Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet To Come!

 Shirley J.        Adult Non-Fiction Memoir            The Beginnings of HillSong Church/Music Memoir

Live Love Lead: Your Best Is Yet to Come! by Brian Houston    272 pages

Brian Houston was raised up in the HillSong Church his Dad established in the HillSong area of New Zealand.  They later moved to Australia and established another HillSong Church there.    Brian describes his life growing up, his father's ministry, living in New Zealand and Australia, meeting his wife (they both grew up in the church, Brian's ministry and outreach and the development of their musical ministry known around Australia as the HillSong sound then later HillSong as it is known world-wide today.   Brian talks about establishing HillSong churches around the world, visits and ministering at each, how during his first sermon in a high school gymnasium he was losing his way in his sermon he was so nervous, he saw a man looking down at his phone knowing he was losing his congregation's attention he thought what can I do?  Then he saw a rope hanging down from the ceiling that the kids would climb, he ran over, grabbed it and swung out in the audience and started preaching like his spirit was on fire.  He woke that crowd up as he swung up to the guy looking at his phone.  That man brought in over 30 converts telling them all about his preacher who swung out in the audience on a rope!  In faith Brian divulges some deeply personal family information that was a catastrophic tragedy to his family and the church family but he goes on to say how God got him and all of them through it though it was devastating and still humiliating to this day, but his faith is strong and God has gotten them all through it to show bad things don't just happen to the other guy it happens to every one.  A tale of faith and love, offering guidance, uplifting advice, sharing how to live according to Bible principles, sharing the word of God, proclaiming the miracles of the Bible and God's never ending love for His children who are called by His name, who will become leaders of men when adhering to a Biblically principled life.     I recommend this book to teenagers on up.     

Vassa In the Night

 

Shirley J.             Young Adult Fiction                                 Witchcraft, Enchanted Beings, Brooklyn

Vassa In The Night by Sarah Porter   304 pages

I kept picturing Mayim Bialik as the main character (Amy Farafalla-Big Bang Theory; Blossom) in this modern fairytale.  I think it was the dialogue, fast and witty not Gilmore Girl fast, but, quick and funny.  Vassa's Mom was a well to do (should I say rich?) artistic witch, whose best friend, also a witch, created a special doll for Vassa named Erg who just happens to talk and talk tough.  She sounds like a moll from a 40s gangster movie, she has an insatiable appetite for food, she is fierce and loyal holding an all encompassing love and protective streak for Vassa.   Now after Vassa's parents split up and later her Mom passes away Vassa ends up in Brooklyn and that is where the story takes place.   There are 2 step-sisters, an enchanted store that moves and walks, a store proprietress who kills shoplifters and occasionally shoppers, there are furry lawyers and a mysterious possibly alien motorcycle rider who is mostly silent and fades into the night.   In the beginning of the book I thought, If Lewis Carroll and Timothy Leary co-authored a story this would be it.  It has elements of Alice in Wonderland, and acid trip and the Twilight Zone all wrapped in one telling.   After the initial WTFudge...?  I loved it by the end.   Maybe thinking of Mayim Bialik was what did it.  While the book is said to be geared to the YA crowd, Vassa cusses from time to time, which is not unknown to that age group but gave me pause to think perhaps this is meant for an older reading crowd.   I guess I will stick with the YA recommendation but get ready kiddies for Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!  I think after the initial shock wears off all ages will enjoy this one.  

Livin' the Dream: How Dreams in the Night Can Lead to a Set-Apart Life

 Shirley J.             Adult Non-Fiction                        Dreaming with Intention to Focus on Messages    

Livin' the DREAM: How Dreams in the Night Can Lead to a Set Apart Life by Melissa Jacobs  132 pgs.

The author, Melissa Jacob lives in St. Louis and she and her husband started the pro-life advocacy group,  BOUND4LIFE.   She is a Christian, a mother of 7 children - 6 biological, 1 adopted,  she also is very active in promoting adoption, she homeschools her children, she is an author, a blogger and a dreamer.  She is such a dreamer in fact that she recommends every one pay attention to their dreams because God often communicates to us through our dreams and if we focus on the things we would like to know or problems we would like direction and answers to that we can dream with intention and receive the answers we seek.   She cites scripture verses from the Bible where God has given warnings (ie. to Joseph to go to Egypt immediately because Herod was killing male children birth through age 2 to try to wipe out the perceived threat to his throne), prophesy of what was to come (when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary telling her of the Savior's birth), direction (Joshua after Moses died was told to lead the children of Israel to the promised land) many more examples she also talks about her own dream to adopt a daughter that came true.   She said in her dreams about her daughter she would see her clearly and knew her when she saw her.   She formed a dream group with other like minded people from her congregation who discuss their dreams with each other in group to help decipher their meanings and symbiology.    Many times another person from the groups sees meaning the dreamer may have missed.   Thought provoking to dream with intention.   I recommend this one to mature teens on up due to discussion on abortion.  

The Game Never Ends

 

Shirley J.         Adult Fiction            Mega Wealth,  New Identities,  Drug Lord Takeovers

The Game Never Ends (Book 2 in The Game Series) by Zaire Crown     288 pages

Tuesday Knight (introduced in Book 1) was a stripper/entrepreneur who rose up in the club to be given the reins to run the elite (key club) gentlemen's club.    She ends up becoming wife and business partner to Marcus King, owner of the club.  She wanted for nothing.  Marcus had a daughter and together he and Tuesday have another daughter.   When things go foul, she and Marcus have to run for their lives with the girls but when Marcus is killed, Tuesday finds out everything is in her name and it is up to her to protect their daughters and survive.  The past never stays in the past long in this fast life style and soon her cover and new life is blown.   As she careens trying to hang on to what she can to go forward, her husband's daughter is kidnapped!  The game really never ends once you start playing you can't stop.  But Tuesday wants her family back, her life back and a woman pushed to the edge is a force of nature to be dealt with.  Good book.  I recommend this one to adults on up.                

THis Will Be Funny Someday

 

Shirley J.             Teen Fiction                  Stand Up Comedy, Not Fitting In, Abusive Relationships

This Will Be Funny Someday by Katie Henry   416 pages

 16 year old Isobel is so quiet and introverted her career minded parents see her as their non-problem child who never does anything wrong and who never makes any waves.   After the twins go away to college and she is all alone it feels like she doesn't even exist.  Her parents are so invested in their careers she barely sees them and if they are home they certainly aren't having any conversations with her.  She can't talk to her best friend (since they were 7 years old) because her boyfriend doesn't like her and won't let Isobel hang around her, he only allows her to hang with his friends and their girlfriends and because it is easier to go along than risk his getting angry and loud and vindictive, she went along.  Her best friend can't believe she won't hang with her anymore.   Sometimes the thought of only being around her boyfriend who constantly professes love for her and actually pays attention to things she says she likes, then gifts her those very things (his family is financially well off), and his crowd it finally becomes too much to deal with and Isobel lies to him saying she is going shopping with her Mom.  She ends up taking the bus downtown and walking around.  As she is doing so she sees her boyfriend and his bunch coming toward her.   Freaking out not wanting him or them to see her she rushes into a door not knowing which business she just walked into, but thinking it is a restaurant she walks over to the maitre de.   The man looks up and asks her name, she gives it thinking this is for seating purposes till she finds herself being introduced to go on stage to do stand-up comedy!    Her mind is sizzling at the shock, but, since she can't go back outside she launches into 5 minutes on her life, her family, her day and finds the adrenalin rush she feels after leaving the stage addicting.  The story gets better, she meets a group of comedians that do the local circuit and take her under their wing, she knows they are all college students, little do they know she is only 16.   A good story develops with lots of ups and downs to keep you interested.   Izzy is way out of her element and the faux pas begin to mount like Mount Vesuvius getting ready to blow!  I recommend this one to middle schoolers on up.  A cautionary, interesting, funny story.

Night Shift

 

Shirley J.                   Adult Fiction          Murder, Blockbuster Video, New Jersey

The story starts out with four teenagers working the night shift at Blockbuster Video, 3 are murdered, one gets away.   The author lets you get to know all of the characters throughout the book your interest is vested in each which keeps you glued to the story to find out what happens to them, especially after the first lot are murdered.   Flash forward to 15 years later and while the original crime remained an open-ended case as the killer was never found, there are tie-ins to the lone survivor of the Blockbuster murder, the main person of interest who left town and remained in a non-descript location as evidence pointed at his guilt but he swore he was innocent and did not want to be railroaded because of circumstantial incriminating evidence (ie. he was the boyfriend of one of the girls killed and they were witnessed arguing on the parking lot).  His brother still defends his innocence of the crime 15 years later but FBI agent, Sarah Keller is determined to find out the truth of what happened and who is responsible.   A good step-by-step investigation with lots of starts, stops and bumps in the road to finding justice served for all involved.   A good story, I recommend it to those who enjoy murder mysteries and any alums from Blockbuster Days will be amused by all the idiosyncrasies of life on the job at a video store.   Think "Clerks" meets Stephen King.   I recommend it to Middle Schoolers on up reading-wise, though I doubt anyone under 25 years of age will get the idea of a video store since the concept hasn't existed in their lifetime and they would have been too young to see the last one go out of business.   

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

 Shirley J.                Adult Fiction            Southern Hospitality, True Crime Novels, Serial Murderer

The Southern Book Club's Guide To Slaying Vampires: A Novel by Grady Hendrix      424 pages

A group of southern belles with ho hum lives get together to start a bookclub where they read true crime novels about the Manson Family, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, you get the idea.   This is their adult time as opposed to their lives as wives, mothers and close to Stepford Wife lives, cooking, cleaning and making cocktails while always being impeccably dressed with coiffed hair, nails and perfect make-up.  Patricia who is married to a doctor wishes aloud that something exciting like one of the novels they read would happen in their gated Charleston community.  Until it does.   Serial murders, child abductions, molestations and mutilations start occurring in the black community with little police response nor hope of catching and prosecuting the perpetrator.   Parents begin moving out or shipping their children to relatives in other towns to keep their children safe.   Then Patricia gets attacked by an elderly neighbor, later this neighbor is attended to by her great-nephew.   The great nephew tries to ingratiate himself into the community, he looks like Brad Pitt but looks can be deceiving.  Things just don't feel right, then stalkers are seen lurking on folk's roofs, or around their properties late at night.  Then, all hell breaks loose.  A definite page turner!  It is pretty disturbing in parts so I recommend this one to mature teens maybe even adults on up.        

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wonder of Christmas: 101 Stories about the Joy of the Season

 Shirley J.     Adult Non-Fiction    Christmas and Thanksgiving short accounts of happy holiday memories

Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Wonder of Christmas:101 Stories about the Joy of the Season                   by Amy Newmark      384 pages

Happy Memories of Christmas and Thanksgiving with family, friends, pets, childhood, adulthood, senior hood lots of happy short accounts, stories in themselves each, that will bring a touch of holiday cheer to all that read this one.   Brings a little Christmas into your life and memories of your own good times, melancholy times and sweet blessings shared in life.   I recommend this one to all who love the holidays any time of the year.    For young and old, enjoy.

Orphan X

 Shirley J.                 Adult Fiction                           Black Ops Assassins in the Orphan (no ties) program

Orphan X: Book 1 of 8 in the Orphan X series) by Gregg Hurwitz      384 pages 

Evan Smoak is an assassin with a heart and a sense of humor whether he realizes it or not.  Check out his advice to his neighbor's son on how to deal with a bully.  The revised advice is priceless.  Evan was brought into a black ops government program as a child.  He was taught how to mercilessly kill in every way, in every situation with every thing that could possibly kill another human.  The missions he is sent on are exceedingly dangerous and potentially suicidal.  There is no accountability and no record of his identity anywhere.  If caught, he is on his own the government will deny any knowledge only 1 person (his Keeper) knows anything about him or his quest and when that person no longer exists Evan is unknown to anyone, except the Orphan that comes after him who asked to meet and talk about "shop."  Evan sees his chance to get out and takes it, alas the mysterious Orphan Y knows what he looks like.  Evan takes on the identity of "Nowhere Man," wanting to give back to society and help those in need.  He offers his special set of skills (sounds familiar, huh?) to aid women in need trying to get out of their situations and free of whatever messiness might try to keep them tethered.   All goes well until he is put in a situation by his own hand, to help an out of control gambler who has buried herself in debt to nefarious folk who kidnap her father and promise they will make her suffer through what they do to her Dad unless she pays back her debt, but, then maybe they just want to torture her Dad and kill her as an example.  Evan "Nowhere Man" has gotten himself in a spot he may not be able to pull himself out of.   A good thriller with fun banter between the characters.  I recommend this one to mature teens on up.  

Minions: The Rise of Gru: The Movie Novel

 Shirley J.                    Juvenile Fiction                                    How Gru became the villain we all love

Minions: The Rise of Gru: The Movie Novel     144 pages

Gru was a child once before he rose to super (loveable) villain status.      Gru's rise to fame began in the 1970s with groovy minions in bellbottoms discoing to the latest dance tunes when Gru gets the chance to audition for the world's baddest villain group (think Marvel Avengers only rotten) the Vicious 6.  Seeking his future in badness he leaves the minions behind as he sallies forth to his new life so he thinks.   Gru learns a lot about heroes and how they don't always measure up to our expectations, then sometimes they do.   But most important are those who support us through thick and thin even if we forget and turn our backs on them, friends are the family we choose and who choose us in return.  A sweet start to a symbiotic relationship and career.   I recommend this book to kids on up through seniors who love Gru and the Minions. 

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl

 Shirley J.                    Adult Fiction              The final book in the Athena Club series

The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl by Theodora Goss      464 pages

Brilliantly written tale of the daughters of men with questionable motives to the deeds they perpetrated. Victor Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Dr. Moreau, Giacoma Rapuccinni, Van Helsing, along with famous characters, Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Count Dracula, the Harkers, and Victoria Regina herself, then Queen of England makes an appearance.   A delightful romp with the girls up against Holmes' nemesis, Moriarty and his minions who kidnap a kitchen maid who has strong powers of mesmerism, like her mother before her, to help with resurrecting an ancient Egyptian priestess to kidnap the Queen of England and take over the new Roman Empire - England, then the world!  You won't want to put this story down.  Thankfully they have Moreau's daughter, Catherine "Cat," with her puma powers along with Holmes' ragtag street urchin friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and Sherlock's brother, Mycroft.   This is the last book in this series.  I certainly hope the author decides to add future stories with these girls hosting - they are so excellent at what they do.  I recommend this one to middleschoolers on up.  A delightful read.

The Lost City of the Monkey god: A True Story

 Shirley J.              Adult-Non-Fiction        National Graphic in delivery, anthropological questing in S. America for a lost city/civilization 

The Lost City of the Monkey god: A True Story by Douglas Preston    448 pages

The true story of an anthropological journey into the Honduran rainforest set about by anthropologists, writers, filmmakers and cameramen who experienced far more than the discovery of abandoned, hidden ruins of a lost civilization.  The myths turn into truth when they find out the "cursed" civilization they are in search of suffered a terrible fate first by the killing, raping, ravaging, slavers, greedy gold seeking Conquistadors from Spain that brought with them not only advanced weapons to destroy lives with but also diseases the indigenous people had no medical defense against so what havoc the Conquistadors didn't bring about personally they did as hosts to the germs that finished off a once flourishing settlement.  According to Preston what had originally been estimated as a population of 500,000 people was down to 0 in less than 100 years.  Also, the team that went into the Honduran jungle in search of the lost city returned home with deadly parasites the like of which had not been seen before.  Some died of their infestation, others' bodies were broken so that they never fully came back from it nor did they ever fully recover their health, not to mention the oh so poisonous snakes that were literally everywhere in the rainforest.  A tragic trip documented in the film by the same name.   This is such a fascinating read that I recommend it first of all to those who dream of visiting the rainforest, next to budding anthropologists, and lastly to all who hunger for real adventure in their reading from highschool on up.

Infinite Jest

 Shirley J.                     Adult Fiction         Where do I begin? Tennis, Boston, Quebecois, addiction, etc.

Infinite Jest: A Novel by David Foster Wallace     1,088 pages

This felt like the Never Ending Story not the book, in actuality.    At first it started out about football, the it was about a tennis academy, then multitudinous casts of seemingly thousands appear, each with their own stories, Cecil B. DeMille has nothing on this book, it has more characters than even he could cast including all the extras.    I was lost about a 100 pages or more in when the entire story seemed to take an entirely different path and I wondered is this a collection of essays?  But then the storylines overlapped, then entwined got insanely out of bounds, umbilical cords shooting off in every direction yet all twining into each other's story joining however strained and far afield yet all part of the galaxy that is the Incandenza family particularly highlighting youngest son, Hal.  The book is entertaining, it is certainly written well, the wit will have you laughing out loud at times, the grossness will make you pass on your meals, yet the book is so entertaining even though it blends from one storyline to the next it is all flawlessly all one entity once you commit to go with the flow.   It doesn't stop the story just goes from one thing to the next and the years are subsidized by major corporations and no longer known in chronological numbering  but by their corporate sponsor, particularly as the year of the Depend Adult Undergarment not to be confused with the Year of the Whopper, the Year of the Whisper Quiet Maytag Dishmaster, you get the drift.    If you can manage to stick it out to the end I applaud you.   I did, at times the term, "mind-blowing" was more than a phrase it was a literal description.   I often had to put it down and come back to it because it is an explosion of so much information and characters and situations to take in, while genius, it leaves you wanting to get off this horse and just sit and let your mind take it all in until you are up for another ride.   Reading Infinite Jest is more than a notion.   This is not a book to recommend, this is a challenge to put forth in gauntlet form, let ye among you who fears not what you will be up against enter these pages at your own risk.    Extremely well written but a mental steeplechase.    Hydrate and settle in for mental Olympics when you pick this tome up.

Shigeru Ban: Humanitarian Architecture

 Shirley J.           Adult Non-Fiction: Architecture          Building Better Shelter for Disaster Victims 

Shigeru Ban: Humanitarian Architecture    280 pages

In 1994, Architect, Shigeru Ban saw the bits of plastic offered to victims in Rwanda of the genocide of the Tutusi people by the Hutu people.   Ban's humanity cried out in desperation to do something more for them.   Being an architect he started working on ideas to better serve their shelter needs than merely plastic sheets that would be easy to assemble, not terribly expensive to produce and maybe even use recycled materials to help the planet as well as its people.  So began a long serendipitous career and philanthropic journey of Ban and his volunteers to go around the world to devastation sites helping the survivors of tsunami's, hurricanes, etc. to have sheltering home-like environments even in the time of tragic circumstances.   Ban takes recycled materials, plastic crates, containers used to store things on ships, paper tubes, etc. and utilizes them  to make flexible and sustainable temporary structures to allow privacy, protection from the elements and dignity to the peoples suffering from natural and/or man-made disasters.   He utilizes local and sustainable materials aiding the economies of the ravaged locations as well which forges a sense of community even during horrific circumstances around the world.  Shigeru Ban doesn't seek notoriety for his generous compassionate acts, but this book is like a how-to manual for designing then building the shelters that have saved many people and this information could be used as a do-it-yourself helpful tips in a crisis compendium.   Ban's legacy will be how to make a difference in the world and this book shows you how he did.   I recommend this book to anyone interested in building things, especially, to humanitarians who want to help the world be a better place for people to live and those who want so much to give back or pay it forward.   Such good information to be gleaned here.  I recommend this book to middle-schoolers on up to senior citizens.  Any one who wants to pitch in and help.  Ban is an architect of restoring people's faith and dreams.   

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter

Shirley J.                    Adult Fiction           The daughters of Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde, Victor Frankenstein, Giacomo Rappaccini and Dr. Moreau meet and form the Athena Society   

The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (Book 1 of  The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club) 432 pages

Most excellent story of the daughters, natural and created in laboratories, of famous villains in literature.  Mary Jekyll, finds herself nearly broke after the death of both her parents and goes on a sleuthing venture to find the infamous Mr. Hyde who has a significant bounty on his head for information as to his whereabouts and capture.  Mary sees the answer to all of her problems if she can find him.   Her search leads her to much more than she bargained for.  This debut novel is an especially good read full of adventure and characters like Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson, there is murder and criminals afoot and the chase is on in Victorian England.   Such a fun read you will be glad you treated yourself to this one.   Fascinating premise well told by the author.   I recommend this one to middle-schoolers on up.

Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient and Then Turned 16

 Shirley J.            Adult Non-Fiction: Biography                                       The title says it all

Kasher in the Rye: The True Tale of a White Boy from Oakland Who Became a Drug Addict, Criminal, Mental Patient and Then Turned 16 by Moshe Kasher   320 pages

The title eloquently sums up the entire book.   The story is about Moshe Kasher, who is the son of deaf parents, although both he and his older brother are able to hear.   Things go relatively o.k. for Moshe until his parents divorce, his older brother goes away to college and his best friend moves away.   After stealing cigarettes in a local convenience store he is noticed by a local tough guy, Donny, also from the Oakland area.  They get to talking and Moshe shares some of the stolen smokes, being impressed with Moshe's brass, he invites him to hang out with some of the other guys (Donny's crowd).   Moshe, being lonely without his friend, jumps at the offer.   Moshe is overweight and becomes known in the bunch of guys (he always points out they were not a gang) as fata** or other monikers on that line.  They turn Moshe on to the drugs they are doing, first weed (marijuana) then acid (LSD) etc.   Oh yeah, and they drink like youthful alcoholics so with Moshe's dexterity, he is designated liquor thief so they can party for free.   This is a most excellent tell-all a bout the realities of teenage life trying to fit in, doing drugs, drinking, whatever it takes to be accepted as a part of the group.   This should be mandatory reading for all young folks as a cautionary tale on how easy it is to fall into and how hard to drag yourself out even if you want to and sadly many don't.   It shows the ugly, mean side of addiction and the violence perpetrated on family and friends that will push you to do whatever necessary to achieve another high.  It is sad and true and real.   Bravo to Moshe Kasher for sharing his life so that others may know what is on the other side of the trip.   I highly recommend this as required reading for middle and/or highschoolers on up through adults.   It will keep you glued to its pages cover to cover and the good news is he climbs out of his hole at the end and writes this book.

Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me

Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me by Sutanya Dacres 352 pages

I enjoy most foodie memoirs/biographies. If y’all haven’t read and of Ruth Reichl’s series of growing up and working around food, I highly recommend them.  They are simply wonderful, as is the one novel she wrote, “Delicious.”

I thought I was getting kind of the same things when I picked up “Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Saved Me.” Well, I read, and read, and read, and read, and read. Took me almost a month to finish this book. I was bound and determined to finish it and find that nugget that would have made it all worthwhile. The book contained almost one hundred pages of recipes, so I just knew that it would be unputdownable.

I was wrong. It starts out well enough, with Dacres meeting her husband, who is only referred to TFM (The French Man) through all 352 pages, in the New York.  They had a long distant relationship for three years before they married.  Dacres left everything and everybody she knew and loved to move to Paris.

The honeymoon didn’t seem to last long. Dacres knew no one in Paris, didn’t know her way around, and barely spoke the language. I would have thought that she would try to learn the basics before she moved to Paris, but she didn’t. French is not an easy language to learn, and Dacres didn’t seem that interested. TFM had his own set of friends, was a native Parisian, and a job. Dacres seemed alone most of the time.

Readers must watch Dacres and TFM’s marriage fall apart for more than two thirds of the book.  It got old after a while. Normally I would have bailed, but I was really waiting for the good part.  Mostly after Dacres and TFM separated we had to watch as she drank too much and had a series of one-night stands.

She does decide that she is spending too much of her time trashed and starts cooking, but it is too little too late. There isn’t much about cooking in this memoir and not a mention of the recipes that she includes.  I was extremely disappointed in this narrative, and equally as irritated at myself for hanging on to the very last word, especially since it put me seven books behind toward my Goodreads goal. Therefore “Dinner for One: How Cooking in Paris Save Me” receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. 

 

The Memory of Light

 Shirley J.                       Juvenile Fiction                              Teenagers experiencing mental illnesses

The Memory of Light by Francisco X. Stork     352 pages

Vicky Cruz is still dealing with the after effects of losing her mother.  Plus her older sister who was her lifeline while going through their mutual grief has left for college.   Their father remarried soon after losing his wife as a way to buffer his feelings of grief rather than sharing their common sorrow at the family being torn.  It isn't that their new step-mother is awful it is just too much too fast to adjust to it all when in Vicki's heart there is only room for the tears she sheds for the loss of her mother.  Her Dad becomes distant and gets rid of all their mother's things, doesn't want to talk about her and takes out his jumbled anger, grief, angst on his youngest daughter.  He pushes her to do things, to stay busy, to excel when all she wants to do is hide from a cruel world where she is now all alone.  Her sister stays busy with her new friends and activities calling home less and less.  Their father measures Vicki's lack of accomplishments and lack of academic prowess against her sister who sounds perfect in his praise of her.   School is awful, a boy she doesn't have any feelings for keeps pressing her to be his girlfriend.  Her Dad keeps giving her attitude and wants to know what is wrong with her all the time and why wouldn't she appreciate the attentions of the nice boy practically forcing himself into her life when she doesn't want him and tells him so.   Her only friend is their Spanish housekeeper who loves Vicky and whom Vicky loves like the grandmother she never had.   The housekeeper is older and cannot meet the standards Vicky's Father and Step-Mother set so her father fires her and sends her away.  That is the final straw and Vicki tries to end her life.  She is discovered as she enters death's door and is pulled back into life and deposited in a mental hospital in a ward where there are other teenagers dealing with their own raging mental demons, from paranoia, to hearing voices, to coping with savior complexes, each teen has their own distinct struggle and Vicky is accepted into a group where she feels more alive than she ever has.   Dr. Desai works with the group and offers each a helping hand up from their terrors but, Vicki's Dad has his own agenda and does not want his daughter associating with psychopaths.  Chaos ensues.   A good story written by an author who has struggled with depression and speaks from a place of empathy and knowledge for the characters in this book.   I recommend this book to middle-schoolers on up.   An enjoyable read that will open the reader to the world of mental disorders and treatments both classical and unique in reaching those experiencing the traumas of brains that see the world everyone does but interprets it singularly.  

Natural Symbols

Natural Symbols: Explorations in Cosmology by Mary Douglas, 167 pages

In the conventional view, as history progresses men naturally turn away from rote ritual in favor of more personal and meaningful expressions of social life and worship.  Ritual is viewed as something imposed by the strong upon the weak in order to reinforce the existing power relationships.  As Mary Douglas explains in this revelatory work, this simple narrative fails to account for either the diversity of ritual intensity and development among "primitive" peoples and the passionate connection to ritual of certain marginalized groups in the developed world.  Instead, she concludes, ritual is a vital part of the language of peoples with a strong sense of community and well-defined social roles, while populations that are more undifferentiated and individualistic reject ritual and prioritize inward states and expressive gestures.  Moreover, she suggests, this latter attitude not only reflects and enhances the alienation of the individual from society, but encourages a conception of the spirit as radically independent of, and naturally in opposition to, the body.

Douglas is very clear that she is building upon the work of a number of others, and this can be a bit disorienting for those not familiar with some of the thinkers and theories involved.  This is a small price for a study that so lucidly explicates much that would otherwise remain inexplicable, not least of all the ingrained, and often unexamined, hostility to ritual, both civic and religious, on the part of modern Western elites, both secular and ecclesiastic.  

JOMO

 Shirley J.                   Adult Non-Fiction                          How to stay happy and active while staying home

JOMO: Celebrate the Joy of Missing Out!  By Jessica Misener       208 pages

For those of us who find staying home just as fun as a night on the town.  There are over 350 suggestions here for being home but being active whether alone or inviting others over for a fun night of board games, sushi parties, dancing, binge watching t.v. or films, learning a new language, teasing your brain with challenges like taking SAT practice tests, crosswords, etc.   From bbq-ing regardless the season to indoor picnics to clothes swaps, to learning a new skill or a new language watching tutorial  videos on YouTube, to cleaning your house, your closet, your work area with purpose and intention to learning YOGA, QiGong or Feng Shu-ing your space.   So many great suggestions here for staycationing or evening outs staying in (Prom Party - dress up, do your hair and play your favorite teen music to showing movies on an outside wall of your house for a trip back to the drive-in days.  Tiki Party anyone?  So much fun is packed in these pages, everyone will want to stay home and try these ideas!  What a blast!  I recommend this to elementary kids on up.   Kids may not get all the references, Twin Peaks marathon?  But they will get Harry Potter marathon!  All of us will find many fun ideas to carry out here, and if it is a quiet night in alone you are looking for reading, listening to a book on tape, watching your favorite movie again, sleeping in when a long night's sleep is called for, or interesting sounds/background noise to soothe the soul as you relax, you will find all things here and you don't have to get out of your sweatpants to do them.  Life is good.

My Name Is Memory

 

Shirley J.                              Adult Fiction                                              Past Lives, Kindred Souls

My Name Is Memory by Ann Brashares    352 pages

Daniel has been reborn many times since the year 552 until present time.  He is one of only a few reincarnated souls that know who he is, remembers his past lives and knows others when he meets them that are also reborn.   Not all reborn souls have this gift or curse depending on how you look at it and the girl he knows as Sofia from their first encounter in 552 never remembers him when they incarnate anew, though, in some lives he was able to bring back memories of their times together.  Daniel has loved Sofia eternally though they have never consummated that love.   Some lives they were related, some strangers of vastly different ages and now they appear close in age, in the same town but their encounters are fraught with obstacles.   Will this time be different?  Will they be able to get past their mutual baggage?  And what about Joachim, Daniel's brother and husband of Sofia in one significant life where he beat Sofia and treated her terribly.   Daniel is not alone on his journey though he has died badly a number of times, there is the elusive, Ben, who pops up in various genders from life to life but who is wise for one who seems so young.   A good story with lots of good points brought up about reincarnation.  I think folks with a bent for the paranormal, reincarnation, past lives regression, sci-fi will deeply enjoy this story, if you are anti reincarnation you will not enjoy this one at all.  I think it is a little deep for the younger set but mature teens may enjoy the whole reincarnation of it all.  The eternal quest for the love of one's life will appeal to the romantic set.  I think I would tend to recommend this to mature teens to adults. 

Debbie Macomber's Table: Sharing the Joy of Cooking With Family and Friends: A Cookbook

 

Shirley J.    Adult Non-Fiction Cookbook         Excellent recipes of romance writer Debbie Macomber

Debbie Macomber's Table: Sharing the Joy of Cooking with Family and Friends: A Cookbook  by          Debbie Macomber   224 pages

Most excellent recipes from famed romance writer, Debbie Macomber.  Debbie brings warmth and hospitality to the pages of this cookbook, personal recipes of her own, her family's and friends.  But mostly her own.   She enlightens the reader with simple to make, easy to follow instructions (the woman is a teacher and mentor she gives culinary wisdom in such a down-to-earth way even I with my meager cooking skills can follow) and the joy she will bring you from such simple beginnings that will bring praise and applauding for the fancy dishes that will turn out on your table.    The woman is a fairy godmother of cuisine!  My personal favorite - bacon wrapped dates is probably the easiest recipe in the book to follow but really elaborate looking and tasting!   Delights await within these pages.   You will want to buy a copy to keep on hand to refer back to over and over.  Makes me wish I could move in the Macomber house to enjoy these wonderful dishes.  Debbie also shares stories and anecdotes with the reader about her kids, her daughter-in-law, her grandkids, her husband, her parents, her friends and her former personal assistant of 22 years and their favorite recipes.   A feel good book in its own rite.  I recommend it to all want to be cooks at any age.  Youngsters will require a bit of help but a grandma's kitchen will ensue.  This is one of the very best cookbooks I have read and plan to put into action.     

 

The Kingdoms of Savannah

The Kingdoms of Savanah by George Dawes Green 304 pages

This Southern Gothic Noir novel has been compared to one of my favorite books, John Berendt’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”  However, I didn’t find anything about this novel anywhere close to MGGE.

I must be on some kind of weird streak because this is the third book in a row that has thoroughly disappointed me. I should have known when the readers are told that two of the catalyst characters are murdered and disappears, respectively, in the second sentence.

Most of Savannah knows what happened and who is responsible, but the police, once again, look the other way. But society maven Morgana Musgrove has decided that the case needs more than the police are willing to do. She owns a small private investigation firm and puts it to work. Over the course, all four of her adult children are involved, but it’s nothing to write home about; It’s not even a page turner.

The “Kingdoms” that is referred to in the title are homeless encampment that ring the city. And the dark secrets the Savannah is trying to hide are hidden beneath its tourist spots. Savannah, Georgia, has secrets? How shocking! But the book is supposed to reveal those secrets that were neither shocking nor surprises. It never, truly, did.

Author Dawes Green goes against conventional things like punctuation, grammar, paragraph break, accents, character descriptions---which I’m not against---but they have to work, and you guessed it! For me they didn’t. Therefore, “The Kingdoms of Savannah” receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world. 

 

Hotel Portofino

Hotel Portofino by J. P. O’Connell 376 pages

I don’t remember where I first saw the cover of this novel, but I was intrigued. On learning that it was not only to be made into a six-part PBS series (which is airing now), it also checked all the boxes on why I pickup a book---FABULOUS cover, historical fiction (set in the 1920s) and takes place in Italy (the Italian Riviera to be precise). It’s gotta be great, right?

Wrong! For me, this book was utterly disappointing. I’m enjoy character-driven stories, but each of these characters lacked depth or they were caricatures of what a such-and-such person should be like.

Bella Ainsworth opened the luxurious Hotel Portofino a few weeks ago, and the visitors are beginning to arrive. From their first glances, the guests look down their noses at what is described as a state-of-the-art, modern as possible, hotel.

Besides the hard-to-please guests, Bella is juggling a lot of other physically and emotionally draining events. Her marriage to Cecil is on the rocks. He comes across as slimy and supports Danionin, an equally slimy politician who thinks Mussolini is a rock star.

Their son, Lucian, is recovering from the Great War; I’m surmising that is suffers from PTSD, or shell shock as they would have called it. Bella has a potential bride coming to make his acquaintance.

Their daughter, Alice, is a nervous wreck and a people pleaser. Not sure about her at all.

I had a lot of trouble differentiating between each of the guest; they are interchangeable.

Plus, I would have never truly figured out the time setting as it is never mentioned, except on the back cover

The descriptions of the setting, the Italian Riviera were gorgeous though, which is why “Hotel Portofino” receives 2 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world instead of one. I’ve been recording the PBS series, and now I’m sacred to watch it, but this might be the one time that a movie is better than the book.