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Thru My Looking Glass

12/26/2014

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“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”  Dr. Seuss

I was reading a magazine article yesterday, and the author asked us to think about several people (living or dead) who we would like to invite to dinner.  Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) immediately came to my mind.  As you may have noticed, I am a major fan of interesting quotations, and I can't think of too many people, aside from Shakespeare, who rival Geisel in that area.  He started his love of words and humor as a very young man. In fact, he took on his pen name while at Dartmouth.  He was writing for the humor magazine "Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern",  and eventually became editor-in-chief.  He was caught drinking gin in his room with a group of friends, and the dean forced him to resign from all of his extracurricular activities. He didn't want to give up writing for the humor magazine, so he started writing under a pen name.  That was the beginning of Dr. Seuss.

I enjoy tracking down where interesting people got their start.  For example, Brandon Stanton, who is well known for his blog and book about Humans of New York, was a bond trader.  He took up photography as a hobby, and soon it took over his life.  His pictures piqued my interest in photography, and my iPhone has  been busy ever since. The blog, more than the book, really gives the reader an insight into the minds and hearts of people.

The other book that I read and reviewed this week, Losing Faith, also takes the reader into the minds of people. I kept questioning myself as I read the book, because I found myself hoping that obviously morally challenged people would be the victors in Mitzner's book.  That made me take a second look at my values, and I came to a conclusion that was different than the one I always believed.  Morality is not always black and white.  Like in many aspects of our lives, morality can also come in shades of grey. Stealing is stealing, but how do we measure the father who steals to feed his son with the same ruler as the hoodlum who steals his victim's wedding band.  Murder is murder, but should the abused wife who fears for her safety every day be held as accountable for killing her husband as the husband who beats his wife to death because his soup was cold one night.  I have to hope that our justice system does a good job sorting it all out in the end.

Speaking of our justice system, my son-in-law, Jimmy, served on a long trial over the last few weeks, and I am proud to say he went with his mind instead of his heart.  The defendant was a tobacco company, and he said that he came out of the experience even more disgusted with them than he imagined possible.  He wanted to hold them accountable for the death of every man, woman and child who can not put down their cigarettes.  Instead, he listened to the lawyers and the judge and realized that as bad as they might be, these defendants were not guilty of this particular crime.  The jurors don't get to hear everything, and even though we might think that O.J. was guilty, most of the time the jury gets it right.

Well, here it is, Christmas Day, and I am getting way too serious.  It is time for me to sign off and go eat one of the cookies that I baked earlier today.

Happy Reading,

Beverly


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Losing Faith by Adam Mitzner

12/26/2014

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Genre: Legal Thriller
Click book cover for Amazon.com
Adam Mitzner has a way of making us care about flawed characters, and every one (and most minor) of the main characters in Losing Faith is flawed.  I suppose it is up to the reader to decide whether there is ever a correct time to lie, steal, murder, etc., but I found making these decisions (and watching the characters make them) a bit uncomfortable. That being said, this book captured me from day one.

Aaron Littmann, the chairman of one of the country’s most prestigious law firms, represents some of the worst criminals, cheats on his wife and ultimately is arrested for murder.  Yet through it all, he is able to keep the reader rooting for him.  He is also able to keep his wife, daughters, law partners and mentor squarely on his side.  He is being blackmailed by Nikolai Garkov, an alleged Russian terrorist.  Garkov wants Aaron to not only represent him, but to fix the trial so he is assured a win.  In order to do so, Aaron must convince Judge Faith Nichols, his former lover, to acquit Garkov.  If he chooses not to convince her, or she chooses not to be convinced, both of their careers might well be over.

Mitzner does not dwell on violence or sex in his books, and that is a welcome change.  He just writes a good story with well developed characters. The plot moves along quickly without embroiling us in unneeded complications, and even the trial is interesting without being totally unrealistic in Losing Faith.  The end had a few surprises, but it did not shock me.  While it did leave me wondering about a few things, I was satisfied with the ending and am looking forward to Mitzner's next book.

While this book will not be published until the spring of 2015, I decided to join a few others and review it while it is still fresh in my mind.  Amazon gives you the option to preorder it, and I suggest that you do. Definitely something to look forward to reading.

- Beverly


Publisher - Gallery Books
Date of Publication - April 14, 2015
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Humans of New York by Brandon Stanton

12/26/2014

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 Genre: Non-Fiction
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Brandon Stanton was a bond trader by profession when he purchased a semi professional camera in 2010. He went around town snapping pictures in his spare time until he lost his job later that year.  He became fascinated by the people around him and how their personalities came through his pictures.  He started a blog about "Humans of New York" and continued posting heartwarming pictures. Some pictures spoke for themselves, and some were accompanied with bits of a very short interview.  The blog became wildly successful, and eventually Brandon put his pictures into book form.

It is a fun book to own, and my timing was off on this review.  I should have done it last week as an idea for a holiday gift.  On the other hand, gift giving is fun all of the time, so I suggest this charming book will make someone smile.  It may also give you some ideas for picture taking, and soon I could be reviewing your book.

- Beverly


Publisher - St. Martin's Press; 1st edition
Date of Publication - October 15, 2013
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/19/2014

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“If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Today I would like to begin by not talking about a book that I read, but rather by sharing information on a book I will order.  The book is entitled Chocolate Bar, and it is written by Dylan Siegal.  I don't know much about the plot, but I know quite a bit about the author.  He is eight years old, and if you read my blog last week you will realize why he is my idea of a hero.  Dylan's best friend Jonah Pournazarian has a rare liver disorder called glycogen storage disease type 1B. I assume that you have never heard of this disease, that requires that he be fed through a tube every three hours, round the clock, to keep him alive. Jonah is a fun loving boy who is one of 500 children in the world who has this incurable disease.  Because the number is so low, this disease had no funding...no company can back research or drug production when the "user" pool is so small.  So Dylan took it upon himself to write a book in inimitable eight year old fashion, get it published and sell it for $20 a copy.  All funds go to a University of Florida lab, where Dr. David Weinstein leads a research team studying and treating patients. In a little over a year, this eight year old hero raised 1 million dollars for research. The money has enabled Dr. Weinstein to hire a geneticist, conduct studies that resulted in new gene therapy treatments and keep the lab running on track for a cure within the next few years.

I believe that this book, and the story behind it, will make a wonderful Holiday gift for the children in my (and your) life. If you would like to buy a copy, or contribute to this fund, just go to chocolatebarbook.com.  You too can do something heroic this holiday season.

Speaking of heroic, how many of us would voluntarily face the possibility of death to save people we have never met? The book Departure by A.G. Riddle puts a group of people in just such an untenable position. I know that I hope that I am the person that would do that without a moment's hesitation, but no one can be sure how he or she will act until the occasion arises.  I am both proud and nervous to say I know Arthur would jump right in.  I remember being frightened to death when he explained, years ago, that he was late coming home one day because he stopped his car and attempted to stop two road raged drivers from killing each other.  When you (and he) have time to think it through, it was obviously a dangerous choice...maybe the wrong choice, but the question is, when there is no time to think, what will your choice be?

Choice also plays a role in Susan Sloan's novel, Guilt by Association.   In this book, written a number of years ago, the protagonist must make several choices after a "date rape" incident totally derails her life. Whether she ultimately chooses revenge or not will keep the readers' interest as the story unfolds.

Over this past month we have been facing so many choices.  Which granite will go with which cabinet? Which tile will look the best? Do we upgrade our appliances? Life has become a series of choices. Somewhere in the middle of this I came to the realization that we all have the choice to accept what life throws our way or to stress over each curve ball. As long as my family is facing it together, I choose to find a smile in it all.  So far it has worked perfectly, and I wish for all of you a very happy holiday (no matter which you choose to celebrate) and a new year filled with the ability to accept the results of every choice with a smile.

Happy Reading,

Beverly
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Guilt by Association By Susan R. Sloan

12/19/2014

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 Genre: Thriller
Click book cover for Amazon.com
This is an older book, but it is definitely worth revisiting for those who missed it.  It captured me when I first read it, and I never really forgot it.  It was just as good in the rereading and only slightly dated.  In 1962, Karen Kern attends a friend's party and is "date-raped" (not a term in those days) by a Harvard law student.  Her world comes tumbling down, and his never misses a beat.  She drops out of school and  tells her fiancé what occurred.  He does not take it well and leaves her. Her parents are more ashamed than supportive (hello 1960's) and it takes over a year and several surgeries for her to come close to recovering. She is unable to have children and is emotionally devestated. She moves to Manhattan and we watch her mature through the next thirty years. As the book progresses, we watch changes in the treatment of women through the thirty years.

We also watch the man who raped her, as he graduates and ultimately finds his way into politics. Robert Willmont's life seems charmed as he gets away with his crime and builds his future.  It is interesting and disturbing following both of them until they inevitably meet again.

The end of the book in no way disappoints, and I recommend it highly as a story filled with great character development and a plot that captures the reader from page one.

- Beverly


Publisher - Grand Central Publishing
Date of Publication - December 19, 2009
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Departure by A. G. Riddle

12/19/2014

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Genre: Science Fiction 
Click book cover for Amazon.com
Wow!  I am not a fan of most science fiction, but this grabbed me from page one.  It is the story of a flight that took off in 2014, but crashed in a very different place. I downloaded a sample for some reason, thinking that I wouldn't make it past page ten.  I couldn't put it down once I got involved with the characters and immediately downloaded the book in its entirety. Riddle makes each character come alive as we read chapter by chapter in different voices. I want to know Harper Lane's back story as soon as she is introduced. Nick Stone, an American, seems in control from the start. Sabrina Schröder, a German scientist doesn't seem to realize what is happening, and Yul Tan, a Chinese-American computer scientist introduces us to an invention that does more than he ever imagined.

While some of the concepts that Riddle introduces seem difficult, his way of explaining them make us understand more than we imagined we would.  The book makes the reader think, and that is my favorite kind of book.  Should we strive for the future or just enjoy the present?  Should we face possible death in an effort to save others or just be thankful that we survived.

If you are a Science Fiction fan you will love this book, but even if you are not, it is one of those books that bridges the genres.  Like Crichton, Riddle has a way of introducing concepts and characters we want to know more about with each page we read. I think it definitely deserves a place on your bookshelf.

- Beverly


Publisher - Riddle Inc.
Date of Publication - December 4, 2014
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/12/2014

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  “A hero is someone who, in spite of weakness, doubt or not always knowing the answers, goes ahead and overcomes anyway.”  ― Christopher Reeve

Christopher Reeve's book, Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life, started me thinking about our perceptions of heroism and the true meaning of bravery.  We were raised to admire the "super heroes" in the fictional worlds we visit. Batman, Spider-Man and most certainly Superman will always be there to save the day.  Of course they are bestowed with special super powers that make "leaping tall buildings in a single bound"  part of a normal day's work.  Policemen, Fireman, physicians and the like are not born with super powers, but they often face daunting tasks with the will to make our world a better place.

My sister, Judy, believes that a person who fights through his/her fears and accomplishes tasks that are terrifying to him/her is the true hero.  If you believe this, and I do, then there is a bit of the hero in us all.  Think about the last scary thing you did and the bravery it took to forge ahead instead of crawling back into bed.  For some people the very act of going to work each day leaves them anxiety ridden. An airplane trip can cause some people to get into the fetal position. Pushing through a crowd, speaking in public, getting into an elevator...simple tasks for many become Herculean feats for others.  Christopher Reeve played a hero on the big screen, but that was nothing compared to the hero he became when an accident robbed him of the ability to live a normal life.  This man became a true hero and role model when he decided to find as much good as he could find in a world that still offered plenty to anyone who pushed past the fear and found the happiness.

Speaking of pushing past fears, I need some of you to push past your Scriptophobia (the fear of writing in public) and start sending in some reviews and comments.  There are some of you who send in great reviews, and we love reading and publishing them.  We have many visitors to this site, and I know you are all avid readers.  If you share with us,  this "interactive" site will truly belong to everyone. Also, after my blog and each review there is a comment area for you to join.   Just push the word "comment", add your thoughts and send them our way. As an incentive, everyone who sends in a review and/or comment between now and January 28 will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card.

Those of you looking for a good legal thriller are in for a treat.  Scott Pratt's protagonist, Joe Dillard, makes a seventh appearance in A Crime of Passion. Joe is as engaging as ever and takes on another interesting case filled with the usual conflicts and a group of interesting characters. Read my review and then see for yourself.

Lastly, I have been thinking of starting a writing group at madderlyreview.com, and would love your input.  Would you submit short, short stories or work on group stories if that option is offered?

Happy Reading,

Beverly
Click on the book cover to order the title mentioned in today's blog:
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A Crime of Passion (Joe Dillard Series Book 7) by Scott Pratt

12/12/2014

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Genre: Legal Thriller
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Scott Pratt was November's featured author, and A Crime of Passion is the seventh in his series about defense attorney Joe Dillard.  In this book, Dillard is hired to defend Paul Milius, a record company baron accused of strangling Kasey Cartwright, a young country singer. He must travel to Nashville to defend Milius, and he doesn't want to leave his wife who is battling cancer.  The million dollar retainer is hard to pass up though, and Milius promises that his private jet will be at Joe's disposal the entire time.  Dillard ends up taking the case, and along with his son Jack and Jack's girlfriend Charlie, begins the search for what really happened. All is far from what it seems.  The devoted wife is not so devoted, and the house staff know how to keep secrets.

As in all Joe Dillard books, his relationship with his family steals the show.  Unfortunately, this book is not as strong as his others in that respect, but there was enough to keep me happy. His love for Caroline shines through each book and leads me to believe that Pratt must have a wonderful relationship with his own wife.

Milius and those surrounding him are not the warmest of people, but once Joe starts believing in his innocence, the team works to find the truth that will free him.

I tend to get tired of a series after five or six books, but Joe Dillard is still capturing my interest, and I anxiously await Book #8.

Beverly


Publisher - Phoenix Flying, Inc.
Date of Publication - December 4, 2014
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Nothing Is Impossible: Reflections on a New Life by Christopher Reeve

12/12/2014

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Genre: Non-Fiction
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Christopher Reeve had to find a way to reinvent his life at an age when most men are just settling into theirs.  This book gives us all a look at a man who faced what is arguably the worst that can happen to an individual and became a better person for it. The book is not just a story of his injuries, although he does speak about his fall from his horse and his spinal cord injury.  Instead it is the story of taking whatever life hands us and finding a way to flourish through it.

Although the book does talk of his accident, his prognosis and his rehabilitation, it's focus is more on his life and work supporting stem cell research, raising his children and with the support of his family finding joy and humor where others might wallow in despair.

Of course, although his wealth and his notoriety allowed him to get treatments others might not have access to, it did not take away the pain and fear and initial belief that his life was no longer worth living.  In those dark moments right after he realized his fate, his wife asked him to give himself two years to rebuild his life before he contemplated ending it.  What he did in those two years, and the years that followed is truly inspirational and worthy of a Superman.

This book is not a new one, and Christopher Reeve is no longer with us, but the lesson it teaches makes it a worthwhile selection for review.  If you haven't read it yet (and I hadn't) then take a few hours and enrich your life.

Beverly


Publisher - Random House; 1 edition
Date of Publication - September 24, 2002
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Thru My Looking Glass

12/5/2014

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"If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions." ~Author Unknown

Well, my son is back in New York, my nephew is back in Texas, and Thanksgiving is officially over. As nice as it is to return to a normal day-to-day life, I miss the boys and the laughter that always comes with them.  Happily we will see them soon. My lovely niece is getting married in January, and both boys will be back.

The past week was a busy one for me, but I did get a chance to read and review 3:10 a.m., the second Henry Bins book, by author Nick Pirog.  It is a quick read with a clever hook. Then, because time was limited, I picked a short story to review.  Robert Dugoni has always been a favorite of mine, and The Academy is introducing a new character for me to follow. Tracy Crosswhite probably has an ulterior motive for wanting to join the police force, and Dugoni will make her adventure an interesting one to brighten our holiday season.


For our family there has been a great deal of adventure during the last year. Daughter Beth and family moved to a beautiful new house, as did my sister and brother-in-law. Arthur and I are in transition while our new home is being built, and son Michael is planning to move within the next few months.  Change is good. We tend to get too complacent when we stay in one spot.  We don't challenge ourselves, and if we don't face challenges, we don't grow. 

Madderly Review was my challenge for this year, and I have had so much fun writing each week. Having to write reviews has forced me to broaden my genre interests, and that has helped me find some amazing books that I never before would have read.  I have some ideas for next year too.  Hopefully I can convince you all to get more involved too.

For now though, I look ahead to a bright holiday season filled with good health and lots of laughter...and of course, a pile of great books to read.

Beverly

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