Review of: The Shell

Reviewer: Tony Maxwell

Review:
East African Adventure.

The Shell is the gripping story of a kidnapping that takes place on a remote beach near Mombasa. Author Tony Riches bases his well written and carefully crafted novel on actual events that have taken place amidst the exotic locales of game reserves and idyllic resorts in Kenya. A highly recommended read!

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
The author’s skillful use of actual events to create his story.

I first want to thank Deborah Carney with NightFire Publications for allowing me to review this book. As I started reading it I enjoyed the way it was set up. I could imagine these people really doing the podcast that this book is written from. At first I wasn’t too sure what to expect from this book, I wasn’t sure if they were going to try and sell me something or convince me that I needed to be involved with certain sites. That is the farthest from what this book is about. I loved how they put that you need to put effort into your blog instead of just copy/paste things on your blog and how to deal with coupons on your blog/site. I don’t want to give anything away from this book but I’m very glad that I got a chance to read it. It’s given me ideas on how to improve my blog and how I can try and make my blog stand out from others.

Please click here to be directed to this book on Amazon.

Visit my blog to read more reviews.

Originally posted 2011-11-28 00:48:03.

Review of: “MoonDreams” by Dean Johnson

Reviewer: Daniel Neff

Review:
Who is sitting under the same moon across the sea dreaming of you?

Moondreams would technically be classified as youth/young adult fiction, but don’t let that mislead you. The characters, who grow from middle schoolers to college-age young adults, experience struggles and triumphs that we all can identify with. I am pushing 50, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Early in the book, the reader gets a lot of background on the characters, with jumps in time keeping him on his toes. During this opening section, the characters are well developed: we get to know them and grow fond of them, which makes their experiences later in the book all the more meaningful to us.
Kirah, the main female character and her friends Marti, Sarah, and Jill form a close click of friends whose lives are followed throughout the story. Ramon, a very interesting character, is a male friend of this group. He seems to meander in and out of their lives, complicating them as he does.
Bryan, the male lead to Kirah, is a young man we can all identify with. Through a well-presented background, we come to understand his hopes and dreams, as well as his fears. Bryan’s past escapades with his friends, Shane, Dan, and Joe, provide us a window into his soul through his experiences, as well as laying the groundwork for his personality as it develops later in the story.
Many of the anecdotes presented in the story are real, riveting, and entertaining. I would go into detail, but I’m afraid I would give away too much and rob you of the joy of discovering them for yourselves. There are so many things like that about this book: beautiful lines, artfully painted scenes, poignant moments – but you’ll have to get a copy and find them yourself.
Anyone who is going through their teens/early twenties, or anyone who has lived through that period of their life and would enjoy a trip down memory lane, will enjoy this book. The scary, but exciting adventure that is youthful romance is presented in a way that makes you want to experience it all over again. I was excited and anxious at the same time, as Dean masterfully evoked, not just the memories, but the emotional anxiety I experienced during romantic relationships at that age. Does she like me, too? Will she say yes if I ask her out, or will she stomp on my heart? We’re dating and I really like her, but does she feel the same way? I experienced those gut-wrenching feelings in vivid detail all over again. It was great! Thanks a lot, Dean.
The title, Moondreams, is a perfect title for this book. I won’t say why, that is for you to figure out.
I honestly have only one negative thing to say. I am sad that I finished this book, because I was enjoying reading it immensely. I can read it again, but you never again get to experience the wonder and revelation from the first time through.
I would buy this ebook if it were $9.99 or $14.99, but at $2.99, are you kidding me? Come on, you pay more than that for a latte`.

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
The feel of the book was a constant tension between reality and dreams. I was unsure whether I was reading a dream or a real life story. I really liked that aura about the book. The characters are all well developed and I felt a real connection and empathy with them.

Reviewer Bio
Daniel also publishes under the pen name “Van Morgan.” His latest work is “The Mystery of Lake Clandestine.”

Daniel was born in 1963 on the banks of the Ohio River, the third of four children born to Maurice and Sarah Neff. After spending the first eleven years of his life in Northern Kentucky, Daniel began a nomadic journey that would continue for decades.

Oklahoma, the land of tornadoes and endless horizons, was the first stop, where his family stayed for four years. New Jersey was next. The Neff family moved into their charming ranch style home in the woods the same year gambling was approved in the Garden State, but not before spending a month living in a hotel on the beach in Ventnor (in the dead of winter). The kids enjoyed the uncrowded beach and boardwalk until it was time to move into their house that was located farther inland. After high school and some college and a couple of odd jobs, Daniel enlisted in the Air Force as an air traffic controller. His training and assignments took him to San Antonio, TX; Biloxi, MS; and Altus AFB, Altus, OK (of course you’ve never heard of Altus). Upon completion of his enlistment, a one year employment with the FAA took him to Longmont, CO (just outside of Denver). Daniel enjoyed the soaring peaks and champagne powder of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Daniel moved on to Georgia, where he experienced several more diverse career fields designed to color his experience to develop his writing style.

Daniel has written a memoir about his personal battle with “terminal” cancer,
“God Said Not Yet;”

a nonfiction book about God’s grace titled,
“I Am Perfect (in God’s Eyes);”

a fiction novel titled,
“Donovan’s Island;”

and a novella titled
“When You Die in Your Dreams.”

He has several other book projects in production.

Daniel currently lives in western North Carolina with his wife Linda, their son Daniel, and their Golden Retriever Johnny Bud.

Originally posted 2012-12-12 14:01:03.

Review of: Attitude – Your Best hope for Happiness (A look at the men who founded the Positive Attitude Movement)

Reviewer: Charles Franklin

Review:
This book covers something that many of us who have been addicted to self-help books have come to realize-our inability to control everything in our lives. As Gover points out, throughout human history, there has never a “perfect” time. There never was a period where there was no strife, no conflict, no greed. Despite that, there have always been people who rose above all this to do incredible things. People like Martin Luther King, Jr, Gandhi, Susan B. Anthony, and others were able to do things under seemingly impossible odds. Gover is arguing the point in this book that one of the common denominators among all these people and the person reading this book is simple-attitude (along with hard work and persistence). This point is brought home through a historical overview of some of the giants in the early Positive Thinking Movement- Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Norman Vincent Peel and others. Reading about them was an interesting journey through their lives and the principles that drove these men to achieve despite repeated personal and business failures. Previously, I had heard only part of their story (even though I had read their books. The book is an engaging, easy read (you can complete in a hour or two), but it’s something that I highly recommend for anyone who feels stuck or hopeless about their future. It’s a book you want to periodically return to whenever you need an emotional, spiritual, physical, or mental “boost” to continue on the path your dreams.

Cross-Linked Book
After feeling empowered by (Link-Martin Gover’s book Attitude – Your Best hope for Happiness A look at the men who founded the Positive Attitude Movement) I decided to check out one of the books he recommended: James Allen’s As A Man Thinketh. I have heard it was a classic and wanted to see what all the buzz was about. I purchased the book free of charge through the Kindle store and found it to be very insightful and uplifting. The language particularly is one of the strongest parts of this book. It is written in the style of early philosophers like Plato and Aristotle which means lengthy sentences, highly quotable phrases(I Tweeted several of those quotes), and musings on timeless issues like morality and character. If you are looking for a “Top Ten” or “Be Happy in …Days”, you won’t find it in this book. If you are looking for a book that sit down with a nice cup of coffee, a notepad, and muse on the role of positive thinking in your life, this is a great book for you.

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
The best part of this book was the stories behind the early men of the “Positive Psychology” movement.

Reviewer Bio
Charles Franklin is a freelance writer, researcher, and virtual assistant with over 11 years of experience in libraries, customer service, and almost everything in between. He holds an Associate Degree in Social Science Education along with over 25 hours coursework in psychology, sociology, and social work. He is a “green” learning addict and Nerdfitness Rebel who is looking to forge in a new path in his family’s legacy. He also offers pro-bono grant writing, content writing, volunteer administration and research services for selected non-profits in the environment, cultural and health fields. When he is not writing, completing job proposals, running family errands, he enjoys laughing, watching sports, pretending to do martial arts and reading. Beside all of that, he is also a poet-in-training who writes haiku and free-verse poetry in mythology, spirituality and nature. He has worked for Textbroker, ContentBLVD , oDesk.com and ArticleDocument. He has been published in the Augusta State University Sandhills Literary Magazine and Yahoo Voices Contributor Network.

Originally posted 2012-11-20 09:49:37.

Maria SavinginSecret

Today I am reviewing “Best Practices for Coupon Sites,” a transcription of a roundtable audio discussion about best practices for coupon sites with Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare joined by Kim Salvino, Amy Ely, and Jeannine Crooks of buy.at, who talk about best practices, tools, and ideas for coupon sites in the affiliate industry. When first reading this I wasn’t originally sure if I would get any value from it. That being said, I’ve now found a group of podcasts and books add to my collection. I love having resources available to check back later. This ebook is a transcript of a discussion – the video is also available to watch on youtube. I love having resources available to refer back to, so for me the document is valuable. I did find myself after listening to the discussion online, filling in the appropriate voices each time I went back to re-read a section in the transcript.

Topics include:
• Best practices – ensuring sites are adding value and providing complete, updated coupons, removed expired deals and coupons quickly
• Tools available – affiliates and plug ins
• Ideas – Be Unique
• Scripts, plugins – Same thing Be Unique
• Check Merchant Rules about coupon sites – Follow the rules. (They especially highlight the “Click to Reveal” Practice)

If managed well, these sites can tap into the massive revenue opportunity presented by digital coupons in the US market. You must though have a unique site that adds value and not just toss up an automatically generated site and hope they find it. For Example: Highlight Deals for Moms.

Published by Nightfire Publications and available from Amazon for only $0.99!

Originally posted 2011-12-05 09:23:21.

Review of: The Moon Is Not For Sale

Reviewer: Raymond Mathiesen

Review:
Land, society and how things could be

Annabelle Taylor (Annie) and Clint Baker are thrown together in the middle of an asteroid shower on the Moon. Lunar City, for the moment, is in chaos, offering only very cramped, bored and squalid conditions until the next shuttle arrives in two weeks time. Annie is only a temporary worker on the Moon having gone there to pick up easy credits for her law degree, but Clint is a “Luney”, that is, he was born on the moon. Clint decides it is best to take Annie with him to his family home, Moondogy Ranch, which is a few days drive away by very rough road. The ranch is located in a huge cavern, which is sealed off from the outside to protect it against the solar radiation and the extremes of temperature. Annie feels stirrings of emotion for Clint, but her plans for her life do not include being a farmer’s wife, much less one who lives on the Moon. Annie is a Cherokee Indian and very much intends to become a lawyer so she can advance the standing of her people. What direction will Annie’s life take, and indeed what direction will events in the pioneer Looney civilization take?

The Moon Is Not For Sale is Wallace Provost’s first novel and is a very amiable book, full of adventure. It is written in the hard science style, which is to say it is based on science fact, current science theory and logical projections from today’s widely held science concepts. Provost holds a Masters Degree in the philosophy of science, and a second Masters in sociology. Not surprisingly the novel also contains speculations about the nature of society and the possibilities of future societies. At its heart this is a book for those who like to imagine and dream, and for those who like people.

Provost’s novel is very much about frontier life on the Moon and suitably the style has a hint of the back-woods, fire-side tale. The voice is very chatty and we feel we are perhaps listening to our uncle or grandfather tell us about people he knows. Each new character, for example, is introduced by a short yarn which reveals something of their history and personality. This helps to make the book warm and friendly and we immediately feel at home. Along the way there are several surprise endings which spur us to read on. There are occasional moments of real irony, such as the “jungle drum music” (p. 153) in Chapter 18, where patrons of the “Haven of Evil” lasciviously prepare to watch a truly gratuitous spectacle. This very much contrasts with the previous chapter in which Kwame Nkuomo, a Gahanna engineer, beats his jungle drum while remorsefully contemplating the terrible consequences of a failed project which he helped to initiate. The philosophical ethics of the first chapter bitingly contrasts with the degradation of the next.

This book has an unusual plot structure. The first half of the novel follows Annie as she rises in the world and has to deal with various complications, such as a possible romance with Clint and even a plot to kill her. In the second half of the book the plot diverges into various stories, many of which are centred on the development of the moon colony. We read of, for example, the establishment of a number of new settlements. In this second half there is still a plot line related to Annie, however, she does not take centre stage. One criticism of Provost’s book is that this second half is unnecessarily repetitive. There is, for example, a second attempt to kill Annie. In the first half Black Horse Jones, Cherokee Indian ‘big man’ and Annie’s long standing enemy, is the individual who wants Annie dead. In the second half Injun Joe Bristow, also a Cherokee Indian ‘big man’, is the assassination schemer. Once again in the first half we read the story of the establishment of the city of Inyanga by dispossessed Zulus. In the second half of the book we read of the establishment of Helium City by Indians from the slums of Mumbai, and then again the story of the establishment of the village of Xi Hue by oppressed immigrants from Tibet. This is basically the same plot idea repeated. Finally in the second half we read the three stories of Mike Riggs, Monty Wilson and Art Anderson, all of who are temporary immigrants to the moon and all of who meet and marry Indian ‘Luneys’ in Helium City. These stories come in so close proximity that we cannot help noticing the repetition. A related problem to this is that, without Annie taking centre stage, there is less to tie the various plot developments together. As a result this second half of the book is too diffuse. This is not to say that the last half is totally boring: it is interesting but over extended. Viewed as a whole the novel certainly works.

The characterization is one of the novels strongest points. Provost has a way of capturing people in a few words and making us feel that we understand them. Annie is outspoken and ambitious in a level headed, likable way and we are immediately on her side. Provost has also given her a little mystery. We wonder why she feels the first trip to Moondogy Ranch is such a “trap.” (Ch. 4) The introductory character studies, which have already been mentioned, are certainly one of the highlights of the book. This is, however, very much a story about one person. Provost has given us a stage full of characters, but he does not really develop any of them except Annie. Even Clint is not depicted in any depth, or as growing in any way. The novel would have benefited from having just one more character explored in detail. I do not wish, though, to overstate this point. The Moon Is Not For Sale is quite readable and enjoyable.

Provosts novel is mainly action and adventure, but there is just a little symbolism. The asteroid shower in Chapter 1, for example, is a highly ironic symbol commenting on capitalist society. Lunar City’s huge roulette wheel, which is a monument to the grad vision of the Moon’s casino, is smashed to pieces. What was meant to last “forever” (Ch.7, p. 49) is in ruins. Provost is not at all liberal, heavy handed or obvious with this symbolism, so don’t expect a gratuitously ‘poetic’ book, but just a little imagery is there if you look for it.

The Moon Is Not For Sale is about frontier life and the theme of individualism, ingenuity and free thinking is very prominent. This pioneer spirit existed in the U. S. when it was first being explored and colonized, and also in Australia at a similar point in its history. When nothing exists to rely on individuals have to fall back on their own resources and ideas. As a result new types of society can emerge. Along similar lines the question of ‘What is success?’ is examined in some detail. Our society says that money, property and social status mean success, but is that really so? Aren’t our own personal goals very important in defining us as a success, and are these necessarily the targets suggested by society? Provost’s characterization of Annie very much delves into this theme of success. Friendship and pairing into couples also features strongly in the novel. What makes us happy and what helps us through life? Sure bonding is at least part of the answer. Bonding is a very basic human need and Provost depicts it both light-heartedly and also with a little philosophic depth.

As we have noted in the paragraph above, the book has a lot to do with society. On the Moon private ownership of land is banned. The Capitalist/Marxist debate therefore features strongly in the novel, though it should be noted that Provost is not in any way advocating totalitarian communism, which Marx himself would have been quite horrified by. (Gill Hands. Understanding Marx: Hodder Education, 2011, p. 79-83) As Hands writes: “The Soviet Union was ostensibly a Marxist-Leninist regime under … [Stalin’s] … rule but this was nothing like the society envisaged by Marx or Lenin.” (p. 83) Indeed in Provost’s novel in Ch. 46 the Tibetans, who have lived under communist Chinese rule, find it very hard to believe that on the Moon business is run to very much benefit ordinary workers. (p.264-265) Provost notes, as Marx did, that Capitalism encourages an aggrandizing self-ambition almost like a fetish. (Hand, p. 46-49) In Chapter 7 Provost depicts Fuller, the original owner of Lunar City casino, as exactly such a fetish driven man, and indeed there are quite a few examples of similar men in the book. The importance of power in Capitalism, as noted by Marx (Hand, Ch. 3 & p. 59), is also noted by Provost. In Chapter 9, 10 and 11` we read of Annie being wary of and avoiding ‘men in black suits.’ Marx, of course, observed that whole classes of people are enslaved by the few (Hand, p. 51-53), and indeed that whole nations can be oppressed by the Capitalist elite (Hand, p.44-46). As we have seen, the history of oppressed peoples such as the Zulu’s and the Indian poor is highlighted. Most notably Provost explores in depth the Marxist point of the ownership of land and the resulting enslavement of people. (Provost. Ch.21, p. 165-166 for example, & for Marxism Rius. Introducing Marx: Icon Books, 1999, p. 117-118) It should be noted, however, that Provost is not saying that the proto-Marxist society of the Moon is a seamless paradise. Unemployment is noted. (Ch. 37, p. 242) It is also noted that capitalist competition and land ownership are strong drivers of growth. (Ch. 42, p. 251-252)

From the perspective of post-colonialism the Moon Is Not For Sale is full of successful, educated and independent (self-empowered) characters from the ‘third world.’ From Africa alone we have Doctor Harim Mbeke from the University of Cape Town, his wife the astronomer Indira Mbeke, his daughter Niri Mbeke, who has a doctorate in lunar geology and another in Earth geology, Doctor Magogo Betheluzi and the engineer Kwame Nkuomo. Provost makes a special point of noting the oppressed state of the Zulus and their need for freedom (Ch. 40, p. 247). In one interesting passage (Ch. 23, p. 178) Provost notes that originally nomad people had no need for the ownership of land. ‘Indigenous’ people, for him, have a wisdom from which we as ‘advanced’ society may be able to benefit. As the plot progresses there are also a number of successful East/West relationships as ‘ordinary’ workers meet and mix on the Moon. (Ch. 33, 36, 38) There is no bigoted fear of ‘mixed marriages’ here. As with Marxism though, here too the picture is not patronisingly ideal. The Ecuadorian owners of the unprofitable Titanium mine on the Moon decide to simply shut down the operation, abandoning the workers to die of starvation or thirst in isolation. Obviously those in the third world are not all model characters.

Indigenous North American Indians play a special role in the novel, but here once again Provost takes a balanced approach. There are two Cherokee lawyers, Annie and her uncle Bradley Hays, but there are also the two previously mentioned Cherokee villains, Jones and Joe. Provost does, however, take a mainly positive approach. From this positive perspective Cherokees are depicted as having skills of value. One Cherokee character, an old woman living a traditional life in the woods, is depicted as having very keen, almost intuitive observation skills, much more than a white Westerner would. (p.72-73) The bigotry which North American Indians face is also depicted. In one very telling scene Mina and Robert Lowrey discuss with moral indignation the “Haven of Evil” which the new Cherokee owners of the Lunar City casino have set up, completely ignoring the “snuggle tunnel” which the previous white owners provided for their customers.

The gay characters Evan Williams and Ralph Burns make brief positive appearances (Ch. 8, p 58-62), as do the lesbian characters Glenda Trilling and Marsha Mayberry. (Ch. 50)

The disabled character George Morgan works as a successful short order cook in a bar and grill he owns with his partner. (Ch. 39, p. 242-245)

Provost has made a special effort to portray women positively and the plot has many intelligent working women. Antonia Vilafiana, for example, is Mayor of Lunar City at the age of just 22 years. In Chapter 51 (p.289) female contestants in the first “Pan Lunar Games” take a starring roll defeating male contestants.

Provost’s novel is primarily an adventure story; however, there is psychological accuracy in the tale. For example Provost has a number of characters fall in love during the first few days of their stay on the Moon. (Ch. 33 & 36) Robert Epstein, in his article How Science Can Help You Fall In Love (Scientific American Mind, Jan/Feb 2010, p. 29 & 33) points out that people become more attached to each other in moments of crisis/vulnerability/change.

Wallace Provost’s The Moon Is Not For Sale is a novel that is both exciting and interesting. The story bounds along, full of excitement, but also has moments that make us think deeper about the society in which we live. Provost shows a quite balanced approach to many of the issues he raises, such as the Marxist/Capitalist debate, the depiction of ‘third world’ people and the portrayal of North American Indians. Women, LGBTI and the disabled are represented positively. The novel is not without its shortcomings. The second half is a bit too diffuse, needing some central character or main plot to pull it together. That part of the book, however, is certainly not a complete failure: it is interesting and entertaining. All in all I am happy to give this book a four out of five star rating.

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
This book examines the nature of society, particularly in terms of the Marxism/Capitalism debate.

Reviewer Bio
I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in literature. In that degree I obtained minors in psychology, modern history and economics. I also have a Graduate Diploma of Library Science in which my studies included management and communications.

I have lived in three cities (Townsville, Brisbane & Armidale) in two different states (Queensland & New South Wales) in Australia. I have never traveled overseas but would like to visit the United Kingdom though I doubt I will ever get there.

Choosing the Scope and Structure of Your Blog is an awesome resource for bloggers whether they are the experienced and inexperienced blogger. In this round table discussion by Tricia Meyer, Deborah Carney and Liz Fogg the main idea is finding a niche for your blog. This is awesome because because the first question that many bloggers ask themselves is should their blog be a general blog addressing all topics or should it address basically one topic.

The first part deals with whether your blog should be blog specific. It delves into such questions whether you want to be tied down to writing about one specific topic or do you want a broader base?

[Read more...]

Originally posted 2011-12-01 08:40:53.

Affiliate ABCs hosts Deborah Carney and Vinny O’Hare were joined by Dave Cupples of Fat Cow Business and David Iwanow of The Lost Agency to discuss marketing through Facebook and email. Information packed pair of podcasts that anyone considering using Facebook advertising should listen to.

This ebook is the transcript of 2 podcasts with authorities in the Facebook Advertising and newsletter promotions business. This is not a book that is “selling” anything, this is truly and educational ebook. If you aren’t interested in the transcript format you will not like this book. It is a conversation between 4 people.

Some notes from the book:

Engage first then try to sell based on engagement. Don’t just try to sell.

Direct traffic to own site, not direct to merchant so that you can capture visitor information and build loyalty.

Facebook ads allow you to build a community that you can continue to market to. Give value first in social media. Excellent information plus a great case study mentioned below.

There is much more valuable information available in this 20 page ebook. It is full of actionable information that you can apply right away, with a comprehensive resource page at the end.

Published by Nightfire Publications. Can be purchased on Amazon for only $0.99!

Review

This is an easy to read, 27-page introduction to using social media to maximize your blog potential. Keep in mind that this is a transcript of a discussion and so it is not as fluid as a written book, however it is very easy to follow. This ebook is intended for people who have just started or are thinking about starting a site, and already know some of the workings and lingo of blogging. I think the most valuable tips they give are always direct traffic through your own website. I could not stop reading this ebook. It is so interesting and offered some information and ideas that I had not heard before. This is a must-have resource for anyone with a website!

Originally posted 2011-12-02 07:33:14.

Review of: The Last Degree

Reviewer: Charles Franklin

Review:
To be honest I was a little confused with the title of this book. I expected some kind of fantasy thriller where people in a fringe group engaged in a battle against the government. What I got was actually something much more interesting.

The “Last Degree started off interestingly enough with a Bible quote (2 Chronicles 2:13-14). This should have been my first clue but I still didn’t get it. It wasn’t until I got a few pages in that I saw what the book was about. The Last Degree is a story that mingles Christian end-time prophecy, history and Freemason conspiracy theory into one powerful plot. As I read a little more it started to remind me more and more of Dan Brown’s books (The Da Vinci Code, The Lost Symbol, etc). It starts off like Dan Brown’s books too, with a murder with the exception that Robert Langdon (the detective in Dan Brown’s books) is not on the case. In this book, the murder of Rory, a high-powered Freemason, leads his sister, two cops a reporter and two families through a series of events that lead to the rise of the Antichrist and the One World Government, alluded to in Revelation.

Like Dan Brown, the author masterfully weaves real history, family history, and symbolism in order to create a story that is epic. Rae brings together history and lore from the Freemason’s past and current rituals to create a truly exciting thriller. There is also conspiracy theories, and a romance or two. Her version though is more esoteric and spiritual than Dan Brown’s. Not only are there ambitious leaders who murder rivals or a secret powerful group that is bent on world domination but there is black magic and prayer.

The best part of this book lies in its complexity. You never are really quite sure how the individual threads that make up the story will wind together (even though you know they will). As a result, you will find yourself saying (like me)” So that’s who that was”. It’s that’s kind of book. I also liked the way that the author took the time to describe the rituals and lore of the Freemasons. Normally in a fiction book, I don’t like that much explanation but I found the explanations in this book helpful in the story. One other really interesting aspect is the way this book deals with the AntiChrist or “Beast” issue mentioned in Revelation. I will leave readers to find that out on their own.

The three drawbacks to this book is (coincidentally)are the complexity subtlety and pacing. Because it is such a long book and there are so many characters within the book, it can be a little confusing to keep up with who’s who. Dina Rae is definitely a great storyteller, but the conversations lacked the subtlety that you can find in other authors. The conversations between some of the characters are a little bit too straightforward and need a little more emotional finesses. This might be tied to the pacing, though. The plot in the book moves quickly and jumps back and forward in time a little so you will need to pay attention or you might need to re-read. It is also helpful if readers know or at least familiar with the book of Revelation in the Bible. Still none of this impedes the pure thrill of the book.

If you are looking to get whisked away into a conspiracy and intriguing thriller like “Left Behind” or “The Lost Symbol”, this books is definitely for you!

I will definitely be following this author and reading more of her books! I’m eyeing ‘Halo of the Nephilim” in May!

In short:

Pros:
Excellent and complex plot
Intriguing history on Freemasons, Illuminati, and other groups
Interesting mix of romance, Christian prophecy fiction, murder mystery, and thriller

Cons:
Pacing a little too fast in some places
Lots of characters and plot lines to keep up with
Conversation lacks emotion (too straightforward) in some areas of the book

What one thing about this book stood out the most for you?
The way this book blends the complexity, intrigue, and mystery of a Dan Brown novel along with the apocalyptic end-time prophecies like a “Left Behind” novel

Reviewer Bio
My name is Charles F. and I am a freelance writer, customer service professional and book reviewer turned independent author publicist with over 11 years of experience in libraries, customer service, and almost everything in between. I am a also social and cultural justice advocate, supporter of “green” and sustainable living, and Nerdfitness.com Rebel who is looking to forge in a new path in his family’s legacy. When I am not writing, completing job proposals, running family errands, I enjoy laughing, watching sports, pretending to do martial arts and reading. Beside all of that, I am a poet-in-training who writes haiku and free-verse poetry in mythology, spirituality and nature.

Review of: The Rosebush Murders

Reviewer: Raymond Mathiesen

Review:
The Thorny World Of Humanity

Danielle Hall is found dead in the peaceful grounds of an inner city park in Jerusalem. She had been shot in the back of the head. Investigation soon reveals that Danielle was a psychologist. Could it be that a client has lost their cool? Danielle was married to Mira Morenica and they have a daughter Shelia. How will the family cope with this sudden and violent death? D.I. Helen Mirkin finds that, despite her cool professionalism and objectivity, she cares for the survivors. Helen must use all her skills, her logic and her intuition, to solve this case, even if just to give the Morenica-Hall family closure.

Ruth Shidlo’s first novel, The Rosebush Murders, is a fine police murder mystery. While not quite of the ‘hard boiled’ style, this book is a no-nonsense account of a classic crime investigation case. There is no histrionics here, but we follow the plot with interest as Shidlo step by step reveals the mystery of the murders. At the same time Shidlo reveals to us bit by bit exactly who her character Helen Mirkin is. Even more Shidlo digs into some of the questions of life that fascinate us all.

The novel follows a fairly standard structure. In the first half we are given a complex of defuse plot threads that leave us asking, “What does this all mean?” Life is of course often like this and any crime investigation is at first an open question. Some of us like to think that we understand all about our life but philosophers, psychologists and scientists will tell us that things are not necessarily simple or obvious. The second half of the novel moves more swiftly as the hunt nears its close. Shidlo skilfully draws her themes and imagery neatly together to a satisfying conclusion. One small criticism is that the first half is perhaps just a little too long. Just before midway we begin to grow slightly tired, wondering where will all this lead? The opening of the book has some very well written descriptions. The long section describing Helen’s viewing of the corpse and crime scene is excellently written. We get a real sense of the ugliness of the death. Murder is of course a heavy subject and requires serious writing, however, Shidlo has included some moments of humour to lighten the mood. Most of this humour comes as banter between Helen and her colleagues. In Chapter 8, after a late night and restless sleep, Captain Adam Tamir, Helen’s boss, comments, “You look fresh as a lettuce.” Police detectives need some release from the pressure of their work and so does the reader otherwise reading a novel like this would become a chore. Shidlo has included the occasional ‘aha’ moment and surprise chapter ending which helps us keep turning the pages.

This novel is of the mystery genre; however, Shidlo supplies us with questions beyond the intrigue of the crime. “Who is Helen Mirkin?” we wonder, and as the novel progresses we dig deeper into the character. We get to know Helen as we get to know a friend. On first impression we like her very human responses to the brutal murder and her compassion for the relatives, but then questions arise and we wonder what her life beyond work is, what her past is and what motivates her? By the end of the book we certainly feel we have got to know Helen better. Beyond this many characters in the novel have secrets. We meet a series of people who are unknown to us, as they are to Helen, some leaving us with a good impression, some bad. By the end of the book we have certainly got to know the criminals better. It should be noted, however, that Helen is the only sympathetic character which Shidlo develops. In this array of character sketches one more individual we can relate to, developed to some depth, would have been good for reader empathy.

Murder is an act of dominance and The Rosebush Murders primarily has the theme of power. The philosopher Michel Foucault, and many others, have pointed out that much of society revolves around power and keeping people, organizations, classes and societal institutions in control. This theme is developed in many different ways. We see, for example, right from the Prologue onwards references to Fascism and the Nazis. This group, with its aim of European domination, and perhaps even world domination, is the ultimate example in modern history of the thirst for power. For this book, set in Israel, Fascism is of course a very potent example of the real and extreme effects of a desire for power. Also much of the story revolves around City Hospital, Jerusalem’s prestigious and world famous establishment. Here we see the world of bureaucracy which, as the sociologist Max Weber (Economy And Society: 1922) and the novelest Franz Kafka (The Trial: 1925) have pointed out, are very efficient and rational but can also lead to a “polar night of icy darkness” and an “iron cage” (Weber) which crushes the individual. City Hospital is depicted as literally a very large, complex warren in which Helen fears getting lost. The air is constantly stale. In Chapter 14 we see a visit to an X-ray specialist who is surrounded by cold technology. The specialist, along with others at the hospital, is cold and distant. Doctors in general are depicted as having power over life and death: they decide our fate. Religion also appears as a social institution prying into our lives and pushing us about. Terrorism also makes an appearance in the book. In the nine days the book covers there are two encounters with suspected bombs. Terrorism, nationalist and religious, is of course a fact of life in Israel and this is just how Shidlo depicts it. Terrorism is murder on the large scale and the contemporary equivalent of Nazism: an extreme grab for power.

Religion is indeed so prominent in the book that it can be considered as a theme in its own right. The ecclesia is meant to be a protection but Shidlo depict it more as a controller. Certainly much of the music that Helen listens to, sings, and takes comfort and restoration from, is religious based. In Chapter 38, while Helen rehearses her choir pieces, we read:

“I felt the prayer pour from me and at its conclusion felt somehow cleansed of the oppressive atmosphere of the hospital.”

But of course this is very much a personal, informal, unstructured, untheological experience. This is not the religion of the synagogue, of orthodoxy. In Chapter 8, in the context of a conversation about cancer, the Biblical notion of “sanctuary cities” is disparagingly mentioned as a metaphor. The idea of criminals escaping to a safe city, beyond the grasp of the law, is of course objectionable to police and something objectionable about Judaism is implied. By far the most important plot line in this theme is the scenario about the Morenica-Hall family wanting to bury their family member in a way free from the “despotism of the Orthodox Rabbinate…” Here religion is seen as a kind of ‘fascism’ in the popular use of the term.

Death is central to the book, but this theme goes well beyond the plot line of murders. Death is depicted as something we must come to terms with, something that is pervasive and unescapable. In Chapter 14 Dr. Kate Jordan, head of the interns, comments:

“Makes you wonder what separates you from death, doesn’t it? We take so much for granted…”

As we learn more about Helen we see how important the death of her own father is to her.

Interestingly H.E. Eysenck in his essay The Psychology Of Anti-Semitism (Uses And Abuses Of Psychology: Penguin Books, 1953) identifies “superstition … i.e. a belief in the mystical determinants of the individual’s fate …” and “power and toughness” as statistically discernible features of Fascism. He further notes of this group:

“There also seems to be relatively little enjoyment of sensuality or of passive pleasures such as affection, companionship, or art and music …” (p. 271)

And later:

“… art, music, literature, and philosophy … may be considered … interests [that] contribute substantially to greater resourcefulness, and to the comparative diversion from power and status …” (p. 277)

Power and religion (superstition) are, as we have seen, central themes in The Rosebush Murders. Helen, the central character, seeks her friends to relax, is looking for a partner, looks at the art on the walls of the abodes of those she interviews, is interested in music and quotes literature. She stands against those who would grab power.

Shidlo’s novel is definitely in the main part a no nonsense police drama, however, it also contains some imagery, which gives the book greater depth. As we have seen music, choirs and opera are a part of the characterization. Music also takes on a symbolic nature as a metaphor for life. Music brings Helen great pleasure and relaxation and she uses it as an escape from the pressures of her work. At the end of Chapter 6 we see Helen tuning her car radio to a jazz program while returning to the office after a difficult interview with Mira Morenica. In Chapter 13 Helen unwinds from a tiring day with music. Music communicates feeling and most composers would say that they hope to capture some quality of life. Music can be joyous, help us to express sadness and even be dramatic and tense. Nature also repeatedly is depicted as beautiful and relaxing. It is contrasted with humanity and civilization. In Chapter 3 Helen takes in the quiet beauty of the Morenica-Hall’s garden, but later in the chapter she drives passed the wrecked hulks of vehicles left over from the War of Independence. Nature certainly is restoring to us but there is one or two hints of danger. In Chapter 10 Mira, the Morenica-Hall’s maid comments on a “cute cat” she sees out of the police station window. Helen responds, “It’s not easy to be a street cat.” On a different tack police work is frequently compared to a psychologist’s job. Helen must of course help the victim’s family cope with grief, but also detection itself requires a knowledge of human nature, reading facial expressions, searching below the surface for hidden facts, and a Freudian ‘free association’ of one thing with another. In Chapter 11 Helen jokes with Dr. Sol, Danielle’s psychoanalyst and friend, about the similarity of their professions. Helen comments, “In fact would you care to join the Psychological Service of the Police Force?” Life is full of problems and in a way we are all in need of ‘the psychiatrist’s couch.’

Ruth Shidlo is a qualified psychologist and it is no surprise that this book is an accurate picture of life in that respect. Shidlo recognises that people are of diverse motivations, that they have secrets, that while not suffering from a diagnosed illness they can have “rescue fantasies” (Ch. 7). Dreams as revelations of personal reactions, turmoil and thought feature fairly prominently. (Ch. 7 & Ch. 41) Dr. Ann Faraday’s Dream Power (1972) is a good source illustrating this approach to self-development. Suicide is depicted, not as a real desire for death but as a cry for help and an attempt at communication.( Ch. 55) (Robert E. Larson, ed. Preparing To Listen: Contact Teleministries, c1978, p. 99) Shidlo is of course also correct on the psychology of a killer. (Martha Stout. The Sociopath Next Door: Broadway Books, 2005)

A lesbian couple are at the centre of this murder mystery and GLBTI issues are thus quite prominent. Queer people and their immediate families are generally depicted with respect. In Chapter 3 Sheila shows Helen a photo of her and her two mothers on holiday. We read:

“Shelia was in the middle, looking happy and contained and proud.”

The word “proud” has of course come to have special meaning to LGBTI people, as in, for example, ‘pride marches’. Danielle’s mother is completely accepting of the lesbian matching. (Ch. 10) The problems which queer couples face is also mentioned, for example, the difficulties of donor parenting. (Ch. 56) Bigotry occasionally rears its head. In Chapter 12 Adam, on hearing that the lesbian couple are married comments, “Wonders never cease.” In Chapter 33 a minor character brings on the bigoted, fantasy notion of a powerful heterosexual man “converting” a lesbian woman. Shidlo also does not err in being overly favourable to LGBTI people. In Chapter 24 Daniel blocks a lesbian couple from receiving IVF. No special favouritism there. None-the-less Shidlo notes the sociological fact that people, including LGBTI, have an affinity for others of similar background. (C. Peter Wagner. Our Kind Of People: J. Knox Press, c1979)

The Rosebush Murders also has quite a good standing from a feminist perspective. The book is full of successful professional women and femininity is depicted in all its many and varied forms. In Chapter 50 we encounter a typical male chauvinist in the form of IVF researcher Alberto Silberman. Once again women are not patronized by being overly favoured either. There are a number of unsympathetic female characters as well.

As we have already seen society is examined to a certain extent, particularly in terms of bureaucracy. City Hospital is very much a wealthy establishment and an institution for the privileged. (Ch. 23) From a Marxist view the latter is no surprise. Money means power, and power means elites. When success is over-rewarded and over-valued others suffer.

Israel is a place of many ethnicities and national backgrounds as the diaspora have returned to it and consequently Shidlo’s novel represents a view of the world and its people beyond the narrow limits of nationalist literature. The disabled make a brief appearance in Chapter 14 in the form of Dr. Maurice Leibovici the blind head the Outpatient Psychiatric Clinic. Leibovici is successfully working in a prestigious job, but is gruff. The picture is positive but not over flattering.

Ruth Shidlo’s The Rosebush Murders is excellent for those interested in police work and murder mysteries. While displaying the standard features of this type of novel it also has more unusual themes such as power and religion. Imagery of music art and psychology gives the book further depth. To varying degrees the book is successful in presenting psychological, LGBTI, Feminist and Marxist perspectives. The novel is, however, most of all simply an entertaining read, excellent to relax with.

Reviewer Bio
I have a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in literature and a minor in psychology. I also have a Graduate Diploma of Library Science. I have lived in three cities (Townsville, Brisbane, Armidale) in two different states (Queensland, New South Wales) in Australia, though I have never traveled overseas. I would like to visit the United Kingdom but I doubt I will ever get there.

Author: Katherine Magnoli

Review Link:
(http://nadiajwriter.com/2012/08/09/introducing-katgirl)

The Adventures of KatGirl does a good job of capturing that first day at school with a bunch of kids who don’t really understand disabilities. The misconceptions the children have, as well as the curiosity and the questions they ask are true to life and it brought back a lot of memories for me. I liked the fact that Katherine is depicted as someone happy and even though she is upset by the comments that Timmy makes she stays true to herself and ends up making a new friend. I believe her ability to stay positive is her true superpower. The book stays primarily with the message that bullying can happen to anyone and that it can be overcome. It does not focus on or describe Katherine’s disability. The only time it does focus directly on the disability is when the children are asking questions, with the most insightful question being: “Can you walk at all?” To which Katherine replies, “yes, with crutches.” In my personal experience, when people see a wheelchair they dismiss the possibility that you can walk at all, and so I was glad for this clarification. Perhaps it will help young readers to understand those that look differently from themselves and open the door to find more answers to their questions. Overall, the book depicts a girl who is defined by her personality and not her disability…And really, isn’t that how it should be?

Originally posted 2012-09-20 23:38:24.