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Thru My Looking Glass

2/24/2017

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"there's no such thing as a kid who hates reading. There are kids who love reading, and kids who are reading the wrong books."
          --- James Patterson

We are a family of readers (and writers), coming from a long line of readers.  Grandma Rose, a Russian immigrant with an eighth grade education, was never without a book by her bed.  Her love of reading was contagious, and she made sure I always had the latest Nancy Drew book as soon as it was published.  During her final days, spent in an assisted living facility, she still had her stack of books close at hand.

Her daughter, my mother Marlyn, was an equally avid reader.  Our home was always filled with books, and I especially loved reading the books that had once belonged to her. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Heidi and Jane Eyre were all my companions during many a winter night and are still counted among my favorite books. I became an English teacher and a book reviewer to help encourage a love of reading in others, and I never tired of watching a student begin to understand Shakespeare or develop a love of poetry.

Michael was four years old when he read his first book without help, and Beth was three years old when she began reading fluently.  Although I attribute much of their skills to Sesame Street, I like to think that it is my genes, running through their bodies, that makes them avid readers to this day.  Mike is a fan of the classics, with a bit of the supernatural now and again, while Beth favors fantasy, sci-fi and the dystopian novels that are so popular today. Of course neither of them limits their reading to just those genres, and both of their homes abound in books.

One of my favorite pictures of oldest grand-daughter, Sarah, has her sitting in a big, over-stuffed chair, intently reading a picture book.  She is ten months old at the time, and she is to this day the most fanatical reader of us all.  She brings a book with her wherever she goes, and the only time she ever gets in trouble in school is when she is caught reading a book rather than listening to the teacher.   

I decided to share my family's reading history because several young mothers, over the last few weeks, have asked me how I got my children to enjoy reading.  While I often tease about the genetic component, I truly believe that an environment resplendent with books will make a child a reader.  He/she will seek the comfort of the familiar as they grow, and it is our responsibility as parents to highlight the positive comforts in their lives.  Bookcases overflowing with a variety of reading material will teach them that there is a genre for all tastes.  Allowing them an extra half hour of reading time before they shut their lights each night will show them the importance that you place on reading.   Giving them freedom to choose any book that interests them (yes...even graphic novels) shows them their tastes matter.  Most importantly...teach by example.  Make sure they see just how important reading is to you.

Reading The Pope's Suicide by Steve Richer is a great way for you to demonstrate what an avid reader you are.  The premise is definitely an interesting one.  Did the Pope really commit suicide while visiting in New York?  NYPD detective Donnie Beecher is forced into taking the case that is sure to cause him many a sleepless night, and the reader is along for the very bumpy ride.  

Jeff Shelby, the author of the Joe Tyler series(one of which I recently reviewed) offers us a lighter read in his book The Murder Pit (A Moose River Mystery Book 1).  We have all heard about people who purchase a new home that turns into a money pit, but Daisy and Jake have a more complicated problem.  While trying to fix a frozen pipe in the crawl space of their new home, they come upon a dead body.  Is someone trying to frame Daisy?  

As usual complete reviews of both of these books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
lick on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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The Pope's Suicide by Steve Richer

2/24/2017

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Genre: Thriller
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Those who follow the Catholic religion are taught that suicide is a sin leading to eternal damnation.  In Steve Richer's The Pope's Suicide NYPD detective Donnie Beecher is well aware of that, when he is forced to take on a case he does not want.  The Pope is found hanging in the bathroom of the home he is residing in while visiting New York.  All indications point to suicide, but Donnie is being pressured to call it a murder.  Those close to the Pope believe an announcement of suicide could topple their institution.

Richer writes a very readable book, and the story is a little different than the typical detective novel of today.  Donnie is a strong character who refuses to give in until he finds the truth.  The supporting characters, especially those connected to the Vatican, are interesting, and their roadblocks to the truth keep the reader involved.  Teaming up with a former nun, Officer Emma Aldridge, Donnie realizes that there is more to this international thriller than the solving of the Pope's death at stake.  

I loved reading about the subterfuge that goes on at the Vatican.  Of course this is fiction, but Richer's description of the secrets and lies that make up the political atmosphere had a ring of truth.  After all, wherever there is a climb to power, there will be those who skirt the truth to reach the pinnacle. 

Finally, Donnie Beecher is more than just a detective, and his family life becomes an interesting addition to this detective novel.  Watching him juggle a wife who is recovering from a long illness and a teenage daughter who is causing them stress, allows the reader to get to know the man as well as the detective.

- Beverly ​


Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - ​​​January 3, 2017
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The Murder Pit (A Mose River Mystery Book 1) by Jeff Shelby

2/23/2017

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​Genre: Mystery
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Since Jeff Shelby has written several books that I have enjoyed, I decided to give his cozy mystery series a try.  The first in the series, The Murder Pit (A Moose River Mystery Book 1), is definitely an enjoyably light read.  While it wasn't as intriguing as many of his other books, it is one of the better ones in this genre.

After a bad first marriage, Daisy re-finds Jake, her high-school boyfriend, and they decide to marry.  Daisy falls in love with a wonderful 150 year old house in Moose River, Minnesota, and they move in with their four children, ages 8-14.  Jake isn't quite as enamored with the house, and defrosting the frozen kitchen pipe  is not a chore he relishes.  When Daisy crawls into the crawl space with a hair dryer, she is determined to get the pipes working, but her discovery of a dead body definitely stalls the process.

Shelby builds his characters well, and I enjoyed following this family as they try to deal with one problem after another.  We get to know each member and want to see them all succeed. The dead body was a man Daisy had dated before Jake, and it seems obvious that someone is setting her up to look guilty. The police begin to suspect her, and the family finds the town becoming less and less friendly. Daisy believes that she must find the real murderer to clear her name, and goes against Jake's advice to do so.

The relationships in this novel show real affection, the setting is an interesting one and the supporting characters helped to make the story more entertaining.  This book is definitely written in a different style than Shelby's Joe Tyler series. I found it a fun mystery to try to solve and recommend it to those looking for a light and well constructed mystery.  


- Beverly

​

​Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - May 6, 2014
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Thru My Looking Glass

2/16/2017

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“They said that I should lose my ideals and begin to believe in the methods of practical politicians. Now, I have not lost my ideals in the least; my faith in fundamentals is exactly what it always was. What I have lost is my childlike faith in practical politics.” 
                                                                           ---G. K. Chesterton



I live with the curse of being impossibly pragmatic, and much as I try not to judge people, I sometimes have trouble understanding their decisions.  For example, I do understand that seat-belts can be uncomfortable, but I have no understanding how parents choose to leave their children unbuckled.   I understand that motorcycles can be fun, but come on dude...wear the helmet.  

I am not a believer in heavy government control of adults.  If an individual chooses to risk his/her life in unsafe practices, and it effects only him/her, then so be it.  If, however, it puts you and me in danger, then the government needs to become involved.  If all drunk drivers only have single car accidents then the choice to drink and drive is theirs.  Since it is usually the sober victim that pays the price though,  a jail sentence should be the penalty of drinking and driving, even if there are no accidents.

If your intent is to do something that can cause harm, then your act is criminal.  I never understood being rewarded for being a bad shot.  If you shoot and kill someone, you can go to prison for life, but if you shoot at that same person and miss, it is attempted murder with a much shorter sentence.  As far as I am concerned, once you take that shot, you are a murderer...successful or not...and should be treated as such.  

Of course there are extenuating circumstances.  If a person is mentally ill in the eyes of the law, they can't make a rational decision to take a life, and therefore they can not be punished for the act.  Mentally ill people need special treatment in most walks of life. Pragmatic me wonders then, why would our senate vote to nullify the part of the gun control bill that keeps severely mentally ill people (people with psychotic disorders who can't manage simple tasks on their own) from buying guns.  It wasn't even all mentally ill people, it was focused on those who needed help for personal management. Yes, our house and our senate both decided that it is more important to appease the NRA than to protect the citizens that they were elected to protect.  This is not about gun control...this is a common sense safety precaution.

I think the only way to solve the quagmire that is our political arena, is to elect our senators and representatives for one six year term only.  Six years will give them enough time to accomplish their goals. No more worrying about re-election. No more dealing with lobbyists, because no need for their money.   No more out of proportion retirement packages that they vote for themselves.  Just six years of pure public service and back to their former careers. One and done!    

Speaking of one and done, I must apologize because today's blog will contain only one review.  Unfortunately, family matters continue to occupy my time this month, and reading has taken the dreaded back seat. Fortunately, the book that I did review,  Never Say No To A Rock Star: In the Studio with Dylan, Sinatra, Jagger and More... by Glenn Berger was quite interesting.  Mr. Berger was seventeen when he started working for A & R Recording Studio, and his interactions with the musicians and top names in the industry make for a great peak into a world that most of us only fantasize about.  The book is definitely on my gift list for the music lovers in my life.

As always, a complete review of this book follows this blog.

Happy reading,
​
- Beverly
​Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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Never Say No to a Rock Star: In the Studio with Dylan. Sinatra, Jagger and More...  by Glen Berger

2/16/2017

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​Genre: Non-Fiction
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Glenn Berger was seventeen when he started interning at A & R recording studios in New York. He was an apprentice (shlepper) to well known recording engineer Phil Ramone.  The book begins in current times, when the author has a music induced epiphany that ultimately brings us back to 1972.  He gets this internship that puts him in contact with some of the greatest musicians of the time. He was smart enough to quickly climb up in the company ladder and end up as Ramone's assistant.

Berger eventually becomes a well known psychologist, but not before becoming a recording engineer superstar.  This book takes us into the music business of the seventies and the stars we all know and love. He gives us glimpses of the lives of Dylan, Jagger and Paul Simon (who was not an easy man to work with).  We even get a peek at Sinatra as the book progresses.

Berger is not afraid to lay his own life out there either.  His relationship with various stars, the stress he went through, and even the adoption of his son,  build  a picture of a man faced with the choice of fame or integrity.  Since the roads he took lead him to writing this book, perhaps he made the right choices.  The book, Never Say No to a Rock Star, is informative, humorous and even poignant in parts.  I will say that it took away some of the hero worship I felt for a few of these music legends, but sometimes seeing the real man behind his music makes that music even more meaningful.

- Beverly


​Publisher - Schaffner Press, Inc.
Date of Publication - ​​​July 1, 2016
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Thru My Looking Glass

2/10/2017

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"Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever."         
                                        ---William Howard Taft


Each day's news gets more bizarre as our politicians attempt to come to terms with their new realities.  We spent last year watching President Obama's White House pass laws that were frightening to most republicans, and this year finds President Trump's White House doing the same to democrats.  If we take a step back on many issues, we might be able to see that there are points to support both ways of thinking, and we need strongly unbiased heads to prevail.  The Supreme Court was established to give us this guidance.

Unfortunately, when politics are involved, nothing is unbiased.  For example, President Trump's promise to appoint a justice who is strictly pro-life is the antithesis of what we need.  A justice should be neither totally pro-life nor totally pro-choice but rather open minded when exploring points surrounding every issue.  It would be difficult to follow the constitution while seeing to one's own biases, and choosing a member of the Supreme Court is not to be taken lightly.  This lifetime position is one that helps to set the laws of our land and must be filled by the fairest of candidates.

A year ago, President Obama presented a reasonably moderate judge to fill the vacancy of Antonin Scalia.  I understood the reluctance of the republicans to replace a staunch conservative with a moderate, because the court has been conservative heavy for quite a few years, but Scalia died during a democratic President's term, and the choice should have started with that President.  The republican senators who refused to give Judge Merrick Garland a chance did a disservice to all of us.  He has spent a career being moderate enough to win acceptance from both sides, and would have been perfect as a deciding vote in any case.  

I don't know a great deal about our current President's choice, Neil Gorsuch, but I do know his nomination should not have occurred.  When politicians refuse to do their job unless they are getting their way, then the whole idea of "representing the people" becomes a sad joke.  I know that Judge Gorsuch is a strong conservative, but I hope that he will do his job well and follow the constitution instead of his personal beliefs.

Speaking of seeing both sides of a legal issue, Author Victor Methos does an exceptional job showing us both sides of the euthanasia debate in his latest book, Mercy (Neon Lawyer Series Book 2). Ted Montgomery is accused of killing his wife as she lay in pain and close to a natural death by cancer. Attorney Brigham Theodore, first introduced in The Neon Lawyer agrees to lead Montgomery's battle, even as he finds his client less than forthcoming.  The book is well written and definitely shows us varying viewpoints on this controversial topic. 

Phillip Margolin shows us a different kind of lawyer in Sleight of Hand: A Novel of Suspense (Dana Cutler Book 4). Dana is a private investigator who is presented with an odd assignment that takes her to the Pacific Northwest in search of a relic from the Ottoman Empire. Horace Blair is a millionaire being framed for the death of his wife, and Charles Benedict is a criminal defense attorney who dabbles in magic and illusions. Margolin weaves a well plotted story around these three, and the reader has fun following the intrigue.

As always complete reviews of these two books follow this blog.

Happy reading,
​
- Beverly
Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog:
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Mercy (Neon Lawyer Series Book 2) by Victor Methos

2/9/2017

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Genre: Legal Thriller
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Watching a loved one suffer is more than some people can deal with, and euthanasia often becomes a viable way to end suffering.  There have been many true court cases surrounding this controversial act, and many authors of legal thrillers have had their protagonists fight the battle of mercy killing. Methos does a particularly good job in showing his readers both schools of thought in his latest thriller, Mercy (Neon Lawyer Series Book 2).

Brigham Theodore, first introduced in The Neon Lawyer, is never one to back down from a fight.  However when Ted Montgomery, an engineer with three young children, asks for his help, Brigham hesitates.  Ted is accused of killing his wife as she lay in her hospital bed. She was in horrific pain and very close to death when he allegedly administered a lethal dose of morphine.  He is a sympathetic character, and Brigham eventually agrees to represent him.

The prosecutor is determined to put Ted in jail for a long time, and Brigham is not making things easy for her. His rivalry with the district attorney adds another dimension to this story that pulls at our heartstrings, but the reader still pulls for the defense as the story progresses.  

Victor Methos' characters are interesting, but I would have liked to have seen a little more character development.  We see them at work, and their relationships are touched upon, but we never really get to delve into the meat of their lives.  There are definitely surprises throughout the plot though, and I found myself being pulled back to the book as I went about my otherwise busy days. I look forward to the third book in this series. 

- Beverly


​Publisher - 
Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - November 23, 2016 
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Sleight of Hand: A Novel of Suspense (Dana Cutler Book 4) by Phillip Margolin

2/8/2017

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Genre: Thriller
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With an impressive number off books to his name, Phillip Margolin never fails to capture my interest as he weaves his intricate plots and introduces his readers to strong and likable characters.  Investigator Dana Cutler is one of my favorite of his protagonists, and this book definitely has her following some peculiarly interesting leads.

When Dana is hired to track down a missing relic, we are treated to a little bit of ancient history.  With her boyfriend Jake off on another photo shoot and a great deal of money as payment, Dana agrees to travel to Seattle to track down the missing royal scepter from the Ottoman Empire.  Of course nothing is as it seems, and she returns home perplexed and tired.

The second story that is being explored in Sleight of Hand involves a missing prosecutor, her wealthy husband and an unsavory defense attorney who is a magician in the courtroom.  As the book evolves these two stories seem to connect, and Dana's involvement leads to another interesting book in this particular series.

There are perhaps a few too many characters to make this a totally comfortable read, and the convoluted story lines add to the confusion, but Margolin has a way of bringing the reader back to where he/she needs to be, and I found myself more involved in the story the further I delved into it.  I was glad to see Jake return home for a while, because his character tends to soften Dana and make us relate to her a bit more.  While this author tends to victimize women more than I am comfortable with, he also portrays some strong female protagonists,

Sleight of Hand is a good example of Margolin's ability to tell a complicated story without losing his audience.  

- Beverly


Publisher - HarperCollins Publishers

Date of Publication - April 9, 2013
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Thru My Looking Glass

2/3/2017

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We are the world, we are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So lets start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
Its true we'll make a better day
Just you and me
                ---Michael Jackson

Discontent is not a new thing, and through the years we have realized that when we stand together we can conquer unfathomable odds.  Americans worked together to abolish slavery, we marched together for Civil Rights reform, and five million people linked hands one Memorial Day weekend, from New York City to Los Angeles to show support for the hungry and the homeless.   When we put our minds to it, Americans are pretty darn strong in our convictions.

There is no doubt that we are living in stressful times right now as we watch human rights take a back seat to political ambition, but I have decided to look for the silver lining.  The majority of us are sensitive and caring people who have been awakened and are supporting each other in any way we can.  Republicans and democrats alike refuse to watch the rights of others trampled upon.  We are peacefully letting our voices be heard by phone calls to our representatives and emails to those in control.

My first "silver lining" lies in the strength of our people. When Americans decided to don their pink hats and demonstrate the need for respect and equality for all races, religions, genders and lifestyles, we became a peaceful group to be reckoned with, and politicians took note.  What was particularly heart warming were the groups throughout the world who joined our march, many wearing little pink hats.  My son, Michael believes that pop culture is our largest export, and the number of people joining our cause proves that we are still exporting, and they recognize we are still here fighting for the rights and needs of all people throughout the world.

My second "silver lining" is found in the realization that even while terrorists try to tear us apart, we will be there for each other.  In Victoria, Texas the Victoria Islamic Center was devastated when its Mosque burned to the ground.  The community quickly joined together to help their neighbors, and the leaders of the local Jewish congregation gave them the keys to their synagogue so they could continue to worship. A GoFundMe page was set up to help with the reconstruction of the mosque, and over one million dollars has been collected.  It doesn't  matter what religion these people followed, when someone is in trouble, we all must lend a hand.

My last "silver lining" was a politician who followed her beliefs instead of orders.  Last week's Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was put in a difficult situation when President Trump instituted a ban on immigration from seven Arab nations, and several judges granted a stay for those travelers with valid visas.   Ms. Yates believed that the stays were warranted and that sending these people back would put them in danger.  She decided not to fight the case for the government and was immediately fired.  Thank you Ms. Yates for following what you believed was morally right instead of "following orders."

As I looked at all of these stories in the news over these last few weeks, I was reminded of Michael Jackson's words in his song "We Are The World." 

      When you're down and out, there seems no hope at all
      But if you just believe there's no way we can fall
      Let us realize that a change can only come
      When we stand together as one

I will continue believing that the basic morality of the vast majority of people in the world will ultimately rule and we will truly "make a better day."

Andrew J. Morgan did a great job giving me a better day of reading in his Science Fiction book, New York Deep.  In it, Manhattan tunnel engineer Josh Reed, happens upon a large empty room while excavating the East Side Access of New York's railway service.  Combining well researched New York history with well written science fiction, Morgan lays out a tale that will keep his readers turning pages through the night.

On the lighter side, Harper Lin's cozy mystery, Sweets and a Stabbing (The Pink Cupcake Mysteries Book 1)  is a perfect read for a lazy Saturday afternoon.  Bring it to the park with a thermos of lemonade and a pink iced cupcake, and you can forget the world's problems for the rest of the day.

As usual, complete reviews of both books follow this blog.

Happy reading,

- Beverly
​Click on the book cover to order a title mentioned in today's blog:
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New York Deep by Andrew J. Morgan

2/2/2017

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Genre: Sci-Fi/Thriller
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Science Fiction is a difficult genre for me.  Sometimes it is so silly that I can't plow through it, and some authors grab me from page one and never let go.  Maybe it is my interest in New York (under and above ground) or maybe I was just swept up in the story, but New York Deep really kept my interest.

It begins with Josh Reed, a tunnel engineer in Manhattan, and his team, excavating the East Side Access of New York's railway service.  The drills unexpectedly hit some sort of crystalline metallic, and upon further investigation Josh comes across a large and seemingly empty room.

If this isn't strange enough, some of his coworkers disappear and the CIA is mysteriously involved in what is clearly an uncomfortable situation.  I won't give any more plot information, because I don't want to reveal anything that will take away from the excitement of this book, but I will say that the author did a great job of mixing researched information with a strong mysterious plot. Like Linda Fairstein, Andrew Morgan uses the mysteries of New York City to enhance his plot.

Morgan also does a very nice job with characterization.  Josh is a likable character who uses his intelligence well as he tries to understand what is going on in this area that he thought he knew so well.  His boss (and friend), Lionel Parker, helps him unravel this mystery, and the reader feels a kinship to both men as they fall deeper into the secret of the underground. Morgan shows his characters' weaknesses as well as their strengths, and the story builds to a great climax.

- Beverly

​
​Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - December 16, 2016
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