RebeccasReads

Why? Answers to Life’s Most Important Question

Mandeep Khera
Author House (2008)
ISBN 9781438911977
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/08)

Have you ever wondered why certain events occur?  What causes things to happen to certain people but not to others?  How is it that a young child can die in an airplane crash but a convicted murderer can live to a ripe, old age?  Why do some people fall victim to natural disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis whereas others remain untouched?  What are the reasons behind these events?  Are they random?  Are they pre-determined?  Are they destiny?  Why did God cause these things to occur, or did he?

These and other questions are at the heart of Mandeep Khera’s book “Why? Answers to life’s most important question.”  The book has lofty goals, as stated in the Prologue, as it “is intended to provide readers with the meaning of God, religion, death, life, happiness, the power of positive thinking, a parallel Universe, and other thought-provoking concepts.”    The author attempts to address some of these issues providing us with insight of both a religious and scientific nature. 

When I first read the main concept of the book I was a little skeptical as to how someone could expect to answer such important questions, especially in a book as compact as one with only 140 pages.  However, once I began reading the book, I really enjoyed the thought-provoking discussions of these issues as well as the act of looking at certain issues from different viewpoints other than my own.  Khera makes many good points and has some very convincing arguments as to why he has come up with the answers that he has.

The author’s writing is very clear and flows smoothly.  “Why?” is a book that the average person will be able to read and comprehend.  Khera illustrates his points with examples that we are all familiar with and can easily relate to.  I think that anyone can benefit from the majority of the advice that he gives, particularly the “Thirteen Steps for a Contented Life” at the end of the book.  “Why? Answers to life’s most important question” is an excellent book that will stimulate your mind and provide instruction on how to live a more happy, positive life.

Divine Justice

David Baldacci
Grand Central Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780446195508
Reviewed by Narayan Radhakrishnan for RebeccasReads.com (12/08)

I am slowly turning into a David Baldacci fan… a fanatic of David Baldacci thrillers. Ever since I read “Absolute Power” (and later saw the movie starring Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman) I have been in the habit of reading the novels of David Baldacci. And its not often you hear of a lawyer author who has carved success in a genre, outside the legal thriller genre.

But when Baldacci introduced the “Camel Club” series, I just went bonkers. The concept of conspiracy theory was given another dimension, a facelift by Baldacci, and I just had to buy and read, re-read, re-re-read all of his books.  Thus, I bought and read “The Camel Club,” “The Collectors” and “Stone Cold,” and I became a fan of Oliver Stone. For the uninitiated Baldacci reader, Oliver Stone is the series protagonist. And if you confuse him with the real Oliver Stone, I can’t blame you: like his eponymous, this Oliver Stone is also one big conspiracy theorist; in fact the origin of this Oliver Stone is also shrouded in conspiracy.

“Divine Justice” ties up some loose ends in the Camel Club series. The origin of the man Oliver Stone is dealt with in this book. John Carr was one of United States’ leading assassins. However, he soon got fed up with his job and wanted to call it quits. His bosses disagreed and to keep Carr as an assassin, they developed an idea: simple, kill off his family.  But the plan goes awry, and a bereaved Carr takes his guns against those in CIA and the power circles in United States. He kills the CIA chief, as well as a Senator and goes into hiding. The CIA deputes one Macklin Hays to trace John Carr. (And oh…before I forget, Carr was the earlier avatar of Oliver Stone.) But now Stone is in a place called Divine in Virginia. It is a sleepy coal-mining town, but with Stone arriving there, the ‘sleepiness’ doesn’t last long…

With their boss in hiding, the other members of the Camel Club are also at a loss of what to do, but they know one thing, they must rescue their chief, they must help him…but does Stone really require their help?

Frolicking between the past and present, alternating between the life of John Carr and the life of Oliver Stone, David Baldacci offers a unique thriller with an absorbing (and twisted) plotline, which culminates in a finish that is vintage Baldacci. Highly, highly enjoyable, I really absolutely devoured the book.

On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department

Daniel P. Smith
Lake Claremont Press (2008)
ISBN 9781893121126
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

The author of “On the Job: Behind the Stars of the Chicago Police Department,” Daniel P. Smith, grew up in a Chicago Police family.  With two of his great uncles, two of his uncles, his father, and his brother all being members of the Chicago Police Department, Smith definitely has an inside look into the department and its officers.  Smith himself chose a different career path as he says that he lacks “the assertive nature necessary to become a cop in one of the world’s most dangerous cities and the mental makeup to challenge a city notorious for its criminal action.” (p.1) Despite his decision not to join the “family business,” he still finds the department to be very intriguing and chose to write “On the Job” to share with us “the interworkings of one of history’s most storied professions in one of the world’s most storied cities and to do so in the most truthful of lights.” (p. 4)

I found the stories in the book to be very engaging and enjoyed getting a glimpse into the lives of the officers in the department.  One of the most interesting things in the book to me was in the beginning where Smith prints a chart of all of the calls received on one particular Saturday night shift in Chicago’s West Side 11th District.  The sheer number and nature of the calls is staggering.  Every couple of minutes there was something different.  Right at the beginning of the shift there was a narcotics call, two minutes later there was a criminal damage to property, after two more minutes a domestic disturbance.  This fast pace continued on for the entire shift with not a moment’s rest. 

“On The Job” is a well-written and informative account of real-life police work in one of the nation’s largest cities.  The photographs peppered throughout the book really add to the book’s authenticity.  The personal stories of the various officers are definitely ones that should be read.  Anyone interested in police work or in the city of Chicago will enjoy the inside look that Smith’s “On the Job” delivers.  

Testimony: A Novel

Anita Shreve
Cumberland House Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780316059862
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

“Testimony” begins from the perspective of the headmaster of Avery Academy, Mike.  He has come into possession of a sex tape, a tape in which all four individuals involved are students at the academy.  The contents of the tape are very graphic and extremely disturbing.  “It was a small cassette, not much bigger than the palm of his hand, and when Mike thought about the terrible license and risk exhibited on the tape, as well as its resultant destructive power, it was as though the two-by-three plastic package had been radioactive.  Which it may as well have been, since it produced something very like radiation sickness throughout the school, reducing the value of an Avery education, destroying at least two marriages that he knew of, ruining the futures of three students, and, most horrifying of all, resulting in a death.” (p.3)   

The book continues to explore the implications that one act can have on the future, each chapter told from a different character’s point of view.  The constant changing between characters every few pages is a little confusing at times, especially in the beginning when you do not know who any of them are.  However, as the book goes on and you become more familiar with the players, it becomes much easier to follow.

It is very interesting to see the different perspectives of the life-altering event and the impact that it has on everyone involved.  Throughout the book we get snippets here and there of what actually happened and by the end of the novel we have the entire story.  The main premise is definitely something that every mother dreads, and unfortunately it is becoming all too common in today’s world.  It is this very reason that the book is so interesting.  It is something you don’t want to see, but once you do see it is hard to look away.  It takes the events of one night, shows the ripple effects that occur, and the resulting unfortunate consequences.

Anita Shreve has created another wonderful novel!  The characters and plot are very interesting and intriguing, making “Testimony” a book that once you begin reading you will not want to put it down.        

Best Little Stories from the Life and Times of Winston Churchill

C. Brian Kelly
Cumberland House Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781603420761
Reviewed by Randy A. Lakin for RebeccasReads (12/08)

If you are a Winston Churchill fan, or a history buff, this is one book you will not want to miss. C. Brian Kelly’s biography, “Best Little Stories from the Life and Times of Winston Churchill” is great.  I have long been a history buff, but never really read much on Winston Churchill until now.  I was truly captivated with the book.  Kelly does a great job with these short stories in showing you the man behind the name of Churchill.

The book starts out with Churchill’s early life, and to my surprise Churchill was a sickly child who had trouble with authority.  This may have been brought on by his inattentive parents, who left his up-bring to a nanny.  Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill was born into the Seventh Duke of Marlborough’s Blenheim palace.  The Duke was his grandfather, and Randolph Churchill was his father.  While he was born into the Duke’s family, they did not like Winston’s mother Jennie, an American. 

Winston worked his way up through the normal channels like so many other British elite.  No one could tell it now, but Winston Churchill, the great speaker, had to overcome a speech impediment.  As a child he struggled in school, survived a near death bout with pneumonia, survived three concussions, and even a minor stabbing from a classmate, all before he became a teenager.

Winston Churchill predicted, while still in school, that England would face terrible threats in the future and that he would be the one to come forth and save the British people and country. During World War II with Hitler is when Churchill came through as Britain’s Prime Minister, and he gave the people of Great Britain hope. 

To conclude, I would say that C. Brian Kelly’s book is great.  He starts out with the birth of Winston and covers everything up to and including his death, while doing a good job of keeping your interest.  The book even has a section on Winston’s mother Jennie.  This is one book that anyone interested in Winston Churchill should read.  The author gives Churchill’s life in a straight line yet makes it feel like a roller coaster ride getting to the end of the book.  I have to admit I could not put the book down; “Best Little Stories from the Life and Times of Winston Churchill” is a must have.  I was impressed and I think you will be, too.

The Good-to-Go Cookbook: Take-along Food, Quick Suppers, and Satisfying Snacks for On-The-Go Families

Kathleen Cannata Hanna
Storey Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781603420761
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (12/08)

“The Good-to-Go Cookbook- Take-Along Food, Quick Suppers, and Satisfying Snacks for On-the-Go Families” is a fun cookbook that promotes eating homemade and gives easy and fast alternatives to frozen meals and fast food.  The book is divided up into ten different sections:  Fast Break for Breakfast, Super Snacks, Grab and Go, The Lunch Crunch, 15-Minute Dishes, 30-Minute Dishes, Family Meals and One-Pot Deals, Pasta, Please!, Simple Side Dishes, and Dessert on a Dime.   

In the introduction, the author, Kathleen Cannata Hanna, suggests creating a weekly menu plan, being sure to plan around scheduled activities.  Making a list of everything that you'll need will help you be a more efficient shopper and will save unnecessary midweek trips to pick up ingredients.  At one time I used to do exactly this and I just felt so much more organized.  It is definitely a habit that I would love to get back into. 

I’ll admit, although I do like to cook, I don’t cook breakfast.  My children eat cold cereal for breakfast almost every morning.  Neither one of them will eat eggs at all so my options are somewhat limited with them.  After going through the breakfast section of the cookbook I found a few new ideas that I think my children would really enjoy.  The “Fresh Fruit Cups,” which are basically fruit in an ice cream cone, sound like a lot of fun and the “Energy-Boost Parfait” seems like a nutritious meal that they both will eat without complaint. 

I love fast meals so I was especially drawn to the 15-minute and 30-minute meals chapters.  The first recipe that I tried was the recipe for “Fast Fajitas.”  I was trying to find recipes for my leftover Thanksgiving turkey so I looked up “turkey” in the index and decided upon this dish.  They were super easy to make and ready from start to finish in less than 15 minutes.  My family enjoyed them very much! 

Another recipe I tried, this time from the 30-minute section, was the Peanut Butter Chicken.  My children could live on peanut butter if I would let them, so I figured that they would absolutely love this meal and they did.  They thought it was hilarious that I was putting peanut butter in the chicken instead of in bread or celery sticks.  Both could not wait to try it, and gobbled it right down when it was ready.     

The book is filled with so many great, easy recipes!  I have tons of them bookmarked including the BLT Soup, the Pizza Steak, and the Zucchini Lasagna.  I can’t wait to go back and try these meals out on my family.  One thing I like about this cookbook is that there are not a lot of strange ingredients.  All of the needed items for the recipes are common ingredients, not ones that you will purchase just for the recipe and never use again. “The Good-to-Go Cookbook” is the perfect cookbook for any busy family and will provide you with many new and simple menu ideas.  You truly can make homemade meals even when you are crunched for time!

Jenny’s Dream: A Family’s Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho

Linda Weaver Clarke
American Book Publishing Group (2008)
ISBN 9781589824461
Reviewed by Allison King for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Linda Weaver Clarke has captured the essence of reaching for your dreams, no matter what happens to throw you off the path of getting there.   In “Jenny’s Dream,” the third book in “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” series, eldest daughter, Jenny, is home from college for the summer. She is feeling trapped in the small town of Paris, Idaho and wants to go out in to the world and accomplish something to show everyone she is more than a pretty girl. Her writing is what keeps her ambition in full drive, until she meets Will. He isn’t the most ‘handsome’ man in town, and he is only a farmer, but she becomes close friends with him. Will secretly falls in love with Jenny, but does she feel the same way? Jenny’s past haunts her ability to move forward in her life in love and her dreams of being a writer. She will have to make a decision that might hurt those closest to her, for her dreams to come true.

In the meantime, Jenny’s dad, Gilbert, is helping in the search of an old grizzly bear that is attacking the local sheep and scaring the town folk. He feels the need to be a part of the hunt, even thought his wife, Melinda, is against it. When he comes face to face with the legendary bear, Three Toes, Gilbert must balance the safety of the town with the concern of his family for his life.

I loved this book as much as I did the first two books in the series. I was drawn in to Jenny’s life and wondered what decisions she would make for her future. The amazing details of the family dynamics, descriptions of the beautiful scenery and the historical facts of the time all made the story believable. The ease of the writing made it feel as though I was eavesdropping in on their lives. I didn’t want the story to end (which it won’t since their will be two more books in the series)! The best part of the book was the relationship that grows between Jenny and Will. The author didn’t use the stereotypical ‘handsome’ male for the male character. This was refreshing to me, since all of us on this earth aren’t as perfect as most book characters are made out to be. This relationship reminds us that getting to know a person from the inside first and being friends, can grow in to something more.

“Jenny’s Dream” is a book for all ages and can wrap you up and make you feel warm inside with the love and hope that dreams can come true if you believe hard enough.

One Perfect Day: A Novel

Lauraine Snelling
FaithWords (2008)
ISBN 9780446582100
Reviewed by Jeneke Lesak for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Lauraine Snelling’s novel "One Perfect Day" details how the lives of two families collide under tragic circumstances, but with a hopeful outcome.  It is written from the mothers' points of view, both hoping for the “perfect Christmas”.  However, when one mother’s son is in a near fatal car crash, she and her husband must make the difficult decision to take him off the ventilator and donate his organs.  His heart is given to the daughter of the other protagonist, allowing her a chance for a new life. 

Snelling uses this story as a platform to express her Christian beliefs.  The book is targeted for audiences of all ages.  If Christian inspirational prose is your cup of tea, then this is the book for you.

Snelling’s central message is that God is always here for us in times of need.  When we are in such times of desperation, like the loss of a child, it is easy to turn your back on God, but he is still there.  The world will keep turning even when tragedy strikes, and even though a period of grief is expected, it is important to keep looking forward and live the life that God gave us.  Snelling is certainly successful in carrying out her message.  However, this message becomes slightly repetitive, as it is presented so often throughout the book.  Perhaps, Snelling feels that the situations of her characters deem the right to introduce this message in every new person that comes along.  In doing so, the characters appear slightly one-dimensional.  The writing, at times, is repetitive and too detailed with so many minor events of daily life included that they seem like filler.

While this novel has an appealing storyline, I only give it three stars, because of the redundancy.  Sometimes, less is more, and I think, had Snelling held back a little more, the message of the story would still ring strong and true.  I was drawn to finishing the story and discover what would happen in the lives of the characters.  I did come away with a sense of hope, and I believe this is what Snelling wants to achieve in her readers

Business Defined: The Philosophy of Business

James Lemoine
Harbinger Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780615198897
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for RebeccasReads (12/08)

To define your words helps to steady and sharpen your mental aim; it will keep you from spending your energy on distractions and false steps. But taking the time to clearly define your terms is hard to do in a rambunctious corporate world. The hurried business leader will therefore find James Lemoine’s “Business Defined: The Philosophy of Business” a handy help in this regard. Lemoine has authored a fine, short, 203 page paperback manual that many corporate leaders and executives will find beneficial to clarifying their terms and launching out towards a more solid success.

In “Business Defined,” Lemoine takes 25 important words, and works each one of them over until he has pulled together a workable, applicable and usable definition. He covers “Business,” “Communication,” “Customer Service,” “Ethics,” “Marketing,” and a host of other words. Each segment is short enough to be comprehensively covered in a quick ten minutes, and is placed in alphabetical order for speedy reference.

“Business Defined” stays on target: creating an understanding on the central business concepts with the goal of greater success, effectiveness, profit, and mission accomplishment. Each division faces the common misconceptions and poor a priori assumptions leaders have, clears them away and replaces them with healthier designations.

If there was a weak point in “Business Defined” it came out under “Ethics.”  Part of the problem has little to do with the author and more to do with the present pluralistic era, where there is barely any agreed on standard of right or wrong. When once the Protestant work ethic was the reigning paradigm, it has now been replaced by an ever-changing, ever-growing imposition of governmental regulation. But Lemoine wants to avoid a definition of “the ethical is what you do to stay out of trouble” and to move toward something more positive. That leaves him with his only option, defining ethics in the most subjective terms: doing right by your customer. The reader who will give any thought to that statement for more than five minutes will see the moral minefield and ethical quagmire that is waiting to entrap a business.

If you’re looking for a quick, but solid book to guide your fledgling business, or to reorient your older establishment and steer it back on track, or f your company has a monthly leadership reading group, then I highly recommend “Business Defined.”

$1.1 Million in 10 Years: The Military Road to Wealth and Retirement

Erik Bernard
BookSurge Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9781419656712
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for RebeccasReads (12/08)

Is it really possible? Is there a real, workable, accomplishable way to earn and save over one million dollars while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces? Well, there’s one military man who thinks so, and has put into print his way of engaging personal economics. Erik Bernard has masterfully laid out his plan in “$1.1 Million in 10 Years: The Military Road to Wealth and Retirement”.  This short, 150 page paperback is an enlightening, thoughtful, fact-filled handbook, designed to lead those who are serious about their financial future to a successful and prosperous fortune. And though the book is geared toward helping fellow soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines to that end, it is a valuable resource for anyone looking in the direction of engineering their own strong fiscal destiny.

One of the first things the reader will find is that Bernard has done his homework. In “$1.1 Million in 10 Years” the writer lays out the variety of investment opportunities, their pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses, in a way that the average person can comprehend. In fact, the various investment options takes up the majority of the book, from real estate, to having a 401(k), to gold, to multinational corporations and stocks. Yet Bernard never falls into an either/or trap, but keeps to his pervasive theme of ‘diversification’.

There are also a few surprises in “$1.1 Million in 10 Years”. For one thing the author swims against the cultural tide of the debt mentality. Bernard encourages getting out and staying out of debt, showing how that in itself will free up cash for the future. Then there is some serious thinking on the history of money, gold and inflation. The regular, non-technical person will gain quite a bit of insight into the present economic mayhem that is churning in America from this section. The final surprise is the down-to-earth way in which everything is presented. The writer does not take it for granted that his audience is privy to any special guild language. Therefore almost everything is defined and explained so that it is easily understood.

Though for many the idea of reaching a golden horizon of over one million dollars on a military paycheck might seem unrealistic, the primary benefit of “$1.1 Million in 10 Years” is that one will walk away from this book better educated on how to smartly prepare for retirement and inspired to get a move on toward a comfortable financial future. I highly recommend “$1.1 Million in 10 Years” for service members and civilians alike.

Necessary Evil

Aaron Baker Cole
iUniverse, Inc. (2005)
ISBN 9780595358991
Reviewed by Mary Durfor for RebeccasReads (12/08)

From the haunting Acknowledgment and the heart-felt Author’s Note that begin this novel, the reader is immediately captivated by the writer and thrust into Billy Ray Hawkins’ young life.  Its Billy Ray’s painful but useful lack of certain moral fiber which allows him to carefully plan and execute the demise of his abusive stepfather.  Billy had had an early and very close relationship with his deceased father, who had provided hours of lessons regarding such things as how a pendulum really works, and by age fourteen Billy had become quite proficient in putting these lessons to practical (albeit lethal) use. With a complicated plan involving a swing on the giant live oak tree in the yard at their house on the bayou, and an alligator named Joshua, the stepfather was soon dispatched.

Billy’s long and complicated relationship with his “soul mate,” Jenna, begins when they are school chums.  Their true psychic connection leads him to always show up at the right moment and “save” her in adverse or painful situations.  Jenna can always sense when something is not quite right with Billy or his life. She becomes a medical student, and she endures visits by the dark, vaporous overwhelming presence of Billy, crowding her mind, leaving the feeling of invasion behind.

As a seminary student, Billy is haunted by the deviant sexual and especially pedophilic activities of an alarming number of priests, bishops, and even an arch-bishop, all of whom are handled in the same way by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church:  reorientation training, and payoffs to the innocent victims’ families, with reassignment to another parish, another school, a different state, always moving them, hiding their transgressions, never disclosing any of the pain and suffering caused by their actions. 

Billy’s close professional relationship with the Monsignor of the seminary, Monsignor Montalvo, began his long and torturous slide down the slippery slope of seeking revenge, meeting out punishment to the priests with prurient pasts and presents, always making sure he had a moment to let them realize why they had to die, and leaving a rosary to symbolize the Catholic Church’s mentality of Get Out Of Hell Free cards, the practice of confession, request for absolution, penance to be performed, and eventual complete forgiveness of the act, no matter how horrendous it was.  Billy descended into that place where he needed to cleanse his own mind of the detritus remaining after each termination episode, as he recognized the beginnings of the sensations of power and invulnerability.

The author has an expert knowledge of church workings, FBI proceedings and work practices, as well as those of local police forces in large cities around the country.  His crisp yet warm characterizations of the players lead the reader into the desired storyline instantly.  The introduction of Brother Miguel, a quiet, computer-savvy seminary student with some of the same fury at the deviant priest-handling history as Billy and Monsignor Montalvo, brings the reader even closer to the pain that is driving these good men to contemplate and execute terrible actions to attempt to right terrible wrongs.  Along with the author, Detective Janss, all of the members of Task Force 20, and the concerned priests, I too became a partner as I read this book in this attempt to rid the world of a system that fostered and indeed helped the pedophile priests expand and grow.  The lifelong purpose of the Monsignor, Billy, and Brother Miguel was to improve the priest-candidate vetting process, to no avail, at least throughout the reading of this excellent book.  I hope that the process has since improved, with psychological testing and evaluation, as well as extensive background searches, so that the priesthood might improve and all children everywhere can hope to be safe, at least while in God’s house, in the care of the priests who have vowed to serve. 

I recommend this book to anyone who loves crime novels, church intrigue, and who would like, at least for the time reading, to be a part of a crusade to rid the world of systems which allow and foster evil in any incarnation.

Drift

Steven Paul Mark
Booklocker.com, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 9781601450623
Reviewed by Laura Merrill for RebeccasReads (11/08)

“Drift,” by Steven Paul Mark, is not the type of book I would normally pick up; I am drawn more to mysteries or suspense novels.  This novel, however, has both of these elements in abundance.  The basic premise involves a corrupt oil-seeking company and the havoc that its drilling methods unleash upon the earth.  While this idea is a bit far-fetched, the focus on climate-change is certainly timely and relevant.  The book manages to involve the reader from the beginning, opening right into a tense and suspenseful situation between the protagonist and a pair of murderous thugs.  After the body of his wife is found in his apartment and he becomes a suspect, the protagonist, Max, is determined to find out who did it and why.  He becomes drawn, literally, into the New York underground with a band of resistance fighters.  Together, they make plans to stop the determinedly evil company Imperium Solutions from destroying the world as they know it.  Max must evade both the police and Imperium’s henchmen as he assists his friends in bringing down the evil corporation.  As the man-made weather and geological catastrophes worsen, Imperium’s plot to profit from their devastating climatic changes becomes revealed and plans are laid for an assault against its headquarters.  Adding interest to the plot is the budding romance between Max and Becky, a seismologist.  While this romance seemed distracting at times, it does add to the overall development of the characters and contributes another layer of depth to the novel that many readers will enjoy.

“Drift” quickly builds to an action-packed conclusion as intense as any of its fictional storms, and will appeal to anyone who enjoys “doomsday” type novels.  This book seemed to me like a sort of fusion of Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton.  The characters are well developed and Mark’s writing is smooth and involving.  The plot is fast-moving and never stagnates.  It is a book that caused me to stay up at night to finish and one of those few books that I was sorry to see end.  I hope to read many more novels from this author!

The Source: Unleash Your Natural Energy, Power Up Your Health, and Feel 10 Years Younger

Woodson Merrell
Free Press (2008)
ISBN 9781416568162
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/08)

If you feel like you are always tired and lacking energy then “The Source” is a book that you should most definitely read.  I am the mother of two preschool age children who are able to run non-stop all day and fully expect me to keep up with them.  I thought that this feeling of exhaustion that I often experience just came with the territory.  Apparently loss of energy has made the list as being one of the top five complaints to physicians.  The numbers would be even higher but it is estimated that “66 percent of people who visit their doctors while experiencing debilitating exhaustion never even mention the problem!” (p. 5) 

The purpose of “The Source” is to “offer a fresh, unique perspective on the possibility of energy creation that unifies Western medical science with Eastern mind-body and energy practices.”  The book is written by Woodson Merrell, M.D., “a doctor of internal medicine with a busy private practice, as well as an educator and researcher at both Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Albert Einstein College of Medicine.” (p.6) 

In the first part of the book, Dr. Merrell offers a convincing explanation as to the link between our thought patterns, stress and the amount of energy that we produce.  We are provided with information on how the food we eat produces energy and which foods are the best choices for us to reach our optimum potential.  Also addressed are detox, exercise, rest, and spiritual cultivation.  There were many interesting ideas touched on in the first section of “The Source.”  One of my favorites that I have already implemented in my life is the “Power Up! Breath Break” which is a certain way of breathing that I found to be instantly calming.  In fact, Dr. Merrell states “If you only do one thing to increase your energy, this breath break would be my choice.” (p.39)   

Part Two of “The Source” outlines the “21-Day Plan for Increasing Your Energy and Feeling 10 Years Younger,” a day by day agenda filled with useful tips and ideas such as drinking 8-12 oz of water every couple of hours and establishing a calming bedtime routine.  I think that there is something for everyone in this section and even if you don’t follow the plan in it’s entirety you are sure to benefit from pulling tips for here and there throughout the plan. 

The last part of the book contains the menus and recipes that go along with the 21-Day plan.  This is the area that I would have difficulty in following the plan.  “This plan is designed to help everyone transition toward a plant-based diet” (p. 276) and the menus contain such dishes as “Scrambled Tofu with Vegetables” and a “Vegetable Goat Cheese Egg-White Omelet.” 

“The Source” is a very well written and informative book.  If you ever feel like you have no energy, I believe that by following the tips recommended in this book you will experience an increase in your energy levels.  While I have not yet followed the whole plan, I have noticed a difference just by integrating a few of the concepts into my life.  Dr. Merrell’s plan really does make a difference and I highly recommend this book!

Live a Little

Kim Green
5 Spot (2008)
ISBN 9780446697934
Reviewed by Leslie Storey for RebeccasReads (11/08)

“Live a Little” is the third book by Lisa Green.  Her previous books include “Is That a Moose in Your Pocket?” and “Paging Aphrodite”.

Raquel Rose is a wife and mother of two teenagers when a routine visit to the doctor turns into a terminal cancer diagnosis.  Raquel goes through a range of emotions when she is given the news and her family is shocked as well.  They don’t want to believe it and life is not quite the same.

Then a month later the doctor tells her it has all been a mistake and she is not the Raquel Rose that has breast cancer.  After riding the emotional roller coaster she is back on it again but this time knowing that she is fine and how does she tell everyone that it was all a mistake?  She tries to give her family the good news over a nice dinner, but they don’t believe her.  She is flabbergasted and doesn’t know what to do to convince them that she really is ok.

So she doesn’t.  After all, she is getting the royal treatment from the family that took her for granted…or so she thought.  Raquel goes along with the deception and while living a lie manages to find her true self in the process and that she isn’t just a housewife and mother, that she is inspirational and a true artist.

I had the full range of emotions regarding this book, I went from hating it in the first 30 pages (so much I wasn’t sure I was going to finish the book) and thinking that the character deserved what she got to admiration of her for admitting the truth in the end.

While I know that this is a work of fiction, I am a breast cancer survivor and know what women go through when diagnosed, which is probably why I hated parts of the book, primarily Raquel’s deception.  While she is a fictional character, Raquel had people feeling sorry for her when there was nothing wrong.  She took advantage of the situation just for a little fame.  Then when Raquel’s friends and family found out that she really didn’t have cancer, I felt like she deserved what came her way.  In the end, she made amends and I felt like the story tied up nicely and it all happened for a reason and perhaps she realized that you don’t have to tell lies to get attention, after all it will come back and haunt you.

Our Dumb World: The Onion’s Atlas of The Planet Earth

The Onion
Little, Brown and Company (2007)
ISBN 9780316018425
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (1/08)

“Our Dumb World” is The Onion’s “Atlas of the Planet Earth” and definitely will not disappoint!  Anyone who is familiar with and appreciates the humor of The Onion will enjoy reading this book!  I am sure that to some people the way that some of the events and people are made light of in this publication may seem insensitive and cruel but that is the type of humor that The Onion uses.  If you easily offended or sensitive to things like that then this is not the book for you.  You will not find any political-correctness in this book!

“Our Dumb World” starts out with a “How to Use This Atlas” section which is as funny as the book itself!  My favorite part of this introduction is “A Note to Barnes & Noble Browsers” which begins with “What do you think you’re doing?  Seriously, what does this look like to you?  Some kind of library?  Did you really think that you could just come in here and spend the afternoon reading the book for free?  The line to pay is over that way, buddy.  What’s that?  Just trying to decide whether or not you want to buy the book?  You don’t think we’re really that stupid, do you?” (p. 004)  The humor takes off from there and holds strong throughout the rest of the book that focuses on every region of the world. 

The remaining part of the book is divided into seven sections:  North America, South America, Africa, The Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Oceania.  Although I enjoyed the book in its entirety, I would have to say that my favorite part was the section on North America just because obviously from living here I have more familiarity with the area and the things that were being poked fun at.  From the history timeline informing us that in 1980 “A Plague of Pac-Man Fever ravages the U.S. Treasury’s quarters supply” (p.12) to the individual features making fun of different aspects and occurrences in each state this section will absolutely have you laughing out loud!  I haven’t read a book this funny in some time!

You’ve Gotta Fight Back! Winning with Serious Illness, Injury, or Disability

Dirk Chase Eldredge
Loving Healing Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690347
Reviewed by Randy A. Lakin for RebeccasReads (11/08)

This is Dirk Chase Eldredge’s third book, and I have to say that “You’ve Gotta Fight Back” is a must for anyone who has suffered from a critical Illness, injury or disability.  In this book, Eldredge lays out several different stories of individuals, families and their friends who have had major life altering illnesses or injuries.  In the first story, Eldredge tells the story of an individual who has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and ALS for short.  Normally someone with ALS will live for two to five years, but this person lived twenty-five years.  The story unfolds around the whole family, his wife and the children, one of whom does not handle the news of her father having ALS very well.

The last story in the book is about the writer’s son, a former functioning alcoholic and drug user. Functioning alcoholics are able to perform their job and go through the everyday motions of life without being detected, but eventually everyone saw through Dirk, Jr.’s facade except his father.  After he hit bottom and his wife left, Dirk, Jr. finally turned to AA.  With the help of Alcoholics Anonymous, he was able to put his life back on track, and he now devotes his time to helping others overcome the same problems he once suffered from.

Another area Eldredge covers is the caregiver, a group of people that often get overlooked.  It is hard being a caregiver in this day and age.  This is the one person sees the most changes in a patient, and usually has no one to turn to.  I personally am a caregiver to my wife, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at the age of 46.  I take good care of her, but it is hard to see her shake and lose her memory.  All the doctors tell us is that they usually do not see something like that in someone her age, and, boy, that really helps!

In conclusion, I would recommend this book to anyone who has or knows someone who has a serious illness or injury.  The author has hit the target with this book.  I personally have a failed back fusion in my lumbar area with scar tissue entrapping the nerves in my lower back and down both legs.  I am also on morphine daily for the pain.  I truly enjoyed reading this book and I think you will too.  This book lets you know you are not alone in the world, and would make a great addition to anyone’s library or even as a gift to someone who suffers from an illness or injury. 

Cry of Justice

Jason Pratt
Bittersea Publications (2007)
ISBN 9780977888405
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/08)

“I will tell you a story, beloved;
a story of a cradle.

Once,
there was a world,
bobbing and spinning within the center of her space,
infused with life, alit by lights both great and small,
upon her and above her.
From the beginning, she had borne her children
-not to stay, but to leave.

But, the children did not always play well.
And, they did not always leave well.”

So begins the Introduction of “Cry of Justice,” Jason Pratt’s first book in an intended trilogy.  When I first started reading this first book I admit I was a little confused as to what was going on.  I read and reread the first chapters in an attempt to decipher who was who and to discern exactly what was happening.  Inside the dust jacket there is list of characters but it really isn’t very specific.  For instance, for the character of Portunista it says:  innovative, ambitious, intemperate; a maga seeking her path to Imperial Glory.”  A more in depth character and location guide somewhere in the book would have been extremely beneficial in aiding my comprehension. 

The main premise of the book from inside the front cover is this:  “Caught in the aftermath of a vicious international war, thousands of refugees have fled the Coastal States, bringing their dangers with them into the wilderness near the Middlelands.”  The story is then told through a series of various journal entries written by more than one character, which once you are able to sort everything out, is actually quite interesting.

The cast of characters in itself is quite original.  One of my favorite players in the story is the aforementioned Portunista.  She is the leader of a very creative cast and I loved watching to see how she handled and dealt with all of the different personalities and challenges faced along the way.        

Pratt’s writing style is definitely unique and at times it can be intellectually challenging to interpret his intentions.  However, I am always up for a challenge and once I became familiar with this unusual, mentally stimulating work, I really started to enjoy it.  There were many creative elements in the book that sets this fantasy novel apart from the pack and I think those interested in epic fantasies will enjoy “Cry of Justice.” 

Humanizing Madness: Psychiatry and the Cognitive Neurosciences

Niall McLaren M.D.
Future Psychiatry Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690392
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/08)

Niall McLaren's main purpose in writing “Humanizing Madness:  Psychiatry and the Cognitive Neurosciences,” as stated in the Introduction, “is to show what a scientific theory of psychiatry should look like.” (p. v) He believes that all of the theories that are used in psychiatry are incorrect and reexamination is needed.  McLaren brings up an excellent point in the fact that due to the sheer number of theories in existence in the field, the less chance there is that any of them is the correct theory.  However introducing a new theory is a very daunting task, as the legitimacy from those practicing by the older theories would be questioned.  If a doctor has been basing treatment on a theory for twenty or thirty years he would be very reluctant to change course as it would not reflect well on him to admit that he had been incorrect all along.

The first section of the book is entitled “Psychiatry in Crisis:  Intellectual Failure in the Science of Mental Disorder.”  In these chapters the author explains to us that there is not a general agreement in the field on the “theoretical basis of psychiatry.”  The author takes on the major existing theories and points out each theory’s problems and why they are incorrect.  I found his analyses of the different theories were very interesting and thought provoking.

The second part of the book focuses on “The Working Mind.”  Having a theory of mind should logically come before having a theory of a disturbed mind.  McLaren presents “the outline of a model offering realistic solutions to a number of major problems.  As a general theory of psychiatry, it restores the essence of humanity, our mentalism, to rightful primacy.” (p. 158)

In the third section, entitled “Toward the Future of Psychiatry,” McLaren examines various mental disorders such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis.  He suggests changing our understanding of these disorders in order to more effectively treat them.

“Humanizing Madness:  Psychiatry and the Cognitive Neurosciences” is an important work in the field of psychiatry.  The book has been thirty years in the making and is obviously well researched and thought-out.  The author makes very strong, intelligent arguments that, I believe, will have a large impact on the future of psychiatry. McLaren’s book would make an excellent read for a psychiatry student or for those already in the field.

The October Gate: Nine Messages of Love, Healing, and Reassurance for Our Planet

Ann Albright
True Spirit Publishing (2008)
ISBN 9780981545509
Reviewed by Tina Avon for RebeccasReads (11/08)

I have just finished The October Gate, written by Ann L. Albright and I have so many emotions inside that I needed to get them down on paper.  This is the type of book that feeds your soul, your mind and your body.  Having a few tissues handy will not hurt either.

I was unsure what kind of book this would turn out to be when I read the description.  This subject matter, in my opinion, is difficult to portray, and I was wondering if the author would be up to the task.  She was.  Put simply, this is the story of Lucy and Sarah and it is the story of love and hope.  Sound a little common?  No way.  The October Gate takes the story of friendship, love and acceptance and gives it wings to gently embrace its readers, leaving us hopeful, serene and empowered.

I have written many book reviews and I am not usually so poetic in my reviews, but this book touched me so much that I find myself using words that I don’t normally use in describing a storyline.  I loved the friendship that developed between Lucy and Sarah and I thought it completely endearing to see this friendship continue well into another realm as Sarah passes on.  Both women finding each other at a time of deep need, proving that it is true that the universe may not give you want you want all the time, but it will always give you what you need.

Illness is something that scares me immensely, so I was a little reluctant to continue this book when the opening paragraphs introduces us to Lucy who is seriously ill and is unsure whether she will (or wants to) survive.  She meets Sarah, who becomes Lucy’s guide during this very difficult period of reflection.  Sarah slowly introduces Lucy to a world of possibilities, asking her to think ‘outside her comfort zone’, to be willing to see and imagine a different way, a better way.  I was particularly enthralled by the conversations between the two women when they are discussing Lucy’s illness, during which Sarah tells Lucy that Lucy is responsible, in some ways, for her own illness, as this illness is the manifestation of Lucy’s sorrow at her own unanswered potential.  This theory has long been one that I have believed in, and it truly scares me!

It is obvious that Sarah was a beacon of light for Lucy.  As I was reading this book, I kept thinking of the words ‘Higher Power’.  I believe in the concept of a higher power – and that this higher power can be found anywhere.  For Lucy, her Higher Power was, indeed, Sarah.

This book is a treasure – but get ready to pull out the tissues.

AM I BAD? Recovering From Abuse

Heyward Bruce Ewart III
Loving Healing Press (2007)
ISBN 9781932690330
Reviewed by Kam Aures for RebeccasReads (11/08)

“Am I Bad?  Recovering from Abuse” is the sixth book in the New Horizons in Therapy Series from Loving Healing Press.  As stated in the introduction, “The purpose of this book is not to provide treatment techniques, although some principles are mentioned, but to furnish from real-life case histories a penetrating and hopefully unforgettable look at what causes domestic violence:  child abuse.  Vivid understanding of the cause must precede the development of effective treatment.  Further, the intent is to show many other consequences of child abuse, most importantly a distorted sense of self, which greatly limits the chances of a fulfilling life.” ( p. v)

Ewart most certainly achieves his objective of providing unforgettable images of child abuse through the case histories.  To me, one of the most vivid of the histories presented involved physical abuse to a man named Lloyd whose mother used to continuously whip him with a switch over and over again.  Lloyd recalls trying to stand still as ordered but “slipping on his own blood upon the wooden floor.” (p. 50) Tortured for his entire life, he was unable to talk during sessions and was only able to yell and scream in anger.  He had been placed in psychiatric hospitals, had been in jail, and was addicted to drugs and alcohol.  Throughout the years he was never accurately diagnosed.  What he was suffering from was “complex post-traumatic stress disorder” from the physical abuse.  Once this was understood, he was able to start on the path to recovery.  The events that the people profiled in this book have been through are haunting and the resulting effects upon their well-being and future selves are heartbreaking. 

People abused as children tend to gravitate toward abusers as they grow, therefore always being stuck in an abusive cycle and never breaking free from the trauma endured as a child. “Am I Bad?  Recovering From Abuse” delves into these issues in order to help provide an understanding of the effects and consequences of the abuse in hopes that this will “bring everything to light” (back cover) thus enabling those who were abused to step onto the road to recovery.

The book provides the reader with an in depth understanding into the long-lasting effects of abuse and also provides a number useful tests and tools to aid in such areas as uncovering concealed child abuse and screening for potentially dangerous employees.    “Am I Bad?  Recovering from Abuse” is an important book and would be a beneficial read for those who were abused as children, those currently suffering from abuse, those working with the abused, and anyone who knows someone who has been abused.