Pick of the
Month:
Quite simply the single best
book of that month's
Recommended Reading!
From the May 2025 issue:
Blood
Moon Productions
Darwin
Porter & Danforth Prince
Blood
Moon Productions
9781936003945 $49.99
www.bloodmoonproductions.com
It’s already a fact that Porter and Prince have profiled and preserved the legends of modern times, from Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley to Humphrey Bogart and Carrie Fisher. A dip into Blood Moon Productions examines the wellsprings of not only the dynamic duo’s Hollywood interests and connections, but exactly how they can churn out so much weighty and compelling writing in a short span of years.
How weighty and prolific? Think two or three yearly, at about five to seven hundred pages long, packed with rich stories and photos about major public personalities.
Their revised focus here is not to say that gossip has been set aside for practical review of personal lives and a publishing house’s development. Indeed, as with all their books, gossip, juicy stories, and high drama permeates this synthesis of the many Hollywood lives and encounters Danforth and Darwin have experienced over decades of work.
The writing is as impeccable as its headliners (think ‘chapter titles’ on steroids).
No library or Hollywood aficionado should be without this book!
From the April 2025 issue:
Unseen
Chains
Corey
W Carlson
Independently
Published
979-8230930402 $19.99
https://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Chains-Everyday-Oppression-American/dp/B0DXNBR9BC
Unseen Chains: The Everyday Oppression of American Life should be the starting point for political science and history students of American history who are interested in the foundations and influences of socioeconomic forces that took an ideal and made it a cornerstone illusion for a nation.
Chapters evolve a series of surprises that will surely prove controversial food for thought and fodder for vivid classroom and reading group discussions.
As a myriad of “unseen chains” are probed, readers may find many answers to why they feel duped, disillusioned, or confused about America’s political past and present.
Although opinionated and controversial, Unseen Chains is also well-researched, essential reading for any thinking historian, economics student, or consumer interested in better understanding the interactions between and repressive efforts of forces that would control and direct the course of not just American lives, but ideals.
From the March 2025 issue:
Apparently: This
is What Parenting Feels Like
Sue
Dvorak
GFB
978-1-964721-82-8
http://www.girlfridayproductions.com/
From everyday life to the unthinkable (a child’s death), Dvorak covers all possibilities and experiences with an eye to enlightening new parents about better ways to embrace life, their revised jobs, and their child.
The blend of emotional support and practical advice exhibited in Apparently: This is What Parenting Feels Like is in stark contrast to parenting guides that tend to be dry or idealistic. Perhaps this is because many of the keys to better understanding come from the author’s own experience with children and family members, giving the book a rich underlay of reality intrinsic to powerful, better guidance.
Libraries and about-to-be-new parents may have plenty of other childrearing and birth guides on hand—but none will hold the perfect blend of personal experience and enlightening alternative management and childrearing tools profiled in Apparently: This is What Parenting Feels Like.
From the February 2025 issue:
The
Overthinker’s Guide to Joy
Jackie
de Crinis
JDC
Press
979-8-9909520-0-3
$16.95
Paperback/$7.99 eBook/.99 Audiobook
Website:
jackiedecrinis.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Overthinkers-Guide-Overachievers-People-Pleasers-Perfectionists/dp/B0DJRYNQJN
The Overthinker's Guide to Joy: A Handbook for Overachievers, People-Pleasers, and Perfectionists is a guide based on author Jackie de Crinis’s own life and search for success. It outlines the consequences of identifying success too rigidly, addressing how perfectionists work until they run on empty (and then some). This is not original news to those who approach life in this manner, but what is especially revealing are tips on how to identify and overcome these ingrained patterns of behavior.
Readers won’t find graphs, pie charts, and academic credentials here. What they will find is a tried-and-tested series of insights based on de Crinis’s thirty years in the television industry, whose pressures and expectations supported perfectionist attitudes and habits.
The attraction is nothing short of powerful for self-help readers interested in examining their drive to gain meaning from life.
From the January 2025 issue:
Flutterby
and Caterpillarism
D'Ann
Katsu Davis
Atmosphere
Press
979-8891324862 $12.12
Paperback/$8.88 ebook
Website:
www.KatsuDavis.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Flutterby-Caterpillarism-DAnn-Katsu-Davis/dp/B0DJR5G999
Flutterby and Caterpillarism is set in the real-world environment of the Sacred Stone Medicine Camp at Standing Rock. At first the story’s place and origins were to be presented more ethereally, but D'Ann Katsu Davis’ publisher convinced her to keep its setting in actual struggles surrounding the Dakota Access Pipelines through tribal lands. This gives her fable an important foundation in events and tribal concerns.
The story is set in the real-world environment of the Sacred Stone Medicine Camp at Standing Rock. At first the story’s place and origins were to be presented more ethereally, but D'Ann Katsu Davis’ publisher convinced her to keep its setting in actual struggles surrounding the Dakota Access Pipelines through tribal lands. This gives her fable an important foundation in events and tribal concerns.
More important in modern times than ever, it’s just the ticket for combating depression and encouraging specie-wide and earth-wide wide connections.
From
the December
2024 issue:
The
Dark Night of the Soul
Daniel Hryhorczuk
Golden Bough
978-1-7352400-3-9
$14.99
Print/$3.99 eBook
Website: www.danielhryhorczuk.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Night-Soul-Daniel-Hryhorczuk/dp/1735240036
From
the November
2024 issue:
Against
All Odds
Tristian Smith
TWS Publishing
979-8990888906
$27.99
Hardcover/$18.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Against-All-Odds-Tristian-Smith/dp/B0D8K36XWG
Against
All Odds
is a memoir, but to confine its
recommendation to fans of autobiography alone would be to do it a
disservice.
Unlike most memoirs, the story rises from personal experience to
political
activism in a manner designed to illustrate not just trauma and
recovery, but
how one individual evolved beyond what life handed him at an early age
to
cultivate a drive to give back to society in novel ways. Smith’s focus
on
giving back by improving not just his circumstances, but those of
others, gives
his story an extra dimension of meaning and insights.
Also
notable is advice to would-be foster parents on how to provide the
special services and support that youngsters in the foster care system
so
desperately need.
Libraries
should consider Against All Odds a ‘must’ for
collection enhancement and recommendation to all kinds of patrons,
ranging from
would-be foster parents to readers tackling social issues and
considering
opportunities for enacting meaningful, lasting change.
From
the October 2024 issue:
Beyond
Everest
Corinne Richardson with Pem Dorjee Sherpa
DartFrog Plus
978-1-961624-85-6
$15.99
DartFrog Books
Beyond
Everest: One
Sherpa’s Summit and Hope for Nepal is not your usual
mountaineering story
of scaling the famous mountain, but documents the life of a Sherpa
whose summit
of Everest saved him from poverty and opened new doors to success.
Sherpa
stories often remain untold because of the
language barrier and the need to know English. Enter writer Corinne
Richardson,
whose abilities made Beyond Everest
possible.
Of special note is her
focus on economic conditions,
which are largely omitted from similar-sounding Everest stories in
favor of an
adventure focus. This gives the story added value by surveying poverty,
how
communities struggle and develop pathways towards better living, and
the
economic impact of tourism and adventuring on participants and
countries
hosting exploration opportunities.
From
the September 2024 issue:
On
the Front Lines of Democracy: An Election Official’s Story of
Protecting the Vote in 2020
Jackie Wu
Golden Torch Press
979-8-9911228-0-1
$14.99
Paperback/$7.99 eBook
Website: www.jwuconsulting.com/book
On
the
Front Lines of Democracy:
An Election Official’s Story of Protecting the
Vote in 2020
presents a month-by-month survey of events in 2020 America that melds
insights
into Jackie Wu’s life and status as a first-generation American, the
child of
immigrant parents, with observations of democratic
processes specifically,
voting rights, which are intrinsic to a fair and free democracy.
While
its focus is on what it’s like to be an election official
making decisions and overseeing this right to vote, On
the Front Lines of Democracy even more importantly documents
the
daily struggles and wars for preserving rights that have been eroded or
vanquished in other countries.
Readers
interested in election administration processes receive
all the nuts and bolts of such efforts as experienced by Wu in 2020,
opening
with the health challenges COVID posed to election workers and voters
alike.
On the Front Lines of Democracy is very highly recommended for libraries seeking personal and political works covering democratic processes in general and voting in particular, for readers interested in absorbing insights about democracy backed by the power of personal experience, and for book clubs and reader groups seeking debate and discussion materials about the nature and preservation of voter rights in America.
From the August 2024 issue:
Black
Men and Racial Trauma
Yamonte Cooper
Routledge/Taylor & Francis
9781032554112
$170.00 Hardcover/$35.96 Paperback/$31.69 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Black-Men-Racial-Trauma-Interventions/dp/1032554118
As
Cooper chronicles the many
impacts of racism, his concurrent attention to the equal possibilities
of
healing creates a discourse on racial profiling, disparities, and
history that
moves between subjects of developing Black capitalism and mindset to
social
techniques employed to undermine Black male agency. These sometimes
arise from
unexpected places, such as feminist efforts.
Eye-opening
and certain to be
controversial, Cooper’s analysis, contentions, and revelations are
firmly
rooted not just in psychology and mental health, but in social and
historical
analysis. This creates a powerful set of insights not to be found in
any other
book on black males, their psychology, or social analysis.
From
the July 2024
issue:
Intimate
Conversations
Larry Ruttman
Torchflame Books
978-1-61153-477-1
$50 Hardcover;
$30 Paperback; $12.99 ebook
www.torchflamebooks.com
Intimate
Conversations: Face to Face With Matchless
Musicians
holds many surprises. In
Larry Ruttman’s book, the issue of the future of classical music is
discussed.
Ruttman’s discourses lies in a close inspection of the role and future of classical music in a changing society. These topics will not only involve anyone interested in music: they will spark important discourses between musicians and their audiences about the culture, adaptations, and information necessary to keep classical music on the radars of future generations.
Libraries seeking close inspections of classical music’s contemporary meaning will want to make Intimate Conversations a foundation acquisition for any serious music library. It’s a top choice for general-interest collections interested in why music remains so important and necessary to life, highly recommended for book clubs interested in interviews that will prompt discussion, debate, and reflection about the nature and evolution of classical music today.
From
the June 2024
issue:
How
Much is Enough?
Claire Berger
Canoe Tree Press
978-1-961624-46-7
$17.95
www.DartFrogBooks.com
How
Much Is Enough? Getting More By Living With Less is
billed as an ‘interactive memoir’ and presents chapters that can be
read in any order. Twenty-two chapters ask questions about different
forms of
wealth and value.
While
Berger’s life values and
encounters form the crux of this book (which is why it is billed as a
memoir),
the interactive portion concluding each chapter invites readers to
delve deeper
into their own values and definition of what constitutes real wealth.
From
the May 2024
issue:
Not
From Here
Leah Lax
Pegasus Elliot MacKenzie Publishers Ltd.
9781804680179
$20.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://amzn.to/3vH8k0n
There
was a time when the publication
of Not From Here: The Song of America would have
seamlessly joined a
host of immigrant-celebratory, experiential memoirs whose purpose was
to
reflect one of America’s greatest strengths: families that are “not
from here”
and who participate in society as New Americans making contributions to
the
nation’s psyche; not strangers from elsewhere.
From
musical interludes to interviews
with immigrants who harbored different visions of opportunity in
America, Lax
creates a dialogue of hope, revelation, and discovery that juxtaposes
startling, perhaps controversial truths about being Jewish and from an
immigrant family in America.
The fact that it will prove controversial and provoke dialogues and debates in many an audience is actually a ‘plus’ when it comes to opening minds and hearts to new realities.
From the April 2024 issue:
Everything
Slows Down
Garry Cosnett
Secant Publishing
979-8988641056
$24.00
Hardcover/$7.99 eBook
www.secantpublishing.com
Everything
Slows
Down:
My Hidden Life with Depression: How I Survived, What I
Learned demonstrates that the
topic of depression (in particular, living with long-term depression)
has not
been exhausted by other memoirs and medical guides on the market.
Garry
Cosnett’s journey documents the
tidal back-and-forth of drugs, treatments, and the influences which
dictate
their assignment and use.
Cosnett’s
candid accounts of
successes (whether limited or more long-term), failures, ongoing
challenges,
and the shifting nature of drugs and their applications makes for a
story that
will educate a wide range of followers, from medical students and
psychiatrists
interested in the experiences and course of depression to fellow
survivors who
will not just walk in Cosnett’s footsteps, but learn from his choices.
From
the March 2024
issue:
From
Hardship to Hope
Judith Gwinn Adrian and Jaylin M. Stueber
HenschelHAUS
978159598-960-4
$18.95
Paper/$9.99 eBook
Website: judithadrian.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Hardship-Hope-Crossing-Divides-wealth/dp/1595989609
Fictionalized,
shared autobiographies are rare, but a taste of
excellence, From Hardship to Hope demonstrates that this collaborative
approach
can produce exceptional results.
The
"autofiction" blend is connected and enhanced by
drama and fictional devices of expansive setting and psychology in a
story
fraught with insights about prejudice, social reaction, change,
justice, and
philosophy.
The
contrasts between pregnant, homeless, Black teen Ruby Blue,
who is temporarily housed with Zoe, a White, aging widow, gives readers
an
impactful scenario in which Zoe's
privileged heritage contrasts heavily with that of Ruby Blue, whose
incarcerated husband and life reflect a very different reality.
This
impact is why From
Hardship To Hope is very highly recommended to a wide
audience (including
book club discussion groups) seeking powerful, memorable stories that
both
resonate and stand out from the crowd with a literary, social, and
philosophical prowess rarely observed in modern fiction.
From
the February
2024 issue:
How
Boys Learn
Jeff Kirchick
Atmosphere Press
9798891320963
$16.99
Paper/$8.99 ebook
www.atmospherepress.com
How
Boys Learn's
fictional focus is
on toxic masculinity and how boys learn it. While nonfiction parenting
books
have addressed this topic, few hold the power or attraction of the
approach
cultivated by Jeff Kirchick in How Boys
Learn.
It
offers blueprints for action, reaction, and positive change
in the guise of short story examples that contrasts male perceptions,
actions,
and opportunities for change.
How
Boys Learn both
shows and
tells. It tells of men of all ages who are not immune to epiphanies
about their
lives, prejudices, and approaches to being male; and it shows these
progressive
learning experiences through reflective, diverse short stories that
sparkle
with insight.
Libraries,
parenting groups, any adults working with teens, and
many a young reader alike will all find its diverse examples
thought-provoking
and worthy of both individual contemplation and group discussion.
From
the January
2024 issue:
Infectious
Injustice
Justin Cook
Fulton Books
979-8-88731-972-8
$53.95 Hardcover/$41.95 Paper/$9.95 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Infectious-Injustice-Survival-Corruption-Incarceration/dp/B0CKC1PVP9
Blistering
attacks on the American incarceration system are not
unusual, but what sets Justin Cook's passionate discourse Infectious
Injustice: The True Story of Survival and Loss against Corruption, the
COVID-19
Disaster inside of San Quentin, and the Dumpster Fire that is Known as
Mass
Incarceration apart from most others is his attention to
eye-opening
details about prison management. This not only identifies injustices,
but
results in concrete advice on how inmates can survive them.
Cook
penetrates the inner sanctum of the "cesspool" that is
San Quentin State Prison, cultivating a gritty, glaring tone as he
captures a
culture that most people outside of the justice system do not fully
understand.
Ideally, Infectious Injustice should be required, assigned reading for inmates and those who have any interest or involvement in a prison system. Its candid, controversial and passionate arguments will prove critical for discussion and debate among a wide circle of readers, from book clubs interested in memoirs of prison experience to social justice and injustice classes, political science students, and anyone with a concern about fighting fear, repression, and incarceration disasters that operate undercover, in open defiance of democratic and humanitarian principles today.
From
the December
2023 issue:
Easy
in Harness
Alan Cohen
Atmosphere Press
979-8-89132-032-1
$19.99
Paperback/28.99 hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
Easy
in Harness: A Productive Approach to Hiring a Good
Manager
should be in any business library as well as discussed in any
circles where leadership and management roles are of interest.
Its astute focus on the practicalities of what works, what doesn't, and why provides a survey of common workplace and manager dysfunction and considers the roots of building better business relationships based on cooperative sharing, making this book a foundation guide for any entrepreneur or visionary thinker interested in conducting leadership activities on a whole new, enlightened level.
From
the November
2023 issue:
Keeping
Your Seat at
the Table
Nori Jabba
1st World Publishing
978-1-4218-3536-5
$21.95 Paper/$14.95
Audio/$9.97 ebook
Website: www.keepingyourseat.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Your-Seat-at-Table/dp/1421835363
Plenty
of books discuss women's empowerment and gaining a
foothold in business circles and political positions of influence, but
few
address the underlying challenge of how to manage and hold onto these
roles.
That's
why Keeping Your Seat at the Table deserves a prominent
place in a wide range of collections, from women's issues to business
books,
self-help titles, and those appealing to women searching for keys to
not just
obtaining, but maintaining power.
Between its insights into leadership qualities and its blend of research, stories, and insights, Keeping Your Seat at the Table provides a perspective and approach that makes it an invaluable, unique addition to any collection and conversation revolving around empowerment, management challenges, and not only keeping a seat at that table of influence, but redefining it.
From
the October
2023 issue:
Labels
of Empire:
Textile Trademarks. Windows into India in the time of the Raj
Susan Meller
Goff Books
978-1-954081-25-3
$150.00
Publisher:www.goffbooks.com
Website: www.labelsofempire.com
Libraries
and readers seeking a blend of visual excellent and
authoritative and detailed historical research will find Labels of
Empire
suitable for any collection strong in India's arts, history, and
culture.
Susan
Meller gathers a set of high-quality, striking examples of
textile labels and bazaar prints to illustrate the events that linked
and drove
Eastern and Western interests and culture during the Raj era.
The image-driven account, backed by years of research and authoritative notes, translates to a wide-ranging survey unparalleled in art or history literature, making Labels of Empire a exceptional, unprecedented, and highly recommended library reference.
From
the September
2023 issue:
ACTing
Now
Norman B. Schwartz
Worthy Reads/Cresting Wave Publishing
978-1-956048-17-9
$15.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/ACTing-Now-Approach-Techniques-Acting/dp/1956048170
ACTing
Now: A New Approach to the Old Techniques of Acting
should be on the shelves of any library interested in drama education
and performing arts. It features a more modern approach to cultivating
good
audition and acting choices, and should be a 'must' for any performing
arts or
aspiring actor's reference collection.
Certain
to spark controversy over its
sometimes-vastly revised approaches, ACTing Now
features exercises and
objectives that embrace intention, action, the actor's responsibility
to adhere
to the script, and inner and outer choices that support the best
possible
interpretations of a scriptwriter's intentions.
From
the August 2023
issue:
Bacon
Master of the Apocalypse
Frank Morin
Whipsaw Press
978-1-946910-27-1
$29.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$5.99 ebook
Website: https://www.frankmorin.org/books-shop/books/bacon-master/bacon-master-of-the-apocalypse/
Mix
rich food-oriented references with a futuristic theme for a
mouth-watering story replete in hijinks, humor, and hilarious
encounters in Bacon Master of the Apocalypse.
Frank
Morin's hero, Rasher, is anything but predictable. Events,
too, spin a yarn of surprise and delight as Rasher attempts to be
something he
is not, but finds himself in a role he never aspired to nor predicted.
While Bacon Master of the Apocalypse will likely be chosen for its epic fantasy promise, libraries and readers who look for greater literary prowess and themes that promise to expand the initial audience from sci-fi to general interest reading will find the book attractive and unique.
From
the July 2023
issue:
Fast
Fiction Volume 2: Man vs. Machine
Scotty Cornfield
Flagstone Press
ASIN: B0C3BGX6S5
$10.49
ebook/$15.95 paper
Website: www.scottycornfield.com
Ordering: https://tinyurl.com/9unxrswn
Just
how much can be written in 101 words? A lot, as Scotty
Cornfield proved in his original Fast
Fiction and here, again, in companion volume Fast
Fiction Volume 2: Man vs. Machine.
This
collection proves the power of a collaborative effort
between AI and human writer.
As
these connected prompts unfold between man and machine, a
battle of wits and creative responses to words evolves that will prove
especially enlightening discussion material for any classroom (high
school on
up) interested in exploring the wellsprings of reaction, intuition, and
the
scenarios and approaches that differentiate human reactions from
machine-generated words.
Or,
is there a difference?
You
decide. After all, you're the reader ... and you're only
human. Or, are you?
From
the June 2023
issue:
50
States of Mind
Ryan Bernsten
Bite-Sized Books
Ltd, UK
978-1-7393107-4-5
$25.99
Hardcover/$15.99 Paper/$8.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/50-States-Mind-Rediscover-Democracy/dp/1739310748
If
there's one thing most Americans
will agree on, it's the fact that America is terribly divided, these
days. Or,
is it?
The
most intriguing aspect of Ryan Bernsten's
story is his personal exploration through America asking questions
about the
nation's democratic processes and future.
From
the May 2023
issue:
Better
to Win
Bill Wong
Ronin Road Press
979-8-9878036-0-8
$16.00 Paper/$7.99 ebook
Website: www.bettertowin.com
Ordering:
https://www.amazon.com/Better-Win-Hardball-Leadership-Influence-ebook/dp/B0BZGW3VLG
Better
to Win's salvo
of campaign and political experiences and encounters creates
solid, compelling stories about "how to win hardball campaigns where
underhanded and often unethical tactics are employed." These aren't
idealistic contentions, but represent political and social tactics that
have
been proven to work, tested on life's playing field of adversity and
confrontation.
While
the examples utilized in Better to Win come from
Wong's
political world, they can be equally employed in business circles,
social
milieus, and any environment where tacit privilege and prejudice too
often take
the upper hand.
It's
savvy intersection of life and political experience offers lessons
that have been hard-win but, here, are easy to absorb.
From
the April 2023
issue:
Defcon
Michele Packard
Independently
Published
979-8-9876077-0-1
$5.99 ebook, $11.99
paperback, $19.99 hardback
Website: www.michelepackard.com
Ordering: www.amazon.com
Defcon
doesn't
fit neatly into any pat genre read.
Military in nature, but with a psychological force that lends it a deep
personal flavor; thriller in action, but tempered by family
relationships and
close friendships; and flavored by political and historical information
that
invite debate and thought, Defcon
is
quite simply a standout for its adventure, tone, and powerful,
female-driven
protagonists.
Matti
is one of a
triplet of enhanced children. Her strong family ties have resulted in
prodigy
who also have extraordinary abilities, and who join her in her efforts
to
neutralize threats to the U.S.
Even
seasoned
thriller readers will be surprised and amazed by Defcon
because Matti's character is spunky, sassy, and infused with
proactive thinking and behaviors that translate into a passionate story
infused
with history and social observation.
From
the March 2023
issue:
From
Oversight to
Overkill
Simon N. Whitney
Rivertowns Books
978-1-953943-22-4
$32.95
Hardcover/$22.95 Paper/$7.99 ebook
Website: www.rivertownsbooks.com
Ordering: Bookshop.org
Most
would admit the
American medical system is broken, and might anticipate that From
Oversight
to Overkill: Inside the Broken System That
Blocks Medical
Breakthroughs—And How We Can Fix It would
focus on the politics of why, casting blame in different directions.
But,
even more important to the
book's value is its proposals for
fixing the methods that serve to limit medical research, breakthroughs,
and
fast solutions to medical issues—the Institutional Review Boards which
exist at
every hospital and medical school where research is done.
From
the February
2023 issue:
Milestone
Visual
Documents in American History
Craig Kaplowitz,
Editor
Schlager Group Inc.
9781935306726
$395 print & ebook
http://www.SchlagerGroup.com
Libraries
strong in American history, whether they be high
school or college-level collections, will find a powerful set of
selected
milestone achievements in Milestone
Visual Documents in American History, a study in visual
images that helped
shape America.
It
adopts a powerful visual approach to materials that have
represented and interpreted American experiences from the country's
inception,
accompanying these with the analysis and reflection necessary to spark
debates
and discussion among all level of American history student.
From
the January
2023 issue:
EINSTEIN:
The Man and His Mind
Gary S Berger and Michael DiRuggiero
Damiani
Website: https://einstein-themanandhismind.net/
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Man-Mind-Hanoch-Gutfreund/dp/8862087845/
So
many books have been written about Einstein that readers
might wonder at the need for yet another, but EINSTEIN:
The Man and His Mind gathers photo highlights from the
Berger Collection to capture Einstein's persona and achievements in a
manner
that has somehow been missed by the wealth of Einstein books already on
the
market.
From the December 2022 issue:
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 should reach a wide range of readers and read-aloud
adults with
an important message about community and connections that is especially
important in divided, lonely times.
The
picture book story depicts little
toadstool's cry for help, his longing
for support systems, and the surprising response his effort to connect
brings
back to him.
Replete
with important messages for
modern times and wrapped in gorgeous colorful illustrations by Ruthie
Arthur , The
Lonely Toadstool provides all ages with an essential
illustration of
kindness as well as the importance of expressing emotion, asking for
help,
setting boundaries, and being more inclusive in their friendships.
From
the November
2022 issue:
Crow
Country
Emily Sullivan
J.A. Publications, Ltd.
978-0-9794124-4-8
$15.99
Paper/$4.99 ebook
www.japublicationsltd.com
and
Crow
Country Audiobook
Emily Sullivan
J.A. Publications, Ltd.
Narrator: Will Hahn
$21.83
www.japublicationsltd.com
Whether
readers choose the print version or the audio of Crow
Country, they
can expect a real treat from the intersection of the Western and
post-apocalyptic genres that are its backdrop.
Readers
used to thinking that the Old West is set in a
particular time will find this futuristic backdrop alluring and
surprising.
Crow
Country's powerful
sense of place, purpose, and
post-apocalyptic Colorado backdrop makes it a top recommendation for a
wide
range of readers who will find it a literary powerhouse of a read,
while those
who choose its audio incarnation will be delighted by narrator Will
Hahn,
whose powerful,
rich voice lends just
the right touch of drama to the story.
Readers
of this apocalyptic Western novel may think they already
know Emily Sullivan's powerful work, but listening to it in audio
imparts
another layer of depth.
From
the October
2022 issue:
Halfway
From Home
Sarah Fawn
Montgomery
Split/Lip Press
978-1-952897-25-52
$16.00
https://www.splitlippress.com/halfway-from-home
Halfway From Home is an essay collection that imparts grief over the past and the hope for a better future. The poetic, lyrical lilt of these essays is like the kiss of love, deeply connected and involving. This is how language sings. This is the song of place, time, connection, hope, and life. Ideally, this is why the essay form can be so expressive and haunting—under the right hand. Sarah Fawn Montgomery's is that hand, creating a hard-hitting, memorable collection that transcends its form to reach into the hearts and minds of a wide audience of literary and psychologically astute readers.
From
the September
2022 issue:
Twas
The Night
Pamela McColl
Grafton and Scratch
Publishers
978-1927979303
$36.00
Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Twas-Night-History-Classic-Christmas/dp/1927979307
Readers
seeking a
keepsake treasure trove combining the artistic Christmas spirit with
history
and cultural references will find Twas
the Night an outstanding example of scholarship that gathers
and features
excerpts from a wide range of literary sources.
Another
one of the
foundations of Twas the Night's
strength is its inclusion of hundreds of vintage images and works of
art which
accompany the analysis.
While
one might think
this should have been done already, over the years, if not time and
again, it
might come as a surprise to note that this is the first in-depth
coverage of
the poem's origins and incarnations.
Any collection looking for superior, solid, artistic, historical examinations of Christmas must include Twas the Night as a highly recommended mainstay. Whether a library is focused on art, history, popular culture, or Christmas, Twas the Night represents an outstanding work of literature and a compelling read the entire family can enjoy.
From
the August 2022
issue:
Oh
Great, Another Vampire Book
Diane Hunter
Independently Published
978-0578395074
$14.95 Paper/$4.99
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Oh-Great-Another-Vampire-Book/dp/057839507X
Since
Anne Rice first published Interview with a
Vampire, there has been a glut of look-alike
vampire stories on the market that largely feel the same. Not so with Oh Great, Another Vampire Book, which
adds satirical wit into the mix for a taste of something different.
An
ages-old vampire finds people boring, until a war breaks out
to challenge the vamp population's relationship with humans.
The
social and political satire that permeates the action will
prove especially satisfying to literature readers who may be well
familiar with
the vampire genre, but look for out-of-the-box interpretations and
presentations, from its examination of "woke culture" to its
thought-provoking consideration of media influence and responsibility.
Readers
and libraries looking for a literary, refreshingly
original read will find Oh Great, Another
Vampire Book a breath of fresh air that tackles surprising
contemporary
issues in unusual ways.
From
the July 2022
issue:
Poteet
Victory
J. Robert Keating
Atmosphere Press
978-1-63988-282-3
$36.99 Hardcover
www.atmospherepress.com
Many
biographies of Native American figures have been written, but few hold
the
impact of a well-researched life that blends the facts of nonfiction
with the
power of a dramatic fictional draw like Poteet
Victory.
The
book
represents a powerful study of an extraordinary Native American artist
whose
works revolutionized historical depictions of Native American history
and
lives.
Its unique, powerful blend of dialogue, quipping, interpersonal interactions, and artistic and social development and observations of Poteet come alive in a form nonfiction alone never could have achieved, making Poteet Victory a top acquisition for any collection interested in Native American affairs.
From the June 2022 issue:
The
Mill
Cailyn Lloyd
Land of Oz LLC
ASIN:
B09LMQSN5M
$3.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Mill-Cailyn-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B09LMQSN5M
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote: "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."
The
Mill
will attract readers
who like thrillers that include supernatural elements.
Its special combination
of intrigue, mystery, thriller, and atmospheric police procedural
cultivates a
rich, emotional story that is a breath of fresh air in the genres of
either
mystery or thriller.
From
the May 2022
issue:
Bravery
Becomes You
Sandra Travis Bildahl
Worthwords Publishing
978-1-7366851-0-5
$14.99
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
www.worthwordspublishing.com
Bravery
Becomes You:
On the Road to Fearless and Free
poses the question "what if you were
brave," but is actually a memoir that charts Sandra Travis
Bildahl's quest for renewed passion and purpose as she stands
at the
crossroads.
It's
rare to find a memoir that operates equally effectively on
the levels of autobiography and self-help, but this inspirational
survey is
just what is needed to help readers survive modern COVID society.
Sandra
Travis Bildahl offers a powerful inspection of how
opportunity can come from adversity, prompting attitude and perspective
changes
that lend to not just survival, but thriving.
If
only one self-help memoir were to be chosen in 2022, it
should be this powerful, revealing story of transformation that hold
many
powerful admonitions and lessons for the world.
From
the April 2022
issue:
The
Boy Who Loved
Boxes
Michael Albanese
The Weight of Ink
978-1-7328987-3-8
$9.95
www.TheWeightofInk.com
Anyone
who cultivates order and organization in their lives and who has
found COVID to be especially brutal in attacking predictability will
find The
Boy Who Loved Boxes
holds a key message
not to be found elsewhere.
This
will also
appeal to those with short attention spans, as it's presented in a
format akin
to a children's picture book, but contains an essential message all
ages need
to hear.
While it might have once been questionable to choose the picture book format for an adult audience, during these stressful years where people have very short attention spans and limited coping capabilities, it's just the ticket for an encouraging, stress-free read.
From
the March 2022
issue:
Purpose
Work Nation
Brandon Peele
Independently Published
9798411780376
$15.00
http://purposework.us
Purpose
Work Nation
is is a powerful survey of business and
human
affairs that links diversity to strength and eschews the predatory,
inhumane
approaches of the "eagle" in favor of the "bison way" which
confronts white supremacy and positions the workplace as the
starting
place to effect real social and political change.
Readers
may initially be drawn by the
book's promise of keys to better leadership, but they'll find its
wider-ranging
approach to building a better culture ripples into society with lasting
and
positive impacts on human rights that lead to a better quality of life
for all.
Idealistic?
Yes. Achievable?
Absolutely.
Purpose Work Nation is highly recommended for libraries strong in social and political issues, civil rights, business, and American civics.
From
the February 2022 issue:
Bars
for Days
Mic Nickels
Independently
Published
979-8756328882
$17.99 Paper/$7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Bars-Days-Mic-Nickels/dp/B09MDDLV6C
Bars for Days is a Reviewer's Choice that defies pat categorization, offering an unusual opportunity for social, familial, and interpersonal inspections.
It's a vivid chronicle of the hip hop world and a life that blossoms in the Information Age that captures the momentum and atmosphere of the world he moves in to provide a vibrant interactive experience very highly recommended for a wide audience; even normally-reluctant younger generations who usually eschew the written word and descriptions any longer than a Tweet.
From
the January
2022 issue:
Rise
Above
It, Darling!
Judy White
Staber
The Troy
Book Makers
978-1-61468-671-2
$21.99 Paper/$9.99 ebook
www.thetroybookmakers.com
Daughter
Judy White Staber's attempt to understand, define, and forgive her
actress
mother provides a thought-provoking story that will resonate with any
reader
critical of their parents' choices and presence or absence in their
lives.
The
idea
here is not to condemn, but to understand, reconcile, and outline a
different
kind of parenting style than the usual portrait of a devoted mother
figure who
always stays at home and chooses children over career.
Rise Above It, Darling is a powerful story highly recommended for memoir readers, career parents and their children, and anyone interested in mother/daughter relationships.
From the December 2021 issue:
Ghost
Runners: An Olympic Dream Betrayed
Robert
Rubenstein
Independently
Published
979-8480247794
$27.95
Hardcover/$19.99 Paper/$3.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Ghost-Runners-Olympic-Dream-Betrayed/dp/B09GJMCH7G
It's
rare to see a historical novel and sports examination that also
chronicles anti-Semitism and prejudice in the athletic world,
blending in-depth research and facts from pre-Nazi Germany through
World War II.
Rubenstein's close inspections of real-world events surrounding the American Olympic team in Nazi Germany in Berlin in August of 1936 (during the Holocaust) will interest and attract novel readers not just for its sports milieu, but for its close inspections of racism and the forces that contributed to the rise of oppression in various forms, against various peoples, around the world. Even champions.
Perhaps the real power of Ghost Runners lies in its ability to meld an impressive historical backdrop with a fictional consideration of special interests and the political struggles that inject themselves into an athlete's choices and competitive drive to win against all odds.
In this milieu, winning against all odds includes more than physical ability. It's about reconsidering the kinds of decisions and influences that dictate the rules of the game itself, even at its highest levels.
From
the November
2021 issue:
Ghoul n'
the Cape
Josh Malerman
Earthling Publications
978-1-7369284-2-4
$75.00
(Limited Edition)
www.earthlingpub.com
Josh
Malerman's special brand of horror in Ghoul n'
the Cape is not for the light reader, but for fans of
literary productions who enjoy stories that push the envelope of myth
and
imagination.
As a disparate group of characters face the limits of myth and imagination, a cross-country journey provides a surrealistic attention to detail and imagination that is refreshingly unique, always unexpected, and hard to put down. Ghoul n' the Cape is a recommendation that stands in a class of its own, but which will especially appeal to literary horror readers.
From
the October 2021 issue:
Trailblazers
Gabrielle David
2Leaf Press
978-1940939797
$34.99
www.2leafpress.org
This
first volume in a six-book
series is a top recommendation for collections seeking a lively,
definitive,
diverse series of biographical sketches of black women's lives.
It
covers women from all walks of
life, all economic and social backgrounds, and includes both familiar
and less
familiar names. The achievers' lives are linked to their social
influence and
lasting impacts, also surveying the forces on all sides which kept
these women repressed
and their achievements lesser-known even within the civil rights
community.
Its
coverage of flagship programs,
cooperative and individual efforts to effect positive changes, and
personal
ambition leading to broader social changes is unparalleled, making it a
top
recommendation for all ages and for collections strong in civil rights
history,
activism, and women's achievements.
From
the September
2021 issue:
Racing
with Aloha
Fred Haywood
Morgan James Publishing
9781631953712
$14.95
Website: www.racingwithaloha.com
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Racing-Aloha-Inspiring-Barefoot-Champion/dp/1631953710
Combine
Hawaiian cultural explorations with a focus on a surfing
great for a blend of competition challenges and Hawaiian culture and
life, add
in Western attitudes towards and perceptions of Hawaiians, and finish
the
project with a memoir that is delightfully vivid for a taste of a
personal life
blended with Hawaii's unique peoples and environment.
These
facets make Racing with Aloha
much more than a memoir alone, but a fine
mirror of Hawaiian history and interests that will delight anyone with
an
interest in the state's achievements and peoples.
From
the August 2021
Issue:
Amanda911
Mark Schreiber
Pleasure Boat Studio
978-1-7370520-1-2
$21.95
Hardcover
$16.00
Paper
www.pleasureboatstudio.com
Sixteen-year-old Amanda Dizon's fall into a well during the presidential primary campaign leads to unwanted media attention, celebrity status, and a political focus that Amanda is ill-equipped to handle.
As a concerned grandfather fields social media and reporters and a teenager grapples with newfound fame, Amanda911 becomes a tale impossible to predict, holding social, political, and family relationship twists and turns that will attract not just young adult audiences, but readers of all ages looking for something refreshingly original in tone and subject.
From
the July 2021 Issue:
Earth’s
Climate Heroes
VIBE (Verdani Institute for the Built Environment) and
Daniele Horton
978-1736866917
$13.99
Paper/$7.99 ebook
Website: https://www.verdani-institute.org/earths-climate-heroes
Ordering: https://www.amazon.com/Earths-Climate-Verdani-Institute-Environment/dp/1736866915
In
an era where environmental awareness
commands attention
to detail and a sense of personal connectivity and empowerment about
making
choices that support the environment, it's best to begin with the
energy and
positive perspective of youth.
That's
why Daniele Horton's Earth's
Climate Heroes is particularly notable. Its attention to
empowering ages 5-10 through the experiences of a diverse group of
concerned
young citizens who join together to tackle their community's challenges
provides
a "yes we can" feel that will be essential to creating new
generations who not only understand the science behind environmental
degradation, but their own roles in making the kinds of decisions that
either
contribute to or alleviate the problem.
From
the June 2021 Issue:
This month represents an exception to picking out a
single book
to profile, because three very different, equally invaluable books are
especially
highly recommended reading.
First up:
Badass Pix with a Cheap-Ass Camera
Annie Mack
Cresting Wave
Publishing
978-1735413525
$22.95 Paperback, $19.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Badass-Cheap-Ass-Camera-Annie-Mack/dp/1735413526
There are so many photography how-to books on the
market that
one might wonder at the need for yet another. The proof of an
exceptional read
lies not so much in the subject as the author's approach to it, as is
Badass
Pix with a Cheap-Ass Camera.
No special equipment or artistic expertise is
required to absorb
the foundations of what makes a photo exceptional versus just
acceptable, here.
The lively, sassy, spunky and direct explanations
cultivated by
Annie Mack will especially appeal to aspiring photographers on a budget.
Secondly, consider:
Gaslighting Recovery Workbook
Tara Wilson
Vox Publishing House
979-8730697584
$11.99 Paper/$2.99 ebook
https://www.facebook.com/voxpublishinghouse
A
number of books define the term and offer examples, but Tara Wilson's
guide on
how to not just identify but overcome gaslighting in a range of
situations
provides an essential key to recovery and a better life.
The clues on what to do in gaslighting situations
offer
invaluable information that's simply not found in competing discussions.
Finally, there's
the passionate youth-celebrating title:
Stone Soup for a Sustainable World:
Life Changing Stories of Young Heroes
Marianne Larned
Stone Soup Leadership Institute, Inc.
978-0-578-89380-8
$29.95 Book/$2.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092Z6LF1M
Anyone who thinks youth are self-centered
and inherently incapable of making a difference needs to consider this
survey
of some 100 biographies of young people concerned about the environment
and its
preservation and acting on their beliefs.
Each story profiles a climate change
trailblazer committed to making a difference.
How to choose between these books? Don't. Include them all: each is an exceptional, highly recommended read or library acquisition.
From
the May 2021 Issue:
You
Might
Feel a
Little Prick
Reuben Leder
FriesenPress
978-1-5255-7309-5
$22.99
www.friesenpress.com
Medical
thriller
readers won't anticipate the level of literary satire embedded into the
story You Might Feel a Little Prick,
but from
its title to its story of a couple's search for justice, the truth, and
moral
and ethical redemption, this is a story delightful in its language,
presentation, and intrigue.
Reuben Leder's creation of a very different brand of thriller that blends wry humor into corporate shenanigans and struggle will intrigue readers from different genres who receive a more literary and engaging saga than most.
From the April 2021 Issue:
Ninety-Nine
Fire Hoops
Allison Hong Merrill
She Writes Press
978-1647421892
$16.95 Paper/$9.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Ninety-Nine-Fire-Hoops-Allison-Merrill/dp/1647421896
Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops follows Allison Hong Merrill's extraordinary journey from Taiwan and her family's Buddhist faith to America, where she joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dropped out of college to join a mission to Taiwan, married, and wound up in Utah, where her ideals and perceptions clashed with a culture she had long envisioned but little understood.
As she moves between different cultures and generations, Merrill creates an exceptionally strong account of Mormon and Chinese worlds as they intersect with other cultures in different places, capturing the nuances of these movements and their lasting impacts beyond the unexpected course of her own life.
Memoir readers with a special interest in contemporary Mormon culture or Chinese immigrant experience will find Ninety-Nine Fire Hoops extraordinary.
From the March 2021 Issue:
Memories
Live Here
Marc
Sheinbaum
Independently
Published
9798552235629 $10.99
Paper/$2.99 Kindle
Author
website: www.marcsheinbaumbooks.com
Blend an AI evolutionary tale with a thriller and think deep psychological inspection for a glimpse of the unusual approaches taken by Marc Sheinbaum in Memories Life Here.
While the most likely audience for this story will be sci-fi readers with a special interest in AI or supernatural themes, to describe Memories Live Here as appealing to these genre categories alone would be to do it an injustice.
It's a powerful saga replete with a fresh, rich approach to mystery and psychological and sci-fi elements, and will appeal to a wide audience.
From the February 2021 Issue:
Fishing
for Something
Andrew
Scott Bassett
Luminare
Press
978-1-64388-352-6
Ebook-$4.99; Paperback-$15.95;
Hardcover-$28.95
Estranged
brothers who embark on a road trip to follow their father's last
wishes find many surprises along the way that teach them about both
his life and relationships and each other.
Fishing
for Something is a moving journey towards redemption, reconciliation,
and family ties.
More of a philosophical and psychological sojourn than a road trip alone or a fishing expedition, it will attract literature readers looking for a solid story of discovery and healing.
From the January 2021 Issue:
The
Sugar Maple Grove
John E. Espy
Open
Books
978-1948598361
$21.95
http://www.open-bks.com/library/moderns/the-sugar-maple-grove/about-book.html
While racial strife in bygone era Kentucky is the focus of this hard-hitting story, The Sugar Maple Grove, more so than most historical fiction, holds key lessons for modern times on how prejudice comes to take root in everyday life.
Through the eyes of a woman who revolts against prejudice and murder, lessons are imparted on social and cultural changes and how these affect perceptions of and circumstances of freedom in America.
Hard-hitting and unexpectedly relevant to modern times, The Sugar Maple Grove's review of processes and developments nicely illustrates the concept of 'simmering the frog' in which prejudice slowly grows...and also the concept of individual responsibility, courage, and empowerment.
From the December 2020 Issue:
What
Dragons Like
Jared
Eastley
Lurth
Worx LLC
9781735570808 $19.95
Paper/$29.95 Hardcover
There's no doubt that kids love dragons and that picture books featuring them hold a special allure, but even in a category where dragon books abound, What Dragons Like is an outstanding standout.
Few competing dragon picture books capture the sense of fun and imagination of this story, which outclasses the competition with 34 fine art paintings by different contributors to accompany an interactive format that encourages kids to explore their own tastes for fantasy and adventure.
From the November 2020 Issue:
Ordinary
People, Extraordinary Times
Lois
Ann Nicolai
Bookbaby
Black
& White: 9781098319786 $14.99
ebook:
9781098319793 $
2.99
Color:
9781098327569 $32.44
Lois Ann Nicolai moved from being a wife and mother of six to an activist at age 50 after her husband died. After twenty-six years in Indiana, she made a sea change in her life that resulted in a move to Princeton to become an international activist and peacemaker. Her memoir of these times follows her decision to make this big move, her encounters with other cultures around the world, and the lasting impact her work had on other lives.
Readers looking for an inspirational memoir and blueprint of to make big changes in their own life purposes will find Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times an exceptional story.
From the October 2020 Issue:
The
One Singularity
RD
Palmer
RD
Palmer, Publisher
Paperback:
978-1-7328491-4-3 $14.99
Ebook:
978-1-7328491-3-6 $ 4.99
Fans of the classic computer takeover story Colossus and similar stories of AI intelligence will find The One Singularity in a category of its own as it surveys the political, ethical, moral, and psychological influences of mankind's ability to craft a superpower that perhaps will oversee its demise. The contrasts between those who support its specific use to those who shun its creation are satisfyingly presented, involving readers in a story that keeps concepts of 'the enemy' mercurial and thought-provoking.
Its powerful story and changing perspectives features far more depth and philosophical, psychological, spiritual, and political inspection is provided than most other high-tech stories about supercomputer takeovers, making it a compelling read and a top recommendation for sci-fi and science readers alike.
From
the September
2020 Issue:
Let
Them Eat Pancakes
Craig Carlson
Pegasus Books
978-1-64313-440-6
$27.95
Hardcover/$18.99 Kindle
www.pegasusbooks.us
Craig
Carlson not only dreamed of introducing the French to an
American-style diner, but he did so with no prior experience in either
business
or restaurant management.
Let
Them Eat Pancakes
is an outstanding
survey of an endeavor that seemed doomed to failure on many levels. It
takes a
culinary and cultural romp through French cuisine and presents a
lively,
compelling story that will appeal to anyone with an interest in French
affairs
and American and French food.
Its
lively tone and presentation makes it a highly recommended
standout in both travel and culinary literature.
From
the August 2020
Issue:
The
Quarantine Bears
Jay & Meg Sutherland
The Booth of Us
978-0-578-72239-9
$$29.99 (coupons available)
Publisher: www.theboothofus.com
Amazon: www.amazon.com
Bookbaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/The-Quarantine-Bears
Website: www.TheQuarantineBears.com
The
Quarantine Bears
pairs a rollicking two-line-per-page rhyming picture book with the
story of a
family of bears who awaken from hibernation expecting to enjoy another
season
in the sun. But something is different this year...as they go for a
family run,
they observe that everything is closed, and people are wearing masks
outside: "The stores were all closed, the
streets were all bare/and a few folks in masks almost gave us a scare!"
They
turn on the television to find that
they have woken up to a nightmare. What's a bear to do? Lay in
supplies, of
course.
As
they develop new habits indoors and under
new rules, the bears discover there is actually "plenty to do", and
forge new habits and lives for themselves as they await safety and
recovery.
The
Quarantine Bears's
realistic yet friendly tone makes it the perfect item of choice to help
the
very young adapt to new realities. "This
can't last forever" is one of the messages in a lively story
that does
a terrific job of pointing out new realities and how to live a good
life under
them.
Parents
will find this appealing family of
bears and their observations and decisions provide easy lessons for
kids on how
to live under COVID restrictions, yet anticipate a positive new day in
the
future.
It's
highly recommended for parents looking
for an introduction to COVID rules and their rationale, for the very
young.
From the July 2020 Issue:
Lora L. Hyler
HenschelHAUS Publishing, Inc.
978-1595987747
$8.99
https://www.amazon.com/Bodies-Stay-Home-Imaginations-Free/dp/1595987746
From the June 2020 Issue:
Nod
J.M.
Stephen
D.X.
Varos, Ltd.
Paperback:
978-1-941072-74-5 $18.95
Ebook:
978-1-941072-75-2 $ 6.99
https://www.amazon.com/Nod-J-M-Stephen/dp/1941072747
Nod
is a compelling retelling of a Biblical land that only receives
casual mention in the early part of the Bible, but here receives
embellishment and a perspective that is compelling, unusual, and hard
to put down.
Its
original approach is delightful as it draws different relationships
between traditional Biblical figures and weaves a story into the
nearly-forgotten land of Nod, creating an epic saga that holds the
power to reach Christian and secular readers alike.
With
its unique perspectives and ability to view Biblical relationships
and events from a very different vantage point, Nod is highly
recommended as a literary adventure that is original, unexpected, and
hard to put down.
From the May 2020 Issue:
Don
of the Q
Michael Guillebeau
Madison Press
Paperback:
978-0-9972055-7-2: $13.99
Ebook: 978-0-9972055-6-5
$
3.99
https://www.amazon.com/Don-American-Quixote-Atomic-Age-ebook/dp/B083BB5773
Don of the Q is a delightful, quirky spoof especially recommended for students of the classic Don Quixote, and presents modern-day twist on the tale when a convenience store clerk gets amnesia and comes to believe he's an angel sent to Earth to do good.
The irony lies in that his efforts often result in disasters, as bad guys search for the atomic weapon he just so happens to have in his basement and Don is captured and forced to thwart his own intentions.
The blend of humor, zany fun, and literary references combine to create a delightfully original story that spoofs not only its predecessor, but life itself.
From the April 2020 Issue:
Bucking
the Artworld Tide: Reflections
on Art, Pseudo Art, Art Education & Theory
Michelle
Marder Kamhi
Pro
Arte Books
Paper:
978-0-9906057-3-7 $18.00
Kindle:
978-0-9906057-4-4 $ 9.99
Epub:
978-0-9906057-5-1 $ 9.99
Anyone involved in the world of art curating, definition, and promotion should read Bucking the Artworld Tide. It shakes the foundation of today’s art establishment, challenging its basic tenets., highlighting the glaring disparity between old and new forms of artistic expression, and pointing to fundamental differences in how (and whether) the viewer can understand and appreciate works on their own terms, without “expert” explanation.
Quite simply an outstanding rebuttal to popular notions of what constitutes art , this book offers a debate and newfound appreciation for true artistic expression.
From the March 2020 Issue:
If
She Had Stayed
Diane
Byington
Red
Adept Publishing, LLC
978-1-948051-47-7 $9.99
https://www.amazon.com/She-Had-Stayed-Diane-Byington-ebook/dp/B084D619KF
What would you do if you found a time machine and used it to change your life? What if the secrets uncovered during this journey proved threatening and deadly? Would you give up your memories and life to travel into the past and rewrite everything? A museum curator's involvement in a time travel journey combines a mystery with risk-taking choices over time travel, career, and romance to create a compelling, memorable story that is more multifaceted and absorbing than either a mystery or time travel saga alone could have achieved.
From the February 2020 Issue:
Teller
Michele
Packard
Independently
Published
9781655144257 $9.99
Mattie Baker is everything one could desire in a thriller about a feisty nearly-superhuman agent. She has special abilities, she's spunky and sassy, and her assertive, proactive spark translates to a read that stands out from everything in the genre.
In Teller, the final volume of the series, she faces the loss of everyone she loves and her own life, as well. This spitfire's recovery involves revenge and retribution, and provides an emotionally charged, high-octane romp through crime and love that will keep readers both guessing and enchanted by a thoroughly original, refreshing protagonist that grabs her world with both hands and charges into danger.
From the January 2020 Issue:
The
California Immigrant
Barbara King
Cypress Point Press
LLC
978-1733536905
$16.99 Paper/$4.99
Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/California-Immigrant-Monterey-Bay/dp/1733536906
The California Immigrant is steeped in the Croatian community and documents how world politics invades a quiet town and leads Martin to become politically active to help his fellow countrymen back home. It juxtaposes the culture of California and its mixture of ethnic groups and immigrants with the broader questions of an America posed on the brink of conflict, blending the concerns of rural farmers and local small townspeople into changing worldviews which many of the immigrants foster through their actions and choices.
In many ways, The California Immigrant represents the quintessential mix that is American culture, which takes the roots and concerns of an array of different peoples and blends them into an evolving society, creating something completely different than its individual units or origins. Barbara King does an outstanding job of capturing not just one immigrant's experience but the cultural backdrop of California at the time of the Pearl Harbor bombing, following its impact on all immigrant lives and the events which give rise to prejudice and strife in American society.
Readers interested in California history who look to the novel format for an easier way of absorbing that experience will find no better place to begin than with The California Immigrant, a striking story of a Yugoslavian immigra.