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Reviewer's Choice
Look Twice: Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World, Volume I
Tim Beard
Stillwater River Productions
https://stillwaterpress.com
9781965733615, $19.99, PB, 234pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Look-Twice-Guide-Staying-Unsafe/dp/1965733611
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/look-twice-tim-beard/1149284391
Synopsis: Tim Beard is a career security professional who honed his expert skills in the US Marines and CIA's Clandestine Service. With the publication of "Look Twice: Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World, Volume I" he shows you the very secrets he has used to stay alive in risky situations in the most dangerous places on earth -- secrets you can use to avoid becoming the next victim of a terrible crime.
You may think you have no control over the bad things that could happen, but you do. You can control your own actions -- and the right actions could save your life and those of the people you love. Tim takes you through a variety of scenarios and reveals what you should do step-by-step.
In Volume I, of his DIY survival manual, Tim introduces the Look Twice Mindset and essential security concepts fundamental to the entire LOOK TWICE book series. He guides you on how to stay Safe at Home and Work, and what to do when you go Out in Town to run errands, visit the ATM, and other everyday activities. Tim also discusses different modes of Transportation with critical insights into automobiles, riding the subway, road rage, and other topics to help you stay safe.
Critique: We live in troubled times and in a polarized, weaponized, gun saturated society where ICE agents behave like Nazi storm troupers, public schools hold 'active shooter' drills, road rage is epidemic, and 'after dark' city streets are not safe -- especially for women. All this (and more) make Tim Beard's "Look Twice: Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World, Volume I" a timely and basic necessity, as well as unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Personal Safety/Survival collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Look Twice: Your Guide to Staying Safe in an Unsafe World, Volume I" from Stillwater River Publications is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Tim Beard has over three decades of experience in the public and private sectors. He was recruited by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) into the Directorate of Operations (Clandestine Service). Tim conducted and managed extremely sensitive clandestine operations around the globe for the U.S. Government, including overseas postings in multiple countries in Asia and the Middle East. He previously served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as an infantry officer, attaining the grade of captain. After retiring from CIA, Tim founded a global intelligence and risk mitigation consulting company, assisting clients in achieving strategic and tactical objectives in high-pressure environments under complex circumstances. He has helped clients to create a competitive advantage by driving decision-making and facilitating business opportunities.
The AI Studies Shelf
Machines That Think
Inga Strumke, author
Lena Vatne Bjorlo, translator
Rheinwerk Publishing
https://www.sap-press.com/the-publisher
9781493227617, $29.95, HC, 255pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Machines-That-Think-Artificial-Intelligence/dp/1493227610
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/machines-that-think-inga-strumke/1148692252
Synopsis: Artificial intelligence is no longer confined to science fiction stories. Today AI recommends what we watch, curates what we read, and even drafts what we write. Yet for all its influence, AI remains a mystery to many of us. How does it really work? And what happens when we place more and more of our lives in the hands of machines that "think"?
With the publication of "Machines That Think: How Artificial Intelligence Works and What It Means For Us", physicist and AI researcher Inga Strumke pulls back the curtain on the most transformative technology of our time in this captivating introduction to artificial intelligence.
Writing for curious minds from all backgrounds, "Machines That Think" traces the history of AI from early chess-playing machines to modern neural networks and language models. Along the way, she explains the principles behind machine learning with a balance of clarity and depth.
Strumke explores the promise of AI breakthroughs like AlphaFold, which cracked one of biology's greatest puzzles -- and spotlights the risks of biased decision-making, misinformation, and autonomous systems that sometimes fail with deadly consequences.
"Machines That Think" also raises urgent questions about ethics, responsibility, and regulation: Who is accountable when AI systems make mistakes? How do we prevent algorithms from reinforcing prejudice? And how do we ensure that AI serves humanity's highest aspirations rather than its narrowest interests?
Critique: Artificial Intelligence is shaping and reshaping our world more and more, faster and faster. It is essential that the public in general, and decision-makers in particular have a basic working knowledge of what AI is, what it does, and what it can do -- both in the present and the near-future. "Machines That Think: How Artificial Intelligence Works and What It Means For Us" by AI expert Inga Strumke (and accessibly translated into English for an American readership by Lena Vatne Bjorlo) is an ideal and effective introduction and guide. Comprehensive and exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this hardcover edition of "Machines That Think: How Artificial Intelligence Works and What It Means For Us" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library AI Technology collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject tht "Machines That Think: How Artificial Intelligence Works and What It Means For Us" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99, Amazon).
Editorial Note #1: Inga Strumke is a Norwegian physicist specializing in artificial intelligence and machine learning. She was born in 1989 in Gummersbach, Germany, and grew up in Narvik, Norway. Strumke holds a master's degree in theoretical physics from Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and a doctorate in particle physics from the University of Bergen. She is currently an associate professor at NTNU. Strumke is also known for her work in AI ethics and has received an award for science communication from the Norwegian Research Council. She published Maskiner som tenker in 2023. The book was recognized with the Brageprisen, a prestigious Norwegian literature prize.
Editorial Note #2: Lena Vatne Bjorlo is a senior analyst at Oxford Research. Lena has a PhD in algorithmic marketing and AI ethics from NTNU and her research focuses on the relationship between humans and technology.
The Humor Shelf
Life Is Terminal: And So Is This Cold Sore
Micheline Brewer
www.MichelineBrewer.com
Book Baby Publishers
www.bookbaby.com
9798999630568, $8.00, PB, 44pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Terminal-This-Cold-Sore/dp/B0FRWQ93CY
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life-is-terminal-micheline-brewer/1148282003
Synopsis: With the publication of "Life Is Terminal: And So Is This Cold Sore", author and humorist Micheline Brewer provides the reader with a quick romp through everyday woods while skipping over niceties and trampling on propriety.
"Life Is Terminal" is comprise of a series of crass clippings covers universal topics such as work, dating, why you should be scared of the all-seeing toilet, family, aging, and what your neighbors really think of your dog.
In this slender volume of iconic insight and humor, Micheline manages to 'turn over the moss of society and then stomps on it with both feet'.
Critique: Original, unique, recognizable, funny as hell, "Life Is Terminal: And So Is This Cold Sore" is a fun little read from cover to cover and highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Humor collections. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Life Is Terminal" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $2.99).
Editorial Note: Having worked over 60 jobs (and never getting fired) Micheline Brewer (www.MichelineBrewer.com) has seen the underbelly of life and lived to make fun of it. She's a Midwesterner, a volunteer, and an artist who can't draw. Her writing is candid, like her headshot - up close and no makeup. When asked about her training, Micheline replied: "I've never claimed to be literary, just entertaining on a budget."
The American History Shelf
9/11
Thomas Schweitzer
Independently Published
9798393030193, $12.95, PB, 230pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/11-narrative-egress-Atmosphere-Alchemy/dp/B0C87DH2NM
Synopsis: This second edition of "9/11" by Thomas Schweitzer tells of his egress from the North Tower on the day, escaping death by a minute or so twice. First, by getting on an elevator from the 107th floor to arrive on floor 78 about 8:45; then arriving on Church Street and starting to run it a little before 10 am. This was shortly before the South Tower was to collapse and bury the site in debris. However, neither the narrative of egress nor the new essay are sensationalistic.
Alexis de Tocqueville wrote: "In politics shared hatred's are always the basis of friendships." In his book he coined the phrase "the tyranny of the majority" that existed in American democracy. Lately this has not been the case in national elections. In the pages of "9/11", Thomas Schweitzer does not use de Tocqueville, but rather employ a diversity of sources (internet news and information, literary critical readings, cosmological sources of intelligence, and philosophical readings of Spinoza and Locke treated as literature) to analyze the current state of American democracy.
At present a majority does not figure at all in the vote of the election of a president. Instead there are two pluralities of about 30%, with the greatest plurality of about 40% not voting. Further, massive tax breaks have been given to surveillance capitalists, which can be shared with politicians in lobbying against restoring the privacy of individuals, whose equality theoretically forms the basis of Jefferson's democracy. This situation immediately serves a relatively small number of protected people. These are the surveillance capitalists who have arrogated the right of privacy from the people for sale; this great wealth can then be shared with politicians who are always seeking mostly to hold office.
Thomas Schweitzer's book, "9/11" develops a wide-ranging context for thought about American democracy with a view towards the national election of November of 2024.
Critique: Thoughtful and thought-provoking, deftly crafted, and a clarion call for political reform if we are to preserve and protect the kind of American democracy whose foundation is the Constitution of the United States, this second edition of "9/11" by Thomas Schweitzer is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, governmental authorities, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this paperback edition of "9/11" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
Editorial Note: Thomas Schweitzer studied architecture and literature at Washington University, and received a Ph.D. in English literature. his website for architectural design and illustration is still up at www.tschweitzer.com. His graphics and painting website is active and entitled www.floatingplanetstudio.com
The Biography/Memoir Shelf
The Heart Remembers: Recollections of a Ninety-Year-Old Man
Helmuth R. Krause
Dorrance Publishing Company
www.dorrancepublishing.com
9798890272362, $23.78, PB, 362pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Remembers-Recollections-Ninety-Year-Old-Man/dp/B0CXRMND1P
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-heart-remembers-helmuth-r-krause/1144885283
Synopsis: "The Heart Remembers: Recollections of a Ninety-Year-Old Man" is the life story of Helmuth R. Krause -- a man defined by his honesty, hard-work, and love of family.
Helmuth was born in Marathon County, Wisconsin in 1932. He grew up in a hard-working farm family, a lifestyle that he has proudly passed on to his children and grandchildren.
"The Heart Remembers" is the journey of a young boy of mixed blood born and living in a statge of poverty during the years of the Great Depression. In his memoir, Helmuth shares the many lessons he learned and the people he met throughout more than nine decades. His intent is to inspire others to be appreciative of all people, all animals, and all land.
Critique: Exceptional, informative, engaging, and ultimately inspirational, "The Heart Remembers: Recollections of a Ninety-Year-Old Man" is an extraordinary, heartfelt, fascinating, and unreservedly recommended addition to community and college/university library American Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Heart Remembers" from the Dorrance Publishing Company is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.00).
Editorial Note: Helmuth and his wife Ruth live on 160 acres of farmland and forest in hilly, rural southwest, Wisconsin. Together they raised four children and have ten grandchildren. They are well known maple syrup producers and have been a fixture at regional farmers' markets for 35 years. Helmuth enjoys being in the woods, gardening, and spending time with his family. He is a keen observer of nature and knows the importance of being a good steward of the land. He has made an impact in his community by contributing to community benefits and local food pantries, which serve as only a small part of his legacy. At ninety years old, he still helps out on the family farm, grows a large garden, and runs the family's maple syrup production.
Towards Blue Skies
Adele Minnar
Michael Terence Publishing
https://www.mtp.agency
9781805881834, $11.99, PB, 206pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Towards-Blue-Skies-Innocence-Resilience/dp/1805881833
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/towards-blue-skies-adele-minnar/1149367138
Synopsis: With the publication of "Towards Blue Skies: A Memoir of Innocence, Fear and Resilience", Adele Minnar has provided a powerful and honest memoir about growing up with a toxic mother in post-war Britain. After a brief, idyllic childhood in rural Shropshire, Adele's life changes irrevocably following a family tragedy and a move to Liverpool.
What then followed is a long, hidden struggle marked by physical and emotional cruelty, rejection and fear, carried out behind closed doors and sustained across childhood and adolescence.
In a time when abuse was rarely spoken of and family shame silenced victims, Adele learned to survive without protection or affection. Moments of kindness from outsiders, the cultural awakening of the 1960s and the Beatles inspired Merseybeat scene offer fragile lifelines, but the damage ran deep.
Spanning two decades, "Towards Blue Skies" is not a story of easy recovery, but one of endurance. Adele's memoir gives voice to the lasting impact of maternal abuse and the quiet strength required to keep going when love is withheld and safety is never guaranteed.
Critique: Amazingly candid, vividly descriptive, emotionally engaging, "Towards Blue Skies: A Memoir of Innocence, Fear and Resilience" by Adele Minnar is especially and unreservedly recommended for community and college/library Women's Biography/Memoir collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Towards Blue Skies" from Michael Terence Publishing is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.69, Amazon).
Editorial Note: Adele Minnar is a new author with plans for more writing and is currently working on a sequel to "Towards Blue Skies" which will chronicle her life in the years following those covered in her first memoir.
The General Fiction Shelf
Esquire Ball, Stories from the Great Black Swamp
Lisa Slage Robinson
https://lisaslagerobinson.com
Black Lawrence Press
https://blacklawrencepress.com
9781625571809, $17.95, PB, 158pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Esquire-Stories-Great-Black-Swamp/dp/1625571801
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/esquire-ball-stories-from-the-great-black-swamp-lisa-slage-robinson/1147552659
Synopsis: With a nod to Borges, Kafka, and Daphne du Maurier, "Esquire Ball, Stories from the Great Black Swamp" is a Midwestern gothic collection of thirteen linked stories by Lisa Slage Robinson in which a young female attorney discovers what it takes to succeed.
In this debut collection, set primarily in 1980s Northwest Ohio, ambitious men marry frog wives; a mother-daughter duo trap souls in farmhouse windows; a teenager drowns in a sea of corn; an associate breaks into a client's house to steal a token of remembrance; and a PhD candidate reveals the secrets of the universe while having a threesome with her boyfriend and a tree.
Through the lens of magical feminism, and braiding in fairytales and mythology, "Esquire Ball" examines the gray side of ethics, the tyranny of ambition, and the collateral damage left in its wake.
Critique: Original, exceptional, deftly crafted, the stories comprising "Esquire Ball, Stories from the Great Black Swamp" showcasing author Lisa Slage Robinson's mastery of the magical realism genre. Developed characters, interesting plot lines, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "Esquire Ball" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and college/university library Contemporary American Literary Fiction collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Esquire Ball" from Black Lawrence Press is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Lisa Slage Robinson (https://lisaslagerobinson.com) writes to explore invisible landscapes and magical feminism. Named a finalist for Midwest Review's Great Midwest Fiction Contest, her work appears in Iron Horse Literary Review, Smokelong Quarterly, The Adroit Journal, PRISM, Atticus Review, Storm Cellar, Necessary Fiction, Lit Pub, Meat for Tea and elsewhere. A former litigator and corporate attorney, she practiced law in the United States and Canada. Lisa serves on the Board of Directors for Autumn House Press.
The Historical Fiction Shelf
The Traitor's Bargain
Rajat Roy
Emberline Books
https://emberline-books.com
9781764129909, $9.99, PB, 250pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Traitors-Bargain-Rajat-Roy/dp/1764129903
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-traitors-bargain-rajat-roy/1148776451
Synopsis: In the summer of 1757, Bengal, jewel of the East, stands on the edge of a precipice. The East India Company, once mere merchants, now maneuvers to unseat a dynasty. The fiery young Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah is surrounded by treachery. A banker pulls unseen strings behind the throne. A nobleman, torn between loyalty and survival, makes a fateful choice. A Company soldier begins to doubt the masters he serves. And the son of an aristocrat finds himself leading a peasant revolt.
Their lives converge in a crucible of shifting power and rising rebellion, as the fury of a devastated land collides with the appetite of foreign merchants. Every decision becomes a wager, and every betrayal, a reckoning.
Based on real events and grounded in meticulous research, "The Traitor's Bargain" is a vivid portrait of ambition, audacity, resistance, and moral compromise at one of the most consequential turning points in Indian history.
Critique: All the more impressive when considering that this is his debut as an author, Rajat Roy brings an original and genuine flair to his historical suspense thriller novel "The Traitor's Bargain". Fans of historically based action/adventure fiction will appreciate Rajat Roy's narrative driven storytelling style that makes "The Traitor's Bargain" a fun and engaging read from start to finish. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community/public library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "The Traitor's Bargain" from Emberline Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Rajat Roy is a historical fiction author and business consultant based in Sydney, Australia. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode, he combines analytical precision with a passion for uncovering the untold stories of colonial India. When not writing, Rajat shares reflections on colonial history with a growing community of readers and researchers interested in the legacies of empire. His insights (often drawn from meticulous historical research) can be found on social media and the website of the publishing imprint Emberline Books.
The Double Act
Claire Southwood
https://clairesouthwood.com
MindStir Media
https://mindstirmedia.com
9781968485306, $30.00, PB, 360pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Double-Act-Claire-Southwood/dp/1968485309
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-double-act-claire-southwood/1149012815
Synopsis: Stretching across more than four centuries, two grappling sisters continue their family feud; one resentful, the other selfishly dark. The connections between past and present are endless and appear almost surreal, but once Amanda Sanders (the resentful one) accepts the origins of their dispute, things start to shift her way. Before she can make peace, however, she has to look back at Mary Boleyn's life from the Tudor era, where the story begins.
Discovering the hidden truths behind the obscure, historical figure of Mary Boleyn, and follow her life experiences as she spends her time in exile, abandoned by her sister who'd wrapped King Henry VIII around her wicked finger. Then move on to the present day and be astounded by the many connections that bridge past and present.
Are these mere reflections, or is history picking up where it had left off?
With past and present laid out alongside each other, "The Double Act" gives off a real sense of deja vu, with a royally intriguing family drama right at its heart.
Critique: Original, eloquent, and a simply fascinating read from start to finish, "The Double Act" is all the more impressive as a work of deftly crafted literary fiction when considering that it is Claire Southwood's debut as a novelist. Showcasing her genuine flair for the kind of imaginative and narrative driven storytelling style, "The Double Act" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for tje personal reading lists for fans of the 'family saga' genre that this paperback edition of "The Double Act" from MindStir Media is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
Editorial Note: Claire Southwood (https://clairesouthwood.com) loves delving into anything that stimulates the soul; whether that is through nature, art, philosophy or exploration, it all provides her with a great source of inspiration. Meanwhile, her lifelong appreciation of stories has given birth to a great desire to write, prompting Claire to transform soul-inspired knowledge into fictionalised, real-life stories. This concept cannot help but bring about questions of our own past and the part it has played in shaping our lives. Thus, with her debut novel, "The Double Act", Claire has produced a literary work which gives us all cause to wonder who we are and who we've been -- for what greater mystery is there than life itself?
The LGBTQ Fiction Shelf
Slow Bright Things
Becky Bohan
Independently Published
9798296042132, $15.00, PB, 318pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Slow-Bright-Things-Becky-Bohan/dp/B0FYM639TX
Synopsis: Five years into her loving relationship with Ellie Belmont, Kathryn Kepler wonders why her closet door is merely ajar, not wide open. As Kathryn and Ellie grapple with intrusive ex-lovers, difficult children, meddling neighbors, and their own insecurities, can they make a lifetime commitment?
Critique: Original, exceptional, fascinating, "Slow Bright Things" is the sequel to author Becky Bohan's stand-out debut novel, "A Light on Altered Land", and picks up five years later as Kathryn and Ellie, now in their seventies, grapple with intrusive ex-lovers, difficult children, meddling neighbors, and their own insecurities, all while discovering that their happily-ever-after is just the beginning. "Slow Bright Things" is a deftly crafted work deftly blending humor, passion, and mature love as it explores the challenges of long term relationships and how exes can foster growth. With an impressive and genuine flair for a compelling character and narrative driven storytelling style that lifts her novel to and impressive level of literary excellence, "Slow Bright Minds" will have a particular appeal to fans with an interest in LGBTQ and 'Later in Life' romance novels. It should be noted that this paperback edition of "Slow Bright Minds" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Romance Fiction collections. It is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.00).
Editorial Note: There is an extensive listing of books by Becky Bohan online at Goodreads -- https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/444512.Becky_Bohan
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Buried Treasure
Nick Greenberg
https://nickgreenberg-author.com
Speaking Volumes
https://speakingvolumes.us
9798890223968, $18.95, PB, 313pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Treasure-Nick-Greenberg/dp/B0GDS3K3W9
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/buried-treasure-nick-greenberg/1149019987
Synopsis: Danny Pasko, a struggling Cincinnati musician, is stunned when his golden retriever unearths a peculiar object in the woods. When his chef neighbor offers a fistful of cash for the colossal truffle, his life takes an unexpected turn. As Danny's dog continues to dig up the flavorsome fungi, his financial woes ease, and each new harvest seems to spark his musical creativity.
He soon learns, however, that centuries-old truffle fraternities are extremely protective of their fungal charges. Threatened by the growing acclaim of his Ohio harvest, they demand that Danny cease and desist all mycological transactions or else.
Will Danny choose to fight for his epicurean muse, or will he return to his life as a struggling musician?
Critique: With the publication of "Buried Treasure", author Nick Greenberg has once again demonstrated his master of the cozy mystery genre. His natural flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling that makes for a compelling read from start to finish will fully entertain readers with an interest in financial and crime suspense thrillers. While an ideal pick for both personal reading lists and community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections it should be noted that this paperback edition of "Buried Treasure" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
Editorial Note: Nick Greenberg (https://nickgreenberg-author.com) draws on colorful and eccentric characters -- many of whom he has encountered in real life with his culinary quests.
Seeds of Vengeance
Stephen Joyce
https://stephenj.allauthor.com
Rampart Books
9781915778581, $26.99, HC, 294pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/SEEDS-VENGEANCE-occurred-sensationalised-murderer/dp/1915778581
Synopsis: When a series of grisly murders occurred all across the country they are sensationalised by the media.
Police forces operating in isolation have been highlighted as being spectacularly ineffective against a devious and brutal adversary, whose M.O. is designed to render forensics almost useless.
Caught in a pincer movement between MI6 and the Home Office, MI5 has been invited to lead the manhunt. However, the higher echelons in MI5 must protect their prestige. They have no appetite to be reduced to mere plods.
This experiment must fail! A scapegoat is required.
Step forward, Ryan Young, a competent and experienced MI5 data analyst but also a socially inept computer nerd; definitely not super sleuth material.
With the cards being stacked against him, what can he hope to achieve as the body count rises and time is running out?
Critique: Original, deftly crafted, and a simply riveting read from start to finish, "Seeds of Vengeance" is an impressive blending of murder mystery, action/adventure, and political thriller. Showcasing author Stephen Joyce's exceptional and genuine flair for the kind of narrative driven storytelling style that is ideal for this genre, "Seeds of Vengeance" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community/public library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this hardcover edition of "Seeds of Vengeance" from Rampart Books is also readily available in paperback (9781915778994, $16.20) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $3.49).
Editorial Note: Stephen Joyce (https://stephenj.allauthor.com) has taken an unusual path to becoming an author. His career has spanned roles ranging from bellboy on a cruise liner to the founder of an IT security consultancy, experiences that have shaped both his technical insight and narrative perspective. As a child in the mid 1960s, he spent several years in Australia before returning to his native Liverpool. When not working or writing, he maintains a wry sense of humour about domestic life, crediting it as a reliable source of balance and inspiration.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
Invented Lives from Troubled Times
Philip Boris Uninsky
Cherry Orchard Books
c/o Academic Studies Press
https://www.academicstudiespress.com/cherryorchardbooks
9798887198477, $69.00, HC, 310pp
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Invented-Lives-Troubled-Times-Resilience/dp/B0FVF8QRC9
Barnes & Noble
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/invented-lives-from-troubled-times-philip-boris-uninsky/1148490086
Synopsis: With the publication of "Invented Lives from Troubled Times: A Jewish Family's Forms of Resilience after Surviving Pogroms, Revolution, and the Holocaust", Philip Boris Uninsky offers a fresh perspective on the complex pathways to resilience, recounting the saga of an extended Jewish family who survived decades of repeated, severe traumas in the 20th century.
In addition to exploring his family's recounted memories, which were clothed with confabulations, misdirection, and droll inventiveness, Uninsky uses archival sources and decades of observations and interactions to uncover their diverse and shifting pathways to persistence.
These survivors were not, as is often predicted, ineluctably diminished by profound trauma and the loss of security and concrete anchors to the past. Rather, they succeeded in managing the present, inventing lives of widely divergent personalities that emerged as a canvas of extremes, the eccentric and conventional, the self-effacing and the triumphantly comic, the conscientious citizen and the wayward criminal.
Critique: A simply fascinating, and impressive informative study, "Invented Lives from Troubled Times: A Jewish Family's Forms of Resilience after Surviving Pogroms, Revolution, and the Holocaust" by Philip Boris Uninsky is unexpectedly timely when considering the re-emergence of antisemitism that is currently underway. An original and unique contribution to the growing body of Jewish Holocaust History, "Invented Lives from Troubled Times: A Jewish Family's Forms of Resilience after Surviving Pogroms, Revolution, and the Holocaust" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Jewish Biography and Holocaust Studies collections and supplemental curriculum lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that this hardcover edition of "Invented Lives from Troubled Times: A Jewish Family's Forms of Resilience after Surviving Pogroms, Revolution, and the Holocaust" from Cherry Orchard Books is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $65.55).
Editorial Note: For over three decades, Philip B. Uninsky has brought science and law to service in the US and Africa. An academic social scientist, attorney, and director of non-profits, he has supported highly stressed communities by implementing, evaluating, and sustaining evidence-based models in the areas of mental health, trauma, education, and violence prevention.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
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