Blooming Red
Subtitle: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
By Magdalena Ball & Carolyn Howard-Johnson
ISBN 9781449948245
Reviewed by Joyce White for Amazon
Award winning and happily espoused poets, Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball, have teamed up once again, to help celebrate their love of the holidays with their new book of poetry, Blooming Red. Carolyn is the Frugal Book Promoter and the Frugal Editor. You can find Maggie at the popular Compulsive Reader.
Carolyn and Maggie work together virtually as Carolyn lives in California and Maggie lives in Australia. It fascinates me how these two poets team up and get the best out of each other. Each contributed 13 individual poems to this festive holiday collection of wit, family charm, and myth. If you’re wondering, they also collaborated on Cherished Pulse, She Wore Emerald Then, and Imagining the Future in the same way. All can be found at Amazon.com. Both of these women enjoy a common interest in celebrating their sexuality and sensuality in poetry during the holidays.
Carolyn experimented with abstract and form in her poetry, and some of her one-liners, are:
“Christmas is always a surprise package…no one wants to decorate a tree pushing a star to the top of a 14-foot high vaulted ceiling…”
“Christmases all to soon pass us by as others laid claim to our progeny…”
“we have more time to think…to write…to remember while “all the gremlins and ants…cleverly disappear until it is Christmas time again…”
Carolyn turned to Google to help her find an anteater to adopt or rent out for the holiday…Google’s keyword elf gave [her] the best gift of all Christmas gifts…the idea of making-dinner-reservations…out!
Carolyn writes “Natures best gifts and ours never silent…blessed by no human sound.”
Reading these two award winners is like partaking in their womanhood, tasting their femininity, and meeting their past head on. Their poems cry out for their inner child who still wants Santa to come visit them, you know…equality for all; and, I agree with Carolyn who says “[in] Einstein’s less than balanced world…we would be less than dead.”
Maggie writes of abundance and waste, of gluttonous dyspepsia…of the inability to digest joy when others are hungry, what cannot be created or destroyed…a huge database of Christmas past (found in the attic)…random messy knowledge curse of recall becoming parcels he could leap…with only one present leading him to greatness…with anticipation turning to memory before weeping eyes…a house full of dreams, visions and desires, each glass ball becoming a wish, taken from the tree of life we decorate at Christmas…super connections pulsing, through the anti-matter of your tired brain, wrought with nostalgia and wrung through time’s dryer…Once the paper’s gone, it’s just us again, tired, spent, remembering life…one tap of the keyboard a newbie springs forth…no sacrifices in blood here…this is a rational zone so many years on fertile.
Make your holiday great and read your family Blooming Red. It is a great holiday stuffer! Fun and Informal. Five Stars from me. Merry Christmas to everyone!
The reviewer is the author of Sculpting the Heart Book Reviews (http://www.sculptingtheheart.com/) and two books, Sculpting the Heart’s Poetry and Sculpting the Heart: Surviving Depression with Art Therapy, http://www.wingedforarttherapy.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 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
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.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Title: Promised Valley Rebellion
Author: Ron Fritsch
Author's website link: http://www.promisedvalley.com/
Genre: literary fiction
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-578-05778-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4524-4824-4
Reviewed by Kirkus Discoveries
Fritsch’s debut novel is a Paleolithic adventure in the manner of Jean Auel.
The story is very likely as old as human civilization: a younger generation comes of age, feels frustrated by its elders and rebels, bringing conflict, debate and even violence. The author gives readers little in the way of precise historical details about Promised Valley and its people: there are farmers, city dwellers and a court ruled by a royal family and run by bureaucratic tellers, but the events could be taking place almost anywhere in the world, in virtually any of the first few million years that followed the opening of the Pleistocene. This narrative imprecision is part of the point: when Tall Oak, the king, forbids his heir Morning Sun to marry the daughter of a farmer—and when this decision brings division and violence to his kingdom—the story encourages the reader to ponder the universal elements of the tale (the character names encourage the same thing, although after 100 pages of Spring Rain, Green Field and Noon Breeze, readers may want a quick-reference character list, which the book sadly lacks).* In other hands, this could result in some quite dreary reading, but Fritsch again and again saves his parable by granting his characters an easy, unforced humanity that is instantly inviting. His people may have generic names, but they sound like individuals, and that makes all the difference. At one point, Blue Sky talks about how lucky two of his friends are not to be royalty: ‘Anybody who isn’t the prince should be glad he isn’t,’ he says. ‘Someday Morning Sun will have to order people killed. Valley Defender and Solemn Promise won’t. We won’t.’ Moments like that are plentiful, and they make the story memorable.
A strange, primitive world that feels winningly real.
*Author’s comment: A character list appears in my website for the book, http://www.promisedvalley.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 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Author: Ron Fritsch
Author's website link: http://www.promisedvalley.com/
Genre: literary fiction
Paperback ISBN: 978-0-578-05778-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-4524-4824-4
Reviewed by Kirkus Discoveries
Fritsch’s debut novel is a Paleolithic adventure in the manner of Jean Auel.
The story is very likely as old as human civilization: a younger generation comes of age, feels frustrated by its elders and rebels, bringing conflict, debate and even violence. The author gives readers little in the way of precise historical details about Promised Valley and its people: there are farmers, city dwellers and a court ruled by a royal family and run by bureaucratic tellers, but the events could be taking place almost anywhere in the world, in virtually any of the first few million years that followed the opening of the Pleistocene. This narrative imprecision is part of the point: when Tall Oak, the king, forbids his heir Morning Sun to marry the daughter of a farmer—and when this decision brings division and violence to his kingdom—the story encourages the reader to ponder the universal elements of the tale (the character names encourage the same thing, although after 100 pages of Spring Rain, Green Field and Noon Breeze, readers may want a quick-reference character list, which the book sadly lacks).* In other hands, this could result in some quite dreary reading, but Fritsch again and again saves his parable by granting his characters an easy, unforced humanity that is instantly inviting. His people may have generic names, but they sound like individuals, and that makes all the difference. At one point, Blue Sky talks about how lucky two of his friends are not to be royalty: ‘Anybody who isn’t the prince should be glad he isn’t,’ he says. ‘Someday Morning Sun will have to order people killed. Valley Defender and Solemn Promise won’t. We won’t.’ Moments like that are plentiful, and they make the story memorable.
A strange, primitive world that feels winningly real.
*Author’s comment: A character list appears in my website for the book, http://www.promisedvalley.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 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Saturday, November 13, 2010
A Holiday Card Idea: Real Poetry
Little Known Poetry History: Chapbooks, a tradition in the poetry world since Elizabethan times, are named after the itinerant chapmen who travelled from village to village selling their goods.
My poetry partner Magdalena Ball and I figure there is no holiday greeting more meaningful than a poem—a real poem, not sing-songy impersonal verse from the shelves of card shops. With that in mind, we have created the Celebration Series of chapbooks and have released TaDa! Just in time for the holiday season! a chapbook titled Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational.
Now, here’s the exciting part. Literature lovers everywhere can order these chapbooks with full-color covers by prize-winning water colorist Vicki Thomas for only $3. each. That’s only $75 for 25 of the most memorable holiday greetings you’ve ever sent to your friends and relatives. Each booklet is a card and gift in one.
Blooming Red includes Maggie’s science-inspired and Carolyn’s nostalgic poetry. It also includes some humorous poems for fair measure.
Here is one of the lighter-spirited ones from me:
Cruising Santa Clause©
After the season of pinescent
and candlewax, here is Santa
of the Seas, a ringer for the real guy.
Jolly round bearded face, sans a pipe
clenched tight in his teeth, wearing
his off-duty uniform, candy-cane-colored
running shoes, green gabardines, cranberry
worsted blazer, rhinestone-studded
lapel pin, and always with the Mrs, she as gray
as a Midwest winter day, beside his hollyberry
splendor. I peek discreetly. There walking
among Etruscan tombs, perched on remnants
of a Corinthian capitol at Ephesus
as if it were a stool, bright red and green
against the sand at Giza, wandering
through the ship’s casino, poking a placard
high to bid on a Kincaid canvas replica
(Ahhhh! The colored lights illuminating
the snow embellished by the master
himself). Best of all, night of nights! Santa
seated front row in the Stardust
Theater, other upfront guests volunteer
him to saw the gammy woman in red fringe
and sequins in half. He hesitates not a moment,
but went straight to his work.
The chapbooks in the Celebration Series include Cherished Pulse (for anyone you love), also with artwork from California artist Vicki Thomas (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse ); She Wore Emerald Then (for mothers on your gift list) with photographs by May Lattanzio (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook ); Imagining the Future: For Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions (for the men in your life) (www.budurl.com/Imagining ).
And now Blooming Red for the special folks on your holiday list! (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed ). All are available individually at only $6.95 on Amazon but are only $3. each when ordered in quantities of 25 or more directly from the poets. Put HOLIDAY ORDER in the subject line and send an e-mail to me at HoJoNews@aol.com. I will make payment arrangements with you and give you the small shipping cost for the number you order.
Magdalena Ball runs the highly respected CompulsiveReader.com review site. She is the author of the poetry book Repulsion Thrust, which was published to unanimous five-star reviews. Her novel Sleep Before Evening, was a Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's poetry appears frequently in review journals. She is listed in Poets & Writers and her chapbook of poetry, Tracings (http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings ), was given the Award of Excellence by the Military Writers Society of America and She Wore Emerald Then won its highest honor of gold. One of her poems recently won the Franklin Christoph Poetry Prize. She is also an award-winning novelist and short story writer and instructor for UCLA Extension Writers' Program.
For more information on any of the chapbooks in this poetry series, contact either of the authors or visit media rooms at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/ or http://www.magdalenaball.com/ . To learn more about artist Vicki Thomas and to see her work, go to http://www.vickithomasartist.com/
Wishing you a lovely autumn and winter season,
Carolyn
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
My poetry partner Magdalena Ball and I figure there is no holiday greeting more meaningful than a poem—a real poem, not sing-songy impersonal verse from the shelves of card shops. With that in mind, we have created the Celebration Series of chapbooks and have released TaDa! Just in time for the holiday season! a chapbook titled Blooming Red: Christmas Poetry for the Rational.
Now, here’s the exciting part. Literature lovers everywhere can order these chapbooks with full-color covers by prize-winning water colorist Vicki Thomas for only $3. each. That’s only $75 for 25 of the most memorable holiday greetings you’ve ever sent to your friends and relatives. Each booklet is a card and gift in one.
Blooming Red includes Maggie’s science-inspired and Carolyn’s nostalgic poetry. It also includes some humorous poems for fair measure.
Here is one of the lighter-spirited ones from me:
Cruising Santa Clause©
After the season of pinescent
and candlewax, here is Santa
of the Seas, a ringer for the real guy.
Jolly round bearded face, sans a pipe
clenched tight in his teeth, wearing
his off-duty uniform, candy-cane-colored
running shoes, green gabardines, cranberry
worsted blazer, rhinestone-studded
lapel pin, and always with the Mrs, she as gray
as a Midwest winter day, beside his hollyberry
splendor. I peek discreetly. There walking
among Etruscan tombs, perched on remnants
of a Corinthian capitol at Ephesus
as if it were a stool, bright red and green
against the sand at Giza, wandering
through the ship’s casino, poking a placard
high to bid on a Kincaid canvas replica
(Ahhhh! The colored lights illuminating
the snow embellished by the master
himself). Best of all, night of nights! Santa
seated front row in the Stardust
Theater, other upfront guests volunteer
him to saw the gammy woman in red fringe
and sequins in half. He hesitates not a moment,
but went straight to his work.
The chapbooks in the Celebration Series include Cherished Pulse (for anyone you love), also with artwork from California artist Vicki Thomas (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse ); She Wore Emerald Then (for mothers on your gift list) with photographs by May Lattanzio (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook ); Imagining the Future: For Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions (for the men in your life) (www.budurl.com/Imagining ).
And now Blooming Red for the special folks on your holiday list! (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed ). All are available individually at only $6.95 on Amazon but are only $3. each when ordered in quantities of 25 or more directly from the poets. Put HOLIDAY ORDER in the subject line and send an e-mail to me at HoJoNews@aol.com. I will make payment arrangements with you and give you the small shipping cost for the number you order.
Magdalena Ball runs the highly respected CompulsiveReader.com review site. She is the author of the poetry book Repulsion Thrust, which was published to unanimous five-star reviews. Her novel Sleep Before Evening, was a Next Generation Indie Book Awards Finalist.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's poetry appears frequently in review journals. She is listed in Poets & Writers and her chapbook of poetry, Tracings (http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings ), was given the Award of Excellence by the Military Writers Society of America and She Wore Emerald Then won its highest honor of gold. One of her poems recently won the Franklin Christoph Poetry Prize. She is also an award-winning novelist and short story writer and instructor for UCLA Extension Writers' Program.
For more information on any of the chapbooks in this poetry series, contact either of the authors or visit media rooms at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/ or http://www.magdalenaball.com/ . To learn more about artist Vicki Thomas and to see her work, go to http://www.vickithomasartist.com/
Wishing you a lovely autumn and winter season,
Carolyn
-----
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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Authoring Magic with Addition & Subtraction
The Rewritten Word: How to Sculpt Literary Art, No Matter the Genre (Kindle Edition)
By Aggie Villanueva (Paperback - Oct 6, 2010)
Paperback: 60 pages
Publisher: Cielos Rojos Publishing (October 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098259142X
ISBN-13: 978-0982591420
Reviewed by W. Joyce White
When artful thoughts begin careening at full speed in the writer's mind they are seldom finished products. Our creative thoughts need our involvement, blood, sweat and tears. We need to learn to add and subtract to improve our writing. Like Aggie tells us, we never get too good to improve our writing. Amazon reads, "The only How-to-Write book that has nothing to do with writing. It's all about rewriting. Whittle away what buries the art of your words beneath pulp, no matter the topic, no matter the genre."
What a lot of us do when beginning to write is ramble. This happens when our ego wants to be the star of the show. I like Aggie's view point to sculpt away the wood to get to the pulp or art. I also like her advice to launch readers into your word flow, and guide them with a concise rudder. No book is ever written, it is rewritten but what keeps our readers reading? I suspect the subject; next I think it is how well we know the subject. Third, and not the least, Aggie assures us that clarity and conciseness keep us published and read. Aggie has got the experience and know-how to advise us. Under her Visual Arts Junction umbrella, Aggie has launched Promotion รก la Carte, author promotional services where, guided by her experience and organizational/marketing savvy, authors gain the most promotional bang for their buck.
As well as grammar tips, tool tips, adding and subtracting tips to rewrite, Aggie gives us seven wonderful webs to check out with regard to rewriting and editing. Editing Primer and Promotion a la Carte were my favorites. Writing is fun and medicinal but rewriting and promoting can be a drag. I've learned a lot from Aggie, her web and The Rewritten Word. I learned not to use I so much; to not use many ings; and to trust the experts like Aggie when it comes to rewriting, editing, promotion and getting our books published. Whether you are a beginner writer or not, you will want to keep this reference book handy to learn or relearn the magic of addition and subtraction when rewriting. Smooth, easy reading, FIVE STARS for Amazon.
----Reviewed by Joyce White, reviewer and author of Sculpting the Heart: Surviving Depression with Art Therapy and Sculpting the Heart's Poetry
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
By Aggie Villanueva (Paperback - Oct 6, 2010)
Paperback: 60 pages
Publisher: Cielos Rojos Publishing (October 6, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098259142X
ISBN-13: 978-0982591420
Reviewed by W. Joyce White
When artful thoughts begin careening at full speed in the writer's mind they are seldom finished products. Our creative thoughts need our involvement, blood, sweat and tears. We need to learn to add and subtract to improve our writing. Like Aggie tells us, we never get too good to improve our writing. Amazon reads, "The only How-to-Write book that has nothing to do with writing. It's all about rewriting. Whittle away what buries the art of your words beneath pulp, no matter the topic, no matter the genre."
What a lot of us do when beginning to write is ramble. This happens when our ego wants to be the star of the show. I like Aggie's view point to sculpt away the wood to get to the pulp or art. I also like her advice to launch readers into your word flow, and guide them with a concise rudder. No book is ever written, it is rewritten but what keeps our readers reading? I suspect the subject; next I think it is how well we know the subject. Third, and not the least, Aggie assures us that clarity and conciseness keep us published and read. Aggie has got the experience and know-how to advise us. Under her Visual Arts Junction umbrella, Aggie has launched Promotion รก la Carte, author promotional services where, guided by her experience and organizational/marketing savvy, authors gain the most promotional bang for their buck.
As well as grammar tips, tool tips, adding and subtracting tips to rewrite, Aggie gives us seven wonderful webs to check out with regard to rewriting and editing. Editing Primer and Promotion a la Carte were my favorites. Writing is fun and medicinal but rewriting and promoting can be a drag. I've learned a lot from Aggie, her web and The Rewritten Word. I learned not to use I so much; to not use many ings; and to trust the experts like Aggie when it comes to rewriting, editing, promotion and getting our books published. Whether you are a beginner writer or not, you will want to keep this reference book handy to learn or relearn the magic of addition and subtraction when rewriting. Smooth, easy reading, FIVE STARS for Amazon.
----Reviewed by Joyce White, reviewer and author of Sculpting the Heart: Surviving Depression with Art Therapy and Sculpting the Heart's Poetry
-----
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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee
By Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
http://www.stuartbramhall.com/
Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-60911-858-7
Publisher: Eloquent Books
Price: $17.95 US
Originally reviewed by Emily Jane Hills Orford for All Books Review
Do you feel safe in your house at night? Have you ever wondered about those annoying, middle-of-the-night phone calls that you thought were just a random wrong number? Have you noticed someone following you? Frightening? Yes! Imagine having this happen relentlessly for years: phone calls at all hours of the day and night; people following you; people pretending to be your friend, your client, your patient; people breaking into your house; people threatening your life; people ending the lives of people you have come to know through your practice and your volunteer activities. These things are frightening enough without the added phone taps and tampering with the television cable so that the programming is altered to implement a direct personal assault on an individual’s mental health. This and more happened to an American psychiatrist, Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall. Not only did these threats affect her safety and that of her daughter, they also affected her psychiatric practice and had her committed to the psychiatric ward, induced with countless drugs and labelled as being psychotically paranoid and manic depressive. Why? It all started when she tried to help transform an abandoned school in Seattle into an African American Museum.
Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall is a captivating storyteller. Her memoir, The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee, chronicles thirty years of her life as she tried to maintain her psychiatric practice in Seattle, Washington, while raising a daughter and being actively involved in several volunteer groups that rigorously sought to improve the lives of ordinary Americans. Her fight to bring research on safe AIDS treatment to the fore in the 1970s struck a raw-nerve in certain government departments. Her fight to defend African Americans abused by the system, abused by the police, resulted in greater harassment. She also lobbied for basic health care insurance for all Americans; helped establish and support, both financially and physically, the African American Museum; and she was frequently sought to financially back those who were wrongly accused in the Seattle justice system. Her views on American politics may have seemed radical to many; but hearing her story, from her point-of-view, one begins to wonder if there isn’t a conspiracy out there to block the so-called ‘freedom of speech’ right and condemn those who dare to question it.
Dr. Bramhall continued her practice in Seattle, despite the continual harassment and death threats, for thirty years. She had no desire to uproot her daughter during her early school years. After her daughter moved away to university, Dr. Bramhall made her decision to immigrate. She accepted a posting in New Zealand, and made the move. She is currently practicing child and adolescent psychiatry in New Plymouth.
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee is an almost shocking memoir about what lies beneath the world as we want to see it. The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee is highly recommended by Allbooks reviewer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
By Dr Stuart Jeanne Bramhall
http://www.stuartbramhall.com/
Memoir
ISBN: 978-1-60911-858-7
Publisher: Eloquent Books
Price: $17.95 US
Originally reviewed by Emily Jane Hills Orford for All Books Review
Do you feel safe in your house at night? Have you ever wondered about those annoying, middle-of-the-night phone calls that you thought were just a random wrong number? Have you noticed someone following you? Frightening? Yes! Imagine having this happen relentlessly for years: phone calls at all hours of the day and night; people following you; people pretending to be your friend, your client, your patient; people breaking into your house; people threatening your life; people ending the lives of people you have come to know through your practice and your volunteer activities. These things are frightening enough without the added phone taps and tampering with the television cable so that the programming is altered to implement a direct personal assault on an individual’s mental health. This and more happened to an American psychiatrist, Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall. Not only did these threats affect her safety and that of her daughter, they also affected her psychiatric practice and had her committed to the psychiatric ward, induced with countless drugs and labelled as being psychotically paranoid and manic depressive. Why? It all started when she tried to help transform an abandoned school in Seattle into an African American Museum.
Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall is a captivating storyteller. Her memoir, The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee, chronicles thirty years of her life as she tried to maintain her psychiatric practice in Seattle, Washington, while raising a daughter and being actively involved in several volunteer groups that rigorously sought to improve the lives of ordinary Americans. Her fight to bring research on safe AIDS treatment to the fore in the 1970s struck a raw-nerve in certain government departments. Her fight to defend African Americans abused by the system, abused by the police, resulted in greater harassment. She also lobbied for basic health care insurance for all Americans; helped establish and support, both financially and physically, the African American Museum; and she was frequently sought to financially back those who were wrongly accused in the Seattle justice system. Her views on American politics may have seemed radical to many; but hearing her story, from her point-of-view, one begins to wonder if there isn’t a conspiracy out there to block the so-called ‘freedom of speech’ right and condemn those who dare to question it.
Dr. Bramhall continued her practice in Seattle, despite the continual harassment and death threats, for thirty years. She had no desire to uproot her daughter during her early school years. After her daughter moved away to university, Dr. Bramhall made her decision to immigrate. She accepted a posting in New Zealand, and made the move. She is currently practicing child and adolescent psychiatry in New Plymouth.
The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee is an almost shocking memoir about what lies beneath the world as we want to see it. The Most Revolutionary Act: Memoir of an American Refugee is highly recommended by Allbooks reviewer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford, Allbooks Reviews.
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Monday, November 8, 2010
How To Get Kids To Read More by Having Fun
How to Turn Your Book Club into a Spectacular Event
By Mayra Calvani
ISBN 9781606192290
Twitlight Times Books, Kingsport, TN
Reviewed originally for Amazon by Amazon Vine Voice Carolyn Howard-Johnson
In these times when people say children don't read enough, along comes Mayra Calvani with this adorable little how-to book. What an idea! Turn reading into a party! A social event! A project! I hope teachers everywhere grab onto this idea as a way to encourage their students to read. And (of course!) use this booklet as their guide.
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The reviewer is an award-winning poet, novelist, and author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Naturally she would like to see more young people grow up as avid readers.
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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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
By Mayra Calvani
ISBN 9781606192290
Twitlight Times Books, Kingsport, TN
Reviewed originally for Amazon by Amazon Vine Voice Carolyn Howard-Johnson
In these times when people say children don't read enough, along comes Mayra Calvani with this adorable little how-to book. What an idea! Turn reading into a party! A social event! A project! I hope teachers everywhere grab onto this idea as a way to encourage their students to read. And (of course!) use this booklet as their guide.
----------
The reviewer is an award-winning poet, novelist, and author of the HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Naturally she would like to see more young people grow up as avid readers.
-----
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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Tackling Joblessness in Practical and Spiritual Ways
Title: Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go
Author: Marietta Taylor
Author's website link: http://www.mariettataylor.net/
Genre: Inspirational, Devotional
ISBN: 1-934626-13-9
Originally reviewed for Breathe Again Magazine by Adrienne Adams
Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go Positive: Advice for a Negative Situation is a 31-day devotional that provides encouragement and practical advice to women who are facing the effects of either their own or their spouses’ unemployment.
This is not a Pollyanna devotional. It tackles the specifics of day to day living through tough issues, such as handling anger, finding new ways to generate cash flow, and preparing for an extended job search.
Review:
When Marietta Taylor and her husband relocated from Chicago, Illinois to Raleigh, North Carolina, they encountered a life-changing surprise. With two young daughters in tow, their move was dependent upon both their incomes. While Marietta began work as planned, Rick’s promise of a job transfer fell through. Feelings of excited anticipation quickly gave way to panic, uncertainty, and fear of the struggles to come.
As the lady of the house, Taylor begins the astounding task of working a full-time job, getting her daughters adjusted to their new school, and helping her husband to start from scratch, piecing together a resume, scouring employment listings, and going on job interviews.
Marietta Taylor’s book, “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” is a devotional that reads like an e-mail from a friend. She is candid, smart, and funny. She reveals to you the things that most people wouldn’t, just so you can learn from her experiences. Each chapter has a scriptural reference and a prayer focus that condition you to hold on to the Lord’s promises and obey His Word, even as the storm of circumstances make you a little unsteady.
“Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” offers tips on thankfulness (Taylor’s family challenged themselves to find a ‘silver lining’ during the worst days), frugality and money-making (She never shopped without a coupon and sold to consignment shops for extra cash), and keeping a consistent relationship with God (She says that prayer is like anti-itch cream…re-apply as needed.)
The emotions and obstacles brought about by unemployment are some that many of us face each day in different situations. There is debt, marital discord, and the tough job of trying to meet the needs of everyone in the family. I would recommend this devotional to any woman who manages a household.
Taylor shows us that we can live, love, and laugh through our issues, and make the best possible decisions, while we trust God to lead us out of them.
Read an excerpt of “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go” at http://www.mariettataylor.net/ . Get your copy at http://www.edmbookstore.com/ .
Reviewer Adrienne Adams is president of the Write Vision Group, http://www.wtvmin.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 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
Author: Marietta Taylor
Author's website link: http://www.mariettataylor.net/
Genre: Inspirational, Devotional
ISBN: 1-934626-13-9
Originally reviewed for Breathe Again Magazine by Adrienne Adams
Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go Positive: Advice for a Negative Situation is a 31-day devotional that provides encouragement and practical advice to women who are facing the effects of either their own or their spouses’ unemployment.
This is not a Pollyanna devotional. It tackles the specifics of day to day living through tough issues, such as handling anger, finding new ways to generate cash flow, and preparing for an extended job search.
Review:
When Marietta Taylor and her husband relocated from Chicago, Illinois to Raleigh, North Carolina, they encountered a life-changing surprise. With two young daughters in tow, their move was dependent upon both their incomes. While Marietta began work as planned, Rick’s promise of a job transfer fell through. Feelings of excited anticipation quickly gave way to panic, uncertainty, and fear of the struggles to come.
As the lady of the house, Taylor begins the astounding task of working a full-time job, getting her daughters adjusted to their new school, and helping her husband to start from scratch, piecing together a resume, scouring employment listings, and going on job interviews.
Marietta Taylor’s book, “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” is a devotional that reads like an e-mail from a friend. She is candid, smart, and funny. She reveals to you the things that most people wouldn’t, just so you can learn from her experiences. Each chapter has a scriptural reference and a prayer focus that condition you to hold on to the Lord’s promises and obey His Word, even as the storm of circumstances make you a little unsteady.
“Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go,” offers tips on thankfulness (Taylor’s family challenged themselves to find a ‘silver lining’ during the worst days), frugality and money-making (She never shopped without a coupon and sold to consignment shops for extra cash), and keeping a consistent relationship with God (She says that prayer is like anti-itch cream…re-apply as needed.)
The emotions and obstacles brought about by unemployment are some that many of us face each day in different situations. There is debt, marital discord, and the tough job of trying to meet the needs of everyone in the family. I would recommend this devotional to any woman who manages a household.
Taylor shows us that we can live, love, and laugh through our issues, and make the best possible decisions, while we trust God to lead us out of them.
Read an excerpt of “Surviving Unemployment Devotions to Go” at http://www.mariettataylor.net/ . Get your copy at http://www.edmbookstore.com/ .
Reviewer Adrienne Adams is president of the Write Vision Group, http://www.wtvmin.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 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. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :
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