Category: Book Reviews

Book review: ‘Take Off Your Shoes’ by Ben Feder

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Ben Feder’s new memoir ‘Take Off Your Shoes’ is now available everywhere.  Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Ben Feder is President of International Partnerships for the U.S. at Tencent, the Chinese Internet titan and formerly CEO of Take Two interactive. He is also the publisher of the smash video game hits, Red Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto and NBA 2K.  With all his success, he also experienced the inevitable cost it took on his family and personal life. This led to a self-imposed sabbatical in Bali with his family and in his new memoir ‘Take Off Your Shoes: One Man’s Journey from the Boardroom to Bali and Back,’ he shares his experiences and what he learned from his journey of self-discovery.

‘Take Off Your Shoes’ begins with an introduction in which Ben Feder explains that he wrote this memoir mainly for his children. Not only did he want them to understand why he embarked on this journey, but he also wanted it to serve as a memento of the special time they shared as a family. One thing that led him to take a sabbatical was his curiosity about brain plasticity and how people can change their lives by changing their minds. It all started one evening when Ben came home late from work and his wife Victoria approached him with the idea. After weighting the pros and cons, which included sacrificing careers that they both worked hard to attain, they decided that any increased time together as a family was worth any downside.

Ben Feder did what most people caught up in the everyday rat race only wish they could do and took the time to share his experiences. His memoir reads like a journal because not only does he write about the journey, he writes about his personal development and struggles as well as his personal growth through it all. Like adults, children can also become overwhelmed with their busy lives, so it is admirable that the author and his wife chose to involve them in this life-changing experience. Seeing the poverty in other countries made them thankful for what they have and made them more conscientious citizens of the world. Along the way, Ben learns to appreciate how activities like meditation and art can help him handle stress and the family gets a different perspective on life. Not everyone can afford to pick up and travel the world with the family, but they can find ways to lead a more mindful life. All they must do is think outside the box and dare to step outside their comfort zone. Overall, ‘Take Off Your Shoes’ is easy to read with language that is easy to understand and will appeal to readers who are looking for ideas to enrichen their lives. It is insightful, personal and humorous with something for everyone.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘Quietus’ by Vivian Schilling

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‘Quietus’ is a suspenseful thriller by Vivian Schilling.  Courtesy photo used with permission.

Vivian Schilling is an American novelist, screenwriter, actress and independent filmmaker. The award-winning author has written the novels ‘Sacred Prey’ and ‘Quietus,’ both of which take place in a supernatural setting and tackle the themes of immortality, existentialism and religious conflict. ‘Quietus’ is a psychological thriller about a young woman brought back from the brink of death to find the world around her forever altered. It will be reissued on Tuesday February 27, 2018.

At the beginning of ‘Quietus,’ Kylie O’Rourke, her husband Jack, her best friend Amelia Blackwell and her husband Dix Hamilton are aboard a small plane headed for Boston through the White Mountains. The flight is uneventful until the weather takes a turn for the worse and the plane goes down in sub-freezing temperatures. Kylie wakes up in the hospital still groggy from the medication and afterwards starts having memories of the crash and events the other survivors do not remember. Putting all that aside, she returns to her normal life, but the memories, nightmares and visions remain, and she starts questioning the events of that night and her own sanity. As the other survivors start dying from suicide, accidents and other tragic deaths, she becomes increasingly paranoid and desperate to filter the real from the imaginary in a desperate attempt to escape a supernatural force determined to even the scales of fate.

It is difficult to describe exactly what type of novel ‘Quietus’ is. Part psychological thriller, part sci-fi/fantasy, it is a suspenseful tale that grabs the reader and does not let go until the shocking conclusion. The language is easy to understand and at 500-plus pages, the action does not falter. As each character succumbs to the inevitable in the Final Destination-like storyline, it is heart-breaking to see them go. Fans of art history are in for a treat in Book Two, Chapter Eighteen when one of Kylie’s clients, an art connoisseur, starts explaining the background of the statues that have Kylie so intrigued. Beautifully written, the fantasy sequences are incredibly realistic and haunting. The personification of Death as someone from Kylie’s past is genius, and, in the end, Death collects the souls it is due because they were never meant to survive the accident. ‘Quietus’ is recommended for fans of gothic novels who appreciate aspects of fantasy, suspense and psychological thrillers mixed in just to keep things interesting.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘All Systems Down’ by Sam Boush

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‘All Systems Down’ is the debut novel by Sam Bousch.  Courtesy photo: used with permission.

Sam Boush is a novelist and award-winning journalist who has worked as a wildland firefighter and as owner of a mid-sized marketing agency. He is a member of the Center for Internet Security, International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium and Cloud Security Alliance. ‘All Systems Down,’ his first novel, is a cyber war thriller that unites a group of strangers whose must depend on each other’s skills to survive the oncoming chaos.

‘All Systems Down’ begins aboard the USS Gerald R. Ford where Lieutenant Kelly Seong and Lieutenant Orion Bether are in the middle of 4a.m. drills. After their communication radios malfunction, they are forced to head back to the supercarrier and are shocked when its lights start shutting down and the instruments aboard their jets start to fail. This is only the beginning of mass cyber-attacks that cause electrical grids to fail, satellites to crash to earth and widespread cell phone and internet crashes. With massive black blackouts across America and a foreign enemy creeping up on its shores, survivors like Brendan Chogan, whose job interview was interrupted by an outage, and Ireana and Annalore, who were on a camping trip, will have to work together to get through the next few days. They are the innocent victims of the North Korean military determined to topple the enemy’s infrastructure.

With his debut novel, Sam Boush proves that he deserves to be listed with the likes of Tom Clancy, David Baldacci and Dan Brown. Right from the beginning, readers are in for a thrill ride as the lives of every day people are abruptly interrupted by a series of computer viruses. Both heroes and villains are well-developed and include various nationalities. The action flows easily from chapter to chapter and even though there is some military and computer jargon involved, it is easy to follow and understand. As cities fall, the scariest animal is a cornered and scared human. Despite being a work of fiction, it is not hard to envision a real-life scenario where worldwide destruction comes via a keyboard. It is a must-read and recommended for fans of thrillers and suspense novels with apocalyptic/disaster storylines. With a subtitle of ‘The Cyber War – Book 1’ hinting of more to come, this series, with its compelling characters and every-day heroes will keep readers asking for more.

*A copy of this book was given via NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘Law and Vengeance’ by Mike Papantonio

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‘Law and Vengeance’ is Mike Papantonio’s most recent legal thriller.

Mike Papantonio is a writer, prominent trial attorney and co-host of Ring of Fire, a nationally syndicated weekly radio talk show, along with Robert F Kennedy, Jr and Sam Seder where he is known as ‘America’s lawyer.’ He has written several books including ‘In Search of Atticus Finch, A Motivational Book for Lawyers,’ ‘Resurrecting Aesop: Fables Lawyers Should Remember’ and the legal thriller ‘Law and Disorder.’ ‘Law and Vengeance’ is his most recent release about a highly successful trial lawyer who goes up against a weapons manufacturer.

The protagonist in ‘Law and Vengeance’ is Gina Romano, a trial attorney with the Bergman-Deketomis Law Firm. Last seen in ‘Law and Disorder,’ the firm defends the little guy from greedy corporations in cases few law firms would take. The latest case is against the manufacturer of Sight-Clops, a high-powered gun that malfunctioned outside of a controlled environment, causing innocent deaths along the way. One of the lead engineers of Sight-Clops complained about possible problems with the weapon and ended up getting fired. He is now the firm’s top witness against the company and must be protected from those out to silence him. When a traffic accident kills the lead attorney and leaves Gina in the hospital for weeks, she is convinced he was murdered and vows to make the guilty parties pay.

Mike Papantonio is back in force with another winning legal thriller. Some of the characters from the last book are back in what looks to be a series, but the story stands on its own. It starts strong right from the beginning in the Prologue where readers have a front row seat to two heart-breaking cases of the Sight-Clops malfunctioning and killing innocent bystanders. The author makes the legal jargon and courtroom drama easy to understand and the fast-paced action flows easily from page to page. Filled with relatable and well-developed characters, it is refreshing to see a strong female lead character who though flawed, does what is necessary to get the job done. It is a must-read and recommended for fans of smart legal thrillers, but it has elements of suspense and mystery with some politics mixed in to appeal to most readers. Hopefully there will another Bergman-Deketomis Law Firm novel in the near future.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?’ by Alan Alda

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‘If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?’ is the best selling book by Alan Alda about the importance of communication.

Most people know Alan Alda from the classic television series M*A*S*H, but he is also a writer and director. He hosted the award-winning series Scientific American Frontiers for eleven years and founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University. His previous books include “Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I’ve Learned” and “Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself.” “If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?: My Adventures in the Art and Science of Relating and Communicating” is his most recent release. In it, he tells the story of his quest to learn to communicate better and to teach others to do the same and how to develop empathy.

The central theme in “If I Understood You, Would I Have This Look on My Face?” is communication and the author gives readers creative ways they can improve their skills. It is divided into two parts: 1. Relating Is Everything with chapters like The Mirror Exercise, Listening from the Boardroom to the Bedroom and Training Doctors to Have More Empathy and 2. Getting Better at Reading Others with chapters like Working Along on Building Empathy, Dark Empathy and Reading the Mind of the Reader. He uses examples from his own life to demonstrate the importance of being able to communicate with each other and what happens when wires get crossed. His aim is to teach people to develop their empathy skills because this is where cooperation and understanding is born. This can be done by looking for clues in another’s face and learning to read the other person.

In simple terms and easy to understand language, Alan Alda has written an excellent guide for anyone who wants to improve their interpersonal skills. His personal anecdotes are entertaining and informative. A standout chapter is Working Alone on Building Empathy where he discusses meditation and bonding to start improving oneself. Overall, it is an interesting take on the importance of communication skills that is as useful in today’s atmosphere as it ever was. It is a highly recommended read, especially for those on a journey of self-discovery and improvement.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘Grief Cottage’ by Gail Godwin

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‘Grief Cottage’ is Gail Godwin’s novel about a young boy sent to live with his great aunt on a South Carolina island.

Gail Godwin is a novelist and short story writer whose body of work includes 14 novels, two short story collections, three non-fiction books and ten musical works. A three-time National Book Award finalist, she has written more than a dozen critically-acclaimed books including the novels “Flora,” “Father Melancholy’s Daughter” and “Evensong.” Her most recent novel is “Grief Cottage,” a book about a young boy who goes to live with his great aunt when his mother is killed in an automobile accident.

The main character in “Grief Cottage” is Marcus, an eleven-year-old boy who is sent to live on a small South Carolina island with his great aunt Charlotte. Charlotte is a woman of few words and a reclusive painter with a haunted past. Since she spends most of her time in her studio painting and dealing with her own demons, Marcus is often by himself. As he explores the island, he becomes intrigued with the dilapidated empty cottage the locals call ‘Grief Cottage;’ named so because a boy and his parents disappeared from it during a hurricane fifty years earlier. Their bodies were never found and it has been empty since. He visits the cottage daily, each time getting closer even after the missing boy’s ghost appears to him. By getting to know his story, Marcus learns more about himself, his family and the memories that haunt people’s lives.

The story is told through Marcus’ point of view which gives readers an insight into his young life. He is wise beyond his years and that gives him an edge as he deals with the loss of his mother and his great-aunt’s tumultuous life. Ironically, he is often Charlotte’s caregiver when life beats her down. The book is mostly character driven and the narrative prose makes it an outstanding piece of modern literature. The author expertly balances the ghost story with Marcus’ personal growth. It is recommended for fans of coming of age literature and ghost stories.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘The Trial of Prisoner 043’ by Terry Jastrow

prisoner43Terry Jastrow worked in sports television for years producing and directing telecasts and that work earned him seven Emmy Awards. As an actor, he worked in theatre, film and television and in 2015 he wrote, produced and directed the feature film The Squeeze. His first novel “The Trial of Prisoner 043” is a political and courtroom drama that poses the question: what would happen if George W Bush were prosecuted for war crimes?

“The Trial of Prisoner 043” starts off with Chapter One, The Abduction, set in St Andrew’s, Scotland as former president of the United States George W Bush is playing golf. He is abducted by a team of paramilitary commandoes and transported to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to stand trial for war crimes relating to the Iraq War. The ICC prosecutes individuals for the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes and since it has spent a year collecting evidence, it is time for Bush to be indicted as the one person most responsible for the war.

Even though the United States is one of the few western nations that do not participate in this court, the case moves forward, and it is presented to a panel of the judges with no jury. The rest of the book consists of the replaying of all the evidence for and against the Iraq War and the author uses real quotes from some of those involved in the war effort, including the head of the UN Iraq weapons inspection team, Laura Bush, George W Bush and Condoleezza Rice. In the end, he is released into US custody with the understanding that he will stand trial in the United States within twelve months for the same crime.

Even though this is a work of fiction it is based on true events. While the easy abduction of a former president may be hard to believe, it is not the most important part of the story. It is easy to read and understand and readers who are not into political drama should not be afraid to give this one a try. The courtroom drama more than makes up for any misgivings about politics, making it a suspenseful page-turner. One of the most interesting points the author poses is whether ISIS is a direct result of the American invasion of Iraq because the Iraqi Army was disbanded by the United States after the war. No matter which side of the political spectrum, the reader will appreciate the immense research Mr. Jastrow did for this novel. As proof, he cites his sources in the Author’s Notes. The subject is not overwhelming, so this book is recommended for anyone who appreciates a good courtroom drama based on modern day politics.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

 

Book review: ‘Fitter Faster’ by Robert J Davis

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‘Fitter Faster’ is the new exercise reference guide by health journalist Robert J Davis

Robert J Davis, Ph. D is an award-winning health journalist whose work has appeared on CNN, PBS, WebMD, and The Wall Street Journal. He has a master’s degree in public health from Emory and a PhD in health policy from Brandeis University. His past books include “Coffee is Good for You” and “The Healthy Skeptic.” “Fitter Faster: The Smart Way to Get in Shape in Just Minutes a Day” is his most recent release written with Brad Kolowich, Jr, a certified personal trainer. A science-backed guide, it gives readers information on living a healthy lifestyle.

“Fitter Faster” is divided into four parts: Part I, ‘Get Ready’ focuses on the benefits of exercise, Part II, ‘Get Smart,’ gives readers a rundown on aerobic exercise, strength training and stretching, Part III, ‘Get More Out of Exercise,’ discusses what kinds of food to eat to complement workouts and how to prevent exercise-related pain and Part IV, ‘Get Going,’ provides detailed workout plans with descriptions and photos of each exercise. Throughout the chapters, there are also sections titled ‘Fitness Journey’ which highlight real stories of real people who have improved their lives through exercise.

This reference guide gives well-balanced information for anyone looking to get healthy for the new year. From stretching and workout routines to proper equipment, dietary supplement and post-workout protein shakes, each part stands on its own. Standouts include Chapter 8 ‘Eat and Run’ which has useful information about what to eat to improver performance and Chapter 10, ‘The Workouts.’ After reading it, it is easy to go back and re-read whatever information needs refreshing. The language is down to earth and easy to understand without any unnecessary medical jargon. It is recommended for anyone who needs a fitness guide book that is easy to understand and does not fat shame.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘Into a Dark Frontier’ by John Mangan

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‘Into a Dark Frontier’ is the exciting new novel by John Mangan.

Lt. Col. John Mangan is a decorated combat rescue pilot, novelist and coffeehouse poet. He has deployed to the Middle East eight times and has commanded the 33rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron in Kandahar, Afghanistan. His actions in combat have been documented in the books “Not a Good Day to Die,” “None Braver” and “Zero Six Bravo.” He has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor twice, The Air Medal twelve times, and the 2009 Cheney Award. Now retired from the military, he has written his first novel “Into a Dark Frontier” about an ex-Navy SEAL named Slade Crawford.

The story takes place in the near future as Africa has collapsed into a failed state that is lawless and severely depopulated. It is now the playground for the outcast, the desperate, the criminal and the insane. The protagonist is Slade Crawford, who was falsely accused of terrorism, imprisoned and tortured. His personal life also took a beating when his son died in an accident and his marriage fell apart. At break neck speed, the action begins as he is fleeing for his life hoping to start a new life. He has been hired by the Judeans, a fundamentalist Christian community fleeing America to resettle in Africa to live and worship as they please. He is to ride with them to Africa, train them and escort them to their new settlement. Things do not go as planned when he crosses paths with an American colonel, Gary Kraven, who blackmails him into tracking down a blood cult that is ravaging its way across the sub-Sahara. The closer he gets to the cult, he more he learns about a global struggle that will change history forever.

“Into a Dark Frontier” by John Mangan is an action-packed page turner that pulls the reader in from the first chapter to the last. The characters are multi-dimensional with their own backstories and goals. Even the Judean community has its heroes and villains. Slade is the typical anti-hero who is deeply flawed and haunted by his past. Even though he seldom does the right thing he always does what he must do to get the job done. The action is fast paced, typically seen in the Dan Brown novels, and the details in the action sequences and military descriptions are believable and authentic without getting too technical. There are some darks and grisly scenes when the Judeans get captured and killed but it goes with the territory. With the introduction of Slade Crawford, readers now have a new action hero and hopefully there will be more adventures in the future. It is a must-read and recommended for fans of the black-ops genre and international spy novels.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this article are solely the author’s.

Book review: ‘It’s Not Yet Dark’ by Simon Fitzmaurice

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‘It’s Not Yet Dark’ is the life-affirming memoir by writer and film director Simon Fitzmaurice.

Simon Fitzmaurice is an award-winning writer and film director. His films have been screened in film festivals all over the world and have won numerous prizes including Best Short Film at the Cork Film Festival and the Belfast Film Festival. His short fiction has been short-listed for the Hennessy Literary Award and his poetry has appeared in the quarterly publication West 47. “It’s Not Yet Dark” is his first memoir and upon its release in Ireland it was a best seller. In it, the author expresses him thoughts about relationships and family and what it means to be alive.

“It’s Not Yet Dark” is Simon Fitzmaurice’s personal journey that includes living with ALS. In 2008, he was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease and was given four years to live. Faced with lung function collapse in 2010, he determined that it was not his time to die and made the difficult decision to ventilate to stay alive. He had a full life with his wife and five children and a satisfying career in film that he was not ready to give up. Written using an eye-gaze computer, the author pulls the reader into a world filled with ups and downs. It begins with the exciting news that his film was picked to be screened at the Sundance Film Festival. And with the turn of a page he begins the shocking revelation of how he was diagnosed with ALS.

This is not a depressing book about someone suffering and dying from a debilitating disease. It is a beautiful and heartwarming story of a man whose life is touched by a disease but somehow manages to see the positive in life. Told in lyrical prose that includes imagery and metaphors, it is a well-balanced narrative about a life lived to its fullest. The language is simple and easy to understand and it being a small book, can easily be read in a day or two. Fans of autobiographies, memoirs and poetry will find it hard to put down. Even though it goes into detail about his struggles with ALS, it is inspiring and uplifting and highly recommended.

*A copy of this book was given for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s.