Mr. Touchdown
By Lyda Phillips
Young Adult, new edition, Nov. 10, 2008
ISBN 9781605280295 ($13.95, paperback)
ISBN 9781440109768 ($23.95, hardcover)
www.lydaphillips.com
Reviewed by Susan Marya Baronof for The Midwest Book Review
Star athlete Eddie, his sister, Lakeesha, and two other "Negro" students, hand-picked to enter an all-white high school, are swept into the very heart of the civil rights movement in Memphis, 1965.
Chosen to integrate Forrest High by the NAACP – and his father -- we follow high school junior, Eddie Russell, as he encounters the viciousness of certain white students – the coldness of others – and grapples with the sheer unfairness of leaving his friends and teammates to come to this hostile and dangerous environment. But we also follow Eddie into his own heart, as he struggles to, in his father's words: "…look into the soul of your enemies and find in them something to love."
The richness of this wonderful book, however, doesn't arise simply from its depiction of Eddie and the other black students as they enter a strange new world; we also experience that world as old and familiar, through our other narrator -- popular, white, Forrest High cheerleader, Nancy Martin.
Nancy is smart and confident and just beginning to notice a few teeny, tiny fractures on the fault lines between her and her best friends. Her dreams are changing – expanding – catapulting her to New York and Paris, while theirs are still centered around getting married and settling down. But when it comes to the dreaded integration, Nancy hates the idea just as much as they do. At first, anyway. Because pretty soon, she can't ignore the indignities and humiliations meted out to Eddie and the others. And when the attacks become physical… That's got to be more wrong than integration… Doesn't it?
It's in the interplay of these two characters – solitary, stoical Eddie and impulsive, inquisitive Nancy, that the book becomes bigger and deeper and compellingly human.
Mr. Touchdown is a terrific read. Using vibrantly descriptive language, Lyda Phillips creates a living world of shop class and gym teachers, pep rallies and pompoms, and pulls us right into it. Middle-school students and even their older brothers and sisters will enjoy the breezy dialogue, fast-moving plot, and genuinely shocking twists and turns. Rooting her story of radical social change in the familiar routines of high school, the author gives us a book that never abandons its characters, and it succeeds as both social commentary and adolescent rite-of-passage.
It's also a warm and big-hearted book that honors each of its central characters, without robbing them of their flaws and rough spots. It celebrates the unimaginable courage of Eddie and, by extension, all the boys and girls who made history as they dragged an entire nation into becoming better than it was. And it also acknowledges the decency and grit of the Nancy Martins who witnessed that history, first-hand. And played their own small role in it. And grew up to write it down for the rest of us.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
This blog, #TheNewBookReview, is "new" because it eschews #bookbigotry. It lets readers, reviewers, authors, and publishers expand the exposure of their favorite reviews, FREE. Info for submissions is in the "Send Me Your Fav Book Review" circle icon in the right column below. Find resources to help your career using the mini search engine below. #TheNewBookReview is a multi-award-winning blog including a MastersInEnglish.org recommendation.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
A Writer's New Year Gift to Him or Herself--An Absolute Must
I am personally recommending this book from the pen and vast experience of Fran Silverman The reason, of course, that it will get you off to the new year with plenty of material for a killer book campaign. Click on the Amazon widget to take you directly to the sales page.
In this bleak economy, there is still one avenue that's free - being a guest on radio. Talk Radio Wants You - An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited (McFarland & Co 2009) provides all you need to know about each show before contacting a host - the theme, guest criteria, the host's opinion of the best and worst guests and what determines who gets invited back. Read more about it at http://www.talkradioadvocate.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Valerie Connelly Offers Book Promotion Secrets
Calling All Authors: How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open – Revealing Publishing Myths, Misconceptions & Realities for Published Authors & Writers Who Dream of Becoming Authors
By Valerie Connelly
Nightengale Press 2007
$19.95
Reviewed by Francine Silverman
The best publishing and marketing strategies of guests on Calling All Authors are contained in a book of the same name. Valerie Connelly, the author and radio host, transcribed nuggets from her show that address subjects relevant to authors, i.e., “I carry my books in the car all the time, because almost anywhere you go today, people are waiting, and I ask them if they’d like to have a book to read while they are waiting.”
As a writer, publisher and educator, Valerie includes her own experience and has mined the brains of such experts as writing coaches, book/web designers, and publicists who have appeared on her radio show. Having founded her publishing company, Nightengale Press, in 2003 and publisher of many first time authors, Valerie does what she set out to do – separate fact from fiction in the publishing game.
Although it would have been helpful to include an index - readers and librarians treasure them – the book has many illustrations, Q&A’s and fill-ins that add to the fun.
I find myself picking up the book whenever I run out of ideas – and always find a gem.
Calling All Authors: How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open – Revealing Publishing Myths, Misconceptions & Realities for Published Authors & Writers Who Dream of Becoming Authors (Nightengale Press 2007) is $19.95 and available from the publisher at http://www.nightengalepress.com
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The reviewer edits Book Promotion Newsletter. Find it at http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
She is also the "Talk Radio Advocate," and author of Talk Radio Wants You - An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited (McFarland & Co. 2009).
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
By Valerie Connelly
Nightengale Press 2007
$19.95
Reviewed by Francine Silverman
The best publishing and marketing strategies of guests on Calling All Authors are contained in a book of the same name. Valerie Connelly, the author and radio host, transcribed nuggets from her show that address subjects relevant to authors, i.e., “I carry my books in the car all the time, because almost anywhere you go today, people are waiting, and I ask them if they’d like to have a book to read while they are waiting.”
As a writer, publisher and educator, Valerie includes her own experience and has mined the brains of such experts as writing coaches, book/web designers, and publicists who have appeared on her radio show. Having founded her publishing company, Nightengale Press, in 2003 and publisher of many first time authors, Valerie does what she set out to do – separate fact from fiction in the publishing game.
Although it would have been helpful to include an index - readers and librarians treasure them – the book has many illustrations, Q&A’s and fill-ins that add to the fun.
I find myself picking up the book whenever I run out of ideas – and always find a gem.
Calling All Authors: How to Publish with Your Eyes Wide Open – Revealing Publishing Myths, Misconceptions & Realities for Published Authors & Writers Who Dream of Becoming Authors (Nightengale Press 2007) is $19.95 and available from the publisher at http://www.nightengalepress.com
-------
The reviewer edits Book Promotion Newsletter. Find it at http://www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
She is also the "Talk Radio Advocate," and author of Talk Radio Wants You - An Intimate Guide to 700 Shows and How to Get Invited (McFarland & Co. 2009).
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Title: VGL Male Seeks Same
Author: Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
BUY Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/VGLMale.html
Genre: GLBT romantic comedy
ISBN: 978-1-60272-430-3
Name of Reviewer: Emily Moore
Rating: Five Stars (out of five)
Reviewed by Emily Moore for Rainbow Reviews
Ethan has tried everything he can think of to find a significant other. He visited the bars where all the young, hip gay men were sure to be found only to be a wallflower and not interact with anyone. He moved to the heart of "Boystown" in Chicago to be surrounded by single gay men only to have the neighborhood gentrify and the gays move due north. He found a job as a publicist for free nights at the theater and to be surrounded by handsome actors but instead is isolated in his cube writing press releases and chatting up critics. As a result, Ethan is a single, 42 year old gay man trying to convince himself that the answer to the "riddle of how to escape a solitary existence" is out there waiting for him.
When Ethan overhears a conversation about a website that is for more than just "quick hook-ups", he thinks he has found his answer. After all, if it can work for the office receptionist, who Ethan secretly refers to as "Bubbles", it has to work for him. Right? Ethan creates a profile, pours himself into the answers, and finds a relatively decent photo only a few months old. He is totally and completely honest about himself. He's all set. There's only one problem. No one bites.
With his self-esteem taking yet another shot, Ethan decides to make a drastic move and start a bit of a social experiment. He replaces his photo with one found on the internet, a truly stunning man, and sits back and waits. And he watches the responses pour in, half of them telling him how gorgeous he is and the rest simply dirty propositions for sex, lots of sex. Not quite what he was looking for. But in the middle of all those messages is one that is very different. A message from Brian.
Brian is just what Ethan has been trying so hard to find. They have similar tastes, are looking for similar things from a relationship, and Brian is gorgeous. He is, in a word, perfect. But there is only one problem. Brian is messaging the "new" Ethan, the one that the "real" Ethan doesn't look anything like. As they start messaging back and forth, Ethan becomes more enamored with Brian and worries about what will happen when Brian discovers he is a liar.
VGL Male Seeks Same is a phenomenal story about the search for love and the one person we can connect with in every way. I absolutely adored the character of Ethan, his sharp witty humor and his emotions that are worn on his sleeve. As a person that has used internet dating, I connected with him immediately and Reed nailed the reactions and thoughts that come with such a unique way of meeting people.
Things of course are not as simple as they may seem for Ethan and, although I must admit that I guessed what was to come, it was truly a joy to read from beginning to end. The messages back and forth between Ethan and Brian are quite touching and make Ethan's angst over what to do about his deception that much more substantial. My heart was completely invested in Ethan's journey and I laughed and cried along with him. Overall this is a captivating story that had me on the edge of my seat to the very end. This is the second of Reed's stories that I have read and I am now officially a huge fan. As are many of his other stories, this is set in Chicago, my current hometown, and those familiar with the city will love the details throughout. It is obvious that Reed still loves the city. The humor throughout this story is exceptional yet doesn't disrupt the more serious themes. The ending is true perfection even if the last line is, "He really needed to pee." I cannot more highly recommend this story for all readers!
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The author blogs at http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/. He is also the author of
Dead End Street: http://tinyurl.com/5mztwy
Orientation: http://tinyurl.com/5ntwyu
High Risk: http://tinyurl.com/39dror
Deadly Vision: http://tinyurl.com/3eygd4
In the Blood: http://tinyurl.com/5zwc8w
IM: http://tinyurl.com/32rsy4
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Author: Rick R. Reed
Publisher: Amber Quill Press
BUY Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/VGLMale.html
Genre: GLBT romantic comedy
ISBN: 978-1-60272-430-3
Name of Reviewer: Emily Moore
Rating: Five Stars (out of five)
Reviewed by Emily Moore for Rainbow Reviews
Ethan has tried everything he can think of to find a significant other. He visited the bars where all the young, hip gay men were sure to be found only to be a wallflower and not interact with anyone. He moved to the heart of "Boystown" in Chicago to be surrounded by single gay men only to have the neighborhood gentrify and the gays move due north. He found a job as a publicist for free nights at the theater and to be surrounded by handsome actors but instead is isolated in his cube writing press releases and chatting up critics. As a result, Ethan is a single, 42 year old gay man trying to convince himself that the answer to the "riddle of how to escape a solitary existence" is out there waiting for him.
When Ethan overhears a conversation about a website that is for more than just "quick hook-ups", he thinks he has found his answer. After all, if it can work for the office receptionist, who Ethan secretly refers to as "Bubbles", it has to work for him. Right? Ethan creates a profile, pours himself into the answers, and finds a relatively decent photo only a few months old. He is totally and completely honest about himself. He's all set. There's only one problem. No one bites.
With his self-esteem taking yet another shot, Ethan decides to make a drastic move and start a bit of a social experiment. He replaces his photo with one found on the internet, a truly stunning man, and sits back and waits. And he watches the responses pour in, half of them telling him how gorgeous he is and the rest simply dirty propositions for sex, lots of sex. Not quite what he was looking for. But in the middle of all those messages is one that is very different. A message from Brian.
Brian is just what Ethan has been trying so hard to find. They have similar tastes, are looking for similar things from a relationship, and Brian is gorgeous. He is, in a word, perfect. But there is only one problem. Brian is messaging the "new" Ethan, the one that the "real" Ethan doesn't look anything like. As they start messaging back and forth, Ethan becomes more enamored with Brian and worries about what will happen when Brian discovers he is a liar.
VGL Male Seeks Same is a phenomenal story about the search for love and the one person we can connect with in every way. I absolutely adored the character of Ethan, his sharp witty humor and his emotions that are worn on his sleeve. As a person that has used internet dating, I connected with him immediately and Reed nailed the reactions and thoughts that come with such a unique way of meeting people.
Things of course are not as simple as they may seem for Ethan and, although I must admit that I guessed what was to come, it was truly a joy to read from beginning to end. The messages back and forth between Ethan and Brian are quite touching and make Ethan's angst over what to do about his deception that much more substantial. My heart was completely invested in Ethan's journey and I laughed and cried along with him. Overall this is a captivating story that had me on the edge of my seat to the very end. This is the second of Reed's stories that I have read and I am now officially a huge fan. As are many of his other stories, this is set in Chicago, my current hometown, and those familiar with the city will love the details throughout. It is obvious that Reed still loves the city. The humor throughout this story is exceptional yet doesn't disrupt the more serious themes. The ending is true perfection even if the last line is, "He really needed to pee." I cannot more highly recommend this story for all readers!
-----
The author blogs at http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/. He is also the author of
Dead End Street: http://tinyurl.com/5mztwy
Orientation: http://tinyurl.com/5ntwyu
High Risk: http://tinyurl.com/39dror
Deadly Vision: http://tinyurl.com/3eygd4
In the Blood: http://tinyurl.com/5zwc8w
IM: http://tinyurl.com/32rsy4
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Bear Lake, Idaho, Is Setting for Historical Christian Fiction
Title: Jenny's Dream: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho
Author: Linda Weaver Clarke
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-58982-446-1
Rating: 5 star
Reviewed by Allison King
Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there.
In Jenny’s Dream, the third book in A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series, the oldest daughter Jenny is home from college for the summer. She is feeling trapped in the small town of Paris, Idaho and wants to go out into the world and accomplish something to show everyone she is more than a pretty girl. Her writing is what keeps her ambition in full drive, until she meets Will. He isn’t the most ‘handsome’ man in town and he is only a farmer, but she becomes close friends with him. Will secretly falls in love with Jenny, but does she feel the same way?
Jenny’s past haunts her ability to move forward in her life in love and her dreams of being a writer. She will have to make a decision that might hurt those closest to her, for her dreams to come true.
In the meantime, Jenny’s dad, Gilbert, is helping in the search of an old grizzly bear that is attacking the local sheep and scaring the town folk. He feels the need to be a part of the hunt, even thought his wife, Melinda, is against it. When he comes face to face with the legendary bear, Three Toes, Gilbert must balance the safety of the town with the concern of his family for his life.
I loved this book as much as I did the first two books in the series. I was drawn in to Jenny’s life an wondering what decisions she would make for her future. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. I didn’t want the story to end (which it won’t since their will be two more books in the series)! The best part of the book was the relationship that grows between Jenny and Will. The author didn’t use the stereotypical handsome male for the main character to fall for. This was refreshing to me, since all of us on this earth aren’t as perfect as most book characters are made out to be. This relationship reminds us that getting to know a person from the inside first and being friends, can grow in to something more.
Jenny’s Dream is a book for all ages that can wrap you up and make you feel all warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough. ~ `Review by Allison King – for Allison’s Attic and Rebecca’s Reads. Other books by Linda Weaver Clarke are: Melinda and the Wild West: http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/LindaWeaverClarke.shtml and Edith and the Mysterious Stranger: http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/LindaWeaverClarke4.shtml
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Author: Linda Weaver Clarke
Genre: Historical Christian Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-58982-446-1
Rating: 5 star
Reviewed by Allison King
Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there.
In Jenny’s Dream, the third book in A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho series, the oldest daughter Jenny is home from college for the summer. She is feeling trapped in the small town of Paris, Idaho and wants to go out into the world and accomplish something to show everyone she is more than a pretty girl. Her writing is what keeps her ambition in full drive, until she meets Will. He isn’t the most ‘handsome’ man in town and he is only a farmer, but she becomes close friends with him. Will secretly falls in love with Jenny, but does she feel the same way?
Jenny’s past haunts her ability to move forward in her life in love and her dreams of being a writer. She will have to make a decision that might hurt those closest to her, for her dreams to come true.
In the meantime, Jenny’s dad, Gilbert, is helping in the search of an old grizzly bear that is attacking the local sheep and scaring the town folk. He feels the need to be a part of the hunt, even thought his wife, Melinda, is against it. When he comes face to face with the legendary bear, Three Toes, Gilbert must balance the safety of the town with the concern of his family for his life.
I loved this book as much as I did the first two books in the series. I was drawn in to Jenny’s life an wondering what decisions she would make for her future. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. I didn’t want the story to end (which it won’t since their will be two more books in the series)! The best part of the book was the relationship that grows between Jenny and Will. The author didn’t use the stereotypical handsome male for the main character to fall for. This was refreshing to me, since all of us on this earth aren’t as perfect as most book characters are made out to be. This relationship reminds us that getting to know a person from the inside first and being friends, can grow in to something more.
Jenny’s Dream is a book for all ages that can wrap you up and make you feel all warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough. ~ `Review by Allison King – for Allison’s Attic and Rebecca’s Reads. Other books by Linda Weaver Clarke are: Melinda and the Wild West: http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/LindaWeaverClarke.shtml and Edith and the Mysterious Stranger: http://www.pdbookstore.com/comfiles/pages/LindaWeaverClarke4.shtml
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Visit Robert and Craig Relyea's Take on Hollywood
NOT So Quiet On The Set
By Robert and Craig Relyea
Publisher: www.iuniverse.com
Nonfiction
ISBN 978-0-595-71332-5
Reviewed by Gordon Durich
Not So Quiet On The Set book is a testiment to Tinsel Town, the ups and downs, good and bad. It is a masterful insight into the workings of Hollywood, behind the scenes.
The father and son writing team have constructed a provocative look at the Industry, from different points of view.
Experiences the senior Relyea had working with the likes of Steve McQueen, Elvis, "The Duke" and many others, on flicks including "Bullitt" and "West Side Story."
The fresher side of the business from Craig Relyea adds to the interesting mix of information and entertaining reading.
This book has been lauded by Sid Ganis, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Pierce Brosnan; Michael Apted, director/President of Directors Guild of America and is an engaging, can't-put-down read.
Enjoy this great escape into life in movies during the macho era of yesteryear Hollywood. I did!
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
By Robert and Craig Relyea
Publisher: www.iuniverse.com
Nonfiction
ISBN 978-0-595-71332-5
Reviewed by Gordon Durich
Not So Quiet On The Set book is a testiment to Tinsel Town, the ups and downs, good and bad. It is a masterful insight into the workings of Hollywood, behind the scenes.
The father and son writing team have constructed a provocative look at the Industry, from different points of view.
Experiences the senior Relyea had working with the likes of Steve McQueen, Elvis, "The Duke" and many others, on flicks including "Bullitt" and "West Side Story."
The fresher side of the business from Craig Relyea adds to the interesting mix of information and entertaining reading.
This book has been lauded by Sid Ganis, President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; Pierce Brosnan; Michael Apted, director/President of Directors Guild of America and is an engaging, can't-put-down read.
Enjoy this great escape into life in movies during the macho era of yesteryear Hollywood. I did!
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.
Monday, December 1, 2008
How 'Bout Giving Rattlesnake Jam to Your Kids for Christmas
Rattlesnake Jam
By Margot E. Finke
Illustrations by Kevin Scott Collier
Guardian Angel Publishing, Saint Louis, MO USA
E-Book ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-24-5
Print ISBN 13: 978-1-935137-00-9
Copyright: MAY 2008
Paperback, 28 pages, $10.95
Ages 4 & Up
Reviewed by Mayra Calvani for Blogcritics and others.
Rattlesnake Jam is a hilariously funny children’s picture book about an old couple who share an irresistible affection for rattlesnakes. There’s only one problem: While Pa would rather have the rattlesnakes turned into fritters or pie, old Gran prefers them turned into jam, disgustingly green, sweetened, gooey rattlesnake jam!
So no matter how cold the weather is, there goes brave Pa hunting after the snakes. And as he hunts them, he fantasizes about the various ways Gran could cook them—hot on a plate, fried, sliced on white rice, hmmm… But no way will his dreams ever become a reality, for as readers will learn “…snake cooked for Pa was not in Gran’s plan. She dreamed of them sweetened and made into jam.” Though Gran swears her special jam can cure colds, gout and wheeze, not to mention “troublesome knees”, everyone dislikes the taste of her ghastly creation. Will Gran ever stop? And what would happen to Pa, if she ever did?
Colliers’s colorful, wacky illustrations complement Finke’s humorous rhyme perfectly. Gran is grossly comical with her toothless grin, warts, bell pepper nose, and tough exterior. The reader will feel sorry for Pa, who seems completely under Gran’s control. The book has 28 pages in all, and each story page has an illustration with a short text at the bottom—a two or four line rhyme, like this one:
Drop in chunky slices, stir well with a spoon.
Add mysterious spices! Gran hummed a wild tune.
The way to Gran’s heart was through rattlers galore—
Making rattler jam bubble, ‘till it flowed on the floor.
The song-like cadence will be enjoyed by kids and adults alike. Snakes are reptiles that inspire both fear and fascination, especially in children, and it was clever of the author to use them as victims instead of villains in this book. This is a fine addition to Finke’s series of rhyming books about animals. Whimsical and amusing, Rattlesnake Jam is one of those books young children will beg their parents to read to them again and again.
Link to Gran's Kitchen:
http://mysite.verizon.net/mfinke/Rattler%20Recipies.htm#recipy Where kids will find gen-u-i-n-e rattler recipes their mom can cook - first catch your rattler though!!
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers, illustrators and more.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Angels of Interstate 29
By Donald James Parker
ISBN-10: 0615242928
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing
Reprinted with permission from Latonya Franklin, review for Apex Reviews - http://www.apexreviews.org/
Seventy year-old Tex Harris has just been put out to pasture. Due to mandatory retirement laws, his longtime employer has officially relieved him of his duties, and he finds himself wondering just what he'll be doing with the rest of his life...fortuitously, he doesn't have to wait too long when an unexpected event quickly changes his life forever.
When he notices a young woman stranded on the side of the road, Tex - the Southern Gentleman that he is - pulls over to offer his assistance. Two young men are already on the scene, but something about them strikes Tex the wrong way, and his intuition is proven right when the situation quickly devolves into a tense standoff. Thankfully, the woman and her baby escape unharmed, but her would-be assailants manage to elude law enforcement and make a hasty getaway. Nonetheless, as a result of the breathtaking encounter, Tex is infused with a new reason for living: assisting those in need when no one else is around to do so.
So, he launches The Angels Of Interstate 29, a vigilant group of civic-minded seniors, who, like Tex, are retired but yet unwilling to pass quietly into the twilight of their lives. Joined by his best friend, Parnelli, and the lovely Lizzy, a widow he meets during his initial recruitment stop, Tex and crew embark on their collective quest to save innocent lives. As times goes on, though, the natural complexities of humanity inevitably emerge, and, at the same time that Tex competes with Parnelli for Lizzy's attention and affections, he soon finds himself contending once again with unresolved dangers from the not-too-distant past...
Angels Of Interstate 29 is quite the enjoyable read. Donald James Parker is a veritable master at crafting unique, original characters whose lives and leanings lend the story an impressive authenticity. Moreover, the wit and candor of his narrative style give it a distinctive edge that moves the story along at a compelling pace.
Last but not least, Parker's ability to bring equal parts intrigue, mystery, and suspense together into a convincingly coalesced whole treats the reader to a well-balanced, carefully-crafted tale hard to put down. A sure treat for fans of a good old fashioned, well-told story.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
By Donald James Parker
ISBN-10: 0615242928
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing
Reprinted with permission from Latonya Franklin, review for Apex Reviews - http://www.apexreviews.org/
Seventy year-old Tex Harris has just been put out to pasture. Due to mandatory retirement laws, his longtime employer has officially relieved him of his duties, and he finds himself wondering just what he'll be doing with the rest of his life...fortuitously, he doesn't have to wait too long when an unexpected event quickly changes his life forever.
When he notices a young woman stranded on the side of the road, Tex - the Southern Gentleman that he is - pulls over to offer his assistance. Two young men are already on the scene, but something about them strikes Tex the wrong way, and his intuition is proven right when the situation quickly devolves into a tense standoff. Thankfully, the woman and her baby escape unharmed, but her would-be assailants manage to elude law enforcement and make a hasty getaway. Nonetheless, as a result of the breathtaking encounter, Tex is infused with a new reason for living: assisting those in need when no one else is around to do so.
So, he launches The Angels Of Interstate 29, a vigilant group of civic-minded seniors, who, like Tex, are retired but yet unwilling to pass quietly into the twilight of their lives. Joined by his best friend, Parnelli, and the lovely Lizzy, a widow he meets during his initial recruitment stop, Tex and crew embark on their collective quest to save innocent lives. As times goes on, though, the natural complexities of humanity inevitably emerge, and, at the same time that Tex competes with Parnelli for Lizzy's attention and affections, he soon finds himself contending once again with unresolved dangers from the not-too-distant past...
Angels Of Interstate 29 is quite the enjoyable read. Donald James Parker is a veritable master at crafting unique, original characters whose lives and leanings lend the story an impressive authenticity. Moreover, the wit and candor of his narrative style give it a distinctive edge that moves the story along at a compelling pace.
Last but not least, Parker's ability to bring equal parts intrigue, mystery, and suspense together into a convincingly coalesced whole treats the reader to a well-balanced, carefully-crafted tale hard to put down. A sure treat for fans of a good old fashioned, well-told story.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Christian Book Reviews Postulates Book of the Year
Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction
By Robert W. Kellemen, and Karole Edwards.
Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2007
Web Site: www.rpmministries.org
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Church History, Black Church History, Soul Care, Christian Counseling, Spiritual Direction
Reviewed by Donna Eggett for Christian Book Previews
This may well be the book of the year! Engrossing, important, well researched, deeply biblical - what more can I say? Presenting imperative Christian nurturing, vividly illustrated by significant, scripture-based, lifesaving lessons gleaned from some of our most downtrodden Americans, Beyond the Suffering provides essential truths for all Americans, no matter race, creed, or history. Let's extend the arena -the rest of the world will profit from this heart/mind/spirit catching book.
Written for the express purpose of showing how Christ snatches triumphs from the jaws of defeat and transforming victims into victors, Beyond the Suffering is based on documents, biographies, and quotations from American slaves who learned that when absolutely everything else fails Christ is present, real, loving, in control. The format revolves around ministries which help hurting and hardened people. The examples used are shocking, horrifying, uplifting, always pointing to Christ. A term found often throughout these pages is 'Soul Physician' - one who, from the depth of their own terrible yet wondrous experiences, helps others to reach out of their own particular pit toward the healing Lord. These slave Soul Physicians were lay-people whom our Lord had touched; a concept which today's world desperately needs. Beyond the Suffering will not only heal and prepare us to face life, it will equip us to be Soul Physicians. Many materials in this book encourage the reader towards victory. The questions which summarize each chapter are thought- and action-provoking.
The history is well-researched; ideas are amply, tellingly illustrated. No punches are pulled. The authors tell about slavery exactly as it was, and about Christ and His ministry exactly like it is. Beyond the Suffering is not a book for those who like their American comfort and traditional misbeliefs. Be prepared to have growing pains and spiritual toothaches as you read. This book is a must for all Christians. It will make an excellent preparation for our youth as they head into a dangerous future.
Technorati Tags:
Nonfiction: History, Nonfiction: Inspiration, robert w. kelleman, karole edwards, Baker Books (publishers), donna eggert (reviewer), christian book reviews
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
By Robert W. Kellemen, and Karole Edwards.
Baker Books, Grand Rapids, 2007
Web Site: www.rpmministries.org
Genre: Non-Fiction, History, Church History, Black Church History, Soul Care, Christian Counseling, Spiritual Direction
Reviewed by Donna Eggett for Christian Book Previews
This may well be the book of the year! Engrossing, important, well researched, deeply biblical - what more can I say? Presenting imperative Christian nurturing, vividly illustrated by significant, scripture-based, lifesaving lessons gleaned from some of our most downtrodden Americans, Beyond the Suffering provides essential truths for all Americans, no matter race, creed, or history. Let's extend the arena -the rest of the world will profit from this heart/mind/spirit catching book.
Written for the express purpose of showing how Christ snatches triumphs from the jaws of defeat and transforming victims into victors, Beyond the Suffering is based on documents, biographies, and quotations from American slaves who learned that when absolutely everything else fails Christ is present, real, loving, in control. The format revolves around ministries which help hurting and hardened people. The examples used are shocking, horrifying, uplifting, always pointing to Christ. A term found often throughout these pages is 'Soul Physician' - one who, from the depth of their own terrible yet wondrous experiences, helps others to reach out of their own particular pit toward the healing Lord. These slave Soul Physicians were lay-people whom our Lord had touched; a concept which today's world desperately needs. Beyond the Suffering will not only heal and prepare us to face life, it will equip us to be Soul Physicians. Many materials in this book encourage the reader towards victory. The questions which summarize each chapter are thought- and action-provoking.
The history is well-researched; ideas are amply, tellingly illustrated. No punches are pulled. The authors tell about slavery exactly as it was, and about Christ and His ministry exactly like it is. Beyond the Suffering is not a book for those who like their American comfort and traditional misbeliefs. Be prepared to have growing pains and spiritual toothaches as you read. This book is a must for all Christians. It will make an excellent preparation for our youth as they head into a dangerous future.
Technorati Tags:
Nonfiction: History, Nonfiction: Inspiration, robert w. kelleman, karole edwards, Baker Books (publishers), donna eggert (reviewer), christian book reviews
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Monday, November 17, 2008
It’s Not About Me
By Michelle Sutton (A Second Glances Novel 1#)
Sheaf House Publishers (September 1,2008) http://www.sheafhouse.com/
Contemporary Young Adult Novel
ISBN#9780979748516, 352pp, $12.99
Reviewed by Melissa Meeks (ForstRose) for Bibliophile's Retreat
It’s Not About Me is a bittersweet story of a young woman’s growth through trials no one should ever experience. God does some amazing things in both her life and the lives of those around her through the terrible challenges she faces after an unwarranted attack that will leave her forever scarred.
Michelle Sutton has brought the events of this short span of Annie’s experience to life and penned a collection of vivid characters that will live on for the reader beyond closing this book. I am amazed at the debut authors I am discovering who have a power with words that I have rarely seen over many years of reading. I suspect that Sutton's books along with two of my other favorite new authors Geralyn Beauchamp and Julie Lessman will one day join the ranks of authors such as Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers due to the exceptional power in their writing.
While this novel’s main characters are in their late teens and early twenties, the novel still touches a chord with readers at a variety of places in life and chronological age because of the emotionally gripping narrative and the author's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her characters such that it is difficult to put the book down once you have started it.
Michelle has done what few authors have succeeded at, she has dragged my emotions through a ride that I and they will not soon forget and she has done it with an intensity that is rare to see in any book but especially those appealing to teens and college age readers and the stereotypical romantic plot lines with their HEA endings and fluff-filled stories. I will certainly be begging Michelle to read her next book as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of it.
Subscribe to Bibliophile's Retreat at www.bibliophilesretreat.com.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
By Michelle Sutton (A Second Glances Novel 1#)
Sheaf House Publishers (September 1,2008) http://www.sheafhouse.com/
Contemporary Young Adult Novel
ISBN#9780979748516, 352pp, $12.99
Reviewed by Melissa Meeks (ForstRose) for Bibliophile's Retreat
It’s Not About Me is a bittersweet story of a young woman’s growth through trials no one should ever experience. God does some amazing things in both her life and the lives of those around her through the terrible challenges she faces after an unwarranted attack that will leave her forever scarred.
Michelle Sutton has brought the events of this short span of Annie’s experience to life and penned a collection of vivid characters that will live on for the reader beyond closing this book. I am amazed at the debut authors I am discovering who have a power with words that I have rarely seen over many years of reading. I suspect that Sutton's books along with two of my other favorite new authors Geralyn Beauchamp and Julie Lessman will one day join the ranks of authors such as Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers due to the exceptional power in their writing.
While this novel’s main characters are in their late teens and early twenties, the novel still touches a chord with readers at a variety of places in life and chronological age because of the emotionally gripping narrative and the author's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her characters such that it is difficult to put the book down once you have started it.
Michelle has done what few authors have succeeded at, she has dragged my emotions through a ride that I and they will not soon forget and she has done it with an intensity that is rare to see in any book but especially those appealing to teens and college age readers and the stereotypical romantic plot lines with their HEA endings and fluff-filled stories. I will certainly be begging Michelle to read her next book as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of it.
Subscribe to Bibliophile's Retreat at www.bibliophilesretreat.com.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
An Essay on Two Women's Struggles and Their Books
This review doesn't quite fit the usual guidelines for reviews on this blog but one of the joys of being a blogger is that it's yours. (-: I liked the personal quality and hope you will, too. It's sent by writer, publicist and reader, Diane Ward.
Hi Carolyn:
As Thanksgiving draws near. I want to thank you for all the tips and encouragement and leadership you share with all us wannabe writers.
Sometimes I look back at things I've written and think "thank goodness nothing came of it." Anyhow, I want to share the very minimal and basic
book review I said I'd write on Notes on Life, by Eleanor Coppola as well as one by Dee Dee Myers called Why Women Should Rules The World. Dee Dee is former white house press secretary for Bill Clinton, and as many know, Eleanor is the wife of Francis Ford Coppola.
What strikes me as significant, is that both women have an amazing capacity for being around very powerful and successful men. In a strange way, I see these women as being flip sides of the same coin. Eleanor, by nature of her marriage to Francis and raising his three children - is feeling unrequited and somewhat of a second class citizen since the glory and the accolades are always bestowed on her husband. When her daughter Sophia Coppola begins to navigate a career for herself in his film world, Eleanor, expresses a quiet jealousy and competitiveness that mothers and daughters have anyway but this relationship seems doomed from the get-go.
As a parent, it is always assumed that our children will succeed us in life, but when death takes away Eleanor's first-born son, I don't think she ever quite recovers. There is a subtle depression that permeates the entire work and overshadows her thoughts and her ability to engage with her husband and his
entourage. She is in a tough spot. She shares the fact that her husband is the prodigy of Italian men who feel a woman's place is in the kitchen and for raising children.
Yet, Eleanor does not dispel the double standard this myth creates by pointing out that Francis' sister Talia, certainly has a first rate acting career and has been helped by roles she was given by her brother. Talia, has also married rich and successful men and this point is not mentioned or even addressed. Nepotism plays such a heavy hand in the Coppola family that it seems as though it is an entitlement and any one who wants to criticize this fact will be ostracized from the possibility of ever being included in the inner-workings of this entertainment family dynasty.
No one really talks about it except when Eleanor loosely brings it up as she reflects on Sophia's being cast as replacement actress for Winona Ryder in the Godfather series when Winona becomes ill and has to drop out of the shoot. Sophia is made to look like the victim when certain press releases include the fact that Sophia was really too young for that part and only earned it because her father was the director.... Eleanor herself is always included in the budget of the film, either by doing consultant work and/or taking photographs for the possibility of making a documentary on the work. The price one pays for privilege is almost more than one can bear.
Dee Dee Myers on the other-hand, seems more angry than depressed. She finds herself in a job surrounded by sycophants and hangers on, not unlike the circus feeling that permeates the environment Eleanor Coppola has found herself in. To be the most important person in a job next to the President of the United States of America and have staff constantly undermining her authority and her position is not without its own kind of pain.
Outside of the Honorable Senator Dianne Feinstein and a few other women in her political circle, Ms. Myers was alone and abused. She had no one to turn to and no one trust.
The same climate seemed to filter around Eleanor, although with all her personal misgivings, she had at least one or two true girlfriends that she could count on when things got tough. For Dee Dee, the circumstances she found herself in seemed to be way more than she could handle without knowing who she could truly trust in tough times. Both women were in circles that attracted insincere people who pretend to be what they are not. That would make anyone paranoid and untrusting.
I came away feeling mixed emotions about what, if anything, both these women could have done to make their situation better. Once Dee Dee Myers got away from her job and found a husband and family of her own, she seemed to be stronger and less impacted by the negatives in her Washington world. Eleanor, on the other hand, is still the wife of Francis, still the mother for Roman and Sophia. Her blessings, may be her curse. I wish for both women to be strong and happy in their work and their lives. I want them to make my life better because of what they are going through. Maybe it's too much pressure on them.
Technorati Tags:
Nonfiction: Memoir, , eleanor coppola, dee dee myers, Diane Ward (Reviewer), bill clinton, diane feinstein, sophia coppola, frances ford coppola, depression, women's nonfiction, feminist nonfiction,
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Hi Carolyn:
As Thanksgiving draws near. I want to thank you for all the tips and encouragement and leadership you share with all us wannabe writers.
Sometimes I look back at things I've written and think "thank goodness nothing came of it." Anyhow, I want to share the very minimal and basic
book review I said I'd write on Notes on Life, by Eleanor Coppola as well as one by Dee Dee Myers called Why Women Should Rules The World. Dee Dee is former white house press secretary for Bill Clinton, and as many know, Eleanor is the wife of Francis Ford Coppola.
What strikes me as significant, is that both women have an amazing capacity for being around very powerful and successful men. In a strange way, I see these women as being flip sides of the same coin. Eleanor, by nature of her marriage to Francis and raising his three children - is feeling unrequited and somewhat of a second class citizen since the glory and the accolades are always bestowed on her husband. When her daughter Sophia Coppola begins to navigate a career for herself in his film world, Eleanor, expresses a quiet jealousy and competitiveness that mothers and daughters have anyway but this relationship seems doomed from the get-go.
As a parent, it is always assumed that our children will succeed us in life, but when death takes away Eleanor's first-born son, I don't think she ever quite recovers. There is a subtle depression that permeates the entire work and overshadows her thoughts and her ability to engage with her husband and his
entourage. She is in a tough spot. She shares the fact that her husband is the prodigy of Italian men who feel a woman's place is in the kitchen and for raising children.
Yet, Eleanor does not dispel the double standard this myth creates by pointing out that Francis' sister Talia, certainly has a first rate acting career and has been helped by roles she was given by her brother. Talia, has also married rich and successful men and this point is not mentioned or even addressed. Nepotism plays such a heavy hand in the Coppola family that it seems as though it is an entitlement and any one who wants to criticize this fact will be ostracized from the possibility of ever being included in the inner-workings of this entertainment family dynasty.
No one really talks about it except when Eleanor loosely brings it up as she reflects on Sophia's being cast as replacement actress for Winona Ryder in the Godfather series when Winona becomes ill and has to drop out of the shoot. Sophia is made to look like the victim when certain press releases include the fact that Sophia was really too young for that part and only earned it because her father was the director.... Eleanor herself is always included in the budget of the film, either by doing consultant work and/or taking photographs for the possibility of making a documentary on the work. The price one pays for privilege is almost more than one can bear.
Dee Dee Myers on the other-hand, seems more angry than depressed. She finds herself in a job surrounded by sycophants and hangers on, not unlike the circus feeling that permeates the environment Eleanor Coppola has found herself in. To be the most important person in a job next to the President of the United States of America and have staff constantly undermining her authority and her position is not without its own kind of pain.
Outside of the Honorable Senator Dianne Feinstein and a few other women in her political circle, Ms. Myers was alone and abused. She had no one to turn to and no one trust.
The same climate seemed to filter around Eleanor, although with all her personal misgivings, she had at least one or two true girlfriends that she could count on when things got tough. For Dee Dee, the circumstances she found herself in seemed to be way more than she could handle without knowing who she could truly trust in tough times. Both women were in circles that attracted insincere people who pretend to be what they are not. That would make anyone paranoid and untrusting.
I came away feeling mixed emotions about what, if anything, both these women could have done to make their situation better. Once Dee Dee Myers got away from her job and found a husband and family of her own, she seemed to be stronger and less impacted by the negatives in her Washington world. Eleanor, on the other hand, is still the wife of Francis, still the mother for Roman and Sophia. Her blessings, may be her curse. I wish for both women to be strong and happy in their work and their lives. I want them to make my life better because of what they are going through. Maybe it's too much pressure on them.
Technorati Tags:
Nonfiction: Memoir, , eleanor coppola, dee dee myers, Diane Ward (Reviewer), bill clinton, diane feinstein, sophia coppola, frances ford coppola, depression, women's nonfiction, feminist nonfiction,
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Reviews for "Off Kilter" by Linda Wisniewski are On Target
Title: Off Kilter: A Woman's Journey to Peace with Scoliosis, Her Mother, & Her Polish Heritage
Author: Linda C. Wisniewski
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-59719-012-1
Format: Paperback, 164 pages
Publisher: Pearlsong Press
Reviewed by: Duffie Bart for StoryCircle Book Reviews
Wisniewski begins her memoir, "My mother was unconscious at the moment I was born and I longed all my life to make her see me." She describes her mother as a woman bullied by her husband, overwhelmed by life, who chose to hide, to ignore her daughter (or, still worse, put her down), and to escape into silence and passivity. Having had an emotionally cold mother myself, I have boundless admiration for this author's ability and willingness to confront a painful relationship. With her exceptional sensibilities, she excavates her memories with courage and tenacity. Her words are sometimes painful to read. At the same time, I feel a kind of healing power emanating from her honest recollections, a healing power perhaps for both writer and reader.
The mother-daughter relationship, seminal though it was, is by no means the singular focus of this memoir. Wisniewski honors all the members of the family into which she was born, in spite of its often dysfunctional dynamics. She honors the past, her Polish heritage. She writes about her Catholic education, the insensitivity of the nuns her failed marriages, and so much more. She writes of her life spent pleasing "teachers, employers, parents, boyfriends, husbands, twisting myself into someone I can’t be. I hurt when I do this, because it’s not natural." She relates her journey moving away from this futile way of being. The path she chose was to become herself, accept her emotional and physical handicaps, stretch herself, and take bigger and bigger risks despite her shyness.
Ultimately, the author comes to a place of inner peace: "The good memories return, like a tide that has been out for decades. Freed from some long-forgotten dam, they return to me, washing me in their healing waters. More and more often, I remember a golden day. I hear my people laughing. I am supported and surrounded by love."
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Reviewed by: Susan Tiberghien
Off Kilter opens a window into a woman's life as she comes to peace with her Polish ancestry, her mother’s depressive behavior, and her own scoliosis, a side-to-side curvature of the spine, discovered when she was thirteen. Linda Wisniewski weaves the threads beautifully together, sometimes on a slant, as she leads the reader into the compelling story of a survivor. After a few pages, the reader is captured by the author’s voice--both heartfelt and perceptive, that of a friend--and by the narrative itself.
Wisniewski's memoir is a tapestry, each thread connecting back to memories of her Polish Catholic childhood in a postwar mill town in upstate New York--the two-story clapboard houses, the polka weddings, the house full of talking relatives, the best kielbasa from the Polish butcher--struggling to find herself in the midst of her father's torments, her mother's tears, and the discipline of the Sisters at school, their voices cold as ice.
As the author writes her way through the remembered moments of her life, she finds herself no longer at loose ends with her childhood, but instead fitting the ends into the pattern of her life. Even her mother finds her place. When Linda sews, each sound, each touch, becomes a thread to her mother. "The feel of the tissue paper pattern, the placement of the pins attaching it to the fabric just the way I watched her do it. The chop, chop of the scissors taking me back to the kitchen table that was her cutting board."
The broken yardstick from her mother's sewing becomes the talisman of her life. "The yardstick resembles my life; it has broken parts. Nothing has been a straight line from here to there." Her back has been twisted by scoliosis. Her body and life have been off kilter. But the yardstick, mended and carefully glued back together, is now hers. It measures her struggle to stretch not only her spine but also her Self.
Bravo for this well-written, well-conceived memoir. The many different scenes of Wisniewski's life are beautifully described--specific details that the reader sees, touches, and feels. And always with honesty and integrity.
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To find out more about Off Kilter and Linda Wisniewski, please visit: http://www.lindawis.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Author: Linda C. Wisniewski
Genre: Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-59719-012-1
Format: Paperback, 164 pages
Publisher: Pearlsong Press
Reviewed by: Duffie Bart for StoryCircle Book ReviewsWisniewski begins her memoir, "My mother was unconscious at the moment I was born and I longed all my life to make her see me." She describes her mother as a woman bullied by her husband, overwhelmed by life, who chose to hide, to ignore her daughter (or, still worse, put her down), and to escape into silence and passivity. Having had an emotionally cold mother myself, I have boundless admiration for this author's ability and willingness to confront a painful relationship. With her exceptional sensibilities, she excavates her memories with courage and tenacity. Her words are sometimes painful to read. At the same time, I feel a kind of healing power emanating from her honest recollections, a healing power perhaps for both writer and reader.
The mother-daughter relationship, seminal though it was, is by no means the singular focus of this memoir. Wisniewski honors all the members of the family into which she was born, in spite of its often dysfunctional dynamics. She honors the past, her Polish heritage. She writes about her Catholic education, the insensitivity of the nuns her failed marriages, and so much more. She writes of her life spent pleasing "teachers, employers, parents, boyfriends, husbands, twisting myself into someone I can’t be. I hurt when I do this, because it’s not natural." She relates her journey moving away from this futile way of being. The path she chose was to become herself, accept her emotional and physical handicaps, stretch herself, and take bigger and bigger risks despite her shyness.
Ultimately, the author comes to a place of inner peace: "The good memories return, like a tide that has been out for decades. Freed from some long-forgotten dam, they return to me, washing me in their healing waters. More and more often, I remember a golden day. I hear my people laughing. I am supported and surrounded by love."
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Reviewed by: Susan Tiberghien
Off Kilter opens a window into a woman's life as she comes to peace with her Polish ancestry, her mother’s depressive behavior, and her own scoliosis, a side-to-side curvature of the spine, discovered when she was thirteen. Linda Wisniewski weaves the threads beautifully together, sometimes on a slant, as she leads the reader into the compelling story of a survivor. After a few pages, the reader is captured by the author’s voice--both heartfelt and perceptive, that of a friend--and by the narrative itself.
Wisniewski's memoir is a tapestry, each thread connecting back to memories of her Polish Catholic childhood in a postwar mill town in upstate New York--the two-story clapboard houses, the polka weddings, the house full of talking relatives, the best kielbasa from the Polish butcher--struggling to find herself in the midst of her father's torments, her mother's tears, and the discipline of the Sisters at school, their voices cold as ice.
As the author writes her way through the remembered moments of her life, she finds herself no longer at loose ends with her childhood, but instead fitting the ends into the pattern of her life. Even her mother finds her place. When Linda sews, each sound, each touch, becomes a thread to her mother. "The feel of the tissue paper pattern, the placement of the pins attaching it to the fabric just the way I watched her do it. The chop, chop of the scissors taking me back to the kitchen table that was her cutting board."
The broken yardstick from her mother's sewing becomes the talisman of her life. "The yardstick resembles my life; it has broken parts. Nothing has been a straight line from here to there." Her back has been twisted by scoliosis. Her body and life have been off kilter. But the yardstick, mended and carefully glued back together, is now hers. It measures her struggle to stretch not only her spine but also her Self.
Bravo for this well-written, well-conceived memoir. The many different scenes of Wisniewski's life are beautifully described--specific details that the reader sees, touches, and feels. And always with honesty and integrity.
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To find out more about Off Kilter and Linda Wisniewski, please visit: http://www.lindawis.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Debra Gaynor Reviews Memoir Full of Humility
A Full House But Empty
By Angus Munro
ISBN: 9780595437191
IUniverse, 2008
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
5 Stars
Inspiring…
A Full House—But Empty is a story that will bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes. Angus Munro writes with great humility. I found myself respecting him more and more as I read his memoir.
He calls himself a neat freak. As a child, he was responsible for cleaning the house, cleaning up after poker games, and after the many frequent guests. As an adult, he never felt himself above cleaning the office on weekends. I know some neat freaks. Most complain the whole time they are cleaning up after someone else. Munro does not appear to have that type of personality. He sees something that needs to be done, and he just does it. His mantra is “Whatever you do follow through.” His work ethic is one that is to be admired. Rarely in this day do you meet someone that believes it is a privilege to have a job.
His father’s mantra of “do the right thing” has play a big part in Munro’s life as it should in all lives. It is an honor to recommend A Full House—But Empty to fellow readers. I commend Mr. Munro for living a life worth looking up to. There are not many heroes left in this world, but I deem Mr. Munro a hero.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
By Angus Munro
ISBN: 9780595437191
IUniverse, 2008
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com
5 Stars
Inspiring…
A Full House—But Empty is a story that will bring a smile to your face and tears to your eyes. Angus Munro writes with great humility. I found myself respecting him more and more as I read his memoir.
He calls himself a neat freak. As a child, he was responsible for cleaning the house, cleaning up after poker games, and after the many frequent guests. As an adult, he never felt himself above cleaning the office on weekends. I know some neat freaks. Most complain the whole time they are cleaning up after someone else. Munro does not appear to have that type of personality. He sees something that needs to be done, and he just does it. His mantra is “Whatever you do follow through.” His work ethic is one that is to be admired. Rarely in this day do you meet someone that believes it is a privilege to have a job.
His father’s mantra of “do the right thing” has play a big part in Munro’s life as it should in all lives. It is an honor to recommend A Full House—But Empty to fellow readers. I commend Mr. Munro for living a life worth looking up to. There are not many heroes left in this world, but I deem Mr. Munro a hero.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Vixen's Daily Reads Reviews "Murder Takes the Cake" by Gayle Trent
Title: Murder Takes the Cake
Author: Gayle Trent
Genre: Southern (Cozy) Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-9802453-6-3
Format: Paperback, 260 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books, an imprint of Belle Books
Awards: Murder Takes the Cake was a semi-finalist in Amazon.com's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest
Reviewed by Vixen's Daily Reads
Murder Takes the Cake is a fast read and starts and ends with a "What the .....?" The bang starts when Daphne of Daphne's Delectable Cakes brings what she hopes is the cake to win Yodel Watson's approval. Instead she finds the body of Mrs Watson on her couch...the dead body of Mrs Watson.
Daphne calls 911 and her life as she knows it is changed and not for the better. Her credibility is suspect as are her cakes. This is not good since she has moved back to her hometown of Brea Ridge, Virginia to rebuild her life after a failed marriage and a dead-end job.
There was a lot of action that occurred in a small amount of time, but that didn't seem to bother me as it might have in another book. Cozies have to move fast, only so many pages to git'r'dun. I liked all of the nice characters and laughed at the funny ones. There were some shady characters too, that received my dislike. I absolutely was startled to find out whodunnit at the end and it was not one of those lame-o choices so the author could hurry and finish up.
I could identify with Daphne's relationship with her family. I think this was the part I liked best. Daphne has a cautious and teeth gritting relationship with her mother, a loving warm one with her father and her sister.
And the cake baking and decorating!!! I didn't get the recipes in the copy I reviewed, so will get the book just for those. This is one of my criteria for a cozy, it makes me want to learn how to do the activity that's the basis of the character and story... This one makes me want to learn how to decorate cakes.
Four frosted beans!
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To find out more about the Gayle Trent and Murder Takes the Cake, please visit: http://www.gayletrent.com
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Author: Gayle Trent
Genre: Southern (Cozy) Mystery
ISBN: 978-0-9802453-6-3
Format: Paperback, 260 pages
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books, an imprint of Belle Books
Awards: Murder Takes the Cake was a semi-finalist in Amazon.com's Breakthrough Novel Award Contest
Reviewed by Vixen's Daily ReadsMurder Takes the Cake is a fast read and starts and ends with a "What the .....?" The bang starts when Daphne of Daphne's Delectable Cakes brings what she hopes is the cake to win Yodel Watson's approval. Instead she finds the body of Mrs Watson on her couch...the dead body of Mrs Watson.
Daphne calls 911 and her life as she knows it is changed and not for the better. Her credibility is suspect as are her cakes. This is not good since she has moved back to her hometown of Brea Ridge, Virginia to rebuild her life after a failed marriage and a dead-end job.
There was a lot of action that occurred in a small amount of time, but that didn't seem to bother me as it might have in another book. Cozies have to move fast, only so many pages to git'r'dun. I liked all of the nice characters and laughed at the funny ones. There were some shady characters too, that received my dislike. I absolutely was startled to find out whodunnit at the end and it was not one of those lame-o choices so the author could hurry and finish up.
I could identify with Daphne's relationship with her family. I think this was the part I liked best. Daphne has a cautious and teeth gritting relationship with her mother, a loving warm one with her father and her sister.
And the cake baking and decorating!!! I didn't get the recipes in the copy I reviewed, so will get the book just for those. This is one of my criteria for a cozy, it makes me want to learn how to do the activity that's the basis of the character and story... This one makes me want to learn how to decorate cakes.
Four frosted beans!
-----
To find out more about the Gayle Trent and Murder Takes the Cake, please visit: http://www.gayletrent.com
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Mark Chitty Reviews Sci-Fi Pubbed by Myrmidon
Title: Space Captain Smith
Author: Toby Frost
Website: http://www.spacecaptainsmith.com/
Genre: Science Fiction/Humour
ISBN: 1905802137
ISBN-13: 978-1905802135
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
Publisher: Myrmidon Books
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Mark Chitty for Walker of Worlds, http://walkerofworlds.blogspot.com
Isambard Smith has been drafted for a mission - to collect a passenger, Rhianna, for one planet and take her to another. He's given a small, pretty pathetic ship, the John Pym, a pilot in Carveth, an android and former sex-bot that is on the run, and he brings along his alien friend, Suruk the Slayer, an M'Lak with an unhealthy obsession with collecting skulls.
With this mission, and representing the British Empire, he goes off with tea in his cup and not much of a clue. Picking up Rhianna he ends up running into the Ghast, who want nothing more than to destroy humanity, and John Gilead from the religiously fanatical Republic of Eden.
Can Captain Smith complete his mission, can he put the Ghast in their place for interfering in his mission, and can he have biscuits with his tea?
Space Captain Smith is Toby Frost's debut and a thoroughly enjoyable and very British space adventure, somewhat describable as a high seas British Empire novel in space. Despite how this sounds, it just works so well. The humour, which is decidedly British, is prevalent throughout and not a page goes by without a smile coming to my face in some way. It comes from not only the dialogue, which is witty and fun, but also from the scenarios that the crew are put in.
Talking about the crew (and characters in general): they are so well suited to exactly this sort of situation. Isambard Smith is completely British, right to the bone, and some of his views of the universe and other life living within is completely ridiculous - but it just works. Carveth is great to read simply because you don't know what you'll get next, but it's sure to be amusing. And Suruk, well, he steals the novel. Completely obsessed with war, killing and collecting skulls he can turn any situation in to an opportunity for battle and glory.
Here are just some reasons why I enjoyed it so much:
Suruk the Slayer on racial issues:
"Petty prejudice does not interest my people. A wise warrior once told me: 'Respect your brother M'Lak, no matter what shade of greenish-grey he may be'."
And of human racial issues:
"Many colours of skin are there, many different shades of face. But if you look within, deep inside a person, human beings are all alike. Red and squelchy."
Carveth, the former sex-bot, on how their ship was damaged and what happened:
"Well, we were cruising, hardly looking for action at all, when suddenly the Ghasts jumped us from behind, stuck a torpedo up our back end and blew our motors out. They must have seen that we were exposed at the rear because they stuck out their tube so they could come inside, but the captain ordered us to get our tools ready and beat them off if they tried to enter us by force. They all came at us at once down the passage, but what with Smith shooting off from the hip and me pumping my piece for all I was worth, we were able to give them a good seeing-to until they had to withdraw. We were knackered, though. We could hardly pull off, let alone thrust, so we saw this lake and decided to dump in the water until we were able to repair the ship and get it up again. That's pretty much the size of it."
Space Captain Smith is a great, refreshing read and is very highly recommended.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Author: Toby Frost
Website: http://www.spacecaptainsmith.com/
Genre: Science Fiction/Humour
ISBN: 1905802137
ISBN-13: 978-1905802135
Format: Paperback, 320 pages
Publisher: Myrmidon Books
Rating: 9/10
Reviewed by Mark Chitty for Walker of Worlds, http://walkerofworlds.blogspot.com
Isambard Smith has been drafted for a mission - to collect a passenger, Rhianna, for one planet and take her to another. He's given a small, pretty pathetic ship, the John Pym, a pilot in Carveth, an android and former sex-bot that is on the run, and he brings along his alien friend, Suruk the Slayer, an M'Lak with an unhealthy obsession with collecting skulls.
With this mission, and representing the British Empire, he goes off with tea in his cup and not much of a clue. Picking up Rhianna he ends up running into the Ghast, who want nothing more than to destroy humanity, and John Gilead from the religiously fanatical Republic of Eden.
Can Captain Smith complete his mission, can he put the Ghast in their place for interfering in his mission, and can he have biscuits with his tea?
Space Captain Smith is Toby Frost's debut and a thoroughly enjoyable and very British space adventure, somewhat describable as a high seas British Empire novel in space. Despite how this sounds, it just works so well. The humour, which is decidedly British, is prevalent throughout and not a page goes by without a smile coming to my face in some way. It comes from not only the dialogue, which is witty and fun, but also from the scenarios that the crew are put in.
Talking about the crew (and characters in general): they are so well suited to exactly this sort of situation. Isambard Smith is completely British, right to the bone, and some of his views of the universe and other life living within is completely ridiculous - but it just works. Carveth is great to read simply because you don't know what you'll get next, but it's sure to be amusing. And Suruk, well, he steals the novel. Completely obsessed with war, killing and collecting skulls he can turn any situation in to an opportunity for battle and glory.
Here are just some reasons why I enjoyed it so much:
Suruk the Slayer on racial issues:
"Petty prejudice does not interest my people. A wise warrior once told me: 'Respect your brother M'Lak, no matter what shade of greenish-grey he may be'."
And of human racial issues:
"Many colours of skin are there, many different shades of face. But if you look within, deep inside a person, human beings are all alike. Red and squelchy."
Carveth, the former sex-bot, on how their ship was damaged and what happened:
"Well, we were cruising, hardly looking for action at all, when suddenly the Ghasts jumped us from behind, stuck a torpedo up our back end and blew our motors out. They must have seen that we were exposed at the rear because they stuck out their tube so they could come inside, but the captain ordered us to get our tools ready and beat them off if they tried to enter us by force. They all came at us at once down the passage, but what with Smith shooting off from the hip and me pumping my piece for all I was worth, we were able to give them a good seeing-to until they had to withdraw. We were knackered, though. We could hardly pull off, let alone thrust, so we saw this lake and decided to dump in the water until we were able to repair the ship and get it up again. That's pretty much the size of it."
Space Captain Smith is a great, refreshing read and is very highly recommended.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Fantasy Expert John Ottinger Reviews "Wind Follower"
Title: Wind Follower
Author: Carole McDonnell
Genre: Epic Fantasy
ISBN: 0809557797
ISBN-13: 9780809557790
Format: Paperback, 248pp
Publisher: Juno Books an imprint of Wildside Press
Reviewed by: John Ottinger (http://otter.covblogs.com) for Grasping for the Wind
The standard fantasy is usually set in a world based on medieval Europe. Sometimes you get a Greco-Roman base, or the rare Asian/Chinese setting as with the Tales of Otori novels by Lian Hearn, or the Arabic tales of the Arabian Nights. But no one, to my knowledge, has ever based their fantasy novel on a medieval Africa. Some have used Africa�s jungles as the setting for a story, but its characters were usually white adventurers and the black natives were the evil ones (think Indiana Jones).
Carole McDonnell (website, blog), in her fantasy Wind Follower, has turned all of that on its head. Based on an African medieval culture (and by medieval I mean between ancient and colonial) with its own kingdoms, culture, and politics, Wind Follower uniquely portrays some very human struggles.
The story follows a married couple, Loic and Satha, as they find themselves embroiled in a cultural and spiritual war. Ancestor worship is common in this world, and politics is a highly complicated affair with many detailed rules and customs. Beyond that, there are three distinct races, with different skin colors and personality types. Each tribe and clan shows a fierce loyalty to the others of their groups, and the smallest slight can lead to petty vengeance. When Satha's honor is ruined, Loic seeks murderous vengeance.
Wind Follower is so unique in my own experience that I find it hard not to gush all over this novel. The tribal system is vividly portrayed by McDonnell, showing her intimate knowledge of African tribal systems, and the customs she gives the peoples of Wind Follower, while frustrating, are ones commonly ascribed to tribal cultures around the world. As is common with such systems, ancestor and spirit worship rules their daily lives. Loic has rebelled against that system, embroiling him in a spiritual war from which only the Creator can save him.
McDonnell packages the novel as an oral story being told by the same Loic and Satha who lived the events described. But unlike the thin veneer of storytelling common in other fantasy books (i.e. the prologue and epilogue mention the book being written down or transcribed from the words of the characters in their old age, but the rest of the book is standard third person) the oral nature of the telling of the book is embedded into its very fabric. Each chapter is told either from Loic or Satha�s perspective, each one alternating with the other. At times, the storyteller will make an aside that fills in gaps in the story, but doesn't break the flow of the narrative. Some readers will find this hard to understand, (I had to keep reminding myself that this was an oral history of sorts) especially in the initial pages, but will settle in after the first or second chapter. This is a creative way to structure the novel, and it is done very well. I felt I was sitting at the feet of Loic and Satha as the told me the story of their lives.
The story is sexually and violently graphic. McDonnell has not feared to display wonderful acts of love and gruesome acts of violence in a disturbing and pointed way. She did not shy away from depicting any of the horrors of the evil spirits, or the sinful acts of man. Yet she does it in such a way that you are emotionally wrapped up in both the wonders and horrors of the events surrounding Loic and Satha. When they react in predictably human ways to both good and bad events we empathize to the point of remembering situations our own lives.
Some of the things about the novel that are difficult are its oral storytelling, as I�ve already mentioned, but that can be overcome with familiarity. There are a few major grammatical mistakes towards the end of the story, which interrupt important events, and are jarring for the reader.
McDonnell unashamedly calls this novel a Christian fantasy, and while that is not evident on the cover or in the back blurb, McDonnell's Pentecostal Christianity is part and parcel of the entire story. Those readers who are not Christians may be offended by the obvious references to a Creator and a Savior, a Trinitarian God, and the evil spirits (i.e. demons) who are at war with Him. However, I found that of all the explicitly Christian fantasies I have read, this one has best weaved the author�s worldview into the story without becoming preachy. The story stands alone as a good fantasy, even without the references to God. A Christian will enjoy the Scriptural elements of the novel, and dislike the explicit sex and violence, whereas the non-Christian may find those things powerful, while being offended by the Christian aspects of the story. Wind Follower is not a book that can be pigeon-holed and every person will find something he or she loves, and something he or she dislikes. And that is Mcdonnell�s greatest triumph. No matter your reaction to the novel, you will be called to an emotional response of some kind to the characters.
Other readers may be offended by the portrayal of the Angleni, a white skinned conquering race of people. However, white readers should not be offended. McDonnell does not, in the book hold up any one race as better or worse, In fact, Loic is light skinned and Satha very dark skinned. The theme of the story is the transcendence of the Creator over an above custom, race, and the evil schemes of the spirits. So while race is an important element to Wind Follower, it is not the primary theme of this fantasy.
I highly recommend this book. Wind Follower struggles with the religious nature of man, the effects of racial hatred on belief, the intimacy of a marriage ruled by custom, and ability of forgiveness to transcend all transgressions. If you leave this novel on the bookstore shelf, you will be the poorer for it.
--
Learn more about the reviewer John Ottinger III at
http://otter.covblogs.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and the index. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer nanmes and review sites. You'll also find it handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Author: Carole McDonnell
Genre: Epic Fantasy
ISBN: 0809557797
ISBN-13: 9780809557790
Format: Paperback, 248pp
Publisher: Juno Books an imprint of Wildside Press
Reviewed by: John Ottinger (http://otter.covblogs.com) for Grasping for the Wind
The standard fantasy is usually set in a world based on medieval Europe. Sometimes you get a Greco-Roman base, or the rare Asian/Chinese setting as with the Tales of Otori novels by Lian Hearn, or the Arabic tales of the Arabian Nights. But no one, to my knowledge, has ever based their fantasy novel on a medieval Africa. Some have used Africa�s jungles as the setting for a story, but its characters were usually white adventurers and the black natives were the evil ones (think Indiana Jones).
Carole McDonnell (website, blog), in her fantasy Wind Follower, has turned all of that on its head. Based on an African medieval culture (and by medieval I mean between ancient and colonial) with its own kingdoms, culture, and politics, Wind Follower uniquely portrays some very human struggles.
The story follows a married couple, Loic and Satha, as they find themselves embroiled in a cultural and spiritual war. Ancestor worship is common in this world, and politics is a highly complicated affair with many detailed rules and customs. Beyond that, there are three distinct races, with different skin colors and personality types. Each tribe and clan shows a fierce loyalty to the others of their groups, and the smallest slight can lead to petty vengeance. When Satha's honor is ruined, Loic seeks murderous vengeance.
Wind Follower is so unique in my own experience that I find it hard not to gush all over this novel. The tribal system is vividly portrayed by McDonnell, showing her intimate knowledge of African tribal systems, and the customs she gives the peoples of Wind Follower, while frustrating, are ones commonly ascribed to tribal cultures around the world. As is common with such systems, ancestor and spirit worship rules their daily lives. Loic has rebelled against that system, embroiling him in a spiritual war from which only the Creator can save him.
McDonnell packages the novel as an oral story being told by the same Loic and Satha who lived the events described. But unlike the thin veneer of storytelling common in other fantasy books (i.e. the prologue and epilogue mention the book being written down or transcribed from the words of the characters in their old age, but the rest of the book is standard third person) the oral nature of the telling of the book is embedded into its very fabric. Each chapter is told either from Loic or Satha�s perspective, each one alternating with the other. At times, the storyteller will make an aside that fills in gaps in the story, but doesn't break the flow of the narrative. Some readers will find this hard to understand, (I had to keep reminding myself that this was an oral history of sorts) especially in the initial pages, but will settle in after the first or second chapter. This is a creative way to structure the novel, and it is done very well. I felt I was sitting at the feet of Loic and Satha as the told me the story of their lives.
The story is sexually and violently graphic. McDonnell has not feared to display wonderful acts of love and gruesome acts of violence in a disturbing and pointed way. She did not shy away from depicting any of the horrors of the evil spirits, or the sinful acts of man. Yet she does it in such a way that you are emotionally wrapped up in both the wonders and horrors of the events surrounding Loic and Satha. When they react in predictably human ways to both good and bad events we empathize to the point of remembering situations our own lives.
Some of the things about the novel that are difficult are its oral storytelling, as I�ve already mentioned, but that can be overcome with familiarity. There are a few major grammatical mistakes towards the end of the story, which interrupt important events, and are jarring for the reader.
McDonnell unashamedly calls this novel a Christian fantasy, and while that is not evident on the cover or in the back blurb, McDonnell's Pentecostal Christianity is part and parcel of the entire story. Those readers who are not Christians may be offended by the obvious references to a Creator and a Savior, a Trinitarian God, and the evil spirits (i.e. demons) who are at war with Him. However, I found that of all the explicitly Christian fantasies I have read, this one has best weaved the author�s worldview into the story without becoming preachy. The story stands alone as a good fantasy, even without the references to God. A Christian will enjoy the Scriptural elements of the novel, and dislike the explicit sex and violence, whereas the non-Christian may find those things powerful, while being offended by the Christian aspects of the story. Wind Follower is not a book that can be pigeon-holed and every person will find something he or she loves, and something he or she dislikes. And that is Mcdonnell�s greatest triumph. No matter your reaction to the novel, you will be called to an emotional response of some kind to the characters.
Other readers may be offended by the portrayal of the Angleni, a white skinned conquering race of people. However, white readers should not be offended. McDonnell does not, in the book hold up any one race as better or worse, In fact, Loic is light skinned and Satha very dark skinned. The theme of the story is the transcendence of the Creator over an above custom, race, and the evil schemes of the spirits. So while race is an important element to Wind Follower, it is not the primary theme of this fantasy.
I highly recommend this book. Wind Follower struggles with the religious nature of man, the effects of racial hatred on belief, the intimacy of a marriage ruled by custom, and ability of forgiveness to transcend all transgressions. If you leave this novel on the bookstore shelf, you will be the poorer for it.
--
Learn more about the reviewer John Ottinger III at
http://otter.covblogs.com
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page and the index. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer nanmes and review sites. You'll also find it handy for gleaning the names of small publishers.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Cheryl Ellis Reviews New Inspirational Fiction by Donald James Parker
Title: All the Stillness of the Wind
Author: Donald James Parker
Author Website: http://DonaldJamesParker.com
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1-2345-6789-7
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing
Rating: 5 star
Reviewed by Cheryl Ellis for All Book Reviews
Whether seeking personal peace, finding the path to redemption or satisfying a need for knowledge; your journey could begin by reading this book!
A ‘parable’ is an avenue used to get a point across, by telling a fictional story, allowing the listener to make their own conclusions. It usually pertains to a moral or spiritual idea. Jesus was famous for his use of parables, and I believe that this fictional story would best be described as a modern day parable.
Jeremy is dating Maria and coincidentally, his father, Paul is dating Maria’s mother, Lisa. The women are devote Christians, who know their futures lie with men of similar beliefs. Jeremy has already studied the theory of evolution and concluded that there must have been a creator. The men set out to research religion and it’s many viewpoints, with special focus on Christianity, the arguments for and against. They share their newfound knowledge and acceptance with the women, as their beliefs are discussed or debated.
The comfort level and bantering conversations between the four characters made me laugh, as I learned right along with them. Throughout their search, they ‘weed through’, accept or reject different viewpoints on what man must do, to inherit eternal life. Along the way, they discover there are numerous ways to reconnect with God and inner peace, by way of music, prayer and more.
The couples celebrate their first Christmas together, the happy memory quickly shattered by a horrific accident, which would shake even the strongest of believers’ faith. It is then that we learn about grace, “the ability to forgive people for messing up” and about the five steps of grieving. This is one of the many times that Satan feeds our anger and, only once he has been renounced, is the burden lifted. Love and faith are a true believers path to a good life, and the key to the much believed in, Heaven.
The author, Donald James Parker, has told a brilliant version of a parable, and shown us a way to begin the search for truth. It is easy to read and identify with, not heavy on scriptures. He provides a few web sites as well as scriptures for future research.
Donald James Parker, graduated from Dakota State University with a degree in secondary education, then went on to study computer programming. After 25 years of IT work, his passion for writing took over. The outcome, to our benefit, is a book series involving two generations of the Masterson family. One never knows what the future holds, but I am sure more books are to follow. He is currently working on other books “engaging the cultural climate of the 21st century.”
To review this book was incredible timing. Either divine intervention or just plain coincidence, as it came to me in a time of many questions. It has had a positive influence on my life, by encouraging me to reconnect with my roots and beliefs, on my own search for peace.
I highly recommend reading this book.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Author: Donald James Parker
Author Website: http://DonaldJamesParker.com
Genre: Inspirational Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1-2345-6789-7
Publisher: Sword of the Spirit Publishing
Rating: 5 star
Reviewed by Cheryl Ellis for All Book Reviews
Whether seeking personal peace, finding the path to redemption or satisfying a need for knowledge; your journey could begin by reading this book!
A ‘parable’ is an avenue used to get a point across, by telling a fictional story, allowing the listener to make their own conclusions. It usually pertains to a moral or spiritual idea. Jesus was famous for his use of parables, and I believe that this fictional story would best be described as a modern day parable.
Jeremy is dating Maria and coincidentally, his father, Paul is dating Maria’s mother, Lisa. The women are devote Christians, who know their futures lie with men of similar beliefs. Jeremy has already studied the theory of evolution and concluded that there must have been a creator. The men set out to research religion and it’s many viewpoints, with special focus on Christianity, the arguments for and against. They share their newfound knowledge and acceptance with the women, as their beliefs are discussed or debated.
The comfort level and bantering conversations between the four characters made me laugh, as I learned right along with them. Throughout their search, they ‘weed through’, accept or reject different viewpoints on what man must do, to inherit eternal life. Along the way, they discover there are numerous ways to reconnect with God and inner peace, by way of music, prayer and more.
The couples celebrate their first Christmas together, the happy memory quickly shattered by a horrific accident, which would shake even the strongest of believers’ faith. It is then that we learn about grace, “the ability to forgive people for messing up” and about the five steps of grieving. This is one of the many times that Satan feeds our anger and, only once he has been renounced, is the burden lifted. Love and faith are a true believers path to a good life, and the key to the much believed in, Heaven.
The author, Donald James Parker, has told a brilliant version of a parable, and shown us a way to begin the search for truth. It is easy to read and identify with, not heavy on scriptures. He provides a few web sites as well as scriptures for future research.
Donald James Parker, graduated from Dakota State University with a degree in secondary education, then went on to study computer programming. After 25 years of IT work, his passion for writing took over. The outcome, to our benefit, is a book series involving two generations of the Masterson family. One never knows what the future holds, but I am sure more books are to follow. He is currently working on other books “engaging the cultural climate of the 21st century.”
To review this book was incredible timing. Either divine intervention or just plain coincidence, as it came to me in a time of many questions. It has had a positive influence on my life, by encouraging me to reconnect with my roots and beliefs, on my own search for peace.
I highly recommend reading this book.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Melissa Meeks Reviews Passionate Historical Fiction
A Passion Most Pure
By Julie Lessman
The first book in the Daughters of Boston book series
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Historical Romance
ISBN 9780800732110
480pp
$13.99
Reviewed by Melissa Meeks for Bibliophile's Retreat
It is less than two decades into the 20th Century. Two sisters in the city of Boston, Faith and Charity O'Connor, are coming to terms with growing up, love, men, and faith. Faith is nearing her 20th birthday and her sister, Charity has just recently finished at he local high school. The young man that Faith secretly admired since childhood is being enticed by Charity and has changed from the caring, gentle person Faith remembers from their school days. Charity seems to have one motivation which is to take what isn't hers and wrap men around her little finger. Jealousy ensues since she is successful at it and her looks only make things worse.
This book is not only a riveting story but full of emotional dynamite. There are times when I couldn't guess what the next page would bring or even a character was so sure of something that I as a reader couldn’t help being sure too. However the question always remained would it REALLY end that way? Julie Lessman's language evokes a strong emotional response and makes her characters so much richer as the reader not only sees their story on the page but at the same time experiences their sadness, disappointment, frustration, joy and many other feelings along with them. She has crafted a gripping, suspenseful narrative chock full of encouraging nuggets from scripture and wonderful examples of faith/relying on the Lord even when we as fallible humans manage to make a mess of things. Faith learns that while emotions may be out of our control turning to God will get her through those times without compromising her commitment to the Lord. She also learns to forgive and trust through the Lord's strength when it seems impossible to do as well as that prayer truly does move mountains or in this case stubborn men. As long as the Lord is our focus and we rely on him anything is possible and He will as the Psalm says give us the desires of our heart.
----
Note: The review blog Bibliophile's Retreat may be found at http://bibliophilesretreat.com/
Technorati Tags:
historical romance, melissa meeks, a passion most pure, revell, daughters of boston, julie lessman
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
By Julie Lessman
The first book in the Daughters of Boston book series
Publisher: Revell (January 1, 2008)
Historical Romance
ISBN 9780800732110
480pp
$13.99
Reviewed by Melissa Meeks for Bibliophile's Retreat
It is less than two decades into the 20th Century. Two sisters in the city of Boston, Faith and Charity O'Connor, are coming to terms with growing up, love, men, and faith. Faith is nearing her 20th birthday and her sister, Charity has just recently finished at he local high school. The young man that Faith secretly admired since childhood is being enticed by Charity and has changed from the caring, gentle person Faith remembers from their school days. Charity seems to have one motivation which is to take what isn't hers and wrap men around her little finger. Jealousy ensues since she is successful at it and her looks only make things worse.
This book is not only a riveting story but full of emotional dynamite. There are times when I couldn't guess what the next page would bring or even a character was so sure of something that I as a reader couldn’t help being sure too. However the question always remained would it REALLY end that way? Julie Lessman's language evokes a strong emotional response and makes her characters so much richer as the reader not only sees their story on the page but at the same time experiences their sadness, disappointment, frustration, joy and many other feelings along with them. She has crafted a gripping, suspenseful narrative chock full of encouraging nuggets from scripture and wonderful examples of faith/relying on the Lord even when we as fallible humans manage to make a mess of things. Faith learns that while emotions may be out of our control turning to God will get her through those times without compromising her commitment to the Lord. She also learns to forgive and trust through the Lord's strength when it seems impossible to do as well as that prayer truly does move mountains or in this case stubborn men. As long as the Lord is our focus and we rely on him anything is possible and He will as the Psalm says give us the desires of our heart.
----
Note: The review blog Bibliophile's Retreat may be found at http://bibliophilesretreat.com/
Technorati Tags:
historical romance, melissa meeks, a passion most pure, revell, daughters of boston, julie lessman
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Monday, October 6, 2008
MaAnna Stephenson Presents New Model for Thought
Title: The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom
Author: MaAnna Stephenson
Publisher: Nightengale Pres
ISBN: 978-1933449630
356 Pages
$19.99
Paperback - 8 x 10
Available at Amazon.com
Combining the knowledge of physics with intuitive practice is no small task. The two disciplines often use the same words to mean entirely different things. Written for the seeker with more than a casual interest, The Sage Age – Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom demystifies complex ideas with intelligent analogies and examples designed to appeal to both the scientist and the natural intuitive.
Four years in the writing, this expansive new work combines knowledge from the physical sciences and the intuitive arts to present a visionary perspective that harmonizes these diverse disciplines into one body of knowledge.
With a well-researched approach to its subjects, The Sage Age covers a broad range of material from ancient to modern thought, frontier science and current intuitive practice to deliver a depth and breadth of understanding that culminates in a holistic perspective for our time.
Living up to its mantra of "new models for new thought," The Sage Age is certain to be a catalyst for dialogue and is destined to be a major work in its field.
Technorati Tags:
The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom, McAnna Stephenson, physics, intuitive,
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Author: MaAnna Stephenson
Publisher: Nightengale Pres
ISBN: 978-1933449630
356 Pages
$19.99
Paperback - 8 x 10
Available at Amazon.com
Combining the knowledge of physics with intuitive practice is no small task. The two disciplines often use the same words to mean entirely different things. Written for the seeker with more than a casual interest, The Sage Age – Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom demystifies complex ideas with intelligent analogies and examples designed to appeal to both the scientist and the natural intuitive.
Four years in the writing, this expansive new work combines knowledge from the physical sciences and the intuitive arts to present a visionary perspective that harmonizes these diverse disciplines into one body of knowledge.
With a well-researched approach to its subjects, The Sage Age covers a broad range of material from ancient to modern thought, frontier science and current intuitive practice to deliver a depth and breadth of understanding that culminates in a holistic perspective for our time.
Living up to its mantra of "new models for new thought," The Sage Age is certain to be a catalyst for dialogue and is destined to be a major work in its field.
Technorati Tags:
The Sage Age: Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom, McAnna Stephenson, physics, intuitive,
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Liz Cosline Shares Life/Death Experience
Transcendental Sojourn
By Liz Cosline
http://www.lizcosline.com/index.htm
Nonfiction
ISBN13 Hardcover 978-1-4363-3715-1
ISBN13 Softcover 978-1-4363-3714-4
Reviewed by Lisa E. Ruedemann, ruedester@gmail.com
Let me tell you about Liz Cosline's new book Transcendental Sojourn. It is thought provoking…on to my thoughts……When we get older…yes older …we start reflecting on the lives we've led. It is a human thing to reflect upon our life and the place we have in the grand scheme of things. The wonder if we have contributed anything worthwhile or major to this world or at least to our small part of it. Our lives seem so short when you think of it really and over all too soon for most of us. Each of us with a personal view of what death will be and how that fits into the grand scheme of life. A few people have had the opportunity to gain insight into death that the rest of us can only conceptualize as we get closer to the reality. There are a rare few who have actually faced death and have lived to share the experience with us. Liz Cosline is one of those people who faced death and was willing to share her thoughts and views with us on the experience.
Ms. Cosline suffered a brain aneurysm one Easter out hunting eggs. An almost always fatal occurrence, however, she was one of the 1% who miraculously recovered from such a traumatizing event. She expresses her views on how her life has changed and how she now views her life and life's choices. I have read Ms Cosline's other books ( One Voice, Unexpected Knowing and Notice for Arrival - a trilogy about near death experience) and wish to share some of the insights I gathered from her journey to the brink of death, through almost death and then the life after near death. I find that her most recent book is her journey into life's meaning. She writes with a new light on life and gave me much to think about in regards to my own mortality, dreams and aspirations and where I will be after death. The book is such an easy read. Just an account of her philosophy of what life could be like living in harmony and peace, her questions to God , views on God and the place God holds in her life. The changed values and the new way she sees what is important in life. She did not tell me how to think or feel, did not preach a system of belief upon me. She just spoke in her words about her journey through life changes since nearly dying and how she now views living.
Like I said, it is seemingly simple easy reading...every time I have read it. And yes I have read it several times and each time I read it I take something different away some new thought…..a new insight to ponder. Reading this book has me reflecting on my own life, values and what life means to me...and what my death may bring...and how do I live the rest of my time here on this earth. Yes so simple yet thought provoking. Definitely a worth wile choice of must read books.~ Lisa E. Ruedemann, MS HSA
Technorati Tags:
Lisa E. Ruedemann, liz cosline, transcendental sojourn, aneurysm, traumatizing events, after death, life philosophy
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
By Liz Cosline
http://www.lizcosline.com/index.htm
Nonfiction
ISBN13 Hardcover 978-1-4363-3715-1
ISBN13 Softcover 978-1-4363-3714-4
Reviewed by Lisa E. Ruedemann, ruedester@gmail.com
Let me tell you about Liz Cosline's new book Transcendental Sojourn. It is thought provoking…on to my thoughts……When we get older…yes older …we start reflecting on the lives we've led. It is a human thing to reflect upon our life and the place we have in the grand scheme of things. The wonder if we have contributed anything worthwhile or major to this world or at least to our small part of it. Our lives seem so short when you think of it really and over all too soon for most of us. Each of us with a personal view of what death will be and how that fits into the grand scheme of life. A few people have had the opportunity to gain insight into death that the rest of us can only conceptualize as we get closer to the reality. There are a rare few who have actually faced death and have lived to share the experience with us. Liz Cosline is one of those people who faced death and was willing to share her thoughts and views with us on the experience.
Ms. Cosline suffered a brain aneurysm one Easter out hunting eggs. An almost always fatal occurrence, however, she was one of the 1% who miraculously recovered from such a traumatizing event. She expresses her views on how her life has changed and how she now views her life and life's choices. I have read Ms Cosline's other books ( One Voice, Unexpected Knowing and Notice for Arrival - a trilogy about near death experience) and wish to share some of the insights I gathered from her journey to the brink of death, through almost death and then the life after near death. I find that her most recent book is her journey into life's meaning. She writes with a new light on life and gave me much to think about in regards to my own mortality, dreams and aspirations and where I will be after death. The book is such an easy read. Just an account of her philosophy of what life could be like living in harmony and peace, her questions to God , views on God and the place God holds in her life. The changed values and the new way she sees what is important in life. She did not tell me how to think or feel, did not preach a system of belief upon me. She just spoke in her words about her journey through life changes since nearly dying and how she now views living.
Like I said, it is seemingly simple easy reading...every time I have read it. And yes I have read it several times and each time I read it I take something different away some new thought…..a new insight to ponder. Reading this book has me reflecting on my own life, values and what life means to me...and what my death may bring...and how do I live the rest of my time here on this earth. Yes so simple yet thought provoking. Definitely a worth wile choice of must read books.~ Lisa E. Ruedemann, MS HSA
Technorati Tags:
Lisa E. Ruedemann, liz cosline, transcendental sojourn, aneurysm, traumatizing events, after death, life philosophy
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Friday, September 12, 2008
The Lowdown on E-mail Marketing and How You've Been Lead Astray
Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles
Subtitle: Proven Ways to Produce a Continuous Flow of Prospects and Profits with
Effective, Spam-Free Email Systems
By Winton Churchill
Foreword by Ron Richards, President, ResultsLab
Morgan - James, 2008
ISBN 9781600374210
Nonfiction/Business
Author's Site: www.churchillmethod.com/
Contact Reviewer: HoJoNews@aol.com
Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of three books of fiction and poetry and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
Remember when we were advised, "Don't believe everything you read?" That's probably even more true in the Internet age than it was back in the days when I first heard it. That's one of the reasons I was glad to see the release of Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles by Winton Churchill.
See, I've always been vaguely aware that people get unnecessarily up in arms about SPAM. I see them let others censor the material they get delivered in their e-mail boxes all in the interest of kill, kill, killing the Dearly Beloved messages. I've seen them give up an old e-mail address to curtail the flow of SPAM, even though they are also giving up all kinds of networking contacts when they do so. I've seen them rant and rave about SPAM that was really only a query from someone who had found them doing a search on Google. I mean, that's why we have websites, so people can find us.
So when a real expert like Churchill tells it like it is, well . . . that is a wonderful, affirming experience for me. Churchill is a master marketer who has been quoted in the likes of The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. He also happens to know a good deal about e-marketing and he shares what he knows in this helpful marketing book.
Email Marketing is written primarily for big business people with large marketing budgets and big staffs. I would like to have seen Churchill specifically address how little guys might put his method to use on a smaller scale and a lot more frugally. But then I am the author behind the HowToDoItFrugally series of book for writers. With an emphasis on the word frugal.
That doesn't mean this author's methods can't be adapted to small business people, right down to small publishers—even individual authors. I found that many of his theories fit very well into the basics of great PR (things like building relationships rather than use the big four-letter word SELL). And that many of them can be adapted to less ambitious online processes like forging trust and making great contact lists.
It is also comforting to know that in my own marketing I have already been practicing much of what he preaches but on a much, much smaller scale. He almost has me convinced to take a jump into something bigger. But if I don't, I can use some of his techniques to hone the processes I'm already using.
Technorati Tags:
winton churchill, ron richards, resultslab, marketing books, email marketing, complex sales cycles, spam free, spam, the new book review
-------------
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an instructor for UCLA Extension's Writers’ Program. She is the author of two award-winning books, This Is the Place and Harkening. Her how-to book for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, is the winner of USA Book News' Best Professional Book and the Irwin Award. The second in the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, is also a USA Book News award winner and a Reader Views Literary award winner. She won the 2008 New Generation Award for Marketing. Learn more at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
Subtitle: Proven Ways to Produce a Continuous Flow of Prospects and Profits with
Effective, Spam-Free Email Systems
By Winton Churchill
Foreword by Ron Richards, President, ResultsLab
Morgan - James, 2008
ISBN 9781600374210
Nonfiction/Business
Author's Site: www.churchillmethod.com/
Contact Reviewer: HoJoNews@aol.com
Reviewed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, award-winning author of three books of fiction and poetry and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
Remember when we were advised, "Don't believe everything you read?" That's probably even more true in the Internet age than it was back in the days when I first heard it. That's one of the reasons I was glad to see the release of Email Marketing for Complex Sales Cycles by Winton Churchill.
See, I've always been vaguely aware that people get unnecessarily up in arms about SPAM. I see them let others censor the material they get delivered in their e-mail boxes all in the interest of kill, kill, killing the Dearly Beloved messages. I've seen them give up an old e-mail address to curtail the flow of SPAM, even though they are also giving up all kinds of networking contacts when they do so. I've seen them rant and rave about SPAM that was really only a query from someone who had found them doing a search on Google. I mean, that's why we have websites, so people can find us.
So when a real expert like Churchill tells it like it is, well . . . that is a wonderful, affirming experience for me. Churchill is a master marketer who has been quoted in the likes of The Wall Street Journal and Inc. Magazine. He also happens to know a good deal about e-marketing and he shares what he knows in this helpful marketing book.
Email Marketing is written primarily for big business people with large marketing budgets and big staffs. I would like to have seen Churchill specifically address how little guys might put his method to use on a smaller scale and a lot more frugally. But then I am the author behind the HowToDoItFrugally series of book for writers. With an emphasis on the word frugal.
That doesn't mean this author's methods can't be adapted to small business people, right down to small publishers—even individual authors. I found that many of his theories fit very well into the basics of great PR (things like building relationships rather than use the big four-letter word SELL). And that many of them can be adapted to less ambitious online processes like forging trust and making great contact lists.
It is also comforting to know that in my own marketing I have already been practicing much of what he preaches but on a much, much smaller scale. He almost has me convinced to take a jump into something bigger. But if I don't, I can use some of his techniques to hone the processes I'm already using.
Technorati Tags:
winton churchill, ron richards, resultslab, marketing books, email marketing, complex sales cycles, spam free, spam, the new book review
-------------
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is an instructor for UCLA Extension's Writers’ Program. She is the author of two award-winning books, This Is the Place and Harkening. Her how-to book for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, is the winner of USA Book News' Best Professional Book and the Irwin Award. The second in the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, is also a USA Book News award winner and a Reader Views Literary award winner. She won the 2008 New Generation Award for Marketing. Learn more at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
The Smoking Poet Reviews Linda Merlino's New Novel
Belly of the Whale
Linda Merlino, author
"A riveting story, both powerful
and poignant in its telling." H.Roughan,
NYTimes Bestselling Author
Reviewed by Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet, Summer 2008 issue
If you are a lover of fine literature, you know that sweet moment of discovery. This is why you read. This is why you open book cover after book cover, anticipating that golden moment. It happens when a newly opened book reaches from the printed page and into your mind, into your heart, and captures cleanly both imagination and resonant emotion. Opening Belly of the Whale, by first-time author, Linda Merlino, is such a golden moment.
I may never have picked this book up in any of my bookstore wanderings and treasure hunts. The dark cover with flashes of neon light, a tiny gunman, and a teary bald woman may have had me turn away. Don't judge. Not like that. For this book, arriving instead in my mailbox awaiting review in The Smoking Poet literary e-zine, may have begun as something of an editorial job ... but concluded with a new fan for writer Linda Merlino.
The story begins at the end.
"I fear that the dead are gathered here in this corner of Whales Market, that the sums of several lives are laid out on gurneys like me, and that yesterday I thought the worst thing happening was my breast cancer."
Hudson Catalina—"Hudson like the car, Catalina like the island, Hudson Catalina, I love you," her husband Jack whispers to her in their marriage-long game—is on the brink of giving up. Her mother has died of cancer, as has her grandmother. Now, after a double mastectomy, as she battles for life, or is it that she battles against the torments of medicine, chemo and radiation, 38-year-old Hudson wishes only to be done. Done. With all of this. Despite her four lovely babies, her ever patient and devoted husband, Hudson is beyond tired of the fight. It is Tuesday, and she throws some delicate treasure against the mirror, breaks all, feels broken herself, and has no patience left. Not even for the love of her family and closest friend. What's the point?
You know how that happens. You reach the end, what feels like the end, and when you think you have encountered the worst life can shovel on you, you encounter something even darker. Here is the belly of the whale, and Hudson is swallowed into it. Dragging herself out into a storm to go to a small grocery for a few items in preparation for her daughter's birthday, surely the last one she will share, Hudson becomes hostage to a young man gone mad with his own devastated heart and broken spirit. Here begins a nightmarish night of being held hostage, handcuffed to the dead and dying, hope threaded to another boy who is mentally incapacitated. Pressed that hard and so harshly against yet another wall in her waning life, Hudson Catalina makes some discoveries about herself and about where hope begins ... somewhere beyond the point where you think you lost it.
I am keeping my eye closely trained on this new author. Learning that Merlino wrote much of this book in longhand, scribbling notes throughout a busy mom's day, I understand the drive and motivation that could produce such a worthwhile read. In a day and age of a struggling publishing industry, just when you are about to lose hope in the literati, this kind of writing makes you find new hope yet again.
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
Linda Merlino, author
"A riveting story, both powerful
and poignant in its telling." H.Roughan,
NYTimes Bestselling Author
Reviewed by Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet, Summer 2008 issue
If you are a lover of fine literature, you know that sweet moment of discovery. This is why you read. This is why you open book cover after book cover, anticipating that golden moment. It happens when a newly opened book reaches from the printed page and into your mind, into your heart, and captures cleanly both imagination and resonant emotion. Opening Belly of the Whale, by first-time author, Linda Merlino, is such a golden moment.
I may never have picked this book up in any of my bookstore wanderings and treasure hunts. The dark cover with flashes of neon light, a tiny gunman, and a teary bald woman may have had me turn away. Don't judge. Not like that. For this book, arriving instead in my mailbox awaiting review in The Smoking Poet literary e-zine, may have begun as something of an editorial job ... but concluded with a new fan for writer Linda Merlino.
The story begins at the end.
"I fear that the dead are gathered here in this corner of Whales Market, that the sums of several lives are laid out on gurneys like me, and that yesterday I thought the worst thing happening was my breast cancer."
Hudson Catalina—"Hudson like the car, Catalina like the island, Hudson Catalina, I love you," her husband Jack whispers to her in their marriage-long game—is on the brink of giving up. Her mother has died of cancer, as has her grandmother. Now, after a double mastectomy, as she battles for life, or is it that she battles against the torments of medicine, chemo and radiation, 38-year-old Hudson wishes only to be done. Done. With all of this. Despite her four lovely babies, her ever patient and devoted husband, Hudson is beyond tired of the fight. It is Tuesday, and she throws some delicate treasure against the mirror, breaks all, feels broken herself, and has no patience left. Not even for the love of her family and closest friend. What's the point?
You know how that happens. You reach the end, what feels like the end, and when you think you have encountered the worst life can shovel on you, you encounter something even darker. Here is the belly of the whale, and Hudson is swallowed into it. Dragging herself out into a storm to go to a small grocery for a few items in preparation for her daughter's birthday, surely the last one she will share, Hudson becomes hostage to a young man gone mad with his own devastated heart and broken spirit. Here begins a nightmarish night of being held hostage, handcuffed to the dead and dying, hope threaded to another boy who is mentally incapacitated. Pressed that hard and so harshly against yet another wall in her waning life, Hudson Catalina makes some discoveries about herself and about where hope begins ... somewhere beyond the point where you think you lost it.
I am keeping my eye closely trained on this new author. Learning that Merlino wrote much of this book in longhand, scribbling notes throughout a busy mom's day, I understand the drive and motivation that could produce such a worthwhile read. In a day and age of a struggling publishing industry, just when you are about to lose hope in the literati, this kind of writing makes you find new hope yet again.
-----
The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, founder of Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com). It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews and reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page.
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