Anatomy of Innocence, Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted edited by Laura Caldwell and Leslie S. Klinger

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Anatomy of Innocence, Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted,' Edited by Laura Caldwell and Leslie S. Klinger.

In Anatomy of Innocence, Testimonies of the Wrongfully Convicted edited by Laura Caldwell and Leslie S. Klinger, we are introduced to a series of injustices. In real exonerations of those who have been convicted of crimes they did not commit, noted authors have compiled cases of those whose stories they have told--both the horrors and the relief of finally being heard. Lives changed and years lost due to lack of investigation, wrong place at the wrong time, and sometimes just faulty witnessing.

Some of the best authors of our time, Sara Paretsky, Lee Child and Phillip M. Margolin along with a host of others have come together to compile their interviews and stories of those wrongfully convicted.

As you delve into this work you will find the questions and wonder at the belief in our system of justice. Allowing their faith in the system and their own knowledge of innocence, they continue to strike out at the injustice, alternating between anger, confusion, and in the end the blessing of being found innocent.

Each author uses their own technique to bring the light to life in their interviews and you will enjoy how each is able to capture the true essence of those who have finally found exoneration. You can feel the angst of the person who is in a state of disbelief, and as you follow the road of those who help them find their freedom, you have to wonder how it all goes so wrong in some cases.

Due to the mistakes, the victim in these cases are double fold. Both the initial victim of the crime itself and then the incarceration of the innocent accused. It is difficult to imagine the amount of fortitude it takes to continue trying to clear your name, while there is so much against you. Yet the strength of belief in both their innocence and our just system give them the ability to continue on--to find that one believer in their innocence, the one who can turn the tide.

If you enjoy true crime, you will find this to be very interesting. Each story is separate and yet you can see the many issues that connect as they are finally found innocent.

This work would be just the thing for a reading or discussion group. There is a great deal to discuss and debate.

Rating 3/5

So Close To Home by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O'Leary

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'So Close To Home', a Historical Novel by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O'Leary.

The interesting thing about history is that there is so much information that we don’t always hear it all.

In So Close to Home by Michael J. Tougias and Alison O’Leary, we are taken back into the atrocities and danger of World War II, but in a world much closer then you can imagine.  We have heard and read a great deal about the ground and navigational wars on land and water on a different continent, one that kept those at home safe from the actual death and destruction, but there was another front that is often unmentioned.

This is a True Story of An American Family’s fight for Survival from a U-boat Attack during Work War II.

Ray and Ina Downs along with eight year old Sonny and eleven year old Lucille have followed the money to hold their family together. Moving from Texas and leaving their oldest son with his grandparents, they head down to South America to make some good money to help them through tough times. When the job unexpectedly ends they load up their belongings and their children on a ship for home. Little do they know that German U-boats have infiltrated the waters of the gulf, and have begun shooting upon ships many of them domestic and with no affiliation to the ongoing war.

Yet the war was one of terror, and how better to strike at a behemoth of a country if not from their own waterways, causing crisis and terror in an effort to get them to back down.

Ray and Ina are not notified of the possible dangers, and the ship and crew do not believe they are at risk, so when two torpedoes hit the ship, explosions and chaos abound. Ina and Lucille are separated from Ray and Sonny, and then Ina and Lucille become separated from each other as well.

This is the true story of a family as they find themselves in a struggle for their lives against sharks, freezing, drowning and surviving the dangers found on the ocean.

This is a wonderful story of survival and how a family showed strength and agility far beyond what is expected to survive and find each other in the aftermath of such danger. It also takes us to the time in history where our very shores were challenged.  Germany was able to come into our back yards in a way that was difficult to foretell, and unbelievable in scope. It further tells the tale of the U.S. rout of the subs and the clearing of enemies from our waterways to once again bring safety to the home front.

If you are a History buff or are interested in war stories, this is one that strikes much closer to home then imagined. If you enjoy stories of courage and perseverance you will find this work mesmerizing.

This would be a great work for a reading or discussion group. The entire situation would create a great deal of interest and dialogue.

Rating 5/5

Wicked Lewiston, A Sinful Century by Steven D. Branting

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Wicked Lewiston, A Sinful Century,' by Steven D. Branting.

History has a place in every area, town, city or country of the world. Historians often research so that we may learn of our past, often in an effort to help our understanding of who we are and where we have come from, as well as alerting us to what we need to change in the future in order to grow and prosper.

Things that occur in different regions often leave traces that affect far wider areas than can be imagined. In Wicked Lewiston, A Sinful Century by author and historian Steven D. Branting, we are introduced to an area in Idaho that has a past of murder and mayhem that seems incomprehensible.

From the very beginning this area that is nestled in the confluence of two great rivers has drawn a crowd. The weather is lovely, the area full of fish and game, and the winters often without the snows that strike the rest of the country. Lewiston became a city before the police force as we know it began, giving those who had a penchant for trouble room to commit crimes and allowing even questionable deaths to go un-investigated.

Branting has taken a timeline of offenses from the mid 1800's though the early 1900's depicting crimes of a nature that are disturbing even to this day. It is not even the crimes themselves that are so disturbing but their frequency that’s unbelievable. For a small area, even in the late 1800's, Lewiston was known for both crime and prostitution. Initially the capital of Idaho, it seemed to draw many of the seedier people, those looking for more than what was available in other, more structured areas.

This is an interesting tale of an era that one would think was a thing of the past. However as with most cities and areas, sometimes death only hides its presence. Branting’s time line of nefarious deeds and circumstances takes you into the minds of those whose decision to take what they feel is their due, or to take the lives of others keeps you digging to find the cause.As the city grew, so too did crime. Murder and greed consumed those whose lives touched the wrong characters. From the back alleys of Lewiston to the glamour of Washington D.C, murder and corruption became just a little too bold as even those who left the area drew the wrong sort of attention.

If you enjoy history and are also avid into real life crime and punishment, you will find this a work that would be great for your library. Branting researches the information and finds a way to make it both interesting and informative.


This would make a great work for discussion group as they discuss the growth of law and discovery in an evolving era.

Rating 4/5

Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day's Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux.

Sometimes the most heroic stories are those you don’t hear about, those held in the hearts of the men who lived them.  In Forgotten, The Untold Story of D-Day’s Black Heroes, at Home and at War by Linda Hervieux, we are introduced to the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion. With a time of war and especially the fateful landing on a French beach Normandy there are many unsung heroes, those who willingly gave their lives to save the lives of the many.

The 320th Balloon Battalion was a unit of African American soldiers who also landed on the beach—their job—to use their curtain of armed balloons and deter enemy aircraft.

With the discovery of military records and the interviews of the last of the survivors, Hervieux has given us a look into the lives of those who served anonymously. While known and respected for their work, they were nonetheless ostracized by other U. S. battalions for race was still a major issue. Lacking freedom from their home in the U.S. the treatment and friendship they garnered in England and most of Europe opened their eyes to the way things could be if equality could really happen for them.

This work draws on the life of Wilson Monk, Henry Parham, William Dabney, Samuel Mattison and thousands of other sent abroad to fight for the liberties they were not yet afforded in their own country. These very experiences they carried back added fuel to the civil rights of the time.

As Hervieus tells the story of this group of freedom fighters she also imbues the work with the tensions of the racial politics of the time as well as the human bravery for a group fighting for freedom and for many giving up their lives for something they had yet to earn for themselves. For these veterans most of their stories remained unheard for the depth of danger and anguish made the retelling difficult.

As Hervieus tracks the stories through the lead up and aftermath of the Normandy landing you get a visual picture of the situations as well as the danger involved. Yet this team of amazing individuals were a very necessary part of taking the beach that day, and the trail of searching for them and getting the stories from the survivors and their families, as well as the few records, we once again see the courage and brilliance of their actions and how their heroism helped to fuel as well as inflame the civil rights movement that came after.

If you enjoy history and works about D-Day, and just getting to know more about the differing views of occurrences and as well as the lives and faces belonging to the Barrage Balloon Battalion you will find this a great work.

This would be a great work for a book club or reading group with a great deal of detail to discuss.

3\5

Joan of Arc, A History by Helen Castor

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: "Joan of Arc,' A History by Helen Castor.

The past is a fascinating way to discover our roots as well as learn about those that have come before us. There is an interest in the history of many cultures, religion, the saints and all the things that have altered the history of the world.

In Joan of Arc by Helen Castor we are taken into the world of a young woman who not only changed the course of history but was labeled first an outlaw and then a saint. There are many works about Joan of Arc and if you have an interest in her back ground you will be amazed at the gathering of information for this particular tome.

Castor has done a bit of deconstructing and creating a history of the period that takes us not just into the story of Joan of Arc, but of the times to help show how important the advent of Joan and why it was so important.  Knowing what was happening and how it all came about brings the fiery and committed Maid or Orleans into stark relief.

A young woman self-proclaimed to be chosen by God to lead the French to freedom, she is stalwart and brave in a way that defies women of the time.  The fact the a King and his army would follow that advice of a girl, for that is what she was, both young and maidenly, is a testament to her passionate belief that she is guided by god.

Castor is able to take us into the life of a young peasant girl who hears the voice of God, and leads the French army into victory. Burned at the stake for heresy, she is later validated through those who kept the faith and knew of her victories and believed her story, as she finally becomes a saint.

If you enjoy history and have even a passing interest in Joan of Arc, you will find this an amazing read. This is a story of truth from the histories and journals of the times that tells like fiction and yet is known to be true. You learn of the girl and her life as well as her passionate belief in God. This is truly one of the best histories I have encountered. Her years were short yet her battles were epic, and she, through her faith accomplished what others could not, to drive the English from France and reset the French King on the throne.

This would be a great book for a reading club; the discussion surrounding the material would be abundant.

Rating 5\5

Capital Dames by Cokie Roberts

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Capital Dames,' A Glance at the Women of the Civil War by Cokie Roberts.

The Civil War was a time in history where women were finding their own allegiances, a time of war and treason, heartache and treachery.  The Years of 1848-1968 were defining years both for the emancipation of slavery but for the women who chose their own involvement in working for their beliefs and that of their husbands and families. 

In Capital Dames by Cokie Roberts we are taken into the parlors and the Whitehouse during a time when unrest was at its height. We are introduced to the women behind the great names in the histories of the colonies, and educated as to the real lives that were led by the men and their leading ladies. 

Whether they were the communicators, the spies or the informers, each had a strong belief in what they were doing. We meet the First Lady of the White House, as well as the belles of both the north and the south. There is an amazing array of information gleaned from writing, diaries and news of the time and Cokie has taken the opportunity to shine a light on the women behind the history of the Civil war. 

What I enjoyed about this particular telling is that Roberts tells the history as it unfolds, not just the woman, but also the men as they too play their part in history. While the emphasis is on the woman, it is the history and the making of it that seems to be the guide. I have always been interested in history and yet found myself in awe by some of the happenings. Many I did not know, and do not recall coming up in history lessons in school. 

Often the woman had to speak for the men, they were away at war, and information deemed important would often make its way through the woman, and their own visits with Generals and the White House as they tried to find a way to work the system to the best advantage of their own particular husband, family or belief. 

It is an amazing array of bravery and fortitude that holds you enthralled in the reading as you find yourself wondering just how you would handle some of the same issues. The war also brought to light the suffering and the need for hospitals, and we also meet the women who worked tirelessly to bring the Red Cross to light. 

If you enjoy history and want to know more behind the written facts, you will find the information garnered here through numerous records, many never before published, to be interesting and heartbreaking.  You may also learn a bit more about this time in history, especially the part played by the woman as their men did their best to bring an end to war. 

This would be a great work for a reading or book club. The information is priceless, and the debatable material would keep a group talking long after hours. 

Rating 5/5

True Medical Detective Stories by Clifton K. Meador, M.D.

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'True Medical Detective Stories,' a compilation of true-life medical cases presented by Clifton K. Meador, M.D.

We often hear of medical miracles, but are they really miracles at all. Or was there perchance a special Doctor in charge that took more than a cursory look, more of a medical investigator, someone that looked further then the obvious to find the root of the situation.

In True Medical Detective Stories by Clifton K. Meador, M.D., he takes us into the examination rooms and gives us case by case notes of some of the most interesting of true-life medical cases. Not only does he give us the play by play of the studies and bedside looks, but he does it in such a way as to make this truly a page turning set of mysteries.

He also pays homage to Berton Roueche, staff writer at the New Yorker from 1944-1994, the man who popularized medical detective stories.  The interesting thing about these true life stories is that the doctor was the one who took the steps to dig deeper, often planting the bug of an idea with the patient or their family that then bore fruit, taking him in direction that was necessary to find the cure.

It is important to note that without this communication from both sides many of these cases could well have ended in tragedy.

Doctor Meador takes the cases and with his twist on wording and descriptions of the facts takes us into the sometimes mysterious causes of illness.  Doctors often have to become detectives in order to find the root of the issue, and it is these cases that strike the pose of mystery, for without this investigation there would have been no story.  Some death often seems without cause, which makes this work so fascinating.

If you enjoy true mystery as well as medical miracles you will find this to be a work that is difficult to put down.  Doctor Meador takes us on a journey into the detective work of those dedicated professionals who wanted a more concise understanding of the cause of their patient’s maladies, and gives us a depth of understanding into the necessity of thorough communication between the doctor and his patients.

A book group or reading club would find this a great work and challenge to create both questions and answers.

Rating 4/5

Creative Anarchy, How to Break the Rules of Graphic Design by Denise Bosler

Posted First to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Creative Anarchy' How to Break the Rules of Graphic Design by Denise Bosler.

For those in business, advertising is one of the best forms of media for getting your company or business in front of its intended public. Yet advertising is such a fickle enterprise, one that is often ineffective and it is difficult to decipher just what works and what doesn’t, and why.

Creative Anarchy by Denise Bosler is a look at Graphic design and advertising in a way that gives insight to the industry.  In an in-depth work of photos, ads, lessons and creative license you are given a tour of how the most successful consultants or ad agencies create the stuff dreams are made of. Each year advertisers create ads, but before they ever get accepted they are first designed and created by a series of creative individuals that understand the rules of the game as well as the occasional rule-breaking that makes the mundane into the incredible.

The lessons, media and images are chaotic and exciting and you are drawn to follow the ideas and successes of those who have broken the barrier of what makes advertising stick in the mind of the audience.

With proven methods and interesting images and procedures, you are taken into a world of color and creative process, one that is intriguing and stimulating.

For the large business as well as the entrepreneur this is an important work that could change the way your business garners sales and interest. If you are drawn to the idea behind a creative endeavor you will enjoy the thoughts and processes that have gone into this tome of creative advertising. 

I found the book both enlightening and the ideas very intriguing. It is amazing to see the depth of the trade knowledge and come to an understanding of why some ads work and other do not. If you are looking for that work that can take your business to the next level then this is a must have for your work place.

The ideas and creativeness leave a lasting impression and will help to light that fire of imagery into the mind of those wanting to capture their audience at first glance.  This is a great lesson in human dynamics, a bold look at how to capture the imagination

Rating 5/5

Becoming Richard Prior by Scott Saul

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Becoming Richard Pryor', a Biography by Scott Saul.

Comedy, drama and improvisation create a great form of entertainment. There are some who are so powerful and talented in the realm of these genres that they leave a lasting mark on those who have had to the opportunity to see their work and possibly know them.

In Becoming Richard Pryor by Scott Saul, we follow the life and times of Richard Pryor from his childhood forward.  A man, a legend, a beleaguered and talented personality ahead of his time, and always on display in some form or other. Pryor did not come from privilege and in fact was raised in his families various brothels.  Even outside the norm they had a strong sense of family that Richard clung to. An outcast as a youngster he found his calling early in drama and comedy, the one thing that helped him to pretend he was someone else.

As he grew and continued learning his trade he did what he could to get strong and better, often using his own harrowing background to dredge up and poke fun at those things that he most feared.  With his raucous comedy and on to his acting he became a voice in a generation looking for what he had to offer.  Yet never one to be stationary, Pryor continued to evolve even when he was burning himself out with drugs he was able to move forward and stay in the limelight. From his loves to his decline you will find the story of his life and his climb to fame remarkable. The strength of will to overcome the disbelievers, and the make his mark in not just comedy with his stand-up routines and improvisation, but then to move on and not just act but to write much of the dialog in his parts in such successful comedies as Blazing Saddles and Blue collar, where he become friends with Gene Wilder another rising star.

A Black entertainer Pryor helped to galvanize the spirit of the black freedom movement and counterculture thereby solidifying the legend of who he became.  A product of his times he was a part of the drug culture as well as the sexual revolution and with his burning passion these actions too, become a part of the whole, driving him further into an inferno of fame. To come from obscurity and move mountains to become a legend only to disappear again into obscurity leave you aching with the pain of his passing.  Even now there are many who stylize themselves after Richard Pryor, he set the standards in a way that will forever remain, a standard that survives and strengthens his repute and legend. There is so much we take for granted of those who grace our lives with comedy and drama, it is the unknown tales that tie it all together, and Scott Saul has done just that.

If you enjoy biographical works and are a fan of Richard Pryor or even just enjoy learning about those who have lived before us you will be intrigued and immersed in a life of love, laughter and pain. A great deal of pain.

This would be a great book for a book club or reading group. The amazing growth of a star through the culture of the times will create an amazing amount of questions and dialogue.

Rating 5/5

This work was received free through the publisher. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Dislexic Dick by Richard "Dick" W. Kraemer

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review: 'Dyslexic Dick' by Richard "Dick" W. Kraemer.

Many choose to serve their country through the different branches of the military. Each has its distinct heritage, and those who have served often hold their training and abilities learned for a lifetime. Yet not everyone has the same experience.

In Dyslexic Dick by Richard “Dick” W. Kraemer, we are given a view of entirely different circumstances and experiences. Often what we know about the different branches comes from who we know a family member or friend who may have served. Many are silent and hold their time and experience close, not sharing that interval of their life with anyone except with friends they may have made in their own branch. Others let fly everything that may have occurred, and with everything there is both good and bad.

Dick has given us a view of his own experiences. Having found a way to enlist in the Marine Corp he finds difficulty with many of the training exercises, often due to a genetic marker called Dyslexia. Often more of a hard ship in school, reading is made difficult, but there are other side effects as well which he brings to light as he moves through training.  

Throughout the narrative, the author is very open about his anger, and his own activities, he is also unapologetic and very succinct in his view of his own experience.  He brings his own brand of humor as well as his diary like journaling and takes us on his passage as a young man through jaded eyes enlightening us to some of the pitfalls and decisions that occurred. He is open about his own activities, sometimes criminal in nature, as well as the drug culture of the time. He also discusses those in charge who may have crossed the line in punishment, often with their own hidden agendas.

His story deals with both his home life as well as his time abroad and discusses his romances and his heartaches. His accomplishments and his criminal activities are laid out in succession, and he is open and quite unapologetic about his past, as it is a part of who he is now.

Kraemer moves through the narrative relating his own experiences as he sees them, and recognizes both the good and the bad. Much of what is writing seems hard to understand, and yet human nature creates its own set of rules and each person carries the baggage of their past into their present, often creating who they become.

If you enjoy autobiographies and want to see a differing view of the military you may find this book to your liking. There is humor and yet there is pain and loss. There also seems to be a bit of overriding anger, suppressed but still showing through in places.

This would be a good book for a discussion group, I am sure it would create a great deal of controversy and conversation.

Rating 3/5

This book was received free from the author. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Great Grisby by Makita Brottman

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'The Great Grisby' by Makita Brottman.

Dogs have been noble companions to both the rich and the poor. One of the characteristics that make them so popular is the loyalty and love they shower on the owner. Because of the power of such devotion, many consider their animal much as they would their children. The devotion goes in both directions, often in ways that may seem strange to those who have never had a pet, or that have not connected in such a way.

In The Great Grisby by Mikita Brottman, we follow the history of such bold tales of the love of these creatures, from kings and princes, to artists and philosophers. Women as well as men tell the tales of love and throughout the telling we are also given snippets of the author about her own companion, Grisby. There is an amazing array of information, much taken from journals and even news of the day. The feelings are jettisons around the globe through letters between friends and family, all extoling the virtues and care of their companion.

While each story is different to the other, there is the over lying dependence on these creatures for that devotions often lacking elsewhere in their lives, or in some cases just and addition of devotion. When the animals age and pass one, there is such a tragedy of feeling, and when the grief has passed and with the addition of a new dog, in many cases this animal may actually be names exactly the same as the deceased.

You will find many of the antics and stories somewhat odd and even occasionally over the top, and yet if you know any dog lovers you already know that there is a special bond, that is shared between the pet and their owner. Often tongue in cheek, the author gives us glimpses into her own feelings, and we find ourselves wondering what Grisby is up to as we follow the history of dogdom through the ages.

If you love animals and are an aficionado of dogs this is a wonderful look at the trials and tribulations of those in the past as they come to terms with the differing personalities of the pets they call their own.

The antics and the treatment seem sometimes over the top, and to an unwary dog fan you may mutter a few ewes. The true dog person does not find any of the situations that you read about as out of the ordinary, and yet I believe there are certainly degrees of dog people. There is a spectrum of behaviors from both the animal as well as their owner. You will find yourself interested in the differing patterns and attitudes that become oddly entertaining on closer inspection.

If you enjoy history and animals you will find this to be an unusual treat. This would be a great book for a discussion group, giving rise to questions and answers, as well as antidotes from those in the know of how the animal is often the real owner and not vice versa.

Rating 4/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Early Decision by Lacy Crawford

Posted first on Blog Critics as Book Review: Early Decision by Lacy Crawford.

In schools and universities across the nation, the academic world is gearing up to approve those students that seem to fit into the life within their respective halls. The decisions are tough with few slots available in some cases and only a handful of hopefuls making the cut.

In Early Decision by Lacy Crawford, we are given a look into the decision making from the eyes of a student and one of those who help them polish their applications. Finding and dragging the best from many students is a chore and often parents are unable to help. In this case they hire Anne, who through word of mouth is known to get students what they want and need.

The problem is that what the students want and need is not always on the same course with their parents. Anne often finds herself as a go between in cases where unrealistic dreams clash with reality. SAT scores and abilities figure harshly in many instances, and those with the money to pay her fees do not always get the degree of satisfaction they are looking for. Yet for Anne, it is about the students, she helps them to realize their strengths and to recognize their weaknesses. This is a tough deliverance as the parents are often in the background with expectations that in some cases are difficult to meet.

In some situations the price of success takes students where they feel they need to be, but in other cases heartache is the meal of the day. In the admissions process, feelings are not a part of the progression. The faces of admission mean nothing; it is only the scores and abilities, as well as the talent to illustrate in a way that you stand out in a crowd. That is part of what Anne helps with. Yet there is a story behind each student that makes it all so real.

Crawford takes us into the lives of a group of college-bound seniors, sharing their backgrounds and hopes, as well as those of the family, especially the parents. Not always in the best light, she helps them to understand how sometimes it is the parents dream and not their own. It seems like a cruel system, and yet there are just so many spaces available in many of the institutions.

Crawford takes the most difficult of cases and finds the humor and sympathy below the surface. I am sure there is often untold hurt when rejection comes, and yet for a handful of students there is joy and trepidation.

This would be a wonderful book for a reading group or book club. The intrinsic gathering of information and background is deep and basic. The dialogue engendered through a reading would be quite robust.

Rating 3/5

The book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

Obstacles...Bring Em by Maria Federici (Doyle)

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review;'Obstacles...Bring Em' by Maria Federici (Doyle).

As humans, we often feel invincible and yet every day we see and hear of death, atrocities, dismemberment and other terrible things that happen within people’s lives.  It takes just a moment, and an unlikely or just unlucky happenstance to change someone’s life forever.

In Obstacles…Bring Em by Maria Federici (Doyle), we are given a look at how just such an unlikely accident changed Maria’s own life, and in doing so changed the path she had mapped out for herself. In her own words and using the memories of her friends and family members, she details her life as it transformed after a fateful day in February of 2004. The life she knew changed drastically when a piece of unsecured furniture fell off a vehicle ahead of her and broke apart, sending a large piece of particle board through her windshield and into her head creating massive brain and facial injuries as well as blindness.

This is not a story of sadness and despair, but one of bravery and courage, and an unstoppable will. Maria may have perished that night from massive injuries and yet due to the courage of the EMTs and those surrounding her, she fought her way back to life and has continued not just surviving but living again. She has overcome many challenges and obstacles and yet perseveres.  Never one to give up she continues to work on overcoming her trials including that of her memory.  

By deposing her friends, family and many of the medical staff involved in her recovery she pieces together her time of darkness, the circumstances of that one fateful night and the following day, months and years as she fought to not just live but to move forward. There is a grittiness and gutsiness to her story that makes you want to cheer her on and get to know her even better.

She does not expect sympathy nor does she want it. She wants to live her life much like she had planned. There is a quality of freedom and goodness in her fight and she finds a way to voice her feeling through her words and those who have gone through much of the recreation of her new life with her.

If you like stories of courage and survival you will enjoy this work.  To have not just survived this ordeal but to have pushed forth and continued the fight with all the things working against her, helps to bring home how determination is what makes things happen.  Here is how in real life we begin to see how ‘attitude creates altitude’.

This would be a great book for a reading and or discussion group. There is a great deal of information and a depth of emotion which always seems to create fodder for conversation.

Rating 3/5

This book was received free from the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based on my reading and understanding of the material.

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott.

Throughout time wars have spawned fanatics, those willing to do anything to make sure their side wins, including collusion and spying. This is true of women as well as men, although we seldom hear of the exploits of the women in history to the extent as we do of the men. The Civil war was no different.

In Liar Temptress Soldier Spy by Karen Abbott we are introduced to the lives of four women who had hidden agenda’s in a war that tore family’s apart and damaged the beginning of a nation. From outright spying to enlisting as a man, each of these women helped to make history in their own unique fashion.

You will find their sense of bravado quite courageous regardless of the sides they chose, and the fact that friends and family were also drawn into their exploits was quite daunting. Yet for a belief that they were right and doing what they could in their own way, they helped to shape the history of our nation and beliefs.

Abbott is a strong voice for these women and interspaced throughout are photos of the time.  You get in-depth information based off letters, diaries and the news, written about them at the time. The fear and concerns come through, but the bravery stands above it all. Each found a way to make a difference, cementing their place in history.

Written with an eye to suspense, steeped in detail and drudgery, you will find yourself ensconced within the world of civil war history, and behind the scenes viewing the characters.

If you enjoy history, adventure and courage you will find this is just the work for you. If you enjoy interaction between proponents, especially in war, this is the perfect find for your library. Abbott has turned what could be dry historical fact and given it faces and names that you can relate to.

Rating 3/5

This work was received through the authors publicist. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

50 Children by Steven Pressman

Posted first to Blog Critics as Book Review:'50 Children' by Steven Pressman.

Those who put their lives at risk during times of war are not always soldiers, trained in the art of warfare. Often ordinary people do the extraordinary with little expectation of thanks.

In 50 Children by Steven Pressman, we follow such a couple who put their own lives on hold to help rescue 50 children from harm in Nazi Germany during the time of holocaust. Gil and Eleanor Kraus find themselves in War time Germany in an effort to use the laws of U. S. immigration and the help of untold others to find and use visas that had never been used to get children to safety.  The times were volatile and as Jews they put themselves in harms ways to do what they could in their own efforts of rescue.

This is the story of an Ordinary American couple who had the courage to face adversity to do what was necessary in a time of turmoil. Using notes, pictures and family accounts Pressman gives us a picture of the difficulties and challenges, as well as the final outcome.

To find such a compelling story and the antidotes that go with it is an important part of history. This was a time when so many things went wrong, yet there were those who did what they could to make things right. As history unfolds the atrocities of war become clear, yet the United States finds itself in turmoil as well. The news is not good and many rumors abound.

The story is told from the beginning and you find yourself in the shoes of the Kraus’s as they set on this dangerous task to go into Germany and rescue as many children as they can. There is heartbreak and tears as well as horror and terror. At any time the narrow path they walk can begin breaking up, thrusting them even deeper into the maelstrom of Hitler Germany.

The very laws of the land in the United States created its own dilemma, when immigration is already at a high level and visa are at their low, how can anyone proceed. And yet many do, for this is only one of the many stories of rescue and courage in a time where help was needed the most.

If you enjoy history along with stories of courage you will enjoy this work. If you are interested in the politics of the day, and stories of courage this work takes you into the stages of all. This couple and others remain unsung heroes in a time where ordinary people did extraordinary things.

This would be a great book for a book club or reading group. The history and the undertakings will fill the quest of finding dialogue to discuss for many reasons. History is what it is and the discussion of what occurred or could have occurred is left to those who try to find the reason behind the actualities.

Rating 5\5

This book was received free through the authors publisher. All opninions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland

Posted First on Blog Critics as Book Review: 'The Disease Delusion' by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland.

With incidents of diseases escalating and chronic illnesses careening out of control, it is time we took back the charge of our own health and lives. Yet with so much at stake and numerous information overloads where can we look for answers?

The Disease Delusion by Dr. Jeffrey S. Bland, is a treasure trove of information in looking for the root cause of so many plaguing issues.  With precise information on the most common of illnesses he takes you on a journey of possible recovery. Unlocking the secrets and myths behind many of the illnesses that plague us today, we find many directions in which to improve both our health and life. Lessons and suggestions, as well as examples of incredible transformations give you hope and understanding of the dilemmas we face.  Can we stave off many of the common issues as suggested? 

This is a comprehensive look at many of the issues that continue to grow by leaps and bounds, and yet it is also a work of answers to questions you may not have even realized. From the root causes and onward, the solutions and suggestions help you to take charge of many things that were once in our own control. The work and insight is amazingly intricate and interesting, from case studies and fact-finding to zeroing in on the real culprits sabotaging your health.  While there are medications for everything from A-Z, here we find that we can do so many things to correct the things that impede our health long before the illnesses begin.  Our body is an amazing thing, telling us time after time that something is wrong, yet for some reason we often miss the message.  

Dr. Bland gives us insight into those messages and how to decipher their meaning and drill down to the very essence in order to get to the real truth. With so much of our health depending on our environment, it is important to listen to the message our bodies are sending, they often know before we do of the toxicity of the surroundings, helping us to move and avoid those thing harmful to us.  Dr. Bland also offers insight to using supplements and natural remedies to strengthen our defenses.

This was an extremely interesting book, and while you may look at the title and be daunted, you will not be sorry when you chose to read on. The data is amazing and you can relate to so much of the content.  As an average citizen this is informative and gives you back some control of your health and as a health professional the cutting edge research and the furthering of integrative medicine is exciting and resourceful.  

Not necessarily one of those works that would make a reading list, I would still recommend it. The information included would also be great for a discussion group, I know everyone is always interested in bettering their health, and this work is extraordinary. This is a powerful look at taking charge of our own lives.

Rating 5/5

This book was received free from the Authors publisher. All opinions are my own based off my reading and understanding of the material.