Reader Views

Irises to Ashes

Maggie Stewart is just an ordinary girl, growing up in an ordinary family and contemplating very ordinary things in her ordinary life, never even thinking of leaving Outer Banks. But then she meets Amelia Hatcher, the unusual elderly woman, who for many years now has hardly ever been seen by anybody in the village. And so began the educational experience of a lifetime for Maggie, one that will offer her never before imagined possibilities and opportunities to truly become what she wants and not what her parents expect of her. With a little bit of help from her mother, as well as incredible support and assistance from Amelia, Maggie ends up going to France for an apprenticeship, which leads her to a great career in her chosen field. She stays in touch with Amelia throughout the older woman’s life, and is also chosen by her to fulfill some of her last wishes, in the process learning much about life in general, as well as the secrets that Amelia kept to herself for many decades.

“Irises to Ashes” is an inspirational story, which very successfully points out how we truly are in charge of our own destiny and how we can achieve just about anything with proper determination and hard work, particularly if we are blessed with good friends, who help us at every step of our journey. It is a story of growing up, a story of growing old gracefully, a story of learning to forgive and learning to believe, and a story of love, trust, betrayal and loss.

While I’ve enjoyed the story in general, I found it very slow in its middle part, and not particularly engrossing. The last few chapters, those dealing with Amelia’s past, were by far the most interesting, and I found myself wishing that a much larger portion of the book would have been devoted to the older woman’s story instead. I never really warmed up to Maggie, maybe because it took her such a long time to truly accept any kind of a real commitment into her life. I’ve enjoyed re-visiting many of the locales I’m very familiar with, particularly Paris and Nice. French language and culture have a central role in this story, which made me even more disappointed in the truly bad French used in the dialogue throughout the book. While I could have excused Maggie, the American, for making mistakes, I could find no such excuse for the appalling quality of French used by the native French speakers as well. There is no such thing as “y” used as a conjunction in French; it should be “et.” The former is actually Spanish. One of my favorite wines is a Vouvray, which in the book was renamed into a Vouvary. The famous promenade in Nice is “Promenade des Anglais,” not “Promenade Anglais.” Most every sentence in French was incorrect, and I find that such lack of attention to detail diminishes author’s credibility in general. When a foreign language plays such a prominent role in a story, it should be rendered correctly, or else any intended saveur will be completely lost.

“Irises to Ashes”, in spite of the above mentioned issues, was a heart-warming and inspirational book, which I would gladly recommend to dreamers and believers alike.


Irises to Ashes
Charlie Hudson
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432773892
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/11)

 

3 Juno

Dr. David Keyes’ life is changed forever when his family is brutally murdered.  Giving up on both his house and his practice he moves back home with his parents.  Working as a stock clerk at K-Mart, he exists in an alcoholic stupor, until one day he is approached to be involved with a very serious project.  He learns that the earth is about to be destroyed by the Asteroid 3 Juno.  As a result of this knowledge, a group of scientists involved with a project to repopulate the earth have created an Ark. This Ark is a bunker that will withstand the impact of the asteroid. Within it, it will contain a caretaker, two humans who will be in stasis and a variety of DNA that will help the planet rebuild itself.  The two humans will be known as Adam and Eve.  Human embryos of varying DNA will also be on board so that the earth can be repopulated with genetic diversity.

Dr. Keyes is asked to be the caretaker. With his medical knowledge it is believed that he can handle the responsibility of taking care of the future of the planet. When the earth is ready to support life, he will be responsible for seeing to it.  After a great deal of thought, he agrees to do so.  Living on the Ark by himself for years is incredibly lonely, so he allows himself to bring a dog out of stasis.  For fifteen years he has a companion. As he ages, he watches the earth slowly repair itself.  Even though goes years without human contact, he has communication with what he knows to be God, and with the devil.  Through this contact he discovers that there is a higher meaning behind what happened to the planet.  As his last name indicates, he is the key to helping save humanity.

I found “3 Juno” to be incredibly interesting and enjoyed reading a novel that had something different to offer.  While the novel began in a manner that did not draw me in, once I got into Dr. Keyes’ story, I found myself hooked.  Some editing would help improve this issue.  Initially, I found the transitioning between Dr. Keyes’ story and biblical connotations to be confusing. However, after I read the book and went back to the beginning it made a lot more sense.  Also, while I found the front cover of the book to be perfect for the story, I had difficulties reading what is written on the back cover because the print is too small and the color combinations make it hard for my eyes to read.

In general, I highly recommend reading “3 Juno” and because it is such a different story, I think that it will leave each reader with something to think about.


3 Juno
William Michael Gregory
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781456558949
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (11/11)

For One More Day

Author Denise Moon has finally published her autobiographical story, “For One More Day,” Its release has been long awaited by Moon. Indeed, she has been writing the book all of her life, since the first memory of her young childhood. But only now, in her fifties, has she found the courage to do so.

Moon’s central character, Sarah (Moon), has endured an unbelievable life of sexual, physical and mental abuse, dissociation and dysfunction and depression and alcoholism. The devastation of such an existence will be unfathomable and simply too harsh for some readers. Others will give up on Sarah and her poor life choices and set the book aside out of frustration, the same frustration shared by so many people who don’t understand the subject of abuse and, as a result place the blame squarely on the victim. But “For One More Day” offers a clear and irrefutable confirmation of the repetitive cycle of behavior and poor choices among those who have been abused. And blame lies everywhere, including those among us who are unwilling to make the time and the effort to understand and get involved in dealing with this horrific problem. It is the true stories of victims like Denise Moon which are the most important resource for those who want to understand.

I have researched this subject and reviewed four other true stories of abuse victims in the last eighteen months. My initial reaction to this book, despite my knowledge of the problem, was the same as that which I had initially to the other stories that I read for review – how could a person allow this to go on for so long? It is a question Sarah asks herself in this book, but as with most victims, she seemed unable to ever really fully answer the question. But one thing is certain; they either find an answer within themselves that ultimately empowers them to break free, or they suffer abuse and all of its devastation their whole life.

Moon is a sensitive, heartfelt storyteller who gently paints a delicately detailed montage of Sarah’s life. (One irritation for me as a reader though was what I consider an inordinate number of misspelled words.)  As her story progresses, it becomes increasingly engaging as Sarah begins to make small strides in gaining her self-respect. But typically, she continues the cycle of poor choices, particularly with regard to her relationships with men that knock her backwards, physically and mentally. Moon captures the extreme emotional swings that become part of the fabric of Sarah’s life and which are in most cases, predictable by everyone but Sarah.

In the end, “For One More Day” is hopeful and heartening. Sarah ultimately realizes that “Despite her challenging life, she remained alive, at least for one more day.” For the reader, it is hopefully enlightening and will at the least motivate them to be more aware of the signs of abuse in themselves and others. In her dedication Denise Moon writes, “It is my hope that sharing my story helps prevent similar stories from being written.” I believe that it will for those who take time to read it “For One More Day.”


For One More Day
Denise Moon
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432771935
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (11/11)

Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir

Article first published as Book Review: Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir by Diana K. Perkins on Blogcritics.

“Singing Her Alive” begins when the death of her grandmother takes a modern city dwelling woman, named Sarah, back to her roots.  When Sarah returns home to help her mother clear out her grandmother’s belongings, she finds herself feeling connected to the old homestead. Her interest is peaked when she discovers the diaries of both her grandmother Rebecca and her lifelong friend “Aunt” Doris.

Taking her back in time to the late 1800s, Sarah reads about how Doris and Rebecca met.  Sharing a bed in a room in a boarding house while they both worked in a textile mill started their friendship.  As their relationship blossomed, they encountered many complications and obstacles from others, who couldn’t accept that they were becoming more than just friends.  When a crisis forces them to look elsewhere for a fresh start, Sarah’s future grandfather helps them with this goal.
          
As Sarah reads these journals, she finds herself feeling pulled further and further away from her life in Boston.  Through her readings, Sarah is able to go back in time and see how life was for these two women.  As she sees how they discover each other, she also begins learning more about herself.  Her personal life becomes more involved in this little town. Family secrets that are revealed in the diaries also greatly complicate things.  Sarah has to figure out how she is to handle what information has been revealed to her, because it will still have a tremendous impact on those she cares about. As she works through this dilemma, she also is growing closer to her mother and has made some special friendships with two local people.

“Singing Her Alive” has two love stories. One is from the past, and the other is developing in the present.  Both involve difficulties, yet the people involved reveal themselves to be incredible characters that are worth fighting for.  Written as a fictional memoir, the author made it hard for me to believe that it didn’t really happen. Including a great deal of true historical information really helped with this. She peaked my interest so much, I found myself looking through a website that is included as a reference.  I highly recommend reading this novel.


Singing Her Alive: A Fictional Memoir
Diana K. Perkins
FriesenPress (2011)
ISBN 9781770671195
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/12)

Many Blessings: A Tapestry of Accomplished African American Women

When I moved to the USA a good decade ago, I got immediately immersed in the African-American community. Living in New Orleans will do that to you for sure, since the Big Easy is a city where a good few racial lines are nicely blurred. Unfortunately that does not mean that color lines do not exist there, or that people are color blind. Being Caucasian myself, and from a place which hardly ever sees people of color, the African-American community was a big surprise to me, and I quickly get to realize how little I really knew about it. Just like Dr. Weedn I felt a strong need to learn more, and I have been continuing that process throughout the years. This might well be an additional reason why I liked “Many Blessings” so much, not that there is any shortage of great reasons to like it anyhow. We all need to understand the people living next door to us, and I often feel this is something sorely lacking in the American culture today.


Many Blessings: A Tapestry of Accomplished African American Women
Sonnee Weedn, PhD
Chispa Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9780983277606
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/11)

One of the very present and often expressed thoughts in the African-American society seems to be, “But we do not have any role models!” I have heard it all too often and while I could not have disagreed more simply by looking around myself and seeing all the people making so much difference on a daily basis, I do recognize the need for something tangible that goes beyond the likes of media stars, regardless of how powerful, successful and inspiring they might be. Whether we like it or not, very few people will ever have the chance to change things on a scale of Oprah or Iman, to name just two of them. That’s where the wonderful “Many Blessings” comes in. Dr. Weedn interviewed thirty-one African-American women from many different walks of life, dividing the book into sections named after the predominant characteristic shared by them. Here we find the Survivors, the Inspirers, the Nurturers, the Crusaders, the Creatives, the Academics, and the Beauties.  While I definitely love those titles, I felt quite strongly that all of those women could certainly represent more than a single of those categories. I have never heard of any of them, yet every one of their stories was an incredible inspiration and a guiding light to building a better future.

While the book is clearly geared towards the African-American audiences, I believe it should be required reading for anybody who would like to understand and appreciate this great country better. Everybody could and should be inspired by those stories of courage, overcoming their adversity, creating a wonderful today and an even better tomorrow. “Many Blessings” is a book to be shared with people whom you love, and with those who need to learn how to love better.

The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable

“The Battle for Tomorrow” by Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall is narrated by Angela (Ange),  who has had to deal with lots of adult-level responsibilities in her sixteen years. In her thirteenth year, her mom had a stroke on her right side and lost speech and most mobility. Also at thirteen, Ange had her first abortion.  Now, at sixteen, she is getting her second abortion, and while she accepts that her relationship with the 23-year-old political activist is over, Ange is totally convinced of the need for activism.

In fact, Ange is willing to give up her goth-personality for a more responsible looking personality, and move to Washington, D.C. so that she can attend more rallies, particularly a large one later in the fall. Ange, at only sixteen, has some problems on her own, but manages living in a hostel, working at a grocery.

As she attends civil disobedience trainings and starts to lead trainings herself, Ange struggles to lead and interact with adults when they know she’s underage. Additionally, the protocol for dealing with a minor in the event of arrest is problematic and bureaucratic for a minor without a guardian to call upon.

Throughout the book, Ange learns to personally handle her own (temporary) “age-deficiency” and learns how to interact with adults in a mature and responsible way. She also challenges societies’ methods for handling minors, fighting for her right to live independently, without a legal guardian.

Dr. Bramhall’s writing flowed well. Written in first-person narrative, almost stream-of-consciousness style, “The Battle for Tomorrow” used the technique well. Ange’s voice was well-defined and clear. Dr. Bramhall captured the voice of a scared teenager who is still figuring herself out very well.

Although I didn’t agree with some of Ange’s political leanings (e.g., socialism), I admired the passion Ange exhibited, and the resolve she had to act on her beliefs and to see change happen. This inspired me to strive harder to stand up for my beliefs, even in ways that might not be comfortable.

I was also fascinated by the lifestyles I might not normally be exposed to – of living in a hostel, of marching and blockading roads – and I thought the book well-exposed the personal rationales behind any extremist movement.

Although I really enjoyed this book, I would only recommend this book to older readers, as it dealt with mature themes. That said, I would highly recommend “The Battle for Tomorrow” – it was an inspiring and insightful look at political change and the struggle for minors.


The Battle for Tomorrow: A Fable
Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
Strategic Book Group (2011)
ISBN 9781612042190
Reviewed by Madeleine Sullivan (age 18) for Reader Views (12/11)

A Gift from Little Bear

Max’s comments:

In this book there is a little bear that lives in the woods with his family.  His mom tells him not to go by the campsites but he does anyway.  The people feed him a sandwich and it gives him a tummy ache.  Then he goes back another time and he gives them some berries.  That is the food that bears eat.

I like this book but you really aren’t supposed to feed bears.  That isn’t a good idea.  You shouldn’t go by baby bears at all either because their moms might think you are going to hurt them.  I go camping a lot so that is why I know that.  Some people might read this book and go camping and think that it is okay to feed bears.  That would be a mistake.  “A Gift from Little Bear” is a good pretend story though.  I like the pictures.


A Gift from Little Bear
Victoria Boutenko
Raw Family (2011)
ISBN 9780970481948
Reviewed by Max Aures (age 5) for Reader Views (12/11)

Making a Meal of It: Sex in Chinese and Western Cultural Settings

This is a good informative book that begins with the author’s narrative of her educational endeavors and how she became involved with the writing of this book. Her impressive background included studies at some of the most prestigious institutions in the world. She has compiled the research she has done on the subject of East versus West sexual interaction in the United States, Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Her in-depth study on the subject is what this book is all about.

With extensive charts and detailed diagrams and illustrations, Ms. Chang examines the differences between the sexual beliefs, attitudes and practices of Chinese and Western culture. Her knowledge of the Eastern attitudes from living in the country, coupled with her research, gives her findings much credibility. As she explains, she has had first-hand knowledge of the sexual revolution that has taken place in Taiwan and Hong Kong, coming close but not necessarily matching that of the United States. The author gives the reader a very concise history of the sexual transitions in the Far East and a bit of history as to the events leading up to the present conditions in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

“Making a Meal of It” could be called a thesis on sexual transitions with as much information as Ms. Chang has included in this very informative volume. It would really benefit a student of psychology or anyone interested in the social structure of Asia as compared to that of the West.

I gave it a B+ for so much concise and thorough information packed in only 353 pages.
It’s not a book for the general public. “Making a Meal of It” is for scholars, educators and those inquisitive minds that want a wealth of information in one unique book.


Making a Meal of It: Sex in Chinese and Western Cultural Settings
Jui-shan Chang
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432768218
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (12/11)

Discovery of the Grand Unified Theory: The Greatest Discovery of 21st Century Opening the Door to a New World- Essential Reading for All Human Beings, Young and Old

Article first published as Book Review Discovery of the Grand Unified Theory: The Greatest Discovery of 21st by Arkay Nair on Blogcritics

In his new book, “Discovery of the Grand Unified Theory,” chemist and devotee of the pursuit of the Grand Unified Theory, Arkay Nair proclaims that he has discovered the definitive model of the Grand Unified Theory. He further asserts that “All the great scientists of the last century (most notably Albert Einstein) missed out on it because they were traveling on the wrong path searching for it.”

This book is only twenty-nine pages long. The author intends that it serve as a preface for an expanded model on his theory and its potential impact on the world. Take note that this reviewer is admittedly a layman physicist. Grand Unified Theory (GUT) models are very complex. Even the definition of GUT in the Yahoo! Kids Dictionary is complicated, stating that it is “A theory of elementary forces that unites the weak, strong, electromagnetic, and gravitational interactions into one field theory and views the known interactions as low-energy manifestations of a single unified interaction.” No “GUTs for Dummies” has been published!

The book is actually a paper that presents the author’s theory in five discourses, each composed of a short Abstract, expanded Discourse, and reinforcing Summary. The first two discourses challenge current scientific thinking. The third and fourth discourses elaborate on these contrarian ideas, and the fifth introduces Nair’s model and invites readers to react. The author strongly urges reader to read the book straight through, uninterrupted and in the order in which the content is presented. He is equally emphatic about the importance of reading the twenty-nine pages again before noting questions. If the reader still has questions after the second reading, Nair invites them to send their questions to him.

Nair’s hope is that everyone, young and old, reads his book, gains a greater understanding of how his version of the Grand Unified Theory can help solve problems like global warming and energy shortages, and contemplate and incorporate their own version of his theory into their personal philosophy. To his credit, he has effectively dealt with the complexity of this subject in an approachable and straightforward style which seemingly should make this subject more accessible to more readers. Given the numerous new terminology related to his model proposed by the author, a glossary would have been helpful for quick reference.

One issue of some importance to me related to the book is that information about the author was incomplete. For example, his bio indicated that “I worked as a chemist for a few years before emigrating to the United States…I received an MBA from Plymouth State University in New Hampshire in 1985 and spent the next twenty-five years in business.” No specific business sector or industry is mentioned. In the Epilogue, it is stated that the author submitted his paper to the American Physical Society (the second largest professional society for physicists in the world), that refused to publish the paper. No further elaboration is offered.

Overall, I found the book to be engaging and interesting. Arkay Nair’s passion for the pursuit of the true Grand Unified Theory model permeates the twenty-nine pages of his “Discovery of the Grand Unified Theory.” He has the spirit of an explorer. To be sure, this complicated scientific matter will simply be too daunting for some readers to engage. But this citizen scientist enjoyed this introductory exploration.


Discovery of the Grand Unified Theory: The Greatest Discovery of 21st Century Opening the Door to a New World- Essential Reading for All Human Beings, Young and Old
Arkay Nair
AuthorHouse (2011)
ISBN 9781463487317
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (12/11)

Commandment

Lakif and Torkoth, who were introduced in the first book of the series, “Dominion,” continue the quest for power as Lakif searches for a way to unlock the forces within the Rare Earth Stone.

At the end of Book One, Lakif had managed to obtain the Stone she had been seeking, and Book Two picks up shortly after that adventure with the Acaanan realizing her quest is far from over because now she must find a way to unlock that power. She soon discovers the path to becoming a warlock is even harder than she originally imagined it would be.

I was a fan of the author’s first book in the series, although I did comment on the lack of action during the first half of “Dominion.” There’s no such problem in “Commandment.” With the main characters already established, the action starts early on and continues until the end of the book, with new insight into Lakif and Torkoth being provided along the way.

Lakif still seems like an unlikely hero, with a few of her flaws highlighted throughout the story and she often seems to be merely swept along by the actions of others while having no clue as to what to do herself. Still, she manages to remain firmly planted in the role of good guy… for now. I still expect her lack of focus and failure to plan for anything to open up doors to danger and adventure that wouldn’t otherwise exist, and I’m looking forward to seeing how she gets out of the predicaments that wait for her beyond the horizon.

Half-Man Torkoth continues to be my personal favorite as the talented warrior with no memory of his past. Like any man who lives by the sword in a world of fantasy, he seems to scoff at the suggestion of magic and prefers the solid assurance of steel. While his history remains a mystery to us as well as to him, we do get to see a softer side of Torkoth at one point, which is refreshing. Still, some things seem to come all too easily for the man with no memory so suspicions are raised as to how much the half-man/half-reptile actually recalls about his former life. One thing in particular that got my attention was the fact that Torkoth continues to wear the rope around his ankle that had him shackled as a prisoner when he supposedly woke up with no memory. A memento of imprisonment doesn’t seem like something a person would want to hold onto, and I’m intrigued to find out more about the mysterious warrior.

A new character, Bael, is also introduced to readers. Aside from sharing a childhood past and aspirations of becoming a warlock with Lakif, Bael is almost the exact opposite of the Acaanan. Just picture the manliest, noblest, most perfect hero you’ve ever read about and you’ll have a good impression of Bael. He’s the type of guy that seems too good to be true, which makes you automatically wonder what type of flaw this stereotype of perfection might be hiding. While perfection usually equals boring, the fact that he seems a little too perfect makes Bael a character that always has your undivided attention.

The depth of detail in the descriptions and histories of the city of Grimpkin continue to impress me. Chestney has put some serious time and effort into the creation of this world and it shows with the turn of every page in “Commandment.” While the main story definitely has my attention, I can’t help but wonder what else might be going on with some of the other colorful inhabitants of this world. The story continues with “Enmity,” and I can’t wait to see what new dangers lie ahead for our heroes.


Commandment
Daryl Chestney
Daryl Chestney (2011)
ISBN 9780984070732
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (10/11)

Wild Beau and Her Kittens (Volume 3)

Madeline:

In this book, Soupy and his friends meet new friends! While searching for Soupy’s old foster son, Ferdinand the raccoon, they find a wild cat and two kittens! The wild cat is first scared, but then realizes they are the same as her. Soupy and his friends realize she is in very bad shape. She is super skinny, only one eye and both her ears and tail were frozen off in the winter! Soupy asks her name and she said, “Um..Momma.” He is confused, but he and his friends think she should have a name. So Puff Puff says, “How about Bella? It means beautiful.” Spider Man also suggests, “What about Beau? I think it means beautiful in French.” Momma can’t believe her ears! They think she is beautiful?! Soupy stares at her and waits. Then she finally says. “I like Beau.” So now she had a real name. It started to get late so Soupy and his friends leave but promise to come back soon. The next day, they bring her food, real food! Beau can’t believe her eyes. She gobbles it up quickly and thanks them. Now every time they go to see Beau, they bring her food.

About a week later, Beau and her kittens starts living under Soupy’s porch, instead of the forest. Now it is much easier to bring her food. A couple days later, Soupy’s owner, Molly, and her neighbor, Marcy, find Beau and her kittens. Now, Marcy is bringing food and water to Beau and her kittens. In about a week or two, Beau and her kittens find homes! The good part is that they live close to each other so the kittens do not miss their Mom and can visit her often. See what happens last!

“Wild Beau and Her Kittens” is another great book by Peggy Krause! I love all her books; this one is my favorite! It is an exciting story and a funny story. I love the new illustrations! My favorite picture is when one of the kittens is wrestling Puff Puff. My favorite part is when Beau and her kittens find a new home.

Sophia:

Another amazing story by Peggy Krause! This story is about a cat named Soupy and his friends Lila, Lola, Spider Man, and Puff Puff. Soupy goes to the forest and tries to find his son, Ferdinand the raccoon. Every time Soupy goes to the forest he calls out “Ferdinand! Ferdinand!” But there was no response. Then they run into a stray mother cat and her two kittens. Everyday they would go to

the forest and bring her food. Yes, real food! Beau had lost one eye, had a hurt leg, and her ears and tail were injured from the winter frost. When Puff Puff saw the kittens, he yelled “KITTENS!”' His favorite was Squeaky. Spider Man’s favorite was Hoppy. Many weeks later Beau and her kittens started living under Soupy’s owner Molly’s porch. Then the mother and the kittens found homes and lived happily ever after.

My favorite picture is Soupy and a big surprise you will not believe! My favorite part was when everybody found homes. “Wild Beau and Her Kittens” is the best so far by Peggy Krause! I think this book is a real adventure for kids from ages 5 to 10. It has a very happy ending.

Wild Beau and Her Kittens (Volume 3)
Peggy Krause
CreateSpace (2011)
ISBN 9781463692117
Reviewed by Madeline (age 10.5) and Sophia (age 8) McElroy for Reader Views (12/11)

Staying Alive: A Love Story

Article first published as Book Review: Staying Alive: A Love Story by Laura B. Hayden on Blogcritics.

While any loss of somebody dear to us is a horrible thing to endure, there are some that are simply even more difficult than the others.  Losing a spouse is certainly right there at the top, particularly when the loss is sudden and at an early age. And that is precisely what happened to Laura B. Hayden, who found herself a widow even before she turned fifty. Not only did she have to raise two children alone now, but she soon faced a battle with cancer herself. Yet throughout all of that she did not lose the faith, nor focus.

There was one small paragraph towards the beginning of the book that really struck a chord with me. In it, the author stated, “I have come to realize I took my 20 years together with Larry for granted. Larry didn’t.” What a powerful statement, and one that really made me stop and think about my own personal relationships and how I deal with them. I will certainly try to do my best from now on not to take anything for granted ever again.

“Staying Alive: A Love Story” truly is a love story on many levels. It is undoubtedly a story of Ms. Hayden’s love for her husband, but also for her children, and for life in general. Throughout the book the reader learns about Ms. Hayden’s childhood and adolescence, and then her adult life, including her professional and personal growth. We follow her spiritual evolvement - and involvement, we see her learn and struggle and doubt and grow and stumble, but never really fall. Her memoir is a powerful mixture of emotions and tales of incredible resilience, and while it gets terribly sad at times, it never descends into whimpering or self-pity. She finds support and courage in many things, as well as many people, and she is lucky to recognize what really matters. She reminds us of the things we all know, but oftentimes forget or overlook - what really matters, or better yet, who really matters.

Ms. Hayden’s writing is beautiful, and she truly connected with me as a reader. She made me think again and again, and that is something that I really cherish in a writer. I would highly recommend this book to all those who have suffered a loss of a loved one, as well as anybody who just needs reminder of how amazingly resilient we human beings can be, and how with enough resolve we actually manage to overcome even the biggest obstacles. As “Staying Alive” will remind us, we do that and more, and if we are as strong as Ms. Hayden, we can actually do it with great grace.

Staying Alive: A Love Story
Laura B. Hayden
Signalman Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781935991182
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/11)

The Call

Derald Hamilton’s “The Call” combines satire, humor, and spoof in this unpredictable fictional account of seminary training and the broad spectrum of individuals who have responded to the “call to ministry.” The story is presented in the first person voice of Ishmael O’Donnell.  His childhood is beleaguered by the strict disciplines administered by his military father and his religious mother who accepts as her “lot” subjection to an unfaithful husband. Added to Ishmael’s dysfunctional childhood is the unexplainable supernatural indwelling or possession of the “spirit” of his long-dead twin brother Isaac.

Hamilton understands the importance of audience to the success of satire. He writes for a wide audience covering a time span of over 30 years directly impacting the veterans and families of three wars or Military conflicts who will relate to the account of Ishmael’s coming of age in the transient lifestyle of military families, the diversity of political views of U. S. involvement in these intervention actions, and the extremes of disciplines and control exercised by his military father. Another audience that will be touched by Hamilton’s observations is made up of anyone concerned about illusion versus reality in organized religion.

As Ishmael grapples with the his family’s dysfunction and the harassment of Isaac’s spirit, Hamilton focuses on another potential audience as he parodies the religious neuroses plaguing Ishmael by the inconsistency of forced church attendance by his father and the genuine religious zeal of his mother. Participation with Campus Para church ministries while attending University lead to Ishmael’s “call” to attend seminary as a means to find life fulfillment and spiritual cleansing.

Part Two of the novel deals with the three years of Ishmael’s seminary training. He is frustrated by the inconsistencies and the church politics often practiced within the established church, issues of integrity, and conduct behind the cloistered walls of the seminary. The illusions and reality of Hamilton’s observations open the door for his articulate tongue-in-cheek satiric exposition. Hamilton has cleverly recreated believable characters into caricatures which disconcertingly uncover fraudulence, impertinence, personal inconsistencies, character flaws, prejudices, and biases often found in the Christian community. Liberal, conservative, charismatic, nor ultra-fundamental escape his invective.

I became deeply involved in Hamilton’s storyline and characters. A composite development of fewer characters and a merging of the curriculum, training, and field assignments into typical content rather than detailed descriptions of the repetitive progression of each individual year of the program would have enhanced the flow and pace of the book for me.

“The Call” offers brilliant writing that is reflective, funny and provocative – a troubling look at the duplicity of influential leadership in today’s culture.

The Call
Derald Hamilton
D. Hamilton Books (2010)
ISBN 9780984619207
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (11/11)

Ruby’s Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook

Article first published as Book Review: Ruby's Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook by Ruby Dee on Blogcritics.

 

How much more fun is there than going into your kitchen, putting a CD into your player, grabbing a glass of wine, and rockin’ and two-steppin’ around the island?  Oh, wait, this is a cookbook and I’m supposed to be making dinner.   Nevertheless, I’m doing both because I’m about to start cooking from “Ruby’s Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook” as I’m listening to the companion music CD provided with it.  You see, there is more to Ruby Dee, she’s not only a fantastic cook but she’s also part of the music scene known as Grammy-nominated “Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers.”

For the purpose of the review we are asked to test three recipes.  For the first recipe, I made “Blue Cheese, Pecan, Apple-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Pork Chops.” I took two butterfly chops and seared them on both sides; then I stuffed them with a combination of blue cheese, pecans and apples. I wrapped the stuffed chops with a slice of bacon and placed in pan. While baking in the oven I deglazed the pan with wine and then added broth and butter.  Oh my, the end result was very tasty and the chops were fork tender.

Ruby suggested serving the chops with “Potato Pancakes” so this ended up being my second test recipe.  It has been a long time since I’ve made potato pancakes so I was eager to try Ruby’s recipe.  Using a food processor, I grated the potatoes and then added the remaining ingredients of onion, eggs, flour, salt and pepper.  There was also an addition of a pinch of baking powder which was different from the recipe I used before.  The pancakes ended up being crispy and yummy.  They certainly did go well with the stuffed pork chops.

The third recipe I tested was “Ginger Snaps.”  I was attracted to the recipe because there are two ingredients that normally don’t go into ginger snaps and those are oil and dry mustard. I was very curious how the cookies will end up being crisp when I use oil.  Well, to my surprise the cookies are crisp and have a zing to them.  I suspect it’s the dry mustard that does that.  By the way, these cookies also have cinnamon in them which isn’t a normal ingredient either.  I have to tell you, this is now my favorite ginger snap recipe.

Ruby Dee, who has the bragging rights of cooking on the “Rachel Ray Show” where she shared her infamous “Ruby’s Thanksgiving Leftover Enchiladas,” has given us recipes for good ol’ homecookin.’  As I perused the rest of the book I noticed the recipes are simple and all the ingredients can either be found in the kitchen pantry or purchased at a local grocery store.  “Ruby's Juke Joint” is an easy to handle cookbook and sits well on a book stand.  The colored photographs of the recipes look great and help to see what the end result will look like.

Ruby’s passion for cooking and music meld brilliantly in “Ruby's Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook.” Her enthusiasm for good food prepared in the home comes from the heart and she shares it beautifully with us. Of course, the music CD is the added bonus that will bring a smile to your face. Good food and good music is the order for today.


Ruby’s Juke Joint: Americana Cookbook
Ruby Dee
Bando Press (2012)
ISBN 9780983782407
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (12/11)

Corral Dust from Across the Big Divide: More Ghost Writings of Charles M. Russell

Article first published as Book Review: Corral Dust from Across the Big Divide: More Ghost Writings of Charles M. Russell by Richard Bird Baker on Blogcritics.

Oh what fun the Wild West must have been in the time of Charlie M. Russell. The way he tells these stories makes any lover of the Old West wish he was there. Compiled and brought to the reader in the true spirit of that era, with its cowboy slang and some poor grammar mixed in, the tales keep you reading. Humor abounds with stories like “Ben Wilkins Fighting Rooster.” This rooster gets retired from fighting but doesn’t know it and acts like a guard dog. It’s funny to read how the cowboys chase him around the barn and how he makes fools of them.

In another one of the yarns, the narrator explains the existence of Bear Butte (a plateau) and how it grew from a small mound to what it is now. He tells of an Indian girl that married a young Indian Brave and how the legend of Maheo came true for the young squaw. When she prayed for help from Maheo, she was saved from death because the mound she stood on suddenly turned into a plateau. The story is really much more interesting than just the highlights that I mentioned but that is enough to whet an appetite.

I was not a real fan of Western lore but this book changed all that and showed me that the tales told by grizzly old cowboys can be very compelling and keep you entertained for hours. I enjoyed the many stories in “Corral Dust from Across the Big Divide” and gave it an A on my grading scale. It will appeal to all that enjoy the Wild West and cowboy tales. There was nothing offensive or what would be considered adult reading so it will appeal to a general audience of both young and old. It has everything one would want in a good book - adventure, mystery, humor and a bit of history.


Corral Dust from Across the Big Divide: More Ghost Writings of Charles M. Russell
Richard Bird Baker
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781450290579
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (12/11)

Vivaldi’s Muse

Article first published as Book Review: Vivaldi's Muse by Sarah Bruce Kelly on Blogcritics.

I’ve always found historical novels to be really tricky. Make them too factual, and they become boring. Stray too far from the facts and they become too unrealistic and lose the “historic” base of the story. But when perfect balance is achieved, a historical novel, based on serious research, can be a real treat. “Vivaldi’s Muse” by Sarah Bruce Kelly certainly more than fits my requirements for this type of a book.

While I have always been an admirer of Vivaldi’s music, I’ll be the first to admit that I have never had any particular interest in his personal life. I did vaguely remember that he was a priest, but that was about as much as I could have told you before reading “Vivaldi’s Muse,” a truly enchanting story of Annina Girò, a young girl from Mantua, who had a burning desire to become an opera singer. That desire became even greater after she first met the “red priest,” as Vivaldi was known due to his red hair. Life can be full of surprises, and it certainly turned out to be extremely eventful for little Annina, who became one of Vivaldi’s most cherished protégées, and according to this book, certainly his most faithful one.

Ms. Kelly’s writing was engaging and enjoyable. While it is clear that she must have done an incredible amount of research (I am still astonished over Cardinal Ruffo’s letter, referenced in the book!), the book never became boring or tedious. Her sense of time and place was incredible, and I took great pleasure in revisiting some of my favorite spots through Annina’s eyes. While I was not really surprised at the way Venice came alive in the book, I certainly got amazed at the amount of feelings the little vignettes of Vienna and Graz stirred in me. I was there again, and in the best possible way.

The extremely charming prologue set the tone for an even more remarkable story to follow, and I’ve enjoyed every page of this book. The dialogue was always sparkling, the use of Italian added charm and depth to the story, and the use of “Venetian” made me chuckle loudly. It was just so real. While this was primarily a book about music, it was also a charming love story and a story about those dark times when a woman could not achieve much without a man behind her back.

Although there were some slightly “touchy” moments in the book, the author handled them with great sensitivity, and the book remained entirely appropriate even for younger readers. This is the type of a book that could very possibly awaken intense curiosity in a young person, and it should be required reading for lovers of opera of all ages. I firmly believe that any reader who enjoys a well written story shall find something to enjoy in “Vivaldi’s Muse,” even if they are not an opera lover. Highly recommended!
Vivaldi’s Muse


Sarah Bruce Kelly
Bel Canto Press (2011)
ISBN 9780983630401
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (12/11)

Pretty Dolls

Tasha is a cute little girl who has a wonderful collection of beautiful dolls bought by her dad when he traveled. Two of her dolls were her favorites - Gracie and Emily-Nicole. Of the two, Emily Nicole was the most beautiful, but Gracie had a special place in Tasha’s heart. Gracie had spiky hair and one arm missing. Although Tasha tried to love all her dolls the same, Emily-Nicole and the other dolls liked to make fun of Gracie after Tasha went to bed.

Zoey:

I liked reading this book. It’s about dolls that make fun of another doll because she doesn’t look as beautiful as the other dolls. Even though they were dolls it still isn’t fair that others who look different from them are made fun of. Tasha’s dog, Victor, got into her bedroom and knocked Emily-Nicole off the bookcase and none of the other dolls would help her. Only Gracie would be her friend and told her not to be scared. They became friends after that and Emily-Nicole never made fun of her again. I also liked it because you could listen to it through audio and follow along in the book.

Nana:

Zoey loved “Pretty Dolls.”  After she read it she read it again and then listened to the audio. She is very caring about kids who look different or have special needs.


Pretty Dolls
Kimberly Dana
Tate Publishing (2011)
ISBN 9781613464168
Reviewed by Zoey Crane (age 7) and Nana for Reader Views (11/11)

The High-Tech Gooseneck Putter

“The High-Tech Gooseneck Putter” by Samuel DiMatteo and Kristin Johnson is about the golf-loving gander named Sami.  Sami’s goal in life is to win the Waterfowl Golf Tournament.  When his game is sabotaged by a snake and he is shot by hunters, his dream seems shattered.  But he sees that his dream may live on in his nephew Myles.  Sami dedicates himself to coaching his nephew to the championship.  Will his dream be realized through his nephew or will another dream be sabotaged?
 
This book was packed with characters with silly sounding names.  There were way too many characters to keep track of.  Some of the characters, though, were very likeable.  I especially liked Nibbles Nip the beaver who made the best golf clubs ever.  He was a very fast and hard working beaver.  Dennie Flame, a fire-breathing dragon, was not a main character but he did nice things for other people like melting the ice on a pond to warm up Sami and his friend.
 
This book was only 92-pages long but, it took a long time and some effort to read.  The type was very small and it had far more words per line than is typical for any books.  There was a lot of information that didn’t contribute to the plot.  There was also some golf jargon.

People who like golf might appreciate “The High-Tech Gooseneck Putter.”  Although the storyline and characters in this book are kind of enjoyable, I don’t know many kids who would have the patience to read the book.


The High-Tech Gooseneck Putter
Samuel DiMatteo & Kristin Johnson
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432764500
Reviewed by Evan Weldon (age 9) for Reader Views (11/11)

Blood in the Promised Land

At the height of World War II another intense confrontation is spawning divisive hostilities on America’s home front. Wartime production jobs have lured thousands of poor blacks from the rural South to defense jobs in the North.

In “Blood of the Promised Land” Eliot Sefrin interweaves the separate life journeys of two men: Roosevelt Turner, a young black migrant who flees the South to work in Pittsburgh’s flourishing steel industry and Jacob Perlman, a Jewish physician forced to escape Nazi-occupied Austria.

Eliot describes, with heart-breaking pathos, Roosevelt’s traumatic reaction to the massacre of family members by a crazed crowd driven by frenzy to acts of mayhem and murder. Orphaned and alone, Roosevelt’s every waking moment is plagued with visions of the vigilante mob, their unchecked rage, violence, and blind groundless malice.

Jacob and his family experienced total humiliation at the hands of Hitler’s Gestapo police.  Their property was confiscated or destroyed. They were forced to flee their homeland to save their lives. After immigrating to America, Jacob maintained his dream of a better life.

The impact of this influx of displaced peoples on American’s major cities exposed prejudice, bias, and underlying animosities. Industrial centers became the breeding ground of racial conflict. Race riots and hate strikes beset factories, shipyards, and defense production, as whites attempted to impose long-held racial barriers, against blacks who discovered that the dream of entering “the promised land” is unrealized and has only exchanged the South’s Jim Crow harassment to the Northern bias, injustice, and bigotry.

Roosevelt and Jacob have been shaped by the stigma of the past, by racial or ethnic identity.  They both hope to rebuild their life. In the midst of an incident of violent racial conflict their paths cross. An unlikely bond propels them into the crucible of the civil rights movement.  They valiantly join forces in an effort to defeat a terrorist hate group.

Sefrin carefully lays the foundation for his story. His images are extraordinary, his character development amazing.  He has created believable characters from opposite ends of the professional and economic spectrum. He brilliantly uses southern dialect and Jewish idioms in his dialog. He is equally at ease with creating the caricature of southern sheriff as with a newspaper editor, FBI agent, churchmen, or family members. Sefrin’s writing is so intense and authentic that I often lost sight of the fact that I was reading a fictional account. I found myself drawn into the emotions of the outrage and the toll of suffering experienced by his protagonists.

The Second World War, waged from 1939-45, has inspired countless novels of the era. “Blood in the Promised Land” is unique among them as it gives the reader a glimpse in the unresolved issue of bias, prejudice, and bigotry prevalent in our nation.


Blood in the Promised Land
Eliot Sefrin
iUniverse (2011)
ISBN 9781462026104
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (10/11)

Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture

This is a very complete and concise volume of Russian architecture by a very talented writer. Mr. Parvaiz does more than just describe the beautiful architecture that is portrayed in the book. He goes the extra mile by giving the reader an insight into the history of the building. Beginning with Cathedral of the Dormition, to the Qolsharif Mosque, the chapters are descriptive and detailed. There is even a glossary at the end of every chapter that enlightens the reader to the terms used in that chapter.

Such amazing structures as the Catherine Palace in the Tsarskoe selo (the Tsar’s private city) are described with such detail that shows the author did his homework. He goes beyond the usual descriptions of the brick and mortar to include the reasons for its existence. It is this type of research that the author has done that makes this book stand out from the crowd of the usual architectural books.

The pictures are black and white, as would be expected in a book of architectural structures that date back as far as these do but that does not hinder the quality. The writing is top-notch and keeps the readers interest with the in-depth background and history.

The way the information is presented, with an in-depth history of the structures, makes it very interesting reading for everyone. He brought out some historical events that I had never seen or heard of in other books. It is general audience reading and full of wonderful pictures of all the old Churches and Cathedrals that are described and discussed. The cover graphics are appealing and the editing is a welcome change from most I have read recently. I enjoyed “Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture” and gave it my highest mark of an A+.

Russia’s Prestige: Historical Architecture
Kashif  Parvaiz
Outskirts Press (2010)
ISBN 9781432766115
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (5/11)