Novel Explores Dysfuntionalism, Clergy Pedophilia, Suppressed Sexuality

OF LITTLE FAITH
A Novel
By Carol Hoenig
www.carolhoenig.com
Publisher: Steel Cut Press
Publication date: October 22, 2013
Price: $14.95
ISBN: 978-1-936380-05-3

Published with permission from ForeWord Review Magazine


A raw yet sensitive portrayal of hypocrisy set against the backdrop of the
tumultuous 1960s presents the struggles of a liberal woman in the context of
her conservative family and upbringing.

Brutally frank and devastatingly real, this exceptional novel explores the
dynamics of a dysfunctional family while calling attention to hypocritical
behavior. Dredged memories of clergy pedophilia during the 1950s mingle with
suppressed sexuality and feminist perceptions of a biblical world. Narrated
from the distinctive viewpoints of four protagonists, the story reveals that
interpretation of religious structure is highly personal, not a matter of
dogma.

Two sisters, a brother, and a sister-in-law cannot agree on whether to sell
their childhood home that is occupied by the sibling with a zealous attitude
toward fundamentalist religion. Pitted against this woman are her liberal
sister, Laura, who wishes to have a child without the entanglement of marriage
during a time when it remains unacceptable, and her brother, who is a married
minister who remains childless.

Laura, having been molested by a pastor, maintains a straightforward, carefree
lifestyle that showcases the flaws of conservative purists who resist change.
Through Laura's eyes, a sincere desire cannot tolerate a "should" or a "must"
in a preordained plan; rather, it is the spontaneity of living that enlightens
those who seek the guidance of a higher power.

Filled with twists and surprises, this absorbing novel fulfills expectations
without giving itself away. The end will astound even the most jaded.
Meticulous effort, as well as personal experience, enhances the authenticity of
Hoenig's work, bringing to light a captivating though frightening decade.
Women's rights, the Vietnam War, and civil-rights protests set the backdrop for
this engrossing exploration of human character.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Carol Hoenig is president of her own publishing consultant firm and an
award-winning author with a gift for insightful storytelling. Her involvement
in fundamentalism and later rejection of the church bring to light this
sensitive portrayal of a fascinating cast of characters.

*Of Little Faith* delivers a punch to old-school beliefs while spotlighting the
period when progress for women battled nightmarish condemnation and
self-centered ritual.

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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.

Midwest Review Calls Novel "Minor Literary Masterpiece"

 

Stormy Weather
By Dermot Davis
Expression Unleashed Publishing
www.expressionunleashed.com
9780984418114
$10.95
132 pp.
www.amazon.com

A Midwest Book Review Review


Synopsis: Robert Munro, a therapist specializing in dream interpretation, awoke one morning to find himself in a dream from which he could not awaken. Experiencing first hand the limitations of his own training and theories, he must solve the puzzle of his own dream in order to break free from its bondage. In the process, he'll better understand himself, other people, and the nature of consciousness itself.

Critique: With "Stormy Weather", novelist Dermot Davis has deftly crafted a minor literary masterpiece. Fully engaging from beginning to end, this fictional portrayal of the role of dreams with respect to human behavior is as entertaining as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library contemporary fiction collections, it should also be noted that "Stormy Weather" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/sbw/nov_13.htm#Fiction
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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.

Poet In His 90s Pens Speak, Old Parrot

Speak, Old Parrot

by Dannie Abse
Author's Web site: http://www.dannieabse.com

ISBN: 9780091944643
Genre: poetry
Available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0091944643/karelsoftw-21
Available on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/speak-old-parrot/id616694158?mt=11
Hutchinson, 2013.
80 pp.
$27.95 (hardcover) and
$13.99 (eBook). 

Reviewed by Katelyn S. Eden

Dannie Abse, doctor, author, playwright, and most famously, poet, revisits many of the themes of his previous works in his most recent poetry collection, Speak, Old Parrot. Abse, prolific author and recent winner of the Wales Book of the Year Award, enchants and enthralls readers of every age with his musings on the themes of love, loss, death, medicine, and tradition.

The body of work aligns with the jewel-toned parrot on the cover, speaking to both the bird’s ability to talk of tragedy and hilarity alike, and to Abse’s ability to deal deftly and vividly with these primary elements throughout the collection. In Speak, Old Parrot, the lyrical and narrative elements that form the skeleton for many of Abse’s works are palpable; yet, Abse retains the clever witticisms, sharp imagery, and eloquent narrative style that he is known for. As Abse enjoys his ninetieth year in 2013, the motifs of aging and the frailty of existence are at the heart of the collection:

Now Time wastes me and there’s hardly time

to fuss for more vascular speech.

 

The aspen tree trembles as I do

and there are feathers in the wind.

 

Quick, quick,

speak, old parrot,

do I not feed you with my life?

(“Talking to Myself,” 1-2)

 

“Talking to Myself” and others in the collection share the unique and uncomfortable juxtaposition of bright mind and aging body and Abse adeptly captures this unique juncture in one’s life in this collection. Abse’s masterful handling of enjambment and spare, powerful diction are akin to his other collections, and especially the poems anthologized in On Doctoring. “Portrait of an Old Doctor,” too, highlights Abse’s multifaceted poetic style and the experiences that are the indelible thread in Abse’s works:

He had been a confidence man for the patient.

That’s how it was in The Theatre of Disease

and, at the final act, he had lifted

his stethoscope to listen as if to Mozart.

 

Then, silently, relatives and friends filed out.

No applause. None for Hippocrates’ art.

(“Portrait of an Old Doctor,” 5)

 

In Speak, Old Parrot, it is clear that Abse’s poems are designed to be savored; each beautiful, tragic, humorous, and lyrical layer affects the reader differently, and combined, such as in “Portrait of an Old Doctor,” the effect holds a certain power that only expert poets such as Abse can successfully wield. Abse’s compassion and humility as a physician shines through in this collection, and his reverence for humanity is truly unmatched.

On a more solemn vein, Speak, Old Parrot deals honestly and painfully with the themes of love and loss. “Moonbright,” a poem regarding the death of the speaker’s father, describes with raw emotion the last moments of the father’s life and the first moments of loss for the speaker:

At home, feeling hollow, I shamelessly wept

-whether for you or myself I do not know.

Tonight a bracing wind makes my eyes cry

while a cloud dociles an impudent moon

that is and was, and is again, and was.

 

Men become mortal the night their fathers die.

(“Moonbright,” 9)

 

The sheer weight of loss, the depth of pain that is clear in the poem, is enough to make heavy even the hardest of hearts; but Abse’s ability to display honest emotion through the masterful craftsmanship of the poetic line is what sets his poems apart from his renowned contemporaries, namely William Carlos Williams. In keeping with the shifty ventriloquist personality of the parrot that the collection draws its inspiration from, the poem following “Moonbright” is “Sunbright,” a delicate, dazzling rendering of the speaker’s first encounter with a beautiful woman. The collection is arranged not by subject matter, but rather in an arcing of human emotion, spanning from childlike wonder, to all-consuming lust, to love, to devastating pain and anger at death and loss.

Perhaps the most distinct and wonderful element of Abse’s collection, and his works in general, is his ability to effortlessly ensnare the reader in the heart of his work and tug him or her along, gently, through the spectrum of human emotion and experience. Anyone who reads Speak, Old Parrot will benefit from it. Young readers will relish the lively, passionate, travel-oriented poems; seasoned readers will savor the difficult truths of aging and reassuring tradition; and many readers will enjoy the Romantic undercurrent in the poems that deal with the subject of love present in the collection. From cover to cover, the reader becomes invested in the power of Abse’s words, the concentrated structures of his poems, and his unparalleled translation of human experience into ink on the page.

Speak, Old Parrot is a brilliant collection that is accessible to any reader. Abse challenges the reader to fully explore the power of the human frame and emotion, and it is truly a joy to extract the essence of the collection. Abse is a poetic titan and incomparable wordsmith, and Speak, Old Parrot is the inimitable concentration of poetry that speaks to almost all of his other collections. Speak, Old Parrot is the impressive flourish with which Abse began his ninetieth year, and he reveals no sign of slowing his unbelievable pace or work any time soon.

 

 

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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.

Outdoor Nonfiction Gets Five-Star Rave

Title: A Season on the Allegheny

Author: Robert T. Hilliard
Author's Website: http://www.facebook.com/ASeasonontheAllegheny
Genre: Non-Fiction, Outdoors
ISBN-13: 978-1475201161
Reviewer's Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Amazon Page for A Season on the Allegheny :
http://www.amazon.com/Season-Allegheny-Robert-T-Hilliard/dp/1475201168/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Reviewed by Richard Harris, originally for Amazon

 

This book is written in an uninhibited style that rings true and authentic. There is no pretense or unnecessary drama. No feeling that the author is trying to impress or persuade. He simply invites you to share his experiences and thoughts while deftly weaving his hunting adventures with his interest in conservation and history. Thankfully, this book is not a vehicle to push a certain agenda or philosophy, but presents enough information for you to contemplate these issues and come to your own conclusions. And just when the issues start to get a little heavy, the hunt is on and you are along for the ride.

The hunting adventures are my favorite part of this book and always left me wishing there were a few more pages left to read. It's refreshing that the author doesn't define a successful hunt by the game that was taken, but rather by the experience itself. "A Season on the Allegheny" manages to capture the suspense, challenge, and thrill of hunting regardless of the outcome in a writing style that is both competent and compelling. In many ways the issues and almost spiritual connection with nature resonate with me most. I find myself thinking of hunting and conservation in a different way, while at the same time deeply inspired to spend more time in the mountains. If the author's goal was to entertain, educate, and inspire, he definitely succeeded with this effort.

About the Author: Robert Hilliard has written numerous feature articles for magazines such as Upland Almanac, Pennsylvania Wildlife, Pittsburgh History Magazine, ESPNOutdoors.com, Ohio Game and Fish, and Pennsylvania Game and Fish. Hilliard was also a contributing author for the 2000 book Rivers of Destiny. 

Follow Rob on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ASeasonontheAllegheny , Google+ at plus.google.com/+RobertHilliard , or on Twitter @RobHilliard_66

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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.

Get Inspired and Organize for Your Next Book

Author You: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms
By Dr. Judith Briles
From The Author YOU Series
Genre: Nonfiction: Workbook/Authors/Writing
Find Dr. Briles other helps for authors in her Author U group on LinkedIn

Recommended Book: I loved Author You: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms--from the workbook aspect (something a little different in the world of book marketing)--to the layout and artwork. This is not intended to be a complete book on book marketing. It IS a coach in print (yes, inspirational!) and an organizer and a thought-provoker. Couple it with a how-to book like Marilyn Ross's Complete Book of Self Publishing or The Frugal Book Promoter and a beginning author (or author considering a new book) will have everything she needs to do a great job (or a better, more thoughtful job than she did last time around). "It takes a village to create and market your book" and author Judith Briles provides that village.

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Dr. Judith Briles 

The Book Shepherd | Author and Publishing Expert
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Radio Show Host
Chief Visionary Officer of AuthorU.org
Learn more at:
http://briles.com
Skype: Judith.Briles
and www.AuthorU.org  and www.PublishingAtSea.com
Author YOU: Creating and Building Your Author and Book Platforms: #1 Best-Seller
on Amazon and award winner: 2013 International Book Award, 2013 Indie Excellence Award, 2013 Independent Book Publishers Award, 2013 USA News Book Award
Listen to Judith on Radio Thursdays, 6 Eastern: http://togi.us/authoru   
Follow Judith on Twitter - @MyBookShepherd and @AuthorU
Join Judith on Facebook - Author U, TheBookShepherd
Connect with Judith on LinkedIn – Judith Briles and join the Author U group
Share with Judith on Google+ - +JudithBriles
Read her Blog - http://ow.ly/mxKph

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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.

Former Journalist Pens 5 Star Mystery--Humor, Too!

Coda to Murder

Author: J.Q. Rose

Author's Web Site: http://www.JQRose.com
Genre: Christian romance and mystery
ISBN 978-1-77127-274-2

Reviewer: Sue Pernz 

Reviewer's Link: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com/

Buy Link: Amazon.com http://tinyurl.com/ap376tb

bn.com and major online booksellers.

 

 

Reviewed by Sue Pernz  originally published on amazon.com

5 star review

This review is from: Coda to Murder (Kindle Edition)

At first this seems like an ordinary murder with romance, but J.Q. Rose has brought in her usual (or should I say unusual) sense of humor. A cat, pig and kangaroo also take major parts in the story. Christine gets into all sorts of situations, both dangerous and funny, when she tries to solve the murder mystery.

I have read J.Q. Rose's books before and this is another good one. The author has that uncanny knack of putting together a serious situation with a touch of humor. Not too much, just enough to lighten the thread, without being insulting to the deceased. J.Q. Rose managed to make romance and murder a believable possibility and for this I commend her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which says a lot as I don't usually read inspirational books, but this is a definite "can't put it down" book. Well done Ms Rose, can't wait for the next book from your writing desk.

About J.Q. Rose

After writing feature articles in magazines, newspapers, and online magazines for over fifteen years, J.Q. Rose entered the world of fiction writing with her first published novella, Sunshine Boulevard, released by MuseItUp Publishing in 2011. Her latest mystery, Coda to Murder, was released in February. Blogging, photography, Pegs and Jokers board games, and travel are the things that keep her out of trouble. Spending winters in Florida with her husband allows Janet the opportunity to enjoy the life of a snowbird. Summer finds her camping and hunting toads, frogs, and salamanders with her four grandsons and granddaughter.

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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 read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine 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.