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Sunday, June 23, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Book Review - Stress Free Living by Thomas Mayberry
As far as stress-improvement books go, this one breaks the mold of paint-by-numbers regurgitated stress therapy. The book is very personal, and on that note what helps one person may or may not help another. The author goes into his suicidal thoughts, and an actual attempt which he never told anyone about. This gave me a very intense picture of his emotional pain and isolation. To come back from such a low makes it hard to deny that the author found something which helped him reduce the stress in his life.
His fellowship with Christ is what brought him the ability to form a stress free life. Now even if you're not a Christian (and I'm not) don't let that keep you from valuing what the author has to say. Where he follows up in the book breaking down life events, and life strategies (such as how we are programmed to respond to and interpret events) shows that he has insight into how our perceptions form stress, and how to calm negative interpretations of events so they do not control us. And the techniques can be applied by anyone. It's not just for Christians. It's a very personal self-evaluation.
LINK: Stress Free Living by Thomas Mayberry
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Book Review - 100 Dog Training Tips by Jezebel Young
Perfect book for training any dog
This book covers all the important aspects of dog training. The ideas are
divided into sections on Potty, Crate, House and Command training, with
a section on other miscellaneous forms of dog training. The techniques
of dog training are given in full detail, and other import aspects of
setting up the home for the best training outcomes are also covered.
Book Review - Pilates vs. Yoga - Benefits, Differences, Weightloss and Which Is Right For You by Bella Singh
Mind and body are two sides of the same coin, however that metaphor breaks down because each side of the coin spends differently. Yoga uses the body to reinforce a state of mind, and Pilate focuses on physical techniques to shape the body by strengthening and toning muscles.
This book takes a look at the practices, techniques, risks, and benefits of each Yoga and Pilates. It goes over best practices to get started with each one and the precautions that should be taken. In the back of the book are 10 popular poses for each one.
LINK: Pilates vs. Yoga - Benefits, Differences, Weightloss and Which Is Right For You by Bella Singh
Book Review - The Dream Fighter Chronicles: Book One Discovery! by Calvin Locke
A great story and series start for young readers
This is a young readers novel perfect for summer reading by kids in late elementary school or even early jr. high school. The cousins must use their powers in a creative way to overcome the evil Sarlak by taking back control of the mind of a Lord on an alien world who was once beneficent but whose mind is under the control of Sarlak.
Creative problem solving is the theme in this book because the kids best chance at success is to fight indirectly instead of head on. So its a great read for a young mind. I can’t say there is much to recommend it to adults. While the characters of the cousins are all very well drawn they over narrative is a little too simple for adults. That just means it’s a great read for kids or to read to kids. Not every novel needs to ride on roads leading to every type of reader at the same time.
Monday, June 17, 2013
Book Review - The Big Empty: A Thriller Mystery by Ritch Gaiti
Written in a first person, almost hard-boiled detective style, The Big Empty delivers on both the mystery and the thriller front. It's a very good novel that touches on a post-9/11 conspiracy (more interesting and well-drawn than most you'll find), which has reaches back into Native American history.
Wallace, a lawyer who has forgotten his past, and finds he has a part in a situation which he is investigating, must figure out if he is uncovering a conspiracy or playing a part in one. And the plot lets itself get discovered slowly which makes the reading all the more worthwhile.
"The Big Empty" scores on all points - it's worth more than a buck for the Kindle version, and the paperback would be worthy of a place on the shelf. The writing is clear and free of troubling syntax errors, and the characters are believable.
LINK: The Big Empty by Ritch Gaiti
Book Review – Seven Slightly Sadistic Stories by Jeremiah Cress
Real people doing really horrible things
If you quote Philip Dick in a lead-in to a story about cutting people up you have my attention and several dollars from my bank account. The liter of Coke can stay on the shelf. Admiral Nelson and I will be just fine on our own with this collection of short stories.
With these kind of stories about psychotics usually comes a hyper voice in the prose that comes across equally as maniacal as the characters. But Jeremiah Cress takes a different approach to his style. I think perhaps there are two varieties of horror writer, and Cress’s writing style has the distinct DNA of one of them. That is that Cress him self studied criminal psychology, and thus has a dispassionate, windowpane, style to his writing, whereas the other kind of horror writer purges his mind from an emotional wellspring. Cress is more the cop, where other horror writers are more the criminal. Not that the narrative is boring, far from it. The style is engaging, clear and straightforward.
The stories are originally crafted on the subjects of real life criminal horror, real people doing real and horrible things. The book is well work its asking price, and is not just another piece of dollar fodder. Though his first novel, I think Cress will be around for many more turns.
Jeremiah Cress’s Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/booksbyjeremiah
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Book Review - Antigone Princess of the Nature Benders by Jerry Bidos
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A romantic fantasy that is populated with memorable characters and well-written
Antigone is a woman from another world, Anios, who can manipulate nature. She meets a man she falls in love with and takes her back to her home world to rid her world of an evil king and taking her rightful place as the Queen of her world.
The evil kind is her uncle and father's brother who was killed when she was three. At nineteen, the young woman must use her powers to regain control of her world. Her boyfriend, bewildered and charmed in the surreal and tropical world of Anios must adjust to the world and his role by Antigone's side.
The book adds a touch of romance to it's fantasy plot and landscape, which many young adult readers will find charming. The narrative is clear and well written, if a little bit dry. It's a very enjoyable read that is free of many of the syntax and dialogue problems which plague too many indie e-books.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Book Review - Jack Templar Monster Hunter: The Templar Chronicles: Book One by Jeff Gunhus
Fun read with great characters and
battle scenesFun read with great characters and battle scenes
First, the downside - has enough time past that using the 'boy who doesn't know his true identity' routine has gone from exploiting a cheap meme to employing an archetype? Um . . . just about. Pretty much. I'm finding I can't fault it as much as I want to. Geez I'm old. More time has past between the publication of Harry Potter and a 10 year old reading this book than between when the Beatles released Sgt Pepper and I first listened to it at 10. But I digress.
Upsides. It's written in first person which made it really cool even for an old person to read, and I believe makes it much more readable for a young person. The battles and monsters are many, don't know if I agree with some reviews that said there were too many. They are written well, and battle scenes are hard to write, especially in first person. The writer has to keep track of POV of the character, explain the action going on within a 360 degree circle, and keep the readers suspension of disbelief by pacing it so the first person narrative doesn't drag on - the kid is in the action too after all. Bravo!
Eva is a great character who jumps in to train Jack with a no-nonsense approach, and she has her soft side too. Jack and Eva make a great pair of warriors fighting the monsters and the evil Ren Lucre. The book is way above most fantasy books aimed at young people, well worth the asking price, and definitely worth the price and space on the shelf for a paperback version.
LINK: Jack Templar Monster Hunter: The Templar Chronicles: Book One by Jeff Gunhus
Friday, June 7, 2013
Book Review - Developing Your Intuition: 5 Simple Steps To Help You Live a More Intuitive Life by Michael Hetherington
The idea of an uncluttered mind (and an uncluttered life) is what drew me to this book. I found the book a very helpful guide, especially combined with other good principles and practices I have picked up along my life's journey, in how to view intuition as something which guides one into action.
The book is very clear in its relationship to how letting go of "the mind" and letting the mind and body feel and be guided toward actions. One of the most helpful parts for getting rid of "clutter" was the part about what intuition is not. That part gets a lot of myths out of the way about what to develop in order have better intuition
LINK: Developing Your Intuition: 5 Simple Steps To Help You Live a More Intuitive Life by Michael Hetherington
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Book Review - One For The Beauty: The secrets of gorgeous women that you can use too by Lina Holbert
I found this to be a very helpful book. I probably compare more closely with Miss Katherine and the facial excercies. The book is very original in how it lays stories of particular women the author has met. I think that was a much better idea than what the author originally had in mind in terms of an Ugly Duckling book. The women described are real and original, from different walks of life and periods in the authors life. It was an enjoyable read with useful lessons.
LINK: One For The Beauty: The secrets of gorgeous women that you can use too by Lina Holbert
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Book Review - Mail-Order Brides by Daris Howard
The more things change the more they stay the same. So exchanged for a plot from contemporary times this would play out that a guy gets a date with a girl who he is really really attracted to, but who is a little out of his league, and a little narcissistic. She says yes but brings a less attractive friend to dinner. Leaving halfway through, guy gets stuck with girl's friend. Finds out it's not all about looks and falls in love with the substitute date original girl brought to dinner. This all plays out in one evening.
In this novel, it's the early twentieth century and this takes place over two continents, three countries (wasn't Newfoundland its own country then?), and the substitute girl is meant to be the main character's bride. Eli is the somewhat "aw-shucks" hero of the story who gets Anya, sent by his fiancee Molly who has gone and married someone else back in England. Eli's been sending Molly all his money, so I guess one could say the least she could have done was send a "mail order bride" - though not exactly the best catalog shopping gift idea.
While the original idea was to go to Pennsylvania, Eli ends up in Newfoundland - not exactly prime happening real estate any century. Anya is a little clumsy, almost bashing Eli's head in while he teaches her to fish. The story is a kind mildly comedic, and just as it says, clean romance all the way through.
If you're reading this far, go ahead and get it for a $1. The language is clear, free of syntax errors that make $1 Kindle books unbearable sometimes. The characters are well-defined, and the humor is touching in places if you're even a little bit the sentimentalist.
LINK: Mail-Order Bride by Daris Howard
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