Reader Views

The Cobra Conspiracy

Looking at the front cover of this book, one would assume that it is about gangsters or the mob; however, this book covers that and more.

Buck Barnum, a former sports writer, is out of work and finds a job in public relations at a shipyard with a long-time friend. Although Buck is very excited about having a job- he really isn’t sure what his job is. There seems to be some hidden code in what he is about to get into.

The further he gets into his job he realizes that maybe he shouldn’t have taken this job on. He finds that the ship he is to write about is one that is very controversial- an incinerator ship. Since he committed himself to his job and his long-time friend, he doesn’t see a way to back out.

As time goes by, Buck realizes that his life and that of his children are in danger. Often he jumps into situations without thinking first which puts his life on the line. Being the assertive guy he is, he thinks he can beat all odds- but can he?

From the beginning of the book, the author’s descriptions, and language capture the reader for wanting more. Buck is a plain ole’ Joe like the rest of us-we can relate to him, unemployment and jumping in impulsively. We try through this action-packed book to figure out why he “can’t just get it” and realize he is in over his head. The reading was easy, exciting, and the flow between characters and action was very smooth.

It is apparent that the author, Roger A. Naylor, did some great research on the scientific aspects of “The Cobra Conspiracy” and made his characters real.

The Cobra Conspiracy
Roger A. Naylor
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440162800
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (11/09)

Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher

If you've ever had the great honor to share your life with a pet, "Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher" will not come as any surprise to you, but it will certainly make you shake your head in agreement and cause you to smile often, particularly when you'll reach some parts which will greatly remind you of your pet's habits. Animals could - and do! - teach us so much, if only we stop for long enough and truly listen to them.

Buckley was a small cat with a huge personality and an even bigger heart. She entered Ms. King's life with a whisper, as the "office cat" in the veterinary hospital which was managed by Ms. King at the time. An extremely affectionate tortoiseshell cat, she became a constant companion who was very much missed when Ms. King decided to explore other career paths and left the hospital. After a couple of not immediately successful attempts to assimilate into Ms. King's household, Buckley finally came home for good. Amber, the "original" cat sharing Ms. King's home, had to adapt to the new situation, and she learned to share "her human" with another cat quite quickly. Sadly, Buckley was diagnosed with a heart condition after two years of her arrival into the new home, and the second half of the book deals with the treatments, challenges and final acceptance of the situation. The many moments of pure joy were always tainted with sadness over the inevitable final outcome of this situation, and Ms. King managed to capture the process of ultimate acceptance in incredible vivid detail.

Warm, intelligent and wise, this is a beautiful book that will touch the hearts of animal lovers, particularly those who are grieving over the loss of their companions or who are living with the knowledge that their companions will not be able to share their lives with them for much longer. It shall also prove useful to anybody who might be thinking of adopting an older and possibly not so healthy animal, showing very clearly why that might be a particularly good choice. The detailed information on Buckley's diagnosis and treatment course, with clearly described challenges and rewards, might very well make some pet owners reconsider the path they are taking and make them realize that oftentimes we would do better to follow our instincts more and feel less obliged to blindly accept the mainstream information. And more than anything, "Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher" by Ingrid King should make you realize again how much we should and do learn from the animals who graciously share their love and life with us.

Buckley's Story: Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher
Ingrid King
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440166242
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

The Silent Sentinel: San Pablo Apostol de Cabagan Church Reveals 300 Years of Secrets of the Philippines

When Pope Alexander VI signed his papal bull May 4, 1493 the fate of what we know as the Philippines fell to the Crown of Spain and the spreading of the Catholic faith. James Edward Cleland defines and develops the history of the Spanish colonial church and the uniquely Filipino architecture thought as well as an early interpretation of Spanish thought embodied in the plans and construction of St. Paul the Apostle Church, one of the oldest Roman Catholic Churches in the Philippines built of adobe and stone.

St. Paul’s Church of the Cagayan Valley has been protecting its people throughout 300 years of the history of the Philippines. Today it lies in near ruins. In “The Silent Sentinel” Cleland sets forth justification for a complete renovation of St. Paul the Apostle as a landmark church. He reveals how the church has impacted the formation of the Philippine nation. He pays tribute to the architectural design and originality of the Spanish friars and Filipino craftsman. He points out the impact and influence of the clergy on government and the people of the Philippines during the colonial period.

This is the remarkable story of how St. Paul’s Church has survived droughts, earthquakes, vicious typhoons, a war for independence, and the occupation of the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. Myths, legends, and religious traditions still abound among the congregants of St. Paul’s.

In the midst of poverty the people of the Cagayan Valley have begun the process of rebuilding their church, one of the largest, oldest and most significant churches influential in establishing Catholicism in the Philippines and other countries of Asia.

This restoration project is being directed by a handful of devoted priests, parishioners, and interested friends from neighboring provinces, and concerned contributor throughout the world.

Helpful appendixes, end notes, bibliography, various lists which include the help of nearly forty resource assistants, dozens of interviews, several unpublished manuscripts, numerous books, websites and articles give evidence of the extensive research that has gone into the preparation of the monumental task of writing this important book.

The site photography for St Paul’s and examples of parallels of American restoration projects provide the reader with an appreciation of the proposed magnitude of the reconstruction project.

Cleland’s writing is highly readable, interesting, informative, and inspirational. “The Silent Sentinel” will be of keen interest to historians, to students of architecture, to seminarians, and to concerned lay Christians who want to be a part of preserving their heritage.

The Silent Sentinel
James Edward Cleland
AuthorHouse (2008)
ISBN 9781434359681
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (10/09)

Summer of 1977: A North American Bicycling Odyssey

This is the story of Doug Freedline’s courageous bicycle trip across Canada and the United States. Having attempted this same adventure back in 1974 and failing to complete it, Doug was adamant about facing his demons and proving to himself and everyone that he could do it this time! This time things would be different, he had a friend of his that was going to accompany him and his friend was as eager as he was to do it.

Doug and his good buddy Ed ventured out from their home town in Pennsylvania and headed straight to the Canadian border. They made it into Canada and now were well on their way to the coast. The Ontario highway that they were on was a treacherous road. They soon found out how dangerous it can be when Doug’s friend Ed was blown off the road by a big truck. It caused him to fall off the shoulder of the road and he was pretty badly scraped up.

As they continued through Canada and were going through Manitoba, they were privileged to be exposed to some Canadian hospitality. A nice family invited them to dinner and for the first time since the beginning of their journey; they had a nice, wholesome, sit-down meal.

Once they were through British Columbia they headed south and crossed over into the good ole USA. Stopping at a visitor’s center in Washington, they encountered a woman that read them the law about bicycles and highways and told them they wouldn’t get past the first weigh station.
As luck would have it, they managed to travel a good distance down the highway before a State Trooper stopped them and made them toss their bikes over the fence and off the highway. He told them what roads to take and was nice enough not to give them a ticket.

Leaving Brookings, Oregon they were astonished to see a car weaving down the road headed right at them. Clinging to the hood was a screaming teenager and as the car came closer, it straightened out and kept going. It was nothing out of the ordinary; after all, they were in California. Now they only had 400 miles to go till they arrived in San Francisco. That’s where Ed’s Aunt lived and they would be taking a few days off when they got there. Once in San Francisco, Ed’s bike gets stolen and he tells Doug that he is no longer going to continue the trip back with him. He tells Doug that he has decided to stay a few days and was not about to go back on a bike. So then Doug has no choice but to strike out on his own for the rest of the trip back home.

Leaving California, Doug has some memorable moments in Arizona. His ride down the winding mountain road with the forceful wind pushing at him, made him go much faster than he should have. Then there were the two-foot high ant hills that the Fire Ants had made. He had to watch out for them when he made camp. But the most frightening thing was in New Mexico when he went against his own rule of not accepting a ride and jumped in a pickup truck with a stranger.

The adventure continues through many more states and for many more days. If I did my job then you will be curious enough to want to buy the book and find out if Doug ever made it back home.

This very fast-moving book is 577 pages of exciting reading -- not your typical cross-country travel journal that’s for sure. I gave it an A because it is a very good, general audience book that the whole family can enjoy. "Summer of 1977: A North American Bicycling Odyssey" by Doug Freedline is well written and the story will keep you glued to the pages.

Summer of 1977: A North American Bicycling Odyssey
Doug Freedline
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440100208
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (10/09)

Kelleys Island: The courageous, poignant & often quirky lives of island pioneers 1810-1861

Leslie Korenko, a Kelleys Island resident and historian, has give readers a fascinating view of the life on Kelleys Island from 1810-1861. If you are a reader like me who is interested in how towns, law and order and people settle themselves into a comfortable life, this is a book for you. It is filled with a great number of facts and stories taken from journals, diaries, letters and court documents. You will be amazed at how much time and research the author has done to make this enjoyable reading.

The author has provided pictures and sources consulted throughout the book. So, if you are inclined to look up more information on a particular topic, she has made it easier for you.

I found the era of 1861 to be quite interesting as the information covered includes such things as: cooking stoves and matches, getting married, the Johnson Island Prisons and soldier’s letters home. When reading “KelleysIsland” by Leslie Korenko you often feel as if the individual is personally telling you the story. It is not a book that one can breeze through. You need to read a little, dream a little and put yourself back at Kelleys Island.

Kelleys Island
Leslie Korenko
The Wine Press (2009)
ISBN 9780981961217
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (11/09)

Until the Deep Water Stills: An Internet-Enhanced Novel

Wow! What an ingenious way to write a novel! Author Michael Robert Dyet has included blogs from each of his characters in “Until the Deep Water Stills” to give readers a better perspective and understanding of each character.  In addition to this, Dyet introduces readers to the four main characters a little at a time, which enables us to decide how each person interacts and relates to each other in the overall plot.

Our first characters are Jayce and Katherine (Kat) who are having difficulty communicating in their marriage. Kat is feeling fenced in and would like to go back to work, however, she agreed that if Jayce changed his job she would remain home until the children got into school. Their youngest child is experiencing some development delay problems, which adds more stress to the family. Jayce has a dark hidden past and doesn’t want it to come out, but he seems to be out of control with everything that is going on.

Bryan and Grace lost a daughter from a drug overdose at a rave party. Grace has tried to go on living and appears to be hard and critical. She refuses to go to her daughter’s grave once a year. Bryan lives daily with visions of his daughter and wants to talk about it. Ironically, Grace is Jayce’s sister.

Although the town would rather not see raves continued, one aggressive social activist named Faith is trying to hold them where drugs wouldn’t be allowed. This splits the town in half and leads to some interesting brawls.  She has no idea that more trouble is stirring from her actions.

“Until the Deep Water Stills” by Michael Robert Dyet was a fascinating read; readers can relate to the characters, their issues and demands. All of us have secrets we keep hidden from others, as do the characters in this book.

Until the Deep Water Stills: An Internet-Enhanced Novel
Michael Robert Dyet
Idiomatic (2009)
ISBN 9780981199504
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (11/09)

Live Your Purpose and Be Happy

From his beginnings as a young boy in Cuba to the successful man he is today, Arturo B. Condell has never stopped striving for success. Young Arturo learned this from his father Issac.  Issac was never plagued with doubt of defeat; he was always a positive thinker, hard worker and a kind and generous man. Arturo retained these values while he continued to seek his fortune. He headed off to America in hopes of becoming a lawyer. He eventually found his way to New York. While in New York, Arturo encountered many different people and many adventures on the road to his goal. All these encounters add to his well-rounded education and eventually with all his hard work, he is accepted into law school and graduates as a lawyer.

After graduation, Arturo went back to Jamaica where he passed the Bar exam and was going to work there as a Barrister. But first he had to fine tune his education by going to England for more schooling on the English Jurist system. Passing with flying colors, he decides to head to New York instead of heading home to Jamaica. Artyri goes back to New York and revisits some of the people and other places in the United States where he originally spent time, while on his quest to become a lawyer. Whilst on the road, in his many travels, he is inspired to put his efforts into becoming a motivational speaker rather than just a lawyer. Arturo is advised by so many that he would serve the people much better if he took this path.

Arturo decides to follow his heart and pursue this new undertaking. He sets up in New York City and begins to minister to all sorts of groups and gatherings. His unique personality and charisma is immediately embraced by all that attend his lectures and he becomes a motivating force for all underprivileged people.

“Live Your Purpose and Be Happy,” by Arturo B. Condell, is a very well written and nicely presented, motivational autobiography. It has the intrigue of a mystery novel, the passages of a Bible with the captivation of true adventure. I gave it a B and would recommend this general audience book to young adults as well as those that have already succeeded in life.

Live Your Purpose and Be Happy
Arturo B. Condell
AuthorHouse (2009)
ISBN 9781438940342
Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (11/09)

Ferdinand Uses the Potty: An Empowering Toilet Training Tale

“Ferdinand Uses the Potty” by Jay Tucker is a book about a frog who is potty training.  The opening page reads: “T’was the middle of the night some time ago, and our friend Ferdinand was in slumber.  While dreaming of race cars and candied bugs, he felt a leak that required a plumber!”  Ferdinand is confused as he can’t figure out what the problem is and thinks that he might have a leaky ceiling.  When he wakes up in the morning he told his friend what had happened and his friend told him that it was because he had wet the bed.  His friend reassures Ferdinand that it had happened to him to when he was little too.  The friend tells Ferdinand to use the potty and then his bed won’t be wet anymore, but Ferdinand is afraid of the sound that the toilet makes when it flushes.  Ferdinand tries to get around using the potty, but finds out that the only way that it is going to work is if he actually does it.

Here are comments from my two boys:

Cayden:  “I thought it was funny that the frog didn’t know that he wet the bed in the beginning and he thought it was the roof leaking and he needed an umbrella!  I liked the rhymes in the book and the end when the frog goes potty.”

Max:  “This was a funny book!  I liked when the frog wasn’t scared of the potty anymore, but it said he won’t wet the bed anymore because he uses the potty now.  But I use the potty now too and sometime I wet the bed still, how come?”

As you can see, my children really enjoyed the story although Max, who has been using the potty for about six months, still has a bed-wetting accident here and there and couldn’t figure out why the frog wouldn’t have accidents sometimes too.

Overall though, I thought that “Ferdinand Uses the Potty” by Jay Tucker was a very creative book and really enjoyed the rhyming text throughout the book.  The writing was humorous and delivered a positive message.  I really think that this would be a fun book to use when potty-training your child.

Ferdinand Uses the Potty: An Empowering Toilet Training Tale
Jay Tucker
Loving Healing Press (2009)
ISBN 9781932690828
Reviewed by Cayden (age 5) and Max (age 3) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (10/09)

Inheritance

After Victoria Nguyen experiences a life-altering, traumatic incident, she discovers that she is pregnant.  Desiring to do what is right Victoria wants to make her own decisions about how to handle the matter.  Her mother, who is a controlling politician, would prefer that Victoria does what looks best, instead of what is best for both her and the baby.  With the support of her father, Victoria flees from the United States to London where she is taken in by a family who owed a debt to her father.  Meeting their son William, who is studying to be a deacon, Victoria finds a kindred soul.  Unfortunately, she has to stay on the move to keep out of her mother’s control.

As she continues to seek out peace, Victoria meets the Seymour’s who are from San Francisco.  Madeleine is a history professor who is studying the history of the church. Her husband Jack is a retired wine broker.  They are in England so that Jack can locate a property to purchase and create a home for orphans.  Madeleine also uses this trip to further her research.  The Seymour’s, especially Madeleine, wish to help Victoria, but also have concerns because she is a minor.  Brother Cristoforo, a Franciscan from Rome comes to assist the Seymour’s with their search.  He is also dealing with his own issues.  He does not feel compelled to follow the rules, he follows his spirit instead.  In spite of this, he proves to be a strong asset with assisting Victoria and the Seymour’s.

As time passes and the baby is close to being born, Victoria has to reach inside herself and pull strength from within.  Her relationships, with the Seymour’s and William and Brother Cristoforo, cause her faith to strengthen more and more.  In spite of the trauma that caused her to be in London, Victoria’s personal and spiritual growth is tremendous.  Each person around her is also evolving.  When she encounters her mother, she is able to tap into her new strength and stand up for herself.  Her new found faith helps her.  Along the way she also finds true love.

“Inheritance” tells an incredible story.  Even though the main character, Victoria, is young, she still teaches us a lot about faith and perseverance. She also gives us hope, as we read about what she has had to overcome.  The rest of the characters also offer interesting stories from which the reader will feel inspired.  I know that I did.  I also enjoyed reading about Mrs. Seymour’s research, which is heavily referenced in the appendix.  It added a great deal of interest to the story.  “Inheritance” by Christine Sunderland will be enjoyed by readers of faith-based stories.  I think that it also make a great selection for a readers’ group.

Inheritance
Christine Sunderland
OakTara Publishers (2009)
ISBN 9781602902190
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Readerviews (10/09)

Humanizing Psychiatry: The Biocognitive Model

Author of “Humanizing Madness,” Dr. McLaren predicts that within the next twenty years, worldwide, psychiatry, as we know it, will cease to exist.  The numbers of psychiatrists, and people in training to become one, are rapidly decreasing.  He reiterates that this extinction will occur unless there is a radical change within the profession.  He notes that there is currently a lack of humanity in psychiatry and the training for it.  This lack will continue to dissuade talented individuals from pursuing psychiatry as a profession.

He recognizes there is a conspicuous lack of direction from leaders and that the bureaucracy has also added to its evolvement into something more like a dehumanizing pseudoscience.  Dr. McLaren states, “...unless psychiatrists come up with a proper model of mental disorder as the basis for daily practice, teaching and research, then things will only get worse for the mentally ill.”  In a world filled with increasing rates of suicide, alcohol and drug addictions, and post traumatic stress disorders, this is really scary for people needing treatment.

Dr. McLaren feels that institutional psychiatry and its related publishing industry do not have a “formal, agreed model of mental disorder.”  In “Humanizing Psychiatry” he outlines a biocognitive model that might be able to fix this issue and save psychiatry. He describes this model as “…the most complex and far-reaching model in the history of psychiatry.”  McLaren developed this model so “It restores humanity to psychiatry by integrating the biological, psychological and cultural aspects of psychiatry.”   Once the industry agrees upon a specific model, then a means for objectivity, accessibility and accountability needs to be created.

Once again, Dr. McLaren has written an incredibly interesting and thought-provoking book about the subject of psychiatry.  It is obvious a great deal of research and thought went into creating the biocognitive model that is extensively discussed in the book.  I found reading this book incredibly interesting and also scary, because if we don’t do something to correct the problems that we are faced with in Psychiatry, we will be in huge trouble, especially people who have mental health disorders and the people who are dealing with them. I highly recommend that people currently working in the mental health professions and students studying Psychiatry read “Humanizing Psychiatry” Niall McLaren, M.D., so that their eyes can be opened.

Humanizing Psychiatry: The Biocognitive Model
Niall McLaren, M.D.
Future Psychiatry Press (2010)
ISBN 9781615990115
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/09)

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts

“Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” by Deb Hosey White is a work of fiction.  It says so on both the front and back cover of the book.  But if it is a work of fiction, why does the story seem so familiar?  Perhaps it is because there is no dearth of stories about mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies in the papers these days.  At any rate, for the casual reader, “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” makes for an interesting, informative, and even amusing read.  But for those lucky readers who are still gainfully employed in a mid-size or large corporation it is just plain scary!

The plot of “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts” is simple and direct.  The Easton Company was a Fortune 500 company that had been around for a long time.  Its late founder had employed thousands of people who believed as he did that the community was important and every employee mattered.  The company’s charitable works in the Washington, DC area were well known and had earned the founder the Presidential Medal of Freedom.  In short, The Easton Company was as American as apple pie---until its new CEO decided to sell the company.

There were a variety of reasons why selling The Easton Company was a very bad idea; but the CEO, Jeffery Elkins, had ninety-one million reasons to do so.  Ninety-one million dollars was the amount he would receive in benefits if the sale or merger went through.  It was an offer he couldn’t refuse; especially since he himself fashioned the offer.  It doesn’t take long to figure out where all this is going.  As a matter of fact, there is a major clue in the dedication page which reads, “For the generations of American retirees and workers who have unfairly lost employer-sponsored health benefits.”  This, in a nutshell, is what happened to employees of The Easton Company after they lost their jobs.

Author Deb Hosey White chronicles the demise of The Easton Company from a variety of points of view across the spectrum of its employees.  From the hard-working administrative assistants and mid-level managers to the maintenance personnel and even the corporate pilot, each had a story to tell and each were victims of the culture of greed and mismanagement that emanated from the front office.  Writing from several points of view is never easy, but Ms. White does so easily, moving with agility from one story to another, all the time retaining the readers’ attention. At the same time, her narrative has a “been there, done that,” feel to it which is no doubt due to her more than thirty years experience working for Fortune 1000 companies where she lived mergers and acquisitions from inside the conference rooms, cubicles and executive suites of corporate America.

So, who should read “Pink Slips and Parting Gifts?”  A paragraph on the back cover says it all, “An estimated one in five corporate employees has experienced a merger or acquisition.  'Pink Slips and Parting Gifts' is their story ---the one every corporate cubicle jockey, business-class road warrior and mid-level manager will want to read.”  I respectfully agree! 

Pink Slips and Parting Gifts
Deb Hosey White
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440158049
Reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views (10/09)

Mandy The Alpha Dog: The Chronicles of the K-9 Boys and Girls on Locus Street

Sophia: I think this a funny and sad story about a cute little dog named Mandy. It was sad because a trainer man was being mean to her. I like stories about dog and puppies. This book starts off telling about Mandy’s life as a puppy and how she went to the pet store to be sold. The mean man who bought her wanted to train her to be a show dog, but she couldn’t learn what he wanted her to. He took her to the pound. A nice family picked her up from the pound and gave her a new home. But, Mandy started biting the children and the parents were mad. The family had to figure out what to do with Mandy now.

My favorite part of the story is when Shadow asked Mandy if she was shaped like a beach ball because she ate so much when she grew up! Mandy told Shadow that she ate so much, because the mean man would hold her food back and this made her eat a lot now. The drawings are really funny too!

Madeline: This is a funny story about a Beagle named Mandy and her best friend Shadow the Dalmatian. Mandy has bad dreams about her life when she was a puppy. One day Mandy tells Shadow her dreams are so scary because her dreams are her life. It all started when “Mr. Master” bought Mandy from the pet shop. He was so mean to her. He would take her food away and keep her locked in a room. He couldn't teach her to be a show dog so he sent her to the pound. Mandy was happy to get away from the mean man.

Four days later a family finds her and takes her home. One day Mandy bites one of the little boys. The family was very sad and took her to the pound. They felt bad so they went to the pound and gave her another chance. A few months later the boy jumps on Mandy while she was asleep and she bites him again. The family decides that Mandy needs to go.

I really like the drawings in this book! The funniest drawing is of the man wearing a T-shirt that reads, “Mean Dog Training Machine.”

My favorite part of the story is when Mandy is describing the heat of the cage at the pet shop. She says to Shadow, “Yeow! Hot, hot, ouchy, ouchy!”

We think children will really enjoy “Mandy The Alpha Dog” by Paula Shene.

Mandy The Alpha Dog
Paula Shene
PublishAmerica (2009)
ISBN 9781608367108
Reviewed by Sophia (age 6.75) and Madeline (age 8.5) McElroy for Reader Views (10/09)

Evolution’s Fatal Flaw: The Inevitable Consequence of the Need for Species Survival

In “Evolution’s Fatal Flaw,” a carefully researched and well written book, author Lawrence Wood sets out to validate two controversial and often debated claims:  that evolution is the proper explanation for our origins; and that evolution is all about the survival of the species, not as one might suppose, about the survival of the individual.  It is a monumental undertaking fraught with scientific and philosophical mine fields, all which he traverses with caution and ease.

Wood lays out the core issue early on in the book by quoting the results of a recent Gallup poll which shows that our society is still fairly evenly divided between three different explanations of our existence: creationism, intelligent design, and evolution.  He wonders “Why do such mutually exclusive explanations still compete in this day and age?”  He decides that the culprit, or culprits as it were, are a set of “illusions” that have been around since the dawn of mankind: “1) the apparently solid earth; 2) the apparent motion of the sun and planets around the earth; 3 ) the apparent same size of the sun and moon and the apparent closeness of the sun and moon; 4) the apparent motion of the stars around the earth and the apparent closeness of the stars; and 5)  the apparently unchanging physical and biological features of the earth.”  As the first order of business, Wood shows how science has explained these illusions and basically made them go away.

As the book works its way through science’s role in demystifying the five illusions and into more complex scientific and philosophic issues, the reader is taken on a delightful and educational journey that could almost be described as a history of science and philosophy throughout mankind, although this is certainly not the book’s purpose.  All the usual characters are present from Aristotle and Copernicus to Darwin and Einstein plus a host of brilliant thinkers largely unknown in the nonscientific community. At the same time, there are discourses involving all the major scientific disciplines, including but not limited to, physics, chemistry, biology, geology and astronomy.  All this is served up in a package of eighteen concise chapters, each ending with a summary of the main points covered along with a preview of what’s to come in the chapter that follows.

By the middle of the book it becomes obvious where all this is going; that evolution is going to win the debate hands down.  This is okay with me as I am one who prefers his reality served up in a logical and scientific fashion.  But some of the arguments are probably going to make die-hard proponents of creationism and intelligent design squirm a bit.  So be it.  It all makes for a healthy debate.

The book’s title suggests that there is a fatal flaw in the evolutionary process which is that humans are overpopulating the earth thus creating a tremendous demand on available natural resources.  It is on this note that Wood ends the book stating: While the overwhelming desire for sexual activity cannot be realistically controlled, there are readily available means for preventing the results of sexual activity from producing too many offspring.  If we are unable and/or unwilling to exercise this option, the devastating population growth plaguing the earth today will continue and, as mentioned above, ultimately doom evolution’s greatest achievement.

“Evolution’s Fatal Flaw” by Lawrence Wood has the potential to be controversial, if not explosive, and should be taken very seriously.  Once it is read, however, it should be set aside and revisited periodically just to browse through its pages to marvel at the accomplishments of the mind and spirit throughout the history of mankind.

Evolution’s Fatal Flaw: The Inevitable Consequence of the Need for Species Survival
Lawrence Wood
iUniverse (2009)
ISBN 9781440171512
Reviewed by Ron Standerfer for Reader Views (10/09)

Ockham’s Razor: A Novel

From the very first page author Williams has captivated his reading audience by describing vividly his two main characters, Brendan and Micah. Both young men know that their sexuality is in question and are afraid to talk about it.  Being brought up Mormon has its good and bad points and when it comes to one’s sexuality or being of color, those are some things one doesn’t discuss.

Micah, a few years older than Brendan, has left the Church as he doesn’t agree with some of the doctrine and thinking.  Brendan has left the Church as well, but has not discussed his homosexuality with many people; his concern is that he loves dance- ballet and pointe, and no one can understand why a man would do this. He questions his own faith, as does Micah.  What starts out as a friendship grows into an on-again, off-again, relationship after Brendan lets Micah read his journal about his sexual attraction toward him.

During the course of trying to take the relationship slowly, Micah finds he can’t control his feelings or desire. Brendan on the other hand is often negative and critical of Micah, but at the same time initiates romantic and intimate interludes. Their relationship is strenuous to say the least.

I would say that the major theme of “Ockham’s Razor” by Alan Michael Williams as I read it was about the Church and homosexuality.  The author, who was an active Mormon at one time, gives readers good information about the Church’s stance on homosexuality.  The narrative of the story is given from Micah’s point of view with many conversations about pitfalls of the relationship, and who gives more in the relationship.  I found that I wanted to look more into what the Mormons believed about homosexuality and people of color in the church. It was a fast read.

Ockham’s Razor: A Novel
Alan Michael Williams
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439235270
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat: How to Break Your Eat-Repent-Repeat Cycle

When I finally shed the extra pounds that have hounded me for many years, everybody wanted to know which of the miracle diets I’ve used to achieve it and most got quite upset when I firmly told them “I do not believe in diets and that I did not use any.” What I achieved was a bit of trial and error, underscored with tenacity and an important health goal in mind, but I certainly did not have the knowledge to tell those curious people exactly how it worked for me. After having encountered “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat” by Dr. Michelle May, I was quite surprised about the number of things that she highly recommends and also explains in no uncertain, quite scientific way, which were identical to many of my totally intuitive and/or trial and error findings. While I wish this book would have been available to me when I was struggling with my issues, I am simply grateful that it exists, and that I am now able to point any- and everybody in the right direction by recommending it.

Dr. May’s book is wise, witty and very empowering.  It teaches the reader how to conquer the obsession with food and start enjoying both the food and the life considerably more. Consider the titles of the four parts of the book: Think, Nourish, Live and Eat. Not only do they really sum up the key ingredients of a successful change, but they do it in the most logical way. First one needs to understand the “whys” and the “hows” of the situation one finds oneself in. Without understanding why, the same patterns will be repeated with the same end results, basically dooming you from the first step. Dr. May’s insights on being in charge and trusting yourself more are deceptively simple, yet brilliant.  The same sort of wisdom continues through the next three parts, with numerous examples, practical advice and uplifting thoughts. Even opening the book at random and reading one of the short “Mindful Moments” will set you on the right path.

With practical advice for everything from setting and maintaining goals to getting adequate exercise and challenging yourself to do better, this is a life-changing book.  Reading it will definitely change your life and make you realize that diets are not the way to permanent change, yet simple adjustments and better judgment may well be it. Add to this a bunch of utterly delicious menus, a healthy handful of humor and several pinches of common sense and you are pretty much guaranteed to succeed if you even vaguely adhere to the recipe outlined within the “Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat” by Dr. Michelle May.

Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat
Michelle May, M.D.
Greenleaf Book Group Press (2009)
ISBN 9781608320035
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

The Divine Theory of Everything: Book 1 Wanderer

Fantasy can be a very tricky genre. Take it too far into the "unknown" and you risk being incomprehensible. Stay too close to the "reality," whatever that might really be, and your reader will quickly lose interest. Finding a balance between those two is never easy, and sustaining it throughout a book even less so. Robert D. Berger's  "The Divine Theory of Everything" succeeds remarkably well in doing just this, mostly by using many known elements, yet combining them  in a new and oftentimes slightly challenging way.

Of the many perplexing questions that humankind has faced throughout generations, the one of evolution versus creation is surely at the very top of the list. When one combines this with the other impenetrable dilemma, that of the obvious duality of the world surrounding us, a raging battle has to ensue, be it inside the hero or in the world surrounding him. When the hero battles an internal battle while fighting tangible enemies in extremely hostile environment, you can be assured of a wild and hair-rising tale.

Steve Morgan is snatched from his safe, if somewhat stagnant life, and thrown in the midst of an epic battle between the forces of the evil and those of good. The balance in the world has been upset, and without restoring the proper order, the world is surely going to end. The existence of two worlds, one of science and one of magic, is revealed to Steve and he is rigorously trained for a journey that does not seem to have a clear destination and a known path. While he can choose some of the elements himself, the rest is in the hands of divine destiny. He is thrust into the world of magic, and begins his wandering that ultimately should alter the course of the raging battle fought between the evil and the good.

While I detected many influences and echoes from books and other diverse sources, ranging anywhere from the world of Tolkien over Battleship Galactica and back to Plato, "The Divine Theory of Everything" by Robert D. Berger remained fresh and engaging. Although moving slightly too slowly at times, and with an ending that disappointed in its abruptness and "middle of the action" termination,  I have to admit I am eagerly waiting for the sequel. With an ending of this nature, one must surely be coming soon.

The Divine Theory of Everything: Book 1 Wanderer
Robert D. Berger
Llumina Press (2009)
ISBN 9781605942841
Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (10/09)

I Like Lots!

“I like Lots!” is a very colorful book about eating healthy, exercising and doing your best for kids ages 6-9.  I gave this book to my granddaughter to read and she really loved it.  My granddaughter is five and in kindergarten; she is very alert to foods and gets reinforcement from her teacher and us.  It is written in a child’s language that is easy to understand. The illustrations are bright and geared to children. As soon as we finished reading the book we went to the refrigerator to look for healthy and non-healthy foods, which I thought was great. I also gave this book to my daughter who teaches autistic kindergarteners; they loved the book. Since they were studying healthy foods, each child could pick out what they loved to eat and what they were supposed to eat.

This is a story about a young boy who loves to eat donuts, cookies and chips and drink soda. He spends time inside his house playing games or watching TV. He soon discovers that he is gaining weight and his clothes don’t fit. His parents are concerned about him and they take him to his doctor to tell him he needs to exercise and play more and eat healthier food. He decides he will give it his best shot and finds that as he turns down non-healthy food he starts losing weight.

Given that obesity is a problem for our children today, I found “I Like Lots!” by Isaacsen-Bright to be entertaining without being derogatory and at the same time providing good information about healthy foods and exercise.

I Like Lots!
Isaacsen-Bright
Llumina Kids (2009)
ISBN 9781605941721
Reviewed by Carol Hoyer, PhD, for Reader Views (10/09)

In Madera Canyon

Sophia: 

I like this story about a canyon. I read all about lizards, hummingbirds, bears and cougars. I never heard of a kestrel bird or a tanager bird. They are very colorful birds.

I like the beautiful front cover with the hummingbird. My favorite parts of this book are the pictures. The best picture is the tanager bird.

Madeline:

This book is about many different animals in Madera Canyon. I like how the author repeated the lines and added new lines on every page adding to the story. This is a very interesting book. I learned new birds such as: trogons, tanagers and kestrels. The best part of the story is when the hawk gently rides the breeze.

I love how the illustrator created the pictures with his scratchboard with watercolor technique in “In Madera Canyon” by Jane E. Holt. My very favorite illustration is the black bear hugging the tree because it’s very cute.

In Madera Canyon
Jane E. Holt
Wheatmark (2009)
ISBN 9781604940022
Reviewed by Sophia (age 6.5) and Madeline (age 8) McElroy for Reader Views (9/09)

No, Never!

This story is about a dog named Daisy who doesn’t want to do anything! She doesn't like taking baths, cleaning her room, eating vegetables or listening to her Mom. Daisy only wants to do what she thinks is fun. In the end she listens to her Mom.

My favorite part of the story is when Daisy wants to write a book, because, I want to write a book. That would be really cool.

I really like the pretty, good artwork and the patterns of the brush strokes in the paintings. My favorite picture is Daisy winning the “Tour-de-Daisy” because I love riding my bike. I also like all the pages with the pictures of the things she doesn’t want to do. I like the “dog spot” and “swirly” pink and teal pages in “No, Never!” by Sally O. Lee.

No, Never!
Sally O. Lee
BookSurge (2009)
ISBN 9781439239087
Reviewed by Sophia McElroy (age 6.5) for Reader Views (9/09)

Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains

This book is about a woman named Vernita - she is a Queen. Every year she invites her friends to stay. Each friend stays for one whole month of the year. She invites her friends to come and learn about all exciting things in Blue Ice Mountains in the Land of Quails.

In this book I learned a lot about bears, seals, glaciers, flowers, science and more! My favorite visitor was Tyler Ann who came to visit in December. I liked this visit because they got to ride in a sled pulled by reindeer! I also enjoyed the month of June where I learned a lot about Bald Eagles. Did you know that Bald Eagles can dive up to 100 miles per hour? That’s pretty amazing!

I think this book is similar to the other book by Dawn Menge, “Queen Vernita’s Visitors” because all the friends are the same, but there are some new characters as well. “Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains” is a very educational book; I really learned a lot about many different animals and things in nature.

Queen Vernita Visits the Blue Ice Mountains
Dawn Menge
Outskirts Press (2009)
ISBN 9781432711696
Reviewed by Madeline McElroy (age 8) for Reader Views (9/09)