Reader Views

Letters to Zerky: A Father’s Legacy to a Lost Son…and a Road Trip Around the World

Article first published as Book Review: Letters to Zerky: A Father’s Legacy to a Lost Son…and a Road Trip Around the World by Bill Raney and JoAnne Walker Raney on Blogcritics.

Many world travelers read others’ travelogues to get new destination ideas and to see if the described experiences, whether positive or negative, run about the same way as their own.  Being no different, I read “Letters to Zerky” with the expectation of following a family as they explored Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.  But what I wasn’t prepared for was Zerky.

“Letters to Zerky” is part travelogue, part autobiography, and part memorial for an extremely special little boy.  Author Bill Raney utilizes the very letters he had written to his adopted son, Eric Xerxes (‘Zerky’) during the travels as the book’s content.  Zerky was merely ten-months-old when they – Raney, his wife, JoAnne, Zerky, and their dachshund, Tarzan - set foot for the first time on the other side of the world.  Raney knew that his beloved baby would be way too young to remember this once-in-a-lifetime trip so he chronicled the family’s itinerary in a series of letters.  With each letter addressed to Zerky, he paints vivid descriptions of their lives during their 13 months abroad in a little VW bus camper.  Raney had hoped to give these letters to Zerky when he was older so that he may one day relive the trip through his father’s words.  Sadly, that day would never come.

Reading “Letters to Zerky” was excruciating because I knew that at some point in the book, Zerky would die.  Yet, I didn’t know exactly when.  With every chapter, I wondered, “Would Zerky stay safe and see another day?”  Each beautifully personal letter was chock full of love for this baby and of innocent wonder at the exotic places and people the Raneys were getting to know first-hand.  The tone is light-hearted and whimsical throughout, giving a delightful ‘hippie’ or ‘flower child’ -esque quality to the author’s personality.  JoAnne’s infrequent entries are more matter-of-fact but only add more to the overall delicious flavors of landscapes, the locals, and unique experiences as they are captured in exquisite detail.


Letters to Zerky: A Father’s Legacy to a Lost Son…and a Road Trip Around the World
Bill Raney and JoAnne Walker Raney
Nickelodeon Press (2011)
ISBN 9780982138410
Reviewed by Vicki Liston for Reader Views (2/12)

An Obsession Called Pheasant: The True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive

This true story began with a boy named Dan who loved anything to do with the outdoors. He was a happy, carefree child who had brown eyes, black curly hair and a bright smile.

From a young age Dan was enthralled with anything to do with nature; one time, he captured a hummingbird, using a tiny net, only to admire the hummingbird before releasing it back into the wild.
  
Dan’s family moved to the Washington countryside in 1972 when Dan was in the fourth grade. They had neighbors, but none of them lived very near to Dan’s family. Dan got to know and frequently visited a mink farmer who lived within bike-riding distance of Dan’s home. After a while, the mink farmer mentioned that his son raised pheasants and offered Dan a couple of pheasants; Dan eagerly agreed to take them. It took the pheasants a few weeks to arrive (which felt like months to Dan) but when they did arrive, he was overjoyed. Dan had been expecting to see Chinese Ringneck Pheasants like he had seen at the mink farm.  Instead, he got two Golden Pheasants, a male and a female, which were covered in vibrant colors and were much more beautiful than the Chinese Ringneck Pheasants.

Many types of pheasants are easy to raise and Dan had success with his Golden Pheasants.  As he got older he was able to find and buy more types of birds, including peacocks.

“An Obsession Called Pheasant: the True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive” goes on to describe Dan’s adult life working with birds. His fascination with birds, especially pheasants, leads him to take jobs caring for birds and breeding some very rare pheasants.

This is a book for anybody wanting to learn a bit more about pheasants or is interested in the natural world and has the patience to deal with lots of detours and unnecessary details in the story.  (I would have given the book a higher rating if it had been more direct in the presentation of the story.)

“An Obsession Called Pheasant” inspired me to be more interested in pheasants.  When the book ends, Dan has received his share of money from breeding and raising numerous pheasants and decides to travel to Borneo in search of the Bornean Peacock Pheasant.  The next book by this author is called “Adventure in Borneo: The True Story of One Man’s Quest to find the Bornean Peacock Pheasant.”  It is about Dan’s trip to Borneo and I would like to read it.


An Obsession Called Pheasant: The True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive
Jolan Durrah
Pheasant Tale Productions (2011)
ISBN 9780981700113
Reviewed by Chandler Dixon (age 13) for Reader Views (12/11)

An Obsession Called Pheasant: The True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive

Stories of obsession are intriguing. The diversity of human obsessions is vast. The range of intensity is from quietly passionate to utterly possessed. Now comes “An Obsession Called Pheasant: The True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive,” written by Jolan Durrah. This book picks up the story of Daniel James beginning with recollections of his child leading up to his life-changing decision as a young man to pursue his passion for exotic Pheasants into the deepest jungles of Borneo. It was that trek which is the subject of the first Daniel James’ story, the award winning “Adventure in Borneo,” also written by Durrah. For those who have read that title, “An Obsession Called Pheasant” is a step back in time and provides background on James and the origins of his obsession which were lacking in the first book.

The book offers entertaining and informative anecdotes about Daniel and his family throughout his childhood. Dorrah also writes of James’ continuous observations of the birds and how his passion for them evolved beyond the birds themselves to affluent breeders and collectors throughout the United States. Sadly, the interior art in the book is in black and white. But, the striking cover art compelled me to go online and look for color photographs of the different species referenced by James.

That engaging and exotic cover art and design strongly suggest that what awaits the reader within is a vivid and exciting tale. For me it never fulfilled that promise, due primarily to the author’s writing style. Simply put, I found Durrah’s writing to be a bit too academic and his passion to be too much in check for the adventure genre at its best. But the tale was told well enough to keep me tagging along and the book does conclude with some strong emotional sparks that tweak my interest in continuing on the trail with reading similar adventures.

Among my internet research in preparation for this review, I noted that one unidentified source, writing about obsession, stated that “when you’re obsessed by something…it means that all you do is live and breathe for that thing…it’s the world to you and you will do anything to keep it and protect it.” If obsession intrigues you, if you have any interest in Pheasants in general, or you like quirky books about house pets, you will enjoy “An Obsession Called Pheasant.”


An Obsession Called Pheasant: The True Story of a Pursuit of the Elusive
Jolan Durrah
Pheasant Tail Productions (2011)
ISBN 9780981700113
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (11/11)

The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution

Article first published as Book Review: The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution by Gregory S. Athnos on Blogcritics.

One would think that by reading a book about the art which adorns the Roman catacombs, one would purely concentrate on analyzing the style and technique of the ancient artists.  However, author Gregory S. Athnos presents his thoughts on the subject from a unique and fascinating angle.  “The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution” is not your typical Sunday school lecture.

“The Art of the Roman Catacombs” is an amazing journey into the subterranean world of early Christian tomb frescos.  While Athnos does make distinction between the rudimentary plaster scratchings and the sarcophagi carvings, he focuses mostly on the main themes of the artwork and how they differ from our current day Christian emphasis.  Specifically, we tend to center our minds on the sacrifice – the crucifixion of Jesus Christ – when practicing Christianity.  Athnos shows through example after surprising example that early Christians didn’t include crosses or any references to sacrifice or death in their art.  Instead, they emphasize the resurrection and the newfound power over death.  The messages they left were of hope, of deliverance, and of eternal life.

I found the first appendix at the end of the book to be especially interesting.  Athnos uses recorded astrological events, historical data, and seasonal information to pinpoint Jesus’ birthday…and it’s not what you think.  I grew up believing what he explains although I only had the ‘shepherds couldn’t have been out in the fields at night in December’ reasoning.’  Athnos not only presents this appendix with ample information to back up his theory but can even utilize the catacomb art to further justify it.  I was simply blown away.

Athnos writes with an authoritative tone, speaking with intelligence and eloquence.  His style is straightforward and organized which gives the book a sense of direction and flow.  He also succeeds in imparting his enthusiasm on the subject to his readers.  Overall, I found his novel way of interpreting the tomb art to be absolutely captivating.  I think this would be a fantastic book for not only Bible historians but for small group Bible studies.  Further, tourists looking to tour the catacombs would enjoy reading the book before visiting; I know I would have loved to have this before my travels there.  It truly gives a fresh perspective on traditional Christianity.

“The Art of the Roman Catacombs” represents a thirst for greater knowledge, empathy for those early Christians living during the Age of Persecution, and a hope that those reading will have a better understanding of what the emphasis was in the religion’s beginnings.


The Art of the Roman Catacombs: Themes of Deliverance in the Age of Persecution
Gregory S. Athnos
Outskirts Press (2011)
ISBN 9781432774493
Reviewed by Vicki Liston for Reader Views (12/11)

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)

How to Paint Chickens: And other Stories

“How to Paint Chickens” is a collection of short stories that follow Mr. Shvarstman from his childhood in Siberia to his adulthood in the United States.  I found his recollections of growing up in Siberia to be absolutely fascinating.  His stories of having been raised in a poor area where governmental control reigned supreme were very eye opening for me.  Reading about how his family struggled to maintain what possessions they had, including chickens, was interesting and entertaining.  I also gained a deeper appreciation for what opportunities I have had living in the United States.

After the author immigrated to the United States, he married, had a son and experienced a painful divorce.  As he relives some of those experiences, he shares what he has learned from them.  He also does a great deal of reflecting upon how things could be improved in the United States.  I agree with much of his discourse, however, I know that most liberals will not.  But I think he makes a lot of sense.

When the time comes for Mr. Shvarstman to move on to a new relationship, he hits some interesting bumps in the road.  I found some of these experiences to be very amusing; however, I suspect at the time, they were not.  Exploring online dating proved to be both adventurous and disastrous.  He definitely put himself in situations where he could easily have been taken advantage of, yet I suspect his expectations from some of these women would have involved him taking advantage of them if they had not struck first.  In addition to entertaining, this section was very eye opening and enlightening.  Learning from this, I don’t recommend that people make themselves vulnerable by traveling long distances to meet potential mates.  I also think that he learned that trying to date married women, who say they are in bad relationships, is futile.  I think it works this way for both sexes.

The last half of the book focuses on dialogue from some of his potential mates.  While there were some interesting points made in this section, I found some of the material to be too lengthy and this detracted from some of the story.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading “How to Paint Chickens.” I liked that the author included some of his artwork and pictures in the book. That definitely added to it. On the other hand, I found that there were a lot of grammatical errors that caused me to pause and try to figure out some of the meanings. I think that professional editing would really help make the book more enjoyable to all.

How to Paint Chickens: And other Stories
Vladimri A. Shvarstman
VS Holding, LLC (2011)
ISBN 9780984377022
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (10/11)

With Few Reservations: Travels at Home and Abroad

For many years, Peter I. Rose lived two lives, one as a highly regarded teacher and researcher of sociology and anthropology, the other as a writer, photographer, editor and observer of travelers and their destinations. Seven years ago, Rose stepped down from his full-time academic responsibilities, although he continues to teach and do research on a part-time basis. But seemingly, he is still a robust traveler whose prolific output of travel essays continues to reflect his passion and enthusiasm for never ending excursions, both at home and abroad. Indeed, he seems to be enjoying the experience all the more, now that his jaunts include the full-time companionship of another academic sojourner, Hedy, his wife and partner of fifty-six years.

Rose’s writing style in “With Few Reservations” mimics that of a sophisticated conversationalist, whose warm and charming manner would make one feel fortunate to have been seated next to him on a plane or at a dinner party. The eclectic mix of destination reviews and essays, reflections on travel writing and his life observations comprise nearly fifty stories, each from four to six pages in length. They are segmented in four groupings: American Potpourri; In Foreign Climes; Dreamers Holidays; and, Revelations. The ordering of the destination commentaries creates the sense of being on an open ended holiday where the itinerary is made up as you go. For example, in “American Potpourri,” accounts of a few days visiting some of his favorite destinations in Vermont are followed by his visit to the Camelback Inn, in Scottsdale, Arizona for “Hot Rocks and Hedonism.” The writings “In Foreign Climes,” like those throughout the book, are richly personalized by Rose’s previous visits to many of the old cities and sites that were part of his academic sojourns over the years. The span of time during which Rose has been traveling contributes to a wealth of observations on how these iconic destinations have changed, for better and worse, and how they have remained just as he remembers them from past visits.

The last two collections, “Dreamers Holidays” and “Revelations,” contain the essays that resonated with me most. In “Schooner Heritage,” Rose writes a wonderful account of the evolution of Windjamming, an adventurous experience for tourists to the mid-coast of Maine. These spirited and romantic adventures appeal to those who long to sail in one of the tall ships or who are drawn to the charm of the schooner-frequented towns with their numerous seafood restaurants and clam shacks and local shops and vendors offering nautical themed wares and wearable items.

In “Revelations,” I especially enjoyed “The Guru of Gallivanting,” conceived and created by Rose while he was confined to traveler’s home incarceration by a broken ankle. “I was resolved to spend time reading – actually rereading – some favorite travel books and then write about them in a forthcoming column.” In examining the stack of requested books brought home from the library by his wife, Hedy, Rose immediately was drawn by the magnetism of one of his favorites, Mark Twain’s “The Innocents Abroad,” “and never got much further.” He offers a loving review of the book and of the writer, proclaiming Mark Twain to be “the Godfather of American travel journalism.”

“With Few Reservations: Travels at Home and Abroad” is a well-written, engaging, and stimulating collection of commentary. Peter Rose has a highly developed ability to paint word pictures that draw the reader into his writing and see vividly in their mind what he is describing. Although the book’s black and white photos, with a few exceptions, are a half-page or smaller, they are appealing and effective. For both dreamers and avid travelers, this book will provide an exceptional reading adventure. 

With Few Reservations: Travels at Home and Abroad
Peter I. Rose
iUniverse (2010)
ISBN 9781450204675
Reviewed by Joseph Yurt for Reader Views (10/11)

Why China Will Never Rule the World: Travels in the Two Chinas

Troy Parfitt introduces an analysis of China’s culture, history, government, and citizens exploring them within a cultural context in a time relationship exploring the past, the present, and the future in his book “Why China Will Never Rule the World: Travels in Two Chinas.”

I enjoyed Troy’s descriptions of the often lush, sometime arid, flora and fauna of China’s ever-changing landscape. Whether traveling by train, bus, or following a “scenic walking tour” (suggested in one of his tour books), his descriptions paint picturesque, colorful, and detailed word pictures. In contrast, at times I was disturbed by the exposure to the blind acceptance of the Chinese citizenry to the dismal drab reality of existing circumstances as their destiny.

My perceptions of China’s culture and history have been formed through early exposure to missionary biographies, high school curriculum, anti-Communist propaganda, and a number of home visits by Chinese students in our home.

It should come as no surprise to the reader that Troy’s own bias, personal philosophy and sometimes cynical outlook come through loud and clear in his writing. His conclusion that China’s modernization is largely superficial will meet with criticism and controversy by many. His investigative observations, however, bring out in the open the lack of progress in areas of human rights, educational reform, or freedom of expression in the political arena. I want to think that I will be more objective in my personal understanding and analysis of future news reports regarding China. As an aside, I found it interesting to consider the impact of foreign aggression and of the Opium Wars on China’s anti-foreign sentiment.

Although intimidating at first (over 400 pages), I found Troy’s writing compelling as well as enlightening. I enjoyed his subtle humor and his entertaining and informative writing style. It is rare to find an author who combines such insight into current affairs and travel. I found the book to be an important learning experience. Troy’s impressions, observations, and intimate anecdotes, are engaging, well formulated, and superbly articulated.

The background information, historical anecdotes, travel narrative, and geographical descriptions added immensely to my enjoyment of “Why China Will Never Rule the World.”

Why China Will Never Rule the World: Travels in the Two Chinas
Troy Parfitt
Western Hemisphere Press (2011)
ISBN 9780986803505
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (7/11)

33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream.

I wasn’t really expecting much from “33 Days” because the band, Divine Weeks, didn’t exactly set the world on fire, so how exciting could a story about their road trip be? However, that view changed when I realized one very important thing: This isn’t the story of a big-name band with a huge record deal, and it’s not meant to be. Within the pages of this book are the hearts and souls of some young men who dared to follow their dreams and the author does a great job of bringing us along for the ride.

Bill See is our doorway into the adventure these five young men embark on, and his first-person account helps reveal these dreamers for who they really are. Divine Weeks is heading out on a road trip for their first tour and emotions are riding high as they leave their local comfort zone for the very first time. They’ll entertain hundreds, see new parts of the world, and learn more about each other, and life in general, as they set out to create their future. Through the author’s eyes, we’ll get to experience the fear and excitement of passing that first mile marker, feel the joy of total strangers that enjoy the music we create, and we’ll see how the bonds of friendship change when you’re stuck in a van with the same people for a little over a month.

Bill’s band isn’t going the indie route because they stink, but because Bill has a dream of following in the footsteps of other independent labels. He believes that hooking up with a major label would be selling out and giving up on the artistic side of the venture, but performing on stage with a stripper pole and depending on the kindness of strangers for a place to sleep isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and one person’s big dreams could cause problems along the way.

In addition to different aspirations, the road trip reveals the pressures that hinder almost everyone at some point in life. Do you follow your dream or take the safe and traditional route of college? Please the family or please yourself? We all face these decisions, and See does a good job of using that common ground to make us care about his fellow road warriors. By the end of the book, we’ve seen a few people change and make decisions based on their new over-the-road education and we understand them because we took the trip with them.

If you’ve been in a band or taken a spur-of-the-moment road trip to chase a dream, then “33 Days” might bring back some fond memories, but the descriptive locales and colorful characters will make this an enjoyable read for anyone, even if you’ve never toured in a van, slept on a floor, or chased a dream.

33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream.
Bill See
Lulu (2011)
ISBN 9780557758814
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (4/11)

33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream.

I wasn’t really expecting much from “33 Days” because the band, Divine Weeks, didn’t exactly set the world on fire, so how exciting could a story about their road trip be? However, that view changed when I realized one very important thing: This isn’t the story of a big-name band with a huge record deal, and it’s not meant to be. Within the pages of this book are the hearts and souls of some young men who dared to follow their dreams and the author does a great job of bringing us along for the ride.

Bill See is our doorway into the adventure these five young men embark on, and his first-person account helps reveal these dreamers for who they really are. Divine Weeks is heading out on a road trip for their first tour and emotions are riding high as they leave their local comfort zone for the very first time. They’ll entertain hundreds, see new parts of the world, and learn more about each other, and life in general, as they set out to create their future. Through the author’s eyes, we’ll get to experience the fear and excitement of passing that first mile marker, feel the joy of total strangers that enjoy the music we create, and we’ll see how the bonds of friendship change when you’re stuck in a van with the same people for a little over a month.

Bill’s band isn’t going the indie route because they stink, but because Bill has a dream of following in the footsteps of other independent labels. He believes that hooking up with a major label would be selling out and giving up on the artistic side of the venture, but performing on stage with a stripper pole and depending on the kindness of strangers for a place to sleep isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, and one person’s big dreams could cause problems along the way.

In addition to different aspirations, the road trip reveals the pressures that hinder almost everyone at some point in life. Do you follow your dream or take the safe and traditional route of college? Please the family or please yourself? We all face these decisions, and See does a good job of using that common ground to make us care about his fellow road warriors. By the end of the book, we’ve seen a few people change and make decisions based on their new over-the-road education and we understand them because we took the trip with them.

If you’ve been in a band or taken a spur-of-the-moment road trip to chase a dream, then “33 Days” might bring back some fond memories, but the descriptive locales and colorful characters will make this an enjoyable read for anyone, even if you’ve never toured in a van, slept on a floor, or chased a dream.

33 Days: Touring In A Van. Sleeping On Floors. Chasing A Dream.
Bill See
Lulu (2011)
ISBN 9780557758814
Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views (4/11)