[REVIEW] Superhealing: Engaging Your Mind, Body, and Spirit to Create Optimal Health and Well-being

Title: Superhealing: Engaging Your Mind, Body, and Spirit to Create Optimal Health and Well-being
Author: Dr. Elaine R. Ferguson, M. D.
Publisher: HCI Books
ISBN-10: 0757317529
ISBN-13: 9780757317521
Number of Pages: 288
Release Date: Oct 1, 2013

Blurb: From Hippocrates in ancient Greece to the medical healers of today, the impact that the mind-body connection has had on overall health has been widely recognized. And while advancements in technology are vast, the constraints of conventional medicine are an impediment to successfully preventing, reversing, or addressing the causes of chronic diseases—diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, arthritis, acid reflux, cancer, and more. At times, these advancements have even proven fatal.

In Superhealing: Engaging Your Mind, Body, and Spirit to Create Optimal Health and Well-being, Dr. Elaine Ferguson uses an integrative approach to healing as a way of eradicating the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual limitations—illustrated from the real-life stories she has witnessed throughout her medical career—that lead to chronic diseases and imbalance.

Review: Just reading this book made me feel better! I was even relaxing while reading it....

Throughout the book, Dr. Ferguson talks not just about genetics, but more importantly about how stress affects the mind-body connection. We also learn the distinctions between feelings, thoughts, and emotions and how both positive and negative emotions factor into one's health.

It really struck a cord with me, since I'm experiencing some health issues. I was already aware that our health is affected by our feelings, thoughts and emotions, but it was very interesting to have someone put words on how.

I found it very interesting that the author mentions how a mind-body approach to healing helped healthcare workers who experienced compassion fatigue after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, since I have read and reviewed Lying Down in the Ever-Falling Snow which deals with compassion fatigue in medical professionals.

I also found support for something I've believed for a long time:

Being optimistic and experiencing good things to happen relates to better health. Positive emotions help us to develop hardiness and resilience (the ability to transcend out challenges) when they are firmly grounded by self-awareness and acceptance.

This book is definitely a keeper!

For more information about superhealing and the author, visit the her websites DrElaine.net and How To Get Well faster.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by HCI Books for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Perfect People

Title: Perfect People
Author: Peter James
Publisher: Minotaur Books
ISBN-10: 1466845414
ISBN-13: 9781466845411
ASIN: B00DK43OC4
Number of Pages: 496
Release Date: September 1, 2013

Blurb: When a young couple learn they are both carriers of a gene likely to give their children a rare genetic disease, they visit a secret clinic for a 'designer baby.' But it does not all work out as planned...

Review: Since I myself am a person with genetic "anomalies", I find books on mutants/designer babies very interesting.

Around 70 pages in I was still not sure what I thought about this one. While the subject is one I have very strong feelings about, the "choppy" writing - with very short chapters, some no longer than a few pages - annoyed me in places. I got the feeling too many things were left out.

One of the main characters, Naomi, is very likable. I want to say I liked John, too, but he was just too...flat for my liking. He didn't really pop out of the page that much. And why was there no real mention of him speaking Swedish with fellow Swedes? I really doubt he spoke English with them. I'm a Swedish anglophile myself, but I never speak English to Swedes when we're alone.

But on the subject of John being Swedish, there was something I found very funny: his and Naomi's last name is Klaesson. John is from Örebro, Sweden. My wife's from Örebro and her family's named Klaesson.... :-)

For the most part, I liked the plot. The way the pregnancy turns out...well, I'm not going to spoil it for you, but I found it very exciting and interesting. It definitely gave me food for thought!

The ending was one I had not really anticipated. It was a lot better than I had imagined it would be.

All in all, a good book.


Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by St. Martin's Press for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Possessions of Doctor Forrest

Title: The Possessions of Doctor Forrest
Author: Richard T. Kelly
Publisher: Faber and Faber
ISBN-10: 9780571275878
ISBN-13: 9780571275878
ASIN: 0571275877
Number of Pages: 464
Release Date: November 3, 2011

Blurb: Three respected Scottish doctors - psychiatrist Steve Hartford, pediatric surgeon Grey Lochran and cosmetic surgeon Robert Forrest - have been close friends since their Edinburgh boyhoods, and now live handsomely in suburban London. But for each, midlife has brought certain discontents, especially for Forrest, a reformed womanizer who broods over his fading looks and the departure of his beautiful younger girlfriend. When Dr Forrest goes missing one summer evening and fails to return, Lochran and Hartford are alarmed by the thought of what might have befallen their friend. The police can find no evidence of foul play, but the two doctors resolve to conduct their own investigation. Soon, however, Lochran and Hartford find themselves bedeviled by bizarre, unnerving events, and the attentions of menacing strangers. Robert Forrest, they come to realize, has remained closer than they could ever have imagined...

Review: Reading the blurb and seeing the cover, I just had to borrow and read this book. I mean, the word "possessions" in the title and "Robert Forrest [...] has remained closer than they could ever have imagined..." in the blurb - what's not to like?

Well, the language, for starters. I get it, the whole Gothic novel thing "needs" spooky language. But last I checked, "spooky" wasn't a synonym for "dull". The writing is just so...boring. I couldn't even make myself finish this book - my life's too short to read long, boring books.

Another thing, which connects to the language in a way, is that I found it incredibly difficult to tell the different characters apart. They spoke and were described so similarly that I had to keep going back to read some scenes, even with dialogue, from the beginning in an attempt to tell them apart.

I can't help hoping someone else will write a similar book, because the premise is so interesting.

Unfortunately this book wasn't.

[REVIEW] The Age of Miracles

Title: The Age of Miracles
Author: Karen Thompson Walker
Publisher: Random House
ISBN-10: 0812992970
ISBN-13: 9780812992977
Number of Pages: 373
Release Date: June 26, 2012

Blurb: On an ordinary Saturday, Julia awakes to discover that something has happened to the rotation of the earth. The days and nights are growing longer and longer, gravity is affected, the birds, the tides, human behavior and cosmic rhythms are thrown into disarray. In a world of danger and loss, Julia faces surprising developments in herself, and her personal world—divisions widening between her parents, strange behavior by Hannah and other friends, the vulnerability of first love, a sense of isolation, and a rebellious new strength. 

Review: Much like adolescence can feel, I'm having mixed feelings about this book.

I've always liked to read about people who...develop, I guess you could say, throughout a story. And an "end of the world" story combined with a main character who goes through adolescence does give room for a lot of development.

I didn't get as much character development as I would like, leaving me feeling a bit underwhelmed. What made me go on, though was the language. It's beautiful and very visual. The consequences of the "slowing," the change in the earth's rotation, seemed quite probable to me. Unfortunately, the ending felt rushed and just plain*blah*. There were parts of the story line that just felt abandoned at the end of the book, that I would have liked to see more of a conclusion to.

Rating: 3 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] My Happy Life

Title: My Happy Life
Original Title: Mitt lyckliga liv
Author: Rose Lagercrantz
Illustrator: Eva Eriksson
Publisher: Gecko Press
ISBN-10: 1877579351
ISBN-13: 9781877579356
Age Range: 6-12
Number of Pages: 134
Release Date: January 2013

Blurb: Dani is probably the happiest person she knows.
She’s happy because she’s going to start school. She's been waiting to go to school her whole life.

Then things get even better—she meets Ella. Dani and Ella stick together through wet and dry, sun and rain, thick and thin. They do everything together.

But then things start to happen that Dani isn’t prepared for…

Review: Being Swedish, I have grown up reading books Eva Eriksson has illustrated. I have always liked her work, and was happy to see an English translation of a book she had worked on. Rose Lagercrantz is a new acquaintance, and I need to check out her work in the original Swedish.

That said, I really liked this chapter book. It tackles subjects such as loss, making friends and growing up in a very good way. The main character Dani (named Dunne in the original, so I can understand why it was changed) is very likable, and you can't help wondering what will happen next. The minor characters are very likable as well. Eva Eriksson's illustrations do not disappoint - they are nicely done and fits the style of the book.

Julia Marshall's translation works really well. Even though I still need to read the Swedish original, I'm sure she has done a good job with it.

All in all, this is a good book. I just wanted it to be longer.... For the intended age group, though, I think it is just the right length.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Gecko Press for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Zone One

Publisher: Doubleday
Author: Colson Whitehead

• ISBN-10: 0385528078
• ISBN-13: 978-0385528078

Number of Pages: 259
Release Date: Oct 18, 2011

Book Blurb: A pandemic has devastated the planet, sorting humanity into two types: the uninfected and the infected, the living and the living dead. After the worst of the plague is over, armed forces stationed in Chinatown’s Fort Wonton have successfully reclaimed the island south of Canal Street—aka Zone One. Mark Spitz is a member of one of the three-person civilian sweeper units tasked with clearing lower Manhattan of the remaining feral zombies. Zone One unfolds over three surreal days in which Spitz is occupied with the mundane mission of straggler removal, the rigors of Post-Apocalyptic Stress Disorder (PASD), and the impossible task of coming to terms with a fallen world. And then things start to go terribly wrong…

Review: This book comes with quotes from reviews made on renowned review sites such as Kirkus Review and Booklist, as well as from Publishers Weekly. Where they are very positive and call the book "his most readable book to date" (Kirkus Review), I found it to be just the opposite.

Sure, the pop culture references and the language in itself are very clever, but as I read I couldn't stop thinking about how inaccessible the book felt to me. For me, the combo "literary novel meets zombies" just didn't work.

One could perhaps attribute this to the fact that I'm Swedish, but I've used English for over 30 years now, studied it at university and mostly read books written in English. The language in itself is very poetic, and while the literary novel-zombie novel combo feels really off to me, that's not my main issue. 

For me, I think the key element was the main character. He's just so...blah. And, like the book in general, I found him, too, inaccessible. I couldn't care less what happened to him. I actually rooted for the zombies, like in Warm Bodies. But then, perhaps that was the point? That would definitely have been clever.

[REVIEW] The Replacement Son

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Book blurb: This is the story about a boy and his struggles to become not just a man, but a replacement for his older brother Buddy who died in infancy. The Replacement Son.

Review: We get to see many historical events unfold with the American South as backdrop, which adds authenticity to the story. The language, too, works in the story's favor. It's excellent.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel much for the characters. I just couldn't connect with them. The protagonist, Harry, is just..blah. No wonder, perhaps, when the shadow of his brother Buddy keeps overshadowing him. I found myself wondering what would have happened had Buddy not died.... Still, this is an interesting read, if nothing else for the historical events in it.

Rating: 3 bookshelves out of 5.

For additional information about this book, visit the website: thereplacementson.com.


Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Two Harbors Press for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The EarthKeeper - Undeveloping the Future: The Extraordinary Story of an Earth Conqueror Turned Preservationist Who Uncovers Our True Nature and Reveals the Creative Power of the Universe by Adam C. Hall

Title: The EarthKeeper - Undeveloping the Future
Author: Adam C. Hall
Release Date: June 3, 2013

Book blurb: Adam C. Hall achieved the American Dream in all its glory and then woke-up to the nightmare of his own life condition.  Once a financial power broker and real-estate developer, Adam undertook a life-changing metamorphosis that would ultimately alter his mind-set from Earth Conqueror to Earth Keeper.

To come this far, Adam had to come to terms with the misery that was at the center of his very privileged and comfortable life. He endured the loss of all that he treasured most. It was only then that he was finally able to open to discover the Creative Power of the Universe that is hidden within each of us.

Review: First and foremost, this book was a life-changing one for me. It made me think in new ways and start to outline the kind of life I want to live and how I can make a difference in this world.

That said, the Kindle ARC I received had formatting and spelling issues. The chapter headings were not in bold or underlined, making it difficult to distinguish them at times. Sometimes there were upper- and lowercase letters mixed within a word. There were line breaks in the middle of sentences, and some words were misspelled.

Apart from those small errors, it was a very interesting book, with insights into both Hall’s personal transformation and many of the tools he used. Links to various organizations are listed in the back, which is preferable to the text reading like an advertisement.

Many of the techniques and tools Hall used/uses are ones I myself am now looking into – to a great extent thanks to the book. This was a very nice read.


To learn more about the EarthKeeper Alliance, go here.
Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Agape Media International, LLC for the purpose of a review.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] I Hate Picture Books!

Title: I Hate Picture Books!

Author/Illustrator: Timothy Young

Publisher: Schiffer Publishing

ISBN-13: 9780764343872

Pages: 32

Age Range: Early Reader; Ages 5-8.

Blurb: Max hates his picture books and he’s throwing them all away. But he soon learns just how invaluable imagination is and has a change of heart. Find out why in this outrageous book that both pokes fun at and celebrates many of the classics of children’s literature. Join writer and illustrator Timothy Young for this irreverent and humorous story ideal for children and adults alike.

Review: This was a sweet book about a boy who doesn’t want to keep his picture books anymore. So he throws them all away. It doesn’t take long, however, until he starts to miss them and how they made him feel.

I really liked this. It has nice pictures and pays homage to many classic picture books. The language is accessible and fits the age range.

I recommend this to parents who want their children to grow up with a fondness for reading – picture books or otherwise. Read more on the book's home page.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Schiffer Publishing for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Face to Face: Portraits of the Human Spirit

Title: Face to Face: Portraits of the Human Spirit

Author: Alison Wright

Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd.

ISBN-13: 9780764343667

Release Date: Feb 14, 2013

Blurb: Wright's photography has been featured in National Geographic Society publications, Smithsonian, Outside, Time, Islands, and The New York Times, as well as a number of books. The recipient of the Dorothea Lange Award in Documentary Photography for covering child labor in Asia, and a two-time recipient of the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award, Alison travels the globe collecting raw, thought-provoking images. This retrospective of her illustrious, ongoing career features a portfolio of striking portraits of more than 200 individuals. From Asia to Africa, to the Middle East and back, she captures the tapestry of humanity in all its diversity and splendor. Warmth, dignity, and grace emanate from the eyes of monks and geishas, nomads and cowboys, tribal warriors and even inspirational icons like His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Together, these stunning portraits, accompanied by written testimonials, explore the universal interconnectedness of the human spirit.

Review: Just by looking at the front cover with the wonderful picture of a girl in Tibet, I had high expectations. As I read Pico Iyer’s introduction, my expectations were piqued even more: “These are the friends who matter, not because they have signed up to follow my digital updates, but because they’ve reached me at some level deeper than events or updates. They don’t just look at me; they look through me”.

As I saw Alison Wright’s images, it struck me how right Pico Iyer was. Basically every single one of her subjects did appear to look right through me. And despite some of the seemingly dire circumstances some of the pictures were taken in, there is no hopelessness to be found – quite the contrary!

We are taken to various places in Africa, Asia and North America, but despite the differing environments and looks of the subjects, there is no doubt we are all connected. We are one human family, united in our diversity. Few things make this as clear as photographs, and these are stunningly beautiful, crystal clear examples.

The only thing I felt lacking was that not more peoples and nationalities were represented.

I recommend this book to everyone interested in photography, diversity or humanity.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Schiffer Publishing Ltd. for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Lying Down in the Ever-Falling Snow

Title: Lying Down in the Ever-Falling Snow

Authors: Wendy Austin et al.

Publisher: Wilfrid Laurier University Press

ISBN-10: 155458888X

ISBN-13: 978-1554588886

Release Date: May 1, 2013

Blurb: First used to describe the weariness the public felt toward media portrayals of societal crises, the term compassion fatigue has been taken up by health professionals to name—along with burnout, vicarious traumatization, compassion stress, and secondary traumatic stress—the condition of caregivers who become “too tired to care.” Compassion, long seen as the foundation of ethical caring, is increasingly understood as a threat to the well-being of those who offer it.

Through the lens of hermeneutic phenomenology, the authors present an insider’s perspective on compassion fatigue, its effects on the body, on the experience of time and space, and on personal and professional relationships. Accounts of health professionals, alongside examinations of poetry, images, movies, and literature, are used to explore the notions of compassion, hope, and hopelessness as they inform the meaning of caring work.

Review: I have read a little about compassion fatigue before, but in order to read this, you don't really need to know about it since they go into great detail. I liked how the authors used the metaphor of lying down in the snow to explain compassion fatigue – the burden keeps getting heavier, you’re still expected to do your job, but you’re just so tired/indifferent that you just shut – or lie – down. In order to get out of extreme winter weather you need tools – it’s the same with compassion fatigue. You need training, resources and support in order to keep being a compassionate health professional.

Some of the language might be too academic – admittedly, I hadn’t heart of “hermeneutic phenomenology” before and there are lots of notes after each chapter, and at times I wondered why the authors had decided to put some of the health professionals’ accounts where they did. But still, I learned a lot from the book, and do recommend it to others. Especially health professionals, but also others who are interested in learning more about compassion fatigue – in health professionals as well as in others.

Rating: 3 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Wilfrid Laurier UniversityPress for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Absolute

Title: The Absolute: Granting This Power to Humanity, Will Give It the Harmony and Balance to Banish the Deviances Exposed in Everyday Life

Authors: Carolina Fuentes, Catherine Fabbro, Mari Carmen Ortiz Monasterio

Release Date: October 12, 2012

Blurb: For the first time in all of the Ages, the doors to the Konocimiento Kósmico (Kosmic Knowledge) are open. The Absolute narrates the story based on the real experiences of a woman who, since childhood, sought to understand the reasons of life. This desire to understand leads her to the encounter with her destiny. She meets the Maestra, who initiates her in the studies of Konocimiento Kósmico. These studies reveal the origin and purpose of man here on the Earth or Planicio Terráqueo, our relationship with the Earth, and the destiny that awaits us when we leave it upon completing our education which will last the Seven Times that were programmed for our development. The Absolute presents studies that have previously been only for the initiated, but due to the necessity of the time in which we live and to avoid once again being manipulated and diverted from our path with erratic or erroneous teachings, these studies are now delivered to all so that we can experience mental advancement.

Review: Books on how people can transform their lives for the better of not only themselves but the entire world, has always interested me. Needless to say, I had high hopes on this one.

I was disappointed.

While I understand that the subject can be difficult to explain to people not already "into it," this was supposed to be a book for exactly those people! The language is way too difficult to understand - as you can see in the blurb above, especially since new terms are introduced but not explained until later in the text. I also think the book would have benefited from being proofread by users of English as a native language.

I'm sorry to say that I never really understood what it was the authors were trying to tell me....

Rating: 1 bookshelf out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Carolina Fuentes and Catherine Fabbro for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Company of Writers

Title: The Company of Writers
Author: Hilma Wolitzer
Blurb: Award-winning author Hilma Wolitzer’s expert guide to navigating a life of writing through workshops and writers’ groups.

Review: As a fellow writer, I really enjoyed this book!

It's obvious that Wolitzer knows what she's talking about. She offers not just advice on the writing process and workshops/writers' groups, but also shares some of her own work. She talks about the well-meaning family members who lets you know you're the best writer they've ever read, as well as the sometimes (seemingly at least) too harsh external critics; how to put together a writers' group - and how not to; the downside of scribbling down story ideas on virtually every surface at virtually every hour; the upside of keeping a journal, and many other things it's good for a writer - budding or otherwise - to know.

It was an enjoyable read, full of situations I could definitely relate to. The part about keeping a notebook to write down ideas in is one I've already adopted a long time ago. But even though I've been writing for a long time, I found lots of tricks and tools I'll definitely try out.

I recommend this book to everyone interested in writing.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Open Road Media for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Made in China: A Story of Adoption

Title: Made in China: A Story of Adoption
Author: Vanita Oelshlager
Illustrator: Kristin Blackwood
Pages: 32
Age Range: 4-8

Blurb: Made In China touches on two seemingly unrelated subjects - adoption and sibling relations. As told in this story. These are intertwined and very important to one young child who literally was "made in China." The story begins when the child is told by her older sister, in a teasing manner, that she is adopted from China, and "marked" just like the broom and their toys. Upset, she goes to her father who tells her the story of how she came to be their child but "you're not made like a toy, you were made in China to give us joy." And, he also reminds her that "you are much more than what people say about you." The story is resolved with her older sister and she is reassured that "In all the wide world we couldn't love you more."

Review: While sibling relations might be a fairly common subject in children's books, adoption is not. The mother/daughter team Vanita Oelshlager and Kristin Blackwood have done it again - created a great book for children on a subject some would deem quite difficult. Oehlshlager's rhyming language combined with Blackwood's drawings makes for a very nice reading experience.

This book can no doubt make it easier for families touched by adoption to handle situations that may occur, as well as enable those not familiar to what it's like to be part of an adoptive family get a glimpse into life as an adopted child.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by VanitaBooks, LLC for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Fact/Faith Debate

Title: The Fact/Faith Debate
Author: Jack Gage
Release Date:  January 14, 2013

Blurb: The dictionary definition of ''fact'' is ''something known to exist or to have happened,'' whereas ''faith''generally is described as ''belief not based on proof.''

There are 10,000 religions worldwide, eighteen of which are major Christian religions, and among Christians there are 9,000 separate denominations. Each of those religions and denominations has its own belief system--its followers act on faith--even though, as author Jack Gage points out, ''all the adherents of these different belief systems inhabit the same world, with the same physical facts, with access to the same knowledge.'' So how and why did so many religions come into existence? And how do the various religious explanations--whether Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, or any other--for how the world and the people in it began stack up against scientific fact?

Review: I believed this book would be a good comment on the seemingly impossibility for science and religion to agree, with a "jury" consisting of people from various beliefs to answer questions at the end of each chapter. As someone with at least some exposure to those kind of debates, I had high expectations.

Instead of living up to those expectations, Jack Gage's book turned out to be quite underwhelming. First of all, it's blatantly obvious the author sides with the Agnostic juror since ze is the only one allowed to make comment on the questions. I don't know about you, but I don't really call that a "debate".

Second, the language isn't very good. It's...boring, and drags in places. Especially the parts about science, where scientific terms aren't that well explained.

I did, however, enjoy learning some religious history I was unaware of (mostly related to Mormonism, which isn't all too common where I live).

Rating: 2 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Two Harbors Press for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] Farfalla: A Story of Loss and Hope

Title: Farfalla: A Story of Loss and Hope

Author: Vanita Oelschlager
Illustrator: Kristin Blackwood
Age Range: 4-8

Blurb: The story is told from the perspective of young Beetle who, with his mother, meets a crowd of caterpillars in the garden they all frequent. Soon Beetle befriends the caterpillars, and he watches in awe as they weave themselves into cocoons. A special one catches his attention and Beetle “adopts” it by making all sorts of plans of what they will do together when it hatches. Later, he watches as the cocoons break open one by one and beautiful butterflies emerge and fly away. But the one he counted on to be his playmate does not.

Review: This was a cute book on a difficult subject - loss.  I really felt for little Beetle when the cocoon containing his would-be-playmate does not open.... I'm sure this book can aid children as well as adults to talk about loss, whether of a friend, family member, pet or someone else.


The language is accessible and direct apart from the "where do we go when we die?" part - but then, no one knows for sure what happens. Considering the delicacy of the subject (kids not taking "I don't know" for an answer, and the reader's own belief), I think it was dealt with in a very good way.
The cute and very fitting artwork was made by Kristin Blackwood (who did the drawings for Oelschlager's A Tale of Two Daddies).

I thoroughly recommend this book.

Rating: 5 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by VanitaBooks for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Legend of Papa Balloon

Title: The Legend of Papa Balloon
Author: C. R. Mcclure
Illustrator: Steven Kernen

Description: Papa Balloon is the story of a unique, mysterious figure who magically appears in a land where the people have become divided and are in need of greater understanding and empathy for each other. Traveling through each of the four villages in this land and accompanied by the children who discover him, Papa Balloon teaches the villages a profound lesson in a simple way. Colorfully and brightly illustrated, and a page-turner of a tale, it is the perfect book for any parent who wants their children to learn about treating the traditions and viewpoints of others with respect, while putting forth the belief that we, as a group, are more united than we realize.

Target Audience: Early Reader; Ages 5-8.

I really liked this book. It teaches diversity and coexistence, a subject I'm very passionate about. It does it in a way I think is easily accessible to the target audience. The book also shows us that it's easier to embrace a concept we learn as children than having to do it when we're older.

In combination with Mcclure's nice use of language and Kernen's well-drawn pictures, the exciting story makes for a perfect book for children (and hopefully some adults, too) to learn more about diversity and coexistence.

Rating: 5 bookshelves out of 5.

Disclaimer: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Schiffer Publishing for the purpose of a review.

[REVIEW] The Priest, the Witch & the Poltergeist

I really wanted to read and like this book. Unfortunately, I didn't.

I found the language so inaccessible that I was unable to finish the book. At first I thought it was due to the fact that English is not my first language, but I usually have no problem with texts like these. I just could not get through to the characters, to get to know and care about them. This is what made it impossible for me to finish the book.

The title is brilliant, as is the premise: In 1850 a poltergeist erupts in the home of a French village priest. He blames the local male witch, who reacts with the most modern of hexes: a lawsuit. In this extraordinary novel, based on a true story, there’s also a singing seance, a fruitless exorcism, a battery of nails, and a love story. You have to hear the story to believe it. And you have to hear the poltergeist to solve it. 

But I was unable to get through the language barrier, and sadly, left before I could find out what the poltergeist had to say. 

Since I did not finish the book, there is no rating.

[REVIEW] Where do the Animals Go When it Rains?

Where do the Animals Go When it Rains?

by

Janet Crown

I read this cute book today. I received it for free in exchange for an honest review, which follows. 

It's a short (24 pages in hardcover) book in rhyme about where different animals go when it rains. The easy, rhyming language in various colors combined with Daron Rosenberg's cute drawings makes it inviting to read, and I'm sure many children will like it.

The only thing I reacted on was how some of the rhymes were more of near rhymes than actual rhymes, but I'm sure it's something the target audience will have no problem with overseeing.

All in all, a very nice book. 4 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] What it Means to be a Man: God's Design for Us in a World Full of Extremes

What it Means to be a Man: God's Design for Us in a World Full of Extremes

by
Rhett Smith

First thing first: I do not belong to the book's target (or "intended", if you will) audience. I do not identify as a Christian, but since I do identify as a man I thought I could take something away from this book. I'd also like to mention that I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) for Kindle in exchange for an honest review. That follows now.

What it means to be a man is something that has changed - and will probably continue to change - throughout the years. For good, but also for bad. This book is an attempt to embrace and develop the good. Since it is a book written by a Christian for other Christians, it's heavy on religion (or, well, Christianity). Which is all fine, if it hadn't been for certain wordings, such as "there is some mysterious energy that passes from the male to his children," praise for a runner who finished a race on a snapped hamstring, talk about "the man who would have taught [his children] how to fix and build things, throw a football, tie a tie, cook a meal and drive a car" - like a mother, or another woman, would be unable to do that? I do get the point in the last example, though, that a father should be there for his children.

Another thing that jumped out at me was this: "What if depression is a gift that helps us conquer the emotions that weigh us down?" While being depressed, or having any other diagnoses for that matter, isn't something you should be ashamed of or feel bad about, I find it quite slap-dashed to say something like that. It's not a walk in the park to be depressed.

He also writes, on the subject of religion, that "[t]he grace of being pressed down to the ground is also simple: when we slip and fall, it is usually not fatal, and we can get back up." I don't particularly like the idea of God "pressing us down". *shudders*

There is also no mention of non-traditional gender roles, which I had hoped. But unfortunately there is not too much room for gender-nonconformists in traditional churches (or other religions, for that matter)

So no, this book was definitely not for me. But I'm sure there are many who can benefit from it.

2 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] From Frazzled to Focused

From Frazzled to Focused

by 

Rivka Caroline

This book was not what I expected.

Of course, that could be because I failed to read the under-title: "The Ultimate Guide for Moms Who Want to Reclaim Their Time, Their Sanity and Their Lives". Had I read that carefully, I would never have requested to read this at NetGalley. What can I say? I'm frazzled! ;-þ

Perhaps, but the main reason why I didn't enjoy this book was that I just can't relate to people talking about children and designer handbags.... But for the intended audience I'm sure this book can really be a useful tool in becoming more organized and focused.

I must say that I did find the parts that were not about traditional family life with traditional gender roles quite useful. I'll try to apply some of the advice into my own, frazzled life. :)

The galley (for Kindle) I read had some really annoying typographical errors which made it difficult for me to focus on the text.

[REVIEW] The Liars' Gospel

The Liars' Gospel

by 

Naomi Alderman

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Well, what can I say? I've been a sucker for stories about religious figures for most of my life, and really looked forward to reading this. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down - I read it in less than 24 hours.

It's the story of Yehoshuah (Jesus), retold through four people who met him: Maryam (Mary), Iehuda (Judas), Caiphas and Bar-Avo (Barabbas). While it may not ring entirely true to biblical literalists, from a historical standpoint it does make a lot of sense and is largely based on historical sources.

Naomi Alderman writes in a "no excuse" kind of way - brutal and realistic (the opening scene is terrific proof of that), with lots of detail that brings the story to life. There is one thing about her writing that takes away from the experience for me, though -  the use of "cock" and various forms of "fuck" - it feels as if the word is only there for shock value, to disgust the reader. I simply found it to be out of place in a text where the rest of the language was so...beautiful. Even descriptions of things such as offerings were beautifully worded, so why use the word "fuck"? I may be a prude (ahem), but I just didn't feel as if that word belonged in there. 

Apart from that, though, it was a good story which I recommend to those who enjoy a good, action-packed book taken from history.

4 bookshelves out of 5

Goodbye winter - spring springs forward, bearing books (and book reviews)!

This about time flying that I wrote in a previous entry? Still true. But now spring is here, and at least I'm back to reading every day. As you've probably noticed, I've posted a bunch of reviews today. I hope you find lots of interesting books among those I've reviewed, as well as those I plan on reviewing in the future.

At the moment I'm reading this book:



Goodbye Vietnam, previously published under the title Brothers in Arms, is William Broyles's story of his return to Vietnam to make sense of the war he fought there years before. I'll get back to you with a review once I've finished it (I'm about halfway through at the moment).

Do you have any book recommendations? Feel free to share in comments!

[REVIEW] Don't juggle bees! And other useless advice for silly children by Gerald Hawksley

I found this book to be short, cute and funny. A good read for "silly children" - and "silly adults," too. Gerald Hawksley's language (particularly the rhymes) is brilliant, as are the drawings. I really recommend this one.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] Stop Depression, Start Living Now: An Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Mindfulness Meditation by Darlene Watson

I think this book would have benefited from being longer. It merely scratched the surface on the subject of how mindful meditation can benefit people with depression, and left me feeling a bit cheated.

For future editions of this book, I would like to see more examples of mindful meditation.

3 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley

I was unable to read the book - hence the lack of a rating. It was unreadable due to the small print I could not increase on my Android app, and refused to open in my Kindle for PC. It looks like a cute book, though, and I would really like to read it some day.

[REVIEW] Happiness Awaits You! by Carol Costa et al

This is one of those books that ended up changing my life.

While I think it would benefit from some more proof-reading and editing, and that the title can be misleading to some (I was quite underwhelmed for a while since it was not at all what I expected), I don’t really "mind" the sections dealing with beliefs that differ from my own. 

Many different beliefs are represented in the book, which, to me, adds to its credibility. Some stories are better than others, but those better stories made me overlook those that were not quite as good. Stories about people being “healed from disability through prayer” have a tendency to put me off reading, but I’m glad I kept going to the end. I'm already looking forward to rereading this - it's a keeper!

Rating: 4.5 bookshelves out of 5.

[REVIEW] Polly's Wild Dance by Sydnee Elliot

I downloaded this Kindle book when it was free. Here's the book's description on Amazon:


After twenty-five years of dealing blackjack in Las Vegas, Polly Brilliant throws the cards in the air, sells everything she owns and makes a beeline to the Greek island of Kythira to paint, write, and forget about men. Or so she thinks.

Instead of escaping from life’s complications, Polly is met with uninvited apparitions of ex-lovers and husbands who propel her back in time to re-examine their madcap relationships. Are these specters seeking reevaluation or retirement?

Polly’s Wild Dance is the story of a middle-aged Jewish woman’s adventures in rebellion, self-discovery, and ultimately, reinvention.


Sounds interesting enough for a free read, right? Well, as I was reading, I found this book to be funny in that painful way. You know, where things are so absurd and funny in its sadness that you want to laugh, but feel bad about it?

I had a hard time putting it down, eager to know what would happen next. I kept forgetting it was fiction. When I remembered, I sighed with relief and laughed at the bizarre episodes in the life of Polly Brilliant.

This book has also been released under the pseudonym Ellen Karatzaferi.

Rating: 4 bookshelves out of 5.

Time flies - with lots of books to be read

Time sure flies, doesn't it? It's already the end of March, and I''m recovering from a lack of reading. I've read  26 books of various length so far this year, but in the last month or so I haven't gotten much reading done at all. A lot of things related to my job and health have happened recently. This has left me drained, leaving little room for reading (and writing, for that matter). But now I'm back!

There are lots of books to be read, both in hardcover, paperback, on Kindle and in other digital formats. I recently joined LibraryThing and NetGalley, and hope to find many more books to read and review there. I'm still on Goodreads, too, looking forward to what their deal with Amazon will bring.

I'm going to write more this year, too. Edit and rewrite older manuscripts as well as start on new ones. So far this year, I have released a small collection of poetry through Kindle Direct Publishing, Words from Cecilia's Heart:



With that release, I learned a lot about editing and publishing, which is very good to know. While it would be nice to concentrate on the writing, I enjoy being involved in the other parts of publishing as well.

But now, how about we get back to reading those books that surround us, just waiting to be read?

First entry

Welcome to my brand new book blog!

I'm Devin, a 30-something book geek who buys/downloads way too many books. But books are friends! Potentially smart friends who teach you stuff. *nodnod*

I learned to read at the tender age of 4½. I was in a half-body cast at the time, got easily bored, and so my parents helped me learn how to read. What an amazing world that opened up for me! Now, with not only libraries and physical book stores, but virtual ones and flea markets, not to mention free books for Kindle, my book addiction is probably worse than ever. But as I mentioned earlier, books are friends! :)

Here I will try to write about books I'm reading and have read. I hope you'll accompany me on the ride!

When I'm not reading, I write, watch movies, hang out with family and friends or spend (way too much, according to some who shall remain anonymous) time on Goodreads. Check out my profile over there, will ya?

Currently reading:

• Polly's Wild Dance by Sydnee Elliot
• Sailors of Stonehenge by Manuel Vega