The New Book Review

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Truman State Prof Reviews New Historical Fiction

Title of novel: Antigone and Creon: Guardians of Thebes

Authors of novel: Victoria Grossack & Alice Underwood

Website: www.tapestryofbronze.com
Genre: Historical Fiction
ISBN-13: 978-1482794410
Number of pages: 432 pages
Publisher: Create Space

Reviewed by Bob Mielke, Professor of English at Truman State University

Antigone and Creon: Guardians of Thebes by Victoria Grossack and Alice Underwood is their fifth, latest and best installment of the Tapestry of Bronze series.

Antigone is certainly the most iconic and evergreen character in Greek legend, a timeless embodiment of civil disobedience for the right reasons. She gives our authors a lot to work with. Appropriately, they do her full justice. Not only is she fleshed out psychologically far beyond what Sophocles could accomplish in his drama; her life is given surprising (but defensible) plot twists. So -- as was not the case with their earlier Jocasta -- the complacent reader will have the narrative rug pulled out from under them on occasion.

This book works on every level: as a thriller and a mystery, as a deep evocation of ancient Greece right down to the minutiae of its folkways, as thoughtful entertainment. Grossack and Underwood join the likes of Mary Renault, Robert Graves and Norman Mailer as unsurpassed revivifiers of antiquity. Hollywood should option this!

Meanwhile, prepare to be enthralled by the print version....

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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.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Mainstream/Literary Read on Culture Gets Five Stars

Title: Tall man small shadow
Author: Vipin Behari Goyal
Author's Web site link: http://vipinbeharigoyal.blogspot.in/
Genre: Fiction/ Literature
ISBN : 978-8182534124
Book Cover

Available on Amazon
Rating-5 star

Reviewed By Rosa Maria originally for Amazon.com

TMSS: The Power of the Cultural Matriarch, July 30, 2013

This novel is truly a challenging read on many levels. Each vivid character is faced with a highly emotional life situation that threatens his/her cultural traditions and social standing. Just as we begin to fear that the central characters cannot possibly get their lives on the right track and the threat of suicide is ever present, the true power of the cultural matriarch comes to light each and every path. The honor of editing this novel for Cyberwit was mine, and the author is truly a skilled writer with engaging philosophical insights. Definitely a 5-star rating on this one, and I look forward to his next novel.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vipin Behari Goyal, viping19@gmail.com, Mobile No:9928805905. He blogs at: Author's Diction--My Blog

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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.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Midwest Book Review Celebrates the Environment

Sublime Planet

Celebrating Earth Day and the Universe
Magdalena Ball & Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Cover Photography by Ann Howley

Genre: Poetry/Environment
CreateSpace, www.createspace.com
ISBN Paperback: 9781482054705 $12.95

Kindle www.amazon.com $4.95

Reviewed by John Burroughs, originally for Burroughs' Bookshelf on Midwest Review

Award-winning poets Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Magdalena Ball present Sublime Planet, a poetry compilation with a strong ecological theme. Some of the free-verse poems have been previously published in a variety of print and online journals; now they are gathered into a single volume to celebrate Earth Day, and promote environmental awareness. Lucid and erudite, Sublime Planet succinctly reminds one that the body that it is part of a much greater ecosystem, and stirs the soul with its call to the duty of stewardship.

"The Giraffe"

A tongue generous

as my head he reaches

for me, barriers no match

for his long neck, sniffs

my hair, kisses my face.

He is unaware

he is endangered,

I unaware he might

be dangerous.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Science and Religion: A Discussion by Daniel Friedman

Title: The Broken Gift
Author: Daniel Friedmann
Author's Web site link: http://danielfriedmannbooks.com/
Genre: science/religion
ISBN 978-0978457228
Book Cover: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DZDxJYbmgw0/UdNHrcHuWcI/AAAAAAAAA8w/vZ2cSyIR7Ng/s320/The-Broken-Gift-1000x1600-no-subtitle-1.jpg
Available: http://www.amazon.com/The-Broken-Gift-Daniel-Friedmann/dp/0978457226

THE STORY BEHIND THE BROKEN GIFT

In my fourth year at university, some fundamental questions concerning our origins began to re-appear. The research involved in answering these questions at one level took most of my life but most intensely about 2 years. It took a year or so to write it all down and back up every statement with a peer reviewed source or biblical source. Publication of The Broken Gift proceeded over the past 6 month or so.

In discussion with my nephews who experienced a very detailed science education on origins seemingly in conflict with Sunday school teachings were not getting satisfactory answers. I knew I could get a better understanding of our origins from our two largest sources of knowledge - Science and the Bible.
Many have asked how can one even compare religion and science on this issue- they come from very different points of view? True, but they both claim to know what happened and when - one or both must be right? The Broken Gift focuses on hard evidence of what happened and when - once that account is reconciled it discusses how it happened, which for science and religion is somewhat different.
How did you pick the points to compare? Science has developed a certain timeline of events from apes to modern day. Genesis also contains a timeline of events from the beginning of time until 4000 years ago. I picked the key defining moments of those timelines to compare against each other and to compare and contrast what happened, when and how. This knowledge was exciting and fresh and I was encouraged to write the book, The Broken Gift, sharing what I had found.

So what did I find? That the Bible and science are mostly in agreement as to what happened and how - although not completely on when it happened, and by studying both the Bible and science we can get as close as we have ever gotten to understand how we came to be.

So, how did we get here? Reading The Broken Gift can encourage quality time with your family. They will enjoy having a discussion about science, religion and the meaning and purpose of life.

Whether you agree or disagree. Either way, you will be fascinated! Visit Banyen Books & Sound November 7th, I will be available to talk with or autograph your book.

ABOUT DANIEL FRIEDMAN

Daniel Friedmann is CEO of MDA Corp., specializing in robotics. He has a master's in engineering physics and 30 years' experience in the space industry. He has published more than 20 peer-reviewed scientific papers on space industry topics. He is also a longtime student of cosmology and religion. Daniel Friedmann has been mentioned in the National Post, Toronto Star and Idea City. Connect with Daniel Friedmann on https://www.facebook.com/pages/Genesis-and-Science/141524692605591
and at http://danielfriedmannbooks.com/.

SUBMITTED BY:

Yvonne Wu
Internet Publicist | Author & Speaker Assistant
The YP Publishing
Canada: 905-341-0997
USA: 1-347-674-9951
http://theyppublishing.com
http://speakerspromotion.com/

Friday, August 9, 2013

Lit Amri Praises New Romance Novel

Crocuses & Blackbirds

Book 1 of The Golden Path Quintet

Author Margaret Montrose

Author's Web site: www.thegoldenpath.co.uk

Genre: Romance

Reviewed by Lit Amri originally for Readers' Favorite : Rating: 5.0 stars
The Golden Path Quintet: Crocuses & Blackbirds is Book 1 of the Golden Path series by Margaret Montrose. Nineteen-year-old Julie finds her way to the Cathedral, a place which will ease her troubled soul and guide her way toward the enigmatic Ellen MacAlister.

The Golden Path Quintet is as mesmerizing as an intricate poem. It is a story with more layers than one could expect. There is something about the story that I cannot quite put my finger on it. Perhaps enlightenment is a suitable word, but this novel is by no means religious. It certainly has depth that will satisfy the readers, as it did me. The relationship between Julie and Ellen is somewhat surreal yet beautiful at the same time. The novel explores not only storytelling but also love, faith, and friendship. While the story is not hard to read, Montrose has a subtle way of asking more from the readers through her amazingly beautiful prose than the typical contemporary romance requires.

The story is told in a fantastic and charming manner. With The Golden Path Quintet, Montrose has indeed presented the dynamics of life that we often forget or intentionally refuse to acknowledge. Readers who enjoy novels with a dreamlike realism will definitely love this novel. Read, think and cherish it; share it with your loved ones, friends, and other book-loving enthusiasts that you know, because this might be one of the best books you will read this year.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Doctor Pens Medical Thriller

Title: Not For Profit
Author: Glenn Shepard
Website: http://mysteryhousepublishing.com/
Genre: Medical Thriller/Adult
Publisher: Mystery House Publishing
ISBN: 9780615765525

Reviewed by Mel U originally for ReReadingLives blog

Review:

Not for Profit by Glenn Shepard, M. D., is a very gripping, edge of your seat work that amazed me with one exciting totally unexpected event after another. Evidently, there a quite a number of what are called "medical thrillers" in which physicians use their specialized knowledge to create interesting works of fiction. Dr. Shepard is a highly experienced plastic surgeon and he employs his knowledge very skillfully to bring verisimilitude to Not For Profit without making it seeming like we are reading a text book.

The story line begins with a very moving prologue in which the lead character does plastic surgery on a pro bono basis in a clinic in West Virginia on a woman with a cleft pallet. The operation is described in enough detail to make us feel we are there. From there we begin the first of numerous place shifts when we are taken to Afganistan to a combat drone center. A high value target has been spotted and the presentation of the American attack is very exciting. Then we move around Afganistan a bit (now America's longest war) then we go to the plastic surgery clinic of a plastic surgeon in Jackson City, North Carolina. These portions of the story are told by in the first person. We learn a good bit about the business side of running a plastic surgery practice. (And there is more to it than just doing nose jobs and breast implants!)

The narrative also details the activities of terrorists in the vicinity of the clinic and flips back to Afgainistan. I was really drawn into the novel by all these place changes,trying to figure out what they have to do with each other. I thought the author did a brilliant job creating exitement and suspense through this devise. At every turn something unexpected happened. I do not want to give away much at all of the great plot action but the doctor, a good man with his flaws, is framed for murder, goes up against a hospital corporation where only profits matter, there is lots of sex, and we slowly discover a vast plot involving a potential terrorism attack. Nobody hardly is who they seem at first to be.

For sure Not For Profit is great escapist take you away from the mundane reading but it has very serious points to make about the business side of American hospitals and geopolitical issues. As a bonus we learn a lot about orchids as growing them is a passionate avocation of the central character. We sense that the doctor draws inspiration from the beauty of the orchids in doing his surgery. He also values women to a large extent based on their looks and OK there are a lot of breast references in the narrative.

It is a very American book, the sex scenes are for sure vivid and if filmed in full would be for an adults only movie.

I liked this book a lot and endorse it with the qualification that it has vivid and violent sex scenes.

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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.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Harbaugh Novel Judged Witty, Smart

Title: Her Grace in Disgrace

Genre: Regency romance
Author: Claudia Harbaugh
Publisher: Indi
ASIN #: B00DJBYGJS
ISBN is: 1490341684
Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1bspqxC
Web site: http://www.claudiaharbaugh.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaHarbaughbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaudiaHarbaugh

Intriguing characters, witty and smart, excellent work from this author

Reviewd by Christina M. Liebler originally for Amazon

I am an avid reader of kindle freebies and books in general. I also love Jane Austen and historical novels, so I thought I would give this one a chance. I was really amazed that this was a first book for Claudia Harbaugh. So many are poorly edited and under developed. Not this one.

I found this book to be engaging and interesting from the first page. Loved the wit and laughs throughout the story line. Her characters were well developed and the story line was interesting and unpredictable. Ms. Harbaugh has a writing style that is unique and fun to read. I highly recommend if you are looking for an easy and rewarding read this summer. I look forward to reading more in this series very soon!”

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