DISCIPLINE EQUALS FREEDOM FIELD MANUAL

Discipline Equals Freedom by Jocko Willink   199 pages

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1399204116

reviewed by Rae C.

This is a great book if you have been reading motivation and self help books and you just want to start doing!  A lot of caveats though, for the average reader.

He's kind of crazy and goes off on some tangents- for example, in the middle of his (excellent) arguments for getting into Jiu jitsu, he goes off on a rant about firearms.

He uses a lot of battle and war metaphors, which can be tiresome. He recommends working out even when you have the flu. And I'd need a whole blog to get into my arguments about the so-called "paleo" diet (our early hominid ancestors were not eating bacon and butter, and fruits predate vegetables and are still a staple for peoples living in undeveloped areas).

He also says things like "some scientists say discipline declines with use" (or something like that).  I can find no evidence on line of any scientists saying this, but perhaps it was something along the lines of "once you do something to the point that it becomes a habit, it's not discipline anymore" which I did find online.

The thing I loved about this book was it was just so direct and kind of like having a Navy Seal screaming at you "Just Go After It!" And "How do you get up early? Set your alarm and get up when it goes off!" And "How do you work out everyday?  You just work out everyday!"

Basically, you begin to feel like you should put the book down and do some burpees and go to bed early.  He's right that a lot of people spend too much time planning and not enough time just doing. 

Recommended for anyone in a slump that can handle the white typeface on black pages, and the excessively macho and somewhat disturbing imagery.

Always Forever Maybe

Always Forever Maybe by Anica Mrose Rissi, 249 pages

Betts meets Aiden while at work at the candy shop and falls head over heels.  Aiden is nothing like the kids in her school.  He rides a motorcycle and dropped out of school.  Betts has to hide her relationship from her family and can’t even tell her best friend, Jo, everything.  Jo thinks that Aiden is too possessive but she just doesn’t understand that their love is all consuming.  Betts can’t imagine living without him, even when Aiden goes too far.  This was a great book about domestic violence.  Every teen girl should read this because no one ever believes it will happen to them.  This book really highlights how it can sneak up on someone.

Different Days

Different Days by Vicki Berger Erwin, 270 pages

“Twelve-year-old Rosie is fiercely proud to be an American, and has a happy life with her family in their comfortable home in sunny Honolulu, Hawaii. Then, on the morning of December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor is bombed and everything changes. Rosie's parents, both of German descent — but American citizens who have lived in Hawaii nearly all their lives — are immediately rounded up by the military. Though they've done nothing wrong, they are interrogated as German spies and imprisoned, and all the family's possessions are seized. Within days, Rosie and her brother are abandoned and homeless. A relative begrudgingly takes them in until their beloved aunt (who was also rounded up, but released) comes for them. Even then, the children's once-idyllic lives are filled with darkness and discrimination as they can only wait — and hope — for their parents' safe return. Based on true events, Different Days tells the story of a little-known aspect of World War II: the Internment of German Americans.” I had no idea that German Americans were also sent to internment camps during World War II.  This book felt a little unfinished and unpolished to me but I liked the story.  Kids who like historical fiction would like it.

Bob

Bob by Wendy Mass & Rebecca Stead, 199 pages

“Visiting her grandmother in Australia, Livy, ten, is reminded of the promise she made five years before to Bob, a strange, green creature who cannot recall who or what he is.” I loved this book.  It’s a perfect story for grade school kids who like fairy tales and fantasy.

The Joy Of Cookies

The Joy Of Cookies:  Cookie Monster’s Guide To Life, 147 pages

“Cookie Monster shares his beliefs on life, friendship, baking, and love of cookies, with recipes for three different cookies.” This is a fun book that parents can read to children but nostalgic adults will enjoy as well.

A Room Away From The Wolves

A Room Away From TheWolves by Nova Ren Suma, 316 pages

“Bina has never forgotten the time she and her mother ran away from home. Her mother promised they would hitchhike to the city to escape Bina's cruel father and start over. But before they could even leave town, Bina had a new stepfather and two new stepsisters, and a humming sense of betrayal pulling apart the bond with her mother--a bond Bina thought was unbreakable. Eight years later, after too many lies and with trouble on her heels, Bina finds herself on the side of the road again, the city of her dreams calling for her. She has an old suitcase, a fresh black eye, and a room waiting for her at Catherine House, a young women's residence in Greenwich Village with a tragic history, a vow of confidentiality, and dark, magical secrets. There, Bina is drawn to her enigmatic downstairs neighbor Monet, a girl who is equal parts intriguing and dangerous. As Bina's lease begins to run out, and nightmare and memory get tangled, she will be forced to face the terrible truth of why she's come to Catherine House and what it will cost for her to leave . . .” I can’t quite decide if I liked the story or not.  It was well written and I liked the characters but the plot was odd and a little hard to follow.  It was difficult to figure out and I’m also not sure that I liked the ending.  But I think that there are teens out there who like stories that are a little creepy with a little mystery about hem who would enjoy it.

Secret Sisters Of The Salty Sea

Secret Sisters Of The Salty Sea by Lynne Rae Perkins, 227 pages

“Alix Treffrey is spending a week at the seashore with her family, a place she and her sister Jools have never been. Each chapter covers a new day and new experiences: discovering the ocean, boogie boarding, meeting new friends, and building sand castles. The girls' personalities emerge in the telling. Younger Alix is imaginative and adventurous, climbing to the top of the lighthouse with her dad, holding a peregrine falcon at the raptor center, while cautious, serious Jools holds back. Told in a light, breezy style with rich but accessible language and touches of humor, the conflict is mild, with minor crises quickly resolved and without much of the drama typical in novels of this length. Though a quiet tale, there is enough action and character development to create empathy and hold the reader's interest.”  This story was a little too sweet but I liked it anyway.  There was minimal conflict and would work best for kids who enjoy stories that are easily resolved.

And The Trees Crept In

And The Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich, 341 pages

“A stunning, terrifying novel about a house the color of blood and the two sisters who are trapped there, by The Dead House author Dawn Kurtagich. When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt's home, it's immediately clear that the "blood manor" is cursed. The creaking of the house and the stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too--the questions that Silla can't ignore: Who is the beautiful boy that's appeared from the woods? Who is the man that her little sister sees, but no one else? And why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Filled with just as many twists and turns as The Dead House , and with achingly beautiful, chilling language that delivers haunting scenes, AND THE TREES CREPT IN is the perfect follow-up novel for master horror writer Dawn Kurtagich.”  This story was completely creepy and the ending was not at all what I expected.  Teens who like horror or thrillers will love this book.

The Initiation

The Initiation by Ridley Pearson, 371 pages

“Before James grew up to be a ruthless, remorseless villain, he was a curious boy from Boston, with a penchant for trouble and an acid tongue. Thrown into a boarding school against his wishes, James winds up rooming with a most unlikely companion: a lanky British know-it-all named Sherlock Holmes ("Lock" to his friends). An heirloom Bible, donated by the Moriarty family more than a hundred years ago, has gone missing, and it doesn't take long for the two to find themselves embroiled in the school-wide scandal. The school is on lockdown until it's found, strange clues keep finding their way to James, and a secret society lurks behind it all.” This was an interesting take on the early years of Sherlock Holmes’s arch enemy, James Moriarty.  I enjoyed it very much.  Being told from the perspective of James’s sister, Moira, made it more accessible to me, anyway.  I would highly recommend this book to teen mystery lovers.

Here We Are

Here We Are: 44 Voices Write, Draw, And Speak About Feminism In The Real World edited by Kelly Jensen, 218 pages

“LET'S GET THE FEMINIST PARTY STARTED!  Have you ever wanted to be a superheroine? Join a fandom? Create the perfect empowering playlist? Understand exactly what it means to be a feminist in the twenty-first century? You've come to the right place.  Forty-four writers, dancers, actors, and artists contribute essays, lists, poems, comics, and illustrations about everything from body positivity to romance to gender identity to intersectionality to the greatest girl friendships in fiction. Together, they share diverse perspectives on and insights into what feminism means and what it looks like. Come on in, turn the pages, and be inspired to find your own path to feminism by the awesome individuals in Here We Are.  Welcome to one of the most life-changing parties around!” This is a great book for teens, especially young women, who may be struggling with their identity.  There are a lot of strong women writing in this book and I’m certain that at least one will speak to every woman out there.

Don’t Look Behind You

Don’t Look Behind You by Lois Duncan, 215 pages

April Corrigan’s life is great.  She’s an awesome tennis player and has a nice boyfriend.  Until her father testifies against a drug lord, and the whole family has to go into the witness protection program.  April can’t accept that she will never see Steve again, but if she tries to contact him, the people after her family might find them and kill them all.  Duncan’s books are always creepy and this is no exception.  This isn’t my favorite by her but teens who are looking for a decent thriller will enjoy this book.

Cody And The Heart Of A Champion

CodyAnd The Heart Of A Champion by Tricia Springstubb, 151 pages

Cody is back again with her friends, Spencer and Pearl.  Cody is impatient for spring to start.  Spencer is being mysterious.  Pearl has become friends with Madison and is now interested in soccer.  Cody’s brother, Wyatt, is in love with Payton.  Cody is worried about spring, Spencer’s behavior, playing soccer, her friendship with Pearl, and her brother.  Luckily, her family and friends are helpful and she will probably be able to navigate all of the bumps in the road.  These books are saccharine sweet but sometimes a kid wants a taste of things easily falling into place.  I like the books and they are easy chapter books for early elementary kids.

Jefferson’s Daughters

Jefferson’s Daughters: Three Sisters, White and Black, in a Young America by Catherine Kerrison        Audio Book: 17 hours, 3 mins      Hardback Book:  448 pages          

A most excellent telling of the family history of Thomas Jefferson and his progeny.       Very well researched and told.    This book gives the reader a look at Jefferson’s background, his political life and his family life, both his time in America and the time he spent as a diplomat in France.    It discusses his marriage and loss of his wife and how Sally Hemmings came to be at Monticello and when he and his daughters took her with them to France as a servant and companion to his daughters while there.     The author’s research shows that France did not recognize slavery and when Jefferson left France, Sally Hemmings could have stayed behind a free woman though she had no ready income of her own and would have had to find work and living quarters without help from the Jeffersons had she done so.   The author shows that Jefferson made a pact with her that he would free any children born of their union upon his death and would see that their children would not have to do field labor during his life but would be employed as house servants with some income.     Sally Hemmings and Thomas Jefferson had 6 children, four of which survived to adulthood.   Their three sons, Beverly, Madison and Eston were said to be the spitting image of Jefferson and all were able to pass as Caucasians.     Jefferson and Hemmings’ daughter, Harriet, is thought to have done so. Too, as James Madison said that he knew her well, she was living in Washington, D.C. and had married and had a family.    He would not disclose any more than that about her nor her brother Beverly as Madison kept in touch with them for many years  and would only say that Beverly and Harriet appeared to be happy and doing well, were prosperous and had children of their own and were wealthy members of the community, and both were well thought of bytheir peers.     In so doing, they assured their children of a life of privilege and not servitude which they would have been forced into in those days.   In reinventing themselves,  they denied their parentage and took up another identity thus assuring their heirs a better life than they had started out with by very effectively erasing themselves from known history and Harriet never saw her mother nor two siblings back at Monticello thereafter.     Really in-depth and enthralling.    You will learn much here you hadn’t heard about in your American History classes.   Bravo!   Well done!  I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is history a buff, who finds American history captivating and who would like to know more about what happened to the descendents of Sally Hemmings and Jefferson.   Excellent book.   And you will find out Jefferson left a LOT of debts and why.    (Let’s just say his daughters by his wife were users and expected him to keep them, their non-working husbands and their broods of children in a courtly lifestyle while they did nothing to contribute to the household income.   YEAH that blew through the cash real quick then they ungratefully blamed him and the country for not providing for them until their deaths.)   Reader, you will learn a lot from this book.   Well done.   I highly recommend this book.

Her Fear

Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray                  Audio Book:  6 hours, 35 minutes      Hardback Book: 288 pages                   

Sadie Detweiler is banished from her home community in Ohio to go live with relatives she has never met in an Amish community in Hart County, Kentucky.   Reason being, young Sadie is pregnant and unmarried, though she gave herself to the man who had been courting her.   We are not talking Amish Girls Gone Wild During Rumspringa, either.    We are talking sneaking out at night and meeting in her beau’s barn  - you get the idea.    It seems her boyfriend was being considered for a position of importance in their district church  and having a blot like pre-marital sex and a baby on the way would blow his ministerial ambitions.   The Amish!  you say, turns out there are are good and bad souls within all sects, including the Amish.    The rogue lies and swears to his own parents and Sadie’s parents that he is MOST DEFINETLY NOT the father, totally ruining Sadie’s reputation in the community and worse yet, her own parents believed  her boyfriend and banished her!    Her father even tells her she is NO LONGER HIS DAUGHTER!   OMgosh!    This is a really good story, I enjoyed it from beginning to end.   If you like tales of the Amish, which I do,  (must be those Mennonite ancestors)  you will truly enjoy this story.    Lots happens!    It is a good study in how opinionated and biased folks can be sometimes, even in strict religious sectors and how sometimes it takes awful things happening in our lives to move us to where we need to be.   Worthy read that will bring out a lot of emotions in the reader.   I definetly recommend this one.

Forever Soul Ties

Forever Soul Ties by Vanessa Davis Griggs                 Audio Books: 10 hours, 3 mins.           Paperback Book:  320 pages          

I REALLY liked this book.   So much wisdom shared here.   Highschool star-crossed lovers meet again years later.    Both are married to someone else now,  she owns a flower shop, he has become a minister.   Both have grown children.   Each has a spouse that may be stepping out on them and both still feel that joyful exuberance in being in each other’s company every time they see one another.   Much happens along the way but there is so much biblical insight beginning every chapter and in their knowing what they want and what God wants.   The love is still there.   Is God bringing them back together?    Temptation threatens, will they succumb?   Will their spouses push them into each others arms?    Is God allowing them to fix what should have been years ago?    I want to tell you but treat yourself and read this delightful story and enjoy learning what comes yourself.     Really well done and so true to the ways people can misuse, abuse and try to make the innocent suffer all in the name of love, trust and marriage.    Good book.   Well done, Vanessa Davis Griggs.

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 2

The Complete Chi's Sweet Home Part 2 by Konami Kanata      Paperback Book: 480 pages   

The continued story of the little female kitten, Chi, who got lost from her mother and while searching for was found and taken in by a family.    Her story continues from Part 1, the Yomata family moves to a pet friendly apartment complex and CHI and her mother are reunited though at first they don't recognize each other.   So heartwarming.   I love Chi so much!   She has so many adventures and now lives in close proximity to a city park.    So many adventures so wonderful.   I am on to the next book on Chi's life.   Can't get enough of this dear little kitten.   LOVED IT!   I highly recommend this book.   So funny and so heartwarming!

Black Klansman

Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigations of a Lifetime by Ron Stallworth              Audio Book:  5 hours 50 minutes                       

Hard-hitting memoir of Colorado Springs, Colorado Police Officer, Ron Stallworth, the first black officer hired by that City’s Police Department and later, the first Black Detective on the Colorado Springs Police Force.     After making Detective, Ron Stallworth saw an ad in the local paper asking people to contact a P.O. Box in order to join the Ku Klux Klan, Detective Stallworth, wanting to stay on top of what could be a threat in their community he contacted the P.O. Box.    Seems the KKK was recruiting and they sent him an application to join, a couple of copies of their organization’s newspaper and some other material.      Long story short. Ron Stallworth completed the application and along with another undercover caucasion officer to pretend to be Ron when physically meeting with the  organizers after a few months Ron became a card carrying black member of the KKK.    Not only that but Ron personally spoke on the phone to the head of the local Chapter setting up in Colorado Springs with members at the Fort Collins military base and even he found out later two high ranking military personnel working at NORAD (the North American Aerospace Defense Command – a joint military command with the US and Canada that defends the airspace of North America)!      Ron actually used his real name to sign up which is a big NO NO but he used an address and phone number that was untraceable and that the police force used in their undercover investigations.     Word spread among the police officers, FBI and others that a Black Police Officer had infiltrated the Klan and any time Ron was at one of the cop bars or other recreational gathering places for officers, someone would always ask to see his Klan membership card.    Ron was amazed how word had spread so fast and so far.    Different agencies  got involved and since he had become so well established with the group, he had even gotten on a friendly basis calling the then, Grand Wizard of the KKK himself, David Duke and chatting about what was planned for different areas around the country.     Ron got a kick out of the major coup he and his counterpart were pulling off.    At one point David Duke came to Colorado Springs to meet with the new card carrying recruits at a Bonanza Steak House and Officer Ron Stallworth was assigned the duty of working David Duke’s security (body guard) as there had been death threats made if Duke was allowed in town.   Ron Stallworth fought hard with his superiors to NOT have to really do that assignment, but, his superior officer made him do it.   Ron introduced himself to Duke and addressed the facts – I don’t want to be here, I don’t agree with your organization and that he was only there because no one else was available and he had to.     He assured Duke that as an officer of the CSPD he would do his utmost to protect Duke because that was his job.    Later Ron asked Duke if he would take a photo with him because no one would believe he was really there otherwise.   Duke agreed and before the photo was snapped Ron Stallworth put his arm around Duke which angered Duke so much that he tried to get the Polaroid camera to destroy  it but Stallworth got it before Duke did and told Duke he would charge him with assaulting an officer if he continued.   More happens and this is a fascinating look at a very tense racially charged situation in history.    I highly recommend this book.    Spike Lee did the film based on the book which I plan to see as well.

The Last Time I Lied

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager     384 pages

From Goodreads:

Two Truths and a Lie. The girls played it all the time in their tiny cabin at Camp Nightingale. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and first-time camper Emma Davis, the youngest of the group. The games ended when Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin in the dead of night. The last she--or anyone--saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door behind her, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.

Now a rising star in the New York art scene, Emma turns her past into paintings--massive canvases filled with dark leaves and gnarled branches that cover ghostly shapes in white dresses. The paintings catch the attention of Francesca Harris-White, the socialite and wealthy owner of Camp Nightingale. When Francesca implores her to return to the newly reopened camp as a painting instructor, Emma sees an opportunity to try to find out what really happened to her friends.

Yet it's immediately clear that all is not right at Camp Nightingale. Already haunted by memories from fifteen years ago, Emma discovers a security camera pointed directly at her cabin, mounting mistrust from Francesca and, most disturbing of all, cryptic clues Vivian left behind about the camp's twisted origins. As she digs deeper, Emma finds herself sorting through lies from the past while facing threats from both man and nature in the present.

And the closer she gets to the truth about Camp Nightingale, the more she realizes it may come at a deadly price.

I tried so hard to figure out “who did it.” Sadly, I was not successful, but I guess that just means that Sager made a compelling story that was unpredictable and new. This felt like a real story, it was so thrilling, page by page. Once the story returns Camp Nightingale, Sager really hits her stride and the story picks up and it’s difficult to put down.

Overall, it’s a solid mystery – I really enjoyed reading it, I enjoyed the suspense, and I really liked the writing. Sager is really talented and I’m interested in reading anything else he has written. I’d definitely recommend this to mystery buffs and anybody who is in for a thriller story.

As You Wish

As You Wish: The Inconceivable Tales from the Making of the Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden     276 pages

From Goodreads:

Cary Elwes was inspired to share his memories and give fans an unprecedented look into the creation of the film while participating in the twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion. In As You Wish he has created an enchanting experience; in addition to never-before seen photos and interviews with his fellow cast mates, there are plenty of set secrets, backstage stories, and answers to lingering questions about off-screen romances that have plagued fans for years!

Review:

This was such an excellent read. I love The Princess Bride, I love Cary Elwes, and I love that this book exists. It is full of little gifts of knowledge about the making of this magical movie, I laughed and I teared up because it's all so beautiful. This movie means a lot to me and I loved reading how much the people who made it love it, too. I listened to the audiobook - which I'm now going to purchase because it was so, so good! Cary Elwes narrates, but he also has other members of the cast and crew read their own commentary and it's so wonderful to hear. I highly recommend giving it a listen, as well!

The Year of Our Lord 1943

The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis by Alan Jacobs, 206 pages

Samuel Johnson famously quipped that when a man knows he is to be hanged, it "concentrates his mind wonderfully."  For Christian thinkers in Europe and America, the catastrophe of the Second World War wonderfully concentrated their minds on the problem that liberal democracy could not, on its own, provide a convincing account of human nature to rival those proposed by fascist and socialist ideologies.  In The Year of Our Lord 1943 Alan Jacobs explores the disparate ways a number of disparate philosophers and poets, including Jacques and Raissa Maritain, TS Eliot and Simone Weil, CS Lewis and WH Auden, sought to rectify that deficiency.  Despite substantial differences, their thoughts all focused on culture and education, not only their necessity but also their limitations - indeed, all were insistent that any education which sought to contribute to the building up of the human person must preeminently be an education in limits and ends.

Jacobs perceptively highlights both the sympathies and antipathies among his subjects.  He is clear about his own biases, or is possibly simply unable to resist the occasional editorial comment, and those biases do not prevent him from being fair to those with whom he disagrees.  It is from this attitude that he is able to conclude with the observation that, at a point in history when the technical appears to have vanquished the human, Christians can find comfort and inspiration in their faith that history is itself ruled, not by a process, but by a Person.

Murder at the Mansion

Murder at the Mansion by Sheila Connolly     Audio Book: 9 hours, 29 mins.   Hardback Book:  336 pages

Katherine Hamilton loses her job with a high end hotel and while she is contemplating her next career move she gets a request from her best friend from school to please come back to her home town in Maryland to help the town council figure out a big financial fiasco - the town is almost broke, people are moving away and those who have lived there all their lives want to do somerthing to bring in tourists to improve their business/economy.  Odd request since she hadn't been back in years to come out of the blue but not having anything else to do she saw it as a sign and thought why not.   The good news is she had enough money saved up she would be o.k. till she found her next job the bad news is she is spending a lot of time figuring out how to improve the town's situation, meeting and greeting with locals and trying to find something to capitalize on in a dead town with not even one viable tourisy attraction.   And then there is her highschool nemesis who had made her life hell, humiliated her so bad that Katherine left town over it as soon as she could and married the man Katherine had been madly in love with.    Then someone ends up dead and guess what?  Katherine is the "new" person in town with questionable motive.  Also Katherine is digging through everything in town trying to come up with info on any illustrious historical figure she might find a distant link to and somehow attach meaning and connection to a town headed for extinction.    Amusing story.    Seems Katherine wasn't the only person to hate the Queen of the Highschool click.  Katherine is pushy and brash, sometimes funny, and she gets away with murder or does she?   Good light read when you aren't up for something heavy or intense.   It was o.k.   A little fast and loose play with some facts about murder scenes and the fact that no one even considered checking to see if the body was actually dead or not.  Also everyone in the story jumped to the conclusion that the person had been murdered not even entertaining the thought it could have been an accident.   Those parts were kind of laughable, but overall it was an easy read and not the worst book I've ever read.  

Facts and Fears: Hard Truths From a LIfe in Intelligence

Facts and Fears: Hard Truths From a LIfe in Intelligence by James Clapper   Audio Book:18 hours, 43 minutes   Paperback Book: 784 pages                                                

This book written by the former Directior of National Intelligence is so full of information on events going on covertly behind the scenes that the public knew of but he opens up a view of what it was like on the inside of the actions taking place.    Fascinating information here that will open  your eyes and your mind to what types of information sitting presidents receive on what is going on in the world and how operations are going on without public knowledge at any time in the world.   He discusses the agencies involved, the limits they go to and the limitations that bind them from going

 deeper undercover, or from carrying out certain actions.   He sites examples from his own career and multiple administrations he has worked with.   I was surpised by all of the information that is shared here.    EXCELLENT BOOK!   I highly recommend this book to anyone with a desire to know what really goes on behind those government doors, a little showing of what is behind the veil.   

Matchmaking for Beginners

Matchmaking for Beginners  by  Maddie Dawson    Audio Book:  12 hours, 49 mins.   Paperback Book:  380 pages                               

Blix Holiday is the black sheep of the family.    A little hippie, a little wiccan but an all around jovial and fun person -eccentric to the utmost.    While attending a stuffy family gathering to meet her nephew's fiancee, Blix reminds me of Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias, she invites Marnie, her nephews fiancee over for a chat.   She sees the snippy superior way her sister is looking down on the girl and how friendly and open like a puppy the young clueless woman is.    Blix takes a liking to her and takes her under her wing telling her stories about her nephew (she loved him but he was a rogue and the girl should run screaming away from him as fast as possible) and every other family member in attnedance.   She tells the truth and doesn't candy it up for appearance sake.   She wants the girl to know what a den of jackels she has found herself in.    No one knew but Blix being a little magical and intuitive knows that Marnie will be miserable with her nephew and invites her to come visit her in her Brownstone in New York.   Blix knows Marnie would find true love and perfect soulmate harmony with a damaged guy in her building that Blix is best friends with.   Lots happens.   Marnie does marry Blix' nephew but WOW!    Blix is determined to bring Marnie and her elusive friend and neighbor so much so that when Blix' cancer gets worse, she changes her will to give Marnie (who she only met once and talked on the phone with maybe twice) her brownstone.    This is such a good story you won't want to put it down.   Blix is wonderful and Marnie is a little headstrong, but very likeable.    She makes a lot of mistakes along the way but you will find yourself rooting for her.   But that guy in the basement apartment....what is his dish?   GOOD STORY.   I hightly recommend this one.  Fun story.

I See Life Through Rose' Colored Glasses

I See Life Through Rose' Colored Glasses by Lisa Scottoline and Francesca Saratella     Audio Book:: 6 hours, 1 min.      Hardback Book:  352 pages         

This is a hilarious book.   Lisa Scottoline and her daughter Francesa Saratella are so funny!   They share true stories from their lives about the foibles we all go through and can relate whole heartedly to, it is just that we keep our screw ups to ourselves and these gals share them and tell them with such hilarity the reader will laugh all the way through this book.   I recommend the audio book because you will actually hear them telling the stories they share.   They are a riot!   Treat yourself to this read you will be glad you did.   I definetly recommend these gals be put on everyone's MUST READ list.    No mater how your day is going you will laugh out loud.

Book Clubbed

Book Clubbed by Lorna Barrett        Audio Book:  8 hours, 47 min     Mass Market Paperback:  336 pages     

I enjoyed this story a lot.   Two Sisters, Tricia and Angelica each own shops in town and when the cranky receptionist with the know-it-all and hate everybody attitude is found dead they do their best to figure out who might have done it although the recptionist is so disliked by everyone in town except her own sister, who may or may not have her own motive for murder, that it may be tough pinning down the culprit.    Then when digging around trying to discover clues more and more information comes to light to show there was much more than a crabby demeanor to this woman, like loads of hidden cash covered up in among all the things in the hoard of stuff found in her home.    Fun story, light read.   I particularly like Angelica she has such a dry, witty way of looking at things and expressing herself that I laughed at something she said throughout the book.   Yes, I would recommend this one for the fun of Angelica and the story itself.

The Debt Escape Plan

The Debt Escape Plan by Beverly Blair Harzog        Paperback Book:  288 pages   

Most Excellent Book!  Harzog is a recovering credit card junkie herself.  After a binge of a decade of overspending and getting into credit card debt to the tune of nearly $20,000 dollars she tried all the consumer credit counselling, etc. plans and nothing worked.   Finally she came up with her plan that works for her and is so easy to understand and do.   This book walks you through from a quiz to understand what kind of and how you accumulate debt, what your triggers are, etc. because Harzog believes there is no one-size fits all credit plan to understanding the importance of your debt ratio, which I found particularly good as I had never seen that mentioned nor explained in any of the previous books I have read.    She uses humor and laymen's terms to explain things and this was a fast, easy, understandable read.    EXCELLENT!   I highly recommend this book especially for any one looking to get their finances in control. 

A Really Good Day

A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life by Ayelet Waldman        Hardcover: 256 Pages          (Aleta L.)

Ayelet Waldman is an author, mother, and former public defender and law professor. This book is a true story about her struggle with a severe mood disorder; though she never received a lasting diagnosis, she went through years of treatment with common pharmaceuticals. These mostly didn't work, or if they did, temporarily and with terrible side effects. In addition to feeling bad most of the time, she was alienating her family and friends, and her suffering felt endless.  This desperation led her to the surprisingly positive research on the use of  psychedelic drugs for therapeutic purposes, and she decided to try it out on herself.  She had a truly simple goal: to see if she could have justone really good day.

Microdosing is a method of taking drugs in tiny, sub-perceptual doses, for therapeutic purposes, usually every other day or so. Though most of the drugs used for microdosing are illegal, there exists an underground of practitioners of the psychedelic that she managed to tap into, and she had a vial of "Lewis Carroll" liquid LSD sent anonymously to her mailbox. Waldman shares with us her month-long experiment, documenting how her mood, physical state, and motivation were affected by the tiny dose she took every third day. She then writes entertainingly about her life and previous experiences with illegal drugs (few and far between), her relationships with her kids, husband, and parents, her professional life, and her direct experience with drug policy in the United States – she recounts specific drug cases she defended, and the stories are heartbreaking. She has a convincing take on the destructiveness of this country's attitudes and laws about illegal drugs, particularly for disadvantaged populations.  Her account of the history of psychedelic drug use is fascinating, covering the invention of LSD, to its popularity and notoriety mid-20^th century, to its eventual banishment,  not only from public use, but from scientific research as well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – it’s part anecdotal musing and part no-nonsense social commentary, and Waldman is hilarious and utterly serious in just the right amounts.  Her research is thorough and honest. The question she raises about why we have legal access to so many harmful, ineffective substances, and no access to relatively harmless, effective ones, is extremely important; as is the more philosophical question about why our own consciousness isn’t ours to explore however we see fit. She does a fantastic job trying to answer these, and issues just a little hope that some sanity might enter our approach to drugs in this country, sooner than later.  Quite a few books about the subject of psychedelic therapy  have come out recently, mostly by fairly mainstream authors; something is in the air, and this book is a good place to find out about it – highly recommended!

And the Trees Crept In

And the Trees Crept In by Dawn Kurtagich     341 pages

When Silla and Nori arrive at their aunt’s home, it’s immediately clear that the manor is cursed. The endless creaking of the house at night and the eerie stillness of the woods surrounding them would be enough of a sign, but there are secrets too—questions that Silla can’t ignore: Why does it seem that, ever since they arrived, the trees have been creeping closer? Who is the beautiful boy who’s appeared from the woods? And who is the tall man with no eyes who Nori plays with in the basement at night… a man no one else can see?

I only finished this book because a) I was reading it for a book club and b) I just wanted to know, ultimately, what the author was planning for the "big reveal" to see if it was worth it. It wasn't, for me. Were the characters interesting? No, utterly infuriating because none of them made any sense in their decisions or what they were doing. Was the story compelling? Yes but then it got boring and quickly devolved into what people think of when they think "this is what a CRAZY person sounds like!" Was the writing good? See the point about the story. I just don't think it paid to finish. It wasn't a cop-out necessarily, I just didn't care for it - and really the end-end is infuriating, too.

Children of Monsters

Children of Monsters: An Inquiry into the Sons and Daughters of Dictators by Jay Nordlinger, 248 pages

Children of Monsters is a fascinating study of the lives of the children (and grandchildren) of twenty of history's worst tyrants, from Mussolini to Castro.  As might be expected, none of them escaped entirely unscathed from their fathers' legacies.  As might also be expected, each lived with their legacy in a unique way.  Some became monsters (Uday Hussein, Nicu Ceausescu), others dissidents (Alina Castro, Hussein Khomeini), some few became tyrants themselves (Bashar Assad, Jean-Claude Duvalier), and at least two became jazz musicians (Romano Mussolini played piano, Taban Amin played guitar - the former performed with Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others, and married Sophia Loren's sister).  As is the way of the world, irony abounds - one of Tojo's daughters married an American and settled in Honolulu, Pol Pot's daughter graduated university with a degree in accounting.

Journalist Nordlinger adopts a conversational tone which helps compensate for some of the uncertainties surrounding his subjects - as dictatorships attempt to control all information about the lives of their leaders, facts are sometimes hard to come by, and Nordlinger is continually forced to resort to words like "reportedly", "allegedly", and "apparently".  This also, intentionally or not, decreases the personal distance between author, readers, and subjects, bringing the horrors and the tragedies (as well as the more mundane triumphs) home.

The Dead Ex

The Dead Ex by Jane Corry    368 pages   I read an e-galley -- book is due out in January, 2019

How can one man's disappearance throw so many women's lives into chaos? It's easy once you see how all of them are connected (although it's not clear at first).

Vicki works as an aromatherapist from her home studio and is just finishing a session when the police arrive to tell her her ex-husband, David, is missing. Vicki insists she hasn't seen him in years, but the police clearly don't believe her. As someone who suffers from epilepsy, Vicki knows she can have gaps in her memory, so maybe she has seen him more recently?  Meanwhile, eight year-old Scarlet and her mother Zelda are having a rough time. It's the two of them against the world, with Scarlet helping play a "game" with Zelda. What Scarlet doesn't know is that this "game" is really drug-dealing and when Zelda gets caught, Scarlet is sent into foster care, an experience that will (not surprisingly) change her life.  David's new wife, Tanya, had reported him missing. However, what really happened on the night he disappeared? Is Vicki involved, even if she doesn't know it? And how are these four women connected?

This is a smoothly crafted, twisting tale that will keep you guessing until the end. The author brings together several characters, using their individual, first-person storylines, to weave the story together until you finally understand how they are connected to each other. The are some surprises, although some of the story may be expected; Scarlet's time in foster care can be anticipated to be problematic, for example. This is really Vicki's story to tell, although Scarlet's story is compelling.  I had enjoyed "My Husband's Wife" by this author and liked this book, as well.

Good for readers who enjoy psychological suspense with compelling characters. If you enjoy Gillian Flynn or Ruth Ware, I'd suggest picking this one up.

Bitter Orange

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller   320 pages

This beautifully written book takes place (mostly) in an English mansion that's slowly falling apart. Frances Jellico has been sent to research the architecture in the surrounding gardens, a welcome change after years spent caring for her mother. Encountering Cara and Peter, she's enchanted by this couple and how easily they seem to embrace her into friendship. However, as the summer continues, Frances can sense things aren't quite rosy between Cara and Peter. Stories that Cara tells her don't quite add up, either. As Frances becomes more and more entangled in their lives, the boundaries between truth and lies start to waver and blur and a small crime leads to another so terrible that it will change all their lives forever.

Fuller tells this story through Frances' perspective, both in the present where Frances is much older, and then in the past, when it's the hedonistic summer of Cara and Peter. Is Frances a reliable narrator? It's hard to say, which means that no, she may not be a reliable narrator at all. Fuller brings the lush setting to life, so you feel immersed in the summer that the three people shared at this dilapidated place. I found Frances to be a sly storyteller at times, where you can't tell if she's quite giving you the real story or not. Her own perspectives on people and relationships are warped, to be sure.  I'd put this in the category of dark mystery, although it's much more than that, as it's a definite exploration of the human soul.

When the lights go out

When the Lights Go Out by Mary Kubica    332 pages

When Jessie Sloane's mother dies, after years of illness, Jessie is on her own. She rents an apartment and applies for college, determined to get her life on track. However, when the college informs her that her Social Security number has raised a red flag, Jessie discovers something shocking and realizes she may have no idea who she really is.

As Jessie pursues the truth, she becomes an insomniac, which exacerbates her stress at trying to solve the mystery of who she is. As the days pass with little sleep, Jessie's becomes fatigued and her judgment is blurred. Can she tell the difference between what is real and what she is imagining?

I found this book to be good, but strange and by the time I finished it, I felt unsatisfied. Maybe because by the end of things, I felt as unmoored as Jessie.  This book had a slowly building pace, which was great --- but the twist that came felt completely out of place. Or maybe just too odd?  I like Kubica, but this wasn't my favorite book of hers.

Vision in Silver and Marked in Flesh

Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop     400 pages
Marked in Flesh (The Others #4) by Anne Bishop  399 pages  (total of 799 between both books)

Books #3 and #4 in this series continue the ongoing story of the struggle between the two groups who inhabit this version of our world: the terra indigene, who are shifters, and the Others (a/k/a humans).  The two books take the story through the anticipated war between these two groups, and it really ramps up when you get to the fourth book.

  I have been enjoying these books, especially how the story picks up in each book where the previous book left off, and how the character development continues, as well. By the time you get into the fourth book, you feel like you really know some of the characters and truly care about what's going to happen to them.  I like that Bishop makes the humans the awful Others in this world --- I can definitely see where she's coming from, since humans in our own world have been responsible for so much destruction.

I see there are more books in this series, which I plan to read since I've been enjoying these books so far.

Stone Mothers

Stone Mothers by Erin Kelly     368 pages    I read a galley - book is due out April, 2019

What kind of secrets does the old Nazareth Mental Hospital hold? Too many for Marianne, who had vowed to never return to the town where she grew up in the shadow of the hospital. However, when her husband buys a flat in the newly renovated building so Marianne can be close to help her ailing mother, Marianne is forced back to relive old memories and desperately hope that her carefully built life won't shatter around her.

I really enjoyed this book, although the story went in a direction that I hadn't anticipated. However, I appreciated all of the historical details about the hospital and the kind of care that was given in the past. The pacing of the book has a quiet way of increasing, so combined with an underlying sense of dread and tension, it makes for a compelling and engrossing read. This is my kind of suspenseful, psychological fiction!   And I had not realized that Erin Kelly wrote Broadchurch -- which I had not read, but had watched on BBC and really enjoyed.

This book also held some appeal for me because I have read a lot of materials about the history of asylums and mental hospitals and treatments. So, I really found that Kelly's descriptions were on point and that made the book extra enjoyable.

Good for readers who enjoy Ruth Ware and Paula Hawkins

I Know Who You Are

I know who you are by Alice Feeney    384 pages  I read a galley - book is due out in May of 2019

This intricately plotted, tensely paced story gives us two stories, balancing against each other. One is about Aimee, an actress on the verge of being famous. She's on her rise to stardom when she comes home one day to discover her husband missing. She's not worried at first because, after all, they had a big fight the previous night. However, when her credit card gets denied and she discovers her bank account has been emptied of $10,000, she immediately suspects her husband. And now, the police are questioning her as if she has something to do with his disappearance. She doesn't does she? At least, she doesn't remember doing anything to him . . . 

Alternating with Aimee's story is the story of a little girl who wanders away from home, only to end up with strangers. And you know what they say about talking to strangers.

There is a sense of malevolence that permeates this book, which I found to make for an engrossing read.  It was hard to put this book down!  With the alternating stories, you're getting first-person accounts and it's hard to tell at first how the two are related --- until it becomes very clear. But there are still plenty of twists in this story, including a whopper that I didn't see coming at all (which was wonderful!).

Recommended for fans of suspenseful, psychological fiction who like Ruth Ware, B.,A. Paris.

Someone New

Someone New by Anne Sibley O’Brien  32 pages

I like the concept of this picture book. It’s the story of three students who are new to their classroom. There are three new students in the school who are from Guatemala, Korea and Somalia. Each teacher assigns the new child a “buddy” to help them navigate their new environment.

I didn’t like that all the children assimilate easily; there is little conflict or an episode of the day not going well. I believe that “Someone New,” is about trying to find common ground. However the message completely overlooked that it’s hard, very hard, to do so.

I was also dismayed when the age range from this book is 5-8 years old and aimed at Kindergarten to Grade 3. It seemed to talk down to that age range

 “Someone New” receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

A Leap

A Leap by Anna Enquist  100 pages

The jacket copy is what inspired me to read this book…that and it was the August selection of my 2018 reading resolution to read twelve books that have been lounging on my bookshelf for years.

The first sentence of the jacket copy is “The characters in the monologues that make up “A Leap” are all looking for a home; for some kind of anchorage or self-realization, but circumstances or fate ensure that their goal remains elusive.”

That sentence really spoke to me soul.  Looking for a home…isn’t that what we all want?  A home. A place to call ours. A place to feel safe and secure.

There are five monologues in this short book. The first is from Alma Mahler, wife of composer Gustav and takes place in 1906. She is on the verge of a mid-life crisis. She should stay with the man for whom she gave up her ambitions, or have an affair with a old lover who has come back into her life.

The second monologue, is from a Jewish dressmaker, Mendel Bronstien, who leaves Rotterdam for America in 1912, but the trip is unexpectedly hard.

In 1940, Cato and Leendert, who also live in Rotterdam, are young lover trying to avoid the falling bombs as Europe rushes into WWII.

“The Doctor” also takes place in 1940s Rotterdam, and begins with a chilling sentence: “I should have killed him.” As a doctor, he must choose between his Hippocratic oath and the loathing he feels for the invading armies.

Finally, there is “…And I am Sara.” It’s the tale of a woman spending a night in her parents’ home while they are away, and how safe and comforted she feels.

I had a little bit of a tough time getting into this collection, mainly because I read Alma’s thought without speaking them aloud.  I felt a tad silly reading aloud to myself, but I believe that is how these words should be read.

When I finished each section, the story did not feel complete, I wanted more, which is why “A Leap” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.