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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Was I a Stranger in My Homeland?
Malavi Sivakanesan
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781483682143, $37.32, 108pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the author's own words: Throughout my book I share my thoughts and feelings of
growing up in a complex multicultural society as well as my response to cultural and ethnic
diversity. Even though I am not a philosopher and have not yet experienced much compared to
some I have always pictured my life as a long bumpy drive. We choose our destination and more
importantly the path we take. We might encounter misfortunes along the way but our mission
should be to get back on our feet and work towards the target we have set for ourselves.
Critique: Malavi Sivakanesan was born in 1995 at Tromso, Norway, the daughter of ethnic Tamil
parents. "Was I a Stranger in My Homeland?: Has One Two Lives?" is her personal 'coming of
age' story, a perceptive commentary on the places and the peoples she knew and experienced, and
a compendium of observations that are as informed and informative as they are thoughtful and
thought-provoking. Enhanced with color photos, "Was I a Stranger in My Homeland?: Has One
Two Lives?" is an extraordinary and highly recommended read -- and could well serve as a
template for others to create similar memoirs of their lives, experiences, and observations.
Famous Ski Hills In Wisconsin
Scott Jacobs
Dead Tree Press
c/o Subtle Communications
2326 West Medill, Chicago, IL 60647
www.deadtreepress.com
9781879652040, $27.95, 182pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It's a short list----the famous ski hills of Wisconsin--that teaches one of life's great
lessons: things aren't always what they are cracked up to be. In this collection of humorous
essays, Scott Jacobs explores a boyhood of idyllic pastimes and the questions it led to later in
life. Why is Budweiser beechwood aged? Is Black Friday a scam? And where have all the
waysides gone? Here is proof positive that Wisconsin isn't a state, it's a state of mind; and gentle
good humor is the coin of the realm.
Critique: Scott Jacobs is a master of wit, a little wisdom, and a lot of talent, and able to engage
his reader's total and enthusiastic attention from first page to last in "Famous Ski Hills In
Wisconsin", an impressive and always entertaining collection of observations and commentaries
ranging from 'The Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland)'; 'Jesus Has a Bad Day'; 'A
Telemarketer's Lament'; 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow', and twenty-six more little gems. Very
highly recommended reading, it should also be noted that "Famous Ski Hills In Wisconsin" is
also available in both a paperback edition (9781879652187, $14.95) as well as a Kindle edition
($7.99).
The Humor Shelf
Big Fat Beautiful Head
Stu Heinecke
CartoonLink Publishing
9780615942698 $9.99 pbk. / $7.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Big Fat Beautiful Head is an anthology of black-and-white, single-panel cartoons by Wall Street
Journal cartoonist Stu Heinecke. Each humorous humorous image is paired with a brief
commentary by Heinecke himself, explaining the inspiration and context of the gag. For
example, a cartoon of a mother chastising her misbehaving son with "Roland! You're acting like
a member of Congress!" is paired with the contextual commentary, "When I first wrote this gag, I
thought my little friend Roland was acting like a Democrat. But then my Democrat friends
thought it made a whole lot more sense if he was cast as a Republican, and I couldn't quite
disagree. Then Congress collapsed into a hot, steaming mess. And that's when I knew we could
all agree that Roland was indeed acting like a member of Congress. At last, a rare point of
agreement in politics." Most of the cartoons aren't quite so political, but all of them poke fun at
the vagaries, conflicts, and absurdities of everyday life. Big Fat Beautiful Head is an insightful
source of mirth, and makes an excellent gift for friends with a sense of humor!
The Cookbook Shelf
Shop Like a Chef
Chef Clara Moore & Matt Sorrell
Everything Goes Media
c/o Lake Claremont Press
PO Box 1524, Milwaukee, WI 53201
9781893121959, $15.95, 249pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Shop Like a Chef: A Food Lover's Guide to St. Louis Neighborhoods" by Chef Clara
Moore and St. Louis food and beverage writer Matt Sorrell will enable the reader to locate the
exact ingredient needed with its index of over 1,000 items; learn new foods, recipes, and skills;
eat better; save money; support a range of local businesses and farmers; fell comfortable in St.
Louis's gourmet outlets, specialty shops, and ethnic grocery stores; and simply expand personal
culinary horizons in all directions.
Critique: Although the shopping information is oriented towards St. Louis, the basic information
is universal. Plus the recipes are simply terrific and guaranteed 'kitchen cook friendly'. Highly
recommended, especial for St. Louis residents, "Shop Like a Chef: A Food Lover's Guide to St.
Louis Neighborhoods" has a great deal to commend it to the attention of non-St. Louis residents
and would aptly serve as a template for similar works set in other American cities.
The Biography Shelf
Magic Words
Lance Parkin
Aurum Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
9781781310779 $29.95 www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
British author and sci-fi enthusiast (well-known for his detailed reference guides to television
series such as "Doctor Who") Lance Parkin presents Magic Words: The Extraordinary Life of
Alan Moore, a thorough biography of the eccentric, brilliant, and often dark-minded creator of
such popular comic book works as "V for Vendetta", "Watchmen" (well known as the definitive
deconstruction of the superhero genre, and recently adapted into a major theatrical release), and
"From Hell". Yet at the pinnacle of his career, Moore left the mainstream entertainment industry
to pursue performance art, writing erotica, and a personal interest in the occult. Keenly
researched and smoothly presented, Magic Words is a "must-read" for fans of Moore's classic
works, as well as anyone interested in learning more about a pivotal turn-of-the-century media
creator. Highly recommended.
Virtue Is its Own Punishment
Richard Menzies
New University Press LLC
9402 West Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89134
www.newuniversitypress.com
9780982921937, $11.99, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Virtue Is Its Own Punishment is the story of a boy's journey of growth and discovery
from childhood through college at Brigham Young University. It is not about religion so much as
it is a story of growing up in the culture of small town, Utah, Mormon society. The author is a
wry social commentator whose humorous depiction of coming of age will appeal to Mormons,
ex-Mormons, and other participants in restrictive cultures. Highlights include full-immersion
baptism, beliefs about Heaven, avoiding missionary work, and learning about girls and technical
virginity. Ever wondered what it's like to grow up Mormon? This entertaining memoir is a look
inside Mormonism in the 1950s when the most pressing concern of boys everywhere is who
would get to be Roy Rogers and who would be Gene Autry in schoolyard games. Later, going on
a mission is the pre-ordained destiny of 18-year-old boys regardless of their inclination toward
missionary work. The author's tumultuous years at Brigham Young leads to a poignant end to the
first part of his life, and a shaky new start to the second. This is a story of innocence preserved
and paradise lost-written by one of America's funniest writers. Encouraged as a boy to be perfect,
the narrator finds the path to perfection to be a bumpy road. Which isn't to say he doesn't give it a
shot, foreswearing alcohol, tobacco, coffee, and even cola drinks in order to curry favor with his
elders, friends and neighbors in the LDS community, and especially with girls. Alas, in college
the road only becomes bumpier as romantic fantasies remain just fantasies and the chastity belt
begins to feel more like a straitjacket. Without really wishing for it to happen, Richard eventually
finds himself on the outside of the institution looking in, a reluctant heretic. But not all suffering
is for naught. In fact, when it comes to raw material for an inventive, insightful and irreverent
memoir, Mormonism is a treasure trove of raw material.
Critique: Candid and especially well written, "Virtue Is Its Own Punishment: A Memoir of
Growing up Mormon" offers a unique perspective on coming of age within the context of a
distinctly Mormon culture. A fascinating personal story, "Virtue Is Its Own Punishment: A
Memoir of Growing up Mormon" is very highly recommended reading that is as informed and
informative as it is engaging and entertaining.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Toxic Staple
Anne Sarkisian
Max Health Press
c/o Gulotta Communications
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
978098939219, $17.95, 330pp, www.amazon.com
Gluten gives elasticity to dough helping it to rise and to keep its shape. It is found in many staple
foods in the Western diet. It occurs in wheat and other grains, including barley and rye, and in
foods or drinks derived from them, but not in corn, rice, or oats. Gluten is a protein composite
consisting of a gliadin fraction (alcohol soluble) and a glutenin fraction (only soluble in dilute
acids or alkali). Gluten sensitivity (also gluten intolerance) is a spectrum of disorders including
celiac disease in which gluten has an adverse effect on the body. Symptoms include bloating,
abdominal discomfort or pain, diarrhea, muscular disturbances and bone or joint pain. "Toxic
Staple, How Gluten May Be Wrecking Your Health - And What You Can Do about It!" by health
advocate Anne Sarkisian is written specifically for the non-specialist general readers needing to
recognize how gluten could be affecting their health, becoming informed on the substantial
health benefits from a gluten-free life, knowledgeable about the current state of gluten sensitivity
related research and testing; and more. Enhanced with a number of appendices, extensive end
notes, a substantial bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Toxic Staple, How Gluten May
Be Wrecking Your Health - And What You Can Do about It!" is very highly recommended for
personal and community library Health & Medicine reference collections. It should be noted that
"Toxic Staple" is also available in a hard cover edition (9780989239202, $28.95) and a Kindle
edition ($8.99).
The Fiction Shelf
War Without End, Amen
Tim Coder
Sterling Publications USA
PO Box 1037, Corrales, NM 87048
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
9781481885027, $18.99, 518 pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Whether it was the war you'd loved or the war you loved to hate, the Nam wasn't over
when it was over. Lt. Adrian Pokorny and Sgt. Paul Murphy learned that lesson over 40 years of
silent struggle back in The World after serving in the mountains of I Corps with the 101st
Airborne Division. They were the only survivors in a separated element of Pokorny's platoon in
the summer of 1970 after a firefight in a no-name village. What they craved was a shot at
redemption.
Critique: In "War Without End, Amen: A Vietnam Story, Tim Coder clearly draws upon his
experiences as an NCO squad leader with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam from
1967-1970 to provide a true 'feel' for what it was like to live and fight in Vietnam. His skills as a
journalist also seem to be applied judging from his ability as a novelist to engage his reader's full
attention from beginning to end in this major saga. An exceptionally debut for an obviously
talented author, "War Without End, Amen: A Vietnam Story" is a terrific read and highly
recommended for community library fiction collections. It should be noted that "War Without
End, Amen: A Vietnam Story" is also available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Saved...For Now
Robert Kmiecik
BlueJay House
www.bluejayhousepublishing.com
c/o Concierge Marketing
13518 'L' Street, Omaha, NE 68137
9780991368914, $15.95, 227pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In a small town in Georgia, newly appointed Pastor Jak is working miracles. He is
keeping people on the right and narrow path and saving those who have all but given up. His
congregation is growing in numbers and is stronger than it has ever been. It is this high success
rate that gains the attention of the one force that Jak is trying to keep his followers away from:
Natas. From minute daily decisions to larger ones, like committing a crime, Natas and his Sin
Council are behind them all, with the sole purpose of tempting Christians away from their path to
salvation. When Natas is alerted to the work Jak is doing, it becomes his mission to take down
the miracle worker who has the potential to unravel all of the Sin Council's success. Jak must
now protect his family, his congregation, and himself from Natas, who is hell-bent on pushing
them off the road to salvation.
Critique: Author Robert Kmiecik demonstrates the narrative skills of a master novelist as he
populates his complex and engaging story with memorable characters. A thoroughly entertaining
read from beginning to end, "Saved...For Now" is highly recommended and will prove to be an
enduringly popular addition to community library fiction collections. It should be noted that
"Saved...For Now" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
America's Deceit
John A. Gaetano
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
9781493715732, $26.00, 678pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "America's Deceit: A journey of a man in search of the truth about himself... and about
his country" is an epic novel about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This historic
story is based upon the true account of our government's decades long cover-up. Seen from the
fictional characters' point of view, you will learn how our government shielded their part in the
murder of our thirty-fifth President, and how they continue to hide its secrets behind the cloak of
national security. Although there are plenty of nonfiction books depicting the many conspiracy
theories of the Kennedy assassination, what the author has done is to expose these suppositions
and test them through a fictional investigation of the truth.
Critique: Still highly controversial more than a half century later, the assassination of an
American president comes roaring back to life in this fictional but fact-laced account.
Iconoclastic, engaging, and a fascinating read, "America's Deceit" is especially recommended
reading for anyone with an interest in one of 20th Century America's most traumatic political
events.
Vengeance Follows
Scott Lax
Gray & Company Publishers
1588 East 40th Street, Cleveland, OH 44103
www.grayco.com
9781938441417, $19.95, 247pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Sam and Sophie's idyllic life of Parisian cafes, fine wine, and romantic passion is torn
apart when Sophie is diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor. Then Sophie reveals something that
happened years before they met - a horrific event that changed her life and left her wounded in
ways no one knew. She's found peace in the years since, she swears to Sam. But then she's gone,
and Sam finds only pain. Bereft and alone, he leaves the City of Light and seeks solace in a small
French village where no one knows him or his past. Troubled in heart and mind, he knows one
man is responsible for Sophie's death. Sam cannot live without confronting him and holding him
accountable for his past crimes. And so Sam travels to America, to a charming little Ohio town
where lights twinkle on the snow in winter and fairs shimmer in the summer heat. Here, Sam will
seek his revenge - and find retribution for his lost love in a way he could never imagine
Critique: A novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, a writer for film and television
shows, and a writing teacher, author Scott Lax is a master wordsmith of the first order and once
again demonstrates his talent and expertise with "Vengeance Follows". A minor masterpiece of
suspense and human nature, "Vengeance Follows" is a terrifically entertaining read from
beginning to end. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library
collections, it should be noted that "Vengeance Follows" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Choices
Terri-Lynne Smiles
PlotForge Ltd.
1650 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 225
Columbus, OH 43204
www.plotforge.com
9781937979096, $15.00, 436pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Rothston Institute has fallen to those who are after the key to controlling humanity
- a secret held deep within Kinzie Nicolosi's own body. Scared and on the run, Kinzie's life
becomes entangled with a collection of loners, adding the wrath of their own foes to the dangers
she faces. Outmanned and outgunned on all sides, none of them can protect Kinzie or the world
from the true evil behind the threats - something far more terrifying than anything they have
encountered. And it is waiting The saga of Kinzie Nicolosi continues in Choices, the second
book in the Rothston series. Author Terri-Lynne Smiles once again convincingly explains world
events, particularly unfathomable political ones, through the interference of adepts who are able
to control the decisions and actions of others.
Critique: "Choices" is the sequel to Terri-Lynne Smiles' "Foreseen" (9781937979058, $14.95)
and the second volume in her 'Rothston' series. Again Ms. Smiles demonstrates a native talent for
imaginative storytelling that her readers will find unfailingly enjoyable and engaging from
beginning to end. Highly recommended reading, it should be noted that both volumes "Choices"
($4.99) and "Foreseen" ($3.03) are available in Kindle editions as well.
The Psychology Shelf
The Ethics Of Touch
Ben E. Benjamin & Cherie Sohnen-Moe
Sohnen-Moe Associates
6020 West Peregrine Way, Tucson, AZ 85745
www.sohnen-moe.com
www.theethicsoftouch.com
9781882908424, $32.95, 416pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Ethics of Touch: The Hands-on Practitioner's Guide to Creating a Professional,
Safe and Enduring Practice" is a groundbreaking work on ethics addresses the difficult,
confusing, and seldom-discussed but often-troubling dilemmas confronting touch therapy
practitioners. By honestly describing the issues, identifying clear principles, naming specific
resources, and using stories straight from the treatment room, the authors have written a book to
guide, support, and inspire both students and seasoned practitioners. This book belongs in the
office of every bodywork practitioner and in the classrooms of every professional training school.
Features include useful and thought-provoking activities and exercises and real-life scenarios to
intrigue students.
Critique: Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded second edition, "The Ethics of
Touch" would well serve as a college or university level Psychology Department counseling
curriculum supplement. Student counselors would learn how to improve their communication
skills with clients; clarify counseling therapy policies and procedures; resolve ethical dilemmas;
decrease their susceptibility to lawsuits; establish and maintain appropriate boundaries; increase
the quality of their relations with clients; work well with colleagues; heighten their awareness
and sensitivity; develop effective support systems; and enhance their ability to work safely and
effectively with trauma survivors. Exceptionally well written, organized, and presented, "The
Ethics of Touch" is strongly recommended reading for the novice counselor and has a great deal
to commend it to the attention of even the more experienced therapist.
The Emotional Life Interview
Henry Dupont
Charles C. Thomas Publisher, Ltd.
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
9780398087562, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Emotional Life Interview" by Henry Dupon offers an effective and time-sensitive
therapy approach to those with mental health problems, meeting today s pressures to provide
essential care at less cost. The Emotional Life Interview (ELI) involves asking each client seven
questions about five negative feelings and emotions (fear, anger, shame, guilt, and sadness) and
six questions about two positive feelings and emotions (pride and happiness). The process takes
the practitioner into the emotional life of a client as no other procedure does. Major sections of
the book discuss feelings, emotions, and psychotherapy; meaning, arousal, and the construction
of emotions; and the use of the ELI in psychosocial treatment. In addition, nine complete
chapters are devoted to case histories which illustrate how important feelings, emotions, and
relationships are in mental health problems. These case study interviews become conversations in
which the clients reveal the character of their consciousness with respect to their emotional lives.
The ELI questions presented in the case studies require clients to represent their thoughts and
actions in words and to tell their emotional life stories in a manner that is itself therapeutic. The
life stories show in bold relief where changes are needed. The Emotional Life Interview provides
a framework for emotional life education. The interview puts diagnosis and psychotherapy on the
same continuum and makes therapy and emotional life education a viable healthcare option. The
book represents a valuable new tool for all clinical and counseling psychologists, clinical social
workers, psychiatrists, and primary care providers. It will also serve as a resource in the helping
professions, welfare work, and human services.
Critique: Based upon a sound and practical psychological foundation, and enhanced with 'real
world' template worthy instructional examples, "The Emotional Life Interview" is informed,
informative, and exceptionally well organized and presented, making it very highly
recommended, especially for academic library Psychology Studies reference collections and
psychology student supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "The Emotional Life
Interview" is also available in a ebook edition (9780398087579, $29.95).
The Education Shelf
Energize Education through Open Source
Christopher Whittum
Lulu Publishing
3101 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607-5436
www.lulu.com
9781483404448, $21.95, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: For many schools in today's economy, money is tight, and costs must be closely
monitored. With this in mind, there is one area where educators can save: free, open source
software. "Energize Education through Open Source: Using Open Source Software to Enhance
Learning", explains the ins and outs of a huge repository of educational and productivity software
that is available and open source. Filled with practical examples, this guide shares how this
software and hardware can be obtained, provides suggestions for integrating it, and shows how
schools can find the options that work best for their students and teachers. Whittum, who has
worked with computers for more than thirty years, addresses and explains the Linux operating
system, discusses how the open source products can be integrated into existing curricula, and
provides suggestions for applications that could serve as aids to learning. "Energize Education
Through Open Source" provides a feasible technology solution for schools facing financial
barriers.
Critique: In production and development, open source as a development model promotes
universal access via free license to a product's design or blueprint, and universal redistribution of
that design or blueprint, including subsequent improvements to it by anyone. Before the phrase
open source became widely adopted, developers and producers used a variety of terms for the
concept; open source gained hold with the rise of the Internet, and the attendant need for massive
retooling of the computing source code. Opening the source code enabled a self-enhancing
diversity of production models, communication paths, and interactive communities. The
open-source software movement arose to clarify the environment that the new copyright,
licensing, domain, and consumer issues created. Generally, open source refers to a computer
program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification
from its original design. Open-source code is typically created as a collaborative effort in which
programmers improve upon the code and share the changes within the community. Open source
sprouted in the technological community as a response to proprietary software owned by
corporations. Now computer expert Christopher Whittum applies open source resources to the
school setting and will prove to be especially noteworthy for small to medium school districts
and urban schools where educational funding is being severely limited and financial resources
must be expended in the most economical way to support student educational goals and
community values. "Energize Education through Open Source" is especially recommended
reading for classroom teachers, school administrators, and school board of education policy
makers.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Tree Of Healing
Diana Gonzalez Tabbaa
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com/3727662
9781475101119, $15.50, 106pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Rose spends much of her time dwelling on her troubles. She lives in a state of worry
and loneliness as her mother has been harsh and distant since the death of her father when she
was an infant. One golden summer, as she leaves her childhood years, her grandmother and a
heaven-sent friend teach her to bring everything in her life to God in prayer and to bring His Life
into her own. She comes to know and trust Him deeply, especially when she discovers a carving
made by her father in a great tree that forms the crucifix of a Rosary Garden. Hidden in its depths
and unfolding in layers of mystery and beauty, signs of God's Love are continuously revealed to
her. A Mary's Garden that she plants reflects her own growth in a living faith that brings a garden
of souls with her to God, including her mother.
Critique: Enhanced throughout with full color illustrations, poems, and scriptural quotations,
"The Tree Of Healing" is as inspired and inspiring and it is thoughtful and thought-provoking.
Very highly recommended reading for Christians of all denominational affiliations and
backgrounds, it should be noted that "The Tree Of Healing" is also available in a Kindle edition
($4.99).
The Photography Shelf
Timeless: Photography of Rowland Scherman
Michael E. Jones and Christine Jones, editors
Peter E. Randall Publisher
5 Greenleaf Woods Drive, Suite 102
P.O. Box 4726
Portsmouth New Hampshire 03801
9781931807234 $29.95 www.perpublisher.com
Timeless: Photography of Rowland Scherman is a softcover compilation of memorable
black-and-white photography award-winning photographer Rowland Scherman, whose free-lance
work has included covers and photojournalism for LIFE, Time, Newsweek, Paris Match,
Playboy, and National Geographic. Images capture milestone moments ranging from the Beatles'
first U.S. tour to the March on Washington, as well as portraits of powerful politicians like LBJ
and celebrities such as Barbara Walters. Occasional sidebars offer minutiae, anecdotes, or
historical tidbits about various photographs, but most pages of Timeless are dedicated entirely to
the images themselves. Highly recommended, especially for photography connoisseurs and
collections.
Best Foot Forward
Eric LaPrice
Booker Press
c/o To Press & Beyond
825 East Pedregosa Street, Suite 2
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9780615742489, $29.95, 120pp, www.amazon.com
The title is play on the English idiom "Put your best foot forward." This impressive compendium
of full color photographs showcases a wealth of visual examples on how women decorate their
feet with jewelry, footwear, and tattoos. Comprised of a section on high heels, as well as a
section on flats, section on sandals, a section on pedicures, a section on tattoos, a section on toe
rings, and a section on other foot jewelry, "Best Foot Forward" is a fascinating browse and a
unique volume of photographic documentation on body art focused exclusively on women's feet.
Unique and engaging, enhanced with an informative text and photograph captions, "Best Food
Forward" is highly recommended and would make an enduringly popular addition to community
library collections.
The Memoir Shelf
Go Deep 7 Take Plenty Of Root
Erik Fraser Storlie
www.beginnerzen.com
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
Ascot Media (publicity)
9781482695984, $12.99, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "Go Deep and Take Plenty of Root: A Prairie-Norwegian Father, Rebellion in
Minneapolis, Basement Zen, Growing Up, Growing Tender", Erik Storlie explores his conflicted
prairie-Norwegian roots, a sixties Beat scene in Minneapolis that inspired the early Bob Dylan,
friendship with the poets James Wright and Robert Bly, and his almost fifty years of Zen
meditation. "Go Deep and Take Plenty of Root" illuminates a tectonic shift in American life, Erik
Storlie's embrace of the contemplative arts, and the real-world challenge of bringing an idealistic
meditative practice into marriage, divorce, raising children, and the deaths of parents.
Critique: An especially well written and deftly crafted 'coming of age' memoir, "Go Deep and
Take Plenty of Root" is both an entertaining read and a thoughtful one. Highly recommended for
personal reading lists and community library 20th Century American Biography collections, it
should be noted that "Go Deep and Take Plenty of Root" is available in a Kindle edition ($2.99)
as well. Also very highly recommended is Erik Storlie's previous autobiographical work
"Nothing on My Mind: Berkeley, LSD, Two Zen Masters, and a Life on the Dharma Trail"
(Shambhala Publications, 9781570621833, $21.95, 240 pp).
Nothing Is as It Appears, It's All Smoken Mirrors
Jim Allen
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781469188454, $29.99, 188pp, www.amazon.com
Presented in an autobiographical format, "Nothing Is as It Appears, It's All Smoken Mirrors: A
Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Chronicle of Coverup and Conspiracy" presents author Jim
Allen's iconoclastic perspective on a series of controversies ranging from governmental
conspiracies, to UFOs, to the assassination of President Kennedy, to the deceptive economic
underpinnings of American finances, and a great deal more. Deftly written in a conversational
tone, and thoroughly engaging from first page to last, "Nothing Is as It Appears, It's All Smoken
Mirrors: A Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Chronicle of Coverup and Conspiracy" is as
informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, making it highly
recommended reading and insuring it as an enduringly popular addition to community library
collections. It should be noted that "Nothing Is as It Appears, It's All Smoken Mirrors: A
Twentieth and Twenty-First Century Chronicle of Coverup and Conspiracy" is also available in a
paperback edition (9781469188447, $19.99) and a Kindle edition (9781469188461, $9.99).
The American History Shelf
Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary
Douglas A. Wissing, et al.
Indiana Historical Society
450 W Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
http://www.indianahistory.org
9780871953018, $39.95, 380pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, Crown Hill Cemetery has
been a vital part of the Indianapolis community dating back to its first interment, Lucy Ann
Seaton, on June 2, 1864. Since then, Crown Hill has grown from a rural cemetery into the third
largest private cemetery in the nation and is a community treasure that serves a broad range of
needs and stands as a monument to the memories of hundreds of famous Hoosiers and the
thousands more who selected Crown Hill as their final resting place. Today, the cemetery
occupies a 555-acre plot of land in northwest Indianapolis. More than 200,000 individuals are
buried there, including many notable native and adopted Hoosiers. Some the famous, and
sometimes infamous.
Critique: Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "Crown Hill: History, Spirit,
Sanctuary" is informed, informative, exceptionally well presented, and could well serve as a
template for books outlining the histories of notable cemeteries elsewhere in the country. Unique
and highly recommended, "Crown Hill: History, Spirit, Sanctuary" is an ideal Memorial Gift
acquisition selection for both community and academic Indiana library collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
G8
Mike Brogan
Lighthouse Publishing
648 Woodland, Birmingham, MI 48009
9780984617302, $6.93, www.bookland.com
The people who attend the annual G8 summit meetings are prime targets for assassination. That's
why Donovan Rourke is heading up security in Brussels -- despite that his wife was murdered
there and he feels he was at fault for not saving her. A professional assassin by the name of Katill
was the man who slew his wife and now Katill is stalking G8 leaders despite the billion dollar
wall of security meant to keep them safe. Can Donovan finally avenge his wife? Can he stop the
deft slaughter of the men and women he is responsible for protecting? "G8" is a rip roaring
action/adventure suspense thriller of a novel from beginning to end. Mike Brogan is a master
storyteller and a gifted novelist. Simply stated, "G8" will prove to be an enduringly popular
addition to personal reading lists and community library fiction collections. This is the kind of
novel that block-buster movies are made from!
Sherlock Holmes and The Mystery of Einstein's Daughter
Tim Symonds
MX Publishing
www.mxpublishing.com
9781780925721, $14.95, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Dean of a Swiss university persuades Sherlock Holmes to investigate the
background of a would-be lecturer. To Dr. Watson it seems a very humdrum commission - but
who is the mysterious 'Lieserl'? How does her existence threaten the ambitions of the technical
assistant level III in Room 86 at the Federal Patents Office in Berne by the name of Albert
Einstein? The assignment plunges Holmes and Watson into unfathomable Serbia to solve one of
the intractable mysteries of the 20th Century. In Tim Symonds' previous detective novels,
Sherlock Holmes and the Dead Boer At Scotney Castle and Sherlock Holmes And The Case Of
The Bulgarian Codex the author based pivotal historic facts and a principal character on real life.
So too in this new mystery.
Critique: Once again author Tim Symonds does full and complete justice to the literary legacy
that is Sherlock Holmes. Highly recommended for mystery fans in general, and Sherlock Holmes
enthusiasts in particular, it should be noted that "Sherlock Holmes and The Mystery of Einstein's
Daughter" is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.79).
Down Dog Diary
Sherry Roberts
Osmyrrah Publishing
www.osmyrrahpublishing.com
9780963888075, $12.95, 266pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In yoga, the Downward Facing Dog Pose turns your world upside down, and that is
exactly what the Down Dog Diary does to yoga teacher Maya Skye. First, her mentor, a former
Hell's Angel turned shaman, is killed for the book of secrets. Now Maya has it, and trouble is
stalking her. When the mystical journal is stolen, Maya learns just how elusive inner peace can
be at the point of a gun. "Down Dog Diary" is set in small Gabriel's Garden, Minnesota, not far
from the Twin Cities. It's a mystery told with humor and drama, but it is also an exploration of
the battle for inner peace that rages inside all of us. We may try to follow the path, but life isn't
all Minnesota nice.
Critique: In "Down Dog Diary", author Sherry Roberts reveals herself to be a master of the
mystery genre with a dual talent for creating memorable characters and embedding them within a
complex but riveting storyline. A terrific read from beginning to end, "Down Dog Diary" is
highly recommended both for community library Mystery/Suspense collections and personal
reading lists.
The Farm series
Charles C. Anderson
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com www.amazon.com
9781432788605, $15.95, 336pp, "The Farm"
9781478722076, $15.95, 336pp, "Nuclear Farm"
9781478722083, $15.95, 336pp, "Blue Farm"
"The Farm" Synopsis: What should a Navy SEAL do when faced with evidence that
representatives of the U.S. Government are secretly buying old Soviet tactical nuclear weapons
for purposes other than disarmament? In this thriller, Andy Carlson responds by throwing a
monkey wrench into the deal and by resigning from the Navy. Hoping to settle down on his
family's Virginia farm and resume his career as an emergency physician, Andy instead finds
himself and those he loves the targets of his own government and a Russian arms dealer.
Although a capable warrior and field surgeon, Andy is disillusioned with his country and
unprepared for the female operative sent to ensnare him. He's a binge drinker, never comfortable
around women when he's sober and scarred by personal losses. Andy's antebellum plantation is a
major player in the action, with its network of limestone caves, family treasures, historical
surprises, and natural defenses. Andy enlists three unlikely allies in his defense--a pregnant CIA
agent, a male descendant of a former slave on the Carlson plantation who shares a common
ancestor with Andy, and a teenage Saudi girl. Some of the secrets of the plantation have never
been discussed in polite company. Some have heretofore been unspeakable. There were good
reasons why the Indians, the British, and the Yankees had lost on this same ground in previous
battles. But the Carlsons knew who their enemies were in those fights. And tactical nuclear
weapons had never been in Farmville before.
"Nuclear Farm" Synopsis: After seeing thousands of dead children in the streets of war-torn
Middle East, ex-navy SEAL Andy Carlson uses his 4,000 acre antebellum plantation to train
precocious ten year old twins, Jack and Ava, to be warriors, not casualties. The U.S. President
and the Prime Minister of Britain receive a startling warning. If they come to the aid of Israel in
the coming Islamic Jihad against the Jewish state, martyrs hidden in their countries will destroy
entire cities with nuclear warheads already in place. Any doubts the U.S. president has about
nuclear weapons being in the hands of Islamic Fundamentalists are shattered with a mushroom
cloud over the remains of Ras Tanura, a key Saudi oil export terminal near the Strait of Hormuz.
One man and his wife have unique skills to address this nightmare. Their brainiac kids join them
to track down one nail-biting threat after another. NUCLEAR FARM is the second novel in THE
FARM series by award-winning author Charles C. Anderson.
"Blue Farm" Synopsis: Dive into the continuing saga of the Carlsons-the uniquely talented family
who makes preparedness a way of life-in the third installment of The Farm series. Those who are
visiting the Carlson's 4,000-acre plantation for the first time will quickly be drawn to their
anything but routine lifestyle. On a pre-enrollment visit to the University of Virginia, twin
teenage prodigies Ava and Jack Carlson are devastated when their physically handicapped
five-year-old brother Peewee is kidnapped in the Rotunda in Charlottesville. Days later, after
paying a ransom, the family finds Peewee's body buried on their own farm. Adding to the
family's grief and anger, the murderers leave a message indicating that Peewee is only the first of
the Carlson clan to be targeted. The twins' parents, emergency physician and former Navy SEAL
Andy Carlson, and his wife, former CIA operative Lindsey Carlson, join forces with their
precocious twins to bring the murderers to justice. As the family fights to defend their lives Jack
and Ava stumble into their first loves, their first broken hearts...and the horror of who killed
Peewee.
Series Critique: The 'Farm' series by Charles C. Anderson is top tier entertainment and
documents his extraordinary skills as a novelist. It should be noted that all three of these
outstanding and highly recommended novels are also available on Amazon.com in a Kindle
edition: "The Farm" ($4.99); "The Nuclear Farm" ($4.99); and "Blue Farm" ($4.99).
Appreciative readers will look eagerly toward author Charles C. Anderson's fourth entry into his
'Farm' series -- "Desperate Farm", which will continue the adventurous saga of Carlson
family.
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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