into the atmosphere and story which takes place almost a hundred years
from
"right now."
Tell thinks
he knows
his place in Themiddle, but his power sets him apart in a way no other
resident
has ever experienced. As he receives lessons on his abilities, how
tyrants are
formed and come to power, and the power of imagination, he better grows
to
understand his choices.
Young adults
who
choose this adventure expecting a fantasy or action story alone will
find much
philosophical reflection underlying the vivid scenes of Tell's
evolution and
blossoming abilities.
They will be
prompted
to think deeper and harder about finding one's place in the world and
affecting
its changes and judgments, and will also discover much fodder for
discussion
that will lend to young adult book club reader engagements on a variety
of
growth-inducing topics.
The result is a study in belief and self-empowerment that blends fantasy and adventure with an overlay of personal involvement and discovery. This will attract libraries catering to young adults that look for exceptional stories of magic and social and psychological insights.
Yves, or the Man Who Wasn’tReturn to Index