11 posts tagged “book review”
The biography of The Quander Quality: The True Story of a Black Trailblazing Diabetic is co-aut
hored by the father and son team of James W. Quander and Rohulamin Quander. The significant story engages the reader in late life of James W. Quander (1918-2004) who was diagnosed with Juvenile diabetes shortly before his sixth birthday. He was also told by his physicians that he would live past ten.
His story is an inspiring tale of a human being put to the test on many levels. Medically, emotionally, physically, politically, and spiritually Quander met all challenges. With each new restriction or limitation he became more resourceful and more confident.At his time, insulin was new as were other forms of treatments for diabetes. Upon his parents’ advice, he kept his illness under wraps and called it the “big secret” for the next six decades. He lived a life of strict discipline, medical regiment, exercise, and mental determination. Even when he faced severe adversity such as racial discrimination, he persevered. The biography depicts Quander’s journey through life both personally and professionally.
He earned his doctorate degree in Economics and Statistics, worked for the Federal Government, and spent the lateral part of his life as a Catholic Deacon. Quander always needed to keep active.
James waited his 86th year to write his story with good reason. Some stories require time to flourish. Or seasons that need to pass before they can be remembered to their fullest. James W. Quander’s story is such a life.
I look forward to Rohulamin Quander’s next work documenting his distinguished family history from 1684.
In her first novel, Hot Water, Kathryn Jordan depicts a woman who wants to
escape her abusive marriage for a weekend and retreats to a luxury spa. So, she hires a gorgeous man through the Internet as her escort, buys sexy lingerie, and leases a red Lamborghini Murcielago to complete her fantasy. While at the resort, she goes by the name Julia Reeves and names her escort William.
The Hidden Springs Spa is a place of privacy and intimacy for its guests. For Julia and William, Hidden Springs opens and heals old wounds. Their intended encounter was supposed to be only sexual. However, their sexual, emotional and intellectual interaction leaves them questioning the possibilities of the future.Kathryn Jordan is a talented writer. One of her strongest points is her descriptive ability. Readers are transformed into the moment. Throughout Hot Water, Jordan gives amazing descriptive images of Hidden Springs. Readers are easily taken on a beautiful journey into a world of waves, sand, water, trees, and plush living. While the backdrop is glorious, the characters needed a little more highlighting. Jordan’s sporadic philosophic conversations between Julia and William begin to highlight their mental strengths. I was hoping for more conversational characterization development. Overall, her novel is provocative, intriguing, and a worthwhile read. I hope to see more novels by Kathryn Jordan in the future.
John Thompson pens his intriguing work entitled Trainride Elsewhere: The Fourth Collection of Misterpoet. Enticing his audience, he pleases the emotional and visceral senses which often evoke pain and pleasure. His poetry is sharp, precise, and, one may say, economically written. The words are carefully chosen to create distinct portraits and images for that one moment in time.
Naturalistic themes, not unfamiliar in Thompson’s work vividly appear throughout in stanzas and haikus. He playfully jots down ideas and thoughts of his surroundings; trees, leaves, willows, and metaphorically he relates them to human beings. Thompson sees the beauty in nature in both man and nature and the Oneness in the world and brings that into his poetry.
His haikus, in particular, are powerful: “razor, dances, / across skin: a red river--/waterfall thin.” Thompson explores human relationships, life encounters, and even tackles tragedies as 9/11 through beautiful poetry.
Sparking a somewhat new tone is that of unhurried attention to sensuality and motion. The words caress his images leaving his readers remembering his poems long after they have left the page.
A majority of the collection are written in haikus. The rest in poetic form vary a bit context. However, they do not stray from Thompson’s original playfulness with words. His keen desire and observational ability to recognize the connectivity in the world shines through in his poems.
Diet for a Dead Planet
Christopher D. Cook
The New Press
ISBN: 978-1-59558-084-9 $13.10
Christopher D. Cook’s latest book Diet for a Dead Planet offers the American public with a wake up call view of the food industry today. As an investigative journalist, he gives a complete overview of the socioeconomic and political ills facing food production. He begins the supermarkets and ends with the global agricultural market.
Cook inspects the multifaceted complexities which have arisen due to cheap labor, often exploited and without healthcare. He also depicts the plight of migrant workers, processed food, and pesticides manipulatively spread over crops with the able assistance of government subsidies. The findings are thorough, compelling, and difficult to ingest at times. However, they are warranted as he introduces authorities to backup his claims.
The statistics Cook presents are real, yet harsh. Yearly, 75 million Americans are sickened by the food they eat, while an estimated 67 million birds are killed by the millions of pounds of toxic agricultural pesticides sprayed on crops. Meanwhile, farmers that remain take home only about 19 cents per food dollar spent by the average consumer (this is in comparison to 37 cents in 1980 and 47 cents in 1952) according to Cook.
Cook closely examines every branch of the food industry. In doing so, he reaches a necessary reason for change. The socioeconomic, environmental, and political injustices currently practiced weigh heavily on ’s well being. Within each chapter, he goes into great detail explaining, expanding, and scoping the historical difficulties and how they adversely impact today’s food industry. Beyond that conclusion, Cook explains that unless a new solution, specifically changing how food is “made”, Americans will continue to spiral downward.
Cook clearly maps out the issues beleaguering and tormenting many workers in the food industry from farmers, supermarket employees to higher up executives. All problems such as exploited migrant workers, sickened Americans, corporate control, and government subsidies carry negative consequences for the future if nothing is done soon. In Cook’s last chapter, he outlines a solution which focuses on changing the role of the food industry in the future. This book is powerful in its own right. However, more pages need to be devoted to envisioning that solution than one final chapter. I hope to see more works from Christopher Cook. I recommend this book as a read for anyone who eats. This is also a book for anyone who wants to learn the truth about a topic in urgent need of active change and tired of complacency.
While driving she hits a stranger. Someone who appears to be from another century; the sixteenth century to be exact. Sir Dougray Fitzpatrick, Lord of Dunhaven’s history not much brighter than Aislinn’s, encounters each other with much suspicion. However, they are destined to meet. Sir Fitzpatrick, a widow, was told by a psychic he would meet a traveler who would help him set the future right.
Through their fights, turbulent battles, sometimes, humorous trickeries, and always wild adventures, Dougray discovers Aislinn to be a woman of great strength, heart, and love. Aislinn finds Dougray as a man of courage, bravery, and honor. Their beautifully told story keeps readers in constant suspense.
Nutt is an excellent storyteller with a knack for pace, rhythm and description. She conveys the story without giving away too much too soon with artistic grace. Lost in the Mist of Time is precisely where the readers will find themselves as soon as they turn the first page. It is truly a thrilling read.
reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
At Miss Oliver’s School for Girls everything stayed the same. That is until the Board fired Marjorie Boyd their beloved headmistress. Unfortunately, she was ill-equipped as a financial manager to run Miss Oliver’s. So, the Board decided to bring in someone else. The next headmaster, Mr. Kindler, tackles the inadequately managed budget and faces the turbulent environment of Miss Oliver’s. Stephen Davenport writes Saving Miss Oliver’s: A Novel of Leadership, Loyalty, and Change in the spirit of intended for anyone who has experienced adolescence, high school, and education.
When Mr. Kindler arrives at Miss Oliver’s, only three options remain for the school. Recruit more girls, Enroll boys, or close Miss Oliver’s for good. Davenport writes from the perspectives of students, teachers, trustees, administrative staff, and parents. Throughout the book, twists and turns, some victories and disappointments occur.
The sense that an educational institution is immune from all outside problems is immediately lifted. As in any environment, Davenport also illustrates the inter-politicking between faculty and administration. Carefully crafted characters, each with their own set of dilemmas move the reader. A private school or not, high school is a difficult time for teenagers.
But, most probably most important about Miss Oliver’s is the reader identifies with the characters quite quickly the urgency of the situation. Davenport’s talent is in his ability to create an emotional bond between the reader and the characters. This book is a genuine read.
reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
In our contemporary age, many perceive American society as male-dominated and view women as traditionally submissive, less likely to succeed, and lacking certain abilities depending on the subject or topic in question. At least that is what conventional wisdom dictates for the adolescent girls growing up in America. In his latest book, Alpha Girls Dan Kindlon challenges traditional views and amasses new evidence that proves the opposite to be true.
In fact, Kindlon writes passionately about the need to define who “alpha girls” are, what characteristics set them apart from other non-alpha girls, and how they compare to boys. His findings include commissioned studies, interviews, and graphs. He studies self-esteem levels, college degrees earned (BAs, MAs, and PhDs), attitudes about education, careers, and relationships. His evidence is fascinating because today’s girls perceive their lives as filled with opportunities, not the restrictions that once hindered many women a generation before.
Alpha Girls are a newly defined phenomenon that is quickly sweeping the nation. Kindlon speaks well of this growing positive change. He embraces these girls as a beautiful tapestry of mentally, emotionally, and physically determined group that encompasses various abilities to accomplish anything they desire.
As the best-selling author of Raising Cain, Kindlon again comes to his audience with another intriguing study of questioning the gender perceptions of today’s female adolescence. His writing is quick, concise, and stimulating. The young women, now known as alpha girls, are sure to play increasingly key roles in changing the world’s landscape.
reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
Are There Any Good Jobs Left?: Career Management in the Age of the Disposable Worker
R. William Holland
Praeger
ISBN: 0-275-99044-3, $34.95, pp. 161
In our global community, many individuals experience career transition either by choice or more frequently these days by forced layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, off shoring, and the ever increasing emergence of international economies such as and . What many individuals are beginning to feel for the first time is the impermanence of their employment and livelihood. In Are There Any Good Jobs Left?: Career Management in the Age of the Disposable Worker, Holland purposefully writes his book and explains “why” Americans have reached this point and how each individual can creatively succeed in each given situation.
His book is written two parts. The first is a background beginning with the 1940s and how WWII eventually impacted corporate . He focuses on white-collar positions from receptionists to presidents of huge companies. With the global economy expanding at a rapid pace, many individuals who thought they would have job security for a lifetime, were faced with “pink slips” and faced with having to relocate. He chronicles historical precedents on race and gender. By identifying how their roles continue to change in the workplace, he also alerts readers to pressing issues unsolved in the regarding minorities in the workforce.
The second part is a practical guide to career and job placement. He focuses on resumes, networking, interviews, negotiating, and concludes with a case study. offers suggestions and many resources about career transition. ’s book is a contextually enriching asset for many who find themselves in need of valuable career information.
Reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
In the wake of the Fifth Anniversary September 11th, 2001 Nicholas Sparks graces his audience with his latest novel about romance, friendship, loss, loyalty, and explores the depths of how far people will go for love. In Dear John, two lives meet and are forever altered. Their happiness is jeopardized with the invasion of a cruel war, uncontrollable circumstances, and the reality of long term separation.
Young rebellious John Tyree meets sweet, good hearted Savannah Lynn Curtis, his life changes for the better. He knows she is the one for him. He wishes he had not enlisted in the army so quickly after high school. Instead, he wants to settle down with Savannah. Then September 11th happens?
While in Iraq, Savannah sends him a “Dear John” letter. After John returns, he must come to terms with Savannah. While his feelings remain unchanged, circumstances have. After serving his country, coming home, and finding Savannah, John is left with a decision to make. Throughout the novel, Sparks vicariously asks “What does it mean to truly love another?” and “What does true love really mean”?
Sparks writes Dear John passionately, honestly, and with an undertone of sadness. Within the context of September 11th, he carefully constructs a soldier’s tale. He writes apolitically; without dogma. Two lives once intersected then changed by the destruction of war. Sparks intertwines romance, joy, emotion, and loss into a world which we are all uncertain but willing to brave in the hopes that love may reach us someday.
reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
Set in early1900s Poland, Rosenbaum takes her audience to the depths of a small town, Zokof, where the family story begins. As a young boy, Itzik Leiber accidentally kills a Polish peasant when he sees three children in harm’s way. To save himself and his family, he must flee Zokof. Years later, his son, Nathan, a professor travels to Poland only to find links to his father. Nathan’s daughter, Ellen, a ballet dancer, by trade, less religious later travels to Poland. What she discovers unravels more of their family mystery. Ellen’s search for understanding enables the Leiber’s to finally come full circle.
Rosenbaum writes a gorgeous piece, filled with twists and turns. There is conflict between historical and cultural peoples that she brings to surface beautifully. Her storyteller’s voice is apparent through her choice of characters and dialogue is unforced. This debut novel will definitely keep the reader intrigued and laughing as well.
reviewed by: Mona Lisa Safai
