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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
Footnote Reviews has commented on (28) products
The Last Hours of Their Lives
by
Joseph A. Wellman
Footnote Reviews
, December 28, 2013
The title of this book conjures up images of a life and death struggle and a rollercoaster ride through dangerous skies - hold on to your hats because you are in for a bumpy ride! The atmosphere aboard this routine flight changes dramatically when one of the pilots becomes violently ill with symptoms that indicate a bout of food poisoning. Shortly thereafter, the second pilot becomes ill and the plane is left flying on autopilot. The cabin crew put out a call firstly for anyone with medical training then for anyone with piloting skills. Both calls are answered but the other passengers and crew are not instantly reassured. Gradually, the passengers realize that there is no back-up pilot on board as they had expected, so some of them start to shout and scream and panic. Others are more stoical and reflective about their current situation and their lives up to this point. The stories of the various passengers are woven as a backdrop to the unfolding drama with many ironic tales being told - anger, regret, love, hate, deceit, fear, and a myriad of conflicting emotions are brought to the surface as the journey progresses. Will the plane be able to land safely? Will they crash? Will any or all of the passengers and crew survive? I recommend that you read the book and find out! Looking forward to the big screen version.
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Death by Decision
by
Travis Guy Fowler
Footnote Reviews
, October 29, 2013
The title and the blood red cover of this book leave the reader in no doubt as to the content - and I for one was not disappointed. The story is told from the viewpoint of the main character, a calculating and driven avenger, or a cold blooded killer, depending on your point of view. He methodically chooses his victims, plans their demise, and once his work is done, he vanishes into obscurity. The police are baffled by these killings, and focus their investigation on the local newspaper reporter who they feel has knowledge of the crimes as he has covered previous stories about each of the victims. The detectives join forces with the FBI and one of their profilers works closely with one of the officers to try to build a picture of the perpetrator they are looking for. The killer leaves a personalized message on each victim, in his own way explaining why they have been chosen, but these cause further confusion amongst the men and women attempting to solve these crimes. With no other leads to go on, they decide to bring in the reporter and his assistant for questioning with unexpected consequences for all involved in the case. The climax of the book does not bring the story to a close, and many loose ends are left untied. I feel a sequel is in the offing and I look forward to continuing my acquaintance with this mystery assassin. An excellent thriller which is both well written and well presented.
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Drums of the Dark Forest
by
Ed Stowers
Footnote Reviews
, September 10, 2013
This is the second Ed Stowers novel that I have read and I am beginning to enjoy the genre, not one I had encountered previously. The action is set in the frontier days of 1760s America and our hero, Zeb Parker, is a woodsman who lives by hunting. He has no fixed abode or family - his parents were killed by Indians when he was young and he was raised by a different tribe of Indians in their ways and customs. He is a friend to both white men and redskins, keeping on friendly terms with both whenever possible. Zeb has rescued a brother and sister from the clutches of a small war party and they reach Fort Ligonier and seek sanctuary. Here they learn that the Indians are increasing their raids, killing and kidnapping more and more settlers. A range war is on the cards and Zeb sets out to fetch help from the soldiers garrisoned at Fort Bedford. After a gruelling journey, he reaches his goal and a troop of soldiers is despatched to relieve Fort Pitt and then Fort Ligonier. The troops have to repel many Indian attacks and a battle ensues at Bushy Run. Zeb is captured by the Indians, one of whom is the very brave that killed his mother and father, whom Zeb attempts to kill but is outnumbered and savagely beaten. He is tethered and humiliated while they journey across many miles to their camp. Each village they encounter means more ill-treatment as he is made to run the gauntlet of abuse and brutality. The party reaches their journey’s end and a trial of sorts is held where Zeb is able to tell his story. A fight to the death against his parents’ killer is the outcome of his ‘trial’ and a bloody combat ensues. Once you get past the many and varied tribal names that proliferate throughout the book there is a good ‘Cowboys and Indians’ tale to be enjoyed!
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Island of the White Rose
by
R Ira Harris
Footnote Reviews
, September 10, 2013
This novel brings to life Cuba in the late 1950s, when Fidel Castro and Che Guevara are fighting the forces of Fulgencio Batista, a ruthless dictator with some very wicked ways. Many who oppose Batista’s regime are tortured, killed or simply disappear. Fidel promises freedom from this nightmare and is planning to re-install the Catholic church to its former status once he takes over. Our story centres around the life of Pedro Villanueva, a priest who feels he has been forced into his ‘calling’ my his mother. He questions his faith and suitability for the priesthood then circumstances place him on the side of the rebels and his life is turned upside down. He meets two very different women - one that wants him for the revolution, the other befriends him and he sees a future with her away from the priesthood. Pedro is asked to minister the last rites to an inmate at La Cabana, the notorious prison run by Batista’s henchmen. He is shocked at what he finds there and is drawn to the rebel cause more and more. A family tragedy increases his desire to aid the rebels and bring freedom to the Cuban people. He attended the same school as Fidel Castro and, through his ability as a sailor, is called upon to work for the rebels and is re-acquainted with his old schoolmate at his hideout in the mountains. Pedro saves the life of one of the rebel leaders and is lauded as a hero of the revolution, a plaudit he is keen to distance himself from. When he returns to Havana, it is a very different place. The rebels are now running the town and their methods seem as brutal as the previous regime, and Pedro seeks an escape with the woman he has grown to love, but his drastic plan leads them into more danger. Interesting novel from a historical viewpoint but I felt let-down by the ending.
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Ride a Lonely Wind
by
Ed Stowers
Footnote Reviews
, August 17, 2013
As I began to read this book, I was aware that this was probably the first western that I had ever read, so I tried to keep an open mind. The story unfolded and I found myself visualizing the action as a movie. Our hero, Matt Brannigan, is riding through Indian territory on the way to a new life when he is caught out in the open by a bunch of braves on the warpath. He manages to survive and is able to reach Fort Griffin with the help of Christina, who nurses him after the attack. She is also in search of a new life raising cattle on her uncle’s ranch, but as he and his foreman were killed on the journey, she plans to continue alone. Matt gets caught up in a whole heap of trouble at the fort and is saved again by Christina when she recruits him as her foreman. He hires three other men to work with him and together they all leave the fort and head out to the ranch. Local lands disputes, renegade Indians and buffalo hunters all add spice to their lives as they try to round up missing cattle and rebuild the ranch, but worse is yet to come. After one particularly savage attack by Indians on one of their neighbours, Matt sets off in pursuit of a mother and son who have been kidnapped. Though the son is killed, he manages to rescue the young mother but they are chased by the Indians and have to fight for their lives. Luckily, a group of soldiers comes to their aid and they return to the safety of Fort Griffin. Even here, Matt is embroiled in yet more trouble, barely escaping alive from a lynch mob. He decides attack is the best form of defence - will his strategy pay off? Read the book to find out!
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Blood Rust - Death of the China Doll
by
W. Hock Hochheim
Footnote Reviews
, August 17, 2013
New York is the backdrop to this unusual police story. Detective Rusty was shot and badly wounded in the head and the stomach some years earlier and has been living rough from day to day, stealing cars and money to feed his drug habit, and laying his weary head wherever he can. An old contact gets in touch to let him know that the convicted killer in his last case is about to be executed, but has protested his innocence. Rusty investigates the mafia connections to the case plus the cops involved and opens a Pandora’s Box of worms which threaten to get him killed. The China Doll case involved the rape and murder of the wife of a Chinese diplomat and the case seemed cut and dried at the time, but Rusty now sees that it was too cut and dried and sets off to uncover the truth. He meets a South African human rights lawyer who takes on his case, but she stipulates that he must receive experimental medical treatment to help heal his brain and improve his memory. He has nothing to lose at this point so agrees to drug and shock treatment which cause him some problems but gradually he improves and begins to right the wrongs that have been done to him and the innocent man on death row. The trail leads them to South Africa, then they travel to Shanghai in search of the China Doll’s husband. Along the way, they encounter some pirates who need to be dealt with and once in China, their task is a complicated one. They manage to return to the US but Rusty’s job is not yet completed. Entertaining book once you get past the first few chapters.
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The Prodigal
by
Michael Hurley
Footnote Reviews
, August 12, 2013
This story begins in 1851 with a tale of gypsies and sailors, then quickly moves to Ocracoke Island in North Carolina in the 21st century. Our hero, Aiden, awakes from the previous evening’s excesses, naked on the beach. It takes a while for him to remember the exact circumstances of his predicament and before he does, he is assisted in covering his nakedness by a strange woman he meets on the beach. He is reunited with his work colleagues and they return to their law practice on the mainland after their brief but eventful vacation. The law firm that Aiden works for deals with many multi-million dollar compensation cases and there is one about to start, with his colleague Bryce taking the lead, but he has confused the dates and is not ready to proceed. Aiden uses his influence and experience to take over the case and all goes well until the jury selection, when Aiden makes a massive error of judgement which will cause him to lose his job, his home and everything he has worked for. He is assisted by the senior partner to find a temporary home and employment back on Ocracoke Island, where he takes up lodgings with the local priest, who is a rather unorthodox member of the cloth. He tries to keep a low profile and stay away from trouble, but that proves to be an elusive goal when a fight breaks out at the local bar. A mysterious ship is found drifting at sea and salvaged by Aiden and his friends. They plan to restore it and enter a prestigious race for a million dollar prize, but another competitor has other ideas and dirty deeds are afoot. Danger and bad weather stalk them at every turn and a thrilling climax ensues. Gripping tale, well written and a thoroughly good read.
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How To Make Your Own Soft Drinks
by
Rebecca Joseph
Footnote Reviews
, July 20, 2013
This little recipe book of soft drinks contains lots of varieties of fruity drinks, milky drinks and some unusual combinations to experiment with. Milk shakes, cordials, barley waters, syrups, squashes, lassis, lemonades, punches and more are all here to be tried and tested. The measurements are mostly in imperial with some metric conversions and cups are utilized - be sure to check the size of cup! There are a few errors in the presentation, but on the whole, these can be worked around. If you like to make your own soft drinks then there is bound to be something of interest for you in this book.
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Rockin' Chair
by
Steven Manchester
Footnote Reviews
, June 22, 2013
The rocking chair in the title belongs to John McCarthy, who lives with his wife Alice on their farm in Montana. They are quite an elderly couple, and Alice has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which John is trying to cope with as best he can. They have one son who lives with his wife in a nearby house, but there is a deep divide between father and son, and their paths seldom cross. John and Alice have three grandchildren, all of whom have flown the nest for the big cities, with varying degrees of success in their business and private lives. As Alice’s condition worsens, John is helped by his daughter-in-law, Elle, and he and his faithful old dog Three Speed (so called because he is missing a leg) tend to the farm chores. John writes to all of his grandchildren to let them know of Alice’s condition, suggesting they should not delay and return home soon, in order to say goodbye. One is a soldier, recently returned from the Middle East, and cannot be contacted directly. The second son sets out to find his sister, and her daughter, and they return to Montana where their grandfather sets about trying to heal their different emotional problems. Sadly, Alice passes away and the family gather for the funeral to say their farewells. In the ensuing days, old grievances and misunderstandings are brought out into the open, and gradually a kind of peace arrives between all of the members of the family. John does his best to heal the rift with his son, whilst not altogether understanding the reasons behind it. Eventually, father and son come to realize that they have both been at fault, and a guarded friendship develops between them. A wonderful story, well worth reading - and keep a box of tissues handy!
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The Bluffer's Guide to Cricket
by
James Trollope
Footnote Reviews
, May 29, 2013
I have been a fan of cricket since childhood, but this book was able to expand my knowledge of the game in so many ways. So many anecdotes struck a cord and brought back memories. From the fast-paced, exciting one day matches to the slower, more thoughtful test matches, there is a form of cricket for almost all tastes. Shamefully, even I have fallen asleep at Lord's watching Geoffrey Boycott hold down his end to save the test! Cricket is a wonderfully social game, especially if you are in or near The Tavern at Lord's during a one-day international between England and Australia. Village cricket can be just as social but on a totally different level, though the rivalry is no less ferocious. The biggest problem with cricket is trying to explain the rules of the game to someone from a non-cricket playing country, or indeed anyone who is not a native English speaker. This book tries to make some sense of the rules in a clear way, though does anyone fully understand the ins and outs (so to speak) of the game? Famous cricketing bluffers have done so on various levels, though in Allen Stanford's case, the sheer scale of his deception meant he ended up in jail! Cricket in literature is also very popular, from P G Wodehouse to Harold Pinter, though I would mention Ben Travers as an author to check out. Modern day cricket, by which I mean the IPL twenty20 version, is a whole different ball game - literally. Not for the cricket purist nor the faint hearted, though it has become incredibly popular on the Indian sub-continent. Great book, packed full of useful info for cricket fans.
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The Bluffer's Guide to Golf
by
Adam Ruck
Footnote Reviews
, May 29, 2013
The ancient game of golf, which was 'discovered' by the Scots, is a pleasant and sociable exercise for men, and occasionally women. They can enjoy a bracing four or five hour walk in the fresh air, often in beautiful countryside, then have a couple of drinks in the clubhouse with their chums. There, they can discuss the length of the huge putt they holed, or the extraordinary drive from the 7th tee, or the rabbit that stole their ball on the 10th green. This is all part of the bluffing or bragging that is essential for some not so good golfers, though occasionally good golfers also need the odd excuse. The many aspects of golf are chronicled here, from the rules of the game, to the tools of the trade, to the sublime / ridiculous forms of attire, to the handicapping system, and most importantly, the course and clubhouse etiquette. Professional golf has altered the game in many ways, enabling nondescript sportsmen to become millionaires seemingly overnight, thanks to the excessive prize money handed out at tournaments. At least tennis players have to a run around and sweat a bit for their pots of gold. The toughest bluff is for a lady to gain entry to a golf clubhouse, let alone play a round of golf on the hallowed greens! I am told it is not so difficult in the 21st century, though there are still pockets of resistance, and so there should be. Men need somewhere to be together, in a safe environment, so they can brag and get drunk together after the game, if indeed they bother to play a game at all. Try not to judge golf until you have given it a go, you may just enjoy it - I know I did.
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Where Have All the Pop Stars Gone? -- Volume 1
by
Marti Smiley Childs and Jeff March
Footnote Reviews
, May 13, 2013
Ever wondered what happened to your favourite pop stars from when you were a teenager? Well, the authors of these two volumes are on a mission to help you out! The first volume features five American acts, The Association, The Kingston Trio, Chris Montez, The Spiral Starecase, and Bobby Vee plus two British combos, Herman’s Hermits and The Zombies. Between them, they accumulated seven number 1 hits in the US charts and and many of them are still performing to this day, though many in a somewhat altered state! Their stories are told as a unit, detailing their careers and then individual members are given their own section with a more personal slant on their lives and achievements. Not all band members are included - it is as if only the chosen ones are included in the latter section, obviously some did not care to get themselves involved, or had fallen out with whoever provided the overall information. In volume two, the bands included are The Buckinghams, The Grass Roots, The Moody Blues, plus the duo Sam and Dave, and solo artists Donnie Brooks, Bobby Goldsboro and Ray Stevens. Other than the Moody Blues, who came from Britain, all of the acts were American. The format of this book is the same as the first, again with glaring omissions, most notably with the biographies of the Moody Blues, as the life stories of only two of the seven 'permanent' musicians involved are told in detail. I was eager to read these books to find out what happened to some of the groups and singers who played my kind of music in the 60s and 70s, but overall, I was disappointed. Good idea, shame about the result.
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Little Girl Gone
by
Tucker Mayer
Footnote Reviews
, May 12, 2013
This thriller grips you from the very beginning with its fast-paced story and many twists and turns. Whilst not for the faint-hearted, containing shocking scenarios and violence throughout, I found it to be the perfect novel from my point of view! As I was reading, I was visualizing the action as a movie in my head, and enjoying the story ‘on the screen’. The lead character of the book, Pete Zwicker, is an ex-Marine who gets himself into a spot of bother after returning from active service, and has to spend a few years in jail. He is abruptly released and sent on an unofficial mission by ‘the powers that be’. His quest takes him from the US to Canada and then to South America, trying to solve a series of mysterious occurrences which are being orchestrated by a Columbian government minister called Santes, who is the chief coffee baron in his country. He turns out to be an evil criminal who will stop at nothing to control his various business interests throughout the western world and beyond. Zwicker recruits a small team of helpers and they head off in search of three kidnap victims who they believe are being held at the stronghold of Santes in Columbia. The area is closely guarded and heavily fortified but they are able to gain entry. However, their plans go awry and a battle for survival ensues between Zwicker’s team and the small army that Santes has in place for his protection. The action moves out to sea, and vessels from both the US and Columbian navies become involved in a fluctuating battle for survival. An excellent book, and I would recommend it highly to anyone looking for an enthralling, action-packed read.
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First World Problems in an Age of Terrorism and Ennui
by
Dominic Peloso
Footnote Reviews
, April 28, 2013
At first glance, the title of this book seems to imply a handbook for terrorism, which it is to a great extent, but that is only a very small part of the overall story. Many ideas are proposed to cause mayhem and destruction, though they are never brought to fruition, at least not by Tyler, the central character of the book. Tyler is bored with his job and his life, so he invents a separate persona who runs a website called CHOAS (misspelt on purpose) where he gives advice to would-be terrorists, without any real success. His day to day life involves work, collecting his lawyer girlfriend from her job late at night, and visiting coffee shops to see and be seen. He reads non-mainstream books while drinking his coffee, hoping to engage in conversation with other like-minded souls, but seldom prospers in his ambition. Tyler meets Molly on one of his coffee shop jaunts, and after they bump into each other a few more times, they eventually start up a platonic friendship. This does not affect his relationship with his girlfriend as he sees Molly as more of a fellow revolutionary than a romantic interest. The climax of the book arrives with the World Trade Centre destruction on 9/11 and he realises that his website will be seen as the driving force behind the attacks, as many of his terroristic suggestions have been utilized by the perpetrators. He gets in his car and heads as far away from Washington as he can, hoping to outrun the FBI and hide in Mexico or any South American country that does not have an extradition treaty with the USA. Read the book to find out how he gets on - you will enjoy this well written and very entertaining tale.
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Letters to the Granddaughter - The Story of Dillon Wallace of the Labrador Wild: Retracing the trips in the North and the remarkable life of the autho
by
Philip Schubert
Footnote Reviews
, April 27, 2013
As the title implies, this book is written as a series of letters to Amy, the granddaughter of Dillon Wallace, who was an explorer in Newfoundland and Labrador in eastern Canada at the start of the 20th century. He set out with two other like-minded individuals to traverse the countryside to find a passageway through the streams, rivers and lakes which abound in that part of Canada. As it turned out, there were many hills and the occasional mountain to climb during their journey westward. The men encountered many problems and hardships along the way, not least the plagues of flies which caused great irritation and discomfort. They had planned to shoot game and small animals to augment their food rations, but these were in short supply and hunger played a big part in the outcome of their journey. Extremely cold weather also caused difficulties for the travellers, and eventually two of them set out to seek assistance, leaving the remaining man to survive as best he could. Sadly, he was unable to overcome the hunger and cold, and died before the others returned. The widow of the dead man blamed Dillon Wallace for her husband’s death and conducted something of a witch-hunt against him for many years to come. She herself set out to follow in her husband’s footsteps two years later, and this coincided with Dillon Wallace repeating his journey, hoping for a more successful outcome second time around. Both expeditions set off using slightly different routes, trying not to meet each other in their quest to reach the intended goal of the earlier fateful trek. There are many wonderful photos plus helpful maps and copies of original documents to augment this very absorbing book.
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Tragedy of Fidel Castro
by
Joao Cerqueira
Footnote Reviews
, April 13, 2013
The rather frightening image on the cover of this book belies the very clever and entertaining story contained within. I read the introduction to the book while visiting the vet with one of my cats and I laughed out loud as I was reading it. The chapters that followed were a mixture of humour, black humour and a bit of religion. The story involves God, Jesus, Fatima, Castro and JFK, among others. These are not the real people we know by these names but fictional characters resembling them. Fatima has contacted God to request his assistance to avert the upcoming war between Fidel and JFK. He asks his son to join forces with Fatima and attempt to solve the problem. Fatima is sure she can perform a miracle which will shock the warring factions into abandoning their bellicose plans, but her powers are not as forceful or effective as she had hoped they would be, so a Plan B is needed. Castro and JFK are facing up to each other, both seeking power over the other's country and people, but Castro has an accident and loses his memory. He is looked after by some monks and has a very entertaining time in their care, almost causing a riot amongst the residents of the monastery. There are excerpts from letters and the journal of Castro which are sometimes humorous, sometimes rambling, but always written with the revolutionary fervour that one would expect of the real Castro. Whatever your political leanings, Castro (the real one) must be admired for his tenacity, passion and zeal where Cuba was concerned. His ideals were commendable but his methods were questionable. This book shows us a lighter side to his revolution and I found it very enjoyable.
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Theft is Legal: Gain Perspective from 13 Economic Stories and Concepts
by
Svetoslav S. Elenkov
Footnote Reviews
, March 23, 2013
The story begins in Bulgaria in the early 1990s, and even though this is a thin volume, it packs a big punch. We read the account of a young boy growing up with hyper-inflation in his country, informing us of the difficulties that he encountered in those times, but not telling his tale with any degree of bitterness. The chapters, on the whole, are small lessons in business and finance, or just how ridiculous capitalism / socialism / communism can be at times. The stories are amusing but also thought provoking, each one contains its own moral but is delivered in a pleasant manner. Examples include washing machines, rock piles, gardening and, my favourite, a currency island. Although the title sounds like a guidebook for a criminal, it is an entertaining read.
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Consort of the Female Pharaoh: Hat-Shep-Sut, Senen-Mut & Egypt's 18th Dynasty
by
Eugene Stovall
Footnote Reviews
, March 23, 2013
The action takes place around 1500 BC and chronicles the life and times of Hat-Shep-Sut, the female pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt. The story begins when she is a young girl and very early on, she chooses who is to be her consort, a fellow student at the Royal School called Senen-Mut. We follow the adventures of the pair throughout their lives during a turbulent period in Egyptian history. The country and its wealth are coveted my many neighbours and a constant battle is fought to maintain their lands, or try to increase them by incorporating other peoples and tribes into their empire. Intrigue abounds as the Pharaoh schemes and plots to make herself into the supreme being and 'she who must be obeyed' by all of her citizens. She hates the fact that she lives in a male dominated society and strives to utilize her female charms and cunning ways to reach her goal of female domination. She happily sentences any man to death who crosses her, or fails to obey orders, or just catches her in a bad mood. The couple have one daughter, Neferu-Re, who grows into an exact copy of her mother, but with an even bloodier agenda in mind. She seeks to share power with her half-brother and they plan to overthrow Hat-Shep-Sut, though she proves to be wilier than they suspect. She has already tired of her husband and banished him to his own palace to study science and, as it transpires, he is able to create a powerful 'weapon' to aid his queen in her quest to remain on her throne. The hyphenated names take some getting used to, and some characters are easily confused, but don't give up. The book is well written and the content is educational and entertaining.
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The Bluffer's Guide to Skiing
by
David Allsop
Footnote Reviews
, March 07, 2013
The first thing you notice about this Bluffer's Guide is the size - it will easily slip into your pocket or bum bag so you can bluff 'on the piste', so to speak. Small it may be, but it is packed full of helpful and interesting information, assisting the least proficient skier to appear experienced and knowledgeable. There is detailed coverage of where in the world to find the best skiing, and this is helpfully divided into places where a bluffer could be most successful and also where a bluffer should definitely avoid. All types of snow are explained (there are more than one, apparently), as are the essential equipment and clothing, plus all the dos and don'ts you are likely to need. Each country has its strong points, whether it be variety of pistes, accommodation, olde worlde charming ski resorts or purpose-built monstrosities. Most important of all, though, is the après-ski. The many types of ski lift are explained, and also the many ways to avoid hurting yourself when mounting and dismounting these sometimes tortuous modes of transport. Serious injury to body and ego can occur if this advice is not heeded, and you may look foolish to boot. Appearances are very important - in some cases, the gaudier the better, but there are limits. The newer the apparel, the more of a novice you will look, unless you are rich enough not to bother what others think of you. Overall, for someone who wants to bluff their way into the ski set, this book is a must. Keep it handy for reference at all times, but don't let anyone see the book's cover as you brush up on your etiquette, whilst waiting in one of the huge queues you are bound to experience at the more popular resorts.
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Mystical Circles
by
S. C. Skillman
Footnote Reviews
, February 10, 2013
Our heroine, Juliet, an aspiring radio journalist, has begun an assignment to investigate the 'Wheel of Love'. Her younger sister Zoe has become enamoured with Craig, the leader of this group, and Juliet feels obliged to check out both him and his followers as her filial duty to her sister. She travels from London to the farmhouse in Gloucestershire where the members are living, with the intention of interviewing Craig and his followers, who turn out to be a rather motley crew! From various parts of the country, and beyond, these willing souls have been drawn to Craig's retreat for spiritual and mental healing or enlightenment. Most are pleasant individuals but there are some with a darker, hidden side to their character. The problems some of these people have are explored and revealed during Juliet's interviews and observations. Juliet participates in the various activities that the group undertake, whilst conducting her interviews with each person individually. She attempts to remain a neutral observer during this process, but all the time she is forming her own opinions about the whole experience. With the appearance of a guest speaker, Theo, the dynamic of the group changes. This is not his first visit to the farmhouse, and it is obvious to Juliet that Zoe is smitten with him, which causes confusion in Juliet's mind. Didn't Zoe love Craig? During the week that Juliet is staying with the group, various incidents and accidents ensure that there is never a dull moment, nor any lack of action and interaction between the residents. Craig's father, Don, is the steadying influence in the house, but eventually even he succumbs to the tensions. Harsh words are exchanged between father and son, with an explosive conclusion. I really enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it wholeheartedly.
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Google Income: How ANYONE of Any Age, Location, And/Or Background Can Build a Highly Profitable Online Business with Google
by
Brown, Bruce
Footnote Reviews
, January 12, 2013
As a Google blogger, I was happy to review this book and learn how to make money from my blog, though this has proved to be an elusive goal. Very early on in the book, I am told I only need a credit card (I don’t have one), $5 (probably manage that) and a product or service to offer (don’t have either of those). I continued to read the book regardless of this early setback and found many helpful ideas, but many of them did not come from the author himself. One third of the book is taken up by foreword, preface, introduction, interviews with Google experts (all answering the same questions), book recommendations, glossary, index, etc. The other two thirds I found very helpful indeed and if I ever have a product or service I want to make money from, this is the book I will use to help me in that endeavour. The author begins with a history of online marketing, then moves on to optimizing your site, then walks you through the many and various advertising methods, and details the vast assortment of tools and web services available to aid you in your quest to get rich. Sadly, as the book was published in 2009, a few of his suggestions have gone by the board, as is the case in internet land, everything moves so quickly and new ideas appear at lightning speed. Overall, this book has explained many interesting ways to maximise my blog, present its best face to the world wide web and I think it will be very helpful to serious minded bloggers who wish to take it to the next level. Hopefully, one day, I will include myself in that group. Nevertheless, this is a very useful reference book for Google bloggers.
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The Empty Hammock
by
Brenda A. Barrett
Footnote Reviews
, August 02, 2012
I am not a fan of e-books, but this one came as a gift and I am very glad that it did - it was a pleasure to read. Set in Jamaica, it is a tale of time travel between 2007 and the 1490s, with our heroine Ana as the central figure. Ana takes a much needed holiday from work to visit her family home and while catching up on some rest, in a hammock in the garden, strange dreams overtake her - but are they dreams? The people and events that she encounters in her dreams / travels seem so real that when she is awoken from them, she rushes back to sleep to continue her adventure. Ana travels back to the time when European countries were trying to discover a passage to the Indies, but found the Americas instead. The way of life of the inhabitants of the Caribbean was about to be changed forever as the adventurers sought for treasure to take back to their monarchs, without a thought or care as to the effect it would have on the people of those islands. The story moves between the two time scales very well, bringing the history alive. The discovery of a treasure chest in the present day unravels a chain of events which only become clear as the story closes, and what a clever ending that becomes. Super book, very well written and researched - highly recommended.
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Deception Island
by
J. D. Boss
Footnote Reviews
, June 16, 2012
This tale of intrigue begins in Afghanistan at an archaeological dig, but the action quickly transfers to the Antarctic, where an unusual body has been discovered in an ice cave. Rachel, our heroine, who is an anthropologist, is requested by a colleague to travel to the icy wastes to help investigate the mysterious cadaver. They are based near Deception Island, where there is a long abandoned whaling station, and strange happenings keep everyone on their toes. There are stories told of a Nazi wartime facility below the ice, but these have never been proved. Rachel’s fiancé Richard suddenly appears at their base, when he should be in Rhode Island. Rachel has become close friends with her colleague’s nephew, Trevor, and Richard’s arrival leaves her confused. Why was he there? Why is he acting so strangely towards her? Why does she doubt her feelings towards him? While excavating the site in Afghanistan, Rachel had discovered a pendant with symbols which appeared to move. The markings on the pendant are almost identical to some found near the body they are investigating, and the mystery deepens. After the occasional shooting and stabbing, the goodies and baddies battle it out for the secret that only Rachel is the answer to, though she is unaware of the reason why. This fast paced thriller was a most enjoyable read, I was hardly able to put the book down once I had begun to read it. Excellent writing and researching by the author with many twists and turns to the plot, which held the suspense until the very end.
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Semisweet: A Maggie and Odessa Mystery
by
Jill Brock
Footnote Reviews
, April 15, 2012
Our heroines, Maggie and Odessa, are two enthusiastic amateur detectives who manage to involve themselves in all sorts of scrapes. Maggie works for a real P.I. but believes she can do the job better herself, and she enlists the help of her friend Odessa, who is a dessert chef at her family-run restaurant in Queens, New York. Maggie has a new client, a wealthy businesswoman who wants her future son-in-law investigated. She thinks he is a gold-digger with his eyes on her money. Maggie offers herself as a wedding planner as cover for her snooping, and she has only three weeks before the big day to make the arrangements and smoke out the dodgy bridegroom. Odessa has her own problems at the restaurant, where her cake making business is taking off and she needs more space, but there is one big obstacle in the shape of George. There is also a bug exterminator who is trying to kill her using his Bug Mobile as a weapon. When Maggie gets in a jam, Odessa feels obliged to help out as best she can, trying to keep her friend out of trouble but not always succeeding. Together they look into the background of the bridegroom and find some very unsavoury characters connected with his business dealings. They chase around town following leads and finding dangerous corners to get backed into. There is more than one trip to hospital for our protagonists, as they come across quite a few villains on their quest. A lively, quick-paced yarn that keeps the reader glued to the page. The characters are an interesting mix of nice and nasty giving a good balance to the book. An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from this author.
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The Accidental Anarchist: A humorous (and true) account of a Polish Jew who was sentenced to death 3 times -- and survived.
by
Shimon Wincelberg and Anita Marateck Wincelberg and Bryna Kranzler
Footnote Reviews
, April 15, 2012
Our story begins in Poland at the dawn of the 20th century, when the country is occupied by Russia. Our hero, Jacob Marateck, lives in Vishigrod with his parents and brothers, and is conscripted into the Russian army to fight in the Russo-Japanese war which is centred in Manchuria. He is part of a constant stream of foot soldiers sent to do battle with the enemies of the Czar. He neither cares for the Czar nor his enemies and just wants to serve his time and head for home, with as little damage to body and mind as possible. Jacob’s diaries form the basis for this book which has been carefully transcribed by his granddaughter Bryna, ably assisted by her parents, who undertook the translation of the journals. The resulting story is a fascinating tale of war and the utter futility of countries throwing their young men at each other until one of them runs out of steam, or moves on to another conflict. Horrifying images are described by Jacob as he travels from his home to the various battlefronts and the difficulties he encounters along the way. In those days, as in many before and since, Jews were not the most popular citizens of Russian-occupied Poland, and their treatment in the army was no different. The hardships were many, and the tales of death and destruction numerous, but somehow Jacob survived to tell his story. He travelled thousands of miles in the service of the Czar, facing occasional imprisonment, death sentences, and terrible deprivation which made his survival all the more amazing. A fascinating story, which brings to life those violent and troubled times, through the words of someone who was there. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well written historical biography and is interested in European history.
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Rankin Inlet
by
Mara Feeney
Footnote Reviews
, January 29, 2012
The frozen climes of northern Canada are the backdrop for this tale of the people of Rankin Inlet, a small settlement on the western shore of Hudson Bay. The local inhabitants are Inuit, and their village is growing steadily with the introduction of outsiders from various countries. Alison, the heroine of the story, arrives at Rankin Inlet after travelling from her native Liverpool. She has made the journey to take up a position at the local health centre, where she will be sharing the nursing duties with two other women. Alison leaves the relative comfort of life in Liverpool for the adventure which unfolds as she gets to know the people and the way of life in Rankin Inlet. The story begins in the 1970s and charts the highs and lows of life near the Arctic Circle over a period of thirty years. Hunting and fishing are the main food providers in the area, but as the 'civilized' world encroaches upon the local population, tradition and progress come face to face. Modern convenience foods, which are shipped in to the only store every spring, are replacing the traditional raw meat and fish. Old traditions like the 'honey wagon' are gradually phased out as modern plumbing is installed, but there is resistance to change from many of the inhabitants, especially the older ones. The book is written as a series of letters between the main characters, which works very well as the reader has the story explained from different points of view. There is an openness and honesty in the writing; the unpleasant, and sometimes gory, aspects of life in the frozen north are not glossed over or sanitized. An excellent first novel, which is both well written and well presented.
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A Love Story How God Pursued Me and Found Me: An Impossibly True Story
by
Samantha Ryan Chandler
Footnote Reviews
, December 25, 2011
As the title implies, this is a story of the discovery of god by a woman that life was treating harshly. From an upbringing tainted by an abusive mother, to an adulthood overshadowed by an abusive husband, we read how god became her rock and saviour. When her husband of over twenty years wanted to divorce her, and take away her children and possessions, god was by her side every step of the way. After many years of struggling to survive, happily there is a positive ending, and this is partly due to the author's work with sick and damaged children through her foundation Childspring International. The book is written in a style I can only describe as hasty, as if the need to put pen to paper was more important than grammatical correctness, or indeed a cohesive style of writing. I understand that many of the events portrayed in the book were harrowing, but with time to reflect on the past, surely the story could have been better presented. There are many, very many, bible quotations throughout the book, sometimes whole chapters contain nothing else. The chapter about her marriage breakup and divorce, the longest in the book, goes a long way to explaining the need to write as a means of catharsis, but this is the only chapter that truly tells her story. This autobiographical work would have benefitted from more details about the author - it is very difficult to gauge the person without knowing basic facts such as age, likes and dislikes, which would help the reader to better understand the character of the writer. This book will be of interest to abused spouses and religious zealots, but will not be to everyone's taste.
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Command Influence: A Story of Korea and the Politics of Injustice
by
Robert A. Shaines
Footnote Reviews
, December 17, 2011
I was born during the Korean War and have always been interested in the subject. This book explains the background to the conflict, and also the terrible conditions that the UN backed troops had to endure in the name of peacekeeping. The author was a recently qualified lawyer in the US Air Force in 1952, and was told he was being posted to France, but somehow he landed in Korea! Korea had been split in half after World War II, with the Soviet Union in charge of the north, while the south was controlled by the United States. The story follows the case of Lieutenant George Schreiber, who was charged with murder, following the death of a Korean at the base he was stationed at. The actual killing was carried out my one of his men, Thomas Kinder, whose defence was that the officer in charge, Schreiber, had ordered him to do it. The case was brought some time after the actual event as, at the time, no action was deemed necessary. The Korean had been caught inside the base, attempting to steal or cause damage, and had been injured when he resisted arrest. He was later taken to be released outside the camp, which was the usual procedure with this type of occurrence. Unfortunately, he was shot and killed after attacking the airman guarding him. The court case was always slanted towards the prosecution, as the 'command influence' of the title was brought to bear. The defence team fought valiantly for their client against heavy odds, and the detailed retelling of the case makes up the bulk of the book. There is a lot of legalese but it is well worth reading to find out how the legal side of the US Air Force was operating in those days in a theatre of war. An excellent book, and an enjoyable read, especially for history buffs and legal eagles!
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