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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Made in Ibiza
Liam Aldous, et.al.
Merrell Publishers
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858947136, $65.00
https://www.amazon.com/Made-Ibiza-Journey-Creative-Island/dp/1858947138
Made in Ibiza: A Journey into the Creative Heart of the White Island pairs gorgeous full-page color photos by Ana Lui and Salva Lopez with observations of the individuals and small companies that have made Ibiza a famous destination notable for its array of creative local projects and individuals.
From the efforts of weaving artist Aline de Laforcade to Ibizan liqueur maker Mari Mayans and 'bespoke carpentry' Frenchman Carpinteria Thierrry, a wide range of creations and endeavors document workshops, makers, and purveyors dedicated to preserving Ibiza tradition. The result will interest a wide audience of artists and armchair travelers, and is especially highly recommended for arts libraries, travel collections, and anyone interested in the range of creative works of one small island.
The Cookbook Shelf
Small Batch Cookies
Edd Kimber
Kyle Books
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781804191859, $26.99
https://www.amazon.com/Small-Batch-Cookies-Deliciously-people/dp/180419185X
Think 'small batch' and half-recipes come to mind, but Edd Kimber takes the challenge down to bakes for one to six people in his 70-recipe collection Small Batch Cookies. The Sunday Times bestselling author excels in not just small batches, but recipes packed with unusual flavor combinations, from Crisp Lemon and Cardamom Cookies (a 4-cookie recipe) to Sticky Toffee Sandwich Cookies (the recipe makes 5). While solo cooks and eaters will especially appreciate the opportunity to once again enjoy homemade cookies without the daunting prospect of facing a 24- or 12-batch production, the unique flavors and variety of this collection will make it just as attractive to readers who look for flavor combinations and especially creative fare not to be found elsewhere.
Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons
Diana Henry
Aster
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781783256297, $29.99
https://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Water-Pickled-Lemons-Mediterranean/dp/178325629X
Fans of Diana Henry's cookbooks well know they not only excel in foolproof recipes, but arrive with a sense of enchanting contrasts between international influences and down-home cooking. Crazy Water, Pickled Lemons is no exception. Even though it's a reprint of the 2002 hit (and the first book Henry wrote), it holds an ongoing attraction in its reissued format; especially since Henry has since enjoyed much acclaim, making this out-of-print classic an important addition to any cookbook collection.
Influences from the Middle East, Mediterranean, and North Africa coalesce in a rich gathering of dishes arranged by shared taste, scent, texture or color. From spices to fruits and breads, each section comes with almost poetic reflections and lovely full-page color photos. These make the book highly recommended as readers enjoy concepts ranging from Stuffed Figs Dipped in Chocolate to Adam's Cafe North African Pickles spiced with lemon, thyme, oregano, and caraway and coriander seeds.
Easy Indian Vegetarian
Chetna Makan
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600637752, $32.99
https://www.amazon.com/Easy-Indian-Vegetarian-Delicious-recipes/dp/0600637751
Easy Indian Vegetarian: Delicious Recipes for Every Day presents some 70 vegetarian recipes from British Bake Off star Chetna Makan. Step-by-step instructions accompany menu planners in chapters divided by type of food (snacks, veg, dal, rices and side dishes). Full-page color photos accompany such fare as Chickpea Curry, Mango Potatoes, and Asparagus Dal, resulting in a delicious array of foods perfect for vegetarian pursuit. Yes, there are many Indian cookbooks on the market. Between its vegetarian focus and its easy directions for novice cooks, Easy Indian Vegetarian is a winner.
The Education Shelf
The Self Education Manual
Gary Dean Petersen
Independently Published
www.sem-education.com
9781736605110, $30.00
https://www.amazon.com/Self-Education-Manual-Gary-D-Petersen/dp/1736605119
The Self Education Manual employs the SEM Learning System's tried-and-tested methods to impart techniques and approaches for self-education. This will attract a wide audience.
This book is designed for learners interested in absorbing and applying these methods to their own educational pursuits, but requires no prior familiarity with either SEM or the principles behind it.
Opening chapters review the hows and whys of learning before delving into the meat of the presentation: applying flowcharts, "decision trees," and various study methods to further one's training. The review of the logical learning opportunities of SEM is conducted by an experienced educator who builds a progressive foundation of study, contributing to the reader's ability to self-assess the results of their efforts.
Other chapters delve into science study methodology with an eye to tailoring SEM approaches so that students can better understand not only how to apply them, but when: Before diving into Summarizing, a continuation of the current step was needed for more Pre-Writing by making observations and writing any strategies that come to mind. During the Summarizing process, a break was taken to employ the Interleaved Practice study method to compare and contrast similar concepts before returning to Summarizing. Upon reviewing the planned Why Question and Self-explanation study methods, one realizes that only the Why Question method appears to be needed at this time.
The anticipated need for the Self-explanation study method may well come into play later when studying new learning objects resulting from applying the Learner-Generated Scenario study method. The contents are imparted in a scholarly, yet accessible manner that will give college-level self-learners a boost in developing their own strategies for research, review, and greater understanding.
Quizzes, observations, and the methodology imparted also receive visual embellishments (in black and white and color), which helps break up the admittedly weighty instructions and scientific insights under consideration here.
An accompanying (and separate) workbook furthers the exercises and applications -- but The Self Education Manual should be consulted first, as it builds reader knowledge of the system and its benefits. This approach encourages a greater understanding of various study methods which, when contrasted, offer a smorgasbord of opportunities for better results.
Gary Dean Petersen reviews a logically organized, proven course of study -- actually, a revolutionary idea. As these methods are paired with novel insights, students will find the approach applicable to and invaluable for all kinds of studies; not just science.
Libraries catering to high school to university students will find The Self Education Manual an essential program contributing to more effective student study habits and efforts.
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Inventive Life of George H. McFadden
Richard Carreno
Camino Books, Inc.
https://www.caminobooks.com
9781680980608, $35.00, Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Inventive-Life-George-McFadden-Archaeologist/dp/1680980602
"The Inventive Life of George H. McFadden", is Richard Carreno's latest foray into biographical history, and whose value lies in Carreno's ability to present contrasts in intellectual drive, psychological melancholy and isolation, closet homosexuality, and life contributions in such a manner that invites attention and inspection by audiences immersed in life stories and intellectual pursuits alike... not just Pennsylvanians or art students.
George H. McFadden stood out from the proper Philadelphian in many ways. His different relationships and personas in disparate cultural groups, his shifting approach to "finding ancient things" that led him to sailing and travel experiences (and, ultimately, to a mysterious death), and his literary prowess all come to light in a revealing examination of a Renaissance Man whose intellectual pursuits were anything but ordinary. From his draw to Cyprus (his adopted homeland) to his amateur archaeological pursuits, participation in war, and often-clever political maneuvers to find ways out of socially challenging situations, McFadden's life is narrated with the dual atmosphere of intellectual examination and adventure story:
For a man of forty-one, the timing smacked of desperation. His aspiration was equally disquieting. His twenty-year career in Cyprus had been shadowed by war and mired in his own complacency and vainglory. His way out modeled the successful career arcs of Daniel and Young -- as eminent archaeologists and museum curators. McFadden was a formidable applicant. He was fluent in French, German, and in modern Greek. He had a learned reading ability in Latin and ancient Greek. His work as a Penn Museum "research fellow" at Kourion, as a Navy veteran, and as the author of entries to professional and academic publications (not to mention his translation of the Iliad) were additional pluses. The result reveals a life worthy of discourse and discovery, and is very highly recommended for libraries interested in riveting tales of lives vividly and powerfully lived.
University Follies
Paul Warren
Belmont Treetops Press
9798350933406, $19.95 Paper/$7.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/University-Follies-Jewish-Roots-Jesuit/dp/B0CS5Z3NJN
University Follies: Jewish Roots in a Jesuit University will appeal to libraries strong in education history, college administrative issues and management, and Jewish concerns. It presents new Dean Paul Warren's odyssey through challenging social issues that buffet his leadership.
More than the story of an educational leader's revelation, University Follies is also a cross-cultural examination as Warren moved from the East to the West coast, there to tackle issues of which he held no prior knowledge. These include handling condoms placed on a holiday tree after Christmas and the conflict between a professor and a staff member which threatens to result in assault charges.
Luckily for his readers, Warren kept a log of all these experiences for some thirteen years, so was able to recapture the events, emotions, and challenges of the times through a memoir that contains more than hindsight writing.
Humor also abounds: My opening remarks to the assembly of professors (gathered to sharpen) the School's mission statement, were buried in a bed of silence. If I was to survive the balance of the hour, I needed to catch my professors' attention... I called on my Jewish roots strategy... The question implicit in the School's mission statement that calls for an answer is analogous to the question posed at a family Passover dinner: Why is this night different than any other night? There was silence. Finally, a professor took the hook... Father Thomas rose to the offering like a trout rises to a fly. 'I can answer that question. It's as stated in Deuteronomy'... After what seemed like an eternity of Deuteronomy from Father, my Passover analogy was long gone. The School's mission statement and undergirding programs, I'm afraid still promised all things to all people.
Readers interested in accounts of educational labor/management battles, dueling principles, the Jesuit ambiance of the university Warren worked for, and the follies which emerged from the intersection of student, teacher, and management concerns will find University Follies more than entertaining while it educates on challenges particular to university leadership.
Highly recommend for memoir, education and Jewish and Jesuit readers and libraries simply seeking a lively story of ironic interactions and wry humor, University Follies is well worth its acquisition and recommendation to book clubs and readers.
The General Fiction Shelf
The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror
R. David Fulcher
Devil's Party Press LLC
www.gravelightpress.com
9781957224060, $15.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-King-Other-Tales-Terror/dp/1957224061
The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror isn't just for the seasonal Halloween reader. It's for anyone who loves a good scary tale with a dark twist.
Reminiscent of Poe and other masters of the macabre, R. David Fulcher's collection of creepy tales relies more on psychological surprise than gore, tapping the inner sense of what makes a subject terror-stricken in order to deliver its power. Take the opening short story in this collection, 'Marienburg Castle,' for example. Seasoned horror genre readers simply won't expect the opening lines of this story: At first, they were mere specks in the sky. The specks became white wedges, like falling pieces of creme pie. Closer still, they appeared as marionettes, dancing with umbrellas across the horizon. Finally, when they were very near the earth, one could see that they were paratroopers. There may be no intrinsic horror in this descriptor, but it certainly is a literary draw; especially when readers are anticipating the typical dark opening salvo of a deadly horror scenario.
Fulcher excels in the unexpected, and as the story unfolds, his penchant for description and atmosphere continues to excel: The cathedral hovered directly before them, its stained-glass windows shining like jewels in the moonlight. The castle stood adjacent to the church, silent and dark, sealed behind thick iron doors and high barred windows. They ascended a stairway onto the battlements and stared out into the night-enshrouded valley. "Holy Jesus!" muttered Walker. The woods surrounding the keep were filled with small pinpoints of light. These observations drive events that lead readers to the dark side of a group of soldiers that face an unexpected a battle far beyond their training, playing out beyond death itself.
The title story, 'The Pumpkin King,' follows, with a seasonal twist on the flavors of decorating with pumpkins. Such are not, in and of themselves, horror; but representatives of terrible possibilities, in this story. A first-person narrator reinforces a pumpkin invasion which proves to be "his worst nightmare."
Readers of all ages should anticipate not just thrills from seemingly common and uncommon events, but the excitement that stems from a close attention to building exquisite tension, atmosphere, and a one-two punch of surprise to keep readers guessing about outcomes.
Libraries and readers seeking the flavor of horror, the thrill of surprise, and the literary devices of settings which are delivered with atmospheric twists will relish The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror, while classes in horror writing and literature will find many examples, here, of the various ways horror can be defined and unfolded.
Counterfeiter
Robert G. Klein, Esq.
Miracle Mile Publishing, LLC
9798218386931, $24.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeiter-Plight-Accused-Trademark/dp/B0D2TR28DZ
What better foundation for exploring the crime and facts of trademark infringement than to inject a lawyer's real-world knowledge with the drama of a novel? That's what attorney Robert G. Klein has achieved with Counterfeiter: The Plight of an Accused Trademark Counterfeiter.
The situation is based on legal holdings and findings; and while Klein cautions that these may differ between jurisdictions, the meat of his work lies in a heady legal rush that will draw even non-legal readers into a thought-provoking plot. Ahmed Hossam faces baseless claims of Medicare fraud in an ongoing discrimination process that threatens to belittle his University of Cairo medical degree and demote his professional status. Forced to plead guilty to a crime he didn't commit, twenty years later his choice returns to haunt him when he faces further legal challenges over something very different. Ahmed's situation involves a trademark dispute over "Hot Grabba Natural Tobacco Leaf." His story is concurrent with a close inspection of the cannabis industry, trademark politics and legal processes, and court proceedings surrounding infringement's definition, and trademark protection laws.
Legal students and readers who look for detailed legal proceedings and definitions from their fictional dramas will appreciate the many real-world insights that Klein inserts in the course of Ahmed's unfolding dilemma: Suggestive marks are more distinctive than descriptive marks. They require consumers to use their imagination or understanding to discern the nature of the product or service. These marks hint at certain qualities or features without directly describing them.
Suggestive marks are inherently distinctive and receive a higher level of trademark protection. For example, "Netflix" for an online streaming service or "Microsoft" for a technology company. These insights and definitions arrive within the course of a trail as Counsel and others explain the processes surrounding trademark identification, protection, and assignment.
Of special interest is how Klein delves into many accompanying legal dilemmas, from fair use and copyright infringement defenses to how Ahmed uses the special verdict process to enhance the jury's decision-making in his case. Readers also receive a progressive series of insights into many aspects of trademark and copyright law, which moves into Federal court proceedings as the case unfolds. While, at times, the detailed proceedings may read like nonfiction (packed with motions, facts, considerations of pleas and fee awards, and liability issues), the story adds the value of a likeable character whose good and bad choices are dictated by the fact that: ...Ahmed's soul had been consumed by the relentless machinations of an unforgiving system. He was the victim of a corrupt district attorney and a health care system that seemed more intent on the quest for money than for providing proper care for the needy.
Ahmed had once believed that his path lay in alleviating the suffering of others, but his faith had waned like a flickering candle in a gust of wind. The very human aspects, reactions, insights, and struggles of this case thus come to light amid a myriad of court moves and facts that readers will find both easier to absorb than nonfiction, and more detailed than the usual fictional approach (even legal fiction) usually receives.
That's why Counterfeiter: The Plight of an Accused Trademark Counterfeiter is especially highly recommended for legal students and those already versed or interested in descriptions of court proceedings and law.
Libraries catering to such audiences will find Counterfeiter: The Plight of an Accused Trademark Counterfeiter an excellent acquisition that stands out, with its attention to legal detail, from the usual fictional legal depictions.
Now and at the Hour
Martin Drapkin
Three Towers Press
c/o HenschelHAUS Publishing Inc.
www.HenschelHAUSbooks.com
9781595989901, $16.95 Paper/$8.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Now-at-Hour-Martin-Drapkin/dp/1595989900
Now and at the Hour, Martin Drapkin's first novel, is set in the 1970s. It explores the relationships that evolve between staff and patients in a state institution for people with intellectual disabilities.
This definition of need embraces a wide range of issues, age ranges, and needs, as young aide Billy Malsavage finds in the course of his work. Several of his charges suffer from physical impairments, although their mental acuity is untouched, creating special dilemmas that require approaches and attitudes that are different from traditional one-size-fits-all routines.
Drapkin employs shifting viewpoints between new young resident Ricky, who has suffered a debilitating brain injury during a football game; Billy, who tries to go above and beyond in developing a relationship with him that traverses personal distancing; and Buddy, an aging man with cerebral palsy who well knows the special challenges of being trapped in a body that doesn't work.
Philosophical reflections about life's value move from looking at individuals who are frustrated by life developments to even considering the feline's lesser-evolved life: My little orange man's happy with what he has and doesn't want more and isn't depressed by his lot in life. He'll last for as long as he can and all he wants and needs is what he has now: a simple, quiet, warm place to live; some food, and I don't think he cares if it's the same cat food crap day after day; a fairly clean litter box; and his little comforts, including my lap. He likes watching birds out the window, and tenses and twitches when he sees them, though I imagine the glass barrier frustrates him. Maybe he'd appreciate some companionship of his own kind, but that's about it. That's his little life, and then somewhere down the road that life will end. Stan won't accomplish anything in this world, unless he catches a mouse or two, and his life will be little noted nor long remembered by anyone but me.
These and other thought-provoking passages of reflection emerge as each character reconsiders their past, present, and future; both individually and at this juncture in their lives.
Martin Drapkin's penchant for thoroughly exploring and revealing each character's perspective creates an interplay of philosophies and values that, in turn, will provoke discussions and debates among book club audiences. That's why Now and at the Hour's fictional exploration will prove a draw to libraries seeking a contemporary twist on Ken Kesey's classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest -- one which outlines not the insanity of institutions or their residents and keepers, but the sanity of cultivating close personal ties against all odds... even when the looming future is of mixed value. The exquisite development of each character creates compelling insights certain to spark discussion and reader interest.
The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart
Jerry Wald
Torchflame Books
https://torchflamebooks.com
c/o Top Reads Publishing
https://www.topreadspublishing.com
9781611535938, $18.99
https://www.amazon.com/Overexamined-Life-Jacob-Hart/dp/161153593X
The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart is a novel that introduces topics of faith and belief when Jacob Hart's heart and mind are challenged by the death of his wife. Gone is the notion that all problems are solvable. Buffeted by winds of loss, grief, and feelings of helplessness, Jacob finds himself both beset upon by prophetic visions and determined to locate and confront the greater power which has wrested his love from his life. His story is revealed through alternating viewpoints, from Jacob's experiences to Lizzy, a model wife who continues to love him, albeit in a very different manner.
Also prominently featured is a rabbi who has lost his faith and a professor who joins Jacob's journey to Lake Paradise in search of answers. Jerry Wald provides an intriguing set of spiritual questions and avenues of philosophical thought as his story unfolds. He presents these ideas and realizations during the course of a meeting of minds between three seemingly disparate individuals. Each contributes their own perspective and insights into bigger-picture thinking about God, life's meaning, and death.
Their interactions provide the fuel for a burning story of discovery that operates on many levels, translated through the experiences of a disparate cast of characters: Aaron could see that something was bothering his friend. He wished that Jacob could find the peace he had finally chosen. But Jacob's stubborn expression annoyed him. "Do we really need to keep debating?" he said. "For once, just try to appreciate the things you have, the knowledge you do possess. This is the human condition, Jacob, and you need to accept it. If you keep trying to get closer to the sun, you'll get scorched." Is the human condition acceptable? Not always, for Jacob and for his companions.
The injection of serious philosophical reflection adds an extra dimension of thought to the story, making it of special attraction to readers and book club discussion groups interested in the growing, changing connections between friends and family members who find existential questions at the heart of their concerns.
Supporting characters, such as a town mayor, also add their very different voices into the greater scheme of discovery and the lessons gleaned from higher-level thinking: I had the bastard right where I wanted him. Ready to hemorrhage cash and snivel out a public apology to the good citizens of Chicago. Better yet, to show the hardworking voters from Main Street that their mayor takes no shit from Wall Street. Is Jacob's life overexamined, or underacknowledged? Why does God often remain unseen?
These and other questions will lead The Overexamined Life of Jacob Hart onto the shelves of libraries seeking novels that can be recommended to fiction readers and book clubs seeking themes of spiritual and philosophical enlightenment. The encounters and juxtaposition of characters who, each in their own way, contribute to a greater journey of discovery is simply delightful, compelling, and thought-provokingly realistic.
Past Lives Denied
Ellenmorris Tiegerman
www.ellenmorrisauthor.com
Scholar Dreams Publishing
9798989907113, $16.99 Paperback/$4.99 ebook
https://www.amazon.com/Past-Lives-Denied-Ellenmorris-Tiegerman/dp/B0D1SRYMLZ
Past Lives Denied is a novel that centers on Professor Caitlyn Morrys, a school political and policy controversy that results in a murder, and police inspector Cormac Robertson, who employs an unusual method to get at the truth -- past life regression. This places the tale firmly within the interests of anyone who loves good mystery, but generally eschews novels for their lack of intrigue.
Past life regression doesn't open the door to a singular event, but provokes the review of all kinds of events, influences, and even past lives, as they both discover during the course of sessions which reveal far more than either Caitlyn or Cormac could have anticipated. Is there such a thing as a murder whose origins reside in past life experiences? In this case, yes. The trick lies in using these revelations to save Caitlyn's life as well as solve the case; because now she's the pivot point in a different way, and resolution can seemingly only come with her demise.
Ellenmorris Tiegerman crafts a vivid story that rests on an unusual premise: that the future can not only be influenced, but changed, by events in the past. Past lives, to be specific; as the psychiatric community is discovering and as reflected in an article Caitlyn finds, published by an esteemed Yale psychiatrist.
Deeper-level thinking than most mysteries offer may reflect Past Lives Denied's billing not as a mystery, but a literary novel. From historical stereotypes that have their mirrors in present-day events to the identification of Caitlyn as a "heretical rebel," Tiegerman juxtaposes dialogues, confrontations, revelations, and solutions in a manner that heightens the tension over not just whodunit, but past life influences and portents. Libraries and readers seeking a story refreshingly different in the way of a problem-solving event, a life-threatening mystery, and psychological and political confrontations will relish characters whose present-day lives intersect over past life experience.
Past Lives Denied is hard to put down, impossible to predict, and also perfect for book club discussion groups -- especially those in which past life regression is already of interest.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
Vermilion Harvest
Reenita M. Hora
Indignor House
www.indignorhouse.com
9781953278524, $24.95
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vermilion-harvest-reenita-m-hora/1145699636
Vermilion Harvest: Playtime at the Bagh will appeal to historical novel enthusiasts who hold a special interest in either Indian history or 1900s turn-of-the-century world events. The real-world Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919 serves as a backdrop, here, for a love story that centers on the growing romance between two teens: an Anglo-Indian schoolteacher and a Muslim student activist.
Aruna isn't seeking love, but a stability that is shaken by events that begin transforming the city of Amritsar from a peaceful haven to a milieu rocked by social and political unrest. Ayaz Peermohammed represents a centrifuge of dichotomies that both attracts Aruna and refutes her basic notions of safety and security. Betrayed by her own emotions, Aruna's tendency to question the rationale behind her fears falls to the wayside as the young couple faces mayhem as well as attraction.
Reenita M. Hora's choice of placing Aruna as the first-person narrator and observer of this changing world injects immediacy into the events as they unfold. This brings the social and political turmoil and its impact home to readers who might have no special knowledge of either Indian history in general or the events surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in particular.
While some might think this prior knowledge essential for appreciating the novel's backdrop and cultural heritage, the joy in its reading lies in the fact that such facets emerge and are explained from the perspective of the two newly joined individuals who each reexamine their values and impulses, both towards one another and as they participate, individually and as a couple, in the changes buffeting their world.
Aruna's observations are central to understanding not only the psychology of historical events, but the contrasting differences between those who participated in them: Violence was lurking, and Ayaz did know about it. What about his oath of satyagraha? Wasn't knowing about violence and not saying anything the same as being a part of it? I wanted to scream. Public demeanor be damned... I, too, wanted answers, the Aruna that had fallen in love with him and trusted him. I wanted answers now.
Hora's attention to the psychology of motivation and relationships which simmer beneath the emerging political struggle makes Vermilion Harvest a powerful read. It's perfect for individuals who may know relatively little about Indian history, but are as interested in expanding their knowledge as they are in an absorbing tale of matters of the heart.
Libraries that choose Vermilion Harvest for their historical fiction collections will want to pair its messages with such classics as The Raj Quartet and other fictional bastions of Indian culture and affairs. They will also want to recommend it to book clubs looking at political and emotional examinations of the times, in India.
Greetings from Asbury Park
Luigina Vecchione
www.luiginavecchione.com
Dennyloo Publishing
9798491254989, $14.99
https://www.amazon.com/Greetings-Asbury-Park-World-story-ebook/dp/B09HY67QGT
Greetings from Asbury Park: A World War Two Love Story is a study in romance, politics, and coming-of-age that will appeal to readers seeking love stories set against the backdrop of real-world events.
15-year-old Roman girl Mariella chafes under the blanket of family responsibility and the German occupation of Italy. She needs a way out to escape family responsibility and the brutality the Germans have introduced into daily life. American GI Jack, who is visiting Rome but is about to be shipped off to Japan, seems to hold the promise of not only escape, but love.
But, is Mariella old enough to make decisions about romance, responsibility, and reinventing her life?
Luigina Vecchione's story is loosely based on both the lesser-known history of the nine-month Nazi occupation of Rome, and a true story based on a personal relationship. These elements lend authenticity to Mariella's account, creating a draw that will attract a wide audience of readers.
From cross-cultural encounters to contrasts in wealth and poverty, approaches to love and life, and indicators that "the world is crumbling around them," Mariella and a host of characters struggle to adjust their lives, expectations, and very survival to the new social and political forces that swirl around them.
The romance component is tastefully presented, the political overlay is revealing and realistic, and the novel's ability to probe family relationships between Mariella and Jack's very different circumstances is strengthened by dialogues and reflections. These cast the question of marriage and the events of World War II in a different light than most accounts of either:
"It took Mariella effort to keep her composure. So what if they had a big family? At least it was filled with love. And she was proud to help out when times were difficult. If she hadn't, her family would have starved during the war."
The result is an exceptional, vivid, and engrossing story that builds its tension on strong characters, pairing it with historical insights many won't have known prior to the story.
Libraries seeking standout attractions that place World War II's atmosphere and events in a very different, personal light will welcome the many discussion opportunities that Greetings from Asbury Park encourages.
Italian American
Luigina Vecchione
www.luiginavecchione.com
Dennyloo Publishing
9798893790832, $16.99 Paperback/$.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Italian-American-Mariellas-journey-continues-ebook/dp/B0CZPSP47H
Italian American continues Jack and Mariella's story, introduced in Greetings from Asbury Park, following them from Italy to America, where further challenges and growth awaits them. Set nine years after events in Asbury Park, the story traverses and contrasts the cultures between two countries as Mariella emigrates to America, only to find new loneliness and alienation awaits her, between a country she really doesn't understand, prejudice, and a disapproving mother-in-law's lack of support for the couple. Even though she has Jack, she confesses to this lack of connection as she struggles to make a new home and life outside of her native Rome:
"Do you like it here?"
"Yes, of course," Mariella replied a little too quickly. "I mean, I try my best. When Jack is with me, all is perfect. Just like I dream. But when he works I am lonely." One would think a new baby could change hearts and minds, but cultural differences even come into play when the pregnancy almost terminates in disaster in a manner few Americans can understand: "Now, tell me, why didn't Mariella want to stay in the hospital? I loved my time in the maternity ward. Nothing to do but rest and chat with all the gals. I tell ya, it was a hoot."
"Well, she's not used to that." Leaning against the stove, Jack rubbed the back of his neck.
"They're still doing births at home back in Italy. She didn't think it was necessary to be there."
Little Olivia does change things, but it's really the shifting social milieu which eventually invites Mariella to become more connected to her new culture and world.
Luigina Vecchione's story will be especially appreciated by readers who absorbed the Italian world and World War II stresses of Asbury Park, who will find this ongoing journey by the couple to be realistic, thought-provoking, and hard to put down. Mariella's struggles to make sense of her world and adopted land and Jack's concern with making sure his wife feels welcome and safe permeate an engrossing love story which widens to embrace family and cultural differences.
Even more intriguing are the differences between male experience and female ambition which are approached from a different light as Mariella comes to question tradition and precedent in new ways: Why can't a woman be in medicine? she asked herself, looking down at her name. And she's Italian, to boot! Romance, mystery, and historical draws unfold in a saga that is sparked by two daughters' interest in probing their parents' love and lives, and evolves to embrace the challenges of moving to America in the 1950s.
Libraries and reader seeking stories of immigrant experiences, the culture and challenges of the times, and a continuing story of a couple in love that fields a variety of obstacles to stay together will find in Italian American a thoroughly engrossing story that builds emotional tension, cultural revelation, and historical connection in an inviting manner. Book clubs and Italian-American groups will find Italian American of special attraction and interest, providing a strong sequel to Mariella and Jack's story that is just as revealing and attractive as the beginning of their odyssey.
Courting the Sun
Peggy Joque Williams
peggywilliamsauthor.com
Black Rose Writing
https://www.blackrosewriting.com
9781685134129, $24.95 Paperback/$6.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Courting-Sun-Peggy-Joque-Williams/dp/1685134122
Courting the Sun is a historical novel set in the late 1600s in Versailles. It captures the politics and high society of court life through the eyes of teen Sylvienne d'Aubert, whose invitation to attend the king's royal court sweeps her into a world of deception and intrigue, powered by her mother's dangerous secret.
The richness of Parisian court life is transmitted through the teen's concurrent concerns about coming of age and making decisions about love, connection, and social climbing that might impact her relationships as well as her future: I still had girlish dreams of doing something grand with my life, although I had no idea what that could be. Foolish, I knew. My love for Etienne was real. Would I be passing up an opportunity to spend my life with someone who loved me as Papa loved Maman? Perhaps that was my fear. What if something happened, and I lost Etienne the way Maman lost Papa? What if I caused Etienne harm? Papa's willingness to climb onto the roof to keep me dry still painted a dark shadow that haunted my dreams. As I helped Maman and Tatie with household chores, my thoughts were a tangled knot of what-ifs and wonderings. As various characters query Sylvienne about her perceptions and concerns, education, and moral and ethical insights on life, readers receive a steady progression of thought-provoking passages.
These outline not just a coming-of-age scenario, but the inner workings of French court members. Sylvienne's education thus takes place on several levels. including reflections that young adult to adult readers alike will find revealing: "Is it a worse fate to be married to someone who doesn't love you? As was the case with the prince in the novel. Or to love someone whom you can never marry, as with the princess... and... and the Portuguese nun?"
As the story progresses from a village girl presented with an unprecedented opportunity to rise above her station to the politics and influences of court life, readers will especially appreciate the vivid reenactment of the times. The dreams of promise faced by a girl who struggles with love, family, wealth, and the newfound responsibilities imposed by becoming a duchesse further test her relationships and goals in life.
History comes alive under Peggy Joque Williams's pen as the court of Louis XIV assumes a more realistic countenance than many historical novels depict. The psychological component of fielding public opinion probes not just the history and politics of the court, but its impact on a young girl's growth and ability to face life's challenges: "There is not one of us in this room who has escaped the vicious quill of the satirist." She lifted my chin, forcing me to look up at her. "We learn to hold our head high and ignore the jealousy of the uncouth." She glanced pointedly at Lorraine, then back at me. "You will learn to do that, too." I nodded. But I didn't believe it.
The fact that Courting the Sun marries a coming-of-age story with higher-level thinking about French history and culture, the psychology of success, and shifting perceptions of what constitutes failure and challenges lifelong relationships translates to a heady story. This also will engross book club discussion groups in both the history and psychology of 1600s French court life. Courting the Sun is thus highly recommended for libraries strong in historical fiction that goes beyond depicting a sense of the times to delve into its psychological complexities and entanglements, as well... a feature often neglected by many competing historical novels set in these times.
All Man's Land, second edition
D. Laszlo Conhaim
www.dlaszloconhaim.com
Broken Arrow Press
9780984317554, $13.99 Paperback/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Land-Expanded-Miguel-Wise/dp/0984317554
In 2019, this reviewer first wrote about All Man's Land, a novel about Benjamin Neill, a former slave and reluctant Civil War hero whose appearance in a frontier town with a sack of books and a storyteller's compulsion challenged the prejudices of that culture. In its updated second edition, the novel is well worth a revisit as it includes both a fictional essay about Spanish thinker Miguel de Unamuno's famous confrontation with one of Franco's generals at the start of the Spanish Civil War and a new Foreword by Conhaim's longtime editor, which places the combined work squarely in the realm of literary and scholarly excellence. The historical bows to Paul Robeson and Jewish history and culture (the latter deftly and unexpectedly tackled by a Black man), plus the addition of "Don Miguel - The Wise" adds twists and pathways to a story - from a scholarly perspective - replete with literary, social, historical, and racially sensitive value.
Because the first edition was reviewed previously, the focus here is upon the additional editor's introduction, which creates a fine historical backdrop for newcomers to All Man's Land and Conhaim's works in general, adding in "Don Miguel - the Wise." "Don Miguel" originally appeared in The Prague Revue 6 in 1999 as a fictional essay remembering so-called "Generation of 1898" idealist and Spanish thinker Miguel de Unamuno from the perspective of a certain academic Dr. Victor M. Carrasco Villa de Segovia.
Set in the 1990s, this first-person account of the good doctor reveals that his efforts are directed to exploring and exposing "...not the injustice of Nothing for Don Miguel, but for perhaps the last time Don Miguel for everything, for posterity." History, fiction, and philosophy all dovetail nicely here, accompanied by footnoted references to Unamuno and his contemporaries who have largely been forgotten, a fact that Conhaim seems determined to reverse.
For instance, the narrator, Mr. Carrasco, jumps "pencil first into controversy" by publishing an interpretation of Unamuno's San Manuel Bueno, Martyr as a "homosexual novel." This, in turn, leads to the author's resignation from the University of Salamanca amidst a furor of accusations and innuendos attempting to subvert his scholarly pursuit.
Compellingly, Don Miguel's own forced withdrawal from academia and Carrasco's role as his 'uneasy hero' mirror many of the underlying themes in All Man's Land (foreign as they may initially seem to one another), creating a thought-provoking mix of political, social, psychological, and philosophical inspection highly recommended for any reader up to the challenge. This new edition of All Man's Land is sure to provide book clubs with ample inspiration for discussion and debate.
Vienna on Fire
Don Gabor
Blue Danube Press
9781879834002, $22.99 Hardcover/$17.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Vienna-Fire-WWII-Story-Survival/dp/1879834006
Vienna on Fire: A WWII Story of Survival will delight historical novel readers that look for strong female protagonists and historical backdrops that come alive. Don Gabor's ability to depict the events of 1938 Nazi-controlled Austria through the perspective of 18-year-old Jewish woman Greta Kolbe's clashes with the Gestapo brings the era and its issues to life. Greta has been actively involved in resistance activities, which the Nazis have finally identified. Forced into flight from her native country (which has turned into threatening, alien territory), Greta fields not just the fruits of her own seeds of rebellion, and not just a singular political machine, but pursuit by three forces: the Gestapo, a Dutch bounty hunter, and a vengeful ex-suitor-turned-Nazi.
At this point, it should be cautioned that Greta's experiences escaping these forces and journeying the road to freedom also incorporate scenarios of violence against women, attempted rape, and resistance which each require different incarnations of survival efforts, in different ways. Greta and her readers come to realize that, within this environment, no group or individual can be considered entirely trustworthy: Take care who you trust. There are Gestapo spies everywhere -- even in the Austrian resistance.
Greta's reaction to suggestions that she give up her freedom (and body) for Hitler personalizes the types of oppression Jewish people faced under Nazi rule: "Not long after that, I saw Hans and his Brownshirt friends beat a rabbi in front of a synagogue. They were worse than a pack of wolves. When Hans saw me, he threatened to turn me into the Gestapo as a Communist sympathizer if I didn't join him as his partner in Hitler's Aryan birthing program." Greta's discovery that resistance comes from different places and takes many forms only strengthens her own definitions of right, wrong, and defiance: "Stuttgart is a nice place, if it wasn't for the Germans."
Captain Peter stroked his beard and added, "Or, for the Nazis, of which there are plenty."
Greta pulled her coat tighter. "Which makes it an unsafe place for Jews."
"And for anti-Nazis too," Emil said. "It may surprise you that there are many German resisters here who show their disdain for the Nazis."
These social and political encounters expand the concept and incarnation of multifaceted resistance efforts, lending to Greta's proactive actions and growth and the reader's revised knowledge of these times and their complex relationships and political clashes. Greta's ability to field all challenges in pursuit of not just survival and freedom, but living her life both within and away from her beloved homeland (annexed by invaders who proceed to change not just the landscape, but the mindsets of people she once knew well) strengthens a story steeped in history.
The effort is tempered and personalized by author Don Gabor's family's correspondence and stories about these times. The result is not just a portrait of Vienna and Europe on fire, but the challenges brought to ordinary people as issues of superiority, women's duties and rights, and political supremacy take over the world.
Libraries and readers seeking exceptional portraits of Jewish survivors and strong young women who foster different responses to escape and survival, refusing to become victims, will find Vienna on Fire absolutely captivating. It's powered by strong characters whose perceptions and conflicts are not just realistic, but thoroughly absorbing "you are here" experiences. All this also makes for compelling book club discussion material.
The Literary Fiction Shelf
In Their Ruin
Joyce Goldenstern
Black Heron Press
www.blackheronpress.com
9781936364442, $17.99 Paper (with French flaps)/$9.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Their-Ruin-Joyce-Goldenstern/dp/1936364441
Black Heron Press awarded author Joyce Goldenstern the 2024 Black Heron Press Award for Social Fiction. It's only the 11th time since 1997 that the award has been given, indicating the special high quality of this novel.
In Their Ruin is set in a 1940s Chicago suburb. where gang operations lead to family involvements, estrangements, and situations that not only divide relationships, but lead to mysteries that remain unsolved for generations.
The quest actually opens in 2016, where itinerant English teacher Ruth Winters writes about a missing mother of the past who continues to impact generations. The first part of the story moves readers from 1948 to 1968, where mother Gladys worries about her sons' influences, temptations, and challenges. The era is on the cusp of radical changes, but is still recovering from the influence of Al Capone and racial prejudice; both of which have permeated her family in personal ways that thwarts many of her moves to raise her three sons differently. What would lead such a mother to abandon her family?
Impossibilities that seem inevitable against all effort; including a father's mental illness. Floundering, rudderless, and struggling against the tide of poor influences and neglect, the boys are haunted by ongoing, unresolved issues of the past and the power of various women who surround them with disparate options and voices.
Joyce Goldenstern is especially adept at capturing these conflicting values and lessons as life moves on: Samuel, sitting there inconspicuously on a bench on a sunny summer morning, pondered not only the nature of reality, but also the nature of evil. How could evil exist and be defined by consequences when intentions had only been thoughtless or wayward or maybe even innocent? He turned this question over in his mind. He considered his own behavior: the worst things he had ever done, the ones he regretted and the ones that affected others: Anthony, Caleb, his brothers. And being now so physically near his childhood home, he considered too the behavior of those who had once lived there with him.
The injection of insights such as these, as Samuel searches for a place of his own and tackles his own physical and emotional limitations, will lend to dialogues between readers interested in generational impacts, family legacies, and how the presence or absence of family leaders influences the choices children make and the consequences they then pass on to their own kids.
Libraries and readers seeking astute literary and psychological works that bring family history and legacy to the forefront of discussion will find In Their Ruin's ability to contrast past and present trends and lives to be especially thought-provoking and inviting. It's an award-winning read strongly recommended for book clubs looking for discussion material central to family evolution, mental illness, and family legacy.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
All the Bodies Do
William J. Cook
https://authorwilliamcook.com
Independently Published
9798323496457, $13.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/All-Bodies-Do-William-Cook-ebook/dp/B0D64RJ66N
All the Bodies Do is a novel about ghosts, secrets, and murder that is based on true crime events: in 2022, drought exposed skeletons at Lake Mead. Investigative journalist Kate Temperance here seeks to link these bodies to crime lord Giancarlo Gemelli, but the threat doesn't stem directly from him alone. His ruthless daughter Sofia Gemelli is the real challenge, confronting Kate's every effort to reveal the truth with her determination to keep these secrets buried in the lake. This might include Kate herself, if she's not careful.
William J. Cook evolves a cat-and-mouse game that embraces not just these two characters, but bigger-picture thinking revolving around a situation that dovetails with Kate's confrontations in her own circle of supporters:
"It's just that I feel terrible for abandoning you like that. That's not what friends do."
"You did what you had to do to protect your family. I understand."
Kate changes plans, changes locks, and changes the values in her life as her case reveals new threats from directions she never saw coming.
Readers might not expect the setting to move around as quickly as Kate does, but as she journeys between Las Vegas and Oregon to tackle threads of underlying influences and deceptions, the wine industry also becomes a spark point of contention as the murder probe becomes complicated.
Cook's ability to weave these seemingly disparate threads of connection into a bigger-picture feel creates a vivid thriller that proves thoroughly engrossing not just for its perhaps-predictable confrontations between reporter and crime family, but for its satisfyingly less predictable revelations about life values and what it takes to absorb the truth about lies, spies, and threats.
Libraries seeking thrillers that sizzle with action and psychological twists will find both qualities make All the Bodies Do thoroughly engrossing -- perhaps because its roots lie in real-world events.
If Two Are Dead
Jeanne Matthews
https://www.jeannematthews.com
Independently Published
9798328605267, $18.95
https://www.amazon.com/Two-Are-Dead-Jeanne-Matthews/dp/B0D93G7GBV
The title of If Two Are Dead comes from a proverb ("Three can keep a secret if two are dead.") which neatly ties into another Garnick & Paschal detective story that both stands nicely alone and continues to expand the series with new adventures. Here, investigators Gabriel Garnick and Quinn Paschal find their investigative prowess stymied by events that ensnare them in not one, but a series of conundrums.
Jeanne Matthews builds tension immediately with an opening scenario in which the duo creep through the woods on a moonless November night, protecting graves from grave robbers. Their assignment to protect the dead soon extends to those living, because the cemetery under guard also houses Quinn's father, injecting a personal note into the introductory salvo of intrigue. As Quinn and Gabriel conduct numerous interviews with physicians and family and probe secrets ranging from a husband shared by two women to surprise revelations about a long-ago murder, the plot thickens. It reaches out to pull in a diverse cast of characters who each find their lives tested not only by events, but a controversial probe that continues to expose new secrets.
Matthews creates fine insights into Quinn's focus and methodology: Covetousness in a witness was a gift to the detective. She felt as if the facts were beginning to catch up to her theory. When Gabriel's life is at stake, Quinn finds her own moral compass sorely tested: Blackmail was a loathsome business, but in the accomplishment of justice, the ends justify the means. These considerations power the story with intriguing, thought-provoking moments of discovery as the two main characters are forced to operate outside their usual comfort zones and investigative processes to solve an outrageous crime.
Matthews injects these considerations at many points in the story, from beginning to end, as the lines blur between good intentions and evil actions and people: If she'd learned anything since becoming a detective, it was that the Devil could operate anywhere.
Mystery readers interested in a detective story packed with intrigue, unexpected twists and turns, and more than a light touch of evolving romance will welcome this story. So will libraries interested in profiling quasi-medical-mystery stories for book clubs seeking bigger-picture choices suitable for group discussion and enjoyment.
Wild Irish Yenta
Joyce Sanderly
The Wild Rose Press
https://wildrosepress.com
9781509250936, $18.99 Paperback/$5.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Irish-Yenta-Joyce-Sanderly/dp/150925093X
Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries embedded with food references will especially relish the approach and plot of Wild Irish Yenta, which marries both with a taste of panache. Events swirl around a suburban mother whose detective instincts are aroused by a suspicious (to her) hit-and-run accident.
Good thing her father's a police detective, so that her upbringing has been influenced by his nose for trouble and his problem-solving strengths. It's also a good thing that she is involved in Temple Israel because of her conversion to Judaism. Patricia will need both an insider's access and an outsider's ability to troubleshoot when the seemingly simple death of an ordinary custodian evolves into a threat to her beloved mentor Rabbi Deborah, who vanishes after she delivers a controversial sermon supporting interfaith marriage.
Deborah is not alone in her venture, even though her husband eschews her efforts. Friend Brenda supports her perceptions and adds her own formidable prowess to the investigative effort, and so 'The Yenta Patrol' is born. Biblical stories, good coffee, and astute perceptions of the politics of religious institutions permeate a thoroughly engrossing story as Patricia navigates family duties and community connections which often conflict with her own heart: Guilty, guilty, guilty for shirking her responsibility to provide nourishment for her family.
Wasn't "guilt" what all these religions were about? The only difference was Catholics felt good about feeling guilty: that was how they were supposed to feel after sinning at which point if they confessed and did penance, they could be absolved, relieved, and happy. Jews, on the other hand, felt guilty even about feeling guilty. And Judaism had no easy mechanism for relieving guilt.
Where does the food come in? It stems from delivering a seasoned set of food-in-culture references, from Chinese takeout to a deli experience, often pairing these servings with humor:
"I'll have the Reuben but with pastrami instead of corned beef, and extra Swiss cheese and Russian dressing. Could you please bring hot mustard?" She pointed at the menu. "And a chocolate egg cream. I might order more later." The waitress scowled at Brenda and moved to the neighboring table without putting in their order. "I'm glad to see this deli has authentically rude service," Brenda quipped."
The dynamics of interfaith marriage, friendship, and varied religious traditions infuse a vivid story which is as strong in its character depictions as in its mystery component. The intersection of both weaves a believable plot that readers, Jewish or not, can really sink their teeth into. All these elements make Wild Irish Yenta a standout for cozy mystery enthusiasts seeking satisfyingly different plot twists, and characters whose personalities (and appetites for food and trouble) shine.
Libraries will find Wild Irish Yenta easy to recommend, while readers may want to bring this inviting, cozy mystery along on their summer vacations.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The First Son
Bill Harvey
The Human Effectiveness Institute
9780918538093, $19.99 Paperback/$8.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/First-Son-Bill-Harvey/dp/0918538092
Fans of alternate history sci-fi heavy on scientific and metaphysical elements will find The First Son an excellent study in contrasts. It posits a revised 3100-year world history as seen from the eyes of four lovers caught up in its unfolding: Templegard and his love Nastassia; Layla and her former teacher Melchizedek; and their mentor Maitreya, who is not only one of the earliest avatars, but holds great powers and even bigger secrets.
As Agents of Cosmic Intelligence, these individuals hold the power to either foster in a new Age or oversee its destruction by malevolent forces. Charged with adopting an indigenous race and protecting it, these Agents also find their own influences and incarnations at risk as they embark on a time-hopping effort to thwart destruction.
It's not long before readers realize that Bill Harvey has created, in The First Son, a dialogue and (perhaps controversial) a revisionist history about Judeo-Christian events, beliefs, and spirituality. When viewed in a different manner that arrives with the embrace of sci-fi elements of surprise and interaction, The First Son proves a fitting vehicle for revelation and discovery.
Readers will absorb new concepts about ancient lives in a plot delivered with excellent characterization and a "you are here" overlay: Yeshua was a very affectionate baby and normal in most respects. While fully awake even in his dreams and remembering everything from before and since his conception clearly, he was adhering to the strict interpretation of the Lost Lambs region of the multiverse.
He would not divulge the greatest of all secrets, the unity, the true Oneness, nor would he perform conspicuous miracles except whenever his compassion couldn't avoid it. He would not speak the voice of an adult while in a baby's body. He was playing it by the highest Book. His parents and his close relatives adored him and showered him with love. He listened to every human conversation, and those of the animals he knew, and heard the traffic on the cosmic intercom. Although he could not see out of everyone's eyes at once as his Father did, they were very close in reasoning powers and compassion, and in constant touch. In a sense he was the Superspy of all history - or if not spy, undercover Agent."
While its premise may prove controversial to readers with set belief systems and a strong tendency to identify as sacrilegious anything that provokes deeper-level thinking, The First Son will be readily embraced by those willing to examine not just alternate history, but a revised sense of spiritual connection. Set in a sci-fi universe that injects satisfying revelations on human nature and metaphysical influence, The First Son will find its place on library bookshelves and the reading lists of anyone interested in a powerful synthesis of sci-fi action and adventure, and spiritual and philosophical reflection.
Twenty-One Stones
Janice Boekhoff
Lost Canyon Press
9781948003124, $14.99 Paperback/$3.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Twenty-One-Stones-Limit-Janice-Boekhoff/dp/1948003120
In Twenty-One Stones, protagonist Mars Lockporte is a quantum physics major who is addicted to excitement and high-octane action. The mysterious murder of his best friend adds these opportunities into his angst -- especially when the obvious (to him) solution (stopping the murder entirely) demands he employ an untested time travel invention to change both the past and the present.
As with most untested devices (and forays into the past with the intention of altering it), there are surprises. This one lands Mars in the middle of the Civil War at Antietam, where he makes some surprising discovers about heritage, legacy, and moral and ethical dilemmas surrounding who dies and who lives.
It's these injections of bigger-picture thinking which set Twenty-One Stones well above and beyond the usual time travel adventure, encouraging readers to absorb not only the science and history of time travel and the process of confronting one's past, but the consequences of sacrificing one life for another. Who can (or should) place a value on such lives? Certainly not Mars, even though he would be saving his friend.
Janice Boekhoff excels in using Mars's situation to cover thought-provoking insights as he grows into new realizations about his role and his attitude towards history:
"This is a battle where thousands have died -- or rather thousands will die. In the history books, they are nameless, faceless men. Even the more personal archives show only their somber portraits or their bodies lying still in death. I have no reason to care about men who are so long dead to my present. And yet, something in me cannot let this man be one of them."
Boekhoff injects the subplots of romance, breakups, interpersonal clashes and attractions, and other layers of life into the tale, giving it the added value of a character-driven, emotional component which contrasts nicely with its fast-paced action. This is flavored with a wry sense of comic relief that is also unexpected:
"A few seconds later, a loud blast shakes the wooden door. Hopefully, Jonah ducked back out before it went off. Cracks appear in the wood. But the door doesn't fall off its hinges like I expected. Maybe that's a movie thing."
All these facets lend to a time-travel/murder probe that excels not just in covering issues of changing the past to affect the present, but dilemmas that force Mars to grow psychologically and morally.
Libraries and readers seeking time travel sci-fi that arrives with the added value of psychological insight, packed with material suitable for book club discussion, will find the satisfyingly different atmosphere of Twenty-One Stones to be compellingly different from the usual time-travel genre production.
Witch Mirror
A.L. Hawke
www.alhawke.com
Independently Published
9781953919991, $22.99 Hardcover/$15.99 Paperback/$4.99 eBook
https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Mirror-Hawthorne-University/dp/1953919995
Witch Mirror is the fourth book in a six-book series, combining romance, paranormal encounters, and ghostly encounters as it spins out a tale that both supports the evolving series and stands nicely alone for newcomers.
Cadence Wallace has married Bryce and the two pursue their teaching careers at Hawthorne University, striving to revive the metaphysical elements of historical investigation that their former teacher promoted to his students. Not only does Cadence face her new endeavors with an extra advantage (she houses the spirit of her former teacher, Doctor Alondra Johansen, with her magical abilities), but she taps the additional strengths of a council of witches who help her repel and confront demons and witches who continue to try to warp her love and life. Sadly, this council is convinced that Alondra is evil. But Cadence's unique connection to Alondra seems to indicate otherwise. Or, does it? Bryce and Cadence attempt to bring back some of her magic, but their endeavor comes at a cost.
A.L. Hawke creates a thoroughly absorbing, witchy tale as events unfold to probe friendships, enemies, and shady relationships which lie in-between, defying easy definition: Enora said Mira and I are enemies. Bullshit. It's true we love fighting with one another, but we also love each other. Everything out of that evil witch's mouth is a lie. Forced to choose between dark magic and the light, Cadence finds her abilities and morals tested as she ventures into realms that involve 'backward magic' and options she never thought she would consider, powered by Alondra's influence. Libraries and readers seeking vivid cat-and-mouse intrigue, paranormal encounters galore, romance, and friendships tested by perceptions of right and wrong choices will find Witch Mirror nearly impossible to put down -- and challenging to easily peg. Call it a story of unearthly choices and encounters, or a consideration of the lasting power of teachers and love... either way, Witch Mirror is a winning story that (spoiler alert) concludes with a cliffhanger that paves the way for the next Hawthorne University adventure.
The Poetry Shelf
No Ocean Spit Me Out
Gabrille Gilliam
Old Scratch Press
www.oldscratchpress.com
9781957224329, $7.99 PB, $3.49 Kindle, 50pp
https://www.amazon.com/No-Ocean-Spit-Me-Out/dp/1957224320
No Ocean Spit Me Out celebrates rural worlds, traversing the space between observation and engagement as poetic free verse descriptions of environment blend with human activities and emotional overlays. These facets come to life in poems like 'Going Home', with its surreal juxtaposition of human and nature:
Porch lights flicker in the trees
like fireflies under the darkened sky
winking in and out of existence
the way memories do
when you're not remembering them.
Or, for another example, in 'Transcendence of Stars', where:
My mother would
love this painting
the gradual
transmutation
from flesh to wing
figures cocooned
in a column of light
Life, loss, and the "soil of upstate New York" come to life in this tribute to nature, family, and ancestral connection. It brings to life not only Gabrille Gilliam's personal experience, but the interconnectivity of people and places. Libraries seeking literary free verse poetry that is steeped in atmosphere and psychological connection will find No Ocean Spit Me Out well worthy of acquisition and recommendation - especially for book clubs seeking contemporary poetry firmly rooted in ecologically entwined systems and experiences.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
The Consolation of Theology
CJS Hayward
CJS Hayward Publications
www.cjshayward.com
9798869318534, $19.99
https://cjshayward.com/all-books
It is no secret that novice CJS Hayward is a devotee of the venerable spiritualist and philosopher C.S. Lewis; but more so than Hayward's past writings, The Consolation of Theology is so embedded with reflections central to Lewis's work that a reading (or, re-reading, as the case may be) of Lewis's favorite book, The Consolation of Philosophy, and especially Lewis' own analysis of Boethius in his The Discarded Image, will be key to understanding Hayward's approach and methodology here. In effect, Hayward extrapolates and fills in the blanks of an unexpected Lewis loose end on Boethius.
This served as the inspiration for The Consolation of Theology, dovetailing Hayward's thoughts with the original classic in an enlightening manner that almost demands of his readers an appreciation of the past texts (of not only Lewis and Boethius, but Hayward) in order to realize what Hayward has accomplished here.
Readers unfamiliar with Boethius's book, who may harbor thoughts that it is largely irrelevant because of its ancient origins, will find that, in fact, The Consolation of Philosophy was no obscure reference. Indeed, it was one of the most popular, influential books in Western Europe from the time it was written in 524 A.D. until the end of the Renaissance. Its subject, a solid Christian focus on human happiness and its incarnation and achievement, is truly timeless -- which makes his work relevant today; especially in light of Hayward's attention to expanding the details of its philosophy and spirituality. In his The Consolation of Theology, Hayward adopts the same lyrical approach to description as Boethius, but applies modern dilemmas and observations to update the theological and philosophical examination:
This man hast lost a cellphone,
And for that alone he grieveth.
Knoweth he not that money maketh not one glad?
Would that he would recall,
The heights from which he hath fallen,
Even from outside the Orthodox Church.
A healthy degree of psychological inspection also expands and enhances these spiritual and philosophical components as Hayward brings modern perspectives into play -- and under close consideration: Thou needest not refute TED talks; a few years and a given talk will likely be out of fashion. There is something in the structure of TED that is liberal, even if many talks say nothing overtly political: forasmuch, there is more to say than that they are self-contained, controlled, plastic things, where world religions are something organic that may or may not have a central prophet, but never have a central planner. TED is a sort of evolving, synthetic religion, and it cannot fill true spiritual hunger.
Again: without prior knowledge of Hayward's grounding in Lewis's special brand of reflection in general, and the exiled Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy in particular, the extent and focus of this work could not be fully appreciated. This is why The Consolation of Theology is particularly recommended for back-to-back reading/rereading of the original Boethius classic, ideally flavored by some C.S. Lewis to heighten the discussions of its origins, relevance, and connections to past inquiries and inspections. It also represents yet another classic in the Hayward line of books for thinking individuals which joins a widening collection classics linking theology to modern life... thus, a background in at least some of Hayward's writings will enhance appreciation for what he's achieved.
Hayward's ability to fill in gaps in the dichotomy of Christian and pagan thinking makes this survey an exceptional piece of scholarship. It should be in any library strong in C.S. Lewis, Boethius, or theological writings that probe the intersection of modernity and ancient times.
The Self-Help Shelf
Mind Magic
Bill Harvey
The Human Effectiveness Institute
9780918538000, $23.95 Paper/$9.99 eBook
https://www.edelweiss.plus/?sku=0918538009&g=4400
Mind Magic: Doorways Into Higher Consciousness is about defining (or redefining, as the case may be) one's consciousness and self outside the trappings of world influence and set pathways of activity and discovery. As such, it's a top recommendation for self-help readers interested in not only self-examination, but keys to authenticity, better reactions and actions, and lasting transformation.
Bill Harvey applies philosophical, spiritual, and psychological keys to better understanding, taking the form of succinct admonitions and advice even the busiest reader can easily absorb. These sentences initially may mimic the structure of poetic discourses; but look deeper to find that they are actually reflections on the process of delving into one's mind and interactions with life influences, imparting the basics of adjustments and perceptions that result in change. This comes not just from reading the entire book, but in each sentence that Harvey delivers:
Visualize the mechanism
which sends you verbal thought messages
not as one speaker,
but as a vast senate of many different speakers.
Each experience you have had
creates a separate viewpoint
from which comments may be made.
Therefore, the first step to take
in analyzing any thought sent to you,
is to determine who is speaking...
Some of these observations may appear obvious to already-thinking, enlightened readers; but when presented in the broader context of a gathering of mind-altering approaches that provide alternatives to linear thinking, they stand out:
Your feelings and thoughts program
you and your environment on many levels:
if you radiate negatively,
negative events will occur around you and to you;
the opposite will occur if you radiate positively.
Even seasoned seekers on the road of life may find some of these approaches challenging - but that's the point. Life isn't simple - and neither should be the process of self-examination. The 1st edition was published in 1976 under the title Mind Magic: The Science of Microcosmology. This 6th edition only goes to show that the message and instructions here remain as relevant decades later as they were upon the book's first appearance. Having sold some 35,000 copies over its lifetime, Mind Magic earns its ongoing acclaim by appearing in updated editions relevant to next generations.
Libraries seeking motivational self-help books that provide reflective thoughts about mental development and acuity will also find that Mind Magic lends especially well to book club recommendation, whether the group is interested in psychology, metaphysics, or the state of the human mind and its capacity for growth.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Your Past Can Set You Free
Karin Stettler with Maitra
Opening the Lotus Publishers
9798322639916, $18.99
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Past-Can-Set-Free/dp/B0CPDGJCGQ
Your Past Can Set You Free: How Insights From Past Lives Can Heal Current Issues translates (from German into English) the work of seer Maitra. She has the ability to not only reveal past life experiences, but to teach how to learn and grow from them, applying their lessons to present-day dilemmas.
Where other books about past life regression focus on the methods and understanding of past lives, Maitra draws important connections between her work and the healing opportunity it can represent to participants in the present.
Important toolkits accompany each chapter, addressing such bigger-picture issues as tackling trauma, spiritual crisis, the experience of enslavement, and more. Past trickles into present incarnations to affect personalities, perceptions, reactions to life, and objectives; but within these influences, healing opportunities arise that are connected to one's past life. Accompanying these revelations are in-depth examples of readings and results.
While self-help readers seeking the quick-and-dirty nitty-gritty of succinct writing may find the detail challenging to absorb, this level of analyzing readings and their progression and impact is key to fully understanding the nature of past life experiences and their lessons. The toolkits that follow are highly effective and will especially please readers looking to apply past life experiences to their own growth:
At times, Laura's mother was so controlling that her behavior verged on abusing her power. Sometimes, her behavior crossed the line into real abuse. Her daughter was in revolt and trying to find her power, without becoming like her mother.
Our task, to own our power, is well defined by the dilemma of these two women: How do we take ownership of our power and exercise it, without being abusive or controlling? These keys to applied past life knowledge are an essential part of this book's message - and why Your Past Can Set You Free is a standout above other more experiential coverages of past life regression.
It's also why libraries strong in self-help, psychology, spirituality, and growth will find Your Past Can Set You Free important not just for collections covering any of these subjects, but as a recommendation to book clubs interested in lively discussion and debate material about how past experiences influences current perceptions and growth.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
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