“I have lived a thousand lives and I’ve loved a thousand loves. I’ve walked on distant worlds and seen the end of time. Because I read. “
—-George R.R. Martin


The new year is quickly upon us, and it is up to us to use the time wisely. We can chose to bemoan the fate of our planet, criticize the politicians who are seemingly oblivious to human suffering and longingly reflect on the “good old days,” or we can accept that there have been obstacles to overcome throughout history, and lessons that we took from those obstacles. We can make our surrounding space as stress free and accepting as possible, and we can go out into the world strongly supporting our causes.

I have noticed that newspapers are now interspersing feel good human interest stories throughout their pages. We are being shown daily that for every bigot there are a thousand humanitarians, and for every bully there are hundreds of kind souls offering their friendship. We must take heart in the fact that there is a reason that Americans have been known for their generosity through the years. As a whole, we are quick to lend a hand, and I believe that the majority of us will never change.

One way to use time wisely is to spend it with a good book. For as long as I can remember books have comforted me. They have kept me company when everyone else has been too busy to spend time with me. They have soothed my anxieties by giving me something else to think about when life gets difficult. They have sat with me in doctors’ waiting rooms, on long plane flights and in foreign hotel rooms. Yes, I have surely lived, loved and traveled on the written word.

I am excited to say that the coming year offers us some great reading choices. Most of my favorite authors are coming out with books in 2019. I reviewed Joseph Finder’s Judgment earlier this month and really enjoyed it. The Warriors by Paul Batista was published last week. I am in the midst of reading it, and WOW! Batista really knows how to feature strong women.

John Lescroart is coming out with his next Dismas Hardy book in January, and James Grippando brings us Jack Swyteck in February. Rick Mofina’s February title, Missing Daughter sounds promising, and I read and really enjoyed Phillip Margolin’s March offering, The Perfect Alibi.

March 12 is a fictional bonanza with James Patterson’s The First Lady, J.D. Trafford’s Without Precedent and David Rosenfelt’s Black and Blue all hitting the bookstores that day. March also brings us Harlan Coben’s Run Away and April offers up The Final Reckoning by Robert Bailey.

I just finished reading an advanced reader’s copy of A Matter of Will. This June title by Adam Mitzner was truly impossible for me to put down. I can’t wait to print my review of it in a few months.

I finished the year by reading and reviewing Look for Me by Lisa Gardner. It was a heart wrenching book, but it was definitely a well written page turner.

So the coming year looks promising in many literary ways, and we here at Madderly Review wish all of you a very happy and healthy year of reading.

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

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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

​Genre: Mystery

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

In Look for Me Lisa Gardner really started  off with a powerful prologue. It was, in fact, a bit too gut wrenching for me, since I am pretty squeamish when I read books or watch movies. The entire story-line is disturbing, but Gardner is a top-notch author and handles it well.

Roxie Baez is the only one in her family who survives a mass shooting, and then she disappears. Is she a survivor or a suspect? The characters in this D.D. Warren series are strong, and with D.D. on the case we know the truth will come out eventually. Flora Dane, herself a survivor of violence, is after her own form of justice, and as the story progressed,  following both points of view kept me flipping pages.

One can not read this book without being immersed in the highly topical social issues that face society in the twenty-first century. As a former teacher, the bullying aspect rang true to me. The foster system is exposed, and we see how the justice system itself failed Roxie. While the mystery is compelling, I was equally drawn into these social aspects and believe they are lessons to be learned.

There is no doubt that Lisa Gardner is a talented author with a devoted fan base. I have not read many of her previous novels and am looking forward to catching up on D. D. Warren’s backstory. This is not an emotionally easy read, but it is one that is worth your time.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - ​​​​February 6, 2018

“After all, if you do not resist the apparently inevitable, you will never know how inevitable the inevitable was.”
― Terry Eagleton, Why Marx Was Right


It is quite easy to complain about the state of affairs in our country. People have been doing it since the beginning of time. No president, no matter his party, remained unscathed. Thomas Jefferson had Sally Hemings, and JFK faced the Bay of Pigs debacle. Nixon had Watergate and Reagan faced the Iran-contra scandal. Whether the proverbial shoe drops on a personal matter or a political debacle, every leader eventually faces the angry faces of those who elected him.

Yes, It is easy to sit back and be an armchair quarterback as our elected officials attempt to straighten out our country’s many problems. Without knowing all of the facts though, our solutions are not always feasible. So we sit there and complain about the liberal left or conservative right and discuss the demise of our country with our friends and neighbors. We feel afraid and helpless and worry that we are beyond the point of being saved.

I remember being a relatively new teacher during the Gulf War and trying to convince my students to register to vote. We were discussing their apathy towards school at the time, and one particular young man went on a “what’s the point” tirade.  “We are all gonna die anyway,” he exclaimed, “I will probably be drafted next year, so I am just gonna smoke pot and chill till they get me.”

George H. W. Bush was president at the time, and the Mideast crisis was as real to that generation as the Vietnam war had been to their parents. I understood my students’ fears, but I still didn’t understand their apathy, just like I don’t understand the apathy that many people are displaying today. In 2016 only 59.7% of eligible voters actually cast their ballots. What were the other 40.3% possibly thinking?
How many of those non-voters are complaining about the state of things now?

Things are definitely not beyond the point of saving, but we all have to invest in the future. We can make a difference if we care enough to try. I agree that the government needs to do more to save our environment, but so do we. Approximately 25% of Americans do not recycle their trash. Why? It is an easy task and is so beneficial. How about water waste? Do you know that the average American uses 100 gallons of water a day, and much of that is wasted. You can save 25 gallons a month if you simply turn off the water while you brush your teeth and turn it back on when you are ready to rinse. Then there is that leaky faucet. Fix it and you will save 2,700 gallons a year.

There is so much that we can do to make our world a better place. Teach our children not to bully. Lead by example. Boycott companies that are destroying our planet and support companies that make an effort to do what is right.  Don’t just complain about politicians who are working against your beliefs...volunteer to work for their opponents. Let your voices be a positive move for change rather than another complaining constituent who whines rather than works.

This week I read a thriller with historical overtones that really got me thinking. When the Past Came Calling by Larry S. Kaplan brought back all of the conspiracy theories of the JFK assassination and reminded me that every generation faces issues that seem worse than the ones before, yet we somehow get stronger.

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

Happy reading,

- Beverly
​

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

​Genre:  Historical/Mystery

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

When the Past Came Calling by Larry S. Kaplan is one of those books that kept me reading when I should have been doing so many other things. This, his newest novel, features a protagonist that you just want to root for and a plot that is just a little different than most. David Miller is an attorney who gets by but isn’t setting the world on fire, so he was quite happy to take the call from his former debate partner, Michael Eisenberg.

Eisenberg was now the US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois. The two attorneys get together for lunch every few months, but this wasn’t just a chat among friends. The US Attorney is now working with the FBI on a high stakes case. They are investigating the disappearance of a government scientist whose bio-evolutionary research could turn Darwinism on its ear.

Apparently the main suspect has a connection to David’s past, and Eisenberg asks for his assistance. Somehow the assassination of JFK becomes involved when David seeks the help of another friend from his youth, Benny Friedman. Benny strongly believes that Oswald was part of a conspiracy to kill the 35th President of the United States. He also fears that someone is trying to keep him from revealing the truth.

Author Kaplan does a fantastic job weaving his plot lines together to keep the reader guessing what will come next. The addition of a love interest for David is a bit far fetched, since the author has him pining away for a girl he met for several minutes at a party when they were both in their mid-teens. Of course when they reconnect after all of these years, the spark is still there and the reader can join his fantasy of a happily ever after.

There is plenty of paranoia, deception and adventure to keep thriller fans interested, and I am going to search out Larry Kaplan’s first book.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Amazon Digital Services LLC
Date of Publication - ​​​​June 30, 2014

​"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36 (King James Version)


Anyone who knows me at all or those of you who have read my blog through the years know that I am politically moderate leaning towards radically left where human rights are concerned. I am registered Democrat but vote for the person not the party. I genuinely see two sides to almost every issue and weigh my words carefully lest I have any influence on anyone’s thinking.

That being said, I am horrified at what has happened to the Republican Party. After reading, several weeks ago, that the president blamed the wildfires in California on the people suffering through them, my first reaction was sadness for a man who lives without empathy and seems to need daily small victories to survive in his current position. I can not be angry at a man who told us what he is, from the day he began his climb to the presidency and never wavered. Those of us (myself included) who tried to convince ourselves that this was his ploy to get votes, and he would mellow out if elected, were grasping at elusive straws to make ourselves feel better. That is not his fault or problem. He told us what to expect and is exactly what he said he is!

It is those that surround him that deserve our scorn. Whether they are the manipulators or the manipulated, they are steering our country into a monumental fall for personal gain. The manipulators disgust me, but they too are being true to themselves. They are radical men who found someone they can “horse-whisper” to, and they will push their agenda to the limits. I hate that, but I understand what motivates them.

It is the manipulated men and women representing Americans in the name of the Republican Party who have lost their souls somewhere in their quest for a conservative America. Those are the people who truly disgust me. Those are the people who should hang their head in shame. They are allowing their leaders to say things that are blatantly un-American, and turning the other cheek so their agenda will be furthered. I have to assume that there are not too many republican senators or representatives who believe that “gross mismanagement of the forests” is causing the fires in California, yet not too many have come to the defense of those who went through the blazing inferno.

I imagine that most republican senators would have been horrified to have a liberal judge confirmed to the Supreme Court if his reputation included excessive drinking and several accusations of sexual harassment, yet only one stood up to say “this is wrong” when they saw the opportunity to further their conservative agenda. They are slowly giving up all of the values that they stood for to insure that some of their agendas are met.

I understand that they fear for their positions because the White House has shown itself to be vindictive against those who cross them, but our representatives must stand strongly against everything that goes against our constitution and the well-being of our country. On September 11, 2001, a group of people on United Airlines Flight 93 came to the realization that they would risk their lives to fight for what was right, because living with the consequences of the destruction of all that we hold dear was more than they wanted to bear. They lived and died as heroes.

I am not asking our representatives to give up their lives to save our constitution. In fact, if they truly believe that gross mismanagement is causing fires and/or harassing women is a “boys will be boys” type of thing, then they should most certainly stand strongly behind it. What I am asking is that if they don’t believe in these things then have the strength to stand up and be counted. Who knows, maybe they will start the wave that will bring the republicans back to a party we can be proud of during a time when heroes are so desperately needed.


On a lighter note, I decided to review one more children’s book before the Christmas holiday-giving time is past, and ended up reading over a dozen selections. While many were good, I am Sonia Sotomayor (Ordinary People Change the World) by Brad Meltzer (Illustrated by Christopher Eliopoulos) captured my heart. The series by Meltzer is a gift to our children, and this one was particularly charming.

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

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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

​Genre: Children's Book/Non-Fiction

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Brad Meltzer has been writing his Ordinary People Change the World books for several years now, and I believe that this “ordinary” author is changing the world with this series. He makes these people so relatable that children start to imagine that they might change the world too.

I Am Sonia Sotomayor introduces us to the first Latina Supreme Court Justice, and this book is just as charming as the fifteen previous ones. We see her as a young girl always getting into mischief. From her family's favorite refrain - “ Sonia, what have you done now?"  - I related to her dreams of being the next Nancy Drew, as I watched her mature through the pages.

These books are exceptionally well written for young children who will learn so much about these individuals in Meltzer’s pages. History is easy for young ones to grasp when they see it through the eyes of the characters themselves. Christopher Eliopoulos does an excellent job illustrating Meltzer’s ideas through the colorful pages of the life of one of America’s top justices.

If you are buying gifts this year for children in grades K-3, I strongly recommend all of the books in the Ordinary People Change the World Series.

​-Beverly
​

Publisher - Dial Books
Date of Publication - ​​​​November 13, 2018

“Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people“
   -Karen Salmansohn

President George H.W. Bush died last week, and the country mourns this man who exemplified civility during his years in office. His belief in the importance of giving of oneself and shining a light for those in need gave us all something to work towards, and hopefully this country will find our way back to that road once again.

I have a belief in the goodness of people because I see their small (and big) acts of kindness every day. Whether it was the young fast food worker who used his own debit card to feed the hungry man who came through his line, or the owner of a sports team who spent close to $100K paying down customers’ lay-away bill in her local Walmart, our country is filled with people whose hearts will always lead them in the right direction.

Quite a few years ago I presented my Public Speaking students with a challenging mid-term exam. It was December, and I wanted them to get in the true holiday spirit.  They were to do something unexpectedly wonderful for someone...a random act of kindness, and then present a speech explaining the act and telling us how it made them feel. Although the idea scared them initially, one by one they came to tell me how wonderful it was to surprise someone when they most needed a lift. The acts of kindness were as varied as the students, but they all came from the heart. One boy mowed an elderly neighbor’s yard, and one painted a neighbor’s house. One girl bought her aunt (a single mom) a gift card for a spa and offered to babysit for her two cousins on the day it was cashed in. One young man called his out of town grandmother and spoke to her for an hour, and another student read a book to a blind neighbor. The one thing that they all had in common was the joy they felt when giving of themselves. Every student got an A on their mid-term that year.

I realize it is difficult to find the good these days, but it is there. I am astounded at the amount of money that is collected everyday on scores of GoFundMe pages, and more than money, people are donating time to those in need. Last year I tried to volunteer time in our local soup kitchen. They told me that there were so many volunteers that there were not enough hours in the day to take on any more. I fondly remember my days as a “candy-striper” in Lankenau Hospital, and am happy to see young people still volunteering their time in hospitals, nursing homes and animal shelters.

I have a challenge for all of you. Go out and perform some random act of kindness. Don’t plan it out; let it come from your heart. Several thousand people read this blog each month, and if everyone participates, imagine how many lives will be made happier. When you are finished, take note of how it makes you feel. If you want to share, please send me a short note telling me about it. (Send to: [email protected]) 

I am going to compile a book of Random Acts of Kindness and would love to include yours. If you don’t want your name included, just let me know to mark it anonymous.

As I promised several weeks ago, I spent part of Thanksgiving holiday reading Joseph Finder’s soon to be released book, Judgment. Wow! I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for it to be published so you can add it to your must read list.

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

Happy reading,

- Beverly

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

​Genre: Legal Thriller

​​​​​Click book cover for Amazon.com

Joseph Finder’s strength is in his story. My favorite authors are the ones who draw me in with their particular specialties. There are those whose characters rise off of the page and make me want to share a meal with them or just hang out with them. There are others whose power of description help me to travel the world without leaving my living room. Finder’s characters are well fleshed out and his descriptions are replete with adjectives, but it is his ability to tell a story that captures me and never lets go.

I expected a great novel when I read about Judgment, and I was not disappointed. His protagonist is a female this time, a rule-following judge who makes one mistake in her personal life and watches as her world starts to crumble. Juliana Brody presided over the Superior Court of Massachusetts and is on track to go much further in her career. Unfortunately, she is currently presiding over a case that has connections that might ultimately destroy her career.

When her lapse in judgment turns into a blackmail opportunity for the defendants in one of the cases that is before her, the Judge soon finds that her life, and the life of those closest to her, is in peril. Not one to give in to blackmailers, Judge Brody goes to any length to find out who is behind this scheme. Finder’s research is evident as we learn about underhanded business practices and Russian connections.

Yes, Joseph Finder is a storyteller, and for those who enjoy a good thriller, I promise that Judgment will make your top ten list for 2019.

​-Beverly


Publisher - Dutton
Date of Publication - ​​​​January 29, 2019