smd-reviews

[smd-reviews]

Skyward Inn by Aliya Whiteley

Solaris Pub, 2021 ebook version, 157 pp.

The Skyward Inn is about a pub in the Western Protectorate (set in England), where Jem and Isley serve a drink called the Brew, which comes from Qita, the nation that they had the war with, and from which Isley hails. Jem and Isley are from different sides of the war, but neither has any regrets or scars from the war. In the end, people come together in the Skyward Inn to tell stories of the times before the war with Qita.

Jem was away for 10 years and returned to run the Inn, and she has with her a son named Foss, but we don't know much about his parentage. What was patently clear in the novel was that Foss goes off on his own, but it was not clear exactly why he left.

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. I really tried hard. There is great world building bu slow development of what is going on, which made is difficult to stay with. I found it very slow to read. I committed to read the book until I finished. And, well, I'm glad that I did, but I have to say that I really don't understand what the point was. I recently read.

Though the unfolding of the story was just too slow for me, it might be okay for others. The fact that it tries to explore themes of identity relationships (especially with Jem and Foss) could make this truly wonderful, however, it unfolded too slow for me. I was very disappointed in the book and I can't recommend this highly.

I would like to thank the author, Solaris Publishers and NetGalley for the copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

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We Are Meridians by S Ghali

publication 2019 ebook, 236 pp.

We are Meridians by S Ghali is a story about two human civilizations; one will rise and one will fall. 300 years ago, a small group of humans leave their violent past and human counterparts on Earth to create the most advanced civilization in history until now. When mercenaries steal a deadly artifact, the Meridians - the advanced society - has no choice but to send a military expedition back to Earth to retrieve it.

However, the mission is compromised as you might expect. Upon arrival, the crew members get separated on the surface of (then hostile) planet Earth that has never experienced alien contact. A group of three Meridians, with quite a wide background: Conrad a disgraced Cadet; Jones, a Xenoanthropologist; and Zayn, an Antharian Prince must work together to find other survivors before their own demise. And that's where the blurb ends, leading the reader into a cliffhanger.

That premise should be enough to engage the reader into an interesting book. I was drawn in in the beginning of the book, and I really enjoyed reading it, as it's been a while since I've had a science fiction book that I actually enjoyed.

The problem is that as I got further into the book, the author spilled the beans - too many times. The author violated the fundamental premise of creative writing: Show, don't tell. An author of a good book should be able to show a statement that he or she is trying to make, rather than explicitly come out and make the statement, which Ghali actually did several times (as if the reader could not figure it out for him/her-self).

This structure of tell a story and spill-the-beans made for a disappointing read. What started out to be an enjoyable book did not finish as such. I wish that the author would consider taking these comments to heart when continuing this series. Ghali has a very good premise, and has the ability to really start out the book, but needs a strong follow through without telling the reader what he or she is trying to say. Remember: show, don't tell.

I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for the copy. I am voluntarily, leaving this review.

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The ABC's of Global Warming by Charles Siegel

Omo Press, 2021 ebook, 106 pp.

The ABCs of Global Warming by Charles Siegel is billed as the most concise, readable and complete work about the climate emergency that is upon us. It is a timely book in that we have just undergone a change in administration here in the United States and we will see what the Biden administration does about global warming. We know they have already rejoined the Paris accord.

The book is also billed as the quickest, easiest way to learn everything one needs to know about global warming using easy to understand language without jargon. It purports to explain three things. One, the science; two, the dangers; and three, the solutions. The description of the book suggests that if you want more complete knowledge, then this would be a good volume to buy. And finally, if you are looking for the perfect gift for the global warming denier in your life, then this is the book for you.

There are a number of problems with this book that make me incredibly unenthusiastic about it and I am unable to recommend purchase of the book. First, the description suggests that it explains the science behind climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and the impact upon the earth's temperature and warming because of human emissions and the impact upon natural processes Being a scientist, (although I am not in the area of Earth and Environmental Science), I can appreciate a scientific argument. There is no science in this book and that none of what the author presents as science has principles that are based in the scientific method, which is something that most, if not all of us have learned in grade school.

The scientific method is rather simple. Let's assume we have an idea that we would like to demonstrate is true and we set up an experiment in which we have a hypothesis - the "logical negation" of our idea -that we try to disprove. Siegel does not set up the arguments in this way.

Secondly, one would expect citations and references to the scientific literature. Here is where the book really falls down. While he does have citations and references, they are all to web pages and many are to Wikipedia! When I teach students how to reference web pages, (although I frown upon it), I tell them that they must indicate the date last accessed, because web pages can change. So, here we have a book that is published in January of 2021. By the time of this review in late March, or by the time someone may purchase the book even later, any of the references can and possibly will have changed. The author has not indicated in any way that the date last accessed to these web pages.

So, with respect to the purported explanation of the science, there are two problems. The science is not explained in the basic methods of science - the scientific method. Secondly, the citations and references are not explained correctly.

Item number two in the blurb are the dangers due to climate change and global warming. Siegel lists heat waves, flooding, drought, while fires, rising sea levels, acid oceans, extinctions, poverty, irreversible tipping points, (which I can only assume he gets from Malcolm Gladwell books), can worsen warming. The problem is that these are all consequences, or rather, these are all conclusions that he draws based on his read or interpretation of the science. Siegel has not presented a good argument for the science as I indicated in number one above. I can appreciate many of these phenomena because there is evidence that we have had heat waves, we have had flooding, evidence of drought, wildfires in California, evidence of rising sea levels, evidence of extinction of wildlife, but I do not buy the argument of the irreversible tipping points that can worsen warming. Normally, one would build these conclusions upon the science. But since Siegel's scientific basis is so shaky, his conclusions are equally shaky. Or, the educated reader might cast doubt on on the use, period.

Lastly, point number three is entitled "The Solutions", and Siegel lists such items as a fee on emissions where the revenues are returned to citizens. The transition to electricity and ground transportation may be appropriate. Technological innovations to transportation and emissions offset to reach net zero carbon emission have been presented and discussed in the opinion pages in the newspapers and in Congress, and they make slow progress.

Where I really lost it was the author's ad hominem attack of the 45th president. According to Siegel, things were going to get better when Biden took office. While i may agree with Siegel that the 45th president was not very effective, the hominem attack did not does not have any role in what is purported to be a scientific book that is meant for the general public and especially one that is accessible to everyone - and is a possible gift for the climate denier. I suspect a "Climate Denier" is a supporter of the 45th president and is unlikely to accept the (poor) reasoning in this book. The "Climate Denier would get to the section about the transition of power in Washington and finish or stop reading the book or worse, throw it away, rendering Siegel's argument totally ineffective,

I, for one, as a scientist and engineer would not purchase copies of this book to give to climate deniers in my life. it is almost an embarrassing argument about science and how science is done in universities.

In summary, I applaud Siegel for his effort to try to write a a book on global warming and climate change that is meant to be accessible to the general public and one that those who understand or appreciate the consequences of global warming would consider giving to those who deny global warming and climate change. However, I believe that the book falls short on many accounts, especially the scientific foundations on which the books should be built - and the science is not hard to explain in a relatively easy way. i would encourage the author to consider a second edition or to seek out help to write a second edition and give it another try, but i am unable to be enthusiastic about the current volume.

Thanks to the authors, Omo Press and NetGalley for the copy. I have voluntarily left this review.

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Jaguar’s Tomb by Angelica Gorodischer (Amalia Gladhart, trans)

Vanderbilt University Press, 2021 ebook, 258 pp. 

This is a review of Jaguars Tomb, by Angelica Gorodischer and translated by Amalia Gladhart. The original book was only in the Hispanic American literature but with this translated volume, we are treated to a significant author and story as well as the power of the Latin American literature. 

Jaguar’s Tomb is a novel in three interconnected parts, which is a brilliant structure. The first part is entitled Hidden Variables. Narrated by Bruno Seguer, who is the author of the second part, Recounting from Zero in which, Evelyn Harrington is a central character. Harrington is the author of Uncertainty, which is the third part of the book. The protagonist of Harrington's story is the dying Igrazabal. It’s a beautiful interconnection, but there is more.

There are two ways that these three seemingly separate stories are tied together. The first way is that the protagonist of Harrington's story is the dying Igrazabal, the author of the first story. Harrington is the protagonist of the second story and in turn the author of the third story.  The complexity and interconnectivity tell you something about how people could be hidden very easily during the Argentine dictatorship of the late ‘70s, of which this book is really about. 

The second way in which the three stories are tied together, is that each of these three parts revolves around an octagonal room. The Jaguars Tomb is the  central space of a torture center and also the heart of an abandoned house that hides an adulterous affair. 

This novel by Gorodischer is both compelling and difficult to read. At times, I did not see how this was a meditation on how to write about, or through violence and justice and loss. But it clearly was a puzzle and, clearly addresses the abduction and disappearance, that occurred in, under the Argentine military ‘76 to ‘83. So, in that way Gorodischer wrote a book of her time. And it's a significant contribution to the literature. 

I hadn't realized what an important book this was until I finished it. And it was at that point, that I had read the description or synopsis of the book and could relate it back to what I read. So I encourage anyone who has, any interest in the history of the Argentine military dictatorship or at the very least the history of the time, to read this book. It is actually, a wonderful experience. Much better than a factual treatment, of the times, you know, like soldier needs munitions and was injured.  Jaguar’s Tomb is highly recommended and I encourage all of you to pick up a copy.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Edelweiss+ for the copy.  I have voluntarily left this review.

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Legacy of the Tigers by Iris Yang

Open Books, 2020 ebook, 333 pp.

Legacy of the Tigers chronicles the story of Jasmine on her trek to find her loved one Danny Hardy, an American pilot.  The story starts in the winter of 1942 and takes us through to 1947, significant not for the end of WWII, but for the rise of Communism in China.  The figures Chiang Kai-Shek and Mao Zedong figure prominently in the latter parts of this story. 

Jasmine sought to find Danny against great odds: First we learn she was gang-raped and gave birth to - and cares for - the child that was the result of this gang rape. Jasmine was robbed by thugs later on and thrown in jail, accused by communists as being subversive. You would think that being and the horrible conditions of her confinement would keep her down, but it does not deter Jasmine from her quest, which carries her thousands of miles, to find Danny. You can't help but be drawn into the book right from the beginning 

This was a wonderful book in two aspects. First, it is the engaging and emotional story of Jasmine searching for Danny against all odds but never losing her sense of decency or her goals. Secondly, this was a wonderful book to learn the history of the rise of Communism in China during this period and the flight of Chiang Kai-Shek to Taiwan. The most history that we learn in the West tells us what happens after a movement, and so I found this book particularly interesting, reading about the rise of Communism and the flight of Chaing Kai-Shek. All the while, these events affect Jasmine and her quest, but she never loses sight of her love.

Only after finishing the book did I that this was the third of three and I am now going to have to get the first two. I can highly recommend Legacy of the Tigers and go out on a limb and recommend the entire series. Iris Yang is a gifted writer; whether you read Legacy of the Tiger for the story of Jasmine, or the historical aspects, or for both, you will not be disappointed.

I want to thank Open Books and LibraryThing for the copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

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The Jade Tiger by EW Cooper

Ink Dog Press, 2020 ebook, 278 pp.

The Jade Tiger is a mystery story where the main character, Penelope Harris, is trying to start her life over again; Penelope was a former opera singer who owned the Jade Tiger in Shanghai and came to New York to start her life over again after her husband was murdered.  Her father was gone and she returned to the city to be with her mother and start her life over again.

Penelope quickly encounters a cast of characters, including a competing singer who is a blackmailer - who is murdered - at a party, and Penelope’s love interest, Thom Lund, is accused of the murder.

And so we have the stage set for a very enjoyable murder mystery. a number of possibilities quickly present themselves: Is it Penelope’s mother, her cousin or was it Thom? You have to read the book for yourself to see how this mystery plays out.  

What is as enjoyable as the murder mystery in and of itself, is the portrayal of New York City in the late 1920s where we have a great picture of prohibition, the wealthy - of which Penelope's family is part of, and the bootleggers.

While I found the going slow at first my litmus test is if we can get engaged with the characters and the plot by 30% through the book, then I am doing well. I found the Jade tiger met this test - I really enjoyed the book on two parts: I love a good mystery and secondly, the historical portrayal of the late twenties.

I was a little disappointed to see this labeled as book 1 of 1, hoping to see that this might have been book one of what is a longer series involving the central figures of Penelope and Thom (NB: Today I checked and I see this is Book 1 of 2!).

l want to thank Ink Dog Press and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

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The Stars that Govern Us by JR Alcyone

Green Heron Productions, 2020

ebook, 341 pp. 

The Stars that Govern Us is set in Perth, Australia in the mid-1950s and is the story of a pair of doctors: Alec Serafeim and Pete O'Neill; their families figure into the story as does Alec’s father who is a renowned surgeon in his own right. There is little doubt in my mind that Alec feels that he has something to prove to his father, perhaps setting up an emotional conflict that led to Alec’s breakdown and hospitalization 10 years prior to the current setting of the story.

Alec and Pete are doctors on the A2-CTS Pediatric Ward for children with heart defects. The doctors are limited by their current surgical techniques to treat the worst of the worst and there is often no hope for some, and yet, they read about developments in heart-lung machines both in Australia and in the States. Alec decides to enter the race to help save the children on A2-CTS and I think to redeem himself in his father's eyes.

This book is brilliant. Simply brilliant. I am grateful for having had the privilege of reading and reviewing the author's first novel Five Fathoms Beneath and when The Stars that Govern Us became available, I jumped at the chance to read the book. I expected nothing less than what I read in Five Fathoms Beneath. The Stars that Govern Us is written in a very easy to read manner and is engaging right from the beginning. The characters in the book are very well-developed, as are the relationships between them. In fact, the relationships between Alec,  Pete, and several of their patients are simply endearing and you can’t help but feel for the children who were born with heart defects and have been suffering all these years.

The pressure Alec put on himself and his heart-lung machine was nothing but engaging and you can't help but feel the tension between Alec and Pete, and the competing group in Sydney. I won't say too much more about the storyline for fear of giving it away. Pick up a copy of the book for yourself.

The Stars that Govern Us is very well-researched historical fiction, which has always been one of my favorite genres. This book stands out as one of probably the best I have read in recent years. But I was biased, as I was enthralled with the author's first book. Reading The Stars that Govern Us with a fresh mind was a wonderful experience: there is a historical storyline, family relationships (where the title comes from) and there are inner- and interpersonal conflicts that are very well developed. Alcyone skillfully brought all of this to a conclusion; she knows her craft and how to present the conflict(s) and resolution(s) in the midst of the history of the heart-lung machine in Australia. 

I don't write fiction - my work is non-fiction but I understand the catharsis that occurs completing a book and I can appreciate the “marathon” experience that Alcyone writes about in The Stars that Govern Us.  We had a hint of that in the historical notes and acknowledgments. 

I recently read an article in Medium that said we forget 80% of what we read. I will always remember reading this book and I wonder what Alcyone could possibly do to follow The Stars that Govern Us.

Thanks to Book Sirens for a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

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Target Churchill: A Gripping Historical Crime Thriller by Warren Adler and James C. Humes

Stonehouse Press, 2020 ebook, 412 pp. 

This was a fascinating read about a part of history that I heretofore did not really know about.   I grew up well aware of the Cold War and the Communist Bloc of Eastern Europe, but I, for one, was unaware of Churchill’s role in starting the Cold War with a speech at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri.  Even reading the book, it was a surprise to learn what Churchill was going to say at a speech that Truman had invited him to deliver.  

There is plenty of suspense in the book as well, chronicling the assassination attempt in Fulton.  While we all know Churchill survived until I read this book did I know what happened in the West, and in the East.  Absolutely suspenseful.

I believe that Target Churchill is very well researched and written with all the drama and suspense that one would expect from a crime novel.   It is enjoyable on many levels; both in telling the history and also in the suspense surrounding the spies and the assassination attempt.  I came away having learned a great deal about the beginning of the Cold War but also having finished a very enjoyable read. Even if you are not interested in the history of the period, this is a very suspenseful story and you should pick it up.  

I would like to thank the authors, publisher, and LibraryThing for the copy.  I have voluntarily left this review. 

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Land of Big Numbers by Te-Ping Chen

Mariner Books, 2021 ebook, 256 pp.

This is simply one of the best collections of short fiction I have ever read.  Land of Big Numbers is a debut work of Te-Ping Chen who has used her years of experience reporting on the ground in China to create stories that are both fictionalized accounts of what she sees and also a social commentary on the Chinese culture today

The writing is simply beautiful and while the stories were dark and haunting, they were a pleasure to read as Chen’s writing is so crisp and vivid.  Te-Ping Chen is clearly a gifted writer and a master of short fiction; both the exposition and character development were excellent.  I hope that there is a full-length novel in the offing.

My favorite story by far was “Gubeiko Spirit” followed by “Hotline Girl” and “Flying Machine.”  To be honest, each story in the collection is moving, but these three spoke to me the most and left me with indelible memories of the main characters.   

This is an extraordinary collection of short stories by a gifted writer.  Reading this book is an enriching experience and I highly recommend Land of Big Numbers. 

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Bodyweight Strength Training Anatomy by Bret Contreras

Human Kinetics, 2014 ebook, 224 pp.

I am reading - and using this book during the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.  Early in the spring, I took to bodyweight training and later adding resistance bands since gyms are closed and I do not have free weights at home. For anyone needing an exercise routine - from the beginner to those with regular workout programs, this is the ideal book to get now.   There could not be a better time to have a bodyweight reference and instructions on how to develop a program. To quote Contreras “I’m now able to achieve an amazing workout using just my own body weight and simple household furniture.”

Contreras wrote this in a consistent easy to read, direct to the reader style.  I have read other books from this publisher and found them to be oriented more to the professional than the lay audience, but I was very pleasantly surprised to see that this is geared to the general public.

The instructions on Planning Your Program are very well presented, with the right combination of practical advice and caution in terms of what he calls autoregulation. It’s a practical message to listen to your body during your workouts.   

Contreras suggests working all muscle groups throughout the week. The first 10 chapters are each a combination of an explanation of the anatomy of muscle groups and suggested bodyweight exercises for working for these muscle groups.  These are very practical selections of exercises from which the reader can put together his/her exercise program.   

I am thrilled with this book and I am especially glad to have seen it during the quarantine.  This is a great, down-to-earth manual for resistance bodyweight training presented in a very accessible way.  I encourage any looking for an exercise routine or looking to vary his/her exercise routine to pick up Bodyweight Strength Training. You will not be disappointed.  

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If I Can’t Have You by Charlotte Levin

Mantle, July, 2020 ebook, 295 pp. 

Central to this story is a young woman named Constance, who is clearly troubled - but not alone in that regard.  Constance is one of the staff members in a doctor’s office and develops a relationship with one of the doctors, Samuel, who take advantage of Constance as long as he wants to and then moves onto someone else.  Constance, however, does not move on, and one thread of the story reminded me of the movie ‘Fatal Attraction’ without all the gore and the qualifier that Dan Gallagher only had a one night stand. Samuel, on the other hand, shows us early on that he is a cad.   

But this isn’t the only storyline.  There is Constance and her roommate turned lover Dale and we watch their relationship develop.   Constance’s father leaves the family when she is a child but during the course of the book surfaces when he needs care.  We also see Constance and her psychiatrist, Dr. Franco, who happens to work in the practice where Constance is a staff member.  The book chronicles relationships that Constance has with other staff members.  

Constance narrates the story, telling us of all of these relationships, her father leaving when she was young and her mother’s passing. One thing I particularly enjoyed was how Constance often gave pet names to peoples based on their characteristics, such as Samuel’s neighbor whom Constance called ‘Tippi Hendren’ after the actress.   What a great technique for introducing some humor into what is otherwise a gripping, dark story.   Please read it to find out how all these storylines play out. How very unique. 

The writing is crisp, easy to read, and engaging.  The plots are well thought out and executed from beginning to end perfectly.  You can’t help but get engaged from the beginning as you are immersed in the story from the outset.  

Twice in the past six to eight years, I have found books that reinforced my love of reading.  ‘If I Can’t Have You’ is one of the two.  I read this over a 10 day period and I would take long lunches and knock off early to read.  I was so engrossed that I stayed up much longer than normal to see what came next.  Everything else I read this year (~60 books) pales in comparison and I thought some of them were really good.  

What makes this even more amazing is that ‘If I Can’t Have You’ is Levin’s debut novel.  It has been days since I finished the book yet I still think about it.  You will not be disappointed with the wonderful reading experience that this book provides.

My thanks to the author and the Pigeonhole for the copy.  I am voluntarily leaving this review, but rest assured, ‘If I Can’t Have You’ is the real thing. 

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Every Last Fear by Alex Finlay

Minotaur Books, 2021 ebook version, 368 pp

What a great story and an enjoyable read.  I could not find enough free time to read it, nor could I read it fast enough.  I was hooked from the beginning and could not put it down. 

The story chronicles an NYU student Matt Pine, who learns one night that his family - parents, sister, and youngest brother are all dead in Mexico (they had taken a surprise impulsive vacation).   Matt also has a brother Danny, who is in prison.   

The story centers on the death of Danny’s girlfriend, now years ago, Since her death, the family has exhausted all appeals of Danny’s sentence and a documentary about Charlotte’s death.  What makes this so interesting - and so fast-moving - is that it is not clear if Charlotte died by suicide or murder and whether Matt’s family died by an accidental gas leak or if that too was a murder.

“Every Last  Fear” was an entertaining and easy read and a very well done thriller.  Do not let my description fool you, while the storyline was complex, it was also easy to follow, making it all the more entertaining as a psychological thriller. Psychological thrillers happen to be my favorite genre and this was the best I have read in 2020 (the book will appear in 2021).  

If psychological thrillers - or any thrillers - are your thing, then this would be a great read.  You will be hooked right away, the language is easy to read, and while a complex series of stories, it is eminently easy to follow.  You will not be disappointed by this enjoyable read.   

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The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Grove Press, 2021 ebook version, print length 400 pp

I took a great interest in ‘The Committed’ in part because of my work in 1978 and 1979 in reuniting Vietnamese families who had come to the US but were separated in different military bases.   There was a network of us that worked nearly around the clock to help reunite the refugees.

‘The Committed’ takes place a few years later, in the early ‘80s, when we follow (the unnamed) “The Sympathizer” and his colleague “Bon” in Paris as they reconnected with family and try to assimilate into the French culture.  There is also “Man”, a former best friend of “The Sympathizer” who was responsible for his reeducation. 

I did not have the advantage of reading “The Sympathizer” before “The Committed”, so all we know is that “The Sympathizer” was a double agent, who, while living and studying in the US was reporting back to the Vietnamese. There are times in the book when he reflects back on these experiences, despite his reeducation by “Man”. We only get a brief glimpse of this part of the story, which takes place at the time of my personal work with relocating Vietnamese families.  

Early in the book we see “The Sympathizer” settle in Paris, but the book really chronicles his life and that of “Bon” in the drug underworld.  This was both sad and painful at times to read, but Nguyen’s storytelling was very effective at chronicling how “The Sympathizer’s” life unfolds in the drug culture of Paris.

The language is beautiful and it is such a pleasure to read, despite the sad and difficult subject. Nguyen has a very effective storyline that itself reinforces the terrible choice that “The Sympathizer” made.

After reading “The Committed”, I can see why Nguyen received a Pulitzer for “The Sympathizer”, which one should probably read first.  “The Committed” is an excellent book, although it tells a difficult story, Nguyen has done it masterfully.  I am going to go read “The Sympathizer” now to complete the story albeit backward.  Read “The Committed”, as it is well done and tells an important part of modern history.

Thanks to the author, Grove Press, and NetGalley for the copy.  I have voluntarily left this review. 

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Furia by Yamile Saled Mendez

Workman Publishing, 2020 Audible audio copy, 8 hours, 52 minutes unabridged Narration by Sol Madariaga

This is a wonderful story with excellent narration.  The last time I read a YA novel it was Hunger Games, but while Furia may have some similar themes of young love and overcoming challenges, this is not a dystopian novel but rather a plausible story of a young woman, Camila, who has a dream and musters all her resources to stay focused on the prize.  

Camila Hassan is a young woman, who, we find out, keeps a secret from her family.  While they think she is studying to become a doctor, she dreams of playing futbol (soccer) on the national and international stage.  Her team gives her the name “Furia” for she is a true powerhouse and talent of her team.   They qualify for the South American tournament and are in a precarious situation of needing to raise money for travel expenses to the tournament.  But remember, “La Furia” has been playing without the knowledge of her family; there are others that enter the picture to help the team move forward. 

There is a love interest, Diego, who is a superstar futbol playing for Juventus in Italy and a rather heavy-handed father that controls the dynamic of homelife.  All the while, “La Furia” has not lost sight of her goal of getting a scholarship to a North American University to play soccer.

We watch “La Furia” navigate all of these challenges - her difficult home life, her relationship with Diego, her job teaching English, and above all her life goals.   The author manages these expertly, presenting Camila as a young woman who deftly manages all her trials and tribulations.  

Whether you read the book or listen to the excellent audiobook version, ‘Furia’ is the perfect YA book for showing us a teenage woman who succeeds despite many odds.   I am sure Camila (’Furia’) is an identifiable character and her story is a valuable lesson for many young women.  

The audiobook version was well done with excellent narration by Sol Madariaga.  Whichever version you decide to read - or to recommend - ‘Furia’  has to be one of the best YA books to appear.  Relatable characters, relatable circumstances, and an important message to never lose sight of your goals.  

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The Keeper by Jessica Moor

Penguin Books, 2020 333 pages

The Keeper by Jessica Moor is deceptively a thriller.  I read this in a group on The Pigeonhole and made the statement to the others that I was hooked on murder mystery after 5 or so chapters.   Soon thereafter though, the storyline addressed the very difficult subject of spousal and sexual abuse.  

The main storyline is about Katie Straw, a young woman who is found dead, assumed to be the victim of suicide.  However, the women of the shelter where she worked believe otherwise and they have trouble convincing the police assigned to the case that Katie was murdered.  Throughout most of the book, It’s not clear if the police just didn’t care, the possibility of abuse and murder didn’t bother them or if they had just accepted Katie’s death as a suicide and weren’t going to do anymore.  I’m sure women experience this in many such situations.

And thus we have the conflict showing how the police infrastructure allows violence against women to continue.  Piecing together the final few months of Katie’s life, the police cannot help but face the truth and we have a resolution.  At times difficult to read and at times this was a slow read, I cannot help but think this is how women who have been subject to violence must be living to try to bring their perpetrators to justice.

This was an important book to write and an important book to read.  Moor deftly and delicately tells the story of how Katie and other women are abused by their spouses, but she nonetheless leaves the reader with an impact that is at times emotionally hard to read.  You cannot help but feel empathetic for these women.

By telling the story of one woman who is abused, she is telling the story of all women who are abused around the world. Although Katie is gone, the dark side of the story lives on; The Keeper is a call to action for all of us - men and women - to stop the horror that is violence against women.  Read - no, experience - this book that will leave a lasting impression.  

My thanks to Penguin Books and the Pigeonhole for the copy. I have voluntarily left this review.  

[smd-reviews]

Win or Learn: The Naked Truth About Turning Every Rejection into Your Ultimate Success

Simple Truths, January 2021 ebook, 152

In “Win or Learn”, Harlen Cohen lays out a straightforward sequence of steps to help the reader achieve his/her goals.  Times are tough, we all face many challenges right now (November 2020, third coronavirus wave) and it is incredibly easy to get lost in the day to day stressors.  It takes an incredibly disciplined mind to see your way through and maintain perspective.

We are rarely that mentally strong all the time - or even enough of the time.  Cohen tells it like it is, starting with “Change is uncomfortable” and introducing “The Universal Rejection Truth”: That “not everyone and everything will always respond to you the way you want.”  He returns to this often, as it is an important fact of life that the reader has to accept before moving on.

There are some real gems here, such as “The Three Types of Rejection”, “Change What You Don’t Love; Tolerate What You Can’t Change”, and, of course, “I never lose. I either win or I learn” the quote from Nelson Mandela from which the title comes.  

At 152 pages, this is a quick read and a book that you can return to time and time again.  It occurred to me in the middle of reading this book that the problem with finishing it is that the book goes on the shelf or you may never open it again on your Kindle or another e-reader device.  

What I decided to do was to take all my highlighted titles and text and turn them into Anki cards using a program called RemNote (free).  With RemNote, one can easily enter the outline of the book and key phrases that are important parts of your program, such as “Give yourself permission to feel the best-case” in the section “How to Create Your Story.”  With Anki cards, you can flip through them daily - or at a frequency you need - to keep the program in mind.   

I didn’t know what to expect from “Win or Learn” when I first opened the book, but I have been very pleasantly surprised at how accessible it is and it’s practicality.  Pick up a copy, read it - and return to it often, whether or not you use Anki cards.  There are many fundamental truths here that we can all benefit from.   

[smd-reviews]

Harness the Power of the Invincible Mind: Spatial Strategy to Success and Happiness by Alex Neumann

Pearson Press, September 2020 185 pp

I have to admit that I was expecting something completely different from what I found reading Neumann’s book.  This tempers my review and in my mind, perhaps the title oversells the content.

For some reason, the notion of “Harness the Power” led me to think that the author would have a narrative deeply rooted in psychology and behavioral science.  This, in turn, might lead to exercises that the reader could use to make behavioral changes or changes in his/her worldview.  All the time, the material is reinforcing the message that each of us is mentally strong and has the power for great success.  

What I found instead, was a series of chapters, each with a subsection with anecdotes that Neumann uses to try to support his argument, for example, “Shake it off and step up” in the Chapter “Ride Your Adversity.”  This seems rather obvious to me, but on the other hand, there may be people that need to hear the message in a very down-to-earth way with simple anecdotes. 

If you view the book this way, it is a good attempt at a practical self-help book. The messages are not bad, but  I found the stories/anecdotes to be shallow and could have used some more depth.  A good example of an accessible self-help book that was - and perhaps still is - very popular is “The Road Less Traveled” by M. Scott Peck, still in the top 20 of two Amazon categories

I think it is the subtitle that confuses me - While I understand “Success and Happiness,” I did not see where “Spatial Strategy” figured in the book.  It was the idea of “Strategy” that made me think there were to be exercises or techniques the reader could use to achieve his/her goals.   

I applaud Neumann for contributing “Harness the Power” to the self-help literature.  It is quite accessible, although I think the anecdotes are not deep enough to make the arguments.  While I still like “The Road Less Traveled” better, any truly accessible book is good.   

I would like to thank Pearson and NetGalley for the copy.  I have volunteered to write this review.