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Thru My Looking Glass

1/30/2015

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“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.”
― Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

I was sitting on the patio yesterday thinking about people and things that influenced my life.  There were several teachers who made their marks.  One was kind and convinced me that I could do things that I thought impossible.  The other wrote me off and made me determined to prove I could do anything I set my mind on.  My dad used to tell me that regularly, even in a time when most parents believed a wedding band was what a girl should strive for in her life. When I applied to, and was turned down from the best nursing program in the North East, he made an appointment for us to see the dean of admittance.  He told me to convince her that they should reconsider.  I did, and they did.  Although I went to,  and ultimately left the school and nursing, it was my dad who taught me my most important lesson.  From that day on, the word NO was just a starting place, and I was (and still am) determined to get what I want for myself and those I love.

I am influenced by Arthur and my wonderful children much more than they realize.  My sister Judy is well aware of her influences on me, and she never uses it for anything but my happiness. Though these people have made a major difference in my life,  I have also been influenced by literature and poetry through the years.  During high school, I found Robert Frost's words tremendously inspirational. He helped me understand that doing "your own thing" made you strong, not nerdy.  Thoreau's words in Walden, "If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away," somehow seemed to sum up my teenage angst and make it all okay.

Then in college I was introduced to Khalil Gibran, a Lebanese artist, poet, and writer, who seemed to have read my heart and mind when he wrote The Prophet.  I read that thin book so often that I needed a replacement copy senior year.    The words of Julius Caesar  (thank you Shakespeare ) “A coward dies a thousand times before his death, but the valiant taste of death but once," made me braver,  and Mother Teresa's words,  "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do," made me kinder.

Then I found the words of Dave Barry in a newspaper one day, and I couldn't stop laughing. He just made me happy, so I looked him up on Amazon and purchased a book of his essays. Simple and silly, they made me laugh at him and at myself when I saw myself in his words.  Dave Barry helped teach me the joy of laughing at the everyday insanity that surrounds us. So this week I am suggesting that you read my review of  You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About, and then order a copy to read for yourself.

If you want to get a bit more serious, one of my favorite authors, Rick Mofina, gives us another episode in the life of reporter Kate Page.  His latest thriller, Full Tilt, has Kate searching for a sister she watched drown many years before, and it is written in typical Mofina style.  He never lets up!

Well, tomorrow we pick Mike up from the airport and start our whirlwind of a weekend. My niece's wedding is on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, so we are hoping Florida's weather continues to be the best in the nation.  Hope all of you northerners are thawing out and planning your trips to sunny Florida.

Happy reading,

Beverly

Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About by Dave Barry

1/30/2015

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 Genre: Humor
Click book cover for Amazon.com
Sometimes I need a break from the more serious side of life, and I turn to the essays of Dave Barry.  We saw him speak at a seminar once, and he made the otherwise boring event something to remember.  He is very relatable, and the audience couldn't get enough.  His speech, much like his essays, center around his family and events in their lives.  When I noticed this book while browsing Amazon, I couldn't resist downloading it.

Barry tells you straight up that the book, You Can Date Boys When You're Forty: Dave Barry on Parenting and Other Topics He Knows Very Little About, has little to do with child rearing. It is filled with essays on various topics, and when looking for a title, his publishers decided people would gravitate towards a book about raising children.  He does write about taking his daughter to a Justin Bieber concert in Miami, but even that one leaves the reader searching for the fatherly advice.  That being said, who cares!  Anything Dave Barry discusses is worth reading because if laughter is indeed the best medicine then Barry is one heck of a doctor.

His thoughts on Fifty Shades of Gray, a trip to Israel, and Viagra commercials, resonate with the Barry sense of humor.  He loves using his wife and her love of shopping to coax a laugh out of his readers.  Of course no one is off limits.  I have to assume the Bieber concert that he took his daughter to was a cheap price to pay for using her for joke material.

Do yourself a favor...buy any one of this funny guy's books and forget about the world's problems for a change of pace.  Life is too short to miss out on a good laugh.

- Beverly


Publisher - Putnam Adult
Date of Publication - March 4, 2014
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Full Tilt by Rick Mofina

1/30/2015

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 Genre: Thriller
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Rick Mofina has a way of capturing the reader with small details and never letting go. Last May he was MADDERLY Review's featured author shortly after his book, Whirlwind, was released.  Whirlwind, like most of Rick's books, kept the reader on the edge of his/her seat much of the time.  He introduced us to Kate Page, a young reporter with a determination found in all of his protagonists.   In  Full Tilt Kate is back, and I, for one, am glad to see her. This time it is personal for the young reporter as she follows the story of a young girl who was kidnapped, kept by a psychopath and then killed.  Evidence shows that he kept more than one prisoner, and Kate believes that her long missing sister may have been one. As the authorities try to track him down, Kate is following her own leads.  She gets little help from the police who believe she is too close to the case to be objective, so she is somewhat on her own.

The chapters that take us into the mind and life of the killer made me nervous, and I imagine that was Mofina's goal. It is difficult to imagine the way a true sociopath relates to those around him/her, and an author who can bring that picture to the reader's mind is one to put on your "must read" list.  To lighten the mood, he sprinkles time Kate spends with her young daughter into the mix. I do find it a bit irresponsible that this single mother puts herself in danger so often, but that is probably just the mother in me speaking.

It is fun seeing Mofina's take on the life of reporters, knowing that he lived that life himself.  I remain a fan and recommend this book to you.

- Beverly


Publisher - MIRA
Date of Publication  - January 27, 2015
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Thru My Looking Glass

1/23/2015

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A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.”
― William Styron, Conversations with William Styron

I have always enjoyed living the lives of the characters in the many books I read each year.  It is a safe way to travel to scary places without being scared.  I can experience life as a doctor, lawyer, spy or a bank robber without the stress of actually working in those fields.  There are those books, however, that make me want to read from afar.  Eric Clapton's talent is undeniable, but like many musicians of his era his life was difficult.  The wonderful thing about living in our country is our right to make choices.  The difficult thing is that we must then live with those choices.  His choices were often poorly thought out, and his autobiography did not leave me wanting to live even a week of his life.  It was interesting though, and it helped me to understand how those early years and choices do make a difference in our lives.

The choices that we make as adults are just as difficult and frightening as those we make in our youth. In my teaching years, I loved my lessons on Emerson and Thoreau.  Both of them had very interesting beliefs, and I wanted my students to appreciate them.  In Self-Reliance, Emerson asks individuals to value their own thoughts and opinions above those of other people, society and religion.  I would tell my students that as long as they truly believed something was right, then it was right for them...but it had to be something that they believed was right, not something that they wanted to be right.  If we hang on to those values and turn away from other influences, then we will all live happier and more productive lives.

I realize that not everyone has the same values, but it would seem that there should be some consistencies. That is why I have trouble understanding the Nazi regime and their following of Hitler. I know that the soldiers were following orders, but in the end, each and every one of them made a choice to follow his lead.  There are many books, fiction and non fiction, that center around that time.  The Last Passenger is a novel about a haunted Nazi cruise ship that was discovered adrift in 1939 with one passenger aboard, a baby boy.  Not being a fan of ghost stories, I almost passed this book up, and I am glad I decided to read it.  It is definitely a thought provoking book.

On a brighter note, I am happily looking forward to next week.  My son, Michael and my nephew, Jonathan will be coming down for a few days so we can all celebrate the wedding of my beautiful niece, Rebecca. The entire family being together for these joyous events are the happiest times of my life.  They help assure me that my choices were the correct ones, because they led me to a life that is perfect for me.

Happy reading,

Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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Clapton: The Autobiography by Eric Clapton

1/23/2015

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Genre: Autobiography
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Music and musicians were always a bit mysterious to me.  As a young child, I envied their glamorous lives, but as I grew older I realized that there was little to envy.  Aside from their talent, the lives of these men and women were often more pitiful than enviable.  The sixties brought us sex, drugs and rock and roll, and Eric Clapton ranked up there with the best.
Clapton is very open in telling the story of his life.
     "Early in my childhood, when I was about six or seven, I began to get the feeling
       that there was something different about me."

His mother was not married when he was born, and she was unable to raise him.  His grandparents became his parents and he believed that Pat, his mother, was actually his sister.  His grandparents adored and spoiled him, but he knew that something was amiss.  When he was nine, Pat came to visit.  By then he was aware that she was his true mother and asked her if he could call her mom.
    "I think it's best, after all they've done for you, that you go on calling your grand-
      parents Mum and Dad."
Although she said it kindly, he still felt rejected.  It was difficult for him to understand the dynamics of his family.

Rose, his Mum, loved music and encouraged his interest in it.  It was in music that he found peace.  As he talks about his career, we realize what music means to him.  It could not save him from his addictions though, and he bluntly discusses them.  He also discusses the women in his life and his mistreatment of them.  Even his obvious true love, Pattie Boyd, would have probably been better off having never met him.

The book is interesting and informative but far from a light celebrity read.  If you have any interest in Eric Clapton or the drug fueled music of those days, this book is a good choice.  If you are looking for some fun and gossipy little stories, this will disappoint.

- Beverly


Publisher - Three Rivers Press
Date of Publication - October 9, 2007
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The Last Passenger by Manel Loureiro

1/23/2015

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Genre: Fiction
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I debated reading this book because I am not a fan of ghost stories.  Then I decided I couldn't pass up a story about a haunted Nazi cruise ship.  It wasn't my favorite book this year...in all honesty I did skim a bit in the middle...but I am glad I took the time to read it.  Loureiro knows how to capture the reader's attention.
   " Six hundred miles off the coast of Ireland the night was black like the depths of a mine,                         disappearing into the calm, opaque sea. It was there that the fog struck."

The Valkyrie, a German ship, was discovered adrift in 1939 with one passenger aboard, a baby boy named Isaac Feldman. Years later, Feldman wants to solve the mystery of where he actually came from and what happened all of those years ago. He is determined to recreate the Valkyrie's last voyage and will spend any amount of money to do so. He brings together a team of experts to help him on his quest.  Kate Kilroy is a reporter who accepts an assignment to be part of this voyage and soon realizes that she is in over her head. The ship seems to have its own agenda.

There were definitely parts of this book that I could not put down.  I found some of the reading a little bit difficult, but that could have been in the translation.  I am squeamish about graphic gore scenes, but they seemed to move the plot along.  The sex scenes, also somewhat explicit, were probably interwoven better than many books attempt to do.

I found there were quite a few characters that I had to keep track of, and the lack of character development in parts made that difficult. Yet something kept pulling me back to this book and kept me wondering what was happening. I definitely recommend it to those who enjoy ghost stories, Nazi stories and even those like me, who just like to explore other genres once in a while.

- Beverly


Publisher - AmazonCrossingEnglish; Tra edition
Date of Publication - January 1, 2015
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Thru My Looking Glass

1/16/2015

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“Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do any harm to the world.” ― Voltaire

What is happening in our world?  Somehow the few extremists on both sides of the political spectrum have taken away the rights of the vast majority of people who are allowing fear to rule the day.  Unfortunately, these extremists have figured out that the more afraid we become, the more likely it is for them to win the argument.  So I say that we listen to Voltaire when he recommends that we read and dance, but we need to be careful in doing both.  I try to turn away from any book written by someone who is espousing hate or spreading fear, but I also try to read as much as I can on responsibly written political views.  We all need to be very well versed on what is happening around us so we can continue to enjoy the freedoms that enrich our lives.  When we all can agree on these rights and freedoms, the dancing will come naturally, and the extremists will have lost.

Speaking of people's rights, one of today's reviewed books, Behind the Kitchen Door by
Saru Jayaraman details the total lack of human rights afforded many restaurant workers in America today.  It almost seems like a legalized form of slave labor, and it is not difficult to understand why many restaurant workers are illegal immigrants who are unable to stand up for their rights.   I am hoping that Jayaraman's exposé sheds a light that we all see and helps change the poor working  conditions these people deal with on a daily basis.

On a lighter note, Melissa Miller brings us another Sasha McCandless legal thriller in her latest novel, Irrefutable Evidence.  Sasha, husband Leo and their crew of friends and helpers keep the reader interested in Miller's seventh book in this series.  After reading some heavy books this week, this was definitely a welcome relief.

I also watched some television this week, and found a terrific quote in a most unlikely place. We were watching "Madam Secretary", and one of the characters said, "We have to stop defining people by their worst moments."  It made me stop and realize that all of us, in our lives, have displayed "worst moments." We have done things that make us cringe and hope that no one judged us for those moments.  We often see the worst moments of politicians and performing artists, but beneath those moments are people who contribute many wonderful things to society.  I, for one, am going to try to stop "defining" people all together.

Hopefully, you will join me.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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Behind the Kitchen Door by Saru Jayaraman (Forward by Eric Schlosser)

1/16/2015

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Genre: Non-Fiction
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I read an interesting article in the newspaper yesterday.   The owners of a restaurant in Pittsburgh decided that, beginning in April, they will begin a " no tip " policy.  Their employees will be given a base salary of $35,000, healthcare benefits and a share of the business.  Their customers will pay their bills without the use of a calculator.  Several restaurants around the country are trying this method, and I applaud them.

This reminded me of a book I read several months ago, so I brought it back on my kindle and read it again.  It was difficult the first time and no easier now.  Behind The Kitchen Door is not for the squeamish.  Saru Jayaraman hides nothing when she talks about the deplorable conditions in restaurant kitchens around our country.  She followed the experiences of restaurant workers in New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Miami, Detroit, and New Orleans. She interviewed those that were abused and those that fought back.  She showed how the poor treatment of these workers affects the food we eat when we sit in all restaurants.  Many restaurants force workers to work through illnesses.  Not only are they docked when they take sick days, but often they are fired. It doesn't take an investigative journalist to figure out what happens to us when people handling our food have a cold, the flu or hepatitis.

While many Americans are very aware of how their chicken, veal and beef have been treated, they tend to forget about the humans who handle the food they eat.  It is great to make sure our restaurants use organic and farm to table ingredients, but we, as a society, need to carry that concern a bit further.  If you never thought about it before, I guarantee that this book will open your eyes.  It is not a light book, but it is an interesting one that every American should take the time to read.

- Beverly


Publisher - ILR Press; 1 edition
Date of Publication - February 12, 2013
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Irrefutable Evidence (Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller Book 7) by Melissa F. Miller

1/16/2015

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Genre: Legal Thriller
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Sasha McCandless and hubby Leo have plans for an anniversary vacation, but no one is surprised when problems get in the way.  After all, Sasha attracts trouble, and this time it is personal. The coffee shop she frequents burns down, and the insurance claim is turned down.  Trying to find out why, she comes across insurance fraud and worse.  Digging deeper she realizes that the Mafia is involved, and the reader is lucky enough to be off on another of her crazy rides.

As you all know, I am a fan of series that make me want to really know the characters.  For some reason, I never got to start Melissa Miller's legal series at book one. I recommend always starting at the beginning of a series, because it helps to really build a "relationship" with the characters.  That being said, Miller's book was fun to jump into, and most of the characters are easy to like. Her descriptions help the reader get a feel for the places that Sasha frequents, and that is always a plus in these types of books.

Irrefutable Evidence is a quick read for those who enjoy legal thrillers.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee to go along with the theme, curl up on your couch and spend some time in Sasha's world.  If you are a long time fan, you might get a surprise or two.

- Beverly


Publisher - Brown Street Books
Date of Publication - December 31, 2014
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Thru My Looking Glass

1/9/2015

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“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” ― Fran Lebowitz, The Fran Lebowitz Reader

Although I try to stay away from politics and religion here, today, January 6, 2015, Florida is joining the majority of our country in the acceptance of gay marriage, and I would be remiss if I didn't address it. Politics and religion aside, I have trouble justifying the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent fighting something that seems to affect no one but the couples who are marrying.  In the end our country stands behind everyone's individual right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, so I would prefer my tax dollars being spent in a more judicial way. I hope that today, in Florida at least, our politicians will go back to the real issues that face our country.

Speaking of pursuit, the main characters in Phillip Margolin's latest book, Woman with a Gun: A Novel, are in pursuit of the truth behind a very interesting photograph.  A bride stands by the shore in her gown with her hands behind her back.  We see her from behind and are able to realize that she holds a gun in her hand. What happened or is about to happen?  How is that for an original premise?

One of my favorite parts of teaching was when I watched a child learn to like poetry, or suddenly realize he/she actually does like to read.  Reading has always been such a comfort to me that teaching my children to have a love of reading was mandatory.  Many times parents of Mike's friends or Beth's friends would call to ask how I got my two to love reading.  I explained that we let them read anything they liked before bed.  Comic books, forerunner of the graphic novel, was a particular favorite of Mike's.  As long as they were reading words on a page (that were age appropriate, of course) I felt they were learning how good it felt to find adventures on the written page.  As adults, Mike enjoys reading and writing, and Beth is never without a book to read.  She too, hopes to write a novel some day, and their love of words never fails to brighten my day.

In hope of spreading this reading addiction, I occasionally review children's books here.  Ants in My Pants by Mary Ann Vitale is a cute book to whet your children's appetite for the wonderful world of books.  Giving them a book is giving them an opportunity to escape any stress they may be experiencing and helping them to enter the wonderful world of make believe.  We all deserve to live in that world for a few minutes a day, so go grab a book and leave your worries behind for just a little while.

Happy reading,

Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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