Review: A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard

Synopsis: Inspired by William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience, this delightful collection of poetry for children brings to life Blake’s imaginary inn and its unusual guests. (from the online description)

Review: Whimsical, to the point of confusion, without true style or mastery. Although, considering Blake’s style (which I recognize as genius, even if I do not like it), it fits.

That being said, if you like Blake, you will like this. If you do not like Blake (which I do not) then you won’t. 

Bookmarks: 3 of 5

Awards: Newbery Medal, 1981. Caldecott Award, 1981 (First Book to Win Both)

ISBN: 978-0152938239
Year Published: 1980
Date Finished: 4-9-2019
Pages: 44

Review: Hospital Station by James White (Sector General, Book 1)

Synopsis: Set in the center of the known Universe, Sector General gathers the best medical minds and technology from dozens of worlds, all with the goal of healing any creature with any ailment - but the Staff of Sector General might not be prepared for the many amazing and extraordinary creatures that require their help.

Review: James White was rumored to hate violence - and his books reflect that. Set in a hospital, these characters strive to preserve life, and look on violence towards any creature as abhorrent. In this atmosphere, we meet Conway and O'Mara, two characters who work to heal others in their own unique ways. Conway, a young and new doctor at the hospital, is at first, a quite unlikable character. Arrogant, bigoted, and self-righteous, and most of the book follows his journey from asshole to good person (and Doctor). O'Mara is a hilarious character, and the banter between him and Conway is well-done. But most of what I like about this book is the treatment of non-Earth-humans. Each is given its own culture, prejudice, food, atmosphere, ideas of beauty and justice, and in short - not Earth-human or even similar to them. Much of the drama in the story comes from the clash and the drive to understand each other, and in particular, to heal those who are different from you. White's creates a well-done world with many excellent characters. A fun, refreshing science fiction story, in particular, suited towards those who want something other then the laser-space-battles and pulpy hero stories.

  

Note: White has often been accused of misogynist writings. While that might be true of some of his works, it is relativity absent from this particular story. True, women are nurses, and it is their physical attributes that are commented on more than their mental or professional achievements, but considering the time the book was written (1962), it isn't as bad as it could be.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-345-29613-3
Year Published: 1962
Date Finished: 4-4-2019
Pages: 191

Review: Over the Wall by Peter Wartman (G)(L)

Synopsis: A great wall separates a magnificent metropolis from the surrounding countryside. All humans are banned from ever entering the city. A young girl is determined to enter the forbidden city in search of her lost brother. When she crosses over, fantastic adventures ensue in narrow medieval streets, ancient temples, and abandoned bazzars of the haunted city. To save her missing brother, she must grapple with mythical creatures, explore the mystery of the missing inhabitants, and cure the amnesia of an entire civilization. (from the online description)

Review: With single color, dark tones, and blurred lines, Wartman takes the reader into a world of demons and humans. A young girl, certain that she remembers a brother others say never existed, goes into the land of the demons in search of him.

The story, although simple, has good character and depth and a nice balance between action and dialogue.

Solid story, good art – worth reading. 

Bookmarks: 3.5 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 9780984681433
Year Published: 2013
Date Finished: 4-2-2019
Pages: 35

Review: In the Name of Jesus by Henri J. M. Nouwen

Synopsis: Henri Nouwen was a spiritual thinker with an unusual capacity to write about the life of Jesus and the love of God in ways that have inspired countless people to trust life more fully. Most widely read among the over 40 books Father Nouwen wrote is In the Name of Jesus. For a society that measures successful leadership in terms of the effectiveness of the individual, Father Nouwen offers a counter definition that is witnessed by a "communal and mutual experience." For Nouwen, leadership cannot function apart from the community. His wisdom is grounded in the foundation that we are a people "called." This beautiful guide to Christian Leadership is the rich fruit of Henri Nouwen's own journey as one of the most influential spirtiual leaders of the 20th century. (from the online description)

Review: With his customary simple and passionate prose, Nouwen writes here about Christian Leadership. Nouwen takes the leadership attributes encouraged by the World and uproots them, turning them around, and showing how the Servant-Leadership of Christ Jesus is different.  He illustrates this by examples from his own failures and struggles as a leader – going from the hallowed halls of Harvard to a community for mentally and physical disabled people where all his leadership skills suddenly became pointless and useless. It is from that place of humility he speaks to the Christian Leader, encourage and admonishing.

Although this book is simple and short, it is powerful. I would strongly encourage any Christian to read it – but in particular Christians who find themselves in a position of leaders, church or secular. Although written over 20 years ago, the message is still true and still needing to be heard. If leaders wish to be strong in the Kingdom of God they cannot lead the way the World does. They must lead the way Christ did. Nouwen’s book encourages this and is vital for any Christian. 

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 0-8245-1259-6
Year Published: 1989
Date Finished: 3-31-2019
Pages: 81

Review: Blue Willow by Doris Gates

Synopsis: To Janey Larkin, the blue willow plate was the most beautiful thing in her life, a symbol of the home she could only dimly remember. Now that her father was an itinerant worker, Janey didn't have a home she could call her own or any real friends, as her family had to keep moving, following the crops from farm to farm. Someday, Janey promised the willow plate, with its picture of a real house, her family would once again be able to set down roots in a community. (from the online description)

Review: Janey Larkin lives a nomadic life, under the care of her father and stepmother. Her greatest and only treasure is a blue willow ceramic plate that once belonged to a mother she can no longer remember. As her family sets-down near her father’s current job of picking cotton, Janey begins long for a change to “stay as long as they want” but achieving that dream might cost her greatest treasure.

Janey’s journey is brilliantly displayed. She matures through her friendship with Lupe, and through her education, gaining an understanding of courage and what’s important. Watching her struggle with the difficult things around her is part of the “realistic” nature of the story. While the ending is a bit – Shiny – where everything works out perfectly, the journey of how she gets there has danger and difficulty, and her start in life is not rosy-pink and happy.

It should be noted that Lupe, Janey’s friend, is clearly of Mexican origin. Surprising for the era, Lupe and her family are written with respect and accuracy to their culture but without any of the stereotypes so prevalent during the era (or even today). Lupe is a well-rounded side-character, an excellent part of the story and a refreshing take on non-European cultures that make up America.

The prose is simple, with easy-to-read words and both writing and subject are suitable for children ages 6+.

Note: Doris Gates received both praise and criticism for this book. One of the first “realistic” children’s books, Blue Willow entered the scene during a debate between teachers, librarians, and authors regarding realism vs. imaginative in Children’s Literature. In dealing with poverty, intenerate workers, illness, and even death, Blue Willow helped pave the way for books for children that accurately reflected the world they already knew. Gates is considered a major influence and pioneer in this area.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: Newbery Honor, 1940 / Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, 1961 / Best Books of the Year by Horn Book Magazine / Commonwealth Club of California Book Award

ISBN: 0-590-41268-X
Year Published: 1940
Date Finished: 3-30-2019
Pages: 154

Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China by Ed Young

Synopsis: When their Mother goes to visit their Grandmother, sisters Shang, Tao, and Paotze are left to defend themselves when the Big Wolf comes knocking.

Review:  Young's translation of this folktale gives the story of Red-Riding Hood a lovely twist. No longer does the woodcutter (who isn't even in the story) save Red (or, in this case, three young sisters). No, it is their own cleverness and cooperation that saves the day. Young's translation is simple enough for young readers, but engaging enough for adults. There is no sense that the story is dumbed-down for kids.

But it is the illustrations that set this book apart. Young's style is similar to the soft watercolors of the Impressionist, and gives the story a dynamic and other-worldly tone, just perfect for a fairy tale. Soft, somber tones, watery brush-strokes, and swirling atmosphere set this book apart.

Recommend for young readers, particularly young girls.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: The Caldecott Medal, 1990

ISBN: 0-399-21619-7
Year Published: 1989
Date Finished: 3-30-2019
Pages: 32

Review: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (L)

Synopsis: For years, rumors of the "Marsh Girl" have haunted Barkley Cove, a quiet town on the North Carolina coast. So in late 1969, when handsome Chase Andrews is found dead, the locals immediately suspect Kya Clark, the so-called Marsh Girl. But Kya is not what they say. Sensitive and intelligent, she has survived for years alone in the marsh that she calls home, finding friends in the gulls and lessons in the sand. Then the time comes when she yearns to be touched and loved. When two young men from town become intrigued by her wild beauty, Kya opens herself to a new life--until the unthinkable happens. (from the online description)

Review: Pros: Lyrical writing style – almost poetic at times. Ability to dig into the emotions of the main character, creating a complete person. Excellent nature writing (not surprising consider the author is an award-winning non-fiction nature writer). Intriguing story that kept me guessing until the end.

Cons: The courtroom scene (the whole investigation) was completely inaccurate and manipulated to fit the narrative. Side-characters felt flat, like cardboard cutout stereotypes, in particular the POC in the story.

Note: I do not normally read chick-lit, general fiction, or modern who-dun-its. Basically, this is not the sort of book I would pick to read – but I did because my Book Club requested it. The reasons I don’t normally read it stand – inaccuracies to fit the narrative and flat side-characters. I say this because it was unlikely I would have enjoyed this book and I do not wish to deter other from reading it simply because I didn’t enjoy it. 

Bookmarks: 3.5 of 4

Awards: None (Yet)

ISBN: 978-0-7352-1909-0
Year Published: 2018
Date Finished: 3-28-2019
Pages: 370

Review: The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs by Martin Mosebach

Synopsis: Behind a gruesome ISIS beheading video lies the untold story of the men in orange and the faith community that formed these unlikely modern-day saints and heroes.

 In a carefully choreographed propaganda video released in February 2015, ISIS militants behead twenty-one orange-clad Christian men on a Libyan beach.

 In the West, daily reports of new atrocities may have displaced the memory of this particularly vile event. But not in the world from which the murdered came. All but one were young Coptic Christian migrant workers from Egypt. Acclaimed literary writer Martin Mosebach traveled to the Egyptian village of El-Aour to meet their families and better understand the faith and culture that shaped such conviction.

 He finds himself welcomed into simple concrete homes through which swallows dart. Portraits of Jesus and Mary hang on the walls along with roughhewn shrines to now-famous loved ones. Mosebach is amazed time and again as, surrounded by children and goats, the bereaved replay the cruel propaganda video on an iPad. There is never any talk of revenge, but only the pride of having a martyr in the family, a saint in heaven. “The 21” appear on icons crowned like kings, celebrated even as their community grieves. A skeptical Westerner, Mosebach finds himself a stranger in this world in which everything is the reflection or fulfillment of biblical events, and facing persecution with courage is part of daily life.

 In twenty-one symbolic chapters, each preceded by a picture, Mosebach offers a travelogue of his encounter with a foreign culture and a church that has preserved the faith and liturgy of early Christianity – the “Church of the Martyrs.” As a religious minority in Muslim Egypt, the Copts find themselves caught in a clash of civilizations. This book, then, is also an account of the spiritual life of an Arab country stretched between extremism and pluralism, between a rich biblical past and the shopping centers of New Cairo. (from the online description)

Review: This book chronicles Mosebach quest to understand the life and beliefs of the 21 men shown beheaded in an ISIS propaganda video. In doing so, Mosebach explores the place of the Coptic Church in Egyptian and Christian history, and the place of these men in the modern events of the Coptic Christians.

Sadly, while Mosebach sincerity was evident, the book itself was a little disappointing. As he journeyed, he discovered there was almost no information about these men. Poor and inconsequential until that video, there was almost no record of their life, save for a few passport photos and the tales of Family who now venerated them as Martyrs in the Coptic Church.

Mosebach narrative makes it seem that these men were extraordinary humans, destined from birth to be martyrs. I cannot tell whether Mosebach is simply honoring the beliefs of the Coptic Church or if he actually believes this. The things spoken of these men cannot possibly be all true, and yet to say that, is to belittle the beliefs of an entire religious group – one known for its strength of faith under hundreds of years of persecution.

A point in Mosebach’s favor is the excellent discourse on the history of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Those portions of the book were intriguing and well-done.

Overall, the book did not reach the depths I was hoping – but whether this was Mosebach fault or simply the lack of information regarding these men, I cannot tell.

Note: I received this book free via LibraryThing's Early Review Program, in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

Bookmarks: 3 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0874868395
Year Published: 2019
Date Finished: 3-23-2019
Pages: 238

Review: Absolute Surrender by Andrew Murray (A)

Synopsis: Andrew Murray (1928-1917) is consider by many to be one of the greats of Christian Teaching. The author of more than 50 books and numerous other works, Murray wrote with a plain and passionate urgency to Christians, encouraging and exhorting them to serve God to the Abandonment of all else. This particular work discusses that in his classic prose - simple and profound.

Review:  As with Murray's other works, this is superb. Murray has the rare talent of speaking with both grace and firmness. He does not mince words, or pander to the ego but speaks plainly of what is expected of a Christian. And yet, there is no judgement in his words, but a deep compassion for his reader.

As for this particular work, he calls the Christian to seriously examine their life and root out any areas that do not completely conform to the life Christ has called Christians to live. With practical advice and loving encouragement, Murray inspires the reader to dig deep into their Life with Christ and surrender all things.

A must-read for the serious disciple of Christ, and worth the time.

Note: ChristianAudio offered this book as their Free Download in March 2019. The Audio version was well-done, with clear narration and diction. Although it may no longer be free, I would recommend the audio version offered by ChristianAudio as an excellent way of hearing the teachings of Murray.

Bookmarks: 4 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: N/A
Year Published: 1897 (?)
Date Finished: 3-18-2019
Pages: N/A (AudioBook)

Review: Keto Diet: Your 30-Day Plan to Lose Weight, Balance Hormones, Boost Brain Health, and Reverse Disease by Josh Axe (L)

Synopsis: Today, the ketogenic diet is the world's fastest growing diet, and with good reason. When practiced correctly, it has been proven to burn fat, reduce inflammation, fight cancer, balance hormones and gut bacteria, improve neurological diseases, and even increase lifespan. Unfortunately, many people remain unaware of several key factors that are crucial to the diet's success, setting them up for frustration, failure, and relapse.

In Keto Diet, bestselling author Dr. Josh Axe sets the record straight, offering thorough, step-by-step guidance to achieving lifelong health. Unlike other books on the subject, Keto Diet identifies and details five different ketogenic protocols and explains why picking the right one for your body and lifestyle is fundamental to your success.

Inside, you'll find all the tools they need to say goodbye to stubborn fat and chronic disease once and for all, including:

-shopping lists

-delicious recipes

-exercise routines

-accessible explanations of the science behind keto's powerful effects

-five different keto plans and a guide to choosing the one that fits you best!

(from the online description)

Review: While a basic explanation of the basics of keto, this book is too shallow and too narrow to be of any real use.

Dr. Axe does not support his nutritional or health assertions well. While he uses science-sounding words, he doesn’t give a list of the studies he quotes or the sources for his assertions – other than his own anecdotal evidence. He may know a lot about herbs and supplements, but when you are talking about the chemical processes in the body, it proves to have solid evidence backed by rigorous scientist studies. The Good Results the Random Lady in your Clinic do not count.

As for the rest, there is nothing here that isn’t also available in a from a good keto website. The recipes are standard version of keto recipes, the health and how-to information not anything different from the 100 keto gurus and websites out there.

In the end, this is a simple and easy explanation of the Keto diet, but all the information can be found for free on the internet and/or there is some question about the scientific validated of his assertions. You’d be much better buying Why We Get Fat or Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes, if you are looking for information not available for free, about the low-carb, high-fat diets. 

Bookmarks: 3 of 5

Awards: None

ISBN: 978-0-316-52958-7
Year Published: 2019
Date Finished: 3-10-2019
Pages: 324