You are browsing the archive for April 2011.
Jana Pryor witnessed it all. Her grandmother, Jane, suffered for 5 years from Alzheimers and Jana was her caretaker for every day of it. The book is Jane’s eye witness account. Told in 9 chapters, a quick 90 pages, Jana takes you through each slow stage from beginning to end.
Having considered becoming a foster parent just last year, I was more than willing to read and review Dennis Harris’s book, Foster Child. It is the true account of the author growing up as a ward of the state. Dennis was born in DC and became an orphan at a very early age when his working Mom could no longer afford to take care of him. Unfortunately for him, he remained in a city operated orphanage for much of his youth until he eventually entered foster care.
In a world where one decision can alter the course of a lifetime, Elliot Tiber spins a tale of change more glittering and twisty than the Yellow Brick road. Palm Trees on the Hudson (A true story of the mob, Judy Garland & interior decorating.) showcases the narrative of Tiber’s life pre-Woodstock. Our narrator clicks his ruby heels and escorts readers through a world filled with scowling Jewish mothers, Bohemian neighbors, and outlandish Mafia clientele. Past all the trials and turbulence, Tiber’s audience is afforded sensual immersion in Judy Garland’s music, inspired styles of self-expression, and night life so dazzling my wanderlust began to ache for old New York, New York.
Kimberly Kinrade and I have something in common. We both write to free ourselves “from the tyranny of my words” as she says in a small entry in the beginning of her anthology, Bits of You & Pieces of Me. I shook my head in agreement when I read that. Her book is a collection of short stories, journal essays, and poems – a well organized file of information from deep within the mind of a writer. While I do enjoy reading such collections from indie authors, it is often hard to make a connection with any one piece since they are just a few pages.
Cole Alpaugh’s book, The Bear in a Muddy Tutu, immediately had my full attention as it began with the story of Buddy Wayne Hooduk, an odd character of sorts who has just abandoned his needy mother and is intent on convincing people that he is God. With stolen guidebook in hand, How To Become a Cult Leader in 50 Easy Steps, Buddy sets out to find his flock. Odd circumstances cause Buddy to take charge of a run-down traveling circus where an oddball loser like Buddy doesn’t seem so out of place.
A fictional parallel to Facebook called MyFace links the geographically diverse lives in Bonnie Rozanski’s Six Clicks Away. The action begins at Xavier College in New Jersey with the lovely and superficial Rachel who is obsessed with accumulating as many MyFace friends as possible.
A very good piece of writing, which pulls in the reader from the first. A great build-up of characters and easy ‘drop-in’ descriptions.
I came across Leslie Strickland’s book either via Twitter or Facebook and requested a review copy through the book’s website. It just goes to show that marketing yourself online really works! Leslie was gracious enough to send a hardcover copy to me.
C.V. reviews Chuggie and the Desecration of Stagwater by Brent Michael Kelley
Shannon reviews The Boston 395 by Jason Derr
Susan reviews Appraisal for Murder by Elaine Orr
C.V. reviews Hellwatch by Larime Taylor (February's 1st review)
Jaime reviews The Parrot's Perch by Karen Keilt
Susan reviews Dark Mind by Jennifer Chase
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