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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
Madley93 has commented on (18) products
A Marked Heart
by
David George Ball
Madley93
, June 11, 2012
This book was a total surprise! It really was! I was deceived by the book cover; or rather I caught myself pre-judging this book, based on the three colour book cover. Isn't there an old saying: "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, when I received this book from Bostwick Communications, (in exchange for an impartial review), I had second thoughts about whether or not I would enjoy reading it. And I will admit to putting it to the side of my TBR book stack. It just looked to be more of a reference book, than a story book. I could not have been more wrong. A short time ago, while checking my TBR books, "A Marked Heart", caught my attention. And after some review of the front and back covers, and recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. pictured on the front cover with the author, I decided I would begin this read. Unexpectedly, "A Marked Heart" by David George Ball, was soon to display so much more than its simple cover implied. By the end of the first chapter, it was not a question of being caught up in the story; it was a matter of needing to know everything I could about the author and those around him. David George Ball. I would hazard a guess that most of us have never heard the name, let alone know what his life was all about. And part of that I would suggest, was by plan - David George Ball's plan. In "A Marked Heart", David George comes through the pages as a humble man, a quiet man, definitely a family man, a very intelligent man, a man filled with compassion for family and friends, and a man filled with pride of his birth country, England, and his country of residence, the United States. The author speaks of his growing up years with fond memories, and some not so fond. He brings us through his university years, as he earns multiple degrees. David Ball's style of storytelling is one that engages the reader, to a desire to learn more. Ball's meeting with Martin Luther King Jr., is a turning point in his career, and his personal creed for life. I found it fascinating to read of M.L. King before his rise within the culture of the day, and his impact on the world. Although King was a great influence on David Ball, this book is not about King. We simply see how King affected individuals who became part of his life, and vice versa. "A Marked Heart" reaches all parts of the life of David George Ball. We are with him through his marital happiness and struggles, his desire to serve God, the love he is given by his family, and at times the hard life he was forced to live. I found myself on life's journey with the author, through his highs and lows, through his two marriages, and the lives of his children, as they grew and started families of their own. To be truthful, I do not think that my words do justice to Ball's life, to his great mind, and kind heart. I would suggest this book be added to your library, as part of history. Although not given real credit for this, Ball was the originator of the 401K plan, designed to secure quality of life for individuals, once they retire. I am not an American, so do not pretend to understand the 401K plan, but in Canada we have Registered Retirement Plans, which would be comparable. So, I do understand the need to plan for the future. And I was quite impressed with Ball's quiet, yet powerful, contribution to American lifestyle. And the telling of this story was not a mundane presentation, but a story that I felt part of, a story that held joy. Such is the style of Ball's writing. I encourage readers of this blog to seek out this book, "A Marked Heart", add it to your library, and set aside time to read and learn, about events that impact your life, through the life of David George Ball.
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Recipes for Disaster
by
Sheryl Browne
Madley93
, May 27, 2012
“The best thing I can make for dinner is reservations”. “Sure, I know the five basic food groups: frozen, canned, delivery, pick-up and eating out”. Words I have lived by!! Needless to say, my husband is the cook in our family! As I cross the threshold to the kitchen, my brain opens its eyes, and says: “I just remembered, I have to be somewhere else……”. And it leaves…. So, when I read the synopsis of “Recipes for Disaster” by Sheryl Browne, I knew I would need to add it to my book shelf. I really connected with Lisa, the main character, and non-cook. I was fortunate when Sheryl Browne, the author, and Kim Maya Sutton, a Director at Safkhet Publishing, sent me a copy of Sheryl’s book, in exchange for an impartial review. All the way from the U.K.!! And I thank both of these ladies. Thank you! The book uses multiple narrators, who tell the story from their unique positions. The main character, Lisa, is not a cook, but commits herself to cater a major event, hosted by her prospective mother-in-law! Chaos and calamity follows. “Recipes for Disaster” uses humour ��" from the first page to the last page. It is humour that pulls you in, and keeps your attention. Not only are the characters creating all kinds of delicious foods, making the finished product sound so real, the author is very generous, and gives the reader all the recipes. Even I became (slightly) inspired to try to attempt these recipes. I will admit that I have not yet done so, but I can feel myself breaking out of my mold and surprising family members with Frisian Anchor or Olivia’s Pride!! If you love cooking, baking, and trying new recipes, this book is for you. If you like reading a novel with a strong plot, this book is for you. This book is such a good blend of fiction and food! Just one comment about the cover of the book ��" it is distracting! But, distracting in a good way! (hmmm, hmmm) One element of the book that I was quite uncomfortable with, is the very ‘colourful’ language that is used ��" quite a bit of which, I just glazed over. Regular readers of my blog will know that I have very low tolerance for swearing. So, I will admit that I missed some paragraphs which were peppered with these words. I enjoyed Sheryl Brown’s writing style ��" very light and fast moving ��" exactly right for the storyline and the personalities of the characters. I look forward to future books, which I know Sheryl will write. If you are a regular visitor to my blog, you will know that at the end of my posts, I always try to connect the title of my blog with the post itself. Where do I find “The Joy of the Written Word” as related to this post and the book, “Recipes for Disaster”? For me, the Joy is felt as I smiled my way through the book, and in feeling Joy in the possibility of me as a cook!! Just maybe I will keep you posted on that event! . Choose Joy! Patricia
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The Imitation of Patsy Burke
by
John J. Gaynard
Madley93
, May 20, 2012
One of the classic lines in “The Imitation of Patsy Burke” must be: “What came first? Was it the overdrinking or was it the voices?”(page 10). If the reader has not figured it out by this early point in the novel, this quote ensures a better understanding of the narration. The “voices”, the “friends”, exist within the very compelling mind of the main character, Patsy Burke; in actual fact, the only true character in the novel. The other characters exist, but they exist within Patsy’s very complicated mind. It is from this perspective that John J. Gaynard spins this tale of emotion, action, and vivid description. The tone is raw, irreverent, racy, provocative, and infrequently soft. When I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, it was in exchange for an impartial review. At that time, I thought I was about to read an action packed thriller, with a psychological bent. That was not how it turned out! But the writer’s style caught my attention after only a couple of pages. Then the plotline caught my eye, and I was hooked. Due to the use of offensive language, there were times when completion of the novel seemed out of reach. Throw in some graphic violence, and it is not my pick for summer afternoon reading. However, the author still held my attention. You see, each of the voices in Patsy Burke’s mind, made up an aspect of Patsy’s personality. The skill of the author is in holding the reader’s attention to see how all the voices fit together, and how the author can actually create quite a storyline, all from the voices in the lead character’s mind. Are you intrigued yet?? As a word of caution, I would suggest that the reader keep in mind that this is a work of fiction ��" even though at times it reads like history. I choose not to expand on that comment, as I try to avoid ‘spoilers’ in my book reviews. One skill of Gaynard’s is the ability to remain neutral throughout this book. By that I mean, the reader is left guessing about Gaynard’s own history and personal beliefs. And I think in a book of this nature that is key to the plotline and readability of the book itself. Keep your mind open, and your wits sharp, and this book may be just what you are looking for!
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The Girl in the Box
by
Sheila Dalton
Madley93
, February 09, 2012
A number of months ago, I came across the unfamiliar term “literary fiction”. What is Literary Fiction? There are various definitions and opinions, but the one that stood out for me is that with Literary Fiction “what is really important are the thoughts, desires, and motivations of the characters as well as the underlying social and cultural threads that act upon them”. (Nathan Bransford) (“What Makes Literary Fiction Literary”) For me, “The Girl in the Box” is Literary Fiction. In the character of Caitlin Shaughnessy, as much as we think we know her thoughts, desires, and motivations, as the novel evolves so do these aspects of Caitlin’s personality. The human conditions existing in Guatemala are among the subjects tackled by Sheila Dalton. This book speaks to human relationships of love, friendship, trust, jealousy, pain, suffering, and enlightenment.The characters are complex and the plot line is intricate and deftly woven by the author. While not technically highlighted as a mystery novel, there were many elements of mystery throughout this novel. I found the most intriguing mysteries were between the characters, how relationships developed, changed, grew, and in some cases, deteriorated.“The Girl in the Box” caught my attention before I finished the first page. And it still had my attention on the last page. I will qualify that by saying that, in the first part of the second half of the book I found the story started to slow down, and I found it a little tougher reading. There was a lot of descriptive narrative, and a lot of introspection by the character of Caitlin Shaughnessy. I found it slowed the pace of the novel, and I resisted the urge to skip a few pages.There was an added bonus to reading this book, and that was: Education. It is very clear that Sheila Dalton has an impressive knowledge of Guatemala, and the various political and social conflicts that have plagued that region for many years. It is also eye opening to know that a number of these conflicts are current or recent history in nature.The murder victim’s life story included professional jealousies that exist specifically in the mental health profession, & generally within many professions today. While the character of Inez is at an extreme end of a spectrum, the way other characters react to her, and around her, is reminiscent of how mental health is often both overlooked and ignored.As a psychological drama, “The Girl in the Box” pulls the reader deeply into the lives of the characters. As a work of Literary Fiction, the motivations of the characters become intriguing puzzles. As a mystery, the ending brings everything together in one place, ties all the connections together.To say that I thoroughly enjoyed this novel sounds trite given the nature of the book. But, it is true! I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I surprised myself by my depth of involvement with the characters. The book became more about the characters, than about solving the murder mystery. I grew in my knowledge of some international issues. And the ending was one I accepted on an emotional level.
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Noah Zarc
by
D. Robert Pease
Madley93
, January 26, 2012
Ok, I might as well admit it right up front ��" I am not a sci-fi kind of gal ��" especially books. So, how did I come by this novel? Well, I became acquainted with the author through Goodreads, in a Group Discussion. Bob Pease spoke about his new novel “Noah Zarc”, and as someone who loves lighthearted plays on words, and is familiar with bible stories, “Noah Zarc” went on my radar. I also enjoy occasionally reading a book aimed at younger readers. In short, I agreed to read and review “Noah Zarc”, which Bob Pease kindly gifted to me in eBook format. Challenging, because as of yet this writer does not own an eReader!! But, an on-line eReader program helped! I advised Bob Pease I would do my best reading and then writing honestly about his book. “Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble” captured my attention slowly ��" not that the book was slow ��" I was slow. My lack of sci-fi lingo and imagination started to cause me trouble. So, I read about three chapters, was caught by the storyline, and read those chapters again ��" and I was hooked! Now I get it! And I freed my imagination for time travel and for fantasy. The novel is told from the perspective of Noah, at 12 he is the youngest of three children in the Zarc family. Noah was born paraplegic, so spends his time in a wheelchair ��" unless he is out chasing bad guys, and wearing his EV (Extra Vehicle) suit, which allows him to run. Oops! Now you know there are bad guys in this novel! Actually bad guy singular ��" but a powerful and threatening character. Noah’s wheelchair is actually called a magchair, whose movement is controlled by Noah speaking or thinking thoughts, which are transferred to his chair, via a neuro-implant at the base of Noah’s skull. Alright, let’s get a few facts out of the way. The story is set in 3100AD after the cataclysm on Earth ��" which left Earth devoid of human and animal life, uninhabitable. Human life exists on Mars and Venus. The Zarc family lives on the ARC, Animal Rescue Cruiser, which is the size of a large city! Most of the ARC is set up as rainforest, desert, water, or grassland, whatever is necessary to accommodate a large animal population. The job of the Zarc family is to travel back in time to earth 2100AD, which is prior to Earth’s cataclysm. The Zarcs collect and bring back to the ARC two of every kind of animal, one male and one female, keeping them housed on the ARC. Of course life does not go smoothly and the Zarc family find themselves on different space ships, jumping and travelling through time, meeting new friends from 8500BC, and fighting the evil forces of Haon who does not want the animal rescue to succeed. Noah finds himself in the most difficult situations ��" often by choice ��" struggling to bring his family safely back together. I think if I was to say too much more about the plot and storyline, I would have to declare “spoiler alert”! I will say that Noah meets more than one kind of mammoth, in his travels! This book is fun! It is fun for many reasons, one of which is Noah’s age ��" twelve. In 2012 we marvel at the knowledge and computer skills of 12 year old young people. Well, it looks like by 3100AD those same twelve year olds will be commanding spaceships and time travel. Isn’t it amazing to think about those possibilities? Individuals requiring wheelchairs are regarded as no different than individuals who walk under their own power. Isn’t that a wonderful thought? And don’t we all want to live like The Jetsons? One of my favourite cartoons from the past! Being transported long distances within our own ARCS, via “the series of tubes that crisscrossed the decks allow[ing] the spheres (think chairs) to travel at extremely high speeds while keeping their passengers safe in gel-padded seats” (page 16). For Noah, he feels the best when he is out of his magchair, and into the pilot seat of a space ship. I think we can all find a comparable instance in our own lives, and identify with how Noah is feeling. One of the traits of this novel that I especially appreciated was the kindness and concern expressed by the characters to each other and everyone they meet. Also, the concern for safety popped up quite often in the book. We find out that no one has a perfect life, (sound familiar?), or has been born into perfect circumstances; but “what makes each of us special is how we deal with our circumstances” (page 41). The rulers and law-enforcers in “Noah Zarc”, comprise the Poligarchy. Noah’s older brother, Hamilton, supports the Poligarchy’s mantra: “We must atone for our past sins. We must keep earth from being destroyed again” (page 120). Follow the laws. Be good people. Environmentally conscious. Does this sound familiar? A storyline within the story is undeniably biblically based. D. Robert Pease does this skillfully and gently, not forcing any doctrine on the reader. However, as a person whose belief system is biblically based, this theme was very enjoyable and contained a good amount of humour! Even to the scouting robot belonging to Noah’s parents, Hannah and Noah Sr., whose acronym is M.O.S.E.S. (Mobile Oriented Spacetime Energy Signal). One of the great things about this book is the enjoyment it gave me, and the enjoyment the characters had in their lives. The author’s ability to spin the tale and include the reader stands out throughout the book. Even someone ��" me ��" devoid of any experience with sci-fi, is sure to find pleasure in the Zarc family adventures. The reader does not need to understand outer space and time travel lingo to go with the flow of Noah’s adventures. Noah doesn’t understand, so I was in good company! I found some of the actions detailed by the author did get a little out of sync in a couple of places, and I would have enjoyed reading the ending of some of the secondary story lines, especially those related to Noah’s older sister Sam. The author touches on some social awareness issues, including child labour laws ��" or the lack of them. But it is done in such an easy way; it would not become a burden to the young reader. One of my favourite scenes involves something we all battle today ��" automated phone systems. If you have ever tried to reach an individual within an organization, you will laugh out loud at Noah’s brief predicament! For my first venture into young reader fantasy, Pease definitely caught and held my attention. “Noah Zarc: Mammoth Trouble” will be a wonderful adventure for many young readers. I highly recommend this novel, and trust it will be enjoyed by eager young minds. I was also thinking: the good guy’s name is Noah, and the bad guy’s name is Haon. Does that strike anyone else as funny…..?
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Say Not What If
by
Andrew Friedman
Madley93
, January 19, 2012
This exceptional book is a short story, (approximately 10,000 words), written as a rhyming poem, which really makes it a long, (51 page), poem! However you choose to describe it, however you choose to summarize it, this literary work is something incredibly special. I was not sure how I would feel about a long prose-poem, and I was a little intimidated by it. However, it did not take long for me to know how I felt about the book itself. I was hooked by the second page. Most of us can probably relate to a story of a man spending too much time away from his family, and not enough time appreciating the time he has on this earth. Why is it that we can all find ourselves in this situation, even when the world around us is filled with examples of how "not-to"? I am reminded of two famous sayings: "Learn by example" and "Learn by our own mistakes". Which one is correct? Or are they both correct? The main character in this short story is depicted, in the beginning, as one who has a passion for his job, or if not a passion, then dedication and loyalty. When everyone else leaves for the day, he and his boss remain. And it is clear that he believes this is the way to get through life, the way that will lead to a wonderful time of retirement. Reading the opening stanza, it seems as though this man's life theory is: to live for the day. "Say Not What If", embrace life and all it offers. We learn, almost immediately, that this philosophy of life was only arrived at after some big moments of regret. The bulk of the story finds the main character struggling with his life choices. While it might be tempting to read this book in one short period of time, I would caution against this. I took multiple sittings, as the subject matter was heavy, even though the style of writing was light. And as the book progressed I was pleased with the slower pace of my reading. As I read his story, I could not help but feel pain for the main character. But also pain for those of us living part, or all of our lives, saying "what if". For a short book, this story addresses major life issues, ones which the reader will find speak to the core of our beings. The author has the skill to reach directly into our hearts, souls, and minds - in a very short amount of time. I highly recommend this book, and hope that we as readers, will learn life lessons that will stay with us for the rest of our journey. I would like to thank Andrew Friedman, for providing a complimentary copy of his book, for my review. "Where is the Joy?"!!!!! My very next post, after deciding I would ask that question at the end of any post, I forgot! So, I will add it in here. Maybe no one else remembered either!! So, where is the Joy in this post, in this book? I thought that might be a challenging question, given the subject matter of the book "Say Not What If", (maybe that's why I `forgot'!??). However, the answer came quite easily. I found Joy in the rhyming pattern of the stanzas, in the flow of the words, and from there the images of what was being depicted. That was the Joy. Patricia Choose Joy!
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Go Big: Make Your Shot Count in the Connected World
by
Cory Cotton
Madley93
, January 08, 2012
I received this exciting and well written book from Tyndale Blog Network in exchange for an impartial review. When I opened the box and looked at the cover, my instinct was to say: “Oh, it’s a kid’s book”, and “it’s all about sports, looks like basketball”. Wonderful! I know basically nothing about sports, and definitely nothing about basketball. What do I do now for my review?? I quickly flipped through the pages and saw pictures of guys throwing basketballs outside, inside, and upside down! I eventually pulled back from my initial reaction and gave the book another check. And am I ever glad that I did! This book is all the things I mentioned above ��" but it is SO much more. What started as six university guys throwing basketballs in the backyard of their house, and challenging each other to “go forward”; as well as a few dares: “You’ll never make this shot”, has now turned into a strong motivational force with a web page, an on-line game app, group presentations, and of course, this book. In this social media world the “Go Big” Philosophy has reached to faraway places, and impacted many lives. And all this has happened in the last two years. Although this book is written by just one of the “Go Big” guys, it is really a compilation of all their efforts to reach their highest goals. Over time the original six became five, as one member decided to follow another dream ��" a dream well understood and accepted by the team. Throughout the book we are introduced to all members of DudePerfect.com. We get to know each individual and what they bring to the team. For me, one of the brightest lights in this book is how the group shines as a team, how they work together and grow even stronger. This is hard to believe coming from a group of guys just interested in trick basketball shots. Here’s the catch, if this was just about trick basketball shots, it would not have captured and held my interest past the end of the book. This book is many things, and to me it is a great business model centred in something that is bigger than the individuals involved. This group of young men are clear in their dedication to God, and their dedication to social justice causes. Stated clearly throughout the book, and printed on the back cover, 5% of author’s proceeds will go to charity: water, a nonprofit organization bringing clean, safe water to people in developing nations. The author is clear in their spiritual beliefs, and their need to bring better lives to the needy. For a book that is “not-religious”, when was the last book you read that could make those claims? These guys are making an impact on this world. The Dude Perfect brand is based on five principles: Get Excited, Own It, Blink Later, Inspire Others, and Give Back. Each principle is expanded upon, highlighted, and made clearer, as the reader moves through each page, each chapter. Dude Perfect started out with a number of personal goals, and if you check their website, some goals are still on the horizon ��" life goals. It is clear that Dude Perfect will be around for a while! Their motto is ‘Go Big’, their brand is Dude Perfect, and their hope is to inspire readers to reach and obtain their own goals. “Go Big” gives us, the readers, the tools we need to reach our own Dude Perfect phenomenon. The skills set forth can be used in many of life’s situations: team building, management skills, conflict resolution, positive attitude formation, life skills, and spirit building, (to say the least). What started out as a book that held a vague interest for me, became a book I had to force myself to put down when life called me away! To say that I felt the momentum begin in the Introduction is not an exaggeration. The subject, the writing style, the graphics, all worked together to capture and hold my interest and enthusiasm. This is not just a book about a group of guys who took trick basketball shots to a new level, (although it is), this is a reference book for many years ahead. I value this book as a book that will push me at times I need pushing; and congratulate me at times I need encouragement. And it can do that for you, too!!
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Finding Felicity
by
Monica Marlowe
Madley93
, December 12, 2011
Beginning a book review can sometimes present a challenge. The urge is to jump right in with both feet, forgetting that the person reading your review has most likely not read the book yet! But in some ways this book is about jumping in with both feet. As read on the back cover, the main character of this book - Madeline O'Connor - leaves her life in Manhattan and flies to Italy to be with her estranged sister, Carrie, who is dying. Madeline is the Founder and CEO of Felicity International, whose business is high fashion lingerie. What started as one store has grown worldwide and includes a mail-order division. Felicity International has become Madeline's family, her world, her one single interest in life. Within the first ten pages, we find that Madeline's nephew Jonathan has written Madeline a letter, catching her up on family life, the news of his mother's cancer, and asking Madeline to come to Italy. So Madeline jumps in with both feet, and heads for Italy, and leaves her empire temporarily behind. Early in the book we learn the reason for the sisters' estrangement: Jonathan's father is David, Madeline's ex-husband. The truth is that Carrie and David had an affair, while David was `happily' married to Madeline, and Carrie became pregnant with Jonathan. Although his role in the novel is confined to only a few pages, it is important to note that Carrie was married, to Bobby, at the time of her affair with David. It becomes quickly apparent why the sisters were estranged. While originally living in New York, once Carrie and David are married, they take Jonathan and move to Italy. They were not married long when they divorced, and David moved away. Carrie and Jonathan remained in Italy. It seems that within a couple of days, after receiving the letter from Jonathan, Madeline is in Italy, preparing to meet with her sister. While this may sound a little convoluted as I write this very brief synopsis here, the author of "Finding Felicity" - Monica Marlowe - accomplishes the telling of this story with a skill that is to be admired. While we are getting involved in Madeline's life, there is a shift in the time frame of the novel. We find ourselves in 1943, during World War II, reading another story; reading the story of a young man who is on his way to becoming a priest, and falls in love with a beautiful young woman. The young man finds himself at a crossroads, and must decide whether to continue to the priesthood, or change his world and find a way to marry this woman. As the book progresses the story of the young man is interwoven with the story of Madeline. The time of the novel alternates between the present day and 1943. Both stories capture our hearts and our minds. The author seems to know just when to make the time shift. While most of the book is dedicated to Madeline, and focus is on her life, it always seemed good timing when the story switched to 1943. The novel reader will know early on if this type of time shift is something they like, or something they dislike. For me, I enjoy novels that switch time frames, as this one does. Especially as I try to figure out how the two stories are connected. It stirs up my brain a little bit more! But, for some readers, transitioning back and forth between different decades and centuries can be a little bit more than they bargained for - everyone is different. In this case, I guessed very early on in the book what the connection was between the two interwoven stories. But how it was going to play out was to be a surprise. As we know from the back cover of the book, Madeline meets a monk in Italy, who turns her world and her heart upside down. Their love story is played out with a bit of a twist, which I found very enjoyable. Theirs was not the black and white world of boy meets girl. Monica Marlowe's writing style came to the forefront with the story of Madeline and Brother Anthony. Marlowe's writing captured me completely and I became totally enraptured with the love story. When another love interest was added for Madeline, this twist meant I could not put the book down until the last page! I was so caught up with this book that my tears were flowing freely, by the time the path of every character's life was laid out. Not that I completely liked the way the story turned out - I did not. The journey of Madeline's nephew Jonathan is also a very big part of the storyline. Jonathan's life is deeply connected with Madeline, and of course with his mother, Carrie. And throughout the novel I was right there with Jonathan. However, I was quite disappointed with the way his storyline ended, and also with the speed with which the author ended it. I felt a little deserted by that part of the novel. Almost as though the author suddenly realized she needed an ending for Jonathan's storyline, and created one. As I mentioned, that part of the book disappointed me. But, that was a small price to pay for the balance of the book, the bulk of the book, being well written and creatively capturing my heart! For me, "Finding Felicity" was a wonderful wild ride, thoroughly enjoyable, and romantic. Beyond the basic story, this book is so much more than a love story. It is a story of life, of real life. It is a story of choice, faith, decision, interpersonal relationships, discernment, moral values, the value of friendships, and the value of family. "Finding Felicity" is jam-packed with human emotions, human struggles, and human kindness. And Monica Marlowe captures and holds our attention through it all. Would I recommend this novel? You can probably guess the answer, but just to clarify, yes, I would highly recommend this novel. Read it and enjoy!
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Be in One Peace: Essential Skills for Thriving in the New World
by
Joanne Messenger
Madley93
, December 06, 2011
“Be in One Peace” ��" such a title! Stirred up thoughts of: Peace itself; of one Peace ��" as in people on common ground; one piece ��" play on words ��" keeping something or someone together, as one. The cover captured my attention. Somehow, I felt its LIFE. I do not mind admitting, I judged this book by its cover - the day it arrived from Bostwick Communications - and I hoped my thinking for the review would remain impartial!! The book is just approximately ½ inch thick (just a little over 1 cm). Good quality paper inside, and also for the cover. Dare I say a pretty book? Also, one of those books that just felt good in my hand. What was strange about all this was when I read the back cover, and started getting into the book. The book is about LIFE ��" our life as individuals. In a nutshell, the book is about ways to discover where our pain is, where our stress is, and learn how we can ease that pain and stress to improve our health. Are you thinking: “yet another self-help book about relieving pain and stress”? I will admit to a brief thought in that direction. But, with a cover like it has, how could it be ordinary? The book begins by talking about why we get sick, why we have illnesses. Dr. Messenger mentions how sometimes our diseases are impacted by the “DIS��"EASE” in our lives. Dr. Messenger explores the path of dis-ease being a gift. Maybe not one we are happy about, we start looking for the receipt in the box to return it!! But in fact our dis-ease is telling us that our lives are out of sync ��" and we need to pain attention. Actually, I once heard an acronym for pain: P A I N = Pay Attention Inventory Needed So, when we feel dis-ease, Dr. Messenger provides ways we can help ourselves recover, help ourselves feel better. And isn’t that what we want?? In “Be in One Peace”, in eighteen short chapters, Dr. Messenger gives us at least eighteen different ways we can help ourselves to feel better in the life we are living. One of the attributes of this book is that the chapters are short! But not only that, the sentences are also short and free of language that we, the general public, do not understand. Oh, yes, there are terms we may not be familiar with, such as “Chakra” (Chapter 12), “Heart Filaments” (Chapter 14), “Electromagnetic Field” (Chapter 7), and “Energy Budget” (Chapter 10). But Dr. Messenger’s language in describing these, and other terms, is easy to read and she is clear in what she is saying. This is not a book that you start to read at Chapter 1 right through to Chapter 18. Although you might want to do that to become familiar with the general flow and theme of the book. That is what I did. I wanted to get a general understanding of the book. At the end of each chapter there is an Exercise section. In the Exercise, we are given tools to use the techniques talked about in that chapter. Let’s take an example. In Chapter 5, Dr. Messenger uses an analogy of a suitcase. When we go on vacation or business trip, we pack a suitcase. We bring with us what we will need for our time away. We make decisions based on where we are going. In life we also carry a suitcase, packing personal skills inside. And we also need to prepare for twists and turns in life, unexpected events. A quote from page 30: “You can prepare for life with as much diligence as a backpacker choosing what to carry or leave behind; however, there are likely to be situations where an extra pair of clean socks would be appreciated.” We need to make decisions that will carry us through unforeseen circumstances. So, what is one thing that will give us strength, lessen our stress, and live ready to face life circumstances, regardless of what we did or did not put in our suitcase? Dr. Messenger believes that one thing is grounding. We need to start out for a trip calm and able to check what we need to pack. As we go through life we need to find that part of us that assures us we are grounded. We need to be assured we have the energy, the wisdom, and the strength that will carry us through. We need them in our suitcase. When we expend energy, wisdom, or strength to get us through a tough situation, or help someone who is floundering in some expanse of anxiety and depression; they look to you for guidance, you reach into your suitcase and bring out energy, wisdom, and strength. And you hope you bring the other person to a place of security, assurance and calm. If you are like me, after going through something similar to the situation in the previous paragraph, we move on to the next situation which draws out, let’s say more energy and more wisdom. And this goes on for awhile. Pretty soon our suitcase is close to empty. To try to prevent us reaching a point of exhaustion, Dr. Messenger provides easy-to-follow instructions, to once more ground ourselves. Rather than having to go away to get outside help to get ourselves re-charged, we can bring ourselves to that place where we are grounded. Dr. Messenger’s technique proposes a series of breathing exercises and visualization techniques to centre ourselves and return to that grounded position. We need to refill our suitcase and be ready for the next life event. “Be in One Peace” speaks a lot about energy, our need for it, how we can acquire more, how we lose energy, negative energy, and building up our positive energy. If you would like to try more intuitive ways to work with your energy, more New Age focused, then this book is a good place to start. It is clear, basic, and very instructional. If you are already familiar with the New Age focus for self-healing, or this is the first time you have heard the phrase, this book will have something for you. You do not have to follow any part of the New Age way of thinking to get something from its pages. To be honest, as a person who sits on the fence with New Age methods, I think I was a little biased going in. But, whether or not my views have changed, this in no way prevented me from developing and increasing my skill level with respect to self-knowledge, self-awareness, and self-healing. For example, Chakras. Chakras have always been a little bewildering to me ��" and they still are. However, Dr. Messenger’s straightforward, basic, and instructional techniques have wet my appetite to give some form of Chakra Therapy a try. Dr. Messenger believes that to live our life well, we need to use the Chakras, (our body’s energy fields), as a way of cleansing ourselves of negative thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. And retaining and absorbing positive thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. Did I just explain Chakras in 30 words or less? I may have, but I am sure I did not do them justice. But, I will say, that at this very basic level, Chakras do make sense to me; and after reading “Be in One Peace”, I understand Chakras better than ever before. One of the things that helped me was Dr. Messenger’s way of speaking/writing. There is a light tone to her writing, which comes across in moments of humour and joy. This gives the book a little special twist! Another point is that we do not have to give up our spiritual or non-spiritual beliefs to benefit from Chakras, or any of the other techniques for personal health that “Be in One Peace” details for us. Dr. Messenger brings multiple faith traditions into her teachings. I must tell you, I feel strongly that there is something for everyone in this book. One of the chapters I enjoyed, (Chapter 9), dealt with removing our ‘masks’, removing our ‘armour’ ��" anything we hide behind to shield us from the world, and from ourselves. The exercise at the end of the chapter is a visualization method of removing our armour. It first looked complicated to me, but was actually quite straightforward to participate in. As with all of the exercises and treatments presented in this book, this needs to be approached with an open-mind, regardless of your current belief system. Dr. Messenger rounds out the book by dealing with the bigger issues of healing for the heart and the mind. And ends the book by bringing us back to her opening statements that all pain is actually a gift. And once we accept our pain as gift, begin to source the cause of the pain; we will begin to free ourselves from some of the darkness of physical and emotional pain. It is very important that the reader knows that I am in NO WAY making light of anyone’s pain, and I certainly have had little experience with thinking of any pain as ‘gift’. But what I have experienced is relief at finding out what is causing my pain, putting a name to it, and then beginning the road to some kind of healing. If that makes pain a gift, maybe I will not argue terminology. Neither this book nor my review of it, are in any way substitutes for professional care. And if you are under doctor’s care at the moment, or when you read this book, that is still to be the source of our primary care. From my point of view, I cannot stress that enough. When I was first given this book to review, and even after I was a couple of chapters in, I began to add stress to my life, by stressing over how I could possibly be qualified to know if “Be in One Peace” would be considered a good book in its field. After all, what did I know about Chakras and Energy Fields? That challenge slowly resolved itself on my first read through. Mainly because, the book was written for both a novice and an experienced reader, to understand. Whether you choose to accept any New Age concepts, or not, I suggest you give yourself an opportunity to read and absorb the material in this book. A book I have no trouble recommending. “Be in One Peace” Patricia
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India Was One
by
An Indian
Madley93
, November 14, 2011
***** This is an 'amendment' to my review, posted earlier today: In the paragraph: ** One other point that needs to be mentioned is the group of the Indian populace where the characters are drawn from. As in other countries, if not in all, India is a country of many classes, split geographically and monetarily, and is a country of various religions. For the most part, these characters are Muslim, and appear to be middle to upper middle class financially. Both are important points to note. The monetary class structure is important, as at times money does not seem an issue to the characters. Their worries do not include how they will pay for something ��" especially trips and vacations. ** The line that reads: "For the most part, these characters are Muslim....." This should read: "For the most part, these characters are Hindu....." My apologies to the author, and to the reading public, for this error. Thank you for understanding. Patricia
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India Was One
by
An Indian
Madley93
, November 14, 2011
I received the book “India Was One” from the author, without cost, in exchange for a fair and honest review. This was actually many weeks ago, and I received it as an eBook. Now, I must tell you, I am not an eBook fan! I can see the value in them for travelers, for people who commute to work via public transport, and even for students, and other situations, but for me ��" not so much!! But, just as a general point ��" I am doing some reading of eBooks off my laptop, having installed a free eReader to do so. It is hard to curl up with a good laptop after a long day, but I am trying….!! Why am I telling you this? Well, when I did get the opportunity to begin to read “India Was One”, it was as the eBook the author had graciously sent to me. Now by this time, I had previously read and reviewed a few eBooks ��" books which at the time, were not yet available in print. “India Was One” was available in print. So, of course, I had that in the back of my mind! But, I proceeded with the eBook. However, and that’s a big ‘however’, I did not even get through the first chapter of “India Was One”, when I knew this book needed to be in my hands, in print, for my experience of it to be complete. So, I purchased a print copy! Sorry, an Indian, I did not mean to slight your gift. I just knew, with that sixth sense about good books, that this book was going to be something magical. And it was. So, back to the beginning…… The first thing I noticed was, of course, the book title: “India Was One”. What did that mean? India was one what…..?? And did ‘was one’ mean, defensively, like a child says to a mother: “Well, Sally was one last Halloween, why can’t I be one this Halloween?” Or did it mean: “I was one, a non-believer, but I’m not anymore, I’m a believer now”. And then, the author’s name: an Indian. Not even An Indian, capital ‘A’ on An. But, an Indian, small ‘a’ on an. Wow! I seem to be having problems with this book, and I have not gone farther than the book’s cover! I better turn a page……. The title mystery was solved by the end of the first chapter. The book opens in the present day, although, being a work of fiction, the actual day does not need identification ��" at least not in this book. By the end of the first chapter I realized the title “India Was One”, meant that India was intact, it was not split into two, as in North India and South India, it was one ��" simply India. Or was India one……?? Chapter Two leaps back in time, leaps back to a few years past. A time that finds our heroine, Kaahi, and our hero, Jai, living and attending college in Mumbai. For Kaahi and Jai, it is a time of great learning, good friendships, and a little falling in love! Jai’s circle of friends, Bunty, Subra, and Punk, welcomed the friendship of the new girl, Kaahi. But for Jai, it was love at first sight. One of my favourite lines from the book is Jai’s initial glance of Kaahi. In Jai’s mind he describes how Kaahi is dressed, so simply dressed in jeans and a white shirt, but so stunning, Jai ‘choked on his tea when he saw her’…. Isn’t that beautiful? For me, that line just pulled me completely into Kaahi and Jai’s love story. And by the end of chapter two, their love story is in full bloom. And that is what this book is ��" a love story. A love story between a man and a woman, a love story between a people and their country. The difference is that the love story between a man and a woman progresses easily. Jai and Kaahi finish college, are married, and begin a new life in the United States. The love story between a people and their country is put to the test by the (fictional) split of India into North India and South India. While this has serious implications in the lives of the married couple, it is an obvious threat to India itself. The news of the split takes both Jai and Kaahi by great surprise. It also takes the reader quite by surprise. I will not go into detail, I don’t want to spoil the fun of future readers, but the book incorporates the split of India into Jai and Kaahi’s happy life. The time frame in this novel is very loose. By that I mean, the author does not specify how much time is passing, it is really left up to the imagination of the reader. For the most part I found this worked very well. However, at times, it seems like a short period of time had passed, but then the writer will say, (for instance), “….for only a few years (had passed).” I found at a couple of those instances, I was quite surprised with the rapid passage of time, as that had not even been hinted at by the author. Some readers may not even notice that, but I found it a little startling. It threw my imagination a little out of whack! However, the loose time frame also contributes to the fast and easy flow of the book ��" which is a good thing. The spirit within the storyline itself, combined with the overall style of the author, make this fast flowing book into a bit of an emotional whirlwind for the characters, and for the readers. One point that I have yet to mention is the structure of “India Was One”. Along with the story narration, there are times when the characters use Hindi phrases as part of their conversations. The reader is treated to the written Hindi word, the Hindi verbal language, plus the English translation. At first I thought this might be distracting, but as I read, I enjoyed this insertion of Indian culture. The other aspect of the book is the addition of what may be deemed as a history commentator. This commentator speaks outside of the story itself, and speaks directly to the reader, offering historical, local, or geographical explanations for what is happening within the storyline. I realize this may all sound confusing, but I found it actually worked quite well. I enjoyed the addition of Hindi language, and I enjoyed the commentator’s role. I think the novel could be read in several ways: read as is; read in just the English; or read without the commentator (whose words are in italics), but include the Hindi and Hindi translation to English. It adds a unique flavour to the novel. One other point that needs to be mentioned is the group of the Indian populace where the characters are drawn from. As in other countries, if not in all, India is a country of many classes, split geographically and monetarily, and is a country of various religions. For the most part, these characters are Muslim, and appear to be middle to upper middle class financially. Both are important points to note. The monetary class structure is important, as at times money does not seem an issue to the characters. Their worries do not include how they will pay for something ��" especially trips and vacations. One point that I would like to mention centres around faith and spirituality. As a person of faith, I enjoy when faith is incorporated into a novel. Faith can have a welcoming effect on individuals who travel around the world, or just within their own country or city limits. And that effect can assist people who have moved to a new area, assist them by giving them a safe place to be, which is often a place of worship. Mid-way through the story, Jai and Kaahi are still trying to settle in their home in the U.S. Kaahi attends a worship ceremony, and stays for the fellowship held afterwards. In Kaahi’s words: “She had a sense of belonging now”. I have experienced that same emotional response after a move to a new place. We look for places we feel at home. I looked for a place of worship that held familiarity for me, that held a sense of belonging. As did Kaahi. As human beings, countries and religions do not separate us. We all experience similar emotions. It is what binds us together as a world. When the novel ended, I was a little disappointed! I was not ready for it to end. I wanted the story to continue for many more chapters, and for more character development. Maybe there is a part two on the horizon? an Indian?? I think this novel will be enjoyed by many people, from different walks of life, from different countries, including people from India ��" whether living in India or living in other parts of the world. You probably know by now, by this lengthy dissertation, that my rating of this book will be at the high end of the scale ��" if there is a scale. Personally, I do not like adding a number rating to a book. Especially unique books such as this one, “India Was One”. I will say, I highly recommend this book. It is a good story. The reader will learn something ��" about the U.S., about India, about people. One more word ��" this time about the author: an Indian. The author wants to continue to be anonymous. The author stresses it could be any Indian that has written this book ��" who exactly that author is should not be necessary information for the reader. I will tell you that I have corresponded with the author, via email, a number of times in the last few weeks ��" the author has managed to keep his identity concealed. All I know is the bit of information shown at the end of the book. Do I think an anonymous author of a novel works?? I’m not sure. There are plenty of well known poems or catch phrases that are signed “Anonymous”. It works for them. Does it work here?? I will let you decide.
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Stained Glass Hearts Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective
by
Patsy Clairmont
Madley93
, November 04, 2011
A number of years ago while browsing in a book store, (one of my most favourite activities), I noticed a book: “God Uses Cracked Pots”. As I stopped and picked up the book, (who could resist that title?), I noticed the author’s name was Patsy Clairmont, at the time not an author with whom I was familiar. I would come to realize it was my lack of knowledge that was at issue, not the popularity of the author! However, that day, I was more caught on the title, than on the author. I flipped through it, checked out the cover, and decided it was not for me ��" as it turns out, not my best decision! I am now on the lookout for this book. The author’s website, (www.patsyclairmont.com), shows that the book “God Uses Cracked Pots” has been re-released, and I think I know at least one customer! My memory does not give me a synopsis of the book, but the title is drawing me in!! With all that said, this review is not about Patsy Clairmont’s book “God Uses Cracked Pots”; it is about her book “Stained Glass Hearts”. I received “Stained Glass Hearts” at no charge through the Booksneeze Book Review Program, which means I will be also posting this review on their website. “Stained Glass Hearts” is what I would call, a pretty title; and the book cover is very pretty, in colour and in design. I would come to find out that this book is so much more than pretty. With a book subtitle of “Seeing Life from a Broken Perspective”, I quickly learned that, all prettiness set aside, this book would have meaningful words to share. Patsy Clairmont would have meaningful words to share. And Patsy did. At the end of each chapter, Patsy has what she calls ‘The Art Gallery’. ‘The Art Gallery’ consists of a variety of interactive and reflective topics for the reader. For example, at the end of Chapter 3, ‘The Art Gallery’ consists of a Museum reference for lookup on the internet, a Poem, a Prayer, and a Music suggestion that can be found on iTunes. These elements link together, and combine with the Chapter topic itself, bringing the reader to a personal place on the road to light and redemption. The place of light and redemption ��" on which Patsy has a personal focus, and on which she has written previous books. Patsy’s ‘Art Gallery’ was excellent. I know because I found myself pulled toward the interaction ��" and did follow-up that pull! The chapters in “Stained Glass Hearts” focus on directing the readers to find out what is true about themselves, where the darkness is, where the light is, and how all that must come together to be where God is, and where He wants the readers to be. While that sounds rather serious and somber, Patsy has a gift for making her reader feel good along the way. As a new reader of Patsy’s work, I found her tone to be serious, yet light. Early on in the book, Patsy herself states that this book exposes the solemn side of her personality. I’m not sure that I would describe what I saw of Patsy as solemn, but maybe that is because I am a new fan. As you might expect from the title, “Stained Glass Hearts”, the emotions of the human heart are explored in the chapters. Ranging from darkness to light ��" just like a stained glass window, (to paraphrase Patsy). Patsy lets us into her own heart, her own time of deep darkness, and her journey out of that darkness. I always think authors are so brave when such personal emotion is exposed in such a public forum as a book. And Patsy is one such author. Patsy brings us into her family life, time with her friends, and times when she goes to work, speaking at conferences around the world, mainly focused on events sponsored by Women of Faith, an organization Patsy has been a member of since its very beginnings. (Information can be found at: www.womenoffaith.com). Patsy Clairmont’s generous sense of humour is spread throughout this book. Patsy reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously, but to also honour and accept who we are, and where we are, on our journey of life. As the book progresses we, the readers, are given many opportunities to share stained glass experiences with the author ��" looking through something, or at something, as though we were looking at or through stained glass. I am not a big ‘nature girl’, (that is probably an understatement), yet one of the chapters that most vividly caught my attention was Patsy’s chapter titled: ‘Stained Glass Nature’. I learned, or re-learned, a number of things from Patsy’s viewpoint of ‘Stained Glass Nature’. One of the biggest is my tendency to overlook the beauty of nature. I learned that one of the reasons I overlook nature’s beauty is that I do not take enough time to stop and pay attention to the beauty around me. This, in my personal belief system, means I am not stopping and paying enough attention to God. It also means I am not really participating in the world around me; rather I am just moving through it with some unknown agenda of my own. For me, that has been one of the clearest themes in this Patsy Clairmont book: stop and look around ourselves, through or with a stained glass window, at all the broken pieces, at all the little pieces, at all that is us, and at all that is given to us in this world. Stop and appreciate, stop and renew, stop and see the moment. For a person new to the world of Christian non-fiction, I think this book would be an excellent beginning. Free of deep theological words and intense phrases, this book will appeal to individuals at the early stages oftheir faith journey. For the same reasons, this is also a book I would recommend to someone well along in their faith journey, but someone wishing to take stock of where they have been and where they have now come. Not only did I find “Stained Glass Hearts” to be a good Christian writing, it was also a pleasure to read, and to review.
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Amazing Grace as Christ Walks by: My Journey from Brokennness to Wholeness
by
Carol Cline
Madley93
, September 23, 2011
“Amazing Grace as Christ Walks By can lead you from being broken to being whole, in Christ”. The above line is copied from Outskirts Press book description for “Amazing Grace… as Christ Walks By”, written by Carol Cline. While this is a very large claim to make, there are elements of this statement in the book. I see Carol Cline’s book more as a short story collection, than a progressive autobiography. While the book is autobiographical, it also reads as a Daily Devotional ��" or maybe a Weekly Devotional. The book is written as a chronological telling of how Carol let Christ work in her life, and at times she is quite candid about very personal issues. The chapters are divided into years, (i.e. 1975-1980, 1983-1985, 1989-1991), but does contain some overlap ��" which I think is an excellent characteristic of Carol Cline’s writing. The chapters are divided, but also cross over critical topics. One of the things I most appreciated when reading this book, was how open Cline has been about such issues as illness, rape, death, and family life. Both her biological family and the family she married in to. As I read about these often painful memories of Carol, I felt privileged to be a part of them. There are some sections of the book that are a little disjointed and contain statements that seem out of place. For example, when speaking about one of her family moves, Carol’s paragraph includes a statement about having family members over for dinner the night Princess Diana died. I am not sure how that information fits the topic, other than giving us an additional time perspective ��" although I do not think that is necessary. I am not convinced this line is pertinent. This happens a few times in the book, (although not the same sentence about Princess Diana!), and I found these points to be distracting. I was left with a “what does that mean” feeling. Carol Cline’s writing style is comfortable and free flowing ��" has almost a rocking sensation as the reader is lulled through up and down, back and forth, sentences. I find this writing style immediately draws me in to the feeling of “I’ve been here before” ��" has a familiar sound to it. This makes it easy to read. Cline’s beliefs and emotional attraction to Christ is evident immediately from the title, and continues throughout each chapter. There is no doubt that Cline has journeyed from “…Brokenness to Wholeness”, and she wants the rest of us to acquire the feelings she has grown into and matured with. While that may not be possible during this short work, (87 pages), Carol’s energy jumps off the page, and hopefully into the reader’s heart ��" to be led who-knows-where! Anything is possible! “Amazing Grace …As Christ Walks By” may seem like a short, easy read ��" but do not kid yourself, there is a lot packed into these pages. As I mentioned earlier, I think this book would work well as a Weekly Devotional ��" one chapter each week. I also think it lends itself to a small group setting for faith discussions. The chapters can be taken in sequential order, but I do not think anything would be lost by taking the chapters in random order. After all, Christ’s movement in our lives is not always sequential! I do think this book might be better appreciated by Christians who are at the beginning of their faith journey. Christians who are farther along on their journey might not find enough substance to satisfy their needs. I also think that, should she want to do this, Carol Cline could turn this short book into a much longer read, by getting more detailed about facts, as well as more detailed abut her faith experience. Overall, this is a good read, and one that can be re-read as the reader sees fit. Carol Cline shares events that are deeply personal and the reader can feel her pain ��" and her joy ��" through their own eyes. It truly is “Amazing Grace”.
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The Silent and the Lost
by
Zubair, Abu Bin Mohammed
Madley93
, September 21, 2011
When I think of a descriptive word that best describes “The Silent and the Lost” by Abu Zubair, the only word that applies is “beauty”. Beauty in the pages and hardcover binding; beauty in the picture and artwork of the front cover; beauty in Abu Zubair’s words, sentences, paragraphs, and chapters; beauty in the relationships described; beauty in the flow of this incredible novel. Once opened, I did not want to let go. When I read the last word ��" I wanted more. And the unusual, undeniable juxtaposition is that the root topic is one of deep unrest, family betrayal, and world struggle and war. Genocide. True life facts of history wound up in a story bound to reach the heart of readers, in a way that will change the reader forever. Before reading Abu Zubair’s novel, my own knowledge of what happened between West Pakistan ��" East Pakistan ��" Bangladesh ��" was sadly lacking, even though my friend circle includes individuals whose own heritage springs from these conflicts. That humbles me, and at the same time, makes me a little embarrassed ��" now having read “The Silent and the Lost”. How could I have been so unaware of something that happened in my lifetime, happened as my high school years were ending, and university loomed on the horizon? I shake my head in wonder that, at no time since high school or university, did I learn of the tragic events and sacrificed lives that took place in 1971. Abu Zubair does not leave much out of his descriptions of war and its tragedies, but nor were his descriptions anywhere near gore or horror. Yes, there was gore in the actual historical events ��" there was horror in the actual events ��" but as with any skilled craftsman, Abu Zubair acknowledges and speaks to the gore and horror of these real life events, but he does not glorify the gore and the horror. Which I must say, I keenly appreciated. It allows for the storyline to remain front and centre. The novel takes place in two time spans: one in 1997 and one in 1971. Each era has its own cast of characters, and there is no challenging maze of events to follow. The reader will easily recognize when the chapter is to be about the events of 1997, and when it will be about the events of 1971. Also, the author’s calendar dates are shown for each section of the book ��" very helpful. As I write the year ‘1971’, I am still trying to wrap my head around ‘such events’ happening in ‘this day and age’; and I am also sadly aware that tragic events like this continue to plague our world. And those of us living in North America have so much to be grateful for, with respect to political and religious freedom. Yes, troubles exist in our world but are nowhere near the magnitude of such battles, as the battle for Pakistan. There are also scenes and chapters of “The Silent and the Lost” that are filled with such love, beauty, and grace ��" my eyes brimmed over with tears as I transitioned from one generation to another, one chapter to another, and at times even one sentence to another. But not all dreary and sad, this novel includes some very happy and joyful happenings in the lives of the characters. Moments that brought smiles, not tears, to my heart. I was attracted to the subtle experiences of spirituality expressed or implied by the author about the characters. Admittedly, spirituality is a grace I subconsciously (or consciously) look for no matter which book sits before me. Nevertheless, I believe it was a real element of the story line ��" spirituality and the lack of spirituality. Although not necessarily meant in any other way than to comment on Muslim and Hindu differences, I was affected quite deeply by the following short paragraph ��" affected on a spiritual level, as well as on a moral level. Based on how we need to work toward true peace, in this frequently “peace-less” world. "Remember, the enemy has penetrated our ranks and will try to create division among us, and through looting create derisions in our ranks. Hindus or Muslims, Bengalis or non-Bengalis, all are our brothers. It is our duty to ensure everyone’s safety." (page 52) “The Silent and the Lost” reached me on many levels ��" intellectually, psychologically, spiritually, and not the least of which, emotionally. This is a book I will treasure and re-read again and again. Because the topics which are covered in the books I read and review are so very different, I do not use a numbered rating system. Even if I stated that the ratings held only “in the genre the book was written for”, as humans we love to compare and number comparisons between works of fiction and of non-fiction would be inevitable. So, I steer clear of a number scale. However, if I was to rate “The Silent and the Lost” on a number scale ��" it would rate the highest number possible. When I received this complimentary book from the author, and it arrived clearly packaged with care, I knew I was holding something very special. I am happy to be able to freely supply my review, and know this book truly is something special. I highly recommend “The Silent and the Lost” by Abu Zubair be added to everyone’s to-be-read list, and I would be interested to hear everyone’s reaction to, and thoughts of, this book. I certainly welcome comments be added to this post.
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Escaping Innocence: A Story Of Awakening
by
Joe, Jr. Perrone
Madley93
, September 12, 2011
When I first received “Escaping Innocence” from the author, he cautioned me about the writing and the material in the book. Would I be able to step outside my own life and comfort zone, into the world of a young man from the 60’s who would face numerous trials, and various life transitions? (Including some colourful language). I said that I thought I was up for the challenge, and I am glad I said yes! Even though I was but a young child in the 60’s! I was drawn into the book from literally the first page, which was a bit of a surprise! Joe Perrone’s writing style is very inviting and engaging. The humour of this book is definitely a bonus. The real emotions that are conveyed through the main character, David Justin, are extremely well and brightly written. Although the life experiences written about in this book are not exactly the same as my own, Perrone’s narrative style allowed me to smoothly connect my life experiences with those of the main character, David Justin. In cases that were not at all present in my life, the lives of my friends and family filled in the blanks! I did not ever participate in the real Florida experience during my school days; my thoughts of what it would have been like were actually confirmed by the experience of David Justin! The innocence, combined with the open experience of David Justin, were brilliantly written by Joe Perrone, and I believe truly conveyed the average North American teen culture of the 60’s, as portrayed in news reels, movies, and memories of those who lived the 60’s as teens or young adults. As far as the sexuality portrayed in “Escaping Innocence”, well, with a title such as it has, how could sexuality not be part of this book? Perrone portrays many types of sexual experiences in this novel, but I believe he does so in non-offensive ways. Straightforward, definitely, but non-offensive. I say that, but I also realize the words and descriptions may be bothersome or offensive to some readers, which is just a bit of a caution. As far as the offensive language, it did exist, and in some chapters may have been a little overdone. When reading, I do not enjoy strong four letter words, but in this book, I found myself able to scan over them as they occurred. In general, my personal opinion remains that offensive language is never necessary. If authors feel the need to write in offensive language to convey character, a change in writing style might be better employed. I believe Joe Perrone’s writing style is such that offensive language is not required, and all his characters’ personalities are not dependent on the few offensive words they speak. And to that point, the amount of offensive language is very minimal, and accepted by even my critical eye. With the caveat that the title of chapter 30 could be changed!! There were chapters in the book that did drag a little, and oddly enough, it was specifically the chapters written about the Florida experience. I found that Joe Perrone’s writing style changed a little in that part of the book, became less crisp and clear, and I thought became a little forced, and my interest waned a little. Once the character, David Justin, left Florida, Joe’s writing style was back on track. Maybe it was a section of the book that presented challenges to the writer? Not only were the characters fully explored in the book, as a result of Perrone’s writing style, the characters’ life experiences came through as authentic and genuine. At times I could not wait to find out what was going to happen next! And I appreciated the smooth flow from chapter to chapter. As I was reaching the end of the book, my mind was racing ahead, wondering how the book was going to end! And at the same time, not wanting the book to end! But end it did; and the ending was perfect and fitting. Excellent final chapter. However, the book is not all humour and laughter. The author does touch on quite serious subjects, some of which are unique to the 60’s, some experienced by teens and young people around the world, crossing through all generations. Subjects such as the Vietnam War, sexual orientation, drugs, and sexual experience in general. The author did not minimalize these subjects in any way, treating each with respect. Overall, I would highly recommend this book as a way to look back to life in the 60’s ��" whether you lived it as a teen or not. And look back with delightful and surprising humour, or a real laugh out loud moment. I know a number of people will relate to the adventures portrayed, and will delight in reliving their own 60’s life style. An extremely engaging read, one I will re-read a few more times. As I mentioned above, the author emailed “Escaping Innocence” direct to me, and it was at no cost to me. (I have not yet purchased an eReader, so Joe emailed me a pdf copy). Joe Perrone was looking for an impartial review and I hope I conveyed that message. I will say that when I later saw what the cover of the book looked like; I really missed having the book in my hand!! The cover perfectly suits the narrative! I may have to buy the real book for my collection ��" especially as I really do intend to re-read this book a few more times!
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The Wisdom to Know the Difference: When to Make a Change-and When to Let Go
by
Eileen Flanagan
Madley93
, September 03, 2011
I have a confession to make……. I have had the book “The Wisdom to Know the Difference”, by Eileen Flanagan, for approximately three months, (maybe a little longer), and I have been reading it for approximately two months, (maybe a little longer). For someone who is generally a quick reader, this has seemed like a long time. Or has it? A few weeks ago I emailed the author, explaining that the reason the book took me so long to read, was actually her fault!! (Nervy, right?). Well, I did not phrase it exactly that way ��" ‘her fault’. What I actually said was: “If the book was not so well written, I would have been finished reading it a long time ago!!” And what I actually meant was, had I not been so drawn into the book, its topic, and its effect on my life, I would have been finished reading it much sooner. Yes, that’s my confession…. This book so impacted me on a personal level, I had to take it in slowly, digest it, and incorporate it into my life. As a prayer, ‘The Serenity Prayer’, has not been a favourite of mine. My husband, on the other hand, has always had a deep connection with this prayer. As a result, he has tried to help me understand why this prayer is powerful. I always kind of fluffed him away. “Yah, yah, serenity, courage, wisdom ��" whatever…..”. I had my own favourite prayers. At the end of May 2011, I read a post by Eileen Flanagan, looking for book reviewers. While writing book reviews was a new idea for me, reading books certainly was not! I replied to Eileen and a couple of weeks later the book arrived in my mail. The act itself was spur of the moment, and I spent the next few weeks furtively looking at this book, about this prayer that was not one of my favourites!! I must have been crazy to volunteer for this task! Toward the end of June 2011, I ventured into Eileen’s world, and began to learn a little more about this prayer, and how it has impacted a number of lives, (and not just my husband’s!). Eileen does not simply go out into the world, ask people if they know the prayer, then ask their opinion of it. Rather, Eileen’s choice of people to write about, are clearly a small sampling of a much larger group interviewed for this book. We learn about these individuals, their life stories, and how the emotions of The Serenity Prayer have played out in their lives. One of Eileen’s literary devices is that throughout the book, some of these main characters reappear. It is not just a matter of them being introduced and described to us, but, at key intervals throughout the text, Eileen brings them back by reminding us of their stories, and how their stories continue to evolve ��" with The Serenity Prayer continuing to play an important role. In some cases, the individuals themselves are not necessarily aware they are living out the prayer. And that is one of my favourite portions of the book. People, who live according to their own values and characteristics, yet can be an example to me, the reader, of the impact of this powerful prayer. (Notice I now say “powerful prayer”….don’t mention that to my husband….!) Eileen Flanagan has a knack of writing that I find particularly appealing ��" repetition. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do not mean simply stating the same thing over and over. What I mean is gently, without boredom, Eileen imprints key points for the reader. Making her points stronger over time, but in each telling and sharing, being done in new and informative ways. One of my favourite Christian writers ��" Ronald Rolheiser ��" has this same story-telling knack. Gentle ��" soft ��" peaceful. Bringing the reader to an “Ah-Ha” moment with skill and dexterity, without being the least bit repetitive or tedious. It is a tremendous way to learn new concepts and thought processes. Through the reference to other Christian authorities, Eileen brings additional credibility to her own research, and a familiarity to her writings. And not only do we learn more about key characters, as we move forward in Eileen’s book, the author brings forward earlier concepts. Once again, bringing us to a deeper understanding of what Eileen’s focus is on. The Serenity Prayer holds some big words: serenity, courage, wisdom. Eileen starts by narrowing down these words, to smaller, everyday expressions, phrases, and examples; and concludes the book by bringing them all together in the amazing words of the prayer itself. (Notice I now say “amazing words of the prayer”……do you think I need to share this with my husband?!) My journey with this prayer, with this book, “The Wisdom to Know the Difference”, has been a very personal one, and this is not the place for review of my prayer journey. But, this is the place for a review of this book. And my opinion to you is that your own prayer journey will not be complete without spending some time with The Serenity Prayer, and definitely some significant time with Eileen Flanagan’s book: “The Wisdom to Know the Difference ��" When to Make a Change ��" and When to Let Go”. P.S. I have since confessed all to my husband, and now, this book is on his reading list!
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The Spiral Garden
by
Anne Hines
Madley93
, August 20, 2011
The rating of this book will depend on the perspective of the reader. Spiritual perspective. Open minded perspective. Humourous perspective. Faith tradition perspective. Family life perspective. Realizing that all of these perspectives follow us, and impact the way we live, and the way we review, I believe they are particularly important when reading and reviewing this book. The book is comprised of letters, diary entries, log books, formal announcements, journal entries, and phone messages. The dates on all of these are concentrated between 2003 ��" 2005, and are not sequential. If jumping through the years, locations, and characters, is not your style, you may want to pass on “The Spiral Garden”. The main character is Ruth Broggan, a Minister of the Unified Church, and takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Ruth is divorced, has two children, two best friends, and an unusual perspective of faith. This faith perspective has developed in Ruth over her years as a cleric. Ruth is fired from a church in Markham, Ontario for preaching outside of the church’s teachings, and tries to settle into her new location, while still speaking and preaching a message that conflicts with the church. Ruth’s struggle is our struggle ��" why are we here? what comes after? and why does the world suffer pain and tragedy? Ruth has asked God to speak to her, with answers to these questions, and locks herself into the manse in order to wait in silence for God’s reply. What ensues outside the manse is a growing following of Ruth, culminating in half a million people heading to downtown Toronto, to wait for Ruth to come out of the manse, and celebrate a Church Feast of The Winter Solstice. Ruth’s take on life is serious, funny, thoughtful, prayerful, witty, and very engaging for the reader. I found that the author, Anne Hines, skillfully pulls the reader into Ruth’s life, and at times I found myself so identifying with Ruth, her writings felt like my own. This is the type of book that I will pick up again, and again, reading only pages here and there ��" the ones that made me cry, and the ones that made me laugh out loud! If you want to be entertained, and learn something at the same time, this book is for you. If you are open minded about religion, this book is for you. However, if you are easily offended by slights against any faith tradition, and especially your own, then this book would not be for you. I was given this book free from a second hand bookstore, but after reading it, I would definitely pay full price! All in all, I would recommend this book for its humour and for its life lessons, and give it 4 stars. Take a look for “The Spiral Garden”, and Enjoy!!
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Stretch: The Unlikely Making of a Yoga Dude (P.S.)
by
Neal Pollack
Madley93
, August 05, 2011
I will rate this book, once I have read it; but right now I just thought I would say I love this cover!! and the description sounds great.
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