One need only observe the tenor of the current presidential election cycle, and it's obvious such qualities as sympathy, compassion, and understanding have quickly been replaced with intolerance, exclusion, and bigotry for many in our nation. Rather than be sympathetic with our fellow man or seek to find common ground with those from different backgrounds, the tendency now is to reach snap judgments and cast xenophobic aspersions on anyone who doesn't subscribe to our particular belief system. What is there to look forward to in a world growing so increasingly hostile and emotionally detached?
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.
Saturday, June 5, 2021
Despite Surrounding Chaos, There Are Still Many Folks Who Live Lives Filled With Compassion. Are You One of Them?
One need only observe the tenor of the current presidential election cycle, and it's obvious such qualities as sympathy, compassion, and understanding have quickly been replaced with intolerance, exclusion, and bigotry for many in our nation. Rather than be sympathetic with our fellow man or seek to find common ground with those from different backgrounds, the tendency now is to reach snap judgments and cast xenophobic aspersions on anyone who doesn't subscribe to our particular belief system. What is there to look forward to in a world growing so increasingly hostile and emotionally detached?
Friday, May 21, 2021
Discussion Questions for U.P. Reader Volume #5 Free PDF Download
Title: U.P. Reader -- Volume #5:
Bringing Upper Michigan Literature to the World
Authors: Mikel Classen and Deborah K Frontiera
Publisher: Modern History Press
Publisher Website Address:
www.ModernHistoryPress.com
Publisher Email Address: info@ModernHistoryPress.com
ISBN-10: 1615995714
ISBN-13: 978-1615995714
ASIN: B09253976L
Price: $17.95 paperback, $28.95 hardcover, $5.95
Kindle
Page Count: 308 pages
Formats (P.B., H.C., Kindle)
Discussion Questions for U.P. Reader Volume #5 Free PDF Download
This anthology is one of the very best collections I have ever read. It is a satisfying long read including poems, stories, interviews, and writing pieces by young authors. It helps to understand the Yooper culture (Upper Peninsula area of Michigan). Some of the stories are laugh-out-loud funny. Some stories are so sad you might need a kleenex. It is all highly captivating reading.
You'll want to grab a pasty and eat some smelt soon after reading. Pasties were the lunch women would make for the miner's on lunch hour as they require only one hand to eat, being like a turnover but with meat and vegetables. Have you ever been smelting? The picture in the book shows a fishing boat, but when the smelt are running a bucket is all that is needed. Run it through the water, easily catch a bunch at once, put the smelt in a container, and get some more. It happens once a year. For some people, it is one of the highlights of the year.
Lake Superior features prominently in the book which is easily understood as the UP is surrounded by the lake. The UPers refer to the lower Penninsula people as "trolls" as they live under the Mackinac Bridge. This book was written by yoopers, not trolls. Maybe you are one of the fudgies who visit the area for fudge (tourist) -- hey, not a bad idea.
Discussion Questions
1.
“Your
Orbit” by Barbara Bartel – the author is working through writing an obituary
and manages to make it humorous. Did you like this writing piece? Could you
apprentice yourself to write a similar story? What would you say?
2.
“How to Hunt Fox Squirrels” by Don Bodey --
is another humorous story. What struck you as funny? How do mother squirrels
put their children to sleep at night? How does the author suggest a person
should go about getting a good squirrel recipe?
3.
“A.S.S. for State Slug” by Larry Buege – is
really about what topic? How does Officer Koski end the last protest?
4.
“Matter of Time” by Tricia Carr – seems to
be about a senile old woman. Who is scheming against her? How does she get back
at the schemers?
5.
“The Lunch Kit” by Deborah K. Frontiera –
instead of being snowbirds with their friends in Arizona, a couple begins to
care for a child they knew nothing about. How did this happen? How does
counseling help? What do they decide to do about schooling?
6.
Pictures throughout the book – which pictures
remind you of living in, visiting, or understanding the Upper Peninsula? Have
you ever gone smelting? Eaten a pasty? Seen a mine? Watched deer in the woods? What
other observations regarding the images would you like to share?
7.
“The
Rescue of the L. C. Waldo” by Robert Grede – this story is almost an odyssey as
there are so many problems faced by the seaman and those on shore. How did
people help? Would telephones have been helpful? Why did some people try to
help and not others?
8.
“A Night to Remember” by Charles Hand – have
you ever had car trouble on a remote stretch of road? What did the students
think was going to happen to them? Gitche Gumee and Big-Sea Waters refer to
what? What did you think of the plowing? The resolution? The jailer’s office
night policeman forgot to do what?
9. “Right Judgment” by Tamara Lauder – what did
the flowers represent?
1 “Requiem for Ernie” by Hilton Moore – did
you realize people thought polio was catchy? Do you remember anything about the
time before polio vaccines? Even now people are being told they maybe had it
when they were young. Compare and contrast polio and the coronavirus.
Carolyn Wilhelm
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Review of Tales2inspire ~The Diamond Collection Series I
TITLE OF YOUR BOOK: Tales2Inspire ~ The Diamond Collection Series I (a double header combining all the stories published in the Emerald and Topaz Collections)
NAME (AUTHOR OF BOOK): Anthology of short stories written both by Lois W. Stern (Publisher) and winning authors of her Tales2Inspire® contest)
GENRE OR CATEGORY: Anthology of Non-fiction, inspiring short stories
ISBN-10: 1505558166
ISBN-13: 978-1505558166
ASIN: B018DB2FL4
FORMATS: Paperback, Kindle, PDF
PAGE COUNT: 237
CLICK TO BUY
BEST REVIEW
A writer and book editor, his varied career includes investigative journalist, teacher, army officer, corporate executive, and business owner. Osborne has also been involved in founding two university programs in journalism and communications, and has served on corporate boards of directors, a university senate and on college curriculum advisory councils.
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER BIO:
Lois W. Stern is a multi award-winning author whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Newsday, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV, and in live presentations in an assortment of varied venues. She has now published ten Tales2Inspire® books of her contest winners' stories. Fans of Chicken Soup for the Soul are particularly enamored of Tales2Inspire® books because, aside from their dynamic inspirational themes, they are filled with original photos to enhance the power of each story. Lois invites interested readers to get a FREE Tales2Inspire® sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts.
Website: http://www.tales2Inspire.com
Spend some media marketing time with Lois at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tales2inspire
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2 and to learn more about entering the next Tales2Inspire contest at: http://tales2inspire.com/enter-author-contest/.
She is also a regular contributor to this blog.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire@optimum.net
FAVORITE LINKS:
www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2
www.facebook.com/tales2inspire.comMonday, April 19, 2021
Reviews for Tales2Inspire ~ The Diamond Collection - Series II
TITLE OF YOUR BOOK: Tales2Inspire ~ The Diamond Collection Series II (a double header
combining all the stories published in the Ruby and Sapphire Collections)
NAME (AUTHOR OF BOOK): Anthology of short stories written both by Lois W. Stern (Publisher) and winning authors of her Tales2Inspire® contest)
GENRE OR CATEGORY: Anthology of Non-fiction, inspiring short stories
ISBN-10: 1507618050
ISBN-13: 978-1507618059
ASIN: B0186FC73S
FORMATS: Paperback, Kindle, PDF
PAGE COUNT: 229
BEST REVIEWS:
REVIEWER’S BYLINE: Linda Maria Frank, Author of the Annie Tillery Mystery Series
Most of the stories in both Part One and Part Two feature stories told for the lay person. They are believable and heartwarming. They speak of empathic concern for those less fortunate and of belief which propels an individual to seek the excellence within them. The collection is one which nudges the reader toward looking within and daring to take life not as it is wished for, but rather, as it is.
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER BIO:
Lois W. Stern is a multi award-winning author whose work has been featured in The New York Times, Newsday, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV, and in live presentations in an assortment of varied venues. She has now published ten Tales2Inspire® books of her contest winners' stories. Fans of Chicken Soup for the Soul are particularly enamored of Tales2Inspire® books because, aside from their dynamic inspirational themes, they are filled with original photos to enhance the power of each story. Lois invites interested readers to get a FREE Tales2Inspire® sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts and to learn more about entering the next Tales2Inspire contest at: https://tales2inspire.com/contest-2/.
She is also a regular contributor to this blog.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire@optimum.net
FAVORITE LINKS:
https://www.tales2inspire.com,
www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2,
www.facebook.com/tales2inspire.com
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Lois W. Stern's Stories to Tickle the Funny Bone Reviewed for The New Book Review
TITLE OF YOUR BOOK: Tales2Inspire ~ The Crystal Collection
SUBTITLE OF YOUR BOOK: Stories that Tickle to Funny Bone
NAME (AUTHOR OF BOOK): Anthology of short stories written both by Lois W. Stern (Publisher) and the following winning authors of her annual contest: Jamie Sadler , Maurice Levenbron, Rod DiGruttolo, Joan Nadjari, James Osborne, Mort Laitner, Joe Satriano, Barry Nisman, Jeff Rimland, Cami Ann Hofstadter, Ph.D., Mark H. Newhouse, Micki Peluso, Nancy Kalikow Maxwell, Jan Hurst-Nicholson, Gerald A. Walford, Ph.D., Kenneth J. Stern, David Shwaiko, Frank D. Iannella, Alastair Henry
GENRE OR CATEGORY: Anthology of Non-fiction, humorous short stories
ISBN-10: 1518678790
ISBN-13: 978-1518678790
- ASIN: B0184JSI7K
- FORMATS: Paperback, Kindle, PDF
PAGE COUNT: 139
AMAZON LINK:://www.amazon.com/Tales2Inspire-Diamond-Collection-IIIFeathers/dp/1695618165/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=Tales2Inspire+Collection&qid=1582728148&s=books&sr=1-8
AUTHOR/PUBLISHER BIO:
Lois W. Stern is a multi award-winning author whose work has been featured in The New York Times, on Local Access TV, and in live presentations in many varied venues. She has now published ten Tales2Inspire books of her contest winners' stories. Fans of Chicken Soup for the Soul are particularly enamored of Tales2Inspire books, because aside from their dynamic inspirational themes, they are filled with original photos to enhance the power of each story. Lois invites interested readers to get a FREE Tales2Inspire sampler book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts and to learn more about entering the next Tales2Inspire contest at: http://tales2inspire.com/enter-author-contest/.
She is also a regular contributor to this blog.
E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire@optimum.net
FAVORITE LINKS:
www.twitter.com/tales2inspire2
www.facebook.com/tales2inspire.com
BEST REVIEW:
Lois W. Stern, creator of ‘winning stories by talented authors from across the globe’, has outdone herself with her latest collection of stories; the first collection ever of strictly humorous stories. As author and publisher Stern admits, funny stories are more difficult to write, edit and judge since what strikes one person's funny bone might go right over the head of another. This is not the case with these unique stories encompassing all walks of life, and unusual situations — did I mention funny?
My personal favorite, the story about a ’chicken zombie’ is a laugh out loud story that is almost unbelievable. I know I'll never feel the same toward chicken again. In another story, leaving two little girls alone with gallons of different colors of paint makes one smile. One story proves with slapstick humor that machines can be extremely mean to young housewives.
“You can't spell ‘DON’T without ‘DO’” is proven in a hysterical short story about a young boy who cleverly beats the system, avoiding punishment. “Love in Bloom . . . Remembering When” is a sweet funny love story, a thoroughly satisfying read. Author Stern adds her own comical account of how a redhead proves she's a true redhead.
Each of the stories in this collection of humorous anecdotal tales is well-written, the authors are all contest winners and their work is edited to perfection. The lovely crystal on the book cover is perfect for these types of stories as some shine with brilliance, others are sharp and witty, and still others smooth and pleasant. But as the creator, Lois W. Stern writes, they are all ‘sparkling crystals of laughter.’
The type of stories in the Crystal collection is perfect reading while traveling or waiting for appointments. Just be careful where you chuckle or burst out laughing. Those enjoying this book in the Tales2 Inspire series will want to check out the other collections. I know I did.
REVIEWER’S BYLINE: Micki Peluso, Author and Journalist
MORE ABOUT THE REVIEWER: (in Micki's own words:)
“I have written since I learned to hold a pencil. But life interfered with serious writing until a tragedy struck my family. This time I took up the pen and wrote as a catharsis to my grief--where spoken words failed, written words helped heal my wounded soul.
My first short story of the incident was published in Victimology:an International Journal, launching a career in journalism. When writing for newspapers there were no more rejections, a nice surprise. I became a staff freelance writer for a bi-weekly award winning newspaper and freelance slice of life writer for my local paper, serving a city of 600,000 people. The diversity of writing for newspapers let me experiment in many areas of writing from essays, commentaries, interviews, humor, pathos, analogy, and short fiction.
I have recently published my first non-fiction book, . . .AND THE WHIPPOORWILL SANG, dedicated to the one I lost. Published by LspDigital, it is a funny, poignant celebration of life rather than a eulogy of death. My newly released children's book, 'The Cat Who Wanted a Dog' is a coloring and illustrated book for ages from 4-9 years old. I love writing short stories, my favorite category, which has culminated into a collection of slice of life, humor, and multi-genre short fiction and non-fiction, called, 'Don't Pluck the Duck’"..